WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Gunnar Henderson #2 and Taylor Ward #3 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after winning a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 17, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Back to Baltimore march the Orioles, but we can’t say it’s with anything like momentum. The team went 4-5 in a nine-game road series against Seattle and both Los Angeles teams, at least several of those winnable games. The Birds probably should have swept the Dodgers, crazy as it sounds, but Ryan Helsley was fresh off the injured list, and blew a two-run lead in the ninth. They’ve blown six late-game leads, give or take, in the last three weeks. If this team is still buyers at the trade deadline, confessedly some relief help wouldn’t hurt.
Anyway, as the team well knows, this next stretch before the All-Star Break is critical. There are fourteen games left to play, and the Birds are two games out of a Wild Card spot. Their next chance to generate momentum comes tonight against their local rivals, the Nationals. The Nats come into this series at exactly .500, three games outside of an NL playoff spot.
Trevor Rogers gets the assignment tonight. For a time this season, he was making us wonder whether his ace-like 2025 was just a mirage, with a 10.31 ERA in May, but June saw quite a turnaround, as the lefty went 2-1 with a 2.22 ERA in four starts. That includes a seven-inning shutout at Dodger Stadium. The Nationals lineup is very good, although not quite the same challenge.
Rogers doesn’t have much history against these hitters. He’s faced catcher Keibert Ruiz ten times, holding him to a .200 average. Jacob Young is 1-for-7. CJ Abrams has hit him up, though, 4-for-7 with a home run.
On the opposing side of the bump, metaphorically speaking, is a 27-year-old lefty named Andrew Alvarez, making just his tenth career start, and his first against Baltimore. A twelfth-rounder for Washington in 2021, Alvarez debuted last year as a spot starter and pitched to a nice 2.31 ERA in five games. He’s 1-0 with a 3.34 earned run average and 37 strikeouts in 32 innings this season.
The lefty is known for his curveball and slider, a challenging formula for this Orioles lineup. That said, they’ve gone righty-heavy today, with Coby Mayo in at DH and Tyler O’Neill getting the start in right.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals congratulates Curtis Mead #45 after Mead hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on June 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We all know how the last three games have gone, but it is time to turn the page and move on to the Orioles series. As has been mentioned at length, this Nats team has been resilient this season. However, this upcoming stretch is the biggest test yet. It is tough to drop three games in such brutal fashion in a row, but they managed to do it.
With a lefty on the mound, Andres Chaparro is in the lineup again over Luis Garcia. He will play first base in this one. CJ Abrams is back in the lineup after not starting yesterday. That moves Nasim Nunez to second and Jorbit Vivas out of the lineup. Daylen Lile will be the DH, and James Wood will move to right field. Andrew Alvarez will start, and hopefully he gives some length so we get as little of the bullpen as possible.
The O’s are missing Adley Rutschman, but they have a lot of firepower in their lineup. Pete Alonso has been red hot lately. Jackson Holliday missed the series in DC, but he is in the lineup today up in Baltimore. Samuel Basallo will catch with Rutschman out. Trevor Rogers is on the bump tonight.
As mentioned up top, this is a big test for the Nats. I am pretty confident that the offense will be resilient, but will the bullpen have their backs? We will find out soon enough. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
The homegrown guard will decline his $4.5 million player option and sign a new three-year deal worth more than $14 million to stay with the world champion New York Knicks, according to several reports on Friday, June 26. Bringing him back was a priority for the Knicks this offseason.
For a kid from Brooklyn, the choice was not just about money.
Alvarado grew up in the city and played his high school basketball at Christ the King in Queens. He went undrafted out of Georgia Tech in 2021, latched on with New Orleans on a two-way contract and turned himself into one of the league's peskiest defenders. They call him "Grand Theft Alvarado" for the way he robs ball handlers.
The Knicks traded for him at the February deadline for Dalen Terry, two second-round picks and cash. He averaged 6.6 points, 3.8 assists and 2.0 rebounds off the bench in 28 regular-season games with New York.
His fingerprints were all over the Knicks' title run. Down 81-52 in Game 4 of the Finals, Alvarado hit a layup and a 3-pointer to chip into the deficit that had looked hopeless. New York won 107-106, grabbed a 3-1 lead and closed out the San Antonio Spurs in five games for its first championship since 1973.
Staying probably cost him money. There were reports that he could command as much as $10 million a year on the open free agent market. He took less to come back and then posted on social media "I'm Home," with two hearts in Knicks orange and blue.
Free agency opens June 30. New York still has to sort out center Mitchell Robinson and other free agents, with owner Jim Dolan's eye on the luxury tax shaping every move.
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 25: A general overall aerial view of Tropicana Field and stadium dome damage from Hurricane Milton on August 25, 2025 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
DIAMONDBACKS
RAYS
Ketel Marte – 2B
Yandy Diaz – DH
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Jonathan Aranda – 1B
Corbin Carroll – RF
Junior Caminero – 3B
Gabriel Moreno – C
Richie Palacios – 2B
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Jonny DeLuca – RF
Max Kepler – LF
Cedric Mullins – CF
Lourdes Gurriel – DH
Victor Mesa – LF
Pavin Smith – 1B
Taylor Walls – SS
Tommy Troy – CF
Hunter Feduccia – C
Zac Gallen – RHP
Nick Martinez – RHP
Would it be too soon to call Tropicana Field the original home of the “Tarps off” movement? For it was in October 2024 that the Category 3 Hurricane Milton ripped through the Tampa area, and basically tore the roof off the place. Fortunately, nobody was hurt, but it meant that the Rays had to play all their home games last season at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the Yankees. That explains the particularly light attendance for the team last year – though they still managed to outdraw the Athletics, similarly displaced out of a major league stadium, to one in Sacramento.
Technically, Tropicana Field is actually the sixth oldest ballpark in the majors – older than every NL stadium bar the Cubs and Dodgers. That’s because it actually opened eight years before the Rays moved in there. Construction began back in 1986, in the belief that a stadium needed to be in place to lure a major-league team to the area. St. Petersburg missed out in the first round of expansion franchises in 1993. But before that, of all teams, the San Francisco Giants nearly relocated there in 1992. The deal eventually fell one vote short of approval from the then fourteen National League teams. But as we know, Florida got its second team, with our expansion siblings in 1998.
Tonight’s game is the D-backs’ first return to the park since the storm, and it’s not one which has been a happy place for Arizona. Indeed, they have just one victory there since 2013. The last time the Diamondbacks visited Tropicana, in August 2024, they were swept. Though two of the defeats were by one run, including the series finale where defeat took twelve innings. That took place after the D-backs have come back from 6-0 down after six innings to force extras. Our last victory was also in extras, a 3-2 win in May 2019 which took thirteen frames. Ketel Marte is the only one of the 17 D-backs who took the field that day to still be with the team.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JUNE 21: Dillon Dingler #13 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago White Sox during the bottom of the eighth inning at Comerica Park on June 21, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Detroit Tigers (34-46) vs. Houston Astros (40-43)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site: The Crawfish Boxes Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (3-5, 3.68 ERA) vs. RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-3, 3.13 ERA)
Ben Duckett scored his first century in over a year and Jacob Bethell banished his first-innings blues after returning England captain Ben Stokes sparked a fightback in the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Alvarado was traded from New Orleans to New York at the trade deadline, and in 28 games with the team, averaged 6.6 points, 3.8 assists, and a steal per game. Most famously during the Knicks Finals run, he went 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter of Game 4 and was a spark for the Knicks 29-point comeback win that essentially ended the series.
Jose Alvarado full highlights vs. San Antonio Spurs last night (107-106 W) - Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals
8 Points on 3/4 FG (75.0%), 2/3 from 3 (66.7%), 2 Rebounds, 3 Assists (1 TOV), 5 PF, and a +/- of +11 in 15:38 minutes off the bench.
This signing leaves the Knicks still dancing with the second apron. This deal leaves the Knicks $14 million under the second luxury tax apron — a line owner James Dolan has said he does not want to cross — with five open roster spots, reports Keith Smith of Spotrac. Another estimate, via Yossi Gozlan, is that New York is an estimated $9.8 million below the second apron with three or four more spots to fill.
The expectation around the league is that they will re-sign Landry Shamet and a couple of minimum-salary players, but that would leave Mitchell Robinson as the odd man out (and he has multiple suitors willing to beat his $12.9 million salary from a season ago).
Jun 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson pitches to the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
We got a couple of Blue Jays roster moves this afternoon:
First, Simeon Woods Richardson was DFA’d to make room for Adam Macko. SWR made three appearances for the Jays after being reacquired from the Twins. He initially joined the Jays organization as part of the return from the Mets for Marcus Stroman, before being shipped out along with Austin Martin in the Jose Berrios trade. They brought him back from Minnesota in exchange for cash last month. He had a couple of decent seasons in Minnesota’s rotation in 2024 and 2025, but had lost the plot this season, posting a 7.74 ERA with just one more strikeout than walk. Since coming back to Toronto, he hasn’t allowed a run, but the underlying stats (7 walks against 5 strikeouts in 10.0 innings over three appearances) remain ugly. The Jays will no doubt hope he makes it through waivers so they can continue to try to help him rediscover his form in Buffalo.
Coming back up is Adam Macko. The Slovak-Canadian lefty has performed pretty well since converting full time to relief this season. In 12 appearances with the Blue Jays, he’s struck out 12 against 11 hits and two walks, allowing 2 runs over 12.0 innings pitched. He hasn’t been quite that strong in Buffalo, but his 25:10 K:BB ratio in 21 innings is still strong. He’ll inject a realtively fresh arm to a bullpen that’s been heavily taxed in the first half of this season.
The other move was also a surprise:
3B/1B Sean Keys is apparently with the Jays and is likely to be activated for tomorrow, presumably receiving SWR’s 40-man roster spot. Keys, 23, was a fourth round pick in 2024 out of Bucknell. He was our #17 prospect heading into the season, buoyed by strong underlying data that suggested his just OK results in A+ Vancouver last season were underselling his true offensive talent. Sure enough, he began 2026 at AA New Hampshire, forced his way up to AAA Buffalo, and has been one of the five or six best hitters in all of the upper minors. His combined .284/.409/.619 line is 64% above average. He brings easy plus power and a swing geared to lift and pull the ball to maximize his impact. He will swing and miss, but not excessively, and he has a strong approach. He’ll have to hit, as while he’s reportedly a hard worker he’s just not a great athlete and is a liability at third and not great at first either.
The corresponding move hasn’t been announced, but the speculation is that George Springer is likely to go on paternity leave, as his wife is expecting their third child any day now. If that’s the case, Keys’ cameo is likely to be brief for now. I suspect we’ll see him more of him at some point, though.
Jun 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A Texas Rangers ball cap and glove lays in the dugout during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES: Cleveland Indians baserunner Kenny Lofton (L) scores around the tag of Seattle Mariners pitcher Randy Johnson to score on a passed ball in the three-run eighth inning of game six of the American League Championship Series at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington 17 October. The Indians won 4-0 and will face the Atlanta Braves in the World Series beginning 21 October. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
The Mariners travel to the Mistake on the Lake to see if they can put some of their own recent follies behind them. They will have the luxury of playing a Guardians team that lacks its best player, as José Ramírez is still on the IL as a participant in the Year of the Hamate. And their second-best player, Steven Kwan, has been less than his usual self this season, as Davy Andrews recently broke down over at FanGraphs.
Luis Castillo will take the ball for the Mariners. Notwithstanding an unfortunate combination of batted-ball luck and sequencing luck in his last start, Castillo’s actually been a lot better recently. Since May 9, he’s posted a K%-BB% of 16.6% against a BAA of .210. Some of that is from limiting his exposure to a third time through the lineup, but the improvements have held in his non-piggyback starts.
Southpaw Joey Cantillo gets the start for Cleveland, so, you know, hold on to your butts.
Lineups
The Mariners have heard your clamoring, and Canzone not only gets a start against a lefty, but in the cleanup spot. Unfortunately, they have not heard your complaining, and Rob Refsnyder continues to see time.
I have no idea who’s in the Guardians lineup because all I can look at here is Joey Cantillo’s pitchface.
Game Info
First Pitch: 4:10 PDT TV: Mariners TV Radio: Old Reliable
It’s a franchise-defining opportunity. A player chosen in the top 10 is expected to become a foundational piece, and Calgary is hoping its first selection helps accelerate the organization’s ongoing development.
But inside the Flames’ draft room, the focus extends far beyond the opening round.
General manager Craig Conroy knows as well as anyone that every selection carries value, regardless of where it falls.
“You just never know,” said Conroy. “We got Johnny Gaudreau in the fourth round… Dustin Wolf in the seventh. Each pick is important.”
For Calgary’s scouting staff, those success stories serve as reminders that the draft isn’t won solely on Day 1. Countless hours are spent evaluating players, debating projections and searching for overlooked talent that could develop into NHL contributors years down the road.
Conroy emphasized that every prospect selected should represent more than simply adding another name to the system.
“You want to put that Flaming ‘C’ jersey on them and be proud of that,” he told FlamesTV.
Few examples illustrate that philosophy better than Johnny Gaudreau.
Selected 104th overall in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft, Gaudreau was considered too small by many teams despite his elite offensive skill. The Flames looked beyond his size and bet on his talent, a decision that paid off in spectacular fashion.
More recently, Calgary struck gold again with Dustin Wolf.
Taken 214th overall in the seventh round of the 2019 draft, Wolf faced many of the same concerns that followed Gaudreau throughout his draft year. Questions about his size caused teams to pass, but his production and competitiveness told a different story.
Since then, Wolf has developed into one of the NHL’s top young goaltenders. After dominating at every level, he has emerged as both the Flames’ goaltender of the future and an integral part of the club’s present, validating Calgary’s willingness to trust its scouting staff over conventional wisdom.
Those two success stories are reminders that draft position doesn’t always determine NHL impact.
"We really feel this is going to be a draft that changes the trajectory of the team."#Flames GM Craig Conroy sounds off on the work put in and focus headed into the #NHLDraft! pic.twitter.com/wvvWqkGFR3
Every year, stars emerge from unexpected places. For organizations that scout well and remain committed to their evaluations, the later rounds can be just as important as the first.
That’s why Calgary’s draft table will remain just as engaged when the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds begin.
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 20: Spencer Arrighetti #41 of the Houston Astros pitches in the second inning during a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Daikin Park on June 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (40-43) and Detroit Tigers (34-47) will play the 2nd game of their 4-game set tonight at Comerica Park.
RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-3, 3.13 ERA) will start for the Astros vs. Tigers RHP Keider Montero (3-5, 3.68 ERA). Tonight will be Arrighetti’s 3rd career start/app. vs. DET and his 2nd at Comerica Park.
ROAD TRIPPIN: Tonight is the 5th game (3-1 thus far) of a 7-game road trip for the Astros. They were 2-1 at TOR on the 1st stop of the trip.
Road Recovery: The Astros are 13-7 in their last 3 road trips combined. They have have posted a 19-13 record on the road since going 1-9 on their 1st road trip of the 2026 season.
Road Bats: The Astros are 2nd in the AL in road OPS (.737), T-2nd in road HR (57) and 3rd in road SLG (.414).
ASTROS-TIGERS: The Astros are 3-1 vs. DET this season, having won 2 of 3 games from the Tigers last week at Daikin Park (June 15-17). The 2 clubs will play all 7 of their scheduled games between June 15-28.
In 2025, the Astros and Tigers finished with identical 87-75 records, with the Tigers earning the final AL Wild Card spot due to winning the season series vs. HOU.
Recent Success: Since 2022, the Astros are 19-10 vs. DET with an 8-4 record here at Comerica Park.
SPENCER’S GIFTS: RHP Spencer Arrighetti is 7-3 in his 12 starts with a 3.13 ERA, leading the club in both categories. He currently ranks T-6th in the AL in wins and 6th in ERA (min. 65.0 IP).
Additionally, he has allowed just 51 hits in his 69.0 innings of work and just 6 HR in his 12 starts on the season.
Pitcher of the Month: Arrighetti was named AL Pitcher of the Month for May, posting a 4-1 record with a 0.93 ERA.
WINNING THE CLOSE CALLS: The Astros are now 9-4 in 1-run games and 16-10 in 2-run games (4-4 in extra innings).
SERIES-LY SPEAKING: The Astros have won 4 consecutive series for the 1st time in 2026, posting an 8-4 record in that span. The last time that the Astros won that many series in a row was when they won 5 straight, from June 20-July 6 of last season (went 12-3 in that stretch).
RECENT STROS: The Astros have won 4 of 5, 7 of 9 and 9 of their last 13 games.
THE SLOW TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, over the last month or so (May 21-June 25), the Astros are 20-12 (.625), which is the best record in the AL in that span.
Top Records since May 21 (AL)
1. HOU: 20-12 (.625)
2. NYY: 18-12 (.600)
STANDINGS UPDATE: The Astros currently occupy the final Wild Card position in the AL. HOU is also T-2nd in the AL West, 1.5 games behind SEA for the top spot in the division.
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez has had a torrid 1st half to his season, currently leading all of baseball with a 1.055 OPS. Additionally, he leads the AL in SLG (.625), OBP (.430), TB (185), is T-1st in HR (25), 2nd in batting avg. (.318) and T-3rd in RBI (56). Alvarez, who was the AL Player of the Month for May, is hitting .363 (29×80) in June with 5 HR and 17 RBI with a 1.069 OPS (.469 OBP/.600 SLG).
ALL-STAR UPDATE: Per MLB’s update yesterday, Yordan Alvarez’ 2,911,655 fan votes were tops among all DH’s and the 2nd-most overall in the AL. The second phase of fan voting begins Monday, June 29th and features the top two vote-getters at each position. Phase 2 voting concludes at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, July 2nd.
Alvarez has been an All-Star 3 times thus far in his career. Since 2017, the Astros 37 All-Star selections are tops in the AL in that span.
PEN PALS: Since May 15, the Astros bullpen has been one of the best in the AL, posting a 2.76 clip (42ER/137P) in that span. The Astros are 23-15 since May 15.
OKERT’S 0’s:LHP Steven Okert has not allowed a run in his last 17.0 innings, which is the longest scoreless streak by an Astros hurler this season and the 3rd-longest by a reliever in the Majors this season. In his current streak, which spans 14 appearances, and began on May 23 at CHC, Okert has allowed just 8 hits in those 17.0 innings pitched.
Longest 2026 Scoreless Streaks – Relievers
1. Luke Weaver: 22.1 IP (active)
2. Chad Patrick: 18.1 IP
3. Steven Okert: 17.0 IP (active)*
*Okert’s streak is the longest by a LH reliever in ‘26
HADERADE: In his 10 appearances since coming of the IL on June 3, opponents are just 2×32 off LHP Josh Hader. Hader has posted a 0.90 ERA (1ER/10IP) and is 6-for-6 in save opportunities (.063 opp. avg., .040 WHIP).
ON THE DEFENSIVE: The Astros are T-1st in the AL in fielding pct. with a .989 clip. Their 31 errors are the 2nd-fewest in the AL.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1988 – Rookie catcher and future Hall of Famer Craig Biggio makes his Major League debut in a 6-0 win over the Giants. Biggio, batting 8th in the lineup, draws a walk and scores his 1st Major League run. He would go on to tally 3,060 hits in his career, en route to becoming the 1st player to go into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as an Astro in 2015.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, June 25, 5:40 p.m. CT
Location: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
TV: SCHN
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - FEBRUARY 22: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up prior to the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on February 22, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are set for a busy offseason. One of the goals will be ducking below the second apron, and preferably the first as well. Look no further than the Cavs trading out of the first round into the second this past week to save money as proof of that.
One of the ways they should be able to save money next season is by negotiating a new deal with James Harden. As it stands, Harden has a player option worth $43.3 million for next season with $13.3 million guaranteed. Reporting suggests that Harden is willing to negotiate a smaller annual value in a deal for next year, in exchange for a longer deal.
Harden is nearing the end of his career. Securing future paydays beyond this upcoming season is more beneficial for him in the long term. From the Cavs’ perspective, they could be saving up to $10 million on next season’s cap sheet, depending on how much Harden signs for. That would allow them to get under the second apron and remake the roster.
Harden had a strong season for the Cavs after being dealt to Cleveland in February. He averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists per game on .466/.435/.840 shooting splits in 26 regular-season games. In the playoffs, Harden averaged 19.2 points and 5.5 assists on .410/.299/.831 shooting splits in 18 games.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 25: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a two-run home run in the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
