The Detroit Pistons knew they would have to upgrade their offense this summer, following a second-round exit in the NBA playoffs to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Joe, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, averaged 11.1 points and 2.5 rebounds, while shooting 45.5% overall and 42.3% on 3-pointers last season in 71 games, and gives the Pistons another much-needed option to space the floor. His 3-point percentage in 2025-26 was a career-best mark.
He's a high-volume 3-point shooter. and though he fell out of the Thunder's rotation during the playoffs, he will instantly help the Pistons fill their biggest need.
Along with Duncan Robinson, the Pistons now have two players to anchor their spacing. They scored 10.2 more points per 100 possessions when Robinson was on the floor last year according to Cleaning The Glass, with Cade Cunningham (+7.3) and Jalen Duren (+6.4) ranking second and third.
Outside of Robinson, they lacked reliable shooting. However, Robinson is a candidate to be waived this summer if the Pistons wish to create cap space to make a move in free agency. Only $2 million of his roughly $16 million salary next season is guaranteed, and they would have to waive him to clear enough space to be a player in the free agency market.
Joe has two years left on a reasonable four-year, $48 million contract he signed with the Thunder, with the two most expensive years already paid on a descending deal. He'll make $11.3 million each of the next two years, with the 2027-28 season a club option, according to Spotrac.
The Pistons on Tuesday night selected Stanford freshman guard Ebuka Okorie, trading up four spots with the Memphis Grizzlies to No. 17 overall in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Pistons finished 60-22 last season – the third-best record in franchise history and their best since 2005-06, and fell to the Cavaliers in seven games in their deepest postseason run in 18 years. Game 7 was a 125-94 embarrassment at home, concluding a blown 2-0 series lead.
Third-year president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has said he is building around their core three – Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson – this summer, with a repeated emphasis on adding more shooting and ball-handling.
Tom Dundon might be beloved in Charlotte (where his NHL team just hoisted the Stanley Cup), but fans in Portland have their doubts about their team's new owner. Dundon continues to live up to his penny-pinching reputation (except with players he says, although that has yet to be put to the test), and a couple of new instances have had fans — and plenty of people around the league — shaking their heads.
One was the contract for the new head coach, Mikah Nori. He is a longtime assistant in the league who most recently served as the right-hand man to Chris Finch in Minnesota. Dundon waited until there were no other open jobs on the market, then offered Nori a one-year contract with two team options after that. It's an owner-friendly contract that is radically different from the standard contract given to a first-time head coach (usually four years, with the final year a team option). In a league where status is somewhat based on contract size, you can be sure every player on that roster knows their head coach is on a lame duck deal, undercutting his authority.
Nori took the deal, but around the NBA, other coaches have been livid.
"I feel like he was put in a situation that he shouldn't be put in with having to make a choice of this nature because of the structure of what the contract is," said Pistons' coach J.B. Bickerstaff, the president of the coaches union. "It's unfortunate that you have a dream, and from our perspective, it's like someone's taking advantage of your dream and devaluing what we feel like coaches have earned over the years. You think about the sacrifice, the time, the growth that coaches have helped and done with the NBA, and then for someone to come in and attempt to devalue the work that coaches have in this league is extremely disappointing."
Nori, for his part, handled questions about the contract with grace.
"The way I look at this is: opportunity," he told reporters at his introductory press conference. "For 28 years, the first 25 years I never had an agent. I never look at money or years. I know that if I'm successful, the rest of these things will take care of themselves."
Trail Blazers arena
Portland's Moda Center, home to the Trail Blazers, is 31 years old, feels a little dated, and is in need of maintenance and upgrades. Paying for those changes has become a political fight in Oregon.
An estimated $600 million in renovations and maintenance is needed for the building, which is owned by the city of Portland with the Trail Blazers as the main tenant and a lease that runs through 2030.
There are ongoing negotiations about how to pay for this amongst Portland (which has pledged $120 million), Multnomah County, the State of Oregon, with multiple of those entities saying that Dundon and the Trail Blazers should chip in toward the cost. Dundon said don't expect that. From Kyra Buckley and Alex Zielinski of Oregon Public Broadcasting, at the Portland Metro Chamber meeting this week.
"I just know it feels like we're making a pretty big investment by staying here and paying these tax rates and agreeing to these fees for dollars that go back into the building."
"There's lots of places that don't have taxes at the same rate. So if you charge people taxes and invest it back into the thing that helps generate the money relative to the market, other places … it's a huge investment."
While the Moda Center is city-owned and it benefits from the upgrades and maintenance, nobody would benefit more than Dundon and his franchise. In Oregon, a billionaire owner saying he shouldn't have to pay for any of the renovations to the building, and a cash-strapped city should use taxpayer dollars to fund all of it, is not going to go over well.
Not that Dundon cares. He won't care until it hits him in the pocketbook. Just know his casual threat to move the team is not something that's happening (with expansion coming to the NBA, no way Adam Silver and the other owners let that happen). Dundon is going to have to work out something with the city, and he should pay his fair share.
Alex Karaban was selected No. 29 overall in the first round of Tuesday’s NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. The 6-foot 8-inch forward brings not just a wide variety of skills to the table, but a leading attitude on and off the floor.
An elite catch-and-shoot player from the perimeter isn’t the only thing that Sac-Town needs; As the all-time winningest player to put on the UConn Huskies jersey and having racked up the third most wins (15) all-time in NCAA tournament, he’s a winner in every sense of the word. The Kings finished this past season with just 22 wins, tied for last in the Western Conference. Karaban can show what it takes to build a sustainable winning culture and get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
Dan Hurley spoke to KCRA3 on Wednesday morning to dive into the selection. “I talked to BJ Armstrong (Kings assistant GM) this morning, and he asked me how I felt, and I said, ‘How I feel is we got worse last night with Alex leaving and you guys got better with Alex joining your team,’”
The two-time national champion will likely come off the bench behind DeMar DeRozan. With DeRozan entering his 18th NBA season, only time will tell when Karaban can snatch that starting spot. Karaban will play alongside No. 7 pick Darius Acuff, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. Karaban’s elite catch-and-shoot ability provides immediate gravity on the perimeter. In an offense built around Sabonis’ high-post facilitating andDeRozan’s mid-range pressure, Karaban offers the exact floor-spacing safety valve the Kings desperately need to keep the lane open.
Sabonis is practically a walking double-double, but with Karaban spacing the floor on the wing, his passing lanes will open up significantly. Karaban’s ability to knock down kick-out jumpers could easily push Sabonis past his mark of 10 triple-doubles from last season.
Sabonis isn’t the only assist man the Kings have; Russell Westbrook is a prime example of an unselfish player. Westbrook’s ability to get downhill can allow for even more space to open up for Karaban out on the wing or find him cutting to the rim.
Alex Karaban went OFF for a career-high 27 points in UConn's 73-57 win over UCLA.
Defensively, Karaban offers the exact type of high-IQ that’s needed at the NBA level. While he may not be a lockdown isolation defender, his awareness as a weak-side helper is elite. Playing alongside Sabonis—who anchors the interior but isn’t a traditional rim protector—Karaban’s ability to read plays, box out, and execute crisp defensive rotations will give the Kings’ bench much-needed structural stability. He’ll be the first to dive for loose balls, put his body on the line to take a charge and be the first to help up a teammate when they go down.
Karaban doesn’t need for him to go out and light it up for 25 points a night to make his rookie season a success. He needs to stick to what made him a UConn legend and be the ultimate glue guy.
The Boston Bruins have finally made a meaningful upgrade to their roster, and it’s come right before the 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled to start Friday night.
The B’s have acquired Utah Mammoth forward JJ Peterka in exchange for their 2026 first-round pick (No. 23 overall) and the Florida Panthers’ 2028 first-round pick, the team announced. If the Panthers pick lands in the top 10, the Bruins can keep it and instead send their unprotected 2029 first-rounder to the Mammoth.
It’s not a small price, but it’s not an overpay, either. The Panthers pick is expected to be a late first given the fact that Florida is a Stanley Cup contender. The B’s still have their own 2027 and 2028 first-round picks, plus the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-rounder in 2027 or 2028.
Peterka had a somewhat disappointing 2025-26 season in Utah, but he still managed to score 25 goals with 22 assists while playing all 82 games.
He has actually scored 25-plus goals in three straight seasons. Peterka spent his previous four NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, including a 68-point campaign (27 goals, 41 assists) in 2024-25.
The Bruins desperately needed to add more high-end skill and speed to their lineup over the offseason, and Peterka helps address both of these concerns. Peterka has the ability to be a consistent 30-plus goal scorer.
He’s only 24 years old and projects to be a top-six right wing for the foreseeable future. He’s especially dangerous off the rush, which is a skill set the Bruins need more of. They were not very dangerous in transition against the Buffalo Sabres during the first round of the 2026 playoffs.
In short, Peterka is the kind of player the Bruins should be betting on.
JJ Peterka, reportedly acquired by BOS, is a top six rushing winger with a great release, slick hands, and nice timing off the puck. Rounded his game out a bit this season but there might have been too many cooks for him to be as impactful offensively as in the past. pic.twitter.com/MYxku5vUjv
His current contract runs through the 2029-30 season with a salary cap hit of $7.7 million — a figure that will look cheap as the salary cap continues to rise.
The Bruins still need to upgrade the right side of their blue line this offseason, but this trade for Peterka is a good first step in bolstering the roster.
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 20: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Baseball Gods are so often cruel and unrelenting.
The Cincinnati Reds battled the Milwaukee Brewers in a three-game series in Great American Ball Park earlier this week, and they battled them pretty well. Twice they got near perfect starts from starters only for their offense to similarly be stifled, and once they battled back after they once looked buried.
Losses are losses, plain and simple, but they went toe to toe with the best team in the league and lost 2-1 (in extras), 2-0, and 6-5. They were close, but close simply doesn’t count in the sport of baseball.
They’ve fallen 5 games under .500 for the first time all season, and that’s after peaking at 9 games over .500 at the start of May. They’re an abysmal 2-15 vs. NL Central foes so far, too, showing just how far they’ve fallen down the pecking order of baseball’s most competitive division.
You’d think the Gods might throw them a bone here or there. Instead, their next foe on the schedule is none other than NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, who’ll start Friday’s series opener between the Reds and his Pittsburgh Pirates.
Skenes has actually been better in 2026 than he was during his award-winning 2025 in many ways. He’s sporting a 0.93 WHIP that’s better than his 0.95 mark from last season, and his 5.94 K/BB is improved from his 5.14 mark in ’25. So, the Reds have that going for them this evening. You may also recall that in 6 career starts against the Reds, he has held them to an abysmal .474 OPS and 0.53 ERA across 34.0 IP, with an absurd 45/4 K/BB.
Yikes!
The Reds will roll out lefty Andrew Abbott and hope he can keep the team in the game until the point where Skenes hands the ball over to the bullpen (should that ever actually have to occur). First pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET as the Reds try desperately to rescue their season after dropping it into the porta potty.
Here’s the order in which the Reds will be retired by Skenes to start:
The Chicago Blackhawks were in line to buy out Andre Burakovsky this offseason. After a decent start to the first half of his 2025-26 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, he had just 4 points in his final 37 games.
In those 37 games, it wasn't like Burakovsky made up for it in other areas of the game either. There was a lot of turning the puck over and frustrating defensive plays.
Instead of being forced to eat some money and buy him out, however, the Blackhawks were able to find a trade partner in the Ottawa Senators. Burakovsky goes to Canada's capital in exchange for a 6th-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. Chicago will not retain any of Burakovsky's contract.
It isn't a consequential draft pick, but Burakovsky's lackluster play for a $5.5 million cap hit is off the roster. That is a tremendous amount of flexibility added when it comes to cap space.
Burakovsky has a strong past of productive NHL play, and the Ottawa Senators are going to try to rekindle that for him. They just traded Brady Tkachuk earlier in the week, so they need forwards who can bring some offense, assuming Burakovsky (somewhat) gets back on track.
The fact that the Senators were willing to give up a draft pick on a risky player shows that it is a legitimate seller's market in the NHL right now. Teams are desperate to add on and are willing to overpay for it. More of that is on the way as draft weekend heats up.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
The weekend here here, as is a fresh set of games filled with a ton of nuke missile opportunities!
My MLB player props are backing a couple of smaller names to go deep in my favorite home run predictions for Friday, June 26.
UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Travis Bazzana
+578
TJ Rumfield
+640
Owen Caissie
+640
💲Today's HR parlay
+35522
Home run pick: Travis Bazzana (+578)
Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana has been one of the few bright spots in this lineup as of late, owning a .769 SLG and a 1.202 OPS, while generating a 45% hard-hit rate and a 15% barrel rate over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.
The young Aussie draws Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo, whose entire pitch mix is valued below league average, per FanGraphs. Bazzana owns a 68.5% arsenal coverage against Castillo’s full mix.
Castillo is nearly 50% fastballs, a pitch type the young second baseman has handled well this season, posting a .921 OPS while generating nearly a 42% hard-hit rate.
Beyond the below-average arsenal, Castillo has been getting tagged by left-handed hitters on the road, allowing a 71.4% elevation rate and a 43.7% hard-hit rate. Over his last 60 lefties faced, opponents have produced a 48% hard-hit rate, a 12% barrel rate, a 66% elevation rate, along with a .490 xSLG and .357 xwOBA.
For those who read my MLB player props for today, we are also on Kyle Manzardo to leave the yard as well.
Rumfield has been on fire lately, posting a .692 SLG, 1.092 OPS, .365 ISO, and just a 13% strikeout rate over his last 60 at bats against right-handed pitching.
The Twins right hander, on the other hand, has been getting torched by left-handed hitters.
Over the last 30 lefties he has faced, opponents are generating a 60% hard-hit rate, 25% barrel rate, and 75% elevation rate.
Even if you zoom out to the last 60 left-handed hitters, the numbers are nearly identical, with opponents owning a .708 xSLG and .418 xwOBA. Looking at his last three starts overall, Bradley owns a 6.19 xERA while allowing a 54% hard-hit rate and 16% barrel rate to opposing hitters.
This should be a fun one. I fully expect Rumfield to produce something above 105 mph off the bat this evening, whether it stays inside the ballpark, leaves it, or ends up in someone's glove.
The young slugger owns 74% arsenal coverage against McGreevy's entire pitch mix. As of late, Caissie has been eyeing up everything. Over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Caissie has produced a 55.6% hard-hit rate, 27.8% barrel rate, .430 wOBA, .679 SLG, and a 1.012 OPS.
McGreevy has had some issues against lefties this season, posting a 5.67 xERA and just a 10% strikeout rate over the last 60 left-handed batters he has faced. During that stretch, lefties have posted a .358 xBA, .569 xSLG, and .382 xwOBA against him.
It is going to be a sweaty one with Caissie hitting toward the bottom of the order, but he has been seeing the ball extremely well, consistently producing loud contact. McGreevy has also been allowing plenty of hard contact, with opponents elevating the baseball against him.
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CARD, MIAM
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 65-219, +17.10 units
Today’s HR parlay
Travis Bazzana
Bet Now +35522
TJ Rumfield
Owen Caissie
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.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: Carson Palmquist #51 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on June 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In case your head has been under a rock lately, you would know that the Nationals bullpen is god awful. It feels like we are at the point where Paul Toboni needs to just throw stuff at the wall and hope something sticks. Along those lines, I am taking a look at a few even remotely interesting AAA arms.
Carson Palmquist got sent down yesterday, so we can’t see him for a couple weeks, unless there is an injury. However, I would be very surprised if Palmquist is not given a shot very quickly once he is eligible. He was the opener on Wednesday, and did a very nice job. The funky lefty got through 3.1 innings, allowing just one run.
Carson Palmquist almost through a quality start, I understand he's supposed to be the opener, but let the hot hand cook. The Nats finished that inning blowing the lead and a move to the bullpen again could come soon.
Hats off to Carson Palmquist in his Nationals debut. 🧢
Unlike so many guys in this bullpen, Palmquist did not look scared out there. Maybe it was because it was early in the game, but I loved how he attacked hitters. Palmquist does not throw hard, but he has a super funky motion and a really low arm slot. The Nats have given him a sinker, and that pitch was very effective for him.
With Palmquist not being available for a few days after he threw 3.1 innings, I get why he got sent down. However, once he is eligible, slotting him into the role they are using Mitchell Parker in feels like a no brainer. Since joining the Nats organization, Palmquist has posted a 3.27 ERA in AAA and had a good big league outing. That already should place him above Parker in the pecking order.
The next guy I want to talk about is Eddy Yean, who is a bit of a wild card, but has good stuff. Yean is not on the 40-man roster, but that should not be a huge issue, since there is no shortage of DFA candidates. What I like about Yean is that he brings much needed velocity to the table. He averages 97 with a heavy sinker that gets a ton of ground balls.
The Pirates are cooking with their pitching prospects right now. Eddy Yean looks flat-out nasty. pic.twitter.com/exLFuupNLv
This data is from last year, but the 25 year old has pretty much the same mix. His ERA of 3.50 in AAA is good, not great. However, we are in such a dire situation that it is worth giving him a shot. Yean is striking out 25% of hitters and his 4.50 walks per nine innings is not good, but it is also not a complete disaster.
Yean is extremely fastball heavy, but he does have a slider and changeup. Those pitches can be nasty, but the heater is his bread and butter. I am not going to sit here and say Eddy Yean is going to be some huge answer, but he has better stuff than the likes of Lovelady and Parker.
There are also a couple relievers down in the minors that have already shown they are not great big league answers, but may get a shot anyway because the situation is so dark. The first one is Zak Kent, who got called up today for Gus Varland. While Kent posted an ERA over 6 with the Nats in his four outings, his WHIP was only 1.06.
Kent has an interesting 4-seam fastball that moves more like a cutter. Interestingly, his velocity has been up since being sent to the minors. His heater went from 92.2 MPH in the MLB to 93.4 in the minors. Kent also has a slider and curveball which can generate whiffs. I don’t think he has closer stuff or anything, but he has a more interesting and diverse arsenal than Varland.
Another pitcher in this retread category is Cole Henry. Last year, Henry showed a ton of promise, especially in the first half. Coming off of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery, he was a great story. However, he faded down the stretch last year and was rough in the MLB this year.
Cole Henry might be my favorite storyline of the Nats season. Guy is a certified stud. pic.twitter.com/0pw6mkeNhK
With the state of this bullpen though, he should get another shot at some point. Since going back to AAA, Henry has been effective, with a 2.45 ERA in 11 outings. He has been pounding the zone, only walking 1 batter in 11 innings. That is a good sign, since control had been an issue for Henry. However, the righty has not been getting a ton of whiffs in AAA, only striking out 7 in 11 innings. If he can find more whiffs, Henry could get back into the mix soon.
The last group of guys I want to talk about are the wild cards. A lot of these guys are unlikely to be up that soon, but could make an impact at some point. One pitcher who could be up soon though is Riley Cornelio. Right now, the Nats are using Cornelio as a multi-inning relief arm. However, I think he should be a one inning pitcher.
This is due to the fact that he is exclusively a 2 pitch guy. Cornelio only throws a fastball and a slider. With a mix that shallow, I want him letting both pitches rip and making them as nasty as possible. That means having him throw in shorter spurts. Cornelio may be up again soon, but I don’t think he is fully maximized as a bulk arm.
If you want to look way down the road, Robert Cranz is a name to watch. Cranz was fantastic in High-A and Double-A, but has had an ugly first 3 outings in Rochester. Despite the abysmal results, he does have good stuff. His fastball is extremely unique, and he has some nice secondary pitches to go with that.
Let’s take a look at the recently promoted Robert Cranz and the recently moved to the bullpen Riley Cornelio, for no reason whatsoever. pic.twitter.com/54E9LVJAcf
However, he still needs a lot more seasoning in AAA. If he can go on a run in these next couple months, he could be in the show by the end of the season though. Cranz is more of a guy to keep an eye on for 2027 though.
The guys I have already discussed are probably the primary options I like the most. None are very great, but it is worth trying. We truly have nothing to lose here because it cannot get a whole lot worse.
Some other names worth monitoring are converted position player Erick Mejia, Luke Young, who has good results and stuff, but not great strikeout or walk numbers and Jack Sinclair. Max Kranick is also on the mend from an injury and will step into the bullpen at some point. If the Nats are somehow in a playoff race down the stretch, Jarlin Susana and Luis Perales are two flamethrowers who could be unleashed.
As we go through the internal options, it is clear the situation is not pretty. Maybe a couple of these guys can step up and be upgrades, but there are no easy answers. At some point, Paul Toboni is going to have to make a big splash for a true alpha in the bullpen. The 2027 bullpen simply has to be much better, or else things will start to get real awkward for this new regime.
The Cubs enter this series trailing the Brewers by 6.5 games in the NL Central. With half a season to go, that’s not an insurmountable lead.
And yet, the Cubs were swept by the Brewers last month at Wrigley Field and outscored 19-5 in the three games. They’ll need to make some sort of better statement in this series.
At the end of the weekend, the Cubs will trail by either 3.5, 5.5, 7.5 or 9.5 games. So… winning one or two would be a useful result, and an unlikely Cubs sweep would make the division race really interesting. The Cubs are the hottest team in MLB right now, on a 10-3 run. So… you never know.
For more on the Brewers, here’s Harrison Freuck, manager of our SB Nation Brewers site Brew Crew Ball.
The Milwaukee Brewers have found their groove over the last month-plus. After getting out to a slow, injury-riddled start, they’ve gone 33-15 since the beginning of May to expand their NL Central lead.
Jake Bauers currently leads the small-ball offense with 14 homers and 48 RBI on the year, with Brice Turang at 11 homers and Jackson Chourio at 10. William Contreras, Gary Sánchez, Christian Yelich, Andrew Vaughn, and Garrett Mitchell have also played key roles offensively, with Cooper Pratt, Sal Frelick, David Hamilton, and Joey Ortiz rounding out the position player group. Pratt, whom the Brewers signed to an eight-year extension before he even set foot in the majors, has looked solid in his first week-plus with Milwaukee, as he’s picked up seven hits in nine games and stolen four bases while providing above-average defense. After all, it couldn’t get much worse than the recently released Luis Rengifo (.205/.280/.254 with no homers and below-average defense over 57 games).
On the pitching side, the Brewers have their top three starters in Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison, and Brandon Woodruff set to pitch this weekend. Miz has been simply incredible, with a 1.45 ERA and 138 strikeouts over 93 innings, while Harrison is also pitching at an All-Star level with a 2.50 ERA and 87 strikeouts over 72 innings. Woodruff missed the last month and a half, but he came back with a great start against the Reds on Monday, allowing just one hit and striking out 10 over six frames. The bullpen is anchored by Aaron Ashby, Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, and Chad Patrick, with Grant Anderson, Craig Yoho, and Joel Kuhnel rounding things out.
This should be a fun weekend series in Milwaukee. Give me the Brewers to take two of three.
Fun facts
Here we are, halfway through the season and already the Cubs are playing a second series against the division-leading Brewers.
They lost all three when the teams met at Wrigley Field on May 18-20. Those were the third through fifth of the 10 straight losses that saw the Cubs tumble from first place, ahead by 2.5 games, to fourth place, 4.5 behind.
The teams have played 459 games, with the Brewers leading, 233-226. They have outscored the Cubs by just 12 runs, 2,077-2,065.
The Cubs are 107-120 at Milwaukee. They split six games last season, winning two of three in May and losing two of three in July.
They are 2-11-1 in series at Wisconsin since 2021, including being swept in three games the first year. Their last sweep visiting the Brewers was in the final three games of 2015. This will be their 26th series at Milwaukee since then.
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
Friday: Colin Rea, RHP (5-5, 4.99 ERA, 1.399 WHIP, 4.83 FIP) vs. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP (8-3, 1.45 ERA, 0.753 WHIP, 1.66 FIP)
NOTE: One of the TBD games is likely to be started by new acquisition David Peterson, though at publication time the team had not announced which one. The other is likely going to be a bullpen game, though perhaps the team will surprise us. As always, we await developments.
Times & TV channels
Friday: 6:45 p.m. CT, Apple TV (how to watch). Announcers: Alex Faust (play-by-play), Ryan Spilborghs (analyst), and Tricia Whitaker (reporter).
Saturday: 6:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Sunday: 1:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
Don’t get swept.
Seriously, though, despite pitching matchups that appear to favor the Brewers, I do think the Cubs should be able to win at least one of these games.
Up next
The Cubs return to Wrigley Field for a three-game series against the San Diego Padres beginning Monday evening.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Mikel Brown Jr. after he is drafted sixth overall by the Brooklyn Nets during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA draft is now in the books, and while free agency doesn’t start until next week, we’ve already begun peeking at is pages. That means NBA Summer League, and our next chance to get a tangible look at the Nets, is right around the corner.
Friday morning, Brooklyn announced the first four of the five game’s they’ll play in Las Vegas, starting in the second week of July. The schedule includes the following:
July 10th vs New York @ 6 PM ET
July 11th vs Atlanta @ 8 PM ET
July 14th vs Sacramento @ 6 PM ET
July 16 vs Houston @ 4:30 PM ET
The Nets will also have three games before the traditional Summer League tournament in Sacramento. They were announced in late April and include:
July 4th vs Sacramento @ 5 PM ET
July 5th vs Milwaukee Bucks @ 3 PM ET
July 6th vs Golden State Warriors @ 8 PM ET
With games against the Kings in each slate, we’ll get two head-to-head looks at Mikel Brown Jr. vs Darius Acuff. The two guards going back-to-back has stirred a noteworthy amount of debate across the past few days regarding who’ll have the better career. These games could be the first chapters in a budding cross conference rivalry. The pair did square off at the collegiate level and in high school once as well.
January 25th, 2025, Mikel Brown Jr. faced Darius Acuff in high school.
It's the nature of the sports media but these two will be compared to each other for years to come based on the draft. pic.twitter.com/lfDAgGvdhL
All of Brooklyn’s games in Sacramento will be television on the YES Network, while the Vegas games will be split between ESPN, ESPN U, and Amazon Prime. We’re told summer league roster is expected to practice this Tuesday or Wednesday at HSS Training Center before departing for Sacramento.
The Sharks made a big move with their third pick of the 2026 NHL Draft’s first round, trading up to No. 21 overall and selecting another Canadian defenseman, Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants.
San Jose certainly wanted Lin, sending Nos. 27, 62 and 120 to the Philadelphia Flyers to move up six spots and draft the 18-year-old. The mobile, right-shot defender grew up in Richmond, across the Fraser River from Vancouver, and posted 14 goals and 57 points in 53 games for the Giants this past season.
The Sharks originally acquired the 27th pick from the Buffalo Sabres, along with defenseman Michael Kesselring, in exchange for the No. 20 selection. Now they’ve utilized that trade to make another in search of talent that can help shore up their blue line.
To the delight of many, Sharks general manager Mike Grier got greedy in the first round, and San Jose certainly hopes it pays off.
My MLB moneyline picks for June 26 contain all of my favorite looks and leans for tonight’s full slate.
See why my free MLB picks are topped by the Angels.
MLB moneyline picks for June 26
Matchup
Pick
Astros vs Tigers
-106
Reds vs Pirates
-174
Nationals vs Orioles
-127
Rangers vs Blue Jays
-104
Mariners vs Guardians
-12
Diamondbacks vs Rays
-130
Phillies vs Mets
+150
Yankees vs Red Sox
+106
Royals vs White Sox
-126
Cubs vs Brewers
-223
Rockies vs Twins
+153
Marlins vs Cardinals
-100
Athletics vs Angels
+115
Dodgers vs Padres
-133
Braves vs Giants
-117
Expert MLB moneyline picks for June 26
Astros vs Tigers: Tigers (-106)
Tigers win probability: 52%
Neither team has been killing it offensively, both sitting under a 100 wRC+ over their last 12 games. However, for the Tigers, Keider Montero has been very serviceable over his last five outings.
The right hander owns a 2.81 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP, and just a 2% walk rate during that stretch.
On the other side, Spencer Arrighetti has been struggling, posting a 5.79 ERA over his last five starts.
With both offenses looking pretty lifeless, I will ride with the Tigers.
Reds vs Pirates: Pirates (-174)
Pirates win probability: 64%
Real simple, Paul Skenes versus a Reds offense that has been frozen solid. Over their last 21 games, Cincinnati owns just an 86 wRC+, a .298 wOBA, and a .666 OPS. Yikes.
Meanwhile, the Pirates play their best ball at home and the offense has been humming. Parlay it with something else or take the run line. It is the Pirates.
Nationals vs Orioles: Orioles (-127)
Orioles win probability: 56%
Despite the Nationals’ hot offense, Trevor Rogers has hit his stride over his last five outings, posting a sub 3.00 ERA, a sub 1.00 WHIP, and a sub 6% walk rate. He has been much more in control lately and pitching with confidence.
On the other side, Andrew Alvarez has been allowing a lot of hard contact over his last few outings, and with the Orioles’ bats starting to heat up, this could get ugly.
Rangers vs Blue Jays: Rangers (-104)
Rangers win probability: 51%
I have a hard time trusting the Rangers offense, but they have been on fire as of late.
Over their last 21 games, they own a 112 wRC+, a .330 wOBA, and a .747 OPS. They draw Patrick Corbin, who is back to his old form, posting a 6.64 ERA, 5.21 xERA, and a 1.75 WHIP over his last five outings.
I expect Joc Pederson and Jake Burger to lead the way for the Rangers tonight.
Mariners vs Guardians: Guardians (-102)
Guardians win probability: 50%
I already like a lot of Guardians bats this evening against Luis Castillo, who has been inconsistent all season long.
Both offenses have been ice cold recently, but the few bright spots in that Cleveland lineup, namely Travis Bazzana and Kyle Manzardo, should be enough to swing this spot against a struggling right hander.
Castillo has really struggled with left-handed hitters, and over his last 60 lefties faced, opponents have posted a 48% hard-hit rate, a 12% barrel rate, and a 66% fly ball rate.
Give me the Guardians.
Diamondbacks vs Rays: Rays (-130)
Rays win probability: 56%
I do not care that the Rays hung two touchdowns on the Royals Thursday afternoon, they now draw Zac Gallen, who has been nothing short of rough all season. The right hander enters today with a 7.68 road ERA, 6.00 xERA, and a 1.84 WHIP, while allowing nearly a 48% hard hit rate and a 12% barrel rate.
Those are loud contact issues showing up consistently, not noise.
Give me the hot Rays in this spot.
Phillies vs Mets: Mets (+150)
Mets win probability: 40%
This is an interesting spot with the Mets, who recently made a coaching change, putting the classic “fired coach bump” into play. Getting +150 here adds to the appeal.
"Vibes" play of the day.
Yankees vs Red Sox: Red Sox (+106)
Red Sox win probability: 48%
Some would say there is no way the Yankees go into Fenway and lose to this Red Sox team, but they did last night. Now Payton Tolle takes the mound for Boston, a pitcher who brings real grit and tenacity to the mound.
This is the type of spot a guy like Tolle tends to show up for.
The Yankees offense has gone cold, posting an 80 wRC+, a 30% K rate, a .644 OPS, and a .143 ISO over their last six games. Meanwhile, Boston has been just a bit better on the other side.
Royals vs White Sox: White Sox (-125)
White Sox win probability: 56%
I am not a big narrative guy when it comes to baseball, but a lot of White Sox players have been snubbed for the All-Star Game. I think the team gets some frustration out against Royals’ Mitch Spence, who has already been a punching bag this season.
Plus, the White Sox have just been playing far better at home than anywhere else. Get your revenge, fellas.
Bonus: Colson Montgomery Over 1.5 H+R+RBI (EVEN), and sprinkle the HR
Cubs vs Brewers: Brewers (-223)
Brewers win probability: 69%
If you want value on a hot team, take the Cubs, but Jacob Misiorowski is the truth.
The Cubs come in with four poorly-rated hitters in this matchup, and this feels like a spot where their hot streak cools off. Minimal thoughts here, just based on how dominant Misiorowski has been.
Colin Rea is on the bump for Chicago, carrying a 7.19 road ERA and a 1.60 road WHIP.
Give me the Brew Crew.
Rockies vs Twins: Rockies (+153)
Rockies win probability: 40%
I get it, Tomoyuki Sugano is on the mound for Colorado, but Taj Bradley has been just as inconsistent. Both offenses have been swinging it well lately, and neither pitcher has shown much stability.
You are essentially getting two hot lineups against two arms you cannot fully trust right now, which opens the door for value. At this price, I will take a shot on the Rockies.
Marlins vs Cardinals: Marlins (-100)
Marlin win probability: 50%
I am already riding Owen Caissie in this matchup, so why not ride the entire Fighting Fish train?
Michael McGreevy for the Cardinals has been abysmal over his last five outings, posting a 5.33 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Meanwhile, the Marlins have been the hottest team in baseball this month.
At near even money, I will take a shot on the Fish.
Athletics vs Angels: Angels (+113)
Angels win probability: 46%
The Athletics offense has cooled off this week, while the Angels have started to heat back up. Over their last six games, the A’s sit below a 100 wRC+, while the Angels have posted a 129 wRC+, along with a .353 wOBA and .811 OPS.
I also like what I have seen from Walbert Urena in recent outings, carrying a 2.41 ERA on the year while not allowing much hard contact.
Dodgers vs Padres: Dodgers (-133)
Dodgers win probability: 57%
Has Roki Sasaki been rough in the big leagues? Yes, but the underlying metrics suggest he should be performing better than what has shown up in the results.
Over his last five outings he owns a sub 3.00 xERA, 1.06 WHIP, a 28% strikeout rate, and an 8% walk rate. He has actually been pretty solid all things considered.
On the other side, Walker Buehler has also been steady, but his BABIP sits above .400 over his last three outings while he has allowed nearly a 50% hard hit rate.
I trust Shohei Ohtani and Max Muncy to lead the way for the Dodgers this evening, who come in with elite ratings on Batters-Box.
Braves vs Giants: Braves (-117)
Braves win probability: 54%
This is the game the Atlanta Braves bats wake up.
With Trevor McDonald on the mound for San Francisco, this sets up as a prime rebound spot for an ice cold Braves lineup. McDonald over his last three outings owns a 6.17 ERA, 5.59 xERA, a 1.89 WHIP, and nearly a 15% walk rate.
The Giants offense has not exactly been scorching either, but I am willing to trust the better lineup in a spot where the opposing arm has been consistently shaky. Give me Atlanta here.
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.
The Ducks' 2025-26 season has been over for just over a month and with the 2026 NHL Entry Draft just around the corner, it feels like a good time to start recapping this past season for each player in the organization.
Today's edition of 'By the Numbers' will feature players who wore Nos. 91-98 this season.
If you missed the previous edition of 'By the Numbers', you can click here to read it.
Leo Carlsson
Carlsson had a productive season in his third year in the league. He came one goal away from a 30-goal season and was second on the team with 67 points despite missing 12 games due to surgery to remove a Morel-Lavallée lesion on his thigh. If not for that, he likely would have reached 70 points and likely also reached the 80-point threshold.
His hot start to the season gave him early Hart Trophy consideration, as he put up 34 points in 25 games through the first two months of the season. December is when things started to take a downturn, around when the lesion became an issue for him. But once he returned following the Olympic break, he was firing on all cylinders again, putting up 15 points in 16 games in March.
Because he underwent surgery in mid-January, Carlsson was unable to compete for Sweden in the Winter Olympics. He had been named to the Olympic squad, but the recovery period (three to five weeks) put any chance of him competing to bed. Due to his pending RFA status, Carlsson also did not compete for Sweden in the IIHF World Championship this past May, after being part of last year's team.
Mar 30, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) reacts before the first overtime period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Griffin Hooper-Imagn Images
Now firmly established as the Ducks' No. 1 center, Carlsson––like many others on the team––got his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past season. He had a strong first round against the Edmonton Oilers with eight points in six games. Things were a little more difficult against a stouter Vegas Golden Knights team in the second round, where he had three points in six games.
With another year of NHL experience under his belt, it's starting to feel like Carlsson is breaking through the surface as a true star in the league. His skating, which was noted to be an issue coming out of the draft, has now become one of his strengths, allowing him to burst past opponents and use his vision to set up teammates or pick a corner. When rush opportunities are stifled, he does still have trouble creating in those instances. But at 21, he is also learning how to combat those adjustments.
The expectation is that general manager Pat Verbeek will try to lock Carlsson down to a long-term deal this summer. He's established himself as the centerpiece of the Ducks' core and will likely be the next captain.
Roger McQueen
McQueen was one of the many young players who made the transition from the CHL to the NCAA this past season. In his freshman season with Providence, he had 27 points (11 goals) in 36 games and was named the Hockey East Rookie of the Year. He also earned a spot on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.
It was slow going at first for McQueen, but once he picked up his first collegiate point, the wheels started turning. He was the top line center for Nate Leaman's team, which focused on having a strong defensive structure and a good forecheck. Perhaps that system isn't the most optimal for McQueen's playstyle, but it helped him become a stronger 200-foot player.
After his collegiate season concluded, McQueen signed an amateur tryout (ATO) with the San Diego Gulls in the AHL. He also signed his entry-level contract (ELC) with the Ducks, with the deal beginning in the 2026-27 season. He played in seven games for the Gulls and had three goals while serving as the team's second line center. He also got his first taste of the Calder Cup Playoffs, but failed to register a point in two games against a powerhouse Colorado Eagles team.
This fall, McQueen will compete for a spot on the NHL roster, much like Beckett Sennecke did last season. With how uncertain the future is for Mason McTavish and 34-year-old Mikael Granlund having just two years remaining on his deal, there may be an opportunity for McQueen to seize. Assistant general manager Martin Madden said that expectations for McQueen should be tempered going into next season, with this progression not quite at the point where Sennecke was going into last season. Nevertheless, McQueen is expected to have a large role next season, whether he is in the NHL or AHL.
Pavel Mintyukov
Mintyukov played the most games of his professional career in 2025-26, appearing in 73 of 82. He missed a few games towards the end of the regular season due to a lower-body injury, but returned and played in all 12 playoff games.
He began the season as part of the bottom defensive pair alongside Drew Helleson, with Jackson LaCombe and Olen Zellweger above him in the pecking order on the left side. Radko Gudas' early-season injury elevated Helleson to the top pair alongside LaCombe and inserted Ian Moore next to Mintyukov on the bottom pair.
The Mintyukov-Moore pairing showed promise, though the offensive upside that Mintyukov had displayed early into his career was not seen as frequently. Gudas' return rendered Mintyukov a healthy scratch for three consecutive games, which gave the Ducks' fanbase nightmares of last season's defensive carousel between Mintyukov and Zellweger.
Upon his return to the lineup, Mintyukov continued to be part of the bottom pair, whether it was with Helleson or Gudas. He received a pair of healthy scratches at separate points of the season, but otherwise was a regular in the lineup for the rest of the season.
May 14, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (98) controls the puck during the first period against the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
When John Carlson was acquired from the Washington Capitals in early March, he started out as Zellweger's defensive partner. But Mintyukov and Carlson quickly became a pairing that head coach Joel Quenneville relied on down the stretch, and that carried into the playoffs. While Mintyukov was touted as more of an offensive-focused player coming out of the draft, the switch has now flipped into more of a steady, defensive-minded player who is also capable of breaking out the puck offensively.
With Carlson hitting the open market, Mintyukov will have a new defensive partner next season. He himself is also a pending RFA and will likely receive a bridge deal. With Olen Zellweger dealt to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday morning, the left side of the Ducks' defense looks to be set for the 2026-27 season. Mintyukov and Zellweger had frequently been compared and had been competing for a regular spot in the lineup over the past couple of seasons, with neither able to gain a foothold. Removing Zellweger from the picture now gives Mintyukov ample opportunity to do so.
Jun 25, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) is congratulated by designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) after the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images
It is very likely that, for the rest of your life, no matter how long you may live, you will never see a week of Phillies baseball like the one you witnessed over the last seven days.
There was a cycle. A three-home run game. Three legendary comebacks never before pulled off in the history of the sport.
Were these things to happen during an entire season, it would be a curiosity. For them all to happen in the same week?
Bonkers.
Let’s recap a memory-making week by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Saturday, June 20: Phillies 15, Mets 3
Back in early May, the idea of the Phillies scoring 15 runs in a week, let alone a single game, seemed ludicrous.
But the offense has been much better since the start of June. Their 129 runs scored entering this weekend’s series against in New York, are tied for 2nd-most in MLB. Their 35 home runs are tied for 4th, their .266 batting average is tied for 6th, and their .787 OPS is 8th.
However, the Phils are suddenly excelling in an area that has historically been their biggest bugaboo — hitting with runners in scoring position. In June, their .337 average and 1.030 OPS are 1st in baseball. They’ve hit 10 homers with RISP, which is tied for 3rd.
And while most of that damage wasn’t necessarily done last Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, a healthy chunk of it was.
Kyle Schwarber hit three home runs, including two in the same inning, both of which went 450+ feet.
It was the fifth time in his career he’s hit at least three dingers in a game, tied for the 2nd-most games with at least three bombs in MLB history.
If that had been the only storyline, that would have been enough. But, oh no, there was more.
Bryce Harper also made history by becoming the 11th player in Phillies history to hit for the cycle.
Oh, and he had it all wrapped up by the end of the 5th inning.
How often does a player hit for the cycle and his teammate hit three blasts in the same game? Not too often!
The @Phillies are the second team in MLB history to have a player hit for the cycle (Bryce Harper) and a player hit 3 homers (Kyle Schwarber) in the same game.
The other was the Yankees on June 3, 1932 (Tony Lazzeri cycle, Lou Gehrig 4 homers). pic.twitter.com/PxG7mhZF61
It was one of those games that 200,000 people will say they attended over the course of their lives. A generational game.
Sunday, June 21: Phillies 6, Dodgers 2
There’s always a little juice when your team is playing on Sunday Night Baseball, especially at Citizens Bank Park.
Zack Wheeler continued his remarkable recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome with a stellar start against the flailing Mets: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K. His ERA fell to 2.11.
Harper, swinging the same 35-ounce bat that helped him slug for the cycle the night before, piled up three more hits, including another homer, and finished a triple shy of a second straight cycle.
How often has a player hit for the cycle and then come within one hit of a second straight cycle the following game? Not often!
Bryce Harper finished tonight's game a triple short of a cycle after hitting for the cycle in his last game. The last player to finish one element short of a cycle the game after hitting for a cycle was teammate, Trea Turner, when they were Nationals teammates in April 2017. pic.twitter.com/BXsNyB9A9E
Oh, and Schwarber went deep again, his league-leading 29th of the season.
Things haven’t even begun to get weird yet.
Monday, June 22: Nationals 4, Phillies 1
There wasn’t much to write home about in this “scheduled” loss, as the Phils started lefty reliever Tim Mayza and followed up with new No. 5 starter Alan Rangel.
Rangel was actually pretty good: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 Ks. You’ll take that every time.
Brandon Marsh hit a solo home run, a portent of more to come in what would be a ridiculous series for the Phils’ outfielder.
Let’s just consider this game the “eye” of the storm.
Tuesday, June 23: Phillies 14, Nationals 9
In what will likely go down as their craziest win of the season, the Phils fell behind 5-0 after Jesus Luzardo got dinked and dunked in the early innings. Although he compiled 13 strikeouts and didn’t give up an extra base hit, he did allow five runs in his first four innings.
But the Phillies started to chip away.
Edmundo Sosa, inserted into the DH spot minutes before first pitch after Schwarber announced he was dealing with lower back stiffness, hit a two-run shot in the 5th to get the Phillies on the board. He followed that up with an RBI fielder’s choice in the 7th to make it 5-3.
In the 8th, J.T. Realmuto, who was hitting just above .200 when he came to the plate, smacked a liner to right field with the bases loaded.
Wood came as close to catching that ball as a human can without actually catching it, didn’t he? Suddenly, the Phils had a 6-5 lead. It felt like it was going to be a garden variety late-game comeback victory!
But Nats second baseman Jorbit Vivas shocked Orion Kerkering with a three-run blast just moments later to suddenly put the Nationals back on top 8-6.
In the 9th, the Sosa and Justin Crawford both struck out. With two outs and no one on, Trea Turner was down to his final strike before lining a single to left-center field. Then, Brandon Marsh shocked the world.
A shell-shocked Brad Lord then completely fell apart. Two more Phils reached base before Bryson Stott blew everyone’s mind with this three-run blast that somehow stayed inside the right field foul pole.
The Phillies still were not done. In all, the Phils would score 8 runs in the 9th inning, and it all started with no one on base, two outs, and two strikes on Turner.
Before the Phillies tonight, no team had trailed with 2 outs in the 9th and then scored 8 runs to win in almost 40 years.
How long ago was it? The 1988 Royals were the last team to do it. And who was pitching against them?
Matt Stairs became a Phillies legend because no one in their right minds every would have thought he would author one of the biggest postseason home runs in franchise history.
While newly acquired outfielder Derek Hill clearly hasn’t reached that level of notoriety, his heroics in the 9th inning of Wednesday night’s game at the very least earned him a prominent spot in the team’s video yearbook.
Trailing 4-3 in the 9th inning, the first two batters to come to the plate failed to reach base. Schwarber, who did not start for the second straight game due to his stiff back, felt well enough to pinch hit in the 9th and worked a 9-pitch walk to put the tying run on first.
Hill had not made much of an impression in his four weeks with the team, good or bad. But once again, down to their final out, a Phillie hit a go-ahead home run in the 9th inning, this time an improbable opposite-field dinger off the bat of Hill.
How unusual is it for a team to start a 9th inning trailing, have their first two hitters make outs and come within one strike of losing and still win the game? Glad you asked.
The @Phillies are the only MLB team in the modern era to be down to their last strike with nobody on base in the 9th inning 2 games in a row but win both. pic.twitter.com/VvyHwxa65k
For the second time in this four-game series, the Phils trailed the Nationals 5-0, this time after the third inning. Cristopher Sanchez uncharacteristically just didn’t have it at the start of this one, and it felt like the Nats were finally going to pull out a victory.
Honestly, they should have been on the verge of a four-game sweep. Unfortunately, bullpens are still a real and important need for every baseball team, and they don’t have one.
Once again, the Phils started chipping away. Marsh hit another homer, this time a two-run shot in the 6th to make it 5-2. The Nats’ ‘pen melted down in the 7th, walking in two runs and allowing the Phils to tie the score 5-5.
Enter, the 9th inning. No, the Phillies weren’t trailing this time, nor were they down to their final strike. Instead, the former National, Harper, who had been listening to taunts from fans all game, stamped an exclamation point on this improbable week of baseball.
The Phils enter their weekend series against a Mets team that fired manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday trailing the Atlanta Braves by just four games in the NL East.
What an insanely fun week, the likes of which we will never see again.
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 03: Collin Gillespie #12 and Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns celebrate after a 130-125 win against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on February 03, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Questions. We all had them entering this offseason for the Phoenix Suns. What would the Suns do? How many gambles would the organization take? Could they retain their free agents? Should they? They didn’t have a long list of free agents to address, but the ones they did have mattered as the franchise prepared for the 2026-27 season. They weren’t flashy names, but in an offseason that demanded restraint rather than splashy moves, they were important.
This was never going to be an offseason about making headlines. It was about sitting on the sidelines, enhancing what was built last season, and continuing down the path the organization had already chosen.
As we walk away from the 2026 NBA Draft and the opening wave of free agency, it’s hard not to feel like the mission was accomplished. No, there wasn’t a move that sent your blood pressure through the roof. LaMelo Ball didn’t suddenly show up on your doorstep wearing purple and orange. Instead, while other franchises felt compelled to take risks in pursuit of a higher ceiling, the Phoenix Suns leaned into stability. They leaned into the cousin of 2025’s buzzword “align”, 2026’s “continuity”.
For where this franchise currently finds itself, that might have been the smartest move of all. Days after the season ended, I was as reluctant as anyone to invest in offseason content because my mindset never changed. Stay the course. That was my mantra from the beginning. Look internally. Lean into development and growth. Seek improvement from within rather than chasing something outside the Phoenix market that creates the illusion of progress while simultaneously capping your long-term potential.
Living between a rock and a hard place isn’t comfortable. When you see notifications rolling in about players changing teams and organizations making splashy moves, it’s natural to feel a little envious. Part of you wants that move. Part of you wants the excitement. Part of you wants something that makes you feel more secure about where your team stands.
But we’ve already lived that path over the past five years. We’ve felt those emotions. If hindsight has taught us anything, it’s that winning the moment doesn’t necessarily translate to winning in the long run. Instead, it makes you appreciate the value of continuity. It makes you appreciate development. It makes you appreciate the promise of what internal growth could become.
Make no mistake about it, there’s no guarantee that path leads to the ultimate outcome. But it is the responsible way to navigate your salary cap, your organizational viability, and your long-term ceiling. Especially considering where this franchise currently sits.
Risk is no longer something the Suns can recklessly lean into while hoping the margin for error works in their favor. Every decision has to be calculated. Every risk has to be measured. Every move has to fit both the short-term and the long-term vision. That’s exactly what the Phoenix Suns have done this offseason. They’ve accomplished everything they set out to do.
And it’s not even July 1.
They’ve brought back Collin Gillespie on a four-year deal. They’ve brought back Jordan Goodwin on a three-year deal. And now they’ve brought back Mark Williams on a three-year deal. All are competitive assets in the short term and, if need be, tradable contracts in the future.
These are names we know. These aren’t theories or ideas that we’ll spend the next summer projecting onto, hoping they become something they’re not. Yes, the hope is that all three continue to develop. But we already know these players. We know they understand the system. We know they understand the expectations. We know what they bring to the floor.
You then add a first-round pick with size, upside, and time to develop, and it’s easy to feel good about the short-term competitiveness of the franchise while recognizing that the organization is also accounting for its long-term future.
This is what a professionally run organization looks like. And it’s not sexy. That’s okay. That’s exactly what the Suns need right now. They don’t need to be chasing another blockbuster trade. They don’t need to attach picks in another desperate attempt to accelerate the timeline. They need to settle in and let the dust around the Western Conference settle while they focus on continuity, stability, and internal growth.
Maybe I’m looking at this through the eyes of someone who chooses to see the bright side rather than the darkness that could lie ahead. Or maybe, after everything this franchise has been through, that’s exactly the perspective the Suns need. But when you’re operating professionally, you put yourself in a position to be successful rather than throwing the dice across the craps table and hoping for a seven.
Right now, the Suns aren’t chasing miracle rolls. They’re hoping six and eight are the point, and that they can continue to cash in as time progresses. That’s where this franchise is. It’s not that they can never push their chips to the middle of the table again. It’s that now isn’t the time. Right now, they’re the team watching the table, waiting for the right opportunity, and benefiting from playing the long game rather than chasing instant gratification.
Smart. Strategic. Responsible. Those are the words I’d use to describe the Phoenix Suns this offseason.
Do I still have my doubts about certain areas of the roster? Of course. Every fan should have questions about their team. But you can question the roster while also respecting the process. And that’s exactly what the Suns have earned this offseason.
Will it ultimately pay off? Who knows. The Western Conference is a fucking gauntlet. But I’d much rather attack it from this position than from one of desperation and irresponsibility, especially when Oklahoma City and San Antonio exist. Be responsible now. Set yourself up for success later. Operate accordingly. That’s exactly what the Phoenix Suns have done this offseason cycle.
Maybe this path doesn’t end with a championship. Maybe it does. Nobody knows. What I do know is this: I’d much rather see the Suns operate with discipline than desperation.
The Western Conference isn’t getting any easier. Oklahoma City isn’t going anywhere. San Antonio is only getting better. That means Phoenix can’t afford to chase shortcuts anymore. Every decision has to serve a purpose. Every move has to fit a larger vision. That’s what this offseason has been about. The Suns identified who they wanted to keep, rewarded the players who earned it, added another young piece to their developmental pipeline, and resisted the temptation to make a headline-grabbing move simply for the sake of making one.
Professional organizations don’t win every offseason. They consistently make good decisions and trust that enough good decisions eventually lead to winning. For the first time in a long time, it feels like that’s exactly what the Phoenix Suns are doing.
Travis Bazzana
TJ Rumfield
Owen Caissie
Astros
Tigers
Reds
Pirates
Nationals
Orioles
Rangers
Blue Jays
Mariners
Diamondbacks
Rays
Phillies
Mets
Yankees
Red Sox
Royals
White Sox
Cubs
Brewers
Twins
Cardinals
Athletics
Angels
Dodgers
Padres
Braves
Giants
