OKLAHOMA CITY — The initial shock has worn off from the New York Knicks firing Tom Thibodeau after a successful five-year run and a trip to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000.
What was clear was Thibodeau’s firing being spearheaded by Knicks owner James Dolan, sources told Yahoo Sports. Dolan and team president Leon Rose held exit meetings with key Knicks players and the complaints were clear.
Dolan, whom sources said was never a huge Thibodeau fan through the years, asked the questions in the meeting while Rose took a secondary role.
A couple of players felt like Thibodeau played the starters too many minutes and felt he had an inability to adjust, sources said, and another player said he didn’t feel like he could play for Thibodeau if the coach returned next season.
The complaints obscured the success, perhaps — four winning seasons in five years, the last two being 50-win campaigns. Getting to at least the second round in the last three years was commendable, but perhaps the Knicks left food on the table in the playoffs, falling short to the Pacers last year and this year, the latter in spectacular fashion.
Thibodeau did play his starters a lot and didn’t develop a bench the way other coaches have. Mikal Bridges openly complained about playing too many minutes and that’s when it seemed things started to go sideways.
You don’t fire Thibodeau with three years and $30 million on a contract extension that won’t kick in until next season because you lose in the conference finals. You fire Thibodeau because you want to.
But it’s unclear where the Knicks go from here. Perhaps they try to poach Jason Kidd from Dallas, maybe highly thought of assistant Johnnie Bryant gets his first job — albeit in a difficult situation.
Some have suggested the coaching search will go into Summer League in July, because it seems the Knicks don’t have an outlined plan for the future.
Either way, things are intriguing, if not wholly uncertain, in Manhattan.
The Mets have signed right-handed pitcher Julian Merryweather to a minor league deal, the club announced on Saturday evening.
Merryweather, 33, spent the past three seasons with the Chicago Cubs organization before he was released on the penultimate day of May.
In 21 games this season, the reliever posted a 5.79 ERA and 1.821 WHIP over 18.2 innings with 15 strikeouts to 11 walks. During an injury-plagued 2024 campaign, he was limited to just 15 innings over 15 outings and posted a 6.60 ERA and 1.800 WHIP.
New York is hoping the MLB veteran of six seasons can regain the form of his first season on the North Side of Chicago when he posted a 3.38 ERA and 1.306 WHIP over 72 innings and 69 games with 98 strikeouts to 36 walks.
A hard-thrower, Merryweather has become a two-pitch reliever relying on his slider and four-seam fastball. The heater’s 96 mph average velocity is good for the 80th percentile in the majors this year.
A late bloomer, he got his start in the majors at the age of 28 with the Blue Jays in 2020, and appeared in big league games in Toronto for three seasons. In 152 career games, Merryweather has posted a 4.72 ERA and 1.434 WHIP over 158.1 innings with 127 strikeouts to 56 walks.
Kimbrel, 37, appeared in Friday’s 5-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants after being called up from Triple-A Gwinnett. Pitching the seventh inning, he allowed no runs with one hit, one walk and a strikeout. Kimbrel threw 14 pitches in total.
However, Braves manager Brian Snitker didn’t sound terribly impressed with Kimbrel’s performance after the game, attributing the scoreless inning partially to luck.
“He kind of lucked out of it a little bit,” Snitker said, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I’m glad he got through it. It was good to get him out there for the first time. So we’ll see.”
Kimbrel allowed a leadoff single to Heliot Ramos, who was then thrown out trying to steal second base. Jung Hoo Lee then drew a walk on four pitches, but was picked off first base. Kimbrel then ended the inning by striking out Wilmer Flores. However, his average velocity was 91.7 mph, far below what he threw in his prime.
The Braves signed Kimbrel to a minor league deal during spring training, but he didn’t make the major league roster. In 18 minor league appearances this season (15 for Gwinnett), he had a 2.00 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 18 innings with 8 walks and 9 hits allowed.
Kimbrel pitched the first five seasons of his career with the Braves, collecting a 1.43 ERA and 186 saves in 294 appearances. He won the 2011 National League Rookie of the Year award and made four All-Star teams during his stint with Atlanta.
The Braves traded him to the San Diego Padres before the 2015 season and he’s pitched for six other teams since then. Last season, he had a 5.33 ERA for the Baltimore Orioles in 57 appearances despite a strikeout rate of 12.6 per nine innings, and was released in late September.
Left-hander Austin Cox was called up from Gwinnett to take Kimbrel’s place on the roster. In 19 minor league appearances, he compiled a 3.86 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings. He last pitched in the majors with the Kansas City Royals in 2023.
Atlanta lost in the 10th inning when Tyler Fitzgerald scored on a wild pitch by Pierce Johnson. The Braves have lost six consecutive games and hold fourth place in the National League East with a 27-36 record.
Kimbrel, 37, appeared in Friday’s 5-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants after being called up from Triple-A Gwinnett. Pitching the seventh inning, he allowed no runs with one hit, one walk and a strikeout. Kimbrel threw 14 pitches in total.
However, Braves manager Brian Snitker didn’t sound terribly impressed with Kimbrel’s performance after the game, attributing the scoreless inning partially to luck.
“He kind of lucked out of it a little bit,” Snitker said, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I’m glad he got through it. It was good to get him out there for the first time. So we’ll see.”
Kimbrel allowed a leadoff single to Heliot Ramos, who was then thrown out trying to steal second base. Jung Hoo Lee then drew a walk on four pitches, but was picked off first base. Kimbrel then ended the inning by striking out Wilmer Flores. However, his average velocity was 91.7 mph, far below what he threw in his prime.
The Braves signed Kimbrel to a minor league deal during spring training, but he didn’t make the major league roster. In 18 minor league appearances this season (15 for Gwinnett), he had a 2.00 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 18 innings with 8 walks and 9 hits allowed.
Kimbrel pitched the first five seasons of his career with the Braves, collecting a 1.43 ERA and 186 saves in 294 appearances. He won the 2011 National League Rookie of the Year award and made four All-Star teams during his stint with Atlanta.
The Braves traded him to the San Diego Padres before the 2015 season and he’s pitched for six other teams since then. Last season, he had a 5.33 ERA for the Baltimore Orioles in 57 appearances despite a strikeout rate of 12.6 per nine innings, and was released in late September.
Left-hander Austin Cox was called up from Gwinnett to take Kimbrel’s place on the roster. In 19 minor league appearances, he compiled a 3.86 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings. He last pitched in the majors with the Kansas City Royals in 2023.
Atlanta lost in the 10th inning when Tyler Fitzgerald scored on a wild pitch by Pierce Johnson. The Braves have lost six consecutive games and hold fourth place in the National League East with a 27-36 record.
The Mets continue a three-game series with the Rockies in Colorado on Saturday at 9:40 p.m. on SNY.
Here’s what to know about the game and how to watch…
Mets Notes
Clay Holmes (6-3, 3.07 ERA) has held opposing batters to a .143 average with runners in scoring position, tied for the fourth-best mark in the National League and tied for the seventh-best mark in the majors (min. 50 at-bats w/RISP)
Despite a broken toe, Francisco Lindor delivered a clutch ninth-inning double on Friday night to boost his slash line to .400/.483/.920 over his last seven games. He is back in the starting lineup after not starting the previous two days
Juan Soto celebrates a milestone, appearing in his 1,000th career game. He is 6-for-19 (.316) with six runs, one double, two homers, four RBI, eight walks for a .536 OBP and .684 slugging through six games in June
Pete Alonso is riding a 15-game on-base streak, batting .310 in that span with four doubles, six homers, 20 RBI, and three walks
The Mets (40-24) own the majors’ best team ERA at 2.84 and are sixth with 573 strikeouts. The starting staff has posted a 2.86 ERA this year, the best in the majors, while the bullpen has posted a 2.81 ERA, ranking second.
METS
ROCKIES
Francisco Lindor, SS
Jordan Beck, DH
Brandon Nimmo, LF
Thairo Estrada, 2B
Juan Soto, RF
Hunter Goodman, C
Pete Alonso, 1B
Ryan McMahon, 3B
Jeff McNeil, CF
Ryan Ritter, SS
Luis Torrens, C
Brenton Doyle, CF
Brett Baty, 2B
Sam Hilliard, LF
Jared Young, DH
Kyle Farmer, 1B
Ronny Mauricio, 3B
Tyler Freeman, RF
What channel is SNY?
Check your TV or streaming provider’s website or channel finder to find your local listings.
How can I stream the game?
The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.
Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices.
Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”
To access live or on-demand content, tap on the “Watch” tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the “Games” sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.
For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.
The Mets have acquired RHP Justin Garza from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations, the team announced Saturday.
Garza, 31, first signed a minor league deal with the Giants organization in March 2024. After pitching to a 3.42 ERA and 1.310 WHIP over 52.2 innings in 37 appearances that year with Triple-A Sacramento, success has been much harder to come by in 19 games at that level this season.
“Good arm,” manager Carlos Mendoza said in Colorado about the reports he had on the righty. “With the ability to throw strikes, that’s what I’m getting…. A guy that has options, obviously. But he’s a strike thrower.”
The right-hander carries a 1-2 record (6-for-7 on save attempts) with a 6.11 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, totalling 20 strikeouts over 17.2 innings.
Originally drafted by Cleveland in the 2015 MLB Draft, Garza debuted with them in 2021. He then spent the 2022 season in the minors with Cleveland before a brief stint with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023 and then the Boston Red Sox. He was outrighted and instead elected free agency after the 2023 season.
Graza owns a 2-3 record with a 5.74 ERA in 47 innings over 38 major league games with Cleveland (21 games in 2021) and Boston (17 games in 2023).
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani yells after taking a foul ball off his foot during the fifth inning of a 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. (Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)
Eighteen innings and 19 hits into their weekend series in St. Louis, the Dodgers have scored just once.
On a wild pitch.
As a result, what began as a mild slump has grown into a full-blown five-alarm crisis for the World Series champions. Yet if manager Dave Roberts is concerned, he was hiding it well after Saturday’s 2-1 loss, his team’s third in four games and fifth in seven tries this month.
“It kind of goes in waves. And you can’t ride the emotional waves,” he said. “There’s certainly no angst or panic. Frustration certainly. Because you don’t like losing and not driving in runs when you have opportunities.
“We are getting hits. We are getting guys on base. We’re just not cashing in.”
Here’s how bad things have gotten for the Dodgers: the totality of their scoring this weekend came on a Freddie Freeman strikeout in the ninth inning. The ball got away from catcher Pedro Pagés, allowing Shohei Ohtani to score from third to tie it.
If you blinked, you might have missed that. For the rest of the weekend, the Dodgers went one for 25 with men in scoring position and stranded 21 runners.
They loaded the bases in the third inning and could not score. They got the first two batters on base in the sixth and could not score. They got two of the first three hitters on in the seventh and could not score. They got two runners on in the eighth and would not score then either.
Could not. Would not. Did not.
The Dodgers came to St. Louis leading the majors in runs and as the only team hitting better than .300 with runners in scoring position. Both those numbers have taken a hit with the Dodgers scoring one or fewer runs in three of their last four games, dropping their average to .232 in June.
“We have to have a better team approach, especially with the guys in scoring position,” said shortstop Mookie Betts, who had his second consecutive three-hit game. “But again, that’s part of the game. Early on, we did great.”
“The way things are going right now, our margin is small,” Roberts added. “We’ve got to find a way to capitalize on whatever opportunities we do get. Recently we haven’t.”
As a result they wasted a splendid outing from starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who deserved better after scattering four hits and striking out nine in six scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 2.20.
“That’s part of game,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “Sometimes they have my back and then sometimes they struggle and I try to give what I’ve got for them, for the team.”
The Cardinals appeared to have won the game in the eighth when Alec Burleson’s two-out comebacker ricocheted off reliever Ben Casparius to the right of the mound. Casparius (4-1) scrambled after the ball and made a hurried throw to first that pulled Freeman off the bag, allowing Masyn Winn to race home from second.
Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers against the Cardinals in the first inning Saturday. (Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)
The Dodgers tied the score in the ninth on the wild pitch but the Cardinals wasted no time getting that run back in the bottom of the inning.
Nolan Gorman led off with a ground-rule double to right, then left for pinch-runner Jose Barrero. When Pagés followed with a sacrifice bunt, Casparius again fielded the ball off to the right of the mound and made another poor throw.
“I kind of checked at third, bobbled a little bit. And then got sped up on that throw,” Casparius said. “Ultimately I should have held on to the ball.”
Instead St. Louis had runners at the corner and nobody out when pinch-hitter Nolan Arenado stepped in. The Dodgers stacked the infield with five players, leaving left field open — and that’s where Arenado hit the ball, dropping it just inside the foul line to score Barrero.
The Dodgers have one more chance to get it right Sunday in St. Louis before flying to San Diego for a crucial three-game series with the Padres, who entered their game in Milwaukee late Saturday trailing the Dodgers by a half-game in the National League West.
“We’re in a position to try to salvage the series tomorrow,” Roberts said. “We’ve got Clayton [Kershaw] on the mound and I feel good about the guys behind him.”
But the way those guys are hitting, Kershaw will have to be nearly perfect to have a chance.
Prior to Saturday’s game with the Red Sox, Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave updates on a number of injured players…
Volpe needs another day
Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe left Friday’s win over Boston early after being struck on the elbow with a pitch. Although Volpe ran the bases and took the field at the top of the next inning, he was pulled as a precautionary measure.
Volpe isn’t in the starting lineup on Saturday and Boone said that he initially had the shortstop in, but once he got to Yankee Stadium and spoke to the training staff, they thought it was best that the third-year player took a day.
“Strength, everything’s good. He’s got pretty good-sized swelling in there still,” Boone said. “Talking to the trainers, it will do him well to try and get one more day and get some treatment. Hope to be back there tomorrow.”
Boone said that Volpe is available if needed, but they will look to get past the Red Sox with Oswald Peraza starting at shortstop.
Jazz gets a planned off day
While Volpe’s exclusion from Saturday’s lineup isn’t surprising, Jazz Chisholm Jr. being left off was.
Boone was asked about Jazz’s status, and the longtime Yankees manager said it was just a planned off day for his third baseman.
“Plan from the start when he came back Tuesday,” Boone said. “We were going to give him one as he built back up into the off day. And it made sense with the one lefty we’re facing to give it today.”
Since his return from the IL, Chisholm has been hotter than hot. Across four games, Chisholm is 8-for-16 with two home runs and six RBI. He also has back-to-back three-hit games.
Feb 15, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil (81) participates in spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. / Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Minor updates on injured players
Boone was then asked about a trio of injured players looking to make their way back onto the team in the coming weeks.
First was Luis Gil, who had a side session recently but will need to go through a handful of them still before he faces live batters. Boone categorized it as “touch-and-feel” right now.
As for Marcus Stroman, he’s throwing a side session on Saturday, so they’ll see how he comes out of that. And finally, Boone was asked about slugger Giancarlo Stanton.
Boone gave a pseudo update earlier in the week, but gave a more solid plan for Stanton heading into next week.
“He’s in Tampa still, I think he’s coming back tomorrow or Monday and hopefully starting rehab next week up here,” Boone said. “But he’s doing well.”
The Indiana Pacers came into the 2025 NBA Finals as historic underdogs, but somehow managed to steal Game 1 from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 111-110 thriller, thanks to Tyrese Haliburton’s clutch shot with 0.3 seconds remaining. The Thunder are still the prohibitive favorites (-350 at BetMGM) to win the series, but Game 2 all of a sudden becomes a massive one for Oklahoma City.
Oddsmakers know this as well, which is why the Thunder are 10.5-point home favorites in Game 2 with a total of 228.5. The betting public is backing the Pacers so far at BetMGM, with 69% of the wagers on Indiana to cover.
Let us not forget the bettor who wagered $1.05 million on Oklahoma City to win the series at -700 odds in Las Vegas at an MGM book on Wednesday night. He or she will be one of the Thunder’s biggest fans on Sunday night.
Yahoo Sports asked handicapper Michael Fiddle for his thoughts on some best bets for Game 2 of the finals:
Game 2: Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-10.5, 228.5)
Fiddle: “I was on the over in Game 1, and while there was some late under money, the closing price of 230 I thought was right. Game 2 is another over spot. I think they’ll be fewer turnovers and more shot opportunities for both teams, but especially Indiana — the Pacers shouldn’t have 18 turnovers in the first half again. Both teams are top three in pace and value possessions analytically. Oklahoma City should get to the line a little more often as well. Combine more shots with the clock stopped more often, easy baskets and early market action, and I do think this is comfortable to go back to the over again.
“The full zig-zag is priced in at -11 for OKC. I can’t get there to back either side. I would understand it if people want to back the Pacers again, but I would be very surprised if the 10.5’s weren’t taken by tip. I think any 10.5’s will be hit and if it gets to 10, those will be snapped up as well. The Pacers at plus-11.5 or OKC at minus-10 will probably be sharp numbers to have by tip. There are more opportunities in the prop market, so it’s probably the better place to attack. And if you don’t have Oklahoma City futures for the series, I’d say now is the time.
“I like Pascal Siakam over 18.5 points. I think a lot of people are going to go to Isaiah Hartenstein overs, but I would be cautious of that. It’s going to be a public side, and everyone is talking about the Thunder being out-rebounded. I don’t think Oklahoma City is going to change — they’re going to look at as ‘We had a 15-point lead in the 4Q and lost it, let’s see what happens.’ I think they’ll keep looking to play small. I’d look more at Lou Dort. His role will be there and stable, so I like his over 14.5 points plus rebounds plus assists, too.”
Best bets: Over 228.5, Pascal Siakam over 18.5 points, Lou Dort over 14.5 PRA
The Indiana Pacers came into the 2025 NBA Finals as historic underdogs, but somehow managed to steal Game 1 from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 111-110 thriller, thanks to Tyrese Haliburton’s clutch shot with 0.3 seconds remaining. The Thunder are still the prohibitive favorites (-350 at BetMGM) to win the series, but Game 2 all of a sudden becomes a massive one for Oklahoma City.
Oddsmakers know this as well, which is why the Thunder are 10.5-point home favorites in Game 2 with a total of 228.5. The betting public is backing the Pacers so far at BetMGM, with 69% of the wagers on Indiana to cover.
Let us not forget the bettor who wagered $1.05 million on Oklahoma City to win the series at -700 odds in Las Vegas at an MGM book on Wednesday night. He or she will be one of the Thunder’s biggest fans on Sunday night.
Yahoo Sports asked handicapper Michael Fiddle for his thoughts on some best bets for Game 2 of the finals:
Game 2: Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-10.5, 228.5)
Fiddle: “I was on the over in Game 1, and while there was some late under money, the closing price of 230 I thought was right. Game 2 is another over spot. I think they’ll be fewer turnovers and more shot opportunities for both teams, but especially Indiana — the Pacers shouldn’t have 18 turnovers in the first half again. Both teams are top three in pace and value possessions analytically. Oklahoma City should get to the line a little more often as well. Combine more shots with the clock stopped more often, easy baskets and early market action, and I do think this is comfortable to go back to the over again.
“The full zig-zag is priced in at -11 for OKC. I can’t get there to back either side. I would understand it if people want to back the Pacers again, but I would be very surprised if the 10.5’s weren’t taken by tip. I think any 10.5’s will be hit and if it gets to 10, those will be snapped up as well. The Pacers at plus-11.5 or OKC at minus-10 will probably be sharp numbers to have by tip. There are more opportunities in the prop market, so it’s probably the better place to attack. And if you don’t have Oklahoma City futures for the series, I’d say now is the time.
“I like Pascal Siakam over 18.5 points. I think a lot of people are going to go to Isaiah Hartenstein overs, but I would be cautious of that. It’s going to be a public side, and everyone is talking about the Thunder being out-rebounded. I don’t think Oklahoma City is going to change — they’re going to look at as ‘We had a 15-point lead in the 4Q and lost it, let’s see what happens.’ I think they’ll keep looking to play small. I’d look more at Lou Dort. His role will be there and stable, so I like his over 14.5 points plus rebounds plus assists, too.”
Best bets: Over 228.5, Pascal Siakam over 18.5 points, Lou Dort over 14.5 PRA
