Rays Take Wild Game From Dodgers; Orioles Avoid Sweep Against Rangers

The Tampa Bay Rays were tested hard on their home field Sunday morning, but took a wild 11-10 game from the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the weekend series. Isaac Paredes went deep and drove home four runs, as the Rays took two of three in the battle of division leaders. Luke Raley beat out an infield single and scored on a Wander Franco grounder in the seventh to give the Rays the lead for good. The Dodgers got two home runs from Chris Taylor, while Max Muncy, J.D. Martinez, and Trayce Thompson also went deep in the loss. Muncy did leave the game in the third inning with a left hamstring cramp, which occurred while running the bases. Freddie Freeman did go 2-for-5 with two doubles, extending his hitting streak to 17 games, in which he is hitting .441 in that span. The Rays improved to 26-6 on their home field this season, tying the 2008 Boston Red Sox for the best home start in the past 15 years. The Baltimore Orioles took a game from the Texas Rangers this weekend, earning a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon. Austin Hays singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, completing a three-hit performance. The O's were outscored, 17-5, in the first two games of the series after sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays and taking two of three from the New York Yankees. The win on Sunday helped them avoid their first sweep of the season, as they improved to 10-6 in one-run games this season. The victory also clinches a winning record in the month of May and moves them back ahead of the Rangers for second in the majors. Felix Bautista finished out the ninth for his 13th save in 17 tries as the O's moved to 34-19 on the season. Other key scores saw Anthony Rizzo drive in the go-ahead run in the Yankees' 10-7 win over the Padres. Merrill Kelly struck out 10 as the Diamondbacks doubled-up the Red Sox, 4-2. Jose Berrios pitched in to the sixth to help the Blue Jays blank the Twins, 3-0. Eric Haase's walk off sac fly gave the Tigers a 6-5 win over the White Sox in extras. Eugenio Suarez's walk-off three-run blast lifted the Mariners past the Pirates, 6-3, in extras. Nick Fortes homered and doubled in the Marlins' 2-0 shutout of the Angels. The Astros hit seven home runs in their 10-1 rout of the Athletics. William Contreras went deep to power the Brewers past the Giants, 7-5. Matt Olson homered twice as the Braves blew out the Phillies, 11-4. And Ryan McMahon drove in five runs to rally the Rockies past the Mets, 11-10.

News and Notes

The Los Angeles Angels placed left-handed pitcher Matt Moore on the 15-day injured list with a right oblique strain, as the 33-year-old has gone 3-1 with a 1.44 ERA over 22 relief appearances this season. ​ The Cincinnati Reds placed outfielder Wil Myers on the 10-day injured list due to kidney stones. Myers is hitting just .189 with three home runs and 12 RBIs this season.

Celtics Stun Heat at Buzzer to Force Game 7

The Boston Celtics had their season on the line in the final seconds of Game 6 on Saturday night, and it was Derrick White who stepped up with a tip-in at the buzzer for a stunning 104-103 win over the Miami Heat. The thrilling road win gives the Celtics a chance to become the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 series deficit in Game 7 back in Boston on Monday. White's game-winning tip-in came off a missed three-point attempt from Marcus Smart, this after Jimmy Butler made three free throws to give his team the lead with three seconds left. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 31 points, while Jaylen Brown added in 26 and Smart posted 21, as the Celtics became the fourth team to force a Game 7 after being down 3-0. Butler finished with 24 points to lead the Heat, while Caleb Martin had 21, as they are still hoping to become the first eighth seed to reach the NBA Finals.

Bucks Hiring Raptors' Adrian Griffin as Coach

The Milwaukee Bucks are turning to the Toronto Raptors' bench for their next head coach, hiring assistant Adrian Griffin on Saturday to fill that position. The two sides have begun negotiations on a multiyear contract, which is expected to be signed very soon. Griffin replaces Mike Budenholzer, who was fired after five seasons with the team, this following a first-round elimination at the hands of the Miami Heat. He takes over a team with a perennial MVP candidate in Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led them to an NBA Title just two years ago. Griffin spent the past four years with the Raptors under Nick Nurse, who was also fired this off-season, and also had stops with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, and Chicago Bulls. The coach did play nine seasons in the NBA, playing with the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, and Seattle Supersonics, and even started eight games for the Mavs in their 2006 Finals run.

Dellandrea, Stars Force Game 6 With Knights

Ty Dellandrea stepped up in a major way on the road Saturday night, helping the Dallas Stars keep their season alive with a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights to force a Game 6. Dellandrea scored twice in a span of 1:27 in the third period, helping his team break a 2-2 tie in T-Mobile Arena. It is the first multigoal game of his playoff career and it supported a 27-save effort from Jake Oettinger. Jason Robertson and Luke Glendening also scored, while Thomas Harley recorded two assists. Chandler Stephenson and Ivan Barbashev both scored for the Knights, while Jonathan Marchessault had two assists to extend his point streak to four games. Adin Hill made 30 saves in net for the Knights, but they will head back to Dallas for Game 6, as the Stars look to become the fifth team to rally from a 3-0 deficit in NHL history.

Freeman Stays Hot, Dodgers Beat Rays; Heaney, Rangers Top O's Again

The Los Angeles Dodgers evened up their weekend series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, earning a 6-5 road win at Tropicana Field. Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to 16 games, while both Max Muncy and Miguel Vargas went deep. Freeman went 2-for-3 with two walks, and is now hitting .444 with 18 RBIs during his streak. Mookie Betts contributed an RBI single, as the Dodgers took the lead for good in the seventh, handing Colin Poche his first loss. Harold Ramirez did go deep for the Rays, who became the first team to reach 100 home runs this season, but the Dodgers now rank second in the NL with 84 homers. Tyler Glasnow went 4.1 innings in his season debut, while Kershaw returned from the bereavement list, but gave up four runs on six hits over five innings. The Texas Rangers earned another solid road win to take the series this weekend, beating the Baltimore Orioles, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon. Andrew Heaney went seven innings, giving up just four hits, giving the Rangers their second straight win in Baltimore. Marcus Semien extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a two-run single, while Robbie Grossman and Jonah Heim each had an RBI single. The Rangers moved to 33-18 on the season, good for first place in the AL West, as they have won 10 of their past 13 games overall. Their record is the best in franchise history, moving past the Orioles for second-best record in the majors. Austin Hays went deep for the home team, but they have been outscored, 17-5, in the first two games, and the Rangers have secured their fifth straight road series. Other key scores saw Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit the walk-off RBI single in the 10th to lift the Yankees over the Padres, 3-2. The Twins hit four home runs to power past the Blue Jays, 9-7. Reese McGuire scoring on a safety squeeze was the difference in the Red Sox's 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks. Luis Castillo struck out 10 as the Mariners shut out the Pirates, 5-0. Jorge Soler homered in a fifth straight game as the Marlins topped the Angels in extras, 8-5. Jeremy Pena homered in his return as the Astros doubled-up the Athletics, 6-3. Mitch Haniger had the go-ahead homer to lift the Giants past the Brewers, 3-1. Zack Wheeler struck out 12 over eight innings in the Phillies' 2-1 win against the Braves. And Ryan McMahon's go-ahead homer gave the Rockies a 10-7 victory over the Mets.

News and Notes

The San Francisco Giants placed infielder Thairo Estrada on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left wrist, as he is hitting .301 with six home runs, 17 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases over 47 games this season. ​ The Kansas City Royals have released veteran outfielder/third baseman Hunter Dozier, who was designated for assignment on Monday after hitting just .183 with two home runs and nine RBIs over 29 games this year. ​​ The Milwaukee Brewers officially placed shortstop Willy Adames on the concussion injured list after he was hit in the head by a foul ball while in the dugout on Friday night.

Rays Roll Past Dodgers; Rangers Crush Orioles

The Tampa Bay Rays continued to dominate all teams in their path this season, especially at home, cruising to a series-opening win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night, 9-3. Yandy Diaz went deep and drove in two runs, while Jose Siri added in some insurance with a home run late. It was the first meeting between these two teams since the 2020 World Series, which the Dodgers won in six games. Cooper Criswell earned his first major league win, replacing opener Jalen Beeks and got two outs in the second inning. The Rays added two long balls to the major league leading total of 99 home runs, while improving their home record to 25-5. Freddie Freeman did extend his hitting streak to 15 games for the Dodgers, going 2-for-4 with a walk in the loss. And the Texas Rangers made a statement on the road, pulling a way to blow out the Baltimore Orioles, 12-2, on Friday night. Corey Seager's grand slam highlighted an eight-run fourth inning for the Rangers, pulling them away for good. It was the third grand slam of his career, while Robbie Grossman added a two-run shot in that inning. Both Josh Jung and Josh Smith had two hits apiece in that inning, as Jon Gray earned his fifth win on the mound. Gray has won a personal best four straight starts, giving up one run on four hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts and just one walk. Leody Travers also went deep for the Rangers, while Marcus Semien extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the eighth. Other key scores saw Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. go deep as the Padres beat the Yankees, 5-1. Chris Sale earned his fifth win of the season as the Red Sox topped the Diamondbacks, 7-2. Kevin Kiermaier and Bo Bichette both homered to lift the Blue Jays over the Twins, 3-1. The Giants got over .500 with a 15-1 rout of the Brewers behind home runs from Mitch Haniger and J.D. Davis. The Pirates tied a franchise record with seven home runs to power their way past the Mariners, 11-6. The Astros sent the Athletics to their most losses through 53 games with a 5-2 road win. Jorge Soler homered for a fourth straight game in the Marlins' 6-2 road win over the Angels. Francisco Lindor had a home runs and four RBIs in the Mets' 5-2 road win against the Rockies. And Craig Kimbrel became the eighth pitcher with 400 saves as the Phillies took down the Braves, 6-4.

Cardinals Release WR DeAndre Hopkins

The Arizona Cardinals made a move to save up some money, releasing wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on Friday after three seasons together. The move saves the team $8.15 million in cap space for 2023, but they will take a dead cap hit of $22.6 million. Hopkins was under contract with the team through the 2024 season and was most recently a $30.75 million cap hit this past season, the seventh highest overall in the league. The 30-year-old had been the center of trade rumors as of late, getting interest from the likes of the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills. Over three seasons with the Cardinals, he compiled 2,696 yards and 17 touchdowns on 221 receptions. He most recently recorded 64 catches for 717 yards and three touchdowns after missing the first six games for a PED suspension. The Cardinals acquired Hopkins from the Houston Texans in March 2020 in a deal that included running back David Johnson.

News and Notes

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has been suspended one game, this after he was ejected for the fourth time this season on Thursday night. He served the suspension on Friday night. ​ Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames was struck in the dugout by a foul ball on Friday and was taken to the hospital. He has no fractures, but will land on the injured list. The Brewers also agreed to a major league deal with pitcher Julio Teheran, who has not pitched in the league since 2021. ​ The Buffalo Sabres agreed to sign defenseman Ryan Johnston to a two-year rookie contract, this after he posted 59 points over 143 games in his college career. ​ Marquette forward Olivier-Maxence Proposer will forgo his remaining eligibility with the program to stay in the NBA Draft. He is a projected first-round pick. ​ Former Florida Gator Keyontae Johnson has been has been cleared by the NBA's Fitness to Play Panel and can be selected in the NBA Draft.

Celtics Cruise to Force Game 6 With Heat

The Boston Celtics are flipping the script on the Miami Heat real quick, cruising on their home floor in Game 5 on Thursday night with a 110-97 rout to keep their season alive. Derrick White stepped up with 24 points, making six shots from three-point range, as the Celtics forced a Game 6 with their second straight win. Marcus Smart added in 23 points and five steals, while Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each finished with 21 points. The Celtics are looking to become the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit. The Heat are also hoping to make history, looking to become the first eighth seed to reach the NBA Finals in the current format, which dates back to 1984. Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 18 points, while Bam Adebayo posted 16 points and eight rebounds, but the Heat will have to host Game 6 on Saturday.

Pavelski, Stars Keep Season Alive in OT

The Dallas Stars will live to see another day in the Western Conference Finals after Thursday night, avoiding the sweep with a 3-2 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4. Joe Pavelski scored the game-winning goal on the power play at 3:18 of overtime, slamming home a one-timer. Jason Robertson found the back of the net twice for his first-career multigoal playoff game. The Stars got 37 saves from Jake Oettinger, who was pulled from the game in the opening seven minutes two nights ago in Game 3 after surrendering three early goals. Dallas was playing the first of two games without captain Jamie Benn, who was suspended for his cross-check on Mark Stone. The 38-year-old Pavelski is in his 15th NHL season and scored his ninth goal in 12 playoff games this season, and now has 73 career playoff goals, the most among US-born players. The series shifts back to Vegas for Game 5 on Saturday night.

Gibson, Orioles Take Series From Yankees

The Baltimore Orioles clinched a big series win in the division on Thursday night by holding off the New York Yankees on the road, 3-1. Kyle Gibson was phenomenal on the mound, allowing just two hits over seven shutout innings. Anthony Santander supported him with three hits, including an RBI single, while Austin Hays drove in two with a two-run double. The Orioles finish their road trip with a solid 5-1 record on it after taking two of three from New York, as well as sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays. They now sit with a league-leading 19-9 record away from home this season. Gibson earned his sixth win of the season, despite being 1-6 with a 6.75 ERA over 10 career outings against the Yankees coming in. Other key scores saw Austin Riley homer twice to power the Braves over the Phillies, 8-5. Pete Alonso hit his league-leading 19th homer in the Mets' 10-1 rout of the Cubs. Michael Conforto had four hits and a homer as the Giants shut out the Brewers, 5-0. Rougned Odor's three-run homer in the ninth lifted the Padres past the Nationals, 8-6. Zach Eflin earned his seventh win as the Rays doubled-up the Blue Jays, 6-3. And a bases loaded walk in the eighth gave the Mariners a sweep of the Athletics with a 3-2 win.

Jaguars Agree to Deal with Kicker Brandon McManus

Veteran kicker Brandon McManus did not stay on the market for too long, as the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to sign him to a deal on Thursday. This comes two days after McManus was released by the Denver Broncos, where he spent nine seasons and won Super Bowl 50. To make room for this move, the Jaguars traded kicker Riley Patterson to the Detroit Lions. The 31-year-old went a perfect 10-for-10 over three playoff games with Denver, including 5-for-5 on attempts 40 yards or longer. That included a 3-for-3 mark in their 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. He most recently made 77.8% of his field goal attempts last season for the league's lowest-scoring offense.​

News and Notes

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo underwent surgery on his injured left foot in March and is expected to be ready to go after he signed a three-year, $72.75 million deal. ​​ Cincinnati Reds pitcher Connor Overton is set to undergo Tommy John Surgery and will miss the remainder of the season after going 0-1 with an 11.45 ERA over three starts this season.

Tkachuk Strikes Again as Panthers Advance to Final

For the second time this series Matthew Tkachuk came up clutch for the Florida Panthers, and this time it was a big one, as his late goal gave the Florida Panthers a sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals with a 4-3 win on Wednesday night. Tkachuk found the back of the net with just 4.9 second left in regulation, giving the Panthers their second Final appearance in franchise history. It is their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final since 1996, making it a whole 27 years since they got this far. Sergei Bobrovsky was once again stellar, making 36 saves, as he finished with a .966 save percentage with 174 saves on 180 shots in the series. The Panthers got four one-goal wins because of him, two of which took place in overtime on the road. Tkachuk scored twice on the night, while Ryan Lomberg and Anthony Duclair also tallied a goal, completing their first sweep in franchise history.

Stars' Jamie Benn Suspended Two Games

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn has been suspended two games for his cross check against Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone in Game 3 on Tuesday night. The incident occurred in the first period of a 4-0 Golden Knights win, which led to Benn getting ejected on his home ice less than two minutes into the game. The Golden Knights lead the series, 3-0, so if the Stars lose Game 4 on Thursday night, he will miss the team's regular season opener in 2023-2024. The league office explained that this suspension was determined due to him attempting to injure a player that was in a "prone position."

Braves Walk Off Against Dodgers; Orioles Rally Past Yankees

The Atlanta Braves avoided the dreaded sweep in the battle of first place teams, walking off for a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night. Ozzie Albies drove in the winning run on a sacrifice fly that scored Austin Riley in the ninth inning. Riley led off the inning with a double off of Phil Bickford, and the moved to third base on a Travis d'Arnaud grounder. Bryce Elder gave up seven hits and a walk while striking out six and allowing one run over six innings for the home team. The Dodgers struggled to come through on opportunities, going just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Mookie Betts did go deep for the 11th time this season, as Tony Gonsolin allowed three runs on three hits, including two home runs, over 5.2 innings. Gonsolin saw his 14-inning scoreless streak come to an end when Matt Olson went deep, as did Marcell Ozuna in the win. And the Baltimore Orioles used a big seventh inning in which they scored seven times to rally past the New York  Yankees, 9-6, on Wednesday. Adam Frazier's three-run home run highlighted that inning, while Gunnar Henderson had the go-ahead, pinch-hit two-run double. The Yankees built a 5-1 lead at Yankee Stadium behind two home runs from Gleyber Torres, while Isiah Kiner-Falefa had a home run and a triple in the win. The Orioles sent 12 batters to the plate in the seventh for their highest-scoring inning of the season. Nestor Cortes allowed a long ball to Ryan Mountcastle, but it was Jimmy Cordero that suffered his second loss out of the bullpen. The win for the O's helped them avenge a walk-off loss to the Yankees the night before, courtesy of an Anthony Volpe Sac fly in the 10th. Other key scores saw Shane McClanahan become the league's first eight-win pitcher as the Rays beat the Blue Jays, 7-3. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani both went deep as the Angels swept the Red Sox, 7-3. Bryce Miller struck out six over six innings in the Mariners' 6-1 win over the Athletics. Adrian Houser went 5.1 innings as the Brewers shut out the Astros again, 4-0. Marcus Semien went deep to lift the Rangers over the Pirates, 3-2. Marcus Stroman went eight innings as the Cubs doubled-up the Mets, 4-2. Yuli Gurriel had four hits in the Marlins' 10-2 rout of the Rockies. Trea Turner's two-run blast forced extras and lifted the Phillies over the Diamondbacks, 6-5, in walk-off fashion. And Eduard Julien and Ryan Jeffers both homered as the Twins took care of the Giants, 7-1.

News and Notes

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is said to be okay after Tennessee officials made a welfare check on him after his cryptic posts to his Instagram story, as he is said to just be taking a break from social media. ​​ The New York Jets will work out punter Matt Araiza, who recently learned that he will not face criminal charges in an alleged gang rape case. ​​ Running back Adrian Peterson says he is not officially retired from the NFL, as he has not played since appearing in four games during the 2021 season with the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans. ​​ The Buffalo Sabres agreed to re-sign captain Kyle Okposo to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million, as the 35-year-old just completed a seven-year, $42 million deal.

Celtics Avoid Sweep Against Heat in ECF

The Boston Celtics kept their season alive after warning the Miami Heat to not let them get one, as they did with a 116-99 rout in Game 4 on Tuesday night. Jayson Tatum posted 34 points and 11 rebounds, while Derrick White and Jaylen Brown added in 16 points apiece. The Celtics used an 18-0 run in the third quarter to pull away for good, as they also outscored the Heat by 33 points on three-pointers. Other contributors saw Grant Williams with 14 points, Al Horford with 12, and Marcus Smart posted 11 in the big win. Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 29 points, but his team was outscored, 48-22, over 14 minutes in the second half. The Celtics will continue to fight for their season in Game 5 back in Boston on Thursday night.

Golden Knights Rout Stars For 3-0 Series Lead

The Vegas Golden Knights used a quick start on the road Tuesday night, blowing out the Dallas Stars, 4-0, for a 3-0 series lead in the Western Conference Final. Jonathan Marchessault got the scoring started early on, as the Knights used three goals to knock Jake Oettinger out of the game. Oettinger was pulled from the game after just seven minutes of ice time, the shortest outing of his career. Meanwhile, Adin Hill made 33 saves and recorded his second shutout of this Stanley Cup Playoffs. Marchessault's goal came just 71 seconds into the game, while Ivan Barbashev finished with a goal and two assists. Oettinger has now dropped three starts in a row, and four of five, while Jamie Benn was assessed a game misconduct for a rough cross check on Mark Stone. The Knights will have a chance to complete the sweep and advance to the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night.

Dodgers Rout Braves; Brewers Snap Astros' Streak

The Los Angeles Dodgers cruised in a battle of first place teams for a second straight night, blowing out the Atlanta Braves, 8-1, on the road. J.D. Martinez and Jason Heyward both went deep, while Will Smith drove home three runs in the rout. This supported the debut of Bobby Miller, who allowed one run over five innings in his first major league start. He outdueled Braves hurler Spencer Strider, who struck out 11 batters for his fourth start with double digit strikeouts and 10th of his career. The Braves' lone run came on the RBI double from Austin Riley, which was the 500th hit of his career. And the Milwaukee Brewers snapped the Houston Astros' winning streak with a 6-0 shutout win at home. Joey Wiemer and Owen Miller both went deep, as the Brew-Crew stayed in first place in the NL Central. Colin Rea started and gave up four hits over 5.1 innings, as the Astros' winning streak was snapped at eight games. Joel Payamps, Elvis Peguero, Peter Strzelecki, and Bryce Wilson finished for the Brewers' fifth shutout of the season. The Astros were shut out for the second time this year, and lost Jose Altuve in the sixth inning after he was feeling ill. Other key scores saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drive in six runs as the Blue Jays blew out the Rays, 20-1. Anthony Volpe's walk-off sacrifice fly gave the Yankees a 6-5 win over the Orioles in extras. Mike Trout, Mickey Moniak, and Matt Thaiss all homered as the Angels shut out the Red Sox, 4-0. Michael Conforto's RBI double rallied the Giants past the Twins, 4-3. Nathan Eovaldi went the distance for his second complete game as the Rangers blew out the Pirates, 6-1. Corbin Carroll's three hits helped the Diamondbacks top the Phillies, 4-3, for their ninth win in 11 games. And Christopher Morel's homered for a fifth straight game to power the Cubs past the Mets, 7-2.

Broncos Release Kicker Brandon McManus

The Denver Broncos parted ways with the lone remaining player from their Super Bowl 50 winning team, releasing kicker Brandon McManus. This move comes after the two sides spent nine seasons together, as McManus had two years left on the four-year extension that he signed in 2020. The 31-year-old went a perfect 10-for-10 over three playoff games with Denver, including 5-for-5 on attempts 40 yards or longer. That included a 3-for-3 mark in their 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. He most recently made 77.8% of his field goal attempts last season for the league's lowest-scoring offense. McManus came over in a trade with the New York Giants in 2014 when Matt Prater was suspended for four games, and he went on to become the franchise's second-leading scorer.

News and Notes

The NFL tweaked the fair catch rule, stating that fair catches on kickoffs will result in a team starting on the 25-yard line regardless of where it is fielded. ​​ The Milwaukee Brewers have placed pitcher Eric Lauer on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement, as he holds a 5.48 ERA over nine games, including eight starts, this season. ​ New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole reached 2,000 career strikeouts on Tuesday night, becoming the third-fastest pitcher to reach that mark. ​ Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler was fined $25,000 for not speaking to the media after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night. ​ Running back Austin Ekeler is staying with the Los Angeles Chargers just two months after requesting a trade,  as he will receive $1.75 million more in incentives. ​​ Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl cornerback Tariq Woolen underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday and is out until training camp, this after tying for the league lead with six interceptions as a rookie last season.

Jokic, Nuggets Sweep Lakers to Reach Finals

The Denver Nuggets rallied and hung on Monday night to complete the sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals with a 113-111 Game 4 victory. Nikola Jokic stayed hot with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists, powering the Nuggets to their first NBA Finals in franchise history. Jamal Murray added in 25 points, as the Nuggets rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit. This helped the Nuggets overcome LeBron James putting up 31 points in the first half, as he finished with 40 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Those 31 points made it the highest-scoring half in his playoff career, but he ended up contemplating retirement in the postgame press conference. Jokic posted his eighth triple-double of the playoffs, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's 1967 record, and now his team has plenty of rest before the Finals begin on June 1st.

Carmelo Anthony Announces Retirement From NBA

One of the most decorated scorers in NBA history called it a career on Monday, as Carmelo Anthony announced his retirement from the league after 19 seasons. Anthony did not play in the league this past season, but finishes as the ninth-leading scorer in NBA history. Only LeBron James, Karee-Abdul Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain, and Shaquille O'Neal have scored more than Anthony. Melo finishes with 28,289 career points, and went on to be a 10-time All-Star and a member of the league's 75th Anniversary Team. He never reached the NBA Finals in his career, but did get to the Western Conference Finals with the Denver Nuggets in 2009. The former Syracuse Orange star was the Most Outstanding Player in the 2003 Final Four, leading Syracuse to the National Title. Add in 31 games over four appearances in the Olympics, the most by any player, as his 37 points helped the United States beat Nigeria in 2012 for the Gold Medal. The former third overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft went on to average 22.5 points per game, mainly with the Nuggets and New York Knicks.

Panthers Blank Hurricanes For 3-0 Series Lead

The Florida Panthers inched that much closer to the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night, shutting out the Carolina Hurricanes, 1-0, in Game 3. Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves as the Panthers are trying to get to their first Final in 27 years. Sam Reinhart scored the lone goal on the power play in the second period, as the Panthers were coming off of two overtime wins on the road. Bobrovsky moved to 10-1 over his past 11 appearances, and has now won eight in a row. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, Bobrovsky has not allowed more than two goals in any game, making 296 saves with a .958 save percentage. The Panthers will host Game 4 of the series on Wednesday night, looking to advance to the Final.

Freeman Rallies Dodgers Past Braves; Alvarez, Astros Win Eighth Straight

The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied on the road and it was Freddie Freeman haunting his former team as they beat the Atlanta Braves, 8-6. Freeman hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to power the comeback, while J.D. Martinez had four hits of his own. Of those four hits, Martinez went deep twice, as the Dodgers won the battle of first place teams. That helped the road team overcome Gavin Stone giving up five runs on five hits and five walks over four innings. The Braves took a 4-0 lead in the first inning, but the Dodgers had 12 hits to open the three-game series with the win. The Dodgers will now debut pitcher Bobby Miller in Game 2 on Tuesday, with the likes of Dustin May and Julio Urias on the injured list. The Houston Astros are powering their way back near the top of the AL West Division, as seen on Monday night night with a 12-2 blowout of the Milwaukee Brewers. Yordan Alvarez went deep twice, driving in five runs on the night, as the Astros won their eighth straight game. One of those long balls was a grand slam for Alvarez, doing so off of Hoby Milner, as he now has 12 homers on the season. Corey Julks, Martin Maldonado, and Maurico Dubon also went deep against Corbin Burnes, who allowed four home runs for the first time in his career. Cristian Javier struck out five and allowed one run over six innings, earning his fourth win of the season. Javier has now allowed just seven runs in 25 innings of work over his past four starts. Other key scores saw the Rays use a trio of home runs in a 6-4 win over the Blue Jays. Tucupita Marcano hit a grand slam to power the Pirates over the Rangers, 6-4. Mickey Moniak's late home run lifted the Angels over the Red Sox, 2-1. And Michael Conforto's three-run blast lifted the Giants past the Twins, 4-1.

News and Notes

The Baltimore Ravens agreed to sign quarterback Josh Johnson to back up Lamar Jackson, as Johnson is entering his third stint with the team and has played for an NFL record 14 teams in his career. ​ The Green Bay Packers will host the 2025 NFL Draft, saying that the event will take place inside and around Lambeau Field. ​​ Former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has agreed to become a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. ​ The Kansas City Royals have designated infielder Hunter Dozier for assignment after he was signed to a four-year contract extension in 2021. Dozier has hit just .183 with one home run so far this season. ​​ Alabama center Chales Bediako is returning to stay in the NBA Draft after starting 37 games last season.

Heat Blow Out Celtics For 3-0 Series Lead

The Miami Heat are only adding to the historic dominance of an eighth seed this postseason, earning a 128-102 rout of the Boston Celtics for a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night. Gabe Vincent led the way with a career-high 29 points, while Duncan Robinson added in 22 in the home win. Other contributors saw Caleb Martin with 18 points, Jimmy Butler with 16, Bam Adebayo had 13, and Max Strus finished with 10. The Heat join the Denver Nuggets with a 3-0 series lead, as every team in NBA history have won a series after going up 3-0. Miami is 8-0 in those situations, and they cruised on Sunday, leading by as many as 33 points by shooting 57% from the floor. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with just 14 points, while Jaylen Brown had 12, and their season is on the line Tuesday night in Game 4.

Stephenson, Knights Take 2-0 Lead in OT

The Las Vegas Golden Knights struggled their way through regulation in Game 2 on Sunday, but got themselves to extra time for a 3-2 overtime win over the Dallas Stars. Chandler Stephenson scored just 1:12 in to the extra period, slamming home a rebound to give the home team a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals. Jonathan Marchessault and Mark Stone each added a goal and an assist, with Marchessault scoring late in the third to force overtime. Adin Hill made 26 saves, giving the Knights their second straight overtime win to begin the series. The Stars got goals from Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson, while Ryan Suter added in two assists. Jake Oettinger made 21 saves in the loss for the Stars, who will host Game 3 of the series on Tuesday night.

Brewers Power Past Rays on The Road; Orioles Sweep Jays in Extras

It's always a headline when the Tampa Bay Rays actually lose a game at Tropicana Field, which they did on Sunday afternoon with the Milwaukee Brewers powering their way to a 6-4 victory. Willy Adames, Rowdy Tellez, and William Contreras all went deep to help the Brewers avoid a three-game sweep this weekend. The Rays fall to 21-4 on their home field, which is the second-best 25-game home record since 1901, only behind the 1978 Boston Red Sox at 22-3. Freddy Peralta got his five win, giving up three runs on five hits over six innings, helping his team snap a three-game skid. The Brewers moved a game ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates for first place in the NL Central Division. Josh Lowe had a three-run home run, three hits, and four RBIs on the day, as the Rays lead the majors with 91 home runs despite the loss. And Cedric Mullins. had a big day, capped off with the big two-run double to give the Baltimore Orioles an 8-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in 11 innings. Mullins finished the game with five hits and three RBIs, as the O's completed the three-game weekend sweep of their division rivals. Austin Hays reached base four times and drove in the decisive run in the 11th. The Orioles scored five times in the 11th, winning for the fifth time in six games. Baltimore also took the lead in the 10th on a Mullins RBI single, but Whit Merrifield forced the 11th with an RBI single of his own. Matt Chapman had a solo home run for the Jays, who have dropped sixth of their past seven overall and are now in last place in the AL East. Other key scores saw Jared Shuster allow one hit over six innings as the Braves took the series from the Mariners, 3-2. Shohei Ohtani struck out nine as the Angels rallied past the Twins, 4-2. Oscar Mercado's five RBIs helped the Cardinals double up the Dodgers, 10-5. Christian Walker drove in three runs led the Diamondbacks past the Pirates, 8-3. Patrick Bailey's first big league home run helped the Giants past the Marlins, 7-5. Corey Seager drove in three runs to help the Rangers blow out the Rockies, 13-3. Framber Valdez went the distance as the Astros shut out the Athletics, 2-0. And the Mets swept a doubleheader from the Guardians for their fifth straight win.

News and Notes

​The Boston Red Sox have released pitcher Ryan Brasier, leaving just two players from their 2018 World Series team. Brasier went 1-0 with a 7.25 ERA over 20 relief appearances this season.​ ​​ The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up top prospect Bobby Miller, and the pitcher will get the start on Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves. ​ The Chicago White Sox are calling up outfielder Clint Frazier after placing pitcher Mike Clevinger on the 15-day injured list with right wrist inflammation.

Butler, Heat Rally Past Celtics in Game 1

​The Miami Heat is quickly turning in to the greatest eighth seed in recent memory, taking Game 1 on the road from the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night, 123-116. Jimmy Butler scored 35 points, including 20 points after halftime, as the Heat got the win to kick off a rematch of the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals. Miami used a big third quarter to jump ahead of Boston, outscoring them, 46-25, in those 12 minutes. They trailed by nine points at the half, but their 46 points in the third set a playoff franchise record for a quarter. This was Butler's fifth game with 30 or more points in the postseason this year, as the Heat outscored the Celtics, 66-50, after halftime. Bam Adebayo added in 20 points and eight rebounds, while Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent, and Max Strus all added 15 points apiece. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 30 points, while Jaylen Brown added in 22 points, but they will look to even things up in Game 2 at home on Friday night.

Outman's Slam Lifts Dodgers Over Twins; Blue Jays Walk Off Yankees on HR

​James Outman overcame his recent struggles on Wednesday, getting a huge clutch hit to power the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Minnesota Twins, 7-3. Outman broke a tie with a grand slam in the seventh inning, giving the Dodgers a series win in the battle of division leaders. The Dodgers rallied from a 3-2 deficit, getting a win in the series finale after taking the series opener. Joey Gallo and Byron Buxton both homered in the loss for the Twins, who earned an impressive 5-1 win on Tuesday night. Brusdar Graterol got his second win out of the bullpen after 1.1 scoreless innings, while Jose De Leon took his first loss for the Twins. Sonny Gray came in to play with a major league leading 1.39 ERA, but struggled over just four innings of work in their 20th loss of the season. The Toronto Blue Jays might be preaching cheating on the New York Yankees, but on Wednesday, that was not enough to stop them from walking off for a 3-0 win in 10 innings. Danny Jansen hit a three-run home run in the 10th, his fourth of the season, coming off of Wandy Peralta. Whit Merrifield started the inning by reaching on an error, which moved Cavan Biggio to third before the heroics. Closer Jordan Romano threw two scoreless innings for his third win of the season. The Blue Jays earned their seventh shutout of the season, tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for most in the majors. The Yankees lost for the second time in six games, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The starters were dealing as well, with Chris Bassitt seven shutout innings and striking out seven, while Gerrit Cole went six and struck out six. Other key scores saw the Astros score four times in the ninth to walk off against the Cubs, 7-6. Orlando Arcia's ninth inning homer powered the Braves over the Rangers, 6-5. Pete Alonso hit a walk-off three run blast to lift the Mets over the Rays in extras, 8-7. Pablo Reyes drove home four runs as the Red Sox blew out the Astros, 12-3. Kyle Bradish pitched in to the seventh as the Orioles topped the Angels, 3-1. Matthew Liberatore went five shutout innings in his debut as the Cardinals blanked the Brewers, 3-0. And Rich Hill gave up just one hit over six innings in the Pirates' 8-0 shutout of the Tigers.

Caleb Love Decommits From Michigan

​Former North Carolina guard Caleb Love decommitted from the Michigan Wolverines on Wednesday, this after transferring there this off-season. Love originally committed to the Wolverines last month, but sources say there was an admissions issue related to credits transferring. He is now available to enter back in to the transfer portal, as the St. Louis native originally chose Michigan over Missouri. The junior averaged a career-high 16.7 points last season, shooting 37.8% form the floor with 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Over six tournament games in March 2022, he posted 18.8 points per game, including 30 points and six three-point makes in the Sweet 16 against UCLA and 28 points in the Final Four against Duke. This adds to the tough off-season that Michigan has had, as their top player, Hunter Dickinson, has already transferred to Kansas.

News and Notes

​New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German got the expected 10-game suspension after umpires found a sticky substance on him during Tuesday's game. The Los Angeles Dodgers placed pitcher Dustin May on the 10-day injured list with a forearm strain, and he is expected to miss at least a month. ​​ The New York Yankees also sent catcher Jose Trevino to the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, as he is hitting .219 with three home runs and 11 RBIs over 30 games this season.

Jokic Helps Nuggets Hold Off Lakers in Game 1

​The Denver Nuggets got yet another MVP performance from Nikola Jokic and fought off a Los Angeles Lakers comeback attempt in the fourth quarter for a 132-126 Game 1 win in the Western Conference Finals. Jokic posted his sixth triple-double of the playoffs with 34 points, 21 rebounds, and 14 assists to lead the way in the win. Jamal Murray added in 31 points, as the Nuggets got their first ever series opening win in the Conference Finals. This is a rematch of the 2020 Western Conference Finals from the bubble, but the home team got a complete effort to hang on. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added in 21 points, Bruce Brown had 16, and Michael Porter Jr. posted a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds Anthony Davis overcame a slow start to go off for 40 points and 10 rebounds, while LeBron James had 26 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. Austin Reaves finished with 23 points, but a late three to tie the game came up short, as Game 2 will be back in Denver on Thursday night.

Sixers Fire Head Coach Doc Rivers

​The Philadelphia 76ers made the expected move on Tuesday, announcing that they have fired head coach Doc Rivers after their Game 7 loss on Sunday. Philly was blown out, 112-88, in Game 7 of the second round against the Boston Celtics, the third straight year they were eliminated in the second round. The team is expected to begin a search for a new coach right away, which will include the likes of Mike Budenholzer, Sam Cassell, Mike D'Antoni, Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel, and Monty Williams. Rivers went 154-82 over three seasons with the Sixers, good for a .653 winning percentage, and that includes 54 wins this past season. He has the fourth longest streak of winning seasons in NBA history at 16, which started back in 2007. Although, his struggles in win or go home games have haunted him, as he has dropped 10 Game 7s overall, including five in a row. The Sixers joins the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns as teams looking for a new head coach.

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Judge, Yankees Get Testy Win Over Jays; Garcia Powers Rangers Over Braves

​Aaron Judge heard rumors of him potentially cheating and stealing signs on Monday, and on Tuesday he responded to help the New York Yankees double-up the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-3. Judge went deep for a 462-foot home run in the eighth inning, silencing the boos to lead the win. This comes after he went deep twice in a 7-4 win over the Blue Jays on Monday, as he was seen peaking at the dugout, which led some to believe he was stealing signs. The slugger explained after Monday's game that he was hearing his teammates argue with the umpires, and wanted to see who it was. He now has five home runs in his past four games, and now sits with 11 long balls on the season. Yankees pitcher Domingo German was ejected from the game in the fourth inning after umpires found a sticky substance on his hands, which will most likely lead to a 10-game suspension. And Adolis Garcia added to his major league RBI lead, powering the Texas Rangers over the Atlanta Braves for a 7-4 win in a battle of first place teams. Garcia hit a two-run home run, giving him 44 RBIs on the season, as the Rangers avenged a Game 1 loss on Monday. Dane Dunning allowed just one run over six innings, moving to a perfect 4-0 in his third straight since Jacob deGrom went on the injured list on April 29th. Will Smith worked a perfect ninth for his eight save in nine chances, as the Rangers used a three-run fourth inning to jump ahead for good. Ronald Acuna Jr. did go deep for the third straight game, giving him 10 on the season, as the Braves fell for the fifth time in the past six games. The Rangers have won eight of their past 10 games overall and hold a three-game lead, while the Braves lead the Marlins by five games in the NL East. Other key scores saw Bailey Ober allow a run over six innings in the Twins' 5-1 win over the Dodgers. Esteury Ruiz hit the walk-off RBI single as the Athletics walked off the Diamondbacks, 9-8. Yordan Alvarez and Chas McCormick each had two hits in the Astros' 7-3 win over the Cubs. Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O'Hearn both homered to power the Orioles over the Angels, 7-3. The Red Sox snapped a four-game skid with a 9-4 home win over the Mariners. Isaac Paredes homered twice with five RBIs as the Rays topped the Mets, 8-5. And Nolan Arenado homered in his fifth straight game, but the Cardinals fell to the Brewers, 3-2.

Marlins' Jazz Chisolm Jr. Out 4-6 Weeks

​The Miami Marlins took a big blow on Tuesday when they announced that center fielder Jazz Chisolm Jr. will miss about four to six weeks with a right turf toe injury. The team placed him on the 10-day injured list, this after he collided with the outfield wall while attempting to make a catch during Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. He went down to the ground, where he laid there for a few minutes, before limping off the field. Chisolm has seven home runs and began Tuesday tied for second in the National League with 14 steals. He was red hot as of late, going deep in consecutive games against the Reds. The 25-year-old was an All-Star last season, and made a big change shifting from second base to center field with the addition of Luis Arraez.

News and Notes

​Veteran pitcher Anibal Sanchez announced his retirement after 16 major league seasons, as the 39-year-old went 116-119 with a 4.06 ERA, winning the World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019. ​​ Texas Rangers pitching prospect Kumar Rocker has a torn ligament in his right elbow and will need Tommy John Surgery.