NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge ended a career-worst 11-game streak with no RBIs by hitting a game-ending, two-run homer off Kevin Kelly in the ninth inning that lifted the New York Yankees over the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 Sunday for their first win in five games this year against their AL East rival.
After New York’s Ryan Weathers and Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen each pitched seven shutout innings, Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger made a key defensive play with two outs in the eighth. With Oliver Dunn at second and Junior Caminero at first, Ryan Vilade singled to left and Bellinger threw out Caminero at third as Ryan McMahon applied the tag before Dunn crossed the plate.
Kelly (3-2) walked Trent Grisham, starting the ninth and Judge hit a first-pitch sinker on the inside corner to the opposite field. The ball landed in the second row of the right-center field seats for his 17th homer, his first since May 10.
Judge, who entered in a 1-for-24 slide, hit his fourth walk-off homer, his first since 2022, ending the Yankees’ fastest game of the season after 2 hours, 12 minutes. It was his eighth walk-off hit.
Judge’s drive would have been a home run in just three major league ballparks: Citizens Bank Park and Great American Ball Park are the others.
New York ended a three-game losing streak with its fifth win in 15 games and stopped a five-game winning streak by Tampa Bay, which lost for just the fourth time in 17 games. The Rays’ AL East lead was cut to 4 1/2 games over the Yankees.
Tim Hill (1-2) struck out Richie Palacios to strand two runners in the ninth.
Up Next
Rays: LHP Shane McClanahan (5-2, 2.82 ERA) opens a three-game series Monday at Baltimore.
Yankees: RHP Will Warren (6-1, 3.61) opens a three-game series Monday at Kansas City, which starts RHP Michael Wacha (4-2, 2.70).
The Rays absolutely had their chances to win this game to wrap up a five-day and two-game road trip, but bad baserunning in multiple innings left the club scoreless to set up an Aaron Judge walk-off home run in the 9th.
The game for the Rays came down to two innings – the 3rd and the 8th – and poor decisions on the basepaths derailed both innings. Carson Williams led off the third with a walk, but was promptly picked off first by Ryan Weathers:
That moment was followed by singles from both Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda, but instead of Williams scoring on either event, the inning ended when Junior Caminero grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. The 8th inning was more painful because a one-out double off the wall by Diaz was soon followed by a two-out intentional walk of Caminero by Fernando Cruz. Kevin Cash elected to leave Ryan Vilade in to face Cruz with Tim Hill warming in the pen, and Vilade had a tremendous at bat against Cruz singling into left field. That single would have easily scored pinch-running Oliver Dunn if Caminero had not decided that he should take it upon himself to go first to third on a ball hit to left field and get thrown out at third before Dunn was able to cross the plate:
Bellinger picked up the baseball as Caminero was into his second step toward third base from mid-left field, and from the video above, it is not clear when he made the decision to run, but his delusions of grandeur cost the Rays the go-ahead run in the 8th because this was just an aggressively bone-headed decision that someone who is not the fleetest of foot absolutely cannot make in that moment:
It turns out one run would not have mattered as Kevin Kelly turned an 0-2 count to Grisham into a walk before Aaron Judge broke out of his 11-game RBI slump with a walk-off shot into right-center field.
The bad baserunning should not take away from what a brilliantly pitched game by both starters today. Ryan Weathers held the Rays at bay through the first seven innings with only Nick Fortes making any type of hard contact off him. Weathers only generated five swings and misses, but the combination of his stuff and the damp and windy weather shut down the offense. Rasmussen went seven innings on 92 pitches generating 14 whiffs resulting in six strikeouts and just one walk. It was the first time in three years Rasmussen worked seven complete innings and his sixth consecutive start allowing three or fewer runs since the unfortuate outing in Pittsburgh five weeks ago.
One area of positivity was something Nick Fortes corrected during the game. Jazz Chisholm Jr was easily able to steal a base in the second inning as Fortes’s throw went to the shortstop side of the bag, something he did twice on Friday night:
“I don’t know exactly when they started teaching this, but it’s more to the right side of the bag,” Feduccia told me. “The infielder will set up there to give you a good target. If you tag the runner before he gets to the bag, you have a better chance of not getting swim-moved, and things like that. If you accidentally pull your throw to the left side of the bag, you’re not giving yourself as much of a chance as when it’s toward the runner.”
The article then goes on to quote Matt LewCroy who says video review helped teams see throws to the first base side were yielding more out calls, and now teams are coaching that at all levels. Fortes self-corrected in the 4th and barely nabbed Bellinger attempted steal of second base:
The Rays have struggled all season to prevent the running game, but throws like that at least give the ifnielders a fighting chance and it was good to see Fortes make the better throw the next time the siutation presented itself.
The Rays have been in New York since Wednesday night and played just two games in their five-day, four-night stay and walk away with a series split and a 4.5 game lead in the division. They take an Amtrk down from Penn Station to Union Station in Baltimore, where the Orioles walked off the hapless Tigers today with Colton Cowser taking a center cut cutter from Kenley Jansen into the centerfield bleachers. Perhaps the coaches can conduct a micro-lesson while on the train on baserunning to avoid repeating the misatkes of the weekend which also included two pickoffs on inside moves at second base in the first game.
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Heading into Game 4, the Oklahoma City Thunder hold a 2-1 lead over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Western Conference Finals.
Despite being down early thanks to the Spurs racing out to a historic 15-0 lead in the opening three minutes, Oklahoma City’s bench ended up outscoring San Antonio’s bench 76–23, marking the highest reserve scoring output in a conference finals game in modern NBA history.
League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 26 points and 12 assists to guide OKC out of their early 15-point hole. Despite the loss, Victor Wembanyama chipped in a team-high 26 points for the Spurs.
NBA Western conference finals: what to know
What: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs
When: May 24, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Frost Bank Center (San Antonio, Texas)
Channel: NBC
Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
The series continues on Tuesday, May 25, with Game 5 in Oklahoma City where, depending on the result of tonight’s game, a Western Conference champion could be crowned.
Thunder vs. Spurs start time:
Game 4 between the Spurs and the Thunder is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET tonight, May 24.
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
Victor Wembanyama had 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks and the San Antonio Spurs held Oklahoma City to its second-lowest postseason total, beating the Thunder 103-82 in Game 4 on Sunday night to tie the NBA Western Conference finals.
De’Aaron Fox had 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for San Antonio, which has not lost three consecutive games all season. Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell added 13 points each.
Game 5 is Tuesday in Oklahoma City, followed by Game 6 on Thursday in San Antonio.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 19 points on 6-for-15 shooting for the Thunder.
Wembanyama took Oklahoma City’s 123-108 victory Friday in Game 3 personally. The 7-foot-4 star from France said he needed to be better to make his teammates better. He was monumentally better Sunday night — and so was San Antonio.
The Spurs limited the Thunder to 33% shooting from the field, including 6 for 33 on 3-pointers (18%).
After being outscored 76-23 in bench points in Game 3, San Antonio’s reserves scored 30 points while limiting Oklahoma City to 34.
The Spurs had another hot start in Game 4 after opening the previous game on a 15-0 run. Unlike Friday’s lopsided loss, the Spurs never relinquished that lead.
After blocking Jared McCain’s layup under the rim, Vassell tossed an alley-oop pass to Wembanyama for a dunk as part of 16-0 run that gave the Spurs a 23-8 lead with 4:19 remaining.
San Antonio had an assist on all 10 field goals in the first quarter.
San Antonio held Oklahoma City to 38 points in the first half, tied for its second-lowest half in the past four regular and postseasons. The Thunder are 2-9 when they score less than 40 points in any half over the last five seasons.
Oklahoma City’s franchise low is 65 points in a playoff loss to Memphis on May 3, 2014, and its second-fewest points had been 85 against San Antonio on May 21, 2014.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 23: Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks celebrates a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter in Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Everyone loves an underdog. Everyone loves a good story.
The most satisfying thing about sports is when someone comes out of nowhere and becomes a folk legend.
Linsanity. David Freese for the 2011 Cardinals. Travis Ishikawa for the 2014 Giants. Miguel Rojas for the 2025 Dodgers. Big Shot Bob Horry for multiple NBA championship teams. Alec Martinez for the 2014 LA Kings (sigh).
Maybe Landry Shamet isn’t on their level… yet, but what I will promise is that he will go down in Knicks history, regardless of how this season inevitably ends. That’s something that would’ve sounded unfathomable when he first put pen to paper two years ago.
After all, this was a journeyman. In six seasons, he played for five teams, bouncing from Philly to the Clippers to Brooklyn to Phoenix to Washington. While he carved out a nice bench role on multiple playoff teams, including the 2021 Suns team that made the NBA Finals, he was banished to the lowly Wizards in 2023 as part of the Bradley Beal trade.
As many players do, his performance suffered after joining a destitute Washington squad. The longtime three-point maestro shot a career-low 33.8% from deep in 46 games, and he was dangerously close to teetering on the line of being out of the NBA. After all, there are only so many spots for veterans in a league that caters to young players with upside towards the bottom of rosters.
He stayed unsigned for several months that offseason until the Knicks came calling, looking to fill the final roster spot ahead of the 2024-25 season. At the time, it was assumed that Villanova alum and OAKAAK Ryan Arcidiacono would be given the 15th roster spot to complete the Nova Quintet, but Leon Rose elected to sign Shamet along with Marcus Morris Sr. and Chuma Okeke in mid-September to compete for the final spot.
Then came the mega trade. Karl-Anthony Towns was in, Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle were out. Due to the complicated financials of the trade, the Knicks needed to clear space and elected to temporarily waive Morris instead of Shamet. That move showed early who the team entrusted more, but the Knicks planned to re-sign Morris after the trade became official in early October.
The only problem was that Morris wanted a guaranteed spot, so he opted not to re-sign in a move that was probably a bit shortsighted, considering he hasn’t been signed to any NBA contract since. His loss was Shamet’s gain, as the 27-year-old now had significantly less competition to make the roster.
Tom Thibodeau liked what he saw in Shamet’s shooting ability and defensive capability, and all signs pointed to him beating out Okeke and bubble legend TJ Warren for the final roster spot ahead of the team’s second-to-last preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 15.
Shamet dislocated his right shoulder on a basic swipe of the ball on Moussa Diabate, putting him on the shelf for a number of months. With the cash-strapped and hard-capped Knicks stuck, they decided to waive Shamet to save whatever little bits of money they could instead of rostering a player that would miss the next several months with injury and paying him as such.
But they didn’t want to lose him. The organization believed that his injury would not keep him out for as long as Julius Randle’s had a few months earlier, and still wanted him in the fold. How could they do this when he isn’t two-way eligible? The G-League Draft, of course!
The Westchester Knicks made a pair of savvy moves, one that included trading away former second-rounder Trevor Keels, to get the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft. This allowed them to select Shamet and Matt Ryan, keeping both in the organization. For Shamet in particular, he’d be able to practice and later rehab in Westchester, similar to an MLB rehab assignment. A team could poach him, but they’d need to give him a standard contract while he was rehabbing, which was never happening.
All told, it took just over two months for Shamet to make his debut in the orange and blue, signing a standard contract in late December and slowly working his way into the Knicks’ rotation in early January. The rust was evident on his jumper early, as he went just 4-for-20 from deep in his first 14 games. But as he found a more consistent role, his play dramatically improved.
He shot 43% from three over his last 19 games. In April alone, he made at least four on four different occasions, including seven in the season finale against the Nets. While Thibs’ rotations promised his role would decrease come playoff time, he seemed to have an inside track to a good role.
That didn’t happen. After playing 10 minutes in Game 1, Shamet was limited to just six total minutes in the next three games before being glued to the bench for the last two games of the Detroit series. Throughout the six-game Boston series and the first two games against Indiana, he played 11 garbage-time minutes. The rotation was reduced to the starting five along with Deuce McBride, Mitchell Robinson, and small stints for Cam Payne when Brunson sat.
But after the Pacers stole both games at the World’s Most Famous Arena to start the Eastern Conference Finals, the usually stubborn Thibodeau was forced to overhaul his process. Robinson replaced Josh Hart in the starting five, while he leaned more on the likes of Delon Wright and Shamet off the bench. At least in the short term, it gave them a spark. He was plus-12 in the comeback Game 3 win that gave us a bit of hope.
Shamet combining physical post defense with a flop. It's one of the best ways to combat a mismatch. Shamet applies a lot of force. Toppin responds in turn…flop. Turnover.
The adjustments would ultimately prove to be futile, as the Pacers closed out the Knicks in six games. Shamet was once again an unrestricted free agent, and it was clear that he wasn’t a priority for the Knicks in the offseason. They filled two roster spots with Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson, and with just enough space to add one more player on a vet min, the Knicks took their time in considering options.
Shamet ultimately got another training camp invite in September after waiting for the Knicks to call him back, but with a new coaching staff in tow, he’d have no favoritism in a camp battle that included as many as six men, but was mostly between himself, Garrison Matthews, and Malcolm Brogdon.
Matthews was a taller version of Shamet, someone who could shoot the lights out and would add size to a smaller roster. Brogdon was a veteran presence with playoff experience that could serve as a traditional backup point guard on a team with only one suitable ballhandler. Tyler Kolek wasn’t going to be entrusted with a big role, so they needed someone to stabilize the offense in the non-Brunson minutes.
It always seemed like Brogdon had the edge because of it, with Shamet being close behind. They maybe could’ve figured something out to keep both, but the decision was made much easier when Brogdon up and retired after looking a step slow during the preseason.
Just in: After nine NBA seasons, New York Knicks guard Malcolm Brogdon has decided to retire from basketball, he tells ESPN. Brogdon became the 2017 Rookie of the Year and 2023 Sixth Man of the Year after being drafted No. 36 in 2016. pic.twitter.com/nablWsQ9mu
That gave Shamet a roster spot, but it sure sounded like Mike Brown liked him even better than Thibs did. Early season injuries to Hart and McBride gave Shamet an increased role, which he took advantage of with some brilliant performances along the way.
But then came a late November game in Orlando, where he tried to fight over a Wendell Carter Jr. screen, banging up his right shoulder again and leaving the game in a similar fashion to the preseason game 13 months prior. Not again, not now.
This time, he showed enough importance that waiving his non-guaranteed contract was never considered by the Knicks’ brass. It also helped that he wouldn’t need surgery after an MRI revealed just a strain, rather than a dislocation. He’d miss two months, but would return towards the end of the three-week stretch of hell and would make an immediate impact upon return.
The Year is 2054.
My grandson bounces on my knee.
“But pop-pop, how did the Knicks rebound from a 2-9 January stretch to win their first championship in 50+ years?”
Whether starting in place of a banged-up Hart or Anunoby or coming off the bench, he would consistently come up big. For the second straight year, he went into the playoffs expected to be a key part of the bench.
And for the second straight year, things didn’t go as expected. He struggled in Game 1 and was part of some brutal lineups in Game 2 that helped blow the game. A small stint in Game 3 was all he got, as he was soon replaced in the rotation by Jose Alvarado. Just like that, he was once again on the outside looking in. But all Shamet knew in this moment was to stay ready, just like he had done throughout the season.
Landry Shamet, who's fallen out of Knicks playoff rotation, on the court running sprints postgame as Josh Hart appears on NBC pic.twitter.com/K8dyZd9AI6
His number would eventually be called again, but his impact wouldn’t truly be shown until Game 3 in Philadelphia. Against the team that brought him into the league out of Wichita State, he sucked the life out of a desperate Sixers crowd in Game 3 before helping bury them under an avalanche of threes in Game 4.
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) May 9, 2026
He didn’t play much in the first three quarters of Game 1 in Cleveland, but Mike Brown sent him out there to use a rare 5-out lineup with Hart struggling as the Knicks fell behind by as many as 22 points with under eight minutes to go. Suddenly, the game turned. Shamet was disrupting Donovan Mitchell’s rhythm. He made a three early that cut the lead a smidge before Brunson’s big run.
Then, after the captain brought them all the way back, Shamet finished it off with a game-tying corner three.
In overtime, with the stunned Cavs on the ropes, he hit the effective dagger to send MSG ablaze.
Two timely triples from Landry Shamet 🔥
Shamet (3-3 3PM) delivered in big moments for the Knicks to help them complete their largest postseason comeback in franchise history!
After being a gigantic part of saving the Knicks in Game 1, he was very quiet the following night after Hart went ballistic. Going into Game 3, the Knicks needed all hands on deck to take a stranglehold of this series, and they got that with more clutch shooting from Shamet.
Four more triples and a plus-five in 27 minutes further cemented himself in Knicks lore for his heroics. A guy that didn’t have a guaranteed roster spot during the preseason was now a big part of a team that’s one win away from the NBA Finals, for a franchise that’s gone 27 years without such an appearance.
Landry Shamet will go down in Knicks folklore, the only question now is just how rooted will he be.
The slumping slugger came through with a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth Sunday in a 2-0 win over the Rays on a wet, chilly day in The Bronx.
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The Yankees entered having dropped three straight — and scoring a total of three runs in that stretch — with Judge in the midst of a 1-for-24 funk.
But Trent Grisham led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and was replaced by pinch runner Max Schuemann.
Judge followed with an opposite-field shot to right field off Kevin Kelly to end it, as the Yankees cut the Rays’ AL East lead over them to 4 ½ games.
“We were able to grind out a win,’’ Ryan Weathers said. “It ended with a bang.”
The blast, Judge’s fourth walk-off homer since 2022, broke an 11-game drought in which he hadn’t homered or driven in a run.
Yankees’ Aaron Judge looks after his two-run walk-off home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, May 24, 2026. AP Photo/Seth Wenig
It was the longest stretch of his career without an RBI.
“There was no frustration,’’ Judge said of his struggles. “I’ve got a job to do. Obviously, I want to get the job done and help the team win. We weren’t winning and I was mad about that, [but] you can find other ways to help.”
The best way for Judge, though, is to do what he did Sunday, as the Yankees had dropped 10 of their previous 14 games to fall behind Tampa Bay in the standings.
The Yankees got seven scoreless innings from Weathers, as the left-hander bounced back from a tough start against Toronto.
Weathers was locked in a duel with Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who also pitched seven shutout innings after blanking the Yankees for six innings April 12.
Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) rounds the bases on his two-run walk-off home run during the ninth inning when the New York Yankees played the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday, May 24, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Tampa Bay threatened in the third, with runners on the corners and one out.
Weathers got Junior Caminero to hit into an inning-ending double play and allowed just a pair of walks the rest of the way before being replaced by Fernando Cruz to start the eighth.
Cruz gave up a one-out double to Yandy Díaz, and Jonathan Aranda followed with a liner to right-center, where Judge made a great diving catch.
An intentional walk to Caminero led to Ryan Vilade’s single to left.
Pinch runner Oliver Dunn seemed set to score the go-ahead run, but Cody Bellinger alertly threw to third base in time to get Caminero before Dunn reached the plate, keeping the game scoreless.
Tim Hill struck out Richie Palacios to strand two runners and Judge won it in the bottom of the inning.
Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) rounds the bases on his two-run walk-off game-winning home run. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Prior to the game, manager Aaron Boone said, “It’s been a crappy couple weeks for us, result-wise, but I feel like we’re in a good place team-wise. I feel we have a good run in us here.”
Perhaps it began Sunday, as they open a three-game series in Kansas City on Monday after sweeping the Royals in The Bronx last month.
Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) walks back to the dugout after ending the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, May 24, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
And Judge getting back to hitting home runs would make a difference.
He has 17 on the season.
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“You know it’s just waiting to come out at any point,’’ Boone said of a Judge breakout. “He put a great swing on it and was able to ride it out of here.”
The ending allowed the Yankees to finish the homestand 3-3, with a chance to get going again.
“We’re doing a lot of really good things,’’ Boone said. “That’s why I feel so good about this group having the ability to take off. We’ve got to start moving that needle offensively a little bit. Hopefully that’s something that gets us started and we go have a successful road trip.”
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 24: Colton Cowser #17 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with teammates after hitting the game winning three-run home run in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers during game one of a double header at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 24, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“The first walk-off home run of your career,” asked MASN’s Ben Wagner. “How does it feel, Colton?”
“It feels wet.”
Yesterday’s weather was soggy, and on Sunday, after the Orioles’ unexpected Game 1 walk-off win and a Gatorade shower, home plate was a little soggy, too. Staring at a 3-2 hole with future Hall of Famer Kenley Jansen on the mound for Detroit in the ninth inning, the Birds rallied in unexpected fashion, earning their first walk-off of the season, courtesy of Colton Cowser’s three-run bomb.
For both offenses, runs and loud hits were precious today, and before the ninth-inning comeback, it looked like the difference-maker for Detroit was going to be a pair of unearned runs coming off a 32-mph Spencer Torkelson squibber that Pete Alonso made an error on. Fortunately, Cowser’s 440-foot bomb erased those mistakes, absolved Alonso of his fielding mishap, and took starter Brandon Young off the hook for a loss he didn’t deserve.
Let’s talk about Young first. This was all good news for a guy who’s always on the fringes of the Orioles rotation, and for the Orioles themselves, who could really use some stability from their starters, even—especially—if it comes from their No. 5 guy.
Facing a Detroit lineup that’s lost seven—oops, now eight—in a row, Young looked just fine. Actually, we do often damn the guy with faint praise, but he looked really good. His two-seam sinking fastball had movement. His splitter—remade, per the MASN broadcast—features an additional 7” of break. He jammed both righties and lefties with his fastball inside. After Young landed a perfect fastball on the corner in the third, Ben McDonald said, from the MASN booth, “He’s got spot control today.”
Young had just one bad inning in an otherwise superb performance. After rolling through the first and second innings on just nine pitches apiece, and dancing around a two-out double in the third, Young conceded two runs in the fourth, neither earned. He left up a high fastball that Kevin McGonigle punched past a diving Jeremiah Jackson to lead off the inning. Bad defense compounded the mistake. Designated hitter Dillon Dingler hit a humpback squibber toward first that Pete Alonso let bounce, thinking he’d go for the double play. Instead, the ball squirted past him, and his throw to second was hasty enough that Jackson muffed it. All the runners were safe. Then, a sac fly, single, and another sac fly scored them both. While none of the runs were charged to Young, it was 2-0 Detroit, and the big righty looked ruffled.
But to his credit, he didn’t unravel, and he managed to hold on for some length. He tossed an easy fifth, navigated around two two-out singles in the sixth—one just in front of a diving Tyler O’Neill, making you wish we had nimble outfielders—and came back out after 80-plus pitches to get two outs in the seventh, both on swinging strikeouts.
It was a really impressive day for Young, who lowered his ERA to 3.47, and makes my take the most obvious in the world when I say we should look forward to his next start.
The fact that Young left with the score 2-1 in the seventh and on the hook for a loss, however, tells you just how little the O’s had done against Framber Valdez. Despite Valdez’s struggles recently, today his stuff looked just fine, especially his hook, which he used to great advantage to keep the O’s off-balanced for six innings in which he struck out five. O’s hitters were wearing their frustration at not timing up Valdez’s breaking stuff.
The box score showed a goose egg for the home team until the sixth, in fact, when Valdez hung a curveball against Gunnar Henderson—here it is, right down the chute, and here is Gunnar, blasting it onto the flag court.
After that, Valdez was out, and the Orioles still needed to find one run or more from inside the couch cushions.
But after Tigers fastballer Will Vest tossed a shutdown seventh, and the O’s Keegan Akin allowed a third Tigers run in the eighth, it felt like the momentum was going all the wrong way.
There was some poor play, but also some silly luck involved in the Tigers’ third run. Akin annoyingly walked the leadoff hitter, then Matt Vierling’s little duck snort to right put runners at the corners. Detroit pinch-hit the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft (ahead of Heston Kjerstad) Spencer Torkelson, and the slugger responded with a 37.2-mph nubber to first. Pete Alonso had no play on it, and the third run scored. From the booth, Ben Wagner called it a “very meager RBI” for Torkelson, and McDonald lamented, “The Orioles just can’t catch a break.” It was deflating, indeed.
The Orioles’ search for runs turned up one more in the eighth. Jeremiah Jackson hit a leadoff two-bagger off new reliever Kyle Finnegan, moved to third on pinch-hitter Colton Cowser’s slow roller, and made it 3-2 on Taylor Ward’s ringing RBI single. But Baltimore came up short after that: Gunnar Henderson walked on a 3-2 pitch, then Adley fought off a few two-strike pitches plus a failed challenge by Detroit, but he flew out. Detroit went to future Hall of Fame closer Kenley Jansen, who got Pete Alonso to fly out for the fourth time today. Alonso’s frustration was appreciable.
Could the O’s produce a comeback in the ninth against the future Hall of Famer? By now, you know they could. Here’s how it went. With one out, the pinch-hitting Jackson Holliday worked himself a walk off Jansen and stole second. Nicely fouling off a few, Leody Taveras got aboard by free pass, too. Jeremiah Jackson had himself a two-on, one-out situation. But he popped it up, which felt like it could be it. Unless you had massive confidence in Colton Cowser, which I didn’t. As moos echoed through the stadium, Holliday and Taveras pulled off the double steal. Helpful, but ultimately not necessary. Jansen threw two cutters down the middle, then a sinker. Cowser connected, and the crack off the bat left little doubt:
Cowser’s first walk-off homer of his career, and the Orioles’ first walk-off win of the year. The O’s have played some bad baseball this year, and so has Cowser, but as they say in a different sport, on any given Sunday, any team can win. The Orioles now have a two-game win streak, and pick up again in just a few hours for Game 2, starting at 6:05. Let’s go for the series sweep!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 24: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a walk off 2-run home run during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on May 24, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The New York Yankees won 2-0. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just when it looked like the Yankees’ offensive malaise would lead to a fourth consecutive loss, the Captain rose to the challenge in the bottom of the ninth. Trent Grisham fought back from down 0-2 to draw the full-count leadoff walk, and Aaron Judge called game, crushing a first-pitch inside sinker to the opposite field for the game winning walk-off home run — his first home run and RBI since May 10th — to split this rain-shortened series with the Rays at the Stadium.
The offense had marginally more success this time around against Drew Rasmussen, though it’s an awfully low bar considering they got one-hit across six scoreless when they faced him last in April. More than anything, this game was about brilliant starting pitching and fabulous defense from the Yankees. Ryan Weathers completed seven scoreless innings to lower his season ERA to 3.14. It was his second start of at least 7 scoreless after tossing 7.1 shutout against the Royals on April 19th.
Behind him, Grisham and Judge both made diving catches to prevent extra bases — Grisham on a Taylor Walls bloop in the seventh and Judge on a Jonathan Aranda liner in the eighth. However, the defensive highlight of the game came to end that eighth inning. Fernando Cruz allowed a Yandy Díaz double and then intentionally walked Junior Caminero to put runners on first and second. Ryan Vilade looked to have lined the go-ahead single to left, but Cody Bellinger made a brilliant heads-up throw to third as Caminero made the ill-advised decision to try to go first to third. The ball beat him to the bag before Díaz could step on home, keeping this game scoreless.
Weathers entered this contest with the fourth-highest strikeout rate (29.9-percent) of any starter in MLB and you could see why in the first. After going one pitch, one out with the first hitter, he punched out Aranda and Vilade looking on a pair of four-seamers painted on the low, glove-side corner. In the bottom of the frame, Judge smoked a one-out single, but then got caught way too far off first base on a Ben Rice line out to right and was doubled off to end the inning, a rare TOOTBLAN from the captain.
In the third, Weathers walked nine-hole hitter Carson Williams to lead off but then promptly picked him off at first. He then navigated around singles from Díaz and Aranda by getting Caminero to ground into the inning ending double play. Meanwhile, his offense continued to create mild traffic while never really threatening to score. Bellinger singled and Paul Goldschmidt walked in the fourth, but Bellinger got caught stealing second and Jazz Chisholm Jr. struck out to end the inning. Grisham’s single to lead off the sixth was immediately erased by a Judge GIDP. Ryan McMahon singled in the eighth only for Austin Wells to ground into the inning-ending double play.
Weathers saved his best stuff for the final two innings, allowing just one baserunner across the sixth and seventh. With the Yankees’ veteran starters getting back to full health, Weathers is doing everything in his power to prove he belongs in the rotation. His final line saw him give up four hits and three walks in seven scoreless innings, with four strikeouts on 95 pitches.
Cruz and Tim Hill made things nervy in the eighth and ninth, Cruz escaping the eighth with the aforementioned gem from Bellinger. Hill atoned for his nightmare outing on Friday worked around a walk and a single, stranding the pair of runner with an inning-ending strikeout of Richie Palacios. That was all the Yankees needed to go win the game in the bottom of the ninth. Grisham drew four-straight balls after falling behind 0-2, and that is the kind of discipline that deserves to be rewarded, Judge doing just that on the very next pitch that Kevin Kelly threw.
For those keeping an eye on the record books, Judge’s 385th career homer pushed him past curious Hall of Famer Harold Baines and tied him with a guy who is actually more deserving of a spot in Cooperstown, Dwight Evans, at 68th in MLB history.
The offense still doesn’t inspire confidence, scoring five runs in their last 39 innings, but hopefully Judge’s walk-off can provide momentum rolling into the upcoming series against the Royals. Will Warren gets the series opener tomorrow against Michael Wacha. First pitch is scheduled for 3:40 pm EDT on what will hopefully be a sunny Memorial Day afternoon with the broadcast moving to ESPN.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 24: Parker Messick #77 of the Cleveland Guardians delivers a pitch in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the Philadelphia Phillies snapped a seven game win streak, the Cleveland Guardians were looking to right the ship and get back in the win column.
Parker Messick got the start for the Guardians today, falling one out shy of a quality start. Messick went 5.2 innings of shutout baseball, allowing 5 hits and 2 walks and striking out 6 batters on 91 pitches.
The game was looking to be another pitching matchup with Painter pitching well for the Phillies and Parker doing great for Cleveland. However, the Guardians were able to strike first on the Philly starter, even if it took until the top of the fifth to do so.
With one out, Daniel Schneemann drew a walk to get on base. David Fry and Steven Kwan hit back-to-back singles to score Schneemann.
In the top of the sixth, the Guards tacked on another run to put them up 2-0 on the Phillies. Chase DeLauter drew a two-out walk and scored when Rhys Hoskins hit a RBI double.
Colin Holderman replaces Parker Messick with two outs and a runner on in the bottom of the sixth. He got out of the inning and handed things over to Tim Herrin for the bottom of the seventh. Herrin gave up a lead off triple to Brandon Marsh. Petey Halpin, having just been brought into the game, made a great attempt at getting the ball. He ran it down and got the tip of his glove on it, but ultimately was not able to make the catch. Trea Turner drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After getting the next two lefties out, but allowing a run on a sac fly, Vogt went to Hunter Gaddis to retire the side.
Travis Bazzana, who was 3-for-4 on the night, gave Cleveland a much needed insurance run with a no-doubter solo home run.
Gaddis went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth with two strikeouts, leaving it to Cade Smith to close out the game. Cade go two groundouts and struck out the third batter to book it on the Phillies for another series win. In the three game series, both teams only scored four runs. This was a positive series, even with the loss, as it showed that this team can hold their own against some phenomenal pitching while throwing absolute gems themselves.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 03: Fans seek shelter from the rain during a weather delay of the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 3, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just like yesterday, Mother Nature is interrupting the Braves game with today’s game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals has been delayed due to (the threat of) inclement weather. Or in this case, the start of the game has been delayed. Current start time is projected for 4:30PM.
Call it the Braves pulling a Nationals.
Due to inclement weather in the area, the start time of today’s game will be approximately 4:30pm ET.
Rough go of it for the grounds crew as the downpour prevented them form getting the tarp all the way across the infield. Looks like it may be awhile before the game re-starts.
Following Saturday’s rainout, the Yankees walked off with a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon.
Here are the takeaways…
-- With the game scoreless into the ninth inning, Trent Grisham got things started by fighting back from an 0-2 count to work a leadoff walk. That set the stage for Aaron Judge, who delivered in dramatic fashion, as he so often does. On a first-pitch sinker from Kevin Kelly, Judge drove a two-run walk-off homer over the wall in right field, giving the Yankees a needed win on a dreary May day in the Bronx.
-- Judge snapped an 0-for-15 skid with a single in the first inning, but he was then uncharacteristically doubled off first base on a line drive out to right field. But the captain certainly redeemed himself with his walk-off blast.
-- Ryan Weathers had one of his best outings in a Yankees uniform. The lefty walked nine-hole hitter Carson Williams to lead off third, but then immediately picked him off. Weathers worked around four hits in first three scoreless innings, and ended up going 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing just those early four hits. He walked three and struck out four, lowering his ERA on the season to 3.14.
-- With neither offense doing much of anything through the first five innings, a key moment came in the bottom of the sixth. After Grisham singled to lead things off, he stayed put at first base on a ball in the dirt that got away from Nick Fortes, even though it appeared that Grisham likely could have taken second base with the right read.
A few pitches later, Judge grounded into a double play that wouldn’t have happened if Grisham was on second base.
-- The Yankees flashed some excellent defense in the eighth inning to keep things scoreless. First, with a runner on second and one out, Judge made a terrific diving catch to prevent the runner from advancing.
Later in the inning, with runners at first and second and two outs, Ryan Vilade singled to left, which looked to score the go-ahead run. But an alert Cody Bellinger came up throwing to third, nabbing Junior Caminero at third base to end the inning before the run could score.
-- The Yankees surely needed the win, entering the game with just four wins in their past 14 games.
Game MVP
Judge, who made a potential game-saving catch in the eighth before slamming the walk-off home run in the ninth.
Mike Trout has shown an uncanny ability to draw walks this season, ranking third in BB% (20.1%) en route to a robust .402 OBP. Those numbers get even better when isolated for left-handed pitchers, against whom he has a 24.2% BB% and .419 OBP.
He likely finds his way on base against walk-machine MacKenzie Gore, who is issuing 4.41 free passes per nine innings.
Trout has crossed the plate in five consecutive games and gets a favorable matchup against a hurler who gives out bases like candy. There will be favorable hitting weather — temps in the 70s and winds of 8 mph blowing out — and #27 can score a run in a variety of ways.
Reid Detmers Over 6.5 strikeouts (-114)
Los Angeles Angels starter Reid Detmers’ results have been up and down, but that’s to be expected from someone transitioning from the pen to the rotation. His advanced metrics are much more auspicious than his 5.07 ERA, so here’s betting on better times ahead.
Detmers’ 3.23 xERA and 3.07 FIP indicate a quality starter. He avoids loud contact (68th percentile hard-hit rate) while navigating his way to a 17.5% K-BB%. Massive strikeout upside has been shown given his four outings with 8+ punchouts.
The Texas Rangers don’t hit lefties well, posting the second-lowest hard-hit rate (27.4%) and the third-worst K% (25.9%). That should allow Detmers to have an effective outing with plenty of strikeouts.
Jo Adell Over 1.5 total bases (+115)
Gore has a simplistic pitch-type selection against right-handed batters, as he throws his four-seamer 49% and his curve 25%. That makes this an ideal matchup for Jo Adell, who’s crushed four-seamers (170 wRC+) and curves (203) alike.
The outfielder is impotent against righties (61 wRC+) but turns into a superstar against southpaws (160). He slugs a healthy .627 with plenty of power (.339), so if he gets a hold of an offering from Gore, there’s a likelihood the ball won’t touch down until it’s traveled quite some distance.
How to watch Rangers vs Angels and game info
Location
Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Date
Sunday, May 24, 2026
First pitch
7:20 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: The sneakers worn by VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 23: Jorbit Vivas #84 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with James Wood #29 after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves in the fifth inning at Truist Park on May 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After two close ball games, the series between the Nats and Braves is tied at a game apiece. These are the two best offenses in the league, but pitching has ruled the day in this series. To close out this weather impacted series, the two teams will call on a pair of crafty lefties.
With a lefty on the mound, Blake Butera will make some changes. Andres Chaparro and Curtis Mead will both be back in the lineup. Jacob Young will also return to center field. That will move Dylan Crews to right field, James Wood to left and Daylen Lile to DH. After a pair of bumpy starts, Foster Griffin will look to get back on track.
Nationals 5/24
J. Wood LF C. Mead 3B A. Chaparro 1B C. Abrams SS D. Crews RF D. Lile DH J. Young CF N. Nuñez 2B K. Ruiz C
The Braves are also making some changes with a lefty on the mound. Eli White and Ha-Seong Kim will be back in the lineup. Mauricio Dubon will move back to left and Ronald Acuna Jr. will be the DH. Veteran Sandy Leon will be back in the lineup behind the plate. Martin Perez has been an underrated arm for the Braves this year and he will take the ball today.
Getting one game in Atlanta was my goal heading into the weekend. They did that, and got very close to taking both games. Now, they will go for yet another road series win. The offense has not been great with RISP lately, so hopefully that changes. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
May 24, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) throws a ball to first base for the out against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Pirates 4Blue Jays 1
The worst parts about today’s game was that Dylan Cease and Vladimir Guerrero each left the game with injuries. Cease in the fifth, the Jays are calling it hamstring discomfort, which is about as good as the news could be. Vlad was hit on the inside of the right arm with a pitch and walked straight off the field. The team says that x-rays didn’t show a fracture, calling it a contusion. Also best case scenario.
This one was bad from the first pitch. Spencer Horwitz homered on the very first pitch. Then Oneil Cruz hit his home run on the second pitch of the second inning.
Other that that, Cease was good, 2 other hits, 1 walk with 8 strikeouts.
The pen?
Mason Fluharty finshed off that fifth inning, giving up a single but getting two strikeouts.
Chase Lee got the next five outs but gave up a two run homer. Esmerlyn Valdez getting his first MLB home run.
Braydon Fisher pitched a quick eighth.
Yariel Rodriguez got the ninth and got through it with just a hit batter. I hate playground justice when they were supposed to be adults. There was no intent on the ball that hit Vlad. The Jays are third from the bottom of the league in batters hit and third (well fourth now) in hitting batters. Why cause issues. solve things by winning. Jake Mangum, who got hit, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch, but didn’t score.
On offense? One run. Vlad walked, Yohendrick Piñango singled and Ernie Clement singled home Vlad. Andrés Giménez lined out (hit it hard, 101.4 mph, .390 expected batting average, but into a glove).
We only had five hits on the day, with five walks. Vlad got on 3 times (well, twice, Sosa pinch ran after the HBP) with two walks as did Brandon Valenzuela, two walks and a double. Kazuma Okamoto had a double off the right field wall (just a few feet short of a home run, out in 3 of 30 parks). I’m trying to see it as a good sign, but he went 0 for 3 with a strikeout in his other at bats.
We had a chance in the ninth. With one out, Giménez was hit by pitch and . But George Springer popped out and Daulton Varsho struck out (tough spot against a lefty spinning things away from hit).
I was thinking that the offense was coming around, but it didn’t look that way today.
Jays of the Day: Valenzuela (0.13, two walks and a double) and Vlad (0.12 WPA, on the two walks and hit by pitch).
Other Award: Lee (-0.19), Springer (-0.11, 0 for 4, walk), Varsho (-0.11, 1 for 5), Jesús Sánchez (-0.12, 0 for 3, 2 k) and Giménez (-0.09, 0 for 3, k).
Tomorrow the Marlins come to town, tor a three-game series. Janson Junk (2-5, 5.07) vs. Trey Yesavage (2-1, 1.07). A sweep would get us back to .500, but no pressure.
Mike Trout Over 0.5 runs
