After firing Kris Knoblauch following the 2025-26 season, the Edmonton Oilers were hoping that the reason they had to let him go -- leaking that they were trying to interview Bruce Cassidy -- would be made available by the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas had blocked Edmonton (and all other teams) from even speaking to him. As the messy situation unfolded, it was becoming clear that Cassidy was their top choice.
Fast forward a couple of weeks, and suddenly Mike Babcock is "their guy."
Say what?
Without confirmation that Cassidy would ever be permitted to interview, the Oilers have shifted their coaching search focus to an ex-NHL coach who hasn't won a playoff series since 2013 or coached a playoff game since November 2019. Oh, and that same guy, who also hasn't won a Stanley Cup since 2008, has a history of bullying players, treating human beings like garbage, and abusing his power for all the wrong reasons.
Sure, Babcock has an incredible resume that would put him in the conversation for the most decorated NHL coach ever. And yes, he might push this current group of Edmonton Oilers beyond their comfort zone, hold them accountable, and the team might win. This may also be one of the biggest blunders in recent coaching memory, all because the Oilers didn't want to wait a week to say if Vegas was going to change their minds.
Something Happened Here...
The NHL reaffirmed that Vegas is within its rights to deny Cassidy permission to interview with divisional rivals like Edmonton. It's certainly possible that the Oilers' first choice is completely off the table, at least for now. But did the Oilers know that? Was there another conversation with Golden Knights management and ownership that essentially guaranteed that the interview was never coming?
Maybe, but it seems far-fetched to imagine the same manager, Kelly McCrimmon, who said they wanted to focus on the playoffs, would suddenly take the time to speak with the Oilers during the Stanley Cup Final.
All the while, the Los Kings swooped in and hired Peter Laviolette, another possible option for Edmonton.
Somewhere along the way, a coach that no other team is even giving the time of day to entered the picture. Babcock was a rumor, a theory, a wild idea that no one really took seriously. It was a suggestion that garnered similar responses from analysts, fans, and media -- 'They better not do that.'
Then came Darren Dreger's report that the Oilers were consulting with the NHLPA to determine whether there were any objections that would need to be resolved before potentially hiring Babcock.
It was later revealed that the Oilers' leadership group had recently spoken directly with Babcock to discuss this possibility. They were on board.
Dreger added that if an investigation is warranted, the NHL would manage it, and that there was even a suggestion that D.J. Smith would likely join Babcock's staff if he's hired.
Clearly, this was much further down the road than anyone could have imagined.
How Desperate Are the Oilers That This Became Real?
There is no doubt that the inexplicable and illogical urgency is driven by the fact that the coaching pool got uncomfortably small. Pair that with Connor McDavid's timeline and his incredible urgency to win and you get to where things sit today.
The Oilers are waiting for the NHL to approve a move that just a few days ago, everyone thought was a bad joke.
McDavid signed a two-year extension, meaning next season is a critical one before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The first chance Edmonton had to make good on the gift he gave them ended in a first-round loss to Anaheim.
“I think it’s ownership driven… It’s a really desperate time there and there’s no room for error," said Elliotte Friedman. He added that Daryl Katz is pushing for this, which explains his willingness to pay a coach for three years after letting him go. It explains why the Oilers are willing to ignore the optics of this and do what they feel they need to. "It's a desperate time there. There's no room for error," he added. There is a feeling that the players "got away with too much."
Oilers Will Have to Lie in the Bed They're Making
The fact that Edmonton is no longer willing to wait for Cassidy, or go another route, means they're banking that his wildly unpopular choice is the right one. It's not; this is a decision they're going to have to live with and face the consequences of.
The fallout from this could be gigantic. Players may avoid the Oilers in free agency or via trade. Some current members of the roster might want out. If the Oilers don't win, it will look bad. If an incident happens that proves Babcock hasn't learned anything in his time away, it will look worse.
Ownership and the top players on the team don't seem to care. They believe this is the right choice, opinions be damned.
The Phillies (36-30) take the field in Toronto tonight for the second game of their three-game series against the Blue Jays (32-35).
Philadelphia took the opener of this series on Monday night, jumping out early and controlling the game enroute to a 5–2 win. The game followed the typical script each team has followed of late: Philly finding some early offense while getting dominant starting pitching while the Jays continue to struggle stringing together enough hits.
The Phillies did most of their damage in the 2nd and 3rd innings, scoring five runs—including a two-run homer from Adolis García and RBI hits from Alec Bohm and J.T. Realmuto.
On the mound, Cristopher Sánchez was dominant, striking out 10 over 7 innings while allowing just 2 runs to earn his eighth win of the season.
Toronto’s offense struggled to generate consistent pressure, with only six hits for the game, highlighted by a solo homer from Ernie Clement.
Tonight’s starting pitchers are a couple of aces: Zack Wheeler for Philadelphia against Dylan Cease of the Jays. This is strength vs. strength. Wheeler has been elite, combining low run prevention with consistent strikeouts, while Cease brings similar dominant stuff. Note, however, that Cease is scheduled to start after being sidelined with hamstring woes. That could limit how many pitches the Jays allow their ace to throw.
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
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Time: 7:07PM EST
Site: Rogers Centre
City: Toronto, ON
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, NBC Sports Philadelphia
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: Phillies vs. Blue Jays
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (-108), Toronto Blue Jays (-112)
Spread: Phillies -1.5 (+158), Blue Jays +1.5 (-193)
Total: 7.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Phillies vs. Blue Jays for June 9
Blue Jays: Dylan Cease Season Totals: 62.0 IP, 3-3, 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 92K, 26 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Phillies vs. Blue Jays
Brandon Marsh – Team-best .333 average
Kyle Schwarber – Team leader with 23 HR and 40 RBI
Bryce Harper – 6-21 (.261) with 1 HR in June
Ernie Clement – Hitting .309, including a HR last night
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 4-26 (.154) in June
Kazuma Okamoto – saw his 6-game winning streak snapped last night / is 10-28 (.357) 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 37-31 on the Run Line this season
The Blue Jays are 31-34 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 33 times in Toronto’s 67 games this season (33-31-3)
The OVER has cashed 28 times in the Phillies’ 66 games this season (28-36-2)
Expert picks & predictions: Phillies vs. Blue Jays
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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 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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HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 07: Houston Astros first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. (31) is caught looking in the bottom of the sixth inning during the MLB game between the Athletics and Houston Astros on June 7, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
According to a report by Brian McTaggart, the Houston Astros will place OF LaMonte Wade Jr. on the 10-day IL today, and recall OF Joey Loperfido from Triple-A Sugar Land.
Source: Astros OF Lamonte Wade Jr. will be placed on the 10-day IL today (right hamstring strain) and OF Joey Loperfido will be called up from Triple-A Sugar Land to join the club tonight.
It will be Loperfido's first time with the Astros since he strained his quad April 17.
Wade Jr. made an immediate impact with the Astros after being signed by the team June 4, batting .333 with a .385 OBP and 1.135 OPS. He hit two doubles, a HR and drove in 4 in 4 games (12 AB). He was injured while running out a base hit.
Loperfido, who was re-acquired by the Astros in the offseason, hit .276 with a .348 OBP and .711 OPS with 5 doubles and 7 RBI across 58 AB earlier this season before he was injured running out a groundout.
Loperfido, who was optioned to Triple-A after being activated from the IL last Thursday, is batting .297 with a .381 OBP and .732 OPS with 2 doubles and 4 RBI at Sugar Land over 37 AB.
Not surprisingly, a planned public watch party outside Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the Finals was abruptly canceled for security reasons, depriving fans who couldn't afford the sky-high ticket prices of a chance to get as close as possible to the action.
Several watch parties officially sanctioned by the NBA did take place for Game 3, including ones at Central Park, Bryant Park and the Brooklyn Bowl. However, things did turn violent as fights broke out at the Bryant Park location, resulting in 21 arrests.
Still, with the overwhelming community support for the Knicks, watch parties will likely continue for every Finals game remaining both home and away, including the return of one outside Madison Square Garden.
The NBA has a dedicated web page for Finals watch parties. As of Tuesday morning, the information for Game 3 has all been deleted and replaced with "Check back soon for upcoming information on Game 4 Watch Parties!"
Every NBA Finals game so far has come down to the final few minutes.
But the start of the games couldn’t be more lopsided. The Spurs have come out of the tunnel as the stronger team, taking early leads in games.
While in San Antonio, the Knicks rallied back to steal wins, but their slow starts finally caught up with them in Game 3 as they lost 115-111 on Monday night.
Charles Barkley at Game 1 of the NBA Finals NBAE via Getty Images
While Knicks coach Mike Brown focused on the disparity of foul calls after Monday’s game, former NBA great Charles Barkley thinks Brown should be worried about finding the cause of the Knicks’ slow starts.
“Mike Brown got to get his team together and ask, ‘Why are we getting punched in the face first in every game?’” Barkley said on ESPN after the game. “Like, the Spurs have gotten off to great starts in every game.
“You come home, you got one of the craziest environments I’ve ever been in, and you still come out, and you get off to a bad start,” Barkley continued. “You can’t play from behind, even though they got lucky in the first two games and won. For some reason, they’re coming out not ready to play.”
The Knicks trailed 27-19 at the end of the first quarter in Game 1, 34-25 in Game 2 and 33-22 Monday.
Josh Hart in Game 3 of the NBA Finals AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
The Knicks rallied in the third quarter in Game 1 and second quarter in Game 2 en route to their wins, and ultimately led at halftime Monday night.
San Antonio bounced back to take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter in Game 3 and a slow start to the stanza doomed the Knicks, who did not score a point in the first three minutes, letting the Spurs jump out to a seven-point lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Jalen Brunson in Game 3 of the NBA Finals AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
Now that the Knicks’ series lead has been cut to 2-1, Game 4 becomes pivotal for both teams.
The Spurs can even the series and change the entire dynamic of the NBA Finals, while the Knicks can move just one game away from winning their first title since 1973.
Troy catcher Jimmy Janicki (5) celebrates a two run homer during the 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship Gainesville Regional championship baseball game at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, May 31, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] | Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
I’ll say this upfront: There’s going to be a fair amount of numbers in this article, and some of those numbers aren’t going to look all that great, because Troy played a tough schedule and dealt with injuries throughout the year. But make no mistake, this Troy team is a deserving one of being one of the last 8 college baseball teams standing this postseason. As an anonymous coach told D1Baseball, “You can be a bad team and have a great weekend in the regular season, but you can’t be a bad team and go on a three-week run like they are.”
Troy has been a pesky Sun Belt team for years now, but this year, they were right up there with the top of the conference and are on a pretty magical run, winning their first Division 1 Regional and Super Regional (and thanks to Little Rock coming out of the Hattiesburg regional, Troy got to host their first Super Regional, too) in program history on their way to getting here. They were one of the last teams in the field as an at-large team, but despite their 32-29 record as a mid-major looking maybe less than impressive, this team played one of the toughest schedules in the country — by RPI, their strength of schedule was 8th, with all 7 teams ahead of them being high-end SEC squads who boosted their numbers by playing each other in weekend series. They racked up a midweek win against Georgia early in the year, but really came on in a 14-5 finish to their season that included a midweek win against Alabama and a game win against Southern Miss. They finished tied for 3rd in a 5-bid Sun Belt before beating Florida twice to come out of the Gainesville Regional.
This Troy team is a pretty balanced squad, with pretty high-end talent and decent team results both at the plate and on the mound. Offensively, the headliner is catcher Jimmy Janicki, one of few homegrown players on this roster. Janicki has absolutely raked this season, putting together a slash line of .341/.413/.648. He leads the team in doubles (24), home runs (19), RBI (85), and OPS (1.061). He’s one of the best players remaining in the tournament, even though he hasn’t been up to his standard in the postseason — he’s gone just 6/21 through their 7 games, including 1/9 in their Super Regional sweep of Little Rock. His teammates have picked him up, though, and if he’s going to get back into his groove in Omaha, this offense could go from good to scary in a hurry. Other guys to look out for include right fielder Aaron Piasecki (.346/.454/.539, 24:39 K-BB), who’s got some Kane Kepley in his game as an on-base machine batting leadoff with a flat swing and more than one helping of grit; Indiana transfer third baseman Josh Pyne (.291/.372/.496, 23 2B), who is a doubles machine but strikes out a lot; and junior college transfer DH Jabe Boroff (.264/.393/.670), a hard swinger who missed time with injury and a really slow start to the season but has been on fire in the postseason. He’s got 15 extra base hits out of his 24 total knocks and they’re calling him “Jabe Ruth,” which I must say is an incredible bit.
As a team, the Trojans slash .290/.399/.484 and have hit 93 home runs — the on-base and average numbers rank in the 60-70 range nationally while the home runs rank near top-20, with slugging somewhere in the middle. So this is a team that relies on home runs to score, and to their credit they do that pretty successfully to the tune of 7.2 runs per game. They’re also really, at times detrimentally, aggressive at the plate — they record 1.6 strikeouts per walk, a similar mark to USC and not one that compares favorably to the rest of the field. This isn’t a team that runs a lot, with their stolen bases leader being CF Steven Meier with 11 on 20 attempts. And, oddly, they have 3 guys with at least 17 hit-by-pitches. It’s also a very good defensive lineup — as a team, they’re fielding at a .977 rate and converted four double plays in the game that sent them to Omaha.
Troy has a couple of decent starters in senior duo Tommy Egan (R, 5.38 ERA) and Benjamin Stubbs (L, 4.93 ERA). Egan usually pitches first for them and he’s a crafty guy, with a fastball/cutter combo that doesn’t overpower with velocity but does keep you guessing, and then a curveball/slider off-speed mix. He’s got 99 strikeouts and 32 walks in 87 innings pitched, and threw 7.1 strong frames against Little Rock last weekend. Stubbs has a more typical arsenal, headlined by a fastball that sits 94-96 with average life but good location. He doesn’t miss as many bats as Egan does, but an 83:37 K-BB is still plenty respectable. Hayden Smith has emerged as a third starter for them and has been putting up the best numbers of the bunch lately, albeit with a smaller sample size. He’s got a 2.94 ERA and a .226 batting average against compared to the other two being around .265, but he doesn’t have the strikeout stuff or the zone command of his compatriots, shown by a 28:21 K:BB in 49 innings.
All that said, the real strength of the Trojans’ pitching staff, in my opinion, is in the bullpen. Zach Crotchfelt (L, 3.50 ERA, 74:22 K-BB) is a relief ace who spent time at Auburn and Texas Tech before landing with the Trojans for his senior year, and he’s a flamethrower who’s playing his best baseball of late. Closer Dylan Alonso (R, 4.63 ERA, .204 BAA) is another hard-throwing reliever with a 95-97 heater to go with a slider/curve breaking ball mix; he’s a legit draft prospect this year. Cooper Ellingworth and Noah Thigpen have been hit around a little more, but they’ve eaten a ton of innings for the Trojans as well; they’re dangerous if they get run support. And freshman Matt Dill could be a wild card, with a respectable ERA of 5.50 and other stats that make him look like a real strike-thrower — the kind who might not wow you, but could also get through 3 innings in a blink.
It’s a tough world for mid-majors in college baseball, and Troy coach Skylar Meade has done a really admirable job building this roster basically anew through smart transfer portal adds from just about every level of the sport, with Janicki as the centerpiece. This has been a fun team to watch and they’re capable of doing damage, especially with the bats in the top half of their lineup. While neither their offense nor their pitching is necessarily the best in the field, Troy certainly has a team that’s plenty good enough to compete with anybody, and a star who’d be one of the 3 best players on any of the teams in Omaha.
BRONX, NY - MAY 07: Pitcher Brendan Beck #89 of the New York Yankees pitches in his first MLB game during a game between the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 7, 2025 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
In this week on the farm, we saw the first organizational no-hitter of the season in Scranton, several breakout hitting performances in Somerset, some real pitching struggles down in Hudson Valley, and a Tampa squad that’s putting it all together.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Record: 31-31, 7 GB in the International League East after a 3-4 week against the Syracuse Mets (Mets)
Run differential: +8
Coming up: Home vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies)
The first week of June was pretty meh for the RailRiders, who suffered a losing week due to a Wednesday doubleheader that threw in an extra game. They won the first two games, lost the next two, won on Friday, and then got unceremoniously shut down over the weekend. Despite losing more ground on the week, they had the org’s biggest highlight, which was the first no-hitter of the season on Friday.
Brendan Beck tossed seven no-hit innings in one of his finest starts of the season before Carson Coleman finished it off with a pair of no-hit frames, capping it off with a 6-6-3 double play to end the game. It’s the first RailRiders no-hitter since Sean Boyle’s seven-inning one in 2021 and the first nine-inning no-hitter since Luis Gil, Reggie McClain, and Stephen Ridings combined for one earlier that season:
With Spencer Jones moving back up to the big leagues due to Aaron Judge’s injury, the focus was back solely on George Lombard Jr., who had a okay week at the plate. Jasson Domínguez began a rehab assignment on Friday and went 0-for-7 across two games in left field. Could they give him some work in right field? I’d bet against that… for now. Tyler Hardman had some big hits this week, and the team also welcomed back Marco Luciano from the injured list.
Dom Hamel got the Tuesday and Sunday starts and was passable. Elmer Rodríguez bounced back nicely from a few tough starts in a row with 5.2 two-run innings with six strikeouts on Thursday, while Adam Kloffenstein took the loss on Saturday.
For the rest of the pitching staff, there was a pretty seismic shift with Carlos Lagrange moving to the bullpen. He still threw four innings on Wednesday in some of his best work of the season with seven strikeouts, but you have to think it’s more of a “deload” period, and it could be a few weeks before he’s in the 1-2 inning role.
Yovanny Cruz and Bradley Hanner took losses late in the week in a pair of close losses. Eric Reyzelman, the most MLB-ready relief prospect, was placed on the injured list with a reported back injury mid-week. While better than an arm injury, he had back issues last year that derailed his 2025 season.
Record: 30-27, 1 GB in the Eastern League Northeast after a 4-2 week against the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals)
Run differential: +27
Coming up: Home vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets)
How is it possible to have a winning week, but your run differential goes down by eight runs? Well, that happens when your loss on Friday night was one of the worst in team history, 21-4. Outside of that game, they won four close, medium-scoring games and lost another one by one run in a solid week that saw them inch closer to the division lead.
Somerset’s high-powered offense had one of its worst weeks of the season after Jace Avina was placed on the injured list early in the week. The May Eastern League Player of the Month was en fuego. Garrett Martin hit another three home runs and is up to 19, while DJ Gladney caught fire with four home runs and seven extra-base hits. I’d also like to mention Cole Gabrielson, who was promoted to fill Avina’s spot in the outfield and homered twice in Friday’s blowout loss.
Outside of Jack Cebert’s rough outing on Friday, it was a good week for the starting pitching. Trent Sellers tossed a quality start, Cade Smith finally came around with five solid innings on Wednesday, Xavier Rivas struck out nine in four innings on Thursday, Chase Chaney tossed six shutout innings, and Kyle Carr continued a strong stretch with nine strikeouts in five innings. Ben Hess only pitched one inning on Sunday, getting stuck in a 40-pitch inning.
The bullpen was up-and-down. Guys like Hayden Merda and Kelly Austin traded good and bad outings, while Chris Veach and Ben Grable pitched well in multi-inning efforts on Friday. 2024 UDFA Tony Rossi got a promotion on Friday and tossed a scoreless inning in his Double-A debut after a terrific year and change in Hudson Valley.
Record: 25-31, 11 GB in the South Atlantic League North after a 2-4 week against the Frederick Keys (Orioles)
Run differential: -19
Coming up: Home vs. Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies)
Hudson Valley’s been in a big-time rut over the last few weeks for a variety of reasons. This week? It was a really rough one for the pitching. Outside of a 10-1 win on Thursday, they allowed at least seven runs in every other game, combining to allow 55 runs across six games. The one silver lining was the offense’s late explosion to come back from a 10-3 deficit on Friday, winning 14-13.
Offensively, Core Jackson continued to hit. Since returning from the injured list, he’s raised his OPS by 120 points. Josh Moylan (8-for-23, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2 2B) caught fire mid-week to help him out, while Roderick Arias showed some life at the plate as well. Wilson Rodriguez and Eric Genther had worse weeks, while Kaeden Kent homered early in the week before getting seven hits in a two-game span.
It was harder to find a good start this week than you’d like. Bryce Cunningham scuffled, Luis Serna, Chase Hampton, Sean Paul Liñan, and Franyer Herrera all got lit up by the Frederick offense, and Rory Fox got brutalized by his defense, allowing seven unearned runs out of 10 in 4.2 innings. The bright spot was Allen Facundo (more on him later) on Thursday.
In a week where you allowed over nine runs a game, you probably could’ve expected a rough week from the bullpen. There was some good, but not many relievers got through the week without allowing a run in some way. Losing Rossi to a promotion continued to batter their depth there, as guys like Thomas Balboni Jr. and Wilmy Sanchez get higher-leverage innings.
Record: 30-27, 6 GB in the Florida State League West after a 5-1 week against the Palm Beach Cardinals (Cardinals)
Run differential: +22
Coming up: Away @ Bradenton Marauders (Pirates)
The Tampa Tarpons are arguably playing the best of any Yankee affiliate. When was the last time you could say that? They had a phenomenal week against Palm Beach, scoring 26 total runs in the first two games and eight on Friday before winning two close games during the weekend. A shutout loss on Thursday was all that stopped them from their first sweep of the season.
It was a quieter week for Jackson Lovich, but the train kept rolling for Hans Montero and Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek. JoJo Jackson had his best week since a strong April, while Willy Montero seems to be finding something over the last few weeks. It also helps that they got a talent infusion when Logan Maxwell (7-for-13, HR, 4 RBI, 2B, 2 BB, 4 SB) returned from the injured list.
Thatcher Hurd (4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 K) had a great bounce-back game on Tuesday after a miserable Single-A debut. Wyatt Parliament struggled on Wednesday, Henry Lalane (5.1 IP, 1 R, 6 K) tossed a third straight strong outing on Friday, and both Tyler Boudreau and Brennan Stuprich continued strong stretches with good starts over the weekend.
The bullpen had a terrific week, with the likes of Jose M. Rodriguez, Pedro Rodriguez, and Jose Martinez pitching well. Justin West seems to have unlocked something moving into a multi-inning relief role, tossing another three scoreless innings on Tuesday. The same can be said for JT Etheridge, who pitched well on Wednesday. Mac Heuer had six strikeouts in 2.2 scoreless innings, but was pulled mid-AB due to an undisclosed injury. He hasn’t been placed on the IL… yet.
Record: 14-13, 6 GB in the FCL North after a 3-2 week.
Run differential: +15
Some good and some bad here. Wilberson De Pena looked human this week, but his down week was made up for in spades by the likes of Richard Matic and a suddenly blisteringly hot Dexters Peralta, who’s now up to seven home runs on the year. The strikeout rate is concerning, but he’s still young. Jose Castro returned from injury late in the week, but the looming dread hanging over the bats is the fact that Dax Kilby hasn’t played in 10 days. Did he re-aggravate the hamstring injury?
Omar Gonzalez continued to be a force for the rotation. He’s been the best pitcher on the team. Blake Gillespie has been so-so, and Sabier Marte has been better of late, but Stanly Alcantara and Manuel Cruz have struggled. 2025 UDFA Austin Breedlove out of Tennessee has been a revelation in the bullpen, allowing just three runs in 13.2 innings with 18 strikeouts and just five walks. He should be in Tampa soon.
Woof. What a rough week for these two. The DSL Yankees have had some abysmal closes to games. They blew a 14-7 lead to DSL Mets Blue, a 6-2 lead to DSL Rangers Red, and a 4-3 lead to DSL Tigers 2 in the ninth. Meanwhile, it’s either been high-scoring losses or blowouts for the Bombers, including being no-hit on Monday.
Isaias Castillo is the standout bat here. The 17-year-old hit for the cycle on Tuesday and carried it through the week to lead the DSL in home runs through six games. Juan Torres, Stiven Marinez, and Alessandro Rodriguez are all hitting well around him.
On the pitching side, it’s a lot of ugly, but there were some impressive performances. Yunior Jerez tossed five no-hit innings with seven strikeouts. Kevin Centeno and Sebastian Rivas also stood out in brief, 2-3 inning spells.
How do you take the Prospect of the Week mantle from a guy who tossed seven no-hit innings? How about tossing six of your own, but being even more dominant?
Facundo’s been a niche prospect for a good bit, often producing in the FCL and Tampa over the last few years while battling injuries that stagnate him. A strong start to 2026 earned him a promotion to High-A Hudson Valley, where he’s traded good starts and bad starts. Last time out, he walked four and hit a batter in a miserable first inning before gritting his way through six.
On Thursday, Facundo was brilliant. He did continue to struggle with command, but he had every pitch working in six brilliant innings. We don’t have Statcast data for High-A, but he kept Frederick hitters off balance all night, which is pretty impressive considering they scored over 10 runs a game in the other five.
I'm back on the home run beat after a short IL stint, but ready to hit the ground running with a home run slate loaded with great hitting conditions and some pick-on pitchers to cash some MLB player props.
While everyone is rushing out the door to bet dingers in the Brewers-A's game, the real home run value can be found at Coors Field today, and I'm adding Seiya Suzuki to my slate alongside Josh Jung and Lars Nootbaar from my earlier picks.
These are my favorite MLB home run predictions for Tuesday, June 9.
UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Lars Nootbaar
+503
Josh Jung
+700
Seiya Suzuki
+390
💲Today's HR parlay
+22335
Home run pick: Lars Nootbaar (+503)
There is value in Lars Nootbaar, who returned to the lineup last week and looks fully healthy.
Over a small sample, he leads the team in HR/FB rate (20%), fly-ball rate (71.4%), and slugging percentage (.700), while ranking second in bat speed at 75.7 mph. He has already gone deep in just 13 plate appearances and added a double after a rehab stint in which he launched three home runs. With 15-mph winds screaming out to center field, he’s my favorite St. Louis Cardinals target at this price in a favorable home-run matchup.
Freddy Peralta ranks 33rd among starters in HR/FB rate over the last month, which plays well with Nootbaar’s ability to get the ball in the air. The bullpen behind him has also been giving up home runs lately and is generating a lot of fly-ball outs.
Nootbaar is an everyday player who could even find himself in the leadoff spot, which would give him a chance at an extra at-bat today. It’s a play to +435. Ivan Herrera (+710) and Alec Burleson (+502) are also on the radar in this game.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNY, Cardinals.TV
Home run pick: Josh Jung (+700)
Kauffman Stadium might not be the best home run park, but 15-mph winds blowing out to left-center and temperatures pushing 90 degrees create a great environment for dingers today.
The Texas Rangers have the better side of the matchup against Stephen Kolek, who generates plenty of ground balls, but when hitters do get the ball in the air against him, it tends to leave the yard. He's also making his first start after returning from the family medical emergency list.
Josh Jung at +500 or better is my favorite way to attack this spot. He ranks among the team's Top 3 hitters in power metrics and has recorded a hit in 16 of his last 18 games while posting a .930 OPS.
He also just faced the Kansas City Royals three series ago and responded with three extra-base hits while slugging .786 during the matchup. The Royals' bullpen adds to the appeal, ranking in the bottom third of baseball in HR/9.
Evan Carter (+830) and Brandon Nimmo (+538) also project as +EV home run plays, per the player projections at Covers.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Royals.TV, Rangers Sports Network
Home run pick: Seiya Suzuki (+390)
I want a Chicago Cubs bat in Denver in today's MLB picks, with 15-mph winds blowing out to right field and temperatures pushing near 90 degrees.
It’s also a spot where Tomoyuki Sugano looks vulnerable, carrying a 7.58 xERA that sits well above his sub-4.00 surface ERA. This was a pitcher who had one of the worst HR/FB rates in baseball last season, and he wasn't even pitching at Coors half the time.
Seiya Suzuki at +390 projects as one of the top +EV home run options in this game, with a fair price closer to +300. He is part of a small group of Chicago hitters who have been swinging it well over the last two weeks, and he stands out with a price 150 points better than the others.
Even if Sugano manages to limit damage, the Colorado Rockies bullpen has been horrendous, posting a 10.20 ERA and 2.08 HR/9 over the last 14 days. Everyone might be looking at Las Vegas for dingers today, but the better value is in Colorado.
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee, Rockies.TV
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 13-105, -35.94 units
Today’s HR parlay
Lars Nootbaar
Bet Now +22335
Josh Jung
Seiya Suzuki
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.
For more than two decades, LeBron James has stacked accomplishments at a pace few athletes in any sport can match. Championships, MVP awards, Olympic gold medals, and the NBA’s all-time scoring record have all found their way onto his resume.
Yet when asked by TIME Magazine to identify the greatest achievement of his basketball life, LeBron didn’t mention any of them.
LeBron James calls playing with son Bronny the greatest achievement of his career. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Out of all the s–t I’ve done in basketball — that’s the best accomplishment I’ve ever had,” James said, referring to sharing an NBA court with his son Bronny.
The comment came as part of TIME’s profile naming James among the most influential figures in sports. But for LeBron, the defining chapter of his career has become something deeply personal.
When the Lakers selected Bronny James with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft it immediately sparked the debate about LeBron’s role in securing his son with the pick.
Critics dismissed Bronny’s selection as pure nepotism.
James holds his son LeBron Jr. following the Cavaliers victory in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2007. NBAE via Getty Images
In the interview LeBron James, once again, fired back at those critics.
“The kid has earned his right to be a professional athlete,” he said. “The thing you’re not going to do is throw stones at us as a family. I’m not letting that sh-t slide.”
“So if you want to talk about the kid,” James continued. “That he shouldn’t be an NBA player, I don’t care about that. As long as you don’t get to the fatherhood piece. I don’t play those games.”
James and Bronny look downcourt against the Golden State Warriors. Getty Images
It is difficult to argue that LeBron’s standing within the Lakers organization didn’t open doors for his son.
But, the claim of nepotism never stopped.
ESPN commentator and the James’ family chief critic Stephen A. Smith repeatedly questioned Bronny’s NBA readiness and famously pleaded with LeBron to stop putting his son in a difficult position. This led to a heated altercation at a game, during which LeBron approached Smith courtside and fiercely told him to “stop effing with my son.”
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown drew headlines after being caught on camera during Summer League saying he didn’t believe Bronny was a professional-caliber player.
Colin Cowherd and others have criticized the Lakers for placing a developmental prospect under a spotlight few second-round picks ever experience.
The James warm up against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Getty Images
Bronny may never develop into a bonafide NBA star, but a more reasonable comparison is to other players selected near the end of the second round.
Patty Mills remains the gold standard from that draft slot, turning the 55th pick into a 16-year career while averaging 8.7 points per game and winning an NBA championship.
Bronny is nowhere near that trajectory yet, (2.7 points, 1.1 assists, and 0.6 rebounds in 8.1 minutes per game) but his early production and role are already comparable to, and in some cases ahead of, some players selected in the same range.
For a prospect drafted 55th overall, becoming a reliable rotation player would represent a significant achievement in its own right.
James shares the stage with sons LeBron Jr. and Bryce and wife Savannah Brinson in 2009. NBAE via Getty Images
Along the way, the James’s have created several milestones that may never be duplicated. LeBron and Bronny became the first father-son teammates in NBA history, the first father-son duo to appear together in playoff games, and the first to record assists to one another during both the regular season and postseason.
Whether Bronny ultimately develops into a long-term NBA contributor remains to be seen. But if LeBron’s latest comments revealed anything, it’s that the accomplishment he values most isn’t one measured by rings, points, or accolades.
For all the debates surrounding Bronny’s career, LeBron’s position is remarkably clear. His son earned the opportunity. And if history is going to judge him, he’d rather be remembered for the opportunities he has created as a father, rather than simply as a basketball monolith.
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Elaine Shen was named the franchise’s newest CFO on Tuesday, replacing former CFO Joe McCormack.
Shen will oversee all financial aspects for the Lakers, “shaping strategic growth, driving profitability and creating continued value for the global franchise,” the team said in its announcement.
New LA Lakers owner Mark Walter has hired Elaine Shen as new chief financial officer. Getty Images
McCormack has shifted to an executive advisory role for the Lakers as the senior vice president of finance.
He’s been with the franchise since December 1988.
Shen joined the Lakers in 2016 and has held a variety of roles for the Lakers in both business and basketball operations.
Shen was most recently the Lakers associate chief financial officer and vice president of strategy and planning.
“Elaine Shen is an exceptional leader and catalyst for success,” Lakers president of business operations Lon Rosen said in a statement.
“She brings an artful and considerate approach to every table, combined with the ability to build consensus and make tough decisions. Elaine is a trusted advisor and the perfect modern CFO to help lead the next stage of transformation for the Los Angeles Lakers.”
The Lakers have made several other changes to their basketball and business operations departments since Mark Walter, the Dodgers controlling owner, officially became the majority owner of the Lakers in October:
It's the best day of the week for baseball. Tuesday.
We've got a full slate loaded with opportunities to cash in on some of the league’s best hitters to do damage at the plate.
My MLB player props for Tuesday, June 9, are eyeing Julio Rodriguez, Ian Happ, and Shohei Ohtani.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Julio Rodriguez
Over 1.5 total bases
-110
Ian Happ
Over 1.5 total bases
-124
Shohei Ohtani
Over 1.5 total bases
+111
Julio Rodriguez Over 1.5 total bases (-110)
First game of the day, the Seattle Mariners take on the Baltimore Orioles, and we're hyper-focused on Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez as we back the over on his total bases prop this evening.
The young star has been terrorizing southpaws this season, posting a 173 wRC+, .987 OPS, 50% hard-hit rate, and a 12.5% barrel rate. Over his last 30 plate appearances against lefties, he's making 60% hard contact while batting .286 with a .571 SLG and .904 OPS.
Today marks Rodriguez's 52nd elite rating on Batters-Box. In his previous 51 elite ratings, he's gone Over this prop 45% of the time and has left the yard in 21% of those contests. He's also gone Over 1.5 total bases in seven of his last 10 elite-rated games.
The young slugger draws Trevor Rogers this evening, a pitcher against whom he owns an 80.2% arsenal coverage rating.
The lefty has allowed right-handed hitters to do just about whatever they want this season, surrendering 42.4% hard contact at home. Over the last 60 right-handed batters he's faced, opponents have posted a .320 xBA, .514 xSLG, and .340 xwOBA. During that same stretch, Rogers has allowed 45.8% hard contact, an 8.3% barrel rate, and a massive 68.8% elevation rate.
Anything below -120 for this prop is a go in my book. Don't want to lay the juice? Take his home run prop or a double prop for a little more value.
Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, SEAM
Ian Happ Over 1.5 total bases (-124)
My shirt is covered in drool because these numbers for Chicago Cubs switch-hitter Ian Happ to go over his total bases prop tonight at Coors Field are absolutely delectable.
The longtime Cub has been tearing the cover off the ball lately, batting .414 with a 1.034 SLG and 1.467 OPS over his last 30 at-bats against right-handed pitchers. During that stretch, he's generated 59.1% hard contact and a 13.6% barrel rate.
Happ draws seasoned Colorado Rockies sophomore Tomoyuki Sugano, who owns the worst pitcher rating on Batters-Box's current season rankings. The veteran Japanese right-hander is allowing 50.71% hard contact to opposing hitters while carrying just a 13.33% strikeout rate.
Left-handed bats have absolutely torched him recently. Over the last 60 lefties he's faced, opponents have posted a 49% hard-contact rate, 25.5% barrel rate, and 72.6% elevation rate. Those hitters have also produced a ridiculous .429 xBA, .977 xSLG, and .548 xwOBA during that span.
With this game at Coors Field, Happ carrying 78.7% arsenal coverage, and Sugano getting shelled, I have to be all over Mr. Happ's total bases tonight. If this number climbs, I'd pivot to his double and home run props instead.
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee, COLR
Shohei Ohtani Over 1.5 Total Bases (+111)
We are really here for the value. Getting Shohei Ohtani to go Over 1.5 bases at +111 is a gift. I do not care if Jesus Christ in his prime is on the mound; Ohtani always has a chance.
He has cleared 2+ bases in eight of his last 10 elite-rated road spots.
If you want to pay the -125 price on his hits + runs + RBI prop, I fully endorse that as well. The trend is your friend there.
Over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Ohtani is hitting .423 with a .645 slugging percentage and a 1.154 OPS, while generating 63.2% hard contact. He also has a 73.7% arsenal coverage rate against Skenes’ pitch mix.
Even if Skenes has success early, once Pittsburgh goes to the bullpen, Ohtani is still in a strong position to do damage. The Pirates bullpen allows the highest hard-contact rate to left-handed hitters at home, and is also allowing an 82.8% elevation rate.
At +111, this feels like a steal. Even if it does not always hit, the price itself is the win. I would take this down to +100.
Do not forget to sprinkle on the home run as well; it's hovering around 4/1.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNP, SNLA
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 197-345-29, +1.30 units
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.
Among the high-profile attendees was President Donald Trump, whose presence sparked a mix of reactions in the arena. Ahead of tip-off, the Jumbotron displayed President Trump during the national anthem. The crowd reacted with boos as Trump offered a military salute.
Trump watched the action from Knicks owner James Dolan’s private suite, accompanied by his granddaughter Kai, personal advisor Boris Epshteyn, and Cabinet secretaries Lee Zeldin, Sean Duffy and Doug Burgum. Trump's attendance made history as the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.
After the game, before boarding Air Force One to return to the White House, President Trump was asked about the crowd’s response.
"It was, I think, mostly cheers," Trump said, offering his own interpretation of the mixed reception.
Security measures for Game 3 were at an all-time high due to the president’s attendance. According to the NYC Commissioner, a planned Game 3 watch party outside Madison Square Garden was canceled out of an abundance of caution. Fans entering the arena faced multiple checkpoints and were required to present tickets or passes and undergo airport-style screening with Transportation Security Administration magnetometers. Inside, Secret Service agents and NYPD officers were stationed throughout the venue.
The NBA Finals series, with the Knicks currently leading 2-1, continues at MSG for Game 4 on Wednesday, and eyes now turn to Game 4 at the Garden before the series shifts back to San Antonio, the lingering question is whether Trump will make a return appearance.
There has been no official word on Trump's status for Game 4 at this point, but signs are pointing toward no.
ESPN's senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Trump is not expected to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
The president did suggest last week that he could do both Game 3 and Game 4, but he also made reference to being busy with other things, "like a war." Additionally, the fact that the New York Police Department said it expects city watch parties to return for Game 4 would indicate Trump would might not attend.
Mikel Brown, Nate Ament, Sean Marks, Getty Images, NetsDaily Graphic
We are in the homestretch and news keeps breaking. Just before noon, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports tweeted out the latest: a Brooklyn workout today pitting two prospects among those most mentioned as Nets possibilities, whether at No. 6 or later.
It’s Karim Lopez of Mexico and the New Zealand Breakers vs. Nate Ament of Tennessee behind closed doors at HSS Training Center, as Lopez revealed to O’Connor…
Karim Lopez and Nate Ament are working out for the Nets today, Lopez said on my podcast. Two potential lottery picks are going head-to-head for Brooklyn, who have the 6th pick.
“I’m going to Brooklyn,” he told O’Connor. “Going up against Nate Ament. I think that’s who’s going to be in that workout. I’m super excited about that. I feel like it’s going to be a good one. I’m excited.”
Tje matchup shouldn’t be that much of a surprise. Teams will often pair similar prospects in one-on-one workouts. The two are both 19, both in the 6’10” range, both probably still growing and both prospective NBA wings. Ament may be the better offensive player, Lopez the better defender.
Also, no surprise that the Nets are now working out the top lottery picks. The 2026 NBA draft is two weeks away from Tuesday, and buzz surrounding the Brooklyn Nets is heating up as fans eagerly await June 23-24 in Brooklyn. At the moment, the Nets have the No. 6 pick in the first round — their highest pick since the New Jersey Nets took Derrick Favors at No. 3 in 2010, as well as two seconds at No. 33 and 43. So it’s a big deal.
Last week, much of the attention centered on Nate Ament and his rapid rise as the potential favorite for the Nets. Things have changed since the weekend though with the focus returning to the four lead guards, in alphabetical order: Darius Acuff, of Arkansas, Mikel Brown Jr. of Louisville, Kingston Flemings of Louisville and Keaton Wagler of Illinois.
The big news was that two of the four have been worked out by the Nets brass in the past week: Acuff at HSS Training Center and Brown in Orlando where they also met with his family, as James Barlowe tweeted…
Sources: The Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks have recently both visited Mikel Brown Jr in Orlando to watch workouts and meet with the family.
Brown Jr is scheduled to visit the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks before the draft. pic.twitter.com/ey9KYTbHtT
The news as described is significant for a number of reasons: the Nets traveled to see Brown and that he will be in Brooklyn at some point over the next two weeks. Teams can only workout and/or visit with prospects twice.
Flemings will do workouts for the Nets and Clippers, and he has worked out for both the Hawks and Bulls, sources said. He is the greatest unknown in terms of where he could end up in the lottery, especially with the Bulls and Grizzlies mentioned as frequent trade-up teams for him.
There was a lot of information in Siegel’s update including this about Brown:
The rumor around the NBA in recent days is that Mikel Brown Jr. and his camp have shut down workout invites outside of those already accepted, which likely signals that a team has promised him following individual meetings and workouts.
Just as likely however is that Brown’s agents also want to limit his workouts to a narrow range of teams, as Krysten Peek noted.
Shutting down workouts doesn’t mean a promise. It typically comes down to scheduling conflict (especially if teams want players to come in last minute like June 18-20). The smoke around Ament and Mara that high feels just like that. Smoke. https://t.co/ZjGtvEvotv
Beyond that news, NetsDaily has been making our own calls to sources about where the Nets stand. It’s no easy task. Sean Marks & co.
Who is the favorite at No. 6?
As I noted above, Ament was the story of last week in NetsWorld, which seemingly threw a large portion of the fanbase into a frenzy. And Siegel reported that at the moment, he, Brown and Acuff are the three names he’s heard most often associated with the Nets.
Last Monday, I reported that the Nets’ interest in Ament “appears to be gaining legitimate traction.” I also added that a few weeks ago, a source described him as a “dark horse” to be selected by Brooklyn at No. 6, while touting his potential fit alongside Egor Dëmin, who the organization selected at No. 8 last year.
SOURCE: The Brooklyn #Nets’ interest in Nate Ament at No. 6 appears to be gaining legitimate traction.
One league source described Ament as a “polarizing player,” though also someone who could be an ideal fit alongside Egor Demin due to the duo’s combination of size and shooting…
The source also added, though, that the Tennessee product is viewed as a “polarizing player” around the league.
At the very least, the Nets are intrigued, I’m told. However, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that he is the current favorite at No. 6 based on my conversations with league sources. I am under the belief that Louisville’s Brown is the current favorite. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that we are still two weeks out from the draft and a lot can change.
Additionally, as one source told me, the Nets are one of the hardest teams to predict. Last year, they went against the consensus with each of their five first-round picks, making it quite difficult to get a pulse on who they will select at No. 6 this year.
At Louisville last season, Brown Jr. averaged 18.2 points per game, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals on 41.0% shooting from the field and posting a 34.4% clip from beyond the arc. As multiple sources have expressed, he is a Jordi Fernández-type player.
While he was limited to just 21 games (19 starts) last season due to a back injury, it isn’t considered a long-term concern and rather something that can be addressed by an NBA medical team, I’ve been told. He stands at 6’5” and 190 pounds entering the pros.
Other names I’ve been told are in consideration at No. 6 include Michigan’s 7’3” center Aday Mara as well as the usual suspects: Wagler, Flemings, and Acuff.
Based on my conversations with scouts across the league, Acuff’s comparisons to Jalen Brunson and Stephon Marbury are legitimate.
Are the Nets more likely to trade up or down?
There are multiple teams within the top 10 of this year’s draft who are interested in trading up into the top four, according to sources. If any teams are going to move out of the first four selections — and admittedly that’s unlikely, the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3 and the Chicago Bulls at No. 4 are the favorites to do so.
Brooklyn is expected to explore every option, including a move up or down the board, along with sticking and picking at No. 6 overall.
If the Nets do in fact decide to make a trade on draft night, keep an eye on the Bulls as an interesting partner. Owning picks No. 4 and 15, they have reported interest in moving down from No. 4 if they can get some immediate help, along with a potential slide up from No. 15.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks pointed out, the Nets have the most draft assets through 2033, highlighted by a whopping 14 first-round picks over that span. Obviously, it is highly unlikely that the organization will make even close to all of those picks, meaning they could be better used as trade chips.
Overall, I suspect the Nets are more likely to trade down on draft night than to trade up if they don’t stay at No. 6.
Who are sleeper targets for Brooklyn?
Currently, two of the Nets’ three picks in this year’s draft come in the second round at Nos. 33 and 43 overall.
Each year, a few players fall to the second round and ultimately outplay their draft stock. For the most part, though, they are guys on two-way contracts right away or never truly get an opportunity to showcase their skill set.
Due to NIL, though, the pool of second-round players has become less and less enticing year after year. As one source described it, picking at No. 34 in the NIL era is equivalent to picking at No. 60 overall in the pre-NIL days.
That is how stark the contrast is in the pool of second-round talent since NIL has been introduced.
Two players who have the chance to be steals in the second round this year, though, include international point guards, Germany’s Jack Kayil and Spain’s Sergio De Larrea, according to evaluators.
Standing at 6’3” and 175 pounds, Kayil spent 2025 playing for Alba Berlin of the German Basketball Bundesliga. De Larrea, 6’6” and 175 pounds, played with Valencia of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague.
One scout went so far as to say that De Larrea would have been a lottery pick if he had been playing in the NCAA rather than in Spain.
Is Karim Lopez really in play at No. 6?
Similar to the Ament talk, the possibility of the Nets drafting Karim López at No. 6 overall infuriates a large portion of the team’s fanbase … but as ’s workout schedule shows, the Nets have serious interest in both.
The Nets have done extreme due diligence on the 19-year-old. Sean Marks has flown to Australia twice, once in November 2024 and again in November of this year to watch him play in person.
At 6’10” and 225 pounds, Lopez played in 31 NBL games for the New Zealand Beakers last season, averaging 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 assists, while shooting 50.2% from the field and 32.6% from beyond the arc.
League sources tell me they’d be stunned if the Nets selected López at No. 6. Taking him a trade-down scenario would make much more sense.
However, nothing can be ruled out. As I noted above, the Nets are an extremely hard team for even those around the league to predict what they will do because of their lengthy track record of going against the consensus.
How strong is this class?
Overall, this is an encouraging draft class.
While the second round lacks the depth seen in recent years, the strength of the 2026 class lies in its middle tier.
According to league sources, the talent pool in the No. 8 to No. 20 range is viewed as one of the strongest in decades, with some evaluators comparing it favorably to classes dating back to 2000.
Still, any true evaluation of this draft will take time. A prospect’s success depends on far more than talent alone, as development, fit, and roster infrastructure often play significant roles in determining long-term outcomes.
For now, though, there is legitimate reason for optimism surrounding this year’s group.
There is maybe nothing as predictable and tedious in the NBA playoffs — and all of sports — than the coach of a losing playoff team ranting about the officiating. It's a cliche with the point of trying to plant a seed in the minds of the next referee crew, although that's not always how it comes off.
Knicks coach Mike Brown, the floor is yours.
"I never thought I would be in the NBA Finals and see a team get 24 free throw attempts in the second half to another team's eight. I don't think I complain much about officials or the fairness when it comes to the free throw attempts," Brown said in a rant before he was ever asked a question. "San Antonio is a great team. They are a great team, okay. It's going to lower our odds big time, big time, if we play Game 4 and in the second half, they get 24 free throw attempts to our eight. Maybe we were fouling. Maybe we were fouling. But they fouled, too."
Brown sounded too much like a guy making excuses. To be fair, he was clear to say "San Antonio won the game" and the Knicks could have played better, but his venting sounded a lot like a politician who attended Game 3 and likes to play to his base — and Knicks fans ate it up. In the immediate aftermath of the game, it became the narrative, at least the loudest one.
It also misses the point. The officiating has been uneven all series, but it has gone both ways (and did in Game 3).
San Antonio won Game 3 because it made adjustments that worked, and then played with more poise than the Knicks down the stretch. There were a few factors at play.
• Turnovers: New York had 13 turnovers, too many of them live ball, which became 21 Spurs points. The Spurs had eight turnovers that became seven Knicks points. San Antonio both took better care of the ball and got back in transition defense, resulting in the Spurs having more easy buckets.
• Better defense on KAT: San Antonio turned some of its defensive attention from Jalen Brunson (who is shooting 37% in this series and the Knicks are -13 for the series in his minutes) to Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been the hub of what has worked for New York. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs were physical with him, not unlike how New York has been with Wembanyama. The result was 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting and much less impact (and the Knicks were still +6 in Towns' minutes in Game 3, and he is +31 now for the series).
• Spurs got into the paint. For two games, the term "spray" had entered the lexicon of Knicks fans as that's what Towns and Brunson were doing: Getting into the paint, then "spraying" the ball out to shooters. In Game 3, it was the Spurs getting into the paint and doing the damage (San Antonio sees it as a return to playing their way).
• Shooting. Mikal Bridges disappeared and was 1-of-5 from the floor. Landry Shamet was 1-of-7 from 3. Miles McBride only took two shots and missed them both. In the fourth quarter, Knicks not named Brunson or Anunoby shot 1-of-16. It's still a make-or-miss league and in Game 3 the Knicks missed. Call that an off night. If you want to speculate that the "it's a coronation" atmosphere at Madison Square Garden had something to do with it, go ahead, but the Knicks players would deny it. Who really knows why?
What we do know is the ball is now in the Knicks' court.
For the first time since April, the Knicks have lost a game, and the onus is now on them to adjust to a Spurs team we are watching grow and mature before our eyes. You can see the growth game-to-game. Brown and the Knicks are fully capable of countering that and retaking control of the series, but it's on them now to raise their game a level.
That, of course, makes life a little different for the club’s amateur scouting staff leading up to the 2026 NHL draft. Barring a trade, the Flyers will pick at 21st overall. It’s their lowest first-round spot since 2020.
So the Flyers know the draft is still critical to what they want to do, even when they’re lower in the order.
“We’ve said it for a long time, we wanted to build a team that was going to be here for a long time; not just to go for it for a year or two,” general manager Danny Briere said last month. “That’s still the same approach on my end.”
The Flyers have only five picks in this draft, which will be held June 26-27. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at 11 a.m. ET.
“I’ll tell you how I feel about drafts and I’ll be totally blunt with you,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said last Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think it’s f—ing bulls–t when I hear about, ‘Oh, this draft isn’t as good.’ Here are the numbers. Approximately 45 players from any draft will play 350 games or more in the NHL. It might be 47 one year, 42 another year. That’s the number — you get 45 players that’ll play 350 games or more with varying degrees of success.
“And I know this about the draft. The teams that get good players from the draft say it was a good draft. The teams that don’t get good players from the draft say it wasn’t a good draft. So when people start telling me about a draft ahead of time, I call bulls–t.”
“What you’re trying to do is find a player that you feel has the potential to be an NHL player,” Button said. “That might be a third-line center, that might be a second-line scoring winger. Hey, listen, maybe you get David Pastrnak, who’s a superstar (drafted 25th overall in 2014).
“But the focus has to be on, ‘OK, what type of player do we like, what type of player do we think the guy can be?’ And then get after it and understand what the development path is, and then try to help that player be the best he can be. Put a stake in the ground and celebrate who you’re drafting.”
Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.
Next up:
Ryan Lin
Position: Defenseman Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 180 Shoots: Right Team: Vancouver
Scouting report
While his frame doesn’t come across as imposing, Lin is a plus defender with strong offensive skills.
The Denver-bound prospect consistently has the puck, often making the right play up the ice or in the offensive zone. And when he doesn’t have the puck, he can hold his own in coverage.
“He has got the brain, he understands the way that defensemen play the game, transition and everything,” Button, a former NHL GM and scout, said. “I was a little bit harder on Ryan. When I say harder, in terms of watching him. What I realized, I think he’s a much better defender than he gets credit for. … That’s why you watch players over a period of time in different scenarios.”
Lin put up over a point per game this season in the WHL, recording 14 goals and 43 assists through 53 games. He had a minus-19 rating, but that came on a Vancouver team that sported a minus-86 goal differential.
At the 2026 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championship that ended last month, Lin had six points (one goal, five assists) and a plus-7 rating in five games for Team Canada.
“In Vancouver in the Western Hockey League, he was asked to drive offense,” Button said. “When you’re asked to do that, you better do that. And he did it well, he did it really well. So the team isn’t as good and certainly he has got to do his part offensively; well, now you’re not asked to play defense as much. But I’ve seen him in other scenarios where he has been a really good, solid two-way defenseman.”
Button believes Lin has “a little bit of the Brandon Montour profile.” Montour owns a 73-point season and a Stanley Cup ring. The 32-year-old has played in 665 career NHL games.
If Lin is still there at No. 21, he would be a fine pick for the Flyers.
The club will draft the best player available, but it couldn’t hurt to replenish on the back end. The Flyers have taken just four defensemen over the last two drafts. They haven’t taken one in the first round since 2023, when they selected Oliver Bonk with their second pick.
Lin has the ingredients to be a top-four defenseman. His upside as a power play quarterback should also appeal to the Flyers. They’ve had an NHL-worst power play over the last five seasons combined at 14.1 percent. Lin would give them a good option to run the point in the future.
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