Midtown Manhattan was already going to be a wild scene with the NBA Finals returning to Madison Square Garden for the first time in 27 years — and with the Knicks up 2-0 on the Spurs, New Yorkers believe they are witnessing a coronation.
They are also witnessing the most intense security around an NBA game anyone can remember. What was already going to be a strong law enforcement presence around the game ramped up to a whole new level when President Donald Trump confirmed he would accept the invitation of Knicks governor James Dolan.
What does that look like? How about five blocks around the arena being shut down to all vehicular traffic, and only people with a ticket for the game can get past the security barrier.
Starting at 4pm today, vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be closed from West 30th Street to West 35th Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue.
No one will be allowed inside the secure area unless you have a ticket to the game, a train ticket, are going to a business inside…
"There should be extra security for the President of the United States to be at a game, but I think the fans are very understanding of that," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said when Trump confirmed he would attend. "I think they recognize that it adds to the bigness of the event."
Inside the arena, Trump will not be on celebrity row courtside but will watch the game from a suite, NBC Sports confirmed.
"This President, Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan..." Silver said at an NBA Cares event.
"I think sports, in particular, is something where we can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart, that it creates a sense of belonging. We're seeing that in New York, and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I'm thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knicks team."
Knicks fans won't care much about who attends the game so long as their team wins, but those fans will also face additional security. Fans entering MSG can't take bags of any kind into the game and will have to undergo additional screening, much more like a TSA screening at the airport than at a typical NBA game.
All of this security has led to a slight decrease in the cost of buying a ticket and getting into the game on secondary markets, according to reports. Although this is still shaping up to be the most expensive game to attend in NBA history.
The question is, will those Knicks fans witness history and see their team move within a game of their first NBA championship in 53 years?
Larkin’s wish to leave the Red Wings after 11 years – and 10 consecutive years without a playoff berth – sent shockwaves through the NHL when the news emerged Thursday, June 4.
Larkin, who turns 30 on July 30, is signed through 2030-31 and currently has a full no-trade clause. The latter means Larkin is in control of where he goes. In such cases, it’s the players’ onus to submit a list of teams that fit where he wants to land.
The Free Press has learned from a person within the NHL – granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly – that these are the three teams on Larkin's list, in no particular order:
1. Florida Panthers
Larkin in February won the gold medal for the USA at the 2026 Milano Olympics with Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk. Florida does not have a state income tax, and there’s little media scrutiny. The Panthers missed the playoffs this season, but are poised to return to contender status in 2026-27 with the return of captain Aleksander Barkov, who missed all of the season with an injury. The Panthers won the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025.
The return would have to be phenomenal, though, for Yzerman to trade Larkin within the Atlantic Division.
2. Vegas Golden Knights
Since entering the NHL in 2017-18 on the strength of an incredible expansion draft, the Knights are in their third Stanley Cup Final in nine seasons and partied with the Cup in 2023. This is a franchise that does whatever it takes to stay competitive; just this season, it fired highly respected coach Bruce Cassidy – the guy behind the bench in 2023 – with eight games to go and brought in John Tortorella.
Last summer, the Knights pulled off a blockbuster by acquiring 100-point Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who wanted out of Toronto. Vegas is two wins from a second Stanley Cup, leading Carolina, 2-1, ahead of Tuesday's Game 4 in Vegas.
3. Minnesota Wild
Here, Larkin would be reunited with fellow U.S. gold medalists Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber. Wild GM Bill Guerin has shown he’s all-in on guiding the team to its first Stanley Cup championship since entering the league as an expansion team in 2000-01, pulling off the Hughes trade in December 2025. Hughes had made it clear he wouldn’t re-sign with the Vancouver Canucks, and since he was in the fifth season of a six-year deal, the Canucks decided to get value while they could.
Yzerman pursued Hughes as well, but pulled out when Hughes, who played at Michigan, would not commit to re-signing.
Larkin may be asked to expand his list if there's not a favorable deal to be worked out with one of his preferred teams. In that case, these three other teams make sense.
Other teams that make sense
New York Islanders
A star who just made history by becoming the first defenseman ever to win the Calder Trophy unanimously in Matthew Schaefer. A star goaltender in Ilya Sorokin. A star forward group that includes Mathew Barzal, a high-end playmaker and top scorer. Another star forward in Bo Horvat, a top goal-scorer and excellent on face-offs. A veteran captain in Anders Lee. This is a team on a meteoric rise after winning the draft lottery in 2025 and adding Schaefer.
The Islanders finished with 91 points (43-34-5) in 2025-26.
The Ducks (92 points) are another team on the rise, emerging from a rebuild on the guiding hands of GM Pat Verbeek, who was Yzerman's right-hand man for years in both Detroit and with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Ducks have a tremendous young core headlined by Leo Carlsson, the second overall pick in 2023, along with Cutter Gauthier (fifth overall, 2022), and Mason McTavish (third overall, 2021). They're guided by veteran coach Joel Quenneville, a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks.
A proven veteran center is just what this team needs after the Ducks upset the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs this year, before falling to Vegas in the second round.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The team isn't dominating like five years ago, but there's a strong, if aging, core in superstar defenseman Victor Hedman and superstar goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, and one of the NHL's most elite forwards in Nikita Kucherov. Under the guidance of longtime coach Jon Cooper, the Bolts pushed the Montreal Canadiens to a seven-game series in the first round before bowing out this spring.
The 27-year-old was sent down to Worcester after his latest rough outing for the Red Sox, in which he gave up eight earned runs over five innings in a lost to the Orioles on June 4.
“It was a really tough day,” Bello told reporters via translator. “I had a bad outing as you all know. We were getting ready to travel, and the trip right now in New York is a family trip and we were all set up to get ready to go up there. So, when I got the unfortunate news, I even shed some tears, got a little emotional because like I said before, I have so much love and passion for this game and to get that bad news was really tough. But we’re better today.”
Brayan Bello in his last outing against the Orioles Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Bello, in the midst of a six-year, $55 million deal signed before 2024, put together a 2-6 record record with a 6.34 ERA — the worst mark of his career — and a 1.67 WHIP.
The Dominican Hurler seemed to be turning the corner before the disaster outing against Baltmore. He was sent to the bullpen, operating as a long reliever following an opener, allowing just two earned runs in 25 1/3 innings (0.74 ERA) in the role.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told reporter he’d asked Bell to “fall in love with baseball” again.
Brayan Bello said he “shed some tears” after receiving news of his demotion to Triple-A Worcester. pic.twitter.com/atzawHAn0t
The hope is, a start with the Woo Sox on Thursday can help set a key rotation arm back on track.
In Bello’s place, the Red Sox have called up left-handed reliever Joe La Sorsa.
But that call-up could be temporary, as the Red Sox now have a vacant starting-rotation spot. Pitching prospect Jake Bennett is the leading candidate to take Bello’s spot. Bello was slated to make his next start on Tuesday, meaning the Red Sox might make their decision then.
Bello facing the Atlanta Braves Getty Images
The Red Sox need some help anyway they can get it. They sit dead last in the AL East, having a record of 27-36 entering Monday’s slate.
The Red Sox have struggled in the pitching department after ace Garrett Crochet went on the 15-day IL on April 29; a setback during a live throwing session saw him go onto the 60-day IL.
Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock reacts as his team plays the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Toronto.
The Oilers are consulting with the NHL Players’ Association to see if they can potentially hire Mike Babcock as head coach without objection, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.
The Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch in May after being eliminated by Anaheim in the first round of the playoffs.
The rumblings come after the 63-year-old Babcock resigned as bench boss of the Blue Jackets in 2023 before coaching a single game for them due to allegations of invading players’ privacy, asking them to share photos from their mobile devices.
The NHLPA investigated the situation before the Stanley Cup-winning coach resigned.
Then-Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen called the hiring of Babcock “a mistake” in a statement following the coach’s resignation. Columbus captain Boone Jenner came forward then, saying the images Babcock asked for were of his family for relationship-building, and he was “happy to share.”
Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock reacts as his team plays the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Toronto. AP
There have been other instances where Babcock was accused of mistreating players and staff. Several of his former players have come forward, sharing their experiences of being embarrassed or otherwise mistreated by Babcock.
One of the more high-profile incidents was in Toronto in the 2016-17 season, when then-rookie Mitch Marner was told to rank his teammates based on work ethic, a list that Babcock then shared with the rest of the team. Marner’s teammates had his back and directed their anger at the “list incident” toward Babcock.
In the past, Babcock was viewed as one of the top coaches in the league. He led the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2003.
He won the Cup with the Red Wings in 2008 and did not miss the playoffs in his 10-year run with Detroit. He signed an eight-year deal to be the head coach in Toronto before the 2015-16 season, and was fired in late 2019. He led Team Canada to two Olympic gold medals in 2010 and ’14.
Mike Babcock addresses the media as the Columbus Blue Jackets introduce Babcock as their new head coach during a news conference on Saturday, July 1, 2023 AP
Last month, Babcock shut down rumors about his return to coaching. Dreger asked Babcock directly about the rumors circulating around him and the Oilers, and Babcock said, “Dregs, I’m retired. Loving it.”
It remains to be seen whether the Oilers will be able to move forward with Babcock. Further investigation might be required, according to Dreger, before Babcock can make his return to coaching in the NHL.
With the Montreal Canadiens being in desperate need of another top-six center, they have naturally been viewed as one of the potential suitors for Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. The star center notably has requested a trade from the Red Wings and is expected to be moved.
However, Larkin's trade list has now been revealed, and the Canadiens are not on it. With Larkin having a full no-trade clause, this is undoubtedly a tough blow for the Habs.
With the Canadiens needing an upgrade at their second-line center spot, Larkin would have had the potential to be an excellent addition to their roster. This is because he is not only a proven top-six center but is also locked up until the end of the 2030-31 season. With this, he would have provided the Canadiens with a long-term answer for their top six.
However, as it stands now, the likelihood of the Canadiens landing Larkin this off-season is incredibly low.
BALTIMORE- The Baltimore Orioles, already struggling in their quest to reach the .500 mark, placed starting pitcher Chris Bassitt on the 15-day injured list with a back injury Monday, June 8, as he and the club continue seeking answers for his malady.Bassitt, 37, visited a back specialist in Baltimore while the team was in Toronto last weekend before rejoining the club. He refused comment before the team’s Monday night game against the Seattle Mariners at Camden Yards.Rookie Trey Gibson was summoned to make Bassitt’s start Monday, with some doubt about the veteran’s return date."He’s looking at his options and kind of seeing what his best course of action is," Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said Monday.
Bassitt was signed to a one-year, $18.5 million contract in March, is 4-4 with a 5.27 ERA in 12 games, including 10 starts and two outings as the “bulk pitcher.”
After posting a 6.75 ERA in his first five starts, he has pitched better of late, including two six-inning, one-run outings.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 06: Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves talks with reporters prior to the MLB game between the Pittsburg Pirates and the Atlanta Braves on June 6, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good evening, folks! I hope everybody’s had a lovely start to their day. The Braves may not be in action but sometimes it’s just nice to take some time to look at the standings and relax a bit. Things are looking good for the Braves and days like this are nice to just take it all in. Let’s hope that they continue to keep the pedal to the metal as this season progresses.
Meanwhile, there are still plenty of options for baseball this evening if you still need your fix. If you’re trying to do a hate-watch then the Phillies are going to have a pretty interesting matchup with the Blue Jays tonight. Cristopher Sánchez has been having an incredible season so far and Toronto is countering that with Patrick Corbin as their starting pitcher, so we’ll see how that goes. Meanwhile, the Yankees and Guardians will be locking horns about 20 minutes before the game in Toronto starts and both of those teams have been looking good in the standings so far. The Yankees are learning how to navigate without Aaron Judge after the pain of playing with an injured rib was finally too much for him, so we’ll see if New York can topple the Guardians. The game will be on FS1 too, so that might be the easier choice for you if you’re reading this and you don’t have MLB.tv or live in Philadelphia or Canada.
I wished I could’ve been here to talk about what happened between my Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Georgia Bulldogs during Game 3 of their Super Regional but we (sadly, IMO) won’t be getting a Game 3 because the red-and-black Bulldogs out-slugged the maroon-and-white Bulldogs and punched their ticket to the College World Series. If you’re following the NCAA Tournament, tell us who you got winning it all now that the field for Omaha is revealing itself. Or you can tell us who’s going to win tonight in the two big league games I mentioned above. Or you can tell me what you’re having for dinner. It’s all on the table. The floor is now yours.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 07: LuJames Groover #16 of the Arizona Diamondbacks gets ready to make a play against the Washington Nationals at Chase Field on June 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Two more winning opponents faced, and the Diamondbacks saw more realistic results. Was the sweep at the hands of the Mariners or the split with the Dodgers more indicative of where the team is in reality?
Spencer: I think it shows we are mercurial. If we can beat horrendous teams the rest of the year, we might sneak in.
DBacksEurope: I think both. The Diamondbacks aren’t one of the best teams in the league, nor will they be, but on any given day they can battle fiercely against the top teams, because there is some superb quality on this team in the form of Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte. For that to happen, we need to take advantage of a solid pitching performance, which is more than likely not to happen with this rotation, but if everything clicks, then this team could beat any given opponent. This happens on 2 out of 7, say 25% of the time each time we meet one of the top teams in this league? Yeah, that doesn’t sound that crazy to me.
James Attwood: Probably the series against the Dodgers. Mostly, I think the big takeaway is that, for the most part, the team has largely found ways to remain in games and to lose them by the narrowest of margins. A bit more roster depth might have salvage two extra wins in that stretch of seven games.
Makakilo: In the two series against the Mariners and Dodgers, most games were close and hard fought. Four of seven games were decided by 1-run. The two low-scoring 1-run games were split (win vs Dodgers and loss vs Mariners). The two high-scoring games were lost. Contention possibilities were shown by the awesome 4-1 win over the Dodgers. Bust possibilities were shown by two games with a combination of almost no runs scored and weak starting pitching.
1AZFan1: The split with the Dodgers. The Mariners hit HRs at an outlier rate that series. D-backs pitchers are not going to give up homers at that rate all year, though the Nats appear to be testing that theory.
Dano_In_Tucson: I don’t think it’s a simple “either-or” choice. As such, I would say both, but in different ways. Unfamiliar teams with good pitching are going to give us trouble. They’re going to give anyone trouble–that’s what good pitching does–but our offense, while feasting sometimes on more substandard starting pitching and bullpens, can’t seem to really compete convincingly at this point against rotations that are in the upper tiers. As for the Doyers, we know them a lot better, especially their bullpen, and their lineup, and they are less fearsome at the end of the day than their reputation might suggest. FTD are in some respects paper tigers, and I do expect that we’ll see that more clearly as the season progresses.
The LuJames Groover era begins. Do you see this youth movement as the correct path towards a winning season, or is it showing a focus towards the future?
Spencer: I think it’s leaning future with the small hope of catching lightning in the bottle. I wouldn’t reject the idea that some of these promotions are showcases for trades. But competition within the organization is most likely.
DbacksEurope: It is probably the only “correct” way we are able to achieve a winning season because Hazen didn’t do anything this past off-season to replace the batting champions we lost during the 2025 season. So, I think it is his way to try and scrap some necessary wins in so he isn’t on his way out after this season. Could be that it is also with an eye towards the future but in this case I think Troy, Waldschmidt, Groover and whomever Wesley thinks who might get a call up any time soon are all here to try and boost that offence to get wins now.
James Attwood: Both is good.
Makakilo: MY VIEW. The Diamondbacks are focused on reaching the playoffs more than the future. Any move to younger players was made to make the team better now rather than the future.
MY POINTS. First, the opening day roster was older than the MLB average (for each of batters and pitchers) per a Baseball America article from 26 March 2026. Second, my estimated average age for yesterday’s roster of pitchers is unchanged from opening day (30.7 years old). Third, my estimated age of batters got younger (29.8 years old got younger by maybe 2 years); batters are now possibly about the seventh youngest in the Majors. The Diamondbacks traded away Alek Thomas (age 26), resulting in two younger players in center field: Ryan Waldschmidt (age 23.7) and Jorge Barrosa (age 25.3). Also, the Diamondbacks called up younger players (Jordan Lawlar, Tommy Troy, and LuJames Groover).
1AZFan1: It’s the correct path towards a winning season this year when the veterans who were in front of them are Carlos Santana, Pavin Smith, and Alek Thomas.
Dano_In_Tuscson: Again, I can’t really buy into the “either-or” construction here. Again, my answer is “both,” because while I’m not sure we come to the end of 2026 with a winning season, calling up Waldschmidt and Troy and Groover seems like it’s our best path forward right now, and it gives us our best shot, right now. It also has the added benefit for giving a lot of our AAA prospects an extended audition, so we can get a better sense of who we’ve got down on the farm who can contribute at the major league level in future and plug some holes that we’d otherwise have to look to free agency or trades to fill.
Who has been the most surprising team, either good or bad, to you so far this season?
Spencer: I think the Nationals offense needs to be here. But both the White Sox success and Tigers utter uselessness deserve an honorable mention. Cardinals too but I don’t buy it throughout the season.
DBacksEurope: I certainly didn’t expect the Giants to be this bad and I didn’t expect the Diamondbacks to be this good, with a 33-29 record before the series against the Nationals. Outside of the NL West, maybe the strength of the NL Central in general surprises me, especially the Cardinals. In general we still have more than 50% of the games left. Blue Jays can easily slip back into the wild card, just like the Astros.
James Attwood: While I always expected the Mets to struggle more than the roster indicated they should, I certainly did not expect them to spend time as the worst team in the game after more than a week’s worth of games had been played. They are still one of the four worst teams in the National League. The Tigers are surprising for the same reasons. Neither team should be as bad as those two have been, though losing Tarik Skubal certainly has not helped Detroit any.
Makakilo: BACKGROUND. Preseason, I projected 85 wins for the Diamondbacks. My 4 May article argued that 85 wins gives a 50% chance to make the playoffs. In games through 5 June, they are on-pace for 85 wins, albeit FanGraphs shows only a 42.6% chance of playoffs.
THE SURPRISE. There is a strong possibility that the Diamondbacks will end the season in second place in the NL West, ahead of the Padres. The Diamondbacks, after 40 consecutive games in third place (11 April to 26 May), now are in second place. Tankathon and FanGraphs show the Padres will play stronger teams through the rest of the season. What is really exciting is that the Diamondbacks can decide their fate because they will play the Padres 11 times in July/August/September. Finishing the season in second place in the NL West would be a nice consolation prize, should the Diamondbacks fall short of the playoffs.
1AZFan1: Gotta go with my NL West bias and say the Giants. Fully expected them to be right in the thick of the Wild Card race next to us and the Padres instead of cellar dwelling.
Dano_In_Tucson: Honestly, I think probably the Tigers. They nearly made it to the World Series last year, and now they’re tied with the Royals and the San Francisco Giants for the second-worst record in the major leagues. When it’s coming up on mid-June and you’re 13 games under .500, I’m pretty sure not going to climb back into contention. For Detroit, that was certainly not on my bingo card. Sure, Skubal got injured and that has hurt them, but when you’re rocking a 26-39 record on June 6, you’ve got way more problems than one ace can solve or be held responsible for.
If the Diamondbacks had never existed, who would you be following now?
Spencer: Cubs or Phillies. I was born on the north side and my mom made me a baseball fan and she was a Phillies fan growing up. But realistically, not a single sportsball team. As a family, we struggle to enjoy any sport outside baseball.
DBacksEurope: Atlanta Braves
James Attwood: Cubs and Mariners with some love for the Tigers and Giants.
Makakilo: Perhaps, instead of baseball, I would watch women’s volleyball, which is big in Hawaii. On the other hand, when I attended a game with a group of people, our seats were so high and so far from the game that I regretted not bringing binoculars.
1AZFan1: The Cubs. Before the D-backs existed, I watched a ton of Cubs games because we had WGN. I really don’t have much of a soft spot for them anymore, though. I wasn’t even rooting for them in the ’16 World Series.
Dano_In_Tucson: I honestly have no idea. Maybe, at the outside of maybe, the Phillies, because they were my team when I was a kid in southern New Jersey? But probably none….finding the Diamondbacks at the direction of my mom when I was living in NYC in 2001, and then moving back to Arizona in 2005 and watching games every night with her while I was living with her in Prescott Valley, and later discovering the Snake Pit and all you lovely people and eventually starting to write about baseball here from time to time is what got me back to being a baseball fan again after many years of not really following it. So thanks, everyone!
The Phillies (35-30) and the Blue Jays (32-34) meet Monday night north of the border in Toronto. Philadelphia arrives after taking two of three at home against the White Sox and seven of their last ten overall. Toronto also won two of three at home over the weekend knocking off the Orioles. The Jays are .500 over their last ten games
Offensively, the Phillies have been driven by a few hot bats over the last ten games. Brandon Marsh has been exceptional all season at the plate. In his last ten games the left fielder is hitting .441 (15-34). Kyle Schwarber leads all of baseball with 23 home runs this season but has hit just two in his last ten games. Ernie Clement is swinging the hottest bat for Toronto. The second baseman is hitting .366 over his last ten games with at least one hit in nine of the last ten.
Cristopher Sanchez (7-2, 1.46) takes the ball for the Phillies against Patrick Corbin (2-3, 3.98) for Toronto. The southpaw for the Phils has enjoyed a Cy Young-worthy campaign to date. He set a Phillies record with 50.2 scoreless innings earlier this month. That streak is in fact the longest streak ever in baseball for a lefthander. Meanwhile, Corbin was peppered by the Braves last Wednesday against the Braves after two consecutive solid starts to end May.
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: Phillies vs. Blue Jays
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The Latest Odds: Phillies vs. Blue Jays
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (-175), Toronto Blue Jays (+144)
Spread: Phillies -1.5 (-101), Blue Jays +1.5 (-120)
Total: 7.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Phillies vs. Blue Jays for June 8
Blue Jays: Patrick Corbin Season Totals: 54.1 IP, 2-2, 3.98 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 37K, 16 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Phillies vs. Blue Jays
Bryce Harper is hitting .300 (6-20) in June
Alec Bohm has hit safely in his last 5 games (8-23) and in 7 of his last 8 (10-30)
Vlad Guerrero Jr. is just 4-27 (.148) over his last 7 games
George Springer is 3-18 (.167) in June
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: Phillies and Blue Jays
The Philles are 36-31 on the Run Line this season
The Blue Jays are 31-33 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 33 times in Toronto’s 66 games this season (33-30-3)
The OVER has cashed 28 times in the Phillies’ 65 games this season (28-35-2)
Expert picks & predictions: Phillies vs. Blue Jays
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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 Phillies and the Blue Jays:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Phillies on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Phillies on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total od 7.5
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The 8:30 p.m. June 8 game is expected to mark the first time that a seated U.S. president has attended the NBA Finals. And, as with any high-profile presidential appearance, this trip comes with added layers of security.
USA TODAY will have live updates from inside MSG as the president takes in the game, which will be broadcast live on ABC.
The presidential motorcade will drive up the five-story entrance ramp that players and coaches use to arrive, where President Trump will be escorted to elevators and taken to a suite, where he will watch the game.
While the President is being whisked up, the wing where the corresponding elevator is will be momentarily blocked off to foot traffic. Similar protocols will be followed when Trump leaves the arena.
A security wall around the perimeter of the "World's Most Famous Arena" in midtown Manhattan is in place. NYPD officials said during a news conference about 12 hours before the scheduled start time for Game 3 that the police's security perimeter will run from West 35th Street to West 30th Street between Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue around Madison Square Garden.
All fans will encounter TSA-style magnetometer screening before entering the arena, according to Matt McCool of the U.S. Secret Service, who encouraged those attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals to arrive at MSG at least two hours before Monday's 8:30 p.m. ET tip.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed Trump's bonafides as a Knicks fan last week when asked about the President's potential attendance at Madison Square Garden.
"Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan," Silver said. "I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days. He attended many of our drafts when they used to take place at Madison Square Garden."
Silver noted he hopes Trump's appearance will "emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart. We’re seeing that in New York and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I’m thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team."
A planned watch party for Game 3 of the NBA Finals outside Madison Square Garden has been canceled.
More than two dozen people were arrested at a similar party last Friday during Game 2 of the series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. But now, with President Donald Trump and NYC mayor Zohran Mandami planning to be in attendance as the series moves to New York, security is on heightened alert.
The Knicks are making their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 1999, and fans have enthusiastically embraced the team's title run. After nearly 7,000 fans showed up at Madison Square Garden to watch New York's 105-104 victory in San Antonio, authorities said 26 people were detained, with 17 arrested and charged.
Amidst the ongoing controversial saga that could lead to the end of the relationship between Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings, a notable former member of the organization is back in the news.
Former Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock, who was behind their bench from 2005 to 2015 and won the 2008 Stanley Cup, is reportedly being considered for the head coaching position of the Edmonton Oilers, per multiple reports.
According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the Oilers, who fired coach Kris Knoblauch last month, are consulting with the NHLPA regarding any potential objections stemming from Babcock's alleged past actions.
Sources: The Edmtn Oilers are consulting with the NHLPA to see if there are objections that must be resolved before potentially hiring Mike Babcock. Amid allegations of invading players privacy, Babcock resigned in CBJ as Head Coach in 2023. Further investigation may be required.
Additionally, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has confirmed that Edmonton's interest in Babcock is real, and that he's spoken with team owner Darryl Katz.
"It’s real. They are considering it," Friedman reported. "According to several sources, Babcock has spoken directly with owner Daryl Katz. "
Friedman continued by saying that several Oilers players are on board with a potential hiring of Babcock.
"According to those same sources, Babcock has met with or spoken to several members of the team’s leadership group. Whatever happened in those meeting(s) was enough to get the players on board with the idea."
Babcock, who led the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to a shocking first-round sweep of the Red Wings in 2003, came within a single victory of winning the Stanley Cup that spring, losing in seven games to the New Jersey Devils.
He would be hired by the Red Wings before the start of the 2005-06 NHL season, and led the club to four consecutive 50+ win seasons, along with the 2008 Stanley Cup. He then departed the franchise in 2015 to sign a record-breaking contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Under Babcock, the Maple Leafs made the postseason three times, but never made it out of the first round. He was then let go in November 2019 after an inconsistent start to the season.
Hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets as head coach in 2023, Babcock resigned without ever coaching a game after reports of invading players privacy surfaced.
Babcock has also led Team Canada to Olympic gold medal victories in 2010 and 2014.
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May 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (6) gestures crossing home plate on a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t had rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin in the lineup for the past week, and it looks like they will be without the young star for longer than anticipated.
Griffin went on the 10-day injured list back on May 31 after suffering a right arm flexor strain. The injury took place in the series against the Minnesota Twins at home.
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that they’re going to be “more conservative” for when Griffin returns, following his flexor mass muscle strain, which the location of which is causing them to give Griffin more time.
Pittsburgh doesn’t want to rush the young player which makes sense to me. He is the future of the team, and you don’t want him to be rushed back just to get injured again or make the injury worse.
Although the 10-day IL is turning into a long stay for Griffin, it is important to make sure his injury fully heals. So I don’t really disagree with Cherington and the rest of the organization in keeping a close eye on the situation.
Griffin has improved from the plate, slashing .270/.327/.402 for an OPS of .729 in 51 games, with 51 hits, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 22 RBI and 14 stolen bases on 15 attempts.
The Bucs signed Griffin to a nine-year, $140 million contract extension on April 8 and his future with the team is a big part to them turning themselves into a winning franchise, after more than a decade out of the postseason.
Cherington said that of all the things that Griffin will do in his injury rehab, throwing will come at the end, likening it to a pitcher building back up.
“Obviously given the injury, that’s the part that we’re going to be the most cautious about,” Cherington said. “He can take ground balls, he can run, he can hit, it’s the throwing that we’ll be the most careful about and that’s the part I don’t expect would happen until No. 1, he’s fully asymptomatic and No. 2, there’s probably some progression he goes through in terms of like a pitcher would almost, you’re going to go through a progression of exercises, stretching, plyo ball, programming, stuff like that before he can pick up a ball.”
Hearing from Cherington and the rest of the community has me confident that they are taking this Griffin injury very seriously. That is important because without Konnor Griffin, I don’t see Pittsburgh make a deep run this season.
There is no official timetable yet for Griffin’s return. He has not been cleared to throw yet, and there is no timeline for when he will resume a throwing program or get back oin the field.
In a recent article for ESPN, Greg Wyshynski took a look at some of the top NHL trade candidates to watch this off-season. A Buffalo Sabres defenseman was among the players discussed, as Michael Kesselring made the cut.
Wyshynski had Kesselring in the "Change in scenery needed" section of his trade board, and it is not difficult to understand why. The 26-year-old defenseman struggled this season with the Sabres, posting zero goals and just two assists in 34 games. This was after he had a strong year for Utah in 2024-25, setting career highs with seven goals, 22 assists, and 29 points in 82 games. He also had five goals and 21 points in 65 games for the Arizona Coyotes in 2023-24.
Kesselring also became the odd man for the Sabres during the playoffs, as he played in just one post-season game for Buffalo. With this, there is no question that he would benefit from a fresh start.
While Kesselring had a down year for the Sabres, it is likely that he would generate interest if they make him available for trade. NHL clubs are always on the hunt for big right-shot defenseman, and the 6-foot-5 Kesselring fits that description. Furthermore, Kesselring is only 26 years old, so he is entering his prime. This only adds to his appeal.
Ultimately, if the Sabres do not view Kesselring as a long-term part of their plans, they should strongly consider flipping him to improve their roster elsewhere. It will be interesting to see what the Sabres do with the pending restricted free agent from here.
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New York City has waited a long time for tonight — 27 years, to be exact.
Game 3 of the NBA Finals are tonight, June 8, on the Knicks’ home court at Madison Square Garden. It’s the first NBA Finals game to be hosted at the World’s Most Famous Arena since the 1999 Finals.
DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ABC, where every game of the NBA Finals will air. When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $44.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.
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Sling TV is another affordable way to watch TV live and stream NBA games; its Select plan includes ABC and starts at $19.99/month.
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.
Apr 19, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Tommy Nance against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Toronto Blue Jays have designated Yariel Rodriguiez for assignment to make room on the roster for the addition of Tommy Nance:
Rodriguez was initially DFA’d in December. He cleared waivers and was assigned to the AAA Buffalo Bisons. Things went pretty well for him there, as he revamped his pitch mix to lean more heavily on his splitter and struck out 25 batters in 13.2 innings with a 2.63 ERA. That performance earned him a recall to Toronto last month. Things haven’t gone as well at the big league level. Rodriguez has posted a 7.71 ERA across 10 appearances, striking out just 6 of 45 batters faced against a dozen hits and seven walks. He’ll most likely clear waivers again, as he’s still owed the remainder of a $5 million salary this season and $6 million in 2027, with a player option for $6.3 million in 2028 that’s all but certain to be picked up. Most likely, he’ll go back to Buffalo to continue to serve as depth and hope he can finally figure out how to apply his stuff effectively against big league hitters.
Nance returns after missing nearly a month with forearm discomfort. The team leaned heavily on the 35 year old righty early in the season, to the tune of 20 appearances and 21 innings in their first 45 games. He was delivering, with a 3.86 ERA and peripheral stats that suggested he deserved significantly better than that, but the heavy usage evidently took a toll. It doesn’t appear to have been a major issue, though, as he was back on a mound within a couple of weeks and now returns to Toronto after just one rehab outing in Buffalo. He’ll bring sorely needed support to a bullpen that’s had to come up with a league leading 62 innings over the past two weeks.
Hopefully that’s just the beginning of the cavalry arriving, as Dylan Cease and Max Scherzer seem likely to rejoin the club this week. The Jays have fared better than could reasonably have been expected since Cease’s injury forced them to work with what amounts to a three man rotation, going 7-6 over the two week span, but “Kevin and Trey and pray for off days” can only work for so long.
Welcome back Tommy, and happy trails probably not for the last time Yariel.
