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Mets’ Kodai Senga sunk by one mistake in first career relief appearance

Kodai Senga threw relatively well in his first career relief appearance Sunday, aside from one bad pitch. 

The right-hander did well to save the bullpen and keep the Mets in a three-run ballgame.

Senga cruised his way through the top of the Phillies’ order in his first inning of work, including a four-pitch strikeout of Kyle Schwarber on a nasty slider out of the zone.  

He found himself in immediate trouble after giving up a walk and a double leading off the sixth, but was able to dance his way out of danger with help from two more strikeouts. 

The Mets rallied to jump in front for the first time in the ballgame in the bottom-half, and Andy Green decided to stick with Senga with the top of Philly’s order coming back up.

Green revealed postgame that the majority of New York's top arms were unavailable. 

This time the Phillies' big bats were able to get to him, as the Met-killer Schwarber jumped all over a 1-2 fastball in the heart of the zone following three straight forkballs, crushing it over the right-center fence. 

"Where we were at that point in the game and the count, it didn’t have to be a fastball," Senga said via a translator. "If I was going to go fastball since we were ahead, preferably it would’ve been higher, so there's a lot of think about."

Senga recovered nicely, retiring six of the next seven batters he faced to close the day. 

The Mets had plenty of chances to pick him up as well, but couldn’t deliver the big hit needed, sending him home with the loss for the sixth consecutive outing. 

It wasn’t all negative this time around for Senga, though, as he held the dangerous lineup to just the two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings.

He leaned heavily on his signature ghost-fork, using it to generate six of his 11 whiffs. 

“I thought he was really good today,” Green said. “There was aggression in everything he threw.

“He used his forkball more, it's an elite weapon and we saw good hitters take bad swings at it -- that’s always been an elite weapon, it was good to see him use it in pivotal situations and we encourage him to continue to do it.”

Senga handled a starters workload, but his role moving forward still remains to be seen. 

He knows at the end of the day, it comes down to the results. 

"It's just up to me" he said.  "If I can compete and be in the zone unlike my previous outing where strikes were strikes and balls were clearly balls, that’s not going to play, then I don’t deserve a spot in the rotation -- on the flip side, if I am able to compete I do feel I deserve a spot."

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Mets Notes: A.J. Ewing feeling more himself at plate, Francisco Lindor held out Sunday

Notes on the Mets after Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies...

A.J. Ewing feeling good at the plate

Ewing wasn't in the lineup with Philadelphia starting left-hander Jesus Luzardo, but was ready when his name was called upon to pinch-hit with one down in the sixth inning. Facing righty Chase Shugart, Ewing took a 0-1 sweeper and smacked it for a 382-foot game-tying two-run shot.

“Everybody in the lineup card has a role to play that day, whether they're in the starting nine or you're on the bench,” Ewing said. “And just staying prepared, staying into the game, the full nine innings.”

Ewing, who added a single in his three at-bats, said that being aggressive in counts is when he feels most comfortable at the plate.

"I feel like when I'm at my best, my at-bats end with one or two swings,” he said. “And I've been feeling more like myself recently."

In his last 14 games, Ewing has 16 hits in 47 at-bats (.340) with a 1.043 OPS as he has seven extra-base knocks and 12 RBI. And Sunday's homer, his third in that span and set up the Mets grabbing a lead after a CarsonBenge groundout later that same inning, was his first career pinch-hit hit.

“You just treat it like every other at-bat,” he said. “You’re getting prepared for it during the game a little bit, too.”

He added that the communication on that is “great” from the coaching staff in terms of who he might be facing and that gave him a “good idea” about when he might be entering.

Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived and, in the end, it was the Mets’ 15th one-run loss on the season, the most in the National League.

“That’s just baseball, it’s hard,” Ewing said of losing the lead after coming back from three down. “You just gotta show up tomorrow, we got three more in Toronto.” 

RISP anything but crisp

Getting on base wasn’t the issue on Sunday, as the Mets had nine hits and eight walks. But the nine men in the starting lineup and three who came off the bench combined to go 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position and left 14 runners stranded.

Perhaps the most crucial and, for Mets fans, most painful instance came in the home half of the eighth when Orion Kerkering issued three walks to load the bases with one out, throwing eight straight out of the zone to do so. But Ronny Mauricio popped out on a 1-0 count and Francisco Alvarez went down swinging after getting ahead 1-0.

“I saw just misses,” interim manager Andy Green said about what he saw on the day.

“Saw a bunch of guys taking aggressive passes and just missing pitches,” Green continued. “Obviously, there's a whole ton of times we could have hopped back in front, that was a huge swing from AJ to do that for us off the bench; that's impressive. We just didn't bring guys home today.”

When asked if there were times when they asked hitters to be more patient,   Green said there were “certain situations” when the Mets had the “take sign” on for players in the game.

“It's not every situation,” the interim skipper said. “There's times where you want aggression on pitches that you should be able to hit and handle. So, different points in time of the game state today, there were takes on for guys, and then at different points in time, they were turned loose.  And we weren’t able to get it just right today.”

With the day's poor showing, the Mets are now batting .238 (ninth-lowest in baseball) with a .678 OPS (fourth-lowest) and 216 RBI (lowest) with RISP.

Francisco Lindor not an option

Green had four options on his bench today and used three of them. Lindor was the lone man left out of action, and Green said he was unavailable.

“He was tempting,” the manager said about the opportunities when he could have used Lindor off the bench, but “he had the day entirely.”

Lindor played in the first two games of the series, the first time he’s done back-to-back games since he was activated from the IL on Wednesday, after several weeks out due to a calf strain.

Lindor had two hits (a triple) with two RBI and a walk in his seven at-bats of the series.

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Pittsburgh is twin city after Penguins draft Markus Ruck in 2nd round after Liam in 1st

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Born eight minutes earlier than his twin brother, Liam, Marcus Ruck is fine with ceding NHL draft bragging rights.

All that mattered to Ruck on Saturday was being selected with the 39th pick in the second round by Pittsburgh in following his brother, who was drafted 22nd overall by the Penguins a day earlier.

“He can brag to me all he wants. I’m just so happy to be with him. I know he won’t brag, but if he wanted to, he could,” Ruck said. “To be with him, it’s so special.”

The twins are from Osoyoos, British Columbia, and spent the past two-plus seasons as one of the Western Hockey League’s most productive tandems in Medicine Hat. Marcus led the WHL with 108 points last season, while Liam, a right wing, finished second with 104 points.

Liam was projected to go first, and when the Penguins chose him, Markus began looking ahead to No. 39, Pittsburgh’s next turn to pick.

“I didn’t have a preference of when, I just knew where I wanted to go and who I wanted be with,” he said, noting his brother kept his spirits up overnight. “He kept me calm and told me it was going to happen. So for it to happen, it’s awesome.”

The NHL said this marked the fifth time twin brothers were selected by the same team in the draft, in a group that includes Hall of Famers Daniel and Henrik Sedin going second and third to Vancouver in 1999.

The Rucks were part of a family theme in a draft that had Caleb Malhotra going third to Vancouver, where his dad was just hired as the Canucks head coach.

The Calgary Flames opened the third round by selecting WHL Vancouver forward Joe Iginla. He’s the youngest son of Hall of Famer and longtime Flames star Jarome Iginla, and his selection came after older brother Tij went No. 6 to Utah in the 2024 draft.

Rogowski picks hockey over baseball

Whatever doubts Brooks Rogowski had in choosing hockey over baseball quickly evaporated following the first pick in the second round.

The 18-year-old from Livonia, Michigan, had taken his seat with his family on the draft floor, when NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly announced Rogowski being selected at No. 33 by Vancouver.

“The relief was immediate. You hear your name called and all the stresses just kind of fall off you,” Rogowski said.

And the selection validates the choice the 6-foot-7, 235-pound Rogowski made two years ago. In picking hockey, after being drafted by the OHL Oshawa Generals, he put baseball behind him — and to the regret of his father and uncle, who both enjoyed minor-league baseball careers.

His father, Casey, was drafted by the Chicago White Sox and his uncle, Ryan, drafted by the Dodgers.

“Obviously they’re still sad about baseball, but I think this was the right decision,” Rogowski said. “You know, get to wear a nice jersey, so I think that they’re more than happy with that.”

Rogowski is committed to play at Michigan State in two years, and appreciates he still has plenty of room to develop after growing up focusing more on baseball.

“I have a lot more to improve,” he said. “You have a lot of these guys who have been doing this for a long time. I’m still relatively new to it, and I think there’s a lot more to me that needs to come out.”

As a rookie, Rogowski had 11 goals and 23 points in 66 games with Oshawa, and built on that with 42 points (15 goals) in 46 games last season.

Not bad for the former first baseman.

“Exactly. It’s very different,” Rogowski said comparing the two sports. “I have always been a decent hockey player, but I think the rapid growth, I can attribute to athletic ability.”

A day after pop icon Justin Bieber took the stage to announce the Toronto Maple Leafs taking Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick, there were several notable highlights over the final six rounds on Saturday.

Golden Knights 2nd-round pick forfeited

The second round featured just 31 selections with the Vegas Golden Knights forfeiting their 63rd pick after being sanctioned by the league for violating media regulations. Former Vegas coach John Tortorella was also fined $100,000 for refusing to speak to reporters following a second-round-series-clinching Game 6 victory at Anaheim.

At No. 40, the Florida Panthers used their first pick of the draft on right winger Simas Ignatavicius. Though born in Memphis, Tennessee, he relocated with his family to their native Lithuania, a nation that by his count has four hockey rinks.

Though his father played basketball, Ignatavicius was drawn to hockey at age 3 while watching a practice at a rink inside a shopping mall. Six years ago, the 18-year-old moved to Switzerland to develop his skills.

— Doman Szongoth went No. 156 to Buffalo in becoming the fourth Hungarian player selected in the NHL draft, and first since Janos Vas in 2002.

— Six Czech goalies were selected, and led by Tobias Trejbal, who went No. 42 to Calgary.

— Teams completed 20 trades, with the most notable involving St. Louis acquiring defenseman Brandon Carlo from Toronto for picks No. 73 and 76.

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Blues get Brandon Carlo; Hurricanes trade for John Carlson’s rights at NHL draft

The St. Louis Blues acquired Brandon Carlo from the Toronto Maple Leafs during the NHL draft on Saturday, those teams’ latest steps to remake their rosters during an offseason of upheaval.

St. Louis sent the Nos. 73 and 76 picks to Toronto for the 29-year-old defenseman.

Carlo lasted just 88 games with the Leafs after they sent a first-round pick, a fourth-rounder and highly regarded forward prospect Fraser Minten to Boston for him at the deadline in March 2025. That was with the previous regime in charge, and general manager Brad Treliving was fired two months ago and replaced weeks later by John Chayka, and they only got to keep the pick this year because they won the lottery for the No. 1 overall pick.

This is the third trade of the week for the Blues, who are also in transition as GM-in-waiting Alexander Steen is set to take over for seasoned executive Doug Armstrong next week. Armstrong in his final days at the helm has been plenty busy.

On Tuesday, he traded Jordan Kyrou to Washington for fellow forward Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin and the No. 16 pick, accumulating a league-high four in the first round. On Friday night, he sent two of them to Anaheim for 23-year-old Mason McTavish, who is signed through 2031.

Carlo provides some dependable veteran stability on the right side on defense, especially if the Blues decide to trade Colton Parayko or Justin Faulk as part of their summer overhaul. He is going into the final year of his contract at a salary cap hit of just under $3.5 million.

“We’re excited (Carlo has) got his size and length, his ability to kill plays, his experience,” Armstrong told reporters in Centene, Missouri. “Getting stronger up front and having strong goaltending, we think we’re going to be more competitive than we were last year.”

Toronto used the third-round picks on Canadian winger Zach Olsen and Swedish defenseman Mans Gudmundsson.

Hurricanes get John Carlson’s rights

The reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes jumped the queue to talk to John Carlson before the 36-year-old defenseman can become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday. They sent the 192nd pick and the rights to pending restricted free agent forward Kyle Masters to Anaheim to get an exclusive negotiating window with Carlson.

Traded to the Ducks by the Capitals less than 13 hours before the deadline in March, Carlson is believed to want to get back on the East Coast for family reasons. He spent his first 16-plus NHL seasons with Washington and helped the team win the Cup in 2018.

More trades at the NHL draft

New Nashville president of hockey operations and GM Chris MacFarland spent his first few weeks on the job largely adding players he was familiar with from his time in Colorado. On Saturday, he added fresh blood from the East by acquiring big, Swedish winger Adam Edstrom in a trade with the New York Rangers.

The Predators sent the 148th pick in the draft (a fifth-rounder) and the rights to minor leaguer Massimo Rizzo to New York. The Rangers, who also traded Brett Berard to Montreal on Friday, are not expected to tender Rizzo a qualifying offer and would make him an unrestricted free agent.

The Avalanche traded Ivan Ivan to the Bruins for Fabian Lysell in a swap of young forwards.

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Who Is The Newest Seattle Kraken Player, And What Do You Need To Know? ​

Who is the newest Seattle Kraken player, and what do you need to know?

​The Seattle Kraken announced on Sunday, June 21st, that the team had acquired Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers in exchange for the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a conditional second-round pick in 2027. ​

The 23-year-old has played in three NHL seasons and won the Stanley Cup in 2024-25, his second NHL season.

​In 156 NHL games, Samoskevich has recorded 27 goals and 36 assists.

​Prior to joining the NHL, Samoskevich played at the University of Michigan for two seasons. While there, he earned two honors. ​

  • Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2022)
  • Big Ten Second All-Star Team (2023)

The 5’11” center spent the three seasons prior to joining the NCAA with the Chicago Steel of the USHL, where he continued building his game.

Samoskevich was fifth among USHL rookies in 2019-20 with 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in 47 games.​

Last season, he recorded a career high of 32 points in 77 games played, adding another strong season to his résumé. ​

Kraken general manager Jason Botterill also spoke to NHL.com about the newest addition to the team.

​“For me, there’s the fact that, at such a young age, he’s been able to win a Stanley Cup already, and he’s been a part of a very successful organization in Florida,” Botterill said. “I just love his age, love his speed, and I love his shot. So, I think he’ll fit in very well with the style of play that we’re trying to play on an everyday basis here.”​


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Carolina Hurricanes follow Stanley Cup title by figuring out to how to improve a largely set roster

MORRISVILLE, N.C. — At first glance, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky doesn’t have a ton to do with the roster as the Stanley Cup champs head into the offseason.

Then again, the Hurricanes have never been the type to just sit back, either.

They’re fresh off beating the Vegas Golden Knights to claim the Cup for the second time, the first coming 20 years ago when coach Rod Brind’Amour was captain. The team has most of its core locked up to long-term deals, though that won’t stop the Hurricanes from looking to bolster the roster all the same.

“There’s always room to improve, there’s always spots we can get better,” Tulsky said Friday night after the first round of the NHL draft.

“Our goal is to build a team that even when we’re not playing our best, even when we have some injuries, we still can win the Cup. ... We need to keep taking steps to get to where we can be favorites year in and year out no matter what comes our way.”

On Saturday, Tulsky bought an exclusive negotiating window with pending free agent defenseman John Carlson, sending a late pick to Anaheim to jump the queue ahead of the market opening Wednesday.

What business is ahead on the roster?

The Hurricanes headed into the offseason with 36-year-old veteran Frederik Andersen — who anchored the net during Carolina’s 12-1 march through the Eastern Conference playoffs — as their biggest-name unrestricted free agent. Reserve forward Nicolas Delauriers and seventh defenseman Mike Reilly were the other unrestricted free agents, though the Hurricanes signed Deslauriers to a two-year deal on the stage of their downtown-Raleigh championship rally.

There’s another variable with defenseman Alexander Nikishin. The 24-year-old former top prospect became a lineup regular and worked in the third pairing through the playoffs, so the Hurricanes must decide whether to sign him — bridge or long-term — or potentially trade him.

Nikishin’s name has been popular for trade speculation. Tulsky said the Hurricanes had to pivot quickly to draft preparations and next week’s start of free agency, so contract negotiations for him hadn’t been a priority yet.

“It’s easy to punt for a little bit and let the dust settle and take care of the things that are pressing, then figure out where we’re going to go from there,” Tulsky said.

There’s another issue to monitor: the health of top-line forward Seth Jarvis. Tulsky said Jarvis is expected to be out up to six months after shoulder surgery, a timeline that would could linger into next season. That could open a lineup spot for rising prospect Bradly Nadeau or someone else.

The Hurricanes haven’t been afraid to take big swings

The Hurricanes had been aggressive before in trying to push a perennial playoff team over the top, notably by adding Jake Guentzel and Mikko Rantanen to find more high-end finishers. But they ended up dealing Guentzel’s rights to Tampa Bay in summer 2024 shortly before his expected departure in free agency, then had to move Rantanen after just 13 games in 2025 when it became clear he wouldn’t sign an extension.

The latter deal, however, worked in securing forward Logan Stankoven as the primary return from the Rantanen pivot. Stankoven centered the second line with Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake that scorched its way through the playoffs, with that trio combining for 25 goals and 55 points in the playoffs.

The question now is how much to tinker after rolling to a 16-3 playoff record en route to the Cup, especially with the roster set to return largely intact.

The motivation, though, won’t change.

“I promise you, we’re going to try to do it again,” Brind’Amour told fans during the team’s championship rally.

Carolina’s roster is filled with players locked up on long-term deals

Five of Carolina’s top nine forwards are signed through at least 2030-31, while physical forward Andrei Svechnikov is signed through 2028-29. Among the outliers, 37-year-old captain Jordan Staal — who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP — and Jordan Martinook each have one more year on their deals.

Staal wasn’t ready to retire on a high note, telling The North State Journal after the June 20 parade: “No, I want to win another one.”

As for defensemen, Jaccob Slavin and K’Andre Miller are notably lined up through 2032-33, while top-four defenseman Sean Walker is signed through 2028-29. Blue-liners Jalen Chatfield and Shayne Gostisbehere are each entering their final contract year.

Beyond Andersen in net, Stanley Cup Final hero Brandon Bussi is entering a three-year deal signed in February and reserve Pytor Kochetkov has one more year on his deal.

“That can’t make you complacent,” Tulsky said of winning the Cup. “That can’t have you saying, ‘You know what? We’re fine where we are.’ Other teams are taking steps, things change year to year. We need to keep finding ways to get better every time we can.”

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Ex-Avalanche Forward Jack Drury Lands Massive Five-Year Deal in Nashville

Jack Drury has spent the past several days in the Bahamas enjoying a well-earned vacation with his family. Judging by the smiles in the photos circulating on social media, it's safe to say life has been treating him well.

Now the former Colorado Avalanche forward has another reason to celebrate.

Just days after being acquired by the Nashville Predators, the 26-year-old center has secured the biggest contract of his NHL career. Nashville has signed Drury to a five-year contract worth $22.5 million, keeping him with the organization through the 2030-31 season at an average annual value of $4.5 million.

The deal will pay Drury $4 million during the 2026-27 season before increasing to $4.625 million annually over each of the final four years. Beginning in 2027-28, he'll receive full no-trade protection for two seasons before that converts to an eight-team no-trade list for the final two years of the agreement.

It's another clear indication that new Predators general manager Chris MacFarland wasted little time investing in a player he knows well.

MacFarland acquired Drury from the Avalanche earlier this week in a deal that sent former first-round picks Zachary L'Heureux and Fedor Svechkov to Colorado, along with Nashville receiving forward Chase Bradley and a third-round selection in the 2029 NHL Draft. The price reflected how highly MacFarland values Drury, having watched his development firsthand during his time with the Avalanche.

While Drury has never been known as a prolific scorer, he quietly put together the best offensive season of his career in 2025-26. He established a new personal best with 10 goals while matching his career high with 27 points after adding 17 assists. More importantly, he appeared in all 82 regular-season games, giving Colorado dependable depth down the middle every night.

His value extended well beyond the scoresheet.

Drury developed into one of Colorado's most reliable faceoff specialists, winning 58.1 percent of his draws during the regular season. That number climbed above 61 percent during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he chipped in three goals and two assists across 13 postseason games.

Those are the types of details coaches and general managers notice, even if they don't always generate headlines.

MacFarland is clearly betting that there's still more offense to unlock. Through parts of five NHL seasons split between the Carolina Hurricanes and Avalanche, Drury has totaled 30 goals and 52 assists for 82 points in 268 career games. Nashville believes those numbers are only part of the story.

Had the two sides not reached an agreement before free agency, Drury would have entered the offseason as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after finishing the final season of his contract with the Avalanche. Instead, Nashville wasted little time rewarding its newest acquisition with long-term security, underscoring just how strongly MacFarland believes Drury can become an important piece of the Predators' future.

Even after committing $22.5 million to Drury, the Predators still have nearly $20 million in salary cap space to work with. That gives MacFarland plenty of flexibility as he continues putting his stamp on the roster during his first offseason as general manager.

If his track record in Colorado is any indication, MacFarland isn't interested in making minor adjustments. He's intent on building a team in his vision, and Nashville appears well-positioned to remain one of the NHL's more aggressive clubs as it works toward reestablishing itself as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

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Walker’s 3-Run Blast Propels Astros Over Tigers 7-5/10

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 28: Christian Walker #8 of the Houston Astros hits a three-run home against the Detroit Tigers during the 10th inning at Comerica Park on June 28, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It took the Astros’ offense 7 innings to get into gear, but they were able to hit the gas when they needed to.

The Houston Astros (42-44) climbed out of a 3-0 hole early to come back and defeat the Detroit Tigers (35-49) 7-5 in 10 innings today at Comerica Park.

It is the the 5th straight series win for Houston, a season high. With the win, the Astros climb within 2 games of .500 since April 10 (they were 6-8). Houston is now only 1 game out in the AL West behind Texans and 0.5 GB of Seattle for the 3rd Wild Card spot in the AL.

The game did not start off the way the Astros had expected, especially with staff ace Hunter Brown on the mound.

In the bottom of the 2nd, a leadoff single by Kerry Carpenter was followed by a 2-run HR by Zach McKinstry (3) to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

The Astros, among the leaders for fewest errors this season, giftwrapped a run for Detroit in the 3rd. With Kevin McGonigle on 2nd base with two outs, Riley Greene hit a ball to second base that Raynel Delgado couldn’t handle. The error allowed McGonigle to score and gave Detroit a 3-0 lead.

In the top of the 7th, Delgado would atone for his fifth inning gaffe. After Jake Meyers reached and advanced to 2nd on an error by Tigers 1B Colt Keith with two out, Delgado smashed his first career HR 409 feet to right to draw the Astros within 1 at 3-2.

In the top of the 8th, the Astros would tie it on Isaac Paredes’ 11th HR of the season, a solo shot 402 feet to left to make it a 3-3 ball game.

Things got dicey for Houston in the 9th as closer John Hader (W, 2-0) struggled with his command. After striking out Hao-Yu Lee for the first out, he walked Ben Malgeri. After retiring Matt Vierling on a fly ball to left, Hader then walked both McGonigle and Jahmai Jones before closing the inning by striking out Greene to leave the bases loaded.

In the 10th, with Jeremy Pena as the ghost runner, Tigers reliever Kenley Jansen (L, 1-4) walked Yordan Alvarez on 4 pitches that weren’t close. Isaac Paredes would follow with his 3rd hit of the game, an RBI single to drive in Pena and give the Astros their first lead of the game at 4-3.

Christian Walker would then put the game out of reach with his 19th HR of the season, a 3-run bomb to give Houston a 7-3 lead.

Walker’s 56 RBI now tie Yordan Alvarez for the team lead.

In the bottom of the 10th, Enyel De Los Santos would allow a 2-run HR to Spencer Torkelson (13), but that was as close as the Tigers would get as the Astros won 7-5 and took 3 of 4 in Detroit.

The Astros now come home for a 6-game homestand starting with 3 against the Minnesota Twins.

Pitching Probables:

Mon: Peter Lambert (6-4, 3.28 ERA) vs. Zebby Matthews (3-5, 4.56 ERA)

Tue: Mike Burrows (3-8, 5.48 ERA) vs. Joe Ryan (5-4, 3.18 ERA)

Wed: Tatsuya Imai (5-3, 5.36) vs. Taj Bradley (6-3, 3.98 ERA)

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LA Kings re-sign defenseman Brandt Clarke to 5-year, $37 million deal

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Defenseman Brandt Clarke has agreed to a five-year, $37 million deal to stay with the Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings announced the deal Friday for Clarke, the eighth overall pick in 2021 who has grown into the new cornerstone of their defense.

Clarke had career highs of eight goals and 32 assists while playing in all 82 regular-season games last season for the Kings, who lost in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. He was third in the NHL with 185 blocked shots, and he finished fourth on the LA roster in scoring.

The 23-year-old Clarke spent parts of the past four seasons with the Kings, but has been an NHL regular for only two years. Los Angeles general manager Ken Holland still saw enough to lock down the mobile defenseman through the 2030-31 season.

The Kings hired Peter Laviolette as their head coach earlier this month, and Clarke’s offensive skill fits well into the team’s possible evolution away from its traditional defense-first mentality to a more aggressive club under Laviolette.

Clarke was the Kings’ most prominent restricted free agent heading into the summer, but Holland also must make decision on unrestricted free agents Andrei Kuzmenko and Scott Lawton.

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Joe Sakic already making big deals, bringing back veterans in his return to role as Avalanche GM

DENVER — Joe Sakic wasn’t content to simply run it back. Far from it, even if the Colorado Avalanche did have the best record in the regular season.

“Super Joe,” his nickname as a Hall of Fame player, has certainly lived up to his reputation of “Trader Joe” since stepping back into his role of GM for the Avalanche. He already has orchestrated several deals in this young offseason.

Because if there’s one thing Sakic knows all about, it’s championship windows. His squad, back in the day, won a pair of Stanley Cup trophies in 1996 and 2001.

The Avalanche are in the midst of another window with Nathan MacKinnon, captain Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar leading the way (they won in 2022). Sakic is giving the team a mini-reboot after the Avalanche were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final.

“We’re trying to move on to next year, but if we’ve got to look back, that’s what it was — we just didn’t play well,” Sakic said Friday night before the start of the NHL draft. “We’re always looking to find a way to just, even if it’s a little bit better, to try and get better.”

Sakic inherited the GM job again — on top of his responsibilities as president of hockey operations — when Chris MacFarland recently left for the front office of the Nashville Predators.

The good friends already have executed several trades, with Sakic sending Ross Colton to MacFarland’s Predators and later Jack Drury.

“We weren’t friends,” Sakic cracked. “No, it was good. (MacFarland) did what he thought was best for his group. I thought we did what was best for our group. Obviously, those decisions for us really were cap decisions, freed up some space. We couldn’t have brought everybody back.”

Not done tinkering with the roster, Sakic made a splashy deal with Columbus that sent Valeri Nichushkin to the Blue Jackets for draft picks. It’s a way to free up space given Nichushkin had four more seasons left on his contract at a salary cap hit of $6.125 million. That savings could be used to negotiate a long-term extension with Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner as the league’s top defenseman.

“They’re tough decisions,” Sakic said. “But when you have a cap you’re dealing with and you’re trying to make the best decisions for your team to try and get under — it was a tough phone call to make to Val for the great things he’s done for our organization.”

Sakic used some of the resources to re-sign blueliners Brent Burns and Brett Kulak on Friday. The 41-year-old Burns will return for a 23rd season and another crack at a Stanley Cup title that’s eluded him. He is a powerful leader in the locker room and a reliable player on the ice. Burns enters the 2026-27 season needing 57 games to tie Phil Kessel for the longest regular-season ironman streak in NHL history.

Burns is set to earn the veteran minimum of $850,000 and can make up to $3 million in incentives, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because financial terms were not disclosed.

Sakic certainly knows the value of a grizzled defenseman: He had Hall of Famer Ray Bourque on board when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2001.

Also back is Kulak, who agreed to a five-year contract from the Avalanche worth a reported $22.5 million. The 32-year-old Kulak was acquired by the Avalanche on Feb. 24 as part of a deal with Pittsburgh. He averaged just over 19 minutes of ice time in 27 regular-season games.

Sakic doesn’t figure to be done revamping this roster, either. The Avalanche could always use another forward or two.

“It’s going to be the players that we feel are a good fit for us, for what we’re trying to do,” Sakic said. “Hopefully it works out. If it doesn’t work out, we’re going to have a good amount of cap space and draft capital for things to happen during the year.

“There’s no panic on our end. We’re not rushed. If we’ve got to start out with some kids this year to see what they got, what they can do, we’re perfectly happy with that as well.”

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The Raptors could add Kawhi Leonard or Jaylen Brown, but should they?

Dec 11, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) watches the action from the team bench during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

We’re not even that deep into the offseason, and the stories circulating the Raptors’ trade market are getting crazy.

A possible return from the 2019 champion has already been discussed, in the wake of a report from Jake Fischer. This is a rumour that has only heated up more with the reporter breaking the news that over this weekend, Toronto and Los Angeles have been corresponding and potentially working out a deal to get Kawhi Leonard in the Raptors’ red and black again.

This marks a more significant jump the stakes for a Leonard-to-Toronto deal. Previously, the Clippers had indicated the desire to continue building around Leonard, but with the team stuck in play-in-purgatory, dependent on the notoriously injury-prone forward while lacking significant scoring pieces around him, it seems like they might be willing to move on.

Pushing to send Ingram to the Clippers suggest that the Raptors are more interested in building around RJ Barrett at small forward, which is likely a reaction to the play of both men in the Cleveland series during this year’s playoffs.

The Raptors are in the favourable position of controlling their first round picks well into the next decade, and thus have the ability to put up massive draft capital to acquire a star player like Kawhi. Packaging the All-Star forward with future picks could allow for a mutually beneficial deal, allowing the Clippers to remain somewhat competitive while retooling their roster, and getting a windfall of picks in a future draft to either keep, or use themselves to swing for a player. The Raptors would then be thrust into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference, equipped with one of the league’s best two-way players alongside a very solid defensive core, and would very much be one or two moves away from being in serious contention for a championship.

However, there are of course concerns that factor into this decision. As last year was one of Kawhi’s finest outings as a player, the Raptors would be buying somewhat high on the famously injury-prone 34 year old. The Raptors themselves have struggled with injuries over the past few years, and having more money sitting on the bench is less than ideal. An alternative acquisition the Raptors have also been linked to has been that of a more reliably available player, Boston’s Jaylen Brown.

Brown was very publicly put on the trade block when Giannis was still on the market, and the outspoken forward has long been considered unhappy with his role on the Celtics, playing second fiddle to Jayson Tatum. With Brown at the helm last year, the Celtics cruised to the second seed in the east, defying expectations and demonstrating that Brown could indeed lead a team to regular season success. Despite being taken out by the 76ers in the playoffs, Brown certainly proved himself as a franchise centrepiece, and could provide the Raptors with much needed scoring and an refresh at small forward. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype has noted that Toronto is in the mix to get Brown, but there is less concrete information on what a potential trade could look like.

It’s safe to assume that Brandon Ingram would play a central role in any deal with the Celtics as well. Pairing Brown with Scottie would give the Raptors a much more developed 1-2 punch, and placate Brown’s clear desire to be the number one option on a championship team, giving him a partner that could suit his tastes better than his current Boston teammates. The decision between the two players could be a tough one. Kawhi has a legacy in Toronto but some serious injury considerations, and Brown could be a fantastic newcomer, but after an incident where he publicly insulted Scottie Barnes last year, his chemistry within the team could be harder to establish.

Regardless, the Raptors have not been idle since the draft, and seem to be looking to make a big move within the next year. NBA Free Agency begins on June 30th at 6:00PM, and more details for what Toronto will do are sure to follow soon. Keep an eye out here for the latest on Raps movement!

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3 Michigan Hockey players selected during 2026 NHL Draft

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman looks on Jeffrey (JP) Hurlbert of the United States is drafted by the Detroit Redwings with the twenty-third overall pick during day one of the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Michigan Hockey will have its usual star-studded roster come the fall, and there will be even more NHL logos on the pregame lines chart after three Wolverines were selected during the 2026 NHL Draft.

J.P. Hurlbert: 1st round, 23rd overall, Detroit Red Wings

A Texas native, Hurlbert spent last season with the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. He set the league on fire as a rookie, notching 42 goals and 97 points across 68 games while wearing an “A.”

Hurlbert is versatile enough to line up all over, and considering his great shot and one-timer, he should be particularly valuable for the Wolverines at his natural left wing spot or playing alongside playmaking center Michael Hage.

He is not a burner, but he does well to anticipate the play, times his shots well and plays with plenty of creativity. These are traits that will translate to head coach Brandon Naurato’s offensive philosophies.

Expect Hurlbert to receive top-six minutes, record plenty of tucks, and compete for power play minutes. The question is whether Naurato has enough space for him on that top unit.

Adam Valentini: 3rd round, 96th overall, Utah Mammoth

The lone draftee we have already seen take the ice at Yost, Valentini does so many of the little things right. He forechecks like an animal, wins puck battles, screens goaltenders and plays with that tenacious edge required to compete at the NCAA Division I level.

Valentini should see an uptick in production next season; he went for 11 goals and 27 points in 40 games for Michigan last year. His talents are probably better suited for middle-six responsibilities where he can focus on agitating the opposition and accumulating quality shifts.

Noah Kosick: 6th round, 192nd overall, Anaheim Ducks

Kosick will not join the program until the 2027-28 season, but it is still encouraging to have future talent in the pipeline. He spent time with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos (10 goals, 34 points in 37 games) and Seattle Thunderbirds (six goals, 20 points in 32 games).

Kosick is a smooth, left-shot forward with good hands and offensive prowess. It will be interesting to see how he develops over the next campaign before venturing to Ann Arbor.

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Rangers acquire Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas, Boston gets JJ Peterka from Utah at the NHL draft

Pavel Dorofeyev is heading to the New York Rangers as part of a trade at the NHL draft on Friday night, as they hope the high-scoring winger helps supercharge their retooling effort.

The Rangers acquired Dorofeyev from Vegas for the Nos. 26 and 92 picks this year, plus a conditional first-rounder in 2028. The 25-year-old is coming off scoring 12 goals on the Golden Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Final.

On their way there, they defeated the Utah Mammoth, who also made a big subtraction by sending a winger to the Eastern Conference. JJ Peterka is going to the Boston Bruins for the No. 23 pick and Florida’s top-10-protected ’28 first-rounder.

Peterka is changing places for a second consecutive offseason following his move from Buffalo just over a year to the day ago. The 24-year-old from Germany now gets to play for the league’s only German coach, Marco Sturm.

“I would like to thank JJ for his commitment to our organization,” Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said. “JJ is a great person and will be a dynamic player for Boston.”

Midway through the first round, the St. Louis Blues acquired forward Mason McTavish from Anaheim for the Nos. 15 and 29 picks, getting a player entering his prime at 23 who’s signed through 2031 at a salary cap hit of $7 million.

The Mammoth flipped the 23rd pick to Detroit for 23-year-old restricted free agent goaltender Sebastian Cossa.

Pre-draft trades aplenty

Getting Dorofeyev was New York GM Chris Drury ‘s second move of the day after sending forward Brett Berard to Montreal for defenseman William Trudeau, who has been in the minors and is still awaiting his NHL debut.

Also Friday, Buffalo got defenseman Olen Zellweger, who also needs a new contract, from Anaheim for the 45th pick and forward prospect Anton Wahlberg. Zellweger, who turns 23 in September, replenishes depth for the Sabres after they traded Bowen Byram to Chicago earlier in the week.

Chicago sent winger Andre Burakovsky to Ottawa for a 2027 sixth-round pick. Burakovsky joins the Senators more than three decades since his dad, Robert, played 23 games for them in the 1993-94 season.

The Blackhawks clear his $5.5 million salary cap hit off the books for next season, while the Senators get a 31-year-old winger who has twice won the Stanley Cup.

General manager Steve Staios said the Senators were happy to add a player of Burakovsky’s pedigree because he “adds skill and playmaking ability to our forward group.”

Staios was busy in the hours before adding Burakovsky, acquiring the rights to goaltender Samuel Ersson and re-signing another pending restricted free agent, defenseman Jordan Spence. Ottawa sent a 2027 fifth-rounder to rival Toronto for Ersson, whom the Maple Leafs got along with Emil Andrae in a cap space-clearing trade with Philadelphia for Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit.

Spence, 25, signed a four-year, $20 million contract. He was a big part of the team enduring injuries at the position and still making the playoffs, scoring a career-high seven goals and finishing with 31 points while skating an average of nearly 19 minutes over 73 games.

“Jordan was an excellent addition to our hockey club and proved to be a valuable asset on our blue line and stepped up when it counted last season,” Staios said. “We’re excited to have him as part of our core group.”

Teams take care of in-house business

Colorado re-signed defensemen Brent Burns and Brett Kulak, fresh off winning the Presidents’ Trophy and losing in the conference final to Vegas.

Burns, 41, signed for next season, his 23rd in the league, at the veteran minimum of $850,000 and can make up to $3 million in incentives, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because financial terms were not disclosed.

Burns has skated in 1,007 consecutive regular-season games and is 58 away from passing Phil Kessel for the longest ironman streak in NHL history.

Kulak got a five-year contract from the Avalanche worth a reported $22.5 million. President of hockey operations and franchise great Joe Sakic is reshaping the roster after reclaiming GM duties when Chris MacFarland left for Nashville.

The Islanders re-signed defenseman Tony DeAngelo to a two-year contract worth $9 million. He will count $4.5 million against the salary cap through the 2027-28 season.

DeAngelo, 30, is returning to the Islanders for a second full season after joining them upon returning to the NHL from a stint in the Russia-based KHL in January 2025.

“Tony has been great since he’s been here,” GM Mathieu Darche said on a video call with reporters after the draft. “It’s tough to find puck-moving defensemen, never mind a right-shot puck-moving defenseman, so Tony’s a big part of our team. We’re excited to have him back.”

Los Angeles re-signed defenseman Brandt Clarke for $37 million over the next five years.

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Mets waste scoring chances in tight loss to Phillies as Andy Green’s arrival doesn’t bring instant jolt

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, Image 2 shows Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto pointing at New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez

A chance to win a game.

A chance to win a series.

A chance to seize momentum under interim manager Andy Green, and a chance to begin a streak that might rescue a team that is hurtling toward the trade deadline.

All of those chances were wasted on an afternoon in which wasted chances became the theme.

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The Mets mounted threat after threat and could not capitalize, continually letting Phillies pitchers slip out of jams in what became a 5-4 disappointment at Citi Field in front of 38,770, who were lively in moments of hope and furious in the more numerous moments of despair.

The Mets (35-49) lost another game — that’s eight of nine — and another series — that’s four straight — and have not been instantly transformed under a new manager.

They continue to find different ways to lose, Sunday going 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position to ruin their chances of stealing the game and the series.

And yes, it would have been a steal. They played without Francisco Lindor, who is being eased back into an everyday role following a two-month absence with a calf strain and a brief rehab assignment.

The lineup without him featured cleanup hitter Eric Wagaman and Nos. 6-9, who entered with OPS marks of .644 (Mark Vientos), .530 (Tyrone Taylor), .586 (Brett Baty) and .569 (Luis Torrens).

Mets pitcher Kodai Senga reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (R) in the seventh inning at Citi Field in Queens, New York, USA, Sunday, June 28, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

In several key moments, Green left Lindor’s bat on the bench, apparently determined to give the shortstop a full day off.

With their starting pitchers depleted and no fifth option to give the ball, they cobbled together a bullpen game without the unit’s best arms because Devin Williams, Luke Weaver and Huascar Brazobán had pitched on three of four days.

So Kodai Senga (four innings, two runs) was forced to provide some length as a reliever and was burned in the seventh, when he was asked to face the top of the order and served up a towering, two-run homer to Kyle Schwarber that became the difference.

Still, the Mets had a chance — many of them, in fact. Their last good one arrived in the eighth, when they loaded the bases with one out against Orion Kerkering.

But Ronny Mauricio popped out and Francisco Alvarez swung through high heat, hearing loud boos on his walk back to the dugout.

Between Mauricio, Alvarez and Baty, it was not a good day for the one-time Baby Mets. An inning prior, they put runners on second and third with two outs, but Baty grounded back to José Alvarado to kill the rally.

Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (L) points at his pitcher after he strikes out New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez with bases loaded against the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth inning at CitiField in Queens, New York, USA, Sunday, June 28, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

The game ended just as it started. For five innings against Jesús Luzardo, the Mets put runners on base and could not cash in.

They had runners on the corners without an out in the fourth only to strike out three straight times, Vientos hearing loud boos in whiffing to end the inning.

In the fifth, Carson Benge poked a left-on-left, first-pitch RBI single against Luzardo and cut the deficit to 3-1, but they proceeded to load the bases so Bo Bichette could strike out and Wagaman could fly out.

Through five innings, Benge’s knock was the only hit in nine plate appearances with runners in scoring position.

Frustration turned to elation in the sixth, when Luzardo exited and Chase Shugart entered.

After an Alvarez double, A.J. Ewing pinch hit for Taylor against the righty, sat on a breaking ball and smoked a two-run shot 382 feet to right field for his fourth homer of the season and first career pinch-hit dinger.

Mets center fielder A.J. Ewing connects on a two-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth inning at Citi Field in Queens, New York, USA, Sunday, June 28, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
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The kids were not done in the inning. ]

After Baty walked and Torrens singled, Benge won a battle against another lefty, Kyle Backhus. Benge crushed a pitch that deflected off Backhus’ glove and went for a fielder’s choice that drove in Baty, pushing the Mets ahead 4-3.

But after Senga faced Schwarber, those at-bats from the young outfielders became wasted, too.

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That explains it: Phillies 5, Mets 4

Jun 28, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run against the New York Mets during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images

Despite carrying an expensive payroll, the New York Mets have been the most disappointing team in baseball, languishing in last place in the National League East. On Sunday, they showed exactly why they’re such a bad team as they continually let the Phillies off to hook. The Phillies offense did just enough – including yet another home run by Kyle Schwarber – to escape Citi Field with a 5-4 win.

The Mets utilized a bullpen game, but the Phillies couldn’t take advantage early, going scoreless in the first two innings. In the third, they broke through against Tobias Myers. Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber had one out singles and then pulled off a double steal, allowing Bryce Harper to break the scoreless tie with a sacrifice fly.

Alec Bohm followed with a double to make it 2-0, and then Brandon Marsh hit an RBI single to put the Phillies up by 3.

Jesus Luzardo made the start for the Phillies, and was in control for the most part for the first four innings. In the fifth, he ran into trouble when the Mets started the frame with a walk and a single. With one out, Carson Benge singled to cut the lead to 3-1. Despite walking Juan Soto, Luzardo got the next two batters to limit the damage.

The Phillies wasted a second-and-third, nobody out situation in the sixth, and that proved costly the following inning. Luzardo was over 90 pitches, so manager Don Mattingly had to turn to his bullpen. It took Chase Shugart three batters to blow the lead thanks to a game-tying home run by A.J. Ewing.

After another walk and single, Shugart was pulled for Kyle Backhus. Benge put the Mets in front 4-3 thanks to an RBI fielder’s choice, but Backhus got Bo Bichette to fly out and end the inning.

In the seventh, the Phillies went back on front in a familiar fashion: A Kyle Schwarber home run. Justin Crawford led off the inning with a single and after Turner predictably came up small, Schwarber hit his 30th of the year to make it a 5-4 game.

The next two innings, the Phillies’ bullpen tried its best to hand the game to the Mets, but the Mets refused to take it. Jose Alvarado started the seventh with two strikeouts, but then hit a batter and committed a throwing error to put runners on second and third. But Brett Baty grounded out and the Mets came up empty.

In the eighth, Orion Kerkering walked the bases loaded with one out. With the bases loaded, and Kerkering having thrown nine straight balls out of the strike zone, Mets third baseman Ronny Mauricio inexplicably swung in a 1-0 count and popped it up. Francisco Alvarez followed and swung at two balls out of the zone to end the inning.

Jhoan Duran also had some control issues, but once again, the Mets helped him out by swinging at numerous pitches out of the strike zone. When Luis Torrens hit a fly ball to right, the win was secured.

The Phillies have had their share of problems at Citi Field in recent years. But the Mets are in such a bad way, that despite the Phillies seemingly trying their best to lose, they still managed to escape with a series win.