Each of the last three Eastern Conference Finals matchups has finished with five or fewer total goals.
With Montreal on the brink of elimination tonight, my Canadiens vs. Hurricanes predictions point to yet another tight, low-scoring contest.
Let's get right into my NHL picks for Friday, May 29.
UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & +325 SGP pick.
Canadiens vs Hurricanes Game 5 prediction tonight
Who will win Canadiens vs Hurricanes Game 5?
Hurricanes: The Canadiens look like a team that is completely out of gas. They have no answers for Carolina's relentless forechecking and pressure, and Montreal continues to spend most of each game on its heels.
The Hurricanes have won the expected goal battle 19.24-8.40, yet are only up 12-10 on the scoreboard. Carolina will end this series on home ice.
Canadiens vs Hurricanes best bet: Under 5.5 (-110)
The Carolina Hurricanes have limited shot attempts, expected goals, and goals more effectively than every team in the playoffs. They are giving up next to nothing on a nightly basis, which helps explain why 10 of their 12 games have gone Under the total.
The Hurricanes have been particularly smothering against the Montreal Canadiens, who are completely gassed after consecutive seven-game series vs. division rivals.
Generating offense will be a problem for Montreal, while Jakub Dobes, the playoff leader in Goals Saved Above Expected, has proven reliable at limiting the opponent.
Expect a 3-2 type of game in Carolina. Playable to -125.
Canadiens vs Hurricanes Game 5 same-game parlay
Nick Suzuki Over 1.5 shots
Lane Hutson Over 0.5 assists
Lane Hutson Over 1.5 blocked shots
Nick Suzuki is leading the Canadiens with 10 shots on goal this series. He has multiple shots in six of seven games against Carolina dating back to the regular season, and Montreal's captain will be relied upon heavily to lead the way in this elimination game.
Lane Hutson has started more shifts in the offensive zone than anybody on the roster. Martin St. Louis is giving him prime usage to put his high-end playmaking to use.
Sticking with Hutson, he has blocked 18 shots over the last six games. That includes eight over two appearances in Carolina. He played 24+ minutes in both elimination games thus far, and that kind of workload would afford plenty of block opportunities against the shot-happy Hurricanes.
Canadiens vs Hurricanes Game 5 goal scorer pick
Nick Suzuki (+260)
Suzuki leads the Canadiens in shots on goal this series and is the only forward on the team averaging more than a shot per game against the Hurricanes yet to find the back of the net.
He is almost 10 minutes clear of the closest Canadiens forward to him in ice time this round. He'll get every opportunity to make something happen offensively, and I see value in backing him to +230.
Canadiens vs Hurricanes odds for Game 5 tonight
Moneyline: Montreal +185 | Carolina -225
Puck Line: Montreal +1.5 (-135) | Carolina -1.5 (+115)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-110) | Under 5.5 (-110)
Canadiens vs Hurricanes trend
Carolina has hit the game total Under in 13 of the last 15 games (+11.30 units, 67% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Hurricanes.
How to watch Canadiens vs Hurricanes Game 5
Location
Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Date
Friday, May 29, 2026
Puck drop
8 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, CBC
Canadiens vs Hurricanes latest injuries
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.
It appears the NHL may not have the most exciting offseason when it comes to free agency this summer. With very few superstar players expected to hit the open market, teams with lots of cap space like the Detroit Red Wings could find themselves limited in terms of impactful additions.
One name that has remained on Detroit’s radar for some time is Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson. With Dallas facing a difficult salary cap situation, many Red Wings fans have begun speculating that the organization could attempt to pry Robertson away through an offer sheet.
However, another emerging star on a team facing an even worse cap crunch may be becoming an even more realistic target in Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev.
The 25-year-old Russian forward has quickly become one of the breakout names of this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs and would fit perfectly into Detroit’s growing core as another major scoring threat.
Dorofeyev has developed into one of the league’s more dangerous goal scorers over the past two seasons, recording 72 goals during that span. That total ties him for the 15th-most goals in the NHL alongside some of the league’s top offensive talents, including Boston Bruins forwards David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie.
Detroit has continued searching for additional offense to support their stars in Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat, and Dorofeyev could provide exactly that. His ability to consistently finish scoring chances would give the Red Wings another dangerous top-six option capable of producing 35 or more goals per season.
Dorofeyev’s value has only continued to rise during Vegas’ current playoff run, scoring 10 goals and adding four assists for 14 points through 16 playoff games. His scoring touch and ability to perform in high-pressure situations are likely making him one of the more attractive restricted free agent targets around the league.
The Golden Knights already entered the offseason facing one of the NHL’s most difficult salary cap situations, and Dorofeyev’s postseason breakout may only complicate matters further. Detroit could potentially present Dorofeyev with a long-term, high-paying offer sheet that Vegas may struggle to match financially.
Draft pick compensation may not be a major obstacle for the Red Wings either. An offer sheet in the range of $7,020,114 to $9,360,153 would cost Detroit a first, second, and third-round pick as compensation. While the Red Wings currently do not possess all of their own required selections, teams have previously completed trades to reacquire their own draft picks specifically for offer sheet purposes.
Detroit’s 2026 first-round pick is currently owned by the St. Louis Blues following the Justin Faulk trade, while their second-round pick next year belongs to the Anaheim Ducks as part of the John Gibson trade.
Still, if general manager Steve Yzerman believes a player like Dorofeyev or Robertson can significantly accelerate the Red Wings’ rebuild into playoff contention, reacquiring those picks could become a realistic possibility this summer.
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Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees head West to take on the Athletics in a three-game set starting Friday...
5 things to watch
Rodon looking to get on track
The Yankees rotation is almost whole again with the returns of Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon.
And while Cole has looked like his Cy Young self, Rodon has scuffled a bit. In three starts since coming off the IL, the southpaw has a 4.15 ERA. He's pitched five innings just once so far, which was his first start back, and has progressively allowed more runs in each start.
His last start saw him allow three runs on five walks across 4.1 innings against the Brewers.
Now, the Athletics are not the NL Central-leading Brewers, but they can hit -- and they play in a minor league ballpark. It could be tough for Rodon, but seeing him get through a quality start on Friday could give the veteran starter some confidence moving forward.
Hitting in the minors
Yes, the Athletics play in West Sacramento in a ballpark meant for a minor league club. It's a bandbox, as we saw last season when 230 long balls were hit out of Sutter Health Park -- second most in MLB. The A's have hit 26 homers at their home ballpark already this year, and with the hot starts from catcher Shea Langeliers and 2025 AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, those numbers will continue to climb as the season goes on.
Yankees hitters need to take advantage of the park as well. Last season, they hit eight bombs in Sacramento -- the same series that saw Jasson Dominguez have a three-homer game -- and they should be able to do it again.
Volpe rising?
Anthony Volpe continues to produce at the plate and manager Aaron Boone continues to reward his shortstop by starting him every game.
Volpe is 7-for-26 (.269) over his last seven games but he's gotten on base in all but three of his games since he was called up (11 games).
Sep 19, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) runs off of the field before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. / Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
With Volpe at shortstop, Boone has been creative with Jose Caballero. He's started at third base and in the outfield. Continuing to monitor that situation will be interesting. Two right-handers are slated to pitch for the A's this weekend, so Ryan McMahon and Trent Grisham could get starts on Friday and Saturday.
Let the lineup juggling continue.
Getting their wins back
When the Athletics came to the Bronx in early April, they took two of three from the Yankees. After the Yanks won 5-3 in the series opener, David Bednar allowed the go-ahead run to cross in the ninth in their 3-2 loss in the middle game of the series. Then the bats went quiet in the series finale as New York was no-hit into the seventh inning in their 1-0 loss.
It was not a great series for the Yankees, but with the weather warmer and the team a little more rounded into form, this is the time to try and get those wins back as they look to continue their climb up the AL East standings.
Early scoreboard watching
Yes, it's way too early to be scoreboard watching for the division, but with the way the Rays were playing this season, any lull for Tampa needs to be taken advantage of.
The Rays have lost four straight and are 5-5 in their last 10 games as the Yankees have pulled within 1.5 games of them after their four-game winning streak.
Now, the Rays will take on the 21-35 Angels this weekend, but Tampa was just swept by the Orioles -- who were 23-30 heading into their series. So who's to say what will happen. The Yanks need to take care of business in Sacramento, and perhaps they'll find themselves atop the division by the time Sunday is over.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Ben Rice
Rice will take on two right-handed starters and will be hitting in a band box.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Will Warren
Warren continues to be solid and although there are some scary hitters in the A's lineup, I believe he'll get the job done.
Which Athletics player will be a thorn in the Yankees' side?
Shea Langeliers
Langeliers is tied with Atlanta's Drake Baldwin for most home runs by a catcher this season (13) and with Rodon and Ryan Weathers (both lefties) on the mound this weekend, the backstop could do a lot of damage.
Jurriën Timber’s likely unavailability means a reshuffle that will affect selections in all areas of the side
It would be easy to look at Saturday’s Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal and see it as a battle of attack versus defence, of beauty against pragmatism, of French elan against English doughtiness, as some sort of tussle for the soul of football. But it would not entirely be true. And where, after all, was the honour at Agincourt? In the vainglorious charges of the dashing French cavalry or the stoic defiance of the British archers arrayed, naked from the waist down, behind their defensive stakes?
On the one hand, the stats look stark. In the Champions League this season, Paris Saint-Germain have averaged 63.4% possession, higher than anybody apart from Barcelona; Arsenal’s figure is 52.6%, the 11th-highest of the 36 sides who made the league stage. PSG’s pass completion has been 89.3% to Arsenal’s 85.7% (third-highest to 14th-highest). PSG have scored 44 goals to Arsenal’s 29. But on the flip side, Arsenal have conceded six goals to PSG’s 22 and won 13.4 aerial duels per game to PSG’s 9.4 (sixth-highest to 29th-highest).
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 25: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres tosses his batting equipment after striking out to end the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park on May 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres came into the final game of the three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies hoping that Walker Buehler would hold the Philly offense down enough that San Diego could score a couple of runs and avoid the sweep. Buehler did his part, but the Padres offense failed to provide any run support. San Diego was shutout and swept by Philadelphia with one final 3-0 loss before they go on the road to face the Washington Nationals.
Buehler made through 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with no walks and two strikeouts. His counterpart for the Phillies, Christopher Sanchez, pitched seven scoreless innings. He allowed six hits with no walks and nine strikeouts. The seven-shutout innings from Sanchez pushed his scoreless innings streak to 44 2/3 innings, surpassing Grover Alexander’s 41 innings for the most ever by a Philadelphia pitcher.
The Padres had their chances to score runs and get in the game. They outhit the Phillies, 7-6 but once again San Diego was unable to come up with hits with runners in scoring position. The Padres were 0-for-8 in those situations while the Phillies were 1-for-3. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill each had two hits, while Xander Bogaerts, Ramon Laureano and Nick Castellanos each added a hit.
San Diego travels to Washington, D.C. for three games against the Nationals before they head to Philadelphia for three more against the Phillies. If the offense continues to do what it has been doing — or not doing — it could be a long six-game road trip. The Padres and Nationals open their series, Friday at 3:45 p.m.
Padres News:
The San Diego farm system did not get much attention prior to the season, and it is still not among the best in baseball according to experts, but there are plenty of players making news and Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball provides insight as to who they are.
Ethan Salas has been healthy during the 2026 season and his time off the field last season seems to be paying dividends as the top-prospect hit his seventh home run of the year.
The Padres have been one of the best teams in MLB if you just look at their win/loss record. They have also been one of the worst teams in MLB if you look at their offensive statistics. Dennis Lin of The Athletic asks if San Diego is the best worst team or the worst best team.
May 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game five of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Fraternizing with the Enemy continues to go back-and-forth just as much as this wild Western Conference Finals series. After the Spurs appeared out of gas in Game 5 against the Thunder and now face an elimination game in San Antonio, I discussed with Cray Allred of the Daily Thunder what he observed and any potential concerns going forward — both about the teams on the court and the flaws this series has exposed in certain NBA procedures (such as *cough* the rudimentary way coaches have to call for a challenge).
J.R.
The night that Wemby misses a dunk in transition isn’t your night. The night that Castle smokes a wide open layup isn’t your night. And when the refs miss an OKC goal tending call plus two out of bounds calls (one that Mitch Johnson tried to challenge and they didn’t grant resulting in a three-point play on the other end, including Mitch’s tech) then you might want to consider the possibility that the evening in question doesn’t belong to you.
I’m not going to gripe about the calls the refs make because once you start that it’ll never end. Literally. You become convinced that the refs and the league are against your team and down that path, madness lies. And by madness, I mean becoming convinced that every call that goes against you is part of a conspiracy that the league has to fulfill vengeance against your team for some undefined grievance. I know, because I lived that. But that’s a story for another day.
So I don’t let myself go there again, but I do allow myself to criticize the systems the league has in place, because the league changes rules and that can make the games more fair. (Or at least more difficult to complain about.) Point in case, I griped about Zaza Pachulia sliding under Kawhi Leonard and taking him out of the series. Then they changed the rule. Now shooters are protected. You might say they’re overly protected, but there’s not such thing as a “make it fair” button. It’s either going to be too dangerous or too safe. So, you might as well err on the side of safety.
Here’s my new gripe. The league needs to have a button that coaches can press to stop the play from starting or a flag to throw on the court. That way we’re not subject to refs hearing or acknowledging a coach in order for a challenge to officially granted.
How about you? What gripe do you have that a new rule would alleviate and improve the game?
Cray
One thing I hope we can agree on: the San Antonio and Oklahoma City markets are not where Adam Silver and the NBA want to conspire to. The reason the league will run through our teams is that they have acquired and developed the best talent, without needing the free agency and trade levers used by bigger market teams that used to rule the league. (Lakers, Clippers, Rockets, Wolves, and Warriors, to name a few). The teams that the Thunder and Spurs have left in the dust.
I’d be okay with giving coaches a cleaner play stoppage lever for challenges. Teams already stall and delay the game while coaches decide whether to call timeout and twirl their fingers, which feels silly to watch as a viewer.
I’m actually against rule changes by default. I’m a bigger believer in the law of unintended consequences than I am of the idea we can shape the way the game looks and feels with more policy work.
I much prefer legitimate points of emphasis within the rulebook. In the second half of the 2023-2024 season, the refs obviously started swallowing their whistle to allow defenders to crowd and all-but-handcheck perimeter offensive players. It pissed everyone off because they denied it loudly in public before quietly acknowledging in a league memo to the governors. Then in the 2024 offseason, the NBA told its teams that this was the new reality: referees would be using their judgement to favor more physical and contact-heavy play, slowing the runaway offensive numbers getting juiced by three-point spamming.
Rick Carlisle warned us. Teams like the Pacers, Thunder, and Spurs leaned into the advantages that physical defenders like Nembhard, Nesmith, Caruso, Cason, Castle, and Vassell gave them. Fans watching their teams get ripped to shreds by these elite modern defenses aren’t blaming their front offices, of course, because blaming the refs is a much more soothing pastime.
So I’m dubious of rule changes, but I don’t hate change. What I hate is the unwillingness to make things better within the rules. We all know that the typical summer “points of emphasis” usually last through the preseason and then fade away when the games matter. Meanwhile there are tools to counter plenty of things jeopardizing the competition and NBA product; the league just doesn’t use them. Cap circumvention. The rot of gambling influence. Flopping fines. Injuries to stars piling up in the war against DNP-TV. But instead, the league is spending most of its fix-it energies concocting a new formula for ping pong balls.
It definitely wasn’t your night, just like Game 4 wasn’t ours. I’m surprised that the consensus reaction is that we’ve advanced even further into the greatest chess match ever. Don’t you think it’s more simply that the teams with the most desperation have played much better at home? That’s how I’d chalk up most of the individual performances, including from our two most valuable players: Victor Wembanyama and Jared McCain
J.R.
There is definitely room for the chess match, no doubt. And I’ll tell you that I’ve dived deeper into the pool of analysis videos in an attempt to better understand the tactics behind this game I’ve been watching for the last 40-some years. (Wow that’s a long time.) But Tuesday night seemed to pivot largely on effort. So many plays were made by OKC in which the same force just wasn’t being exerted by the visiting team in general, and oddly Wemby specifically.
There were far too many plays where I expected Vic to elevate and swat the ball away from the basket, but he just watched his opponent take a trip to the rim. Definitely not what I’ve grown accustomed to over the year, and I think I have to put my vote in the “he’s exhausted” group.
Oddly, that doesn’t make me feel less optimistic about Game 6. After the Thunder win in San Antonio, I found myself having issues maintaining my hope, but I don’t feel that right now. Maybe that’s delusion, but it feels like San Antonio will take the next one. I’m definitely concerned about his Game 7 but why should I even be thinking about that when the Spurs are facing elimination for the first time since DeMar DeRozan was a Spur? Maybe I’m exhausted too.
Ok, tell me what concerns you about G6 and how you’re dealing with it.
Cray
To be clear, I love the Thunder’s chances to win one of two. I’m in the “Wemby’s exhausted” camp with you, and San Antonio hasn’t put together two straight games with the intensity needed to best the champs. The Thunder have thinned, but they’re still deeper and fresher. And I believe in Shai+whoever to land a knockout punch, given two shots at the up and comers.
There’s still plenty of cause for concern. Game 5’s offensive explosion masked some cracks in the defense for OKC, which had kept them in the series through four. An elimination Game 6 should be the boost of all boosts for the Spurs, even if they’re gassed. And if you get to a Game 7, anything can happen. Cold shooting. Foul trouble. Injury. Lemon booty. And if it’s close, the kind of game-deciding bad call we’ve somehow avoided so far. The kind of stuff you can’t get over for 40 years of fandom. And all of that is more likely with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell still unavailable.
Outside of random, crazy, heartbreaking playoff possibilities, both Wemby and Dylan Harper still scare me. The Spurs hung close for most of Game 5 with both of them struggling. Wemby digging deep to find another gear is something the greats all eventually get around to. Harper could recover more health, or energy, or confidence, whatever combination of those things are holding him back.
Though I do sense a shift in the Spurs’ self-belief, an essential part of what has made them so great this season. I told you I admired you that Wemby practicing against simulation hack-a-defense and Mitch Johnson’s refusal to make excuses after Game 2. I’ll add to the list Devin Vassell’s jovial comments about each team getting away with what the refs allow after Game 4. I’m not going to pile on Stephon Castle for complaining about the whistle, or Wemby for skipping the postgame, or Thunder legend Mason Plumlee for doing goonwork in Game 5’s closing moments (as quoted by NBA media correspondent and TikTok sensation, Jared McCain). But taken together, I don’t think the vibes from the Spurs reek of confidence and composure as they face down elimination.
Feel free to stand up for any of those guys if you think I’m being unfair, or recommend me your favorite Spurs alternate mascot or side story that helps lighten your spirits amid the grind of the playoffs. Are the nuns the most fun? The jackals? A deeper cut? (We disavow Thundor in my household but McCain, the public figure, brings us joy.)
After getting blown out Wednesday night, the Atlanta Braves will look for a series win in their rubber match with the Boston Red Sox.
My Braves vs. Red Sox predictions lean on the visitors, who bring baseball’s best road record to Fenway Park, and start one of the league’s nastiest lefties in Chris Sale.
That should be plenty to cover their -1.5 run line at +127 for my MLB picks on Thursday, May 28.
Who will win Braves vs Red Sox today: Braves -1.5 (+125)
Chris Sale is the perfect starter to expose a Boston Red Sox lineup ranking second in batting average over the last week.
Batters are hitting .181 against him, and he’s allowing 5.8 hits per 9 innings — both Top-2 ranks in the majors.
Sale relies on a fastball-slider combo that has stymied opponents even into the advanced stages of his career, as evidenced by a 98th-percentile chase rate and a 93rd-percentile strikeout rate.
Sale’s backed by a lineup that knows how to rebound: in the four previous times they’ve lost by at least six runs, they’ve averaged 8.8 runs the next game.
I’d take the Atlanta Braves' run line up to -2.5 at +215.
COVERS INTEL: Boston’s MLB-worst .118 ISO against four-seamers sets up perfectly for Sale. Play Braves Run Line -1.5 (+127)
Braves vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (+112)
Even with Sale pitching, it doesn’t always mean a low-scoring affair. In his last seven starts, the Braves and their opponent have combined to top 7.5 runs four times.
Boston starter Payton Tolle was dinged up in his last start, surrendering three runs on four hits in six innings against the Twins. A 10th-percentile ground ball rate means he could be more susceptible to home runs than he has been.
He’ll be in tough with an Atlanta lineup that puts up 6.04 runs per game on the road, which is tops in MLB.
That’s a big part of the reason the Braves’ Over record on the road is 10-5-0 over the last 15 away games. I'd take the Over down to +105 or avoid the market if it goes any shorter than that because Sale can put up zeroes.
Eric Rosales' 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 8-8, -0.01 units
Over/Under bets: 11-4, +6.62 units
Braves vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: Braves -138 | Red Sox +133
Run line: Braves -1.5 (+127) | Red Sox +1.5 (-133)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+127) | Under 7.5 (-133)
Braves vs Red Sox trend
Boston lost seven straight home games following a win. Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Braves vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Thursday, May 28, 2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
BravesVsn, NESN
Braves starting pitcher
Chris Sale (7-3, 1.89 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Payton Tolle (2-2, 2.45 ERA)
Braves vs Red Sox latest injuries
Braves vs Red Sox 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.
Jauan Jennings played a big role for the 49ers as one of the team’s most reliable third-down options over the past several seasons, but when San Francisco added Hall of Fame wideout Mike Evans this past offseason, the writing was on the wall in big bold letters.
Now, with a new one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings, the 28-year-old wide receiver has high praise for his new group – and himself.
“I feel like Kevin Durant with the Warriors,” Jennings told reporters on Wednesday when asked how he felt about joining Minnesota.
“Big three, man,” Jennings answered when asked why he compared himself to the 16-time All-Star. “There’s just a lot of talent over here. Top down, head to bottom, a lot of talent.”
#Vikings WR Jauan Jennings on his fit with Minnesota:
In addition to Jennings, the Vikings’ wide receivers room boasts one of the NFL’s top pass catchers in Justin Jefferson, as well as Jordan Addison.
Jefferson has begun his NFL career with six-straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons and continues to be considered a top wideout in the game, while Addison’s production has dropped year after year in his three seasons amid an array of off-field troubles.
Jennings’ confidence isn’t anything new. The wideout played the 2025 season under a one-year “show-me” type contract and hit every benchmark to earn almost $4 million in incentives before his departure.
As for the comparison, Durant joined a Warriors team that finished their 2015-16 season with a record-breaking 73-9 record, while Jennings joined a Vikings team that went 9-8 in 2025 and failed to reach the postseason.
The Chicago White Sox will be looking to keep it rolling offensively this afternoon at 2:10 p.m. ET against the Minnesota Twins after scoring 15 runs on Wednesday.
With their ace Davis Martin on the mound, my Twins vs. White Sox predictions are targeting Chicago to grab another win in the finale.
Find out more in my MLB picks for Thursday, May 28.
Who will win Twins vs White Sox today: White Sox moneyline (-140)
The Chicago White Sox exploded offensively in the second game of the series, winning 15-2. They've been solid at the dish all year, ranking seventh in runs scored.
The hosts typically give Davis Martin run support as well, as he owns a 7-1 record and 2.04 ERA.
Martin has been lights-out at home this season, compiling a 1.14 ERA.
Minnesota Twins reliever Kendry Rojas will "open" the rubber match. Although he's been solid with a 1.26 ERA across five outings, he's still a reliever, and won't be in there long,. Minnesota's bullpen is poor overall, posting a 4.94 ERA.
I'd play this to -150.
COVERS INTEL: Martin has collected a very impressive 2.29 FIP this season, the lowest mark of his career.
Twins vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-138)
Three of the last five meetings have cashed the Under, and with Martin taking the hill, I expect most of the offense to come from Chicago. He's practically unhittable at home, and the Twins have only scored a total of eight runs so far in this series.
Minnesota enters this game ranked 15th overall in OPS.
It will be a relatively one-sided offensive affair, but don't expect another 10+ runs. I'll play the Under to -140.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 19-13, +5.50 units
Over/Under bets: 19-12, +3.68 units
Twins vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Twins +133 | White Sox -138
Run line: Twins +1.5 (-170) | White Sox -1.5 (+163)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+122) | Under 8.5 (-133)
Twins vs White Sox trend
The White Sox have hit the moneyline in 12 of their last 15 games at home (+9.60 Units / 61% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. White Sox.
How to watch Twins vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Thursday, May 28, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
Twins.TV, CHSN
Twins starting pitcher
Kendry Rojas (1-0, 1.26 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Davis Martin (7-1, 2.04 ERA)
Twins vs White Sox latest injuries
Twins vs White Sox 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.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 27: Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox at bat during the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park on May 27, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before this season, if you threw a paper airplane out of the stands and onto the field [not advised] with Ceddanne Rafaela at the dish, I’m pretty sure he would have swung at it. But things are changing in 2026, and we need to discuss what that means when you stack this sudden and newfound restraint atop his already wonderful bag of tools.
Up until a couple of months ago, all the things that made Rafaela a good baseball player were flashy: The speed, the clutch hits, the athleticism; and of course, his signature ability to play gold glove defense in centerfield with the grace of a gazelle. Here’s a video showcasing some of his best defensive plays from last year:
But we’re not here to talk about those, because the thing that’s transforming Rafaela from a good to potentially great player in 2026 is far more mundane. Here’s a much shorter, and admittedly much less interesting video showcasing what’s making Rafaela so good in 2026:
That may not seem like a huge deal, but that’s Ceddanne Rafaela not swinging at a tempting pitch sweeping out of the zone, and that’s a huge change from previous seasons. It’s subtle when it unfolds early in an at bat, but it’s the key to unlocking his ceiling at the plate — And if we’re being fair, it’s a ceiling that’s far higher than he’s ever been given credit for.
Anyway, here’s what happened later in that same at-bat because he hung around with a little better count leverage and proved to Kerkering he wasn’t going to chase the sweeper:
You want a more recent example? Here’s Rafaela taking another 0-1 pitch on Tuesday. This time, it’s a slider above the zone, which is a location and pitch opponents have always used to get him to chase with great success.
Rafaela has always been able to pound pitches in the zone, and for whatever reason, we’ve largely overlooked that. Perhaps it’s because of his size — he’s listed at 5’10” and a 165 pounds. Perhaps it’s because he’s a defensive first guy. Or maybe it’s because before this year, he’s swing at anything and everything.
Taking away the hyperbole and drilling down on the numbers, Rafaela swung at 59 percent of all the pitches he saw last year, which was the third most among qualified hitters in all of baseball. That was only slightly better than the 62 percent of pitches he swung at in 2024, which was good for the second most in all of baseball.
This year? Out of 188 guys with at least 2.1 plate appearances per team game, Rafaela ranks 73rd in swing percentage, dropping the number to just 48.6 percent of the time.
How about just swinging at the first pitch of an at bat? In both 2024 and 2025, he did that the fourth most of any hitter in baseball. Now, from that same list of 188 players, he’s moved to 71st.
But of course, the most important number revolving around this topic is swinging at pitches out of the zone, and there’s been major improvement there as well. Rafaela went from swinging out of the zone the most in all of baseball in 2024, to second most in 2025, to the 46th most this season at 34.8 percent. That’s not just improvement, that’s potentially finding the keys the castle and transforming as a player.
Furthermore, he’s doing it with a stat that usually solidifies pretty quickly, and if these trends continue, you’re talking about a guy who is going to start finishing in the top ten in MVP voting very soon. Think about it: He’s still just 25-years-old, he plays the best defensive centerfield in the sport, he’s already put up the third most WAR of anybody in a Red Sox uniform since the start of 2024, he’s got above average speed, he plays a premium position, and he’s always had a penchant for clutch knocks.
That last piece of his game was so apparent from the get-go, Coley Mick of the fabulous Section 10 Podcast made this evergreen observation nearly two years ago now:
If you need a hit Rafaela gets a hit if you don’t need the hit he’s largely uninterested in the at bat entirely
But as I watch Rafaela grow as a player this year, I’m starting to develop a theory regarding his clutch hits from previous seasons and his refined approach at the plate in this one. Specially, Rafaela is just a good major league hitter when he swings exclusively at strikes, and he wasn’t doing that during the majority of his plate appearances before 2026. In other words, these things might be connected. Whether Rafaela was just locking in more during high leverage at bats or opposing pitchers had to throw him more strikes with men on base in a sticky spots, it led to increased production in these moments and swinging at more strikes (Rafaela was in the top ten in all of baseball last year in Fangraphs’ clutch metric).
Now, we’re seeing what happens when he makes better swing decisions across the board and adds a semblance of plate discipline to the mix (he could still add more). In other words, we might just be seeing what “clutch Rafaela” looks like when he shows up in all of his at bats throughout every game. Take a look at the across the board improvement in some general big picture batting stats:
We basically just need one more month of patient Rafaela at the plate for the swing numbers to say this is who he is now (again, plate discipline numbers solidify quick), and if that locks in, Roman Anthony and Wilyer Abreu are going to have some competition in terms of who is the best Red Sox outfielder over the next handful of years.
The star Pacers guard who earned villain status in New York after eliminating the Knicks in back-to-back postseasons said the Madison Square Garden crowd is too celebrity-centric and not loud enough.
“A place like New York, they have a lot of passionate fans, and people love the Knicks, but there are a lot of celebrities in there who sometimes get too cool to be super loud,” Haliburton said on the “Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday.
Tyrese Haliburton:
"A place like New York they have a lot of passionate fans of course and people love the Knicks, but there's a lot of celebrities in there and there are sometimes they're like too cool to get super loud vs OKC's" pic.twitter.com/tWErCkoB8e
Haliburton then made an exasperated face when describing the Oklahoma City environment and how hard it is to play there, with Indiana having lost to the Thunder in seven games in last year’s Finals.
He suffered a torn Achilles in Game 7 that ultimately sidelined him for the entire 2025-26 season.
“I think OKC does a great job with kind of having that like college environment in there,” Haliburton continued. “It’s pretty ridiculously loud, so I would say it’s the best environment.”
McAfee joked with Haliburton about the comments regarding the Knicks fans being too cool for school.
“Well, you’re saying that Ben Stiller is not going crazy?” the former punter said. “(Timothée) Chalamet was losing his mind! You better watch your mouth if you talk about Tracy Morgan like this, OK!”
Haliburton has quite the history with New York and its fans.
Ben Stiller cheers the Knicks on courtside. NBAE via Getty Images
He and the Pacers defeated the Knicks in six games in the conference finals last year as the local ran out of gas behind former coach Tom Thibodeau.
The Pacers also eliminated the Knicks in the semifinals in seven games the previous season.
The conference finals began with a heart-wrenching buzzer-beater from Haliburton in Game 1 to send to the contest to overtime, with the guard grabbing his throat to signal a choke, channeling longtime Garden villain and ex-Pacers star Reggie Miller.
Tracy Morgan is on his phone while sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden for Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. NBAE via Getty Images
While the Knicks have mostly the same roster this season, this team is completely different.
The Knicks employ lineup 11 players deep and get excellent use of their bench under coach Mike Brown, who invested in his bench from the get-go and has seen dividends pay off in the postseason.
Brown has elicited phenomenal performances from Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, Miles McBride and more en route to a dominant NBA Finals run.
Tyrese Haliburton with his “choke” motion after his Game 1 shot last year. Jason Szenes / New York Post
Knicks fans have rallied behind them, creating one of the loudest home crowds in the NBA and traveling well to Cleveland and Philadelphia during this raucous run.
After the Game 1 comeback win over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, Ringer founder and podcaster Bill Simmons said that the Knicks fans were “the best crowd of the year” as they cheered their squad to a 22-point comeback in less than eight minutes.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 24: Ville Koivunen #41 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Colorado Avalanche at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Vitals
Player: Ville Koivunen Born: June 13, 2003 (22 years old) Height: 6’0 Weight: 184 pounds Hometown: Oulu, Finland Shoots: Left Drafted: 2021 second-round, No. 51 overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes 2025-26 Regular Season Statistics: 39 games played, 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 total points, -10 Contract Status: Koivunen is a restricted free agent this summer
Story of the Season
After a promising debut in the NHL at the end of the 2024-25 season, Koivunen earned a spot on the opening night roster and was initially playing a top-six role. But things never really clicked for him at the NHL level, he eventually found himself back in the American Hockey League, and spent the 2025-26 season bouncing between the two levels. While he put up impressive numbers in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the second year in a row (he has been a point-per-game player with 97 points in 97 regular season games), it has not yet consistently translated to the NHL. The Penguins tried to go younger this season. A lot of the players they put into positions at the NHL level did not fully take advantage of it. At least not yet.
With just four points in his first 25 games, Koivunen never found any sort of consistency with his production and did not yet develop the scoring touch or playmaking that the Penguins were hoping for.
Even when he came back up at the end of the regular season the offense he was displaying in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton never carried over with zero goals and just two assists over his final 12 games of the season in March and April.
Regular season 5v5 advanced stats
Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 18 forwards on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.
Everything about this chart is positively hilarious, at least in some sort of bizarre, twisted way. He is either first or last in nearly every category.
All of the possession and scoring chance metrics? First. All of the actual goals scored and goals created metrics? Last. An enormous disconnect and basically makes him a newer version of Dominik Simon.
On one hand, it is positive that he pushes play and helps generate opportunities. That is important. There is value in that. It is also immensely frustrating that it does not turn into anything tangible on the scoreboard. That is going to have to start changing if he is going to be a regular in the top-six, or even in the top-nine. It is going to have to start changing rapidly.
The big question is simply can he translate the AHL production into NHL production, and can he turn the territorial edge the Penguins get with him on the ice into something that becomes actuals goals?
There were countless times during the season where Koivunen would seem to be in a prime scoring position with a chance to score, only to have his shot get blocked or deflected away from the net. Is his decision-making and shot just a split second too slow for the NHL? There is a fine line between success and failure at the highest level, and openings that exist in the minor leagues are not going to be there as long in the NHL. Any small hesitation is going to take away the opportunity you have in front of you.
Ideal 2026-27
He does not need to be a star, but he needs to show something.
He needs to produce something.
An ideal season for Koivunen would be sticking in the NHL for the entire season, and showing that he can at least contribute in the middle-six forward group and give them (and him) something to build on.
Give them 15 goals. Give them 30-35 points. Take a step forward. Become an NHL player.
Bottom line
Koivunen has nothing left to prove at the AHL level, and we are getting close to make-or-break time with the Penguins. That might seem like a harsh thing to say about a 23-year-old, especially when development is different for every player, but if you are going to a top-six or top-line player you probably need to start showing something by this age. You do not need to be at your peak or your absolute best. But you need to do something.
At this point he is starting to go from prospect to suspect.
He is almost certain to get re-signed as a restricted free agent, but it is going to be a short-term “prove it” deal. It is going to be all on him to actually start proving it.
Final Grade: D+
It was a very disappointing season for Koivunen, at least as it relates to his NHL play.
There were positives, especially with the ability to help drive possession. But the Penguins expected to see, and wanted to see, more offense from him. The talent is there. The creativity is there. He just needs to bring it all together.
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 17: Cleveland Indians President Chris Antonetti looks on before an exhibition game between the Indians and the Chicago Cubs at Cashman Field on March 17, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David J. Becker/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians are playing sudoku with their long-term roster plan, using hints we can’t easily see.
Actually, pretty much any organization worth its salt treats roster management eerily similar to a sudoku puzzle. I’ll elaborate on that strange claim, of course, but before I do, let’s take a look at the unique mechanics of the puzzle the Guardians are trying to solve…
The rules of the roster puzzle.
If I’m Chris Antonetti or Mike Chernoff, I probably have this image (or one like it) pinned to a wall near my desk:
13 MLB hitters. 13 MLB pitchers. And at least 7 depth options stashed in the upper minors who could contribute at the MLB level if needed. This is what a major league ballclub needs in order to compete for a playoff berth, and ultimately, a World Series.
So what does “solving” this puzzle look like? Here’s my best effort at describing the objective:
Put together a roster with the best possible chance of winning a World Series within the next four years.
Winning a title is the organization’s stated goal, they’re currently contenders on paper, and it’s exponentially more difficult to accurately predict what the team will look like any further down the road than 2029. This parameter also lines up well with the fact that several of their MLB regulars become free agents after the 2029 season.
It’s a daunting puzzle, obviously. But much like sudoku, the puzzle starts with a couple of freebies.
The Proven Core Like any team, the Guardians already have several proven MLB veterans they can rely on for relatively predictable production in any given year. Here’s what the puzzle looks like after adding those players…
All of these players are under team control through 2029, and barring major injuries or extremely dramatic performance decline, all seven will be on every Opening Day roster (and playoff roster) for the next four seasons.
With these seven players, over 20% of the puzzle is complete. It doesn’t seem like much, but as with sudoku, it’s enough to get started. And there are some exciting players that fit in nicely around them on the roster.
The Safe Bets
The next group of answers comes in the form of some players who have less experience, but have shown enough talent and staying power to merit a long, long leash at the MLB level.
These six players are worth plugging into the puzzle with confidence. While there’s some risk that they won’t pan out, they’re such safe bets that it’s worth committing to them for the foreseeable future, and building the rest of the puzzle around them. That’s good news, because it gets much trickier from here.
The Gotta See ‘Ems The third group of players are all prospects, which means they introduce something new to the equation: genuine bust risk. The truth is, even Top 100 prospects only develop into average MLB regulars about 25% of the time.
Still, when you’re an organization with a long window of contention ahead and one of your top prospects fills an organizational need, the responsible thing to do is to see what they can do, and stick with them as long as you can.
These six prospects are all less than a year away from the big leagues, and have the potential to be top ten players at their positions. In the case of the relievers, it’s easy to carve out a spot for all of them.
For each of the position players, however, there isn’t a clear path to everyday playing time as of right now. So while the responsible thing to do is give them time to develop at the MLB level, tough decisions will eventually need to be made. Is being part-timers in MLB a good use of their value? Or will they (or someone blocking them) need to be traded to fill an area of greater need?
In order to make that decision, we probably need to fill in more of the puzzle.
The Chance Earners
Not every answer in a puzzle feels perfect when you write it in. The Guardians have a few players who have shown flashes of potential through some inconsistencies. While they may not all be extraordinarily exciting in terms of ceiling, they’ve all shown enough to prove they deserve a job for the time being.
Kahlil Watson is still at AAA, but tearing it up despite a somewhat flawed approach at the plate. David Fry is more of a DH than a left fielder, but so is Ralphy Velazquez, and they both fit well into this puzzle. Kyle Manzardo has been absolutely terrible in 2026, but he showed potential in 2026; Angel Martinez is the reverse of that.
Remarkably, most of the 26-man roster is filled by this point. And every player here is under team control through at least 2029, with the exception of David Fry (2028).
With that said, three questions remain:
1. How do we fill that last SP and RP spot? 2. Who’s our depth? 3. What do we do with the rest of the players currently on the roster or in the upper minors?
#2 is the easiest to answer, so let’s start there.
The Fringe Major Leaguers
Like any team, the Guardians have a few players who have been given all the opportunity in the world to prove themselves at the MLB level, but never really panned out.
With depth roles, there’s a limitation simply because players have a limited number of options. So unlike previous pieces of the puzzle, depth is more of a short-term outlook.
Slade Cecconi’s inclusion here was a difficult call, but at this point, he has a 5.14 ERA and 4.79 FIP across 281 career innings. We pretty much know who he is, and it’s not a dependable major league pitcher.
The Interesting Enoughs
The bar isn’t high for depth pieces. All an organization really needs from a depth spot is a guy who has enough talent to put up quality at bats/pitch quality innings, but it’s a nice bonus if that player has the potential to become an MLB mainstay.
CJ Kayfus gets the nod here for having more options than Valera. Juan Brito makes the cut in spite of his prospect stock tanking after a dreadful first look in MLB.
For long-term depth relievers, I actually had to go all the way down to the AA level because the AAA bullpen is so terrible outside of Aleman/Espino/Walters. Fortunately, depth relievers are pretty easy to come by, and the Guardians are good at spinning straw into gold in this department anyway.
So how do we go about filling the last SP and RP slot? Here’s my best effort.
The Whatever Remains
These two players are the best long-term options that the Guardians have in house.
Stephen has struggled with command in AAA, but has a much higher ceiling in general than Cecconi. Herrin has gone through highs and lows, but he’s a veteran southpaw in the ‘pen and the club will probably hang onto him.
So… the puzzle is complete now, right? Right??
The Extra Pieces
Turns out, there are at least two major differences between roster building and sudoku…
1. Each spot in the puzzle doesn’t necessarily have one perfect answer.
2. There are more players than there are spaces to write them all.
These players would make excellent trade chips if the Guardians decide to make a big playoff push at some point, but they also make great backup plans if some of the guys penciled into the puzzle don’t pan out.
Regardless, we’ve filled in the puzzle! So we’re done, right? Well… not exactly.
Finding the real solution.
Sure, we’ve filled in the puzzle the best we can, but remember, this is was the criteria we used for solving it:
Put together a roster with the best possible chance of winning a World Series within the next four years. If I’m Antonetti and Chernoff, I’m proud of how this puzzle looks after using internal options only. But I’m also smart enough to realize that this roster does not have a very good chance of winning a title. Looking at the board right now, I’d be asking myself some tough questions, including…
1. What are my best options to improve my 1B/DH situation? 2. Is Angel Genao’s value really utilized appropriately as a backup infielder, or or should I maximize it by making him a trade chip?
3. What am I willing to give up in order to upgrade the top of my rotation? 4. Can I stomach Ingle’s defense enough to shoehorn him into a backup catcher role? 5. How long am I willing to wait for Steven Kwan to turn things around before deciding it’s time to move on?6. Which external trade candidates are actually available for a cost I’m comfortable with?
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Some puzzles take time. The truth is that as much effort as we put into this exercise, the answers and outlook will continue to change as players develop, break out, bust, fall off, or rebound. We’ll almost never be able to put together a set of answers that still look satisfying a couple of months later.
Regardless, viewing roster building through this lens can give us some key insights into a front office’s process. It also may help us realize how tough these decisions can be, and why a lot of patience is necessary in order to make the right choices.
I’d imagine that if we can all find some of that patience within us, we’re much more likely to enjoy watching the answers take shape.
You knew the Cubs’ losing streak wasn’t going to last forever.
Right? Right?
The Cubs exploded with a 14-hit, seven-walk, two-homer offense and crushed the Pirates 10-4 Wednesday evening in Pittsburgh, at last ending their 10-game losing streak. The 10 runs were as many as they had score in the last six games of the streak — combined.
The onslaught began in the first inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong had an excellent at-bat, working a 10-pitch walk. Nico Hoerner singled him to second. Michael Busch also walked, loading the bases.
You could have been forgiven at that point if you thought, “In what soul-crushing yet entertaining fashion will they fail to score in this situation?”
Seiya Suzuki, unfortunately, hit into a double play but the Cubs had a two-run lead. They’d led in only two other games during the entire losing streak.
That’s when the home run bug bit Jameson Taillon again. A walk, single and three-run homer by Brandon Lowe tied the game 3-3. Lowe, who spent his entire career with the Rays until this year, has absolutely worn out Cubs pitching this year: .350/.435/.850 (7-for-20) with three home runs. I’ll be glad after today when the Cubs don’t have to see him again until after the All-Star break. Maybe by then they’ll be able to figure out how to slow him down.
A not-so-fun fact about that homer from BCB’s JohnW53:
The three-run homer off Jameson Taillon that wiped out a three-run lead was the 12th of its kind surrendered by the Cubs since 2021.
The previous one was Sept. 25 of last season, by Brett Baty of the Mets at Wrigley Field in the fourth inning off Shota Imanaga. It made the score 3-3.
The Cubs gave up four such homers in 2024, including one by TJ Friedl of the Reds off Jameson Taillon at home. It also made the score 3-3, as did three of the others, served up by Adbert Alzolay to Jack Suwinski of the Pirates in 2022, and by Jeremiah Estrada to Fernando Tatis of the Padres and by Jose Cuas to Joshua Palacios of the Pirates, both in 2023. All were at Wrigley.
The Cubs took the lead again in the fourth. Dansby Swanson hit a two-out double and PCA doubled him in [VIDEO].
But Taillon again could not keep the ball in the yard. Konnor Griffin’s solo homer tied the game. For Taillon it was the 19th home run he had allowed this year in 60.1 innings, yikes. That’s on top of 10 homers he allowed in Spring Training in just 13.1 innings. The 19 homers is four more than anyone else in MLB (Zack Littell of the Nationals, 15).
Taillon was removed after five innings and Jacob Webb threw a 1-2-3 sixth, striking out all three batters he faced. After a rough start to his 2026 season, Webb’s been really good lately.
Then the Cubs blew the game open in the seventh.
Michael Busch was hit by a pitch and Bregman doubled him to third.
The scorebug on that clip says that the homer was on Pirates reliever Yohan Ramirez’s eighth pitch but looking at the pitch-by-pitch, Busch had a five-pitch at-bat before he was hit and both Bregman and Happ jumped on the first pitch. Pretty efficient, seven pitches, three runs.
The Cubs weren’t done in that inning, either!
Seiya Suzuki singled off Ramirez and the Pirates brought in reliever Justin Lawrence to face Michael Conforto, who was batting for Kevin Alcántara.
The Cubs’ seventh inning was their first of the season with six runs. They scored seven on May 7 in an 8-3 win at home over the Reds. They scored five in three games, all between April 1 and 13.
Phil Maton, Caleb Thielbar and Ethan Roberts finished up with one scoreless inning each. They allowed two hits total, walked two and struck out two. Maton got this double-play ball to end the seventh [VIDEO]. The Pirates challenged both calls and were wrong on both.
Now that’s the way to end a losing streak, just blast out of it with a huge offensive display. In addition to all the runs, hits and walks, the Cubs had five hits with RISP (okay, 5-for-16, but still). They could have had even more runs, as they left 13 on base. That’s not a complaint, just a comment. Speaking of comments, here are Craig Counsell’s postgame remarks [VIDEO].
The comments are spot-on. A game like this really takes the pressure of that streak off, gives the guys a chance to have some happy moments in the dugout, and hopefully resets everything so, perhaps, another winning streak can follow.
One more fact from John:
This was the Cubs’ sixth game of the season with at least 10 runs: four between March 28 and April 17, then May 15 in a 10-5 win at the White Sox, their last win before Wednesday.
Which is, of course, interesting — they book-ended the losing streak with two 10-run outbursts. Hopefully there are more of those to come. The 10-run game put the Cubs back in sixth place in MLB in runs, passing the Brewers. The seven walks allowed them to maintain their MLB lead in that category, with 255 — that’s 4.55 walks per game, or a pace for 738, which would shatter the franchise record (656, set in 2016).
The win pulled the Cubs out of a last-place tie with the Pirates, and combined with the Cardinals’ loss to the Brewers, the Cubs are now in a virtual tie with St. Louis (one percentage point behind) for second place, 4.5 games behind Milwaukee. 106 games remain in the 2026 season. There’s plenty of time to turn this ship around.
And the Cubs now have the opportunity to split this four-game series, though it will not be easy, with Paul Skenes starting for the Pirates. Colin Rea will go for the Cubs. Game time is 5:40 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
Do not underestimate the power of cultural awareness and understanding in the international world of basketball. For Masai Ujiri, new Dallas Mavericks president and alternate general manager, navigating in multiple languages, customs, cultures and traditions is nothing new.
Born in England, raised in Nigeria, an executive in the American National Basketball Association over the last decades, Masai Ujiri is about as international as it gets.
Back when he was traveling the world as an international scout – at the time he got to know new Dallas Mavericks general manager Mike Schmitz – it must have given him an advantage compared to many in that world because of his background and exposure to different cultures early on.
One of the side effects – or bonuses – of being born into a world of multiple nationalities and cultures, is the fact that you learn how to adapt and adjust quickly. You learn the skill of observation – how do people do things here, what’s the unwritten rules, what is frowned upon – and you learn how to fit in no matter where you go.
That must have served as a major advantage for Masai Ujiri, as he found his footing in the international world of global basketball and started putting those skills to good use, both when scouting – and when networking. Something he is reportedly very good at.
Ujiri, who’s described as well-respected and charming, has always been good at making and keeping connections. Acquaintances even call him “very sweet” and “very thoughtful”. And very good at finding talent and creating an atmosphere that allows players to reach their full potential.
He started out as an unpaid scout with the Orlando Magic back in 2002 and moved to a paid scouting position with the Denver Nuggets in 2003. Seven years later, he was named the team’s general manager.
After winning the NBA’s Executive of the Year award with the Nuggets, he moved to Toronto. The Toronto Raptors then made the playoffs eight times during his 12 years in charge. Oh ya, and won their only championship in franchise history in 2019.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 13: General Manager of the Toronto Raptors Masai Ujiri celebrates his teams victory over the Golden State Warriors to win Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 13, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Understanding talent, and not being afraid to look outward and in new places to find hidden gems, Ujiri was part of drafting international players from places most people wouldn’t even have considered.
There’s Jakob Poeltl, an Austrian center, who the Raptors picked in 2016 with the number nine pick. And that same year, they used their number 27 pick to get a completely unknown wing player from Cameroon, who hadn’t played organized basketball for very long. That was Pascal Siakam, now a four-time NBA All-Star.
Ujiri’s international background has clearly helped make him a good judge of character. He also earned the reputation of being bold.
Working in the trenches of the scouting world for years, he met, connected and built relationships with numerous people all over the world. One of them is Mike Schmitz. And as soon as Masai Ujiri was offered the job as Dallas Mavericks president, he knew he wanted to bring Mike Schmitz along.
“You track people along the way, you pin-point those that stand out or those that have the talent you want for particular jobs, and he’s one of them,” Masai Ujiri said of Schmitz right after it became public that he had hired him as general manager earlier this month.
“I’ve done a lot of scouting internationally,” Schmitz said of Ujiri when he was introduced, “and when I first got in the scouting space and was out and about on the road, we’ve been in the same gyms for years and years.”
“Whether that’s in Africa, in Europe or in the states, I’m really thankful for that relationship and him bringing me on.”
According to Ujiri, Schmitz has a talent for finding hidden treasures and is not afraid to make bold decisions. Traits Ujiri seems to value highly.
Mike Schmitz worked as an assistant general manager for the Portland Trail Blazers the last four seasons, and was part of finding talents like Deni Avdija from Israel, who made the All-Star team this season. They also drafted a long list of future NBA talent. Before that, Schmitz worked as a draft analyst for ESPN and DraftExpress.com.
“I’ve known him (Mike Schmitz) for many, many years,” Ujiri said. “He’s an incredible scout, an incredible leader. He digs deep into work, data, and what you want to know about really scouting a player, team building, all those things.”
“Treating people well, scout organizing, managing people, it’s a whole package you want and it’s very important that we set a tone now for this organization because the fans, the organization, you (media) guys, everybody deserves that.”
And going back years also matters when it comes to something pivotal in business: trust.
“Obviously, we’ve had a long-standing relationship,” Schmitz said. “And I think just him being able to trust in me, and me being able to lean on him in a variety of different areas, so I think it’s going to work great.”
And hopefully, with this new leadership that doesn’t seem afraid to look outward and to try new things, hidden gems, diamonds in the rough and already successful players from other leagues will be considered in the same way as players who take the traditional route to the best league in the world.
Since parting ways with the Toronto Raptors last year, Masai Ujiri has spent most of his time working with his nonprofit, Giants of Africa, which puts on basketball camps, builds courts and provides education opportunities to children around Africa and in Nigeria, where he was raised.
Giants of Africa Unveils 50th Basketball Court at King’s College, Lagos. Giants of Africa, a non-profit organisation co-founded by Dallas Mavericks President, Masai Ujiri, has inaugurated its 50th community basketball court in Africa, reaching the… https://t.co/soljwJ5z80pic.twitter.com/NZRwGsGr1U
COVERS INTEL: Boston’s MLB-worst .118 ISO against four-seamers sets up perfectly for Sale. Play Braves Run Line -1.5 (+127)
