5 bold predictions for 2026 NBA offseason, including Knicks re-signing Mitchell Robinson

The Knicks capped the 2025-26 NBA season with an improbable run to an NBA title. With that over, the focus turns to the title defense and what could be another wild offseason in the NBA.

Here are a few bold predictions for the 2026 offseason...

Mitchell Robinson re-signs with the Knicks

Let’s get crazy off the bat. The Knicks appear to have a mandate to keep out of the second apron, and the reported offers out there for Robinson go well beyond that room before New York gets to try to retain anybody else. 

All signs point to Robinson being a Laker or Net this time next week. But neither offers him the chance to compete or the camaraderie the Knicks do, and maybe that can outweigh pure dollars and cents.

Maybe this is a pipe dream, but Robinson’s a career Knick and seems to enjoy it. If the team can work the numbers a bit, perhaps offload other salary, it’s possible a reunion isn’t as far-fetched as expected.  

Kyrie Irving gets traded to the Pistons

The Mavericks have a new general manager and new head coach who said they want to see Irving and the to-be sophomore sensation Cooper Flagg share the court. But we’ve heard these declarations around the league before, and if Dallas has a chance to reorient its team on Flagg’s timeline, they sure will consider it.

Enter the Pistons, who have been stacking picks and prospects through their rise up the Eastern Conference standings. They can use a big talent upgrade to help make the leap to contender, and with few remaining options on the board that fit their needs, a trade for Irving is a logical fit. 

Something in the realm of Ron Holland II,Duncan Robinson and a host of picks could get it done. Detroit gets its outside punch and Dallas stocks up for the rebuild. 

Jaylen Brown gets traded to Utah

Brown’s departure from Boston seems likely after they reportedly included him in their Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit and continued to shop him in the days to follow. One destination that hasn’t claimed as many headlines as it should is Utah.

The Jazz have flirted with competence as they’ve drafted their way to solid talent, but are clearly looking to start really winning basketball games after acquiring JarenJackson Jr. via trade last season. Throwing him or Lauri Markannen along with some salary filler and picks in a deal with Boston would catapult them much closer to that goal by picking up a Finals MVP to steer their young squad. 

Meanwhile, the Celtics get to change up their style with a dynamic big and perhaps a prospect they scrape off the Jazz, too. And Brown gets to lead his own team in the Wild West. 

Knicks trade Pacome Dadiet or Miles McBride 

New York is facing the potential departure of Robinson and can’t go into the second apron to fill that hole or upgrade elsewhere. While many expect the team to largely stand pat following a successful championship run, the cap dynamics make it extremely difficult.

Dadiet is an intriguing prospect, but didn’t contribute much at the NBA level over two seasons and could help facilitate a deal or clear some cap room. McBride had a mixed playoff run but still has one of the most attractive contracts in the league at a position the Knicks are deep in, opening the door to flip him for a new option.

If they do make a trade, and that scenario shouldn’t be written off, these two are likely candidates to go, holding value to other teams without upsetting the core rotation or prospect pool too harshly. Knicks fans may not love the idea, but it may be necessary and bear surprising fruit. 

LeBron James rejoins the Cavaliers for one last run

The slow play between the Lakers and LeBron to start this offseason, along with this likely being close to, if not his final season, suggests a break-up between the two is waiting to happen. While it’s not the story right now, where James decides to play next season could swing the trajectory of the league. 

He’d complete potential superteams by joining his former team the Miami Heat, or his good friend Stephen Curry as a Golden State Warrior. But a re-return home to Cleveland, in order to finish his career as a Cavalier and potentially win them another chip, can’t be ignored. 

They might be the most desperate team for LeBron’s services, offering him a storybook ending and a clean basketball fit. Those factors may be enough to land him back in the wine and gold. 

Draymond Green declines his player option

In a move that is widely believed to signal the Golden State Warriors’ intent to chase after a couple of big fish names, Draymond Green has officially declined his $27.7 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent.

Green declining his player option allows the Warriors to free up cap space for flexibility purposes. Namely, this allows them to chase LeBron James and Anthony Davis – who both happen to be represented by the same agency (Klutch) and the same agent (Rich Paul) as Green.

The Warriors seem intent on creating a big four consisting of Steph Curry, James, Davis, and Green. This move signals that, at the very least, such intent is a distinct possibility.

The market for Jaylen Brown is not what Celtics fans were hoping for

Boston, MA - May 2: Boston Celtics owner Bill Chisholm talks to guard Jaylen Brown after the game. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers played in the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

Jaylen Brown is 29 years old, in the middle of his prime, with three years left on his contract, coming off a season in which he finished sixth in MVP voting, and is just two seasons removed from winning Finals MVP. So why hasn’t Brad Stevens been able to trade the star forward yet?

Once the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga ended with the former MVP taking his talents to South Beach, I expected Jaylen Brown to be traded shortly after, or at a minimum, a bidding war to commence. It has been worryingly quiet on the bidding war front. 

The Celtics front office was not willing to go all in on Giannis Antetokounmpo. Reportedly, the Celtics were not willing to include more than Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks in order to acquire Antetokounmpo. The unwillingness to go all in would lead me to believe that Brad Stevens is, or was, confident in the contingency plans should the Celtics not land the Bucks big man.

However, in the passing days, the market for Jaylen Brown does not appear to have materialized. Either the NBA does not view Jaylen Brown as the perennial All-Star that he is, or the market is trying to squeeze Brad Stevens. In what reached a ridiculous head on Saturday evening, an old friend, ESPN’s Bobby Marks, dumped gasoline on the Jaylen Brown discourse. 

On Sirius XM, Marks said: “There are mixed feelings about him. Jaylen Brown’s analytics are not good…I had an analytics guy tell me, ‘We view him as the seventh best player on the team.'”

To be fair and provide context, he went on to say that he views Jaylen Brown as a top-10 player in the NBA.

The claim from the “analytics guy” is obviously outlandish, but it also reeks of something someone might want out there if they were trying to suppress the market for Jaylen Brown.

These comments led Jaylen Brown defending himself.

It feels as though the situation is heading in a bad direction for the Boston Celtics. 

As we attempt to sift through the muck of internet drama surrounding the Jaylen Brown trade sweepstakes, per Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, “It has been stressed to The Stein Line in recent days that neither the Hornets nor the Rockets, despite speculation to the contrary, are actively pursuing Jaylen Brown.” Again, to me, this reads as the market trying to bully the Celtics into a corner. Jaylen Brown would be a great fit in Houston. I don’t buy the reported lack of interest. 

This raises the question of whether the Celtics are actually in a desperate position. Do they need to trade Jaylen Brown? At the end of the day, Jaylen Brown is being paid $57 million next season to play basketball for the Boston Celtics. While Brown may feel slighted by the Celtics for being thrown into trade discussions for Giannis Antetokounmpo, it’s hard to make the case that the Celtics have been anything great for Brown’s career. With the Celtics, Jaylen has become an NBA champion and Finals MVP, been selected to multiple All-NBA teams, and signed over $360 million in contracts with the iconic franchise. Brown could do a lot worse and would likely find himself in a worse situation wherever he ends up.

A return to the Celtics should not be not out of the question

Whether or not Celtics fans think the team needs to or does not need to trade Jaylen Brown, the reality is that Brad Stevens is trying to trade the All-Star wing. Since Brad Stevens has taken over the Celtics front office, any reporting on Celtics transactions has been hard to come by. Over the last week, the Celtics’ business has been out there which likely means the Celtics want their business out there.

In Brad’s most recent press conference after the first night of the NBA Draft, Brad was asked about whether or not Jaylen would be traded or return to the Celtics. Brad could have said anything, and what he didn’t say was loud. He did not say that Jaylen Brown would be back on the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are trying to trade Brown. We don’t know exactly why. It could be fall out from being included in the Giannis negotiations, Brown could have asked for a trade because he’s ready to move on, or the Celtics front office may have decided it will be easier to build a championship contender without Brown’s supermax contract on the cap sheet. All we can do is look at the front office’s actions. Which indicate they want to trade the 2024 Finals MVP. 

If we assume the Celtics feel as though it’s time to move on from Brown, the potential return could make or break this era of Celtics basketball. At the present moment, I think the return is going to disappoint Celtics fans. The only team that is reported to have a significant interest right now is the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers have some intriguing pieces; Donovan Clingan would fill the need at the big man spot, Toumani Camara could replace some of what Brown provided the Celtics, and the Blazers own a slew of valuable draft picks.

However, reports indicate the Blazers would be unwilling to part with either of Deni Avdija or Donovan Clingan, but that their draft picks would be on the table. At first glance, this might make many Celtics fans vomit in their mouths. However, I may be able to sell you on what a draft pick-centric package could look like. Firstly, the Blazers should not make a Brown trade if they have to give up Clingan or Avdija; that’s just shuffling the deck chairs and leaves them without a big man. A potential package would be the defensive stopper Toumani Camara, former third overall pick Scoot Henderson, and a young semi-disappointing wing on a somewhat bloated contract, Shaedon Sharpe, plus two unprotected Milwaukee Bucks picks (2028 & 2030), and the Celtics get their own 2029 pick back from the Blazers, allowing them more flexibility for the moves that would follow a Brown deal.

I think most Celtics fans would view this as a disappointing return, but I believe the Celtics could help Henderson unlock his potential, giving the Celtics a much-needed boost in backcourt athleticism. Camara would be a great pairing with Jayson Tatum, and Sharpe could be used in trades, along with the newly acquired draft capital, to upgrade the roster. Whether that is a Trey Murphy package or an unknown package, it provides the Celtics with the flexibility to go out and make more moves.

Something to keep in mind is the reality of trading Brown’s $57 million contract. It’s hard for teams to patch that amount of salary without gutting their roster, and there’s no point in making the trade if you have to do that to acquire the five-time All-Star.  That being said, I think this return is workable. The Celtics would essentially run it back from last season with Jayson Tatum in the Jaylen Brown spot, with a supercharged version of last season’s roster. The Celtics add a big man in free agency, hopefully flip the assets acquired in the Jaylen trade for an impact player, and experience internal development from their young players like Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr, and Baylor Scheierman. The floor to me for next season would be 55 wins and a first round exit. I would project them to exceed those expectations. And now the roster is flush with tradeable contracts and high value picks for the front office to take big game hunting in the 2026-2027 offseason.

If there is a better trade out there, Brad Stevens and the front office will make it. I’m just skeptical that deal is out there. 

A week ago, I felt a lot better about what Jaylen Brown would return on the open market. It’s easy to say that if the right offer isn’t there, then the Celtics can simply bring back the All-NBA forward. That’s not typically how the NBA works. On the other hand, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum being on the same team for nine years, through all the ups and downs, is already atypical. We might look back and laugh at the ridiculousness of the past couple of weeks when Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown find themselves in their sixth conference finals appearance come next May. However, I view a split between the Celtics and Brown as imminent, and the return to be one that still allows the team to position themselves for another title run, even if it initially disappoints a large portion of the fan base. 

What Aaron Wiggins will bring to the Hawks

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 25: Aaron Wiggins #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives down the court against Mouhamed Gueye #18 of the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on October 25, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Atlanta Hawks have already made a series of moves this offseason, and they’ve all been key to ensuring the team stays competitive. One of the first moves Onsi Saleh made was re-signing CJ McCollum to a one-year deal, which gives the Hawks a trusted veteran at the guard position who helped them have a strong second half of the season.

Later that day, Saleh made another value move to improve along the margins, acquiring Aaron Wiggins from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for two second-round picks. From a cap sheet perspective, it was a perfect move for the Hawks, as they received a serviceable wing on a good contract, and only had to give up second-round picks.

On the court, this isn’t a move that turns them into contenders overnight, but Wiggins plays the game the right way and has helped a team win a championship in the past few years. Wiggins was one of the many contributors who came off the bench for the Thunder, and he averaged 9.4 points per game last season. A lot of things that he does are what the Hawks value, and his fit on the team should be seamless. The first thing that stands out when watching Wiggins is his shooting.

For most of Wiggins’ career, he’s been a reliable 3-point shooter, and it helped the Thunder when their second unit came in. Wiggins shot 36% from the perimeter last season, and he knocked most of them down in catch-and-shoot situations. When you have a player on your team like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who attracts so much attention on the court, somebody is going to be open. When it was Wiggins, it almost felt like a guarantee the shot was going in.

If the pass wasn’t directly from Gilgeous-Alexander, it was from the extra pass, which is why the Thunder have been so successful over the years. For Wiggins, he didn’t have to create most of his shots from the perimeter, but he showed the skills to do so if he needed to.

If Wiggins didn’t have a shot, he was able to attack on closeouts and finish at the rim. At 6’5 with a 6’10 wingspan, he found a way to finish over taller defenders when making his way to the rim, which led him to be efficient in those spots at well. He’s not the most athletic that’s going to jump out the gym, but he has just enough to make plays in transition or when attacking the lane.

Not only did Wiggins get most of his playing time because he could shoot the ball, but he was a solid defender as well. He can defend multiple positions and even played the four at times for the Thunder when they went small. Wiggins isn’t considered an all-world defender, but he gets the job done, whether that’s at the point of attack, playing helpside or rotating. He should fit right in with what Quin Snyder wants from the group on that side of the ball.

Playing on a team like the Thunder, having a good IQ is key, and it’s safe to say that Wiggins is a good processor of the game. He makes the right decisions on both sides of the ball, and he’s the connector that will help the Hawks’ second unit. It honestly wouldn’t be a surprise if he closed games at times next season if the Hawks need more offense in certain situations.

This was another good move for Saleh, and it will be interesting to see if he has more up his sleeve as the offseason continues.

Canadiens Should Consider Targeting Islanders Pending UFA

The Montreal Canadiens should be looking to add to their forward group this off-season. One of their needs is another impactful winger for their top nine.

Due to this, one player who the Canadiens could be worth targeting if he hits the free agent on July 1 is New York Islanders captain Anders Lee. 

If the Canadiens signed Lee, he could slot well in their middle six. This is because the 35-year-old winger is still capable of producing solid offense at this point in his career. He would also provide the Habs with another option to work with on their power play.

Lee would also be a valuable addition if signed by the Canadiens because he is a well-respected veteran leader. This could make him a good player to have for a young Canadiens club that is on the rise. 

In 82 games during this past season with the Islanders, Lee posted 19 goals, 23 assists, and 42 points. This was after the veteran forward posted 29 goals, 25 assists, and 54 points in 82 games with the Islanders during the 2024-25 campaign. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to provide the Canadiens with a bit more secondary offensive production if signed.

However, given how important of a player Lee is to the Islanders, there is certainly a chance that he will end up re-signing there. If he does not, the Canadiens should consider targeting him. 

Predators sign recently acquired faceoff ace Jack Drury to a 5-year, $22.5 million deal

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators signed forward Jack Drury to a five-year, $22.5 million contract on Sunday night, four days after he was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche.

The 26-year-old Drury had a career-high 10 goals last season and matched his personal best with 27 points while playing in all 82 regular-season games for the Avalanche.

He was acquired by the Predators on Wednesday along with forward Chase Bradley and a third-round pick in the 2029 NHL draft from the Avalanche for forwards Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov.

“Jack Drury is a hard-working, reliable, full-sheet of the ice center who can handle the tough assignments while being elite in the faceoff circle,” Predators general manager and president of hockey operations Chris MacFarland said after the trade. “His addition to our forward group bolsters our depth in the middle of the ice, and we’re thrilled to have him.”

Drury established himself as one of the NHL’s top faceoff players by winning 58.1% of his draws — the fifth-highest percentage among players who took at least 900 faceoffs last season. He also had three goals and two assists in 13 playoff games while helping the Avalanche reach the Western Conference Final.

Drury is the son of former NHL center Ted Drury and nephew of former NHL center and current New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury. He was a second-round draft pick of Carolina in 2018. When MacFarland was with Colorado as the Avalanche’s GM, he acquired Drury from the Hurricanes in 2025.

In 268 career regular-season games, Drury has 30 goals and 52 assists and a 57.1 faceoff percentage.

On the eve of free agency, the Pistons have more work to do

Nov 4, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) dribbles defended by Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Detroit Pistons feel incomplete, but they are running out of avenues to improve. That’s not to say something can’t get done or that Trajan Langdon hasn’t worked hard trying to swing a deal that takes his team to the next level. Still, as we sit here a day before the beginning of free agency, the Pistons have swapped one of the league’s fiercest interior defenders in Isaiah Stewart for one of the league’s more dangerous 3-point threats in Isaiah Joe.

The team’s No. 1 priority this offseason was to add shooting and spacing to a lineup that found both in short supply through two series of the playoffs. But what if that is all there is?

The Pistons have reportedly been working hard on an extension for Jalen Duren and are interested in retaining veteran Tobias Harris. If both of those come to pass, that would mean a potential return of last year’s entire starting lineup, give or take, swapping Duncan Robinson for Joe if that moves you.

Is that going to take Detroit beyond the first-round struggle and second-round exit they experienced last season? Will they be able to run with the defending champion New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, or healthier versions of the Celtics and Pacers? Of a Giannis-led Miami Heat or an upstart Charlotte Hornets? And that is just the East.

Detroit still has avenues to improve. They could operate easily as an under-the-cap team if they saw a big free agent worth chasing. They could operate on an over-the-cap team if they were able to find a trade that was worth their while.

They’ve already reportedly been putting out feelers for “big game.” There were credible reports about interest in Austin Reaves (given a max by the Lakers), Kawhi Leonard (rebuffed by Leonard), Coby White (re-signed by Charlotte), and Tyler Herro (so far, he is pegged to land in Milwaukee).

The team’s biggest need is a power forward, or perhaps a big switchable forward who could play either spot. Detroit could easily slot Ausar Thompson into a power forward role, but they love to use Thompson as a point-of-attack and help defender on the perimeter, which would force any other starting forward to be big enough to hold up down low.

Who has the girth and the talent to potentially replace or displace Tobias Harris in the starting lineup? The crop of free agents isn’t super inspiring. Rui Hachimura is available. He is a 42% 3-point shooter the past three seasons, and made a career-high from deep last season with the Lakers. John Collins is another reliable enough perimeter threat who can play up and down the lineup depending on how funky you want your defense to be. Dean Wade is the boring man’s free agent signing that you’d probably never regret.

If you’re still thinking about the trade route, of names not already mentioned would be led by Trey Murphy III, Michael Porter Jr., Jerami Grant, Cam Johnson, PJ Washington, and Nikola Jovic.

This has always felt like the last offseason they could make a huge move without blowing up their core. Cade is already on a max, Duren is about to get a huge payday, and this season or next, Ausar Thompson’s will likely be even bigger than Duren’s.

The time is now, the war chest feels full enough. Langdon seems prudent, but he also seems to know he’s been building to this moment. We will see if he is able to take advantage.

Reds vs Brewers Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for June 29

The NL Central has four teams separated by four or fewer games, but the Milwaukee Brewers (50-31) sit atop the throne as we inch closer to the All-Star break. Milwaukee will host Cincinnati (39-43) as both teams look to get back in the win column after losses on Sunday.

Cincinnati is coming off a 9-4 loss to Pittsburgh and has dropped four of the last six games. The Reds turn to Nick Lodolo to open the series, which hasn't been great news lately. In June, the Reds are 0-4 in Lodolo's starts and he has a 6.16 ERA with 13 earned runs on 28 hits allowed over 19.0 innings. However, in his last start, Lodolo went 4.0 innings with zero earned runs against Milwaukee, a significant improvement seven earned runs and 11 hits versus the Mets in his prior start.

Milwaukee has lost two straight games to break up their five-game winning streak. Despite the recent losses, Milwaukee is still up 6.5 games on the NL Central. Over the past week, the Brewers are hitting .220 (22nd) and rank sixth in ERA (2.89) as a pitching staff with the best OBA (.162). Robert Gasser gets the nod to start the series. Milwaukee lost his first four starts this year, but the Brewers have won the past two with Gasser on the mound as he's posted a 1.54 ERA and .154 OBA.

Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Reds at Brewers

  • Date: Monday, June 29, 2026
  • Time: 7:40 PM EST
  • Site: American Family Field 
  • City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Reds at the Brewers

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Cincinatti Reds (+129), Milwaukee Brewers (-156)
  • Spread: Brewers -1.5 (+138), Reds +1.5 (-167)
  • Total: 9.0

Probable starting pitchers for Reds at Brewers

  • Monday's pitching matchup (June 29): Nick Lodolo vs. Robert Gasser  
  • Reds: Nick Lodolo

2026 stats: 79.1 IP, 5-5, 4.99 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 59 Ks, 28 BB

  • Brewers: Robert Gasser 

2026 Stats: 93.0 IP, 8-3, 1.45 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 138 Ks, 23 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • The Reds’ Sal Stewart is hitting .254 with 79 hits, 15 home runs and 57 RBI over 311 at-bats
  • The Reds’ Matt McLain is hitting .198 with 50 hits and 76 strikeouts over 253 at-bats
  • The Brewers’ William Contreras is hitting .301 with 89 hits, 9 home runs, and 50 RBI over 296 at-bats
  • The Brewers’ Joey Ortiz is hitting .200 with 33 hits and 35 strikeouts over 200 at-bats

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Reds at Brewers

  • The Reds are 45-37 ATS, tied for sixth-best
  • The Brewers are 45-36 ATS, ranking fifth-best
  • The Reds are 49-32 to the Over, ranking third-best
  • The Brewers are 42-37-2 to the Under, ranking 10th-best
  • The Reds are 25-16 ATS on the road, ranking second-best 
  • The Brewers are 24-19 ATS at home, ranking eighth-best

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Reds and the Brewers

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Reds and the Brewers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Reds on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Reds at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 9.0

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Pitching falters, Padres lose game, series to Dodgers

San Diego, CA - June 28: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park on June 28, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

It was a disappointing end to what looked like a solid start from San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King. The right-hander cruised through the first three innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers allowing just one run over that time. Manny Machado homered in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1, but when King returned to the mound in the top of the fifth inning, he could not locate his pitches and the result was a three-run inning that resulted in a 4-2 loss for San Diego.

King opened the top of the fifth with a walk to the No. 9 batter Alex Freeland. He then caught a lineout on a bunt attempt from Chuckie Robinson but followed that with another walk to Shohei Ohtani. King hit Andy Pages for the second time in the game to load the bases and then walked Freddy Freeman on a nine-pitch at-bat. The ninth pitch was close to the bottom of the zone on the inside corner but neither King nor Rodolfo Duran challenged the call, and Los Angeles took a 2-1 lead. What proved to be the game-winning hit and the end of the day for King came on a two-run single by Mookie Betts which pushed the lead to 4-1. Yuki Matsui relieved King and got Max Muncy to pop out and Tommy Edman to ground out to end the inning.

The Padres cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jackson Merrill singled to start the inning, and Machado hit a deep flyball to center that looked like a two-run home run off the bat. It was caught on the warning track by Pages. Gavin Sheets struck out for the second out of the inning, but not before Merrill stole second base. Xander Bogaerts singled following a pitching change and drove in Merrill to make the score, 4-2. Miguel Andujar was then hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second, but Sung-Mun Song struck out to end the inning and strand the runners.

San Diego threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning after Machado doubled to open the frame. Ty France, who pinch-hit for Sheets, was then hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second with no outs. Bogaerts struck out and Andujar grounded into a double play to end the threat and the inning. The Padres brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning after Freddy Fermin worked a one-out walk, but Fernando Tatis Jr. grounded into a double play on the first pitch of the at-bat to end the inning and the game.

King finished his day after 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on three hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Matsui, Jason Adam and Wandy Peralta pitched 4.2 scoreless innings to give San Diego a chance to come back in the game, but the Padres failed to take advantage of scoring opportunities and finished a disappointing 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

San Diego is on the road today to open a series with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field at 5:05 p.m.

Padres News:

  • The Padres lost the series to the Dodgers but won the homestand 4-2 thanks to a sweep of the Atlanta Braves. The San Diego offense seems to be trending up according to Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball who recaps the week that was.
  • Bradgley Rodriguez was being used a lot out of the bullpen for the Padres and when they saw an opportunity to get him some time off to keep him healthy for the rest of the season, they took it. After some rest he returned to the mound for Double-A San Antonio.
  • San Diego and Los Angeles are so close geographically that it’s easy for opposing fans to travel back and forth for the games. Dodgers fans made the trip to Petco Park this weekend and it did not go unnoticed by the Padres players.

Baseball News:

Podcast: Two years since things were good with the Orioles

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JUNE 27: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts after striking out in the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 27, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We didn’t know it at the time, but when the calendar turned to July two years ago, that was the end of the good run for the Orioles. They had a losing record that month, the next, and in all finished the second half of the 2024 season with a .500 record, followed by a swift postseason exit. As the 2026 disappointment heads towards July, we’re nearly at two full years of this team failing to live up to expectations.

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I’m thinking about just how few of the current Orioles were actually on the roster when the team was last good. There has been a whole lot of roster turnover since this day two years ago. The core players who’ve carried over aren’t collectively playing like a core of stars, many of the later-arriving players have had bumpy introductions to the majors, and a lot of Mike Elias’s moves to supplement the roster have not paid the dividends I think he believed that they would.

What are they supposed to do about it? I don’t know and I don’t think they do either. Also in this episode, a Camden Chat reader asked who the Orioles would even have to trade to get a possible real, impact player if they did end up as trade deadline buyers. The question was asked before the team went 2-4 over the last week, so I did my best to answer it. I think they might have a shot at someone worthwhile if they really want to go that route.

Check out this week’s episode here:

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This is my weekly podcast about whatever is going on lately with the Orioles. If you enjoyed this episode, please make sure to subscribe. You can get the show on SpotifyApple Podcasts, or wherever you prefer to access your podcasts.

How are you feeling about the way things are going with the Orioles right now? Answers could make it into the mailbag section of a future episode of the podcast.

Yoel Tejeda Jr. is emerging as an interesting arm in the Washington Nationals farm system

Both in the big leagues and on the farm, the Nationals have more hitting talent than pitching. However, that does not mean there are no interesting arms in the system. Today, I wanted to highlight one of the most intriguing arms on the farm in Yoel Tejeda. The 6 ‘8 righty has developed from an ultra raw 15th round pick to a real riser.

Coming out of high school in 2022, Tejeda was a highly regarded two-way prospect. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the 217th prospect in that draft, but he decided to follow through on his commitment to the University of Florida. Tejeda spent one year at Florida and one at Florida State, and struggled at both spots. However, his unique frame and pedigree convinced the Nats to take a flier on him in the 14th round of the 2024 draft.

That decision by the old regime has proven to be a wise one. Right now, MLB Pipeline lists Tejeda as the 14th best prospect in the Nats system. Last season, the big righty spent most of the season in Low-A, where he made huge improvements to his strike-throwing. In college, he walked more hitters than he struck out, but last season, he had a 21.8% K rate and a 7.4% walk rate.

 He made some mechanical tweaks that helped his strike-throwing, but saw his velocity more in the low-90’s than the mid-90’s. It was a worthwhile tradeoff, but the hope was that Tejeda would get some of that old velocity back while keeping his command gains. Entering this season, he had some real fans, with some even wondering if he could sneak on to top 100 lists at some point.

This spring we did see Tejeda throwing harder. He was sitting in the mid-90’s, while flirting with the upper 90’s. However, in the Spring Breakout game, his control looked erratic. Those command issues plagued him at the beginning of the season as well. In April, Tejeda posted a 5.60 ERA with 11 walks in 17.2 innings with High-A Wilmington. 

As the season has gone on though, Tejeda has made big improvements. He has a 1.38 ERA in five June starts, and is averaging over 5 innings per start. Tejeda has 11 walks in 26 innings, which is on the higher side, but it is manageable, especially when he has 33 strikeouts to go with it. His strikeout rate is hovering around 30% this month, while his walk rate is just under 10%. That is big time stuff, and could get the 22 year old promoted to AA soon.

After doing some digging, it is clear that Tejeda’s stuff has definitely ticked up. Last year, he was sitting in the 92 MPH range. However, this season, he is sitting 94-96 and tops out at 98. Pair that with the massive extension Tejeda gets from being a 6’8 pitcher, and his fastball gets on hitters in a hurry.

To pair with the heater, Tejeda has a sweeper and a shorter slider, as well as a splitter. The breaking balls are his best secondary pitches that he uses to put hitters away. Last season, he had some trouble with left handed hitters, but his splits are much more even in 2026.

This past week might have been the best of Tejeda’s career. He made two starts that covered 10.2 innings, and allowed just one earned run. The massive right hander also struck out 7 in both starts. He is really surging right now, and I think a promotion is on the horizon. Here is a nice interview he did after his start yesterday.

Quite frankly, the Nats are a little light on starting pitching in the majors and minors right now. It does not help that their two best pitching prospects have been out all season, but they need someone to step up. Tejeda is not going to be in the big leagues until late 2027 at the earliest, but he is a pitcher whose stock is on the rise.

Unique is good when it comes to pitching, and Tejeda’s massive frame creates unique challenges for hitters. After being a disappointment in college, Yoel Tejeda Jr. is finally living up to his high school pedigree with the help of the Nats pitching development program. I can’t wait to see how he does the rest of the season and what is next for the towering right hander.

Abject England end Stokes era with rare home series defeat by New Zealand

New Zealand won a Test series in England for the fourth time by wrapping up a 160-run victory in the third Test at Trent Bridge on Monday, bringing an end to the international career of England’s captain, Ben Stokes.

Resuming on 103 for four and chasing an unlikely 373 to win, England were dismissed for 212 soon after lunch on day five as New Zealand clinched the series 2-1.

Ali Martin’s report from Trent Bridge will follow shortly

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Mets Report Card: Grading the offense halfway through the 2026 MLB season

From the start, the Mets’ 2026 offensive philosophy was designed to be a departure from the recent past, trading power and a wildly streaky nature for more day-to-day dependability built upon high-average hitters with proven track records of producing in the clutch.  

At one point in spring training, David Stearns summed up the new philosophy by saying, “We wanted to have a lineup with more competitive at-bats 1-9. I believe we have that.” 

It turned out the Mets had anything but that, at least through the first half of this season. The newly acquired proven clutch hitters, Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco, either failed or were hurt, while the concept of a deeper, more competitive lineup proved all but laughable, as the bottom half was full of easy outs.  

Throw in the injuries to Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, and the result was worse than even the resentful Pete Alonso fan might have predicted.  

Indeed, the numbers spell out a level of futility that seems almost unfathomable for a team with the second-highest payroll in baseball.  

Consider that, in MLB rankings, the Mets are: 27th in batting average (.231), 28th in slugging (.375), 29th in on-base percentage (.300), 27th in OPS (.678).  

Also, they are dead last in doubles, with 101.  

And with runners in scoring position, the most common measure of clutch hitting, where the changes were supposed to be most impactful, the Mets are 22nd in batting average (.238) and 29th in OPS (.675).  

Ouch, ouch, and ouch.  

“It’s hard to be that bad across the board with some of the high-level talent they have,” one MLB scout told me. “It’s like their lineup was infected by some virus that they couldn’t stop from spreading. At the same time, I thought they created a lot of uncertainty about what they’d be offensively with some of the gambles they took.” 

Yes, particularly in some cases, the offensive failures reflect poorly on the president of baseball operations for what have proven to be bad gambles.  

Most notably, Luis Robert Jr. and Polanco each had an off-putting history of injuries that have reared their ugly heads in their first season in Queens, a development that Stearns admitted recently at a news conference might force the Mets to change the way they evaluate and approach such acquisitions.  

For that matter, the same injury-related red flags applied to the Frankie Montas free-agent signing from the previous winter, perhaps the most head-scratching Stearns’ move of them all. Turned out to be a waste of $34 million over two years. 

May 1, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) is greeted by first base & outfield coach Gilbert Gomez (65) after hitting a two run RBI single aganist the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium.
May 1, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) is greeted by first base & outfield coach Gilbert Gomez (65) after hitting a two run RBI single aganist the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium. / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

But this is about the offense, including the other move that raised eyebrows at the time, the trade of Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien.

Stearns sold it as a move to bolster his offseason theme of run prevention, even if it seemed driven at least as much by his desire to get out from under the five years remaining on Nimmo’s contract, compared to three for Semien.

As such, it had the feel of a small-market move that a Steve Cohen-owned team didn’t need to make when in pursuit of a championship, though it could be argued it was also made partly to open an outfield spot for Carson Benge, one of the few bright spots of the first half.

Even in that case, however, Semien hasn’t played well enough to justify the deal. At the plate, he has pretty much performed as poorly as his two-year decline with the Texas Rangers predicted, with a .613 OPS that is second-worst among all MLB second basemen, while his Gold Glove defense has slipped significantly, at least according to various metrics.

Finally, Stearns bet that homegrown holdovers Mark Vientos, BrettBaty, and Francisco Alvarez would finally grow into dependable offensive players, after a few years marked by ups and downs, and that hasn’t happened either.

All of it made for a disastrous first half. Even when Soto was swinging a hot bat, eventually joined by Benge and finally Bichette in recent weeks, the Mets have been prone to days when nobody hits.

In fact, they have scored two or fewer runs in 32 different games, the most in the National League.

New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (3) hits a RBi triple during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park
New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (3) hits a RBi triple during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park / David Frerker - Imagn Images

With all that said, there were also important developments that bode well for the future, as rookies Benge and A.J. Ewing emerged as major contributors.

Benge struggled for the first month or so of the season, but then began living up to the Mets’ belief that he can be a star player, as he shortened his swing a bit and learned how to catch up with high-velocity fastballs, hitting .288 since the beginning of May.

Ewing, meanwhile, was a revelation from the moment he was called up on May 12, showing remarkable plate discipline for a rookie and a short, quick stroke that likely makes him an ideal leadoff hitter in the future.

“Those two kids are really good pieces for anybody’s offense,” a second MLB scout said. “It all went wrong for the Mets in the first half, and injuries were a factor, but with their big guys healthy now, especially if they get Polanco back, they could be much better in the second half.”

Whether it’s too late to make any sort of run toward wild-card contention remains to be seen. All we know for sure is the Mets dug a huge hole for themselves, and while a lack of strong starting pitching became their biggest problem over the last several weeks, the anemic offense was at the root of the 7-19 record in April from which they have yet to recover.

GRADE: F

Pirates vs Phillies Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for June 29

Philadelphia (47-37) and Pittsburgh (42-42) meet for a classic East versus West Keystone State battle. The two met earlier in the year and the Phillies swept the Pirates, outscoring the Buccos, 23-9, and shutting out Pittsburgh in the final two games.

The Phillies are 5-1 in the last six games and coming off a 5-4 win over the Mets. Kyle Schwarber hit his 30th homer to seal the Phillies win, while also becoming the first to 30 home runs on the year. Philadelphia won the series versus New York and will start Aaron Nola in the opener against Pittsburgh. The Phillies are 5-1 in the last six Nola starts and averaged over five runs scored per game in that span.

The Pirates are back to .500 on the season after a 9-4 win over the Reds. Pittsburgh is 5-5 over the last 10 games and turn to Braxton Ashcraft to stay above even for the year. The Pirates won Ashcraft's last two starts and are 7-3 since the start of May when he pitches. This will be Ashcraft's second start versus the Phillies this season. Ashcraft earned a no decision on 6.2 innings, 100 pitches, seven hits allowed, four earned runs, and five strikeouts to zero walks. Since then, Ashcraft has a 5-1 record over seven starts.

Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Pirates at Phillies

  • Date: Monday, June 29, 2026
  • Time: 6:40 PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Pirates at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (-109), Pittsburgh Pirates (-110)
  • Spread: Phillies +1.5 (-185), Pirates -1.5 (+152)
  • Total: 8.5

Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Phillies

  • Monday's pitching matchup (June 29): Aaron Nola vs. Braxton Ashcraft
  • Phillies: Aaron Nola 

2026 stats: 80.2 IP, 3-4, 5.58 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 82 K, 27 BB

  • Pirates: Braxton Ashcraft

2026 Stats: 96.2 IP, 7-3, 3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 107 Ks, 22 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • The Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber is hitting .256 with 77 hits, 30 home runs and 54 RBI over 301 at-bats
  • The Phillies’ JT Realmuto is hitting .205 with 40 hits and 43 strikeouts over 195 at-bats
  • The Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds is hitting .286 with 86 hits, 11 home runs, and 52 RBI over 301 at-bats
  • The Pirates’ Marcell Ozuna is hitting .204 with 42 hits and 68 strikeouts over 206 at-bats

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Pirates at Phillies

  • Philadelphia is an MLB-worst 31-53 ATS
  • Pittsburgh is 42-42 ATS
  • Philadelphia is 45-36-5 to the Under, ranking fifth-best
  • Pittsburgh is 48-33-3 to the Over, ranking fourth-best
  • Philadelphia is 15-27 ATS at home, ranking second-worst
  • Pittsburgh is 20-19 ATS on the road

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Pirates and the Phillies

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Pirates and the Phillies:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Pirates on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pirates at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.5

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Indiana fans are glad to see Dusty May off to NBA, out of Big Ten

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 08: Head coach Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines looks on in the first half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on February 08, 2025 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Dusty May, Indiana men’s basketball’s latest prodigal son that wasn’t, is out of college basketball and off to the NBA, having been hired as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.

May was born in Terre Haute and raised in Greene County before attending Indiana University and becoming a student manager under Bob Knight. His coaching star rose as fast as any other, going from the mid-major level in 2023 to Michigan in 2024 and now onto the NBA in 2026 after just two years in Ann Arbor, the latter concluding with a national championship in Indianapolis, of all places.

May’s return to Indiana would have been something out of an Indiana fan’s dreams but it, for several reasons, wasn’t meant to be. He, like Brad Stevens before him, led a different program to greatness before moving onto the NBA.

So, how do Indiana fans feel about May’s departure? We asked them.

The results aren’t surprising at all. May spent all of one game on the Assembly Hall sideline as an opposing head coach and it was probably enough. His presence then was already a reminder of what could have been, imagine if he spent years there with a national title or more to his name, the thing Indiana fans have craved for decades.

Indiana faces decently long odds in 2027, sitting at +6500 to win it all, per FanDuel Sportsbook.