NBA

Cavaliers fire head coach J.B. Bickerstaff

This decision seems to be about the organization taking the next step. Bickerstaff lifted the Cavaliers from the lows of the John Beilein era to an above average team in less than two years, a feat surely appreciated by the organization, but not enough for it to search for a new voice to guide Cleveland further.

It’s also fair to wonder whether this move has anything to do with Donovan Mitchell’s looming contract extension decision this summer. Perhaps the star guard is now more likely to want to stick around following Bickerstaff’s dismissal. Regardless, Cleveland will probably move on from Mitchell if he refuses to sign the extension offered to him.

The Cavaliers’ search to replace Bickerstaff was probably in the works prior to him being fired, and signs point to Kenny Atkinson being one of the favorites to replace him. Atkinson has founded limited success as a head coach in the win column, but he’s a well-respected voice around the league. Cleveland has won 99 games over the past two seasons, so expecting any new coach to be a guaranteed upgrade over Bickerstaff is a fool’s errand. Sure, it’s quite possible this change could be a smashing success for the Cavs and becomes the key that unlocks this team’s full potential, but there’s plenty of risk involved.

Grade: B-

MLB

Yankees 5, Mariners 0

Did you forget about Aaron Judge’s slow — for his standards — start? Yeah, me too. Judge has been the best hitter on the planet for almost a month now, and he continued his tear in this contest, going 2-for-2 with a homer and two walks. The American League, for now, goes through the Bronx.

Progression isn’t always linear, and look no further than Julio Rodriguez’s 2024 as evidence. The 23-year-old had the look of a superstar through two major league seasons, but has flatlined this year. The center fielder hit sixth for Seattle in this game — a suitable spot in the order for a player slashing .257/.306/.312. Rodriguez will get better — he’s too good not to — but the ceiling will be capped on this 27-24 Mariners club until that happens.

Giants 7, Pirates 6

30-year-old LaMonte Wade has had to scratch and claw his way into receiving an everyday role in the big leagues, and he’s making the most of his opportunity. The first baseman receiving ample playing time in 2023 with the Giants and fared well — 17 home runs and a .790 OPS — but he’s leveled up this season. After going 2-for-5 yesterday, Wade holds an OPS of .911, making him a much-needed jolt of offense for an average San Francisco team.

Paul Skenes turned in yet another strong start for the Pirates yesterday (one earned run through six innings), but alas, the Pittsburgh bullpen blew yet another game. Hunter Stratton, in particular, was at fault for this one, surrendering five earned runs in less than one inning.

Phillies 5, Rangers 2

You’d be hard pressed to find a better top three of a rotation than what the Phillies possess. Zach Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez have all been stellar for Philadelphia, and there’s no reason to believe it can’t continue for the 37-14 Phillies. Wheeler, in particular, has been an ace dating back to 2020, his first year in Philadelphia. In this game, Wheeler allowed just two earned runs over seven innings, giving him win No. 6.

Championship hangovers happen. It’s part of sports. The 2024 Rangers have not been immune, and while we’re not even a third of the way through the season, it’s fair to wonder if Texas will miss the postseason all together. The 24-27 Rangers have a few talented pitchers on the shelf, but limiting opposing lineups has been a problem for Texas — one that will sink the club if not reversed.

Padres 6, Reds 4

Luis Arraez as a Padre is a sight to behold. The elite contact man hit .299 as a Marlin earlier this year — a good figure for almost anyone besides Arraez — and has already raised his average to .341 after just 17 games in a San Diego uniform. If we didn’t know any better, we’d be thinking Tony Gwynn was reincarnated.

If Elly De La Cruz didn’t exist, there wouldn’t be much to get excited about regarding the Reds. After winning 82 games last season, Cincinnati seemed to be on the upswing, but following a 20-30 start, the Reds have more questions than answers. Will things get better when Matt McLain and Noelvi Marte return? Are the prospects in the pipeline good enough to move the needle in the near-term? Was last season just a mirage; an outlier in what’s been a seemingly never-ending rebuild?

Braves 3, Cubs 0

Atlanta is 29-18 for a number reasons, one being its bullpen. The Braves’ relievers, along with starter AJ Smith-Shawver, shut the door on the Cubs yesterday, racking up five strikeouts.

The Cubs currently occupy the National League’s second wild-card spot, but that won’t last much longer if Chicago’s bats stay asleep. Multiple Cubs are scuffling at the plate, including Michael Busch. The first baseman went 0-for-4 in this game, lowering his average to .235.

Athletics 10, Rockies 9

On first glance, one would’ve probably guessed this game was played at Coors Field, not Oakland Coliseum. 19 runs, even over 11 innings, is an outrageous amount, but even more outrageous is Mason Miller allowing five of them (three were earned). Oakland won’t make the postseason, but a 21-31 mark signals an overachieving Athletics club.

The Rockies had this game won — they were up 9-5 entering the bottom of the 11th — but Colorado’s awful collection of pitchers struck again, and the A’s won the game in the blink of an eye. Ryan Feltner has struggled as a starter this season, but he gave the Rockies six scoreless frames. Of course, Feltner’s outing was for not thanks to Colorado’s bullpen.