Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

Panthers beat Oilers 5-2 in Game 5, one win away from repeat Stanley Cup champs

Panthers beat Oilers 5-2 in Game 5, one win away from repeat Stanley Cup champs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Brad Marchand scored twice, Sam Bennett had his NHL playoff-leading 15th goal and the Florida Panthers moved to the verge of a second consecutive Stanley Cup title by beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in Game 5 on Saturday night.

The Panthers improved to 10-3 on the road this playoffs. They can hoist the Cup again as soon as Tuesday night if they win Game 6 on home ice in Sunrise.

Florida this time built a multigoal lead and built on it, unlike a couple of previous games in the final. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced, making some important saves when needed, and was aided by lockdown defense that took ice away from the Oilers.

Marchand, Bennett and Sam Reinhart provided the offense. Marchand joined Mario Lemieux as the only players in the past half-century to score five-plus goals in a final multiple times, and his 13 career goals in the final are the most among active players.

Connor McDavid scored his first goal of the series after the Oilers fell behind 3-0. Reinhart’s came 46 seconds later to restore the Panthers’ three-goal lead, and by the time Corey Perry scored with 3:13 left, it was too late.

Eetu Luostarinen sealed it with an empty-netter with 1:19 left, silencing the once fired-up crowd for a final time.

Edmonton’s power play went 0 for 3, a product of the Panthers’ aggressive penalty kill knocking McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the top unit out of their usual rhythm.

Calvin Pickard lost for the first time in eight starts this spring, allowing four goals on 18 shots. He got the nod over Stuart Skinner after entering in relief and winning Game 4 to improve to 7-0, a record that is now 7-1.

Skinner could be back in for Game 6, with the Panthers aiming to close things out following another cross-continental trip back to the other corner of North America. They are in this spot after bouncing back from blowing a three-goal lead and falling in overtime in Game 4, taking advantage of their depth to send the Oilers to the brink again.

Posted on

Nationals’ bat-retrieving dog Bruce laps up pregame attention, makes MLB debut

WASHINGTON — The dog days of summer arrived Saturday at Nationals Park.

Bruce, a 21-month-old Golden Retriever, fetched a bat during a ceremony before the Washington Nationals’ game against the Miami Marlins as part of a Pups in the Park promotion. He retrieved bats the last two seasons with the Rochester Red Wings, Washington’s Triple-A affiliate.

Bruce, wearing a bandana with an “MLB debut” patch he received when he arrived at the stadium, was presented a commemorative bat. He then took a circuitous route from the dugout toward first base after Nationals reliever Zach Brzykcy dropped the bat in foul territory before the bat dog collected his quarry to the delight of a crowd wowed by his work and enthusiasm.

“Look at this dog and try not to smile,” said Josh Snyder, Bruce’s owner. “He’s great. He’s goofy. I think he’s the perfect candidate for Rochester, the Red Wings and now the Nationals.”

Snyder, who wore a No. 25 Nationals jersey with “Bruce” on the nameplate, said he drove through the night with Bruce and arrived in Washington around 3 a.m. Saturday. But it was anything but a rough morning and early afternoon for Bruce, who casually lapped up attention as he walked through the tunnel in the stadium.

Bruce spent about 50 minutes on the field before the ceremony, where he was hounded by well-wishers. He also did a couple practice bat retrievals with Snyder’s assistance before Nationals catcher Riley Adams stopped to pet him on his way out for pregame work.

He won’t work during the actual game, however, and will return to Triple-A duties afterward.

Bruce is Snyder’s second dog work to with the Red Wings, following the late Milo, and both participated in campaigns to raise money for Rochester’s Veterans Outreach Center and Honor Flight of Rochester.

This week — which included an announcement from the Nationals on Tuesday that Bruce had worked his tail off to earn a promotion — generated plenty of buzz even before Saturday’s debut.

“Social media, everything like that seems like it’s seriously blown up, and we love it,” Snyder said. “Really good publicity with our goal and our mission of bringing people together. It shows it’s just doing that.”

Posted on

Could Another Canadiens’ Legend Be Honored With A New Trophy?

The NHL is a traditional business, and change is rare. It takes a long time to be implemented. Still, following the release of the voting for the various trophies by Professional Hockey Writers Association members, I believe it has become glaringly evident that the NHL needs to add a new trophy, that of the best defensive defenseman.

Every season, when the James Norris Trophy is awarded to the NHL’s top defenseman, it becomes more and more evident that it is granted not necessarily to the best defenseman as a whole, but to the best offensive defenseman. Don’t get me wrong, Cale Makar is a fantastic defenseman, but when you think about the Colorado Avalanche’s blueliner, blocked shots and defensive coverage are not what comes to mind. What comes to mind is his number of points and how well he quarterbacks the Avs’ power play.

Canadiens: More About Malcolm Spence
Canadiens: Potential First-Round Pick – Caleb Desnoyers
Canadiens: How Much Will It Cost To Keep Hutson In Montreal Long Term?

And the same goes for his fellow Norris finalists. Makar finished the regular season with 92 points, Colombus Blue Jackets’ defenseman Zach Werenski was second with 82 points and Vancouver Canucks’ blueliner Quinn Hughes was third with 76 points. That’s precisely the order in which they finished for the Norris. Makar received 1861 voting points, Werenski received 1266, and Hughes received 918.

The top-10 in voting was completed by: Josh Morrissey (eight in regular season scoring amongst defensemen), Victor Hedman (seventh in scoring), Rasmus Dahlin (fourth in scoring), Thomas Harley (15th in scoring), Jacob Slavin (the exception to the rule, 70th in scoring), Lane Hutson (sixth in scoring) and Jake Sanderson (11th in scoring).

The only purely defensive defenseman of the lot is Slavin, who received only 60 voting points. The Carolina Hurricanes’ top-pairing defenseman doesn’t play on the man-advantage; he’s the Canes’ penalty kill anchor, leading them in blocked shots with 136 (38 more than second-place Brent Burns) and in average time on ice with 21:34.

The Hurricanes were 10th in the league in goals against and ninth in goals for. The defensive side of their game is just as important as the offensive side, and Slavin is the most significant cog in their defense. Without him, their result in their zone would be nowhere near as good.

If there’s a trophy for the best defensive forward (the Frank J. Selke), why shouldn’t there be a trophy for the best defensive defenseman? It makes sense, especially since people put more focus on the offensive side of the game nowadays. Fans and pundits all want to see goals, which is why the offensive juggernauts' defensemen gather as many votes for the Norris Trophy. No matter how many goals you score, though, you’re not going to win if there’s no one to ensure that your opponent scores less than you do.

After the 1998-99 season, the NHL introduced the Maurice “Rocket” Richard trophy, which is awarded annually to the league’s best sniper. It was named to honour the Montreal Canadiens’ legend, who was the first player ever to score 50 goals in a season and 50 goals in the first 50 games of his team (a feat only achieved by four other players since then: Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux, and Brett Hull). It should be noted that other players scored 50 goals in their first 50 games or fewer, but not in their team’s first 50 games (Jari Kurri, Alexander Mogilny, Lemieux, Cam Neely, and, more recently, Auston Matthews).

Richard led the league in goals five times throughout his 18-season career and was the first player to reach the 500-goal mark. To this day, 48 players have achieved the feat. When the Rocket hung up his skates in 1960, he was the top goal scorer in league history with 544 goals. Today, his 544 goals are the 33rd highest total in league history. Alexander Ovechkin became the top goal scorer this season, overtaking Wayne Gretzky, who finished his career with 894. The Russian sniper now has 897 and will play for at least one more season.

Given how vital a good defensive defenseman can be to his team, it’s high time the league introduced a new trophy to honour the best of the best in that field. If the league needs inspiration to name it, the rich Canadiens’ history could once again be dug into. Montreal has had its fair share of defensive masterminds at the blueline, and Doug Harvey’s name comes to mind.

Harvey spent the first 14 seasons of his career with the Canadiens, winning six Stanley Cups. In 1113 games, he gathered 540 points and 1216 penalty minutes, winning seven Norris Trophies. He possessed a keen hockey mind, and when he was acquired by the New York Rangers, he became the last player-coach in league history, leading them to their first postseason appearance in four years. The defenseman liked being one of the guys, and when he resigned as coach, he said, “As the coach, I couldn’t go out for beers with the boys”. Harvey was also offensively gifted and was one of the first defenseman to carry the puck as much as he wanted and slow down the pace of the play, he was the complete package. 

Should the league want to take a more modern approach, both Boston Bruins’ Raymond Bourque and Detroit Red Wings’ Nicklas Lidstrom would be excellent choices. Bourque was incredibly sound defensively, and every NHL fan rooted for him to win a Stanley Cup before retiring when he was traded to the Avalanche. As for Lidstrom, he was very gifted at shutting down opponents and marked the league’s history when he became the first European-born and trained player to raise the Stanley Cup and win the Conn Smythe trophy as the playoff MVP.

Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Posted on

Start of Saturday's Mets-Rays game delayed due to rain

Saturday's game between the Mets and the Tampa Bay Rays is in a rain delay and will not start on time.

The team announced a 5 p.m. start time nearly 45 minutes after the initial announcement. First pitch was originally scheduled for 4:10 p.m.

The Mets are looking to bounce back after the Rays used a six-run inning to defeat New York, 7-5, in Friday's series opener. The loss snapped the Mets' six-game winning streak and dropped their home record to 27-8. 

Tylor Megill (5-4, 3.76 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Mets, while the Rays will send out RHP Drew Rasmussen (5-4, 2.22 ERA).

Megill allowed two runs on three hits over five innings last time out on June 8 against the Rockies, lowering his ERA to 3.76 on the season.

Posted on

Signing Chandler Stephenson Could Have Long-Term Implications For The Kraken

Seattle Kraken center Chandler Stephenson (9) skates against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

In the 2024 offseason, the Seattle Kraken signed Chandler Stephenson to a seven-year, $6.25M contract and after one season, the long-term implications don't seem very positive.

In his first season with the organization, the 31-year-old struggled at 5-on-5 despite scoring 13 goals and 51 points in 78 games. Stephenson recorded a career-high 18 power play points and provided value on the penalty kill, but for a $6.25M cap hit, the Kraken were hoping for more than a third-line producer. 

As the years will go by, the expectation is that Shane Wright and Matty Beniers will continue to improve and blossom into top-six centers, leaving Stephenson in a lesser role. When they factor in Berkly Catton, who is nearing an NHL role, it puts the Kraken in an increasingly peculiar spot.

Throughout his junior career, Catton has played exclusively as a center, and his skill set best suits a modern NHL center. He's a fantastic playmaker who loves to have the puck on his stick. He's a transition nightmare for his opponents, using his speed, edges and hands to create space for himself and his teammates. The unfortunate situation for Catton and the Kraken is that he is ineligible to play in the AHL next season if he is not ready to play in the NHL. He'd have to return to the WHL, where he's proven to be far too good for.

This season, the 19-year-old scored 38 goals and 109 points in 57 games, while adding another 11 goals and 42 points in 20 playoff games. If Catton does show he's ready to play in the NHL, the Kraken will be forced to play him as either a fourth-line center or a winger, both positions where Catton would likely not thrive during his rookie campaign, which is why the decision to sign Stephenson to a long-term deal at the time was puzzling, and it'll continue to be.

While he could be hampering the development of young forwards like Catton, he was also misprofiled by the Kraken front office. With the Vegas Golden Knights, Stephenson was so effective because Jack Eichel and William Karlsson took on the tough matchups, allowing Stephenson to play a type of roaming role to take advantage of lesser matchups. If Wright and Beniers continue their trajectory, they could create that role for Stephenson, but the Saskatoon, SK native's cap hit is still far too high for that role. 

"I think a lot of similarities there. It's crazy thinking that I'm one of the older guys now, it goes so quick. I mean, even this year, how quick it went by," said Stepheson during the Kraken's exit interviews. "My youngest daughter just turned one, and it feels like she's a couple months old. So, yeah, it was kind of a blur this year. But as far as playing and everything went, from that standpoint, it was fairly similar. I would say it’s just a different situation, different kind of everything as well. But I think it's just it's going to be good to just kind of reflect and know what to expect coming into next year, and just have that comfortability and experience, I guess. Yeah, I think it'll be a good season next year, for sure."

The Kraken want to find ways to incorporate youth and veterans, but strapping themselves to long-term contracts could be more detrimental than beneficial. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Kraken stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Kraken Are A Threat To Offer Sheet Available Restricted Free AgentsKraken Are A Threat To Offer Sheet Available Restricted Free AgentsThroughout the season, the Seattle Kraken's front office has been keen on their mindset to be aggressive in their pursuit of upgrading the roster, and according to recent reports, that pursuit includes possibly using offer sheets. 
Posted on

Steve Adams reportedly agrees to three year, $39 million extension to stay with Houston Rockets

The best evidence of how much Steven Adams came to mean to the Houston Rockets came in the fourth quarter of Game 4 in their playoff series against the Warriors: Steve Kerr employed the hack-an-Adams strategy, in part to get him off the court. Golden State didn't have an answer for him on the glass and kept trying the strategy the next few games (with not much success).

Adams will remain with the Rockets on a three-year, $39 million extension, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.

This is a good deal for the Rockets, the $13 million a season average price tag is below the mid-level exception for next season. With a few teams looking for a quality center, larger offers may have been available to Adams on the open market. Also, it's not yet known if the third year of this contract is fully guaranteed. This contract could ultimately set the market for other veteran backup centers, such as Al Horford.

Rockets GM Rafael Stone traded for Adams during the 2023-24 season, knowing he would be out for the remainder of the season but seeing him as a fit as a backup center this season. Adams had to be brought along slowly, but as his minutes ramped up his value to this team — particularly on the offensive glass and setting strong picks — became evident. By the end of the season, coach Ime Udoka was playing a double-big lineup with Adams and Alperen Sengun for stretches.

Adams didn't put up big counting stats — after the All-Star break he averaged 4.3 points and 6.3 assists a game in almost 16 minutes a night — but his value to the team was clear. Now the Rockets have locked up their guy for the coming years.

Posted on

Phillies grind out victory over Blue Jays, win thanks to Kepler's go-ahead blast

Phillies grind out victory over Blue Jays, win thanks to Kepler's go-ahead blast  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Max Kepler blasted the Phillies to a series victory Saturday over the Blue Jays.

Kepler clubbed a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning and the Phils picked up a 3-2 win at Citizens Bank Park.

They sit at 41-29 on the season and will look for a three-game sweep on Sunday afternoon. Zack Wheeler (6-2, 2.85 ERA) is set to face Jose Berrios (2-2, 3.38 ERA). 

The Phillies’ pitching was stellar on a day their offense didn’t produce much. Cristopher Sanchez went seven innings and allowed two runs and five hits. He had zero walks, one hit by pitch and five strikeouts.

Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm threw scoreless innings out of the bullpen. 

Blue Jays leadoff man Bo Bichette struck out on Sanchez’s ninth pitch of the day, waving at a slider. Sanchez increased his season strikeout total to 88 Saturday over 79 and 2/3 innings. The Phillies have three pitchers in the National League’s top 10 for strikeouts per nine innings with Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo and Sanchez. 

The Blue Jays opened the scoring vs. Sanchez in the second inning. Nick Castellanos’ leaping attempt to catch Ernie Clement’s fly ball to the right-field fence was unsuccessful. Myles Straw drove Clement in with a two-out line drive that glanced off the tip of Alec Bohm’s glove on its way to left field.

Despite a couple of long fly balls in the early innings, the Phillies failed to reach base against Toronto starter Bowden Francis until nine-hitter Brandon Marsh knocked an opposite-field single. Francis found a groove, locating well and mixing in his off-speed pitches effectively. 

The righty’s command dramatically deserted him in the fourth inning. 

The Phillies rallied with two outs through simple patience; Francis walked three batters and hit two. Otto Kemp’s HBP put the Phils up 2-1, Francis exited, and Brendon Little jogged in from the bullpen. 

Little threw a 1-2 breaking ball to Marsh in the dirt and J.T. Realmuto made the aggressive decision to sprint home. The gamble didn’t pay off. Jays catcher Tyler Heineman recovered the ball in time to tag Realmuto out at the plate. 

Sanchez and the Phillies narrowly missed a shutdown inning. The Phils couldn’t quite turn an inning-ending double play on Bichette — the Blue Jays won their challenge to overturn the initial out call — and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then ripped an RBI double to deep right-center. 

The Phillies were unable to cash in on Marsh’s leadoff single in the fifth. Kemp lined out to right field with two outs and runners on the corners in the sixth.

Outside of Kepler’s dinger, the Phillies’ top six batters had zero hits in the game.

Kepler rendered those struggles irrelevant with one powerful swing, lacing a Chad Green fastball into the seats.

Phillies’ plans at first 

Kemp has played the Phillies’ past three games at first base. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that he thinks the rookie’s looked “very comfortable” there. 

With Bryce Harper sidelined by a right wrist injury, Kyle Schwarber is also in the Phils’ current first-base picture.

“He’s still working out there,” Thomson said. “But now that we have Otto, I’d like to give him some reps. I’d like to get (Edmundo) Sosa back into a game as well at some point. You might see Schwarber in the outfield here a little bit, just to get (Castellanos) off his feet, let him DH for a bit.” 

Schwarber’s started four games in left field so far this season. He’s only made nine MLB starts at first, all with the 2021 Red Sox. 

Posted on

Phillies grind out victory over Blue Jays, win thanks to Kepler's go-ahead blast

Phillies grind out victory over Blue Jays, win thanks to Kepler's go-ahead blast  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Max Kepler blasted the Phillies to a series victory Saturday over the Blue Jays.

Kepler clubbed a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning and the Phils picked up a 3-2 win at Citizens Bank Park.

They sit at 41-29 on the season and will look for a three-game sweep on Sunday afternoon. Zack Wheeler (6-2, 2.85 ERA) is set to face Jose Berrios (2-2, 3.38 ERA). 

The Phillies’ pitching was stellar on a day their offense didn’t produce much. Cristopher Sanchez went seven innings and allowed two runs and five hits. He had zero walks, one hit by pitch and five strikeouts. Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm threw scoreless innings out of the bullpen. 

Sanchez didn’t mind facing Toronto’s lefty-less lineup at all.

“The first thing I did when I got here was laugh a little because I saw the lineup, all righties,” he said. “I like when they challenge me. Even more than that, we have a game plan and we stick to it. Whether it’s a righty hitter or a lefty hitter, we just have a plan and we have to execute it.”

Blue Jays leadoff man Bo Bichette struck out on Sanchez’s ninth pitch of the day, waving at a slider. Sanchez increased his season strikeout total to 88 Saturday over 79 and 2/3 innings. The Phillies have three pitchers in the National League’s top 10 for strikeouts per nine innings with Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo and Sanchez. 

The Blue Jays opened the scoring vs. Sanchez in the second inning. Nick Castellanos’ leaping attempt to catch Ernie Clement’s fly ball to the right-field fence was unsuccessful. Myles Straw drove Clement in with a two-out line drive that glanced off the tip of Alec Bohm’s glove on its way to left field.

Despite a couple of long fly balls in the early innings, the Phillies failed to reach base against Toronto starter Bowden Francis until nine-hitter Brandon Marsh knocked an opposite-field single. Francis found a groove, locating well and mixing in his off-speed pitches effectively. 

The righty’s command dramatically deserted him in the fourth inning. 

The Phillies rallied with two outs through basic patience; Francis walked three batters and hit two. Otto Kemp’s HBP put the Phils up 2-1, Francis exited, and Brendon Little jogged in from the bullpen. 

Little threw a 1-2 breaking ball to Marsh in the dirt and J.T. Realmuto made the aggressive decision to sprint home. The gamble didn’t pay off. Jays catcher Tyler Heineman recovered the ball in time to tag Realmuto out at the plate. 

Sanchez and the Phillies narrowly missed a shutdown inning. The Phils couldn’t quite turn an inning-ending double play on Bichette — the Blue Jays won their challenge to overturn the initial out call — and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then ripped an RBI double to deep right-center. 

The Phillies were unable to cash in on Marsh’s leadoff single in the fifth. Kemp lined out to right field with two outs and runners on the corners in the sixth.

Outside of Kepler’s dinger, the Phillies’ top six batters had zero hits in the game. Kepler rendered those struggles irrelevant with one powerful swing, lacing a Chad Green fastball into the seats.

After starting June 1 for 18, he’s shown some pop lately. Kepler is 4 for 13 with two doubles and two homers over the last four games. 

“I think I’m starting to see the ball better,” he said. “Just be patient and continue to believe in my swing. And not worry if it’s going to fool me, make me look way out in front. Just commit to my swing and get it off.”

He acknowledged that’s not always as simple as it sounds. 

“Baseball comes with a lot of doubt,” Kepler said. “It’s a mental game. You fail the majority of the time. So if you tend to overthink like me, it can sometimes spiral a little bit and you can find a dark place. But as of right now, I’m leaning on my guys on this team that really uplift me. … I’m just looking forward and believing in my work off the field, and believing in myself.”

Phillies’ plans at first 

Kemp has played the Phillies’ past three games at first base. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that he thinks the rookie’s looked “very comfortable” there. 

With Bryce Harper sidelined by a right wrist injury, Kyle Schwarber is also in the Phils’ current first-base picture.

“He’s still working out there,” Thomson said. “But now that we have Otto, I’d like to give him some reps. I’d like to get (Edmundo) Sosa back into a game as well at some point. You might see Schwarber in the outfield here a little bit, just to get (Castellanos) off his feet, let him DH for a bit.” 

Schwarber’s started four games in left field so far this season. He’s only made nine MLB starts at first, all with the 2021 Red Sox. 

Posted on

Phillies grind out victory over Blue Jays, win thanks to Kepler's go-ahead blast

Phillies grind out victory over Blue Jays, win thanks to Kepler's go-ahead blast  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Max Kepler blasted the Phillies to a series victory Saturday over the Blue Jays.

Kepler clubbed a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning and the Phils picked up a 3-2 win at Citizens Bank Park.

They sit at 41-29 on the season and will look for a three-game sweep on Sunday afternoon. Zack Wheeler (6-2, 2.85 ERA) is set to face Jose Berrios (2-2, 3.38 ERA). 

The Phillies’ pitching was stellar on a day their offense didn’t produce much. Cristopher Sanchez went seven innings and allowed two runs and five hits. He had zero walks, one hit by pitch and five strikeouts. Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm threw scoreless innings out of the bullpen. 

Sanchez didn’t mind facing Toronto’s lefty-less lineup at all.

“The first thing I did when I got here was laugh a little because I saw the lineup, all righties,” he said. “I like when they challenge me. Even more than that, we have a game plan and we stick to it. Whether it’s a righty hitter or a lefty hitter, we just have a plan and we have to execute it.”

Blue Jays leadoff man Bo Bichette struck out on Sanchez’s ninth pitch of the day, waving at a slider. Sanchez increased his season strikeout total to 88 Saturday over 79 and 2/3 innings. The Phillies have three pitchers in the National League’s top 10 for strikeouts per nine innings with Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo and Sanchez. 

The Blue Jays opened the scoring vs. Sanchez in the second inning. Nick Castellanos’ leaping attempt to catch Ernie Clement’s fly ball to the right-field fence was unsuccessful. Myles Straw drove Clement in with a two-out line drive that glanced off the tip of Alec Bohm’s glove on its way to left field.

Despite a couple of long fly balls in the early innings, the Phillies failed to reach base against Toronto starter Bowden Francis until nine-hitter Brandon Marsh knocked an opposite-field single. Francis found a groove, locating well and mixing in his off-speed pitches effectively. 

The righty’s command dramatically deserted him in the fourth inning. 

The Phillies rallied with two outs through basic patience; Francis walked three batters and hit two. Otto Kemp’s HBP put the Phils up 2-1, Francis exited, and Brendon Little jogged in from the bullpen. 

Little threw a 1-2 breaking ball to Marsh in the dirt and J.T. Realmuto made the aggressive decision to sprint home. The gamble didn’t pay off. Jays catcher Tyler Heineman recovered the ball in time to tag Realmuto out at the plate. 

Sanchez and the Phillies narrowly missed a shutdown inning. The Phils couldn’t quite turn an inning-ending double play on Bichette — the Blue Jays won their challenge to overturn the initial out call — and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then ripped an RBI double to deep right-center. 

The Phillies were unable to cash in on Marsh’s leadoff single in the fifth. Kemp lined out to right field with two outs and runners on the corners in the sixth.

Outside of Kepler’s dinger, the Phillies’ top six batters had zero hits in the game. Kepler rendered those struggles irrelevant with one powerful swing, lacing a Chad Green fastball into the seats.

After starting June 1 for 18, he’s shown some pop lately. Kepler is 4 for 13 with two doubles and two homers over the last four games. 

“I think I’m starting to see the ball better,” he said. “Just be patient and continue to believe in my swing. And not worry if it’s going to fool me, make me look way out in front. Just commit to my swing and get it off.”

He acknowledged that’s not always as simple as it sounds. 

“Baseball comes with a lot of doubt,” Kepler said. “It’s a mental game. You fail the majority of the time. So if you tend to overthink like me, it can sometimes spiral a little bit and you can find a dark place. But as of right now, I’m leaning on my guys on this team that really uplift me. … I’m just looking forward and believing in my work off the field, and believing in myself.”

Phillies’ plans at first 

Kemp has played the Phillies’ past three games at first base. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that he thinks the rookie’s looked “very comfortable” there. 

With Bryce Harper sidelined by a right wrist injury, Kyle Schwarber is also in the Phils’ current first-base picture.

“He’s still working out there,” Thomson said. “But now that we have Otto, I’d like to give him some reps. I’d like to get (Edmundo) Sosa back into a game as well at some point. You might see Schwarber in the outfield here a little bit, just to get (Castellanos) off his feet, let him DH for a bit.” 

Schwarber’s started four games in left field so far this season. He’s only made nine MLB starts at first, all with the 2021 Red Sox. 

Posted on

Rumors Are Circulating Around Martin Necas and a Potential Trade

It's officially summer, folks.

How do we know, you ask? Yes, the Stanley Cup Final series has already kicked off, but that's not the prime indicator.

Martin Necas rumors have officially started swirling, and the frenzy that has ensued is a certain head-scratcher.

In the above article, Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet talks about potentially beneficial trades across the league leading up to Free Agency. He had this to say about Necas, who still has one year remaining on his $6.5 million contract:

"The key piece in the first Mikko Rantanen trade this season, Martin Necas largely delivered on what was promised — he was just shy of being a point-per-game player in the regular season and found a home on Colorado’s top line. But before that trade, Necas only signed a short-term deal with Carolina when the two sides couldn’t agree on his long-term value, meaning he has one season left making $6.5 million against the cap, after which he could test the waters as a UFA. 

“After the Avalanche moved Rantanen because of how difficult they perceived contract extension talks to be going, how much patience will they have with Necas — not a homegrown player or superstar talent — if negotiations on an extension start slowly this July? There was a sense Necas wasn’t overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado and that he wants to explore other options."

The quote that garners a lot of attention: "There was a sense Necas wasn't overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado."

Where This All Started

Rumors began circulating in the summer of 2024, following the end of his previous bridge deal, that Necas was unhappy with his time in Carolina. Necas' father spoke out, saying that the forward wanted minutes on the first line and the first power-play unit, opportunities he wasn't consistently getting under head coach Rod Brind'Amour. The understanding was that Necas was unhappy with his utilization and felt that he wasn't able to play to his full capabilities. His father even went on to say in an interview with Denik Sport, "Martin wants to be traded."

Is Martin Necas' Time in Carolina Coming to a Close?Is Martin Necas' Time in Carolina Coming to a Close?When the clock struck 0:00 and the Carolina Hurricanes were eliminated in Game 6 in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the New York Rangers, emotions were running high.

It seems as though those comments held some truth to them, considering the blockbuster trade that sent him and teammate Jack Drury, who had also reportedly requested a trade in previous off-seasons, to the Avalanche in exchange for Mikko Rantanen.

In Carolina, this past season yielded incredible results for Necas - the best of his career. In 49 games played with the club, he still ranks highly among their roster:

  • Points: 55 (3rd)
  • Goals: 16 (6th)
  • Assists: 39 (2nd)
  • Power-Play Goals: 7 (T-2nd, Seth Jarvis)

Rumors also broke around the same time that alluded to Necas not being happy playing on the wing. When he was drafted, many listed him as a natural center. With Carolina's log-jam at the center position during his time with the team, HC Rod Brind'Amour didn't have much wiggle room and, instead, focused on developing him as a winger.

How Did Things in Colorado Shake Out?

He ended the season with 83 points, tallying 11 goals and 17 assists in the remaining 30 games he played with the Avalanche in the regular season, averaging just under a point per game.

Impressive? Given the change in systems he needed to adapt to, most would say so.

Necas was accustomed to playing a style with Carolina that emphasized a heavy neutral-zone presence and hard-checking game. Brind'Amour demands a certain defensive style from his players that wasn't much suited for Necas. His absence from Carolina's penalty kill units further proves that.

With the Hurricanes, he was never on a consistent line for long, never mind on the first line.

What he DID get in Colorado, though, was consistent first-line minutes next to one of the best active players in the NHL and minutes on the first power-play unit, both things he reportedly wanted. In these situations on the ice, especially next to Nathan MacKinnon, he could put his best assets to use: his speed and ability to transition the puck - something Carolina had to adapt to missing after he was traded away.

But, then begs the question: if he got what he was asking for, why wouldn't he be thrilled?

First, let's all remember to take the report with a grain of salt. This is ONE journalist with a single report after a tumultuous season for every party involved in this trade. Everyone was shocked by the blockbuster trade, despite two of the three players involved having reportedly requested to be moved in previous years (i.e., Necas and Drury).

Second, if there is any truth to this, all bets here are on him not getting more of an opportunity to prove himself as a natural center.

He was given one game by head coach Jared Bednar in MacKinnon's absence (due to a minor injury) on April 10th against the Vancouver Canucks. It didn't last longer than two periods.

Call it a lack of experience or simply not being built to play the position, but when a guy who wants to play center is out on the ice for three of the four goals allowed, it's not the greatest way to build an argument to play him there consistently. He was only at center for one of those goals, as he was moved back to the wing in the third period, but that lone goal saw him caught too deep in the other end and then leisurely skating back... Not the best look.

In his defense, that was an off-game for the team as a whole, as Coach Bednar said following the game that the team wasn't skating enough. Bad decisions were made, breakouts were "terrible," zone transitions weren't up to his standards, and he made sure everyone knew that the lineup shuffling due to missing guys was not an excuse for any of it.

The Multi-Million Dollar Question: Will Necas Get Traded?

All that to say... With the Brock Nelson extension securing a player at the 2C position for the next three years, there's not much of an opportunity for Necas to get another look at center. And now with talks of the Avalanche potentially targeting Stanley Cup-winning center Jonathan Toews, it looks less and less likely for the Czech native.

The idea is that, with Necas' contract expiring after the 2025-26 season, the Avalanche may put a deal in front of him somewhere between $7 million and $9 million. After the points he put up in the regular season this past campaign, a number in that range seems generous enough and would be his largest salary sum yet.

Necas has never signed a deal longer than three years, his most recent contracts acting as bridge deals while Necas continued to prove himself. His worth has always been a point of contention in contract talks, even leading the forward to file for arbitration in 2024 before the season. Hearing dates for players were not released, but he signed his two-year, $6.5 million deal on July 29th, 2024.

Rumors have popped up in the last few weeks that the Avalanche may consider trading him to earn some draft capital back, or to deepen their roster even further, but NHL insider Elliotte Friedman alluded to rumors being just that: rumors.

My expectation is that Martin Necas will be in the starting lineup for the Avalanche come October. From there, he has a chance to work further with MacKinnon and best his numbers from this past season to earn himself a heftier contract. If he is traded by the deadline next March, it won't be from lack of trying on Chris MacFarland and company's part.

Stylistically, Necas is a perfect fit for this team, especially next to MacKinnon on the first line. He's gotten almost everything he's wanted out of how he's been utilized on the ice, so that can no longer be an excuse as to why he couldn't get a deal done with Colorado.

The main factors, in my eyes, will be the salary and whether or not playing center is a dealbreaker for him moving forward.

Bookmark THN's Colorado Avalanche site so you never miss the latest news surrounding the burgundy and blue!

Make sure you also bookmark The Hockey News to keep up on all things hockey, from NHL to AHL to PWHL and so much more!

Posted on

Mets Notes: Mark Vientos to begin rehab assignment early next week, Sean Manaea's health key after starts

Ahead of Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza gave updates on a few players...

Mark Vientos' rehab assignment is nearing

Vientos has missed 10 straight games after a right hamstring strain he suffered earlier this month, but the slugging infielder is nearing a return and the Mets skipper had a positive update on where he is in the rehab process.

Mendoza said that Vientos will have his first rehab assignment next week. The team isn't sure if it'll be Tuesday or Wednesday. They want Vientos to have two more days of batting practice and baseball activity -- with the poor weather, Vientos will be hitting in the cage below the dugout on Saturday -- before he goes on assignment with Syracuse.

"He ran yesterday up to 90 percent, he's full go as far as hitting, taking ground balls," Mendoza said. "The goal is for him to start playing some games in Triple-A next week."

Vientos has struggled in his first season as an everyday player. When he was injured, he was slashing .230/.298/.438 with an. 735 OPS with six home runs, eight doubles and 21 RBI.

What to look for in Sean Manaea's next rehab start

The Mets southpaw is set to make his third rehab start on Sunday and after two starts, Mendoza was asked what he and the organization are looking to see from Manaea.

"Just to go out there and be himself," Mendoza said. "Where he's at in his rehab process, it's more how he's feeling afterwards... At this point, it's more as he's increasing that pitch count, how is he going to feel the next few days."

Mendoza said Manaea (oblique) is still early in the rehab process, so results are not what they are necessarily looking for -- unlike what's going on with Frankie Montas -- but that doesn't mean the left-hander hasn't done well with the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Manaea's first start saw him give up four runs (three earned) in 1.2 innings, but the second saw progress. He struck out four while allowing one hit, one walk, and one hit-by-pitch across 2.2 scoreless innings (46 pitches, 31 strikes).

With Kodai Senga (hamstring) expected to miss an extended period of time, Manaea's imminent return will boost the Mets rotation.

Posted on

REPORT: Arkansas and Michigan State to play home-and-home series

In more news this week regarding Arkansas basketball's 2025-26 schedule, head coach John Calipari reportedly announced on Saturday that his Razorbacks will play Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State as "part of the SEC-Big 10 deal" and it will be a home-and-home series. The Razorbacks will travel to East Lansing for a showdown at the Breslin Center this coming season before head coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans come down to Fayetteville in 2026-27. Calipari added that the Razorbacks are "also trying to finalize a game in Dallas this season."

Posted on

Mets' Frankie Montas in 'good place' physically, not concerned with rehab game results

Veteran Frankie Montas has yet to pitch in a game for the Mets after suffering a lat injury during his first bullpen session of spring training, but as he gets closer to a return to the majors, the right-hander is looking forward to contributing to the team's early season success.

"I want to help man, I want to help," Montas said. "I think that's the biggest thing for me. That's what's killing me, not being able to help. Obviously the team is pretty good. I'm the type of guy, I like to do my part and I like to feel part of the win for sure."

The 32-year-old signed a two-year deal with New York in the offseason, but didn't play in any spring training games due to the lat injury. He has made five rehab starts in the minors, most recently lasting just 1.2 innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, as his ERA has ballooned to 15.43 over three Triple-A games.

Montas told reporters that he isn't too much concerned about the results of his rehab games and is feeling much stronger throwing the ball.

"I think for me it's how I feel," Montas said. "Like I said, this rehab process was actually pretty good. They did an amazing job on my lat. This is probably, I'll say the strongest my shoulder and arm has felt in a while."

He added: "Definitely would've liked to get more pitches in yesterday, that was the plan. I feel like the plan is just trying to get to the pitch count before coming back to the big leagues."

Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed Saturday that Montas will have one more rehab outing before making a decision on his future.

"Talking to Hef [Jeremy Hefner], talking to Dickie Scott, obviously we haven't seen the results, but physically he continues to say he's fine," Mendoza said. "I haven't talked to him, I saw him from the distance today so I'll get back with him. But he's going to get one more in Triple-A and then we'll have a decision after that."

As for the role Montas returns to the Mets in following Kodai Senga's injury, either as a starter or a reliever, Mendoza said the team hasn't "made that decision yet." The manager then made it clear there isn't a concern about Montas' results during the minor league rehab games, adding that the goal is for him to reach the 75-80-pitch mark in his next start after throwing just 53 pitches on Friday.

"I wouldn't say concern, because physically he says he's fine," Mendoza said. "If there was something physically wrong, then you would say, 'OK, there's some concern there.' It's more mechanics and things like that. As he continues to get reps, we're hoping that we start seeing better results.

"As far as physically and all that, he's in a good place. We will continue to work with him and get him back on track."

Posted on

Harris, Acuña, Ozuna provide boost to lineup, give Braves hope they can save season

ATLANTA — With Michael Harris II finding his power stroke, Ronald Acuña Jr. hitting .375 after missing almost a full season and Marcel Ozuna fighting his way through a hip issue, the Atlanta Braves are hoping their offensive recovery has not come too late.

Harris has hit homers in back-to-back games for the Braves, who have won three of their last four games at a crucial stretch of the season.

Harris hit a three-run homer to tie the game and Ozuna added another three-run shot to give the Braves the lead in their 12-4 win over Colorado on Friday night. It was Ozuna’s 11th homer, despite the sore hip.

The Braves trailed 4-1 before recovering to beat the lowly Rockies after winning two of three games at Milwaukee — their first series win since May 16-18.

The Braves (30-38) still have much ground to make up in the NL East. Scoring six or more runs in each of their most recent three wins has given manager Brian Snitker renewed reason for optimism.

The Braves, who won the 2021 World Series, need a dramatic recovery to extend their streak of seven consecutive postseason appearances.

“These are big games, all of them,” Snitker said after Friday night’s win before acknowledging it won’t be easy to save the season after falling 10 games below .500, most recently at 28-38. The Braves are 14 games behind the first-place New York Mets and tied for third in the East with Washington.

“As we know, we’ve done it before (but) not this far back,” Snitker said.

Acuña doubled on the first pitch from Germán Márquez. He added singles in the third and fifth innings for his third consecutive three-hit game.

When asked what Acuña brings to the lineup, Harris said “Energy. He’s an MVP. You know the talent is there. He brings a lot of energy at the (leadoff) spot.”

Acuña stole second base in the fifth on his first attempt since returning on May 23 after missing almost a full season following surgery on his left knee.

“I was wondering if he was on a restriction,” said Harris of Acuña’s wait for his first steal. “Obviously, the speed is still there.”

It was Acuña’s first stolen base since May 25, 2024 at Pittsburgh, a span of 385 days. It was an encouraging sign of confidence in the surgically repaired knee for Acuña, who was NL MVP in 2023 when he hit 41 homers and had 73 steals.

“He’s hit the ground running since he’s been back, that’s for sure,” Snitker said. “His at-bats have been not like he missed the significant amount of time he missed.”

Harris, hitting only .238, has driven in 41 runs. He has hit three of his six homers in the last six games.

“Obviously, I want my average to be up a good amount, but I feel I’ve been able to get some key RBIs through the season,” Harris said.

The Braves have been below .500 most of the season and their recent stretch of six straight series losses led to speculation they might be sellers instead of buyers at the trade deadline.

“I don’t think we really think about that much,” Harris said. “... It’s just worrying about who’s here now.”

Posted on

Mets vs. Rays: How to watch on SNY on June 14, 2025

The Mets continue a three-game series against the Rays at Citi Field on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • Despite Friday's loss, the Mets' 27-8 (.771) record at home is their best in franchise history through the first 35 home games of a season
  • Pete Alonso extended his season-high 21-game on-base streak with a double on Friday -- it was his 22nd double of the season, tied with Lawrence Butler and Bobby Witt Jr. for the most in the majors
  • Juan Soto owns a 1.219 OPS over his last 15 games, hitting .346 with five home runs, 11 RBI, and 16 walks
  • Tylor Megill let up two runs on three hits over 5.0 IP last time out on June 8 against the Rockies, lowering his ERA to 3.76 on the season after a shaky May
RAYS
METS
-Francisco Lindor, SS
-Brandon Nimmo, LF
-Juan Soto, RF
-Pete Alonso, 1B
-Jeff McNeil, CF
-Starling Marte, DH
-Brett Baty, 2B
-Luis Torrens, C
-Ronny Mauricio, 3B

What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.