Jun 11, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) watches from the dugout during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Good day fellow Mariners fans, and happy Saturday!
The M’s still haven’t scored 4 runs in a game, but they won anyway in the series opener against the Guardians last night by a 3-1 final.
Between Cole Young and Colt Emerson, it’s been a road trip of fantastic homecomings. Who’s your pick to click tonight and why is it fellow son of Ohio Dominic Canzone?
In Mariners news…
Last night provided a rare benches-clearing incident in a minor league game.
Amidst yet another lost season, the Angels made the decision to fire general manager Perry Minasian and have installed former Cardinals POBO John Mozeliak as their interim GM.
The Mets decided they had to do something as well, canning manager Carlos Mendoza and appointing Andy Green as interim manager.
Alex Coffey at The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote about Roy Halladay’s final spring before his death, during which he rediscovered his love for baseball by coaching his son’s high school team.
Anders’ pick…
Last night was the first night of the NHL Draft, with the Toronto Maple Leafs selecting Gavin McKenna first overall. The pick was announced by none other than Justin Bieber. This got me thinking: who would be the perfect celebrity to host the MLB Draft?
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 18: Dean Kremer #64 of the Baltimore Orioles prepares to pitch during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Triple-A: Durham (Rays) 4, Norfolk Tides 1
Rehabbing major leaguer Dean Kremer gave this one a good shove, with 6.2 scoreless innings where he gave up only two hits and a walk, notching eight strikeouts along the way. This was an efficient outing as well, as it only took him 79 pitches to do all of that. This was his second outing of this rehab assignment. I’d guess he’ll get a couple more just to be sure he’s built back up all the way, but this was a great step along the way.
Unfortunately for the Tides, reliever Josh Walker managed to give up three runs in a 1.1 inning stint, all of which scored in one swing on a three-run home run.
Tides batters were limited to just six hits across the whole game. Half of these were picked up by Enrique Bradfield, who managed to steal four bases across those three times on base. That’s fun. Creed Willems had two hits. Also fun. The Tides were 0-9 with RISP. That’s less fun. The Dylan Beavers rehab assignment is also not fun. He went 0-4 and is batting .091 in his games with Norfolk.
Former Orioles prospect Michael Forret tossed five scoreless innings for the Bulls.
Cade Povich does not have as good of a rehab start to talk about as Kremer did. Povich, facing Double-A competition, was touched up for four runs (three earned) over only 3.2 innings. The minor leaguers got five hits and drew one walk against him.
This game also featured some bulk relief from Joseph Dzierwa. Not great, unfortunately, as three hits and three walks across three innings led to two runs scoring. He did strike out five guys, so there’s that.
Chesapeake’s offense did not have enough to overcome this, probably since they left ten men on base. One guy who was making good things happen was catcher Ethan Anderson, on base three times with a two-run home run, his 15th dinger of the season. My guy Aron Estrada took an 0-5. He’s still my guy.
High-A: Wilmington (Nationals) 8, Frederick Keys 6
Finally, some offense! And yet the Orioles affiliate still lost. Starting pitcher Yeiber Cartaya failed to get through the first inning, taking 38 pitches to get two outs and give up two runs. The Keys actually still led at this point, given that they’d scored three runs in their half of the first inning. That included the 21st home run of the season by the big man, Victor Figueroa, who leads the entire organization. Figueroa also had a double. He’s OPSing .955 through 64 games.
Though the game was tied in the fourth, Frederick scored again in the fifth and sixth to retake the lead before some unfortunate relief sent the game the wrong direction.
Last year’s third round pick RJ Austin, who’s usually an outfielder, made his second start at third base. Austin led off the game and he had two hits and two stolen bases. Ike Irish, serving as the first baseman, was on base three times and also stole a base.
This one was suspended after only five innings completed due to wet grounds in Fayetteville. Not a whole lot to say about that. The one Delmarva run scored with catcher Miguel Rodriguez hitting his first home run of the season across 19 games played for the Shorebirds and another eight for the FCL rookie team.
That’s four losses by the full-season affiliates. Bummer! If you want to feel a little bit better about the farm, the FCL Orioles team was victorious with an 11-2 score, and each of the DSL Orioles teams (Orange and Black) were also victorious. Orange blasted a Cleveland team for 23 hits.
Saturday’s Scheduled Games
Norfolk: vs. Durham, 6:35. Starter: Nestor German
Chesapeake: vs. Harrisburg, 6:35. Starter: Sebastian Gongora
Frederick: at Wilmington, 6:05. Starter: Boston Bateman
Delmarva: at Fayetteville, 7:05. Starter: Brayan Orrantia
ST BERNARD PARISH, LOUISIANA - JUNE 25: Mitchell Robinson rides in a hometown community parade honoring him as a member of the NBA champion New York Knicks on June 25, 2026 in St Bernard Parish, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mitchell Robinson, the longest-tenured Knick, is drawing googly eyes from suitors in free agency, and recent reports suggest a return to New York is increasingly unlikely.
Robinson has been with the organization since New York selected him with the 36th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Eight years later, he finally helped deliver the franchise’s first championship in more than five decades. If his time in New York is over, it will mark the end of an almost Dickensian rags-to-riches tale.
The NBA’s salary cap complicates things for New York, which appears to be keen on keeping him. Mitch (or the Blockness Monster, if you like) is an unrestricted free agent. The Knicks are operating under a mandate from team owner Jim Dolan to stay below the second apron.
The apron severely limits roster-building flexibility through restrictions on trades, free agency, and future draft management. Because of that, New York simply cannot match the type of offer another team puts forth without making a Sophie’s Choice between Mitch and Landry Shamet. ShamWow played a terrific season for New York, was clutch during their historic playoff run, and now would also like a fair contract, thank you very much.
Several teams have already been linked to Robinson. The Brooklyn Nets (now with more Julius Randle!) reportedly have legitimate interest, while the Los Angeles Lakers (still with all that LeBron energy) are also viewed as a potential destination. Sacramento has been mentioned as another logical landing spot, particularly with former Knicks executive Scott Perry running the Kings’ front office. Regarding that last one: it is hard to believe that Mitch would leave the championship glory of NYC for the hinterlands of the NBA, but money is money, honey.
In New York, Karl-Anthony Towns is the starting center. Robinson is an elite backup who closes plenty of games, but he isn’t guaranteed starter’s minutes. Elsewhere? He could walk into a starting job. That’s an enticing recruiting pitch, especially when those teams also have considerably more financial flexibility than the Knicks.
Losing Robinson would sting for reasons beyond nostalgia. The Knicks watched Isaiah Hartenstein leave for Oklahoma City when the Thunder outbid them (and OKC just doubled down on its investment in him, so no buyer’s remorse there). Watching another elite defensive center leave because another team can simply offer more money would be one to file under “maddening.”
To be fair, there are reasons New York may be reluctant to hand Robinson another lengthy, expensive contract. At a freshly celebrated 28 years old, he has battled injuries throughout his career. Ankle problems, foot injuries, hand fractures, knee issues, and assorted ailments have cost him well over 250 regular-season games since entering the league. Even after appearing in 60 games during the championship season, durability remains one of the biggest questions surrounding his future. Big men age in dog years, remember.
That makes a long-term, high-dollar commitment difficult, particularly for a team already facing the apron constraint. If the big Cajun departs, the Knicks’ in-house depth chart becomes straightforward: 1) Karl-Anthony Towns. 2) Ariel Hukporti…and not much else. Maybe they recommit to Trey Jemison? He has beastly dimensions (6’10”, 270 lbs.) but has yet to prove he’s more than a scrimmage player in the league.
The organization clearly likes Hukporti. The 24-year-old showed flashes of solid play throughout the season and even handled short playoff stints without becoming dizzy from the spotlight. His mobility, rim protection, and energy have given the Knicks reason to believe there’s real upside. He has also looked exactly like what he is at times: a young center still learning NBA basketball.
Whether Leon Rose & Co. believes Huk can contribute 18-22 meaningful minutes every night may determine how aggressively it tries to cling to Mitch—or pursue another veteran.
It’s telling, perhaps, that the Knicks didn’t seem particularly concerned on draft night. They momentarily acquired young center Ugonna Onyenso, who might develop into a fine NBA center, before immediately flipping him to Detroit for cash considerations. That tells us Leon and Wes did not feel desperate to add another developmental big.
If Robinson walks, a few veteran names have surfaced. One who is high on the radar is Nick Richards, who finished the season with Chicago and is now an unrestricted free agent. He is a clean fit because he does not need touches, protects the rim, and operates well as a roller. The front office liked him in the past, and he could be acquired while remaining under the second-apron threshold.
What remains of Kevon Looney might offer championship experience and meet the general criteria on paper, but the word on the street is that he’s mostly cooked and certainly would not be a long-term solution. Other targets floating around the market include Robert “Time Lord” Williams and Marvin Bagley III. These guys all feel more like contingency plans, no?
If Robinson ultimately signs elsewhere, Banner Night will be bittersweet. He will forever be remembered as one of the franchise’s great homegrown success stories and a key contributor to a championship. Hell, everybody loves him—his hometown in Louisiana held a parade for him on Friday. But from a basketball operations standpoint, his departure would immediately force the brass into Plan B . . . or C . . . or D. . . .
So, let’s use this space to chat about it this weekend, family. What would you do? Do you trust Hukporti in a larger role? Would you pursue Richards, Looney, Time Lord, or another veteran? Or would you prioritize finding Robinson’s long-term successor another way? Air it out in the comments below.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 26: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with Ha-Seong Kim #7 after the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on June 26, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Early contact seemed to promise an offensive outburst. Like a summer storm, clouds gathered their arms and threatened rain in the 1st. Distant light flashed, thunder rumbled under the evening’s dark breath. Luis Arraez and Rafael Devers peppered extra base hits off faraway walls in center and right-center. Loud doubles that would’ve disappeared over walls in the majority of Major League parks. Jung Hoo Lee smoked a liner past Braves’ starter Reynaldo López’s ear that seemed destined for the outfield — if not for Ha-Seong Kim’s ensnaring lunge into the gap.
Instead of a second run scoring, the Giants first half-inning ended, and the burgeoning storm dissipated — because there are no summer storms in San Francisco, just the smothering, knock-down damp of the marine layer. Rare is the release, when the heavens open up and rain buckets down, refreshing everything below. There is no cool, just blanket-wrapped-around-the-knees cold in San Francisco.
Devers’s RBI double scored Casey Schmitt from first in the 1st, and that was it for the Giants in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Braves.
There certainly could’ve been more production. More bang and boom, but the order went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They left 9 runners on base, not to mention the outs they ran into on the base paths.
Excited after his lead-off double, Arraez either misread the ball off Bryce Eldridge’s bat, or lost where shortstop Kim was positioned behind him, but the decision to bolt for third on contact got him thrown out there for the first out of the first inning. While Devers’ double did make-up for some of that mistake, the gaffe just felt all too familiar. A here-we-go-again type thing, a reminder that the game of baseball was a buttered watermelon for this team: one second it can be safely secured in their hands, the next, it’s split open and splattered over the pavement.
The disappearing baserunning act returned in the 2nd. Willy Adames was doubled up by centerfielder Michael Harris after he couldn’t scramble back to first in time after a botched hit-and-run play. He picked up where the ball was struck too late, hesitating for a moment near second, thinking the bloop might drop, before cartoonishly turning-tail when he realized the trouble he was in.
That was a tough position to be in — but those are the kinds of cruel breaks a team gets when they’re knee-deep in the muck. Aggressive plays turn around and bite the hand. Leadoff knocks are somehow just outs yet to be recorded. Extra base hits have a rapdily expiring shelf-life. Meanwhile, for the NL East leading Braves, baserunners seem to multiply. Dinky flares turn into runners in scoring position. As Duane Kuiper put it from the booth: Atlanta was winning the battle of 90 feet. Sandwiched between Arraez getting thrown out at third and Adames getting thrown out at first, Austin Riley’s one-out bloop single became an unearned double after starter Trevor McDonald balked him over into scoring position. Immediately after Dom Smith slapped a single up the middle to tie the game.
In the 3rd, Atlanta would take the lead on another gift of 90 feet after Arraez scuttled a routine double play with a throwing error that skipped past Devers at first into the visiting dugout. Instead of two outs and the bases empty, Mauricio Dubón stood in scoring position and continued to advance around the bases on a groundout and Ozzie Albies’s single. Albies would add on again in the 5th with a sac fly set-up by a Dubón infield single and a Matt Olson double — the Braves’ first, and only, extra base hit of the game.
The ball was hit hard, the wind wasn’t making things easier — still, it seemed catchable. Lee, patrolling centerfield, was asked to go to the wall again and couldn’t. He appeared to get spooked by the fence and pulled up short. Maybe that was wise in the long-term, it’s just the tentativeness isn’t what the Giants needed in the short-term.
That double shouldn’t have been decisive. After the 5th, Atlanta’s offense produced little while clouds gathered and darkened overhead for San Francisco. Facing a two-run deficit, the tying run was either on base or at the plate for a hitter in every home frame but the 9th.
Catcher Drew Cavanaugh, in his MLB debut, and number-9 hitter Victor Bericoto did their job. They helped load the bases with one-out in the 5th and reached second-and-third with one out in the 7th.
Both times Bryce Eldridge stood at the plate with a chance to tie the game (or more) with a hit, or at the very least, score a run with something as simple as a fly out. Both times he came up empty. Eldridge couldn’t lay off the disappearing sliders from Hurston Waldrep in the 5th and went down chasing. In the 7th, in an unfavorable matchup against lefty Dylan Lee and not wanting to go too deep into the count, he swung at the first pitch he saw and popped it up to second. Schmitt couldn’t pick-up his teammate and deliver a knock of consequence in either instance.
McDonald finished his night with a nasty front door sinker to bag Riley, pitching into the 6th for the first time in four starts while snapping a string of games in which he walked at least three. The outing was a step in the right direction for the starter after a handful of rough-and-ragged appearances. A trio of relievers — Matt Gage, Sam Hentges, and Adrian Houser — also held their ground over the final 3.2 innings. Frustratingly, considering the hole the team was already in when they took over and what happened on Thursday, the ground they protected so admirably wasn’t worth much.
The pitching did a decent job of holding the Braves at bay, but the bats couldn’t find a way to storm back or storm ahead. The result: another disconnected performance for these Giants.
The Colorado Avalanche may have completed the bulk of their offseason work, but Joe Sakic made it clear Friday that the front office is still looking to add before training camp.
Speaking ahead of the opening round of the NHL Draft, Sakic said Colorado hopes to bolster its forward depth while potentially adding another defenseman, although the team's salary cap situation will ultimately determine what is possible.
"We'd still like to sign one or two forwards and a (defenseman)," Sakic said.
After creating cap flexibility through multiple trades over the past two weeks, the Avalanche used some of that space to sign veteran defensemen Brent Burns and Brett Kulak. Even so, Colorado has less than $6 million in cap space, making value signings the most realistic option once free agency opens.
Sakic acknowledged that several difficult roster decisions were made with the salary cap—not performance—in mind.
"Those decisions for us really were cap decisions, free up some space. We couldn't have brought everybody back," Sakic said.
With much of the roster now appearing set, attention now shifts to the two young forwards Colorado acquired from the Nashville Predators. Both Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux are expected to compete for full-time NHL roles next season.
Svechkov, the former first-round pick, drew praise from Sakic for the way he impacts the game beyond the scoresheet.
"Svechkov, he's like a (Chris) Drury," Sakic said. "He's not quite at Drury's level yet, but we think he can get there, and he's only 23."
L'Heureux brings a completely different element. The hard-nosed winger has built a reputation as an agitator who thrives on playing with an edge—something Colorado felt it lacked during its sweep at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final.
"He's going to be exciting for us," Sakic said. "He's type of player that we were looking for. He'd be great for us, we probably wish we had that player in the playoffs."
The challenge for L'Heureux will be channeling that physical style without crossing the line.
The Hockey News previously reported that one of the Avalanche's biggest shortcomings against Vegas was its inability to match the Golden Knights' physicality. L'Heureux undoubtedly addresses that need, but he also arrives with an extensive disciplinary history.
During three seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL, L'Heureux was suspended nine times, including a 10-game suspension after spearing fans following a game. In 2020 alone, he served four separate suspensions. Overall, he has been suspended 12 times throughout his junior and professional career, costing him 39 games.
His NHL résumé has been much cleaner, although he was suspended three games last season for slew-footing Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon. If L'Heureux can maintain his trademark physicality while staying out of the penalty box and avoiding supplemental discipline, he could become exactly the type of player Colorado believes it was missing in the postseason.
The NHL Draft began Friday and concludes Saturday. The Avalanche hold 10 selections across Rounds 2 through 7 as they look to replenish a prospect pool that has been depleted by years of aggressive, win-now moves.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 24: (L-R) Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton attend the Los Angeles premiere of A24's "The Invite" at DGA Theatre on June 24, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brianna Bryson/WireImage)
Hickory starter Dan Keaney made his second start for the Crawdads this season, and still hasn’t allowed a run, going 4.1 IP, striking out six and walking one.
Yolfran Catsillo homered. Dewar Tovar homered and walked. Marco Argudin drew three walks and stole a base. Angel Arredondo had a hit. Daniel Flames had a hit and a walk.
Caden Scarborough started for Hub City and had his first rough outing of the season for the Spartanburgers, giving up four runs in four innings, walking two, striking out three and giving up a homer. Izack Tiger made his second appearance for Hub City this season, striking out two in a shutout inning.
Gleider Figuereo was 2 for 5. Maxton Martin doubled.
Frisco starter Dalton Pence allowed four runs in five innings, striking out five, walking two and giving up a homer.
Rehabbing Evan Carter played center and went 2 for 2 with a walk and a homer before his scheduled departure from the game. Arturo Disla was 2 for 5 with a double. Ian Moller was 2 for 5 with a double. Max Wagner, a second round pick by the Orioles in 2022 who the Rangers signed back in April after Baltimore released him at the end of spring training, had a career game with three homers.
Round Rock starter Josh Stephan went seven innings, allowing four runs, walking two and striking out three. Luis Curvelo allowed two runs in an inning, walking one, hitting one and striking out two. Emiliano Teodo alwo walked one, hit one and struck out two in an inning, though he allowed just one run.
Josh Smith was 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. Cam Cauley had a hit and a stolen base. Aaron Zavala had a hit.
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - JULY 10, 2025: Yonny Hernandez #66 of the Syracuse Mets throws the ball during an International League game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at NBT Bank Stadium on July 10, 2025 in Syracuse, New York. The IronPigs beat the Mets, 2-0. (Photo by Rodger Wood/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Jonah Tong still just doesn’t quite have it. Sure, he only gave up two runs, but the swing and miss isn’t there. The fastball has backed up. The breakers aren’t clicking. Just a lost season as he looks to find a consistent left-right option to use in the big leagues. Anyway, the Mets blew a ninth inning lead but won in extras. Yonny Hernandez had four hits.
The Cyclones managed to overcome a five run inning for the Blue Claws, taking the lead in the seventh and making it stand up. There’s still not a ton of interesting stuff on this roster, but at least they stole a bunch of bases, so that’s fun.
Rough day for Elian Peña who made two errors and got caught stealing in a 6-2 loss. He remains the only real prospect of note on this roster and has cooled off significantly from his early season.
SS Elian Peña: 2-3, RBI, 2 BB, SB (24), 2 E (14), CS (7)
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The Milwaukee Brewers are -170 favorites to extend their winning streak to six games.
With another massive starting pitching advantage, my Cubs vs. Brewers predictions and MLB picks are backing Milwaukee to make it six straight on Saturday night.
Who will win Cubs vs Brewers today: Milwaukee Brewers (-170)
Kyle Harrison’s numbers have dipped over the last month – allowing eight runs against the Athletics will do that – but his process remains elite. He has posted a sparkling 3.12 xFIP and 31 K%.
His strong pitching should continue at home, where he has allowed six runs over eight starts.
While the Chicago Cubs have hit lefties well in June, they rank 19th in average and 23rd in ISO since May 1.
Peterson has allowed at least three runs in four of his past five starts. Things won’t get any easier for him against the Brewers, who sit third in runs scored on home soil this season.
Behind Peterson is a bullpen in dreadful form. Their bullpen owns a 5.15 ERA in June, ranking them 23rd in ERA. They grade out even worse in FIP, besting only the Royals.
Milwaukee’s offense should score early and often in this one, doing the heavy lifting necessary to push this Over the total.
Bet to -115.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 44-32, +3.20 units
Over/Under bets: 40-32-4, +3.99 units
Cubs vs Brewers weather
Temperatures are not expected to reach the 70s, resulting in a small boost to the pitchers.
Cubs vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Cubs +140 | Brewers -160
Run line: Cubs +1.5 (-145) | Brewers -1.5 (+125)
Over/Under: Over 8.0 (-110) | Under 8.0 (-110)
Cubs vs Brewers trend
Milwaukee has won 35 of its past 50 games (+15.50 units, 21% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Brewers.
How to watch Cubs vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Saturday, June 27, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
MARQ, Brewers.TV
Cubs starting pitcher
David Peterson (3-6, 6.09 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.50 ERA)
Cubs vs Brewers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 26: Walker Buehler #10 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at Petco Park on June 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Walker Buehler made his first start as a member of the San Diego Padres against his former team and the right-hander delivered in what turned out to be a 7-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park on Friday night. Dawning the new City Connect 2.0 uniform; Buehler took the mound and delivered another solid performance with 5.1 innings. He allowed one run, a solo home run to Mookie Betts in the top of the second inning, on just three hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Was it a perfect performance? No, but it was what the Padres needed to contain a potent Dodgers lineup.
Ty France hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning to put San Diego ahead, 3-1, but there was no way to know at the time that would be the game-winning hit. Both sides had opportunities throughout the game to add to their run totals, but solid pitching performances and good defense from both teams kept the score at 3-1 until the bottom of the eighth inning when the Padres tacked on four insurance runs, giving Mason Miller the night off while giving the Dodgers a series-opening loss.
San Diego loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth with a single and back-to-back walks. Sung-Mun Song hit a well-placed groundball back through the infield that scored two runs, but France was thrown out trying to go first to third on the play. The play on France allowed Song to move up to second to keep a runner in scoring position with two outs and the score, 5-1. Rodolfo Duran scored Song and replaced him at second base with a double to make the score, 6-1 and Fernando Tatis Jr. capped the scoring with a line drive to center field that brought Duran in to push the score to 7-1.
The relievers who came on for San Diego behind Buehler were the story of the game until the Padres erupted for four runs in the eighth. Yuki Matsui pitched 0.2 innings and allowed one hit and one walk, which was intentional to load the bases, but then he got Max Muncy to pop out and Kyle Tucker to flyout to end the inning. Jason Adam pitched a scoreless seventh inning and recorded a strikeout and Adrian Morejon worked around two hits to complete a scoreless eighth inning. It was setup for Miller to close the game in the ninth, but with four runs added on, San Diego went to Wandy Peralta and the lefty pitched a scoreless ninth inning while allowing a hit to secure the win for the Padres.
San Diego takes on Los Angeles for the second game of the series tonight at 5:40 p.m.
The Padres pursued Roki Sasaki heavily in free agency before he decided to sign with the Dodgers and his start against San Diego on Friday reminded the Friar Faithful about the disappointment with how the pursuit ended.
The good news is that both the MLB owners and the MLBA continue to negotiate. The bad news is they still are not close to reaching an agreement, which is to be expected at this point in the process. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball provides details on the latest proposal.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 05: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees runs to first base during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Jonathan Pensiero/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As the Yankees and Red Sox meet on opposite ends of the American League East standings, neither team can afford to even contemplate where they’d be without the production of their first basemen. For the Yankees, Ben Rice has been the team’s best hitter on the season, and the same can be said of his Boston counterpart, Willson Contreras.
But Rice and Contreras are not just the best hitters for the respective teams. They are both among the best hitters in the American League, and they’ve both gotten to this lofty perch as former catchers that became first basemen.
While the destination is the same, the journey to get there could not have been any more different for Contreras and Rice. With the Yankees’ ex-backstopper, despite Rice playing about twice as many games behind the plate as first base in the minor leagues, New York decided to use him primarily as a first baseman right as he came up. This was partially due to the team’s needs at that point, but also in an effort to maximize the potential of a player whose primary asset was always his bat. Let’s just say that Rice was never going to establish himself as an elite defender behind the plate, and that he was always going to go as far as his bat took him.
Contreras, on the other hand, was always a fairly flexible player, including featuring in a corner outfield in his first season back in 2016, but managed several years of success and became a two-time All-Star, all behind the plate. It wasn’t until last season, after a couple of years with the Cardinals, that an organization decided to give him an extended look at first. The offensive production for Contreras remained good in 2025, but more importantly, he had his healthiest campaign since 2018, featuring in 135 games, 120 of them at first and an extra 15 as the designated hitter. As a primary catcher, he’d only averaged about 100 games played in his previous five full seasons.
Looking to bolster their lineup following the departure of Rafael Devers, the Red Sox took to the trade market in search of reinforcements and found in the Cardinals a willing trade partner. Boston acquired Contreras to be its primary first baseman, and that individual move could not have turned out better for them, even if the rest of the offense has been a letdown, to say the least. Hitting at Fenway has perfectly suited Contreras (.946 OPS at home), on his way to his best season with the bat since 2019, when he OPS’d .888 and was an All-Star for the Cubs.
Both Rice and Contreras are performing well above the standards they had previously set, and while it’d be foolish to tie all of this progress to the fact they’ve recently been completely removed from the efforts of playing catcher, to ignore its positive effect is equally naive. Either of these teams could feasibly take the aggressive route of trying to, at least occasionally, use one of their best hitters as a catcher, given the dire status of the catching market and their depth chart.
Yet, they choose not to, and are rewarded with two of the AL’s best hitters. We don’t have the counterfactual of exactly how either Rice or Contreras would be performing right now if they were still occasionally playing catcher, but it’s easy to envision that they wouldn’t be hitting as well, and perhaps not as often. Contreras in particular has been quite durable, appearing in 77 of Boston’s 79 games this year. Without the burden of learning and managing an entire pitching staff, and without the wear and tear that comes with squatting behind the plate for a few hours every night, both Rice and Contreras have been free to be the best versions of themselves at the plate.
The Boston Red Sox took the first two games against their biggest rivals.
While the Yankees are -125 favorites to take Game 3, my Yankees vs. Red Sox predictions and MLB picks believe the value lies in backing Boston to clinch a series victory on Saturday, June 27.
Who will win Yankees vs Red Sox today: Red Sox moneyline (+105)
Injuries have taken real punch out of the New York Yankees' offense, especially against left-handed pitching.
They have really tailed off in June, ranking 19th in wOBA and 20th in OPS, while striking out at the sixth-highest rate.
The Red Sox are 26th in wOBA vs. right-handed pitching this month, so they’re a team Cole should be able to work his way through even lacking punchouts.
Play the Under to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 44-32, +3.20 units
Over/Under bets: 40-32-4, +3.99 units
Yankees vs Red Sox weather
Temperatures in the mids 70s are expected but with slight winds blowing inwards. Neutral hitting conditions.
Yankees vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: Yankees -125 | Red Sox +105
Run line: Yankees -1.5 (+135) | Red Sox +1.5 (-155)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)
Yankees vs Red Sox trend
The Yankees have hit the Under in 29 of the last 50 away games (+8.10 units, 15% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Yankees vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Saturday, June 27, 2026
First pitch
1:10 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (2-2, 3.62 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Jake Bennett (1-3, 3.71 ERA)
Yankees vs Red Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
With another full slate across the Majors, I've found value in my MLBsame-game parlay predictions.
Dylan Cease will carve up the Texas Rangers this afternoon, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto will help the Los Angeles Dodgers bounce back after a tough loss to their rivals, the San Diego Padres.
Dylan Cease has been one of baseball's premier strikeout pitchers this season, recording 118 strikeouts in 78.2 innings.
He's cleared 7.5 strikeouts in six of his last seven starts while averaging 12.66 K/9 across his last two outings. The Texas Rangers are also striking out 8.93 times per game on the road.
The Toronto Blue Jays hold the edge on the mound, as Cease continues to dominate while Cal Quantrill enters with an 8.46 FIP and a 59.1% hard-hit rate over his last two appearances.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is also swinging the bat well, hitting .280 over his last six games while cashing the Over on total bases in three of those contests
Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Sportsnet, Rangers Sports Network
See full analysis of this game in our Rangers vs Blue Jays predictions.
Reds at Pirates SGP: Burns Leads Reds to Victory
Cincinnati Reds starter Chase Burns sports a 12.66 K/9 mark over his last four starts, and he's cashed the Over in strikeouts in every single outing dating back to May 14. The Pittsburgh Pirates are 28th in team strikeouts.
Burns also has an impressive 2.78 FIP across the last month, allowing just 0.84 HR/9 and a 32.7% hard hit rate. Bucs starter Jared Jones has a 6.11 FIP over his previous two outings, allowing 2.57 HR/9.
Tyler Stephenson carries a .333 average over his last four games into this contest and, most importantly, a 66.7% hard hit rate. Stephenson has cashed the Over in hits in three of his last four appearances.
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Reds.TV
See full analysis of this game in our Reds vs. Pirates predictions.
Dodgers at Padres SGP: Yamamoto Silences San Diego
Yoshinobu Yamamoto continues to pitch like the Los Angeles Dodgers' ace. He owns a 2.17 FIP over his last four starts while limiting opponents to a 27.5% hard hit rate and 2.9% barrel rate. The righty has also allowed Under 1.5 earned runs in five of his last six appearances.
Randy Vasquez takes the ball for the San Diego Padres, and he's struggling. The right-hander has compiled a 6.84 xERA over the last month while posting an alarming 46.2% hard hit rate. It's a clear opportunity for the Dodgers to do damage and ride the wave behind Yamamoto.
Freddie Freeman is one of those hitters who should benefit. He's cashed the Over in total bases in four straight, and Freeman has finished with two hits or more in every single game during that span. The veteran has a 73.3% hard hit rate in his previous six games, and he's 3-for-7 lifetime against Vasquez.
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MLB Network
See full analysis of this game in our Dodgers vs. Padres predictions.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
SGP picks: 0-6, -6.00 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Brayden Burries after he is drafted tenth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Brayden Burries had his name called at the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, one of the people he hugged immediately afterward was Tommy Lloyd. Dressed in a tan blazer and slacks, while the rest of Burries’ family donned black, Lloyd looked like as much like a proud parent as anyone else in the room.
Burries was the first of three Wildcats drafted this week, along with Koa Peat and Jaden Bradley, while two others—Tobe Awaka and Anthony Dell’Orso—signed free agent deals. All ended up in great spots in the opinion of Lloyd, who was as much in the dark about how the draft would play out as anybody.
“There’s a lot of intel flying around, sometimes you don’t know what’s true, what’s not true,” Lloyd said Friday via Zoom.
Burries went 10th overall to the Milwaukee Bucks, while Peat was the last pick of the 1st round and ended up getting picked by the Phoenix Suns. Bradley was a second-round pick of the Toronto Raptors, while Awaka signed a 2-way deal with the Chicago Bulls and Dell’Orso inked a deal to play for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Summer League next month.
Burries became the 18th lottery pick in program history, third in five seasons under Lloyd. And while a few teams before Milwaukee were considering Burries it was a pretty good bet he wouldn’t have lasted much longer had the Bucks passed on him.
“There might have been a certain guy that has a lot of interest in Arizona basketball that was picking right after the Bucks,” Lloyd said, eluding to the Steve Kerr-coached Golden State Warriors, who picked 11th and ended up taking Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg.
Peat, who many draft experts thought should have returned to Arizona for his sophomore season, almost fell out of the first round before the Suns made a last-minute trade to get him. He was technically drafted by the New York Knicks, who had gotten the pick via trade from the Dallas Mavericks, but they selected Peat and then swapped him to Phoenix for three 2nd-round picks.
“We’re thankful for the Suns for choosing him in the first round,” Lloyd said. “I know they started to try to work trades for Koa a lot earlier than the 30th pick. They really wanted him.”
Bradley, who was the 50th selection, ironically was the only played drafted in the second round by a team that was using its own pick. All 29 other selections that round had been swapped at least once, some two or three times.
Lloyd said he’d thought Awaka was going to get picked by the Bulls in the 2nd round, with the 38th pick, but Chicago ended up trading that choice to the Indiana Pacers (who took Purdue’s Braden Smith). After that didn’t happen, though, conversations began about signing Awaka to a free agent deal that will have him split time with the Bulls and their G League team.
“He didn’t get drafted there but he ended up in a situation where I felt he was at the top of their board in the second round,” Lloyd said.
Lloyd said situation can often matter more than draft number, and he feels each of those players ended up in a place where they were both wanted and needed. Burries is going to a team that prior to the draft traded face of the franchise Giannis Antetokounmpo and thus are going in a new direction, which often means focusing on its younger players.
“It’s kind of a restart there,” Lloyd said of Milwaukee. “Brayden’s a guy that we think is ready to play in the NBA, and he ended up in a situation where they have a need.”
Lloyd believes Toronto took Bradley because they feel he can contribute immediately. Immanuel Quickley started 70 games at point guard last season, with Jamal Shead starting the other 12, but minutes should be there for Bradley.
“Jaden is a ready-to-play guy,” Lloyd said. “He impacts winning. Toronto feels like he can come in and carve out a role for him for a long time. All the success that JB’s had and will have in the future is a testament to him.”
The least likely to immediately get into the NBA as a rookie is Dell’Orso, who has no guarantees beyond playing exhibition games this summer. Lloyd doesn’t know if the Australian native plans to try and make a go of it in the G League or head overseas to carve out a career, as have so many other former UA players. Whatever Delly does, though, Lloyd expects it will be successful.
“I know this: Delly is someone I would never bet against,” he said.
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