Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

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Yankees prospects: Garrett Martin homers, stays hot in Triple-A beginnings

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L, 6-8 at Indianapolis Indians

LF Duke Ellis 1-4, BB, K, SB
2B-SS-2B Marco Luciano 0-4, BB, K, throwing error — some weird defensive notes afoot, though not as funny as Travis d’Arnaud and Asdrubal Cabrera with the Mets a few years ago
DH Yanquiel Fernández 1-4, RBI, SF
CF Garrett Martin 2-5, 2B, HR, 5 RBI — the dingers and ribbies will continue until morale improves, regardless of level (his third in four games at Triple-A and 24th in 66 games combined between Double-A, 435 feet); also a great catch!
SS-3B-SS Tyler Hardman 1-4, K, HBP, throwing error
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. 1-4, BB, K
C Payton Henry 2-5, K
3B-2B-2B Cole Gabrielson 0-3, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 fielding errors and a throwing error — made errors at both positions, and then a third (this was his first carer pro game in the infield); anyway, Scranton made five errors, whoops
RF Kenedy Corona 2-3, BB, RBI, K

Adam Kloffenstein 4 IP, 3 H, 5 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 2 K, HR, HBP
Dylan Coleman 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Rafael Montero 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K (loss)
Jake Bird 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Eric Reyzelman 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Double-A Somerset Patriots:W, 10-2 at New Hampshire Fisher Cats

LF Jackson Castillo 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI — his and Cobb’s two-run doubles helped Patriots build 4-0 lead early
DH Jace Avina 1-5, RBI, 2 K
CF DJ Gladney 0-5, 4 K
RF Nicholas Torres 1-4, 2 K, SB, HBP
3B Coby Morales 2-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI, 2 K, CS
C Miguel Palma 1-4, BB, RBI, K
1B Josh Moylan 2-4, 2B, HR, BB, 2 RBI, K — first Double-A homer
SS Owen Cobb 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K
2B Connor McGinnis 2-4, 2B, K

Xavier Rivas 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 6 K (win)
Harrison Cohen 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Matt Keating 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Michael Arias 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Hayden Merda 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 0 K
Chase Chaney 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

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High-A Hudson Valley Renegades:L, 6-7 (10) at Bowling Green Hot Rods

3B Kaeden Kent 3-5, K, CS
SS Core Jackson 2-5
C Eric Genther 1-4, BB, K, catcher interference error
1B Kyle West 3-5, BB, RBI, K
LF Wilson Rodriguez 2-5, HR, 3 RBI, picked off — two-run homer tied it in the second and two-run single gave HV a 6-4 lead, but it did not hold
DH Roderick Arias 2-5, 2B, 3 K
2B Enmanuel Tejeda 0-5, GIDP
CF Camden Troyer 0-3, BB, K
RF Robbie Burnett 0-4, K

Luis Serna 6 IP, 6 H, 5 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 9 K, balk
Tanner Bauman 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Bryce Warrecker 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, HBP, WP — uncorked wild pitch to let Hot Rods tie it in eighth
Andrew Landry 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 2 K (loss) — allowed walk-off knock to Nathan Flewelling

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Low-A Tampa Tarpons:W, 9-3 at Dunedin Blue Jays

DH Brando Mayea 3-6, K, SB — single to begin game was the first of 15 knocks for Tampa
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek 0-4, BB, 2 K, HBP
3B Hans Montero 1-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI, SF — 410-foot blast in the eighth
CF Willy Montero 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K, SB — two-run shot in the first went 108 mph off the bat (distance not captured, but it went deep to left-center)
LF JoJo Jackson 3-5, 2B, 3B, RBI, CS — has hit .442 in his last 13 games
1B David McCann 0-4, BB, 3 K
2B Luis Escudero 3-4, 2B, HR, BB, 2 RBI, K, 2 SB — went yard in the second, along with Lara
C Ediel Rivera 1-4, BB, RBI, K — RBI hit made it 7-0 in the fifth
RF Gabriel Lara 1-4, HR, BB, RBI, 2 K

Thatcher Hurd 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K — 15 swings and misses as well, easily his best pro start yet (out of eight this year post-Tommy John surgery)
Jose M. Rodriguez 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, HR (win)
Pedro Rodriguez 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Josh Tiedemann 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, WP

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Florida Complex League Yankees: Offday

Dominican Summer League Yankees: Offday

Dominican Summer League Bombers:L, 1-12 (7) vs. DSL Mets Orange — Bombers held to two hits, they probably wish they had just been off too

SS Mani Cedeno 0-2, BB, 2 K, SB
3B Adam Feliz 0-0
DH Alessandro Rodriguez 0-2, RBI, K, SF
2B Carlos Bello 0-3, 2 K
RF David Carrera 0-2
RF Sebastian Pinto 0-0, HBP
3B Germayhoni Beltre 0-3, GIDP
C Poly Ojeda 0-1, 2 BB, K, throwing error, passed ball, picked off
1B Stalen Ramirez 0-1, BB, K, CS
LF Eddison Charles 0-2, K, GIDP
CF Alfiery Matos 2-2, SB — hey, someone had to get the hits! (two singles)

Junior Tavera 4.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R (7 ER), 2 BB, 7 K, 2 HR, WP (loss) — ouch
Andre Avila 1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
Josue Silvestre 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K — better

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Phillies News: Kyle Schwarber, Andrew Painter, Trade Targets

Jun 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) and Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) stand in the on deck circle prior to the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Another day, another game without Kyle Schwarber in the Phillies starting lineup. Don Mattingly told reporters that Schwarber’s back tightness is feeling better and that he could possibly return to the lineup tonight. Schwarber did appear in the game last night as a pinch hitter and worked a walk after a ten pitch at-bat that set up Derek Hill to be the hero. But still, it would be nice to see confirmation that he’s healthy enough to be in the starting lineup.

On to the links.

Phillies News:

MLB News:

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Mets Daily Prospect Report, 6/25/26: Brooklyn’s offensive explosion

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 19: Mitch Voit #55 of the New York Mets smiles in the dugout prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Mets at Clover Park on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (38-37/2-0)

SYRACUSE 5, LEHIGH VALLEY 4 (BOX)

Syracuse went down 3-0 in the second inning, and that score held until the seventh. A rehabbing Tyrone Taylor drove in a run with a single to make it 3-1. The Mets took the lead in the eighth, on the back of a Grae Kessinger ground out and a Ronny Maruicio two run single. Yonny Hernandez made it 5-3 with a single in the ninth, which ended up being an important insurance run. Ben Simon surrendered a home run in the ninth, but held on for the two inning save.

  • SS Ronny Mauricio: 2-5, 2 RBI
  • REHAB ALERT: CF Tyrone Taylor: 1-4, RBI, K
  • LF Nick Morabito: 2-5, R, 2 K, 2 SB (25, 26)
  • 1B Ryan Clifford: 0-5, 2 K
  • RF Cristian Pache: 1-5, R, K
  • 3B Yonny Hernández: 3-4, R, 2B, RBI, BB
  • DH Ben Rortvedt: 0-3, BB, K
  • PR-DH Ji Hwan Bae: 0-1, R
  • 2B Grae Kessinger: 0-3, RBI, BB, K
  • C Hayden Senger: 0-3, R, BB, K
  • RHP Jack Weisenburger: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
  • LHP Felipe De La Cruz: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
  • RHP Adbert Alzolay: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
  • RHP Ofreidy Gómez: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, W (1-0)
  • RHP Ben Simon: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, S (1)

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (27-42/0-2)

ERIE 8, BINGHAMTON 4 (BOX)

Both teams plated a run in the first, and Binghamton took a short lived lead with a run in the third. That lead did not make it out of the inning, as Erie put three on the board to make it 4-2. Matt Rudick homered and Nick Roselli grounded out to tie it in the sixth, but two runs in both the seventh and eighth put the game away for Erie.

  • C Chris Suero: 0-2, 2 K
  • C Vincent Perozo: 0-3, K
  • CF Jose Ramos: 1-4, R, BB, K, SB (6)
  • DH Nick Lorusso: 1-3, R, 2B, BB
  • 1B JT Schwartz: 2-4, 2 RBI, K
  • RF Matt Rudick: 1-4, R, HR (1), RBI
  • SS Wyatt Young: 1-3, R, BB, 2 SB (14, 15)
  • LF Jaylen Palmer: 0-3, BB
  • 2B Nick Lucky: 0-2, 2 BB, K
  • 3B Nick Roselli: 0-4, RBI, E (1)
  • LHP Jonathan Santucci: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 WP
  • LHP Gabriel Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
  • RHP Garrett Stratton: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, L (0-1)
  • RHP Carlos Guzman: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (25-40/2-3)

BROOKLYN 12, JERSEY SHORE 2 (BOX)

A blowout! Brooklyn was powered by a six run fourth, and a pair of three run innings in the sixth and seventh.

It was one of those games where the offensive contributions are too much to mention individually. The team amassed 17 hits, with every member of the lineup notching one. The first six batters all had multi-hit games, with Yonatan Henriquez pacing the team with four. They also hit three home runs (John Bay, Trace Willhoite, and JT Benson). It was an overall excellent game.

  • SS Mitch Voit: 2-4, BB, 2 K
  • 2B Yonatan Henriquez: 4-5, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI, K
  • CF John Bay: 2-3, 3 R, 2B, HR (9), 2 RBI, BB
  • LF JT Benson: 2-5, 3 R, HR (4), 3 RBI, K
  • C Ronald Hernandez: 2-4, R, BB, SB (14)
  • DH Corey Collins: 2-5, R, 3 RBI
  • 3B Colin Houck: 1-5, 3 K
  • 1B Trace Willhoite: 1-4, R, HR (4), 3 RBI, BB, 3 K
  • RF Yohairo Cuevas: 1-4, R, BB, 3 K
  • LHP Daviel Hurtado: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, W (3-1)
  • LHP Joe Jacques: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
  • RHP Juan Arnaud: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
  • RHP Josh Blum: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 0 K, 1 WP
  • LHP Gregori Louis: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (33-33/2-1)

FORT MYERS 12, ST. LUCIE 8 (BOX)

As one would expect with a 12-8 final, this game was up and down. The Mets went up 1-0 in the third, and Fort Myers took the lead with a two spot in the bottom of the frame. The Mets came back in the fourth to drop four in the fourth, two on a Simon Juan double and two on a Jeremy Rodriguez single, making it 5-2.

The Mighty Mussels tied the game in the fifth, and ran with it from there. They scored one in the sixth, one in the seventh and five in the eighth, which put it away. The Mets scored in the sixth and eighth as well, but simply could not keep up the pace.

  • SS Elian Peña: 1-5, RBI, 2 K, SB (23)
  • DH Trey Snyder: 0-5, K, SB (8)
  • 3B Antonio Jimenez: 1-3, 2B, 2 BB, 2 K, SB (9)
  • 1B Julio Zayas: 1-4, R, BB, K
  • CF Branny De Oleo: 0-3, R, BB
  • C Chase Meggers: 1-2, 3 R, HR (2), RBI, 2 BB, K
  • RF Simon Juan: 2-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI
  • 2B Jeremy Rodriguez: 2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K
  • LF Jackson Hauge: 2-3, 2 RBI, BB
  • RHP Cam Tilly: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 WP
  • RHP Elwis Mijares: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
  • RHP Luis Alvarez: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, BS (1)
  • RHP Joe Charles: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, L (0-2)
  • RHP Joe Scarborough: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP

Rookie: FCL Mets (15-21)

FCL ASTROS 13, FCL METS 2 / 7 (BOX)

  • CF Wyatt Vincent: 1-4, 2 K, SB (5)
  • 2B Anthony Frobose: 1-3, R, BB, K
  • C Yovanny Rodriguez: 0-3, RBI, 2 K
  • 3B Roybert Herrera: 0-3, BB, K, E (2)
  • DH Josmir Reyes: 2-4, RBI
  • SS Yorber Semprun: 0-3, 2 K
  • 1B Diover De Aza: 0-1, R, 2 BB
  • RF Heriberto Rincon: 1-2
  • LF Adolfo Miranda: 1-3, K
  • RHP Nathan Hall: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
  • RHP Kevin Herget: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
  • RHP Joel Díaz: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, L (0-1)
  • RHP Eris Albino: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 1 WP
  • LHP Luis Sotillo: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
  • RHP Jun-Seok Shim: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, 1 HBP

STAR OF THE NIGHT

The Brooklyn Cyclones offense

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Joe Charles

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Orioles news: Rutschman, Holliday updates; another bad loss

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 24: Blaze Alexander #23 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 24, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hello, friends.

The west coast road trip of disappointment is finally over. At times, it seemed like it could have been something better than it was. If only the Orioles had scored more than six runs in three games against the Mariners. If only they hadn’t blown the series opener against the Dodgers. If only they hadn’t laid an egg against Ryan Johnson. And then, added to the pile freshly yesterday, if only they hadn’t… I don’t even know how to describe that. Check out Tyler Young’s recap of the game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.

These guys ain’t got it. They can trick you a little bit for a few days at a time at most, and because of the general state of the American League they haven’t yet faced a crisis point in the standings stemming from not having it. But we’re now past the halfway point of the season and it’s clear that this is what they are. There is not some other, better thing waiting inside to break out.

The Orioles are everything bad that they inflict upon us in more than half of their games. Perhaps there is nothing more representative than the play in the tenth inning where the Angels tied the game, where Keegan Akin was slow to cover first base and therefore did not catch what would have otherwise been an easy toss to end the game, and this error let the go-ahead run get all the way to third base. That runner promptly scored on a bad-luck (for the Orioles) chopper where only catcher Samuel Basallo could field it and he tried to tag the runner because Akin wasn’t moving for home.

He was not able to do this and they lost. Maybe he should have tried to throw to first instead. I don’t know. After the game, Basallo took the blame for this decision:

In a lot of ways, the specifics don’t matter as much as the fact that there’s always something stupid that finds a way to happen. That is just how the 2026 Orioles do it. I don’t understand why or how they do it. They just do. If you didn’t know any better, you might think that they never practice anything, routine or otherwise, to do with fielding baseballs.

They could have built something after winning two of three against the Dodgers. They could have! They just can’t do it because the players aren’t good enough. Mike Elias did not put together a roster with the horses to do this thing. He apparently thought the relief corps he assembled could get him through the season. What’s happened is a couple of guys were good in April and/or May and nobody else was, and now the good ones are collapsing too, as in the case of Rico Garcia’s contribution to yesterday’s loss. They wasted a game where Basallo hit two home runs for the first time in his career. It could have felt good.

The fact that the game unraveled in the hands of the bullpen does make the decision to lift yesterday’s starter, Trey Gibson, after only 66 pitches, something worth second-guessing. This was not a desperation move. Gibson could have gone for longer. He wasn’t struggling at the end; he’d given up runs in the first inning and then was doing better.

There was, of course, a logic to it. The bullpen had been lightly used in recent days and, with an off day tomorrow, spreading the work around was important because if guys get rusty and stink for that reason, that’s not good either. Gibson dodged the third time through the order penalty and things were lined up so five guys could get an inning. This failed on the first guy: Grant Wolfram couldn’t get an inning. Tyler Wells saved his bacon, then Yennier Cano couldn’t get an inning. Garcia got an inning but gave up three runs in the process.

On the other hand, if Gibson had pitched six innings instead, the Orioles probably still would have turned to Garcia in either the eighth or the ninth inning and would have been just as vulnerable to getting wrecked by June Garcia. They don’t have any good choices because they haven’t given themselves any good choices.

We all get a day off from them today. That’s nice. I need one after watching that Wednesday game squandered in the most frustrating fashion possible. Do you have anything fun planned on this off night? I’ll likely try to take a bite out of one of my nerdy pursuits, logging some time in a JRPG called Trails of Cold Steel.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

Ike Irish could be a key piece for the Orioles. The question is where. (The Baltimore Sun)
Having prospects where you’re not actually sure where on the diamond they’re going to play hasn’t quite worked out for the Orioles yet. Maybe Irish will go a different direction.

Updates on Jackson Holliday and Adley Rutschman (Baltimore Baseball)
It’s far down the list of things to complain about after everything else that happened yesterday, but the Orioles not having Holliday available for four straight games and not just putting him on the injured list so the team ends up short-handed is silly and counterproductive. One visible manifestation of this was Leody Taveras having to play third base mid-gae a couple of days ago.

Collecting trading cards is exploding. Orioles and Nationals players collect them, too. (The Baltimore Banner)
I have a tough time getting excited about fun side stories in the aftermath of days like yesterday, but I’m sharing this in case you might feel differently.

This last one is about a former Oriole.

Cedric Mullins is elevating and… oh no. (FanGraphs)
The .199/.286/.305 for Mullins this year is sad to see. Apparently, he’s currently in position to set a record for highest fly-ball percentage by a batter ever recorded.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

The most recent Orioles victory on this day came in 2023. That year’s team beat the Mariners, 3-2, to raise their record to 47-29. That’s pretty good! Kyle Bradish tossed seven innings with two runs allowed and the Orioles only gave up three hits all game. Only two players who appeared in that game for the O’s remain on the 40-man roster: Bradish and Gunnar Henderson.

There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2008-11 outfielder Luke Scott, 2000-01 pitcher Ryan Kohlmeier, and 1977 pitcher Dick Drago.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: five-star Air Force general Henry Arnold (1886), author George Orwell (1903), singer-songwriter Carly Simon (1943), baskeball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo (1966), and actress Mckenna Grace (2006).

On this day in history…

In 1876, Lt. Col. Custer led his men of the 7th Cavalry Regiment into an ambush by a force of three native tribes that had him outnumbered more than 10-1. The Battle of the Little Bighorn was one of the last battles that saw the army battle native tribes; despite the victory in the battle, the Great Sioux War came to a close before long and the tribes could not withstand a reinforced army.

In 1947, The Diary of a Young Girl, secretly written by Anne Frank, was published posthumously.

In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, beginning the Korean War. There was an armistice after close to three years of fighting, though the two Koreas have never concluded a peace treaty so the war has technically never ended.

In 1978, the rainbow flag waved at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade, the first time that was used to represent gay pride. Tomorrow night is Pride Night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on June 25. Have a safe Thursday.

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Open Thread: With the NBA Draft behind them, the Spurs face free agency

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 26: John Collins #20 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during the Emirates NBA Cup game on November 26, 2024 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Chris Nicoll/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Over the past two evenings, the Spurs drafted four new players. The Silver & Black now hold the draft rights to Jayden Quaintance, Tarris Reed, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, and Maliq Brown. The draftees address vulnerabilities in the Spurs game. But the work is not yet done.

Heading into the draft, the Spurs had nine contracts committed for next season. Six players including Harrison Barnes, Kelly Olynyk, Bismack Biyombo, and Jordan McLaughlin could be packing their bags heading into the 2026-2027 season.

The Spurs now look toward free agency to maintain their “win now” mode which carried them into the 2025 NBA Finals. One free agent who has previously been linked to the Spurs — and is an unrestricted free agent — is John Collins.

Collins career as a player has passed its peak. With the Clippers last season he averaged 13.6 points per game, the sixth best on a team that didn’t make the playoffs. What he lacks in statistics he brings in leadership. His veteran presence paired with hunger to win a title may pair well with a team who had a championship within their sights.

The Spurs need a true power forward. There are some worthy candidates in free agency. Is Collins a good fit for the Spurs?

What do you guys see as the biggest needs to the Spurs to attend to when the window opens on June 30th?

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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Kentucky Wildcats News: New NBA Cats

Now that the smoke has cleared from the NBA Draft, it seems like Kentucky’s two draftees found themselves in really good situations.

Starting off with Jayden Quaintance, who found himself in a really good spot being selected 20th overall by the San Antonio Spurs. Quaintance lands on a Spurs team coming off an appearance in the NBA Finals where he will join a frontcourt with one of the best players in the league in Victor Wembanyama.

That frontcourt pairing of Wembanyama and Quaintance should strike fear into opposing teams with the length and shot-blocking ability those two possess.

Of course, that all hinges on Quaintance’s health, which has been (and continues to be) a significant question mark. The good thing for Quaintance is that he isn’t going to a team whose success will hinge on his ability to be an impact player right away. The Spurs have the luxury of being able to let Quaintance come along at a slower pace and make sure he’s healthy before rushing onto the court.

If everything is good for Quaintance health-wise, this could be the best pick of the draft.

Otega Oweh heard his name called in the second round at 41st overall, as he will head to the Oklahoma City Thunder to join a pair of former Cats in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace.

I also really like the Oweh-OKC pairing. The Thunder needed to add depth on the wing, and Oweh will have an opportunity to fill that role. Oweh will look to be a strong perimeter defender for the Thunder, and if he can continue to develop his jump shot, he could prove to be a reliable rotation player for a Thunder team that should be a championship contender.

This year’s draft turned out well for the pair of former Cats.

Tweet of the Day

A really cool moment for Oweh.

Headlines

Rhyne Howard joining WNBA elite – Herald Leader

Howard continues to impress on the court.

Mason Williams ready to make his mark at Kentucky – Cats Pause

Williams could surprise some people this season.

Caleb Ourigou takes visit to Kentucky – KSR

This is a recruitment to keep an eye on.

Grading every team’s NBA Draft – ESPN

A lot of praise for the Grizzlies.

Is Ja Morant done in Memphis? – Bleacher Report

Seems like the Grizzlies are looking to enter a new era.

All but certain U.S. will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in Round of 32 – Yahoo

Barring an extreme change, we now know who the U.S. will face off against next week.

Lions CB Arnold potentially faces life in prison following arrest – CBS Sports

The allegations are pretty awful.

Will the Hornets trade LaMelo Ball? – NBC Sports

Ball could end up being the guy in Milwaukee now that Giannis is gone.

Could the Celtics still trade Jaylen Brown? – SI

This would be a major move for Boston.

Fever coach calls out Mercury for alleged cheap shots on Caitlin Clark – CBS Sports

What do you think?

Lawsuit already filed in response to NCAA’s five-year rule – ESPN

We knew this was coming.

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Why Avalanche Needed L’Heureux’s Bone-Crushing Edge

The Hockey News recently inquired about the Colorado Avalanche targeting Mason Marchment in free agency this summer. General manager Joe Sakic, however, went a step further by acquiring a younger, more physical version of him.

Zachary L’Heureux was acquired from the Nashville Predators as part of the Jack Drury trade on Wednesday. Colorado also sent prospect Chase Bradley and a third-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft to Nashville in a deal that also brought Fedor Svechkov to the Avalanche organization. On paper, it’s a multi-layered swap that addresses both immediate depth and long-term upside.

Jack Drury's all-out, team-first style will be missed. Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie - Imagn Images
Jack Drury's all-out, team-first style will be missed. Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie - Imagn Images

Over the past two seasons, the Avalanche have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in part because more physical, gritty teams have been able to wear them down in key moments. It’s not just about talent matching anymore — it’s about the ability to handle contact over a long series and still execute at pace. That gap has shown up when games tighten and space disappears.

The Dallas Stars eliminated Colorado in seven games in the 2025 postseason, a series in which the Avalanche were repeatedly on the receiving end of heavy contact and retaliation sequences. Roope Hintz high-sticked Nathan MacKinnon in the face and back of the head, while Jamie Benn cross-checked Valeri Nichushkin in front of the net and along the boards. The response from Colorado’s side was inconsistent, and the power play was largely ineffective, which ultimately became a deciding factor in the series.

This season, the frustration only deepened as expectations rose even higher. The Avalanche finished with 121 points, a franchise record and one of the highest totals in NHL history, while also leading the league in both goals scored and fewest goals allowed. That combination usually translates into a deep playoff run, especially for a team that also secured the most points before the Christmas break since the stat began being tracked in 1972, opening the year 27-2-7.

After sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in the first round and defeating the Minnesota Wild in five games, it looked as though Colorado was finally set for a true Stanley Cup push. The roster was rolling, the structure was intact, and the depth scoring was showing up at the right time. Instead, the Vegas Golden Knights swept the Presidents’ Trophy winners out of the playoffs in a series that turned quickly and decisively.

And one of the reasons Vegas won that series was their clear edge in physical play from the opening puck drop. The Golden Knights didn’t just match Colorado’s pace — they forced them into a different kind of game entirely, where every entry became contested and every loose puck came with contact. Over time, that pressure built into something Colorado couldn’t solve.

The turning point came in Game 3, when Colorado built a 3-0 lead before giving up five unanswered goals in a collapse that shifted the entire series. From that point forward, Vegas leaned into a tighter, heavier structure that eliminated clean looks in the offensive zone. The Avalanche were pushed to the perimeter and forced into low-percentage chances far more often than they were used to.

The physical gap showed up every night in the numbers and in the eye test. Ivan Barbashev finished the playoffs with 110 hits, setting the tone for a Vegas group that included Colton Sissons, Keegan Kolesar, Brett Howden, and Cole Smith. Each shift carried weight, and Colorado’s puck carriers rarely had time to settle.

In fact, six of the top 10 hitters in the playoffs were Golden Knights. And if you guessed how many Avalanche players finished in the top 10 — zero, you’re right. Zero. No Avs in the top 25 either, which only reinforced how one-sided the physical category became over the course of the series. 

That trend has become part of a larger conversation around Colorado’s postseason identity. It’s not that the Avalanche lack skill — they clearly don’t — but the way games are called and played in late May often strips away space, and that’s where physical teams gain control. Vegas understood that better than anyone in the series.

Now the Avalanche are finally acknowledging—perhaps reluctantly—that the years-long strategy of chasing immediate help and spending future assets under Chris MacFarland didn't fully solve the roster's underlying issue. The organization spent years prioritizing skill and short-term upgrades, but the lack of physical edge eventually caught up to Colorado when it mattered most. The roster was built to dominate the regular season, yet it lacked the pushback necessary to withstand the grind of the postseason.

The addition of L’Heureux is the latest attempt to change that equation. He brings an edge Colorado has been missing — not just in terms of physicality, but in the way he can disrupt rhythm and tilt a shift. He’s expected to slide into a flexible fourth-line role under Jared Bednar alongside Fedor Svechkov and Parker Kelly, giving the Avalanche a heavier, more disruptive look at the bottom of the lineup.

Svechkov partnered with Parker Kelly and L'Heureux sounds like a match made in heaven. Credit: David Kirouac - Imagn Images
Svechkov partnered with Parker Kelly and L'Heureux sounds like a match made in heaven. Credit: David Kirouac - Imagn Images

He’s also shown he can produce when given opportunity. In 30 games with the Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville’s AHL affiliate, he posted 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points, along with four points in limited NHL action. Svechkov brings a two-way foundation, while Kelly adds speed and a career-high 21-goal season, giving that line a more balanced identity than Colorado’s depth has had in recent years.

The Avalanche now sit with just under $5 million in cap space, which leaves room for flexibility but not major swings without corresponding moves. If they explore moving Valeri Nichushkin for draft capital and relief, it could open the door to additional changes that further reshape the bottom of the roster.

If nothing else, this feels like a shift in tone more than a finished product. Not a full identity change yet, but a clearer understanding that what works in the regular season doesn’t always survive the grind of May and June.

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Yankees vs. Red Sox prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for June 25

It may not seem like it this year but one of baseball’s greatest rivalries is renewed tonight in Boston when the Yankees (48–31) and Red Sox (32-46) open a weekend series. New York sits atop the American League East while Boston is mired in the cellar.

 

You might think the Sox at Fenway helps level the playing field, but Boston has been a terrible home team this season with a record of just 12-25 while the Yankees have been dominant even on the road with 26 wins in 42 games. To date this season, it really has not mattered where they have played as these teams have played five times this season with New York winning four of the five and all three at Fenway.

 

Last night, the Yankees wrapped up their series in Detroit with a 4–2 win taking the final two games of the three-game series. Paul Goldschmidt homered twice to pace the Bronx Bombers against Tarik Skubal. The Sox dropped two of three to the Rockies earlier this week including 8-6 last night. Five of the eight runs that crossed the plate for Colorado were unearned. It's been that kind of season for the Red Sox. New York is a pedestrian 6–4 over their last 10 games but as mentioned do remain atop the division. The Red Sox, meanwhile, have dropped three of their last four and are 3–7 over their last ten games.

 

Tonight’s pitching matchup features two arms coming off strong outings in their most recent trips to the bump. The Yankees send the favorite to win the Cy Young, Cam Schlittler (8–3, 1.71 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 109 K) to face the Sox. Schlittler struck out 13 Reds over six shutout innings of four-hit ball last Friday. Boston counters with Connelly Early (6–5, 3.64 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 79 K). The lefty allowed one run on two hits while striking out seven over six innings Saturday in Seattle.

Ben Rice continues to pace the Yankees’ attack. He leads the team with a .286 average, 22 HR, and 53 RBI. Paul Goldschmidt has been white hot recently, going 14‑for‑41 with five home runs over his last 10 games. Boston’s most productive bat has been Willson Contreras, hitting .280 with 16 HR and 46 RBI this season. Ceddanne Rafaela is swinging a hot bat with at least one hit in seven of his last eight and 10 of his last 12 games.

 

Let's dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

 

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

 

Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Red Sox

  • Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, YES, NESN

 

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: Yankees vs. Red Sox

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: New York Yankees (-176), Boston Red Sox (+145)
  • Spread: Yankees -1.5 (-104), Red Sox +1.5 (-115)
  • Total: 7.5 runs

 

Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Yankees vs. Red Sox for June 25

  • Yankees: Cam Schlittler
    Season Totals: 95.0 IP, 8-3, 1.71 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 109K, 18 BB
  • Red Sox: Connelly Early
    Season Totals: 81.2 IP, 6-5, 3.64 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 79K, 31 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Red Sox

  • Jasson Dominguez homered yesterday and has hit safely in 5 of his last 6 games (7-23)
  • Jose Caballero was 1-10 in the series against Detroit
  • Ben Rice was 2-13 in the series against the Tigers
  • Ben Rice has struck out 4 times in 4 career ABs against Connelly Early
  • Speaking of strikeouts, Boston hitters have K’d 18 times in 63 career ABs against Cam Schlittler
  • Jarren Duran is hitless in his last 16 ABs and 1-26 over his last 7 games
  • Ceddanne Rafaela is hitting .313 in June (25-80)

 

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

 

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Red Sox

  • The Red Sox are 31-47 on the Run Line this season
  • The Yankees are 39-40 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 34 times in games involving the Red Sox this season (34-41-3)
  • The OVER has cashed 35 times in games involving the Yankees this season (35-40-4)

 

Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Red Sox

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

 

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

 

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

 

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Red Sox and the Yankees:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 7.5.
  • Yankees Team Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees Team Total OVER 4.5 Total Runs.

 

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Austrian Grand Prix is declared F1 heat-hazard race amid European heatwave

  • Teams must fit a driver cooling system for race

  • First time heat hazard has been declared this season

Formula One’s governing body has declared a heat ⁠hazard for the Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg’s Red ⁠Bull Ring ⁠this ​weekend, the first time this season that the designation has ⁠been used.

The race director, Rui Marques, said the official weather service ⁠forecasts temperatures in excess of 31C during the race. Declaring a heat ‌hazard requires teams to fit a ‌driver cooling system, such as a liquid-cooled vest, though drivers are not obliged to use them and can take a ballast penalty instead.

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Former MSU stars Carson Cooper And Jaxon Kohler Sign NBA Deals

Jan 27, 2026; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Jaxon Kohler (0) reacts with center Carson Cooper (15) after scoring a basket during overtime against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

After going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, as expected, the starting frontcourt of the 2025-26 MSU Basketball Team each were signed by NBA teams.

Carson Cooper earned the more promising of the two offers. The former Spartan center continues the pipeline from East Lansing to Memphis as he signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies. A two-way contract means a player can play for both an NBA team as well as its G-League affiliate, in this case the Memphis Hustle. Per NBA rules, players on two-way contracts can play up to 50 NBA games, but are not eligible for the playoffs unless they receive a standard contract.

During the Tom Izzo era, other big men to go straight from MSU to Memphis include Zach Randolph, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Xavier Tillman, though all three of them were drafted. The Grizzlies roster also includes former Purdue star Zach Edey as well as recent Detroit Pistons player Isaiah Stewart (traded during the draft) at the center position.

Jaxon Kohler signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Utah Jazz, his home state team. This type of contract allows a team to have a player on their training camp roster. Basically, this means that Kohler will get to play with Utah on their Las Vegas Summer League team, which runs in July. If Kohler can impress in Vegas, he can earn a two-way or even a regular contract, otherwise he can just be put on the Jazz’s G-League roster, the Salt Lake City Stars. There is also the possibility, ever so small, that Kohler does not do well with this opportunity and doesn’t even get on the G-League team, in which case he will have to find another team to sign with, domestically or abroad.

The Utah Jazz feature former Spartan (and former Memphis Grizzly) Jaren Jackson Jr. as their starting power forward. They also have depth with Kyle Filipowski and Blake Hinson who have two and one years of NBA experience, respectively.

We now are closer to the solutions to the poll questions we ran in the Feed earlier this week.

Most of the votes predicted Cooper would be on a G-League team, though a couple of you said he would be on an NBA roster, and that still has a chance of happening.

Similarly, most thought Kohler would play for a G-League team, though he did not receive any NBA votes.

Wishing both of these Spartan Dawgs loads of success in their next chapter.

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MLB at the halfway point: 7 eye-popping numbers at the 81-game mark

Well, that was fast.

Major League Baseball has reached the halfway point of its season – actual, not symbolic, with the All-Star Game not tipping off until July 14 in Philadelphia. But come Thursday, June 24, more teams than not will have played 81 games, and it’s all downhill until this baby wraps up Sept. 27.

Weird year, right? The league is filled with lots of bad teams who really aren’t out of it, leaving observers to ponder if any team is actually any good. Perhaps the hot summer months will bring clarity.

Or perhaps we’ll wonder why MLB will insist on a lockout for competitive balance when everyone is mid.

Either way, now’s a fine time to look at the many eye-opening paces that teams and players alike have set. Perhaps some of them will even hold up.

But for now, the math’s easy, so here’s seven numbers that catch our eye should they hold up come Game 162:

10: American League teams below .500

Yeah, that’s two-thirds of the league under water. #IfTheSeasonEndedToday (and it doesn’t), the Toronto Blue Jays would claim a wild card spot with a losing record.

What gives?

Well, it’s easy enough to look at the interleague records and realize 12 of 15 teams have losing records against the National League. The Angels (9-18) and Twins (9-17) are the worst of the bunch, while only the Mariners (12-11) and Rangers (16-14) are above .500.

Bo Bichette (Blue Jays to Mets) and Alex Bregman (Red Sox to Cubs) hopped leagues, and while they haven’t lit up the scoreboard with their new clubs, their losses are palpable for the teams they left. Tarik Skubal remains in the AL, for now, and while he missed five weeks and his team has floundered, the Tigers are still alive.

Which brings us to our next point: Everyone’s in it.

25: Teams within six games of a playoff berth

Put it this way: It’s a lot easier to list the clubs who aren’t a fortuitous week away from getting into playoff position. That would be the Angels and Red Sox in the AL and Mets, Giants and Rockies in the NL.

Don’t think that automatically means those teams will be sellers, though. The Angels are just 6½ games out of a playoff spot and the Mets 8. Still, though, you wonder how many teams will truly believe, come Aug. 3, that They Are Good.

Will the floating mass of contenders break up a bit by then? That’s typically how it goes, but don’t discount anything in this season of the meager.

0: Teams on pace to lose 100 games

OK, now for some good news: Nobody’s objectively terrible.

The Colorado Rockies lost 119 games a year ago and they’re once again at the bottom of the league, but the new regime has them at 32-49 and on pace to go 64-98. Progress!

218: Strikeouts for Cam Schlittler

That would be the most for a Yankee not named Gerrit Cole since 2018, when Luis Severino punched out 220. In his first full season, Schlittler has pitched like an ace practically every start, more than holding it down while Cole and lefty Carlos Rodón were on the comeback trail.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) reacts after retiring the side in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.

While Cole has had moments of dominance in his return from Tommy John surgery, it’s hard to imagine anyone unseating Schlittler as the club’s bona fide, Game 1 playoff starter. Presuming Max Fried returns without incident from his elbow malady, the Yankees have a potentially daunting quartet of playoff starters.

9: Hits per nine innings given up by Freddy Peralta

Pardon the esoterica, but it’s hard to pinpoint one number for all that’s befallen the Mets this season. So let’s go with this one, simply because it appeared baseball ops president David Stearns stole Peralta at the end of the winter from the Milwaukee Brewers, a bona fide ace ready to lend stability to a star-studded team that needed pitching.

Yeah, about that.

Peralta has been getting thoroughly peppered, giving up 41% more hits than last season, when he won 17 games, posted a 2.70 ERA and finished fifth in Cy Young voting.

That ERA has swelled to 4.83, his K rate has shriveled from 10.4 to 8.7 per nine innings and Stearns, it seems, is experiencing the business end of Brewers devil magic he was so good at brewing up in Milwaukee.

Now, it’s doubtful Peralta can help the Mets get back into contention, unclear how much trade value he’ll have come August and curious what his market will look like when he finally hits free agency this winter.

220: Home runs for the Chicago White Sox

Yep, guess who’s second to the Bronx Bombers in home runs? These White Sox of Colson Montgomery and Munetaka Murakami, who lead the team with 20 longballs each. Those two are tied fourth in the AL, a remarkable feat for Murakami, since the Japanese rookie hasn’t played since May 29 due to a hamstring injury.

They are, somewhat stunningly, in first place in the AL Central just two seasons after losing a record 121 games. It’s a startling display of resolve for both team and individuals, most notably Miguel Vargas, who has 17 homers and has doggedly continued his rise since getting traded to the sad-sack ’24 Sox.

If they actually reach that 220-homer mark, that’ll tie the 2003 White Sox for fourth-most bombs in franchise history.

82: Wins for the Washington Nationals

Credit where it’s due. The Nationals’ entirely new regime signed virtually no free agents, traded former All-Star MacKenzie Gore to Texas and ran it back with a group that went 71-91 in consecutive seasons.

Yet it’s all working: The 33-year-old manager, a resurgent Aussie, and All-Star talents like James Wood and CJ Abrams stepping to the fore have made what seemed like a bottom-up rebuild look less laborious and much more fun. Should they go out and get a bullpen if they hover in playoff position?

Can't hurt. Consider that they were on pace for 84 wins until lightning struck in the ninth inning on consecutive nights.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These MLB stats tell story of season at halfway point

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Cristopher Sánchez or Jacob Misiorowski? Merit, calendar may determine All-Star fates

WASHINGTON – Cristopher Sánchez and Jacob Misiorowski are on a collision course that leads directly to Philadelphia on July 14.

The Phillies left-hander and the Milwaukee Brewers’ velocity-crazed right-hander are far and away the two best pitchers in the National League this season and could create a quandary for their teams and Major League Baseball, while opening up a year-old wound.

Which one starts the All-Star Game?

In any other season, Sánchez would be an easy choice. After all, the game is returning to Philly for the first time since 1996, and Sánchez posted the lion’s share of his amazing 55 2/3-inning scoreless streak – longest in major league history for a left-hander – at Citizens Bank Park.

Ah, but then there’s Misiorowski, again posing a roadblock that could affect Sánchez.

The Brewers’ 6-foot-7 24-year-old leads major league qualified starters with a 1.45 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 138 strikeouts in 93 innings. He threw the fastest pitch ever recorded by a starting pitcher – 104.5 mph – and showed the Phillies how dominant he can be.

On June 12, Misiorowski threw a one-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts against the Phillies, just the third pitcher to punch out that many batters while allowing just one baserunner.

And while back in the day, the long ball was the in thing, nowadays it’s velocity that gets more clicks.

But can a case be made that Sánchez has both statistics and sentiment – all of Philly wrapping their arms around him – on his side?

“There’s so many deserving guys. But I think it’s cool if someone can start in their home season,” Phillies shortstop Trea Turner tells USA TODAY Sports, noting the atmosphere when Clayton Kershaw started the 2022 All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.

“I thought that was really cool. Not that MIsiorowski isn’t more than deserving – he is, he’s had an unbelievable season. But I think the home start’s cool. The fans would love it and I think all of baseball would love it.”

Yet several factors will determine which ace gets the ball – or doesn’t pitch at all – in the Midsummer Classic.

A controversial choice, a pro response

The Phillies were aghast. They had a pair of left-handers – Sánchez and Ranger Suárez – having fantastic seasons. Yet when a rash of pitcher replacements were required to substitute pitchers who started games the Saturday or Sunday before the 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta, neither were chosen.

Instead, MLB opted to showcase Misiorowski, then a rookie with just five starts and a mere 25 innings pitched in his career – 90 fewer than Sánchez’s first-half total, paired with a 2.50 ERA.

“What a joke,” Turner told The Athletic. “I mean, that’s terrible, dude.”

"That's just how MLB does it now," catcher J.T. Realmuto added. “Nothing against the Misiorowski kid. But (Suarez and Sanchez) are deserving of being on the team in the first place. There's no doubt.”

It was an admittedly calculated risk by the league. The Miz could have cracked under his first global pitching assignment. A poor second half or injury might have made the decision foolhardy in retrospect.

But Misiorowski aced the assignment, pitching a scoreless inning, hurling nine pitches harder than 100 mph, handling his media obligations with aplomb and, while his second-half ERA ballooned to 5.36, he helped pitch the Brewers to the National League Championship Series.

This year, both pitchers seem separated by a razor-thin margin, with bulk vs. sizzle possibly entering the picture again.

A little more work to do

Sánchez once again has an innings-pitched edge, 105-93, second in the majors only to Sandy Alcantara’s 110 innings pitched for Miami. That seems a negligible difference, though 12 innings provides nearly two starts worth of coverage to a pitching staff.

Otherwise, it’s hard to deny Misiorowski’s dominance.

What a combination: Misiorowski leads the majors in both strikeouts per nine innings (13.35) and opponents’ batting average (.146, 53 points better than No. 2 Paul Skenes).

The Phillies saw firsthand how deadly his combination of a 103-mph fastball and a 98-mph slider can be. Kyle Schwarber managed their lone hit, and he was erased on a double play, Misiorowski facing the minimum in just 95 pitches.

“I feel like he’ll give you a pitch in the middle of the zone maybe once an at-bat, but if you miss that one pitch, it’s nearly impossible,” says Turner, who struck out twice in three at-bats. “Just so much extension. A lot of guys throw hard. He’s not only throwing harder, but the extension is crazy.

“Last year, we got to him a little bit. This year, he pitched one of the best games I’ve ever seen.”

Sánchez counters with a fastball he runs up into the high 90s with the game’s greatest changeup and, increasingly, a slider that makes the whole package deadly when everything is clicking.

With a PitchCom device in his ear, Turner, at shortstop, can relish just what Sánchez is going to do next to a helpless hitter.

“Watching from this side’s a little more fun,” he says. “As a hitter, you know (the changeup) is coming. It’s just, is it a strike? Can you lay off it if it’s a ball? It tells you how good it is when you know that’s the pitch, you’re going to face him three or four times and he still gets awkward swings.

“I think that just speaks so highly of him when you know it’s coming and you can’t do much with it.”

While both pitchers’ 2026 bodies of work are accumulating, there’s still plenty of work to do before one of them is warming up in the Citizens Bank Park bullpen come July 14.

Both have four starts left, Sanchez June 25 at Washington, home to Pittsburgh and then road assignments at Kansas City and Detroit. Misiorowski faces the Cubs June 26 and will take on Cincinnati, St. Louis and Pittsburgh.

And there’s a chance the calendar won’t align for one or both of them.

Hands up for Hollywood

On paper, Sánchez is in good shape. If the Phillies skip the unsettled fifth spot in their rotation thanks to an off day July 3, Sánchez would start Sunday, July 5 at Kansas City and Friday, July 10 at Detroit.

That’s an ideal three days of rest before a likely one-inning All-Star assignment.

Misiorowski, though, is on turn to make his final first-half start Saturday, July 11 at Pittsburgh. In 2025, six pitchers were scratched from the roster because they started the Saturday before the All-Star Game – including the Cubs’ Matthew Boyd, whose absence opened up Misiorowski’s spot.

The Brewers can certainly fiddle with the rotation before then, and might welcome extra days of rest for Misiorowski, pushing him back a day or two and eliminating that last late-week start. And weather, of course, is a factor when the Brewers are on the road.

Yet logistics are only half the equation, now. Increasingly, narrative plays a role.

When Kershaw made that start in 2022, he was not the best pitcher in the NL’s first half. That distinction belonged to Alcantara, who posted a 1.76 ERA, threw three first-half complete games and six starts with zero earned runs given up.

It’s not like Kershaw was chopped liver: He had a 2.13 ERA and, in his last start before the break, nearly tossed a perfect game at Anaheim.

Yet this was L.A., home of the Dodgers and also Fox Sports. Kershaw was named the starter and the network spun up a goofy pregame bit where Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani, then an Angel, were mic’d up and talked trash to each other moments before the first pitch.

Ohtani complied by hitting a first-pitch single, and then Kershaw picked him off first base. Almost like it was scripted.

Not sure if they can contrive any such theatrics with The Miz or Sánchie. Yet if all things are equal, velocity just might be the tiebreaker.

That may leave the Phillies with a mild beef for a second year in a row. That’s OK – they still get to watch Sánchez pitch every five days.

“It’s pretty amazing to watch him on a start-in, start-out basis,” says manager Don Mattingly. “Ninety-seven, 98 is pretty good, with movement. He’s a guy whose mix all tunnels. He’s tough to pick up.

“He handles pretty much everybody.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cristopher Sánchez, Jacob Misiorowski compete for All-Star Game start

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Mark Pope compares Justin McBride to former Wildcat Julius Randle

The Kentucky Basketball team started practicing earlier this month, and one of the biggest surprise performers thus far has been James Madison transfer Justin McBride. One reason for that is the offseason work he has put in before arriving in Lexington.

McBride, who previously played for Oklahoma State, Nevada, and most recently, James Madison, is listed at 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds on Kentucky’s roster list. Those listed numbers are bigger than any of his previous stops, but he is currently in the best shape of his career.

According to one source, McBride has lost 10-12 pounds of fat from his top playing weight at James Madison. That has allowed him to be more mobile in practice, a pleasant surprise to what the staff was expecting of him coming in.

Mark Pope had a comparison for McBride in a ‘Mark Pope vs. the Shot Clock’ segment on UK Sports Network.

“Julius Randle vibes, seriously,” Pope stated.

Randle was the SEC Rookie of the Year and an All-American in his one season at Kentucky, so high praise for McBride. However, Pope is not comparing McBride to Randle in terms of talent, but in terms of style.

McBride grades excellent as a catch-and-shoot guy in analytics, shooting 40% from deep last season, an ability that Randle has shown in the NBA. Also similar to Randle, he can use his size to get to his spots in the paint and muscle his way for a rebound.

Having a bully-ball kind of player, who is also efficient from 3-point range, is a welcome addition for a Kentucky program that has struggled with physicality in recent seasons.

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Jackson Strong homers twice for the Whitecaps, John Peck homers but leaves with an injury

Toledo Mud Hens 5, Worcester Red Sox 4 (box)

A big game from John Peck and a strong effort from the bullpen carried the Mud Hens over Worcester on Wednesday.

Dylan File got the start for Toledo and he didn’t last long. The Red Sox got to him for three runs in the first and knocked him out of the game. Scott Effross did a nice job on short notice taking over and getting them through the third with only an unearned run allowed. From there, Tyler Mattison fired a pair of scoreless innings, and Cole Waites returned from the IL for a scoreless sixth, while Beau Brieske blanked them in the seventh.

In his second Triple-A game, John Peck got his first homer with a 104 mph solo shot to right center field in the top of the second.

In the fourth, Eduardo Valencia and Gage Workman walked with one out. Peck smoked an RBI double to center, and then a grounder from Brett Callahan was thrown away, scoring both Workman and Peck to tie the game 4-4.

In the fifth, Corey Julks cracked a solo shot for the go-ahead run, and the bullpen kept locking it down, with Nick Sandlin handling the final two innings for a six-out save. Unfortunately, Peck tweaked something trying to beat out a hit in the sixth, and had to leave the game with what I will guess is a right hamstring strain. He did walk off under his own power so hopefully it’s fairly minor.

Peck: 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR

Julks: 1-4, R, RBI, HR, 2 K

Mattison (W, 4-0): 2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: The Hens will look to make it four in a row at 6:45 p.m. ET.

Erie SeaWolves 8, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 4 (box)

Hayden Minton’s first Double-A start didn’t go great as he struggled with his control, but the offense flashed some power and drew nine walks in this one, easily outpacing the Rumble Ponies in this one.

Minton allowed a run in the first and another in the third. A couple of walks in the fourth ended his night, with Yosber Sanchez coming on to immediately induce an inning ending double play.

Meanwhile, the offense kept pace in the first when Seth Stephenson led off by reaching on an error. Thayron Liranzo walked with one out, and Chris Meyers singled in Stephenson.

So it was 1-1, and then Minton gave up a run in the third. The SeaWolves answered right back and took control with a three-run bottom of the third.

Stephenson led off with a walk and Peyton Graham doubled him to third. A Liranzo sac fly scored Stephenson, and Meyers drew a walk to put runners at the corners. Garrett Pennington singled in Graham, and an Izaac Pacheco sacrifice fly scored Meyers for a 4-2 lead.

Carlos Peña allowed the Ponies to tie it up in the sixth, but in the bottom of the seventh the SeaWolves took over for good. Graham led off with a solo shot, and Pacheco later doubled off the wall in left center field to drive in Meyers for a 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, a leadoff single from Andrew Jenkins was followed by three straight walks, leading to two more runs.

Graham: 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR, 2 BB

Meyers: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K

Pacheco: 1-2, 2 RBI, 2B, BB, K

Minton: 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K

Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves will try to run their winning streak to six on Thursday at 6:05 p.m. ET.

Dayton Dragons 12, West Michigan Whitecaps 6 (box)

Ben Jacobs was really wild for the first time in this one, and he got absolutely mauled for nine runs by the Dragons on Wednesday.

Jacobs just couldn’t find the handle on anything. He walked five and surrendered a pair of home runs, exiting with two outs in the third with nine runs total allowed. Woof.

It was even worse as he was gifted a three run lead in the top of the first when Ricardo Hurtado and Jackson Strong each homered. Hurtado’s came with Bryce Rainer aboard after one of three walks drawn by him on the night.

Strong led off the sixth with his second homer on the day, and the center fielder now has eight on the year and six in the month of June. Juan Hernandez followed later in the inning with a two-run shot of his own.

The bullpen leaked a pair of late runs as the Dragons kept the ‘Caps at arm’s length.

Strong: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR, K

Hurtado: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR, BB

Jacobs (L, 1-1): 2.2 IP, 9 ER, 6 H, 5 BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start in Dayton on Thursday.

Daytona Tortugas 10, Lakeland Flying Tigers 3 (box)

Despite 11 hits and three walks, the Flying Tigers managed to score just three runs, while starter Cash Kuiper took a beating at the Tortugas hands.

Kuiper gave up six runs in 4.1 innings of work. He gave up a home run, but it was really a clinic in stringing hits together in start contrast to his teammates in this one.

It was already 3-0 Tortugas when the Flying Tigers got on board in the top of the fifth. Nick Dumesnil led off the fifth with a double. Jack Goodman later singled him in. Javier Osorio singled Goodman to third, but was thrown out trying to steal second. Jordan Yost followed with a walk, but Beau Ankeney struck out.

In the sixth, Edian Espinal led off with a double and Carson Rucker singled him to third and then stole second base with one out. Espinal scored on a Dumesnil ground out, and Jesus Pinto doubled in Rucker to make it a 6-3 game.

Unfortunately, Donye Evans allowed three runs in the bottom of the seventh, and that put this one to bed.

Pinto: 2-4, RBI, 2B

Espinal: 2-5, R, 2B

Rucker: 2-3, R, BB, K, SB

Kuiper (L, 1-3): 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K

Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers will look to end a little skid at 6:35 p.m. ET on Thursday.

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Is Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s fan survey grade fair?

BRONX, NY - JUNE 17: Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees chats with fans before a game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 17, 2026 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Good morning, all. The Yankees finished off what turned out to be a nice three-game set in Detroit last night, as Paul Goldschmidt turned back the clock with a multi-homer game off no less a foe than defending two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Jasson Domínguez had his own key bomb off Skubal as well, just the second time the switch-hitter has gone deep in the bigs against a southpaw.

That’s not too shabby for a series that began with the Yanks’ third loss in a row. They’re back on the ol’ winning series path as they head up to Beantown to see if they can avoid playing down to the mostly-hapless Red Sox. It’s hard to win three of four at Fenway in any circumstance because that ballpark can just make weird games, but that should still, of course, be the goal.

For today’s question, we’re checking out the SB Nation Reacts survey results from the poll that ran earlier in the week. We asked how you would grade Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s 2026 season to date. They have the best record in the American League, but the plurality gave him a C:

Now as they say, C’s get degrees, but this is still a little surprising, even with Boone’s shaky reputation among Yankees fans. (And that’s to say nothing of the 12 percent who failed him.)

I don’t see Boone as any great skipper or anything like that, but they do seem to have played well under him despite some tough circumstances, namely lengthy injuries to the likes of Aaron Judge and Max Fried, their two best players on opposite sides of the ball in 2025. Although no manager is immune to the odd bullpen decision here and there — and boy, Boone does have his moments — the odd calls have been kept to a relative minimum in my opinion. I do also think that we’ve still seen too much of Anthony Volpe at shortstop, so it’s fair to ding for that, even with José Caballero cooling down a bit since coming back off the IL.

Maybe I’m a tough grader, but to me, you have to really stand out as a manager to get an A grade. Still, I’d be happy to give Boone a B for how he’s fared early on. I’m with the 24 percent. If this poll has enough options to allow it, I’d probably grant closer to B+ or A- if we’re being honest.

So if you were a little more cautious about giving Boone a better grade, what would be your rationale? My best guess is that the C is a stand-in for “Fine, but the first half has rarely been an issue under Boone, so it’s hard to get too jazzed just yet.”

Today on the site, Matt will preview this upcoming four-game set at Fenway and he’ll return for the Rivalry Roundup. Nick will then celebrate the 63rd (!) birthday of a hard-hitting catcher who played on both sides of the rivalry, Mike Stanley. Jonathan will take the opportunity of Cam Schlittler vs. Connelly Early to remember some of the more notable and consstent pitching matchups in the rivalry’s history, and Kento will delve into why the Yankees’ bullpen has been fine on the whole, if not a bit underwhelming.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox

Time: 7:10 p.m. EST

TV: YES, NESN, MLB Network

Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, MA

The Reacts survey results are sponsored by FanDuel.