SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 29: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers plays defense during the game against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs on December 29, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers don’t have many high-value assets they could move for a talent upgrade. One of those is Evan Mobley, who theoretically could be used for a possible Giannis Antetokounmpo deal, given that the Milwaukee Bucksreportedly value him. However, as of now, the Cavs have little interest in moving Mobley.
This backs up previous reporting. Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor mentioned last week that the Cavs’ braintrust views Mobley as a “future star” and as a safety net for a potential rebuild once this era comes to a close.
Additionally, Cavs President of Basketball Operations, Koby Altman, said in his end-of-season press conference that Mobley was part of the team’s “future.”
At this point, it’s worth taking these reports and Altman’s public statements as true. That said, Mobley’s value seems to be quite high at this point. There aren’t many players in the league who can theoretically guard Victor Wembanyama as well as Mobley can. In a league run by Wemby, having a counter is extremely important — especially for a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are already rumored to be interested in Mobley. Things could change quickly if the Cavs receive an offer they can’t refuse.
It’ll be an interesting summer for the Cavs. They will want to find ways to make their roster more well-rounded, while also cutting costs so that they can get under the second apron. We’ll see if Altman and the rest of the front office can find a way of doing so.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In case you hadn’t heard, LeBron James is set to become an unrestricted free agent in less than a month.
While the Lakers have repeatedly said that they’d welcome him back with open arms, there’s no guarantee that he’s in LA next year. Or on the Lakers, at least.
If this turns out to be LeBron’s final year in the NBA, he might want to conduct his farewell tour elsewhere. It depends on how serious he is about contending for a championship next year. (There’s a clear choice for him if that’s his top priority.)
Money will also be a major determining factor. Only a handful of teams can offer him anywhere close to a max contract, and teams over the first apron can’t acquire players via sign-and-trade. That will limit his realistic free-agent options outside L.A.
With that in mind, let’s break down how he could widen his potential landing spots at each step down the salary ladder, using spending-power projections from Spotrac’s Keith Smith as our guide.
Max contract
Options: Lakers, Bulls, Nets
As of now, only three teams are projected to have anywhere near enough cap space to offer LeBron a max contract in free agency: the Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets.
LeBron could earn up to $57.75 million in 2026-27 if the salary cap lands at $165 million, although he isn’t likely to find any team willing to shell out that kind of money for him, not even the Lakers.
The Bulls and Nets are in the early stages of a rebuild, so they likely wouldn’t hold much appeal to a 41-year-old James who’s firmly in win-now territory. If James isn’t willing to take a massive pay cut from the $52.6 million that he earned this past season, re-signing with the Lakers would be his best bet… provided that they’re open to paying him that much.
Below-max contract
Options: Pistons, Hawks
Both the Pistons and Hawks can operate as cap-space teams this offseason, although neither is necessarily likely to.
The Pistons could have nearly $27 million in cap space, but that would require renouncing their free-agent rights to Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris and Kevin Huerter, among others. Unless Duren’s miserable playoff run scares them off from re-signing him (unlikely), they figure to operate as an over-the-cap team, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic.
The Hawks are in a similar boat. They could operate as a cap-space team, but that would mean declining their $24.3 million team option on Jonathan Kuminga and renouncing their rights to both him and CJ McCollum. Instead, they likewise figure to operate as an over-the-cap team, which would likely limit them to the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Most of these teams are in some stage of rebuilding, although the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards are both poised to take a major leap forward. The Jazz acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. at the trade deadline and landed the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, while the Wizards traded for both Trae Young and Anthony Davis ahead of the deadline and landed the No. 1 overall pick.
Would LeBron want to team back up with Davis and mentor AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer in the nation’s capital? Might he think the Jazz have the antidote to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs with their trio of 7-footers in JJJ, Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler (provided they re-sign him in restricted free agency)?
But why try to beat Wemby when he could simply join him instead?
The Spurs still have Wemby, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper on rookie-scale contracts next year, which gives them far more flexibility than a typical Finals team boasts. The Thunder are still lurking as a real threat to them — James heading to San Antonio wouldn’t quite be on the same level as Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors in 2016 — but the Spurs would be clear championship favorites nonetheless.
Any team that operates under the cap this offseason will also have the $9.4 million room mid-level exception at its disposal. The Lakers, Bulls and Nets are all but guaranteed to have it, while the Hawks and Pistons could either have the room MLE or one of the other MLEs depending on what else they do in free agency.
It’s hard to imagine LeBron would be willing to settle for a $9.4 million salary, though, especially if these teams also have cap space to spend on him. The non-taxpayer MLE is likely his floor unless he’s looking to maximize his championship chances by taking a fraction of his actual on-court worth.
Some of these teams might have access to the full non-taxpayer MLE depending on what else they do this offseason, although using it would hard-cap them at the $209 million first apron. Spending the smaller $6.1 million taxpayer MLE would hard-cap them at the second apron.
If LeBron truly doesn’t care about money — after all, the man is a billionaire — being willing to take the taxpayer MLE would expand his free-agent options.
Might he want to join Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White in Boston? Could he form a Klutch Sports superteam in Philly with Tyrese Maxey? Would he want a Team USA reunion with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota or Kevin Durant in Houston? Or would he consider joining Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green in Golden State?
But if he’s willing to settle for $6.1 million…
Minimum deal
Options: Any team
A veteran-minimum contract for someone with 10-plus years of NBA experience is projected to be worth nearly $3.9 million in 2026-27. (If it’s a one-year deal, it’d only count as $2.45 million on a team’s books.) That’s not too far off from the taxpayer MLE, particularly for someone as wealthy as LeBron.
If he’s willing to take a minimum deal, he can sign with any team in the NBA, even those over the second apron. That’s his cleanest path back to Cleveland or his chance to play for the New York Knicks. He could also opt to team with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray in Denver if he went that route.
If LeBron is willing to take a minimum deal, he’d effectively under cut everything that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is trying to do to increase parity throughout the league.
This is by far the funniest possible outcome.
Sign-and-trades
Options: Any team below the first apron
If LeBron wants more than the non-taxpayer MLE but wants to land on a team other than the Lakers, he could always pursue a sign-and-trade.
Teams over the first apron cannot acquire players via sign-and-trade, so that would still limit his options to the teams with the non-tax MLE at their disposal. This would also allow the Lakers to recoup something for LeBron rather than losing him for nothing in free agency.
The Cavs would have a ton of work to do to get under the first apron, but would the Lakers be interested in taking back Jarrett Allen? Would Keldon Johnson or Luke Kornet appeal to them? What about Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively II?
A sign-and-trade might be the Lakers’ best-case scenario. They can only hope that LeBron isn’t willing to settle for less than $20 million, which would force other teams to find creative ways to pony up.
Jun 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) completes a double play off the bat of Minnesota Twins left fielder Trevor Larnach (9) during the third inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
It was a pitcher’s duel all day in the Twin Cities. The offense’s got going late, but it was the Royals getting the last laugh, beating the Twins 3-2 after a 2-run top of the 9th inning.
Carter Jensen hit a leadoff homer to the right field seats off Joe Ryan. The first career leadoff homer for Jensen, it was also his 8th on the season.
Luinder Avila was really good, his first 4 innings of work were hitless, with a pair of walks. He did run into trouble in the 5th. Austin Martin hit a leadoff single and Victor Caratini smashed a double off the right center field wall. Royce Lewis worked a walk, loading the bases with nobody out. Tristan Gray crushed a liner to center, but Kyle Isbel was able to get underneath it. 1-1 on the sac fly. Avila’s last pitch of the day was the biggest one, inducing Ryan Kreidler to hit into an inning ending double play.
Avila’s final line was 5 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts, on just 70 pitches.
The Royals had plenty of runners on against Joe Ryan but failed to capitalize. Ryan went 6 innings, allowing 6 hits, 1 run, 2 walks and striking out 5.
Daniel Lynch IV got a 1-2-3 6th. Lucas Erceg gave up a 1 out walk, but no further damage was done in the 7th, an encouraging sign for the heavily struggling Erceg.
Matt Strahm got the 8th, after recording two quick outs, pinch hitter Orlando Arcia launched his first homer of the year to put the Twins in front 2-1. Strahm quickly retired the next batter to end the inning.
Isaac Collins led off the 9th with a single, Tyler Tolbert pinch ran for him and stole second base. Josh Rojas reached on a fielder’s choice, on a grounder back to the pitcher, but the throw went to second trying to get Tolbert, his headfirst dive back into the bag beat the tag.
Isbel would bunt the runners over, before Jensen tied the game with a sac fly to right. Bobby Witt Jr. up next, and he lined one over the head of Arcia at shortstop, Rojas would beat the throw home and the Royals were ahead 3-2.
Alex Lange got the 9th, trying to record a third consecutive save. He allowed a leadoff double to Kody Clemens off the right field wall but bounced back with two straight strikeouts. Caratini got hit by a 2-2 pitch, bringing up Lewis. After a long battle and full count, Lange struck him out looking.
The Royals have now clinched at least a series split; they are 4-5 on the long road trip. They are 26-39 on the season. Noah Cameron starts the finale tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. CT.
Jun 6, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller (50) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The Mariners halted a brief two-game losing skid today – over which the pitching staff surrendered 14 runs – with a shutout 4-0 win against the Tigers. Bryce Miller made his first non-piggyback start of the year and delivered six strong innings against the Tigers, one-hitting Detroit over six innings while striking out a season-high nine batters.
The lone hit Miller gave up could have been Detroit’s first scoring chance of the day, when Colt Keith led off the third inning with a triple. But Miller buckled down and stranded Keith at third, getting Matt Vierling to pop out, striking out Wenceel Pérez looking (and eliciting a failed challenge from Pérez to wipe out Detroit’s challenges for the game, something that would benefit the Mariners later), and handing Gleyber Torres his second of four strikeouts on the day to end the inning. Miller racked up nine strikeouts over his outing and sixteen whiffs, currently good for best in MLB today (a lead he’ll certainly surrender when Yamamoto faces the Angels tonight).
The Tigers did make Miller work; in the fourth, Kerry Carpenter battled him for 12 pitches before earning the second walk of the inning, putting runners on at first and second with just one out and creating Detroit’s best scoring opportunity of the day. But Riley Greene went after the first pitch he saw, a splitter at the bottom of the zone, for an inning-ending double play.
Miller’s velocity held well over his outing, as he was still touching 96-97 in the fifth inning before tailing off a little in the sixth, when he said he “got a little tired” and lost some of his velo and command. It didn’t help that Pérez led off the inning with another long at-bat, this time one Miller won with a ten-pitch strikeout (he was later helped out by some very generous strike calls against Gleyber Torres—but with the Tigers out of challenges, Torres had no recourse). The bullpen helped Miller’s shutout hold over the back three innings: José Ferrer overcame some early inning jangles and a leadoff walk to hang a zero, ending on a filthy strikeout of Spencer Torkelson on a 98.8 mph sinker; Matt Brash overcame a walk of his own, getting Torres looking at a sinker on the outer edge for the platinum sombrero; and Gabe Speier worked around a leadoff double and a walk of his own to complete the shutout, thanks – once again – to a Riley Greene game-ending double play.
But even if the Tigers had been able to push across one or two runs, it wouldn’t have been enough to overcome the Mariners offense, which stacked four runs in the early innings of this game. The first run came in the second inning courtesy of a Dominic Canzone double which came off the bat at 105.5 mph, traveled 417 feet, and would have been a home run at 24 other MLB parks. Dom had to settle for a double, scoring Randy Arozarena, who had walked.
The Mariners stacked on another two runs in the next inning with back-to-back singles from Julio Rodríguez and Josh Naylor followed by yet another double from Arozarena, who cannot be stopped. Julio scored easily, and then encouraged Naylor to follow him home, making for a close play at the plate where Naylor was luckily ruled safe. With not enough evidence to overturn, the Tigers lost their challenge and final opportunity to argue about anything in this game.
If you can look you can see Naylor toss in his sliding glove as he slides into home, which I assumed was so he had all his fingers available to touch home plate but could also serve as a distraction to the catcher. Maybe that’s part of the reason why the Tigers aren’t very happy with Josh Naylor, who got hit…somewhat obviously in his next at-bat (they’re also mad about this play last night, which seems much more dubious to read for ill intent).
But the Tigers can only complain so much in a game where they were thoroughly shut out; meanwhile, Canzone stretched the lead to 4-0, finally getting revenge on the outfield walls in Detroit with this 451-foot no-doubter, the longest hit homer by a Mariner this season.
That’s all the scoring the Mariners would do on the day, but all they would need thanks to the pitching, bouncing back after back-to-back shaky outings. Tomorrow Luis Castillo aims to prove he too deserves to be freed from the confines of the piggyback, taking the ball in the series finale against another starter with something to prove: Jack Flaherty, fighting for his place in Detroit’s rotation as the Tigers pitching is getting healthier.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 17: Lars Nootbaar #21 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium on September 17, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Forrest Gump once said that life is like a box of chocolates because you never know which kind you’re going to get. The same can be said for Matthew Liberatore this season. Will you get good Libby or bad Libby? Saturday, the Cardinals ended up with both versions, but it would be more late inning magic powered by Jordan Walker and Lars Nootbaar that would help St. Louis overcome Cincinnati again.
Saturday’s Cards/Reds matchup started out almost completely opposite of what went down Friday night. Instead of coming back from a 3-run deficit in the early innings to tie the game, the Cardinals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Alec Burleson and José Fermín opened up the inning with back-to-back singles. Bryan Torres then bunted both of them over and ended up on first base himself when he beat the throw to load the bases. After Pedro Pagés flew out to left, Victor Scott II came through with a partial-swing single dumping the ball into right field and scoring both Burleson and Fermin. St. Louis would get a sharp single from Masyn Winn, too, giving St. Louis their early 3-0 lead.
The St. Louis Cardinals enjoyed Good Libby for the first two innings as he didn’t allow any hits or baserunners and got through both innings throwing just 19 pitches. In the Cardinals edition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Bad Libby took the mound in the top of the 3rd and allowed the Reds to rally. He walked the first two batters, Marte and McLain. After getting one out on a bunt popup gone wrong, Liberatore got the ground ball he needed from JJ Bleday, but it went under the glove of Alec Burleson and first scoring the two runners that Liberatore walked cutting the St. Louis lead down to 3-2. Spencer Steer would hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3.
Cincinnati took their first lead of the game in the top of the 4th when Dunn singled and then two batters later, McClain hit a 381 foot home run on a 85 mph Liberatore slider making it 5-3 Reds. That would end Matthew’s day as Oli Marmol brought in Gordon Graceffo to put out the fire which he did. Matthew Liberatore’s final stat line for Saturday was 4 1/3 innings allowing 4 hits, 5 runs total, 3 of them earned with 4 strikeouts and 3 unfortunate walks.
Not so fast say the comeback Cardinals. In the bottom of the 5th inning, Jordan Walker hammered a 94 mph full-count sinker and sent it off of the railing above the right-center field wall for his 16th home run of the year cutting the Reds lead to just 1.
The Cardinals and Reds would team up in the bottom of the 6th to try and cause trouble for Cincinnati. José Fermín ripped a single to center and then Bryan Torres would chop a ball into the ground toward third when Suarez would decide to not let the ball go foul and threw high to first base giving St. Louis runners on first and second with no one out. Fermin and Torres then stole the bases in front of them making it second and third with no one out. Lars Nootbaar was sent up as a pinch hitter, but the Reds intentionally walked him to load the bases because they apparently wanted Cincinnati to lose as much as we did. Oli Marmol then pinch-hit Jimmy Crooks for Pedro Pages, but he hit into a rally-killing double play. Masyn Winn’s ground out ended the inning with the Cardinals getting ZERO runs out of a bases-loaded nobody out opportunity. Even with the Reds tendencies toward self-destruction, we got nothing.
Gordon Graceffo did a solid job in relief. He allowed 2 hits, but got out of a couple jams allowing the Reds no runs during 1 2/3 innings of relief. Ryne Stanek was brought in to pitch what turned out to be a very uneventful 1-2-3 top of the 7th inning. It was George Soriano answering the bell in the top of the 8th inning. Other than a pitch clock violation and a double given up to Dunn, no real harm done as he did not allow the Reds to extend their lead.
The Cardinals would threaten in the bottom of the 8th inning when José Fermín hit the 7th pitch he saw for a single through the right side of the infield. Bryan Torres executed a perfect sacrifice bunt moving him up to second base. That brought up Lars Nootbaar who reminded everyone why we always scream NOOT! With one Lars swing, the Cardinals were back in the lead 6-5 on a 433 foot 2-run homer!
Riley O’Brien was brought in for the top of the 9th inning to confirm the win we all knew was coming in and he did, but not without drama. He allowed two 2-out hits giving Cincinnati the tying run 90 feet away. It was all down to Riley O’Brien versus Spencer Steer who he walked to load the bases for rookie Sal Stewart. That led to a Dusty Blake mound visit. Not sure what was said, but it led to a full count ground out to second to end the game. Thank you, Jimmy Crooks for that ABS appeal on the 3-1 pitch that was called a ball, but was overturned. Whew, that was too close. Somewhere, I’d like to think that former Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue is smiling watching the Reds be miserable again.
The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up a long homestand on Sunday by trying to sweep the Cincinnati Reds. Michael McGreevy is scheduled to make the start for the Cardinals while RHP Rhett Lowder will take the mound for the Reds. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15pm central time at Busch Stadium and the broadcast will be available on Cardinals.tv.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 13: The San Antonio Spurs honor Bill Schoening for his retirement during the game against the Toronto Raptors on April 13, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Bill Schoening, Jacob Tobey and Jeph Duarte: surely you’ve heard all their names before and know what they all have in common: the San Antonio Spurs! Bill is the former “voice of the Spurs” and was their radio announcer for 24 amazing years before retiring last summer, Jacob just finished his second season as the Spurs broadcast’s play-by-play announcer, and of course, Jeph is one of our own here at Pounding the Rock, who presents us with some good reading and thoughts for conversation to look forward to every morning.
But there’s something else they all have in common: they’re all musically inclined, and next Thursday, Bill Schoening & Friends will be performing live at Sam’s Burger Joint near downtown San Antonio to celebrate his latest EP Collaborations songwriting release. Bill will be sharing Spurs stories from his more than 2,000 called games. He will be joined by Jacob and Jeph! What more can you ask for than to watch the radio, TV and Pounding the Rock voices of the Spurs all in one place?
There will be Spurs swag giveaways and door prizes celebrating the Spurs historic 2025-2026 season.
If you’re interested, you can click here to purchase tickets. Ticket count is limited to 8 tickets per party, and while reservation of a booth can be reserved for an extra cost, a general admission ticket is still required to see the show, and seating is otherwise limited and on a first come, first serve basis, so be ready to stand. Below is the information for the event. Will you be there?
Bill Schoening & Friends
Featuring: Bill Schoening, Jeph Duarte, Jacob Tobey
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 30: The sneakers worn by Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 4: Bryson Stott #5 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after hitting an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park on June 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (29-36) will continue their nine-game homestand this afternoon as they play the second game of a three-game series against the Athletics (30-33) at Daikin Park.
RHP Tatsuya Imai (2-3, 5.52 ERA) will make his eighth start of the year for the Astros tonight opposite the A’s and RHP Kade Morris (0-0, —- ERA), who’s is starting his first game as a big league pitcher
VS. THE A’S: The Astros are hosting the A’s in Houston for their first series in the Bayou City since last July.
The Astros are 2-2 vs. the A’s in 2026 and are looking to reverse their luck vs. the A’s this season after going 5-8 against them in 2025. That marked the Astros first season series loss to the A’s since the 2020 season (3-7).
THREE-SOCK PAREDES: 3B Isaac Paredes has homered in a career-high tying three consecutive games for the third time in his seven-year career (last, April 11-13, 2025)…should he homer today, he’d become the first Astro to homer in four straight games since 3B Alex Bregman did so from Aug. 10-13, 2024.
SEÑOR CIEN: 3B Isaac Paredes hit his 100th career homer on Thursday and his 101st last night, making him one of just four Mexican-born players in MLB history to the reach 100 career homers, joining Vinny Castilla (320), Jorge Orta (130), and Aurelio Rodriguez (124)…Paredes also reached another milestone last Sunday, becoming the 10th Mexican player to reach 500 career hits.
ABOUT THE NO-NO: On May 25 at TEX, RHP Tatsuya Imai started the Astros 17th regular season no-hitter and their 18th no-hitter overall in club history…Imai worked the first 6.0 hitless innings before giving way to LHP Steven Okert (1IP) and RHP Alimber Santa (2IP)…the no-hitter was the Astros seventh since 2019, which is the most in the Majors in that span…additionally, the Astros 18 no-hitters overall are the most in the Majors since the franchise was born in 1962.
THERE IS A SANTA!: RHP Alimber Santa set a club record by retiring the first 18 batters of his career consecutively before giving up a walk on Wednesday…the 18 consecutive batters retired are the most to begin a career since the Pirates RHP Nick Kingham retired 20 straight to open his career on April 29, 2018 vs. STL…Santa still has not allowed a hit in his first 6.0 Major League innings, which per Elias, ties as the third longest of such a streak in franchise history.
TODAY’S AVAILABILITIES: The Astros clubhouse will be open to approved media at Daikin Park from 11:20-12:10 p.m. CT…Astros Manager Joe Espada will be made available in the Astros dugout at approx. 12:10 p.m.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, June 5, 310 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network, SCHN2 (Spanish)
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Jun 6, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter Dominic Canzone (8) receives congratulations from teammates after he hits a home run in the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Jun 6, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) reacts in front of umpire Chris Segal after striking out in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Bryce Miller one-hit the Tigers over six innings of work, while Keider Montero had a bit of a rough day on the mound. The Tigers’ bats were quiet all afternoon, failing to take advantage of good work from their bullpen, as the Mariners evened the series at a game apiece with a 4-0 victory on Saturday afternoon at Comerica Park.
This duel between young starters saw them each fire a 1-2-3 first inning. Keider Montero popped up Cole Young, and then Kevin McGonigle made a nice diving play on a Julio Rodriguez grounder up the middle. The throw appeared just a hair late, but Rodriguez was called out and while the replay seemed to indicate otherwise, the Mariners challenge was denied. Gleyber Torres and Kevin McGonigle worked Bryce Miller through a pair of long at-bats, but the Tigers didn’t get a baserunner either against the impressive right-hander.
In the second Montero walked Randy Arozarena to start the inning. Luke Raley sent a ball to left field, but Riley Greene got a good read on it and made a pretty spectacular diving catch. Dominic Canzone was next, and in a 2-2 count, Montero dropped a swingback changeup just inside. Dillon Dingler made a rare mistake by challenging it, and then Canzone hit a ball to the wall and over Matt Vierling’s head in center field. The ball kicked back into Vierling’s leg and stuck under the base of the wall for a moment while Vierling lost sight of it. Arozarena raced around to score as Canzone cruised into second with a double.
Patrick Wisdom got a good swing off as well, cranking a ball to center field, but Vierling ran it down for the second out. Colt Emerson was next, and he flew out in foul territory down the left field line to end the frame. 1-0 Mariners.
Kerry Carpenter led off the bottom of the second and he nearly cranked a 1-1 offspeed pitch out to right field, but it was just foul and he struck out on a good heater from Miller. The right-hander carved up Riley Greene with a trio of good splitters, then dialed up 98 mph with riding life to blow away Spencer Torkelson.
Montero got Jhonny Perada on a quick ground out to open the third, and Cole Young flew out. He got ahead of Julio Rodriguez, and was on the verge of ending a quick inning, but instead the outfielder poked a fourseamer away out of the zone through the right side of the infield for a single. Josh Naylor smoked the first pitch he saw for a single to right field, and Arozarena jumped on the first pitch he saw as well, and drove a sinker into the right field corner. Rodriguez scored, and the relay in from Pérez to Torkelson to Dingler was just a hair late and Naylor slid in just under the tag. The Tigers challenged that play unsuccessfully, and it was 3-0 Mariners. The replay also showed Naylor throwing his sliding glove at Dingler, presumably to distract him, as he dove for the plate, which didn’t make him any more likable. The heart of the Mariners’ order was seeing Montero’s fastball pretty well. A good knuckle curve whiffed Raley to end the inning.
Colt Keith led off the bottom half, ambushing a high breaking ball and driving it to the wall in right center field for a standup triple. The Mariners decided to crash the infield in, which was surprising under the circumstances. They backed off once Vierling got into a 1-1 count, and he popped out to first. Wenceel Pérez struck out and blew the Tigers second challenge in the process. Torres was blown away by a high fastball to strand Keith at third.
Canzone led off the fourth and immediately added to the Mariners lead with a missile to straightaway center field. 4-0 Mariners. Montero’s fly ball tendencies and minimal strikeouts become a bit of a problem as the weather keeps warming up. Wisdom grounded out and Montero popped Emerson up with a high fastball. Perada slapped a little single through the right side, and that brought the top of the order up again with a runner on base. Fortunately Cole Young flew out weakly to right field.
McGonigle led off the bottom half and Miller pretty much avoided him, issuing a walk. Dillon Dingler hit a 400 footer to left center but Rodriguez ran it down. Carpenter and Miller locked up in a lengthy duel as the right-hander threw everything but the kitchen sink to try and get the Tigers’ right fielder out. Carpenter hit multiple pitches hard but foul and fought off numerous 3-2 pitches. Finally, Miller walked him as McGonigle was thrown out trying to steal second. The Mariners challenged the pitch incorrectly, and so McGonigle had second base anyway and there were two on and one out for Riley Greene, but he grounded into a 3-6-1 double play to end the inning.
Montero got Rodriguez to open the fifth, then yanked a fastball that drilled Naylor in the upper back. It didn’t look intentional, but since it’s Josh Naylor you never know. Montero got Arozarena to ground into a 6-4-3 double play, and Naylor slid into second well inside the bag toward Torres as he turned it over to first. This may bear watching over the rest of the series.
Torkelson flew out to deep left to kick off the bottom half. A high splitter drew a foul tip into the glove from Colt Keith. Miller started yanking fastballs and fell behind 3-0 to Vierling, but he pulled it together and locked up Vierling with good heaters and eventually got a routine ground out to end the fifth.
Since it’s June 6, it’s good to bring you this little interview clip with a 101-year-old WWII veteran.
Lefty Drew Sommers succeeded Montero in the sixth against a pair of left-handed hitters. He got ahead of Raley, but he still drove a ball to the wall in right center field. Pérez hauled it in for the first out. Sommers’ mid-90’s sinker and low arm angle locked up Canzone for strike three. A 95 mph high fourseamer blew Wisdom away to end the inning. Pretty good stuff from Sommers.
Miller was at 78 pitches to start the bottom of the sixth, and the Tigers really needed to get him out of the game. Pérez helped that cause with a 10 pitch AB, but struck out looking on a heater that may well have been a ball, but the Tigers were out of challenges. Torres took a 1-1 fastball four inches off the plate for a called strike and couldn’t challenge, and then home plate umpire Chris Segal rang up on a breaking ball that was also not particularly close. Gleyber had some calm words for him, but there was no recourse, and McGonigle grounded out to first. Segal continued to have a pretty poor game calling balls and strikes the rest of the way. With Miller at 94 pitches, his day was done, but that was the only positive for the Tigers so far in this one.
Sommers was still on the mound in the seventh with the Tigers down four runs. He dusted Emerson to start the inning. With a stretch of right-handers coming up to bat, A.J. Hinch turned to Ty Madden instead against Perada. Really nice outing from Sommers though. Four straight outs, three by strikeout.
Madden, moving back to the bullpen with Justin Verlander and shortly thereafter, Tarik Skubal returning to the rotation, quickly gave up a single to Perada, and then he hit Cole Young. He bounced back to whiff Rodriguez with a splitter for the second out. Naylor grounded out to Torres to end the frame.
LHP José A. Ferrer took over from Miller in the bottom of the seventh. He immediately walked Dillon Dingler, and then came everyone’s favorite move as Jahmai Jones attempted to pinch-hit for Kerry Carpenter. He failed, popping out, and this has got to stop. We’re at 85 plate appearances. That’s not many, but Jones has been an abject disaster. Riley Greene flew out to deep left center field, and Torkleson was blown away by 99 mph to end the inning. The only knock in this one from the Tigers remained Colt Keith’s triple.
Arozarena led off the eighth with a sharp ground ball that Torres couldn’t quite corral. Madden popped up Luke Raley for the first out. Canzone pulled a grounder past Torres for a single to put two on with one out for Patrick Wisdom. Madden dialed up 96 to blow Wisdom away despite another gift call from the home plate umpire on the first pitch of the at-bat. Madden worked ahead of Emerson, and eventually popped him up to Dingler to end the inning. Pretty good work from Madden, and nice to see the velo popping in a relief role.
Matt Brash took over from Ferrer in the bottom of the eighth. Keith tapped one back to the mound for the first out, and Vierling grounded out to second. Pérez drew a walk to turn the lineup over, and Torres stepped into the box no doubt glad to see someone other than Bryce Miller on the mound. It did him no good, as Brash locked him up with a 98 mph backdoor sinker to send this to the ninth inning.
Perada flew out to Pérez to open the fram, but Cole Young singled up the middle. That brought Rodriguez up, but he flew out to Vierling in center. Madden punched out Naylor to complete a fine relief outing. 2.2 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K.
Lefty Gabe Speier entered in the bottom of the ninth to close the Tigers out. McGonigle started them off with a blooper that parachuted down just fair inside the left field line for a leadoff double. Dingler flew out to center field, but Jones drew a walk. Unfortunately, Riley Greene grounded into a double play to end it.
The series will be decided at 1:40 p.m. ET on Sunday. A pair of struggling right-handers will go toe-to-toe as Jack Flaherty squares off against Luis Castillo. Meanwhile, in West Michigan all eyes will be on Tarik Skubal, as he makes what is hoped to be the only rehab start he’ll require before rejoining the Tigers’ rotation.
Ollie Robinson continued to prove a thorn in New Zealand’s side, taking two quick wickets, as England moved closer to victory in the first Test during what little play was possible at Lord’s on Saturday.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 04: Spencer Strider (99) of the Atlanta Braves in the dugout during the Thursday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays on June 4, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves took game one of the series against the surprisingly good Pittsburg Pirates last night and look to take the series today.
Braxton Ashcraft has been one of the key reasons the Pirates have a winning record. Not only does he have a 2.77 ERA, but he has an ERA of 1.97 in away games this season. The Braves are going to have have their work cut out for them. Ashcraft’s underlying metrics shows that his output has been no fluke with an expected ERA (xERA) of 2.78.
Spencer Strider struggled a bit in his last outing giving up three earned runs in 5.0 innings, but he did have eight strikeouts to only two walks. If he can limit the hits today, it would go a long way towards a win for the Braves.
This game may come down to the bullpens. Follow along in the comments below.
A new name with a strong pedigree has entered the 2027 MLB Draft.
Striker Pence — the nephew of former four-time All-Star Hunter Pence — announced on Thursday, June 4, that he has reclassified to the 2027 class to earn draft eligibility for next year's draft.
Striker Pence, Baseball America’s No. 1 player in the 2028 class, has reclassified and will be eligible for the 2027 MLB Draft.
6-foot-6 RHP with an electric fastball up to 101 mph. He’s the nephew of former MLB outfielder Hunter Pence.
Pence was previously the No. 1 ranked played in the 2028 high school class, according to Baseball America. Pence pitched at Santiago High School in Corona, California.
Just 17-years old, Pence can clock 101 mph with his impressive fastball. The 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher also features a slider and splitter in his arsenal. The slider sits in the mid-80s, while the splitter is in the upper 80s.
Last August, Pence caught the attention of the baseball world when he fired seven straight pitches clocked at 100 mph at the Area Codes game at Blair Field in Long Beach, California.
2028(!!) RHP Striker Pence is on to pitch. His first seven fastballs?
BALTIMORE, MD - May 25: Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (6) bunts the ball during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles on May 25, 2026, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
