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A Drysdale type of defenseman for the Flyers at No. 21 in the draft?

A Drysdale type of defenseman for the Flyers at No. 21 in the draft? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

For the first time in a while, the Flyers are coming off a playoff run.

That, of course, makes life a little different for the club’s amateur scouting staff leading up to the 2026 NHL draft. Barring a trade, the Flyers will pick at 21st overall. It’s their lowest first-round spot since 2020.

But that was when the Flyers drafted a foundation piece, grabbing Tyson Foerster at 23rd overall.

So the Flyers know the draft is still critical to what they want to do, even when they’re lower in the order.

“We’ve said it for a long time, we wanted to build a team that was going to be here for a long time; not just to go for it for a year or two,” general manager Danny Briere said last month. “That’s still the same approach on my end.”

After the recent trade with the Maple Leafs, the Flyers have only four picks in this draft, which will be held June 26-27. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at 11 a.m. ET.

“I’ll tell you how I feel about drafts and I’ll be totally blunt with you,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said June 2 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think it’s f—ing bulls–t when I hear about, ‘Oh, this draft isn’t as good.’ Here are the numbers. Approximately 45 players from any draft will play 350 games or more in the NHL. It might be 47 one year, 42 another year. That’s the number — you get 45 players that’ll play 350 games or more with varying degrees of success.

“And I know this about the draft. The teams that get good players from the draft say it was a good draft. The teams that don’t get good players from the draft say it wasn’t a good draft. So when people start telling me about a draft ahead of time, I call bulls–t.”

Last summer, the Flyers made nine selections, with six coming over the first two rounds. Porter Martone was their headliner at sixth overall. Now the Flyers will try to hit on a pick in the 20s.

“What you’re trying to do is find a player that you feel has the potential to be an NHL player,” Button said. “That might be a third-line center, that might be a second-line scoring winger. Hey, listen, maybe you get David Pastrnak, who’s a superstar (drafted 25th overall in 2014).

“But the focus has to be on, ‘OK, what type of player do we like, what type of player do we think the guy can be?’ And then get after it and understand what the development path is, and then try to help that player be the best he can be. Put a stake in the ground and celebrate who you’re drafting.”

Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.

Next up:

Tommy Bleyl

Position: Defenseman
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 170
Shoots: Right
Team: Moncton

Scouting report

Bleyl is a catch-me-if-you-can blueliner who uses his superb skating ability to make things happen.

The 18-year-old put up prolific numbers at the junior level this season. He led all QMJHL defensemen with 81 points (13 goals, 68 assists) in 63 games and had a plus-58 rating on a Moncton team that went 50-10-4.

He had some high-end forwards to play with, including 2025 fourth overall pick Caleb Desnoyers. Bleyl did a ton of his damage on the power play with 42 points. Will he orchestrate a power play at the next level?

“It’s always tough when you’re looking at power play quarterback because, realistically, there’s one real spot of that on a team,” Daily Faceoff associate editor and prospect analyst Steven Ellis said last Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “That’s tough competition. But I think with him, he has got a good shot, he’s a strong puck mover. The biggest thing about him is his skating.”

Bleyl recorded 28 points (six goals, 22 assists) and a plus-15 rating in 21 playoff games. That run punctuated his impressive transition from the prep level last season to Canadian major junior hockey this season. Next season, he’ll play for the Wildcats again before making the jump to NCAA with Michigan State in 2027-28.

Ellis sees Jamie Drysdale as a “good comparable” for Bleyl.

“I watched a lot of Jamie Drysdale when he was 16, 17 years old,” Ellis said, “and the thing about him was he dominated the puck possession, better than most other players did.”

Bleyl will have to eventually prove he can play the same dynamic game with less time and space against pros. He’ll also have to gain strength so he can defend bigger players.

He’s the 27th-ranked player on Ellis’ top-100 draft board. Bleyl could go anywhere from 20th overall to the second round. He’s also No. 27 on Button’s May 20 list. EliteProspects.com has him slotted at No. 32, while NHL Central Scouting has him at No. 17 among North American skaters.

“Some scouts think he was maybe too good on the power play and not good enough at 5-on-5,” Ellis said. “I think that’s the part that will be a little bit interesting to see, maybe he falls out of the first round. But I think you’re looking at him and saying, ‘Yeah, there’s a lot of potential, great with the puck and he’s a prospect worth getting excited about right now.'”

(Daniel St. Louis/QMJHL)

Fit with Flyers

Drafting smaller, point-producing defensemen can sometimes lead to big-time hits or big-time misses.

The Flyers will have to factor in Bleyl’s competition. He racked up a lot of power play points in the QMJHL, which is not considered the top Canadian major junior hockey league. It’s often geared toward offense.

So the Flyers may have a player higher on their board when they’re on the clock at No. 21.

But Bleyl’s game is intriguing and the Flyers haven’t drafted a defenseman in the first round since 2023, when they selected Oliver Bonk with their second pick.

Bleyl’s power play strengths should at least have the Flyers’ attention. The club has owned the NHL’s worst power play over the last five seasons combined at 14.1 percent.

More targets

• Could Lawrence’s early jump to college have him fall to Flyers in draft?

• Will Flyers eye 6-foot-4 forward with ‘goal-scoring hands’ at No. 21?

• Palmieri ‘type of player’ may be available for Flyers at No. 21 in draft

• Russian center with pro build has interesting case for Flyers at No. 21

• Lin has ‘Brandon Montour profile,’ but will he be there for Flyers at No. 21?

• D-man with ‘unbelievable maturity to his game’ could be option for Flyers at No. 21

• ‘Second-line center all day long’ should intrigue Flyers in draft

• ‘This kid is a hell of a player’ — Flyers could draft 45-goal, 104-point winger

• Is Novotny, a winger that’s ‘so dangerous around the net,’ a fit for Flyers?

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Warriors open to getting older to improve this NBA offseason, but it's unlikely

Warriors open to getting older to improve this NBA offseason, but it's unlikely originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s no secret the Warriors’ roster needs improvement this NBA offseason.

And for a team whose stars — Steph Curry,Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green — all are age 36 or older, Golden State especially could benefit from finding younger role players to ease their load.

But that’s easier said than done. So general manager Mike Dunleavy knows he must be open to any methods of helping the Warriors from a talent standpoint, as he discussed in a press conference Wednesday before next week’s 2026 NBA Draft.

A reporter asked Dunleavy if the organization is comfortable with adding older veterans this summer instead of fresher, but less experienced players.

“Frankly, it’s not the best thing, but if it’s going to make us better — like significantly better — I think we have to look at that, because that’s really our thought process and job right now, is to make this team better,” Dunleavy responded. “So if it means doing older, then we’ll do it, but that’s pretty unlikely. There’s only so many guys I feel like we could bring in that are older, and we’ve got some guys on the back end of it already, and to add to that, you know, there would definitely be some risk. But maybe there’s a situation we do that and go for it, but yeah, I mean, we obviously prefer to get younger.”

Last offseason, the Warriors largely stuck to the strategy of adding more proven players, such as De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford. However, the downside was their inconsistent availability, as both Melton and Horford largely were unable to play both ends of back-to-backs, along with other needed off days.

And with Butler and Curry dealing with long-term injuries of their own, Golden State often seemed to have more players on the injury report than not. So naturally, acquiring younger, less injury-prone players seems like the right move.

But, of course, if an older star — say, LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard — decides they want to join forces with Curry and Co. on the Warriors, Dunleavy could determine the team would be better off with that established force instead of some more youthful energy.

With the NBA offseason about to come into full gear in the coming weeks, Dub Nation will find out Dunleavy’s decided strategy soon enough.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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MLB Player Props & Best Bets for Today, June 17

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"Hump Day" baseball is here, with games running all day long on June 17.

This evening, our MLB player props are locked in with Wilyer Abreu, Brandon Lowe, and Dominic Canzone, all in matchups that line up nicely for production and offensive upside.

Here are my favorite MLB picks for Wednesday.

Best MLB player props today

Player PickOdds
Red Sox Wilyer AbreuOver 1.5 total bases-104
Pirates Brandon LoweOver 1.5 total bases-106
Mariners Dominic CanzoneOver 1.5 hits + runs + RBI+109

Wilyer Abreu Over 1.5 total bases (-104)

I am already fading Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer on another prop today, so why not fully take advantage of the old man's weaknesses? Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu finds himself in a great spot to do damage against Scherzer's offerings.

The 26-year-old has been seeing the ball extremely well over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, batting .310 with a .621 SLG and .921 OPS. He has also produced a 45.8% hard-hit rate and a 16.7% barrel rate during that stretch.

On top of that, Abreu owns nearly 60% arsenal coverage against Scherzer's pitch mix, with every offering grading below league average this season, per FanGraphs.

Against left-handed hitters, the future Hall of Famer has struggled to keep the ball on the ground, allowing nearly a 75% elevation rate alongside a 13% barrel rate. Those hitters have also generated a .544 xSLG and .388 xwOBA against him.

Getting this prop at nearly even money feels like a gift. I would comfortably play it down to -110.

  • Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NESN, SN1

Brandon Lowe Over 1.5 total bases (-106)

Brandon Lowe and the Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves in a strong spot tonight against Aaron Civale and the Athletics. Despite a recent slump, this feels like a good opportunity for Lowe to get back on track.

Over his last 60 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Lowe is hitting just .222, but the underlying numbers are still solid with a 43% hard-hit rate and an 11.4% barrel rate. He also brings strong familiarity here, with a 73% arsenal coverage against Civale’s pitch mix.

On the mound, Civale enters with one of the worst pitcher ratings on the slate per Batters-Box, grading poorly across matchup wOBA, ISO, strikeout rate, and ground ball rate. Left-handed hitters have given him fits all season, allowing nearly a 70% elevation rate.

At home, those splits jump to a .354 average, .646 slugging, and a .452 wOBA, with lefties elevating the ball 77.6% of the time.

This sets up well for Lowe, who profiles with elite underlying metrics, strong matchup coverage, and a track record of getting to this number close to 50% of the time, while also carrying roughly a 35% home run rate in similar spots. I would play this down to -115.

  • Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NBCSCA, SNP

Dominic Canzone Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (+109)

CALZONES FOR EVERYONE!

Mr. Dominic Canzone steps into a strong spot tonight against Baltimore Orioles right hander Kyle Bradish. The Seattle Mariners outfielder checks in with the number one rated matchup on Batters-Box’s current season timeframe, along with nearly 75% arsenal coverage against Bradish’s full pitch mix.

Canzone has been on a serious heater lately, hitting .370 with a 1.285 OPS while posting 52% hard contact and a 20% barrel rate over his last 30 at bats against right handed pitching.

On the other side, Bradish has been vulnerable to lefties, allowing 40% hard contact and a 10% barrel rate to his last 30 left handed hitters faced. Those hitters are producing a .339 xBA, .477 xSLG, and .343 xwOBA in that span.

With Canzone seeing it this well right now and the underlying matchup fully supporting it, the HRR prop at plus money feels like value. Take it down to +100.

  • Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: SEAM, MASN
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
  • Prop picks: 225-387-35, +10.54 units

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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VOTE: Do you think Paul Skenes has slipped?

Jun 3, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) gives a thumbs up during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

To piggieback off of Jaiman’s piece earlier today, there’s been a lot of chatter on social media, from Pittsburgh Pirates fans and baseball fans in general, that Paul Skenes is no longer a top 10 pitcher in the league.

Some of the numbers — like his 2.85 ERA, which is great for a Major League pitcher, but also the highest of his career — would suggest he has slipped. While others — like his 0.93 WHIP, which is the best of his career — would suggest he has not.

That ERA is 15th in the league. The WHIP is 5th. The Ks are also 5th. His Ks per nine innings stands at 4th. His walks and hits per innings pitched also stand at 5th.

So has Skenes slipped? Um, maybe? I guess if you go from the the best pitcher in baseball to simply in the mix for the best pitcher, is that technically slippage? What do you guys think watching him all year? Has he slipped?

Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results.

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Dodgers on Deck: Friday, June 19 vs. Orioles

May 30, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA;Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (right) is greeted in the dugout by manager Dave Roberts (left) after leaving the game during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The Dodgers’ all-interleague homestand concludes this weekend, with the Baltimore Orioles coming to Los Angeles beginning Friday night. After a 2020 World Series rematch against Tampa Bay, this time it’s a 1966 Fall Classic rematch at Dodger Stadium.

Roki Sasaki starts Friday night for the Dodgers.

Friday game info

  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Orioles
  • Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
  • Time: 7:10 p.m.
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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Red Sox News & Links: Finally some good injury updates on Roman Anthony, Garrett Crochet?

Boston, MA - June 14: Boston Red Sox outfielder Anthony Roman. The Boston Red Sox played the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on June 14, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

This Red Sox season has been an exercise in one-step-forward-two-steps-back. And that rubric doesn’t just apply to the game-to-game results, but to the injuries as well. How many times have we gone from “minor injury, hopes to avoid the IL,” to “recovery progressing, hopes to begin rehab assignment soon,” to “RIP, gone but not forgotten”? Roman Anthony has already gone through that cycle, but we may have gotten good news recently. Anthony underwent yet another MRI this week — but this one was apparently one of the good MRIs, performed just to check in on how things are going. ““Everything looked good, healing properly,” Chad Tracy said. Of course we still don’t have any timeline on his return, but hey, we’ll take what we can get. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

We also got some promising news on Garrett Crochet, which came with a bit more specifics. He’s been cleared to start some “light throwing of weighted plyometric balls, which, y’know, aren’t the kind of balls they use in MLB, but they’re better than no balls at all. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)

Unfortunately, we may have reached the point where it’s too late for Anthony and Crochet to save the season. And if that’s the case, we can blame the Sox’ performance against the rest of the AL East. “The Sox have a horrendous 6-15 mark against divisional opponents – the second-worst record by any AL team within its own division. (Only the Tigers, with a 6-16 mark against the AL Central, had an inferior mark.)” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)

The primary reason why the season may already be over is, of course, the Sox’ terrible offense. With so many individual hitters struggling, we’re starting to see something interesting at Fenway Park: private hitting instructors who do not work for the team. While the optics of this aren’t great, it’s not necessarily something novel. “At this level, players have had a lot of coaches throughout their careers. When they get to this level, there’s a lot of people who have helped them have success,” says Sox interim hitting coach John Soteropulos. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)

And with the season slipping away, it’s no surprise that the Red Sox are involved in so much trade speculation. ESPN ranked the top-25 trade candidates for the upcoming deadline and included 4 Sox players on the list, led by Aroldis Chapman at number 8. (Kiley McDaniel, Jeff Passan, ESPN)

But despite all the trade chatter — and the, uh, standings — CBO Craig Breslow isn’t yet prepared to surrender the ship. Yesterday he appeared on the NESN pregame show and said he was “absolutely not” giving up on the season yet. “Right now, given we’ve got six weeks or so before the deadline, our focus is on doing everything we can to give ourselves a chance to win the game each night.” (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)

But while Breslow is probably prudent to wait for as long as he can before going into sell-mode, the fact that the only noise at Fenway is being made by traveling Scottish fans in town for the Wold Cup tells you all you need to know about the direction of this season. (Justin Turpin, WEEI)

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GameThread: Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros, 2:10 p.m.

Jun 16, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Hao-Yu Lee (50) bats during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Detroit Tigers (30-43) vs. Houston Astros (34-41)

Time/Place: 2:10 p.m., Daikin Park
SB Nation Site: The Crawfish Boxes
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Casey Mize (2-3, 2.27 ERA) vs. RHP Peter Lambert (5-4, 3.47 ERA)

Lineups

TIGERSASTROS
Kevin McGonigle – SSJeremy Pena – SS
Dillon Dingler – DHYordan Alvarez – DH
Riley Greene – LFChristian Walker – 1B
Spencer Torkelson – 1BIsaac Paredes – 3B
Kerry Carpenter – RFJose Altuve – 2B
Colt Keith – 3BCam Smith – RF
Matt Vierling – CFJoey Loperfido – LF
Hao-Yu Lee – 2BJake Meyers – CF
Jake Rogers – CChristian Vazquez – C

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The Short Porch is loving the World Cup and baseball vibes in Boston

The world’s biggest sporting event is underway across the continent and the sports vibes are elite. We’ve already seen some classic World Cup upsets with Spain unable to score against Cabo Verde. We saw a thriller between Netherlands and Japan that ended 2-2. But I think my favorite thing that has happened in the World Cup so far was visible at the only ballpark in the country that rivals Wrigley Field as Scottish fans descended on Fenway Park over the weekend creating an environment at a Rangers vs. Red Sox game in June that rivaled the postseason and reminded me of my experience at the World Baseball Classic in March.

The Red Sox made one of the best marketing decisions any baseball team has made in years when they decided to offer a Scotland kit Red Sox giveaway while the Scots were playing in Boston. The Scots might have shown up at Fenway Park anyway, but this ensured they would. And boy, did they ever show up:

Not only did they show up, they were ready to party. With all due respect to the midwest and tailgate culture, Boston isn’t exactly a slouch when it comes to drinking culture. Boston bars indicated they were well-stocked, having ordered three times the inventory they normally anticipate for St. Patrick’s Day. The Scots drank the the bars dry:

Noelle Somers, chief operating officer at Hennessy’s Bar in central Boston, highlighted the scale of the phenomenon, stating that trade following the Scotland v Haiti match had tripled that of St Patrick’s Day.

She told the Boston Globe: “We’ve been here for over 30 years and we’ve never seen anything like it.”

The bar ran out of beer on Sunday night before being restocked on Monday morning. Another delivery is due on Thursday, ahead of the Scotland vs Morocco match on Friday evening.

Brewing company Sam Adams has also seen its Boston taproom running dry over the weekend as demand for its Boston lager was four times higher than during a holiday period.

The result was an incredible night at Fenway Park, and everyone understood the assignment. The Red Sox organist researched Scottish chants and songs before the game. Yes, you absolutely need to see the results:

The full stadium sing-a-long is an unrivaled experience, and filling up a baseball park with soccer fans turns out to be the perfect storm for a lot of full stadium sing-a-longs. I’m talking about more than “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” A couple of seasons ago when the Cubs looked like they might almost make it to the playoffs, but were flirting with elimination late in the season the DJ at Wrigley Field started playing Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” late in games. Every now and again everyone would sing along. It was great. Fenway already has “Sweet Caroline” in the eighth inning, but on Sunday night they also had this:

The Scots were pretty clearly cheering for the home team, but the atmosphere was so electric, even the Rangers were appreciative of it:

Baseball needs more of this. I hope other host cities have giveaways planned to include their guests at the ballpark in similar ways during the World Cup. If they don’t already, they would be well-served to do it immediately. I can’t imagine there’s a Scot alive who won’t be a Red Sox fan for life after all of that.

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Blue Jays vs Red Sox Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB Game

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Boston Red Sox starter Jake Bennett draws a tough matchup tonight against the Toronto Blue Jays lineup that profiles extremely well against his pitch mix, making his Over 2.5 earned runs my favorite play of the night.

Find out more in my Blue Jays vs. Red Sox predictions and MLB picks for Wednesday, June 17. 

Blue Jays vs Red Sox predictions

Blue Jays vs Red Sox best bet: Jake Bennett Over 2.5 earned runs (-120)

Jake Bennett owns a 5.28 ERA through three starts and has struggled to miss barrels, allowing hard contact at a 42.3% clip.

That sets up poorly against a Toronto Blue Jays lineup that has handled his primary mix of four-seamers, sinkers, and changeups well this season — batting .269 with a .420 slugging percentage against that mix.

The matchup points to another difficult outing for Bennett. I'd play Over 2.5 earned runs allowed down to -130.

Covers COVERS INTEL:Toronto owns a 114 wRC+ against Bennett’s pitch mix since June 1.

Blue Jays vs Red Sox same-game parlay (SGP)

The batter who profiles best against Bennett is Kazuma Okamoto, who owns a .324 average and a .622 slug-rate against Bennett’s pitch mix.

Since I anticipate a busy day on the base paths for Blue Jays batters, I’ll take Over 0.5 RBI for Okamoto. He’s eclipsed this total in four of his last five games.

Davis Schneider is red hot at the plate with four hits in his last three games since being recalled, including back-to-back games with a home run.

Additionally, he profiles well against Bennett, with a high barrel rate and a solid batting average against the sinker and changeup, two of his most-used pitches.

Blue Jays vs Red Sox SGP

  • Jake Bennett Over 2.5 earned runs
  • Kazuma Okamoto Over 0.5 RBI
  • Davis Schneider Over 0.5 hits
img loading="lazy" width="100%" height="null" src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/jaysmlcbp.jpg" alt="Canada’s best price for Jays"
Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.

Blue Jays vs Red Sox home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+425)

As mentioned, Okamoto profiles extremely well against Bennett, owning a 57.7% hard-hit rate against his primary pitch mix.

The Boston rookie doesn't generate much swing-and-miss, which should allow Okamoto plenty of opportunities to put the ball in play with authority.

There is some risk here, however. Bennett generates plenty of topped contact and ground balls, which can suppress home-run production. That's why I'm limiting this to a half-unit wager despite the strong matchup.

2026 Transparency record
  • Best bets: 34-36, +3.05 units
  • SGPs: 13-57, +2.35 units
  • HR picks: 11-59, +0.9 units

Blue Jays vs Red Sox odds

  • Moneyline: Toronto +110 | Boston -130
  • Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-175) | Boston -1.5 (+150)
  • Over/Under: Over 9.5 (-115) | Under 9.5 (-105)

Blue Jays vs Red Sox trend

The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the game total Over in 11 of their last 16 games (+5.60 Units / 32% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Red Sox.

How to watch Blue Jays vs Red Sox and game info

LocationFenway Park, Boston, MA
DateWednesday, 6-17-2026
First pitch6:45 p.m. ET
TVSportsnet 1, NESN
Blue Jays starting pitcherMax Scherzer
(1-4, 10.23 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcherJake Bennett
(1-2, 5.28 ERA)

Blue Jays vs Red Sox latest injuries

Blue Jays vs Red Sox weather

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Braves vs. Giants Game 1 restart: Chat and Discussion

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 16: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves rounds third base after hitting a home run during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Truist Park on June 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On the last episode of Dragon Ball: Braves, the Atlanta Braves made a curious decision to start a baseball game in the middle of a downpour. In their efforts to predict the weather, the weather proved to be, in fact, unpredictable. While they were treated to Drake Baldwin hitting the longest home run in Major League Baseball so far this season, it cost them Michael Harris II’s back acting up on him again and three runs given up by Grant Holmes while he admirably tried to pitch through the atrocious conditions.

With the rain being unrelenting, the teams were forced to stop play. Despite an admirable effort from the grounds crew at Truist Park, the rain had done its job and the field was deemed unplayable for the night. So now here we are, just a few hours later and it’s time to pick up where we left off in the bottom of the second inning with Atlanta down 3-2 to San Francisco.

Will the Braves take this as an opportunity to pull off yet another come-from-behind victory? Will the Giants and their beleaguered bullpen be able to hold the Braves at bay? Can Atlanta’s bullpen succeed in dry conditions when Grant Holmes faltered in a downpour? We’re about to find out!

UPDATE [1:56 p.m ET]: James Karinchak is reportedly going to be on the mound once it’s Atlanta’s turn to pitch in the top of the third. The GIants are going with Robbie Ray.

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Este Haim reveals details about ‘magical’ Knicks Game 4 with Taylor Swift

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows (L-R) Alana Haim, Taylor Swift, and Este Haim react in the first quarter during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026. , Image 2 shows (L-R) Alana Haim, Este Haim, Taylor Swift, AND mariska Hargitay react in the first quarter during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026. , Image 3 shows A woman with long blonde hair and a dark jacket speaks into the camera, with a Netflix logo and
Singer Este Haim said she, sister Alana Haim and Taylor Swift were surprised by the mass attention that their matching blue and orange shirts received at Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 10.

Singer Este Haim said she, sister Alana Haim and Taylor Swift were surprised by the mass attention their matching blue and orange shirts received at Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 10.

During a Tuesday interview with Variety, Este shared the behind the scenes of their “magical” night on Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks pulled off the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history over the Spurs in Game 4.

“I mean I think it surprised all of us,” Haim told Variety while at the Los Angeles premiere of “Voicemails for Isabelle” on Netflix on Tuesday. “I just went into being like were going to go to a basketball game and have fun, thats literally it.

“Taylor invited me and Alana. I’ve never sat courtside ever, so it was a magical experience.

“I’ve never heard the Garden be that loud in my life. It was amazing. I had the best time.”

The Haim sisters and Swift sported blue shirts with Knicks-coded puns on the front in orange.

Swift’s shirt said “Stevie Knicks,” which was a nod to the legendary singer, who she’s been friends with for some time.

(L-R) Alana Haim, Taylor Swift and Este Haim react in the first quarter during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
(L-R) Alana Haim, Este Haim, Taylor Swift, and Mariska Hargitay react in the first quarter during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Este’s shirt, “Knickole Kidman,” was a reference to actress Nicole Kidman.

Alana donned a shirt with “Knickelback,” a twist on Canadian rock back, Nickelback.

They were courtside with actress “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay — a close friend of Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson — who also donned a “Stevie Knicks” shirt.

Taylor Swift and Este Haim celebrate after Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks on June 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NBAE via Getty Images

Swift, Este and Alana were seen jumping up and down in the back hallways of MSG with the Knicks’ Seventh Ave Squad — the team’s entertainment team — after the Knicks rallied from a 29-point hole in the third quarter to beat the Spurs 107-106.

Swift, who owns multiple properties in New York City, and her fiancé, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will tie the knot at MSG on July 3.

The couple reportedly paid nearly $3 million to rent out the world’s most famous arena for three days.

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Knicks’ Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Breen to emcee City Hall championship ceremony

From left: Jalen Brunson, Mike Breen and Rick Brunson talk after the Knicks' NBA championship win on June 13, 2026.
From left: Jalen Brunson, Mike Breen and Rick Brunson talk after the Knicks' NBA championship win on June 13, 2026.

The voice of the Knicks will be the voice of their championship commemoration.

Mike Breen, the Hall of Fame broadcaster, will emcee Thursday’s ceremony at City Hall, The Post has learned.

Breen, 65, will also be part of the parade down the Canyon of Heroes after calling play-by-play for Knicks either on the radio or TV since 1991.

From left: Jalen Brunson, Mike Breen and Rick Brunson talk after the Knicks’ NBA championship win on June 13, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

For his national gig on ESPN, Breen called the title-sealing Game 5 in San Antonio.

“It’s over! It’s over! Knick fans, this is not a dream!” Breen said as the clock ticked down on the Knicks’ 94-90 win, a victory that gave them their first title since 1973. “Your long, long wait is ended. Go ahead and cry: after 53 years, the Knicks are finally NBA Champions once again!”

Breen, who grew up a Knicks fan as a Yonkers product and Fordham alumn, understood the moment before it happened.

“I do know what it would mean to the city and to the fans of the city,” he said during a pre-Finals conference call. “It might be one of the great moments in the history of New York sports if they win because of what the fan base has gone through and how loyal they’ve been to the team.”

The parade is set to kick off at 10 a.m. at Battery Park. It travels down Broadway and ends at City Hall, where Breen will take the microphone.

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Game Discussion for St. Louis Cardinals vs San Diego Padres Wednesday

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 30: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on May 30, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The St. Louis Cardinals wrap up their short homestand vs the San Diego Padres Wednesday afternoon. Kyle Leahy will start for the Cardinals while the Padres will send Bradgley Rodriguez to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15pm at Busch Stadium.

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Flyers Get Best Possible News As Owners of Maple Leafs First-Round Pick

Owning the Toronto Maple Leafs' 2027 first-round pick, the Philadelphia Flyers could not have asked for better news to start their Wednesday morning.

On Wednesday, the Maple Leafs announced that they had hired former Los Angeles Kings head coach Jim Hiller as their new head coach, marking a stark departure from more accomplished candidates such as Peter Laviolette, Patrick Roy, and even Jay Woodcroft.

This comes on the heels of even stranger hiring, where John Chayka took over the Maple Leafs as general manager after being out of the NHL for years.

Hiller, 57, has three years of head coaching experience at the NHL level, guiding the Kings to a 93-58-24 overall record under his watch and going just 3-8 in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Hiller was dismissed by the Kings 59 games into the 2025-26 season, when the Kings were struggling to a paltry 24-21-14 record.

The only full season Hiller coached at the helm of the Kings was the 2024-25 season, when the team went 48-25-9, thanks in large part to their 203 goals against, which ranked second in the NHL.

Those Kings were also just 14th in the NHL in goals for (249), and without the elite goaltending he got from Darcy Kuemper, Hiller's head coaching resume looks wholly unimpressive.

Flyers Trade Acquisition from Maple Leafs Could Play Even Bigger Role: 'Why Not?'Flyers Trade Acquisition from Maple Leafs Could Play Even Bigger Role: 'Why Not?'The Philadelphia Flyers swung a big trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and one of their new additions could play an even bigger role than advertised.

The Flyers just pried Joseph Woll away from the Maple Leafs at the cost of Emil Andrae, Sam Ersson, and a third-round pick, which leaves Hiller and Toronto stuck with the injury-prone Anthony Stolarz and the unproven Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov.

Now, the Flyers were already in a good spot with the Maple Leafs' 2027 first-round pick, as Toronto had sold off veterans Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton, and Nicolas Roy ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

A Maple Leafs team with a lower-tier head coach, gutted forward depth, and uninspiring goaltending doesn't look like it's on the path to some great success, and certainly leans closer to a rebuild than contention.

While we don't know which of the Flyers and Boston Bruins get the Maple Leafs' 2027 and 2028 first-round picks, assuming it lands in the top 10, there is a very real possibility that both of those draft choices end up being high selections.

And, we can reasonably assume that the Maple Leafs would not choose to give the Bruins the 2027 pick if it falls in the top 10, as they are a direct division rival, and a hated one at that.

The trade conditions benefit the Flyers in virtually every scenario, and if Hiller's hiring tells us anything, the Maple Leafs won't be seeing much success any time soon.

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Knicks legends Walt Frazier, Patrick Ewing joining team for championship parade

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (l.) and legend Walt Frazier (r.) celebrate after the team's NBA championship win on June 13, 2026, Image 2 shows Karl-Anthony Towns (c.) and Patrick Ewing (r.) hold up the New York Post cover after winning the NBA championship on June 13, 2026

Walt Frazier and Patrick Ewing will finally get their parade.

The Knicks’ biggest legends, among other team alumni, will travel down the Canyon of Heroes during Thursday morning’s championship parade in lower Manhattan, The Post has learned.

Frazier led the Knicks to two titles more than 50 years ago, but he and his teammates never partook in a parade. In 1970, the Knicks were honored with a ceremony at Gracie Mansion.

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (l.) and legend Walt Frazier (r.) celebrate after the team’s NBA championship win on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / NY Post

In 1973, roughly 2,000 fans joined them at a celebration at City Hall.

During this run that broke the franchise’s 53-year championship drought, the Knicks welcomed back several former players to games at Madison Square Garden, including Bill Bradley, Bernard King, Larry Johnson, Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, Jeremy Lin, among many others, including Ewing, John Starks and Allan Houston, who are each currently employed by the team.

Karl-Anthony Towns (c.) and Patrick Ewing (r.) hold up the New York Post cover after winning the NBA championship on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Ewing, who brought the Knicks within one win of a championship in 1994, will now be showered with confetti on Broadway, a quarter-century after that long-awaited moment seemed lost to history.

“It means everything to the city,” Ewing said after the Knicks clinched the championship in San Antonio. “It was a magical run, all the things they were able to accomplish.”