SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 20: Connor Joe #9 of the Seattle Mariners commits a fielding error during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at T-Mobile Park on June 20, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s loss to the Red Sox left much to be desired, but it started out promisingly enough. Emerson Hancock was clean the first time through the order, picking up four strikeouts, three of which came because a Red Sox hitter left the bat on his shoulder.
The rearranged left side of the infield even made a couple very nice plays. J.P. Crawford, who some had left for dead, gets today’s Sun Hat Award for shoveling the ball from his glove up to Colt Emerson on a 5-6-3 double play and later snatching a hot shot out of the air.
The Mariners even grabbed an early 1-0 lead thanks to a Crawford walk and line drives into left-center from Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor.
But things quickly took a left turn. The Sox led off the fourth with their first hit when a ground ball split the left side. Despite Hancock striking out the next batter, he then left a cutter over the heart of the plate that Wilyer Abreu sent nearly to the batter’s eye to give Boston a 2-1 lead. The fifth inning saw another hit and an embarrassing error from tonight’s left fielder, Connor Joe, who got his glove to the ball pretty easily but then just refused to actually catch it.
By the sixth inning, Hancock was left holding the bag for an offense that couldn’t get anything going against Connelly Early. A single and a walk looked like it was setting off a retro Hancock spiral, of the type it seemed like he’d left in Arkansas. But another four-pitch walk loaded the bases, Dan came out, and Elvis left the building.
With leverage lefty Jose A. Ferrer and his 50% groundball rate coming out in relief, it seemed like the Mariners might get out of it. And indeed, Ferrer got not one, not two, but three easy groundballs, but for the second night in a row, the BABIP monster left a bad taste in my mouth. The score had bubbled up to 5-1 by the time the Mariners finally left the field.
It wouldn’t have mattered so much if the Mariners offense could hit a left-handed pitcher. And they had a bunch of chances against Early, who pitched the game with two left feet, hitting three batters and nearly a couple more. But the Mariners bats’ futility against south paws hardly comes out of left field at this point. They couldn’t get a single hit after the first inning, and left five runners on base.
Left to your imagination, this is a dominant roster, but they find themselves about halfway through the season back at .500 and leading the division only thanks to their rivals’ incompetence. It’ll probably be fine in the end, but if they don’t want to get left at the postseason altar, they’re going to have to get right.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 20: Blaze Alexander #23 and Jeremiah Jackson #82 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after the team's win against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There were some worrying moments at the end, but ultimately the Orioles were able to ride a terrific start from Trevor Rogers and a clutch double off Blaze Alexander’s bat to a 3-2 win on Saturday night in Los Angeles.
It is games like this where we must ask the question “Is Trevor Rogers all the way back?” The lefty put forth his best start since Opening Day, tossing seven scoreless innings and giving up just three baserunners (one hit, two walks) while striking out six. That dropped his season ERA for the fifth straight start from 6.96 on May 24 to just 5.30 on June 20.
At no point were the Dodgers particularly close to scoring on Rogers. The three base runners he did allow were scattered; one in the first inning, another in the fifth, and one more in the seventh. It was as low stress of a start as we are going to get around these parts.
Rogers had the best version of each of his offerings. His fastball was up nearly 1.5 mph on the gun, and he had a 27% whiff rate overall, which is a slight improvement over his season number. On top of that, he limited the free passes and the hard contact. It sounds simple, but that is when Rogers has success: pitch in the zone and keep the ball in the park.
On the other side of the game, Orioles lineup made Yoshinobu Yamamoto work in this one. He needed 102 pitches to get through six innings, and he allowed three runs in the process. That was the most runs he as allowed in a start since May 12. So while the final line is still one of a quality start, the O’s hitters do deserve credit for their patience and effort at the plate.
The Orioles got on the board in the top of the second inning. With runners on first and third, Coby Mayo grounded into a force out as the first baseman Freddie Freeman fielded the bouncer and fed to Mookie Betts covering second base. That allowed Leody Taveras, the runner at the third to begin the play, to score and make it 1-0.
Their other two runs crossed the plate in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Blaze Alexander yanked a pitch down the third base line, scoring Taveras and Colton Cowser, and giving the O’s a 3-0 advantage.
That hit from Alexander would be the team’s only knock with runners in scoring position. They went 1-for-5 in such situations in this game, as those key moments continue to be difficult for them. It would have been nice to see at least one of those eight runners stranded on base make it home.
The Orioles were unable to extend their lead against the Dodgers bullpen. But the Dodgers would cause plenty of stress for the O’s relief group in the ninth inning.
Andrew Kittredge came on for the save. It seemed Craig Albernaz was trying to avoid the recently activated Ryan Helsley in back-to-back nights, especially since the series opener did not go well for him. His replacements (plus some atrocious (Orioles defnese) almost let the same thing happen again.
Shohei Ohtani led off the inning with a solo home run to make it a 3-1 game. After getting Andy Pages to line out and then walking Freddie Freeman, Kittredge was lifted in favor of ground ball machine Yennier Cano.
The first batter Cano faced, Betts, hit a bouncer to third base, which could have been a game-ending double play. Instead, Mayo flubbed it, gathered it, and was late on his throw to try and get Betts at first. Cano retired the next batter before Tommy Edman hit a hard liner to right field that hit Taveras in the glove. He dropped it anyway, the second run of the inning scored, and it started to feel like a repeat of Friday. Kudos to Cano for taking matters into his own hands and just striking out Kyle Tucker after all of that to lock down the save.
The Orioles defense has been a problem all season, but it has really reared it’s head this weekend in Los Angeles. In part, it did cost them the game on Friday, and it nearly did the same on Saturday. Seems like something that needs to be fixed!
There is plenty of time to be negative about this team. Stick with the positives for now. Chief among them, Rogers was great. It was the sort of start the Orioles needed, and they got it. Alexander continues to swing a nice stick. Taveras and Basallo had two hits each. There are aspects of this squad that works as expected. They just rarely all click together.
Hopefully they can get it figured out in time for tomrrow’s series finale. Brandon Young (5-2, 3.18 ERA) will be on the bump to face Emmet Sheehan (3-4, 4.76 ERA), First pitch is set for 4:10 on the east coast.
Who was the Most Birdland Player for June 20, 2025?
Here are some nominees for your consideration, or tell us someone else entirely in the comments
Trevor Rogers (win, seven shutout innings)
Yennier Cano (cleaned up ninth inning mess, dealt with defensive chaos)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 20: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts near Blaze Alexander #23 of the Baltimore Orioles after being caught stealing during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One game after a magical walk-off against the Baltimore Orioles, the Dodgers couldn’t get the job done again on Saturday as they fell 3-2.
After both teams could muster just one walk in the first inning, Baltimore began the top of the second against Yoshinobu Yamamoto with a pair of singles from Leody Taveras and Colton Cowser to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Taveras came home on a fielder’s choice from Coby Mayo, but Yamamoto recovered with a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.
Yamamoto retired the side in order in the third inning, but once again allowed a pair of singles to lead off the fourth inning to Samuel Basallo and Taveras. A failed sacrifice bunt from Cowser got the lead runner at third, but Yamamoto walked Mayo to load the bases with just one out. Yamamoto got a crucial strikeouts of Jackson Holliday for the second out, but Blaze Alexander made Yamamoto pay with a two-out, two-run double to give Baltimore a three-run lead.
Yamamoto was able to allow just one baserunner over his final two innings, giving him another quality start. After five consecutive starts of allowing one run at most, Yamamoto allowed at least three runs for the first time since allowing five on May 12 against the San Francisco Giants.
As for the Dodgers offense behind Yamamoto, they fell back into their old habits of failing to provide any run support, as left-hander Trevor Rogers’ only blemish over his first four innings was a walk to Andy Pages in the bottom of the first. He faced the minimum over his first 14 hitters until Tommy Edman broke up the no-hit bid in the bottom of the fifth inning. Saturday was Rogers’ first scoreless outing since his 2026 debut— where he also had seven scoreless innings— and it was the first time he struck out six since April 14.
Edman supplied the Dodgers’ second hit of the game against Rico Garcia to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Dodgers would go down quietly in order.
In his first game back from the paternity list, Shohei Ohtani displayed some new “dad strength” with a home run against Andrew Kittredge leading off the bottom of the ninth, thwarting the shutout and putting the Dodgers on the board.
Taylor Ward made a diving catch to rob Pages of extra bases, but Kittredge walked Freddie Freeman to bring up the potential tying run in Mookie Betts. Against Yennier Cano, Betts hit a ground ball to third that was knocked down by Mayo at third and was initially called safe at first, and an unsuccessful challenge from Baltimore officially put the tying run on base.
Alex Freeland came in to pinch hit for Miguel Rojas, but flew out to left for a crucial second out. Edman lined a ball to right that would’ve ended the game, but Taveras bobbled the catch, leading to Freeman scoring to make it a one-run game with the tying run at third base. The Dodgers couldn’t complete the comeback, as Cano struck out Kyle Tucker to end the night.
The Dodgers look to end their homestand with a 5-1 record as they wrap things up against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday (1:10 p.m. PT). Emmet Sheehan faces Brandon Young.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 20: Manager Dan Wilson of the Seattle Mariners looks on before the game against the Boston Red Sox at T-Mobile Park on June 20, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 20: Jake McCarthy #31 of the Colorado Rockies slides and scores after an inside-the-park solo home run in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field on June 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With how Friday night shook out and with how the Colorado Rockies battled the Pittsburgh Pirates in their first meeting with Paul Skenes, tonight’s game had all the makings of another close one. Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) put together one of his best performances of 2026, if not the best. As expected, Skenes did Skenes things, too.
Maybe less expected were the inside-the-park home run to keep the Rockies in the game early, the consistent pressure from the Rockies offense, and a twist ending to a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth. While not your typical Coors Field game, the Rockies put together a fun win in front of a raucous crowd for win number 30.
Leadoff hitters shape the game early
The Pirates leadoff hitter, Spencer Horowitz, was almost the casualty of a one-pitch out. He popped up to third base, but Willi Castro lost track of the traveling ball in foul territory and couldn’t make the out. Horowitz made the most of his second chance and hammered a no-doubter to right field to give the Bucs an early 1-0 lead. Sugano has been susceptible to solo homers this season, but he also has a track record of bouncing right back. He did just that and worked out of the rest of the inning.
The Rockies responded in kind with some leadoff magic of their own. Jake McCarthy smacked a ball to deep center field that Jake Mangum tried to make a diving grab on. The ball got past Mangum and rolled to the wall, prompting McCarthy to turn on the jets. He ditched his batting helmet after rounding second for maximum speed and aerodynamics, then sped his way home for a thrilling inside-the-park home run to even the game at one all.
Cole Carrigg led off the bottom of the second and almost kept the momentum going, before running (literally) into a learning moment. He started the inning off with a speedy double — the first of his career. Edouard Julien flied out to deep center, but unfortunately Carrigg made a bad baserunning read and failed to tag up. Stuck at second, he then looked to make up for it with a steal but made things worse by getting picked off. Ezequiel Tovar struck out next to end the inning.
A classic Coors Field pitchers’ duel
The middle innings were a battle between two pitchers who refused to blink. Despite some occasional traffic, runs were hard to come by and the game remained tight.
In a refereshing change of pace from their last outing against him, the Rockies were able to chip away at Skenes and generate consistent pressure throughout the early innings. While they weren’t able to capitalize enough to do much damage, they made the ace work for it.
Following the inside-the-park homer in the first, the Rockies basepaths were active in the third and fourth. McCarthy struck again in the bottom of the third with a one out double. Two batters later, TJ Rumfield hit a line drive deep enough to bring McCarthy home and give the Rockies the 2-1 lead.
Colorado had another prime opportunity in the fourth, but it slipped away. After walking Troy Johnston to start the inning and hitting Carrigg with a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs, Skenes recovered. Julien lined out to left, too shallow to move Johnston up. Tovar’s rough night at the plate continued, grounding into a double play to end the inning.
Fortunately, Sugano did more than his fair share. After giving up a single to Horowitz to start the third, Sugano retired the next 12 batters straight and looked smooth doing it. He struck out three of those 12 hitters and tallied up a large handful of easy fly outs and grounders along the way.
Still neck-and-neck heading into the bullpen innings
Both teams got their bullpen up and working around the same time after the starters worked through six innings.
Tomoyuki Sugano pitched six innings, giving up just the one run on the early homer, allowing only four hits, and notching five strikeouts. He relied on a fairly balanced mix of four pitches: splitter (24%), slider (24%), four-seam fastball (19%), and cutter (16%). The slider and splitter were the most dominant, with 40% and 36% whiff rates, respectively. Sugano finished his day after 85 pitches, with Jimmy Herget entering in relief.
Carmen Mlodinzski started the bottom of the seventh with Skenes ending his day after climbing to 104 pitches, making it seven straight games without a victory. He finished with two runs on four hits, along with eight strikeouts and two walks. As has been the case for Skenes across this recent stretch, he minimized run damage despite allowing baserunners and hit his usual amount of K’s.
Herget and Mlodzinski made it through the seventh unscathed, with the former only giving up a walk and the latter giving up a single. Herget got the first out of the eighth before Warren Schaeffer turned to Brennan Bernardino. Bernardino got the next two outs, keeping the bullpen’s clean sheet going.
Another night of nerves in the ninth
It wouldn’t be a Rockies game if you weren’t just excruciatingly uncomfortable at some point. The Rockies bullpen ensured that box got checked tonight.
Brandon Lowe logged a double to start the top of the ninth. Bryan Reynolds followed that with a single to put runners on the corners. Bernardino responded with a clutch strikeout before being pulled for Jaden Hill.
Hill would ride a similar roller-coaster, starting with some downs before finding the ups. He hit the first batter faced, Nick Gonzales, to load the bases. But, in the theme of the night, the Rockies pitchers always responded. Hill went in his bag and put together a great showdown with Tyler Callihan, striking him out after six pitches with a 97 MPH fastball.
The game-deciding out was not without controversy. Mangum grounded to Kyle Karros who came up without making a force out throw. Karros threw up his hands in frustration, claiming that Billy Cook’s foot struck his glove. Both squad’s managers made their case as the umpires called runner’s interference for the out.
This felt like a fun, gritty win emblematic of these 2026 Rockies. They held their own against a dominant pitcher with an unreal starting performance of their own. The bullpen bent but didn’t break. While Tovar, Castro, and Hunter Goodman struggled at the plate, McCarthy and the offense did just enough to get the job done.
Schaeffer applauded a “vintage Tomo” performance from Sugano, noting the mix of pitches he used. “He competed like crazy and it was a professional outing from him.” On that mix of pitches, Sugano noted post-game that “the slider was the pitch” tonight. He felt like “they were waiting on the fastball in general, so I mixed in the off-speed stuff, while not forgetting the fastball too. It was a good mix.”
Schaeffer also celebrated how well the Rockies attacked Skenes. While acknowledging that they left some runs on the table, he highlighted that “we made him work. I thought we took good at bats and our plan was good.”
Up Next
The Rockies and Pirates will face off one last time in 2026 with a Father’s Day series finale on Sunday afternoon.
Jared Jones takes the mound for the visiting Pirates, bringing in a 1-1 record through four starts, with a 6.23 ERA. The Rockies are projected to send out Michael Lorenzen, who is 2-8 across 15 starts, with a 7.13 ERA. The ERAs suggest a different kind of game than the two low-scoring, tight matchups that started the series. That said, Lorenzen looked great in his last two starts, giving up just one run in each. Jones gave up five in his last start.
With the series in hand, the Rockies will try for a sweep. First pitch is set for 1:10 MDT.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shake hands after a 115-110 Oklahoma City Thunder win in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While free agency provides lots of uncertainty, there are two known facts heading into this upcoming summer.
The Lakers have a lot of cap space and the Thunder need to shed salary.
After years of building up a contender through the draft, Oklahoma City is now experiencing the hardships that come with the CBA. In order to avoid going above the second apron, a shedding of salaries will need to happen.
One of the prime candidates is Lu Dort, a talented wing with limitations and a contract set to pay him $17.7 million next season. With players around him fit to take his spot in the rotation, it’s easy to see him dealt this offseason.
It’s not a shock, then, to see that the Lakers have reportedly called about Dort. According to NBA beat writer Jake Fischer, LA has checked in on Dort ahead of the start of free agency.
I’m also told that the Lakers have called the Thunder about swingman Lu Dort’s availability.
Oklahoma City is facing a well-chronicled roster crunch, with 15 players currently under contract and two first-round picks to make at Nos. 12 and 17 barring draft-night trade activity, sparking a belief that the Thunder might be open to trading Dort after picking up his $17.2 million team option to make it easier to re-sign big man Isaiah Hartenstein. Oklahoma City holds a $28.5 million team option on Hartenstein and is generally seen as a lock to retain his services either by picking up the option or working out a longer-term deal with him at a lower annual salary.
Last season, Dort averaged 8.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 38.5% from the field and 34.4% from the 3-point line. Across the board, those were the worst averages and percentages of his career outside of his rookie season.
It was also the fewest minutes he’s played per game, a sign of his diminishing role with the Thunder. Across his career, he averages 11.6 points per game and shoots 40.5% from the field and 34.4% from range.
All that being said, offense has never been his calling card. Dort has been one of the premier perimeter defenders across recent seasons. In 2024-25, he was named to the All-Defense First Team.
However, in becoming one of the top defenders, he’s also gained a reputation as one of the dirtier defenders in the league. Things reached a boiling point last season, in particular, when Dort had a series of dirty plays that drew the attention of fans.
There are certainly pros and cons for acquiring Dort that the Lakers will weigh. He’d certainly improve the defensive talent and depth of the roster, but at a price.
The Lakers would be doing the Thunder a big favor, so he’d likely come at a discounted cost. Does that make him a gamble worth taking?
Forgotten Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen has sent a timely reminder to the national selectors of his T20 prowess by smacking the highest individual score in Major League Cricket history on Sunday AEST.
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 20: Travis Bazzana #37 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This was maybe my favorite performance from any Guardians player this season. Seeing Travis Bazzana blossom into a star in his rookie season brings me so much joy. After his 4-4 2 HR performance tonight, he now leads all 2B in the MLB in WRC+ and OPS. I don’t know if he’ll get the votes for it, but he absolutely deserves to be the starting 2B for the American League in the All-Star game.
Bazzana deserves an immense amount of praise for his performance tonight, but I don’t want it to overshadow what Joey Cantillo did. This was easily his best start of the season all things considered. He had been struggling mightily as of late and to see him give you 8 efficient innings of one run ball with 9 strikeouts against THAT lineup is absolutely beautiful, and very very much needed. A performance like this is more than just a mark in the win column, this will do wonders for Joey’s confidence moving forward.
Kyle Manzardo and Patrick Bailey also had big nights. Manzardo went 2-4 with a HR and 3 RBIs, while Bailey had his first 3 hit game as a Guardian.
The Guardians will try to win the rubber match tomorrow at 2:10 pm ET. It will be Slade Cecconi vs Kai-Wei Teng.
Jun 20, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) gets dunked by center fielder Michael Harris II (23) after he hit a two run walk off home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the ninth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
With the Braves having secured a series win over the formidable Brewers, the good vibes are back (for now) after a tough little stretch of games. They’ve won the first two games of the series against a really tough Milwaukee team throwing two really good starters. The teams still has holes to fill at the deadline and performance issues to turn around, but it feels nice to play a series with a playoff-vibe and win the first two. Now lets go for the sweep today.
Serena Williams’ appearance plus Raducanu and Boulter doing so well put the men’s event in the shade this year
One of the more amusing sights at the Queen’s Club tournament each year comes before even entering the grounds. On the first day of play on Monday, a deluge of spectators invariably descend on Barons Court station, just 150 metres from the entrance.
So many people passing through a tiny London Underground station naturally means long queues at the barriers. That congestion is not helped by many of them comically pausing in front of the gates to frantically search for their debit cards or desperately try to unlock their phones.
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy stands for the US national anthem before a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 19, 2026, in Atlanta.
Brewers skipper Pat Murphy might find himself on the injured list in the near future.
Murphy told reporters on Saturday that he plans to have back surgery on Thursday, and getting an additional procedure on his hip during the All-Star break.
Though he did not reveal details on the surgeries, Murphy said that the back discomfort is related to his hip, and that the pain has gotten worse recently.
Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy stands for the US national anthem before the Brewers’ loss to the Braves on June 19, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
“I can’t live like that,” Murphy said. “I’m having the surgery so it works out good.”
Murphy, 67, has been named National League Manager of the Year the past two seasons, and is currently in his third season in Milwaukee.
Ahead of the 2026 season, Murphy signed a three-year deal to remain with the Brewers which made him one of the highest-paid managers in the MLB.
This season, Murphy has helped lead Milwaukee to a 45-29 record, sitting atop of the NL Central.
Murphy, who is known for his stern coaching manner, recently called out Brewers relief pitcher Abner Uribe for his antics on the mound during a game against the Cardinals in May.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy looks on from the dugout during a home game against the Giants earlier in the season. Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Uribe struck out Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson to end the eighth inning of Milwaukee’s 6-0 win over St. Louis on May 27, and proceeded to make WWE-style crotch chops toward the Cardinals dugout.
“I don’t know what got over him. I mean, he’s been an emotional guy, but that kind of thing, that’s just not how we do things,” Murphy said. “I was embarrassed by it. Why are we doing it? It’s a 6-0 game. What are we doing there?”
“I love the kid. Believe me, I love the kid,” Murphy added. “There’s so much good in this kid. He’s been so great for us in so many ways, but that’s unacceptable. So, whatever’s going on, you can’t tolerate that.
“For his teammates, and for everything, it’s not going to be tolerated, that’s all there is to it.”
After the Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from the playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, people shifted their focus to the offseason, which features the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, trade rumors, and free agency.
And it appears one of the Penguins' pending-unrestricted free agents has made a decision on his future.
According to NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, forward Anthony Mantha is electing to test free agency. LeBrun said that the Penguins were willing to bring Mantha, 31, back on a one-year deal, but Mantha and his agent, Olivier Fortier, want to see if they can get something longer-term.
The towering 6-foot-5 winger is coming off a career year that directly followed up ACL surgery, as he recorded 33 goals and 64 points this season, both career-highs. He led the Penguins in goals during the regular season but came up empty in the six-game first-round series against the Flyers, totaling just one assist.
There was never really much doubt that Mantha would test the market, as the Penguins were probably always going to be reluctant to hand him term given their direction and efforts to build younger. Some sources have claimed Mantha is looking for a four-year deal, although that has not yet been confirmed.
Mantha isn't the only free agent the Penguins must decide on. Other UFAs include defenseman Ryan Shea and forward Noel Acciari, while scoring winger Egor Chinakhov and goaltender Arturs Silovs headline the RFA class.
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 20: Jake McCarthy #31 of the Colorado Rockies runs the bases before scoring from second base in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field on June 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Harper started the night off with a bang, hitting a solo home run in the first inning. He then doubled and singled in the third inning when Philadelphia had eight runs. He completed the cycle with a triple in the fifth inning.
It was a two-RBI triple. With two outs and a 2-1 count, Tobias Myers wound up and threw a pitch right over the plate. Harper smacked it to left center perfectly in between two Mets outfielders. He sprinted around the bases and slid into third. He punched his fist in the air and high-fived third base coach Anthony Contreras in celebration.
Per ESPN, the Phillies star is the first player to hit for the cycle in just five innings since 2015. According to the MLB, this is the 11th cycle in franchise history.
Kyle Schwarber also fueled the team with three home runs. The FOX broadcast said the last time teammates hit for the cycle and three home runs in the same game was in 1932 when Tony Lazzeri hit for the cycle and Lou Gehrig hit four home runs for the New York Yankees.
"It's really cool," Schwarber said. "You look through our lineup up and down, but we put together some really good at-bats. ... Just glad that it was a great overall team win. Great night by Harp. We just gotta keep rolling and putting these together."
"Being able to get that tonight was really cool," Harper added of his accomplishment while also paying respect to his teammate. "Being able to see him hit three homers and do his job, there's no greater power hitter in our game right now."
Philadelphia is second place in the NL East with a 41-35 record midway through the season. The front office fired manager Rob Thomson in April after the team started 9-19.
MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 9: Jusuf Nurkic #30 of the Utah Jazz smiles during the game against the Miami Heat on February 9, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Reporting on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks, Jaylen Brown, Tyler Herro, Kawhi Leonard, trade talks for the Pistons, Nets, Timberwolves, Raptors, and Nuggets. Plus, updates on free agents and extension candidates for the Suns, Thunder, Magic, and Jazz. https://t.co/76AU2Zjbz7
There’s not a lot here other than the simple statement about Utah wanting Nurkic back. From Scotto:
The Utah Jazz has expressed interest in re-signing center Jusuf Nurkic, league sources told Hoopshype.
There you have it. The Jazz have interest, which makes sense. Nurkic had a nice season with the Jazz and appeared to enjoy his time with the team and the team’s style of play. His mix of passing, rebounding, and scoring fit really well with the Jazz. He played so well for Will Hardy that he ended up having a three-game triple-double streak last season. That mix of talent and proof of concept for Utah made him seem like a no-brainer to bring back. All that said, it will have to be on a reasonable contract. If Utah can get him on a veteran-minimum type of deal, it could be a great addition.
Utah does need to think about center depth. Walker Kessler is most likely joining the team next season, but he hasn’t had the best injury history. Some security at center would be a good idea in case Kessler has another injury.
All in all, it makes sense for the Jazz to bring Nurkic back. He fit perfectly with what Utah did last season, with the center being a hub at times in Hardy’s offense. Utah lacked some playmaking last year so that may not be as big of a need next year, and they may change their style, but it would be nice to have some continuity as well to what they’re doing.
