Matt Larkin released his latest trade board for Daily Faceoff. Six Buffalo Sabres were among the players listed, as Devon Levi, Jordan Greenway, Michael Kesselring, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis all made the cut.
Levi has been the subject of trade rumors for a while now, and it is easy to understand why. The young netminder has dropped to the fourth spot on the Sabres' goalie depth chart and did not make a single NHL appearance for Buffalo this season. Yet, when noting that he is a former top prospect, there could be some teams out there willing to take a gamble on him.
With the Sabres needing to free up cap space, it makes sense that Greenway is being viewed as a trade candidate. His cap hit is high for what he provides as a bottom-six forward. While this is the case, he could generate some interest from teams with good cap space that are looking for more toughness in their bottom six.
Kesselring has been a very popular name in the rumor mill since the Sabres' playoff run ended. The fit has not been there between the Sabres and Kesselring, so it would make sense if Buffalo traded the pending restricted free agent. Despite having a tough season, he could get the Sabres a decent return because he is a big right-shot defenseman who has had past success.
As for Luukkonen, Lyon, and Ellis, they were included in Larkin's "Names to watch based on roster surpluses" tier. With the Sabres having three goalies on their NHL roster, it makes sense that they have each been included. However, when looking at how well this trio performed for them this campaign, the possibility of the Sabres running it back with them again next season is there.
The Spurs trailed 2-0 in the NBA Finals after losing the first two games at home and faced the possibility of their season ending in a sweep at Madison Square Garden.
Gregg Popovich. Getty Images
Popovich, who now serves as San Antonio’s basketball president after his coaching career was cut short by a stroke in November 2024, did not make the trip to New York with the team.
But before the Spurs’ charter left Texas, he boarded the plane and spoke to the group.
The moment came during an unexpected delay on the runway, caused by a flat tire on another plane ahead of San Antonio’s flight.
Popovich, 77, used the extra time to remind the Spurs that the series was still within reach.
De’Aaron Fox told The Athletic that Popovich’s message was that San Antonio had dug itself into a hole, but could still climb out of it.
Fox added that Popovich urged the team to be “confident” and reminded them “there’s a reason why we got here.”
The speech landed at the right time.
Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and De’aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs react during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at MSG on June 08, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images
San Antonio responded by beating the Knicks 115-111 in Game 3 at the Garden, cutting the series deficit to 2-1.
Fox helped seal the victory, hitting a midrange jumper over OG Anunoby with 12.2 seconds left to put the Spurs ahead by five points.
Popovich spoke to the team for close to 10 minutes before spending additional time talking individually with players and coaches, per The Athletic.
He reportedly was also seated next to Victor Wembanyama during part of the visit before leaving the plane.
Gregg Popovich introducing Mitch Johnson as the new coach of the Spurs in 2025. AP Photo/Eric Gay
Fox said Popovich’s words still matter because he does not address the full group without purpose.
“It’s always good when he comes around,” Fox told The Athletic, adding that Popovich “doesn’t just address the group just to talk.”
That presence remains significant for a young Spurs team trying to win a title sooner than expected.
San Antonio missed the playoffs last season, but it finished 62-20 this season behind Wembanyama, Fox and a young roster that has come together quickly under head coach Mitch Johnson.
Johnson replaced Popovich on an interim basis before getting the job full time.
The New York Knicks are known for rolling out the celebrity carpet for those who sit in the famed courtside seats, and they continue to bring out the big guns for NBA Finals halftime entertainment.
For Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, the halftime entertainment at Madison Square Garden was Cardi B, a Bronx native.
Game 4's halftime show will be Staten Island's own Wu-Tang Clan.
The iconic rap group with members the RZA, the GZA, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon the Chef, U-God, Ghostface Killah and Method Man, along with Masta Killa and Cappadonna, will take the court on Wednesday, June 10 before heading back on their tour in late August.
Once they conclude their final stop of Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber in Phoenix, Arizona, on Oct. 4, the group will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November.
After news broke that Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade, hockey insiders had to tweak their NHL Trade Boards, launching him to the top. Ultimately, with a new No. 1, most of the players already on the board slide down a spot, or saw their values increase and decrease based on potential landing spots for Larkin.
In The Athletic's latest NHL Trade Board (subscription required), released on June 8, 2026, Blake Coleman remains the only Calgary Flames skater to make the list, ranking 14th.
The 34-year-old Coleman is entering the final year of a six-year deal he signed back in 2021, with a cap hit of $4.9 million per season. As a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Coleman is entering his sixth season with Calgary and is coming off a 20-goal, 35-point performance in 2025-26.
Interestingly, Coleman's best season has come with the Flames, when he tallied 30 goals and 54 points in 2023-24, to rank second in goals behind Yegor Sharangovich and third in points behind Nazem Kadri and Sharangovich.
Since taking over as General Manager, Craig Conroy hasn't been afraid to deal big names, including Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin, Jacob Markstrom, Andrew Mangiapane, Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, and Tyler Toffoli, to name a few.
As the only player in the Flames dressing room with multiple Stanley Cup wins on his resume, Coleman brings invaluable experience, especially to the next generation of Calgary stars like Dustin Wolf, Zayne Parekh, Connor Zary, and Matt Coronato.
Already an alternate captain, any deal involving Coleman would give the Flames a decent return, whether it's prospects, draft picks, or a young player looking for a new opportunity.
The return for Coleman won't be anything like what the Red Wings could get for Larkin, or what the Vancouver Canucks got for Quinn Hughes. Still, if Conroy is moving out veterans and looking for young talent hungry for a future battling for the Stanley Cup in the new Scotia Place, then he'll pull the trigger on a deal at the 2026 NHL Draft, or at some point during the season.
Coleman's next goal will be his 100th in a Flames sweater. Since joining the club in 2021, his stat line reads 99 goals, 100 assists, and 199 points in 392 games with a plus-54 rating. Through 10 NHL seasons, Coleman has scored 170 goals with 155 assists and 325 points in 693 games. In 65 playoff games, he's bagged 12 goals and 31 points with a plus-17 rating.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Austin Hedges #27 of the Cleveland Guardians is congratulated by manager Stephen Vogt #12 after Hedges hit a solo home run against the Athletics in the top of the third inning at Sutter Health Park on May 02, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
May 25, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) hits a solo home run during the the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
With the Phillies finally on track and playing better baseball, it seems clear the fanbase won’t have to endure an All Star Game as dreary as the last one played in Philadelphia.
In 1996, Veterans Stadium was on the verge of falling down. Stray cats ruled the concourses. The scent or urine hung high in the air. All the bunting in the world couldn’t make the dark, cavernous Vet look like it deserved to host the sport’s premier mid-summer event.
Even worse, the ‘96 Phils were flat-out awful. By June 18, they had fallen into last place in the NL East and never emerged from the basement. They were 37-49 at the break, 16 ½ games out of first place, and would eventually fall 29 games out with 95 losses.
They had one All Star named to the team, closer Ricky Bottalico.
This time around, the country will be celebrating its 250th birthday, with the stars of MLB centered in the cradle of Liberty. It’s only fitting that the Phillies be well represented at Citizens Bank Park next month.
As of now, there are six Phillies who can make strong cases for a spot on the team – Christopher Sanchez, Kyle Schwarber, Jhoan Duran, Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler and Brandon Marsh.
The problem with saying “Brandon Marsh should be an All-Star” is that, yes, in a vacuum, Marsh is having an All-Star season. There’s no two ways around it.
By virtually every metric, Marsh’s career year should land him on the NL roster for the Midsummer Classic. But as history has taught us, deserving players get left off of All Star rosters every year.
It’s a numbers game. Each roster will consist of 32 players, 20 position players and 12 pitchers.
The mandate remains that every one of the 16 teams have at least one representative. There also needs to be a certain number of players at each position to give managers some flexibility. You can’t have 10 outfielders and one first baseman.
The fans will also have their say. Fans get to vote on who the position player starters will be. This is a wonderfully American and democratic thing, but it sometimes allows players who are having lesser seasons earn an All Star nod they might not otherwise deserve.
So when considering whether a player has a realistic chance at making the team, one must take these factors into consideration.
Let’s take a look at the six Phillies mentioned above and rank them from most likely to least likely to make the All Star squad.
Cristopher Sanchez – LOCK
In his outing Monday night in Toronto, Sanchez gave up two runs. I mean, this kind of decline is really unacceptable. After a 50 ⅔ inning scoreless streak that ran 5th-longest in MLB history was the most for any left-handed pitcher ever, it’s really galling to see him spiral downward like this, isn’t it?
The only real question is whether Sanchez will be named the starter for the NL All Star team. One would think manager Dave Roberts would give Sanchez the nod, given the game is in Philadelphia. Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski is the leading challenger, they are 1-2 in fWAR (3.8 to 3.2), and while Miz edges Sanchez just a bit in ERA (1.50 to 1.54), Sanchez has thrown 93 ⅓ innings to Misiorowski’s 78.
There’s still time for this to change, of course, but whether Sanchez starts or not, he’s a lock for selection.
Kyle Schwarber – LOCK
Only Shohei Ohtani has been a more valuable DH in the National League than Schwarber, and Schwarbs is the NL’s home run king at the moment. He leads with 23 bombs. The next closest players are Matt Olson, James Wood and Hunter Goodman, with 17. His .573 slugging percentage also leads the league, and his .932 OPS is second.
Plus, you’d think Roberts would want him around in case something like this were to come up again.
Jhoan Duran – LOCK
After converting each of his first 16 saves this season, Jhoan Duran finally blew one.
Yep, he couldn’t hold a 2-1 lead and allowed the first three hitters to reach via singles, leading to a 3-2 Phils loss.
Yet, Duran’s 16 saves are third-most in the National League and, until last night in Toronto, had not allowed a run in any of those 16 opportunities. His overall 2.08 ERA is 3rd among closers and among qualified relievers, his 40.7% strikeout rate is 2nd.
There’s not much to overthink here. The thought of the Durantula entrance from the bullpen in the 9th inning of the Midsummer Classic at Citizens Bank Park is already giving folks goosebumps. He’ll be there.
Bryce Harper – LIKELY
Harper’s case is less open and shut, but I think there’s a strong chance he’ll be included.
If you look at fWAR, you’d think Harper was having a very “non-elite” season. He’s currently ranked 9th in fWAR (1.1). Here are the players ahead of him entering Tuesday’s action.
Sal Stewart (1.3)
Liam Hicks (1.3)
Spencer Horwitz (1.3)
Alec Burleson (1.4)
Michael Busch (1.5)
Jake Bauers (1.5)
Freddie Freeman (1.8)
Matt Olson (2.3)
There’s no world in which Harper is not making the team because Stewart, Hicks, Horwitz, Burleson, or Busch have higher fWARs. Not happening.
Among NL first basemen, Harper’s 14 homers are 2nd-most (Olson, 17), his 41 runs scored are also 2nd, and his .866 OPS is 3rd. But there is a numbers crunch here.
If the National League only takes three first basemen, there’s a chance Olson, Freeman and Milwaukee’s Jake Bauers could be the three to make the team. Bauers’ .911 OPS and 154 wRC+ are tops among all NL first basemen, his 12 home runs are 3rd-most, and he has six more RBIs than Harper.
Of course, there are still a few weeks until rosters are decided, but while I feel it’s likely Harper would get selected ahead of Bauers, Roberts could decide to select Bauers if he feels Milwaukee needs another representative and the Phils are otherwise well accounted for. But then again, can they really tell Bryce Harper he’s not going to play in an All Star Game being hosted by his hometown Philadelphia?
Brandon Marsh – TOSSUP
There is no doubt Marsh is having an All-Star worthy season. His .333 batting average is tops in baseball, and he’s become one of the game’s most lovable young stars. His power is coming around too, with three home runs in his last four games, pushing his total up to 8 for the season.
But like with Harper, Marsh could be facing a numbers game and, in this case, fan vote could make it very difficult for him to get in.
Marsh’s fWAR ranks tied for 9th in the NL, but that’s not the big worry. Juan Soto, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Kyle Tucker all have lower WARs. Tucker has barely been better than a league average hitter this year (104 wRC+) and Acuna (126) hasn’t been as productive as Marsh (142). Soto, however, has been a touch better (147). All three of these players are exceedingly popular and could all be voted in despite none of them being in the top-10 in NL WAR among outfielders.
There are also other outfielders having as good, if not better, seasons than Marsh. The Cardinals’ Jordan Walker is having a breakout season, too, leading all outfielders in wRC+ (158). That’s tied with Washington’s young superstar James Wood. He’s definitely making the team. Corbin Carroll is third (154).
Michael Harris II, Andy Pages, Ian Happ, San Francisco’s Casey Schmitt, and Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong are also extremely strong candidates.
Much of this will come down to who gets voted onto the team. Marsh has a good chance if one of Acuna, Soto or Tucker is not voted to start, and an even better chance if two of them are not. Generally, seven outfielders make the roster, although there have been as few as six and as many as eight in years past.
We discussed Marsh’s candidacy in depth on the latest Hittin’ Season podcast. Check it out!
Zack Wheeler – TOSSUP
Wheeler got a late jump on the 2026 season, but he’s more than made up for it since re-joining the Phils’ rotation.
Wheeler pitched another gem last night in Toronto, giving up just one run on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks in six innings, lowering his ERA to 2.22. Among NL pitchers with at least 50 innings, that ranks 5th, and he’s allowed opponents to hit just .181 off him. That’s tied for 3rd in the NL among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched. He’s been extremely good.
Like Marsh, the issue could come down to numbers. You see, it’s an insane year for starting pitching in the National League.
There are four starters with a better ERA right now: Chase Burns, Sanchez, Misiorowski, and Ohtani. Now, Ohtani is getting in as a DH, so we don’t have to count him among the pitchers Wheeler will contend with. Paul Skenes will make the team. Chris Sale is having another phenomenal year. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Justin Wrobleski have been incredible for the Dodgers. Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez is having his best season, Milwaukee’s Kyle Harrison is 2nd in the NL in K/9, and even the Mets’ Clay Holmes, with only nine starts this year, has a 2.39 ERA.
If he continues to pitch like he did in Toronto on Tuesday night, he may very well get selected, despite missing the first month of the season.
In short, I think the Phillies will be well represented at this summer’s All Star Game.
The latest updates on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade situation feel more like confirmations of things we already knew and expected. Things have largely felt quiet on the Antetokounmpo front, and Adam Silver and the league are good with that — they would like to avoid a repeat of last year, when the news of Kevin Durant's trade to Houston fell on the day of Game 7 of the NBA Finals and changed the conversation around the biggest game of the year.
There is an increasing belief in league circles that the trade will fall before the NBA Draft, reports Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line. That report also says the Bucks want to wait until after the NBA Finals to secure a deal, just to see if another team wants to jump into the mix — ideally the Celtics, at least from Antetokounmpo's and the Bucks' perspective. However, Boston has shown no real signs of interest.
One clear sign that the Bucks' plan to get this deal done before the draft: They are acting like a team that will have more than one high pick this year (they already have the No. 10 pick, their own), the report notes. It's worth adding that the Miami Heat have the No. 13 pick in this draft, which brings us to another point from that same report.
Miami remains frontrunner, Portland interested
Miami has been the clear frontrunner to land Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade for some time and nothing has changed, reports Fischer and Stein. There are good reasons Miami is at the front of the pack, the pair notes.
• Antetokounmpo reportedly is open to going there (and because he only has one guaranteed season left on his contract, he has leverage in any trade by saying he will not sign an extension somewhere he does not want to be).
• The Heat are in the East, and Antetokounmpo reportedly wants to stay in the East.
• Miami can put together a compelling — and probably best available — trade package centered around All-Star Tyler Hero, promising young center Kel'el Ware and multiple first-round draft picks.
The rest of the market remains tepid for Antetokounmpo. The Bucks and Knicks talked last summer, but New York is playing in the NBA Finals as this all goes down and is not about to blow up this roster. The Cavaliers don't want to trade former Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, and that was their only viable path to a deal. Teams in the West that might be a fit (like Minnesota) have not come hard because Antetokounmpo wants to stay in the East.
That said, Portland has made it known it still wants Antetokounmpo and would like to talk about a deal, but Stein and Fischer report it's more likely the Trail Blazers are the third team in a deal (Milwaukee would like to get back some of the draft picks it sent to Portland in the Damian Lillard trade).
LeBron likely stays in LA, Warriors interested
The Antetokounmpo domino has to fall before a number of other major deals — like a Ja Morant trade — go down. LeBron James' future is also on that list, but Stein and Fischer report the most likely outcome is him remaining with the Lakers "because he is so entrenched" with the organization (he's been there eight years) and with his family in Los Angeles. That includes his son, Bronny James, who remains on the Lakers roster.
That said, the pair says the Warriors are "legitimately interested" in pairing LeBron with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and (once he's healed from his torn ACL) Jimmy Butler in the Bay Area. Part of the pitch is that LeBron could "commute" to Los Angeles at points in the season relatively easily and not have to uproot his family.
The Curry/LeBron/Butler/Green core would be box office gold for the Warriors (and the league's broadcast partners) and a good team in the West, though not really a threat to Oklahoma City or San Antonio. Having four core players all age 37 or older also is a recipe for a busy medical staff.
It still all comes down to money with LeBron. At best, with some roster manipulation, the Warriors could offer LeBron the $15.1 million mid-level exception (that would hard cap the Warriors at the first tax apron, and they are currently just a little more than $19 million under that line, but with at least four more roster spots to fill after a hypothetical LeBron addition).
The Lakers can offer whatever they wish to LeBron, they have his Bird rights. That said, the organization is prioritizing re-signing Austin Reaves (also a free agent) and retooling the roster with players who better fit with Luka Doncic and his skill set. Lakers fans expecting major roster moves or even a radical overhaul of the role players on the team may want to prep themselves for a more status quo offseason, league sources told NBC Sports.
LeBron and his agent, Rich Paul, are reportedly going to ask for the max from the Lakers and want to know how the Lakers plan to spend that money if they are offering less, which is really a complicated way of saying they want to know what the Lakers' plans are.
It's easy to imagine LeBron returning to the Lakers on something like a two-year, $50 million contract with a player option on the second year and a no-trade clause. Maybe easier than imagining him in the Bay Area.
This evening, our MLB player props are rolling with Dominic Canzone, Kyle Schwarber and Kyle Stowers, all in matchups that set up well for production.
Let's take a deep dive into why these guys are catching our eye for the top MLB picks for Wednesday, June 10.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Dominic Canzone
Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI
-121
Kyle Schwarber
Home Run/Double
+193 | +353
Kyle Stowers
Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI
+101
Dominic Canzone Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI (-121)
Calzones for everyone, if this cashes! CALZONES!!!
The very first prop I locked in today was Seattle Mariners designated hitter Dominic Canzone to go over his hits, runs, and RBI prop.
Today marks Canzone's 24th elite rating, and he has surpassed this prop in six of his last 10 elite-rated games, per Batters-Box.
Against Baltimore Orioles right-hander Brandon Young, Canzone's matchup wOBA, ISO, hard-contact rate, and fly-ball rate all see significant boosts. Not to mention, he owns tremendous arsenal coverage against Young's pitch mix.
Recently, Canzone has been all over anything left over the plate. Over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, the 28-year-old is producing nearly 60% hard contact with a 27.3% barrel rate, while posting a 1.324 OPS, .857 SLG, and .428 ISO.
On the other side, Young has been getting crushed by left-handed hitters at home, allowing a 40.6% hard-contact rate, a 26.9% ground-ball rate, and a 55.8% fly-ball rate.
If Canzone gets a hold of one tonight, I think it has a good chance of leaving the yard. I'd sprinkle a little on the home run and would play this prop up to -130.
Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, SEAM
Kyle Schwarber Home Run (+193) | Double (+353)
We are not paying juice on any of Kyle Schwarber's props today. Skip the nonsense, it's home run or double day.
Against Scherzer's pitch mix, Schwarber owns a 70.8% arsenal coverage rate while also carrying an elite rating. Across nearly 250 plate appearances with an elite rating according to Batters-Box, the slugger leaves the yard 28.34% of the time.
Scherzer has allowed plenty of hard contact at home this season, surrendering a 20% barrel rate while sporting an 8.51 xERA. Through 53 left-handed hitters faced, opponents have produced a 14.9% barrel rate and a 76.6% elevation rate. Those lefties also own a .311 xBA, .616 xSLG, and .411 xwOBA against him.
While Schwarber is batting just .240 over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, he continues to square the ball up at an impressive rate, posting 61.5% hard contact. On the season, he owns a 13.51% barrel rate and a 52.94% hard-hit rate against righties.
If we're expecting Schwarber to elevate the baseball in Toronto tonight, let's attack the elevation props and grab the better value.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SN1, NBCSP
Kyle Stowers Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI (+101)
Big day to be a Kyle, as we’re also backing Miami Marlins young buck Kyle Stowers to go over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI at even money.
The 28-year-old checks in with an elite rating on Batters-Box, and he’s been nothing short of consistent in these spots. Across 28 elite-rated games, he has cleared this number 57.14% of the time. He’s also recorded multiple hits in nearly 40% of those contests and has left the yard 21.43% of the time.
The Marlins outfielder gets a matchup against Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson, who enters with poor ratings in both matchup ISO and hard contact allowed. Left-handed hitters have given him plenty of trouble this season, posting a nearly 71% elevation rate alongside a .541 expected slugging percentage and .356 xwOBA.
Stowers also has strong arsenal coverage against the fastball-heavy righty. On top of that, he’s seeing the ball extremely well right now, hitting .296 with a .901 OPS and .556 SLG over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching. During that stretch, he’s produced a 56.3% hard-hit rate and a 12.5% barrel rate.
I’d do my best to grab this prop at plus money. Getting an elite-rated hitter at plus money to go over 1.5 HRR feels like a gift.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MIAM, ARID
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
2026 MLB Record: 203-351-29, -0.2 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Police arrive to disperse fans near Madison Square Garden after Game 3 in New York City on 8 June.Photograph: Eduardo Muñoz/Reuters
The owner of the New York Knicks basketball team sharply criticized both the New York police department and Zohran Mamdani after city officials announced an extensive security strategy for Game 4 of the NBA finals, featuring a large restricted zone and additional access controls.
The expanded security measures follow Monday’s Game 3 watch party at Bryant Park, where disorder erupted and led to arrests, damage to property and incidents involving assaults on police officers.
In response to the plans for Wednesday night, Madison Square Garden Sports (MSG Sports), James Dolan’s company that owns the Knicks, issued a strongly worded statement titled “Mayor Mamdani and Police Commissioner Tisch Are New York City’s Biggest Party Poopers”.
“The last several victories the Knicks have had have been celebrated by thousands and thousands outside MSG,” the statement said. “The joy and happiness were palpable everywhere. Apparently, Mayor Mamdani and Police Commissioner [Jessica] Tisch, despite what they say, don’t want to see these celebrations happen.”
MSG Sports argued that while similar restrictions put in place earlier in the week had been attributed to Donald Trump’s presence at Game 3, the decision to maintain the perimeter for Game 4 is evidence that the president’s appearance was “a convenient excuse to restrict how and when Knicks fans celebrate”.
The sports holding company also claimed that shutting down the surrounding area hurts the atmosphere of the celebration and negatively affects nearby small businesses that depend on game-day crowds.
NYPD officials told the Athletic that MSG’s permit request for Wednesday’s watch party proposed a crowd limit of between 500 and 1,000 attenders. City officials approved attendance up to the maximum of 1,000 people.
The heightened security measures come after Monday night’s gathering in Bryant Park turned chaotic following the Knicks’ defeat. Fans left Bryant Park and moved on to nearby streets, where fights broke out and resulted in 21 arrests. Five police officers were reportedly among those injured.
Footage shared online showed individuals wearing Spurs apparel being chased and attacked. Several videos gained widespread attention, including one showing a fan’s Victor Wembanyama jersey being ripped off and torn apart.
Ahead of game four, Mamdani called on New Yorkers to refrain from targeting Spurs supporters. “We’re back outside the Garden. We have approved a ticketed MSG watch party for Game 4. More details soon. As we prepare to watch together, let me be clear: this is a historic, joyful moment for our city. We will not allow it to be disrupted by violence.
“Be safe, take care, and celebrate responsibly. Knicks in 5,” the mayor wrote on social media.
Last week, Mamdani signed a symbolic executive order repealing bedtime curfew for NYC’s children during the Knicks’ NBA finals run.
For Wednesday night’s game, entry into the restricted area will be limited to people with game tickets, train tickets or proof of residence within the area, or those visiting a specific local business. Fans entering the area will use a designated access point at Sixth Avenue and 33rd Street, where all attenders will undergo screening. Trump, a longtime friend of Dolan, is not expected to attend.
Dalton Rushing’s reputation for playing old school baseball added another chapter Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.
The Dodgers rookie catcher was called for interference during the fifth inning of a game against the Pirates after attempting an aggressive takeout slide into shortstop Jared Triolo while trying to break up a double play.
With nobody out and Rushing on first base, Alex Freeland hit a ground ball to the right side that appeared destined to become a double play Rushing veered well away from the bag and crashed into Triolo as the Pirates infielder attempted to complete the turn.
Dalton Rushing sparks controversy again after an illegal slide costs the Dodgers against Pittsburgh. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectDalton Rushing with a slide that hasn’t been legal for 10 years SNLA
Although Freeland initially beat the throw to first, umpires reviewed the play and ruled Rushing’s slide illegal under Major League Baseball’s “bona fide slide” rule, awarding Pittsburgh the double play.
The play immediately reignited criticism surrounding Rushing, who has already found himself at the center of similar controversies this season.
Back in April, San Francisco infielder Luis Arraez criticized Rushing after a hard slide into Giants shortstop Willy Adames.
“For me, that’s not good baseball. It’s not clean baseball,” Arraez said at the time. “It’s dirty, but for me, this is baseball.”
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) reacts at second base after hitting a double against the Los Angeles Angels IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectDodgers catcher Dalton Rushing slides home during the first inning CHRIS TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock
Still, those who know Rushing insist the 25-year-old is not trying to build a reputation as baseball’s newest villain.
Speaking with The California Post last week, Rushing acknowledged that several viral moments have created an image he doesn’t want attached to his name.
“You never want to be viewed as a guy like that from opposing teams,” Rushing said. “You want guys to hate playing against you because of the player that you are and how great you are on a baseball field. Not because of the verbalized things you say.”
Rushing said he has been trying to better manage the competitive fire that has occasionally landed him in headlines this season.
“I’m gonna continue to compete, I’m gonna continue to play with an edge,” he said. “But obviously we can hone back a little bit on things that can get you in trouble in this media world.”
That competitive edge was evident again Tuesday.
While older generations of baseball fans might view the play as a throwback takeout slide, MLB’s rules changed in 2016 following Chase Utley’s infamous postseason collision with Ruben Tejada.
Under the current standard, runners cannot alter their path to initiate contact with a fielder, making Rushing’s slide an easy call after review.
The timing is notable for the Dodgers.
Starting catcher Will Smith has missed three consecutive games because of neck stiffness, and Los Angeles is reportedly considering a stint on the injured list. If Smith misses additional time, Rushing will see an expanded role behind the plate.
Rushing’s power potential remains intriguing, but as his playing time increases, so does the spotlight. And right now, Rushing is drawing attention for much more than his bat.
The Buffalo Sabres and winger Alex Tuch have been negotiating off and on since the 30-year-old become eligible to sign a contract extension last summer, but there was no progress throughout the regular season, to the point that the veteran winger and his representatives paused negotiations.
“We had talks with Kevyn Adams and his management staff that didn't progress to where we wanted it to, so we decided to kind of hold off and go through the season a little more," Tuch said at locker cleanout earlier this week. "When Jarmo stepped in, we initially had some good talks, and then they kind of stalled out a little bit. They continued to talk (throughout) the course of the season, and at a point when we were starting with the playoff push, I decided that it was my best interest, and the best interest for the team to put anything like that on hold until after the season was over."
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Wednesday’s 32 Thoughts podcast, the chatter coming out of last week’s NHL Scouting Combine was that there was “still a gap” between the two sides, and there has not been a lot of movement with just over three weeks to go before Tuch hits the open market.
Tuch posted his third 30+ goal season in four years, and had seven points in the first round series against Boston, but went pointless in seven games against the Montreal Canadiens. In spite of that, he is expected to draw the most attention on July 1, if the Sabres do not trade his negotiating rights before then or do a sign-and-trade at or around the NHL Draft later this month.
Alex Tuch and his contract situation with the Sabres
Rasmus Dahlin was one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy after leading his club to their first playoff appearance in 15 years, but last week it was revealed that he finished third behind Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski and Cale Makar. On Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres team captain learned that he finished second behind countryman and Team Sweden teammate Gabriel Landeskog in voting for the Bill Masterton Trophy.
The Masterton is awarded “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey” and is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Landeskog returned to full time NHL duty after nearly three years after undergoing a series of serious surgeries to repair knee issues, playing 60 games for the President’s Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche this season. The 33-year-old received 69 first-place votes and 509 points. Dahlin received 53 first-place votes and finished 110 points behind Landeskog. Jonathan Toews of the Winnipeg Jets finished third.
Award season was a disappointment for members of the Sabres organization, with Dahlin’s second and third place finishes, and Lindy Ruff finishing just behind Tampa’s Jon Cooper for the Jack Adams for coach of the year.
May 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
It’s been a series full of nailbiters, but at least the Yankees have come out on the right side of a pair of one-run games in this set with the Guardians. With a getaway day today, we have a matinee affair for you that will hopefully be a little more of a laugher than we’ve seen this week, but a pair of low-ERA lefties might mean we’re doomed to another tight one.
Carlos Rodón has looked more than serviceable in his five starts already this year, with a 2.88 ERA and 3.08 xERA that suggest he’s not just suppressing runs but suppressing good contact as well. However, there are a couple of yellow flags to note. First of all, he has a very elevated walk rate, over 15 percent of batters faced. He did walk five in his return start against the Brewers, but has only issued two or fewer free passes in one outing this year, and being able to control the strike zone will be an early key to his effectiveness. He’s also running a pretty paltry HR rate that will begin to normalize eventually, and while this Guardians squad won’t bludgeon you to death, they have a couple guys that can get some good swings off.
Parker Messick is playing in his first full season and a lot of the things we just said about Rodón could probably be said here, even if it appears Messick’s error bars are for the time being narrower than his veteran counterpart. He’s walking guys about doubly as often as last year, but with a more normal home run rate. Regardless, the two southpaws feature FIPs within .15 points of each other, so we’re dealing with two pretty similar looking seasons so far.
We see the Full Lefty lineup deployed once again, with Paul Goldschmidt leading off, but given the half-day off while DH’ing, Amed Rosario cleaning up, and Ali Sánchez batting ninth and catching. The platoon advantage is there for Sánchez of course (and it’s a day game after a night game), but after the game J.C. Escarra had, having the backup in was probably a good idea regardless of the starter.
How to watch
Location: Progressive Field — Cleveland, OH
First pitch: 1:10 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Guardians TV, WKYC3
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7, WARF 1350, Guardians Radio Network (CLE)
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) reacts in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The San Antonio Spurs were knocked off their rocker in the first two games of the NBA Finals at home by the New York Knicks. Entering as heavy favorites, many Spurs players eased off the gas pedal.
UConn’s Stephon Castle averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across those first two games. However, he was part of a critical turnover in the final seconds of Game 2. With 14 seconds left in a tie game, Victor Wembenyama grabbed a rebound off a Jalen Brunson miss and raced up the floor. With Castle in front of him, Wemby passed the ball off his back the second Castle looked away. Brunson snatched the loose ball and secured the Knicks’ second straight road victory to open the finals.
Monday’s game 3 was the most important game of Castle’s young career. A sold-out Madison Square Garden with many important folks in attendance surely would be too much pressure for the 21-year-old, right? The Knicks looked to slam the door shut and go up 3 games to none, as no team has come back from a 3-0 deficit in NBA history. Castle started off the night with an 18 point 1st half, hitting an early triple to get San Antonio moving. He threw the first punch early, as the Spurs struggled to open the first two games in the series.
Castle ended the night with 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting, including knocking down the dagger 3-pointer to go up 7 with under 2 minutes to play.
Another late Knicks comeback saw them down two points with 6 seconds remaining, as they sent Castle to the charity stripe with the game on the line. The forward buried both free throws and the Spurs held on to take Game 3, making the series 2-1.
“I expect us to win the next three. Those first two games really hurt. I feel like it was an eye-opener for us… We wanna punch first and be on the front foot,” Castle said in an interview with ESPN.
ESPN currently has the Spurs at +160 to win the championship, with the Knicks at -190 odds. No team in NBA history has won the NBA Finals after dropping the first two games at home.
San Antonio looks to steal another game on the road as Game 4 tips off Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.
NEW YORK — The New York Mets took catcher Francisco Alvarez off the injured list before the game against St. Louis, but Kodai Senga experienced a setback in his rehab from a back injury.
The 24-year-old Alvarez returned to the lineup exactly four weeks after sustaining a torn meniscus in his right knee while taking a swing against the Detroit Tigers. He started behind the plate and batted ninth, going 1 for 3 in a 7-0 loss to the Cardinals.
Alvarez had surgery May 14 and was expected to miss six-to-eight weeks. Already known as a quick healer following his recovery from hand and thumb injuries the last two seasons, Alvarez was taking dry swings within days of the operation and began hitting within two weeks.
“I always want to get back as quickly as possible to help the team,” he said through an interpreter.
Alvarez went 3 for 13 in four rehab games at Triple-A Syracuse. He played six innings at catcher in his first appearance and seven in the next two games before catching all nine innings.
“He’s unbelievable,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Four weeks later, not only he’s playing, he’s playing on the big league level. He checked all the boxes.
“You’ve got to give him credit — credit to our trainers and our group there — because I don’t think anybody saw this coming.”
Alvarez is expected to get the majority of the starts behind home plate going forward. Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger combined to bat .215 with two homers and 10 RBIs with Alvarez on the IL. Senger was optioned to Syracuse in a corresponding transaction.
“I feel good. I feel like my legs are strong enough,” Alvarez said. “I don’t think there’s anything that’s weak right now.”
The news was less encouraging for Senga, sidelined by lumbar spine inflammation since April 27. He was scheduled to make a rehab appearance for Double-A Binghamton before experiencing what he called a “small reaction” in the ulnar nerve while doing his between-starts work.
Senga via an interpreter said he “wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s inflammation. It’s relatively minor.”
The right-hander played catch and is expected to do so again.
Mendoza said the Mets haven’t ended Senga’s rehab assignment, and the team hopes he can resume pitching in minor league games this week.
“He’s kind of day to day,” the manager explained.
Senga has a 5.25 ERA in three rehab starts between Syracuse and Class A St. Lucie. He was 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in five starts for the Mets before going on the injured list, and is 0-7 with a 6.94 ERA in his last 14 big league starts since straining his right hamstring while covering first base last June 12.
“I think the front office would agree that they would like to see some results and so would I,” Senga said. “I think we’re on the same page there.”
Star shortstop Francisco Lindor, who hasn’t played since he strained his left calf running the bases on April 22, is expected to participate in full baseball activities — including on-field batting practice. Lindor and Juan Soto, who missed 15 games in April with a right calf injury, have played just seven full games together this season.
First baseman and designated hitter Jorge Polanco, who experienced soreness in his left ankle while on a rehab assignment for the left Achilles injury that’s sidelined him since April 15, underwent an MRI on the Achilles that revealed nothing more than inflammation.
Mendoza acknowledged Polanco, who was expected to shift to first base and replace Pete Alonso upon signing a two-year deal worth $40 million in December, likely would be limited to DH duties for the foreseeable future.
Mets reliever Joey Gerber exited prior to the start of the ninth inning when a blister began flaring up on his right hand. Gerber spent time on the injured list due to the blister in April.
Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Kale Clague is taking his talents to the KHL.
Avtomobilist Yekaterin of the KHL have signed Clague to a two-year contract.
Clague heading to the KHL comes after he spent all of this in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Manitoba Moose. In 67 games this campaign with the Winnipeg Jets' AHL affiliate, the former Sabres defenseman posted nine goals, 18 assists, and 27 points.
Before the 2025-26 season, Clague spent the three previous seasons with the Sabres organization. He spent the majority of his time with the Sabres down in the AHL with the Rochester Americans. This included him spending all of the 2024-25 season with Rochester, where he recorded 10 goals and 39 points in 69 games.
In 36 games as a member of the Sabres, Clague posted zero goals, five assists, 25 hits, and a minus-3 rating.
It will now be interesting to see how much of an impact Clague can make in the KHL from here. If he performs well overseas during his two-year deal, perhaps it could open the door for him to get another opportunity in North America.
Dominic Canzone
Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Stowers
