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Washington Nationals unveil the latest stadium snack that will excite some, horrify others

Fri, 15 May 2026 21:58:14 -0400

We live in the age of a concession stand arms race where it's every professional sports team's goal — no, duty — to release the most mind-boggling game-day grub.

Now, the Washington Nationals have done the unthinkable and bastardized the most beloved of all ballpark foods: the hot dog.

And some people will love it, while others are sharpening pitchforks as we speak.

On Friday, the Washington Nationals welcomed the Baltimore Orioles to town for Hot Dog Day.

This involved all kinds of specialty hot dogs (though, in the past, I've talked about how a standard ballpark dog with yellow mustard is perfect), and the show-stealers were the hot dog fries.

They are what they sound like: wieners sliced up shoestring-style served with some chipotle ranch.

Alright, before we all run to opposite sides of the room on this one, at least we can all agree that it kicks ass that these come in a mini-batting helmet.

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Those are always great.

Now, I can see both perspectives on this.

On one hand, this seems like a bit of a horror show. I mean, frying hot dogs until they're dry sticks seems like a bad idea. Plus, I think if I ate fried hot dogs dunked in chipotle ranch, the doctor would probably wake up in a cold sweat.

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Plus, I'm not a fan of messing with the sacred hot dog, especially in a ballpark.

That said...

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If I were at a game with some pals, I might not order these (I mean, maybe for the mini helmet), but if someone else did, I'd probably see if I could take a taste.

Y'know. Even if just for the story... and because I think chipotle ranch and hot dog sounds like it could be a flavor we have not explored enough as a society.

Detroit Tigers broadcasters rip MLB replay after calls are overturned: 'This is gonna get ugly in a hurry'

Fri, 15 May 2026 18:54:30 -0400

Tigers broadcaster Jason Benetti can't believe what he's witnessing from MLB's replay office.

Is someone drunk? Are the replay officials even looking at the footage that fans at home are watching? Benetti and Tigers color analyst Andy Dirks worked a game Thursday that featured two calls that ended up in the hands of officials that went in favor of the Mets, who won the game 9-4 for a three-game sweep.

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"This is going to get ugly in a hurry," Dirks said seconds after the home-plate umpire announced that the New York office overturned a 5th inning call. To be fair, the game got ugly in the top of the 4th when Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was kicked out of the game after getting into a screaming match with the ump over a call at third base.

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The very next inning, Benetti and Dirks had seen enough. "I’ll tell you what, the Tigers have a good right to believe that something isn’t on their side right now, whether it’s the baseball gods or whatever," Benetti added after Dirks' comment. "The first one was ridiculous. The first one should have been safe. This one, I just don’t know that we’ve seen clear proof of anything."

"If that one wasn’t clear proof at third, how do you have clear proof at first? I’m just beside myself with trying to understand what these rules mean and who’s got discretion of what," Dirks fired back.

MLB maintains a page on its website where it shows multiple angles of replay challenges. Here's the play in the 4th inning. Even the Mets booth says the Tigers runner was safe. New York replay officials didn't see it that way. You make the call. Based on the extra footage provided by MLB, the 5th inning overturn appears to be the right call.

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To Dirks' point, how is the fifth-inning call any different from the fourth? Watch the videos and you tell me. What's clear is that baseball now needs to find a way to determine a definitive angle. And show fans in real time. They shouldn't have to visit MLB's replay archive on a nightly basis.

Dodgers catcher takes out frustration on himself by banging bat over his own head after strikeout

Fri, 15 May 2026 16:53:51 -0400

Dalton Rushing is in a bit of a slump, and he sure knows it.

The Los Angeles Dodgers catcher and first baseman got off to a scorching start to the season as he found playing time with Will Smith, hitting .444 with a 1.761 OPS in his first eight games of the season.

But in 14 games since then, he's 7 for his last 39, which accounts for a .179 batting average, and has posted a .484 OPS.

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In the bottom of the fourth inning with a runner on second against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night, Rushing struck out on a breaking ball out of the zone and was not pleased with himself. Rushing broke his bat over his leg and slammed his leg guard on the dugout bench.

Two innings later, with men in scoring position, Rushing struck out on a high fastball, and he put himself in harm's way by slamming his new bat over his helmet — still on his head — three times.

Overall, it was a game to forget for Rushing, who struck out three times in a hitless effort. He has not gotten a hit since May 6.

BASEBALL FAN HOSPITALIZED AFTER FALLING INTO VISITING BULLPEN DURING WHITE SOX-ROYALS GAME

After losing four consecutive games, each by at least four runs, the Dodgers, even with Rushing's struggles, got back on track to win the final two games of their four-game series against the Giants, including a 5-2 victory on Thursday.

They haven't exactly wowed the competition, as they sit at 25-18, but they have not let go of first place in the National League West yet this season. However, the San Diego Padres remain right on their tail.

The Dodgers embark on a nine-game road trip on Friday night, although they don't have to go far for the first three, as they'll face the Los Angeles Angels.

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But then, it's a big series against the Padres before taking on the Milwaukee Brewers in a National League Championship Series rematch.

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Brewers vs Twins betting preview: Why Minnesota's Joe Ryan is the play in Friday's matchup

Fri, 15 May 2026 15:18:20 -0400

Baseball has been a solid moneymaker for me over the past couple of weeks, with very few bad days. Yesterday I had a play on the Astros, and they lost the game in a brutal fashion, but I made up for it with a bet on Yordan Alvarez that balanced it out. He also hit a homer, so if you bet on that, you had a +230 return.

Today, I'm switching to a game between the Brewers and the Twins.

The Milwaukee Brewers just keep doing it. They find ways to win games despite losing key players and people in their organization. This year is no different. They traded away Freddy Peralta, and they still have a winning record. Add Peralta to a long list of people they've had to abandon on this journey to find something that works for an eventual World Series title. At some point, though, the team has to be frustrated with just making the postseason.

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For now, they are 24-17 for the year and 2.5 games behind the Cubs in the National League Central standings.

They have injuries hitting them right now, so maybe the team will be even stronger as the year goes along. Despite trading their ace, they have a team ERA of 3.35 and a 1.23 WHIP. Chad Patrick is going for the Brewers tonight (according to DraftKings, at least). For the season, Patrick has been solid with a 2-2 record, a 3.06 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has struggled on the road with a 5.84 ERA, and that is mostly due to his allowing four earned runs in each of his past two road outings. The Twins hitters are 5-for-15 against Patrick.

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For a team that was expected to be one of the worst in the league, the Minnesota Twins are showing remarkable progress. They come into tonight's game with a 20-24 record and are sporting a winning record at home. In reality, the home record isn't all that impressive, just 12-11, but still certainly better than a losing record.

Despite a .236 batting average, the team has scored 211 runs for the year. The pitching staff has a 4.49 ERA, but the 1.36 WHIP is at least manageable.

Tonight they have a guy who is likely to be on the trade market if the Twins' mild success doesn't improve by the middle of the year, Joe Ryan. A lot of teams view Ryan as a No. 1 or No. 2 option for a rotation, and there is good reason to think that.

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Ryan is 2-3 for the year with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He is the proud owner of a 2.60 home ERA as well. He did leave a start with injury just two outings ago. However, he came back last week and threw six innings with one earned run and two hits allowed. Brewers hitters are batting just 14-for-69 against Ryan.

I don't have a great look at a player prop today, aside from Andrew Vaughn going hitless. He is 2-for-12 against Ryan in his career with four strikeouts. Patrick has been decent this season, but he isn't the same level of reliability as Ryan. Give me the Twins in this one through five innings; that way, we shouldn't need to worry about any bullpen meltdowns.

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

Baseball fan hospitalized after falling into visiting bullpen during White Sox-Royals game

Fri, 15 May 2026 13:09:13 -0400

A scary moment occurred at Wednesday's Chicago White Sox game against the Kansas City Royals after a fan was hospitalized following a fall into the visiting bullpen.

Kansas City had runners on first and second with none out in the fourth inning when the game was briefly delayed while workers attended to the fallen fan. It appeared stadium workers used a stretcher to transport the fan out of the bullpen area beyond the wall.

The White Sox released a statement saying the fan appeared to be headed in the right direction from a recovery standpoint.

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"We reached out to the fan to check on his well-being, and his friend was able to share a positive report," the team said before Thursday's series finale against the Royals. "The entire White Sox organization and clubhouse are wishing him a speedy recovery."

Wide-angle video from MLB.com Research shows the fan fell over a roughly 3-foot-high barrier from the front row of Section 105 in the South Side ballpark's right-field seats and into the bullpen.

The video shows the fan rising to his feet as Chicago second baseman Chase Meidroth hits a run-scoring sacrifice fly to Royals center fielder Lane Thomas for the first out in the bottom of the third inning.

The fan continued over the barrier, fell in front of a red ad for a local butcher shop and landed in an area covered by grass and dirt at the west end of the bullpen.

SHOHEI OHTANI MAKING UP FOR STRUGGLES AT PLATE AFTER LOWERING LEAGUE-LEADING ERA TO 0.82

The bullpen is located behind the stadium's right-field wall and in front of Sections 104 and 105.

The base of the barrier is concrete, rising about 10 to 12 inches, topped by a metal fence that is roughly 2 feet high. The front row of seats is about 3 feet behind the fence.

The Royals relievers moved into a far corner of the bullpen after the fan fell.

A similar incident occurred last year at a Pittsburgh Pirates game when a fan fell over the wall and nearly 20 feet onto the outfield warning track.

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Kavan Markwood was rushed to Allegheny General Hospital’s trauma unit after the accident, where he was in critical condition. Players were visibly shaken, as were many in the stands, as medical staff from both teams and EMS placed him on a stretcher and carted him off the field.

Fox News' Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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30,000 angry Red Sox fans send blunt message to owner during another embarrassing loss

Fri, 15 May 2026 07:56:41 -0400

It's been two weeks since the Boston Red Sox fired Alex Cora and five other coaches in a desperate move to save a sinking ship, so let's go ahead and check in on the club and see how much they've turned it around.

You ready? OK! Get your calculators out ...

In the 16 games since Boston axed Cora, the team has turned into an absolute juggernaut, going ... 8-8. That's right. 8-8! They are just as mediocre now as they were weeks ago, which shouldn't surprise anyone with eyeballs and half a brain.

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I've said for months now that this team is awful. I've ripped them, mocked them and begged the owner to sell the team. And I've had angry fans email me calling me all sorts of names because I was too mean and nasty to their beloved Red Sox.

Well, they've gone 8-8 since Cora's firing, and stink just as bad today as they did two weeks ago. The latest embarrassment came in Thursday's loss to Philadelphia, when Trevor Story (awful) made another horrendous error late in the game that led to the third and final run of the inning for the Phillies.

TREVOR STORY QUESTIONS RED SOX'S DIRECTION AFTER FIRING MANAGER ALEX CORA, FIVE COACHES: 'UP IN THE AIR'

Fans, rightfully so, were furious, and they let owner John Henry hear about it from his cozy suite overlooking Fenway Park:

Red Sox fans are fed up, but it's not enough

It's just so pathetic. The organization is so cooked. Anyone who thought firing Alex Cora was going to fix a thing is just insane. I had one reader actually email me and tell me it was a blessing because now the minor league guys were going to come in and save the day. Seriously.

Nobody is saving the day, folks. Not until John Henry listens to the fans and sells the team. That's the reality of the Red Sox right now. The experiment has failed. It's all just failed.

They tried to become the Rays when they traded Mookie Betts six years ago. They wanted to focus on the farm system and saving money. They didn't want to pay big taxes anymore for spending too much money.

And it's completely crashed and burned. All of it. They've finished near or at the bottom of the AL East in all but two seasons since 2020, and one of those (2021) was a fluke. They're headed that way again this season, by the way.

They traded guys like Rafael Devers and Mookie Betts. They watched cornerstones like Xander Bogaerts walk in free agency. They refused to engage with Alex Bregman last year when he wanted to talk about an extension.

Now, Bregman and the Cubs are 28-16 while the Red Sox are 18-25 and his "replacement," Caleb Durbin, might be the worst player I've ever seen wear a Red Sox uniform.

Roman Anthony, the top prospect in baseball last season, is hurt right now. Before he got hurt, he was awful. Truly dreadful. The regression has been shocking.

Jarren Duran, who fans BEGGED Craig Breslow to trade last offseason, hasn't hit since 2024. He's currently hitting .178 and part of a logjam in the outfield because the GM refused to deal any of them last winter.

Trevor Story is hitting .206 with 57 (!!!) strikeouts this season. That's tied for eighth-most in all of baseball. He's committed the fourth-most errors (5) out of all qualified shortstops. This was supposed to be the team "leader" after they sent Bregman packing. Nice work.

I could go on and on. Believe me. For now, though, the fans did all the talking last night at Fenway. Sadly, it won't be enough.

The next step? Stop showing up altogether.

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Hit Henry where it hurts the most. That's the only option. Chants are cute, but they fall on deaf ears while you hold a $15 Michelob Ultra.

Should be a fun summer at Fenway!

Mariners' Cal Raleigh lands on injured list for first time in career as nightmare season continues

Fri, 15 May 2026 06:14:16 -0400

Last season, Seattle Mariners star catcher Cal Raleigh had a season people dream of. No one is dreaming of having Raleigh’s season this year.

The 29-year-old’s nightmarish 2026 campaign continued Thursday when the Mariners placed Raleigh on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain. Raleigh left the Mariners’ 4-3 loss to the Houston Astros on Thursday after appearing to aggravate an injury on his right side.

Raleigh snapped the longest hitless streak in the major leagues during the team’s 10-2 win over the Astors on Tuesday, breaking out of an 0-38 slump with a pair of singles.

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It is the first IL stint of Raleigh’s six-year career. Raleigh missed three games from May 2 to May 4 with soreness in his right side.

Last season, Raleigh hit .247 with 60 home runs and 125 RBI in 159 games. He broke Kansas City Royals star catcher Salvador Perez’s record of 48 for most home runs by a catcher in a single season.

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Raleigh broke New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle’s record of 54 for most home runs in a season by a switch-hitter. He also set the Mariners’ franchise record for most homers in a season, passing Ken Griffey Jr.’s previous record of 56.

This season has been a much different story.

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In 41 games this season, Raleigh is hitting .161 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, four doubles, 18 walks and 16 runs. His .161 batting average is second-lowest in the majors among hitters with enough at-bats to qualify. Only Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins (.150) has a lower average.

To fill Raleigh's spot on the active roster, the Mariners recalled catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A Tacoma.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Edwin Diaz reportedly appeared in cockfighting tournament graphics wearing his Dodgers uniform

Thu, 14 May 2026 20:24:28 -0400

The Los Angeles Dodgers could face a massive PR nightmare from LA vegans as star pitcher Edwin Diaz finds himself at the center of a federal animal cruelty scandal.

A USA Today investigation linked the $102 million closer to an illegal cockfighting ring in Puerto Rico through incriminating social media posts and promotional materials.

Despite the federal ban on the blood sport that took effect in 2019, Diaz reportedly appeared in tournament graphics ... wearing his official Dodgers uniform. The controversy also took a turn after the discovery of a March 2026 interview with outlet El Nuevo Día in which Díaz openly discussed his family’s involvement in the underground circuit.

Diaz described cockfighting as a pastime he has followed since childhood and confirmed that his family entered four roosters into a recent tournament.

NYC RADIO HOST RIPS METS OWNER STEVE COHEN AFTER HOMEGROWN STAR LEAVES: 'SOLD US A BILL OF GOODS'

While cockfighting has long been part of local tradition in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a total federal ban in 2021, making participation a potential federal crime.

But the star reliever known for his "Timmy Trumpets' intro wasn't the only high-profile name caught in the crosshairs of the investigation.

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Champion jockeys Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr. were also identified in social media footage tied to the events. According to the report, the Ortiz brothers, who recently dominated the Kentucky Derby, appeared on video collecting cash bets at one of the alleged cockfighting gatherings.

Although no criminal charges have been filed against Diaz, MLB’s personal conduct policy allows the league to impose significant discipline regardless of the legal outcome.

It won't be long until PETA comes after Major League Baseball and the Dodgers with escalating pressure to respond to allegations involving animal cruelty and illegal gambling.

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For a Dodgers team already resented for buying up baseball with its massive payroll, watching its star closer stroll through a cockfighting pit in full uniform feels tailor-made to ignite outrage back home.

In a city where animal rights are practically civic doctrine and oat milk has a stronger lobby than most politicians, Diaz showing up at a bird fight lands as a direct shot to LA culture.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Shohei Ohtani might be on his way to even more history with 0.82 ERA and Cy Young discussion

Thu, 14 May 2026 20:03:10 -0400

If it seems like there's a new astonishing fact about Shohei Ohtani every few days, that's because there is.

Ohtani is a one-of-one player, someone who's already accomplished virtually everything a player can accomplish in Major League Baseball.

He's won back-to-back World Series championships after joining the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season. He's won three straight Most Valuable Player awards, becoming the first player ever to win multiple MVPs in different leagues. His most recent win, for the 2025 season, made him the second player ever to win four MVP awards, along with Barry Bonds.

Ohtani won the Rookie of the Year award in 2018 with the Los Angeles Angels. Then followed it up by getting selected to five straight All-Star teams. He's a four-time Silver Slugger winner. He's been selected to six straight All-MLB first teams.

DO THE DODGERS GET AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE WITH 'BIZARRE' RULE IMPACTING SHOHEI OHTANI?

In 2024, Ohtani had one of the greatest offensive seasons in baseball history, becoming the first player ever to hit more than 50 home runs and steal more than 50 bases. And it wasn't close; he finished with 54 home runs and 59 steals. Oh, and he hit .310, with a .390 on-base percentage and .646 slugging percentage. Good for 79 runs of production above an average player, per FanGraphs.

Then, he followed it up in 2025 by hitting 55 more home runs, setting a new career high. All while returning to the mound for the first time since 2023, putting up a 2.87 ERA and 1.90 FIP, with 62 strikeouts in 47 innings and 1.9 wins above replacement.

What could possibly be left to accomplish? Just one thing: a Cy Young Award. And after yet another outstanding start on Wednesday night, Ohtani might be well on his way to making more history there too.

Ohtani faced off against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, and was once again dominant. He went seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits and two walks, while striking out eight hitters. The performance lowered his ERA through mid-May to an incredible 0.82.

It's still early, of course. The Dodgers have played 43 games out of 162, meaning there's just over 73% of the season remaining. But if the season were to end today, it's hard to argue with Ohtani as the National League Cy Young winner. And if that happens, it would be the latest in a long line of historic accomplishments for baseball's best player.

Ohtani, should he win, would become the first player ever to win an MVP as a hitter and pitcher. He'd become the first player ever to win multiple MVP awards, and win a Cy Young. There have been 11 pitchers who won a Cy Young and MVP in the same season, but no pitcher has ever won a second MVP. And his manager and teammates are already talking about it.

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"Like I've said for a long time, he's a different person when he's pitching," manager Dave Roberts said after the 4-0 win over the Giants. "I think he wants to win the Cy Young. I think that that helps the Dodgers, too, in 2026. When he's pitching, I just sort of let him go and…he's in a zone."

Santiago Espinal, who hit a home run to give LA the lead, added, "When he's pitching, everybody expects a Cy Young. When he's hitting, everybody expects an MVP and all that stuff. That's what he showed tonight. It’s just Cy Young-caliber."

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Again, there's a long way to go. And the National League has several other pitchers having great starts to the 2026 season. Defending Cy Young winner Paul Skenes has seen his ERA drop from 1.97 in 2025 all the way to ... 1.98 so far in 2026. Christopher Sanchez has once again been excellent, and Jacob Misiorowski has often looked unhittable with over 14 strikeouts per nine innings.

But it's yet another reminder that what Ohtani does, night in and night out, is essentially unprecedented. A top five pitcher in the sport, and a top two or three hitter. At the same time. It's remarkable, and his already remarkable career may somehow become even more historic this year.

Jennifer Lopez's dress holds on for dear life at her Netflix event, Trump powers through some wine & Kay Adams

Thu, 14 May 2026 15:35:29 -0400

Over the hump and safely into the back half of the week. Whew. We made it. Now, we're just gutting it out for 24(ish) more hours, and we're off to the (weekend) races.

And hey! We've even got a full day of NFL schedule leaks to bide the time! My favorite tradition every season is happening right now. Right this very second, actually.

It's when the NFL teases its grand 2026 schedule reveal at 7 p.m. tonight on ESPN, only for the entire thing to be leaked throughout the day by beat writers. So, naturally, by the time we actually get to the telecast, it's moot because we already know the whole thing.

The best. Happens every year, like clockwork. I used to love this date on the calendar, but my Dolphins are going to most likely be horrific this season, so I'm not expecting much. I do love a good 1 p.m. kickoff, though, and they will undoubtedly be getting plenty of those, so not all is lost.

PAIGE SPIRANAC AND HER MOM STUN THE INTERNET, LANE KIFFIN'S INCREDIBLE SHOT AT OLE MISS & THE NFL DID IT AGAIN

Anyway, welcome to a Thursday Nightcaps — the one where Jennifer Lopez lets it rip during a Netflix event promoting her new rom-com coming out in a couple of weeks. Can't wait!

What else? I've got Eric Church delivering just an all-time college address, Charles Barkley yelling at America for being anti-gay, and Bryson DeChambeau had himself a MORNING at Aronimink. What's happened to this guy? Goodness.

OK, grab you a glass of wine with the president, and settle in for a Thursday 'Cap!

Jennifer Lopez has a new movie coming out for those interested

It's always wild to me when I remember that Trump doesn't drink. It's one of those random factoids you easily forget, but then you're always equally stunned when you remember.

I couldn't imagine doing his job and not drinking. Goodness, does that sound horrible. Dealing with #THEMOB every single day, and not going home at night and pouring a nightcap (hey!) sounds almost impossible to me.

You can tell he's never indulged, either, just by watching that clip. Look at his face after he takes the sip. Pure disgust. He nearly spits it back out.

It took every single ounce of power for him to keep it down. Watch it again, slowly. I've been there. I've felt that. Your body wants nothing to do with what you just gave it, but you have to keep it down. It's a battle, and it's not one you always win.

But Trump won this one, and it took guts. The China trip is off to a good start! No idea what he's doing there, but I'm putting this one in the win column.

OK, let's get this class started by checking in with Jennifer Lopez as she promotes her new Netflix movie that none of you will watch, "Office Romance."

Eric Church delivered a humdinger at UNC

Looks like J-Lo still has it at 56, not that there was ever really a doubt. Obviously, her co-star you're looking at there is Brett Goldstein, who played Roy Kent in "Ted Lasso." For some really in-the-weeds fans out there, he also played an important role on "Shrinking," which is the best show on TV at the moment.

Anyway, these two have a new Netflix rom-com coming out with a totally original plot:

Jackie, President and CEO of Air Cruz, runs a tight ship in her business, including a rigid anti-fraternization policy for all her employees. When a new sexy lawyer begins working for her, that policy becomes very tested.

Can't wait!

OK, let's cut the cord and head on over to Chapel Hill, where Eric Church delivered the best commencement speech I've ever seen last weekend.

I don't usually get sappy and serious around here — this might be the first time — but this is worth a few minutes later on when the kids are finally in bed and you're scrolling during King of Queens reruns:

PGA madness, MLB madness & Kay is ready for the schedule release!

Whoaaaaaaaa Nellie! What a speech. It's not often I stop and watch something for 18 minutes anymore. Does anyone? But I watched the whole damn thing this morning. And then I watched it again.

You don't get college speeches like this much anymore. This is probably considered a throwback by today's standards, especially on a college campus.

Those places can be cesspools. I don't need to explain why, because you all already know. It's probably why these 10(ish) minutes from Eric Church are so refreshing.

Church talked about faith, which, again, is a slippery slope in 2026 — especially on a college campus. The libs must've been FUMING watching this.

Faith? Family? Morals? I'm sure they'll all hit on these topics at the next DNC this summer!

OK, let's rapid-fire this Thursday class into a big Thursday night. First up? Let's tee it up!

What a start to the tourney! Bryson is all over the map. We've got guys missing tee times. Guys hooking drives into the next county. Jason Day doing Jason Day things. What a sport.

It's almost as good as baseball! After last night, though, I think MLB still comes out on top ... barely:

Goodness gracious. Just incredible. I've never seen that happen to a first baseman. Hell, I've never seen it happen to a fielder, period. Only the Mets.

Baseball season is starting to heat up, boys and girls. Dog days of summer are just around the corner. Strap in. We're in for a big one.

Until, of course, the NFL returns. Remember a few minutes ago when I told you about all the leaks today? Well ...

We've already got all of Week 1, all of Thanksgiving week, and all of Christmas. And the "release show" isn't for another six hours at the time of this writing.

Again, a tradition unlike any other.

PS: Why does the NFL feel like we need to see a Super Bowl rematch again? That was one of the worst Super Bowls in recent memory! Why do we need it AGAIN to start the new season? I don't get it.

OK, that's it for today. Good Thursday class, everyone. Here's Kay Adams gearing up for the schedule release to take us into a big night.

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OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. (roughly, we’re not robots).

Did Eric Church nail it? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.

Carl Pavano accused of peeing in former wife's shampoo bottles among other gross allegations

Thu, 14 May 2026 14:08:40 -0400

After it was revealed earlier this month that cops have been called to the home of former MLB pitcher Carl Pavano and his ex-wife nine times over the last two years, more heinous allegations against Pavano have emerged.

Pavano was initially accused of "controlling behavior," including name-calling, cutting off her expenses and threatening to take their children amid an ugly prenup battle.

Their divorce was finalized last December, but a new court filing by Pavano's ex, Alissa, claims that Pavano would pee in her shampoo bottles and "intentionally soiled the bed in which Plaintiff sleeps during her parenting time by having his female sex partners occupy the bed," according to CT Insider.

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Pavano then allegedly "removed all clean linens from the house so that Plaintiff is unable to have a hygienically clean and safe bed during her parenting time."

The ex-pitcher also allegedly sent photos of "multiple firearms laid out on the kitchen table" to Alissa and their children in a group chat shortly after divorce papers were served.

The couple currently share custody of their three children and alternate weeks with them in a Fairfield, Connecticut, home. Pavano owns the home through a trust.

Alissa accused the former pitcher of forcing her to sign the prenup she says is one-sided.

SHOHEI OHTANI MAKING UP FOR STRUGGLES AT PLATE AFTER LOWERING LEAGUE-LEADING ERA TO 0.82

"A prenuptial agreement is an acceptable way for individuals, prior to marriage, to condition how their financial interests and responsibilities will be determined after marriage," Alissa’s lawyers said in a brief, via the New York Post.

"It should not be an acceptable way for a monied spouse who has already started a family with his significant other to force her to give up her financial independence, and then to extract financial advantages in the premarital agreement under the threat of taking the minor children away from her and leaving her destitute."

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Pavano pitched for the Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins, being named an All-Star in 2004. He pitched to a 4.81 ERA in his career, with his biggest payday coming from the Yankees. However, he only made 26 starts in his four seasons with them and is widely considered one of their worst signings.

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Shohei Ohtani making up for struggles at plate after lowering league-leading ERA to 0.82

Thu, 14 May 2026 11:12:52 -0400

Shohei Ohtani can simply do whatever he wants on the baseball field.

Hit 50 home runs? Sure. Steal 50 bases? You got it. Do them both in the same season? Sounds good.

Lead the majors in earned run average? If you say so.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star certainly isn't hitting up to the expectations he has set for himself, owning a lifetime .951 OPS, posting an OPS of over 1.000 in three straight years, and hitting 54 and 55 homers in each of the last two seasons, respectively.

It's so far been a down year at the plate for Ohtani, who's hitting .240 with a .796 OPS. Not including the truncated 2020 season, those would be the lowest marks of his career.

But he is most definitely making up for it on the mound.

After posting seven scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, Ohtani is now pitching to an MLB-best 0.82 ERA.

Ohtani has allowed just four earned runs on the season, half of which came earlier this month against a stout Houston Astros offense, in 44.0 innings pitched.

CAL RALEIGH ENDS 0-FOR-38 STREAK WITH UNORTHODOX SUPERSTITION INVOLVING HIS FULL UNIFORM

"(The) ideal situation is to be great on both sides of the ball," Ohtani said after his gem in the Dodgers' 4-0 victory over their NL West rivals, via The Athletic. "But how I look at it is if I’m not contributing offensively, then I know I can contribute on the pitching side of things and vice versa. So I take it as that."

"He wants to be the best pitcher in baseball, and right now, he’s doing it," manager Dave Roberts added. "You can tell he’s hyper-focused on the preparation part of it, and then obviously the days that he starts, the execution."

Ohtani did not pitch in 2024 and returned to the mound last summer, pitching to a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts amid his 1.014 OPS, good for his fourth MVP in the last five seasons.

The Dodgers have been careful with Ohtani's workload, sometimes keeping him as a pitcher only this season, as it's well known his offensive numbers take a hit when he's on the mound, understandably so.

"It’s interesting because last year, there was a lot of conversations that he shouldn’t pitch and just be a hitter," Roberts said. "Now, it’s kind of flipped on its head. I can’t imagine what goes through his mind, but I do feel clarity on how we’re managing him. There’s no one way to go about it. You’re just trying to be fluid, and react and respond to how he’s feeling."

But at the very least, the Dodgers currently have the best pitcher in baseball this season hitting at the top of their lineup. It's like the pre-DH era, except the pitcher is batting first instead of ninth.

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And it should surprise nobody if, and when, Ohtani finds the bat — while still mowing down everyone he faces 60 feet, 6 inches away.

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Astros picked to beat Mariners as Luis Castillo's struggles continue with a 6.57 ERA this season

Thu, 14 May 2026 10:55:39 -0400

Sometimes you have divisions in baseball that have everyone looking like juggernauts. Other times, they look like complete disasters. I personally think they should do away with divisions and just do league play, that way the best teams all get in. I suppose that the three Wild Card spots help. We aren't here to debate the playoff and structure; we are here to cash a bet on the Mariners and Astros game.

Coming into this season, I felt that the biggest question about the Seattle Mariners would be how they could respond to falling short in the postseason. The other concern I had was the issue between Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh in the World Baseball Classic. The answer, for now, is that things are not going well. Perhaps there is no issue in the clubhouse with the players, but there certainly are issues on the field. The team is 21-23 overall and just 9-12 away from Seattle. For a lineup full of hitters, the team is hitting just .230.

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Their pitching has continued to excel, which is probably the lone reason the team hasn't been a complete disaster. As a team, they are pitching to a 3.63 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. One guy who is hurting their numbers is today's starter, Luis Castillo. For the year, he is 0-4 with a 6.57 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. He has allowed four or more earned runs in three straight starts and four of his past six outings. The Mariners are just 2-6 in his eight starts this year. He hasn't received a ton of run support, but he certainly has put them behind in the games. To make matters worse, Astros hitters are batting .274 against him.

The Houston Astros are also struggling to find their footing this year. For a long time, it seemed like no matter who was on the field or roster, they were able to make it work. They would lose big name after big name and keep winning. Unfortunately for them, it seems not to be the case this season. They are just 17-27 for the year and 10-12 at home. Offensively, they are fine -- hitting .257 overall, but their pitching staff has been brutal with a collective ERA of 5.54 and a 1.58 WHIP.

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Their starter today is Mike Burrows, owner of a 2-4 record with a 5.04 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He has been worse on his home mound than on the road. At home, he has allowed 13 earned runs over 20.1 innings. He is coming off two strong starts in a row, both quality outings. This also includes his best start of the year with seven scoreless innings and just three hits allowed against the Reds. He faced Seattle earlier in the year and allowed 11 hits and six runs over six innings.

I have a player prop that I'm taking today -- Yordan Alvarez 2+ total bases. He has feasted on Castillo's pitching over the years, going 10-for-22 with four home runs and just two strikeouts. To me, that means he is putting the ball in play even if he isn't always getting a hit. I like his odds at -123, and normally I only play props at plus money. His home run number is +235, which is worth a sprinkle.

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I am going to take the Astros today. I really don't like what I've seen out of Castillo. Burrows has some ugly numbers, but he may be locking in at the moment. Neither team is in great form, and the Astros finally broke their losing streak last night. I like the Astros at +108. Let's take them to win.

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Phillies vs Red Sox betting preview favors Boston through five innings despite Philadelphia's hot streak

Wed, 13 May 2026 17:48:41 -0400

We have a getaway day in baseball, which means there are a lot of series wrapping up today. There are a few that are starting, but for the most part, every team tends to play every Wednesday. That means there is a ton of games to sift through and find good bets to place. I personally love the one I have for today's game between the Phillies and Red Sox.

The Philadelphia Phillies have already had a wild season, and we haven't even fully reached the middle of May. They are 20-22, a year after being one of the best teams in baseball. The offseason offered some hope as they re-signed two of their key players, Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto. However, this year hasn't gone according to plan yet. They fired their manager after a 9-19 start, and since that move, the team has responded. Under Don Mattingly, the team is 11-3.

Looking to keep that run going for the Phillies is tonight's starter, Andrew Painter. Looking at his stat line, it gives you a lot of pause about backing the Philadelphia right-hander. For the year, Painter is 1-4 with a 6.89 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. To make matters worse, he has a worse road ERA than home ERA. In three road outings, he has allowed 12 earned runs over 14.2 innings. He is also coming off his worst start of the season - eight earned runs over 3.2 innings. The Red Sox have never faced Painter, so he might have a bit of an edge, but teams are hitting .295 against him the first time through the lineup.

The Boston Red Sox are never void of news stories or attention, but they've also had their fair share of stories this season. They are just 17-24 for the year, and the expectation was that this team was going to compete for the AL East. I don't necessarily think that is impossible, but they need to figure out their hitting soon. They have just 157 runs scored for the season, which is among the lowest in the league. They also fired their manager, Alex Cora, but they haven't seen the turnaround they had hoped for. They are 7-7 since Cora was dismissed. This one didn't seem as welcome to the players.

ALEX CORA TURNED DOWN PHILLIES' MANAGERIAL JOB JUST DAYS AFTER BEING FIRED BY RED SOX: REPORT

One guy the team had hoped would provide some stability for the club this season is tonight's starter, Sonny Gray. He was acquired from the Cardinals in the offseason, and so far he has been a strong contributor for the club. He is 3-1 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He has been great at Fenway with a 1.80 ERA. The problem is that he hasn't gone very deep into games. He has reached the sixth inning just twice in six outings. Phillies hitters are decent against Gray with a .250 batting average overall.

Alec Bohm is the guy you'd probably want to take a look at if you're going for a player prop -- he is 6-for-13 against Gray. Schwarber is 2-for-24 against him with 10 strikeouts so his under 0.5 hits might be a look (+153), but he will almost certainly get an at-bat or two against the Red Sox bullpen. Schwarber at 2+ strikeouts is +126. I'd probably go for a Schwarber play over Bohm.

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For the game, I'm taking the Red Sox. I know the line is moving in favor of the Phillies, so I'll cut this down and just play the first five innings. Gray has been good at home, a more reliable starter, and Painter has been awful overall. If he has been bad overall, he's been a disaster on the road. Give me Boston through five at -135.

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For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

Cal Raleigh ends 0-for-38 streak with unorthodox superstition involving his full uniform

Wed, 13 May 2026 17:41:22 -0400

After Cal Raleigh walked, struck out and flew out in his first three plate appearances Tuesday, his hitless streak stretched to 38 consecutive at-bats.

The Seattle Mariners' catcher, runner-up to Aaron Judge in the American League MVP vote last year after hitting 60 home runs, had Major League Baseball's longest single-season hitless streak since Craig Counsell went 0-for-45 in 2011.

But in the top of the seventh, Raleigh finally broke out of his slump, singling to center field. He stayed hot in the ninth, singling to left.

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Derek Jeter once famously wore a gold thong, at the behest of Jason Giambi, to break out of an 0-for-32 slump.

He homered with it on.

Raleigh didn't quite reach that mark, but he did have an unorthodox way of helping him break out of the slump.

"Logan (Gilbert) gave me some good advice to wash off the bad mojo or juju from the baseball gods," Raleigh said.

How exactly did he do that? Well, pitcher Bryan Woo was the one who initially told reporters that Raleigh showered in full uniform Monday night.

METS GET UNLIKELY ASSIST FROM UMPIRE COLLISION AS TIGERS BASERUNNER IS THROWN OUT AT HOME PLATE IN KEY MOMENT

"So, yeah, it worked. He was right. So, I got to give him credit where credit’s due," Raleigh added.

"We were all screaming for him, and it was a lot of relief for sure. And I know it felt good for Cal," manager Dan Wilson said.

Ending the slump did not come without some pain, though, after Raleigh took a foul tip near his manhood.

Raleigh led the American League with a Seattle-record 60 home runs and 125 RBIs last season. But he’s batting just .166 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs in 40 games this year.

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But he is now 2 for his last 2, and we all know what he can do when he does get hot.

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Olivia Dunne cozies up with Baywatch model Brooks Nader, Oxford police on alert & Rockies girl Gianna Girardi!

Wed, 13 May 2026 15:39:24 -0400

Middle Hump Day of May? Sure, why not?! We're halfway to June, somehow, and that means ... well, it means very little. It's a pretty slow(ish) time of year, which is fine with me.

I know what's coming. I know what's on the horizon. In fact, we're already starting to get a little taste of it. The college football world is heating up ahead of "spring" meetings later this month. The NFL's full schedule gets released tomorrow. We've got OTAs and minicamps in a few weeks. We're about nine weeks away from training camps.

College GameDay just announced its first two locations of the college football season. Herbie's dog is resting up. Again, it's slow right now. But, I know what's coming. It ain't that far away.

For now, though, we ride the wave and see where it takes us (whatever that means). Let's ride.

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Welcome to a Hump Day Nightcaps — the one where Olivia Dunne parties with her Baywatch friends while Miller Lite continues to raise the bar ahead of next month's FIFA World Cup. I think Molson Coors is in for a big second half of 2026, folks. Strap in.

What else? I've got Rockies girl Gianna Girardi dumping out #content from a dominant few weeks, the Oxford Police Department is ready for Lane Kiffin, and Mr. October got fooled by a totally plausible AI video of a hot blonde running onto a soccer pitch.

We've all been there, Reggie. Chin up!

OK, grab you a Miller Lite in a giant soccer ball, and settle in for a Hump Day 'Cap!

Olivia Dunne has another dominant outing

Look at that thing. I hate soccer. Despise it. Won't watch a single second. Not one. But buddy, I will absolutely throw some money at a soccer ball filled with beer cans. Genius. So simple, so effective.

A few weeks ago, I got into a heated back-and-forth with a reader because he was pissed at my love for Busch Light Apple. Any domestic beer, really. He told me to stop giving the big corporations money, and start supporting local beer. And that's fair.

My wife is an artist. Believe me, I know all about "supporting local." I get it. When I go to the brewery down the road, I support local. I'm all for it. Funky Buddha Floridian is probably my favorite "local" beer in the state.

But ...

I do love a good Miller Lite. Sorry, I like what I like. Now they're putting cans in a soccer ball on the heels of partnering with Olivia Dunne? How am I supposed to say no to this?

Yeah, I just can't. I have to respect good, smart advertising, especially after what I lived through in 2023 with Bud Light. Fair is fair, and I'm simply being fair here.

PS: The old Miller Lite blue cans are the best of the best. Elite stuff.

OK, let's get this class going with Miller Lite influencer Olivia Dunne dominating the Fox red carpet with her Baywatch friends last night:

Oxford might be in trouble here

Olivia Dunne and Brooks Nader on the same set? Again, I assume the new Baywatch reboot will be a tough watch. Most reboots are. But I will be DIALED in whenever it premieres. I was too young for the Baywatch craze back in the '90s. I'll be damned if I miss out this time.

Give 'em hell, ladies!

Speaking of hell, let's check in on the Oxford Police Department ahead of the recently announced Sept. 19 night game between LSU and Ole Miss!

ONE DAY AFTER LANE KIFFIN MESS, STEVE SARKISIAN TORCHES OLE MISS FOR 'BASKETWEAVING' CLASSES IN OXFORD

Football, more football, and Mr. October

Perfect. No notes. 10/10. Speaking of Oxford potentially burning to the ground, I did get an email from a student this week on the heels of Lane Kiffin telling Vanity Fair that he had a hard time recruiting five-stars because of ... segregation.

Shockingly, boots on the ground in Oxford say that's complete BS.

From Matt:

Just read the comments Lane made about recruits and parents and segregation in Oxford BS. My oldest daughter went to Ole Miss for grad school. We visited many times. Never saw an ounce of segregation, racism, or anything related. Actually, her first year there (fall 2022-2023) she worked with a kid at Neilson's on the square...young guy, nice kid.

He was homecoming king that year... he also happened to be black and gay. Amazing how that didn't seem to bother anyone in Oxford when he was voted homecoming king. Kiffin is a good coach (I'll give him that), but he is also good at getting diarrhea of the mouth.

Thanks, Matt! Black AND gay. Talk about a one-two punch. Can't believe Oxford survived that one. I guess Lane's recruits missed him during their visit. Oh well. Hopefully they all feel safer in Baton Rouge!

OK, let's stick with college football and rapid-fire this Hump Day into a Hump Night. How do we feel about the first two (three) College GameDay visits of the new season?

How many times are we going to try to stuff Clemson into a marquee Week 1 game? I feel like we do this every year! They'll be ranked 23rd just so ESPN can market this as a top-25 game. I've seen this movie before.

Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for Dabo. I'm very much out on Lane Kiffin at this point, if you couldn't tell.

But going to Death Valley ... at night ... in Week 1 of the Lane Kiffin era? Yikes.

Ohio State-Texas in Week 2 is a no-brainer, although I'm sure Big Noon would've liked that game. They haven't announced Week 3 yet, but we can assume Herbie's dog will get a police escort into Oxford that weekend.

I know it's a rival network and rival show but goodness ... I miss football. Three more months. Hold on tight, folks. We're almost back.

Next? Let's end the day on the diamond ... with a legend!

Reggie! NOOOOO! Reggie Jackson got duped by maybe the most clearly AI video I have ever seen in my life. Poor Reggie. We've all been there before. Mr. October, by the way, turns 80 next week. 80! What a player.

PS: "The Bronx is Burning" is one of the most underrated miniseries of all time. Just an absolute banger back in the mid-2000s. If you're a baseball fan and haven't seen it, go track it down at your local Blockbuster before the weekend!

OK, that's it for today. Good Hump Day. Let's stay on the diamond and with the Yankees theme, and end the day with Rockies in-game host (and Joe's niece) Gianna Girardi!

See you tomorrow.

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OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. (roughly, we’re not robots).

Is Oxford in for a rough night this September? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.

San Francisco Giants asked to retire 'thrusting' celebration a day after taking the league by storm

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:06:44 -0400

"I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them."

Those are the sage musings of one Andy Bernard from "The Office," and I have to say, truer words were never spoken.

We all remember the San Francisco Giants outfield and their "hip thrusting celebration," right?

After their 9-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday night, the Giants' outfielders huddled together for a little postgame celly, and gifted us one of the most bizarre displays of exuberance you'll ever see on the baseball field.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS OUTFIELDERS GET TORCHED ONLINE FOR BIZARRE CELEBRATION FOLLOWING WIN OVER DODGERS

And the crazy part is that they won again in LA on Tuesday night, meaning, at worst, they'll split a four-game series with their hated rivals from SoCal, and will get some much needed momentum to help turn their early season woes around.

But, unfortunately, the good times had to end, and the Giants were asked to retire their on-field menage a trois almost as quickly as they introduced it.

Goodnight, sweet prince of a celebration. We hardly knew ye.

GIANTS THIRD BASEMAN GIVES TEAMMATE EXPLICIT RESPONSE AFTER ERROR

Yes, it looks like the San Francisco Giants' front office (or someone in a position of authority, at least), put the kibosh on their outfielders doing their best Village People impression, and, judging by some of the comments you guys left me yesterday at the bottom of my article, the directive is a welcome one indeed.

I could have sworn this particular celebration would have caught on and swept through the Bay Area, but alas, that's not the case.

I'm not sure who made the call to end the celebration, but unlike my readers, the fine folks on X are not quite as pleased to see the thrust get eradicated.

See? I had a feeling Giants fans would embrace that celebration with open arms.

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The new one definitely doesn't have the same "zest" to it, but a bow is a classy gesture that is sure to make all six of the conservative San Francisco residents happy, if they haven't fled for Texas or Tennessee yet.

We will see how hard the line is when the Giants start slumping again, because if they go on a five-game skid, I can almost guarantee Tony Vitello will bring back the thrusting in a "break glass in case of emergency" situation.

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Until then, it looks like we've left the good old days of grown men forming a "thrust circle" at center field.

Plan your memorials accordingly.

Mets get unlikely assist from umpire collision as Tigers baserunner is thrown out at home plate in key moment

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:55:17 -0400

The New York Mets' offseason priority for this year was run prevention, and with a little help from an umpire, that's exactly what they got.

Just about everything has gone badly for the Mets this season, as they boast one of the league's worst records at 16-25 despite their league-high $334.8 million payroll.

But finally, something broke their way.

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The Mets led the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, in the top of the fifth inning when Detroit's Riley Greene singled into right field, and Colt Keith headed to third.

Keith was safe, beating the throw that got away from third base, so Keith took a gamble and started sprinting toward home.

EX-MLB PITCHER ACCUSED OF 'CONTROLLING BEHAVIOR' IN UGLY DIVORCE BATTLE AMID NUMEROUS 911 CALLS TO HOME

However, when Keith started heading toward the plate, he crossed paths with third-base umpire Rob Drake. The two collided, and Drake fell right to the infield grass.

That held Keith up for just a couple of seconds, and it was enough for Keith to be thrown out by pitcher Freddy Peralta at home, ending the inning and killing a rally the Tigers could have needed.

The game wound up getting away from the Tigers later, as the Mets scored three runs in both the sixth and eighth innings, and the Mets' bullpen was able to hold Detroit scoreless for the rest of the game for a 10-2 New York win.

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The Mets are the owners of the league's longest losing streak of the season at 12 games, but they have now won six of their last 10 as they desperately try to turn things around.

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Seth Lugo's dominant career numbers against the White Sox make Royals a strong bet to avoid sweep

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:40:11 -0400

Last year was my worst year of baseball plays for OutKick. It wasn't terrible by any stretch, but I never really found a footing, and I never went on a hot streak. I feel like I'm in the middle of a hot stretch or maybe at the start of one as I've hit five non-player prop plays in a row, and seven of my last eight plays. Baseball is typically my most profitable sport, so I hope we get our bankroll loaded this year.

The Kansas City Royals have been a bit of a disappointment this season. They are just 19-23 for the year and have lost twice as many road games as they've won, a 6-13 mark.

Overall, the team seems to be struggling to score. They are 22nd in the league in runs scored, averaging 4.1 runs per game. It isn't terrible by any stretch. Their batting average isn't terrible; they are ranked 15th in the league, which is right in the middle.

Their pitching hasn't been great, but one guy who has been fairly reliable is Seth Lugo. If you've read my posts in the past, you know I've made a ton of money on Lugo starts. He is 1-2 for the season with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has made eight starts this season, and two of them were poor. One was against the Los Angeles Angels, where he allowed seven earned runs over 6.1 innings. In his last outing, he allowed four runs on seven hits over four innings.

This will be the second time he has faced the Chicago White Sox this season. In the first outing, he went 6.1 innings and allowed two runs, one earned. He hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in a game against the White Sox in 41.1 innings of his career.

The Chicago White Sox are an early-season surprise. I live in Chicago, and I don't think most of the fans or residents here thought they would be this good. Good, I suppose, is a relative term in this situation. They are under .500 entering today's game at 20-21, but they do have a winning record at home at 10-9. Their offseason signing, Munetaka Murakami, has been a very good power hitter with 15 homers already this year. The team is only hitting .231 for the year, though, so there should be reason to be pessimistic about the team's future.

WHITE SOX AGREE TO DEAL WITH JAPANESE RECORD-BREAKING SLUGGER: REPORT

Wednesday's starter for the White Sox is Noah Schultz. His numbers aren't great at 2-2 with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. However, not all of his starts have been bad. He has only made two home starts, going 10.1 innings and allowing five earned runs. I do have some concerns about his mechanics as he has already walked 16 guys in 25 innings. He is also a fly-ball pitcher, which is not ideal in Chicago, where wind can be a major factor. He has never faced the Royals.

I bet on the Royals last time Lugo took the mound against them. They lost the game 2-0. I'm running it back here as I'm not impressed with Schultz. Plus, this would give the White Sox a sweep and as bad as the Royals have been, I can't see them allowing themselves to get swept. Give me the Royals at a very reasonable price of -120.

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Additionally, I'm taking the Lugo prop that keeps on giving - under 2.5 earned runs allowed. It is -118, and he has been so good against the White Sox in the past. I'll back Lugo once again and hope we can get a 2-0 win for the Royals tonight.

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For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

MLB owners and players begin CBA negotiations in New York as salary cap fight looms over 2026 season

Tue, 12 May 2026 20:01:25 -0400

The 2026-2027 Major League Baseball offseason won’t be dominated by free agency, or big trades. It’ll be dominated by the most exciting aspect of any sport: labor negotiations.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association expires this December, and extensive disagreements between the two sides are expected to lead to contentious debate.

Well, per several new reports, those negotiations are officially underway as owners and the players look to avoid a work stoppage that could derail baseball’s hard fought momentum.

SMALL MARKET MLB TEAMS ARE OUTPERFORMING BIG PAYROLLS, UNDERMINING OWNERS' PUSH TO CANCEL 2027 SEASON

Both Jeff Passan and Evan Drellich reported on Tuesday that representatives from the league office and MLBPA met in New York City to start the process. And there’s plenty to unpack from the leadup to these discussions already.

Per Drellich’s report, this first meeting was not intended to discuss "formal proposals." Instead, it was "about setting the stage with opening presentations."

"Both the league and the players were expected to outline their respective visions for how the game is operating today," he wrote. "Moving forward, the real heavy lifting begins, with subsequent meetings set to feature formal proposals on the economics and core issues at hand."

While details on the proposals are scarce, it’s no secret where both sides sit. And the first quarter of the 2026 season has put some very big holes in the league’s arguments already.

Ownership wants to incorporate a salary cap and salary floor, based on arguments and assumptions that big market, high spending teams like the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers are making competitive balance impossible for smaller market organizations.

The players, meanwhile, have repeatedly said that a salary cap is a non-starter for negotiations. Their contention is that it limits their earning potential with few benefits, particularly competitive ones.

And there’s plenty of evidence they’re right.

METS AND PHILLIES HAVE NEARLY $700M IN COMBINED PAYROLL AND ARE ALREADY IN TROUBLE OF MISSING PLAYOFFS

It’s still early, but with roughly 25% of the season completed, the New York Mets, with their $370 million and more than $100 million in luxury tax penalties, are one of the worst teams in baseball. They’re 15-25, in dead last in the National League East, and are a whopping 12.5 games out of first place. An expensive lineup that features the highest-paid player in baseball, Juan Soto, along with other high-priced players like Bo Bichette, Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr., has scored just 139 runs in 40 games. That’s tied for the lowest run scoring total in MLB this year.

The other team tied at 139 runs scored? The big-market, high-payroll San Francisco Giants. San Francisco has a $200 million payroll thanks to expensive players like Willy Adames at $26 million per year, Matt Chapman at $25 million, Jung Hoo Lee at nearly $19 million, and Rafael Devers, who’s making nearly $30 million annually. The Giants are 17-24 and 7.5 games out of first place.

The Philadelphia Phillies, with a nearly $300 million payroll, are 19-22, have been outscored on the season by over 30 runs, and are nine games back in their division.

Even the Dodgers, who have been accused of "ruining baseball" and making the sport not worth watching, are currently in second place behind the Padres. Their big free-agent acquisition, Kyle Tucker, is hitting just .250 with four home runs and a .392 slugging percentage thus far. He’s making $60 million this year.

Meanwhile, the lowly Tampa Bay Rays, whose entire team payroll is just $87 million, are 27-13 and in first. They have one player making more than $9 million this year, pitcher Nick Martinez.

In the American League West, a division filled with teams in Houston, the Los Angeles metro area, Dallas, and Seattle, it’s the (Sacramento) Athletics in first place as of May 12. The Cleveland Guardians sit first in the AL Central.

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In fact, here are the markets in first in all six divisions:

Tampa Bay
Cleveland
Sacramento
Atlanta
Chicago
San Diego

How can the owners make a serious argument that it’s impossible to compete with big market teams with the standings the way they are? Well, it won’t be a serious argument because competitive balance is the least of their concerns. Increasing their franchise values and limiting costs are.

The theory across baseball ownership is that spending less money on contracts makes organizations more valuable. Interestingly, the San Diego Padres, with several big commitments on their books, despite their small market, just sold for $3.9 billion. So that argument falls apart on any level of scrutiny as well.

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In reality, a salary cap benefits ownership by limiting a free market. Players have little reason to agree to it; therefore, a lockout seems inevitable. If anyone analyzing from the outside can see the standings and make this connection, you can bet the players have too.

It’s a long way from May to December. Hopefully these negotiations, presentations and proposals are successful. Based on prior results, that seems unlikely.

San Francisco Giants outfielders get torched online for bizarre celebration following win over Dodgers

Tue, 12 May 2026 15:12:45 -0400

Not a lot has been going right for the San Fransisco Giants this season.

They are a whopping seven games below .500 as of Tuesday afternoon and sit 7.5 games back of the now-division-leading San Diego Padres.

With all that in mind, we are still very early into the baseball season, and there's still plenty of time to turn this ship around in the Bay Area.

All the Giants need is a little spark, something to get a midseason rally going, and starting off a four-game series with the hated Los Angeles Dodgers might be just what the doctor ordered.

GIANTS CATCHER PATRICK BAILEY MAKES TREMENDOUS MLB HISTORY WITH WALK-OFF INSIDE-THE-PARK HOME RUN

After taking two of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend, the Giants walked into Dodger Stadium Monday night and gave the scoreboard a workout, resulting in a 9-3 win over baseball's wealthiest roster and, hopefully, starting a bit of a hot streak for San Fran as we inch closer to summer.

It's safe to say the Giants were pretty stoked about the win, with their outfield celebrating in a manner that can only be described as "bizarre," though I'm sure you can think of other words that are more apt and less workplace-friendly.

Umm, hey guys. I know you play in the Bay Area and all, but there might be such a thing as assimilating a little too well, don't you think?

MINOR LEAGUE PITCHER THROWS DOWN A WILD NSFW CELEBRATION AFTER CATCHING SOFT LINE DRIVE

What you guys do in the privacy of your own locker room is your business alone, but let's keep that confined to the clubhouse, okay?

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To be frank, I have no clue what the onus of this "celebration" is, nor do I think I want to know, but social media caught wind of this little outfield faux ménage à trois and dealt with it accordingly.

I mean, hey, whatever works!

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Baseball is a sport steeped in superstition. Guys will go weeks without showering if it means they have a hitting streak going, so if the outfield dry-hump celebration gets the Giants closer to winning a pennant, more power to them.

And I'm sure this is exactly the kind of public display the people of San Francisco can get behind... no pun intended.

Cubs' road woes meet the Braves' home dominance in a marquee baseball matchup

Tue, 12 May 2026 13:52:37 -0400

Baseball is one of those sports that I don't think the majority of people will watch just any two teams play.

For example, if you're not a fan of the Colorado Rockies and the Miami Marlins, are you going to flip them on during a random Tuesday night? Sports betting helps us have added interest in games. There is no need for added interest in tonight's game between two of the best teams in baseball, but I'm going to bet on it anyway.

The Chicago Cubs are 27-14 for the season, but they have a clear flaw of playing poorly away from Wrigley Field. They are just 9-9 for the season when they wear the road grays. They have scored just 91 runs on the road and are hitting just .238. At home, they've scored 124 runs and are hitting .263. That's a sizable difference in a reasonable number of games to compare. Only about 41% of their total runs have come on the road. They just lost a series to the Rangers and were shut out in the final two games of the series.

They obviously need to get the offense back on track, but they also need to worry about stopping their opponent. Colin Rea is the arm they rely on tonight for that effort. Rea is 4-1 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Like the offense, Rea has been worse on the road compared to at home. He has made two starts and four total appearances on the road, giving up 11 earned runs in 17.2 innings. Most of that was a bad start against the Dodgers when he went 3.1 innings and allowed six hits, four walks and six earned runs. Braves hitters are batting .286 against Rea with Matt Olson going 4-for-8 against him with three extra-base hits.

The Atlanta Braves have had a remarkable turnaround since last season. It should've been somewhat expected, because last year was mostly the result of the team being injured at virtually every position. They have one of the best records in baseball and have done it both on the road and at home. They are 28-13 overall, and they are 12-6 at home. The Braves are hitting .270 overall, and they are hitting .282 at home this season.

Their pitching has been equally impressive, throwing to a combined 3.14 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Tonight's starter is Grant Holmes, who is not exactly the best starter the team has. He is 2-1 with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has actually been worse at home than he has been on the road this year, with a 5.40 home ERA. He only has three home starts, and none of them have seen him allow more than three earned runs, so the numbers look a bit worse than they are. Holmes has only faced two Cubs hitters, and they are a combined 3-for-7 against him.

On the one hand, we have two teams that are better on offense than they are on the mound. The problem is that the Cubs haven't scored in either of their past two games. Maybe they needed yesterday's day off to regroup. I think the under is probably the right way to go, but I think you're going to sweat this either way.

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I'm going to back the Braves in this one. Though these teams are both similar in record, there is a big disparity in performance on the road for the Cubs, vs. the home performance of the Braves. I'm going to take Atlanta at -121. I'll take a shot on Matt Olson 2+ hits at +202 (his 2+ total bases are -102).

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Diamondbacks vs. Rangers betting preview favors Texas at home with both starters struggling on the mound

Tue, 12 May 2026 12:57:55 -0400

I've had a tough run in the second round of the NBA playoffs. The first round went really well, but this round has been a struggle. Lost in all of that has been a string of solid baseball looks that have kept the bankroll from plummeting. I'm going back to the diamond tonight as the Diamondbacks take on the Rangers in a night game.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are a team I've covered a few times recently, and I mentioned that the expectation of this season is probably what they are showing us at the moment. The team is 20-20 for the year, slightly better at home than on the road. I'd be really surprised if they ended up better than what we are seeing if they make no moves. Offensively, the team is doing well, but they still need some pitching to improve their club. Perhaps if Corbin Burnes comes back around the All-Star break, they could make a push for a Wild Card spot at the end of the year.

Burnes' return would be helpful, but Zac Gallen's improvement would probably be the biggest boost to the club. Gallen is 1-3 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. He has been worse on the road than at home as well. He has made four starts, spanning 17.2 innings, and allowed 14 earned runs. While that line looks bad, two of his starts were okay on the road. In two starts against the Mets and Phillies, he allowed four earned runs over 10 innings compared to 10 earned runs in 7.2 innings against the Cubs and Dodgers. Rangers hitters have been successful against Gallen in the past, hitting .267 with about a third of their hits going for extra bases.

The Texas Rangers are another team that has playoff expectations, but isn't off to a great start to the year. They enter tonight's game with a 19-22 record and a 9-10 mark at home. The Rangers are actually about the same in terms of hitting statistics. Their pitching staff has carried them a bit at the moment, with them collectively throwing to a 3.59 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. If they make a move or two for some bats, they might have a chance to make a push for a postseason berth.

They did make a move in the offseason, but it was to bolster their already deep starting rotation. That move came in the form of acquiring MacKenzie Gore, who is making a start tonight. Gore was one of the more sought-after arms at the trade deadline last year. So far, Gore hasn't really paid off, throwing to a 2-3 record with a 5.18 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He has been better at home this season, but hasn't made a ton of starts. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his three home outings. Diamondbacks hitters have been solid against him in limited at-bats (12-for-38).

There are a few angles I like for this game. I love sharing ideas for player props in case you play daily fantasy or anything. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is 5-for-9 against Gore in his career. Evan Carter is also 5-for-9 with four doubles against Gallen. I'll play him at +389 tonight for 2+ hits. 2+ total bases are +181 and +112 for 2+ hits, runs, and RBIs if you want a different option.

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As far as a side, I think Gallen's road struggles make the Rangers the right side in this game. Texas at -131 is the right way to go in this one. I also think the offenses are going to feast on the starters tonight. I'll back the over 8 for this game.

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Cal Raleigh goes hitless in 36 straight at-bats as near-MVP catcher's stunning collapse continues

Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:42 -0400

After narrowly missing out last season on taking down Aaron Judge for the American League's Most Valuable Player Award, Cal Raleigh is in the running this year for the polar opposite.

The Seattle Mariners catcher became just the seventh player in MLB history to smash 60 home runs in a season in 2025, and while reaching that point would have been a challenge this year, every plate appearance is a struggle at the moment.

Raleigh went 0-for-4 on Monday night in the Mariners' 3-1 win over the Houston Astros, continuing a skid in which he is now hitless in his last 36 at-bats.

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Before this skid, Raleigh was already struggling at the plate, hitting .205 with a .707 OPS in his first 30 games. But now, his average has dipped to .157, the second-worst in baseball, and his OPS is down to .559, the 10th-worst.

As a lefty, he's slashing .167/.256/.370, and on the right side, those are down to .133/.196/.200.

The last time he got a hit was way back on April 27.

There isn't much under the hood that says Raleigh is going to turn things around, either. Sure, a stretch this poor cannot come without some bad luck, but after ranking in the 85th percentile in hard-hit percentage (at least 95 mph exit velo), he is now in the 10th percentile of that category this season. His barrel percentage and average exit velocity are also both overwhelmingly worse than last year.

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A big issue for Raleigh has been the fastball — after hitting .230 against it with a .594 slugging percentage last year, those are now down to .093 and .222 this year. He has swung and missed on 36.0% of fastballs, as opposed to 26.3% last year. He hit more than half of four-seamers at 95 mph or harder last year, but just 23.3% this year.

Entering the season, the Mariners were right in the conversation to compete for the American League pennant. They're currently 20-22 and will likely turn things around whenever Raleigh does. They're two games out of the AL West title, behind only the Athletics, with plenty of season left.

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But the season may be getting late for the switch-hitting catcher who less than a year ago was chasing Judge for an MVP.

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Drew Rasmussen and Kevin Gausman may get knocked around a bit as Rays visit Blue Jays

Mon, 11 May 2026 13:30:38 -0400

It is hard to believe, but we are almost a quarter of the way through the MLB season. Every year I grow older, I also feel like the years go faster, so I suppose the same can be said about the baseball year. It might be the right time to start assessing teams and get a feel for who is likely to make the postseason, and who will not. Two teams with postseason aspirations square off today as the Rays take on the Blue Jays.

The Tampa Bay Rays are one of the best teams in baseball with a strong 26-13 record. They have a winning road record, but about 75% of their losses have been while they don the road gray. I will say I was a bit surprised about the Rays' performance in the early stretch of this season. The offense has been substantially better than I thought it would be. They always seem to make diamonds out of whatever pitching they have, but they have been extra special this year.

One of their top performers has been today's starter, Drew Rasmussen. After being a swing-guy in 2024, he was a full-time starter in 2025 and pitched excellently. He has carried that over into this season and is 2-1 for the year with a 2.95 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. Rasmussen has made four road starts, and his ERA is almost two runs higher as a visitor than as a home pitcher. None of the starts, with maybe the 3.2 innings and four runs allowed to Pittsburgh, were that bad, though. His last start was against the Blue Jays, and he allowed three earned runs over six innings.

The Toronto Blue Jays, coming off a World Series loss to the Dodgers, haven't found their footing this year. They are 18-22 for the season, and they are 12-9 at home. The offense doesn't seem to be the problem. They are hitting about in line with what the production from the Rays has been this year. So, perhaps that is a reason for optimism. A reason for pessimism is that their pitching staff has a 4.08 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.

One guy who has performed better than their club overall is today's starter, Kevin Gausman. For the year, he is 2-2 with a 3.09 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He's been very comfortable pitching on the home rubber as well. He is 1-1 with a 1.88 home ERA in 24 innings of work. He has a quality start in three of four home games and five of his eight outings.

I played this game last time that Rasmussen and Gausman squared off. That was a 4-3 win for the Rays. Both starters performed admirably. It doesn't always mean they will do well in the next outing, though. Pitchers, in general, are easier to hit when the hitter has seen them recently. Rasmussen and Gausman are not ordinary hurlers, and should be able to navigate fairly well.

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I do think both of them are probably going to allow a couple of runs tonight. I've been impressed with both offenses. I'm backing the over tonight as I think both teams will get a few runs off the starters and then we see the rest come off the bullpen.

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For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024