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Yankees go with opener, plan backfires in 7-3 loss to Braves

The Yankees opened the second half of the season with an opener and it didn't work out in their 7-3 loss to the Braves in Atlanta on Friday night.

Here are the takeaways...

-With Max Fried and Cam Schlittler dealing with injuries, the Yankees went with Ian Hamilton as an opener and it was tough sledding for the reliever and the rest of the bullpen.

The Braves picked up three straight hits (two doubles, one single) to go up 2-0. Hamilton would allow a sacrifice fly before the first inning ended. The Braves put up three runs on three hits and one walk to give themselves the early lead.

Atlanta would add on in the third inning with an Ozzie Albies three-run shot off of former Mets reliever Rico Garcia.

The Yankees used four relievers to get through the game. Here's how it broke down:

  • Hamilton: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
  • Garcia: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
  • Scott Effross: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
  • JT Brubaker: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

-On the other side, Spencer Strider dominated the Yankees. After allowing a Trent Grisham single to lead off the game, Strider settled in, striking out four straight batters at one point. The Yankees would make Strider work in the third inning, working back-to-back one-out walks for Cody Bellinger. The Yankees outfielder hit a long fly ball to right field and Ronald Acuña Jr. gunned down Jorbit Vivas at third base for the double play. Vivas didn't slide into third base and was tagged out with Aaron Judge on the on-deck circle.

Despite walking three batters, Strider kept the Yankees off balance. He struck out eight batters and scattered three hits across six scoreless innings.

-The Yankees wouldn't actually score until the seventh inning against the Braves bullpen. Ben Rice hit a one-out double before Austin Wells singled. Giancarlo Stanton then ripped a pinch-hit double to drive in two before Bellinger singled to cut Atlanta's lead to 7-3. Judge struck out to end the inning and strand two runners.

The Yankees mustered eight hits but were 3-for-8 with RISP and left seven runners on base. Rice had the best offensive day for the Yankees, going 2-for-4 with two doubles. The worst game came from Jasson Dominguez, who went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Judge went 1-for-4 but also struck out three times.

Game MVP: Spencer Strider

Strider's six scoreless innings held down the Yankees long enough for the Braves batters to build a big enough lead.

What's next

The Yankees and Braves continue their three-game set on Saturday evening. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m.

Will Warren (6-5, 4.63 ERA) will take the mound while the Braves will send Joey Wentz (2-1, 6.32 ERA) to the bump.

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Mets top pitching prospect Jonah Tong shines once again in Double-A Binghamton

After dazzling at the Futures Game, Mets pitching prospect Jonah Tong took the ball to kick things off out of the break for the Rumble Ponies and delivered yet another outstanding performance.

Tong went 5.1 innings and allowed a run on two hits while walking two and striking out seven. He threw 73 pitches (43 strikes).

Binghamton handed the 22-year-old the lead by scoring a run in the top of the first, but Tong gave up his only run of the night in the bottom half of the inning, which included a leadoff walk and a throwing error on a pickoff attempt (Tong's second error of the season). A single and a groundout scored the tying run.

The right-hander settled down from there in a big way.

After a one-out walk in the second, Tong retired 11 straight batters before allowing his second hit of the night, a leadoff single in the sixth. Tong ended his outing with a flyout before getting pulled, though he left with a 2-1 lead after the Rumble Ponies scored a run in the top half of the inning.

Tong lowered his ERA to 1.71 across 16 starts and 84 innings pitched.

In Triple-A, things didn't go as well for Nolan McLean.

Entering the game in the second inning after Jose Buttó pitched a scoreless first inning while on rehab assignment, McLean's outing began oddly. He struck out the first batter he faced, but a passed ball by Francisco Alvarez allowed the runner to reach base safely. From there, it was a struggle for the right-hander.

McLean managed to get out of the second inning unscathed thanks to a double play, but he allowed a run in the third, three in the fourth and two in the fifth. In 3.2 innings -- his shortest outing with Syracuse -- the 23-year-old allowed six runs on four hits, including a three-run homer, and three walks. He struck out six and threw 84 pitches (45 strikes).

It was the worst start for McLean this season as he allowed the most runs he's given up this season, raising his ERA to 3.22. It also broke a streak of nine straight outings in which he allowed two earned runs or fewer.

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It's official: The Clippers sign Bradley Beal

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) drives past Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Former Suns guard Bradley Beal (3), driving past new teammate Kawhi Leonard during a game in March, has signed a two-year, $11-million contract to join the Clippers. (Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)

The Clippers signed guard Bradley Beal on Friday after the final two years of his contract were bought out by the Phoenix Suns earlier this week and he cleared waivers.

Beal, 32, is a three-time All-Star and 13-year NBA veteran. He signed a two-year contract worth $11 million, with a player option for 2026-27, according to his agent, Mark Bartelstein.

Beal averaged 17 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 32.1 minutes while starting 38 of 53 games for the Suns last season. Beal shot 50% from the floor, 39% from 3-point range and 80% from the foul line.

Beal joins a veteran Clippers roster led by Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Beal will get a chance to move past his two disappointing, injury-riddled seasons in Phoenix.

“Players of this caliber are very rare, and they’re hard to come by,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said in a statement. “He's been the best player on his team. You can put him in so many different spots and he’ll find ways to score: out of pick-and-roll, coming off screens, catch-and-shoot. He can create his own or he can play off the ball. He’s a great cutter. He’s also a great playmaker who is going to make everybody else better.”

First loss of summer for the Clippers

The Clippers' bid to remain unbeaten in NBA Summer League play was derailed by a slow start Thursday night against the Denver Nuggets.

After scoring only 11 points in the first quarter while falling behind by double digits, the Clippers eventually trailed by 25 late in the third quarter only to see a furious fourth-quarter rally fall short in an 81-76 loss.

Jordan Miller had a game-high 23 points with 14 rebounds for the Clippers. Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Cam Christie each scored 16 while Trentyn Flowers had 12 points for L.A.

The Clippers (3-1) shot only 36% from the field and 23.7% from three-point range. Christie and Flowers shot a combined four of 21 from deep.

The Nuggets (1-3) did not fare much better, shooting 38.7% from the field and 30% from three-point range.

DaRon Holmes III led the Nuggets with 19 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Spencer Jones contributed 17 points and six rebounds in the win.

The Clippers will play in a consolation game against the Memphis Grizzlies at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Lakers fall to Celtics

Bronny James scored a game-high 18 points and had five assists in an 87-78 loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday night in Las Vegas.

The Lakers (1-3), who led 26-21 after the first quarter, committed 21 turnovers that led to 24 points for the Celtics, who outscored L.A. 19-9 in the second quarter. Boston opened a 15-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.

DJ Steward contributed 14 points and five assists for the Lakers while Christian Koloko and Cole Swider each scored 12.

Boston was led by Jordan Walsh's 17 points and six rebounds. Hugo Gonzalez scored 13 for the Celtics.

The Lakers shot 44.3% from the field but only 21.4% (six of 28) from three-point range. The Nuggets shot 38.7% from the field and 31.8% from deep.

The Lakers completed Summer League play against the Denver Nuggets in the Friday nightcap.

Tournament time

Six teams went unbeaten in four games in Las Vegas, with the Toronto Raptors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings advancing to a two-day tournament to determine a champion.

The Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves also went unbeaten but did not advance to the tournament based on tiebreakers, the first of which is point differential.

Toronto was seeded first and will play No. 4 Sacramento at 1 p.m. Saturday in the first semifinal while No. 2 Oklahoma City plays No. 3 Charlotte at 4 p.m. The winners will play at 7 p.m. Sunday for the title.

Etc.

New Orleans rookie Derik Queen is likely to miss at least the start of training camp after having surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. He was injured Tuesday during a Summer League game and the team said he will be evaluated again in approximately 12 weeks.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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SEE IT: Mets' Francisco Alvarez blasts 427-foot home run with Triple-A

Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez hit his ninth home run with Triple-A Syracuse on Friday night and it may have been his most impressive one yet.

With a runner on second and one out in the top of the first inning of a scoreless game, Alvarez blasted an 0-1 sweeper by RHP Thaddeus Ward 427 feet to left field that gave Syracuse a quick 2-0 lead. The ball left his bat at 111.8 mph and had a 23 degree launch angle -- a no doubter.

Alvarez went into the All-Star break hitting four homers in three games and picked up right where he left off with another bomb on Friday night after a few days off.

Now batting .258 with a 1.050 OPS (after a strikeout in the third), the 23-year-old is making a great case to be recalled to the major leagues after a disappointing start to the season, offensively and defensively.

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Angels slugger Mike Trout closing in on 400 homers, 1,000 RBIs with aim on postseason

PHILADELPHIA — Mike Trout arrived in Philadelphia in time to catch the unveiling of a new target in the deepest part of the ballpark -- the 2026 All-Star game logo, complete with the Liberty Bell in the center of the design.

The Angels slugger has something to aim for in Philly.

As a home run target? No, the oversized symbol that celebrates next year’s All-Star game is raised well beyond the centerfield wall and out of reach to even Schwarbombs in Ashburn Alley, closer to the retired numbers on the bricks at Citizens Bank Park.

As a potential destination for next season? Making the All-Star game is more on the nose for Trout, an 11-time selection who hasn’t been picked to play for the American League since 2023.

Yet each time Trout plays in Philadelphia, just over 40 miles from the slugger’s New Jersey hometown, talk tends to drift from All-Star games, his injuries, his upcoming career milestones -- he’s closing in on 400 homers and 1,000 RBIs -- or a rare Angels’ push at the postseason, and lands right on the possibility he’ll one day suit up for the Phillies.

“I hear it all the time,” Trout said with a laugh outside the Angels’ clubhouse on Friday. “Right now, I’m enjoying myself with this team in here. These guys come to the ballpark every day and play hard. It’s hard not for me to see it, because I see it and hear it all the time.”

He’ll settle at least a crack at the 2026 All-Star Game.

“It would definitely mean a lot,” Trout said.

Trout entered the start of a three-game series against the Phillies having the kind of season that has defined most of his last five seasons in California. When he’s healthy, he’s on. He has a .283 batting average, .433 on-base percentage and .478 slugging percentage with eight home runs and 23 RBIs in 41 games since he came off the injured list on May 30. Otherwise, it’s more stints on the IL. This season, he was hampered by a bone bruise on his left knee that cost him time.

Trout was the designated hitter on Friday night against the NL East champion Phillies, who could certainly use a right-handed bat with pop in the outfield as they make their own playoff run. He did some light pregame work in the outfield (“get my feet under me”) and hoped he’d return to right field in the near future. Trout said his knee did feel “a lot better” after four days off and off his feet over the All-Star break.

“I’m just happy to be in the lineup, contributing,” he said. “Years past, it’s just come to the ballpark, not be able to at least hit. That’s been frustrating, that’s been tough.”

He again expected a full house of fans from his hometown of Millville, New Jersey, on hand to root him on as the three-time AL MVP started the game with 395 career home runs and 995 career RBIs.

“To think about it, it’s just how fast it’s going,” Trout said. “Just trying to enjoy every minute of it. The milestones are awesome. I’m looking forward to hopefully getting them.”

Trout would have blown by those numbers years ago had it not been for his injuries that have allowed him play more than 82 games only once since 2019.

“Things happen,” he said.

There are no guarantees he’ll chip away at those numbers over the weekend -- Trout has never gone deep at Citizens Bank Park.

The New Jersey native has kept his ties to the area as he blossomed into one of baseball’s great sluggers; his family still lives in the area, he collaborated with Tiger Woods on a new golf course, and yes, the Eagles season-ticket holder still bleeds Kelly green.

The Angels were 47-49 headed into Friday, but only four games out of a wild-card spot. Trout played in three career playoff games in 2014. Los Angeles’ 47 wins are the most for the franchise at the All-Star break since it had 49 in 2018.

“The team in there right now, we’ve got a great mindset,” he said. “We’ve got a great group in there. We pass the baton at the plate. We’re tough outs.”

None tougher at his best than Trout. He’s trying to become the 20th player in baseball history to hit his first 400 home runs with one franchise.

“This guy is a superstar,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “I saw him when he first came up and he hit the ball as far as you could think. He runs down the first base line, it sounds like a horse, just big and strong and fast.”

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Calgary Flames Extend Affiliation Agreement With Rapid City

Photo Courtesy of the Rapid City Rush

The Rapid City Rush, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, announced Friday the two clubs have agreed to terms on a multi-year affiliation extension.

The agreement will keep the Rush partnered with the Flames and the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League.

“The Rush and Flames have had an excellent relationship, and we are excited to continue that,” Dave Smith, Rush Head Coach and General Manager, said in a statement. “The communication has been great. It is all about the progression of each player’s skills in a championship-type environment where they are working on their game, while also helping to provide Rapid City with the tools we need to win.”

In 2024-25, seven members of the Rush also saw time in Calgary with the Wranglers, totaling 72 games played. Five of them made their American Hockey League debuts this past season.

Former Rush forward Rory Kerins made his National Hockey League debut in January, making him the first player to graduate through all three levels of the Rapid City/Calgary system. He is the eighth Rush alumnus to reach the NHL.

In total, 14 members of the Rush have suited up for the Wranglers and/or Flames since the affiliation began in 2022.

“The Calgary Flames are pleased to extend our affiliation agreement with Rapid City,” Brad Pascall, Assistant General Manager of the Flames, noted. “Rapid City is a great place to play and they are an organization with great ownership, and that share our principles and objectives regarding player development.”

Since their move from Stockton, Calif. to Calgary, the Wranglers have posted winning seasons and playoff berths in all three years, including a 51-win season in 2022-23, the first year of the Rush-Calgary partnership.

Meanwhile, the up-and-coming Flames are coming off their winningest season in three years.

“This is an important day for the Rush organization,” Jared Reid, President of the Rush, stated. “Our relationship with Calgary has never been stronger. Their commitment to player development, vision and dedication to winning make this a true partnership and I am excited to continue that.”

The Flames are the Rush’s third affiliate in franchise history. Rapid City was partnered with the Arizona Coyotes from 2015-17, and again from 2019-22. The Rush were also affiliated with the Minnesota Wild for the 2017-18 season.

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NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No. 31, Chicago Blackhawks

The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings continue with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The series focuses on which NHL teams improved the most or got worse so far this off-season in terms of acquisitions, departures, hirings and firings. As always, there are exceptions to the rules – in some cases, there are teams that aren’t flat-out worse than they were last season but made significantly fewer moves than they either should’ve made or were expected to make.

We kicked off the series with the Buffalo Sabres in last place. Their defense corps may have improved slightly, but their forward group worsened, and they did significantly less than expected to take a step forward. The Blackhawks also did less than expected.

Additions

Andre Burakovsky (LW), Sam Lafferty (C), Dominic Toninato (C), Jeff Blashill (coach)

The Breakdown: Imagine you’re Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson. You’re in the midst of a full rebuild, and you start seeing solid development in a talented core of youngsters. To that end, superstar Connor Bedard is leading the way, and he needs some talented wingers to play with. 

The Blackhawks’ big get this free agency was Burakovsky, who put up 37 points in 79 games this past season. 

We beg your pardon, but is this really the best the Blackhawks can do this summer? He’s a good addition in itself, but he hasn’t produced enough in recent years to give hope that he’ll be the solution on Bedard’s wing.

The Hawks still have $21.4 million in salary cap space and apparently no high-end players to spend it on. That’s what has to irritate Blackhawks fans more than anything. They were busier in past off-seasons, when they acquired Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi, Nick Foligno, the since-traded Taylor Hall and others, but they haven’t found that right line combination for Bedard. They still have tons of room to be active this summer, so the optics are not ideal.

It’s possible that the Hawks could eventually put newly drafted first-rounder Anton Frondell on a line with Bedard at some point during their careers, but a report by Expressen suggests Frondell is headed to the Swedish League for 2025-26.

Coming in to handle all that is Blashill, the former Detroit Red Wings coach who spent the past three years as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He replaces Anders Sorensen, who remains as an assistant coach. Sorensen didn’t do all that bad of a job as the interim coach, despite posting a 17-30-9 record in 56 games.

At 51 years old, Blashill can still connect with his players and play to their strengths. But like his predecessors in Chicago, Blashill will have a challenging time trying to coax upper-level play out of a lineup that doesn’t have the horses to get them playing meaningful hockey down the stretch next year.

Andre Burakovsky (David Banks-Imagn Images)

Departures

Patrick Maroon (LW), Philipp Kurashev (C), Joseph Veleno (C), TJ Brodie (D), Alec Martinez (D)

The Breakdown: The Blackhawks lost a great deal of veteran professionalism in the departures of defensemen Brodie and Martinez and winger Pat Maroon. Also gone are depth players Kurashev and Veleno. Kurashev actually played decently well with Bedard in the latter’s rookie season, with 54 points, but he only had 14 points this past season. Chicago didn’t give him a qualifying offer, and he signed with fellow rebuilding club, the San Jose Sharks.

Martinez, Maroon and Brodie were all true pros right up until the end, but none of the departures left a massive hole that can’t be filled. Eventually, the Hawks’ young players should be taking up most of these jobs, and five open jobs on the NHL roster should be sufficient motivation for those youngsters to take the next competitive step. That’s Plan A, but if it doesn’t work, Plan B could stand for Big trouble.

The Bottom Line

The Hawks have exciting young players, including Bedard and prospects Artyom Levshunov, Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, Oliver Moore and newly drafted center Anton Frondell. 

The problem in Chicago isn’t the future. It’s the present. 

Despite having Bedard leading the charge, the rest of the Blackhawks’ current lineup includes either mid-tier veterans, outright journeymen or youngsters still finding their way.

Re-signing Donato at a $4-million cap hit is a nice piece of business for Davidson, and the player will have high expectations to take himself and Bedard to another level. But look at their roster as a whole, and you’ll see they didn’t improve much at all.  

Let’s be clear – Davidson did the right thing by tanking. However, the moves he has made to be competitive while they rebuild haven’t been sufficient, especially in the ultra-competitive Central Division.

Just because some of their past veteran additions underperformed doesn't mean this summer's conservative approach was needed, even if they're not the most attractive free-agent destination right now. They have picks and cap space to make more upgrades via the trade market, and they have two salary retention slots in case an addition doesn't work out.

Is there a potential for a Cinderella miracle in Chicago? Anything is possible, we suppose. But when their biggest acquisition of the off-season is Burakovsky – who hasn’t scored more than 13 goals in any of the past three seasons – they won’t likely improve in the standings. Their only saving grace at this point is getting the chance to draft Gavin McKenna next year.

Summer Splash Rankings

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

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Phillies remain committed to keeping slugger Kyle Schwarber beyond 2025

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber’s deep shots — from Philadelphia to the All-Star Game - often end up going, going, gone.

The Phillies aren’t ready to say goodbye to their star slugger quite yet as Schwarber’s four-year, $79-million contract expires at the end of the season.

Fresh off winning All-Star Game MVP honors after he hit three homers in the game’s first-ever swing-off, Schwarber’s status for 2026 — when Philadelphia will host the game — remained a pressing need for the Phillies.

“We love him. We want to keep him,” Phillies manager partner John Middleton said ahead of Friday’s series-opening game against the Los Angeles Angels.

In the All-Star Game in Atlanta on Tuesday night, he homered on all three of his swings, going down to his left knee on the final one, to give the National League a 4-3, swing-off win after a 6-6 tie through nine innings.

Schwarber enters the second half of the season with 30 homers and 69 RBIs for NL East-leading Philadelphia.

Schwarber led the NL with 46 homers in his first season with the Phillies and followed with 47 in 2023 and 38 a year ago. Often hitting from the leadoff spot until this season, Schwarber drove in 104 runs each of the last two season.

“We need no motivation whatsoever when it comes to Kyle Schwarber,” Middleton said. “He’s great. We thought he was great when we signed him years ago. We thought he was great consistently through the years. There’s nothing Kyle does that surprises us. No matter how great he is, we expect that from Kyle. He’s a great person in the dugout. He’s a great person in the clubhouse.”

The 32-year-old Schwarber should command well beyond the $79 million he signed for ahead of the 2022 season. Schwarber won a World Series with the Cubs in 2016. He also played in Washington and Boston, but has seemed to find a home in Philadelphia where his mammoth homers — dubbed Schwarbombs — have made him arguably the most popular Phillies star.

Schwarber said during the All-Star break that he wanted to keep the focus on helping the Phillies win their first World Series since 2008.

“We had conversations in the spring and obviously they didn’t progress,” he said. “We just kind of tabled them aside and wanted to focus on the season. Obviously, there’s interest on my side. I know there’s going to be interest on their side there coming up at the end of the year. We’re going to see where that takes us. If that’s us striking up a deal, that’s us striking up a deal.”

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Marlins’ Connor Norby to miss 6-to-8 weeks after left wrist surgery

MIAMI — Miami Marlins third baseman Connor Norby will be sidelined for several weeks after having surgery on his wrist.

The procedure on Wednesday was to repair a broke hamate bone in his left wrist and was done by hand specialist Dr. Don Sheridan in Phoenix, the team said Friday. The recovery timeline is six to eight weeks.

Norby felt wrist soreness during Miami’s road series at Baltimore last week and was initially listed with wrist inflammation.

The Marlins acquired Norby from Baltimore last summer in the trade that also landed first-time All Star Kyle Stowers in Miami.

While Norby’s tenure with the Marlins started strong — he hit .247 with a .315 on-base percentage while hitting seven homers in 36 games — his performance had been uneven this year, with a .241 average and .289 on-base percentage, six home runs and 26 RBI in 72 games. He was sidelined the first two months of the season with an oblique injury.

“Speaking with Connor in Baltimore, he felt like things were starting to come around,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “He felt better about himself in the box. He felt like he was making some real strides defensively, and then not knowing at the time what the length of it was going to be and what it was. But he was sore. I think he was just more disappointed, if he was going to have to miss some time, he felt right now he was trending.”

The Marlins will turn to Graham Pauley and Javier Sanoja in Norby’s absence. Pauley has played 23 games at third base this season. Sanoja has played nine.

Pauley got the start at third on Friday against Kansas City as Miami began the second half of the season with a six-game homestand.

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Mets first-round pick Mitch Voit talks next steps in development after signing deal: 'It's time to work'

Mets 2025 first-round pick Mitch Voit made his way to Citi Field on Friday evening to check out the stadium and the facilities a day after signing his new contract with the big league club.

Voit, a standout at the University of Michigan, was selected 38th overall by the Mets and the team has high hopes for the young infielder. Speaking with the media after a round of batting practice, Voit talked about his feelings.

"I’ve just been filled with excitement since Sunday night," Voit said. "I was extremely happy [to sign my contract], but I also understood it’s time to work."

Voit, 20, signed a reported $1.75 million deal with the Mets and detailed the next steps for himself... or as much information as he knows.

"I'm going to head down to Port St. Lucie and then take a deep dive into everything," Voit said. "I don’t necessarily know the next steps heading forward. I know, get down to Port St. Lucie, go through this player development plan we have in place. From then on, I guess we’ll find out."

Voit was asked if he'll play for one of the Mets' affiliates this summer and the second baseman said he wasn't sure, but he'll learn what the organization has planned for him soon enough.

During his Citi Field visit, Voit was introduced to a number of players but one in particular stood out to him. Juan Soto.

"I got to see the beginning of Soto’s routine. It’s very surgical, you would say," Voit described. "Great guy, really friendly to me. Everyone’s been great to me."

Voit played 56 games for the Wolverines this season after undergoing internal brace surgery on his throwing arm last summer. In that time, Voit hit 17 doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, and 60 RBI with a .346/.471/.668 slash line for a 1.140 OPS while walking 40 times to 34 strikeouts.

The Wisconsin native said his attitude at the plate is to get the barrel to the ball and the Mets hope he can develop into a major league hitter. In fact, they see potential in Voit as just a position player. Voit was a two-way player at Michigan, amassing a 9-4 record with a 4.67 ERA across 29 games (11 starts) in two collegiate seasons -- he did not pitch in his final year with Michigan.

Despite that, the Mets and Voit agreed that they will develop him as a position player but the right-hander doesn't rule out the possibility of him climbing the mound in the future.

"Our plan will be to develop me as a position player," Voit said. "I’ve said this before. If it comes down to it, and the only opportunity is to be a big league pitcher for the New York Mets, then yeah. But our plan moving forward would be as a position player... All your experience as a pitcher doesn’t go away. It’ll always be there in my back pocket."
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The Wraparound: Did The Canadiens Make A Smart Low-Risk Bet On Veleno?

The Wraparound has another episode of rapid-fire NHL topics as the off-season continues.

Did The Canadiens Make A Smart Low-Risk Bet On Veleno? by The WraparoundDid The Canadiens Make A Smart Low-Risk Bet On Veleno? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Jonathan Bailey discussed:

0:00: Is Lukas Dostal the Anaheim Ducks’ goalie of the future?

4:58: Will the Columbus Blue Jackets end up trading Yegor Chinakhov?

9:02: Was signing Joe Veleno a smart low-risk bet for the Montreal Canadiens?

11:44: Which 2025 draft pick that has signed their entry-level contract will make an appearance in the NHL this season?

14:30: How will Joe Thornton impact the San Jose Sharks as a player development coach?

17:58: How will Mitch Marner be received by Toronto Maple Leafs fans in his return to Scotiabank Arena?

22:50: Was Dakota Joshua the type of player the Toronto Maple Leafs needed to acquire?

27:20: Did the Chicago Blackhawks do enough this off-season to support Connor Bedard?

33:55: Did the Winnipeg Jets do enough this off-season after losing Nikolaj Ehlers?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

iHeartRadio

Amazon

Promo image credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

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Colorado Rockies minor league pitcher Eric Veras suspended 56 games following positive drug test

NEW YORK — Colorado Rockies minor league pitcher Eric Veras was suspended for 56 games Friday by Major League Baseball following a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenone.

Veras was disciplined under the drug program for minor league players assigned outside of the U.S. and Canada.

An 18-year-old left-hander, Veras was 2-0 with a 3.97 ERA in five starts this season. He signed for a $125,000 bonus in January 2024 and was 3-1 with 3.80 ERA in 10 starts last year.

Veras was the ninth player suspended this year for a positive test, the seventh under minor league programs. Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for 80 games on March 31 and Philadelphia Phillies closer José Alvarado for 80 games on May 25 under the major league program.

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Phillies fail to capitalize on Harper's big night in series-opening loss to Angels

Phillies fail to capitalize on Harper's big night in series-opening loss to Angels originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Before Friday’s game Trea Turner said there was ‘a lot of good and a lot of bad’ from the first half of the Phillies season prior to the All-Star break.

The same can be said of their first game after the break.

The Phillies squandered a 4-1 lead and lost 6-5 to the Angels. Their record dropped to 55-42 and they’ve now lost five of their last seven games.

Friday’s loss represented a squandered opportunity, an uneven performance by the home team on a beautiful night for baseball in South Philadelphia.

First, the bad.

Tanner Banks surrendered a two-run home run by Taylor Ward in the seventh inning that broke a 4-4 tie and put the Angels ahead to stay. It was Ward’s 22nd home run of the season, a towering shot to left center field.  

The bullpen was pressed into action early after Jesus Luzardo failed to make it out of the fifth inning. Luzardo allowed seven hits and four earned runs on 95 pitches. He served up a solo home run to Jorge Soler and a two-run homer to Jo Adell. Luzardo’s season ERA climbed to 4.29.

Luzardo’s June and July have been a struggle following a scorching first two months of the season during which he posted a 2.15 ERA in his first 11 starts.

Mike Trout, who entered Friday’s game with two hits in 20 career at-bats at Citizens Bank Park, got the best of Luzardo. Trout doubled and scored a run in the fourth inning before delivering a game-tying RBI single in the fifth.

Despite the result, this series opener against the Angels came with its share of bright spots.

Namely, Bryce Harper has officially heated up. Harper hit a three-run home run in the third inning and a solo shot in the eighth, accounting for his first multi-home run game of the season. Harper added a double in the fifth inning and has nine extra-base hits in his last five games. He’s hitting .500 during that span (10 hits in 20 at-bats).

Kyle Schwarber picked up where he left off at the All-Star game, belting a solo home run on his first swing of the game. Schwarber’s line drive into the right field seats in the first inning increased his season total to 31, tied for the fourth most in baseball.

J.T. Realmuto stayed hot at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a double. Realmuto has multiple hits in seven of his last 11 games.

But the contributions from some key bats weren’t enough. The Phillies now turn to Taijuan Walker on Saturday night in hopes of evening this three-game series.

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Could Jack Roslovic Be A Good Fit For The Predators?

May 12, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) center Jack Roslovic (96) goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) and center Sebastian Aho (20) celebrate their victory against the Washington Capitals in game four of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

It’s well-documented that one of the biggest reasons for the Nashville Predators’ lackluster performance in 2024-25 was lack of offense. They were next-to-last in total goals scored (212), far below their 266 from the season before.

While general manager Barry Trotz addressed the defense by adding Nick Perbix (free agent) and Nicolas Hague (acquired from Vegas), a gaping hole that still needs to be filled is at center.

Speaking of the Hague trade, that hole at center got even deeper when the Predators shipped Colton Sissons to the Golden Knights as part of the deal that also included blueliner Jeremy Lauzon.

Without Sissons, who recorded 21 points (7-14-21) last season, the Predators’ options at center are Ryan O’Reilly, Fedor Svechkov, Erik Haula and Michael McCarron.

O’Reilly, Svechkov and McCarron scored a combined 84 points last season. Haula, acquired from New Jersey in June, tallied 21 points in 69 regular-season games and one assist in five playoff games for the Devils.

The thin crop of centers in free agency got even weaker after Michael Granlund, Andrew Mangiapane and Pius Suter came off the board quickly. So who would be a viable option at this point?

Jack Roslovic could be an ideal fit for the Predators. He scored 39 points (22-17-39) in 81 regular-season games for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2024-25, and four points (1-3-4) in nine post-season games. He had a 54.1 faceoff percentage and a shooting percentage of over 15%.

In the previous season spent between the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers, Roslovic scored 31 points (9-22-31) in 59 regular-season games and eight points (2-6-8) in 16 playoff contests with the Rangers.

In 526 NHL games over nine seasons, Roslovic has totaled 260 points (102-158-260). He’s 28, younger than O’Reilly (34), Haula (34) and McCarron (30). He’s a 6-foot-1, 194-pound center/right winger who was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round (25th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft, so he also offers the Preds versatility.

As for salary, the Predators have the cap space for a center of Roslovic’s skill level ($10,116,039 according to PuckPedia). Signing him could take anywhere from $3 to $4 million.

This would not be a long-term fix, by any means. Roslovic is a third-line center at best, but could provide more scoring power for an offense that is in desperate need of it after last season.

Signing Roslovic would allow more time for prospects like Brady Martin and David Edstrom to get NHL-ready.

Nashville selected Martin fifth overall in the 2025 NHL draft, but he could return to Sault Ste. Marie in the OHL if he signs an entry-level contract. Having a player like Roslovic to keep the seat warm for Martin would buy a little more time for the 18-year-old.

Edstrom, 20, played with Frolunda HC in Sweden last season, scoring 19 points (7-12-19) in 39 regular-season games. He was called up to the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League during the Calder Cup Playoffs but did not score a point in four games.

As Trotz attempts to get younger with his squad, Roslovic would be a nice insurance addition for at least one season with the Predators. He wouldn’t break the bank, offers versatility and would provide much-needed insurance at the anchor position for the upcoming season.

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Sabres Adding Organizational Depth With Leschyshyn

The Buffalo Sabres offseason has fizzled, after a flurry of trades around the NHL Draft moved out JJ Peterka, Connor Clifton, and Sam Lafferty, as the expectation of acquiring a top-six forward to replace Peterka in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram did not come to fruition when the restricted free agent signed a two-year, $12.5 million bridge deal last week. 

GM Kevyn Adams in the minds of many still has a lot of work to do and has not significantly improved the club that missed the playoffs by 12 points last season, but other than former Carolina winger Jack Roslovic, who scored 22 goals with the Hurricanes, the best scoring unrestricted free agent forward available is the familiar name of former Sabre Victor Olofsson.   

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The club’s most recent addition seems more aimed towards the Rochester Americans, as the Sabres announced earlier this week the signing of former NHLer Jake Leschyshyn to a one-year, two-way contract worth a league-minimum $775,000 and $350,000 at the AHL level. 

The 26-year-old was a draftee of the Vegas Golden Knights in their inaugural season of 2017, and spent five seasons with the Golden Knights organization until he was claimed off of waivers by the New York Rangers in 2023. Leschyshyn played only 14 games for New York and most of his 2 ½ seasons with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, where he scored 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists) in 69 games.  

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