Debate over Jofra Archer’s absence after his IPL stint and at least one new face in Emilio Gay add to enticing storylines
Lord’s hosts its 150th Test match this week and, like its famous lunch menu, there are plenty of enticing options as regards storylines. England are seeking redemption and refinement, apparently, following that god-awful Ashes winter. New Zealand are both familiar opponents and a tricky first assignment.
There is at least one new face for England, with Emilio Gay confirmed to make his debut at opener after patience with Zak Crawley finally snapped. There is an old one too, with Ollie Robinson back from the cold and set to take the new ball after convincing the management that he is now a committed professional.
For a couple of New York Knicks, Game 1 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio isn’t just a work trip – it’s a homecoming.
Jordan Clarkson and Kevin McCullar Jr. both attended Wagner High School in San Antonio, just a ten-minute drive from where they’ll be tipping off against their hometown team tonight.
It comes with a lot of memories – and Clarkson, who attended Wagner from 2006-2010 and grew up during a dominant, four-title era for the Spurs, remembers it well.
“The energy is always amazing,” Clarkson told reporters about growing up during that era during a media availability on Tuesday. “My stepmom worked at the Westin so I would see the parades through the hotel balconies and stuff. I would sneak around there and…take pictures and run up on players for autographs. I was definitely that kid.”
That hasn’t slowed him down, however, when playing against his hometown team: he’s averaged 20 points per game when playing the Spurs across his career.
He’s been a strong presence off the bench for New York this season, averaging 8.6 points per game during this regular season and 15.3 points per game across his 12-year NBA career. Back at Wagner, he led the Thunderbirds to back-to-back state semifinal appearances and was named the San Antonio high school player of the year his senior season.
McCullar Jr. made his own mark on the Wagner Thunderbirds years after Clarkson left, leading them to the 6A state title game as a sophomore in 2017. He’s been earning some more playing time for the Knicks this season, moving up the depth chart after a strong stint while Josh Hart was out with an injury. He’s averaged 2.2 points for the Knicks since being drafted in 2024.
Clarkson, McCullar Jr. and the Knicks will open the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio tonight, tipping off at 8:30 eastern.
It may be the closely guarded private fiefdom of the MCC, but weight of history makes the ground a true institution
There are three Lord’s in London. The first is six feet under Dorset Square next to Marylebone station, where these days a square foot of a single-bed flat will set you back a thousand pounds. The second is buried beneath the Lisson Grove moorings on the Regents canal, where the canal boaters grow tomatoes along the towpath. And the third, the current world-famous ground, is two blocks over on the Wellington Road, on a patch rented in the 19th century from the Eyre family, who made their money in wine and slavery. So long as there are ravens in the Tower, it always will be.
This week, Lord’s holds its 150th Test. It was a late starter. Tests were played at Melbourne, Sydney, the Oval and Old Trafford before it held its first in July 1884, but it will become the first ground in the world to reach this sesquicentenary. The MCG comes next, with 118. But then, much to the gall of every other corner of the country where they play Test cricket, Lord’s has had the advantage of holding two games a year every year this century. And because this is England, they’ve managed to make the rest of us think it’s us who are privileged by it.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 and Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs on the court during game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Six of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 28, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photos by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs have once again emerged as a force to be reckoned with, reaching the 2026 NBA Finals after six years without a playoff berth and nine years without a series win. A storied franchise that had previously never missed the playoffs in back-to-back years has come out of their worst stretch in team history with one of the youngest rosters to ever reach the Finals.
While their Finals opposition, the New York Knicks, have successfully relied on major trades and the absolute bargain that was the free-agent signing of Jalen Brunson, the Spurs are nearly the polar opposite. Aside from last season’s De’Aaron Fox trade, their core pieces have come through the draft.
The NBA Draft lottery has repeatedly broken the Spurs’ way
It’s hard for the rest of the league not to be envious looking at San Antonio’s last three first-round picks:
2023: Victor Wembanyama, No. 1 overall
2024: Stephon Castle, No. 4 overall
2025: Dylan Harper, No. 2 overall
Wemby by himself is franchise changing, and he’s on his way to being one of the greats. Castle and Harper already look like ideal guards to pair him with for years to come.
Famously (and, for conspiratorial-minded NBA fans, suspiciously), moving up in the lottery has been a rite of passage for the Spurs. Every time the Spurs have had top eight odds, they’ve moved up, including for Tim Duncan and David Robinson at No. 1 overall. The Spurs rose two spots to win the Wemby sweepstakes, improved their position by one for Castle, and vaulted six places to the No. 2 pick off a 34-48 season to get Harper. Not a bad consolation for narrowly losing out on Cooper Flagg.
File this stretch away in the history books, because this trio may be the last of its kind.
NBA Draft lottery reform makes it impossible to replicate the Spurs
In a supposed effort to curb tanking/reduce the number of G-League players getting significant minutes in March and April, the NBA sought major reform to its draft lottery. Last week, they approved something so convoluted that it makes the salary cap rules seem easy to comprehend.
Among the many changes set for the 2027 through 2029 drafts, no team is allowed to have the number one overall pick in back-to-back years, nor can it pick in the top five in three consecutive years. Had this been implemented sooner, Harper would’ve never been a Spur.
These restrictions will apply only to each team’s own pick without regard to whether that pick has been retained by the team or traded to (and thus held by) another team.
The Memphis Grizzlies, who themselves are picking third overall in this month’s draft, hold the most favorable of the 2027 first-round pick from the Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, or Cleveland Cavaliers, as part of the Jaren Jackson Jr trade. Utah picks second this year and picked fifth last year, so if the Jazz end up in the lottery again next season, the pick is ineligible to be higher than sixth. Memphis, of course, was the lone team to vote against the reform.
In effect, the NBA could end up punishing teams, whether they’re “tanking” or not, who’ve acquired potentially high-value draft picks through trades.
It’s not just high lottery picks that have made the Spurs a powerhouse again
Sixth Man of the Year winner Keldon Johnson, rookie Carter Bryant, and starting forward Devin Vassell were also first-rounders, but those three were respectively picked 29th, 14th, and 11th overall. Johnson and Vassell endured the back-to-back 60-loss seasons, as did other starting forward Julian Champagnie, who was claimed off waivers when the Philadelphia 76ers desperately needed to open up a roster space so that Mac McClung could be in the dunk contest. Champagnie is one of their top three-point shooters and hasn’t missed a game in over two years.
Backup center Luke Kornet was San Antonio’s major free agent signing at just over $10 million/year, and while he may not be having a particularly strong postseason, his block on Isaiah Hartenstein in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals symbolically slammed Oklahoma City’s championship repeat shut. De’Aaron Fox has not been at his best in the playoffs and has otherwise been dealing with an ankle sprain, but the former Kings star has proven to be a stabilizing force at point guard. Stephon Castle’s early turnover issues against the Thunder as the primary ball-handler (20 TOs in Games 1-2) significantly subsided after Fox returned in Game 3, after which he had just 12 TOs combined.
The Spurs are well coached, seemingly unflappable, and the roster is poised to get better with more experience and veterans like Kelly Olynyk and Harrison Barnes eventually off the books. It also helps a hell of a lot when the ping pong balls bounce your way and you can land franchise cornerstones at three positions. Starting next year, the new rules will see to it that no team can even have a shot at the same good fortune as San Antonio.
Milwaukee (37-21) dominated game two of the series versus San Francisco (23-38), winning 8-3, after a 16-2 throbbing in the opener. This will be the third of a four game series, so a Milwaukee win would clinch a series victory for the Brewers.
The Giants' offense leads the MLB in batting average over the last five games (.326) and in the past 15 days (.286), yet that hasn't translated to wins. San Francisco is 1-7 over the last eight games and 3-11 in the previous 14. The Giants are in a slump and even with Logan Webb on the mound, they've lost four straight starts and six of the previous seven.
The Brewers have won seven out of the last eight games and are 21-7 since the start of May. Milwaukee is one of the hottest teams in the MLB and has scored 24 runs in the last two games and 46 in the previous eight. It's not all about the offense though, in the past 12 games, the Brewers pitching rotation has a 2.83 ERA (2nd) and the second-best OBA (.191).
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Giants at Brewers
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Time: 7:40 PM EST
Site: American Family Field
City: Milwaukee, WI
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Giants at the Brewers
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Moneyline: Milwaukee Brewers (-156), San Francisco Giants (+129)
Spread: Brewers -1.5 (+139), Giants +1.5 (-168)
Total: 8.0
Probable starting pitchers for Giants at Brewers
Wednesday's pitching matchup (June 3): Logan Webb vs. TBA
The Giants’ Jung Ho Lee is hitting .307 with 61 hits and 86 total bases over 199 at-bats
The Giants’ Matt Chapman is hitting .231 with 52 hits and 56 strikeouts over 225 at-bats
The Brewers’ William Contreras is hitting .293 with 63 hits and 85 total bases over 215 at-bats
The Brewers’ Garrett Mitchell is hitting .238 with 36 hits and 66 strikeouts over 151 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Giants at Brewers
The Giants are 25-36 ATS, ranking fifth-worst
The Brewers are 35-23 ATS, ranking fourth-best
The Giants are 30-26-5 to the Over
The Brewers are 30-27-1 to the Under
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Giants and the Brewers
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Brewers and the Giants:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Brewers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Brewers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.0
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SAN ANTONIO — When news broke that Knicks reserve center Mitchell Robinson fractured a finger — it turned out to be his hand — and had surgery to repair it, there were understandable doubts he would be able to get healthy enough for Game 1. This is the kind of injury that usually takes more than a month to heal.
This is not a surprise. Robinson had been pushing to return to play but remains officially "questionable" for Game 1, a status unlikely to change until the hour before tip-off. However, he practiced with the team on Tuesday with just a wrap on his hand, and the expectation has been that if he could play, he would.
New York needs Robinson and his physicality to help defend Victor Wembanyama, an assignment he will draw for much of the series. In the Knicks' NBA Cup Finals victory over the Spurs back in December, Robinson had 10 offensive rebounds and was a force on both ends of the floor.
Robinson suffered the hand injury at home, not during Game 4 against the Cavaliers or at the Knicks' practice facility (it is still not clear exactly what caused it). Robinson fractured his fifth metacarpal, which is the bone that connects the little finger to the wrist.
Because it's a hand injury, it can be wrapped and padded to protect it on the court. How that impacts his ability to catch a pass or pull down a contested rebound remains to be seen.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 15: Dave Roberts #30 and Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers look on during introductions prior to the 95th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Truist Park on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The current ballot setup involves two phases, with fan voting for starting position players from June 3-25. From there, the top two players at each position, and the top six outfielders will move into the second phase, with voting totals reset and that vote open from June 29-July 2.
Here are the Dodgers on the ballot this year
DH — Shohei Ohtani
C — Will Smith
1B — Freddie Freeman
2B — Hyeseong Kim
3B — Max Muncy
SS — Mookie Betts
OF — Andy Pages
OF — Kyle Tucker
OF — Teoscar Hernández
A reminder that pitchers are not voted on by fans. So let’s stick with position players today. In total, 20 position players will make the National League All-Star team — nine starters voted on by fans, then nine players voted on by the players, and two others chosen by the commissioner’s office. Often those last spots include a team’s only All-Star, to satisfy the requirement that all 30 MLB teams have at least one All-Star.
Today’s question is simple: Which Dodgers position players should be All-Stars in 2026?
Philadelphia (31-29) won the series opener versus San Diego (32-27), 3-2, thanks to Alec Bohm's RBI through a double play in the sixth inning. Aaron Nola struck out eight and didn't walk a soul in the Phillies' win.
Cristopher Sanchez takes the mound for the Phillies for game two of the series and he's the hottest pitcher in all of baseball. Sanchez is the odds on favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award thanks to 44.2 innings of scoreless action. You have to go back six starts for Sanchez last earned run. Sanchez broke a 115-year record for scoreless innings streak in Phillies history. The all-time record is held by Orel Hershiser, who went 59 straight innings without allowing a run in 1988 with the Dodgers.
San Diego has lost three straight games and seven of the past eight. The Padres are struggling offensively with a .227 batting average over the last four games (23rd) and .202 (28th) in the past 11. San Diego has scored three or fewer runs in seven of the previous nine games. This will be a tough test versus Sanchez.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Padres at Phillies
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Time: 6:40 PM EST
Site: Citizen Bank Park
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Padres at the Phillies
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Moneyline: San Diego Padres (+179), Philadelphia Phillies (-219)
Spread: Padres +1.5 (-122), Phillies -1.5 (+102)
Total: 7.5
Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Phillies
Wednesday's pitching matchup (June 3): Christopher Sanchez vs. Walker Buehler
The Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting .275 with 60 hits and 72 total bases over 218 at-bats
The Padres’ Manny Machado is hitting .171 with 35 hits and 54 strikeouts over 205 at-bats
The Phillies’ Brandon Marsh is hitting .332 with 64 hits and 93 total bases over 193 at-bats
The Phillies’ Alec Bohm is hitting .206 with 42 hits and 30 strikeouts over 204 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Phillies
The Padres are 33-26 ATS
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 19-41 ATS
The Padres are 34-24-1 to the Under, ranking first
The Phillies are 33-25-2 to the Under, ranking third-best
The Padres are 14-11 ATS on the road
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 8-23 ATS at home
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Phillies
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Padres and the Phillies:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Phillies on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Phillies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 7.5
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Our computer's NBA picks for Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3 are calling for a trio of San Antonio players to top their point totals tonight, led by Julian Champagnie.
Knicks vs Spurs computer picks for Game 1
Knicks
Spurs
Hart u1.5 threes +140
Champagnie o9.5 points -125
Towns u4.5 assists -155
Fox o15.5 points +100
Anunoby u5.5 rebounds +102
Castle o16.5 points -102
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Knicks Game 1 computer picks
Josh Hart Under 1.5 threes (+140)
Projection: 1.33 threes
Our computer's lone five-star play of the night is Josh Hart to fall short of his 3-point line at plus-odds, with a +24.98% EV edge.
The New York Knicks SG has missed the Over in six of his last 10, and he plays in a system that's been the seventh-least aggressive when it comes to 3-point attempts across the last 25 games.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Hart Now at bet365!/span
Karl-Anthony Towns Under 4.5 assists (-155)
Projection: 3.75 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns' assists have risen steadily since the playoffs started, as he's hit the Over in eight of his last 10. But our computer believes now is the time to sell on the Knicks big man.
Towns has gone Under in two of his last three, and the Knicks have played at the slowest tempo in the NBA over the last 25 games.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Towns Now at bet365!/span
OG Anunoby Under 5.5 rebounds (+102)
Projection: 5.37 rebounds
OG Anunoby has gone below this line in four of his last six games, and there's an 8.37% EV edge associated with backing the Under again here.
The San Antonio Spurs have been a tough team to rebound against all year, ranking eighth in opponent boards per game.
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Spurs Game 1 computer picks
Julian Champagnie Over 9.5 points (-125)
Projection: 11.77 points
Julian Champagnie has beaten this line in six of his last eight overall, and our computer is calling for him to go Over again by more than a full basket.
Our system sees the 3-ball as the key to success for Champagnie.
"This year when they are on their home court, the opposing team's starting PFs have averaged 47.7% on threes (2nd-highest in the NBA) against the Knicks, labeling this as a positive matchup."
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Champagnie Now at bet365!/span
De'Aaron Fox Over 15.5 points (+100)
Projection: 16.55 points
De'Aaron Fox was playing hurt and was most neutralized by the Oklahoma City Thunder, going below his points prop in all five games he played in the Western Conference Finals. But our system has identified multiple angles that suggest Fox can bounce back.
"Offensive rebounds preserve possession and spark further opportunities for scoring and assists, and the Spurs rank 4th-best in in the league with 13.1 offensive boards per game over the last 10 games.. This year, opposing starting PGs have attempted 4.3 free throws per game (6th-highest in the league) against the Knicks, making it fairly effortless to get to the free-throw line."
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Fox Now at bet365!/span
Stephon Castle Over 16.5 points (-102)
Projection: 17.67 points
Another Spurs points prop, another four-star Over play for our computer. This one comes out to a 15.65% EV edge.
Stephon Castle should make it rain on the Knicks from downtown tonight.
"The matchup against the Knicks is a positive one for three-pointers; the opposing team's starting SGs have posted the highest 3-point rate in the NBA this year (44.7%)."
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Castle Now at bet365!/span
How to watch Knicks vs Spurs Game 1
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
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Boston, MA - May 24: Boston Red Sox third baseman Nick Sogard throws to first base in the third inning. The Boston Red Sox played the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park on May 24, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Well, the Sox are now dealing with an injured injury replacement. Nick Sogard, who has been with the Sox since Trevor Story went down with a hernia, is now experiencing some “side soreness” himself and has been placed on the 10-day IL. Coming east from Worcester to replace him is Anthony Seigler, who was acquired in the now-infamous Kyle Harrison-Caleb Durbin trade and who has been tearing it up in AAA to the tune of a .298/.425/.471 stat line with 3 homers. (Sean McAdam, MassLive)
And how is Trevor Story doing, anyway? He was back at Fenway yesterday, working on his, umm, walking, if the lede to this story is to believed. After undergoing surgery on the aforementioned hernia, he is expected to be out for 8-12 weeks. “It just kept getting worse, kept getting worse, and I couldn’t recover from it, and it was obviously affecting me on both sides of the ball,” he said. “You don’t get a trophy for going out there and just dragging your right leg with you and playing, so it was a situation where I felt like I needed to do it to be the best version of myself, and go out there and play the way I know how to.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
As for Garrett Crochet, an MRI this week revealed that he has a “very low grade lat strain.” We don’t yet have a timeline for his return, but he will be permitted to begin throwing again as soon as he no longer feels any discomfort. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Thankfully, the pitching rotation has more or less held up during Crochet’s absence. There is, however, some concern about the amount of home runs Connelly Early is giving up, as he’s now allowed 11 in his last 9 starts. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Early gave up another bomb to Pete Alonso last night, as the Sox once again lost at Fenway. With a 9-20 home record, the Sox are the only big league team with fewer than 10 home wins and are off to their worst home start since 1932. (Khari A. Thompson, Boston.com)
Is there any particular reason for the poor home performance? Isiah Kiner-Falefa made some cryptic comments about unnamed groups of people being around the team too much at home, but others aren’t so sure. “I don’t know. I think baseball happens,” Wilyer Abreu said. “Right now, we can’t win games here, but we’re trying, we’re battling, we’re trying our best and working on trying to win here.” (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
While Connelly Early is starting to give up too many homers, Abreu is starting to hit too few. Abreu, who, along with Willson Contreras, has carried the Sox limp offense for much of the season, hasn’t made a trip around the bases since May 8 and has more strikeouts than hits over his last 16 games. (Tyler Maher, NESN.com)
Jun 2, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Wenceel Perez (46) celebrates with his teammates after hitting a two run home run in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (25-38) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (36-22)
Time/Place: 1:10 p.m., Tropicana Field SB Nation Site: DRaysBay Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Troy Melton (1-0, 1.42 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Martinez (5-1, 1.62 ERA)
The New York Knickerbockers are the hottest thing in pro sports and will have even more sizzle if they go all the way and win the NBA title.
No matter what happens, the Knicks are delivering pots of gold to the MSG coffers while making Garden owner Jim Dolan happier than a convention of larks warbling "Who's Sorry Now?"
Believe it or not Dolan's sometimes sunny disposition matters to the fair citizens of Rangerville who crave an ice winner like their MSG cousins on the hardwood floor.
Two things are going to happen as a result of the Knicks' bonanza:
THE GOOD THING: Dolan should figure: "Now that I got my Knicks on track; I should be able to put all of the Garden'$ resources behind the Blueshirts. And if Drury and Sullivan don't get me results, they go and I'll get the best replacements money can buy."
THE BAD THING: The Knicks have been enjoying a ton of positive headlines and should get a ton more going forward and next season as well. Dolan knows that the Rangers will sell out even with 20 skating cockroaches stickhandling in blue uniforms.
With that in his crafty mind, Jimmy might just decide not to waste his emotion and pride on his Blueshirts and allow them to lose their way into the NHL sunset.
However, The Maven is convinced that Dolan will do the Good Thing, knowing that it'll take a couple of seasons before the franchise is rebuilt.
Hey! Look how long it took for his basketeers to get good. Not exactly overnight. More like over-century!
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Lawrence Butler #4 of the Athletics is showered with water by a teammate after Butler hit a walk off RBI single scoring Shea Langeliers #23 in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Sutter Health Park on September 10, 2025 in Sacramento, California. The Athletics won the game 6-5. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s grab bag of talking points comes after the A’s squeaked out a 2-1 win over the streaky Cubs. A good and important win, if frustrating because the A’s faced a flammable SP and had to eek out a victory by the seat of their pants. But they did so all is well for a day.
Lawrence Butler
What exactly is the A’s plan for how to deal with their recently extended RFer who just can’t it going in 2026? Carlos Cortes has emerged as the clearly superior choice to start in RF against RHP and so the A’s have taken the proper approach in a performance based industry and handed Cortes the job most every day.
Trouble is that has left Butler as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement languishing on the bench getting precious few at bats with a spotlight on him as a player so bad he can’t crack the lineup and isn’t getting the reps needed to prove otherwise or get in a rhythm.
While optioning Butler to AAA might be a blow to the ego, it’s arguable that so is a daily benching. Lately Butler has only gotten into the lineup as an occasional sub in CF for Henry Bolte, in which his defensive limitations are exposed while the bat produced all of a .135/.262/.154 line in May.
The status quo, where Butler sits on the bench most of the game most days except when he starts and plays a position he’s bad at, is helping who? It seems like the A’s need to go one of two distinct directions with Law: start him in RF at least half the time or option him to AAA for a reset. This “in between” limbo isn’t good for his confidence or development, nor for the team’s success.
9th Inning Drama
The A’s appear to be embracing the “closer by committee” approach, which is fine other than the fact that it almost never works. Last night, with a 1-run lead, Mark Kotsay turned to Scott Barlow who does have the most career saves of any A’s reliever. But those 61 saves were earned when Barlow was throwing 93-95 MPH and the 2026 version tosses sinkers at 89.4 MPH.
Barlow has done mostly a good job for the A’s, but a closer he isn’t. He has a 5.00 BB/9 IP rate and a very middling K rate (7.67/9 IP). His 3.00 ERA belies the underlying metrics that show a 3.63 xERA and a whopping 5.40 xFIP.
Last night Barlow was bailed out by lefty Hogan Harris, also a shaky choice to close out a game with his 22 BB (and 2 HBP) in 28 innings. Meanwhile, Jack Perkins, he of the 33 K and 7 BB in 28 IP, has been relegated to mop up duty lately, while Luis Medina, who has been scored upon in only 4 of 18 appearances, has been used sporadically with no discernible pattern.
Perkins and Medina are flawed in their own ways for sure, but what they bring to the table is “closer stuff”. For the A’s to putz around with guys like Barlow, Harris, and Mark Leiter Jr. trying to secure win in close games, is fraught with danger — as we saw last night when it did work out, barely. Not that Perkins has been above blowing a save, but the stuff plays. Barlow’s…not so much.
“Closer by committee” is better named “try to win with smoke and mirrors”. I don’t recommend it.
Infield Decisions Loom
Max Muncy is 3 games into a rehab assignment at AAA, while Jacob Wilson may go out on his rehab later this week. Those two represent the starting left side of the infield in April, since replaced by Zack Gelof and Darell Hernaiz, with the slick fielding Alika Williams taking over Hernaiz’ UTL infielder spot.
Wilson’s return will be simple: he will start at SS and presumably Hernaiz will return to the utility role at Williams’ expense. But Muncy’s return is more imminent and more complicated. Gelof has done a good job since taking over 3B, though it has also been an up and down ride.
Both offensively and defensively, Gelof started out strong, then had a bad stretch, and has since recovered to be strong again. Overall, here’s where Gelof’s numbers are in 44 big leagues games:
Batting: .261/.305/.430, 25.5% K rate, 102 wRC+ Defense at 3B: +4 DRS, -1 OAA
The question is whether Muncy represents an upgrade, an equivalent, or a downgrade as a 3Bman. Muncy has also had an up-and-down season at the plate prior to the injury — it’s unclear to what extent the injury played a part or to what extent his poor swing decisions caught up to him. His stats in 26 games before hitting the IL:
Batting: .239/.308/.402, 35.6% K rate, 95 wRC+ Defense at 3B: -4 DRS, -4 OAA
If anything is clear it’s that Gelof is the superior fielder, partly because by the metrics Muncy has been pretty awful. (Last season Muncy ran at an identical pace, with -4 DRS and -2 OAA in half the number of innings.) At the plate both are dangerous, inconsistent, and streaky.
Perhaps there is room for some sharing of the position with Muncy highlighted against LHP and Gelof getting plenty of starts against RHP. Another possibility is that Gelof could be the one to spell Bolte in CF sometimes, rather than Butler — a development that makes more sense if Butler is not on the bench, e.g., if Muncy’s activation coincides with optioning Butler.
History shows Muncy being handed the every day gig at 3B twice now despite not proving he can handle the position defensively nor hitting consistently. But this came at times when Gelof was either injured or at AAA. We’ll see what the A’s brass is thinking when Muncy’s rehab is completed — which should be in a matter of days.
Your thoughts on all of the above? Or some of the above? Share your thoughts…below.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is starting to heat up. Over the last week, he owns a 63.2% hard-hit rate and 26.3% barrel rate. While PCA has just one home run during that stretch, the underlying metrics are excellent, evidenced by a .772 expected slugging percentage. The Chicago Cubs outfielder has consistently punished mistakes and should like this matchup against Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs.
Springs has allowed 50% of his contact against left-handed hitters to come in the air this season, with 10% of those fly balls leaving the yard. The veteran has also been vulnerable recently, as 36.3% of the fly balls he's allowed across his last two starts have resulted in home runs.
That's a dangerous setup for Crow-Armstrong, who has consistently elevated the baseball lately, posting an average launch angle above 26 degrees over his last 30 plate appearances.
I'll play this pick up to +400.
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, NBC Sports California
Home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+525)
Kazuma Okamoto has emerged as the Toronto Blue Jays' premier power threat, launching 13 home runs this season. The Blue Jays slugger is locked in at the plate, posting a 27.3% barrel rate and .556 ISO over his last seven games. What's even more encouraging is the way he's generating that power, putting 50% of his contact in the air during that span.
That profile matches up well against Atlanta Braves starter Grant Holmes. Over his last two outings, Holmes has allowed a 52% hard-hit rate and 20% barrel rate, both indicators that opposing hitters are consistently making dangerous contact. He's also surrendered a 37.5% fly-ball rate during that stretch.
That's an appealing combination for a hitter like Okamoto, whose recent surge has been fueled by both elite quality of contact and consistent lift. If Holmes continues allowing elevated hard contact, Okamoto has a strong chance to capitalize.
I'll play this pick up to +450.
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: BravesVision, Sportsnet One
Home run pick: Freddie Freeman (+571)
Freddie Freeman has shown signs of finding his power stroke recently, putting 38.1% of his contact in the air over the last week while posting a37.5% HR/FB rate. While his 9.5% barrel rate is modest compared to some of baseball's elite sluggers, Freeman continues to generate the type of contact capable of leaving the yard.
The matchup is what stands out most. Zac Gallen has allowed a 44.1% hard-hit rate and 14.7% barrel rate across his last two starts, suggesting opposing hitters are consistently making dangerous contact. Freeman has also enjoyed some success against Gallen throughout his career, taking him deep twice in 29 at-bats.
If Gallen's recent contact issues persist, Freeman has a favorable opportunity to capitalize.
I'll play this pick up to +500.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet LA, Dbacks.TV
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 8-51, -12.81 units
Today’s HR parlay
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Bet Now +24517
Kazuma Okamoto
Freddie Freeman
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - MAY 31: Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates scoring against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning of the baseball game at Tropicana Field on May 31, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Knicks
Spurs
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Kazuma Okamoto
Freddie Freeman