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Giants cautiously frustrated as offensive struggles persist vs. Padres

Giants cautiously frustrated as offensive struggles persist vs. Padres  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, and that’s no different for one video that captured the Giants dugout just after their 1-0 shutout loss to the San Diego Padres on Monday night.

Just as Jerar Encarnación lined out to first to end the game in the 10th inning, the NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast caught Patrick Bailey, Heliot Ramos and Matt Chapman’s visible frustrations on camera. No words were said – or heard, at least – but none had to be.

The vibe was understood.

Giants manager Bob Melvin didn’t hold back the truth while disclosing the frustration level in the clubhouse.

“Yeah, we’ve been frustrated for a while,” Melvin said, “but the combination of hitting some balls hard and then having nothing to show for it, when we were up against it, against a really good bullpen late in the game to have our best at-bats. 

“So that just kind of adds to the frustration.”

The Giants had plenty of opportunities to do some damage, including a bases-loaded no-outs chance in the second, but finished the game 1-12 with RISP. They now are 6-57 with RISP over the last nine games.

San Francisco also has scored four runs or fewer in 15 consecutive games, their longest streak since 1965. 

It took less than one minute into Bailey’s postgame media availability to utter the word “frustrating” to reporters. He applauded Logan Webb’s eight shutout innings and knows the offense has to do a better job backing the recent stellar pitching.

“I thought we competed at the end there,” Bailey said. “Obviously it’s frustrating that the big boys go out on the mound and complete like that. Thankfully they’ve kept us in the games and I know we’re going to step it up eventually. Obviously we hit a lot of balls hard off one of the best pitchers in the game. And it just doesn’t go our way. 

“But we got to be better for sure.”

After blowing three bases loaded opportunities, the Giants had one final chance in the bottom of the 10th to at least tie it up and force an 11th after Christian Koss did his job with a sacrifice bunt that moved Jung Hoo Lee to third.

Matt Chapman nearly got the job done when his powerful grounder to third was met with an impressive defensive play by Padres infielder Jose Iglesias. Then Encarnación, making his season debut, had the chance to play hero. The final chance.

Encarnación cracked one right into the glove of Padres first baseman Luis Arraez to end the ballgame.

“The last couple innings were probably our best at-bats throughout the course of the game,” Melvin said. “We had some opportunities early on and that ended up biting us that we couldn’t push one across. We had bases loaded a couple times, we left 12 on base. 

“But I thought our bats were good and a little unlucky in the last inning. We hit two balls that hard.”

Even after pitching another masterclass with nothing to show for it, Webb, per usual, was in good spirits in the clubhouse.

The guy who probably should be the most frustrated wasn’t panicking, and despite the Giants’ recent funk, Webb’s belief in his team hasn’t wavered.

“This is a hard game,” Webb said. “Baseball’s a game of ebbs and flows, some of the best teams in history have gone through stretches where they have struggles like this. But everyone in this room believes in ourselves and I think we’re going to be just fine. It’s the beginning of June, we got four months of baseball left. We really love our guys in here and we’re a really united team. We’re going to be fine.

“We play 162 of these. No other sport plays as many games as we do, you’re going to go through stretches where I struggle, but honestly, I think those things make your team closer. We’re going to be just fine. I know it. Everyone in here knows it. You just got to keep grinding.”

When asked where this stretch compares to other rough patches he’s been a part of in his career, Webb offered a unique perspective.

“I can tell you right now there’s been a lot lower points that I’ve gone through in the past couple of seasons,” he said. “This is not a low point. It’s June 2. We have a lot of baseball to play. I do think there’s a belief in this group and this team, it started on the first day of spring training. I’ve been very outspoken about that. This is just part of baseball. You go through stretches where pitching might not be great, defense might not be great, offense. But it’s getting through those things.

“You hope it’s three or four days, and sometimes it lasts a little longer, but at the end of the day, all we have in this clubhouse is each other and we really believe in this group that we have. We just have to keep our heads up and try to battle. This is a great opportunity for us, we have four games against one of the best teams in baseball. We get to come back tomorrow and try to beat them again.”

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What we learned as Giants waste another Webb gem in loss to Padres

What we learned as Giants waste another Webb gem in loss to Padres originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – The Giants opened a crucial four-game divisional clash on the wrong foot, falling to the San Diego Padres in a 1-0 extra-inning loss Monday night at Oracle Park.

Logan Webb pitched eight shutout innings with seven strikeouts, but he received no run support from the Giants’ struggling offense once again.

San Diego’s offense also struggled, not scoring a run until the top of the 10th inning. That ended up being the only run of the game.

Just one game separated the Padres and Giants in the NL West standings heading into Monday’s series opener in San Francisco, but San Diego was able to create a little separation with three games remaining in the four-game set.

The Giants (33-27) have been one of MLB’s better teams at home this season, but they dropped to 17-10 at Oracle Park.

Here are the takeaways from Monday’s loss:

No Run Support For Wonder Webb … Again 

Logan Webb did Logan Webb things in his 13th start of the season, and, unfortunately for him, the Giants did Giants things.

Webb, who entered the game with a 2.82 ERA and 2.19 FIP with 84 strikeouts to 17 walks in 73.1 innings pitched over 12 starts, tossed another gem Monday night against a team he historically has dominated.

But once again, he had no run support in San Francisco’s loss.

The Giants ace has dominated the Padres over the years with a 2.76 ERA in 12 career starts.

Webb, who lowered his ERA to 2.55, has given up three earned runs or fewer in each of his starts this season.

Offensive Woes Continue

New month, same issues.

The Giants’ offense continued its season-long theme Monday, and the second inning in particular summed up how things have gone for San Francisco thus far.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Willy Adames was thrown out at home after Tyler Fitzgerald grounded to third.

San Francisco then had another bases-loaded opportunity, this time with Heliot Ramos at the plate and one out.

As “Let’s go, Giants!” chants broke out at Oracle Park, Ramos grounded into an inning-ending double play.

It was early, but the missed opportunity immediately felt like one that would leave a bad taste in the Giants’ mouths. But not without another chance to redeem themselves.

Five innings later, Jung Hoo Lee approached the plate with an opportunity to play hero with the bases once again loaded and two outs. Instead, he struck out swinging.

The offensive woes continued in the eighth. With runners on second and third and two outs, Casey Schmitt struck out swinging and, frustrated, walked back to the dugout.

The exasperation is becoming contagious for the Giants, and patience is running out.

Tensions Rise Early

It didn’t take long for Monday’s game to perfectly display the intensity of this NL West showdown between two teams that are separated by just one game in the standings.

Things got chippy in the third inning, when Webb hit Padres catcher Elias Díaz in the top of the inning before Padres starter Stephen Kolek hit Wilmer Flores in the bottom shortly after.

Flores let Kolek know of his frustrations, yelling a few words at him before slowly and irritably walking to first.

LaMonte Wade Jr. was hit in the same hand area just one inning prior and had to exit the game shortly after. He was replaced by Schmitt.

While Kolek issued the “my bad” signal toward a fuming Flores, it was clear that Flores was fed up.

Flores’ high emotions could have riled up the Giants, but it appears this offense will need much more than an impassioned Wilmer to get the job done.

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NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Can Get Their Own 'Star' in Jason Robertson

The Flyers would love to have this kind of Star power complementing Matvei Michkov. (Photo: Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)

If the Philadelphia Flyers are truly looking to swing the big trade this offseason, they need not look further than the Dallas Stars, who might have a former 100-point winger hitting the NHL trade market in short order.

According to reports, stud Stars winger Jason Robertson could be on the move this summer, heading into the last year of his current contract carrying a $7.75 million cap hit.

Jeff Marek, in his recent blog post for Daily Faceoff, knows the Stars want to get tougher. From watching the Western Conference Final, we know that the Stars need defensive depth in the worst way, and the Stars need cap space and assets to make some upgrades.

Marek, who connected Robertson to teams like the Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars, isn't the only one talking about Robertson. Vancouver Canucks insider Rick Dhaliwal added Monday on "Donnie & Dhali" that he's heard the 25-year-old winger's name has come up in trade talks.

And you know what they say: when there's smoke...

So, here's where the Flyers come in.

The Flyers currently have a shade under $23 million in cap space, and only need to re-sign RFAs Cam York, Noah Cates, and potentially Jakob Pelletier. Fitting in Robertson's cap hit of $7.75 million won't be a challenge at all.

Looking forward to 2026 and beyond, the Flyers will have the retained salaries of Kevin Hayes and Scott Laughton coming off their books, as well as Cam Atkinson's buyout charge. 

Additionally, bad contracts, like Ivan Fedotov's $3.25 million cap hit, will be expiring. Ryan Ellis's contract is one year closer to being up with 2027 quickly coming up on the horizon.

Evolving-Hockey's analytics model shows how dominant an offensive force Jason Robertson is at even strength.

Robertson's next contract is likely to have an AAV north of $10 million, but it's a worthwhile price for a Flyers team in need of stars. What's there not to like about him, aside from the lack of speed?

Robertson is a 6-foot-3, left-shot left winger, a two-time 40-goal-scorer, and a former 109-point player who is coming off back-to-back 80-point seasons.

The Flyers, as currently constructed, just don't have these types of players. Tyson Foerster and Owen Tippett are two of the team's top left wingers, and both are right-shot players. Minor roster construction issues like this should be sorted before the Flyers really get down to it coming up out of the rebuild phase.

Flyers Trade Package

We've now established that Robertson would be a unicorn for the Flyers, and the Stars need to offload him and/or other players to keep the team together.

At the time of this writing, the Stars have just $4.95 million in cap space and need to re-sign *checks notes* Mikael Granlund, Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene, Evgenii Dadonov, Colin Blackwell, Mavrik Bourque, Brendan Smith, Cody Ceci, and Nils Lundkvist.

Philadelphia Flyers Officially Lose Signing Rights to 3 Recently Drafted Defense ProspectsPhiladelphia Flyers Officially Lose Signing Rights to 3 Recently Drafted Defense ProspectsWith no new signings or contracts announced on Sunday, the Philadelphia Flyers have officially lost the signing rights to three recently drafted defense prospects, including two of Matvei Michkov's draft classmates.

Next year, the Stars will also need to re-sign Robertson, Thomas Harley, and Mason Marchment. It would be a dream, but there is no way around it: Dallas has to make some moves.

The Flyers have plenty of players and assets they can offer the Stars in return for Robertson to allow Dallas to then use elsewhere.

We can safely assume that both of the Flyers' late first-round picks in the 2025 draft are in play, and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (triceps) would represent a massive upgrade on the right side of that Dallas defense.

Perhaps the Stars can stash Ristolainen on LTIR and work on other things in the meantime.

Replacing Robertson is the greater challenge, though it would make sense for the Flyers to offer up a player like Tippett in a potential deal. Tippett still has untapped potential at 26 years old and has scored no fewer than 20 goals in each of the last three seasons.

Tippett is much faster than Robertson and, while not nearly as productive overall, can allow the Stars to do some different things with their personnel. He's also locked in at a $6.25 million cap hit through 2032, whereas Robertson is going to be commanding a significant pay raise from his $7.75 million cap hit by season's end.

And, from Philadelphia's perspective, Tippett's 10-team no-trade list kicks in on July 1, 2026, so if they're on the fence about his place in the team's future, time is ticking on finding an amicable solution to that potential roadblock.

Other Flyers players who might be of interest to the Stars in a Robertson trade include York, Bobby Brink, and Tyson Foerster.

That's a steep price to pay, to be sure, but to get, you have to give. The impact a 100-point player like Robertson would have on the Flyers is undeniable, especially with Philadelphia still having the No. 6 pick in the 2025 draft and a future star in Matvei Michkov who's only going to get better.

With the situation around Marco Rossi now less clear than it was a few days ago, this is another way the Flyers can infuse the roster with star power.

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Sabres To Use Bills Stadium Facilities For Decentralized Draft

The NHL will hold the first – and possibly only – decentralized draft at the end of June, which is similar in structure to the annual NFL Drafts where each team’s management remains in their respective towns and calls in their picks to a central location, which this year will be in Los Angeles, CA. For this occasion, the Buffalo Sabres will be using the draft room facilities of their NFL counterpart, the Buffalo Bills, for the Draft on June 27th and 28th at Highmark Stadium. 

“The synergies between the Sabres and Bills are genuine and we are well positioned for the new NHL draft process by utilizing the space and experience at One Bills Drive for our Sabres draft this season,” Sabres and Bills Chief Operating Officer Pete Guelli said in a press release. “There’s a strong relationship between both staffs which has made the process seamless and we are grateful to be able to take advantage of an environment that’s been tested and proven on a large scale. Utilizing the Bills' draft room will also allow us to see what works best and what we can implement to enhance our capabilities even more for future drafts.”

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The Sabres are expected to have all of their managerial and scouting staff in Orchard Park, including general manager Kevyn Adams, newly hired senior advisor Jarmo Kekalainen, the Sabres and Rochester Americans coaching staffs, and members of the analytics, scouting, and development departments. 

It is very possible that this decentralized draft may be a one shot deal. There are indicators that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is not a fan of the new setup based on statements made to the media, and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this year that the league may return to a centralized draft as part of a setup similar to Majorr League Baseball’s Winter Meetings, with the NHL Awards, the Draft and the beginning of free agency will all be held in the same location. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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Former Penguins' Assistant Joins Blackhawks' Coaching Staff

It appears that Mike Sullivan - who departed as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Apr. 28 and subsequently joined the New York Rangers as their new bench boss - isn't the only former Penguins' coach to land a new gig for the 2025-26 season.

On Monday, longtime Penguins' assistant coach Mike Vellucci joined the Chicago Blackhawks as an assistant coach, officially ending his tenure with Pittsburgh.

Vellucci initially joined the Penguins' organization as head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins - Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - prior to the 2019-20 season. He was then brought on as an assistant for the NHL club the following season, and he remained in that post from 2020-25. 

Nov 19, 2022; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan and assistant coach Mike Vellucci discuss a play during a break action against the Winnipeg Jets in the third period at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

A former player who appeared in two NHL games with the Hartford Whalers, Vellucci began coaching - with a general management stint sandwiched in the middle - in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Plymouth Whalers from 2001-14.

He then joined the Carolina Hurricanes as assistant general manager and director of player development for the next three seasons before coaching the Charlotte Checkers - then Carolina's AHL affiliate but now affiliated with the Florida Panthers - from 2017-19. 

He won a Calder Cup with the Checkers in 2019 before joining the Penguins' organization the following season. As an assistant with Pittsburgh, Vellucci was responsible for coaching the penalty killing and forward units.

He will occupy that same role with the Blackhawks. 

Insider Provides New Updates On Penguins' Coaching SearchInsider Provides New Updates On Penguins' Coaching SearchThe Pittsburgh Penguins are still searching for their new head coach after moving from longtime bench boss Mike Sullivan following the completion of the 2024-25 season. 

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!       

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Sabres Lose Rights On Three Prospects

NHL clubs had until 5 pm on Sunday to sign prospects drafted from the OHL, WHL, or QMJHL at the 2023 NHL Draft or players selected from European leagues (other than the KHL) in 2021 or they would lose their exclusive rights to them. The Buffalo Sabres had three players that met that criteria and failed to sign forwards Ethan Miedema, Viljami Marjala, and William Von Barnekow.  

Miedema was selected 109th overall at the NHL Draft in Nashville. The 20-year-old scored 41 points in 2024 with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenac, and this season averaged nearly a point per game (23 goals, 34 assists in 66 games). The 6’4”, 212 lb. winger might have a chance at getting redrafted, since the league is shifting towards bigger players if they can keep up with the pace of the NHL. 

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Marjala was selected in the fifth round in 2021 after playing for the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. After another season in Quebec, he returned to his native Finland and scored 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 60 games in 2023-24 for TPS Turku. The 22-year-old had another good offensive year in Liiga and tied for his club’s scoring lead with 52 points (8 goals, 44 assists) in 54 games, but there was clearly not a great deal of interest from the Sabres or from Marjala in him coming to North America. 

Von Barnekow came out of the SHL’s Malmö Redhawks junior system and averaged over a point per game in his draft year and the following year at the junior level, but the 6’3”, 190 lb. center has not generated any significant offensive production in three SHL seasons (14 goals, 14 assists in 137 games).

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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MLB Power Rankings: Tigers climb back to No. 1 behind Tarik Skubal, Phillies stumble to start June

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, the Dodgers are apparently doing a spin-off of "Final Destination," Ryan Yarbrough is the Yankees' savior, Cal Raleigh can't stop hitting home runs, Jac Caglianone is finally here, the Rockies continue to make history in the wrong ways, and much more.

Let’s get started!

(Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook)

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  • Christopher Crawford
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Rankings are from the morning of Monday, June 2.

1) Detroit Tigers ⬆️

Last week: 2

The stingy Tigers are back in the No. 1 spot after allowing a total of 11 runs over their last seven games. They’ve surrendered one run or fewer in five of those games. Tarik Skubal finished off the month of May with scoreless innings on Saturday against the Royals. He struck out 59 batters and walked just two while posting a 2.20 ERA in May.
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2) Chicago Cubs ⬆️

Last week: 6

Only Red Sox designated hitter Rafael Devers has driven in more thanks than Pete Crow-Armstrong (28) over the past 30 days. The dynamic center fielder also went golfing last week.

3) New York Mets

Last week: 3

After a bit of a stumble, the Mets went 7-2 on their homestand while taking care of business against the dregs of the majors in the White Sox and the Rockies. We saw a first on Sunday, as Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Juan Soto all homered in the same game. Up next for the Mets, an important showdown against the next team in our rankings.

4) Los Angeles Dodgers

Last week: 4

The Dodgers are leading the league in bathroom-related injuries this season. After Freddie Freeman had a mishap in the shower with his surgically-repaired ankle in April, Mookie Betts suffered a fracture in his toe last week after banging it into the wall as he walked into the bathroom in the dark. It's time we give Shohei Ohtani a security detail for his trips to the bathroom.

5) Philadelphia Phillies ⬇️

Last week: 1

The Phillies’ reign in the top spot didn’t last long, as they’ve lost four straight games, including a sweep at the hands of the Brewers over the weekend. Bryce Harper has been out of the lineup since being hit in the elbow by a Spencer Strider pitch last Tuesday, but he’s hopeful to return to start the week.

6) New York Yankees ⬇️

Last week: 3

What an unsung hero Ryan Yarbrough has been. The southpaw helped the Yankees avoid a sweep on Sunday with six innings of one-run ball against the Dodgers. He’s now 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA and a 24/5 K/BB ratio over five starts this season.

7) San Diego Padres ⬆️

Last week: 10

Manny Machado hit his seventh homer of the season as part of Sunday’s 6-4 win over the Pirates. The 32-year-old is now up to 349 career homers and 1,965 career hits. Some significant milestones are approaching for the future Hall of Famer.

8) San Francisco Giants ⬇️

Last week: 7

Camilo Doval lost his grip on the closer role last season, ceding way to Ryan Walker, but the 27-year-old officially got the gig back last week. While his strikeouts have fallen this season, he’s sporting a microscopic 1.04 ERA through 27 appearances.

9) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 11

The Cardinals turned their season around by going 19-8 in May, but they’ll have to get by without the hot-hitting Jordan Walker, who hit the injured list this weekend due to left wrist inflammation.

10) Seattle Mariners ⬇️

Last week: 8

Cal Raleigh just became the first catcher ever to each 20 home runs before the end of May. "Big Dumper" added another one on Sunday to start the month of June on a strong note. He leads the majors with 23 homers and would probably be the AL MVP favorite if not for that Aaron Judge fellow.

11) Houston Astros ⬆️

Last week: 13

It appeared that Yordan Alvarez was approaching his return from the injured list, but the Astros will have to wait a bit longer after the club found a “very small fracture” in his right hand. The injury is said to be about 60 percent healed, but the timeline for his return is uncertain.

12) Cleveland Guardians

Last week: 12

Help is on the way for the Guardians. David Fry made his return from elbow surgery this weekend and Shane Bieber made his first minor league rehab start on Saturday as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery. Bieber should be ready to rejoin Cleveland’s rotation around the end of the month.

13) Milwaukee Brewers ⬆️

Last week: 19

The Brewers pulled off their first sweep of the Phillies in 10 years this weekend and have now won seven straight games. Christian Yelich has been raking of late, including a two-homer game on Friday, but he was forced to exit Sunday's game after being hit in the right hand by a pitch. Fortunately, X-rays came back negative and it doesn't look like a long-term issue.

14) Minnesota Twins ⬇️

Last week: 9

Carlos Correa had appeared in 1,157 games in the majors before his first ejection in Saturday’s game against the Mariners.

While the Twins lost two out of three this weekend, Correa has at least picked things up at the plate since returning from the 7-day concussion injured list. He’s hitting .300/.364/.667 with three homers, two doubles, and five RBI in nine games.

15) Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️

Last week: 22

The Blue Jays just pulled off a four-game sweep of the Athletics. With his go-ahead three-run homer Sunday against the A’s, Addison Barger is slashing .310/.381/.575 with five homers and 15 RBI over the past 30 days. By the way, check out the average exit velocity leaders in MLB.

Oneil Cruz - 97.3 mph

Shohei Ohtani - 95.8 mph

Aaron Judge - 95.6 mph

ADDISON BARGER - 95.1 mph

16) Kansas City Royals ⬇️

Last week: 14

The Royals are last in the majors in home runs by a wide margin, but they’ll get a much-needed power boost with last year’s first-round pick Jac Caglianone reportedly on his way to the majors. The 22-year-old holds a .292/.358/.517 batting line with 17 homers through 79 minor league games, including six in his recent 12-games stretch in Triple-A.

This is going to be fun.

17) Atlanta Braves ⬇️

Last week: 16

The Braves are 3-8 since moving to one game over .500 on May 18. So far, the returns of Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. aren’t working out as hoped.

18) Tampa Bay Rays ⬇️

Last week: 15

It came as somewhat of a surprise to see the Rays demote speedster Chandler Simpson last week, as he was hitting .285 with 19 steals through just 35 games. It would be one thing if that game-changing speed also resulted in him being an elite center fielder, but that simply wasn’t the case. He posted -5 defensive runs saved during his time in the majors. With no power in his bat, it is a difficult needle to thread in terms of value.

19) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬇️

Last week: 18

Things are getting increasingly ugly for the Diamondbacks. A day after Brandon Pfaddt was rocked for eight runs without recording an out against the Nationals, Corbin Burnes was forced to exit Sunday’s start due to elbow discomfort.

20) Boston Red Sox ⬇️

Last week: 17

Garrett Crochet has been everything the Red Sox hoped for and more. He spun another gem Sunday against the Red Sox, and now holds a 1.98 ERA through 13 starts. Of course, that hasn’t stopped the Red Sox from being one of the most disappointing teams this season. The Roman Anthony watch continues.

21) Texas Rangers

Last week: 21

The Rangers’ pitching has exceeded expectations this season (AL-best 3.10), but their lack of offense has kept them outside of the playoff picture so far. Perhaps nobody has exemplified this dynamic more than Adolis Garcia, who owns a shocking .208/.256/.371 batting line through 56 games. He was benched for the third straight game on Sunday as the Rangers try to get him right again.

22) Cincinnati Reds ⬇️

Last week: 20

Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz learned of the death of his sister, Genelis De La Cruz Sanchez, on Saturday but he chose to be in the lineup on Sunday against the Cubs. In addition to honoring her memory on his hat and his cleats, she was front of mind for him as he rounded the bases after hitting a home run.

23) Washington Nationals ⬆️

Last week: 24

James Wood continues to be red-hot, with three homers over the past week as the Nationals flirt with the .500 mark. His spray chart (from Baseball Savant) remains a joy to track.

jameswood.jpg

24) Los Angeles Angels ⬇️

Last week: 23

Mike Trout was activated from the injured list on Friday and has been batting fifth and even sixth for some reason?

25) Athletics

Last week: 25

The Athletics served up 56 home runs and 110 walks over 28 games in the month of May, resulting in a 6.88 ERA. It’s going to be a long summer in Sacramento.

26) Miami Marlins

Last week: 26

The Marlins got two key contributors back this weekend and they each made instant impacts. Xavier Edwards tied a franchise record with a five-hit day on Sunday and Dane Myers made this sensational catch to help preserve a 1-0 lead on Saturday.

27) Baltimore Orioles ⬆️

Last week: 28

Coby Mayo’s first MLB RBI was lost in the shuffle of a bizarre baserunning incident which led to benches clearing at Camden Yards. I can’t be the only one who flashed back to A-Rod slapping the ball out of Jason Varitek’s hand, no?

28) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬇️

Last week: 27

Andrew McCutchen clubbed his 240th home run as a member of the Pirates on Sunday, tying him with Roberto Clemente for third on the all-time franchise list. Willie Stargell and Ralph Kiner are probably out reach, but McCutchen continues to carve out his place as a franchise icon.

29) Chicago White Sox

Last week: 29

Acquired as part of the Garrett Crochet deal, prospect catcher Kyle Teel put up a .333/.444/.613 batting line in May at Triple-A Charlotte as he inches closer to his MLB debut. Edgar Quero is doing a nice job since his call-up, so this is a nice problem for the White Sox to have as they move ahead in their rebuilding process.

30) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 30

**Narrator’s voice: It didn’t happen**

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Ortiz gets candid on idea of Devers moving to first base

Ortiz gets candid on idea of Devers moving to first base originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Rafael Devers has channeled his inner David Ortiz with his recent performance as the Boston Red Sox’ designated hitter, though he has yet to emulate the Hall of Famer in the field.

Ortiz played 278 games as a first baseman in his illustrious 20-year career. Devers, on the other hand, called out the Red Sox front office after being asked to move from DH to first in the wake of Triston Casas’ season-ending injury.

The difference is that Devers already reluctantly moved from third base to DH before the season. The three-time All-Star took issue with the team asking him to return to the infield after telling him to put his glove away.

How would Ortiz have approached Devers’ situation? Speaking at his charity golf event — the David Ortiz Soiree of Hearts — on Monday, Big Papi weighed in on Devers’ refusal to play first base.

“If I was him, I would have put myself available for anything, but that was me,” Ortiz said. “He was a third baseman that was asked to be a DH. Now, all of a sudden, you want him to play first base. You have to give him some time to learn, if he wants to, because he’s doing great as the DH. I don’t want to mess that up. I mean, you’re leading the league in RBIs. …

“So, we cannot just crush a guy every time we feel like. We need to know that he is an important piece for this organization. He is doing what he was asked (to do). But yeah, I think he should just think about what’s better for the organization, him at first or him at DH, and go from there. But we have to give him some time.”

At this point, it would be wise to leave Devers alone. He entered Monday slashing .286/.408/.515 with 12 homers and an MLB-leading 52 RBI in 61 games. His plate discipline has significantly improved as he leads the American League with 47 walks.

Plus, first base has been in good hands as of late with Abraham Toro. The under-the-radar offseason signing has recently provided a spark at the plate and is hitting .310 with three homers in 18 games.

Boston gained another first base option on Monday with Romy Gonzalez’s activation from the injured list. Rookie second baseman Kristian Campbell has taken practice reps at first base and was scheduled to make his first career start at the position on Sunday, but manager Alex Cora opted to keep Toro’s bat in the lineup.

As for Devers, it’s unlikely he’ll be asked to put on a glove again this season. It’s worth noting, however, that he took grounders (at shortstop, for some reason) before Monday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels.

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NHL 25 Playable On PC Via Xbox Cloud Gaming

 NHL 25 has been available to play on PC for several weeks, here is what you need to know. 

The game can be played via Cloud Gaming on the Xbox app on PC for those who have purchased the Ultimate Game Pass.

The ultimate Game Pass costs $19.99 per month and gives players access to a library of games. 

Cloud Gaming works by streaming the game through the cloud instead of downloading which can result in ping discrepancies and lag. 

With EA SPORTS NHL reportedly having no plans of bringing the game to PC anytime soon this is the best PC players can do.  The last NHL game to receive a PC release was NHL 09.

Cloud gaming only allows one player and account at one time, and requires a controller.

This also allows players to play NHL 25 via mobile consoles like Legion Go or Steam Deck.

More information on Xbox and PC Cloud Gaming can be found here.  

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed. For gaming discussion check out our forum.         

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Pacers reserve forward Jarace Walker out at least first two games of NBA Finals due to right ankle injury

Just about everything went right for Indiana in its series-clinching Game 6 win against New York Saturday night. The one thing that didn't: reserve big man Jarace Walker had to be helped off the court following a gruesome ankle injury at the start of the fourth quarter.

Unsurprisingly, he will be out for at least the first two games of the NBA Finals, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said on 107.5 The Fan on Monday.

That means the earliest he could return is at home for Game 3 on June 11. However, after witnessing the injury, it would not be a surprise if Walker misses more time than that.

Walker's absence does not impact Indiana's core big-man rotation. Against the Knicks he only got on the court in Games 5 and 6, playing a total of 20 minutes. Stil, it sucks for Walker personally and takes one lineup tweak Carlisle could use off the board.

The NBA Finals begin Thursday in Oklahoma City.

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Two Former Canadiens Appear On The Never Offside Podcast

Anyone who follows Montreal Canadiens players’ wives and girlfriends on social media will tell you that they, too, form a bit of a team. They look like a tight-knit group, and it’s always been the case. In the playoffs this year, they all wore custom jackets. A few years ago, Carey Price’s wife, Angela, and Jeff Patry’s wife, Julie, started a clothing line together, and this season, the latter started a podcast called Never Offside with Tyler Toffoli’s wife, Cat.

In the latest episode of Never Offside, the ladies welcomed their husbands to the show and chatted about various topics. Early on, both players texted Cole Caufield to see who he would text or call back first. It took over 20 minutes, but he called Toffoli first, prompting laughs and the conclusion that he likes him better.

 Canadiens: Potential First Round Pick - Malcolm Spence
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Among the stories told was the explanation of how Petry ended up with bloodshot eyes in the playoffs in 2021, and it’s a perfect example of how tough hockey players are. In the series against the Winnipeg Jets, the defenseman was hit by Paul Stastny and unfortunately put his finger through the camera hole on the boards, breaking his finger. At the hospital, he was told he could have an operation on it that would end his playoffs, or have it put in a cast and try to play like that. Being a hockey player, he chose the second option, but as they held the finger in place to put on the cast, he passed out from the pain. It was so painful that he had his breath when he came too, and he held it so hard that all of the blood vessels in his face blew.

Petry also shared his craziest on-the-road story, and it was a good one, from this season with the Detroit Red Wings, during a road trip where traveling had been hell due to a snowstorm. The team had to make an emergency landing to let him off. The defenseman has a severe peanut allergy, and after eating soup on a flight, his throat got scratchy; he injected his EpiPen, which solved nothing. He was then given a second shot, which didn’t resolve the issue. There was a third shot available on the plane, but they told him that if they gave it to him, he could have a heart issue. Petry was devastated to make the trip from hell take even longer, but he had no choice.

While Petry didn’t leave the Canadiens in the best circumstances (he requested a trade since his family had moved back to the USA during the pandemic), he was an essential part of the Montreal defense corps for eight seasons. In the 508 games he played in Montreal, he scored 248 points and had to fulfill the responsibilities of a first defenseman through Shea Weber’s numerous injuries.

As for Toffoli, he spent less than two seasons in Montreal but quickly became a fan favourite, scoring 70 points in 89 games. He was also a key part of the Canadiens’ attack during the 2021 Stanley Cup run, contributing 14 points in 22 games. Kent Hughes' trade of him to the Flames in February 2022 marked the starting point of the Canadiens’ rebuild. In return for Toffoli, Hughes got Tyler Pitlick, Emil Heineman, a conditional first-round pick in 2022 (which became Filip Mesar), and a fifth-round pick at the 2025 draft.

The hour-long episode was worth a listen, with both Petry and Toffoli telling some interesting stories. If you want a good laugh, you can take a look at Petry’s combine picture, which was mentioned in the episode. Let’s say that he had quite the hairstyle…

Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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The Wraparound: Have The Oilers And Panthers Changed The Importance Of Regular-Season Results?

As time ticks down to the Stanley Cup final, the Wraparound is here with more rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics.

Have The Oilers And Panthers Changed The Importance Of Regular-Season Results? by The WraparoundHave The Oilers And Panthers Changed The Importance Of Regular-Season Results? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: Have the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers changed people’s perspective on the NHL’s regular season?

4:22: Who do the Oilers need to step up the most in the absence of Zach Hyman?

8:57: Can Alexander Barkov become the all-time leader in Selke Trophy wins?

10:52: Has Pete DeBoer’s confidence in Jake Oettinger changed after his performance in the Western Conference final?

16:30 Will Easton Cowan go down as one of the best London Knights players ever?

20:00: Could the Toronto Maple Leafs approach Morgan Rielly about potentially facilitating a trade this summer?

22:20: Did the Tampa Bay Lightning make a good long-term bet by extending Yanni Gourde?

24:05: Breaking down the players and personnel involved in the second season of Faceoff: Inside The NHL

26:22: What value will Jarmo Kekalainen bring to the Buffalo Sabres?

28:31: Should the Montreal Canadiens' Ivan Demidov be the front-runner to win the Calder Trophy for the 2025-26 season?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

iHeartRadio

Amazon

Promo image credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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'We're Right There': Gourde And Lightning Believe Championship Window Has Not Closed

The Tampa Bay Lightning's “winning culture” played a large part in one of their top pending UFAs sticking around for the long term with a significantly lower cap hit.

The Lightning re-signed Yanni Gourde to a six-year contract worth $2.33 million per season.

Gourde had an average annual value of $5,166,667 on his six-year contract that expires this summer. The Lightning had less than $6 million in cap space for next season, with 19 of 23 active roster spots filled.

The 33-year-old’s production is also not the same as when he signed his last contract extension in November 2018. He tallied a career-high 25 goals and 64 points in 82 games in 2017-18, his first full season in the NHL. He’s hit 48 points three times since then, but not more. This year, he had 31 points in 57 games.

But Gourde was part of the team's back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021, and he doesn’t think their competitive window is closed.

“We want to win – I think we’re right there,” Gourde said in Monday’s press conference. “I’m so excited for the future and what’s coming.”

The undrafted center played parts of his first six NHL seasons with the Lightning.

Ahead of the 2021-22 season, the Seattle Kraken claimed him in their expansion draft. Gourde had four years remaining on his expiring six-year contract worth $5.17 million annually.

However, he returned to the Lightning two days before the trade deadline when they acquired him and right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand in a three-team trade with the Kraken and Detroit Red Wings. Tampa GM Julien BriseBois traded Michael Eyssimont, two first-round picks and a second-rounder for the former Kraken forwards.

The Saint-Narcisse, Que., native shared how excited he was to return to the Lightning and that Tampa was always at the top of his list, whether it’s a trade or a contract in free agency.

“I love Tampa,” Gourde said. “That was the biggest thing for me, getting some term… And play in Tampa for the remaining years of my career.”

Yanni Gourde (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

In 21 regular-season games with the Lightning this season, Gourde recorded one goal and 13 assists while averaging 17 minutes of ice time. In the playoffs, he recorded one helper in five games against the Florida Panthers. Gourde also had six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 36 games with the Kraken this year.

The Lightning made a similar transaction in the 2024 off-season to re-acquire defenseman Ryan McDonagh. Like Gourde, he was a key piece of Tampa’s back-to-back championships.

Although those two players are back in Tampa Bay, the Lightning made a difficult decision last year by letting their longtime captain, Steven Stamkos, hit free agency. The 35-year-old signed with the Nashville Predators instead, while the Lightning traded for the rights to 30-year-old Jake Guentzel and signed him to a seven-year contract worth $9 million annually.

They also traded defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for blueliner J.J. Moser, prospect Conor Geekie, a 2024 seventh-round draft pick and a 2025 second-rounder.

Although the Lightning lost in the first round to the Florida Panthers for the second straight year, they finished second in the Atlantic Division for the first time since 2019-20.

The Lightning also have a core of Brayden Point, Guentzel, Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli under contract through at least 2030. Gourde and defenseman Erik Cernak are also part of that group, while captain Victor Hedman and left winger Nick Paul are signed through 2028-29. Superstar right winger Nikita Kucherov still has two seasons left on his contract, while goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has three years left.

Tampa Bay appears to have the parts in place to continue to strive for the Stanley Cup championship. Now, they just have to execute on that.

“The culture is the same culture that we had when we won,” Gourde said.

Jonathan Tovell contributed to this report.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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The Rangers' Reported Interest In JJ Peterka During Trade Deadline Leads To Speculation Heading Into Offseason

Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

If JJ Peterka is in play this summer, the New York Rangers should certainly pursue him. 

During the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, rumors began to circulate about potential negotiations between the Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres regarding Peterka.

Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News first reported at the time that the Rangers were among the teams trying to acquire Peterka from the Sabres.

NHL insider Frank Seravalli added the Rangers had “advanced discussions” with the Sabres involving the availability of Peterka.

The Rangers Repordedly Made A Massive Trade Offer For JJ PeterkaThe Rangers Repordedly Made A Massive Trade Offer For JJ PeterkaThe New York Rangers were reportedly closer to acquiring JJ Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres than many people may actually realize. 

However, The Athletic’s Arthur Staple countered these two reports after stating that the Rangers were not in on Peterka.

Ultimately, Peterka wasn’t traded at the deadline, but there still seems to be speculation of a potential move this upcoming offseason. 

The 23-year-old is set to become a restricted free agent and the Rangers have some options if the team wants to acquire the young forward. 

If he becomes available via trade, the Rangers certainly contain enough assets to acquire him and trading for Peterka would follow the organization's recent mantra to get younger but remain competitive and not go into a full-fledged rebuild. 

If Peterka does not agree to a contract extension by July 1, the Rangers can also offer sheet him in hopes the Sabres don’t match that offer. 

Peterka is a player who’s continuing to improve each season and beginning to blossom into a real quality forward. 

He has All-Star potential written all over him, which is why the Rangers would be foolish not to at least explore the options of bringing him on board to The Big Apple.

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David Ortiz says leave Red Sox DH Rafael Devers alone on decision to play 1B

NEWTON, Mass. — The Boston Red Sox should just leave designated hitter Rafael Devers alone and let him decide if he wants to start playing first base, Hall of Famer David Ortiz told The Associated Press.

The Red Sox signed Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120-million contract in spring training and told Devers he was going to be the fulltime DH.

That was, until first baseman Triston Casas was lost for the season after rupturing a tendon in his left knee and undergoing surgery in early May.

Speaking at his charity golf tournament — the David Ortiz Soiree of Hearts — the former Red Sox slugger said any move should be up to Devers.

“He’s doing great as the DH. They asked for it, and he’s doing great as the DH,” Ortiz said. “Once (the) Casas situation goes down … In people’s minds, it was: ‘Devers goes to first and (Masataka) Yoshida goes to DH and we are a better team’. Yeah, that’s what you put in your mind. But guess what? The kid was asked in a spring training to just hit and now all of a sudden you want to switch him over. It takes time.”

The 49-year-old Ortiz, who made his way to the Hall as mainly a DH, didn’t say Devers shouldn’t make the switch, but any choice should come after he learns the position.

“I will say this: At one point, if Devers would like to practice at first base, and would like to go back to playing the whole defense thing, that is all on him,” said Ortiz, sitting down with the AP while signing souvenirs for golfers.

“We asked him to be the DH. Fully asked him to be the DH,” Big Papi said. “I remember that conversation in spring training. It’s a different situation and the guy’s doing great at what you asked him for. He’s giving you what you asked for, even if it wasn’t what he was agreeing on.”

During spring training, Devers initially balked at the move to DH.

Devers told the Red Sox he wasn’t interested in playing first and owner John Henry flew to Kansas City to meet with him.

After a historically poor start, Devers is batting .286 with 12 homers and a major-league leading 52 RBIs.

Ortiz said the game has changed from when he was told he was going to be mainly a DH.

“They thought I was going to fit in good at DH and play first once in a while,” he said. “Baseball was different back then. You just wanted to fit in.”

Ortiz’s golf tournament benefits the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, which raises funds that provide lifesaving heart surgeries and care for children in New England and his native country, the Dominican Republic.