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Deadspin | Mets, Mariners each surging entering series in Seattle May 31, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo (58) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-Imagn Images With 13 games over the next 14 days, the Seattle Mariners plan to shelve their Bryce Miller/Luis Castillo piggyback experiment for a six-man rotation. However unpopular the piggyback might have been for those involved, there’s no denying it worked. Miller and Castillo each threw 71 pitches over five innings Sunday as the Mariners defeated the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 in 10 innings. The American League West-leading Mariners, winners of six in a row, will play host to the New York Mets in a three-game interleague series beginning Monday at T-Mobile Park. The duo combined for a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings across three games. “Both these guys deserve a huge pat on the back for the way they’ve approached it and just been selfless in a lot of ways,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. Miller, who allowed one hit and no runs Sunday, tried to take a big-picture approach. “The piggyback thing hasn’t been ideal for all of us so far, but it’s also like it could be a blessing in disguise, saving us a few pitches here and there, a few innings here and there,” Miller said. “Hopefully it works out (where) at the end of the year, we’re feeling fresh and ready to go into the postseason.” Added Castillo, through an interpreter: “There were a couple obstacles, but the good thing for me is that we were able to overcome them. The important thing for me is that I’m healthy and we’re throwing the ball right.” Cole Young and Dominic Canzone hit solo homers for Seattle and Victor Robles drove in the winning run in extra innings with an infield single. The Mets are coming off a three-game sweep of Miami and have won four straight overall. New York won 10-1 Sunday as Juan Soto hit a grand slam. “The whole lineup came ready to attack,” Soto said. Carson Benge hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first and Marcus Semien added a two-run shot. Every Mets starter reached safely and eight of nine scored. The Mets scored 25 runs in the series. “We had a tough series against the same team last weekend, when basically we didn’t do anything offensively,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “For us to make that adjustment quickly and put up that type of performance the whole weekend, it was just good to see.” The Mets plan to give right-hander Austin Warren (1-1, 1.40 ERA) his first career start Monday, likely as an opener before using Sean Manaea (0-1, 5.56) as a bulk reliever. Warren is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in three career appearances against Seattle; Manaea is 8-8 with a 4.04 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) versus the M’s. The Mariners will counter with right-hander Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78). He anchored a 4-1 victory against the Athletics last Tuesday, allowing one hit over six scoreless innings. Hancock will meet the Mets for the first time. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mets #Mariners #surging #entering #series #Seattle

Deadspin | Mets, Mariners each surging entering series in Seattle
Deadspin | Mets, Mariners each surging entering series in Seattle May 31, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo (58) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-Imagn Images With 13 games over the next 14 days, the Seattle Mariners plan to shelve their Bryce Miller/Luis Castillo piggyback experiment for a six-man rotation. However unpopular the piggyback might have been for those involved, there’s no denying it worked. Miller and Castillo each threw 71 pitches over five innings Sunday as the Mariners defeated the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 in 10 innings. The American League West-leading Mariners, winners of six in a row, will play host to the New York Mets in a three-game interleague series beginning Monday at T-Mobile Park. The duo combined for a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings across three games. “Both these guys deserve a huge pat on the back for the way they’ve approached it and just been selfless in a lot of ways,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. Miller, who allowed one hit and no runs Sunday, tried to take a big-picture approach. “The piggyback thing hasn’t been ideal for all of us so far, but it’s also like it could be a blessing in disguise, saving us a few pitches here and there, a few innings here and there,” Miller said. “Hopefully it works out (where) at the end of the year, we’re feeling fresh and ready to go into the postseason.” Added Castillo, through an interpreter: “There were a couple obstacles, but the good thing for me is that we were able to overcome them. The important thing for me is that I’m healthy and we’re throwing the ball right.” Cole Young and Dominic Canzone hit solo homers for Seattle and Victor Robles drove in the winning run in extra innings with an infield single. The Mets are coming off a three-game sweep of Miami and have won four straight overall. New York won 10-1 Sunday as Juan Soto hit a grand slam. “The whole lineup came ready to attack,” Soto said. Carson Benge hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first and Marcus Semien added a two-run shot. Every Mets starter reached safely and eight of nine scored. The Mets scored 25 runs in the series. “We had a tough series against the same team last weekend, when basically we didn’t do anything offensively,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “For us to make that adjustment quickly and put up that type of performance the whole weekend, it was just good to see.” The Mets plan to give right-hander Austin Warren (1-1, 1.40 ERA) his first career start Monday, likely as an opener before using Sean Manaea (0-1, 5.56) as a bulk reliever. Warren is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in three career appearances against Seattle; Manaea is 8-8 with a 4.04 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) versus the M’s. The Mariners will counter with right-hander Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78). He anchored a 4-1 victory against the Athletics last Tuesday, allowing one hit over six scoreless innings. Hancock will meet the Mets for the first time. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mets #Mariners #surging #entering #series #SeattleMay 31, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo (58) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-Imagn Images

With 13 games over the next 14 days, the Seattle Mariners plan to shelve their Bryce Miller/Luis Castillo piggyback experiment for a six-man rotation.

However unpopular the piggyback might have been for those involved, there’s no denying it worked.

Miller and Castillo each threw 71 pitches over five innings Sunday as the Mariners defeated the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 in 10 innings.

The American League West-leading Mariners, winners of six in a row, will play host to the New York Mets in a three-game interleague series beginning Monday at T-Mobile Park.

The duo combined for a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings across three games.

“Both these guys deserve a huge pat on the back for the way they’ve approached it and just been selfless in a lot of ways,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.

Miller, who allowed one hit and no runs Sunday, tried to take a big-picture approach.

“The piggyback thing hasn’t been ideal for all of us so far, but it’s also like it could be a blessing in disguise, saving us a few pitches here and there, a few innings here and there,” Miller said. “Hopefully it works out (where) at the end of the year, we’re feeling fresh and ready to go into the postseason.”


Added Castillo, through an interpreter: “There were a couple obstacles, but the good thing for me is that we were able to overcome them. The important thing for me is that I’m healthy and we’re throwing the ball right.”

Cole Young and Dominic Canzone hit solo homers for Seattle and Victor Robles drove in the winning run in extra innings with an infield single.

The Mets are coming off a three-game sweep of Miami and have won four straight overall. New York won 10-1 Sunday as Juan Soto hit a grand slam.

“The whole lineup came ready to attack,” Soto said.

Carson Benge hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first and Marcus Semien added a two-run shot. Every Mets starter reached safely and eight of nine scored.

The Mets scored 25 runs in the series.

“We had a tough series against the same team last weekend, when basically we didn’t do anything offensively,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “For us to make that adjustment quickly and put up that type of performance the whole weekend, it was just good to see.”

The Mets plan to give right-hander Austin Warren (1-1, 1.40 ERA) his first career start Monday, likely as an opener before using Sean Manaea (0-1, 5.56) as a bulk reliever. Warren is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in three career appearances against Seattle; Manaea is 8-8 with a 4.04 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) versus the M’s.

The Mariners will counter with right-hander Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78). He anchored a 4-1 victory against the Athletics last Tuesday, allowing one hit over six scoreless innings. Hancock will meet the Mets for the first time.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Mets #Mariners #surging #entering #series #Seattle

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May 31, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo (58) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-Imagn Images

With 13 games over the next 14 days, the Seattle Mariners plan to shelve their Bryce Miller/Luis Castillo piggyback experiment for a six-man rotation.

However unpopular the piggyback might have been for those involved, there’s no denying it worked.

Miller and Castillo each threw 71 pitches over five innings Sunday as the Mariners defeated the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 in 10 innings.

The American League West-leading Mariners, winners of six in a row, will play host to the New York Mets in a three-game interleague series beginning Monday at T-Mobile Park.

The duo combined for a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings across three games.

“Both these guys deserve a huge pat on the back for the way they’ve approached it and just been selfless in a lot of ways,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.

Miller, who allowed one hit and no runs Sunday, tried to take a big-picture approach.

“The piggyback thing hasn’t been ideal for all of us so far, but it’s also like it could be a blessing in disguise, saving us a few pitches here and there, a few innings here and there,” Miller said. “Hopefully it works out (where) at the end of the year, we’re feeling fresh and ready to go into the postseason.”

Added Castillo, through an interpreter: “There were a couple obstacles, but the good thing for me is that we were able to overcome them. The important thing for me is that I’m healthy and we’re throwing the ball right.”

Cole Young and Dominic Canzone hit solo homers for Seattle and Victor Robles drove in the winning run in extra innings with an infield single.

The Mets are coming off a three-game sweep of Miami and have won four straight overall. New York won 10-1 Sunday as Juan Soto hit a grand slam.

“The whole lineup came ready to attack,” Soto said.

Carson Benge hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first and Marcus Semien added a two-run shot. Every Mets starter reached safely and eight of nine scored.

The Mets scored 25 runs in the series.

“We had a tough series against the same team last weekend, when basically we didn’t do anything offensively,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “For us to make that adjustment quickly and put up that type of performance the whole weekend, it was just good to see.”

The Mets plan to give right-hander Austin Warren (1-1, 1.40 ERA) his first career start Monday, likely as an opener before using Sean Manaea (0-1, 5.56) as a bulk reliever. Warren is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in three career appearances against Seattle; Manaea is 8-8 with a 4.04 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) versus the M’s.

The Mariners will counter with right-hander Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78). He anchored a 4-1 victory against the Athletics last Tuesday, allowing one hit over six scoreless innings. Hancock will meet the Mets for the first time.

–Field Level Media

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The NBA will have a unique champion for the eighth straight year. The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks are squaring off in a 2026 NBA Finals matchup no one could have seen coming. Before this stretch, the league had never had more than six consecutive unique champions, which happened from 1975-1980. No team has won multiple titles over the last eight years, and no team has even repeated as a conference champion since the 2019 Golden State Warriors.

Why is there so much parity in the NBA right now? It’s mostly a combination of salary cap changes and injuries. The Oklahoma City Thunder seemed primed for a dynasty when they won the championship a year ago, but the Spurs beat them in a fantastic Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals with their second and third best creators out in Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell.

The NBA is left with a rematch of the 1999 Finals, which the Spurs won in five games over New York. It’s going to be incredible watching Victor Wembanyama chase his first championship in Madison Square Garden against a Knicks fanbase desperate for their first championship since 1973. Let’s preview the series from both sides and make a championship pick.

The Knicks just played the best 11-game stretch in league history — and somehow that’s not an exaggeration. This team is red hot right now, and they’re playing with full belief that they can deliver New York its first NBA championship since 1973.

The Spurs haven’t faced a true stretch five who can pull Wembanyama away from the basket on this playoff run. Enter Karl-Anthony Towns, the best three-point shooting center of all-time, who has suddenly been unlocked as the best version of himself over the last six weeks. Towns feels like the most important player in the series for New York. He’s a threat to score 25+ feet away from the basket, and that could potentially take Wemby away from defending the paint. The Spurs can try to stick Wembanyama on Josh Hart or another Knick, but that will create some problems for San Antonio, too.

It’s easy to discount Jalen Brunson, but he’s led his team to championships in high school and in college, and consistently rises to the occasion in the biggest moments. While the Spurs defended another mid-range shooter in Gilgeous-Alexander well in the West Finals, it’s worth noting that Brunson has a much higher three-point volume, taking 35.8 percent of his field goals from deep, compared to 22.6 for SGA. Brunson’s pull-up three ball will have to be a weapon in this series. The fact that he’s not much of a rim attacker means Wembanyama needs to come out higher on the floor when he’s not getting spaced out of the play by Towns. For as good as the Spurs’ defense is, Brunson has shown that he has so many counters to effectively get off his offense.

I’m fascinated to see how often and how effectively Anunoby defends Wembanyama. It feels like the best Wemby defenders are long and strong wings who are quick enough to neutralize him off the bounce, and Anunoby might be the best example of such a defender. Turning Wemby into a shooter is in the Knicks’ best interest, so if Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson can keep him out of deep post position, that’s a good start for a winning recipe.

The Knicks are also the much fresher team. While San Antonio just played a physically and emotionally draining 7-game series in the West, the Knicks have been chilling at home after consecutive sweeps. Sure the Knicks might be a little rusty at the start of Game 1, but that rest advantage will carry over through the remainder of the series.

It certainly feels like the Knicks have more offensive firepower than San Antonio. Brunson and Towns is an elite scoring duo, and Mikal Bridges and Anunoby can each carry the offense for a game or two themselves. De’Aaron Fox hasn’t been at his best for the Spurs basically the whole season, and asking Dylan Harper to immediately ascend to a true No. 2 option as a 20-year-old is a lot. The Knicks just have so much scoring punch in their eight-man rotation, and it’s conceivable that not even Wembanyama can slow them down.

Madison Square Garden is about to turn into one of the greatest environments in NBA Finals history. Knicks fans are craving a championship, and the team will be ready.

It feels like Victor Wembanyama ascended to best player in the world status during the Western Conference Finals, which is a terrifying thought considering he’s only 22 years old and still has plenty of room to grow as a player. When he’s really locked in, Wemby looks like a 7’5 Kevin Durant capable of self-creating step-back threes while also being a dominant a rim runner and arguably the most impactful defender in NBA history.

How will the Knicks guard Wembanyama? It’s a question that could define the series. New York only has two 7-footers on the roster with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, but Robinson recently suffered a broken pinky that should linger into the Finals. New York can also use OG Anunoby to guard Wembanyama, and that might be their best matchup. For as long and strong as Anunoby is, Wemby is still going to be able to shoot over the top of him whenever he wants to. If the French superstar gets hot as a jump shooter or from floater range, the Spurs will immediately have an advantage New York can’t neuter. Even if Anunoby is effective for stretches, the Knicks will still need other defenders to soak up minutes against him, and their options are pretty limited.

Wemby’s impact is even bigger on defense, especially with so many good perimeter defenders in front of him. Stephon Castle did an outstanding job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Wemby lurking behind him, and that same duo will cause plenty of problems for Jalen Brunson. Like SGA, Brunson takes a lot of his shots from mid-range, which Wemby’s length can help evaporate. Brunson took 51% percent of his field goal attempts from mid-range this season, per Cleaning the Glass. The Spurs feel uniquely equipped to defend that kind of superstar shot profile.

The Spurs’ role players are also fully locked in right now. Julian Champagnie had a breakout conference finals series with multiple 20-point games and consistently good rebounding. Devin Vassell is playing the best ball of his career. Dylan Harper is already taking over playoff games at times at 20 years old. Luke Kornet is one of the league’s better backup centers, and could rebound from a tough matchup vs. the Thunder.

San Antonio’s defense will really be in the spotlight for this matchup. The Knicks’ offensive rating has jumped from 118.7 in the regular season to 123.3 in the playoffs, by far the best mark in the postseason. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s defensive rating has gone from 110.4 in the regular season (No. 3 overall) to 104.4 in the playoffs (second-best behind the Knicks). The Spurs’ defense feels built for the playoffs with more contact allowed on the perimeter and Wembanyama being almost adjustment-proof. If the Spurs can limit New York’s three-point attempts, Wemby can take care of the rest inside.

In what feels like a pretty even matchup, the tiebreaker should go to the team with the best player. That’s Wembanyama.

This truly feels like a toss up to me, but I’m going with San Antonio in seven for a few reasons.

The Knicks’ romp through the East has been incredibly impressive, but they haven’t seen anything like the Spurs. The Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers are all two steps below San Antonio at least. I’m not sure if the Knicks’ hot three-point shooting is sustainable. Landry Shamet just shot 91.7 percent from three in the Eastern Conference Finals (not a typo). Is that really going to happen again? The Knicks have plenty of shooters on the floor at all times, but the windows disappear a lot quicker when someone like Wembanyama is closing out on you.

I was tempted to go Knicks in six here. New York clearly has a path to victory, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they routed the Spurs the same way they’ve routed everyone else in their way on this playoff run.

If the Spurs can extend the series to seven, they will get the final game on their home floor. Weird things can happen in a Game 7, and I typically prefer the team with the best overall player. Wembanyama already slayed the biggest challenger in the league in his first playoff run. I think he’s ready to win a championship.

#Knicks #Spurs #instant #prediction #NBA #Finals">Knicks vs. Spurs instant prediction for 2026 NBA Finals The NBA will have a unique champion for the eighth straight year. The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks are squaring off in a 2026 NBA Finals matchup no one could have seen coming. Before this stretch, the league had never had more than six consecutive unique champions, which happened from 1975-1980. No team has won multiple titles over the last eight years, and no team has even repeated as a conference champion since the 2019 Golden State Warriors.Why is there so much parity in the NBA right now? It’s mostly a combination of salary cap changes and injuries. The Oklahoma City Thunder seemed primed for a dynasty when they won the championship a year ago, but the Spurs beat them in a fantastic Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals with their second and third best creators out in Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell.The NBA is left with a rematch of the 1999 Finals, which the Spurs won in five games over New York. It’s going to be incredible watching Victor Wembanyama chase his first championship in Madison Square Garden against a Knicks fanbase desperate for their first championship since 1973. Let’s preview the series from both sides and make a championship pick.The Knicks just played the best 11-game stretch in league history — and somehow that’s not an exaggeration. This team is red hot right now, and they’re playing with full belief that they can deliver New York its first NBA championship since 1973.The Spurs haven’t faced a true stretch five who can pull Wembanyama away from the basket on this playoff run. Enter Karl-Anthony Towns, the best three-point shooting center of all-time, who has suddenly been unlocked as the best version of himself over the last six weeks. Towns feels like the most important player in the series for New York. He’s a threat to score 25+ feet away from the basket, and that could potentially take Wemby away from defending the paint. The Spurs can try to stick Wembanyama on Josh Hart or another Knick, but that will create some problems for San Antonio, too.It’s easy to discount Jalen Brunson, but he’s led his team to championships in high school and in college, and consistently rises to the occasion in the biggest moments. While the Spurs defended another mid-range shooter in Gilgeous-Alexander well in the West Finals, it’s worth noting that Brunson has a much higher three-point volume, taking 35.8 percent of his field goals from deep, compared to 22.6 for SGA. Brunson’s pull-up three ball will have to be a weapon in this series. The fact that he’s not much of a rim attacker means Wembanyama needs to come out higher on the floor when he’s not getting spaced out of the play by Towns. For as good as the Spurs’ defense is, Brunson has shown that he has so many counters to effectively get off his offense.I’m fascinated to see how often and how effectively Anunoby defends Wembanyama. It feels like the best Wemby defenders are long and strong wings who are quick enough to neutralize him off the bounce, and Anunoby might be the best example of such a defender. Turning Wemby into a shooter is in the Knicks’ best interest, so if Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson can keep him out of deep post position, that’s a good start for a winning recipe.The Knicks are also the much fresher team. While San Antonio just played a physically and emotionally draining 7-game series in the West, the Knicks have been chilling at home after consecutive sweeps. Sure the Knicks might be a little rusty at the start of Game 1, but that rest advantage will carry over through the remainder of the series.It certainly feels like the Knicks have more offensive firepower than San Antonio. Brunson and Towns is an elite scoring duo, and Mikal Bridges and Anunoby can each carry the offense for a game or two themselves. De’Aaron Fox hasn’t been at his best for the Spurs basically the whole season, and asking Dylan Harper to immediately ascend to a true No. 2 option as a 20-year-old is a lot. The Knicks just have so much scoring punch in their eight-man rotation, and it’s conceivable that not even Wembanyama can slow them down.Madison Square Garden is about to turn into one of the greatest environments in NBA Finals history. Knicks fans are craving a championship, and the team will be ready.It feels like Victor Wembanyama ascended to best player in the world status during the Western Conference Finals, which is a terrifying thought considering he’s only 22 years old and still has plenty of room to grow as a player. When he’s really locked in, Wemby looks like a 7’5 Kevin Durant capable of self-creating step-back threes while also being a dominant a rim runner and arguably the most impactful defender in NBA history.How will the Knicks guard Wembanyama? It’s a question that could define the series. New York only has two 7-footers on the roster with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, but Robinson recently suffered a broken pinky that should linger into the Finals. New York can also use OG Anunoby to guard Wembanyama, and that might be their best matchup. For as long and strong as Anunoby is, Wemby is still going to be able to shoot over the top of him whenever he wants to. If the French superstar gets hot as a jump shooter or from floater range, the Spurs will immediately have an advantage New York can’t neuter. Even if Anunoby is effective for stretches, the Knicks will still need other defenders to soak up minutes against him, and their options are pretty limited.Wemby’s impact is even bigger on defense, especially with so many good perimeter defenders in front of him. Stephon Castle did an outstanding job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Wemby lurking behind him, and that same duo will cause plenty of problems for Jalen Brunson. Like SGA, Brunson takes a lot of his shots from mid-range, which Wemby’s length can help evaporate. Brunson took 51% percent of his field goal attempts from mid-range this season, per Cleaning the Glass. The Spurs feel uniquely equipped to defend that kind of superstar shot profile.The Spurs’ role players are also fully locked in right now. Julian Champagnie had a breakout conference finals series with multiple 20-point games and consistently good rebounding. Devin Vassell is playing the best ball of his career. Dylan Harper is already taking over playoff games at times at 20 years old. Luke Kornet is one of the league’s better backup centers, and could rebound from a tough matchup vs. the Thunder.San Antonio’s defense will really be in the spotlight for this matchup. The Knicks’ offensive rating has jumped from 118.7 in the regular season to 123.3 in the playoffs, by far the best mark in the postseason. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s defensive rating has gone from 110.4 in the regular season (No. 3 overall) to 104.4 in the playoffs (second-best behind the Knicks). The Spurs’ defense feels built for the playoffs with more contact allowed on the perimeter and Wembanyama being almost adjustment-proof. If the Spurs can limit New York’s three-point attempts, Wemby can take care of the rest inside.In what feels like a pretty even matchup, the tiebreaker should go to the team with the best player. That’s Wembanyama.This truly feels like a toss up to me, but I’m going with San Antonio in seven for a few reasons.The Knicks’ romp through the East has been incredibly impressive, but they haven’t seen anything like the Spurs. The Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers are all two steps below San Antonio at least. I’m not sure if the Knicks’ hot three-point shooting is sustainable. Landry Shamet just shot 91.7 percent from three in the Eastern Conference Finals (not a typo). Is that really going to happen again? The Knicks have plenty of shooters on the floor at all times, but the windows disappear a lot quicker when someone like Wembanyama is closing out on you.I was tempted to go Knicks in six here. New York clearly has a path to victory, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they routed the Spurs the same way they’ve routed everyone else in their way on this playoff run.If the Spurs can extend the series to seven, they will get the final game on their home floor. Weird things can happen in a Game 7, and I typically prefer the team with the best overall player. Wembanyama already slayed the biggest challenger in the league in his first playoff run. I think he’s ready to win a championship. #Knicks #Spurs #instant #prediction #NBA #Finals

The Knicks just played the best 11-game stretch in league history — and somehow that’s not an exaggeration. This team is red hot right now, and they’re playing with full belief that they can deliver New York its first NBA championship since 1973.

The Spurs haven’t faced a true stretch five who can pull Wembanyama away from the basket on this playoff run. Enter Karl-Anthony Towns, the best three-point shooting center of all-time, who has suddenly been unlocked as the best version of himself over the last six weeks. Towns feels like the most important player in the series for New York. He’s a threat to score 25+ feet away from the basket, and that could potentially take Wemby away from defending the paint. The Spurs can try to stick Wembanyama on Josh Hart or another Knick, but that will create some problems for San Antonio, too.

It’s easy to discount Jalen Brunson, but he’s led his team to championships in high school and in college, and consistently rises to the occasion in the biggest moments. While the Spurs defended another mid-range shooter in Gilgeous-Alexander well in the West Finals, it’s worth noting that Brunson has a much higher three-point volume, taking 35.8 percent of his field goals from deep, compared to 22.6 for SGA. Brunson’s pull-up three ball will have to be a weapon in this series. The fact that he’s not much of a rim attacker means Wembanyama needs to come out higher on the floor when he’s not getting spaced out of the play by Towns. For as good as the Spurs’ defense is, Brunson has shown that he has so many counters to effectively get off his offense.

I’m fascinated to see how often and how effectively Anunoby defends Wembanyama. It feels like the best Wemby defenders are long and strong wings who are quick enough to neutralize him off the bounce, and Anunoby might be the best example of such a defender. Turning Wemby into a shooter is in the Knicks’ best interest, so if Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson can keep him out of deep post position, that’s a good start for a winning recipe.

The Knicks are also the much fresher team. While San Antonio just played a physically and emotionally draining 7-game series in the West, the Knicks have been chilling at home after consecutive sweeps. Sure the Knicks might be a little rusty at the start of Game 1, but that rest advantage will carry over through the remainder of the series.

It certainly feels like the Knicks have more offensive firepower than San Antonio. Brunson and Towns is an elite scoring duo, and Mikal Bridges and Anunoby can each carry the offense for a game or two themselves. De’Aaron Fox hasn’t been at his best for the Spurs basically the whole season, and asking Dylan Harper to immediately ascend to a true No. 2 option as a 20-year-old is a lot. The Knicks just have so much scoring punch in their eight-man rotation, and it’s conceivable that not even Wembanyama can slow them down.

Madison Square Garden is about to turn into one of the greatest environments in NBA Finals history. Knicks fans are craving a championship, and the team will be ready.

It feels like Victor Wembanyama ascended to best player in the world status during the Western Conference Finals, which is a terrifying thought considering he’s only 22 years old and still has plenty of room to grow as a player. When he’s really locked in, Wemby looks like a 7’5 Kevin Durant capable of self-creating step-back threes while also being a dominant a rim runner and arguably the most impactful defender in NBA history.

How will the Knicks guard Wembanyama? It’s a question that could define the series. New York only has two 7-footers on the roster with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, but Robinson recently suffered a broken pinky that should linger into the Finals. New York can also use OG Anunoby to guard Wembanyama, and that might be their best matchup. For as long and strong as Anunoby is, Wemby is still going to be able to shoot over the top of him whenever he wants to. If the French superstar gets hot as a jump shooter or from floater range, the Spurs will immediately have an advantage New York can’t neuter. Even if Anunoby is effective for stretches, the Knicks will still need other defenders to soak up minutes against him, and their options are pretty limited.

Wemby’s impact is even bigger on defense, especially with so many good perimeter defenders in front of him. Stephon Castle did an outstanding job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Wemby lurking behind him, and that same duo will cause plenty of problems for Jalen Brunson. Like SGA, Brunson takes a lot of his shots from mid-range, which Wemby’s length can help evaporate. Brunson took 51% percent of his field goal attempts from mid-range this season, per Cleaning the Glass. The Spurs feel uniquely equipped to defend that kind of superstar shot profile.

The Spurs’ role players are also fully locked in right now. Julian Champagnie had a breakout conference finals series with multiple 20-point games and consistently good rebounding. Devin Vassell is playing the best ball of his career. Dylan Harper is already taking over playoff games at times at 20 years old. Luke Kornet is one of the league’s better backup centers, and could rebound from a tough matchup vs. the Thunder.

San Antonio’s defense will really be in the spotlight for this matchup. The Knicks’ offensive rating has jumped from 118.7 in the regular season to 123.3 in the playoffs, by far the best mark in the postseason. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s defensive rating has gone from 110.4 in the regular season (No. 3 overall) to 104.4 in the playoffs (second-best behind the Knicks). The Spurs’ defense feels built for the playoffs with more contact allowed on the perimeter and Wembanyama being almost adjustment-proof. If the Spurs can limit New York’s three-point attempts, Wemby can take care of the rest inside.

In what feels like a pretty even matchup, the tiebreaker should go to the team with the best player. That’s Wembanyama.

This truly feels like a toss up to me, but I’m going with San Antonio in seven for a few reasons.

The Knicks’ romp through the East has been incredibly impressive, but they haven’t seen anything like the Spurs. The Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers are all two steps below San Antonio at least. I’m not sure if the Knicks’ hot three-point shooting is sustainable. Landry Shamet just shot 91.7 percent from three in the Eastern Conference Finals (not a typo). Is that really going to happen again? The Knicks have plenty of shooters on the floor at all times, but the windows disappear a lot quicker when someone like Wembanyama is closing out on you.

I was tempted to go Knicks in six here. New York clearly has a path to victory, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they routed the Spurs the same way they’ve routed everyone else in their way on this playoff run.

If the Spurs can extend the series to seven, they will get the final game on their home floor. Weird things can happen in a Game 7, and I typically prefer the team with the best overall player. Wembanyama already slayed the biggest challenger in the league in his first playoff run. I think he’s ready to win a championship.

#Knicks #Spurs #instant #prediction #NBA #Finals">Knicks vs. Spurs instant prediction for 2026 NBA Finals

The NBA will have a unique champion for the eighth straight year. The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks are squaring off in a 2026 NBA Finals matchup no one could have seen coming. Before this stretch, the league had never had more than six consecutive unique champions, which happened from 1975-1980. No team has won multiple titles over the last eight years, and no team has even repeated as a conference champion since the 2019 Golden State Warriors.

Why is there so much parity in the NBA right now? It’s mostly a combination of salary cap changes and injuries. The Oklahoma City Thunder seemed primed for a dynasty when they won the championship a year ago, but the Spurs beat them in a fantastic Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals with their second and third best creators out in Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell.

The NBA is left with a rematch of the 1999 Finals, which the Spurs won in five games over New York. It’s going to be incredible watching Victor Wembanyama chase his first championship in Madison Square Garden against a Knicks fanbase desperate for their first championship since 1973. Let’s preview the series from both sides and make a championship pick.

The Knicks just played the best 11-game stretch in league history — and somehow that’s not an exaggeration. This team is red hot right now, and they’re playing with full belief that they can deliver New York its first NBA championship since 1973.

The Spurs haven’t faced a true stretch five who can pull Wembanyama away from the basket on this playoff run. Enter Karl-Anthony Towns, the best three-point shooting center of all-time, who has suddenly been unlocked as the best version of himself over the last six weeks. Towns feels like the most important player in the series for New York. He’s a threat to score 25+ feet away from the basket, and that could potentially take Wemby away from defending the paint. The Spurs can try to stick Wembanyama on Josh Hart or another Knick, but that will create some problems for San Antonio, too.

It’s easy to discount Jalen Brunson, but he’s led his team to championships in high school and in college, and consistently rises to the occasion in the biggest moments. While the Spurs defended another mid-range shooter in Gilgeous-Alexander well in the West Finals, it’s worth noting that Brunson has a much higher three-point volume, taking 35.8 percent of his field goals from deep, compared to 22.6 for SGA. Brunson’s pull-up three ball will have to be a weapon in this series. The fact that he’s not much of a rim attacker means Wembanyama needs to come out higher on the floor when he’s not getting spaced out of the play by Towns. For as good as the Spurs’ defense is, Brunson has shown that he has so many counters to effectively get off his offense.

I’m fascinated to see how often and how effectively Anunoby defends Wembanyama. It feels like the best Wemby defenders are long and strong wings who are quick enough to neutralize him off the bounce, and Anunoby might be the best example of such a defender. Turning Wemby into a shooter is in the Knicks’ best interest, so if Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson can keep him out of deep post position, that’s a good start for a winning recipe.

The Knicks are also the much fresher team. While San Antonio just played a physically and emotionally draining 7-game series in the West, the Knicks have been chilling at home after consecutive sweeps. Sure the Knicks might be a little rusty at the start of Game 1, but that rest advantage will carry over through the remainder of the series.

It certainly feels like the Knicks have more offensive firepower than San Antonio. Brunson and Towns is an elite scoring duo, and Mikal Bridges and Anunoby can each carry the offense for a game or two themselves. De’Aaron Fox hasn’t been at his best for the Spurs basically the whole season, and asking Dylan Harper to immediately ascend to a true No. 2 option as a 20-year-old is a lot. The Knicks just have so much scoring punch in their eight-man rotation, and it’s conceivable that not even Wembanyama can slow them down.

Madison Square Garden is about to turn into one of the greatest environments in NBA Finals history. Knicks fans are craving a championship, and the team will be ready.

It feels like Victor Wembanyama ascended to best player in the world status during the Western Conference Finals, which is a terrifying thought considering he’s only 22 years old and still has plenty of room to grow as a player. When he’s really locked in, Wemby looks like a 7’5 Kevin Durant capable of self-creating step-back threes while also being a dominant a rim runner and arguably the most impactful defender in NBA history.

How will the Knicks guard Wembanyama? It’s a question that could define the series. New York only has two 7-footers on the roster with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, but Robinson recently suffered a broken pinky that should linger into the Finals. New York can also use OG Anunoby to guard Wembanyama, and that might be their best matchup. For as long and strong as Anunoby is, Wemby is still going to be able to shoot over the top of him whenever he wants to. If the French superstar gets hot as a jump shooter or from floater range, the Spurs will immediately have an advantage New York can’t neuter. Even if Anunoby is effective for stretches, the Knicks will still need other defenders to soak up minutes against him, and their options are pretty limited.

Wemby’s impact is even bigger on defense, especially with so many good perimeter defenders in front of him. Stephon Castle did an outstanding job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Wemby lurking behind him, and that same duo will cause plenty of problems for Jalen Brunson. Like SGA, Brunson takes a lot of his shots from mid-range, which Wemby’s length can help evaporate. Brunson took 51% percent of his field goal attempts from mid-range this season, per Cleaning the Glass. The Spurs feel uniquely equipped to defend that kind of superstar shot profile.

The Spurs’ role players are also fully locked in right now. Julian Champagnie had a breakout conference finals series with multiple 20-point games and consistently good rebounding. Devin Vassell is playing the best ball of his career. Dylan Harper is already taking over playoff games at times at 20 years old. Luke Kornet is one of the league’s better backup centers, and could rebound from a tough matchup vs. the Thunder.

San Antonio’s defense will really be in the spotlight for this matchup. The Knicks’ offensive rating has jumped from 118.7 in the regular season to 123.3 in the playoffs, by far the best mark in the postseason. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s defensive rating has gone from 110.4 in the regular season (No. 3 overall) to 104.4 in the playoffs (second-best behind the Knicks). The Spurs’ defense feels built for the playoffs with more contact allowed on the perimeter and Wembanyama being almost adjustment-proof. If the Spurs can limit New York’s three-point attempts, Wemby can take care of the rest inside.

In what feels like a pretty even matchup, the tiebreaker should go to the team with the best player. That’s Wembanyama.

This truly feels like a toss up to me, but I’m going with San Antonio in seven for a few reasons.

The Knicks’ romp through the East has been incredibly impressive, but they haven’t seen anything like the Spurs. The Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers are all two steps below San Antonio at least. I’m not sure if the Knicks’ hot three-point shooting is sustainable. Landry Shamet just shot 91.7 percent from three in the Eastern Conference Finals (not a typo). Is that really going to happen again? The Knicks have plenty of shooters on the floor at all times, but the windows disappear a lot quicker when someone like Wembanyama is closing out on you.

I was tempted to go Knicks in six here. New York clearly has a path to victory, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they routed the Spurs the same way they’ve routed everyone else in their way on this playoff run.

If the Spurs can extend the series to seven, they will get the final game on their home floor. Weird things can happen in a Game 7, and I typically prefer the team with the best overall player. Wembanyama already slayed the biggest challenger in the league in his first playoff run. I think he’s ready to win a championship.

#Knicks #Spurs #instant #prediction #NBA #Finals

Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured its second IPL title with victory over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday night.

The Bengaluru-based franchise was led by a Player of the Match performance from Virat Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 75, while Rasikh Salam, Krunal Pandya, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar impressed with the ball, taking six wickets between them.

Krunal and Bhuvneshwar are two of the three players from the two-time champion to be named in Sportstar’s Team of the Tournament, alongside captain Rajat Patidar.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who swept the IPL 2026 awards including Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, and Emerging Player of the Season, is also included in the team.

Here is Sportstar’s Team of the Tournament for IPL 2026:

  • Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans) – 732 runs, SR 163.02
  • Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals) – 776 runs, SR 237.30
  • Ishan Kishan (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 602 runs, SR 182.42
  • Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – 501 runs, SR 192.69
  • Heinrich Klaasen (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 624 runs, SR 160
  • Nitish Kumar Reddy (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 302 runs, SR 171.59; 8 wickets at 40.37
  • Krunal Pandya (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – 265 runs, SR 145.80; 14 wickets at 30.35
  • Jason Holder (Gujarat Titans) – 17 wickets at 17.05
  • Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) – 15 wickets at 22.60
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – 28 wickets at 17.89
  • Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans) – 29 wickets at 21.58
  • Mohammed Siraj (Gujarat Titans) – 19 wickets at 29.57

Published on Jun 01, 2026

#IPL #Sooryavanshi #Bhuvneshwar #lead #Sportstars #Team #Tournament">IPL 2026: Sooryavanshi, Bhuvneshwar lead Sportstar’s Team of the Tournament Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured its second IPL title with victory over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday night.The Bengaluru-based franchise was led by a Player of the Match performance from Virat Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 75, while Rasikh Salam, Krunal Pandya, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar impressed with the ball, taking six wickets between them.Krunal and Bhuvneshwar are two of the three players from the two-time champion to be named in Sportstar’s Team of the Tournament, alongside captain Rajat Patidar.Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who swept the IPL 2026 awards including Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, and Emerging Player of the Season, is also included in the team.Here is Sportstar’s Team of the Tournament for IPL 2026: Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans) – 732 runs, SR 163.02 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals) – 776 runs, SR 237.30 Ishan Kishan (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 602 runs, SR 182.42 Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – 501 runs, SR 192.69 Heinrich Klaasen (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 624 runs, SR 160 Nitish Kumar Reddy (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 302 runs, SR 171.59; 8 wickets at 40.37 Krunal Pandya (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – 265 runs, SR 145.80; 14 wickets at 30.35 Jason Holder (Gujarat Titans) – 17 wickets at 17.05 Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) – 15 wickets at 22.60 Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – 28 wickets at 17.89 Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans) – 29 wickets at 21.58 Mohammed Siraj (Gujarat Titans) – 19 wickets at 29.57 Published on Jun 01, 2026 #IPL #Sooryavanshi #Bhuvneshwar #lead #Sportstars #Team #Tournament

Deadspin | Rangers finally on a roll, next dealing with Cards May 27, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) hits a single against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Texas Rangers, fresh off a sweep of the Kansas City Royals, hit the road for a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals starting Monday night, hopeful to bring their just-uncovered offense with them. The Rangers’ three-game winning streak is their longest since a three-gamer from April 6-8. They were 7-5 after that home sweep of the Seattle Mariners but just 21-26 since. Texas broke out the bats over the weekend, scoring 22 runs and banging out 34 hits against the Royals. Even with that, the Rangers still have scored the seventh-fewest runs in MLB, with 237 over 59 games. “The small ball was kind of what set the tone this series, especially at the bottom part of the order, and teed up some of the big boys to knock them in,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. Josh Jung is enjoying a breakout season in Texas. The third baseman has hits in 10 of his last 11 contests. He has 16 hits in his last 43 at-bats (.372), and his .316 average for the season is the best of his five-year career by 50 points. Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (3-4, 3.77 ERA) gets the ball for Monday’s opener. The two-time Cy Young winner, in search of his 100th win, last earned a victory on May 10 against the visiting Chicago Cubs. While he owns a 5-2 mark in eight starts against St. Louis, the veteran pitcher has not fared well at Busch Stadium. He’s 1-2 in three starts at St. Louis, with an 8.44 ERA. He last faced the Cardinals in Arlington, Texas, on June 1, 2025, and got the win, giving up just a run on four hits and three walks over six innings in an 8-1 victory. St. Louis enters the series having won just two of its last seven, but those victories came in the weekend series against the visiting Cubs. After Sunday’s 5-1 win, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol noted the team, which entered the season as the youngest in the majors, endured a grueling May. “They continue to compete,” Marmol said. “They continue to grow. There’s going to be games that don’t look the way you would want, but at the same time, I just love the mentality going into each series.” One of those promising young players is JJ Wetherholt. The rookie second baseman has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games. Over that span, Wetherholt has hit .318 (14-for-44) and raised his season average 17 points to .250. The Cardinals will start Michael McGreevy (3-4, 2.98), who is coming off his worst start of the year. The right-hander gave up a season-high five runs on seven hits and three walks across four innings last Tuesday against the Brewers, the shortest stint of his 11 2026 starts. This will mark the first time McGreevy faces the Rangers. Should he falter, St. Louis will have a fresher bullpen available thanks to Hunter Dobbins. The right-hander was scheduled to start for Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, but the Cardinals called him up instead, with the plan to pitch him after their starter, Matthew Liberatore. Dobbins pitched the final 3 2/3 innings to save Sunday’s game. He also saved Marmol from needing to use a relief corps that had pitched 10 2/3 innings in the previous two games. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Rangers #finally #roll #dealing #CardsMay 27, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) hits a single against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Texas Rangers, fresh off a sweep of the Kansas City Royals, hit the road for a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals starting Monday night, hopeful to bring their just-uncovered offense with them.

The Rangers’ three-game winning streak is their longest since a three-gamer from April 6-8. They were 7-5 after that home sweep of the Seattle Mariners but just 21-26 since.

Texas broke out the bats over the weekend, scoring 22 runs and banging out 34 hits against the Royals. Even with that, the Rangers still have scored the seventh-fewest runs in MLB, with 237 over 59 games.

“The small ball was kind of what set the tone this series, especially at the bottom part of the order, and teed up some of the big boys to knock them in,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said.

Josh Jung is enjoying a breakout season in Texas. The third baseman has hits in 10 of his last 11 contests. He has 16 hits in his last 43 at-bats (.372), and his .316 average for the season is the best of his five-year career by 50 points.

Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (3-4, 3.77 ERA) gets the ball for Monday’s opener. The two-time Cy Young winner, in search of his 100th win, last earned a victory on May 10 against the visiting Chicago Cubs.

While he owns a 5-2 mark in eight starts against St. Louis, the veteran pitcher has not fared well at Busch Stadium. He’s 1-2 in three starts at St. Louis, with an 8.44 ERA.


He last faced the Cardinals in Arlington, Texas, on June 1, 2025, and got the win, giving up just a run on four hits and three walks over six innings in an 8-1 victory.

St. Louis enters the series having won just two of its last seven, but those victories came in the weekend series against the visiting Cubs. After Sunday’s 5-1 win, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol noted the team, which entered the season as the youngest in the majors, endured a grueling May.

“They continue to compete,” Marmol said. “They continue to grow. There’s going to be games that don’t look the way you would want, but at the same time, I just love the mentality going into each series.”

One of those promising young players is JJ Wetherholt. The rookie second baseman has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games. Over that span, Wetherholt has hit .318 (14-for-44) and raised his season average 17 points to .250.

The Cardinals will start Michael McGreevy (3-4, 2.98), who is coming off his worst start of the year. The right-hander gave up a season-high five runs on seven hits and three walks across four innings last Tuesday against the Brewers, the shortest stint of his 11 2026 starts.

This will mark the first time McGreevy faces the Rangers. Should he falter, St. Louis will have a fresher bullpen available thanks to Hunter Dobbins. The right-hander was scheduled to start for Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, but the Cardinals called him up instead, with the plan to pitch him after their starter, Matthew Liberatore.

Dobbins pitched the final 3 2/3 innings to save Sunday’s game. He also saved Marmol from needing to use a relief corps that had pitched 10 2/3 innings in the previous two games.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Rangers #finally #roll #dealing #Cards">Deadspin | Rangers finally on a roll, next dealing with Cards May 27, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) hits a single against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Texas Rangers, fresh off a sweep of the Kansas City Royals, hit the road for a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals starting Monday night, hopeful to bring their just-uncovered offense with them. The Rangers’ three-game winning streak is their longest since a three-gamer from April 6-8. They were 7-5 after that home sweep of the Seattle Mariners but just 21-26 since. Texas broke out the bats over the weekend, scoring 22 runs and banging out 34 hits against the Royals. Even with that, the Rangers still have scored the seventh-fewest runs in MLB, with 237 over 59 games. “The small ball was kind of what set the tone this series, especially at the bottom part of the order, and teed up some of the big boys to knock them in,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. Josh Jung is enjoying a breakout season in Texas. The third baseman has hits in 10 of his last 11 contests. He has 16 hits in his last 43 at-bats (.372), and his .316 average for the season is the best of his five-year career by 50 points. Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (3-4, 3.77 ERA) gets the ball for Monday’s opener. The two-time Cy Young winner, in search of his 100th win, last earned a victory on May 10 against the visiting Chicago Cubs. While he owns a 5-2 mark in eight starts against St. Louis, the veteran pitcher has not fared well at Busch Stadium. He’s 1-2 in three starts at St. Louis, with an 8.44 ERA. He last faced the Cardinals in Arlington, Texas, on June 1, 2025, and got the win, giving up just a run on four hits and three walks over six innings in an 8-1 victory. St. Louis enters the series having won just two of its last seven, but those victories came in the weekend series against the visiting Cubs. After Sunday’s 5-1 win, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol noted the team, which entered the season as the youngest in the majors, endured a grueling May. “They continue to compete,” Marmol said. “They continue to grow. There’s going to be games that don’t look the way you would want, but at the same time, I just love the mentality going into each series.” One of those promising young players is JJ Wetherholt. The rookie second baseman has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games. Over that span, Wetherholt has hit .318 (14-for-44) and raised his season average 17 points to .250. The Cardinals will start Michael McGreevy (3-4, 2.98), who is coming off his worst start of the year. The right-hander gave up a season-high five runs on seven hits and three walks across four innings last Tuesday against the Brewers, the shortest stint of his 11 2026 starts. This will mark the first time McGreevy faces the Rangers. Should he falter, St. Louis will have a fresher bullpen available thanks to Hunter Dobbins. The right-hander was scheduled to start for Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, but the Cardinals called him up instead, with the plan to pitch him after their starter, Matthew Liberatore. Dobbins pitched the final 3 2/3 innings to save Sunday’s game. He also saved Marmol from needing to use a relief corps that had pitched 10 2/3 innings in the previous two games. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Rangers #finally #roll #dealing #Cards

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