May 10, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider checks in with center fielder Daulton Varsho (5) after a potential injury against the Los Angeles Angels in the eigth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images | David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Angels 6 Blue Jays 1
Well that was awful.
The Jays got a run in the first and then didn’t get another base runner until the eighth. They did load the bases in the eighth, but Vlad ground out softly to third to end the chance
We had five hits on the day. Daulton Varsho had two (just barely beating out an infield single for the second one). Ernie Clement, Kazuma Okamoto and Myles Straw had one each.
Vlad is looking lost at the plate. The sooner he figures it out the better. Jesus Sanchez struck out three times. Lenyn Sosa twice.
Pitching?
Spencer Miles was terrific, throwing three innings, giving up two hits, getting two strikeouts without allowing a run. Tommy Nance had a quick fourth.
And then Eric Lauer came in. It was not good. Walk, homer, ground out, strike out, double, walk, double. Four runs in the inning. And that was pretty much the game.
He did end up throwing five innings, but allowed five hits, six earned, three homers, two walks and four strikeouts. As good as he was last year, he’s been awful this year. His velocity is down, but I don’t know if that’s enough to explain how bad he’s been. He’s got a 6.69 ERA now and there is no reason to expect it to get better.
I really have no idea what they are going to do. There isn’t anyone who’s ready to be slotted into the spot. Shane Bieber won’t be read for a month. Jose Berries is, well I don’t know, but there is inflammation and he’s not likely to be activated soon. Max Scherzer is finding that it takes longer to heal when you are the wrong side of 40.
And on top of all that:
Addison Barger is getting an MRI on his elbow.
He woke up with a limited range of motion today, John Schneider says. #BlueJays
Tomorrow the Rays come to town (and it is much better to see them in Toronto than at Tropicana). Drew Rasmussen (2-1, 2.95) vs. Kevin Gausman (2-1, 3.09).
SGP leg #1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 28.5 points (-115)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does not need to score in bunches. One of the NBA’s most clutch players — and that is putting it lightly so as to avoid debate from any De’Aaron Fox or Anthony Edwards fans — Gilgeous-Alexander is more likely not to play in the fourth quarter than he is to find himself in a clutch moment.
The presumptive MVP has averaged just 21 points per game in this series because he does not need to average more. The Oklahoma City Thunder are blowing out the Los Angeles Lakers so handily that Gilgeous-Alexander can coast in this series.
SGP leg #2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 3.5 rebounds (+120)
Gilgeous-Alexander grabbed only two rebounds in each of Games 1 and 2. Then he exploded in Game 3 with … four rebounds.
Again, SGA does not need to do more. Rebounding is an effort-forward task, and Gilgeous-Alexander does not need to put in the effort in this series.
That comes in the next round, no matter the opponent. Oklahoma City is simply being prudent by letting its star coast this week.
SGP leg #3: Thunder moneyline (-525)
The Thunder know better than most how vital some rest can be this time of year. They should put this series to bed as quickly as possible so as to add a few days of quiet before the Western Conference Finals.
With any luck, the Timberwolves and Spurs will stretch to seven games, giving Oklahoma City that much more of an advantage.
Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Thunder vs Lakers predictions for Game 4.
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May 10, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott (41) throws against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Let’s just go ahead and forget almost everything that happened during the first week of the month of May, shall we?
Fresh off a streak-busting victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday spearheaded by Chase Burns, it was once again a Cincinnati Reds starter that fueled a win on Sunday. This time, it was 2025 All Star Andrew Abbott, who fired 6.0 IP of efficient (85 pitches), scoreless ball in his best outing since Opening Day. The bullpen backed up Abbott, who’ll take hom today’s Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game honors, and that was more than enough for a Reds offense that poured out 5 runs on Astros pitching on the day.
Spencer Steer homered from the #2 spot in the order, doing so after manager Terry Francona moved him up along with Will Benson (who was on-base twice out of the leadoff spot). Elly De La Cruz chipped in with a trio of hits and a steal, JJ Bleday continued his white-hot start in a Reds uniform by tripling in a pair of runs (along with a pair of walks, a steal, and a run scored) and Blake Dunn doubled and walked in a rare start against a RHP.
All told, the Reds pounded out 9 hits, walked five times, and Benson’s HBP added on to a pretty excellent offensive showing when the club really, truly needed it.
Other Notes
Abbott’s full line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, BB, 5 K on 85 pitches. He lowered his season ERA down to 4.47 and looked much, much more like his typical self.
The bullpen allowed nary a hit nor walk while fanning 5 across 3.0 IP. Hat tip to Tejay Antone, Sam Moll, and Graham Ashcraft on a great day of work.
Matt McLain, who was once again batting 8th, walked twice (one of which drove in a run). The walks are great from him, obviously, but man it would be wonderful to see him hit a ball hard again.
For the third time already this season, the Reds will have a day-off after having played a game in Cincinnati in which their next game is also at home. So, they get a nice little break without having to travel through it. Nex tup will be the Washington Nationals in town on Tuesday, and Brady Singer will get the start in that one. It remains to be seen how the Reds will line up their rotation after that as Rhett Lowder is heading to the IL for some rest.
LeBron James may do all he can to keep the Los Angeles Lakers from being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the writing is clearly on the wall.
My Thunder vs. Lakers predictions and these NBA picks have so little faith in Los Angeles that it comes across as a lack of belief in Oklahoma City in Game 4 on Monday, May 11.
Thunder vs Lakers Game 4 prediction
Thunder vs Lakers best bet: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 28.5 points (-115)
This is doubt in the Los Angeles Lakers. The Oklahoma City Thunder are so controlling this series that the MVP does not need to pour in the points.Gilgeous-Alexander does not need to throw himself to the floor to draw foul calls.
SGA has scored just 18, 22, and 23 points in the three games of this series, yet OKC has covered the spread in each game. Winning Games 1 and 2 by 18 points apiece did not stress the Thunder.
Gilgeous-Alexander should stay in cruise control for now. The stress will come in the next round.
Maybe this can be construed as doubt in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Then again, much like throwing yourself to the hardwood to draw foul calls, finding rebounds takes effort. And neither SGA nor OKC needs to expend much effort to beat the Lakers.
Gilgeous-Alexander has cleared this modest rebounding prop just once in this series, grabbing all of four rebounds in Game 3. He is not living at the rim, his defensive assignments cannot get into the paint, and the Thunder might sit SGA for the entire fourth quarter given how lopsided this game should be.
Thunder vs Lakers SGP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 28.5 points
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 3.5 rebounds
Thunder moneyline
Thunder vs Lakers odds for Game 4
Spread: Thunder -10.5 | Lakers +10.5
Moneyline: Thunder -525 | Lakers +390
Over/Under: Over 214.5 | Under 214.5
Thunder vs Lakers betting trend to know
Oklahoma City has not merely covered the spread in this series. The Thunder have now covered the spread in all seven meetings with the Lakers this regular season and postseason. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Lakers.
How to watch Thunder vs Lakers Game 4
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Monday, May 11, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Thunder vs Lakers latest injuries
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May 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson (14) is greeted in the dugout after scoring a run during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in DRBland. The Rays were in Boston, where everyone was wearing a touch of pink to wrap up the weekend series. The Rays were first in the AL East by a wee little percentage point and hoping to push ahead and claim it properly this week. To deal with Boston, the Rays were relying on Nick Martinez on the mound, while the Red Sox had Payton Tolle up.
The Rays wasted little time getting on the board, as Junior Caminero hit a one-out home run in the top of the first inning. Two outs followed, but the Rays had the initial lead.
In the home half of the inning, with one out, Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch to get a free bag. Two outs followed, though, keeping the Red Sox scoreless. Contreras was apparently not feeling great after being hit by that pitch, though, and he left the game between inning, being replaced by Andruw Monasterio.
Ryan Vilade singled to start the second, but he tried to leg it out into a double and was snagged at second base. Two outs followed, ending the inning in short order. In the home half, Mickey Gaspar and his incredible mustache got a one-out double, but the Red Sox ended up leaving him stranded.
The Rays got riled up in the third. Nick Fortes got a leadoff single, then advanced to second on a sac bunt by Taylor Walls. Chandler Simpson singled to score Fortest, with some thanks to an ugly Trevor Story deflection, that let the ball dribble out into left. Jarren Duran threw home for some weird reason instead of to second, and Simpson was able to safely wind up at second after all was said and done. Story was charged with an error. With two outs, Ben Williamson singled, bringing Simpson home. Yandy Diaz then singled as well, putting runners at the corners, but no additional runs scored.
Caleb Durbin started the home half by getting hit by a pitch, the second of the game for Martinez. They might want to be careful of that, things got zesty in a Red Sox game last week when they thought those HBPs were intentional. Durbin then attempted to steal second and was caught. With two outs, Monasterio doubled, but the Sox left him stranded.
In the fourth, Cedric Mullins got a leadoff single, then tried to steal second and got caught in a very lengthy rundown. Two outs followed. Masataka Yoshida singled to start the bottom of the fourth. The Rays got three outs in a row to follow that, though.
The Rays went 1-2-3 for the first time this game in the fifth. With two outs in the home half, Duran singled. Monasterio singled right behind him, putting two men on, a pop-out ended the threat and the inning.
Tolle’s day was done after five, and he was replaced by Zack Kelly. Kelly gave up a leadoff walk to Williamson. Then, with one out, a pinch-hitting Jonathan Aranda singled. That was it for Kelly, who was then replaced by Tyler Samaniego. Cedric Mullins put down a sacrifice bunt, scoring Williamson and extending the Rays’ lead. A lineout ended the inning, but we love to see insurance runs.
In the bottom of the inning, Trevor Story got a one-out double. Gasper then singled, bringing Story home and making the team extra-grateful for that bonus run. Martinez got the second out of the inning and then Kevin Cash headed out to make the switch. Martinez’s final line for the game was 5.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K on 80 pitches. A solid outing for him, with some command issues, but otherwise really good results. Kevin Kelly replaced Martinez and collected the final out of the inning.
Justin Slaten was the new Red Sox pitcher for the seventh and he got the Rays out in order. The Rays returned the favor by getting the Red Sox out 1-2-3 in the home half.
Greg Weissert came out of the pen for the Sox in the eighth and faced only the minimum three batters. Ben Williamson got a one-out walk, his second of the game, and then advanced to second on a Yandy Diaz groundout. That was it for Weissert. Jovani Morán came in to replace him and got the final out of the inning. The Rays also dipped into their bullpen in the eighth, bringing out Garrett Cleavinger and after a pretty long inning, he did manage to get the Sox out in order.
In the ninth, Jonny DeLuca got a one-out walk. Nick Fortes then hit into a double play to end the inning, and with that, the Rays would have to hope their three-run lead was enough to hang on for the win. Bryan Baker came in and gave up a leadoff double to Gasper. Marcelo Mayer then walked. Baker was clearly having some issues with command, and it couldn’t happen at a worse time. Caminero made an incredible toss over to first for the second out of the inning but it was within millimeters, so Boston challenged, which was reasonable, but the call was upheld and the game was down to the final out. That last out came on a flyout from Duran to end the game and the Rays came away as both game and series winners.
The Brooklyn Nets will be picking sixth in the 2026 NBA Draft, following the results of the NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday afternoon. Mr. Whammy’s valiant efforts to butter up Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum before the drawing were not fruitful…
After posting the NBA’s third-worst record this season, this was a poor outcome for Brooklyn. (I opted for “nauseating” above.) Technically, this was a bottom-third outcome for the Nets, who had a 7% chance of falling to #7 and a 26% chance of falling to #6.
The Nets also have two second-round picks this season, which they posted on social media just after the results…
Nearly two years ago on June 24, 2024, Sean Marks made a pair of franchise-altering trades to kick off the summer. Brooklyn shipped Mikal Bridges across the East River for a whopping five first-round picks (and a swap!), then announced almost simultaneously that they had traded four Phoenix Suns picks and swaps to Houston, in exchange for their own ‘25 and ‘26 first-rounders.
One day later, the Houston Rockets selected Reed Sheppard at No. 3 overall. They still owned the 2024 Nets pick, after all, which had spiked in the lottery after Brooklyn had a good ‘ol fashioned miserable season, no tanking involved. It was time for GM Sean Marks to get in on that sort of luck, setting the team up to tank hard over the next two seasons. The move was lauded; the following spring, Marks was voted the 8th-best executive in the NBA by his peers.
Now, the Nets’ two year tank is over. In 2025, after starting the season 9-10, they received the #8 pick, just two spots ahead of the Suns pick they traded away. This June, they’ll be picking at #6, missing out on a consensus top-four of AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson, while the New York Knicks could be coming off an NBA Finals trip.
The Nets traded three first-round picks and one first-round swap to regain control over their 2025 and 2026 first-round picks so they could tank.
They move down a combined five slots in those two lotteries. Absolutely brutal.
The Houston Rockets own Brooklyn’s 2027 first-round pick, in the form of a swap. Hence this two-year window. With the NBA Draft Lottery set to undergo drastic reform next season, you could argue the Nets did not tank hard enough; the league-worst Washington Wizards won the #1 overall pick. The Indiana Pacers had the second-worst record and fell, but only to #5 (thus relinquishing their pick to the Los Angeles Clippers).
But the Chicago Bulls and their ninth-worst record shot up to four. The Memphis Grizzlies traded places with the Nets, jumping from #6 to #3….
As we reported earlier, one NBA insider told NetsDaily that they believe Brooklyn could trade up now that disaster has struck. I personally don’t see it — everybody loves the top four prospects — but you never know.
“The only reason you bank firsts like that is to be able to strike opportunistically,” he said. “Now, [moving up] in this draft, they will have to find a dance partner. But say they land in the dreaded fifth spot. They have enough draft capital to get them to the third.”
Was this outcome inevitable? No. All the Nets needed was a bit of good fortune to swing their way, and they didn’t get it. Okay, maybe it was inevitable.
Update: Sean Marks speaks
Erik Slater of Locked on Nets and ClutchPoints was in Chicago for this latest misfortune, and spoke to Sean Marks after the drawing. Here was Marks’ immediate reaction to landing the sixth pick…
Sean Marks on the Nets falling to the sixth pick:
"There's going to be some really good options for us, whether we were picking one or ten. With multiple assets that we have in this draft and multiple future assets, we're going to continue to build this team up into hopefully… pic.twitter.com/q3MRs5OYGC
Slater then asked if this outcome would lead to more aggression in the trade market…
Sean Marks on whether the Nets are more likely to be aggressive on the trade market after falling to the 6th pick:
“Hard to tell. I think it’s all about how these guys develop, right? I don’t think you want to make rash decisions before you’ve seen how they look. I think we all… pic.twitter.com/HSxFOTU4ek
Two teams that took steps at the trade deadline to add veteran talent so they wouldn't tank next season — then glued those guys to the bench for the rest of this past season, ensuring they would tank this year — were rewarded by the basketball gods with the top two picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Washington Wizards — who traded for Trae Young and Anthony Davis at the trade deadline, then basically benched them and had the worst record in the NBA this past season — won NBA Draft Lottery and now have the No. 1 pick in next's month's deep NBA draft.
Utah jumped up to No. 2 pick after trading for (and sitting) Jaren Jackson Jr. for the stretch run of the season. The Jazz can now add an elite player — likely Kansas point guard Darryn Peterson — next to Keyonte George with a front court of Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler. Even in the West, that lineup is going to win some games.
The Memphis Grizzlies jumped up to the No. 3 pick with the sixth-best odds, and the Chicago Bulls jumped from ninth to fourth.
That means the Sacramento Kings and the Brooklyn Nets — two teams that didn't tank but were just bad and needed talent — fell in this draft.
Here is how the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery shook out:
1. Washington Wizards 2. Utah Jazz 3. Memphis Grizzlies 4. Chicago Bulls 5. LA Clippers (via Indiana Pacers) 6. Brooklyn Nets 7. Sacramento Kings 8. Atlanta Hawks 9. Dallas Mavericks 10. Milwaukee Bucks 11. Golden State Warriors 12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers) 13. Miami Heat 14. Charlotte Hornets
Some other notes on how the NBA Draft lottery broke down.
• This is the second year in a row that the team with Anthony Davis on their roster got the No. 1 pick.
• This is the first time the Wizards have selected No. 1 since they took John Wall back in 2010 — and Wall represented them on stage Sunday.
• Most teams have BYU's AJ Dybantsa at the top of their board. If that's the case in Washington, next season they could start Young, Kyshawn George (or Bilal Coulibaly), Dybantsa, Davis and Alex Sarr — that's a quality starting five that could make some noise in the East.
• Memphis and Chicago jumping up can help them get players to start the retooling (or, for Memphis, rebuilding) that will come.
• The LA Clippers get a big win as they get set to retool for whatever is next (and whatever happens with Kawhi Leonard this summer). The Clippers should be able to land a top point guard — Kingston Flemmings, Darius Acuff Jr. — to be part of the foundation going forward.
• Not ideal for Indiana, but they got Ivica Zubac to be the big they need with a healthy Tyrese Haliburton next season. That team will be a contender, they just are not adding a top-four pick.
• Oklahoma City — the defending champions who are undefeated in these playoffs (7-0) after winning 64 games this season, will have two first-round draft picks, Nos. 12 and 17, both via trade. Sam Presti is a wizard.
• Charlotte, coming off a breakout season after drafting Kon Knueppel No. 4 a year ago, will have two first-round picks, Nos. 14 and 18. They are just getting deeper and better.
• Atlanta has two picks as well, Nos. 8 and 23; while Dallas has 9 and No. 30.
• This is the last time we will see this NBA Draft Lottery format. Whatever comes forward next season — the league appears to be leaning toward a modified “3-2-1" system with 18 teams in the mix — it will be different. For better or worse. (You can be sure Adam Silver and the league will take a victory lap about how there is less, if any, tanking next season, but that is far more about the quality and depth of the draft than the lottery system.)
• Here is what the rest of the first round looks like:
15. Chicago Bulls (via Portland) 16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Phoenix) 17. Oklahoma City (via Philadelphia) 18. Charlotte Hornets (via Orlando) 19. Toronto Raptors 20. San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta) 21. Detroit Pistons (via Minnesota) 22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Houston) 23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cleveland) 24. New York Knicks 25. Los Angeles Lakers 26. Denver Nuggets 27. Boston Celtics 28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit) 29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via San Antonio) 30. Dallas Mavericks (via Oklahoma City)
• The NBA Draft occurs on June 23-24 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Here’s a stat you might appreciate: This will be the last 76ers stat column of the year.
The 76ers did things in this series and in particular in their 144-114 Game 4 loss to the Knicks that they’ve never done before and in one case that nobody has ever done before.
And we’ve got all the numbers to prove it. If you’re reading this, please sit down. It’s not pleasant.
MOST POINTS ALLOWED IN 56 YEARS: The Knicks’ 144 points are the 2nd-most the 76ers have ever allowed in a playoff game and the most in 56 years. On March 30, 1970, they lost 156-120 to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Bucks at the Spectrum in Game 3 of their Eastern Division Semifinal series. The 144 points are tied for the most the 76ers have allowed in any game – regular season or playoffs – in 33 years, since a 149-93 loss to the Super Sonics at Seattle Center. And the most points they’ve allowed at home in any game in 52 years, since a 146-127 loss to the Celtics at the Spectrum in March 1974. It’s the 4th-most points ever allowed by a home team in the postseason, behind the Raptors in a 150-122 loss to the Nets in Bay Lake, Fla., during the 2020 Bubble, that 76ers’ loss to the Bucks in 1970 and the Pistons’ 145-101 loss to the St. Louis Hawks at Olympia in 1958.
NOBODY ELSE HAS EVER DONE THIS: In NBA history before this year, only six teams had lost multiple games in a postseason series by 30 or more points. Then the 76ers did it twice in a month. With 123-91 and 128-96 losses to the Celtics in Games 1 and 4 and 137-98 and 144-114 losses to the Knicks, also in Games 1 and 4, the 76ers lost multiple games by 30 or more points in two consecutive series. The only other team to lose by 30 or more points in a series multiple times in franchise history is the Nuggets, who did it 38 years apart in 1987 and 2025. The 76ers are now the only team in NBA history to lose four playoff games in a season by at least 30 points. They lost as many playoff games by 30 or more points in the last 22 days as they did in the previous 16,069 days. A third of the franchise’s 30-point losses have come in the last month – four of 12. The 76ers lost more games by 30 or more points this offseason (four) than the regular season (three).
WORST START EVER: The 76ers’ 19-point deficit after the first quarter is the 3rd-largest in 76ers postseason history and largest since they trailed the Bucks by 26 points (40-14) in that 156-120 loss to the Bucks in 1970. The Knicks’ 43 points in the first quarter are the most the 76ers have ever allowed in a postseason first quarter. The previous high was 42 in a 128-124 loss to the Hawks at Wells Fargo Center in 2021. It’s the most points they’ve allowed in any quarter of a playoff game since the Bulls scored 45 in the fourth quarter of a game the 76ers won 118-112 at the Spectrum in 1990. The Knicks’ 81 points at halftime are tied for 7th-most in NBA history and the most the 76ers have ever allowed in a postseason first half. They allowed 77 in that 156-120 loss to the Bucks in 1970. It’s also tied for 3rd-most points the 76ers have ever allowed in the first half of any game – regular season or postseason. The 76ers’ 24-point halftime deficit (81-57) is 3rd-worst in franchise postseason history behind two losses to the Bucks. They trailed by 36 at halftime of that 156-120 game and by 29 in a loss to the Bucks in Game 6 of the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals.
BREAKING A RECORD NOBODY WANTS TO BREAK: Paul George and Tyrese Maxey each finished at minus-35, the two worst plus-minus figures in 76ers postseason history. No 76er had ever been worse than minus-34 before in a playoff game. That was Tobias Harris, who was minus-34 in a loss to the Raptors in Game 5 of the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Additionally, V.J. Edgecombe was minus-33, making the 76ers the 19th team in NBA history with three players at minus-33 or worse in a playoff game.
WORST 3-POINT DEFFENSE EVER: The Knicks made 25 of 44 shots from 3 for 56.8 percent. That’s the highest shooting percentage in NBA playoff history by a team attempting at least 40 attempts. The previous high was 55.6 percent by the Cavs, who made 25 of 45 3’s in a win over the Hawks in the 2016 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Knicks’ 25 3’s tied the NBA record shared by those 2016 Cavs and the Bucks, who made 25 in a win over the Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference first round. The 76ers, conversely, shot just 22.9 percent from 3, 6th-worst in franchise postseason history (minimum of 30 attempts).
Apr 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) pitches against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images | Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
The Dodgers (24-15) and Braves (27-13) face off for a Mother’s Day rubber match at Dodger Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Justin Wrobleski (5-0, 1.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) takes the ball for the Dodgers.
Bryce Elder (3-1, 2.02 ERA, 1.02 WHIP) counters for Atlanta.
HONG KONG, CHINA - MAY 08: A rose bouquet installation is on display at the Lee Tung Avenue to welcome Mother's Day on May 8, 2024 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Li Zhihua/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)
Today’s Lineups
METS
DIAMONDBACKS
Juan Soto – DH
Ketel Marte – 2B
Bo Bichette – SS
Corbin Carroll – RF
Austin Slater – LF
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Mark Vientos – 1B
Adrian Del Castillo – DH
Marcus Semien – 2B
Ildemaro Vargas – 1B
Andy Ibanez – 3B
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Tyrone Taylor – CF
James McCann – C
Carson Benge – RF
Jorge Barrosa – CF
Luis Torrens – C
Ryan Waldschmidt – LF
David Peterson – LHP
E. Rodriguez – LHP
Happy Mother’s Day, to those who observe it. It’s not too late to go out and get a bunch of flowers, a balloon and a plush animal from one of those stalls that have suddenly popped-up overnight, on garage forecourts and street corners… I’ve no doubt the pink bats and other equipment will be out in force this afternoon, and I’d expect a heavy emphasis on maternity this afternoon. The team are giving away quite a spiffy promotional item this afternoon, and I’m sure the lines at Chase Field were quite long. Been quite a well-attended series already, with over thirty thousand on both Friday and Saturday.
That’s an improvement over the last time the Mets series at Chase was over a weekend: it was back in 2022, when the three games totaled seventy thousand. Though compared to the same point last year, attendance at Chase is down about 2,500 per game. Not surprising, coming off the first losing season since that same 2022 campaign. All told, MLB attendance is up 894 per game. Though almost half that total is due entirely to the Blue Jays, who have seen the average crowds in Toronto surge, on the back of their pennant win, by more than 12,300. On the other end, Atlanta, oddly, are down even more than Arizona, despite their early-season surge.
Rubber game of the set this afternoon, and it could also decide the season series. That is currently 3-2 in Arizona’s favor, courtesy of them taking two of three in New York. I doubt it’ll be particularly relevant at the end of the year in determining a playoff spot. But the Diamondbacks haven’t won the overall season series against the Mets since back in 2017. So that would be a nice moral victory at least. We’ll see if Eduardo Rodriguez can keep the roll of current good starts going for the D-backs. It has certainly been in sharp contrast to the previous two turns through the rotation.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: An overall view of the signage during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026 at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks officially landed the 9th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Sunday, falling one spot from where they entered the lottery after finishing with the eighth-best odds. And honestly, it felt fitting. Not because Dallas got robbed or because the lottery “screwed” them, but because this outcome is the direct result of the season they chose to have. The Mavericks spent too much of the year stuck in the middle. They waited too long to fully commit to losing, picked up a handful of meaningless late-season wins, lost the tiebreaker with New Orleans, and ultimately gave themselves a much shakier lottery position than they probably should have had.
That’s the frustrating part.
The Mavericks already understood how important lottery positioning could be because they literally lived the dream scenario last year. Dallas won a tiebreaker with Chicago, moved into slightly better odds, jumped all the way to No. 1 and landed Cooper Flagg despite only having a 1.8% chance entering the night. That tiny edge changed the trajectory of the franchise. This year, they went the other direction. Instead of maximizing their odds, they hovered in that awkward in-between space where they were too bad to compete but not disciplined enough to bottom out fully.
The result? A drop to ninth in what may end up being the most important draft of the Cooper Flagg era outside of the year they drafted him. And make no mistake, this offseason is absolutely pivotal.
The Mavericks are entering the beginning of their build around Flagg, and they do not have the luxury of endless draft flexibility. Dallas has very limited control over its future first-round picks over the next several years, which means it cannot afford to miss on opportunities like this. This is not a team sitting on a mountain of assets waiting to cash them in later. This is a front office that needs to maximize every meaningful pick it gets, especially while Flagg is still on a rookie contract and developing into the centerpiece they believe he can be.
That’s why landing ninth instead of staying in that 7–8 range stings.
Because while the Mavericks still have a chance to land a really good player, this draft has a clear upper tier, and every spot you fall matters more once you move outside the top group. Prospects like AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson are likely going near the top. At the same time, Dallas now enters the range where projection, fit, and scouting become even more important.
Because of that, the Mavericks are now shifting toward a different hope entering the combine season: that one of the better guards in the class falls into their range. Dallas desperately needs more creation, point-of-attack defense, and long-term backcourt upside around Flagg, and the ninth pick suddenly places them directly in the middle of that conversation.
Two names that immediately stand out are Labaron Philon Jr. and Brayden Burries, both of whom fit a lot of what Dallas lacks right now. Philon’s pace, playmaking, off-ball ability, and ability to pressure defenses downhill would immediately help stabilize a roster that struggled all season to consistently organize offense. Burries brings more scoring upside and physicality as a bigger, guard-creator, while still fitting the timeline Dallas is building toward.
As the combine approaches, those are exactly the kinds of names Mavericks fans should start paying close attention to, because the draft board now feels a lot more centered around finding Flagg’s long-term backcourt partner instead of chasing the very top tier of the class.
Which is where the new front office comes in.
This draft will be the first real test for the Mavericks’ new basketball leadership group led by Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz, two names with strong reputations for talent evaluation and player development. Ujiri built much of Toronto’s success through aggressive drafting and finding value outside obvious spots, while Schmitz has long been viewed as one of the best evaluators in basketball circles. Dallas is betting heavily that this new regime can identify the right fit alongside Flagg, even without elite lottery positioning.
And honestly, that’s now the entire challenge of this rebuild.
The Mavericks have already found the hardest piece to get. Cooper Flagg looks like a future superstar and legitimate franchise engine. The next step is to build the right infrastructure around him. They need more guard creation. They need point-of-attack defense. They need shooting, athleticism, and players who can thrive next to a high-usage playmaker. More importantly, they need a roster with a real identity, something they completely lacked for most of this disastrous season.
So while lottery night itself was disappointing, the bigger story is what comes next.
Because this isn’t just another draft pick, this is one of the few premium opportunities Dallas is going to have over the next several years to shape the roster around Cooper Flagg meaningfully. Only this time, there’s a lot less margin for error.
2026 NBA Draft Lottery results:
No. 1: Washington Wizards No. 2: Utah Jazz No. 3: Memphis Grizzlies No. 4: Chicago Bulls No. 5: Los Angeles Clippers (via Pacers) No. 6: Brooklyn Nets No. 7: Sacramento Kings No. 8: Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans) No. 9: Dallas Mavericks No. 10: Milwaukee Bucks No. 11: Golden State Warriors No. 12: Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers) No. 13: Miami Heat No. 14: Charlotte Hornets
The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to draw even with the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday, May 11.
Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell will have to be at their absolute best to make that happen, and we've got a Pistons vs. Cavaliers same-game parlay that expects exactly that.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen has thrived when tasked with playing opposite Detroit Pistons big man Jalen Duren. While the scoring upside didn't materialize against the Raptors in Round 1, Allen has cleared this total in two of three vs. Detroit, easily topping 12.5 points in back-to-back games.
In 11 career matchups with Duren, Allen has averaged 14.6 points. He scored 13+ in seven of those head-to-heads, including four of five at home.
SGP leg #1: Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points
Donovan Mitchell has scored 30+ points in back-to-back games. In five matchups with the Pistons, he’s averaged 30.8 points and scored 29+ four times. Mitchell has been a more potent scorer at home, and I expect him to come through in a big way as the Cavs look to even up the series.
SGP leg #1: Cavaliers moneyline
The Cavaliers built momentum after a win in Game 3, and they can tie the series at two games apiece with a win in front of the home crowd. The home team has won five straight in this head-to-head, and Cleveland is 31-12 straight up as the home favorite this season.
Cleveland has been a Jekyll & Hyde act this postseason between its home and away matchups. On the road, the Cavs are 0-4. But at Rocket Center, they're 5-0, and I like that undefeated streak to continue here.
Get Zak Hanshew's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Pistons vs Cavaliers predictions for Game 4.
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The NBA draft lottery is a time of great anticipation for the entire league, but especially for 14 of the 30 teams.
The Washington Wizards received the No. 1 pick in the lottery on Sunday, May 10 during a full production in Chicago hosted by the league. They were one of three teams with a 14 percent chance of capturing the top pick after going 17-65 in the 2024-2025 NBA season. Former All-Star John Wall, who retired last season, was on hand to represent the franchise.
There were several future draft picks in attendance, including AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer, who were with their mothers on Mother's Day.
Even though the Oklahoma City Thunder are on the brink of eliminating the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, they still had a 1.5 percent chance of getting the No.1 pick. This is because they are still reaping the benefits of trading Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers. They will pick 12th in the draft.
The Dallas Mavericks, who had last year's No. 1 pick for the first time in franchise history, will have the No. 9 pick this summer.
The 2026 NBA Draft will be held on June 23-24 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
What is the 2026 NBA Draft order?
The Washington Wizards will have the first pick in the NBA draft after winning the lottery. This year, there is not a clear top player for them to choose. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer each have a case as the best athlete in this draft class. The large talent pool offers other teams an opportunity to make a significant impact on their roster this summer.
It was certainly a season to remember for San Jose Sharks prospect Filip Bystedt.
As a member of the Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, Bystedt took a major step forward during his second season in North America. The 22-year-old forward improved in every offensive statistic and showed that he is almost ready to fight for a spot in the NHL.
The Swedish forward nearly doubled his goal total from his first season with the Barracuda, scoring 22 goals in 65 games compared to the 12 that he scored during the 2024-25 season. He actually did double his assist total, going from 19 assists to 38. Given his strong play, the Barracuda named him their Most Valuable Player as a part of their team awards earlier this week:
"The offensive gameplay is that of an NHL player, but there were some issues in the defensive zone," Elite Prospects scout Austin Broad wrote about Bystedt back in January. "On multiple occasions, Bystedt allowed a player to get behind him and open for prime scoring chances. If he wants to be a full-time NHL player he will need to improve his two-way play, especially as a center."
The other issue that Bystedt will run into as he looks to earn an NHL roster spot is simply a lack of opportunity. The San Jose Sharks have an abundance of bottom-six forwards competing for very few spots. Unless Bystedt forces General Manager Mike Grier to make a move, it's unlikely that Bystedt gets the opportunity to start this upcoming season on the Sharks roster. A chance to make an impact in the NHL will likely come sooner than later, but it'll be up to him to take advantage.
Fake trade proposals have become the norm on social media. Fans around the NHL create graphics proposing trades that often spark plenty of debate online. One recent trade graphic has even sparked an opinion from Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand, who commented his feelings about a Vancouver Canucks/Toronto Maple Leafs proposal.
The trade graphic was created by an account called lane.memeson. The proposed trade would send center Elias Pettersson and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Maple Leafs for the first overall pick in 2026, a 2027 second-round pick and forward Matthew Knies. As of writing, the post has over 4,700 likes and over 500 comments.
Marchand kept his thoughts short and too the points. He wrote, "Hahahahahhshashahhsh …..terrible trade for Toronto". Marchand's comment has generated over 700 likes and over 25 comments.
Pettersson is a player who always seems to find his way into trade rumours. While not on the same scale, the same can be said about Knies, who is signed until 2031 with a cap hit of $7.75 million. All that is known for sure is that if Marchand were in charge of Toronto, he would not be interested in making this trade.
Mar 3, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) reacts to a penalty call against the New Jersey Devils during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
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