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Arise, Sir Kevin: Sinfield knighted in king’s birthday honours list

  • Rugby league great given accolade for MND fundraising

  • Has raised more than £11m in memory of Rob Burrow

Kevin Sinfield has promised to continue his quest to support those living with motor neurone disease after being awarded a knighthood in the king’s birthday honours list.

The 45-year-old rugby league great has been recognised for his incredible fundraising efforts and becomes the second former player from the sport to be knighted, after Billy Boston’s elevation this time last year.

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No One Remembers Who Came in Second: Golden Knights to Face Biggest Challenge Yet

The sun hasn’t yet set on the season for the Vegas Golden Knights, but it’s getting to be very late in the afternoon. 

The Golden Knights are no strangers to adversity. In the regular season, they survived nine different stretches of three or more losses, a bottom-five goaltending rotation, and long-term injuries to key players. Ultimately, this added up to a year full of underachievement, and, in a desperate attempt to break through, one of the more memorable Hail Marys in the history of the National Hockey League. 

With just eight games remaining in the regular season, the Golden Knights made a coaching change. Despite being in a playoff position, they relieved Bruce Cassidy of his duties as head coach and brought in John Tortorella. 

There were a million ways this late-season coaching change could have gone wrong, and a million reasons that it should have. But it didn’t. 

With Tortorella behind the bench, the Golden Knights ended the regular season on a 7-0-1 run. In Round 1, they battled through close calls against the Utah Mammoth and came out victorious. In Round 2, they dispatched the Anaheim Ducks in six games, which were so unremarkable that the biggest bit of news was that they lost a second-round draft pick for refusing to speak with the media after their Game 6 win. And in the Western Conference Final, the Golden Knights shocked the world and swept the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.

But now, down 3-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final, the Golden Knights face their biggest challenge yet. 

John Tortorella isn’t concerned about the predicament his team is in. Following Thursday’s Game 5 loss, he took the stand and vowed that his team would return to Raleigh for Game 7. 

“We’ll be back here,” he swore. “We’re just gonna do it in a different order… I’m gonna leave my clothes here, that’s for sure. They’ll be at the hotel.”

A Mark Messier guarantee for a Game 6 victory wasn’t the only promise Tortorella made on Thursday night. Mere moments later, he backed goaltender Carter Hart, who entered the series with a .924 save percentage but is now setting records for all the wrong reasons.

In Game 4, Hart became the first goaltender to allow 4+ goals through the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final; last night, he extended that to five straight. Hart’s average save percentage in this series is .856, and for the first time since April, he has lost two games in a row. 

It is also worth noting that Hart hasn’t been made available to the media following any of the five Stanley Cup Final games. Despite being the starting goaltender, he hasn’t spoken since a hastily relocated availability during media day that ended very abruptly.

And yet, there is no question that Hart will start Game 6 on Sunday. 

When asked if he considered going to Adin Hill in the third period of Game 5, Tortorella scoffed, “Oh, for– Christ, that could be the stupidest question I heard.”

Tortorella has made his decision, and time will tell if it was the right one. On Sunday night, the Golden Knights will either be one win away from the Stanley Cup or headed towards locker cleanout day.

Golf legend Walter Hagen used to say, “No one remembers who came in second,” and that’s where the Golden Knights stand right now. Win, and they force a Game 7 back in Raleigh for all the marbles. Win, and they get one step closer to etching their names in history as well as on Lord Stanley’s Cup. Lose, and they risk being forgotten.

It all comes down to Sunday.

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Golden Knights pushed to brink: How Hurricanes turned around Stanley Cup Final

The Carolina Hurricanes were trailing the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final two games to one heading into Game 4.

Now they are up 3-2 after becoming the first team in the series to win two in a row. They are in position to clinch their first Stanley Cup title since 2006 if they win Game 6 in Las Vegas on Sunday, June 14.

The Golden Knights will try to stave off elimination at home and force a Game 7 back in Raleigh, North Carolina. Coach John Tortorella vows that they will, even saying that he's going to leave his clothes at the team's Raleigh hotel.

Here is what happened to both teams in the last two games as the series turned around:

CAROLINA HURRICANES

Brandon Bussi took over the net

He replaced Frederik Andersen for the third period of Game 3 with the team down 4-0. He stopped a Mitch Marner penalty shot and allowed only a fluke goal in the second overtime after the Hurricanes rallied to tie the game in the third period.

Bussi got the starts the past two games and was solid in Game 4 and even better in Game 5.

"It's been a lot of fun," Bussi said after Thursday's game. "You work hard, you enjoy the moment, then you put your head down and grind."

Andersen − who needed a break, coach Rod Brind'Amour said, quoting goalie coach Paul Schonfelder − hasn't dressed for either game and hasn't practiced with the team. He did skate before players showed up for Thursday's practice and is available, if needed, Brind'Amour said.

As an aside, the Hurricanes also made a goalie change during their 2006 championship run. It was much earlier as Cam Ward replaced Martin Gerber in the first round and went on to be voted playoff MVP.

Jordan Staal is on fire

The 37-year-old Hurricanes captain is known for his faceoff prowess and defensive ability. But he has turned back the clock with his first five-game goal streak since he was a rookie in 2006-07. Doing it in the Stanley Cup Final puts his name alongside Hall of Famers Yvan Cournoyer, Jean Beliveau, Maurice Richard and Fred "Cyclone" Taylor.

Staal has the size and strength to be a scoring threat in front of the net − and now the goals are going in. He knocked in a rebound for his first goal of Game 4 then forced a turnover and scored while falling down on the second goal. His Game 5 goal was on a deflection.

Balanced scoring after first line comes through

The second line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake has been a constant throughout the playoffs. Staal took off in the Final. But top-line players Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho had been relatively quiet.

That ended in Game 5. Svechnikov scored twice on the power play and Aho ended a five-game drought. Brind'Amour kept those two together and changed up the third person to get the line going.

They're playing better defensively

Marner had a hat trick in Game 3 because he was getting behind the Hurricanes' defense. Brind'Amour adjusted and Marner has one point in the last two games after getting seven in the first three games.

The Carolina coach didn't like the way the team played in the first period of Game 5, but the Hurricanes were able to play their style for much of the rest of the game. They even outscored Vegas 2-0 in the second period after being outscored 9-1 in the first four games.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Carter Hart's play has dropped off

When a reporter asked whether John Tortorella considered inserting backup goalie Adin Hill in the third period of Game 5, the Golden Knights coach said it could be "the stupidest question I've ever heard."

But Hart hasn't been as strong in this round as he was in the first three rounds. He had a 2.22 goals-against average and .924 save percentage heading into the series. But he has given up four goals in every game in the Final and has an .856 save percentage in the series.

Golden Knights can't control Staal

Tortorella usually doesn't discuss players on the other team but he did mention Staal after Game 4, saying, "He's killing us in front of the net."

The Golden Knights thought they had Staal tied up on his first goal in Game 4, but he got to a rebound. In Game 5, he checked Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb along the boards to create space to skate toward the front of the net and redirect a pass.

William Karlsson injury hurts

He left Game 5 and didn't return after being checked by Sean Walker. The trainer was looking at his arm. Tortorella said the team "probably" will be without Karlsson, a two-way center who kills penalties and plays the power play. The Golden Knights had to juggle lines without him, hurting their ability to come back.

Penalty killing woes and penalty woes

The Hurricanes struggled in the first three rounds on the power play but have found their game. They use Staal at the start of a power play. If he wins the faceoff, he stays on the ice and provides a big body in front. If not, he goes off and the speedy Nikolaj Ehlers comes on.

The Hurricanes have had two games in the Final in which they scored two power play goals. Golden Knights' injuries contributed. McNabb left Game 2 after being hit by a puck, and Karlsson left in Game 5.

The Golden Knights didn't help themselves with the number of penalties they took. They were called for back-to-back penalties in Game 5 and Carolina scored on the second one. The Hurricanes also scored on Vegas' four-minute high-sticking penalty in the third period.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Hurricanes turned around Stanley Cup Final vs Golden Knights

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Braves activate Hurston Waldrep from IL and assign him to Triple-A, among other moves

MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 26: Hurston Waldrep #64 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Miami Marlins in the first inning of the game at loanDepot park on August 26, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Remember when I said earlier today that Drake Baldwin would be joining Hurston Waldrep on their rehab journey, just at different levels? Well, as it turns out, Waldrep will in fact be joining Baldwin at the Triple-A level — just not on rehab.

Just a few minutes ago, the Braves announced that Waldrep had been returned from his rebab assignment, activated from the 60-Day IL and subsequently sent to Triple-A Gwinnett.

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So despite the fact that the rehab assignment went pretty well, the Braves have still decided that Waldrep needs some time to work on things at Triple-A before he eventually gets the big call-up to the bigs to help Atlanta’s pitching staff. To be fair, this was always a possibility dating back to Spring Training when he was considered to have been in for a chance at making the rotation instead of being penciled in as a starter. Now, he can essentially get some of that spring training work in with the Stripers before eventually being called up when needed at some point in the future. Waldrep’s healthy now, though, and that’s the main takeaway from this particular story.

Meanwhile, the Braves said good bye to catcher Maverick Handley and pitcher Jhancarlos Lara as the former was released and the latter was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals. We also got an update on Carlos Carrasco’s latest stop on the DFA cycle, as he apparently accepted his outright assignment to Gwinnett as well. So yeah, just be prepared for Carrasco to get called up again in the near future the next time the Braves are in need of someone who can eat up a couple of innings.

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Mauricio Dubon leading off for Braves’ opener at Mets

With Ronald AcuñaJr. back on the injured list, the Braves are back in the market for a leadoff hitter for at least the next handful of days.

After Michael Harris II (0-for-5, three strikeouts) didn’t handle the role well Wednesday at the White Sox, Atlanta will give Mauricio Dubon a chance to top the lineup for the series opener at the New York Mets Friday night (7:15 p.m. EDT on Apple TV).

Harris falls to the No. 2 hole in the lineup.

Ha-seong Kim, who was back in the lineup Thursday before the game was postponed, is back in the lineup Friday, hitting eighth and playing shortstop. Austin Wynns will also serve as the Braves’ catcher for the third straight game and hit ninth.

While Braves starter Spencer Strider has a 6.11 career ERA against the Mets in 11 outings (nine starts), the current Mets roster hasn’t had a ton of success against him.

Brett Baty (3-for-8 with three RBIs) is the only player on the roster hitting better than .231 against him. Francisco Alvarez has the best track record against the Braves righty, going 2-for-9 (.222) with a pair of homers and four RBIs, which makes the decision to sit him Friday a bit odd. Juan Soto (3-for-13) has seen him the most and managed no RBIs, although he has walked six times.

Overall, the current Mets are 9-for-52 (.173) against Strider with 15 strikeouts and eight walks.

The Mets are running a similar lineup to what they have of late with Carson Benge leading off, Bichette second and Soto third. The one change from their Thursday lineup is MJ Melendez will serve as designated hitter and hit eighth while Luis Torrens will hit ninth and catch, giving Alvarez a day off.

Mets starter Nolan McLean has limited experience against current Braves, having made just one career start against them last August. Ozzie Albies, Harris, Matt Olson and Rowdy Tellez are the only Braves who have faced him. each doing so three times.

Who’s the only one who managed a hit against him? That would be Tellez, who had two singles and is not in the lineup. Those Braves have struck out five times against him and walked none.

This game is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. at Citi Field. Let’s see what the Braves have in store as they finally get to take on the Mets.

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Blues' Jimmy Snuggerud Named To NHL All-Rookie Team

St. Louis Blues winger Jimmy Snuggerud has been named to the NHL’s All-Rookie team.

The 22-year-old scored 22 goals and 51 points in 70 games in his rookie season, ranking fourth in goals and points among rookies. 

Snuggerud had a slow start to the season before missing 11 games due to a wrist injury, but upon returning, the young sniper turned his season around. Paired with Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway, the trio formed one of the best lines in hockey down the final stretch of the season. 

Heading into the 2026-27 season, the Blues’ top line will almost assuredly be this aforementioned trio. 

Joining Snuggerud on the NHL All-Rookie team upfront were Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov and Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke. On the backend, New York Islanders Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer and Carolina Hurricanes’ Alexander Nikishin were selected, with Canadiens’ Jakub Dobes in goal. 

Blues' Jimmy Snuggerud Finishes Fifth In NHL Calder Trophy VotingBlues' Jimmy Snuggerud Finishes Fifth In NHL Calder Trophy VotingSt. Louis Blues rookie Jimmy Snuggerud finished fifth in Calder Trophy voting.

Snuggerud earned 136 points, the third-most among rookie forwards. 

No other St. Louis Blues rookies received any votes. 

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Yankees Mailbag: Mason Miller’s availability and Volpe’s struggles

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 08: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Petco Park on June 08, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

BetweenThePinstripes asks:Can the Yankees pry Mason Miller away from the Padres? If so, how?

Realistically, no. The Athletics pried away one of the best prospects in all of baseball with Leo De Vries (currently sitting at No. 2 overall on MLB Pipeline), alongside the Padres’ No. 3 prospect in Braden Nett and some not-insignificant add-ons with their 13th and 17th-rated organizational prospects for Miller’s services. There’s one less year of control now should the Padres turn around and flip him to another contender, but his value is arguably even higher now as he’s currently in Cy Young discussions as a reliever. Will he actually win is a different conversation, but when you’re rolling out a strikeout rate north of 50 percent, have yet to give up a long ball, and have an ERA below 1.00 this far into the season with three years of control still in hand it’s safe to say that team’s will give up a horde of prospects to get Miller into their ‘pen.

The Yankees’ best offer would see them part with George Lombard Jr. almost assuredly, alongside one of their top pitching prospects in either Elmer Rodriguez or Carlos Lagrange, and then some. And that’s assuming there’s no bidding battle for Miller, which there certainly could be, or that the Padres intend to flip him in the first place. This season’s been a disappointment for San Diego largely thanks to their stars in the lineup struggling, but they’re still sitting in the final Wild Card spot. The NL field is incredibly bloated outside of the division leaders, so they could opt to go either way, but that gives them further incentive to drive up the price if the rest aren’t budging. The Yankees need bullpen help, yes, but they need multiple pieces and some other help at the bottom of their lineup as well. They can’t afford to throw all of their resources into one upgrade at the backend of the ‘pen, even if it would be tantalizing to envision Miller in pinstripes.

RememberBobbyMurcer asks: Why don’t the Yankees send Volpe down to Triple-A and play him at second base? He is not a MLB quality SS and they probably will not re-sign Jazz in the offseason.

The Anthony Volpe saga continues, much to everyone’s chagrin. Volpe had his patented hot week at the plate upon his return from the minors, prompting manager Aaron Boone to put his faith in him to get consistent starts again. Then came the inevitable slide with consistent play, as Volpe went on an ice-cold streak. The team is stretched thin-enough to keep him on the roster until Jasson Domínguez returns, with Giancarlo Stanton not far behind him all but guaranteeing that the roster crunch will come down, and though José Caballero has come back down to earth a bit he’s still the better option at shortstop than Volpe as the team accurately assessed when Volpe was set to return from the IL.

As for the future of the infield, it wouldn’t hurt to see if Volpe can play at second because I can’t see him getting the lion’s share of starts at shortstop beyond this stretch. I’d still like to see the team re-sign Jazz Chisholm Jr., but working under the assumption that his asking price winds up being too expensive or the team just can’t come to an agreement it would help to have backup options in house. I just don’t know how much trust you can place in Volpe regardless of his position if his bat is never going to materialize, but that’s a problem he could at least work on down in the minors without costing the team.

Fenimore Finkwazzle asks:Considering the injuries to Judge and Dominguez — why don’t MLB outfielders wear NFL-style padding? I feel like it would at least mitigate the shoulder/rib injuries we see from wall collisions and full-body dives.

That would be something that would require a change in MLB’s uniform and equipment rules, but let’s say for the sake of discussion that we can circumvent that entirely and allow outfielders to suit up in pads. The cost then becomes players’ sprint speed covering the gaps and tracking down long flies versus the safety that these pads would provide if a collision happens. The former is something that is a necessity every single day, whereas the latter is a rare event that can become costly if it happens and goes wrong. I don’t know if players or teams would be willing to exchange that, and that’s without even getting into the fact that the majority of MLB’s regular season comes during the summer when peak temperatures could easily exhaust players in a single inning if they were lugging around heavy gear on their shoulders. It’s a concern that’s particular to the Yankees right now due to how Aaron Judge’s last two injuries have come about as well as Domínguez’s stint on the IL, but overall there’s not much to do about that other than perhaps preach a little bit more caution to their superstar captain.

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Two-start pitchers: Zack Wheeler fronts a bevy of strong options heading into the third week of June

Hello and welcome to the 12th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.

I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.

The fantasy baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s easy to fall into bad habits and not spend as much time on teams that have struggled out of the gate, but now is not the time to panic or give up. Keep putting in the work and plugging away, striving to improve each week, and you’ll reap rewards at the end of this season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

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It doesn't seem like anyone on the Cardinals is going to pitch twice next week, though if anyone does it would be Dustin May (vs. Cardinals, at Reds). They are rolling with a six-man rotation at the moment though, so unless they want to skip Hunter Dobbins, it'll be one start for everyone.

As of now, it doesn’t look like anyone on the Tigers is going to make two starts next week. With the return of Tarik Skubal on Saturday and with Casey Mize and JustinVerlander nearly ready as well, expect the team to roll with a six-man rotation for their six games next week. If anyone does wind up drawing two starts, it would likely by Troy Melton (at Astros, vs. White Sox), in which case he would make for a strong option.

The Dodgers continue to utilize a six-man rotation, so with six games on the docket once more none of their starters will pitch twice next week. If Justin Wrobleski were to miss his start due to the hamstring issue that ended Thursday’s start a bit early, it’s possible that Eric Lauer could go twice (vs. Rays, vs. Orioles), but knowing the Dodgers in that instance they’d stick with a six-man alignment and finally give River Ryan an opportunity.

The Marlins are still struggling to find healthy and viable arms at the moment, with TBD scheduled to start on Monday and potentially pitch twice (at Phillies, vs. Giants). Most likely scenario has that being another bullpen game, but we’ll update here throughout the weekend if anything changes.

The Mets have yet to announce a starter for Monday yet. That could wind up being the return of Kodai Senga after he pitched well in his latest rehab start. If so, he would slide right back in for a two-start week (at Reds, at Phillies). If so, he makes for an intriguing option. We’ll adjust here if we get more clarity throughout the weekend.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of June 12 and are subject to change.

American League

▶ Strong Plays

Gerrit Cole, Yankees, RHP (vs. White Sox, vs. Reds)

So far in four starts since returning from the injured list, we have seen basically the vintage version of Cole that we have come to know and love throughout the years. He holds a terrific 2.45 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and an 18/6 K/BB ratio over 22 innings. The matchups this week are middle of the pack, certainly not anything that you would need to avoid from a fantasy perspective. Expect Cole to continue to put up great ratios and solid strikeout numbers with a high likelihood that he lands his second victory of the season next week. He’s an automatic start in all leagues.

Payton Tolle, Red Sox, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, at Mariners)

Tolle had been lined up to make two starts this past week until a change in the Red Sox’ rotation moved Connelly Early into that spot instead. The 23-year-old southpaw has been exceptional this season, with a 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 54/14 K/BB ratio across 53 1/3 innings of work. He should be locked into fantasy lineups each and every week right now regardless of matchups. Just sit back and enjoy the added volume from a two-start week this time around.

Reid Detmers, Angels, LHP (at Diamondbacks, at Athletics)

Detmers has had a couple of blow up starts this season, but has otherwise been a major asset for fantasy managers. He’s on a very good run right now, posting a 1.73 ERA, 0.54 WHIP and a 36/5 K/BB ratio over 26 innings over his last four starts. That’s elite production. The matchups are tough this week, having to battle the Diamondbacks and Athletics in hitter-friendly parks, but the way that Detmers is throwing the ball right now, I would be comfortable using Detmers in any matchups. He makes for a very strong play this week.

Davis Martin, White Sox, RHP (at Yankees, at Tigers)

Raise your hand if you expected Davis Martin to be among the best pitchers in the American League in the first half of 2026. I see no hands. The 29-year-old is having a breakout campaign, sitting at 9-2 with a minuscule 2.41 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 79/17 K/BB ratio over 78 1/3 innings for the upstart White Sox. The only thing holding him back this week is the matchups, though the Yankees are a bit less fearsome without Aaron Judge in the middle of the order. If you’re been blessed to have Martin on your roster this season, continue riding the wave this week.

▶ Decent Plays

Brandon Young, Orioles, RHP (at Mariners, at Dodgers)

Young has done a nice job through his first 10 starts for the Orioles this season, posting a 3.04 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 42/19 K/BB ratio over 56 1/3 innings. Normally that would make him a strong streaming option, especially in two-start weeks, but unfortunately one of his matchups this week comes against the vaunted Dodgers’ offense in Los Angeles. There’s probably still enough meat on the bone here to use him in 15-team formats, but it gets a bit sketchier in 12’s.

Seth Lugo, Royals, RHP (at Nationals, vs. Cardinals)

The 36-year-old right-hander always seems to be a decent streaming option whenever he’s scheduled to make two starts, as the added volume helps to make up for his overall lack of strikeouts. That’s the case again this week as he draws a pair of solid matchups against the Nationals and Cardinals. Lugo was hit in the head by a comebacker during his last outing, though it sounds like he’s fine and will be good to go for Monday, just something that fantasy managers should monitor over the weekend just to be sure.

Walbert Ureña, Angels, RHP (at Diamondbacks, at Athletics)

The 22-year-old right-hander has done a nice job through his first 12 appearances (10 starts) in the big leagues, posting a 2.44 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 55/33 K/BB ratio over 55 1/3 innings. That elevated walk rate could hurt him in a pair of hitter-friendly ballparks this week, but he still makes for a decent streaming option in all formats. I’d use him for sure in 15 teamers and may even find room in 12’s if I didn’t have better alternatives.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Kai-Wei Teng, Astros, RHP (vs. Tigers, vs. Guardians)

Teng has struggled since making the move from the Astros’ bullpen to their rotation, registering a 4.82 ERA and a 27/17 K/BB ratio over 28 innings through his first six starts. Things have gone downhill recently as well, surrendering nine runs over nine innings in his last two starts. The Tigers and Guardians have both been swinging the bats pretty well against right-handed pitching as of late, making this two-start week a bit more volatile than I would have originally thought. I’d try to stay away here if I had viable alternatives in deeper leagues.

Mike Paredes, Twins, RHP (at Rangers, at Diamondbacks)

Paredes has pitched decently through his first three appearances for the Twins, posting a 4.35 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and an 8/6 K/BB ratio over 10 1/3 innings. The problem is that they haven’t really decided what role he’s best suited for yet. Because of that, they’re limiting him to around 65 pitches per start instead of getting him fully stretched out to remain in the rotation. That’s fine if he’s working after an opener, but if he’s going to start the game it’s very problematic for fantasy managers as it means he’ll almost never qualify for a victory. He’s fine if you’re looking to stream for volume and strikeouts in deeper leagues and don’t need the wins, just understand the ceiling is very low here.

Jack Perkins, Athletics, RHP (vs. Pirates, vs. Angels)

So far the transition from the bullpen to the rotation has been a struggle for Perkins. He has gone just four innings in each of his first two starts while posting a 9.00 ERA and 1.88 WHIP with a 10/5 K/BB ratio across those eight frames. The matchups are decent enough this week and the strikeout upside is there, but making both starts in the hitter friendly confines of Sutter Health Park doesn’t help his cause. I’d lean toward staying away from this one.

Slade Cecconi, Guardians, RHP (at Brewers, at Astros)

Cecconi has had a really rough go for the Guardians this season, going 3-5 with an uninspiring 4.83 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a 61/23 K/BB ratio over 72 2/3 innings. If the matchups were better, I may condone using him for a two-start week, but taking on the Brewers and Astros with both starts coming on the road is a very tough draw. He hasn’t been generating wins or strikeouts at the level that you’d want to see, leaving a whole lot of risk here for a very low ceiling. Maybe if you need the volume in the deepest of leagues and can handle the ratio hit (or don’t care about ratios at this stage), otherwise I would avoid this one.

National League

▶ Strong Plays

Zack Wheeler, Reds, RHP (vs. Marlins, vs. Mets)

To say that Wheeler has shown no ill effects from his surgery would be a massive understatement. He has been even better this year than he was before the injury – posting a 2.22 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and a 53/12 K/BB ratio over 56 2/3 innings through his first nine starts. Look for those good times to continue this week with an unbelievable two-step on tap with the Marlins and Mets coming to town. Wheeler is probably the top overall play on the board this week and I’d be floored if he doesn’t deliver another exceptional week for fantasy purposes.

Chase Burns, Reds, RHP (vs. Mets, at Yankees)

Burns continues to dazzle each and every time he takes the mound. The 23-year-old right-hander holds a stellar 7-1 record with a 2.14 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and an 88/23 K/BB ratio over 75 2/3 innings through his first 13 starts. He has allowed more than two earned runs just one time all season, and it came back on April 10 against the Angels. The matchup against the Yankees in New York is tough, but it’s balanced out by a home tilt against the Mets. Burns is easily one of the top overall plays on the board this week.

Shota Imanaga, Cubs, LHP (vs. Rockies, vs. Blue Jays)

Imanaga had been among the most effective pitches in baseball this season, that was until he was lit up for 18 runs over 17 1/3 innings in a three-start stretch from late May to early June. He did look much improved his last time out, striking out seven over five scoreless innings against the Rockies at Coors Field. Plus, even when he was struggling, the strikeouts and the WHIP were still there. The recent struggles are concerning, but it’s not enough for me to sit Imanaga for a two-start week. I’d use him in all leagues.

▶ Decent Plays

Grant Holmes, Braves, RHP (vs. Giants, vs. Brewers)

Holmes has done a decent job overall for the Braves this season, registering a 4.05 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 59/29 K/BB ratio across 66 2/3 innings. He’s usually a fringe mixed league option for single start weeks, but for a two-step that includes a home tilt against the Giants, it should be wheels up in all formats. Roll Holmes out there with complete confidence in all leagues this week.

Jared Jones, Pirates, RHP (at Athletics, at Rockies)

This will be the ultimate test this week of how much you trust the skills of Jared Jones, as he draws a brutal pair of matchups having to pitch at perhaps the two most hitter-friendly venues in all of baseball. We have also seen mixed results through his first three starts, with a 4.73 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a 14/5 K/BB ratio over 13 1/3 innings. As a gambler at heart, I trust what I see from Jones and would be willing to roll with him despite the brutal draw. It’s understandable if your level of risk tolerance is lower though and you want to sit this one out to avoid a potential massive hit to your ratios.

Ryne Nelson, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. Angels, vs. Twins)

It’s really hard for fantasy managers to trust Ryne Nelson right now. After a miserable start to the season, he went through a very strong stretch where he posted a 2.89 ERA over 46 2/3 innings across seven starts from the start of May until last week. That was until he was lit up for seven runs over four innings his last time out against the Marlins. It could just be a blip on the radar, but it’s at least something that fantasy managers should note when making lineup decisions for next week. I’d probably accept the ratio risk and still roll with him in 15-team leagues. Anything more shallow than that, I’d lean toward benching if possible.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Robert Gasser, Brewers, LHP (vs. Guardians, at Braves)

There’s an awful lot of upside in Gasser’s left arm, especially in the strikeout department, but the early results have been far from encouraging. Through his first four starts he boasts a miserable 6.38 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and a 19/9 K/BB ratio over 18 1/3 innings. The Guardians and Braves are a pair of teams that will punish him if he can’t consistently find the strike zone, setting this week up to deliver more ratio damage. If all you need is strikeouts, go ahead, otherwise steer clear.

Lucas Giolito, Padres, RHP (at Cardinals, at Rangers)

It has been a bit of a struggle for Giolito through his first five starts with the Padres, compiling a 4.35 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and a 14/18 K/BB ratio over his first 20 2/3 innings. If he can’t cut those walks way back, he’s never going to have sustained success. He has issued three or more free passes in four of those five starts this season. Until he exhibits a better command of the strike zone, he shouldn’t be trusted for fantasy purposes.

Michael Lorenzen, Rockies, RHP (at Cubs, vs. Pirates)

Repeat after me, Never Rockies. Just don’t subject yourself to it and you’ll be much better off in the long run. Even if he wasn’t starting these games at Wrigley Field and at Coors Field, Lorenzen still holds a terrifying 7.54 ERA and 1.90 WHIP over 65 2/3 innings on the season with just 55 strikeouts. There’s really no reason to even consider this.

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Victor Wembanyama on potential 3-1 NBA Finals comeback against Knicks: 'Everybody knows we're going to do it'

Victor Wembanyama didn't go full Joe Namath poolside in Miami before Super Bowl III, but the big man came close.

When asked about the mood around the Spurs ahead of Saturday night's Game 5, facing a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals to the Knicks, the Frenchman said the team "absolutely" believes they can spring a most unlikely comeback.

"Everybody thinks, everybody knows, we're going to do it," Wembanyama said Friday.

"I feel like we need to isolate that one game and take it one game at a time," he continued. "I think it would be a mistake to waste our energy on multiple games. It's one game at a time."

Guard Devin Vassell echoed the "one game at a time" mantra. 

"Nothing is guaranteed. Nothing is promised. But we know we've at least got one game," Vassell said. "So we need to go 1-0, and whatever we need to do for that to happen, we've got to do that."

He added: "We've got our backs against the wall. Let's just focus on trying to go 1-0... and then from there we'll just try to walk it down."

The comments come after the Spurs saw a 29-point third-quarter lead – that was still at 20 points with under 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter – slip away in a tremendous collapse in Game 4 at MSG.

Wembanyama said there were "a thousand ways we could have not lost that game," but the team has shifted its focus to Saturday night.

"It felt like there was a time to process this, to really dwell on it. But not anymore," he said.

The Game 4 loss wasn't the only one the Spurs and Wembanyama let slip through their fingers. The Spurs let a 14-point third-quarter lead slip in Game 1 and Wembanyama had a terrible late turnover and missed two shot attempts in a one-point loss in Game 2.

"We're very confident, but yeah, I wouldn't say it was so hard to, like, shake off, right?" Wembanyama said about Game 4. "Harder than any other game before, by far, for sure. I mean, now we're over it. It's the playoffs. There's no time to regret things for too long."

Vassell added the Spurs feel they've played the Knicks "really good for the past four games."

"We just really haven't been able to close out games," the guard said. "Obviously, a credit to them. But we feel like we have been able to control a lot of this series, and we've just got to figure out how to finish these games."

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Texas Rangers lineup for June 12, 2026

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 11: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after scoring in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Texas Rangers lineup for June 12, 2026 against the Boston Red Sox: starting pitchers are Jack Leiter for the Rangers and Sonny Gray for the BoSox.

Texas starts a series in Boston tonight, and tries to get back over .500 for the first time since April 25. Corey Seager is getting the day off.

The lineup:

Pederson — DH

Jung — 3B

Nimmo — RF

Langford — LF

Duran — SS

Carter — CF

Burger — 1B

Higashioka — C

Lopez — 2B

6:10 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +113 underdogs.

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Victor Wembanyama is the victim of ‘dirtiest s–t ever’: Isiah Thomas

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Victor Wembanyama in a black and white Spurs jersey with number 1, Image 2 shows A man in a light blue button-down shirt and glasses
Isiah Thomas on Wembanyama

Knick fans may think Victor Wembanyama is public enemy No. 1 currently, but a former Knicks head coach sure doesn’t think that way.

Isiah Thomas, who coached the Knicks from 2006-08 and also served in the front office, defended Wembanyama Friday morning on the “Run it Back” Show, saying he’s been the victim of physical abuse all NBA Finals long and pushed back on the idea the Spurs star is “dirty.”

“Wemby has been the victim of some of the dirtiest s–t ever. I mean, people are grabbing and holding him,” Thomas said.

“With Wemby, we’re allowing people to grab and hold him, knock him down. They literally have him locked up. With his demeanor, they’re lucky he hasn’t turned around and popped one of them in the face real quick,” Thomas added. “Big men, normally you don’t get to be this aggressive with them without them having the ability to retaliate, hold their temper and all of that.”

Thomas compared the situation to “hack-a-Shaq,” where teams would purposely hit and foul Shaquille O’Neal to send the poor free-throw shooter to the line.

“Shaq took more abuse in our league than probably any NBA player that’s ever played,” Thomas said.

In regards to Wembanyama, Thomas may be in the minority.

Knicks fans were fuming after Wembanyama shoved Jalen Brunson to the ground early in Game 3 and wasn’t called for a flagrant foul.

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama celebrates a basket against the New York Knicks during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Even though the NBA reviewed the play Tuesday, they did not penalize him.

In the third quarter of Game 4, Wembanyama was called for a flagrant foul after elbowing Karl-Anthony Towns in the face.

The flagrant now means Wembanyama is at three flagrant points this postseason after getting two for elbowing Naz Reid in the second round.

One more flagrant would lead to an automatic suspension.

Wembanyama and the Spurs are on the brink of elimination after blowing a 29-point lead in Game 4, and trail the Knicks 3-1 as the series shifts back to San Antonio for Saturday’s Game 5.

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On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Giants series preview

SAN FRANCISCO — Last weekend, the Cubs lost two of three to the Giants at Wrigley Field, scoring only seven runs in the three games against a pitching staff that’s in the top third of most runs allowed in MLB this year.

Since then, the Cubs also lost two of three to the Rockies, winning the final game 9-3 thanks to three homers hit by Seiya Suzuki, Alex Bregman and Carson Kelly.

And the Giants lost two of three to the Nationals — but won the third game 11-10 after trailing 9-1 going into the bottom of the eighth, including a walk-off grand slam. So the Cubs bullpen had better be ready.

For more on the Giants you can check out last weekend’s series preview and visit our SB Nation Giants site McCovey Chronicles.

Fun facts

The three games this weekend will conclude the season series between the Cubs and Giants, with all six games taking place in a span of 10 days.

The Cubs have won 69 more games than they have lost vs. the Giants since the rivalry began in 1883, when the Giants were based in New York.

But the Cubs have lost 147 more on the road, winning 488 and losing 635. They are -42, 163-205, at San Francisco, where the Giants began play in 1958, and -14, 36-50, at Oracle Park, their home since 2000.

The Cubs lost all three games there last season and the first three of four in 2024. They won two of three in 2023.
The Cubs’ last sweep at San Francisco was three games in 2013.

The Cubs are 46 runs from scoring their 10,000th vs. the Giants. They have scored at least 10,849 vs. five of their six other pre-expansion rivals, with a high of 11,680 vs. the Pirates. They have scored 9,201 vs. the Dodgers, in 141 fewer games than they have played against the Giants.

(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)

Probable pitching matchups

Friday: Javier Assad, RHP (3-1, 4.73 ERA, 1.082 WHIP, 4.37 FIP) vs. Landen Roupp, RHP (5-6, 4.00 ERA, 1.292 WHIP, 3.02 FIP)

Saturday: Ben Brown, RHP (2-2, 1.74 ERA, 0.877 WHIP, 2.25 FIP) vs. Trevor McDonald, RHP (2-3, 4.15 ERA, 1.179 WHIP, 3.52 FIP)

Sunday: Colin Rea, RHP (5-4, 5.19 ERA, 1.428 ERA, 4.86 FIP) vs. Logan Webb, RHP (3-4, 3.88 ERA, 1.188 WHIP, 3.18 FIP)

Times & TV channels

Friday: 9:15 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Saturday: 9:05 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Sunday: 2:10 p.m. CT, ABC (full national broadcast, no blackouts), ESPN App. Announcers: Jon Sciambi, David Ross and Buster Olney.

Prediction

I keep picking two of three and it keeps not happening. Sooner or later, it has to. Why not this weekend?

Up next

The Cubs face the Rockies again after losing two of three in Denver earlier this week. That’ll be a three-game set at Wrigley Field beginning Monday evening.