San Antonio was blown out by the Thunder 123-108 in Game 3 on Friday, leading to former coach and Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich giving the team a tongue-lashing for the first time all season.
His message clearly resonated with the Spurs as they responded with a 103-82 Game 4 win to tie the Western Conference finals at 2-2.
Gregg Popovich screamed at the Spurs after a Game 3 loss. Getty Images
“We lost Game 3 … but that was the first time he walked into the locker room and was like, ‘Nah, that’s BS. That’s not how we play basketball,’ and obviously he had some choice words for us,” Spurs star De’Aaron Fox told NBC after the blowout win Sunday night. “That was the first time all season that he came into the locker room right after a game and told us how he felt.”
Popovich doesn’t stand on the sidelines barking directions to his players anymore.
He was seen sitting in a luxury box next to Tim Duncan during Game 4.
A video of Popovich speaking to star center Victor Wembanyama went viral on social media ahead of Game 3, with the Frenchman listening intently and hanging on every word.
The Hall of Fame coach has tutored Wembanyama since he entered the league, acting as his coach for his first full season and then for five games in the 2024-25 season.
The 77-year-old Popovich still has plenty of connections with this Spurs roster, as he stepped down as the coach in May 2025 after suffering a stroke, which has limited his physical condition and forced him to relinquish the role. Mitch Johnson, who is currently in his second season, replaced him.
“Every team gets blown out, but just mentality-wise, I think that was one of the worst games we had probably of the season,” Fox said of the Game 3 home loss, per ESPN. “Then, Pop came in after the game. He saw it, we all saw it. We all felt it. Coming into this game, we wanted to make sure that mentality was out the door. Even if we lost this game, as long as we came in with the right mentality and played the right way, we could be OK with losing the game. The way that we lost [Game 3] I think hurt more than losing the game, and that was pretty much for everybody in the locker room.”
Victor Wembanyama (l) was coached by Gregg Popovich for most of his career, while De’Aaron Fox (r) said the ex-coach’s message inspired the team. NBAE via Getty Images
After a historic 29-year run in San Antonio, Popovich, who started in December 1996, won five titles as the team’s coach, dominating with a Duncan-led tandem.
The Spurs now head back to Oklahoma City for Game 5.
Who will win Astros vs Rangers today: Rangers (-130)
Houston Astros starter Tatsuya Imai owns an 8.31 ERA on the season and has conceded at least three runs in four of five starts. That is alarming, given he has only pitched five innings once.
His numbers are especially bad against left-handed hitters, as he has posted a .418 wOBA, 22.4 BB%, and 2.25 WHIP facing lefties.
The Astros rank 26th in average and 27th in ISO against right-handed pitching over the last two weeks, hitting for neither average nor power.
That sets up well for Rangers starter Kumar Rocker, who has held opponents to a 36.4% hard-hit rate and 6.8% barrel rate over his last three starts. He will be able to limit power, and he has a well-rested bullpen behind him after the previous two Rangers starters combined to pitch 13 innings.
I don't see the Astros scoring enough to push this game Over the number, and would play the Under to -120.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 18-15, -1.78 units
Over/Under bets: 16-16-1, -2.46 units
Astros vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Astros +110 | Rangers -130
Run line: Astros +1.5 (-180) | Rangers -1.5 (+155)
Over/Under: Over 8.0 (-115) | Under 8.0 (-105)
Astros vs Rangers trend
Houston owns a 1-8-1 O/U record over the last 10 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Rangers.
How to watch Astros vs Rangers and game info
Location
Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Date
Monday, May 25, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
SCHN, RSN
Astros starting pitcher
Tatsuya Imai (1-2, 8.31 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcher
Kumar Rocker (2-4, 3.60 ERA)
Astros vs Rangers latest injuries
Astros vs Rangers weather
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One of the things I am always sensitive to is the ratio between positive and negative news. The analysis itself is neutral, but what we choose to analyze is never neutral. We will always come in with preconceived notions about what we are likely to find. So, every once in awhile I want to highlight something we think will be positive to give us that lime wedge after a series of tequila shots.
Coming into the season, Christian Walker was predicted to go in one of two directions. He could go the Jose Abreu route and completely fall apart or he could rebound and have a year typical of what he had done in the past. Of course, the basic numbers indicate the latter, but we should dig a little deeper and see how similar these numbers are to his other full seasons. We will look beyond the COVID year and see how similar Walker’s underlying numbers are to those Arizona seasons that influenced the Astros to make the signing in the first place.
Before we jump into the numbers, we should look at some of the numbers we will be including. Obviously, numbers like strikeout rate and walk rate are self-explanatory. We will also look at BABIP (batting average on balls in play), Historically, the league average for that number usually rests around .300, but we sometimes see some minor fluctuations there. We will also look at isolated power and secondary average. Isolated power is a part of secondary average and it usually rests somewhere between .150 and .175 on average. Secondary average mirrors batting average, so a .250 secondary average is usually around the league average.
SO%
BB%
BABIP
ISO
SEC
2021
23.8
8.5
.307
.137
.232
2022
19.6
10.3
.248
.235
.353
2023
19.2
9.4
.272
.239
.364
2024
24,1
10.0
.287
.217
.332
2025
27.7
6.3
.291
.183
.253
2026
19.6
8.7
.271
.265
.362
So, at first blush it doesn’t appear as if 2026 is way better than anything he has done before, but it appears that 2025 was way worse than just about anything he had done before. 2021 would be the only comparison and his strikeout rate was lower and his walk rate was higher that season. His BABIP was also higher that season as well. So, it could easily be said that 2025 was the worst full season of Walker’s career.
When we are looking for real improvement we often look at the statcast numbers. Sometimes a player can be lucky one year and unlucky the next. What we are looking for are reasons for the improvement outside of luck. Obviously, the K rate is the first really positive indicator. He is also walking more often as well. Let’s look at the quality of contact between 2025 and 2026.
xBA
xOBP
xSLG
xOPS
2025
.233
.292
.435
.727
2026
.254
.327
.469
.796
What do these numbers mean? They mean what they usually mean. Walker was not as bad as he looked last season and he isn’t quite as good as he has looked so far this season. It is the implications of this that are more important for us to consider. Walker has one more year on his contract. He currently sits at 1.7 FWAR. That followed a 1.1 FWAR count last season for a grand total of 2.8 FWAR for the first year plus of his Astros tenure.
The Fangraphs standard for value is between eight and nine million per win. If we set it at the low end then we would expect Walker to produce five wins in his first two seasons to be worth the 40 million he will be owed over the course of those seasons. That means that he would need to earn 2.2 more FWAR between now and the end of the season to recoup the 40 million spent. Given his current pace that seems doable, but the Statcast above predicts some regression.
The elephant in the room
As many of you know, last week I called for a tear down and Walker was one of the names mentioned. Trading him will be easier said than done. He has a limited no trade clause that lists six teams he cannot be traded to. Who are the teams on that list? We are not sure. Those lists tend to be individual to the player. Sometimes they list teams that are perennially in the cellar. Sometimes they list organizations with players or coaches they don’t like. Sometimes they list cities they wouldn’t want to live in. It is impossible to know where his head is at here and how that would impact his market.
Yet, one cannot deny the desire to cash in on an asset while he is near the peak of what his value is. Walker is on pace to hit 40 home runs this season. He isn’t going to hit 40 home runs in all likelihood, but some rube somewhere in a GM’s chair might believe that he might. If that gamble comes with a good prospect then the prospect plus the financial savings is something to consider.
Of course, the Astros are also coming off of a three game sweep of the Cubs. They are currently 11-11 in May as the pitching has seemingly found some level outside the sewer. They could lean into the current uptick and hope that another rebound is possible. You obviously aren’t getting there without a productive Walker. They also could believe that a Walker is a key part of whatever run they could make in 2027. At any rate, Walker’s performance has been a positive this season and even if the Statcast results predict a regression, it would still be growth from last season. What do you think? Would you hold onto Walker if a team came calling with a good prospect?
May 24, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) loses the ball to San Antonio Spurs forward Kelly Olynyk (8) in the fourth quarter during game four of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
I must admit, my confidence was hanging by a thread as last night’s game started. After all, the Thunder are a genuinely great team, the Spurs had suffered consistently bad disadvantages in three straight games (e.g., turnover margin), and it felt like OKC’s plan of fouling Wemby continuously was going to end up being an effective method for mitigating his impact. I didn’t even feel good when San Antonio got up big in the first quarter because, well, look at Game 3. Even so, my spirits lifted as the second quarter progressed, soared with Victor’s halfcourt heave to go up 12 at halftime, and remained excellent throughout a dominant second half. Considering the environment and stakes, this may have been the Spurs best performance of the season to date, and fortunately it also produced a fascinating box score. Let’s review some highlights:
Note: Now that we’ve moved into the postseason, the reference period used for grading changes from the set of regular season games since 2012-2013 to the set of postseason games since 2012-2013. Unless otherwise noted below, this set DOES include play-in games. As of the end of May 24, 2026, this group include 1,197 games.
Factors that decided the game
This is a great game for showcasing why winning is determined by relative differences in performance (i.e., how the winner performed relative to the loser). In particular, the Spurs shot terribly in this game, yet still outscored OKC by 13 from the field because the Thunder’s shooting efficiency was DREADFUL.
I talk about this more below, but the Spurs achieved the rare feat of beating OKC in every basic box score battle that doesn’t directly relate to shooting volume or efficiency (more on that below). These margins were rarely huge (hence the grades are usually modest), but lots of little advantages often add up to a big victory.
San Antonio also won most margins having to do with shooting volume or efficiency, with the most notable victory being their FTA margin of +14. Interestingly, FT% is the only key area where they lost to the Thunder badly; even so, the Spurs outscored OKC by eight from the charity stripe.
Rare Box Score Stats
Last night, San Antonio became the first postseason victor since the start of 2012-2013 to win by 21+ points while logging FG%, 3P%, and FT% values at least as bad as 38.89%, 27.27%, and 75%, respectively. There are only four other instances in the same 1,197-game period in which a winning team had a shooting percentage line at least as bad in all three dimensions, and the previous high margin of victory in that set was 12.
The Spurs became just the 12th winner since the start of the 2012-2013 postseason to win EVERY basic box score battle outside of anything related to shooting volume or accuracy. In other words, relative to OKC they had more offensive rebounds, more defensive rebounds, more assists, fewer turnovers, more steals, more blocks, and fewer personal fouls.
San Antonio became the 42 winner in the last 1,197 NBA postseason contests to win by 21+ points with FGA and 3PA margins no better than -1 and 0, respectively (that’s a frequency of about once in every 29 postseason games during the period).
The Spurs and Thunder combined for just 15 total made threes in this game. That is not wildly unusual over the last 14 postseasons; in fact, it has now happened 195 times in that 1,197-game span. However, the vast majority of those occasions were in the 2010s. Since 2019, it’s happened between 0 and 7 times per postseason.
An interesting point of comparison for this fact about total threes made is that the total number of field goals made in last night’s game (65) was also quite low relative to the reference period, with 98 total games over the last 1,197 (i.e., about one game in every dozen) where two teams have combined to make 65 or fewer field goals. The frequency of this occurrence has declined over time (largely due to rising pace), but not nearly as dramatically.
Wemby logged just the 12th true playoff performance since the 1996-1997 postseason that included 33+ points, 8+ rebounds, 5+ assists, 3+ blocks, and 2+ steals.
Kelly Olynyk is featured in the headline photograph because last night he became the only NBA player to record 3+ steals while playing no more than five minutes in a true playoff game since 1996-1997. In fact, of the 48,406 player performances that have included 3+ steals in ANY NBA game since 1996-1997, Olynyk’s game last night was just the sixth case that lasted less than five minutes. Nice job, Kelly!
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
The New York Knicks will try to secure the rest advantage over their Western Conference counterpart in the NBA Finals when they play the Cleveland Cavaliers up 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
These Knicks vs. Cavaliers props and NBA picks for Game 4 fully expect New York to complete this sweep tonight, with Karl-Anthony Towns playing a key role.
Game 4 Prop #1: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 points 1Q (-144)
The New York Knicks should emphasize a strong start tonight. Make the Cleveland Cavaliers face elimination early in Game 4 and challenge them to not think about packing it in before they head to the beach.
The NBA punchline of “1, 2, 3, Cancun” usually overlooks that moment at the start of Game 4 when the “Cancun” aspect of that laugh is cemented. A strong first quarter can erase any remaining competitive intrigue from the trailing team.
Jalen Brunson may be New York’s star, but he rarely starts a game aggressively. He instead incorporates his teammates early before taking over late. For example, Brunson has scored just two and five points in the last two first quarters.
Karl-Anthony Towns, however, is a willing beneficiary of Brunson’s early deference. Towns has scored seven and 11 points in the last two first quarters, a combination of long-range shooting and work at the rim.
Two buckets from Towns in tonight’s early frame is not much of an ask, but it would help spur the Knicks toward the Finals more than usual.
Game 4 Prop #2: James Harden Under 17.5 points (-102)
Winning back-to-back seven-game series should not be quickly forgotten, but losing a sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals may cost the Cavaliers and James Harden all such goodwill. Well, it may cost the Cavaliers all such goodwill. It is debatable if Harden has any such goodwill.
He went 3-for-9 from the field in the decisive win against the Raptors in the first round before going 2-for-10 from the field in Game 7 against the Pistons. Did Cleveland win because of Harden or despite him?
This Game 4 should not help his argument.
Harden has cleared this prop in the last two games, but topping out at 19 points in Game 3 despite playing 41 minutes is not an encouraging sign. If New York does indeed win its 11th straight game, a blowout feels rather likely. Eight of the Knicks’ last 10 wins have been blowouts.
A blowout in a series-clinching game typically cuts into starters’ minutes. Cutting into Harden’s minutes at all should doom his scoring, given that he has hardly scored in bunches in this series.
This prop is likely already set at its actionable low, so the -102 are a delightful surprise.
Game 4 Prop #3: Miles McBride Over 5.5 points (+102)
A blowout should lead to only more minutes for Miles McBride. The Knicks guard is rarely the subject of prop bets, but there is still value in this.
Realize, New York has shown a penchant for closing series with firepower. It beat Atlanta by 51 points in a game that was not even that close. The 76ers fell by 30 points.
Routs lead to more minutes for McBride, obviously. Thus, he scored 25 points in 29 minutes in that farewell to Philadelphia.
This is very much a bet that the Knicks will win with ease tonight and give Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart some time to laugh and celebrate. McBride has already scored five points in each of the last two games. An additional shift on the court should spur him past this prop and into plus-money profit.
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The final day of the season, to a modern audience, can seem almost overwhelming: 10 games going on at once, each with their own rhythm and dynamic and storyline. It can be hard to imagine that at one time, before the advent of regular live television coverage, this is how it was every weekend. But from the mass of narratives, one key theme, one that has lurked in the background all season, emerged: that this is a brutally hard, extremely competitive, league in which any slip-up is punished.
There have been complaints this season about the style of many games, but then there comes a point towards the end of most seasons when a number of fans pronounce themselves bored and declare it a bad season; that tends to correlate quite strongly with how well their team has done.
This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition
The Lakers have filled one of their two assistant general manager vacancies.
The franchise has hired Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager under president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka.
With Mark Walter and Jeannie Buss leading the way, the Lakers have hired Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager under president Rob Pelinka.Getty Images With Mark Walter and Jeannie Buss leading the way, the Lakers have hired Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager under president Rob Pelinka.Getty Images
Ramadas last worked as a vice president of strategy and operations for the Pelicans.
The hiring, which was first reported by ESPN on Monday, is the first of two assistant general manager hires the Lakers plan on making this offseason.
One assistant general manager will work in “player draft and evaluation processes”, according to Pelinka, which will include pro scouting, draft scouting and player development. The other will be more on the “strategy side”, which entails cap, analytics and data.
The latter is the role is filling Ramadas.
After earning a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering from USC, Ramadas worked for The Aerospace Corporation for 12 years before joining the Pelicans’ front office on a full-time basis in September 2024.
He was the franchise’s senior director of analytics and innovation before being promoted in May 2025 to vice president of strategy and operations.
Ramadas was an analytics consultant for the Pelicans for seven years before joining the organization full-time. Before working with the Pelicans, Ramadas was a draft analyst with the Heat in 2016-17.
The hiring of Ramadas is part of the Lakers’ “reconstruction” this summer, which is the franchise’s first full offseason since Mark Walter, also the Dodger’s controlling owner, purchased the majority stake of the Lakers.
“We have already started that reconstruction, have made hires in our front office and continue to develop new technologies and new areas that we’ve turned on for the draft [and] free agency,” Pelinka said. “A lot of the infrastructure is being built. We will continue to staff out with assistant general manager positions. There’s a couple of those that we’re currently interviewing for and have done an extensive dive in that process. Those will be two key pillars that we’ll add for this offseason.”
The franchise is also looking to enhance their practice facility with a biomechanics lab, new movement labs and a recovery lab.
The Lakers’ changes come in the midst of a pivotal offseason: LeBron James is an unrestricted free agent; Austin Reaves is expected to decline his player option for 2026-27 and become an unrestricted free agent; Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes are also unrestricted free agents; Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart also have player options for next season.
NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Latrell Sprewell #8 of the New York Knicks dunks in Game Four of the 1999 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 23, 1999 in New York, New York. The Spurs won 96-89. OTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1999 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Never in Knicks history has New York swept back-to-back postseason series.
“Going through this process, one of the things that I’m trying really hard to do and trying really hard to make sure our team does from the top down is to stay present. And what I mean by that is, we don’t wanna get ahead of ourselves, because as soon as we start getting ahead of ourselves, that’s when disaster always occurs, it seems. So for us, starting with me, making sure everybody in the organization on down understands it’s about the next game. And really, it’s about the next possession. And I try to block out everything else as best I can and not think about ‘what ifs,’ because I know for me, it would distract me 100 percent at this time of the year.”
On the risk of getting ahead of themselves:
“We don’t wanna get ahead of ourselves, because as soon as we start getting ahead of ourselves, that’s when disaster always occurs, it seems.”
On thinking about winning a title when he signed with the Knicks:
“When I took the job, I thought about it. But going through this process, one of the things that I’m trying really hard to do and trying really hard to make sure our team does from the top down is to stay present.”
On balancing enjoyment with focus:
“The guys have played good basketball, and they deserve the right for me to make sure that I recognize it and that they’re able to take a breath and enjoy for a few moments what they did do. But again, I’ll try to read the room, and so every once in a while, I may tell them, ‘Hey, you guys were great. Great, great, great, great, but be ready for this, because this can happen.’ So I’ll try to let them go a little bit but bring them back to earth every once in a while with a statement, something that could happen or did happen. And we kinda go from there, but everybody is human. Everybody needs an opportunity to enjoy this roller-coaster ride as it’s unfolding. But the same breath, it’s my job to try to make sure I lead the charge in bringing them back down to earth sooner than later.”
On OG Anunoby’s All-Defense snub:
“I got one more thing before I’m taking off. You guys can all print this. Great players out there. I’m not discounting anybody, but freakin’ OG got robbed. He should’ve been first-team All Defense. First-team All-Defense. The versatility he brings to this team — we’re a top-five defensive team. Top-five defensive team, OK? The versatility that he brings — and everybody always says, ‘Oh, you got KAT. You got Jalen. Blah, blah, blah.’ The versatility that that guy brings to this team is off the charts, and I hope the voters get it right the next time around. I’m happy he’s second-team. He deserves something, but it was wrong.”
On championship traits he sees in this group:
“All of them had a competitive spirit that was unmatched. They were all connected. Those intangibles are what I see that our team is.”
"Freakin' OG got robbed. He should've been First Team All-Defense. I hope the voters get it right next time around. It was wrong."
Mike Brown ends his availability today by making the case for OG Anunoby to be First Team All-Defense 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Z0HSYCirhf
“We have to come in knowing that this series isn’t over and keep our foot on their necks and try to win the game.”
On earning second-team All-Defense recognition:
“It was cool to get the recognition. Anytime you’re recognized by coaches and the media, it’s really cool. The second team is cool, I was hoping I got first team, I thought I should have gotten first team. But second team is good. Every recognition is good. First team, second team. There’s a lot of good defenders in the league, so to be recognized as one of the 10 premier ones is really cool in itself. Just happy. Now I’m just focused on the rest of the playoffs.”
On believing he’s been elite defensively for years:
“I feel like I’ve been a great defender for years. So anytime you get recognition — recognized by coaches or the media, your peers, whatever — it’s really cool. Second Team is cool.”
On not dwelling on the Knicks’ finals drought:
“I don’t think we’re stuck on it. Our goal is just to win each and every game. However long it was, six years or two years or 20 years, it doesn’t matter.”
"I was hoping I got First Team, I thought I should have got First Team"
“We’ve won all these games in a row as a team. We’ve had this winning streak as a team. We found ways to get these great wins as a team. As long as we stay together and stay unified, we feel and have always felt that the sky’s the limit for us.”
On demanding more desperation amid the Game 3 win:
“I think that we’ve got to be more desperate. We’ve got to be more desperate. This [Cavaliers] team is too good, too great, it’s too much of a big stage to not find more desperation in the game.”
On what frustrated him most during the first half of Game 3:
“We gave up 27 points. That’s what pissed me off more than anything.”
How long has Jalen Brunson imagined leading the Knicks to the NBA Finals?
On how long he’s thought about reaching the Finals with the Knicks:
“Since I signed.”
On whether the Knicks are peaking:
“I don’t want to consider us peaking at this moment. I still think we have a lot of work to do. Us as a team, I’ve said this all year, we just want to get better every single day. That includes the times that we’re in the playoffs because there’s still time to learn, still time to get better. That’s how I’ve always thought about it. I haven’t really had the time to really kind of wonder where we are as a team. All I focus on is how can we get better from the day before?”
On treating Game 4 like any other:
“No matter what is at stake, it’s a chance for us to come together, be better than we were the game before, continue to learn. And try to be the best team we can be.”
On not thinking about historical stakes:
“It doesn’t really cross my mind at all right now. Just really focused on tomorrow. I’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, honestly.”
On fan excitement amid this ridiculous run:
“I mean they’re probably excited. Rightfully so, but we have a job to do, and we have things that we need to focus on. That’s on them being them, but we have to be locked in to do what we do.”
“Analytically, we’ve won 2 out of 3. We’re two out of the three in the expected score. If you believe in process and all that, like, man, take that later. I don’t throw that on them. I see it for myself, and if I have this feeling, I can go to our analytical table and be like, man, the expected score was like one point or two — us shooting way below expected, them shooting way over.”
On the public’s reaction to that argument:
“I know no one wants to hear that. I think you guys like hearing it, but I know the general public, nobody wants to hear that. Everybody is outcome-based. You know, sure, I get that too.”
On past success against New York:
“We’ve had success against this team before. We’ve had really good moments in this series — up 20 in Game 1. Even Game 2, take that run out from the beginning of the third quarter, and it’s pretty tight.”
On believing in process despite results:
“If you believe in process and all that … take that layer. I know I don’t throw that on them. I see it for myself. We have this feeling — I have this feeling — then I can go to our analytical table.”
On the Knicks avoiding any sort of drop in production:
“Teams that make that next step, it’s the balance that’s impressed me the most. They have so many contributors right now, and I think that is what’s different from the regular season. We all know they had ups and downs, they had periods where they weren’t playing well. The sustainability of it, you’re expecting a letdown. We haven’t seen a letdown from them yet.”
On Cleveland’s defensive struggles and Knicks contributors:
“It comes down to performing better, individually. Bridges is 27 of 38 [in this series]. [Landry] Shamet is 7-for-8 from 3 in this series. They’re getting stellar performances across the board. Josh Hart in Game 2 had an incredible game. Jalen’s great and Towns is great, but we’ve kind of done a decent job on those guys, you can argue. … OG’s two wing 3s [in Game 3], like the jab, jab 3, are you kidding me? … The goal was to slow down their momentum, and that mojo they got, and we haven’t been able to do that. That’s the frustrating thing for me. Part of that is them playing great. We haven’t found a formula to slow their mojo down.”
On the Cavs players believing in a comeback:
“I had eight great answers. I said, ‘Well that makes me believe more because you guys really believe in yourselves.’ Each guy had a different reason or two. I don’t want me to get up and say, ‘Hey we got to believe.’ It’s not that. It’s, do they believe? They do believe. They’re probably not steeped in the stats that you guys all know, how hard this is. But I don’t think they care about that. They believe in the group, they believe in each other, they believe we’ve had really good stretches against this team.”
What has our game come too! I remember when we use to just play basketball and took what the defense gave us and just enjoyed getting the bucket. The beauty and choreography was unreal. Now a coach is saying they are up 2-1 analytically although actually down 3-0. 🤷🏾 https://t.co/cL4IUoaacR
“I still feel like we’re the better ballclub. Obviously, we haven’t shown that. We have another opportunity Monday to keep this thing going.”
On playing for avoiding a sweep:
“I think, ultimately, it’s a pride thing. Tomorrow is going to be a big test for where we are mentally. We’re at home — we don’t lose at home. We should take pride in that. These dudes, call a spade a spade, they’re trying to sweep us. Me, personally, I don’t take that lightly. Whether I’m playing five minutes or 15 minutes, whatever it is, I’m going to put my best foot forward and I know my teammates are going to put their best foot forward and try not to let that happen. I think that’s a pride thing.”
“I’m gonna be in the parking lot selling brooms, folks!” 🧹🧹🤣
“It reminds me of a team I played on. Bradley, Frazier, DeBusschere, Reed, Barnett — unselfish play, tenacious defense.”
On whether the Knicks will finish the sweep in Cleveland:
“I’m buying the brooms!”
LeBron on KAT as hub: "You now shift your pie chart from people thinking heavy…JB iso, to now the demographic of your offense shifts…D can't just be keyed in on 1 action now"
On Josh Hart: "Knicks have always had 1 of those guys…that's just synonymous with the Knickerbockers" pic.twitter.com/QsZyde0WNj
“The defense can’t just key on a couple of actions anymore. I thought over the last couple of years with New York, you kind of got a good rhythm of how they were gonna play. The ball was gonna end up in a certain way every single time.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns as a hub in the offense:
“You now shift your pie chart from people just thinking heavy, heavy, heavy, JB pick-and-roll, JB iso, to now the demographic of your offense shifts. Which means the defense can’t just be keyed in on one action now. So having KAT as the hub, at the elbow, at the top of the key, it allows JB to be off the ball, where he can set a rip screen for OG to get to the rim where if [the defense] messes that up, OG gets a dunk. If they mess that up and both of them go with OG to the rim, now you have JB coming off it clean, either for a clean shot or a [dribble handoff]. Now the defense is playing catch up. That’s helped their demographic out a lot, their pie chart on what they can do offensively. And JB is still gonna have his iso game where he’s really good, he’s still gonna have his pick-and-roll game where he’s really good. But to sprinkle in a little bit of off-ball action, a little bit of pinch-post action, with a different hub, that helps a lot.”
“When you look at somebody like Donovan Mitchell, you know what he possesses. I don’t care if you’re tired. I don’t care if you’re banged up. Do it without the mask. Save the bus, save the girl, take the punches, the broken ribs. That’s why you’re Spidaman.”
On the Cavs’ overall issues:
“When I look at this team, I look at guys that feel like sometimes somebody needs to put them in position, somebody needs to show them the way. No, no, no. Half the things that are going on with Cleveland is effort.”
“He’s arguably already a top five Knick EVER.” 😳
Where do you place Jalen Brunson in Knicks lore? 👇
“He is this generation’s Patrick Ewing. He is the best player on the Knicks. He is, for me, the engine that makes that s*** go.”
On Brunson’s playoff résumé:
“He is. Like that mofo, if he don’t do that (late-Game 1 burst), they get smoked. That s started with him. He hit three, four shots in a row… It was perfect. The stage was perfect for him to do what he did. What he did last night will be why you remember him. Real shit man. He took the game over.”
Paul Pierce
On Brunson’s standing among Knicks greats:
“Arguably already a top-five Knick ever.”
The Larry O on the MSG Hardwood is happening for the first time ever on June 8th.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 17: Head Coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media after the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’ve heard plenty of stories about the Cleveland Browns and analytics over the years, especially when Paul DePodesta first came around. DePodesta departed this offseason to go back to Major League Baseball, but present day, analytics is more widely accepted as a standard across the NFL. One thing you typically don’t see, though, is using analytics to talk about a team’s win-loss record in critical moments.
That shifts us over to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had fans on the highest of highs a little over a week ago when they dominated the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. Unfortunately, the series against the Knicks has soured fans again, starting with when New York had an improbably 22-point comeback half-way through the fourth quarter in Game 1. Since then, the Cavaliers have not been able to have sustained success at getting a lead against the Knicks, with a combination of poor three-point shooting, defensive assignments, and New York executing at a high level combining to them now being down 3 games to 0 and facing elimination tonight. No team has ever come back from being down 0-3 at this stage.
Nonetheless, head coach Kenny Atkinson had this to say in an interview yesterday, which certainly didn’t go over the way you expected it too:
“Analytically, we’ve won three, no, two out of three games.” I saw someone on Twitter celebrate by posting a 2026 Analytical Champions Banner for the Cavaliers yesterday. That’d be like saying, “With our defense last year, analytically, the Browns made the postseason.” Yes, I get the things that he’s trying to imply, like the Knicks shot the lights out of the ball and the Cavaliers missed some open looks, and if those things had been closer to the averages, the outcome might have been differently. But there are so many variables in every game, and Cleveland hasn’t done the right things strategically to force such shooting percentages to be different on either side of the court.
It’s been an interesting past month of Cleveland sports — a time when all three major teams are potentially in the spotlight. You had fans high on the Cavaliers, they are currently high on the division-leading Guardians, and any time the Browns are in the midst of an offseason, it feels good to build up that hope all over again. But it looks like the Cavaliers are about to give way to the Browns in terms of sports fandom, with more organized team activities and then mandatory minicamp coming up over the next 2-3 weeks, as fans try to figure out who Cleveland’s starting quarterback will be in 2026.
A BetMGM customer who has won nearly $2 million laddering spread bets during the NBA playoffs lost $350,000 backing the Oklahoma City Thunder in their Game 4 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The bettor's customary ladder spread bets went 0-for-6 Sunday night, with a standout loss of $150,000 on Thunder +6.5. The Spurs cruised past the Thunder 103-82.
Key Takeaways
The bettor had won multiple ladder spread bets since the beginning of the playoffs.
BetMGM reported the user had correctly backed OKC with $300,000 in bets in Game 3.
The ladder bettor – whose identity remains anonymous – has dominated the sportsbooks during the NBA playoffs.
The big-bank user has won more than $1.9 million since April 27. The bettor took home $167,508 from $300,000 in bets by supporting the Thunder in Game 3 against the Spurs, which ended in a 15-point road win for the defending champs.
Laying another $350,000 in tickets on the Thunder in Game 4 felt like a sign that the series was destined to be headed to a 3-1 count.
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs had different plans. After they became the second team in NBA playoff history to lose a game they started with a lead of at least 15-0 in Game 3, they raced out to a 23-8 lead. The difference this time was that the Thunder never took the lead during the final 44 minutes of play, leaving the series tied 2-2.
The loss ended the ladder bettor’s sharp streak, during which numerous days of six-figure profits were racked up.
BetMGM reported the user won $466,718 from $775,000 in wagers during the New York Knicks’ historic Game 1 comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The bettor followed that up with $176,883 in profit from $300,000 in Game 2 and $217,172 in new funds from a $350,000 stake in Game 3.
Earlier in the playoffs, the bettor won $419,641 from $225,000 in tickets during the conference semifinals matchup between the Detroit Pistons and the Cavaliers and $291,860 from $190,000 backing the Thunder in the conference semis against the Los Angeles Lakers, among other prolific wins.
Thunder still lead future odds
With their series now tied at two games apiece, the Thunder still find themselves in the driver’s seat in NBA Finals odds.
Heading back to OKC for Game 5 on Tuesday, the Thunder are -115 to win the Finals. That’s the longest their odds have been since before the playoffs began, although it is still comfortably ahead of the Knicks (+260), Spurs (+275), and Cavaliers (+25,000).
The Thunder are also -210 to win the West, while the Spurs are only +170. Those odds translate to a 67% implied probability that the Thunder will find themselves back in the Finals for the second straight season.
OKC is a 5.5-point favorite in Game 5 and -200 on the moneyline. They’re 6-4 against the spread as a favorite in the playoffs, although they’re only 1-1 against the Spurs. They also lost six of nine games against the Spurs straight up dating back to the beginning of the regular season.
NBA teams that win Game 5 in a 2-2 series have won the series more than 82% of the time, according to Spurs analyst Dan Weiss. That heaps even more pressure onto both teams, who have already produced one of the best series in recent playoff history.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 24: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres hits a double during the fifth inning against the Athletics at Petco Park on May 24, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What a week at Petco Park.
The San Diego Padres played a thrilling three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that lived up to expectations. The Athletics came to town and battled in a very competitive weekend set.
A tale of a broken offense
The first six games of the homestand have shown the Padres’ inability to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities. The majority of their runs came on home runs. If the ball was not traveling out of the park, the lineup had trouble manufacturing runs.
Currently, the Friars rank 30th (last) in team batting average at .219. 29th with a .662 OPS, and 25th with a 92 wRC+. Despite all the struggles at the plate, the team has a respectable 31-21 record.
It has been a frustrating week watching the lineup fail to come through, especially with runners in scoring position. Suddenly, their confidence had slipped away from situations they had capitalized on all season.
Is clutch hitting a thing of the past?
It is hard to imagine, but the Padres’ bats have been very productive with runners in scoring position. Oh, what a stark contrast this week. On Monday, the Friars posted a .258 team batting average with runners in scoring position,
However, the offensive struggles saw the lineup go 2-13 and three inning-ending double plays with RISP in the first two series of the current homestand. Poor execution dropped the team’s batting average to .223 with RISP.
The batters seem to lack the focus needed to put runs on the scoreboard. Collectively, they’re swinging at bad pitches that end potential scoring threats.
Empty at-bats with the bases empty
The lackluster offense has trouble putting runners on the basepaths. The team bats a paltry .204 with a .271 OBP when the bases are empty, ranking second-to-last in the majors. The lifeless, listless at-bats have convinced the Friar Faithful that the lineup slept through the first quarter of the season.
It is one of the more extreme batting splits you will ever see. Clutch situational hitting with RISP has driven in nearly three-quarters of the Padres’ total runs this season.
Now, solo home runs have become the main source of the offense. But to become a playoff contender, the entire lineup will need to contribute.
Sheets and Andujar: co-early season MVPs
Thankfully, Gavin Sheets and Miguel Andujar are keeping the offense afloat with big hits over the first six weeks of the 2026 campaign. Their timely hitting late in games has hidden the blemishes with the lineup.
Sheets has posted a 137 OPS+, performing 40% better than the league average. By any measure, no one has been more productive at the plate for the Padres this season.
If you’re still not convinced, look at his production on a road weekend series against the Seattle Mariners. Sheets went 6-for-8 with three HRs, five RBI, and four runs scored.
Not to be outdone by his teammates, Andujar is on a hitting spree, hitting safely in four of the six games on the current homestand. He is working toward having his highest RBI total since his rookie season with the New York Yankees in 2018.
Andujar has been an amazing free agent signing, as every major league team could have signed him last offseason. He is playing a much looser brand of baseball, as the Friars have moved Andujar to the No. 2 spot in the batting order. The front office hopes to ride his momentum all the way to clinching a postseason berth.
How to solve the offensive drought
Everyone has a solution to the Padres’ scoring woes. The consensus is to string together several good at-bats that produce some runs. Others cry out that a couple of weeks of good hitting will diminish early-season struggles.
Let’s rule out replacing the hitting coach — Steven Souza Jr. is the fifth person to hold the position since 2020. Juggling the lineup order has brought moderate improvement, but the leadoff hitter for each inning is batting .167.
The Friars’ lineup resembles a weekend softball team. As a home-run-reliant roster, they are highly susceptible to extended scoring droughts whenever the ball stays inside the park. Furthermore, the lineup lacks the speed required to manufacture runs when the bats go silent.
The lineup has more than enough talent to turn this around and resemble their former selves. They need to put good swings on hittable pitches and see what occurs. Just keep their hitting approach simple.
How long before the front office looks to upgrade the lineup? It may not be about identifying which position is more of a need, but rather about improving the offense in general.
BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 02: Ty Johnson (82) of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch during a spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 02, 2026 at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This was the 7th week of full minor league play (stats are entering play on Monday, May 25th).
According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), 19-year old Caden Bodine has regained his spot as the top hitter spot in the Rays system. The backstop was recently added to Baseball America’s top 100 prospect rankings and is up to 4th in the Rays system.
Meanwhile, Aidan Cremarosa is still the team’s top minor league pitcher and among the top performers in all of minor league baseball and is also now ranked 27th in the Rays system by Baseball America. The 22-year old was taken by the Rays in the 8th round of the 2025 draft out of Fresno State. Thus far over eight starts in Single-A, Cremarosa has a 2.89 ERA | 2.69 FIP with a 33.7 K% & 5.4 BB% over 43.2 IP.
RUMBLINGS
Since being activated from the Injured List on May 11th, Ty Johnson hasn’t allowed an earned run over four starts in Triple-A. Thus far, he has compiled a 0.00 ERA | 2.31 FIP with a 29.6 K% & 7.0 BB% over 17.1 IP
Connor Hujsak, 2024 13th round pick, has now matched his career homerun total (12) entering the season. The 24-year old has been on a tear as of late. Since May 3rd, he his hiting .367/.391/.750 with 6 HR over 64 PA.
Marcus Johnson and James Quinn-Irons were both moved to the 60-day Injured List
Michael Grove began a rehab assignment
Trevor Harrison has been placed on the 7-day Injured List
TEAM LEADERS
Must currently be assigned to that team
Baseball America’s top ten prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.
(minimum of 80 TBF & PA)
Tampa Bay Rays
Top 10 Prospects
None currently on active roster
Durham Bulls
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .329, Victor Mesa Jr (Promoted to MLB on 5/24) OBP: .420, Victor Mesa Jr (Promoted to MLB on 5/24) SLG: .543, Victor Mesa Jr (Promoted to MLB on 5/24) HR: 6,Blake Sabol, Dom Keegan, and Tatem Levins wRC+: 150, Victor Mesa Jr (Promoted to MLB on 5/24) SB: 17, Rayndel Delgado & Jacob Melton (Placed on the IL on 4/23)
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 2.05, Evan Reifert FIP: 4.04, Andrew Wantz K%: 31.9%, Evan Reifert BB%: 5.2%, Jonathan Heasley WHIP: 1.18, Evan Reifert AVG: .169, Evan Reifert WHIFF%: 12.9%, Luis Guerrero
4/23: Suffered sprained ankle. Expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
Montgomery Biscuits
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .341, Cooper Kinney (promoted to AAA on 5/5) OBP: .432, Cooper Kinney (promoted to AAA on 5/5) SLG: .600, Xavier Isaac HR: 12, Xavier Isaac wRC+: 171, Cooper Kinney (promoted to AAA on 5/5) SB: 28, Austin Overn
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.99, Chris Clark FIP: 2.36, Alexander Alberto K%: 41.3%, Alexander Alberto BB%: 2.2%, Gary Gill Hill WHIP 0.86, Owen Wild AVG: .127, Owen Wild WHIFF%: 15.4%, Owen Wild
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .320, Theo Gillen OBP: .454, Tony Santa Maria (promoted to AAA on 5/13) SLG: .640, Theo Gillen HR: 12, Connor Hujsak wRC+: 164, Theo Gillen SB: 15, Emilien Pitre & Tony Santa Maria (promoted to AAA on 5/13)
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.27, Jacob Kisting FIP: 2.07, Jacob Kmatz K%: 43.9%, Jacob Kmatz BB%: 1.3%, Jacob Kisting WHIP: 0.61, Jacob Kisting AVG: .152, Jacob Kisting WHIFF%: 19.6%, Jacob Kmatz
SITR NOTE: “Three up, three down,” the review of the previous week for the Cubs, will run tomorrow, since today’s a holiday and there’s an afternoon game today.
The Cubs have lost eight straight. That, you already know. The Pirates have lost six of their last nine. Something’s gotta give in this four-game series.
For more on the Pirates, here’s Ethan Coulehan, a writer at our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.
After losing four games in a row the Pirates bounced back and won the last two games in their series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Those last two games in St. Louis were huge for Pittsburgh to get back to winning ways and snap the losing streak they had vs. the Cardinals. Then they lost two of three over the weekend in Toronto, taking the series finale behind a solid outing from Mitch Keller.
The Pirates are about to start another big divisional series when they face off against the Chicago Cubs. Pittsburgh is 2-1 this season against Chicago, winning the first series. The first game was on April 10th at Wrigley Field where the only scoring came from a two run home run by Bryan Reynolds. The Pirates then won the second game 4-3 in 11 innings which is just the third extra inning victory for Pittsburgh this season. The third game of the series ended with a Cubs walk off single by Carson Kelly.
The largest deficit in that series was just two runs. That shows that these teams are very even and well matched. That was a big series for Brandon Lowe who had two home runs. It was also a solid series for Reynolds, who had three RBI.
The Bucs historically have struggled against the Cubs. The Buccos went just 3-10 vs Chicago last season. In those 13 games in 2025 against Chicago the Pirates did not score more than four runs. They snapped that streak this season after their 7-6 victory.
This is going to be the first time this season that these two teams will meet at PNC Park. In 2025 the pirates only won one game vs the Cubs at home.
Carmen Mlodzinski, Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler and Paul Skenes are the set starters for the four game series. It is very important for the starting pitching to step up and produce. Ashcraft’s last performance, where he threw seven innings and had nine strikeouts and just one earned run allowed, is a very good sign for Pittsburgh.
This is going to be a tough series because of the lack of success the Pirates have had throughout the years against the Cubs. It is important for the Buccos to at least take two out of three against what is arguably their biggest divisional rival.
Fun facts
A sweep of the four-game series would raise the Cubs’ regular-season victory total at Pittsburgh to 600 since the rivalry began in 1887. Their 596 wins there are the most anywhere outside Chicago. Next most are 579 at Philadelphia and 566 at St. Louis.
The Cubs’ last four-game sweep at Pittsburgh was Aug. 1-4, 2011. This will be their 13th four-game set there since then.
The Cubs won three games in each of their last two four-game series at Pittsburgh, in 2022 and 2023. In all games there since 2021, the Cubs are 27-9.
The Cubs’ 712 losses at Pittsburgh are their most by far on the road. They have lost 642 at Cincinnati and 635 to the Giants at New York and San Francisco.
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
Monday: Ben Brown, RHP (1-2, 2.09 ERA, 0.983 WHIP, 2.36 FIP) vs. Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP (4-3, 3.96 ERA, 1.400 WHIP, 2.98 FIP)
Thursday: Colin Rea, RHP (4-3, 4.83 ERA, 1.370 WHIP, 4.43 FIP) vs. Paul Skenes, RHP (6-4, 3.00 ERA, 0.817 WHIP, 2.87 FIP)
NOTE: As of the time of this series preview posting, the Cubs did not have any starters listed past Monday. Tuesday would have been Edward Cabrera’s turn, but as you know, he’s now on the IL. That game could be started by Jordan Wicks, who was recalled Sunday to take Cabrera’s spot on the active roster. Wicks last started for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, so he’d be on normal rest for a Tuesday start. Wednesday and Thursday would be Taillon’s and Rea’s turns if the Cubs stay on rotation, so I’m listing them here as “probable.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 26: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) A Devon Rex cat relaxes in their pen during the GCCF Supreme Championship Cat Show on April 26th, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage)
Hickory played two, and in those two games, they allowed no runs on five hits.
In Game One, A.J. Russell struck out six in 3.2 shutout innings, walking one. Owen Proksch struck out three in two shutout innings.
Esteban Mejia was 2 for 3 with a homer. Paulino Santana doubled. Yolfran Castillo doubled. Josh Spring had a hit. Daniel Flames had a hit and a walk.
In Game Two, Evan Siary threw six shutout innings, allowing one walk and striking out three.
Hector Osorio doubled. Paulino Santana doubled. Yolfran Castillo doubled. Josh Spring had a hit.
Hub City also shut out their opponent, though in one game, not two.
Starter D.J. McCarty struck out eight and walked two in six innings.
Malcolm Moore doubled and homered. Paxton Kling had a hit and a stolen base. Rafe Perich had a hit and a walk. Maxton Martin had a hit. Chandler Pollard had a hit and a pair of stolen bases.
Frisco did not shut out their opponent, but did allow just one run.
Starter Dylan MacLean struck out two and walked one in six innings, allowing one run. Eric Loomis struck out two and walked one in a shutout inning. Ryan Lobus struck out one in a scoreless inning.
Cody Freeman was 1 for 3 with a walk. Arturo Disla homered and walked. Keith Jones II doubled and drew three walks.
For Round Rock, Marc Church threw two scoreless innings, striking out two. Alexis Diaz walked one and struck out one in an inning, allowing two runs. Luis Curvelo struck out two and walked one in a scoreless inning. Ryan Brasier threw a scoreless inning.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: White Sox moneyline
Price: 50¢ (+100) at Polymarket
Why are the Twins road favorites today with Zebby Matthews on the mound? His run of good fortune is due to snap with a .227 BABIP while stranding 93% of his runners. He was getting tagged in Triple-A before the call-up and doesn’t profile as a good pitcher. He also threw 100 pitches in his last outing and hands things over to a bullpen that ranks 25th in ERA on the season and could be without Taylor Rogers after back-to-back appearances. Meanwhile, Anthony Kay is quietly putting together a strong season with two or fewer earned runs allowed in eight of his 10 starts. The Chicago White Sox still feel undervalued by the market, and THE BAT has this fair price sitting at -120.
Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: CHSN/MNNT
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Phillies/Padres Under 7.5
Price: 52¢ (-108) at Polymarket
Jesus Luzardo has found his rhythm again, allowing two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six starts, and faces a San Diego Padres lineup that has struggled badly against left-handed pitching. Randy Vasquez has also been excellent with a 2.96 ERA, while the Philadelphia Phillies offense has been flat-out bad vs. righties... and on the road. The trends support the Under as well, with the Phillies cashing it in seven of their last eight games and San Diego doing the same in 10 of its last 12 at home. It also helps that the Padres' bullpen has been one of baseball’s sharper relief units lately and is well equipped to protect a low total.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
How to watch: SDPA/NBCSP
Jon Metler's expert pick: Cubs moneyline
Price: 53¢ (-113) at Polymarket
Ben Brown has looked excellent for the Chicago Cubs since moving into the starting rotation. While it’s still a small sample, the early results have been impressive, with an 11.08 K/9 and a 2.33 xERA through his first three starts. The bottom of Pittsburgh’s order, particularly spots six through nine, could feature several right-handed hitters, which plays directly into Brown’s strengths: His knuckle curve should be especially effective in those matchups, consistently breaking away from right-handed bats and generating weak contact or swings and misses. That should allow Brown to work through the lower half of the lineup efficiently, keep his pitch count under control, and pitch deeper into the game. I price the Cubs closer to 60-cent (-150) favorites in this spot.
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.
COVERS INTEL:
Karl-Anthony Towns
James Harden
