Discuss the Guardians-Rangers rubber match below
GUARDIANS AT RANGERS, Cantillo vs. deGrom, discussion
Diamondbacks vs. Nationals discussion
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.
- Reinstated from the family medical emergency list: RHP Taylor Clarke
- Optioned to Triple-A Reno: LHP Philip Abner (following yesterday’s game)
Abner didn’t exactly cover himself in glory, during his brief stay on the big-league roster. When he came into Friday night’s game, it was already out of hand, the D-backs trailing 7-1 in the top of the sixth. Seventeen pitches from Phil later, it was really out of hands, the Nationals have scored five runs on two home-runs, one of them a grand-slam. He has pitched 3.2 innings in the majors this year, with an ERA of 17.18. That kind of performance is more likely to get you a ticket to DFAville. To be fair, Abner only turned 24 last month and being a lefty, also gives him a longer leash. His 5.12 ERA over a large sample size in Reno is also better than team average (5.56).
But to illustrate something I said in the GDT yesterday: the performances of Abner, Kade Stroud and Drey Jameson since getting called up illustrate\ the lack of depth in the D-backs bullpen. All told, Arizona’s relief corps is firmly in the middle of the pack. Their overall 4.13 ERA ranks 16th, and at the risk of flogging a deceased equine, that’s considerably better than we’ve managed in most of Mike Hazen’s tenure. But there’s a huge gulf between the regular guys and the ones we’ve asked to fill in. Below is a breakdown of all the relievers used by Arizona this season, in descending order of innings pitched.
Excluding Brandon Pfaadt – who was only in the bullpen as a failed starter, and is now down in Reno – the top eight all have an ERA below 3.50. Small sample sizes, but the ones below them have all have an ERA of 5.40 or worse: and the best among them is actually third-string catcher Adrian Del Castillo. If you add up all the work by those two groups, here’s what you get:
A-bullpen: 157.2 IP, 111 H, 50 R, 44 ER, 11 HR, 43 BB 142 SO, 2.51 ERA
B-bullpen: 30.1 IP, 48 H, 41 R, 38 ER, 8 HR, 23 BB, 23 SO, 11.27 ERA
Obviously, every bullpen is going to have its weak links. But it’s striking that if you exclude the position players from the B-bullpen, the overall ERA of the remaining pitcher would go up. So far, we’ve been remarkably lucky in terms of the A-pen being almost entirely healthy. If that doesn’t continue, it could pose major problems over the next few months.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering. This is not an early Gameday Thread, it’s an early game. A 12:15 pm start, because it’s on Peacock. I wonder how many people will show up at Chase expecting the usual 1:05 pm first pitch?
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
Bulls broadcaster Stacey King, who played on three of Chicago's NBA championship teams, dies at 59
CHICAGO (AP) — Stacey King, who played on three consecutive NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls from 1991-93 before returning to the organization as an Emmy-winning broadcaster, has died. He was 59.
The Bulls announced that King died Sunday and said they were notified by a family member. No other details were immediately available.
“Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history,” Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades — first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans. We will miss him deeply and remember the joy, energy, humor, candor and passion he brought to our organization, our broadcasts and our fans every day. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
King began his NBA playing career with the Bulls, who selected the 6-foot-11 forward/center out of Oklahoma with the sixth overall pick in the 1989 draft. He averaged 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds over his five seasons with the Bulls.
He played a total of eight seasons in the NBA during a career that also included stops in Minnesota, Miami, Boston and Dallas. King posted career averages of 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds.
As a broadcaster, King endeared himself to a new generation of Bulls supporters. He spent more than two decades as a commentator on Bulls games.
“Stacey loved being a Bull,” Bulls president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf said in a statement. “You could feel it in everything he did — the way he played, the way he called games and the way he connected with our fans. He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal. He brought an energy and love for the game that came through in every broadcast, helping fans feel connected to our team. Whether it was through a broadcast, a conversation or a photo with a fan, Stacey made people feel seen and valued.
“We were fortunate to know him not only as a player and broadcaster, but as a friend. Stacey genuinely cared about people, and he made our organization better. We will miss him dearly, and his impact, memory and legacy will remain a part of the Chicago Bulls forever.”
King delighted fans with his memorable calls and nicknames. His enthusiasm was apparent every time the Bulls hit a big shot.
“We enjoy what we do,” King said last month on his “Gimme the Hot Sauce” podcast, a reference to a comment he'd frequently make after big plays. “It's a fun job. It never seems like work for me. Every night, I go to work, win, lose or draw, I'm having fun.”
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Dodgers on Deck: Tuesday, June 9 at Pirates
The Dodgers are off on Monday before opening a road series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday night, and will face off against Paul Skenes in the first game.
Skenes has a 3.09 ERA and 2.29 xERA this season, though has allowed 15 runs (13 earned) in 20 innings over his last four starts, all Pirates losses. Pittsburgh has won only six of Skenes’ 13 starts this season, though he’s left with a lead eight times.
We narrowly missed a Skenes vs. Shohei Ohtani pitching matchup in this series, with Ohtani starting on Wednesday in Pittsburgh. Left-hander Eric Lauer starts for the Dodgers. We’ll still get to see Skenes vs. the Ohtani the hitter, one of the sport’s best individual matchups.
Tuesday game info
- Teams: Dodgers at Pirates
- Ballpark: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
- Time: 3:40 p.m. PT
- TV: SportsNet LA
- Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
Colorado Rockies vs. Milwaukee Brewers game thread: Shane Drohan vs Kyle Freeland
When the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers came to Denver for the weekend, common sense would say the rebuilding Colorado Rockies could—with a little luck—win perhaps one game in the series. They came tantalizingly close on Friday but a disastrous collapse in the ninth and tenth innings sealed their fate. On Saturday the loss was more traditional with a 7-1 blowout. Now as thousands of fans flock to Coors Field to receive a bobble-headed facsimile of our beloved mascot Dinger, the Rockies have one more chance to salvage a win and avoid a sweep.
On the mound for the Rockies is the left-handed Kyle Freeland, who is having a season he’d probably like to forget with an 8.06 ERA through his first ten starts. He has given up at least five earned runs in five of his seven starts since returning from the injured list and has gone five or more innings just three times in that span.
Freeland is having an odd season. He’s getting batters to chase his offerings and his strikeouts per nine innings currently sits at a career high 8.1. However, he’s getting hit and hit hard. He’s already given up 13 home runs this season. His last time out against the Los Angeles Angels he gave up six runs—five earned—on seven hits with a home run over 5.2 innings of work.
On the bump for the Brew Crew is left-handed rookie Shane Drohan. Originally a fifth round pick out of Florida State by the Boston Red Sox, Drohan was obtained via trade by the Brewers this off-season and is off to a strong start following an April Major League debut.
Drohan currently has a 2.87 ERA in 12 appearances with the Brewers, two of which were starts, with a save and 33 strikeouts over 33.1 innings. He made his second career start against the San Francisco Giants his last time out, going 4.0 innings with two earned runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts. It was his first start since making his debut on April 8th.
Drohan’s primary pitch is a four-seam fastball with a surprising amount of armside horizontal movement that averages 95.1 MPH. He is able to generate whiffs at 33.8% rate on the pitch. He backs the fastball up with an arsenal of breaking pitches that get batters to chase and whiff, especially his curveball and slider. He also throws a cutter with vertical drop, a sinker, and a changeup.
First Pitch: 1:10 pm MDT
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)
BrewersSB Nation Site: Brew Crew Ball
Lineups:
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!
Stacey King, Bulls champion and broadcaster, dead at 59
Stacey King, a big man during the first Bulls three-peat in the early 1990s who became a beloved game analyst for the team’s television broadcasts, died Sunday, the team announced.
He was 59. A cause of death was not disclosed.
“Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history,” owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement.
“His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades — first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans. We will miss him deeply and remember the joy, energy, humor, candor and passion he brought to our organization, broadcasts and our fans every day. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
The Bulls selected King with the No. 6 overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma — where he was a consensus All-American as a senior — and he was a key reserve in Chicago for four-plus seasons, winning three straight NBA championships from 1991-93 during the first half of the Michael Jordan dynasty.
He averaged 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 344 regular-season games with the Bulls, and 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 60 playoff games.
King was traded to the Timberwolves for Luc Longley in February 1994 and later played for the Heat, Celtics and Mavericks.
After a brief coaching career, King went into broadcasting in 2006 and joined the Bulls booth in 2007.
Some of his signature phrases included “Gimme the hot sauce!” and “Sriracha!”
“Stacey loved being a Bull. You could feel it in everything he did — the way he played, the way he called games and the way he connected with our fans,” Reinsdorf’s son Michael, the team’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
“He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal. He brought an energy and love for the game that came through in every broadcast, helping fans feel connected to our team. Whether it was through a broadcast, a conversation or a photo with a fan, Stacey made people feel seen and valued.”
Game Discussion for St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds Sunday
The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up a long homestand on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds. Michael McGreevy is scheduled to make the start for the Cardinals while RHP Rhett Lowder will take the mound for the Reds. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15pm central time at Busch Stadium and the broadcast will be available on Cardinals.tv. Note that JJ Wetherholt is back in the lineup leading off.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
Game 67: Royals at Twins
First Chuck: 1:10 PM (new anthem each week!)
The Tube: Twins.TV
The Dial: Treasure Island Baseball Network
Spies ‘R Us: Royals Review
Today is Toy Story Day at Target Field. Great timing considering that a slate of blockbuster flicks are scheduled to hit theaters this month and the next (the unofficial kickoff to summer movie season being Memorial Day weekend’s The Mandalorian & Grogu, which I alas found thoroughly mediocre).
Each of these upcoming films has a baseball connection somewhere—even if it takes a little digging to find them. Here’s your shovel…
Disclosure Day (Releases June 12)
- Steven Spielberg clearly has a soft spot for the National Pastime—even including it (and somehow making it an incredibly poignant moment) in his 1991 Peter Pan re-imagining Hook.
Toy Story 5 (Releases June 19)
- While no explicit baseball references exist in the Toy Story cinematic universe, the voice of its starring character has an iconic role/monologue in the 1992 classic A League Of Their Own.
Supergirl (Releases June 26)
- Baseball exists in the Superman canon! In this really good scene from a really bad film (1987’s Superman IV: The Quest For Peace), Christopher Reeve must don the bumbling, aw-shucks Clark Kent disguise to placate an aggressive land man out to buy the Kent farm—after which he takes out his frustration by cracking a cowhide sphere into (literal) orbit.
The Odyssey (Releases July 17)
- One really has to turn over some soil to find a hardball connection to English director Christopher Nolan. But the star of his 2014 mega-hit Interstellar—Matthew McConaughey—once prowled a cinematic diamond outfield in the 1994 Disney cult classic remake Angels in the Outfield.
Let’s see if the Twins can produce some cinema of their own this afternoon by taking the final game from KC!
Click here for Lineups!
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
Astros vs. Athletics Game Discussion: 6/7/2026
TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (30-36) will complete their nine-game homestand this afternoon as they play the second game of a three-game series against the Athletics (30-34) at Daikin Park.
RHP Mike Burrow (3-7, 5.66 ERA) will make his 13th start of the year for the Astros this afternoon opposite the A’s and LHP Gage Jump (1-1, 3.75 ERA), who’s making his third start of the year.
VS. THE A’S: The Astros are hosting the A’s in Houston for their first series in the Bayou City since last July. The Astros are 3-2 vs. the A’s in 2026 and are looking to reverse their luck vs. the A’s this season after going 5-8 against them in 2025. That marked the Astros first season series loss to the A’s since the 2020 season (3-7).
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 (12), innings (68.1) and strikeouts (57)…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.
WITH A WIN: The Astros need a win today to secure a winning homestand as they enter today’s game
4-4 on the current ‘stand…a win would also give the Astros their first sweep of the A’s since sweeping a
four-game series in Houston from May 13-16, 2024.
YESTERDAY’S ROSTER MOVES: Announced yesterday, C César Salazar accepted his outright
assignment to Triple A Sugar Land and OF Rhylan Thomas was unconditionally released…both players were designated for assignment on Thursday.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, June 7, 1:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network, SCHN2 (Spanish)
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Astros lineup
SS Jeremy Pena
DH Yordan Alvarez
1B Christian Walker
3B Isaac Paredes
RF Cam Smith
CF Jake Meyers
C Christian Vazquez
LF Brice Matthews
2B Nick Allen
Athletics Lineup
1B Nick Kurtz
RF Carlos Cortes
C Shea Langeliers
LF Tyler Soderstrom
DH Brent Rooker
CF Lawrence Butler
3B Zack Gelof
2B Jeff McNeil
SS alika Williams
Knicks expect 'electric' NBA Finals Game 3 atmosphere, but 'still a lot of work to be done'
After taking the first two games of the 2026 NBA Finals in San Antonio, the Knicks head home to Madison Square Garden for the next two games with a chance to secure a sweep, which would cap off one of the greatest winning steaks in NBA postseason history.
And while the Knicks, currently on a 13-game winning streak, aren’t allowing themselves to get caught up in all of the outside buzz and excitement leading into the game, they know it will be special to be back in front of their home fans and give them a taste of the NBA Finals at The Garden in Monday night's Game 3.
“I think it’s really cool -- 27 years since the last Finals here in this building,” said Jalen Brunson. “I know our fan base is really excited, as they should be. But as a team, us inside that locker room, we have more work to do.
“In my mind, there’s nothing really to celebrate yet. There’s still a lot of work to be done.”
“I expect our fans to come out and do what they do every game, just come and support us at the highest level,” said Karl-Anthony Towns. “It’s always great when you get to come out and play the game of basketball at its highest level, to be able to lace the shoes up, be able to put the jersey on, and be able to see our fans see Finals basketball after all of this time is going to be really, really special.”
Asked if he’s been able to look around the city and take in what the Knicks have accomplished, Brunson’s answer was very direct.
“Not until it’s over,” he said.
Forward Josh Hart, who has 21 rebounds and 10 assists through the first two games, said he knows the Garden is “going to be rocking” and that “the energy is going to be electric,” but he does wish being able to see the game in person was a bit more accessible for the fans, given the astronomical ticket prices just to get into the arena.
“I kind of wish the ticket prices weren’t as crazy as they are,” Hart said. “I feel like a lot of people have been waiting for this moment for a very long time and unfortunately aren’t able to get into the building, when the cheapest ticket is $7,000-8,000.
“That’s ridiculous, but it should still be rocking. Just wish those were a little cheaper.”
Heading into Game 3, several Knicks touched on the importance of executing in the fourth quarter, as San Antonio erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit in Game 2 before a costly Victor Wembanyama turnover helped the Knicks earn the win.
“I feel like we played a little slower,” said Hart. “Transitionally, it wasn’t as crisp as it was in the first three quarters. I think if we focus on that and rebounding, we’ll be good.”
As Brunson said, the Knicks have not yet achieved their ultimate goal of bringing the city their first NBA title since 1973.
But if they can win two more games, this Knicks team would go down in history, and for players like Brunson, being part of the team that brought a title back to New York would be an unforgettable achievement.
“I’m so thankful and so honored to put New York across my chest,” the point guard said. “I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything in the world”
Game 65 Game Day Thread – Cleveland Guardians @ Texas Rangers
Cleveland Guardians @ Texas Rangers
Sunday, June 7, 2026, 1:35 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)
The Shed
LHP Joey Cantillo vs. RHP Jacob deGrom
Go Rangers!
GameThread: Detroit Tigers vs. Seattle Mariners 1:40 p.m.
Detroit Tigers (26-39) vs. Seattle Mariners (34-31)
Time/Place: 1:40 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site: Lookout Landing
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jack Flaherty (1-7, 5.31 ERA) vs. RHP Luis Castillo (2-5, 5.53 ERA)
| Player | G | IP | K% | BB% | GB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flaherty | 13 | 57.2 | 25.8 | 11.8 | 31.3 | 4.40 | 0.7 |
| Castillo | 12 | 55.1 | 22.4 | 8.8 | 36.6 | 4.18 | 0.6 |
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
Stacey King, three-time NBA champion, longtime Bulls broadcaster, dies at 59
Three-time NBA champion and beloved broadcaster Stacey King has died, the Chicago Bulls announced Sunday, June 7.
King was 59 years old.
In a statement on social media, Bulls' owner Jerry Reinsdorf said "Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history. His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades – first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans. We will miss him deeply and remember the joy, energy, humor, candor, and passion he brought to our organization, our broadcasts, and our fans every day. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones."
King was the sixth pick in the 1989 draft out of Oklahoma. His connection to the city of Chicago is undeniable as he was not only beloved as a player but as the team's color commentator for nearly 20 years.
Information regarding the specifics of King's death have yet to be disclosed. We will monitor and update this story as more information becomes available.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Stacey King, 3-time NBA champion, Bulls broadcaster, dies at 59
Game Discussion: Milwaukee Brewers (39-23) @ Colorado Rockies (24-41)
The Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies wrap up their three-game series today in Denver. The Brewers are hoping for a rare road sweep; my quick-and-dirty research shows that Milwaukee has only swept the Rockies in Colorado once, from June 20-22, 2014. The winning pitchers in those games were Marco Estrada, Wily Peralta, and Kyle Lohse.
It’s been a wild series so far. The Brewers escaped with an extra-innings victory in game one after accruing only one hit through the game’s first seven innings. Last night was a more comfortable win, as Milwaukee hit five solo homers and Jacob Misiorowski did Jacob Misiorowski things. This afternoon, Shane Drohan will start the game for the Brewers, while lefty Kyle Freeland takes the hill for the Rox.
Drohan is making his third start and 13th appearance this season for the Brewers. After a bit of a rough outing in his MLB debut on April 8 (a spot start in which he allowed three runs and walked four in just 2 2/3 innings), Drohan returned to the big leagues in late April as a long man out of the bullpen. Since then, he’s been quite good: from April 24 through May 27, Drohan made 10 appearances out of the bullpen and had a 1.82 ERA, 26 strikeouts, and just four walks in 24 2/3 innings. Necessity moved him back to the rotation on June 1, when Drohan pitched the first four innings of Milwaukee’s 16-2 romp over the Giants. He allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five. Overall, Drohan has a 2.87 ERA and 2.78 FIP in 31 1/3 innings on the season.
Freeland is a Rockies legend, the owner of what was arguably the best pitching season in team history (he went 17-7 with a 166 ERA+ in 202 innings in 2018). But at age 33, he is having a disaster of a season. In 10 starts, Freeland owns an 8.06 ERA and 6.08 FIP. While his strikeout and walk numbers aren’t terrible, he’s allowing a ton of hits (12.6 per nine) and a ton of homers (2.4 per nine). Only the Cubs’ Jameson Taillon has allowed more homers per nine innings than Freeland among qualified pitchers, and that number of hits would be the most per nine innings in baseball by a lot — Zac Gallen is currently last with 10.9/9.
Expect Drohan’s innings to be somewhat limited today: he hasn’t thrown more than 71 pitches in any appearance this season (he had 68 in his last outing) and hasn’t completed more than 4 1/3 innings. This Rockies roster doesn’t exactly work the count, so he could get deeper into the game, but I wouldn’t expect Drohan to go much beyond 70 pitches even if he’s cruising. The bullpen should be in pretty good shape after Misiorowski went seven last night; the only players used out of the ‘pen on Saturday were Grant Anderson and Milwaukee debutant Drew Rom.
Christian Yelich gets the afternoon off with the lefty on the hill, so Jackson Chourio moves up into the leadoff spot. William Contreras will serve as the DH today, with Gary Sánchez behind the plate, batting fifth. Jake Bauers, who is 4-for-6 with a homer, two doubles, four RBIs, and four walks in the series, isn’t in today’s starting lineup; Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, and Blake Perkins are in the outfield today, while Andrew Vaughn will handle duties at first base. Luis Rengifo and Joey Ortiz make up the left side of the infield, and Brice Turang (who homered twice last night) plays second base and bats second.
First pitch today is at 2:10 p.m. It’s free on Brewers.TV, no matter what market you’re in, and can be found in all the regular places on the radio.
Mariners Game Preview #66, 6/7/26: SEA at DET
The Mariners evened the three-game series against the Tigers yesterday on the back of a stellar outing from Bryce Miller and just enough offense for a comfortable 4-0 win. With another victory today, they’ll have sealed four straight series wins, and Luis Castillo will look to build on a successful stint with the piggyback in a traditional start.
Lineups:
No changes in Seattle’s lineup today as J.P. Crawford is out for a second straight game after a gnarly hit-by-pitch on the hand on Friday. Ryan Bliss is in the building in case a move needs to be made.
It’s a bit of a different look for the Tigers’ lineup today, with Kerry Carpenter leading off and playing right field while Gleyber Torres moves down to the three-hole and will handle DH duties. Zach McKinstry will play the keystone.
Game Info:
First Pitch: 10:40am PDT
TV: Mariners.TV
Radio: Old Reliable