TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Eric Hartman #64 of the Atlanta Braves bats during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Braves now have two top 100 position-player prospects in high-A Rome. Eric Hartman continues to hit the cover off the ball with a tantalizing power-hit-speed package as a 19-year-old who was taken in the 20th round of the 2024 draft. That seems like incredible value and frankly incredible luck that the Braves still signed him, as usually those prep players in the last couple rounds can be more backup plans than realistic signing expectations. He is joined by shortstop Tate Southesene who is looking like a complete player and a really savvy pick underslot in the 2025 first round. His underslot signing enabled the signing of Briggs McKenzie, who struck out 8 in his full-season ball debut. Things are looking really promising on the farm right now, with a nice set of draft capital and reportedly a huge international free agent incoming.
Goldschmidt, still a dangerous hitter — particularly against lefties — doesn’t offer quite the protection Judge did.
Ben Rice connects on a home run during the Yankees’ June 5 game. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
“He’s a big presence to not have in our lineup,” Rice said after Friday’s loss in The Bronx. “It’s definitely gonna hurt us, but all we can do is keep moving forward.”
Asked if not having Judge’s bat behind him might add pressure to his at-bats, Rice said, “No. I focus on today. We’ll evaluate it at the end.”
And not having Judge — even the limited version he said he’s been since late April, when he believes he first injured the right rib that will likely sideline him for two months — will surely impact the way pitchers approach the Yankee lineup.
As to whether he thinks he’ll be pitched to differently in Judge’s absence, Rice said, “It’s not for me to say. We’ll see what happens. All I can control is the pitches I swing at and don’swing at.”
Aaron Judge reacts during the Yankees’ June 5 game against the Red Sox. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
In four games without Judge, Rice is 4-for-14 with three walks and six strikeouts and had a double and a homer.
Hitting coach James Rowson recently praised Rice’s work ethic behind the scenes, especially with his willingness to study how opposing pitchers pitches to him.
“That’s part of what’s made him better,’’ Rowson said. “It’s not just talent. A lot of guys are talented. The great ones prepare differently and I see how he prepares behind the scenes.”
His process has worked well so far, as Rice entered Saturday with an OPS of 1.051 on the season, trailing only Houston’s Yordan Alvarez.
Rice’s walk rate is up from a year ago, as is his strikeout rate, but he’s about to be tested this season as he hasn’t before.
He’ll be expected to be the biggest bat in the lineup, likely until Judge returns later in the season.
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While the Yankees have been careful not to apply a timeline to Judge’s injury, his injury won’t be imaged again for at least another month and he’ll need to built up before he’s back in games.
In Friday’s loss, Rice had a homer and went 2-for-3 as the No. 2 hitter, but the three batters behind him, Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. combined to go 0-for-11.
That stopped the Yankees from putting much together offensively outside of solo homers by Rice and Trent Grisham, who hit one spot ahead of Rice.
The Yankees will need more production throughout their lineup to remain near the top of the AL East with Judge out, but Rice is as important as any hitter to make sure that happens.
A Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman looks poised to leave the organization at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
According to Hockey News Hub, which reports a lot of KHL news, defenseman Alexander Alexeyev is set to sign a two-year contract with Salavat of the KHL.
Alexeyev signed with the Penguins as a free agent last July and has spent the entire 2025-26 season with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who are in the Eastern Conference Final. He finished the AHL regular season with three goals and 12 points in 38 games and has one goal and five points in 10 Calder Cup Playoff games.
Hearing Salavat will sign #LetsGoPens defenseman Alexander Alexeyev to a two-year contract. #KHL
Giancarlo Stanton is pictured during the Yankees' June 3 game against the Guardians.
For the second time in four days, Giancarlo Stanton was on the field at Yankee Stadium early Saturday afternoon, taking live batting practice against Angel Chivilli.
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The Yankees hope it is not too much longer before Stanton is in the batter’s box for real games, and not just simulated ones, though he still has more boxes to check in the coming week or two before that can happen.
After taking four at-bats against the rehabbing Chivilli, Stanton did some running on the field — in a straight line in the outfield and then starting halfway up the first base line and taking a turn around first base as he works back from a right calf strain.
“Hopefully sooner rather than later,” manager Aaron Boone said of Stanton’s potential return Saturday. “But he’s continuing to build up the running portion.”
Giancarlo Stanton is pictured during the Yankees’ June 3 game against the Guardians. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
Boone has already said that Stanton will not join the Yankees on their upcoming road trip that starts Monday in Cleveland and ends next Sunday in Toronto, with the veteran DH expected to stay in New York to continue his running progression.
It is possible Stanton will not need to go on a rehab assignment before rejoining the Yankees, because he is not playing the field, but he is not close enough for the team to have to make a decision on that yet.
Camilo Doval offered the Yankees a reminder of his tantalizing potential Friday night, retiring the side in the ninth inning on nine pitches (eight strikes), with two strikeouts.
That lowered Doval’s ERA to 5.79 through 27 games, though his underlying metrics have been more promising, offering some hope that he can straighten things out to strengthen the bullpen more consistently.
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“That’s what’s been tough, because we’ve seen a lot of that, even in some of the outings where he’s given it up,” Boone said. “It’s just about being consistent, because there is a lot of really good happening there with Camilo — the way he’s thrown the ball, the strike throwing that’s as good as he’s maybe ever been. It is very close to being in line with what we saw [Friday] night. That’s what he’s capable of. He’s working hard at it and we’re continuing to work hard around him to try to get him to be that. Because when he’s like that, he can be an impactful back-end guy.”
After going 0-for-4 with a strikeout in his first rehab game Friday night as the DH at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Jasson Domínguez is expected to play the outfield in his second rehab game Sunday.
He will likely need a few more games next week before he returns from a mild AC joint sprain in his left shoulder.
Jun 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) pitches in the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images | Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
The offense came alive tonight but the story of the game was Tanner Bibee’s phenomenal outing. He tossed 8 scoreless innings and had only 87 pitches, I really wish they would’ve game him a chance to complete the Maddux. He lowered his ERA all the way down to 4.09 from this outing. If Bibee can find this version of himself more consistently, the version we’ve seen for years, this team will be a force in the playoffs.
The offense was super fun to watch tonight, there were contributions from nearly everyone. Jose hit his team leading 10th HR of the season. Rocchio hit a bomb off the foul pole in a 2-4 effort. DeLauter and Schneemann also both had two hits. Manzardo had a double and two walks. It was super nice to see the offense have a game like this.
The Guardians will look to win the series tomorrow. It will be Joey Cantillo vs Jacob DeGrom at 2:35 pm ET.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 6: Tyler Freeman #2 of the Colorado Rockies is hit with the ball in the helmet during an at-bat in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field on June 6, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Freeman exited the game under his own power. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There was a scary moment in the sixth inning where Rockies right fielder Tyler Freeman took a 98.2 mph cutter off the helmet from Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski.
The extra helmet flap helped, but it hit him directly on the ear. Luckily, Freeman turned his head so it didn’t hit under the visor.
He was immediately embraced by catcher William Contreras and met by the Rockies coaching staff. He was awake and looking around — and even seen mouthing, “I’m fine” — but Keith Duggar and Heath Townsend rightfully pulled him out of the game.
Sterlin Thompson entered the game in his place.
This is a developing story and Purple Row will provide more information as it becomes available.
With another two wins, the Knicks will end the NBA’s most painful drought and capture their first championship in 53 years.
With two more wins, the names of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges will be passed down to future generations, just as Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley and Earl Monroe became famous to every Knicks fan too young to experience when the Garden was Eden.
Every title team eventually gets whittled down to a small fraction of its contributors.
Even perhaps the greatest team of all time, the 1927 Yankees, has been filtered to little more than Ruth and Gehrig.
New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet reacts after scoring during the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
But you know better.
You know the Knicks wouldn’t hold a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals without the strength of their second unit — without names that will never reach the rafters (Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado, Miles McBride).
“A lot of contributions from a lot of guys, and that’s why you like having a team because it could be anybody’s night on any given night,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said following the 105-104 Game 2 win. “Our guys don’t care. They sacrifice for one another and we found a way to get a win.”
The Knicks bench was instrumental in the Game 1 win in San Antonio, producing 28 points, along with four assists from McBride, and a combined 10 rebounds from Alvarado and Robinson.
In Game 2, Brown needed even more, as Brunson shot 7-for-25, Hart was held scoreless and Towns was limited to four second-half points.
For a stretch of more than five crucial minutes — from the 3:19 mark of the third quarter through the 10:15 mark of the fourth quarter — Brown sat Brunson and Towns, opting for a lineup of Shamet, Robinson, Alvarado, McBride and Bridges.
Mitchell Robinson dunks over Victor Wembanyama in Game 2. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
During that span, the Knicks lead grew from four to 12, eventually settling at 87-78 when Brunson and Towns reentered.
Shamet, who is shooting 67.6 percent on 3-pointers in the postseason, finished with 13 points for the second straight game.
Robinson had seven points, three rebounds, one block and one steal in 14 minutes, in addition to helping prevent Victor Wembanyama from evening the series on the potential game-winner.
Alvarado and McBride — who have two of the Knicks’ top five on-court ratings in the NBA Finals — combined for seven points, four assists and four offensive rebounds.
In last year’s playoffs, Tom Thibodeau used each of his starters for more than 35 minutes per game, giving just two reserves (Robinson, McBride) double-digit minutes per game.
This year, Brunson is the only starter averaging more than 34 minutes in the playoffs, as Brown uses a nine-man rotation during the season’s most critical moments, placing trust in names many will never know.
“It’s important,” Shamet said of the bench play. “We need everybody.”
Carolina scored three goals in the span of just 39 seconds in the third period, turning a 4-0 Vegas blowout into a 4-3 nail biter. Per Sportsnet Stats, that's the fastest any team has scored three goals in a Stanley Cup Final game.
The prior record was 56 seconds for three goals, set by the Montreal Canadiens during the 1954 Stanley Cup Final.
Jordan Martinook got the scoring started at 7:03. Taylor Hall made it 4-2 at 7:29. At 7:42, captain Jordan Staal scored to make it 4-3.
CAROLINA AGAIN, WHAT IS GOING ON, IT IS NOW A 1 GOAL GAME 😱🚨
Carolina scored a power play goal at 18:18 to erase its 4-0 deficit, sending Game 3 to overtime. Unfortunately for the 'Canes, their historic comeback bid fell short as they lost in double overtime.
Golden Knights star Mitch Marner scored the fastest natural hat trick in Stanley Cup history, a span of 6 minutes, 10 seconds in the second period, during the Golden Knights' 5-4, double-overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night in Game 3.
Vegas' 4-0 lead became short-lived, however, as the Hurricanes scored four unanswered goals in the third period to force overtime.
After neither team was able to score in the first overtime, Shea Theodore sent T-Mobile Arena into a frenzy when his shot off the end boards deflected off backup goaltender Brandon Bussi's skate and into the net for the win.
"Stuff happens throughout playoffs," Marner said. "It's obviously not how we envisioned that or how we wanted that to go, but stuff happens, man. It's a roller coaster ride. I thought we did a really good job just coming in after that third (period) and just deep breath, relaxing and saying, 'Hey, boys, we're fine here, man.'
"I don't even know if we took the foot off the gas. They made a couple of good plays that went in. Just happy that we stayed resilient. We kept fighting through, and we got the job done."
Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday night, back at T-Mobile Arena.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 7, 2026
Two overturned goals earlier in the second period didn't deflate the Knights, as they controlled the entire period and went into the second intermission with a commanding lead that prompted Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour to replace starting goaltender Frederik Andersen with Bussi.
Just 16 seconds after assisting on Tomas Hertl's goal that put Vegas on the board midway through the second, Marner upped the lead when he gathered a loose puck near the right board, backhanded it toward the crease and it caromed off Carolina defenseman Sean Walker's blade and into the net, making it 2-0.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 7, 2026
Less than four minutes later, Marner left Andersen baffled by deking around him to the left and slipping the puck into the net to give the Knights a three-goal lead.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 7, 2026
After being outplayed in the first period, the Golden Knights appeared ready to seize momentum in the second.
Captain Mark Stone found a seam and beat Andersen in the five-hole to break the scoreless tie just 36 seconds into the period.
But the Hurricanes challenged for an offside call and it was upheld, keeping the game 0-0.
Not too long thereafter, Jack Eichel's persistence during a scramble in front of the net resulted in him finding the back of the net to break the scoreless tie just four minutes into the period.
Unfortunately for the Knights, the Hurricanes challenged for a goalie interference call, and it was upheld, keeping the game 0-0.
Before the opening puck drop, the sold-out crowd erupted when Brayden McNabb was announced in the starting lineup, just two days after taking an 87-mile-per-hour slapshot to the face.
McNabb wore a full-caged helmet and appeared to have stitching around his nose.
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) celebrates after scoring his third goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in game three of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
Jun 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter (22) is called to the bench during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images | Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
The Texas Rangers scored zero runs but the Cleveland Guardians scored six runs.
The irony-pilled cynic in me saw that tonight’s Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee was winless for American League Central-leading Cleveland in 14 starts this season while coming into the game sporting a mid-4s ERA and immediately thought, “Oh yeah, he’s for sure beating the Rangers tonight.”
It wasn’t even that difficult for him to achieve my doomed prophecy. There really isn’t much to say about this game. The Rangers just kind of got their asses kicked. I guess the best you can say is that there are 162 games per year and several of them ultimately end up like this one.
If you want to point to a series of moments in which it became clear that tonight wasn’t going to be the night for a victory, it was probably the juncture where, in a 1-0 game in the bottom of the fourth, with the Rangers having sent up the minimum with their lone baserunner by that point being erased on a double play, Texas got a two-on, two-out rally needing a big hit with RISP to tie the game but Wyatt Langford flew out to end the threat.
That was pretty much the only threat of the night for the lineup. Meanwhile a half inning later, Texas starter Jack Leiter allowed his second solo home run to make it 2-0 before the Guardians eventually tacked on three more in the inning, all with two outs.
In like a 20 minute span the Rangers went from a hit away from a tied game in the middle innings to Leiter exiting in a relative blowout. Leiter entered that the top of the fifth having made just one mistake pitch to Jose Ramirez for a solo home run and the game’s first run and then left without even being able to make it through the inning having allowed five runs in 4.2 frames overall.
Meanwhile, the Rangers got one more hit the rest of the way and the Guardians got another run in the eighth off the Texas bullpen. As for Bibee? He tossed eight shutout on 87 pitches for his first win of the season.
Who told Chris Young he turn the run suppression machine back on at The Shed just because the Rangers had won a few games lately?
Player of the Game: I’m thinking it’s probably Cal Quantrill for pitching multiple innings of scoreless mop up relief if that tells you anything about this game.
Up Next: The Rangers and Guardians close out this series with RHP Jacob deGrom looking to help Texas claim a series win opposite LHP Joey Cantillo for Cleveland in the finale.
The Sunday afternoon first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 1:35 pm CDT and you can view it on the Rangers Sports Network.
Not to be denied, they scored two goals 16 seconds apart. Marner ended up with a hat trick in the period for a commanding 4-0 lead after two periods. His three goals came in a span of 6 minutes, 10 seconds, setting a record for fastest Stanley Cup Final hat trick. The previous record-holder was the legendary Maurice "Rocket" Richard.
Golden Knights captain Mark Stone got a breakaway goal on a pass from Brett Howden at the blue line. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour challenged for offsides and a review showed that Howden was in the zone before the puck.
Then Jack Eichel scored shortly afterward. Referees consulted and called it a good goal on the ice.
Again, Brind'Amour challenged, this time for goalie interference. And the goal was overturned because Ivan Barbashev was shown on review to have clipped the head of Frederik Andersen as he skated through the crease.
WE HAVE A 2ND VEGAS GOAL WAVED OFF AFTER COACH'S CHALLENGE 😱
Barbashev's goal is overturned for goalie interference after he made contact with Frederik Andersen's head 😬 pic.twitter.com/ffuSDapVO5
They got a power play when Carolina had too many men on the ice. Tomas Hertl scored. Sixteen seconds later, Marner threw the puck in front of the net and Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker accidentally tipped it past his goalie.
The Marner show continued. He missed on a breakaway, took a feed from Brayden McNabb and scored his second goal of the game.
He blasted a shot past Andersen on another breakaway for the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history.
Incredibly, the Hurricanes made some history of their own. They erased their 4-0 deficit in the third period, setting their own record by scoring three goals in just 39 seconds. Game 3 went to double overtime, with the Golden Knights getting the dramatic victory.
May 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) runs after hitting a home run during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images
The Saturday quest to score runs at some point in the first eight innings. Will Smith was originally in the Dodgers lineup, but was scratched with a stiff neck.
Dodgers lineup
Ohtani DH Pages CF Freeman 1B Betts SS Muncy 3B Ward LF Call RF Rushing C Freeland 2B
In a statement, the team said these measures are being made because officials "want to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all ticket holders by sharing important security procedures that will be in place."
The statement outlined that "a strict no-bag policy will be in effect, and fans should make every effort to limit personal items to an absolute minimum."
The Knicks are encouraging fans to arrive to the game at least two hours ahead of the 8:30 p.m. ET tipoff time.
Celebrities like Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet and Ben Stiller have been at Madison Square Garden cheering for the Knicks throughout the season. New York has won 13 straight playoff games and is in the Finals for the first time since 1999.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 09: A Cincinnati Reds mascot stands on the field beofre the game between the Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on September 09, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Aaron Doster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sam Moll hasn’t really been a problem for the 2026 version of the Cincinnati Reds. He certainly hasn’t been the problem, that’s for damn sure.
On Saturday afternoon in Busch Stadium, though, it was the big hit coming off a Moll pitch that flipped the scoreboard in the Bottom of the 8th inning and, ultimately, sent the reeling Reds to a 6-5 loss that gave the series victory to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Even after the homer by lefty Lars Nootbaar off Moll, a lefty, Moll still sports a 2.96 ERA on the season. Again, he’s not the problem – but perhaps the attrition around him in the bullpen and the once again lack of a starter capable of pitching deep enough into the game to take the pressure off the beleaguered pen reared its head, and it was Moll left holding the bag.
Nick Lodolo was meh again, allowing 4 ER in 5.0 IP and needing 95 pitches just to get that far. The patchwork elbow of Tejay Antone held together things in the patchwork bullpen for a time, but then the 8th inning happened and the Reds couldn’t find a way for a miracle.
Speaking of miracles, that miracle April run to start the season? It’s officially poof. This loss sends the Reds back under the .500 mark at 31-32, and given what we’ve seen from them as their best and brightest fall by the wayside, I fear it’s simply more of the norm unless the front office can figure a way out of this jam of mediocrity.
