The sun hasn’t yet set on the season for the Vegas Golden Knights, but it’s getting to be very late in the afternoon.
The Golden Knights are no strangers to adversity. In the regular season, they survived nine different stretches of three or more losses, a bottom-five goaltending rotation, and long-term injuries to key players. Ultimately, this added up to a year full of underachievement, and, in a desperate attempt to break through, one of the more memorable Hail Marys in the history of the National Hockey League.
With just eight games remaining in the regular season, the Golden Knights made a coaching change. Despite being in a playoff position, they relieved Bruce Cassidy of his duties as head coach and brought in John Tortorella.
There were a million ways this late-season coaching change could have gone wrong, and a million reasons that it should have. But it didn’t.
With Tortorella behind the bench, the Golden Knights ended the regular season on a 7-0-1 run. In Round 1, they battled through close calls against the Utah Mammoth and came out victorious. In Round 2, they dispatched the Anaheim Ducks in six games, which were so unremarkable that the biggest bit of news was that they lost a second-round draft pick for refusing to speak with the media after their Game 6 win. And in the Western Conference Final, the Golden Knights shocked the world and swept the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.
But now, down 3-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final, the Golden Knights face their biggest challenge yet.
John Tortorella isn’t concerned about the predicament his team is in. Following Thursday’s Game 5 loss, he took the stand and vowed that his team would return to Raleigh for Game 7.
“We’ll be back here,” he swore. “We’re just gonna do it in a different order… I’m gonna leave my clothes here, that’s for sure. They’ll be at the hotel.”
A Mark Messier guarantee for a Game 6 victory wasn’t the only promise Tortorella made on Thursday night. Mere moments later, he backed goaltender Carter Hart, who entered the series with a .924 save percentage but is now setting records for all the wrong reasons.
In Game 4, Hart became the first goaltender to allow 4+ goals through the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final; last night, he extended that to five straight. Hart’s average save percentage in this series is .856, and for the first time since April, he has lost two games in a row.
It is also worth noting that Hart hasn’t been made available to the media following any of the five Stanley Cup Final games. Despite being the starting goaltender, he hasn’t spoken since a hastily relocated availability during media day that ended very abruptly.
And yet, there is no question that Hart will start Game 6 on Sunday.
When asked if he considered going to Adin Hill in the third period of Game 5, Tortorella scoffed, “Oh, for– Christ, that could be the stupidest question I heard.”
Tortorella has made his decision, and time will tell if it was the right one. On Sunday night, the Golden Knights will either be one win away from the Stanley Cup or headed towards locker cleanout day.
Golf legend Walter Hagen used to say, “No one remembers who came in second,” and that’s where the Golden Knights stand right now. Win, and they force a Game 7 back in Raleigh for all the marbles. Win, and they get one step closer to etching their names in history as well as on Lord Stanley’s Cup. Lose, and they risk being forgotten.
Now they are up 3-2 after becoming the first team in the series to win two in a row. They are in position to clinch their first Stanley Cup title since 2006 if they win Game 6 in Las Vegas on Sunday, June 14.
The Golden Knights will try to stave off elimination at home and force a Game 7 back in Raleigh, North Carolina. Coach John Tortorella vows that they will, even saying that he's going to leave his clothes at the team's Raleigh hotel.
Here is what happened to both teams in the last two games as the series turned around:
CAROLINA HURRICANES
Brandon Bussi took over the net
He replaced Frederik Andersen for the third period of Game 3 with the team down 4-0. He stopped a Mitch Marner penalty shot and allowed only a fluke goal in the second overtime after the Hurricanes rallied to tie the game in the third period.
Bussi got the starts the past two games and was solid in Game 4 and even better in Game 5.
"It's been a lot of fun," Bussi said after Thursday's game. "You work hard, you enjoy the moment, then you put your head down and grind."
Andersen − who needed a break, coach Rod Brind'Amour said, quoting goalie coach Paul Schonfelder − hasn't dressed for either game and hasn't practiced with the team. He did skate before players showed up for Thursday's practice and is available, if needed, Brind'Amour said.
As an aside, the Hurricanes also made a goalie change during their 2006 championship run. It was much earlier as Cam Ward replaced Martin Gerber in the first round and went on to be voted playoff MVP.
Jordan Staal is on fire
The 37-year-old Hurricanes captain is known for his faceoff prowess and defensive ability. But he has turned back the clock with his first five-game goal streak since he was a rookie in 2006-07. Doing it in the Stanley Cup Final puts his name alongside Hall of Famers Yvan Cournoyer, Jean Beliveau, Maurice Richard and Fred "Cyclone" Taylor.
Staal has the size and strength to be a scoring threat in front of the net − and now the goals are going in. He knocked in a rebound for his first goal of Game 4 then forced a turnover and scored while falling down on the second goal. His Game 5 goal was on a deflection.
Balanced scoring after first line comes through
The second line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake has been a constant throughout the playoffs. Staal took off in the Final. But top-line players Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho had been relatively quiet.
That ended in Game 5. Svechnikov scored twice on the power play and Aho ended a five-game drought. Brind'Amour kept those two together and changed up the third person to get the line going.
They're playing better defensively
Marner had a hat trick in Game 3 because he was getting behind the Hurricanes' defense. Brind'Amour adjusted and Marner has one point in the last two games after getting seven in the first three games.
The Carolina coach didn't like the way the team played in the first period of Game 5, but the Hurricanes were able to play their style for much of the rest of the game. They even outscored Vegas 2-0 in the second period after being outscored 9-1 in the first four games.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Carter Hart's play has dropped off
When a reporter asked whether John Tortorella considered inserting backup goalie Adin Hill in the third period of Game 5, the Golden Knights coach said it could be "the stupidest question I've ever heard."
But Hart hasn't been as strong in this round as he was in the first three rounds. He had a 2.22 goals-against average and .924 save percentage heading into the series. But he has given up four goals in every game in the Final and has an .856 save percentage in the series.
Golden Knights can't control Staal
Tortorella usually doesn't discuss players on the other team but he did mention Staal after Game 4, saying, "He's killing us in front of the net."
The Golden Knights thought they had Staal tied up on his first goal in Game 4, but he got to a rebound. In Game 5, he checked Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb along the boards to create space to skate toward the front of the net and redirect a pass.
William Karlsson injury hurts
He left Game 5 and didn't return after being checked by Sean Walker. The trainer was looking at his arm. Tortorella said the team "probably" will be without Karlsson, a two-way center who kills penalties and plays the power play. The Golden Knights had to juggle lines without him, hurting their ability to come back.
Penalty killing woes and penalty woes
The Hurricanes struggled in the first three rounds on the power play but have found their game. They use Staal at the start of a power play. If he wins the faceoff, he stays on the ice and provides a big body in front. If not, he goes off and the speedy Nikolaj Ehlers comes on.
The Hurricanes have had two games in the Final in which they scored two power play goals. Golden Knights' injuries contributed. McNabb left Game 2 after being hit by a puck, and Karlsson left in Game 5.
The Golden Knights didn't help themselves with the number of penalties they took. They were called for back-to-back penalties in Game 5 and Carolina scored on the second one. The Hurricanes also scored on Vegas' four-minute high-sticking penalty in the third period.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 26: Hurston Waldrep #64 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Miami Marlins in the first inning of the game at loanDepot park on August 26, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Remember when I said earlier today that Drake Baldwin would be joining Hurston Waldrep on their rehab journey, just at different levels? Well, as it turns out, Waldrep will in fact be joining Baldwin at the Triple-A level — just not on rehab.
Just a few minutes ago, the Braves announced that Waldrep had been returned from his rebab assignment, activated from the 60-Day IL and subsequently sent to Triple-A Gwinnett.
So despite the fact that the rehab assignment went pretty well, the Braves have still decided that Waldrep needs some time to work on things at Triple-A before he eventually gets the big call-up to the bigs to help Atlanta’s pitching staff. To be fair, this was always a possibility dating back to Spring Training when he was considered to have been in for a chance at making the rotation instead of being penciled in as a starter. Now, he can essentially get some of that spring training work in with the Stripers before eventually being called up when needed at some point in the future. Waldrep’s healthy now, though, and that’s the main takeaway from this particular story.
Meanwhile, the Braves said good bye to catcher Maverick Handley and pitcher Jhancarlos Lara as the former was released and the latter was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals. We also got an update on Carlos Carrasco’s latest stop on the DFA cycle, as he apparently accepted his outright assignment to Gwinnett as well. So yeah, just be prepared for Carrasco to get called up again in the near future the next time the Braves are in need of someone who can eat up a couple of innings.
With Ronald AcuñaJr. back on the injured list, the Braves are back in the market for a leadoff hitter for at least the next handful of days.
After Michael Harris II (0-for-5, three strikeouts) didn’t handle the role well Wednesday at the White Sox, Atlanta will give Mauricio Dubon a chance to top the lineup for the series opener at the New York Mets Friday night (7:15 p.m. EDT on Apple TV).
Harris falls to the No. 2 hole in the lineup.
Ha-seong Kim, who was back in the lineup Thursday before the game was postponed, is back in the lineup Friday, hitting eighth and playing shortstop. Austin Wynns will also serve as the Braves’ catcher for the third straight game and hit ninth.
While Braves starter Spencer Strider has a 6.11 career ERA against the Mets in 11 outings (nine starts), the current Mets roster hasn’t had a ton of success against him.
Brett Baty (3-for-8 with three RBIs) is the only player on the roster hitting better than .231 against him. Francisco Alvarez has the best track record against the Braves righty, going 2-for-9 (.222) with a pair of homers and four RBIs, which makes the decision to sit him Friday a bit odd. Juan Soto (3-for-13) has seen him the most and managed no RBIs, although he has walked six times.
Overall, the current Mets are 9-for-52 (.173) against Strider with 15 strikeouts and eight walks.
The Mets are running a similar lineup to what they have of late with Carson Benge leading off, Bichette second and Soto third. The one change from their Thursday lineup is MJ Melendez will serve as designated hitter and hit eighth while Luis Torrens will hit ninth and catch, giving Alvarez a day off.
Mets starter Nolan McLean has limited experience against current Braves, having made just one career start against them last August. Ozzie Albies, Harris, Matt Olson and Rowdy Tellez are the only Braves who have faced him. each doing so three times.
Who’s the only one who managed a hit against him? That would be Tellez, who had two singles and is not in the lineup. Those Braves have struck out five times against him and walked none.
This game is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. at Citi Field. Let’s see what the Braves have in store as they finally get to take on the Mets.
The 22-year-old scored 22 goals and 51 points in 70 games in his rookie season, ranking fourth in goals and points among rookies.
Snuggerud had a slow start to the season before missing 11 games due to a wrist injury, but upon returning, the young sniper turned his season around. Paired with Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway, the trio formed one of the best lines in hockey down the final stretch of the season.
Heading into the 2026-27 season, the Blues’ top line will almost assuredly be this aforementioned trio.
Joining Snuggerud on the NHL All-Rookie team upfront were Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov and Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke. On the backend, New York Islanders Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer and Carolina Hurricanes’ Alexander Nikishin were selected, with Canadiens’ Jakub Dobes in goal.
Snuggerud earned 136 points, the third-most among rookie forwards.
No other St. Louis Blues rookies received any votes.
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 08: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Petco Park on June 08, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
BetweenThePinstripes asks:Can the Yankees pry Mason Miller away from the Padres? If so, how?
Realistically, no. The Athletics pried away one of the best prospects in all of baseball with Leo De Vries (currently sitting at No. 2 overall on MLB Pipeline), alongside the Padres’ No. 3 prospect in Braden Nett and some not-insignificant add-ons with their 13th and 17th-rated organizational prospects for Miller’s services. There’s one less year of control now should the Padres turn around and flip him to another contender, but his value is arguably even higher now as he’s currently in Cy Young discussions as a reliever. Will he actually win is a different conversation, but when you’re rolling out a strikeout rate north of 50 percent, have yet to give up a long ball, and have an ERA below 1.00 this far into the season with three years of control still in hand it’s safe to say that team’s will give up a horde of prospects to get Miller into their ‘pen.
The Yankees’ best offer would see them part with George Lombard Jr. almost assuredly, alongside one of their top pitching prospects in either Elmer Rodriguez or Carlos Lagrange, and then some. And that’s assuming there’s no bidding battle for Miller, which there certainly could be, or that the Padres intend to flip him in the first place. This season’s been a disappointment for San Diego largely thanks to their stars in the lineup struggling, but they’re still sitting in the final Wild Card spot. The NL field is incredibly bloated outside of the division leaders, so they could opt to go either way, but that gives them further incentive to drive up the price if the rest aren’t budging. The Yankees need bullpen help, yes, but they need multiple pieces and some other help at the bottom of their lineup as well. They can’t afford to throw all of their resources into one upgrade at the backend of the ‘pen, even if it would be tantalizing to envision Miller in pinstripes.
RememberBobbyMurcer asks: Why don’t the Yankees send Volpe down to Triple-A and play him at second base? He is not a MLB quality SS and they probably will not re-sign Jazz in the offseason.
The Anthony Volpe saga continues, much to everyone’s chagrin. Volpe had his patented hot week at the plate upon his return from the minors, prompting manager Aaron Boone to put his faith in him to get consistent starts again. Then came the inevitable slide with consistent play, as Volpe went on an ice-cold streak. The team is stretched thin-enough to keep him on the roster until Jasson Domínguez returns, with Giancarlo Stanton not far behind him all but guaranteeing that the roster crunch will come down, and though José Caballero has come back down to earth a bit he’s still the better option at shortstop than Volpe as the team accurately assessed when Volpe was set to return from the IL.
As for the future of the infield, it wouldn’t hurt to see if Volpe can play at second because I can’t see him getting the lion’s share of starts at shortstop beyond this stretch. I’d still like to see the team re-sign Jazz Chisholm Jr., but working under the assumption that his asking price winds up being too expensive or the team just can’t come to an agreement it would help to have backup options in house. I just don’t know how much trust you can place in Volpe regardless of his position if his bat is never going to materialize, but that’s a problem he could at least work on down in the minors without costing the team.
Fenimore Finkwazzle asks:Considering the injuries to Judge and Dominguez — why don’t MLB outfielders wear NFL-style padding? I feel like it would at least mitigate the shoulder/rib injuries we see from wall collisions and full-body dives.
That would be something that would require a change in MLB’s uniform and equipment rules, but let’s say for the sake of discussion that we can circumvent that entirely and allow outfielders to suit up in pads. The cost then becomes players’ sprint speed covering the gaps and tracking down long flies versus the safety that these pads would provide if a collision happens. The former is something that is a necessity every single day, whereas the latter is a rare event that can become costly if it happens and goes wrong. I don’t know if players or teams would be willing to exchange that, and that’s without even getting into the fact that the majority of MLB’s regular season comes during the summer when peak temperatures could easily exhaust players in a single inning if they were lugging around heavy gear on their shoulders. It’s a concern that’s particular to the Yankees right now due to how Aaron Judge’s last two injuries have come about as well as Domínguez’s stint on the IL, but overall there’s not much to do about that other than perhaps preach a little bit more caution to their superstar captain.
Hello and welcome to the 12th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.
I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.
The fantasy baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s easy to fall into bad habits and not spend as much time on teams that have struggled out of the gate, but now is not the time to panic or give up. Keep putting in the work and plugging away, striving to improve each week, and you’ll reap rewards at the end of this season.
This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.
Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:
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It doesn't seem like anyone on the Cardinals is going to pitch twice next week, though if anyone does it would be Dustin May (vs. Cardinals, at Reds). They are rolling with a six-man rotation at the moment though, so unless they want to skip Hunter Dobbins, it'll be one start for everyone.
As of now, it doesn’t look like anyone on the Tigers is going to make two starts next week. With the return of Tarik Skubal on Saturday and with Casey Mize and JustinVerlander nearly ready as well, expect the team to roll with a six-man rotation for their six games next week. If anyone does wind up drawing two starts, it would likely by Troy Melton (at Astros, vs. White Sox), in which case he would make for a strong option.
The Dodgers continue to utilize a six-man rotation, so with six games on the docket once more none of their starters will pitch twice next week. If Justin Wrobleski were to miss his start due to the hamstring issue that ended Thursday’s start a bit early, it’s possible that Eric Lauer could go twice (vs. Rays, vs. Orioles), but knowing the Dodgers in that instance they’d stick with a six-man alignment and finally give River Ryan an opportunity.
The Marlins are still struggling to find healthy and viable arms at the moment, with TBD scheduled to start on Monday and potentially pitch twice (at Phillies, vs. Giants). Most likely scenario has that being another bullpen game, but we’ll update here throughout the weekend if anything changes.
The Mets have yet to announce a starter for Monday yet. That could wind up being the return of Kodai Senga after he pitched well in his latest rehab start. If so, he would slide right back in for a two-start week (at Reds, at Phillies). If so, he makes for an intriguing option. We’ll adjust here if we get more clarity throughout the weekend.
Going Twice…
Note: Probable pitchers as of June 12 and are subject to change.
American League
▶ Strong Plays
Gerrit Cole, Yankees, RHP (vs. White Sox, vs. Reds)
So far in four starts since returning from the injured list, we have seen basically the vintage version of Cole that we have come to know and love throughout the years. He holds a terrific 2.45 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and an 18/6 K/BB ratio over 22 innings. The matchups this week are middle of the pack, certainly not anything that you would need to avoid from a fantasy perspective. Expect Cole to continue to put up great ratios and solid strikeout numbers with a high likelihood that he lands his second victory of the season next week. He’s an automatic start in all leagues.
Payton Tolle, Red Sox, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, at Mariners)
Tolle had been lined up to make two starts this past week until a change in the Red Sox’ rotation moved Connelly Early into that spot instead. The 23-year-old southpaw has been exceptional this season, with a 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 54/14 K/BB ratio across 53 1/3 innings of work. He should be locked into fantasy lineups each and every week right now regardless of matchups. Just sit back and enjoy the added volume from a two-start week this time around.
Reid Detmers, Angels, LHP (at Diamondbacks, at Athletics)
Detmers has had a couple of blow up starts this season, but has otherwise been a major asset for fantasy managers. He’s on a very good run right now, posting a 1.73 ERA, 0.54 WHIP and a 36/5 K/BB ratio over 26 innings over his last four starts. That’s elite production. The matchups are tough this week, having to battle the Diamondbacks and Athletics in hitter-friendly parks, but the way that Detmers is throwing the ball right now, I would be comfortable using Detmers in any matchups. He makes for a very strong play this week.
Davis Martin, White Sox, RHP (at Yankees, at Tigers)
Raise your hand if you expected Davis Martin to be among the best pitchers in the American League in the first half of 2026. I see no hands. The 29-year-old is having a breakout campaign, sitting at 9-2 with a minuscule 2.41 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 79/17 K/BB ratio over 78 1/3 innings for the upstart White Sox. The only thing holding him back this week is the matchups, though the Yankees are a bit less fearsome without Aaron Judge in the middle of the order. If you’re been blessed to have Martin on your roster this season, continue riding the wave this week.
▶ Decent Plays
Brandon Young, Orioles, RHP (at Mariners, at Dodgers)
Young has done a nice job through his first 10 starts for the Orioles this season, posting a 3.04 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 42/19 K/BB ratio over 56 1/3 innings. Normally that would make him a strong streaming option, especially in two-start weeks, but unfortunately one of his matchups this week comes against the vaunted Dodgers’ offense in Los Angeles. There’s probably still enough meat on the bone here to use him in 15-team formats, but it gets a bit sketchier in 12’s.
Seth Lugo, Royals, RHP (at Nationals, vs. Cardinals)
The 36-year-old right-hander always seems to be a decent streaming option whenever he’s scheduled to make two starts, as the added volume helps to make up for his overall lack of strikeouts. That’s the case again this week as he draws a pair of solid matchups against the Nationals and Cardinals. Lugo was hit in the head by a comebacker during his last outing, though it sounds like he’s fine and will be good to go for Monday, just something that fantasy managers should monitor over the weekend just to be sure.
Walbert Ureña, Angels, RHP (at Diamondbacks, at Athletics)
The 22-year-old right-hander has done a nice job through his first 12 appearances (10 starts) in the big leagues, posting a 2.44 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 55/33 K/BB ratio over 55 1/3 innings. That elevated walk rate could hurt him in a pair of hitter-friendly ballparks this week, but he still makes for a decent streaming option in all formats. I’d use him for sure in 15 teamers and may even find room in 12’s if I didn’t have better alternatives.
▶ At Your Own Risk
Kai-Wei Teng, Astros, RHP (vs. Tigers, vs. Guardians)
Teng has struggled since making the move from the Astros’ bullpen to their rotation, registering a 4.82 ERA and a 27/17 K/BB ratio over 28 innings through his first six starts. Things have gone downhill recently as well, surrendering nine runs over nine innings in his last two starts. The Tigers and Guardians have both been swinging the bats pretty well against right-handed pitching as of late, making this two-start week a bit more volatile than I would have originally thought. I’d try to stay away here if I had viable alternatives in deeper leagues.
Mike Paredes, Twins, RHP (at Rangers, at Diamondbacks)
Paredes has pitched decently through his first three appearances for the Twins, posting a 4.35 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and an 8/6 K/BB ratio over 10 1/3 innings. The problem is that they haven’t really decided what role he’s best suited for yet. Because of that, they’re limiting him to around 65 pitches per start instead of getting him fully stretched out to remain in the rotation. That’s fine if he’s working after an opener, but if he’s going to start the game it’s very problematic for fantasy managers as it means he’ll almost never qualify for a victory. He’s fine if you’re looking to stream for volume and strikeouts in deeper leagues and don’t need the wins, just understand the ceiling is very low here.
Jack Perkins, Athletics, RHP (vs. Pirates, vs. Angels)
So far the transition from the bullpen to the rotation has been a struggle for Perkins. He has gone just four innings in each of his first two starts while posting a 9.00 ERA and 1.88 WHIP with a 10/5 K/BB ratio across those eight frames. The matchups are decent enough this week and the strikeout upside is there, but making both starts in the hitter friendly confines of Sutter Health Park doesn’t help his cause. I’d lean toward staying away from this one.
Slade Cecconi, Guardians, RHP (at Brewers, at Astros)
Cecconi has had a really rough go for the Guardians this season, going 3-5 with an uninspiring 4.83 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a 61/23 K/BB ratio over 72 2/3 innings. If the matchups were better, I may condone using him for a two-start week, but taking on the Brewers and Astros with both starts coming on the road is a very tough draw. He hasn’t been generating wins or strikeouts at the level that you’d want to see, leaving a whole lot of risk here for a very low ceiling. Maybe if you need the volume in the deepest of leagues and can handle the ratio hit (or don’t care about ratios at this stage), otherwise I would avoid this one.
National League
▶ Strong Plays
Zack Wheeler, Reds, RHP (vs. Marlins, vs. Mets)
To say that Wheeler has shown no ill effects from his surgery would be a massive understatement. He has been even better this year than he was before the injury – posting a 2.22 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and a 53/12 K/BB ratio over 56 2/3 innings through his first nine starts. Look for those good times to continue this week with an unbelievable two-step on tap with the Marlins and Mets coming to town. Wheeler is probably the top overall play on the board this week and I’d be floored if he doesn’t deliver another exceptional week for fantasy purposes.
Chase Burns, Reds, RHP (vs. Mets, at Yankees)
Burns continues to dazzle each and every time he takes the mound. The 23-year-old right-hander holds a stellar 7-1 record with a 2.14 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and an 88/23 K/BB ratio over 75 2/3 innings through his first 13 starts. He has allowed more than two earned runs just one time all season, and it came back on April 10 against the Angels. The matchup against the Yankees in New York is tough, but it’s balanced out by a home tilt against the Mets. Burns is easily one of the top overall plays on the board this week.
Shota Imanaga, Cubs, LHP (vs. Rockies, vs. Blue Jays)
Imanaga had been among the most effective pitches in baseball this season, that was until he was lit up for 18 runs over 17 1/3 innings in a three-start stretch from late May to early June. He did look much improved his last time out, striking out seven over five scoreless innings against the Rockies at Coors Field. Plus, even when he was struggling, the strikeouts and the WHIP were still there. The recent struggles are concerning, but it’s not enough for me to sit Imanaga for a two-start week. I’d use him in all leagues.
▶ Decent Plays
Grant Holmes, Braves, RHP (vs. Giants, vs. Brewers)
Holmes has done a decent job overall for the Braves this season, registering a 4.05 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 59/29 K/BB ratio across 66 2/3 innings. He’s usually a fringe mixed league option for single start weeks, but for a two-step that includes a home tilt against the Giants, it should be wheels up in all formats. Roll Holmes out there with complete confidence in all leagues this week.
Jared Jones, Pirates, RHP (at Athletics, at Rockies)
This will be the ultimate test this week of how much you trust the skills of Jared Jones, as he draws a brutal pair of matchups having to pitch at perhaps the two most hitter-friendly venues in all of baseball. We have also seen mixed results through his first three starts, with a 4.73 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a 14/5 K/BB ratio over 13 1/3 innings. As a gambler at heart, I trust what I see from Jones and would be willing to roll with him despite the brutal draw. It’s understandable if your level of risk tolerance is lower though and you want to sit this one out to avoid a potential massive hit to your ratios.
Ryne Nelson, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. Angels, vs. Twins)
It’s really hard for fantasy managers to trust Ryne Nelson right now. After a miserable start to the season, he went through a very strong stretch where he posted a 2.89 ERA over 46 2/3 innings across seven starts from the start of May until last week. That was until he was lit up for seven runs over four innings his last time out against the Marlins. It could just be a blip on the radar, but it’s at least something that fantasy managers should note when making lineup decisions for next week. I’d probably accept the ratio risk and still roll with him in 15-team leagues. Anything more shallow than that, I’d lean toward benching if possible.
▶ At Your Own Risk
Robert Gasser, Brewers, LHP (vs. Guardians, at Braves)
There’s an awful lot of upside in Gasser’s left arm, especially in the strikeout department, but the early results have been far from encouraging. Through his first four starts he boasts a miserable 6.38 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and a 19/9 K/BB ratio over 18 1/3 innings. The Guardians and Braves are a pair of teams that will punish him if he can’t consistently find the strike zone, setting this week up to deliver more ratio damage. If all you need is strikeouts, go ahead, otherwise steer clear.
Lucas Giolito, Padres, RHP (at Cardinals, at Rangers)
It has been a bit of a struggle for Giolito through his first five starts with the Padres, compiling a 4.35 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and a 14/18 K/BB ratio over his first 20 2/3 innings. If he can’t cut those walks way back, he’s never going to have sustained success. He has issued three or more free passes in four of those five starts this season. Until he exhibits a better command of the strike zone, he shouldn’t be trusted for fantasy purposes.
Michael Lorenzen, Rockies, RHP (at Cubs, vs. Pirates)
Repeat after me, Never Rockies. Just don’t subject yourself to it and you’ll be much better off in the long run. Even if he wasn’t starting these games at Wrigley Field and at Coors Field, Lorenzen still holds a terrifying 7.54 ERA and 1.90 WHIP over 65 2/3 innings on the season with just 55 strikeouts. There’s really no reason to even consider this.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 11: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after scoring in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for June 12, 2026 against the Boston Red Sox: starting pitchers are Jack Leiter for the Rangers and Sonny Gray for the BoSox.
Texas starts a series in Boston tonight, and tries to get back over .500 for the first time since April 25. Corey Seager is getting the day off.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Jung — 3B
Nimmo — RF
Langford — LF
Duran — SS
Carter — CF
Burger — 1B
Higashioka — C
Lopez — 2B
6:10 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +113 underdogs.
SAN FRANCISCO — Last weekend, the Cubs lost two of three to the Giants at Wrigley Field, scoring only seven runs in the three games against a pitching staff that’s in the top third of most runs allowed in MLB this year.
Since then, the Cubs also lost two of three to the Rockies, winning the final game 9-3 thanks to three homers hit by Seiya Suzuki, Alex Bregman and Carson Kelly.
And the Giants lost two of three to the Nationals — but won the third game 11-10 after trailing 9-1 going into the bottom of the eighth, including a walk-off grand slam. So the Cubs bullpen had better be ready.
The three games this weekend will conclude the season series between the Cubs and Giants, with all six games taking place in a span of 10 days.
The Cubs have won 69 more games than they have lost vs. the Giants since the rivalry began in 1883, when the Giants were based in New York.
But the Cubs have lost 147 more on the road, winning 488 and losing 635. They are -42, 163-205, at San Francisco, where the Giants began play in 1958, and -14, 36-50, at Oracle Park, their home since 2000.
The Cubs lost all three games there last season and the first three of four in 2024. They won two of three in 2023. The Cubs’ last sweep at San Francisco was three games in 2013.
The Cubs are 46 runs from scoring their 10,000th vs. the Giants. They have scored at least 10,849 vs. five of their six other pre-expansion rivals, with a high of 11,680 vs. the Pirates. They have scored 9,201 vs. the Dodgers, in 141 fewer games than they have played against the Giants.
Sunday: 2:10 p.m. CT, ABC (full national broadcast, no blackouts), ESPN App. Announcers: Jon Sciambi, David Ross and Buster Olney.
Prediction
I keep picking two of three and it keeps not happening. Sooner or later, it has to. Why not this weekend?
Up next
The Cubs face the Rockies again after losing two of three in Denver earlier this week. That’ll be a three-game set at Wrigley Field beginning Monday evening.
AKRON, OHIO - MAY 26, 2026: Charlie Szykowny #10 of the Richmond Flying Squirrels bats during the fourth inning against the Akron RubberDucks at 7 17 Credit Union Park on May 26, 2026 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
All seven of the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates were in action on Thursday, so let’s jump straight into all of it!
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
The only news is that the Giants optioned RHP Carson Seymour to AAA Sacramento, while calling up RHP Ryan Walker.
AAA Sacramento (39-25)
Sacramento River Cats lost to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros) 2-0 Box score
You don’t see many games in the Pacific Coast League with just 2 combined runs! Pitching ruled the day in this one, and for LHP Joe Whitman (No. 26 CPL), that meant getting saddled with a loss despite pitching really well.
Whitman has unequivocally been one of the top stories on the farm this year, as the 2023 comp-round selection put a middling 2025 behind him in emphatic fashion. The 24-year old’s year-over-year improvement in AA was stunning, and he left Richmond as arguably the top pitcher in the Eastern League … among the 61 EL pitchers with at least 30 innings thrown this year, Whitman was 11th in ERA (3.22), 1st in FIP (2.39), 6th in strikeouts per 9 innings (11.6), and 8th in walks per 9 (2.3).
So far those improvements are carrying over to AAA. In his debut with the River Cats last week, the Kent State product pitched 6 shutout innings with just 3 baserunners allowed. He was a little less sharp in this game, but still very impressive, tossing 5.1 innings while allowing 5 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs, and striking out 7 batters.
Whitman certainly hasn’t jumped the line over LHP Carson Whisenhunt (No. 8 CPL) or RHP Blade Tidwell (No. 9 CPL), but if he keeps looking this good, a debut this season feels inevitable. Barring a collapse or an injury, he’ll need to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft this winter, so there’s no harm in rostering him this season. And assuming the Giants don’t storm back into the playoff race, they’ll probably trade 1 or 2 players from the Robbie Ray/Tyler Mahle/Adrian Houser bucket, which would open up some spots in the rotation.
The bullpen was swell, with RHP Braxton Roxby needing just 18 pitches to take down 1.2 shutout innings, with 1 hot and 2 strikeouts. LHP Nick Zwack was even better, throwing a perfect frame with 2 Ks. Both pitchers are really starting to find their rhythm after slow starts to the year: the 27-year old Roxby gave up 11 earned runs in 9 innings over his 1st 9 games of the year, but since then has allowed just 1 earned run in 15 innings over 8 outings. As for the 27-year old Zwack, he ceded 16 earned runs in just 11.1 innings over his 1st 11 games, but since then has had 5 straight scoreless appearances spanning 4.2 innings.
The offense did nothing, with just 2 singles and 3 walks on the day. The lone player to reach base multiple times was catcher Drew Cavanaugh (No. 19 CPL), who went 0-2 with a strikeout, but drew a pair of walks. Cavanaugh continues to look absolutely excellent at AAA, and continues to close the gap between he and Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16 CPL), who had another rough day, hitting 0-4 while playing left field.
The Squirrels almost pulled a reverse homage to the Giants … a day after San Francisco overcame a 9-1 8th-inning deficit, Richmond nearly squandered an 11-2 8th-inning lead. But they didn’t!
While Richmond had a lot of players who shined in the batter’s box, it was really a story of 2 hitters: first baseman Charlie Szykowny and right fielder Jean Carlos Sio (No. 44 CPL). That pair powered the offense with fantastic days.
Szykowny was the cleanup hitter and my goodness is that what he hit like: he went 2-5 with a strikeout, and bashed a pair of 3-run home runs. What a day!
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 11, 2026
The 2023 9th-round pick has taken incredibly well to AA, where he has an .835 OPS and a 119 wRC+. He’s doing it in every way, too, with a high average (.280), a lot of power (.213 ISO), and limited strikeouts (17.0%). His performance is very similar (and in most areas a little better) to what it was last year in High-A, and anytime you can hold performance while moving up a level, you’re doing something right.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 12, 2026
As always, the questions for Szykowny lie in how much more performance there is to extract (he’s about to turn 26), and if he can hit well enough to make up for the fact that he’s probably a 1B/DH going forward (though he still plays some third). But there’s always a place in the pros for guys who can hit, and Szykowny sure can hit!
Sio continues to find his groove at his new level, as he hit 2-5 with a home run, a triple, 3 runs batted in, and a strikeout.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 12, 2026
The recently-turned 22-year old got promoted at the start of the month and is starting to turn things on, as this was his 2nd home run in as many days. He’s done nothing to slow down following his strong 2025, and it’s certainly looking like he could end up playing the utility role that the Giants have long been looking for … the Cuban has played both middle infield and both corner outfield spots already this year, and looks pretty comfortable everywhere.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 12, 2026
Left fielder Dayson Croes hit 3-5 with 2 strikeouts (while playing just his 2nd career game in the outfield), and center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) continued his absurd month, going 1-2 with 3 walks, a stolen base, and a strikeout. After having just a .664 OPS in May, Davidson has hit safely in all 9 June games, going 14-34 with 6 home runs, 1 double, 4 walks, and just 6 strikeouts. He’s up to an .847 OPS and a 119 wRC+, and his strikeout rate is lower than it was last year at both High-A and AA.
On the pitching front, the game was nearly lost by a pair of relievers who couldn’t get an out, as RHPs Dylan Hecht and Ryan Vanderhei combined to allow 7 hits, 2 walks, and 8 runs, while recording just 1 out. Thankfully RHP Tyler Vogel was there to save the day, as he entered the 8th inning with runners at 1st and 2nd and 1 out, and immediately got an inning-ending double play, before setting down the side in order in the 9th (kind of … the 2nd batter of the inning reached on a catcher’s interference by Ty Hanchey, who then threw him out on a steal attempt). That’s the kind of performance that coaches notice, and Vogel is down to a 1.85 ERA on the year, albeit with a 4.69 FIP.
The start went to LHP Charlie McDaniel, who had a nice bounce-back performance. The soon-to-turn 25-year old UDFA got rocked in his AA introduction last week, giving up 6 hits, 4 walks, and 6 runs in just 3 innings. But his 2nd attempt went so, so much better, as the southpaw took down 6 innings while allowing just 4 hits, 0 walk, and 2 runs, with 5 strikeouts. Improvement is the name of the game, and McDaniel showed it in a huge way on Thursday!
High-A Eugene (40-20)
Eugene Emeralds lost to Spokane (Rockies) 7-6 Box score
The Giants promoted shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) to High-A pretty early in the year. No one seemed to question that decision, given the waste he laid to Cal League pitchers. But if anyone had questioned it … well, similar to Bryce Eldridge in the Majors, those questions were very quickly answered. Level has had simply no adjustment period to the Northwest League, despite, at just 19 years and 2 months old, being more than 3-and-a-half years younger than his peers.
The switch-hitter has hit safely in all 8 games since getting promoted, which includes 5 multi-hit games … which includes Thursday’s contest, in which he went 3-5 with a double, a stolen base, and a strikeout. It was Level’s 5th consecutive game with a double, and he now has 31 extra-base hits in just 52 games between the pair of A-ball squads. Absurd!
Jhonny Level continues to excel at a higher level (no pun intended).
With three more hits today, including a double, he has now reached in all eight games so far with Eugene, with 14 hits, including five 2Bs. His .964 OPS is nearly identical to what he's posted in SJ (.968). pic.twitter.com/Nn7DVwoU4M
— Giant Prospective (@giantprospectiv) June 12, 2026
In all, Level is 14-36 with 5 doubles and just 6 strikeouts (plus 3 hit by pitches and 2 stolen bases) since getting promoted, and that sure looks like someone who is closer to belonging in AA than being back in Low-A. What a player he has blossomed into!
But the offensive star was left fielder Carlos Gutierrez (No. 18 CPL), who continues to put his improved power production on display. The 21-year old lefty hit 2-3 with a 2-run home run, a walk, and a strikeout, bringing his OPS up to .815, and his wRC+ to 123.
Gutierrez now has 6 home runs in 48 games at the level … after entering the season with just 3 home runs in 85 games between the DSL, ACL, and Low-A. Add in the physicality that he’s displayed, and it’s clear that he spent the offseason getting stronger. He’s still seeing some losses in the contact department — year-over-year his average has dropped from .351 to .264, and his strikeout rate his risen from 13.7% to 19.2% — but that’s a fair tradeoff, and probably a necessary one.
Also a great game for center fielder Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL), who hit 2-5 with 2 stolen bases and a strikeout. Cohen has put his slow start firmly behind him, and is up to an .804 OPS and a 123 wRC+, with 21 stolen bases in 25 attempts (he also has 21 doubles) in just 55 games. His contact skills have been as good as advertised, as he has a .293 average and just a 13.4% strikeout rate.
The pitching was not good, as starting LHP Tyler Switalski got rocked, giving up 5 hits, 2 walks, and 5 earned runs in just 5.1 innings, though he also struck out 6 batters. It’s been a very odd year for Switalski, and this game was perfect evidence: he gave up 3 home runs, which is as many as he allowed all last year. Yes, after giving up just 3 home runs in 96.2 innings across Low and High-A a year ago, the soon-to-turn 23-year old has already given up 10 of them in just 54.2 innings, which is the main reason for his 4.45 ERA and 4.57 FIP. It’s really just an entirely different profile this year for the 2024 16th-rounder … not only are the home runs way up, but so, too, are the strikeouts … from 7.6 per 9 last year, to 10.7 this year. You don’t see that sort of jump very often!
Low-A San Jose (35-25)
San Jose Giants beat the Stockton Ports (A’s) 22-9 Box score
Well … that’s a lot of runs!
You want to see a wild number? The Baby Giants had 13 extra-base hits in this game. 13!!! That’s so many! And it included home runs from 3 players who had homered the night before!
The hottest of those hitters was left fielder Damian Bravo, who simply cannot be stopped. A day after bashing 2 home runs, last year’s 15th-round pick went 3-6 with a 3-run blast and a pair of doubles. After a so-so start to the year, Bravo has boosted his OPS to .883 and his wRC+ to 113, while running a very nice batting average (.289) and isolated slugging (.239). He’s playing strong defense across the outfield, and has 6 stolen bases without getting caught. He’s really coming into his own, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ends the year with Eugene.
The most surprising performance belonged to right fielder Jose Astudillo, who hit 4-5 while getting hit by a pitch and finishing a triple shy of the cycle for the 2nd day in a row. Astudillo entered Wednesday’s game having hit 1-20 over his last 6 games, and having only hit 1 home run in 131 career games. And now, in the span of 2 games, he’s hit 7-10 with 2 dingers and 2 doubles. Life comes at you fast!
Contact will always be the name of the game for the 22-year old, who has struck out just 4 times in 87 plate appearances this year. But contact sure looks better when a little bit of power is attached!
Rounding out the back-to-back days was shortstop Lorenzo Meola (No. 22 CPL), who went 2-4 with a solo blast, a double, and 2 walks. Sure, the home run came off a second baseman, but who cares! It still takes a lot of skill to hit a baseball that far!
In yesterday’s roundup, I mentioned how Meola took some time to find a rhythm, but now has replaced that rhythm with fire. So let me just update the numbers from yesterday…
First 24 games: 18-98, 0 home runs, 6 doubles, 9 walks, 34 strikeouts Next 29 games: 32-106, 6 home runs, 9 doubles, 17 walks, 32 strikeouts
Yep, that’s catching fire all right! Last year’s 4th-round pick out of Stetson is creeping closer and closer to putting that slow start behind him, as he has a .753 OPS and a 90 wRC+ … and with Jhonny Level now in High-A, the defensive wizard is finally getting to regularly show off his chops at the six.
Those were the back-to-back dinger hitters, but they weren’t the only big flies, as second baseman Isaiah Barkett also left the yard with a 3-run shot, as part of a day in which he hit 2-4 with a double, a walk, a sacrifice fly, a stolen base, and 5 runs batted in. Talk about doing a little bit of everything!!
Barkett has flown under the radar a little bit this year, but he’s been having a sublime debut season, as the 22-year old, taken in the 10th round last year (also out of Stetson), has an .884 OPS and a 124 wRC+. Contact has been the name of Barkett’s game, as he has a .335 batting average, a 7.9% strikeout rate, and a 4.4% swinging strike rate … there are 92 Cal League hitters with at least 100 plate appearances this year, and those marks rank 4th, 1st, and 1st, respectively. Highly impressive!!
And finishing off the dinger party was first baseman Hayden Jatczak, who only hit 1-5 with 2 strikeouts, but drew a walk and smashed a 2-run blast. He continues to look too good for Cal League pitchers, which probably isn’t surprising given that he turns 25 in August. He’s up to 9 home runs on the year (the organizational leader is Bo Davidson, with 12), with a .920 OPS and a 128 wRC+.
Okay, everyone breathe out, that’s all the great offensive days to talk about! And with that out of the way, there’s not a lot to talk about on the other side of the diamond. RHP Ben Bybee, last year’s 8th-round pick, made his 2nd career start and 9th career appearance and got rocked, allowing 3 hits (including 2 home runs), 4 walks, and 6 earned runs in just 1.2 innings. It’s been a tough transition to professional baseball for the Arkansas alum.
RHP Alix Hernandez showed off his strikeout stuff with 5 Ks in 3 innings, though he allowed 4 hits (including a home run) and 2 runs. He only has a 3.77 ERA and a 5.26 FIP, but is up to 37 strikeouts in 28.2 innings, which is an accurate reflection of the excitement in his arm.
And RHP Garrett Langrell pitched very well, striking out 1 batter in 2 perfect innings. Langrell, a 25-year old who was taken in the 16th round last year, has just a 4.50 ERA and a 3.71 FIP in his debut season, but has 32 strikeouts to just 7 walks in 28 innings.
This game was all about pitching, which you don’t hear much in rookie ball. The ACL Giants sent 4 pitchers to the mound, and all 4 were brilliant.
It began with RHP Marlon Franco, a 23-year old in his 2nd ACL season after 4 years in the DSL. Franco gave up just a single, a walk, and a hit batter in 3 shutout innings, while striking out 4. He’s really struggled so far this year (he has a 7.53 ERA and a 4.45 FIP), so this was a much-needed nice game after a few blowups.
Then it was RHP Chen-Hsun Lee, who struck out 5 batters in 2.2 scoreless innings, though he allowed 3 hits and a walk. A 24-year old from Taiwan, Lee has long opened eyes with his exciting array of pitches … but he hasn’t been healthy. He debuted in 2023 with just 4 games, but lost all of 2024 and 2025. Now he’s back, healthy, and showing off, with 20 strikeouts against just 6 walks in 16.2 innings. After giving up 2 hits and 2 runs with 0 strikeouts in his season debut, Lee has settled in and been dominant, allowing just 11 hits and 2 runs in 14.2 innings, with 20 strikeouts.
Next up was RHP Melvin Pineda, who allowed 2 walks in 1.1 no-hit innings, but struck out 2. Pineda struggled with Low-A San Jose this year before getting demoted, and now no one can put the ball in play against him, for better and for worse: in 12 Complex League innings, Pineda has 23 strikeouts … and 12 walks.
Rounding out the day was RHP Samir Chires, who gave up just 1 baserunner (a single) in 2 innings, while striking out 5 batters. The 22-year old is in the ACL for the 4th straight year, and so far it’s going much better, as he has a 3.00 ERA (though a 4.60 FIP), with 22 strikeouts against just 5 walks in 15 innings.
Not much on the offensive side. The best day belonged to left fielder Oliver Tejada, who hit 2-3 with a triple, though he was also caught stealing. The 19-year old was probably a little disappointed to repeat the ACL, after posting a 105 wRC+ at the level last year. So far he hasn’t matched his 2025 performance, though he remains an intriguing talent with a ton of defensive ability.
Shortstop Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL) has cooled off a little following his red-hot start, but just keeps collecting extra-base hits, as he want 1-4 with a double and a strikeout. The 17-year old has 18 extra-base hits in just 27 games, with a .996 OPS and a 133 wRC+. Just an absurd talent!
Unfortunately, his fellow top prospect shortstop Josuar González (No. 2 CPL) remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. He hasn’t played since May 23.
Dominican Summer League Black (6-3)
DSL Giants Black beat the DSL Blue Jays Red 3-2 (7 innings) Box score
A very uninteresting game, despite the win. The star was the winning pitcher, RHP Delvis Heredia, who threw 3 perfect innings, though he didn’t have any strikeouts. A 21-year old from Venezuela, Heredia is in his 3rd DSL season, and has given up just 1 hit and 1 run in 5 innings. That’s the good …. the bad is that he’s walked 5 batters and only struck out 3. That’s unfortunately been a trend, as he has more walks (31) than strikeouts (28) in his career (44.1 innings).
Left fielder Franco Willias continued his strong season, hitting 1-2 with a sacrifice fly, a stolen base, and a strikeout. The 21-year old has a 1.072 OPS and a 124 wRC+ in his 3rd DSL season.
Dominican Summer League Orange (6-2)
DSL Giants Orange beat the DSL Blue Jays Blue 8-5 (7 innings) Box score
A star showing from catcher Fernando Pena, a recently-turned 19-year old playing in his 3rd season. Pena was sensational, hitting a perfect 3-3 with both a home run and a double, plus a sacrifice fly (the lone stain on his resume was getting caught stealing). That’s a whole lot of offense in a 7-inning game! The right-handed hitter from Venezuela is up to a staggering 1.434 OPS and 224 wRC+ through 8 games, as he’s trying to prove that he should be stateside following 2 solid DSL campaigns.
But the hero was shortstop Jonathan Valle, who only hit 1-4, but made his hit count with a walk-off 3-run home run. Valle, an 18-year old right-handed hitter from Cuba, is still finding his groove after being a late addition to the organization’s international signing class (he signed on May 21). But he’s holding his own, with a .300 batting average and just a 14.7% strikeout rate (though the state of the DSL is such that his .757 OPS results in just a 70 wRC+).
A pair of nice pitching performances from RHPs Josue Perez and Jesus Lopez. Perez, a 19-year old from the DR, gave up just 1 hit in 3 shutout innings, with 4 strikeouts. That was a great bounce back after his only other appearance of the year, when he gave up 3 runs while walking 4 and only striking out 1. As for Lopez, he struck out 4 batters in 2.1 scoreless innings, with 2 hits. He gave up 2 runs in each of his prior 2 appearances this year, so a good showing for the 21-year old from Venezuela.
Home run tracker
10 — Damian Bravo — [Low-A] 9 — Hayden Jatczak — [Low-A] 8 — Charlie Szykowny x2 — [AA] 7 — Jean Carlos Sio — [2 in AA; 4 in High-A; 1 in ACL] 6 — Carlos Gutierrez — [High-A] 6 — Lorenzo Meola — [Low-A] 3 — Isaiah Barkett — [Low-A] 2 — Jose Astudillo — [Low-A] 2 — Fernando Pena — [DSL] 1 — Jonathan Valle — [DSL]
Friday schedule
Sacramento: 5:05 p.m. PT at Sugar Land (SP: Carson Whisenhunt) Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs. Harrisburg (SP: Trystan Vrieling) Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Spokane (SP: Luis De La Torre) San Jose: 7:05 p.m. PT at Stockton (SP: Braydon Risley)
Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV.
From the Stanley Cup Final nearing its end to coaching hirings around the league, there was plenty to discuss on the latest episode of The Hockey Show.
This week, THS hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork were pleased to be joined by Florida Panthers play-by-play voice Steve Goldstein.
He spoke to the boys about the Carolina Hurricanes being one win away from the Staley Cup and the Vegas Golden Knights struggling with injuries and goaltending, as well as
And how he can be a Miami Heat fan that can root for the New York Knicks.
Dave also made sure to ask Steve if he keeps his “Let’s go home, baby!” call exclusive to just the Panthers or if he’s used it while calling playoff games around the league.
Additional topics discussed on this week’s show included the Edmonton Oilers trying to hire Mike Babcock, Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse requesting a trade, the Los Angeles Kings hiring Peter Laviolette, Nikita Kucherov winning the Hart Trophy and other award winners.
You can check out the full show and interview in the videos below:
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period broke the news on Thursday afternoon that Nurse has 3-5 teams he would be willing to sign off on for a trade, with LA and Pittsburgh the only two teams revealed so far.
However, a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on Friday morning suggests more news about Nurse's preferred destination. The 31-year-old is believed to prefer a move to the Eastern Conference, with another Canadian franchise unlikely to be among his preferred destinations.
Despite the complicated issues with Nurse's contract, there appears to be strong interest from several teams around the league in signing off on a trade. Friedman indicated that the Oilers should have "no problem" finding a legitimate hockey trade should they decide to move forward with a deal.
While today's report suggests that the Eastern Conference is the preferred landing spot for Nurse, Friedman added that if a Western Conference team enters the mix, the Los Angeles Kings could emerge as a potential destination.
According to Elliotte Friedman, Oilers Darnell Nurse's preference would be a move to the Eastern Conference, and not to another Canadian team.
If a Western Conference destination is in play, the Los Angeles Kings appear to be a possibility.
Nurse has spent his entire career with the Edmonton Oilers since being selected seventh overall in the 2013 NHL Draft. The former 2019 IIHF World Champion still has a lot left in him; with the physicality and grit he brings, he is very valuable to the Oilers, and a team like the Kings would be the perfect fit for how the team likes to operate.
With legitimate interest reportedly building and trade discussions expected to intensify, all eyes will be on Edmonton's front office to determine whether Nurse's long tenure in Oil Country is nearing its end.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
