The Cincinnati Reds, ranked fifth in the NL Central with a 35-38 record, face the New York Yankees, who are first in the AL East with a 45-28 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -285 moneyline compared to the Cincinnati Reds' +225. Starting pitchers are Rhett Lowder for Cincinnati, with a 4.60 ERA, and Cam Schlittler for New York, with a 1.82 ERA.
After three straight years, it’s becoming a norm for a UConn player to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft. The only other schools with that distinction in the last three years? Duke and Baylor, a couple of five-star daycares with questionable methods.
I still remember the delight of hearing James Bouknight’s name called.
But for the streak to continue, they’ll need teams to fall in love with Tarris Reed Jr or Alex Karaban. Both have been projected as fringe first-rounders, but as we saw with Liam McNeeley last year, draft night comes with a lot of uncertainty.
Since NBA front offices are obviously reading The UConn Blog Dot Com, here is my sales pitch for Reed. You can read Karaban’s here. Maybe this can push them solidly into the first round.
It Pays to Be Big
I found five comparisons based on combine measurements and play style, three from the current generation and two slightly older ones. Combined, they all reflect a sort of best-case, best-floor comparison.
Pace and space is still a thing in the NBA, but some are bucking the trend. Jumbo lineups — like what Michigan did to UConn in the title game — are starting to enter the picture. If you’re trying to stay ahead of the jumbo curve, may I interest you in a 6 ’10 (barefoot), 260 lb. center with ballerina feet, a 7′ 5 ” wingspan, and feathery touch around the rim?
What if he has above-average passing skills, exceptional switchability, and shot mechanics that indicate potential shooting range later in his career?
With the first comparison, let’s aim high.
The Detroit Pistons were the no. 1 seed in the East in part due to Jalen Duren’s emergence as a space-eating low-post anchor with two-way athleticism.
That’s the almost unrealistic, peak comparison for Reed Jr. out there right now; he comes into the league and picks up right where he left off in April. His rebounding translates, his defense continues to tighten up, the motor is revving, and he shows he can score over NBA size consistently. That’s a lot of “ifs” but that’s also Jalen Duren-lite.
Duren was a one-and-done at Memphis, and came in with more of a pedigree after reclassing into the 2022 recruiting class as the no. 1 player overall. He was 18 years old when drafted, a mammoth project with unlimited tools.
Reed’s path was a little longer, featuring a change of scenery and a little senioritis needed to unlock the full potential. After an inconsistent run as a Husky, something clicked for him this past March. All that enticing potential was realized and the staff’s vision was fulfilled.
It doesn’t matter when the light comes on, as long as they turn on.
Here are the combine measurements for comparison:
Tarris Reed Jr
Height (Barefoot): 6’9.75”
Weight: 263.6 lbs
Wingspan: 7’4.25”
Standing Reach: 9’2”
Standing Vertical: 29.5”
Jalen Duren
Height (without shoes): 6’9.5″
Weight: 250 lbs
Wingspan: 7’5″
Standing Reach: 9’1″
Standing Vertical: 37”
Duren’s age and explosiveness make him even more of a freak than Reed Jr, but that’s why he was the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He was a baby then, and is Tarris’ age now. Duren improved his statistical profile in his first four years, averaging 19.7 ppg and 10.5 rpg last year, earning his first All-Star berth, third-team All-NBA, and defensive player of the year votes.
A team taking Reed isn’t automatically getting the next Jalen Duren. But maybe they’re getting a more NBA-ready, albeit less athletic Jalen Duren. Less ceiling, more polish. Backup big men don’t just fall out of the sky.
Duren is the pie in the sky. Back on earth, can I interest you in a Day’Ron Sharpe comparison?
Sharpe opted out of the combine measurements back in 2021, but the Nets list him at 6 ’10 265, pretty close to Tarris’ measurements. Sharpe was a one-and-done out of North Carolina that fell to Phoenix at pick 29, and promptly traded to the Brooklyn Nets on draft day. He’s been there as a reserve big man, averaging 7 ppg and 6 rpg in 15.5 mpg.
The way Sharpe seals and uses his body is very reminiscent of Reed, except the latter’s post moves are more polished because he’s older. This is probably what scouts see, with Reed’s upside coming from his bullish trajectory and potential to expand his game.
Former Georgetown Hoya Thomas Sorber is another match.
Thomas Sorber
Height: 6’9.25″
Weight: 262.8 lbs
Wingspan: 7’6.00″
Standing Reach: 9’1.00″
Vertical: 42 inches
Reed is taller, but Sorber is younger and more explosive. He put up nine points and 10 rebounds against UConn in 2025, a game in which Reed played 12 minutes and scored three points.
Sorber tore his ACL in September and never saw the court for Oklahoma City, but if you watched the Spurs take down the Thunder last month, you know his skillset is sorely needed.
Now for the throwbacks. Walk with me down memory lane, fellow millennials.
Al Jefferson
Height (without shoes): 6’8.25”
Weight: 289 lbs
Wingspan: 7’2.5”
Standing Reach: 9’2”
Big Al came into the league smaller but heavier than Reed. Before the one-and-done era, he was a highly-ranked prospect in high school (noticing the trend?). Big Al and Tarris have the below-the-rim post game with an array of moves in their bag.
Pace-and-space left Big Al behind, but look at some of this footwork.
Awfully reminiscent of Reed this past March, except Reed has flashed the mobility to adapt to today’s game. Big Al played 14 years in the league and finished with career averages of 15.7 ppg and 8.4 rpg. He averaged 23 and 11 in 2008-2009 for the Timberwolves, and was third-team All-NBA in 2013-2014.
I also saw some Derrick Favors comparisons floating around out there on the internet.
Here are his measurements from the 2010 combine:
Derrick Favors
Height: 6’8.75”
Weight: 245.2 lbs
Wingspan: 7’4”
Standing Reach: 9’2”
Standing Vertical: 31.5 inches
Similar to Duren, Sharpe, Sorber, and Jefferson, Favors was a blue-chip, one-and-done freakazoid prospect. Except he never really ascended to Duren’s heights, or Jefferson’s. Favors played 12 seasons in the NBA, finishing with career averages of 10 ppg and 7 rpg. He was a solid rim-runner who protected the rim well with Rudy Gobert.
Reed is taller by an inch, but Favors was more explosive and younger coming out (the youngest player drafted by the Nets ever).
Breaking it Down
Five players with very different ceilings. Duren is a franchise cornerstone. Big Al was on his way to being one, until his knees gave out. Favors never ascended, but career earnings of $130 million (Jefferson made $137 mil) is far from a bust. Sharpe looks like he’ll carve out a reserve role for the next decade. The jury’s out on Sorber due to injury.
It sounds silly to rattle off these highly successful comparisons for a player like Reed that’s barely projected to go in the first round. As I said before, there are a lot of Ifs, and that’s why he’s a fringe first-rounder. But it’s hard to ignore the success of these players with similar physical measurements, combined with the switch that Reed flipped in March.
That’s not to say big men of his stature are automatic. In the last decade, James Wiseman Jr and Marvin Bagley had roughly similar measurements and didn’t pan out. However, when you really broke them down, the comparisons didn’t entirely add up; Reed is heavier than both and a different type of player.
Age is Just a Number
There are a lot of factors working against Tarris. His age, the potentially historic draft class, career inconsistency, and overall game trends can all be docked against him. After all these optimistic comparisons, the downsides need to be addressed.
College players at 6 ’10, 260 lbs. are usually one-and-done material. Even if they’re projects, most of the time they’ve been developed in an NBA organization, not the program. All of the comparisons above were five stars, making Reed’s Top 40 four-star ranking out of high school look pedestrian.
Reed represents a different path because he’s three years older. But let’s investigate that a little further.
First, the Juwan Howard factor. How would any of the above players have succeeded under a Howard regime? Second, the NIL landscape informs a lot of ‘stay or go ’ decisions now.
With no NIL around, maybe 15 years ago, Tarris heads to the NBA a year or two earlier with that coveted ‘raw potential’ label. Would Al Jefferson stay another year in college if a school offered more money than he’d make in the late lottery, which was where he fell? And if he somehow didn’t perform, every year in college would tank the sense of his potential, even though he eventually became a force inside.
What would Da’Ron Sharpe’s numbers look like if he stayed three more years? Would he average 19.5 ppg, 13.2 rpg, and 1.5 blocks per game in the NCAA tournament?
For a variety of reasons, Tarris took a little more time to cook. That’s okay! He’s not a senior citizen though; he’ll only be 23 next season. I understand the financial advantages a GM gets from a 19-year-old’s contract vs. a 23-year-old’s. But there are still risks.
A savvy GM should look at the March emergence and see an NBA-ready guy. Given how suddenly he flipped the switch, maybe there’s still more left to unlock.
His measurements have a pretty good track record at the next level. There are more success stories for guys with Tarris’ combination of size and skill out there than cautionary tales. The college game is more like the G-League than ever before, so age shouldn’t be as big a knock on a player’s draft stock. This applies to Karaban as well, who surely would have gone to the NBA earlier without the benefits of NIL.
The Toronto Maple Leafs took a big swing at improving their blue line before the start of free agency, acquiring Darren Raddysh's rights from the Tampa Bay Lightning and signing the defenseman to an eight-year contract.
The contract is worth $68 million, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because financial terms were not disclosed.
Raddysh will count $8.5 million against the salary cap through the 2033-34 season. He had never made more than a million dollars a year until now.
The 30-year-old late bloomer cashed in on a breakout season in which he set career highs with 22 goals, 48 assists and 70 points in 73 games. That's the same amount of points he put up in the previous two seasons combined since becoming a full-time NHL player as recently as 2023.
Raddysh provides an immediate upgrade for the Leafs, who have a new coach in Jim Hiller and a new front office led by general manager John Chayka and franchise legend adviser Mats Sundin. Getting Raddysh's rights from the Lightning for a fifth-round pick before he could hit the open market is Chayka's second trade after clearing cap space earlier this week by sending goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to Philadelphia.
“We are thrilled to add a defenseman of Darren’s caliber to our organization,” Chayka said. “Darren has emerged as one of the NHL’s premier two-way defensemen, combining elite puck-moving ability with poise, competitiveness and strong play in all three zones. He strengthens our blue line in every situation and is exactly the type of player we want helping lead this team.”
Raddysh was undrafted despite helping the Erie Otters win the Ontario Hockey League at the junior level in 2016-17. He signed with Chicago, got traded to the New York Rangers and inked a free agent deal in 2021 with the Lightning.
He spent a vast majority of that time in the minors and was an All-Star in the American Hockey League before earning a job with Tampa Bay. He thrived this past season while the team dealt with injuries all over and led all players in the league at the position with 10 power-play goals.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Jonathan Toews announced his retirement Friday, ending a decorated NHL career that included three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals and a comeback season with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.
The 38-year-old center returned to the NHL in 2025-26 after a two-year absence related to Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and long COVID, recording 11 goals and 18 assists while appearing in all 82 games for Winnipeg.
Toews spent 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, captaining the franchise to Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015 while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010.
He finished his NHL career with 383 goals and 529 assists in 1,149 regular-season games and was recognized as one of the league’s premier two-way forwards.
Toews also starred for Canada on the international stage, winning Olympic gold twice in 2010 and 2014, the World Cup in 2016, a world championship in 2007 and consecutive world junior titles in 2006 and 2007.
His final season allowed one of Manitoba’s most accomplished hockey players to complete a full-circle return home before stepping away from the game.
Jun 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement (22) makes a catch for an out slides into against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Good Morning.
And Happy Birthday Tyler Heineman, who turns 35 today. He was very likable when he was here. That’s an important skill for a backup catcher, but he seemed like a great guy. And he had an excellent season last year. I hope things go will with the Angels.
We have a day game. I really don’t like weekday day games, but Wrigley Field is a special place. I’ve been to Chicago to watch games against the White Sox, but the Cubs weren’t in town and they weren’t doing tours of Wrigley. One day I might get there, not for the next three years, but one day.
The Score has a list of twenty players who are deadline trade candidates. No Jays on the list, but Bo Bichette is on the list. I guess is the is the rumour that he’ll opt out of his contract after this year. He could be a good pickup for some time. But then, he might not opt out and you’d be paying Bo $42 million in each of the next two years. I’m trying to imagine a world where someone was going to pay me $82 million over the next two years and I’d say nah, let’s roll the dice and see if I can get more. I guess I don’t have Bo’s range at short, at least not until my foot heals.
I can’t see the Jays being sellers while they are still on the edge of a Wild Card spot. I don’t know that they would be buyers either.
I can’t imagine any way that Shane Bieber won’t be making his next appearance with the Jays, even if we are 7-1 in bullpen day game. Will he be good is a separate question, but he threw 80 pitches for Buffalo Wednesday. I don’t think we have anyone else who is likely to throw 80 pitches the next time that spot comes around (well, maybe SWR, but we seem to like him as a long reliever.
Shane Bieber says he's happy with how he felt during and after his last rehab outing, throwing 80 pitches for Buffalo on Wednesday. Called it a funky outing results-wise but liked how stuff held.
Not sharing next steps yet other than he'll throw a bullpen in Chicago on Saturday.
Everyone is the media expects and hopes GM Don Waddell does something to bolster the lineup. From trading up to trading down, to trading players, everything seems to be on the table.
Just recently, a national NHL talking head suggested that anyone who plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets is a trade target. I'm not sure if he was joking or not, but you can see where we're at.
Someone even suggested that Kirill Marchenko is on the trade block? Yeah, I'm not so sure about that one.
Yesterday, though, Dave Pagnotta of The 4th Period reported that Jake DeBrusk doesn't want to sit through a Vancouver rebuild. He even mentioned that the CBJ were interested in the 29-year-old left winger.
It's intriguing to think about. He's going into year three of a seven-year, $38.5 million contract. At $5.5 million AAV, that's not a bad contract.
He's coming off of a season where he scored 23 goals and totaled 42 points. His career high in goals and points is 27 and 50, set when he played for the Boston Bruins during the 2022-23 season. The Bruins had the best regular season in NHL history, winning 65 games and finishing with 135 points. Everyone on that team had good seasons.
DeBrusk has played the last couple of seasons with Conor Garland, and before that, played with Charlie Coyle in Boston, so the familiarity is there.
But would a DeBrusk trade move the needle for the CBJ fans? And more importantly, would he provide a spark enough to get this team over the hump and into the playoffs?
I guess it depends on what Don Waddell would need to give up to get him. Personally, I don't think he's worth the #14 pick alone. What about a player in return? The Canucks are all about getting picks back, I'm assuming, unless it's a young prospect.
I think landing DeBrusk is a start, but I don't think it's enough to get the team over the hump. There would need to be other moves made.
As long as were looking at Canucks, might I interest you in one Brock Boeser.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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FIVE AND TWO: The Cubs are 5-2 in their last seven games. This is their first 5-2 span of the season that did not include any games during their two 10-game winning streaks. They were 5-2 through the first four wins of the first streak, beginning with the sixth win of that streak, and beginning with the sixth win of the second streak. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
STARTING OFF RIGHT: The Cubs have won the first game of their last two series, after having lost the opener of the previous seven. They won the last two series after having lost the previous seven. They are 7-3 in winning series after winning first games; 3-10-1 after losing first games. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
AFTER AN OFF DAY: The Cubs are 4-5 in games after a day off but have lost their last three, two at home. They are 3-3 in all games at home following a day of rest. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
CAMPAIGNING FOR PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Pete Crow-Armstrong, 16 games in June: .406/.435/.906 (26-for-64) with four doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 11 RBI, 12 runs scored and four stolen bases.
I wouldn’t say Ben Brown has been the savior of the Cubs starting rotation but… yeah, he pretty much has been. Since he joined the rotation May 8, he has a 1.49 ERA, 0.936 WHIP, 2.13 FIP and still no home runs allowed this season after he gave up one to the first batter he faced in 2026 (Jacob Young of the Nationals), now 243 batters. In seven starts he’s allowed only one hit in three of them.
Good stuff, Ben. He threw four innings of one-run relief against the Jays last year, Aug. 12, 2025 in Toronto, his only career outing against them.
Kevin Gausman has been an underrated, consistent starter in MLB for over a decade. This year at age 35, he’s having another good year, and in his last start, June 13 vs. the Yankees, he allowed one hit over seven innings.
Gausman threw seven innings against the Cubs Aug. 13, 2025 in Toronto and allowed two runs — both on solo homers, one by Michael Busch, the other by Matt Shaw.
This will not be an easy afternoon for Cubs hitters.
Please visit our SB Nation Blue Jays site Bluebird Banter. If you do go there to interact with Jays fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 20, 2026: Kendry Chourio #33 of the Kansas City Royals throws a pitch during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on March 20, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Kansas City Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week, we asked which kinds of players the Royals should target during the upcoming trade deadline.
Well, I’ll say this about the poll results. Only 1% of Royals fans were willing to wait/pessimistic enough to believe that the Royals should try to target players who may not be ready to contribute until the 2030s. And, honestly, I think they’re correct in that. This is still a team that not only has Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia but also Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone, who seem to have started coming into their own in the month of June after each slumped a bit through May.
That said, they were pretty evenly split on whether the Royals could compete next year or might need to wait until 2028/2029 when the top prospects in the low minors should be really establishing themselves as the new core of the team. 2027 got 25% of the vote, while 2028-2029 got 29%. That, of course, means the plurality voted that the Royals should just target the best talent available, regardless of when that talent might be able to contribute.
Given that we accept that the answer doesn’t include guys who would try to seriously contribute to the 2026 roster, I think we can accept that this represents a block of people who don’t know whether the team can compete next year, but think they should be able to compete sometime within the next three. If that’s the understanding, then yeah, it makes sense to not lock out any options in those three years by refusing someone who is ultra-talented but only in AA because it doesn’t fit the window, or vice versa with a guy knocking on the door of the big leagues now.
Of course, as guys continue to get hurt, there are a lot of questions about who the Royals might even be able to trade. Let’s all cross our fingers that people can get healthy in time to bring us back some fun prospects to dream about in August and September.
Last summer, the Buffalo Sabres faced a dilemma in getting defenseman Bowen Byram signed to a contract extension. The Stanley Cup winner went into mid-July as a restricted free agent while reportedly Sabres GM Kevyn Adams pondered trading the young blueliner, but after not finding a satisfactory return, the Sabres inked the British Columbia native to a two-year, $12.5 million deal in mid July. Less than a year later, after posting career-high numbers and helping Buffalo reach the postseason for the first time in 15 years, Byram’s name has popped up again in trade chatter.
The 25-year-old put up 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists) in 82 games, and seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 13 playoff games last season, and in his season-ending comments to the media last month, Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen expressed a desire to get Byram signed to a long-term extension when he becomes eligible on July 1.
"(Keeping that top four intact as long as possible is) very important. I said that to Bo today. I'd like to lock him up for a long time," Kekalainen said. "I think the top four of our defense is our driver, our engine, and their mobility, ability to move the puck, ability to support offense, but also play good defensively. There's a lot of untapped potential there too. I think Bowen is still a young defenseman. He can get better."
Byram switched agents to Darren Ferris last summer, the same agent as Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner. Ferris is a tough negotiator who usually recommends players to go to unrestricted free agency, as Marner did by orchestrating his exit from the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer. Entering the walk year of his bridge deal and with the salary cap projected to going up again next season, it likely would necessitate the Sabres to pay market rate to get him extended.
TSN’s Darren Dreger said that multiple teams are exploring a trade for Byram, and NHL reporter Frank Seravalli indicates that Byram likes playing in Buffalo, but that the opportunity to be a #1 defenseman and hitting the jackpot in free agency may be foremost on his agenda.
The bridge deal signed by Adams last summer pushed the issue down the road, and that paid off this season with him being an integral part of their success, but the issue has returned and Kekalainen must deal with it. Offers from potentially interested teams will be less due to the fact that acquiring Byram will likely be a one-year rental, and that could manifest itself in the Sabres getting a package of futures or keeping him for another playoff run and potentially losing him for nothing next July, as it appears they will be losing Alex Tuch next month.
Carels is coming off of a season with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League, in which he recorded 20 goals, 53 assists, and 73 points in 58 games.
The 17-year-old defenseman is committed to playing NCAA hockey this upcoming season for the University of North Dakota.
Ranked third among all North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Rankings, Carels is known as a defenseman who plays a strong two-way game, capable of producing offense while also playing a shutdown role against the opposition's best forwards.
“Carels is a unique all-around defenseman who has offensive talent and brings a physical element while playing sound defensively,” via NHL Central Scouting. “He can play big minutes and is deployed in all situations with the ability to run a power play.
“An excellent puck transporter and distributor who drives offence and shows some elite offensive skill. He skates very well with excellent mobility and agility and can defend with speed. A potential top-pairing defenseman.”
In Pronman’s latest mock draft, Carels is the second defenseman off the board, with Chase Reid being slotted to be selected by the Chicago Blackhawks at the No. 4 overall pick.
Standing at 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, some scouts described Carels as the most physical defenseman when compared to some of the top blueliners in the draft class, according to The Athletic’s Vincent Mercogliano.
During his time in the WHL, Cougars head coach Brad Lauer relied heavily on Carels, who led the league in ice time, averaging 27:39 minutes per game.
Other defensemen the Rangers could look to draft with the No.5 pick include Alberts Šmits and Keaton Verhoeff.
That is far from ideal going up against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who excel against lefties and project to have seven or eight batters hit from the right-side on Friday night.
The Diamondbacks rank fourth in OPS vs. left-handed pitching this season. Isolating matchups against Top-15 opponents in that category, Prielipp owns an 8.44 ERA and has allowed at least four earned runs in all four starts.
Michael Soroka should get all the run support he needs in this one.
Twins vs Diamondbacks Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)
This total is half a run too low for me.
The Diamondbacks possess a highly productive offense against left-handed pitching, especially at home. They rank fifth in wOBA and third in ISO vs. lefties in Arizona.
When they inevitably chase Prielipp from the game, they will face an underwhelming bullpen that sits 28th in xFIP this season.
Minnesota also enters with a red-hot offense, slotting third in OPS vs. righties in June.
Play the Over to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 34-27, -0.65 units
Over/Under bets: 32-27-2, +1.69 units
Twins vs Diamondbacks weather
Temperatures could clear 100 in Arizona today. The heat creates a better envrionment for hitters and will help the ball carry.
Twins vs Diamondbacks odds
Moneyline: Minnesota +145 | Arizona -170
Run line: Minnesota +1.5 (-140) | Arizona -1.5 (+120)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)
Twins vs Diamondbacks trend
Minnesota has hit the Game Total Over in 16 of their last 22 games (+10.50 units, 44% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. Diamondbacks.
How to watch Twins vs Diamondbacks and game info
Location
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Friday, June 19, 2026
First pitch
9:45 p.m. ET
TV
Apple TV
Twins starting pitcher
Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA)
Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11 ERA)
Twins vs Diamondbacks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Jun 16, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) reacts after hitting a two RBI single against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The New York Yankees’ offense has looked solid all year, and currently ranks second in MLB with a 115 wRC+. Cody Bellinger has been a big part of that success, and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been able to overcome a rough start to his season and remains a key cog in the Bombers’ World Series dreams.
A few days ago, we asked you, the Yankees fan reading this piece, whether Bellinger and Chisholm have done enough to make the All-Star roster in the American League. The response was clear.
A whopping 98 percent of Yankees fans believe Bellinger should be in Philadelphia next month, playing the Midsummer Classic with the American League. And to be fair, the numbers don’t lie: he is definitely deserving of a spot on the team.
Only four outfielders in the Junior Circuit have a higher wRC+ than Bellinger’s 136: Byron Buxton (149), Aaron Judge (148), Randy Arozarena (139), and Mike Trout (139). Bellinger is also second in fWAR with 2.6, right behind Buxton’s 2.8. These stats tell you that Bellinger, who is slashing a cool .275/.369/.479 with 11 homers and eight stolen bases, is among the very best outfielders in the American League and can’t be left out of the party. The Yankees re-signed him to a five-year, $162.5 million deal primarily with the hope that he could help them win right away; he’s absolutely done that in the first half of 2026.
The first MLB All-Star voting update had Bellinger and Judge among the top five vote-getters in the AL outfield, so they would both be in position to at least advance to the more run-off-focused Phase 2 of the process. Regardless of whether or not he gets a starting spot, he’s likely in good shape to make his third career All-Star team—and first since his MVP-winning 2019—in some capacity. (It’d be a stunner if teammates Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler weren’t there with him, but their cases are clear-cut enough that we did not ask about them or Judge, who might also make it despite his injury).
Now, let’s examine Chisholm’s case.
Yankees fans aren’t so confident that Chisholm deserves to play in the Midsummer Classic. Roughly one-third of them think he should be an All-Star, and to be fair, it wouldn’t be right to proclaim a 102-wRC+ hitter an automatic entry.
Chisholm wasn’t himself in the first month of the year, with a 73 wRC+. Then, he turned things around in May with a 124 mark and has kept playing at a high level in June, with a 122 wRC+. He does have 10 homers and 20 stolen bases, though, and his defensive performance depends on which stat you prioritize: his -5 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) says he has been a disaster, yet his 5 Outs Above Average (OAA) think the world of him.
In other words, Chisholm has lacked consistency this year, and the majority of fans don’t think he is an All-Star at this juncture. That can still change, though, especially since the AL field as a whole at the keystone is, to be kind, underwhelming. Someone has to be the All-Star second baseman. It could still be Jazz.
In the MLB-wide survey, we asked you who will win the World Series. The results are not surprising:
A plurality of the public—roughly 39 percent—believe that the Los Angeles Dodgers will get the three-peat. As of Friday morning, they boast an MLB-best 48-27 record and a nine-game lead in the NL West. They still have plenty of offensive and pitching weapons, and they are run by the same people with the same successful philosophy. They have as good a chance as anyone in the league to win it all.
The Atlanta Braves checked in at second place in the survey, and the Yankees were third. They will need to shore up a shaky bullpen to reach those heights, though, not to mention getting Judge back healthy in time. The rebuilding White Sox actually being in the top five is definitely cool to see.
The former Chicago Blackhawks captain had joined his hometown Jets in 2025-26 after missing two years with health issues. He played all 82 games, finishing with 11 goals, 18 assists and 29 points.
Toews, 38, was a standout with the Blackhawks, recording 372 goals, 511 assists and 883 points in 1,067 career-regular season games over 15 seasons. He was named captain at age 20, and "Captain Serious" helped the team win Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
Toews said winning one Stanley Cup — let alone three — was surreal.
"When (Patrick Kane) scored that (2010 overtime) goal, I think I was one of the last guys off the bench," he said during his retirement announcement at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in Winnipeg. "I wasn't ready to let go until I knew for sure that it was over. Next thing you know, you're hoisting the Cup and you have it back home and in your living room and you're just like, 'How is this happening to me right now?'"
Toews won the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after leading all postseason scorers with 29 points as the Blackhawks ended a 49-year championship drought.
He won the Selke Trophy as top defensive forward during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. The Blackhawks opened that season with a 24-game point streak and captured the Stanley Cup. He had 21 points in 23 games during the 2015 Cup run.
He also won Olympic gold medals with Canada in 2010 and 2014, scoring in both championship games.
Toews' final years in Chicago were marked by health issues.
He missed the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season because of chronic immune response syndrome and also sat out for two months in 2021-22 because of the effects of that and of long COVID. After playing in 2022-23, he skipped two seasons in order to get healthy.
After his comeback season, he was a finalist for the Masterton Trophy for perseverance.
"Sometimes I catch myself wishing that things had gone differently and I could have finished my career on a different note these last five years or so, but truth be told, I'm grateful for the struggle and learning experience I've been through," he said. "Ironically, I feel I've learned so much more about myself and about life through the low points than I ever did when my career was at its heights."
Is Jonathan Toews a Hall of Famer?
Easily. He was a captain of three Stanley Cup championship teams and won several individual awards.
The Hall of Fame also factors in international play and he won two Olympic gold medals. He's a member of the triple gold club, winning a Stanley Cup, Olympics and world championships.
Top NHL free agent defenseman Darren Raddysh is off the market after being acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade deal on Friday, June 19.
Raddysh gets an eight-year deal worth a reported $8.5 million a year. The Lightning received a fifth-round pick in the trade.
The 30-year-old defenseman had a breakout season with 22 goals and 70 points and filled in well while Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman was out with injuries and personal leave. His top season before that was 37 points, so there's some risk with the term in the deal.
"Darren has emerged as one of the NHL’s premier two-way defensemen, combining elite puck-moving ability with poise, competitiveness, and strong play in all three zones," Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said.
But there are intriguing names left on the board. Here's what to know about NHL free agency:
When does NHL free agency open?
The free agent market opens at noon ET on July 1.
Who are the top NHL unrestricted free agents?
10. Anders Lee, New York Islanders
He has been the Islanders' captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals, though he had 19 in 2025-26. Current cap hit: $7 million.
9. Bobby McMann, Seattle Kraken
He had a career-best 29 goals in 2025-26 and took off after his trade from Toronto to Seattle, getting 10 goals and 14 points in 18 games. Current cap hit: $1.35 million
8. Mason Marchment, Columbus Blue Jackets
He struggled with the Seattle Kraken after his offseason trade, but his trade to Columbus revived his season with 32 points in 39 games. He's also an agitator. Current cap hit: $4.5 million.
7. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins
He's the third-highest-scoring player on the free agent list with 64 points after he signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh. Will a general manager be tempted to think he can do that again or look at his subpar production before that? Current cap hit: $2.5 million.
6. Viktor Arvidsson, Boston Bruins
The forward bounced back from a couple subpar seasons and had 25 goals and 54 points after being traded to Boston. Current cap hit: $4 million.
5. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
The goalie won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He'll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.
4. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is expected to either re-sign with the Capitals or retire. Otherwise, he'd be higher on the list. He scored 32 goals at age 40. Current cap hit: $9.5 million.
3. John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks
Carlson, the Capitals' all-time leader in scoring among defensemen, was traded to the Ducks in a shocker. He totaled 60 points in 71 games. Current cap hit: $8 million.
2. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights
The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with one 50-point season and others topping 40 points, including 47 points in 2025-26. He had an average playoffs. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.
1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres
The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He had 33 goals this season as the Sabres ended a 14-season playoff drought. After scoring four goals in the first round, he was held without a point in the second round as the Sabres lost in seven games. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.
Others to watch: Patrick Kane, Frederik Andersen, Mats Zuccarello, Brent Burns
Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is turning a corner, and he profiles extremely well against Chicago Cubs starter Ben Brown to keep the bat warm, making Over 1.5 total bases at a +135 price an attractive play.
Read on for my Blue Jays vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks for this Friday, June 19 matchup.
Blue Jays vs Cubs predictions
Blue Jays vs Cubs best bet: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases (+135)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. profiles extremely well against Ben Brown, who gives up hard contact and throws a mix of curveballs and sinkers to right-handed batters at an 81% rate.
Vladdy has crushed these pitch types all season, with a .392 AVG and a .468 SLG.
He’s starting to heat up, too, with hits in five of his last six games, including his first home run in 32 days yesterday, which could be the confidence-builder he needs to get back to his All-Star self.
Guerrero’s hard-hit rate against the curveball and sinker, averaging 58% since June 1 — up from his 47% season average — points to the potential for more extra-base hits in the future.
A Vladdy breakout is coming, and a favorable matchup against Brown makes this bet playable even at +120.
COVERS INTEL: Brown is a contact pitcher who owns an 85.4% zone-contact rating, matching Guerrero’s 85.5% zone-contact rate, making this a favourable matchup for the Jays slugger, who ranks in the 94th percentile in xBA.
Blue Jays vs Cubs same-game parlay (SGP)
Guerrero Jr. owns just an 4.8% strikeout rate against Brown's principle pitch mix, and has gone Under this number in eight of his 13 June games.
Another Toronto Blue Jays batter who profiles well against the Chicago Cubs starter is Nathan Lukes, who owns a .340 AVG against Brown’s pitch mix, and has recorded 1+ hits in 19 of his last 22 games since returning from the IL.
Blue Jays vs Cubs SGP
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Under 0.5 strikeouts
Nathan Lukes Over 0.5 hits
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Blue Jays vs Cubs home run pick: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+675)
Brown has surrendered just one home run through 62 innings of work this season, so a quarter-unit wager is in order on this bet.
Brown has been hit hard, ranking in the 29th percentile with a 42.9% hard-hit rate in 2026.
Perhaps after a 32-day buffer between his last two home runs, Guerrero Jr. digs in and goes deep two games in a row. I’ll make a small wager on the breakout.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 35-37, +2.85 units
SGPs: 14-58, +4.15 units
HR picks: 11-61, -0.1 units
Blue Jays vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: Toronto -102 | Chicago -120
Run line: Toronto +1.5 | Chicago -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7 | Under 7
Blue Jays vs Cubs trend
The Blue Jays have hit the Run Line in nine of their last 13 away games (+5.15 Units / 26% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Cubs.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Friday, 6-19-2026
First pitch
2:20 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock, SN
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman (4-4, 3.41 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
Ben Brown (3-2, 1.74 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Cubs latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Cubs weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
COVERS INTEL:
