PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 06: Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Brandon Marsh #16 runs the bases after hitting a home run during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago White Sox on June 6th, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Alright, that is how the team should be playing at home. Going 5-1 against some good competition was a nice salve for the home issues they have had and before you say the Padres and White Sox aren’t good competition, they were both over .500 coming into this week. The bats woke up a bit while the starting pitching, for the most part, held serve.
Three up
Brandon Marsh – One of the interesting developments with the season is the continued improvement of Brandon Marsh. One of the only consistent hitters in the lineup this season, Marsh has put up numbers worthy of a selection to the All-Star Game, something that could be tough with the need for each team to have a representative. He’s definitely deserving, so finding a spot should be a priority among the coaching staff.
Adolis Garcia – A regular of the trio found in the section below this, let’s give credit to where it’s due for Garcia. He had a good week for the team, getting six hits on the week, two of them leaving the yard as home runs. It’s been good to see some right handed pop in the lineup, so let’s hope he can continue. Interesting note: for a player that has had it drilled into his head to take a few more walks, be a little more patient during his time here, Garcia’s best week in about a month and a half came in the week he didn’t take a single walk.
Jhoan Duran – I mean, what else should we say? Duran is about as lockdown a reliever as the league has this season. Each time he comes in, you simply expect a 1-2-3 innings to happen. Even when a batter makes contact, it’s honestly shocking that it happens.
Three down
Justin Crawford – Listen. The kid is struggling. With Steward Berroa here, possessing the ability to even stand in centerfield, it would maybe be a good idea to give the kid a day off to get himself right. Going back to May 4, he’s hitting .186/.239/.291. He’s slumping, badly. He needs a breather.
Andrew Painter – Speaking of struggling rookies. Painter’s job isn’t in question, that much is for sure. He’s a big part of this team’s present and future. But man, has it been disappointing to watch him this year. You wish the team had an alternative to him, someone who could also give him a skipped start or something along those lines. They just have….nothing. In the end, he’ll be fine as his stuff is just too good to see him continue being as up and down as he is. It’s just tough to watch at times right now.
J.T. Realmuto – We knew the decline would be tough, but Realmuto just doesn’t have it right now at the plate. We could talk about the need for days off with him as we do every year, but we all know it’s not going to happen.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Pascanel Ferreras #92 of the Houston Astros throws to first base during the eighth inning of a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 15, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (27-36) lost 11-5 (BOX SCORE)
McPherson started for Sugar Land and had his best outing in Triple-A allowing 2 runs over 4 innings striking out 7 batters. The offense picked up 3 runs in the 5th inning on a Ferreras RBI single and Biggio 2 run double. Bolton relieved McPherson and allowed 3 runs over 2 innings. In the 7th, Ferreras connected on a solo home run to get one run back. The pen continued to struggle allowing 3 more runs in the 7th as El Paso extended their lead. The offense was unable to comeback as Sugar Land lost 11-5.
Cody Bolton, RHP: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Logan VanWey, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Miguel Ullola, RHP: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Tom Cosgrove, LHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (25-32) lost 11-6 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got the scoring started getting a Sullivan solo home run in the first inning. In the second inning, Spence connected on a solo home run. The offense scored 2 runs in the 4th on a Schiavone solo home run and Austin solo home run. They added 2 more runs in the 5th on an Encarnacion steal of home and Schiavone RBI single. Dombroski started for the Hooks and was solid allowing 2 runs over 5.2 innings. The pen struggled through allowing 9 runs as Arkansas took the lead. The offense was quiet the rest of the way as the Hooks fell 11-6.
Jose Guedez, RHP: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Ramsey David, RHP: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (15-41) lost 16-14 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the first inning on a Call solo home run. Howard started for Asheville but really struggled allowing 9 runs, 8 earned, over just 1.2 innings. The offense got 4 runs back in the 3rd inning on a Powell RBI single, Ochoa 2 run double and Walker RBI double. They got 2 more in the 4th on a Thomas RBI double and Powell RBI single. Asheville took the lead scoring 4 runs in the 6th inning on an Ochoa 3 run double and Walker RBI single. The pen struggled late allowing 3 runs in the 7th, 2 runs in the 8th and 2 runs in the 9th. The offense rallied getting a Thomas RBI single in the 7th, Moss sac fly in the 8th and Ochoa RBI single in the 9th but that was it as Asheville fell 16-14.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (25-32) lost 16-2 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning thanks to a Neyens 2 run home run, his 8th home run of the season. Smith got the start but struggled allowing 8 runs, 7 earned, over 4.1 innings. The rest of the pen struggled too allowing 8 runs. The Woodpeckers’ offense was shut down the rest of the way as they fell 16-2.
The Boston Red Sox, ranked fifth in the AL East with a 27-36 record, face the Tampa Bay Rays, who are first in the AL East with a 37-25 record. The game is essentially a pick'em, with Boston at -115 and Tampa Bay at -105. Starting pitchers are Connelly Early for Boston, with a 3.26 ERA, and Ian Seymour for Tampa Bay, with a 5.23 ERA.
Mike Burrows is the only Astros starter to make every turn in the rotation through the first 67 games of the season, but after another rough outing Sunday against the A’s, and with Hunter Brown due back later this month, Burrows’ spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy.
Burrows allowed five runs, four earned, over five innings in Sunday’s 5-0 loss to the Athletics. He has a 5.77 ERA through his first 13 starts with the Astros, who are 3-10 when he takes the mound. It’s hardly what the team envisioned when it acquired the right-hander in December.
The 26-year-old was the victim of the Crawford Boxes, poor defense, and a .378 opponent BABIP through his first five starts, which led to his FIP being almost two runs lower than his 6.75 ERA. Burrows got his ERA down to 5.04 after throwing seven scoreless innings in Cincinnati on May 8, but he has posted a 6.91 ERA in his last five starts, to go with a 7.50 FIP and .289 BABIP against, suggesting his underlying performance has actually been worse than his results during that stretch.
Keeping the ball in the ballpark has been Burrows’ biggest issue this season. He allowed two more home runs on Sunday, bringing his total to 17. Only Jameson Taillon has allowed more this season. Eleven of those homers have come against Burrows’ four-seam fastball, including both he allowed against the A’s on Sunday.
Burrows arrived in Houston with one of baseball’s best changeups, but his other pitches needed refining, most notably his four-seam fastball, which opponents batted .326 against last season with a .529 slugging percentage. That pitch has been worse this season.
After Sunday’s start, opponents are batting .315 against Burrows’ four-seam this season, with a .781 slugging percentage. Baseball Savant has assigned that pitch a -9 run value, the sixth-worst mark among 300 qualified pitchers.
The Astros acquired Burrows with the hope he could build on the 111 ERA+ he posted last season in his first taste of Major League action, and that he could be a “pillar” of their rotation for the next half decade. That possibility can’t be ruled out after just 13 starts, but the Astros are sure to be experiencing some buyer’s remorse at the moment.
Burrows will make his next turn in the Astros rotation this weekend in Kansas City, but things could get complicated after that. If all goes well Wednesday in Sugar Land, Hunter Brown will rejoin the Astros rotation next week. A stretch of 13 games in 13 days will allow the Astros to utilize a six-man rotation, but that won’t be the case when the calendar flips to July.
Brown, Spencer Arrighetti, and Tatsuya Imai are rotation locks, while Peter Lambert and Kai-Wei Teng are performing at a much higher level than Burrows. Teng could slot back to the bullpen where he was excellent at the start of the season, but would that be best for the team if Burrows continues to struggle over the next couple of weeks? Also, Cristian Javier could be back by that point as well.
He has pitched out of the bullpen before, but a trip down to Sugar Land could be more beneficial. It would allow him to work out some of his issues while keeping him on a starter’s routine. The Astros took a similar approach with Arrighetti at the start of the season, and he has since authored an All-Star-caliber first half.
Burrows has flashed the upside that appealed to the Astros over the winter, and there’s no reason to think he’s a lost cause at this point. But the Astros are just 4.5 games back of Seattle for first place in the AL West and three games back of Texas for the American League’s final wild-card spot. The 2026 season is not a lost cause despite a 30-37 record.
Every game matters, and the Astros cannot afford to keep running Burrows out there if better options are available.
The 2026 NBA Finals shift to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 with the Knicks firmly in control after taking the first two games on the road. New York enters Monday night up 2-0 in the series and riding a 13-game playoff winning streak, now just two wins from its first championship since 1973. No team has ever lost the NBA Finals after winning the first two games on the road. The Spurs, meanwhile, no question will face a loud and hostile environment just a couple of days after rallying late but then letting a golden opportunity slip through their fingers to even the series in Game 2.
Game 2 was a classic, with the Knicks escaping San Antonio with a 105-104 win in a back-and-forth finish. Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 21 points and 13 rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting, while Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each added 20 points in a balanced effort that saw five Knicks score in double figures. The Spurs erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and briefly took the lead late, but a turnover by Victor Wembanyama with under 10 seconds remaining led to Brunson’s go-ahead free throw. Wembanyama then missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer, finishing with 29 points and 9 rebounds in a strong but ultimately costly performance.
Through two games, the Knicks’ depth, efficiency, and experience have been the defining differences in this series. Towns has been arguably the series’ best player, averaging 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds through two games in the series Game 2 while leading the defensive effort against Wembanyama. Despite Brunson shooting just 33.9% in the series (19-56), the Knicks’ leader has averaged 25 points and four assists per game. For San Antonio, De’Aaron Fox rebounded from a poor Game 1 (7 points, 5 assists) with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Devin Vassell (14 points, 9 rebounds) and Dylan Harper (15 points) were also solid in Game 2 loss.
The concern for the Spurs heading into Game 3 is their poor execution on the offensive end, most noticeably in transition. Despite generating more chances on the break than New York, San Antonio has struggled to convert, scoring just 0.84 points per possession in transition during the Finals. In addition, highlighted by Wembanyama’s pass to an unsuspecting Stephon Castle late in Game 2, turnovers in key moments have proven decisive.
Keys in Game 3:
Wembanyama has to get off to a better start. As fatigued as he may be, he has to find a way to maintain an exceptionally high level of play for the entire game.
Castle need to shoot the ball better. They need him to be an efficient secondary option.
Josh Hart needs to stay on the court. The rebounding machine for the Knicks got in foul trouble and played just 18 minutes.
Brunson needs to own the moment. The NBA’s most clutch player must own Madison Square Garden tonight. A fast and efficient start could finish Game 3 early.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings 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 Game 3 Live: Knicks vs. Spurs
Date: Monday, June 8, 2026
Time: 8:30PM EST
Site: Madison Square Garden
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: ABC
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NBA Finals Game 3 Odds: Knicks vs. Spurs
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Knicks (-130), San Antonio Spurs (+110)
Spread: Knicks -1.5
Total: 215.5 points
This game sits almost right where it opened with the Knicks favored by 1.5 and the Game Total set at 216.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups for NBA Finals Game 3: Knicks vs. Spurs
New York Knicks
PG Jalen Brunson (20 points, 6 assists in Game 2)
SG Mikal Bridges (20 points, 6 assists in Game 2)
C Karl-Anthony Towns (21 points, 13 rebounds in Game 2)
SF Josh Hart (0 points, 6 rebounds in Game 2)
PF OG Anunoby (17 points, 2-5 from 3-point range in Game 2)
San Antonio Spurs
PG De’Aaron Fox (20 points, 8-12 from the field in Game 2)
SG Stephon Castle (14 points on 5 of 14 shooting in Game 2)
SF Devin Vassell (14 points, 9 rebounds in Game 2)
PF Julian Champagnie (8 points, 4 rebounds in Game 2)
C Victor Wembanyama (29 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 turnovers in Game 2)
Injury Report: Knicks vs. Spurs
New York Knicks
No injuries to report
San Antonio Spurs
David Jones Garcia (ankle) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Knicks vs. Spurs – Game 3
The Knicks are 36-11 on the road this season
The Spurs are 35-15 on the road this season
The Spurs are 57-44-2 ATS this season
The Knicks are 56-42-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 46 of the Knicks’ 99 games this season (46-53)
The OVER has cashed in 47 of the Spurs’ 103 games this season (47-56)
Landry Shamet has buried 3, 3-pointers in each of the first two games of this series
Luke Kornet scored 1 point in Game 2 after going without even 1 point in Game1
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 Monday’s Game 3 between the Knicks and the Spurs:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Knicks -1.5
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 215.5
Player Props:
Devin Vassell 3+ 3-pointers (+106) – Vassell’s record over the last 8 games is 4-4 so more than likely will be a sweat, but the Spurs know they need to get him going tonight. The volume will be there.
Karl-Anthony Towns 4+ Assists (-145) – may not be worth the squeeze as the price has dropped, but this cashed in Games 1 and 2 of the Finals, twice in the East Final, and in all 4 games in the Second Round
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The winning bid was split by the law firm Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP and private equity firm Veritas Capital. The fundraiser benefited the Garden of Dreams Foundation, and the Knicks said it was the largest single donation in the history of the foundation, which works with MSG’s companies to assist children at need in the tristate area.
The seats are located in section VIP 10, row AA, seats 25 and 26, right off center court. It’s impossible to know what they would usually cost, because the team doesn’t sell them. Instead, they are given to the celebrity fans such as Tracy Morgan and Timothée Chalamet who are courtside fixtures.
Seats everywhere in the building are expensive. The cheapest upper-deck seats available Sunday night were going for more than $6,000 on secondary markets like StubHub, SeatGeek and VividSeats. The experience of being courtside went for more than $75,000.
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:
Ilia Morozov
Position: Center Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 200 Shoots: Left Team: Miami (Ohio)
Scouting report
The Russian prospect provides a noticeable presence and strong work ethic down the middle.
At just 17 years old, Morozov was rock solid in his transition to the college level. He put up eight goals and 12 assists in 36 games for Miami (Ohio). Three of his goals came on the power play and one at shorthanded. He had a two-goal performance on the road against Western Michigan, the defending national champs at the time.
“Good player,” Button, a former NHL GM and scout, said. “I see him as a third-line center. Nothing wrong with third-line centers, third-line centers are really valuable.”
His ceiling offensively might not be super high, but Morozov sees the ice well and his shot has potential. Button has him at No. 25 on his May 20 draft list.
“Anton Lundell and Adam Lowry, to me, are the prototypical third-line centers,” Button said. “I think Anton has a little bit easier of a time scaling up to what I would call a 2b. He can be a second-line center, he can do that, but he’s not a prolific point producer you might want from a second-line center. But an excellent third-line center and I think Adam Lowry is an excellent third-line center.
“I see the same thing with Morozov. I don’t see this guy that’s going to be a big offensive force, but I see a guy that with his size, his spurt, his competitiveness, you want out there on the ice. That’s kind of the profile that I look at with these types of players.”
The Flyers have needed more centers in their system, so Morozov checks a box there. But the concern may be his upside. Can the Flyers grab a player with more of a top-six makeup?
The club is hoping Jett Luchanko, Jack Berglund or Jack Nesbitt can eventually develop into a second-line center, but there’s no guarantee there. Morozov would at least give the Flyers another option down the middle.
His size and strength are intriguing, especially when you consider Berglund and Nesbitt are both 6-foot-4 or taller. Down the road, the Flyers would possibly have an imposing look at a premium position.
Morozov’s ability to relate to Matvei Michkov would be a nice bonus, too.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 03: U.S. President Donald Trump displays a graph entitled "Our Pool is Bigger than Skyscrapers" as he speaks on his renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during an event in the Oval Office of the White House on June 03, 2026 in Washington, DC. The landmark is being painted as part of President Trump's efforts to repair Washington D.C. in preparation for the Nation's 250th birthday. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Donald Trump hates the NBA, but he loves attention. This has manifested itself by creating hell at Madison Square Garden for thousands of basketball fans in order to get some camera time, with Trump set to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York City on Monday night.
Knicks owner James Dolan, noted Trump supporter and shitty musician, invited the president to attend Game 3 of the Finals at Madison Square Garden. In doing so he’s displaced thousands of die-hard fans who love the NBA, and have supported the Knicks in spite of Dolan’s horrible ownership tenure.
With ticket prices soaring into the tens of thousands of dollars, one of the most popular events for Knicks fans have been watch parties outside Madison Square Garden. Those have been cancelled by the NYPD and Secret Service for Monday, citing security concerns with the president in attendance. In addition, fans who are actually attending the game will go through more rigorous “TSA-style” security screenings, which have resulted in fans being told to arrive two hours before tip-off, transforming the sporting event into an airport security line. That’s not all, as a ban on all bags is in effect as well — which includes clear bags typically allowed into NBA arenas. It’s unclear if the bag ban will also impact medication and childcare needs, which are typically allowed.
New York mayor Zohran Mamdani has made alternate plans in response to the MSG watch ban, announcing a 5,000 person watch party in Manhattan’s Bryant Park, some eight blocks away from the arena. It’s a nice gesture to make up for some of the ban, but won’t nearly accommodate the number of fans who would have been outside the arena had Trump not attended the game. It’s estimated that 10,000 fans were in attendance for the watch party on West 33rd Street for Game 1, with the Eastern Conference Finals topping 6,000 fans.
All of this was unnecessary. Dolan chose to invite President Trump, which is his prerogative — but in doing so, he actively alienated the lifeblood of his organization: die-hard fans who have supported the Knicks, warts and all, over the 20-year NBA Finals drought. These are people who bleed blue and orange, who have been priced out of being inside the arena so the exceedingly wealthy can buy tickets. Now they’re being pushed back from being in close proximity to the arena, in service of a vanity appearance from a president who knowingly hates the NBA and its players.
TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 8: Rajai Davis #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays is embraced by teammates after driving in the winning run in the eighteenth inning during MLB game action against the Texas Rangers on June 8, 2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thirteen Years Ago
The Blue Jays and Rangers played 18 innings; best of all, the good guys won. I miss these kinds of games.
It was one of those games that felt like it would never end.
Early on, we scored three runs in the third inning. Edwin Encarnacion singled. Adam Lind walked, moving Edwin to second. Then Colby Rasmus hit a line drive to right-center field. Edwin ran home and scored easily. Lind also tried to score, but the relay throw from Jurickson Profar, the Rangers’ second baseman, was wide of home, so both Lind and Colby scored.
After that initial burst, we put up zeros for the next 14 innings.
Mark Buehrle started strong. Just a month earlier, he allowed a seven-run inning against the Rays, but his season turned around after that. In the five starts between then and this game, Mark posted a 3.38 ERA.
On this day, he pitched 7 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 earned run (a Jeff Baker home run in the seventh), 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts, with 92 pitches thrown. He deserved a win for that outing.
Though I don’t remember much about Baker, he had a solid season at the plate, hitting .279/.360/.545 with 11 home runs. Despite playing 11 seasons, he only appeared in over 100 games once, with 104 for the Rockies in 2008.
Buehrle should have secured the win, but after Steve Delabar pitched a scoreless eighth, Casey Jansen gave up 2 runs in the ninth for his first blown save of the season. Since he finished with 34 saves and just 2 blown, we can give him a pass.
After that, our bullpen pitched nine scoreless innings. From the recap:
Dustin McGowan entered in extras for his first appearance since 2011, walking the leadoff batter. After getting a double-play ball that Mark DeRosa booted, a hit batter loaded the bases, but Dustin grabbed a strikeout to escape.
Juan Perez replaced him and allowed a medium fly to right, but Jose Bautista’s strong throw cut down the runner at the plate. Perez pitched 2 innings, giving up 1 hit, 1 walk, and recording 1 strikeout.
Neil Wagner followed, getting 2 outs to close the 12th.
Next up, Brett Cecil pitched a clean 12th with one strikeout.
Brad Lincoln then pitched four strong innings: he allowed 1 hit, walked 1, hit 2 batters, and struck out 3. I figured Gibby would stick with him until the game ended or his arm fell off. But instead…
Aaron Loup came in, gave up a hit and hit a batter, but escaped the 18th without allowing a run.
Brad Lincoln was terrific. Despite pitching four excellent innings, he was sent to the minors the next day. It felt unfair.
On the Rangers’ side:
Yu Darvish threw 7 innings, giving up 2 earned and 1 unearned run. We had 6 hits against him.
Neal Cotts went 1.1, allowing just a hit.
Jason Frasor, a former Blue Jays reliever, went 1 inning, allowing a hit.
Robbie Ross: 1.2, with a hit and a walk.
Ross Wolf threw 6.2 innings, constantly working himself in and out of trouble. And then, in the 18th:
With one out, Maicer Izturis lined out, then Emilio Bonifacio singled—one of his 47 singles out of 57 hits that year. After Josh Thole popped out (he hit .175/.256/.242 that season, but pinch-hit for DeRosa in the 16th), Wolf threw wide on a pickoff, and Bonifacio took third. Rajai Davis then singled him home for the walk-off win.
From the recap:
Jays of the Day: Lincoln (.570 WPA), Perez (.499), Buehrle (.297), Cecil (.143), Loup (.143 and the win), Wagner (.142), Davis (.223) and Rasmus (.141).
Suckage: Janssen (-.280), Izturis (-.367), DeRosa (-.183, plus the error), Thole (-.132)
Three guys had the number for possible Suckage Awards, but I’m not giving them out: McGowan (-.213), though the error was DeRosa’s fault; Bautista (-.155), but his throw from right redeemed him; and Bonifacio (-.147), but he drew the wild pickoff and scored the winner.
A plane that was scheduled to pick up former St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and his family crashed in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, June 7, killing both the pilot and copilot, Molina revealed in an Instagram story.
According to video (Warning: graphic content) posted by baseball reporter and broadcaster Mike Rodriguez, the Gulfstream G200 jet apparently missed the runway at the airport in La Romana, D.R., and skidded onto a grassy area, where it hit a bump and burst into flames.
Molina said on Instagram that the plane was headed to Texas, where he and several family members were preparing to travel to Puerto Rico.
Molina, a 10-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner during his 19-year career with the Cardinals, has become a standout manager following his retirement as a player following the 2022 season. He led Team Puerto Rico to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic and managed the squad in 2023 as well.
Molina is also the manager of Navegantes del Magallanes of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League and is employed by the Cardinals as a special assistant to president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.
There is a popular meme of Kobe Bryant from the 2009 NBA Finals.
In a news conference, despite the Lakers ahead 2-0 in the series, he was asked why he wasn’t smiling.
“What’s there to be happy about? Job’s not finished,” he famously replied. “Job finished? I don’t think so.”
Jalen Brunson recreated that moment Sunday, as the Knicks prepared for Monday night’s Game 3 at the Garden up 2-0.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson speaks to reporters after practice ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 7, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / NY Post
“In my mind there’s nothing really to celebrate yet,” the Knicks captain said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done.”
Brunson has had complete focus throughout the postseason. When the Knicks clinched a spot in the Finals for the first time in 27 years, a video was posted of the team celebrating in the locker room. Brunson was sitting on his own, a look of determination on his face instead of joy. He has refused to take promotional photos with the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Asked about the excitement in the city, as the Knicks look to clinch their first title in 53 years, Brunson said he has refused to soak it in. He’s repeatedly told reporters he would look back at what this team accomplished when it’s over. Not a second sooner.
“I do my best to stay present in the moment, to do the things I can to make sure my mind is right,” said Brunson, the first player in NBA history to score the game-winning points in the final two minutes of consecutive Finals games. “Being mentally and physically ready every day. Trusting my work. That’s what’s gotten me here.”
Kobe Bryant speaks to reporters after the Lakers’ Game 2 win in the 2009 NBA Finals. Getty Images
When Game 2’s wild ending was brought up, Brunson looked at the glass half-empty. Yes, he was happy the Knicks were able to rally after blowing a 14-point advantage, but he was also concerned with what led to them losing that lead.
“We do need to be able to finish the game better,” he said. “Unacceptable the way we just obviously let that 14-point lead go the way we did.”
Clearly, Brunson is taking after Bryant. The only time to celebrate is when the ultimate goal is accomplished.
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 14: Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles tags out Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners trying to stretch a single into a double in the first inning during a baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 14, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Home sweet home. After going .500 on their six-game road trip, the O’s return to Baltimore, where their most recent homestand resulted in a 7-3 record and some of their most inspired baseball of the season. This time it’s going to be a tougher task, with all seven games coming against winning teams, starting with the AL West-leading Mariners.
The M’s have been red hot of late. They were four games under .500 as recently as May 24, but then they rattled off an eight-game winning streak to take control of their underwhelming division. They were the preseason favorites to win the West and, after a sluggish start, they’re now on track to do so.
The Mariners always seem to have a quality pitching staff, and this season is no exception. Seattle’s 3.50 team ERA is second only to the Yankees among American League teams. That includes their usual stable of quality starters as we’ll discuss below, but their bullpen has been particularly effective with a 3.15 mark that leads the AL. That’s even despite a rocky performance from All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz, who has given up 15 runs in 23.1 innings and has blown five of his 14 save opportunities. The latest one came just yesterday, when Muñoz coughed up two runs in a walkoff loss in Detroit.
But the crew setting up Muñoz has been stellar. Right-hander Matt Brash has allowed only one earned run in 16 innings. Offseason acquisition Jose A. Ferrer — the A is for Awesome, I guess — has a 1.55 mark in 32 games, teaming with Gabe Speier (2.16) to form a potent lefty duo. And former O’s washout Eduard Bazardo, who made three terrible appearances with the Birds in 2023, is now one of Seattle’s most reliable relievers. Go figure.
On offense, the Mariners have been steady but unspectacular. They were surely expecting more from Cal Raleigh, last year’s 60-homer-hitting AL MVP runner-up. Raleigh has a miserable .560 OPS this season and is currently on the injured list with a right oblique strain. The M’s also haven’t gotten much from first baseman Josh Naylor (.682 OPS), whom they re-signed to a five-year, $92.5 million extension this past offseason.
But the Mariners’ outfield has picked up the slack. Luke Raley and Julio Rodríguez lead the team with 13 homers apiece, and Randy Arozarena leads all M’s position players with a 2.6 WAR. Designated hitter Dominic Canzone (144 OPS+) and shortstop J.P. Crawford (10 homers) have also been big contributors offensively. The Mariners also called up top prospect Colt Emerson to play third base, and he’s performed well so far. The Mariners’ lineup skews very left-handed, with all of their regulars except Rodríguez and Arozarena swinging from the left side. That could be a problem for the Orioles, who have three right-handed pitchers starting in this series.
Game 1: Monday, 6:35 PM, MASN
RHP Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.80) vs. TBD
The Mariners’ rotation features five above-average, homegrown hurlers under the age of 30. Not gonna lie, I’m a little jealous. They’ll start the series with Hancock, who’s been the best of them all so far. The 27-year-old, who’d had only middling results in three seasons since debuting in 2023, has put it all together in 2026. In addition to his impressive ERA, he’s carrying a sub-1.00 WHIP and is striking out a batter per inning. Hancock faced the Orioles once last season, holding them to one run in 5.2 innings, with an Adley Rutschman dinger his only blemish.
As of this writing, the Orioles still don’t have a starter listed for the opening game. It’s Chris Bassitt’s turn, but he left his last outing early with lower back tightness and his status for tonight is unclear. If Bassitt can’t go, the O’s presumably will call up Trey Gibson, who last started June 3 for Triple-A Norfolk and would be on regular rest.
At 29, Gilbert is the graybeard of the Mariners’ rotation (not counting veteran Luis Castillo, who’s been moved to long relief). The 2024 All-Star is continuing to limit walks and rack up strikeouts, though he’s among the lowest percentile of pitchers for hard-hit %, barrel %, and average exit velocity, so batters have been squaring him up a decent amount. The O’s offense will need to be aggressive and attack pitches in the zone. The only Orioles who have faced Gilbert frequently are his former AL West opponents Taylor Ward and Leody Taveras. Ward is 6-for-22 with a homer against him, while Taveras is just 2-for-17, but both hits are home runs.
Meanwhile, Rogers might be creeping his way back to being a solid pitcher, if not his dynamite 2025 self. In each of his last two starts, he’s begun the game with 5+ scoreless innings, only to hit the wall and lose effectiveness around the 70-pitch mark. It’s progress, for sure. This is a good matchup for Rogers, as the lefty-heavy Mariners are batting just .209/.290/.336 against southpaws this year.
Game 3: Wednesday, 6:35 PM, MASN
RHP George Kirby (5-5, 4.04) vs. RHP Brandon Young (4-1, 3.47)
Could Brandon Young be the first successful Mike Elias-signed and developed Orioles pitcher? It’s shaping up that way. The 27-year-old has rattled off three straight quality starts and now has the best ERA of any Orioles starter. Young has been a huge boost to an O’s rotation that’s been wracked by injuries, and his spot seems more than secure right now. This will be his first career start against Seattle.
Kirby, a former first round pick, began his career with three strong seasons from 2022-24 before slipping a bit last year. This season he hasn’t quite returned to form, with a career-worst K/9 of 7.4 and the highest WHIP and H/9 rate of his career. Still, that could just be small-sample-size noise. For whatever reason, he’s seen the Orioles a lot; his eight career starts against them are his most against any non-division opponent, though he’s just 2-5 with a 3.26 ERA. Ward, the former Angel, has tagged Kirby for three career homers.
Bradish seemed to have reclaimed his ace status after a stellar May, but he got roughed up by the Blue Jays in his first start of June. Hopefully it was just a one-off. Overall he’s pitching with the same kind of stuff and swagger that he displayed in his great 2023 season, looking fully recovered from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2024. Bradish will need to be careful with Arozarena, who has homered twice against him in his career.
Woo, 26, is the youngest Mariners starter and the one coming off the best 2025 season, when he was an All-Star and finished fifth in the AL Cy Young vote after posting a 2.94 ERA in 30 starts. Woo worked six or more innings in his first 25 starts of that year, which seems like a herculean task in this day and age of baseball. He hasn’t quite matched that durability this year, already with three starts in which he failed to last six innings. Woo has had four outings of six or more shutout innings, but also four outings in which he allowed four or more runs, including his most recent start in Detroit. This might be a good time to give Taylor Ward a day off; he’s 0-for-13 with five strikeouts lifetime against Woo.
How many games do you think the Orioles will win in this series, Camden Chatters? Let us know in the comments.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Brooks Brannon #71 of the Boston Red Sox and David Sandlin #20 of the Boston Red Sox walk in from the bullpen before an exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 14, 2025 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If Triple-A baseball borrowed hockey’s “three stars of the game”, the WooSox’s pick for first star in the finale against Buffalo (Blue Jays AAA) would be easy. They had two extra-base hits; both came from lead-off guy Braiden Ward, and one of those doubles drove Tsung-Che Cheng in to make it a 5-2 ball game. The bullpen was then pretty nails following Michael Sansone’s five innings of work where he allowed just two runs. Worcester now has four consecutive wins.
It’s pretty clear that Ward, the return for Brennan Bernardino, sees the ball well more often than not and is a strong backstop for the depth of the outfield in the minor league organization, and while primarily an outfielder, he’s also logged time at second base since being drafted by the Rockies in 2021. Ward finished off that series with a .522 slugging percentage in the month so far and his OBP is nearing .400 on the season. He’s a step below the rest of the outfield options currently in Boston for sure, but the last person trusted with the distinction of Worcester’s regularly leadoff guy (Nick Sogard) ended up on the Major League roster before his new stint on the injured list.
Now, while we’re discussing trends Worcester buys into… anyone care to explain this e-mail I got from them?
Gage Ziehl, who started his 2026 campaign in a rough spot, again looked awesome after initially giving up a run in the first, going five scoreless after that giving the Sea Dogs a really good chance to put Hartford (Rockies AA) away with his six total innings of one-run, eight strikeout ball. The offense wasn’t too pretty, as, through seven, the Sea Dogs were clinging on to a 2-1 lead. It was then that Franklin Arias’ team OPS crown, which was thought to be untouchable as he ran through May with it hovering around 1.3, was relinquished when Brooks Brannon had a solo shot over the “Maine Monster” in left in the eighth inning, and that sealed it for Portland. Oh, silly me, I’m forgetting the important part. That mammoth ball travelled 464 feet with an exit velocity of 115 miles per hour. Brannon, ironically enough, is pictured above with David Sandlin, who we know as the prospect in “fine, damn, here’s a prospect too, just get Jordan Hicks off of this baseball team” trade, in which the Sox acquired Ziehl. He now has nine home runs on the season. Here that absolute rocket is.
Look, I’m going to be honest: amidst people wondering why the 20-year-old Arias isn’t getting a call up to Triple-A, I’m actually pretty confounded on why Brannon, who plays first as well as catcher, isn’t getting a shot at playing first base in Worcester. (Brannon has been DH’ing the majority of games this season as Ronald Rosario and Johanfran Garcia have been splitting time on the bump.) I’m a Matt Lloyd fan, sure, but the upside is limited there. Brannon is 22, has a few years in the minors now having been drafted in 2022, put on 25 pounds over the winter and has really established his power tool in the process. Now that his OPS has eclipsed 1.000, time to make the call.
Greenville: Cancelled, Rain
The finale with Rome (Braves High-A) is scrapped entirely.
The finale in Wilson (Brewers A) was over almost before it began as Salem ends the series having won just 1 of 6. Any night you commit four defensive errors, you don’t stand a good chance at winning, but the offense kept up with the defensive shortcomings. Shortstop Avinson Pinto celebrated his 19th birthday (it was on May 29th…. close enough) with a triple and a home run. Unfortunately, though, the triple and Kleyvar Salazar’s grand slam happened in the midst of Salem being scored on in four consecutive innings; the game was 11-5 at its worst and even the 4-spot from Salazar couldn’t draw the game any closer than a two-run deficit. It’s nice, though, to see catchers slugging up and down the organization.
Williams enters in great form, sporting a 2.80 xFIP, 27.2 K%, and 3.2 BB% over the last 30 days. He's played his best at home, where he has allowed more than two runs only once through six starts.
New York Yankees starter Will Warren has shown some red flags of late, posting an xFIP (5.01) nearly double his ERA (2.78) the past 30 days. Back the Guardians to -135.
Yankees vs Guardians Over/Under pick: Under 8 (-115)
The Yankees have predictably slowed down offensively without Aaron Judge in the lineup. They’ve scored 20 runs over five games, and were held to four or fewer in four of them.
Williams is allowing an average of just 1.70 runs per start in Cleveland, so this is not a spot we should see a spike.
Run line: Yankees +1.5 (-200) | Guardians -1.5 (+165)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)
Yankees vs Guardians trend
The Guardians have cashed the moneyline in 16 of their last 25 games for +6.6 units and a 21% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Guardians.
How to watch Yankees vs Guardians and game info
Location
Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Date
Monday, June 8, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
FS1
Yankees starting pitcher
Will Warren (7-1, 3.22 ERA)
Guardians starting pitcher
Gavin Williams (9-3, 3.20 ERA)
Yankees vs Guardians latest injuries
Yankees vs Guardians weather
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Spurs Game 3 computer picks
Dylan Harper Under 5.5 rebounds (-115)
Projection: 3.83 rebounds
This is the one and only five-star play our model found for this game, sitting with a 25.75% EV edge. Dylan Harper has been a beast on the boards, but our projections call for fewer rebounding chances for the guard at MSG tonight.
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Julian Champagnie Over 10.5 points (-115)
Projection: 11.25 points
Julian Champagnie took only five threes in Game 2, but still finished with eight points. The San Antonio Spurs need him to knock down outside looks to avoid a 0-3 hole, and his volume will be high enough to reach 11 points.
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De'Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points (-112)
Projection: 16.26 points
After a sluggish Game 1, De'Aaron Fox found his groove in his last outing with 20 points. Mitch Johnson has proven he is riding with his veteran PG, and he'll continue to get plenty of shots.
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Knicks Game 3 computer picks
Josh Hart Under 4.5 assists (-112)
Projection: 3.48 assists
Josh Hart has had a rough NBA Finals thus far, playing just 18 minutes in Game 2. While that was mostly due to foul trouble, our model doesn't see Hart's playmaking having much impact tonight.
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Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 assists (-150)
Projection: 4.97 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns has been doing it all for the New York Knicks this series, eclipsing this assist total in both games. KAT is averaging nearly six assists per game in the postseason, and our model calls for him to dish out four more tonight.
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Jalen Brunson Under 25.5 points (+100)
Projection: 24.87 points
The Spurs have made it clear they're willing to let anyone but Jalen Brunson beat them. JB scored just 20 points on horrible efficiency, and one can only assume he'll get the majority of the defensive focus tonight at MSG.
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How to watch Spurs vs Knicks Game 3
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Monday, June 8, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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