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Yankees vs. Guardians prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for June 9

The Yankees (39-26) and the Guardians (37-31) continue their series Tuesday night in Cleveland following a 7-5 win in ten innings for New York last night. With the win New York remains tied with Tampa atop the AL East, while Cleveland’s lead in the AL Central is now 1.5 games over the White Sox.

 

Monday’s opener saw the Yankees rally in the eighth to tie the game and then win it in the tenth. Cody Bellinger came through in the tenth with a two-run single. It was a back-and-forth game that featured home runs from each team on both sides—Paul Goldschmidt and Ryan McMahon homered for New York, while Angel Martínez answered with a two-run shot for Cleveland.

 

Minus Aaron Judge, New York still scratched out seven runs. MVP candidate Ben Rice has been the catalyst over the past ten games, hitting .341 with 14 hits, eight runs, and 11 RBI. After a horrific start to the season, Trent Grisham’s bat is warming up. With a couple hits last night, the veteran is hitting .382 average with a .447 OBP the last few weeks. Cody Bellinger has chipped in with a balanced stat line (.270, 2 HR, 6 RBI) in the last ten games. Cleveland’s recent offensive production has been less consistent, but Kyle Manzardo (.286, 2 HR in his last 10 games) and Steven Kwan (.268, 11 hits) have led the charge, with José Ramírez contributing situationally despite lower recent averages.

 

Tuesday’s pitching matchup features a clear contrast in profiles, with Gerrit Cole taking the ball for New York against Cleveland’s Slade Cecconi. Cole has looked sharp since his return, posting a 2.00 ERA and a sub-1.00 WHIP through his first few starts, limiting baserunners and providing length at the top of the rotation. Cecconi, meanwhile, enters at 3–5 with a 4.92 ERA and a higher WHIP, having allowed more consistent traffic and hard contact this season.

 

There are also several notable batter-vs.-pitcher trends to watch. From Cleveland’s side, José Ramírez has historically handled Cole exceptionally well, hitting .359 with three home runs and eight RBIs) against the Yankees’ ace. Kyle Manzardo (3-6 with 1 HR) has also had some success albeit in a smaller sample size. For the Yankees, a handful of hitters have had success against Cecconi, including Cody Bellinger (2-5 with a homer in prior matchups) and Ryan McMahon (.500 with two hits in four ABs including a home run).

 

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

 

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

 

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

Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Guardians

  • Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Progressive Field
  • City: Cleveland, OH
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Prime Video, TBS, CLEGuardians.TV

 

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

 

The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Guardians

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: New York Yankees (-123), Cleveland Guardians (+102)
  • Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+130), Guardians +1.5 (-157)
  • Total: 8.5 runs

 

Probable Starting Pitchers: Yankees vs. Guardians for June 9

  • Yankees: Gerrit Cole
    Season Totals: 18.0 IP, 1-1, 2.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 14K, 4 BB
  • Guardians: Slade Cecconi
    Season Totals: 67.2 IP, 3-5, 4.92 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 54K, 21 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Guardians

  • Ryan McMahon has hit safely in 3 straight games (3-8)
  • Anthony Volpe is 1-16 (.063) in June
  • Ben Rice Is 0-5 in his career against Cecconi
  • Kyle Manzardo is 3-6 (.500) in his career against Cole
  • Jose Ramirez is 14-39 (.359) in his career against Cole
  • Steven Kwan is hitting .280 (7-25) in June

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

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees and Guardians

 

  • The Guardians are 36-32 on the Run Line this season
  • The Yankees are 32-33 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 34 times in Cleveland’s 68 games this season (34-34)
  • The OVER has cashed 29 times in the Yankees’ 65 games this season (29-32-4)

 

Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Guardians

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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

 

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

 

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Yankees and the Guardians:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 8.5

 

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Texas Rangers have some momentum with 3 series wins in a row, Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford back in lineup

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers finally seem to have some real momentum going in their first season under manager Skip Schumaker.

They have won three consecutive series for the first time. Two of those came even before two-time World Series MVP shortstop Corey Seager and outfielder Wyatt Langford returned from the injured list to play in the weekend series against Cleveland.

“You start winning series consecutively, you just start gaining momentum and things can really take off,” said third baseman Josh Jung, the team’s top hitter batting .313. “You’ve just got to continue that.”

Texas (32-33) goes into the opener of a three-game series at Kansas City with a chance to reach .500 for the first time since the Rangers were 16-16 on June 1. They only are two games behind AL West-leading Seattle, and in the final wild-card spot.

“We’ve been trying to get to that .500 mark and then go beyond that,” said Jacob deGrom, who has thrown 11 scoreless innings over his last two starts.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner is 3-1 with a 1.26 ERA in the six games he has pitched at home. He tossed six innings in a 10-0 win over Cleveland.

Almost even again

The Rangers were a season-worst six games under .500 before going 7-2 over their last three series — which was preceded by them being no-hit against Houston. They swept Kansas City at home, then won the first two of three games at St. Louis. That five-game winning streak is their longest this season.

“Our defense has really cleaned up ... much better the last 30 days, which has helped our pitching, and then our bullpen’s been really, really steady,” Schumaker said. “The offense has found different ways to win games. That’s just the bottom line. We’ve done different things.”

On the road again, but still a lot to play at home

Texas, which missed the playoffs each of the past two seasons after winning its only World Series title in 2023, is going into a stretch with 16 of 22 games on the road through July 1.

But after that, the Rangers will spend a lot more time at home. They play 44 of their final 75 regular-season games (59%) at Globe Life Field.

The returns of Seager and Langford

After missing 39 games because of a right forearm strain, Langford has reached safely in all three games since his return. That extended his on-base streak to 14 games, the longest for a Rangers player this season.

Seager was out 19 games with lower back inflammation before also getting activated. The shortstop snapped a career-worst 0-for-29 slump with a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning right after a double by Langford.

“It’s nice, me and Corey coming back,” Langford said. “Not only for the team, but for us personally just being back out there trying to help the team win.”

After hits in his first two games back, the 32-year-old Seager got a planned day off in the series finale against Guardians. He likely will get more of those after playing 41 of Texas’ first 42 games prior to his IL stint.

“He’s going to have these periodically as he starts building up back into his season,” Schumaker said. “The built-in off days are going to be crucial for him so we can get him for the remainder of the season. A healthy Corey Seager makes our team a lot better, so trying to avoid any more stints on the IL is the goal.”

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The Washington Nationals have turned Gavin Fien into an outfielder

JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Gavin Fien #8 of the Washington Nationals bats during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 19, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

When Gavin Fien was drafted by the Rangers 12th overall, he was listed as a shortstop. However, most evaluators expected him to slide over to third base. When the Nats traded for Fien in the MacKenzie Gore trade, fans envisioned a third baseman of the future. There has been a plot twist though. Gavin Fien has exclusively played in the outfield this season.

This season, Fien has played 22 games. In those games, he has played 10 in right field, 7 in center field and 5 at DH. I get the sense that most fans still view Gavin Fien as an infielder, but that view should change. Nats fans should look at Fien as an outfield prospect now.

Before the season, people were wondering what the Nats would do with all their shortstop prospects. The great thing about shortstop prospects is that they have the athleticism to move all around the diamond. At the beginning of the year, Fien, Devin Fitz-Gerald, Luke Dickerson and Coy James were all grouped as shortstop prospects. However, none of those guys have played much shortstop this year.

Things have sorted themselves out, with Fien being an outfielder, Fitz-Gerald being a second baseman and James being a third baseman. All three have bright futures, but not at shortstop. For Fien, I think right field is a nice fit for him. Fien is not slow, but he is a bit stiff for the infield. What he does have is a cannon of an arm, which should play well in right field.

The fact he is in the outfield at such a young age is slightly surprising, but it is not a total shock. In his draft report, MLB Pipeline mentioned that the corner outfield or first base was a possibility for Fien. Teams that liked Fien were drafting the bat, not the glove.

Speaking of his bat, Fien has been on a roll at the plate lately. He struggled in a very small sample size, and then got hurt. Once Fien got back, he has been quite productive, especially lately. This past week he was the Carolina League player of the week, with a .500 batting average and an insane 15 RBI’s. Getting 15 RBIs in a week is tough to do at any level.

For a while, Fien’s numbers were in a rough spot, but this week has changed that. For the season, Fien is now hitting .235 with a .731 OPS. He also has 3 homers and 24 RBI in 22 games. These are not otherworldly numbers by any means, but for a first year guy out of high school who dealt with an injury, this is very respectable. I expect those numbers to continue to climb as he keeps adapting to pro ball.

We are starting to see the version of Gavin Fien that showed up at the Spring Breakout game. In that game, Fien put on a show, lacing doubles into the gap at will. Well, he is back to doing that and it is fun to watch. Some of his best swings remind me a little bit of Ryan Zimmerman.

While he is not going to stick at third base like Zim, Fien has that sort of offensive ceiling. He still has some kinks to sort out in his swing, but the youngster has an exciting combination of hitting ability and power. The strikeout rate of 29% is higher than expected, but his overall contact rate of 74.6% is actually pretty good. That makes me think the strikeout rate is destined to come down. He may need to be more aggressive early in counts though.

Fien has not had the type of season to propel him onto top 100 lists like a Devin Fitz-Gerald or Seaver King, but he is getting on track. I think Fien is poised to have a strong finish to the season. With Eli Willits gone, I wonder if he gets some reps on the infield as well. 

It has been an odd season for Fien, but he is coming around. The Nationals need outfield prospects in the lower minors, and they found one in an unlikely source. Right now Gavin Fien is the top outfield prospect in the Nationals organization.

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Golden Knights among greatest NHL expansion franchises even if they don’t beat the Hurricanes

LAS VEGAS — The line to get into the Golden Knights’ practice stretched well outside the door at the rink, and Vegas fans have had plenty to celebrate in its team’s nine seasons.

Back in the Stanley Cup Final for the third time, the Golden Knights are two victories away from winning their second championship in four years.

Carolina will have plenty to say about whether the Golden Knights get there, and the Hurricanes will try to even the series at 2-2 and reclaim home-ice advantage when the teams meet in Las Vegas. A win by the Golden Knights puts them in a commanding position.

Hockey historian Eric Zweig said Vegas is on the short list of top expansion franchises in NHL history, and another Stanley Cup should put the Golden Knights in the conversation as the best.

“It’s hard to compare,” Zweig said. “Frankly, in a 32-team league — I guess it was only 31 when they started — anything you do now is harder than it had to have been before. It just is. There’s so many more rounds of playoffs to go through. There’s so many more teams that you have to be better than to get there.”

The Golden Knights have a locker room full of players who have lifted the Stanley Cup, and their experience especially is valuable when the goal of winning it again is so close.

“I think it goes a long way,” said forward Brett Howden, who has a playoff-leading 13 goals. “Just the experience that we have in his locker room, the leadership, the way we’ve gone through adversity, the way our team stays composed. It just speaks volumes to our locker room.”

Howden was on the 2023 team that won the Cup, but there are a number of notable players still chasing their first title. Players such as Mitch Marner, Rasmus Andersson and Tomas Hertl.

Hertl came close in 2016 with San Jose, reaching the Cup Final before losing in six games to Pittsburgh. The Sharks made the Western Conference Final in 2019 — along the way eliminating the Golden Knights in seven games — before falling to St. Louis in six games.

“In the third season when I got to the Cup, I was like, ‘I’ll be right back,’” Hertl said. “You have a couple of good runs. You have a couple of years missing the playoff. You’re like, ‘Will it ever come again?’ You come here and it’s a great team in the first two seasons. We’ve been in the playoff, but we never get far. And now we’re sitting there, we have two wins to the Cup Final.

“Hopefully, we finish this the right way and it will be remembered forever.”

And, likely, among the greatest expansion franchises.

Zweig said the Golden Knights already are in the company of the Flyers, Islanders and Oilers.

— Philadelphia entered the league in the 1967-68 season and made the playoffs in its first two seasons and three of its first four. The Broad Street Bullies won the Cup in 1974 and 1975 and lost in the Final in 1976.

— New York debuted in the 1972-73 season and began a 14-year streak of making the playoffs in its third year. That included winning four Cups in a row starting in 1980.

— Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton was part of the World Hockey Association merger with the NHL in 1979 and made the postseason in each of its first 13 years in the new league. That included five Cups over seven seasons, though the last in 1990 didn’t include The Great One, who was traded to Los Angeles two years earlier.

The New York Rangers and Blues are other expansion franchises that could be considered. The Rangers began play in 1926 and made the playoffs in 15 of their first 16 seasons and won three Cups. St. Louis was part of a new six-team division in 1967, and by winning it the first three years automatically made the Cup Final. The Blues were swept in all three series.

“There’s been so much expansion since the ‘90s,” Zweig said. “Vegas is head and shoulders above all of those.”

The Golden Knights aren’t overly concerned about history, but they are trying to survive what has been an unexpectedly high-scoring series against the Hurricanes filled with whiplash-inducing momentum swings. The Golden Knights just as easily could be down 2-1 or even 3-0 in this series, but they overcame an early two-goal deficit in the opener and escaped in double overtime of Game 3 after blowing a four-goal lead.

“There was no panic,” coach John Tortorella said. “The only way I can explain it is (the players) get it, they’ve been there. A lot of this team has won and gone through the process of going through playoffs, and they rely on that. I think they challenge themselves. It isn’t a physical skill, it’s a mental skill, and we have that. I don’t know if we win the series, but I know we have that in this organization.”

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MLB Same-Game Parlay Predictions: Our Best SGP Picks for Tuesday, June 9

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There’s a full slate of action on the diamond Tuesday, June 9, and I’ve got a trio of MLB same-game parlay predictions to cover you throughout the night on June 9.

My top MLB picks call for a high-scoring game between the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets to begin the betting card and wrap up with the Washington Nationals topping the San Francisco Giants again in the late window.

Today's best MLB SGP picks

GameSGP Odds
Cardinals STL vs Mets NYM+345
Cubs CHC vs Rockies COL+345
Nationals WAS vs Giants SFG+300

Cardinals vs Mets SGP: Bats light up Citi scoreboard

The wind is forecast to be blowing straight out at Citi Field on Tuesday, and the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively, rank third and ninth in xwOBA over the past 30 days, so I’m anticipating both offenses chipping in to hit the Over.

Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker has posted a high-end .394 wOBA and .240 ISO against right-handed pitchers this season. Mets star Juan Soto rounds out the SGP, and he’s teed off on righties to the tune of a .419 wOBA and .291 ISO over the past three years.

There is value in this SGP even if the total climbs to 8.0, and I’d recommend it to +310.

  • Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: SNY, CARD

Cubs vs Rockies SGP: Cubbies crush in Coors

Not only has Colorado Rockies righty Tomoyuki Sugano served up a monster .396 wOBA to left-handed hitters this season, but his 7.52 xERA is also the highest in baseball among starters with at least 60 innings. 

Additionally, Chicago Cubs righty Colin Rea has surrendered a .191 batting average while allowing just seven runs across his past three starts, so I’m confident he can limit the damage enough for the Cubbies to pull away.

Turning to the Chicago hitters, Ian Happ sports a .409 wOBA with 23 extra-base hits against righties this year, and Michael Busch checks in with a .352 wOBA and 16 XBH.

I’d recommend this SGP to +315.

  • Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: COLR, MARQ

Nationals vs Giants SGP: Nats tee off on Houser

The Washington Nationals lineup draws a soft matchup against San Francisco Giants righty Adrian Houser, with the veteran allowing a monster 38.4% squared-up contact rate to go along with a 5.42 xERA.

As a result, I’m anticipating the Nats putting enough runs on the board to win, and I’m targeting Washington stars James Wood and C.J. Abrams to lead the charge. 

Houser has surrendered a massive .452 wOBA to lefty bats this season, and Woods and Abrams sport matching .420 marks against right-handed pitchers, while also respectively posting monster .286 and .280 ISOs.

This SGP is playable down to +285.

  • Time: 9:45 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NBCSBA, NATS
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
  • SGP picks: 4-11, +4.2 units

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Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin reportedly submits 3-team trade list of Florida, Minnesota and Vegas

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade by submitting a three-team list of desired destinations, a person familiar with discussions confirmed to The Associated Press.

The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because talks are private. The Detroit Free Press first reported the development earlier in the day.

Larkin has a full no-trade clause as part of his contract, and his list was limited to being dealt to Vegas, Minnesota and Florida. He has five years left on an eight-year, $69.6 million contract, which carries an annual salary cap hit of $8.7 million.

The 29-year-old’s trade demand comes after completing his 11th season in Detroit, and 10th straight without a playoff berth. The Red Wings’ decade-long postseason drought now stands as the NHL’s longest active run after the Buffalo Sabres qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 15 years this season.

The Red Wings faltered down the stretch in becoming the NHL’s second team to have 69 points through 53 games only to miss the playoffs.

From Waterford, Michigan, Larkin enjoyed success in his Olympic debut, by winning a gold medal representing the U.S. at the Milan Cortina Games in February.

The challenge for Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is working out a deal with any of the three teams, who each are projected to be in the bottom half of the NHL in having $15.2 million or less in cap space available entering next season, according to spotrac.com.

And they include the Golden Knights, who rank 31st among the NHL’s 32 teams in currently having just $4.6 million of space available.

It’s unclear whether Larkin would be open to potentially expanding his list.

Larkin has spent his entire career in the Detroit area. He played collegiately at Michigan, and was selected by Detroit with the 15th pick in the 2014 draft. He’s a six-time 30-goal scorer, and coming off a season in which he had 67 points, including a career-best 34 goals in 74 games.

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Rod Brind’Amour not disclosing goaltender decision for Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final

LAS VEGAS — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour is wearing his poker face well in Las Vegas.

Brind’Amour has decided who will be in net against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.

He’s just not telling anyone.

“It’s always a suspenseful thing around here that I have to hold on to,” Brind’Amour said after practice. “It seems to have taken a life of its own, so I kind of enjoy it.”

Vegas leads the series 2-1 after a wild 5-4 double-overtime win in Game 3. The teams split the first two games in Carolina.

Starting goaltender Frederik Andersen didn’t practice, which Brind’Amour described as a maintenance day, but backup Brandon Bussi was on the ice along with Pyotr Kochetkov. All three were in rotation over the first three months of the regular season.

Asked what the coaches were telling him about his chances of playing in Game 4, Bussi smirked: “You know, Rod’s our coach, right?”

Andersen was brilliant for the Hurricanes, playing every minute of their first 15 playoff games before Bussi replaced him after Vegas took a 4-0 lead after the second period of Game 3.

Bussi shut down the Knights until Shea Theodore’s game-winning shot caromed off the end boards and went in after the goaltender inadvertently deflected it with his left skate 5:38 into the second overtime.

Brind’Amour told reporters he didn’t anticipate “a lot of changes” to the lineup, but would “see how (Andersen is) feeling.”

The coach quashed the notion that Andersen may have suffered a head injury when Ivan Barbashev’s left hip viciously collided with the netminder’s head. Andersen dropped to the ice face-first, where he lay flat with his arms sprawled out.

Bussi, who hadn’t played since April 14 before replacing Andersen, said his mindset doesn’t change on how to prepare for a game, whether as a backup or starter.

“It’s the same thing for me every day,” Bussi said. “I put my head down, I work hard. I just do the same thing every time. It’s easier that way.”

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes said they have confidence in whoever leads the team onto the ice inside T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night.

“Freddie has been unbelievable, Bussi’s been unbelievable this year, and Koch, before he got injured, he was incredible,” Nikolaj Ehlers said. “So we got a ton of confidence. We want to play the same hockey that we know we can play. In the end it doesn’t matter who’s in the net, we’re going to do our best to limit their chances and give them less hard work to do during the games.

“It doesn’t matter. We have full confidence in all three goalies.”

Taylor Hall said the smaller intangibles to consider might be the goaltenders’ styles of play and how to react when an explosive team such as Vegas is firing on net.

“Bussi plays an aggressive style, so I would say it’s more about taking away the other options around the ice a bit more so that he can just focus on that shot if we do give up a chance,” Hall said. “Where Freddie’s more patient, and he’s more of a, ‘let’s see what happens.’ He’ able to kind of save some backdoor plays and things like that.”

In other injury news, forward William Carrier skated at practice after missing the third period and OT after appearing to injure his arm during a check on Jeremy Lauzon.

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Yankees Birthday of the Day: Bill Virdon

Retired American baseball players Whitey Ford (left) and Bill White (right) congratulate Bill Virdon who had just signs a managerial contract with the New York Yankees, New York, New York, early 1974. Both Ford and White were former Yankees. (Photo by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today’s iteration of our birthday series brings us to an unusual spot relative to some of the entries thus far. With limited options of players born on June 9th, we instead will be celebrating and looking back on Bill Virdon, a solid player, but a man who made his mark on the Yankees in a managerial role.

A 12-year big league veteran, and winner of multiple awards over the course of his career, his time in the game was far from insignificant. With the Yankees, his chapter is rather short, though there is still plenty to look back on with regard to the career of Virdon.

Bill Virdon
Born: June 9, 1931 (Hazel Park, MI)
Died: November 23, 2021 (Springfield, MO)
Yankees Tenure: 1950-53 (minors); 1974-75 (manager)

Born during the Great Depression in Michigan, Bill Virdon actually kicked off his professional baseball career with the Yankees, signing a contract with the club prior to the 1950 season and peaking with a .317/.381/.439 showing in 42 games with the Double-A Birmingham Barons in 1953. A promotion to Triple-A Kansas City didn’t go as well though, and before making it to The Show, he was gone. Virdon was dealt away in the deal that brought veteran bench bat Enos Slaughter to New York leading up to the 1954 campaign.

A year later, the acquisition would pan out for the Cards. In 1955, Virdon broke onto the scene with a 17-homer season and a .281/.322/.433 slash line that was good enough for National League Rookie of the Year honors. His sophomore campaign was even better, splitting time with St. Louis and, following a mid-season trade, the Pirates.

Virdon would actually spend the rest of his playing days in a Pittsburgh uniform, starting his tenure there with a rather impressive stretch. He was consistent and an above-average contributor for the Buccos, as he put up at least 2.0 bWAR in every season with the Pirates through 1960, as a slightly below-average hitter with a good glove in the outfield. Along with several others, Virdon was part of a formidable defensive unit for Pittsburgh in 1960, a team that beat the Yankees in that year’s World Series. He had two hits in the Game 7 stunner, including an infamous infield single that hit a pebble and struck Tony Kubek in the throat, helping spark a five-run rally in the eighth before teammate Bill Mazeroski’s memorable shot.

Although his overall production waned as he entered his 30s, Virdon won a Gold Glove Award in 1962, and remained with the club through the mid-’60s. His playing career came to a close after a brief six-game cameo with the club in 1968 at the age of 37. By the time his retirement came around, Virdon had already spent time as a minor league manager, and as a player-coach with the Pirates, serving as a precursor to the rest of his time in the baseball world.

Post-retirement, Virdon immediately got in on the coaching game, and would reach the top of the hill in the 1972 season. That year, he was hired as the manager of his old Pirates club, and he kicked off his tenure on a good note, winning their division before losing the NLCS to the Reds that season. He was the manager during Roberto Clemente’s tragic passing, and eventually lost his job after a middling start to the 1973 season.

For the 1974 campaign, George Steinbrenner brought him on board to manage the Yankees, replacing the burnt-out Ralph Houk. Virdon once again got things kicked off successfully. That year, Virdon captured his first Sporting News Manager of the Year award, leading the Yankees to a 89-73 record after a sub-.500 showing in ’73.

Virdon got the Bombers off to a fine start in 1975, but his time as the head honcho was cut short when the skipper who would become Steinbrenner’s main man suddenly hit the market. After being fired by the Rangers, Billy Martin came on to become the new Yankees manager mid-season (his first stint), obviously resulting in Virdon being let go.

That wasn’t the end of his managerial career, however, as he latched on to the Astros job during that same season, and never looked back. Virdon would spend eight seasons as Houston’s manager, and although they were mediocre to begin his time there, they eventually won a division title in Game 163 of 1980, netting him another Manager of the Year Award. Both distinctions were the second such of his managerial career. In the Astros’ first foray into postseason play, they took a 2-1 NLCS lead over the Phillies, only to drop back-to-back games in extras at the Astrodome to concede the pennant to the Phils. They returned to October play as second-half champs in the split-season of ’81, but for the second year in a row, the eventual champs knocked them out as the Dodgers enacted their vengeance for losing in 1980.

Dismissed following an ugly start to ’82, Virdon wrapped up his time on the big league stage with two years as the manager of the Expos from 1983 to ‘84, finishing just around .500 in Montreal. He would spend further time on Major League coaching staffs, but would never again be a manager.

On the whole, it was a successful run for Virdon in baseball, as a 12-year career, Rookie of the Year Award, and multiplte Manager of the Year Awards are not things everyone can boast. Although his time with the Yankees was minimal, his mark would be hard to deny as a baseball-lifer, and a pretty good one at that.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

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Knicks fans: share your reaction to the NBA finals

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson at Game 3 of the NBA finals at Madison Square Garden on 8 June.Photograph: Ross D Franklin/AP

The New York Knicks are leading the NBA finals 2-1 against the San Antonio Spurs, much to the excitement of fans across the world. It’s their first appearance in the playoff finals since 1999, when they lost the best-of-seven series to the very same Texas team.

We would like to hear from New Yorkers and Knicks fans, both in the state and around the globe, about how they’re feeling in this current moment. With the Knicks doing so well after so long, how are you celebrating? Are you still optimistic despite the Spurs’ close win in Madison Square Garden on Monday? How are you feeling about the future?

If you’re having trouble using the form, click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here.

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Why order of operations will dictate the Lakers’ free-agency plans

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 1: Austin Reaves #15 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

As soon as the NBA Finals are over — which could be as early as Wednesday at this rate — expect the Lakers to get to work.

The day after the Finals end, teams are allowed to legally begin negotiating with their own free agents. No team would ever dare to tamper before that in Adam Silver’s NBA, so the last few weeks of June will be the Lakers’ best chance to lock down commitments from LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and the rest of their free agents.

If they don’t have a firm answer by 6 p.m. ET on June 30, the Lakers might have to pivot elsewhere.

That’s both the gift and the curse of being able to have upward of $50 million in cap space this offseason.

Getting to that number requires some significant sacrifices, though. The Lakers would have to renounce their free-agent rights to everyone other than Reaves, including LeBron and Hachimura.

Unless both players choose to sign elsewhere, that potential $50 million of cap space is a pipe dream. That’s because until they sign somewhere or the Lakers renounce them, they’re going to count against the Lakers’ books in some capacity.

Those two in particular will prevent the Lakers from having any cap space until they decide upon their fates one way or another.

Between LeBron, Hachimura and Reaves alone, there’s a clear order of operations in which the Lakers need to work this offseason to maximize their flexibility.

Their own free agents

By June 30, the Lakers need to have a firm-ish answer on James, Hachimura and the rest of their free agents other than Reaves. Otherwise, they won’t know how much money they can realistically spend in free agency.

LeBron will count as $57.75 million (his max salary) against the Lakers’ cap until he re-signs with them, signs elsewhere, retires or the Lakers renounce his rights. Hachimura will count as nearly $27.4 million. Those two alone put the Lakers well above the cap, and that’s not even counting Luke Kennard ($13.2 million cap hit), Jaxson Hayes ($6.6 million) or Deandre Ayton and/or Marcus Smart if they decline their respective player options.

The Lakers will have at least a week-and-a-half to legally negotiate with them before any of them can begin legally negotiating with other teams. (Because again, no one would dare to tamper in Adam Silver’s NBA.) That should give them plenty of time to suss out the likelihood of bringing each of them back, and the price tag it’d likely cost.

Perhaps LeBron says he’s willing to come back and take whatever’s left over after the Lakers go free-agent shopping. The Lakers could hash out agreements with the rest of their free-agent targets, but they’d have to re-sign LeBron first to get his massive cap hold off their books before they’d have to sign anyone else.

The same goes for Hachimura to a lesser extent. If he’s getting less than $27.4 million as the starting salary of his next contract, his cap hold would count as more than his next deal will. Once the Lakers signed Hachimura to that contract, they’d carve out additional financial flexibility with which to navigate the aprons.

If they don’t have a clear answer by June 30, though, they may face the difficult decision of whether to renounce either player (or both).

If the Lakers renounced either James or Hachimura, their cap holds would be removed from their books, but they would also forfeit their Bird rights. That means they’d only be able to re-sign them via cap space or with a salary-cap exception.

Once the Lakers finish the rest of their free-agent business, they can then turn their attention to Reaves.

Reaves’ cap-hold trick

Reaves has been the skeleton key to kickstarting the Luka Dončić era for a while now. He’s likely in line for a max or near-max deal this offseason, whether from the Lakers or another team, but he’ll count as only $20.9 million on the Lakers’ books until they re-sign him.

Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Timesrecently said that from what he understands, “Austin wants the max. Is he willing to give the Lakers a hometown deal? I’m not so sure about that. Maybe he does, but maybe his reps don’t want to.”

The $50 million of cap space figure above includes Reaves’ $20.9 million cap hold. A max contract for Reaves will start at $41.25 million next season, assuming a $165 million salary cap. Once he signs that deal, he’ll count as his new salary on the Lakers’ books. Until that time, he’ll count as only $20.9 million.

So, even if the Lakers announce early in free agency — or even during the legal negotiating period after the Finals — that they’ve reached an agreement with Reaves, that doesn’t mean they’re going to sign him as soon as the July Moratorium lifts on July 6. They’ll spend the rest of their cap space first and then re-sign him afterward to take advantage of his well-below-market cap hold.

The only thing Reaves’ next contract will affect is the Lakers’ proximity to the luxury tax and the aprons. He has zero impact on what they do in free agency aside from how his next contract fits into their larger financial picture.

Depending on which of their other free agents they bring back and how much it costs to do so, the Lakers might have a walkaway price for Reaves that’s below a full max. We’ll see what they have planned for LeBron, Rui and their other free agents, along with anything else they might have up their sleeves.

But no matter what order those decisions are announced in, there is a clear chain that the Lakers need to follow once they’re ready to make those deals official.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Follow Bryan on Bluesky.

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Where to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Tuesday, June 9

The Los Angeles Dodgers, ranked first in the NL West with a 42-24 record, face the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are third in the NL Central with a 34-32 record. The game is essentially a pick'em, with Pittsburgh at -110 and the Dodgers at -110. Starting pitchers are Eric Lauer for the Dodgers, with a 5.74 ERA, and Paul Skenes for the Pirates, with a 2.83 ERA.

  • Date: Tuesday, June 9

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET / 3:40 p.m. PT

  • Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

  • TV Channels: SportsNet Pittsburgh, SportsNet LA

  • Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Los Angeles Dodgers: 42-24 (first in NL West)

  • Pittsburgh Pirates: 34-32 (third in NL Central)

  • Spread: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5

  • Moneyline: Pittsburgh Pirates -110 / Los Angeles Dodgers -110

  • Over/Under: 8.5

Los Angeles Dodgers: Eric Lauer (2-5, ERA: 5.74, K: 31, WHIP: 1.38)

Pittsburgh Pirates: Paul Skenes (6-5, ERA: 2.83, K: 82, WHIP: 0.90)

Series: Game 1 of 3 (series tied)

Weather: 79°F at first pitch

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Where to watch New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Tuesday, June 9

The New York Yankees, ranked second in the AL East with a 39-26 record, face the Cleveland Guardians, who are first in the AL Central with a 37-31 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -120 moneyline compared to the Cleveland Guardians' +110. Starting pitchers are Gerrit Cole for the Yankees, with a 2.00 ERA, and Slade Cecconi for the Guardians, with a 4.92 ERA.

  • Date: Tuesday, June 9

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET / 3:40 p.m. PT

  • Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH

  • TV Channels: TBS, Guardians.TV Presented by Progressive, WKYC 3, Amazon Prime Video

  • Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • New York Yankees: 39-26 (second in AL East)

  • Cleveland Guardians: 37-31 (first in AL Central)

  • Spread: New York Yankees -1.5

  • Moneyline: Cleveland Guardians +110 / New York Yankees -120

  • Over/Under: 8.5

New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole (1-1, ERA: 2.00, K: 14, WHIP: 0.89)

Cleveland Guardians: Slade Cecconi (3-5, ERA: 4.92, K: 54, WHIP: 1.43)

Series: Game 2 of 3

Weather: 79°F at first pitch

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Best NRFI Picks Today: No Run First Inning Predictions for MLB June 9

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I'm looking to get in and get out of a few games this evening by attacking the YRFI/NRFI market for my MLB picks.

Both Sox games immediately caught my attention this afternoon, and so did the matchup out in Las Vegas. A few strong spots stand out on the board tonight, so let's dive into my best NRFI/YRFI predictions for June 9.

Best NRFI/YRFI predictions today

PickOdds
Braves/White Sox - Braves vs. White Sox YRFI-119
Red Sox/Rays - Red Sox vs. Rays NRFI-117
Brewers/Athletics - Brewers vs. Athletics NRFI+150

Braves at White Sox: YRFI (-113)

Kicking off the day by rooting for early runs in the first game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago White Sox.

Eric Fedde takes the mound for the White Sox this evening, sporting a 9.00 first-inning ERA after allowing eight runs across eight starts.

Opposing hitters own a .294 batting average, .824 slugging percentage, and 1.118 OPS against him in the opening frame. Over his last five starts, the White Sox right-hander has posted a 68.4% elevation rate and a 2.21 HR/9.

Grant Holmes gets the ball for Atlanta, and he has struggled in the first inning as well, allowing eight runs on 10 hits through 12 starts. Over his last five outings, Holmes has surrendered plenty of hard contact, giving up a 51.4% hard-hit rate and a 12.9% barrel rate. He also owns a 2.10 HR/9 and a 62.9% elevation rate during that span.

Using the current season timeframe on Batters-Box, these lineups feature six elite-rated bats and three additional hitters with strong ratings. That gives us nine total bats in favorable spots to do damage at the plate this evening.

Both teams also rank inside the top 10 in YRFI percentage. The Braves own the second-highest road YRFI rate at 39.39%, while the White Sox rank 10th overall at 32%.

With this being the best number available, I'd be comfortable playing it up to -125 if needed.

  • Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: CHSN, BravesVsn

Red Sox at Rays: NRFI (-135)

I am all over both Sox games today, but for this pick, I want NO RUNS.

Game 2 between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays features left-hander Payton Tolle and right-hander Nick Martinez, two arms that should be able to hold things down early — just as they have all season.

The Red Sox southpaw enters today having allowed just two runs through eight games, both coming on solo home runs. Aside from that, he has surrendered only one other hit during that span. Over his last five outings, he has done an excellent job limiting hard contact while posting a 0.61 HR/9.

On the other side, Martinez has put up similar numbers over his last five appearances, allowing just 36.5% hard contact with a 6.7% barrel rate, while carrying an elite 2.4% walk rate.

Through 12 games this season, the first inning has been where the Rays right-hander has shone most, sporting a 0.75 ERA and allowing just one run.

Offensively, we only have to worry about two hitters with strong matchup ratings: Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero. Both profile well against left-handed pitching, but I'm willing to take that risk given the edge the starting pitchers hold in this matchup.

Polymarket is currently offering the best price on this prop, so I would aim to find a number as close to that as possible.

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: RAYS, NESN

Brewers at Athletics: NRFI (+150)

Someone is going to see this and want to chirp me, so I'll make it real easy for you: it's @ColbyMBets.

Now, back to why you're here, the logic.

First of all, yes, I am aware of the elevation in this matchup. I saw the fireworks last night. However, at this price, I think we're getting some real value on the Milwaukee Brewers and Athletics to stay scoreless through one inning.

On the bump for Milwaukee is left-hander Robert Gasser (great pitcher name), who, despite a lower ground-ball rate, isn't allowing much hard contact. Through his first couple of starts this season, opposing hitters own just a .192 xBA and .335 xSLG against him.

On the other side, Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn has been dealing over his last five outings, posting a 1.59 ERA while carrying a 42.6% ground-ball rate.

Opposing hitters are producing just a 38.2% hard-hit rate and a 5.9% barrel rate, while owning a .197 xBA. Through 11 appearances this season, Ginn has posted a 1.64 ERA in the first inning, allowing only two runs on nine hits.

People are going to harp on the elevation because it's second only to Coors Field, as if Coors has never had a scoreless first inning. If I'm wrong, it won't be the first time, and it certainly won't be the last.

At +150, the price is simply too sexy to pass up.

  • Time: 10:05 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NBCSCA, BREW
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
  • 2026 MLB Record picks: 197-345-29, +1.30 units

What is a NRFI prediction?

NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) picks add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI pick is a prediction that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're predicting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.

A YRFI pick is the exact opposite. You're predicting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.

NRFI and YRFI picks add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for those looking for a quick resolution.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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3 Penguins Make Best NHL Pending UFAs List

The Pittsburgh Penguins are entering the summer with several pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs). Now, three of them have been ranked among the NHL's best pending UFAs.

The Athletic's Chris Johnston recently ranked the NHL's top 50 pending UFAs for this summer. Anthony Mantha, Stuart Skinner, and Ryan Shea all made the cut. 

Mantha was given the No. 8 spot, and it is pretty easy to understand why. While he had a disappointing post-season for the Penguins, he thrived during the regular-season. In 81 games this campaign with Pittsburgh, he recorded 33 goals and 64 points. After a season like this, he will generate a lot of interest if he tests free agency. 

Skinner landed the No. 20 spot on Johnston's list. When noting that he is one of the top pending UFA goalies who can test free agency this summer and has a ton of playoff experience, he should have a good amount of suitors. In 50 games this season split between the Edmonton Oilers and Penguins, he had a 23-17-9 record, an .888 save percentage, and a 2.92 goals-against average.

As for Shea, he was given the No. 23 spot on Johnston's rankings. The 29-year-old just had a breakout year for Pittsburgh, setting new career highs with six goals, 29 assists, 35 points, and a plus-30 rating. Now, he is due for a new contract, and he should land himself a very nice raise. That remains the case whether he re-signs with the Penguins or signs elsewhere. 

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Mets Minor League Players of the Week: Week Eleven

Vincent Perozo of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies enters the field before a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on May 16, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

Vincent Perozo

Week: 5 G, 20 AB, .450/.450/.900, 9 H, 3 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 0 BB, 4 K, 0/0 SB (Double-A)

2026 Season: 18 G, 62 AB, .258/.333/.355, 16 H, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 5 BB, 13 K, 1/1 SB, .298 BABIP (High-A) / 18 G, 63 AB, .270/.309/.524, 17 H, 4 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 22 K, 0/0 SB, .342 BABIP (Double-A) / 1 G, 3 AB, .333/.333/.667, 1 H, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/0 SB, 1.000 BABIP (Triple-A)

Venezuelan catcher Vincent Perozo was signed on July 2, 2019, the first day of the 2019-2020 international free agent signing period. He missed the 2020 due to the coronavirus cancelling the minor league season and made his professional debut in 2021, skipping over the Dominican Summer League completely and playing with the FCL Mets. Battling through a shoulder injury for much of the season, the backstop appeared in 18 games and hit .173/.349/.269 with 1 home run, 0 stolen bases in 2 attempts, and 10 walks to 21 strikeouts. He began the 2022 season promoted to Single-A St. Lucie but only spent about a week there before being sent back down the Florida Complex League. He appeared in 36 games for them and hit .283/.387/.475 with 4 home runs, 1 stolen base in as many attempts, and 11 walks to 32 strikeouts. He was promoted back to the St. Lucie Mets at the end of August and went 3-14 with a double and a homer, giving him a .129/.200/.323 batting line in 9 games with St. Lucie with 1 home run, 1 walk, and 8 strikeouts. He remained in St. Lucie for the 2023 season, spending the entire year there, and hit .226/.322/.381 with 8 home runs, 1 stolen base in 2 attempts, and 32 walks to 103 strikeouts in 88 games. The Mets had the 21-year-old repeat the level in 2024 and the youngster regressed, hitting .173/.280/.229 in 78 games with 10 doubles, 1 home run, 4 stolen bases, and drew 27 walks to 81 strikeouts.

Perozo began his fourth consecutive season with St. Lucie and was a bit better this time around, hitting .259/.376/.378 in 58 games with 9 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 3 stolen bases in 7 attempts, and 25 walks to 42 strikeouts. He was promoted to High-A Brooklyn in August and finished the season with the Cyclones, hitting .167/.265/.200 in 20 games with 2 doubles, 0 home runs, 2 stolen bases in 4 attempts, and 5 walks to 19 strikeouts.

The backstop began this season with Brooklyn, but has bounced all over the Mets’ minor league system since the beginning of the year, filling in wherever needed. Perozo was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse for a single game in mid-April, was then sent to Binghamton for a pair of games, and then sent back to Brooklyn. In mid-May, he returned to Binghamton in what appears to be his actual, permanent assignment.

At the plate, the left-handed Perozo stands square at the plate, standing tall and holding his hands low. The 5’11”, 170-pound backstop has a smooth, uppercutty planar swing that gives him good coverage low in the zone but makes him weak to pitches upstairs. When he connects with a ball, particularly low balls, he shows unexpected power, but his aggressive approach at the plate has led to an elevated strikeout rate, depressed walk rate, and a great deal of poor contact. Perozo is having more success now in Binghamton than he has almost anywhere, and it is no coincidence that his Pull% is down slightly, his Cent% and Oppo% are up, his Line Drive rate is up, and his groundball rate is down.

Behind the plate, Perozo will never be a standout defensive catcher because his arm is only average at best, but scouts and evaluators give him good grades for his mobility behind the plate, framing and receiving abilities, and his ability to work with his pitchers.

Frank Camarillo

Week: 1 G (1 GS), 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (High-A)

2026 Season: 7 G (7 GS), 31.0 IP, 27 H, 16 R, 15 ER (4.35 ERA), 11 BB, 28 K, .261 BABIP (Single-A) / 3 G (3 GS), 17.2 IP, 17 H, 7 R, 7 ER (3.57 ERA), 4 BB, 8 K, .255 BABIP (High-A)

So-Cal native Frank Camarillo was drafted by the Mets in the thirteenth-round of the 2025 MLB Draft, the 403rd overall pick overall. A right-handed pitcher who attended the University of California: Santa Barbara, Camarillo did not have that many innings under his belt when selected. In 2023, his freshman year, he appeared in 4 games in total, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits and a walk over 2.2 innings, striking out 2 batters. In his sophomore season, he appeared in 13 games and posted a 7.97 ERA in 20.1 innings, allowing 27 hits, walking 12, and striking out 18. In his junior year, he posted a 6.53 ERA in 20.2 innings over 8 games, allowing 25 hits, 8 walks, and 19 strikeouts. While he supplemented the innings he pitched by pitching in collegiate summer leagues, he still had only 98.2 innings of work under his belt prior to being drafted- and with poor results, to boot.

The Mets did not have the right-hander appear in any games for the rest of 2025, and when the 2026 season began, assigned him to the Single-A St. Lucie Mets. The 22-year-old appeared in 7 games for them, starting all 7, and was serviceable, posting a 4.35 ERA in 31.0 innings, allowing 27 hits, walking 11, and striking out 28. Near the end of May, he was promoted to the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones and has since made 3 starts with them, allowing 7 earned runs in 17.2 innings, good for a 3.57 ERA, while allowing 17 hits, walking 4, and striking out 8. Altogether, he has a combined 4.25 ERA over his first 10 professional starts, allowing 44 hits, walking 15, and striking out 36 in 48.2 innings.

With a pronounced high leg kick, the 6’4”, 210-pound right-hander throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot, dropping down and pushing off the mound with a decent amount of extension. His repertoire consists of a fastball, slider, changeup and splitter. By and large, he uses his fastball almost half of the time, his slider and changeup almost half that, and his splitter sparingly.

His fastball- which statcast registers as a distinct four-seam fastball and a distinct two-seam fastball, which may actually only be a two-seam fastball or a four-seam fastball, based on its characteristics- sits in the mid-90s, ranging 90-96 MPH. With a low spin rate hovering around 2,000 RPM, the pitch has slightly above-average vertical drop and horizontal movement compared to other fastballs, as the magnus force its spin produces is not strong enough to counter the force of gravity. When thrown up in the zone, the pitch produces slightly above-average induced vertical break readings- as high as 18 inches while playing with the St. Lucie Mets- due to the fact that Camarillo releases the ball from a flat approach angle thanks to his extension off the mound and arm slot.

His slider sits in the low-to-mid-80s, ranging 81-85 MPH. It, too, features a low spin rate, giving it gyroscopic break that results in an average amount of vertical drop but almost no horizontal movement. His changeup sits in the same velocity band and features as much vertical drop as his slider, but with much more horizontal movement, averaging about 18 inches while he was pitching in St. Lucie. His splitter is very seldom used, only seeing action a handful of times per game, but it has been his most effective strikeout pitch. Sitting in the high-70s-to-low-80s, the pitch has averaged 1,000 RPM when used, causing it to absolutely fall off of the table with sharp, sudden vertical drop.

All in all, Camarillo does not have high-octane strikeout stuff, which is why he has been a bit hittable in both St. Lucie and Brooklyn. He gives up a lot of line drives and a lot of pulled flyball contact, which is not optimal- but may be hidden in Brooklyn to a degree, where the stadium is extremely tough on left-handed hitters.

Players of the Week 2026

Week One/Two (March 27-April 5): Hayden Senger/Cam Tilly
Week Three (April 7-April 12): A.J. Ewing/Christian Scott
Week Four (April 14-April 18): Randy Guzman/Jose Chirinos
Week Five (April 21-April 26): A.J. Ewing/Channing Austin
Week Six (April 30-May 3): A.J. Ewing/Jonah Tong
Week Seven (May 5-May 10): Ryan Clifford/Jonathan Santucci
Week Eight: (May 12-May 17): Jacob Reimer/Zach Thornton
Week Nine: (May 19-May 24): Ryan Clifford/Channing Austin
Week Ten: (May 26-May 31): Ryan Clifford/Jose Chirinos