CINCINNATI, OH - MAY 31: Ha-Seong Kim #7 of the Atlanta Braves bats during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Sunday, May 31, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves have a similar look to yesterday’s lineup against the Toronto Blue Jays, with a few additions to spice it up a bit with a new game plan to secure tonight’s win.
Ha-Seong Kim will be taking Jorge Mateo’s spot at shortstop in hopes of turning his slump around after a mediocre showing since his mid-May return.
On both offense and defense, his performance has taken a decline, currently averaging a .089 at the plate and a .269 OPS. It is necessary to put Kim in every other rotation, not only to give him extra opportunity to improve, but also rest Mateo and focus on fixing what mechanics aren’t working.
You’ll also notice Mauricio Dubón, Eli White and Chadwick Tromp are set to join Atlanta to help secure a series win early-on. Ronald Acuña Jr. will continue to lead off and take over DH.
Now, we hinted at this in the pitching preview, but the majority of the Braves’ lineup finds success in reaching base and knocking in RBIs against Toronto’s Patrick Corbin.
Even Kim has nine RBIs and a homer with a .977 OPS against him in his 17 total at-bats.
Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies are two major concerns for Corbin, as both have three solo shots apiece against him and over 10 RBIs.
If the rest of the Braves offense takes advantage of finding their perfect pitch against Corbin’s six-pitch arsenal early on, this matchup is a winnable one, though they’ll need to set the tone early with Grant Holmes on the mound.
Since the Blue Jays are missing some key pieces, they’ll fight to the finish and try to make it as close as they did in game one to rattle the team and shift the momentum.
With an absent George Springer from Toronto’s lineup, Nathan Lukes is taking the lead off spot, with Jesús Sánchez taking over as DH and batting fourth in the lineup. In his seven plate appearances against Holmes, Sánchez averages a .286 but also gets comfortable taking his base when facing him with a .946 OPS.
The Blue Jays might not have been looking like the team that faced the Dodgers in last year’s finals matchup, but that doesn’t mean they won’t play like they have something to prove. And the Braves, well, they just need to beat them to it and start off hot.
Starting at 7:15 p.m EDT. Tune in to watch how tonight pans out.
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The New York Knicks are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 — and they’ll face the same opponent this year, too.
A direct rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs begins tonight, June 3. As you may recall, these two teams faced off just six months ago in the 2025 NBA Cup championship game, which the Knicks won, 124-113.
The Spurs enter the series as the oddsmakers’ favorite largely due to the sheer defensive gravity of Victor Wembanyama, who completely altered the Western Conference Finals by playing heavy minutes, raining threes and anchoring a dominant net rating when on the floor.
Led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks can’t be counted out easily. They rely heavily on outside shooting and floor spacing rather than just driving relentlessly into the paint where Wemby dominates.
NBA Finals 2026: what to know
What: New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs, Game 1
When: June 3, 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Frost Bank Center (San Antonio, Texas)
Channel: ABC
Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
The series will continue on Friday night for Game 2.
Knicks vs. Spurs start time:
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET tonight, June 3.
NBA Finals Game 1 streaming: How to watch Knicks vs. Spurs for free
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 19: Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s gameday, everyone.
The New York Knicks are in the NBA Finals. June basketball is here. I never thought this day would come.
I’ve spent the last few days reliving the recent playoff runs via YouTube highlights to truly encompass the path we’ve endured to get here, and while we can maybe save the whole story of the Knicks for another day, it’s important that we reflect on the 14 games that bridged a topsy-turvy regular season and the pinnacle of basketball.
The Knicks are 4.5-point underdogs tonight and +160 underdogs to raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy, both according to FanDuel, but with the way this team has been playing and the lessons they’ve learned about themselves over the course of the postseason, I don’t know how you can be anything but confident in their chances.
Let’s look back at the five plays that have defined this playoff run thus far:
The ending sequence of Game 3 in Atlanta
This might seem like an odd choice, given that this sequence resulted in a Knicks defeat, but we likely don’t see the absolute dominance we’ve gotten for the last 11 games without this game.
It was easy to chalk up Game 2 as a game of playoff shenanigans. A young team scrapped their way back from a 14-point deficit and rode the coattails of a generational heater by their vet, CJ McCollum, and caught the favorite napping in their own gym. It happens.
But when Atlanta burst out to an 18-point lead in Game 3, you started to get concerned, but the veteran team was able to weather the storm of being punched in the mouth on the road and came all the way back to take the lead late. This was the moment that the Knicks’ experience would prevail.
Well, not quite. After a very bad offensive possession resulted in a shot clock violation, Atlanta inbounded with 16 seconds left, trailing by one. The Knicks decided to play straight up, allowing McCollum to get the ball and face Deuce McBride 1-on-1. That strategy failed, and the Hawks took the lead.
Still, they had a chance to take the lead back or even win the game if they held the ball long enough. Yet, despite having one of the most clutch players on the planet, his resolve vanished in a similar fashion to the way it did in Game 6 against Miami three years ago, a mistake that ended their season.
This play personified the Knicks’ offense at this point. Mikal Bridges didn’t want the ball. Karl-Anthony Towns was willing to sit in the background. The team was utterly dependent on Jalen Brunson bailing them out late in games. If he struggled, the team was dead in the water.
Tears were shed in that locker room after falling behind 1-2. Knowing that this was unacceptable and sensing that a premature exit would mark the end of this era of Knicks basketball, everything changed after this.
They stopped letting McCollum work in isolation, blitzing him to force it out of his hands. They shifted to a KAT-centric offense, lightening the load on Brunson. Bridges found his confidence. Losing this game was necessary to be the wake-up call this team needed to get to the NBA Finals.
OG’s and-1 to go up 50 in Game 6
Fast forward to Game 6. The Knicks rolled to a Game 4 win to even up the series heading back to MSG and eviscerated the Hawks at home to put them on the brink of elimination in Game 6.
Despite falling behind 9-5 early, the Knicks looked the part of a Great White Shark. Their opponent was wounded and on their back feet.
They. Smelled. Blood.
The next 17-ish minutes saw the team go on a jaw-dropping 67-13 run, repeatedly turning over the Hawks, running out in transition, and scoring at will. The margin was incomprehensible. This sequence personified the degree of ass-kicking this game was.
Jalen Johnson, whose terrific All-NBA season went up in smoke over the course of this series, gets put into a box by Mitchell Robinson in the paint. Josh Hart races into the frontcourt before Atlanta could set their defense, allowing OG Anunoby to get downhill and score. The only reason it didn’t sound like a funeral after this was because of the Knicks fans.
Brunson’s five-point swing in Game 4 to close out Philly
There was no adversity to overcome in the four-game sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round. The only game that was competitive in the fourth quarter was Game 2, when Joel Embiid sat. The only game that Philly took a double digit lead was Game 2, but they didn’t lead for the last 34 minutes of the game.
By Game 4, the Sixers were dead. The Knicks were making triple after triple, much to the chagrin of the jarringly small number of Philly fans at Xfinity Mobile Arena. It was a Mother’s Day Massacre.
But no sequence displayed the true disparity between the heart and desire of these two teams more than when the Knicks extended their lead from 24 to 29 in less than 10 seconds early in the second half.
Brunson shakes Dominick Barlow out of his shoes and goes up-and-under Embiid for a reverse layup. A misguided outlet pass from Embiid was picked off by Deuce McBride, who got a hockey assist after Bridges hit Brunson in the corner for a three that gave the Knicks 99 points with over 19 minutes of game time remaining.
Landry Shamet’s gift from the heavens
The only time the Knicks have felt adversity in the last 40 days was Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. A rusty Knicks team couldn’t buy a make and were repeatedly exploited defensively as the Cavs abused the same game plan that stunted Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers.
It was 93-71 with under eight minutes to go, but we all know what happened from there. Brunson showed Tyler Kolek the true meaning of BBQ chicken with what he did to James Harden, dragging this team back into the game.
If I could pick a few more clips, I’d give credit to two gigantic shots by Bridges that countered the lone buckets from Cleveland down the stretch and gave the team life. Most of us thought it was over when Towns committed a dumb offensive foul, but his clutch shotmaking set up what happened next.
Towns got a piece of a Spida floater with a minute to go that gave the Knicks the ball, down by three. Brunson brought the ball up, was double-teamed, and made the right read to kick it to Anunoby, who then swung it to a wide open Landry Shamet.
If he misses this shot, the Cavs will have a three-point lead and the ball with under 45 seconds to go. The margin for error would be nonexistent. When the ball first hit the rim, it seemed like that was reality, but the basketball gods repaid the Knicks for Tyrese Haliburton’s improbable game-tying shot in a similar spot last year, giving Shamet a friendly role.
The Knicks aren’t here without Shamet’s blisteringly hot shooting. Every contender needs someone who can turn into a flamethrower on cue.
Cleveland gives up in Game 3
In case you haven’t noticed, a trend of this article is the Knicks breaking their opponents. It’s like Mike Brown’s been showing them clips from Rocky IV:
At this point, it’s all but academic in Game 3. The Knicks had come to Rocket Arena and had all but killed the Cavaliers. A 3-0 deficit is logistically impossible to come back from in basketball.
But you kinda had a feeling that the Memorial Day massacre was coming when Cleveland basically gave up at the end of the game. It looked like a team that was mentally checked out, something that was validated by Kenny Atkinson’s foolish remarks the next day at shootaround.
Aside from Max Strus, everyone stopped playing. This was a team dead in the water, mortally wounded by Game 1’s impossible comeback and firmly on life support after two more devastating blows to the heart. The Knicks are breaking their opponents, and that’s how they’ve made it to the NBA Finals.
BONUS: Danhausen’s curse
This has nothing to do with basketball, but the results speak for themselves, don’t they?
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 28: Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox takes the mound for the first inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves on May 28, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TV: NESN
First Pitch: 6:45 p.m. ET
The Red Sox still cannot figure out ways to win at Fenway Park. Boston dropped the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles and remains the only club in baseball to not win 10 games at home so far.
Payton Tolle looks to get the Red Sox there after a short but solid outing last time out against the Atlanta Braves.
Here’s who the Red Sox will send to the plate Wednesday night.
The Orioles counter with Chris Bassitt. The right-hander has given the Red Sox problems for years to the tune of a 3.59 ERA in his career against them. With that said, Boston chased him after allowing eight runs in two innings last June for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Carlos Lagrange of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders delivers a pitch during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 22, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Yankees’ bullpen, contrary to popular belief, hasn’t been a weakness so far. Well, statistically at least. The unit ranks tenth in MLB with a 3.59 ERA before Tuesday’s game, which is not bad. Of course, true contenders want to be much closer to the top of the league, and that hasn’t been the case with this group.
However you split it, though, the Yanks want another true shutdown reliever or two, and if they go out to the trade market to bring them in, the cost in prospects would be high. That’s probably why they have decided to speed up Carlos Lagrange’s potential call-up by moving him to the bullpen.
Lagrange, to this point, had been OK as a starter in Triple-A Scranton. Not particularly good, and certainly not bad. Just OK, which is fine for a 23-year-old pitcher with big velocity but control issues pitching at that level for the first time in his career.
The right-hander has a 4.41 ERA in 49 innings of work, with an impressive 29 percent strikeout rate but also an 11.5 percent walk rate. While that last number might look a tad high, it’s actually solid considering Lagrange’s reputation as a thrower as opposed to a pitcher.
The main issue so far with Lagrange, at least this season in Triple-A, hasn’t even been walks: it’s been a lack of better command. In his most recent start in Scranton, he threw 30 fastballs, and 21 were strikes, for example. That’s not bad if we speak strictly about control:
A very businesslike performance by Carlos Lagrange tonight en route to a season-high 5.2 innings of work.
5.2 ip 3 h 1 r/er 1 bb 6 k 1 hr
Good pitch mix: 30 four-seamers, 21 changeups, 16 sliders, 14 sweepers, 5 sinkers. 55 of the 86 went for strikes, including 21 of those…
He can overwhelm hitters in the low minors just by pumping 103-mph heaters and that filthy slider of his, but he needs more to consistently get Triple-A batters out, and he’ll certainly need even more to be a solid major leaguer. That ‘more’ is, quite simply, command. He has the raw stuff to be a difference-maker on any staff, but MLB hitters will test him in ways he didn’t think were possible.
The lack of good command, which is basically hitting his spots and not just throwing the ball in the zone, has resulted in more hard contact against Lagrange. Last year, the flamethrower allowed 0.46 home runs per nine innings in Double-A Somerset, but that number has soared to 1.47 in 2026 in Scranton. It’s the first time in his career he has been over 1.00 in a relevant sample.
Perhaps the fact that Lagrange is prone to leaving some meatballs over the plate from time to time played a big role in the Yankees’ decision to move him to the bullpen, at least for 2026. Yes, their lack of elite relief pitching talent on the roster aside from one or two exceptions might have contributed, too, but they also believe that the righty could be less vulnerable in short spurts as a reliever. They probably think his top-notch velocity can be an asset even if command is not ideal, and they are probably right… as long as he doesn’t hurt himself with walks at the highest level.
If Triple-A hitters can make him pay if he gets wild, you can be sure the same is true, even to a greater extent, for MLB batters. When it’s time for him to test his skills against top competition, he will need to show that he has, indeed, made strides.
The 2026 campaign has been positive for the pitcher even though the results have been far from elite. His development, however, is not done. Lagrange still needs to do a better job preventing the long ball, and that will come with reps, time, and innings. Circumstances might force the Yankees to call him up in the summer, once he has become familiar with his new role, and to be completely honest, it suits his current skill set better than starting.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 30: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 30, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Spurs depth in the regular season was one of their strengths, with up to 11 current players having rotation spots at some point or another. That includes veteran Harrison Barnes and rookie Carter Bryant swapping places midseason, but even as the rotation has shortened, they have both still been situationally used in the playoffs (albeit in short leashes).
Despite all that depth, how the game has gone for the Spurs has depended more and more on how Victor Wembanyama has performed as the playoffs progress. When he’s great, the Spurs usually win, but when he’s merely “good” but doesn’t get a lot of help (or, you know, has to leave the game for reasons he either did or didn’t cause), the Spurs have struggled. Now that we have reached the NBA Finals against a similarly deep and stronger Knicks team, everyone will have to step up.
The Spurs have seen almost everyone step up at some point or another in these playoffs, but there’s one player they seem to benefit the most from when he has a big game, and that’s rookie guard Dylan Harper. In our In the Bonus article from after Game 7 against the Thunder, this was part of my answer to the question, “Who was the second most important Spur” after Victor Wembanyama:
I’m going to go out on a limb (and probably differ from everyone else) and say Harper because he is the biggest wildcard of the group. Outside of Wemby, perhaps the biggest deciding factor in each game was if the Spurs’ bench would hold on when he sat, and when Harper was out for most of Game 2 or ineffective from games 3-5 with the sore adductor, it was a much bigger hurdle for them to overcome. When he was on point in games 1 (which he admittedly started), 6 and 7, the Spurs had the upper hand almost the entire time.
This got me to thinking, as many X factors as the Spurs have in this series, Harper could be the most important one, just like he was against OKC. An X factor is defined as “a circumstance, quality, or person that has a strong but unpredictable influence,” and that certainly applies to Harper. He’s a rookie, and despite having a poise and maturity level beyond his years, he‘s still going to have his ups and downs, but perhaps nothing showed his value more than when he was at his best against the Thunder, and that is bound to be the case against the Knicks as well.
None of this is to say he needs to be their second best player or leading scorer after Wemby or completely take over games, but he needs to help keep the offense flowing for the second unit when De’Aaron Fox and/or Stephon Castle sits and keep hitting big, timely shots like he did in Game 7. As previously stated, when he’s been on, the Spurs have had the advantage; when he isn’t, they suffer when the starters sit. The Finals is all hands on deck, and even though Keldon Johnson was Sixth Man of the Year, the second unit’s performance and perhaps the Spurs’ fate begins and ends with Harper.
(For added proof, FanDuel Sportsbook has Harper as 4th most likely Spur to win Finals MVP behind Wemby, Fox and Castle. How far has he come that a rookie bench player is looked so highly upon?)
Other Spurs X Factors
Julian Champagnie — After a hot first round, Champagnie’s three-point shooting has been up and down in the last two rounds, and his impact is pretty clear. In their 12 wins, he has shot 40% from three; in their six loss, just 29.8%. Almost every rotation player on the Knicks is an above average three-point shooter, which could be their biggest advantage. The Spurs will need everyone to step up in that regard, especially their best shooter, who needs to either help prevent double-teams on Wemby by making shots or capitalize off them — by making shots.
De’Aaron Fox’s ankle — As an All-Star, Fox himself is not a X Factor, but his gimpy ankle turns him into one. After suffering a high ankle sprain in the second round against Minnesota, he missed Games 1 and 2 against the Thunder, which the Spurs split thanks to a fantastic performance from Harper in Game 1. However, it took him until about Game 6 or 7 to look right again, but while the Spurs certainly missed his slashing ability and automatic offense in that time frame, his mere presence was able keep the turnovers down. They’ll need that at a minimum from him again, but the closer he can get to the healthiest version of himself, the better.
Keldon Johnson — It goes without saying that KJ has suffered the Curse of the Award in these playoffs (a.k.a. when a player wins something, then their production in the postseason suffers — it’s especially known to attack MVP’s). Similar to Harper and another player to be listed below, the Spurs need the bench to perform in those crucial non-Wemby (and Fox, Castle, etc.) minutes. KJ got some redemption with an offensive explosion in the fourth quarter of Game 7, and they’ll need of his Sixth Man of the Year form throughout the Finals.
Luke Kornet — Kornet has and will continue to be the target of driving lanes the instant Wemby sits because opponents know how valuable those minutes are. He’s not the only reason the non-Wemby minutes have been largely negative, but he’s the one carrying the burden, fairly or not. Like KJ, hopefully his redemption from Game 7 carries over. We may also get some French Vanilla minutes since the Knicks are equally as capable of playing two bigs, so that’s another scenario he needs to be ready for and could be a huge factor.
The Nick Castellanos experiment in San Diego is over after just 39 games.
The Padres designated the veteran outfielder for assignment on Wednesday after an abysmal first two months of the season in which he slashed .191/.221/.339 for an OPS of .560 in 122 plate appearances, career lows across the board in his 14-year big league career.
INF/OF Samad Taylor has been called up from Triple-A El Paso in the corresponding roster move.
The timing of the move comes as the Padres are currently in Philadelphia for a three-game series, where Castellanos played four seasons before he was released in February ahead of the final year of a five-year, $100 million contract that began in 2022. During his time in Philadelphia, Castellanos averaged .260 with a .732 OPS and hit 82 home runs.
He emerged as a key player during the Phillies' 2022 NLCS run and was an All-Star for the second time in his career the following season, but his relationship with the organization and then-manager Rob Thomson became strained in 2025 after his antics — such as drinking an El Presidente beer in the dugout after being removed from a game — made more headlines than his declining production.
"Apparently, they thought it was just best for the organization that my personality wasn’t in the clubhouse," Castellanos told reporters recently of his unceremonious end in Philadelphia.
Castellanos last appeared in a game for the Padres on May 31 against the Washington Nationals, where he went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base.
What's next for Nick Castellanos?
This could spell the end of Castellanos' career. The 34-year-old currently ranks in the bottom third of the Majors in fielding run value, bat speed, squared-up percentage, arm value and arm strength. His liability on defense was a factor in his fallout with the Phillies a year ago and the Padres tried to mitigate that by getting him some reps at first base and DH this season, but he still posted an OAA (outs above average) value of -4. Though he has never been a strong fielder, Castellanos' bat has always been able to make up for his defensive shortcomings; but that simply hasn't been the case the last two seasons.
That said, it wouldn't be the biggest surprise if some team in need of pop at the plate takes a chance on Castellanos in hopes he can return to form.
NL West outlook
The Padres were able put together a solid start to the season despite struggles at the plate from Castellanos as well as their core of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado thanks to stellar performances from their starters and league-best bullpen, but they've struggled down the stretch. Since losing two of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers from May 18-20 to fall back into second place in the division, they've lost seven of their last 10 and enter Wednesday on a three-game losing streak and find themselves trailing LA by six games.
San Diego is currently tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the top NL Wild Card spot.
Jun 2, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (7) reacts after hitting a two run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
I always say it is hardest to blog about a middling team. A bad team, lots to talk about. A good team, lots to talk about. One in the middle?
I think the Jays will get better. I think getting Alejandro Kirk back will help a lot. I think getting, you know, five actual starting pitchers will help. Teams tend to do well on bullpen days, but I think using everyone in the pen in one game out of five (or in the Jays’ case, two games out of five) puts a lot of stress on the relievers. As much as I like the old days when Mark Eichhorn could throw 160 innings in a season, Tom Henke could throw 90 innings, and Duane Ward could throw 110, it was a different game back then. Having Louis Varland pitch in every other game isn’t a recipe for long-term success.
It would also help if we could get 4-5-6 runs a game. Yesterday, we had nine hits, including a home run, and we still only scored three runs. Until we start scoring consistently, we really can’t blame the pitching for a mediocre record. There is hardly anyone on the offense who is heading better than we would have expected, except for Yohendrick Piñango (and I don’t know of anyone who expected he would get playing time in the majors this year.
Even defensively, we haven’t been the team I expected. Gimenez has been terrific at short. And Daulton Varsho seems to be coming back to what we expected. But Ernie Clement has been a -5 runs above average at second base, and I didn’t see that coming. Jesus Sanchez and Piñango look like two guys who are new to playing the outfield.
Anyway, I do think things will get better with some of the guys coming off the IL. I don’t know if it will be better enough, but the AL has been pretty crappy, and we aren’t far out of a playoff spot, just one game back at the moment. Some or one of those teams hovering around the .500 mark are going to have to get better; maybe it will be the Jays. They had a great second half last year. Who is to say it can’t happen again?
Baseball America has made some changes to its top 100 prospect list, and Jays prospect Nolan Perry has jumped on the list at #85. BA says:
Perry is one of this season’s biggest risers. He’s used a dynamic combination of speed and spin to flummox hitters at both Class A stops, and his ERA entering June 2 sat at a sparkling 1.37. He’s punched out 72 hitters in 46 innings and has the makings of a future rotation piece if he can bring his changeup forward.
Of course, Trey Yesavage is one of ten players from their list to have graduated off their list.
Beyond that, Arjun Nimmala has moved up from #65 to #48 (Jo Jo Parker has moved down, 41s
Another Wednesday, that means it must be Ohtani on the bump day.
Just a few weeks ago people were wringing their hands about Shohei Ohtani being stellar on the mound, but putrid at the plate. Well, the two-way superstar has definitely turned things around with his bat.
In Tuesday night’s game, his first two at bats were a double and a triple. His reappearance of his old self at the plate came into play later, when he was intentionally walked in the seventh inning – which is the first time in 26 games that he had been walked intentionally. He later came around to score what would be the winning run. In his last five games, Ohtani is 11-for-22 with a homer, a triple, and two doubles.
On the pitching side, Ohtani sits at 5-2 with a 0.82 ERA. Despite tossing six no-hit innings last week against the Colorado Rockies, Shohei didn’t actually have one of his best outings. He had a season low 56% strike rate and walked a season high four batters. He stated after the game he “just really couldn’t find it”.
Only seven current Diamondback players have faced Ohtani before, and all combined have 21 at bats against, with no homers and no RBI amongst them.
The Dodgers will face Zac Gallen, whom they have seen plenty of times. Gallen has been much better at home so far this season, going 3-1 with a 3.09 ERA as opposed to a 7.57 ERA on the road. The Dodgers did see him to start the season where they tagged him for four runs, but not until the fifth inning, which included a three-run homer off the bat of Andy Pages.
The Diamondback have been tough so far this series, with Arizona taking the first game 4-1, and almost completing a comeback, losing 6-5 in Tuesday’s game.
In that game, five relievers were needed to hold on to that win. Ohtani would do well to go deep into the game, at least the six he usually goes. Gallen is one of the weaker pitchers in the Diamondbacks arsenal, and Dodgers have done really well against right handers this season. Ohtani last pitched at Chase Field last September, where he went six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.
Jun 3, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) celebrates with first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) after scoring a run in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
The Tigers did the seemingly impossible on Wednesday afternoon as they wrapped up their series against the American League’s top team with a sweep, winning 7-2.
I’d be very curious to know if someone in the Tigers’ front office has promised their firstborn child to an Etsy witch, or something, because I don’t know who the June Tigers are, but they are not the same team that dragged their feet and bats through the whole month of May. I am not complaining, because if there’s one thing I love, it’s fun (and winning) baseball. The Tigers had already won the series heading into the Wednesday afternoon game, but they were hoping to come away with their first sweep in, like, a million years. To get there, they had Troy Melton on the mound, up against Nick Martinez for the Rays.
Gleyber Torres got things going in the first with a leadoff double. A Kevin McGonigle flyout advanced the runner to third, and then a Dillon Dingler single brought Torres home for the first run of the game.
With two outs, Riley Greene singled, but the Tigers weren’t able to convert another runner for the inning. In the home half, Junior Caminero got a one-out single, followed by a Jonathan Aranda walk. Yandy Diaz then singled, bringing in Caminero and tying the game. They’d have to settle for just the one run, but it was the first time the entire series they weren’t trailing the Tigers.
The second inning started with two outs, but Jake Rogers then hit a solo home run to left to push the Tigers back into the lead.
Cedric Mullins fought back in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff home run to re-tie the game. Nick Fortes then followed that with a single, but the Rays weren’t able to convert another baserunner.
Kevin McGonigle got the third started with a single. With one out, Kerry Carpenter singled into center, the ball deflected off the glove of Chandler Simpson. Riley Greene walked, and then a Spencer Torkelson sac fly brought McGonigle home.
In the home half, Aranda used the ABS to get himself a leadoff walk, but Yandy Diaz then grounded into a double play. That made things a fair bit easier for Melton to get out of the inning.
Matt Vierling started the fourth with a single, then advanced to second on a sac bunt from Rogers. Gleyber Torres then singled. With two outs, Dillon Dingler hit a three-run home run to push the Tigers into the lead by a wide margin.
The Rays did little to fight back in the bottom of the inning as they went 1-2-3 back to the dugout.
Martinez’s day was done as the game headed into the fifth, and he was replaced by Mason Englert. Greene got a leadoff single, but was then eliminated in a double play off the bat of Torkelson. A pop-out ended the inning. In the home half, the Rays once again went three-up, three-down.
In the sixth, Jake Rogers got a one-out single. A wild pitch from Englert allowed Rogers to advance to second. Two outs followed though, leaving the baserunner stranded. The Rays had another 1-2-3 inning.
Dingler got a free bag in the seventh after getting hit by a pitch. That’s certainly one way to keep him from hitting home runs. Carpenter grounded into a force out to eliminate Dingler. Then, with two outs, another wild pitch by Englert allowed Carpenter to advance to second, but the Tigers left another runner stranded. Bold of them to think a four-run lead is enough considering history. The Rays, however, didn’t do much to stage a comeback in the bottom of the inning, as they were set down in order.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the eighth. Melton was back out again for the home half, and despite extra effort to get through the first innings, he was looking dialled in and relaxed. He plowed through the side like he was just coming into the game. Just awesome stuff.
Torres started the top of the ninth with a single, continuing to swing a hot bat since his return. McGonigle doubled right behind him, pushing Torres to third. Dingler lined out directly to Caminero on third but Torres was lightning fast getting back, making sure he avoided the double play. A sac fly from Carpenter brought Torres home. Melton was done after eight, with a final line of 8.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR on 94 pitches. Drew Anderson came out of the pen to replace him. Anderson got the side out in order, and the Tigers walked away with a sweep.
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: Andre Iguodala #9, Klay Thompson #11, Stephen Curry #30, Draymond Green #23 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 108-85 to win the 2018 NBA Finals. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 NBA Finals tip off Wednesday night with the San Antonio Spurs hosting the New York Knicks at 5:30 p.m. PT. Regardless of who ultimately lifts the Larry O’Brien Trophy, this year’s Finals will extend a historic streak that underscores the parity across today’s NBA.
With the Spurs and Knicks meeting on the league’s biggest stage, the NBA is guaranteed to crown a different champion for the eighth consecutive season, marking the longest such streak in league history.
The NBA will have a different champion for the eighth straight season, extending the longest such streak in league history.
The last team to successfully repeat? The Golden State Warriors, who captured back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018 during the height of the franchise’s dynasty.
Since then, every reigning champion has fallen short of defending its title the following season, a testament to how difficult sustained success has become in the modern NBA.
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder nearly had an opportunity to end that streak this year after another dominant regular season. However, injuries eventually took their toll in the playoffs, and Oklahoma City finished just one Game 7 victory against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals away from earning another chance to repeat.
As the league prepares to crown yet another new champion, it’s hard not to look back at the Warriors’ dynasty with a greater appreciation. Golden State reached five consecutive NBA Finals from 2015-2019 and won three championships along the way, a run that feels even more impressive in today’s parity-driven NBA.
On this day in 2018, Stephen Curry made NINE 3-pt FG in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Cavaliers, breaking Ray Allen's record for 3-pt FG in a Finals game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6Zitf5w8T2
This series, however, is about more than deciding a champion. It’s about one team exorcising decades of despair and the other introducing a monster capable of terrorizing the league for many years.
The marquee is appealing, the lights are bright and eyeballs will be plentiful. These Finals bring the kind of spectator nirvana not seen since 2016, when Curry and Warriors – after coming back to eliminate Durant and Thunder in the conference finals– took a 3-1 lead over James and the Cavs, only to fall in seven.
May we get seven games in these Finals. No doubt the NBA wants it. And why wouldn’t its fans?
Scout’s take: Burries drew comparisons to another combo guard who excelled in analytical models before the draft (and since): Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski. It’s an ironic comparison because they could be teammates in Golden State, which has the 11th pick in the draft.
“He’s maybe a bit less scrappy,” one executive said, “but he’s got more off the bounce than Podz.”
Some question whether Burries’ production can scale up offensively. If that happens, he could be compared to White or potentially Jamal Murray. — Bontemps
Draymond on what's important for the Knicks in their defense of Victor Wembanyama
“What's very important when trying to guard Victor Wembanyama is your point of attack defender and that'll probably be OG Anunoby… When Victor Wembanyama's in the paint, he's probably the most… pic.twitter.com/Wpz8cmHx8C
— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) June 3, 2026
The Thunder’s team salary was a manageable $186.7 million this season, 15th in the NBA and below the tax line for the sixth consecutive season. Next season, prior to the draft, free agency and their various team option choices, the Thunder’s salary is projected at a whopping $250.5 million, well past the projected second apron, which would trigger a more than $200 million tax bill.
League insiders are not predicting the prudent Presti will make any panic moves because of a coin flip seven-game series loss to the Spurs. But many league executives have been wondering aloud for months whether the Thunder’s shifting financials could lead to a slashing and market availability of some of their coveted role players, especially given the cache of draft picks and young players Presti has accumulated to replace them if needed.
“There can’t be room for everybody,” one East executive said.
Two storied franchises, out to write new chapters in their history. Check out the full official schedule of the NBA Finals before the action gets underway tomorrow!
Li-Ning shoes are known in the basketball world for having exceptional support and comfort, which no doubt factored into the decision for Curry, who has dealt with ankle issues for his entire career. Critically, the company is also endorsed by Curry’s friend and teammate Jimmy Butler III, which no doubt played a role (and hopefully the company is giving Butler a nice little reward for that).
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
Jun 3, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Ben Williamson (15) fields a ground ball in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
After so much time spent winning to start the season, defying expectations and climbing to the top of the American League, it’s safe to say no one had “lose a whole series to the worst team in the league” on their June bingo card. Yet the Rays have struggled consistently against the Tigers in this series, either forcing them to claw back runs to almost tie up a game, or to go completely shut-out against one of Detroit’s most inconsistent pitchers. It’s The Outer Limits. It’s Weird Baseball. And frankly, we don’t want it to continue. The Rays were just hoping to come away with a win in the series heading into Wednesday afternoon’s game, and they were doing it with Nick Martinez on the mound, up against a recently returned from the IL Troy Melton for the Tigers.
Gleyber Torres got things going in the first with a leadoff double. A Kevin McGonigle flyout advanced the runner to third, and then a Dillon Dingler single brought Torres home for the first run of the game. With two outs, Riley Greene singled, but the Tigers weren’t able to convert another runner for the inning. In the home half, Junior Caminero got a one-out single, followed by a Jonathan Aranda walk. Yandy Diaz then singled, bringing in Caminero and tying the game. They’d have to settle for just the one run, but it was the first time the entire series they weren’t trailing the Tigers.
The second inning started with two outs, but Jake Rogers then hit a solo home run to left to push the Tigers back into the lead. Cedric Mullins fought back in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff home run to re-tie the game. Nick Fortes then followed that with a single, but the Rays weren’t able to convert another baserunner.
Kevin McGonigle got the third started with a single. With one out, Kerry Carpenter singled into center, the ball deflected off the glove of Chandler Simpson. Riley Greene walked, and then a Spencer Torkelson sac fly brought McGonigle home. In the home half, Aranda used the ABS to get himself a leadoff walk, but Yandy Diaz then grounded into a double play. That made things a fair bit easier for Melton to get out of the inning.
Matt Vierling started the fourth with a single, then advanced to second on a sac bunt from Rogers. Gleyber Torres then singled. With two outs, Dillon Dingler hit a three-run home run to push the Tigers into the lead by a wide margin. The Rays did little to fight back in the bottom of the inning as they went 1-2-3 back to the dugout.
Martinez’s day was done after four, and he was replaced by Mason Englert. His final line for the game was 4.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 HR on 5o pitches. A really rough start. Those numbers pretty much tell you the whole story, as does the short leash Kevin Cash used before pulling him. Greene got a leadoff single, but was then eliminated in a double play off the bat of Torkelson. A pop-out ended the inning. In the home half, the Rays once again went three-up, three-down.
In the sixth, Jake Rogers got a one-out single. A wild pitch from Englert allowed Rogers to advance to second. Two outs followed though, leaving the baserunner stranded. The Rays had another 1-2-3 inning.
Dingler got a free bag in the seventh after getting hit by a pitch. That’s certainly one way to keep him from hitting home runs. Carpenter grounded into a force out to eliminate Dingler. Then, with two outs, another wild pitch by Englert allowed Carpenter to advance to second, but the Tigers left another runner stranded. Bold of them to think a four-run lead is enough considering history. The Rays, however, didn’t do much to stage a comeback in the bottom of the inning, as they were set down in order.
In the eighth, the Rays got the Tigers out in order, which was a rare treat in this game. Unfortunately they did the same thing themselves in the bottom of the inning. Hard to make a comeback when you can’t even get a baserunner on.
Torres started the top of the ninth with a single, continuing his hot streak in his first series back from the IL. McGonigle doubled right behind him, pushing Torres to third. Dingler lined out directly to Caminero on third but Torres snuck back, narrowly avoiding the double play. A sac fly from Carpenter brought Torres home. The Tigers would have to settle for one, but it was another run the Rays would have to try to get back. Melton was done after eight, and Drew Anderson came out of the pen to replace him. Anderson got the side out in order, and the Tigers walked away with a sweep, while the Rays would have to ask themselves some difficult questions.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 07: Rhett Lowder #25 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field on May 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rhett Lowder took the mound in a professional baseball game on Tuesday night for the first time in nearly a month. What he produced didn’t matter nearly as much as how he felt after getting in the work with AAA Louisville, and apparently he’s feeling just fine.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, Lowder came out of his 5.0 IP outing against the Memphis Redbirds feeling as he was supposed to feel as a starting pitcher, and will rejoin the Cincinnati Reds to make a start on Sunday when the team is in St. Louis facing the Cardinals. So said manager Terry Francona, per Sheldon.
Lowder yielded a trio of runs in his rehab outing, but he threw 70 pitches, logged 8 strikeouts, and didn’t walk a soul in an outing more reminiscent of him at his finest.
What we’ll be anxious to see now, though, is just how much the ‘clicking’ in his shoulder that shut him down early in a May 7th start against the Chicago Cubs was something that caused him to stumble a bit against big league pitching prior to hitting the shelf. Between that start and his previous one – a brutal 1.1 IP outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he was hammered for 8 ER while walking the world – he allowed a whopping 11 ER and 8 walks against just 2 K in 4.1 IP combined.
In part due to Lowder’s scheduled return, Chris Paddack has seemingly been bumped from the starting rotation for the time being. He’ll be available in relief in the meantime, though it remains to be seen what kind of role he’ll have when Lowder is activated in time for Sunday’s game.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MARCH 20: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shoes in warm ups against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on March 20, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew A. Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
An arbitrator ruled last month that NBA free agent Terry Rozier violated his player's contract and will forfeit his 2025-26 season salary of $26.6 million after being indicted for his role in a sports gambling scandal.
According to court documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports, an arbitrator said Rozier should not be paid. The guard did not play for the Miami Heat during the 2025-26 season, and as a condition of his bond after his October arrest, he was not allowed to travel with the team or contact the Heat or the Charlotte Hornets, for whom he played when the alleged scheme took place.
The arbitrator's ruling was included in documents filed in the Eastern District of New York in connection with Rozier's motion to modify the conditions of pretrial release. He was arrested in October and charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
Rozier was put on immediate leave by the NBA after being accused in a wide-ranging illegal gambling scheme that includes ties to organized crime and involves more than 30 individuals. Federal authorities allege in court documents that Rozier provided insider information that gamblers used to place wagers on the Los Angeles Lakers, Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors over the span of a year. The National Basketball Players Association filed a grievance on his behalf, and an arbitrator originally ruled that Rozier should be paid his full salary while on leave.
Rozier allegedly schemed to leave early during a March 23, 2023 game against the New Orleans Pelicans due to a foot injury. Rozier played less than 10 minutes in the game and did not return, finishing with five points and two assists. The accusation is that Rozier told co-defendant Deniro Laster he would leave the game early, and that information was sold to others, who made the "under" bets.
Rozier, who is free on a $3 million bond, is due back in a Brooklyn federal courthouse on June 10 to face additional charges of sports bribery and honest services fraud for that March 2023 game.
