SAN FRANCISCO – Maybe there’s still a little fight left in the Giants after all.
Less than 24 hours after a frustrating, chaotic loss to the Toronto Blue Jays that seemed to deepen the depression hovering above Oracle Park, the Orange and Black bounced back with a crisp and clean 8-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night.
They did it with some strong at-bats and a steady evening on the mound from Carson Whisenhunt, the final result being a vibe around China Basin that was vastly different than it had been on Wednesday.
Casey Schmitt hit another home run, his 18th of the 2026 MLB season, to get things going. Bryce Eldridge got his first taste of McCovey Cove, where he deposited his eighth home run of the season. Then, for good measure, Willy Adames added a two-run blast in the eighth.
In total, eight of San Francisco’s starters had at least one hit while beating Colorado for a seventh straight time at Oracle Park, dating to May 1 of last season.
Whisenhunt, who was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento before the game in a corresponding move to Ryan Walker being sent down, pitched through some traffic and worked around a hiccup fourth inning to improve to 2-0 this season.
Whisenhunt had some control issues with four walks while throwing only 57 of 87 pitches for strikes. He allowed three hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
JT Brubaker retired four batters, Erik Miller set down three and Caleb Kilian worked the ninth to seal the victory.
Here are the takeaways from Thursday’s win:
Schmitt Shines Again
It seems like every game Schmitt does something to get the fan base buzzing. He did exactly that against the Rockies with his bat and glove, becoming the first Giants player to hit seven home runs before the 95th game of a season since home run king Barry Bonds had eight in 2001.
Caught up in an 8-for-53 funk over his previous 14 games, Schmitt destroyed the ball for his 18th home run of the year, a solo shot that easily cleared the fence in left-center.
Then, following up on a few defensive gems he made in the past week, Schmitt made a great play going into foul territory to grab Hunter Goodman’s sharp grounder then made a strong throw across the diamond to get the out.
Victor Bericoto has shown plenty of gumption at the plate since his arrival, but the 24-year-old Venezuelan can play some pretty good defense as well.
The Giants left fielder flashed some of his glove work in the first inning when he made a diving catch to rob Colorado’s No. 3 hitter, Cole Carrigg, of a hit.
San Francisco’s defense has been a mixed bag this season, so seeing Bericoto lay out to make the catch is a sign that maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem.
Return of the Whiz
Whisenhunt and everyone in the Giants organization was hoping for a better return when the 6-foot-3 pitcher came back from the minors instead of the middle-of-the-road performance they saw Thursday.
Whisenhunt was sharp in the beginning, setting down the first eight hitters he faced, three by strikeout. After he pitched out of bases-loaded jam in the third, Whisenhunt nearly escaped again in the fourth before giving up a go-ahead, two-out two-run home run to Willi Castro in the fourth.
Given how this season has played out, there’s no guarantee that Whisenhunt will get another shot in the rotation. Giants manager Tony Vitello said before the game that the entire starting rotation will be reevaluated during the MLB All-Star break.
England captain Harry Brook led the way as his side thrashed India by nine wickets at Bristol on Thursday to secure a dominant series win over the T20 world champions.
Maybe using foam bats this series wasn’t such a good idea after all. | (Shelley Mays/The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessean via Imagn Content Services, LLC)
As a rule, only scoring two runs in a three-game series isn’t a successful strategy, and this series wasn’t the exception that proved that rule.
The White Sox fell behind 2-0 in the fourth when starter Anthony Kay issued a dreaded leadoff walk, followed by a 379-foot shot into the left-field stands by Caleb Durbin. Those would be the only costly mistakes in Kay’s 5 1/3 innings of work, but they were enough, given the feeble state of the offense.
Facing a middish lefty for the third straight game, the Chicago offense sputtered once again, this time against Patrick Sandoval in his first major league game after an injury hiatus of more than two years. Didn’t get shut out this time, though, like last night. Not at all.
Instead, the mighty power lineup that’s fourth in the majors in homers scored an actual run by playing a ball so small it was almost invisible to the naked eye. Luisangel Acuña led off the fifth with a single, went to second on a wild pitch, then to third on another wild pitch — though he was given credit for a stolen base because he might have been headed that way when the pitch went through — and scored when pinch hitter Andrew Benintendi checked his swing and dribbled the ball toward third at an awesome 42 mph.
That would be the only White Sox hit with a runner in scoring position, though, to be fair, they only had three other chances, because they advanced a runner as far as second only four times, with the rest of the offense consisting of six singles and one walk.
One more run would have been key, since relievers Jordan Hicks, Grant Taylor and Tyler Davis — temporarily up from Charlotte while Trevor Richards is on emergency family leave — shut down the Wrong Sox for 3 2/3 innings without even a hit.
The Red Sox had almost all the hard-hit balls, with Wilyer Abreu alone having three over 106 mph. The Right Sox did have a couple of possible extra-base shots, the first by Miguel Vargas leading off the eighth, which Jarren Duran negated.
The other was by Braden Montgomery in the ninth, wiped out by center fielder Ceddane Rafaela.
The sweep sends the White Sox to 47-45 and into a virtual tie with the Guardians, who beat the Twins this afternoon. The last series before the All-Star break begins tomorrow night against the A’s, with Sean Burke facing Aaron Civale.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 16: Jesús Luzardo #44 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the Miami Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Trevor Hayes/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Here are the lineups for the final game in Cincinnati, let’s discuss!
HOOVER, AL - MAY 21: Pitcher Liam Peterson #12 of the Florida Gators celebrates closing out an inning during the SEC Baseball Tournament Quarterfinals game between Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide on May 21, 2026, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.(Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The MLB Draft starts in less than 48 hours, and there has been a lot of speculation as to who the Rockies might take 10th overall. We asked you to make your best guess between RHP Liam Peterson (Florida), RHP Cameron Flukey (Coastal Carolina), C Vahn Lackey (Georgia Tech) or C Ryder Helfrick (Arkansas).
The most popular answer among those given was Peterson, but the majority of folks believe the Rockies will take someone completely different:
Some of the responses included:
LHP Hunter Dietz, Arkansas
SS Tyler Bell, Kentucky
OF Derek Curiel, Louisiana State
LHP Mason Edwards, Southern California
OF AJ Gracia, Virginia
OF Drew Burress, Georgia Tech
LHP Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian
In addition to pick no. 10, the Rockies also have 37 and 38 on the first day.
Do you agree with the results? Do you stand by your original vote? Let us know in the comments!
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 25: Morez Johnson Jr. #14 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait on June 25, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Summer League Dallas Mavericks kick off their time in Las Vegas by playing the Golden State Warriors. It’s the game before the “big” game (Washington Wizards vs Utah Jazz), but still features quite a cast of players from June’s NBA Draft. The game’s selling point to casual fans is the Michigan match up between number nine overall pick Morez Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg, who as selected eleventh. All four Dallas Mavericks draft picks from June should suit up Thursday evening. The game will be on ESPN Here’s the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Golden State Warriors
WHAT: NBA Summer League, Game 1 for Dallas
WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
WHEN: 6:00 pm CST
HOW: ESPN
Since no one’s played yet for the Mavericks, there aren’t any injyuries to report heading into the game. The Warriors did play in the California Classic, but as of this writing, there aren’t any injuries to be aware of.
Since I won’t admit to being hyperaware of any of the Dallas picks prior to June, the main draw of Johnson vs Lendeborg is a good place to start with this one. The former Michigan frontcourt teammates should spend at least some time guarding one another and I’m pretty excited to see if Johnson can stymie Yaxel’s mature offensive game. Past that, I’m curious to see how Sergio De Larrea looks against NBA-adjacent size and speed. Though the selection of Tobi Lawal didn’t enthuse me, I hope his athleticism translates at this level. I hope Vsevolod Ishchenko gets playing time, but don’t be surprised if he doesn’t make an appearance. John Poulakidas and Ryan Nembhard should look good in this environment, but you never know how things will pan out with different teammates.
One note: don’t get overly worried about how anyone shoots at Summer League. Part of my early Jalen Brunson disdain was watching him miss everything literally (he shot 23% from the field).
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 26: Participants warm up during the 2026 Draft Combine at Chase Field on Friday, June 26, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
When/Where is the MLB Draft, & how do we watch it?
The MLB Draft this year is Saturday, July 11th and Sunday, July 12th. Coverage will begin on NBC and Peacock at 1PM ET on Saturday, with rounds 1-3 being completed on day one. On Sunday, NBC/Peacock rounds 4-20 is at 1 PMET. Both days will also have live coverage on MLB Network and MLB.com
The MLB Futures Game will occur on Sunday, starting at 9 AM PT/12 PM ET, also to be broadcast on NBC. The home run derby is Monday night 8PM ET on Netflix and the All-Star game is 8PM ET Tuesday. The weekend’s festivities will begin with Friday night’s Historically Black College/University Swingman Classic Game on July 10th at 7 PM ET on MLB Network and MLB.com.
What Do I Need to Know About the Guardians’ Picks?
The Guardians’ first four picks are #19, #59, #95 and #123. You can read up on some potential names they might be considering here. Brian Hemminger is reviewing the last four drafts for the Guardians ahead of time, and Matt Dallas added some additional scouting of pitchers here, as did Matt Seese here.
Who is eligible to be drafted?
Anyone residing in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territories who has never signed a previous MLB/MiLB contract and is either
A high school graduate, OR
Attending a junior/community college, OR
Attending a four-year college/university which they have attended for at least three years/have reached their 21st birthday
What Can We Expect from Covering the Corner?
We will have an open thread on draft days to discuss selections and analysis of each pick as they occur posted after picks are made.
CINCINNATI — Jesús Luzardo has been the true middle of the Phillies’ rotation in 2026.
Entering Thursday, Philadelphia was 25-8 in starts made by Zack Wheeler or Cristopher Sánchez this year. The Phillies were 12-6 in Luzardo’s starts, while all other starters were 14-28.
The Phillies’ Peruvian-born southpaw has had his dominant outings. He has had his blow-up outings.
More recently, though, his starts have been cut from the same cloth. A dominant one.
When Wheeler, Sánchez and Luzardo are all rolling at the top, it makes it feel like this club can handle just about anything in front of them.
If all three are doing this come postseason time, look out. There is always a way to October baseball, but the Phillies are getting a glimpse of their rotation’s ceiling as those three continue to one-up one another.
On Thursday, the Phillies and Reds both struggled mightily at the plate. But one late run was all Philadelphia needed in a 1-0 win, clinching the series at Great American Ball Park.
LUZARDO’S SURGE
It is hard to find a starting pitcher more locked in than the newly named first-time All-Star Luzardo.
Over his last five outings entering Thursday, the lefty registered a 1.78 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings.
Two-thirds of those strikeouts, 30 of them, came against his otherworldly sweeper. No matter who he faces, that pitch remains one of the toughest in baseball. He showed that again against the Reds.
Luzardo racked up 11 strikeouts Thursday. Eight came with the sweeper.
What allowed him to remain so effective with it late in counts was his ability to get ahead with his other pitches.
Five of seven first-pitch strikes with his four-seamer. Three of four with his changeup. Three of six with his sinker.
Make it six straight dominant starts. A 1.45 ERA. A 13.5 strikeouts per nine, the highest rate in the National League across that span. And he has produced a 1.38 ERA on the road.
Remarkable.
He finished his night with seven scoreless innings. The Phillies now have double-digit games with 10 strikeouts, the second most in MLB.
The next time Luzardo takes the ball will very likely be in the 96th Midsummer Classic at his home ballpark.
SCRATCHED ONE ACROSS
Reds starter Brady Singer was almost as good.
He was efficient as ever. Through his first five innings, he threw 10 pitches or fewer in each frame.
Singer was through seven scoreless before the Phillies were able to do just enough.
The athleticism at the bottom of the order has become a separator from years past. Gabriel Rincones Jr. was hit by a pitch to lead off the eighth. Don Mattingly called on Derek Hill, who would replace Rincones defensively as well, to pinch run.
That was the right call.
J.T. Realmuto then chopped one to short, but Hill’s speed allowed him to get to second. That forced Elly De La Cruz to take the out at first.
So when Justin Crawford came up next and bounced one through the right side on a low-and-in sinker, Hill’s speed allowed him to score.
That was all the Phillies needed.
HEATED UP
In the second inning, as Luzardo walked off the mound, he pointed into the Reds’ dugout after the frame ended.
The competitor in him comes out on the mound at times. With the way Luzardo is rolling, that edge is working for him.
And for the Phillies, being able to hand the ball from Luzardo to Jonathan Bowlan and then Jhoan Duran to lock down a 1-0 win in the middle of a nine-game road trip to end the first half is massive.
Since announcing that he will be participating in this year’s Home Run Derby during the All-Star break, Ben Rice has been on a power surge for the Yankees.
After hitting a home run on Tuesday, the same day of his commitment to partake in the event, Rice added two more on Thursday in the series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays to help lead a 12-4 win for New York to secure a series split.
In fact, Rice finished the four-game set against the division-rival 7-for-16 with four home runs and nine RBI. The 27-year-old is now up to 28 homers on the season, second in the AL, and already two more than he had in 138 games during his breakout campaign in 2025.
What’s incredible is the slugger is showing no signs of slowing down and spoke about his unbelievable season so far and what he’s done to compound on last year’s offensive explosion.
“Just sticking with it overall,” he said. “Like I’ve said in the past, it’s such a long year. You’re bound to go through the ups and downs. Just leaning on the guys in the clubhouse and the locker room and go out here and just have an approach, stick to it, be convicted in it and hopefully good things will happen.”
Whatever approach Rice is utilizing, it’s certainly working which has the Yankees very excited as they continue to play without Aaron Judge who is out with a fractured rib and who will get re-imaging on that rib during the All-Star break.
Speaking of the All-Star break, Rice will likely stick to that same approach during his participation in the Home Run Derby that takes place on July 13 to try and take home the hardware in his first time in the event.
One of Rice’s competitors will be Junior Caminero, who also went yard on Thursday and is right behind Rice with 27 home runs. Actually, at the time, the home run put Caminero in front of Rice, but that didn’t last long as two innings later Rice tied it before overtaking him with his second of the game.
Of the five confirmed participants this year, Rice and Caminero are the top-2 in total home runs which, as of right now, could make them two of the favorites to come out on top. In last year’s competition, Caminero was a surprise runner-up to Cal Raleigh so his experience could give him the slight edge over Rice.
Regardless, Rice seems ready to prove his numbers this season are no fluke and that the hard work he’s been putting in since his MLB debut in 2024 is paying off.
After Thursday’s game, though, all Rice was thinking about was his team and how they were able to pull out a series split while putting up 12 runs on 14 hits.
“It’s big time. It’s big for the morale heading into this last series before the break,” he said. “Just kinda getting everyone rolling again and firing on all cylinders feels good.”
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 03: Nick Kurtz #16 of the Athletics rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Sutter Health Park on July 03, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Okay, so the first two games haven’t gone our way and the club is now riding a 5-game losing streak. That just means it’s time for a win to get us back in the win column and rolling again. It’s time.
The A’s will be going with an opener/bulk pitcher strategy today, giving left-handed reliever Jose Suarez the ball for the first inning. He’ll be followed by right-hander Jack Perkins. The 26-year-old has struggled mightily in his return to starting duties, posting a ghastly 8.10 ERA over his six starts. The season is quickly slipping away from the A’s so it’s getting to the point where they might as well let it ride with the young right-hander. Maybe today is the day he puts it all together and finally figures it out. We’ll see though as he’s coming off an appearance where he allowed seven runs to cross home plate. Hard to win when your starter does that. Fingers crossed switching roles can spark something.
Here’s how the A’s will line up this afternoon in Detroit for the finale:
The squad gets first baseman Nick Kurtz back after he departed the game last night. Seems he’s healthy enough to get back into the starting lineup, though he’ll handle DH duties while first base will be covered by Jonah Heim. Kurtz will bat second behind today’s third baseman and lead off man Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, and our middle infield duo will be Jacob Wilson and Alika Williams tonight, playing shortstop and second base respectively.
And while the team welcomed Tyler Soderstrom back from the IL yesterday he gets the day off this evening, making way for Zack Gelof to get the start on the grass out there in left. He’ll be flanked by Henry Bolte in center and Colby Thomas in right field.
The Tigers meanwhile will send high-priced lefty Framber Valdez to the bump for what will be his 19th start of the season. The first-year Tiger hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations that his big contract came with but he’s still been serviceable with a 4.29 ERA for the AL Central squad.
1-9 in our past 10 games. Currently holding the 3rd-worst record in the American League. A five-game losing streak, and now five games back of a playoff spot. Desperate times. Let’s go A’s!
CAMDEN, NJ - JUNE 25: Labaron Philon Jr. #00 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during the Philadelphia 76ers press conference introducing Labaron Philon Jr. on June 25, 2026 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, NJ NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s time for some basketball!
Summer League 2026 is upon us, and the Philadelphia 76ers begin their seasonal run on Thursday evening with a 5:30 p.m. ET game against the Detroit Pistons. The game will be broadcast on NBC Philadelphia Sports+ as well as Prime Video.
While far from real deal NBA basketball, this is the first opportunity Sixers fans have to see a post-college Labaron Philon Jr. at work. The No. 22 overall pick out of Alabama is the biggest name on the Sixers’ Summer League roster, with the majority of the remaining roster being G Leaguers and unsigned players.
One other name to watch, for better or worse, is going to be Johni Broome. After being selected at the top of 2025’s second round, Broome barely saw NBA action as a rookie before missing time with an injury towards the end of the season. Summer League will be one of the first indications of whether Broome might have an NBA player in him or if he simply is not cut out for the big leagues.
The Sixers’ summer squad, led by coach T.J. Dileo, take the court for the first time Thursday evening.
Game Details
When: July 9, 5:30 p.m. ET Where: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, NV Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia+, Prime Video Follow:@LibertyBallers
One of the biggest trades of the offseason — Kawhi Leonard headed back to Toronto — is on hold until the investigation into alleged salary cap circumvention through former Clippers team sponsor Aspiration is completed.
The Raptors explained the reasoning behind putting things on hold — any potential punishment of Leonard (a suspension, for example) would fall fully on them if the trade went through this summer. The Raptors don't want to take on that unknown risk, especially since the investigation should be ending soon (at least everyone hopes).
"Regarding our planned trade with the LA Clippers for Kawhi Leonard, the NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi," Toronto said in a statement announcing the pause. "In light of this, we will wait until the league's investigation is complete. The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans."
"For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff. While the process has been challenging, we have remained committed to transparency.
"On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors' ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi's contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation.
"The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion."
Last September, the NBA hired the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to investigate Aspiration's ties to the Clippers. This came after an investigation by Pablo Torre and the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast. The allegation is that the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer used the now-defunct former green bank Aspiration (a Clippers sponsor) to funnel extra money to Leonard — outside of the CBA and in addition to his salary — through a no-show endorsement contract where Leonard did nothing for his money.
Ballmer and the Clippers have denied any wrongdoing from Day 1 and reiterated that in their statement.
"At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison."
When the investigation into the Clippers might conclude has been a cloud hanging over the team and the league all season. At his NBA Finals press conference, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sounded ready to have the investigation wrapped up and on his desk.
"My instruction to them is, you know, we can't be investigating forever, and at some point we have to wrap it up, but at the same time, I think the most important thing is we get it right," Silver said last month.
When that investigation ends, it will be up to Silver to decide potential punishments, although the Clippers could (and likely would) appeal any punishment to a "system arbitrator" — a person selected by the NBA and players' union — who would review the evidence and determine if Silver's punishments fit the offense. The buzz in league circles is that the investigation found enough that Silver will come down hard on Ballmer and the Clippers, but not nearly as much on Leonard. That is all just speculation at this point.
Expect the trade to go through later this summer.
That trade sends Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks (2030 and 2033).
It's a great trade for Leonard, who is already talking contract extension with Toronto, and it could vault the Raptors near the top of the East if Leonard stays healthy and everything comes together. For the Clippers, it's the first step in a retooling of the roster, and it's a lot of picks — ones that belong to other teams and the league can't take away in a punishment from the investigation.
Reaching the NBA is an incredibly rare and impressive feat. Playing for 16 seasons is even tougher. But, having two sons both reach the NBA and actually getting to play a season on the same team? That’s something extraordinary.
But that’s reality for Dell Curry. That’s because Seth Currysigned with the Warriors and joined his older brother Steph in Golden State for the 2025-26 season.
For the eldest Curry, seeing his two sons play on the same team was something, he told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole, that hadn’t happened in almost two decades.
“I’m like, ‘Wow, they haven’t played together since high school,’” Curry said. “Unfortunate that they didn’t get to play a lot of games together but just the time that they spent together traveling, at meals. As an NBA team you spend more time with your teammates than your family over the course of the season. I’m sure they became closer. It was a chance for Seth to see Steph’s kids a little more, so it’s all good.”
Seth played just 10 games with Golden State, while Steph played 43 of his own last season — in total, the pair played just three games together.
As for the legacy the Curry brothers have left on the hardwood, Dell believes they’ve played the game the right way over the course of their careers.
“I think they haven’t cheated the game,” Curry told Poole. “They’ve really respected the game, played the game the right way. It’s something I tried to instill in them early. … They’re great teammates, they take their craft seriously. They’re constantly working on their bodies to get to this point and have the careers that they’ve had.
“It’s a grind — I know how hard it is to get to the NBA. …To stay in the league, if you don’t produce, you’re not going to stay in the league. So, the fact that they’re able to produce on the floor, be quality teammates and now at this point in their careers, they can be mentors in the locker room. All of that gives you an advantage of being an older player and what you can bring to the table for a team.”
Seth has played 13 years in the league, while Steph is entering year 18 with the Warriors this upcoming season.
The Curry family surely has a lifetime of basketball memories, and seeing the brothers play on an NBA floor together in the same team’s uniform is likely near the top.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 22: Brady Singer #51 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park on June 22, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Lefty Jesus Luzardo signed a massive $135 million contract extension with the Philadelphia Phillies over the winter, and promptly started the 2026 season by falling completely flat on his face. He yielded 6 ER in his first start of the year, and his first four starts of the year featured a startling line: 22.2 IP, 28 H, 21 R (20 ER), good for a terribly unsightly 7.94 ERA.
Within that, though, sat an impressive 30/5 strikeout to walk ratio, and that fueled the 2.85 FIP he recorded through those surface struggles.
I cite that as a reference point as that encompassed the bad part of his year. Four starts of 2.85 FIP ball, and regression came coming for him quickly. In the 14 games he has started since that bad luck beginning to his extension, he’s been simply brilliant. Across 80.2 IP, he’s pitched to a 2.57 ERA and 2.99 FIP, and he’s struck out 95 more batters in that time.
In other words, he looks exactly like the pitcher who warranted said extension when the Phillies front office sent the contract his way.
He’ll start against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday opposite Brady Singer, who is desperately trying to pitch his way into a contract a third as valuable as Luzardo’s when he reaches free agency this winter. Singer got off to a much more prolonged struggle to begin 2026, but to his credit he has pitched to a 3.16 ERA with a 35/14 K/BB over his last 6 starts (even if the Reds have gone just 1-5 in those games).
It’s a 7:10 PM ET start time for this series finale. Turn on, tune in, drop out.
Toronto Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard celebrates after the buzzer as the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-110 during Game 6 of basketballâs NBA Finals, Thursday, June 13, 2019, in Oakland,...
It is now tied directly to the NBA’s ongoing investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers, Steve Ballmer, Aspiration and allegations of salary-cap circumvention that have hovered over the franchise for nearly a year.
The Clippers issued a lengthy statement after Shams Charania reported that Leonard’s planned trade to the Raptors has been delayed.
According to the Clippers, the deal was agreed to in principle on June 30, but cannot be finalized unless Toronto’s ownership group assumes the risk of any potential penalties connected to Leonard’s contract that could emerge from the NBA investigation.
Kawhi Leonard’s trade to Toronto is on hold as the Raptors wait for the NBA’s Clippers-Aspiration investigation to conclude. AP
At this time, Toronto is not willing to do that.
The Raptors wrote that the league office informed them that, because of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, they would assume the risk of any potential outcome affecting Leonard.
As a result, Toronto said it will wait until the investigation is complete before moving forward.
“The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans,” the team said.
That leaves Leonard in limbo, the Clippers’ blockbuster exit plan unfinished and the Raptors’ reunion with the 2019 Finals MVP on hold.
The Clippers, meanwhile, continue to strongly deny wrongdoing.
“For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation,” the team said, noting that it has participated in dozens of interviews, provided tens of thousands of documents and allowed access to staff.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer celebrates after the Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets Getty Images
The organization also denied the central accusation in the case.
“We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration,” the Clippers said.
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At the center of the investigation is Aspiration, the now-defunct green banking company co-founded by Joe Sanberg.
Sanberg pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges tied to a scheme prosecutors said defrauded investors out of $248 million. The Clippers’ statement described Sanberg as the architect of a fraud and said Ballmer, like other investors and business partners, was one of the victims.
Joe Sanberg speaks at the press conference for first shipment of 3,000 L.A. produced face shields at LA County + USC Medical Center Getty Images for Emergency Supply Donor Group)
That has been Ballmer’s position throughout the fallout.
Ahead of Sanberg’s sentencing, Ballmer’s attorney submitted a victim impact statement saying the Clippers owner lost his entire $60 million investment in Aspiration and suffered “immeasurable” reputational harm. The letter also said the Clippers lost out on a $300 million sponsorship agreement with Aspiration, along with roughly $20 million tied to carbon offset purchases.
Ballmer’s attorney argued that Sanberg targeted Ballmer because of his interest in environmental sustainability and used the relationship to attract other investors. The letter also said Ballmer had met Sanberg only once and pushed back against a civil lawsuit that added Ballmer as a defendant, calling the allegations against him baseless.
Steve Ballmer, left, shakes hands with former NBA players Bill Russell, right, and “Downtown” Freddie Brown as Omar Lee looks on during an NCAA college basketball game AP
But the piece of the story that matters most to the NBA is Leonard’s reported $28 million endorsement agreement with Aspiration.
Players are allowed to have outside endorsement deals.
The question is whether the Clippers or Ballmer were involved in arranging a side deal that functioned as additional compensation to Leonard outside the salary cap. If the NBA determines that happened, it could classify the arrangement as cap circumvention, one of the league’s most serious violations.
Leonard has addressed the accusations publicly only once, denying wrongdoing and saying he understood the contract and services involved.
“I don’t deal with conspiracies or the click-bait analysts or journalism that’s going on,” Leonard said.
The NBA launched its investigation in September 2025 after reporting by Pablo Torre raised questions about Leonard’s Aspiration deal and whether it was connected to the Clippers’ relationship with the company.
The probe is being conducted by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, with attorney David Anders leading the review.
Kyle Lowry, right, speaks with Kawhi Leonard after a press conference in which Lowry signed a one-day contract to retire as a Toronto Raptor, in Toronto Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP
In a letter submitted before Sanberg’s sentencing, Anders said Sanberg had sat for two in-person interviews and provided documents and information relevant to the league’s investigation. Anders wrote that Sanberg’s cooperation helped investigators develop a more complete understanding of key events, while also stating that no promises were made in exchange for that cooperation.
That detail is important because it suggests the NBA investigation is not merely procedural. The league has reviewed documents, interviewed figures connected to the case and gathered information from Sanberg himself.
The potential consequences remain unclear.
The most infamous modern cap-circumvention case remains the Minnesota Timberwolves’ secret agreement with Joe Smith, which led the NBA to strip the franchise of first-round draft picks, fine the team and void Smith’s contract.
That happened more than two decades ago under David Stern, and Adam Silver’s approach may differ. Still, the precedent shows why the Raptors are hesitant to absorb any risk tied to Leonard’s contract before the investigation is complete.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Joe Smith, right, is pressured by Los Angeles Lakers forward Robert Horry AP
For the Clippers, a fine would be survivable. Losing draft picks or facing restrictions that affect roster construction would be far more damaging, especially now that they are rebuilding after an era that never reached the heights the franchise imagined.
Leonard arrived in Los Angeles in 2019 after delivering Toronto its first NBA championship. The Clippers paired him with Paul George and appeared positioned to become a Western Conference power. Instead, injuries, playoff exits and instability defined the era. Now, even Leonard’s departure cannot be completed cleanly.
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, center, celebrates after the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors AP
The proposed trade would send Leonard back to Toronto, where he remains a franchise legend, while the Clippers would receive Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, multiple first-round picks, a pick swap and second-round compensation.
But for now, the trade is frozen.
The Clippers say they expect it to be finalized once the investigation concludes. The Raptors say they still want Leonard back. The NBA has not announced its findings.
That means Leonard’s Los Angeles chapter is effectively over, but not officially closed.
And until the league delivers its ruling, the Clippers, Raptors and Leonard are all stuck waiting on the same thing: the final word on the Aspiration saga.
