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What Happened In Baseball in May

by AAA Sports

Friday, May 29, 2026

Cy Young and MVP Odds --  MVP Odds Aaron Judge. (-130)Bobby Witt Jr. (+310)Yordan Alvarez. (+500)Shohei Ohtani (-600)Kyle Schwarber (+1300)Elly De La Cruz (+2500)Cy Young OddsCam Schlittler (+110)Dylan Cease (+550)Jacob DeGrom (+550)Cristopher Sanchez (+145)Jacob Misiorowski (+340)Paul Skenes (+450) Losers So Far This Season --  The New York Mets (23-33) have had a ton of trouble this season getting anything clicking. From a roster standpoint, this is a clubhouse that should be in contention to win this division and compete for a chance to bring home the Commissioner's Trophy. But, things haven't gone to plan whatsoever. Will there be some change? We think so. But, if things keep going the way they have been, this could be another disappointing year for fans from Queens. In the American League, the Detroit Tigers (22-35) have been even worse than the Mets. At the time of Tarik Skubal's (2025 Cy Young Winner) injury, the Tigers were tied for the lead in the AL Central at 18-17. Since then, they've gone 4-18 en route to the worst record in the AL. Just like NYM, Detroit has players that you'd expect to produce much more than they have been. But, the Tigers just aren't getting results. Many people believe that this team is going to be a 'Seller' as we get closer to the Trade Deadline.  On The Rise -- Currently holding a winning record this season, the Washington Nationals (29-28) have surprised everyone with their ability to score. In fact, they lead the league in runs a game at the moment and that's led to their early-season success. The pitching hasn't been incredible. But, the name of the game is scoring runs and the Nationals have sure been able to do that so far this year. CJ Abrams is having himself a season with 12 HR's and 47 RBI's in 56 games so far. Who would've thought that the Chicago White Sox (29-27) would be in a contending position just over 50 games played in the season. The 'Southsiders' came up with an absolute bargain when they signed Japanese phenom Munetaka Murakami to a 2-year 34 million dollar contract this season. No, he's not going to hit .300 for you. But, what he does have is power. Currently tied for the most HR's by anyone in the American League with Yordan Alvarez, he's hit 20 bombs so far this season. The pitching is much improved as well. Quite shocking from a 60 win team from last year. World Series Contenders --  Los Angeles Dodgers (36-20) -- The clear favorite to win at +200 right now. That's a pretty good price to be taking considering that the Dodgers won last year and keep getting better as a team. New York Yankees (34-22) -- Always near the top of the contenders list ~ hasn't found a way to get it done lately. The Yankees have elite pitching this season that could carry them to the promise land. Atlanta Braves (38-19) -- Currently has the best record in the MLB with some really good hitters. The 2021 World Series champs are hungry for more success this time around. 

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2026 FIFA World Cup: Burns' Top 5 Contenders.

by William Burns

Friday, May 29, 2026

The biggest sporting event across the globe is about to take place in a couple of weeks time & I'm getting as excited as anyone. The FIFA World Cup, which happens every four years, brought an estimated five billion fans in the 2022 last version. Now, things are getting even bigger as the World Cup expands from 32 teams to 48 teams! That change should see even more support from around the world. Here are my top five contenders to win the whole thing in this year's edition (NOT IN ORDER):  Argentina . The Defending Champs . (+900)  In 2022, the final between Argentina & France was one of the greatest "football" matches that I've ever witnessed with my own two eyes. If you haven't watched that game, make sure to do so before this year's competition. It will absolutely make you fall in love with the game. That being said, Argentina is the defending champs and look to go Back 2 Back. With the "GOAT" (in my eyes) Lionel Messi back on the pitch one last time, there's no question that Argentina is in the conversation to make it a second straight World Cup title. He's been tearing it up in the MLS over the past couple of years now & most definitely is looking to cap off his ridiculous career with a bang. Looking at the team around him, he's got many of the same pieces that he won the 2022 World Cup with alongside him. No, there's no Angel Di Maria this time around. But, with new youngsters in the roster like Nico Paz, there's no question that this team is going to be as strong as anyone, especially if goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez can have an encore performance this time around.  France . The Revenge Tour . (+500) Obviously, it was heartbreak in 2022 for France, losing in that penalty shootout after coming back from down a pair of goals so late in the contest as well as another goal in ET. But, the 2018 champions are going to be very excited for this year's edition. France brings back a very similar roster just like Argentina with a couple of new faces. N'Golo Kante returns after missing out on 2022 due to injury. Bradley Barcola & Desire Doue provide even more flash for this brilliant attack. & Michael Olise arrives in style as one of the top players in the game at the moment. Don't get me wrong, not having Antoine Griezmann is definitely a sad sight. But, nobody lasts forever in the sport & he's definitely going to be watching closely hoping that his team can bring back the trophy back to France. I think that it's most definitely possible assuming Kylian Mbappe is at his best.  Spain . The Golden Boy is Here . (+475) Possibly sitting out the first couple of group stage matches because of injury recovery, Lamine Yamal has taken the game of "football" by storm over the past couple of seasons now. From winning the Euro's in 2024 as a 16 year old & becoming the youngest player ever to score in a Semis of that tournament with a beautiful strike, I believe that this team is going to be special once again this time around. No, Spain hasn't won this tournament since the Iniesta & Xavi days back in 2010. But, with a midfield duo or Pedri & Rodri, whoever they put as the third one is going to be very happy to play alongside those two, who are some of the best in the game. I truly think that Spain is the slight favorite to win the World Cup in 2026 for a reason. But, time will tell as this is most definitely one of the hardest, if not the hardest trophy to win in the entire sporting world. Watch out for Nico Williams, who thrives with his country behind him.  Portugal . Ronaldo's Final Hurrah . (+1000) Just like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo returns to the biggest stage in hopes to finish his career with a bang. No, he's not retiring just yet. But, there's no doubt in my mind that this is going to be the last World Cup that we see both of those players in. It's quite sad in all honesty. But, it's just the way that everything goes. Having said that, this is one of the best Portuguese teams ever assembled from the backline to the forward line. In fact, I think that Portugal brings in the best midfield trio of any team in this tournament. A pair of PSG DM's in Vitinha & Joao Neves, get to play with Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United. My goodness this is going to be a joy to watch. Can Ronaldo get the job done & match Messi with a World Cup a piece and put his name perhaps at the top of GOAT debate once again? Boy that would be special.  Germany . A Dozen Years Later . (+1400)  After winning in 2014, it feels like Germany have been waiting for its time to get back to the top of the world's stage. No, they are not the favorites by any means. But, this feels like an excellent competition that's coming at the perfect time for them. Germany is loaded with talent and has some massive names. Manuel Neuer, who won the World Cup with Germany in 2014 as well as the Golden Glove in that tournament is back for another year of magic. Many of you probably would've expected me to put Brazil or England as my last team in these rankings. But, given the injuries & roster selections, it's only fair for me to expect more out of Germany this time around than those teams. Germany might not have the superstars. But, it's got elite players at every position. They feel extremely underrated and are a team that not too many are talking about right now. Germany could definitely surprise some people. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 05/29/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, May 29, 2026

The Friday sports card features NHL, MLB, and WNBA action. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 5 in the Eastern Conference finals. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Montreal Canadiens on TNT/truTV/HBO Max at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Hurricanes took a 3-1 lead in this best-of-seven series after a 4-0 shutout victory at home on Wednesday. Carolina is a -238 money-line favorite with the total set at 5.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Atlanta Braves travel to Cincinnati to play the Reds at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates play at home against the Minnesota Twins on Apple TV+ at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -137 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The San Diego Padres play in Washington against the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Baltimore Orioles are at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on Peacock at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Three MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Guardians host the Boston Red Sox as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets play at home against the Miami Marlins as a -126 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Tampa Bay Rays are at home to face the Los Angeles Angels as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Chicago Cubs are on the road in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals at 7:15 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Detroit Tigers visit Chicago to challenge the White Sox at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers host the Kansas City Royals at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Milwaukee Brewers play in Houston against the Astros at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants are on the road in Colorado to battle the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -171 money-line road favorite with a total of 10.5. The New York Yankees travel on the road to play the Athletics at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home to take on the Philadelphia Phillies on Apple TV+ at 10:15 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The WNBA has four games on tap. Three WNBA games tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Washington Mystics host the Los Angeles Sparks as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 168.5. The New York Liberty play at home against the Phoenix Mercury as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 168.5. The Minnesota Lynx play in Chicago against the Sky as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 170.5. The Atlanta Dream are on the road in Portland to face the Fire at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 164.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 05/28/26

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, May 28, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NBA, MLB, and WNBA action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 6 in the Western Conference finals. The San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder on NBC/Peacock at 8:40 p.m. ET. The Thunder took a 3-2 lead in this best-of-seven series with their 127-114 victory at home against the Spurs as a 3.5-point favorite on Tuesday. San Antonio is a 3.5-point favorite with the total set at 219.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Major League Baseball has six games scheduled. The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Tigers send out Jack Flaherty to pitch against the Angels’ Grayson Rodriguez. Detroit is a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Chicago White Sox are home to play the Minnesota Twins at 2:10 p.m. ET. Erick Fedde gets the ball to pitch for the White Sox to take on Kendry Rojas for the Twins. Chicago is a -136 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Atlanta Braves travel to Boston to face the Red Sox at 4:10 p.m.  ET. Payton Tolle takes the mound for the Red Sox to face Chris Sale for the Braves. Atlanta is a -143 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The Baltimore Orioles host the Toronto Blue Jays at 6:35 p.m. ET. The Orioles turn to Chris Bassitt to battle the Blue Jays’ Patrick Corbin. Baltimore is a -136 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates play at home against the Chicago Cubs on Peacock at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Pirates had won three games in a row before their 10-4 loss at home against the Cubs yesterday. Chicago had lost ten games in a row before breaking that losing streak on Wednesday. Paul Skenes gets the ball for Pittsburgh to challenge Collin Rea for the Cubs. The Pirates are a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5.The Texas Rangers are at home to play the Houston Astros at 8:05 p.m. ET. The Rangers tap Nathan Eovaldi to take on the Astros’ Spencer Arrighetti. Texas is a -157 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The WNBA has two games on tap on Amazon Prime Video. The Las Vegas Aces play in Dallas against the Wings at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Aces’ four-game winning streak ended in a 101-95 upset loss at home against the Los Angeles Sparks as a 7.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Wings have won three of their last four games after their 91-76 victory in New York against the Liberty as a 13.5-point favorite on Sunday. Las Vegas is a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 177.5. The Golden State Valkyries host the Indiana Fever at 10:00 p.m. ET. The Valkyries won for the second time in their previous three games with a 92-73 victory against Connecticut as a 13.5-point favorite on Monday. The Fever are on a three-game winning streak after beating Golden State by a 90-82 score as a 5.5-point favorite last Friday. The Valkryies are a -1.5 point-favorite with a total of 168.5. 

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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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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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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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