ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Victor Robles #10 of the Seattle Mariners stands in the dugout during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 05, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ryan Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Victor Robles is back again.
The Mariners activated Robles from the injured list on Friday as the team heads to Kansas City to start a six-game road trip. Robles began the year in the majors but was placed on the injured list in early April with a right pectoral strain. The Mariners optioned Connor Joe to Tacoma to make room for him. Joe had replaced Robles on the roster following the initial injury, so the move is something of a full circle.
For Robles, it’s a re-re-restart. He was a revelation for the Mariners in 2024 — one of the few things that year that went well in the lineup — posting a 155 wRC+ in 262 plate appearances. The team felt strongly enough that they gave him a two-year contract extension to keep him through the end of 2026 with an option for 2027. But Robles missed most of last year after exploding his shoulder diving for a ball in the stands in San Francisco. His journey back to the majors included getting pelted over and over and over by minor leaguers, which led to him hurling his bat at a pitcher in frustration. He did eventually return to the majors after a suspension, but the results were poor, finishing the year with a 75 wRC+ in 114 plate appearances. Despite the performance at the plate, Robles made perhaps the most important catch in team history last year, helping finish off the Astros in the AL West.
Plays like that are what the Mariners are hoping to get from his spot on the roster. He’s fast, athletic, and has a strong arm in right field — things the team has sorely lacked this year. But what that amounts to is never clear for Robles. He hasn’t been a good defender, with -5 OAA since 2023, though that still represents an upgrade over the current options. He has been a fantastic base runner, with 37 steals in 40 tries since coming to Seattle. The Mariners right now are the second slowest team in the majors by sprint speed (though closer to the median in base running), so his presence makes them more “dynamic.” Still, it’s hard to run the bases if you’re not on base, and we haven’t seen Robles on base (or even on the field) much over the last year-plus.
For Joe, the demotion is unfortunate. He didn’t necessarily hit well during his brief stint, with a 93 wRC+ in 39 plate appearances. But he did make tremendous contact (.462 xwOBAcon) while drawing lots of walks (15.4%). His performance has been significantly better than the team’s other right-handed platoon option, Rob Refsnyder, who has an 8 wRC+ with much worse peripherals. Joe has also been the most productive pinch hitter on the team with two hits and three walks in eight tries.
But Joe had an option remaining, which allows the Mariners to hold onto him in the minors while they wait for Refsnyder to snap out of his funk. Refsnyder had been one of the best right-handed platoon hitters in the majors the last several years, and the ceiling there is much higher. Still, he’s quickly approaching all-time levels of ineptitude, as the second worst hitter the majors among batters with at least 70 plate appearances. It’s not clear how much leash is left. In some ways, Joe has been everything the Mariners were hoping for out of Refsnyder, at least by the theoretical batting metrics in a small sample. And if things keep trending in this direction, Joe could return to the majors soon.
It will be interesting to see what role Robles assumes. Again, both Refnsyder and Joe have been used mostly as pinch-and-platoon options, jumping in and out of games at the will of Dan Wilson. Robles in his healthy 2024 played more of an everyday role, but found himself the same platoon to begin 2026. The strong-side of the platoon — Dom Canzone and Luke Raley — have continued to hit, so it’s unlikely there’s everyday at bats for Robles until either he or they change.
Regardless of the what and the who and the where, it’s good that the Mariners are getting healthier. Matt Brash was activated from the injured list over the weekend. Bryce Miller was activated before him. The Mariners will need all the help they can get while Cal Raleigh, Brendan Donovan and Gabe Speier each sit.
The Mariners are three games under .500 and 2 1/2 back as we approach the one-third post of 2026.
The Vancouver Canucks were the first NHL team eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention in 2026. Some of their former players, however, are continuing to make a big difference in their new teams’ playoff pushes — with the ex-Canucks specifically being big factors in the Vegas Golden Knights and Montréal Canadiens’ Game 1 wins on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
The first big performance came from ex-Canuck Nic Dowd during Vegas’ 4–2 Game 1 win against the Colorado Avalanche. Though he only ended up playing 13:18 minutes during this game, the seventh-most among forwards on Vegas, Dowd’s difference-making moment came when he beat out two members of the Avalanche on a non-icing call to slap the puck into the empty net and seal the win for the Golden Knights. Easing up on the play would have likely been detrimental to Vegas, who’d faced an onslaught of offence from Colorado during those final couple of minutes.
Dowd also won 62.5% of his faceoffs during this game, including the one that led to his empty-net goal.
The next day saw another former Canuck make a big difference in his team’s victory, though his performance came off-the-ice rather than on it. Montréal took a surprising 6–2 win against a Carolina Hurricanes team that had not surrendered more than five goals in a single series throughout this year’s playoffs up until that point. Post-game, Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis gave a shout-out to one particular ex-Canuck’s work in helping them prepare for this series.
“We knew for a long time that if we got through Buffalo, we were playing Carolina. Obviously, our analytics people, but Alex Burrows does a lot of that grunt work for us, and he worked hard while we were trying to close out the series against Buffalo,” St. Louis explained to reporters.
Burrows, a longtime Canuck, was formerly an assistant coach for Montréal but stepped down from the role in July of 2024. Since then, he has remained with the Canadiens organization as a player development coach. He has been with the organization for eight seasons, working both with the AHL’s Laval Rocket as well as the Canadiens during that span of time.
The Conference Finals of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs resume tonight at 5:00 pm PT, as the Avalanche will host the Golden Knights in Colorado for Game 2 of their series. Montréal and Carolina will face each other on Saturday at 4:00 pm PT.
May 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Vegas Golden Knights centerNicDowd(26) celebrates after scoring during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche in game one of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 3: The sneakers worn by Luka Garza #52 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
May 3, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) celebrates his goal scored against the Minnesota Wild during the third period in game one of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche will be without standout defenseman Cale Makar for Game 2 of the Western Conference Final on Friday night because of an upper-body injury.
Makar, who also sat out Game 1, went through different skating and shooting drills Friday morning ahead of the game against Vegas before coach Jared Bednar ruled him out. The Golden Knights lead the series 1-0 after a 4-2 win.
“It hurts when you don't have Makar, but every team is going through (injuries),” Bednar said, pointing out that Vegas has been missing captain Mark Stone. “Our goal is to be the best version of ourselves we can be tonight, and that’s without Cale, and so be it. I still think we’re capable of winning the hockey game if we’re better than we were the other night.”
Makar appeared to be banged up in Game 5 last week as the Avalanche closed out their second-round series with Minnesota. He left the ice holding his right arm but later returned. He also briefly departed Game 1 after taking a hit along the boards, with his right leg flying into the air before he fell to the ice.
Bednar declined to say who would fill in for Makar. It could be Jack Ahcan again or possibly Nick Blankenburg, who was acquired from Nashville in March. Alex Gagne also remains a possibility.
Makar has four goals and an assist while averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time through the opening two rounds. The Norris Trophy finalist also factors heavily into the Avalanche's special teams.
Any mental aspects to not having Makar on the ice for a crucial game?
“I don't think when you're playing you can think about it. I think that's a hindrance," Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson said. "Going into it, obviously, you hope he's playing. I don't think anybody can ever stand up here and say, ‘Oh, I hope he’s not playing.'
"I mean, he's a generational player. I don't think you want to think about it. I think you've just got to keep playing.”
The Montreal Canadiens’ top line might not have been firing on all cylinders in the first two rounds, but captain Nick Suzuki still managed to get his fair share of points. While most of them came on the power play before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, they still count.
In Thursday’s game, Suzuki had a hand in three of the Canadiens’ six goals, all scored at even strength. He assisted on Cole Caufield’s game-tying goal in the first period and on both of Juraj Slafkovsky’s tallies in the final period, playing a big role in the Habs’ rout of the Hurricanes.
After 15 playoff games, the 26-year-old now has 16 points, which is not a record in Canadiens’ history. However, the fact that 14 of those points came on the road is. The four goals he has scored have all come away from the Bell Centre, helping the Canadiens earn the nickname of Road Warriors. With Thursday night’s effort, he took the team lead in scoring, two points ahead of defenseman Lane Hutson.
The first game of the third round was quite promising for the Canadiens, who finally saw their top line erupt at even strength. While the Habs did manage to make it all the way to the conference final, their odds of eliminating Carolina would be greatly increased if their top line could contribute just like it did in Game 1 for the rest of the series.
The Canadiens will take on the Hurricanes in Game 2 on Saturday night in Raleigh, and a second road win would give them a stronghold in the series. Over recent years, Carolina has been a regular in the conference final but has struggled to win any game in that round. In their last four appearances, including this one, they are now 1-13, and one can wonder if the Habs didn’t plant the seed of doubt in the Canes’ heads with their dominant win.
BOSTON (AP) — Struggling Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story could be out several weeks after sports hernia surgery.
The team announced on Friday what it said was a successful procedure by Dr. William Meyers at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia.
Story sat out the opener of Boston’s three-game series at Atlanta last week and was placed on the 10-day injured list the following day. He told reporters in Atlanta that he was weighing his options but that surgery could keep him out for as many as 10 weeks.
The two-time All-Star played in 41 of the Red Sox’s first 43 games and is batting .206 with three homers in his fifth season in Boston. He has also committed six errors. His .547 OPS ranks 165th of 173 qualified hitters.
Andruw Monasterio has started in Story’s place in four of the past six games, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa starting the other two.
But interim manager Chad Tracy said the team would evaluate the possibility of moving second baseman Marcelo Mayer to shortstop if it appeared Story will be out for an extended period.
That is now a reality.
Story joins outfielder Roman Anthony (right wrist sprain) and Garrett Crochet (left shoulder inflammation) on the IL for the Red Sox, who enter Friday’s three-game series with Minnesota fourth in the AL East.
Craig Kimbrel ranks fifth all-time with 440 career saves, but he was unable to add to that total in his tenure with the New York Mets.
The Mets designated Kimbrel for assignment Friday, May 22, as they recalled starting pitcher Jonah Tong in an effort to navigate a challenging period for their pitching staff.
And it was clear Kimbrel, who turns 38 May 28, would not be a piece of that puzzle.
The Mets are just past the midway point of playing 17 consecutive days, but Kimbrel has pitched just twice since May 15. He signed a minor-league deal with New York in the offseason and was added to the roster in April, but posted a 6.00 ERA in 14 appearances.
New York has partially corrected course after a disastrous start, winning 12 of its past 19 games to reach the 50-game mark 22-28.
The Mets are Kimbrel's 10th team, though he's seen his role diminish with each passing organization. He last saved at least 30 games when he nailed down 42 saves for the World Series champion Red Sox in 2018, and last held a full-time closer role when he saved 24 games for Baltimore in 2024 before the Orioles designated him for assignment.
He remains 38 saves behind Lee Smith for fourth place on the all-time saves list, while his contemporary, Detroit Tigers closer Kenley Jansen, has 483 saves and counting.
Tong, one of the Mets' top pitching prospects, struggled in five starts after his Aug. 29, 2025 debut, posting a 7.71 ERA and 1.77 WHIP. He remains an elite strikeout artist, punching out 55 in 38 innings at Class AAA Syracuse, but that's also accompanied by a 14.3% walk rate, the main culprit for his 5.68 ERA this season.
The Mets originally announced Tobias Myers would start Friday's series opener at Miami, but Tong's most recent AAA start was skipped, lining him up to throw in some capacity on Friday.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 03: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after striking out during the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on May 03, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners fell one win short of their first pennant last year, and came into this season with high hopes for contention. Like the Royals, they have had a disappointing start. They seemed close to righting the ship a few weeks ago, nearly reaching .500. But a sweep at the hands of the Padres last week has set them back again.
Seattle Mariners (24-27) vs. Kansas City Royals (20-30) at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
The Mariners’ lineup has suffered from a big drop off in performance by slugger Cal Raleigh, and now he is on the Injured List for the first time in his career. The team is also without Brendan Donovan, who is on the Injured List for a second time since the Mariners acquired him last winter from the Cardinals.
Luke Raley has helped fill the void with a team-high ten-home runs, although he also has a 35.3 percent strikeout rate, sixth-highest in baseball for anyone with at least 100 plate appearances. Randy Arozarena has been on fire lately, hitting .326/.404/.533 with eight doubles and three home runs over his last 26 games. Julio Rodriguez is hitting .394/.379/.667 with six home runs against lefties this year.
Josh Naylor has 42 steals in the last year and a half – he had 25 career steals in the five years prior to that. He’s a lifetime Josh Naylor has 42 steals in the last year and a half – he had 25 career steals in the five years prior to that. He’s a lifetime .310/.343/.520 hitter in 26 games at Kauffman Stadium. The Mariners called up top prospect Colt Emerson earlier this week, and his first MLB hit was a home run.
Mariners starting pitchers have the lowest walk rate in baseball. Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo are both in the top ten in lowest walk rate among starters. Gilbert is coming off his worst start of the year, when he gave up seven runs and three homers against the Padres in a loss. He has a deep arsenal of pitches, and opponents are hitting just .186 against his splitter with a 38.8 percent whiff rate. Salvador Perez is a career .368/.455/.737 hitter against him with two home runs in 22 plate appearances.
George Kirby has never lost to the Royals in four starts, going 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA. He has a 2.92 ERA in four road starts this year. He throws a 96.7 mph fastball, as well as a swwper, sinker, curve, change, and cutter, and he has a 55.2 percent groundball rate this year.
Woo has only given up two runs in his last three starts, with 26 strikeouts in 18 innings. This will be his first career start at Kauffman Stadium. Randy Arozarena is 0-for-11 in his career against Seth Lugo.
The Mariners have a 3.10 ERA from their bullpen, fourth-lowest in baseball. Andrés Muñoz has struck out 39.5 percent of hitters, the third-best rate in baseball. He has eight saves, but suffered his third blown save of the year on Tuesday against the White Sox. Lefty Jose A. Ferrer has the fourth-lowest walk rate among relievers. Cooper Criswell has a 59.3 percent groundball rate. Longtime starter Luis Castillo is technically a reliever now, although he just “piggybacks” starter Bryce Miller.
The Royals swept the Mariners in Seattle at the beginning of the month, although that seems like a blip in an otherwise dreary May for Kansas City. For the Mariners, they are in a stretch where 17 of the next 25 games are against teams with losing records, so this is their chance to turn the season around. For the Royals, they desperately need to find the mojo from the last time they played the Mariners, or else their season will be over before Memorial Day.
The novelty of Rhys Hoskins returning to Citizens Bank Park has worn off. He visited his old home six times with the Milwaukee Brewers the last two seasons.
But Hoskins, who played six seasons with the Phillies – in good times and bad – always draws a crowd when he returns to town.
This time, it’s with the Cleveland Guardians for a weekend series.
“It’s always special,” he said in front of a gaggle of reporters before Friday night’s game. “I have a lot of memories in this ballpark and this city. It’s always fun to relive those a little bit.”
Hoskins, 33, started at first base for Cleveland. He entered the game hitting just .185 with four homers and 18 RBIs in 40 games.
Maybe a return to the park in which he clubbed 80 of his 190 career regular-season homers – and one very memorable postseason homer in the 2022 NLDS against Atlanta — would put a little charge in his bat. With Milwaukee, he hit three homers in six games in Philadelphia the last two seasons.
“It’s a great place to hit,” he said.
During his time in Philadelphia, Hoskins endured a rebuild that culminated with a NL Championship and a trip to the World Series in 2022. He received a nice ovation before Friday night’s game.
“The Northeast is a different beast, especially when it comes to their sports — in the best way,” he said. “It can be hard on us players. But we’d much rather have it be hard than have an indifferent fan base. It’s a beast here. That’s the reality, especially how good this team has played the last few years. It’s always a challenge to come here, but it’s always fun.”
Rob Thomson was a first-year manager when the Phillies went to the World Series in 2022. He was fired in April after this year’s club got off to a 9-19 start. Hoskins said he recently texted Thomson.
“He’s a classy man and I’m super grateful to him for the memories,” Hoskins said.
Hoskins hit .223 with 38 homers, 125 RBIs and a .732 OPS in 221 games with the Brewers in 2024 and 2025. He missed significant time last season with a thumb injury and lingered on the free-agent market over the winter. He eventually signed a one-year deal with Cleveland worth $1.5 million.
Asked if he believed there was a chance of coming back to the Phillies over the winter, Hoskins was blunt: “No,” he said. The Phillies have a first baseman in Bryce Harper and a designated hitter in Kyle Schwarber.
Down the road, Hoskins wouldn’t mind coming back to the team that drafted and developed him if the chance ever arises.
“I’m human,” he said. “I know the desires and the thoughts I had when I was a player here, a young player here, about playing with one team my whole career. Getting a chance to end a career here would be pretty special, too. I’ll never close that door. It’ll shake out the way it’s supposed to.”
Tonight sees the Toronto Blue Jays welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates for the start of an interleague series.
The Pittsburgh Pirates lineup is a plus matchup for Jays ace Kevin Gausman, and I expect him to deliver an efficient outing tonight.
Find out more in our Blue Jays vs. Pirates predictions and MLB picks for Friday, May 22.
Pirates vs Blue Jays predictions
Pirates vs Blue Jays best bet: Kevin Gausman Under 2.5 earned runs (-135)
Kevin Gausman is set for another strong performance when he faces the Pittsburgh Pirates. When the Toronto Blue Jays' right-hander is at his best, he’s painting the corners with the fastball and then baffling batters with his nasty splitter.
That’s where the Jays’ ace has the advantage in this matchup, as Pittsburgh has struggled to hit the split-finger fastball this season, sporting a .188 xBA against the pitch, the seventh-worst mark in baseball.
Gausman has gone Under his posted number of 2.5 earned runs in four of his last six starts this season, and he’s pitched well against Pittsburgh in the past, going 4-1 to the Under on this prop in his last five outings against the Pirates.
I’ll continue to ride the Gausman train and take him to eclipse 17.5 recorded outs. The Jays’ bullpen was taxed heavily yesterday, and they’ll need innings from their ace. Additionally, Gausman has recorded 18+ outs in four of his last six starts.
Meanwhile, Bubba Chandler has struggled to find the zone this season, issuing 17 walks in his last five starts, going Over this posted total in four of those games.
Pirates vs Blue Jays SGP
Kevin Gausman Under 2.5 earned runs
Kevin Gausman Over 17.5 outs
Bubba Chandler Over 2.5 walks
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Pirates vs Blue Jays home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+320)
Chandler throws a hard four-seamer, ranking in the 96th percentile in velocity.
Kazuma Okamoto seems to match up well with this pitching profile. He owns a .602 xSLG against the four-seam fastball with a 67% hard-hit rate, barreling the ball in 14% of at-bats against the offering. The Jays’ third baseman also has a team-leading five home runs against the four-seamer.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 22-27, -1.55 units
SGPs: 9-40, -3.4 units
HR picks: 8-41, +2.65 units
Pirates vs Blue Jays odds
Moneyline: Pittsburgh +140 | Toronto -160
Run line: Pittsburgh +1.5 (-150) | Toronto -1.5 (+130)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)
Pirates vs Blue Jays trend
Toronto has hit the run line in 15 of its last 23 games (+6.35 Units / 20% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Blue Jays.
How to watch Pirates vs Blue Jays and game info
Location
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Date
Friday, May 22, 2026
First pitch
7:07 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet Pittsburgh, Sportsnet One
Pirates starting pitcher
Bubba Chandler (1-5, 5.14 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman (3-3, 3.45 ERA)
Pirates vs Blue Jays latest injuries
Pirates vs Blue Jays weather
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KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 10: Kansas City Royals catcher Elias Diaz (43) walks to the dugout after warming up before a MLB game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals on May 10, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Royals announced they have designated catcher Elías Díaz for assignment and recalled infielder Tyler Tolbert from Triple-A. Díaz appeared in 10 games and hit .227/.261/.591 with two home runs in 23 plate appearances.
The Royals added him as a third catcher when Salvador Perez was experiencing hip problems that prevented him from catching, but the team appears to be satisfied with his ability to stay behind the plate. The team could try to bring Díaz back to Omaha if he clears waivers. The Royals originally signed Díaz to a minor league deal back in February. The 12-year MLB vet has appeared in 840 career MLB games and was an All-Star in 2023 with Colorado.
Tolbert returns after an earlier stint in which he appeared in seven games, and went 1-for-5 with a stolen base and a caught stealing. The 28-year-old infielder/outfielder has been used mostly as a pinch runner in late game situations. He was hitting .260/.365/.288 with eight steals in eight tries in 20 games for Omaha.
Adric at Daikin Park. May 6, 2026. | Michael Elizondo / True Blue LA
The travels of the de facto Traveling Correspondent have begun, and we are now sorting through the highlights and lowlights of the experiences while providing in-person coverage for True Blue LA during the 2026 season.
As the Dodgers have mucked about in the mud with their actual rivals and dispatched their de facto rivals, on the eve of the rematch between last year’s laugher of a National League Championship Series, before Adric and I return to the road, let us reflect on what invariably came before…
The first road trip of 2026 was inevitably, ultimately, always going to be a spectacular letdown. To be fair, when the last act was the two most hallowed words in sport, followed by arguably the greatest game ever played, virtually nothing but perfection could possibly follow up as the next act.
So once I psyched myself out by lowering my expectations, I told myself that I was going to enjoy this outing no matter what. Acknowledging that fact was a lot easier said than done, which gives me some insight into what the Dodgers themselves must be thinking and feeling these days. Yes, they ride at the pinnacle of the sport, but one would be remiss not to notice that victory has at times defeated them.
After all, it’s hard to gin oneself up to go to St. Louis and Houston in early May, but I survived. The addition of going to St. Louis was the final addition to my 2026 itinerary, as it was cheaper and less hassle to get to Houston from St. Louis than frommy home base in San Francisco.
In retrospect, considering my slightly bum leg that I have been nursing for about a month, I probably should have just paid the extra amount and just done the three-game set in Houston. That said, I did get some nice footage of budget seating at Busch Stadium while the Dodgers ground into eight double plays over two games.
Seeing Dodgers baseball in St. Louis is like being in sweaty pajamas around the house: folks might judge you a little, but it’s comfy, and sometimes that is enough. What I found amusing was both the near-constant applicability of my Japanese skills in both St. Louis and Houston and the sheer shock my conversational Japanese would elicit from the unsuspecting.
More often than once in St. Louis and Houston, I had to play de facto translator, which made me smile and call my mother afterward, which goes to show the ongoing Japanese language work is still paying dividends.
Unapologetic
The main draw of this trip was my first visit to Houston, which I honestly had mixed feelings about beforehand for obvious reasons. I had a feeling this portion of the trip would be my hair shirt, and sadly, I was right. For those who do not know, a hair shirt is generally any self-imposed punishment used to show contrition.
I have gorged at the buffet of plenty. To complete the MLB circuit, I have to take my medicine.
I previously wrote that I was largely over 2017 before visiting Daikin Park. Saying that you’re over something is a much bigger challenge when you are having the thing you are allegedly over being thrust in your face at seemingly every opportunity over three generally forgettable days in Houston.
Imagine the sprawl and majesty of Tokyo, then remove anything interesting, and then remove the ease of transit, and what is left is a logistical nightmare without a vehicle. Apparently, there is a system of pedestrian tunnels in Houston for getting around downtown, which are currently entirely unhelpful for navigating the immediate area around Daikin Park.
While I did meet some lovely people in Houston, the main things that stood out were both the spectacular failures of Daikin Park as a baseball venue and the sheer unapologetic nature of the Houston faithful. What I did not anticipate was just the sheer audacity of the Astros’ cheating in 2017 being thrown in my face. I took a tour of the facility, which I knew would anger me. It did, but my ultimate victory came in not showing it.
During the three-game series, Manager Dave Roberts said that he had largely gotten over the scandal. He’s a better man than most.
While Padres fans and Blue Jays fans can be annoying (entitlement without many accomplishments to back it up), and Giants fans can be downright frustrating (especially when besting the Dodgers is the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal campaign), the majority of Astros fans I encountered seemed to take glee from their obstinacy.
Here’s the hard truth, people: there is no getting through to these people. Normally, these field reports do not turn into history lessons on dead horses, but when an opposing fanbase tries to spend three days gaslighting, my patience only goes so far.
Any poor soul that goes to Daikin Park has to steel themselves to this fact. The locals know the Astros cheated in 2017; they either do not care or attempt to deflect blame by arguing that every team was cheating back then, citing a Sports Illustrated article by Tom Verducci that came out in 2018.
Here’s how quickly things have changed, according to a Dodgers source. Three years ago, if you walked into the Dodgers’ video room behind their Dodger Stadium dugout you would likely have found Zack Greinke pouring over video of opposing hitters, looking for any edge he could find to match up his stuff against their weakness. This year, if you walked into the same room you would have found a small army of 20-something analysts in polo shirts and slacks pouring over video from the in-house cameras, like the security room at a Vegas casino. Most teams train their cameras on the catcher, the pitcher (from several angles), the third base coach and the dugout.
These cameras are not used for training purposes. They are used expressly for stealing signs and deciphering “tells” from pitchers.
“We’ve reached a point,” said one club executive, “where the attractiveness of the sport as an entertainment option has been lost in the quest to find every incremental edge. And video has changed things rapidly. I’m increasingly thinking something has to be done.”
Yes, it’s far cry from a surveillance system to learn more about what the pitcher will do, versus creating a real-time system, in part, to cement the legacy of playoff failure for Clayton Kershaw. During the trip, my mind kept going back to the relevant passage in his biography, The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness by Andy McCullough (excerpts from pages 249-251):
The rumors prompted Rick Honeycutt to gather his pitchers before the series. Honeycutt encouraged the group to protect their grips, monitor the placement of their gloves, and change their signs frequently, as if there was a runner at second base at all times, especially when playing in Houston, where the Astros had not lost all postseason. The message resonated with some more than others. Not every player was as paranoid as Utley, who had helped decipher the Dodgers’ signs with Philadelphia in the previous decade. “I was like, ‘Why is this a fucking thing?’” Brandon McCarthy recalled. “I thought that was being weird and overly protective.” But McCarthy followed the instructions.
When he pitched in a Game 2 loss at Dodger Stadium, he used an elaborate sequence with no runners on base. George Springer still launched the game-winning home run off him. Darvish declined to take the same precautions for Game 3 at Minute Maid Park and could not finish the second inning. For Game 4, Wood decided to change signs every ten pitches. “We’d heard whispers of some of the shady stuff they’d been doing,” he later said. Out in the visitors’ bullpen, tucked beyond the fence in left-center field, Dodgers relievers peered toward the Astros bullpen and attempted to discern a pattern. Several pitchers tracked someone in an Astros uniform whom they believed was relaying signs: The Dodgers thought if the Astro stood up straight, he was signaling an incoming fastball. For an off-speed pitch, the Astro leaned on his elbows. “You could see some shady shit going on in their bullpen,” Stripling recalled…
Before Game 4 in Houston, Kershaw sat inside the video room, running through his scouting sheets to prepare for Game 5. Pratt vocalized his concern. “I think something weird’s going on,” he said. Pratt suggested Kershaw protect his signs more carefully, as Honeycutt had advised. Kershaw dismissed the idea. He was willing to switch his signs every two pitches with a runner at second base. But to alter his entire approach felt foolish. He thought it would clutter his mind and disrupt his timing. He did not want the distraction, not when the threat felt so remote…
…What doomed Kershaw was less hubris than failure of imagination. He understood that when a runner stood at second base there was extra risk of technologically aided thievery. But the concept of teams using illegal cameras to relay signs in real time felt impossible. “You just don’t fathom that that’s happening,” Honeycutt recalled.
(Emphasis added.)
For all of my mild teasing of the Toronto faithful, I understand both the pain of losing a close World Series and the pain of losing a not particularly competitive World Series (there was a moment, then Ryan Madson…). Then that pain occurred all over again when it turned out Houston was cheating, I felt guilt for every unkind thing I said about Clayton Kershaw and others, and that pain turned to resentment when the Commissioner declined to vacate the 2017 title:
“I’m more than prepared to tolerate and listen to the debate and criticism about whether or not the punishments that have been levied in this case were sufficient,” Manfred said. “The one thing that I do take an issue with is the notion that anyone in the Houston organization escaped without punishment. I think if you look at the faces of the Houston players as they went out there publicly addressing this issue, they have been hurt by this. They will live with questions about what went on in 2017 and 2018 for the rest of their lives. And frankly it’s rare that for any offense, to have a punishment that you have to live with for the rest of your life.”
I rehash this history because I was subjected to the “Lost Cause” version of these events while in Houston, from people trying to get a rise out of me. It was like wrestling with a pig in the muck; the thing to remember is that the pig enjoys it, so the best way out is not to play. And my outward stocism worked, even though I was privately fuming.
I could spend hundreds, if not thousands of words, on substandard food, facilities, and lighting, while railing on how underwhelming the experience of attending a Dodger game at Daikin Park was, and how spectacularly underwhelming Houston barbecue is (see below), but then, I wouldn’t have a Guide entry to write the next time the Dodgers visit.
If you, dear reader, wish to still be angry and/or gloat over the end of the current Astros’ window, have at it.
While the experience of going to Oracle Park, Petco Park, or Rogers Centre may not be for everyone, at least in the first two instances, you would be at an otherwise respectable ballpark. Daikin Park can claim none of those characteristics. One would not generally need to wrestle with a pig to know what a bad idea it is, but in order to complete the circuit of 30 MLB parks, sometimes you just have to wade through the muck.
Anyway, ballpark 28 is down. Next up, a social holiday in Milwaukee, where I will attempt to both fight ghosts and tread on ground that David Vassegh once dared to tread.
Saints’ self-destruction has left Kim Hellberg and Sergej Jakirovic tantalisingly close to fulfilling their dream in Saturday’s Wembley trip
When the television cameras zoomed in for a closeup it became clear Hayden Hackney was crying.
Middlesbrough’s best player had just watched his teammates lose the second leg of the Championship playoff semi-final 2-1 in extra time at Southampton. As he left his seat behind the away dugout and wandered across the pitch, the Redcar-born midfield playmaker looked utterly heartbroken.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 19: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors slaps hands with teammate Al Horford #20 as Porzingis walks off the court against the Boston Celtics in the first half at Chase Center on February 19, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are facing another difficult roster balancing act this offseason, particularly when it comes to their center rotation of Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.
In a column by The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami, he questioned whether Golden State would realistically want to bring both veterans back next season. The conversation stems from head coach Steve Kerr’s recent comments about how difficult it was to manage a roster where several players either could not play back-to-backs or missed extended periods of time throughout the year.
Also, Butler and Moody will count on the roster but won’t be playing for a while next season. So the other 13 spots shouldn’t and can’t be filled with players likely to miss a lot of time.
In this environment, I don’t see how the Warriors can bring back both Kristaps Porzingis (unrestricted free agent) and Al Horford (player option for next season), even if both are interested in returning. I think they’re not likely to bid too high if De’Anthony Melton declines his player option. And I don’t see much chance of using up a roster spot for Seth Curry again.
Although Porzingis averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 15 regular season appearances for Golden State, he also missed 16 games during that stretch, continuing the availability concerns that have followed him throughout much of his career. Horford, meanwhile, averaged 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists across 45 games this season. However, he was unable to play back-to-backs all year long due to veteran load management, contributing to him missing 37 regular season games.
Still, both players remain intriguing fits for the Warriors because of their floor spacing, defense, basketball IQ, and overall versatility. They just both come with durability concerns which Golden State will need to seriously evaluate given the current state of the roster.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, May 22nd:
The Warriors were optimistic Porziņģis could stay healthy and produce after acquiring him from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield before February’s trade deadline, but that wasn’t meant to be as Porziņģis played just 15 games and struggled to stay on the floor. He developed a strong relationship with vice president of player health and performance Rick Celebrini, but he was noncommittal about a return while discussing his future at the end of the season. The biggest question surrounding Porziņģis: What does his market look like after two injury-plagued years? The Warriors would be wise to wait out the rest of the league and see who they are bidding against before deciding whether or not to bring the big man back.
11. Golden State Warriors: Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor
Throughout Steve Kerr and Mike Dunleavy’s first press conference since the end of the season, the Warriors’ coach and general manager mentioned multiple times a lack of depth on the wings from injuries to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody. Our last mock draft’s pick, Yaxel Lendeborg, fills that need. Going with Carr might be the perfect balance of a player who can help now and projects major future upside.
The combine did wonders for Carr. He came in a little under 6-foot-5 barefoot and a lanky 184 pounds with an eye-popping 7-foot wingspan. Carr shot lights out in drills and then wowed everyone during his one scrimmage, where he scored 30 points with six 3-pointers and seven rebounds.
With his length and silky-smooth jumper, Carr can play shooting guard and small forward depending on who’s around him. The Baylor product can both splash threes as a great movement shooter and swat shots away as a two-way player for years to come. As a 21-year-old who will turn 22 in late November, Carr is a great combo of present and future for a Warriors team that wants to get younger and more athletic. –DJ
In addition to his interest from Chicago, I’m told Jerry Stackhouse will also be interviewing for Portland’s next head coaching position this weekend. https://t.co/F2obTZ3NpQ
Whatever is happening, Gilgeous-Alexander is peeling himself off the floor more often these days. In Game 1 on Monday night, Gilgeous-Alexander fell six times on his shots, the most he had tallied in any game this playoff run.
He wasn’t done. SGA topped that high mark in Game 2 on Wednesday night, falling a staggering nine times on his shots (including fouled attempts). That’s more than Wembanyama has fallen in this entire postseason on his shot attempts. Considering that Wembanyama has gotten a whistle nearly every time he has fallen (seven out of eight), maybe he should dive more often. Or not.
Per a report by Justin Kroll of Deadline, Golden State Valkyries wing Gabby Williams is among three WNBA players who are currently slotted to appear in Courtside, a sports-based romantic comedy film by Run-A-Muck, a multi-platform company that is launching a women’s sports division with this project. Williams, former WNBA big Theresa Plaisance, and Indiana Fever point guard Sydney Colson are all currently a part of the project. Colson is also an executive producer.
Entering the season, most prospect lists had 3-4 Phillies prospects listed amongst their top-100.
Baseball America had three: shortstop Aidan Miller (No. 14), starting pitcher Andrew Painter (No. 32) and outfielder Justin Crawford (No. 75).
Baseball Prospectus was a bit more bullish, listing five: Miller (13), Painter (51), starter Gage Wood (77), infielder Aroon Escobar (78) and Crawford (98).
But with 50 MLB games now under their belts, Painter and Crawford have graduated and are no longer considered prospects. Therefore, some of the updated lists are light on Phils prospects.
Perhaps it’s not terribly surprising news, given the departure of Painter and Crawford, but it’s still a bit depressing when you consider Miller has yet to come close to playing an actual baseball game this season.
There were encouraging reports this week that Miller’s back issue was slowly getting better. Don Mattingly said Miller is “beginning to do light baseball activity,” which everyone hopes is more than playing catch with the Iron Pigs’ ball boys. But it does not appear he is swinging a bat as of yet.
Miller’s back injury is a cause for concern, even as the Phils attempt to downplay it. Information about it has been scant so far this spring, and it’s obvious Miller could lose a significant amount of important development in AAA. At this point, there should be no expectation of him joining the big league club at all in ‘26.
With Miller out, Wood is scheduled to make his first start for Reading since his promotion tonight (Friday), and is the only prospect in the system deemed worthy of inclusion among the game’s best.
That’s not to say there aren’t some intriguing prospects in the system, particularly at AA, where Escobar, center fielder Dante Nori, reliever Alex McFarlane, shortstop Bryan Rincon and Carson DeMartini.
McFarlane: 16 games, 0.57 ERA, 15.2 IP, 21/7 K/BB ratio
At the moment, none of the four position players listed project as potential All Stars. McFarlane could be a bullpen piece as soon as this year, so there is some hope there. But a top 100 prospect he will not be.
One of the items Dave Dombrowski was supposed to address was the farm system and, with Painter and Crawford in the Majors, the hope is those two will be the first promotions to make a major impact on the big league club. So far, the results are mixed, but plenty of time remains.
But entering the season, the Phils’ farm system, even with Painter and Crawford included and Miller’s back injury largely unknown, MLB Pipeline ranked it No. 20. They wrote:
It’s a good thing when your top three prospects — all Top 100 guys — will have the chance to contribute to the big league roster this year. Two of them, Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford, should make the Opening Day roster. Just beyond the Top 100 prospects, there’s excitement brewing with 2025 first-rounder Gage Wood and 2026 international signee Francisco Renteria, who is already creating buzz in the organization.
Renteria is certainly an intriguing prospect the team has sunk a lot of money into ($4 million for a 17-year-old), but he’s only just begun playing in the Phils’ Dominican Summer League.
Clearly there’s a lot of work still to do to get the organization’s farm system to a point it’s among the game’s best. The first step would be for Aidan Miller’s back to start cooperating.
COVERS INTEL: Kevin Gausman has held opponents to a 
