Boston, MA - April 7: Boston Red Sox second baseman Marcelo Mayer and shortstop Trevor Story watch a replay in the fourth inning. The Red Sox played the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park on April 7, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Well, maybe it wasn’t a phantom IL stint after all? The Red Sox have reported that Trevor Story, rather than battling a minor “groin issue,” has a sports hernia that could require surgery, keeping him out for up to ten weeks. Though for what it’s worth, Story himself sounds a little hesitant: “We’re still unsure, but [surgery is possible.] Still trying to diagnose it, the severity of it, because we’ve got a couple of different opinions.” (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
So with the news that Story could be on the shelf until the second half of the season, we have a little more clarity on what’s going to happen at shortstop. Marcelo Mayer will start working out there in anticipation of moving across the bag if Story goes under the knife. Of course, he doesn’t sound like he needs much prep time: “Obviously, that’s home to me. That’s where I’ve played my whole life. And we’ve had some discussions, going to get some reps there in practice whenever I can. But wherever Trace [tells] you to play, that’s what it’s going to be, whether it’s short, third, second. I’m just here to help the team.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
Marcelo Mayer sure looks like he handle shortstop with the glove. But can he hit enough to be an everyday plaer in the big leagues? Here’s a look at the new Red Sox hitting coach who is going to try to turn Mayer’s offensive season around, John Soteropulos, the former Driveline coach and Red Sox minor league hitting coordinator. (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
Of course Soteropulos has a lot of work to do with the entire lineup, not just Mayer. The Red Sox offense continues to be shockingly bad. (Rob Bradford, WEEI)
Brayan Bello isn’t hurt like Story; he’s just been mostly terrible to start the season. And with Garrett Crochet hoping for a May 1 return, his time in the starting rotation may be coming to an end. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
Bello’s battery mate in yesterday’s game may find himself with some time off, too, though not because of poor performance. Carlos Narvaez left yesterday’s game after experiencing some pain in his middle finger. X-rays were negative, though, and he is considered day-to-day:
DENVER — Most of the Colorado Avalanche’s players returned to the ice for practice Saturday after a two-day break.
Emphasis on most.
Noticeably missing were defensemen Cale Makar and Brent Burns, along with forward Artturi Lehkonen. There to warm up before heading to the locker room was defenseman Josh Manson, while fellow blueliner Sam Malinski participated in a red, no-contact sweater.
The Avalanche emerged from their second-round series with Minnesota with their share of bumps and bruises. That’s why this hiatus between series — six full days of practice/rest — was welcome. The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche don’t kick off the Western Conference final against Vegas until Wednesday night.
“They’re all dealing with stuff in their day-to-day,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar explained of Makar, Burns, Manson and Lehkonen.
Expected to be back at practice soon?
“Yeah,” Bednar responded. “I think some of them will practice in the time we have.”
Lehkonen and Malinski both are dealing with upper-body injuries and didn’t play in the final two games of the Minnesota series. Manson has been dealing with an upper-body ailment, while Makar, a Norris Trophy finalist, left the ice after a collision late in Game 5, only to return as Colorado won 4-3 in overtime. Burns is, well, 41 years old.
“It’s good,” Jack Drury said about the break, “for a couple of guys that are banged up. Given them some extra time. For the rest of us, just kind of mentally get fresh. I think everyone’s really excited.”
The Avalanche didn’t spend much time Saturday going over a game plan for Vegas. Instead, it was more of a chance to skate around and squeeze in a few shots on net.
“A couple days before the game we’ll prepare and do some meetings,” forward Martin Necas said. “Until then, just all on us.”
The Avalanche and Golden Knights have some recent postseason history, with Vegas eliminating Colorado in the second round in 2021. The Knights fell behind 2-0 — and trailed in the third period of Game 3 — before reeling off four straight wins to take the series.
Vegas has a new coach in John Tortorella but several remaining players from the team that won the Stanley Cup title in 2023. They also have Mitch Marner, who has 18 points in the postseason (seven goals, 11 assists) after being acquired in a deal with Toronto last June that sent Nicolas Roy to the Maple Leafs. Roy, a member of Vegas’ Stanley Cup team, now is with the Avalanche following a trade in March.
“It’s an experienced group. You’re not going to rattle them,” Bednar said about Vegas. “They’re very well-defined in their structure of their game. They’re a stingy defensive team, and they’ve got lots of firepower.”
The Golden Knights have some ailments, too, most notably captain Mark Stone and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon.
“It’s a good team. I mean, we’re not looking past this team,” Bednar said. “These guys are healthy and firing on all cylinders ever since they made the coaching change.”
Vegas went went 7-0-1 to close out the regular season after Tortorella took over for Bruce Cassidy. They beat Utah in the first round and Anaheim in the second, both in six games.
Colorado relied on defense to dispatch of Los Angeles in a first-round sweep. Against Minnesota, 16 Avalanche players scored in the 4-1 series win.
Defense or offense, they’re ready for any style.
“We want to dominate the game so they have to adjust to us,” said Necas, whose team had a week break after the first rounds. “It will be a good challenge.”
The Brewers (26-18) and Cubs (29-18) meet at Wrigley Field for a three-game series. This is the first meeting of the season between NL Central opponents.
Chicago dropped its series against the White Sox over the weekend, losing the past two games. After going on a 10-game winning streak, the Cubs lost six of the next eight games. Chicago's pitching staff has a 5.26 ERA (25th) over the last six games and allow a .265 opponent batting average (26th). The offense is hitting .205 in that span (26th), so it's safe to say Chicago is in a slump.
Milwaukee lost its previous game, which snapped a three-game winning streak. The Brewers are 8-2 in the last 10 games and currently the hottest team in the NL Central. Milwaukee's offense is clicking lately with a .263 batting average over the past week (6th). The Brewers' pitching staff owns a 2.38 ERA (4th) as they've held opponents to three or fewer runs scored in eight of the last 10 games.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game details & how to watch Brewers at Cubs
Date: Monday, May 18, 2026
Time: 7:40 PM EST
Site: Wrigley Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
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Odds for the Brewers at the Cubs
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Milwaukee Brewers (+139), Chicago Cubs (-168)
Spread: Brewers +1.5 (-136), Cubs -1.5 (+113)
Total: 10.5
Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Cubs
Monday's pitching matchup (May 18): Shota Imanaga vs. Brandon Sproat
The Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki is hitting .258 with 32 hits and 38 strikeouts over 124 at-bats
The Cubs’ Carson Kelly is hitting .300 with 33 hits and 45 total bases over 110 at-bats
The Brewers’ Brice Turang is hitting .268 with 44 hits and 74 total bases over 153 at-bats
The Brewers’ Garrett Mitchell is hitting .223 with 27 hits and 54 strikeouts over 121 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Cubs
The Cubs are 21-26 ATS this season
The Brewers are 26-18 ATS this season
The Cubs are 27-19-1 to the Over
The Brewers are 22-21-1 to the Under
The Cubs are 12-11 ATS at home, but 9-11 ATS as a home favorite
The Brewers are 11-9 ATS on the road and 3-2 ATS as a road underdog (1-4 on the ML)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Brewers and the Cubs
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Brewers and the Cubs.
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cubs on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cubs at -1.5.
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Jordan Spence's time in Ottawa came with humble beginnings.
After two years as a regular in the LA Kings lineup, Spence was traded at the draft to the Senators for a mere third-round draft pick.
New Kings GM Ken Holland wanted to move off Spence because, "It's just hard to play him and Brandt Clarke right now," referring to the sameness of the two players. Holland wanted a different sort of right-shot D, so he later went out and signed former Senator Cody Ceci to effectively take Spence's spot on the roster.
As Jordan Spence worked back in the fall to get into the lineup everyday, Senators GM Steve Staios spoke back then about why he acquired him.
After breaking the bad news to him and the feelings that go with that, the Kings took solace in the fact that Spence would have a better opportunity to play in Ottawa.
But a few months later, when the Senators opened their new season in Tampa Bay, Spence was a healthy scratch. Even with Tyler Kleven injured, Spence sat in the press box while Nikolas Matinpalo, Donovan Sebrango and a quick-healing Nick Jensen all suited up.
How times have changed.
By the time the season was over, Spence established himself as more than an everyday defenseman. Among Sens defensemen, he finished fourth in time on ice per game, which is the very best measurement of what your team thinks of you. He finished with a career-high 31 points, and along with being an excellent puck mover, he didn't mind finishing his checks along the boards.
One of his biggest virtues, at least on this team, was availability. While the Sens endured one injury after another on the blue line, Spence managed to dodge the injury bullet all season.
Now Spence is a restricted free agent, and the Senators find themselves considering lucrative compensation packages for Spence that they probably never would have dreamed of at the start of this season.
Naturally, a lot will depend on what Steve Staios does this summer. If he goes out and gets another top-four defenseman, ideally a physical, shutdown guy, that might knock Spence down to a bottom-six pairing, which would certainly affect what the Senators want to pay.
Spence is also two years away from unrestricted free agency.
So the Sens could sign him to a one-year deal and see if Spence can impress again, and also see what everything looks like when everyone stays healthy for a season. In particular, that's been a challenge for Thomas Chabot, who plays a similar game to Spence on the opposite side. Chabot has missed 15-30 games in four of the last five seasons.
The Sens could also buy up some of Spence's UFA years and do something longer term. He's still only 25 with just three full NHL seasons under his belt. Now he'll have a big new contract and a greater sense of belonging next season, so we're betting the best is yet to come.
With the NHL cap going bananas over the next few seasons, Spence isn't likely to re-sign for the max seven years. But barring the offseason addition of another right-shot defenseman in Ottawa, a good bet for Spence would be four years at $4.5 million AAV.
Meanwhile, back in LA, the Kings might be reconsidering Spence's value these days.
After Holland put his stamp on the team for this season, which included dealing Spence away for a third-round pick, the Kings' goal differential this season dropped 66 points, going from +44 last season to -22 this season.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 17: Brandon Nimmo #24 of the Texas Rangers catches a fly ball that was hit by Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros at the wall in the fourth inning at Daikin Park on May 17, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Season Record: 22-24
Week Record: 3-3
Series Record: 6–8, 1 split
GAME 41: 0-1 LOSS vs ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS GAME 42: 7-4 WIN vs ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS GAME 43: 6-5 WIN vs ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
GAME 44: 0-2 LOSS @ HOUSTON ASTROS GAME 45: 1-4 LOSS @ HOUSTON ASTROS GAME 46: 8-0 WIN @ HOUSTON ASTROS
Whatever Texas had on Wednesday and Sunday, they need to bottle it up, multiple it, and use it in every game going forward.
Both games proved the Rangers have it in them, but brining that out once a series, isn’t really worth anything.
Truly the win on Wednesday to end the home stand and the series, was maybe the biggest shock of the season so far. I fully expected three up three down that inning. To get their first walk off going into the 9th inning down 5-3 and scoring all three runs with two outs, that’s the determination they needed to show going into a nine game road trip against the three worst teams in MLB.
Going into Friday, Houston was the second worst team in the American League.
In Friday’s game, the Rangers got one hit.
In Saturday’s game, they stranded 13 base runners, this series was theirs to win.
Sunday had a slow start but they did a good job of stringing together hits to score runs as well as additional slugging in the form of home runs.
And what feels like the eighth time I’ve said this, maybe they can ride the momentum of Sunday’s win into the next series.
Just two weeks after being fired by the Orlando Magic, the New Orleans Pelicans have hired Mosley to be their next head coach, a story first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by the Pelicans.
“Jamahl has earned tremendous respect across the NBA for his leadership, professionalism, and the strong relationships he develops with players and staff,” said New Orleans head of basketball operations Joe Dumars. “He has consistently demonstrated an ability to develop young talent while establishing teams that compete with toughness, discipline, and togetherness. His teams reflect his coaching style through their defensive intensity, effort, preparation, and commitment to playing the right way. Those qualities reinforce the long-term stability of a winning culture.”
This move was not a surprise, Mosley had been linked to Dumars and the head coaching job for the Pelicans before he was let go in Orlando (Mosley had been on the hot seat all season, so his firing was expected). He beat out other favorites, including former Lakers coach Darvin Ham, Nets assistant Steve Hetzel and Bucks assistant Rajon Rondo.
Mosley takes over from James Borrego, who did a respectable job as interim head coach after Dumars fired Willie Green 12 games into the season.
Mosley lifted Orlando from a 21-win team before he took over five seasons ago to three straight 41+ win seasons and playoff appearances, and he built his team around a very good defense. However, that upward trajectory of the Magic stalled out this season: their defense fell back to average, their offense was unimaginative, and while the Magic got up 3-1 on Detroit in the first round of the playoffs, they blew that lead and were again bounced early. Mosley also clashed with Magic star Paolo Banchero, and in a star-driven NBA that rarely ends well for the coach.
Mosley takes over a roster that is expected to see changes this offseason — although not through the draft, as it traded away the rights to its first-round pick this year to Atlanta to move up and select Derik Queen at No. 13 last June (Atlanta is selecting No. 8 with that pick). Zion Williamson is under contract, although Dumars may well explore his trade market. They also have Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, two-way wing players who drew a lot of trade interest from other teams at the deadline, but those teams would not meet the Pelicans' high asking price. New Orleans also has Queen, who had a good rookie season, and his fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears, as well as Jordan Poole and Dejonte Murray at the guard spot. Saddiq Bey also had an under-the-radar but quality season in New Orleans.
If the Pelicans can get a rim-protecting center and Mosley can improve the defense, and they get another healthy season from Zion, a path to more wins and respectability is in front of them. That said, Mosley has a lot of work in front of him.
Just two weeks after being fired by the Orlando Magic, the New Orleans Pelicans have hired Mosley to be their next head coach, a story first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by other sources.
This move was not a surprise, Mosley had been linked to Pelicans president Joe Dumars and the head coaching job for the Pelicans before he was let go in Orlando (Mosley had been on the hot seat all season, so his firing was expected). He beat out other favorites, including former Lakers coach Darvin Ham, Nets assistant Steve Hetzel and Bucks assistant Rajon Rondo.
Mosley takes over from James Borrego, who did a respectable job as interim head coach after Dumars fired Willie Green 12 games into the season.
Mosley lifted Orlando from a 21-win team before he took over five seasons ago to three straight 41+ win seasons and playoff appearances, and he built his team around a very good defense. However, that upward trajectory of the Magic stalled out this season: their defense fell back to average, their offense was unimaginative, and while the Magic got up 3-1 on Detroit in the first round of the playoffs, they blew that lead and were again bounced early. Mosley also clashed with Magic star Paolo Banchero, and in a star-driven NBA that rarely ends well for the coach.
Mosley takes over a roster that is expected to see changes this offseason — although not through the draft, as it traded away the rights to its first-round pick this year to Atlanta to move up and select Derik Queen at No. 13 last June (Atlanta is selecting No. 8 with that pick). Zion is under contract, although Dumars may well explore his trade market. They also have Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, two-way wing players who drew a lot of trade interest from other teams at the deadline, but those teams would not meet the Pelicans' high asking price. New Orleans also has Queen, who had a good rookie season, and his fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears, as well as Jordan Poole and Dejonte Murray at the guard spot. Saddiq Bey also had an under-the-radar but quality season in New Orleans.
If the Pelicans can get a rim-protecting center and Mosley can improve the defense, and they get another healthy season from Zion, a path to more wins and respectability is in front of them. That said, Mosley has a lot of work in front of him.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs open a series Monday night at Wrigley Field in the first meeting between these NL Central rivals since the Brewers won Game 5 of last October's NLDS. We like the Cubs to get revenge.
Read all about it in my Brewers vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks for Monday, May 18, 2026.
Who will win Brewers vs Cubs today: Cubs -1.5 (+110)
His pitching run value ranks in the third percentile of baseball, with the breaking ball slightly worse than that. That’s a problem against the Cubs because it forces him to rely too much on the fastball, which is a pitch the Cubs hit as well as any team in the sport.
On the other side is Shota Imanaga. His diverse skill set, which has resulted in a chase rate in the 99th percentile, will neutralize the Brewers' bats tonight. I would play this down to -110.
COVERS INTEL: Sproat walks batters at one of the highest rates in baseball, with a BB rate in the bottom 13 percentile of the sport.
Brewers vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Under 10.5 (-105)
A very windy Wrigley Field has pushed this total up at least a full run. I get it. I still think it's a bit too much.
Imanaga has been sensational over the past month, and his 91st percentile whiff rate should grab some easy outs.
The Brewers are a disciplined lineup that chases at right around 25%, but that doesn't matter much here. Imanga generates swing-and-miss with pure stuff, which poses unique issues.
On the other hand, while I expect the Cubs to score enough to cover, it won't be enough to push this Over. I'd play to 10.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 18-17, +.16 units
Over/Under bets: 22-13, +11.59 units
Brewers vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: Brewers +139 | Cubs -168
Run line: Brewers +1.5 (-136) | Cubs -1.5 (+113)
Over/Under: Over 10.5 (-112) | Under 10.5 (-107)
Brewers vs Cubs trend
The Chicago Cubs have hit the Moneyline in their last 15 games at home (+15.00 Units / 66% ROI)Find more MLB betting trends for Brewers vs. Cubs.
How to watch Brewers vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Monday, May 18, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
Brewers.TV, Marquee
Brewers starting pitcher
Brandon Sproat (1-2, 5.75 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
Shota Imanaga (4-3, 2.32 ERA)
Brewers vs Cubs latest injuries
Brewers vs Cubs weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Less than two weeks after the Orlando Magic let him go, Mosley is heading to New Orleans. The Pelicans are hiring him as their next head coach on a five-year deal, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.
League executives at last week’s combine had been whispering for days that Mosley was the reason the Pelicans kept stalling their decision. New Orleans wanted him. They just had to see if he was ready to jump back in.
Clearly, he is.
It’s the first major coaching hire for Joe Dumars, the Hall of Famer who took over the Pelicans’ front office last April after a long run in Detroit. Dumars was a legendary Pistons player and then built a championship team as an executive. He came to New Orleans to do it again.
This hiring is how Dumars begins that process.
Mosley, 47, spent five seasons in Orlando, going 189-221 with the Magic. He built them into a legitimate defensive force. They were ranked second in the NBA in defensive efficiency last season. They made three straight playoff appearances under Mosley, but also three straight first-round exits.
The last one, a blown 3-1 lead to the Detroit Pistons, cost Mosley his job.
Before Orlando, Mosley spent 15 years as an assistant with Cleveland, Denver and Dallas before getting his shot as a head coach.
He inherits a Pelicans team still looking for stability after Willie Green was fired just 12 games into last season. They finished 26-56 overall, going 24-46 under interim coach James Borrego. Zion Williamson remains the centerpiece. Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen give him young pieces to develop.
The Carolina Hurricanes have certainly had a long wait ever since their last postseason game.
The Hurricanes completed a four-game sweep over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, May 9 and since then, they've just been finding ways to fill the time.
The Canes are awaiting the winner between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens, but that series has gone all the way to a winner-takes-all Game 7 which will take place on Monday.
The Hurricanes had a six-game wait between the first and second rounds after sweeping the Ottawa Senators and by the time they next play, they'll have been off for a modern-NHL record 11 days.
Update / confirmation: Hurricanes have the modern NHL record for longest wait for their next series. pic.twitter.com/4QO3kh32WC
While the team may not know who their opponent will be, they do at least know when they'll be playing as the Game 7 situation forced them into schedule option B.
The Hurricanes will kick off their Eastern Conference Final run on Thursday at the Lenovo Center, although puck drop has still yet to be determined.
Here is the full list of dates for the Eastern Conference Final:
Game 1: Thursday, May 21 (Lenovo Center) Game 2: Saturday, May 23 (Lenovo Center) Game 3: Monday, May 25 (Bell Centre/KeyBank Center) Game 4: Wednesday, May 27 (Bell Centre/KeyBank Center) Game 5: Friday, May 29 (Lenovo Center) Game 6: Sunday, May 31 (Bell Centre/KeyBank Center) Game 7: Tuesday, June 2 (Lenovo Center)
The games will be exclusively broadcasted by TNT (truTV, HBO MAX) in the U.S. and will be available on Sportsnet, CBC and TVAS in Canada.
Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 20, 2026: Ryan Sloan #97 of the Seattle Mariners throws a pitch during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix on March 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma managed to take the series by a score of 4-2 this week, besting Houston’s lackluster affiliate in Cheney Stadium. With a healthy amount of turmoil present within the major league roster, expect several of these Rainier players to be shuttling up to Seattle sooner than later.
In case you missed the news yesterday, top prospect Colt Emerson earned his way up to the majors yesterday. Prior to his promotion, Colt was in the midst of another solid week against Sugarland, launching his sixth homer of the season down the right field line. Congrats to Colt!
Perhaps the biggest “position battle” left with some minor league implications involves two current Rainier right fielders. Both Victor Robles and Brennen Davis looked good at the plate this week, with the former delivering a walkoff knock in the series-clinching contest on Sunday afternoon. Robles (5-15, 2B, 3BB, 2SB) is currently nearing the end of his rehab stint with the Rainiers and seems likely to be joining the team relatively soon, though Davis, whose contract stipulations require him to be added to the 40 man roster in the coming weeks, may be the odd man out despite superior numbers. Davis (7-25, HR, 2 2B) has injury concerns and no big league track record to speak of, but his presence in Triple-A will certainly light a fire underneath those ahead of him on the depth chart. His performance warrants a big league promotion; how much run the Mariners want to give the veterans ahead of him will ultimately dictate his seemingly inevitable debut.
Arkansas Travelers
What a run these Travs are on! Taking five of six from their instate rivals, Arkansas took down Northwest Arkansas in convincing fashion and moved into sole possession of first place in the Texas League North. There is an unreal amount of talent up and down this roster, and should this iteration of the team be the version that makes it into postseason play, they’ll be considered heavy favorites to take home the title.
First, the bad. Michael Arroyo was pulled from Saturday’s game with an apparent lower body injury he sustained running to first base. He walked off on his own, but he wasn’t in the lineup on Sunday. Hopefully it’s simply a precautionary move, but it’s something to monitor.
A second straight very good start for Ryan Sloan. Not a lot of hard contact off him today. Final line: 4.2IP, 5H, 0R, BB, 6K, 14 whiffs, 72-47.
Ryan Sloan has looked great in his last few starts, now settled in after a rough introduction to the Double-A level. Working another 4.2 innings this week, Sloan struck out six batters and walked just one, posting a zero in the run column despite working around heavy traffic. Sloan’s advanced feel for pitching is a major reason why evaluators view him so favorably; there are plenty of young arms that have incredible stuff, but his ability to deploy it effectively puts him in rare territory for someone his age. He’s an immensely talented player who looks to be moving in the right direction.
Lazaro Montes had a stellar week at the dish, looking exactly like the fearsome slugger we’ve grown to love over the last several years. Laying claim to an 8-24 week with three homers and a double, Laz has been displaying enough plate discipline to draw a healthy number of walks while still maintaining the gaudy power he’s possessed his whole life, allowing him to flourish at the plate against good Double-A competition. The strikeouts aren’t going anywhere; his optimal approach is that of a “three true outcomer”. Making that strategy work is what’s gotten him to this point, and it’s undoubtedly what’s going to get him promoted to the big leagues. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Cuban slugger roaming right field in Tacoma at some point this summer.
Everett AquaSox
It was a series split for the Frogs this week, unable to best the pesky Canadians despite a far superior record. The lineup was relentless this week, and though the pitching has been a bit shaky as of late, this is still a very dangerous AquaSox roster that’s primed to do damage. They’ll have to catch a truly ridiculous Eugene team (they’re 30-9, 9 games up on the Frogs), but this roster has the talent to do it.
It has been exactly one month since the last time Felnin Celesten did not get a hit. At the conclusion of that game, Celesten was slashing .167/.293/.271 and struggling mightily. In the month since, he’s become unrecognizable. Now up to a .341 average on the season, the young shortstop has slashed .449/.537/.654 in the month of his hit streak and has taken home nearly every award the Northwest League can offer him. He seems destined for Arkansas in the coming months and should have every opportunity to thrive against improved competition.
Crushed. Brandon Eike now tied for the league lead in home runs. Best sound ever. pic.twitter.com/L05jjsT2I3
For all of the flashy prospect pedigree present on this team, Brandon Eike has arguably been the best hitter in this lineup. The right-handed corner infielder has displayed tremendous pop at the plate and currently sits second in both homers and OPS in the Northwest League. He strikes out quite a bit, but that number has been steadily falling in recent weeks, and his aggressive style at the plate plays a role in inflating that number as well. Whether he gets a chance at Double-A this season or not is yet to be seen, but with his current output exceeding just about everyone at the level, it’s hard to argue he hasn’t earned it.
Inland Empire 66ers
The 66ers had their best series of the season this week, taking all but one game against the Ports in Stockton. Inland Empire has clawed their way back up to .500 and will look to build on this resounding win, ideally establishing some long-term momentum moving forward. It hasn’t been easy so far, but there’s plenty of season left to get things turned around.
Korbyn Dickerson had been in a bit of slump in recent weeks, but he looked much better at the plate this week, showing off some extra-base thump alongside a bit of his speed on the basepaths. Launching an oppo homer in Friday Night’s contest, Dickerson remains one of the more intriguing “mid-tier” prospects within this system. His tools are a true separator; whether or not he can get them to their fullest potential on the field will ultimately decide how high he’s able to ascend through the ranks of professional baseball.
Mason Peters is good. Final line: 4IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 4K, 12 whiffs, 6 groundouts, 61-37. Lowers ERA at 1.93. pic.twitter.com/l6pHQj4cjk
Mason Peters continues to dominate the California League and has looked like the best pitcher at the level thus far. The slight left hander doesn’t overwhelm with his velocity, but his capacity for spin has left opposing hitters with little chance of doing damage against him and has led to a healthy amount of whiff in the early goings. Lowering his season ERA to 1.93, Peters owns a 38.3% K% and a 6.5% BB% across his first 28 innings of professional baseball and has shown little sign of slowing down. Everett is a notoriously tough ballpark on pitchers, but considering his dominance, a midseason promotion seems more than warranted.
ACL Mariners
It was a tough week for the big names on the Baby M’s roster, but Nick Becker is starting to come alive at the plate after a funky opening week. The whiff is still very high, but he’s also walking a ton and stealing seemingly every base he’s able to. It’s hard to draw any hard conclusions about players in the ACL as the level of talent ranges incredibly widely and leads to some bizarre stat lines, but if Becker is able to dial in the whiff a bit more, expect him to take off. He’s got the tools to dominate.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 10: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins during the game against the Washington Nationals at loanDepot park on May 10, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s back to facing off against the usual suspects for the Atlanta Braves, as their 2026 train now rolls into familiar territory for the next week of baseball action. This includes four games with the Marlins in Miami and three games at home against the Nationals. This is certainly a golden chance for the Braves to continue to put some serious distance between themselves and their divisional foes but as you can imagine, these two teams aren’t going to just roll over for the Braves and get ran over.
Instead, this’ll probably be (here we go again) tricky for the Braves to navigate. The Marlins and Nationals are both going to provide a unique set of challenges that’ll be tough for the Braves to deal with but at the same time, it also helps that this Braves team has experience and knows what to expect from both Miami and Washington at this point. It’s time to take a further look into what’s in store for the Braves this week.
May 18-21: Miami Marlins
Current Record: 21-26 Projected Record (via FanGraphs): 75-87
The last time the Braves saw the Marlins was around this time last month when Miami made the trip to Cobb County. Miami actually took the first game in convincing 10-4 fashion before the Braves got it in gear and won the next two in order to clinch the series. Ever since then the Marlins have been on a bumpy road. They have series wins over the Cardinals and the Dodgers (in Dodger Stadium, no less) but ever since that run, it’s been pretty rough. They dropped three out of four against the Phillies at home and that began a 2-6 stretch that only abated once they took a series win over the Nationals. Now they’re entering this series with the Braves having dropped two straight series on the road and are essentially limping back home.
As far as their record goes, this isn’t particularly a case of a team that’s playing above or below their weight class. Their Expected W/L record and their Pythagorean W/L are an identical 22-25, which seems to suggest that this is just who the Marlins are at this point. Their pitching staff has a collective 103 ERA- with a 97 FIP-, which seem like totally middle-of-the-road numbers until you break it down by rotation and bullpen. That’s when you see that the starting pitching has actually not been great for Miami at all (118 ERA-, 104 FIP-) while the bullpen has been lights out (81 ERA-, 85 FIP-) when called upon. It’ll likely be crucial for the Braves to do their damage early because if they leave it too late, that late-game magic may be tough to conjure up against this bullpen in particular.
With that being said, it’s pretty difficult to avoid seeing the best of any given pitching staff during a four-game series and the Braves are going to have to deal with Max Meyer, Janson Junk and Sandy Alcantara, who have been Miami’s top starters so far. As far as Miami’s top three hitters go, the three guys to keep an eye on are Otto Lopez, Xavier Edwards and Liam Hicks. If the Braves can avoid getting beat by that trio while taking care of the rest of Miami’s underwhelming lineup (team wRC+ of 97) then this could be a productive four-game series for the Braves. A split is the bare minimum result, here.
Monday, May 18 at 6:40 p.m. ET (BravesVision, Gray TV) Tuesday, May 19 at 4:10 p.m. ET (BravesVision) Wednesday, May 20 at 6:40 p.m. ET (BravesVision) Thursday, May 21 at 6:40 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
May 22-24: Washington Nationals
Current Record: 23-24 Projected Record: 72-90
Well, here we are, a week before Memorial Day and the Nationals are still floating around .500. Washington is also on a bit of a NL East sojourn, themselves, as they’ll be coming to town after having hosted the Mets for four games (and the Marlins will be seeing the Mets while this series is going on, so there will be plenty of intra-NL East action this week). They’re actually having to scrape and claw for second place because the Phillies are proving that simply firing your manager apparently is the key to success and if I’m being honest, it likely won’t be long until the Nationals get left in the dust and have to fight with the Mets and Marlins for third place in the division.
That’s because not a lot has changed for the Nationals since the last time they ran into the Braves. Washington still has a top-10 offense according to team wRC+ (107) but their pitching staff is absolutely dreadful. Cade Cavalli is clearly their best starting pitcher, which is not a position you want to be in. In fact, none of their pitchers have yet to clear the 1.0 fWAR mark. For comparison’s sake, both Bryce Elder and Chris Sale have cleared that mark. Cavalli is at 0.9 fWAR and one he does clear that mark, he’ll likely be alone in that territory for a good, long while. The good news for the Braves is that they’ll likely avoid Cavalli since he’s currently slated to pitch the series finale against the Mets, so that could be good news for the Braves after dealing with Miami’s pitching staff.
Still, the Nationals have to be taken seriously because their lineup is no joke. CJ Abrams and James Wood have proved to be a fairly effective dynamic duo and Daylen Lile is also starting to establish himself as a dangerous big league hitter as well. Joey Weimer and Curtis Mead have also been very reliable for this team when called upon and then dealing with José Tena and Luis García Jr. won’t be a walk in the park either. If this goes how the first series in D.C. went then expect this to be a stressful affair where the Braves are going to have to swing the bat effectively every single night in order to come away with a series win.
Friday, May 22 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision) Saturday, May 23 at 4:10 p.m. ET (BravesVision) Sunday, May 24 at 4:10 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
The Knicks play in their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals beginning Tuesday, when they take on a Cleveland Cavaliers team that is coming off seven-game series wins over the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons.
These two teams met, albeit under different circumstances, in the first round of the playoffs just three short years ago, and now get to reignite that rivalry with a spot in the NBA Finals on the line.
Here’s what to expect from the series and who we expect to advance...
The Cavaliers have one major question the 76ers also failed to solve against the Knicks: what do you do about Jalen Brunson? Both their starting guards are lackluster defensively, their wing options are shaky, and their bigs are better suited for the paint.
There’s a strong chance Cleveland deploys whoever out of Max Strus, Caris LeVert, or Dean Wade is on the floor on Brunson, who should be able to get to the paint with ease against these names. As far as individual matchups go, Brunson may have more pickings in this series than any of the previous ones, with almost any switch giving him a huge advantage.
Of course, he’ll need to execute and not fall too deep into the isolation hole. With how successful the motion offense and Brunson off-ball play has been, this shouldn’t be a concern.
If Cleveland decides to send extra bodies Brunson’s way, their backline defense can easily get stretched too thin between relying on their guards (who have now led their offense through two seven-gamers) and less mobile bigs to make plays three-on-four. Teams haven’t been able to employ this effectively thus far in the postseason, though Cleveland has some decent size to cause problems at least.
Speaking of wings, the Knicks have more advantages here, as OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have been looking for their offense all postseason, and the Cavs don’t have clean matchups for them. Harden and Mitchell lack the instinct, one wing is likely on Brunson, and Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen will have to be really polished if switched on.
One measure New York will have to attack early is Cleveland putting a big on Josh Hart so they can roam the paint defensively. He’ll need to be ready to take and make threes, as well find timely cuts to punish them for this.
Karl-Anthony Towns has of course been the star of the Knicks' offense with his patience and playmaking, and will need to continue that streak against tighter passing lanes and longer arms inside. Where he and his fellow big man Mitchell Robinson can really win the series is on the glass.
May 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) controls the ball against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the first quarter of game one of the eastern conference semifinal round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
Cleveland has been one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the playoffs, which plagued them against New York three seasons ago. Towns and Robinson could have the chance to bully them on the offensive boards again, and we could see more double-big lineups to press upon this edge.
On the flip side, the Cavs boast a ton of raw offensive talent that will push the Knicks defense to its limits. Mitchell and Harden are each capable of turning an entire game on their own, and will be probing New York’s pick-and-roll defense for holes.
Expect the Knicks to start Hart on Mitchell, Bridges on Harden, and Anunoby on Mobley. They could also switch their bigs so Towns is on Mobley, allowing Anunoby to ghost Allen and deal with most of the pick coverage.
A key here will be not falling for Harden’s foul-baiting and forcing him into tough jumpers and floaters instead of layups and easy assists. They’re going to try and get him in empty-side situations so the Knicks have a tough time helping on the roll, don’t expect traditional drop coverage too often.
If the Cavs are getting too much leverage on their star pick-and-rolls, the Knicks have the defenders to switch everything and try and force them to win one-on-one. Expect Brunson to be a major target again in screens and set plays, especially since he’ll have to chase sharpshooters in Strus and Sam Merrill.
Mobley stepped up as a shot-maker, averaging 17 points on 55 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent from three these playoffs, including some clutch buckets against Detroit. Anunoby and Towns can’t expect an easy matchup here and will need to work to limit him.
After their first three games, the Knicks have largely moonwalked through these playoffs, while the Cavaliers have scratched and clawed their way here. Was this a sign of asymmetric preparedness, or the strength of their foes?
We’ll find out for certain in a couple weeks' time, but for now it’s hard not to be impressed with the Knicks' precision and dominance in the face of the Cavaliers' inconsistent production. While anything can happen in the playoffs, one outcome seems much more certain.
For as long as he’s had a family, LeBron James has always made it clear where they stand when it comes to life’s priorities.
As the Lakers star just wrapped up his 23rd NBA season and is contemplating retirement, he was quick to point out, “I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously.”
If the offseason is telling us anything, LeBron James is serious about spending time with his family. Instagram/kingjames
“I’ll have a conversation with my 12-year-old daughter, that’s a big factor. And my 19-year-old son [Bryce] is entering his second year at Arizona. And my wife as well. They’re a huge factor in any decision I’ve made, so they’ll be a big part of it as well.”
If the offseason is telling us anything, James is serious about spending time with his family.
James playing along side his son Bronny James with the LA Lakers.
“Got the band back together.”
Bron, Bryce, and Bronny back home rocking the same cut
In a rare moment where James let his fans into his world, he posted a video on Instagram featuring him and his sons Bronny and Bryce relaxing at home.
“Got the band back together.”
James is coming off his record-setting 23rd NBA season where he led the Lakers to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. In 60 games, he averaged 20.9 points. 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game — but upped those numbers in the postseason when averaged 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game.
In just his second year in the league, Bronny played in 47 games, averaging 2.9 points and 1.2 assists per game, but proved that he’s capable of playing in this league and could have an expanded role next season.
Bryce is coming off his redshirt freshman season at the University of Arizona.
Teenager Bryce James is coming off his redshirt freshman season at the University of Arizona. Instagram/kingjames
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Madison Square Garden Sports (NYSE: MSGS) has filed a Form 10 Registration Statement with the SEC for the proposed spin-off of its New York Rangers business from the New York Knicks, which currently both sit under the MSGS banner. In February, the MSGS board approved a plan to explore a split to unlock shareholder value.
The confidential filing does not ensure the split is completed. “Completion of the transaction would be subject to various conditions, including effectiveness of the Form 10 Registration Statement, any required league approval, receipt of a tax opinion from counsel and Company board approval,” MSGS said in its release.
The spin-off is expected to be structured as tax-free for shareholders, but there are other tax consequences to this deal.
A new federal tax law expands a 2017 tax provision that limited the compensation public companies could deduct for tax purposes. The 2017 provision capped the deduction at $1 million each for the CEO, CFO and the next three highest-paid officers. The new law expands the number of employees to also include the next five highest-compensated ones starting with the 2027 tax year.
An independently traded Knicks team would pay its top five executives and top five players $195 million—nearly 90% of that is to players—triggering $55.4 million in taxes, per Seaport Analyst Research Partners analyst David Joyce, after excluding the $1 million per employee in maximum compensation. The Rangers would incur a post-spinoff incremental tax of $19.8 million on $76 million in salaries.
“The spin enhances the possibility of raising capital, and [it] makes minority stake sales easier, as there are two distinct teams’ business models, which makes for a clearer investment vehicle,” he wrote in an April research note.
Sportico recently spoke with multiple investors who think MSGS owner James Dolan could move beyond just an LP stake deal and sell one of the teams outright. Someone familiar with the spinoff details pushed back on the premise of a control sale of either team. Sportico most recently valued the Knicks at $9.85 billion and the Rangers at $3.65 billion.
A spokesperson for MSGS declined to comment on the possibility of a control sale of one of the teams.
MSG Sports’ plan to potentially split the teams sent shares up 16% the day it was announced in February. MSGS shares are up 79% during the past year. The stock still trades at a 29% discount to Sportico’s $13.5 billion combined valuation for the Knicks and Rangers.
On Tuesday, the Knicks kick off their Eastern Conference finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. A series win would likely push the Knicks’ playoff revenue to at least $140 million. The Knicks last won the NBA title in 1973, while the Rangers’ last Stanley Cup win was 1994. The Rangers missed the playoffs this season for the second straight year.
COVERS INTEL: Sproat walks batters at one of the highest rates in baseball, with a BB rate in the bottom 
