The Premier League afternoon got under way with three games, 10 goals and three score draws
4 mins: A tasty cross from the right for Newcastle, but nobody gets on the end of it. Here’s the top of the Scottish Premiership as it stands:
The final whistle has blown in the Old Firm game at Celtic Park, where Celtic came from behind to beat Rangers 3-1 and keep the heat on Hearts. The top two play each other next Saturday in their final game of the season, with both also playing in midweek.
One player has shined the brightest on the NBA playoff stage, and his name is not LeBron James, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves.
It’s Rui Hachimura.
Playing on a court with superstars, future Hall of Famers and generational icons, Hachimura has been the best player in the Western Conference semifinal series between the Lakers and Thunder.
“He’s a talented guy. He plays like a Japanese [Michael] Jordan,” said Thunder center Chet Holmgren of Hachimura. “He can really make shots and make shots in bunches. You can’t let him get hot.”
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura drives to the basket against Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Holmgren was complimentary of Hachimura because both played at Gonzaga, but his analysis still rings true. You can’t let him get hot, and right now in this series Hachimura is scorching.
He’s shooting a blistering 58% from 3-point range in the postseason. He’s averaging 18.3 points in this series. To drag Hachimura’s 3-point percentage below 40, he’d have to miss 46 straight 3s. All this as a quiet, corner-dwelling forward whose job description is that of a role player and not a headliner.
To drag Hachimura’s 3-point percentage below 40, he’d have to miss 46 straight 3s. NBAE via Getty Images
And yet, through three lopsided losses, he’s been the most consistent Laker on the court and one of the few players who has kept them in games before everything eventually unravels.
What makes Hachimura’s performance this postseason even more remarkable is that he’s doing it all without the ball in his hands. LeBron and Reaves are the Lakers’ primary ball handlers. Heck, even Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard handle the ball at times.
But there are no play calls for Hachimura. No high pick-and-rolls. No offense built around him. No 3-pointers off a perimeter screen or dribble penetration. Just patience and timing. Hachimura waits for the pass that may or may not come, but he delivers when it does.
What makes Hachimura’s postseason performance more remarkable is that he’s doing it without the ball in his hands. NBAE via Getty Images
“Rui has been shooting lights out and has been playing really well for us,” Kennard said after Game 3, in which not much else went right for the Lakers.
Game 3, when the Lakers’ backs were against a wall, should have been a night when LA pushed back against the defending champs and won its first game of this series. Instead, it became yet another reminder of the large gap between these teams. Especially without Dončić.
Even as Hachimura led the Lakers with a team-high 21 points and knocked down five 3s, the Lakers still got steamrolled by the Thunder, 131-108. One stat in particular was even more shocking. In their eight playoff games entering Saturday, every time the Lakers outshot their opponent from the perimeter, they won the game. Game 3 was the first time they outshot OKC in the series, and they still got run out of the building.
That tells you everything you need to know about this matchup.
The fact that Hachimura has been able to stay this hot against this elite defensive team is even more impressive. NBAE via Getty Images
As we’ve been telling you all along, the Thunder are just better. They’re operating on a different plane of existence than the Lakers now. OKC has won all three games by an average of nearly 20 points; that’s the worst playoff point differential in Lakers’ franchise history.
The fact that Hachimura has been able to stay this hot, this consistent, against this elite defensive team is even more impressive. But he’s also quietly making himself more expensive.
Hachimura will be a free agent at the end of the season, and he’s about to hit the open market.
Hachimura signed a three-year, $51 million deal before the 2023 season. It felt reasonable then. It feels like a bargain now. In a league starving for playoff performers, especially ones who don’t need the ball, can stretch the floor and punish mistakes, Hachimura is about to create a bidding war for his services.
There’s no doubt that teams will line up to sign him. They always do for role players like this. We expect him to get offered a deal somewhere in the four-year, $80 million to $100 million range.
Can the Lakers afford that? Maybe, but they’re staring at a financial puzzle that borders on impossible.
James, Reaves, Maxi Kleber, Kennard, Deandre Ayton, Smart and Jaxson Hayes all can be free agents June 30. All of them will command money. The Lakers will be forced to make some tough decisions. You can’t afford to pay everyone. That’s just the reality of the NBA.
But here’s one reality that fans should talk about: If the Lakers let Hachimura walk for nothing, then they’re not just losing a role player.
They’re losing their most consistent playoff performer. The one guy who showed up for every game this series against the reigning champions.
Not LeBron. Not Reaves. Not Dončić.
And sometimes, in a league obsessed with superstars, the quiet role players end up being the most costly to replace.
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The Knicks head to Philadelphia tonight looking to complete a second-round sweep of the 76ers after dominating the first three games of the series by nearly 20 points per contest.
With New York one win away from another trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, I’m breaking down the best Knicks vs. 76ers props for Game 4, along with today’s top NBA picks and full Knicks vs 76ers predictions.
Best Knicks vs 76ers props for Game 4
Player
Pick
Jalen Brunson
Over 27.5 points
-110
Karl-Anthony Towns
Over 5.5 assists
+102
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Over 1.5 made threes
+120
Game 4 Prop #1: Jalen Brunson Over 27.5 points
-110 at bet365
He’s known as Captain Clutch for a reason. In his four seasons with the Knicks, Jalen Brunson has improved his scoring average by an average of 3.2 points per game in the playoffs. He’s scoring 28 points this postseason, up from 26 in the regular season. Against the Sixers, he’s found another gear, averaging 31.3 points per game in the series.
Brunson is taking more than 20 shots per game this series, and that volume should continue. OG Anunoby missed the last game and is a game-time decision Sunday with a hamstring injury, meaning the offense may lean even more heavily on Brunson. Coach Mike Brown joked that Brunson is his “security blanket,” and that has certainly been the case throughout this matchup.
Despite the increased volume, Brunson is shooting over 50% from the field this series and has also elevated his free-throw efficiency from the regular season.
Game 4 Prop #2: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 5.5 assists
+102 at bet365
The Knicks center is turning into a facilitator this postseason. After averaging 3.0 assists per game during the regular season, Karl-Anthony Towns has boosted that number to 6.2 in the playoffs and 6.7 in the current series.
New York appears to have unlocked something with Towns’ passing midway through the first-round series against Atlanta. He has recorded six or more assists in six straight games, and the Knicks have won all six.
Towns’ scoring numbers have dipped while battling Joel Embiid inside, but that has created more opportunities for him to facilitate. With Brunson and Mikal Bridges both thriving offensively, Towns should continue finding open shooters rather than forcing difficult looks against Embiid.
Game 4 Prop #3: Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 1.5 made threes
+120 at bet365
The Sixers’ top scorers have struggled badly in this series. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are both averaging roughly 10 fewer points than their regular-season numbers, while Paul George and VJ Edgecombe have also seen offensive drop-offs.
That has forced Kelly Oubre Jr. to take on a bigger scoring role. After averaging 14.1 points during the regular season, Oubre has elevated that to 17.7 points per game in the series against New York.
He’s shooting 50% from the field and 46.2% from deep in the matchup, averaging two made threes per game. With Embiid limited physically and the Knicks' defense collapsing on Philadelphia’s primary scorers, Oubre should continue getting quality perimeter looks.
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HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 26: Jeff Green #32 of the Houston Rockets smiles during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jeff Green is the ultimate bench guy. The 39-year-old Uncle Jeff shows the young players how to operate as a professional, how to be ready night-in and night-out, how navigate the pitfalls of a life partially on the road, and basic emotional support to an overall young team. It’s been valuable.
But on the court, Green’s goose is pretty much cooked. Green played in just 30 contests this season, averaging just 5.8 minutes per game. His per night averages of 2.2 points on 0.8 rebounds were the lowest of his career.
Green’s contract is also up, making him an unrestricted free agent. In addition, as we saw in the playoffs, if nothing else changes this season, Houston absolutely needs an influx of bench talent — skilled bench talent that can shoot and/or make plays. You can see where I’m going with this.
Green helps with none of those.
Sadly, it looks to me like it just may be time to part ways with Uncle Jeff. The locker room stuff is great and all, but this is a team that is looking to take the next step from above average/good up to the next tier of good/great. To do that, each roster spot needs to be maximized. I no longer think the Rockets can afford to roster a locker room guy that doesn’t help on the court.
Green’s three seasons with the Rockets are a nice swan song for the veteran, but as we saw recently with another Rockets locker room guy — Boban Marjanovich — there comes a time to ride off into the sunset, and with the Rockets likely to do at least a little shuffling this offseason, particularly on the margins, this just might be it for old Unc.
If it is, we loved having him in Houston, and when the Rockets were still babies, his presence was invaluable. But as the team grows up and the Rockets look to continue to improve, re-signing a guy who’ll be over 40 by the time the season starts who’s not named LeBron James isn’t exactly a path to a title. We appreciate you, Uncle Jeff. But if he remains on the roster next season, I’ll believe that Rockets GM Rafael Stone hasn’t fully done his job to improve.
Hickory’s Saturday and Sunday games have been cancelled due to a fire in the visitor’s clubhouse.
Hub City starter Ismael Agreda allowed allowed a homer to Devin Fitz-Gerald to lead off the game, then allowed just one more run in five innings, walking one and striking out seven. With Hickory not going, A.J. Russell, who was slated to pitch for Hickory on Saturday, made his high-A debut for Hub City. He struck out four in three perfect innings. Joey Danielson struck out two in a scoreless inning.
Gleider Figuereo tripled. Maxon Martin was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Malcolm Moore had a pair of hits. Paxton Kling had a hit.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 22: Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics smile after the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 22, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Tracy McGrady is clarifying his comments about Jaylen Brown.
After previously saying he believed Brown’s frustration “lies deeply within the organization,” McGrady said Saturday on NBC’s “NBA Showtime” that Brown had not personally told him he was frustrated with the Celtics. Instead, McGrady said he was speaking as an analyst based on what he had observed publicly.
Tracy McGrady, Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter discuss comments about Jaylen Brown and the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/wTen4d5JUA
“I haven’t talked to Jaylen at all about this,” McGrady said. “I just know my friend, and when I see certain things, I see frustration.”
Quite the change-up from what T-Mac said earlier this week.
McGrady’s initial comments, made on “Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady,” quickly made the rounds after the Celtics’ season ended with a first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. In the clip, McGrady said Brown’s frustration “lies deeply within the organization” and referenced “a lot of stuff” he had been hearing around the Celtics organization and Brown.
McGrady has a long-standing relationship with Brown, so it was easy to understand why those comments were interpreted as more than an outside read. McGrady’s wording sure made it seem like he was passing along something Brown had told him directly.
On Saturday, McGrady pushed back on that idea.
“I’m part of the media, so if I see something, I’m gonna speak about it,” McGrady said. “I think they haven’t really separated my friendship versus me being an analyst and talking about this. It was nothing that we had a conversation about.”
McGrady pointed to Brown’s public comments after Game 7, including Brown saying he found out shortly before tip that Jayson Tatum would not play, as well as Brown’s post-elimination Twitch comments about officiating, which resulted in a $50,000 fine from the NBA.
“Because I have a relationship with Jaylen, I know him and I know how he acts,” McGrady said. “So, watching this series, how it unfolds, watching the behavior change and uncharacteristics of who I know Jaylen is, so it looked like he was frustrated to me.”
Tracy McGrady says Jaylen Brown is frustrated with the Celtics organization 😳
That is a very different thing than reporting that Brown privately expressed frustration with the Celtics organization, something both Jaylen and Brad Stevens had to deny in streaming and media appearances, respectively.
McGrady is certainly allowed to interpret what he sees. After all, that’s part of the job. But this is also where modern sports discourse can get messy. A comment from someone with a personal relationship to a player that sounds rooted in truth can quickly turn into a bigger story, especially when it involves a star player, a disappointing playoff exit and an offseason already filled with trade speculation.
Brown has repeatedly pushed back against questions about his future. After Boston’s season ended, he called this past year his favorite and said he would stay in Boston for another decade if the decision were up to him.
McGrady and Brown have known each other for years, which is exactly why McGrady’s original comments carried weight. It is also why the clarification was necessary.
T-Mac may still believe Brown looked frustrated. Given the way Boston’s season ended, that would not exactly be shocking. But according to McGrady, Brown never told him that directly.
If this is any indication of how conversations around Brown will be handled this summer, it’s going to be a very long offseason in Boston.
David Moyes’s European dream is now hanging by a slender thread. Against a Crystal Palace side who have been distracted by their Conference League exploits, Everton were unable to take their opportunity to close the gap on their rivals as Jean-Philippe Mateta came off the bench to equalise after they had twice been ahead, through goals from James Tarkowski and Beto.
It could have been even worse for Moyes had Adam Wharton’s shot not struck the outside of a post in the 90th minute. In a frantic finish, Dean Henderson denied Iliman Ndiaye in stoppage time before Mateta missed a great chance to win it for Oliver Glasner’s side.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 09: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres reacts after hitting an RBI single during the fifth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park on May 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres really needed a win. They’d take it any way that they could get it, eking out a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals after failing to score a single run in 21 consecutive innings until Ty France’s fifth inning home run.
It was all the runs that they would need, with starter Randy Vásquez pitching five solid innings of one-run ball and Jeremiah Estrada, Jason Adam and Mason Miller each pitching scoreless appearances in relief. However, Adrian Morejon did allow a run in 2/3 of an inning in the top of the eighth.
Miller regained the MLB lead in saves by pitching his 12th of the season. He was briefly tied for the lead with Cards closer Riley O’Brien and Cade Smith of the Cleveland Guardians.
Miller pitched a four-out save for just the second time this season, and struggled with command in the ninth inning, issuing back-to-back walks to the first two batters. Miller worked out of the jam by striking out four (yes, that’s right) and secured the win for San Diego.
The Friars will need their offense to produce a little more if they hope to take the finale and salvage a split with St. Louis after dropping the first two games.
Taking the mound
Kyle Leahy (STL) v. Walker Buehler (SD)
In doing so, they’ll face Leahy. The young right-hander has yet to find any legitimate success in his MLB career. He’s spent his career in the St. Louis bullpen and was stretched out before this season in order to bolster the Cards’ rotation depth.
Leahy has been a serviceable back-end starter in the rotation with a 4.93 ERA across his first seven starts. His lasting outing against the Milwaukee Brewers was one of his best, pitching 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Heading into his eighth start of the season, he’ll look to continue that bounce back against the Friars.
The Padres will have Buehler on the bump for them, who has also struggled with consistency in his 2026 with San Diego. He’s pitched to a. 5.64 ERA across 30 1/3 innings.
But Buehler is likely pitching to save his spot on the roster. If he can’t turn things around, he’ll soon be supplanted by the recently-signed Lucas Giolito. Should Buehler stumble in today’s finale against the Red Birds, that decision would be even easier for the Padres’ front office to make.
Batter up!
The Friars haven’t faced Leahy very much before, with him only working out of the bullpen prior to this year. But what they have seen of him has been difficult, with only two hits across a combined 17 at-bats. But that was before Leahy transitioned into a full-time starter role. Now that he’s in that role, the Padres should fare much better against the righty.
Jackson Merrill, CF
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Manny Machado, 3B
Gavin Sheets, LF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Miguel Andujar, DH
Ty France, 1B
Sung-Mun Song, 2B
Rodolfo Durán, C
Tatis was raised to the second spot in the lineup after batting fifth for the last few games. He rewarded skipper Craig Stammen for that faith immediately, hitting a two-run, go-ahead single in the fifth to win the game for the Friars.
Durán had a tough MLB debut, though he caught starter Michael King incredibly well (and was lauded by King after the game). At the plate, the catcher went 0-for-3 and will hope to improve in today’s contest.
Machado’s home run in yesterday’s contest was an encouraging sign that the third baseman may be heating up. He’s been solid to start the year, but has struggled to find a consistent rhythm at the plate. If he can turn that around it would be a huge development for the Padres’ offense.
Relief corps
The Padres used all of their high-leverage relievers to finish out yesterday’s win. Estrada and Adam each pitched hitless inning before Morejon hit some trouble. He allowed a run and only record two outs in the eighth before Miller was called upon to get a four-out save.
He did so swimmingly, though Miller made it more interesting than the Friar Faithful would have liked. After walking the first two batters, he struck out the next three. But catcher Freddy Fermin dropped the third strike to Yohel Pozo, allowing him to reach first base and load the bases. With the top of the order now up, Miller struck out JJ Wetherholt in four pitches to end the rally.
In today’s finale, the Friars will have to hope that Buehler can pitch better than he has lately. Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, Wandy Peralta and Bradgley Rodriguez represent mostly lower leverage options who could easily give up the lead in a close game.
That being said, all of them are able to cover multiple innings. If Buehler falters, they’ll easily cover the remaining innings for San Diego.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 17: Carlos Rodón #55 of the New York Yankees poses for a photo during Spring Training Photo Day at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 17, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The road back from injury has reached its final stop for Carlos Rodón, who was activated this morning by the Yankees on the day of his season debut against the Milwaukee Brewers, adding talent to an already stacked rotation. To make room for Rodón’s addition to the MLB roster, the Yankees will send down right-hander Kervin Castro, whose time with the big league club was short-lived.
Utilizing a window in between different “starters” as Brendan Beck filled in as the bulk man in a Ryan Weathers illness-caused bullpen game before Rodón was ready for his first start, the Yankees added Castro to deepen their bullpen for a few games. Castro ended up covering two innings, allowing one run and striking out two in Friday’s shutout loss to the Brewers, and now returns to Triple-A. It was his first big-league action for any team since 2022.
Moving up gradually through the Yankees’ minor league system, Rodón makes his season debut with the big league club, having completed exactly one start in High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A—the latest of these covering 6.1 innings for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders. It wasn’t the most efficient of outings, with Rodón allowing six runs, but all that matters is that he is healthy and ready to go.
Following last night’s game, the Yankees optioned RHP Kervin Castro to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Prior to today’s game, the Yankees returned LHP Carlos Rodón (#55) from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 15-day injured list.
On Mother’s Day, let’s remember desperation is the mother of innovation. The Minnesota Timberwolves are desperate. They need to pull out all the stops against the San Antonio Spurs tonight.
My Spurs vs. Wolves props and NBA picks expect Minnesota’s rotation to shift in Game 4 on Sunday, May 10.
Ignoring a game in which he played five minutes due to injury, Naz Reid has now played five games against the San Antonio Spurs this season. In those five games, he is 15-for-29 (51.7%) from beyond the arc, hitting at least three 3-pointers four times.
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ sixth man should see starter’s minutes tonight. He played 16 in Friday’s second half, nearly three more than Julius Randle did.
Of the Timberwolves’ three big men, Reid is the best fit to counter the Spurs. So, whether it is Rudy Gobert’s or Randle’s minutes that take a hit, expect Reid’s minutes to increase.
Not that he needs many minutes to hit a few triples.
Game 4 Prop #2: Victor Wembanyama Over 12.5 rebounds
-115 at bet365
There is a want to point out that Victor Wembanyama was clearly winded late in Game 3. And Minnesota should absolutely prioritize driving into the Defensive Player of the Year’s body to both further that fatigue and to try to draw some fouls. Wembanyama had five on Friday; challenging him a bit more often could have been decisive.
But the reality is that Wembanyama has grabbed 15 rebounds in all three games of the series, in part because he played 40 minutes in Game 1 and 37 minutes in Game 3.
With an extra day between Games 4 and 5, there is no reason for San Antonio not to ride Wembanyama tonight. The Spurs know how much of a difference he makes on the court. If tonight is competitive, expect Wembanyama to play 40+ minutes.
Game 4 Prop #3: Jaden McDaniels Over 15.5 points
-112 at bet365
Make no mistake: Jaden McDaniels’s shot is hurting these days. It has been for months. But going 3-for-8 from deep in Game 3 may be an encouraging sign.
McDaniels is struggling in his usual favorite spot; Victor Wembanyama is the only player in the NBA with the length to bother McDaniels’ midrange fadeaway jumper. Despite that frustration, he has cleared this prop in two of the three games against the Spurs.
Minnesota desperately needs his offense. Only Wemby can bother it, which is obviously a huge caveat, but the majority of the time, McDaniels has an edge.
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TORONTO, ON - CIRCA 1982: Manager Bobby Cox #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays walks out to the mound to visit his pitcher during an Major League Baseball game circa 1982 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. Cox managed the Blue Jays from 1982-85. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bobby Cox passed away yesterday, just a few days short of his 85th birthday.
Cox became our third manager after Roy Hartsfield and Bobby Mattick. After five losing seasons, fans were frustrated and eager for change. Cox was the first manager who appeared focused on winning.
Cox had managed the Atlanta Braves for the previous four years, working to turn them into a contender. Progress was being made, but the 1981 season was disrupted by a players’ strike, resulting in a strange, split season where the Braves struggled in both halves. Back then, the team was owned by Ted Turner (who died just a few days before Cox), who loved the spotlight and wanted to be associated with a winning club. Turner didn’t want a losing team—he wanted admiration. Even so, he never seemed entirely convinced that firing Cox was the right move:
Asked at a press conference who was on his short list for manager, Turner replied, “It would be Bobby Cox if I hadn’t just fired him. We need someone like him around here.”
The Blue Jays moved quickly to hire Cox, recognizing the opportunity. It proved to be an inspired decision.
Bobby quickly identified players with limited ability and put them in platoon roles, maximizing their contributions.
In 1982, he implemented a platoon at catcher, dividing playing time between Ernie Whitt—who had hit just .236/.307/.297 the previous season—and Buck Martinez, a long-time backup whose on-base and slugging numbers were typically modest. Cox also paired two backup middle infielders at third base, left-handed hitter Rance Mulliniks and right-handed Garth Iorg, creating an effective left-right platoon.
In 1983, Cox devised an elaborate outfield platoon system: Dave Collins played left field against right-handed pitchers, while Jesse Barfield took over right field against left-handers, with George Bell shifting between the two positions as needed.
In 1984, Cox continued his platoon approach at designated hitter, using Cliff Johnson against left-handed pitchers and Willie Aikens against right-handers. The following season, Al Oliver became the primary DH versus right-handed pitching.
The catcher and third base platoons worked very well. 1983 Whitt and Martinez hit 27 home runs and drove in 89 runs between them. Cox doesn’t deserve all the credit. In 1982, Cox brought in Cito Gaston to be the hitting coach. Cito taught Whitt and Martinez to pull the ball, which they took to well, especially Whitt, whose swing became an all-out pull.
Arguably, one of the most important contributions Bobby Cox made was bringing in coaches Cito Gaston and John Sullivan. Cito’s story is well known, and the organization owes Cox a great deal for introducing him to the Blue Jays. Sullivan, meanwhile, remained with the team as bullpen coach until after the 1993 season.
In Bobby’s 4 years with the team, a number of our best players became regulars: Willie Upshaw, Jesse Barfield, Rance Mulliniks, George Bell, Jimmy Key, Jim Acker, Tony Fernandez and Tom Henke, to name a few.
His time with the Jays wasn’t an instant success. The Jays went 78-84, finishing 6th in 1982, but Cox had a lot of the parts in place that would move the team up the standings.
In 1983, the Blue Jays made a significant leap, finishing 89-73, though it was only good for fourth place. Ernie Whitt discovered his power, hitting 17 home runs in 123 games, while Willie Upshaw and Jesse Barfield each contributed 27 homers.
Cox benefited from the Jays’ farm system, which finally began producing major league-calibre players.
The Blue Jays matched their win total in 1984, finishing 89-73 for the second straight year. This time, they placed second, though they remained 15 games behind the Tigers, who dominated the league with a 104-58 record. George Bell became a full-time player for the first time, hitting 26 home runs and driving in 87. Rance Mulliniks broke through at the plate, batting .275/.373/.467, while Lloyd Moseby enjoyed his first standout year, hitting .315/.376/.499 with 18 home runs.
After four years under Cox’s helm and in our ninth MLB season, the Blue Jays finally reached the playoffs in 1985. Sadly, we fell to the Royals in a dramatic seven-game ALCS. Cox’s platoon strategies, which had been so effective, were ultimately exploited by Royals manager Dick Howser. With the Jays up three games to one, Howser countered by starting a right-hander and then bringing in a lefty during the middle innings, prompting Cox to remove his left-handed bats from the lineup. This allowed closer Dan Quisenberry—a submariner who was dominant against right-handed hitters but vulnerable to lefties—to avoid facing our left-handed threats. Coupled with the challenge of containing George Brett, who torched the Jays with a .348/.500/.826 line and three home runs, these tactical moves cost the team the series. Nevertheless, Bobby was named AL Manager of the Year for his efforts.
After the playoff loss, the Braves offered Cox their general manager position. He accepted and remained with Atlanta until 2010. The Blue Jays stayed playoff contenders for the next eight years and, of course, eventually won the World Series twice. It’s hard to imagine those championships happening without Bobby Cox’s influence—especially considering he was responsible for bringing Cito Gaston into the organization. Many of the players and coaches who played key roles in those playoff runs got their start under Cox.
Cox had a 2195-1698 record as a manager, the fourth-most wins in baseball history. He also holds the MLB record for most ejections, generally in an effort to keep his players from being ejected.
I always admired Bobby Cox. His commitment to platooning was remarkable. With today’s eight- or nine-man bullpens, it would be much harder to platoon at so many positions. I valued how everyone on his bench knew their role and had a purpose. Cox wasn’t afraid to put his faith in young players, giving them meaningful chances to prove themselves rather than moving on too quickly. With young pitchers, he often started them in the bullpen, letting them gain experience against big-league hitters in less stressful situations. I thought he was our first real manager; the previous ones seemed more like caretakers. There was no expectation of winning, and they didn’t do much to push the team towards it.
If Bobby Cox had stayed on after the 1985 season, it’s hard to say how much would have truly changed—and it’s probably not worth dwelling on. The Blue Jays got their World Series wins, and Cox enjoyed a remarkable run in Atlanta. I like to imagine he could have prevented the sudden decline after 1993, but in reality, he likely wouldn’t have stayed on as manager under Gord Ash. By that point, he probably would have wanted a general manager role instead.
Cox’s achievements with the Braves earned him a place in the Hall of Fame, but his time with the Blue Jays laid the foundation for the Blue Jays’ later success as well.
SEATTLE, WA - MAY 05: Bryce Elder #55 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Connor Jalbert/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Braves are trying to win it today, not just for the series. They gotta do it #ForTheMoms.
I’d had a vague feeling that the Braves didn’t have a great track record on Mother’s Day, not based on any specific memories.
However, my recency bias was not completely unfounded: it turns out Atlanta have lost on Mother’s Day for the last three seasons. You have to go back to May 8, 2022 when Charlie Morton led the Braves to a 9-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers for their last win on this particular day.
They didn’t just lose, though. They specifically (and excruciatingly) lost in walkoff fashion for these three straight years.
Raisel Iglesias (2023, 2025) and AJ Minter (2024) came in to close tight games and were charged with losses instead. Road wins are tough, but the Braves lead the league in them this year, so let’s see if we can stop this unfortunate trend today behind starter Bryce Elder. Because if Bryce Elder pitches a complete game shutout, there can’t be a high-leverage bullpen arm to blow it, right? Right?
The regularly-rested Bryce and his sterling 2.02 ERA will take the mound in today’s finale hoping to add yet another quality start to his 2026 campaign. He had a strong performance his last time out versus Seattle, pitching six innings allowing two hits, two earned runs, and three walks while striking out nine. He got swings and misses on all five of his pitches and was very in control outside of the two-run homer allowed to J.P. Crawford in the third inning.
“Bryce is for real,” said Braves manager Walt Weiss after that game. We’re hoping so!
The 25-year old lefty Justin Wrobleski (5-0, 1.25 ERA) will make his sixth start for the Dodgers since moving from the bullpen on April 6. He’s made a fantastic case to stay in the rotation, especially with Snell’s less-than-ideal debut last night and Glasnow down with back spasms. That ERA is already eye-popping, but it’s even better when you discount his three-run, four inning relief outing to start the season – without that, he’s allowed two runs in 32 innings across five starts to amount to a 0.56 ERA. He’s bolstered the Dodgers rotation with a six pitch mix and quality run prevention, but there are some signs that regression looms. Take a look at some of these blue bars:
Defying the odds of his expected ERA at 4.23, he does it all with an incredibly low strikeout (10.5%) and whiff (12.5%) rates, which puts him in the bottom 2% of MLB. The maximum number of strikeouts he’s gotten in a game this season is six; seven’s his career high. He’s spun several scoreless outings by preventing quality contact, albeit aided with a .222 BABIP. Notably, he’s yet to give up a home run. It’d be nice to see the Braves, after getting to Blake Snell but making Emmet Sheehan look like Cy Young, get back to their homer-hitting ways as a parting gift to LA.
If last night was for Bobby, today’s rubber game is for Braves Country moms.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, May 10, 4:10 p.m. ET
Location: UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV: BravesVision, Gray TV
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
It’s a real credit to how well this team has played over the first quarter of the season to see how rarely they’ve come up empty. But on Saturday night in Texas, that’s exactly what happened. Not only was this just the 13th time they’ve lost this year, but it was one of an even smaller subset of games that they came up completely empty. The offense more or less came up with nothing. Their pitchers struggled to work clean innings. All things equal, this was one of the least effective games we’ve seen from the Cubs all year long.
This team has been so dominant, we just haven’t had to deal with this very often. This wasn’t much fun. It’s early in the season and things are still being sorted out. However, it feels like this might be one of the worst teams the Cubs have faced all year. So this loss is a bit vexing. It’s all the more vexing given the rough matchup Sunday afternoon. There is a very real chance this team goes to Texas and leaves with only a single win. That said, even if they leave town with just the one win, they’ll still be on pace for more than 100 wins. This team could tail off a lot and still be a favorite to make the playoffs based upon the work they have done to date.
As it stands right now, if the Cubs played exactly .500 ball the rest of the way, they’d win 88 games. In the handful of seasons that have allowed three wild cards in each league, 88 wins has generally been enough to make the postseason, though 90 is the lowest number of wins that has made the postseason every time. So the Cubs have to just play nominally over .500 the rest of the way to be a postseason team. This despite a rash of early season injuries, largely focused on the pitching staff.
So the long and the short is that this one will have little bearing on the season as a whole. This is one of the days that you thank the heavens that this team has been very greedy and it has snapped up every win available to it. This one hurts less as a result. It wasn’t any fun, but it feels like a one off and it doesn’t derail the larger goals. And so, we turn the page quickly. We get back after it on Sunday afternoon. Then we finally get an off day on Monday. That’ll be just the second off day in 25 days, a welcome respite ahead. It’s one of just two days off for the Cubs in May. This is the most games (29) they’ll play in any month this year.
Three Positives:
Ethan Roberts threw two scoreless innings, facing seven batters and walking two. The game was pretty out of reach before he got in there. But he kept it where it was and kept the Cubs for having to get any further into the bullpen.
Dansby Swanson had one hit, a double, in three plate appearances. The Cubs had just four hits.
Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch had a fairly undistinguishing day at the plate. Each had a single and a walk in four plate appearances.
Game 40, May 9: Rangers 6, Cubs 0 (27-13)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Alex Bregman (.051). 0-4
Hero: Michael Busch (.049). 1-3, BB
Sidekick: Michael Conforto (.039). 1-4, BB
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Edward Cabrera (-.221). 5 IP, 21 BF, 7 H, BB, 5 ER, 6 K (L 3-1)
Goat: Nico Hoerner (-.107). 0-4
Kid: Seiya Suzuki (-.101). 1-3, BB
WPA Play of the Game: Josh Jung led off the second inning with a solo homer to start the scoring. (.109)
*Cubs Play of the Game: Alex Bregman batted with a runner on first and no outs in the third inning, the Cubs down one. He reached on an error setting up first and second with no outs. (.103)
Player of the Game:
Game 39 Winner: Ben Brown 276 of 328
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Up Next: The third and final game of the season series with the Rangers is Sunday afternoon. Jameson Taillon (2-1, 4.24, 40.1 IP) starts for the eighth time this season for the Cubs. Last time out, he allowed two runs on five hits over 5.2 IP against the Reds. Small samples in the early going, but Jameson has been worse on the road (5.00 v 3.63) and during the day (4.68 v 3.52). None of that bodes too well. In fairness, the three road starts are against the Rays, Dodgers and Padres, who are all quite good.
The Rangers start polarizing figure Jacob deGrom (2-2, 3.11, 37.2). This will be his eighth start of the year. At 37 years old, what makes deGrom polarizing is that there are just 10 seasons (out of 13) that he’s made this many starts. In 13 seasons, he’s made 255 starts — fewer than 20 starts per year. He should reach 100 career wins this season. He should reach 1,600 innings later this month. Even at that, he will have a good distance to go to reach such Hall of Famers as Rollie Fingers (1,701.1) and Rich Gossage (1,809.1). Put simply, deGrom has been elite when healthy. But he just hasn’t stayed healthy in his career. He already has more career strikeouts (1,898) than some names like Hoyt Wilhelm (1,610) and Carl Hubbell (1,677). Whitey Ford is just ahead (1,956). The game has changed through the years.
In case you’ve ever wondered, the average Hall of Fame pitcher has 235 wins, 423 games started, 3,504 innings and 2,047 strikeouts. The rate at which he has accumulated WAR is elite. But he just hasn’t been healthy enough to accumulate very much of it.
Last time out, Jacob allowed six runs in just 6.1 IP. He’s lost his last two starts (both to the Yankees). Let’s keep that struggle going for him.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Nehomar Ochoa #94 of the Houston Astros runs off the field during the seventh inning of a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 15, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (18-20) won 11-10 (BOX SCORE)
Bielak got the start and allowed 2 runs in the first inning. The offense responded with 3 runs in the 3rd on a Biggio walk, Winker walk and Unroe hit by pitch. Bielak allowed another 5 runs in the 4th, as he went 4 innings allowing 7 runs total. The offense battled back getting 2 runs in the 5th inning on Sacco and Biggio solo home runs. They scored 3 more runs in the 6th on a Johnson solo home run and Alexander 2 run home run. The pen allowed 3 runs as the Isotopes took the lead. Sugar Land tied things up in the 8th on a Sacco run single. The game was tied in the 9th but in the bottom half, Sacco walked it off with an RBI single as Sugar Land won 11-10.
J.P. France, RHP: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (WIN)
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (15-17) lost 7-5 (BOX SCORE)
Gillis started for the Hooks and allowed 5 runs over 4.2 innings, with 4 of those runs coming in the first inning. The offense got on the board in the 5th scoring 2 runs on a Hernandez groundout and Bush RBI single. The offense chipped away getting a run in the 6th on an Encarnacion groundout, a run in the 7th on a Hernandez RBI double and a run in the 8th on a Sullivan solo home run to tie it. The Cardinals got 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead and the Hooks was unable to respond as they fell 7-5.
Note: Sullivan has 6 home runs over his last 10 games.
A+: Asheville Tourists (8-24) lost 17-13 (BOX SCORE)
Howard started for Asheville but really struggling allowing 9 runs over 3 innings. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning scoring 4 runs on a Schiavone solo home run, Batista solo home run, Walker RBI double and Thomas RBI groundout. They got 3 more runs in the third on a Batista 2 run double and Powell RBI double. The offense would continue to rally scoring 5 runs in the 4th inning on a Schiavone walk, Brutcher RBI single, Batista groundout and Daudet 2 run double. Walker would add an RBI double in the 6th. Carr pitched in relief and was doing well until the 8th where he allowed 6 runs as the Emperors took the lead. The offense was unable to score again as Asheville fell 17-13.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (12-20) lost 8-6 (BOX SCORE)
Forcucci got the start and had his best outing as a pro allowing 1 run, which came in the first inning, over 3 innings. The offense responded with 2 runs in the first inning on an Ochoa RBI double and a run on a balk. MacRae relieved Forcucci and allowed 3 runs over 3 innings. Next in was Varela who allowed 4 more runs as the Woodpeckers found themselves down 8-2. They battled back getting a run in the 7th on an Ochoa RBI single. They got 2 more runs in the 8th on a Vasquez 2 run double. The offense got one more in the 9th on a Huezo groundout but that was it as the Woodpeckers fell 8-6.
The Philadelphia Flyers' playoff run came to an end on Saturday night with their 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4. While the Flyers were swept by the Hurricanes, the 2025-26 season undoubtedly was a big success for Philadelphia.
The Flyers took a significant step in the right direction with their rebuild by making the playoffs and winning their first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now, they should be looking to strengthen their roster this summer.
The Flyers' biggest need heading into the 2026 NHL off-season is a legitimate first-line center. Due to this, they would be wise to kick tires on St. Louis Blues star Robert Thomas.
Thomas was one of the most notable trade candidates leading up to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, and he should continue to generate interest around the league this summer. With the Flyers needing a first-line center, there may not be a better option for them to pursue than Thomas right now.
Thomas is not only a star center, but the 26-year-old is also signed until the end of the 2030-31 season. With this, he would give the Flyers a long-term answer for their first-line center spot, which would be huge.
While the price to land Thomas would be very high, he is the kind of player that the Flyers should be looking to add as they aim to aim to take another step forward in 2026-27. In 64 games this season with St. Louis, he had 25 goals, 39 assists, and 64 points.
Jalen Brunson
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Naz Reid
Victor Wembanyama
