There’s an angel looking out for the New York Knicks.
Beatrice Reilly-Jordon, a Staten Island widow and devoted Knicks fan, left a bit of her late husband’s ashes on an empty seat at Madison Square Garden — and her family believes his spirit has been lifting the Knicks as they strive for their first championship in 53 years.
“She sprinkled a little on an empty seat next to her at Madison Square Garden recently, so he could enjoy the game with her, watching from heaven,” the couple’s daughter Domonique told The Post.
Beatrice Reilly-Jordon and her late husband Dave Jordon were – and still are – the ultimate Knicks fans. Beatrice Jordon/Facebook
“He loved the Knicks so much and so does she. Like my mom says, he’s the angel on their shoulders.”
The family didn’t mention which game Dave’s ashes attended, but his powers from above seem to have worked their magic — the Knicks are one win away from sports immortality.
If the Knicks can close out the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 on Saturday in Texas, they will end their 53-year championship drought — and Beatrice believes Dave will be right there for every second of it, she told SIlive.com.
Dave Jordan, a US Army veteran who later worked in health care, died of cancer in 2022, three months before his 69th birthday. Ever since, Reilly-Jordon, 61, leaves a special chair open for Dave when she watches games on TV.
Dave Jordon had a special chair where he would cheer on his team from home. Matthew Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc./Facebook
“There’s my chair, because you know, you always need a chair when a person’s not here,” she told the outlet.
The empty seat is a painful reminder of loss, but also a symbol of a love story death could not erase.
“I’m sorry my husband won’t be here, but he’s still here. He’s in the Garden right now,” she added. “And he’s going to watch it with us.”
The Knicks weren’t just a favorite team for the couple. They were woven into the fabric of their marriage.
Nearly 40 years ago, when their romance was just beginning, MSG became the backdrop for countless memories.
“We started off going to Knicks games together,” she recalled to the Staten Island-based paper. “He said he never went to a Knicks game with anyone, did I want to go?
“And I said yes. It became our thing to go to the Garden.”
The couple began dating by going to Knicks games at Madison Square Garden. Beatrice Jordon/Facebook
Then came the devastating diagnosis that changed everything.
As Dave’s health deteriorated, Beatrice stood by his side through every agonizing moment, caring for the man she loved as his condition worsened.
“It was beyond awful,” she said. “I took care of him the whole time. Fed him. We were together for more than 34 years.”
When Dave died on Dec. 18, 2022, the grief was so overwhelming, she couldn’t even bring herself to watch the team they had loved together for decades, and the TV stayed off.
But over time, the family’s heartbreak turned into determination.
Fans at Madison Square Garden watch Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 10. NBAE via Getty Images
Surrounded by three daughters and an enormous extended family of siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Beatrice’s loved ones refused to let her give up something that had meant so much to both her and Dave, according to the outlet.
“My godbrothers said, ‘No, you have to. You know Dave wants you to go see the Knicks. You can’t stop doing what you normally do,” she said.
Eventually, the family bought her a ticket, recently sending her back to MSG for the first time since losing her husband.
What happened next became one of the most emotional moments of her life.
“At the game, I brought my husband’s ashes with me,” she told SILive. “And I was in section 224, and I sprinkled my husband, and I said, ‘Dave, you’re here with me.’”
As Knicks fans dream of a long-awaited championship, Beatrice has a message for everyone watching the 2026 Finals.
“He’s right on top of them — an angel on their shoulders — and they’re going to do it this year,” she said.
Not that I was snoozing ….. but, boy, Seiya Suzuki’s slam had to wake everybody up, especially the other bats.
Speaking of Suzuki, Seiya must have read Ken Rosenthal’s article suggesting that the Cubs trade him (see link bel0w). Just like 100 million other people who read the article, those of which who are baseball writers went on a feeding frenzy. “(Enter team’s name) should trade for Suzuki.” I included the only article that actually posted a trade idea — for what it is.
The article by Sahadev Sharma on Edward Cabrera shows amazing detail on how the Pitch Lab went about providing the adjustments that Cabrera needed. I know people roll their eyes at the words “Pitch Lab” (I do at times as well), but if the work Tommy Hottovy put into Cabrera led to his performance in Colorado and he can build from there, there might be something to the Lab (at least in isolated situations).
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Mr. Rosenthal has entered the chat — More trade talk:
Joey Mistretta (Clutch Points): Cubs’ Craig Counsell sends brutally honest message to team after defeating Rockies. “The Cubs’ injury concerns have been impossible to ignore. They have certainly played a role in the team’s underwhelming overall season. However, many players have underperformed as well. The Cubs know they need to be better.”
The worst MLB team since 1961 is arguably the 2024 White Sox at 41-121. They averaged 3.1 runs a game and gave up 5.0 runs a game… net difference of -1.9.
In the last 29 games, the Cubs have scored 3.2 runs a game and given up 5.2 runs a game… net difference of -2.0.
— Baseball's Not Dead (@dead_baseball) June 11, 2026
Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Are the Cubs too uptight? A scuffling club is asking the same question. “The rapid drop-off can be attributed to a variety of factors, from pitching injuries to the law of averages to the club’s best hitters failing to deliver with runners in scoring position. Clearly, something is off.”
Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Jed Hoyer’s outdated vision for 2026 Cubs is unraveling in painful fashion. “The problem is that Hoyer’s need to find depth last offseason may have ignored the elephant in the room. It was made clear by the end of the 2025 season that the Cubs didn’t have a defined ace. Entering the 2026 season, it’s fair to suggest that was still case.”
Aynsley Lister is of the UK’s hottest contemporary blues guitarists. His unique brand of blues-based rock delivers contemporary song writing fueled with the kind of hear and soul that’s missing from so much modern music. Blessed with the coolest dad in town, regularly spinning Hendrix, Cream, Fleetwood Mac and a whole host of bewitching blues for his spellbound son, Aynsley taught himself to play with relentless dedication and a precociously attuned ear, spending hours copying his favourite records note for note. Peter Green, Albert King, Clapton and Kossoff weren’t just his heroes; they became his teachers.
Their influence, coupled with his dynamite live shows and an intense touring schedule, earned high profile support slots with established artists like John Mayall and Robert Cray, whilst rousing festival appearances, cemented his standing as an artist whose work, although rooted in blues, transcended the genre with a fiery modern sound that was eagerly embraced by fans of rock, pop, soul and acoustic music alike.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
We have 15 MLB games on the card, with several underdogs who shouldn't be, and some massive favorites we must fade on price alone.
Read on for a fun day of MLB predictions and MLB picks for Saturday, June 13.
MLB moneyline picks for June 13
Matchup
Pick
Cardinals vs Twins
+104
Yankees vs Blue Jays
+117
Mariners vs Nationals
+104
Marlins vs Pirates
+122
Padres vs Orioles
+113
Tigers vs Guardians
+117
Dodgers vs White Sox
+178
Rangers vs Red Sox
-100
Braves vs Mets
+104
Diamondbacks vs Reds
+104
Astros vs Royals
+108
Phillies vs Brewers
+133
Rockies vs Athletics
+170
Cubs vs Giants
-104
Rays vs Angels
-122
Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 6-13.
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Expert MLB moneyline picks for June 13
Cardinals vs Twins: Cardinals (+104)
Cardinals win probability: 49%
Minnesota hitters strike out 21.5% of the time against lefties. Matthew Liberatore holds a steady 4.68 SIERA and a low 0.93 home run rate. St. Louis relievers have a strong 3.10 SIERA, giving them the upper hand late.
Yankees vs Blue Jays: Blue Jays (+117)
Blue Jays win probability: 46.1%
Kevin Gausman gives Toronto a real pitching edge at home. The Yankees' offense has slowed down recently, posting a 106 wRC+. New York starter Cam Schlittler has a 4.50 FIP, making the home underdog the smart play.
Mariners vs Nationals: Nationals (+104)
Nationals win probability: 49%
Cade Cavalli owns a solid 4.61 SIERA for Washington. He faces a Seattle offense that has a high 20.1% strikeout rate over the last two weeks. Both teams have matching 107 wRC+, making the home team a plus-money price great value.
Marlins vs Pirates: Marlins (+122)
Marlins win probability: 45%
Pittsburgh rookie Bubba Chandler has a high 5.36 SIERA and gives up 1.80 home runs per nine innings. Miami's bullpen is much safer with a 3.81 SIERA compared to Pittsburgh's weak 4.11 bullpen mark. Back the Miami bats to come out on top.
Padres vs Orioles: Padres (+113)
Padres win probability: 46.9%
Baltimore starter Trey Gibson is overpriced with a poor 6.34 SIERA and a handful of strikeouts. Randy Vasquez has been much more reliable with a slightly better 5.70 SIERA. Take the better pitching numbers with the Padres on the road.
Tigers vs Guardians: Guardians (+117)
Guardians win probability: 46.1%
Tarik Skubal automatically makes the Tigers the favorites on the road. However, Joey Cantillo holds his own with a 4.46 SIERA. The real advantage is Cleveland's excellent bullpen, which has a sharp 3.59 SIERA to stop Detroit late.
Dodgers vs White Sox: White Sox (+178)
White Sox win probability: 41.5%
Rules prevent taking the Dodgers at a short price of -194. Chicago's offense has actually matched the Dodgers lately, with both teams earning a 122 wRC+. At a high +178 price, home field variance makes the White Sox worth backing.
Rangers vs Red Sox: Rangers (-100)
Rangers win probability: 50%
Texas is an excellent choice at an even pick'em price. The Rangers' offense is rolling with a 121 wRC+ over the last two weeks. Meanwhile, Boston has completely gone cold with a weak 82 team wRC+ and is hard to trust.
Braves vs Mets: Mets (+104)
Mets win probability: 49%
Sean Manaea matches up well against an Atlanta offense that has an ordinary 102 wRC+ across the past two weeks. Atlanta starter Martin Perez has a high 5.09 SIERA. The Mets bullpen carries a strong 3.33 SIERA to protect the lead late, and are a home dog worth backing.
Diamondbacks vs Reds: Reds (+104)
Reds win probability: 49%
Rhett Lowder gets the start for Cincinnati at home. He faces an Arizona offense that has completely flatlined. The Diamondbacks have a league-worst 65 wRC+ over the last 14 days, making the home underdog the right play.
Astros vs Royals: Astros (+108)
Astros win probability: 48.1%
Mike Burrows gets the nod for Houston. The biggest edge for the Astros is their stellar bullpen. Houston relievers have a 3.14 SIERA, which will shut down Kansas City late in the game. Take the plus-money road team.
Phillies vs Brewers: Phillies (+133)
Phillies win probability: 42.9%
The market is making a mistake by pricing the Phillies as big underdogs. Aaron Nola is a top-tier pitcher compared to Shane Drohan. Philadelphia's bullpen supports him with a strong 3.22 SIERA to keep Milwaukee quiet.
Rockies vs Athletics: Rockies (+170)
Rockies win probability: 37%
The Athletics are too expensive to back here. Colorado starter Kyle Freeland has a 4.93 SIERA, which matches up tightly with Jeffrey Springs' 5.00 SIERA. At this large a price, the Rockies and Freeland are too difficult to ignore.
Cubs vs Giants: Cubs (-104)
Cubs win probability: 51%
Ben Brown gives Chicago a stable advantage over Trevor McDonald's 4.21 SIERA. San Francisco's bullpen is in deep trouble, posting a slate-worst 5.21 SIERA over the last two weeks. Back the Cubs at a great price.
Rays vs Angels: Rays (-122)
Rays win probability: 55%
Tampa Bay has a major pitching advantage. Angels starter Jose Soriano struggles with a high 5.69 SIERA and a poor 7.59 BB/9 walk rate. The Rays will score early and exploit a mediocre Angels bullpen.
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.
More than 700 players have appeared in a game for the Rockies. Most do not last long. The average Rockies tenure is much closer to two years than five, which makes the long-timers easy to remember and the short stays easy to lose.
This is not about franchise pillars, or random cameos, but Rockies who packed most of their Colorado story into one season.
Jeff Cirillo helps draw the line. He spent two seasons with Colorado, and both were productive. In 2000, he hit .326 with 53 doubles, 115 RBI, 195 hits, an All-Star selection, and 4.5 bWAR.
In 2001, Cirillo hit .313 with 17 home runs, 83 RBI, and 3.2 bWAR.
If this were just a list of great short Rockies stays, Cirillo would belong. But his tenure had two good seasons, then a transaction afterlife when Colorado traded him to Seattle in the deal that brought Brian Fuentes to Denver.
This list is narrower: One big year, one sharp impression, and then the moment was gone.
The toolsy outfielder who looked like the future: Nolan Jones, 2023
The most recent bit of one-summer magic is Nolan Jones.
The Rockies acquired Jones from Cleveland for Juan Brito in November 2022, started him in Triple-A, and did not get the full version right away. He was recalled in April, sent back down, recalled again in May, and then caught fire after returning from the injured list.
In 2023, Jones hit .297 with 20 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and 4.3 bWAR in 106 games. He led the Rockies in Baseball-Reference WAR despite playing barely two-thirds of a season, and his outfield arm gave the profile another loud tool.
Jones looked like more than a nice find. He looked like a possible long-term answer.
Then came the follow-up. Jones fell to -0.8 bWAR in 2024, with injuries and swing-and-miss keeping the breakout from becoming a clean franchise arc. By March 2025, the Rockies had traded him back to Cleveland for Tyler Freeman.
The story has kept moving. Cleveland has since traded Jones to the White Sox. Teams are still searching for some version of the player who briefly looked like a future piece in Colorado.
Replacing a legend: Justin Morneau, 2014
Justin Morneau’s Rockies tenure technically stretched into 2015, but his Rockies story is really 2014.
Todd Helton had just retired. First base at Coors Field had belonged to one player for nearly two decades. The Rockies were not going to replace him with another Helton. Nobody was.
Then Morneau showed up and won the National League batting title.
He hit .319 with 17 home runs and 82 RBI, giving Colorado a veteran first baseman who could still really hit. He was not Helton, and the Rockies did not need to pretend he was. Morneau was a former MVP, post-concussion and post-prime, proving there was still a high-level hitter left.
The batting title can be dismissed by people who dismiss every Rockies batting line, but that undersells the season. Morneau gave Colorado a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat at a position that had just lost the most important player in franchise history.
As one-year Rockies chapters go, it was about as simple as it gets: batting title, injury-limited follow-up, free agency.
The Coors Field pitching answer: Joe Kennedy, 2004
Joe Kennedy might be the most underrated brief-stay season in Rockies history.
There was no All-Star selection. No major award. No playoff race. The 2004 Rockies lost 94 games, and Kennedy’s season mostly disappeared inside a bad team.
Kennedy gave the Rockies something they almost never get: a legitimately strong starting pitching season at Coors Field. He went 9-7 with a 3.66 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 162 1/3 innings, 117 strikeouts, a 135 ERA+, and 5.6 bWAR. He became the first Rockies starter to finish a season with an ERA under 4.00 after the team moved to Coors Field.
Kennedy was actually better in Denver, going 6-1 with a 3.59 ERA in 14 home starts.
Jason Marquis fits this bucket, too, just differently. He gave the 2009 playoff Rockies 216 innings, an All-Star selection, and 3.5 bWAR in his only season with Colorado before leaving through free agency.
Kennedy had less visibility and less team success. For one year, though, he solved a problem Colorado has spent most of its existence trying to solve.
The one-year relievers: Gabe White and Greg Holland
Relievers have their own version of this.
Greg Holland is the visible one. He came to Colorado after Tommy John surgery, took over the ninth inning for a playoff team, saved 41 games, made the All-Star team, shared the National League saves lead, won NL Comeback Player of the Year, then reached free agency.
Gabe White is the sneaky one. He came over from Cincinnati in the Manny Aybar trade, put up 4.5 bWAR, a 2.17 ERA, 0.916 WHIP, 84 strikeouts, and a 247 ERA+ in 83 innings, then fell off in 2001 and was traded right back to Cincinnati.
Holland has the playoff team visibility. White has the “wait, that actually happened?” stat line.
The one that still stands out: Jeffrey Hammonds, 2000
The one that still stands out most to me is Jeffrey Hammonds in 2000.
The Rockies acquired Hammonds from Cincinnati on October 30, 1999, in the trade that sent Dante Bichette to the Reds after seven seasons in Colorado. Hammonds played one season in Denver, reached free agency, signed with Milwaukee, and never again matched that summer at Coors Field.
That one season was the whole story. Hammonds played 122 games for Colorado and hit .335 with 20 home runs, 106 RBI, 14 steals, and made the All-Star team. He was not even the only Rockies position player from that roster to get there. Helton made his first All-Star appearance, and Cirillo was there, too, which is a pretty good snapshot of how ridiculous that lineup became.
The Rockies were built for offense that year. Helton was having a monster season, and Coors Field was still playing huge. But Hammonds was not just along for the ride. He gave them average, gap power, home run thump, some speed, and enough RBI production to stand out even in that environment.
That is what makes it the cleanest brief-stay Rockies season: acquired for a franchise icon, one huge year, free agency, and a reminder that not every breakout is meant to be bought.
The current version
That is part of the point: sometimes you do not know you are watching a “one-summer-only” Rockies season while it is happening.
Hammonds looked like he might be part of the lineup beyond 2000. Kennedy looked like he might have found something that worked at Coors Field in 2004. Jones looked like he might be part of the next good Rockies team in 2023. Each one lasted much shorter than it seemed in the moment.
That is what makes the current roster interesting. Jake McCarthy, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Troy Johnston are Rockies right now, and all three have given Colorado something worth watching. McCarthy has brought speed and useful outfield defense. Sugano has given the Rockies real innings. Johnston is fifth in the National League in batting average and tied with Rafael Devers and Ernie Clement for the Major League lead with 20 doubles.
Maybe their Rockies stories keep going. But maybe this summer is the chapter. Maybe years from now, this is the stretch fans look back on as the brief moment when one of them dropped a little magic in Colorado.
Hughes was excellent in his first game back with Albuquerque after a rehab assignment with High-A Spokane, where he threw six scoreless innings across two starts. The right-hander worked five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four. He threw 58 of his 77 pitches for strikes and earned his first Triple-A win of the season, lowering his ERA to 7.20. Victor Vodnik followed with a scoreless inning, walking one but striking out the side, and Albuquerque pitchers held Tacoma to two hits while striking out 12.
Veen and Condon set the tone in the first inning. Veen doubled to right at 105.1 mph, his 16th double of the season, and Condon followed two batters later with a two-run homer to left-center. The 104.3 mph drive traveled 395 feet and was Condon’s 12th home run of the year.
They kept applying pressure from there. Veen added his 17th double in the third and finished 3-for-6 with two doubles, a three-run homer, three RBI, and two runs scored. He is now hitting .324 with a .985 OPS. Condon finished 3-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI, four runs scored, and two walks. His second homer of the night, and 13th overall, came immediately after Veen’s three-run shot in the ninth. Condon has now homered five times in his last five games, and both Condon and Veen have gone deep in back-to-back games.
The game was still 3-1 after seven innings before Albuquerque buried it. The Isotopes scored nine runs in the eighth, with Vimael Machín delivering the biggest swing on a three-run homer, his ninth of the season. Machín finished 2-for-5 with four RBI
The Hartford Yard Goats (34-26) beat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (30-29) 11-1 behind an impressive Double-A debut from Jackson Cox (No. 16 PuRP) and a huge night from the Hartford offense.
Cox was superb in his first start with the Yard Goats after being promoted from High-A Spokane, where he had posted a 4.23 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 55.1 innings. The right-hander did not allow a hit until the fifth inning and finished with 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out eight. He worked into trouble in the third with two walks and a hit batter, but escaped the bases-loaded jam with a strikeout and kept New Hampshire quiet from there.
Hartford gave Cox breathing room in the second when Conner Capel walked and Bryant Betancourt followed with his 12th home run of the season. Betancourt finished 4-for-4 with three RBI and four runs scored, raising his OPS to .861.
The Yard Goats put the game away with an eight-run fourth inning. Zach Kokoska delivered the biggest swing with a three-run double, his eighth double of the season, and Aidan Longwell later added a two-run double, his 18th. Longwell finished 3-for-5 with two RBI, while Kokoska went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
Cole Messina (No. 26 PuRP) also reached four times as the designated hitter, going 1-for-2 with his ninth double, three walks, and a run scored. Hartford finished with 16 hits and seven walks, giving Cox more than enough support in one of the Yard Goats’ most complete wins of the season.
The Spokane Indians (25-36) lost 7-6 to the Eugene Emeralds (41-20) on a walk-off homer after rallying back from a three-run deficit.
Jack O’Dowd stayed red hot, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI. O’Dowd singled home Ethan Hedges (No. 29 PuRP) in the first, doubled in the seventh, and doubled again to lead off the ninth before being stranded at third. In 20 games with Spokane, O’Dowd is now hitting .395/.471/.711 with a 1.182 OPS.
Tommy Hopfe also helped carry the offense, going 2-for-4 with a walk, his sixth home run of the season, and three RBI. Hopfe led off the game with a homer to center field, then tied it in the eighth with a two-run single after Spokane had fallen behind 6-3.
Hunter Omlid gave the Indians a chance, throwing three scoreless innings out of the bullpen with two strikeouts. But after Spokane missed a chance to take the lead in the top of the ninth, Trevor Cohen hit a walk-off solo homer in the bottom half to hand the Indians a tough loss.
The Fresno Grizzlies (31-30) lost 5-1 to the Visalia Rawhide (27-34) after scoring in the first inning but getting held quiet the rest of the way.
Yeiker Reyes opened the game with his first triple of the season, and Ashly Andujar (No. 20 PuRP) brought him home with a sacrifice fly to give Fresno a quick 1-0 lead. Reyes finished 2-for-4 and is now hitting .333 with a .777 OPS.
The lead did not last. Pedro Catuy hit a two-run homer off Riley Kelly (No. 27 PuRP) in the second inning, and Visalia added three more runs in the fifth. Kelly took the loss, allowing five runs, three earned, on three hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four and now has a 5.65 ERA.
Easton Marks gave Fresno a strong finish out of the bullpen, throwing 3.1 scoreless innings with six strikeouts. The Grizzlies managed only five hits, struck out 14 times to one walk, and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
MLB.com’s Arion Armeniakos writes that Sean Sullivan’s Rockies debut was brief but memorable, with illness ending his first big-league start earlier than planned. Even so, Sullivan showed enough poise to make the outing feel more encouraging than disappointing. For a Rockies rotation still sorting through options, it was a strange debut — but a promising one.
Purple Row’s Cory Cohen looks at a Rockies injury spike that has gotten hard to dismiss as normal attrition. Colorado had been one of MLB’s healthier organizations in recent years, but 2026 has brought a wave of injuries across both the major-league roster and the farm.
MLB.com’s Thomas Harding writes that Brett Sullivan turned a little momentum into his best offensive day as a Rockie, homering twice in Colorado’s loss to the Cubs. The bigger takeaway is that Sullivan is starting to look comfortable again after a rough May and limited playing time behind Hunter Goodman
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 12: Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles jogs back to the dugout after making a catch for an out in the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Friday, June 12, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
These Orioles are a resilient bunch. After last night’s 7-5 win over the visiting Padres, they have now taken three straight, scored seven runs in each of them, and find themselves within one game of the AL’s final wild card spot.
What has been most apparent during the Orioles’ recent resurgence is the improvement of the offense. Yes, they are scoring more runs. But that is simply a byproduct of a better approach. They are more competitive at-bat to at-bat. They are showing patience. They are working counts. They are putting up fight. It’s a beautiful thing to see.
Since May 22, the Orioles have the best offense in baseball. Or at least, no one has scored more runs than them in that span. They also rank in the top 10 of MLB in home runs (7th, 30), walk rate (4th, 10.7%), batting average (9th, .262), on-base percentage (3rd, .346), and slugging percentage (8th, .441), among other metrics.
In that same time, the Orioles have been trotting out eight different players with a wRC+ of 100 or better. That doesn’t even include Samuel Basallo, who just missed the cut off (90 wRC+) and has been dealing with an injury saga in that time. Finally, it feels like the potential of this roster is being realized, to a degree.
It’s probably no coincidence that the Orioles are probably as healthy as they could really hope to be from this day forward. There are some key names missing, including Ryan Helsley, Dylan Beavers, and Dean Kremer. But it’s hard to miss them too badly when some of their replacements have been playing quite well.
Rico Garcia is pitching like one of the game’s best relievers. Colton Cowser has rediscovered his 2024 form and seems to be the everyday center fielder again. And Brandon Young has quietly become the best starter on the team. Sure, there is room to improve, and this team would probably still like to have someone like Jordan Westburg back on the roster. But considering where this team has been at times already this year, things are pretty good!
Links
More this, that and the other leftovers for breakfast | Roch Kubatko Included in this are Basallo’s post-game quotes regarding the extremely odd injury critique that came from manager Craig Albernaz earlier in the week. It’s unclear what exactly happened internally with the Orioles, but obviously something did happen. Basallo suggests that he wants to move on from it, which seems wise. Hopefully he and Albernaz have had a heart to heart about it, and that will be the end of it.
James McCann turns 36 today. He was the backup catcher in Baltimore for two seasons from 2023-24, with his trademark moment coming when he got hit in the face by a wayward pitch but stayed in the game and played through a clearly broken nose. Currently, he is with the Diamondbacks in the same role.
Pedro Strop is 41 years old. A power righty, Strop become a crucial piece in the Orioles bullpen between 2011 and ‘13 before he was traded to the Cubs along with Jake Arrieta.
Ernie Whitt turns 74. Much of his 15-season MLB career ws spent in Toronto, but he wrapped up his time in the bigs with 35 games on the 1991 Orioles.
The late Tom Gastall was born on this day (b. 1932, d. 1956). He was a reserve catcher with the Orioles between 1955 and ‘56. He died the day after his final game when a small aircraft he was piloting crashed into the Chesapeake Bay.
This day in O’s history
1957 – Baltimore acquires Jim Busby from Cleveland in exchange for Dick Williams. This is the first of three times that the Orioles will either trade away or sell Williams in his career.
1966 – The Orioles trade away a disgruntled Jerry Adair, who wants more playing time, to the White Sox in exchange for Eddie Fisher.
1999 – The Orioles set a club record for runs scored, beating the Braves, 22-1. Cal Ripken Jr. goes 6-for-6 with two home runs. Will Clark goes 4-for-4 with five RBI. Mike Mussina gets the win, tossing seven innings and allowing just the one run.
Derrick White reaches in to try to steal the ball from Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham during a game at TD Garden. | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Bill Sy: We’re less than a month away from the NBA Draft and the offseason. The rumor mill has been churning with trade targets like Peyton Watson and Trey Murphy III heading to Boston to Jaylen Brown being part of a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. There hasn’t been any indication that the Celtics front office is ready for a big swing, but Brad Stevens could still make substantial changes to the championship core of the roster. If the Jays are untouchable, that could mean dealing Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, or even Derrick White. Unfortunately, White might be our biggest chip to play.
Nirav Barman: Derrick is currently the third highest paid player on the roster, taking in a whopping $30.3 million next season, but he’s been pivotal to Boston’s success since joining the team. The Celtics have been in the Finals twice since acquiring White, winning the championship in 2024, and were a Tatum ankle-sprain away from what could have been a third trip in 2023. Derrick has blossomed in Boston, and it becomes hard to see him anywhere else purely off of his relationship with the team and the city.
Bill Sy: Don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge DWhite guy and I’ll always be a huge DWhite guy. Despite his shooting struggles this season, I have no doubt that that was just a blip and he’ll make a big comeback next season. However, with two maxed Jays and roster that could use some rebalancing before the front office makes a big push in 2027, White’s salary slot could better be used elsewhere.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 2: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Nirav Barman: There’s no question that the Celtics are heading towards crunch time for this core given how hard it’s become to navigate the luxury tax and salary aprons. That being said, there are few players who are both available on the trade market, and possess the skill set which White does. Even if you’re looking to address another area of concern for the team in exchange for Derrick, it’s hard to see the team acquiring a player who provides the same value on a similar deal.
Bill Sy: For a minute, let’s put aside who’s available on the market and concentrate who’s already on the team. A big part of my confidence in even considering trading White was the development and performance of all the young wings in Boston’s bullpen: Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. Admittedly, you can’t play all those guys at the same time, but I think you can create Derrick’s contributions in the aggregate just as OKC did with Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Cason Wallace in replacing Jalen Williams.
Nirav Barman: I’m extremely excited to see what our group of young guys can do next season after what they just showed us, but I don’t think they’ve showed us enough to make White expendable just yet. As you said, their current skill sets need to be aggregated to make up for Derrick’s impact. When a game reaches clutch time, you need to have your best five players on the court, and those moments are where Derrick shines the most. JB and JT are guaranteed spots in a closing lineup. If we presume White is traded for a big man, that means there are two spots left between Pritchard and the wings. It’s hard for just one of those guys to fill that role and feel like we’re putting out a better lineup.
Bill Sy: Let’s zoom out a little bit. If we’re going to take Stevens at his word, he’s looking to add rim pressure this summer. Brown led the league in drives per game last season at 19.1. Payton Pritchard trailed behind at 11.9 and in his limited return, Tatum drove to the basket 10.9 times. White? 7.5.
Nirav Barman: It’s true that Derrick doesn’t quite play the way Stevens envisions for the future. However, he’s proven before that he can fit different systems. White fully embraced Mazzulla-ball after joining the Celtics, bumping his 3PA average up from 3.7 per game across 4.5 seasons in San Antonio to 7.0 per game across 4.5 seasons in Boston. There’s no reason why White can’t adjust his shot diet again if the team is looking to drive the ball more.
Bill Sy: The bigger question for me is whether White can be more of an alpha that can make the game a little easier for Brown and Tatum (think Holiday circa 2024) or if he’s the best supporting role player.
Nirav Barman: To your point, I wouldn’t call White an alpha. As great as he is, he doesn’t have the ability to take over games on a consistent basis. That being said, there are only so many slices of the pie available, and it already feels like the world has been trying to drive a wedge between Tatum and Brown because they’re both alphas. Having a high-level supporting role player like Derrick seems to me like the best path to success with the Jays as the foundation.
May 11, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) steals the ball from Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) to end the game in the second half during game five of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Bill Sy: Unlike the Knicks, because we have two max players, we have to be really deliberate with roster construction. And don’t get me wrong. The thought of trading an All-Defense First Teamer from a team with championship aspirations seems silly, but I’m just wondering if we’re not in the same spot we were in with Marcus Smart. At the time, the approach was to surround the Jays with more senior, more proven veterans like Holiday and Porzingis. Now, I’m wondering if we go younger with the Jays in their prime. Could this be those crossroads?
Nirav Barman: It does feel like we’re reaching a point where we’re going to have to make some tough decisions again. The Celtics simply have to improve the roster to keep up with the rest of the top teams. I do think that there are paths to do that which don’t require trading Derrick, though – at least as of now. Boston has a $27.7M TPE from offloading Anfernee Simons, and while they’d have to include some assets to get a good player back, it gives the team a lot more flexibility to address areas of concern while keeping White and allowing the cream of the crop to rise to the top from the selection of young wings. (edited)
Bill Sy: Depending on a handful of team options, the Celtics are projected to enter free agency with a $180-185 million payroll and their first round pick is ticketed for $3 million. Stevens will have the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception and that $27 million TPE at his disposal, but ultimately, they’re most likely going to try and duck under the luxury tax line at $201 million again to restart the repeater. So, in reality, they’ve got about $15-20 million in wiggle room. White’s $30 million slot might need to be in play.
Nirav Barman: Even while toeing the luxury tax line, Boston can’t let money override their on-court success. If the right deal comes around, I definitely think trading Derrick can and should be on the table – he’s well loved, but certainly not untouchable. If the expectation is that the young guys will fill in for him, though, it hasn’t quite gotten to that point yet. Until proven otherwise, which could happen by the trade deadline, Derrick gives the Celtics the best chance at staying competitive.
Bill Sy: I guess my thinking is that White’s $30 million and that $15-20 million are the best tools to makeover the roster. Here’s a very hypothetical trade: let’s say Stevens strikes a sign-and-trade deal with Danny Ainge with Walker Kessler going east and White joining Utah’s backcourt. Then, with the MLE, Coby White replaces Derrick White as Boston’s rim-pressuring point guard. Mazzulla would roll out a rotation of:
Coby White – Sam Hauser – Jaylen Brown – Jayson Tatum – Walker Kessler
Payton Pritchard – Baylor Scheierman – Hugo Gonzalez – Jordan Walsh – Neemias Queta
Ron Harper Jr. – 27th pick – Amari Williams – Luka Garza
Rebalancing the front court and back court with younger players sets them up for the immediate and long-term future.
Nirav Barman: I definitely see the appeal in a trade like that. As you pointed out earlier, Brad Stevens isn’t opposed to swapping a fan favorite for someone with clear potential that’s been stuck on a bad team. I’m sure he’ll be doing his due diligence, but I would find it difficult to make a deal predicated on a potential signing since it could create a bigger void if Boston gets outbid. As of now, the free agent market is pretty sparse for both the Celtics areas of need, PGs and Cs. If the Celtics are able to comfortably address one of those needs, then a Derrick trade could become more viable.
Bill Sy: I will admit after seeing OG Anunoby tip in the Jalen Brunson miss, the first thing I thought about was DWhite rebounding Smart’s miss and forcing a Game 7 against the Heat. Who would want to trade a guy like that?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Malachi Smith #18 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center on April 09, 2026 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last June, Gonzaga fans had it easy. Whichever team won the NBA Finals, one former Bulldog was bringing home a ring: Andrew Nembhard and the Pacers on one side, Chet Holmgren and the OKC Thunder on the other. This year it all comes down to one guy: Kelly Olynyk, the Spurs’ lone Zag, going up against a Knicks roster with none. However the series ends, Olynyk gets to say he was part of it.
Five other former Bulldogs wrapped up seasons of their own well before the playoffs started, and each one tells a different story. One of the league’s most dependable big men fought through the toughest injury stretch of his career. Another strung together his best run in years before a foot injury ended things early. One had the best season of his career, full stop, even if the team around him couldn’t capitalize. A rookie went from undrafted to a franchise rookie assist record that had stood for three decades. And a guy who spent three years grinding through the G League finally got the call that stuck.
Domantas Sabonis played 19 games this season, after suiting up at least 70 times in each of his first three years in Sacramento. When he was out there he still looked like himself, averaging 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 54.3% shooting. Finding him out there was the issue.
He missed the opener with a preseason hamstring strain, then strung together 11 games at 17.2 and 12.3 to start the year, capped by a season-high 34 points on 14-of-24 shooting at Minnesota on Nov. 15. The next night his left knee gave out, a partial meniscus tear initially written off as soreness. The Kings, already 6-21, played the next 27 games without him, covering all of December and half of January. He returned off the bench against Washington on Jan. 17, then held to a restricted-minutes plan the rest of the month while shooting 62.1%. His final game, Feb. 5 against Memphis, saw him put up 24 points and 15 rebounds in 24 minutes before Sacramento shut him down for surgery.
The Kings finished 22-60, and Sabonis has spent most of the last two years as the centerpiece of someone else’s trade idea, with the Hornets reportedly holding exploratory talks about a deal involving Miles Bridges, Josh Green and a first-round pick. Sabonis says he expects to be back at an “All-NBA level” next season. Where that season is played remains an open question.
Zach Collins | Chicago Bulls | 9.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.5 APG
A wrist fracture from the preseason finale kept Collins out until December, and once he got on the floor, the production looked like nothing he’d done before. Over 10 games he shot 57.8% from the field and 42.9% from three, both career-best marks by a wide margin, averaging 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds in 18.4 minutes a night. The Bulls went 6-4 with him in the rotation.
The highlights came in bursts: 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in a win at Charlotte on Dec. 13, a 3-of-3 night from deep at Cleveland a week later, and a 15-point, 19-minute cameo off the bench in a win over Philadelphia on Dec. 27 in which he missed just three shots all night. The next game, against Milwaukee, he logged a season-high 24 minutes and grabbed 10 rebounds, his only double-digit rebounding night of the year. He didn’t play again. A sprained right toe turned into season-ending surgery in February.
Collins finishes the year as an unrestricted free agent, his extension from San Antonio having carried him through last year’s midseason trade to Chicago and now run out. Ten games isn’t much to go on, but by efficiency it’s the best stretch of his career. Unfortunately, the run ended before he ever got a chance to build on it.
Andrew Nembhard | Indiana Pacers | 16.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 7.7 APG
With Tyrese Haliburton out for the year recovering from his heartbreaking mid-finals Achilles tear last season, Nembhard took over point guard duties and delivered a career year across the board – 16.9 points and 7.7 assists a game, both well clear of his previous bests, on 44.2% shooting and a career-high 36.1% from three. His shot attempts jumped from 8.3 a game to 13.2, and he started all 57 games he played.
The season opened with trouble. Three minutes into the opener against Oklahoma City, guarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he strained his left shoulder and finished with four points in 17 minutes of a double-overtime loss, then missed close to two weeks. Once back, the highlights stacked up: 32 points on 11-of-20 shooting at Cleveland in late November, a 28-point, 12-assist game against Sacramento in a December win, and a season-high 19 assists in a March loss to the Lakers. January was his best month across the board, 48.9% from the field, 40 percent from three, 9.2 assists a night.
But none of it moved the win-loss column much. The Pacers finished 19-63, a year removed from the NBA Finals, and a back and neck issue ended Nembhard’s season early, costing him the final seven games.
Ryan Nembhard | Dallas Mavericks | 6.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 5.3 APG
Nembhard went undrafted in 2025, signed a two-way deal, and spent the first six weeks of the season in spot minutes before a real opportunity opened up. Over a 16-game stretch as a starter he looked like a keeper, peaking on Dec. 2 in Denver with 28 points on 12-of-14 shooting and 10 assists, then following it two nights later with 15 points and 13 assists against Miami.
His role shrank through January, still in the rotation but down to 16.5 minutes a night, and by February he’d been pushed out almost entirely, appearing in just two games before a bizarrely miscalculated stretch with the Texas Legends. The roster kept shifting around him and Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg (Anthony Davis dealt to Wizards at the trade deadline, Tyus Jones eventually waived), and on Feb. 28 the Mavericks converted him to a two-year standard contract with a team option for 2026-27.
March and April made the case for why. His minutes climbed back to nearly 30 a night, and the regular-season finale against Chicago was the exclamation point: 15 points, 9 rebounds and 23 assists in a 149-128 win, breaking Jason Kidd’s 31-year-old franchise rookie assist record by six.
The younger Nembhard spent a season doing what he’s always done: demolishing expectations and making all doubters look dumb for underestimating him.
Malachi Smith | Brooklyn Nets | 8.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.3 APG (15 games)
After winning WCC Sixth Man of the Year, Malachi Smith went undrafted from Gonzaga. He tthen spent three years working through four different G League affiliates: the Rip City Remix, the Wisconsin Herd, the Memphis Hustle, and finally the Long Island Nets, where he put up 14.4 points on better than 52% shooting this season. That got the attention of Brooklyn’s front office.
He signed two consecutive 10-day contracts in mid-March and made his case over the following nine games, shooting 51.1% from the field and an absolutely absurd 47.1% from three. The NBA run was highlighted by an 18-point night on 7-of-9 shooting against Sacramento on March 23. The Nets converted him to a two-year deal in early April, and his best game followed almost immediately: 19 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists against Milwaukee, a near triple-double in 43 minutes of action. He finished the season averaging 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 48.5/43.5/100 shooting splits.
One detail worth filing away: if you pull up Malachi’s ESPN player page right now, the photo is still him in a Gonzaga jersey. The NBA hasn’t gotten around to a real headshot yet, but the two-year contract’s already signed.
The Spokane to NBA pipeline shows no sign of slowing down for Gonzaga. The 2026-27 roster could feasibly already have three to four future NBA draftees already on the roster, which would be the biggest class the program has ever produced. Massamba Diop, a 7-foot-1 rim protector arriving via Arizona State, is close to a lock. Davis Fogle is a strong maybe after the kind of breakout freshman season that gets pro scouts circling. And if Izan Almansa clears the NCAA’s eligibility hurdles, a big year barreling through the new-look Pac-12 could put him back in the conversation after a near-miss draft process last year. Lots to look forward to once this roster finally, blissfully, reassuringly fills out.
Jun 12, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) pitches in the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Not only did the Atlanta Braves drop the series opener to the New York Mets 7-5, but things remained difficult on the injury front. Spencer Strider got the start and struggled early on. He exited in the fourth inning due to shoulder and elbow soreness and likely undergo an MRI today.
Once again, the Braves are hoping for the best, but after seeing Strider’s significant velocity drop, this is another tough blow for Atlanta.
More Braves News:
Hurston Waldrep was activated from the IL and assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett. In his start with the Columbus Clingstones, he threw 3.2 innings and allowed four runs. He will be joining Drake Baldwin, who begins a rehab stint with Gwinnett this weekend.
MLB News:
The Kansas City Royals placed starter Seth Lugo on the seven-day concussion IL after being struck in the face on Wednesday. Fortunately, he was able to leave the game under his own power.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 12: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets looks on during the national anthem prior to the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday, June 12, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Evan Yu/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets began a three-game series against the NL East-leading Braves last night and were able to overcome a rough second inning from starter Nolan McLean and a late rally from Atlanta to secure a 7-5 victory. The star of the night was Bo Bichette, who hit two home-runs—including a grand slam—and drove in six runs. The Amazins have now won two straight.
The Phillies were completely and utterly dominated by Jacob Misiorowski last night, as the young Brewers ace threw a complete game one-hit shutout with fifteen strikeouts to give Philadelphia a 6-0 loss.
Prior to last night’s game, the Phillies made a number of roster moves—including placing Adolis García on the 60-day IL with a lat tear and adding the recently acquired Derek Hill to the active roster.
Sandy Alcántara racked up his 1000th career strikeout and the Marlins won their sixth straight with an 8-3 victory over the Pirates that put the Fish back at .500.
The Nationals were delayed for over two hours yesterday due to rain and didn’t exactly come out of the delay sharp, as they were shellacked by the Mariners to the tune of a 10-2 loss.
R.A. Dickey came very close to throwing a no-hitter—and instead settled for the first of what would end up being back-to-back one-hitters—on this date in 2012.
Perhaps it was the pure exhilaration, the adrenaline running high after the Knicks completed the greatest comeback in Finals history.
Maybe it had to do with the reality that the Knicks are now one win away from ending a 53-year championship drought after decades of incompetence.
The euphoric — and even legally problematic at times — celebrations by Knicks fans from the average Joes to Hollywood A-Listers on Wednesday night and into early Thursday morning provided just a brief preview of the mayhem that may descend upon New York City on Saturday.
ew York Knicks Celebrations Outside Madison Square Garden. June 11, 2026, New York, USA: NY Knicks fans celebrate the win and get into altercations with the police post game 4 after their close game victory over the Spurs. Adem Wijewickrema/TheNEWS2 via ZUMA Press / SplashNews.com
For the first time since June 22, 1994, the Knicks take the court Saturday night in San Antonio for Game 5 of the NBA Finals needing just one win to claim their third championship.
The Knicks famously failed to do so in two attempts in 1994, losing Games 6 and 7 to the Rockets in heartbreakers.
This time around, thanks to their Game 4 heroics, they have three chances to win one game and wash away the memory of John Starks’ Game 7 to forget.
Should they knock off the Spurs, there surely will be a celebration for the ages.
Post-game celebrations outside Madison Square Garden have become a staple in recent years when the Knicks have been in the playoffs, but these Finals outbursts have felt different.
Fans did not leave Madison Square Garden for some time Wednesday night, showering in every last second from a once-in-a-lifetime win thanks to OG Anunoby’s heroics.
“Thank you OG!”
Knicks fans say thank you to OG Anunoby outside MSG after he scored the game winning basket. Presented by Tri State Cadillac #sponsoredpic.twitter.com/0yg1DJ8jIw
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 11, 2026
The celebrities, from Taylor Swift to Ben Stiller, showcased sheer joy throughout the night while watching courtside and then celebrating after the game.
Clips from outside MSG showed a fan on a bicycle being held in the air, with the fans below surely not feeling any pain while on such a sports high.
They chanted, “Thank you, OG” after his last-minute brilliance, including a block on De’Aaron Fox in the final 15 seconds that set the stage for his later heroics.
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 11, 2026
Fans ran through the streets as cars beeped their horns, not giving a damn about traffic after watching Jalen Brunson finally break through against a tough Spurs defense.
And to think this all happened after a third Finals win.
It’s been 15 years since the last championship by a Big Four New York City sports team — the Giants won Super Bowl 2012, while the Liberty won the WNBA title last year — and the city is waiting to erupt again.
If you give some Knicks fans truth serum, perhaps they would admit they’d rather the Knicks clinch at home in a potential Game 6 on Tuesday night.
Regardless of the venue, should the Knicks finish off the Spurs, Wednesday’s post-game festivities may seem like child’s play.
The City That Never Sleeps will host an all-night party, full of joy and bedlam, that rings out from Manhattan to Brooklyn to Staten Island to Queens and The Bronx.
The Seattle Kraken announced Thursday that they had hired Pascal Vincent as assistant coach and Patrik Allvin as vice president and assistant general manager.
The two join a Kraken team that missed the playoffs last season, finishing 27th out of 32 teams.
Allvin joins the Kraken after serving as Vancouver Canucks general manager for four seasons. He previously made history as the first Swedish GM in the NHL. Now 51 years old, Allvin shared his thoughts on joining the Kraken with NHL.com.
"I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to join the Seattle Kraken organization," Allvin said in a press release. "There is a strong commitment to building a winning team and a passionate fan base, and I look forward to collaborating with (GM) Jason (Botterill) and the hockey operations staff as we continue building a club capable of sustained success.”
Seattle Kraken general manager Jason Botterill and Patrik Allvin are no strangers. The two worked together for a decade in Pittsburgh, winning three Stanley Cups together.
Botterill released a statement on the reunion and the reasoning behind the hire.
“Patrik is an excellent communicator in a team environment,” said Kraken general manager Jason Botterill. “He understands the importance of structure and a process in making decisions. You look at his experience evaluating talent in North America, Europe, amateur, pro, he’s had a lot of different titles over his career. He had success in Pittsburgh, winning three Stanley Cups, being a part of a group there [which included Botterill].”
Vincent, on the other hand, joins the Kraken from the Laval Rocket, the Montreal Canadiens’ American Hockey League affiliate.
Canadiens President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton released a statement on Vincent’s departure.
"We would like to sincerely thank Pascal for his work and contribution to the Rocket and wish him all the best in his next professional chapter in Seattle," said Gorton. "He was highly committed to our success and made valuable contributions over the past several years. A native of Laval, Pascal was greatly appreciated and respected by the players, his staff members, and the fans. We are grateful for his dedication, leadership, and hard work during his time with the Rocket."
Vincent has worked with several NHL and AHL teams in varying positions. In seven seasons as an NHL assistant coach, he worked with the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets.
In 2023-24, Vincent was promoted to head coach for the Blue Jackets.
Allvin summarized his thoughts on joining the Kraken to NHL.com.
“The practice facility is phenomenal, best in the league. The support of the Kraken in the city and region was evident every time I've been down there for games. As a visiting team, you can feel the fans’ energy and feel the identity of the team playing fast hockey.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 12: Starting pitcher Tanner Bibee #28 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on June 12, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians won a big game to end their four-game losing streak and start the season 5-0 against the Tigers. Nick has your recap here.
Tonight is Tarik Skubal vs. Joey Cantillo and if I were the Tigers, losing this one would have me packing it up.
Travis Bazzana is in his first slump in the big leagues. He has a wRC+ of 30 over his last 39 plate appearances. Good for him. He will work his way out of it.
Tanner Bibee has been nails for the Guardians since that disastrous start vs. The Nationals. Props to him and Patrick Bailey for figuring it out. And, if my “Bench Steven Kwan” article can mark the beginning of a run for him, that would be great.
AROUND MLB;
White Sox beat the Dodgers, Twins won, and Royals lost. The Royals are 14 games under .500.
With the 2026 NHL Draft now just two weeks away, we are finally beginning to get an idea of what the Philadelphia Flyers might do with the 21st overall pick.
Much has been made of the Flyers' pursuit of high-end talent and a potential No. 1 center or defenseman, but the reality is, this late in the first round, that's quite unlikely.
A smaller, more dynamic defenseman like Xavier Villeneuve could be that for the Flyers, but that kind of selection has not been in the team's DNA under GM Danny Briere.
With the actual depth of the 2026 draft class looking questionable, all roads may, in fact, lead the Flyers to choosing yet another winger in the first round.
New draft intel from Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects indicates that this very well may be the case when it comes down to it.
"[Elton Hermansson], I had a little bee whisper that maybe [the Flyers] had a good chat with him at the combine. Maybe they like Hermansson," Robinson said on the "Called Up: The Prospects" podcast with fellow draft expert Chris Peters.
Now, Peters did have the Flyers picking a different winger in Adam Novotny at 21 when the duo did their full first-round mock draft on the podcast, but Hermansson offers a bit of a different profile.
The 6-foot-1 Swede is wildly skilled and already plays pro, having played 38 games for MoDo in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second-tier league, this past season. In those 38 games, Hermansson scored 11 goals, 10 assists, and 21 points.
"Looking for a high upside forward bet in the second half of the first round? Elton Hermansson could be just what the doctor ordered," an excerpt from his 2026 draft guide profile reads.
"Hermansson’s offensive skill level is impossible to miss, especially whenever he plays against his peers. He dominates the puck, consistently able to drive play and create quality chances for himself through his superior elusiveness and handling abilities."
The Flyers have no shortage of wingers with Porter Martone, Matvei Michkov, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Tyson Foerster, and the elderstatesmen Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett.
But, by the time Hermansson is ready to go full-time at the NHL level, Konecny and Tippett will be well into their 30s, and Foerster will be close to it.
So, if the value is there, and everything goes well in his development, the Swedish dynamo could be a natural replacement in the top-six for one of those three.
“Super talented kid. Very talented. He’s got a nose for the net. He can shoot the puck. He’s got shifty feet, maybe a touch knock-kneed, but it doesn’t affect the speed. I think he’s going to be a good offensive winger," an Eastern Conference executive said of Hermansson, as included in the Elite Prospects 2026 draft guide.
"I’m not sure what his player comp is in the NHL, but I like his odds to be a scoring top-six winger in the NHL. Another thing with Hermansson is that he’s not physical, but he’s also not shy to play through contact. Great kid, too.”
Hermansson will have to develop a "B-Game", as many coaches say, to ensure a successful NHL future, but there is enough talent there to justify the Flyers taking another player at the winger position with a premium draft pick.
His pro production, as well as his dominance in international junior hockey (12 points in seven World Junior games, 33 points in 18 total games for Sweden's U18s), will make Hermansson impossible to dismiss, even for a winger-heavy team like the Flyers.
The Columbus Blue Jackets should be looking to add to their forward depth this off-season. One player who the Blue Jackets should consider making a push for is Chicago Blackhawks forward Ilya Mikheyev.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported last month that the Blackhawks have made Mikheyev's signing rights available for trade. With Mikheyev being a solid top-nine forward who provides decent secondary scoring and strong defensive play, the Blue Jackets should consider pursuing him.
Mikheyev just had back-to-back solid campaigns with the Blackhawks. During the 2024-25 season with Chicago, he scored 20 goals and recorded 34 points. He followed that up this season by scoring 18 goals and setting a new career high with 36 points. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to provide the Blue Jackets with more offensive production if they brought him in.
Mikheyev has also recorded at least 31 points in four out of his last five seasons. The only time he did not over that span was in 2022-23 with the Vancouver Canucks when he had 28 points but only played in 46 games.
Mikheyev also provides plenty of value because of his strong penalty killing. He was a major part of the Blackhawks' penalty kill this season and could hold the same role if signed by the Blue Jackets.
While Mikheyev is not the flashiest of players, he would still be a solid pickup for a Blue Jackets club that is looking to be more competitive next season. On a two- to three-year contract, the 31-year-old forward could be a good value signing for the Blue Jackets to make.
In 427 career NHL games split between the Toronto Maple Leafs, Canucks, and Blackhawks, Mikheyev has recorded 98 goals, 103 assists, 201 points, and a plus-38 rating.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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Pavelski has no experience as a head coach in the NHL or any sort of staffing role in the league since retiring as a player in July 2024, according to eliteprospects.com.
Before being picked for the Canadiens job, St-Louis' only coaching experience was for his son, Lucas, and his team, the Mid Fairfield Rangers, at the U-13 AAA level.
Since he was brought in by Montreal, the Habs have seen exponential growth with the players and as a team. St-Louis' history as a star player in the NHL allows him to truly connect with his players. The Canadiens' recent playoff run to the Eastern Conference final is an example of his influence and success with the Habs.
While plenty of other coaches are being considered by the Maple Leafs, it's clear that Toronto's brass is looking to be creative and explore new concepts.
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