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Ranking The Likelihood Of Each Maple Leafs RFA Signing A Contract Extension

Going into Wednesday, the official marking date of the NHL's free agency period, the Toronto Maple Leafs have $22.28 million in salary cap space.

While they have plenty of room to chase after UFAs, Leafs GM John Chayka has some internal business to take care of, because Toronto has four players on the roster who will be RFAs as of July 1.

Forwards Jacob Quillan, Nick Robertson, and Matias Maccelli are all pending RFAs, as is defenseman Emil Andrae, who was acquired this off-season.

Of those four players, who are all eligible for salary arbitration, here's a ranking on who is most likely to receive a qualifying offer and to be extended by the Maple Leafs ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

4. Matias Maccelli, LW

Maccelli is coming off his first season with the Maple Leafs. Last off-season, he came in a trade from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2027 draft.

In 2025-26, the Finnish left winger scored 14 goals and 39 points in 71 appearances. That was an improvement on his previous campaign in Utah, when he put up just eight goals and 18 points in 55 games.

The 25-year-old is yet to reach the numbers he set in his second and third years in the NHL. Specifically in his third NHL season, in 2023-24 with the Arizona Coyotes, Maccelli set a career-high with 17 goals and 57 points, showing signs of a top-six forward.

Though last year was an improvement for him from the season prior, there's certainly room to improve for the playmaker.

There was a nine-game span in which Maccelli did not feature for the Maple Leafs, as he was a healthy scratch for a portion of the campaign.

Before that time in the press box, Maccelli played 22 games and had four goals and nine points. Since being reintroduced into Toronto's lineup on Dec. 20, his scoring consistency improved as he registered 10 goals and 30 points in his final 50 games of the year.

Maccelli previously earned $3.425 million against the salary cap on what was a three-year contract. A qualifying offer for him would cost $4.11 million.

Maple Leafs GM John Chayka Leaves Door Open On Goaltending Upgrade Ahead Of NHL Free Agency, What About Sergei Bobrovsky?Maple Leafs GM John Chayka Leaves Door Open On Goaltending Upgrade Ahead Of NHL Free Agency, What About Sergei Bobrovsky?Maple Leafs GM John Chayka isn't ruling out a goaltending upgrade before July 1 and with $22 million in cap space and Sergei Bobrovsky hitting the open market. Maple Leafs GM John Chayka isn't ruling out a goaltending upgrade before July 1 — and with $22 million in cap

3. Nick Robertson, LW

It's time for the Maple Leafs and Nick Robertson to go through another contract negotiation. Last season, he filed for salary arbitration. As a result, he earned a one-year deal at $1.825 million.

The 24-year-old will likely find himself signing another short-term deal when the time comes, considering the limited opportunity he's seen in the Leafs' lineup. Luckily, he's in another position to prove himself again with a new front office and head coach behind the bench.

Despite his limited role this past year, Robertson set career-highs in nearly all major categories. The 5-foot-9 left winger recorded 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 75 appearances and averaged 12:40 of ice time, all of which are personal bests.

Even with steady improvement in terms of his production and numbers each season, it's been a challenge for Robertson to find a regular spot in the lineup. Even with left winger Bobby McMann out the door and to the Seattle Kraken, Easton Cowan and 2026 first overall pick Gavin McKenna are expected to have roles on the NHL roster next season. 

And that's without mentioning Matthew Knies, William Nylander, Dakota Joshua and Maccelli (if re-signed) as wingers on Toronto's depth chart. If Chayka goes out and acquires another winger in free agency, that's another player to add to that list, creating a tougher path for Robertson.

Nonetheless, Robertson is a player who is capable of scoring 20 goals in the NHL.

A qualifying offer for Robertson would cost $1.825 million.

Report: Maple Leafs Interested In Reunion With Left Winger Mason MarchmentReport: Maple Leafs Interested In Reunion With Left Winger Mason MarchmentThe Toronto Maple Leafs, among "several other clubs," have shown interest in Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Mason Marchment. Acquiring the 31-year-old would mark a reunion for Marchment and the Leafs.

2. Jacob Quillan, C

Fresh off a Calder Cup-winning campaign with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, Quillan will be looking to jump right back into contention for the NHL lineup next year.

Quillan, 24, featured in about a quarter of the Maple Leafs' games this past regular season. He finished the year with one goal and three points in 23 contests for Toronto, with two of his points coming in the final two outings of the campaign, including his first NHL goal in Game 81.

Considering Quillan doesn't have much NHL experience - playing just 24 career games in the league - it wouldn't be very challenging, expensive or inconvenient for the Leafs to re-sign him. After all, he's filled in as a bottom-six center who can take shifts on the penalty kill and is relatively responsible behind the puck.

Are The Marlies Staff, Players Destined For Maple Leafs And NHL Roles?: Comparing This Year's Marlies To The 2018 Calder Cup ChampionsAre The Marlies Staff, Players Destined For Maple Leafs And NHL Roles?: Comparing This Year's Marlies To The 2018 Calder Cup ChampionsWith the Toronto Marlies advancing to the Calder Cup final, how does this team compare to the 2018 Calder Cup champions, and what staff members or players are destined for the NHL?

Most of his time was in the minors this past year. He contributed 14 goals and 36 points in 40 regular-season games, followed by three goals and nine points in 19 post-season affairs.

The Maple Leafs signed Quillan to a two-year contract in April 2024 after he went undrafted. That contract came after his third season with Quinnipiac University, when he provided 17 goals and 46 points in 39 NCAA games.

That deal saw the 6-foot-1 center earn $875,000 against the salary cap each year. With that, it would cost the Maple Leafs $850,000 to qualify Quillan. 

1. Emil Andrae, D

Andrae seems like the most likely pending RFA to sign a contract with the Maple Leafs. He hasn't played a minute for Toronto, but the Maple Leafs acquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers, along with Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit.

In that trade, along with Andrae and a 2026 third-rounder (which was used to select goaltender Juuso Ainasto), was also goalie Samuel Ersson, who was also a pending RFA. Ersson ended up getting moved to the Ottawa Senators for a 2027 fifth-round pick.

Why The Maple Leafs Traded Goaltender Samuel Ersson To SenatorsWhy The Maple Leafs Traded Goaltender Samuel Ersson To SenatorsHere's why the Toronto Maple Leafs flipped the rights to goaltender Samuel Ersson to the Ottawa Senators just 10 days after acquiring him from the Philadelphia Flyers.

Nonetheless, because Andrae was practically the main piece of that return from the Flyers, Chayka must have plans to sign the Swedish defenseman to a contract this summer.

The 5-foot-9 blueliner played 64 NHL games last season for Philadelphia. In that span, he scored two goals and 13 points while averaging 15:20 of ice time. Andrae had the second-best plus-minus rating with a plus-15, only behind left winger Noah Cates' plus-26.

He also featured in four playoff games out of the Flyers' 10 post-season contests, providing one assist and averaging 11:05 of ice time per game. 

Andrae, 24, is set to hang around the bottom pair or a seventh-defenseman role with the Leafs next season, as Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Darren Raddysh, Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe all sit ahead of him on the depth chart.

Regardless, it's expected that Toronto inks Andrae eventually. He's coming off his three-year entry-level contract, which paid him $903,333 against the salary cap. It would cost the Maple Leafs $874,125 to give Andrae a qualifying offer.

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NHL Insider Reveals Flyers Big Dan Vladar Contract Extension

In two days, the Philadelphia Flyers will lock down their starting goalie for another five years, finally finding some security between the pipes.

On Sunday, TSN NHL insider Pierre Lebrun reported that the Flyers and Dan Vladar have agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $27.5 million ($5.5 million AAV), with some final details, likely to be pay structure or trade protection, still to be ironed out.

The Flyers, Vladar, and his camp have plenty of time to work that out, as the extension cannot officially be signed, sealed, and delivered until Wednesday, July 1, anyway.

Vladar's new contract was consistent with my reporting from last month, when the expectation was a five-year deal worth somewhere between $5- and $5.5 million annually.

Of note, Vladar still has one year remaining on his current contract at a $3.35 million cap hit, and his new contract extension will officially begin next July 1.

The 28-year-old Czech netminder will turn 29 on Aug. 20, which means that, next year, Vladar will play his first game on the new extension at the age of 30.

That will invariably carry some risk for the Flyers, who now have Vladar signed until he's 34 years old.

But, so long as Joseph Woll lives up to expectations, plays to his potential, and stays healthy, the Flyers will be able to preserve Vladar and run an efficient platoon in goal.

It helps, too, that the Flyers just drafted Martin Psohlavec and Marek Sklenicka in the 2026 NHL Draft, adding two more promising prospects to a goalie prospect group that also features Carson Bjarnason, Aleksei Kolosov, and Egor Zavragin.

Vladar figures to be the first of many re-signings in Philadelphia in the coming days and weeks, as the Flyers also need to extend forward Trevor Zegras, defenseman Jamie Drysdale, and winger Nikita Grebenkin, among other players.

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Grading Chicago Blackhawks' 2026 NHL Draft Class

The Chicago Blackhawks have been a team involved in all sorts of NHL conversations over the last couple of weeks. 

That has to do with a big transaction that they made, along with some of the selections that they made in the 2026 NHL Draft. 

Originally, the Chicago Blackhawks held the 4th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, but they traded it to the Buffalo Sabres in a deal that acquired them defenseman Bowen Byram. 

At first, the move was met with criticism. They also had to give up pick 45 and Louis Crevier to acquire Byram. After some reflection and seeing what the Sabres did in the draft, it is clear that the Blackhawks made a move that will help their organization more than it hurts it. 

With the 4th overall pick in the draft, Buffalo selected defenseman Daxon Rudolph. That was a shock, as he was expected to be the fifth blue-liner taken. 

The Blackhawks believe that Byram will be a more impactful player over the next 8 years than whoever they would have gotten at four, and they feel the need to take a step in 2026-27. Byram will help them do that more than any prospect at the same position.

The Blackhawks then made two selections in the second round. First, they took Xavier Villeneuve with the 34th overall pick. This prospect had first-round grades for some scouts, and the Blackhawks made a great choice with him early in the second. 

Villenueve is a slightly undersized defenseman, but he skates incredibly well and has undeniable puck-handling skills. It's trendy to compare defenders with his overall type to Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens, especially since he's going to Boston University next year, but the profiles are similar. 

Obviously, a lot of development will be required for him to reach that ceiling, but the tools are there. If he were two inches taller, which isn't much in the grand scheme of things, he would have been taken much higher. 

One selection later, the Chicago Blackhawks traded up from 37 to 35 to make back-to-back selections. With the pick, they took forward Ryan Roobroeck, who was once a top-ten prospect in an issue of The Hockey News. 

Kyle Davidson confirmed that there was no intel that Roobroeck would have been off the board by his original pick of 37, but he felt that giving up pick 119 was worth it to make sure he got the player he wanted in Roobroeck. 

This is a power forward who moves well for a big kid, has a physical element to his game, and can score goals. His compete level has been questioned in the past, but good coaching and hungry players around him should allow that to be a non-issue. 

In the 3rd round, 66th overall, the Blackhawks selected defenseman Samu Alalauri. This is a player who leaves a lot to be desired offensively with his production, but his defensive game has a lot of promise. 

Alalauri is always in the right spot, and he makes great breakout passes to exit his zone. These skills make it seem like there is a chance that he can develop some offense in his game, but it will never come at the expense of his defense. 

After this third pick of the second day, over three hours of real time passed before the Blackhawks got back on the clock. They made two seventh-round picks in defenseman Alexander Ivanov and forward William Sorbrand. 

When the draft concluded, Director of Amateur Scouting Mike Doneghey said that skating was the most important attribute they look for when they make selections this late in the draft. Everyone is a lottery ticket at this stage, so they look for the ones who are good at skating, which is the most important component for a hockey player. 

Draft Grade: A

The Chicago Blackhawks get a solid A for this draft class, including the Bowen Byram trade. Instead of using an early selection in a weak draft for a player who might be good, they landed Byram, who is absolutely great. 

In the second round, they took two players with high ceilings and low floors. If one or both of them hit, this draft will already be a win. There is great upside to Alalauri, who would fit in well as a third-pair guy in a few years. 

The seventh round picks can't really be truly judged just days after the draft, because the odds are that every player in that round doesn't make it. However, a gem comes out now and again, just ask Louis Crevier. 

The team gets an A for making a bold trade that is likely to add a number one defenseman for years to come, and volume in potential when it comes to prospects post-first round. 

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Chicago Cubs history unpacked — June 29

Free of charge for the discerning reader.

Happy birthday to Frank Schwindel, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history, in 2004 – At Bank One Ballpark, the Diamondbacks’ 40-year-old fireballer Randy Johnson records his 4,000th career strikeout to become the fourth player in major league history to reach the plateau. The “Big Unit” needs fewer innings (3,237.1) than Nolan Ryan (3,844.2), Roger Clemens (4,151) or Steve Carlton (4,991.1) to accomplish the feat, and other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

Today in Cubs history:

Cubs Birthdays:Frank Schwindel*, Brooks Raley, Pedro Valdés, Bruce Kimm, John Boccabella, Bob Shaw, Bobby Morgan. Also notable: Harmon Killebrew HOF. Wilbert Robinson HOF.

Today in history:

  • 1613 – Shakespeare‘s Globe Theatre in London burns down during a performance of “Henry VIII”.
  • 1863 – George Armstrong Custer, aged 23, appointed Union Brigadier General.
  • 1940 – Batman Comics, mobsters rub out a circus highwire team known as the Flying Graysons, leaving their son Dick (Robin) an orphan.
  • 1953 – Oklahoma governor declares today “Maria Tallchief Day” in honor of Native American prima ballerina Maria Tallchief.
  • 1958 – FIFA World Cup Final, Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden: Vavá and Pelé each score two goals as Brazil defeats Sweden 5-2.
  • 1963 – Beatles’ first song “From Me to You” hits UK charts.
  • 1967 – Keith Richards is sentenced to 1 year in jail on drugs charge.
  • 1971 – Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are sentenced for a drug offense.
  • 1979 – Mascot San Diego Chicken is reborn at Jack Murphy Stadium.

*pictured.

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Detroit Tigers hit the road to take on New York Yankees this week

The Detroit Tigers failed to split their four-game weekend series against the Houston Astros on Sunday, falling 7-5 in 10 innings after taking a 3-0 lead into the seventh. Jack Flaherty gave his team five frames of shutout ball with a whopping nine strikeouts, but the trio of Tyler Holton, Kyle Finnegan and Kenley Jansen failed in their tasks out of the bullpen.

With the 10-game homestand now in the books, the Motor City Kitties hit the road for their next six matchups starting in the Bronx against the New York Yankees on Monday. Right-hander Casey Mize, who has struggled in his two games since returning from the injured list, will open things up on the mound.

The 29-year-old has put up a 6.10 ERA and 4.46 FIP over his last two starts, which includes his most recent outing against the Yankees at Comerica Park in which he surrendered four runs on eight hits (one home run) and a walk while striking out six in 5 2/3 frames of work. That stretch saw Mize add two losses to his total and extend the streak to four defeats over his last four decisions.

Up against him is left-hander Ryan Weathers, who has found a groove over his last two starts to the tune of a 1.46 ERA and 2.62 FIP stretching across 12 1/3 innings for a pair of quality starts. That includes the last time he saw the Tigers, in which the 26-year-old allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out six across six innings for his fifth win of the 2026 campaign.

Here is a look at how the two hurlers match up in the series opener on Monday night.

Detroit Tigers (35-49) vs. New York Yankees (48-35)

Time (ET): 7:05 p.m.
Place: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
SB Nation Site:Pinstripe Alley
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 85: RHP Casey Mize (2-5, 2.95 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Weathers (3-5, 3.95 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Mize1158.025.16.134.42.781.8
Weathers1586.226.96.841.44.181.1

MIZE

WEATHERS

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2026 Brewers Week in Review: Week 14

Jun 27, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA;Chicago Cubs/ designated hitter Seiya Suzuki (27) is tagged out by Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) in the seventh inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Last Week’s Results

  • Monday: Brewers 2, Reds 1
  • Tuesday: Brewers 2, Reds 0
  • Wednesday: Brewers 6, Reds 5
  • Friday: Brewers 6, Cubs 2
  • Saturday: Cubs 8, Brewers 2
  • Sunday: Cubs 4, Brewers 3

Division Standings

  • Milwaukee Brewers: 50-31
  • Chicago Cubs: 46-38 (5.5 GB)
  • St. Louis Cardinals 43-38 (7.0 GB)
  • Pittsburgh Pirates: 42-42 (9.5 GB)
  • Cincinnati Reds: 39-43 (11.5 GB)

Last Week

  • Brewers: 4-2
  • Cubs: 6-1
  • Cardinals: 2-4
  • Pirates: 3-3
  • Reds: 2-4

Top Pitching Performance of the Week

The Brewers weren’t short on solid pitching performances this week, so we’ll make this a “Brandon” award for Brandon Sproat and Brandon Woodruff. Sproat went six scoreless frames with just one hit and one hit batter while striking out 10 in a strong showing against the Reds, while Woodruff made a pair of scoreless starts, totaling 11 2/3 innings against the Reds and Cubs with 16 strikeouts and just two hits and two walks allowed. Those two helped contribute to this crazy pitching stat:

Honorable mentions go to Shane Drohan (4 1/3 scoreless innings in his start), Trevor Megill (four scoreless innings over four appearances), Abner Uribe (4 2/3 scoreless innings over four appearances), Jacob Misiorowski (six innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts), and Kyle Harrison (five innings of two-run ball with nine strikeouts).

Top Hitting Performance of the Week

There were no clear standouts for the Brewer offense this week, as Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio tied for the team lead with seven hits, though both batted just .269 (26 at-bats each). William Contreras had the best all-around week, though, as he went 6-for-18 with a pair of homers, four RBIs, three runs, and four walks for a solid .333/.455/.667 line.

Injury Notes & Roster Moves

  • The Brewers officially activated RHP Brandon Woodruff from the injured list ahead of Monday’s series opener in Cincinnati, and his return could not have gone smoother. Across six scoreless frames, he allowed just one hit and no walks, striking out 10. Left-handed reliever Drew Rom was optioned to Triple-A Nashville as the corresponding move.
  • After officially clearing waivers, third baseman Luis Rengifo was released by the Brewers on Tuesday.
  • Reliever Abner Uribe, who was given a one-game suspension for his WWE-style crotch chops toward the Cardinals’ dugout in late May, dropped his appeal and served his suspension on Wednesday after pitching the two nights before.
  • Reliever Peter Strzelecki, who opted out of an outright assignment to Triple-A Nashville in late May, re-signed with the Brewers on a minor league deal on Wednesday after being released by the Yankees (who had signed him to a minor league deal). He’s now back in Nashville, where he picked up the save in a scoreless inning of work on Thursday night.
  • Left-hander Jared Koenig, who missed more than two months with a left elbow sprain, was activated from the injured list on Friday. Right-hander Craig Yoho was optioned to Nashville as the corresponding move.

On Deck

  • Monday: vs. Reds (6:40 p.m.)
  • Tuesday: vs. Reds (6:40 p.m.)
  • Wednesday: vs. Reds (7:10 p.m.)
  • Thursday: vs. Reds (1:10 p.m.)
  • Friday: @ Diamondbacks (8:45 p.m.)
  • Saturday: @ Diamondbacks (8:40 p.m.)
  • Sunday: @ Diamondbacks (3:10 p.m.)
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Orioles news: O’s drop another series

Jun 28, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz (55) watch his team play in the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: the O’s just lost a series that they absolutely should have won, all because they did a whole lot of dumb stuff.

The Birds’ latest embarrassment came against their regional rival Nationals, who completed a season series win, four games to two. The O’s dropped yesterday’s rubber game because Kyle Bradish couldn’t throw strikes, Coby Mayo couldn’t throw the ball to first, and the Orioles couldn’t figure out how to hit a guy with a 5.40 ERA. Your 2026 Orioles, ladies and gentlemen. Alex Church recapped the fruitless O’s effort.

The O’s have won just one of their last seven series — against the Dodgers, oddly enough — and are 9-13 in that span. Their defeat yesterday clinched their third consecutive losing month. They’re one loss away from matching their season-low of eight games under .500. At 39-46, they’re also just two games better than the 2025 Orioles — the gold standard of underachieving O’s teams — were at the same point of the season. And the Orioles are 0-2 since Mike Elias told reporters that he intends for the team to be buyers at the trade deadline. He’s got a little over a month to change his mind.

Three months into the season, the Orioles haven’t gotten any better. Elias and the players continue to talk a big game about how a turnaround is just around the corner, how the team just needs more time for things to click, and they’ll soon become a force to be reckoned with. There is, unfortunately, no evidence that such a thing is ever going to happen. They haven’t cleaned up their sloppy play and poor fundamentals at all; if anything, they’ve only gotten worse throughout the season. And with each passing day, the Orioles’ chances of putting together an extended winning stretch are getting slimmer and slimmer. They’ve passed the halfway mark of the schedule and are only sinking deeper into quicksand.

Adding an extra layer of pain is watching the Orioles get passed in the standings by teams that weren’t even supposed to be contenders this year, like these Nationals. The Nats were thought to be a rebuilding club that was a year or two behind the Orioles’ progress; instead, they’re an above-.500 team that has thoroughly outclassed the Birds this year.

Then there’s the Orioles’ next opponent, the White Sox, who are coming off of three straight 100+ loss seasons, including a historically abysmal 41-121 just two years ago. This year the White Sox are the most out-of-nowhere success story in baseball, leading the AL Central with a 43-39 record, 5.5 games better than the Orioles. The White Sox had barely started to rebuild and are already an exciting, hungry team full of promising young players. The O’s, meanwhile, have completely flatlined in what was supposed to be their window of contention. It’s sad.

The Orioles are overdue for a brutally honest assessment of their organization and the many mistakes that have led to this point. That kind of thorough accounting might not take place until the offseason, which means we’re stuck watching this team in its current form for the next few months.

Lucky us.

Links

Orioles start fast and fade in 6-4 loss to Nationals, Bradish ties career high in walks (updated) – School of Roch

Remember the first inning? That was nice. Everything that happened afterwards, not so much.

Adley, Beavers activated as Orioles DFA Huff, option Jackson – MLB.com

I know that Jeremiah Jackson hasn’t hit much since his hot April, but what exactly is the thought process that leads the Orioles to send him down instead of a completely unnecessary third catcher?

Sail250 air show flies over Camden Yards during Orioles-Nationals game – The Baltimore Banner

Kudos to the Blue Angels for giving the Camden Yards crowd their only entertainment yesterday.

Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson on slump: ‘One of the most frustrating things’ – The Baltimore Sun

Says Gunnar: “It sucks. It’s baseball.” The motto of the 2026 Orioles, everyone!

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And happy 25th birthday to Gunnar Henderson. The O’s shortstop has already racked up quite a few accolades in his young career, including AL Rookie of the Year in 2023 and fourth place in the MVP voting in 2024. His 2026 season, as we all know, hasn’t gone quite as well. But what better day than his birthday to start turning things around?

Former Orioles born on this day include infielder Emmanuel Rivera (30), left-hander Pedro Viola (43), and righties Travis Lakins Sr. (32) and the late Dizzy Trout (b. 1915, d. 1972).

On this date in 2007, the Orioles’ Aubrey Huff hit for the cycle in a 9-7 loss to the Angels. At the time he was just the third player in the 54-year history of the Orioles to accomplish the feat, but the O’s have since done it four more times.

And in 2013, Chris Davis bashed his league-leading 30th homer of the year in just his 82nd game, part of a two-dinger day against the Yankees. He ultimately finished the season with an MLB-best 53 home runs. Man, vintage Chris Davis was something else.

Random Orioles game of the day

On June 29, 1990, the Orioles defeated the Twins, 6-2, at the Metrodome. Baltimore’s own Dave Johnson earned the win with 6.2 innings of two-run ball, and Curt Schilling — yes, that one — finished things off with 2.1 scoreless frames to earn his first career save. The O’s offense collected 12 hits, including three by Ripken brothers Cal Jr. and Billy, and catcher Bob Melvin drove in two runs. Despite the win, the Orioles remained well under .500 at 33-41.

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Phillies news: Kyle Schwarber, Andrew Painter, Wyatt Langford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies watches the flight of his seventh inning two run home run against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 28, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Imagine getting to 30 home runs before the calendar even flips to July? Kyle Schwarber just did that, becoming the fastest player in team history to do so.

It’s just so impressive how each season, he seems to be getting better. The strikeouts are high, but who really cares when he hits for this much power. I feel like another high finish in the MVP vote is in the offing.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

MLB news:

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Mets Daily Prospect Report, 6/29/26: Mostly monotonous Mets

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (38-37/4-2)

SYRACUSE 5, LEHIGH VALLEY 4 (BOX)

Manager Dick Scott went with something a little different, having reliever Dan Hammer start the game before bringing in starter Jack Wenninger, but the move didn’t seem to really have much of an impact- Hammer pitched a scoreless inning in the first and Wenninger was so-so, allowing three runs over the next five. Trailing by a run, Syracuse tied things up in the seventh on a wild pitch and then took the lead on a Vidal Brujan RBI single. After Lehigh Valley tied things up in the bottom of the inning, Syracuse once again took a late lead in the eighth on a Ben Rortvedt RBI double and that ended up being the final score.

·  SS Vidal Bruján: 1-5, RBI, 3 K, 2 SB (6, 7), E (5)

·  CF Nick Morabito: 1-5, 2B, RBI, K

·  2B Ji Hwan Bae: 0-3, R, BB, SB (27)

·  RF Ryan Clifford: 0-2, 2 BB, K

·  3B Yonny Hernández: 2-4, R, RBI, CS (2)

·  C Ben Rortvedt: 1-4, 2B, RBI, K

·  1B Grae Kessinger: 1-3, 2 R, BB, K

·  DH Hayden Senger: 1-3, R, BB, K

·  LF Cristian Pache: 1-4, 2 K, E (4)

·  RHP Dan Hammer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Jack Wenninger: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, WP, HBP

·  RHP Ryan Lambert: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, WP, W (3-1), BS (1)

·  LHP Nate Lavender: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, S (2)

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (27-42/1-6)

ERIE 6, BINGHAMTON 5 / 10 (BOX)

The first time through the order, Bryce Conley looked good, blanking Erie for three innings, allowing just a single hit while striking out four. His second time through the order? Not so much. In the fourth, he gave up a two-run homer to right fielder Chris Meyers to tie the game at 2-2. In the fifth, he loaded up the bases on a pair of singles and a hit batsman and then gave up a double to Meyers, scoring two more runs. In the sixth, he allowed a solo homer to third baseman E.J. Exposito to make it a 5-2 ballgame. Chris Suero manufactured a run in the seventh, knocking a double, stealing third, and coming home on a wild pitch, but it looked like the Rumble Ponies were going to after a strike-‘em-out-throw-‘em-out double play ended the seventh, and then three consecutive strikeouts ended the eighth. In the bottom of life, they showed new life and came galloping back, tying the game up at 5-5 on an RBI single off the bat of Jose Ramons and a Nick Lorusso RBI groundout. In the tenth, JT Schwartz was thrown out at the plate, negating Binghamton’s chance to score. Erie didn’t have that issue, and just like that, momentum shifted and game over with another Chris Meyers RBI.

·  C Chris Suero: 2-3, 4 R, 2 2B, 2 BB, SB (20), E (9)

·  CF Jose Ramos: 1-4, RBI, BB, K, CS (2)

·  3B Nick Lorusso: 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, BB, K

·  1B JT Schwartz: 0-5, 3 K

·  DH Vincent Perozo: 0-5, 4 K

·  LF Matt Rudick: 1-4, 2 K, HBP

·  2B Wyatt Young: 1-5, 2 K

·  RF Jaylen Palmer: 0-2, BB, K, HBP

·  SS Kevin Villavicencio: 1-4, R, K

·  RHP Bryce Conley: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HBP

·  RHP Douglas Orellana: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HBP

·  RHP Garrett Stratton: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

·  RHP Zach Peek: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, L (2-1)

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (25-40/5-4)

BROOKLYN 5, JERSEY SHORE 1 (BOX)

Nicolas Carreno got things started with four scoreless innings and the bullpen took over from there, throwing three more before Juan Arnaud allowed a run in the top of the eighth. That run would end up the BlueClaws’ only run of the ballgame. The Cyclones, on the other hand, got on the board in the bottom of the third on a Ronald Hernandez homer and then plated four more in the sixth on an RBI double off the bat of Colin Houck and a three-run homer off the bat of Yohairo Cuevas.

·  2B Mitch Voit: 2-3, BB, K

·  3B Yonatan Henriquez: 0-4

·  C Ronald Hernandez: 1-3, R, HR (6), RBI, BB, K

·  LF John Bay: 1-3, R, HBP

·  DH Daiverson Gutierrez: 0-4, K

·  1B Corey Collins: 0-3, R, BB, K

·  SS Colin Houck: 1-4, R, 2B, RBI, 3 K, E (9)

·  RF Yohairo Cuevas: 2-3, R, HR (2), 3 RBI, BB, K, SB (4)

·  CF Sam Biller: 0-4, 3 K

·  LHP Nicolas Carreno: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Bryce Jenkins: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, W (2-2)

·  RHP Cristofer Gomez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, H (1)

·  RHP Hoss Brewer: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

·  RHP Juan Arnaud: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

·  RHP Hunter Hodges: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, WP

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (33-33/2-5)

FORT MYERS 6, ST. LUCIE 5 (BOX)

The St. Lucie Mets went down swinging, but they still dropped this one to the Mighty Muscles, their fourth loss in a row. The Mets got on the board first, scoring a run in the top of the second, but Ethan Lanthier, who just activated and was making his first non-rehab start since injuring his elbow in April 2025, allowed a pair of runs in the second to give Fort Myers the lead, a lead they would hold on to for the rest of the ballgame. In the ninth, trailing 6-3, St. Lucie loaded up the bases with no outs, but a two-run single by Trey Snyder was all they were able to manage before recording three outs. The rehabbing Dedniel Nunez pitched in the bottom of the fourth and, after recording two quick outs, allowed back-to-back singles that resulted in a run before recording a strikeout to end the inning.

·  CF Trey Snyder: 1-5, 2 RBI, K

·  LF Branny De Oleo: 2-4, R, 2B, RBI

·  SS Antonio Jimenez: 0-5, K

·  1B Julio Zayas: 0-3, RBI, K

·  RF Simon Juan: 1-4, R, 2B, K

·  C Chase Meggers: 3-4, R, 2 2B, RBI

·  3B Taylor Darden: 0-2, R, BB, K

·  2B Jeremy Rodriguez: 2-3, R, BB, K

·  DH Jackson Hauge: 2-4, K

·  RHP Ethan Lanthier: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, L (0-1)

·  RHP Christian Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

·  REHAB ALERT RHP Dedniel Núñez: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

·  LHP Conner Ware: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, HBP

·  RHP Elwis Mijares: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

ROSTER ALERT: St. Lucie Mets activated RHP Ethan Lanthier from the 60-day injured list.

Rookie: FCL Mets (15-24)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Yohairo Cuevas

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Bryce Conley

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DitD & Open Post – 6/29/26: Draft Class Edition

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

A recap of the 2026 draft class for the Devils: [Devils NHL]

“Alexander Command, the 12th overall pick, highlights the Devils’ draft class, but Mehta selected a few other intriguing prospects in the later rounds. Let’s review the Devils’ 2026 draft class and which prospects you should be most excited about moving forward.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]

“Mehta’s first draft as GM of a team was one in which cardio merchants were off the table, highly preferring productive players with dynamic qualities and the ability to play with the puck on their stick. I loved it.” [Devils’ Advocates]

Hockey Links

Could we see a Zach Werenski trade?

“The Winnipeg Jets are listening to trade offers for Connor Hellebuyck, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Friday. Cheveldayoff, however, would not provide a definitive answer as to whether his franchise goalie has requested a move.” [NHL.com]

Jack Drury gets a five-year deal:

Rangers bet on Pavel Dorofeyev:

Mason McTavish heads to St. Louis:

“The 2026 NHL draft is complete and there were some truly wonderful moments. From the Ruck twins going together to the Pittsburgh Penguins, to the reaction of Jaxon Cover’s family to the Cayman Islands product being selected with the final pick in the first round, and much more over the course of 224 picks in two days. Now, it is time for draft grades. These marks are about what the teams did with their selections, how they maneuvered the draft board and how much value they gained or left on the board where they picked.” [ESPN]

More draft grades: [Daily Faceoff] [The Athletic ($)]

A cool moment for the Iginla family:

Seth Jarvis will miss some time for the Hurricanes:

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

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Open Thread: Happy birthday to Julian Champagnie

Julian Champagnie has been a gem. After going undrafted in in 2022, he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers where he played 2 games as well as a handful of games with their G-League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats. He was waived on Valentine’s Day 2023 so the 76ers could allow Mac McClung to participate in the All-Star Dunk Contest.

The 76ers loss was the Spurs gain. He signed on for the remainder of the season and impressed the organization enough to earn a $12M/4-year contract. Since then, Champagnie has gone on to be an essential component of the Spurs success. He now holds franchise record for postseason three-pointers after this season’s Finals run.

On a personal note, my life has been touched by Julian. Last January, my daughter was the Spurs Ball Kid for the MLK Day game between the Spurs and Utah Jazz. When they announced that her favorite player was Champagnie, he heard his name. After the game, he sent Elizabeth the game worn jersey and signed it for her, thanking her for the support.

A couple of nights later I ran into Champagnie at a Spurs event and he shared that he’d never heard his name as a fan favorite. He was touched and his delight was perceptible. He’s approachable, kind, and friendly. That is who Julian is. He engages with folks, and he is genuine. He’s even gone so far as to include the young fans is part of his warm up. You can see him encouraging young fans to shoot and connect in a way uncommon for most star athletes.

Over the season, Champagnie’s press conferences revealed a refreshing level of honesty. From his feelings on going undrafted to the moments after being waived, Champagnie is open about his journey. He’s taken negative moments and persevered. His worldview inspires as he has fused his positive energy and manifested an amazing career and a life of gratitude.

This year he started in 68 regular season games and all 23 playoff games. He continues to shine on the court and his three-point shooting earned him all kinds of accolades and comparisons. The next step will be receiving the payday he deserves.

Perhaps we should cease using the term “undrafted” and just refer to Champagnie’s pre-Spurs days as “undiscovered.” The Spurs and Champagnie are a great match. He’s really had an opportunity to shine in San Antonio. And his fit is undeniable.

Happy birthday, Jules! Here’s to many more celebrations in San Antonio.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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Kentucky Wildcats News: Otega Oweh Realizes NBA Dream

Mar 22, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) dunks during the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Former Kentucky basketball star and fan-favorite Otega Oweh had his dreams come true when he heard his name called in the second round of last week’s NBA draft.

He was taken 41st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder, a pick which OKC acquired in a trade with the Miami Heat.

Oweh joins former Wildcats Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace in Oklahoma City, where he’s sure to carve out some playing time on the wing for the 2025 NBA champions.

The creative team at UK Athletics always does a phenomenal job with their work and gave their absolute best effort in putting together an incredible behind-the-scenes look at Oweh’s dream coming true and what Draft Day was like for the former Wildcat.

While Oweh could have rolled the dice last summer and turned professional, he decided to commit to one more year at Kentucky to improve his game but also do his best to lead the program as far as he could for one more season.

It’s easy to speak for all of Big Blue Nation in saying that Oweh is loved and will always be appreciated for his two years in Lexington.

Tweet of the Day

Will forever love this logo.

Headlines

Hawthorne doesn’t feel pressure to perform after redshirt – KSR

Love his mentality.

Scheffler forces Monday playoff with Hovland at Travelers – ESPN

Some early action today.

Will Stein hangs out with 1976 SEC Champions – KSR

Pretty cool.

Ryu, 10 shots behind after Round 1, wins Women’s PGA – ESPN

Heck of a finish.

Pope hit the recruiting trail for Kentucky this weekend – KSR

Always on the move.

Hornets trade veteran Miles Bridges to Suns – ESPN

Complete reset.

Hampton’s highlights in UK gear will leave you excited for the future – KSR

Agreed!

Kyle Schwarber sets Phillies record with MLB-best 30th HR – ESPN

On a roll.

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Early 2027 NBA Mock Draft has Malachi Moreno projected as a lottery pick

Feb 4, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Malachi Moreno (24) shoots a free throw during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

The 2026 NBA draft finished on Wednesday, so all the names have been called, and the teams have made their selections. So, now we must do the natural, immediate next step: Look ahead to next year’s draft!

As Kentucky Basketball fans, we got to hear two former Wildcats get their names called during the 2026 draft: Jayden Quaintance and Otega Oweh. Now, we look towards next year and talk about which players may be the next to leap to the next level. Hopefully, many players from the 2026-27 team will be selected next year, following what hopes to be a special 2026-27 season.

The name that we are already seeing people believe will be selected highly next year is Malachi Moreno. One Sam Vecenie even went on the record to say he believes Moreno will be drafted in the lottery next year, at pick No. 11.

“On the plus side, Moreno is a good shot-blocker and has potential to be a solid rim protector at 6 feet 11 with a 9-foot-3.5 standing reach,” Vecenie wrote. “Offensively, he’s an excellent passer who averaged 1.8 assists per game and can act as something of a hub at the top of the key because of his comfort with the ball.

“Moreno needs to get stronger and more willing to play with physicality on the interior. He has an immense amount of potential to be the kind of big teams are looking for in the Isaiah Hartenstein mold, but he has work to do to round out his game.”

Moreno went through the draft process this year before ultimately deciding to pull his name out and return to Lexington for his sophomore season. Now, the Bluegrass product will look to make a big splash as a leader and a star for Kentucky next season.

This year’s class of 2026 for the NBA draft was viewed as one of the more elite groups we’ve seen in a while, but next year, not so much. That makes his decision a little easier, on top of certain skills needing work, knowing that it could be a reality that even though he’d be a year older, he would likely get drafted higher than he would have this year.

One other thing that numerous people believe Malachi Moreno could do to help him grow into a great modern big, on top of what he has already sharpened up, is 3-point shooting. Here is a clip from this offseason where Malachi Moreno worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers, and within the clip, you’ll notice some threes being taken.

Will we see a new, more versatile offensive Moreno this upcoming season?

Kentucky fans know that Moreno was lifted into a role that not many expected him to be in during his true freshman season: the starting center for the team for most of the year. Moreno ended up starting 30 of 36 games last season after showing that he was capable of playing at a high level immediately.

Growing up in Georgetown (KY) as a Wildcat fan, Moreno heard many names called on draft night over the years that once wore the blue and white before him. Now, after many years of working towards this and hearing his teammates get drafted, he will get ready to make his way to the next level following a sophomore campaign in Lexington.

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Today on Pinstripe Alley – 6/29/26

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees slides safely into second base past Javier Báez #28 of the Detroit Tigers during the game at Yankee Stadium on September 11, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

That series sucked. The last time the Red Sox swept the Yankees in a four-game set was 2018, which was very annoying but in hindsight more understandable because that was legitimately the best team in Boston history (108 wins, 11-3 record in October). They were a powerhouse. These Red Sox doing it when they entered with–no joke–the worst record in the American League is appalling. Awful, awful.

Can’t dwell on it though. Spit it out like an awful drink, cleanse the palate, and move on with Detroit coming to town.

Today on the site, Estevão will preview the upcoming three-game set against the Tigers, Kevin tackles the Rivalry Roundup, and Jonathan celebrates the 138th birthday of a man who was actually a longtime Tiger but also became a Yankee near the end: Bobby Veach. Later, Jonathan will return to run through the Yankeees’ top Trade Deadline priorities as that aspect of the season heats up, Peter breaks down his At-Bat of the Week, and Madison issues the mailbag prompt.

Today’s Matchup:

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers

Time: 7:05 p.m. EST

TV: YES Network, Detroit SportsNet

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Questions/Prompts:

1. Are there any Triple-A promotions you’d consider to try to jolt some life back into the Yankees’ lineup? Or is there so little there at the moment (especially with George Lombard Jr. hurt) that they’re probably best just riding it out at the moment?

2. Now that almost every team has hit the 81-game halfway point of the regular season, which do you think has been the biggest surprise?

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Erie walk it off in extras, Bryce Rainer homers again

Worcester Red Sox 3, Toledo Mud Hens 1 (box)

Toledo couldn’t finish off the sweep and dropped its first game in a week, 3-1, against Worcester on Sunday.

After 15 runs on Saturday, there wasn’t much offense to speak of for the Mud Hens in this one. Toledo had only five hits, none going for extra bases. Two of those came in the second inning from Eduardo Valencia and Brett Callahan. Tyler Gentry grounded into a double play for the only Mud Hens run of the day.

Callahan had the only multi-hit day, singling again in the fifth. Andrew Navigato hit safely in the eighth, and Max Anderson got his in the ninth. The WooSox only walked two batters, so it was a pretty boring day on that side of the ball.

It’s a shame because the pitching staff was solid for most of the afternoon. Troy Watson got the start, going five inning and allowing one run on two hits and a walk — a first inning homer was the only real issue. Watson struck out five and left with the score tied 1-1.

Ricky Vanasco took over in the sixth and gave up three singles to break the tie. The third drove in both runs and ricocheted off his foot. The training staff checked him out, but Vanasco stayed in the game.

Woo-Suk Go got the seventh and worked around a pair of singles. Jack Little went 1-2-3 in the eighth, but the bats couldn’t make it a competitive finish.

Anderson: 1-4, K

Callahan: 2-4, K

Valencia: 1-2, R, 2 BB

Watson: 5.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 5 K,HR

Coming Up Next:The Mud Hens are at home next week against the Iowa Cubs, starting on Tuesdayat 12:05 p.m. ET.

(F/10) Erie SeaWolves 6, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 1 (box)

Erie won in walk-off fashion 6-5 in the 10th inning to finish the series with Binghamton 5-1.

Things got off to a rocky start with Lael Lockhart on the mound. The Rumble Ponies took the lead three batters in thanks to a leadoff double and single through the left side. Lockhart also balked in the first, but he didn’t give up any more runs.

The command was in and out for Lockhart. He plunked the leadoff man in the second, balked again and threw a wild pitch. Again, no runs scored, but it’s not a pretty inning by any means.

Binghamton got to him again in the third with a leadoff walk and an RBI double. Lockhart came back out for the fourth, but he finally got the hook after hitting another batter with two outs.

Fortunately, Chris Meyers tied the game up with a two-run homer. Thayron Liranzo drew the walk right before that.

Meyers had three of Erie’s nine hits on the day, including a go-ahead double in the fifth. This time, the bases were loaded, so Binghamton had to pitch to him. Credit to E.J. Exposito and Seth Stephenson for singling earlier in the inning. Liranzo was hit by a pitch for his second free pass of the day, loading the bags.

Yosber Sanchez and Johan Simon got the SeaWolves through the sixth, recording four and three outs, respectively. Both walked a batter, and Simon gave up a hit. Simon also had two strikeouts to Sanchez’s one, though.

Exposito homered in the sixth to give Erie some valuable insurance. Without that bomb, the SeaWolves don’t make it to extras.

Wandisson Charles got the seventh. He gave up a leadoff double, the runner stole third and Charles went too far inside for a wild pitch and an easy score. Charles was better in the eighth, striking out the side in order.

Tyler Owens couldn’t convert the save — his first blown save of the season. After the first out, Binghamton went single, walk, RBI single to make it a one-run game. Owens got a short chopper to third base, but Exposito didn’t have time for a play at home. He traded a run for an out instead. Tie game.

Erie had the winning run in scoring position in the ninth, but Stephenson and Peyton Graham couldn’t follow up on Joe Campagna’s one-out double.

Eric Silva took the mound in the 10th and almost gave up the go-ahead run, but a great throw from Meyers got to home plate in time for the tag.

Meyers basically won this one for Erie single-handedly. Of course, it was him who came up clutch in the bottom of the 10th with a one-out single to drive Graham in from third base. Walk-off wins are always sweet.

Meyers: 3-5, 2B (16), HR (5), R, 5 RBI, K

Exposito: 2-4, HR (11), R, RBI, K

Lockhart: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 K

Charles (H, 3): 2.0 IP, H, R, ER, BB, 5 K

Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves are on the road next week against the Akron RubberDucks, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.

Dayton Dragons 10, West Michigan Whitecaps 4 (box)

A rough day on the mound for West Michigan led to a lopsided 10-4 loss against Dayton on Sunday. The Whitecaps and Dragons end the series tied, 3-3.

The day started off nice, with Woody Hadeen walking and Bryce Rainer blasting a two-run homer. Clayton Campbell singled to give the Whitecaps three straight hits, but West Michigan only found four more hits the rest of the game.

Rayner Castillo didn’t have it today. He walked the first three batters he faced to load the bases, and that got the bullpen up and working. Castillo struck out a batter and induced a popout, but the decision was already made to pull him. Jalen Evans took over and immediately gave up a two-run single to tie the game.

Dayton took the lead in the second off Evans, who was arguably worse than Castillo. After getting the first out, Castillo allowed a single, walked two batters and gave up a two-run double. He walked one more before getting out of the inning.

Inohan Paniagua got the third. A bad pickoff attempt turned into a run, and a throwing error from the catcher made it 6-2.

Stephen Hrustich gave the Whitecaps new life in the fourth, hitting a two-run homer to cut the four-run deficit in half.

Eliseo Mota was next out of the bullpen. He worked around a two-out single in the fourth but gave up a leadoff homer int he fifth. Luke Stofel faced the minimum in the sixth, inducing an inning-ending double play to erase a single. He came back out for the seventh and worked around a two-out single, giving the best performance for any Whitecap pitcher on the day.

CJ weins had a rough ninth, walking the bases loaded before recording the first out. A pair of singles brought all three of those baserunners home, and the Whitecaps went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth.

Rainer: 1-3, HR (8), R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K

Hrustich: 1-4, HR (3), R, 2 RBI

Campbell: 2-4, 2 K

Stofel: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps are at home next week against the Lake County Captains, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 3, Daytona Tortugas 1 (box)

Despite losing the series, 4-2, the Lakeland Flying Tigers ended the week in Daytona on a good note, with a 3-1 win over the Tortugas.

Connor Fenlong made his organizational debut after being signed on Friday out of the American Association Independent League. He previously pitched in the Kansas City farm system, making it up to High-A in 2024 before being released.

Fenlong gave Lakeland 4 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, working around five hits and a walk while striking out eight. It’s a shame he couldn’t get one more out to qualify for the win, but the numbers are solid.

The Flying Tigers only had one hit through the first three innings, but they broke through in the fourth to score all three of their runs. Edian Espinal led off with a single, Nick Dumesnil also singled and Hunter Dobbins crushed a three-run homer.

Xiomer Guacache finished out the fifth for Fenlong, stranding the bases loaded. Guacache worked around a two-out double in the sixth before turning it over Luke Hoskins in the seventh. Hoskins walked a batter, but there was no harm done.

Bryce Alewin went 1 2/3 innings, but Lakeland brought in Jan Caraballo with two on and two outs in the ninth. Caraballo gave up the first run of the day and walked a batter before getting the final out.

Great work from the bullpen today, but it was kind of a boring game. Still, a W is a W.

Yost: 0-4, BB, 2 K

Dobbins: 1-4, HR (5), R, 3 RBI, 2 K

Espinal: 2-4, R, K

Fenlong: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K

Coming up Next: The Flying Tigers are at home next week against the Palm Beach Cardinals, starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.