The Athletic's Scott Wheeler recently released his first 2026 NHL Mock Draft. With the Canadiens' first-round pick, he had the Habs selecting forward Simas Ignatavicius.
Ignatavicius is a big, 6-foot-3 forward with good upside. The 18-year-old forward spent most of this season with Geneve Servette of Switzerland's National League, where he had seven goals, six assists, 13 points, and 43 penalty minutes in 52 games. He also played in eight Swiss League games for HC Thurgau this season, where he had seven goals and 11 points.
Overall, Ignatavicius has shown promise, and he would have the potential to be a very solid addition to the Canadiens' prospect pool if they drafted him this summer. While the big forward would not be ready for the NHL immediately after his draft year, the potential for him to become an impactful NHL player later down the road is certainly there.
It will be interesting to see who the Canadiens end up taking in the first round at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. However, they, of course, are currently focused on their second round series against the Buffalo Sabres.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 08: Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals exits the game after being injured during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals announced they have placed pitcher Cole Ragans on the 15-day Injured List with left elbow impingement. Ragans exited his start on Wednesday after four innings with what was reported as soreness and tightness in tricep and the back of his elbow. Anne Rogers reported he had “valgus extension overload”, also known as “pitcher’s elbow” that can result from repetitive throwing. Yordano Ventura suffered a similar injury in 2014 and missed one start. Bailey Falter is also suffering from the same injury and has been out since April 3.
Ragans had twice had Tommy John surgery in his career – in 2018 and 2019, when he was with the Rangers. He told reporters on Wednesday, “I know what I’ve been through, the elbow stuff. I know it’s not what I’ve been through before.” Ragans has battled injuries throughout much of his career so far, missing half of last season with a rotator cuff strain.
To replace Ragans in the rotation, the Royals recalled pitcher Stephen Kolek, who gave the Royals six innings on Tuesday, allowing just three runs. In six starts with the Royals over the last two seasons Kolek has given them six Quality Starts, defined as outings with six or more innings, with three or fewer runs allowed.
The Royals also recalled pitcher Steven Cruz from Triple-A Omaha and returned Eric Cerantola to the Storm Chasers. Cerantola made his Major League debut on Wednesday, and appeared in two games this week, allowing three runs in three innings. Cruz has given up eight runs with seven strikeouts and four walks in five innings in a previous stint with the Royals this season.
Matt Boldy is shooting the lights out in the playoffs, leading all players with 37 shots on goal.
My Avalanche vs. Wild predictions expect the volume to remain strong in what's essentially a must-win Game 3 at home.
Let's break it all down with my NHL picks for Saturday, May 9.
Avalanche vs Wild Game 3 prediction
Avalanche vs Wild best bet: Matt Boldy Over 3.5 shots on goal (-135)
Matt Boldy was one of the league's best shot-generators during the regular season, and the Minnesota Wild forward has seen his volume skyrocket further in the playoffs.
Boldy leads all players with 37 shots on goal, good for an average of 4.6 per game. He is averaging nearly nine shot attempts and has recorded at least seven in all eight games. The volume is incredibly consistent.
Now he is back home, where he has gone Over in all three playoff games while attempting double-digit shots in two of them.
Desperate for a win to get back in the series, the Wild will be heavily reliant on their star sniper.
Avalanche vs Wild Game 3 same-game parlay
Boldy has piled up 11 points through eight playoff games and put forth more multi-point performances (three) than zeros (two). He also hit the scoresheet in all three home dates.
If Boldy threatens the net with at least four shots, there is a good chance he will produce.
It's all about Nathan MacKinnon for the Colorado Avalanche. The Wild allowed the fourth most shots to centers this year, and MacKinnon has taken full advantage.
Regular season included, MacKinnon has averaged 5.66 shots on target while going Over 3.5 in all six meetings.
Boldy has eclipsed 3.5 shots in eight of his last 10 home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Wild.
How to watch Avalanche vs Wild Game 3
Location
Grand Casino Arena, Saint Paul, MN
Date
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Puck drop
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, Sportsnet
Avalanche vs Wild latest injuries
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.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 7: Daniel Susac #6 of the San Francisco Giants hits a triple against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning at Oracle Park on April 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brandon Vallance/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are five San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball teams in-season right now — the Dominican Summer League season doesn’t start for a few more weeks — and all five were in action on Thursday. It was a fun, fun day, so let’s jump straight into it.
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
A bit of a catcher carousel on the farm. Major Leaguer Daniel Susac (No. 20 CPL) began a rehab assignment with AAA Sacramento and, in return, Sacramento returned Ty Hanchey to High-A Eugene. Eugene also activated Jancel Villarroel (No. 42 CPL) off the Injured List and, with those 2 returning, released Luke Shliger, their 6th-round pick in 2023. Completing the carousel was Zach Morgan, who was moved from AA Richmond to Sacramento.
Richmond also placed RHP Brad Deppermann on the 7-Day IL, while welcoming in LHP Dale Stanavich, who was moved up from the Arizona Complex League as he looks to get his season actually started.
AAA Sacramento (19-15)
Sacramento River Cats beat the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) 6-3 Box score
The Giants offense is catastrophically awful. You know the things I’m about to tell you, but I’m telling you them anyway, for emphasis: the Giants are below league average in batting average; the Giants are dead last in on-base percentage; the Giants are 28th in slugging percentage; the Giants are dead last in runs per game by more than half a run; the Giants are dead last in home runs hit, with 7 different teams at least doubling their total.
They’ve already called on their reinforcements in Sacramento when they called up Bryce Eldridge (No. 1 CPL) and Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16 CPL) on Monday. But now there are new reinforcements on the way, as Daniel Susac (No. 20 CPL) began his rehab assignment on Thursday. Playing at designated hitter, Susac picked up right where he left off in the Majors before getting injured: he came to the plate 4 times, he left with a hit 3 times, and he cleared the fence 2 times.
Suffice to say, Susac’s rehab isn’t going to last very long if it looks like that, and the Giants offense stands to benefit from his return. I don’t envy Tony Vitello figuring out how to make the Susac/Rodríguez/Patrick Bailey catcher triad work, but sadly I’m not getting paid millions of dollars to make those decisions. Either way, it will be great seeing Susac back in San Francisco, and my guess is he’ll be activated by the time the Giants start their series with the Dodgers on Monday.
He wasn’t the only reinforcement to go deep, either, as center fielder Harrison Bader led off the first inning with a big fly, which was great to see. Bader, who finished 1-4 with a strikeout, is deeper into his rehab than Susac — this was his 3rd game with the River Cats — but is probably further away from getting activated. He professed a desire to have a lengthy rehab stint to make up for the time he lost in Spring Training, and given how bad he was before hitting the IL this year, I’m guessing the Giants are more than inclined to accommodate that.
It wasn’t just the Major Leaguers who did work, though, as third baseman Buddy Kennedy had yet another delightful game, hitting 2-4 with both a home run and a double, giving him dingers on back-to-back days.
Kennedy has been consistently excellent all year, and now has a .920 OPS, a 147 wRC+, and just a 13.7% strikeout rate. What a nice emergency depth piece he is to have around.
On the pitching front, LHP John Michael Bertrand did something you very rarely see in this era: he pitched deep into a game and didn’t record a strikeout. Bertrand went a whole 6.1 innings in this one, and didn’t strike out any of the 27 batters that he faced. He had strong control all game, with just 1 walk issued, but allowed 7 hits (including a home run), which tagged him for 3 earned runs.
A 28-year old who was taken in the 10th round in 2022, Bertrand has the funkiness and ground ball rate (50.9%) to potentially get outs at the next level, but it still is jarring seeing someone strike out so few people. On the year, he’s struck out just 17 of 152 batters, en route to a 4.64 ERA and a 6.18 FIP.
RHP Dylan Smith continued his strong season, as he tossed 1.2 no-hit innings with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. The 2021 3rd-round pick by the Tigers, who was acquired at the start of the season, is down to a 2.13 ERA and a 3.40 FIP. He’s walking way too many batters (5.7 per 9 innings), but striking out quite a few as well (10.7 per 9), while running a 53.8% ground ball rate. That underscores how good he’s been, as all of the damage against him came in 1 blow up performance; he hasn’t allowed a run in his other 8 appearances. He’s on the 40-man roster, so could be an option in the MLB bullpen soon.
A day after beating Akron 5-4 thanks to a magical 9th inning rally, Richmond again beat Akron 5-4 …. this time while withstanding a nearly-magical 9th inning rally by their opponent.
Fresh off of being named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Month for April, RHP Darien Smith had his worst start of the year … which highlighted just how great his season has been, because it was a pretty nice start!
Smith allowed 2 runs in 4.2 innings, which marked the 1st time this year he’s ceded multiple runs in a game. But he did a decent job throwing strikes, and had a delightful 6 strikeouts against just 1 walk. The damage came on the hit front, where he only gave up 4, but that included both a home run and a double.
That was a change of pace for Smith, a 26-year old undrafted free agent in his 2nd season. He’s had some issues with walks this year, but has mostly done his damage by limiting hits: in 29.2 innings this season, the Southeastern alum had allowed just 18 hits. He’s only ceded 4 extra-base hits all year, though 3 of them have been home runs, which is part of why his FIP (4.18) is so dramatically behind his majestic ERA (1.52).
Smith gave way to LHP Dale Stanavich, who made his Richmond debut. Stanavich, a 26-year old who was taken in the 8th round in 2022 by the Marlins, signed a Minor League deal with the Giants at the start of the season, and took a few weeks to debut. He made a pair of appearances in the ACL, before getting sent up to AA, a level he excelled at last year before running into troubles in AAA.
It was strikeouts that led Stanavich to success in AA: between stints there in 2024 and 2025, he had a stunning 100 strikeouts in just 68 innings. And the switch from the Southern League to the Eastern League didn’t seem to change that: in Stanavich’s Squirrels debut he faced 5 batters and struck out 4 of them, with the other being a walk. That’ll play!
Also nice relief outings from RHPs Manuel Mercedes and Dylan Hecht, who have been having tough seasons, while RHP Cameron Pferrer had another difficult outing that ballooned his ERA to double digits.
No crazy days on offense, but a lot of good ones. There were 5 different players in the lineup who reached base multiple times, including a trio of hitters who had multi-hit games: designated hitter Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL), shortstop Aeverson Arteaga, and catcher Adrián Sugastey.
Harber hit 2-4 with a double and 2 strikeouts, as he continues to get up to speed following a lengthy injury absence to start the season. Not surprisingly, Harber has been striking out quite a bit — a predictable situation given his tardiness to start the season, and the fact that swing-and-miss has always been a little bit of a struggle for him. He’s rocking a 32.7% strikeout rate to start the year, and that will certainly need to come down at some point. But the strikeouts aren’t keeping him from racking up the hits: he has a .327 batting average, and in 11 games already has 7 doubles (though he’s still looking for his 1st AA home run).
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 8, 2026
Arteaga hit 2-3 with a double, though he also committed his 4th error of the season. The stunning renaissance continues for the 23-year old, who has raised his year-over-year OPS by more than 400 points, from .508 to .929, and his wRC+ by nearly 100 points, from 49 to 144. What a recovery!
As for Sugastey, he hit 2-4 as he continues to show great bat-to-ball skills. That’s never been a question for the 23-year old from Panama, but his struggles to hit for power and draw walks have been. Those issues remain this year, which is how he has just a .669 OPS and a 72 wRC+ despite a .267 batting average.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 8, 2026
High-A Eugene (22-7)
Eugene Emeralds lost to the Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays) 3-2 Box score
Eugene has been an exciting team this year, but this was a boring game. Not a lot to highlight or talk about. The best performance came from the piggy-backing starter, RHP Niko Mazza, who continues to show off dramatic improvements with his strikeout stuff. Mazza struck out a whopping 7 batters in just 3.2 innings, and now has 12.7 Ks per 9 innings … after having just 8.7 in his debut last year at a lower level. Where did that come from?!
Some of it has come from just committing to being more wild, it seems, as Mazza has taken a step backwards in the control department, where he already wasn’t good. That was certainly the case on Thursday, when he walked 4 batters, which brought his walks per 9 up to a staggering 7.4. He is certainly living on the extremes of not putting the ball in play, for better and for worse!
If Mazza can control the walks, he’ll become very, very good, as the 2024 8th-round pick has been nearly unhittable this season. He allowed just 1 hit in his 3.2 scoreless innings, and has now allowed just 12 hits in 22 innings. That’s resulted in a stellar 2.86 ERA, though the walks have pushed his FIP to 4.12.
Things weren’t so good for the 1st starter, LHP Tyler Switalski. The 22-year old struck out 5 batters in just 3.2 innings, but that’s where the good news ended, as he also allowed 6 hits, 3 walks, and 3 runs. After being virtually unhittable to start the year, the 2024 16th-round selection has fallen on some hard times. Check the dramatic splits:
Most notably, Switalski has now given up 4 home runs, after allowing just 3 all of last year, which was his debut season. Still and all, it’s been a very encouraging year for the West Virginia alum, who has a 3.42 ERA and a 4.14 FIP. After striking out just 7.6 batters per 9 innings last year (in Low and High-A), Switalski has pumped that number all the way up to 12.3 … while also lowering his walks per 9 from 3.7 to 3.1.
Not much on offense, where the Ems only had 5 hits on the day. First baseman Jakob Christian (No. 40 CPL) had the only extra-base hit, as he went 1-4 with a double and a strikeout, as he continues to hit the ground running. Christian missed the 1st month of the year with an injury, but has had no rust to shake off: through 5 games, he’s hitting 7-14 with 4 doubles, 2 walks, and just 3 strikeouts. The strikeouts are the thing to keep an eye on: the 2024 5th-round pick can do serious damage with his right-handed bat, but has had a huge strikeout issue so far in his career.
Third baseman Walker Martin had a nice game, hitting 1-3 with a walk and his 8th stolen base of the year, though he also struck out once and committed his 10th error of the season. After a nice start to the season, his numbers have started to head in the wrong direction, as he has a .722 OPS, a 106 wRC+, and a 31.6% strikeout rate.
Low-A San Jose (18-12)
San Jose Giants lost to the Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies) 12-8 Box score
Thursday was a mixed bag for the Baby Giants, as it was a game where one of their stars shone very, very, very brightly …. while one of their other stars almost single-handedly lost them the game.
Let’s start with the bad, which transpired on the mound: in his 1st start since an 8-strikeout masterpiece, RHP Argenis Cayama (No. 13 CPL) was unable to make it out of the 1st inning. He gave up a single on his very 1st pitch, and that was a sign of what was to come: the next batter homered, the next batter doubled, the next batter homered, the next batter singled, and then Cayama walked 2 to load the bases. He finally settled in with a pair of ground outs — both of which scored runs — before allowing another walk, throwing a wild pitch, issuing another walk, and getting yanked from the game.
In all, Cayama gave up 6 hits, 3 walks, and 7 runs in just 0.2 innings, didn’t record a strikeout, and threw just 20 of 35 pitches for strikes. And with that, his ERA nearly doubled in 1 game. Bad games happen, though, and if you want to know how much of an outlier this one was, Cayama entered the contest with 30 strikeouts against just 1 walk. Time to shake it off.
But the great performance was nearly as great as Cayama’s blow up was bad, and it came from the predictable player: shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL). Level continued his assault on Cal League pitchers, going 2-3 with a 3-run home run, 2 walks, and 1 strikeout.
JHONNY BE GOOD! Jhonny Level with a no-doubter, and we've got a ballgame on our hands. pic.twitter.com/Ac46fqMaP9
The 19-year old switch-hitter has now had multiple hits in 13 of the 25 games he’s played in this year, and is at or near the top of the Cal League ranks in nearly every statistical category. A .997 OPS and a 147 wRC+ are blissful as is, but they only get better when you add in the 16.7% strikeout rate, the strong defense at shortstop, and the whole being more than 2 years younger than his average peer thing.
You really couldn’t ask for a better start to the season than the one Level has had, and his 16 extra-base hits have left no doubt that his lack of height does not mean a lack of power. I’m guessing the Giants will be plenty patient with him, but I’m also guessing the “when do we promote this guy?” discussions have already commenced.
The other star was someone who is heating up in a huge way: third baseman Dario Reynoso, who hit 1-2 with a solo home run and 2 walks. After failing to go deep in his 1st 30 games with San Jose, Reynoso has now put the ball over the fence 4 times in the last 6 games, including 3 days in a row. He’s on fire!
The recently-turned 21-year old is rocking a 1.011 OPS and a 157 wRC+, with a hilarious 22.1% walk rate (high walk rates have always been a part of his profile). His strikeout rate is a still-concerning 29.5%, though it’s worth noting that that figure represents a notable improvement over last year at both Low-A and the ACL.
Right fielder Jose Astudillo, on the other hand, has never had a strikeout issue, and that continued on Thursday, when he went 2-3 with a hit by pitch. A recently-turned 22-year old from Venezuela, Astudillo started the season late but has hit the ground running: in 5 games, he’s 7-18 with 2 walks and just 1 strikeout, though he’s still searching for his 1st extra-base hit.
Clawing back into this one. RBI single off the bat of Jose Astudillo, and it's a 8-3 ballgame. pic.twitter.com/a5FA3fcikj
Those were the stars, as no one really had a great game on the mound after Cayama’s brutal start. RHP Ben Bybee had a nice game though, in his 2nd career outing. It wasn’t as good as his professional debut — 3 no-hit innings is hard to top — but last year’s 8th-round selection showed off some nice stuff by striking out 4 batters in 3.1 innings. The 22-year old from Arkansas also allowed 3 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run, and threw 29 of 43 pitches for strikes.
It has taken no time at all for shortstop Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL) to prove that he is the real deal. The real deal who deserved to be the No. 1 ranked international signee this year. The real deal who deserved to skip the Dominican Summer League and come to the states as a 17-year old. The real deal who is worth dreaming on.
Hernández’s 4th professional game was his best, as he hit 3-5, drew a walk, and smashed a solo home run. He’s 5-16 with 3 home runs, 2 walks, and just 2 strikeouts to start his career. That seems …. really good. Really good for a 19-year old first baseman, but really good for a defensively-gifted shortstop who turned 17 in December. As with Jhonny Level’s hot opening weeks, we’re going to need to see this maintain for a while before we start dreaming about early promotions, but … my goodness. You just don’t see this often at all.
Top International prospect @SFGiants Luis Hernandez with a first inning homerun against the reds. This is the first bit of ACL for me and seeing Hernandez and he does not disappoint. Bully power and one of the best hit tools here. Also one of the youngest 🚀 #ProspectOnepic.twitter.com/fAyvqydmr6
Hernández was far and away the bright spot in this game, as he was the only player with an extra-base hit. But there were other good performances as well. Catcher Yohendry Sanchez hit 2-5 with a walk and a strikeout, as the 19-year old is 5-9 to start his stateside career. Third baseman Yulian Barreto went 1-4 with a walk, a hit by pitch, and a strikeout (though he also had an error), and is 5-12 with 2 walks and 2 hit by pitches as the 18-year old begins his 2nd season, and his first in the US.
Second baseman Josuar González (No. 2 CPL) hit 1-4 with a strikeout as he tries to shake off the rust of missing a chunk of the spring with a hamstring injury. The 18-year old switch-hitter has been slow-played to start the year due to that injury, as he’s yet to play a full game. This was the 1st time in his career that he played a defensive position other than shortstop, as he and Hernández are going to split time at the six, though it’s worth noting that González is probably the strongest defensive shortstop in the system.
Only 1 pitching day that stood out, but it sure did stand out, as RHP Chen-Hsun Lee was dynamic. A 24-year old from Taiwan, Lee is finally healthy: the Giants signed him in 2023, but he appeared in just 4 games before being shut down, and missed all of 2024 and 2025. He struggled in his 2026 debut, but not in his follow-up on Thursday, when he allowed just 1 hit in 3 scoreless innings, while striking out 6 batters. Yup, that works!
Sacramento: 6:45 p.m. PT vs. Reno (SP: Carson Whisenhunt) Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs. Akron (SP: Cesar Perdomo) Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Vancouver (SP: Luis De La Torre) San Jose: 7:00 p.m. PT vs. Fresno (SP: Braydon Risley)
Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV
The Carolina Hurricanes will look to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final with a Game 4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday, May 9.
My top Hurricanes vs. Flyers predictions and NHL picks call for Carolina to be the first team to win each of its first eight postseason games since the current playoff format was adopted in 1987.
Hurricanes vs Flyers Game 4 prediction
Hurricanes vs Flyers best bet: Hurricanes moneyline (-175)
Carolina has dominated five-on-five possession with a 59.1 Corsi For percentage and has also won the expected goals battle at 55.6% through three games. With the Hurricanes ranking higher in both special teams, my numbers are showing value all the way through to -200.
Philadelphia can’t match the high-end talent or depth jumping the boards for Carolina, and the numbers couldn't paint a clearer picture.
Hurricanes vs Flyers Game 4 same-game parlay
In addition to Andersen’s highlighted strong play, Philly netminder Dan Vladar has been sharp with a .921 SV% and 0.856 GSAx/60. There have also only been 13 goals through three games, and Carolina has played to the Under in six of seven postseason contests.
Carolina has won 16 of its last 20 games (+11.50 Units / 36% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Flyers.
How to watch Hurricanes vs Flyers Game 4
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Puck drop
6:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, Sportsnet
Hurricanes vs Flyers latest injuries
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.
After an uneven .500 road trip, the Dodgers return home to Chavez Ravine to welcome one of the best teams in MLB, the Atlanta Braves. The Braves are tied with the surging Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees for the best record in baseball.
The Dodgers offense, who has been hot and cold, will start off with a tough challenge right off the bat. The Braves will send Chris Sale to the mound on Friday night. Sale is 6-1 with a 2.14 ERA and has allowed one run or fewer over at least six innings in six of his seven starts this season, including his last outing in Colorado when he allowed one run on three hits with a season high 11 strikeouts. Over his last four starts, Sale is 4-0 with 33 strikeouts and just seven walks. It will be a real test for the offense which is coming off a game in which they scored 12 runs but still isn’t quite firing on all cylinders.
Emmet Sheehan will take the mound for the Dodgers and is coming off a start in which he allowed three earned runs in the first inning against St. Louis. He has one career start against the Braves which was in 2023 where he allowed one run on three hits over four innings.
Braves first baseman Matt Olson is leading the National League in homers, with four of his 13 coming in the last six games. Second baseman Ozzie Albies has been hot as of late, owning a .386 BA with a 1.115 OPS over his last 15 games. The Braves as a team lead the NL in home runs with 55.
Some things could be in the Dodgers’ favor. The Braves are coming off their first series loss of the season to the Mariners in Seattle this week. Atlanta also hasn’t fared well at Dodger Stadium in recent years, with the Dodgers taking 21 of 27 games, including playoffs. The Braves swept the Dodgers in 2023 at Dodger Stadium but have lost their last seven games there. Chris Sale also hasn’t historically performed well against the Dodgers, having a 1-2 record with a 6.65 ERA lifetime, and in his two starts in L.A. he’s 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 12: Nick Lodolo #40 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch during a Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on March 12, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What a week for the Cincinnati Reds, eh?
They got trounced by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series opener at PNC Park last Friday only to wake up Saturday, walk seven batters in a row, and allow 17 runs in a loss. They wrapped up getting swept in that three-game series on Sunday only to head to Chicago and get walked-off in three straight games to begin that series.
In the process, they lost closer Emilio Pagan to a hamstring injury that’ll keep him out for up to two months. Brandon Williamson’s shoulder issue turned out to be significant enough that he was moved to the 60-day IL. Then, on Thursday, Rhett Lowder exited early from his start after feeling ‘clicking’ in his right shoulder, and the Reds wrapped that game with a loss to secure a winless seven-game road trip.
Woof!
Friday, finally, brings a bit of welcome good news. The Reds officially got Nick Lodolo back off the injured list after clearing all his blister hurdles, and he’ll make his first start of the year in Great American Ball Park against the Houston Astros on Friday evening.
Jose Franco was optioned to AAA to make way for Lodolo, the Reds announced.
The #Reds today activated from the 15-day injured list LHP Nick Lodolo and optioned to Triple-A Louisville RHP Jose Franco. pic.twitter.com/ksQgHXNP1o
Getting Lodolo back is obviously welcome news on any level. The 28 year old had a career year (so far) in 2025, logging 156.2 IP of 3.33 ERA, 3.81 FIP ball while posting a career-best 5.03 K/BB. Baseball Reference valued that work at 4.7 bWAR, and that’s the kind of pitcher that can almost singlehandedly turn around a pitching staff – something the Reds desperately need right now as they battle through this cascade of injuries.
If there’s another silver lining here, it’s that Lowder – who was set for an MRI today – was not the arm that was optioned to make way for Lodolo. Fingers crossed that’s an indication that whatever he’s dealing with is minor enough, since anything significant would’ve likely meant he’d be heading to the IL immediately, too.
(Or they’re just waiting for a second opinion before dropping that awful news on us – we shall see.)
Anyway, Nick is back, that’s a good thing, and here’s how the Reds will line up for tonight’s series opener back home:
The Countdown - Apr. 17 2026 - Vol. 79 Issue 10 - Jared Clinton
JUST AS TIME MAKES fools of us all, so, too, has Macklin Celebrini.
When the now-San Jose Sharks star was in his pre-draft season, the skinny on the then-Boston University center was that he was a talented player with an exceptional, but not elite, ceiling. Comparisons were drawn to top-line, team-leading pivots rather than true superstars. No one, truly, was using the ‘G’ word – generational – when it came to Celebrini. In The Hockey News’ 2024 Draft Preview, for instance, the comparison used was Elias Pettersson.
Yes, yes. Yuck it up. But the fact of the matter is, there is perhaps no player who has flipped any perceived notion of his upside on its head quite as quickly as Celebrini, who has gone from being mentioned as a franchise centerpiece to an MVP-caliber talent. That his name is floating around the Hart Trophy debate this very season is proof positive of his impact.
What makes Celebrini’s surge to stardom all the more incredible, though, is that he’s done it before he’s even old enough to order an adult beverage. In fact, his 19-year-old season ranks up there with the best ever.
Where does Celebrini’s output rank among the NHL’s greatest baby-faced sensations? In this edition of Countdown, we flip through the history books to find the greatest teen scorers in each NHL franchise’s history.
*All ages are as of Jan. 31 in the corresponding season, as per Hockey-Reference.
1 EDMONTON OILERS
WAYNE GRETZKY, 19 – 137 PTS (1979-80)
Who else? Gretzky’s output is double that of the closest Oilers teen, Jason Arnott, who had 68 points in 1993-94.
2 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
SIDNEY CROSBY, 19 – 120 PTS (2006-07)
Shockingly, both of Crosby’s teen seasons exceed Mario Lemieux’s 100-point best. At 19, ‘Sid the Kid’ won the Hart.
3 LOS ANGELES KINGS
JIMMY CARSON, 19 – 107 PTS (1987-88)
Carson’s great year made him the centerpiece of the infamous Gretzky trade. Sadly, he was out of the NHL by 27.
4 SAN JOSE SHARKS
MACKLIN CELEBRINI, 19 – 115 PTS (2025-26)
Celebrini is smashing a record that he already held. He surpassed Pat Falloon’s 59-point teen total as a rookie.
5 NEW YORK ISLANDERS
BRYAN TROTTIER, 19 – 95 PTS (1975-76)
OK, Trottier has the team record. But Matthew Schaefer is the fifth-highest-scoring teenage blueliner in NHL history.
6 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
STEVEN STAMKOS, 19 – 95 PTS (2009-10)
In 2008, then-Bolts coach Barry Melrose said rookie Stamkos wasn’t ready. The next year, ‘Stammer’ potted 51 goals.
7 CAROLINA HURRICANES
RON FRANCIS, 19 – 90 PTS (1982-83)
Francis has the team’s teen point record, but Sylvain Turgeon set the standard for young-gun goals (40) the following year.
8 DETROIT RED WINGS
STEVE YZERMAN, 19 – 89 PTS (1984-85)
After debuting with a 39-goal, 87-point campaign, ‘Stevie Y’ staked claim as the Wings’ future with sophomore year.
9 BUFFALO SABRES
PIERRE TURGEON, 19 – 88 PTS (1988-89)
Sure, Turgeon takes the cake, but 19-year-old Phil Housley’s 77-point 1983-84 campaign was an all-timer.
10 DALLAS STARS
BRIAN BELLOWS, 19 – 83 PTS (1983-84)
Bellows’ 41 goals are the same as Wyatt Johnston’s rookie point total, which was most by a Stars teenager since 1990.
11 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
EDDIE OLCZYK, 19 – 79 PTS (1985-86)
A dream for hometown hero ‘Eddie O,’ surpassing both 28-goal and 75-point bests by Denis Savard in 1980-81.
12 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
ERIC LINDROS, 19 – 75 PTS (1992-93)
Since Lindros’ 41-goal season as a 19-year-old, only four other teens have managed to reach the 40-goal plateau.
13 COLORADO AVALANCHE
OWEN NOLAN, 19 – 73 PTS (1991-92)
The 1990 draft’s No. 1 pick had just three goals and 13 points as a rookie before exploding for 42 goals as a sophomore.
14 WINNIPEG JETS
PATRIK LAINE, 19 – 70 PTS (2017-18)
Laine’s 44 goals are fifth most by a teen. Coincidentally, Jets 1.0 icon Dale Hawerchuk netted 45 at 18 in 1981-82.
15 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
AUSTON MATTHEWS, 19 – 69 PTS (2016-17)
Prior to Matthews’ brilliant season, Ted Kennedy’s 49-game Original Six Era 54-point mark had stood for 72 years.
16 WASHINGTON CAPITALS
BOBBY CARPENTER, 19 – 69 PTS (1982-83)
An asterisk for Carpenter? The lockout delayed Alex Ovechkin’s NHL debut. At 20, he posted 106 points as a rookie.
17 MINNESOTA WILD
MARIAN GABORIK, 19 – 67 PTS (2001-02)
Gaborik set the benchmark at 18 and surpassed it the next campaign. No teen has scored for Wild since 2013.
18 NEW JERSEY DEVILS
KIRK MULLER, 19 – 66 PTS (1985-86)
Muller was a star upon his NHL arrival. He spent seven years as a Devil but remains franchise’s fourth-highest scorer.
19 BOSTON BRUINS
RAY BOURQUE, 19 – 65 PTS (1979-80)
Bourque won Calder and finished fourth in Norris voting after brilliant debut. He’d go on to win the Norris five times.
20 NEW YORK RANGERS
MIKE ALLISON, 19 – 64 PTS (1980-81)
Only teens to score 30 points for Rangers since Allison: Alex Kovalev (1992-93) and Michael Del Zotto (2009-10).
21 ST. LOUIS BLUES
ROD BRIND’AMOUR, 19 – 61 PTS (1989-90)
Best known as a Cane, Brind’Amour has high-water mark in St. Louis and third-best Blues rookie year ever.
22 VANCOUVER CANUCKS
TREVOR LINDEN, 18 – 59 PTS (1988-89)
Ultimately, Linden’s 30-goal, 59-point rookie year wound up as the sixth-highest-scoring season of his NHL career.
23 CALGARY FLAMES
DAN QUINN, 19 – 58 PTS (1984-85)
Thanks to Quinn and Sean Monahan, Flames legend Jarome Iginla has neither the team’s teen goal nor point record.
24 COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
RICK NASH, 19 – 57 PTS (2003-04)
Most lopsided production ever? Nash was first player since 1918 with more than 40 goals and fewer than 20 assists.
25 OTTAWA SENATORS
ALEXANDRE DAIGLE, 18 – 51 PTS (1993-94)
Make your jokes, but Daigle was a threat for Ottawa. He was second in Sens scoring behind Alexei Yashin in 1993-94.
26 MONTREAL CANADIENS
JURAJ SLAFKOVSKY, 19 – 50 PTS (2023-24)
When he netted point No. 41 in 2023-24, Slafkovsky surpassed a total set by Henri Richard nearly 70 years earlier.
27 NASHVILLE PREDATORS
SCOTT HARTNELL, 19 – 41 PTS (2001-02)
Forget chasing Hartnell. The Preds have had just one teenager with a double-digit point total in the 23 seasons since.
28 ANAHEIM DUCKS
CAM FOWLER, 19 – 40 PTS (2010-11)
Of the five best seasons by Ducks teens, three have been by defensemen: Fowler, Jamie Drysdale and Oleg Tverdovsky.
29 FLORIDA PANTHERS
RADEK DVORAK, 19 – 39 PTS (1996-97)
Dvorak gets the nod on points per game and goals, but an 18-year-old Aaron Ekblad also posted 39 points in 2014-15.
30 SEATTLE KRAKEN
MATTY BENIERS, 19 – 9 PTS (2021-22)
Post-college, Beniers burst onto the scene. But his offense has peaked with Calder-winning 57 points in 2022-23.
31 VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
N/A – 0 PTS
The youngest Golden Knight to collect a point is Peyton Krebs – 20 years, three months and seven days. Just missed it.
32 UTAH MAMMOTH
N/A – 0 PTS
Logan Cooley’s 44-point season at 19 is in purgatory after the NHL quarantined Arizona’s statistical history.
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The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery will be the last of its kind.
Whatever it looks like next season, after Adam Silver pushes anti-tanking measures, the lottery is going to look very different. And likely more complex than the current one, which uses 14 numbered ping-pong balls in a lottery machine, creating 1001 possible combinations.
The reason for all the buzz — and the tanking this season — is that this is one of the deepest classes in recent memory, with scouts saying there are potentially three (some might say four) franchise cornerstone players at the top and great depth behind them. That starts with BYU's AJ Dybantsa (the No. 1 pick on most boards), Kansas' Darryn Peterson, and Duke's Cameron Boozer at the top of the list. Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery
How to watch the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery
The lottery will take place on May 10 at 3 pm ET and can be watched on ESPN.
What are each team’s odds?
Here are the odds for the 14 teams in the lottery.
No. 1 Washington Wizards
Odds to land No. 1 pick 14%; odds to land in top four 52.1% Washington is looking to add one more young, cornerstone player to a team that had a few nice young players already — Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Tre Johnson — plus added Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Whatever happens in this lottery, the Wizards expect to be in the postseason next year, not back here in the lottery.
No. 2 Indiana Pacers
Odds to land No. 1 pick 14%; odds to land in top four 52.1% If Indiana's pick falls out of the top four — basically a coin-toss chance — their pick goes to the LA Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade. Either way, with Zubac, a healthy Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and the rest of a core that went to the Finals a year ago, it's going to be a bounce-back season in Indiana. But put a top-four pick in that mix and it gets more interesting.
No. 3 Brooklyn Nets
Odds to land No. 1 pick 14%; odds to land in top four 52.1% Brooklyn used all five of the first round picks they had on players last year in the draft and... meh. It was not a great showing, although some had flashes of potential. Brooklyn is a team that needs some lottery luck to jumpstart their rebuild.
No. 4 Utah Jazz
Odds to land No. 1 pick 11.5%; odds to land in top four 45.2% The lottery gods owe Utah some luck — and keeping AJ Dybansta in Utah would be huge for the franchise — but those gods can be fickle. Either way, Utah is done losing: Adding a high draft pick to a core of Keyonte George in the backcourt with Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. up front, this is a team thinking playoffs next season.
No. 5 Sacramento Kings
Odds to land No. 1 pick 11.5%; odds to land in top four 45.2% Sacramento is in the midst of (another) rebuild, and they — and their passionate, long-suffering fans — deserve a break and a top pick to be a cornerstone for whatever is next.
No. 6 Memphis Grizzlies
Odds to land No. 1 pick 9%; odds to land in top four 37.2% With this team in a rebuild (including the expectation Ja Morant is traded this summer for more picks and/or young players), it's simple for the Grizzlies: Take the best player on the board. If the Grizzlies fall in the 5-8 range and get one of the dynamic young point guards in that mix, there would be a natural fit.
No. 7 Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans)
Odds to land No. 1 pick 6.8%; odds to land in top four 29.3% Actually, Atlanta's odds are slightly better than that because it has the swap rights to the better of New Orleans or Milwaukee's picks, so technically they have a 9.8% chance at the top pick and a 43.2% chance of landing in the top four. Wherever they land, they're adding another good player to a core being built out around Jalen Johnson.
No. 8 Dallas Mavericks
Odds to land No. 1 pick 6.7%; odds to land in top four 29% Can you imagine the uproar around the league — and the conspiracy theories that will fly — if the Mavericks get the No. 1 pick again? Wherever they fall, the Mavericks are looking to add a young talent to play with Cooper Flagg long-term.
No. 9 Chicago Bulls
Odds to land No. 1 pick 4.5%; odds to land in top four 20.3% Bryson Graham, the Bulls new head of basketball operations (a former VP with the Hawks) will be making this pick. He's got a lot of work ahead of him, but some lottery luck would speed up the process.
No. 10 Milwaukee Bucks
Odds to land No. 1 pick 0; odds to land in top four 13.9% Technically, the No. 10 slot has a 3% chance of jumping up to the No. 1 pick, but because Atlanta has swap rights, the Hawks would swoop in if the Bucks got lucky, and Milwaukee would get New Orleans's pick. On the optimistic side, if both New Orleans and Milwaukee jumped into the top four, the Bucks would get that pick. However, there is an 84.9% chance the Bucks pick at No. 10 or 11. What the Bucks ultimately do with this pick will depend on what is decided with Giannis Antetokounmpo before the draft.
No. 11 Golden State Warriors
Odds to land No. 1 pick 2%; odds to land in top four 9.4% Stephen Curry is still there and still one of the league's best players, but the Warriors also need to look to what is next and draft (then develop) players that will be part of that future. They've had some high-profile misses on that front in the past.
No. 12 Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers)
Odds to land No. 1 pick 1.5%; odds to land in top four 7.1% Like if Dallas jumped all the way up, if the lottery gods favored the Thunder this year there would be an uproar. Whatever happens, the smartest drafting team in the league is going to add a lottery pick to its already dominant, young roster.
No. 13 Miami Heat
Odds to land No. 1 pick 1%; odds to land in top four 4.8% Miami could use the infusion of some more youth and athleticism in the roster, but this team isn't tanking and rebuilding, so what they will do with this pick remains a mystery.
No. 14 Charlotte Hornets
Odds to land No. 1 pick 0.5%; odds to land in top four 2.4% Adding another quality young player to a roster with standout rookie Kon Knueppel, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller will make this team even more of a must-watch group next season.
This is the last year the NBA will use this system to determine its draft order for teams that don't make the playoffs. Only the first four picks are determined by the lottery, picks 5-30 follow the reverse standings of whoever is left (although trades will impact which team actually makes those selections).
The system uses 14 numbered ping-pong balls, put into a lottery machine, creating 1001 possible combinations. Four numbered balls are randomly extracted at a time, and each lottery team is assigned a certain number of those combinations, based on its record, which gives us the odds for each team. This random extraction process is completed four times to select the top four picks.
Note that in the last two years, teams have jumped from way down the board up to No. 1. Two years ago, in 2024, it was Atlanta, with a 3% chance, that jumped to No. 1 and selected Zaccharie Risacher. Last year in 2025, it was famously Dallas with a 1.8% chance that leapfrogged everyone to get the No. 1 pick and select Cooper Flagg.
Which team has won the NBA Draft Lottery the most times?
Three teams have won the NBA Draft Lottery three times: The Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Clippers and Orlando Magic.
In an odd twist, the Cavaliers got the top pick in 2011 (the year they drafted Kyrie Irving) after acquiring the Clippers' pick at the trade deadline — if LA had held on to that pick, it would have made the top selection five times (and could have gotten Irving).
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The Knicks are heading to Philadelphia with a 2-0 lead ahead of Game 3.
In a Game 2 defined by lead changes and physical defense, the Knicks pulled away from the Sixers late thanks to Jalen Brunson, who finished with 26 points and hit a series of clutch jumpers in the final minutes.
Despite being without Joel Embiid, who was sidelined with hip and ankle soreness, the 76ers remained competitive throughout the night thanks to a 26-point effort from Tyrese Maxey and double-doubles from both Paul Reed and Kelly Oubre Jr.
Knicks vs. 76ers: what to know
What: NBA Playoffs Second Round, Game 3
When: May 8, 7 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Channel: Streaming exclusive
Streaming: Prime Video (try it free)
Embiid is listed as questionable tonight, and the Knicks have two starters who left Game 2 with injuries. Both Josh Hart (thumb) and OG Anunoby (hamstring) will be game-time decisions tonight.
Tonight’s (May 8) Knicks vs. 76ers Game 3 is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET.
How to watch Knicks vs. 76ers for free:
Tonight’s game is one of the NBA Playoffs games streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch.
If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
SECAUCUS, NJ - AUGUST 20: Deputy Commissioner of the NBA, Mark Tatum holds up the card of the Golden State Warriors after they get the 2nd overall pick in the NBA Draft during the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery on August 20, 2020 at the NBA Entertainment Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This weekend marks an important date for the future of the Golden State Warriors.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is set for Sunday, May 10 at 12:00 p.m. PT on ABC, as the league’s 14 lottery teams vie for the top spot in what is viewed as one of the strongest draft classes in recent history. For the Warriors, they enter the lottery with the 11th-best odds for the No. 1 overall pick at 2.0% after finishing the 2025-26 regular season with a 37-45 record.
Here’s a full look at the odds for every team entering Sunday’s lottery:
According to the chart, Golden State holds a 9.4% chance of jumping into the top four. However, the Warriors’ most likely outcome is remaining at No. 11, where they currently hold a 77.6% probability of selecting. It should also be noted that there is a 12.6% chance they fall to No. 12 and a 0.4% chance they slide to No. 13.
While Golden State’s chances of landing the top pick remain slim, Sunday’s lottery results will still play a major role in determining the franchise’s direction as they attempt to balance competing around Stephen Curry while also preparing for the next era of Warriors basketball.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, May 8th:
Most likely pick if they stay at No. 11: Karim Lopez, SF/PF, New Zealand Breakers
Similar to Milwaukee, the direction Golden State takes here will be indicative of where the franchise’s goals lie. The Warriors can try to continue to maximize the final phase of Stephen Curry‘s career with a more NBA-ready prospect, or they could take a longer view. Assuming they don’t move up, this would become an interesting juncture in the draft, with the top freshmen all potentially off the board.
Lopez might marry those two goals, with a good mix of size, skill, feel and pro experience for a teenage prospect. On the other end of the age spectrum, forward Yaxel Lendeborg should get a long look from the Warriors because of his versatility to plug in right away.
“Why don’t you play me 1-on-1, Draymond?” Rivers exclaimed on Tidal League’s “To The Baha” podcast. “You can’t do handoffs in 1-on-1. You can’t set no pick-and-roll in 1-on-1. So, all that extra talk was BS.”
One of the top prospects in this year’s NBA draft spent much of his freshman season at Kansas trying to solve mysterious and sometimes debilitating cramping. But in an extended interview with ESPN this week, Peterson said that a new round of bloodwork and other tests after the college basketball season led his doctors to conclude that his use of high doses of creatine created the condition.
“I’d never taken it before [going to college],” Peterson said of the popular supplement which helps to increase muscle strength, power and growth. “But after the season I took two weeks off and they did tests which showed my baseline level was already high. So, they said when I dosed [a process of increasing a dose over time to create maximum benefit at the beginning of taking a supplement], it must’ve made the levels unsafe.”
I’d be surprised if they trade their first-round pick for anything other than a star player. It seems unlikely that they would want to trade down to get more draft picks, and put more young, raw players on the roster, though they’ll probably do something in the second round, because that’s just what they do. But with the first-round pick, they’ll want to get the best player they can, rather than multiple lesser players.
SAN ANTONIO, TX. - MAY 2026: San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) creates a turnover against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) in the second quarter at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs, NBA Western Conference Semifinals, Game 2. NBA Playoffs. (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
While Game 2 did not go the way any Wolves fans would want, it’s still an opportunity to reload and reflect. Canis’ Thilo Widder is joined by our Spurs’ sister site Pounding the Rock EIC JR Wilco to discuss what could change in a pivotal Game 3 return to Minnesota.
Thilo Widder
Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have called the last frat “slightly braggadocious” but alas, when else am I going to be able to use that word?
That was certainly a game. Not a good one, but it was certainly one. The Wolves guards imploded under the weight of a Stephon Castle without foul trouble while Jaden McDaniels unfortunately found himself on the wrong side of Scott Foster.
The Wolves continue to be one of the least consistent teams in the league, but a 16-7 run was enough of a run to build a 25 point lead that just got worse and worse. That run was the least of the numerous problems Minnesota had, as their guards shot 10/36 on the game.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – MAY 06: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles against Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 06, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ayo Dosumnu, who I highlighted as a swing player, had only a block and a steal in 10 minutes of playtime before getting injured again. Bones Hyland continues to play very badly. Anthony Edwards is still so clearly hobbled.
If that was a representation of the rest of the series, that would suck (for me as a fan at least, I’m sure you’d disagree). Fortunately for us as content creators and fans of good basketball, it probably won’t be.
On that note though, I’m curious what the biggest changes you saw and if they are sustainable. Obviously, DeAaron Fox and Victor Wembenyama played better, but that was always to be expected. What turned this from a neck and neck Game 1 to a blowout of that scale in Game 2?
J.R. Wilco
One of the reasons we watch sports is to see something that we don’t expect. And nothing fulfills that purpose less than a blowout. I had an absolute blast watching Game 1, and even though the evening ended poorly for me, I have good memories of that tightly contested game that felt like each play mattered.
In the regular season, when the other team goes on a run, you tell yourself that there’s plenty of time in the game and your team can definitely make it back. But in a game like we saw on Monday, even a seven point lead seems daunting. Both teams dialed into that extent is one of the joys of being a fan. Nothing else quite touches it.
Of course, another joy of being a fan is watching your team absolutely pummel a squad that they’ve recently lost to, and so I’m not gonna lie: Wednesday night was fun too. Just a different kind of fun. Fox was slithering through the lane. Wembanyama was flying all over the court — I mean that literally and not just vertically, because I saw a still shot of the rebound dunk he threw in for his first points, and Victor isn’t even on the screen when Julian Champagnie starts his shooting motion. And the screen covered all the way to mid court! Julian and Vassell pilled off one of the most rare plays in basketball, the alley-oop three-pointer. I’m still geeking out about it.
I’m also geeking out about the chess match Johnson and Fitch are engaged in. Here are the things that I think our responsible for the way, the Spurs ran the table.
They turned Edwards and Randle into passers by doubling and trapping, much like OKC did in last year’s WCF. When the Wolves doubled back on all of the talk about how Wemby would have to keep blocking every shot they took, he recognized that they weren’t coming at him and stayed down so he could just challenge and rebound instead of trying to go after every attempt. That kept Minnesota’s possessions mostly one and done. Third, San Antonio committed to running at every opportunity, especially after scores. They just had so many buckets early in the shot clock and Minny looked unprepared for those quick strikes.
Those are the things Finch needs to respond to. What do you see happening in Game 3?
Thilo
God, hard to say. The Wolves of yesteryear (or yesteryesteryear, I forget) were absolutely incapable of stopping the fast break, or any team with pace in general. I don’t doubt that this is a return to that form.
The Wolves are built first and foremost on turning defense into offense, not in the typical sense but by wearing out their opponents with their defense until Minnesota faces no pushback on the other end.
It is, by and large, a war of attrition.
However, for that to work, you cannot allow any easy points. 29 fast break points is far too much. Hell, 15 is probably too much for the “beat them with hammers” approach to work.
I think part of that problem will fix itself with Ayo and Ant getting healthier – more bodies back typically means less opportunities on the break – but I think the solution is in committing to one of two extremes
The Wolves of the past, the ones that would bleed points in transition, were violently pursuant of offensive rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns would crash the glass. Rudy Gobert would crash the glass. Jaden McDaniels would crash the glass. There were even possessions where Minnesota would leave Michael Conley Jr. as the only man back in pursuit of those ever alluring extra possessions.
Now, would I suggest doing that against the eight foot demigod and his trusty sidekick, possibly the fastest player in the league? No, probably not. That would be dumb and obscenely risky and I simply would not have the heart to bring that up in fear of being yelled at like an old school scout on the set of Moneyball.
But it is an option.
SAN ANTONIO, TX. – MAY 2026: Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch reacts during a timeout in the second quarter at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs, NBA Western Conference Semifinals, Game 2. NBA Playoffs. (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
The other, more likely option is far less fun. Instead of going all in on extra possessions, you do the opposite. You abandon the offensive glass as much as you can. A five-on-four break is infinitely easier to defend than a two-on-one or three-on-one alternative. Rudy Gobert becomes your only offensive rebounder. Julius Randle commits to getting back after his mid-range shots.
This sucks though. And more importantly, it doesn’t fix the turnover problem. Quite simply, this is also a part of who the Wolves are. They’re not 22 per game bad, but they tend to play fast and loose with the ball far too often.
Ultimately, I think Chris Finch will try incredibly hard to make this series be played in the half court entirely. That could mean a lot of conservative calls. Rebounding is the start of that, but I think Mike Conley probably gets more run, simply because he’s not as prone to bad choices as TJ Shannon or Bones Hyland.
To follow that up, I think Bones has lost his spot in the playoff rotation of this series. While the Thunder of last year absolutely broke Julius Randle with ball pressure and pass-forcing, the Spurs are breaking Bones by simply letting him overdribble.
That may not be a full answer, but it’s certainly a start: play slower, be more boring, keep going to the rim, and, Jaden, stop fouling.
To that point, it feels like the underspoken most important data point of this series will be who can foul out the opposing team’s perimeter stopper first. McDaniels and Castle are so hugely important in these next three to five games that it feels like losing either loses the game.
How did the Spurs play without Castle during the regular season? Is there a backup plan if he’s sitting like he was in Game 1? How do the Wolves attack him without burning through their usable possessions?
(God, Donte would be eating the Spurs drop coverage alive right now. Truly a crushing loss. Fly high, Big Ragu.)
J.R.
There was a point when one of the main fears I had about the T-wolves was how we could keep DiVincenzo from going off for an entire series. Talk about a man who can’t be left alone at the arc! I’ve been an admirer of Dante’s for a while now. All the best to him, and a quick recovery. Now to your questions.
San Antonio was 11-3 without Castle this year, but that was the regular season and we know that the playoffs are a different animal. But one of the accidental benefits of the Spurs’ bottoming out wasn’t just the timing, it was the repetition. Trading for Fox and then getting the second pick last draft means that we have a three-headed guard lineup, which is an incredible crutch to lean on when any of them have to take a breather, need a night off … or happen to foul out.
We love our Castle, no doubt, but I know a number of Spurs fans who swear that Harper will be even better than Steph. Yeah, the fact that backup plan is a rookie point guard would usually terrify me, but Harper isn’t your typical rookie, and he’s not yet the defender that Castle is, Dylan shoots for a higher percentage, is impossibly smooth around the basket, and takes better care of the ball. As much as Steph’s defense is missed when he’s not on the floor, the team plays quite well without him.
If the rest of this series turns into a battle of defensive aces struggling against foul trouble, that’ll be a shame. We already have too much talk about the timing and the frequency of the whistles in the rest of the matchups for that mess to invade ours too. But it’s 2026 after all, what else should we expect if not some top-tier controversy? Hopefully, we’re spared that, and Friday night’s game is another competitive and enjoyable contest.
The Cubs met up with an AL West team in their second series of 2026 and took two of three from an Angels club that has fallen into the basement in their division.
This weekend they’ll visit another AL West team, the Rangers.
For more on the Rangers, here’s Adam Morris, manager of our SB Nation Rangers site Lone Star Ball.
Things are less than ideal for the Texas Rangers currently. The team is three games under .500, and Wyatt Langford and Josh Smith are both on the injured list, and yes, if you check the B-R page, both players have gotten off to bad starts, but Langford, in particular, profiles as one of the Rangers top players, so his absence hurts the lineup.
On the other hand, the Rangers have played either the most difficult schedule so far this season, or the second most difficult schedule, depending on where you look, and are just two games behind the Northern California Athletics in the American League West, so, you know, things could be worse.
The Rangers will have the Vandy Boys — Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter — starting the first two games of the series. Each has been up-and-down this season, looking great at times and looking awful at other times, often in the same game.
Rocker is a sinker/slider guy who has a changeup that is still a work in progress, and who generates a ton of ground balls. His slider is his best pitch, and when he’s on, he throws it for strikes enough to keep hitters from sitting on his sinker. When he’s not on, he struggles to throw strikes and hitters will tee off on his sinker. Rocker is terrible at holding on runners, and the Rangers catchers aren’t great at throwing out baserunners, so the Cubs will almost certainly look to run on him. Base stealers are 5 for 5 against him this season, and 17 for 17 against him in his major league career.
Leiter, on the other hand, relies on a high-speed, high-spin fastball that generates swings-and-misses. He introduced a kick-change last year that he’s used much more this year — its his second most frequently thrown pitch — and, unusually, he throws it frequently to righthanded hitters as well as lefties. It can be a devastating pitch, but he struggles to command it — if you look at the heat map for the changeup, you will see that the pitch can end up anywhere from above the batter’s head to hitting the ground 4 feet in front of the plate. When Leiter is on, he racks up Ks and gets a lot of pop ups and lazy fly balls. When he’s not on, his pitch count gets out of control early on, and he gives up a lot of loud contact in the air.
Jacob deGrom is slated to pitch the finale. You might have heard of him before. He’s pretty good. He’s no longer “best pitcher in baseball” Jacob deGrom, but he is still “legitimate No. 1 starter” Jacob deGrom. The biggest issue with deGrom is that he’s much more homer-prone since coming back from Tommy John surgery — he’s allowed just 13 runs this year, but 6 home runs, and allowed 26 homers last year.
The bullpen is a collection of no-names, but has performed quite well so far this season. Manager Skip Schumaker has tended to go with Jakob Junis and Jacob Latz as his primary options late in games with a lead.
The offense has been erratic. Corey Seager is off to a slow (for him) start, though he’s still got a 114 OPS+. Brandon Nimmo and Josh Jung are off to great starts offensively, though Nimmo is nursing a hamstring issue that has limited him of late — he’s missed a couple of games over the past week, and DH’d when he has played. With Smith and Langford out, the Rangers have had to use Andrew McCutchen — on the roster as a platoon DH — in the outfield some, and put Joc Pederson in right field against the Yankees on Thursday, something we hope we will never have to see again.
Globe Life Park played very hitter-friendly in 2023, when the Rangers won the World Series, but since the start of the 2025 has played as an extreme pitchers park due to the ball not carrying well at all. A ball off the bat that seems like it should land 10 rows back will end up caught on the warning track. Don’t be surprised if we have a low-scoring series.
Fun facts
The Cubs have a winning record against the Rangers all-time, with 14 wins and 13 losses. But they are 5-7 at Texas, where they have won only one of four series, two games to one in 2010. They lost two of three in their two subsequent visits, both to start seasons, in 2019 and 2024.
This is the first of three straight series on the road for the Cubs, their only three-team road trip this season. However, the third series will be in Chicago, on the South Side vs. the White Sox. They will play three games at Atlanta before that one.
Friday: 7:05 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, Peacock (streaming, Rangers broadcast, outside the Cubs and Rangers market territories)
Saturday: 6:05 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Sunday: 1:35 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
The Rangers got off to a decent start this year but have lost eight of their last 12. Two of the pitching matchups look favorable to the Cubs, so I’ll say, again, that the Cubs will win two of three.
Up next
The Cubs have Monday off, then head to Atlanta for a three-game series against the Braves beginning Tuesday evening.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 12: New York Mets mascot Mrs. Met holds a stuffed polar bear after the game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on August 12, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Diamondbacks are struggling, to say the least. They’re coming off another losing series, this time to the Pirates, where they had one game where everything went swimmingly, then ran into the buzzsaws of Skenes and Present Day Gallen. They’ve lost seven of their last ten, and they are already 5.5 games behind the Dodgers and 3 behind the Pirates and the final Wild Card. The season is almost 25% complete. It’s no longer too early to start looking at that. They need a turnaround. Fast.
Enter the Mets. If there was a team in baseball for the Diamondbacks to right the ship, they would be the one. They’ve done slightly better of late, going 5-5 over their last ten, but that has only brought them to 14-23, which is good enough for dead last in all of baseball, tied with only the Giants. They will be the poster children for the MLBPA as they argue that spending money doesn’t guarantee winning and there doesn’t actually need to be a salary cap after all.
Game 1 — 5/8, 6:40 PM: Ryne Nelson (-0.8 bWAR, 1-3, 6.61 ERA/64 ERA+, 1.43 WHIP) vs. Nolan McLean (0.6 bWAR, 1-2, 2.97 ERA/134 ERA+, 0.94 WHIP)
Nelson pitched pretty decently his last time out against the red hot Cubs. He went 5 2/3 inning, only giving up a run. He did give up two unintentional walks, but balanced it with four strikeouts. Because the offense is struggling nearly as much as the pitching is, that one run was enough for him to get tagged for the loss. Karma for the no decision in his five inning, six run start the game prior. Like all of the starting pitchers on the team, Nelson needs to get it figured out, and fast. This will be a good place to build a trend of his start against the Cubs.
McLean has been a bright spot for the Mets this season. He’s gone out for seven starts so far, and he has yet to give up more than three runs in any of them. However, he is coming off his worst start of the season, where he only lasted four innings and gave up three earned runs. He has already faced the Diamondbacks this season, and it didn’t go great for them. It was a 6 1/3 inning start. They only managed two runs, and they struck out eight times.
Merrill Kelly is broken, and I’m not sure what else to say here. His command is gone. His ability to prevent runs is gone. It’s early still, but he is on the path to becoming yet another pitcher that the Diamondbacks signed to a multi-year contract and just tanked as soon as they put on the uniform. I’m not sure if it’s fixable. I’m not sure if it’s an injury. I’m not sure if it’s just the undefeated Father Time who comes for us all in the end. But he and the coaching staff need to figure out something soon, or it’s going to be a very long three years.
Holmes has also pitched exceptionally well for the Mets this season. He hasn’t given up more than two runs and has held his opponents scoreless twice already, while pitching into the sixth inning or later every time. One thing of note, however, is that his FIP is 3.65, basically two full runs higher than his ERA. That suggests that he is pitching a bit over his head, and that there might be room for regression if the Diamondbacks’ bats can wake up like they did in Game 1 against the Pirates.
This game will be nationally broadcast on FOX and will not be available on DbacksTV.
Game 3 — 5/10, 1:10 PM: Eduardo Rodriguez (1.3 bWAR, 3-0, 2.50 ERA/168 ERA+, 1.28 WHIP) vs. TBD
E-Rod is coming off his best start as a Diamondback, seven innings, no runs allowed. It was a very emphatic answer to the meeting Torey Lovullo had with the starting pitchers prior to the game. Even before that, however, Rodriguez has been pitching well this season. He had a couple of bumpy starts where he gave up four runs, but in the two starts since then, he’s pitched better.
Conclusion
Well, if you look at just these pitching matchups, it sure is hard to see why the Mets are struggling so bad, isn’t it? Unfortunately for the Mets, starting pitching will only get you so far. If you have a team batting average of .230 and an OPS+ of 83, even giving up two runs is close to catastrophic, which is why this could be a bounce back series for the Diamondbacks. Eduardo pitches like he has most of the season, and either Nelson or Kelly have a good game, this easily goes to the Diamondbacks. Now, how confident am I that will happen? Right now? Not very! but hopefully they’ll prove me wrong.
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 02: Pitcher Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves throws against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Coors Field on May 02, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are headed to The City of Angels to face off against the Dodgers after a day of rest. As it turns out, there could not be a better time in the schedule to play this series. The Braves are slotted to use their top half of their rotation, while the Dodgers will go with the bottom half of theirs.
Both teams have had injury issues with their rotations, but both have kept on winning. This series will be the biggest test yet for the Atlanta Braves that have been winning the games that they are supposed to. This will be the first series in quite some time that the Braves will be the underdog, which is always fun to see how teams respond.
The game one matchup tonight will feature Chris Sale against Emmet Sheehan, and in terms of ERA these two pitchers are having very different seasons. Sale is once again starting off strong with a 2.14 ERA and Sheehan is struggling with a 5.23. The season is still young, so the sample sizes are small, but this pitching matchup should make for the one game in the series that the Braves have the best odds of winning.
Chris Sale’s season has been no fluke. He did have the forgettable start on April sixth when he surrendered six runs, but that makes the rest of his work much more impressive. It is crazy to think that a pitcher, this early in the season, could surrender six runs in a 4.0 inning start, yet still own an ERA of 2.14 in the first half of May. Outside of that start with six ERs, Sale has pitched at least six innings in every other start and has not surrendered more than one earned run in any of them. Sale is also trending in the right direction. In his last three starts he is averaging 6.2 innings, 3.0 hits, 0.7 earned runs, 2.0 walks, and 9.0 strikeouts. Those are Cy Young front runner numbers almost every year. The one caveat is that he pitched those three games against the Phillies twice and then the Rockies.
Believe it or not, Chris Sale has not faced the Dodgers’ hitters that often. Outside of Teoscar Hernández that has faced Sale eighteen times, no other Dodger has faced him more in than nine at-bats.
Ironically enough, the player who has had the most success against Sale is former Braves hero, Freddie Freeman. Freeman has nine at-bats against Sale and currently holds a .333 average and 1.222 OPS with a HR. Hernández has an OPS of .818 against him, but no one else has an OPS above .708. Not even world superstar Shohei Ohtani.
The Braves will be facing Emmet Sheehan who has been victim of some poor luck. His ERA is much higher than his expected ERA (xERA) of 4.31. An xERA of 4.31 is not exactly elite, but it is much better than his surface numbers. What could be a recipe for success for the Braves is that Sheehan’s weakness is the Braves’ strength. Sheehan is in the top 25.0 percent of the league in strikeout and walk rates but struggles with giving up hard contact. Sheehan is currently at the bottom 36.0 percent in barrel percentage and bottom 42.0 percent in hard-hit rate. The Braves are currently third in MLB in barrels per plat appearance and eighth in hard-hit percentage. Fun side note, the Braves are first in MLB in batted balls (BBE), and second in MLB in balls hit 95.0 MPH or harder.
It should go without saying that in his young career Sheehan has not faced many of the Braves’ hitters many times. In fact, the last time he faced them was way back in 2023 before his season ending injury that kept him out all of 2024 as well. He has not faced any hitter on the Braves in more than five at-bats, and no player that was on the Braves in 2023 faced him more than twice. Ozzie Albies had two hits on him in that game.
The Atlanta Braves have a legitimate shot to win tonight but bring your coffee because the game does not start till 10:10 EDT.
Game Info
Game Time: Friday, May 8th, 10:10 pm EDT
Location: UNIGLO Field at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA.
