Tony Parker won four NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs alongside Tim Duncan, Manu Ginóbili, and Gregg Popovich. Parker is a Hall of Fame inductee and one of the defining point guards of the ‘00s. There are a million images of Parker celebrating after championships, yet ESPN and ABC chose to run a photo that was clearly doctored with AI during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
ESPN showed this image as it cut to commercial. It’s supposed to be Tony Parker, but fans quickly pointed out that it looks nothing like him.
What’s so weird about this is this is a famous photo of Parker, the network just chose to use AI to enhance his facial features. In doing so, it completely distorted his face and made him look like an entirely different person.
Here’s the original image of Parker that ABC/ESPN chose to alter. Was it really worth it just to put a bigger smile on his face?
it’s a real photo where it appears they altered his facial reax with AI, so that he’s now smiling more prominently. bizarre pic.twitter.com/qaX5f5YO2f
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 3: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Oh, the good, old days. Back when things were so much better, and the sun was shining brighter, and the ocean was less polluted. Back then, Luka Doncic was a Maverick and constantly managed to carry his team further than expected, and we talked about how the team as a whole was better than the sum of its parts.
But you know what wasn’t better in the good, old days? Jalen Brunson. Luka’s sidekick, who was a decent playmaker back then, but nothing extraordinary next to Luka Doncic. The two were drafted together in 2018 and learned the ropes of the league together. They grew up together in a way, until Jalen Brunson signed with the New York Knicks as a free agent in 2022.
The failure by Dallas to retain Brunson was highly criticized by many at the time and remains a sore topic for many Dallas fans. It didn’t help when he started winning with and leading a Knicks team, slowly and steadily built around him. Brunson became an All-Star in 2024 and received All-NBA Team selection for the first time that same year. He went on to become a three time NBA All-Star, three time All-NBA Second Team and Clutch Player of the Year in the 2024/25 season.
Because, as it turns out, Jalen Brunson’s ceiling was much higher than we’d seen in Dallas. His potential to lead was clear from his Villanova days, but in reality he was not a real factor next to Luka Doncic.
Sure, there were signs. Jalen Brunson averaged 32 points in the three playoff games he played without Luka Doncic during his time in Dallas. He led – and I mean led – the Dallas Mavericks to victory in two out of those three games in the First Round of the 2022 playoffs against a Utah Jazz team that had had a very good season. It stood out how Brunson rose to the occasion back then.
And after he had departed from Dallas, it became very clear that there was a void on the team, a type of leadership void that was hard to pinpoint. But the fact was that something was missing, lacking, on a team still with its best player around in Luka.
I wrote a piece back then, calling him the shadow leader we took for granted, and how he had clearly been a much needed support and fixture for a young superstar in Luka. Brunson helped Luka Doncic carry the team and he helped him thrive in Dallas as he had from day one.
Without Brunson things got murky. Until Kyrie Irving came along and provided some of the same support, things seemed harder and the joy and energy of the team and its superstar had waned a little. Even the best of superstars and generational talents to ever see the sport have needed a second guy, a number two to help carry the mental load, the burden of lifting and carrying and locker room leadership. Jalen Brunson was that along the way for Luka Doncic.
But for Brunson to reach his own full potential, he needed more possessions, more space, a different way of playing. They both have a heliocentric style of playing, him and Luka, needing touches and time to thrive. The other thing they have in common is the clutch finishing. Both players step up when needed, thrive under pressure and enjoy the challenge and responsibility of closing a game.
In Dallas, it was Luka’s team, it was his job and his pride to close games. In New York, with a roster built around him, Jalen Brunson is the guy with the final touch. The guy who takes responsibility for the game with seconds left. And he is good at it.
We saw that play out once again last night in the first game of the NBA Finals, where the Knicks stole the win against the San Antonio Spurs. In the fourth, Brunson took charge and led the team to victory. That is how you can tell the difference between who is a superstar and who is just a very good basketball player.Are you able to take over a game when it matters the most? Brunson did it in the biggest game of his career yet last night.
But Jalen Brunson is not Luka Doncic. Comparing the two is not worth our time. Both are great players in their own right, however, and unlike Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson has a roster that fits him. It was built around him, from best Villanova buddy Josh Hart, who can read his mind because they know each other so well (same can more or less be said of fellow Villanova alumni Mikal Bridges), to OG Anunoby, who’s the team’s leading scorer after Brunson, and Karl-Anthony Towns, who playing more like an offensive hub during the playoffs to create looks for his teammates.
Connection and cohesion over a longer period of time matters in team sport. Building a roster that fits together matters. You can’t just put a couple of superstars on the same team and assume that it works out like in a computer game.
Jalen Brunson is a great example of how roster construction can make or break a career. If you never end up in the right – or just a good – situation that can help you reach your ceiling, you may never reach your potential.
What would have happened if Brunson had stayed in Dallas? I don’t want to speculate about that, it’s not a nice thought. But it does show how many players, who may seem washed or mid, could have a huge hidden potential in the right situation.
And if they had the right people around them, who could help them get to an environment which is better for them, there’s a good chance they might thrive and blossom into stars, which most of us never saw coming.
Hidden gems are all over the league, all over the world. The trick is to see the signs of their potential before it’s too late.
And in the name of hoping for the best basketball possible, of course we cheer for old Maverick JB, who went through so much to finally find his home in New York. Too bad it wasn’t in Dallas, though.
Let’s hope all potential stars get the chance to end up in a similar situation.
The Yankees will try to find a way to score runs without Aaron Judge as they try to avoid a sweep against the visiting Guardians.
Cleveland has beaten Cam Schlittler and Gerrit Cole the last two days, so Carlos Rodon shouldn't scare them.
While the Yankees have struggled to hit, Cleveland has been raking, which is why my Guardians vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks have the Guardians finishing off the sweep.
Who will win Guardians vs Yankees today: Guardians (+150)
Aaron Judge will miss his third straight game, and the New York Yankees aren't the same team without him. In the last five games without Judge, dating to last year, New York is 1-4, .200 without Judge, and averages 3.6 runs a game, compared to 5.2 runs and a .586 win percentage with him.
It's a surprise they're such heavy favorites, even with Carlos Rodon going. I'd take the Cleveland Guardians moneyline to +120.
The Guardians have scored 14 runs in the first two games, with Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo destroying Yankee pitching. The pair is 11-for-17 in the series with 6 RBIs, 5 doubles, and 2 homers.
COVERS INTEL: The numbers say Carlos Rodon feels healthy. He's added 1.5 mph to his sinker and is throwing both that and his four-seamer more often. Hitters are hitting .167 against the sinker, 90 points lower than last year, and .091 against the four-seam, a drop of 130 points.
Guardians vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-104)
Rodon is making his fifth start of the year after missing the start with an injury. He's in the top 10% in MLB in avoiding hard-hit balls and inducing grounders. Prior to the offensive explosion against New York in this series, the Guardians had gone 12 straight games scoring fewer than five runs.
Slade Cecconi starts for the Guardians. After a rough start to the season, he's settled down, throwing a cutter instead of his slider. He's allowed three runs or fewer in the last five starts, with the Guardians winning four of them. The Under seems like a good deal until at least -115 to -120.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 19-22, -1..79 units
Over/Under bets: 22-23, -2.51 units
Guardians vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Guardians +150 | Yankees -156
Run line: Guardians +1.5 (-133) | Yankees -1.5 (+127)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Guardians vs Yankees trend
The Cleveland Guardians have hit the Moneyline in 29 of their last 45 away games (+19.75 Units / 41% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Yankees.
How to watch Guardians vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Thursday, June 4, 2026
First pitch
1:35 p.m. ET
TV
CleGuardians.TV, YES
Guardians starting pitcher
Slade Cecconi (3-5, 5.25 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Carlos Rodon (1-2, 3.32 ERA)
Guardians vs Yankees latest injuries
Guardians vs Yankees weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Xavier Neyens #9 of the Houston Astros warms up during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (25-34) won 15-8 (BOX SCORE)
Gordon started for Sugar Land and went 5.2 innings allowing 5 runs. The offense got on the board in the 3rd on a Whitcomb RBI single. They scored 5 more runs in the 4th on a Winkler walk, Biggio RBI single, and Whitcomb 3 run double. In the 5th, Sacco added an RBI double. The offense added on late scoring 2 runs in the 7th on a Perez 2 run home run and then blowing it open in the 8th scoring 6 runs on a Price 2 run double, Strahm 2 run single, Perez RBI double and Sacco sac fly. The pen allowed a few runs but held on for the 15-8 win.
Colton Gordon, LHP: 5.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (WIN)
Logan VanWey, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Cody Bolton, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Jose Fleury, RHP: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (24-29) lost 12-9 (BOX SCORE)
Javier made a rehab start for the Hooks and allowed 2 runs while retiring just 2 batters. He was relieved by David who allowed 4 runs over 1.1 innings. Next in was Mayer who went 4 innings allowing 3 runs while striking out 6. The offense got on the board in the 4th inning scoring 5 runs on an Encarnacion walk and Brutcher grand slam. The pen allowed a few more runs as Arkansas took a 12-5 lead. The offense got 2 runs in the 8th on a Biggers 2 run double. In the 9th, they rallied to score 2 runs on a Brutcher RBI single but that was it as the Hooks fell 12-9.
A+: Asheville Tourists (13-39) won 16-15 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the first inning on a Thomas solo home run. Santos got the start but ran into trouble in the third inning allowing 6 runs. He was relieved by Rodriguez who allowed a run before Collins allowed another four runs. The offense got 2 runs back in the 5th inning on a Thomas 2 run double. Powell then connected on a solo home run in the 6th inning. In the 7th, the offense rallied getting 10 runs on a Powell RBI double, a run on a wild pitch, Ochoa 2 run home run, Daudet 2 run single. Thomas RBI single and Call 3 run home run. After a run in the 8th, the Grasshoppers rallied for 3 runs in the 9th to tie the game. In the bottom of the 9th, Thomas connected on a solo home run to walk it off as Asheville won 16-15.
Note: Powell is hitting .415 over his last 18 games.
Eurys Martich, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K (WIN)
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (24-29) won 4-1 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning scoring 2 runs on an Alvarez 2 run single. They got another run in the 2nd inning on a Cauro sac fly. Potter got the start and pitched well tossing 3.1 no-hit innings with 7 strikeouts. In the 5th, Neyens connected on a solo home run to extend the lead. Verdugo went the final 5.2 innings allowing one run as he picked up the win for Fayetteville.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 24: Ryan McMahon #19 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on May 24, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ryan McMahon’s stat line still does not look impressive. Entering June, the Yankees infielder is still hitting just .207 on the season. However, if you dive a little deeper, McMahon appears to be adjusting his approach and has found more, albeit still limited, success doing so.
The most obvious evidence of improvement shows up in the most traditional statistic, batting average. After hitting a lowly .167 in March and April, McMahon raised that mark to .244 in May. Additionally, during this stretch he also saw his OPS, a stat the Yankees often emphasize, increase by 130 points to .711 for the month.
In March and April, McMahon looked like a hitter trying to do too much. Nearly half of the balls he put in play were worm burners pulled to the right side of the infield or shot up the middle to a fielder standing behind second base. Hitting the ball hard is not the issue. McMahon ranks in the 86th percentile in hard-hit rate and around the 65th percentile in both average exit velocity and barrel rate. Even if you hit the ball hard, the easiest way to tank your offensive numbers is to strike out and hit ground balls into the shift. McMahon was doing both in spades.
However, May looked different. McMahon’s groundball rate dropped from 50 percent to 35.8 percent while his fly-ball rate rose 15 percentage points. Just as important, he began using the entire field. McMahon’s opposite-field rate more than doubled, climbing from 17.8 percent to 38.9 percent, a figure much more in line with his career norms.
The change becomes even more interesting when looking at the quality of contact. During March and April, 31.1 percent of McMahon’s balls in play were classified as hard hit. In May, that figure climbed to 37 percent. The most important number, though, is the strikeout rate, which he managed to cut down by roughly two percentage points.
These changes might not feel significant, but baseball is a game of inches. Within those margins, it is also worth noting that McMahon’s soft-contact rate increased from 2.2 percent to 25.9 percent. At first glance that might seem like a negative, but it might reflect a hitter becoming less concerned with squaring up or pulling everything and more focused on simply putting the ball in play. As countless coaches have preached over the years, you do not always have to hit the ball hard if you hit it where the defense is not.
These changes in contact resulted in a .244/.263/.449 slash line for the month. That’s not a typo — McMahon only walked twice the entire month but was still able to get his stat line from deplorable to decent. The irony is that the numbers turnaround happened during a month that included one of the worst stretches of McMahon’s career. At one point in May, McMahon went hitless in 24 consecutive at-bats.
Despite this stretch, McMahon’s production for May placed him right at league average at the plate with four home runs to his name. In addition, McMahon has been solid in important spots. With runners in scoring position, McMahon owns a .270 batting average, .774 OPS, and 120 wRC+. He has also produced in high leverage situations, slashing .250/.357/.500.
Looking at his career monthly splits, McMahon has often performed better once the calendar turns to May. Across his career, he owns a .231 batting average in March and April before improving to .257 in May, .242 in June, and .261 in July. Let’s be clear: I am not calling this a breakout performance. What I am saying is that if history is any guide, May was a return to form for McMahon.
The second half of the season has often been a different story. McMahon’s career batting average falls to .227 after the All-Star break and drops further to .212 during September and October. Whether that trend is physical, mental, or simply the result of a long season is difficult to know. It is also fair to wonder whether spending his career on Rockies teams that were often out of contention by the time summer arrived may have played some role.
During last year’s playoffs the Yankees saw a glimpse of the player they hoped they were acquiring. Across six playoff games, McMahon hit .286 with a home run, continued to provide strong defense, and while not fast, was a strong baserunner. While that is a small sample size, it reinforced the idea that he can be a useful contributor especially when it matters most.
Before the season, Aaron Boone said it was the coaching staff’s responsibility to help unlock McMahon’s offensive potential. Boone maintained that belief through a brutal start and that painful 0-for-24 skid in May. In mid-April, the manager suggested some of the changes the Yankees had been working on were beginning to take hold. Looking at McMahon’s batted-ball profile now, it is becoming easier to see what Boone and the coaching staff believed they were building toward.
"He's got a lot of talent and a lot of ability – he's working on some things right now that are taking hold"
Call me an optimist, but I believe there is a reason eight of his 10 extra-base hits have been oppo-tacos and the strikeout rate decreased. I believe that reason is the adjustment the staff is making to McMahon’s approach. For a player whose primary value is defense, hitting at a league-average level with a 20-home run pace is a solid contribution.
McMahon is not a great hitter, but he is an average one and a good baseball player. The cold streaks are almost unbelievably bad, which is why they tend to dominate the conversation. However, according to the law of averages, most nights McMahon does enough to help you win and, just as importantly, does enough to avoid costing you a game.
Like an old vehicle, McMahon’s offensive engine appears to cough, sputter, and require constant tinkering to run smoothly. The challenge for Yankees fans is remembering that the highs and lows are part of the same player. McMahon will never be the lineup’s biggest engine, but he remains a useful contributor when the bats around him help provide a spark and get him in a position to keep the lineup rolling.
The Cleveland Guardians (36-27) and the New York Yankees (36-25) wrap up their three-game series this afternoon in the Bronx. Jose Ramirez and the Guardians will be looking for the sweep following last night’s 5-4 win. Cleveland’s leader went 3-4 with a home run to pace the attack that touched up Yankees’ starter Gerritt Cole for four runs over 5.1 innings. Cole had not allowed a run in either of his previous starts since returning from the disabled list. Kyle Manzardo homered for the second consecutive game and Rhys Hoskins also went deep. With the win the Guardians maintained the 2.5 game lead over the White Sox in the American League Central. The Yankees loss prevented them from climbing into a first place tie with Tampa Bay in the AL East.
Ramirez is now 6-9 in the series with four extra base hits, four runs scored, and three RBIs. He is not the only member of the Guardians swinging a hot bat of late. Manzardo is 5-8 in the series with a pair of doubles and a pair of home runs and Hoskins is 3-7 with a double and a home run. For New York, Jose Caballero went yard last night as did Jazz Chisholm Jr. who has now collected a hit in three straight games.
The Yankees’ lineup is certainly not as dangerous without the injured Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, but Ben Rice. The Yankees’ first baseman has hit in seven straight games and owns a .304 average with 17 home runs for the season. It continues to be a lineup that demands the long ball to score the majority of their runs…but they have hit the most home runs in baseball with 89 to date this season.
This afternoon, Cleveland turns to Slade Cecconi, who enters with a 3–5 record and a 5.25 ERA over 61.2 innings. In his last two starts, Cecconi has surrendered six runs over 9.1 innings. New York counters with Carlos Rodón, who has been sharp in his last two outings allowing just a pair of runs and seven hits while striking out ten over 11 innings.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Guardians
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026
Time: 1:35PM EST
Site: Yankee Stadium
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, YES, CLEGuardians.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Guardians
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-175), Cleveland Guardians (+144)
José Ramírez — is 6-9 in this series and has hit in 5 consecutive games (9-21)
Chase DeLauter – 0-8 in this series and 3-17 over his last 4 games
Travis Bazzana — 1-13 over his last 3 games
Paul Goldschmidt — 4-9 in this series and has hit in 8 straight games (12-36)
Anthony Volpe – 2-18 over his last 5 games
Austin Wells — after hitting .154 in May, Wells is 0-7 to start June
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees and Guardians
The Guardians are 34-29 on the Run Line this season
The Yankees are 30-31 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 32 times in Cleveland’s 63 games this season (32-31)
The OVER has cashed 28 times in the Yankees’ 61 games this season (28-30-3)
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Guardians
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Yankees and the Guardians:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 8.5
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Even Mars Blackmon, who was played by Lee in the spot, has to admit that Knicks guard Jalen Brunson changing his sneakers at halftime worked wonders in the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
Brunson started the game wearing Nike Kobe 3s and had 11 points at halftime on a dreadful 5-for-15 shooting.
The 2025 Clutch Player of the Year came out of the locker room sporting Nike Kobe 6s, but it didn't pay immediate dividends. Brunson was still throwing up bricks in the third quarter with a 2-for-7 performance.
But in the last eight minutes of the game, Brunson took over, scoring 13 of his game-high 30 points in that time span as the Knicks snatched home court advantage from San Antonio. Game 2 is Friday, June 5.
Guess it was the shoes.
"Just continue to trust the things I’ve worked on my entire life," Brunson said after the game. "I think my teammates have the confidence in me, also gives me an extra boost, as well. I think it starts with my confidence. It comes with my work ethic. I think most importantly, knowing we’re on the road, and knowing my teammates have my back, I think that’s the biggest thing in an environment like this."
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 01: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks rounds the base after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning at Chase Field on June 01, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. Diamondbacks won 4-1. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Team News
How did the Diamondbacks look against Shohei Ohtani?
“This is one of those situations where we’ve got to be better in all areas of the game,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ve got a chance to come out here tomorrow and salvage a split. And that’s got to be our main focus. This was a rough game. It’s not fun to be a part of.”
Marte out of lineup with ‘full body fatigue,’ expected to return Thursday “He battles this all year long, and you guys know how much he means to this team, I know much he means to this team,” Lovullo said. “But it got to the point where with low back tightness and hamstring tightness, when he gets to this level, there’s a chance he could break, and we’re going to miss him for weeks instead of a day. So I will trade one day for two weeks.”
Burnes (teres strain) suffers setback, likely out until Sept. “Those are big, big pieces for us,” Lovullo said. “So it’s a blow, and it’s something that we’re gonna have to deal with. It’s just what we do in this game, and we’ve got very qualified players in that clubhouse, and they’re gonna get some opportunities, and we’ve got five really good starting pitchers right now, and they’re doing a good job. I want that to continue.”
Diamondbacks Place High-Ranked Pitching Prospect on Injured List It’s a back injury for Bratt — described as back inflammation, according to AZCentral’s Nick Piecoro. Bratt has reportedly been dealing with a nagging issue there since making an awkward throw on a play during one of his starts.
Longest single-season scoreless IP streak, since mound moved to current dist (1893):
1988 Orel Hershiser: 59 IP 1968 Don Drysdale: 58 IP 1913 Walter Johnson: 55 2/3 IP 1910 Jack Coombs: 53 IP 1968 Bob Gibson: 47 IP 2026 Cristopher Sánchez: 46 2/3 IP *active thru 2 IP 2015 Zack…
This is because white cars typically stand out against the black roads. Statistics state that white cars are 12% less likely to get into an accident compared to black cars.
Bees have 5 eyes.
The 3 small eyes on a bee’s head detect light and help them escape from predators approaching from above. The 2 visible front eyes help them with navigation and recognizing shapes.
Pepsi is named after indigestion.
When Caleb Bradham created Pepsi in 1965, he named it after the word “dyspepsia,” or indigestion. Bradham believed that his fizzy drink would help cure indigestion, hence the name, Pepsi.
Fans at Angel Stadium shout "sell the team" during a game between the Angels and Athletics on May 20. Fans have continued the shirtless cheers during every home game. (Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times)
In Section 533 of Angel Stadium, high above the foul pole in right field, where fans enjoying pretzels and helmet nachos wore Angels caps and Mike Trout shirts, a kindly usher approached. As a row of kids delighted in mixing cotton candy and frozen lemonade into an only-at-the-ballpark dessert, the usher alerted the parents that a mass of boisterous and predominantly shirtless men soon would be assembling in a nearby section.
Sure enough, as Wednesday’s game reached the fifth inning, a few dozen young men ran to the very back of Section 535, removed their shirts, twirled them over their heads, and chanted “Sell the team!”
As the chants continued, fans flocked from all corners of the stadium like moths to a flame, and the group grew from a few dozen to a few hundred. The “Sell the team” chants dominated, but there were others: “M-V-P” for Trout, “U-S-A,” “We want beer,” two we cannot print about Angels owner Arte Moreno and, for the young men that dared approach with a shirt on, “Take it off!”
Five friends lined up next to one another, their chests painted red, each with a different character in white: S, E, L, L and an exclamation point. I asked the guy wearing the exclamation point on his chest whether he thought the protests would have any impact upon Moreno.
Fans wave their shirts and shout "sell the team" during a game at Angel Stadium. (Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times)
“I would hope it would have an impact,” said Carson Taff, 16, of Laguna Hills, “but it’s really fun to see people out here.”
Indeed, in a stadium that could generously be described as half-empty, the Angels had themselves a new attraction, an organic display of audience participation.
The now-nightly ritual died down an inning after it started. Other kindly ushers, who had directed people to an adjacent section after Section 535 filled up, politely asked everyone to please put their shirts back on before returning to the general stadium population.
The Angels thumped the Colorado Rockies 11-4, but one good night cannot change the trajectory of a miserable season. The Angels still lost the series to the Rockies, the team with which they share the worst record in the major leagues.
It is unlikely that fans alone could push Moreno to sell. In 2024, Athletics owner John Fisher heard “Sell the team!” chants — and much worse — from the entirety of the Oakland Coliseum, and from a fan base pleading with him not to move its beloved team to Las Vegas. On Monday, Fisher and the A’s open a six-game homestand at a triple-A ballpark in Las Vegas, an appetizer before their scheduled move into a new stadium there in 2028.
If ever a team could stay the course, this might be the time. In the American League, five teams have winning records. If the playoffs opened today, an AL team with a losing record would be included.
The Angels should resist the delusion. They are seven games out of a playoff spot, but they would have to pass nine teams in the standings to get there. They remain on pace to lose 100 games for the first time in franchise history.
On Tuesday, while the spotlight unfortunately found outfielder Jo Adell when a home run bounced off his head, the Angels attracted little attention for the fundamental mistakes of neglecting to cover third base on one play and second base on another.
Angels fans wave signs and urge owner Arte Moreno to sell the team to an ownership group willing to invest more in winning during a pregame protest last month at Angel Stadium. (Joaquin Ruiz / For The Times)
To the extent Moreno makes any big decisions in the near future, they are less likely to focus on a potential team sale than on whether he believes his manager and general manager — each of whom is working under a contract that expires at the end of this season — can put the Angels in the best position for future seasons.
On Tuesday, the Dodgers’ lineup included four players over 30 and three under 26. The Angels’ lineup that night included four players over 30 and one under 26.
The Angels need to get on with the future. Their front office scoffs at prospect rankings, where the Angels rate poorly.
So bring ‘em up: When infielder Yoan Moncada is ready to come off the injured list, reinstate him and then trade him for anything you can get. Teams like the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies would like to add a right-handed bat; swallow some of outfielder Jorge Soler’s contract and trade him for anything you can get.
It’s not about what would be an underwhelming return in either case; it’s about clearing roster spaces for infielders Denzer Guzmán and Christian Moore.
And then purge some veteran arms and bring up whatever young ones can help in the Angels bullpen, which has a 5.07 earned run average. Again, this isn’t about a good return in trade — there isn’t going to be one — but about experience and evaluation for the minor league talent the Angels like to talk up.
You want a good return? Get ahead of the trade deadline and dangle José Soriano to contenders that might pay for a live arm now, rather than wait two months to see if they can land Tarik Skubal. Soriano is a win-now addition, but his two Tommy John surgeries make him a risk on a long-term commitment.
In 2023, Moreno granted an interview to Sports Illustrated, in which he explained his decision to put the Angels up for sale, then take them off the market.
“If I’m going to stay,” Moreno said he told his wife, “I have to make a decision that we have to do better. We’re just not doing well enough.”
In 2024 and 2025, the Angels finished in last place, extending baseball’s longest playoff drought to 11 seasons. In 2026, they’re in last place again, desperately needing to get off the treadmill of trying to patch holes with low-cost veterans and crossing their fingers for an 83-win team that might sneak into the playoffs despite a chronic lack of depth.
Angels pitcher José Soriano delivers the ball against the Colorado Rockies on Monday at Angel Stadium. (William Liang / Ap Photo/william Liang)
They are not deep enough, and they are not good enough.
Behind Section 504 at Angel Stadium, you can find a team store with an outlet mall price: 50% off everything. It is a wonderful concept, a place where families can find affordable souvenirs without limiting the kids to a clearance rack.
Alas, when you mention affordability and the Angels these days, what first comes to mind among Angels fans are these spring words from Moreno to the Orange County Register: “The number one thing fans want is affordability … Believe it or not, winning is not in their top five.”
In Section 535, no one was chanting about affordability.
Atlanta Braves starter Chris Sale dominates on the mound and typically racks up the Ks.
However, Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement is a tough out and hardly ever strikes out, making his strikeout Under a solid value play at -115 tonight.
Read on for my Blue Jays vs. Braves predictions and MLB Picks for this Thursday, June 4 matchup.
Blue Jays vs Braves predictions
Blue Jays vs Braves best bet: Ernie Clement Under 0.5 K’s (-115)
The betting market is giving Chris Sale too much credit on this prop, leaving it mispriced on the Under. Ernie Clement matches up well against Sale’s pitching profile.
The Atlanta Braves starter relies heavily on chase and swing-and-miss with his slider to generate strikeouts, but that's a difficult formula against Clement.
The Toronto Blue Jays infielder owns the highest chase rate in baseball, yet maintains a minuscule 14% whiff rate while ranking in the 99th percentile in strikeout rate at just 8%.
Moreover, the Jays' infielder has cleared his Under 0.5 strikeouts prop in seven of his last 10 outings.
I’d bet Clement under 0.5 strikeouts up to -125.
COVERS INTEL: Clement owns just a 2.5% whiff rate with zero strikeouts against the four-seamer/slider pitch types when facing left-handed pitchers. Sale owns an 80% usage rate on those pitches.
Blue Jays vs Braves same-game parlay (SGP)
Kazuma Okamoto has never faced Sale, but profiles well against him. Okamoto crushes the fastball and slider off LHP, owning a .400 average against them with a .667 xSLG. I’ll add Over 0.5 hits for Okamoto.
For similar reasons, I’ll also add George Springer Over 0.5 hits as well. He owns a .300 average against the fastball/slider from lefties and owns a 26% hit-rate in 30 at-bats against Sale.
Blue Jays vs Braves SGP
Ernie Clement Uner 0.5 strikeouts
Kazuma Okamoto Over 0.5 hits
George Springer Over 0.5 hits
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Blue Jays vs Braves home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+405)
Sale keeps the ball in the yard, so we’ll make this just a half-unit wager.
However, if there’s one Bluejay who profiles well enough to do damage tonight, it's Okamoto.
Okamoto owns a .400 average with a 65% hard hit rate against the four-seamer/slider combination, which has a 80% usage rate with those pitches.
Additionally, he’s one of the only Bluejays hitting with Power on a consistent basis, ranking in the 96th percentile in hard-hit rate, which has led to a team lead of 13 home runs in 2026.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 29-31, +2.85 units
SGPs: 12-48, +6.60 units
HR picks: 9-51, +0.80 units
Blue Jays vs Braves odds
Moneyline: Toronto +154 | Atlanta -170
Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-125) | Atlanta -1.5 (+105)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-105) | Under 7 (-115)
Blue Jays vs Braves trend
The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the Team Total Under in 19 of their last 30 away games (+7.25 Units / 21% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Braves.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Cumberland, GA
Date
Thursday, 6-4-2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
SN1
Blue Jays starting pitcher
TBD (X-X, X.XX ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
Chris Sale (8-3, 2.01 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Braves latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Braves weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The list of celebrities expected at Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Madison Square Garden just got a lot more interesting.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend Game 3 in Manhattan next Monday, reports Joe Varden at The Athletic. Barring a schedule change, Trump plans to attend the Knicks' first home NBA Finals game in 27 years.
Trump, a native New Yorker who was born in Queens, was invited to the game by his friend, New York Knicks owner and governor James Dolan.
The last sitting president to attend an NBA game was Barack Obama, who went to a regular-season game in 2015 to see his Chicago Bulls face LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers.
If Trump attends and is shown on the massive "GardenVision" video scoreboard hanging over center court, he will not get a warm reception from his fellow New Yorkers.
According to the report, it is unknown at this point whether New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani will attend the game. However, he did say in an interview with NBC News that, if he does attend, he will not be sitting with Trump.
Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts after a foul against the New York Knicks in the second half during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
What a frustrating game. Even though San Antonio wasn’t shooting well as a team throughout, for 2.5 quarters it really felt like they had a firm command of the game, and were always ready to punch back when the Knicks went on a run. However, that confidence seemed to fade in the late 3rd, and although San Antonio continued to fight hard, it often felt like they weren’t fighting in a particularly smart way. Be that as it may, the optimistic viewpoint is that this game was yet another necessary experience on the road to glory, so that the pain we feel now is just the price to pay for future triumph. In the meantime, let’s review some box score stats:
Note: Now that we’ve moved into the postseason, the reference period used for grading changes from the set of regular season games since 2012-2013 to the set of postseason games since 2012-2013. Unless otherwise noted below, this set DOES include play-in games. As of the end of June 3, 2026, this group include 1,201 games.
Factors that decided the game
Setting aside offensive efficiency for the moment, this was a relatively balanced game. Although it didn’t feel like it, San Antonio actually had more offensive and defensive rebounds, which (all else equal) could have translated into an edge in offensive opportunity. However, they also had four more turnovers.
Both teams committed 23 fouls, but the Spurs’ were better timed, so San Antonio shot seven more free throws. Unfortunately, because the Knicks earned a FT% margin of +8.89 percentage points, the Spurs’ FTM margin was just +4.
By far the most significant issue in this game was shooting efficiency from the field. Neither team was good, but New York’s percentages enjoyed a strong relative edge, including FG% and 3P% margins of +5.53 and +4.97 percentage points, respectively. Consequently, the Knicks outscored San Antonio by 14 from the field.
Rare Box Score Stats
Neither team was efficient from the field tonight, but relatively speaking New York’s advantage from the field was substantial. In fact, the Knicks became just the 13th postseason winner since 2012-2013 to log FG% and 3P% values of just 41.49% and 30.56% (respectively) and still have POSITIVE FG% and 3P% differentials.
To further underscore how unusual the offensive efficiency mix was in this game, winners with poor shooting percentages from the field often have a significant edge at the charity stripe. New York did not in this game; in fact, the Knicks recorded just the 9th winning postseason performance since 2012-2013 that included FG% and 3P% values at least as bad as theirs and a FTA differential of -7 or worse.
The Spurs’ paltry assist total of 16 isn’t all that uncommon in the NBA; in fact, this was the 49th case of 16 or fewer assists across all NBA games in the 2025-2026 season. However, it is extremely uncommon for the Spurs, who last had an assist total of 16 or less in a regular season contest against the Jazz on March 11, 2022.
Wemby had a unique stat line, but it was mostly bad or mixed news on the offensive side of things. For example, he was fantastic at the getting to the free throw line and converting those opportunities, but his offensive efficiency from the field was dreadful. In fact, he logged just the 93rd playoff performance since 1996-1997 that included 12+ made free throws and no more than 26 points. For reference, the average point total for a player making 12+ free throws in a playoff game during this period is about 33.
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
Overall, it was a pretty abysmal day down on the farm as not a single Atlanta minor league affiliate was able to scratch out a win on Wednesday. With that being said, there were a few individual performances that stood out, so let’s get into it.
Gwinnett came up short on Wednesday night, losing to Norfolk as the bullpen blew a tie game in the top half of the ninth inning as the Tide came away with the win.
Elieser Hernandez got the start for the Stripers and despite giving up a pair of runs in the top of the first to give Norfolk a 2-0 lead, he settled in quite nicely and put up a solid outing. Across six innings of work, Hernandez gave up three runs and struck out six in the process.
Trailing by two runs, Gwinnett tied things up in the bottom of the second thanks to a pair of RBI doubles off the bats of Aaron Schunk and Jair Camargo — more on him later.
Norfolk retook the lead by scoring one run in each of the fifth and seventh innings, but the Stripers managed to tie things up yet again, this time with a solo homer from Camargo and an RBI-single from Jim Jarvis to make it a 4-4 game.
However, the Stripers bullpen failed to keep the Tide at bay as Hayden Harris and James Karinchak each gave up one run in the ninth inning to give Norfolk the 6-4 lead, which held as the final in this one.
(24-267) Columbus Clingstones 1, (27-25) Rocket City Trash Pandas 3
Despite getting an excellent start on the mound from Brett Sears, the Columbus offense failed to match his performance as the Clingstones were held to just the one run on Wednesday.
Simply put, Sears was downright dominant. While he only went four innings, he made the most of them as he only surrendered two hits but managed to strike out a whopping eight batters in the process. Wednesday’s outing marked the fourth straight scoreless start for Sears as he’s watched his season ERA across double-A and triple-A drop to 2.18. While he is 26 at the double-A level, it’s nice to see Sears miss more bats and limit the damage when he does give up a hit or two.
As we mentioned, there wasn’t much to write home about in terms of the Clingstones’ offense in this one. However, they did get off to a hot start as David McCabe launched the first pitch he saw on the day over the left field wall for a solo homer to give Columbus the early 1-0 lead with two outs in the top of the first inning.
— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) June 4, 2026
The Clingstones did manage to outhit Rocket City by a 7-4 margin, but failed to string together any type of meaningful at-bats as Adam Zebrowski had the only other extra base hit — a double to lead off the top of the second inning.
Keeping with an unfortunate trend across the Atlanta farm system on Wednesday, Rome lost against Greenville by a 9-3 margin.
Cedric De Grandpre — who has been able to put up solid strikeout numbers, but has also had some trouble keeping the ball in the yard this season — didn’t have his best stuff in this one. In his five frames of work, the 24-year-old gave up four runs on five hits, but did manage to strikeout seven batters in the process. To date, De Grandpre has only had two outings in which he has not yielded a run — his season debut on April 2 and a seven strikeout, 10-inning performance on May 16.
Getting back to Wednesday’s action, the Emperors only managed five hits on the day with three of those coming off the bat of Will Verdung who added a double to his tally.
The biggest offensive blow courtesy of the Rome offense came in the bottom of the fifth as Mac Guscette launched his second homer of the year over the left field wall to cut the deficit to 4-1 at the time.
While the offense had a hard time matching the nine runs scored by Greenville, one impressive highlight came in the eighth inning as Cody Miller — who was playing second base — ranged to his right into shortstop territory to slide and make an excellent stop before popping up and making the throw to get the runner at first in what was easily the best defensive play of the day for the Emperors.
(30-23) Augusta GreenJackets 5, (18-35) Delmarva Shorebirds 10
This was a really disappointing loss for Augusta against what isn’t exactly a strong Delmarva team than won just it’s 18th game of the season by beating the GreenJackets.
Things went downhill pretty quick from the jump in this one, as Ethan Bagwell didn’t exactly have his best stuff. The Shorebirds managed to tag Bagwell for one run in the first inning and three runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. Bagwell would eventually give up two more runs, bringing his total to six runs allowed on the day in what was easily his worst outing of the year to this point.
The Augusta offense did its best to try and stay in the game. In fact, the GreenJackets actually tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to a two-run bomb from Cooper McMurray and a pair of run-scoring singles from both Tate Southisene and Conor Essenburg.
— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) June 4, 2026
However, with Bagwell giving up three more runs and the bullpen also giving up three more runs, it was simply too much to overcome.
One bright spot in terms of pitching was lefty Adiel Melendez who, in 2.1 innings of work, held Delmarva scoreless while striking out three batters. After a couple of rougher outings in late April and early May, the undrafted free agent has come into his own to lower his ERA to 3.68 while striking out 18 in 14.2 innings pitched.
The DSL Braves played their second game of the season on Wednesday, and a handful of players stood out above the rest.
Top international signees Starlyn De La Cruz and Jose Manon had significant days at the plate, as they both tallied a pair of hits, including one double each, on the day. De La Cruz also scored one of the Braves’ two runs on the day as well.
Sherrintley Da Costa Gomez also had a solid day at the plate, going 1-2 with a double and a run scored to his credit to go along with a walk.
On the pitching side of things, Martires Polanco made his debut on the mound for the Braves. Across just four innings of work, Polanco was excellent as the 19-year-old allowed just one hit and one unearned run while striking out seven in the process. He did walk three batters, so his control needs a little refining, which isn’t out of the ordinary for a younger arm.
Days before its opening day of its second full season, Athletes Unlimited Softball League is getting a new influx of cash.
AUSL announced a new group of strategic investors on Thursday, June 4 that includes Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio and MLB Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. Ryan’s partners with Ryan Sanders Baseball – Reid Ryan and Don Sanders – are also investing in the league.
The Brewers become the first MLB club to invest directly in the AUSL. Folks who were already invested in AUSL include NBA superstar Kevin Durant and his longtime business partner Rich Kleiman.
"The momentum just continues to build. It's building for softball as a whole and the AUSL is seeing that momentum on every level, and so we couldn't be more excited to be bringing in the Brewers and Ryan Sanders. I think it's a testament to their belief in the opportunity and the future ahead," Jon Patricof, the CEO and co-founder of Athletes Unlimited, told USA TODAY Sports. "For us, not only their capital, but their expertise are going to be hugely valuable."
These investments deepen the relationships that AUSL already has with MLB and Ryan Sanders Baseball. MLB invested in the AUSL last year and has broadcast games on its network as part of their partnership.
Ryan Sanders Baseball operates two minor league teams, the Round Rock Express and the Corpus Christi Hooks. They are the AUSL’s operating partner of the Texas Volts, who drafted Texas Tech superstar pitcher NiJaree Canady with the No. 2 overall pick this season. The Volts will play at the Ryan Sanders-operated Dell Diamond ballpark in Round Rock, Texas.
"I think people look at the track record that Athletes Unlimited has in the sport now and understand that we're here to stay, that we're big believers in building a sustainable long-term softball league, and I think that that's resonated," Patricof said. "You're seeing more and more organizations recognize that this sport is a national phenomenon."
The announcement comes as the AUSL prepares to launch its second season, with games beginning on June 9.
Led by Commissioner Kim Ng – the former general manager of the Miami Marlins – the AUSL enters its second full season following an inaugural campaign that included 24 sellouts and more than $1 million in merchandise sales. Last year, the AUSL was a barnstorming organization of sorts, with four teams playing games in 10 different cities. This season, they’ll have six teams playing in permanent home markets.
In addition to the Volts in Round Rock, teams will also be based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Durham, North Carolina; Portland, Oregon; Chicago and Salt Lake City. The team in Durham – the Carolina Blaze – had the No. 1 overall draft pick and selected Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens. The Volts landed Canady with the second pick.
"I think what the ratings show, what the interest we saw last summer in our tour, is that this sport is resonating with fans across the country," Patricof said. "That momentum from the College World Series – we're very confident is going to spill over into the AUSL. And obviously, as we head into 2028 with the Olympics, there's a tremendous amount of momentum broadly. I think for any pro league to survive, you need to be part of a healthy ecosystem, and I think we're very much big believers of that."
Indeed, viewership in women’s college softball is on the rise. ESPN said it averaged 1.5 million viewers through 14 games for the Women’s College World Series games preceding the final series between Texas and Texas Tech, making it the most-watched pre-finals on record for the WCWS. ESPN said overall viewership is up 33% year over year.
The AUSL this season will have more than 90 games distributed across ESPN platforms, CBS Sports Network and MLB Network. The league also added partners like Sephora and Adidas, the latter of which is their official uniform outfitter. Rawlings this season will hand out its iconic Gold Glove award to the top defender in AUSL.
"Having the games accessible are a big deal, but it's really also getting their promotional, marketing support and editorial support, and we're starting to see that in ways that we really have never seen before for pro softball," Patricof said. "I think that's a huge shift and a huge new development that I think we're excited to benefit from."
Arizona Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes (39) pitches against the Washington Nationals at Chase Field in Phoenix on June 1, 2025. | Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Good morning friends! Happy Mariners off-day to you.
The M’s saw their winning streak snapped yesterday in a 7-1 loss to the Mets. The M’s hit the road now for a stretch, going to Detroit, Baltimore, and Washington.
Importantly, it’s All-Star voting season. In my youth, I held steadfast to only voting for players who deserve it rather than just voting for my favorite players. But in recent years I’ve decided that I don’t care about voting for the “logical” choice. Life is too short to vote for someone else’s guy. Go vote Mariners!
In Mariners news…
Former Mariners Ken Griffey, Jr. and Harold Reynolds will join former Yankees ace CC Sabathia to host Play Ball Live on the MLB YouTube channel this Friday in advance of the MLB Breakthrough Series in an interactive stream designed to “engage, excite and inspire youth baseball and softball players all over the world.”
Baseball America released its monthly update of the top 100 prospects in baseball, with M’s right-hander Ryan Sloan officially being crowned the top pitching prospect in the sport.
Around the league…
Diamondbacks right-hander Corbin Burnes is likely out until September after suffering a teres major strain.
Rob Manfred made his first public comments about the economic proposals made by both sides, emphasizing the need to adjust the financial rules of the game for the sake of competitive balance.
COVERS INTEL: The numbers say Carlos Rodon feels healthy. He's added 1.5 mph to his sinker and is throwing both that and his four-seamer more often. Hitters are hitting .167 against the sinker, 90 points lower than last year, and .091 against the four-seam, a drop of 130 points.
