As first reported by The Post’s Joel Sherman, Volpe was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday after being reinstated from the 10-day IL.
The Yankees had to make a roster move with Volpe by Tuesday, as his 20-day rehab window ended after his hitless day with Double-A Somerset.
In his comeback from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Volpe has not hit well in the minors, and the Yankees have seen his replacement, José Caballero, exceed expectations.
So what was once considered almost a formality — that Volpe would reclaim his starting job at shortstop with the Yankees as soon as he was able — is now on hold.
Anthony Volpe swings during Somerset’s April 17 game. Charles Wenzelberg
And the player, who appeared in just 22 Triple-A games before winning the starting shortstop job out of spring training in 2023, is headed back there.
Before Sunday’s 11-3 win over Baltimore in The Bronx — another victory with another solid showing from Caballero — Aaron Boone said no decision had been made, in part because the Yankees have been playing as well as any team in the majors and Caballero had been a significant part of that success.
“Caballero is playing the heck out of the position and is playing really well,” Boone said. “That complicates it. … José has [earned] himself more playing time. I love the idea of José being in a super-utility role because he’s so good at it, but you also can’t ignore he’s played so well defensively at shortstop [and] been a real spark for us offensively.”
Boone also noted they’d have to figure out the best role for Volpe, who the manager said “is getting ready to play shortstop” and not preparing for a utility spot.
José Caballero is pictured during the Yankees’ April 19 game. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
That they can have Volpe in the minors is a luxury for the Yankees, who have won 13 of their past 15 games even without their starting shortstop of the past three years.
And it’s a change from the stance they had just a few weeks ago.
On April 10, shortly before Volpe’s rehab assignment began, general manager Brian Cashman said of Volpe returning to his everyday job, “That’s always been the plan. But ultimately, that’ll be the manager’s call.”
Caballero entered Sunday with a .935 OPS in his previous 19 games with seven stolen bases — while also in the midst of a 17-game errorless streak.
In the minors, Volpe has just one extra-base hit in 49 plate appearances, and the Yankees haven’t skipped a beat without the 25-year-old, who disappointed on both sides of the ball last year while playing with the injured shoulder.
“We’re off to a really good start,” Boone said of the team. “[Caballero] has been right in the middle of that defensively [and] offensively. So he’s earned some opportunities there. It’s really as simple as that [and] then weighing what’s the best thing for our team moving forward.”
Boone also noted, “It’s a long season” and “there are gonna be so many opportunities for different guys. The fact is, we’re probably as deep as we’ve ever been. We have real competition for real spots and real roles on the team that we haven’t had in some portions of seasons.”
That will almost certainly include Volpe, but not yet.
Detroit Tigers designated hitter Jace Jung (17) bats against Texas Rangers during the second inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, May 2, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (17-17) vs. Texas Rangers (16-17)
Time/Place: 7:20 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site: Lone Star Ball Media: NBC Sports Network/Peacock, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Tyler Holton (0-1, 5.54 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Leiter (1-2, 5.17 ERA)
Enter Tobias Harris. The Pistons' veteran wing was solid this season (13.3 points per game) but stepped it up in the playoffs, averaging 20.2 points a night. In Game 7 on Sunday, he found another level. He had 19 points in the first half, including scoring 11 straight in the final 2:30 of the first half, when Detroit took over the game. He would go on to score 30.
"Nobody can say s*** to me about Tobias," Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said about a player who has heard his share of criticism over the years. "He's dependable, reliable, prepared for the moment. He's a leader, he's a great teammate, he's a great human being.
In the third quarter, Cade Cunningham took over and made sure Detroit finished the job, quickly turning an 11-point halftime lead into 20, and Game 7 was never in doubt after that.
Detroit cruised to a 116-94 win, and with that, the No. 1 seed Pistons came back from 3-1 down to win a much tougher series than expected against the Orlando Magic, who pushed them to the brink.
Detroit now advances to the second round for the first time since 2008 and will face the winner of Game 7 between Toronto and Cleveland later on Sunday (on NBC). Orlando heads into an offseason where they will face questions about just how well their stars fit together, whether they have the right coach, and whether they should make sweeping changes or run it back.
Paolo Banchero did everything he could for the Magic, finishing with a game-high 38 points including four 3-pointers. The problem is, all the other Magic combined to shoot 34% for the game and 6-of-23 (26.1%) from beyond the arc. It just wasn't enough.
Especially with Cunningham making plays on his way to 32 points and 12 assists for the night.
Detroit's Motor(CADE) came through in Game 7!
️ 32 PTS ️ 12 AST ️ 2 BLK ️ 4-6 3PM ️ 10-18 FGM
Pistons become the 15th team in NBA history to come back from down 3-1 deficit in a postseason series!
Jalen Duren had his best game of the series with 15 points and 15 rebounds, and Daniss Jenkins had 16 off the bench for the Pistons. For the Magic, Desmond Bade added 16 points.
This game looked like a Game 7 early, with both teams a little tight in the first quarter — except for Banchero, who had the first 11 Orlando points, including going 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Despite that, the Magic shot 8-of-21 (38.1%) in the first, but that was good enough for a 22-20 lead over a Pistons team that was 7-of-20 (35%), including Duncan Robinson starting 1-of-7 from 3-point range, and most of those were quality looks.
In the second quarter that changed, especially for Detroit, which shot 56.5% as a team, knocked down five 3-pointers, and scored 40 in the frame. The Pistons were out and running — Detroit had 12 points off Orlando turnovers in the second quarter, which was aided by Ausar Thompson's three steals.
The Pistons broke the game open when they closed the first half on a 20-6 run, which included an 11-straight points from Harris (he had 19 for the half), and Detroit led 60-49 at the break despite 23 from Banchero.
Cunningham looked like an All-NBA player in the third quarter and that was it. Game over.
Even if the Pistons had to sweat the first round a lot more than they expected.
Austin Reaves loses the ball in front of Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alex Caruso during a Lakers loss in April 2025. The Lakers and Thunder open their best-of-seven playoff series Tuesday. (Joshua Gateley / Getty Images)
The Lakers understand the daunting challenge they're about to face against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals.
Lakers coach JJ Redick referenced the great Chicago Bulls teams that won back-to-back championships in 1996 and '97 and the Golden State Warriors teams that won titles in 2015 and '17 when talking about the Thunder after practice Sunday.
“The Thunder is one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history,” Redick said. “It's just the reality. They're that good. I think our guys recognize that and respect that, and we know what kind of task we have in front of us.”
The Thunder had the best record in the regular season at 64-18. They were ranked first in defensive field-goal percentage (43.7%), first in defensive rating (106.5), first in net rating (43.7) and second in points given up per game (107.9).
They have the league's reigning most valuable player in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is the leading candidate to repeat as MVP. He was second in scoring this season (31.1 points per game) and leads the postseason in scoring (33.8).
This season the Thunder beat the Lakers by an average of 29.2 points per game in sweeping the four-game set. So the Lakers are facing long odds to win this series, but they say they aren't intimidated heading into Game 1 on Tuesday night.
“You can respect the team but you can't fear them,” forward Jake LaRavia said. “You can't come into the game fearing the opponent and then you're just gonna come in and get punked. So, we respect how good this team is, but our goal is to win — win the games and win the series. So, our mindset stays the same.”
The Thunder have a reputation as a stingy defensive team — they were called for the seventh-fewest fouls per game (19) this season.
“They're top five in every category that's disruptive-base: steals, blocks, turnovers forced, all that stuff. And they don't foul,” Redick said. “They somehow do all of that without fouling, which is one of the most remarkable things, I think, in NBA history."
Gilgeous-Alexander is famous for drawing fouls. He took nine free throws per game this season, third-most in the league.
“Nobody’s been able to stop him all season,” Redick said. “So, you can hope and pray.”
Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives against the Lakers during a Thunder win on April 2. (Cooper Neill / Getty Images)
The Lakers had their own weapon at the free-throw line, but it's unclear when Luka Doncic might return from injury. The All-Star point guard hasn't played since sustaining a Grade 2 left hamstring strain against the Thunder on April 2.
Doncic was coming off a magical month, becoming the only player in history other than Michael Jordan to score 600 points in March.
Redick had no update on Doncic's status — he remains out indefinitely.
But the Lakers got by the Rockets with LeBron James leading the way. He averaged 23.2 points, 8.3 assists and 7.2 rebounds in the six games. And star guard Austin Reaves, who also was injured in the April 2 game against the Thunder, returned to help beat the Rockets.
Still, few think the Lakers, who advanced past the first round for the first time since 2023, can get by the deep and talented Thunder.
“You could say nobody thought we were going to get past Houston, but everybody in this building believed,” Reaves said. “It's the same mindset going into this. We obviously know the team that we're about to face and how good they are and the problems that they can create for 48 minutes. So, we'll have to lock in every single day, film, whatever it could be, to continue to get better and and pay attention to all the little details like they do.”
The Yankees have officially reached a decision on Anthony Volpe.
New York optioned the shortstop to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre upon his activation from the IL on Sunday.
Sunday, of course, marked the 20th and final day on Volpe's minor league rehab assignment which is what led to the club having to make the difficult decision.
While Volpe put together a strong showing on his road back from offseason shoulder surgery, Jose Caballero has been tremendous in all aspects of the game for the Yanks in his absence.
Caballero's hitting .259 with four homers, five doubles, 12 RBI, 13 stolen bases, and a .711 OPS.
“You also can't ignore that he's played so well defensively at shortstop, been a real spark for us offensively, especially after kind of getting off to a slow start probably the first 10 days, two weeks of the season,” Boone said. “He's really picked that up and been in the middle of us winning games.
“At the end of the day, we're going to try and do what's best for our team and then individual players that we care about too and know that are going to be important contributors to our team -- we weigh all that."
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - APRIL 14: JJ Wetherholt #26 (R) celebrates with Iván Herrera #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals after hitting a solo home run against the Cleveland Guardians in the third inning at Busch Stadium on April 14, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We all love the stock market, right?! Yeah, I figured that’s probably not true, but it is a good way to retire with a nice 401K plan. That mini-Econ lesson aside, we asked a series of Buy or Sell style questions to figure out our positions on certain players and circumstances in the Cardinals organization in our latest episode.
Kaden Joggerst, the human behind the viral @CardinalSTLMuse twitter account joined us to consider just how much of our stock portfolio we should be putting in JJ Wetherholt’s ceiling. We consider what type of sustained success it would take to get fans back to Busch in familiar numbers, ask whether Michael McGreevy can keep outpitching his batted ball metrics, and how to think about the Nathan Church – Victor Scott II situation.
As always, it was a fun conversation, and Kaden was a great guest. He was full of insight and maintained an interesting “buy or sell” portfolio over the course of the episode.
Also, from the whole Redbird Rundown team, the support for our show in the VEB community has been great. Thank you for listening! It would be fantastic if you could subscribe as you listen on your platform of choice!
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 03: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals reacts after he was called out after sliding into home plate during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 03, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Two weeks ago, the Royals had just lost their seventh straight game, it dropped them to 7-15 on the season. Now they just got done sweeping the Mariners in the Pacific Northwest with a 4-1 victory. The Royals wrapped up a 4-2 trip out west and are now winners in 7 of their last 9 contests. They are 15-19 on the season, and 2.5 games out of first place. They are 3-0 in the month of May.
After doing next to nothing through three innings, the Royals found themselves down 1-0. Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino hit back-to-back singles to start the 4th. Salvy got hit by a pitch, and the bases were loaded for Carter Jensen with nobody down. Jensen worked back from a 1-2 count to earn an RBI walk to tie it up. Jac Caglianone was up next, and he hit into a forceout, making it 2-1.
Isaac Collins next, skied a ball into medium deep right center, Julio Rodríguez got underneath it and threw a three hopper to the plate, Salvy was initially called out, but empathically told the dugout to challenge, they did and Salvy was safe on a fantastic slide to make it 3-1.
Collins doubled off the center field wall to score Cags with two outs in the 6th, to make it 4-1 as well. For a guy that didn’t have a hit on the road on as of Tuesday, Collins swung the bat very well on the trip, even a good amount of his outs were hit hard.
John Schreiber started the 8th inning, he walked one but got a pair of groundouts as well. Daniel Lynch IV came in to face Josh Naylor with two outs, with a runner on first. He promptly struck him out on four pitches. Lynch stayed in for the 9th, striking out two more and getting a grounder to Vinnie to complete the sweep. It’s Lynch’s first save of the season, Bubic’s third win.
The Royals have a huge next 10 games, they open a seven game homestand against Cleveland tomorrow night, who they are 2.5 games back of at the top of the division, for four games. The Tigers are in town next weekend, and then it’s off to the southside to face the streaking White Sox for three games. A chance to gain ground and get some divisional wins awaits the Royals. The stretch starts tomorrow night at 6:40 p.m. CT, with Michael Wacha getting the start. The game can be streamed on Royals.TV.
DETROIT — Cade Cunningham had 32 points and 12 assists, Tobias Harris added 30 points and the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7 on Sunday to win a playoff series for the first time in 18 years.
Cunningham averaged 32.4 points for Detroit, which last won a postseason series by beating Orlando in the second round in 2008. The Pistons advance to play the winner of Sunday night’s Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors. Game 1 will be Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena.
“We were pushed to the limit,” Cunningham said. “And it made us really reflect on how we were playing, what got us to this position and what made us win as many games as we won in the regular season. And it got us back to playing the basketball that we knew we were capable of.”
Duncan Robinson (55), Daniss Jenkins (24), Cade Cunningham (2) and Javonte Green (31) of the Detroit Pistons react during Game 7 against the Orlando Magic. NBAE via Getty Images
The Pistons became the 15th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit and the second in the last two nights, after the Philadelphia 76ers came back to eliminate Boston.
“I mean, it’s expected,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of his team’s resiliency. “And that’s the amount of belief that we have in this group. This is a special group. And you can’t count us out. No matter the circumstances, no matter the situation, I like our chances to fight our way back.”
They trailed by 24 points in Game 6 in Orlando before rallying to take the series at home. Orlando only scored 113 points in the final six quarters of the series — an average of 18.8 per period.
Cunningham and Harris became the first Pistons teammates to score 30 points in a playoff game since Bob Lanier (33) and Howard Porter (30) against the Golden State Warriors on April 17, 1977.
“We really bonded this season,” Cunningham said. “This group is super tight. We think we can do anything. We’ve had our backs against the wall at times in the regular season, but we stuck together and we found our way out of it.”
Paolo Banchero scored 38 for the Magic.
Each team needed a second scoring option in Game 7. Cunningham had carried the Pistons while Banchero was Orlando’s only weapon after Franz Wagner was injured in Game 4.
Harris filled that role for Detroit, but Orlando only had one other player reach double figures in the first three quarters, as Desmond Bane had 10.
Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons dunks the ball against the Orlando Magic during the third quarter in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Getty Images
“We just couldn’t find the basket,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “We were playing well on defense, but we couldn’t put the ball in the hole.”
The Pistons also got a big game from All-Star center Jalen Duren. He was outplayed by Wendell Carter Jr. in the first six games, but put up his first double-double of the series with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Harris scored 17 points in the second quarter as the Pistons finished the half on a 9-2 run to take a 60-49 lead.
The Pistons’ surge continued into the second half, as they opened the third quarter with a 11-2 run to go up 71-51. Nine of the points came from Cunningham and Harris.
The Magic finished the third quarter with 15 points — the third time in their last five periods they couldn’t reach 20 points.
Daniss Jenkins hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give Detroit a 83-64 lead going into the fourth, and the Magic never threatened down the stretch.
“They fought and battled the whole way,” Mosley said. “We just didn’t get the job done.”
For just the fourth time this season, the Mets won a series, as they beat the Angels by a 5-1 score in the rubber game of their series this afternoon in Anaheim. No matter what happened today, the Mets were destined to retain sole possession of the worst record in baseball come tomorrow morning, but a series win sure is a sight for sore eyes for a team that had won just three of its previous twenty games coming into the weekend.
Most of this game was close. The Angels opened the scoring on an RBI single by Jorge Soler in the bottom of the first, but that was the only run Clay Holmes gave up in six-and-two-thirds innings of work. He threw 99 pitches, struck out six, walked three, and gave up four hits, and he has a 1.69 ERA on the season.
The Mets took the lead in the top of the fourth when Mark Vientos hit a two-run home run. And while Vientos continues to struggle with routine plays at first base, his bat turned out to be the best one the Mets had on the afternoon.
After Carson Benge drove in an insurance run with a double in the top of the eighth, Vientos hit another two-run home run to extend the lead to four. And thanks to Luke Weaver throwing one-and-one-third scoreless innings in relief of Holmes before Luke Raley threw a scoreless ninth.
None of the Mets’ pitchers did it alone, as outfielder MJ Melendez and Carson Benge and shortstop Bo Bichette, who played just his second game this season at his old position, each made a great defensive play along the way.
When the game was closer in the early going, the Mets once again didn’t challenge a play that could’ve made a big difference in the game and looked like it would’ve easily gone in their favor. With a runner on first in the top of the third, Juan Soto hit a ground ball to first base that got stuck in the webbing of Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel’s glove as he went to make a throw to second base. He instead took off his glove and tossed it to Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz at first. He bobbled the glove as Soto crossed first base, but the first base umpire called him out.
Fortunately, that wound up being a moot point, and weather permitting, the Mets will attempt to win another series as they travel to Denver to play the Rockies in a three-game series that’s set to get underway tomorrow night.
Big Mets winner: Clay Holmes, +32% WPA Big Mets loser: Marcus Semien, -13% WPA Mets pitchers: +42% WPA Mets hitters: +8% WPA Teh aw3s0mest play: Mark Vientos hits a two-run home run in the fourth, +22% WPA Teh sux0rest play: Jorge Soler hits an RBI single in the first, -9% WPA
TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs hired former captain Mats Sundin as senior executive adviser of hockey operations and John Chayka as general manager Sunday.
The moves mark a reset of the club’s front office after a season that ended with Toronto missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
The team said Sundin will provide support across hockey operations, with a focus on team culture, player development and leadership support.
“This fan base deserves greatness and I am grateful for the opportunity to help this team, organization and city achieve that,” Sundin said in a release.
Toronto fired GM Brad Treliving in March, near the end of the disastrous campaign for the Maple Leafs, who entered the season among the Stanley Cup favorites.
The club also did not replace president Brendan Shanahan after he was let go in May 2025.
Sundin and Chayka arrive with the organization still searching for its first Stanley Cup since 1967.
The Maple Leafs’ career points leader, Sundin had a complicated Toronto exit in 2008 before a brief stint with the Vancouver Canucks, but remains a fan favorite for his 13 seasons in blue and white.
The 55-year-old Swede, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012 and returned home to start a family after retiring, has never held a formal management position in the game.
The 36-year-old Chayka became the NHL’s youngest GM when he was hired by the Arizona Coyotes a decade ago. His time in the desert was marked by an analytics-heavy push and bold trades.
“I’m honored to join the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and excited to work alongside Mats and the entire organization,” Chayka said in a statement. “This is one of hockey’s most historic franchises, with a passionate fan base who want to win."
Chayka abruptly resigned in July 2020 on the eve of the league’s pandemic restart and was subsequently suspended by commissioner Gary Bettman for one year in 2021 for “conduct detrimental to the league and game” after pursuing job opportunities with other teams while still employed by the Coyotes.
Arizona was also docked first- and second-round picks for holding unauthorized workouts with draft prospects under his watch, in breach of the league’s scouting combine policy.
Jan 17, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) looks up in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Anthony Edwards might not miss much of the Timberwolves’ series against the Spurs, per reports. He had been making progress and was initially likely to suit up in Game 3 or Game 4, according to ESPN’s Sham Charania. Apparently, his return could come earlier than that, as he has been listed as questionable for Game 1, and he could play if his knee feels good after a workout on Monday, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski.
Edwards suffered a hyperextended knee injury with a bone bruise in Game 4 of the Timberwolves’ first-round series against the Nuggets. He was also previously dealing with a persistent issue in his other knee, so he was expected to miss several games, if not the entire series, against the Spurs. It looks like he has progressed faster than expected because there’s a chance he could play Monday.
Edwards is not doubtful. He’s questionable. That tells you he has every intention of playing. Tomorrow at shootaround likely will be a big test
If Edwards does indeed play, it would be shocking. Timberwolves’ medical staff has called him “Wolverine” because of how fast he heals, but not even the most optimistic observers thought it would be possible for him to be ready this quickly.
Despite the credible reports, there are some big questions that still remain unanswered. Could the Timberwolves be trying to play mind games with the Spurs by surprisingly listing him as questionable a day before the matchup with no intention of playing him? And even if Edwards suits up, how will he look? Edwards’ runner’s knee was already limiting him in the series against the Nuggets before the bone bruise. Now he’ll have discomfort in both knees.
One thing is clear: Whether Edwards is ready to go by Game 1 or later, it seems that he will play in the series at some point.
Other than listing Edwards as questionable, the Timberwolves’ injury report also includes Donte DiVincenzo as out due to an Achilles injury that will sideline him for the rest of the playoffs, and Ayo Dosunmu as questionable due to calf soreness that held him out of Game 6 against the Nuggets.
The Spurs listed Carter Bryant as questionable due to an ankle sprain, but no one else appears in their injury report.
The Mets won their first road series in nearly a month after taking two out of three against the Los Angeles Angels thanks to a 5-1 win on Sunday.
Here are the takeaways...
-- The first inning was an unconventional slog for Clay Holmes who needed 27 pitches to get through the frame which is the most he's thrown in any inning this season. Holmes allowed a run on Jorge Soler's one-out single after walking the first two hitters he faced and was in need of a double play to get through the inning. The ground ball pitcher, who surprisingly entered the game with just two double plays turned behind him this season, got exactly what he was looking for at the perfect time, getting Jo Adell to ground into an inning-ending double play and limit the damage to a run.
In need of a quick inning in the second, Holmes walked his third batter in the first seven hitters but managed to induce another ground ball double play, this one handled by Bo Bichette, making his first start at shortstop with New York, who stayed with it after it took a funky hop and turned two to get Holmes out of the inning after just 11 pitches.
From there, Holmes cruised through 6.2 terrific innings and retired 12 of the last 15 hitters he faced, helped out by a diving catch by MJ Melendez in the sixth and a leaping grab at the wall in right field by Carson Benge in the seventh. The last batter Holmes faced reached base on a throwing error by Bichette, but Luke Weaver entered the game and struck out pinch-hitter Yoan Moncada to end the inning.
Holmes' final line: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K on 99 pitches (71 strikes) and he lowered his season ERA to 1.69, fourth-best in the majors.
-- Shut out for the first three innings against Jack Kochanowicz despite a few chances with runners on, the Mets finally got to the right-hander in the fourth and it was Mark Vientos who delivered the big blast, launching a two-run shot that went 427 feet and put New York ahead, 2-1.
Benge worked a fantastic eight-pitch walk in front of Vientos, his second walk of the game, that led to the home run and had a solid day at the plate, finishing 1-for-2 with an RBI double and two runs scored to go along with those two walks.
-- The Mets wouldn't score again until the eighth as their collective slump at the plate continued, including strikeouts by Juan Soto and Austin Slater in the seventh with a runner at second base and a chance to extend their lead. Soto went 0-for-5 with two Ks and was visibly upset with himself on a few of his at-bats.
-- New York finally got the insurance run (and a hit with RISP) it was looking for on Benge's double that drove in Brett Baty who led off the inning with a hit by pitch before advancing to second on Marcus Semien's groundout to the catcher. They got two more when Vientos smacked his second two-run homer of the game that put the Mets ahead, 5-1.
-- After hitting a double on Saturday night, Vientos has begun to heat up and show off his power as his last four hits have been for extra-bases. He's now slashing .250/.297/.440 on the season and his four home runs are tied with Francisco Alvarez for the team lead.
-- Weaver turned in a good performance, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts and Brooks Raley finished things off in the ninth as Benge made another incredible catch, this one diving to his left on a tailing fly ball.
Game MVP: Mark Vientos
The Mets needed a spark offensively and they got it off the bat of Vientos.
DENVER, CO - MAY 3: Starting pitcher Spencer Strider #99 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 3, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After letting a sweep slip through their hands on Thursday, the Braves heaped another hurting on the Rockies, scoring 11 runs en route to a blowout win in Spencer Strider’s 2026 debut.
Let’s start with Strider, because besides “yeah this offense rules” and some interesting bullpen stuff, this game felt like a fait accompli at times.
To be candid, Strider looked about as off in this game as I’ve ever seen him. I’m sure Coors Field had something to do with that, but whatever the reason or reasons, it was kind of a nasty outing. Strider walked two in his first inning of work: the leadoff batter, and after a two-out bloop scored the game’s first run, another batter afterwards. Fortunately, he struck out two in the frame, so it wasn’t all bad, but it wasn’t great, either. The second was kind of the same: strikeout, single, walk, strikeout, walk. Things looked like they could get out of hand with Hunter Goodman at the dish with the bases loaded and a 3-1 count, but Goodman took a down-the-pipe 95 mph fastball and hit it deep but not quite deep enough to right for a loud out rather than something that could’ve busted the game open.
Strider didn’t really recover after that inning — the first batter he faced in the third (TJ Rumfield) took a low-in-the-zone 93 mph four-seamer and destroyed it 420-plus feet into right center. There was another strikeout and walk in the frame, but no more damage. And then, to start the fourth, Strider threw another 94ish mph fastball down the middle, which turned into a leadoff triple. It actually could’ve been a leadoff inside-the-park homer off the bat of Jake McCarthy, but McCarthy slid into third rather than picking up the windmill motion of his third base coach. After a final strikeout, Strider departed.
His final line was a weird one: a 6/5 K/BB ratio and a homer allowed in 3 1/3 innings. He faced 19 batters, and twelve had one of the “three true outcomes.” Put that together, and it wasn’t a heartening debut, adding up to a 7.95 FIP and 5.76 xFIP. Hopefully, his next effort at a place less challenging than Coors works out better.
When Strider departed, the Braves had a slim, 3-2 lead, but McCarthy on third was the tying run. In came Aaron Bummer to face the lefty-swinging Mickey Moniak, and three pitches later, Moniak jumped on a sweeper in the zone and crushed it for a no-doubter into right field to turn the game around. It was the third time in four games that Bummer had allowed a homer. I’m not sure if he’s still recovering from his shoulder woes of last year, or if it’s just his time to drop off the aging cliff, but the Braves might want to look into something where he gets a breather, because this is pretty brutal, and it’s not like he was pitching that well before the homers began, either.
Okay, time to talk about the offense. The offense was at Coors Field, and it was great, so put those together and it was a painful afternoon to pitch to them, as it has been throughout this series. The damage came from sources both likely and unlikely, through the whole affair.
The second inning started with a leadoff double from Matt Olson. Kyle Freeland struck out both Austin Riley and Eli White, but Jonah Heim found a hanging curve and smashed it 420-plus feet for a go-ahead no-doubter. On the very next pitch, Jorge Mateo turned on an inside fastball and yoinked it at 112 mph into the left-field corner for another dinger, making it 3-1 Braves. The bottom of the order stranded White after a leadoff triple in the fourth, but then got the lead back after Moniak’s homer in the fifth anyway: Drake Baldwin singled with one out, and Freeland walked both Ozzie Albies and Olson to load the bases. (I’m not sure why Freeland was pitching to the Braves’ lineup a third time through having already gotten thrashed by almost everyone in the lineup previously, but hey, thanks, Rockies.) I fully expected Riley to fall prey to the WPA vortex once again, but he actually “singled” on an 0-2 count by hitting a hard grounder that hit the third-base bag and spun in the air, allowing Baldwin to tie the game. Freeland then walked White to push the go-ahead run across, and after departing, Heim popped a sac fly off Antonio Senzatela.
Oh, but the Braves were nowhere near done. Albies added a two-out RBI single in the sixth, and then Olson doubled him home. There was more pouring on in the top of the ninth thanks to the bottom of the order once again: Albies walked, White singled, Heim doubled, and Mateo blooped another single to push three more across.
After the Braves went ahead 6-4 and chased Freeland, Bummer stayed in for the bottom of the fifth… but two grounder singles and a bunt chased him in favor of Didier Fuentes. This game was interesting because Walt Weiss didn’t do a punt (a la Carlos Carrasco/etc.), but instead went with his in-the-bullpen-right now arms, along with his primary relievers, as a mix-and-match that ultimately worked out. The Rockies got a sac fly and a groundout against Fuentes, who gave way to Lee in the sixth. Lee carved up the top of the Colorado order (nine pitches, two strikeouts, a groundout), and then the Braves inserted Reynaldo Lopez. The Rockies didn’t score on Lopez: weak single, walk, strikeout, groundout, and a hard liner flagged down in right field. Moniak crushed another monster homer in the eighth, this time off Tyler Kinley, but it came with two out and none on; Kinley otherwise struck out two in his frame.
Robert Suarez wrapped up the game despite the five-run difference. His inning included a weird play where Troy Johnston was thrown out after trying to extend a single into a double but then thinking better of it and retreating to first, where Ozzie Albies nailed him with a return throw. After a bloop single, Brett Sullivan lined out hard to Mauricio Dubon in center, and that was that.
It was kind of a weird game for the Braves — their pitching staff had a 13/6 K/BB ratio and allowed three homers while using seven different arms, but because the offense drew six walks and hit two homers of their own, it never really felt like the game was going to slip away. The Rockies maybe should’ve pulled Freeland earlier, but the Braves were feasting on pretty much every pitcher they saw, so it may not have mattered. Heim drove in five of Atlanta’s 11 runs; it remains to be seen whether the Braves retain him once Sean Murphy comes off the Injured List later on this road trip.
Sweep secured, the Braves will now continue westward to face the Mariners in Seattle on Monday night.
Sep 20, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (2) hits a one run single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the tenth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers continue their road trip to begin the week, as they’ll visit the St. Louis Cardinals for three games beginning Monday evening. The Brewers, who have taken two of three against the D-backs and Nationals in their last two series, are now 18-15 on the season, sitting in fourth place in the deepest division in baseball. Just above them in those standings are the Cardinals, tied for second at 20-14. The Cardinals had their six-game win streak — including a four-game sweep of the Pirates and two wins over the Dodgers — snapped on Sunday.
I already provided a more in-depth rundown of the Brewers’ injured list earlier today, but for the quicker version, read on. The big news here is that first baseman Andrew Vaughn should be back with the team for the first time since Opening Day as he finishes his rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville. Alongside Vaughn, outfielder Jackson Chourio was also expected to return Monday, but after he fouled a ball off his foot/ankle on Saturday night, that return may be slightly delayed. Regardless, we should see him soon. Jacob Misiorowski is the other big name to mention, as he exited Friday night’s win with cramps — he would be slated for the series finale in St. Louis, but the Brewers still have that spot listed as TBD. More on that below. Rounding things out: Angel Zerpa (extended absence as he weighs whether to undergo Tommy John surgery), Brice Turang (day to day after he was scratched with an illness on Sunday), Brandon Woodruff (right arm inflammation; should be back in a couple weeks), Quinn Priester (rehabbing from thoracic outlet syndrome), Christian Yelich (has begun running and hitting as he recovers from a groin strain); Jared Koenig (on a throwing program); Rob Zastryzny (playing catch again); Akil Baddoo (TBD, but no earlier than a June return). Oof.
The Cardinals have a much smaller injured list, as they’re only without outfielder Lars Nootbaar and right-hander Matt Pushard. Nootbaar underwent surgery on both heels and hasn’t appeared in a game this season. On the 60-day IL, he is eligible to come off the IL on May 24, with the team tentatively scheduling a rehab assignment to begin around May 10. Pushard is currently with Triple-A Memphis as he works his way back from right knee tendinitis that has kept him out since the end of March.
The not-so-heavy-hitting Brewer offense is currently led by Brice Turang and William Contreras, both of whom are close to batting .300 (.298 for Contreras, .291 for Turang). Tyler Black, who was recalled last week, has shined in six games with the team, hitting .429 with nine hits (four doubles) and seven RBIs over 21 at-bats. Jake Bauers and Gary Sánchez have provided the little bit of power Milwaukee has had, though they’ve both been sitting with five homers for a couple of weeks. Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, David Hamilton, Greg Jones, Brandon Lockridge, Joey Ortiz, Blake Perkins, and Luis Rengifo round out the offense, though two players will have to be optioned to make room for Vaughn and Chourio this week. As a team, the Brewers .239/.335/.354 (.689 OPS ranks 24th), with 22 homers (29th), 172 runs (eighth), and 38 steals (first).
Jordan Walker got off to a scalding hot start and leads the Cards with 10 homers this season, adding 27 RBIs, 27 runs, and six steals as he’s hitting .307/.373/.591. Rookie JJ Wetherholt adds seven homers, while Alec Burleson, Nathan Church, and Nolan Gorman have five homers each. The Cardinals also have a solid combo of catchers in Iván Herrera and Pedro Pagés. Masyn Winn is the team’s starting shortstop, though he’s a defense-first player, with Yohel Pozo, Ramón Urías, José Fermín, Thomas Saggese, and Victor Scott II rounding things out. As a team, the Cardinals are hitting .241/.325/.403 (.728 OPS ranks ninth), with 44 homers (tied for fourth), 166 runs (ninth), and 26 steals (12th).
It seems like we haven’t seen Grant Anderson and Aaron Ashby quite as often in the last couple of series, but they still lead the Crew with 17 and 16 appearances, respectively. Abner Uribe, DL Hall, Shane Drohan, and Brian Fitzpatrick have also been solid recently, and Trevor Megill has improved drastically after a ridiculously cold start. Jake Woodford has served as a long-relief arm in a few of the Brewers’ blowout games this year, as he’s a former starter/swingman for these Cardinals. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.56 team ERA (fifth), including a 3.47 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.67 bullpen ERA (eighth). They’ve struck out 309 batters (seventh) over 293 1/3 innings.
Justin Bruihl leads the Cardinals’ bullpen with 18 appearances, though he has a 5.29 ERA. Closer Riley O’Brien has been solid, with a 2.20 ERA and nine saves in 11 opportunities. JoJo Romero, George Soriano, and Gordon Graceffo have all been solid, while Ryne Stanek (7.71 ERA) and Matt Svanson (9.68 ERA) have struggled. Jared Shuster, who was selected and DFA’d by the Cardinals earlier this season, rounds out the bullpen after once again being selected on Friday. He’s made three appearances with a 3.18 ERA over 5 2/3 innings this season. As a staff, the Cardinals have a 4.54 team ERA (23rd), including a 4.27 starter ERA (17th) and a 4.92 bullpen ERA (26th). They’ve struck out 236 batters (last) over 307 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Monday, May 4 @ 6:45 p.m.: RHP Chad Patrick (2-1, 2.57 ERA, 4.33 FIP) vs. RHP Kyle Leahy (3-3, 5.52 ERA, 5.64 FIP)
Patrick continues to outpace his FIP, as his 2.57 ERA is nearly two runs lower than his 4.33 FIP through six appearances (four starts) this season. The former fourth-round pick picked up his second win of the year his last time out, allowing two runs on a hit and five walks while striking out five in a 13-2 win over the D-backs. He made three appearances (two starts) against St. Louis last season, going 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA and six strikeouts over 9 2/3 innings.
Leahy, who served as the Cardinals’ set-up man for the majority of last season, has transitioned into a starter this season. Through six starts, he’s an even 3-3, though he has a not-so-pretty 5.52 ERA and 5.64 FIP, striking out 22 over 29 1/3 innings. He picked up the win his last time around against Pittsburgh, allowing three runs on nine hits and striking out seven over 5 1/3 innings. He’s alternated wins and losses in each appearance this year, though, which means he’s due for a loss. In eight appearances (all relief) against Milwaukee, Leahy has a 3.65 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 12 1/3 innings.
Tuesday, May 5 @ 6:45 p.m.: RHP Brandon Sproat (0-2, 6.75 ERA, 6.38 FIP) vs. RHP Andre Pallante (3-2, 3.73 ERA, 4.68 FIP)
It has been a rough start for Sproat in his first season in Milwaukee, as he has a 6.75 ERA and 6.38 FIP with 25 strikeouts over 26 2/3 innings. He made a pair of solid outings against the Nationals and Blue Jays a few weeks ago, allowing just two runs and striking out nine over 10 1/3 innings in those games, but he’s struggled his last two times out against the Tigers and D-backs. Against Arizona on Wednesday, he allowed four runs on six hits (two homers) and a pair of walks, striking out five in a 6-2 loss. This marks his first career appearance against St. Louis.
Pallante, 27, is now in his fifth season with St. Louis and his third as a full-time starter. After a rough -1.1 bWAR season last year, he’s bounced back to begin the 2026 season. Through six starts, he has a 3.73 ERA, 4.68 FIP, and 26 strikeouts over 31 1/3 innings. A former fourth-round pick, Pallante went six innings against the Pirates his last turn through the rotation, allowing one run on five hits and striking out six. A familiar opponent for Milwaukee, Pallante has made 15 appearances (three starts) against the Brewers, with an 0-2 record, a 5.06 ERA, and 19 strikeouts over 32 innings.
Wednesday, May 6 @ 12:15 p.m.: TBD vs. LHP Matthew Liberatore (1-1, 4.50 ERA, 5.84 FIP)
As I noted above, the Brewers haven’t yet announced a starter for Wednesday’s series finale, as this would be Misiorowski’s turn in the rotation. Miz exited Friday night’s game against the Nationals with cramping, but it seems more likely than not that we’ll still see him in this one. If that is the case, I’ll note that Miz had his best stuff in his last outing, striking out eight and allowing no hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings in the win over Washington. He made three starts against St. Louis last year (including his MLB debut), going 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings.
Liberatore, 26, is also in his fifth season with the Cardinals. He made 29 starts with a 4.21 ERA a year ago, and he looks to be on track for a similar season in 2026. Through seven starts, he has a 4.50 ERA, 5.84 FIP, and 23 strikeouts over 36 innings. He picked up the win in Friday’s series opener against the Dodgers, going 5 2/3 innings with two runs allowed on five hits and a pair of walks, striking out four. Liberatore has made 11 appearances (four starts) against Milwaukee for his career, with a 4-0 record, a 1.26 ERA, and 31 strikeouts over 28 2/3 innings.
How to Watch & Listen
Monday, May 4: Brewers TV and nationally on FS1; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Tuesday, May 5: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Wednesday, May 6: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
The Cardinals have gotten off to a solid start thanks to a strong offensive showing across the lineup. I think the Brewers’ pitching staff can hold them, though, and the return of Vaughn (and maybe Chourio) should be big for Milwaukee’s inconsistent offense. I’ll take the Crew to win two of three.
After a 3-0 Game 1 trouncing at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, the Philadelphia Flyers must recognize that the game has changed for them in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
A mediocre Flyers offense was already cooling off in the second half of the Round 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins and, by the end, needed a Cam York prayer to beat an injured Arturs Silovs.
The Flyers' staunch defense, which was initially tasked with marshalling and silencing the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Erik Karlsson, now faces an entirely new task altogether.
Instead of worrying about defense and fundamentals, the blueline corps now has to learn how to play fast under pressure. It's the only way they'll bypass the Hurricanes' disruptive forecheck and subsequently retain possession and create offense.
The problem, though, is that they aren't built for that, and the Flyers will have to adapt.
Veteran defenseman Noah Juulsen, who has done a solid job for the Flyers in limited action, struggles to move the puck and isn't capable of using his legs as a weapon.
The same, to a lesser extent, applies to Nick Seeler, too.
Juulsen, in particular, was victimized by the Hurricanes' intensity in Game 1, as he was forced into an error with the puck in his own zone that led to Logan Stankoven cashing in for his second goal of the night, making it 3-0 and effectively burying the Flyers where they stood.
The Flyers have options, though there is risk involved.
Youngsters Emil Andrae and David Jiricek each boast premium puck-movement skills; Andrae is more nimble, while Jiricek is overall more talented.
The Flyers probably won't want to throw someone like Jiricek, who has yet to make his playoff debut despite playing in 85 NHL games, into the fire, but other prospects who are considered important parts of the franchise's future have felt the flames already.
Players like Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Porter Martone, and Matvei Michkov are all 22 or younger and going through this for the first time, but that isn't the case on defense.
Jiricek, 22, is virtually penciled in for a roster spot on the Flyers next season, if for no reason other than being unable to be sent to the AHL without passing through waivers first.
The recent trade acquisition is the Flyers' most talented defender with the puck on his stick, and it isn't close.
Will Jiricek struggle with defending and the pace of play in the playoffs? Sure, but didn't everyone else in Game 1?
If the Flyers want to have a fighting chance for the rest of the series, they would be wise to turn to Jiricek, who can at least buoy the disgraceful power play and help the team move the puck up the ice in transition with his passing skills.
Juulsen has done a solid job defensively, but he's played more than 12:29 just once this postseason--the Game 6 win over the Penguins that went deep into overtime (14:46).
Those minutes should be going to a player who needs the experience, if they're going to be so limited.
It's clear the Flyers are going to need more juice to weather the Hurricanes, and Jiricek has the ability in spades.
