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Knicks 2026 NBA Summer League Preview: Breaking down New York's schedule and roster

Fans coming off the high of the championship won’t have to wait much longer for Knicks basketball. 

The 2026 NBA Summer League begins in Las Vegas in a matter of days, and New York’s latest draft picks and best prospects will suit up to compete for training camp invites and rotation minutes. 

Let’s break down their schedule and what to look for from key players as we head into this summer exhibition...

Schedule

July 10 vs. Brooklyn Nets (6:00 PM ET)

The Knicks face their crosstown rivals and their two interesting young guards, Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., whom the Nets drafted with the sixth overall pick a couple weeks ago. 

July 11 vs. San Antonio Spurs (6:00 PM ET)

In a rematch with their Finals foe, New York faces off with Carter Bryant and San Antonio’s 2026 draft picks, led by Kentucky product Jayden Quaintance. 

July 13 vs. Detroit Pistons (4:00 PM ET)

The Pistons will try to impose their physicality in Vegas as they work through Jalen Duren’s pending free agency. 

July 16 vs. Golden State Warriors (7:00 PM ET)

Yaxel Lendeborg looks like an early Rookie of the Year favorite that'll test the Summer Knicks’ defense.

Roster

Returning players

The 2024 first-round pick Pacome Dadiet returns to action after a quiet sophomore season. He only appeared in 29 games with the Knicks, most of which were in garbage time, despite averaging 23 points down with Westchester.

This is a make-or-break Vegas and training camp for Dadiet, who’s yet to consistently show his promise and may get squeezed due to the second apron and stiffer competition. 

One direction that’s coming from is fellow French wing Mohamed Diawara.

The 55th pick in the 2025 draft, Diawara impressed in real minutes during the regular season, and will get a chance to flex his development this summer -- look for more advanced creation and improved polish defensively. 

Also returning is Dillon Jones, who signed with the Knicks on a two-way contract last January. He didn’t play many minutes with New York, but was credited by Mike Brown for his other contributions to the championship run. 

Jones is still only 24 years old and could show some upside on this stage. Although all three of these guys are returnees, the stakes are just as high for them as they are the newcomers.

There’s two other returnees from Westchester's squad in Toby Okani and Nick Jourdain.   

Vanderbilt Commodores forward Tyler Nickel (5) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during a first-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between McNeese and Vanderbilt at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Vanderbilt Commodores forward Tyler Nickel (5) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during a first-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between McNeese and Vanderbilt at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Thursday, March 19, 2026. / © BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Draftees

Although the Knicks' 39th overall pick in the 2026 draft, Jack Kayil, isn’t on the official roster yet he should eventually join the club once a contract formality with his current team is complete, his agent told Basketball World. 

Kayil has solid size at the guard spot and a high ceiling, so seeing him get some reps at this level would be insightful to the front office and fans.

Tyler Nickel, the 47th overall pick, brings elite sharpshooting out of the gates. The big question to watch with him is what more can he provide, especially defensively and off the bounce.

Others

The roster is rounded out by undrafted rookies and some veterans from overseas and the G-League. 

One standout is Jaden Akins, coming off a G-League All-Star appearance last season for the Motor City Cruise.

New York will also field a number of undrafted rookies from the 2026 class, including West Virginia's Treysen Eaglestaff, Richmond's Will Johnston, Missouri St's Keith Palek III,and St. John's product Oziyah Sellers. 

Palek III is a Jersey native and Sellers is no stranger to MSG after playing for the Red Storm. 

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Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez calls poor outing ‘crap,’ can’t pinpoint reason for his struggles

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Philadelphia Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez summed up one of the worse outings of his career with one word: crap.

Sánchez could have used much stronger language after giving up a career-worst nine earned runs in just 3 1/3 innings in a 15-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

Asked after the game if he could pinpoint something that led to the bad outing, the 29-year-old left-hander was lost for a cause.

“Nothing really,” he said through an interpreter. “I mean, it’s just a game. As I learn from the good things that we have on the field, and the things when we perform well, the same thing when I don’t perform. I just try to learn from it.”

Sanchez, whose previous worst outing for earned runs allowed was seven against the Cubs in April, gave up three of the Royals’ four home runs — all on his changeup, one of his signature pitches. Again, he had no answer as to why.

“I don’t really know,” he said. “Maybe it wasn’t doing as it always does. You gotta get credit to them, because they got me today, They made me pay, and you just have to keep going.”

Sánchez was not helped by his defense. With the Phillies leading 1-0 in the bottom of the first, Sánchez faced runners on first and third with one out. Jac Caglianone hit a grounder to second for a force at the base, but shortstop Trea Turner’s relay throw to first was wild, allowing Bobby Witt Jr. to score the tying run. The Royals went on to score five more runs in the first, and the rout was on.

“You’ve got to make (that play),” Turner said. “Who knows how that game ends up. (If) he gets out of it clean, and then gets on a roll, who knows how it turns out. That was a game-changer.”

Phillies manager Don Mattingly agreed the first inning impacted the whole game. But, it wasn’t the only issue for the Phillies, who lost two of three to the AL Central’s last-place Royals.

“I know you can’t assume a double play, but with Trea, you would think it’s a double play,” the manager said. “You gotta make that throw.

“But after that, we didn’t really stop them either. And we had some chances. In the first couple innings, we get the bases loaded twice, (and) we don’t score. We end up leaving 15. (We had) 10 hits, seven walks and only get one run. We had chances to kind of creep back in it.”

Mattingly is not concerned about Sanchez in the long term, even though he allowed five and four earned runs in his previous two road starts.

“You’re always kind of looking at everything,” Mattingly said. “He doesn’t seem to be as sharp (on the road) as at home. I don’t know if that has necessarily anything to do with it. Obviously, you don’t have the same mound you’re used to, but everybody pitches on the road.”

Sanchez has one more scheduled start — likely at Detroit — prior to the All Star break. He’s going to try to figure it out by then.

“I know that it’s something that’s happened on the road,” he said. “I don’t really have an answer for that. Maybe not being so familiar with the stadiums, but it’s just something that we have to improve.”

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The Next Wave: Islanders Prospects Have Massive Year Ahead

The New York Islanders enter the quiet part of the 2026 summer with 13 clear NHL forwards, with multiple players pushing for roles elsewhere on the depth chart.

Many expect Victor Eklund to compete for and win a job in the opening-night lineup, but that's far from guaranteed.

The 2026-27 Islanders will not be significantly changed, but a tidal wave of change is bubbling beneath the surface.

Next summer, the Islanders have four pending unrestricted free agents at forward-Kyle Palmieri, Casey Cizikas, Ondrej Palat, and Kyle MacLean.

Matias Maccelli, signed to a one-year, $2.25 million deal, is an RFA, but if the year doesn't go well, he would almost certainly be headed to the UFA market once again.

Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman are restricted free agents.

So, as it stands, the Islanders have seven forwards under contract for the 2027-28 season, which becomes eight if you include Eklund.

That number also includes both Anthony Duclair and Pierre Engvall, who remain candidates for a trade as soon as this summer.

That's a wide-open forward group for a crop of young, skilled players to barge right into.

Conveniently, Hamilton's going to be chock-full of those youngsters learning the ropes.

Cole Eiserman, Daniil Prokhorov and Quinn Finley -- Danny Nelson after he finishes his senior season at Notre Dame -- are all very popular names to be the "next" forward to break through after Eklund, with Hamilton first.

One name consistently passed over is Daylan Kuefler, but Kuefler is the closest of them all.

The Islanders originally selected Kuefler, 24, in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, and he's gone on to become an extremely steady pro for Bridgeport despite multiple injuries.

His skill set translates perfectly to the bottom six, with the potential to become a strong third-line shutdown winger who plays with speed and an edge.

It would not be shocking at all to see Kuefler play NHL games this season, as he's already played 105 AHL games to date.

The Islanders and general manager Mathieu Darche intentionally left the door wide-open for these young forwards to grab hold of roster spots.

Defensively, the Islanders will be open for business soon, too.

After the 2026-27 season ends, the Islanders will be able to trade any of their five NHL defenseman not named Matthew Schaefer.

After seeing Darnell Nurse go for positive value, with Morgan Rielly likely to follow, the Islanders can absolutely bank on getting good returns for any of their defensemen, with each one signed to cheap deals under the rising cap.

On the left side, both Adam Pelech and Alexander Romanov could fetch massive hauls.

Teams called this summer on Romanov, likely hoping to get him for a discount after he did not play another game following a season-ending shoulder injury in November.

Romanov's full no-trade clause kicks in on July 1, 2027.

With Isaiah George ready to push for a roster spot now, Kashawn Aitcheson joining Hamilton, and Malte Gustafsson behind them, the importance of the Islanders having flexibility with their defenseman becomes heightened.

This summer of 2026 will be looked back upon as a prelude to the Islanders' future, one led by Schaefer and the young core behind him.

That core is going to have every opportunity to succeed and explode onto the scene.

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Donovan Mitchell reportedly to sign four-year, $272.8 million max extension with Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell — the All-NBA heart of a Cavaliers team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals — has locked down his future in Cleveland and agreed to sign a four-year max contract extension with the team, his agent told Shams Charania of ESPN.

The contract would kick in for the 2027-28 season, replacing Mitchell's player option that year and starting at $60.9 million (based on the most recent salary cap estimates). It would be worth $272.8 million over the course of the deal.

Mitchell signing to stay in Cleveland is not a surprise. He said after the Cavaliers were swept out of the playoffs by the Knicks that he loved playing in the city and believed this team could reach the NBA Finals. The only mild surprise is that the 29-year-old could have waited a year to sign the extension and gotten a fifth year added onto the deal at a higher price. Instead, he chose to lock things down now.

Mitchell averaged 27.9 points and 5.7 assists per game last season as the best player on a Cavaliers roster that saw dramatic changes around him. At the deadline, Cleveland sent Darius Garland to the LA Clippers for James Harden, who is expected to sign his own extension with the team this offseason.

For a team looking to take another step forward next season, the Cavaliers have been quiet this offseason. However, they are considered the current frontrunner to land LeBron James this offseason, league sources told NBC Sports, although LeBron has not had any direct, official contact with the team, according to reports.

Mitchell has been with the Cavaliers since being traded there from Utah in 2022, and he has now taken the team as far as it has gone since LeBron left again in 2018.

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Braves place Martín Pérez on IL with forearm contusion, designate Carlos Carrasco for assignment

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves placed left-hander Martín Pérez on the 15-day injured list with a left forearm contusion.

Pérez was hit by Juan Soto’s line drive in a 10-9 loss to the New York Mets and left the game. Afterward, Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said X-rays were negative.

Pérez (6-6) allowed six hits and five runs, four earned, in 4 1/3 innings. He has a 3.54 ERA in 18 games, including 14 starts.

Right-hander Carlos Carrasco was designated for assignment after allowing five runs on five hits in two innings.

The Braves recalled right-hander JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett and called up right-hander Owen Murphy, who has pitched for Gwinnett and Double-A Columbus this season. Murphy would make his major league debut if used in a game.

Atlanta also recalled outfielder José Azócar from Triple-A Gwinnett. Outfielder Eli White was placed on paternity leave.

Ritchie is 1-2 with a 4.53 ERA in nine games, including seven starts, for Atlanta this season. He was optioned to Gwinnett after he threw three scoreless innings to earn his first save in a 14-3 win over New York.

The Mets also made a move before their game at the Braves, acquiring right-hander Matt Seelinger from the Detroit Tigers for cash. Seelinger, 31, was drafted by Pittsburgh in 2017. He had a 3.89 ERA and one save in 27 games with Triple-A Toledo this season and has never pitched in the majors.

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Mike Burrows Needs Another Breather

Joe Espada was dealt a rough hand before Monday’s series opener against the Washington Nationals.

He was sending one of Major League Baseball’s worst starting pitchers, Mike Burrows, to the mound against one of the game’s best lineups with only a five-man bullpen at his disposal.

Josh Hader and Bryan King were unavailable after pitching on both Saturday and Sunday. Cristian Javier also wasn’t available after throwing two innings Saturday in his first relief appearance since Game 1 of the 2022 ALDS.

That left Espada with AJ Blubaugh; Steven Okert, whose 43 appearances rank fourth in the majors after pitching in two of three games against the Rays; Enyel De Los Santos, who had allowed runs in five of his previous six outings; the wildly inconsistent Nate Pearson; and someone claiming to be Bryan Abreu.

Espada needed a good outing from Burrows, or at the very least a long outing. He got neither. Burrows allowed five runs in the third inning after being handed a 6-1 lead. He got through the fourth without allowing a run. Desperate to avoid his depleted bullpen, Espada sent Burrows back to the mound in the fifth. He surrendered his 21st home run of the season on his third pitch, then retired just one of the next four hitters before Espada had seen enough.

Burrows owns a 5.99 ERA through his first 18 games (17 starts) as an Astro. Only Arizona’s Zac Gallen has been worse among qualified pitchers. Bad luck and poor defense were legitimate excuses for a rough start to the season, but he has a 6.98 ERA over his last nine starts with a 6.55 FIP, so yes, he’s been that bad.

The Astros hoped Burrows could occupy a top spot in their rotation for five years when they acquired him from the Pirates in December. While it seems unlikely right now, he could still reach that potential. But for the good of everyone involved, the Astros need to send Burrows to Sugar Land—or maybe even West Palm Beach.

It would give Burrows an opportunity to work on things in a low-pressure environment. It would also allow Javier, who looked good on Saturday, to move back to the rotation, which would give Espada a bullpen arm he can use on back-to-back days. 

The Astros are just 1 ½ games back of Texas for the American League’s final wild card, and the AL West remains in reach. The team sent Burrows to the bullpen last month for what Espada called “a breather.” It lasted one turn through the rotation. He needs more than a breather right now, and with Javier back and Ronel Blanco and Lance McCullers Jr. on the way, the Astros can afford to do that now. 

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Project 2028: The reality of Luka Doncic returning to the Mavericks

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 30: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after a 124-103 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals at Target Center on May 30, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Whether Luka Doncic eventually or eventually does not return to the Dallas Mavericks, this has been a fun exercise to play out if it is even a possibility. Now that we have laid out both the motivation and the path for all parties involved, it’s time to ask the $250 million question. Is this possible? Tyler and David, the architects of the project, give their thoughts.

Tyler’s take

<p>After LeBron went home to Cleveland (and possibly for a third time soon), it feels like anything is possible (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Estabrook Group)</p><br>

So, what are the chances that this can actually happen? For Dallas’ part, everyone who was instrumental in the demise of Doncic has been fired, and the team has pretty clearly shown it’s trying to distance itself from what happened. Yes, ownership is still in place, but I don’t view that as problematic. LeBron went home to Cleveland after Dan Gilbert torched him on the team website right after “The Decision”, left again in 2018, and might even go back for a third tour of duty as a Cav. There’s precedent, and ownership in reality plays a very small role in the day to day operations for a player. 

The Mavericks just need to position themselves to be a legitimate contender between now and then. As the Lakers try and manage their way through the West with a deeply flawed roster, the potential that Doncic becomes disgruntled with a situation he didn’t ask for grows. Dallas just needs to be ready to pounce when it happens. It feels like it’s a somewhere between a pipe dream and a somewhat realistic I’ve just seen the future dream for Doncic to come home at the moment. But dreams sometimes turn to reality. And for that matter, sometimes it’s not just a dream. It’s fate.

David’s take

DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 09: A fan holds a sign in honor of Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on April 09, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Of course, the plan we laid out is all fan fiction currently. But the facts are the facts. Seeds are being planted that could push Doncic back to the Lone Star State in two years. Realistically, I would give it a 30 or so percent chance. The Lakers will be the only team eligible to offer him a life-changing amount of money, and that may simply be too hard to pass up. We could be overestimating the emotional piece in all this, and maybe Doncic just goes somewhere better positioned to win. A situation like LeBron James returning to Cleveland in 2014 rarely happens, and for good reason. There are a thousand moving pieces in a deal like that. That being said, if the player wants it, the team will make it work. Jim Paschke, former television voice of the Bucks, expressed this exact sentiment recently in an interview with new member of the Miami Heat, Giannis Antetokounmpo. He tells him that he can “always come home”, and the former MVP acknowledges that option will be in his mind. Antetokounmpo is much older than Doncic, and referenced a tail-end Kevin Garnett as the likely precedent to a future move, but the fact remains: an active player is willing to concede that coming home one day is something on their mind.

Sometimes, fans romanticize sports in a way that players never consider. But sometimes, the player is on the same page too. And we have a puncher’s chance that Doncic feels the same way we do.

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Report: Garrett Temple will be part of Dusty May’s coaching staff

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 12: Garrett Temple #17 of the Toronto Raptors looks on ahead of playing against the Brooklyn Nets in their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on April 12, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Following reports that Willie Green and Joe Boylan will be joining the Dallas Mavericks coaching staff under head coach Dusty May, we are now learning that Garrett Temple will be on board as well.

Temple has no coaching experience at the NBA level, but that is because he was playing for the Toronto Raptors as recently as this past season. Temple got his start in the league in 2009 and stuck around for 16 years over two stints that were separated by a single season playing in Italy for Casale Monferrato (2011-2012). During his NBA tenure, he was part of 12 different teams.

The bulk of his career was spent with the Washington Wizards (four years), but his best campaign came with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2019-2020 season when he averaged 10.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

On the surface, Temple is a puzzling hire. What attracted May to a career journeyman with no coaching experience? The answer primarily lies in that journeyman characteristic. Temple stuck around the league as long as he did in no small part due to him being a positive locker room veteran and mentor to younger players. Apparently, May convinced Temple to retire specifically to join his staff.

May clearly sees something he likes, and although Temple is a somewhat unexpected hire, he absolutely fits the pedigree May seems to be after in coaches such as Green and Boylan. After coaching at the collegiate level and with a relatively young team that is likely to get younger, bringing in a guy like Temple who was himself playing just a few short months ago, is more of a slick move than it appears on the surface. This also speaks to who May is – a coach who can clearly get folks to buy in to what he is looking to do going forward at the helm of the Mavericks.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

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Dodgers vs Rockies Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for July 7

The Dodgers' (60-32) Dalton Rushing delivered a walk-off winner in the 11th inning versus the Rockies (37-55), winning, 8-7. The Dodgers have now won five straight versus the Rockies.

Colorado is a 0.5 game up over the Los Angeles Angels for the worst record in baseball. The Rockies are 1-2 in the last three games after winning three consecutive prior. To start July, Colorado is hitting .316 (2nd) with the fourth-most home runs (11) and top five ranks in OBP, OPS, and SLG. Colorado has scored a ridiculous 53 runs in the last six games with a 4-2 record.

Los Angeles is 4-1 over the last five games and 15-5 in the previous 20 outings. The Dodgers are 2.5 games up on the Brewers for the best record in baseball. Shohei Ohtani hit his 299th career home run in the win Monday as he improved his batting average versus Colorado to .355 on the season with seven RBI and nine runs scored.

Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Rockies at Dodgers

  • Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
  • Time: 10:10 PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium 
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Rockies at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-286), Colorado Rockies (+228)
  • Spread: Rockies +1.5 (+108), Dodgers -1.5 (-131)
  • Total: 9.5

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Dodgers

  • Tuesday's pitching matchup (July 7): Justin Wrobleski vs. Michael Lorenzen 
  • Dodgers: Justin Wrobleski 

2026 stats: 93.1 IP, 10-2, 2.80 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 64 Ks, 18 BB

  • Rockies: Michael Lorenzen 

2026 Stats: 86.0 IP, 3-9, 6.91 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 67 K, 32 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is hitting .288 with 90 hits, 18 home runs and 51 RBI over 312 at-bats
  • The Dodgers’ Alex Freeland is hitting .226 with 42 hits and 63 strikeouts over 186 at-bats
  • The Rockies’ Troy Johnston is hitting .310 with 83 hits, 3 home runs, and 39 RBI over 268 at-bats
  • The Rockies’ Ezequiel Tovar is hitting .209 with 62 hits and 84 strikeouts over 296 at-bats

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rockies at Dodgers

  • The Dodgers are 44-48 ATS
  • The Rockies are 50-42 ATS, ranking seventh-best
  • The Dodgers are 49-43 to the Under, ranking ninth-best
  • The Rockies are 45-44-3 to the Under
  • The Dodgers are 18-27 ATS at home, ranking fifth-worst
  • The Rockies are 24-18 ATS on the road, ranking fourth-best

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rockies and the Dodgers

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday's game between the Rockies and the Dodgers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 9.5

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After “20 years and 1 day,” Kyle Lowry comes out to retire a Raptor

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 14: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors protests a possession call against the Washington Wizards in the first quarter during Game One of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on April 14, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) | Getty Images

July 7th, 7/7, is a date that will live in infamy for the world of Toronto sports, because one of our prodigal sons has finally come home, for good. As the clock wound down to 9:30, a hush fell over the room all of a sudden, a blanket of silence broken only by the murmurs of cameramen and the muffled chatter of people in the bleachers, as the crowd waited for Kyle Lowry to take the stand at the podium.

The table was emblazoned with Lowry’s own logo, a brushstroked “K”, with the clawed ball of the Raptors sitting to its right. Notably, the table had two microphones, and two bottles of water. For a minute, I hoped against hope that there would be another player who would come and take the microphone alongside Lowry – Number 10 to go along with Number 7 – but it would not come to pass.

The presser began with a video on a 70 foot screen showing off Lowry’s years of Raptors highlights. GM Bobby Webster took the mic and spoke. He talked about the franchise before and after Kyle Lowry, and began to reminisce on the 2019 playoffs. He talked about game 6 of the NBA Finals, about how Lowry “rose above” everything and everyone on the court. And then, the crowd rose to their feet, giving the point guard a standing ovation as he took the mic.

Lowry shouted out his friends and family, thanking them, before beginning to address the media. He cracked at Doug Smith of the Toronto Star, who got the first question, with the two Raptors icons ribbing each other for their age. Lowry called Toronto a “hockey town, hockey place,” where his hard work tied him to the culture of Toronto. He referenced the 2014 series against the Brooklyn Nets as the moment when he felt like Toronto began to feel like home to him.

“I think I had a hell of a career,” said Lowry. When asked about what he would be doing in retirement, he spoke earnestly, saying “golf,” before continuing, saying how he would value time with family, and the ability to “see my kids grow up.” When asked about his favourite charge that he ever took, Lowry immediately answered that it was the one he took in the All-Star game against Kawhi Leonard. “He still owe me some money from that,” cracked Lowry in his trademark deadpan gruffness. He spoke about his relationship with DeMar DeRozan, reminiscing on their continued friendship, saying that “he’ll be here when the thing [retired number] goes up top.”

Speaking about potentially being memorialized as a statue, stating that if it were to happen, he would to the fans the design of the statue. Mid-press conference, a phone was brought up to Lowry, who revealed that Vince Carter was calling him in, praising the younger guard, and making promises of golfing soon. Like Carter, whose relationship with the franchise was complex, before a capstone retirement, Lowry joked about his at-times choppy connection to the Raptors.

Looking to the future, Lowry spoke about the current state of the franchise, saying that “they’re trying to win another championship,” and when talking about Kawhi Leonard, he said “that’s why he’s here.” He praised current players on the team, namely Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, and another defensive guard, Jamal Shead.

Reflecting on his last game in Toronto last season, Lowry called the moment of applause a “storybook ending.” And then, as if the true end to a movie, Lowry signed a placard printed with his career achievements, posed with his family, as “Let Me Clear My Throat” by DJ Kool rang out over the stadium speakers and photos were taken of the man who many call the Greatest Raptor of All Time. As people off the court, the man who achieved the heights of NBA stardom in the 2010s went out in the most 2010s way possible. With DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win” blasting. A final joke from Lowry. That’s the way he’d want to go out, I think.

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Cubs vs. Orioles prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for July 7

The Chicago Cubs (50-40) open a three-game series in Baltimore tonight against the Orioles (42-49). Chicago trails Milwaukee by six games in the National League Central while Baltimore sits twelve games behind Tampa in the American League East.

 

The Cubs won 6-4 Sunday at Wrigley Field against the Cardinals to salvage the final game of an otherwise lost weekend series. Chicago was outscored 20-1 in the series’ first two games. Baltimore arrives home taking two of three against the Reds in Cincinnati. The O’s won the first two games against the Reds, including 3-0 Friday and 8-5 Saturday before dropping Sunday's finale 3-2.

 

Tuesday's pitching matchup features veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd (3-1, 5.08 ERA) for Chicago against right-hander Shane Baz (4-8, 4.19 ERA) for Baltimore. The Cubs have pieced together innings from Boyd while dealing with injuries elsewhere in the rotation. Boyd's ability to limit free passes and keep the ball in the yard will be keys to his success or lack thereof this evening. Baz has been one of Baltimore's top swing and miss hurlers with 87 strikeouts in 101 innings. Run support, though, has often been an issue for Baz. The Orioles have scored just 57 runs in Baz’s 17 starts (3.35 runs per start).

 

The hottest hitter in Chicago's lineup is Pete Crow-Armstrong, who enters the series batting .292 with 19 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 98 hits. PCA went 2-for-4 with a steal and a run scored in Sunday's win over St. Louis. After a slow start to his first campaign in Baltimore, Pete Alonso has been the biggest offensive force for the O’s with 19 home runs and 60 RBIs.

 

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

 

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Game Details and How to Watch: Cubs vs. Orioles

 

  • Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
  • Time: 6:35PM EST
  • Site: Camden Yards
  • City: Baltimore, MD
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Marquee Sports Network, MASN

 

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

 

The Latest Odds: Cubs vs. Orioles

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Chicago Cubs (-118), Baltimore Orioles (-102)
  • Spread: Cubs -1.5 (+135), Orioles +1.5 (-163)
  • Total: 9.5 runs

 

Probable Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Cubs vs. Orioles for July 7

  • Cubs: Matthew Boyd
    Season Totals: 33.2 IP, 3-1, 5.08 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 37K, 10 BB
  • Orioles: Shane Baz
    Season Totals: 101.0 IP, 4-8, 4.19 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 87K, 39 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Cubs vs. Orioles

  • Pete Crow-Armstrong has hit safely in 6 consecutive games (9-19)
  • Alex Bregman is 3-16 in July
  • Dansby Swanson is 9-22 over his last 6 games
  • Pete Alonso was 4-11 in the weekend series at Cincinnati
  • Adley Rutschman has hit safely in 4 straight games (5-18)
  • Samuel Basallo is 5-15 over his last 6 games

 

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

 

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Cubs vs. Orioles

  • The Cubs are 37-53 on the Run Line this season
  • The Orioles are 45-46 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 50 times in Baltimore’s 91 games this season (50-38-3)
  • The OVER has cashed 49 times in Chicago’s 90 games this season (49-40-1)

 

Expert picks & predictions: Cubs vs. Orioles

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

 

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

 

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Cubs:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Orioles on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Orioles on the Run Line.
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 9.5

 

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  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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‘Appalled’ Wigan report racial abuse aimed at Nsemba after Magic Weekend

  • England player subject of racial abuse on social media

  • Club issue strong statement condemning incident

Wigan Warriors have reported the racial abuse aimed at Junior Nsemba after Super League’s Magic Weekend to the police with their coach, Matt Peet, calling on the sport to stamp out the treatment to which the 22-year-old was subjected.

The England international was the subject of racist comments on social media in the aftermath of Wigan’s victory over St Helens at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday evening. The Warriors have confirmed the matter has been referred to the relevant authorities and the Rugby Football League, while also issuing a strongly worded statement.

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Thorburn's Blues Promotion Explains Jets Alumni Absence

Chris Thorburn may not be taking part in the Winnipeg Jets' expanding alumni roster after all. A recent announcement from the St. Louis Blues appears to explain why.

After initially being included on the roster for Winnipeg's alumni game vs. Montreal ahead of the 2026 Heritage Classic this October when the Jets unveiled their growing list of alumni participants earlier this offseason, Thorburn's name has later been removed.

A Jets public relations representative later indicated that the former fan favourite was "no longer a 100 percent commit," with the Blues now confirming the next step in his hockey career.

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA Today&nbsp;
Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA Today&nbsp;

St. Louis announced a series of front-office promotions following Alexander Steen's transition to general manager, including Thorburn's promotion from development coach to director of player development. The Blues also elevated former Winnipeg Jets captain Keith Tkachuk to advisor to president of hockey operations Doug Armstrong after seven seasons as the club's director of recruitment.

Thorburn remains a familiar face to Jets fans after spending four seasons with the organization following its relocation from Atlanta in 2011. The rugged forward appeared in 255 games for Winnipeg between 2011 and 2015, serving as an alternate captain while earning a reputation as one of the club's hardest-working and most respected veterans.

After finishing his 14-year NHL career as a member of the Blues' 2019 Stanley Cup championship team, Thorburn returned to the organization as a development coach in 2021. His latest promotion puts him in charge of helping guide the franchise's next generation of prospects.

Tkachuk's promotion carries Winnipeg significance as well.

Although he never suited up for the current iteration of the Jets, Tkachuk remains one of the most recognizable players in franchise history after captaining the original Jets before the club relocated to Phoenix in 1996. He played 563 games with the franchise, recording 323 goals and 630 points, cementing himself as one of the organization's all-time greats.

Now, nearly three decades after leaving Winnipeg, Tkachuk continues to climb the executive ranks in St. Louis, joining Thorburn in taking on an even larger role within one of the NHL's most established front offices.

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5 Former Flames Among NHL's Top Free Agents Still Available

NHL Free Agency began almost a week ago on July 1. According to CapWages.com, 389 players were seeking new contracts, and the list has been reduced to roughly 223 heading into the second official week of the NHL off-season. 

When free agency kicked off, 19 former Calgary Flames players became free agents, and now that list has dwindled to eight. Today, we are going to look at the top five players still looking for a new team for 2026-27.

Anthony Mantha

Anthony Mantha had a resurgence season last year with the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring a career-high 33 goals and 64 points on a team that bounced back and qualified for the playoffs.

The 11-year veteran is one of the top wingers still available, and at 31, he may be looking for a long-term deal, but could end up settling on another one-year prove-it deal before landing a multi-year contract. During Mantha's one season with the Flames, in 2024-25, he scored just four goals and seven points in 13 games.

Cam Talbot

Cam Talbot is an ageless wonder, just recently turning 39 and still looking for a gig in the NHL. For the last two years, he'd been in goal for the Detroit Red Wings, posting a 33-28-11 record on a team that failed to qualify for the playoffs in either of the years he was there. After 13 seasons in the league, he's 278-204-53 with a .911 SV% and 2.69 GAA.

Moreover, last season, Talbot produced a .883 SV% and 3.19 GAA, his totals of the decade, making it a little more difficult to land a starting or backup role on a contender.

Calle Järnkrok

For the past four seasons, Calle Järnkrok has played with the Toronto Maple Leafs, beginning his tenure there with a 20-goal season back in 2022-23. Since then, he's tallied a total of 16 games over the past three seasons. Meanwhile, he was minus-15 last year, the seventh-worst total on the club.

After 13 seasons, Järnkrok has 143 goals and 316 points in 774 games. He'll be 35 at the beginning of the season, and could be looking for a fresh start with a new club on one of his final NHL deals.

Travis Hamonic

Travis Hamonic was a teammate of Talbot in Detroit last season, where he played just 26 games and recorded two points with a minus-11 rating. He'll be 36 next month, which may be a reason why he's still looking for a new deal. Considering his most productive seasons came almost a decade ago, he'll be looking for a modest contract to get him closer to retirement after 17 seasons.

Curtis Lazar

Curtis Lazar played for the Flames' provincial rival, the Edmonton Oilers, last season, appearing in 45 games and picking up six points, including four goals. Two years ago, he had a 25-point season, a career-high for the bottom-six player. Considering Lazar has never played 82 games in a single season, he'll be hard-pressed to land a role on a contender, in what would be his 13th NHL season.

Honorable Mentions

The three other former Flames players left looking for new deals also include Derek Forbort, Jordan Oesterle, and Kevin Rooney. Interestingly, all three of them combined to play four games in the league last season, so the likelihood of them landing a new NHL contract is slim, but never say never. Considering all three are still under 35, they could continue playing professionally with a chance of a call-up. 

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An assessment of Cubs pitching development. (Hint: It’s not pretty.)

This social media post made last week caught my eye, and probably yours too:

Of those 13 pitchers, at least three (Cade Horton, Shelby Miller and Porter Hodge) aren’t expected to pitch at all the rest of this season. The status of Hunter Harvey, Riley Martin and Justin Steele to throw any pitches for the 2026 Cubs is still uncertain. We also don’t know when Ben Brown will be back — and if he is this year, he could be limited to relief work.

About the six others:

  • Jameson Taillon made a rehab start Sunday and might start this weekend in Cincinnati
  • Edward Cabrera will need a rehab assignment, so he’s likely not back until August
  • Daniel Palencia could be back by the end of July
  • Phil Maton, same, perhaps back by the end of this month
  • Ethan Roberts’ timeline for return is unclear, though he officially began a rehab assignment on Friday
  • Hoby Milner should return from having his appendix removed sometime in August

(All the info above is from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter.)

So there are pitching reinforcements returning from injury. And the Cubs still could make a deal for a starter, a reliever, or both.

What I wanted to talk about here are the guys replacing all the pitchers listed above.

Jed Hoyer traded for David Peterson, who had his moments in New York but apparently wore out his welcome. He’s had one good start and one bad one for the Cubs so the proverbial verdict is still out on him. Some of the other pitchers who have put up innings for the Cubs this year, woof. Bryse Wilson? Jordan Wicks? Corbin Martin? I mean, yes, each of those guys had at least one good game for the Cubs but my question here is: Why don’t the Cubs have the parade of 98 mile per hour guys that seem to be coming out of every other team’s system? There don’t seem to be relievers like that in the Cubs organization.

Except… there were some guys like that, pitchers the Cubs let go for nothing. I’m thinking specifically of Trevor Megill and Jeremiah Estrada, pitchers who can throw 98+ consistently and have had success elsewhere. Megill has been the Brewers closer (mostly, though was briefly demoted this year) for most of the last three seasons and has posted a 2.93 ERA and 1.110 WHIP in 165 games in Milwaukee, with 206 strikeouts in 163 innings. Estrada has made 160 appearances for the Padres over the last three years with a 3.26 ERA and 1.119 WHIP, and 225 strikeouts in 154.2 innings.

Both those pitchers were let go for nothing. So was Jason Adam, who was non-tendered after 2021 because he was reportedly going to get $900,000 in arbitration. Then the Cubs signed Daniel Norris for more than that, and Norris was released after posting a 6.90 ERA in 27 games. Meanwhile, Adam has posted a 2.12 ERA and 0.965 WHIP in 298 games for the Rays and Padres since then, with 317 strikeouts in 289 innings.

Caleb Kilian is another example. The Cubs tried him as a starter and he failed at that. During Spring Training 2025 he was throwing 98 miles per hour and likely would have made the Opening Day bullpen last year if he hadn’t been injured. He pitched in a handful of games at Iowa after returning from the injury and the results weren’t good and he was let go after the season. Now he’s a useful reliever for the Giants, with a four-seamer averaging 97.

I could probably come up with some more examples of this sort of thing, but you get the idea. The Cubs either don’t evaluate pitchers properly, or a perceived money issue gets in the way of keeping a useful pitcher like Adam.

Instead, the Cubs sign retread after retread, trying to get pitchers to re-capture something they had three or five years in the past.

Next up on that list will be Liam Hendriks and Aaron Bummer, both now toiling for Triple-A Iowa. Hendriks, who is 37, was last effective in the big leagues in 2022. Then he missed most of 2023 and all of 2024 with Tommy John surgery, then hip issues shortened his year with the Red Sox last year. He has made three appearances in the Cubs system, one in the Arizona Complex League and two for Triple-A Iowa, all scoreless. Could he be effective? Maybe, but it would have been smarter to keep Hendriks in December 2013, when the Cubs claimed him on waivers from the Twins. Ten days later the Cubs tried to sneak him through waivers and he got claimed by the Orioles, and then, of course, had multiple successful seasons elsewhere.

As for Bummer, he had two pretty good years for the Braves in 2024 and 2025, but a lower K rate, a higher walk rate and a 7.63 ERA in 19 games this year got him released by Atlanta in May. The Cubs signed him and he’s made four appearances in the system, two scoreless ones in the complex league, two others at Iowa with a 4.50 ERA. I suppose we’ll see him in the Cubs bullpen at some point this year.

And at some point, I hope Cubs pitching development will focus more on drafting and developing guys who can throw the 98+ fastballs that are becoming de rigeur in baseball today. Otherwise this beleaguered pitching staff will keep falling behind.