CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox activated Kyle Teel from the 60-day injured list on Monday and optioned fellow catcher Edgar Quero to Triple-A Charlotte.
Teel is expected to make his season debut in the opener of a three-game series against AL Central-leading Cleveland.
The 24-year-old Teel strained his right hamstring while playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. Then he hurt his right knee while playing for Charlotte on a rehab assignment.
Teel, a first-round pick in the 2023 amateur draft, was acquired by Chicago in the Garrett Crochet trade in December 2024. He hit .273 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 78 games last year in his first action with the White Sox.
Teel spent four games with the Knights on his second rehab stint, going 8 for 16 with a homer and four RBIs.
The White Sox are back at home after going 1-5 on a six-game trip. They were one game back of the Guardians going into the series.
Quero has struggled at the plate in his second major league season, batting just .187 with two homers and 15 RBIs in 55 games. He was acquired in a July 2023 trade with the Los Angeles Angels.
During the 2025-26 season, it was revealed that the 2026 first-round pick that the Chicago Blackhawks received from the Florida Panthers in the Seth Jones trade was top-10 protected. It was initially believed not to be, but it was sorted out during the year.
The reason that it was even a conversation was because of the fact that Florida was in the midst of a tough year, despite being the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. Injuries to consequential players really brought them down, and that pick ended up being 9th overall.
The first-round pick became a 2027 selection for Chicago when the 2026 pick became unavailable to them. That also pushed back a first-round pick that Florida promised to the Boston Bruins in the Brad Marchand trade back one year.
On Sunday night, a trade was announced that shocked the NHL world. Florida acquired Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for draft picks. One of those was the top-10 protected pick that was going to go to the Blackhawks.
Kyle Davidson allowing that pick to be protected changed the landscape of the entire league. Brady will join his brother, Matthew Tkachuk, and a healthy Florida Panthers team ready to make another Stanley Cup run, and having the 9th overall pick played a big role in that deal getting done.
Did anyone think the Panthers would be in line for a top-ten pick when they acquired Seth Jones ahead of their second straight Cup run? No, they didn’t. That’s even more of a reason, however, to make sure that the pick isn’t protected just in case. Now, Florida has eyes on its third Cup in four years.
Next year, the pick is unprotected, but it is even less likely now that it will be a pick in the top third of the 2027 NHL Draft.
Multiple teams have and will be affected by this choice as the years go on. Not only are all the teams mentioned above going to be impacted, but anyone Florida plays and beats in the playoffs as a result of adding Brady to their lineup will be impacted.
There is also a chance that Ottawa flips some of those draft picks for help to replace Brady. They have come too far in their rebuild to let one trade request set the clock extremely far back.
Not that it was ever likely, but Brady Tkachuk would have been an incredible addition for the Blackhawks due to his age, position, pedigree, and style of play, but it won't happen now. Instead, management led by Kyle Davidson must figure out their own play to add a star forward to pair with Connor Bedard on the top line.
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 20: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins reacts after hitting a grand slam homerun during the fifth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Summer has officially started, and the Twins are feeling hot, with a 5-1 record last week! A sweep against the Rangers and a 2-1 series win over the Diamondbacks that was filled with homers and runs galore put the team at 38-41, only 3.5 games out of the AL Central lead behind two teams in Cleveland and Chicago that have dealt with significant injuries as of recent. Byron Buxton earned AL Player of the Week honors to start the week and added a couple more homers, including a grand slam against Arizona. He also reiterated his commitment to the team, telling Dan Hayes at The Athletic, “I don’t give a f—“ about trade rumors. Buxton currently sits second in the AL in homers, 6th in wRC+, and is a Gold-Glove caliber center fielder – sounds like a potential MVP candidate to me!
The Past Week on Twinkie Town:
Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!
Game threads and recaps are back! Commiserate with your fellow fans as we experience the season together.
Zach Koenig takes time to thank Byron Buxton for all his accomplishments over the last couple of years.
With new faces showing up on the major league roster every day, Matt Monitto lists the remaining jersey numbers that have yet to be claimed in Twins history.
Eleanor Hildebrandt at the Star Tribune provides context on why customer service at Target Field for today’s game might be a bit different, with concession stand workers going on strike.
Theo Tollefson at Zone Coverage checks in on outfield Alan Roden and how he’s playing now that he’s back from injury.
Betsy Helfand at the Pioneer Press looks at how Mick Abel’s setback impacts the Twins’ plan for the rotation.
In the World of Baseball:
The Yankees have maintained their lead atop the American League, with a two-game cushion over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Guardians and White Sox are separated by a game in the AL Central lead, while the Mariners continue to hold the top spot in the West. The Blue Jays now occupy the third wild-card slot.
The Dodgers, who are coming to town to face the Twins, are now tied with Atlanta for the NL Central lead. Milwaukee is 1.5 games behind, and the Cardinals, Phillies, and now Cubs have the three wild-card spots.
The MLB owners provided their latest proposal in the CBA battle, this time with a shocker of overhauling the draft process, most notably, making high-schoolers ineligible for the draft and implementing an international draft. Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan at ESPN have a deeper dive into the offer.
With 13 games on the slate, there are a plethora of betting angles to attack. However, we've decided to deliver a moneyline pick for every matchup.
Find out what games you should add to your MLB picks for June 22.
MLB moneyline picks for June 22
Matchup
Pick
Yankees vs Tigers
-122
Royals vs Rays
-178
Rangers vs Marlins
-117
Phillies vs Nationals
-111
Astros vs Blue Jays
+113
Cubs vs Mets
-113
Brewers vs Reds
-142
Guardians vs White Sox
-104
Dodgers vs Twins
-148
Diamondbacks vs Cardinals
-142
Red Sox vs Rockies
+115
Orioles vs Angels
-150
Braves vs Padres
+100
Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 6-22.
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Expert MLB moneyline picks for June 22
Yankees vs Tigers: Yankees (-122)
Yankees win probability: 55%
I am not fading the Gerrit Cole train against this inconsistent Detroit Tigers lineup. While the offense has shown some life over the last few games, the New York Yankees have been rolling as well.
Tigers southpaw Framber Valdez has a sub-5.00 ERA at home this season, but he now draws a Yanks lineup filled with lefties who can handle left-handed pitching. I trust Cole & Co. offense to jump on Valdez early and build some insurance runs.
Royals vs Rays: Rays (-178)
Rays win probability: 64%
I do not care if this is the game in which the Kansas City Royals break out. This team has been a disappointment, and I have very little confidence in them right now.
Drew Rasmussen has been excellent, posting a 1.69 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, and a 2.44% barrel rate over his last five outings. The Tampa Bay Rays should be in a strong position to carve up Michael Wacha, who has a 5.58 ERA over his last five starts.
Rangers vs Marlins: Marlins (-117)
Marlins win probability: 54%
I have an MLB player prop from this game, but let’s cut to the chase: With Kumar Rocker on the mound for the Texas Rangers, I automatically lean toward the Marlins.
Over his last five starts, he is allowing 45% hard contact with a 5.25 ERA. Tyler Phillips has not been much better, but I trust the young Fish more in this spot at home.
Phillies vs Nationals: Nationals (-111)
Nationals win probability: 52%
I am not eager to fade the Philadelphia Phillies coming off a strong series against the Mets, especially with a potential Sunday Night hangover in play.
If the Washington Nationals can execute their game plan, they have a chance to get out to an early lead against Alan Rangel, while Foster Griffin works to keep things steady on the mound.
This sets up as a strong spot for one of baseball's more exciting offenses to get rolling. Washington’s right-hander has posted a 1.93 ERA over his last five outings, and it will be interesting to see if he can keep that form going in this matchup.
Astros vs Blue Jays: Astros (+113)
Astros win probability: 47%
Despite Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease being dominant this season, I think fading this Houston Astros lineup isn't a risk worth taking, given how well they have been seeing the ball over their last few games.
I am not overly concerned about Hunter Brown’s return turning into a disaster here, especially with Yordan Alvarez leading the way with an elite rating today. If he gets going, the rest of the offense tends to follow.
Cubs vs Mets: Cubs (-113)
Cubs win probability: 53%
The New York Mets return home after a Sunday Night Baseball loss, while the Chicago Cubs arrive with a full day of rest and momentum at the plate.
Chicago’s offense has been clicking lately and will look to apply early pressure against Kodai Senga. Even with some uncertainty in the Cubs’ bullpen, the edge here is with their offense in this spot.
Brewers vs Reds: Brewers (-142)
Brewers win probability: 59%
The Milwaukee Brewers are in a strong spot in Cincinnati against Brady Singer, who enters with poor matchup grades in both wOBA and ISO.
Milwaukee’s lineup grades out elite on Batters-Box with five elite-rated bats and one strong hitter, giving them a clear edge at the plate. Singer has struggled at home this season, posting a 5.61 xERA and 5.33 xFIP while allowing 42.2% hard contact and a 14.1% barrel rate.
Milwaukee counters with Brandon Woodruff, who has been excellent on the road with a 2.84 ERA and 1.03 WHIP, limiting damage consistently with minimal hard contact. Despite the juice, Milwaukee looks like the side in a small park matchup.
Guardians vs White Sox: Guardians (-104)
Guardians win probability: 51%
The Chicago White Sox return home after cooling off from wins over the Dodgers and Braves, but Anthony Kay on the mound does not inspire much confidence.
The Cleveland Guardians counter with Gavin Williams, who has been steady of late. This matchup leans toward Cleveland behind the stronger pitching performance.
Dodgers vs Twins: Dodgers (-148)
Dodgers win probability: 59%
The Los Angeles Dodgers face Minnesota Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews, who has struggled badly against lefties with a 9.00 ERA, 7.01 xERA, and heavy hard contact allowed.
Los Angeles brings six elite-rated left-handed bats into a prime matchup. Even with Eric Lauer on the mound, this sets up as a strong Dodgers offensive spot.
Diamondbacks vs Cardinals: Cardinals (-142)
Cardinals win probability: 57%
The St. Louis Cardinals are in a strong spot at home against Merrill Kelly, who has struggled badly against lefties, allowing heavy hard contact, barrels, and elevated damage recently.
St. Louis brings an elite-rated lineup into a favorable matchup, while Andre Pallante has been steady at home. This sets up well for the Cardinals.
Red Sox vs Rockies: Rockies (+115)
Rockies win probability: 46%
I may have some Colorado Rockies bias in my blood, I will admit it. I just think this offense is scrappy, annoying in the best way, and always feels like they are in every game, no matter the score.
Right now, they have been seeing the ball really well over their last 30 at-bats vs. right-handed pitching. Five hitters are batting over .300, six have an OPS above .783, and six also carry an OBP above .333.
The Red Sox have been better lately, but I trust Colorado’s offense to be more consistent in this spot.
Orioles vs Angels: Orioles (-150)
Orioles win probability: 60%
According to Batters-Box, the Orioles enter today with seven hitters carrying at least a strong rating against Angels left-hander Sam Aldegheri, who has been better at home this season.
However, over his last three outings, he owns a 7.00 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, a 14% walk rate, and a 14% strikeout rate. With a nearly fully elite-rated offense in this spot, it is hard to overlook the data.
Braves vs Padres: Braves (+100)
Braves win probability: 50%
What a game this should be, with both offenses running cold and both pitchers coming off some rough recent outings. I am typically anti-Padres due to their inconsistency at the plate, so I lean toward the more complete offense in this spot.
Despite their recent struggles, I still think the Atlanta Braves are the better team here.
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.
If Boynton can keep Michigan’s roster together, the Wolverines possess enough talent after signing an elite recruiting class to pursue another deep NCAA Tournament run. Achieve that, and Boynton can shed the interim label.
But, this job is too good for Michigan to commit to Boynton being anything more than a one-year experiment.
Never mind Michigan isn’t a blue blood, it boasts top-tier resources, and money matters more than ever in the buy-a-player landscape. If Boynton wobbles as interim, Michigan should open the job next spring to a full search that ought to attract top candidates.
Keep Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz on speed dial. Schertz would have been a natural heir to May if the job had opened two months ago.
The good news for Michigan? Schertz isn’t going anywhere between now and March. Schertz passed on Syracuse and NC State to stay at SLU — perhaps, because he figured something better would open if he showed patience.
Well, Michigan would fit the bill as something better.
Schertz and May are good pals, too. Before SLU faced May’s Wolverines in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Schertz spoke of his yearslong friendship with May, calling him “an incredible resource.”
“We’re always picking each other’s brain,” Schertz said then.
Josh Schertz would fit Michigan's past playbook of hiring Dusty May
May climbed the ladder from video coordinator to becoming best coach in college basketball. Schertz also knows how to grind. He spent more than a decade coaching in Division II before Indiana State smartly hired him.
Schertz would’ve been an appropriate and qualified successor to his friend. He’s more accomplished than Boynton, who proved a valuable assistant to May, but who made just one NCAA Tournament appearance in seven seasons coaching Oklahoma State, a tenure that quickly got sideways as the FBI investigated assistant coach Lamont Evans for taking bribes.
Schertz’s resume, by comparison, includes multiple D-II Final Fours, an NIT runner-up finish at Indiana State after the NCAA selection committee snubbed the Sycamores, and winning an NCAA Tournament game in his second season at SLU, while setting a school record for wins.
If Schertz outperforms Boynton this season, make the switch.
No need for Michigan to reinvent the hiring wheel. Hiring Schertz next spring would amount to dusting off the “Hire Dusty” playbook by targeting a coach who's proven himself in the NCAA Tournament, but who hasn't peaked yet. May took Florida Atlantic to the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons and reached a Final Four before Michigan plundered him. He needed just two seasons to take Michigan to the pinnacle.
Don't get distracted by Billy Donovan
Let Kentucky pine over Billy Donovan. Donovan’s past performance at Florida indicates potential for a high ceiling, but he last coached in college more than a decade ago. His inexperience within the landscape of NIL and transfer free agency would make him a riskier hire than you’d expect for someone with his resume.
Instead of Donovan, Michigan could target a savvy coach on the rise who’s won big without Michigan’s resources — someone like Schertz.
Schertz's brand of up-tempo, unselfish offense that tilts toward the 3-pointer suits the modern game.
“When you look at a lot of our metrics and analytics, we mirror each other (in style),” May said last season, while comparing his Wolverines to Schertz’s Billikens.
Put Michigan’s checkbook in Schertz’s hand, and see if he could replicate his friend’s success.
Making Boynton the interim for this season amounts to a low-risk option. If he crushes it, keep him. If not, you’ve burned just one season, and Michigan would be positioned to pursue top candidates at a better stage in the calendar.
While I’d put Schertz near the top of the watch list, the list also should include names like Mark Byington (Vanderbilt), Ben McCollum (Iowa), T.J. Otzelberger (Iowa State) and Grant McCasland (Texas Tech). Like Schertz, they're in-their-prime coaches in their mid to late 40s or early 50s.
If this job had opened in April, I’d have hired any of those guys ahead of Boynton, but the job opened in late June.
That’s a recipe for an in-house interim coach — with a head coach watch list stashed away in Michigan’s top drawer.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 22: A general view Consol Energy Center during Round One of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft on June 22, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It was an electric night in Pittsburgh 14 years ago as the Penguins played host to the 2012 NHL Draft, which was held at PPG Paints Arena.
Then known as the Consol Energy Center, the arena was only a couple of years old and Pittsburgh had landed the NHL Draft for the first time since 1997, when it was held at the Civic Arena.
Heading into the 2012 NHL Draft, the Penguins had just flamed out of the playoffs in dramatic fashion, losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in a series that no one needs to be reminded of.
Pittsburgh was slated to pick 22nd in the draft, but a lot of drama was swirling ahead of the event and during the offseason in general surrounding the contract of pending free agent Jordan Staal.
When the opening night of the draft arrived, Ray Shero made his splash move, dealing Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes for the No. 8 overall pick that evening, Brandon Sutter, and Brian Dumoulin.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman certainly enjoyed the moment with his ability to hype up the crowd with his “and” thrown in there a couple times after the “for those of you in the building, you’ll be particularly interested.”
With the 8th pick, the Penguins selected defenseman Derrick Pouliot, who ultimately turned out to be a disappointment for Pittsburgh fans.
Brandon Sutter played three seasons for the Penguins and then was dealt by Jim Rutherford to Vancouver as a package that helped bring Nick Bonino to Pittsburgh.
Bonino and Dumoulin each won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in Pittsburgh.
In Carolina, Jordan Staal singed a 10-year deal worth $60 million, later adding another four years with the Hurricanes, now having played the second most games in franchise history.
Staal recently made history by becoming the oldest Conn Smythe Trophy winner while leading Carolina to the 2026 Stanley Cup.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 1: Edmundo Sosa #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies tags out Daylen Lile #4 of the Washington Nationals attempting to steal second in the top of the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park on April 1, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Nationals 6-5. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a rubber match for the series yesterday afternoon, the Nationals hung around against the Rays, taking a 3-2 lead into the 7th inning, but were unable to hold onto it, as a Jonny DeLuca 2-run blast off Orlando Ribalta in the bottom of the 7th gave the Rays a 1-run lead they would hold onto for the 4-3 win. The Nats didn’t play bad baseball by any means this series, but still were only able to take 1 of the 3 games, bringing them to 40-38 on the season, now a half game back of the third wild card spot in the National League.
Heading home after a short weekend road trip, the Nats are now faced with what is, for my money, one of their most critical series of the entire decade so far. Having blown away everyone’s expectations so far for where they would be in the standings by late June, the Nats now will do battle with the Phillies in a 4-game set at home, one that could set the tone for the rest of the season.
Take 3 out of 4 (or better), and you bring yourself right next to or above the Phillies in playoff positioning, while sending a message this team is for real. Take only 1 out of 4 (or worse), and playoff dreams start to go back to “just wishful thinking”.
The Phillies are riding some good vibes into this series, having just taken the weekend series from the Mets, which included both a Bryce Harper cycle and a Kyle Schwarber 3 home run game in the 15-3 win on Saturday. The offense hasn’t always been there at times for them this season, with the 4th fewest runs scored as a team in the NL, but the pitching staff has been strong, led by Cy Young candidate Cristopher Sanchez.
Game One – Monday 6:45 PM EST
PHI: TBD
After sending down Andrew Painter a few days ago, who had an ERA that started with a 7, the Phillies will have to get creative with their pitching tonight. Fangraphs lists RHP Alan Rangel, who has a 3.99 ERA in Triple A this season, as the probable starter, though no announcement has come of him joining the big league club yet.
WSH: LHP Foster Griffin (7-2, 3.32 ERA)
Game Two – Tuesday 6:45 PM EST
PHI: Jesus Luzardo (6-4, 4.20 ERA)
WSH: RHP Zack Littell (6-6, 5.45 ERA)
Luzardo had one of his better outings of the season last time out, throwing 7 innings of 2-run ball and striking out 9 Marlins in a win
Littell has run into trouble in his last 2 outings after a string of good ones, giving up a combined 9 runs, including 4 over 5 innings against the Royals.
Game Three – Wednesday 6:45 PM EST
PHI: RHP Aaron Nola (3-4, 5.71 ERA)
WSH: RHP Miles Mikolas (2-6, 5.47 ERA)
Nola hasn’t always been reliable for the Phillies in 2026, but he got the job done his last time out, with 5 innings of 2-run ball against the Mets in a no-decision.
Mikolas had been rolling in the month of June, but he ran into trouble in his last start against the Rays, giving up 5 runs over 6 innings of work in a loss.
Game Four – Thursday 6:45 PM EST
PHI: LHP Cristopher Sanchez (9-3, 1.80 ERA)
WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli (4-4, 4.07 ERA)
After carrying a scoreless innings streak up to 50 2/3 innings, Sanchez has come back to Earth a little, which still means for him 6 innings of 1 run ball in a win in his last start.
After being moved back from his Friday start to Saturday due to illness, it was clear Cavalli wasn’t 100% still, giving up 2 runs and walking 3 batters over 2 2/3 innings pitched.
Start Off Strong
The Phillies have their rotation lined up for games 2 through 4 of this series, but not tonight, as they likely will call up a starter from Triple A and hope they can get them through enough innings to save the bullpen for the rest of the series. It is critical that the Nationals’ lineup gets going early tonight and forces the Phillies to go to the pen early and burn through arms. Secure a big win tonight, and you only need to take 1 of the next 3 to secure at least a series split.
The Cubs swept the Mets at Wrigley Field in April and outscored them 18-7 in the three games.
Perhaps seeing the Mets again can get the Cubs back on a winning track.
For more on the Mets, here’s Chris McShane, manager of our SB Nation Mets site Amazin’ Avenue.
The 2026 Mets are an unmitigated disaster. When they played the Cubs at Wrigley earlier this season, they were in the midst of their twelve-game losing streak, and the best thing I can say about them is that they’ve been somewhat better than that in the two months since that streak ended. Still, they haven’t done nearly enough to climb out of the hole they dug. Injuries to Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Clay Holmes have played a significant part in the team’s extremely underwhelming performance, but it’s pretty clear that the roster that David Stearns built for the 2026 season — one that cost well over $300 million — is deeply flawed.
Things might not have been perfect if the Mets kept all of the big players they chose to move on from following the 2025 season, but it’s very hard not to dwell on the fact that the front office was very happy to let Pete Alonso walk and had no viable plan for replacing him. At the time of this writing, his 17 home runs and 119 wRC+ would have him tied for the team lead in home runs and second in wRC+ if he were still with the Mets. Did the Mets avoid some ugly years at the end of a long-term contract for Alonso? Sure. But it’s hard to give a damn about that when the team is owned by one of the richest people on the planet, one who happens to be building a casino in his team’s parking lot to get even richer.
As for this series, I can tell you that the Mets’ lineup can look functional in any given game, but when they get off to a slow start, they tend to take some of the weakest at-bats you’ve ever seen and go down silently. Of the four starting pitchers the Cubs will face, Nolan McLean and Sean Manaea are the better two at the moment. Both have had struggles at different points of this season but have been better of late. Kodai Senga, however, has been awful outside of his first two starts of the season, and Freddy Peralta is coming off the worst start of his career, one that left him with a 4.83 ERA that feels like the cherry on top of the Mets’ horrendous offseason.
Fun facts
The Cubs are two losses away from 200 against the Mets at New York, where they have won 186 and tied one, for a winning percentage of .484.
They had percentages of .556 (10-8) at the Polo Grounds and .470 (146-165-1) at Shea Stadium. At Citi Field, they are .537 (29-25), but .400 (4-6) since 2023. Last year, they lost two of three.
Their last sweep visiting the Mets was three games in 2022. Other recent sweeps were three games in 2019, four in 2018 and three in 2015.
The Cubs were swept in four games in 2016. In 2021, they lost three, then won the fourth.
In all 783 games between the teams, the Cubs have outscored the Mets by just four runs, 3,383-3,379. They lead the rivalry 402-379, with two ties.
NOTE: At the time this series preview posted, the Cubs did not have a starter listed for Thursday’s series finale. It would be Ben Brown’s turn, but it’s possible the team might activate Matthew Boyd from the injured list — he last pitched Saturday in a rehab start for Triple-A Iowa, so he’d be on four days’ rest — and save Brown to open the series in Milwaukee on Friday. As always, we await developments.
Times & TV channels
Monday: 6:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, also streaming on Peacock (outside the Cubs and Mets market territories)
Tuesday: 6:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Wednesday: 6:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Thursday: 6:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
The Cubs have won six of their last nine, which is pretty good (especially after that 7-22 slide!). Meanwhile, the Mets are 5-7 in their last 12 games.
The Mets, though, are better at home (18-18) than on the road (16-25). And several of the pitching matchups here appear to favor the Cubs.
The Cubs really need to keep stacking series wins so I’ll say they will do that and win three of four.
Up next
The Cubs head to Milwaukee for a three-game divisional matchup with the Brewers beginning Friday evening.
uMay 31, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. (25) bunts the ball during the seventh inning against Los Angeles Angels at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images | Pablo Robles-Imagn Images
The Rays have been an analytical team for decades, maximizing the talent on their payroll-deprived roster for years. After five consecutive playoff appearances from 2019-23 that included a pennant, the team missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. But they have rebounded this year with a terrific start using an old formula familiar to Royals fans – put the ball in play and make things happen on the bases.
The Rays and Royals are the top two teams in baseball in contact rate, but while the Royals have the second-highest flyball rate, the Rays put the ball on the ground with the fourth-highest groundball rate. The Rays also go the opposite way more than any team except the Brewers. They are eighth in stolen bases and Baserunning Runs, and have attempted and executed more sacrifice hits than any team in baseball.
That being said, they have only done slightly better offensively than the Royals. And they have faded lately after a hot month of May, going 7-11 this month.
Kansas City Royals (32-46) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (43-31) at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Yandy Díaz is third in all of baseball in batting average at .326, and he is hitting .364/.439/.653 in home games. Junior Caminero is hitting .291/.417/.468 against lefties. Jonathan Aranda is a career .324/.324/.486 in 11 games against the Royals.
Speedster Chandler Simpson has a 10.8 percent strikeout rate, tenth-lowest among qualified hitters, and his 58 percent groundball rate is the highest in baseball. He is hitting just .125/.169/.125 over his last 19 games. Cedric Mullins has the highest flyball rate in baseball at 59 percent. Simpson is one of the best defenders in baseball in the outfield, by Outs Above Average, while Caminero is the second-worst defender at any position.
Drew Rasmussen has the 11th-highest strikeout rate and lowest walk rate among all qualified starters. His 2.59 ERA is second-lowest in the American League. He has a 49.3 percent groundball rate, ninth-highest among starters. Rasmussen has a 1.69 ERA over his last five starts, including striking out a career-high 13 batters on June 10 against the Red Sox.
Shane McClanahan missed the last two seasons due to injury, but the two-time All-Star has picked up where he left off. He has a 2.05 ERA in six home starts this year, and lefties are hitting just .133/.235/.178 against him. He had his shortest outing of the year his last time out, exiting in the fourth inning after giving up a career-high five walks. He has a 2.30 ERA in three career starts against the Royals.
Griffin Jax was a closer to the Twins, but the Rays have converted him to a starting pitcher. He has slowly ramped up, but has yet to go more than five innings in a start. Salvador Perez is just 2-for-17 (.118) in his career against Jax.
Ian Seymour is also a former reliever who has slowly ramped up to starting, pitching a season-high five innings in his last start against the Nationals. He mostly throws a changeup and sweeper, only mixing in his 91 mph fastball 22 percent of the time. Opponents are hitting just .171 against his sweeper with a 42 percent whiff rate.
The Rays’ bullpen has struggled with a 4.53 ERA and a 4.76 FIP. They do have the fourth-lowest rate of allowing inherited runners to score. Bryan Baker has been a terrific pickup, and his 19 saves are third-most in baseball. Kevin Kelly has a 58.9 percent groundball rate, 11th-highest among relievers. All-Star pitcher Craig Kimbrel has given up one run in three innings since joining the Rays following his release from the Mets.
The Rays are glad to be back at Tropicana Field after a year away when the stadium was being repaired following Hurricane Milton. They are 26-10 at home this year, by far the best home record in baseball. The Royals swept all three games in St. Pete last year, and have not lost a series here since 2022.
Jul 18, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third base Nolan Arenado (28) looks on in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
As the St. Louis Cardinals prepare to open a series at Busch Stadium against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday night, they also welcome back Nolan Arenado. We all have our memories of Nolan’s time with the St. Louis Cardinals, but I’d like to focus on one aspect of the man that had nothing to do with hie performance on the field. Nolan Arenado proved to the St. Louis Cardinals fans that he was and is a man of his word.
I remember February 1, 2021 like it was yesterday. I had a fellow baseball friend who was familiar with the Colorado Rockies that the St. Louis Cardinals were about to pull off a blockbuster trade to bring the likely future Hall of Fame third baseman to St. Louis. Once the details were released, I was floored at what then President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak was able to pull off. The St. Louis Cardinals received Nolan Arenado and mammoth cash considerations to the tune of $51 million dollars in exchange for LHP Austin Gomber, INF Elehuris Montero, RHP Tony Locey, INF Mateo Gil and RHP Jake Sommers.
My only concern at the time of the trade was the possibility of Nolan Arenado using the opt-out options that remained in his contract. I can’t remember which sports writer asked Nolan during one of the online interviews after the trade was announced, but the issue of the opt-out was brought up and Nolan said that he had no interest in using it. He said he had always admired the Cardinals and wanted to end his career in St. Louis.
Nolan Arenado had one opt-out option remaining in his Colorado Rockies contract and he was convinced to waive his no-trade clause and accept the St. Louis Cardinals trade by being given an additional opt-out option after the 2022 season. I remember looking at the third base market at the time thinking that Nolan could have made a fortune as a free agent. If you remember, Arenado was 3rd in the MVP vote after the 2022 season. However, in late October of 2022, Nolan Arenado said he would not opt-out of his St. Louis Cardinals contract. Even with his promises to stay in St. Louis, I was genuinely surprised that Nolan chose to stay with the Cardinals instead of obtaining an even bigger payday. I was already a Nolan Arenado fan, but those choices to honor his word made me an even bigger one.
We are all aware of the offensive decline in Nolan Arenado’s performance his final two seasons in St. Louis that was at least partially due to nagging injuries that he chose to play through. Natural age decline no doubt played a part also, but at the end of the day one of my best memories of Nolan Arenado will always be his desire to become a St. Louis Cardinal and keeping his promise to play out his contract as long as the organization wanted him. I have no doubt he’ll get a hero’s welcome back to Busch Stadium Monday night. He has earned it.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 18: Colorado Rockies mascot "Dinger" waves a flag to signal the start of the Comfort Dental "Tooth Trot" costumed mascot race during a break in the action of a game between the Colorado Rockies and the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field on September 18, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sunday didn’t go quite as planned as the Red Sox fell short of completing a sweep of the Seattle Mariners. However, winning two out of three isn’t the worst outcome either. The Sox are playing .500 on the road. That’s about as much as you can ever hope for. The failure is the home record. That’s where they need a big turnaround. But for now, there’s another opportunity: the Colorado Rockies.
While Boston enters Denver at 31-44 and the Rockies have a 30-48 mark, the teams are not quite equals. The Red Sox have an expected record of 37-38 against the Rockies 31-47. And that’s because the Sox have a -7 run differential and the Rockies have a mark of -90. As they say, pitching, pitching, pitching.
With Brayan Bello still lost in the wilderness, Jake Bennet gets another big league start. Since returning from Triple A, the southpaw has tossed 10.0 innings while allowing 10 hits, 6 runs (4 and 2), while striking out 9 and walking just 1. The Sox pitching prospect hasn’t been overwhelmed by the majors so far and he’ll keep getting opportunities as long as Bello is searching for whatever it is he lost before 2026 began. Bennet will be opposed by Ryan Feltner. If you’re thinking “wasn’t he a Sox prospect years ago?” no that a was Durbin Feltman who is, in fact, still pitching in the American Association for Kansas City. Feltner is a righty in his sixth season with the Rockies. He’s sitting on a career 5.18 ERA / 4.52 FIP over 380 innings so this is who is he is. His two best starts of the season came back-to-back against the Giants and Brewers where he went six innings and allowed 0 runs and 1 run, respectively. Then the Cubs hit him hard twice, keeping Feltner from reaching 5 innings either time out.
Where would the 2026 Red Sox be without Sonny Gray? Probably behind the Rockies. What more is there to say? Gray is coming off a 7.0 inning, 3 run outing against the Blue Jays that the Sox lost 4-3. He’s only pitched in Coors Field once (2019) but allowed just a single run in 7.0 innings. Fingers crossed he remembers he thrived at altitude. He’ll face Sean Sullivan (again, not Sean O’Sullivan who made four starts for the Sox in 2016). A southpaw, Sullivan is two games into is MLB career. So far it’s been a little weird: 3 shutout innings against eh Athletics and 4.0 innings against eh Cubs where he allowed 8 runs. The 22 year old, who was born in Boston, was putting up a 5.60 ERA in Triple A in 11 starts. But that was in the Pacific Coast League where offense runs high.
Ranger Suarez took a no-hitter into the seventh innings last time out and left with just a single hit. There were a few walks, but it was a solid outing. One in a string of solid outings for Suarez who has given the Sox three wins in his last five starts, though he himself has just a single W. Suarez has made four appearances (3 starts) in Colorado and has a 3.20 ERA in 19.2 innings there. The most recent was a 6.2 shutout inning performance in 2025. Kyle Freeland is a 33-year-old lefty in his 10th season with the Rockies and is in the middle of, perhaps, his worst season. He’s allowed 56 runs in 66 innings along with 88 hits. He does have 57 Ks against 16 walks, which is good. Although it’s also that batters aren’t waiting for a walk. They’re just hitting the ball. He’s from Denver, was drafted by the Rockies in the first round back in 2016, has played for his hometown team his entire career and is signed through this season, although there is a vesting option if he hits 170 innings. Neither strikeout rate or (18.7%) nor walk rate (5.2%) are particularly high, so there’s still something there. He just tossed 7.1 innings against the Pirates and only gave up 2 runs. But before that was 6. And before holding Milwaukee to 3 runs he was tagged for 6 but the Angels and 8 by the Dodgers. This feels like the “Danger! High ERA pitcher about to dominate Red Sox” start of the series.
Catcher Hunter Goodman leads the team with 21 homers.
Old friend Brennan Bernadino has a 3.86 ERA in 30 innings.
First baseman TJ Rumfield is slashing .280/.360/.475.
These aren’t the old Rockies with a big offense backed up by,well, poor pitching. But with a new front office maybe that will start to change.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Monday, June 22: Jake Bennett (4.79 ERA / 3.35 FIP) vs. Ryan Feltner (5.05 ERA / 4.96 FIP)
Tuesday, June 23: Sonny Gray (3.12 ERA / 3.88 FIP) vs. Sean Sullivan (10.29 ERA / 6.96 FIP)
Wednesday, June 24: Ranger Suarez (2.93 ERA / 2.84 FIP) vs. Kyle Freeland (7.36 ERA / 5.09 FIP)
Boynton joined May's staff in 2024 after serving seven years as Oklahoma State's head coach. Boynton was on Brad Underwood's staff for a year at OSU before Underwood left for Illinois. Boynton was elevated to head coach and posted a 119-109 (.522) record, which included two NIT quarterfinals appearances and a trip to the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Prior to his time in Stillwater, Boynton worked for Underwood for three seasons at Stephen F. Austin. Boynton then followed Underwood to Oklahoma State for one season, before Underwood left for Illinois and Boynton was promoted to head coach.
Boynton has had assistant coaching stints at Furman, Coastal Carolina, Wofford, South Carolina, Stephen F. Austin and Oklahoma State, before being promoted to head coach at OSU after Brad Underwood took the Illinois job in 2017. In seven seasons at Stillwater, Boynton posted a 119-109 (.522) record, which included two NIT quarterfinals appearances and a trip to the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
What was Mike Boynton's role at Michigan?
Boynton was hired as an assistant coach on May's inaugural staff at Michigan in 2024, and also served as the program's defensive coordinator.
Mike Boynton NCAA Tournament record
Boynton has a 1-1 record at the NCAA Tournament as a head coach, with his lone win coming against No. 13 seed Liberty 69-60 in the first round in 2021. Oklahoma State subsequently fell to No. 12 seed Oregon State in the second round, sending the Cowboys packing.
It was a disappointing finish for the Cowboys, especially as they were led by future No. 1 overall pick and first-team All-NBA guard Cade Cunningham, now of the Detroit Pistons. It was the only season of his seven as a head coach that his team reached March Madness.
Mike Boynton coaching career timeline
Here's a look at Boynton's full coaching history, including each stop of his career:
2004-05: Furman (graduate assistant)
2005-07: Coastal Carolina (assistant)
2007-08: Wofford (associate head coach)
2008-13: South Carolina (assistant)
2013-16: Stephen F. Austin (assistant)
2016-17: Oklahoma State (assistant)
2017-2024: Oklahoma State (head coach)
2024-2026: Michigan (assistant)
2026-present: Michigan (interim head coach)
Where did Mike Boynton go to college?
Mike Boynton played four seasons at South Carolina, where he later served as an assistant coach from 2008-13.
He started 47 career games for the Gamecocks, averaging 4.3 points with 2.0 assists per game from 2000-04.
The Los Angeles Kings have unveiled their 2026-27 preseason schedule, a four-game exhibition slate highlighted by the return of the annual “Empire Classic” at Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 19 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The condensed schedule continues a division-heavy theme for Los Angeles, with matchups against familiar Pacific Division opponents and a pair of in-state meetings with the Anaheim Ducks, along with a home date against Utah.
Los Angeles Kings 2026-27 Preseason Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 19 — vs. Vegas Golden Knights — 6:00 p.m. (Toyota Arena, Ontario, CA)
Tuesday, Sept. 22 — vs. Utah Mammoth — 7:00 p.m. (Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA)
Wednesday, Sept. 23 — at Anaheim Ducks — 7:00 p.m. (Honda Center, Anaheim, CA)
Saturday, Sept. 26 — vs. Anaheim Ducks — 1:00 p.m. (Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA)
Tickets for the Empire Classic will be available via axs.com and ontarioreign.com. Fans looking to attend the Sept. 23 and Sept. 26 home exhibition games at Crypto.com Arena are encouraged to explore Season Ticket Membership options through lakings.com/memberships, while full preseason ticket details are available at lakings.com/preseason.
The schedule arrives amid a broader league-wide restructuring of the exhibition calendar. The NHL has trimmed the preseason from six games per team to four as part of a wider scheduling overhaul connected to the league’s move toward an 84-game regular season.
League officials have framed the change as a way to reduce injury risk in exhibition play while shifting emphasis toward meaningful regular-season games. The adjustment was agreed upon by the league and NHLPA under the current collective bargaining agreement, which runs through the 2029-30 season, following growing concern over high-profile injuries sustained during preseason action in recent years.
For fans who're already craving to end that hockey itch, help is on the way, but it'll arrive in September.
Two months after claiming the second national championship in program history, Michigan has found itself in the market for a new men’s basketball coach.
The last coach to leave right after winning the tournament was former Kansas coach Larry Brown, who made a habit of leaping from one spot to the next in his well-traveled career.
Dusty May was not supposed to follow that same path. After a steady building process resulted in one of the best teams in recent NCAA history, the belief coming out of this year’s Final Four in Indianapolis said that May was poised to become one of the faces of college basketball.
Boynton will have this coming season to convince Michigan to give him the full-time job. Looking toward next winter, here’s USA TODAY Sports’ glance at where Michigan could eventually go to permanently fill May’s shoes:
Boynton ran the defense under May — his work helped the Wolverines outscore opponents by nearly 20 points per game — and was the head coach at Oklahoma State from 2017-24. The results were very mixed: OSU won 20 games three times and reached the second round of the tournament in 2021 but went just 119-109 overall and 51-75 in Big 12 play. Still, Boynton has the qualifications and experience to step into the job at a late date and potentially keep the roster intact, or at least strong enough to stay a factor in the Big Ten and Final Four hunt.
Josh Schertz, Saint Louis
The list of outside candidates begins with Schertz, a close friend of May’s and a coach with a similarly prolific up-tempo offensive scheme. His system could be installed fairly seamlessly and mesh well with the Wolverines’ current roster. Schertz has also proven himself by winning 32 games at Indiana State in 2024 and then leading Saint Louis to 29 wins and the second round of this year’s tournament, where the Billikens were bulldozed by Michigan. Schertz could come eventually with May’s recommendation, which might carry weight in the school’s search.
Nate Oats, Alabama
Oats signed a massive extension that links him to Alabama through 2032 and has experienced his share of controversy, most recently this past season with Charles Bediako’s eligibility debate and guard Aden Holloway’s suspension in the wake of felony drug charges. But he’s also won 70% of his games, reached the Final Four, made two Elite Eight trips and advanced out of the tournament’s opening weekend in each of the past four years. He also spent a decade coaching high school basketball in Michigan before being hired as an assistant at Buffalo in 2013. Oats is in a good spot with the Crimson Tide but could be enticed by the opportunity to coach a program with more support and resources.
Billy Donovan
Donovan is currently out of coaching after stepping down from his spot with the Chicago Bulls after the end of the regular season. While he had his share of NBA success, Donovan is best known for the powerhouse he built Florida, where he claimed back-to-back national championships. Despite his time away from the college game, Donovan has essentially been linked to every major NCAA job opening since he left the Gators over a decade ago. Is Michigan the position that would bring him back? May showed how quickly the right coach can make things happen in Ann Arbor. But it’s unknown whether Donovan is interested in navigating the current landscape of college sports.
T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State
Otzelberger seems very content in Ames, having already declined overtures from more historically relevant programs since kickstarting the Cyclones’ current run in 2022. Since taking over five seasons ago, he’s led Iowa State to three Sweet 16 berths, four 20-win seasons and at least 25 wins in each of the past three years. While Otzelberger’s teams have been more recognized for defensive intensity, he’s proven himself to be malleable enough as a coach to potentially blend in his style with the tempo that defined May’s tenure.
Brian Dutcher, San Diego State
Formerly a longtime Michigan assistant who was on the staff for the 1989 national champions and then spent another 18 years under former Michigan coach Steve Fisher with the Aztecs, Dutcher has won at least 21 games in every season since replacing Fisher in 2017 and led SDSU to the national title game in 2023. A few factors not in Dutcher’s favor are his age — he’ll turn 67 in October — and that SDSU has taken a bit of a recent dip, dropping out in the First Four of the 2025 tournament and missing this year’s bracket altogether.
The Ducks' 2025-26 season has been over for just over a month and with the 2026 NHL Entry Draft just around the corner, it feels like a good time to start recapping this past season for each player in the organization.
Today's edition of 'By the Numbers' will feature players who wore Nos. 51-60 this season.
If you missed the previous edition of 'By the Numbers', you can click here to read it.
Olen Zellweger
Zellweger was a mainstay on the Ducks' blue line up until the tail-end of the regular season, when a couple of defensive shortcomings seemingly put him in head coach Joel Quenneville's doghouse. There was an emphasis on defensive habits, with Zellweger deployed on the penalty kill throughout the season as opposed to the power play, where his skills may have been better utilized.
Tyson Hinds' call-up and subsequent strong play left Zellweger a spectator at the end of the regular season and into the playoffs. He went an entire month without playing in a game before he re-entered the lineup out of necessity for Game 4 of their playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Paired with Ian Moore, he picked up a secondary assist on Moore's game-winning goal while playing mostly sheltered minutes on the bottom pair.
May 14, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) controls the puck past Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during the third period in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
In Game 5, his play earned him more ice time and a promotion to the second defensive pair alongside John Carlson. He then tied the game late in the third period, though the Ducks fell in overtime. He was scoreless in Game 6 but had almost 14 minutes of ice time.
A pending RFA this summer, the Ducks appear to be at a crossroads with both Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov, who is also an RFA. The two lefties have taken turns showing flashes of what they can become if given the proper ice time and runway. However, neither has been able to do this on a consistent basis just yet. With Jackson LaCombe entrenched as the Ducks' No. 1 on the left-hand side, it's a battle of who will be the No. 2 behind him.
Lucas Pettersson
After splitting time between the HockeyAllsvenskan and the SHL in 2024-25, Pettersson spent most of the past season with Brynäs in the SHL before finishing out the year in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls. He had 20 points in 40 games, primarily playing on the wing. Pettersson was also part of Sweden's gold medal-winning squad at World Juniors, collecting six points in six games.
Drafted as a center in the second round of the 2024 draft, Pettersson may project better as a winger due to his size (5-foot-11) and speed. He is dependable in both zones and has shown that he can contribute offensively off the rush and on the man advantage. He would be a candidate for the penalty kill as well.
As of now, it's unclear whether Pettersson will play for the Gulls in 2025-26 or return to Sweden for another season with Brynäs. The Gulls' forward depth is in flux, with Jan Myšák departed to HV71 in the SHL, Justin Bailey needing a new contract and Nikita Nesterenko and Sam Colangelo expected to be up with the Ducks full-time. If Pettersson does return to Brynäs, it would give him the chance to play either down the middle or on the wing again.
Tarin Smith
Smith was named captain of the Everett Silvertips prior to the start of the 2025-26 WHL season, his fourth full season with the club. He appeared in 60+ games for the third consecutive season, setting a new career high in assists (55) and points (71) as one half of the Silvertips' top defensive pairing.
Unfortunately, his final WHL postseason was cut short due to a dislocated shoulder that he suffered during the Silvertips' first playoff series. He will be out of the sling at the end of June and be able to resume skating in August. November is the targeted date for his full return to the ice, and he'll be doing it in the NCAA after committing to the University of Minnesota this past May.
An offensively-gifted defenseman, Smith was a finalist for the WHL Defenseman of the Year. Continued focus in the defensive zone will be a priority for him as he transitions to the collegiate game and goes up against older and stronger players.
Coulson Pitre
After spending the entire 2024-25 season with the Gulls, Pitre split the 2025-26 season between the AHL and ECHL. He was nearly a point per game player in the ECHL with the Tulsa Oilers (21 in 26 games), but failed to replicate that kind of production with the Gulls, putting up just five points in 25 games.
An upper-body injury that occurred prior to training camp kept Pitre out until almost November. After returning, he was then assigned to Tulsa, where he remained until January, when he was recalled to the Gulls. Pitre spent most of his time with the Gulls in a bottom-6 role, rotating between center and wing. His development has been hampered by injuries and he hasn't been able to carve out a consistent role with the Gulls through two full seasons.
May 14, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) controls the puck past Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during the third period in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Like 2023 second round pick Nico Myatovic, Pitre thrives in a complementary role, forechecking hard, retrieving/recovering pucks and setting up his higher-level teammates. However, it's been difficult for Pitre to find the same level of success at the AHL level that Myatovic has recently started to find.
Health will be paramount for Pitre as he enters the final year of his ELC. He could be in line for a bigger role with the Gulls this upcoming season depending on what moves are made during the summer.
Maxim Massé
Massé had his best season to date in 2025-26, setting career highs across the board. He eclipsed 100 points for the first time in his juniors career and helped lead the Chicoutimi Saguenéens to a QMJHL championship.
After four full seasons in the QMJHL, Massé will be heading to the NCAA to play for UMass. He follows in the footsteps of fellow Ducks prospects Roger McQueen, Alex Blais, Saguenéens teammate Emile Guité and the aforementioned Smith in transitioning from the CHL to the NCAA.
"It's good for the development," Massé said in an interview with THN Anaheim this past February. "We're only playing 30-40 games a season. Gaining some strength in my lower body and upper body, too, and just getting better with my skating. (The Ducks) were supporting me 100% in that."
Improving his skating, in addition to continuing to add strength, has been a focus for Massé since he was drafted by the Ducks in 2024. Playing collegiate hockey will allow him to ply his trade against older and stronger players and provide a bigger challenge than the CHL.
Yegor Sidorov
After a strong rookie season in the AHL in 2024-25 with 34 points in 59 games, Sidorov took a slight step back offensively in 2025-26. He had 29 points in 68 games while finding himself moving up and down the lineup throughout the season.
Scoring goals has never been an issue for Sidorov, who had a prolific juniors career in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades. The big question was whether he could impact the game in other ways outside of scoring. It appears that he is still trying to find his 'B-game' after a promising start to his pro career. Sidorov was also a healthy scratch for both of the Gulls' Calder Cup Playoffs games against the Colorado Eagles, with players like scrappy forward Cal Burke getting the nod over him.
May 14, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) controls the puck past Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during the third period in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
With a new coaching staff entering the picture, Sidorov could find himself in a more consistent next season. He too is in the final year of his ELC and will likely be part of the group competing for a spot on the NHL roster during training camp, with Troy Terry expected to be out until December after recently undergoing hip impingement surgery.
Sidorov was one of the final training camp cuts last season and if he once again doesn't make the cut, he could at least still be in line for a bigger role with the Gulls. Finding ways to impact the game outside of the scoresheet could help him get that.
Ethan Procyszyn
Procyszyn was a 30-goal scorer for the second consecutive season, also his second season as captain of the North Bay Battalion in the OHL. His points total dipped slightly from his career-high 64 in 2024-25, but he continued to be a driving force for the Battalion in 2025-26.
A gritty, hard-nosed forward, Procyszyn grabs points any way he can and is the true definition of a grinder. His playstyle suits the NHL game quite well, as teams are always looking for players who are willing to go the dirty areas of the ice.
Procyszyn signed his ELC in April following the conclusion of the Battalion's playoff run, though he didn't appear in any games for the Gulls. He'll be able to get his feet wet in the AHL next season as one of the Gulls' depth centers behind captain Ryan Carpenter.
Sasha Pastujov
After a surprise demotion to the ECHL to start the 2024-25 season, Pastujov returned to the AHL with a chip on his shoulder, putting up 45 points in 43 games. He built off of his strong season by leading the Gulls in points (57) in 2025-26 and also finished second on the team in goals (21).
Pastujov is a cerebral player who shows good vision and has a strong shot in his arsenal. Skating has always been the knock on him, an area that he has previously acknowledged needs work. He just completed his third full season as a professional and is a pending RFA. It's likely that he'll be tendered a qualifying offer and should be given a chance to compete for a spot on the NHL roster.
If he isn't able to crack the NHL roster, he'll slot into the Gulls' top-6 and be relied upon as one of their top playmakers.
Tyson Hinds
Another player who went through the rigors of the AHL for a few seasons before finally getting the call to the NHL, Hinds spent most of the 2025-26 season with the Gulls before being called up to the Ducks in April. He appeared in the last six games of the regular season and the first nine games of the Ducks' first playoff run since 2018 before being a healthy scratch for the final three games of the Golden Knights series. This came after logging heavy minutes as part of the Gulls' top defensive pair alongside Tristan Luneau.
May 8, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Tyson Hinds (60) plays for the puck against Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) during the first period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Hinds fits the mold of the modern-day stay-at-home defenseman, a mobile defender who uses his length and skating to take away lanes and knock the puck away. He fared well (for the most part) alongside whoever his defensive partner was and wasn't afraid to activate offensively when the opportunity called for it.
He is a pending RFA and will likely be tendered a qualifying offer. The left side of the Ducks' defense is a bit crowded at the moment, so it's difficult to envision there being a regular spot for Hinds. But he showed that he is ready to be an everyday NHLer and could find a role as the seventh defenseman.
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