Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

Tuesday night Orioles game thread: at Red Sox, 6:45

May 20, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Shane Baz (34) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Fresh off a 7-3 homestand, the O’s open their June schedule with three games in Boston against a reeling Red Sox team. The Orioles are just 9-17 on the road, while the Red Sox are 9-15 at home, so neither team is happy to be there. It’s a movable force against a stoppable object. But somebody has to win.

So why not the Orioles? Their hitting and their pitching (minus some bullpen slip-ups) were both on point during their just-concluded homestand, and tonight’s starter, Shane Baz, is coming off two consecutive excellent outings against his former team, the Rays. This is his first time facing the Red Sox this year but historically he’s been excellent against them, with a 2.64 ERA in five career starts. He’s held Jarren Duran, Boston’s leadoff hitter tonight, to a 2-for-14.

Scoring runs could be a problem for the Birds, considering they’re facing their Kryptonite, a left-handed starter. This is a pretty good one in rookie Connelly Early, who’s got a 2.95 ERA in 11 starts this year, though his 4.16 FIP indicates he’s been benefiting from some good luck. The Orioles will be unleashing their lefty-facing lineup that often fails to actually hit lefties, including Tyler O’Neill, who is 4-for-45 this year against southpaws. I’d sooner give Colton Cowser the start coming off his monster homestand instead of wasting more time with O’Neill, but what do I know? At least Samuel Basallo is in the lineup.

The Orioles right now have the most momentum they’ve had all season. Will they keep it going on the road, or immediately squander it?

Orioles lineup:

LF Taylor Ward
SS Gunnar Henderson
C Adley Rutschman
1B Pete Alonso
DH Samuel Basallo
3B Coby Mayo
RF Tyler O’Neill
CF Leody Taveras
2B Blaze Alexander

RHP Shane Baz

Red Sox lineup:

LF Jarren Duran
CF Ceddanne Rafaela
RF Wilyer Abreu
1B Willson Contreras
DH Masataka Yoshida
C Mickey Gasper
2B Isiah Kiner-Falefa
SS Marcelo Mayer
3B Caleb Durbin

LHP Connelly Early

Posted on

Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins Game Thread

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 01: Nasim Nunez #26 of the Washington Nationals looks up as umpire Alan Porter #64 calls him out after trying to steal second base in the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on June 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The feisty fish have given the Nats problems this year, and last night was no different. The Nationals bullpen was unable to hold on to their lead, and they lost 7-3. Tonight, they will try and even the series. They have been a series winning machine lately, so the Nats will not want to drop this one against the Marlins.

There will be a couple changes to the lineup. Jorbit Vivas will replace Nasim Nunez as the second baseman. Dylan Crews will be back in the lineup, after missing the last couple games with a minor hand issue. The struggling Daylen Lile won’t get the night off, but he will be off his feet as the DH. Drew Millas will be doing the catching. Richard Lovelady will open and Miles Mikolas will follow him.

With the lefty opener for the Nats, the Marlins put lefty masher Heriberto Hernandez at the top of the lineup. Liam Hicks will be at first base for Connor Norby. Other than that, it is the same personnel. Lake Bachar will be opening for the fish, and it will be all hands on deck in their bullpen.

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 6:45 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

The Nats have had problems against the Marlins, so hopefully they can snap out of it tonight. Getting all those hard fought wins against teams over .500 just to give those curly W’s away against the Marlins would be frustrating. That makes tonight an important matchup. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.

Posted on

Yankees Injury Notes: Jasson Dominguez to start rehab soon, Max Fried responding well to throwing program

Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave updates on a number of injured players as they start a three-game series with the Guardians on Tuesday...

Dominguez's rehab start, tentatively, set

With the injury to Aaron Judge, the Yankees could be in need of an outfield bat to replace their captain in the short term. Jasson Dominguez would be an ideal candidate if he could return from his IL stint and Boone offered a promising update on the young outfielder.

Boone said that Dominguez will take live batting practice and will begin a rehab assignment on Friday.

The 23-year-old outfielder was starting to turn things around since his call-up in late April. He was 6-for-30 in his nine games, but had five hits, including a home run, in his last seven games before landing on the IL with a shoulder sprain after running into the wall making a catch in the outfield.

Stanton update

Boone was asked about Giancarlo Stanton's status and it was more of the same from a week ago, when imaging showed that his calf strain was healing. Stanton will also be hitting in a live BP and continue his running ramp-up. 

When asked if Stanton will need a rehab assignment, the Yankees skipper didn't have a definitive answer, but it was the least of his concerns. 

"That’s not a big question for me….not necessarily, but I won’t rule it out either," Boone said. "We’ll decide that at the end. He’s different than every other player in that he doesn’t have to build up innings or things like that. It’s possible, but not a certainty either."

Boone said that he was hopeful Stanton would return soon since the slugger has been running the last few days, but conceded it could be a couple of more weeks before we see Stanton. 

Stanton was slashing .256/.302/.422 with an OPS of .724. He also has three home runs and driven in 14 RBI in his 24 games.

Fried latest

 Southpaw Max Fried was the final injury update that Boone provided and the skipper gave a short, but optimistic breakdown of what Fried has been going through since he landed on the IL with a bone bruise on his elbow. 

"Threw again at 75 feet back-to-back days with some better intensity," Boone said. "Seems to be responding to everything very well. Just talking to him, he’s excited how he felt since even a couple of days after the outing in Baltimore. He’s been doing well. Meeting with the doctor today to see about whether we start ramping him up more. But seems to be responding pretty well."

Fried was pitching to a 3.21 ERA  across his 10 starts before going down with injury. If the Yankees can get Fried back healthy, he'll slide into a rotation that has just welcomed back Gerrit Cole.

Posted on

NHL All-Star Game returning in 2027: Here is the new format

The NHL All-Star Game is returning in 2027 and will feature a new format.

The league and the NHL Players' Association announced details at NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's news conference before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The All-Star weekend will be held Feb. 5-6, 2027, in UBS Arena, the home of the New York Islanders.

The plan is to hold the All-Star Game every other year, with an international tournament taking place in the even years. There will be a World Cup of Hockey in 2028 and NHL players will take part in the 2030 Olympics.

Russian players will be allowed in the All-Star Game, but the NHL and NHLPA haven't decided on Russian participation in the World Cup of Hockey. They will follow the lead of the International Ice Hockey Federation, which recently said it would decide Russian eligibility in 2026-27 on a tournament-by-tournament basis.

Here are details for the 2027 All-Star weekend:

Feb. 6, 2027, NHL All-Star Game

  • It will feature five teams – Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States and a World team made up of international players from countries outside of the other four teams – competing in a three-on-three, round-robin exhibition tournament.
  • Each team will consist of 11 players: nine skaters and two goaltenders. The NHL and NHLPA will select 30 players from each of the participating teams for the 2027 NHL All-Star Fan Vote, which will open in December. Fans will use that list to select eight players from each team. The remaining three roster spots – one forward, one defenseman and one goaltender – will be selected jointly by the NHL and NHLPA.
  • Each team will play four five-minute games during the round-robin tournament. There won't be an overtime period or shootout in the event of a tie.
  • Teams will get points for a win, one point for a tie and zero points for a loss.
  • The top two teams from the round robin will advance to a 10-minute final. The winning team will claim a $2 million prize.

Feb. 5, 2027, All-Star skills competition

  • It will feature 10 young stars (25 or younger) competing across eight events. The players will be jointly selected by the NHL and NHLPA.
  • Each player will participate in four of the first six events: Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Passing Challenge, One Timers, Stick Handling and Accuracy Shooting. Players will earn points based on their placement in each event.
  • The top four players then will advance to a shootout, facing one of four All-Star goaltenders. The top two performers from the shootout will compete in the last event: the Obstacle Course Finale.
  • The player with the highest cumulative score will be named All-Star skills champion and take home a $1 million prize.

Bettman: Succession plan not imminent

Bettman, who turned 74 on June 2, responded to a report that a succession plan for him has been discussed, and said there have been discussions over the last couple years but nothing is imminent.

"Reports of my demise − or retirement − are greatly exaggerated," he said.

He also defended the current playoff format amid suggestions of going to a 1 vs. 8, etc., format. He said the current format leads to longer series and more competitive games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL All-Star Game date, new format announced

Posted on

Chicago Cubs vs. Athletics preview, Tuesday 6/2, 7:05 CT

Today’s roster move: Here

Tuesday notes…

  • BETTER SCORE FIRST: The Cubs are 10-0 when they have scored first in games at home and 8-11 when their guests have scored first. They are 20-6 in all games when they have scored first and 12-21 when they have not. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • THE LONG BALL RETURNS…: The Cubs have hit at least one home run in five consecutive games, their third-longest streak of the season. They homered in six straight twice, April 12-18 and April 20-25, and in seven in a row, May 2-8. Their longest streak last year was eight games. They also had one of seven, one of six and seven of five. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • … BUT ONLY A LITTLE BIT: They have hit exactly one homer in their last four games. They had not done that since May 13-17 of last year. This is their 11th four-game streak since their most recent of five, Aug. 16-21, 2018. Their previous one of five was in 2012. That was the longest since they hit one homer in eight straight games, May 23-30, 2009, to tie the team record, set in 1931. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Matt Stairs, Sammy Sosa and Rondell White homered and the Cubs defeated the Brewers 10-4 in Milwaukee. It was the final victory of a 12-game winning streak, the Cubs’ longest since 1936, and the Cubs led the NL Central by 3.5 games. It happened 25 years ago today, Saturday, June 2, 2001.

Cubs lineup:

Athletics lineup:

Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Gage Jump, LHP

I’m not sure what to say about Jameson Taillon anymore.

His last three starts have been, well, awful. The numbers back me up: 14.2 innings, 21 hits and four walks (1.705 WHIP), 16 runs (all earned, 9.82 ERA), eight home runs. His four-seamer velocity is down from last year, not by much, but maybe dropping that from 92.3 to 91.7 makes a difference.

Last year he had a decent outing against the A’s, April 2, 2025 in Sacramento, allowing two runs (a two-run homer by Brent Rooker). I think we’d take that.

Just keep the ball in the yard, Jamo.

Gage Jump. Now there’s a name!

Jump was the A’s second-round pick in 2024 out of LSU. He was a Top 100 prospect before this season and after nine starts at Triple-A Las Vegas this year, the A’s called him up to make his MLB debut last Tuesday against the Mariners. He allowed nine hits and four runs in five innings.

That’s about all I’ve got here, besides the pitch chart below (for the 88 pitches he threw against Seattle). He’s obviously never faced the Cubs or anyone on their active roster.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Athletics site Athletics Nation. If you do go there to interact with A’s fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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!
Posted on

Insider Links Young Anaheim Ducks Center To The St. Louis Blues

The Anaheim Ducks need to free space to sign young stars like Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, and as a result, they could be looking to trade a struggling Mason McTavish.

A new report from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period links the St. Louis Blues to the 23-year-old center. 

“We know that St. Louis is looking to get younger and augment their lineup quite a bit,” said insider Pagnotta.

Too much center depth in the NHL isn’t really a thing. And having an abundance of young centers is how teams become contenders. Currently, the Blues’ center core consists of 26-year-old Robert Thomas, 21-year-old Dalibor Dvorsky, and 30-year-old Pius Suter. Outside of the NHL, the Blues could see players like Aleksanteri Kaskimaki and Adam Jecho.

Adding McTavish would improve the current Blues roster while still aligning with the direction the team hopes to head.

It’s no secret, though; McTavish really struggled during the 2025-26 season and hasn’t had the breakout campaign many thought he would have had by this point. The 6-foot-1, left-handed center notched just 17 goals and 41 points in 75 games this season after posting 22 goals and 52 points the year before. 

Four Blues Players Appear On Insiders Trade BoardFour Blues Players Appear On Insiders Trade BoardSt. Louis Blues’ Jordan Kyrou, Jordan Binnington, Robert Thomas, and Colton Parayko appeared on insider Frank Seravalli’s off-season trade board.

Despite the issues in McTavish’s game, he’s proven to be a reliable enough center, even at his worst, and his track record provides enough belief that a change of scenery could unlock his game. 

McTavish was the third overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft, with a resume that includes a gold medal at the World Junior Championship, as well as MVP honours at the event, a U-18 gold medal, and an OHL championship. 

The price tag to acquire McTavish is a bit of a mystery at the moment, but he just finished the first of a six-year, $7-million contract. 

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Blue Jays News: Dylan Cease Rehab Start Saturday

May 13, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease (84) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images | Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

The Jays shared some injury news today:

  • Dylan Cease will have a rehab start Thursday. With luck, he’ll be back with the Jays after that.
  • Max Scherzer will have a rehab start Friday.
  • Shane Bieber will have a rehab start, likely Saturday, in Buffalo and will likely need two more rehab starts.
  • Alejandro Kirk will start a rehab assignment Wednesday, DHing for Dunedin. He’ll likely need a week’s worth of games to get back to speed. Or lack there of.
  • Jesús Sánchez is day-to-day, not in the lineup today.
  • And Addison Barger is hitting and will be back pretty soon.
  • Yimi Garcia will pitch for Dunedin Wednesday.
  • Tommy Nance will pitch in Buffalo Friday.

Apparently it is raining in Atlanta. I’m hoping the game will happen, because I’ve planed to watch at the bar with a friend, and, if the game doesn’t happen, we’ll have to talk or something.

Tonight’s lineup:

Today’s Lineups

BLUE JAYSBRAVES
George Springer – DHRonald Acuna – RF
Nathan Lukes – LFMichael Harris – CF
Vladimir Guerrero – 1BMatt Olson – 1B
Daulton Varsho – CFOzzie Albies – 2B
Ernie Clement – 2BDominic Smith – DH
Yohendrick Pinango – RFAustin Riley – 3B
Kazuma Okamoto – 3BMike Yastrzemski – LF
Andres Gimenez – SSJorge Mateo – SS
Brandon Valenzuela – CSandy Leon – C
Kevin Gausman – RHPBryce Elder – RHP
Posted on

On This Date: Tenth Anniversary Of Florida Panthers Unveiling Brand-New Logo, Uniform

Tuesday marks a special anniversary for the Florida Panthers franchise.

It’s been exactly 10 years since the team debuted its then-brand-new logo and uniform, moving away from the leaping panther that had been the team’s main symbol since its inception.

Florida’s new logo was a shield-shaped design that was inspired by the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, which Panthers Owner Vincent Viola was a member of during his time serving in the military.

The unveiling was held during a fan-attended event on the floor of the then-BB&T Center on the night of June 2.

Four Panthers players were brought onto the stage wearing the new duds.

They were Aaron Ekblad, Vincent Trocheck, Steven Kampfer and Shawn Thornton.

Photos from the event can be seen in the collage at the top of this page. 

To say things have been going well for Florida since the logo change would be an understatement.

From 1993-94 to 2015-16, the Panthers reached the playoffs five times in 21 seasons, winning a total of three postseason series (all in 1996) and 18 playoff games during that span.

Under the new Panthers shield logo, it’s been quite a different story.

Florida has qualified for the postseason in six of their ten seasons wearing the new logo, all coming since their 2019-20 campaign.

During that time, the Panthers won back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships while reaching the Stanley Cup Final during three straight seasons, from 2023 to 2025.

Future success seems like a strong possibility for the Panthers, considering the team has their talented and battle-tested core locked up for years to come.

Happy 10th Birthday to the Panthers logo!

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Florida Panthers 2026 NHL Draft Targets: Malte Gustafsson

Panthers Sign Russian Prospect To Three-Year Entry-Level Contract

On This Date: Panthers Win Game 7 In Pittsburgh, Advance To Stanley Cup Final In Third Season

Panthers' Sasha Barkov, Anton Lundell Win Gold Medals With Finland At IIHF World Hockey Championship

Pair Of Former Panthers Have Opportunity To Win Stanley Cup With The Hurricanes

Panthers Teammates Sasha Barkov, Anton Lundell Help Finland Reach IIHF World Championship Gold Medal Match

The Hockey Show: Vegas Playing Villain Role, Montreal Out Of Gas, Sara Civian On Carter Hart

Posted on

Game Thread #58: Milwaukee Brewers (36-21) vs. San Francisco Giants (23-37)

May 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Harrison (52) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

The Brewers’ offense came alive last night, when a Milwaukee offense that scored only nine runs over the weekend put up 16 on Landon Roupp and the San Francisco Giants in the first of a four-game series. Tonight, they will look to keep that offensive momentum going, Kyle Harrison looks to continue his brilliant start to the season.

Harrison’s brilliance this year has been overshadowed by the firepower of his rotation-mate, Jacob Misiorowski. But it’s actually Harrison who leads the Brewers in ERA, even after Misiorowski’s seven scoreless innings on Sunday: in 10 games started this season, Harrison has allowed just nine runs. He’s just short of “qualifying” for the ERA title, but if he did, he’d be third in the league, only behind the Yankees’ Cam Schlittler (1.50) and Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sánchez (1.47). Incidentally, those are probably your two leading candidates for the AL and NL Cy Young Awards right now.

Harrison hasn’t allowed a run in any of his last three outings, which covers 18 innings. In that time he’s struck out 20 batters and walked only one.

For the Giants, 25-year-old righty Trevor McDonald will take the hill. He’ll be making his sixth start of the year (in just his tenth career appearance), and he’s been okay this season: in 29 innings, he has struck out 27 and walked only six. He’s had some bad luck, so his 4.34 ERA doesn’t look great, but his FIP (3.26) tells a nicer story. While McDonald has walked only nine batters in 47 major league innings (1.7 per nine), his minor league numbers suggest that might be small sample size blip; even in just the last two years, he’s walked 4.4 batters per nine when pitching with Triple-A Sacramento.

Milwaukee will mostly ride with the lineup that collected 18 hits last night. The one change is that Garrett Mitchell is in while Andrew Vaughn is out; Jake Bauers slides from left field to first base, while Milwaukee goes with a Jackson Chourio-Mitchell-Sal Frelick outfield alignment. For the second straight night, Luis Rengifo and David Hamilton make up the left side of the infield.

First pitch is at 6:40 on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.

Posted on

Game 59: Orioles at Red Sox — Connelly Early tries to twirl a third striaght gem at Fenway

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 27: Connelly Early #71 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the seventh inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves on May 27, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The awful road Orioles (9-17) take on the even more awful Fenway Red Sox (9-19) in a battle for the bottom of the American League East.

But you know who hasn’t been awful at Fenway of late? Connelly Early. He’s thrown back to back seven inning shutouts in the comforts of home against the Rays and Braves, who are two of the best teams in all of baseball.

Early’s probably going to have to be great again too, because offensively, the Red Sox have been so bad at Fenway Park this season, they’ve only won one game all year in which the opponent has scored more than two runs. In the month of May, it was even worse. Here’s all their wins at home in May, and as you can see, all of them involved the opponent scoring one run or less:

  • 3-1 vs. Houston on May 1st
  • 2-0 vs. Tampa on May 8th
  • 3-1 vs. Philadelphia on May 13th
  • 8-0 vs Atlanta on May 27th

Boy do they suck!

The good news is, as you can probably deduce, two of those were the Connelly Early games referenced above, so between that and the Orioles being on the road, maybe they can break through tonight.

Lineup wise, the biggest items of note are Ceddanne Rafaela and Willson Contreras back in there after being out of the lineup on Sunday to double up on rest days with the Monday off day, and Mickey Gasper continuing to court favor with Chad Tracy as he once again gets the start behind the dish.

Today’s Lineups

ORIOLESRED SOX
Taylor Ward – LFJarren Duran – LF
Gunnar Henderson – SSCeddanne Rafaela – CF
Adley Rutschman – CWilyer Abreu – RF
Pete Alonso – 1BWillson Contreras – 1B
Samuel Basallo – DHMasataka Yoshida – DH
Coby Mayo – 3BMickey Gasper – C
Tyler O’Neill – RFIsiah Kiner-Falefa – 2B
Leody Taveras – CFMarcelo Mayer – SS
Blaze Alexander – 2BCaleb Durbin – 3B
Shane Baz – RHPConnelly Early – LHP

⚾️ First Pitch: 6:45pm — Fenway Park, Boston, MA

📺 TV: NESN

📻 Radio: WEEI

Posted on

Game 59: San Diego Padres at Philadelphia Phillies

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 26: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres throws to first base after forcing out Adolis García #53 of the Philadelphia Phillies at second base during the eighth inning at Petco Park on May 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

San Diego Padres (32-26) at Philadelphia Phillies (30-29), June 2, 2026, 3:40 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, Penn.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

  • Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
  • Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
  • Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads

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!
Posted on

Giants hire Gary Pettis as new third base coach

Gary Pettis walking in an Astros coaches jersey.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JULY 22: Third base coach Gary Pettis #8 of the Houston Astros looks on before the game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum on July 22, 2024 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Francisco Giants didn’t take long to find a new third base coach. Just four days after the team announced that they had removed Hector Borg from third base duties, and reassigned him within the organization, they formally hired his replacement: Gary Pettis.

Longtime Giants coach Ron Wotus had been serving as the interim third base coach following Borg’s demotion but, according to reporters, did not wish to remain in a full-time, traveling role. And so the Giants pounced on Pettis, announcing the news a day after USA Today’s Bob Nightengale first reported the likelihood of a deal.

Pettis, who is 68, has a lengthy resume, and has been coaching in the Majors for 22 years. He also has tons of experience as a third base coach specifically, as he served that role for the Houston Astros from 2015-2025, a run that included four championships and two pennants. He also spent many years working for the Texas Rangers, where he was primarily a first base coach, but also a third base coach for two seasons. Pettis was the first base coach for the Rangers in 2010, when they lost to the Giants in the World Series.

Not only does Pettis have tons of experience in the role, but he has plenty of experience with people in the Giants organization. During some of his time with the Astros, he worked under manager Dusty Baker, who currently serves as a special advisor to Buster Posey. And during much of his tenure with the Rangers, Pettis worked under manager Ron Washington, the organization’s Major League infield coach. So it’s safe to say that Pettis comes highly recommended from people within the organization.

In addition to his successful coaching career, Pettis played 11 seasons in the Majors as a centerfielder, and won five Gold Glove awards in a six-year period between 1985 and 1990. Befitting for his current role, Pettis was an excellent baserunner, and stole 354 bags in his career.

It’s also something of a homecoming for Pettis, who was born and raised in Oakland. He not only grew up in the East Bay, but played both his high school and college baseball in Oakland, at Castlemont High and Laney College, respectively. You can imagine how exciting it must be for Pettis to, after more than three decades in the Majors in various capacities, finally get a chance to wear a Bay Area jersey. His son, Dante, is an NFL wide receiver who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2018 draft, and spent parts of three seasons with the Niners.

Pettis is expected to join the Giants on Wednesday for their game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Posted on

Steph Curry’s Li-Ning shoe deal reportedly worth over $400 million

INGLEWOOD, CA - APRIL 15: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors smiles after the game against the LA Clippers during the SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 15, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

In today’s Dub Hub:

Steph Curry officially announced his new partnership with Chinese shoe company Li-Ning on Monday, calling it the “partnership of a lifetime.” According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Curry’s agreement with Li-Ning is a 10-year deal, worth over $400 million, officially beginning a new chapter after previously spending the past 12 years with Under Armour.

While Li-Ning may not be as familiar to casual NBA fans as brands like Nike or Adidas, the company has quietly built a strong reputation within basketball circles over the years. The brand has found its most prominent success recently through Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade and his “Way of Wade” signature line. Li-Ning’s basketball roster also includes current NBA players such as Fred VanVleet, CJ McCollum, D’Angelo Russell, and Curry’s Golden State Warriors teammate, Jimmy Butler.

During Curry’s sneaker free agency throughout the 2025-26 season, he was frequently seen testing multiple brands on the court, including several Li-Ning models. YouTube basketball shoe reviewer Foot Doctor Zach recently discussed Curry’s decision to sign with Li-Ning, breaking down what may have gone into the big decision.

However, the most intriguing part of the partnership may be the length of the deal itself. A 10-year commitment at this stage of Curry’s career suggests he may be thinking beyond simply what shoes he will wear over the next few NBA seasons. Given the long-term success of Wade’s signature line well after his retirement, Curry could be viewing Li-Ning as an opportunity to continue expanding Curry Brand globally, long after his playing career eventually comes to an end.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, June 2nd:

Warriors News:

Sources: Stephen Curry signs $400M deal with China’s Li-Ning | ESPN

Curry opted for Li-Ning over other pitches from American and foreign companies despite similar financial commitments, including at least one brand that offered more, sources said. One factor in Curry’s ultimate decision was his comfort while testing the shoes of two Li-Ning signature athletes: Jimmy Butler, his fellow Warriors teammate, and Dwyane Wade.

Li-Ning plans to build Curry Brand stores in the United States and in China. Curry’s agent, Jeff Austin, finalized negotiations in recent days.

Max Kellerman draws wild Steph Curry-Chet Holmgren parallel after Spurs-Thunder | NBC Sports Bay Area

“What Wemby did to Chet, in a way, is what LeBron did to Steph, in [Game 6 of the 2016 Finals]” Kellerman said, referencing a viral moment in which James blocked Curry’s shot and appeared to stare him down afterward. “[James] blocked the shot and screamed on [Curry] and Steph…had his head hung. There was something in that moment where it was like…no, you’ve got to respond, you can’t let someone scream on you like that.”

Warriors conduct multiple pre-draft workouts on Tuesday

NBA News:

Monday Best: The NBA’s latest trade chatter | The Stein Line

The above backstory has only increased league curiosity about the Magic’s appetite to join the team widely perceived to be a leading contender in the Giannis Trade Sweepstakes — Orlando’s fellow Floridians on South Beach — in the chase for No. 34. More and more, with sources saying Miami and Portland are already in pursuit, Antetokounmpo’s future is increasingly expected to be resolved over the next few weeks in conjunction with NBA Draft proceedings.

First look at the NBA Finals court in San Antonio

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Former Warriors coach Rick Adelman dies at 79

The basketball lifer spent two seasons at the helm for the Warriors, coaching them to a 36-46 record in 1995-96, and a 30-52 record in 1996-97, before being fired. While those records aren’t very good, they were better than before he took over, as the Dubs went 26-56 the season before hiring Adelman.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

Posted on

Stephen Curry’s Li-Ning deal worth $400 million — and he turned down a bigger offer

Stephen Curry's shoe deal with Li-Ning is worth $400 million.
Stephen Curry's shoe deal with Li-Ning is worth $400 million.

Stephen Curry’s “landmark” sneaker deal finally has a dollar figure.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Curry has agreed to a 10-year endorsement contract with Chinese sportswear giant Li-Ning worth more than $400 million. The landmark agreement will serve as the foundation for the next phase of Curry Brand, expanding the venture far beyond basketball shoes.

But according to the same report, it wasn’t Curry’s biggest offer.

Stephen Curry’s shoe deal with Li-Ning is worth $400 million. Getty Images

Industry sources told ESPN that Curry received similar financial commitments from multiple companies and even turned down at least one offer that was more lucrative than Li-Ning’s proposal.

Ultimately, he chose the brand he believed offered the best long-term vision for growing his business empire.

The deal includes basketball footwear and apparel, athleisure lifestyle products, a dedicated golf line, and the ability for Curry to sign both male and female athletes under the Curry Brand umbrella.

Li-Ning is also planning to open Curry Brand retail stores in both the United States and China, giving the four-time NBA champion a global platform that extends well beyond the court.

Curry’s decision ends a highly publicized recruitment process that began after he mutually parted ways with Under Armour in November following a 13-year partnership.

While Curry publicly expressed gratitude toward Under Armour, industry insiders reported growing frustration with what was viewed as underinvestment from a company facing declining valuation.

A view of Under Armour sneakers worn by Stephen Curry during a Warriors game on Oct. 27, 2025. Getty Images

Following the split, Curry became one of the most coveted free agents in the sneaker industry. He generated buzz throughout the 2025-26 season by rotating through shoes from multiple brands, including a notable appearance in Nike Kobe 6 “Mambacita” sneakers during a Warriors road trip to San Antonio.

According to Charania, comfort played a major role in Curry’s final decision. He spent time testing signature models from fellow Warriors teammate Jimmy Butler and NBA legend Dwyane Wade, both of whom are prominent Li-Ning athletes.

Now, with more than $400 million committed over the next decade, Curry is betting that Li-Ning can help transform Curry Brand from a successful signature line into a global sports and lifestyle powerhouse.

Posted on

Texas Rangers lineup for June 2, 2026

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 23: Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) pitching during an MLB baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels played on May 23, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Texas Rangers lineup for June 2, 2026 against the St. Louis Cardinals: starting pitchers are Nathan Eovaldi for the Rangers and Dustin May for the Cardinals.

The Texas Rangers go up this evening against Texas native and one time Dodgers wunderkind Dustin May.

The lineup:

Pederson — DH

Jung — 3B

Nimmo — RF

Burger — 1B

Duran — SS

Osuna — LF

Carter — CF

Higashioka — C

Lopez — 2B

6:45 p.m. Central start time. The game is a pick ‘em.