The New York Knicks are known for rolling out the celebrity carpet for those who sit in the famed courtside seats, and they continue to bring out the big guns for NBA Finals halftime entertainment.
For Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, the halftime entertainment at Madison Square Garden was Cardi B, a Bronx native.
Game 4's halftime show will be Staten Island's own Wu-Tang Clan.
The iconic rap group with members the RZA, the GZA, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon the Chef, U-God, Ghostface Killah and Method Man, along with Masta Killa and Cappadonna, will take the court on Wednesday, June 10 before heading back on their tour in late August.
Once they conclude their final stop of Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber in Phoenix, Arizona, on Oct. 4, the group will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Austin Hedges #27 of the Cleveland Guardians is congratulated by manager Stephen Vogt #12 after Hedges hit a solo home run against the Athletics in the top of the third inning at Sutter Health Park on May 02, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
May 25, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) hits a solo home run during the the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
With the Phillies finally on track and playing better baseball, it seems clear the fanbase won’t have to endure an All Star Game as dreary as the last one played in Philadelphia.
In 1996, Veterans Stadium was on the verge of falling down. Stray cats ruled the concourses. The scent or urine hung high in the air. All the bunting in the world couldn’t make the dark, cavernous Vet look like it deserved to host the sport’s premier mid-summer event.
Even worse, the ‘96 Phils were flat-out awful. By June 18, they had fallen into last place in the NL East and never emerged from the basement. They were 37-49 at the break, 16 ½ games out of first place, and would eventually fall 29 games out with 95 losses.
They had one All Star named to the team, closer Ricky Bottalico.
This time around, the country will be celebrating its 250th birthday, with the stars of MLB centered in the cradle of Liberty. It’s only fitting that the Phillies be well represented at Citizens Bank Park next month.
As of now, there are six Phillies who can make strong cases for a spot on the team – Christopher Sanchez, Kyle Schwarber, Jhoan Duran, Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler and Brandon Marsh.
The problem with saying “Brandon Marsh should be an All-Star” is that, yes, in a vacuum, Marsh is having an All-Star season. There’s no two ways around it.
By virtually every metric, Marsh’s career year should land him on the NL roster for the Midsummer Classic. But as history has taught us, deserving players get left off of All Star rosters every year.
It’s a numbers game. Each roster will consist of 32 players, 20 position players and 12 pitchers.
The mandate remains that every one of the 16 teams have at least one representative. There also needs to be a certain number of players at each position to give managers some flexibility. You can’t have 10 outfielders and one first baseman.
The fans will also have their say. Fans get to vote on who the position player starters will be. This is a wonderfully American and democratic thing, but it sometimes allows players who are having lesser seasons earn an All Star nod they might not otherwise deserve.
So when considering whether a player has a realistic chance at making the team, one must take these factors into consideration.
Let’s take a look at the six Phillies mentioned above and rank them from most likely to least likely to make the All Star squad.
Cristopher Sanchez – LOCK
In his outing Monday night in Toronto, Sanchez gave up two runs. I mean, this kind of decline is really unacceptable. After a 50 ⅔ inning scoreless streak that ran 5th-longest in MLB history was the most for any left-handed pitcher ever, it’s really galling to see him spiral downward like this, isn’t it?
The only real question is whether Sanchez will be named the starter for the NL All Star team. One would think manager Dave Roberts would give Sanchez the nod, given the game is in Philadelphia. Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski is the leading challenger, they are 1-2 in fWAR (3.8 to 3.2), and while Miz edges Sanchez just a bit in ERA (1.50 to 1.54), Sanchez has thrown 93 ⅓ innings to Misiorowski’s 78.
There’s still time for this to change, of course, but whether Sanchez starts or not, he’s a lock for selection.
Kyle Schwarber – LOCK
Only Shohei Ohtani has been a more valuable DH in the National League than Schwarber, and Schwarbs is the NL’s home run king at the moment. He leads with 23 bombs. The next closest players are Matt Olson, James Wood and Hunter Goodman, with 17. His .573 slugging percentage also leads the league, and his .932 OPS is second.
Plus, you’d think Roberts would want him around in case something like this were to come up again.
Jhoan Duran – LOCK
After converting each of his first 16 saves this season, Jhoan Duran finally blew one.
Yep, he couldn’t hold a 2-1 lead and allowed the first three hitters to reach via singles, leading to a 3-2 Phils loss.
Yet, Duran’s 16 saves are third-most in the National League and, until last night in Toronto, had not allowed a run in any of those 16 opportunities. His overall 2.08 ERA is 3rd among closers and among qualified relievers, his 40.7% strikeout rate is 2nd.
There’s not much to overthink here. The thought of the Durantula entrance from the bullpen in the 9th inning of the Midsummer Classic at Citizens Bank Park is already giving folks goosebumps. He’ll be there.
Bryce Harper – LIKELY
Harper’s case is less open and shut, but I think there’s a strong chance he’ll be included.
If you look at fWAR, you’d think Harper was having a very “non-elite” season. He’s currently ranked 9th in fWAR (1.1). Here are the players ahead of him entering Tuesday’s action.
Sal Stewart (1.3)
Liam Hicks (1.3)
Spencer Horwitz (1.3)
Alec Burleson (1.4)
Michael Busch (1.5)
Jake Bauers (1.5)
Freddie Freeman (1.8)
Matt Olson (2.3)
There’s no world in which Harper is not making the team because Stewart, Hicks, Horwitz, Burleson, or Busch have higher fWARs. Not happening.
Among NL first basemen, Harper’s 14 homers are 2nd-most (Olson, 17), his 41 runs scored are also 2nd, and his .866 OPS is 3rd. But there is a numbers crunch here.
If the National League only takes three first basemen, there’s a chance Olson, Freeman and Milwaukee’s Jake Bauers could be the three to make the team. Bauers’ .911 OPS and 154 wRC+ are tops among all NL first basemen, his 12 home runs are 3rd-most, and he has six more RBIs than Harper.
Of course, there are still a few weeks until rosters are decided, but while I feel it’s likely Harper would get selected ahead of Bauers, Roberts could decide to select Bauers if he feels Milwaukee needs another representative and the Phils are otherwise well accounted for. But then again, can they really tell Bryce Harper he’s not going to play in an All Star Game being hosted by his hometown Philadelphia?
Brandon Marsh – TOSSUP
There is no doubt Marsh is having an All-Star worthy season. His .333 batting average is tops in baseball, and he’s become one of the game’s most lovable young stars. His power is coming around too, with three home runs in his last four games, pushing his total up to 8 for the season.
But like with Harper, Marsh could be facing a numbers game and, in this case, fan vote could make it very difficult for him to get in.
Marsh’s fWAR ranks tied for 9th in the NL, but that’s not the big worry. Juan Soto, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Kyle Tucker all have lower WARs. Tucker has barely been better than a league average hitter this year (104 wRC+) and Acuna (126) hasn’t been as productive as Marsh (142). Soto, however, has been a touch better (147). All three of these players are exceedingly popular and could all be voted in despite none of them being in the top-10 in NL WAR among outfielders.
There are also other outfielders having as good, if not better, seasons than Marsh. The Cardinals’ Jordan Walker is having a breakout season, too, leading all outfielders in wRC+ (158). That’s tied with Washington’s young superstar James Wood. He’s definitely making the team. Corbin Carroll is third (154).
Michael Harris II, Andy Pages, Ian Happ, San Francisco’s Casey Schmitt, and Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong are also extremely strong candidates.
Much of this will come down to who gets voted onto the team. Marsh has a good chance if one of Acuna, Soto or Tucker is not voted to start, and an even better chance if two of them are not. Generally, seven outfielders make the roster, although there have been as few as six and as many as eight in years past.
We discussed Marsh’s candidacy in depth on the latest Hittin’ Season podcast. Check it out!
Zack Wheeler – TOSSUP
Wheeler got a late jump on the 2026 season, but he’s more than made up for it since re-joining the Phils’ rotation.
Wheeler pitched another gem last night in Toronto, giving up just one run on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks in six innings, lowering his ERA to 2.22. Among NL pitchers with at least 50 innings, that ranks 5th, and he’s allowed opponents to hit just .181 off him. That’s tied for 3rd in the NL among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched. He’s been extremely good.
Like Marsh, the issue could come down to numbers. You see, it’s an insane year for starting pitching in the National League.
There are four starters with a better ERA right now: Chase Burns, Sanchez, Misiorowski, and Ohtani. Now, Ohtani is getting in as a DH, so we don’t have to count him among the pitchers Wheeler will contend with. Paul Skenes will make the team. Chris Sale is having another phenomenal year. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Justin Wrobleski have been incredible for the Dodgers. Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez is having his best season, Milwaukee’s Kyle Harrison is 2nd in the NL in K/9, and even the Mets’ Clay Holmes, with only nine starts this year, has a 2.39 ERA.
If he continues to pitch like he did in Toronto on Tuesday night, he may very well get selected, despite missing the first month of the season.
In short, I think the Phillies will be well represented at this summer’s All Star Game.
The latest updates on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade situation feel more like confirmations of things we already knew and expected. Things have largely felt quiet on the Antetokounmpo front, and Adam Silver and the league are good with that — they would like to avoid a repeat of last year, when the news of Kevin Durant's trade to Houston fell on the day of Game 7 of the NBA Finals and changed the conversation around the biggest game of the year.
There is an increasing belief in league circles that the trade will fall before the NBA Draft, reports Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line. That report also says the Bucks want to wait until after the NBA Finals to secure a deal, just to see if another team wants to jump into the mix — ideally the Celtics, at least from Antetokounmpo's and the Bucks' perspective. However, Boston has shown no real signs of interest.
One clear sign that the Bucks' plan to get this deal done before the draft: They are acting like a team that will have more than one high pick this year (they already have the No. 10 pick, their own), the report notes. It's worth adding that the Miami Heat have the No. 13 pick in this draft, which brings us to another point from that same report.
Miami remains frontrunner, Portland interested
Miami has been the clear frontrunner to land Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade for some time and nothing has changed, reports Fischer and Stein. There are good reasons Miami is at the front of the pack, the pair notes.
• Antetokounmpo reportedly is open to going there (and because he only has one guaranteed season left on his contract, he has leverage in any trade by saying he will not sign an extension somewhere he does not want to be).
• The Heat are in the East, and Antetokounmpo reportedly wants to stay in the East.
• Miami can put together a compelling — and probably best available — trade package centered around All-Star Tyler Hero, promising young center Kel'el Ware and multiple first-round draft picks.
The rest of the market remains tepid for Antetokounmpo. The Bucks and Knicks talked last summer, but New York is playing in the NBA Finals as this all goes down and is not about to blow up this roster. The Cavaliers don't want to trade former Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, and that was their only viable path to a deal. Teams in the West that might be a fit (like Minnesota) have not come hard because Antetokounmpo wants to stay in the East.
That said, Portland has made it known it still wants Antetokounmpo and would like to talk about a deal, but Stein and Fischer report it's more likely the Trail Blazers are the third team in a deal (Milwaukee would like to get back some of the draft picks it sent to Portland in the Damian Lillard trade).
LeBron likely stays in LA, Warriors interested
The Antetokounmpo domino has to fall before a number of other major deals — like a Ja Morant trade — go down. LeBron James' future is also on that list, but Stein and Fischer report the most likely outcome is him remaining with the Lakers "because he is so entrenched" with the organization (he's been there eight years) and with his family in Los Angeles. That includes his son, Bronny James, who remains on the Lakers roster.
That said, the pair says the Warriors are "legitimately interested" in pairing LeBron with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and (once he's healed from his torn ACL) Jimmy Butler in the Bay Area. Part of the pitch is that LeBron could "commute" to Los Angeles at points in the season relatively easily and not have to uproot his family.
The Curry/LeBron/Butler/Green core would be box office gold for the Warriors (and the league's broadcast partners) and a good team in the West, though not really a threat to Oklahoma City or San Antonio. Having four core players all age 37 or older also is a recipe for a busy medical staff.
It still all comes down to money with LeBron. At best, with some roster manipulation, the Warriors could offer LeBron the $15.1 million mid-level exception (that would hard cap the Warriors at the first tax apron, and they are currently just a little more than $19 million under that line, but with at least four more roster spots to fill after a hypothetical LeBron addition).
The Lakers can offer whatever they wish to LeBron, they have his Bird rights. That said, the organization is prioritizing re-signing Austin Reaves (also a free agent) and retooling the roster with players who better fit with Luka Doncic and his skill set. Lakers fans expecting major roster moves or even a radical overhaul of the role players on the team may want to prep themselves for a more status quo offseason, league sources told NBC Sports.
LeBron and his agent, Rich Paul, are reportedly going to ask for the max from the Lakers and want to know how the Lakers plan to spend that money if they are offering less, which is really a complicated way of saying they want to know what the Lakers' plans are.
It's easy to imagine LeBron returning to the Lakers on something like a two-year, $50 million contract with a player option on the second year and a no-trade clause. Maybe easier than imagining him in the Bay Area.
This evening, our MLB player props are rolling with Dominic Canzone, Kyle Schwarber and Kyle Stowers, all in matchups that set up well for production.
Let's take a deep dive into why these guys are catching our eye for the top MLB picks for Wednesday, June 10.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Dominic Canzone
Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI
-121
Kyle Schwarber
Home Run/Double
+193 | +353
Kyle Stowers
Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI
+101
Dominic Canzone Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI (-121)
Calzones for everyone, if this cashes! CALZONES!!!
The very first prop I locked in today was Seattle Mariners designated hitter Dominic Canzone to go over his hits, runs, and RBI prop.
Today marks Canzone's 24th elite rating, and he has surpassed this prop in six of his last 10 elite-rated games, per Batters-Box.
Against Baltimore Orioles right-hander Brandon Young, Canzone's matchup wOBA, ISO, hard-contact rate, and fly-ball rate all see significant boosts. Not to mention, he owns tremendous arsenal coverage against Young's pitch mix.
Recently, Canzone has been all over anything left over the plate. Over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, the 28-year-old is producing nearly 60% hard contact with a 27.3% barrel rate, while posting a 1.324 OPS, .857 SLG, and .428 ISO.
On the other side, Young has been getting crushed by left-handed hitters at home, allowing a 40.6% hard-contact rate, a 26.9% ground-ball rate, and a 55.8% fly-ball rate.
If Canzone gets a hold of one tonight, I think it has a good chance of leaving the yard. I'd sprinkle a little on the home run and would play this prop up to -130.
Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, SEAM
Kyle Schwarber Home Run (+193) | Double (+353)
We are not paying juice on any of Kyle Schwarber's props today. Skip the nonsense, it's home run or double day.
Against Scherzer's pitch mix, Schwarber owns a 70.8% arsenal coverage rate while also carrying an elite rating. Across nearly 250 plate appearances with an elite rating according to Batters-Box, the slugger leaves the yard 28.34% of the time.
Scherzer has allowed plenty of hard contact at home this season, surrendering a 20% barrel rate while sporting an 8.51 xERA. Through 53 left-handed hitters faced, opponents have produced a 14.9% barrel rate and a 76.6% elevation rate. Those lefties also own a .311 xBA, .616 xSLG, and .411 xwOBA against him.
While Schwarber is batting just .240 over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, he continues to square the ball up at an impressive rate, posting 61.5% hard contact. On the season, he owns a 13.51% barrel rate and a 52.94% hard-hit rate against righties.
If we're expecting Schwarber to elevate the baseball in Toronto tonight, let's attack the elevation props and grab the better value.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SN1, NBCSP
Kyle Stowers Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI (+101)
Big day to be a Kyle, as we’re also backing Miami Marlins young buck Kyle Stowers to go over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI at even money.
The 28-year-old checks in with an elite rating on Batters-Box, and he’s been nothing short of consistent in these spots. Across 28 elite-rated games, he has cleared this number 57.14% of the time. He’s also recorded multiple hits in nearly 40% of those contests and has left the yard 21.43% of the time.
The Marlins outfielder gets a matchup against Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson, who enters with poor ratings in both matchup ISO and hard contact allowed. Left-handed hitters have given him plenty of trouble this season, posting a nearly 71% elevation rate alongside a .541 expected slugging percentage and .356 xwOBA.
Stowers also has strong arsenal coverage against the fastball-heavy righty. On top of that, he’s seeing the ball extremely well right now, hitting .296 with a .901 OPS and .556 SLG over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching. During that stretch, he’s produced a 56.3% hard-hit rate and a 12.5% barrel rate.
I’d do my best to grab this prop at plus money. Getting an elite-rated hitter at plus money to go over 1.5 HRR feels like a gift.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MIAM, ARID
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
2026 MLB Record: 203-351-29, -0.2 units
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.
May 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
It’s been a series full of nailbiters, but at least the Yankees have come out on the right side of a pair of one-run games in this set with the Guardians. With a getaway day today, we have a matinee affair for you that will hopefully be a little more of a laugher than we’ve seen this week, but a pair of low-ERA lefties might mean we’re doomed to another tight one.
Carlos Rodón has looked more than serviceable in his five starts already this year, with a 2.88 ERA and 3.08 xERA that suggest he’s not just suppressing runs but suppressing good contact as well. However, there are a couple of yellow flags to note. First of all, he has a very elevated walk rate, over 15 percent of batters faced. He did walk five in his return start against the Brewers, but has only issued two or fewer free passes in one outing this year, and being able to control the strike zone will be an early key to his effectiveness. He’s also running a pretty paltry HR rate that will begin to normalize eventually, and while this Guardians squad won’t bludgeon you to death, they have a couple guys that can get some good swings off.
Parker Messick is playing in his first full season and a lot of the things we just said about Rodón could probably be said here, even if it appears Messick’s error bars are for the time being narrower than his veteran counterpart. He’s walking guys about doubly as often as last year, but with a more normal home run rate. Regardless, the two southpaws feature FIPs within .15 points of each other, so we’re dealing with two pretty similar looking seasons so far.
We see the Full Lefty lineup deployed once again, with Paul Goldschmidt leading off, but given the half-day off while DH’ing, Amed Rosario cleaning up, and Ali Sánchez batting ninth and catching. The platoon advantage is there for Sánchez of course (and it’s a day game after a night game), but after the game J.C. Escarra had, having the backup in was probably a good idea regardless of the starter.
How to watch
Location: Progressive Field — Cleveland, OH
First pitch: 1:10 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Guardians TV, WKYC3
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7, WARF 1350, Guardians Radio Network (CLE)
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) reacts in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The San Antonio Spurs were knocked off their rocker in the first two games of the NBA Finals at home by the New York Knicks. Entering as heavy favorites, many Spurs players eased off the gas pedal.
UConn’s Stephon Castle averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across those first two games. However, he was part of a critical turnover in the final seconds of Game 2. With 14 seconds left in a tie game, Victor Wembenyama grabbed a rebound off a Jalen Brunson miss and raced up the floor. With Castle in front of him, Wemby passed the ball off his back the second Castle looked away. Brunson snatched the loose ball and secured the Knicks’ second straight road victory to open the finals.
Monday’s game 3 was the most important game of Castle’s young career. A sold-out Madison Square Garden with many important folks in attendance surely would be too much pressure for the 21-year-old, right? The Knicks looked to slam the door shut and go up 3 games to none, as no team has come back from a 3-0 deficit in NBA history. Castle started off the night with an 18 point 1st half, hitting an early triple to get San Antonio moving. He threw the first punch early, as the Spurs struggled to open the first two games in the series.
Castle ended the night with 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting, including knocking down the dagger 3-pointer to go up 7 with under 2 minutes to play.
Another late Knicks comeback saw them down two points with 6 seconds remaining, as they sent Castle to the charity stripe with the game on the line. The forward buried both free throws and the Spurs held on to take Game 3, making the series 2-1.
“I expect us to win the next three. Those first two games really hurt. I feel like it was an eye-opener for us… We wanna punch first and be on the front foot,” Castle said in an interview with ESPN.
ESPN currently has the Spurs at +160 to win the championship, with the Knicks at -190 odds. No team in NBA history has won the NBA Finals after dropping the first two games at home.
San Antonio looks to steal another game on the road as Game 4 tips off Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.
NEW YORK — The New York Mets took catcher Francisco Alvarez off the injured list before the game against St. Louis, but Kodai Senga experienced a setback in his rehab from a back injury.
The 24-year-old Alvarez returned to the lineup exactly four weeks after sustaining a torn meniscus in his right knee while taking a swing against the Detroit Tigers. He started behind the plate and batted ninth, going 1 for 3 in a 7-0 loss to the Cardinals.
Alvarez had surgery May 14 and was expected to miss six-to-eight weeks. Already known as a quick healer following his recovery from hand and thumb injuries the last two seasons, Alvarez was taking dry swings within days of the operation and began hitting within two weeks.
“I always want to get back as quickly as possible to help the team,” he said through an interpreter.
Alvarez went 3 for 13 in four rehab games at Triple-A Syracuse. He played six innings at catcher in his first appearance and seven in the next two games before catching all nine innings.
“He’s unbelievable,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Four weeks later, not only he’s playing, he’s playing on the big league level. He checked all the boxes.
“You’ve got to give him credit — credit to our trainers and our group there — because I don’t think anybody saw this coming.”
Alvarez is expected to get the majority of the starts behind home plate going forward. Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger combined to bat .215 with two homers and 10 RBIs with Alvarez on the IL. Senger was optioned to Syracuse in a corresponding transaction.
“I feel good. I feel like my legs are strong enough,” Alvarez said. “I don’t think there’s anything that’s weak right now.”
The news was less encouraging for Senga, sidelined by lumbar spine inflammation since April 27. He was scheduled to make a rehab appearance for Double-A Binghamton before experiencing what he called a “small reaction” in the ulnar nerve while doing his between-starts work.
Senga via an interpreter said he “wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s inflammation. It’s relatively minor.”
The right-hander played catch and is expected to do so again.
Mendoza said the Mets haven’t ended Senga’s rehab assignment, and the team hopes he can resume pitching in minor league games this week.
“He’s kind of day to day,” the manager explained.
Senga has a 5.25 ERA in three rehab starts between Syracuse and Class A St. Lucie. He was 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in five starts for the Mets before going on the injured list, and is 0-7 with a 6.94 ERA in his last 14 big league starts since straining his right hamstring while covering first base last June 12.
“I think the front office would agree that they would like to see some results and so would I,” Senga said. “I think we’re on the same page there.”
Star shortstop Francisco Lindor, who hasn’t played since he strained his left calf running the bases on April 22, is expected to participate in full baseball activities — including on-field batting practice. Lindor and Juan Soto, who missed 15 games in April with a right calf injury, have played just seven full games together this season.
First baseman and designated hitter Jorge Polanco, who experienced soreness in his left ankle while on a rehab assignment for the left Achilles injury that’s sidelined him since April 15, underwent an MRI on the Achilles that revealed nothing more than inflammation.
Mendoza acknowledged Polanco, who was expected to shift to first base and replace Pete Alonso upon signing a two-year deal worth $40 million in December, likely would be limited to DH duties for the foreseeable future.
Mets reliever Joey Gerber exited prior to the start of the ninth inning when a blister began flaring up on his right hand. Gerber spent time on the injured list due to the blister in April.
When matchups for the 2026 SEC/ACC Challenge were revealed last week, the LSU men’s basketball program was handed a home game against Wake Forest — meaning that, for at least one year, Tigers coach Will Wade was spared from having to square off against NC State, where he coached last season.
The mercurial coach’s battle with his former employer, though, is far from over.
Three months after Wade left the Wolfpack, NC State has launched an investigation into whether LSU violated North Carolina law by persuading Wade to return to the Tigers, according to letters between lawyers from the two universities that were obtained by WRAL in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In one of the more notable moves in this year’s coaching carousel, Wade resigned from NC State on March 25 after only one season before being announced one day later as the head coach at LSU, where he had previously coached from 2017-22.
According to WRAL, NC State is refusing to release LSU from potential legal action as the university examines whether the Tigers violated North Carolina’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. NC State said it has reason to believe LSU may have worked with Wade for the new coach to avoid a larger buyout when he left the Wolfpack.
Wade had agreed to pay NC State a $4 million buyout, which LSU passed along in early May. Wade’s buyout had been set to drop from $5 million to $3 million on April 1, but the two sides negotiated a figure in the middle so that Wade could leave and the Wolfpack could begin their search for a new coach.
“The timing and circumstances of Coach Wade’s departure from Raleigh and his resignation, along with the LSU term sheet, and the eventual (buyout) payment of $4 million to NC State raise questions about LSU’s potential liability in this matter,” NC State General Counsel Allison B. Newhart wrote in correspondence to LSU General Counsel Carlton Jones, which was obtained by WRAL.
In a June 4 letter, NC State wrote that it would not agree to a mutual release and settlement agreement LSU sent two weeks earlier. In the letter, Newhart wrote that the Tigers may have “influenced efforts to avoid or delay notice to NC State of LSU’s recruitment of Coach Wade and perhaps even the timing of Coach Wade’s employment with LSU in order to avoid larger buyout fees.”
Wade’s exit marked the end of months of speculation that linked him to LSU, which fired coach Matt McMahon the same day Wade was hired after the former Murray State coach went 60-70 in four seasons in Baton Rouge.
LAS VEGAS — The Carolina-Vegas series largely was expected to be a Stanley Cup Final in which goals were at a premium and each shift felt like a march up a well-defended hill.
Yeah, that isn’t this.
Another two-goal lead went the way of the landline in Game 4, the go-ahead shot came from a 37-year-old on his stomach on one of the great runs in Cup final history, and the winning goalie made his first start in two months and doesn’t know if that will be his last one this postseason.
None of it makes sense and yet it all somehow does in this series that is now even after four games — probably aptly so — because of Jordan Staal’s second goal at 6:32 of the third period that came while sprawled on the ice in what became a 5-3 Hurricanes victory over for the Golden Knights.
“It’s a wild ride, isn’t it?” Staal said. “There’s a lot of emotion, lots of ups and downs.”
Now the series heads back to Carolina for Game 5. The Hurricanes potentially will have two games on home ice to win their first Cup in two decades. Coach Rod Brind’Amour captained that 2006 team, and though he’s not ready to look at the big picture, he recognizes this is a unique final.
“I know I need to (appreciate it) because this doesn’t come across very often,” Brind’Amour said. “But it is pretty stressful.”
The same applies at the other end, where the 9-year-old Golden Knights chase their second championship in four years. Their position isn’t all that different from when the day started — two more wins and they’re there — but now they need to win at least once more on the road.
“We need to flush it and get ready for our next game,” Vegas coach John Tortorella said. “I don’t think we should be looking any farther than just the next game.”
Whichever team winds up losing can point to a number of moments that could have changed the outcome.
Each game until this one was decided by one goal. It appeared this one would as well until Nikolaj Ehlers deposited an empty-net goal from 187 feet.
A two-goal lead has disappeared in all four games in what has been a remarkable series in which momentum often changes at a moment’s notice. Each team has led by at least that many twice.
The 33 combined goals are tied for the third highest in a Cup final with the Islanders-Flyers series in 1980.
Staal became the first player in 44 years to score at least one goal in each of the first four games of the final and the ninth overall. Mike Bossy in 1982 with the New York Islanders against the Vancouver Canucks was the last player to score in the first four games of a final.
Ehlers’ goal was part of a three-point night for him, Jackson Blake had a goal and an assist and Logan Stankoven scored a goal.
Brandon Bussi started in place of Frederik Andersen in goal and made 18 saves, and including his work in relief in Game 2, Bussi has 36 saves on 40 shots. Brind’Amour said Andersen, who did not dress, needed the rest. Pyotr Kochetkov was the backup goalie with Andersen serving as the emergency goaltender.
“If you’re going to give him a break, you need to give him a break,” Brind’Amour said. “So to me, him dressing and going through all that does not really give him a night off.”
Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Brett Howden scored goals for the Golden Knights, and Carter Hart made 23 saves. Karlsson also had an assist.
The Hurricanes came out blazing, taking a 3-1 lead in the first period. Vegas nearly cut it to one, but Brayden McNabb’s goal came right after the period ended and didn’t count.
Vegas scored twice in the second to tie the game, and the Golden Knights now have outscored Carolina 9-1 in that period.
But the Golden Knights failed to add to that total, shifting home-ice advantage back to the Hurricanes.
“We knew it was going to be a tight series,” Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson said. “We’re playing a really good team and 2-2, best out of three and fly out to Carolina and take care of business in Game 5.”
The Phillies (36-31) and the Blue Jays (33-35) wrap up their three-game series tonight in Toronto. The series is even at one game apiece following last night’s 3-2 walk-off win for the hometown Jays.
It was a classic pitchers’ duel last night at Rogers Centre. The Phillies struck first in their first at bats when Brandon Marsh doubled home Trea Turner, and for much of the night it looked like that early run might hold in a tight matchup between Zack Wheeler and Dylan Cease. Cease was dominant in his return, striking out 11 over six innings and allowing just one run, while Wheeler matched him with six strong innings of one-run ball. The game turned in the ninth. Bryson Stott delivered what seemed like the decisive blow with a two-out RBI double to give the Phillies a 2–1 lead, but the back end of Philadelphia’s bullpen cracked. Jhoan Duran, previously perfect in save chances, failed to record an out and allowed three hits, including a game-tying wild pitch and a walk-off single from Brandon Valenzuela.
Tonight, Philadelphia turns to Jesús Luzardo (LHP, 4–4, 4.56 ERA), who has been steady but not dominant, carrying an ERA in the mid-4s but he is averaging just about one strikeout per inning. Toronto counters with Max Scherzer (RHP, 1–3, 9.64 ERA), who is expected to make his return from the injured list. Scherzer’s numbers are inflated from a small sample and injury-shortened season, but the storyline is obvious—if he looks anything like vintage form, Toronto gains a massive ceiling boost; if not, this becomes a favorable matchup for the Phillies lineup.
Philadelphia has the more stable starting pitching option in Luzardo. Toronto, meanwhile, expects Scherzer to keep the likes of Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber in the ballpark.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Phillies vs. Blue Jays
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Time: 7:07PM EST
Site: Rogers Centre
City: Toronto, ON
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Sportsnet One
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.
The Latest Odds: Phillies vs. Blue Jays
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (-136), Toronto Blue Jays (+113)
Spread: Phillies -1.5 (+119), Blue Jays +1.5 (-144)
Total: 8.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Phillies vs. Blue Jays for June 10
Phillies: Jesus Luzardo Season Totals: 73.0 IP, 4-4, 4.56 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 80K, 21 BB
Blue Jays: Max Scherzer Season Totals: 18.2 IP, 1-3, 9.64 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 10K, 8 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Phillies vs. Blue Jays last 10 Games
Bryson Stott – .346 AVG, .452 OBP, 1 HR, 7 RBI
Nick Castellanos – .314 AVG, 2 HR, .951 OPS
Kyle Schwarber – 3 HR, .864 OPS
Trea Turner – .279 AVG, 3 HR
Alec Bohm – .243 AVG, .270 slugging
Ernie Clement – hitting .366
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – hitting .225 with 0 HRs and just 1 RBI
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Phillies and Blue Jays
The Philles are 37-32 on the Run Line this season
The Blue Jays are 32-34 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 33 times in Toronto’s 68 games this season (33-32-3)
The OVER has cashed 28 times in the Phillies’ 67 games this season (28-37-2)
Expert picks & predictions: Phillies vs. Blue Jays
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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 tonight’s game between the Phillies and the Blue Jays:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Phillies on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Phillies on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 8.5
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HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 07: Zack Gelof #20 of the Athletics throws to first base against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Daikin Park on June 07, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As you might expect with a team that has hovered around .500 all season, signs point upwards, downwards, and downright sideways, all at the same time, with regard to the 2026 A’s and the rest of the season.
Make no mistake about it, there are positives. The A’s have not hit the way they expected to, but joining the already superb Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, and Carlos Cortes is the sizzling hot Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker has shown signs of life this week as well. The A’s will ultimately hit. And the emergence of Gage Jump, along with the good arm of Jack Perkins and breakout of JT Ginn, gives the A’s renewed hope around their beleaguered rotation.
But there are still more questions than answers around the final 95 games as the A’s sit 3.5 back of 1st place and 0.5 game out of a crowded field of wild card mediocrity. Here’s an updated look around the diamond…
Third Base
Leo De Vries looked so good in spring training that it felt realistic to think he might push for a spot on the big league roster as soon as this month. He didn’t miss that fast-track by a hair, he missed it more by a finger. De Vries suffered a bone bruise in his finger that probably explains his big drop in slugging so far in 2026, with an ISO of just .107 compared to the impressive .196 of last season. All his other stats are still looking elite and he’s on his way — but not imminently anymore.
Meanwhile, Zack Gelof has been a revelation, with his .266/.315/.462 batting line pretty close to his enticing rookie season stats (.267/.337/.504) that had him looking like a core piece for years to come. His defense has been the best of any A’s candidate, night and day better than Max Muncy and superior to that of other players, e.g., Darell Hernaiz, trying to play it as their second or third best position.
So why hasn’t Gelof stabilized 3B going forward? Not because of anything he has done wrong, but because of what Jeff McNeil has done wrong. McNeil went to bed April 30th a wily 34 year old veteran and woke up on May 1st a 54 year old trapped in a horror movie best described as “Freaky Friday meets The 100 Year Old Man”. Point being the A’s might need Gelof to stabilize 2B, where his defense is even better, leaving a hole still at 3B.
As for Muncy, who is being given opportunities again to show he is capable of manning 3B every day, he brings questions on both sides of the ball. He has yet to prove he can play 3B (or 2B) adequately and the bat has not shown up since he was hit on the hand, played through it, rested, rehabbed, and returned to go 1 for 8 — and the one should have been ruled an E6.
Bottom Line: Really you want to put players at their best positions when possible, especially if there is a hole at that position. For Gelof that is 2B, not 3B, so it leaves 3B still highly uncertain given that De Vries is not yet in the picture. It continues to be the place where the A’s should probably focus if they consider a trade or waiver acquisition for the rest of the 2026 season — but they know help is on the way so they would only be looking at a stopgap of an upgrade, which is an unlikely fit. Especially for a team whose focus will be on pitching if it’s on anything.
Second Base:
Once lovingly referred to as Squirrel, then also Graybeard as a tribute to his “mature profile,” lately Jeff McNeil’s nickname has simply been Your Expletive Here. Another possible one would be This ISO Intentionally Left Blank, as McNeil’s last extra base hit came on May 20th and he has had just two since May 3rd.
It’s hard to overstate how bad McNeil has been the past 6 weeks, as his swings themselves are actually more alarming than the results, which are putrid enough. May’s terrible .216/.278/.284, 54 wRC+ performance has been followed by an even more frightening June: .091/.130/.091, good for the ol’ -44 wRC+. He is now 4 for his last 48 with 4 singles.
Perhaps McNeil’s most recent PA shines a spotlight on just how far the former batting champion has fallen. With the game on the line in the bottom of the 12th, McNeil swung at the first pitch even though it was several inches inside and he could not have possibly done anything with it but pull it weakly foul as he did. Then he took a strike which he challenged even though most of the ball was clearly in the zone. Then he waved late at a pitch up around his neck. It was a PA you couldn’t fathom in April, but have come to expect in June.
If the A’s sit McNeil they solve 2B immediately with Gelof. Only the hole it leaves at 3B, and the “what to do with McNeil?” questions remain — but both are significant queries. So 2B remains as unsettled as 3B unless the A’s can figure out a way to clone Gelof (hey, he does have a brother in the minors…).
Bottom Line: The A’s need to figure out what they do with McNeil and if it’s the Gio Urshela “It’s been fun…” treatment then they have solved 2B with Gelof, but if not most likely we will continue to see some sort of platoon that bounced Gelof around the infield.
Center Field
This is probably the least unsettled of the 5 in that Henry Bolte is off to a somewhat rollicking start — so long as you don’t look too deep under the hood. Bolte smashed his first HR last night, which is a welcome development, but he also struck out twice to raise his K rate to 31.5%. His BABIP now sits at .440.
Bolte also committed errors in each of the first 2 games of the series, first making an unnecessary throw that skipped past 3B and then getting his footwork a bit tangled as he fanned on a base hit he was charging. Bolte is still only 25 games and 89 PAs into his career, and there are clear signs of success (a .295 BA and .371 OBP) as well as red flags for regression ahead (he has struck out in 14 of his 28 June PAs).
Bolte’s job is safe in that Denzel Clarke is out for a long time and Lawrence Butler is a terrible CFer who also happens to be hitting worse than Clarke offered. But what lies ahead for Bolte, both at the plate and in the field, is anybody’s guess.
Bottom Line: The A’s will pretty much “sink or swim” with Bolte for the next 2 months. It’s just unclear which it will be.
Starting Pitching
Gage Jump has been sensational and JT Ginn has been a true “breakout SP” — including last night when he was charged with 5 ER in 5.2 IP but in the context of the hitting environment offered the best start of any of the 4 SP in the series so far. Jack Perkins is still an unknown but offers a third “plus arm” the A’s can hope to lean on to create a young “big 3” of sorts.
It’s after that things get even dicier than wishcasting great success on Perkins before he has fully shown it. Jeffrey Springs began the season with an ERA of 1.46 for his first 4 starts and hasn’t won a game since. His season ERA now stands at 4.68 and the dreaded HR ball has shown up 16 times in just 75 IP. He has pitched very much like JP Sears did for the A’s, and while Sears was useful to the A’s he was clearly a “back of the rotation innings eater”. The 5th SP is a revolving door of recently Kade Morris, potentially Joey “You think Springs gives up a lot of HRs?” Estes, and soon the return of Aaron Civale, who out pitched his peripherals for a while and then didn’t.
It feels like the A’s SP, going forward, could be anything from “surprisingly solid” — like the bullpen was last season following the Mason Miller trade — to “predictably godawful” as you can get when you rely on pitchers who have made 3 big league starts, haven’t been able to stay healthy for a full season, have pitched to poor predictive stats but better results, and so on. It’s a wild card to match the playoff spot the A’s are a half game away from.
Bottom Line: The A’s are going to lean heavily on 3 very inexperienced SPs to lead them into the post-season picture at more than a cursory level.
Bullpen
Oh the bullpen. This is a group that can throw 6.1 IP scoreless innings across 6 different relievers one day and then the very next day turn a comfortable 5-1 7th inning lead into a devastating walk-off loss. After last night, fans are bullish about the prospect of Mason Barnett and Elvis Alvarado blowing away the competition in high leverage, but how many felt this way a week ago?
Justin Sterner (3.19 ERA with underlying metrics to support his success) has probably been the A’s most consistently effective reliever from day 1 to day 67. Certainly Alvarado has the stuff as he unleashed yesterday. Hogan Harris has a team leading 5 saves but he has also walked 23 in his 32.1 IP. Barnett has been a revelation, but only for 3 appearances so far. Luis Medina has been solid in lower leverage and brings good stuff to go with erratic results throughout his career. The rest of the bullpen crew (Mark Leiter Jr., Scott Barlow, Jose Suarez) are veterans who rely on guile more than plus offerings.
Best case scenario is that a couple arms emerge to give the A’s one thing they have sorely lacked all season: a clear set-up man and a clear closer to build the rest of the pen around. 2 of Alvarado, Sterner, and Barnett could potentially seize these roles, but whether they will is still anybody’s guess.
Bottom Line: “Closer and set-up man by committee” just doesn’t usually work well at all, so look for the A’s to settle on 2 guys soon and then we’ll find out if they made good choices.
A lot of uncertainty, and also a lot of potential and upside, as the A’s spend the next month or so learning whether they are contenders, pretenders, buyers or sellers, in a mediocre AL that is there for the taking — but is also not going to be taken by most of the middling teams. Your thoughts and suggested plans of action moving forward? One thing is clear: it’s not early anymore and the wheat and chaff are about to separate in the American League.
DENVER — Cole Carrigg’s helmet flew off as he kicked it into high gear around the bases. He slid headfirst into third base and looked toward the Colorado Rockies dugout before breaking into a little dance.
The first hit in his major league debut goes down as a triple.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Carrigg said after the Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 7-3. “I love pushing it and going for three. Oh man, it was really awesome. It was the best feeling in the world.”
Carrigg brings speed to the diamond and an aura of fearlessness to go with it.
No way he’s dialing it back, either. Nor do the Rockies want him to. The outfielder who now wears No. 16 — it was assigned to him — finished his debut 1 for 3 with a walk. Carrigg became the second Rockies player to have a triple as their first big league hit, joining Ryan Ritter, who accomplished the feat last season.
“As soon as it got by the first baseman, I’m thinking three for sure,” Carrigg said of his fifth-inning grounder down the line in right field.
This prospect doesn’t hold back.
“He plays with his hair on fire,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “We just want that to continue up here. Anytime he’s on the baseball field, anything can happen. Just want him to play without fear, have fun, play free, and just let his skills shine.”
Carrigg was the fifth Rockies player to make their big league debut this season. He had a handful of family members, including mom and dad, along with friends and coaches in the stands to cheer.
He treated them to quite a show, too. He was doused with the contents of a Powerade bucket after the game.
“The nerves were running pretty high,” Carrigg said. “This is what I’ve worked for my whole entire life. If you’re not nervous for that moment, you’re not human.”
He got a glimpse of this level during the World Baseball Classic while playing shortstop for Team Israel. He said facing Venezuela and Ronald Acuña Jr. in front of more than 20,000 fans certainly was an eye-opening experience.
“As loud as I could have ever imagined,” said Carrigg, who was selected in the second round of the 2023 amateur draft from San Diego State. “It definitely got me prepared, for sure.”
The 24-year-old was in the midst of quite a season for Triple-A Albuquerque, hitting .338 with 15 doubles, five triples, six homers, 42 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. He played outfield and mixed in some shortstop, too.
This after after a spring training in which he hit .387 and made a compelling case to possibly be on the Rockies roster. He just went to work.
“I think when you feel like you have a chance to be up here and a chance to help the team, and you know you’re kind of playing well, it’s hard not to look up here,” Carrigg said. “It’s hard to stay where your feet are. But I think that’s the best thing you can do is just keep using those opportunities in Triple-A to make sure that you’re ready for when you get here.”
He officially found out about his promotion over the weekend in front of his Isotopes teammates. Then again, he had an inkling the moment was about to arrive. Or, his teammate, Adael Amador, did anyway.
“Adael came up to me in the fifth inning of the game and he’s like, `I think you’re getting called up, bro,’” Carrigg said. “I’m like, `What do you mean?’ He’s like, ‘I got a feeling.’ He had a feeling.”
About No. 16: Turns out one of his father’s favorite players, Bo Jackson, donned that number while with the Kansas City Royals.
“That’s the first thing he said and I’m like, ‘That’s a pretty good number to have,’” Carrigg recounted.
Schaeffer was eager to see how Carrigg’s skills translate in the big leagues.
“I mean, listen, he can run, he can hit from both sides and he can play instinctual center field, plays good shortstop, he steals bases,” said Schaeffer, who plans to use Carrigg as an outfielder. “A lot of people do that, but there’s not a lot of people that do that without fear. That’s part of his game.
“It’s one thing to have the tools, it’s another thing to use them, and he’s a guy that uses them.”
Apr 13, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) greets second baseman Brandon Lowe (left) crossing home plate on a three run home run against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
There’s a little over a third of the season in the books, with the Pittsburgh Pirates sitting at 34-33. They’ve been wobbling back and forth between .500 and a few games over all season. However, it’s better baseball overall than we’ve seen in a while, minus some hiccups.
What we want to know is, who do you consider to be the Bucs MVP with a third of the season in the books?
There’s some newcomers, a stud pitcher, a guy finally coming into his own at the plate. You decide.
We’ll be back soon with the results. Thanks for voting!
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 09: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after recording his 2,500th hit in the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on June 9, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“It does mean a lot,” Freeman told reporters in Pittsburgh after his 2,500th hit, as shown on SportsNet LA. “There’s always another [milestone] to get to, but to step back and realize how long you have to play, the consistency over the course of that, to play at a high level for many, many years to get there, it does mean a lot.”
Freeman is the first new member of the 2,500-hit club since Robinson Canó on May 7, 2019 while with the New York Mets. The 2010s were a fruitful decade in gaining new members to this exclusive club, with 11 players getting their 2,500th hit between 2010-19.
There have been double-digit players reaching 2,500 career hits every decade dating back to the 1970s, topping out at 14 players between 2000-09.
Decade
No.
Players
1890s
2
Cap Anson, Jim O’Rourke
1900s
8
Jake Beckley, Jesse Burkett, Lave Cross, George Davis, Ed Delahanty, Willie Keeler, Jimmy Ryan, George Van Haltren
1910s
5
Fred Clarke, Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Nap Lajoie, Honus Wagner
1920s
6
Max Carey, Eddie Collins, Rogers Hornsby, George Sisler, Tris Speaker, Zack Wheat
1930s
11
Frankie Frisch, Lou Gehrig, Charlie Gehringer, Goose Goslin, Harry Heilmann, Heinie Manush, Rabbit Maranville, Sam Rice, Babe Ruth, Al Simmons, Paul Waner
Luis Aparicio, Lou Brock, Willie Davis, Al Kaline, Vada Pinson, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Pete Rose, Billy Williams, Carl Yastzemski
1980s
11
Buddy Bell, George Brett, Bill Buckner, Rod Carew, Steve Garvey, Reggie Jackson, Joe Morgan, Al Oliver, Tony Pérez, Rusty Staub, Robin Yount
1990s
11
Harold Baines, Wade Boggs, Andre Dawson, Tony Gwynn, Rickey Henderson, Paul Molitor, Eddie Murray, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Cal Ripken Jr., Dave Winfield
2000s
14
Roberto Alomar, Garret Anderson, Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Steve Finley, Julio Franco, Luis Gonzalez, Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter, Rafael Palmeiro, Alex Rodríguez Iván Rodríguez, Gary Sheffield, Omar Vizquel
2010s
11
Carlos Beltrán, Adrian Beltré, Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Canó, Johnny Damon, Vladimir Guerrero, Todd Helton, Chipper Jones, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramírez, Ichiro Suzuki
2020s
1
Freddie Freeman
Freeman is the first player to reach 2,500 hits in the 2020s, and we’re already in our seventh season of this 10-year stretch.
Jose Altuve is next in line on the active career leaderboard, with 2,430 hits. The Houston Astros second baseman will likely reach 2,500 hits at some point later this season. But the rest of the active hit leaderboard quickly runs out of steam when it comes to potential players reaching 2,500 hits by the end of 2029.
MLB active hit leaders
Freddie Freeman 2,500 hits
Jose Altuve 2,430 hits
Andrew McCutchen 2,280 hits (39 years old, released by Rangers on May 28)
Paul Goldschmidt 2,229 hits (turns 39 in Septmber)
Manny Machado 2,109 hits (turns 34 in July)
Nolan Arenado 1,973 hits (age 35, had 453 hits since start of 2023, ~3.5 years)
Carlos Santana 1,882 hits (age 40)
Xander Bogaerts 1,874 hits (age 33, last had 170 hits in a season in 2023)
Of that group, Altuve and Machado look likely to reach 2,500 hits in the next three-plus seasons, and maybe Arenado depending on how he finishes out this year. Bogaerts and Harper still very well could reach 2,500 hits, but perhaps not until 2030 or later.
The 2020s might end up being the decade that sees the fewest new entrants to the 2,500-hit club since the 1950s, when only two players did so. They were upper-echelon Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Ted Williams, so maybe it’s not all bad to be in such select company.
Dominic Canzone
Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Stowers
