Jeremy Lin addresses past Kim Kardashian dating rumors.
Former Knicks guard Jeremy Lin said the team declined a request from Kim Kardashian for him to appear on reality television after “Linsanity” took over New York in 2012.
During a Tuesday appearance on the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast, Lin recalled Kardashian’s request when Torre asked him about rumors that they were dating during the “Linsanity” craze — when Lin led the Knicks to 10 wins in 13 games and averaged over 22 points and nine assists after he was called up during the 2011-12 season.
“I think basically, she at that time, was filming her show … I don’t know if it was ‘Keeping up With the Kardashians’ or whatever show was happening back then,” Lin said. “But I know that she was kind of looking for a New York athlete to kind of be on this show essentially.
During the Linsanity run, Kim Kardashian reportedly requested access to Jeremy Lin — but Lin now recalls the Knicks "immediately declined":
"She was looking for kind of, like, a New York athlete."
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) June 10, 2026
“So this is what I’ve heard and I don’t know if it’s true or not … that request did come in to the Knicks and that is a real request.
“Again, I don’t know if this is true or not. This is what was told to me afterwards because the request came in to the Knicks and they immediately declined it without asking [me] because they were like, ‘We’re not allowing our young second-year player to go down this route right now.'”
Former Knicks guard Jeremy Lin during an appearance on the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast on June 9, 2026. YouTube
Torre aired a 2012 news headline by Syracuse.com that said: “Is Jeremy Lin Dating Kim Kardashian? ‘Linsanity’ Romance Rumors Fly.”
Lin — who is a guest analyst with ESPN for the 2026 NBA Finals between the Knicks and the Spurs — did not directly address the dating buzz.
Torre also showed a 2012 interview with former ESPN host Rachel Nichols, who asked Lin what the weirdest paparazzi moment he had during “Linsanity.”
The cast of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” in February 2012. E! Entertainment
“The stuff about me dating Kim Kardashian, I have no idea where that came from,” Lin said at the time, adding that he didn’t think he was her type.
Lin also turned down the cover of GQ magazine at the time.
“I just want to make sure that I’m not doing a disservice to my team by milking all of the attention because at the end of the day that’s not what I love. I love playing basketball,” Lin told Nichols.
Kim Kardashian during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on June 7, 2026 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. WireImage
Kardashian began dating her ex-husband, rapper Kanye West, in the spring of 2012. She married then Nets player Kris Humphries in 2011 for 72 days.
The Skims founder and West settled their divorce in 2022, and she is currently dating Formula One star, Lewis Hamilton.
Lin, who announced his retirement from professional basketball in an Instagram post last August, revealed in 2023 that he and his partner married “a couple years ago.”
They welcomed a son in 2024.
Knicks guard Jeremy Lin drives down court during the first half against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden on on March 20, 2012. Anthony J. Causi
Lin had stints with the Warriors, Rockets, Lakers, Hornets, Nets, Hawks and Raptors after going undrafted out of Harvard.
He was part of the 2019 Raptors team that won the franchise’s first championship.
Lin later went on to play for the Beijing Ducks.
He most recently played for the New Taipei Kings of the P. League+ in Taiwan, alongside his brother Joseph Lin.
Apr 10, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic (50) on the mound during the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Kris Bubic has been a hot topic of conversation lately. Bob Nightengale reported that the Athletics were interested in the Royals’ pitcher. It’s difficult to know what a reasonable asking price for Bubic might be, but one marker might be the Guardians trade of an injured Shane Bieber last year. They managed to get back Khal Stephen, who was the Blue Jays’ fifth-best prospect at the time of the trade. Stephen is now considered the Guardian’s sixth-best prospect and has a 3.44 ERA, though only an 11.1% K-BB% in AA as a 23-year-old.
That would probably be the best possible outcome for the Royals, though Bubic figures to need to be healthy if KC makes a trade; he doesn’t have the history of excellence that Bieber has.
The Royals, of course, might not ultimately even be sellers. They’ve won 5 of their last 6 and 6 of their last 8 to put themselves only 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot in a messy, messy American League. But if they are sellers, Bubic doesn’t figure to be the only starting pitcher on the staff to get some attention. Per an article on Bleacher Report, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha are likely getting some attention, too.
The Trade: Kansas City Royals send RHP Seth Lugo and RHP Michael Wacha to the Chicago Cubs for IF Jefferson Rojas, OF Kevin Alcántara and RHP Jaxon Wiggins
If the Royals could get better prospects for Lugo and Wacha, perhaps they’d be better off extending Bubic. His injury history should drive the price down some. Perhaps even to the point where if he continues to be unable to hold up in the rotation, the team would be able to move him to the bullpen without feeling like they were overpaying. They’d certainly have the money on hand to keep Bubic if they dumped Lugo’s and Wacha’s salaries.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 04: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves stands on the mound during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Truist Park on June 4, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Chris Sale’s former team road tour continues and concludes this series as he’s set to take the mound at Rate Field against the Chicago White Sox. It goes without saying, and he probably already thinks this way as an ace, but going six innings / giving some length tonight would be ideal after last night’s extra-innings heartbreaker. We’ve been so wowed by the aggressive bullpen management to date, but the downsides of it appeared yesterday after the team was hamstrung by Grant Holmes’ early exit and the desire for more rest for the high-leverage relievers. In theory, the arms Walt Weiss wanted to stay away from yesterday are rested, so all should be in play tonight except for Dylan Dodd and Raisel Iglesias. ICYMI, Carlos Carrasco (DFA) and Tyler Kinley (IL , right elbow inflammation) are out, JR Ritchie and James Karinchak are in.
Sale (8-4, 2.23 ERA) was the losing pitcher last week on Thursday, where the Braves failed to complete a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays in their single loss of the homestand. But the 7-2 score is deceptive – Sale was charged with three earned runs in his 5.2 innings of work. Sale exited, the bullpen threw up zeroes in the sixth, seventh, and eighth, and the bats got us within one before Things Happened. It was a weird one. Sale was throwing as hard as ever, extra-rested as he was, but he gave up ten hits for the first time since 2021. There’s nothing more frustrating than death by a thousand soft singles. Something to keep an eye on: this is Sale’s first outing pitching on regular rest since the Braves have started building in those extra days starting in April. His record against his original team is 2-2 with a 2.92 ERA.
Only two White Sox have faced Chris Sale before: Randal Grichuk is 6-for-27 in his career against Sale with two homers and a .781 OPS. Drew Romo has 3 at-bats with a strikeout. But as we saw last night, this White Sox lineup is unfortunately very fun and very legit.
As of this posting (~2:30 pm ET), the White Sox have yet to confirm their starting pitcher. Likely taking the ball for Chicago will be the righty Davis Martin (8-2, 2.61 ERA), who’s outperforming an xERA of 3.65. He throws a six-pitch mix, relying on a four-seamer 26.4% of the time, followed by the sinker and changeup in almost equal measure with a slider, cutter, and curveball in there as well. Only three Braves have seen Martin with very limited data. Mike Yastrzemski is 2-for-4 with a double and a walk, Jorge Mateo 1-for-1 with a homer, and Ha-Seong Kim is 0-for-2. We will likely see a lineup shakeup anyway to accommodate for the day-to-day status of Ronald Acuña Jr. (left hamstring tightness). But in whatever configuration, let’s hope this is the version of the Braves that gives Chris Sale run support. The Braves were meant to feast off of Fedde last night, which didn’t come to pass – I’m inviting anyone else not named Matt Olson to launch multiple homers out of Rate Field, please and thank you.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 09: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rayni Shiring/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
What to make of a starting pitcher with more wins than earned runs allowed in June? A day following seeing Eric Lauer masterfully navigate a lineup incredibly susceptible to left-handed pitching, Shohei Ohtani makes his 11th start of what’s currently a season defined by his otherworldly pitching accomplishments, with six wins and five earned runs allowed in 61 innings.
While the Pirates lineup carries stark splits, featuring a 112 wRC+ against right-handers that goes down to 88 against southpaws, Ohtani’s dominance knows no limits, going through opposing lineups like a hot knife through butter. After shockingly—in large part thanks to the offense’s shortcomings—losing back-to-back games between the end of April and the beginning of May, Ohtani puts to the test a streak of four wins, allowing all of one run in this period.
Despite this winning streak, one could argue for the similarities between Ohtani and Paul Skenes as starters let down by their offenses when you consider the respective qualities of these teams. Following last night’s Dodgers win, the Pirates are now 6-8 when Skenes takes the mound, absurd numbers for a team that has improved to hover around .500 in what’s an insanely competitive NL Central. For Ohtani, those four straight wins have carried the Dodgers into a solid but unspectacular 6-4 record in Ohtani starts. There is nothing wrong with a .600 record, far from it, but to contemplate that the reigning champs have had this many losses in Ohtani starts when he’s been untouchable is still a bit of a surprise.
Kirsty Coventry: IOC will have taskforce for any issues
Referee Omar Artan refused entry by US officials
The International Olympic Committee insists it is “confident” that the LA Games in 2028 will not face the same immigration issues that have marred the buildup to the World Cup – including Africa’s top referee, Omar Artan, from Somalia being refused entry by US officials.
Despite Fifa’s close relationship with the Trump administration, it was also unable to stop Iran being moved from a training camp in Arizona to Mexico and some of its officials being denied entry visas.
The St. Louis Blues tried several players in their bottom six last season, especially on their fourth line, but the feeling was that no one truly locked down a role.
Heading into the 2026 off-season, finding players who can solidify that fourth line is a must, and a new report from The Athletic indicates that the player could come from within the organization.
According to The Athletic’s Jim Rutherford, he was told there is a “strong chance” the Blues will sign Dillon Dube to an NHL deal this off-season to play down the middle of the ice. The 27-year-old was signed to a professional tryout in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds, where he excelled.
Dube played as the first-line center for the Thunderbirds this season, posting 20 goals and 37 points in 46 games. He then added five goals and eight points in 12 post-season games.
The fourth line was a glaring weakness for the Blues this season, as Oskar Sundqvist, Alexey Toropchenko, Nathan Walker, and Jack Finley never truly emerged as must-play players.
If Dube can join the lineup and bring speed, physicality and chip in offensively when needed, there is a role for him to earn and lock down.
Although Dube hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2023-24 season, he was a second-round pick (56th overall) of the Calgary Flames in 2016. In his NHL career, Dube has posted 57 goals and 127 points in 325 games across six seasons.
While no contract has been finalized, and this is the first we are hearing of news involving Dube, this is a move that works for both sides. The Blues shore up their fourth-line center role with a player who plays a responsible game, and Dube receives the opportunity to play in the NHL again for the first time since the Team Canada world juniors sexual assault case.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we take a look at Deandre Ayton.
Deandre Ayton was easily considered the Lakers’ most intriguing signing last offseason. It was a bold move by Rob Pelinka to gamble on the center who had developed a notorious reputation for himself over the last few years. Pelinka and Luka Dončić — who recruited Ayton as well over the summer — felt that the big man was the missing piece in the Lakers’ rotation.
Coming into this season, there was a lot of pressure on Ayton to do well. That’s because his previous stints with the Suns and Blazers didn’t end in the best way possible and he hadn’t played more than 67 games since the 2022-2023 season. There was also a clear decrease in his production over the last two years, so the concerns as to why the Lakers signed him were valid.
But in fairness to the first overall pick in the 2018 draft, his first season with the Lakers turned out better than expected. Ayton played 72 games in the regular season, which was a career-high for him. He averaged 12.5 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block per game on 67.1% shooting and had his fair share of memorable games. He was reliable for most of the season but there were also times when he underperformed and was benched for it.
Ultimately, the 27-year-old veteran lived up to the expectations set for him, but there’s no certainty as to whether or not that’s enough to make him the Lakers’ starting center for years to come.
How did he play?
Ayton’s performance in the playoffs this season pretty much sums up his time as a Laker: Outstanding in the first round versus the Rockets and then disappointing en route to getting swept by the Thunder. Against Houston, he averaged 11.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and even outplayed Alperen Şengün, but then he tallied just 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game against OKC.
While DA’s performance in the second round could’ve been better, what he proved in the regular season was that he definitely still has a place in this league. Although there were times when he made it known that he wasn’t thrilled with his role, the big man was still key in the team’s success this year. He found a way to fit alongside Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves by being a serviceable big man for most of those games.
Ayton’s role was simple: Be the team’s fourth scoring option while being a high-impact big in the paint. He isn’t a high-flying center like Hayes nor a bruiser. He had his own game, which was more post- and mid-range-oriented.
There were nights when Ayton just didn’t have the motor, which was why JJ Redick opted to play Jaxson Hayes over him. But that didn’t affect the relationship between the player and coach as the former was always vocal about how much of an honor it was to be coached by Redick and his staff. Redick also commended Ayton’s ability to adjust to his system so it seemed like they were often on the same page.
What is the contract situation moving forward?
Last summer, Ayton signed a two-year contract worth $16 million with a player option for the second season. So technically, he’s still under contract with the Lakers and the decision to stay will ultimately be his.
Should he be back?
If Ayton is still willing to buy into Redick’s system and the role that they want for him, then there’s certainly a place for him. His underwhelming performance in the second round series against the Thunder shouldn’t define who he is as a player. The Lakers, by now, know his strengths and weaknesses, which is why there’s no definite plan as to whether or not he’s going to remain as the team’s starting center next season.
But if DA feels that he deserves more than his current salary and wants the All-Star treatment in terms of priority on the rotation and touches, then perhaps he’d be better off on another team.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors at Capital One Arena on March 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Washington Wizards guard Trae Young has a decision to make.
The 27-year-old has a June 23 deadline to exercise his $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season, which is considered by many as an unlikely move.
Here are the options Young and the Wizards have if he declines his option:
What an extension looks like
If Young opts out, which multiple reports expect, he has until June 30 to sign an extension with Washington that holds a maximum value of three years and $156 million.
While a three-year extension makes sense, it will likely be for less money, with multiple reports projecting a $120 million deal that takes him through the 2028-29 campaign.
Wizards general manager Will Dawkins has extended two players during his tenure, both of which were rookie-scale extensions. He gave Deni Avdija $55 million and Corey Kispert $54 million over four years.
Both extensions were descending value, which means the cap hit started higher and ended lower than the contract’s average annual value (AAV). Considering Dawkins’ history, a potential Young extension would likely follow a similar structure.
Here’s what that cap hit would look like if Young signs a three-year, $120 million extension at descending value, as noted in an episode of the Third Apron podcast with Yossi Gozlan.
2026-27: $43,478,261
2027-28: $40,000,000
2028-29: $36,521,739
For reference, the Toronto Raptors gave Brandon Ingram a three-year, $120 million extension almost immediately after they acquired him via trade last season. After sitting the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign, Ingram averaged 21.5 points as he led Toronto to the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference this season.
Young wants to be a Wizard
The Wizards acquired Young in a January trade that sent CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Atlanta Hawks.
On a recent podcast appearance on “The Pivot,” Young made clear his desire to get dealt to Washington — a place he believes is on the verge of something special.
“I wanted to go [to Washington]. It’s not like [Atlanta] just shipped me there. That wasn’t the case,” Young said. “… I know our team is gonna be ready. We have young guys that have been through the rebuilding stage. They went through a lot of losing the last few years and they’re tired of losing. I want to be there with them when we’re winning.”
Trae Young said he wanted to come to the Wizards when he discovered he would be traded last season.
“I wanted to go [to Washington]. It’s not like [Atlanta] just shipped me to Washington. Because that wasn’t the case.”
Young said he plans to bring several Wizards teammates to train with him this summer, which serves as another indicator of his offseason plans to remain in Washington.
A chip on his shoulder
It’s no secret many sold their Young stock after he played just 15 games last year amid a slew of injuries, which included a quad contusion, MCL sprain and back irritation.
But that’s only fueled Young’s motivation to prove those doubters wrong.
“This is the most slept on I’ve been in my whole life … Imagine the Wizards as the No. 1 team in the East next year. What [are] people gonna be saying?” Young said. “I haven’t played much in a year and a half, but trust me, I’m just entering my prime.”
Trae Young on doubters:
“This is the most slept on I’ve been in my whole life … Imagine the Wizards as the No. 1 team in the East next year. What people gonna be saying?
“I haven’t played much in a year and a half, but trust me, I’m just entering my prime.”
The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (1) shoves Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) in the back of the head during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8, 2026. ABC
“Don’t not for one second think that didn’t matter. Oh, that mattered.”
O’Connell then asked what Green would have done in that situation.
“I’m probably gonna get thrown out right there, and it may cost us Game 3,” Green said.
Draymond Green was critical of the Knicks reaction to Jalen Brunson getting shoved. Getty Images
Green is known for his controversial style that has made one of the NBA’s biggest villains with the Warriors. But the edge he brings to the team has played a significant role in the team’s recent dynasty led by Steph Curry.
Jay Williams on ESPN also agrees that the Knicks’ response was not strong enough and expects that to change during Game 4 on Wednesday night.
“There is a certain aspect of your team when our star player gets mushed like that and gets sonned like that. You have to respond, and you are going to respond with physicality,” Williams said. “It can’t just come from [Jose] Alvarado; it has to come from Karl-Anthony Towns, OG [Anunoby], it has to come from everybody. Look for multiple shots to be delivered to Wemby (Wednesday night) in Game 4.”
“I think that’s not basketball,” the backup guard said. “That’s something that they gotta look at. But he got away with one. That’ll be the last one.”
NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA reviewed Wembanyama’s push on Tuesday night. If it were deemed a Flagrant 2 foul, he would have been suspended for one game due to accumulating four flagrant points.
However, the NBA decided not to do so after missing the call altogether during the game.
Former NBA star Carmelo Anthony is mistakenly trending.
There seems to be confusion between the 42-year-old Anthony and the young Texas native Karmelo Anthony, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison by a Texas jury on Tuesday, June 9, following a 2025 fatal stabbing of a fellow student.
This isn't a case of that Spider-Man meme. The two are not related and have zero connection to each other.
The one we call "Melo" is a 10-time All-Star, a six-time All-NBA team member, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the NBA's 75 greatest players of all time. Now, he serves as a lead studio analyst for NBC Sports and Peacock during their national NBA broadcasts alongside Maria Taylor, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter.
Karmelo Anthony was convicted of killing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf over a disagreement about Anthony's presence under a team tent at a track meet at Memorial High School in Frisco, Texas. The trial drew national attention that raised questions of race and school safety in Frisco.
But there could be a few baseless conclusions as to why people connected the young man to a future Basketball Hall of Famer. The obvious is the name. Not just the last name, but the first name is phonetically the same.
The former NCAA champion also has a son that plays at Syracuse whose name is Kiyan Anthony. But make no mistake, Karmelo and Kiyan aren't siblings. Carmelo only has two children: Kiyan and a daughter named Genesis.
BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Jameer Nelson looks on before the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the Sixers’ search for a new president of basketball operations zeroed in on Mike Gansey, a corresponding promotion for Jameer Nelson became increasingly likely. Nelson slowly rose through the organization, starting with the G League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats. Nelson became a lot more involved with the big club last season. He was on the road a lot, interacting with players and coaches, according to Bob Myers.
It’s likely the path the organization originally had in mind for Elton Brand before a collars related incident accelerated that timeline. When Gansey was hired, he said that a promotion for Nelson was a “sticking point” for him.
“It’s actually a surreal moment,” Nelson told reporters. “When I started this journey six years ago, I had no idea where it would take me.”
Nelson admitted that when he started he thought he would become a coach, not an executive, but discovered that working in the front office is a type of coaching in its own way. As he’s risen up the ranks from scout to executive VP, Nelson has had plenty of offers from plenty of places along the way.
Having the opportunity to do the job in the place he is from for the team he grew up rooting for was an opportunity Nelson was willing to wait for. He admitted that the fact that he’s able to do so now gives him goosebumps.
“Things that matter here most to me is I’m home, right? My family’s here,” he said. “I’m a Sixers fan. My favorite basketball player of all time is Charles Barkley, and [Allen] Iverson and Kobe [Bryant]. So people from this area or played in this area, I feel like some responsibility to help this organization move forward.”
Nelson’s ties to the region came up quite a bit in his introductory press conference. His most From Here trait was the reminder he gave that he didn’t grow up within the city limits.
“Growing up in Chester — everybody keeps saying Philly, I’m Chester native,” Nelson said, “but Philadelphia has adopted me.”
Getting a higher up in the organization that is from the area was a clear priority in this hiring process.
“I think it’s important that somebody from this community is in a leadership role with this team,” Myers said later that day. “Not being from here, you recognize the importance of connecting to the community and the fanbase and Jameer has that.”
A follow-up was thrown at Myers as to whether the organization felt there was a disconnect with the community that the Sixers organization felt the need to correct. While Myers didn’t say that was the case, it’s definitely criticism that has been leveled at an ownership group that owns two teams in rival cities. Much like Josh Harris’ answer to a luxury tax question a month ago, it’s something the new leadership group wanted to address.
“This is a uniquely spirited community and the history of the organization, ” Myers said. “ I think having someone, just that knows that and grew up here and feels that and the responsibility that comes with that. I just love that Jameer is in the place that he’s in and he deserves it, he’s earned it, and bottom line, I think he’s going to help us win.”
Between the local roots they’re trying to cultivate with Nelson and the fact that he, Gansey and Myers all played the game at at least the collegiate level, the Sixers have made sure that their new front office has a different presentation than the previous regime. Gansey and Nelson literally go back to their days playing against each other in the Atlantic-10.
“I was 0-2 against him when I was at St. Bonaventure’s and he was at St. Joe’s,” Gansey said at his introduction, “but I think I got the win now because I got him on my side.”
So with less than a month left before their big first test in the draft, the Sixers have their new front office in place. Now it’s time to see just how much they’ll be able to reconnect this team to the community.
I don’t have to tell you that the Cubs have been just awful over their last 28 games, going 7-21 after a 27-12 start.
That leaves them just one game over .500 entering tonight’s contest against the Rockies at Coors Field.
Let’s look at some of the numbers from that great 39-game start, and then the same numbers from the 28-game collapse (and really, it can’t be called anything other than a “collapse” right now.
Over the first 39 games the Cubs batted .258/.354/.429. They scored 215 runs (5.51 per game) and had 62 doubles and 51 home runs (1.31 homers per game). They drew 185 walks (4.74 per game) and struck out 308 times (7.92 per game).
In the last 28 games, the Cubs batted .213/.304 /.334. They scored 98 runs (3.5 per game) and had 39 doubles and 25 home runs (0.89 homers per game). They drew 111 walks (3.96 per game) and struck out 254 times (9.07 per game).
So as you can see, the Cubs got significantly worse in every offensive category over the last 28 games. They’re still walking at a decent rate, but even that is down from earlier in the year.
But it’s not just the bats that have gone silent. The pitching staff has just gotten pounded.
Over the first 39 games, Cubs pitchers had a 3.75 ERA and 1.189 WHIP, with a 4.15 FIP. They allowed 47 home runs (1.21 per game), issued 123 walks (3.15 per game) and struck out 323 (8.28 per game).
In the last 28 games, Cubs pitchers posted a 5.17 ERA and 1.325 WHIP, with a 5.23 FIP. They allowed 51 home runs (1.82 per game), issued 80 walks (2.86 per game) and struck out 208 (7.43 per game).
The home run number is ghastly. It’s gone up by more than .60 per game, and the 98 homers the Cubs have allowed this season are the most of any team (four more than the Nationals).
So it’s basically everything. Over the 28 game slump the Cubs have been outscored 148-91. That’s an average of 5.29 runs allowed and 3.25 runs scoreed per game — so they’ve been outscored by an average of two runs per game for an entire month, basically. They’ve been shut out four times and scored one or two runs nine other times, winning just one of those nine (2-o over the Braves May 14, largely thanks to great pitching by Ben Brown).
What is the answer to this?
Well, if I knew that, I’d certainly tell Jed Hoyer and Craig Counsell.
It’s mystifying how an entire team can slump this badly, both offensively and the pitching staff. Some of the pitching issues are injury-related, but not all of them. What’s happened to Shōta Imanaga, for example, is almost inexplicable. How does a guy pitch lights-out for nine starts (2.32 ERA, just five home runs in 54 innings), then just get absolutely hammered by opposing hitters (four starts, 10.80 ERA, 12 home runs in 21.1 innings)?
I have to believe these guys are all better than they’ve shown over the last 28 games. Usually, when a team’s hitters or pitchers go into slumps, they have other guys on the team to carry them. The only Cubs hitters who have hit reasonably well over the last month are Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch. The only pitchers who have been solid for that time are Ben Brown and Jacob Webb.
Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) celebrates a three run home run against Minnesota Twins with second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) and shortstop Zach McKinstry (39) at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
You’d be excused if you avoided watching the Detroit Tigers in the month of May, as injuries and underperformance led to a 6-22 record for the month. If that was you, you might’ve missed Dillon Dingler’s early-season breakout. However, Dingler’s rampage through early June makes one thing clear: Detroit has a top catcher on their roster right now, likely the favorite to start the All Star Game for the American League.
Coming off a strong 2025 season, Dingler seemed like a solid starting catcher to begin with. He paired Gold Glove defense with a .752 OPS, basically league average. Considering the league-average catcher’s OPS was just .696, Dillon repeating 2025 would have made him an under the radar top-5 to 7 catcher in the league.
Instead, Dingler has improved across the board. The 27-year-old backstop has always taken an aggressive approach at the plate, looking to do damage and hit his way on base, which led to a 4.9% walk rate last year. That worked because he hit the ball hard anyways, but it’s a major limitation to his ceiling; there just aren’t many great hitters with walk rates around 5% anymore. Those that do need either outlier raw power or contact skills to stand out; Dingler had neither, so a bit more patience was probably his best path forward. So far, so good; he’s spiked his walk rate up to 8.9%, basically league average, to create a far more stable offensive approach.
However, if all Dingler did was walk more, he wouldn’t be a prime contender to start the All Star Game as the American League’s catcher; that’s only the first step. He also slashed his strikeout rate from 23.5% to a better-than-average 19.4%, and more importantly, has 16 home runs on June 10th compared to the 13 home runs he mashed in all of 2025.
This is what controlling the zone really looks like. Take your walks, lay off pitches you can’t handle, and punish the baseball if a pitcher throws you something he shouldn’t have. Despite some rough BABIP luck, Dingler’s hiked his OPS all the way up to .857 this year, 3rd among all catchers.
In terms of pitch type success, the big change for Dingler this season is that rather than chasing breaking balls, he’s forcing pitchers in need of an answer against him, because you don’t want to pump fastballs with abandon to Dillon Dingler, to try and spot their breaking stuff for strikes. That’s now a particularly dangerous game, as Dingler holds a .508 weighted onbase average (wOBA) against breaking balls this year. Last year his mark against breaking stuff was a .263 wOBA. The weakness pitchers could most exploit in 2024-2025 is now a strength. There’s even a minor argument that Dingler has outperformed his results. His overall wOBA on the season stands at a whopping .371 mark, but his expected wOBA based on contact and batted ball data is .407.
How’s he doing this, then? On the plate discipline side, it’s pretty simple. Dingler’s seeing fewer pitches in the strike zone, he’s swinging at about the same rates as always, and he’s whiffing a little less than he did last year. That means taking more pitches out of the zone and fewer swinging strikes, hence the improved walk and strikeout rates. Most likely, pitchers saw he was pretty aggressive last year, and haven’t adjusted back to his slightly more patient approach. Of course, what he’s doing when they put something in the zone could also be scaring them back out of it.
To put it simply, Dingler is crushing pitches in the zone with two basic tenets: making a lot of contact and hitting balls really hard in the air. In both respects he has improved from 2025, and combined, those are pretty big changes on the stat sheet. Seriously. He’s 15th in biggest gainers in contact rate and 19th in biggest gainers in barrel rate. Pulling that off at the same time is the simplest way to level up as a hitter. Why wouldn’t you want to make more contact while also making better contact?
For most hitters, they have to pick one or the other. The guys who do both are the names you know from teams you don’t follow. Dingler’s special, however, because he’s doing this as a Gold Glove caliber catcher. And yeah, he’s still one of the best defensive backstops in the game.
As of today, Dingler is tied for 5th in all of baseball in Fielding Run Value at 8, BasaballSavant’s best attempt at a catch-all fielding statistic. This incorporates Outs Above Average, Arm Value, and Catcher Throwing, Blocking and Framing, from all positions. It’s worth mentioning that FRV is a counting stat, and Dingler only plays about 70% of all Detroit’s innings, because he’s a catcher. Only Adley Rutschmaan, another excellent catcher, has 8 or more FRV in fewer innings than Dingler. And despite nearly 100 fewer innings than most other top defenders, he’s 5th, ahead of names like Fernando Tatis Jr and Andres Gimenez.
As icing on the cake, Dingler is also arguably the best catcher at challenging pitches, which is a totally awesome perk that isn’t (yet) included in FRV. Seriously, we went over this about a month ago, and he was top-5 then. Now, Dingler leads the league in ‘net overturns more than expected’ based on the opportunities he gets to challenge. He’s also 3rd in overturn rate among catchers with at least 40 challenges, at 70%. Add it to the long list of things Dingler is excellent at.
Basically, if you wanted to build a good position player in a lab, it would be what Dingler’s doing early in 2026. Start with an excellent up-the-middle defender, then make him coincidentally one of the best at handling the new ABS system for a smidgen of extra value. Then, double that player’s previous walk rates and home run rates, and for good measure, reduce his strikeout rate, all at the same time, so he’s now making more contact that’s also better. Put all that together, and you get Dillon Dingler, tied for 3rd in all of baseball in fWAR with Corbin Carrol. The guys he’s behind? Bobby Witt Jr. and Yordan Alvarez. You’ve heard of them, I’m sure.
Will he keep it up? Maybe. So many of his process stats have leveled up, it feels like most of the gains are legitimate so far. Maybe he breaks down in the second half as his catcher’s workload stacks up on him. Or maybe he just… keeps going. The defense is stable – he’s been among the best defensive catchers in baseball for almost 2 years now – and walks don’t typically dry up all of a sudden. Catchers are notoriously slow to develop at the dish, so peaking at age 27 really isn’t that big of a surprise. At this pace, the All-Star Game should be just the next step in an outstanding season full of accolades.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 09: Manager Skip Schumaker watches from the dugout prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on June 09, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rangers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
We have a Rangers Reacts question for you today, and it is about new Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker, who took over from Bruce Bochy this offseason.
What we want to know is, what grade would you give on the job Schumaker has done so far this season?
DENVER, CO - JUNE 9: A detail of the debut patch worn by Cole Carrigg #16 of the Colorado Rockies in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on June 9, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Carrigg is making his Major League debut. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockies fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
After weeks of folks begging for a prospect promotion, it finally happened yesterday — the Rockies called up Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP), who not only made his MLB debut, but made a statement when he smacked a triple for his first MLB hit.
With the triple, he became the second Rockie ever to record a triple as their first MLB hit (Ryan Ritter was the first just one season before. However, he also drew a walk in his next plate appearance, becoming the first Rockie to record a triple and and walk in their first MLB game.
So now that the gates have opened, more promotions may be on the horizon — either in the near term or later in the season. President of baseball operations Paul DePodesta has said players need to show they are ready, and an opening on the roster must present itself before a prospects is promoted.
With that in mind, which prospect do you think will be next?
