Former Canadiens Player Makes Stanley Cup Final For Fifth Time In Six Years

Although former Montreal Canadiens forward Corey Perry only won the Stanley Cup once in his career, it’s not because he didn’t have the opportunity to compete for a second. The veteran has taken part in five of the last six Cup finals with the Dallas Stars, the Canadiens, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Edmonton Oilers.

So far, he has lost all of these finals, and on Thursday night, the Oilers booked their spot in the Cup Final, where they’ll meet the Florida Panthers for the second year in a row. If revenge is on every Oiler’s mind, Perry will no doubt be looking to end his “impressive” losing streak.

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The 40-year-old has been a key player for the Oilers this postseason, recording 10 points in 16 games so far. With Zach Hyman being out for the playoffs, Edmonton will need everyone to contribute to the scoring. Amazingly, Perry managed only 30 points in 81 regular-season games, averaging 0.37 points per game, but this average increased to 0.63 points per game in the playoffs. Last year in the postseason, he could only manage three points in 19 games.

Perry will not be the only former Canadiens player in the final; defenseman Brett Kulak, who still plays for his hometown team, has five points in 16 games. GM Kent Hughes sent the blueliner to Edmonton in March 2022, getting a conditional second-round pick at the 2022 draft, a 2024 seventh-round pick, and William Lagesson in return. Since Edmonton didn’t make the Cup final that year, the conditional pick remained a 2022 selection, and it became Lane Hutson. It’s fair to say that was one of Hughes’ best trade returns.

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images


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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Jac Caglianone, Shane Bieber and Thairo Estrada

FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS

Jac Caglianone (1B Royals): Rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues

Let’s wish this into existence.

The hope was that the Royals were calling up Caglianone when they dropped Cavan Biggio from the roster on Sunday, but they chose John Rave instead. Three days earlier, they cut Hunter Renfroe but replaced him with an infielder in Nick Loftin. Whether it’s offense or, more likely, defense, the Royals don’t think Caglianone is quite ready, at least not as an outfielder. He has to be close, though.

Caglianone was the sixth overall pick in last year’s draft after a stellar run at the University of Florida. While he was also a legitimate prospect as a pitcher, there was no doubt he was being drafted for his bat, which produced 68 homers in 137 games in his final two years in school. He opened this year in Double-A and hit .322/.394/.553 in 38 games. The Royals just recently promoted him to Triple-A Omaha, where he’s opened up 12-for-37 with five homers. Overall, he’s hit .323/.389/.593 with 14 homers in 216 plate appearances.

Never having played anywhere other than first until this year, Caglianone remains a novice in the outfield, He’s started two games in left and 10 in right, where his excellent arm should help make up for his lack of range. Obviously, he still needs more work out there. He needs it almost as much as the Royals need his bat in the middle of their lineup.

Caglianone should be a future 30-homer guy for the Royals, even while playing half of his games in arguably MLB’s toughest home run park for lefties. Kauffman is actually a fine hitter’s park on the whole, but because homers are the biggest part of his game, it will probably take away from Caglianone’s numbers some. Still, Caglianone isn’t a big strikeout guy for as hard as he swings; he’s fanned just 20.4 percent of the time this season. He should be worth using in mixed leagues as soon as he’s promoted.

Shane Bieber (SP Guardians): Rostered in 29% of Yahoo leagues

Making his way back from last April’s Tommy John surgery, Bieber is set for his first of several rehab starts Saturday. He probably won’t make his return to the Guardians rotation until the end of June, but it’ll likely be too late by then to add him in mixed leagues.

Of course, we don’t know exactly which Bieber we’ll be seeing this year. The 2023 version was a far cry from the AL Cy Young Award winner of 2020, as his strikeout rate dropped significantly for a third straight year and he wound up with a 3.80 ERA. It looked like a turnaround was in store last year, as he followed up an impressive spring by pitching 12 scoreless innings with 20 strikeouts in his first two starts. But that’s when his elbow gave out.

That Bieber worked hard to reclaim some of his lost velocity probably played a role in last year’s injury. It’s certainly too much to expect him to come out firing now like he did last spring, though anything is possible. If he’s in 2023 form, that’s still a useful pitcher, too. Pitching in Cleveland helps limit his homer totals, and he’s always done well in terms of WHIP. There are no guarantees with a pitcher returning from surgery, but Bieber’s a good enough bet to be worth the roster/IL spot a month ahead of his debut.

Thairo Estrada (2B Rockies): Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues

Signed over the winter to replace Brendan Rodgers at second base in Colorado, Estrada is finally ready to make his Rockies debut 10 weeks after a Kumar Rocker pitch left him with a broken wrist. That he’ll play regularly isn’t in doubt. How much running he’ll do will be the determining factor in whether he proves useful in mixed leagues.

Never much of a basestealer in the minors, Estrada surprised everyone by swiping 21 bases in 27 tries while emerging as a useful fantasy infielder with the Giants in 2022., He followed that up with an even better 2023 in which he was 23-for-30 stealing bases, even though he missed nearly a quarter of the season. Last year, though, everything came crashing down for Estrada. He hit just .217/.247/.343 and was 2-for-4 stealing bases in 96 games before finishing the year in the minors.

The two reasons for optimism now is that Estrada’s exit velocity numbers last year were basically the same as the previous two seasons, and he’s gone from a tough park for hitters to the best in baseball in Coors Field. He’s still probably not going to make more than modest contributions in the non-SB categories, but if he gets back to doing some running -- and there’s really no reason for him not to on a team as bad as the Rockies are -- he’ll probably be helpful as an MI in 12-team leagues.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- Camilo Doval remains available in 46% of Yahoo leagues after being returned to the closer’s role by the Giants this week. He’s probably going to be a top-20 and maybe a top-10 RP the rest of the way.

- Gavin Lux probably isn’t a long-term guy in mixed leagues, but the Reds have six home games next week, with at least five of those coming against righties, and Lux is hitting in the cleanup spot with Austin Hays on the IL. As a one-week option, he makes plenty of sense.

The New York Islanders' New GM Mathieu Darche Tells It Like It Is

The cone of silence is lifting on Long Island.

In Lou Lamoriello’s seven years as the New York Islanders’ GM and president of hockey operations, it was sometimes unclear if players were even under contract to the team, never mind the details of any injuries.

By comparison, new GM Mathieu Darche is reading like an open book.

At his introductory press conference on Thursday, Darche left no grey area regarding the status of the team’s top point producer, Bo Horvat, who was injured last week while playing for Team Canada at the World Championship in Sweden.

“He’s got a little ankle injury, nothing serious,” Darche said. “Four to six weeks – he’s already rehabbing. There’s no concerns whatsoever. They said it’s the type of thing that maybe in the playoffs he would have tried. I think with Bo, you have to tell him ‘You’re not playing’ because he is probably going to try to play through everything. But no, we have no concerns with Bo’s injury.”

Any questions?

Darche was equally straightforward when updating the status of the Islanders’ coaching staff. After clarifying that he and Patrick Roy have not previously met, even though they’re both French Canadian, Darche confirmed that Roy will be back behind the bench next season, but he’ll have new assistants after John MacLean and Tommy Albelin were let go.

“Patrick’s a winner,” Darche said of the Hockey Hall of Famer. “I went to meet with him last weekend, just to get to know him more. I’m extremely comfortable and excited to be working with him. I know he’s passionate. He works hard. And I just decided that was my decision to make changes in the coaching staff. Now Patrick and I will work together to fill the assistant coaches’ positions.”

Islanders Ink Kyle Palmieri, Adam Boqvist To Extensions Islanders Ink Kyle Palmieri, Adam Boqvist To Extensions On Friday, the New York Islanders announced they had signed forward Kyle Palmieri to a two-year extension and defenseman Adam Boqvist to a one-year extension.

Coaching changes are also coming for the Bridgeport Islanders, who finished at the bottom of the AHL standings last season with just 37 points in 72 games.

Darche, 48, spent the last six seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He joined them as their director of hockey operations in 2019 and added the title of assistant GM in 2022.

Darche won two Cups as a member of the Lightning’s management team, but his playing career as a left winger could best be described as ‘journeyman.’ With 250 NHL games and more than 500 in the AHL, that outcome was a win for an undrafted player who made it to The Show after playing Canadian college hockey for four years while studying marketing and international business at McGill University in his hometown of Montreal.

“That’s where I met my wife,” Darche said Thursday. “I told her I’m not a hockey player – I’m just a student that plays hockey. Next thing you know, she followed me for 12 years.”

After ending his pro career with three seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Darche transitioned to broadcasting for the French-language RDS network when he hung up his skates in 2013. Then, he spent seven years as vice-president of sales and marketing for Delmar International, Inc. — a Montreal-founded global player in logistics and supply-chain management and, interestingly, an important corporate partner of both the Canadiens and the Islanders.

Mathieu Darche in 2012 (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

Darche’s experience playing in the AHL and his experience helping to oversee the Lightning’s affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, should help him rebuild the Islanders’ prospect pipeline, which hasn’t produced a homegrown star since Noah Dobson was drafted 12th overall in 2018. 

This year, of course, the Islanders have won the NHL draft lottery and will have a chance to make their first No. 1 pick since John Tavares in 2009. Darche didn’t tip his hand on whether he’d pursue Long Island-born center James Hagens but did acknowledge the special opportunity of holding the first pick.

“You have to do your due diligence,” he said. “Anybody that calls, you have to listen. But someone would really have to knock my socks off because we're going to get a special player. I’m going to do my due diligence, but I expect us to be picking at the end of June.”

Darche’s business acumen will also be welcome for an Islanders team that has squandered the momentum gained with their fans from back-to-back trips to the Eastern Conference final in 2020 and 2021, where they lost both times to Darche’s Lightning.

And after decades of fighting for a first-class arena on Long Island, average attendance has dropped every year since UBS Arena doors opened in 2021, and even homegrown players like Mat Barzal are commenting on the number of empty seats.

“The first line that Mathieu said to me when he did the social media, called Delmar, called the season ticket holders, he said, ‘Look, I want you guys to make more money so I can spend more money,’ ” said John Collins, the Islanders’ co-owner, operating partner and alternate governor, on Thursday.

The Islanders have nearly $21 million in available cap space for the 2025-26 season after signing Kyle Palmieri to a two-year contract and Adam Boqvist to a one-year deal. Now, the team’s most important business on the player side should be a new contract for Dobson, who’s an RFA with arbitration rights. After Brock Nelson’s deadline trade, the opportunity also exists for Darche to retool the forward group and perhaps get younger.

The Islanders only have four players born in the 2000s on their roster: defensemen Dobson, Alexander Romanov and Adam Boqvist and forward Simon Holmstrom.

Amiable and forthright, Darche’s first impression on Long Island was strong on Thursday. Now it’s up to him to walk the walk.

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Twins at Mariners prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 30

Its Friday, May 30 and the Twins (30-25) are in Seattle to take on the Mariners (30-25). Zebby Matthews is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Bryan Woo for Seattle.

Minnesota is 1-3 in the last four games, while Seattle is 1-4 over the previous five. Matthews will make his third start, while Woo will make his 11th (Seattle is 7-3 in his starts).

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Twins at Mariners

  • Date: Friday, May 30, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: T-Mobile Park
  • City: Seattle, WA
  • Network/Streaming: MNNT, RSNW

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

Odds for the Twins at the Mariners

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Twins (+134), Mariners (-158)
  • Spread:  Mariners -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Mariners

  • Pitching matchup for May 30, 2025: Zebby Matthews vs. Bryan Woo
    • Twins: Zebby Matthews, (0-1, 7.71 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts
    • Mariners: Bryan Woo, (5-2, 2.69 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 10 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts

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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Twins and the Mariners

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

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 Friday’s game between the Twins and the Mariners:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Twins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Twins at Mariners

  • The Twins have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against AL West teams
  • The Over is 18-13-2 in the Mariners' matchups against American League teams this season
  • The Twins have covered the Run Line in 5 straight matchups against the Mariners

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

What we learned as Harrison shines in shutout win over Marlins

What we learned as Harrison shines in shutout win over Marlins originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO — The day off in Miami didn’t do much to jumpstart the offense, but the Giants did get back in the win column Friday. Kyle Harrison threw five dominant innings in his second start of the year and the Giants did just enough to pull away from the last-place Marlins, winning 2-0. 

Miami right-hander Cal Quantrill entered with an ERA north of six, but he always has pitched well against the Giants, and they came in on a lengthy cold streak. It’s been two weeks since they scored more than four runs in a game.

Wilmer Flores, who calls South Florida home in the offseason, tried to change that, singling on the 11th pitch of his first at-bat to get the Giants on the board. A solo shot from Matt Chapman made it 2-0, but as the bats went quiet, the Marlins threatened. They got the tying run to second with one out in the seventh, but didn’t score. Tyler Rogers entered and got an inning-ending strikeout. 

Ks For Kyle

The only thing that could stop Harrison on Friday was a pitch count. He’s still getting built up after spending several weeks in the bullpen, but he showed that he’s ready for another look in the rotation if Justin Verlander needs more time to recover from a pec strain, or whenever the Giants need help. 

Harrison allowed just one hit in five innings, walking three and striking out five. His velocity continues to tick up, and his average of 95.3 mph on his fastball was his highest in a big league start. His previous high came earlier on this trip in Washington D.C., which he averaged 94.7 mph. 

Harrison is now up about three full ticks from 2024, when he dealt with an ankle injury and shoulder inflammation. In two starts in Verlander’s spot, he has allowed two runs on six hits. 

Signs Of Life

Patrick Bailey was cut down at third while trying to tag up in the second inning, but the swing that put him on second was one of his best of the year. Bailey went with an outside sinker and crushed it off the wall in left-center for a double, his first since April 4. 

The ball went 388 feet and would have been a homer in 19 ballparks, including Oracle. Bailey tagged on Casey Schmitt’s liner to center and was thrown out on a 93 mph rocket from Marlins center fielder Dane Myers. 

Earlier in the game, Bailey helped Harrison out with another heads-up defensive play:

Bullpen Scramble

With a day off Thursday, Bob Melvin had a fresh bullpen, but it was an odd look after Harrison departed. 

Tristan Beck began the sixth, but Ryan Walker finished it and then turned the ball over to Erik Miller, who ran into trouble in the seventh. Rogers got the strikeout, but Melvin doesn’t like using him for multiple innings. 

Spencer Bivens, often the long man, got the eighth of a two-run game, but Melvin turned to Camilo Doval with two outs and two on. Doval got a fly ball to center to end the inning and then came back out for a relatively easy ninth on what was a very special day for his family.

Doval’s mom, Rosa, was watching him pitch in the big leagues for the first time. The save was his first since Melvin announced that he’s once again the team’s closer.  

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Capitalism v despotism: Inter v PSG is clash of styles on and off pitch | Jonathan Liew

Champions League final features opposing tactical approaches and two radically different ownership models

In 2021, Oaktree Capital quietly rebranded its “Distressed Debt” division as the “Opportunistic Credit” platform. For decades the LA-based investment fund had specialised in picking up what is known in the trade as distressed assets, a strategy it described as looking for “good companies with bad balance sheets”.

So let’s say your company is screwed. You’re deep in debt, severely short of cash, perhaps even at risk of bankruptcy or default. In sweep Oaktree. They have a mosey around, shake down some creditors, restructure your cost base, perhaps offer you a high‑interest loan to stop the bleeding. Once they’ve got you battle-lean they find you a buyer, you sell up, and they take a fat cut. Four years ago, as they cast an eye over the Covid-emaciated carcass of Inter, this was exactly the strategy they had in mind.

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Imane Khelif must undergo mandatory sex testing to compete, World Boxing says

  • Governing body singles out Algerian in statement

  • World Boxing says new rules will ‘ensure safety’

Imane Khelif must undergo what World Boxing describes as “mandatory sex testing” if she wishes to compete in any women’s event organised or sanctioned by the governing body.

Khelif won gold in the women’s 66kg category at last summer’s Olympic Games, having been cleared to compete despite being disqualified from the 2023 world championships organised by the International Boxing Association for allegedly failing to meet eligibility criteria.

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Mets recall RHP Chris Devenski, option LHP Brandon Waddell to Triple-A

The Mets are calling up right-handed reliever Chris Devenski from Triple-A Syracuse, the team announced ahead of Friday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies.

In a corresponding move, left-hander Brandon Waddell has been optioned to Triple-A.

Devenski, 34, signed last October on a minor league deal and has appeared in one game with the big league team so far, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts over two innings in a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on the final day of April.

In 17 games at Syracuse, the righty has posted a 1.96 ERA and 0.764 WHIP, allowing five runs (four earned) on 10 hits and four walks with 13 strikeouts over 18.1 innings. Devenski pitched to a 6.75 ERA and 1.575 WHIP in 26.2 innings over 19 outings last year with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Waddell, 30, appeared in two games over two stints at the big leagues this year with the Mets (most recently Wednesday's loss to the White Sox), surrendering four runs on 10 hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over 9.1 innings. This was his first MLB action since he appeared with three teams during the 2021 campaign.

The lefty made eight appearances (seven starts) with Syracuse this year, pitching to a 3.06 ERA and 1.392 WHIP over 32.1 innings, giving up 16 runs (11 earned) on 35 hits and 10 walks with 25 strikeouts. He played in South Korea and China before joining the Mets organization on a minor league deal last December.

Alexei Popyrin advances to last 16 of French Open after beating Nuno Borges

  • Sydneysider wins tough contest 6-4 7-6 (13-11) 7-6 (7-5)

  • No 25 seed is the last Australian man left at Roland Garros

Alexei Popyrin has ensured there was no hangover from Alex de Minaur’s early exit as he got hot on a baking Paris day to reach the last-16 of the French Open with a touch of swagger and a sprinkling of good old-fashioned Aussie grit.

The country’s No 2 player isn’t now just the last man standing in the draw but the last man positively thriving as he downed quality Portuguese Nuno Borges 6-4 7-6 (13-11) 7-6 (7-5) in the Court 14 furnace at Roland Garros to reach the last-16 on Friday.

Alexei Popyrin is through to the last 16 for the first time in Paris!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/JgfPLfu2aO

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2025

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Bar-B-Cast on Red Sox's struggles and ugly season: 'Alex Cora is going nowhere at least this season'

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Based on the conversation between Yahoo Sports' Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman in this episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," it's clear that while things look bleak for the Red Sox, the season isn't over — but there’s a lot of frustration and concern.

The Red Sox aren't mathematically eliminated, and there are still scenarios where they turn things around, especially if prospects contribute and some injured players return and perform. But the path forward is "complicated" and hope is fading, reflected in Boston's big drop in playoff odds. The team’s flaws are showing, and unless things change quickly, they’re at risk of falling out of the race for good.

Here are the key points Shusterman and Mintz discussed on the show:

The Red Sox have struggled recently, particularly with a five-game losing streak entering Friday, lots of one-run losses (6-15 in one-run games), and multiple walk-off defeats. There have also been key injuries — especially to Alex Bregman and Tristan Casas — and some roster inflexibility.

Their playoff odds have plummeted from preseason hopes of 56% down to 18%, according to Fangraphs, as Shusterman mentions. This drop reflects their poor play and the surprising strength of other teams.

Mintz and Shusterman discussed some odd roster choices and poor communication, especially around locking Rafael Devers into the DH spot. However, neither Mintz nor Shusterman believe Cora is on the hot seat, and they think he’s handled the chaos relatively well.

"Alex Cora is going nowhere at least this season," Mintz said. "If I had to rank baseball operations juice amongst MLB managers he would be toward the top of that list. Yeah, he just signed a new contract. The organization believes in him and frankly I think he has done a fair, good enough job keeping this thing from going completely off the rails because it is not his fault."

Despite the mess, there’s still hope in the farm system, with top prospects like Roman Anthony pushing for a call-up (though the front office seems reluctant for a mix of service time and roster jam reasons).

The "Bar-B-Cast" wouldn’t pick Boston to win the division at this point. Shusterman still gives the Red Sox a chance to sneak into a playoff spot, though his confidence is shaken.

For more of the latest baseball news and debates, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

Former Golden Knights Goaltender To Feature In Season 2 Of “Faceoff: Inside the NHL”

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) talks with Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) before the start of a game at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Prime Video's Season 1 of “Faceoff: Inside the NHL” was a success, and they have elected to bring it back for a second season, which will feature former Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

Season 1 featured Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, coming off a Stanley Cup win. It showed him dealing with the highs and lows of an NHL season, welcoming a long-time friend in Noah Hanifin and the unfortunate circumstances of losing in the playoffs.

Fleury's experience in the show will likely be quite different. This NHL season was Fleury's final campaign, retiring after playing 21 seasons in the NHL. His long career saw him win three Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a Vezina Trophy, a Jennings Trophy and an Olympic Gold Medal after being selected first overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. 

The 40-year-old joined the Golden Knights in the expansion draft, leading them to the Stanley Cup in the organization's first season. They lost to the Washington Capitals in the finals, but Fleury was the driving force throughout the season.

His time in Vegas took a turn when he lost his starting job under head coach Pete DeBoer. His agent posted a picture with a sword going through Fleury's back, and he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in the offseason. 

The show won't feature any of that but will highlight how beloved Fleury was around the NHL, receiving applause from fans and players lining up to shake his hand as he approached his last handful of games. Throughout his career, the Sorel-Tracy, QC native was known for being a joyous teammate, routinely pranking teammates to keep spirits high.

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

EXCLUSIVE: Former Golden Knight Marc-Andre Fleury Soaking Up Final Moments In The NHL As Wild Aim For CupEXCLUSIVE: Former Golden Knight Marc-Andre Fleury Soaking Up Final Moments In The NHL As Wild Aim For CupLAS VEGAS -- "And now, the end is near. And so I'll face the final curtain. ... I've lived, a life that's full ... I've traveled each and every highway. And more, much more than this, I did it My Way."

NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Jonathan Marchessault, And Rangers Shopping K'Andre Miller?

The Nashville Predators made the biggest moves in last summer's free-agent market, signing Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei and Jonathan Marchessault. 

However, those acquisitions failed to improve the Predators as they finished 28th overall this season. 

Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli believes Marchessault might welcome a trade after a disappointing season in which his production slipped from 42 goals with the Vegas Golden Knights last season to 21 with the Predators.  The 34-year-old right winger has four years left on his contract with an average anuual value of $5.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list.

Marc Dumont of Montreal Hockey Now cited Seravalli speculating the Canadiens might be a destination for Marchessault. The Habs were in the running for the Quebec-born winger, but they offered up a three-year contract while he sought five. 

The Canadiens' needs have changed since last summer. Dumont doubts the Canadiens remain interested in the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Marchessault, citing management's stated intent to seek elite talent with size. 

On the French-speaking La Poche Bleue podcast, Marchessault said he’s very happy in Nashville and the decision he made a year ago, but he said Montreal holds a special place in his heart.

New Jersey Hockey Now's James Nichols noted the Devils also pursued Marchessault before signing with the Predators. He wondered if they might revisit their interest this summer. 

Vegas Hockey Now's Hannah Kirkell pondered a possible reunion between Marchessault and the Golden Knights. She noted that his contract was an issue before he hit the UFA market, with Vegas offering a four-year deal while he insisted on five.

Kirkell suggested the Predators could retain part of Marchessault's salary in a trade. She pointed out that they want to get younger, and the Golden Knights lack the suitable trade assets to address that need.

Joel Armia and Jonathan Marchessault (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

Meanwhile, the New York Rangers could part ways with K'Andre Miller. 

The 25-year-old defenseman is an RFA with arbitration rights this summer. His struggles this season contributed to the Rangers missing the playoffs.

Remy Mastey cited Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reporting the Rangers are testing the trade market on Miller. Friedman said it's not guaranteed that the blueliner will be traded, but they want to see what his value looks like.

This is a continuation of Rangers GM Chris Drury's efforts to retool his roster. He was among the busiest GMs in the trade market during the regular season. Friedman's report confirms he intends to continue the process in the off-season.

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Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Radim Mrtka

Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Radim Mrtka. (Photo Credit: Brian Liesse - WHL)

With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them. 

Since the Penguins have a total of 30 picks over the next three drafts, including 11 this year - which could reduce to 10 if the conditional first-round pick from the New York Rangers defers to 2026 - there will be plenty of opportunity for the Penguins to add impact players. Of their 11 picks in 2025, six of them are in the first three rounds.

After the results of the draft lottery on May 5, the Penguins will officially select 11th overall, dropping down two spots from where they originally were at ninth. As such, we have compiled a list of potential draft prospects that should fall around the Penguins' selection. 

We recently profiled center Jake O'Brienforward Victor Eklunddefenseman Kashawn Aitchesoncenter Brady Martincenter Roger McQueen, right wing Justin Carbonneau, and defenseman Logan Hensler. Next up? Right defenseman Radim Mrtka.

Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Logan HenslerPenguins Draft Prospect Profile: Logan HenslerWith the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them. 

Radim Mrtka

Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Radim Mrtka. (Photo Credit: Brian Liesse - WHL)

DOB: June 9, 2007 (Age 17)
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 207 pounds
Team: Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

If you're the Penguins, and you're looking for size on the backend in the 2025 NHL Draft, look no further than Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Radim Mrtka.

When people think "size," they don't necessarily equate that with good skating or a ton of mobility, but Mrtka is both a good skater for his size and a mobile blueliner. He registered three goals and 35 points in 43 games to go along with a plus-10 rating for the Thunderbirds in 2024-25.

Mrtka represented Czechia at the 2025 World Junior Championship and put up a goal and four points in five games, and he also appeared in 10 games for HC Oceláři Třinec in Czechia and recorded an assist.

Once projected in the top-10 on nearly every draft board, he now projects in the 10-15 range in most mock drafts. This isn't necessarily a knock on Mrtka, as other defenders such as Aitcheson and Jackson Smith have simply seen their stock rise over the past year.

Still, Mrtka has elite two-way potential to his game, and he's already a solid defender. He has good hockey sense, is responsible with the puck in the defensive zone, has a good stick, and uses his size to establish positioning at the net front.

His mobility and hockey sense - combined with some playmaking ability - make him a potential threat on the offensive side of the puck. He doesn't have an overpowering shot, could benefit from being more assertive in the offensive zone, and could become a bit more engaged physically, but the tool set is there for him to develop his game further.

If he can hone his existing skillset to strengthen and solidify his game on the offensive side of the puck - as well as add some weight to his already-towering frame - Mrtka certainly has top-pair potential at the NHL level. Even if he doesn't develop as much in an offensive role, he should be a pretty solid option as a shutdown defenseman.

There is not much risk in selecting a unique player like Mrtka at 11th overall, but - like many others in this draft slot - it highly depends on who else is available. If guys like Eklund, O'Brien, Aitcheson, and Martin are already gone, he may be the next-best thing.

Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Kashawn AitchesonPenguins Draft Prospect Profile: Kashawn AitchesonWith the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them. 

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Forsberg: Assessing the merits of a Giannis-to-Celtics trade

Forsberg: Assessing the merits of a Giannis-to-Celtics trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics have an active offseason ahead as they aim to get under the second apron. Most of the discourse on their potential moves has been about parting ways with key players, but what about adding one of the league’s biggest superstars?

The Milwaukee Bucks could look to jumpstart their rebuild and move on from two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst mentioned on Get Up! that “the move for Giannis, if he has the control, is to go to the East.” Windhorst named the Celtics and the New York Knicks as the top options.

Is acquiring Antetokounmpo even a realistic scenario for Boston? NBC Sports Boston’s Celtics insider Chris Forsberg assessed the hypothetical move and came to a firm conclusion:

What would such a move look like?

“If you’re just talking about a 1-for-1 trade, the Boston Celtics can only move Jayson Tatum for Giannis Antetokounmpo based on their salaries, which are the exact same going into next season,” Forsberg said. “That is the only move. The Celtics, because they are a second-apron team, cannot take on more salary, and they cannot aggregate salary. So this is the only legal move they can make while they are a second-apron team.

“The other part of this is, if they get off the second apron, or if they were to do such as part of their maneuvering in any three-team, four-team, five-team (trade) — I don’t know, it’s gonna get complicated. They could technically make this move. … Jaylen Brown would have to be part of the deal, presumably, to make both the money work and to give the Bucks a part that they would be able to build around from there. I don’t like that on the surface, and I know everybody out there on Instagram and YouTube and everything, they don’t like when I bring that up either.”

Why would the Celtics do it?

“Well, it’s Giannis,” Forsberg said. “He’s a former MVP. He’s still got plenty left in the tank. He was third in MVP voting this season, and he would be a difference-maker for your team.”

Why would the Bucks do it?

“The run might just be up in Milwaukee, and they need to figure out what the best return is,” Forsberg said. “Some combination of young talent, picks. But it’s gonna be weird, because Giannis has been the face of their franchise for what feels like so long that they’ve got some hard questions about how to proceed forward.”

Final verdict

“I just don’t see any way that this makes sense for all sides involved, at least without getting just a bunch of different teams, revamping rosters across the NBA,” Forsberg said. “Maybe when it comes to MVP-level players, that’s what you’ve got to think about. But I think we can spend our offseason thinking about stuff that makes a little bit more sense than this one.”

Watch Forsberg’s assessment of a potential Giannis-to-Celtics deal in the video player above.

Fantasy baseball two-start pitchers: Joe Ryan headlines the strong options for the week of June 2

Hello and welcome to the tenth installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2025 MLB season.

I'll be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week, as well as some streaming options to keep in mind.

Thinking ahead with your weekly strategy can give you an advantage on the waiver wire and hopefully be a difference-maker in the standings at the end of the season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

As of Friday, it’s unclear what the Braves will do with their rotation for next week as they look to replace the injured AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow). They could simply have Chris Sale start on Tuesday on regular rest, in which case he would line up for two starts – vs. Diamondbacks and @ Giants – and would be an obvious start in 100 percent of leagues. It’s also possible that they keep Sale penciled in for Wednesday and bring back Bryce Elder or someone else from Triple-A Gwinnett to slide into the rotation, in which case they could conceivably start twice and may be worth a look in deeper formats. We’ll track the situation through the weekend.

We also don’t know what exactly the Tigers are going to do yet. Jackson Jobe had been lined up for two starts (@ White Sox, vs. Cubs), but there’s growing speculation that he’s heading to the injured list on Friday with an arm issue. Alex Cobb still isn’t close to being ready and Keider Montero is already holding down a spot in the rotation while Reese Olson is shelved. It’s possible that Olson could be ready to return at some point next week. It's also possible that the Tigers could use some sort of bullpen game with someone like Brant Hurter working bulk innings out of the bullpen. We’ll track that spot through the weekend, especially since that matchup against the White Sox is so intriguing, but right now it’s wide open.

The Padres play seven games next week, so in theory they should have two different starters each making two starts. We know that Stephen Kolek will, and he’s highlighted below, but there’s no clarity just yet on who else will take the ball. It sounded like Yu Darvish was close to a return last week before suffering a setback. We’ll watch the situation throughout the weekend and update as we glean any new information.

Someone on the Blue Jays will make two starts next week, taking on the Phillies at home and then battling the Twins in Minneapolis. As of Friday afternoon though, we don’t have a clear picture into who that will be. Eric Lauer has been working with an opener in front of him and he could do so again in these two starts, but nothing has been confirmed. Stay tuned.

Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of June 2.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of Friday, May 30, and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Joe Ryan (@ Athletics, vs. Blue Jays)

Ryan has functioned a true ace for the Twins so far this season, compiling a 2.57 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and a 72/9 K/BB ratio over 63 innings in his first 11 appearances. He has allowed one earned run or fewer a remarkable eight times so far this season and one of the outings where he didn’t was a fluky game where he entered in the fourth inning after a rain delay. He should be started without question in every league every week. The matchups this week play into his favor as well, with the A’s struggling to hit anybody right now and the Jays having a rough time against right-handed pitching all season. Ryan should snag a victory and pile up strikeouts while providing pristine ratios once again this week.

Jack Flaherty (@ White Sox, vs. Cubs)

Flaherty seems to have righted the ship after a rough patch in late April and early May, posting a 2.45 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and a 22/5 K/BB ratio over 18 1/3 innings over his last three starts. He should be started in most leagues almost every week regardless of matchups. The fact that he lines up for two starts and the first one comes against the White Sox is just an added bonus. Flaherty looks like one of the top overall plays on the board for the upcoming week and he should be started everywhere without any hesitation.

Carlos Rodón (vs. Guardians, vs. Red Sox)

The 32-year-old southpaw has finally started to pitch like the ace that the Yankees expected him to be when they inked him to his massive contract prior to the 2023 season. He has gone 7-3 with a 2.60 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a 90/26 K/BB ratio over 72 2/3 innings through his first 12 starts. Fantasy managers who have been enjoying that stellar production have no reason to shy away this week as the Guardians have struggled against southpaws this season and the Red Sox are missing their biggest lefty-masher in Alex Bregman. He should be started in all leagues without question.

Shane Smith (vs. Tigers, vs. Royals)

If you’re not closely following the White Sox this season, you may have missed what a strong season the 25-year-old rookie right-hander is having. He has posted a stellar 2.68 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 54/23 K/BB ratio across 57 innings through his first 11 big league starts. That’s awfully impressive. The problem is that he has one just one ballgame during that stretch. The wins aren’t any more likely to come this week, but the production should still be there – and he could reach double digits in strikeouts over the two starts. Smith looks like a strong streaming option and is someone that I would be actively looking to acquire if he were somehow hanging around on the waiver wire in shallower formats.

George Kirby (vs. Orioles, @ Angels)

Fantasy managers who waited patiently for nearly two months for Kirby to debut this season have to be disappointed with the results through his first two outings – giving up 11 runs over 8 2/3 innings with an 8/3 K/BB ratio. Keep in mind, this is still like extended spring training for him as he continues to build back up and shake off the rust. He’s going to be fine. This is the week where he should start to look like the Kirby of old, with a pair of strong matchups on tap. Look for the ratios to come down out of the stratosphere and for Kirby to pile up double-digit strikeouts and most likely notch his first victory of the 2025 season. I know it’s scary with the results that we have seen so far, but you have to trust Kirby this week.

Drew Rasmussen (vs. Rangers, vs. Marlins)

The rule has always been when Rasmussen is healthy, you lock him into your lineup for elite production, regardless of matchup. That rule has held true through his first 11 starts on the season, posting a minuscule 2.33 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and a 48/13 K/BB ratio across his 58 innings. Now he gets the benefit of taking on the Rangers and Marlins, two teams that rank near the bottom of the league in production against right-handed pitching. It’s all systems go for Rasmussen this week, don’t think twice about it.

Lance McCullers Jr. (@ Pirates, @ Guardians)

One glance at his overall line on the season would cause most fantasy managers to dismiss the Astros’ right-hander without a second look as he has posted a troublesome 5.89 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and a 26/11 K/BB ratio over 18 1/3 innings in his first five starts back from the injured list. Most of that damage came in one disastrous outing against the Reds though where he gave up seven runs while recording only one out. He has actually looked very sharp his last three times out and has struck out eight or more batters in each of his last two – including 12 punchouts against the Athletics his last time out. The Pirates and Guardians are both among the league’s worst against right-handed pitching, making McCullers a particularly strong streaming option for the upcoming week in any place where he may be available. He looks like a priority add to me and one that I would surely start in all formats.

Decent Plays

Nathan Eovaldi (vs. Rays, vs. Nationals)

The only reason that Eovaldi has been bumped down to this section is the uncertainty swirling around him after exiting his last start after only two innings due to right triceps fatigue. As long as he’s healthy and appears to be on track to make his scheduled start next week, he should be started with confidence in most leagues. On the season, he holds a terrific 1.56 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and a 73/10 K/BB ratio over 69 1/3 innings through his first 12 starts.

Tomoyuki Sugano (@ Mariners, @ Athletics)

The 35-year-old right-hander has pitched well through his first 11 starts with the Orioles, posting a 3.23 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a 35/10 K/BB ratio over 64 innings while securing four victories. The Mariners and Athletics are both middle of the road against right-handed pitching, so there’s certainly no reason to avoid either matchup. We know that Sugano isn’t going to help much in the strikeout department, but that’s at least mitigated by him having two starts on the docket. He’s unlikely to crush your ratios and should have a decent shot at earning at least one victory on the week, making him a solid streaming option in all formats.

Michael Lorenzen (@ Cardinals, @ White Sox)

Over the years, Lorenzen has proven to be someone who is occasionally worthy of streaming when the matchups are right in deeper leagues while he’s someone who should almost never be started in weeks where he makes a single start. Fortunately, the schedule lines up well for him this week and he gets a matchup against the lowly White Sox if he can first get through a tougher battle against the Cardinals in St. Louis. He should be able to approach high single digit strikeouts combined over his two starts with a decent shot at a victory against the White Sox which makes him worthy of a look in most deeper leagues.

Richard Fitts (vs. Angels, @ Yankees)

Fitts looked sharp in his return from the injured list last week, firing three scoreless frames against the Brewers. He only made one minor league rehab start though, which is why he was so limited in his first start back – and why he’ll likely be limited in each of his starts during the upcoming week. There’s no denying how well Fitts has pitched with the Red Sox this season though, compiling a 2.70 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 15/6 K/BB ratio over 20 innings in his first four starts. I’d like it a lot better if he were working behind an opener and had a shot at a victory. Still though, he seems unlikely to hurt your ratios and should grab more than a handful of strikeouts during the week. In deeper leagues, if you don’t have better options, there’s no harm in using Fitts this week and he could wind up being a major asset over the rest of the season.

Luis Severino (vs. Twins, vs. Orioles)

Severino has done a serviceable job through his first 12 starts for the A’s this season, posting a 3.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 54/22 K/BB ratio over 71 2/3 innings through his first 12 starts. He has won just one ballgame though and with the A’s currently in freefall – just one victory in their last 15 games – it’s very unlikely that he picks up a win during the upcoming week. He’s also not piling up strikeouts and should only be expected to get around seven or eight during his two-start week. Furthermore, it’s actually a detriment that he’s making both starts at home, as we have seen what a terrific offensive environment Sutter Health Park can be already this season, and the weather is only getting warmer. He’s a decent enough pitcher that he’s worthy of consideration in 15 teamers, but I don’t think I would be rolling him out there in leagues that were any shallower than that. The upside is simply lacking without the wins and strikeouts and there’s very real ratio risk to be had facing a couple of good offenses in a hitter’s paradise.

Tyler Anderson (@ Red Sox, vs. Mariners)

The 35-year-old southpaw has been a bit of an enigma this season, using smoke and mirrors to pitch to a 3.39 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 46/24 K/BB ratio over 61 innings through his first 11 starts. His ratios corrected somewhat with rough outings against the Athletics and Dodgers earlier in the month, but he bounced back and dominated the vaunted Yankees’ offense his last time out, so who really knows what to expect from him this week. The Red Sox and Mariners are both in the upper half of the league against southpaws, so it’s not going to be easy, but there’s at least some viability to Anderson as a streaming option if you’re looking to make up ground in wins and strikeouts. He wouldn’t be a priority add for me, but I could see him making by bid lists and winding up with him if I was unable to secure my top options.

At Your Own Risk

Jonathan Cannon (vs. Tigers, vs. Royals)

Cannon is the type of pitcher who is almost always available on the waiver wire as an option to stream his two-start weeks. He has done alright overall on the season, registering a 4.15 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 46/18 K/BB ratio across 60 2/3 innings in his first 11 outings. The Tigers, despite their success this season, have been just an average team against right-handed pitching while the Royals have been among the league’s worst. Cannon also has a strong familiarity with both opponents since they are in the same division and he sees them regularly. I wouldn’t expect wins with the White Sox’ offense backing him, but if you’re trying to make up ground in strikeouts in deeper leagues I could see taking a shot on him and hoping that he doesn’t get blown up by the Tigers in that first start.

Logan Allen (@ Yankees, vs. Astros)

Through 10 starts this season, Allen has struggled to find any sort of consistency, showing flashes of brilliance mixed with maddeningly poor command and execution. Overall, he sports a somewhat respectable 4.31 ERA with a cringe-inducing 1.63 WHIP and a 36/25 K/BB ratio over 48 innings. That’s not the type of profile that we’re normally looking to stream, and it gets worse when you factor in a matchup against the Bronx Bombers in New York to start his week. The second matchup isn’t any more appealing either, as the Astros are also an upper-echelon offense against southpaws this season. Some may want to try it out based on name recognition, but this seems like a strong recipe for ratio damage this week. Stay away.

Jacob Lopez (vs. Twins, vs. Orioles)

This is one that you shouldn’t even have to waste your time thinking about. Not only are the matchups poor and both in an extreme hitter’s environment, but Lopez pitches for one of the worst teams in the league and is extremely unlikely to earn a victory in either start. He’s also coming off of an outing where he was slaughtered for seven runs in just 1 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays and sports a horrifying 6.32 ERA and 1.85 WHIP across 15 2/3 innings on the season. I don’t care how deep the league is, just say no on this one.

National League

Strong Plays

Zack Wheeler (@ Blue Jays, @ Pirates)

Wheeler is coming off of his worst start of the season, yet he still owns a stellar 2.96 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and a 94/18 K/BB ratio over 76 innings through his first 12 starts. He’s an elite workhorse and a fantasy ace and should be started in every single league, every single week without question. Look for him to improve upon those ratios and pile up strikeouts this week with a pair of matchups against questionable offenses that struggle mightily against right-handed pitching. Wheeler is one of the top overall options on the board this week.

Logan Webb (vs. Padres, vs. Braves)

Webb has been doing some of the finest work of his career so far in his age-28 season, posting a 2.82 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and an 84/17 K/BB ratio across 73 1/3 innings through his first 12 starts. It’s the career-best strikeout rate that has been particularly intriguing, as he has always been someone that has provided quality ratios, but the added strikeouts really take his game to the next level. The matchups are tough this week, but they’re both at home in the spacious confines of Oracle Park. Continue to start him every week regardless of the matchup(s).

Decent Plays

Ryne Nelson (@ Braves, @ Reds)

Nelson had been tentatively lined up for two starts this past week, but the Diamondbacks opted to use Thursday’s off-day to give Corbin Burnes an extra start on regular rest on Sunday while pushing Nelson back a couple of days after throwing a season-high 84 pitches his last time out. The matchups aren’t great, and they’re both on the road, which gives me at least some trepidation here. Nelson has been solid this year though, posting a 3.79 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 34/11 K/BB ratio over 38 innings and since moving to the rotation he has allowed just one run in 11 2/3 frames. I’d be rolling him for sure in 15 team formats and would probably use him in 12’s as well.

Landen Roupp (vs. Padres, vs. Braves)

Roupp has pitched pretty well for the Giants through his first 11 starts on the season, compiling a 3.54 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a 56/20 K/BB ratio over 56 frames. The sky-high WHIP is the only real concern. He draws two difficult matchups for the upcoming week, though pitching both games at home should help to reduce the ratio damage and give him a better shot at earning a victory. Regardless, the strikeouts should be there, which is probably reason enough to start him in most leagues. I’d deploy him in 15 and 12 team formats for sure, anything that’s more shallow it would depend on your alternative options.

Tylor Megill (@ Dodgers, @ Rockies)

Here’s a spot in which the matchups represent a huge dichotomy. Megill first has to battle the mighty Dodgers’ offense on the road in Los Angeles before finishing his week with a layup against the historically bad Rockies’ offense, though it is at Coors Field. Megill has pitched well this season – posting a 3.52 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 72/27 K/BB ratio across 53 2/3 innings. The strikeouts should be there regardless, and the chances of earning a victory against the Rockies are high, making him a worthwhile play in most leagues this week despite the matchup against the Dodgers. Just be aware that with his propensity to miss the strike zone, he could inflict some serious damage on your WHIP in that first start.

Griffin Canning (@ Dodgers, @ Rockies)

Like teammate Tylor Megill above, Canning draws a brutal matchup and a terrific matchup this week, which averages out to a decent spot overall if he can survive the first one. Canning has had surprising success with the Mets this season, going 5-2 with a 3.23 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a 50/25 K/BB ratio across 53 innings in his first 11 starts. If he can keep the ratios intact through that Dodgers start, he should put up strong overall numbers on the week with a high chance of getting into the win column against the Rockies at Coors Field. I’d be starting him for sure in 15 team leagues and I’d probably roll the dice in 12 teamers as well unless I had a major problem in WHIP that I was trying to correct.

Dustin May (vs. Mets, @ Cardinals)

May has done a decent job through his first 10 starts with the Dodgers this season, compiling a 4.20 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 58/20 K/BB ratio over 55 2/3 innings. Pitching for the Dodgers, he’s a threat to earn a victory every time that he takes the mound and the strikeout totals have been there even when he has struggled this season. The only concern that I have is that the Mets and Cardinals have both hit right-handed pitching well this season, adding some real ratio risk to an otherwise strong profile. I think that I would start him for sure if I had him in 15 teamers and I’d likely take the plunge in 12’s as well. Anything more shallow than that, and it’s possible you may have better options for the upcoming week.

Cade Horton (@ Nationals, @ Tigers)

Horton has done a decent job in his limited action with the Cubs, going 2-0 with a 3.98 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 16/4 K/BB ratio over his first four appearances (three starts), Despite the fact that he’s on the road for both starts this week, he actually gets a nice ballpark upgrade getting away from Wrigley Field. His time in the Cubs’ rotation could be limited as Shota Imanaga (hamstring) is working his way back, but that’s not a concern for this week. He looks like a safe streaming option and one that I would be comfortable using in both 12 and 15 team formats.

Max Meyer (vs. Rockies, @ Rays)

After a very strong start to the 2025 season, Meyer has fallen on hard times in the month of May, giving up four runs or more in three of his five starts. Fortunately, he gets the elixir for that on Monday when he’ll take on the hapless Rockies’ offense at home. The matchup to finish the week against the Rays isn’t anything to shy away from either. Meyer should be able to pile up strikeouts in those two starts and should actually help your ratios rather than detract from them, while having a good shot at earning at least one victory. If he can’t succeed during these matchups, it could be time to re-evaluate his status on your roster. I’d start him in all leagues this week.

Clayton Kershaw (vs. Mets, @ Cardinals)

Coming off such an extended layoff, it’s understandable that the 37-year-old southpaw would struggle through his first few outings. He has done just that, pitching to a 4.91 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and a 6/6 K/BB ratio over his first 11 innings. He has yet to pitch deeper than five innings in any start and has yet to exceed 83 pitches. Combine that with matchups against two tough offenses, and I’m not sure that Kershaw makes for a strong streaming option for the upcoming week. I’d rather give him another week or two to build up and prove that he can be a viable fantasy asset before throwing him to the wolves in a tough spot. I’d roll with him in 15 teamers still, but I’d try to avoid it in 12’s. He could spin six shutout innings in each of those starts and wind up burning me, but I wouldn’t be starting him unless I had to this week.

Stephen Kolek (@ Giants, @ Brewers)

Kolek has done a decent job through his first five starts with the Padres, posting a 4.11 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 24/10 K/BB ratio over 30 2/3 innings while securing three victories. Pitching for the Padres, there’s always going to be an opportunity to earn a victory and both starts being at home plays into his favor in more ways than one. We have been attacking the Brewers’ offense all season with opposing right-handers and the Giants aren’t a matchup to shy away from either. There’s ratio risk, as Kolek has been crushed in two of his last three starts, but on paper at least this looks like a strong spot to try to stream a lesser rostered two-start option.

At Your Own Risk

Brady Singer (vs. Brewers, vs. Diamondbacks)

Singer has performed about as expected through his first 11 starts in a Reds’ uniform, posting an underwhelming 4.60 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 49/23 K/BB ratio over 58 2/3 innings. Those numbers get worse as you narrow the lens, with a 6.35 ERA and 1.66 WHIP over 25 1/3 frames since the calendar flipped to May. The matchups are a mixed bag this week, as the Brewers have really struggled against right-handed pitching but the Diamondbacks have been among the league’s elite against them. Both starts will come at Great American Ballpark which isn’t a point in Singer’s favor. I’d normally recommend streaming Singer in most matchups, but with how things have gone for him lately and that showdown with the Diamondbacks on Sunday, I’d actually shy away from him unless you absolutely had to. For sure I’d be looking to bench him in 12 teamers, though you may not have better alternatives in 15’s.

Aaron Civale (@ Reds, vs. Padres)

After getting torched by the Yankees in his season debut, Civale has looked much better in each of his last two starts, giving up three runs total over nine innings while striking out seven. He’s never going to be an elite option, and the matchups on paper look extremely difficult this week, so I understand there will be trepidation in trying to stream him. He should be considered nothing more than a volume play in deeper leagues if looking to make up ground in wins and strikeouts, with the understanding that one of these starts could go south quickly and he could inflict serious ratio damage.

Andre Pallante (vs. Royals, vs. Dodgers)

Pallante has been a mostly uninspiring option through his first 11 starts on the season, registering a 4.23 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 42/23 K/BB ratio over 61 2/3 innings. The matchup against the Royals is intriguing, but not enough for me to overlook a showdown against the Dodgers to finish his week. That feels to me like a spot where he could get blown up bad enough that the Cardinals finally pull the plug and allow Michael McGreevy to take his rightful place in the starting rotation. If you’re desperate in a deeper league to stream a live arm in order to make up ground in wins and strikeouts, I get it, but Pallante isn’t really a certainty to help in any category and he’s actively crushing your WHIP when he’s in there right now. I’d save myself the headache and avoid.

Germán Márquez (@ Marlins, vs. Mets)

I told myself a few weeks ago that I could never find a way to recommend a Rockies’ starter for a two-start week this season, and I’m going to stick to that. Márquez has pitched poorly overall on the season, with a 7.13 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and a 32/19 K/BB ratio through his first 53 innings of work. That first matchup against the Marlins in Miami is pretty juicy though, and he’s coming off of a quality start against the Cubs his last time out. The ratio risk is sky high for the week, especially with a matchup against the Mets at Coors Field to finish it out, but there’s at least some reason for liking the veteran right-hander in that first matchup. I don’t think I could do it in 15 teamers, but in NL-only formats and the deepest of mixed leagues maybe he’s worth the risk.

Mike Burrows (vs. Astros, vs. Phillies)

The 25-year-old rookie right-hander has been knocked around in his first two starts to the tune of an 8.64 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and a 5/4 K/BB ratio over his first 8 1/3 innings of work. It’s not likely to get much better for him this week with a pair of matchups against strong offenses who do damage against right-handed pitching. If he gets crushed in that first matchup, he could easily get demoted back to Triple-A Indianapolis and miss that second start. I just don’t see any good reasons to be rolling the dice here this week.

Trevor Williams (vs. Cubs, vs. Rangers)

Williams has really struggled through his first 11 starts on the season, posting a 5.69 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a 43/15 K/BB ratio over 55 1/3 innings of work. The matchup against the Cubs isn’t ideal either and could lead to more ratio damage. He’s also not likely to win a game and strikeouts have never been his thing, so it’s hard to see a viable reason for wanting to stream him for two starts. He could string together a couple of gems and make me look foolish, but I’ll be staying away here.

Streamer City

Here are a couple of my hand-picked streaming options for the upcoming week that are readily available in most fantasy leagues. I’ll track these results throughout the season so you can see how my recommendations have performed.

American League

Ryan Gusto, Astros, RHP (vs. Pirates - Wednesday 6/4)

We'll go after another terrible offense in the Pirates by streaming Gusto for his start on Wednesday. The right-hander has struggled for most of the season, registering a a 4.62 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and a 42/19 K/BB ratio over 39 innings to this point. If he can't succeed against the Pirates in this spot though, he doesn't have a chance long-term in the Astros' rotation. I think this is a good matchup for him to rack up some strikeouts and potentially earn a victory while keeping the ratios in line. Gusto is rostered in only five percent of all Yahoo leagues at the moment.

National League

Cal Quantrill, Marlins, RHP (vs. Rockies - Wednesday 6/4)

Let's really put anyone and everyone against the Rockies to the test here. Quantrill is rostered in just two percent of all Yahoo leagues and is sitting on a gruesome 6.09 ERA and 1.49 WHIP over 44 1/3 innings on the season while punching out only 31 strikeouts. No one in their right mind would consider streaming him, right? Against the hapless Rockies — especially on the road — we're willing to stream everyone. Watch Quantrill spin six beautiful innings and earn a victory here with five punchouts.

Last Week's Review

Dean Kremer, Orioles, RHP (vs. White Sox - Saturday 5/31)

We don't have any results on Kremer yet, as he's set to battle the White Sox in Chicago on Saturday. We're still very optimistic that he'll deliver a dominant performance there.

Cade Horton, Cubs, RHP (vs. Rockies - Tuesday 5/27)

Horton pitched well in a no-decision against the Rockies on Tuesday, giving up two runs on four hits over his six-plus innings of work. He racked up six strikeouts in the ballgame and carried a lead into the seventh before serving up a game-tying home run. All in all, though, this is a quality result from a streamer despite the lack of a victory. We'll take it.