The New York Knicks are still alive.

The Knicks erased a 20-point, second-quarter deficit, chipping away in the second half, and scraped past the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, 106-100.

New York rode a massive fourth quarter from Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 20 of his 24 points in the final period. Towns had shot just 2-of-8 through the first three quarters, scoring just four points in that span, but was far more aggressive in the fourth attacking the paint and getting to the line.

The Knicks will now look to even the series Tuesday in Game 4 (8 p.m. ET, TNT), as the road team now has won each of the three games in this series.

Going back to the end of the second quarter, New York closed that and each of the subsequent periods on a run. And in each case, the outbursts were sparked on defense. The Knicks had struggled all series long with their defensive effort and intensity, at times losing Pacers in transition and watching as their teammates got beat off the ball.

In the second half, however, the Knicks swarmed the ball and generated turnovers, slowing the Pacers. It also led to a quicker, more assertive offense from New York.

Indiana’s offense, as a result, struggled to find consistency in the third and fourth quarters, going several minutes without field goals.

Towns led the Knicks with 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson poured in another 23.

Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 20 points, while Indiana center Myles Turner added 19 points.

See all the highlights from USA TODAY Sports from the Knicks vs. Pacers Game 3:

Knicks vs. Pacers highlights

Final: Knicks 106, Pacers 100

Karl-Anthony Towns’ 24-point performance – 20 of which came in the fourth quarter – helped spark the Knicks to a must-have win in Game 3.

Aaron Nesmith back in game after ankle sprain

Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith, who went to the locker room with a sprained right ankle in the third quarter, returned with less than 7 minutes remaining in the fourth after the Knicks had tightened the score.

Q3: Pacers 80, Knicks 70

The Pacers produced a 6-0 scoring run to maintain a 68-52 lead with eight minutes left in the third quarter.

The Knicks produced a scoring run of their own, outscoring the Pacers with a 7-2 run to end the quarter.

Tyrese Haliburton has 13 points and six assists through the first three quarters. Myles Turner scored 15 points and T.J. McConnell added 12 points off the bench.

Jalen Brunson leads the Knicks with 17 points despite shooting 4-for-14 from the field. He has made all eight of his free throw attempts, but is playing with four fouls. OG Anunoby has scored 16 points. 

The Pacers are 6-0 during this postseason run when leading at the end of the third quarter.

Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith sprains right ankle, questionable to return

Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith went back to the locker room after suffering a right ankle sprain during the third quarter. He is considered questionable to return, according to TNT.

Halftime: Pacers 58, Knicks 45

The New York Knicks are on the brink.

Already down 0-2 in the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks sputtered in the second quarter of Game 3 and now face a 13-point deficit at the break, 58-45.

The Pacers exploded late in the quarter with a 13-0 run sparked by their defense, while Indiana’s offense is getting contributions from everywhere; each of the 10 Pacers who have entered the game have scored. But the second quarter run was led by All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who has nine points and four assists at the half.

New York would respond to close the half, going on an 8-2 run to end the second quarter just minutes after Indiana had opened its biggest lead of the game, at 20 points.

Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns struggled in the first half, both with his shot selection and with his discipline. Towns picked up a careless foul with three seconds left in the first quarter and then was whistled for two more in the following 5:50 of the second quarter — three fouls in a span of fewer than six minutes. Towns has just four points on 2-of-7 shooting.

He isn’t the only player in foul trouble. More precarious for New York is that Jalen Brunson, the team’s unquestioned leader and top offensive threat, picked up his fourth foul late in the half.

Brunson leads all Knicks scorers with 11 points on just 2-of-9 shooting, while Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby have chipped in seven points and 10 points, respectively.

Q1: Pacers 30, Knicks 26

The Knicks started the quarter fast, taking an 11-6 lead, their largest of the first quarter, before giving it away. They trail, 30-26.

Indiana went on a 10-4 run to take its first lead of the game after Ben Sheppard made a 3-point shot off an assist from Tyrese Haliburton.

Myles Turner scored five points after shooting 2-for-3 from the field. Haliburton had four points, two assists and two rebounds.

The Pacers’ bench contributed 13 points, while the Knicks’ reserves nearly went scoreless before Josh Hart added two points late.

Jalen Brunson scored 11 points for the Knicks after shooting 2-of-6 from the field.

What time is Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks?

Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks is set to start at 8 p.m. ET, on Sunday May 25.

How to watch Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks: TV, stream

Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
TV: TNT, truTV
Stream: Sling TV, Fubo, YouTube TV, Max

Watch Pacers vs. Knicks Game 3 on Fubo

Knicks starting five for Game 3

Knicks change up starting lineup for Game 3

The New York Knicks, down 0-2 in the Eastern Conference finals, are making a change to their starting lineup.

Center Mitchell Robinson will be on the floor for tipoff, replacing forward Josh Hart, who has struggled in the series.

Hart, who scored just six points on 2-of-3 shooting Friday night in New York’s 114-109 loss, had started all 77 regular-season games he appeared in this season, as well as the team’s 14 postseason games. Known for being a high-energy player who excels on the glass and pushes the ball up the floor, Hart had been finding it difficult to make an impact against the Pacers.

Robinson has been a steady spark off the bench for Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, particularly on offensive rebounding and defensive rotations.

Pacers starting five for Game 3

Indy 500 winner Alex Palou attends Knicks vs. Pacers Game 3

Alex Palou, who wore a Tyrese Haliburton jersey during the Indy 500 parade through downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, and his team planned for a possible Game 3 trip.

The Indy 500 winner greeted the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, wearing the winner’s ring and wreath, during the second quarter. His attendance came just hours after becoming the first Spaniard to win the legendary race held in Indianapolis since 1911.

Alex Palou becomes first Spaniard to win Indy 500

Alex Palou finally got the one piece missing from his IndyCar resume: an Indianapolis 500 victory.

The three-time IndyCar Series champion passed Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps remaining and held off the 2022 Indy 500 winner and 2023 runner-up to win the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ under caution as Nolan Siegel before the leaders took the checkered flag.

Palou, driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, became the first Spaniard to win the legendary race that dates back to 1911.

“I cannot believe it. It’s amazing to be here. It’s amazing to win,” an overwhelmed Palou said after climbing from his car. “First oval win. What better place.” ‒ Ellen J. Horrow

Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks predictions: Expert picks for Game 3

ESPN: Pacers have a 59/6% chance of winning

According to ESPN’s Matchup predictor, the Indiana Pacers have a 59.6% chance of beating the New York Knicks in Game 3.

Fox Sports: Pacers 116 – Knicks 113

Staff writes: ‘The Pacers have covered the spread in the same percentage of games at home as away games (46.3%). They have covered 19 times in 41 games at home and 19 times in 41 games on the road. At home, Indiana exceeds the over/under 53.7% of the time (22 of 41 games). It hits the over in the same percentage of road games (22 of 41 contests).’

Bleacher Nation: Pacers 116 – Knicks 113

Staff writes: ‘ The Pacers average 117.4 points per game (seventh in the league) while allowing 115.1 per outing (17th in the NBA). They have a +183 scoring differential overall and outscore opponents by 2.3 points per game. The Pacers pull down 41.8 rebounds per game (27th in the league) while allowing 45.0 per outing to their opponents. They are outrebounded by 3.2 boards per game.’

Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Game 3 odds

The Indiana Pacers are favored to win Game 3, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of Saturday, May 24.

Spread: Pacers (-2)
Moneyline: Pacers (-130), Knicks (+110)
Over/under: 224

Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Eastern Conference finals schedule

Pacers lead series 2-0

Game 1: Pacers 138, Knicks 135 (OT)
Game 2: Pacers 114, Knicks 109
Game 3: Knicks 106, Pacers 100
Game 4, May 27: Knicks at Pacers | TNT, 8 p.m.
Game 5, May 29: Pacers at Knicks | TNT, 8 p.m.
Game 6, May 31: Knicks at Pacers | TNT, 8 p.m.*
Game 7, June 2: Pacers at Knicks | TNT, 8 p.m.*

Alex Palou finally got the one piece missing from his IndyCar resume: an Indianapolis 500 victory.

The three-time IndyCar Series champion passed Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps remaining and held off the 2022 Indy 500 winner and 2023 runner-up to win the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ under caution as Nolan Siegel crashed before the leaders took the checkered flag.

Palou, driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, became the first Spaniard to win the legendary race that dates back to 1911.

“I cannot believe it. It’s amazing to be here. It’s amazing to win,” an overwhelmed Palou said after climbing from his car. “First oval win. What better place.”

Palou had been the dominant driver in the NTT IndyCar Series in recent years, capturing season championships in 2021, 2023 and 2024. The 28-year-old won 13 races during that period, but surprisingly, none had come on an oval until Sunday.

“It was tough conditions out there, especially when you were like third or fourth in the pack,” Palou continued. “The team wanted me to lead, I wanted to lead obviously but I made it happen. I already lost my voice and I haven’t even started celebrating.”

Ericsson, driving the No. 28 Andretti Global Honda, finished second. He was followed by David Malukas in third, Pato O’Ward in fourth and Felix Rosenqvist in fifth.

Four-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves finished 13th, while two-time defending race winner Josef Newgarden finished 25th after suffering mechanical difficulties.

NASCAR star Kyle Larson, seeking to become the first driver since Tony Stewart in 2001 to complete the motor sports double – racing the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day – crashed on Lap 92 and finished 27th. He boarded a helicopter immediately after his crash to take a plane to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the marathon NASCAR Cup Series race.

USA TODAY Sports provided complete coverage of the 2025 Indianapolis 500. Scroll below for a recap and highlights of all the action:

Indy 500 2025 results: Top 10 finishers

Here are the top-10 finishers in the 2025 Indy 500 (with car number in parentheses, team and car manufacturer):

(10) Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
(28) Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, Honda
(4) David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet
(5) Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
(60) Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda
(27) Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, Honda
(14) Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet
(21) Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet
(7) Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet (76)
(76) Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet

2025 INDY 500 RESULTS: Full finishing order from Sunday’s race

Indy 500 winner Alex Palou to attend Pacers playoff game

INDIANAPOLIS —  Indianapolis 500 winner Alex Palou said he would attend Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night. He finished in plenty of time to kiss the bricks, drink the milk, celebrate with fans and conduct countless interviews before heading downtown.

The Indiana Pacers hold a 2-0 lead on the New York Knicks as they host the back end of the ‘Racers and Pacers’ doubleheader at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

‘That will be good,’ Palou said of catching the NBA playoff game in person as the new Indy 500 champion. — Scott Horner, IndyStar

Watch: Alex Palou kisses the brick at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Alex Palou had two very important things to do after winning the 2025 Indy 500: celebrate in victory lane with a bottle of milk then head back to the yard of bricks at the start-finish line for another Indianapolis Motor Speedway tradition. Kissing the bricks actually began when Dale Jarrett won NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 in 1996, but it soon became a tradition embraced by Indy 500 winners as well.

Chip Ganassi compares Alex Palou to Caitlin Clark

Chip Ganassi likes winners. That’s long been the motto of the IndyCar team owner, who added another title to his legacy with Alex Palou’s victory in the 109th running of the Indy 500.

Palou had become a household name in the Indianapolis area after winning three of the past four IndyCar Series championships, and capturing the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ will only add to his popularity. But the Spanish racer still has a ways to go to reach the status of Indiana’s favorite female, Caitlin Clark, currently one of the most famous women in all of sports.

Watch below as Ganassi compares the 2025 Indy 500 champion to the Indiana Fever All-Star during his post-race press conference.

Marcus Ericsson laments another runner-up finish at Indy 500

Marcus Ericsson has been one of the best racers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in recent years, and the Swedish driver nearly got to celebrate again. After a nearly perfect final pit stop, the 2022 Indy 500 champion was leading with fewer than 20 laps remaining until Alex Palou passed him with 14 laps to go. Ericsson valiantly tried to chase Palou down in the closing laps but came up short, finishing 0.6822 seconds behind in the the 109th running of the legendary race.

‘Of course, finishing second is really tough. At the same time, congrats to Alex and Chip Ganassi Racing. Yeah, this one hurts, for sure,’ Ericsson said.

‘It’s just very frustrating. I was out in the lead there. I had that race covered and missed it. That’s going to be a tough one to swallow.’

It was the second time in three years the 34-year-old felt the sting of a missed opportunity after finishing second to Josef Newgarden in 2023 by a miniscule 0.0974 seconds.

Why does Indy 500 winner drink milk?

The tradition started in 1936 when Louis Meyer drank buttermilk in victory lane. According legend, Meyer drank the milk because his mother said it would refresh him on a hot day.

A dairy industry executive saw a photo of Meyer drinking the milk and decided to offer it to winners thereafter. The Indiana Dairy Association became an official sponsor in the 1950s, and these days every driver is asked what kind of milk they prefer — whole, skim or 2% — just in case they get the opportunity to celebrate with it.

Alex Palou was one of 29 drivers to select whole milk before the race. — Rachel Bowers

Alex Palou wins 2025 Indy 500

Three-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou passed Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps remaining and held off the 2022 Indy 500 winner and 2023 runner-up to win the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’ Palou, driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, had 13 career IndyCar wins entering the day but had never won on oval until taking the checkered flag in the biggest race in his sport.

Indy 500 Lap 180 leaderboard

Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 winner and 2023 runner-up, was perfect on his final pit stop, blending back into the field with the lead. Ericsson, who started ninth in the No. 28 Andretti Global Honda, was running on an alternate strategy than some of the other leaders. He can run full throttle to the end compared to the drivers chasing him, who might need to save fuel. Alex Palou, the three-time IndyCar Series champion, runs second, David Malukas third, Pato O’Ward fourth and Felix Rosenqvist fifth.

Indy 500 Lap 160 leaderboard update

Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy 500 winner who is driving a one-off race for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, leads the field with 40 laps remaining. The next five drivers are all seeking their first win in the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’ Conor Daly runs second, David Malukas third, three-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou fourth, Santino Ferrucci fifth and Felix Rosenqvist sixth. Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 winner and 2023 runner-up, races in seventh.

Josef Newgarden has fuel issue at Indy 500

Two-time defending Indianapolis 500 Josef Newgarden had raced his way through the field after starting 32nd following a qualifying penalty. Newgarden had moved all the way up to seventh when he came down pit lane for gas and tires. But after reentering the track, Newgarden was forced to come back down pit lane with a fuel pump issues. His Team Penske crew furiously tried to make repairs before announcing on Lap 140 of 200 that Newgarden was done for the day.

‘It’s tough not to have a shot at the end. I just wish we had a chance to fight for it,’ a disappointed Newgarden said.

Indy 500 Lap 110 leaderboard update

Following a number of caution laps after Kyle Larson’s big crash, Devlin DeFrancesco led the field to green, while Conor Daly made a big move to grab second place as drivers raced four-wide. David Malukas ran third, three-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou fourth and Santino Ferruci fifth. Defending race winner Josef Newgarden, who was forced to start at the rear of the field following a qualifying penalty, has raced his way up to ninth. Newgarden is seeking to become the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 three years in a row.

Kyle Larson’s double attempt comes to an end with crash

The historic Memorial Day weekend double attempt by Kyle Larson has come to an abrupt halt.

Larson, who had hoped to complete the Indy 500 and then jet roughly 430 miles to Charlotte, North Carolina, in time for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, had his plans thwarted by a crash on Lap 92. Shortly after a green-flag restart, Larson lost control of his car as he was downshifting, causing him to spin out and slam into the outside wall. Kyffin Simpson and Sting Ray Robb were also caught up in the crash.

Larson is expected to continue his odyssey by flying by private jet to Charlotte Motor Speedway for this evening’s NASCAR race. The 2021 Cup Series champion was seeking to become the first driver since Tony Stewart in 2021 to complete the motor sports double.

‘Just hate that I got a little loose there on the restart and yeah, caused that crash. I hate it for everybody that also got caught up in it. Just bummed out,’ Larson said after getting checked and cleared in the medical center.

‘I’ll try to get over this quickly and get on to Charlotte and yeah, just forget about it and try to win next time.’ — Steve Gardner

Two top drivers have major issues on pit lane at Indy 500

Two-time winner Takuma Sato, who had been leading the race, skidded into his box on pit lane on a stop under caution and was forced to reverse back into his spot. Sato lost the lead and multiple positions on the stop.

Meanwhile, pole winner Robert Shwartzman had an even more disastrous stop, crashing into his crew members as he tried to stop in his box. The rookie, who shocked the motor sports world by earning the pole last Sunday, was racing in his first Indianapolis 500. His day came to an end with damage to his No. 83 Prema Racing Chevrolet.

Alexander Rossi’s car catches fire at Indy 500

Alexander Rossi, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner, caught a terrible break on Lap 75. Rossi brought his car down pit road for a splash of gas when his No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet caught fire as the crew was fueling the car. Rossi was forced to quickly climb out of his car as crews rushed to extinguish the flames, but the fueler was taken to the medical center to check for burns.

The 33-year-old Rossi was seeking his second Indy 500 win.

‘It’s always a terrible situation and it’s so disappointing. That was such a phenomenal race car,’ Rossi said after his race ended. ‘That’s what’s so painful about this place is you have to have so many things go right, and it’s disappointing because it’s another opportunity gone. But it’s the way it goes.’

Indy 500 Lap 50 leaderboard update

Fifty of 200 laps are complete in the 109th running of the Indy 500 with drivers hitting pit road under green nand shuffling up the leaderboard. Two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato has retaken the lead, followed by Indiana native Conor Daly.

Alexander Rossi takes lead as Indy 500 restart

Following a short caution for light rain and pit stops for most of the field, Alexander Rossi, the 2016 Indy 500 winner, assumed the lead and led the field to green on a restart on Lap 31. But Christian Rasmussen passed him nearly immediately, with Rossi falling back to second and Ed Carpenter third. Rossi resumed the lead on Lap 34 with a pass on his Ed Carpenter Racing teammate, Rasmussen.

Takuma Sato leads Indy 500 as caution waves for light rain

Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Takuma Sato had taken the lead from pole sitter Robert Shwartzman and was leading the 109th running of the race on Lap 20 when the yellow flag came out for light rain. The start of the race had also been delayed for light rain.

Marco Andretti crashes on opening lap of Indy 500

The Andretti curse at Indianapolis has added yet another unfortunate chapter.

Marco Andretti, who started the race 29th in the Andretti Global Honda, collided with the car driven by Jack Harvey entering the first turn on the race’s first green lap (officially Lap 4) and was turned sideways into the outer wall.

It’s the second consecutive year Andretti will not finish in the Indy 500.

‘Once I was committed up there, I couldn’t move … I was kinda at the wall,’ Andretti told Fox Sports. ‘Whoever was next to me crowded me and I ran out of room.’

It also adds to his family’s misfortune at the Brickyard.

Not since family patriarch Mario Andretti did it 1969 has an Andretti family member won the Indianapolis 500. That, despite a number of close calls:

Mario having his win in 1981 overturned several months later on an appeal.
Marco’s father Michael having his car break down while leading with 11 laps to go in 1992.
Michael nearly being declared the winner in 2001 after a long rain delay, but blowing a tire after the race restarted.
And now Marco getting his second consecutive DNF at Indianapolis in what is expected to be his only start of the IndyCar season.

— Steve Gardner

Green flag waves for 2025 Indy 500

The 33 drivers in the field for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 have taken the green flag to start the race after a short rain delay. The Indy 500 is scheduled for 200 laps and 500 miles.

Scott McLaughlin crashes before Indy 500 goes green

Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin was eliminated from the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 when he crashed into inside wall during pace laps. McLaughlin was trying to warm up his tires by swerving on the track before the green flag flew but lost control on the cold track and slammed into the inside wall.

A devastated McLaughlin climbed out of his car and was visibly upset when his No. 3 Chevrolet was towed away. He was scheduled to start 10th on the inside of Row 4.

‘I can’t believe we’re out of the race. I had so much hope today,’ McLaughlin told Fox Sports.

‘By far, the worst moment of my life. I know it’s probably dramatic but … I put so much into this race. Everyone does. And I didn’t even get to see the green flag.’ — Steve Gardner

What time does the 2025 Indy 500 start?

The green flag for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET. Cars will begin arriving in pit lane between 9-9:20 a.m. ET, with the command to start engines at 12:38 p.m. ET.

What TV channel is 2025 Indy 500 on?

The 2025 Indianapolis 500 will air on Fox, with the race set to begin at 12:45 p.m. ET. Pre-race coverage on Fox will start at 10 a.m. ET.

2025 Indy 500: Live streaming options

Fans can stream the Indy 500 with the Fox Sports app and at FoxSports.com, as well as with Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Watch the 2025 Indy 500 on Fub

Weather updates for 2025 Indy 500

A few rain drips have started coming down at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, delaying the start of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. The rain is light, so the hope is that the race won’t be dayed too long. The forecast for today, according to AccuWeather, was for mostly cloudy skies with a high of 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

2025 Indy 500 starting lineup

Here are the drivers starting in the first four rows on Sunday:

(Car number in parentheses, followed by driver, team, manufacturer; R=rookie; W=former winner)

(83) Robert Shwartzman (R), Prema Racing, Chevrolet
(75) Takuma Sato (W), Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda
(5) Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
(9) Scott Dixon (W), Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
(60) Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda
(10) Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
(4) David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet
(7) Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
(28) Marcus Ericsson (W), Andretti Global, Honda
(3) Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, Chevrolet
(76) Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet
(20) Alexander Rossi (W), Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet

STARTING GRID: Click here for full 33-car starting lineup

Why were Josef Newgarden and Team Penske penalized?

Josef Newgarden is the two-time defending Indy 500 champion and is looking to become the first driver to win the legendary event three years in a row. But in the leadup to Sunday’s race, Newgarden is drawing attention for another reason: the controversy and fallout at his race team.

The IndyCar Series determined Team Penske made illegal modifications to some of their cars, including Newgarden’s, during Indy 500 qualifying, and penalized the drivers by fining them and forcing them to start at the rear of the field. Roger Penske, who owns the race team – and also owns Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar Series – fired the entire leadership of his IndyCar team in the wake of the scandal, making Newgarden’s attempt at a three-peat even more difficult.

— Jon Hoefling

Kyle Larson set for rare Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 double

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion is attempting ‘The Double’ on Sunday by racing in both the Indy 500 for Arrow McLaren and the Coca-Cola 600 for Hendrick Motorsports. He’s ranked 10th to win the Indy 500 and the favorite to win the Coca-Cola 600, per BetMGM’s latest odds.

‘I enjoy challenges and I enjoy trying to learn on the fly,’ Larson told USA TODAY Sports ahead of his second attempt to drive in both events.

A rain delay at the Indy 500 last year kept Larson from making it to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600. With no rain in the weather forecast for Indianapolis, he’s ready for another attempt this year.

‘I wouldn’t be doing it, obviously, if I didn’t feel like I had a shot to win both,’ said Larson, who starts 19th at the Brickyard on the inside of Row 7. 

— Ayrton Ostly

Who won the pole for the 2025 Indy 500?

Prema Racing driver Robert Shwartzman is in pole position for the 2025 Indianapolis 500, the first rookie to qualify first since 1983. The Russian-Israeli driver posted a four-lap average speed of 232.790 miles-per-hour, nosing ahead of two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato. — Jason Anderson

What is the race distance of the 2025 Indy 500?

In keeping with tradition, the 2025 Indianapolis 500 is 200 laps around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a total of 500 miles.

Who is the honorary starter for the 2025 Indy 500?

The honorary starter at the 2025 Indianapolis 500 will be Casey Irsay Foyt.

Irsay Foyt ‘will wave the flag to honor the irreplaceable and impactful legacy of her father, Jim Irsay, whose stewardship of the Indianapolis Colts and generous philanthropic efforts had a transformative impact across Central Indiana and the Hoosier State,’ per a press release from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Jim Irsay, who owns the Colts, passed away Wednesday at the age of 65.

On top of her connections to the city of Indianapolis, Irsay Foyt is also very close to the world of motor racing. Her husband, A.J. Foyt IV, drove in IndyCar and NASCAR, and is the grandson of four-time Indy 500 champions A.J. Foyt. — Jason Anderson

Who is pace car driver for the 2025 Indy 500?

Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan will drive the pace car at the 2025 Indianapolis 500. Strahan, now a host on ‘Good Morning America’ and a member of Fox’s NFL studio team, will drive a white 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to pace the cars before the rolling start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. — Jason Anderson

Odds to win 2025 Indy 500

Drivers with the best odds to win 2025 Indianapolis 500 via BetMGM as of Sunday morning

1. Pato O’Ward (+450)
2. Alex Palou (+475)
3. Josef Newgarden (+725)
4. Scott Dixon (+750)
5. Takuma Sato (+1000)
6. Scott McLaughlin (+1100)
7. Felix Rosenqvist (+1700)
8. Will Power (+2000)
9. Robert Shwartzman (+2200)
T10. David Malukas (+2500)
T10. Christian Lundgaard (+2500)
T10. Kyle Larson (+2500)
T10. Alexander Rossi (+2500)

Does David Letterman have a car in the 2025 Indy 500?

From the start, he’s partnered with former Indianapolis 500 champion Bobby Rahal in what’s now known as Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL).

David Letterman’s team has four drivers in the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500:

Takuma Sato, a two-time Indy 500 (2017 and 2020), posted the second-fastest time in qualifying. He will start in the middle of the front row in the No. 75 RLL Honda.
Devlin DeFrancesco, a 25-year-old Canadian driver, is in his first season with RLL. He qualified 16th in the No. 30 Honda
Louis Foster: The British driver is a rookie in the IndyCar Series and will make his Indy 500 debut on Sunday. He starts 20th in the No. 45 RLL Honda.
Graham Rahal, the son of team owner Bobby Rahal and a six-time IndyCar series winner, is in his 18th season on the IndyCar circuit. He will start 28th in the No. 15 RLL Honda. (Fun fact: Graham Rahal once presented a Top 10 list on Letterman’s ‘Late Show’ in 2013.)

— Steve Gardner

Most wins in Indy 500 history

The record for most Indianapolis 500 wins is four, held by four people: A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977), Al Unser (1979, 1971, 1978, 1987), Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991), and Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021).

Five drivers have won the Borg-Warner Trophy three times:

Louis Meyer (1928, 1933, 1936)
Wilbur Shaw (1937, 1939, 1940)
Bobby Unser (1968, 1975, 1981)
Johnny Rutherford (1974, 1976, 1980)
Dario Franchitti (2007, 2010, 2012)

INDIANAPOLIS CHAMPIONS: See the full list of Indy 500 winners by year

2025 Indy 500 picks and predictions

Nathan Brown, IndyStar motor sports reporter: Alex Palou to win

Brown writes, ‘Is it predictable? Yes, but Palou has proven over the course of the last three months that picking against him is largely silly. He’s yet to win on an oval in his career, but the championship leader checks that box with the help of a pit crew that’s been nearly flawless all year and a car that’s been near the top of the charts virtually every session this month.’

Aaron Ferguson, IndyStar motor sports editor: Scott Dixon to win

Ferguson writes: It would be a statement weekend for (Chip) Ganassi to win after being outspoken about (Team) Penske. Dixon won in 2008 and has finished second three times and has five poles, so I’m trusting the veteran.’

Dana Hunsinger Benbow, IndyStar enterprise reporter: Takuma Sato to win

Benbow writes: ‘This two-time Indy 500 champ has the skill, the experience and the IMS wisdom to become the oldest winner in history at 48.’

STAFF PICKS: Click here for more expert predictions from IndyStar

Ross Chastain ran down William Byron over the final 37 laps to capture the NASCAR Cup Series’ longest race, Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina.

After fending off a battle with Denny Hamlin, Byron withstood a charge from Chastain until the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet suddenly closed a three-tenth’s gap and got by with six laps to go to beat Byron by 0.673 seconds for his first win this season in the 66th running of the event.

The Alva, Florida, native started last at the 1.5-mile speedway after going to a backup car following a wreck in practice Saturday. He led just eight laps in his sixth career win, while Byron managed a race- and career-high 283.

Polesitter Chase Briscoe, AJ Allmendinger and Brad Keselowski completed the top five.

Larson passed Briscoe on Lap 9 but fought with his car and soon tagged the wall hard. The 2021 Cup champ then spun by himself off Turn 4 on Lap 42, forcing him to pit road for a long stop.

Running ninth with three circuits left in Stage 1, Alex Bowman’s No. 48 banged the wall off Turn 4 and slid through the frontstretch grass. Byron won the second segment during the second caution period, while Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell trailed him.

Byron held an 8½-second lead as Stage 2 neared its end. The two-time Daytona 500 champ then eased to the segment win over Hamlin and Reddick with Carson Hocevar continuing his strong run in fourth.

The 400-lap race’s biggest melee was on Lap 246 after a restart. Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney and Briscoe made contact, and Larson and Justin Haley were involved in the sixth caution on the frontstretch.

Hamlin led 34 laps in Stage 3, but Byron worked his way past the No. 11 Toyota in the closing circuits to sweep the first three stages and pocket the maximum bonus points.

Restarting second on Lap 308, Hocevar had the engine on his No. 77 Spire Motorsports ride expire, triggering the eighth caution.

Coca-Cola 600 full results

Ross Chastain
William Byron
Chase Briscoe
A.J. Allmendinger
Brad Keselowski
Chase Elliott
Michael McDowell
Christopher Bell
Ryan Preece
Noah Gragson
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Josh Berry
Erik Jones
Shane van Gisbergen
Kyle Busch
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Todd Gilliland
Ty Dillon
Austin Dillon
Cole Custer
Chris Buescher
Connor Zilisch
Ty Gibbs
Cody Ware
Tyler Reddick
John Hunter Nemechek
Riley Herbst
Alex Bowman
Justin Haley
Austin Cindric
Derek Kraus
Josh Bilicki
Carson Hocevar
Bubba Wallace
Daniel Suárez
Kyle Larson
Ryan Blaney
Zane Smith
Jimmie Johnson

The 2025 Women’s College World Series field is set.

No. 2 Oklahoma dominated No. 15 Alabama in the super regionals, advancing to Oklahoma City for the ninth consecutive time while also searching for its fifth straight national championship. No. 12 Texas Tech earned its first ever WCWS appearance, and Tennessee and Texas fought back from Game 1 losses to advance.

The eight-team field was finalized on Sunday with four ‘if necessary’ games: No. 3 national seed Florida downed Georgia 5-2 in the Gainesville Super Regional; No. 7 seed Tennessee beat Nebraska in the Knoxville Super Regional; No 9 UCLA beat No. 8 South Carolina in the Columbia Super Regional; and unseeded Ole Miss beat No. 4 seed Arkansas in the Fayetteville Super Regional.

Here’s the full bracket and schedule for the 2025 WCWS, which kicks off May 29:

WCWS bracket 2025

All times Eastern

No. 3 Florida vs. No. 6 Texas
No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Tennessee
Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Texas Tech
No. 16 Oregon vs. No. 9 UCLA | 9:30 p.m. ESPN2 (Fubo)

WCWS schedule 2025

All times Eastern.

Thursday, May 29

Game 1: No. 3 Florida vs. No. 6 Texas | noon | ESPN (Fubo)
Game 2: No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Tennessee | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Game 3: Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Texas Tech | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Game 4: No. 16 Oregon vs. No. 9 UCLA | 9:30 p.m. ESPN2 (Fubo)

Friday, May 30

Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Game 6: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)

Saturday, May 31

Game 7: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner 3 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

Sunday, June 1

Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser 3 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser 7 p.m. | ESPNU (Fubo)

Monday, June 2

Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner | noon | ESPN (Fubo)
Game 12 (if necessary): Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Game 13: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Game 14 (if necessary): Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)

WCWS finals

Game 1 (June 4): Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner | 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Game 2 (June 5): Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Game 3 (June 6) (if necessary): Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

Who’s in the Women’s College World Series?

No. 2 Oklahoma
No. 3 Florida
No. 6 Texas
No. 7 Tennessee
No. 9 UCLA
No. 12 Texas Tech
No. 16 Oregon
Ole Miss

The first step to Omaha and the College World Series is complete, as the NCAA selection committee released the regional host sites for the 2025 NCAA baseball tournament on Sunday.

Despite an early exit from the SEC baseball tournament, Texas undoubtedly received the right to host a regional at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Texas. After being on the bubble of hosting a regional, defending national champion Tennessee, received the invite to host the Knoxville Regional for the fourth time in the last five years after reaching the semifinals of the SEC tournament.

The full NCAA baseball tournament bracket and schedule, including the full seedings, will be revealed on May 26 at noon ET. The College World Series field has already been partially filled with automatic bids from conference championships.

The regional round of the NCAA baseball tournament gets underway on May 30. From there, the 64 teams that make the bracket will look to become one of the eight teams that secure a spot at the College World Series, which starts on June 13.

Here’s what you need to know about who is hosting a regional in the NCAA baseball tournament and more:

Watch the NCAA baseball tournament live with Fubo (free trial)

NCAA baseball tournament regional host sites

The SEC, which has been the conference to beat this entire season, landed eight of the regional host sites in Sunday’s announcement.

Here’s a full breakdown of the regional site location for the NCAA baseball tournament, which were listed in alphabetical order by the NCAA.

Athens Regional (Georgia)
Auburn Regional (Auburn)
Austin Regional (Texas)
Baton Rouge Regional (LSU)
Chapel Hill Regional (North Carolina)
Clemson Regional (Clemson)
Conway Regional (Coastal Carolina)
Corvallis Regional (Oregon State)
Eugene Regional (Oregon)
Fayetteville Regional (Arkansas)
Hattiesburg Regional (Southern Miss)
Knoxville Regional (Tennessee)
Los Angeles Regional (UCLA)
Nashville Regional (Vanderbilt)
Oxford Regional (Ole Miss)
Tallahassee Regional (Florida State)

NCAA baseball tournament schedule

Here’s a look at the important dates for the 2025 NCAA baseball tournament schedule:

Selection show: Monday, May 26 (noon ET)
Regionals: May 30-June 2
Super Regionals: June 6-9
College World Series: June 13-22/23

NCAA baseball tournament bracket reveal: Time, TV channel

Date: Monday, May 26
Time: Noon ET
TV channel: ESPN2
Streaming options: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

ESPN2 will carry the NCAA baseball tournament bracket reveal show on Monday, May 26 at noon ET. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz entered Sunday holding the record for the hardest-hit ball in the Statcast era.

He’s broken his own record.

Cruz launched a ball 122.9 miles per hour off the bat and into the Allegheny River for a solo home run in Sunday’s home contest against the Milwaukee Brewers. The ball left the stadium in quick fashion to get Pittsburgh on the scoreboard, although the Pirates lost the contest 6-5.

The Statcast era began in 2015. The previous record, held by Cruz, was a single on Aug. 24, 2022 against the Atlanta Braves that came off the bat at 122.4 mph.

‘I connected really well. It feels even better just to know that it’s the hardest-hit ball in the history of Statcast,’ Cruz said postgame through an interpreter.

Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly joked he was glad the hit went out of the stadium because ‘if that would’ve been into the stands, that thing is flying.’

Hardest-hit balls in Statcast era

Even though he didn’t make his MLB debut until 2021, Cruz now owns the two hardest-hit balls in the past 10 years. Cruz owns three of the top 10 hardest-hit balls in the Statcast era, a list that is heavily occupied by him and the New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton.

Although these are the hardest hits in the Statcast era, not all of them had the same result. Here are the fastest speeds off the bat since 2015:

Oneil Cruz: 122.9 mph, May 25, 2025 (home run)
Oneil Cruz: 122.4 mph, Aug. 24, 2022 (single)
Giancarlo Stanton: 122.2 mph, Aug. 9, 2021 (double play)
Giancarlo Stanton: 122.2 mph, Oct. 1, 2017 (single)
Giancarlo Stanton: 121.7 mph, Aug. 9, 2018 (home run)
Oneil Cruz: 121.5 mph, May 21, 2024 (double)
Giancarlo Stanton: 121.3 mph, July 25, 2020 (home run)
Ronald Acuña Jr.: 121.2 mph, Sept. 2, 2023 (home run)
Giancarlo Stanton: 121.1 mph, Aug. 5 2018 (single)
Aaron Judge: 121.1 mph, June 20, 2017 (home run)

FGCU led Stetson 6-5 in the seventh inning when a rain delay came, which lasted over six hours. The game was never resumed, as the Atlantic Sun was forced to cancel the game and declare both teams co-tournament winners, despite FGCU being named the winner of Sunday’s game.

However, Stetson was declared the ASUN’s automatic qualifier to the 2025 NCAA baseball tournament, as announced by Atlantic Sun Conference commissioner after the game was called.

‘Despite tremendous efforts, we were unable to complete the 2025 Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Tournament due to inclement weather,’ ASUN commissioner Jeff Bacon said in a statement. ‘Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has been declared the winner of today’s first championship game and, with FGCU and Stetson University (Stetson) having a 1-1 record versus each other, both FGCU and Stetson will be recognized as 2025 ASUN co-tournament champions.

‘Per ASUN policy, Stetson University will be awarded our 2025 automatic qualifier. Congratulations to both teams for an outstanding season, and best wishes to the Hatters as they continue on.’

Stetson was the No. 1 overall seed of the ASUN tournament, and had a 24-6 conference record this season compared to FGCU’s 16-14 mark. Stetson was also in the winner’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament, entering the championship with a 3-0 record (and having beaten the Eagles in the second round of the winner’s bracket 5-4 on May 22).

That meant FGCU (3-1 in tournament play) would have needed to beat the Hatters a second time to win the automatic qualifier from the ASUN. An email sent to the Atlantic Sun asking for clarification on the policy was not immediately returned to the USA TODAY Sports Network.

Stetson now awaits its name to be called on Monday, when the full 64-team NCAA baseball tournament field will be revealed.

NEW YORK — He was once the best pitcher on the planet, the modern-day Sandy Koufax, only for injuries to cruelly disrupt his path to Cooperstown.

Another was the hottest free-agent pitcher in baseball, helping lead the Washington Nationals to their first World Series championship, only to become a financial burden who was kept around simply because of the hefty contract commitment.

The other was a career journeyman, who had not pitched in the big leagues since 2021, and was sitting home last summer believing his career was over.

Today, Jacob deGrom is pitching like a Cy Young winner again.

Patrick Corbin, ignored all winter this time around in free agency, has become the Texas Rangers’ lifesaver, preventing them from drowning in the AL West.

And Drew Pomeranz, acquired by the Chicago Cubs simply as a flier hoping to see if he could be a serviceable lefty in a beleaguered bullpen, has become a force.

These three veteran pitchers, each who will be celebrating their 36th and 37th birthdays this year, exemplify the beauty of baseball as three of the best comeback stories of the 2025 season, with baseball hitting the Memorial Day mile post marker this weekend.

DeGrom, who turns 37 in June, was under the bright lights once again in New York this week when he dominated the Yankees for seven innings. DeGrom, who has missed most of the past two seasons recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, is 4-1 with a 2.33 ERA in his first 10 starts, and regained his title as one of the nastiest pitchers on the planet.

The right-hander who signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers in December 2022, finally is feeling like himself again, showing the baseball world that when healthy no one is better. He has pitched seven innings in back-to-back starts for the first time since joining the Rangers, and has permitted two or fewer runs in seven consecutive outings.

“It’s almost like catching a video game,” Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka says. “Just put the glove up there and that’s where the ball goes and it’s like 100 mph. He’s incredible.”

DeGrom, who has not made more than 15 starts since 2019, when he won his second consecutive Cy Young award while yielding a 2.05 ERA and striking out 11.2 batters per nine, is reminding everyone what we’ve been missing. If he stayed healthy, he’d be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. Now, with only 88 career victories and 1,425 innings, he’d need to dominate until he’s 40 just to generate a debate.

He hopes to stay healthy as he relies on his curveball and changeup rather than just throwing the fastball and slider past everyone.

“You can’t live with the what-ifs,” deGrom says. “I never really thought about it, because every time I took the ball, the goal was to win. I still take it that way. I was younger at that time and felt like I could do it. Now it’s trying to be smart and continue pitching for quite a while.

“The main thing is the mental thing. You want to be out there competing. The goal was to always pitch as much as I could, take the ball as many times as I could. And when you don’t, you feel like a real letdown. We love playing this game. And when you’re going to miss that much time, it’s tough.’

Says Rangers manager Bruce Bochy: “I’m just really happy for him. I know he was getting tired of sitting on the sidelines. And now he’s back healthy. It’s exciting to see one of the best pitchers ever back in the game.’’

Drew Pomeranz: Retirement can wait

Pomeranz, who turns 37 in November, was home mowing the yard, playing golf and bored out of his mind last summer. He decided to give it one last shot when the Seattle Mariners came calling in November, offering a minor-league contract. He was still at Class AAA Tacoma in April when he believed he deserved a promotion. So, he exercised an upward mobility clause in his contract requiring the Mariners to either promote him or try trading him to a team willing to put him on their big-league team. The Cubs and Craig Counsell – who managed Pomeranz in MIlwaukee – gave him a call.

Pomeranz, who last pitched in the majors in 2021 with the San Diego Padres, has become invaluable for the Cubs, pitching 11 ⅓ shutout innings while yielding just four hits.

“When I pitched in my first game back,’ Pomeranz tells USA TODAY Sports, “you wouldn’t believe how many text messages I got from people saying, ‘Is that you? I thought you retired.’ It’s been pretty surreal being back.

“You have such a different perspective when something is taken away from you. There are so many times I thought this day would never happen again. I basically retired last year. I would get so close to being back in the big leagues, but then I’d get knocked down again. It sucks. You start to count out yourself out, to be honest.’

Pomeranz went home, played a lot of golf, and then it hit him. He’s 36 years old. Why not keep trying?

“You start thinking about things when you’re not playing,’ Pomeranz says. “It’s like you have the rest of your life to do other things, right? Our window in sports is so small. It’s not like other jobs when you can work until you’re 60. I mean, it’s just not just the compensation but this is what we’ve done since we were nine years old. It’s hard to find something like this outside of this field. There’s nothing like just being here.’

Now, here he is, throwing in the low 90s again, dominating on the mound, and playing for a marquee franchise that’s emerged as one of the finest teams in baseball.

“I mean, it just doesn’t feel real,’ Pomeranz says. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment for years. It’s toigh to keep pushing through mentally, physically, all of it, especially when over and over again, nothing is working.

“Now, just being healthy in the big leagues, throwing as hard as I can, and having this kind of success, it’s really a dream come true.’

Patrick Corbin: Fresh start

Corbin, who turns 36 in July, was 14-7 with a 3.25 ERA over 202 innings in the first year of his six-year, $140 million contract. He pitched 10 innings in three games in the 2019 World Series. Yet, he was never again the same. He went 33-70 with a 5.62 ERA the next five seasons, yielding a .300 batting average. He led the league in losses the past three seasons, and was kept around simply because no one was interested in trading for him.

He still kept taking the ball, never complained, and pitched 180 innings while trying to help out the young Nationals pitching staff. When he hit free agency and the winter dragged on, no one would have been surprised if he called it quits.

Corbin says he never considered retirement, working out all winter in Florida. He drew early interest from Atlanta and the Yankees, and some teams wanted him to pitch in relief before the Rangers signed him on March 18 for $1.1 million after pitchers Jon Gray and Cody Brown went down.

“I don’t know if it was really to prove myself,’ Corbin says. “I still have always felt like I could be a starter in this league. I think it was just kind of going somewhere new and just getting a fresh start.’

He stepped into the rotation April 8 and is still there, going 3-3 with a 3.59 ERA in eight starts. The Rangers’ superb defense has been ideal for Corbin’s arsenal pitching to contact.

“Having [Rangers pitching coach Mike] Maddux here, and some new eyes look at me too,’ Corbin says, “you kind of get that confidence back again and the conviction behind everything and just go out there and compete. ….

“Maybe a change of scenery was for the best.’

Certainly, it comes at an ideal time for the Rangers who badly needed to plug holes in the rotation, and with the way he’s pitching, he could remain longer than anyone possibly envisioned.

“When we lose two starters like we did, we signed him to just kind of fill the gap a little bit,’ Bochy says. “He’s done more than that. He’s been pitching as well as the rest of the guys.’

Around the basepaths

– The Chicago Cubs remain the favorite to host the 2027 All-Star Game, but MLB executives insist that no decision has been made. The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles are firmly in the mix, with all three teams expected to host the All-Star Game from 2027-2029.

– The New York Yankees are convinced that Juan Soto was ready to re-sign with them on Dec. 11. He asked for a bit more time, was going to discuss it with his family during lunch, and the next thing they knew he was signing with the Mets after being persuaded by family members.

– Teams who inquired on veteran reliever David Robertson during the winter say he was seeking a one-year, $15 million deal. He has no plans to sign with a team now unless he receives a strong offer.

– The Texas Rangers are seriously considering trying Kumar Rocker as their closer when he returns off the IL. He has been out since April 24 with a shoulder impingement, but the Rangers believe that his fastball-slider combo could be lethal in the pen.

– Team USA officials are getting flooded with requests from players and their agents to play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The biggest problem won’t be getting the star players, rather which players will be left off the roster. Kansas City Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has shown a deep desire to return after playing in 2023.

– The Marlins, Pirates, Rays, Royals and Athletics received the most revenue-sharing money in 2024.

– Teams are scrambling to bolster their bullpens with the influx of injuries around baseball.

The top targets: Kyle Finnegan of the Nationals; Felix Bautista, Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto of the Orioles; David Bednar and Dennis Santana of the Pirates and Anthony Bender of the Marlins.

– The Dodgers have committed more than $740 million the past two winters on seven free-agent pitchers. Only two are healthy: starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto and closer Tanner Scott.

“Everything from my brain is about what we can do,’ Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, told reporters. “It’s like a game of Whack-a-Mole, and things keep popping up, and we’re doing the best we can to hit them down and keep our guys in a good spot to win as many games as we can.’

– The Yankees are aggressively searching for a right-handed bat, preferably a third baseman, while also looking for another starter.

– The Chicago Cubs’ offense has been insanely good, scoring a major-league leading 306 runs. They’ve scored at least four runs in an inning 25 times this year, the most by a Cubs’ team since 1887, and in double digits 11 times, the most since 1898 through 51 games.

– Sometimes, you get lucky. When the Mets acquired All-Star shortstop Javy Baez from the Cubs on July 30, 2021, the Cubs wanted prized pitching prospect Matt Allan in return. The Mets instead settled on outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was considered their sixth-best prospect.

Allan, battling injuries, is pitching these days at Class A Brooklyn.

Crow-Armstrong, is playing like an MVP candidate in Chicago, with 14 homers, 40 RBIs, eight stolen bases, nine doubles and three triples in his last 34 games. He’s on pace to hit 44 homers and drive in 143 runs this season while stealing 44 bases.

The Cubs tried signing Crow-Armstrong to an extension guaranteeing about $65 million and have now watched his price-tag skyrocket.

– Remember when Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson was sent to the minors last season? He now has 13 homers, 40 RBI and a .886 OPS. He’s on pace to hit 41 homers with 125 RBIs.

– The Athletics are on track for groundbreaking on their new Las Vegas stadium in June, and insist everything is set to play at their new 33,000-seat ballpark in 2028.

– If the Orioles change managers again in the offseason, the leading candidate will be Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, who played six years for the Orioles and nearly landed the Padres’ manager gig two years ago.

– All-Star shortstops Javier Baez and Trevor Story each signed six-year, $140 million contracts in the winter of 2021, and their numbers are eerily similar with the exception of Baez being much more durable.

Story has slashed .231/.290/.382 with 27 homers and 111 RBI in 211 games.

Baez has slashed .228/.269/.358 with 38 homers and 192 RBI in 401 games.

Tigers fans were calling for Baez to be released a year ago, now Red Sox fans want Story gone.

– Yes, that’s 78-year-old Gene Lamont wearing a Pirates uniform for the first time since he was fired as manager in 2000, serving as Don Kelly’s de facto bench coach. He hadn’t worn a uniform with any team since 20217.

– The Chicago White Sox are letting the world know that Pope Leo XIV is their own with a mural on a pillar in the lower concourse down the third-base line at their ballpark. The seat he had during Game 1 of the 2005 World Series – Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2 – will be commemorated this summer.

– That is former pizza deliveryman Colton Gordon now in the starting rotation for the Houston Astros. He delivered pizzas five hours a night for Clematis Pizza in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida while recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2021.

– Yankees reliever Devin Williams says it took time to adjust going from Milwaukee to New York, where he was 0-2 with a 11.25 ERA when he lost his closer’s job. He’s getting back to being the same dominant reliever he was in Milwaukee, permitting no more than one hit in his last 11 games, yielding a 0.97 ERA.

“I’m really enjoying the city now, and getting used to everything,’ said Williams, who lives in Manhattan and has loved visiting museums on his off-days.

– Remember the days slugger Kyle Schwarber struggled against left-handed pitchers and would even be benched? He had a slash line of .188/.328/.430 against lefties in 2023.

These days, he’s slashing .317/.456/.794 against lefties.

– The Arizona Diamondbacks are 234-4 in games in their franchise history when they score at least 11 runs. Three of those defeats have come in a four-week span.

– The Phillies believed they were getting a good pitcher when they acquired starter Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins in the offseason, but who could have imagined that he’d be 5-0 with a 1.95 ERA through 10 starts?

“It’s been a struggle at times in my career but I think a little change of scenery at times is great,’ Luzardo told reporters after his last start. “Just a breath of fresh air being around a good group of guys here. Nothing against the places I’ve been, it’s just a little different here.’

– A year ago, Padres GM A.J. Preller found a bargain by signing Jurickson Profar to a one-year, $1 millioon contract. He hit .280 with 24 homers and 85 RBI and made the All-Star team.

This year, Preller’s steal is Gavin Sheets, who is hitting .283 with six home runs and a .464 slugging percentage.

– The Seattle Mariners are about to get the band back together with the return of George Kirby, and Bryce Miller and Logan Gilbert expected to soon follow.

Certainly, with the fourth-best offense in the league, they have the potential to pull away from the pack in the AL West.

– Future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera, 42, retired after the 2023 season but he can’t stay away, announcing that he will play this winter for the Tigres de Aragua in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. He last played in Venezuela in 2007-08.

“He wants to play, he wants to coach,’ Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters. “He’s going to be good at either, but I think it’s really cool that he recognizes his place in baseball history and is willing to contribute so much in Venezuela, but also here with the Tigers.’’

– Fabulous seeing former Texas Rangers All-Star outfielder Nelson Cruz visiting the Rangers clubhouse at Yankee Stadium. He says his family is slowly starting to heal from the tragedy in Santo Domingo that killed 235 people, including his sister, Nelsy, when the roof at a popular nightclub collapsed.

– Rest in peace Jim Henneman, a fixture in the Baltimore Orioles press box who covered more Orioles’ home games than any sportswriter since their arrival in 1954, and a friend to so many writers.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

STOCKHOLM, May 25 (Reuters) —  Tage Thompson fired a sudden-death winner for Team USA as it claimed a thrilling 1-0 victory over Switzerland in the final of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship on Sunday, its first gold medal at the tournament since 1933.

The United States’ victory brought to an end a long wait for a gold medal for the Americans, who despite sharing the biggest professional league in the game with Canada, have struggled at the international level.

Hockey history is clouded by the awarding of world champion status to the winners of the Olympic competition for many years, but the United States’ only stand-alone victory had come in 1933.

‘It feels awesome. I mean, it’s been so long for the U.S. It feels great putting this jersey back on; it’s been a long time for me, and to be able to come out with a gold medal, it’s pretty fantastic,’ Michael McCarron told Reuters.

‘And in overtime fashion, there’s no better way to win a game,’ the forward added.

Given that the Americans have not won Olympic gold since 1980, not one of the current team was even born the last time their nation stood on the top step of the podium, and Sunday’s winning squad was overcome with joy and relief as they celebrated their win.

‘I mean, we had some jam (good play), they had some jam. There were some lulls in the game for us, and sometimes that we were able to take it over, and both goalies played really spectacular,’ McCarron explained.

‘And three-on-three, anything can happen. It’s a little worrisome – going into three-on-three, you never know what can happen. Luckily, we have some great shooters on our team, and Tage was able to get it in there for us.’

Fellow forward Drew O’Connor was on the bench with McCarron when the game was decided.

‘Honestly, I feel like sometimes it’s tougher when you’re watching and you’re not on the ice. When you get up and go out there, it’s a little easier, you’re just kind of playing. But, yeah, there’s a lot of nerves,’ he told Reuters.

Many of the American players didn’t even see the winning puck hit the net.

‘I don’t know when it did! I just heard the buzzer, and I just jumped out and I thought, hopefully it went in, so I’m glad it did,’ a beaming McCarron said with his historic gold medal hanging around his neck.