Sports News – Page 960 – Worldwide Sports News

June 22, 2026

Orioles-Angels series preview: A golden opportunity

Jun 8, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Taylor Ward (3) looks on during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

The Orioles are flying high after taking two out of three from a talented Dodgers team. They’ll look to carry the momentum into a three-game set against the last place Angels tonight. On paper, this is a golden opportunity to take care of business and climb toward the elusive .500 mark. That being said, I can’t blame anyone for fearing that Baltimore will play down to its competition over the next three days.

The Orioles traded close games with the Dodgers before securing a convincing win on Sunday. The backend of the bullpen looks a little dicey with Ryan Helsley working his way back from injury, but the Orioles should be able to win any game if the offense swings it like it did yesterday.

The Angels will enter the series firmly in last place of the AL West at 32-47. However, they’re capable of taking a series at any given point. The Halos topped the Athletics 9-7 yesterday after securing a 7-0 win the day prior.

Mike Trout had been healthy and playing like one of the best players in baseball again, but the Angels placed him on the injured list with a hamstring strain last week. Former Oriole Grayson Rodriguez is also on the injured list with low-back inflammation.

Monday’s game will mark a return to The Big A for Taylor Ward. Ward spent his entire career with the Angels before getting shipped to Baltimore over the offseason.

Game 1: Monday, June 22, 9:38 pm

RHP Kyle Bradish (4-7, 4.00 ERA) vs. LHP Sam Aldegheri (2-2, 4.50 ERA)

Kyle Bradish can lower his ERA into the threes with a successful start tonight. The righty suffered some ups and downs early in the season, but he’s been the pitcher the Orioles need him to be of late. Bradish pitched into the eighth inning his last time out against Seattle. Another deep start could go a long way in setting up Baltimore for success in this series.

Sam Aldegheri is a 24-year-old lefty that was born in Verona, Italy. He’s only started in three of his six appearances this year and has yet to complete six innings, so the Orioles should find their way into an LA bullpen that ranks 25th in the league with a 4.65 ERA.

Game 2: Tuesday, June 23, 9:38 pm

RHP Shane Baz (4-7, 4.04 ERA) vs. TBD

Bradish and Tuesday’s starter Shane Baz will enter the series with nearly identical records and ERAs. Baz took the loss his last time out despite holding Seattle to three earned runs over seven innings. The former Ray has completed six innings or more in seven starts already this season, and he should have another opportunity to work deep into the game on Tuesday.

The Angels have yet to announce starters for Tuesday or Wednesdays games.

Game 3: Wednesday, June 24, 4:07 pm

RHP Trey Gibson (1-2, 5.81 ERA) vs. TBD

Trey Gibson will get at least one more opportunity to start for the Orioles this week. Both Dean Kremer and Cade Povich kicked off rehab assignments over the weekend, but it remains to be seen how long Kremer will need before rejoining the rotation. Gibson has done a decent job as a rookie still attempting to figure things out at the big league level. He coughed up a few early runs his last time out against the Dodgers but found a way to settle and still give the O’s five innings of three-run ball.

As the MASN booth loves to point out, the moment rarely looks too big for Gibson. The Orioles believe he’s a guy that can help this team for years to come, and he’ll have another opportunity to display his talent against a struggling Angels team on Wednesday.

June 22, 2026

Red Sox Minor Lines: Yes, Franklin Arias hit another home run

SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Franklin Arias #65 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Worcester: W, 12-3 (BOX SCORE)

In the finale with the IronPigs (Phillies AAA), the WooSox had six batters with a multi-hit day. The scoring started early and often; Vinny Capra, who hit his first home run of June but is hitting .288 on the month, led it off, but by the third it was 5-0 in favor of the WooSox. Lehigh Valley scored three runs on Jack Anderson in the fourth to give the home team a run for their money but then the WooSox bullpen allowed just two baserunners for the duration of the game while also just having two more strikeouts (for a total of six), inducing those balls in play to create outs. Also humorous is that the WooSox, in their display of offensive output, had three players who have suited up at catcher for the team have seven total hits. This includes Jason Delay, the former Pirate who had a 6-RBI day.

Is this catching depth of note considering Carlos Narvaez’ struggles after a strong 2025? Sure, if you let it – but Delay and Thaiss have had their shortcomings offensively in their limited time as Major Leaguers, and as addressed many times in these Minor Lines, Nathan Hickey profiles more as a first baseman and is also having a tough year making content at the plate. For now, the Red Sox may let the current situation ride and consider Gaspers’ versatility an advantage (even though many, myself included, consider the number of platoon guys given everyday roles an indictment on roster construction. It also doesn’t help that Mickey Gasper can’t pick a runner off.) But, hey, I will never sneeze at a 9-run win!

Portland: L, 4-6 (BOX SCORE)

The Sea Dogs made two celebratory posts after the series finale against the Patriots (Yankees AA) and they were both reasons to be excited, but ultimately the thing folks who attended will remember is Eduardo Rivera giving up the go-ahead home run go in the top of the eighth inning after the rest of the pitching staff kept Somerset at bay for most of the night. Despite this pitching blunder, one of those things to celebrate was Anthony Eyanson having another awesome start, though he was pulled after just four scoreless innings and 53 pitches.

Another outlier in an otherwise quiet afternoon offensively for Portland was Franklin Arias, who still holds the leadoff spot in the lineup, going 3-for-5 and opening the scoring by hitting his 14th home run of 2026. Despite the humor of this article’s headline, Arias actually hasn’t gone yard in about two weeks and after his ballistic start has cooled down alongside Brooks Brannon, each of whom have slumbered below an 1.000 OPS. The horror! Arias wasn’t alone in hitting balls in the stands yesterday. Abhram Liendo, hitting out of the 9-hole, is slugging .600 in June and hit his fourth home run of the month in the sixth inning, and shortly after came the collapse.

Greenville: L, 6-7 (BOX SCORE)

Jersey Shore (Phillies High-A) ended up walking off Greenville. I don’t think Marcus Phillips, despite having the strikeout ability, is a starting pitcher; he allowed seven hits and four runs and didn’t make it out of the fifth, something that’s happened quite a bit in 2026. But the Drive stayed in the game thanks to also having one batter manage three of their seven knocks. Yoelin Cespedes hit his 11th home run of the season and was preceded by Isaiah Jackson doing the same in the previous inning, but the lead never grew so large that the Red Claws couldn’t come, uh, clawing back.

Salem: L, 0-3 (BOX SCORE)

The RidgeYaks have started another losing streak against the Nationals and fall to 3-14 this month despite some commendable pitching, albeit giving up eight walks yesterday. Salem actually lost this one by giving up a home run on the second pitch of the game, but they didn’t know it yet. What followed was the team getting just three hits, all singles, and stranding nine.

June 22, 2026

Florida Panthers all-in trade for Brady Tkachuk is bold, but it might not be smart

OTTAWA, ON - APRIL 25: Brady Tkachuk #7 of the Ottawa Senators takes a break during a stoppage in play against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 25, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Florida Panthers are a much scarier team than they were a week ago. The NHL was stunned on Sunday by the news that the Ottawa Senators were trading Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers in exchange for three first-round picks (two in 2026 and one in 2027), as well as a second-round pick in the upcoming draft. It’s a mammoth deal that unites the Tkachuk brothers on one team, gives Florida the scariest three-line offensive depth chart in the NHL, and seemingly puts them on a collision course with another Stanley Cup run. The near-universal reaction to the trade was some variation of “they’re going to be unbeatable for years.

Just one problem: the Stanley Cup isn’t won on paper. In making the deal, we have a Panthers team that is accentuating its strengths, but also opening up its weaknesses even further. They are now a team that is wholly reliant on a handful of superstars to get the job done, killing what little depth they had in the process. As easy as it is to opine that Florida is now “unbeatable,” they have some significant issues holding them back.

No. 1: What is this team doing in goal?

There is a mammoth question mark in net for Florida as they prepare for the 2026-27 season. Veteran legend Sergei Bobrovsky is coming off a down season, but still remains the best clutch playoff goaltender in the NHL by a significant margin.

The goaltending problem is compounded by the fact that backup Daniil Tarasov is also an unrestricted free agent. If the Panthers try to re-sign him it would be with the understanding that he would become the starter, which means he’s going to want starter money — and that’s an iffy prospect because Tarasov hasn’t neccesarily shown the ability to be “the guy” in net.

That brings us back to Bobrovsky, and any hopes that Florida would get him to take a hometown discount are out the window. Bob is reportedly looking for a multi-year, $42M deal at age 37, wanting something in the $6-7M AAV range is simply impossible for the Panthers, as is any dream of making another trade to somehow land Connor Hellebuyck from the Jets. That’s because …

No. 2: The Panthers have put themselves in a dangerous cap position

Florida was in good shape prior to the Brady Tkachuk trade to be able to make some smart deals and bolster their roster at several positions. Instead, this deal essentially made the Panthers stronger at their best position, without allocating resources to their other needs.

As it stands, the Panthers have $7.5M in open cap space and significant holes they need to patch. The goaltending is a mammoth problem, but so is their back-line depth. This Brady Tkachuk deal could have priced them out of both making a deal for Hellebuyck, as well as reliably retaining A.J. Greer — who will have suitors in the open market. This is compounded by the fact that they have now opened up multiple high-value prospects to being poached through RFA, with teams knowing the Panthers are in a vulnerable cap spot.

Ben Steeves showed enormous AHL promise this season while playing for the Charlotte Checkers. Steeves made his first All-Star Game and registered 45 points in 72 games. The 24-year-old forward figured to be part of the Panthers’ long-term plans, but now he could easily be signed for a mid-level contract that would put him out of range that Florida could match, but not give them great compensation either. The same could happen with Mikulus Hovorka.

If the Panthers want to actually solve their net problem by trading for Hellebuyck, it will require clearing salary. Reports are that the team nixed any discussion of Anton Lundell to the Senators in the Tkachuk deal, which could mean they intend to hold him for a separate trade — but that doesn’t sound great either from a roster perspective. Let’s assume they find a way to get Hellebuyck for Lundell (and something). They will have essentially traded one of the best young forechecking centers in the NHL for Brady Tkachuk, changing their forward dynamic — while getting only slightly better in goal. That seems like a really iffy tactic.

No. 3: … if they’re healthy

The huge caveat to the Panthers’ chances is “if they’re healthy.” It’s a refrain you tend to hear a lot when it comes to the Florida Panthers. They would have won this year “if they were healthy,” they will win for the next four years — “if they can stay healthy.”

Florida can’t stay healthy. This isn’t a genie that can be stuffed back in the lamp. Numerous skaters at numerous positions have established injury concerns, and the physical way the Panthers play isn’t going to make that easier.

Sam Bennett hasn’t played a full regular season in a decade. Matthew Tkachuk is still coming back from surgery. Brad Marchand was hurt in 2025-26, and he’s also 37-years-old. None of these are really issues in isolation, but there are going to be injuries when you go so profoundly all-in on stars while requiring them to play physical, Florida Panthers hockey.

Imagining a world where the Panthers are always healthy just isn’t a reality at this point. Will their injuries be as bad as last season? Probably not, but something will pop up and the depth has never been more thin than it is right now.

The Brady Tkachuk trade is a make-or-break for next season

Florida pushed all its chips to the middle, and they’re going for it. On paper, the roster looks absolutely terrifying, with the Panthers leveraging their winning pedigree and their state’s tax-free status to assemble a unit that nobody else could. The issue is that they have left themselves open on various fronts to see it all go up in smoke.

Brady Tkachuk is a good player, but he’s not his brother. The Panthers made a superstar-level trade for a player who isn’t a superstar. The hope is that Brady will have a Mitch Marner-esque breakout now that he has fresh scenery, but that is wishful thinking. The likelihood is that he will be a very good player for Florida and add to the team’s overall ethos — but it’s difficult to fall head-over-heels in love with the trade, considering what they have lost and will lose because of getting Brady Tkachuk.

Like any all-in deal: If they win the cup next year it’s worth it, anything less will have made this trade a failure.

June 22, 2026

Astros vs Blue Jays Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB Game

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Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is showing signs of a turnaround, and today’s +150 price for the Over on his base prop doesn’t reflect how well he profiles against Houston Astros starter Hunter Brown.

Read on for my Astros vs. Blue Jays predictions and MLB picks for this Monday, June 22 matchup.

Astros vs Blue Jays predictions

Astros vs Blue Jays best bet: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases (+150)

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. profiles extremely well against Hunter Brown. The Houston Astros starter primarily throws a fastball/sinker combination, and Vladdy owns a .373 batting average with a .483 slug rate against those pitches.

Since June 1, his hard-hit rate has risen from 48% to 57% against these pitch types, which points to some extra-base potential.

Additionally, Guerrero Jr. has eclipsed this number in three of his last four games, showing serious signs of a turnaround, which gives me confidence in his market.

I’d play this to +130.

COVERS INTEL:62.5% of Vladdy's extra-base hits have come against fastballs.

Astros vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

Let’s double down on Vladdy and take Under 0.5 strikeouts tonight. He matches up well against Brown and has been chasing fewer pitches lately, resulting in only two Ks in his last eight games — including no strikeouts in four straight.

George Springer is turning a corner with a 1.089 OPS over his last nine games, and profiles well against Brown, who’s primarily a fastball pitcher. Springer owns a .296 xBA over the last three seasons with a .558 xSLG against his two primary pitches.

Astros vs Blue Jays SGP

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Under 0.5 strikeouts
George Springer Over 0.5 hits

img loading="lazy" width="100%" height="null" src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/jaysmlcbp.jpg" alt="Canada’s best price for Jays"

Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.

Astros vs Blue Jays home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+440)

Brown is one of the toughest pitchers to homer against, but if a Toronto Blue Jays player leaves the yard tonight, Kazuma Okamoto’s profile gives him the best chance.

Most of Okamoto‘s team-leading 16 home runs have come off the fastball this season, where Okamoto owns a 63.2% hard-hit rate against the four-seamer.

However, Brown has yet to allow a home run in his three starts this season, and he ranked in the 97th percentile in hard-hit rate in 2025.

So we’ll just make Okamoto’s home run play a quarter unit.

2026 Transparency record

Best bets: 35-39, +0.75 units
SGPs: 14-60, +2.15 units
HR picks: 12-62, +1.8 units

Astros vs Blue Jays odds

Moneyline: Houston +105 | Toronto -125
Run line: Houston +1.5 (-210) | Toronto -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-125) | Under 7 (+105)

Astros vs Blue Jays trend

The Toronto Blue Jays have covered the first five innings (F5) run line in six of their last eight games (+3.60 Units / 36% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Blue Jays.

How to watch Astros vs Blue Jays and game info

Location	Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Date	Monday, 6-22-2026
First pitch	7:07 p.m. ET
TV	SCHN, SN
Astros starting pitcher	Hunter Brown (1-0, 1.10 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcher	Shane Bieber (2025: 4-2, 3.57 ERA)

Astros vs Blue Jays latest injuries

Astros vs Blue Jays weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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June 22, 2026

Giannis Antetokounmpo expected to be traded to Heat or Celtics before 2026 NBA Draft

Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be traded to the Heat or Celtics before the 2026 NBA Draft.

Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be traded to the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics before the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday morning on “Get Up.”

Jaylen Brown would be part of the Celtics deal, according to Charania. The Heat, meanwhile, are ready to part with Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and the No. 13 overall pick in the draft, NBA insider Marc Stein reports.

Antetokounmpo, 31, has been rumored to be on the trade block since the end of the season, with the front office reportedly making the decision to trade the star.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be traded to the Heat or Celtics before the 2026 NBA Draft. Getty Images

For a while, it seemed that the Heat had the inside track for Antetokounmpo, but the Celtics have ramped up the pursuit in the last week.

The Greek Freak would approve a trade to either team and doesn’t have a preference, according to Charania, who adds a third team will not be involved in either trade scenario.

Antetokounmpo has spent his entire career with the Bucks after being drafted in the 2013 NBA draft. He helped the Bucks win the NBA championship in 2021.

A 10-time All-Star and two-time MVP, Antetokounmpo has career averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5 assists while shooting 55.4 percent from the field. He was limited to 36 games this past season in which he averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting 62.4 percent.

The Milwaukee Bucks failed to make the postseason in 2025 after reaching the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons. The team will now hope to build around guards Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr.

June 22, 2026

Giannis trade rumors: 2 teams still in mix after Celtics include Jaylen Brown in offer

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #29 of the Milwaukee Bucks walks on the court during warmups before their game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on March 19, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah.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 Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s time for the Milwaukee Bucks to make a decision in the long-rumored Giannis Antetokounmpo trade sweepstakes. The 2026 NBA Draft is Tuesday night, and if the Bucks want to acquire more picks in this draft, now is the time to trade their franchise player. Bucks ownership has already indicated that Antetokounmpo will be traded this summer if he doesn’t sign a contract extension as he enters the final year of his deal. There’s reportedly only two teams left in the bidding.

ESPN’s Shams Charania said the Bucks will “reach a resolution” on the Giannis trade saga before the draft. Charania said Giannis is ready to be traded, and it currenly looks like it will be a two-team deal rather than a multi-team construction.

There’s strong mutual interest between the Miami Heat and Antetokounmpo. The Heat’s offer has been similar since the Feb. trade deadline, with a package built around Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and multiple first-round picks, including the No. 13 overall selection in the 2026 draft. The Bucks are reportedly lukewarm on taking back Herro, a Milwaukee native, and could re-route him to a third team, with the Detroit Pistons being connected to the scoring guard over the weekend.

The Boston Celtics are the other team in the mix for Antetokounmpo, and they are now reportedly willing to include Jaylen Brown in their trade offer. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that “Brown is on the table, and he could get traded for Giannis in the short-term future.” Watch the full clip here:

"Jaylen Brown is on the table, and Jaylen Brown could get traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo in the short-term future."@WindhorstESPN with the latest on the Bucks possibly trading Giannis Antetokounmpo 🏀 pic.twitter.com/BhGHPdlSDF
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 22, 2026

It remains unclear what else Boston would include in the deal. The Celtics have three tradable first-round picks, starting with the No. 27 pick this year, as well as first rounders in 2031 and 2033. Can Milwaukee get Payton Pritchard in the deal, too?

Giannis’ injury history, age, and contract are all factors in the deal. Antetokounmpo turns 32 years old in December. He’s only played in three playoff games since 2022 because of untimely injuries. He’s likely about to negotiate a max contract extension.

My read on this is that if the Bucks liked the Heat’s offer, they would have taken it already. Does this mean Giannis will be wearing Celtics green next season? Stay tuned. Read our latest 2026 NBA mock draft here for more on this incoming class of rookies.

June 22, 2026

Can Jabari Smith Jr. build on a career season?

Imagine a world where we all had collective amnesia, specifically about the NBA Draft.

Weird world, right? How did that happen? It doesn’t matter. Life is the same as before, only nobody knows where any NBA player got drafted. Please note that this is not a pitch for a Sci-Fi movie.

Consider Jabari Smith Jr. That guy is pretty good, right? He’s not a superstar, but at roughly $24 million per season, anyone would be happy to roster a 6’11” wing who can shoot the three, protect the rim from the weakside, and survive in space defensively. Smith Jr. is pretty good:

He’s just not third-overall pick good.

By now, that’s a moot point – he’s not third-overall pick paid, either. Still, fans want more. Smith Jr. himself seems to want more.

Can he give more?

Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. has something to build on

Let it be said that Smith Jr. responded to his contract extension by having the best season of his career.

In 2025-26, he averaged 15.8 points per game while shooting 36.3% from deep, both career highs (although the latter is a tie). As with virtually every NBA player ever, much of Smith Jr.’s value is tethered to his three-point shooting. Smith Jr. shot exactly 36.3% from deep in his sophomore year as well, but last year he shot a career-high volume (6.3 per game vs 5.0).

Otherwise, little changed about Smith Jr.’s shot profile. In 2025-26, 50.1% of his field goals came from beyond the arc, compared to 48.9% last year. His percentage of attempts in every area was comparable to the previous year. Smith Jr. simply increased his overall field goal attempts.

Some fans would like to see Ime Udoka run more sets that find Smith Jr. in the midrange. He did hit a solid 52.4% of his attempts between three and ten feet this year, although the 42.4% he hit between ten and 16 left something to be desired. Still, Smith Jr. is reliable in that ten-foot area.

It’s somewhat a case of eating your vegetables before you can have your dessert. There’s a world where Smith Jr. middies become a larger staple of (to extend the metaphor) the Rockets’ offensive diet, but it’s more pressing that he continues to build on his three-point shooting.

He’s a…let’s say less than prolific ball-handler. Smith Jr. can get to his spots by virtue of his height, and he’s increased his physicality when looking to create his own shot. Still, life would be easier if defenses were more concerned with his three-pointer.

There’s also the omnipresent reality of the Rockets’ spacing. Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson need the paint. Kevin Durant loves the midrange and is much more effective there. The team’s (presumed) 2026-27 roster won’t be set up to explore Smith Jr.’s midrange mastery.

Perhaps it’s something to explore down the road. For now, the key to success for Smith Jr. in 2026-27 remains behind the three-point line. If he can increase his efficiency on comparable volume, or increase his volume with limited efficiency regression, he’ll earn his keep again.

One more note: I’d like to see Udoka explore lineups with Smith Jr. at the 5 more frequently. I’ve long abandoned my pipe dream of him as a full-time five. Still, he spent 32% of his time there as a sophomore (the same year that he matched that 36.3% from deep, which may be a statistical blip, but big men have a harder time closing out…) and a career-low 10% last season.

Smith Jr. is one of the very best 6’10” and up shooters in the NBA. There’s Karl-Anthony Towns, his own teammate Kevin Durant, and…that’s where I start drawing blanks. Naz Reid is comparable. Kristaps Porzingis is a candidate. Still, Smith Jr. is right there. That combination of height and shooting accuracy gives him value:

Even if it’s a bit less than you wanted from a third overall pick.

June 22, 2026

Three Positives From the Week of June 14th

Last week was a week so bad that I couldn’t even bear to pull out three positive moments. Luckily, it can’t get any worse than the bottom, and it didn’t! While it wasn’t anywhere close to a 6-0 week, the 2-4 result had a few moments to be positive about.

Bazzana Has Huge Night

In Saturday’s big 8-1 win against the Houston Astros, Travis Bazzana was the star of the show. He took Spencer Arrighetti’s first pitch of the game 382 feet into right center field for a home run. In the top of the fifth, he took Arrighetti deep again, this time for a 406 foot three-run home run to right center. He ended the day 4-4 with the two home runs, four hits, and five RBI. He is now hitting .273/.367/.471 in his rookie campaign.

Cantillo Shines

Also in Saturday’s win, pitcher Joey Cantillo had his moment to shine. 6-3 on the year after the big win, Cantillo went eight innings while giving up just four hits and one earned run. He struck out nine and walked only one. He brought his ERA down to 4.05 across 16 games this season, and has collected 76 strikeouts so far. Reliever Matt Festa held on for the ninth inning to give Cantillo the win.

Watson Makes Debut

With all of the injuries plaguing the Guardians right now, they had to make some moves. One of those moves included calling up outfielder Kahlil Watson. He had been hitting .255/.370/.491 so far this season in Columbus, and he was highly anticipated in Cleveland. While he has yet to collect a hit or a walk and has struck out eight times in his first four games, he has shown his talent with the leather in the outfield. He made a huge diving catch in his MLB debut, holding the Milwaukee Brewers to just a one-run lead.

Social Media Spotlight

This week’s Social Media Spotlight comes from the Guardians’ Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers. They posted a video of catcher Bo Naylor’s inside-the-park home run from Friday’s game versus the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRaiders.

INSIDE THE PARK HOMER FOR BO NAYLOR #ClipShow pic.twitter.com/Nngr406aQ9
— Columbus Clippers (@CLBClippers) June 20, 2026

June 22, 2026

Mets vs. Cubs: 5 things to watch and series predictions | June 22-25

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Cubs play a four-game series at Citi Field starting on Monday night at 7:10 on SNY...

5 things to watch

The return of Francisco Lindor

Lindor played rehab games the last few days with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse, with his return from a calf injury imminent.

The plan is for Lindor to play a simulated game on Monday at Citi Field, after which he could get a day off before being activated.

That puts Wednesday as the most likely day for Lindor's return.

When Lindor is back, it will be just the 12th time that both he andJuan Soto are in the lineup together this season -- with Lindor having suffered his calf injury in the same April game where Soto returned from his.

Carson Benge is heating back up

The Mets' offense as a whole was an afterthought as the team lost two of three games to the Phillies over the weekend. That's because Freddy Peralta and David Peterson put New York in early holes that were inescapable.

But amid the carnage, Benge had a strong showing, smacking home runs on Saturday and Sunday.

Over his last seven games, spanning 33 plate appearances, Benge is slashing .290/.333/.548 (.882 OPS) with two homers, one triple, and six runs scored.

Dating back to April 23, Benge is hitting .296/.350/.471 (.821 OPS) with eight homers in 53 games.

Looking at his advanced season stats via Baseball Savant, Benge is above average in 10 of 13 key categories, including xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, and hard hit percentage.

Playoffs? We're talking playoffs?

Yes, we are, even though it's borderline absurd to be doing so with New York having a record of 34-43.

But despite how bad the Mets have been, they are just 6.0 games back of the third Wild Card spot in the National League with more than half the season to go. The team currently in that spot? The Cubs.

Jun 12, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

That means if the Mets have a big series this week against Chicago, they can make up serious ground in a theoretical race for one of the final playoff spots in the National League.

The Mets front office has about a month left before they have to decide whether to sell at the trade deadline. At this point -- barring an incredible run in the next few weeks -- buying would seem to be out of the question.

So it will almost certainly come down to standing pat or selling, with the Mets' direction possibly due in large part to how they perform this week at home against Chicago and the Phillies.

The Jekyll and Hyde Cubs

The Cubs started the year on fire before crashing back to earth.

They were 27-12 ahead of play on May 9 before going on a slide that had them at 34-34 on June 10 -- following a brutal 7-22 clip.

Chicago has righted the ship since, though their 6-3 record over the last week-plus has come against two of the worst teams in baseball, with the Cubs winning five of those games against the Rockies and Giants.

Like the Mets, the Cubs are dealing with rotation issues, with Justin Steele, Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, and Jameson Taillon all on the IL.

The Cubs are set to send Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, and Javier Assad out against the Mets during this series, with their starting pitcher for Thursday TBD.

Pete Crow-Armstrong is having a monster year

After struggling badly over the first month of the season (he had a .662 OPS on May 5), Crow-Armstrong has turned it on.

For the season, Crow-Armstrong is slashing .286/.363/.521 with 16 homers, 12 doubles, four triples, and 18 stolen bases.

He is on a 10-game hitting streak, and has reached base safely in 22 of his last 23 games.

Defensively, Crow-Armstrong has been the best center fielder in the league, with him in the 100th percentile when it comes to outs above average and 99th percentile in arm value.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Juan Soto

When in doubt, go with the guy who has a .974 OPS.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Nolan McLean

McLean has righted the ship after back-to-back rough outings at the end of May, posting a 1.64 ERA in 22.0 innings over his last four starts.

Which Cubs player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Pete Crow-Armstrong

The 24-year-old impacts both sides of the ball like few can.

June 22, 2026

Fundamentals falter, Padres lose game, series to Rangers

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 21: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres turns the double play as Josh Jung #6 of the Texas Rangers slides into second base during the third inning at Globe Life Field on June 21, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Fernando Tatis Jr. came off the bench to pinch-hit to lead off the top of the ninth inning. He laced a single into center field and represented the tying run for the San Diego Padres who trailed the Texas Rangers, 4-3. Xander Bogaerts followed Tatis and pushed him to second base with his own single to center field. The Padres were in prime position to at least tie the game with runners at first and second with no outs and Ty France coming to the plate. France homered twice in the series opener, which included a grand slam, but that was not needed in this case. All he had to do was put the ball in play without hitting into a double play. France failed to execute the fundamentals and struck out giving San Diego their first out with no advancement of the runners. Sung-Mun Song then flied lined out to the outfield, which also did not allow either runner to advance and Rodolfo Duran grounded out to short to end the threat and the game. It was a difficult to end to a promising start to the inning and the result was a 4-3 loss and a series loss for the Padres.

San Diego employed the opener to start the game with Wandy Peralta throwing a scoreless first inning. Luca Giolito came on for the bulk innings role and allowed four runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. The most disappointing aspect of his start was he immediately surrendered the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fourth inning after the Padres scored three runs in the top of the inning to tie the game, 3-3. Giolito allowed back-to-back-to-back one out singles, which allowed the Rangers to take a 4-3 lead when Josh Jung singled to score Wyatt Langford. Neither team added to their run total for the remainder of the game and San Diego finished its three-city road trip with a record of 4-5.

The Padres return home to host the Atlanta Braves today at 7:10 p.m.

Padres News:

Jhony Brito continued his return to the majors with another solid start for El Paso and currently has an ERA under three with 30 innings pitched.

Miguel Andujar returned from the injured list and the Padres had to make a corresponding move to make room on the roster. Nick Solak was designated for assignment.

Baseball News:

Bryce Harper has found magic in his bat. A day after hitting for the cycle, he was a triple shy of doing it again for the Philadelphia Phillies, using the same bat.

JJ Weatherholt hit two home runs to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Kansas City Royals.

Chase Burns pitched the Cincinnati Reds past the New York Yankees.

The Milwaukee Brewers used an eight-run inning to beat the Atlanta Braves.

The Miami Marlins completed a sweep of the San Francisco Giants with a 2-1 win.

The Baltimore Orioles scored 12 runs to win the game and the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Minnesota Twins scored four runs in the final three innings to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks.

June 22, 2026

The Brady Tkachuk message to Senators that spurred blockbuster Panthers trade

Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk celebrating with the US flag and their gold medals. — United States' Brady Tkachuk (7) and Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrate after the United States' win over Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 22, 2026.

A blockbuster trade hit the NHL world on Father’s Day with the Ottawa Senators sending Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers for a bundle of draft picks, including both of Florida’s first-round picks in this week’s draft. The former Ottawa captain joins his brother Matthew in Florida.

While the trade itself isn’t all that surprising, the timing of the move was never quite clear. Tkachuk has two years remaining on his seven-year, $57.5 million contract, so it wasn’t inevitable that Tkachuk would be moved this summer. But at some point, Ottawa got the message from Tkachuk and his agent.

In recent weeks, Tkachuk’s agent, Craig Oster of Newport Sports, had conversations with Senators general manager Steven Staios about the captain’s future. At some point, it was conveyed that Tkachuk wouldn’t look to re-sign with the team when his contract expires in 2028, and that the Senators should get ahead on trading their captain, according to The Athletic.

Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk on the ice during the second period at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, USA, Monday, March 23, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

It’s a similar sentiment to the one conveyed to the Vancouver Canucks when they traded captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in December. Had the Sens waited too long, they might’ve put themselves in a situation similar to the one the Rangers faced with Artemi Panarin, who began the 2025-26 season on the final year of his contract. The Rangers sent Panarin, who had a no-move clause, to the Los Angeles Kings in February for a lackluster return of prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional 2026 third-rounder.

Oster presented four teams where Tkachuk would consider accepting a trade: the Panthers, the Wild, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights, per The Athletic. Florida has one thing that the other three teams, while all very attractive destinations, cannot replicate, and that’s the presence of Matthew Tkachuk.

United States’ Brady Tkachuk (7) and Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrate after the United States’ win over Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 22, 2026. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

By making a move early, the Senators eliminate the possibility of locker-room distraction and potential turmoil surrounding their captain, and they develop for the future or have assets to play with in the trade market with multiple picks.

Tkachuk gets to play with his brother on a team that will surely be back in contention and leaves Canada, where he was booed in Edmonton and Calgary every time he touched the puck after returning from the Milan Olympics.

Tkachuk’s move is just the start of what is sure to be a busy summer around the NHL.

June 22, 2026

Jim Abbott to receive Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at 2026 ESPY Awards

One of the most inspirational players in all of sports, former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott will be honored with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2026 ESPY Awards, USA TODAY Sports confirms.

The pitcher will receive the award for being an incredible symbol of resilience. Abbott had a 10-year professional baseball career despite being born without a right hand, and accomplished one of the best moments a pitcher can have by throwing a no-hitter.

From Michigan, Abbott has defied the odds throughout his entire life. With just his left hand, he would pitch by putting his glove on his right forearm, then quickly putting his hand in the glove after throwing. If he fielded a ball, he'd again put the glove against his right forearm so he could grab the ball with his hand and throw it around the diamond.

Abbott caught national attention, as he was a star player at the University of Michigan and then a first round pick by the California Angels in the 1988 MLB Draft.

He immediately jumped to the MLB level without playing in the minors and had a solid rookie season in 1989, finishing fifth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. His best season came in 1991, when his 2.89 ERA was the fourth-lowest in the AL and he finished third in Cy Young voting.

Abbott's defining moment came as a member of the New York Yankees on Sept. 4, 1993, when he threw a monumental no-hitter. He threw 119 pitches and struck out three batters in what became an iconic moment in baseball history.

Abbott's remarkable achievements and longevity paved the way for future athletes with limb differences to succeed in professional sports, including football player Shaquem Griffin, U.S. women's soccer national team member Carson Pickett and MMA fighter Nick Newell.

Earlier in June, an ESPN documentary about Abbott, "Southpaw – The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott" received a Peabody Award.

"Overcoming obstacles and pushing past traditional limitations on the mound was my way of showing what is possible when you refuse to give up," Abbott said in a statement. "To have my journey and my career recognized with an award that bears Coach Jim Valvano's name is a truly humbling milestone. Receiving the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance is an incredible honor, and I hope it serves as a reminder to the next generation of athletes that our perceived limits do not define our potential."

Abbott will be presented the award at the 2026 ESPY Awards ceremony on Wednesday, July 15 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: One-handed MLB pitcher Jim Abbott will receive Jimmy V Award at ESPYS

June 22, 2026

Do you still dread West Coast trips?

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves shakes hands with Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres before the game at Petco Park on March 30, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here’s a bit of history:

West Coast trips:

2018: 2-4
2022: 3-4
2022: 4-4
2024: 1-5
2025: 0-7
2026, SDP and SFG: TBD

Partial West Coast trips:

2018: 6-1
2019: 6-4
2019: 5-2
2019: 4-2
2021: 2-5
2021: 7-3
2023: 5-1
2023: 3-3
2023: 8-2
2024: 4-3
2024: 6-4
2025: 2-4
2025: 3-3
2026: 4-3
2026: 6-3

Basically, the Braves haven’t had a winning West Coast Only road trip from the start of the 2018 run. Where they have fared a lot better are trips that involve a West Coast swing and other games, with just two such losing road trips in that same span.

But, the team is scuffling a bit right now, and they have a Pure Pacific one scheduled, so… hmm.

Are you dreading it?

June 22, 2026

Blaze Alexander is proving to be more than a utility player

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 21: Blaze Alexander #23 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Most utility players have some sort of deficiency in their game that prevents them from being considered an “everyday” option. But occasionally, those super subs go on a hot streak that makes you wonder if they could make the leap to becoming a vital piece in the daily lineup. Blaze Alexander is doing that right now.

The move to acquire Alexander back in February left most Orioles fans scratching their heads. At a time when the team needed more bullpen arms, they dealt away a controllable and productive one in Kade Strowd, plus two intriguing prospects, for a guy with no position. Sure, he could be a fine backup in a few spots, but that felt like the type of player they would have been able to found on the waiver wire for almost nothing instead of giving up three players.

Well, three months into his Orioles tenure, Alexander is actually looking like decent value for the O’s. The team has needed more help than expected at third base and in the outfield. That has thrust him into action and, while it took him some time to get his feet under him, Alexander has become one of the team’s most productive hitters.

For the season, Alexander owns a .312/.362/.447 batting line with three home runs, 12 doubles, 23 RBI, and eight stolen bases. Much of that production has come in that last five weeks or so. Since May 13, Alexander is hitting .405/.446/.631 with three home runs, 10 doubles, 20 RBI, and five stolen bases. He has also struck out just 12 times in 93 plate appearances and walked five times.

The numbers aren’t a mirage either. Alexander is hitting the ball hard. His 92.5 mph average exit velocity is in the top 10% of MLB, and his .306 expected batting average is the top 2%. He won’t be able to maintain the .405 batting average he’s had over the last five weeks (expect his .394 BABIP to come down a lot!), but his peripherals indicate he should be plenty valuable to play every day.

Alexander has been valuable on the bases as well. His eight steals are second on the team, and his base-running value (per Baseball Savant) is in the top 12% of MLB. He’s a guy that can turn a single into a double or score from first base on a ball in the gap. That is mighty helpful for a lineup that can go quiet on occassion.

The only area where Alexander has disappointed are his defensive metrics. He came to Baltimore with a reputation as being an above-average glove. But so far he has not graded out very well, being worth -3 outs above average overall. However, those numbers aren’t totally fair to Alexander, since the Orioles have asked him to play six different position this year, two of which he did not play at all in 2025. If you take his outfield glove away entirely, Alexander would have much better defensive numbers.

Meanwhile, it doesn’t seem like the Orioles are missing much with Kade Strowd in Arizona. The 28-year-old righty has pitched in one game for the Diamondbacks this season. He has spent most of his time in Triple-A, where he has a 5.87 ERA and 1.783 WHIP over 23 innings. Maybe things would have been different for him in Baltimore, but there were indicators that he was more lucky than good in 2025 anyway.

It’s possible the prospects that went the other way still pan out. Wellington Aracena had been pretty impressive after the O’s acquired him at last year’s deadline, and he has been solid in the Diamondbacks organization this year (3.83 ERA, 56 strikeouts, 44.1 IP). José Mejia OPS’d .935 in Low-A this year and earned a promotion to High-A. But both are still so far away from the majors that nothing is guaranteed.

Alexander, on the other hand, is already a bonafide big leaguer that has four more seasons of team control beyond 2026. If he can just be a 1-2 WAR player each of those seasons, he is likely to be more valuable than all of the players dealt to Arizona. If he makes the leap to everyday player, the gulf between the two could be even larger.

The flaws of the 2026 Orioles are something that Mike Elias will need to answer for if they do end up with another losing record. But the President of Baseball Operations does seem to have an eye for talent when it comes to adding around the edges. Alexander isn’t the first fringy hitter to have something click in Baltimore under Elias’ watch. There was Ramón Urías before him. Jorge Mateo had some magical moments. Ryan O’Hearn turned his career around entirely. Aaron Hicks rediscovered his old form for a brief time. Even the addition of Leody Taveras this season also looks like a smart bit of business. This sort of thing is in Elias’ wheelhouse.

June 22, 2026

2026 MLB Draft Preview: Logan Hughes

Texas Tech's Logan Hughes runs to first after an at-bat against Abilene Christian during a non-conference Division I baseball game, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Rip Griffin Park. | Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

2026 MLB Draft Preview: Logan Hughes scouting report.

The 2026 is about a month away — the first round kicks off on July 11, 2026 — so its time to start offering capsule looks at players the Texas Rangers could select with their top picks. The Rangers’ first round pick is at #16, their second round pick is at #54, and their third round pick is at #89.

Leading up to draft day, we will be doing writeups of some of the players who could end up getting selected by the Rangers with one of their first three picks. Today we are looking at Texas Tech outfielder Logan Hughes.

Logan Hughes is a 5’11”, lefthanded hitting and throwing junior outfielder for Texas Tech whose weight is listed anywhere from 185 lbs. to 210 lbs. Undrafted out of high school in Winter Springs, Florida, he went just a half hour away to Stetson for his freshman season. He then transferred to Texas Tech, where he’s played the past two seasons. Hughes turned 21 in April.

Hughes has a quality hit tool with very good contact skills. Keith Law says he has shown he can hit “all pitch types” and can handle velocity. He’s shown good power the last two seasons at Tech, and profiles to have above-average to possibly plus power as a professional. MLB Pipeline notes that he grades out well in the analytical models because of his exit velocities and swing decisions.

Hughes is going to have to hit a lot as a professional because he is limited defensively. He’s played mostly left field in college, and profiles as either a left fielder or first baseman going forward due to his lack of speed and the fact his arm likely won’t play in right field.

As a freshman at Stetson, Hughes hit .292/.398/.515 in 208 plate appearances over 58 games, walking 27 times, striking out 30 times, and hitting 8 home runs while playing both corner positions. As a sophomore at Tech, despite playing in a more challenging conference, Hughes took a step forward, slashing .327/.411/.697 in 246 plate appearances. He walked more often than he struck out (26 to 24), and hit 19 homers. 2026 was Hughes’ best season yet, as he slashed .375/.510/.735, walking 50 times against 33 Ks in 257 plate appearances, and hitting 18 home runs.

Baseball America has Hughes at #42 on their board. MLB Pipeline has Hughes at #47 on their board. Kiley McDaniel puts Hughes at #74 on his top 150 list. Keith Law’s rankings have Hughes at #56 on his board. Fangraphs does not have Hughes on their board. Baseball Prospectus has Hughes at #20 on their top 30 draft board.

MLB Pipeline compares Hughes to Rusty Greer, which is probably enough to have folks rooting for the Rangers to take him in the second round. There are some similarities between Hughes and Aaron Zavala, who the Rangers took with the 38th pick in 2021, though Zavala showed less present power in college and more athleticism than Hughes, and to Dylan Dreiling, who the Rangers took #65 overall in 2024.

Hughes fits the Rangers’ profile for a college bat, and would make sense as a potential second or third round pick, if he makes it that far. He’s not a high ceiling guy, given his lack of speed and athleticism, and how far he makes it in the professional ranks likely depends on how well he can convert his contact ability and exit velocities into playable in-game power.

Previously: