TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 13: Paul Goldschmidt #48 of the New York Yankees celebrates his two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a game in which the inactive players on both teams could fill most of an All-Star Game lineup, two outstanding pitchers took full advantage. Aaron Judge, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Trent Grisham, and Alejandro Kirk were just some of the names that weren’t featured in the starting lineups. So all Kevin Gausman and Cam Schlittler did was complete respective seven-inning, one-run performances. After that, it was a matter of seeing which bullpen would blink first. Mercifully, it was Toronto’s: Paul Goldschmidt’s two-run home run off Louis Varland in the ninth inning proved the backbreaker as the Bombers got their first win north of the border in almost 11 months.
Gausman had the better of the two outings, if we wish to split hairs. He cruised past the Yankee lineup all day with his signature splitter and all of his other pitches working like a charm. While Toronto threatened at various points throughout the early part of the afternoon, the Bombers only managed a single hit against the veteran—thankfully, said hit cleared the wall.
Per YES Network’s Jason Smyth, Jasson Domínguez arrived at Rogers Centre from his Triple-A stint at Lehigh Valley at 2 p.m. sharp, arrived to the ballpark, at 3, then homered to right field at exactly 4 p.m. in the fourth inning. A wonderful bit of timing for the Martian, who hooked the ball down the right field line to put the Yankees on the board.
That blast followed the opening salvo of the afternoon from Kazuma Okamoto, which came in the bottom of the third. Schlittler fired a 98 mph two-seam fastball up and in on Okamoto, but he still managed to turn it around and send a screaming liner down the left field line for his 15th homer of the season.
Schlittler’s command was not as airtight as Gausman’s; the young star had his issues with baserunners at several points throughout the afternoon. In the second inning, he loaded the bases with two out, but managed to retire Andres Giménez and the side on a grounder.
In the fourth, a double by Yohendrick Piñango put two runners on scoring position with only one out, at which point Jazz Chisholm Jr. put on his superhero cape. With the infield drawn in, he still had the reflexes and speed to make a diving catch on a line drive from Vlad Jr.’s mini-me for this ballgame, Charles McAdoo. A strikeout of Giménez once again rendered the Jays foiled.
But if you know how jays are in the avian world: they’re loud, persistent, and quite obnoxious. So there they were again, gathering around the feeder with two men aboard and none out after Schlittler’s waning command led to some free passes. No matter. Schlittler shooed them off by inducing a ground ball double play from Okamoto and blowing a fastball past outfielder Jesus Sánchez to walk off again unscathed.
Two innings later, Cam struck out Nathan Lukes swinging to finish his afternoon with another outstanding start in the books. It was another shining example of how dangerous Schlittler is: even with subpar command and having allowed ten runners to reach—six by hit and four by walk—the only run came on a solo homer, the kind of hit a pitcher can easily move past. Schlittler was certainly upset with himself at certain junctures, but he never let that frustration boil over into a big inning.
Gausman, of course, was utterly dominant. He completed his outing with a 1-2-3 seventh inning, finishing with seven strikeouts, two walks, and just the one solo homer.
In the top of the eighth it looked as if the mice would finally play with the cat away. J.C. Escarra and Ben Rice each singled off submariner Tyler Rogers to give the Yankees their first hit since Domínguez’ home run, setting up a two-out go-ahead RBI opportunity for… Domínguez. Jasson hit Rogers’ 2-1 delivery hard on the ground toward the right field line, but McAdoo sprawled to his right to corral the ball and save a run—possibly two.
If you were frustrated after that, I understand. But for once, the Jays and their fans had more reasons to be frustrated today. Fernando Cruz inherited Schlittler’s topsy-turvy command, working a pair of walks in quick succession to start the bottom of the eighth. But when Ernie Clement botched his sac bunt attempt, I’m sure some doubt began to creep in.
Cruz struck out Brandon Valenzuela before letting a third Jay aboard via walk, giving Toronto another tantalizing chance for a big hit. Instead, McAdoo popped a ball into foul territory, and Rice snagged it a few steps shy of the dugout. The Blue Jays had now stranded 10 runners on base.
Enter the ninth. The Yankees were searching for catharsis akin to Ben Rice’s big blast the last time they had won at Rogers Centre. They got it from Paul Goldschmidt.
If you didn’t think the ball was gone off the swing, Louis Varland’s hunched reaction probably gave it away. Varland hung a slider right over the heart of the plate, and Goldy provided a prime Paul Goldschmidt swing, obliterating it to the second deck for the decisive two-run blow.
Goldschmidt’s ninth home run of his thrilling age-38 season took all the remaining wind out of the Jays’ sails, as David Bednar struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory. It was the Yankees’ first win in Toronto since July 22nd of last season, and was it ever a sweet one.
Now they’ll look for something that hasn’t felt possible in a while: a series win in Rogers Centre. Will Warren is set to lead the charge against everyone’s favorite lefty, Patrick Corbin. First pitch is set for the extremely Canadian 1:37 timeslot on YES.
BALTIMORE — San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts was struck in the helmet by a pitch and removed from the game two innings later Saturday, June 13 at Camden Yards.
Baltimore Orioles starter Trey Gibson's 93-mph sinker struck Bogaerts near the left ear hole in the top of the fifth inning. He stayed on the ground several minutes, attended to by a Padres trainer.
Bogaerts eventually got to his feet and, after a few tests, walked to first base. But he was removed from the game two innings later, replaced at shortstop by Sung-Mun Song with the Padres leading 6-2.
Bogaerts, 33, is batting .231 with eight homers and a .665 OPS this season.
Moments after Bogaerts was lifted from the game, the Padres also lost starting catcher Freddy Fermin, who was injured when reliever Yuki Matsui bounced a warm-up pitch and the ball struck Fermin in the side of the head. Fermin was replaced by backup Rodolfo Duran.
Yuki Matsui spikes one warming up and Freddy Fermin exits. Bogaerts also has left the game with Song replacing him pic.twitter.com/4fvvWxnmPE
As the Edmonton Oilers kick the tires on hiring Mike Babcock as their next head coach, their interest has not only touched off an NHL investigation, but it's also sparked a series of player anecdotes, both old and new, about Babcock's poor behaviour over the years.
Former Senators defenseman Jason York shared a doozy this week.
In 2002, York had established himself as an NHL regular. He had played the previous five years as a full-timer in Ottawa, and after his trade to Anaheim, he played another full season under Bryan Murray and was the Mighty Ducks' second-leading scorer among defensemen.
The Hockey News' The Wrap Around discussed the idea of Jake DeBrusk as a fit in Ottawa.
The following season, when Murray became the Ducks' GM, Mike Babcock was given his first NHL head coaching job. He had been coaching Anaheim's minor-league team in Cincinnati, and before he'd coached even a single game, his mind games began.
Running his first NHL training camp, Babcock suddenly separated York and teammates Denny Lambert and German Titov from the rest of the Ducks' team and made them skate on their own with no coach or goalie through most of training camp.
"He put us all in the room with the minor league guys," York recalled this week on the Coming in Hot podcast. "As soon as I saw that, I went right into Babcock's office. And this is what I don't like. He lied to my face.
"He said, 'Yorky, don't worry about it. The guys respect you. I need to get their attention. So I'm just doing this to make sure that everybody knows there's going to be change. You're one of my guys, you're going to be in the top four. Don't worry about it.'
"So that's what I don't like, instead of saying, 'Hey, you're not part of the plans, we're going to be getting rid of you. We're probably going to send you down because you're not a fit here.' Fine, then you get ahead of it, right? But this went on for two weeks."
York didn't end up in the top four in Anaheim that season. He started the year in the American Hockey League before being traded to Nashville, while Titov and Lambert never played again in the NHL.
York felt like it unnecessarily devalued his stock as a player, which was proven by what Anaheim got for him in a trade with the Predators. York still remembers the call from his agent, Pat Morris, who had just gotten off the phone with Nashville assistant GM Ray Shero.
"Pat was like, 'Nashville's calling, and they're wondering what's wrong with you? Like, what happened? Did you do something? Did you get caught for curfew? Are you bad in the room? Are you a bad seed?
"And Pat's like, 'No.' So Nashville ended up getting me (in a trade) for a dollar bill. I was like the bet from the movie Trading Places."
York says that, years later, he confronted Babcock, who blamed everything on Bryan Murray.
"Then I sat down with Bryan about it, and Bryan said it was all Babs' idea to do it. And I believe Bryan over him. But I'm not bitter about it anymore. What are you going to do? For me, it's just this. You can do whatever you want, to some extent, especially back then as a coach.
"But just be honest. Don't lie."
York played as a full-timer the next two seasons in Nashville before the lockout hit.
His negative experience with Babcock is one of several making the rounds as the Edmonton Oilers try to bring him in as their new head coach. The 63-year-old's behaviour didn't fly back in the day, but for some reason, the Oilers see him as their answer seven years after he coached his last game.
What's probably not being talked about enough is Babcock's lack of recent playoff success, which is the biggest part of the puzzle the Oilers are looking to solve.
Babcock's recent playoff record:
2012 DET - 1-4 2013 DET - 7-7 2014 DET - 1-4 2015 DET - 3-4 2016 TOR - Out 2017 TOR - 2-4 2018 TOR - 3-4 2019 TOR - 3-4 2020-2026 - Didn't coach
Unless Babcock has managed to undergo some kind of extreme makeover, it sure doesn't seem like the juice is worth the squeeze.
MLB Colorado Rockies pitcher Eiberson Castellano | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Today, the Colorado Rockies announced a series of roster moves, most notably, the promotion of RHP Eiberson Castellano from Triple-A Albuquerque.
The 25 year old will be making his Major League debut with his first appearance, bringing to eight the total number of Rockies MLB debuts this season.
There was some hint of this move as Castellano was highlighted last weekend by president of baseball operations Paul DePodsta wheo said of the righty, “Eiberson Castellano made his first start last night in Triple-A. He had done really, really well in Double-A, had a terrific start last night, went six shutout in his first Triple-A game.”
Last week, Castellano was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week after throwing those six scoreless innings DePodesta referred to. Castellano allowed one hit, two walks and seven strikeouts in that game against the Salt Lake Bees.
Prior to his promotion to Albuquerque, Castellano went 4-2 with a 2.72 ERA (53.0 IP, 16 ER) in 10 starts with Double-A Hartford. His was the second-lowest ERA in the Eastern League.
The native of Maracaibo, Venezeuala, was signed by Colorado to a Minor League contract on December 5, 2025 after spending the first five seasons of his professional career in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. In 109 career Minor League appearances (48 starts), has gone 21-16 with a 3.78 ERA (333.1 IP, 140 ER), 137 walks and 390 strikeouts.
Castellano’s promotion was not the only news.
The Rockies also optioned right-handed pitcher Jeff Criswell to Albuquerque. As a reminder, Criswell is just coming off Tommy John surgery. In two innings pitched over two games, he has a 0.00 ERA
Finally, right-handed pitcher Valente Bellozo cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A.
The Yankees were stymied by Blue Jays pitching for eight innings, but Paul Goldschmidt's two-run shot in the ninth lifted New York to a 3-1 win over Toronto on Saturday afternoon.
New York had just one run and three hits until the ninth, but the veteran first baseman took Blue Jays closer Louis Varland deep for his ninth home run of the season. Varland entered Saturday having allowed two earned runs and no home runs.
That long ball flipped the game on its head as the Yankees took the middle game of the three-game set.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Cam Schlittler battled around six hits and four walks, allowing just one run on a homer over 7.0 innings with seven strikeouts.
He opened with a 1-2-3 first inning, including two strikeouts, and then found a way to escape a bases-loaded situation in the second inning to keep the game scoreless. Schlittler forced back-to-back groundouts in the third, but let up a two-out solo home run to Kazuma Okamoto as the Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead.
The right-hander avoided more trouble in the fourth inning with runners on second and third base, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. made a spectacular diving catch and Andres Gimenez went down swinging. Schlittler's shaky openings of innings continued with two straight walks in the fifth, but once again evaded damage thanks to a double play and another strikeout. He got another double play to get through the sixth and closed the seventh with a strikeout.
-- Jasson Dominguez was reinstated from the IL earlier Saturday and returned to the lineup for the first time since May 7, starting in right field for the first time in his major league career. The former top prospect made his mark in the top of the fourth inning, launching a solo home run to right field off Kevin Gausman to tie the game at 1-1.
-- New York's bats were kept quiet by Gausman, as Dominguez's HR was the only hit the two-time All-Star allowed over 7.0 innings. He struck out seven Yanks and walked two.
-- Dominguez had a chance to give the Yanks a lead in the eighth with runners on first and third, but his hard grounder was somehow stopped by first baseman Charles McAdoo to end the frame. Dominguez finished 1-for-4 in his return to the club.
-- With the lead, David Bednar struck out the side (Gimenez, George Springer, Nathan Lukes) to lock down his 14th save of the season.
Game MVP: Paul Goldschmidt
Goldschmidt saved the Yankees from wasting a good Schlittler outing with his ninth-inning blast.
If Boston is considering trading Jaylen Brown — and multiple reports have said they are at least open to the idea — it almost certainly would be part of a deal to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. The idea being that Boston president Brad Stevens wants to force coach Joe Mazzulla to focus more on attacking the rim than shooting 3-pointers by giving him a star player who doesn't really shoot the 3.
"They don't want a mid-career player if they're trading Giannis. So from what I've heard, they are looking at Jaylen Brown in terms of flipping him to another team. I've been told possibly Atlanta. ... I've been told possibly New Orleans, who have young players."
Marc Stein at The Stein Line confirmed that the Hawks are interested in Brown, if he's available, as are the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets. Then he gets into the real challenge: Brown is set to make $57.1 million next season and has two fully guaranteed years beyond that for $126 million. Brown is worth the money, he is coming off an All-NBA season where he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. The problem is just making it work under the salary cap rules in a world where teams are scared of the tax aprons.
If the trade is Antetokounmpo to the Celtics for Brown, there will be at least three, and maybe four or more, teams involved in a very complex deal. And complex deals with a lot of moving parts are much harder to pull together.
Agent says “10-12" teams interested in LeBron
The most likely outcome of the LeBron James saga this summer is that he remains with the Lakers for a ninth season. However, maybe that idea is premature if you ask LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, who said on ESPN he has not spoken to LeBron about this, and that "10-12" teams expressed interest in the 41-year-old.
Despite rumors circulating, Rich Paul tells @PatMcAfeeshow that he hasn't had a conversation with LeBron James about next season, but has received calls from "about 10-12 teams" interested
"Believe nothing that's out there because I haven't had one conversation with him." pic.twitter.com/drtwegSNhC
I don't doubt that many teams may have expressed some level of interest in Paul. However, there are other factors that narrow down that list: How many of those teams does LeBron want to play for? How many of them can pay more than the minimum? Can that team compete for a title (or at least be a playoff threat)? Does it keep him close to home and his family in Los Angeles?
Put those parameters on the list, and you get the Lakers, maybe the Warriors (who might be able to use the $15 million mid-level exception), and... not much else.
Pelicans listen to Murphy offers
While teams have called for more than a year, every time another GM asked about Trey Murphy III's availability, the Pelicans essentially hung up the phone.
No more, reports NBA insider Marc Stein at The Stein Line. He adds that the Pistons and Pacers have expressed interest, but you can bet the line is longer than that — these playoffs have shown how much versatile two-way wings/forwards are critical to teams that want to advance in the playoffs.
Murphy is a solid wing defender who averaged 21.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, shooting 37.9% from 3-point range last season.
It's likely the asking price for Murphy will be steep, but for a Detroit team looking for a secondary shot creator to put next to Cade Cunningham, it might be worth it.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 13: Blaze Jordan #33 of the St. Louis Cardinals slides into third base for a triple against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning of the game between the Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals at Target Field on June 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Steven Garcia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After last night’s improbable comeback-within-a-comeback-within-a-comeback-within-a-comeback, there was reason to believe the Twins could do it again after erasing an early 4-0 deficit.
The Cardinals, who scored two in the first on an Ivan Herrera homer, and another two in the second on RBIs from Pedro Pages and Masyn Winn, seemed intent on scheduling Connor Prielipp for an early exit. But that was before a resilient Twins offense geared up to level the score — and they used this week’s usual suspects to do so. After both went deep last night, solo shots from both Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis got Minnesota on the board in the fourth inning, and kept two of the Twins’ biggest bats rolling.
For Buxton, it was the 22nd homer in a season that seems destined to provide him with an overdue All-Star start in center field; for Lewis, it was the third homer and fifth extra-base hit since his call-up. It halved the St. Louis lead, until another bomb — this one Luke Keaschall’s — made it 4-4 in the fifth.
As this happened, Preliepp settled down into an eventual six-inning start, with the four early runs the only blemishes on his line, though he did give up seven hits and struck out just two hitters, as many as he walked.
But as is often the case, the starting performance was not the issue — it was the four earned runs that Justin Lawrence was charged with as part of a five-run seventh, a microcosm of what happens to the 2026 Twins the moment an SP leaves the game.
Not for nothing, Minnesota tried to mount a rally as improbable as last night’s. Kody Clemens singled home a run in the eighth, and the team loaded the bases on walks with nobody out in the ninth. However, the only run came across on a fielder’s choice, as a mostly uncompetitive sequence of at-bats from Keaschall and a pair of pinch hitters ended this one.
The Twins fall to 32-40, and will need to take home the Sunday matinee in order to avoid three consecutive series losses.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 12: Jake Bauers #9 of the Milwaukee Brewers runs toward home plate after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field on June 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies are getting back at it after a thorough domination from Jacob Misiorowski on Friday night. The Phillies will certainly be eager to face anyone else on the mound for the Brewers.
But they will be tasked with facing Shane Drohan, who, while not as dominant as Misiorowski, has been very good his last couple of turns since being put back into the starting rotation. His last time out, Drohan made it a career-long 6.1 IP against the Rockies, allowing just three runs. Drohan’s sitting on a 3.11 ERA on the season and is just starting to hit his stride.
On the Phillies side, Aaron Nola will be going for them. He has not hit his stride this year, pitching to the tune of a 5.86 ERA so far. Nola is just two years removed from receiving Cy Young votes. He had an injury-riddled 2025 season where he made just 17 starts with a 6.01 ERA. The 33 year old may be starting to have his age and innings catch up to him.
The Brewers will have a string of lefties in their lineup once again to take on the right-handed Nola. Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, and Brice Turang make up the top of the order. Jake Bauers is in at first base and Sal Frelick is handling right field, which means Andrew Vaughn is back on the bench again. David Hamilton gets the duties at third base tonight over Luis Rengifo.
The Phillies lineup contains a lot of the same names from the night before. Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Bryce Harper make up the top of their order. Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh are two other big time threats in the middle of the lineup.
Can the Brewers keep the Phillies bats down once again? Can Drohan build on his success? First pitch is at 6:10 PM.
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Austin Reaves #15 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers high five during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during a 2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup on November 28, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Offensively, there are few arguments against it. The pair showed they are a more-than-capable on that end of the floor and, in fact, are one of the most potent offensive duos in the league.
The questions largely rest on the other end of the floor. Neither player is a strong individual defender, which raises plenty of questions about whether the Lakers can contend for a title with them as the starting backcourt.
For whatever it’s worth, the Lakers are confident it’s not nearly as much of a concern. In a recent piece on The Athletic, Dan Woike reported that the Lakers feel the defensive issues are “overstated.”
Provided the Lakers address other needs on the wing and at the rim, defensive concerns about a Dončić-and-Reaves pairing are overstated, one team source said. Reaves was also one of the most important voices inside the Lakers’ locker room a season ago, his leadership developing year over year.
The easy reaction to this is that obviously the Lakers would feel this way. In their defense, there are some numbers that back it up. From Feb. 1 through the end of March, a span of 29 games, the Lakers ranked 12th in the league in defensive rating.
That came without the rest of the team necessarily optimized around them. There were few plus defenders on the roster last year, something the team can hopefully address this summer.
If anything, that stat is not just a credit to Reaves and Luka for contributing to a solid defense, but also a testament to the work of head coach JJ Redick this season.
There are going to be caveats with having Luka and Austin on a team together. The team will need to be great offensively, but that should be the easy part. In that same aforementioned span, LA was sixth in offensive rating.
Through an admittedly limited sample size, the Lakers showed they can hang on both ends of the floor with a Luka-Austin backcourt. Clearly, that is enough evidence for them to believe in this long term.
The hope now is that it can be extrapolated to an entire season or more.
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 23: Morez Johnson Jr. #21 and Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines walk on the court during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Arena on January 23, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA Draft is right around the corner (finally!) and conventional wisdom would have you believe the Bucks should draft a guard. After all, most big boards are stacked with them, especially between the five and 10 spots. In fact, our very own Brew Hoop Community Draft Board saw eight guards taken within the first 14 picks: Darryn Peterson (2), Keaton Wagler (5), Darius Acuff Jr. (6), Kingston Flemings (7), Mikel Brown Jr. (8), Brayden Burries (9), Cameron Carr (13), and Labaron Philon Jr. (14).
Exclude the top four picks, who are widely considered head and shoulders above the rest, and the sum becomes 7 out of ten. And while it’s true that these are all very talented players, following conventional wisdom and taking one—or more, should the Bucks end up with multiple selections—would be a mistake. That’s right, it’s time for the Bucks to go against the grain and think—and move—forward with forwards.
A dime a dozen guards
While guards are imperative to NBA success, especially through ball handling and shot creation, they’re seldom the catalyst (more on that later). More significantly, there are just so many of them. And in a game that only features five on the floor for a team at any given time, this leads to positional dilution. We rightly rave about Ryan Rollins’ ascension this year and ponder his All-Star potential, but just last season, he was on a two-way contract. And while Rollins was great for the Bucks, putting up 17.3 PPG and 5.6 APG this season, those numbers ranked him 40th and 30th in the league among guards, a testament to the sheer volume of productive backcourt players.
Rollins’ teammate, the maligned Kevin Porter Jr., offers another prime example. He actually bested Rollins’ production, putting up 17.4 PPG and 7.4 APG, ranking him 38th and ninth in the league among guards. Yet the Bucks acquired him in a straight swap for MarJon Beauchamp, who was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers less than a month later.
None of this is meant to diminish Rollins’ or Porter’s contributions. Far from it; they were arguably the Bucks’ best players this season. But they didn’t require the Bucks to use a single draft pick—let alone a premium one. The question thus becomes: would any guard the Bucks select in the coming NBA Draft offer more than them? And if they did so statistically, would it really impact winning?
Winning time—size and defence matters
If you’ve read it once, you’ve read it 1000 times: the draft is where you swing for the stars, especially with a top 10 pick. And there’s no bigger star than the one who steps up on the game’s biggest stage, the NBA Finals. But of the 57 Finals MVP awards handed out since the award’s inception, only 10 have ever gone to guards in the true point-or-combo guard sense (i.e., not wings)—and only six of those recipients were shorter than 6’4”. Narrow it further to those who weren’t plus defenders, and you’re left with just two: the revolutionary Stephen Curry and the lightning-quick, live-in-the-paint Tony Parker. And both played on elite defensive teams.
Of course, despite what the pundits say, you don’t have to swing for the stars. In this case, size and defence matter even more; the role-playing forward will typically have more of a two-way impact than the role-playing guard. Besides, you’re far more likely to have a role-playing forward come up big to win FMVP (see Curry’s teammate Andre Iguodala, Parker’s teammate Kawhi Leonard, and the Boston Celtics’ Cedric Maxwell, whose own Hall of Fame point guard was described by his coach as someone who “could give up 32 points on offense but give away 36 on defense, so you were [behind] even before the game began.”).
Heck, OG Anunoby has arguably been the best player in this year’s Finals, outplaying his own—you guessed it—smaller lead guard. Even then, Jalen Brunson has at least one standout defensive quality, leading the league in charges drawn this year (and routinely finishing in the top five). In a league that values possessions more than ever, this makes a tangible difference. Still, like Curry and Parker and Tiny Archibald before him, Brunson is reliant on the coverage of his elite defensive running mates, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and the aforementioned Anunoby, who can check a variety of offensive types.
Positional versatility and the modern game
Contemporary NBA basketball is less and less about defined positions. Instead, a premium is placed on versatility. Guards, for all their ball handling and shot creation, are often constrained in this respect—what can they offer when the ball isn’t in their hands and isn’t going through the hoop? They better have a whole lot of off-ball gravity, because they aren’t snatching a contested rebound (let alone making a game-winning tip-in) or switching onto an opposing big and getting a stop. They’re not creating the equivalent space as a big when screening. And they’re certainly not rotating or recovering to stifle a shot at the rim. No, versatile forwards do these things. And they also unlock lineup flexibility.
With modern offences as potent as they are—this year’s league-wide average of 115.6 PPG is the sixth-highest average ever and the most since the 1960s—teams need defensive optionality, the ability to present different looks. Versatile forwards are imperative to this. Need to prevent penetration? They let you switch. Want to shrink the court? Length lets you do that. Doubling, blitzing, zone? Yes, yes, and yes. But it doesn’t stop there. Forwards also unlock small-ball lineups.
Just imagine what the Bucks could do with Morez Johnson Jr., who our very own Finn Kuehl projects as being one of the “few players in the NBA [who] can genuinely cover every position effectively on defense,” while being “about as good as it gets” when it comes to switching. Now imagine what that could look like if he were paired with Giannis—or his Michigan teammate Yaxel Lendeborg. For a Bucks team that finished bottom five in both defensive rating (26th, 118.3) and rebound percentage (26th, 48.2%), this is far more important than an offensive guard—Milwaukee already finished third in effective field goal percentage (56.5%). It would certainly help address their worst-in-the-league offensive rebounding percentage (26.3%) too, an area new head coach Taylor Jenkins has historically prioritised.
Milwaukee’s roster construction
All of this brings us to the most pressing point, the Bucks’ roster construction. And while the team could look any number of ways by the time the 2026–27 season rolls around, there seem to be two prominent paths for now. In the first, Giannis remains a Buck, and the team looks to reload once again in the hopes that medical malpractice (Doc, not the medical staff) held it back. In this scenario, Milwaukee remains very much in “win now” mode and thus must address its glaring need at small forward. Lendeborg is likely the best fit in that case. After all, he’s just won a national championship, is well-rounded offensively, and is a defensive ace. Adding a young guard doesn’t solve this, and young guards are seldom win-now options; the Spurs’ Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are exceptions, not the rule.
In the second scenario, Giannis is traded, and the Bucks begin their rebuild. While the Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and a bevy of other teams are all allegedly interested, the writing on the wall points to the Miami Heat as the Bucks’ most likely trade partner. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Eric Nehm, a deal is “likely to include Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., either Pelle Larsson or Kasparas Jakučionis, and draft capital (they can offer up to three first-round picks).” Should this happen, the Bucks could have both their frontcourt and backcourt of the future.
Ware, Johnson, and Lendeborg would make a sizeable and versatile frontcourt trio, capable of controlling the boards, defending with versatility, and spacing the court (Lendeborg hit 37% on 4.5 3PA for Michigan, while Ware hit 40% on 3.0 3PA for Miami). Jaquez, runner-up in this year’s Sixth Man of the Year voting, adds depth and playmaking, as does last year’s trade deadline darling, Ousmane Dieng (assuming the Bucks bring him back). Jericho Sims, assuming he’s retained, adds another lob threat on a similar timeline, while Pete Nance would look even better as a third stringer. Of course, the Bucks also have Myles Turner, Bobby Portis, and Kyle Kuzma, who could start, come off the bench, or be moved for future assets.
In the backcourt, Rollins would likely pair with Tyler Herro, who—for all his criticism—is still a 26-year-old All-Star guard who will give you 20, five, and five a night (on career .450/.382/.878 shooting). He can also play both on and off the ball. For all their hype, this is a level many of the guard prospects would be lucky to reach.
In the longer term, the Bucks would hope Jakučionis will take over as Rollins’ running mate, with Herro moving to a sixth man role he’s already mastered—he was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2021–22—or being traded for capital. Jakučionis, the 20th pick in last year’s draft, has just turned 20, has size at 6’5”, plays both backcourt positions, and shot 42% from three in his rookie season. On the other hand, Larson could just as easily develop into Rollins’ sidekick. He already started 54 of 70 games for the Heat this season, averaging 11.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 3.4 APG. These are more than bit players, and if you’re trading away the franchise’s best ever player, you don’t want to immediately stunt the development of the prospects you do get by drafting at their position, not when taking into consideration everything else.
Lost in all of this are some of the Bucks’ current guards. Milwaukee could easily bring back KPJ. Having just turned 26, he’s still young with upside to tap into. In turn, AJ Green would be much better served in a reserve role, where he’s not forced to defend out of position—and give up size—at small forward. A sharp-shooter on a controlled contract, he’d surely draw trade interest too. If that eventuates, there’s still Cormac Ryan, the Bucks’ two-way guard who came on strong to end last season, scoring 20 or more points in four of his 11 games (on .520/.458/.923 splits). Suffice to say, Milwaukee won’t be short on guard stocks.
Ultimately, whether Giannis stays or goes, Milwaukee’s roster construction points in the same direction. If the Bucks are attempting to contend, they need size, defense, and versatility around their superstar. If they’re rebuilding, they’re likely to acquire young guards and future backcourt pieces through any Giannis trade. In either scenario, the organisation’s biggest need remains the same. The best path forward is forwards.
The Los Angeles Dodgers star was a noticeable absence from the lineup on June 12 as he dealt with left knee inflammation. It came after he was pulled from the team's June 11 game and underwent an MRI, which came back clean.
Whether Ohtani makes his next start or not remains to be seen, but the two-way star was inserted into the lineup on June 13. Installed in the leadoff spot, Ohtani left no doubt about his health on the second pitch of the game from Chicago White Sox starter Sean Burke.
Ohtani deposited a rocket into the right field seats at a blazing 109.6 mph exit velocity. The ball landed 409 feet away from where the star made contact.
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros continue a six-game road trip with the second game of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals tonight at Kauffman Stadium.
RHP Mike Burrows will be on the mound for the Astros, opposite LHP Noah Cameron and the Royals.
ABOUT BURROWS: The 26-year old RHP Mike Burrows has been the only starting pitcher in the Astros Opening Day rotation to make every scheduled start this season, which has given him the team lead in starts (13), innings (73.1) and strikeouts (60).
Burrows is new to the organization in 2026, having been acquired from the Pirates this offseason as part of a three-team, six-player trade in which the Astros sent OF Jacob Melton and minor league RHP Anderson Brito to the Rays, while the Rays sent IF Brandon Lowe, OF Jake Mangum and LHP Mason Montgomery to the Pirates.
ROAD TRIP: The Astros are in Kansas City for a three-game series against the Royals.
Earlier this week, the Astros faced the Angels for a three-game series in Anaheim at Angel Stadium, where they went 1-2.
Houston is 16-20 on the road this season and went 7-3 on their last road trip.
PEN PALS: Since May 15, the Astros bullpen has recorded a 2.59 ERA (27ER/93.2IP) with 87 strike- outs, a 1.02 WHIP and a .180 opponent batting average.
Among AL teams since May 15, the Astros bullpen ranks first in opponent batting average, first in WHIP and first in ERA.
The Astros are also 15-11 during since May 15.
LAST NIGHT’S GAME: The Astros defeated the Royals, 10-8 last night at Kauffman Stadium.
The Astros scored nine of their 10 runs in the first inning…DH Yordan Alvarez went 3×5 with two home runs, including a grand slam and six RBI.
Marked his 25th career multi-homer game, which ranks tied for second in franchise history, behind only IF Jeff Bagwell (31).
1B Christian Walker (1×5, HR) and PH-LF Brice Matthews (1×1, HR, RBI) each homered.
The Astros bullpen combined to allow only three runs in 8.1 innings.
ON THE MEND: DH Yainer Diaz went 1×5 last night against Sacramento in a rehab appearance with Triple A Sugar Land.
VOTING COMMENCES: MLB launched the 2026 Konami eBaseball MLB All-Star Ballot last week.
The Astros on the ballot: 1B Christian Walker, 2B Jose Altuve, 3B Isaac Paredes, SS Jeremy Peña, C Yainer Diaz, DH Yordan Alvarez, OF Brice Matthews, OF Jake Meyers and OF Cam Smith.
MAKING THE PLAYS: The Astros are tied for the fewest errors in the AL (28) with the Athletics.
Houston has posted the best fielding percentage (.989) in the AL, topping the Athletics (.988), Royals (.988) and Mariners (.988) by a few percentage points.
VS. THE ROYALS: The Astros and Royals are facing each other for the first time this season.
The Astros went 3-3 against the Royals last season, including a 1-2 record at Kauffman Stadium.
The Astros own a 59-49 record all-time record against the Royals, including a 30-24 record at Kauffman Stadium.
ON THE LEADERBOARD: DH Yordan Alvarez leads the Majors in OPS (1.092), SLG (.659) and total bases (166) and is tied for the Major League lead in home runs (24).
In the AL, he ranks first in RBI (54), first in extra base hits (37), second in hits (81), second in OBP (.433), second in batting average (.321), fourth in walks (46) and fourth in runs (46)
HOMER HAPPY: DH Yordan Alvarez hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the first inning of last night’s game.
He became the third player in franchise history to record two home runs in a single inning, joining Lee May on April 29, 1974 and Jeff Bagwell on June 24, 1994.
RIBEYE STEAK: DH Yordan Alvarez also recorded six RBI in the first inning of last night’s game, becoming the first player in franchise history to record at least six RBI in a single inning, the last player in MLB history to record at least six RBI in a single inning was LAD OF Cody Bellinger on June 2, 2021 vs. STL.
He’s also the 17th player in MLB history to do so.
YORDAN’S SLAM: DH Yordan Alvarez hit his sixth career grand slam last night at KC.
Alvarez now ranks tied for fourth in franchise history in grand slams, trailing only 2B Jose Altuve (7), 3B Alex Bregman (7) and OF Carlos Lee (7).
AIR YORDAN: DH Yordan Alvarez is the first player in Astros franchise history with 24 home runs through the team’s first 71 games of a season.
He is on pace to hit 54 home runs, which would set the single-season franchise home run record, passing IF Jeff Bagwell’s 47 home runs in 2000.
Alvarez’s single-season career-high in home runs is 37, which he recorded in 2022.
ON BASE MACHINE: OF Yordan Alvarez is on a 19-game on-base streak.
During the streak, he’s batting .373 (25×67) with 18 runs, two doubles, nine home runs, 23 RBI, 15 walks and a 1.294 OPS..it is his second-longest on-base streak this season, behind a 22-game on-base streak from April 4-28.
BACK-TO-BACK: DH Yordan Alvarez and 1B Christian Walker connected on back-to-back home runs in the first inning of last night’s game at KC.
Marked the second time this season the Astros have recorded back-to-back home runs, other was on May 8 at CIN by OF Zach Cole and C Christian Vázquez.
AL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: On Monday, OF Yordan Alvarez was named the AL Player of the Week for the week of June 1-7.
For the week, he batted .476 (10×21) with six runs, one double, two HR, nine RBI, five walks and a 1.386 OPS.
WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER: In the AL, 1B Christian Walker ranks tied for third in RBI (49), fifth in extra base hits (31), sixth in total bases (131), tied for sixth in home runs (17), and 12th in SLG (.500).
In the field, Walker has not committed an error in 69 games.
HIT PAREDES: IF Isaac Paredes is one double away from recording his 100th career double.
Is looking to become just the 4th Mexican-born player in MLB history with 500 career hits, 100 doubles and 100 home runs, joining IF Vinny Castilla, IF Jorge Orta and IF Aurelio Rodríguez.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, June 13, 6:10 p.m. CT
Location: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Freddie Freeman gives compelling, honest answer to young aspiring baseball players.
Making an appearance as a guest on “MLB Central” on Saturday morning, Freddie Freeman was honest and direct when Lauren Shehadi asked him one thing he would tell young baseball players.
Freeman quickly answered, saying to “Swing hard,” then laughed it off and went on to say kids just need to have fun.
Freddie Freeman shares a message to youth baseball players:
“All these kids, they always ask me, ‘What do I need to do to be a big leaguer?’ ” Freeman said. “I’m always like, ‘Not think like that right now.’ Be a kid. Play flag football, play fastball, switch sports. You don’t need to be taking 12 lessons every week.”
Freddie Freeman wants youth baseball players to have fun. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
When his kids are feeling sore or tired, Freeman said he will occasionally tell them to skip practice and just focus on being a kid and having fun.
“For me as a 9-, 10-, 11-year-old, it was have one practice, play one game on the weekend, and you’re playing Heads-Up, Seven Up all day long at the Little League field,” Freeman said. “That’s what it’s about. It’s fun. This game is not supposed to be a job until later on in life.”
“I think kids need to be kids. Have fun. If you go 0-for-3, with three strikeouts in a game, go get an ice cream and not worry about it.”
Typically, Freeman tries to avoid giving advice to kids. But when he does, he tries to wait until they are sophomores or juniors in high school because they’re close to going to the next level and playing college baseball.
Freddie Freeman said baseball should not be a job “until later on in life.” AP Photo/Melissa Tamez
Focusing on having fun and playing baseball as a kid clearly worked out for Freeman during his childhood, as he is a three-time World Series champion, a former National League MVP (2020), a World Series MVP (2024) and a nine-time All-Star.
As a father of three boys and one girl, Freeman said he tells his oldest son, Charlie, three rules when he’s playing baseball. “Be aggressive, hit line drives and cheer on your teammates.”
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs guards Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks during Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After the New York Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, Karl-Anthony Towns now stands one win away from basketball immortality.
Let that sentence breathe for a second.
The largest comeback in NBA Finals history. Madison Square Garden shaking like it was trying to detach itself from Manhattan. The Knicks down 29 points in Game 4, staring at what felt like a guaranteed 2-2 series tie, and somehow turning the entire second half into one of the most surreal, delirious, how-in-the-hell-did-that-just-happen basketball experiences any of us will ever see.
For San Antonio Spurs fans, it must have felt like watching a car crash unfold in slow motion. The chance to even the series and drag the Knicks back into the pressure cooker was sitting right there on the table. Then, possession by possession, miss by miss, turnover by turnover, it all slipped away.
For Knicks fans, it was euphoria.
For Wolves fans watching Karl-Anthony Towns chase the one thing that eluded him throughout his Minnesota tenure, it was something else entirely. It was joyful in that slightly complicated way, where the player you loved for years is doing the thing you always hoped he would do, just not in your uniform.
In the final seconds, fittingly, Towns still found a way to put his fingerprints on the moment.
With the Knicks clinging to the lead and San Antonio desperately searching for one final miracle, Towns managed to get his hand on the inbound pass, denying what may have been a clean layup or dunk for Stephon Castle at the buzzer. It was the sort of play that might get swallowed up in a highlight package dominated by the comeback itself, but one that ultimately helped secure a 3-1 series lead for New York.
And now Towns is one win away. One win from joining Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love as former Timberwolves franchise cornerstones who went on to capture an NBA championship after leaving Minnesota. There is something undeniably strange about that lineage, and maybe a little painful if you stare at it too long. The Wolves have never gotten to hold the Larry O’Brien Trophy themselves, but their former stars keep finding their way to it elsewhere.
Garnett got his in Boston in 2008. Love got his in Cleveland in 2016. Now Towns may get his in New York in 2026. Interestingly, each one of those championship runs featured its own absurd comeback story. Garnett’s Celtics erased a 24-point deficit against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 Finals, a comeback that helped deliver Boston its first championship in more than two decades. Kevin Love’s Cavaliers did something even more ridiculous, climbing out of a 3-1 hole against the 73-win Golden State Warriors.
Now Towns has his own entry. The Knicks coming back from 29 down in Game 4 of the NBA Finals will live forever if New York finishes the job. That is the key. Great comebacks become immortal when they become part of a championship story. Otherwise, they risk becoming a wild footnote, something fans remember fondly but not something carved into league mythology. If the Knicks win one of the next three games and bring New York its first title in 53 years, Game 4 instantly becomes sacred text.
It becomes the game people talk about in bars 30 years from now. It becomes the game dads tell their kids about. It becomes the game Knicks fans will claim they never doubted for a second, even though every single one of them was mentally preparing for the series to be tied 2-2 midway through the third quarter.
For Towns, it becomes the game that helped rewrite the story. KAT’s career has been followed by questions, some fair, some unfair, some exaggerated by the gravitational pull of being the best player on a franchise that too often gave him chaos and asked him to turn it into stability. Could he lead a winner? Could he defend at the highest level? Could he keep his composure? Could he rise in the biggest moments? Could he be more than an elite offensive talent with a beautiful shooting stroke and a frustrating tendency to pick up fouls 35 feet from the basket? Those questions followed him in Minnesota. They followed him out of Minnesota. They were part of the conversation the moment he arrived in New York.
But championships have a funny way of changing conversations. Win a title, and the frustrations become growth. The long road becomes the reason the ending feels earned. If Towns hoists the Larry O’Brien Trophy, a lot of the noise that has followed him for years gets quieter.
He would be a champion. No qualifier needed. That is what makes Saturday night in San Antonio so fascinating.
The Knicks are one win away from finishing the job, but the Spurs are not going to simply roll over and hand them the trophy. Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio have 72 hours to sit with one of the all-time gut punches in NBA Finals history. They had Game 4. They had a chance to make this a brand-new series. Instead, they walked off the floor at Madison Square Garden looking like a team that had just been hit by a truck it never saw coming.
How does a young team respond to that? Do the Spurs pick themselves off the mat, return to Frost Bank Center, and remind everyone why they knocked off Minnesota and Oklahoma City on the way here? Does Wembanyama deliver the kind of monster response that reasserts his place as the terrifying future of the league? Does San Antonio turn Game 5 into a pride game, extend the series, and force the Knicks to feel the pressure of trying to close again? Or did Game 4 break something? That is the cruel beauty of the Finals. Nobody knows until the ball goes up.
For the Knicks, the mission is simple but not easy: do not give San Antonio hope. Do not let the Spurs believe this series has another turn left in it. Do not allow one of the most dramatic comebacks in basketball history to become merely the setup for another momentum swing. The Knicks have three chances to win one game, but the cleanest path is always the first one. End it now.
For Towns, the opportunity is almost too perfect. One game. One win. One chance to silence the doubts and validate every painful step along the way. One chance to stand next to Garnett and Love as another former Timberwolves great who found his championship moment.
If Karl-Anthony Towns is hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy tonight, you can rest assured that Wolves Nation will be watching. The Canis Hoopus faithful will be tuned in, cheering him on, ready to see one of the most important players in franchise history finally get the vindication he has been chasing his entire career.
By all logic, the San Antonio Spurs should be coming home with momentum in the NBA Finals.
Apparently, logic doesn't apply to the New York Knicks, who climbed out of win probability hell (0.6% with 9:45 left in 4Q) to take a 3-1 series lead Wednesday.
Basketball bettors are left to wonder about the mental state of San Antonio after it blew a 29-point lead in Game 4, backing itself in a corner for Saturday’s Game 5.
My Knicks vs. Spurs same-game parlay believes San Antonio will live to fight another day, while also singling out two scorers who had their recent efforts dampened by foul trouble.
Here are my best NBA picks and SGP predictions for Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 13.
Our best Knicks vs Spurs SGP for Game 5
SGP leg #1: Spurs moneyline
The San Antonio Spurs get a two-day break to wash the scent of Game 4 off them before Saturday. That extra rest also helps star center Victor Wembanyama recharge after he looked sluggish in the second half of Wednesday’s loss.
The New York Knicks continue to win the 50/50 balls while also receiving plenty of lucky bounces and fortuitous breaks. Regression could be ripe with New York coming down from a crazy scene at MSG and hitting the road this weekend. San Antonio may not cover but it can stay alive in Game 5.
SGP leg #2: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns was limited to just 26 minutes in Game 4, due to two fouls in the opening minute of action. Towns came back with solid work in the second half but was unable to get in the offensive rhythm we saw from KAT in the opening two games of the finals.
The Knicks tried to run the offensive through him early in Game 3, but foul trouble botched that scheme. Look for Mike Brown to stick with that plan in Game 5. Towns’ projections sit as high as 21+ points while my number is just shy of 19 points on Saturday.
SGP leg #3: Stephon Castle Over 16.5 points
San Antonio guard Stephon Castle was also limited with foul issues in Game 4. He too struggled to find his flow, shooting just 2 for 7 from the field. However, Castle has been aggressively attacking the rim and knocked down all eight of his FTAs on Wednesday. He scored 13 points in just 26 minutes in Game 4 and his Game 5 forecasts call for closer to 19 points, given his usual floor time.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Knicks vs. Spurs predictions for Game 5.
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