If the first-round of the 2026 NHL Draft dragged on, things proceeded much faster on Saturday, as is customary; still, the seven rounds took over five hours to wrap up. As always, there was a lot of pick swapping, and the feel-good story of the day was the Pittsburgh Penguins picking Markus Ruck at 39th overall, allowing him to join his twin brother, Liam, who they had picked up on Friday. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings drafted Derek Roy’s son, Victor, two years after picking his brother Max.
Just like on Friday, the Montreal Canadiens made a trade to move up in the second round. They sent pick 61 and pick 125 to the Carolina Hurricanes and then selected Timofei Runtso. The 6-foot-2 and 186-pound right-shot defenseman was ranked 48th among North American skaters. Playing in the WHL with the Victoria Royals, he put 44 points in 68 games. The soon-to-be 19-year-old was ignored at last year's draft but became a fast riser on the Central Scouting list thanks to a breakthrough season with the Royals after joining from the St. Cloud Norsemen of the North American Hockey League, a tier two junior league.
At number 93, they picked Cooper Cleaves, yet another big right-shot defenseman out of Dartmouth College. The 6-foot-3 blueliner weighs in at 203 pounds and put up 10 points in 30 games. He projects as a depth defenseman and describes himself as a two-way defenseman. Last summer, he attended the Canadiens development camp. He also played with Emmett Croteau, a Canadiens’ goaltending prospect this season. Interestingly, he played with Martin St-Louis’ kids growing up and told the media he was very tight with them. He’ll be going back to college for his sophomore season.
With pick number 117, the Canadiens went for yet another defenseman, a left shot one who’s 6-foot and 174 pounds and in his first year of eligibility: Brayden Klimpke. He put up 46 points in 68 games with the Saskatoon Blades. Described as big and tough, he’s a two-way defenseman and was an alternate captain last season. He has some leadership qualities, and he’s described as a character guy with a high compete level.
Montreal then went for a couple of forwards at picks 189 and 190. The former was used to select Parker Trottier, the grandson of former NHL legend Bryan Trottier. While the youngster has great bloodlines, his game is not the same as his grandad’s. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, the USNTDP product is a power forward who loves to finish his checks, works hard on the forecheck and is good at puck retrieval. All the little things Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis classifies as “not fun to do” but that must be done to win hockey games.
At 190, the Habs picked up Wesley Royston, also a winger but with an even bigger body at 6-foot-4 and 186 pounds. He only picked up 19 points in 59 games played, mostly with the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL. He has rare speed for a player of his size, and he loves laying big hits all over the ice.
The Canadiens had three picks in the seventh and last round: 221, 223, and 224, but they traded pick 223 to the Los Angeles Kings in return for the California side’s seventh-round pick in 2027. With pick number 221, Montreal selected Jean-Samuel Daigneault, a 6-foot-3 and 190-pound left-shot blueliner who specializes in hitting opponents hard and often. Finally, with pick 224, they opted for forward Tyler Deakos, a 6-foot-1, 174-pound right winger.
This year's draft for the Canadiens can be summed up in two words: size and aggression. As Kent Hughes said on Friday night, the team is no longer just looking to add talented pieces; they are also looking for pieces to address particular needs. Should the Habs fail to address their size issue via trade, this draft class should definitely help down the line.
In his first media availability following the conclusion of the 2026 NHL Draft, Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka addressed a wide range of topics, but questions about the club’s goaltending future carried particular weight. With a veteran Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, getting a tender of quality like the two-time Stanley Cup champion could certainly look like an upgrade, for the right price.
“For Brandon, I think it was a fresh start. And so I think that’s important to him. I think it’s a good fit with St. Louis,” he said. “And I think it’s a good fit for us to get some fresh blood in the back end.”
The move also aligned with Chayka’s desire to alter how the team defends and transitions the puck. It’s a position he’s been consistent about since taking on the role in May.
“He was a part of the transaction, and the harvesting of their asset off of that transaction made a lot of sense for us,” he explained.
Talks with Ersson’s camp about a potential fit and contract ultimately led the Leafs to prioritize the return over retention.That backdrop made Chayka’s comments on the current goaltending situation and future plans especially relevant. The Leafs enter the summer with Anthony Stolarz as their primary netminder and a developing pipeline that includes recent draft selections Artur Akhtyamov and Dennis Hildeby. But is that enough to go with next season?
“We’ve got this really interesting goalie pipeline,” he said. “And part of our evaluation is the young guys and what they’ve shown. So I think we’re trying to balance that. Anthony’s (Stolarz) been, by our models, a top goalie the last two years. Obviously health and durability has been the question, but we can’t guarantee that it’s going to be different. On another goalie that we bring in, that’s always a bit of a question mark. So we’re trying to find some balance in all of that, but it’s a key position, and if there’s a chance to make it better, like any position, we’ll do that. But that’s where we’re at today.”
Toronto selected two goalies as part of a broader 10-pick haul at the Draft.
Financially, the Leafs are well-positioned to act if the right opportunity presents itself. Following the Carlo trade and other adjustments, Toronto projects to have approximately $22 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season against the NHL’s $104 million ceiling, per PuckPedia.com.
“I think we’re going to try to make the team better. I think that’s an avenue for us. And up to today we created more flexibility even with the move,” he said.
Would the Leafs be willing to pull off a Darren Raddysh-style move before free agency? Chayka poured cold water on the idea. But you have to wonder if they are done in goal or if another move at the position is coming.
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DETROIT, MI - JUNE 7: Pitcher Jack Flaherty #9 of the Detroit Tigers during the second inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park on June 7, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Tigers fell short in their quest to take the lead in a four-game home series against the Houston Astros on Saturday afternoon, coughing up a late lead en route to an 8-6 defeat.
Framber Valdez struggled against his old team, but the offense looked strong for the second straight game. Unfortunately, Will Vest was unable to hold on, surrendering three runs in the eighth to doom the Olde English D.
Toeing the rubber in the series finale on Sunday afternoon is right-hander Jack Flaherty, who makes his return to the mound after missing time on the injured list with abductor inflammation. The 30-year-old made one rehab start in Double-A Erie, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts across 5⅔ innings on 83 pitches.
Flaherty was on the IL when the Tigers faced the Astros in Houston last week. In his two games before being shelved, he posted a bloated 5.63 ERA but a tidy 1.85 FIP, allowing nine hits and two walks while striking out eight over eight frames of work.
For the visitors, fellow righty Hunter Brown will be making his fifth start of the season. The 27-year-old has allowed one run or less in his four appearances so far, but only made it through three innings his last time out against the Toronto Blue Jays, surrendering a solo home run along with three other hits and two walks while striking out four and hitting a pair of batters for a no-decision in a 4-2 team loss.
Brown looked sharp against the Tigers in Houston last week, throwing 5 2/3 frames of one-run ball on three hits and three walks while striking out seven for a no-decision in a 4-2 team win.
Here is a quick look at how the two match up on Sunday afternoon inside Comerica Park.
Detroit Tigers (35-48) vs. Houston Astros (41-44)
Time (ET): 1:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:The Crawfish Boxes Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 84: RHP Jack Flaherty (1-8, 5.35 ERA) vs. RHP Hunter Brown (1-0, 1.40 ERA)
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L, 3-4 at Indianapolis Indians
2B Marco Luciano 2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB, K throwing error — produced half the hits and all the ribbies, but the rest of the offense didn’t do much DH Yanquiel Fernández 0-4, 2 K, GIDP C Garrett Martin 0-4, K 3B Tyler Hardman 0-3, BB, K 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. 1-4, K SS Jonathan Ornelas 0-3, K C Payton Henry 0-3, K LF Duke Ellis 0-3, K, picked off RF Kenedy Corona 1-3, 2B
Brendan Beck 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 5 K Angel Chivilli 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K Eric Reyzelman 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K — hooboy, tough birthday for Reyzelman; the first two hits were infield singles, but he then walked a guy another hit before getting pulled Dylan Coleman 0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K — allowed a single and a walk-off walk to seal the rough loss
Marco Luciano Night ⚡️💣
The leadoff batter goes oppo 402 ft. and 105.3 mph off the bat with his SECOND homer of the game to put SWB back on top!#RepBXpic.twitter.com/TdIWiLqjEo
Double-A Somerset Patriots:L, 5-6 (7) and W, 5-1 (7) at New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Game 1
RF Jackson Castillo 0-2, 2 BB, K CF Jace Avina 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI — double put Somerset ahead in the third DH DJ Gladney 0-3, BB, K 1B Nicholas Torres 1-3, BB, RBI, K 3B Coby Morales 2-3, 2B, RBI, GIDP C Tomas Frick 1-3 LF Josh Moylan 0-3, 2 K SS Kevin Verde 0-2, K PH Miguel Palma 1-1, RBI — tied game with pinch-hit single in the sixth 2B Santiago Gomez 0-0 2B-SS Connor McGinnis 1-2, 2B, BB, GIDP
Chase Hampton 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 4 K, 2 pickoff errors — not his day Chris Kean 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K Trent Sellers 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K (loss) — allowed walk-off double to Hedbert Perez
RF Jackson Castillo 1-4, 2B, RBI DH Jace Avina 1-4, 2 K CF DJ Gladney 0-4, 2 K 1B Nicholas Torres 0-3, K 3B Coby Morales 0-1, 2 BB C Manny Palencia 0-3, 2 K LF Josh Moylan 1-2, 2B, BB, K SS Kevin Verde 1-2, RBI — tied it up in the fifth with an RBI single PH Miguel Palma 1-1, RBI — drove in go-ahead run in the seventh, second big pinch-hit of the day 2B Santiago Gomez 0-0 2B-SS Connor McGinnis 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI — two-run double added in four-run seventh
Ben Hess 4.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, HR — only hit allowed was a solo shot in the third, now up to 65 pitches in gradual buildup Tony Rossi 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K (win) Harrison Cohen 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Ben Hess (@Yankees No. 5 Prospect) worked into the fifth inning for the first time since coming off the 7-day IL. 🤩
3B Jackson Lovich 2-4, 2B, BB, RBI, K — doubled in three-run second CF Brando Mayea 1-4, BB, 2 K, SB LF Luis Puello 2-5, RBI, CS 1B Hans Montero 0-3, 2 BB, SB — scored a run after swiping third on a strikeout and bad throw SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek 1-5, 2B, RBI, 2 K — doubled in three-run first DH Engelth Urena 0-4, RBI, 2 K 2B Luis Escudero 0-2, 2 BB, K C Ediel Rivera 0-2, BB, K, HBP RF Gabriel Lara 1-4
Tyler Boudreau 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, HBP (win) — shutout effort from 2025 UFA out of Texas Tech, 10 swings and misses Brian Hendry 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K — no-hit relief to close it out
Florida Complex League Yankees:W, 3-2 (7) vs. FCL Blue Jays
3B Richard Matic 0-4, 3 K LF Wilberson De Pena 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI — put Yanks up with two-run double in the fifth C Queni Pineda 1-3, K — opposing catcher committed an error to allow walk-off run to score in final frame 2B Leni Done 1-2, SB, HBP CF Jose Castro 0-3, K DH Francisco Vilorio 1-3, SB SS Dexters Peralta 0-2, IBB, 2 K RF Estivenzon Montero 0-3, GIDP 1B Christofer Reyes 1-2, BB, K, SB — walked, stole second, and moved to third on a fliner in last inning
Dominican Summer League Yankees:W, 7-2 at DSL Miami
CF Isaias Castillo 1-3, 2 BB, 2 K SS Stiven Marinez 1-3, BB, 2 K, SB, CS, HBP RF Yostin Pena 1-2, 3 BB, 2 RBI — drew game-tying walk, which turned out to score two because of a throwing error by the other catcher; ah, the DSL 2B Juan Torres 0-4, BB, 2 K DH Juan Martinez 0-5, RBI C Cesar Lopez 0-4, BB, SB LF Manuel Aguilar 1-5, 2B, K, SB 3B Abrahan Pichardo 1-3, BB, 2 K, SB 1B Edgar Jimenez 2-4, 2B, K, fielding error
Jhon Beltre 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, HBP Yunior Jerez 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K (win) — dynamic relief, great work in essentially his fourth piggyback start Breidy Adames 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 3 K — pro debut for June 16th IFA signee
Dominican Summer League Bombers:W, 11-6 vs. DSL Nationals
CF Alfiery Matos 1-3, 2 BB, RBI, 3 SB — both of the top two hitters in the lineup had three steals, nine on the day for Bombers despite one pickoff 2B Carlos Bello 0-4, BB, K, 3 SB C Alessandro Rodriguez 0-4, BB, K RF David Carrera 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, SF, SB — double broke it open a bit for the final Bomber runs SS Germayhoni Beltre 1-4, HR, BB, RBI, fielding error — first pro homer gave Bombers lead in the fifth DH Poly Ojeda 1-3, BB, K 1B Stalen Ramirez 1-3, HR, BB, 3 RBI, K, fielding error — first pro homer tied game at 5-5 in the fourth 3B Adrian Feliz 1-4, K, GIDP, SB, throwing error, picked off LF Eddison Charles 2-4, 3B, K, SB
Brandy Luis 1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 0 K — pro debut for June 19th IFA signee Sebastian Castillo 3.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, HR, WP — oddly got the only K’s of the day for Bombers Ronald Tejada 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K (win) Chaury Gomez 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K Oscar Vasquez 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Dave Roberts, in his 11th season as manager of the Dodgers, has won three World Series titles and five National League pennants. (Photo illustration by Tate Rudisill / Los Angeles Times; photos by Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images, Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images, Steph Chambers / Getty Images, Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)
Dave Roberts didn’t have his heart set on becoming a manager.
Not when he cold-called Jed Hoyer, who’d just been hired as the San Diego Padres’ general manager, to offer his help and eventually accepted a special assistant role in the front office. Not when Bud Black, the Padres’ manager at the time, asked Roberts to be his first base coach. Not even when Roberts was promoted to bench coach — at least not at first.
But television didn’t feel like a long-term fit, and neither did his cup of coffee as an executive. Roberts’ return to the dugout gained its own momentum.
“I like to be in the clubhouse,” Roberts said in a recent conversation with The Times. “I like to be boots on the ground more. … So once I got on the field, I was like, ‘Yeah, this is what feels right for me.’”
Roberts’ first taste of the manager’s seat wasn’t how he would have scripted it. A.J. Preller, the Padres’ third GM in five years, dismissed Black in the middle of the 2015 season, leaving Roberts as the interim skipper for a game before Pat Murphy was promoted from triple A.
Roberts’ first win came the next year, after the Dodgers hired him to replace Don Mattingly. In Roberts’ Dodgers debut, on opening day at Petco Park, his team trounced the Padres 15-0.
Roberts is back in San Diego for a weekend series against the Padres, just three wins away from 1,000 after Saturday’s 15-3 victory, in a full-circle moment.
Only two other active managers have racked up more wins: Terry Francona (2,072), who began his managerial career in 1997, and AJ Hinch (999), who had a smaller head start on Roberts.
“It’s a big number,” said Roberts, who will join Walter Alston, Tommy Lasorda and Wilbert Robinson as the only managers in franchise history to win 1,000 games. “It’s something I never really thought of. … I don’t take a lot of time to look at milestones because I just kind of go day to day. But I’m going to take that one in. Because it’s a long time, it’s a lot of really good players and coaches, and a lot of support.”
Roberts is in his 11th season at the helm for the Dodgers, with three years left after this one on his record-breaking extension ($8.1 million annually). He’s taken the Dodgers to the postseason every year, won five National League pennants and claimed three World Series titles.
“To be the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, so much pressure, so much expectations, to have Doc as our manager leading it, I don’t think there’s anybody that could do what he does,” veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman said.
The Dodgers are now an international brand, with star power from across the globe, including the most famous baseball player in the world in Shohei Ohtani. So, every homestand, after Roberts fulfills his media responsibilities and oversees batting practice, he serves as an ambassador of sorts.
Roberts greets groups of guests and celebrities with enthusiasm, engages them in conversation and poses for pictures.
That talent, however, isn’t why this group of Dodgers — full of household names, but also young players expected to grow into key roles — has bought in.
“He cares about people,” Freeman said. “His door’s always open. Being a manager is obviously managing baseball, but it’s more about managing egos. You have 26 players, you have all the coaching staff, support staff — and our clubhouse runs smoothly, and that’s because of Dave Roberts.
“He’s a man that’s been through it all. He was a player. He knows how hard the game is. He’s been in the manager seat for a long time here. He knows the ups and downs of the season. We trust him. He trusts us. And I think that’s the key word in all this, is trust. When you have trust with your manager, and know he’s going to put you in the right spots to succeed, it’s very easy to run through walls for him.”
That trust is built through a track record of decisions that prioritize things like player health. But it also stems from genuine care.
“Ever since I got here, the first impression of him was how good he was with people,” said veteran utility man Miguel Rojas, who hopes to become a manager after he hangs up his cleats. “How much he cares about families, how much he cares about where you’re coming from and who is the support system that you have around you. He cares about you as a person more than as a player.”
“He was the first one to tell me that family is way more important than what we’re doing right now,” Rojas said.
The next day, when Rojas felt he needed to be on the field as he processed the death of his father, Roberts listened.
On the other side of the equation, Rojas also thinks Roberts has made him a better father to his son Aaron, who is often around the team throughout the summer.
Roberts doesn’t just flash his people skills when he’s in ambassador mode. Earlier this month, Roberts spotted Aaron in one of the armchairs in the middle of the visitors clubhouse in Pittsburgh. Roberts beelined to him, cracking inside jokes to gently prod him out of his shell.
“My kid, when I got here in 2023, he’s not the same kid that he is now,” Rojas said. “He was 6 or 7 years old when I got back to the Dodgers. And Doc really sees the way that he’s evolving as a human, being more outspoken and open to say hi to people, to have conversations with the coaches and all the players — and it’s not just with the kids or me. So it’s pretty cool to see that [Roberts] helped me with him too, with his social skills that he was trying to develop.”
Managers’ jobs often veer toward the bigger picture. Their coaching staff deals with the details. But Roberts finds moments to pull players aside for one-on-one conversations.
“I enjoy that part more than anything,” Roberts said. “It’s the least talked about, but I think it’s the most important part of my job, trying to build men. And that’s something that I’ve always believed, that if you do it the right way, then the fruits will be a better ballplayer.”
Anyone watching the Dodgers broadcast last Wednesday saw Roberts put his arm around catcher Dalton Rushing’s shoulders after a rough first two innings led to Ohtani taking over calling the pitches.
“Doc does a great job just telling how it is,” Call said. “And saying, ‘hey, we love you, and we love exactly what you bring to the game, and you don’t have to do anything else. So, basically, just take a deep breath and be Alex Call.’ And it’s just nice to hear that kind of stuff, and just nice to be able to have your manager have confidence in you.”
During the last homestand, the day after the bottom of the order struck out consecutively with the bases loaded in what became a walk-off win against the Baltimore Orioles, Roberts called over Ryan Ward and Alex Freeland in the dugout during batting practice.
As they discussed situational hitting, Roberts wanted to encourage them rather than “get on them.” Ward said the conversation took off some pressure.
“All you hear about is, the big leagues is way different,” said Ward, who debuted in April. “And just having those little moments of reassurance, and having them talk to you and pull you aside, and giving you props, and helping you where things have gone wrong — and having that advice come from him, and feel the [organizational] continuity of everything, is incredible.”
When Roberts’ playing career ended, he might not have pictured himself sitting in this seat at all, let alone for nearly 1,000 wins.
But as he positions himself at the top step of the dugout at Petco Park, back where it all started, it sure does suit him.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 09: General Manager Mike Elias of the Baltimore Orioles watches the Orioles Hall of Fame ceremony before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Athletics at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 09, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, friends.
The 2026 Orioles are at it again. This is not a complimentary statement. Last night’s loss, good grief, what can you even say at this point? They find ways to lose. They should be better than a team that finds ways to lose and they aren’t. There’s a lamentable amount of ongoing bumbling. Not even Brandon Young as the starting pitcher makes them immune to this occurring. They are sticking to a variety of philosophies that do not seem to be working out for them with a “captain goes down with the ship” level of dedication. Check out Paul Folkemer’s recap of the game for yet another edition of the not-so-lovely totals.
In news that takes on a darkly comic shade after what happened in last night’s game, Mike Elias put in some time with Orioles reporters ahead of the Saturday contest and made some pronouncements that include: “We’re going for it. I’ll let you know if that changes” and “I think we’re going to be good” and “we see a lot of good things in the operation” and “we think we have really good people here.” It’s not the kind of funny that makes you laugh.
I’m sure that Elias also wishes the team had played better immediately following his staking out those kinds of positions. I can sympathize with him. I’ve been in the “You say something and the Orioles make you look stupid not long after” game for longer than he has. I have put my share of cold takes on this website in the past and will end up making them for as long as I am around. You’re never going to say anything interesting about this team (or any team) if you are worried that you’re going to look dumb for saying it. That’s the truth.
Then again Elias isn’t getting paid for takes, he’s getting paid to have the Orioles win games. Or that’s the assumption all but the most dedicated cynics would make. They aren’t winning enough games. They haven’t won enough games dating back to just about two years exactly from right now. That’s a long time in baseball. It’s about as long as it was fun to be a fan coming out of the tanking years. July 2022 through June 2024 were fun. July 2024 through now have not been fun. If they don’t fix this thing next month, the not-fun has gone on longer than the fun ever did. That sucks.
The Elias presser also included a question about whether he feels the pressure to have the Orioles improve, which seems like it was a polite phrasing of “Do you think you might get fired?” To that, Elias said, “I always feel a lot of pressure in this position … Every single year I’ve felt pressure and you worry about your job in this business. So absolutely. But I think we have a really good chance of doing what we want to do and we’re all working very hard and we’re all very optimistic about it.”
I mentioned, above, that there is a captain going down with the ship dedication going on here. The ship is sinking. He’s not abandoning it. There’s a nobility in that. But for the time being there’s not a winning record, and since they’re six games below .500, there won’t be a winning record for at least another seven games.
The Orioles will try to win the series against their southern neighbors with a 1:35 game today. The Nationals starting pitcher, Zack Littell, is not left-handed, so maybe they have a chance. He has an ERA of 5.40, so maybe they don’t have a chance. Kyle Bradish is pitching for the Orioles today, so maybe they have a chance. We’ll see how it shakes out.
Mike Elias on Adley Rutschman: “We want him here forever” (The Baltimore Sun) You’re one of the two people on this planet, along with David Rubenstein, who can make this happen! If you really want him here forever, sign him to the deal. Otherwise it’s disingenuous to say stuff like this.
Orioles reinstate Cade Povich from injured list, option him to Norfolk (Baltimore Baseball) One small bit of Orioles news yesterday is that the team quietly activated Povich from his rehab stint and sent him back to the minors. He didn’t have a good rehab stint, so it’s no surprise to see him not getting a big league spot right now.
Of all the players to ever play for the Orioles, only a single one was ever born on this day: 1970-75 outfielder Don Baylor. He passed away in 2017 at age 68.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Methodism leader John Wesley (1703), actor and movie maker Mel Brooks (1926), actress Kathy Bates (1948), and YouTuber Markiplier (1989).
On this day in history…
In 1870, the first federal holidays were established by Congress. In the first batch: New Year Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
In 1914, Austria’s Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife Sophie were killed by a gunman in Sarajevo. This is the incident that proved to be the lighting of the match of what became World War I.
In 1969, a police raid on a gay bar in Manhattan called the Stonewall Inn sparked riots and demonstrations, an event now recognized as the start of the gay rights movement.
In 1997, boxer Mike Tyson bit off a part of opponent Evander Holyfield’s ear during a rematch between the two men. Tyson was disqualified.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on June 28. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Tommy Pham #39 of the New York Mets bats during the fifth inning of game one of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field on April 26, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Heather Khalifa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars dribbles the ball while being guarded by Nic Codie #10 of the Texas Longhorns during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the first pick in the 2026 draft, the Washington Wizards got the guy they think will spearhead the team’s offense and lead them into contention over the next decade-plus. Now comes the hard, fascinating, long-term work of turning AJ Dybantsa’s many strengths into an elite NBA player.
Because Dybantsa will be just 19-years-old for the first half of his rookie season, and NBA history tells us that teenagers entering the league are unlikely to be great immediately. The league is arguably the most challenging in pro sports — the difference between the NBA and the next level down is bigger than any other league.
Playing big minutes with reasonable production would set AJ Dybantsa up for a long and productive career with the Washington Wizards. | NBAE via Getty Images
Even being the top pick doesn’t eliminate the growing pains of young players entering the NBA. The exceptions underscore the rule.
Through NBA history, just three players age 20 or under produced at least 10 Win Shares in their rookie season, according to Basketball-Reference (NOTE: per Basketball-Reference methodology, this will be Dybantsa’s age 20 season, so I’m using 20 and under as the cutoff):
Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers | 10.5 — 1979-80
Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando Magic | 10.4 — 1992-93
Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets | 10.4 — 2005-06
Only five players total had at least eight Win Shares. Just 20 had five or more. Number 20 on that list? LeBron James, who lands just above a few other prominent names who just fell short of the 5.0 cutoff, including Luka Doncic, Derrick Rose, James Harden, and Kevin Garnett.
Wunderkind Victor Wembanyama had 3.7 as a rookie. Wizards guards Bradley Beal (3.0) and John Wall (2.2) were tops for 20-and-under rookies in Washington.
Under the leadership of Michael Winger and Will Dawkins, the Wizards have invested heavily in player development, from expanding their developmental infrastructure to hiring coaches with a record of helping young stars. Their goal should not be to maximize Dybantsa’s rookie statistics but to make sure he’s great from 24 to 33.
While there are no firm rules when it comes to 20-and-under rookies, there are some indicators worth tracking. Rather than points per game or other standard metrics, I’ll be keying on three things:
Offensive involvement.
Availability and minutes.
Overall production.
The Wizards will do everything in their power to set Dybantsa up for a successful career. The question today is what might be some signals that he actually is succeeding, even if his on-court performance is uneven.
Let’s start with this: Lots of playing time. As the cliche goes, the number one ability is availability. While missing games has become more common and minutes totals have declined as teams try to maximize career length, the most productive under-20 rookies played a lot both in terms of games played and minutes. They also had more productive careers.
This isn’t about gifting minutes to a youngster. Being talented enough to win a starting job (even if it’s not to begin the season), good enough to convince the coach to keep him on the floor, and conditioned enough to play significant minutes and not miss games are positives for a youngster and bode well for how his career may unfold.
Whether I look at under-20 rookies using a simple volume metric like total minutes or games played or a rate production stat like PPA, the trend is clear: production begets minutes begets production. The big the Wizards don’t want to see from Dybantsa is missing games due to injuries.
Benchmarks I’d like to see: 70+ games played, 60+ starts, 2,200+ total minutes. If he’s getting 32 minutes a night as a teenager, it’s because coaches think he helps them win possessions and ultimately games.
The next big indicator: Production. Once again, whether I look at totals or rates, the guys who became truly elite tended to be productive as young rookies. Here’s the top 10 in PPA for 20-and-under rookies:
Nikola Jokic
Chris Paul
Zion Williamson
Karl-Anthony Towns
Anthony Davis
Chris Webber
Shaquille O’Neal
Magic Johnson
Victor Wembanyama
Kawhi Leonard
The only guy on that list I’d classify as unlikely to make the Hall of Fame is Williamson. He played just 24 games and 668 minutes as a rookie and has gone on to miss similar chunks of subsequent seasons. He’s one of the reasons playing a lot is the first indicator.
Sort the list by total production (total PPA) and the result is similar:
Shaquille O’Neal (played 81 games as a rookie)
Chris Paul
Magic Johnson
Karl-Anthony Towns
Elton Brand
Chris Webber
Dwight Howard
Joe Smith
LeBron James
Victor Wembanyama
No specific standard box score category (such as points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, etc.) stands out as being particularly predictive of future success. Overall production — however the rookie does it — does matter, though.
A benchmark I’ll be watching: PPA of 70 or higher (in PPA, 100 is average and higher is better). There are exceptions — youngsters who rated below a 70 and went on to be excellent like Kobe Bryant, Shawn Kemp, DeMarcus Cousins (sorta), Alperen Sengun, Jamal Murray, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dirk Nowitzki, Devin Booker, DeAaron Fox, and Zach LaVine. But the “hits” are much less frequent the further down the PPA list you go.
One “advanced” category to watch: usage. While efficiency is what drives winning in the NBA, for a 20-and-under rookie, trying to do stuff seems to matter more than actually doing stuff. Think Doncic with a 32.8% usage rate and an effective field goal percentage of 49.7% or LeBron at 28.4% usage and 43.8% eFG%.
There are exceptions, of course, though they’re usually smaller guards who burned possessions on horrific efficiency like Dennis Smith (28.6% usage and an offensive rating more than 15 points per 100 possessions below average) or Scoot Henderson (27.9% usage and a -21 relative offensive rating).
For a benchmark, I’ll be watching 20% — the league average rate. Given Dybantsa’s skills and athletic tools, and the Wizards roster, I’d expect him at or around that level as a rookie. Below that wouldn’t be much of a concern, unless his usage goes ultra-low (sub-14%).
I say this because low-usage 20-and-under rookies have gone on to become All-Stars and better. Here are a few:
Giannis 15.5%
Gordon Hayward 15.2%
Aaron Gordon 15.1%
Domantas Sabonis 15.1%
Joe Johnson 14.5%
Nicolas Batum 14.0%
Kawhi Leonard 14.0%
Some useful players used even fewer possessions as rookies (OG Anunoby had a 12.1% usage rate!), but the cutoff point seems to be around 14%. Side note: that holds out some hope for Coulibaly and his 14.2% rookie usage rate. Only some, though.
High usage means the coaching staff and teammates trust a rookie to create offense. Teenagers capable of carrying that burden — even inefficiently — often develop into stars because they possess skills that can’t easily be taught. Just as important, high usage is a signal that the player is trying to make things happen and that he’s confident in his own abilities. Even if he’s laying bricks or committing turnovers.
These are benchmarks I’ll be watching this season, though I want to emphasize that there are no hard and fast rules. For example, as a 20-year-old rookie, Greg Monroe posted a 150 PPA with a 120 offensive rating on 16.1% usage but never learned to translate individual production into winning basketball. On the other hand, Devin Booker had a replacement level 45 PPA and a 100 offensive rating on 22.1% usage but developed into an All-NBA level player who helped lead a team to the NBA Finals.
While ideally, Dybantsa will be an All-Star level producer (whether he’s selected to the team or not) right away, simply being a competent NBA player at 19-20 years old is a pretty good indicator of future success. The Wizards don’t need him to be a world-killer from day one. For a 20-and-under rookie, staying on the court as a decent player is more than enough.
The Wizards didn’t draft Dybantsa to win Rookie of the Year (he’s currently third in the FanDuel ROY betting odds), though he has a good of chance of winning the award. They want him to be All-NBA level for years to come. History suggests those futures rarely begin with spectacular rookie seasons. They begin with teenagers who stay healthy, earn big minutes, shoulder responsibility and prove they already belong on an NBA court.
SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 24: Naz Reid #11 and Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 24, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
To say it has been a shocking week for the Minnesota Timberwolves would be selling it incredibly short.
Heading into the NBA Draft, this offseason had all the makings of being a fairly quiet one for Minnesota. The Wolves were sitting on the 28th overall pick in the first round, the Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors appeared to be drifting toward destinations like Miami or Boston, and there wasn’t much to suggest that Tim Connelly was preparing to light a match under the roster.
Then, in classic NBA fashion, everything happened at once.
Shortly before the draft, news broke that Julius Randle was headed to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team trade involving the Chicago Bulls. The move itself wasn’t necessarily the surprise. After Randle’s disappointing postseason, there had been growing consensus throughout Wolves Nation that Minnesota needed to explore moving him. The surprising part wasn’t that Randle was traded. It was what Minnesota received in return.
Or perhaps more accurately…what they didn’t receive.
Instead of bringing back another established player, the Timberwolves essentially used Randle as a salary dump. Minnesota also shipped out the 28th overall pick while receiving Brooklyn’s 31st selection back in return, moving from the back end of the first round to the top of the second. The immediate return consisted primarily of financial flexibility, a sizeable trade exception, and breathing room beneath the apron restrictions.
From a purely financial standpoint, the move made perfect sense. The move gave Minnesota the flexibility to extend an generous offer to Ayo Dosunmu, who had established himself as an important piece after arriving from Chicago at the trade deadline. Sliding from the 28th pick to the 31st pick also reduced the financial commitment attached to the incoming rookie while still allowing the Wolves to select a player in virtually the same talent tier. If you view the transaction through the lens of roster construction and cap management, you could certainly understand the logic.
The emotional reaction, however, was something entirely different. Julius Randle represented arguably the Wolves’ biggest trade asset. Fans had spent the better part of the spring dreaming about him being packaged in a blockbuster that addressed Minnesota’s glaring need at point guard. Instead, they watched the team’s second-best player disappear into a financial vacuum. Even supporters who understood the salary-cap mechanics couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed.
That disappointment showed up immediately in our SB Nation Reacts poll.
Only 35 percent of Timberwolves fans approved of the Julius Randle trade in the immediate aftermath. The result wasn’t particularly surprising.nViewed in isolation, the trade looked underwhelming. Fans naturally evaluate transactions by asking one simple question: “Did we get better?” At that particular moment, it was impossible to answer yes. The Wolves had lost one of their most talented offensive players, slid back in the draft, and had not yet solved their biggest roster issue. It wasn’t difficult to understand why nearly two-thirds of the fan base felt frustrated.
The important part, though, was recognizing that Tim Connelly almost certainly wasn’t finished. General managers rarely create that much financial flexibility without another move already brewing. Salary dumps don’t happen in a vacuum, especially for contenders. They’re usually the first domino, not the last one.
As it turns out, Wolves fans didn’t have to wait very long for the second domino to fall. Just days later, Minnesota completely reshaped its roster by acquiring LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets. In order to make that happen, the Timberwolves packaged Naz Reid, a 2033 first-round pick, multiple pick swaps, and additional second-round selections to Charlotte. Suddenly, the seemingly confusing Randle trade snapped into focus.
Looking at the entire sequence instead of judging each transaction independently, Minnesota had effectively turned Julius Randle, Naz Reid, future draft considerations, and modest draft positioning into LaMelo Ball while simultaneously creating the financial flexibility necessary to retain Ayo Dosunmu.
Now the picture looked very different. Last season, the defining characteristic of the Timberwolves roster was overwhelming frontcourt depth paired with an obvious weakness at point guard. Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle were three starting-caliber frontcourt players competing for minutes while Mike Conley continued to age and Anthony Edwards was forced to shoulder increasing ball-handling responsibilities.
That imbalance finally reached a breaking point during the postseason. Against San Antonio, Minnesota desperately needed another creator capable of organizing the offense when defenses loaded up on Edwards. The Wolves could bully teams physically, but they struggled to consistently generate quality offense against elite defensive pressure. It became painfully obvious that while Minnesota possessed an abundance of size, they lacked enough creators.
Connelly clearly agreed, and now the equation has completely flipped. Instead of having too many frontcourt players and not enough guards, the Timberwolves suddenly have a collection of capable guards while creating an obvious hole at power forward. Outside of Rudy Gobert and Joan Beringer, there isn’t much size remaining. Whether Beringer is ready for meaningful NBA minutes immediately remains to be seen, and it seems highly unlikely Tim Connelly considers the current roster a finished product. There almost has to be another move coming. Whether that’s another trade, a veteran free-agent signing, or a smaller depth acquisition remains unknown, but it’s difficult to imagine Minnesota entering training camp with so few established rotational big men.
That’s why judging the offseason today probably misses the point. This feels much more like Chapter Two than the final chapter. What is already clear, however, is the philosophical shift.
The Timberwolves have gotten younger. They’ve gotten faster. They’ve gotten considerably more explosive. And perhaps most importantly, they’ve addressed the roster imbalance that had become increasingly difficult to ignore. LaMelo Ball is one of the league’s most gifted passers, capable of throwing passes that most players don’t even see, let alone attempt. It will be fascinating to watch what that means for Anthony Edwards, who suddenly won’t face quite as much responsibility initiating the offense. It could unlock another level for Jaden McDaniels as a cutter. It could create easier baskets for Rudy Gobert, who has spent much of his Wolves tenure waiting for consistent lob opportunities that never quite materialized. Even role players stand to benefit from playing alongside a point guard who naturally elevates everyone around him.
It’s easy to understand why only 35 percent of the fan base approved of the Julius Randle trade when it happened. If the story had ended there, the criticism would have been justified, but basketball transactions rarely exist in isolation. They’re chapters in a larger narrative, and once the LaMelo Ball deal arrived, the opening chapter suddenly looked much more intentional than reactionary. What initially appeared to be a disappointing salary dump now looks more like the financial maneuver that made the franchise’s biggest offseason move possible.
Whether it ultimately works is another conversation entirely. LaMelo has his own injury history to overcome. Minnesota still needs frontcourt reinforcements. Chemistry will have to develop. Chris Finch will have to reshape the offense around a dramatically different roster. There are legitimate questions still waiting to be answered.
But one thing is beyond debate. The Timberwolves are going to look very different when they take the floor for the 2026-27 season. After several years of building around overwhelming size, Tim Connelly has decided to attack the league from the opposite direction. Whether that gamble ultimately pushes Minnesota over the championship hump remains to be seen, but at the very least, this offseason has already become a lot more interesting than anyone expected when June began.
Somehow, I still don’t think Tim Connelly is finished.
Neither does FanDuel Sportsbook, who has raised Minnesota’s 2027 title odds to +2200, a significant bump from the +3000 before the LaMelo trade.
Ty Madden had a rough outing, but the bullpen and offense had his back in Toledo’s 15-6 Saturday night win over Worcester.
The Red Sox took an early 5-0 lead, scoring three in the first and two in the second. It was 2-0 before Madden recorded his first out, and the first four batters reached safely. The command just wasn’t there today. He gave up five hits, three of which went for extra bases, three walks and hit two batters. Madden got the hook after a one-out walk in the third.
The Mud Hens didn’t ride Madden too long because the offense showed signs of life in the third after going six up, six down in the first two frames. Corey Julks sparked the rally with a leadoff single, and Tomas Nido followed up with a one-out double to put runners on the corners for Max Clark.
The former third overall pick found the gap in right-center for a two-run double, and Max Anderson followed with a two-run homer to cut the deficit to just one.
Beau Brieske picked things up for Ty Madden and worked through the fourth. Brieske retired all five batters he faced, including two strikeouts.
Toledo found more offense in the fifth, when Anderson led off with a single. Gage Workman followed with his own base hit, and Eduarado Valencia walked to load the bases. Trei Cruz tied the game up with a liner to left, and the WooSox’s bullpen walked in the go-ahead run.
Anderson, Workman and Valencia got things going again in the sixth, hitting back-to-back-to-back doubles. Brett Callahan lined out to snap the streak, but Cruz doubled to keep things moving.
Worcester should have gotten out of the inning with the score at 9-5, but a fielding error by the pitcher led to a three-run homer for Jace Jung. 12-5, Toledo.
Jace Jung swings the hot bat for the second game in a row💥💥
Cole Waites, Tyler Mattison and Nick Sandlin kept the Red Sox hitless through the next four innings. Waites had to work around a pair of walks in the fifth, and the other two walked a batter each. No harm done, though.
Valencia hit into a double play to score Clark in the seventh, Anderson led off with a solo homer in the ninth and Julks doubled in Valencia a couple of batters later, making it 15-5. That’s Anderson’s fifth hit of the day for those keeping track.
Max Anderson comes right out of commercials with a solo homer to left to put the Mud Hens up 14-5. It’s his 2nd home run of the game, and his 9th with Toledo. He’s 5-for-6 tonight. pic.twitter.com/NyVgHgWC6J
Scott Effross gave up a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth, but Worcester wasn’t scoring another nine runs to keep this game going. Gee, it’d be nice to have that kind of run support and bullpen confidence in Detroit….
Clark: 2-6, 2B (15), 2 R, 2 RBI, K
Anderson: 5-6, 2 HR (9), 2B (10), 4 R, 3 RBI
Jung: 2-5, HR (14), R, 4 RBI, BB
Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:05 p.m. ET start on Sunday, as Toledo goes for a seventh win in a row and the sweep.
Erie took care of business on Saturday against Binghamton, as the Erie SeaWolves beat the Rumble Ponies 8-1.
Andrew Sears gave another four-inning effort, throwing a season-high 60 pitches. Two of the four hits he allowed, and one walk, came in the first inning. Sears worked around those with a successful pickoff and one strikeout, though. He retired nine in a row after that, but a pair of two-out hits in the fourth led to the lone Binghamton run scoring.
The SeaWolves gave Sears a five-run cushion to work with by the third. Garrett Pennington and Andrew Jenkins set things up in the second with back-to-back singles. E.J. Exposito doubled in Pennington, and Aaron Antonini brought Jenkins home on a sacrifice fly.
Pennington singled in Chris Meyers, who doubled with two outs in the third. Jenkins walked, and Max Burt made it 4-0 with a grounder through the left side. Expositio walked to load the bases, and Antonini got hit by a pitch for a free run.
Dariel Fregio worked through the sixth in relief of Sears. He dealt with a baserunner in each inning but got through it all unscathed. Trevin Michael went 1-2-3 in the seventh, keeping the score at 5-1 while the offense went through a cold spell.
Erie’s bats came alive again in the bottom of the seventh. Justice Bigbie homered to open the frame, and Exposito hit a sac fly with the bases loaded. 7-1, SeaWolves.
Michael came back out for the eighth and worked around a one-out single. Meyers gave Erie one more insurance run in the bottom half, doubling in Peyton Graham.
Luke Taggart closed things out with a 1-2-3 ninth. A really good performance from the pitching staff, and plenty of offense for a comfortable win.
Pennington: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, BB
Bigbie: 1-5, HR (5), R, RBI, K
Meyers: 2-4, 2 2B (15), 2 R, RBI, BB
Sears: 4.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:05 p.m. ET start on Sunday. Erie leads the series, 4-1.
Gm 1: West Michigan Whitecaps 8, Dayton Dragons 1 (box)
It was a great day for West Michigan’s pitching staff, starting with a one-hitter in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. The Whitecaps beat the Dayton Dragons 8-1, breaking through in the fifth for a six-run frame.
Things went pretty quickly until then. Clayton Campbell had the only hit through the first four innings, although there were five walks between both teams. Jake Miller was good through 3 2/3 innings, even if four of those walks belonged to him. Five strikeouts and no hits allowed balanced the level there.
Thomas Bruss took over for the final out of the fourth, and then West Michigan’s offense got going. Samuel Gil led off the fifth with a single, and Patrick Lee notched his own base hit with one out. Cristian Santana walked to load the bases, and Woody Hadeen grounded into a 4-6 out that brought in the first run of the day.
It’s quite fortunate that ball avoided being an inning-ending double play. Bryce Rainer homered in the next at-bat, making it 4-0. When we saw he homered, we mean he hit this ball into the stratosphere.
Bryce Rainer absolutely destroys this ball for a 3-run homer to right. It’s his 7th home run with the Whitecaps. pic.twitter.com/yiqbYhQmSd
Bruss went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth to get the offense back out there. Santana moved Lee (walk) into scoring position with a single, and Hadeen grounded out for another RBI. Productive outs today from him.
Juanmi Vasquez lost the shutout and no-hitter on one swing in the sixth, allowing a solo homer for the only Dayton run of the day. It could have gotten a lot worse, with Vasquez walking a pair and throwing a wild pitch, but he recovered to keep it a one-run frame.
Gil and Lee singled to bring another run in. Lee tried to stretch it into a double but was tagged out at second. Zack Lee went 1-2-3 in the ninth to close out a convincing win.
Rainer: 1-2, HR (7), R, 3 RBI, 2 K, 2BB
Lee, P: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, BB
Miller: 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K
Gm 2: West Michigan Whitecaps 5, Dayton Dragons 1 (box)
The Whitecaps picked up where they left off and threw another gem as a staff against the Dragons, winning 5-1 in Game 2 of the doubleheader. This time, there were two hits, which means West Michigan allowed a total of three base hits over 14 innings on the day. That’s good stuff at any level of this game.
Charlie Christensen worked the first two innings in his High-A debut and Carlos Marcano took the last five. Christensen struggled with his command, walking five batters to just one strikeout. The lone base hit he allowed came with two outs in the second, and he followed up with three straight walks to give up a free run. It was a pretty bad spiral, but the Whitecaps had already scored a run, so all it did was tie the game.
Stephen Hrustich homered to get West Michigan on the board, and Ricardo Hurtado gave the Whitecaps the lead back in the third with an RBI single.
Stephen Hrustich hits a missile of a solo homer to left center to put West Michigan up 1-0 early in game 2. pic.twitter.com/VVVJNjadt9
Arcano took control of the game after that. He retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced, and got a double play to erase a walk in the sixth. Samuel Gil gave him an insurance run to work with in the sixth, hitting a sac fly with Rainer on third.
Hurtado came up big in the seventh, widening the gap with an RBI single and scoring on a double from Campbell. Marcano hit a batter in the final frame, but everything else was great from him.
Ricardo Hurtado works a 9-pitch plate appearance and then hits a sharp 2-out single to put the Whitecaps up 4-1. pic.twitter.com/i7Val6hnpS
Well, one of these teams had to lose, right? Lakeland only had four hits in its 7-1 loss against the Daytona Tortugas on Saturday. The Flying Tigers walked six times, too, but nothing ever got strung together.
Win Scott got his first start after 13 2/3 scoreless innings with Lakeland. He struck out the side in the first, but things turned in the second. Scott retired a pair of batters after allowing a leadoff double, but that third out was elusive. A walk, single and back-to-back doubles made it 4-0 in a flash. He got the first two out of the third just fine, but that was the end of the line for him at 52 pitches.
Yendy Gomez was sharp through the fourth, but he spiraled in the fifth inning. A leadoff double and one-out RBI single were bad enough, but three straight walks to bring in another run are unacceptable. Duque Hebbert took over with the bases loaded and gave up an RBI single before getting out of the jam.
At that point, Lakeland had already made it through its only offensive spurt of the day. Nick Dumesnil broke the shutout with a ground-rule double over the fence in left. Zach MacDonald and Anibal Salas had both walked before that, but only the former scored. Jack Goodman stranded the bases loaded, and nothing came of a one-out single in the fifth.
Hebbert retired six of the next seven batters he faced, getting Lakeland through the seventh, but the offense was lifeless. Donye Evans worked around a one-out walk in the eighth, and the Flying Tigers went down 1-2-3 in the ninth. Not great, Bob.
Yost: 0-4, BB
Warwick: 2-4, 2 K
Dumesnil: 1-4, 2B (5), RBI
Scott (L, 0-1): 2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 4 K
Coming up Next: It’s a 1:05 p.m. ET start on Sunday. Daytona leads the series, 4-1.
Rookie ball is usually where everyone hits the ball, but not today in Lakeland. The Tigers beat the Phillies, 1-0, as the visiting Phils only saw four baserunners reach.
Owen Hall threw the bulk of this one for the Tigers. He went five scoreless innings and struck out six without walking anyone. Both of the Phillies hits came off him, but I’d say he’s ready for Single-A after this performance.
Zach Swanson, Detroit’s ninth-round pick in 2024, got the start and made his professional debut after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Swanson was one of the Tigers big bonus prep picks, and so his progress will be closely followed. He threw 21 pitches and struck out three over 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Swanson allowed one walk. Yoan Valdez struck out the only batter he faced, getting the final out of the second.
Offensively, the biggest note is Josue Briceno being back. He went 0-3 as the designated hitter today, but it’s good to see him back in the batter’s box after spring wrist surgery.
Ronald Ramirez had the only multi-hit day for the Tigers, singling in the second and fifth. Michael Oliveto had a base hit in the fourth. Santiago Pinto had a hit in the fifth, but he was caught stealing. Ramirez tried to score on a single from Luis Aguilera in the fifth, but he was thrown out at home.
Cristian Perez had the big swing in the sixth, a solo homer to decide the game.
Briceno: 0-3
Perez: 1-3, HR (9), R, RBI, K
Hall (W, 1-1): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a rematch against the Phillies at noon ET on Monday.
The DSL Tigers 2 club beat the DSL Phillies 9-5 on Sunday.
Starter Alexander Bertiz had a rough day on paper with five runs scoring, but only two of them were earned. He struck out four and didn’t walk anyone. All things considered, that’s not so bad. Raimi Mueses threw two innings of one-hit ball, walking one and striking out one. Abelardo Medrano closed things out in the seventh, working around a one-out error.
Samuell Sanchez got the Tigers on the board early with a two-run homer in the first. Manuel Bolivar grounded out for an RBI, and Willian Berti doubled in another run in the third. Diego Orro gave the Tigers their fifth run with a sac fly in the third.
Eduardo Tusen broke a 5-5 tie in the fifth with a double, scoring Orro, who tripled the at-bat before. Tusen stole third and came home on a wild pitch. Orro had another RBI in the seventh on a single.
Tusen: 3-5, 2B (7), 3 R, RBI, K
Sanchez: 1-2, HR (4), R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K
Orro: 3-3, 3B (2),2 R, 2 RBI
Bertiz: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next:Both DSL Tigers clubs play on Monday at 11 a.m. ET. The No. 1 team is on the road against the DSL White Sox, and the No. 2 team is at home against the DSL Rockies.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 25: Anthony Seigler #48 high-fives Anthony Volpe #11 after scoring a run on a RBI hit by Jasson Domínguez (not seen) of the New York Yankees during the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Where oh where have the bats gone? The simplest answer is “The Injured List”, but the Yankees previously had been able to keep producing runs even after seeing some huge bats go down. Their luck has run out lately, however, with the team’s wounded lineup now struggling at the end of June and giving fans visions of a midsummer malaise. It’s up to Carlos Rodón to prevent a sweep in Boston tonight, or else the Bombers will return to New York nursing a four-game losing streak.
It’s an NBC Sunday night joint tonight, so ahead of the game, get caught up with Peter’s Rivalry Roundup, and enjoy Matt’s profile of Al Downing for our Yankees Birthday series. Later, John spins around this week in Yankees social media, and Scott tracks an uptick in attendance, for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Today’s Matchup:
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Time: 7:20 p.m. EST
TV: NBC/Peacock
Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Questions/Prompts:
1. How are you feeling about the Yankee offense’s ability to weather the storm without some of their top bats after this recent downturn?
2. Will the Yankees be handle to hold off the Rays while Aaron Judge heals, or do you think they’re doomed to see the Rays pass them by the time Judge returns now that Tampa has tied them?
Jun 27, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) pitches during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Although Gerrit Cole’s Saturday start at Fenway was far from a success, it wasn’t without some positives. After giving up a two-run double to Willson Contreras in the third inning, Cole reportedly changed his approach, accepting that he didn’t have his best stuff and forgoing precise command for aggressively attacking the strike zone. It seemed to pay dividends – Cole escaped the third with consecutive strikeouts of Jarren Duran and Caleb Durbin, then retired 7 of 9 batters to finish his outing. While Cole has struggled of late after an encouraging first few starts, in-game adjustments like this show that he can bear down even when things aren’t going his way.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Some good news on the injury front – Trent Grisham is set to be activated from the 10-day injured list during the Yankees’ upcoming homestand. Although his batting line remains a step down from his excellent 2025, Grisham still provided decent pop and solid on-base skills at the leadoff spot, where he was stationed in 44 of his 66 games played. The Yankees need all the offensive help they can get, with Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger slumping over their past few games, and Aaron Judge still a ways away from rejoining the lineup. Hopefully Grisham’s return can reignite the Yankees’ spark.
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty: ($) While the Yankees’ farm system isn’t really a world-beater, that’s not to say it’s completely barren. In fact, on the pitching side there’s been many positive developments in the first half of 2026, and Kuty provides a long list of interesting names. True to their prospect rankings, Elmer Rodríguez and Ben Hess are atop the list, but the prospects listed later are very intriguing as well. In my humble opinion, one name to keep in mind is Henry Lalane – the towering lefty is finally healthy after some injury-ridden years, and on Friday he turned in the best start of his career to date for Low-A Tampa – 7 innings, no hits, no walks, and 12 Ks. If Lalane can build on that while avoiding injury, he’s sure to shoot up the prospect rankings.
Austin Wells is pictured during the Yankees' June 5 game.
BOSTON — You wouldn’t know it to watch or listen to him now, but the Yankees drafted Austin Wells in the first round largely because of his powerful left-handed bat.
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There were questions both inside and outside the organization about whether Wells would develop enough at catcher to keep him behind the plate.
Now, the concern is if Wells can hit enough to be a viable option in the lineup.
The Yankees remain steadfast that Wells will be able to get going offensively, and Wells said, even after another hitless afternoon in a 4-1 loss to the Red Sox, he’s pleased with the progress he’s made at the plate since his minor league rehab stint after landing on the IL with cervical headaches.
“Today was the best and most comfortable I felt in the box so far,’’ Wells said of his post-IL games after still going 0-for-3 and seeing his average plummet to .160.
Austin Wells is pictured during the Yankees’ June 5 game. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
He noted that he’s been working to get more “tilt” back in his swing after flattening it over the years.
The goal, he said, was to allow him not to rely on having to make perfect contact in order to get a hit.
But Wells also noted that as much as it bothers him to fail to produce offensively, as he did Saturday, he’s more concerned with his work with the pitching staff.
Hitting, Wells said, is “not a secondary part of my game, but my No. 1 job is to control the pitching staff. If we’re not doing that, it doesn’t matter how many runs or hits I have. We can’t win the game.”
He’s continued to impress the pitchers and coaches with his ability to call games effectively and frame pitches.
“I know I have a huge impact when I’m behind the plate and keeping that the No. 1 focus makes it a lot easier to brush off an at-bat or couple of at-bats,’’ Wells said. “If I’m 0-for-3 on a day, obviously I’m pissed off about it, but to go out there and get to the eighth or ninth with a zero [from the other team] is the goal.”
Aaron Boone said he’s seen Wells’ offensive woes get to him “at certain times,’’ but not lately.
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And he agreed with Wells that he’s at least trending in the right direction.
“I feel he’s moving the needle right now, believe it or not,’’ Boone said. “He was really struggling there for a while. I feel he’s gaining traction. The results aren’t there yet.”
There are still those around the Yankees who fear all the information Wells — and the team’s other catchers — are tasked with keeping track of has cost him too much at the plate.
But the Yankees aren’t alone in making catcher a defense-oriented position.
Still, they need to get more out of Wells than the 2-for-17 he’s been since his return from the IL or the .510 OPS he’ll carry into Sunday, his lowest since mid-April — especially with so much of the rest of the offense struggling.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Oziyah Sellers #4 of the St. John's Red Storm reacts during the second half against the Duke Blue Devils in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fresh off winning the NBA championship and wrapping up the 2026 NBA Draft with a couple of new faces now part of the organization, the New York Knicks keep shaping their roster.
Yes, we’re all still waiting for the literal elephant in the room to announce the inevitable, but for now we’ll have to do with a few low-impact, lower-level additions to the Summer League squad.
According to 247Sports recruiting analyst Dushawn London, Oziyah Sellers signed a Summer League deal with New York after going undrafted on Wednesday.
The move comes a few days after the draft ended, as undrafted guard Sellers didn’t join any team but was able to secure an opportunity to stay on the professional radar until mid-to-late July at the latest, and playing for the reigning champs with the spotlight that’d give him.
Sellers is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard and he’s coming off his senior season at St. John’s Red Storm after starting his NCAA run at USC and spending the 2025 season at Stanford. Seemingly ored of Cali, Sellers moved all the way to the East Coast to land with St. John’s, where he averaged 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 42.9% from the field and 35.1% from three-point range across 37 appearances as a senior.
Blame it on cold weather or whatever, but before finishing his career in Queens, Sellers was a better shooter from all distances than the man who popped up in a Red Storm uniform. His best season came as a junior during his lone year playing ACC ball, but it’s also fair to say he didn’t quite bomb in St. John’s, where he started 36 of the 37 games he played, logging 28.6 MPG.
The Summer League will, at the very least, give Sellers a chance to compete against pros for a few games and prove his talents are good enough to earn him a roster spot, whether that’s with the Knicks or elsewhere, including a potential G League stint before making it to the majors.
The expectation is that New York’s Summer League roster will be filled with NBA-proven players, including Tyler Kolek, Mo Diawara, Ariel Hukporti, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Pacome Dadiet, with true-freshmen Jack Kiyan and Tyler Nickel joining them on the court.
The Vegas Summer League runs from July 9 through July 19 in Sin City, with the Knicks scheduled to play four games (from July 10 through July 16) that might or might not see them advance to the playoffs of the little hot tiny tournament.
In his first start off the injured list, Scott showed some of the same excellent stuff that has made him a bright spot in a dark season.
The 27-year-old threw one regrettable pitch — a 3-2 fastball to Bryce Harper, Scott bemoaning turning to the four-seamer a fifth time in the at-bat — that crept over the wall in left-center in the third inning for a two-run home run and otherwise was in control.
“Really solid,” interim manager Andy Green said after the 6-2 win over the Phillies at Citi Field on Saturday. “Only had so many bullets to fire today, and he was good outside of one swing from Bryce Harper.”
Scott, who had not pitched in a little over two weeks because of a hip contusion, lasted 82 pitches in 4 ¹/₃ innings in which he let up just those two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six.
The righty, who had missed all of last season because of Tommy John surgery, induced 17 swings-and-misses while leaning particularly on his sweeper and four-seamer.
Christian Scott throws a pitch during the Mets’ 6-2 win over the Phillies on June 27, 2026 at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for New York Post
“I feel great,” said Scott, who owns a 3.20 ERA and looks like a fixture in this rotation for years to come. “Felt like I attacked the zone pretty well for the most part. Just established my offspeed stuff early in the game and then kind of just rode the wave off of that.”
Zach Thornton’s reward for an excellent start — the kind the Mets are in desperate need of — was an immediate trip back to Triple-A Syracuse.
The Mets optioned the young starting pitcher, who had held the Phillies to one run while striking out seven in six innings Friday, to create roster space for Scott.
Including Scott, the Mets — who have Kodai Senga pitching out of the bullpen and have traded David Peterson — have four starting pitchers.
But they nonetheless demoted Thornton in large part because they have nine innings to cover Sunday without a true starting pitcher (Cionel Pérez will start) in a bullpen game that could feature Kodai Senga.
Rather than removing a reliever from the group ahead of a game in which the bullpen will be taxed — and with an off day Thursday, meaning that a fifth starter (or bullpen game) will not be needed again until July 7 — Thornton received some difficult news the day after his second and best major league start.
“He definitely did well [Friday],” Green said. “It was conveyed to him. Oftentimes these things are just roster decisions that keep your bullpen viable as you go through stretches.”
The 24-year-old Thornton, who began his season at Double-A Binghamton and earned a promotion after just five starts, has been a bright spot in a farm system that has not seen enough breakouts this season.
Top prospects Jonah Tong (5.95 ERA) and Jack Wenninger (6.67 ERA in his past seven starts) have struggled with Syracuse.
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Green said he expects “to see Zach back here.”
“He needs to go dominate what’s in front of him and continue to be professional,” Green said, “and I thought it was a tremendous outing from him [Friday].”
Jorge Polanco went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in the start of another rehab assignment, one that the Mets hope will end differently than the last.
The veteran, who arrived on a two-year, $40 million contract, served as Syracuse’s DH Saturday for the first time since June 5, when his rehab assignment was paused due to ankle soreness.
Polanco originally was placed on the injured list with a wrist contusion April 15 but also has been dealing with Achilles bursitis.
The Mets have said that if Polanco makes it back to the majors, he will be playing through ankle discomfort.
