Anthony Kay looks to get back on track against the Dodgers.
For the first time in four years your Chicago White Sox are atop the AL Central, after two impressive wins over the Atlanta Braves. With the team getting a rainy Thursday night off, the South Siders had a breather before another big series, this one with the reigning World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
This series with the Dodgers is the third of four matchups that will test the team’s ability and give fans an indication if this year’s team is for real or not. So far, so good for the White Sox as they went 3-2 combined against the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves. With this series against the Dodgers being the final one at home before a road trip to New York and Detroit, a win against Los Angeles would put them in a great position.
Just as he did against the Phillies last week, Anthony Kay will lead off as the first starter against the Dodgers. Kay entered last week’s game after a sizzling month of May, going 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA. Unfortunately, the Phillies knocked the southpaw out of the game early, as he could only manage four innings and allowed six earned runs along the way. Tonight, his task doesn’t get much easier with a Dodgers team that ranks first in the majors in runs scored. With that said, Kay has been on another level at home this year, sporting a 4-0 record and an ERA of three at Rate Field.
As for the Dodgers, they will throw Roki Sasaki out on the mound, and it’s anyone’s guess how he will fare. Sasaki has flashed his elite talent this season, but has struggled mightily with consistency. After a solid start in March, Sasaki had an ERA of more than seven in April, before getting back on track in May. Most recently, Sasaki pitched a seven-inning gem against the Angels, allowing just two hits over seven innings of work and punching out 10 in the process. Sasaki seems to either pitch very well, or completely fall apart, so early on we should be able to tell what kind of outing the White Sox will be facing.
With just a half-game separating the White Sox and Cleveland Guardians at the top of the division, taking even two out of three against a team like the Dodgers would do wonders with the Guardians currently in freefall. No matter what happens tonight, there is no doubt that Rate Field will be ready to go and rocking early.
Here is the starting lineup for the White Sox:
Here is the starting lineup for the defending champions, with one notable omission, as Shohei Ohtani tweaked a hamstring on Thursday:
First pitch is 6:40 p.m. CST. You can watch on CHSN or listen on ESPN Chicago 1000. Let us know your thoughts and predictions below!
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Arizona Wildcats during the second half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg worked out for the Golden State Warriors on Thursday as part of the team’s pre-draft process. Following the workout, Lendeborg spoke with reporters and was asked what it would be like to play alongside Warriors superstar Steph Curry if Golden State were to select him later this month.
As expected, the projected lottery pick didn’t hide his excitement.
“Man, that would be amazing. He provides so much gravity on the court that it really makes it super easy for other guys to score.”
Yaxel Lendeborg on what it would be like to play with Steph if he gets drafted to the Warriors pic.twitter.com/54Ep5euMZz
It’s easy to understand why the idea appeals to Lendeborg. Curry’s constant movement and ability to draw multiple defenders have created countless easy opportunities for teammates throughout his career. For a versatile forward like Lendeborg, who thrives as a connective piece on both ends of the floor, those extra pockets of space could help elevate his game even further at the next level.
Meanwhile, the Warriors, who currently hold the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, remain focused on balancing competing in the present with building for the future. Because of this, the 23-year-old Lendeborg has emerged as one of the prospects most frequently connected to Golden State in recent mock drafts.
Lendeborg’s NBA-ready skill set makes him one of the more intriguing options in this draft, and if his comments on Thursday are any indication, the opportunity to play alongside Curry on the Warriors is one he would gladly embrace.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, June 12th:
Already, Lendeborg can see his fit on the Warriors and how he would make an impact from Day 1 if they were to take him with the No. 11 pick. His answer wasn’t about himself. More so, it was about how he can help everybody else.
“I would say, like five assists a game maybe to start off,” Lendeborg said Thursday after his Warriors workout. “A lot of defense, fastbreak opportunities for me. Depending on if I’m here or anywhere else, my role will be a lot different. But if I was here, I’ll be more like a secondary ball-handler. Whenever Steph [Curry] is taken out of the game, I’ll be there to assist, maybe provide a little more offense or instant offense.”
Players who can handle, shoot off the dribble, and stand at 6-10 don’t grow on trees. This physical foundation kept Ament in lottery consideration even after a dreadful start to his freshman season when he struggled to score efficiently and make an impact defensively. But over the second half of the year for Tennessee, he flipped a switch and shots began to fall. He averaged 23.8 points over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everyone why he was a top recruit in the country. Then he dealt with an ankle injury that ruined his momentum entering March and severely struggled during the tournament. Steve Kerr re-signed for a two-year deal and would probably rather have a pro-ready player, but maybe Ament will be the young guy who exceeds expectations and turns into a star.
Draymond Green talks about his biggest draft miss:
"I would say my biggest miss, I'll take it as a miss because it didn't work, but I still think this guy has the potential to become a star in this league, I was super on the train of drafting Jonathan Kuminga. I still don't… pic.twitter.com/MXiFJDf6Wl
Having now collected three flagrant foul points this postseason, Wembanyama is only one point away from an automatic suspension. He committed the latest transgression, a flagrant foul 1, with 9:27 left in the third quarter of Game 4 when he elbowed Karl-Anthony Towns in the chin as the two were tied up near the 3-point line.
Whether this latest report ultimately leads anywhere remains to be seen. But if Golden State is indeed entering the final chapter of Curry’s championship window, there may be no more fascinating way to end it than by pairing Curry with the very player who once stood as the dynasty’s greatest rival.
A post to end the week:
Carmelo Anthony thinks Jalen Brunson deserves Finals MVP over OG Anunoby 👀
“Let’s just be honest about this. If OG win it, it be like Andre Iguodala’s at Golden State.”
LNP, using the Force to levitate a bat, but unfortunately not to hit over a .646 career OPS with one. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You’ll be forgiven if today’s Cards starter, Kyle Leahy, sounds like one of those guys the Twins had for like eight days in 2021. Nope, he was drafted by the Cards in 2018, and converted full-time to a starter this season. For now, the Cards are using a six-man rotation, and Leahy’s at the back end of it. His fastball sits at around 94, down a tick from when he was a reliever. He throws about 60% offspeed pitches, and has a lot of “extension,” meaning (I think) that his best skill is batters have a teensy bit less time to pick up which pitch he’s using.
Sadly, I must introduce you to the “Tarps Off” trend that’s been happening in St. Louis.
What it is is this:
Sigh.
Yes, this is a thing that’s been happening in right field at Cardinals games this season. A bunch of guys take off their shirts (or don’t wear them to begin with). Some wave the shirts like rally towels. They call themselves the “Tarps Off” fans.
Per MLB.com’s Max Ralph, this trend started in college football, which makes sense because college football is one of the dumbest things on the planet. (Let’s take an institution devoted to higher learning and have it play a sport that causes massive brain damage.)
I suppose this is essentially harmless fan idiocy, so I shouldn’t complain. But wowza, am I sick of the whole “dude bro let guys be guys” thing; I’ve been sick of it my whole dang life. (And I realize baseball’s signature move is crotch adjustment.)
Also, it’s easy to take your shirt off and show that pasty white-a** chest nobody wanted to see when a bunch of other people are doing it. Yet I will credit this guy:
That’s Bryce Bradford, one of the Tarps Off bunch, letting his Dad Bod hang out there for all the world to see (or, what will be a Dad Bod when he has kids in a few years. Maybe he does now, I dunno). That takes a little more guts, don’t you think?
And worthy of the former Cards great, Nick Punto. Who earned himself the nickname of “Shredder.” Because he shredding opposing pitchers with his fearsome swatting stick?
Naw, folks. He got the nickname because, after walk-off wins, or just any moment when he felt suitably Pumped Up, Nick Punto would go up to other Cards players and start ripping their jerseys apart. The ones they were wearing as clothes.
If you like, you can see a TubeYous example here, but it’s less visually interesting than it sounds. You’re better off reading Jason Hill’s account at Viva El Birdos here. Go Shredder Go.
What do you remember about the 1987 Twins/Cardinals World Series? I don’t remember a thing, I wasn’t watching it. But former Blog Pope myjah summoned 10 weird facts about the Series you may not have known, like the time someone threw a bizarre little paper plane onto the field. Very fun post.
Do the Cardinals want free taxpayer money? Of course they do. They might get part of the money that’s prolly gonna be handed out to the Royals. You know, the money which voters rejected in a referendum. The Cards might get $380 million of it. Neil deMause has you covered as usual.
Last week, I mentioned that Some Guy from the Twins was trying to sell me super-premium tickets because I was given tickets in a spendy seating area by one neighbor for one game. Well, the same guy emailed me again:
Hello James,
I’ve reached out a few times to share details about our $3,000 Choice Membership and how we can get you discounted tickets in our Thrivent Club. I understand if now isn’t the best time to connect, and I want to be respectful of your schedule.
Before I pause my outreach, I wanted to highlight another option. Since you’ve enjoyed some of our premier offerings at Target Field, you might be interested in our private suites available for single-game rentals. Additionally, our upcoming calendar is packed with exciting single game ticket promotions, giveaways, and events happening all summer long – Check out single game ticket opportunities here!
Thank you so much for your time and have a wonderful day!
CJ
You have a wonderful day too, CJ!
Finally — wuz you ever bit by a dead bee?
That’s the line Walter Brennan keeps repeating in the Bogart/Bacall classic To Have and Have Not, a movie which solves the problem of “how do you film Hemingway’s worst novel” by chucking the novel’s plot entirely. When Brennan asks Bacall about the dead bee, she suggests biting it back, and wins Brennan’s approval thusly.
Well, I wuz bit by a dead bee. Kind of.
The other day, I was outside, and I felt something go into the back of my shirt through the neckhole. There were box elder bugs flying around, and they won’t hurt you, so I just shook myself around a little and figured it was gone. Then came inside and headed for the bathroom.
As I started removing my pants, I felt a major stinging sensation on my butt, and then I saw there was a wasp in my boxer shorts. It was dazed, yet not dazed enough that it couldn’t sting me in the a**. I immediately got it to the floor and squished it, of course. I try not to kill God’s creatures, but wasps are Satan’s.
The thing was? I was hesitant about going to the bathroom the rest of the day. Even though I didn’t go back outside, I just remembered the sight of finding a wasp in my boxers, and it made me Spooked.
If you’re gonna get stung by a wasp, though, that’s probably the best place for it. On the fleshy part of yer butt. What really stinks is getting a wasp sting on your knuckles, or someplace ELSE in your boxers.
Possibility of getting a wasp sting in the Metrodome? Practically zero. Possibility of getting one in the seats CJ keeps wanting me to buy? Larger than zero. I’ll take my Dome memories, thank you very much.
Jun 12, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the City of Toronto City Hall before a game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
I really figured Canada would win this afternoon.
Well, let’s win tonight.
Schneider and Kirk (who says his thumb is getting better all the time) are back and in the lineup.
Heineman (DFA) and Varsho (IL) are gone.
My wife will be sad that Heineman won’t be around to be shirtless.
Apparently Daulton got a cortisone shot, so he will be a couple of days before he can do much with that wrist, but they say he’s going to be traveling with the team and likely won’t need a rehab assignment.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 05: Ryan Weathers #40 of the New York Yankees warms up before the game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on June 5, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees roll into Toronto fresh off a day off and a sweep of the Guardians. It was an even affair the last time the two sides met at Yankee Stadium, the Bombers taking the first two games before allowing the Blue Jays to salvage a series split, all contests decided by two or fewer runs. Despite the Jays getting a bit healthier, New York is catching them during a vulnerable moment, with Toronto 4-7 in their last 11 games. But by no means can the Yankees afford to take for granted an opponent who has had their number over the last 14 months. At Rogers Centre in particular, the Yankees went a dismal 1-8 in 2025, including losses in the first two ALDS games. That can’t happen again.
Ryan Weathers has stumbled of late, surrendering seven home runs across his last four starts. He has given up five runs in three of those four starts including a May 18th outing against the Blue Jays where the Yankees rallied late to come from behind and win, 7-6. It comes at an inopportune time for the southpaw with Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole back in the rotation and Max Fried making progress in his elbow injury rehab. To that point, Weathers was seen warming up on Wednesday with Aaron Boone confirming after the game that he was in play as a reliever with the bullpen a bit gassed. This perhaps hints at the Yankees viewing him as the first name on the chopping block for demotion from the rotation once Fried returns, so there is added incentive to perform in his remaining starts. In 12 starts, Weathers is 2-4 with a 3.86 ERA (108 ERA+), 4.12 FIP, and 79 strikeouts in 70 innings.
Trey Yesavage is the newest Yankee killer to emerge in the league. Combining his ALDS Game 2 start and May 20th outing this year, Yesavage has pitched 11.1 scoreless innings allowing just two hits and a walk with 19 strikeouts. Between his rising four-seamer, devastating splitter, and underrated slider, he just seems to have the special sauce to completely silence the Yankees lineup. He’s coming off his worst start of the campaign — six runs in 5.2 innings against the Orioles — but otherwise has looked sharp after the start of his season was delayed by a month by a shoulder impingement. In eight starts, Yesavage is 2-3 with a 3.16 ERA (141 ERA+), 3.05 FIP, and 44 strikeouts in 42.2 innings.
In this period without Aaron Judge, the biggest lineup decision for Aaron Boone concerns having three players for two positions. One out of Anthony Volpe, José Caballero, and Spencer Jones will be the odd man out on a given day while the other two start at short and in right. It will be interesting to monitor whether this becomes an even rotation or whether one player gets more playing time at the expense of another — today it’s Volpe on the bench, Caballero at short, and Jones in right. The first five spots in the lineup are pretty much set in stone with Trent Grisham, Ben Rice, Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. all posting a 124 wRC+ or better since May 1st.
Alejandro Kirk and Davis Schneider return to the Blue Jays lineup, the former from a wrist injury and the latter from Triple-A, called up as the corresponding move for Daulton Varsho’s placement on the IL. The Yankees managed to keep Vladimir Guerrero Jr. mostly quiet in May. He’s still trying to find his power, his .365 SLG more than 120 points below his career average while a 109 wRC+ would be the lowest mark since his rookie year. Instead, George Springer and Ernie Clement were the Yankees’ principal tormentors in May and they unsurprisingly occupy the first two spots in the batting order.
How to watch
Location: Rogers Centre – Toronto, ON
First pitch: 7:37 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Sportsnet, SN1, TVA Sports
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | SN590 THE FAN (TOR)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Empty seats during a rain delay before a game between the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field on April 26, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The first instance of Braves vs. Mets will have to wait a little longer, as the Mets have announced that first pitch (originally set for 7:15 pm ET) will be delayed. These northeast thunderstorms, man.
In the meantime, Demetrius put a fun prompt up in the feed – feel free to chime in there or in the comments below.
UPDATE: The Mets have announced that tonight’s game will start at 8:30 pm ET. Spencer Strider vs. Nolan McLean coming up on Apple TV! Follow along in tonight’s game thread to chat and discuss.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 11: Riley Greene #31 of the Detroit Tigers rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins during the seventh inning at Comerica Park on June 11, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Detroit Tigers (29-40) vs. Cleveland Guardians (37-33)
Time/Place: 7:10 p.m., Progressive Field SB Nation Site: Covering the Corner Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Jack Flaherty (1-7, 5.31 ERA) vs. RHP Tanner Bibee (1-7, 4.09 ERA)
Ahead of the series opener between the Yankees and Blue Jays in Toronto, manager Aaron Boone gave injury updates on a number of players...
Latest on Fried
The Yankees skipper confirmed that Max Fried underwent more imaging recently and there's reason to be optimistic for the southpaw.
"Continues to show healing. He will be able to get on the mound tomorrow," Boone told reporters. "Just a touch and feel tomorrow and hopefully progress on the mound. We’ll see where that leads."
While the MRI results were a good sign for Fried, Boone tempered expectations, saying that it doesn't mean the left-hander can progress to the next part of his rehab. The Yankees want to see more improvement before that happens, but the latest imaging was promising and Fried is doing well.
Fried was scuffling a bit before landing on the IL in mid-May with a left elbow bruise. He allowed 11 runs across his last three starts (14.1 IP) and lasted just three innings in his more recent start before being pulled with the injury against the Orioles.
Overall, Fried has been very good for the Yankees. He's pitched to a 3.21 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP.
While Fried continues to progress on his road back to the team, the Yankees' starting rotation remains one of the best in baseball with the returns of Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole. There's no rush to get Fried back with everyone pitching as well as they have here in the first few months of the 2026 season.
The plan for Dominguez
Jasson Dominguez is close to returning from his rehab.
The young outfielder is eligible to come off the IL, but the team wants him to have a couple of more rehab games under his belt. The plan is for Dominguez to play Friday and Saturday with the Triple-A club before a decision is made.
Boone was asked if they want Dominguez to continue to build up or if this decision is based on wanting the outfielder to get more reps in right field. The Yankees skipper said it's a little bit of both, and that Dominguez will play seven to nine innings on both days.
Dominguez was playing well before his injury, so it'll be interesting how the Yankees juggle him and Spencer Jones on the roster with Aaron Judge on the IL.
Wells is well
And finally, Boone gave an update on Austin Wells, who was placed on the IL with cervical headaches last weekend.
The skipper said that Wells is headache-free and feeling good. He's another player whose fate will be decided some time this weekend.
"Hitting, throwing, doing all his treatment stuff, just baseball activities," Boone said of what Wells is doing. "We’ll get through this weekend. We’ll decide if we want him to play in any games before activating and we’ll have those conversations over the next several days."
Wells, along with the other Yankees catchers, has struggled mightily this season.
In 47 games, Wells is batting .166 with an OPS of .533, four home runs and seven RBI.
Jun 9, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) raises his arms after he hit a two-run home run during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The Braves enter their long-awaited first game of the season against the Mets not playing their ball of the season.
Having lost both games this week at the Chicago White Sox before Thursday’s postponement, Atlanta will look to avoid its first three-game losing streak since April 4-6 when it travels to the Big Apple Friday night.
No local broadcast for this 7:15 p.m. EDT game as it’s an Apple TV broadcast, which unfortunately means you’ll need an additional subscription to watch this one.
After splitting an intense series against Seattle, the West-Coast themed homestand continues as the Orioles welcome the Padres to Camden Yards. The Padres are expected to be perennial contenders, but after a hot start to the season, they’re scuffling, with an ice-cold 4-12 record in their last 16 games. The Phillies swept them twice in that stretch, and they’ve also lost to the Mets and the Nationals. They did just take their last series from Cincinnati on Wednesday, courtesy of a walkoff win.
In that last stretch dating to May 22, the Padres’ offense is second-worst in the league, and a lot of their core is struggling. Former Oriole Manny Machado is off to the worst start in his career, and in the last two weeks has a .161/.197/.355 slashline. His power remains fearsome, as he’s got a team-leading 11 HRs and 34 RBIs, but his batting average and on-base percentage are among the worst among current qualified hitters. Outfielder Jackson Merrill is also mired in a slump, and in the last two weeks Xander Bogaerts, Miguel Andujar, Gavin Sheets and Freddy Fermin are also hitting below the Mendoza line.
So maybe this will be a good matchup for the Orioles’ Shane Baz. After a soggy start to the season, the right hander got himself on a roll of late, posting four straight quality starts from May 20 to June 2. He likely would have had another his last time out against Toronto, but for the Ernie Clement baserunning shenanigan that saw him give up four unearned runs in an eventual 5 2/3-inning, 5 R (1 ER) loss. That said, Baz’s stuff is looking really solid of late. Baz has faced the Padres twice, in his career, and has an 0-for-4 line against Xander Bogaerts, a 2-for-5 line against catcher Freddy Fermín, and a 1-for-4 line against Manny Machado.
As for the Orioles, they’ll get to face Griffin Canning, who always reminds of Cameron in Ferris Bueller. He’s not the scariest arm out there, for sure. The 30-year-old righty posted a regrettable 7.16 ERA in the month of May, but in his only June start, versus the Mets, he went five innings and allowed just one run with six strikeouts. Maybe the Orioles can give him more of a challenge. Against the longtime Angel, Gunnar is 4-for-8, Tyler O’Neill is 2-for-6 with a home run, and Adley is 4-for-9. I like those lines.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: "Screch" dons a rain coat during a rain delay prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals on April 05, 2026 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
East coast road trips to stadiums without roofs are the pits. Today’s series opener between the Mariners and Nationals will begin in a delay due to bad weather in the area. We’ll post the latest updates here as well as the general game preview information. If the game is played, this post will also serve as tonight’s game thread.
Update, 5:30 PT: We have a start time! This game is scheduled to start at 5:55 PT. So just a nice and tidy two-hour and fifteen minutes. I would like the Mariners to be gifted two free runs, one for each hour of the delay.
Update; 5:00 PT: Gary Hill says the storm has largely moved through, a rainbow has appeared, and the grounds crew is preparing to move the tarp. Still no official start time, however.
Update, 4:35 PT: Still no official start time for this game but Aaron Goldsmith on the radio just said the clouds in Washington look like the “Death Star” and there is “heavy machinery” holding down the tarp on the field. So. Shannon Drayer tweeted a picture of said Death Star cloud and also this image of the weather moving through the area:
— Randy Small – Whatcom County Weather (@RandySmall) June 12, 2026
Update, 3:38 PT: Gary Hill on the Mariners pregame show just said the weather looks “pretty good” so it seems like tonight’s game will be played, even if it doesn’t start on time.
The latest: this game is officially in a delay, but no start time has been given. Shannon Drayer posted that the tarp had briefly come off the field, but then posted the tarp is back on and the game is officially delayed.
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 14: Gabriel Rincones Jr. #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring in the eighth inning during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Aerial view of Suspension Bridges and James Roebling Bridge crossing Ohio River from Covington Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Today’s Lineups
DIAMONDBACKS
REDS
Ketel Marte – 2B
Dane Myers – CF
Corbin Carroll – RF
JJ Bleday – DH
Gabriel Moreno – C
Sal Stewart – 1B
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Spencer Steer – 2B
Ildemaro Vargas – 1B
Eugenio Suarez – 3B
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Blake Dunn – LF
Jordan Lawlar – CF
Noelvi Marte – RF
LuJames Groover – DH
Tyler Stephenson – C
Ryan Waldschmidt – LF
Matt McLain – SS
E. Rodriguez – LHP
Nick Lodolo – LHP
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.
Reinstatedfrom the 60-day injured list: INF/OF Jordan Lawlar (fractured right wrist)
Designated for assignment: C Aramis Garcia
Interesting move, with Garcia getting DFA’d for the second time in about six weeks. I imagine that means Adrian Del Castillo will be the backup catcher for the time being, which probably means his spot will be secure as the likes of Gurriel, Kepler and Santana return to the roster. LuJames Groover, Tommy Troy and one more – no longer Del Castillo – are those we’ll perhaps be waving goodbye to in the coming days. No pause on Lawlar, who goes straight into the starting line-up. Will he be the spark which ignites the offense? They have been having a terrible time with RISP lately. Here are their stats in that situation over the last couple of weeks.
June 11, 0-2 @ MIA – 0-for-7
June 10, 0-8 @ MIA – 0-for-9
June 9, 6-10 @ MIA, 2-for-14
June 7, 5-1 vs. WAS, 0-for-7
June 6, 1-6 vs. WAS, 1-for-2
June 5, 1-14 vs. WAS, 0-for-3
June 4, 3-2 vs. LAD, 1-for-8
June 3, 0-7 vs. LAD, 0-for-3
June 2, 5-6 vs. LAD, 2-for-12
June 1, 4-1 vs. LAD, 0-for-2
May 31, 2-3 @ SEA, 0-for-8
May 30, 1-5 @ SEA, 0-for-1
May 29, 6-7 @ SEA, 3-for-17
May 27, 3-2 @ SFG, 1-for-5
May 26, 7-5 @ SFG, 1-for-7
I mean, the team as a whole has not been hitting: since May 26, the D-backs are collectively at .201/.276/.320 for an OPS of just .596. You won’t be surprised to hear, that’s worst in the league. But 11-for-105 with RISP is worse still – and if you want really bad, they are 6-for-76 over their last dozen games. That’s an average of one-half of a hit with runners in scoring position per game over the past couple of weeks. So it’s a combination of poor hitting AND bad luck, which has seen them tumble back to Mt. .500. The Reds series represents a good chance to get well against a struggling team. Unfortunately, Cincinnati are probably thinking exactly the same thing…
PSA: This game will be on Apple TV. Don’t say you weren’t told…
DENVER, CO - JUNE 6: Starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 6, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brewers are finally back from playing baseball games in various cities on the moon! Tonight, they start the first of a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies, who are 29-14 since ending a 10-game losing streak on April 25th and are second in the NL East.
It’s Miz Day in Milwaukee, as the lanky Brewer righty takes the mound for the 14th time this season. He’s coming off his worst start since April: he allowed a run! And walked three! But that run was unearned, and he struck out eight in seven innings, and he did this in Denver, where the thin mountain air not only boosts offense but hurts pitching. Folks, he’s a superstar.
The Phillies are sending lefty Tanner Banks to the mound as an opener tonight, and he’ll be followed by the bulk man, the right-handed super-prospect Andrew Painter. Painter is a true rookie; the 23-year-old hadn’t thrown a pitch in the majors until he made the Phillies’ rotation out of Spring Training. He’s still very young, but it’s been a long road: Painter was the 13th pick of the draft in 2021, but suffered an elbow injury that cost him all of the 2023 season and most of 2024. He has ranked as high as number five on Baseball America’s top-100 prospect list, though his results post-injury haven’t been as good as the incredible numbers in 2022 that put him on the prospect map. Things haven’t clicked yet in the big leagues: through 12 games (11 starts), Painter is 1-7 with a 6.21 ERA and 5.08 FIP and is striking out just 7.3 batters per nine innings.
In roster news, Coleman Crow has been placed on the 15-day injured list with an ominous-sounding right forearm flexor strain. That might be a minor injury, but flexor strains are often precursors to injuries that require surgery. We’ll hope for the best for Crow. His place on the roster has been taken by Craig Yoho, who pitched twice for the Brewers in Colorado before getting optioned back to the minors on Monday to make room for the new acquisition, Joel Kuhnel. Yoho made one appearance with Nashville in his short stint back there; he struck out four of six batters he faced in two perfect innings. He’s done about as much as he can do in the minors, and the silver lining to Crow’s injury is that he’s back to show us what he can do.
Quinn Priester is also back in Milwaukee, but that’s not because he’s ready to pitch. Priester’s thoracic outlet syndrome isn’t healing the way he’d hoped, and the team is looking for further opinions on what the next step should be. Don’t be surprised if Priester doesn’t pitch for the Brewers this season.
Jake Bauers is getting the start in right field tonight, as both he and Andrew Vaughn are in the lineup once again. Bauers joins Garrett Mitchell and Jackson Chourio in the outfield, while Christian Yelich is the DH, William Contreras catches, and the infield goes Vaughn, Brice Turang, Joey Ortiz, and David Hamilton from right to left. The Phillies have a major-league debutant in their lineup tonight: 25-year-old Gabriel Rincones Jr. will start in right field for his first ever big-league action.
First pitch at 6:40pm on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
Earlier this month, we touched on the possibility of the Dallas Mavericks moving veterans Daniel Gafford and Kyrie Irving this offseason as the team looks to rebuild for the future with Cooper Flagg as its centerpiece. In many ways, those deals make a lot of sense. Dallas is starved for picks after this upcoming draft and veterans of this caliber could likely restock those tapped reserves.
In respect of moving Kyrie Irving in particular, there is a valid counterpoint that retaining him is the smarter choice. Irving has won a championship, brings veteran leadership (which a rebuilding team could benefit mightily from) and is an enticing pair for Flagg. Pragmatically, his trade value is also arguably at a low point given he just missed an entire season, lending more credence to him sticking around. According to Marc Stein (subscription required), Irving is set to do just that.
The Mavericks have received trade inquires for Kyrie Irving, per Marc Stein’s latest Substack
Stein says the Mavericks have received inquiries from other teams regarding Irving’s availability in a trade. Intuitively, we all have basically known this for some time. However, he goes on to indicate that the Mavs have thus far shut down any such conversations as they indicate to teams that Irving is not on the trading block. This echoes Mavs’ President Masai Ujiri’s comments in a recent press conference, where he spoke highly of Irving and touched on his excitement to see him and Flagg share the court.
That said, even a well-respected and well-connected guy like Stein gets it wrong sometimes (who doesn’t?), but let’s assume this report is spot on. If Irving is firmly in the fold, that is one less trade piece Dallas has in play. That, in turn, seemingly increases the odds of another vet (or more) heading toward the door. Stein further suggests that Gafford, P.J. Washington and Klay Thompson are the most likely Mavs to be moved. Further, it means another starting spot in the rotation is covered alongside Flagg, which may influence how Dallas goes about their draft choices in a few weeks. It’s certainly not unreasonable to think the #9 pick will be a starting caliber player, but with Irving running point, does that influence who Dallas intends to select in this draft rife with guard talent? There are many options here – select a guard and start him next to Irving, select a guard and bring him off the bench, don’t select a guard at all… There has been significant focus on Dallas acquiring a young backcourt player to usher in the future with Flagg, but it’s really anyone’s guess what Dallas will do now. Whatever the case, if Stein is correct, whomever they pick in a few weeks can expect to team up with both Flagg and Irving.
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