The Maven wonders how Rangers fans feel about ex-Blueshirt bench boss Peter Laviolette getting the Kings head coaching gig.
Like many of Lavvy's NHL stints – remember, he broke in with the Islanders – Pete did some good things with the Rangers because he's got savvy, experience and a few other good qualities.
But he couldn't fix the Rangers clubhouse negativity and the fact that – whatever Pete's message – his troops reacted as if they had "heard that song before."
We wish him luck in L.A. but I don't expect any John Tortorella miracles!
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 02: Colt Emerson #4 of the Seattle Mariners makes a catch for the final out against the New York Mets during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park on June 02, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the last three weeks, Colt Emerson has made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners, notched his first MLB hit with a home run, hit his first career triple, hit three more home runs, and made some stellar plays at third base. Emerson still can’t legally buy a beer yet, but his scorching first three weeks in the league are a big part of the Mariners getting their season on track with winning streaks, home run-fueled comebacks, and walk-off victories at home. He’s become extremely important at work in a very short amount of time, so much so that when he was a late-scratch for Monday’s game with back tightness, the collar-tugging was palatable around Mariners-ville.
Hopefully it’s nothing a couple days off won’t fix, but before that happened, I asked y’all in the FEED last week to submit your hottest takes regarding Emerson’s ceiling and floor as player. What audacious heights will he reach? Will his lows be trench-like or simply pedestrian? Let’s review some responses and throw some rankings on them using my patented and very scientific Mariners Hot Take Ranking System:
Poster SomethingTotallyIllogical says:
“His three preseason ZiPs comps were the 20 y.o. seasons of Jurickson Profar, Roy White, and JP Crawford.
Profar, oscillation around replacement until steroids.
Roy White (1965-1979), 41 WAR career. First positive WAR in fourth season age 24. Median season 3 WAR, max 5.8.
JP, replacement level until arriving in Seattle age 24. Should be at 20 WAR career end-of-season. Median season 1.9 WAR, max 4.8.“
Hmmm, ZiPs here provides an interesting range of player comps with Profar being the floor, J.P. being the mid-to-upper range, and Roy White being a very high ceiling. Also, wow, Roy White. I was not familiar with your game! Dude played left field for 15 seasons for the Yankees, posted 6.8 WAR in 1970 while playing all 162 games. Sure, sign me up for that! Rating this take an IWAKUMA.
Poster jmozeika says:
“As a ceiling I kind of have him in the Corey Seager but healthy range (so less down years, and more longevity).. maybe 55 career fWAR. Maybe slightly better than Corey Seager because of his discerning eye and better plate discipline.
The floor? Maybe a pre-2021 JP Crawford. Good glove, but the bat for some reason just doesn’t stick. 1.5 to 2.0 fWAR during his prime years but falls out of usefulness as he ages out of his glove.“
Sure, healthy Corey Seager sounds smashing. I will also take that any day. And another J.P. mention but his not-s0-great seasons as his floor. Wouldn’t be terrible, but a bit disappointing given Colt’s hot start. Rating this take a BOSIO.
Poster aubrey94 says:
“ceiling I think J-Ram; there is no floor but I’ll say Adam Frazier.”
I’ve always wanted a Jose Ramirez on the Mariners. However, I do not want another Captain Slapdick. Bonus points for invoking the obvious LL floor meme. Rating this take as BRASH because it made me think of Colt knocking someone out like Ramirez did to Tim Anderson.
Poster volta-verve says:
“I think he could be a consistent 3/4 WAR guy. I expect him to be 10/20% better than league average with average or plus shortstop defense. His floor would be something like a league average batter with mediocre defense. His ceiling is unfortunately limited by his relative lack of power, but that could change if he grows into it. He’s only 20. Best case scenario, he starts hitting 20/25 homers a year with plus shortstop defense, which is more of a 5/6 WAR player.”
In terms of projections, I find this to be both quite rational and very exciting. A plus-defensive shortstop posting 3 to 6 WAR a season? Oh, so early career Alex Rodriguez is back? Spectacular. Giving this one an BRASH because having a shortstop who rakes feels like the dream of every roster builder that so rarely comes true.
Poster Rumdoodle says:
“Ceiling: Hall of Fame
Floor: Colt Emerson, Los Angeles Angel of Anaheim, Disneyland, California”
Well, someone had to say it. By it, I mean the Hall of Fame. Now that’s a ceiling. A very high one. Combined with a floor that can only be described as a fate worse than death, I have no choice but to brand this take with a sizzling CLIFF LEE. The highest highs and lowest lows.
All right, wrapping it up here. Thanks to everyone who contributed their thoughts. Let’s cross our fingers for no IL trip for our boy Colt and go Mariners!
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 08: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 08, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA Draft is right around the corner and the Dallas Mavericks will have at least two picks later this month. If you’ve read our first installment of Trade Talk, you know what it is we’re doing, but if not, the approach is simple. I curate a few trades from the variety of options we consider as a staff at Mavs Moneyball, then we bring them to our readers to join us in the debate.
Our current scenario is a big swing that MMB’s Bryan Porter put forth, where the Mavs take on a great player along with his massive contract and injury history, but replenish the cupboard in one fell swoop.
The trade proposal
The Mavericks send out P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford in return for Joel Embiid, the 76ers 2026 first round pick (#22), 2028 first round pick (by way of the Los Angeles Clippers) and 2029 first round pick (top eight protected).
The discussion
Mike: Hoo-weee! You might give readers Anthony Davis PTSD with this trade proposal, given Embiid’s injury history. Amazingly, Ebiid is averages 32 games played per season over the past three years, which is about as many games as Davis accumulated in a Mavs’ uniform, so there is that. While the notion of Embiid might initially be a head-turner, there’s actually quite a lot of value in this proposal. This is a single-shot move that replenishes the absolute dearth of Mavs’ picks over the next few years. Is that the crux of this proposal to you, or do you see Embiid as a value-add to the team?
Bryan: If the Davis trade came with this many picks, there might not have been caskets in front of the AAC. The picks are the point and restocking our barren asset chest is the crux of the deal as you said. However, over his last 25 games this season (including the seven playoff games he played against Boston and New York combined) Embiid averaged 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game on 53% shooting inside the arc, 37% from deep and 85% at the line with a 49.4% FTr. He averaged 33 minutes per game in that span too, so once he’s ramped up for a season, as long as you can keep him upright he can still give you dominant stretches of play depending on when you need them. Given we wouldn’t need him for more then 28 minutes per game if that, I’d like our chances of keeping him upright for 40 games and a playoff run.
Mike: Yeah, hard to argue that he’s not immediately the best center in Mavericks history (with all due respect to past centers, particularly Tyson Chandler). Just an absolutely dominant force even when he’s at 85% health. Had he played more to this point in his career, he’d be talked about as one of the most dominant big men in history. Unfortunately, in 12 seasons, he has yet to log 500 regular season games! Let that sink in for a minute. Maybe in some weird way that is just what the team needs? If Dallas is all-in for the future, his inconsistent availability may help future draft standing with those newly acquired picks. When he does play, he surely helps take pressure off Cooper Flagg. Pivoting to the outbound players, Gafford is replaced by Embiid (and hopefully Dereck Lively!), Thompson clearly just doesn’t fit here anymore, and Washington is therefore the biggest loss I would argue. If we keep Naji Marshall, the sting of losing Washington is lessened, and this trade looks better and better. Really, it’s Dallas eating a massive (massive!) contract, but getting picks back in this year’s deep draft as well as future years. My biggest fear is that Embiid’s salary really hampers the team for a couple years though.
Bryan: I agree, that’s why the Sixers would have to shower the Mavericks with picks to entice them to take that salary on. No matter what Embiid has been in the past, giiving up three rotation players for one who likely won’t play 50 games in a season is a difficult ask. Pick #22 in this upcoming draft is fine, not great value but certainly useful. The lightly protected future pick could be something given the wacky, new three-year lottery structure, but the crown jewel would be the unprotected Clippers pick. That’s worth moving Washington for. Gafford isn’t someone to raise a fuss about, especially as his salary gets a bump when his extension kicks in. Klay should want to be on a team closer to contention. Washington will be tough to lose, but the point of the picks is to eventually add cost-controlled replacements for all of these guys and some vets still on the roster (Kyrie, Naji, etc).
Mike: You make a great point about the new wonky draft rules for the next couple of years. I think that’s going to have a major impact on how teams value picks for the next few years and it’s going to be real interesting to see what trades look like. If the protection on the 2029 pick was removed, this deal would be very hard to not at least consider heavily, if not jump at. I think my only hesitation is how much he straps the team’s financial flexibility, but getting draft flexibility in exchange is enticing – picking young cost-controlled guys or trading those picks for a proven player allows Dallas to do a lot more than they can now in terms of draft capital. My jury is still out on this one, but I’m certainly thinking a lot about it. Final word goes to you.
Bryan: The final word is simple: insurance. Before I’d seriously consider this deal, I’m looking through the contract language for any possible games played threshold out I can find and the moment I land on one that shortens this contract by even a year, I’m calling this into the league and letting Embiid know face-to-face that he isn’t finishing in Dallas, but we’ll be happy to have him while he’s here. He’s an all-time player who has given a lot to the game and the growth of it via social media, so I understand the weight of a player like that moving teams for the first time in his career. The least I’d want to do is be honest with him about what this is.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 8: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 8, 2026 at Madison in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Knicks are mortal, and the 2026 NBA Finals will not end in a sweep.
The San Antonio Spurs beat the Knicks, 115-111, in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks had won 13 straight playoff games with most of them coming in a rout, but the vibes were cursed by Donald Trump’s decision to attend the game and inconvenience everyone else in the arena. The Spurs came out hot in the first quarter, the Knicks roared back with a 42-point second quarter to take the lead going into halftime, and San Antonio held on in a tight second half to move the series to a 2-1 Knicks lead heading into a pivotal Game 4 on Wednesday.
This was a winnable game for New York, and in some ways it feels like the Knicks blew a golden opportunity to take a 3-0 death grip on the series. There’s still so much basketball left to be played. Let’s dive into why San Antonio was able to score its first win, and why the Knicks should still win Game 4.
Victor Wembanyama’s lobs killed New York
Wembanyama was fantastic in the win, finishing with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five stocks. The Spurs got their superstar big man going by finally getting him to the basket. Of Wemby’s 11 made field goals, eight of them came in the restricted area, and many of those were on lobs from San Antonio’s guards.
Wembanyama did a better job setting real screens in this game, and that set up opportunities to slip the screen later in the game that consistently caught New York off guard.
Possibly the funniest Castle-Wemby lob possession we've gotten all postseason pic.twitter.com/V8VohqAli7
— Nekias (Nuh-KAI-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) June 9, 2026
When in doubt, just throw it up where only Wemby can get it.
Victor Wembanyama taps in the alley-oop lob by De'Aaron Fox, despite the pressure. 30 Points for Wemby. pic.twitter.com/qoQf4gmwkX
Wembanyama took 38 percent of his shots at the rim this year, which only ranked in the 33rd percentile of all big men. In the playoffs, that’s moved up to 44 percent. Wembanyama had a four-point play in this game, and the outside shot will always be part of his game. That’s just who he is as a player. Still, the opposing defense wants to make Wemby a jump shooter, and when he’s actually determined to get to the rim is when he’s at his best. Game 1 showed the limitations of Wembanyama’s handle in trying to create his own looks off the bounce. The Spurs wised up and used him as more of a play-finisher in Game 3, and it worked out to great effect.
Wembanyama is 7’5 (at least) with an 8-foot wingspan. The Spurs guards don’t need an easy angle or the ability to throw a great pass to hit him. Just toss it up there, and Wemby is likely to come down with it.
Stephon Castle shut down Karl-Anthony Towns and added timely scoring
The Spurs did more cross-matching defensively in Game 3, and it finally helped slow down the Knicks’ offense. Wembanyama might be the best defender in the world, but he was getting cooked off the dribble by Karl-Anthony Towns earlier in this series. The Spurs responded by sticking Stephon Castle on Towns, and letting Wembanyama roam off the weakest shooter on the floor so he could make more plays near the rim.
Castle is listed as a guard, but he’s built more like a linebacker. He has a lower center of gravity to help him hold his ground defensively, and his quick hands were disruptive when KAT tried to dribble. Putting Castle on Towns lets the Spurs easily switch any action involving the big man, and it also takes away a lot of KAT’s perimeter game because Castle is quick enough to press up on him but not get burned if he drives. This is potentially the biggest answer the Spurs have found in the series so far.
Castle led the Spurs in half-court matchups defending KAT in G3 (16). KAT only attempted 1 shot.
Some of that was doubling w/ a roaming C. Some of that was late-switching against the PnP. Some of that was shot-selection from other Knicks. Something for both teams to think about pic.twitter.com/JbSpJLzsie
Castle also brought it offensively to finish with 23 points and five assists on 8-of-14 shooting. He was also able to limit himself to only two turnovers, which has been his biggest problem throughout the postseason. Castle plays with so much power going downhill, using Eurosteps and slow steps to attack the basket. It’s so hard to knock him off balance, and he has the strength to finish through contact when he gets into the paint.
There are obvious deficiencies in his skill set as a shooter and decision-maker, but Castle is a monster when it comes to attacking the rim, and the Spurs did a good job to help him play to his strengths in Game 3.
Castle’s three-point grenade with under two minutes left was the biggest shot of the game, turning a four-point San Antonio lead into a seven-point advantage.
Honestly, this one felt like a miracle, but as the old saying goes, it’s a make or miss league, and Castle hit a huge one when the Spurs really needed it.
Brunson is obviously an outstanding player and clutch god, but the Knicks can get into some bad habits when he’s pounding the air out of the ball. He’s averaging 99.7 touches per game in the Finals, which is 23 more than any other player in the series, and 42 more than the next best Knick. Brunson’s 5.57 average seconds per touch is an enormous number, with De’Aaron Fox coming in second in the series among normal rotation players at 4.53 in the same category.
Too much Brunson was a bad thing for the Knicks in prior years, and it feels like the Spurs coaxed him into trying to play the hero again in Game 3. San Antonio single-covered most of the game with Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, and Castle splitting the assignment for most of the night. Brunson still had 32 points on 25 shots, which is pretty damn good efficiency in a Finals game, and he drilled a three in the final seconds to give New York one last chance. He still finished the night -9 in 35 minutes, and the Spurs attacked him defensively at every opportunity.
It just feels like less is more when it comes to Brunson. The Knicks need him in crunch-time for sure, but he shouldn’t feel the need to carry the offense all night.
The Knicks will still win Game 4 to take control of the series
The NBA Finals could easily be 2-1 Spurs right now, but Wembanyama’s costly miscommunication with Castle on a turnover at the end of Game 2 (and subsequent missed game-winner) still has San Antonio fighting for its life in Game 4. The road team has won every game in this series so far, but I think the Knicks answer back on Wednesday. Here’s why:
Landry Shamet isn’t going to shoot as poorly as he did in Game 3, when he went 1-of-7 from three. Shamet has been red hot throughout the playoffs and finally had an off night. He’ll be better next time out.
Mike Brown worked the refs after the game, and I would bet that helps even out the free throw disparity from Monday. The Spurs shot 10 more free throws than the Knicks, and I don’t expect that to happen again.
The Spurs only had eight turnovers in Game 3, while the Knicks had 13. New York is better at both taking care of the ball and forcing turnovers on defense across the bigger sample, and I would expect San Antonio to fumble away more possessions in Game 4.
De’Aaron Fox hit some big shots late, but he just hasn’t been good enough in this series or these playoffs. He went 4-of-14 from the field in the win. I feel like the Spurs need consistently good offense from Fox to win the series, but he can’t beat people off the dribble like he used to, and he’s never been a super reliable outside shooter. Credit Fox for coming through in the clutch, but he needs to be good all game, and I just don’t think he has it in him anymore.
Game 4 is going to be a barnburner. Madison Square Garden will be ready.
The Cincinnati Reds visit the San Diego Padres this evening as they eye another victory behind ace Chase Burns.
With Burns on the mound and a favorable matchup looming for Cincy's offense, my Reds vs. Padres predictions have the road team prevailing at Petco Park.
Find out more in my MLB picks for Tuesday, June 9.
Who will win Reds vs Padres today: Reds (-119)
Chase Burns has put himself in the NL Cy Young conversation this year with a stellar 2.05 ERA and a 7-1 record. The Cincinnati Reds' right-hander has also pitched extremely well on the road this season, compiling a 2.71 FIP and averaging 12.30 Ks per nine innings against 1.80 walks per nine innings.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres are struggling immensely at the dish lately, carrying a .191 average and .109 ISO over the last seven days. They're not squaring up the baseball much right now, and San Diego's 23.9% strikeout rate is concerning against a guy like Burns.
On the other side, Lucas Giolito owns a 47.8% hard-hit rate across his last two appearances and an xERA north of six. The Reds have still generated a 38% hard-hit rate across their last six games, suggesting the Reds are capable of taking advantage if Giolito's struggles continue.
I'd play this up to -140.
COVERS INTEL: Giolito has walked 7.2 hitters per nine innings this season across four starts, so expect plenty of traffic on the basepaths tonight.
Reds vs Padres Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (+105)
Giolito is far from reliable, and San Diego's bullpen owns a 5.10 xERA over the last week. More importantly, the Padres relievers have allowed a 50% hard-hit rate during that span.
As for Cincinnati, its bullpen has posted a 5.26 FIP over the last two weeks while walking 4.80 hitters per nine innings. Burns has pitched beyond the sixth inning just once this season, so the Reds' relievers will likely be asked to cover multiple frames as well.
Burns has also allowed two earned runs in each of his last two starts. Even if he pitches well, the bullpens can push this game Over.
Playable to -110.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 21-18, +1.92 units
Over/Under bets: 22-16, +2.25 units
Reds vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Reds -119 | Padres +110
Run line: Reds -1.5 (+156) | Padres +1.5 (-163)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+105) | Under 7.5 (-125)
Reds vs Padres trend
Cincinnati has hit the game total Over in 27 of its last 40 games (+12.55 Units / 28% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. Padres.
How to watch Reds vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
Reds.TV, Padres.TV
Reds starting pitcher
Chase Burns (7-1, 2.05 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
Lucas Giolito (2-1, 4.86 ERA)
Reds vs Padres latest injuries
Reds vs Padres weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Midnight bedtime was entirely a public relations exercise to reconnect with fans – the same fans the ECB invites to one long piss-up at Lord’s
The laws of cricket run to 200-and-some pages. The International Cricket Council’s Test playing regulations fill another 125, the anti-doping code packs another 66, the code of conduct is 44 more, illegal bowling actions 37, kit and equipment 36. You’d be hard pressed to find one single rule anywhere among them as silly as the one we know Ben Stokes has just broken, which stipulates that players can’t stay out past midnight. And yes, that does include ICC clothing regulation 19.45, which says that the maximum size of the manufacturer’s label permitted on ankle of players’ socks is two square inches.
So far as we know, the only thing Stokes has done wrong is break this self-imposed curfew. That may change. The investigation may reveal more details about his alleged involvement in an altercation involving a rugby player. But if there was one very clear lesson from the last time Stokes was involved in a situation like this, at Embargo nightclub in 2017, it’s that it’s worth waiting for the facts. But the drums have already started thumping. Dread phrases like “hanging by a thread” and “hard to see how he can continue” were all over the press.
The Atlanta Braves have been the league's most prolific road offense against right-handed pitching.
With the NL's best showing no signs of slowing down, my Braves vs. White Sox predictions expect their lethal attack to lead the charge against Erick Fedde tonight.
Let's break it all down with my MLB picks for Tuesday, June 9.
Who will win Braves vs White Sox today: Braves (-155)
Erick Fedde owns a 4.94 ERA, and the numbers under the hood are even worse.
He cannot miss bats, and that's a recipe for disaster against the Atlanta Braves, who are fourth in wOBA, second in SLG, and third in fly ball rate against right-handed pitchers.
Look for the offense to power Atlanta to victory. Playable to -165.
Braves vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 9 (-120)
Fedde has allowed a .322 average and .400 wOBA over his last five starts, the worst marks among any pitcher on today’s slate. He is heading for trouble against a Braves' offense that ranks second in OPS against right-handed pitching.
Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox should get to Grant Holmes as well. He has conceded multiple runs against opponents who rank Top-20 in OPS vs. righties, and the Sox sit ninth.
Playable to -130.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 25-21, -2.08 units
Over/Under bets: 21-23-2, -5.01 units
Braves vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Braves -155 | White Sox +135
Run line: Braves -1.5 (-105) | White Sox +1.5 (-125)
Over/Under: Over 9.0 (-120) | Under 9.0 (+100)
Braves vs White Sox trend
Atlanta has hit the moneyline in 30 of its last 40 road games (+18.95 units, 36% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. White Sox.
How to watch Braves vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
BravesVision, CHSN
Braves starting pitcher
Grant Holmes (4-2, 3.86 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Erick Fedde (1-5, 4.94 ERA)
Braves vs White Sox latest injuries
Braves vs White Sox weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels first baseman Trey Mancini, a cancer survivor and former Baltimore slugger, had three hits in his first major league game since 2023 in a 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros in 10 innings.
Mancini delivered a run-scoring single in the second inning in his first at-bat. He singled again leading off the fourth before adding a third single in the eighth.
The Angels selected the contract of Mancini and put him in the lineup at first base against the Astros after placing infielders Vaughn Grissom (left oblique strain) and Adam Frazier (right elbow inflammation) on the 10-day injured list.
Mancini, 34, agreed to a minor league contract with the Angels in February, a deal that included an invitation to major league spring training. Mancini hit .273 with six homers, 29 RBIs and three steals for Triple-A Salt Lake this year.
Mancini has batted .263 with 129 homers and 400 RBIs over parts of seven seasons in the majors. He played parts of six seasons with the Orioles and hit a career-high 29 homers in 2019.
Mancini then missed the 2020 season after surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his colon. He made a successful return to the Orioles in 2021, and he won a World Series ring in 2022 after Baltimore traded him to Houston.
He spent part of the 2023 season with the Chicago Cubs. He has since played in the minor league systems of the Reds, Marlins and Diamondbacks.
Mancini opted out of a minor league deal with Arizona last July after batting .308 with 16 homers for Triple-A Reno.
The Angels also recalled infielder Denzer Guzman from Salt Lake and transferred infielder Yoán Moncada to the 60-day injured list.
Although the New York Yankees are road favorites, I am eyeing the underdog value with the Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians just proved their high-contact approach works against Gerrit Cole, and while Slade Cecconi is an inferior arm, the Yanks' offense is vulnerable without their captain in the order.
Read all about it in my Yankees vs. Guardians predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, June 9.
Who will win Yankees vs Guardians today: Guardians moneyline (+105)
I backed the Cleveland Guardians in this same matchup already last week and don’t see a reason to change now. The Guardians got Gerrit Cole for four runs last, and their high-contact approach continues to exploit his limited room for error.
While Cole’s 2.49 xERA looks elite, that 22.0% ground-ball rate is a massive concern against a team that can elevate the ball, but more importantly, puts the ball in play with the lowest whiff rate in the sport.
Slade Cecconi won’t blow anyone away, but the New York Yankees are severely depleted without Aaron Judge. Play to -110
COVERS INTEL: Cleveland’s projected lineup has six hitters at a 13.8% strikeout rate or lower, giving the Guardians the contact depth to keep testing Cole’s low-whiff profile.
Yankees vs Guardians Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)
My eyes are on the Over here, as both lineups possess a viable path to production despite the absence of Judge.
Slade Cecconi’s 4.47 xERA and mediocre 18.4% strikeout rate suggest the Yankees will have plenty of opportunities to put the ball in play and manufacture traffic on the basepaths.
On the other side, Cleveland can repeat their recent success against Cole by sticking to their established blueprint. I’m comfortable taking the Over up to 9 at +100.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 28-22, +5.71 units
Over/Under bets: 31-19, +15.02 units
Yankees vs Guardians odds
Moneyline: Yankees -112 | Guardians +108
Run line: Yankees -1.5 (+144) | Guardians +1.5 (-150)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-112) | Under 8.5 (+108)
Yankees vs Guardians trend
The Cleveland Guardians have covered the first five innings (F5) run line in 30 of their last 50 games (+9.55 Units / 17% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Guardians.
How to watch Yankees vs Guardians and game info
Location
Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Date
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
TBS
Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (1-1, 2.00 ERA)
Guardians starting pitcher
Slade Cecconi (3-5, 4.92 ERA)
Yankees vs Guardians latest injuries
Yankees vs Guardians weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
It’s no secret that the St. Louis Blues were engaged in trade discussions involving Robert Thomas, and a new report from Kevin Kurz reveals what the Blues were seeking in a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Kurz, a reporter for The Athletic covering the Flyers, reported that the Blues were asking for Porter Martone, Jack Nesbitt, and a first-round pick in exchange for Thomas.
The Blues set a high price tag for Thomas, but even this reported offer was too much for the Flyers to part ways with.
Martone was the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft and posted incredible numbers at Michigan State. The 19-year-old notched 25 goals and 50 points in 35 games in the NCAA before signing with the Flyers for the last nine games of the season.
In those nine games, Martone recorded four goals and six assists for 10 points. He then scored two goals and five points in 10 playoff games as the Flyers lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round. Martone already looks stellar and projects to be one of the best power forwards in the NHL, and he was likely the reason why the Flyers wouldn’t agree to this trade.
Turning our attention to Nesbitt, he was also a first-round pick in the 2025 draft, selected 12th overall. The 6-foot-4 center posted 25 goals and 58 points in 55 OHL games, guiding the Windsor Spitfires to the playoffs. He projects as a two-way center with the ability to score around the net.
While losing Thomas would have been a major blow, adding Martone, who is considered by some to be the best drafted NHL prospect and one of the favorites to win the Calder Trophy next season, alongside a strong 19-year-old center in Nesbitt, as well as a first-round pick, would have been immense value for the Blues.
We now know that the Blues won’t be revisiting a trade like this, as Andy Strickland reported that the Blues won’t be trading Thomas, and he expects the 26-year-old to start the season with the Blues. This is also the second trade offer revealed this off-season involving Thomas.
As for the Flyers, Martone was still playing in college at the trade deadline, but after his hot start to his NHL career, they likely wouldn’t even consider revisiting this deal.
Although this deal would have benefited both sides, as the Flyers receive an established No. 1 center while the Blues get younger, the deal not coming to fruition benefits both sides as well.
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LAS VEGAS — Athletics third baseman Max Muncy came off the injured list after missing about six weeks with a fracture in his left hand.
The Athletics announced before their game against Milwaukee in Las Vegas that they had reinstated Muncy. They optioned infielder Darell Hernaiz to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Muncy was recovering from a fractured fifth metacarpal. He last played on April 25.
Muncy is batting .239 with a .308 on-base percentage, two homers, seven RBIs and two steals in 26 games.
Hernaiz batted .237 with a .318 on-base percentage, one homer, seven RBIs and three steals in 47 games.
Jun 5, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (40) hits a two run home run during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Boston Red Sox have gotten everything they could have dreamed of when acquiring Willson Contreras.
I don’t think that is breaking news to anyone. Not only does he seem to be the only guy who gives a shit, but he has stabilized a position that became a real issue over the last few seasons. He hits for both average and power, plays superb defense, has displayed leadership qualities that are missing from other veterans, and he’s cool! It’s as good an addition as this franchise has made this decade, especially considering the fact they gave up three pitchers who haven’t contributed anything to the St. Louis Cardinals.
I wouldn’t exactly say that makes him untouchable, though…
Contreras isn’t just one of the club’s trade chips — Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten, Jarren Duran, and Masataka Yoshida can all go, too — but he’s undoubtedly the club’s best trade chip.
Contreras entered the week slashing .298/.391/.540 with 13 home runs and 39 runs batted in — with that .931 OPS ranking third behind Ben Rice (1.032) and Munetaka Murakami (.938). If we’re talking about right-handed bats, he might be the best and most affordable option on the market. Taylor Ward isn’t better. Byron Buxton would cost triple. Matt Chapman is having the worst year of his career. It’s an indisputable fact that your first baseman could fetch quite a package in a trade, which is why he’s more valuable to you as a trade chip than an everyday player.
Boston is straight up terrible, and despite the fact that the Sox are only a few games back in the race for that final playoff spot, there is little hope that postseason baseball will actually materialize for this club. If it somehow does, there’s even less hope that they can make a run to a title.
(As a quick aside, I’m of the belief that you play for championships. Making the playoffs just to say you made the playoffs is loser shit that should be saved for franchises like the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and Las Oaklamento Athletics — not the Boston Red Sox.)
Contreras is technically under contract through 2028, which is why some folks view him as a long-term piece. I just view that as another reason why he’ll be worth more in a trade, as the incoming lockout and lack of true direction for this franchise make it far less likely that they’ll be ready to compete for championships by the end of it.
I don’t want to hear about how hard it has been to find a first baseman, either!
Triston Casas, Bobby Dalbec, Abraham Toro, and Dom Smith have ruined all of your brains! It’s actually quite easy, as is evidenced by Murakami taking an outrageously team-friendly deal in Chicago, Rafael Devers, Bryce Harper, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. all made the position change relatively easily. It’s not as hard as some have made it out to be.
I just want to see this organization tear things down from the studs, which means firing a few guys, trading others, and resetting the philosophy that has players fighting with coaches and ownership side-eyeing the front-office.
One way to kick things off with a bang? Trade the only guy who has made a difference for the better.
The Rangers are the only Major League Baseball team that has never hosted a Pride Night, an event commonly held during Pride Month to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. In 2026, the team’s schedule again does not include a themed Pride Night for this specific cause.
Instead, the team's community night schedule lists a "Faith and Family Night" on Thursday, June 18, in a game against the Minnesota Twins. The team is also set to recognize mental health awareness, military, first responders and healthcare workers in the month of June.
USA TODAY reached out to the Texas Rangers for comment on its community nights schedule and if there are plans to add a Pride Night in the future but has not heard back as of yet.
For its "Family and Faith Night" Rangers players will share personal testimonies of how faith impacts their lives both on and off the field, according to the MLB website. "Join us for a special afternoon of community, connection, and celebration," the event reads.
What is MLB Pride Night?
MLB Pride Night is a themed event hosted by many Major League Baseball teams during June, which is recognized as Pride Month. The games are designed to celebrate and support LGBTQIA+ fans, players and communities.
Pride Nights typically include special in-game programming such as ceremonial first pitches, LGBTQIA+ community recognitions, themed merchandise, ticket packages, and partnerships with local advocacy organizations. Some teams also use the event to spotlight nonprofit groups working on inclusion and equality initiatives.
While the structure and branding vary by club, MLB does not require teams to host Pride Night, so participation is left to individual franchises.
Has the Rangers franchise explained why it does not host Pride Night?
The Texas Rangers have not offered a specific explanation for why they do not host a Pride Night.
When asked about it, the franchise has generally responded with broad inclusivity language, emphasizing that the organization aims to make all fans feel welcome at the ballpark. However, it has not directly addressed the absence of a Pride Night or provided a stated policy rationale for not participating.
In a 2023 interview with NBC DFW, the team said: "Our commitment is to make everyone feel welcome and included in Rangers baseball. That means in our ballpark, at every game, and in all we do — for both our fans and our employees. We deliver on that promise across our many programs to have a positive impact across our entire community.”
What - Game 4 (1-2) When - 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 9 Where - T-Mobile Arena; Las Vegas, NV How to Watch - ABC, CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
The Carolina Hurricanes will look to even up the series again tonight in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Hurricanes lost a heartbreaker in Game 3, falling in double overtime off of an unfortuante bounce after erasing a four-goal deficit.
Goals haven't been hard for the team to come by, but the issue has been defense and if they want to even this thing back up, they need to do a much better job limiting the high-danger chances they're giving up.
There's also the question tonight of who will be starting in goal?
Frederik Andersen was pulled in Game 3 and Brandon Bussi took the net, helping the team in their crazy comeback.
Rod Brind'Amour wouldn't reveal his hand at practice on Monday, so we'll just have to wait and see who will be in net.
Streaks
Jordan Staal (3g) has goals in three straight games.
Sebastian Aho (3a), Eric Robinson (2a), Seth Jarvis (1g, 1a), Logan Stankoven (1g, 1a) and Andrei Svechnikov (1g, 1a) have points in back-to-back games.
Game Notes
Carolina and Vegas have never met in the postseason before.
This is both team's third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history (CAR - 2002, 2006, 2026; VGK - 2018, 2023, 2026).
William Carrier played for the Golden Knights from 2017-2024, winning the Cup with them in 2023.
Noah Hanifin (2015-2018) and Dylan Coghlan (2022-2024) both played for Carolina.
The Hurricanes went 0-2 against the Golden Knights in the regular season, with both games taking place in October.
All-time, the Canes have a 9-7 record against Vegas.
Key Matchups
Projected Starting Goalies
Frederik Andersen: 13-3; 0.910 Sv%; 1.89 GAA
Carter Hart: 14-5; 0.915 Sv%; 2.44 GAA
Leading Scorers
Goals - Logan Stankoven (10) / Brett Howden (13)
Points - Taylor Hall (17) / Mitch Marner (28)
Power Play
Carolina - 15.6% (10/64)
Vegas - 21.8% (12/55)
Penalty Kill
Carolina - 91.9% (57/62)
Vegas - 83.9% (47/56)
Hurricanes Projected Lineup
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Jordan Martinook Taylor Hall - Logan Stankoven - Jackson Blake Nikolaj Ehlers - Jordan Staal - Seth Jarvis William Carrier - Mark Jankowski - Eric Robinson
Jaccob Slavin - Jalen Chatfield K'Andre Miller - Sean Walker Shayne Gostisbehere - Alexander Nikishin
Frederik Andersen Brandon Bussi
Injuries and Scratches: Mike Reilly, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Nicolas Deslauriers, Pyotr Kochetkov
Golden Knights Projected Lineup
Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Pavel Dorofeyev Brett Howden - William Karlsson - Mitch Marner Tomas Hertl - Colton Sissons - Mark Stone Cole Smith - Nic Dowd - Keegan Kolesar
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COVERS INTEL: Giolito has walked 
