Ben Rice’s batting average plummeted 67 points during an 18-game stretch in May in which hits were hard to come by.

Suddenly, getting Rice out is a major chore for opposing teams. The 27-year-old is fresh off his first four-hit outing of the season and third of his career as he leads the New York Yankees into Saturday night’s middle contest of a three-game series against the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.

The Yankees have won five straight games after sailing to an 8-2 victory on Friday. New York has outscored its opponents 36-6 during the stretch.

On Friday, Rice smacked his 17th homer of the season to go with two doubles and one single.

Rice went 10-for-66 (.152) during his recent funk as his average dropped from .343 to .276. But he’s 9-for-14 with a homer, six RBIs and six runs over the past three games to lift it back to .303.

“It’s a lot of fun. It’s super contagious,” Rice said after the team’s 12-hit outing. “We have a lot of guys who feed off of one another. It’s really fun to watch when the bats are going well.”

Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Ryan McMahon went deep later during Friday’s easy victory.

The blast was just the sixth of the season for the 38-year-old Goldschmidt, who has hit 30 or more seven times during his stellar career.

“I feel like he always goes up there and is a guaranteed quality at-bat,” Rice said of Goldschmidt. “He’s going to go up there with a plan and hit the ball hard and that was another example of that.”

Meanwhile, the Athletics have been outscored 30-6 while losing the first four contests of a six-game homestand.

A throwing error by first baseman Nick Kurtz opened the door for four runs in the first inning for New York.

That was a hole the A’s were unable to recover from.

“Getting down early is tough,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “We’ve been down obviously this homestand, we haven’t played with the lead. Those are challenging games.

“… When we had an opportunity to capitalize and get back into the game, we didn’t get the hit. That’s been the theme (on the homestand).”

Kurtz’s solo homer and Zack Gelof’s run-scoring single plated the team’s runs.

Right-hander J.T. Ginn (2-3, 3.19 ERA) will take the mound for the Athletics on Saturday night.

Ginn, 27, has lost back-to-back starts despite taking a no-hitter into the ninth of the first one and not allowing a hit in the second while throwing 73 pitches.

The first outing was a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on May 18. Adam Frazier broke up the no-hitter to start the ninth and Zach Neto followed with the walk-off two-run homer.

Ginn’s follow-up outing five days later was filled with wildness. He walked six in 2 1/3 innings against the San Diego Padres and took the loss while allowing two runs.

Ginn received a no-decision against the Yankees in 2024 when he allowed one run and four hits over five innings.

Left-hander Ryan Weathers (2-2, 3.14) will take the mound for New York.

Weathers, 26, gave up just four hits over seven scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays last Sunday but received a no-decision in the 2-0 victory. He struck out four and walked three.

Weathers lost to the A’s on April 9 despite pitching well in New York’s 1-0 setback. He gave up one run and seven hits over eight innings.

Weathers is 0-2 with a 2.57 ERA in two career starts against the Athletics. Brent Rooker (1-for-4) has homered against Weathers.

–Field Level Media

It’s that time of the NFL calendar where pretty much nothing is going on, which makes it an intriguing time to peek at next year’s draft.

Even though there are still a few high profile free agents remaining, teams are in OTAs and not much else is happening right now.

Let’s take a crack at a 2027 NFL Draft top 10 mock.

Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

After drafting Jeremiyah Love in the top five, the Cardinals are about to learn how many other holes they actually have.

They need to work something out with starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who is a capable enough bridge to navigate this rebuild in the desert. Smith is the best receiving prospect since Calvin Johnson, and an absolute no-brainer for a rebuilding squad drafting No. 1 overall.

Miami Dolphins: Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas

Another team that needs help everywhere, especially defensively, Simmons is a can’t miss target for the Dolphins.

The Dolphins would’ve loved Smith to be available to better support Malik Willis. But assuming he’s off the board, Miami could help defensive-minded head coach Jeff Haffley (assuming he’s still employed) with an absolute gamewrecker in Simmons.

New York Jets: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

A surprise? Perhaps not. Moore could’ve been the No. 2 overall pick to the Jets if he would’ve left Oregon and declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.

One year later, the Jets could get the quarterback they’ve likely already done a plethora of work on, who will likely be coming off of another stellar year with a loaded Ducks team.

Las Vegas Raiders: Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina

The Raiders should be much better offensively with Ashton Jeanty and Fernando Mendoza. This is another team that would love Smith, but let’s not forget that they tried to trade Maxx Crosby just a few months ago.

Stewart could complement Crosby or replace him. Either way, he’s an impact player that fits the timeline in Vegas.

Cleveland Browns: Arch Manning, QB, Texas

The Browns are currently trying to pick between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders as their starting quarterback.

It’s possible that neither of those guys are on their roster in 2027 after the team drafts Manning, their newest hope at quarterback. After two years of loading up the roster with young talent, Cleveland could actually be an ideal landing spot for Manning, assuming he takes another step forward at Texas this season.

Atlanta Falcons: C.J. Carr, QB, Notre Dame

Here comes the run on quarterbacks.

New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski just can’t quit quarterback controversies. He arrived in Atlanta with Michael Penix Jr., but quickly added free agent quarterback Tua Tagovailoa following his release from the Dolphins.

In classic Stefanski fashion, don’t expect either of those guys to be the answer. Carr makes a lot of sense here, assuming he takes another leap at Notre Dame this year.

Tennessee Titans: Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss

If Jeanty pops in Vegas and Love pops in Arizona during the 2026 season, teams are going to be inclined to keep drafting running backs in the top 10.

Lacy is primed for a huge season at Ole Miss. He has elite breakaway speed. If there’s going to be a running back selected in the top 10, Lacy is a safe pick for a Titans team that has Cam Ward and Carnell Tate, but not much else offensively.

New Orleans Saints: Jordan Seaton, RT, LSU

It’s almost impossible that Seaton will drop this far. But in the event that he does after a run on skill position players and quarterbacks? The Saints could make some sense.

Right tackles in the top 10 are never a glamorous pick, but Seaton has the make up of a player that could anchor an offensive line for many years and makes sense for a Saints offense that should be on the rise.

Cincinnati Bengals: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame

Another player that’s unlikely to drop this far, Moore would be a dream selection for the Bengals.

Cincinnati desperately needs defensive help to support Joe Burrow and Cincinnati’s talented offense. Moore is the best cornerback in college football by a big margin and would fit the need perfectly in Cincinnati.

Washington Commanders: Cam Coleman, WR, Texas

If Manning is going to be a top five pick in the 2027 class, expect Coleman to be a big reason why.

The 19-year-old Auburn transfer is primed for a massive season with the Longhorns and Manning following his 94 catch, 1,323 receiving yard and 13 touchdown season with the Tigers.

The St. Louis Cardinals homered for the first time this week, going deep three times in the opener Friday of their three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.

The Cardinals will look to continue to flex their muscles when they vie for a series win over the Cubs on Saturday night in St. Louis.

Nelson Velazquez celebrated his call-up from Triple-A Memphis by belting a three-run homer in the first inning of Friday’s 6-5 St. Louis victory. Hearing the roar of the crowd at Busch Stadium and receiving a curtain call put a smile on the face of Velazquez, who acknowledged being down after failing to make the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster.

“It took me a little bit (to regroup), but I got to reset myself and I started doing everything that I needed to do to be on the field,” Velazquez said. “So I just did everything I could do. I got to talk to my parents and my friends (about his disappointment), and I got some good comments back that helped me improve my game.”

Thomas Saggese and Ivan Herrera each launched a solo shot on Friday for the Cardinals, who snapped a season-high-tying four-game losing streak. The power display was welcome after the team mustered just two runs over its previous three games.

In addition to Velazquez, St. Louis also promoted prospect Jimmy Crooks from Memphis and optioned fellow catcher Yohel Pozo and infielder Cesar Prieto to the Triple-A club.

“Crooks will have a decent amount of catching. He’s definitely here to play,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said.

St. Louis will turn to Kyle Leahy (5-3, 4.44 ERA) to make the start Saturday against fellow right-hander Ben Brown (1-2, 2.01) of Chicago, which has lost 11 of its past 13 games.

Leahy won three of his previous four starts before unraveling in the fifth inning in his last outing. He surrendered two homers and five runs total in a no-decision against the Cincinnati Reds last Saturday. The Cardinals lost 7-6 in 11 innings.

Leahy, 28, has a 3.55 ERA without a decision in nine career appearances (one start) vs. the Cubs.

Brown will make his 17th appearance and fifth start of the season. He allowed one run on four hits in a season-high six innings of a no-decision against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday. The Cubs lost 2-1.

“It was another really positive start by Ben,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He pitched great. I thought his stuff was great. He continues to mix in more pitches. Continues to be really good with off-speed. His breaking ball was really good. He gave us what we needed.”

Brown, 26, struggled mightily in his lone career appearance against St. Louis last season. He permitted eight runs on nine hits — including four homers — in five innings of an 8-2 loss.

Speaking of homers, Ian Happ continued his barrage by going deep for the third straight game on Friday. He belted a three-run shot in the series opener to improve to 7-for-15 with 10 RBIs in his last three games.

Michael Busch had three hits in the series opener, giving him eight over his last six games.

–Field Level Media