Memories of that one-two punch rushed back Friday when the two sluggers embraced on the field during the Subway Series opener at Citi Field.
But what Judge is doing with his current left-handed teammate also has been special.
With Judge and Ben Rice seemingly going deep on a daily basis, they entered Saturday as only the second pair of teammates in franchise history to have hit at least 14 home runs in the Yankees’ first 45 games of a season.
The first?
Ben Rice (22) and Aaron Judge are pictured during the Yankees’ May 16 win against the Mets. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
Not Judge and Soto.
Instead, it was Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in their famous 1961 season, when both threatened Babe Ruth’s home run record and Maris broke it.
The only other duo to have done it in the majors since 2008 was George Springer and Alex Bregman with the Astros in 2019, as they combined for 31 home runs.
They’ve done plenty of damage recently, as Rice entered Saturday with 10 home runs in his previous 23 games, while Judge had 13 in his last 31 appearances.
As Aaron Boone noted Friday, Soto remains “one of the game’s best hitters.”
Increasingly, though, it appears Rice may belong there with him.
Juan Soto hits a home run during the Mets’ May 14 game against the Tigers. Charles Wenzelberg
The lefty-swinging Rice entered Saturday with an OPS of 1.092 versus left-handed pitching, nearly as lethal as the 1.109 OPS he posted against righties.
That’s quite a leap from the .752 mark against lefties from a year ago, as well as his still-impressive .860 against right-handers.
As Boone said Friday, Rice’s season thus far has been “awesome.”
“There have been really great at-bats [and] consistent at-bats from the start of the season,’’ the manager said. “He’s hitting for power [and] controlling the strike zone. He’s hit left- and right-handed pitching. He’s been one of the best hitters in the sport six or seven weeks in.”
The numbers back it up, with Rice leading the majors with a 1.104 OPS and a slugging percentage of .686, as well as the fourth-best on-base percentage (.418).
Rice is also hitting the ball harder than he did a year ago.
He also wears the same No. 22 that Soto wore in The Bronx and still wears for the Mets.
On Friday, it was Rice — and Judge — who started the key three-run rally with two outs in the top of the third against former teammate Clay Holmes.
Rice, after losing an ABS challenge that put him down in the count, pulled a single to right before Judge followed with a base hit to the opposite field.
Cody Bellinger then came through in the cleanup spot and made the Mets pay with a run-scoring double, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. drove in two more with another double to right.
Nobody on the roster has more hits or RBIs on the season than Rice and Judge.
While they have a long way to go to match the shared production of Judge and Soto two seasons ago, Judge and Rice are off to a promising start.
DENVER, CO - May 16: Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (11) pitches in the first inning during a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies notched a close win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a bit of an odd game where the final score doesn’t quite reflect how many runners got on in a game where both teams combined for 21 hits.
Pitchers and the defense were ultimately able to work out of trouble. Tomoyuki Sugano 菅野 智之d set the tone, the offense chipped away at Eduardo Rodriguez, and the bullpen closed things out.
Heavy traffic on the basepaths early
It was a small ball battle through the first few innings. Both teams found ways to get runners on and move them around, sometimes in wonky ways.
Sugano was able to withstand some early pressure from Arizona. Ketel Marte started things off immediately with a leadoff single to right field. Fortunately for the Rockies, Marte took off to second on a broken bat line drive from Corbin Carroll and got doubled up. After the double play, Sugano gave up another single to Geraldo Perdomo who then stole second, but Sugano ultimately worked out of the inning without any damage.
After going missing Friday, the Rockies offense came alive. The team matched the four hits they posted through all of last night in just the first inning. Better yet, baserunners were converted to runs.
Willi Castro, batting leadoff to take advantage of his strong numbers against Rodriguez, singled to center field before being moved to third on a Brenton Doyle ground rule double. TJ Rumfield singled to bring Castro home. Then, Mickey Moniak added to his team-leading 27 RBI, scoring Doyle with a bloop single out to left center.
In the second inning, Arizona cut into the lead on a weird one. After a Lourdes Gurriel Jr. double and a Jose Fernandez single put runners on first and third, the Diamondbacks went for a rare double steal. Fernandez made it safely to second and Gurriel beat the throw to steal home, notching a run.
The Rockies were able to get the run back in the bottom of the inning. Kyle Karros doubled and Jake McCarthy tried to copy that feat, but was thrown out trying for two. Nevertheless, Karros was able to speed around to home, making it a 3-1 game.
Calmer middle innings (mostly)
With all of that early traffic, both starters found themselves high in their pitch count with over 60 pitches each by the third inning. They pushed through and were able to settle things down for the next few innings.
Despite more guys finding their way on via a walk, a hit by pitch, and a single, both teams posted a scoreless third. Hunter Goodman had a fantastic defensive play to help make that happen, throwing Carroll out on an attempted steal of second. Both teams were kept in check in the fourth as well, each posting a 1-2-3 inning.
A pair of doubles from Marte and Carroll in the fifth inning got the Serpientes back on the board again, bringing the game to 3-2. Following that, the Rockies turned to the bullpen in the top of the sixth. Juan Mejia replaced Sugano, who ended his day with 5.0 innings pitched, seven hits, two earned runs, and a single strikeout.
Arizona tried to get a little more out of Rodriguez and let him start the sixth. After getting Moniak to fly out, Rodriguez was pulled for Taylor Clark. He left after 5.1 innings pitched, giving up nine hits, three earned runs, and six strikeouts.
Holding your breath with the bullpen
Mejia got off to a strong start in relief, forcing two grounders and a fly out for a quick sixth inning. Clark did the same, getting Ezequiel Tovar to pop out and Sterlin Thompson to ground out after coming in for Rodriguez.
The seventh inning was a different story for Mejia. After getting James McCann to ground out, he walked Ryan Waldschmidt and, later, Carroll. With runners on first and second with two outs, the Rockies went back to the bullpen and brought in Jaden Hill to get the last out. Hill threw a wild pitch, which moved the tying run up to third. Thankfully, Hill stayed strong and got Gurriel to ground out.
The Diamondbacks’ bullpen faced pressure from a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the inning, but escaped as well. Following a Karros groundout, McCarthy singled and stole second. He couldn’t do anything with it though, getting doubled up after a bad baserunning read on a Castro pop out to shallow right.
Hill pitched a wonderful eighth inning, which set things up nicely for the Rockies as things fell apart for Arizona with a rough bottom of the inning from reliever Brandyn Garcia. Garcia gave up a single, followed that up with a wild pitch and a walk, and then another single to load the bases. Moniak took one for the team, getting plunked in the ribs to take first, pushing Doyle home. Colorado took a 4-2 lead into the ninth.
Antonio Senzatela entered to close out the game and, while it didn’t come easy, he did just that. Perdomo had a great at-bat, fouling off several balls to stay alive with runners on first and second. Senza got the better of him after 10 pitches, with a deep fly ball to end the game with a win.
Final thoughts
Sugano earned the win, moving to 4-3 and bringing his ERA down to 4.02 in the process. He also notched the 150th victory of his professional career. In a postgame interview, he noted that he’s happy about it but is already focused on trying to earn his 151st win for the team.
Skipper Warren Schaeffer celebrated 150 a little more: “Isn’t that great? He’s just such the ultimate professional on a daily basis, whether he’s pitching or not… You can just tell he’s been doing it at a high-level for a long time… It’s a great milestone, well deserved.”
Antonio Senzatela was credited with his third save of the year.
Rodriguez took the loss, his first of the season, bringing him to 4-1. Schaeffer praised the team’s quick start and their ability to get to Rodriguez: “We needed that. We’ve been talking about starting things early in the game… and we did a nice job with that today.”
Up Next
The Rockies and DBacks will conclude the three game series with a Sunday afternoon rubber match.
In a battle of the Michaels, Michael Soroka is scheduled to start for Arizona while Michael Lorenzen will take the mound for the Rockies. Soroka is 5-2 in eight starts with a 3.53 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts. Lorenzen has the opposite record, going 2-5 in nine starts with a 6.55 ERA, 1.84 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts.
May 16, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez (61) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Baseball players don’t get a lot of Saturdays off during the season. Cristopher Sánchez made sure that the Phillies bullpen got to enjoy a quiet day off. He also ensured that Dusty Wathan, subbing in for Don Mattingly (who was attending his son’s graduation), had a win in his first game as manager. He’s a generous fellow, and that generosity extends to his foes. He offers them as many strikeouts as they can carry.
The Phillies got off to a blazing start against Pittsburgh starter Bubba Chandler, with Trea Turner singling to right and Kyle Schwarber working the count full, then taking a pitch high for a walk. That brought Bryce Harper to the plate. He did just about everything yesterday, save for hitting a homer, and he came so close to doing that in the ninth of that thrilling affair that a referral to the replay room was needed to confirm that the ball had failed to break free of PNC Park’s verdant walls. Harper, not inclined to leave anything to chance this time around, knocked a four-seamer so far over the wall in center that no doubt was left. 3-0 Phillies before a single out was recorded.
The Buccos’ start, however, was less than boffo. Cristopher Sánchez struck out the first two Pirates, one looking, one swinging, then induced an easy groundout to conclude a thoroughly satisfying first frame for the visitors.
The second was no less satisfying. J.T. Realmuto got aboard via the free pass, as did Turner. Schwarber slapped a ball right up the first base line, scoring Realmuto; Turner scored when Pirates right fielder Jared Triolo made a throwing error (as both a Jared and a Phillies fan, my feelings on this are mixed).
The Pirates changed course as the fourth dawned, replacing Chandler with Evan Sisk, first baseman Ryan O’Hearn with Nick Yorke, then moving Triolo from right to first. Sisk walked Justin Crawford and allowed him to advance as far as third, but concluded the inning without allowing a run.
Meanwhile, Sánchez sent Bucco after Bucco to the brig. He allowed a two-out double to Bryan Reynolds in the fourth, but put Marcell Ozuna away to end the threat.
The fifth saw Alec Bohm double, and Sisk was pulled for Isaac Mattson to set up a righty-0n-righty matchup against Adolis García. The maneuver paid off, sending García down on strikes. Mattson pitched a scoreless sixth, too. The Pirates had stopped the bleeding, but still hadn’t found a way to score on Sánchez. And as the sixth closed, they still hadn’t.
Konnor Griffin knocked a Sánchez changeup right up the third base line for a leadoff double in the seventh. The Pirates thus threatened to seize some spoils from the Philadelphia coffers. But the mighty ship Sánchez is unsinkable. He induced a flyout from Reynolds, then struck out Ozuna and Yorke to ensure that Griffin stayed right where he was. A stranded runner on second isn’t quite Blackbeard’s severed head hanging at Chesapeake Bay, but it was nevertheless a powerful symbol of fear for the Pirates.
The Phillies returned to their run-scoring ways in the eighth. Pittsburgh reliever Justin Lawrence walked Justin Crawford, and a subsequent Turner double, bouncing around off the wall, gave the rookie plenty of time to score from first (not that he needs much of it, given his speed).
Sánchez came out for the eighth, and the Pirates once again put the leadoff runner on (Nick Gonzales, single). And once again, the Pirates went back to their dugout without a run to their name. Sánchez struck out the next two Pirates, bringing his total for the day to an even dozen. The next batter, Henry Davis, made loud contact as he sent a fly ball to center; against a slower fielder he would’ve had a run-scoring base hit. But Crawford is far from slow, and he chased down the ball for the out.
Sánchez took to the mound in the ninth, looking to finish his business. It took him one pitch to get the first out (groundout, Oneil Cruz). Griffin fought his way to a 3-2 count, then slapped a sinker through the left-side gap for a single. Reynolds followed his lead, sending a sinker up the first base line to put runners at the corners, one away. Ozuna went down on a foul tip, giving Sánchez a baker’s dozen of Ks, and a career high. Only Yorke separated Sánchez from the complete game shutout. He grounded to Turner, who hurled the ball to first, where it found Harper’s outstretched glove in time.
The CGSO is at risk of vanishing. Sánchez is doing yeoman’s work to get it off the endangered species list.
The Phillies, at 23-23, have reached .500 again. They’ll try to give themselves a winning record tomorrow, as Zack Wheeler takes on Paul Skenes at 1:35.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 15: Aaron Judge #99 high fives Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees after hitting a home run during the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 15, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Friday night saw the Yankees and Mets renew the Subway Series for 2026, and it went pretty well for the Bronx half of the rivalry. Led by another good start from Cam Schlittler, the Yankees downed the Mets to take round one. However, it’s a new day, and the two teams will now face off in round two.
For the Yankees, Carlos Rodón is set to make his second start of the season. In his return from the injured list against the Brewers, he struggled a bit, especially with control, issuing five walks. The hope is that he was just shaking off a bit of rust, as his return has now become a bit more crucial with Max Fried hitting the IL himself.
While righty Huascar Brazobán will start in an opener role for the Mets, the Yankees have sent out the lefty-hitting lineup, as Paul Goldschmidt will play first base and hit cleanup — Ben Rice is DHing at leadoff — with Amed Rosario over at third base.
As mentioned, Brazobán will pitch the first inning for the Mets, but probably not much after that. He’s played the opener role in two other recent game for the Mets, with lefty David Peterson playing the “bulk guy” role in both of those games. The 2025 All-Star has taken his lumps early on in 2026, leading to his removal from the rotation and in this current position.
We hope that you’ll come join us in the game thread tonight, so here’s everything you need to know on how to catch the action.
How to watch
Location: Citi Field – Flushing, NY
First pitch: 7:15 pm ET
TV broadcast: FOX
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App 92.3 HD2 (NYM)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 15: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves stands off second base in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park on May 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, it’s time to see if the Braves can win another series by taking back-to-back games. Bryce Elder, who is hopefully up to being Bryce Eldar again, faces Payton Tolle.
I really want to have some kind of riff on Tolle’s name with The Phantom Tollbooth but it gets awkward — Phaynton Tollebooth? Nah. What about just, “Time to pay the Tolle!” Ah, I’ll stick to my day job.
Apr 28, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) and left wing Matt Boldy (12) and left wing Marcus Johansson (90) look on in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek were unable to play for Minnesota in the second-round series against Colorado in the NHL playoffs because of broken bones in their feet, the veteran stalwarts revealed Friday in season-ending interviews with reporters.
Brodin suffered a fracture in the big toe in his right foot when he blocked a shot in Game 5 of the Wild’s first-round series against Dallas, requiring surgery and forcing him to miss the clinching win over the Stars and all five games against the Avalanche.
The Wild were eliminated on Wednesday in a 4-3 overtime loss in Denver, with both Brodin and Eriksson Ek relegated to watching the game on TV. Their defensive acumen, physical presence and playoff experience were all missed against the high-scoring Avalanche, who had the best regular season record in the league.
Brodin, who finished his 14th season in the NHL, all with the Wild, was aiming to return at the end of the conference finals if they were to advance.
“It’s awful to not play in the playoffs,” Brodin said. “Best time of the year.”
Eriksson Ek, who finished his 10th season in the NHL, all with the Wild, broke the heel bone in his right foot in Game 6 against Dallas. He took part in practice in a limited basis before Game 3 against Colorado last week, but he said he was unable to fully push off the foot on the ice.
“You want to play,” Eriksson Ek said. “I just couldn’t do it. Too painful to skate.”
Brodin also had to miss the Olympics this year when surgery on an earlier lower body injury kept him from playing for Sweden.
“It’s a frustrating year. We’ve got to stay positive and come back stronger next year,” Brodin said.
WEST SACRAMENTO – There’s a very real possibility that at some point this season, Casey Schmitt could be used as the Giants’ everyday left fielder, an idea that has moved closer to reality now that Heliot Ramos is on the injured list.
Manager Tony Vitello has talked sporadically about that very idea in recent weeks, with his main focus being on making sure Schmitt has a spot in San Francisco’s lineup, no matter where it is.
That’s how good Schmitt has been swinging the bat lately.
The 27-year-old was in the DH spot for Saturday’s game against the Athletics and flexed his muscle with four hits that included a pair of home runs and three RBI, leading the Giants to a 6-4 win at Sutter Health Park.
“He’s been one of our best producers for the whole year,” Vitello said. “The one thing with Ramos being out, some of those other guys are going to get what you’re asking for. I just think he keeps things really simple. He’s got a good intellect to him, but he doesn’t seem to spin his wheels in areas that there’s no point doing it.“
Schmitt’s wheels haven’t been spinning in place. When he makes contact, the ball sails as he scurries around the bases.
Saturday marked Schmitt’s second multi-home run game in MLB, leaving the utility man brimming afterward.
“I just keep the confidence in myself,” Schmitt said. “I’m not dwelling on past days or past mistakes. Every day is a new day for me. I try to keep it as simple as that.”
That approach has been working fine for Schmitt and the Giants.
Have a bad day? Turn the page and move on. Have a great day? Turn the page and move on.
“A couple days ago I struck out four times against the Dodgers, but just going in there and keeping it simple,” Schmitt explained.
Sounds easy enough, but Schmitt has bounced around the field like a ping-pong ball in the NBA lottery.
Saturday’s game was his 21st at DH. Schmitt has also spent time at first base (11), second base (2) and third base (3). He even got a brief taste of left field Friday, entering the game as a defensive replacement when Ramos got hurt.
“I’ve been shagging a lot and taking reads and stuff,” Schmitt said. “Got [into the game] yesterday. No balls.”
Whatever happens defensively, the Giants want Schmitt to remain in a comfortable spot at the plate.
“I wasn’t really trying to hit a homer. I was just trying to hit a liner, and I was able to get two in the air,” he said. “We’re going to be in a good spot. Just going out there trying to win every single game.”
ATLANTA (AP) — The Red Sox placed struggling shortstop Trevor Story on the 10-day injured list with a sports hernia Saturday.
Boston promoted utility player Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester to take Story’s roster spot.
Story played in 41 of Boston’s first 43 games before sitting out the opener of a three-game series at Atlanta on Friday night. He is batting .206 with three homers in his fifth season with the Red Sox. He has also committed six errors. His .547 OPS ranks 165th of 173 qualified hitters.
Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Story has been dealing with the injury since spring training and recently decided he would stop trying to play through it. Story is seeking out additional opinions to see if surgery will be needed.
“Everybody’s still on the information-gathering part of that, and then once you get that, there’s various routes to go,” Tracy said. “You’ve got to know exactly what he’s dealing with first, so we got to get all that information.”
Andruw Monasterio started in Story’s place Friday night against the Braves and was in the lineup again Saturday. He is hitting .258 in 22 games this season. Tracy said the team will evaluate the possibility of moving second baseman Marcelo Mayer to shortstop if it appears Story will be out for a while.
A two-time All-Star, Story joins outfielder Roman Anthony (right wrist sprain) and Garrett Crochet (left shoulder inflammation) on the IL for the Red Sox, who are last in the AL East. Anthony did some throwing for the second straight day before the game and Crochet threw a 35-pitch side session.
Looking to right the ship, Davis Martin takes the mound. | Photo by Michael Hirschuber/Getty Images)
Well, well, well, if it wasn’t for those meddling Chicago Cubs and our bullpen explosion, we would have come away with a victory last night. Not even a Scooby Doo reference can dull the late innings of yesterday’s ballgame; however, the Chicago White Sox have a new game in front of them this evening, with the chance to tie the series.
Our ace, Davis Martin (5-1, 1.62 ERA, 3.89 xERA), takes the mound, and he has been outstanding. Taking a look at his Baseball Savant page he’s been the total package in overall run value, and almost exclusively throws strikes:
Even more importantly, he’s been a steady veteran presence with the power to right the ship whenever it has veered off-course. During last night’s broadcast, Mike Vasil was glowing about Martin and showed deep admiration for Davis’ routine and purpose behind every action he takes on and off the bump. If I can add one recommendation to the routine, if not already implemented: Let’s not give the Cubs anything tonight.
Sharing the mound, Jameson Taillon (2-2, 3.94 ERA, 4.21 xERA) notches the start for the Bad Guys. Like Martin, Taillon has also only given up three earned runs in his last two starts. Unlike Martin, Taillon has a hard time missing barrels:
Tonight is the perfect opportunity for the Sox power hitters, especially, to feast off Taillon. If they can hold up against the breaking ball, there’s a good chance the bottom half of the scoreboard will be full of runs.
Looking to the Sox lineup, Will Venable has really solidified his starting nine against right-handed pitchers:
Munetaka Murakami (15 homers) looks to break his slump and add to his home run total, while Miguel Vargas (10) and Colson Montgomery (12) look to homer in back-to-back games.
The North Siders will put out their starting nine like so:
Miguel Amaya starts at catcher, leaving Carson Kelly and last night’s four RBIs on the bench.
Game two of this three-game set between the Good Guys and Bad Guys starts at 6:10 p.m. CT on CHSN and ESPN 1000. Let’s even up the series!
TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (18-28) will continue their seven-game homestand today as they look to win the second of a three game series against the rival Texas Rangers (21-23).
Astros starter RHP Kai-Wei Teng (1-3, 3.12 ERA), who tossed his fifth straight quality start his last time out, will oppose RHP Jacob deGrom(3-2, 2.62 ERA) and the Rangers in the second game of the series .
ABOUT TENG: RHP Kai-Wei Teng is still making the transition to the rotation. He threw three clean innings last time out before losing steam in the fourth inning. According to Joe Espada, they are hoping he can get to 75 pitches in tonight’s game.
ABOUT DEGROM: Jacob deGrom has an 99-67 career record with a 2.57 ERA in 1584.1. career innings. He holds a 1-2 record against the Astros with a 3.70 ERA in 24.1 innings.
VS. TEXAS: The Astros and Rangers are playing their first series of 2026. Today’s game marks the second game of the annual Silver Boot Series with the Silver Boot going to the team with the most victories. Tonight’s contest will be the 301th game between these two teams as the series is deadlocked at a perfect 150-150. The Astros retained the Silver Boot last season by winning seven games in 13 tries.
HOT SPAGHETTI: Last night’s Astros starter RHP Spencer Arrighetti made his season debut on April 15 and has since gone 5-1 with a 1.50 ERA (6ER/36IP) and a .176 opponent average in six starts…among all AL pitchers with at least 35.0 innings, Arrighetti ranks second in ERA (1.88) and third in opponent average (.176), and despite making his first three starts at the Triple A level, Arrighetti ranks tied for third in the AL in wins (5).
ARMED FORCES DAY: Today in honor of Armed Forces Appreciation Weekend, a ceremonial first pitch, made possible by Houston Area Chevy Dealers, will be thrown out by former U.S. Navy Petty Officer Mark Tyson…Tyson completed two Western Pacific deployments to the Persian Gulf in 2000 and 2002, and supported major operations including Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Southern Watch. For his dedicated service and sacrifice, he was awarded numerous military honors.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, May 16, 6:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Mikal Bridges drives to the basket during the Knicks' May 6 playoff game against the 76ers.
Mike Brown kept his faith in Mikal Bridges.
And Bridges has since rewarded him.
After the first three games of the first round against the Hawks, Brown faced a litany of questions about whether he would take Bridges out of the starting lineup.
Brown acknowledged that “everything is on the table,” but supported Bridges and opted against shaking up the starting unit.
“It’s always great when your coach has got trust in you,” Bridges said after practice Saturday. “Yeah, that’s great. And teammates staying with it, keeping me confident, as well. I think we all know the end goal is just trying to win games and do whatever it takes to win. Even in my mistakes, just try to do whatever it takes and know that I just gotta bounce back and learn from them.”
Mikal Bridges drives to the basket during the Knicks’ May 6 playoff game against the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg
Bridges thrived in the second round against the 76ers, averaging 17.5 points per game on 63.8 percent shooting from the field and 38.5 percent shooting from 3-point range.
That was a big jump up from the 10.0 points per game he averaged in the first round and more than the 14.4 points per game he averaged in the regular season.
He helped fill the scoring void with OG Anunoby missing Games 3 and 4 due to a right hamstring strain.
“I was just telling the truth,” Brown said Saturday. “He can play, he’s been in this situation before, we’ve had success with him. So I was just basically answering the questions regarding him. He’s earned the right to be there. He’s earned the right to do a lot of different things. And I was just reiterating it. He’s definitely an important piece of what we’re trying to do.”
It’s become a bit of a recurring theme for Bridges, now in his second season with the Knicks.
Last year, he had a rocky regular season before elevating in the postseason and delivering some of the most consequential plays of the run to the Eastern Conference finals.
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This year’s regular season again left a lot to be desired and raised persistent questions about his impact.
But right now, he’s playing some of his best basketball.
“Just continue to play,” Bridges said. “I think that’s really what it is. You can’t look at the past. You learn from it, but just be present and do what you gotta do to get better. I think that’s really it. Just learn from each game and try to get better every single game. And that’s really it. I always try to play to help [the team] win and just keep trying to get better. That’s been the outcome.”
Reinforcements are on the way for an Astros roster ravaged by injuries through the first 46 games of the season.
Jeremy Peña, Jake Meyers, and Nate Pearson could rejoin the Astros next week while Josh Hader and Hunter Brown continue to progress in their rehabs, Astros manager Joe Espada said before Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers.
Peña and Meyers were in the starting lineup for Double-A Corpus Christi against Amarillo on Saturday, and Pearson is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday in Tacoma.
If all goes well, Espada said all three could be available at some point during the Astros three-game series in Minneapolis, which starts on Monday night.
Peña, on the IL since April 12 with a grade one hamstring strain, went 0 for 5 on Friday night in the second game of his rehab assignment. He did not play on Wednesday or Thursday after leaving Tuesday’s game following a collision at second base.
Meyers, who landed on the IL with a right oblique strain on April 9, has gone hitless in his first two rehab games.
Pearson has appeared in six minor league games in his recovery from elbow surgery. His velocity got up to 101.3 MPH on Tuesday.
While their returns are not imminent, Josh Hader and Hunter Brown continue to progress in their rehabs.
Hader won’t be ready to come off the IL when he’s eligible on May 24, but Espada said he’ll only need five more rehab outings as he continues what is essentially his spring training ramp-up.
The Astros lefty struck out two in a scoreless inning for Corpus Christi on Friday. Hader was off for two days between his last two rehab appearances, and the final step will be pitching on back-to-back days.
Brown, who isn’t eligible to return until June 1, will throw a live BP on Tuesday. He will start a rehab assignment shortly after, if all goes well.
The Astros entered Saturday’s game with 14 players on the injured list.
Mikal Bridges defends during the Knicks' May 10 playoff game against the 76ers.
It’s been a roller-coaster journey for the Knicks point-of-attack and perimeter defense this season.
And it’s an area that will be pivotal to reaching the finals.
Both the Cavaliers and Pistons — who square off in Game 7 Sunday night in Detroit — present dangerous threats at guard.
If it’s the Pistons, Cade Cunningham is a matchup headache and foundational to everything they do offensively.
If it’s the Cavaliers, they have a two-headed attack with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
As those guards go, their teams go.
Offensively, everything runs through them.
“It’s huge,” Miles McBride said. “Obviously, every round gets tougher. Different opponents, different challenges, so having a great point-of-attack [defense] on the perimeter is super important. And then trusting our guys at the rim to make plays or rotations. But it’s about energy and effort and just the whole team locking in.”
The Knicks struggled in that department for the first half of the year, in a unique scheme that emphasized forcing ball handlers into the middle of the court.
Their defense was getting broken down too frequently, resulting in open shots for opponents.
Midway through the year, they switched that scheme to a much more traditional one — forcing ball handlers to the sideline and baseline and placing an emphasis on keeping them out of the middle of the court and the paint.
The results were much better.
Mikal Bridges defends during the Knicks’ May 10 playoff game against the 76ers. Imagn Images
In the first round against the Hawks, they did a strong job on Jalen Johnson (who is not a guard but is a perimeter scorer), though CJ McCollum torched them the first three games of the series.
Then, after switching Josh Hart onto him, the Knicks made McCollum a nonfactor and cruised into the second round.
Mikal Bridges — along with McBride at times — did a terrific job stifling Tyrese Maxey in the second round against the 76ers.
Hart neutralized VJ Edgecombe.
The offensive transformation by the Knicks gets most of the attention.
But their defensive dominance — especially on the perimeter — has been key to this seven-game winning streak and the unprecedented blowouts.
Miles McBride defends during the Knicks’ May 8 playoff game against the 76ers. Getty Images
“We have to make sure that at the point of attack, there’s ball pressure with a little bit of physicality, but without fouling, without sending a guy to the free-throw line,” coach Mike Brown said. “And then knowing it’s not just the guy that’s at the point of attack, but it’s all five guys guarding the basketball. And whenever the ball moves, all five guys have to move with it. And then lastly, mixing up your coverages but being able to understand the different coverages and being able to go back and forth between them pretty seamlessly.”
Bridges and Hart — and McBride off the bench — would likely match up with Mitchell and Harden, though OG Anunoby could be an option as well.
Cunningham and the Pistons would be a bit trickier.
His size and strength are uncommon for most guards, a big reason he has risen to superstar status.
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Bridges does not always handle stronger opponents as well as he does the smaller, quicker ones.
Last year, the Knicks primarily had Anunoby guard Cunningham.
“It starts with defense,” Bridges said. “I think that’s the biggest key. Just do what my coaches ask and play hard, knowing the scout [report]. Just me personally, just trying to do the right things and then always knowing I got four guys behind me. Such a team defense that we’re [playing] and everybody just knowing what we’re supposed to be doing and playing on a string.”
The effort on the perimeter has a domino effect on the Knicks bigs as well.
Karl-Anthony Towns, in particular, improved defensively in the second half of the regular season.
It’s no coincidence it aligned with their schematic change and improved perimeter defense.
“Point of attack is important, it’s the most important thing,” Towns said. “To have our wings and our guards playing defense at the perimeter at a high level, it makes my job easier but also makes our team better. Shout-out to them.”
Right now, the Knicks perimeter defense certainly deserves a shout-out.
The Dodgers will count on Roki Sasaki (11) even more now with key injuries affecting the starting rotation. AP
Early this year, he couldn’t command his pitches. He wasn’t getting deep into starts. And though he had managed to avoid many disasters, his place on the club seemed tenuous at best.
In recent weeks, however, circumstances have changed.
The Dodgers lost Tyler Glasnow (back spasms) and Blake Snell (loose bodies in his elbow) to the injured list. They went from having a looming rotation crunch (in which either Sasaki or Emmet Sheehan seemed likely to be demoted) to a sudden lack of big-league rotation depth.
Against that backdrop, Sasaki has also shown some encouraging signs. In each of his last three outings, he has pitched into the sixth inning. And while his ERA remains close to 6.00, he has been able to better attack the strike zone and cut down on his walks.
Early this year, he couldn’t command his pitches. AP
Because of that, manager Dave Roberts has praised the progress he believes the supposed phenom is making. Sasaki said his last couple games are as good as he has felt all season.
Alas, the 24-year-old right-hander is still nowhere near where he wants to be.
Such is the duality facing Sasaki ahead of his next outing on Sunday against the Angels and entering what figures to be a critical stretch of the season for himself and the team.
Sasaki is scheduled to make his next start Sunday against the Angels in Anaheim. AP
He has proved he can at least survive at the MLB level. He remains better than any currently available rotation alternative the Dodgers could turn to.
But becoming the Cy Young-caliber talent that he was billed as when he first arrived from Japan? That remains a long-term, and still uncertain, work in progress.
“To me, it feels as if I’ve already taken a lot of time,” Sasaki said last week. “The situation has been painful … All I can do is aim for that and build toward it.”
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The absence of Glasnow (who will be out for at least a couple more weeks) and Snell (who will likely be sidelined for the next 2-3 months) means greater responsibility is set to fall to him; to pitch deeper into games, to do better at preventing runs, and to be more than someone simply trying to cling to a roster spot.
“Whether it comes right away or gradually is something I don’t even know,” Sasaki said. “I imagine what I want to be and work my way backward from that. If I stop that process, then it’s over. As long as I have a chance, I have to continue to progress.”
But becoming the Cy Young-caliber talent that he was billed as when he first arrived from Japan? That remains a long-term, and still uncertain, work in progress. Getty Images
The good news is that ingredients for such success have begun to show themselves. Sasaki has made significant strides with his fastball command over the last month, going from nearly seven walks per nine innings in his first three outings to just six total free passes in his last 20 ⅔ frames. The addition of a new, harder splitter to complement his trademark, but difficult-to-control, forkball has also been seen by club officials as a positive.
“Roki’s certainly doing his part,” Roberts said last week.
Sasaki’s next challenge will be limiting hard contact (he has the fourth-highest home run rate among any pitcher with at least 30 innings this year) and maintaining his stuff deeper into starts (in two of his last three outings, he pushed into the sixth inning but was removed before recording another out).
If he does that, it could help alleviate the Dodgers’ sudden injury problems and lessen the strain it figures to place on their bullpen.
If he can’t, then his admittedly “painful” growth process will continue, at precisely the time the Dodgers need more out of him.
Jaylen Brown controls the ball against Tyrese Maxey. | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
As heartbreaking as it is to watch a team with legitimate championship aspirations fall in the first round to a rival, there is a silver lining for grieving Celtics fans.
With the extra few weeks, the Celtics can allocate even more time to an area that separates them from the bulk of other NBA teams: player development. OK, maybe it doesn’t remove the pain of the loss entirely, but hey, it’s something.
As they turn the page – with the caveat that some of these players may head elsewhere – here’s one area of improvement for each member of the Celtics this offseason.
Jayson Tatum: full strength
I still find it truly remarkable how fluid, strong and polished Tatum looked given all that transpired. You really felt for the guy when he missed Game 7 and can’t help but wonder what would have happened if he had been out there.
Tatum should use this offseason to ensure he’s 100 percent good to go, feels like himself and is fully comfortable heading into next season. Give him all the credit in the world for responding the way he did, but that chapter of his career is in the past now, and it’s time to fortify the future.
3 YEARS AGO TODAY Jayson Tatum scored the most points ever in a Game 7: 51!
Tatum's Career Highs ▪️ Regular Season (60) ▪️ Playoffs (51) ▪️ All-Star Game (55) ▪️ Play-In Tournament (50) pic.twitter.com/YSxHpu13W8
Brown improved in almost every area, both with the eye test and statistically, and proved he’s more than capable of being “the guy.”
This is nitpicking, because he was so outstanding, but he needs to improve his decision making slightly for the Celtics to take the next step. Sometimes it felt like Brown made up his mind that he was going to shoot and would miss open teammates in the corner.
He averaged 3.6 turnovers per game, which was the fifth most in the NBA. When you account for the fact that Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Cade Cunningham are right above him, it doesn’t look so bad, but it’s still an area worth monitoring. Yes, he has the ball a lot, and yes, turnovers are going to happen, but he can still cut down on them slightly.
Derrick White: consistent shooting
White is one of the most likable Celtics ever, and he still contributes in so many ways when his shot is off, but it’s fair to say his shooting hurt the Celtics last season.
He shot a career-low 39.4 percent from the field and saw his 3-point percentage plummet from 38.4 in 2024-25 to 32.7 last year. One interesting note: Those numbers increased to 47.8 and 42.4 in April. With Tatum back in the mix, White’s scoring numbers went down and his efficiency went up.
While aggressiveness is important, sometimes less is more for White. The most important part is to not overthink it and just play the game. Easier said than done. He’s unquestionably the biggest X-factor on the team with the way the roster is currently constructed.
Payton Pritchard: defensive versatility
The guy really needs to get better at end-of-quarter shooting. He missed one against the Sixers. Inexcusable. But seriously, Pritchard had an excellent season all around. While he has many admirable traits, for me, No. 1 is that he truly makes concrete improvements to his game every year.
You want every player to do that, but the reality is that some do and some don’t. Pritchard legitimately gets better every year. This offseason, the point of emphasis should be defensive versatility. Pritchard is a solid defender, and he plays extremely hard, yet it still feels like teams pick on him in the paint sometimes.
Part of that is just the fact that he’s 6’1, and it is what it is, but there are ways to counteract it: avoid switching in the first place, beat your defender to the spot, gamble at the right moments to get steals. He’s not a liability on that end, however there is still room to grow.
The top 5 guards in Luck Adjusted Offensive RAPM (advanced plus/minus)
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 1.7 2. Cade Cunningham 1.5 3. Sam Merrill 1.3 4. Payton Pritchard 1.3 5. Luka Doncic 1.2
Imagine it. Queta sets a screen at the top of the key, both defenders swarm toward ball-handler Tatum or Brown and the big rotates to clog the paint. Queta simply stops near the free-throw line, catches the over-the-shoulder pass and sticks a mid-range jumper.
He can do it. He really can. No one is asking him to attempt five 3-pointers a game – not yet, anyway – but establishing himself as a legitimate threat to shoot would give the Celtics yet another option and make defenses scramble even more. The fact that Queta has improved so much in the past couple years means he’s capable of adding another trick to his steadily growing repertoire.
Sam Hauser: minimize cold spells
Give Hauser a lot of credit. The Celtics asked him to improve his defense and he did. They asked him to add playmaking to complement his shooting and he did. They asked him to shoot without a conscience and he did.
The next step is to ensure he doesn’t have cold spells throughout the season. It’s easier said than done (trust me, I know all too well), but Hauser is capable. For instance, he shot 27.5 percent from 3 in November, 45.1 percent in January, then 33 percent in March.
Shooting in the high-30s to low-40s consistently, rather than in spurts, goes a long way.
Baylor Scheierman: continue to play with confidence
As a big-time Scheierman believer since his college days, it was very cool to see him come out of his shell and establish himself as a consistent NBA role player.
You could see something shift with him, where he started to realize he truly belonged just played, rather than thinking about how he was playing. The goal now is to do that for an entire season. He deserves to be out there, logging heavy minutes on a talented team, and he needs to continue to believe in himself and his abilities.
Everything we thought we knew about Vucevic was true. Great teammate, great spacer, great veteran … not a great defender.
That’s OK. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. That’s life, and I’m sure he’s worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to become less of a liability on that end. But, the unfortunate reality for both Vucevic and the Celtics is that he truly is a liability on that end. So, how do you compensate for that? With all-out hustle and intensity. That’s not to say he’s not hustling, because he is, but I think becoming a bit more of a maniac on that end would benefit him.
Dive for a loose ball, foul someone with conviction, pound your chest. See what happens.
Jordan Walsh: develop your bag and look to drive
I’ve written about this before, but Walsh has come a long way. He used to think “Should I shoot it? Should I shoot it?” Now, he just shoots it, and it’s been fun to watch his growth.
The next step is to become more of a playmaker. Walsh is long, athletic, versatile and rangy. He’s capable of beating guys off the dribble. It would be fun to see him throw an upfake, accelerate to the rim, spin to his left hand and finish in traffic at the rim, for instance. He can do it.
Luka Garza: defend without fouling
I’m not sure there’s a player on the roster who maximizes each ounce of athleticism in his body more than Garza. Not to say he’s not athletic (he is), but relatively speaking, he’s someone who makes the most of each window he has. That’s an admirable trait.
With that in mind, anything here is trivial, but I would say defending without fouling would help Garza moving forward. He averaged 2.3 fouls per game in 16.2 minutes, which equals out to more than fouling out per 48. Slicing that number to, say, 1.5, would help significantly.
Barring a surprising twist, González isn’t going anywhere and is a key part of the equation in the years to come. He’s already a menace defensively, and improving his offensive crispness would go a long way. He’s still a baby, so it will take some time, but that’s the next step.
Ron Harper Jr.: make yourself indispensable
Harper Jr. is better than I thought he was. That kid is legit. Use the fuel you have of constantly hearing that about how great your brother and dad are and continue to prove you belong. Make it so the Celtics can’t put you in a trade package, and if they keep you, make it so they can’t take you off the floor.
Dalano Banton: showcase your versatility
Banton is a pretty unique player. Not many guys are that tall and find themselves playing point guard when they enter the game. Beat guys off the dribble, back them down, make the extra pass, block shots, get steals and run. Prove you can do it all.
Amari Williams: fine-tune your post moves
Williams is long and athletic and he can disrupt bigs and get them out of a rhythm. I personally would have tried him against Joel Embiid for a few minutes to see what happened (no one else could guard him, so they had nothing to lose). He likely would have roasted him, but it would have been an interesting experiment. Williams is a promising player who should work on his post moves to earn a spot on the floor.
Max Shulga: 3-point shooting
In order to last in the league, Shulga has to prove he can consistently hit the 3-ball. While he’s a solid passer, and a smart player, shooting efficiently is imperative.
