EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Newly acquired tight end Darren Waller is embracing the change of scenery and approach from the New York Giants after five seasons with the Raiders.

Most notably, Waller feels empowered in the culture that coach Brian Daboll has established compared to those of his previous stops.

"Yeah, they value our opinions here," Waller said Thursday after standing out in the Giants' third OTA workout this spring. "As a player, I feel like a lot of places I've gone, you're told to do things a certain way and you do those things. But here it's like, they ask a lot of questions. They want to know what you're thinking, what you want to do more.

"So to offer input is a really cool thing because coaches and players have to be in partnership. We're all together and shouldn't be clashing with each other. We're all going in the same direction."

This is a staple of Daboll's approach. He famously was hired by the Giants and immediately asked quarterback Daniel Jones and many of the team's top playmakers to send him their favorite plays. Daboll took those plays into consideration when constructing the playbook for last season, when New York went 9-7-1 and won a playoff game.

Waller's year didn't go as seamlessly. He comes to the Giants after five seasons with the Raiders, where he played under Jon Gruden and most recently Josh McDaniels. Neither has the reputation of being the most player-friendly coach.

Las Vegas dealt Waller six months after signing him to a $51 million contract extension. He had an uneven campaign last season that was plagued by injuries. Waller had just 28 catches for 388 yards and three touchdowns in nine games, his least productive season since his first year with the Raiders.

It was challenging on multiple fronts. The relationship between Waller and the Raiders was characterized as "rocky" by one source close to the tight end who spoke to ESPN earlier this offseason. In particular, there was a point of contention when Waller left during the bye week to propose to Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum instead of rehabbing and didn't provide the team an explanation of where he was going.

That's all in the past now. The Giants offered a fresh start.

"It's different from team to team. I'm on my third now. There's different cultures everywhere you go. There is different types of energies," Waller said. "This is a really light place, a really fun place, a really empowering place where you just be yourself always. And as long as you're not putting the team at risk by getting a flag or things like that, you can really let your personality show.

"That's what I love about being here. It's just been fun. It's also been challenging. Guys holding you to a high standard since I got here and I try to reciprocate that."

The Giants have big plans for Waller. He's considered their No. 1 receiver.

It took all of one play Thursday to recognize his presence. Waller beat slot cornerback Darnay Holmes badly off the line of scrimmage and caught a deep pass down the right sideline from Jones. It immediately exemplified the kind of impact they are hoping the dynamic playmaker has in Daboll's offense.

It was the type of big play the Giants lacked last season and envisioned when trading a third-round pick to the Raiders for Waller. New York finished dead last in the NFL with just 28 pass plays of 20-plus yards.

The first few months have been encouraging. It's not just on the field where the Giants have been impressed working with Waller.

"He's a true pro," Daboll said. "He's been really good for us in the meeting rooms, gives good input. Good communicator. Has some leadership skills. He's been a good guy to work with."

The good vibes are being reciprocated.

Manchester United will be back in action in next season's Champions League after they hammered Chelsea 4-1 on Thursday to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes (penalty) and Marcus Rashford scored for United, who needed a point from their final two league games to officially end Liverpool's fading hopes of securing a spot in Europe's premier club competition.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Three-time European champions United, who failed to qualify for the Champions League last season, are third on 72 points with one game remaining, six points clear of fifth-place Liverpool.

Fourth-place Newcastle secured a spot among Europe's elite following a goalless draw against Leicester City on Monday. Chelsea, who have struggled all season, are 12th with 43 points.

Erik Ten Hag's side are unbeaten in Premier League action at Old Trafford for 17 games, going back to the opening weekend of the season.

Casemiro scored in the sixth minute with a close-range header off a long free kick. The Brazilian helped set up Martial's goal just before half-time with a no-look chip into the path of Jadon Sancho. Martial was there to slot the ball into the empty net.

Interim manager Frank Lampard's Chelsea side collapsed in the dying minutes. After Fernandes had made it 3-0 with a penalty in the 73rd minute, Rashford returned from a two-game absence to score his 30th goal of the season, cutting the ball around keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Despite the jubilation of clinching a spot in the top four, a first-half injury to winger Antony will be a concern for Ten Hag ahead of the FA Cup final with Manchester City next week. United are already without Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer for that match.

Joao Felix pulled one back for the visitors in the 89th minute, but the game was as far out of reach as is their season, with Chelsea set to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time since 1995-96.

LOS ANGELES -- As Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny walked to their $30,000 seats at halftime, large bodyguards stayed close. Kardashian stopped to chat with Rich Paul, the mega-agent of LeBron James and other NBA stars, while Jenner waved to friends as she passed. Bad Bunny, the Latin music superstar who set a Spotify record last year with 18.5 billion streams, trailed the two fashion icons.

That night, Crypto.com Arena -- where the Los Angeles Lakers were hosting the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the NBA's Western Conference semifinals -- looked like a Hollywood party, full of large men with earpieces, and shiny chains and rings worn by the VIPs who were there to watch LeBron James and his teammates eventually advance in the playoffs. Rappers Jack Harlow and Tyler, the Creator embraced one another. Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One star, stood and nodded to a screaming crowd when he was shown on the JumboTron. Blockbuster actors Michael B. Jordan and Leonardo DiCaprio cheered from the front row.

Two miles away, Craig Kelley, USC's chief marketing officer and associate athletic director, wondered how his school will handle home games when Bronny James -- son of Lakers superstar LeBron James, boasting more than 7 million Instagram followers and having recently committed to the Trojans -- arrives in the fall and some of the same celebrities decide they'd like to watch him, too.

Next season, father and son will be separated by a 2-mile stretch along Figueroa Street between the Galen Center, home of the Trojans, and Crypto.com Arena, where the Lakers play.

After the Lakers were swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals Monday, however, LeBron James told ESPN's Dave McMenamin, "I got to think about it," when he was asked to follow up on postgame comments that alluded to potential retirement.

LeBron also said he's still better than "95%" of the NBA, and sources told McMenamin this year's playoffs had been physically taxing on the 38-year-old, so perhaps his comments were more emotional than realistic.

Whether LeBron pushes forward with his dream to one day play with Bronny or exits the game this offseason as one of the greatest to ever step onto a basketball court, the intrigue and anticipation around his son's collegiate career will persist.

"There is an added tier here, an added level, for sure, with the family ties Bronny comes with and the friends that not only he has but that his family has, and the following that could follow him and come to games on any given night," Kelley told ESPN. "It's up to us to prepare."

There are no comparisons to the spotlight that will illuminate every Bronny bucket, pass, shot, win, loss, rebound, foul, free throw, turnover, miss, triumph and challenge in 2023-24. He is not the first athlete with a large social media following to play college basketball. He's also not the first child of a high-profile athlete to play at this level. But Bronny James is a member of basketball's royal family, a projected lottery pick in the 2024 NBA draft (per ESPN) who comes with bodyguards and a legendary father -- who at age 38 continues to compete at the highest levels of the NBA and has been open about his desire to extend his career a few more years just so he can play next to his son when he presumably joins the league in 2024.

With the attention, however, will come an intentional approach from school officials, local police and private security personnel to ensure that the 18-year-old is free -- and safe -- to enjoy his on-campus experience. At USC, Bronny will join a class that includes the children of dignitaries, actors and actresses, politicians and athletes. In college basketball, however, he will be a prince, drawing a crowd wherever he goes.

"Basketball-wise, you just need that big name to come there and bring that attention, and he's the perfect person for that," Chicago Bulls star DeMar Derozan, a former USC standout, said recently on Paul George's "Podcast P" podcast. "I think the way he comes in, the way he'll handle it and the attention he's going to bring, I think it's going to push USC to another level that we haven't seen."

IN 2019, BRONNY joined his Sierra Canyon teammates at an event called Hoopfest in Dallas. The first day took place at a local high school, before the demand to see Bronny, just a freshman who came off the bench at the time, grew. That prompted organizers to move Sierra Canyon's game the following day against local powerhouse Duncanville to American Airlines Center, where the Dallas Mavericks play. Scalpers showed up outside the arena, selling tickets to the high school game before tipoff.

When a group of teenage girls tried to get a selfie with Bronny inside, a security team stepped in front of them and told them to move back. One of the girls seemed perplexed and another said, "Oh?" Surrounded by his traveling layer of protection, Bronny didn't even seem to notice. He laughed with his friends as it all unfolded behind him. Perhaps a familiar scene in Hollywood, college basketball is not known for hosting players with individual security details. But that's what Bronny will bring to USC.

The school is already a football giant, starring quarterback Caleb Williams, who could become the second player in collegiate history to win the Heisman Trophy twice. Basketball is making waves, however, and not just because of Bronny. Juju Watkins, the No. 1 women's basketball recruit in the country, arrives this fall, joining a list of stellar women's players in school history, including Lisa Leslie and Cheryl Miller. Isaiah Collier, the No. 1 recruit in men's basketball, and D.J. Rodman, who transferred from Washington State and is the son of Dennis Rodman, will play alongside Bronny next year, too.

Despite a run of five NCAA tournament appearances over the past eight seasons, including an Elite Eight run in 2021, men's basketball has rarely enjoyed sellout crowds. The program averaged just 3,860 spectators at the 10,258-seat Galen Center during the 2021-22 season, per the most recently available data from the NCAA.

This year, to contend with the star power, the school could create a separate entrance for celebrities and other VIPs who want to watch Bronny and USC men's basketball. It also plans to adjust security measures for players as general attendance increases.

Per Kelley, the ticket prices will rise, too. But a "Bronny tax" is not the plan. "I know it's going to be hard to believe, but with or without Bronny, the prices were more than likely going to go up by a few percentage points just because that's just the nature of the business," Kelley said. "Most teams are increasing their prices 2% to 3% annually. We've actually been flat for quite some time, and so we were going up in price just because the team has just gotten better. And you do add some notable name players."

This is not the first time the program has experienced a major shift in popularity. The team hadn't been to the NCAA tournament in four years when Harold Miner, nicknamed Baby Jordan because of his high-flying maneuvers, arrived in 1989.

"There were so few fans that the first few games of my freshman year, you could hear people talking in the stands during games," Miner, a 1992 consensus All-American who averaged 23.5 PPG in three years with the Trojans before the Miami Heat made him the 12th pick in the 1992 NBA draft, told ESPN. "You could hear conversations going on in the stands."

Miner, who is one of two USC men's basketball players over the past 40 years to have his number retired (DeRozan is the other), was a hometown hero who can relate to the frenzy Bronny will experience next season in a city full of celebrities, albeit without the TikTok and Twitter attention.

He said he knew his reputation had changed when he walked around Los Angeles and people began to call his name or ask for autographs, after he led the team to the NCAA tournament in the early 1990s. Considered one of the biggest stars in USC men's basketball history, Miner said he would advise Bronny to stay true to himself.

"All you can do is listen, go out, work hard every day and get better," Miner said. "But for yourself, just try to be the best Bronny you can be for you and just try to see where you can take this."

Police Chief Lauretta Hill, who leads USC's department of public safety, said her office is always concerned about the possibility that an athlete's popularity could impact their safety. But the school's experience with celebrities and others with high profiles means it will be prepared for his arrival, she said.

Last week, Sasha Obama -- daughter of former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama -- graduated from the school. Her parents, and the Secret Service officers who accompany them everywhere, were in attendance. Princess Salma bint Abdullah, daughter of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan, graduated from USC last week, too. She comes from a royal family with a net worth of $750 million. Natalia Bryant, daughter of the late Kobe Bryant, currently studies here.

Hill's department has a unit devoted to social media threats, and it also coordinates with the university's office of executive protection services, which handles personal security for high-profile students.

To Hill, Bronny's place in college basketball might be unique, but his presence on a star-studded campus is not, and that's a good thing. At USC, Bronny will stand out but also fit right in.

"We do have security plans in place for major events," she said. "We also have active threat management and assessment units. That threat unit is constantly monitoring social media for any types of threats or issues that may come up so we could change our posture if we needed to. We can scale up. We can scale down. We can address those issues or threats that may be out there."

She added: "We anticipate that we'll have a lot more attention to basketball because we also have the No. 1 female recruit coming and the No. 1 male recruit coming."

THE REACH OF LeBron James is clear to anyone who tries to tell a story about Bronny. Off the court, beyond his business deals and achievements, one of the NBA superstar's greatest feats is his ability to shield his son and allow him to mature and blossom without exposing him to more attention.

Bronny has famously never granted an interview, outside a brief news conference at the McDonald's All American game in March. And if you call anyone attached to him, they'll likely decline to talk about him. A high school administrator agreed to a conversation about the future USC signee but then decided against it. An official at a school that played Sierra Canyon told ESPN that his school does not talk about opponents. There were coaches who didn't return texts, and others who demanded that everything they said be off the record. Even those who did talk for this story did so with caution.

From outside the circle, it seems extreme. But for a family led by the greatest basketball player since Michael Jordan, who was a star long before the advent of social media, it all makes sense. As does selecting USC, a school that can offer Bronny the opportunity to grow as a player, the protection his profile will demand and enough famous classmates to make him seem somewhat normal. That's an experience he would not get at most places.

"If you go to Lexington, Kentucky, you're going to stand out," said Todd Boyd, author of "Young, Black, Rich, and Famous: The Rise of the NBA, the Hip Hop Invasion, and the Transformation of American Culture" and a professor at USC. "It's not a place you associate with famous people. If you go to Durham, North Carolina, or Lawrence, Kansas, you're going to stand out. Eugene, Oregon? You're going to stand out, because these are not places we associate with celebrities and famous people.

"I mean, Bronny is going to get a lot of attention. People know him from social media. He will get attention when [LeBron James] comes and sits courtside to watch him play. That's going to get attention. All these things are going to get attention, but it's not new [in L.A.]."

Cleveland High (Reseda, Calif.) head coach Dagem Asfaw was an assistant with Strive for Greatness, Bronny's grassroots squad, at a tournament in Kentucky last summer when a young fan spotted Bronny and his team attempting to leave through a back door for safety precautions. Within minutes, 30 kids were trying to get to the staircase to see Bronny, before his security team handled the situation.

Asfaw had to deal with the same logistical challenges when his school hosted Sierra Canyon in November. There were secret entrances and exits, and a special section the school created just for that evening.

LeBron attended, although Bronny did not play in the lopsided win for Sierra Canyon. Still, the school sold 60 VIP seats for $100 apiece, seats occupied by notable folks, such as Big Boi from the rap group Outkast.

"I didn't really tell anybody [LeBron James] was going to come besides principals and administrators," Asfaw said. "So it was packed. A lot of the people, a lot of the students ... they wanted to see Bronny play. But there was also this mystique in the air with people saying, 'Is LeBron going to show up?' And LeBron ended up showing up to the game, which was amazing."

That's the same scenario USC hopes to accommodate in the fall. And there will be times next season when a Los Angeles basketball fan has a chance to catch both Bronny at a USC game and his father at a Lakers game, not only on the same night, but on the same street.

The Lakers' 122-101 win over the Warriors in that Game 6 showcased a glimpse of what USC men's basketball might experience when the Galen Center becomes one of the sport's most popular venues.

It all starts with LeBron James, who lingered by his locker after the game, his legs wrapped in ice. He mentioned to teammate Anthony Davis that his younger son Bryce's AAU squad had faced tough competition in its most recent tournament. Then he stood up, turned to his locker and pressed play.

The groovy bassline of soul singer Bobby Womack's "Across 110th Street" began to boom through a waterproof speaker, echoing above any conversation in the room. In that song, Womack sings, "You don't know what you'll do until you're put under pressure."

No college basketball player in America understands that line more than Bronny, who plays under a giant microscope that will continue to follow him everywhere he goes next season.

"We're at USC in Los Angeles and this is the biggest stage you get," USC coach Andy Enfield said. "We've got the No. 1 basketball market in the country here. We've got the Lakers and Clippers right down the street. We've got UCLA across town and all the other great colleges and high schools, the AAU programs here. So it's a big, big basketball city.

"When we recruit players, we say, 'Hey, you're coming into the No. 1 basketball city in America and you're going to be in the spotlight.' And now with Bronny's situation, the spotlight probably intensifies. And so you embrace it, enjoy it and you go do something about it."

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Connor Overton is out for the remainder of this season and part of 2024 after having Tommy John surgery, manager David Bell said Thursday.

Overton had the operation to repair the UCL in his pitching elbow on Tuesday. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 15 and transferred to the 60-day IL on May 14.

He was 0-1 with an 11.45 ERA in three starts this season, giving up 14 runs on 19 hits and 7 walks in just 11 innings.

NEW YORK -- The Yankees are promoting righty Randy Vasquez, who will make his MLB debut on Friday with a start against the San Diego Padres.

"He did some good things in spring training -- good arm, good stuff," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday. "He's been pitching pretty well. He's had some games where he walked in guys, but is getting swing and miss too. He's the next guy up right now with an opportunity."

Vasquez, from the Dominican Republic, first signed with the Yankees in 2018 when he was 19 years old. He's had mixed results at Triple-A Scranton this season, posting a 4.85 ERA in 42 2/3 innings. Things have turned around in his last four starts though, with a 2.14 ERA.

The Yankees are currently down a pitcher with Domingo German in the middle of a 10-game suspension for using sticky stuff. When German returns, Vasquez could head back down to the minors, with the Yankees' rotation nearing full strength with Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino and Clarke Schmidt, with Carlos Rodon inching towards a rehab start.

If we had told you last year that in the first two months of the 2023 season, the Rangers and Orioles would be in the top five of our Power Rankings while the Yankees and Astros sat on the outside looking in, would you have believed us? Welcome to Week 8!

Now, New York and Houston have hit their stride of late and are by no means not top-five teams, but it's still quite a sight to behold. The question becomes: How long can Baltimore and Texas keep it up? Will they be able to hold their respective divisional positions over New York and Houston?

Our expert panel has combined to rank every team in baseball based on a combination of what we've seen so far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield, Bradford Doolittle, Jesse Rogers, Alden Gonzalez and Joon Lee to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.

Week 7 | Preseason rankings

1. Tampa Bay Rays

Record: 36-15

Previous ranking: 1

With their series win against the Brewers, the Rays improved to a ridiculous 21-4 record at home. The group has come back down to earth a bit, but the team still ranks second in all of baseball in run differential at +111, trailing just the Rangers after dropping a 20-1 game to Toronto on Tuesday. Watch out for Yandy Diaz, who's having the best start to a season of his career with 2.1 Baseball Reference WAR through 42 games, which would be the second-highest bWAR total in his career for a single season. He has hit .322/.425/.599 with 11 dingers so far. -- Joon Lee

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

Record: 31-20

Previous ranking: 2

Bobby Miller was called up for his major league debut out of necessity Tuesday, a product of Dustin May (forearm) and Julio Urias (hamstring) residing on the injured list. And he impressed against one of the best teams in the sport, effectively using his secondary pitches to hold the Braves to one run in five innings and outduel Spencer Strider in the process. Miller is one of three Dodgers pitching prospects, along with Ryan Pepiot and Gavin Stone, who entered this season looking to prove they deserve an extended look in the major leagues. Pepiot is nursing an oblique strain, but Miller and Stone will continue to get starts while Urias and May recover. Their development will be vital. -- Alden Gonzalez

3. Atlanta Braves

Record: 30-19

Previous ranking: 3

Is it time to start worrying about Michael Harris II? After his stellar rookie season in 2022, he has struggled in 2023. After a sixth consecutive hitless game, the Braves benched Harris on Tuesday with his average sitting at .163 with just one home run in 86 at-bats (he missed 19 games in April with a back strain and two more after jamming his knee upon his return, but he says he's feeling fine now).

The good news: It hasn't been a contact issue. His strikeout rate is actually lower than last season while his walk rate has ticked up slightly. On the other hand, although he's not striking out more, his contact rate on pitches in the zone has dropped. He hit .375 and slugged .708 against four-seam fastballs last season but is hitting just .105 against them in 23 PAs. The Braves hope a session with hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and team consultant Chipper Jones will get Harris back on track. -- David Schoenfield

4. Texas Rangers

Record: 31-18

Previous ranking: 4

While the champion Astros are rolling, the Rangers are still hanging on at the top of the American League West. A weekend sweep of the Rockies helped, as Texas and Houston took top offensive honors for the last week (ending on Tuesday). Five players compiled an OPS over 1.000 during that time frame, led by Josh Jung, who produced a 1.447 mark. Corey Seager has also driven in 10 runs in seven games since he returned. Meanwhile, the starting staff has made up for the loss of Jacob deGrom, as Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez, Dane Dunning and Jon Gray all spun good outings. It might be late enough in the season to say the Rangers are for real. -- Jesse Rogers

5. Baltimore Orioles

Record: 32-17

Previous ranking: 6

Baltimore continues to further legitimize itself week by week. The rotation remains a point of concern, but the Orioles continue to put up strong performances against some of the best teams in baseball, leading to a +43 run differential. Although Adley Rutschman gets a lot of the national recognition for the O's, Cedric Mullins is having a bounce-back season, hitting .275/.359/.505 with 8 homers, 13 stolen bases and 1.8 bWAR. Another 30/30 seems plausible for the dynamic outfielder. -- Lee

6. Houston Astros

Record: 28-21

Previous ranking: 8

The Astros welcomed franchise face Jose Altuve back to the lineup over the past week, and he hit the ground running, reaching base in his first four games with a robust .438 OBP over those contests. Then he got sick in Milwaukee. He left the game early with an undisclosed illness Tuesday and was out of the lineup Wednesday. Still, with Altuve back in action and Houston streaking of late, the champs have been looking a lot more champ-like.

With the Astros reaffirming their perpetual contender status and the Rangers leading the AL West in the standings and all of baseball in run differential, the division race is taking on a distinctly Texas-centric character. It should be a banner summer in the Lone Star State. -- Bradford Doolittle

7. New York Yankees

Record: 30-21

Previous ranking: 7

New York keeps rolling when its best players are at the top of their game. Slugger Aaron Judge is raking when healthy, hitting .353/.493/.882 with eight homers since returning from the IL. The rotation has kept cruising behind Gerrit Cole, who ranks among the best pitchers in baseball so far this season, posting a 2.5 bWAR. Reinforcements appear to be on the way, too, as Carlos Rodon rejoined the team in New York and began a throwing program, a precursor to a rehab assignment. -- Lee

8. Toronto Blue Jays

Record: 26-24

Previous ranking: 5

Toronto has looked like two different teams this season. At points, the Blue Jays have looked like a legitimate World Series contender, such as when they swept the Braves, while at other times, they've looked like a team that could finish in last place in their division, like when they went 1-6 against division rivals New York and Baltimore this past week. Something that could affect Toronto's season in the second half: Hyun-Jin Ryu is hopeful to return to the mound after the All-Star break following last year's Tommy John surgery. Ryu is in the final season of a four-year, $80 million contract and last pitched on June 1, 2022. -- Lee

9. Arizona Diamondbacks

Record: 29-21

Previous ranking: 11

The Diamondbacks seemed to fall back down to Earth at the start of May but are red-hot once again, winning nine of their past 12 games to somehow put themselves within striking distance of the Dodgers in the National League West. Wednesday's late loss aside, the best sign from that stretch might be coming from their bullpen. D-backs relievers had the sixth-highest ERA in the majors last year, but they sport a 3.83 ERA over the team's past dozen games. Andrew Chafin, Miguel Castro and Scott McGough, who make up the back end of the bullpen, have combined to give up only one run in 19⅓ innings during that stretch. Small sample size, sure, but the D-backs will gladly take it. -- Gonzalez

10. Boston Red Sox

Record: 26-24

Previous ranking: 12

Boston strung together series wins against the Mariners and Padres last week while ace Chris Sale strung together four straight quality starts after a rough start to the season. The Red Sox, however, have had to make changes to their rotation, especially after the return of James Paxton from the IL. After moving righty Nick Pivetta to the bullpen last week, Boston did the same with two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber on Wednesday. In nine starts this season, Kluber had a 6.26 ERA. -- Lee

11. Minnesota Twins

Record: 26-24

Previous ranking: 9

The Twins continue to slide toward .500, more or less keeping a division stocked full of sub-.500 teams in the chase as Memorial Day approaches. While their division brethren have earned their poor records with demonstrably poor play, the Twins have been an enigma. Through Tuesday, the Twins were on pace to win 83 games despite a run differential that would translate to a 95-win level of play if we project it out over 162 games. That 12-win gap is the largest in the AL, and it has prevented Minnesota from gaining a cushion in the division chase. So what gives? Part of it, though not all, is a poor record in one-run games, as the Twins fell to 4-10 in those contests with their loss to the Giants on Tuesday. -- Doolittle

12. New York Mets

Record: 25-25

Previous ranking: 17

It's not exactly accurate to say the Mets saved their season with a five-game winning streak -- the final two against the Rays and then a weekend sweep of Cleveland -- but it at least temporarily stopped a bad skid that saw the team fall under .500. The most dramatic moment from that span was Pete Alonso's three-run, 10th-inning walk-off home run to beat a tough reliever in Pete Fairbanks. Then, the Mets beat another tough closer in Emmanuel Clase with another three-run bottom of the 10th, as Francisco Alvarez, Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor all delivered two-out base hits to win it.

Although the Mets are unbeaten in games they lead heading into the ninth, the pitching has otherwise remained problematic, with the Mets ranking in the bottom third of the majors in ERA. If that doesn't improve, it's going to be a .500 season. -- Schoenfield

13. Milwaukee Brewers

Record: 27-22

Previous ranking: 10

Milwaukee is in the midst of a brutal stretch of its schedule, winning just enough games to stay on pace with Pittsburgh at the top of the division. Series losses to St. Louis and Tampa Bay were mostly close games -- besides an 18-1 drubbing by the Cardinals early last week. The Brewers' offense continues to be its Achilles' heel -- and is especially awful against left-handed pitching. Rowdy Tellez is about the only reliable threat, as he belted two home runs while compiling an OPS over 1.200 over the past week. He needs some help. -- Rogers

14. Los Angeles Angels

Record: 28-23

Previous ranking: 15

For a while, the Angels struggled to get much value from young players with affordable contracts. This year, though, has shown that the organization continues to take positive steps in that department.

Logan O'Hoppe, acquired from the Phillies for Brandon Marsh last August, was looking like a cornerstone catcher before suffering a torn labrum. Zach Neto, a first-round draft pick just last year, is playing shortstop on an every-day basis. And Mickey Moniak, the left-handed-hitting outfielder who came over in another August trade with the Phillies (this one for Noah Syndergaard), has been red-hot since rejoining the majors. Moniak, 25, is slashing .419/.438/.935 through his first 10 games, providing a major lift for an offense that is still waiting on some veteran players to produce. -- Gonzalez

15. Seattle Mariners

Record: 25-24

Previous ranking: 13

The Mariners appeared to avoid a big injury when Ty France left Tuesday's game after getting hit on the wrist with a pitch (after earlier hitting the go-ahead home run). They're hoping he'll miss just a game or two, as they don't have another good first-base option on the roster. Utility man Sam Haggerty isn't hitting well, so if France needs an IL stint, they might need to make a move (Mike Ford is raking at Triple-A Tacoma, but he's not on the 40-man roster -- plus he's mostly just a DH).

Meanwhile, second baseman Jose Caballero continues to play well and earn more playing time over struggling Kolten Wong. He has hit a couple of home runs, has drawn some walks and is 6-for-6 stealing bases. Wong has been a complete nonfactor -- par for the course for the Mariners, who last year brought in Adam Frazier to play second base only to see him hit poorly. Seattle understandably doesn't want to give up on Wong, but he's looking more and more like deadweight. -- Schoenfield

16. San Diego Padres

Record: 22-27

Previous ranking: 14

The Padres began this week's three-city road trip with nine losses in their previous 11 games and somehow possessed the seventh-lowest OPS in the major leagues. They are underperforming throughout their lineup, but nowhere more so than at catcher, where Aaron Nola, Luis Campusano and Brett Sullivan have combined to slash just .169/.248/.270 entering the road trip. The Padres' OPS from behind the plate ranks higher than only that of the Marlins and Guardians. This is a position the team will desperately need to address before the trade deadline, but it's hard to figure out where to turn. -- Gonzalez

17. St. Louis Cardinals

Record: 22-29

Previous ranking: 20

It's not too early to declare that the Cardinals are back -- and are once again major players in the division. St. Louis hasn't lost a series since the beginning of the month, as the team bounced back from a 5-0 loss to the Dodgers last Friday to outscore them 16-10 over the next two games. Paul DeJong has gone off, hitting four home runs last week, while Nolan Gorman took home player of the week honors. Miles Mikolas has looked better on the mound, providing hope that there will be some stability near the top of the Cards' rotation. -- Rogers

18. Philadelphia Phillies

Record: 23-26

Previous ranking: 16

Bryce Harper's return was supposed to spark the lineup, and although he has hit well since he returned (albeit with just two home runs), the Phillies continue to scuffle on offense. In Harper's first 19 games since he came back May 2, the Phillies went 8-11. Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott have cooled off after their hot starts (at least Marsh has maintained a high walk rate), and Trea Turner, in his own words, has "sucked." He's hitting .250/.295/.392 with five home runs -- including a homer in the ninth inning to tie the score in Philly's walk-off win Wednesday night -- for an 89 OPS+, well below a league-average hitter. With six steals, he's hardly on pace to steal 50, let alone the 70 some predicted. It's a mess. And this week's series against the Braves is the first of the season (Philly hasn't played the Mets yet, either). -- Schoenfield

19. Pittsburgh Pirates

Record: 25-42

Previous ranking: 19

Pittsburgh wasn't remarkable over the past week -- it was midpack in offense and defense -- but it has stayed afloat in the division simply playing solid baseball. The Pirates have kept losing streaks, besides a longer one earlier this month, to a minimum as they work through a tough schedule. Baltimore, Arizona and Texas weren't considered hugely dominant teams back in January, but they're as good as anyone these days. Pittsburgh went 3-5 over the span of eight games against them -- an OK record considering the NL Central has been brutal this year. Shortstop Rodolfo Castro had a good week, producing the Pirates' lone OPS over 1.000 for a seven-day span ending Tuesday. -- Rogers

20. San Francisco Giants

Record: 24-25

Previous ranking: 23

The Giants reached .500 for the first time since the first week of the season Tuesday, riding a dominant start from Alex Cobb and a big home run from Michael Conforto to defeat the first-place Twins in Minneapolis. The victory marked the Giants' seventh in a span of eight games and improved their record to 13-8 in May, a month that has seen them struggle offensively but pitch well enough to consistently win games. Cobb and Logan Webb, their top two starters, have combined for a 1.38 ERA in 32⅔ innings in May. -- Gonzalez

21. Cleveland Guardians

Record: 21-28

Previous ranking: 18

After winning four of their first five to start the season, the Guardians haven't been able to string together more than two straight wins at any point since then. Thus it's been a campaign of two steps forward and, let's say, 2½ steps back, with Cleveland slipping gradually below the break-even line. After a rough recent road trip, manager Terry Francona reportedly called a team meeting to reassure his clubhouse. That may or may not help, but Francona, by now, certainly has a feel for when these things are needed.

What the Guardians really need, though, are home runs from their home run hitters -- they're barely on pace to clear the 100-homer barrier this year. By contrast, and this is an extreme example because Tampa Bay is on a historic pace, the Rays are on pace to pass 300 dingers. -- Doolittle

22. Chicago Cubs

Record: 22-26

Previous ranking: 21

Chicago ranks so poorly in clutch ratings -- worst on offense and third worst in pitching -- that positive regression is bound to happen. But will it do so before the season slips away? A weak NL Central has provided the Cubs some room, while the team rides the hot bat of Christopher Morel. He hit eight home runs in his first 11 games, providing some energy while the team lost seven of nine on the road. Right fielder Seiya Suzuki is also quietly heating up. He hit over .400 with an OPS hovering around 1.500 OPS -- second only to Morel -- during a seven-day span ending Tuesday. -- Rogers

23. Miami Marlins

Record: 25-25

Previous ranking: 22

Look, we know why the Marlins are hanging around .500: They're still 15-3 in one-run games. Maybe they'll keep that up, maybe they won't, but the bigger issue is this team has to start winning more of the other games. Miami is in the bottom third of the majors in ERA and dead last in runs per game on offense, so while there's still hope the pitching will come around, it's difficult to envision this suddenly turning into a playoff-caliber lineup.

Although the Marlins are middle of the pack in batting average (thank you, Luis Arraez), they're next to last in walk rate, so they simply don't get on base enough and don't hit enough home runs. And it's not even a young lineup: Only the Mets and Dodgers have an older group of position players. Old and unproductive is a bad combination. -- Schoenfield

24. Detroit Tigers

Record: 22-25

Previous ranking: 25

The Tigers' flirtation with not-terribleness has been bolstered by a solid bullpen performance. It's not a new story: For all their struggles the past couple of years, they have gotten quality work from a number of firemen. Leading the charge from the relief staff is closer Alex Lange. If you don't play fantasy baseball or follow the Tigers, you might not have noticed this, but Lange has emerged as one of baseball's best relievers. Lange was a solid setup reliever last season, but he has earned nine of his 10 career saves in the opening weeks of the 2023 campaign. And he has done it with dominance, posting a 1.27 ERA over his first 21 appearances, with a sub-1.00 WHIP and a strikeout rate of 11.8 per nine innings. -- Doolittle

25. Chicago White Sox

Record: 21-30

Previous ranking: 28

Strange as it might be to say this about a team that's been on pace for 55-65 wins for most of the season, the White Sox could crawl back into contention for the division title. The White Sox are playing better and have won eight of their past 11 games, results that qualify them as the AL Central's "hottest" team. The Twins have a strong run differential, yet they haven't been able to separate themselves from the division, which is a boost to the underachieving ChiSox.

Perhaps most importantly, the White Sox are on the verge of being as close to whole in terms of health as they have been all season. This should be most apparent in the bullpen, where Liam Hendriks is close to returning, Garrett Crochet just made his return from Tommy John surgery, and Joe Kelly has reemerged as a high-leverage option. With a soft upcoming schedule, the time for Chicago to make something of a depressing campaign is now. -- Doolittle

26. Cincinnati Reds

Record: 21-28

Previous ranking: 24

Not surprisingly, the Reds are playing their way into the NL Central cellar. A sweep at the hands of the Yankees over the weekend didn't help matters, as Cincinnati had awful outings from Hunter Greene and Graham Ashcraft. Ashcraft gave up a whopping 20 hits over the course of two starts while pitching only 10 innings total. Luke Weaver wasn't much better. As a team, the Reds ranked close to dead last in the majors in ERA over the past week. That tells their whole story right now. -- Rogers

27. Washington Nationals

Record: 21-28

Previous ranking: 26

One of the bigger surprises of the season is that the Nationals' rotation has actually been respectable, with their ERA ranking middle-of-the-pack in the majors. That won't win any awards, but that's a lower ERA than rotations of several hopeful playoff contenders, including the Orioles, Phillies, Cardinals and Mets. Whether even that moderate success is sustainable is another question, however. The rotation is near the bottom in strikeout rate and strikeout-to-walk ratio. Patrick Corbin has reeled off six straight starts allowing three or fewer runs despite modest strikeout totals, and Josiah Gray continues to limit runs despite giving up too many walks. Take his most recent start: six walks in five innings against Detroit, but only one run. -- Schoenfield

28. Colorado Rockies

Record: 21-29

Previous ranking: 27

Let's focus this week on one of few Rockies bright sides this week: Elias Diaz, the 32-year-old catcher who was signed to a three-year, $14.5 million extension at the end of the 2021 season. Diaz is slashing a remarkable .343/.396/.517 for the season, providing production at a premium position for a team that is underperforming practically everywhere else in the lineup. Only Sean Murphy, Jonah Heim and Will Smith have produced more FanGraphs WAR (fWAR) than Diaz as catchers this season. The Rockies have mostly struck out while trying to build a core around extensions for C.J. Cron, Ryan McMahon, Kris Bryant, Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela and Daniel Bard. But Diaz's deal, at least, looks like a bargain. -- Gonzalez

29. Kansas City Royals

Record: 15-36

Previous ranking: 29

Even in a division as bad as the AL Central -- in which the Royals, Tigers and White Sox are a combined 6-30 against the AL East this season -- eyes in KC ought to be fixed on the seasons to come. This makes the Royals' center-field situation hard to understand. Since Kyle Isbel was injured, the Royals have given the bulk of the playing time in center to veteran Jackie Bradley Jr., who has a .437 OPS. In fact, the Royals' overall OPS from center fielders (Bradley, Isbel and Nate Eaton) is easily the worst in baseball.

Meanwhile, Drew Waters has been mashing for Triple-A Omaha since he returned to action May 9, after having gone down with an oblique injury late in spring training. Since he was the Royals' projected starter at the position in the first place, it seems as if putting him in center sooner rather than later would be the right play -- not for this season but for those to come. -- Doolittle

30. Oakland Athletics

Record: 10-41

Previous ranking: 30

On Tuesday, the Athletics dropped to 10-40, the worst start to a season for a team since the 1932 Red Sox. That figure puts them on pace for a 32-130 record, which would be the most losses for a team in a season since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders went 20-134. Meanwhile, the A's reached a tentative agreement with Nevada state and local officials on a stadium funding plan, with a funding bill to be introduced in the coming weeks to see how much public funding will be provided to build the new home of the team. -- Lee

Leicester Tigers have signed lock Sam Carter from Ulster and Tonga outside back Solomone Kata, following his release by Exeter.

Former Australia international Carter, 33, left the Super Rugby side for Ulster in 2019.

Kata, 28, scored four tries in 17 games in his solitary season with Exeter.

It was with the Brumbies, under McKellar in 2020, that Kata had returned to rugby union, having had a successful stint in rugby league which saw him go on to play for New Zealand.

"What you see is what you get with Solomone," McKellar told the Leicester website.

"He's a physical, tough player, who also possesses a good skillset and offers us a genuine point of difference, in attack and defence, in the midfield."

Kata says he "can't wait to be coached" by McKellar again, with Carter echoing the sentiment.

"I am excited to link back up with Dan after a few years together in the Brumbies and, after speaking with him, looking forward to being a part of what he is looking to build at the club," Carter said.

The duo join on the same day that outside back Harry Potter was released early from his Tigers contract to return to Australia.

Leicester finished third in the Premiership table and had their title defence ended at the semi-final stage by Sale Sharks.

Back row Ben Earl hopes a Premiership title with Saracens will help him force his way into the England team for the Rugby World Cup.

"I can't lie and say I haven't been giving it some thought," Earl said.

"I'm trying to stay positive and put my best foot forward in these big games, which are probably the games he [Borthwick] is looking at the most."

Earl was named Premiership player of the season for 2021-22 as Saracens finished second in the table, before losing the final to Leicester Tigers.

The openside flanker has helped the north London club seal a return to Twickenham this season and they will face Sale Sharks for the trophy on Saturday (15:00 BST).

However, Earl was overlooked for England's autumn internationals squad by Borthwick's predecessor Eddie Jones - only winning his first caps since March 2021 off the bench during this year's Six Nations.

"I think I've played as consistently as I did last year, which was a big challenge of mine," Earl told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"There's no point winning some of the accolades I did last year and not backing it up.

"Selfishly, the elephant in the room is that I wish I could have played a bit more for England in that Six Nations campaign. For whatever reason I didn't and I've learned a lot from that.

"Steve was unbelievably positive about my work in the Six Nations. Unfortunately selection didn't always go my way.

"But I feel that I have contributed as much as I could have done here [at Saracens] and I'm looking forward to going again, putting my best foot forward in these big games, which has been a big focus of mine."

'The person who slips up is going to miss out'

The combination of Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis and Alex Dombrandt, at blindside flanker, openside flanker and number eight respectively, started five of England's games this spring, with Ben Curry selected ahead of Willis for the Six Nations opener against Scotland.

Earl came off the bench for Dombrandt in that defeat at Twickenham to Scotland on 4 February and then replaced Willis in the win over Italy eight days later, but did not feature in the final four matches of the tournament.

With Sale's Curry ruled out of the World Cup, which begins in France on 8 September and Saracens number eight Billy Vunipola facing a race against time to be fit, the door could be open for Earl to return.

Earl says Borthwick recently held a meeting with Sarries' England contingent about the physical demands he expects players in his squad to fulfil.

"I've had that in the back of my mind when I've been doing my physical work here," added Earl.

"The magic of this place is that it's very aligned with what Steve wants. He probably looks at games like this weekend and wants people that win stuff, so that's a big driving force."

Earl is also wary of the need to remain on top form personally.

"The moment you stop performing, you give someone an easy reason not to pick you," he said.

"That's a big thing. On the flip-side, if I get a chance to play a Test match this summer, I've got to play well.

"You look at how competitive my position is - it always feels that the person who slips up first is going to be the one that misses out.

"That's a big thing for me this summer. Once we get the weekend done, [to] rest up and be rejuvenated for what will be a tough summer."

Expecting a back-row 'battle' at Twickenham

Earl made his Saracens debut in 2016 but was not part of the matchday squads when the club won their fourth and fifth Premiership titles in 2018 and 2019.

As a result, it would "mean everything" to him to finally be part of a triumphant side at Twickenham.

"The amount of times I have carried bags for games like these when I was a bit younger, I've always wanted to celebrate a win," added Earl.

"Coming a little bit short last year has only made this group hungrier - and me hungrier. To win the league after such a long slog with your boyhood club would be everything, really."

When facing Sale, Earl will come up against Tom Curry, Ben's twin brother and a blindside flanker who has 45 caps for England.

"It's one of those small battles that seem to be all over the pitch," he said.

"Who comes out on top, in terms of the back row in general, will probably have a big influence on the game.

"Tom's a good mate of mine and we know each other's games pretty well. He's a quality player, one I've aspired to emulate and be like for some time."

TAMPERE, Finland -- The United States beat the Czech Republic 3-0 to advance to the semifinals of the ice hockey world championship on Thursday.

The Americans have been cruising through the tournament and earned their eighth straight victory.

"This was a tough game and I'm really proud of our team and how we stuck to our game plan," U.S. head coach David Quinn said. "There's a real selflessness to our team and that's been evident from the outset."

Matt Coronato scored on a shot from the left circle that deflected off the skate of a Czech defenseman and into the net in the opening period in which the Czechs managed just two shots on goal.

Nick Perbix doubled the advantage midway through the second with a shot into the roof of the net to beat goaltender Karel Vejmelka.

Cutter Gauthier completed the scoring in the third with his seventh goal at the tournament.

Casey DeSmith made 15 saves for the shutout.

The quarterfinal was a repeat of last year's bronze-medal game, which the Czechs won 8-4.

In the Latvian capital of Riga, Germany upset the favorite Switzerland 3-1 to reach the semifinals.

Jonas Siegenthaler answered Germany's opening goal by Maximilian Kastner before John Peterka and Nico Sturm netted for the Germans.

Later Thursday, Canada faced defending champion Finland in Tampere in a replay of last year's final, and Sweden played co-host Latvia in Riga.

El Salvador's Public Prosecutor's Office ordered the arrest of five people allegedly responsible for the weekend stampede at the Cuscatlan stadium in the country's capital that left 12 fans dead during the second leg of the quarterfinal playoffs between Alianza FC and Club Deportivo.

The Public Prosecutor's Office has named three Alianza FC team officials, including the president, the security manager and the financial manager, as well as the general manager of Estadios Deportivos de El Salvador (EDESSA) and the person in charge of the stadium keys, who will be prosecuted for culpable homicide, culpable injury and public damage.

"Negligence in the organisation and greed, by over-selling, generated a human avalanche that caused the loss of lives, as well as injuries and endangered the safety of the attendees. They will be brought before the courts in the coming days," the Prosecutor's Office said on Twitter on Thursday.

A total of 12 fans died and hundreds were treated by rescue services last Saturday after a stampede was reported at one of the entrances to the general sector of the Cuscatlan stadium, an event that shocked football internationally.

According to the institution's investigations, the gates provided were not sufficient for the number of fans and the entrances were not opened early enough for an orderly and safe entry.

The organisers, having sold out the tickets available for the sporting event, decided to illegally sell tickets issued for previous matches, it added.

Reuters could not immediately contact those named or their lawyers.

Salvadoran Football Federation fined Alianza FC $30,000 and handed down a one-year stadium ban on Tuesday.

The domestic league season in El Salvador has been ended prematurely with no champion declared following Saturday's tragic events.

In a joint statement, the El Salvador FA (FESTFUT) and the league (Liga Primera Division), described Saturday's events as "deplorable" and "never to be repeated."

"As the governing body of Salvadoran soccer, FESFUT, and the organiser of the El Salvador National Championship, Liga Primera Division, we have determined to end the 2022-2023 El Salvador National Championship," a statement from the FESTFUT said.

"Our priority will be to ensure that security measures are strengthened at football events."

The statement added that both entities are receiving international advice from FIFA and Concacaf.

Subject to Concacaf's approval and based on last season's results, clubs CD FAS, Jocoro FC and CD Aguila will qualify for international competitions.

Alianza FC said in a statement that it was "devastated" by Saturday's tragic events and would cooperate with authorities in the investigation while also ensuring it would never happen again.

The association of top-flight football players in El Salvador (ASOFUTPROES) issued a statement against the decision taken by FESFUT, saying it would hold an urgent meeting to discuss the situation.

While regretting the death of the fans and wishing those injured a speedy recovery, the players said that the decision was taken without them being consulted and that they are "affected by the decisions taken."

Information from Reuters was used in this report.