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May Starting Pitching AL Overachievers

by Nelly's Sports

Thursday, May 28, 2026

  With most MLB starters reaching 10 or more starts in the 2026 season, the data to work with is becoming more meaningful. There are a few pitchers that stand out as overachievers in May with numbers that are not likely to hold up over time. These four American League starters may be worth avoiding or considering fading in upcoming starting efforts.   Anthony Kay – Chicago White Sox The White Sox have been a pleasant surprise this season as a competitive team in the AL Central following three straight seasons with more than 100 losses. Anthony Kay has found success following two full seasons working as a regular starter in Japan. He has a 3.96 ERA on the season, but his FIP is 5.21 as the success for the left-hander could be short-lived. Since allowing eight runs in a late April start in Phoenix, Kay has a 2.87 ERA, but he has modest strikeout results and in his last six starts he has been able to strand nearly 82 percent of his baserunners. His FIP is still 4.38 in his last six starts and in that six-start run Kay has faced only one winning team, while clearing six innings just twice. Kay has significantly worse road splits this season and so far, he has pitched more home innings in his 2026 numbers. Credit Kay and the White Sox for a nice month of May, but Kay isn’t likely to provide above average results the rest of the way.  Joey Cantillo – Cleveland Guardians The Cleveland franchise has consistently developed young pitchers with success, but Joey Cantillo was drafted back in 2017 and he will turn 27 this year. He had success for the Guardians last season in a variety of roles in his first full MLB season and the results appear similar at first glance in 2026 for the left-hander. Cantillo had a 10.2 K/9 last season, but that rate is just 8.1 this season. He has also sported a concerning 4.8 BB/9 so far in 2026. His FIP of 4.50 towers over his 3.57 ERA in 12 starts and Cantillo has allowed four or more runs in four of his last eight starts despite mixing in two scoreless outings to post a strong month of May overall. Cantillo has cleared six innings just twice in his 12 starts and his FIP is 5.13 since May 1 with his K/9 crashing to 5.9 to mirror his 5.9 BB/9 in his last six starts. Cantillo is 3-1 in May decisions and the Guardians find ways to win in a lot of ways, but Cantillo should not be a play-on pitcher in the Cleveland rotation.  Stephen Kolek – Kansas City Royals The Royals have been a disappointment so far this season but in May Stephen Kolek emerged as a quality option on the mound going 3-0 with a 2.77 ERA. Kolek made 19 starts last season with the Padres and then the Royals, pitching well in five late season outings for Kansas City after being traded. His nice conventional line hides just a 4.9 K/9 however and in his 26 innings he has benefitted from a .187 BABIP, an absurdly low figure that is sure to climb in a larger sample size. Kolek has a FIP of 4.18 which is close to where he finished last season with a much higher ERA. Kolek does have strong command and can continue to be a useful option for the Royals, but the 29-year-old isn’t likely to emerge as an All-Star caliber starter for the 2026 season like his current numbers might suggest.  Nick Martinez – Tampa Bay Rays Now 35, Nick Martinez continues to find employment at the MLB level despite a lack of strikeout potential. Martinez pitched well mostly as a reliever in 2022 and 2023 with a favorable home ballpark in San Diego following pitching a few years in Japan. He maintained capable numbers the past two seasons pitching for the Reds but this season he has delivered an incredible 1.51 ERA, entirely as a starter in his first season with the Rays. Tampa Bay posted an amazing month of May, but Martinez has a FIP nearly two runs higher than his ERA and he has a HR/9 that is nearly half of his career average. Martinez is on pace for his worst K/9 since 2017, but he has stranded nearly 93 percent of his baserunners for an incredible run of good fortune. Martinez has allowed just one home run in his last seven starts and in 10 starts this season he is yet to allow more than two runs in a start, despite still allowing nearly a hit per inning pitched. Martinez remains fool’s gold, even with the backing of the Rays organization that makes few mistakes, and he should be considered fade material moving forward as Tampa Bay won’t maintain the recent pace of success. 

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May Starting Pitching NL Overachievers

by Nelly's Sports

Thursday, May 28, 2026

With most MLB starters reaching 10 or more starts in the 2026 season, the data to work with is becoming more meaningful. There are a few pitchers that stand out as overachievers in May with numbers that are not likely to hold up over time. These four National League starters may be worth avoiding or considering fading in upcoming starting efforts.   Braxton Ashcraft – Pittsburgh Pirates 2018 2nd Round draft pick Braxton Ashcraft has taken a bit more time to develop than some of his rotation mates in Pittsburgh but Ashcraft has fit right in with Paul Skenes and company posting a 2.75 ERA in 11 starts so far in 2026. Ashcraft made five terrific starts in a row to start the season with two or fewer earned runs allowed in each outing while pitching at least five innings. Since April 28, he is 3-1 in decisions, but his FIP is 3.72 and his strikeout rate has fallen. He has posted a nearly 85 percent strand rate in that span for some good fortune. Ashcraft has excellent road splits this season and he has enjoyed a few favorable venue road starts in early season action including one of his best starts coming in San Francisco.  Yoshinobu Yamamoto – Los Angeles Dodgers A World Series hero last season, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is being regarded and valued as one of MLB’s best starters and with a loaded lineup behind him he will face premium pricing in every start. Yamamoto turned in a historically great postseason in 2025, getting three wins including a complete game in Game 2, plus closing out Game 7 out of the bullpen. He had a good regular season in 2025 and finished third in the NL Cy Young vote, but he isn’t pitching at that level so far in 2026. His K/9 has fallen from 10.4 to 8.3 while he has been more at risk for allowing home runs. Yamamoto has a 3.76 FIP this season, a perfectly acceptable and above average mark, but with the it may not sync with the pricing and expectations that Yamamoto demands next to his 3.09 ERA. Yamamoto is only 4-4 in decisions, and the Dodgers are just 6-4 in his 10 starts, yet his favorite pricing in his last start was past -400.  Spencer Strider – Atlanta Braves With a 3-0 record and a 3.46 ERA for the first place Braves, Spencer Strider will start to face the steeper valuation that he earned with great results in 2022 and 2023 for the Braves before requiring surgery in 2024. It is only a five start sample as Strider didn’t start his season until May 3, but his FIP of 5.35 against his 3.46 ERA represents a massive disparity. Strider can still generate great strikeout counts with an 11.1 K/9 so far this season but he has also allowed six home runs in 26 innings and his numbers so far are built a .180 BABIP that won’t be sustainable. Strider has also stranded nearly 93 percent of his baserunners and there have been a lot of baserunners with his 5.2 BB/9 so far this season. Strider draws some recognition from his 4th place finish in the 2023 NL Cy Young race but he has not proven consistently capable since that season despite the pricing he is sure to command in the upcoming weeks if the Braves continue to pace the National League.  Randy Vasquez – San Diego Padres Now with 57 starts for the Padres since 2024. Randy Vasquez has been a regular option in the rotation. Vasquez had a 5.2 K/9 last season but so far in 2026 his strikeout rate has climbed while his walk rate has fallen. Vasquez has an impressive 3.28 ERA in 11 starts and just over 60 innings of work but his FIP is 4.24 is nearly a full run higher than his ERA. Vasquez doesn’t get a great percentage of groundballs and his home run rate has been consistent in his career. The difference so far this season for Vasquez improving his results has been a strand rate at nearly 84 percent, which is significantly higher than he had the past two seasons for San Diego. Almost 60 percent of his innings have been in favorable conditions at Petco Park so far this season while he has faced a losing team in all four of his road starts so far this season. Vasquez had a nice start to the season but over his last six starts his FIP is 5.82, while his K/9 has fallen dramatically to just 4.8 since late April. Look for the rest of the 2026 season to push Vasquez to being the back-of-the-rotation below-average starter of the past two seasons. 

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Betting Strategy 101: Adhere to This

by Wayne Root

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

With sportsbooks holding a significant edge before a bet is even placed, bettors must be smart with their betting strategies in order to reduce the house's advantage and give them a chance to be successful. It’s similar to choosing the right seat at the poker table. Playing heads up with the WSOP champion is no different than taking on the house with a four team parlay. One must know the odds.The same can be said of knowing the odds before you make a bet. Most don’t. Let’s talk about two easy ones. Betting to middle and teasers. Once upon a time, bettors might find lines separated by three to four points, which would make middling a defensible strategy, but such gaps are rare today. It's not worth trying to middle a game, with gaps rarely greater than 1.5 points anymore. The big will destroy you. The vig seems to be greater nowadays, making the penalty greater than before for not hitting a middle. Teasers: without explaining how they work against you; before you bet one, consider its name. Note that NFL teasers would be the only one to play if done correctly.Bettors should stick to their units, regardless if their unit is $10 or $1,000. Even the Super Bowl is just another game; you don't have to bet two or three units just because it's the Super Bowl. I once gave a customer four games and ended up 3-1. We talked the next day and has was upset. He bet $300 on the winners but bet $1000 on Pittsburgh. I inquired about that and he said he’s from Pittsburgh. He should have bet all four games the same amount. Not only did he have to win the games, he had to choose an additional choice to win the larger bet. There will be times you run cold and run hot, so the challenge will be in the discipline to have faith in your ability to find winners, whether it's through your own research/system or tailing experts, and not to chase your wins with increased bet sizing either.I’m tracking lookahead lines that are posted more than a week in advance of a game. This allows me to look for spots to bet against line over adjustments by the market when I don't think the size of the move was warranted based on one game of data. With that added information, I can adjust my money management.However, I don’t just guess; I come armed. I create spread power ratings. These allow me to project spreads early in the week and anticipate lines I should bet if I likes them.Most professional handicappers agree with me that, in most NFL games, the edge can be found earlier in the week than later. BySunday morning, the market is pretty efficient. I’m looking to target key numbers, such as -2.5 or +3.5. In the NFL, 18% of the games land on 3. If you can lay -2.5 rather than -3, that gives you a small edge. Same thing with taking +3.5 instead of +3.I believe a bettor should set a bankroll, which is the amount of money that bettor has to bet over the course of a year or season. Most gamblers free wheel it in that respect. (Or lack of).At least 90% of your betting should be single bets. Your standard bets into that bankroll can run from 1% to 2% of the original bankroll at a time, which means if you have $5000 available for betting, you should be making $50 to $100 bets, again with the vast majority of them on single-outcome plays. If you have a very strong feeling on a game, you might think you can go slightly higher on occasion as long as you do it responsibly. I say absolutely not!!If you must, longer-shot bets can also be lower than 1% if you want to mix it up, but it could make sense to save those for when things are going well and you have profit from which to pull. In any case, these longer shots should be a small slice of the overall number of bets you're making, and the size should never exceed 1% of your bankroll.If you are wagering in baseball before football start, there’s one strategy I offer. I’m always looking to find a live underdog. You don't want to play too many favorites because you've got to win twice to win one.The objective is to try to bet the underdog. You can win four out of 10 games and still be up, depending on the price of the underdogs. I believe the availability of relievers is key in betting on baseball. If a team has used its top relievers two days in a row or in three of the last four days, then they might not be available for that next game. I like to bet against the teams that have bullpen issues. Remember that you pay a premium up front betting a strong pitcher. They will rarely have him pitch past the 6-7th inning. Now you’ve paid a premium for a pitcher that’s not going to finish the game. That’s where the bullpen makes or breaks you.See you for football.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, WNBA, and MLB Previews and Odds - 05/27/26

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

The Wednesday sports card features NHL, MLB, and WNBA action. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals. The Carolina Hurricanes travel to Montreal to play the Canadiens on TNT/truTV/HBO Max at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Hurricanes took a 2-1 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 3-2 win in overtime on Monday. Carolina is a -142 money-line road favorite with the total set at 5.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Miami Marlins at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Washington Nationals at 1:10 p.m. ET as a -187 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers are home to take on the St. Louis Cardinals on Peacock at 1:40 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners play on the road against the Athletics at 3:05 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Arizona Diamondbacks are on the road in San Francisco to face the Giants at 3:45 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies visit San Diego to battle the Padres at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Tampa Bay Rays play in Baltimore against the Orioles on FS1 at 6:35 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Chicago Cubs as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -126 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Atlanta Braves are on the road to challenge the Boston Red Sox at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The New York Mets are home to play the Cincinnati Reds at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Chicago White Sox host the Minnesota Twins as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The New York Yankees travel to Kansas City to face the Royals as a -149 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Houston Astros at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -168 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are home to take on the Colorado Rockies at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -411 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.The WNBA has five games on tap. The New York Liberty host the Phoenix Mercury on the USA Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 171.5. The Chicago Sky play at home against the Toronto Tempo at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 169.5. The Atlanta Dream plays in Minnesota against the Lynx on the USA Network at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 164.5. Two more games conclude the WNBA card at 10:00 p.m. ET. The Portland Fire are at home to challenge the Connecticut Sun as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 167.5. The Washington Mystics are on the road to battle the Seattle Storm as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 159.5. 

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UFC Fight Night Picks: (May 30th)

by AAA Sports

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

The Main Event:  Live from Macau, China, this weekend, the UFC has a couple of huge fights on the table. Former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion, Deiveson 'Deus da Guerra' Figueiredo (Brazil ~ 25-6-1) takes on Song 'Kung Fu Kid' Yadong (China ~ 22-9-1) in the Main Event. This could quite possibly turn into a fight that everyone comes back to at the end of the year as one of the best in 2026, with two entertainers ready for war. Ever since 2017, when joining the UFC, Deiveson Figueiredo has been beating up on his opponents. He claimed the belt twice, and produced some of the most power that the Flyweight Division had ever seen up until that point. But, after his second loss against Brandon Moreno, Figgy moved up in weight to join the Bantamweight Division. He hasn't had nearly as much success yet. But, he's faced some of the best of the best in the division already and has proven that he can hang with anyone. Also joining the UFC back in 2017 (at the age of 19), Song Yadong has fought big name after big name over the past few years. His past three fights were against Petr Yan (current champ), Henry Cejudo (former double champ) and Sean O'Malley (former champ). Now, he takes on another former two-time champ in this main event on Saturday. Neither guy is likely to go down easily, as both have endured plenty of shots over the course of their careers. But, the total is set to 4.5 rounds for this main event, with practically a PICK-EM either way you go. That means that there is a definite possibility of a knockout. But, also a real chance at a crazy split decision. The Verdict -- We think that the moneyline in this fight is way too one sided. Song Yadong is probably the bigger man between these two fighters. But, he's not in the best form either and we wouldn't want to be laying -600 on a man that's lost three of his L6 fights including the last one. Deiveson Figueirdo might be 10 years older. But, he's been battle tested and can beat anyone on the planet when he's right. The value is definitely on him. We will go with Figgy in this fight as the huge +440 underdog. The Co Main Event:In the Co-Main Event this weekend, another Chinese man Zhang ' Mountain Tiger' Mingyang (China ~ 19-7-0) gets to fight in front of his home fans. Before falling short against Johnny Walker in his last fight, Zhang had won 12 fights in a row. He will take on Alonzo 'Atomic' Menifield (USA ~ 17-6-1), who is 11 years his senior. The American also got KO-ed in his last fight. But nonetheless, the winner of this fight could definitely fight a big time contender moving forward. Zhang Mingyang joined the UFC only a few years ago. But, he was sure tearing it up 'overseas' before arriving on the world's top stage. 'Mountain Tiger' did lose his last fight. But, he's ready to take on whoever steps in front of him and this is a great chance to get back on track. With less career fights, but much more UFC experience, Alonzo Menifield brings a unique set of skills to Macau this weekend. He's beaten some top level opponents, and is well known for his explosive knockout power. He's got nine wins by KO in his career, but can also be caught off guard at times by the power of his opponents. For the total in this Co-Main Event, this one's expected to finish quickly. The o/u is set to 1.5, favoring the UNDER at around -185. Therefore, the oddsmakers are definitely anticipating an early KO from one of these guys. That's perfect for the entertainment of the Chinese crowd, especially if their guy wins.  The Verdict -- Most of the time, when a younger guy faces off against an older guy, the younger guy emerges as the winner. We didn't take that approach with our Main Event selection. But, we are going to take that approach in this one. He is a bit expensive. But, we are going to go with the -240 to -265 favorite, Zhang Mingyang in this Saturday night bout. 

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Nothing But Losses for the 2026 Las Vegas Raiders

by Wayne Root

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

This seems like an obvious prediction as head coach Klint Kubiak has emphasized multiple times this offseason that he prefers if the No. 1 overall pick sat for most, if not the entire 2026 season. I doubt it matters. New rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza is probably not the answer anyway. Nor is Kurt Cousins. The Raiders have a long road ahead for themselves this season. Additionally, with a potential rough year ahead for the Silver and Black, the coaching staff might as well give Mendoza an opportunity to get his feet wet before the conclusion of the season.Many bettors are believing that the Raiders will be a better than average team. Of course, those are Vegas fans and longtime Raiders Nation supporters. Here’s a comment I saw that is yielding that opinion. ‘Las Vegas has set itself up well for the future, quite frankly, and positioned itself for a potentially surprising 2026 campaign.’If that doesn’t resonate, which is more than likely, an entirely new game plan will emerge. If the Raiders falter and are heading into the trade deadline with a subpar record, Crosby is a likely candidate to be moved. With the 2027 NFL Draft being viewed as one of the best classes in recent memory, they could stockpile additional capital to further expedite the rebuilding process.The Raiders' new coaching staff and recent acquisitions through free agency and the draft are seen as reasons for potential improvement. The presence of a veteran QB like Kirk Cousins, alongside a rookie QB like Fernando Mendoza, creates uncertainty. Cousins will start the whole year unless he looks like Jimmy g or g menshew. That uncertainty is why I’m investing in this future bet. The 2026 schedule is perceived as tough, which could limit the team's win potential despite improvements. I see a scenario where the Raiders have the worst record in the NFL. There’s many obvious factors that make that a good observation. Many sharp Raiders fans believe the Raiders face a tough slate of opponents, suggesting it will be difficult to rack up wins. Some fans resignedly anticipate a season that will lead to a high draft pick, implying a difficult schedule and few wins. Normally, the NFL would love to showcase the number one draft pick. Even with the appeal of the Raiders brand, they are nowhere to be found on TV. The absence of primetime games is largely interpreted as the NFL having low expectations for the Raiders' competitiveness in 2026. Despite the slight, some fans appreciate the lack of primetime games, specifically noting the absence of Thursday nightgames. The schedule includes a significant amount of travel, while noting  the 21k miles is brutal especially with that New England trip being longest one. Another concern I have is over a late bye week, which could impact player fatigue towards the end of the season. With a late bye and one of the most difficult schedules, this season is gonna be especially hard. Lastly, look at the conference they play in. The AFC West has nothing but great teams. They might go 0-6 just on those games. They might pull off a home win against the Tennessee Titans in week 16. The sports books have set the line at 5.5. I will definitely be betting the under. I can only get to a maximum amount of wins at 3. Here’s their 2026 schedule. Week 2: AT Chargers -- 16%Week 3: AT Saints -- 28%Week 4: vs Chiefs -- 28%Week 5: AT Patriots -- 17%Week 6: vs Bills -- 27%Week 7: vs Rams -- 10%Week 8: AT Jets -- 35%Week 9: AT 49ers -- 18%Week 10: vs Seahawks -- 20%Week 11: AT Broncos -- 12%Week 12: AT Browns -- 40%Week 14: vs Chargers -- 29%Week 15: vs Broncos -- 23%Week 16: vs Titans -- 60%Week 17: AT Cardinals -- 48%Week 18: AT Chiefs -- 16%

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 05/26/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and MLB action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 5 in the Western Conference finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs on NBC/Peacock at 8:40 p.m. ET. The Spurs evened this best-of-seven series at 2-2 with their 103-82 victory at home against the Thunder as a 2.5-point favorite on Sunday. Oklahoma City is a 5.5-point favorite with the total set at 216.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 4 in the Western Conference finals. The Colorado Avalanche is on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights on ESPN at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Golden Knights took a 3-0 series lead with a 5-3 victory at home on Sunday. Colorado is a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the Washington Nationals at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Tampa Bay Rays travel to Baltimore to play the Orioles at 6:35 p.m. ET as a -114 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home to face the Chicago Cubs as a -131 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Detroit Tigers host the Los Angeles Angels as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves play on the road against the Boston Red Sox on TBS at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the Miami Marlins at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets are at home to take on the Cincinnati Reds at 7:10 p.m. ET. Three MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Twins visit Chicago to face the White Sox as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The New York Yankees play in Kansas City against the Royals as a -207 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Milwaukee Brewers host the St. Louis Cardinals as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Houston Astros at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -137 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games begin at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners are on the road against the Athletics as a -114 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The San Diego Padres are at home to challenge the Philadelphia Phillies on Peacock as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The San Francisco Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 9:45 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Colorado Rockies at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.

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Preseason-favored Liberty Look Nothing Like a Championship Team

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

What the heck is wrong with the New York Liberty?It's the only question I have heading into the week, as the preseason favorites whom everyone had winning the WNBA title - or at least gave the shortest odds to do so - look nothing like the best team in the league.They don't even look like a playoff team, sitting at 3-4 after Monday's embarrassing 81-74 loss to the expansion Portland Fire.It was New York's second loss to the Fire this season, and its third straight during this homestand.Yes, I know Sabrina Ionescu got the night off Monday, and I realize the Liberty are missing guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton for the third straight game, with what the team described as personal reasons, but this is (supposedly) still a championship caliber team.Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones are former MVPs in this league.Satou Sabally is a three-time WNBA All-Star. Marine Johannès has been a part of this chemistry and is a former EuroCup champion.I could go down the list, because the bottom line is this is a team that should be winning, especially against a first-year team.Must be the coach, right?Well, when the front office decided to steer the ship away from Sandy Brondello, who helped bring the Liberty to championship status, and hire Chris DeMarco, I'm sure they had something different in mind for the start of this season.The offense is scoring points, doing what it can to stay in games, but it's the defense that is allowing teams to hang around.Heading into the week, the Liberty were allowing the sixth-most points in the league, 87.7 points per game.If anything, this team reminds me of last year's Aces, who couldn't figure things out defensively through their first 28 games, going 14-14, including a 52-point home loss.The difference is DeMarco is nowhere near Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon.The good news is the Liberty have four more games at home before hitting the road for two straight and seven of nine away from Brooklyn.The bad news is they host the Phoenix Mercury twice, the talented and capable Toronto Tempo and Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in a nationally televised game on a Saturday afternoon.This one is on you, coach. Get it together.PROP WATCH OF THE WEEKAs of right now, the MVP of the league has to be Los Angeles veteran KELSEY PLUM, who came into the week averaging a league-best 26.8 points per game on 58.9% shooting, including a 48.8% clip from 3-point range. In two road wins last week, she scored 16 points at Phoenix and 38 at Las Vegas. The latter marked the first game of her career with at least 35 points, five assists and five 3-pointers. She also entered the week leading the WNBA with three-pointers made per game (3.3) while ranking in the top five in assists per game (6.3). The two-time WNBA champion has the most games with at least 25 points this season, with five. Plum's tear could continue with the Sparks visiting the Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun this week. The 31-year-old sharpshooter has a career average 14.2 points against the Mystics and 16.2 against the Sun. Keep an eye on her player prop numbers for those games.GAME OF THE WEEKThursday, 10 pm eastern, INDIANA at GOLDEN STATE: A few days before the Valkyries host the defending champion Aces for a battle of mentor vs. mentee - Hammon vs. Valks coach Natalie Nakase - defensive-minded Golden State will host Clark and the Fever to town. Both teams entered the week 4-2 after the Fever defeated Golden State, 90-82, on Friday. Things got chippy between Tip Hayes and Clark, and now they'll be in San Francisco, where the Valkyries have been tough to beat since they entered the league last season. Indiana will bring a three-game win streak with it, while the Valks will be in after warming up against lowly Connecticut in a blowout win on Monday. The Aces-Valkyries matchup could easily be the featured game, but with revenge on the brain, it'll be interesting to see how Nakase's troops defend whiny Clark and company.RANKINGS:1. Atlanta Dream - Is Allisha Gray going to make a run at MVP this season? Meanwhile, I hope Angel Reese haters are writhing at her success.2. Golden State Valkyries - An important four-game homestand started off well. The games against Indiana and Las Vegas will tell us plenty.3. Las Vegas Aces - The defending champs have two losses, both at home, and both after getting their championship rings and raising the championship banner. Now that those two ceremonies are done, they can get on to business.4. Indiana Fever - There should be a prop of how many times Clark spreads her arms wide and opens her mouth in displeasure in one game. Whiniest player in the league.5. Dallas Wings - Azzi Fudd's game finally came to life in New York, and reminded everyone why she was chosen No. 1 overall. And it's not because she's dating Paige Bueckers. Well, not altogether why.6. Minnesota Lynx - The Lynx are quietly getting things done with one of the most efficient offenses in the league, and that's without Napheesa Collier.7. Portland Fire - I don't understand this team one bit, and clearly was off base in fading it in Toronto and New York. After two major wins, it heads home for the Sun, Dream and Fever. Interesting gauntlet.8. Los Angeles Sparks - As of now, the Sparks go as Plum goes.9. Chicago Sky - My fear is coach Tyler Marsh doesn't make it to the All-Star break with a talented and capable roster. Oh, and is it time to put Kia Nurse out to pasture?10. Toronto Tempo - Was a tough road trip to blame with this team's home loss to Portland? I'd like to think so, rather than assuming it isn't that good.11. New York Liberty - See above. That's all!12. Seattle Storm - After a 1-4 start, the Storm have won two in a row. But, the wins came against Connecticut and Washington. One more at home against the Mystics before two tough ones on the road.13. Washington Mystics - Things started off promising for this bunch, but it's now lost three of four. Wednesday in Seattle and Friday at home against the Sparks could drop this team to 2-5 by next week.14. Phoenix Mercury - Not sure what is going on with Nate Tibbetts group, but it's not looking good with losses in five of its last six. Back-to-back games in Brooklyn and a total of seven road games in eight contests don't help.15. Connecticut Sun - I say this with confidence: I don't know if they're winning five games this season.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 05/25/26

by Big Al Staff

Monday, May 25, 2026

The Monday Memorial Day sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and WNBA action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals. The New York Knicks go for the four-game sweep in Cleveland against the Cavaliers on ESPN at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with the total set at 217.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals. The Carolina Hurricanes travel to Montreal to face the Canadiens in their 1-1 series on TNT/truTV/HBO Max at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Chicago Cubs play in Pittsburgh against the Pirates as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays are on the road to take on the Baltimore Orioles as a -131 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two MLB games start at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Twins visit Chicago to face the White Sox as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the St. Louis Cardinals as a -219 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The New York Yankees play in Kansas City against the Royals on ESPN at 3:40 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.The New York Mets are at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The San Francisco Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 5:05 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Washington Nationals at 6:10 p.m. ET at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -181 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies are on the road in San Diego against the Padres at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Texas Rangers are home to battle the Houston Astros on Peacock at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Miami Marlins at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -171 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Colorado Rockies at 9:10 p.m. ET as a -311 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Seattle Mariners travel on the road to challenge the Athletics at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 10. The WNBA has two games on tap. The New York Liberty are home to play the Portland Fire on Peacock at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 177.5. The Golden State Valkyries host the Connecticut Sun at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 160.5.  

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2026 CFL Season Preview

by Sean Murphy

Sunday, May 24, 2026

The 2026 CFL season kicks off in a couple of weeks so now is a good time to take stock of where the league's eight teams stand entering the new campaign.  Saskatchewan heads in as the defending Grey Cup champion after finally getting over the hump last year, but not surprisingly it doesn't open the season favored to repeat.2026 Grey Cup Odds (courtesy BetMGM)Montreal Alouettes +310 BC Lions +350 Saskatchewan Roughriders +600 Hamilton Tiger-Cats +600 Winnipeg Blue Bombers +750 Calgary Stampeders +850 Toronto Argonauts +900 Ottawa Redblacks +1100 Edmonton Elks +1500 Rule changesA number of rule changes have been implemented in advance of the new season with more changes on the way in 2027.- A 35-second play clock will start as soon as a play is dead, rather than waiting for an official to spot the ball.- We'll see a 20-second play clock that must be whistled in by an official during the final three minutes of both halves.- Teams will be able to end a game or half on a kneel-down if there are 40 seconds or fewer remaining on the clock, it is first down, and the defensive team holds no remaining timeouts.- Missed field goals, punts, or kickoffs that go through or bounce out of the back or sides of the end zone will no longer be awarded a single point (rouge).- A rouge is only given if the ball remains in the end zone and the returner fails to advance it or takes a knee.- Of particular consequence to totals (and pointspreads), regular season games can no longer end in a tie. If teams remain tied following two standard overtime mini-games, they will alternate two-point convert attempts from the 3-yard line until a winner is determined. Montreal Alouettes Montreal deserves to be the favorite going into the season. This has probably been the most balanced team in the CFL over the last number of years and doesn't really have many obvious weaknesses. You know what you're going to get with the Alouettes. They defend well, they’re disciplined and they usually don’t put themselves in bad spots with mistakes. Losing the Grey Cup to Saskatchewan last year surely lights a fire entering the season and a defensive shake-up in the offseason is what the team hopes will get it over the hump. The East Division runs through Montreal until someone proves otherwise.B.C. Lions Stop me if you've heard this before but B.C. feels like the team with the highest upside in the CFL. When the Lions offense gets rolling, they can score with anybody and they’ve got the kind of explosiveness that can take over games quickly. The problem has been consistency. There are weeks where the Lions look dominant and other weeks where the offense completely stalls out for stretches. But the talent is there. If B.C. puts everything together for a full season, this team is more than capable of winning the Grey Cup.Saskatchewan Roughriders Saskatchewan finally broke through last season and now the challenge becomes trying to stay on top. That’s not easy in this league where roster turnover is commonplace. What made the Riders dangerous last year was the fact they didn’t beat themselves very often. They played tough defensively, handled pressure well and made enough plays offensively when they had to. Now everyone will be coming after them every week. It’s a lot different chasing a title than defending one.Hamilton Tiger-Cats Hamilton might be one of the more interesting teams in the league heading into the year. There’s definitely enough talent offensively for this team to make noise if things click. The issue is whether they can hold up defensively over the course of a full season. Too many games in recent years have turned into shootouts and that usually catches up with teams eventually. Still, their Grey Cup odds feel reasonable for a team that could easily surprise people.Winnipeg Blue Bombers  A perennial contender, you can never completely count Winnipeg out. Even though this team doesn’t feel as dominant as it did a few years ago, the Bombers still know how to win and they still have plenty of experience - not to mention a large chip on their shoulder after a disappointing 2025 campaign. With that being said, it does feel like the gap between Winnipeg and the rest of the league has all but closed. This still looks like a playoff team, though, and once you get into November, experience certainly counts.Calgary Stampeders Calgary feels like one of the tougher teams to figure out entering the season. There’s enough talent here to stay competitive, but consistency has been an issue and there isn't a true identity. The good news for the Stamps is expectations aren’t nearly as high as they used to be and that might actually help them a bit. I wouldn’t be shocked if Calgary ends up outperforming, particularly in the early going.Toronto Argonauts Toronto took a big step backward last season after winning the Grey Cup the year before and never really looked comfortable offensively for long stretches. The talent level is still good enough to bounce back, though. This isn’t a team in the throws of a rebuild and we've seen similar teams rise up before following down years. If the Argos can get more consistency offensively and stop killing drives with mistakes, they should at least be back in the playoff mix.Ottawa Redblacks  Ottawa has improved compared to where this franchise was a few years ago, but it still feels like there’s another level missing offensively. Last year's four-win campaign was a disaster, especially with expectations rising in the nation's capital. The defense can compete most weeks and they usually play hard, but against the better teams in the CFL, Ottawa still struggles creating enough big plays consistently. This feels more like a middle-of-the-pack team at best rather than a true contender right now.Edmonton Elks  Edmonton opens the year with the longest odds on the board and that’s understandable considering how the last few seasons have gone and given its roster construction.The Elks have shown flashes at times, but they still haven’t proven they can put things together consistently enough to really be taken seriously as contenders, or even a legitimate playoff threat. Of course, things can change quickly in the CFL. One strong season at quarterback can completely change the outlook of a franchise in this league.

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2026 Roland Garros (French Open) Preview/Predictions:

by William Burns

Sunday, May 24, 2026

What Has Happened in 2026 So Far in Tennis:When the world #2 in the Mens game of tennis (& B2B winner of this event) was announced out of this tournament, my heart sank. Carlos Alcaraz is not only a joy to watch. But, he's one of the premier talents & a showman. I wish him a speedy recovery + hope to see him out on the court very soon. That being said, Jannik Sinner is now the -340 favorite, which is the largest pre-tournament Grand Slam favorite since Rafael Nadal at the 2009 French Open (Mens.) That's pretty great company as Nadal won this tournament 14 times. Sinner/Alcaraz had been the two best in the world by a pretty large margin heading into 2026. Therefore, I'm not too surprised with Alcaraz being absent. But, Novak Djokovic quickly changed some views on those two being the two best, as he went on to beat Sinner in Australia earlier this year. Since then, Sinner has pretty much been unbeatable. It's going to be very hard for someone to beat him, especially on clay at the moment. Maybe, youngster (first year pro) Rafael Jodar can give him a run for his money, as he sent their match to a tiebreaker just a month ago. On the Women's side of the bracket, things are getting interesting. Since completely the sunshine double, #1 Aryna Sabalenka has dropped matches in consecutive tournaments before the Semi-Final. Quite shocking considering the matchups, both against non top-20 players. With clay not being the specialty of this year's Australian Open winner, Elena Rybakina, that leaves plenty of opportunity for the rest of the field. Will 4-time French Open winner, Iga Świątek  finally gain her form again and cruise to a fifth? Will Coco Gauff go B2B? Let's find out together. 3 Opening Round Matchups To Watch:  Hailey Baptiste vs. Barbora Krejčíková (W) ... This is definitely the match to watch of the opening round in my opinion. No, former #2 in the world and 2021 French Open Champ Barbora Krejčíková isn't what she used to be by any means. But, you can never count a former champion out. Hailey Baptiste has risen up the rankings over the past couple of months, with a signature win over world #1 Aryna Sabalenka. I think that this match is going to be extremely intense. Hugo Gaston vs. Gael Monfils (M) ... With so much at stake here, this could be Gael Monfils' last match here at the French Open. He definitely wants to go out with a bang on his final season on tour & what a way to do just that than to go out and look dominant in this year's event. He's matched up with another frenchman in the opening round of Roland Garros and oddsmakers are expecting an absolute show here. I do as well. Look out, this one could produce fireworks. Anna Kalinskaya vs. Lois Boisson (W) ... If you all remember, Lois Boisson went from unknown to a French tennis icon at the last French Open. People didn't know who she was before she made it all the way to the Semi-Final as an unranked wildcard. That's pretty absurd if you'd ask me. No, I do not expect a repeat performance from the local woman. However, if she can get passed the always difficult Anna Kalinskaya, anything is possible.  Odds to Win (via. DraftKings:) Men's: Jannik Sinner -340Alexander Zverev +1000Novak Djokovic +1200Casper Ruud +2200Rafael Jodar +2200Daniil Medvedev +5000Andrey Rublev +6500Joao Fonseca +8000Matteo Berrettini +10000Adam Walton +10000Women's: Aryna Sabalenka +250Iga Swiatek +275Elena Rybakina +650Coco Gauff +650Mirra Andreeva +900Elina Svitolina +1600Marta Kostyuk +2500Victoria Mboko +4000 Amanda Anisimova +4000Qinwen Zheng +4000 Burns' French Open 2025 Projections:  Sadly, we won't get to see Carlos Alcaraz/Jannik Sinner put on an absolute classic for us in the Men's Final like we saw a year ago. But, I'm still hoping for one of the top names to challenge the Italian without the Spaniard in this tournament. Like I mentioned at the top of this article, Novak Djokovic managed to beat Sinner back at the Australian Open earlier this year so that could definitely be something to look out for if those two meet in the final.In the Women's side, Aryna Sabalenka has looked a bit shaky over the past month or so, dropping matches that we're so accustomed to watching her dominate. That leaves some room for some of the other women to maybe put on a show here in Paris. I think that this is about as competitive of a women's bracket as we've had in a very long time and that could definitely cause for some epic battles. Burns' Best Bets: Iga Świątek to reach Semi Final (-125) .... Jannik Sinner to win (-340).

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/24/26

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, May 24, 2026

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 4 in the Western Conference finals. The San Antonio Spurs look to even their series with the Oklahoma City Thunder at 2-2 on NBC/Peacock at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point home favorite with the total set at 218.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 3 in the Western Conference finals. The Colorado Avalanche travel to Vegas to play the Golden Knights on ESPN at 8:10 p.m. ET, trailing 0-2 in this best-of-seven series but still a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.Major League Baseball has 16 games scheduled. The Toronto Raptors play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Peacock at 12:15 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Baltimore Orioles are home to take on the Detroit Tigers in the first game of their doubleheader as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox host the Minnesota Twins as a -163 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The New York Yankees play at home against the Tampa Bay Rays as a -137 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Cleveland Guardians play in Philadelphia against the Phillies as a -131 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. Two MLB games start at 1:40 p.m. ET. The New York Mets are on the road in Miami to face the Marlins as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Cincinnati Reds are home to challenge the St. Louis Cardinals as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. Two more MLB games begin at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Milwaukee to battle the Brewers as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Seattle Mariners play in Kansas City against the Royals as a -143 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs host the Houston Astros at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -168 money-line favorite. The Chicago White Sox are on the road in San Francisco to play the Giants at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Three more MLB games start at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -194 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Atlanta Braves are home to take on the Washington Nationals as a -167 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Diego Padres host the Athletics on Peacock as a -171 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Orioles play at home against the Tigers in the second game of their doubleheader at 6:05 p.m. ET. Sunday Night Baseball on Peacock at 7:20 p.m. ET features the Texas Rangers playing in Los Angeles against the Angels. The WNBA has three games on tap. The Atlanta Dream are home to battle the Phoenix Mercury at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 167.5. The New York Liberty host the Dallas Wings on NBC at 3:30 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 177.5. The Washington Mystics travel to Seattle to challenge the Storm at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 160.5. Matchweek 38 concludes the English Premier League season with 10 matches on Peacock at 11:00 a.m. ET. Four of these EPL matches are also on major national television. Arsenal plays at home against Crystal Palace on CNBC as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool is at home to take on Brentford on the SyFy Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Tottenham hosts Everton on NBC as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. West Ham United plays at home against Leeds United on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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