ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 28: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field on May 28, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Is Craig Breslow being fired? Better not tell you now.
Is Boston selling? Reply hazy, try again.
Is Chad Tracy going to lose the interim title? Outlook not so good.
But the Texas Rangers are in town for three games andm like Boston, they’re struggling. Unlike Boston, that means staying at .500 rather than going below. The Rangers are sitting in second place in the AL West with a 34-34 record, 2.0 games behind the Mariners but in control of a Wild Card.
As usual it seems, the pitching matchups are in Boston’s favor. But playing at home with little offense outside of Caleb “Home Run” Durbin what can possibly go right?
Jack Leiter opens things up for the Rangers and he’s pitching, well, not great. He’s coming off a 4.2 innings, 5 run loss to the Cleveland Guardians. He gave up 4 runs to the Rockies and Astros a couple weeks before that. He has 76 Ks in 71 innings but also has 31 walks. Sonny Gray won the only game in New York. With 6.1 innings, 3 runs against the Yankees lineup he’s continued to have a great season. The pitching usually gives them a chance to win. Maybe he can convince the bats to show up? My grandfather would say they call him Sonny because he’s bright, so maybe he’s got a trick up his sleeve?
deGrom remains good, if fragile. At the moment he isn’t hurt. He might get hurt during the game. Who can say. He’s struck out 84 in 70.2 innings. The stuff is still there. And Boston loves striking out. He only has two outings longer than 6.0 innings. Maybe they’ll wear him down? Ranger Suarez had a bounceback start against the Yankees that the Sox should have won. But we all remember the bullpen setting the game on fire. That 6-1 loss really hurts. The Sox can’t get out of their own way in these games and it’s that sloppiness that has really killed them.
Old friend Nathan Eovaldi has thrived in Texas but he’s in a rough patch right now, dragging his season down to something the Sox might exploit. In his last three starts he’s allowed 4 in 5.2, 4 in 6.0, and 5 in 7.0. He still strikes out almost a batter per inning. He’s allowed 15 homers in 13 starts, although 4 in one game skews that a tad. Connelly Early, who has been plagued by the home run ball, has given up just 12 long balls this season. Maybe this is a strategy Boston can exploit? Homers in Fenway? Is that…legal? Craig Breslow will make it legal. The Ks have been there for Early, at least 6 in four of his last 5 starts. They’ve lost three of his last five starts 3-1, 4-2, and 3-2. So while the rookie isn’t lights out, he’s keeping them in the game.
Jake Burger leads the Rangers with 11 home runs and no one else has double digits.
Evan Carter has 10 steals and no other Ranger has more than 5.
The Rangers are a bottom five offense in terms of runs scored.
They’re, really, not a great team. But that gets you a .500 record in the AL this year. Boston can win this series. Or rather they can pitch to win it. Can they score enough to keep the weak part of the bullpen in the ‘pen?
As a reminder, Sunday is a night game on Peacock.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, June 12: Jack Leiter (4.69 ERA / 4.46 FIP) vs. Sonny Gray (3.20 ERA / 3.94 FIP)
Saturday, June 13: Jacob deGrom (3.76 ERA / 4.07 FIP) vs. Ranger Suarez (3.18 ERA / 4.45 FIP))
Sunday, June 14: Nathan Eovaldi (4.26 ERA / 4.59 FIP) vs. Connelly Early (3.30 ERA / — FIP)
Sep 7, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Jose Altuve (27) throws his bat after he strikes out against the Texas Rangers during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Astros missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 2016, but still finished with 87 wins. This year, the bottom may be dropping out, as they are tied for the eighth-worst record in baseball and are headed to their first losing season since 2014. Their dynasty run that included nine playoff appearances, four pennants, and two titles, appears to be coming to an end.
Houston Astros (31-39) vs. Kansas City Royals (28-41) at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Despite playing in Minute Maid Park, the Astros have hit better away from home this year, and only five teams in baseball have hit more road homers. Jose Altuve is one hitter who has struggled on the road, hitting .189/.252/.263 away from Houston. Yordan Alvarez leads all qualified hitters in slugging percentage (.636) and wRC+ (189), and is second in on-base percentage (.430) and home runs (22). He is hitting lefties equally as well as righties. Jeremy Peña is hitting .328/.418/.534 with three home runs over his last 17 games.
Isaac Paredes has a 53.8 percent pull rate, seventh-highest in baseball. He’s a lifetime .196/.328/.373 hitter in 14 games at Kauffman Stadium. The Astros have the worst success rate on stolen bases, getting caught 33 percent of the time. Altuve and Paredes rank as poor defenders by Outs Above Average, but much of the rest of the team rates well.
Tatsuya Imai struggled in his first few starts in the big leagues after coming over from Japan, but he allowed just four runs in 17 innings over his last three starts. He has a 3.24 ERA in four road starts. He throws his slider 44.7 percent of the time, helping him induce a 51 percent groundball rate.
The Astros acquired Mike Burrows in the offseason in a trade with the Pirates, but he has struggled. He leads the majors in losses (8), home runs allowed (17), and he has the highest ERA among qualified starters at 5.77. He has given up four or more runs in 7 of his 13 starts. Lefties are hitting .321/.397/.575 against him. Noah Cameron has allowed just six earned runs in 30 innings over his last five starts for 1.80 ERA, but the Royals have won only one of those games.
Spencer Arrighetti is tied for third in the American League with seven wins, with five Quality Starts. Opponents are hitting just .185/.322/.260 against him. He throws his curveball one-third of the time, and the pitch has a 42 percent whiff rate. Stephen Kolek has allowed just seven earned runs in 32.1 innings over his last five starts.
The Astros have a 4.82 ERA from their bullpen, seventh-worst in baseball, with the third-highest walk rate. And yet, they have the fewest blown saves in baseball with just three. Josh Hader missed the first two months with shoulder and bicep injuries, but earned a save in his first game back. He has struck out 7 of the 13 batters he has faced so far, without allowing a hit. Bryan King, Bryan Abreu, and Enyel de los Santos had each earned saves prior to Hader’s return. Abreu has the highest walk rate among relievers. Steven Okert has a 60 percent flyball rate, third-highest in baseball.
The Astros had an awful month of April, but have played .500 ball since then. They split their season series with the Royals last year, with Kansas City winning the series at Kauffman. This is the fifth consecutive series for the Royals against a team that currently has a .500 record or worse. They’ve gone 6-7 over that stretch so far, and will need to do much better if they any hopes for climbing back into contention.
DENVER, CO - MAY 20: Manager Skip Schumaker #55 of the Texas Rangers jogs on the field in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This week, our Rangers Reacts Survey asked y’all to give new manager Skip Schumaker a grade for his work as manager so far.
Y’all seem to find him to be, generally, just okay.
Just over half of you gave him a “C” grade, and over 80% of you have him with either a “B” or a “C.” So a fairly unremarkable performance so far from Skip.
As for the national questions, Yordan Alvarez narrowly edged out Shohei Ohtani for the title of “best hitter in baseball”:
Asked about the looming labor negotiations, over half of respondents are following, and a large majority are worried about a work stoppage.
Matthew Schaefer continues to rack up accolades from his spectacular rookie season.
Schaefer already took home the Calder Trophy unanimously a few weeks ago, and now he’s become the first defenseman in Islanders history to crack the NHL All-Rookie Team.
The youngster is one of six skaters to earn the honors, as voted on by the PHWA.
He’s also the sixth player in franchise history to crack the team -- joining David Volek (1989), John Tavares (2010), Michael Grabner (2011) and Mathew Barzal (2018).
Schaefer completely took the league by storm, sliding in seamlessly on the backend for New York after being selected with the top pick in last year’s NHL draft.
He set the franchise record for average time on ice by an 18-year-old (24:41).
Schaefer also broke the Islanders' record for the most goals (23), points (59), power-play goals (8), overtime goals (4), and game-winning goals (4) by a rookie defenseman.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 16: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves reacts as he rounds third base after hitting a solo homer to lead off the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park on May 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The day after Hurston Waldrep made his first rehab stint, we now have news that Waldrep will have a partner joining him on his rehab journey. They won’t be in the same level but it’s still truly a sight for sore eyes to see this particular guy getting back into action.
The Gwinnett Stripers have announced that catcher Drake Baldwin will be doing a rehab stint at the Triple-A level. He’ll be back in action starting on Saturday as the Stripers take on the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp this weekend.
Here’s more from the Stripers on the press release:
The Gwinnett Stripers, in conjunction with the Atlanta Braves, have announced that catcher Drake Baldwin will join the Stripers on an injury rehab assignment on Saturday, June 13. Baldwin, on the Braves’ 10-day Injured List since May 19 (strained right oblique muscle), is scheduled to play in Gwinnett’s 6:35 p.m. game against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at VyStar Ballpark.
The 25-year-old Baldwin played in 48 games with the Braves prior to the injury, batting .303 (57-for-188) with six doubles, 13 home runs, 38 RBIs, and a .932 OPS. Including his 2025 National League Rookie of the Year campaign, he is hitting .283 (168-for-593) with 24 doubles, two triples, 32 homers, 118 RBIs, and an .848 OPS across 172 career games with Atlanta.
Baldwin’s rehab assignment marks his return to Gwinnett. The Madison, Wisconsin native played for the Stripers from 2023-24, batting .300 (86-for-287) with 13 doubles, one triple, 13 homers, 57 RBIs, and an .893 OPS in 75 games.
While the Braves (and Walt Weiss in particular) were initially hopeful that Baldwin could just eschew the rehab stint and jump right back into action at the big league level, it appears that the Braves have decided that it would be better for everybody involved if Baldwin did indeed take that rehab stint. The target arrival for Baldwin was initially this next week’s homestand so we’ll see if this’ll be a quick rehab stint or if they’ll let him cook a bit longer with the Stripers before bringing him back into action with the Braves.
Either way, the Braves can now start thinking about having their star catcher back at some point in the near future. With all due respect to both Sandy León and Austin Wynns (along with Chadwick Tromp’s contributions while he was here), Baldwin’s bat is sorely missed in the catcher’s spot of the lineup and he’ll also provide a very valuable DH bat as well. Hopefully this rehab stint goes smoothly and we see Baldwin back in the Atlanta lineup sooner rather than later.
Jun 7, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Francisco Giants center fielder Jonah Cox (53) scores against the Chicago Cubs during the 10th inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
The Cubs have lost 2 out of 3 in their last 4 series, including last weekend in Chicago against the San Francisco Giants. By the way, the extra innings game on Sunday Night Baseball wound up being the fourth-largest primetime audience of the MLB season. The Giants didn’t look like one of the worst teams in the sport and the Cubs, despite losing, still had the veneer of a good team despite being 8-22 in their last 30 games.
They managed to win their finale in Colorado yesterday, and it looks like this turn through the rotation will feature everything they’ve got from the starting pitching front. Javier Assad reliever Jameson Taillon in that thrilling Sunday Nighter and pitched 6.1 shutout innings, allowing only a hit and a walk to go with 5 strikeouts. Ben Brown is their best starter and shutout the Giants for 5.1 innings in the Cubs’ Saturday win, allowing only a hit and a walk to go with 5 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Colin Rea has thrown the second-most innings on Chicago’s staff (69.1 IP). He has yet to have a start where he hasn’t allowed a run, though, on three separate occasions he’s allowed only 1 run.
When we last saw the Giants at home, one of the coolest things that you will ever see in a baseball game happened. If you don’t know what I’m talking about for some reason…
All I can say is that I was listening to this game on radio until the 9th inning comeback started and I decided to switch over to watch Eldridge’s at bat. I’m not kidding, I turned the game on as he stepped in to the box. As great as Krukow and Kuiper’s hogs out banter was before the final pitch, let history never forget Jon Miller’s call.
The Giants are also throwing their best part of the rotation at the Cubs too, though, as Logan Webb has looked great since returning from the IL and Landen Roupp and Trevor McDonald at home is a good matchup.
The Cubs need this series very badly. The Giants are playing for vibes. Even with baseball, you’d like to think that the more relaxed team has the advantage.
Series overview
Who: San Francisco Giants (28-41) vs. Chicago Cubs (35-34) Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California When: Friday at 7:15pm PT, Saturday at 7:05pm PT, 12:10pm PT National broadcasts: ABC/ESPN (Sunday)
Projected starters Friday: Landen Roupp (RHP 5-6, 4.00 ERA) vs. Javier Assad (RHP 3-1, 4.73 ERA) Saturday: Trevor McDonald (RHP 2-3, 4.15 ERA) vs. Ben Brown (RHP 2-2, 1.74 ERA) Sunday: Logan Webb (RHP 3-4, 3.88 ERA) vs. Colin Rea (RHP 5-4, 5.19 ERA)
Players to watch
Cubs
Just 4 Cubs have been better than league average since May 1st: Michael Busch (166 wRC+), Pete Crow-Armstrong (145), Ian Happ (136), literally Michael Conforto (114), so let’s focus on the recent underperformers:
Nico Hoerner: The Oakland native and Stanford alum has done well when he’s returned to the Bay Area. He’s a career .275/.351/.392 at Oracle Park in 14 games (57 PA), but over his last 37 games (162 PA), he’s hitting just .208/.290/.257 (60 wRC+).
Alex Bregman: He was practically nonexistent against the Giants (0-for-12) and is hitting just .236/.317/.338 since May 1st (167 PA). Over the last two weeks, it’s just .178/.296/.333.
Seiya Suzuki: Since May 1st, his line has been a substandard .207/.280/.348 (74 wRC+), but over the past two weeks, he’s picked up his production, slashing .279/.326/.512 (134 wRC+), hitting well enough that he became the subject of a Ken Rosenthal thinkpiece about the Cubs possibly moving him for some badly needed pitching. He did well against the Giants (3-for-9 with a homer) and is on an 8-game hitting streak.
Giants
Bryce Eldridge: Of course.
Trevor McDonald: He was the starter of that Sunday night thriller and he’s bounced back nicely from that 7-run disaster against the White Sox (not entirely his fault anyway), but this entire series is a test to see just how much familiarity persists between these two teams with so few games between the rematch.
Ryan Walker: He has been recalled from Sacramento and taking Carson Seymour’s spot. Seymour wound up being batting practice for the Cubs and Nats in his two appearances this season, but Walker has been that to a large degree, too. We’ll see if his scoreless wizardry in the minors comes back up to the big leagues with him. The Giants could certainly use some outs from the bullpen.
Prediction time
The Cubs are 1-6 at Oracle Park over the past two seasons, so, I’ll predict that the Giants won’t get swept?
In a twist of fate that some near-newlyweds are calling serendipity, and others a head-scratching snag — a host of tri-state couples who have spent months or even years planning their big day will be tying the knot on the same night as Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Victoria Perry and her fiancé, James Kostadaras, both native New Yorkers, watched a Knicks game on their first date in 2023. Kostadaras is shown above proposing to her last October. Gabrielle Eichenholtz/Jill Davren
With some guests panicking about missing a chance to see their beloved team’s big moment, The Post met the brides and grooms pivoting their nuptials to Knick-tials.
Victoria Perry and James Kostadaras
“This is more exciting than any other piece of my wedding!” Victoria Perry — a 33-year-old Manhattan bride, native New Yorker and lifelong Knicks fan — confessed to The Post.
“As a girl, I never grew up dreaming about my wedding dress or the flowers,” said Perry, who will marry her fiancé and fellow diehard Knicks fan James Kostadaras at a snazzy Midtown East venue on Saturday.
“But the Knicks have been such a source of happiness for me over the years.”
When Perry and Kostadaras — whose first date in 2023 involved watching a Knicks game at Astoria sports bar Rivercrest — first realized that the NBA Finals could coincide with their wedding, the pair sprang into action to incorporate the game into their June 13 nuptials.
But Knicks fever nearly derailed their plans: Perry shared that she and Kostadaras would have even considered delaying their wedding due to the Knicks’ potential championship, if necessary.
“We would move it if it would guarantee [the] Knicks win,” she told The Post, joking that their priorities as a couple are: 1. God, 2. The Knicks championship, and 3. Their wedding.
Ultimately, though, she’s just thrilled to be able to experience Game 5 with those closest to them.
“It’s the biggest blessing,” she said.
Kostadaras wore the white Knicks jacket at her rehearsal dinner; she’ll also rock it at her wedding afterparty. Victoria Perry
After a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony, guests will file into the larger reception space to enjoy dancing and a live band — which has been instructed to share live updates on the score throughout the game.
Perry also has a big outfit change planned: she’ll wear a white Knicks jacket over her dress for the reception.
During the last quarter/after-party, guests will move into an additional downstairs space, which Perry, Kostadaras, their planner and an AV team worked to convert into a full-blown Knicks watch party — complete with a 70-inch TV screen, team-themed floral arrangements and sports-bar food.
A hip-hop DJ will also play NYC-themed hits, such as “New York” by Ja Rule.
Perry feels that getting to celebrate the potential championship game and her wedding on the same day is “the biggest blessing.” Paige DeMaio
Arielle Salmon and Greg Eichenholtz
For Arielle Salmon — a 28-year-old teacher based in Bergen County, New Jersey — the emotions about having her big day fall on the Knicks’ potential championship game have been decidedly mixed.
“It’s so weird to have excitement but also nervousness,” she told The Post.
Arielle Salmon and her husband-to-be, Greg Eichenholtz, are both big Knicks devotees. Arielle Salmon
Though Salmon and her fiancé, 29-year-old contract negotiations worker Greg Eichenholtz, identify as avid Knicks fans and are rooting — along with the rest of NYC — for the team to clinch the NBA Finals, Salmon admitted to “anxiousness” that the game clashes with their wedding.
They started planning it soon after their January 2025 engagement.
“Monday night, I literally was sitting on the couch hyperventilating … I was just not OK,” Salmon told The Post, after the Knicks lost Game 3, meaning that Game 5 would fall on their wedding day.
Eichenholtz proposed to Salmon at the Freedom Tower in Manhattan in January 2025. Arielle Salmon
“I was disappointed because we didn’t want [the Knicks] to lose, but also because I expected them to win all four games in a row and then be done with it before our wedding,” she continued.
“We keep laughing, because we tried so hard to pick a date where there would be nothing going on.”
In the midst of last-minute wedding preparations for the Bergen County ceremony, which will be held at a venue 16 miles from Madison Square Garden, Salmon has also had to deal with a few guests reaching out to ask if the newlyweds will be streaming the game at their reception.
“I would never ask anyone that question — these people are being serious,” said Salmon. “It’s kind of, like, how do we handle this the right way?”
Salmon and Eichenholtz still identify as avid Knicks fans in the midst of the scheduling whirlwind. Arielle Salmon
While the couple doesn’t plan on putting the game on at their reception — a screen will be available if they change their minds — they are encouraging their guests to bring their best Knicks gear to wear during the party portion of the evening.
The band will also lead famous “Go, New York, go!” MSG chants and play N&C-themed songs like Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’s “Empire State of Mind” to get people “going and excited.”
Salmon shared that the Knicks still having more games in the NBA finals if they lose on Saturday is helping her through the scheduling collision. Arielle Salmon
“The good thing is that if they lose, there’s more games, so that’s what’s helping me through this,” Salmon said.
“Just knowing that hopefully everyone we invited are trustworthy people, and that they care very much about us, and hoping that they won’t just be sitting and streaming the game the whole time … We’re just trying to focus on the positives.”
Robyn Ferguson
When Robyn Ferguson, an Upper East Side-based consultant, first met her fiancé, who chose to remain anonymous for this story, in 2022, the two quickly bonded over their shared passion for sports — with her native New Yorker husband-to-be’s unwavering love for the Knicks fully rubbing off on her.
Robyn Ferguson, originally from Canada, was always a sports fan, but shared that her fiancé’s love for the Knicks swayed her. Brian Hatton
“(My fiancé) went to Villanova for college, and of course (some of) the best players on the Knicks are all from Villanova,” Ferguson told The Post, referring to the Pennsylvania university’s alumni Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges.
“He’s followed these guys since they played in college, which makes it more fun for him … I’m now a diehard Knicks fan, too. We go to a lot of games together.”
Before they even knew that the Knicks would reach the NBA Finals, the couple had joked that if the team made it, they would get a TV and “blow the roof off the Metropolitan Club” — the luxury, private UES venue near Central Park where they will tie the knot this Saturday.
Ferguson, seen here calling her mom after the proposal to share the news, could hardly believe her wedding would coincide with the potential Knicks final game. Brian Hatton
The pair could hardly believe it when their joke turned into reality.
“The way the Knicks were playing in the playoffs at the beginning — we were, like, ‘OK, they swept the first series — they’re hot, this could actually happen,’” recalled Ferguson, referencing their Eastern Conference Semifinals win over the Philadelphia 76ers in May.
“They have a chance to win it all,” she recalled thinking. “Like, all of (my fiancé’s) dreams are coming true in the blink of an eye.”
Once they knew the NBA Finals were a serious possibility, they asked their wedding planner to reach out to AV companies to arrange for a TV at the Metropolitan Club, and told the 12-piece band that the game would be accompanying their set.
The reaction was a mix of incredulity and laughter.
“Everyone was just laughing at us — they’re, like, ‘Of course you guys would do that,’” Ferguson said. “I love it. I’m just as into it as my fiancé, so it just makes it more fun, honestly.”
Ferguson shared that she is “just as into” the Knicks hype as her fiancé. Brian Hatton
In addition to their main cocktail hour and reception areas, there’s a section of the club called The Bar Room, sanctioned as the official game-watching area, with a Knicks-themed cocktail menu — with blue-and-orange signature drinks including “The Brunson” and “The KAT,” named after team stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
As for what their friends and family have thought about the big day colliding with the NBA Finals, Ferguson emphasized that they are all ready and raring to celebrate both.
“When I tell you the amount of Knicks fans we have coming to our wedding — all the text messages I’m getting are, like, ‘Knicks in five, we’re going to blow the roof off the Metropolitan Club!’” said Ferguson, who will be wearing a blue Knicks jacket for her reception and has a friend bringing team jerseys for guests.
“We have a pretty fun crew of people coming — it’ll be a big celebration.”
Ferguson looks forward to celebrating both the Knicks and her love for her husband-to-be this Saturday. Brian Hatton
However, the couple isn’t worried “at all” about the Knicks overshadowing their big day, emphasizing that the game will only amplify their wedding festivities.
“As soon as we found out the Knicks were definitely in the Finals, it made us even more excited for our wedding — which sounds crazy,” Ferguson said. “But as big sports fans, it’s like you ride so hard for your teams that any excuse to have a giant celebration is just really special.
An army of Knicks fans is set to storm San Antonio Saturday night — with 45% of tickets for the pivotal Game 5 snatched up by New York and New Jersey basketball buffs.
Nearly half of Frost Bank Center will be blue and orange as the Big Apple’s beloved squad looks to secure its first NBA Championship title in 53 years in a 1999 finals rematch when Gregg Popovich’s Spurs won in five games.
Data shows New York billing zip codes bought 37% of tickets to the potentially clinching game, and another 8% came from New Jersey, according to Kyle Zorn of the popular resale service TickPick.
New York Knicks fans celebrate during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty ImagesKnicks fans react after the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty ImagesKnicks fans are pictured before Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty Images
Scores of Knicks fans were getting out of dodge at LaGuardia Airport in Queens Friday afternoon — though had to make last-minute adjustments because of flight delays and cancellations to Texas.
Queens native Joe P. bought Game 5 tickets after being convinced by a pal — and realizing the cost is cheaper than one at Madison Square Garden.
“I wasn’t gonna do it, but he said, ‘You’re not gonna experience this ever again in your life,’” Joe said.
“And he’s probably right. So we decided to screw it, and we bought our tickets yesterday. When we saw how expensive it was to fly to San Antonio, we opted to fly to Austin because it was about half the cost. So then we just decided we were gonna rent a car and drive.
“I have not been able to afford any of the tickets for the NBA finals at the Garden, because I think it’s $10,000, $12,000 for nosebleeds now, so that’s a little bit out of my budget … It’s cheaper to go to San Antonio, and fly back then to go to the game in NY.”
Only 12% of tickets were bought by Texas-area customers as of early Thursday, Zorn said.
Andrew Cramer and his 11-year-old son, Charlie, came to MSG all the way from Australia. Courtesy of Andrew Cramer
Knicks diehards Andrew Cramer and his 11-year-old son, Charlie, flew all the way from Australia to the Big Apple to attend Game 4 of the finals – and they decided why not score tickets to Game 5 for a chance at witnessing more history.
“Once we were here, to make it worth the while since we came all the way from Australia we thought we’d go to the game tomorrow,” Cramer, who lived in New York for seven years, told The Post Friday.
Cramer’s flight to Texas was packed with Knicks fans and it was more of the same in San Antonio.
“There are a lot of Knicks fans here. You can identify one another. It’s a Knicks family which is nice,” he said while enjoying a river cruise with his son.
“It’s a really nice reflection of the city that it brings so many people together. Sports is a wonderful unifier,” he added.
Cramer’s flight to Texas was packed with Knicks fans and it was more of the same in San Antonio. Courtesy of Andrew Cramer
Five other Knicks fans were boarding a plane to Miami to connect in Austin — and then planned on driving from there to San Antonio. Their original flight to Dallas had gotten cancelled — and the group of strangers bonded over the debacle.
“We’re united Knicks fans,” Eric Kwiatkowski, 40, said. “Now you see what Knicks fans endure.”
Kwiatkowski told The Post he and his pal Ramy Fakhr, 44, shelled out for tickets for Game 5 because “it’s an opportunity” to see the Knicks “close out the series.”
“I’m beside myself with excitement,” he added.
Fakhr was so dedicated to seeing his hometown team potentially make history that he was prepared to go without a change of clothes, after checking his bag on the now-nixed Dallas flight.
“I’m not missing this flight. Now I have to spend the whole weekend without any clothes,” he said. “This is all I’m wearing. Well, I’m gonna borrow some Eric’s clothes.”
Another Queens guy, Kevin Chang, chimed in: “Knicks in five. Knicks in five.”
Both New York and New Jersey accounted for only 13% of Game 1 tickets and 17% in Game 2 — both of which were on the road, SeatGeek numbers indicate.
Fans flocked for tickets in Texas after Knicks completed a historic 29-point comeback against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in Game 4 to take the 3-1 stranglehold in the series at Madison Square Garden.
The New York Knicks lay out T-shirts for fans before the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 8, 2026, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty Images
TickPick’s listings fluctuated throughout Thursday as get-in prices for Game 5 dipped from around $1,500 for standing room to just below $1,200.
The cheapest listed ticket — section 201, row 10 over mid-court — is $1,288 as of Friday morning.
The Knicks are also a perfect 2-0 playing in San Antonio during these finals, notably after Wemby missed what would have been a winning last-second shot in Game 2.
MSG’s get-in price on TickPick is $10,727 for a prospective Game 6 Tuesday night should the Knicks need another crack to win it all for the first time since 1973.
While talking with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne after the Knicks’ improbable NBA Finals Game 4 comeback Wednesday, Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony said he played a role in OG Anunoby‘s tip-in game-winner.
Anthony, now a broadcaster for NBC Sports, was at the game and said he was giving instructions to Knicks players before their crucial final possession when they were trailed by one point.
Carmelo Anthony applauding at the 2026 NBA Finals game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
“I was yelling at them the whole time, ‘The offensive rebound is there! The offensive rebound is there!” Anthony told Shelbourne after the 107-106 win. “Coming out of that timeout, I made eye contact with them and was yelling, ‘The offensive rebound is there! Somebody go!'”
Knicks players were probably more focused on what head coach Mike Brown was telling them to do, but Anthony’s advice proved solid.
Anunoby’s game-winning putback with 1.2 seconds left came on an offensive rebound after Jalen Brunson missed a deep 3 that pulled Spurs star Victor Wembanyama out of the paint to contest the shot.
The Knicks forward then leaped above some smaller Spurs guards to produce one of the most iconic moments in NBA history, giving the team the 107-106 edge.
It was far from the first time Anthony has helped the Knicks.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After starting his career with the Nuggets, the Knicks traded for Anthony in 2011, where he spent seven seasons and helped lead the Knicks to the playoffs three times.
Anthony made the All-Star team every year with the Knicks, won the NBA’s scoring title with 28.7 points per game in 2012-13, was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2013 and set the Knicks all-time record for points in a game with 62 in 2014.
He later became a Hall of Famer in September 2025.
The Knicks will now look to close out the Spurs in Saturday’s Game 5 as the series shifts back to San Antonio, with tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
The Braves (45-23) and Mets (30-38) meet for the first of many times this season. Atlanta won eight out of 13 meetings last season versus New York.
New York is 4-5 to start the month and have been inconsistent offensively. The Mets are hitting .223 (26th) to start the month and scored 33 runs (T-25th) over nine games. The Braves and Mets are separated by 15 games in the NL East.
Atlanta is coming off being swept by the Chicago White Sox, 6-5 in extra innings and 2-1. The series finale was postponed. The Braves announced that Ronald Acuna Jr. will be on the IL due to a strained left hamstring. Over the last 11 games, Atlanta is hitting .241 (23rd) with 51 runs scored (23rd). Acuna was hitting .316 in that span with 12 hits and five home runs. The Braves offense is expected to slow down without Acuna.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Braves at Mets
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Time: 7:15 PM EST
Site: Citi Field
City: Flushing, NY
Network/Streaming: Apple TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Braves at the Mets
The latest odds as of Friday:
Moneyline: Atlanta Braves (+105), New York Mets (-126)
Spread: Braves +1.5 (-204), Mets -1.5 (+167)
Total: 8.0
Probable starting pitchers for Braves at Mets
Friday's pitching matchup (June 12): Spencer Strider vs. Nolan McLean
The Braves’ Matt Olson is hitting .272 with 72 hits, 19 home runs and 50 RBI over 265 at-bats
The Braves’ Austin Riley is hitting .206 with 51 hits and 79 strikeouts over 247 at-bats
The Mets’ Juan Soto is hitting .277 with 52 hits, 14 home runs, and 31 RBI over 188 at-bats
The Mets’ Bo Bichette is hitting .227 with 62 hits and 52 strikeouts over 273 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Braves at Mets
The Mets are 28-40 ATS, ranking fifth-best
The Braves are 41-27 ATS, ranking third-best
The Mets are 33-29-6 to the Under, ranking eighth-best
The Braves are 33-31-4 to the Over
The Mets are 13-20 ATS at home, ranking sixth-worst
The Braves are 23-12 ATS on the road, ranking second-best
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Braves and the Mets
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Braves and the Mets:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Braves on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Brvaes at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.0
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It’s a busy night of the diamond, and I’ve got three MLB same-game parlay predictions to cover you for all the action Friday, June 12.
My top MLB picks begin with an AL Central showdown between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians and wrap up with an SGP for the matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins.
Tigers vs Guardians SGP: Detroit motors to another win
The Detroit Tigers are turning the corner with a fifth-ranked xwOBA and 6.9 runs per game during their active 7-2 stretch, while the Cleveland Guardians rank 29th in xwOBA while averaging 3.5 runs per game during their own 3-8 skid.
Additionally, Detroit starter Jack Flaherty has fanned six or more batters in four consecutive starts with a sterling 2.37 xFIP, and outfielder Riley Greene has been a force against righties over the past three years with a high-end .374 wOBA and .237 ISO while hitting in the heart of the lineup.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CLEG, DSN
Phillies vs Brewers SGP: Misiorowski builds on Cy Young bid
Still, I’m expecting Philly rookie Andrew Painter to pitch deep enough to record four or more strikeouts. His 4.68 xFIP is way below his 6.21 ERA, and Painter has limited opposing hitters to a below-average 34.9% hard-hit rate.
Finally, Brewers second baseman Brice Turang is ripe to snap out of a 0-for-9 slump, considering he sports a .304 batting average and .419 wOBA against righties this season.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: BREW, NBCSP
Cardinals vs Twins SGP: Minny lambastes Leahy
St. Louis Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy (4.42 ERA and 4.34 xFIP) has surrendered the highest blast-contact rate among pitchers with at least 50 innings, so I’m anticipating a short outing paving the way for four or fewer strikeouts from the righty.
Left-handed bats have teed off on Leahy to the tune of a .421 wOBA and .962 OPS, and Minnesota Twins infielder Tristan Gray has been sneakily productive down the lineup with four runs, 11 hits and 12 RBI across his past 13 games.
Of course, the Twins have a sizable edge on the mound with Joe Ryan sporting a solid 3.02 ERA and 3.60 xFIP.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MNNT, CARD
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
SGP picks: 8-16, +12.0 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 11: Baltimore Orioles fans arrive at Oriole Park prior to the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Thursday, June 11, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Orioles fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
At times this year, never for more than three days at a time, the Orioles can almost convince you that maybe they will be able to be a good team, or at least a good enough team. If there are a few good games in a row from the starting pitchers at the same time the offense does positive things, when they’re doing that, it doesn’t feel foolish to believe. The only problem is that they can’t do it more than three games in a row. Or at least they haven’t done it yet.
In this week’s survey, I asked Orioles fans whether they think the team can get back above .500 before the All-Star break. At the time I posted the survey, that would have required an 18-12 record before the break. They went 2-1 in the remaining games in the Mariners series since then, so we’re now talking 16-11 between now and July 12’s game. Can they do that? Here’s what you said:
That’s a resounding no. It’s almost even a shocking no, because in my experience these surveys have tended towards the optimistic, perhaps even the foolishly optimistic. With the way the Orioles managed to lose on Monday and Tuesday – the two freshest games in people’s minds as they would have been voting this week – it seems the optimism was temporarily beaten out of them. I don’t blame them. I don’t think this team can get back above .500 before the break either.
They’re probably going to have to fire off at least a five-game winning streak to do it. That’s a tall order with the recent state of the rotation. There aren’t five good pitchers out there. There might not even be two. We’ll see if they can do anything to make us feel a little better in hosting the struggling Padres.
“I see a lot of people saying OG Anunoby is the current favorite for the Finals MVP. And I must say, I agree,” Green said on Friday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show.” “I think he’s been the most consistent. I think, you know, he’s made pivotal plays. He had the block and the bucket to close out the game in Game 4. Jalen Brunson was incredible last game, but I think the first three games, he wasn’t great, was shooting a lot of shots at a low percentage.
“And OG has just been constant. And it hasn’t been like averaging 14 points, 16 points — he’s averaging 24 points on the series, 65 percent from the field, 55 [percent] from three, playing the defense he’s playing, guarding [Victor Wembenyama] at times in the series. I think OG Anunoby has a decent Game 5, and [the Knicks] win Game 5. I think OG Anunoby is the Finals MVP.”
The Anunoby vs. Brunson debate feels a bit reminiscent of the 2015 NBA Finals, when Andre Iguodala was named MVP over Steph Curry. Like Brunson, Curry boasted better stats than Iguodala, but voters recognized and rewarded Iguodala elevating his game on the biggest stage and making a massive defensive impact — the same could be said of Anunoby this series.
Perhaps that could be the reason for Green’s opinion on the matter this time around, already having seen a similar storyline play out a decade earlier.
Regardless, we’ll find out soon enough whether or not Green’s prediction comes to fruition.
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 05: (left to right) Houston Astros center fielder Brice Matthews (0), Houston Astros center fielder Jake Meyers (6), and Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) celebrate the team 5-1 win in the top of the ninth inning during the MLB game between the Athletics and Houston Astros on June 5, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
June is a huge month for Houston, as they face primarily teams with losing records and need to show they can get back to .500 and legitimately chase a playoff spot.
Here is what you said:
More optimism than pessimism among readers, but not optimistic they can crawl to .500 by month end.
Do you think the Astros can get to .500 by the deadline?
The summer hasn't really even begun, but the Edmonton Oilers have made a mockery of what dates have passed by in this NHL offseason. From their coaching search, to their coaching changes, and now a very public trade narrative unfolding with Darnell Nurse, this is a summer that will go down as one of the most embarrassing in franchise history.
Understanding that there is plenty of time for the Oilers to course correct, or frankly, make things a whole lot worse, let's rank what's happened to date.
At the end of a disappointing season, general manager Stan Bowman said that the Oilers would reevaluate everything. From top to bottom, it was time to look inward and figure out what went wrong. Why did this Oilers team take a step back?
That would include a review of management, the coaching staff, and the roster. What wasn't known until later, was that the Oilers had already started looking into changing out the coach. They inquired about an interview with former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy while the playoffs were ongoing. The most ruthless team in the NHL said, 'Nope, not right now.'
When it became public, the Oilers decided to fire Kris Knoblauch before his new three-year contract had even kicked in. Bowman wouldn't confirm his specific interest in another coach, but did say that it was time for a different voice. Without coming right out and saying it, the Oilers hinted that talking to other candidates while you still had your coach employed was standard practice, and technically, it is. The problem? Edmonton didn't do a good job of keeping it under wraps.
In fact, we later learned that they were allegedly the ones to leak Vegas' refusal.
#4: Interesting Names Surface During Oilers Coaching Search
Now, without a head coach and with no guarantee the Oilers would get a chance to talk to Cassidy -- who, by the way, was telegraphed as "the guy," which meant a huge contract would have to follow if hired -- the Oilers started speaking to multiple coaching candidates.
Among them, Craig Berube, formerly of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Berube had just been fired by a team who performed much worse than the Oilers, and his numbers were abysmal in 2025-26. He was linked, almost solely because he'd won a Stanley Cup with the Blues and was a local guy who would have loved the opportunity to coach the Oilers. Of course the optics of hiring a Leafs coach with a bad record of not getting along with elite talent was not ideal.
At the same time, word leaked from Elliotte Friedman that John Tortorella might be a name to watch. His contract with Vegas would be done on June 30th and he was the kind of personality the Oilers might be looking to hire (commands respect and pushes players). And wouldn't you know it, around the same time, Tortorella refused to show up for a media obligation and was fined, with the Golden Knights penalized a draft pick by the NHL.
There's even been talk the Oilers spoke with Jim Hiller, and now there's speculation that Darryl Sutter might be in play.
#3: Kelly McCrimmon Blames Oilers For Cassidy Leak
Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon was on TSN OverDrive and said the Bruce Cassidy news wouldn't have been news if Edmonton hadn't leaked it. His allegation was that the Oilers were the ones who made Vegas' refusal to grant an interview public, hinting that the PR linked to that decision might pressure the Golden Knights into changing their minds.
While it's not been confirmed, it seems odd that McCrimmon would allege such a thing without knowing it was true. This was egg on the face of the Oilers. Not only did their plan backfire, but it backed them into a corner with Knoblauch, requiring they let him go and removing a ton of leverage they might have had in any coaching hire, not just with Cassidy.
All the while, Cassidy publicly says he wants to talk to any and all interested teams. He's not just eyeing Edmonton, but he's coming across as desperate to get back into the league as a coach.
Players ask for trades in the NHL. It happens. However, the Oilers got a trade request from defenseman Darnell Nurse because he became well aware they no longer wanted him. He beat Edmonton to the punch by submitting a list of three to five teams he'd go to, preemptively sparking what is going to be a trade the Oilers are unlikely to win.
Not only will the Oilers have to try and find a way to move his long-term $9.25 million contract, but they'll need to do so while he's got control over where he goes. All the while, the leadership group who wanted Nurse to be part of their success if they ever win a Stanley Cup won't experience it, or have to win it elsewhere.
There's no way that Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman and others are happy about how this all went down. Nurse was solid, but overpaid defenseman. It wasn't his fault the Oilers walked themselves into his contract.
#1: Oilers Pursue Mike Babcock, Investigation Begins
Clearly ranking in the top spot for most embarrassing is the Oilers' pursuit of Mike Babcock. After everything with Cassidy, Edmonton turned to one of the most controversial coaching options available, even though the optics of it are terrible.
Seemingly abandoning their interest in Cassidy, it's reported that the Oilers leadership group spoke with the former Blue Jackets coach and grilled him about what happened there. Either they were good with his answers or he didn't tell them everything, because they walked away thinking, "This is our guy."
Almost immediately, reports emerge of additional, previously unknown allegations tied to Babcock—serious enough to involve the NHLPA and the NHL. The NHLPA is not good with just letting Babcock come back, and they want the dropped investigation from 2023 to resume.
Now, the Oilers are waiting on word, with no idea how long it will take for the NHL to conclude its investigation or what it'll find. Again, Edmonton has telegraphed their move and has come across as so desperate to win and be pushed, they're willing to do so by a former coach that was exiled and still has players who can't stand him, many of whom might avoid the Oilers in free agency or via trade if he's hired.
Even NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh has chimed in during an interiew with @SiriusXMNHL, saying "managers and owners hire head coaches, not the players." That puts Edmonton's leadership group in a tough spot with other members of the players' association.
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