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Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals preview, Friday 5/29, 6:15 CT

Friday notes…

  • BEATING THE GOOD TEAMS: The Cubs are 17-16 this season in games against opponents that had a winning record going into a game. Fourteen of their last 15 wins have come against teams that were above .500, including the last four. The lone win against an underachiever was the last of their 10 straight wins, at Texas on May 8. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • BETTER UNDER THE LIGHTS: The Cubs’ wins the last two nights improved their record to 11-5 in the second of back-to-back night games. They are 18-11 in all games at night, just 13-15 in daylight. Tonight’s game will be Cubs’ fourth of nine in a row under the lights, their longest such stretch of the season. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • ABOUT GIVING UP RUNS: The Pirates’ two runs last night both came in the sixth inning. The Cubs had allowed exactly one run in at least one inning of each of their previous 11 games, since they had shut out the Braves at Atlanta, 2-0, on May 14. Before that, they had allowed a single run in one inning of nine straight games, since May 3, when they gave up two runs twice in an 8-4 win at home over the Diamondbacks. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs hire Buck O’Neil as a coach. He becomes the first Black coach in MLB history. More on O’Neil’s long baseball career here. It happened 64 years ago today, Tuesday, May 29, 1962.

Cubs lineup:

Cardinals lineup:

Shōta Imanaga, LHP vs. Andre Pallante, RHP

Shōta Imanaga was having a pretty good year until his last two starts, which were both awful. I’ll just note that half of all the runs he’s allowed this year (15 of 30) were in those two starts.

But here’s a team he does well against! Career vs. Cardinals: Four starts, 2.84 ERA, 0.789 WHIP, just three home runs in 25.1 innings, only one walk and 25 strikeouts.

Do more of that, Shōta.

This is Andre Pallante’s second full year in the Cardinals rotation. Last year wasn’t so good, with a 5.31 ERA in 31 starts, and he led MLB in wild pitches with 12.

This year has been somewhat better, and he has allowed three or fewer runs in eight of his 10 starts.

Career vs. Cubs: 12 games (five starts), 4.40 ERA, 1.674 WHIP, a low K rate (15 of 130 batters, or 11.5 percent).

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Busch Stadium.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Cardinals site Viva el Birdos. If you do go there to interact with Cardinals fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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SF Giants make coaching change after slow start to 2026 season

The San Francisco Giants' 2026 season hasn't got off to the best start and franchise's front office is ready to shake things up in the coaching department.

The team announced on Friday, May 29, that they will reassign third-base coach Hector Borg to a new role joining the Giants' player development staff.

The move comes after the Giants hit a low point during the early stages of the season. Through one-third of the season, San Francisco has posted a 22-34 record, which is second worst in the NL West division.

Through the span, the Giants have registered 469 hits, becoming a top-10 team in that category and sixth in MLB. However, they have struggled to convert those hits into runs. San Francisco is in last place in the MLB in runs at 204.

SF Giants make coaching change amid scoring deficiencies

One of the glaring issues for the lack of runs stem from a lapse in communication between players and Borg.

In multiple instances early in the season, the Giants have left points on the board due to confusion on when to stay on base and when to gamble for the next one.

Earlier this season, Borg in back-to-back games made questionable calls instructing his players to round a base or stay safe.

Giants outfielder Drew Gilbert had a chance to beat the Philadelphia Phillies in a doubleheader that went to extra innings on April 30.

Heliot Ramos was at bat in the top 10th inning when he made contact with the ball, which beamed toward second base, off the glove of Phillies' Bryson Stott as it landed in a gap toward the outfielders. Gilbert started at second, rounded third and looked to make his way home to give the Giants a one-run lead, but was seemingly waved off by Borg.

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Two-start pitchers: Emerson Hancock leads a group of intriguing options as we barrel into June

Hello and welcome to the 10th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.

I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.

The fantasy baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s easy to fall into bad habits and not spend as much time on teams that have struggled out of the gate, but now is not the time to panic or give up. Keep putting in the work and plugging away, striving to improve each week, and you’ll reap rewards at the end of this season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

The expectation is that Casey Mize will make two starts for the Tigers next week (at Rays, vs. Mariners), but that depends on how his groin injury progresses over the next couple of days. If he gets pushed back at all or winds up on the injured list, it would most likely be either a bullpen game on Monday or Drew Anderson working in a bulk role. We obviously want to roll with Mize in all formats if he’s taking the ball, otherwise we should probably avoid the situation. We’ll update here throughout the weekend as more information comes in.

It’s also not clear who will be taking the mound for the Royals on Monday. The expectation had been that Cole Ragans would be ready to slot back into their rotation then, but he didn’t bounce back well following his last minor league rehab start so that seems incredibly unlikely now. We’ll watch the situation over the weekend and update here as needed.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of May 29 and are subject to change.

American League

▶ Strong Plays

Cam Schlittler, Yankees, RHP (vs. Guardians, vs. Red Sox)

Schlittler was profiled in this space as perhaps the top overall option on the board last week, only for a postponement on Saturday to alter the Yankees’ rotation plans and move his start back a day. He now checks back in as one of the top overall plays this week, with a pair of solid matchups on tap. Schlittler has been unbelievable through his first 12 starts, posting a 7-2 record, 1.50 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP to go with 81 strikeouts in 72 innings. He should be locked into fantasy lineups every week regardless of matchups, you just get the added bonus of the additional volume this week.

Emerson Hancock, Mariners, RHP (vs. Mets, at Tigers)

Hancock has been one of the most pleasant surprises in all of baseball this season, posting a 2.78 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a 63/15 K/BB ratio over 64 2/3 innings through his first 11 starts. He now gets the dream two-start week of getting to battle the Mets at home and the Tigers in Detroit. If he’s not the top overall option on the board this week, he’s certainly close. Don’t be surprised when he continues to post elite ratios, racks up 12 strikeouts and notches a victory or two. He’s an automatic start in all leagues.

José Soriano, Angels, RHP (vs. Rockies, at Dodgers)

While his overall numbers have come back a bit since his unbelievable start to the season, Soriano still holds an impressive 2.65 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 78/31 K/BB ratio over 71 1/3 innings through his first 12 starts. He has allowed five or more earned runs twice in his last five starts though – one of those against the Dodgers who he’ll battle in Los Angeles over the weekend. The strong matchup against the Rockies to open the week more than makes up for that additional ratio risk though. He’s an easy start in all leagues once again this week.

Joe Ryan, Twins, RHP (vs. White Sox, vs. Royals)

As long as Joe Ryan continues to avoid the injured list and take the mound for the Twins, he should be an automatic start in all fantasy leagues. He sports a terrific 2.94 ERA and 0.93 WHIP across 64 1/3 innings on the season with strong strikeout numbers to go with the elite ratios. Expect more of that goodness against a pair of familiar divisional foes this week.

Connelly Early, Red Sox, LHP (vs. Orioles, at Yankees)

Early has been exceptional through his first 11 starts for the Red Sox this season, compiling a 2.95 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 57/22 K/BB ratio across 61 frames. Sure, the matchup against the Yankees in the Bronx to finish the week isn’t ideal, but it’s not enough to steer us away from using Early this week. Continue to ride the hot hand here in all formats.

Jacob deGrom, Rangers, RHP (at Cardinals, vs. Guardians)

We continue to follow the simple rule that anytime Jacob deGrom is healthy enough to take the mound, he should be locked into all fantasy lineups. There’s no reason to go against that in what looks to be a strong two-start week. The veteran right-hander holds a 3.77 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a 70/12 K/BB ratio over 59 2/3 innings through 11 starts. The ERA is inflated from him allowing a league-leading 13 long balls while everything else has been elite. Look for that ERA to continue to correct this week.

Griffin Jax, Rays, RHP (vs. Tigers, at Marlins)

Jax has looked like a different pitcher since making the transition back to the rotation, posting a 1.29 ERA and a 17/8 K/BB ratio over 21 innings through his first six starts. He’s stretched out enough now that he should be able to work deep enough to earn a victory and the matchups fall perfectly in his favor this week against a pair of slumping offenses. That makes Jax a strong option in all leagues this week.

Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays, RHP (at Braves, vs. Orioles)

Gausman has been a rock atop the Blue Jays’ rotation this season, posting a 3.13 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 66/12 K/BB ratio over 69 innings through his first 12 starts. Those numbers include one major blowup against the Rays in early May. He has turned the page since then, allowing a total of two runs over 17 2/3 innings over his last three starts. The matchup against the Braves is tougher than we would like, but it’s no reason to bench Gausman this week. He’s an easy start in all leagues.

▶ Decent Plays

Shane Baz, Orioles, RHP (at Red Sox, at Blue Jays)

Always long on talent and short on consistency, it’s possible that we have seen Baz start to put it all together over his last two starts. During that stretch, Baz has allowed just two runs over 13 innings while posting a 15/5 K/BB ratio. It’s possible that he was just amped up for those starts as they were both revenge games against the Rays, or that his particular plan against that offense just worked out well over two starts. Either way, I think he should approach double digit strikeouts this week and neither opposing offense is the type that you’re really worried about blowing up your ratios. He feels like a safe start in all league sizes.

Noah Cameron, Royals, LHP (at Reds, at Twins)

It has been a major struggle for Cameron through his first 10 starts this season, posting a 4.61 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 48/17 K/BB ratio across 52 2/3 innings. We have seen it get a bit better his last two times out though, giving up just two runs over 11 innings with a 12/3 K/BB ratio against the Mariners and Yankees. Taking on the Reds in Cincinnati is no easy task, so it’s understandable if you want to avoid the ratio risk entirely, but I believe that the strong results continue for Cameron this week and he winds up being a nice play in all mixed leagues.

David Sandlin, White Sox, RHP (at Twins, at Phillies)

Sandlin looks like an absolute wild card heading into this week. The 25-year-old hurler always had good stuff, but struggled to deliver quality results in the minor leagues during his time with the Red Sox. That wasn’t the case in six minor league starts with the White Sox this season though, where he posted a 0.55 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 26/11 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings. He carried that over to his MLB debut against the Twins, allowing only one run over five frames and earning a victory. He gets to battle those same Twins to start this week. The only real concern is workload, as he only threw 61 pitches in his debut and was closely monitored in the minors. With the volume of the two-start week, the strikeouts should be there for Sandlin, making him an interesting streaming option in deeper mixed and AL-only formats.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Mike Burrows, Astros, RHP (vs. Pirates, vs. Athletics)

Burrows has been a major disappointment for the Astros and for fantasy managers this season, pitching to a 5.40 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. He leads the American League with 71 hits allowed and has also surrendered a league-leading 13 home runs. If there’s ever a set of matchups for him to try to right the ship, this might be it. I could see rolling the dice in 15-teamers in the hopes that it gets better, but I’d shy away from him in 12’s if I could find viable alternatives.

Connor Prielipp, Twins, LHP (vs. White Sox, vs. Royals)

The transition to the big leagues hasn’t gone perfectly for Prielipp through his first seven starts, going 1-3 with a miserable 5.13 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. The strikeouts have been there, with 35 punchouts in 33 1/3 innings, but everything else falls far short of what fantasy managers should be looking for. If you can absorb the ratio risk and are trying to make up ground in wins and strikeouts, fire away. Otherwise, it may be best to pass on this one.

Joey Cantillo, Guardians, LHP (at Yankees, at Rangers)

Cantillo has done a decent job through his first 12 starts on the season, posting a respectable 3.57 ERA and a troublesome 1.40 WHIP while striking out 52 batters in 58 innings of work. His American League-leading 31 walks certainly haven’t helped his cause. He now runs into the best offense in the league against southpaws and has to take them on at Yankee Stadium. That could spell disaster. It gets easier over the weekend against the Rangers, but I’m not sure I want to trust my ratios to that potential damage in the Bronx.

Gage Jump, Athletics, LHP (at Cubs, at Astros)

Jump, 23, struggled to a 4.50 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over 38 innings in nine starts at Triple-A Las Vegas before being called up for his big league debut this past week. It didn’t go well, allowing four runs on nine hits over five frames against the Mariners. It’s not going to get any easier for him this week, having to battle two offenses that hit left-handed pitching well. It probably helps him that both starts are away from Sutter Health Park, and if you squint you can see a modicum of strikeout upside here, there’s just too much ratio risk for me to gamble on him outside of the deepest leagues.

National League

▶ Strong Plays

Chase Burns, Reds, RHP (vs. Royals, at Cardinals)

Burns has blossomed into one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in his sophomore campaign, posting a 7-1 record, 1.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and a 72/20 K/BB ratio over 64 1/3 innings through his first 11 starts. Look for the good times to continue this week with stellar matchups on tap against the Royals and the Cardinals. He’s easily one of, if not the, top overall option on the board for the upcoming week.

Kyle Harrison, Brewers, LHP (vs. Giants, at Rockies)

For years, fantasy managers have been clamoring for a team to just put Kyle Harrison in their rotation and let him run with the job. The Giants and Red Sox never really gave him the leash to do so, despite flashes of brilliance. The Brewers have finally unleashed him on the National League and the results have been outstanding. Harrison holds a 6-1 record, 1.57 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP with 61 punchouts over 51 2/3 innings. That’s ace-level stuff. He now gets a dream matchup against the Giants to start the week before finishing up with a tough battle at Coors Field. Don’t overthink this one, Harrison should be started in 100 percent of leagues this week.

Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks, LHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Nationals)

It’s hard to call what Eduardo Rodriguez has done this season just a hot start any longer. The 33-year-old southpaw holds a brilliant 2.31 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 66 1/3 innings through his first 11 starts. Perhaps starting his preparation earlier than usual and getting amped up for the World Baseball Classic really did make a difference. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of those 11 starts and hasn’t allowed more than four runs in a start all season. The matchups are very difficult this week, but I think Rodriguez has earned enough of a leash that he should still be started in all formats.

Landen Roupp, Giants, RHP (at Brewers, at Cubs)

Roupp has been terrific in his first 11 starts for the Giants this season, registering a 3.30 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and a 68/22 K/BB ratio over 60 innings. He hasn’t won a game since winning four straight starts to end the month of April. I expect him to end that streak and emerge victorious from one of his two outings this week. He’s an easy start in all league sizes.

Michael McGreevy, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Rangers, vs. Reds)

No strikeouts, no problem. McGreevy continues to get by with his limited strikeout rate, registering a 2.98 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with just 43 strikeouts over 60 1/3 innings on the season. He now gets to make a pair of starts at home against lineups that are underwhelming against right-handed pitching. There may be ratio correction coming at some point this season, but there’s no reason to expect that it’s going to start this week. McGreevy can be started with full confidence in all leagues.

▶ Decent Plays

Bryce Elder, Braves, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, vs. Pirates)

Many prognosticators have called Elder’s early-season success a mirage and have projected that there’s a major correction coming in his ratios. Did we start to see that this past week when he gave up six runs (five earned) over 3 1/3 innings against the Red Sox? Perhaps, but it’s also the first time in 12 starts this season that he has allowed more than three runs. The matchups this week aren’t overly imposing and pitching for the Braves he’s a threat to earn a victory every time he takes the mound. If you have enjoyed the success that Elder has had this season, I think you have to continue rolling with him for a non-threatening two-start week, even coming off of the bad outing last week.

Michael Soroka, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Nationals)

Soroka has been an outstanding addition to the Diamondbacks’ rotation this season, sitting at 7-2 with a 3.25 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 61 innings through his first 11 starts. Those numbers would be even better without one eight-run disaster against the Brewers at the end of April. In the month of May though, he has surrendered two earned runs or fewer in each of his five starts. The matchups are tough, there’s no getting around that, which invites in more ratio risk than we have seen from Soroka this year, but I’d still confidently roll with him in both 15 and 12-team formats.

Emmet Sheehan, Dodgers, RHP (at Diamondbacks, vs. Angels)

It’s a rare occurrence that we get a two-start week from any Dodgers’ hurler, as they have been rolling with a full six-man rotation for the duration of the season. That’s exactly what we get this week with Sheehan though, making him a strong option in all formats. His WHIP and strikeout numbers have been solid throughout the season, even though his ERA has fluctuated, and he’s always a strong option to earn a victory with the powerful Dodgers’ offense backing him. He should be started in all leagues this week.

Jameson Taillon, Cubs, RHP (vs. Athletics, vs. Giants)

Historically a reliable option that could be trusted to protect your ratios, Taillon has really struggled to keep the ball in the yard this season, serving up a league-leading 19 home runs which has led to an inflated 5.37 ERA. His 1.27 WHIP is also at the highest level that we have seen from him since 2023. The matchups this week line up well for him though, getting to take on the Athletics and the woeful Giants, both at home. If you can’t start him for this two-start week, you shouldn’t even have him rostered.

Chad Patrick, Brewers, LHP (vs. Giants, at Rockies)

The overall results for Patrick look good on the season, with a 2.60 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 13 appearances (six starts). He has even picked up a couple of saves to go along with his two victories. The only issue here is that the Brewers continue to limit his workload, not letting him see a lineup for a third time. That’s fine if he works as a bulk guy behind an opener, but last time out he started and only worked four innings, giving him no shot at a victory. With the added volume this week he’s a fine start regardless, but going forward he’s going to be hard to use for single-start weeks if that continues to be the case.

Randy Vásquez, Padres, RHP (at Phillies, vs. Mets)

Vásquez has surprisingly pitched well for the Padres this season, compiling a 3.28 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 60 1/3 innings in his 11 starts. Strikeouts have never really been his game, but the added volume of a second start this week helps to combat that weakness. He also gets a nice draw getting to battle the Mets at home over the weekend. I’d be fine using him as a streaming option in all league sizes.

Aaron Nola, Phillies, RHP (vs. Padres, vs. White Sox)

It has been a very rough go for Nola through his first 11 starts this season, posting an unappealing 5.72 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 56 2/3 innings. The strikeouts have been there, and he has won three ballgames, but everything else has been harmful from a fantasy perspective. He is coming off of a victory against the Padres his last time out though, so perhaps he can carry that over to start his two-start week. I’d be fine using him in 15 teamers, in 12’s it would depend on where my ratios sat and what my other options were.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Bubba Chandler, Pirates, RHP (at Astros, at Braves)

It has been a rough season for Chandler so far, going 1-6 with a 4.85 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 52 innings in his 11 starts. From a pure talent standpoint, I would love to get behind the idea of using Chandler for his two-start week, but he has been a disaster for most of the season and the matchups are especially brutal for the upcoming week. If you’re trying to make up ground in wins and strikeouts and need the additional volume, you can try it, otherwise I think I would pass on this one.

Sandy Alcantara, Marlins, RHP (at Nationals, vs. Rays)

I honestly have no idea what to expect from Alcantara this week. He has been extremely inconsistent this season and has been in terrible form over the past two weeks – giving up 14 runs and five homers over 11 2/3 innings his last two times out. His start before that though, he threw a six inning gem against the Rays in which he didn’t allow a run. Those same Rays are on tap for the weekend. The Nationals offense continues to pile up runs though and that matchup looks quite imposing to start the week. If you’ve rolled with him this far, you’re probably blindly starting him for a two-start week, I just think it’s possible that something isn’t quite right here and we see another rough week in the ratio department.

Sean Manaea, Mets, LHP (at Mariners, at Padres)

With David Peterson booted from the Mets’ rotation, Manaea will have an opportunity to work as a bulk reliever in his spot for the time being. He has struggled in 12 appearances out of the team’s bullpen this year, registering a 5.56 ERA and 1.62 WHIP across 34 innings. We have seen him have relevancy from a fantasy perspective in the past, so it’s possible he takes this opportunity and runs with it. The matchups line up in his favor, for whatever that’s worth.

Kyle Freeland, Rockies, LHP (at Angels, vs. Brewers)

Never Rockies. It’s that simple. Never Rockies. Also, never Kyle Freeland. He holds an 8.08 ERA and 1.75 WHIP over 42 1/3 innings on the season. There’s just no reason to ever go here. Stay far, far away. You have been warned.

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Luka Doncic invests in purchase of Italian basketball team with eye on NBA Europe

Lakers guard Luka Doncic jokes with officials during a break in play in a game against the Thunder at Crypto.com Arena.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic is part of an investment group that has purchased Italian team Vanoli Cremona with hopes of joining NBA Europe in the near future. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Luka Doncic could be involved in two championship bids this upcoming season.

The Lakers’ superstar and former Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson are leading an investor group that acquired a professional basketball team in Italy, it was announced Friday, with hopes that the franchise could become part of the NBA’s new European venture.

The group plans to move Vanoli Cremona, a team that plays in a northern Italian city about 60 miles southeast of Milan, to Rome, and submitted a bid for the club to join NBA Europe, making Doncic the first player to state his ambition to become part of the NBA’s expansion across the pond.

“I have dreamed about owning a team in Europe for a long time, to finally have this happen is amazing,” Doncic said in a statement. “Vanoli has a great history, and we are ready to take it to the next level in Rome. We have an amazing group of partners, and I really believe we can do something special for basketball in Italy and Europe.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said this year that the NBA is working with FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, to begin a standalone league in Europe. The league could begin as soon as October 2027 with up to 16 teams hosted in major cities in England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece and Turkey.

Rome and Milan are the top Italian targets to host NBA Europe teams. Rome, the Italian capital, has not had a Serie A team since 2020, when Virtus Roma ceased operations because of financial difficulties. Vanoli will begin playing in Rome for the 2026-27 season.

Read more:How the Lakers' huge offseason revolves around Luka Doncic

“Rome deserves world-class basketball, and we are excited to be bringing it back,” Nelson said in a statement. “Vanoli Cremona has a proud history, and we are committed to honoring that legacy as we build toward an exciting future in Rome. This city has been without top-flight basketball for too long. That changes now. We are bringing the resources, the expertise, and the passion to make this club a source of pride for Rome and for all Italy.”

Nelson, who is the lead investor and managing partner, was the general manager when the Mavericks traded for Doncic on draft night in 2018 and was the architect of Dallas’ 2011 NBA championship team led by German star Dirk Nowitzki. The investor group also includes Valerio Bianchini, a celebrated coach in the Italian league, and Rimantas Kaukėnas, a 17-year pro across European leagues.

The 27-year-old Doncic, who was born in Slovenia and started his professional career with Real Madrid in Spain, is part of a recent wave of international stars taking over the NBA. The last eight most valuable players have been born outside of the United States. Doncic finished fourth in MVP voting this year behind two-time winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is from Canada, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is from Serbia, and Victor Wembanyama, a 22-year-old Frenchman expected to dominate the league for years.

The NBA played two regular-season games in Europe this season, with the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic facing off in Berlin and London. Next season, Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs will play in his home country against the New Orleans Pelicans and in Manchester, England.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Series Preview: Red Sox at Guardians

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 16: Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick (77) reacts after the final out of the eighth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians on April 16, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

This will be an abbreviated preview as I have a very busy weekend. Hopefully, the Guardians offense will be similarly busy!

The Red Sox are 23-32 and the Guardians are 33-25.

Game One, Friday, 7:10: Bryan Bello, RHP vs. Slade Cecconi, RHP

Game Two, Saturday, 4:10: Sonny Gray, RHP vs. Parker Messick, LHP

Game Three, Sunday, 1:40: Ranger Suarez LHP vs Tanner Bibee, RHP

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Yankees Mailbag: Strange standings and All-Star odds

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 26: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees is seen in the the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 26, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

The idiot that said, “Harper is coming” asks: Did you have only five teams at or above .500 in the American League on Memorial Day in your prediction before the season?And were the Rays, White Sox, and A’s three of those teams? We’re in Bizarro World!

It has been a wacky start for the standings for sure, with many would-be contenders a bit underwater at this point and several teams that no one could have predicted in the mix. The Rays were an afterthought in the AL East, a near-unanimous pick for last place that didn’t get higher than a third-place mention or two in our staff predictions, and yet they’ve caused the Yankees plenty of grief already and hold a slight lead on them for the division crown. Chicago had a few more believers that they would at least get out of the cellar, but none that would push them farther than fourth (and certainly no one picked Detroit to be in the basement in their stead), and the A’s had made enough moves to warrant a similar vibe but the AL West as a whole has been abysmal allowing them into the conversation.

The strangest thing about this season’s results thus far is that everyone’s collective struggles have made it hard to outright rule out teams from a playoff push, despite many of them still sitting below .500. That’s not to say I’d have any confidence in those lower Wild Card slots — Toronto at least has the pedigree to deserve respect as the defending AL champs, but the mesh of teams sitting a few games below them all look uninspiring at best. This is the ideal scenario for a team like the Astros, who looked dead and buried under their injuries through the first month but noticed the rest of the league fail to fill in the grave, and now they’ve rattled off seven wins in their last 10 to sit 2.5 games out of the final Wild Card. I’d have more faith in the remainder of that core than I do in teams like the Twins or Orioles giving it a true shot, and despite their early success I still have my doubts about the A’s and ChiSox. The Rangers should be the team that could pull away from the pack, but Corey Seager’s been MIA even when he’s on the field this time around and the rest of that offense isn’t amounting to much. All in all, it’s a murky field that the Yankees are fortunate to stand apart from, but it also means that they’ll have to do some convincing to get any additions from their competitors as the trade deadline starts to come up on the horizon.

NYCKING asks:Over/Under 4.5 Yankees named to All-Star team?

Injury replacements and pitchers that’re unable to play in the game itself could change the calculus, but going off of initial roster sizes I think the Yankees will actually go over on this. Aaron Judge will be a lock as always, and Cam Schlittler has a shot to not only make the All-Star staff but start the game itself if he keeps pitching like he has. Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger also have strong odds to make the roster, but Max Fried’s injury will probably keep him shelved long enough to prevent him joining his teammates at the event.

The X-factor here is Jazz Chisholm Jr., who admittedly did not get off to a good start this season but rebounded well enough in May to get back to above-average offensively. The field at second base has not been strong in the American League, meaning Chisholm’s 1.4 fWAR actually leads the pack despite the slow beginning, and there’s no reason to doubt that he could continue to further the gap should he keep heating up with the temperature. That’s their best chance to do so, however, as they won’t be seeing any representatives from catcher or third base, and while José Caballero has done fine work for them he’ll probably fall short of an All-Star nomination. Perhaps Will Warren or Ryan Weathers could earn a nod near the end of the pitching staff, but that would be a long shot unless either one has a tremendous June to push their case forward.

treatycity asks: Humor me, I’m testing your love for Anthony Volpe. Lombard will likely be pressing for the shortstop job come 2027 spring training. Volpe and Cabby could be potential candidates for second base, if Chisholm Jr. doesn’t return, but they’ll have to earn the job. Much depends if Yankees sign Chisholm long term. What’s the max years/money you’d give to Chisholm?

Our own Jonathan Farrar wrote an excellent piece back in March breaking down the contract demand that Chisholm stated he was looking for during spring training, which was an eight-to-ten year, $300-350 million deal range. The numbers look gaudy on paper, but as Jonathan worked it out, there’s good reasons for the ranges that Jazz threw out back then — a $35 million AAV sits squarely around players like Cody Bellinger and Alex Bregman, contemporaries from the previous free agent pool that Chisholm has comparable offensive numbers to, while his younger age would warrant a longer deal than the five-year pacts both signed.

Perhaps his slow start will be weighed against him, perhaps he’ll hit well enough to make everyone forget about it in the second half. As it stands, FanGraphs projects him to get to around 3.2 fWAR which would be a low for his time in New York but still better than any of his outputs from his Miami days. The postseason could determine everything for him, as another cold October might cost him big bucks, but taking that out of the equation and focusing on what he provides throughout the 162 games of the regular season shows that he’s going to be worth a pretty penny. I think he’ll have to compromise in one area of his initial demands more significantly to secure a number closer to the other, meaning if he wants to get a good AAV in the area that Bellinger just got the most he could expect to get is six or seven years maximum. Does a seven-year, $210 million deal entice him enough to stay? That’s about where I’d hit my limit with Jazz as of right now, but that number’s flexible should he turn the burners on.

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MLB suspends Abner Uribe one game after Brewers reliever's 'triple crotch chop'

Major League Baseball suspended Abner Uribe one game for "inappropriate actions" and issued a fine after the Milwaukee Brewers reliever executed a "triple crotch chop" celebration following a tense inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Uribe has appealed the suspension, MLB announced Friday, May 29, and will be available for the Brewers game Friday at Houston.

Uribe's histrionics came after days of stewing beef between the Cardinals and Brewers, with Uribe claiming Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol threatened to intentionally hit Milwaukee batters after the club was allegedly too obvious in relaying stolen signs from the dugout.

Abner Uribe of the Milwaukee Brewers was suspended one game by Major League Baseball for "inappropriate actions."

The tensions crested when Uribe threw a pitch up and in on Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera in the eighth inning of the Brewers' 6-0 victory on Tuesday, May 26. After Uribe got out of the inning, he turned toward the Cardinals dugout and celebrated, irritating his manager, Pat Murphy.

""It’s just unacceptable," Murphy told reporters following the victory. "I don’t know what got over him. I mean, he’s been an emotional guy. That’s just not how we do things. I was embarrassed by it. Why are we doing it in a 6-0 ballgame?"

Marmol acknowledged a day later that he'd chirped with Brewers players regarding the relayed signs Monday.

"We felt like they were being pretty demonstrative about relaying from the dugout," Marmol said. "I looked over [to the Brewers dugout] and said, 'Don't do it, be smart, you're going to get somebody hurt, what are we trying to do here?' And that was it."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abner Uribe celebration, 'triple crotch chop' earns Brewers pitcher suspension

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Lakers’ Luka Doncic invests in Italian team, hopes to fulfill dream

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Gabe Vincent of the Miami Heat guards Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers

Luka Doncic is bringing basketball back to Rome.

The Lakers superstar is part of an investment group, which is led by former Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson, that purchased professional basketball club Vanoli Cremona of Italy’s top-division Lega Basket Serie A. 

The Lakers’ Luka Doncic (77) is part of an investment group that wants to relocate an Italian team to Rome. NBAE via Getty Images

As part of the deal, new ownership announced the team will relocate to Rome, with plans to submit a bid to be part of the NBA’s plans to create a league in Europe. 

Rome hasn’t had a top-division basketball team since the bankruptcy of Virtus Roma in 2020.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced earlier in the year that the NBA, in partnership with FIBA, is working on bringing a new league to Europe but didn’t announce formal plans, share a timeline for when the league could potentially start or the number of teams that could be a part of the league.

Rome is expected to be one of the target host cities for the league along with Milan, London and Manchester in England; Lyon and Paris in France; Berlin and Munich in Germany; Barcelona and Madrid in Spain; Athens in Greece; and Istanbul in Turkey.

While details for the new league haven’t become official, the working target date for the league to launch is fall 2027. 

The NBA and FIBA have explored a 16-team league, which includes 12 “permanent” spots and four other teams that qualify for a spot in the league. 

Nelson, 63, is the son of former NBA coach and executive Don Nelson, and was the Mavericks’ president of basketball operations and general manager when Dallas acquired Doncic as part of the 2018 draft night trade with the Hawks.

Doncic, who’s Slovenian, played professionally for Real Madrid before coming to the NBA. 

“Since I came to the NBA, my dream was to always own a team in Europe, especially because Europe gave me so much,” Doncic told The New York Times. “I grew up there, grew up playing basketball there.”

With Post wires.

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Mets moving David Peterson to bullpen, Sean Manaea will receive chance as bulk arm

The Mets are officially making a change to their pitching staff. 

David Peterson will be sliding back to the bullpen as of this weekend, and Sean Manaea will receive an opportunity in his spot in the rotation as the bulk arm the next time around. 

Peterson had been enjoying success during the early part of May, but he was roughed up his last time out, allowing six runs on a season-high 11 hits across five innings of work in a loss to the Reds. 

Manaea, on the other hand, has turned things around nicely after a brutal start to the season. 

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Higher Salary Cap Doesn’t Fix Avalanche’s Offseason Deficit

From potential coaching staff changes to roster moves, the Colorado Avalanche are going to have to make some tough choices this summer as they reflect on getting swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals. Thankfully for them, the salary cap will be increasing by $8.5 million for 2026-27. The cap will be $104 million, while the floor will be $76.9 million.

With that nice chunk of change added, the Avalanche now has $2.979 million to work with. Not the number many expected, considering the cap increase. The main issue is that few contracts are coming off the books, which raises questions about what they plan to do this summer if they want to shake up the roster.

All contract info provided by PuckPedia

How The Teams Cap Situation Looks Like

Now, this isn’t a “predicting the Colorado Avalanche's 2026 Offseason Moves” piece or what I think they should do; I am working on that, but I’m still working out some signings and trades to look over. This is more of a thought I want to put in people’s heads about what people on social media and insiders think will happen to this roster.

The Avalanche are set to have five unrestricted free agents come July 1st: Joel Kiviranta, Brent Burns, Brett Kulak, Jack Ahcan, and Nick Blankenburg. They have two restricted free agents in Jack Drury and Zakhar Bardakov.

Every single player who was brought up about why the Avalanche lost to the Knights is under contract. Nazem Kadri still has three seasons left at his new $5.6 million cap hit that the Flames retained. Martin Necas' new eight-year $92 million contract kicks in. Sam Malinski’s new four-year $19 million contract also kicks in.

Sam Malinski’s Rise: Why the Avalanche Rewarded Him With a Four-Year ExtensionSam Malinski’s Rise: Why the Avalanche Rewarded Him With a Four-Year ExtensionSam Malinski earned every cent of this contract extension

Outside of players' contracts running out, the only other cap relief they are receiving is Josh Manson’s cap hit going from $4.5 million to $3.95 million with his new two-year $7.9 million contract extension. The money looks better each season, following as the cap will go up, but if you look past this summer, you see why.

This season, Artturi Lehkonen, Ross Colton, Nicolas Roy, and Cale Makar are in the last year of their contract. Now, Makar is the least worrisome, and many insiders have speculated that the team's focus is on getting an extension done this summer. Still, if you want to retool this team and pick and choose where management thinks they can get better, trades will need to come with their cap situation.

What Sam Malinski’s New Deal Means for Cale Makar and the AvalancheWhat Sam Malinski’s New Deal Means for Cale Makar and the AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche have cleared one major hurdle, but others remain.

The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is scheduled for June 26 and 27, with the Avalanche focusing mainly on Day 2, as they have no draft picks until the fourth round. So the Avalanche will have some time to scout some later-round players before they decide where to make some space for the roster this free agency.

Avalanche Prospect Shock: Mikhail Gulyayev Signs KHL Extension Through 2028Avalanche Prospect Shock: Mikhail Gulyayev Signs KHL Extension Through 2028Mikhail Gulyayev’s new two-year KHL extension with Avangard Omsk pushes his long-awaited NHL arrival with the Colorado Avalanche back to at least 2028-29, extending uncertainty around the 2023 first-round pick’s development path.
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Where to watch Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Friday, May 29

The Philadelphia Phillies open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scheduled starting pitchers are Zack Wheeler for Philadelphia, with a 1.67 ERA, and Justin Wrobleski for Los Angeles, with a 3.07 ERA.

  • Philadelphia Phillies: 29-27 (No. 2 in NL East)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers: 36-20 (No. 1 in NL West)

  • Spread: Los Angeles Dodgers 1.5

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers -119 (52.0%) / Philadelphia Phillies -101 (48.0%)

  • Over/Under: 8.0

Philadelphia Phillies: Zack Wheeler (4-0, ERA: 1.67, K: 36, WHIP: 0.82)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Justin Wrobleski (6-2, ERA: 3.07, K: 31, WHIP: 1.11)

Weather: 66°F at first pitch

Ballpark: Capacity: 56,000 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass

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Four Nostalgic But Extremely Unlikely Hires The Canucks Could Make

There’s a nostalgic feeling to how the Vancouver Canucks’ new management team is starting to shake out. With Ryan Johnson as the Canucks’ new General Manager, Daniel and Henrik Sedin now co-Presidents of Hockey Operations, Alex Edler reportedly helping out with Vancouver’s development camp, and Manny Malhotra being eyed as the franchise’s next head coach, it appears the Canucks are taking a sentimental route when it comes to forming the leadership behind their next era. 

With culture and environment being a priority heading into Vancouver’s first stage of their rebuild, it looks as though the Canucks will be drawing heavily from the experiences faced by those late 2000s to early 2010s teams that took Vancouver to the Stanley Cup Final. 

These four players are very unlikely to re-join the Canucks organization at this stage in their careers. However, if they did, they would fit seamlessly with the team’s nostalgic trajectory. 

Kevin Bieksa 

You knew this one was coming. 

While the likelihood of Bieksa leaving his position as a Sportsnet analyst feels highly unlikely at this stage, the Canucks bringing the grizzled defenceman back would make a lot of fans happy. Bieksa evidently still has strong feelings towards the organization that he retired with after signing a one-day contract with them, and paired with the way he speaks of culture in the dressing room, he’d be a great addition to the new-but-familiar look of the Canucks organization. 

Alex Burrows 

He’s in the Ring of Honour for a reason. 

A hard-worker who fought his way up to the NHL, right into a spot on the Sedins’ line, Burrows would be a great coaching hire for the Canucks — regardless of whether he’s an assistant, head coach, or even in Abbotsford. The ex-Canuck currently operates as a player development consultant for the Montréal Canadiens, even getting a shout-out from head coach Martin St. Louis at the beginning of his team’s Eastern Conference Final series. 

While Burrows would be a great candidate on paper for the Canucks, there’s a reason why he left his role as assistant coach for the Canadiens — wanting to spend more time with his family. Coming back to Vancouver would only make that more difficult. 

Jeff Tambellini 

Tambellini was reported to have been part of the Canucks’ GM search at the end of April, though evidently, the former Canuck was not the organization’s final selection. 

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations has spent nearly six seasons in an NHL front-office, as he also put in three years as the Seattle Kraken’s Director of Player Development.

With the Sedins’ promotion causing a noticeable vacancy in the player development space, a former Canuck like Tambellini would be an interesting hire for Vancouver. 

Roberto Luongo 

The Florida Panthers’ Special Assistant To The General Manager would be an interesting name to add to Vancouver’s organization, especially given that he has now won two Stanley Cups with his current team in his advisor role. A former player whose place in the Canucks’ Ring of Honour has sparked debate, specifically about jersey retirement in this context, Luongo’s name was thrown around during Vancouver’s GM search — though there were no specific reports connecting him to the role. 

There’s no secret that a Luongo hire would be fun, but that would require the ex-Canucks goaltender to either move his family back to Vancouver, or return on his own. 

Feb 12, 2020; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Former NHL player Kevin Bieksa speaks during the Sedin's retirement ceremony for twin brothers Daniel Sedin (22) and Henrik Sedin (33) of Sweden as their Vancouver Canucks jerseys are retired to the rafters of Rogers Arena prior to a game between the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2020; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Former NHL player Kevin Bieksa speaks during the Sedin's retirement ceremony for twin brothers Daniel Sedin (22) and Henrik Sedin (33) of Sweden as their Vancouver Canucks jerseys are retired to the rafters of Rogers Arena prior to a game between the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

Realistically, these four hires are extremely unlikely — but they’re still fun to think about. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Where to watch New York Yankees vs. Athletics: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Friday, May 29

The New York Yankees, second in the AL East with a 34-22 record, face the Athletics, who are second in the AL West at 27-29. The New York Yankees are favored with a -153 moneyline compared to the Athletics' +127. Starting pitchers are scheduled to be Carlos Rodón for the Yankees, with a 4.15 ERA, and Luis Severino for the Athletics, with a 4.23 ERA.

  • New York Yankees: 34-22 (No. 2 in AL East)

  • Athletics: 27-29 (No. 2 in AL West)

  • Spread: Athletics +1.5

  • Moneyline: Athletics +127 (42.1%) / New York Yankees -153 (57.9%)

  • Over/Under: 10.0

New York Yankees: Carlos Rodón (0-2, ERA: 4.15, K: 17, WHIP: 1.46)
Athletics: Luis Severino (2-5, ERA: 4.23, K: 64, WHIP: 1.44)

Weather: 72°F at first pitch

Ballpark: Capacity: 14,111 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass

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Bullpen faces more injuries with Nick Mears latest to IL

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 07: Nick Mears #31 of the Kansas City Royals looks on during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 07, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Royals’ bullpen took another hit on Friday when the team announced Nick Mears has been placed on the Injured List with right shoulder impingement. The Royals recalled reliever Eric Cerantola from Triple-A Omaha to replace him on the roster.

Mears pitched on Tuesday, giving up two walks and two hits among the six Yankees batters he faced in a 7-0 loss. The Royals already had relievers Carlos Estévez and Matt Strahm on the Injured List, in addition to starters Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic. Mears had appeared in 21 games this year with a 5.12 ERA and 15 strikeouts and 11 walks in 19.1 innings.

Cerantola had been up in a previous stint with the Royals, appearing in two games with five strikeouts, while giving up four walks and three runs in three innings.