The Seattle Mariners will look to complete a series sweep as they host the New York Mets on Wednesday afternoon.
Seattle profiles well against New York starter Freddy Peralta, which is why I’m taking the home team to bring out the brooms in my Mets vs. Mariners predictions below.
Read on for more analysis and to get my free MLB picks for Wednesday, June 3.
Who will win Mets vs Mariners today: Mariners moneyline (-138)
The Seattle Mariners should be able to get another win behind George Kirby this afternoon. Kirby has an outstanding chase rate of 35.8% in 2026, which will play well against a New York Mets lineup chasing out of the zone 31.4% of the time.
Freddy Peralta has labored over his last four starts, putting up an ERA of 4.37 and a 1.54 WHIP in 22.2 innings of work. The Mariners' lineup has a .757 OPS against righties this season, and should hit Peralta hard. I’m taking Seattle to win as long as I can get at least a -150 payout.
COVERS INTEL: The Mariners are getting around on four-seam fastballs this year, pulling them in the air 21.3% of the time against righties. That’s a pitch Peralta throws 54% of the time.
Mets vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (+113)
While Kirby should get the best of the Mets this afternoon, there are reasons to expect they’ll put up a little offense. New York has scored at least two runs in eight straight games, and Kirby is going through a rough patch, posting a 6.88 ERA over his last three starts.
If the Mets can post a couple of runs, I’m confident that Seattle will handle the rest of the total against Peralta, who is posting the worst hard-hit percentage (39.6%) and strikeout rate (23.9%) of his career so far in 2026. I’m backing the Over at even money or better.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 11-14 -3.66 units
Over/Under bets: 7-16, -9.53 units
Mets vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Mets +133 | Mariners -138
Run line: Mets +1.5 (-163) | Mariners -1.5 (+156)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+113) | Under 7.5 (-117)
Mets vs Mariners trend
The Mariners are 8-0 straight up in their last eight games overall. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Mariners.
How to watch Mets vs Mariners and game info
Location
Stadium, City, State/Province
Date
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
First pitch
3:40 p.m. ET
TV
Mariners.TV, SportsNET New York
Mets starting pitcher
Freddy Peralta (3-4, 3.55 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
George Kirby (5-4, 3.77 ERA)
Mets vs Mariners latest injuries
Mets vs Mariners 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.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 02: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks to the dugout after a strike out during the ninth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 02, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Diamondbacks Multiple Comebacks Fall Short The Dodgers found a way to scratch out just enough against a struggling Michael Soroka and Jonathan Loaisiga in order to level the four-game series at one a piece.
More ABs in the Complex League last night for #Dbacks OF Jordan Lawlar, he finished 1 for 3 with a run scored, stolen base, and a walk. He did not play in the field, and served as the DH. https://t.co/FCOZkJ95sI
— Arizona Diamondbacks | Stats & Info (@DbacksStatsInfo) June 3, 2026
How Padres’ Sale Complete Peter Seidler’s Legacy Seidler’s decision to allow A.J. Preller to “spend recklessly” has paid off in spades for the Padres and now sees them competing with the Dodgers for the NL West.
Who Are These Guys? The batting leaderboards are becoming littered with a bevvy of new names.
Last night the Cleveland Guardians took advantage of an off night for Yankees’ pitchers and the absence of Aaron Judge (bone bruise) and beat up the Bronx Bombers, 9-4, on Tuesday night. Jose Ramirez was exceptional picking up three doubles and driving in a pair of runs and Travis Bazzana drove in 4 with a sacrifice fly and a bases-clearing double of his own to help pace the Cleveland attack. Paul Goldschmidt was the offense for New York driving in all 4 runs with a home run and a single.
As noted, it was an off night for Yankees’ hurlers. Cam Schlittler (7-3) suffered through his worst start of the season, allowing five runs (four earned) over just 4.1 innings to take the loss. Colin Holderman (4-1) came on in relief of Joey Cantillo who lasted just four innings and allowed four runs himself.
Tonight’s pitching matchup features two of the best in baseball as Gavin Williams gets the ball for Cleveland and Gerrit Cole takes the mound for the Yankees. Cole has been near-perfect since his return from Tommy John surgery throwing 12.2 scoreless innings striking out 12 while walking only three. Williams has thrown himself into the Cy Young discussion with eight wins in eleven starts, 88 strikeouts, and a 3.07 ERA.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Guardians
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Time: 7:05PM EST
Site: Yankee Stadium
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Prime Video, 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 Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-163), Cleveland Guardians (+135)
Guardians: Gavin Williams Season Totals: 76.1 IP, 8-3, 3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 88K, 24 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Guardians
José Ramírez — went 3-5 last night to break out of an 8‑45 slump
Brayan Rocchio — picked up a hit, stole 2 bases, and drove in a run last night
Kyle Manzardo — hit his 6th home run last night
Travis Bazzana — drove in 4 runs last night with a three‑run double and sac fly
Paul Goldschmidt — drove in all 4 Yankee runs last night (2-run HR, 2-run single)
Ben Rice — hitting streak now at 6 games (13-26)
Trent Grisham — 8-24 over his last 6 games
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees and Guardians
The Guardians are 33-29 on the Run Line this season
The Yankees are 30-30 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 31 times in Cleveland’s 62 games this season (31-31)
The OVER has cashed 27 times in the Yankees’ 60 games this season (27-30-3)
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Guardians
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Yankees and the Guardians:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Guardians on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 7.0.
First Five Innings: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on each team UNDER 1.5 runs in the first 5 innings
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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 02: Jacob Young #30 of the Washington Nationals can't catch a hit by Heriberto Hernández #13 of the Miami Marlins in the fifth inning during a baseball game at Nationals Park on June 2, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This season the Nats have matched up well with high priced teams like the Braves, Padres and Mets. However, the scrappy Marlins have given them all sorts of issues. They have lost four straight games against the fish, and these games follow familiar patterns. The Marlins are able to quiet the Nats bats, and then the Nats eventually lose a battle of the bullpens.
The Marlins are following the Rays and Guardians model of being a high contact team that is very annoying to play against. They pepper you with bloop singles, and then get that one big homer to put the game away. At this point, Nats fans would rather play the Braves for all 162 games than deal with the Marlins gritty brand of baseball.
Marlins are the most annoying team to play in the division and it’s not even close lmao
It just seems like the Fish are a uniquely bad matchup for this Nats team. They are the only pitching staff to figure out this Nats lineup for an extended period of time. I am not really sure what it is though. The Marlins have a good pitching staff, but it is not elite. They do throw fewer fastballs than just about anyone, so that could be a reason for their success against the Nats.
Another reason for the Marlins success just comes down to some luck in my opinion. It feels like every time the Nats do put pressure on the Marlins, the wrong guy is up with runners in scoring position. Jorbit Vivas or Jose Tena always seem to come up in big spots against the Marlins. Those guys have not been clutch against anyone, but especially not against the Marlins. The Nats were 0/5 with a runner on third in the 7th and 8th innings.
Final: Marlins 7, Nats 3. Miles Mikolas and Mitchell Parker combined to allow 4 homers. The lineup went 0-for-5 with a runner on third in the 7th and 8th innings. Nationals fall back to .500 and are 1-4 vs. Miami this season.
These losses are just a lot more frustrating than when the Nats fall to a team like the Dodgers or the Braves. I truly think that the Nats are a more talented team than the Marlins, but it consistently feels like they get out-executed in these matchups. Last night was a little bit different though. The Nats were the ones relying on small ball and the Marlins mistakes, while the Fish were blasting homers.
However, when the Marlins had runners in scoring position, they usually executed, while the Nats did not. I hate to say it, but Blake Butera has also gotten outmanaged badly in this series. Butera’s decisions to go to Cole Henry and Mitchell Parker in one run games allowed the Marlins to open up the floodgates. I also did not love his decision to pinch hit Jose Tena for Jacob Young, and then put Tena in the outfield.
Lot of head scratching decisions tonight from Blake Butera
Butera just had an off night in my opinion. Between the Tena decision, sticking with Mikolas for as long as he did, and then turning to Parker, Butera’s decisions turned out to be costly. He is a rookie manager, so you cannot reasonably expect him to be perfect, but it was not great last night.
I think Butera has done an excellent job this season. He has control of the clubhouse, some of his unorthodox lineup decisions have paid off and he hired a great staff. However, the bullpen management this series has been shaky at best.
The Nats still have a chance to salvage a game in this series this afternoon. Staying above .500 and avoiding a June swoon is very important for this team. That makes today a big game. Andrew Alvarez will be starting, and hopefully we see a heavy dose of Brad Lord. This has been a deflating series, but today is a chance for some damage control.
GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 21: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zach Root (41) throws a pitch against the Chicago White Sox in a Spring Breakout Game on March 21, 2026, at Camelback Ranch at Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Wins and losses were somewhat overshadowed by a couple of memorable individual performances in the Dodgers’ minor league system.
Player of the day
It was a toss-up between Zyhir Hope’s six-RBI effort in Double-A and the fabulous start by Zach Root in High-A. Between the two, we’ll go with Root, who shattered his season-high mark in length, which had been the four innings covered in his previous start, delivering seven one-hit innings in a 4-0 win for the Loons.
For the second game in a row, Root struck out nine hitters, earning his first win of the season, hardly a surprise since he hadn’t yet pitched deep enough into a game to qualify for one.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
The Comets were out-hit nine to three and thus unable to overcome the three runs allowed by starter Christian Romero in a 3-2 loss. Despite their bullpen wrapping up this game with 4.1 scoreless innings, they saw a somewhat familiar face wrap up the save for the Express in Alexis Díaz, his first of the year.
Responsible for scoring one of the Comets’ two runs, Tommy Edman continued his fine form in Triple-A, working his way back, currently with a .375 batting average after going one for three. Edman was defensively replaced at the top of the eighth. Now, for the visiting Express, two of their three runs came on solo shots from their sixth-hole hitter, John Taylor.
Double-A Tulsa
It’s not too often you see a game with three errors from each team, but that set the stage for a high-scoring win by the Drillers over the Sod Poodles on the road. Starter Evan Shaw couldn’t pitch past the first inning after allowing four runs, but the Drillers countered with seven in the fifth and were able to hold onto that lead.
Second baseman Taylor Young started the scoring for the Drillers and would go on to reach base safely in four of his five plate appearances with a couple of walks and a pair of hits, but the big star was Hope, responsible for six of the Drillers’ 13 RBI. Hope went deep twice in back-to-back innings, homering in the fifth and sixth frames.
There was no stopping Zach Root as the twenty-two-year-old delivered seven magnificent scoreless innings to lead the Loons to a 4-0 victory—Root was efficient and deadly, needing just 88 pitches to do so, and striking out more than a batter per inning in the process. Relievers Robby Porco and Dilan Figueiredo tripled the number of baserunners the Loons had allowed by letting one reach in both the eighth and ninth innings, but they kept the zeroes on the board.
Offensively, the Loons did the most out of a slow day, managing to scrape together those four runs on just three hits. Leadoff man Charles Davalan began the scoring with a sac fly, and a couple of innings later, Eduardo Quintero had the big hit with a two-run double to triple the lead.
— Great Lakes Loons (@greatlakesloons) June 3, 2026
Single-A Ontario
What looked to be a high-scoring win for the Tower Buzzers as they led 7-6 heading into the eighth turned into a blowout defeat in a matter of a couple of innings, with the Ports jumping on relievers Jecsua Liborius and Jose Cabrera to run away with this one by a score of 16-8, leaving Ontario with a .500 record at 26-26.
Although leadoff hitter Kellon Lindsey managed a couple of RBI, the Tower Buzzers concentrated their production in the bottom of the order, with the eighth and ninth-hole hitters responsible for six of the team’s 11 hits. Catcher Conner O’Neal had himself an outstanding game with a homer and three singles, not only his first four-hit affair of the year but just his second multihit performance.
Transactions
The Tulsa Drillers activated second baseman Taylor Young from the injured list. Catcher Anson Aroz was also activated from the injured list by the Ontario Tower Buzzers and sent to the Great Lakes Loons.
Wednesday’s scores
Oklahoma City 2, Round Rock 3
Amarillo 9, Tulsa 13
Great Lakes 4, Lansing 0
Ontario 8, Stockton 16
Thursday’s schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Aiden Foeller) vs. Lansing (Samuel Dutton)
5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Jackson Ferris) vs. Round Rock (TBD)
5:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Adam Serwinowski) at Amarillo (Avery Short)
6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) vs. Stockton (Jackson Nove)
The Vegas Golden Knights erased a 2-0 deficit to win Game 1 over the Carolina Hurricanes and steal home-ice advantage.
They'll meet again tonight at Lenovo Center, and my Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes predictions and NHL picks are calling for improved play from Carolina netminder Frederik Andersen in Game 2 on Thursday, June 4.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 2 prediction
Who will win Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 2?
Hurricanes: This series screams a back-and-forth battle, and Vegas goaltender Carter Hart was susceptible in Game 1 with a .852 save percentage and -1.72 goals saved above expected. The Hurricanes also finished the series opener with a 60.7% Corsi For percentage at five-on-five, and I’m also expecting a tidier performance for Carolina starter Frederik Andersen.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes best bet: Frederik Andersen Over 21.5 saves (-105)
He finished with just 18 saves after being nothing short of spectacular throughout the postseason with a high-end .920 save percentage, 1.65 GAA, and .560 goals saved above expected per 60 minutes.
Carolina was also vulnerable for stretches of the series opener, and in particular, the Vegas Golden Knights dominated the second period with a 73.3% overall shot share.
Vegas isn’t going to go prolonged stretches without generating offense, and Andersen isn’t going to post a.783 SV% with -1.73 goals saved above expected again in Game 2, so there is an easy path to this Over.
I’d play this prop confidently to -115.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 2 same-game parlay
The Golden Knights and Hurricanes generated 6.35 expected goals in Game 1, and both goaltenders struggled in the opener. In addition to Andersen finishing with -1.73 GSAx, Vegas starter Carter Hart also checked in with a -1.72 mark.
With a heightened focus on attention to defensive detail being a chalkboard talking point for both teams, I’m anticipating a lower-scoring Game 2 with better goaltending for both teams.
Turning to Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis, he finished Game 1 with four scoring chances and has an unsustainably low 8.0 shooting percentage and just two goals across his past eight games despite generating 3.15 expected goals and 11 individual high-danger scoring chances.
This same-game parlay has my attention down to +750.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes SGP
Hurricanes moneyline
Under 5.5
Seth Jarvis anytime goal
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 2 goal scorer pick
Seth Jarvis (+220)
Carolina winger Seth Jarvis has been consistently dangerous throughout the postseason, and he’s mired in a mini scoring slump with just two goals across his past eight games despite generating 3.15 expected goals and 11 individual high-danger scoring chances.
His role on the top line and No. 1 power-play unit also positions him to cash in on his opportunities in Game 2, and Jarvis has clicked with linemates Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov to be on the ice for 4.45 expected goals per 60 minutes this postseason. This prop is playable down to +190.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes odds for Game 2
Moneyline: Golden Knights +135 | Hurricanes -165
Puck Line: Golden Knights +1.5 (-205) | Hurricanes (+165)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-125) | Under 5.5 (+105)
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes trend
The total has gone Under the number in 13 of the past 16 games the Carolina Hurricanes have played. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 2
Location
Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Date
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Puck drop
8 p.m. ET
TV
ABC, SN
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes latest injuries
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 15: Nehomar Ochoa #94 of the Houston Astros runs off the field during the seventh inning of a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 15, 2025 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.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (24-34) won 7-2 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in a big way in the 5th scoring 4 runs on a Nelson sac fly, Whitcomb 2 run double and Price RBI single. Alexander got the start and pitched well allowing 2 runs over 6 innings. Sugar Land continued to add on getting a run in the 7th on an Alexander solo home run, a run in the 8th on a Loperfido RBI double and a run in the 9th on a Perez solo home run. The bullpen closed it out with 3 scoreless innings as Sugar Land won 7-2.
Jason Alexander, RHP: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (WIN)
Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Jayden Murray, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (24-28) lost 9-8 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning scoring 4 runs on a Whitaker 3 run double and a run on a wild pitch. Nezuh got the start and went 4.1 innings allowing 4 runs. The Hooks got another run in 6th on an Encarnacion steal of home. They got 2 more runs in the 7th on a Whitaker groundout and Brutcher RBI single to take the lead. Arkansas scored a run in the top of the 8th to tie the game at 7. Arkansas took the lead scoring 2 runs in the top of the 9th. The Hooks responded with a run on a wild pitch but that was it as they fell 9-8.
A+: Asheville Tourists (12-39) won 8-4 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the first inning on a Frey steal of third and then he scored on a throwing error. They got 2 more runs in the 5th inning on a Walker groundout and Thomas RBI double. Rodriguez got the start and pitched well allowing one unearned run over 6 innings. The pen allowed 2 runs as the Grasshoppers tied it but Frey gave Asheville the lead again in the bottom of the inning with a sac fly. The offense scored again in the 8th putting up 4 runs on an Ochoa solo home run, Thomas bases loaded walk and Frey 2 run single. Cruz allowed 3 runs in relief but held on as Asheville won 8-4.
Anthony Cruz, RHP: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K (WIN)
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (23-29) lost 3-1 (BOX SCORE)
Fraide made his full-season debut for the Woodpeckers and went 4.1 innings allowing 2 runs while striking out 7 batters. Wells tossed 1.2 scoreless and Beck allowed 1 run over 3 innings while striking out 5 batters. The offense got their lone run in the 9th inning on a Huezo solo home run but that was it as the Woodpeckers fell 3-1.
However, according to a couple of sources, the Maple Leafs have continued on with their search, and have interviewed Peter Laviolette and Patrick Roy.
On Sportsnet's 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman reported that Laviolette is one of several coaches that the Maple Leafs have spoken too.
"Toronto, I've heard they've done like 15 Zoom interviews, and I think Peter Laviolette was one of them," Friedman said on Wednesday's podcast.
TSN's Darren Dreger also made a report on Wednesday about Laviolette being a part of this week's "stage of the interview process." Along with the veteran head coach, Laviolette, Dreger also mentioned Roy as being a part of the process as a separate candidate at this stage, too.
Laviolette, 61, hasn't coached in the NHL this past season after wrapping up a two-year stint with the New York Rangers. He was fired after the 2024-25 campaign after a 39-36-7 record and a fifth-place finish in the Metropolitan Division, missing the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The season before that, which was also Laviolette's first with the Rangers, they won the Presidents' Trophy and advanced to the Eastern Conference final, losing to the Cup champions Florida Panthers in six games.
Laviolette has visited the Stanley Cup final three times in his 23-year NHL coaching career. He finished as the runner-up in 2009-10 and 2016-17 with the Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators, respectively. But he did win the Stanley Cup 20 years ago with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.
In addition to that playoff success and 1,594 regular-season games coached in the NHL, he's also won a couple of Presidents' Trophies.
In his first year with Colorado and in the NHL, Roy won the Jack Adams Trophy as the coach of the year. He led the Avs to win the Central Division in that 2013-14 campaign with a 52-22-8 record, but was eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Wild in seven games.
In the next two seasons, the Avalanche finished seventh and sixth in their division, leading Roy and Colorado to part ways following 2015-16.
After seven years away from the NHL, contributing to the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts as a GM and head coach, he was hired by the Islanders mid-season in 2023-24.
He finished off his first year in Long Island with a five-game exit in the first round of the playoffs. To this point, there was a clear decline in the Islanders, and they missed the post-season the following year.
Even after winning the draft lottery and selecting star defenseman Matthew Schaefer, there weren't many expectations for the Islanders and Roy, but he was exceeding them throughout the year.
For a chunk of last season, Roy and the Islanders were hanging around a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. In fact, the day before Roy was officially relieved of his duties by the Isles, the team was third in the Metro.
Nonetheless, Roy was replaced by Peter DeBoer, and New York went on to miss the playoffs.
Both Laviolette and Roy have had some solid campaigns in the NHL. And with these reports, it seems the Maple Leafs have at least made a preliminary interaction and spent some time speaking to these candidates recently.
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MONTREAL, CANADA - OCTOBER 14: Patrik Laine #92 of the Montréal Canadiens handles the puck during the first period against the Seattle Kraken at the Bell Centre on October 14, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montréal Canadiens defeated the Seattle Kraken 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It seems likely that the Pittsburgh Penguins approach to the unrestricted free agent market is going to be very similar to what it was in the summer of 2025, especially given the lack of truly high-end players that will be available in that market.
That is also a very, very good thing if it plays out that way.
The top goal-scorer on the free agent market already played for the Penguins this past season (Anthony Mantha) and there does not seem to be anybody that wants him back after his playoff performance.
But for as forgettable as that playoff showing was, Mantha was still an objectively good free agent signing given what he did over the course of the regular season and how little he actually cost them.
The Penguins took a one-year flier on him in the hopes that he could come back healthy, took advantage of the opportunity to give him an incentive-laden contract, and then watched him put together a career year. The initial goal was almost certainly to trade him at the deadline (which would have made him this season’s version of Anthony Beauvillier), but he ended up scoring more goals than anybody could have anticipated, while the Penguins ended up winning more games than anybody could have anticipated.
All of that kept him in Pittsburgh for the duration of the season.
Now that Mantha seems destined to move on, there’s going to be an opening on the roster.
Ideally there would be an internal replacement to fill that spot (looking at you, Rutger McGroarty or Ville Koivunen).
There is also the possibility that other players leave the organization along with Mantha via trade (looking at you, Rickard Rakell and/or Bryan Rust and/or Tommy Novak) which could open up additional spots.
Somebody would have to also fill them.
One name on the free agent that could follow the mold of Mantha as a potential reclamation project is Patrik Laine.
Frankly, Laine might be the only type of unrestricted free agent I have any interest in.
Alex Tuch is destined to sign with the Rangers on a contract that immediately ages like milk. I can already see him in that uniform. I can hear his name echoing throughout Madison Square Garden. It’s fate. It’s where this offseason deserves to go. It is all of their destinies.
Mason Marchment and Bobby McMann in a rising cap environment? Gross! Let Seattle and Calgary deal with that.
When it comes to making major investments this offseason you have to be thinking along the lines of trades and restricted free agents. Players still in their prime, just entering their prime or players that can provide some sort positive long-term value beyond the 2026-27 season.
After all, even though the Penguins were a playoff team a year ago they are still a team that is going through some sort of a rebuild (even if it isn’t the traditional type of rebuild people expected).
If you are going to dip into this UFA market with this Penguins team, you have to be thinking about low-risk, potentially high-reward gambles.
That is Laine.
Laine’s career has been derailed over the past few years by injuries, allowing him to appear in just 186 out of a possible 410 games over the past five seasons.
That includes just 75 games over the past three seasons and only five games this past season.
While he was limited to only five games with the Montreal Canadiens in 2025-26, he recently said he was healthy enough to play in the second half of the season only to have the Canadiens keep him on IR anyway.
All of that missed time has created the possibility for him to sign the type an incentive-filled contract that is usually only reserved for entry-level players and players over the age 35. That opens the door for a relatively cheap base-salary, with any bonus overages rolling into next year’s cap (which shouldn’t bother the Penguins given how much cap space they have and the lack of major long-term investments on the roster).
The only problem with this line of thinking is there’s probably 20 other teams in the NHL with that same mindset, which could create a more robust market for a guy that only played in five games a year ago.
But… I’m still sticking with this.
Especially since a healthy Laine can still be a potentially impactful player.
Is he one-dimensional? Probably.
But that one dimension that he provides is an important one, and he’s still really good at it when he is able to stay on the ice.
He can still shoot the puck, and he can still score goals.
Some numbers:
Between the 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons there were 530 forwards in the NHL that played at least 500 minutes (all-situations) of hockey.
Laine’s 1.39 goals per 60 minutes placed him 27th on the list, sandwiched immediately between Cole Caufield and Brady Tkachuk, and ahead of Kyle Connor, Nikita Kucherov, Mark Scheifele, Sebastian Aho, Sidney Crosby, Matthew Tkachuk, Wyatt Johnston, Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin and Nikolaj Ehlers.
That does not mean he’s better than all of those players (or even any of them), it just means he scored goals at a higher rate than them. And there is value in that.
In terms of actual goals, he scored 48 in 125 games during that time.
That’s a 31-goal pace over 82 games.
He also averaged 9.89 shots on goal per 60 minutes (47th out of that group of 530 forwards) and 0.84 individual expected goals per 60 minutes (232nd out of the 530).
Just for comparisons sake, the Penguins signed Mantha to his incentive-based contract coming off that same three-year stretch, and also coming off an injury-shortened year.
Mantha’s numbers and rankings among that same group of forwards:
Goals/60: 1.04 (115th)
Shots on goal/60: 6.78 (258th)
Individual expected goals/60: 0.78 (290th)
The mindset with Laine could be identical to what it was with Mantha. It is a short-term, prove-it contract full of performance bonuses with the possibility of moving him at the deadline if the playoffs are not in the cards, or having a potential 30-goal scorer on your roster if the playoffs are in the cards. If you’re the Penguins and trying to sell Laine on what you can offer over other teams offering similar deals, you can literally point to the success of Mantha and what playing in Pittsburgh could do for him and his value NEXT offseason.
If it is not a move like this, I would sit out every element of the UFA signing period. But a move like this would at least be interesting. There is also some reason to believe it could work.
On this date in 2023, rumors surfaced that the Columbus Blue Jackets were going to hire long-time NHL coach Mike Babcock.
Columbus fans and hockey fans in general had a few reactions. CBJ fans were split 50/50, it seemed. Some fans wanted the hard-nosed coach that could bring out the best in the players. While others were shocked that the CBJ front office would bring in said hard-nosed coach and put him around a very young team.
Babcock has been away from the NHL for 4 years or so, and in the sports world, that’s an eternity. In 2021, he accepted the coaching job at the University of Saskatchewan, but in August of 2022, he resigned. The next day, he announced he would retire. But like most coaches in any sport, it’s hard to stay away.
Speculation around the Memorial Cup is Mike Babcock will return to the NHL as @BlueJacketsNHL new coach and the delay in announcing coincides with his existing contract with the Maple Leafs expiring the end of this month. https://t.co/OUlxBRS8bq
The question that most fans have is: has he changed? There were reports from a couple of players over the years of mental abuse or feuding with players like Mike Commodore. He has come out publicly and said that back when he was coaching, he had no idea about mental health and how to deal with it. Babcock has been an outspoken advocate for the Bell Let’s Talk awareness campaign and other groups.
A few weeks after the rumors started, Mike Commodore came out with a blistering video about Babcock. He publicly bashed both Babcock and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Commodore went on a calm, NSWF rant about how "disappointed" he was to see "Babs the Bully" back in the NHL. Commie asked, "Am I surprised? No, I'm not!" Commodore went on to say that he never believed Babcock was retiring. He said he also feels Babcock went into the CBJ front office and told them "whatever they wanted to hear," "blah blah blah," so he could get the job, claiming he changed; meanwhile Commie thinks otherwise. " Babs the bully ain't changing."
Commodore went on to say he hopes this experiment fails miserably. "With all due respect to my buddies that are in the Blue Jackets Organization, I hope this Babcock experiment is a complete disaster, on every single level."
As we know, it was a complete failure and possibly set the team back a few years; they later hired Pascal Vincent to replace him, and that hire also failed.
It's been a long three years for Columbus, but with a new GM, Head Coach(stable), and some front office changes, it seems like they're on the right track, but time will tell.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs talks to the media after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals on May 30, 2026 at Paycom Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Morgan Givens/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama is listed as the tallest player in the NBA. The Spurs’ superstar is 7’4, according to the NBA website.
I’m here to tell you that the Spurs are lying, and Wemby is actually even taller than that.
Wembanyama is taking centerstage in the 2026 NBA Finals as his San Antonio Spurs take on the New York Knicks. The French sensation is only in his third season after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. This is the first playoff appearance of his career — partially because he was diagnosed with a season-ending blood clot in his shoulder last year — and he’s already in the NBA Finals. It’s likely that a lot of casual fans are about watch Wembanyama closely for the first time during the Finals, and many of them will be wondering how tall he actually is. Here’s what we know.
Long-time NBA Draft insider Jonathan Givony reported that Wembanyama measured at 7’4 barefoot in the summer of 2022 when he was only 18 years old. It’s the measurement I always think about before I write down Wemby’s height.
The 18-year old Wembanyama, who recently measured 7-foot-4 barefoot with an 8-foot wingspan, will draw a huge audience of NBA decision makers for the pair of exhibition games in Vegas, marking a significant opportunity for Henderson to stake his claim as the No. 1 pick. https://t.co/46vfPl6Dv2
If Wembanyama measured at 7’4 barefoot when he was 18 years old, then it’s at least somewhat plausible he’s gotten even taller since then. Because basketball is played in shoes, I’d give Wemby another inch or inch-and-half. He’s at least 7’5 on the court, and probably even a little bit taller.
Why would the Spurs lie about Wembanyama’s height? Maybe they don’t have an official measurement considering Wembanyama skipped the 2023 NBA Draft combine. Maybe Wembanyama doesn’t want the truth out there. I have proof that the Spurs have incorrectly labeled the height of other players by making them shorter than barefoot measurements at the combine.
Rookie forward Carter Bryant measured at 6’6.5 barefoot at the 2025 NBA Draft combine.
Yet he’s listed at 6’6 on the Spurs’ official website.
Dylan Harper measured 6’4.5 barefoot at the combine in the same class as Bryant, and the Spurs list him at 6’5. Stephon Castle measured 6’5.5 at the combine, and the Spurs list him at 6’6. The Spurs like to list their players’ barefoot height as their official height, and it seems like they aren’t rounding up on a half inch.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Edey is the second-tallest player in the NBA according to its official website, and he’s listed at 7’3. Edey measured at 7’3.75 at the combine in the same class as Castle.
Looking at photos from Wembanyama’s matchups vs. Edey in the NBA, it sure seems like more than a quarter of an inch taller than Edey.
I always think back to this photo of Wemby standing next to Edey at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup — which is where Wembanyama’s one-sided rivalry with Chet Holmgren began. The French star looks at least an inch or two taller than Edey here, too.
The Spurs said they measured Wembanyama at his introductory press conference after they drafted him in 2023. San Antonio said Wembanyama measured at 7’3.5 barefoot, which would be a half inch shorter than the height Givony reported a year earlier. I tend to believe Givony’s number based on his reputation as the reporter and the visual evidence that Wembanyama is clearly taller than the 7’3.75 Edey.
Donovan Clingan is listed at 7’2, which is tied for the NBA’s fourth-tallest player. Wembanyama clearly looks taller than him in photos when they’ve faced off.
My best guess for Wembanyama’s height in shoes is 7’5.5. Even that might be conservative. The Knicks better have a good game plan to slow down Wemby, because he already feels like the best player in the world.
New York Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson has had one hell of a run in the playoffs.
He’s scoring almost 27 points a night and has propelled New York to the NBA Finals, including back-to-back series sweeps to set up this showdown with the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite that success, Brunson isn’t buying into his own brand.
“We can’t be satisfied just because we’re here,” he told reporters ahead of tonight’s Game 1.
Big Apple basketball bettors are banking on Brunson big time. I dig into his NBA player props for my best Knicks vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks for June 3.
Jalen Brunson prop pick for Game 1
Jalen Brunson best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 rebounds
The New York Knicks' burly point guard can also clean the glass and unlike the opening three rounds, Brunson faces a smaller San Antonio Spurs squad.
Beyond 7-foot skyscraper Victor Wembanyama and a few backup bigs, the Spurs’ main rotation doesn’t go beyond 6-foot-7, and that gives smaller guards a fighting chance on the boards (take Wemby out and San Antonio drops to an average height of 6-foot-6.1 – fourth shortest).
Brunson was an active rebounder in three meetings with San Antonio this season, snatching four rebounds in each of those outings while averaging more than seven rebounding chances per game.
He wrangled three or more rebounds in three of the four games against a shorter Cleveland backcourt, upping his chances to 8.0 per contest in the Eastern Conference finals. Projections for Game 1 of the NBA Finals all sit north of three boards with a ceiling at 4.1 rebounds.
My conservative number comes out to 3.4 rebounds, which lands the fair price right on this current ask of Over 2.5 -155.
However, if you lean toward his past production versus San Antonio and the high side of the game models (as well as an expected uptick in pace compared to the past two opponents), Brunson is pegged for 3.75 rebounds. That should have the Over 2.5 listed closer to -200.
Jalen Brunson same-game parlay
I like the Knicks to cover in Game 1, despite the risk of a “rust over rest” factor following an extended layoff. Ahead of tonight, Brunson specifically mentioned the team’s flat start in Game 1 of the Eastern finals following a big break, and I don’t see New York falling into that trap again.
The Knicks have various defensive options to throw at Wembanyama and pose a much bigger threat from outside than OKC, hence the Over on Brunson’s triples. Between battling a smaller Spurs lineup on the boards and burying shots from downtown, Brunson puts in a strong start to the NBA Finals.
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Robinson, who has had several injury issues throughout his career, had been available for New York this postseason. In 13 playoff games this year, Robinson has averaged 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.6 bocks and 0.5 steals across just 14.2 minutes per game.
Robinson is the first center off the bench to spell starter Karl-Anthony Towns, but Robinson’s struggles from the free throw line — he’s shooting just 30.2% from the line this postseason — have forced Knicks coach Mike Brown to be more calculated with Robinson’s playing time. That’s magnified further because opposing teams have resorted to intentionally fouling Robinson to put him on the line.
Still, Robinson tends to have extremely impactful minutes because of his high effort and intensity. He’s also dominant on the offensive glass and is averaging 2.5 offensive rebounds in his short time on the floor.
Because the Spurs have Victor Wembanyama, one of the toughest players to guard in the entire NBA, Robinson would be a key piece in neutralizing Wembanyama’s effectiveness.
Here’s everything you need to know about Mitchell Robinson’s status ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals:
Is Mitchell Robinson playing tonight in Game 1 of the NBA Finals?
It’s still unclear. According to multiple reports, Robinson had been planning to play through the injury and was planning on wearing a brace. But when the first official injury report published the evening of Tuesday, June 2, Robinson was still listed as questionable.
When asked earlier Tuesday about Robinson, Knicks coach Mike Brown declined to give too many details but said Robinson “did individual stuff” Monday, June 1.
Presumably, Robinson and the Knicks medical staff will monitor Robinson’s injury prior to the game and will see how he responds to activity during shootaround prior to making a formal determination.
Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
Mitchell Robinson stats
In 60 games this season, Robinson averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
In the postseason, Robinson’s minutes have declined a bit from his regular season average, in large part because of his struggles from the free throw line.
Mitchell Robinson injury: what it means for Knicks
If Robinson is forced to miss time, third-string center Ariel Hukporti becomes the next man up. Hukporti, who is in his second season, appeared in just 54 games this season — most of that coming in garbage time — and played just 9.2 minutes across those appearances.
Duke Ellis of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders steals a base during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
May was not a merry month for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Although they won the final two games of a six-game series last week against the Worcester Red Sox at home at PNC Field, the RailRiders finished May with a 12-15 record. In two series against the WooSox during the month, they went 4-7. They opened May splitting four games against the Buffalo Bisons. They also split six-game series with the Syracuse Mets and Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
As a team, the RailRiders batted .236 with 34 home runs and 129 runs. Jonathan Ornelas led the way with a .305 average (25-for-82) with three doubles, two triples, one home run, a dozen runs, and seven RBIs. He hit safely in 15 of 24 games with seven multi-hit games, including a four-hit game on May 19th at Lehigh Valley.
Familiar face Oswaldo Cabrera batted .275 (28-for-102) with seven doubles, two home runs, 13 runs, and 17 RBIs. Top prospect George Lombard Jr. did not fare as well on the whole with a .192/.351/.298 triple slash, though his numbers from the final two weeks of the month (May 17-31) did look better better at .269/.371/.481. Call it a hot streak or a sign of adjusting to the higher level following an April 30th promotion.
Yanquiel Fernández had a team-high eight home runs during May, including multi-homer games on May 6th at Worcester and May 19th at Lehigh Valley. He also batted .286 (26-for-91) with three doubles, 22 RBIs and 15 runs. He was named the International League Player of the Week for May 18-24. Unfortunately, he also ended the month injured, as he was placed on the seven-day IL on May 29th.
The RailRiders swiped 43 bases, which ranked third in the International League during the month. Duke Ellis led the thievery going a perfect 15-for-15 in steal attempts. Ellis is tied for the league-lead with Worcester’s Braiden Ward with 24 steals.
On the mound, the pitching staff had a 4.32 ERA with six saves. It bookended the month with shutouts and Adam Kloffenstein was involved in both.
On May 1st, in the first game of a doubleheader against Buffalo, Kloffenstein and Rafael Montero combined on a two-hit, seven-inning shutout, 2-0. Then on May 31st, Kloffenstein struck out 10 in six innings before Bradley Hanner and Peter Strzelecki finished off a combined three-hit blanking of Worcester, 1-0.
Hanner recorded two of the team’s six saves. He was also 2-0 during the month with a 2.25 ERA. In 10 games and 12 innings, he allowed three runs, eight hits, walked four, and struck out 20.
Brendan Beck went 2-0 in May with a 2.17 ERA. In five starts, he allowed eight runs (seven earned) and 19 hits with 11 walks and 27 strikeouts in 29 innings. The Yankees’ No. 21 prospect also made his MLB debut in a cameo while effectively tagging in for a sick Ryan Weathers on May 7th and was chosen International League Pitcher of the Week for May 11-17.
Carlos Lagrange, the Yankees’ No. 4 prospect, had a team-high 33 strikeouts during the month in five starts and 25 innings. Lagrange ranks second in the International League with 63 strikeouts and Beck is tied fourth with 60. For June onward however, look for Lagrange to build his case to make the 2026 big-league club out of the bullpen.
Carlos Lagrange is being shifted to the bullpen at AAA. The Yankees always believed the hard-throwing RHP could boost the bullpen this year. So this is a major step in that direction. Get ready to see 103 MPH in the Bronx.
Zach Messinger did not allow a run during the month in eight appearances covering 15.1 innings. He gave up three hits, walked four and struck out 11. He has not given up a run since April 23.
One thing RailRiders pitchers haven’t been doing is issuing walks. They have allowed 220 walks, which ranks second in the league behind only the Charlotte Knights with 215.
Heading into June, the RailRiders are 28-27 and six games behind the Memphis Redbirds and Nashville Sounds in the International League standings. Three weeks remain in the first half of the season.
Most of this month will be spent away from PNC Field. The RailRiders began a seven-game series in Syracuse last night, one with an extra game via a doubleheader today. This already is the third of four series meetings between the teams with the Mets having win seven of the 11 games played in the first two series.
After facing Syracuse, the RailRiders return home to host Lehigh Valley for six games June 9-14. They then head to Columbus to face the Clippers on June 16-21 and conclude first-half play. They open the second half at the Indianapolis Indians on June 23-28.
HOUSTON - CIRCA 1987: A detailed overview of The Houston Astrodome during a Houston Astros Major League Baseball game circa 1987 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
He pitched his entire major league career in the 80’s with our Houston Astros. He’s Mike Madden, and he joins us exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes for our 21st installment of the Legends Series.
Q: That 1983 season, you appeared in 28 games, started 13, and won 9 of those. What was that like?
A: Boy, joining that staff. We had Nolan, Niekro, Bob Knepper and Mike Scott came towards the end of that year. I was really young, coming right out of the University of Northern Colorado, it was one level up.
I didn’t think my heart rate those first few months would ever come down, everything was going super-fast but once I’d take the mound, it would slow down.
More than anything, it was educational learning as you saw what hitter’s tendencies were and then you got to learn your body on the flight, the travel, all of those adjustments.
Q: Speaking of travel, did you have an opposing city/ballpark that you enjoyed more than others?
A: I liked all of them (laughs) because it was the big leagues! I had been to a few of them because my folks were in the Air Force, but playing ball in a city for three days and then jumping on a plane to the next one was different.
I had parks that I didn’t really like. Wrigley was so tiny and small. The field, the clubhouse, the whole thing.
Q: Most memorable strikeout?
A: I’d have to say Tony Gywnn. I got him at least 3 or 4 times striking out.
One time, I went 8 and 1/3 innings in a game against the Padres. That was a good day.
Q: Favorite teammate?
A: Dave Smith, #45. He threw that forkball.
The thing is though; we had so many characters. Nolan would tell us in the bullpen not even to put shoes on because he was going the distance that day. Then the game would start, he’d mow down like 17 guys and two hours later, we’d be victorious and onto the next city.
Terry Puhl was another one.
God Bless, Phil Garner, that was a team that loved each other.
Q: Pitching in the dome, what comes to mind?
A: I tried to throw pitches that would go to center field because it went on forever. It was always 72 degrees in there, and the Astrodome was truly the 8th Wonder of the World.
COVERS INTEL: The Mariners are getting around on four-seam fastballs this year, pulling them in the air 21.3% of the time against righties. That’s a pitch Peralta throws 54% of the time.
