May 28, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Dillon Dingler (13) flies out in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (26-38) vs. Seattle Mariners (33-31)
Time/Place: 1:10 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site: Lookout Landing Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (2-3, 3.69 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Miller (1-0, 1.71 ERA)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 13: Orion Kerkering #50 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on April 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 13-7. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Does anyone reading this need any reminders about how the NLDS ended in 2025? Didn’t think so.
Orion Kerkering’s 2025 season was disappointing after a very good 2024 where he seemed primed for a future late-inning role. The Phillies let Jeff Hoffman walk for Jordan Romano with the idea that Kerkering would fill a bigger role.
Kerkering struggled to with throwing quality strikes and getting consistent chase. He has always had a knack for generating weak contact but he walked more hitters and struggled to keep the ball on the ground as he did so well before.
There were greater concerns with the overall profile. He backed off throwing his patented sweeper because it wasn’t as good of a shape. He lost three inches of drop and a few more inches of horizontal break in an attempt to throw the pitch a little harder.
Velocity gain is generally a good thing, even on pitches like sweepers that require more movement but it just didn’t play as well. Opponents slugged 81 points better against the offering than they did in 2024 and he was not getting as much chase. The trade off just wasn’t worth it.
He also probably needed another secondary pitch to lefties, even if it was just for show. Left handed hitters had a .738 OPS against him which forced Rob Thomson to utilize him differently. Since Kerkering wasn’t a great option to trust for three hitters, they asked him to pitch dirty innings against certain matchups.
After all of that, Kerkering needed to do at least two things for a better 2026: get the sweeper back to it’s 2024 shape and to develop a second off-speed pitch.
The sweeper profile is now much closer to 2024 with roughly the same amount of vertical drop and only slightly less horizontal movement. Kerkering’s outlier sweeper movement worked not just for getting whiffs but for generating soft contact because hitters don’t often see a pitch like it.
He then developed a splitter. It’s not a great pitch since it has well below average drop but it’s another look for left handed hitters and he can locate it.
With a four-pitch mix, the Phillies now have the flexibility to use his arsenal differently than in the past.
Kerkering’s best strike pitch is without question his sweeper, so he is now throwing it more over the plate to get ahead in counts. Given the movement profile, it’s not as risky a bet because hitters generally don’t hit the pitch hard. Despite the middle-middle location, opponents have a hard hit rate of only 17.9% against his sweeper
(image from BaseballSavant)
With the pitch ending over the middle of the plate a lot, the fastballs should be higher in the zone to stay within the sequence tunnel he is working.
It’s risky, especially since Kerkering does not possess a plus fastball but he throws it at 97.4 mph and hitters will be late when it’s sequenced with the sweeper.
The sinker is more fascinating He is landing the pitch on the inner third of the plate to right handed hitters like he has in the past but it’s higher in the zone. Instead of working a traditional east-west approach, throwing the sinker high and in works off the tunnel.
(image from BaseballSavant)
Finally, there is the splitter that can work below the zone to keep hitters honest. He is throwing it 14% of the time to lefties and it forces them to stay honest on the outside part of the plate.
There are some indicators that a 2.49 ERA is probably on the high end of outcomes. He is not getting the groundballs he once generated in 2024 and is riding the highest strand rate of his career. But this is a pitcher figuring out who he is in real time and getting results in the process.
He's in the same situation that Matthew Schaefer found himself in last draft year, before the New York Islanders selected him first overall.
McKenna knows Schaefer quite well and had glowing things to say about the Islanders' superstar.
"We've played many tournaments together," McKenna said at the 2026 NHL Draft Combine. "He's a character. He's someone who's fun to be around. He brings a lot of energy, and it's no surprise to see how good he's doing. He's a hard worker and very talented, and very skilled. So, I think for everyone who's played with him, and who's got to know him, we are not surprised to see how well he's doing."
Schaefer was the first unanimous Calder Trophy winner since Teemu Selanee back in 1993.
"It's pretty ridiculous to see what he's doing at such a young age," McKenna said. "To be a unanimous Calder Trophy winner, that's pretty special. What he's been through as a person and the energy he brings...he's someone who's always making people laugh, and just brings that good energy. So, I've got to give so much credit to him."
"I think he's obviously going to be an amazing player, and he's shown that."
McKenna is expected to be drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the first selection.
It was a tough day at Murrayfield in the URC semi-final as Glasgow threw away an 18-point lead to lose to the Bulls. Here's what some of the pundits had to say...
Former Warriors flanker John Barclay: Glasgow ripped the Bulls to shreds in the first 30 minutes. They were scrambling. In the second half, Glasgow threw the same pictures at them, but they defended so much better. It's problem-solving.
Huge credit to the Bulls, for problem solving on the hoof. But Franco Smith will be desperately disappointed.
At 21-3 up, they shouldn't lose that game.
Ex-Scotland back-row Johnnie Beattie: I'm struggling to figure out if it was a vastly-improved second-half by the Bulls, which it probably was, or whether Glasgow just fell away entirely.
When Glasgow were on their game, they shredded them. In the second period, when they dropped off by 10-15%, the Bulls were easily allowed back into the game.
They didn't have to do much. Handre Pollard missed nine points from the tee.
Lots of questions for Glasgow, and their season comes to an end with a damp squib. They had the game in their hands and they've let it slip.
Former Glasgow scrum-half Colin Gregor: You've got to credit the Bulls. They were ripped to pieces in the opening 25 minuts but they didn't panic, they backed themselves.
They showed the quality they have, the physicality their game brings. The scrum creaked, the Bulls showed more dominance.
The pressure was too great and the Bulls had enough to get through. The Warriors couldn't get in position to fire the final shot.
Ex-Springbok Jean de Villiers: We always knew the Bulls would be good enough to win this game and second-half they got it right. Strategically, really good.
Glasgow didn't score a single point in the second half. Defensively, the Bulls were much better. It was a well deserved win, although they made it difficult for themselves at times.
Former South Africa legend Schalk Burger: What a turnaround. The Bulls were in real trouble, but all of a sudden Glasgow get Cummings sent off, and what a difference that made.
Glasgow had pretty much no 22-metre entries in that second half. The Bulls got width on the ball, had such nice rhythm, kept it simple.
It was heads-up rugby. The Glasgow defence couldn't set. The physicality of the Bulls was so dominant.
The term most frequently used to describe Knicks fans is “long-suffering.”
One Chicago sports talk radio host has a new suggestion.
“I think Knicks fans are the most obnoxious fans in American sports,” Laurence Holmes declared to co-host Matt Spiegel on their 104.3 The Score afternoon show on Friday.
It’s a rich take coming from Chicago, a city whose NBA team caused the Knicks fan so much pain in the 1990s.
.@LaurenceWHolmes: "I think Knicks fans are the most obnoxious fans in American sports."@MattSpiegs: "I don't believe that's true."
Holmes: "Your nomination?"
Spiegs: "The St. Louis Cardinals."
Holmes: "The St. Louis Cardinals actually have some jewelry of recent vintage." pic.twitter.com/UDkTAgndnQ
Knicks fans outside MSG celebrate the Game 2 victory in the NBA Finals. Aristide Economopoulos for NY PostKnicks fans get excited in NYC during NBA Finals Game 2. Lone Pine Press for NY Post
Of course, the Bulls haven’t been back to the NBA Finals since the last of Michael Jordan’s six titles in 1998 and are in the thick of irrelevancy, so they are doing some suffering of their own.
Spiegel immediately disagreed with Holmes.
“Wow, I don’t believe that’s true,” he said.
Spiegel suggested MLB’s Cardinals for the title of “most obnoxious,” which makes sense given the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.
“The St. Louis Cardinals actually have some jewelry of recent vintage that backs some of their piety,” Holmes said. “But, Knicks fans, y’all ain’t won nothing since the Ford administration.”
Holmes said “good” when told that the Knicks had more losses than any NBA team in the 21st Century entering the 2021 season.
“I’m hoping for four more,” he added.
The Knicks are now two wins away from winning the NBA Finals. Michael Nagle for NY Post
Perhaps sensing that he was making headlines – like this one – in New York, Holmes said, “I cannot wait for this to be played on WFAN when they lose in six (games).”
The whole cast of the program then broke into what sounded like Joe Beningo imitations, mentioning how their program once borrowed WFAN studios for some reason.
Finally, the show’s producer mentioned the Cowboys, who certainly would be a popular choice in a poll of the most-obnoxious fan given their moniker of “America’s Team” and their Bulls-esque drought of no championships since 1995. Yankees fans might place ahead of Knicks fans, too.
May 31, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller (50) walks off the field after the final out of the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-Imagn Images | John Froschauer-Imagn Images
Well, yesterday’s kickoff of a ten-game, three-city ~East Coast road trip could have gone better, with the M’s falling 7-3 to the Tigers in a rainy, muddy mess and J.P. Crawford needing to leave the game thanks to a Framber Valdez hit-by-pitch. It’s a new day today, though, and what better time to bounce back than some breakfast ball and a newly piggyback-less Bryce Miller on the mound?
Lineups:
X-rays for Crawford’s hand yesterday were thankfully negative, but it is zero surprise at all that he is out of the lineup today. Colt Emerson will move over to shortstop, Patrick Wisdom steps in at the hot corner, and Cole Young will slide up to the leadoff spot for the second time of the season.
Detroit’s first seven hitters are unchanged from yesterday, with the exception of rookie sensation Kevin McGonigle being at shortstop rather than third base and Colt Keith taking over duties there, but Matt Vierling and Wenceel Pérez will be patrolling center and right field respectively.
PICKING UP THE PIECES: The Cubs are 10-10 in second games of series, but have lost seven of eight, with their only win at St. Louis on May 30. They are 5-5 in second games at home, but 1-4 after having lost first games. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TOO MANY RUNS ALLOWED: Yesterday’s 18-3 debacle was the fifth game this season in which the Cubs gave up double-digit runs. They won the next game after three of the previous four, most recently by 10-4 at Pittsburgh on May 27, the day after a 12-1 loss. They did it once at home, losing to the Nationals on Opening Day, 10-4, then beating them, 10-2. Since 2014, the Cubs are 64-60 in games after allowing at least 10 runs. They have given up an average of 4.6 runs in those games. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
RUN DIFFERENTIAL: With their 18-3 loss yesterday, the Cubs’ run differential for the season is down to +3: 299 scored, 296 allowed. The last time it was lower was April 6, when it was +1, 41-40, after a 6-4 loss at Tampa. That was their 10th game of the season. Their peak was +56, 215-159, on May 8, after a 7-1 win at Texas that was the last of the Cubs’ second 10-game winning streak. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
PCA, STREAKING: Pete Crow-Armstrong is on a 10-game hitting streak in which he is batting .366/.447/.659 (15-for-41) with three doubles, three home runs, seven RBI and seven runs scored.
— MLB Daily Lineups (@DailyMLBLineups) June 6, 2026
Ben Brown, RHP vs. Landen Roupp, RHP
Ben Brown has been just outstanding since he joined the Cubs rotation.
Over those five starts: 1.73 ERA, 1.79 FIP, 0.846 WHIP, 29 strikeouts in 26 innings. NO home runs. In fact, Brown hasn’t allowed a home run since he gave one up to Jacob Young of the Nationals on Opening Day — the very first batter he faced this year.
Keep up the great work, Ben.
Landen Roupp had a decent year for the Giants in 2025, and this year was doing all right until the Brewers pounded him this past Monday with eight runs in five innings. He walked five Brewers, and walks have been an issue for him at times this year.
Roupp last faced the Cubs May 5, 2025 at Wrigley Field and allowed four runs (two earned) in five innings. Ian Happ homered off him.
Please visit our SB Nation Giants site McCovey Chronicles. If you do go there to interact with Giants fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
With the Avalanche’s front office reshuffling bringing Joe Sakic back into full control, Colorado suddenly finds itself steady at the top—but staring down a series of decisions that will quietly define whether its championship window stays wide open or starts to narrow.
Chris MacFarland’s departure has shifted day-to-day authority back to Sakic, even if his fingerprints were already all over the organization’s recent direction. The core remains elite, but maintaining that status in a rising Western Conference will require precision work across contracts, roster balance, and internal stability.
Cale Makar
Cale Makar is arguably the Avalanche’s most impactful player, but Colorado isn’t built around any single name—it’s built around a group that all feeds into what they’re trying to accomplish as a team.
Cale Makar takes the ice against the Vegas Golden Knights on May 24. Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie
Still, it’s impossible to ignore how central he is to everything they do.
Eligible for an extension beginning July 1, Makar is in position to reset the market entirely for defensemen, with projections climbing into the $20 million range annually. He will be 27 at the start of the 2026-27 season, still squarely in his prime years, with the kind of runway that makes long-term investment less a question of “if” than “how much.”
Colorado’s cap outlook suggests they can make it work, with roughly $37.7 million projected for 2027-28 when a new deal would likely kick in. But the challenge isn’t just fitting Makar in—it’s building everything around him while also planning for future extensions for key pieces like Artturi Lehkonen and Nicolas Roy.
This isn’t just a contract negotiation. It’s the framework for the next era of Avalanche hockey.
Fixing The Back End With A Left-Handed Defenseman
If Makar is the centerpiece, then the real question for Colorado is what the blue line looks like around him—and right now, that’s where they still have some work to do.
One of the most obvious needs is a dependable left-handed defenseman. Not a flashy swing-for-the-fences pickup, but someone who can settle things down in the second and third pairings, take some pressure off the top guys, and survive the long grind of an 82-game season before things get even heavier in April.
Around the league, that kind of addition usually isn’t about headlines—it’s about trust. It’s the type of defenseman who can handle tough minutes, move the puck cleanly, and not get exposed when the game tightens up in the playoffs. In a win-now window, those quieter pieces often matter more than people realize.
If I were Colorado, Ryan Shea is exactly the kind of player I’d be looking at.
He’s simple in the best way. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder, stays in the right spots, closes quickly, and uses an active stick to take away plays before they really develop. A lot of what he does doesn’t jump off the screen, but you notice it in the flow of the game—broken-up passes, plays killed early, pressure diffused before it turns into chaos.
Shea before taking on the New York Islanders on April 9. Credit: Luther Schlaifer
He’s also got enough size and strength to hold his own in a bottom-four role over an NHL schedule. Add in penalty-kill ability, and you’re already checking off an important box for a contender. And when he’s moving the puck well, he’s not just throwing it away—he can make a clean first pass and help Colorado get out of their zone with control, which is something they’ve had lapses with at times.
It’s not a glamorous move, but it’s the kind of one that helps good teams stay stable when everything tightens up.
Center Depth Behind Nathan MacKinnon
No matter how strong the top of the lineup looks, depth down the middle remains the Avalanche’s most persistent concern.
Nathan MacKinnon continues to drive everything offensively, but the group behind him has yet to fully settle into reliable, consistent roles. Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, Nic Roy, and Jack Drury have all flashed usefulness in different situations, but the overall structure still leans heavily on MacKinnon carrying the hardest matchups and most demanding minutes.
That imbalance becomes more pronounced in the playoffs, where depth centers aren’t asked to be stars—but are expected to avoid being liabilities. Even modest improvements in that area would give Jared Bednar more flexibility in managing matchups, distributing minutes, and protecting his top players over long stretches.
For a team built to contend, it’s less about finding another headline scorer and more about closing the gaps that opponents inevitably try to expose.
Stability Behind The Bench And The Bednar Question
Beyond roster decisions, there’s another piece of stability Colorado can’t really afford to overlook—what’s happening behind the bench.
Jared Bednar has been a constant through everything the Avalanche have built, and his system is a big reason they’ve stayed in the contender conversation year after year. That’s why an extension feels less like a formality and more like something that would settle things down. It’s not about rewriting his resume—it’s about removing a question that can quietly linger as a season moves along.
Keeping Jared Bednar should be a priority to eliminate a distraction with the Cup window still open. Credit: Winslow Townson
Because even when everything is going well, you don’t want unnecessary uncertainty creeping in. Once a coach is heading into the final stretch of a contract, it can become a talking point whether the team wants it to or not. Locking Bednar in longer would simply take that off the board and let the focus stay on the ice.
It also helps keep things steady at a time when Colorado is already adjusting parts of the roster around a core that knows exactly what winning hockey looks like. The less distraction around the edges, the easier it is to stay locked in on the bigger goal.
With Sakic back in full control, the real question is whether that stability turns into another real push at a championship—or just another strong season that falls a little short when it matters most.
The Pittsburgh Penguins should not be afraid to add to their roster this off-season. This is especially so if an addition would have the potential to benefit them in the long-term.
When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, New York Islanders star Mathew Barzal stands out as an interesting potential option for the Penguins to target.
The Ottawa Citizen's Bruce Garrioch recently reported that the Islanders are exploring Barzal's market. With Barzal being a top-six forward who is right in his prime and locked up until the end of the 2030-31 season, it would make a lot of sense for the Penguins to at least kick tires on him.
If the Penguins signed Barzal, he could slot nicely as their second-line center behind Sidney Crosby. Barzal centering a line with Egor Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin would undoubtedly give Pittsburgh's forward group a real boost.
Furthermore, with Sidney Crosby and Malkin both being in their last 30s, bringing in a star center like Barzal would make a lot of sense for the Penguins.
In 81 games this season with the Islanders, Barzal posted 19 goals, 53 assists, and 72 points. With numbers like these, he would be a major pickup for the Penguins' top six and power play if brought in. Let's see if they target him from here because of it.
The 2026 NHL offseason continues as the Stanley Cup Final has a maximum of five games remaining, the NHL Draft approaches, and free agency follows closely. No major transactions have been completed, but the rumor mill continues to churn.
Discussion surrounding the Anaheim Ducks has quieted a bit now that their season is further in the rearview and most of the major national outlets' offseason trade boards have been released.
Three items that remain in reports, rumors, and speculations are the future of young Ducks forward Mason McTavish (23), open head coaching vacancies, and the potential for a trade with the St. Louis Blues.
Mason McTavish
Numerous NHL clubs are interested in adding to their center crop this offseason, but the list of available targets is minuscule. McTavish, as one of the few speculated as available, given his lack of production in 2025-26 and healthy scratches down the stretch, remains in potential trade discussions with reports of interested teams emerging.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen and TSN wrote about the potential of the Ottawa Senators acquiring McTavish. The speculation is driven by McTavish’s connection to owner Michael Andlauer and president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staois from their time together with the then Hamilton Bulldogs. The Sens also employ McTavish’s father, Dale, as a pro scout for the organization.
In his column, Garrioch reported teams who are believed to have an interest in adding McTavish.
“Teams have been calling to see if he’s available,” Garrioch wrote. “It’s believed the Philadelphia Flyers would be among the teams that would show interest in McTavish because they need help in the middle, along with the Montreal Canadiens. But the Senators and any other suitors for McTavish would have to be willing to pay a high price, including a first-round pick and someone who can help the Ducks immediately, although the term and money left on McTavish’s contract may lower the asking price a bit.”
Philadelphia-based writer Anthony Di Marco from Daily Faceoff furthered the connection between the Flyers and McTavish in a piece on the club’s reported interest in Ducks pending UFA defenseman John Carlson.
“The Flyers’ top priority remains finding a center capable of playing in the top-six,” Di Marco wrote. "The options for high-end centers who are available are few and far between across the league. But two targets that the Flyers like are the Ducks’ Mason McTavish and Seattle Kraken’s Matty Beniers.”
As the draft approaches, through free agency, and likely beyond, McTavish’s name will remain a fixture in potential trade discussion and speculation unless, of course, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek states he’s unavailable or a credible report surfaces claiming the same.
Jay Woodcroft/Coaching Vacancies
The Vancouver Canucks recently announced the hiring of new head coach Manny Malhotra, leaving just three NHL head coaching jobs vacant for the 2026-27 season: Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vegas Golden Knights. The Los Angeles Kings have DJ Smith listed as their “interim” head coach, but they’re in the midst of a search as well.
Conflicting reports have emerged out of Toronto on whether Ducks assistant coach Jay Woodcroft interviewed with the Maple Leafs. Insider Frank Seravalli has stated Woodcroft interviewed via Zoom with Toronto, but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the opposite and claimed Woodcroft is a frontrunner for the Kings’ job.
“I do not believe Toronto has asked permission to talk to him,” Friedman said on his ’32 Thoughts’ podcast. “I think it’s quite possible Toronto doesn’t ask to talk to him. He’s interviewed in LA, and I think he’s got to be a legit contender there.”
Friedman reiterated his thoughts later in the week on a more recent episode of his podcast, saying, “LA, it sounds like Jay Woodcroft and DJ Smith. But if there’s someone else there, I’m not seeing it right now.”
What it appears Friedman and Seravalli can agree on is that Woodcroft’s future as an NHL head coach to start the 2026-27 season is more of a “when,” not an “if.”
“I do believe he’s going to be a head coach in this cycle. The question is, where?” Seravalli stated on Sportsnet’s ‘Big Show with Rusic & Rose.’
The Leafs are reported to be casting a wide net when it comes to their coaching search. Names like Peter Laviolette and Patrick Roy are reported to have been interviewed, as has a blast from the Ducks’ past, Dallas Eakins.
“He (Eakins) interviewed with the Maple Leafs,” The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta stated on the ‘Daily Faceoff Rundown’ show. “Add him officially to the list of candidates in the mix for the job in Toronto.”
Eakins coached for eight seasons in the Anaheim Ducks organization from 2015 to 2023, including four as head coach of the San Diego Gulls from 2015 to 2019 and four as head coach of the Ducks from 2019 to 2023. For the last four seasons, Eakins has been head coach and sports manager for Alder Mannheim of the DEL, Germany’s top professional men’s ice hockey league.
Ducks X Blues
Lastly, the St. Louis Blues continue to have interesting rumors swirling around them in the infancy stages of the offseason. They were the NHL’s second-worst team (tied) at the 2026 trade deadline, but finished just four points out of a playoff spot. Roster pieces like Robert Thomas (26), Jordan Kyrou (28), and Colton Parayko (33) had surfaced as options to be moved as the team shifts to a younger core.
As of Friday night, Thomas’ name can be erased from that list, as St. Louis-based reporter/host Andy Strickland tweeted, “Robert Thomas trade rumors can be put to rest,” and to expect Thomas in a Blues jersey at training camp.
However, Kyrou and Parayko remain seemingly available, with Pagnotta continuing to link the Ducks and Blues via thefourthperiod.com.
“The Anaheim Ducks were linked to the St. Louis Blues blueliner Colton Parayko prior to the trade deadline. It wouldn’t come as a shock if these talks are revisited,” Pagnotta wrote.
The NHL Draft Combine is in full swing, an event that has become a marquee date on the NHL schedule, as all 32 teams have front office representation at the week-long event. One has to imagine temperatures will be taken, tires will be kicked, and potential frameworks for deals will be discussed.
Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony appear to be inching closer to a resolution.
In an exclusive interview with The Post, Lin said his team and Anthony’s are in talks to “clear the air” with a podcast appearance, with one important caveat.
“I know our teams are in contact,” Lin said after being invited by Anthony to appear on his podcast. “My desire is still the same. I’d like to have a private conversation before having a public recorded conversation. That’s my goal right now — to be able to have that private conversation. Would love, of course, to go on the podcast and talk about those things. And talk about things publicly afterward.”
Carmelo Anthony talks before the State Farm 3-Point Contest as a part of State Farm All-Star Saturday on Saturday, February 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NBAE via Getty Images
Lin added that he wasn’t sure exactly what the issues were with Anthony, or whether it was related to how they played together.
“I can guess [what the issues are], but I don’t think it would do Melo justice for me to guess what I think he might mean,” Lin continued.
Anthony had said he wanted Lin to come on the podcast to “come speak the truth.”
“Let’s have a conversation, let’s clear the air on a lot of bulls–t that’s out there, please,” Anthony continued. “And I love what you’re doing right now, man.”
Jeremy Lin speaks onstage during TAAF Heritage Month Summit and Celebration on May 14, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images for The Asian Ameri
“I do think a private conversation would go a long way in terms of being able to work through, talk through, go back and hash things out about how things ended,” Lin added. “I think that would be super healthy, so I think that would be amazing. You can sense and tell that there’s not that hostility or ill will. Or not rooting for the other person. It’s just something that we can go back and have that discussion about.”
Lin’s exit from the Knicks was a bit controversial, as he ignited New York for a few weeks during the 2011-12 season while Anthony was out with a groin injury before the Knicks season fell apart, leading to a first-round playoff exit.
Lin departed from the Knicks in free agency when he signed the infamous “poison pill” three-year $25 million contract with the Rockets, which was backloaded to be worth $15 million in year three.
At the time, Anthony called the contract “ridiculous.”
According to authorities, an officer was punched while trying to stop a fan who refused to leave the area. The woman jumped a barricade and ran into a restricted area.
Nearly 7,000 fans showed up to the World's Most Famous Arena to celebrate New York's 105-104 victory, bringing them two wins closer to their first championship since 1973. But authorities said 26 of those fans left the area in handcuffs, as 17 people were arrested and charged and nine others were issued criminal court summonses for disorderly conduct and released.
Karely Reyes, 29, was charged with assault, resisting arrest and obstruction of government administration for the incident with the police officer.
“A victory celebration shouldn’t end with blood pouring down a police officer’s face,” Police Benevolent Association President Pat Hendry said in a statement. “Our sister was just doing her job, trying to keep everyone safe in the pandemonium following the Knicks Game 2 win when an individual jumped over a barrier and punched her in the face hard enough to leave a bloody gash.”
“This is completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” Hendry added. “We will be in court to make sure this individual faces the consequences she deserves.”
The NYPD had more than 1,000 officers on patrol at the MSG watch party.
Game 3 is Monday, June 8 at Madison Square Garden, and security will be on high alert once again as President Donald Trump is expected to attend.
A superfan who works as a nail technician paid homage to New York’s basketball team by painting its players on her nails — and the results are All-Star adorable.
The talented tech, who goes by Tamami, painstakingly drew the faces of Jalen Brunson, Jordan Clarkson and Karl-Anthony Towns with polish — down to even the details of their facial hair — on one hand.
The talented tech drew the faces of Jalen Brunson, Jordan Clarkson and Karl-Anthony Towns with polish on one hand. Instagram/tamaminails
Then, she painted each of their jerseys — home white, blue away and black alternates — on the same fingers of her other hand, so when she placed her two hands together, their entire bodies were formed.
During Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday, she posted her impressive artwork on Instagram — and it won the hearts of fellow Knicks fans — who rushed to the comments section, calling them “iconic.”
“You slayed these,” one gushed.
“THESE ARE EVERYTHING,” another added.
Even a Knicks hater shared her admiration of the nail art, saying:
“Ok these are TOO good! Sincerely, a Celtics fan!”
The Stanley Cup Finals head to T-Mobile Arena for a pivotal Game 3 as the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes fight for a 2-1 series lead.
Some of the top scorers in the series are still undervalued, which is why my Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights goal-scorer props highlight Pavel Dorofeyev, Logan Stankoven, and Brett Howden.
Read my full NHL picks for Saturday, June 6, below.
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights goal scorer predictions for Game 3
Player to score a goal
Odds
Pavel Dorofeyev
+205
Logan Stankoven
+240
Brett Howden
+280
💲Goal scorer parlay
+1750
Goal scorer pick: Pavel Dorofeyev (+205)
Pavel Dorofeyev hasn’t found the back of the net yet in the Stanley Cup Final, but the Vegas Golden Knights winger is on the precipice of breaking out.
Dorofeyev leads all skaters in the Final in individual expected goals (0.94), with nine shot attempts and six scoring chances through the first two games.
He’s been a relatively slow starter in each series this postseason – he didn’t score until Game 4 of the first and second rounds. But when Dorofeyev does score, the goals tend to come in bunches.
I think he’s fairly priced tonight – don’t play this past +200.
Eight of his goals have come at even strength, where he leads all players this postseason in shots (43). His 18 high-danger chances at even strength are tied for sixth among all skaters, and he’s had one in each game of the Final so far.
Stankoven is part of Carolina’s dangerous second line, which has been the best trio in the series. They controlled 74% of expected goals in Game 2 and 63% in Game 1.
Play Stankoven up to +200.
Goal scorer pick: Brett Howden (+280)
After scoring just 12 goals in the regular season, Brett Howden has been an unlikely source of offense for the Golden Knights these playoffs, leading the league with 13 tallies.
Howden has found the back of the net in each of the first two games of the Final, using his speed to get in behind the Hurricanes' defense.
His four high-danger chances at even strength are tied for the most among all skaters in the series, while his 19 high-danger looks this postseason are tops on Vegas.
I’ll play Howden’s hot hand up to +240 tonight.
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights anytime goal parlay
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.
CINCINNATI, OH - MAY 31: Spencer Strider #99 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Sunday, May 31, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hey, you, reading this. Who is the Pittsburgh Pirates’ best starter? Paul Skenes, yeah? That’s an easy one. But, who’s the Pirates’ second-best starter? Well, if you read the title of this post, you probably have an inkling… it’s Braxton Ashcraft.
The 26-year-old Texan was taken 51st overall in the 2018 MLB Draft. Despite a series of serious injuries (meniscus, Tommy John Surgery) as he developed in the minors, he made his MLB debut last year in a swing role, and seriously impressed in a manner commensurate with his draft pedigree and top prospect status: a 63 ERA-, 68 FIP-, and 86 xFIP- in 69 2/3 innings spanning eight starts and 18 relief appearances, good for 1.6 fWAR.
Fully ascended to the rotation in 2026, Ashcraft has nearly rivaled Skenes in effectiveness so far. He’s made 12 starts, lasted 74 2/3 innings, and already has 2.0 fWAR with a 66/74/76 line. For the record, Skenes is at 74/64/71 this year (2.2 fWAR in 13 starts), so… that’s quite a one-two punch they’re packing in Pittsburgh these days.
How does Ashcraft do it? Well, mostly how you’d expect. He throws really hard (97 mph average on his heater) and has almost-excellent command. The only pitch that has notable inconsistency in mechanics is his curve, but when you’re fending off a 97 mph four-seamer and a 91 mph slider-cutter thing, it gets harder to punish an 85 mph curve that works more like a traditional slider with a bunch more depth, even if Ashcraft mostly tends to throw it in the zone. Does he have any weaknesses? Lefties tend to do okay against him when they’re not swinging through that curve, so the Braves’ best bet might be for Michael Harris II and company to guess a fastball or slider/cutter and let loose.
Ashcraft is also coming off a pretty dominant outing against the Twins with an 11/0 K/BB ratio in six innings, so… good luck, Braves!
On the flip side, the Braves will hand the ball to a once-dominant phenom who is still figuring out what his career will look like going forward. Spencer Strider comes into the game with a 91/116/93 line in 31 innings (six starts). The run prevention results for him and his defense are above-average, and his pitching’s been in that range as well… but boy, those homers. Strider started his season with just one longball against him in his first three starts, but then the Marlins hit three off him, and the Red Sox tagged him for two first-inning dingers in Boston. He rebounded with a very nice outing against the Reds (8/2 K/BB ratio, his best start of the year in six tries so far)… except that Ronald Acuña Jr. concentrated a series of defensive flubs in right field into the same game, and things didn’t go quite so great for the Braves in a loss — their first defeat in a Strider start this year.
Will the Braves win the set this afternoon, or will they need to rely on a rubber game victory to do so? Stay tuned and find out.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, June 6, 4:10 p.m. EDT
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: BravesVision
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
Pavel Dorofeyev 
Logan Stankoven