Dwyane Wade marvels at Knicks’ resliency with NBA championship one win away: ‘City is buzzing’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade standing at the
D-Wade on Knicks

With 1,054 regular-season games and 177 postseason contests, it takes a lot to leave Dwyane Wade feeling “shocked.”

And that’s exactly what the Knicks did Wednesday in Game 4 when they set an NBA Finals record by rallying from a 29-point deficit to stun the Spurs and grab a 3-1 series lead.

“I was just stunned and shocked like — amazed,” the Basketball Hall of Famer told Page Six in an exclusive interview Friday at the Tribeca Festival in New York City. “I know, I’ve been in the Finals a few times, I understand the even-keeled-ness that you need to have, I understand the ebb and flow of games, but down 29, to come back versus a team that seemed to be in control, the way they did with the city, you can feel the energy in the building from your TV, it was incredible. You feel good for the state, you feel good for the city. New York is coming back to life and the Knicks are a big part of it.”

(L-R) Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade attend the “Born Melo” Premiere during the 2026 Tribeca Festival at SVA Theater on June 12, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images for Tribeca Festival

Wade, 44, won three championships in his career — all with Miami — and understands the grind it takes to win a championship.

This Knicks team somewhat mirrors his 2006 Miami team that most counted out against the Mavericks before the rallied from a 2-0 series hole to win their first championship.

Wade earned MVP honors in that series for his brilliance.

These Knicks did the reverse of that Heat team by winning the first two games of this series, both on the road, putting the Spurs in a spot no team had recovered from in Finals history.

Wade wouldn’t make a prediction on whether the Knicks will win their first championship in 53 years now that they stand just one win away, but he noticed the effect the team is having on New York City.

“I don’t know,” he told Page Six of the Knicks’ chances to win the title. “I’m just a fan watching. I just want to see great basketball. Whoever wins deserves it, both these teams obviously deserve to win. The Knicks, we here in the city, the city is buzzing, it’s hot, not just because of the heat but because of what the Knicks are doing, they got to get that fourth one. If they go get it, the deserve it and they earned it.”

The Knicks celebrate after taking the lead Wednesday. Getty Images

Wade made his appearance Friday on the red carpet at the Tribeca Festival to support his friend and Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony, whose “Born Melo” documentary debuted.

The two became friends 23 years ago during the Final Four when Anthony led Syracuse to its only national title, while Wade’s Marquette team lost in the national semifinals.

Anthony claimed he helped the Knicks win Game 4 by mentioning how the offensive rebound would be there on the final possession before OG Anunoby tipped in the game-winning shot.

“It’s sweet,” Wade said of the friendship. “We connected then (during the Final Four) and he’s been my brother ever since. To be able go through the journey of life with someone and to always be there for each other away from the game of basketball and show up for each other, that’s all you can ask for.

“I’m excited to be here to support him and his family.”

MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets, Picks, Parlay & Odds for Saturday, June 13

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Another busy slate across the Majors means I've found more value in the home run market. 

MyMLB player props HR analysis for today's action will feature Shohei Ohtani, Alec Burleson, and Matt McLain.

Read more in my MLB picks for Saturday, June 13. 

  • UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.

Best MLB home run props today

Player to hit a HROdds
Dodgers Shohei Ohtani+298
Cardinals Alec Burleson+690
Reds Matt McLain+610

Home run pick: Shohei Ohtani (+298)

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is finally starting to find his power stroke. He's slugged three home runs in his last six games, carrying an impressive .417 ISO and 58.8% hard hit rate during that span.

Ohtani will face Chicago White Sox starter Sean Burke this afternoon, and the matchup plays in his favor. Burke has allowed 1.89 HR/9 across his last two appearances, and 45.5% of his contact in those outings was in the air. 20% left the yard. 

Nearly 40% of Ohtani's contact is in the air on the road this season. He consistently gets the ball in the air, and Burke's recent tendency to allow fly balls and home runs creates an appealing matchup.

  • Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: CHSN, SportsNet LA

Home run pick: Alec Burleson (+690)

Alec Burleson is one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now. He's gone deep in three consecutive games, and he has an astounding 52.2% hard hit rate and 26.1% barrel rate over his last six games. Additionally, Burleson also has a .560 ISO. 

Minnesota Twins starter Connor Prielipp has thrown the ball relatively well lately, but what stands out to me is that he's allowed over 50% of his contact against left-handed batters in the air. That is dangerous against a hitter like Burleson, who possesses a 40% HR/FB rate during this hot streak. 

I'll play this pick up to +500. 

  • Time: 1:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Cardinals.TV, Twins.TV

Home run pick: Matt McLain (+610)

Matt McLain has found his power stroke lately. He has a .556 ISO over his last five games to go along with three home runs. The Cincinnati Reds stud is consistently squaring up the baseball, carrying a 50% hard hit rate and 33.3% barrel rate. 

The matchup here is an appealing one as well. The Arizona Diamondbacks send Michael Soroka to the hill, who has allowed 1.38 HR/9 across his previous two starts. Soroka has also given up nearly 50% of his contact during that span in the air, and McLain has an average 21.5-degree launch angle over his last 22 plate appearances. That's compared to a season launch angle of just 12.4.

Soroka is a fly-ball pitcher lately, and McLain is consistently getting lift when he makes contact. 

I'll play this pick up to +450. 

  • Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: DBacks.TV, Reds.TV

Today’s HR parlay

Dodgers Shohei OhtaniBet Now
+22223
Cardinals Alec Burleson
Reds Matt McLain
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
  • HR picks: 9-63, -18.56 units

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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Will Spurs or Knicks win Game 5? NBA Finals expert picks, predictions

The 2026 NBA Finals return to San Antonio for Game 5 between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.

Jalen Brunson and the Knicks will have a chance to close out the series on the road, having already won the first two games in the Frost Bank Center. The Spurs and the Knicks split the two games held in New York, giving the Knicks a 3-1 lead.

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will have to crawl back into the series after the team gave up a 29-point lead and lost Game 4 on Wednesday, June 10.

The Knicks are searching for their first NBA championship since winning its only two in 1970 and 1973, but have already provided their fan base with a lot to be excited about after reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.

Here’s what NBA experts think will happen in Game 5 of the series:

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) looks to shoot the ball against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the fourth quarter of game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 10, 2026.

Knicks vs. Spurs Game 5 predictions

USA TODAY staff: Spurs will stand strong at home

The USA TODAY Sports staff is in agreement that the Spurs will force a Game 6 on Tuesday in Madison Square Garden. Here are the picks:

Lorenzo Reyes: Spurs 109, Knicks 106

James H. Williams: Spurs 105, Knicks 104 

Scooby Axson: Spurs 121, Knicks 103

Mark Giannotto: Spurs 112, Knicks 105

Victoria Hernandez: Spurs 108, Knicks 105

Jon Hoefling: Spurs 104, Knicks 98

Dimers: Spurs will hold off Knicks

The website predicts the final score for Game 5 on Saturday has the Spurs winning 112-106. This prediction is based on each team's average outcome following 10,000 game simulations.

ESPN: Spurs expected to beat Knicks

The website gives the Knicks a 43.2% shot at defeating San Antonio in the fifth game of the series.

How to watch Game 5 of the NBA Finals

  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Where: Frost Bank Center (San Antonio, Texas)
  • TV: ABC
  • Stream:ESPN, Fubo, YouTube TV

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Finals Game 5 predictions: Will Spurs or Knicks win?

Zach Werenski Won The Norris, But Four Voters Didn't Think He Was Worth A Vote

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski never seems to get the respect he deserves. Even after he was awarded the 2026 Norris Trophy, there were some media and fans who refused to give him his flowers. 

On Friday, he was also named to the NHL's first team. Pretty good year for Werenski, yeah? Sadly, it wasn't enough for some voters. What were they watching? Or were they watching at all? 

Also on Friday, the Professional Hockey Writers' Association President Stephen Whyno released the full ballots for all awards in what he called "the interest of transparency."

You can open Whyno's tweet below and open the document if you'd like. 

Are you ready for some weird notes about the Norris voting?

Out of 198 ballots cast for the Norris Trophy, winner Zach Werenski was completely left off four voters' ballots.

Former NHL Goalie Jonathan Bernier, who is with Le Journal de Montréal, cast votes for Rasmus Dahlin, Moritz Seider, Miro Heiskanen, Cale Makar, and Lane Hutson in that order. 

One SportsNet writer had Rasmus Dahlin, Cale Makar, Evan Bouchard, Jake Sanderson, and Moritz Seider on its ballot. 

A Minneapolis newspaper had Cale Makar, Rasmus Dahlin, Evan Bouchard, Lane Hutson, and Quinn Hughes. 

A Utah publication had Cale Makar, Miro Heiskanen, Rasmus Dahlin, Erik Karlsson, and Moritz Seider. 

To be fair, it's their decision, but to completely leave off Werenski, who was widely considered the best overall NHL defenseman by hockey experts all over the globe, seems a bit weird. 

Of the four ballots who omitted Werenski, only one of them voted for players who all made the playoffs. 

Three of the ballots had the Red Wings' Moritz Seider, who also missed the playoffs, so it can't be that. So what was it?

In the end, the four votes didn't matter, as Werenski won it going away, but it would be interesting to hear the whys behind not even giving him a 5th-place vote. 


Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.  

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Yankees fans think team can still win AL East despite Judge injury

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 02: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on June 02, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Just a little over a week ago, the Yankees were dealt with a pretty sizeable blow, both literally and figuratively, with the loss of Aaron Judge for four to six weeks. While he hasn’t been hitting like the Judge that we’ve come to know, the fact that he’s been dealing with a stress fracture in his rib probably played a pretty big part in that.

Despite losing their captain, the Yankees have hardly fallen off a cliff in the days since putting Judge on the injured list, including a recent sweep of a solid Cleveland Guardians team. With that in mind, we wanted to know if Yankees fans thought the team could still take home the AL East crown despite Judge’s injury. Here are the results:

Pretty overwhelmingly, fans still think they can. Ahead of Friday night’s game against the Blue Jays, the Yankees were tied with the Rays atop the division, and they had one more win on the books already. We as fans always tend to think and want the best thing will happen, so it’s not a shock that on the whole, we expect that they’ll be able to at least keep pace with Tampa Bay, and then turn it on when the likes of Judge and Max Fried return.

Of course, the Yankees have goals that go beyond just winning the division. We all would generally like to see them return to the World Series and hopefully win it. With that in mind, we also asked who the biggest threat in the American League is. The results were:

The American League is a bit of a weak crop at the moment, which probably helps as to why so many think the Yankees will be able to get past the Judge injury. Not surprisingly, fans tend to think that the Rays, who co-held the best record in the AL going into Friday with the Yankees, will be the toughest out. Ahead of Friday’s games, after the Yankees and Rays, the next best record belonged to the Chicago White Sox at 36-31. Considering how bad the ChiSox were just a couple years ago, it’s understandable to be skeptical of them. Including them, pretty much every other team in the AL is hovering around or is below .500.

[Note: Below results are from an MLB-wide survey, not just for Yankees fans.]

We, and other MLB blogs around SB Nation, also asked who the best hitter is baseball was at the moment, and Astros’ slugger Yordan Alvarez came out with that crown. Houston as a team is struggling this season, but Alvarez went into Friday with a 1.066 OPS and led the league in several statistical categories. Of note for us is that Ben Rice is getting plenty of love too. Rice showed promising signs last year, but he’s exploded into life in 2026, with a 1.055 OPS and 18 home runs through Thursday.


These survey results are sponsored by FanDuel.

Thoughts on a 10-1 Rangers loss

Jun 12, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) dives under Texas Rangers shortstop Ezequiel Duran (20) as he steals second base during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Red Sox 10, Rangers 1

  • That was a trash game.
  • Just trash.
  • As a Rangers fan, it felt good for a half inning, when the Rangers hit three singles in the first to score a run and give the team a 1-0 lead.
  • After that, everything was ass.
  • Those three first inning singles? Half of the Rangers’ hit total for the day.
  • Jack Leiter wasn’t good, something that is recurring with an alarming frequency this year.
  • A pair of runs allowed in the first, highlighted by a Willson Contreras homer.
  • Then four more in the fifth — Leiter’s last inning — when the first four batters of the inning went double-double-double-sing.
  • This is the second straight start where Leiter has allowed at least five runs, and the fourth time in his last five starts where he has allowed at least four runs. Leiter has allowed four runs or more in eight of the fourteen stars he has made this year.
  • After a solid 2025 season, the expectation was that Leiter would take a step forward in 2026. Instead, he appears to have taken a step backwards.
  • Leiter has now allowed 19 runs in 12.1 IP in the fifth inning of games this year. That seems less than ideal.
  • Cal Quantrill and Luis Curvelo, apparently not wanting Leiter to feel bad, chipped in, with Quantrill allowing one run and Curvelo three.
  • Luis Curvelo is now sporting a 7.56 ERA and 7.91 FIP on the season.
  • Oh, and Evan Carter left the game with an oblique issue after making a diving catch.
  • Trash game. Bleah.
  • Jack Leiter hit 98.4 mph with his fastball, averaging 96.9 mph. Cal Quantrill hit 95.5 mph with his sinker. Luis Curvelo topped out at 97.0 mph with his fastball.
  • Josh Jung had a 105.7 mph single. Wyatt Langford had a 101.7 mph fly out.
  • We are moving on to the next game and forgetting this one happened.

NY Knicks watch parties back on Saturday as team looks to clinch NBA championship: All you need to know

Knicks fans are seen in celebrating in NYC and Radio City Music Hall.
Knicks fans in NYC, and Radio City Music Hall

The party is back on.

The Knicks will host three watch parties for fans Saturday as the team looks to secure the NBA championship in San Antonio.

Knicks fans will be able to get $10 tickets for the watch party at Radio City Music Hall, can procure free tickets for the party in Plaza33 outside the Mecca, or skate over to Wollman Rink in Central Park for another free, but ticketed, event.

Knicks fans celebrate during a watch party inside Central Park during Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 10, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Heather Khalifa

Fans can reserve their tickets for any of the three events starting at 10 a.m. EST, according to MSG.

Fans have until 10 a.m. EST on Saturday to reserve their tickets for any of the three events.

Knicks alumni are expected to at the events.

The Plaza33 watch party permit Saturday has a maximum of 3,000 attendees and will take place inside an NYPD “frozen zone.”

Only ticketed fans will be permitted entry and will have to go through security checkpoints no later than 8:30 p.m., according to MSG.

The 3,000 permitted fans is about two thousand more fans than were approved for the ultimately scrapped Game 4 watch party, which was canceled by MSG after the city granted just 1,000 spots for the popular events.

Knicks owner James Dolan blamed Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch for failing to accommodate the masses in an interview on sports radio WFAN on Wednesday.

“They have never managed anything like this before and it’s like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches coming out the sides,” he said.

Knicks fans can get $10 tickets for the watch party at Radio City Music Hall as the team looks to clinch the NBA championship in San Antonio. Getty Images
Fans attend a Knicks watch party at SOB’s in the West Village during Game 4 of the NBA Finals. William C Lopez/NY Post

Dolan further claimed that Mayor Mamdani was “not a Knicks fan.”

MSG has complained that the limited capacity of the watch parties ices out ten of thousands of fans from celebrating the possible championship.

Previous watch parties did not require tickets or security screenings.  

The first Finals watch party to be canceled was the celebration for Game 3, which was called off due to security concerns surrounding the attendance of President Donald Trump.

Some watch parties across the city have turned violent.

A 17-year-old boy was beaten into a coma by a deranged San Antonio fan shouting “Spurs in 7” at W 35th and 8th Avenue after the historic Game 4 comeback victory at MSG on Wednesday.

Other post-Game 4 hijinks included a wild mob launching chairs at a Midtown Five Guys employee, leaving him bloodied and damaging the chain burger joint.

Oldest living Knick — 94-year-old Richie Guerin — doesn’t get nervous watching NBA Finals: ‘I’ve been there too many times before’

Richie Guerin speaks at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, Richie Guerin (9) of the New York Knickerbockers making a layup over Connie Dierking (20) of the Syracuse Nationals in 1959

The oldest living New York Knick is keeping his cool during the team’s historic — and heart-stopping –championship run.

Hall of Famer Richie Guerin told The Post this week he doesn’t get butterflies seeing his former team on the brink of their first championship title since 1973.

“Not really. Because, you know, I’ve been there too many times before — to watch a team win a game by effort and lose a game by the other team’s effort,” said the 94-year-old Guerin, who played for the Knicks from 1956 to 1963.

Hall of Famer Richie Guerin, now 94, played for the Knicks from 1956 to 1963. NBAE via Getty Images

The Knicks legend, who made history as the first guard to score 2,000 points in an NBA season, had the foresight to predict the team would clinch Game 4.

“I think there’ll be a very good chance that the Knicks will win this game tonight and then go to San Antonio with a 3 to 1 lead and hopefully come away with a win,” Guerin said on Wednesday morning, before the Knicks later stunned the San Antonio Spurs with a history-making comeback after being down 29 points in the third quarter.

Guerin spent seven seasons playing for the Knicks, until he was traded to the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks, where he played seven more years and also coached.

He had an impressive career average of 20 points per game, 11 games of 40 or more points, and several with 50 points. His career high of 57 points stood for more than 50 years until Bernard King broke it with 60 in 1984.

The Bronx native, who played for Iona College and served as an officer in the Marine Corps, was at Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on Monday with his daughter as a guest of the organization, which announced him on the jumbotron.

“It worked out very nice to have an enjoyable evening. Everything nice, but winning the game,” the six-time NBA All-Star said.

The Bronx native, who played for Iona College, was at Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. AP

“Monday, it just happened that the other team did a little bit better down the stretch and was able to come away with the win, just like the Knicks were in the game in San Antonio … But sports is a funny thing and teams play differently from game to game.”

The father of four said the league was different in his day — and players had to make ends meet by getting other gigs in the off-season.

“We had to go out and get a job. We had a family. The players today in all sports, it’s a 12-month sport. They take a slight break and they come back,” he explained.

“I worked with a friend of mine who owned a plumbing business. And then I worked at the racetrack up in Yonkers.”

And because current ballplayers are playing more, they’re stronger on the court.

“Today’s athlete is a lot better and physically stronger than the athletes of the era that I played in, in any sport. They play a lot more games than we did in the off-season,” he said.

Guerin, left, said that in his day, NBA players had to get other jobs in the off-season. AP

He also called the Spurs’ 7′ 4″ powerhouse and now-New York archenemy Victor Wembanyama “a very strong, talented player,” but explained that in his era, a man from France would never play in the NBA.

“That’s the other part of the game today, where people are coming into the league from Europe,” he said.

The grandfather of eight said none of his grandkids play basketball — but he still gifted them with precious memorabilia from his storied career.

“I give things to my grandchildren or a friend, and I’m very happy and satisfied to do that,” he said.

“There’s a lot of people who sell it. And I’m not one of those types of people.”

Jayson Tatum And The Boston Celtics May Be On The Verge Of A New Era

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 28: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at the TD Garden on October 28, 2024 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. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Nothing has happened on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade front yet, but there are strong rumors that Boston may win the sweepstakes.

There are various reports of how the trade would be structured, with some saying it would be a three-way deal between Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta.

Other reports say Brad Stevens is trying to swing a deal that would get Giannis and possibly former Virginia star Trey Murphy.

This would mean splitting up former Duke star Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They’ve been very successful, having won a championship in 2024, but in a trade that big, Boston would have to give one of them up, and it looks like they’re choosing to keep Tatum.

There are a lot of moving parts here, but several reports suggest it’s nearly a done deal, possibly with Milwaukee getting Brown and sending him on for some significant bundle of assets from another team.

If this happens – and obviously it hasn’t yet – Tatum will have an incredibly talented frontcourt teammate. As of now, they don’t really have a center, even though Giannis could cover some of that up.

However, a frontcourt of Tatum, Antetokounmpo, and Murphy would cause all kinds of problems for the rest of the league.

As noted, nothing is certain yet, but at least one observer said that Boston and Milwaukee have a handshake deal.

If it goes through, it’s going to shake up the NBA in a way that few trades ever do.

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OG Anunoby Storming into NBA Finals MVP Odds Race

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New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has made extraordinary progress in NBA Finals MVP odds, pushing into second place behind his teammate, Jalen Brunson.

The latest NBA Finals MVP odds from DraftKings Sportsbook have Anunoby second at +210 to Brunson’s -115.

Key Takeaways

  • Anunoby was around +5,000 earlier in the series.

  • Current odds suggest he has a 32.3% chance of winning the award.

  • Victor Wembanyama claimed that “everyone knows” the Spurs will come back to win the series.

Brunson opened the series second in Finals MVP odds behind San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. Brunson quickly climbed into the lead after the Knicks took a 2-0 series lead and remains on top of the board with his team up 3-1.

Anunoby, formerly an afterthought in the conversation, has closed from around +5,000 to his current line of +210. Using the implied probability of his odds, Anunoby has a 32.3% chance of winning the award, while Brunson still has a 53.5% chance.

The 28-year-old Anunoby put up 33 points in Game 4, which ended in a Finals-record 29-point comeback for the Knicks. He also blocked De’Aaron Fox’s shot with less than 15 seconds remaining, and then scored the game-winning bucket by tipping in a missed three from Brunson.

“He's been clutch. He's the guy that's actually brought [the Knicks] back from being down,” DraftKings Sportsbook director Johnny Avello said. “I think he's got a big shot to win MVP. I really do. We had him at 4-to-1 after the game the other night. Now he's down to +210, so they're loving him right now to win the MVP.”

Anunoby’s raw stats (23.8 points, four rebounds) aren’t as impressive as Brunson’s (29.5 points, five assists, 4.5 rebounds). However, he’s played excellent defense, produced clutch moments, and shot the ball incredibly efficiently, making 58% of his field goals and 55.6% of his three-pointers.

Finals MVP odds contenders

Wembanyama follows Brunson and Anunoby in NBA Finals MVP odds at +390. 

On Friday, he boldly declared that “everyone knows” the Spurs are going to win the Finals. That would require them to become the second team to recover from a 3-1 deficit in the championship round, with the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers being the only team to have accomplished that feat.

Bringing the Spurs back would almost assuredly guarantee that Wembanyama would win Finals MVP. Nobody on his team is shorter than +25,000 in odds, that player being Stephon Castle. 

Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns sits between Wembanyama and Castle in odds at +4,000. He looked like the best player on his team in Games 1 and 2, although he was a relative no-show in Games 3 and 4. 

Game 5 betting odds

DraftKings reported that Game 4 of the Finals was the sportsbook’s most-bet game in its history. Game 5 will see the series return to San Antonio, where the Knicks won the first two games of the series as underdogs.

Despite those results, and the Spurs trailing in the series 3-1, DraftKings has the home team as a 5.5-point favorite. That line rests between where it did in Games 1 and 2, for which they were 4.5- and 6.5-point favorites.

At DraftKings, 73% of bets and 68% of the handle in the spread market are backing the Knicks. Meanwhile, 59% of tickets and 82% of the money is also on the Knicks in the moneyline market, currently priced at -192 for the Spurs and +160 for the Knicks. 

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

New Yorkers not welcome — Spurs block out-of-towners from buying NBA Finals Game 5 tickets

The San Antonio Spurs have slapped a ticket restriction on NBA Finals games in a pathetic bid to keep New York fans from flooding the Frost Bank Center.

Knicks faithful trying to get into tonight’s Game 5 contest – which could hand New York its first NBA title in 53 years – are being greeted with a warning from Ticketmaster.

“Frost Bank Center is located in San Antonio, Texas . Sales to this event will be restricted to customers residing within a 150-mile radius of Frost Bank Center,” the note reads.

The San Antonio Spurs are trying to prevent Knicks fans from attending Game 5. NBAE via Getty Images

“Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside of a 150-mile radius of Frost Bank Center will be canceled without notice and refunds given. Please note there is a 4 seat ticket limit for transactions through the venue.”

The cheapest ticket to the game as of early Saturday was just over $1,000 while the most expensive seat for the potentially historic game clocked in at about $43,000.

The Friday night move, first reported by TMZ, came just hours after The Post revealed 45% of tickets on the resale market on TickPick for the pivotal Game 5 were purchased by fans from New York and New Jersey, according to data from the company.

Those who have already purchased a ticket may still be out of luck — with Ticketmaster stating that any out of towners with tickets will have them refunded and canceled without notice.

“The 150 mile radius restriction introduced during the Playoffs remains in place throughout the NBA Finals,” The Spurs told The Post. “This allows us to continue prioritizing local fans across San Antonio, Austin, and the surrounding communities.”

Basketball fans were incensed by the flagrant party foul.

“So the lifelong Spurs fan who moved somewhere else in our huge state is barred. The Knicks fan sensing history tonight can’t go. This is stupid,” radio host Mark Davis wrote on X.

Game 5 is being played at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. NBAE via Getty Images

“That’s bulls–\t. Spurs are scared and know they’re going to lose so they resort to these tactics. Deal with it like adults,” X user Pebbles wrote.

“This can’t be real? Is this even legal,” author and New Jerseyan Phil Ruzzo wrote on X.

Even New York Gov. Kathy Hochul blew the whistle.

“Knicks fans finally get within one game of a championship and their reward is having their tickets canceled? Thousands of New Yorkers bought tickets, booked flights, and made plans in good faith. Ticketmaster and the Spurs should reverse this decision and let the fans who bought those seats keep them. Until then, on behalf of Knicks fans everywhere, I’m calling foul,” Hochul wrote in an X post.

The Spurs, making their last stand after the Knicks miracle Game 4, tried to encourage their deflated and regional fanbase with a statement on Friday to justify the mass of Knicks fans expected at the possibly decisive game.

The Post reported that nearly 50 percent of tickets had been purchased by fans from the New York/New Jersey area. Getty Images

“We’re excited about the energy and support our fans have brought throughout this Finals run and look forward to Game 5,” the org said.

“Tickets may be transferred or resold multiple time safer their initial purchase through a variety of channels,” the statement, reported by News 4 San Antonio continued. “That’s why the location of the original purchaser based on billing address does not always necessarily reflect who ultimately attends the game.”

“Throughout the season, Playoffs and Finals, we have encouraged Season Ticket Members to keep tickets in the hands of SPurs fans whenever possible,” the statement read.

However some on social media pointed out the residency restriction practice has been in place throughout the playoffs due to the Knicks fans domination of opponents’ home courts.

Back in the second round, the Philadelphia 76ers attempted to keep Knicks fans out of Xfinity Mobile Arena — with even star center Joel Embiid begging locals to hang onto their stubs.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, who the Knicks swept in the Eastern Conference Finals, also tried and failed to maintain home court advantage — pulling notable Knick fan Fat Joe’s courtside seats at Rocket Arena for Game 4.

Shohei Ohtani sits Friday with left knee inflammation

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 12: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning at Rate Field on June 12, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Shohei Ohtani did not play in Friday’s series opener in Chicago after leaving Thursday’s game in Pittsburgh with left knee inflammation. Ohtani got an MRI on his left knee with showed “normal wear and tear,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters Friday in Chicago.

“With the travel, just to give him an extra day. My hope is that he’s in there tomorrow. But if not, he’ll need another day. It’s something we think we can manage, not an IL situation,” Roberts said, as shown on SportsNet LA. “Seeing him today, he feels fine-ish. But again, just giving him the extra day is the smart thing to do.”

Jack Harris at the California Post has more on Ohtani sitting on Friday, as does Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

Links

Dusty Baker had quite the baseball life, with over five decades in the sport as a player, coach, and manager, including eight seasons playing for the Dodgers. Baker has a new memoir out, and Daniel Brown at The Athletic profiled the 77-year-old in an engaging interview. This little aside really tickled me:

“I used to hang out with Tom Selleck. We worked out together,” Baker says. “In L.A., you might run into anybody. He was a good dude.”


Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the team physician for the Dodgers and Los Angeles Rams, and renowned surgeon who, among other things, also performed the recent arthroscopic nano-needle surgery on Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in May, found himself in hot water on Thursday.

ElAttrache wrote a letter of support for UFC star Connor McGregor to use performance-enhancing drugs while McGregor rehabbed from a broken leg suffered in 2021, reported by Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times.

Major League Baseball is looking into the situation, and ElAttrache has already spoken with MLB, he said in a statement released on Friday to Matt Morte of the New York Times:

“I have spoken with MLB and I am very comfortable with the process that the league and I will complete to assure the public that I have followed every rule and regulation in my medical treatment of athletes without exception” ElAttrache said in a statement. “My record is completely clean including in this case. I will leave it to MLB officials to provide any further comment as they see fit.“

MLB Predictions and Moneyline Picks for Saturday, June 13

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The dogs are barking this Saturday.

We have 15 MLB games on the card, with several underdogs who shouldn't be, and some massive favorites we must fade on price alone.

Read on for a fun day of MLB predictions and MLB picks for Saturday, June 13. 

MLB moneyline picks for June 13

MatchupPick
Cardinals Cardinals
vs
Twins Twins
Cardinals
+104
Yankees Yankees
vs
Blue Jays Blue Jays
Blue Jays
+117
Mariners Mariners
vs
Nationals Nationals
Nationals
+104
Marlins Marlins
vs
Pirates Pirates
Marlins
+122
PadresPadres
vs
Orioles Orioles
Padres
+113
Tigers Tigers
vs
Guardians Guardians
Guardians
+117
Dodgers Dodgers
vs
White Sox White Sox
White Sox
+178
RangersRangers
vs
Red Sox Red Sox
Rangers
-100
Braves Braves
vs
Mets Mets
Mets
+104
Diamondbacks Diamondbacks
vs
Reds Reds
Reds
+104
Astros Astros
vs
Royals Royals
Astros
+108
PhilliesPhillies
vs
Brewers Brewers
Phillies
+133
Rockies Rockies
vs
Athletics Athletics
Rockies
+170
Cubs Cubs
vs
Giants Giants
Cubs
-104
Rays Rays
vs
Angels Angels
Rays
-122

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 6-13.

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Expert MLB moneyline picks for June 13

Cardinals vs Twins: Cardinals (+104)

Cardinals win probability: 49%

Minnesota hitters strike out 21.5% of the time against lefties. Matthew Liberatore holds a steady 4.68 SIERA and a low 0.93 home run rate. St. Louis relievers have a strong 3.10 SIERA, giving them the upper hand late.

Yankees vs Blue Jays: Blue Jays (+117)

Blue Jays win probability: 46.1%

Kevin Gausman gives Toronto a real pitching edge at home. The Yankees' offense has slowed down recently, posting a 106 wRC+. New York starter Cam Schlittler has a 4.50 FIP, making the home underdog the smart play.

Mariners vs Nationals: Nationals (+104)

Nationals win probability: 49%

Cade Cavalli owns a solid 4.61 SIERA for Washington. He faces a Seattle offense that has a high 20.1% strikeout rate over the last two weeks. Both teams have matching 107 wRC+, making the home team a plus-money price great value.

Marlins vs Pirates: Marlins (+122)

Marlins win probability: 45%

Pittsburgh rookie Bubba Chandler has a high 5.36 SIERA and gives up 1.80 home runs per nine innings. Miami's bullpen is much safer with a 3.81 SIERA compared to Pittsburgh's weak 4.11 bullpen mark. Back the Miami bats to come out on top. 

Padres vs Orioles: Padres (+113)

Padres win probability: 46.9%

Baltimore starter Trey Gibson is overpriced with a poor 6.34 SIERA and a handful of strikeouts. Randy Vasquez has been much more reliable with a slightly better 5.70 SIERA. Take the better pitching numbers with the Padres on the road.

Tigers vs Guardians: Guardians (+117)

Guardians win probability: 46.1%

Tarik Skubal automatically makes the Tigers the favorites on the road. However, Joey Cantillo holds his own with a 4.46 SIERA. The real advantage is Cleveland's excellent bullpen, which has a sharp 3.59 SIERA to stop Detroit late.

Dodgers vs White Sox: White Sox (+178)

White Sox win probability: 41.5%

Rules prevent taking the Dodgers at a short price of -194. Chicago's offense has actually matched the Dodgers lately, with both teams earning a 122 wRC+. At a high +178 price, home field variance makes the White Sox worth backing.

Rangers vs Red Sox: Rangers (-100)

Rangers win probability: 50%

Texas is an excellent choice at an even pick'em price. The Rangers' offense is rolling with a 121 wRC+ over the last two weeks. Meanwhile, Boston has completely gone cold with a weak 82 team wRC+ and is hard to trust. 

Braves vs Mets: Mets (+104)

Mets win probability: 49%

Sean Manaea matches up well against an Atlanta offense that has an ordinary 102 wRC+ across the past two weeks. Atlanta starter Martin Perez has a high 5.09 SIERA. The Mets bullpen carries a strong 3.33 SIERA to protect the lead late, and are a home dog worth backing. 

Diamondbacks vs Reds: Reds (+104)

Reds win probability: 49%

Rhett Lowder gets the start for Cincinnati at home. He faces an Arizona offense that has completely flatlined. The Diamondbacks have a league-worst 65 wRC+ over the last 14 days, making the home underdog the right play.

Astros vs Royals: Astros (+108)

Astros win probability: 48.1%

Mike Burrows gets the nod for Houston. The biggest edge for the Astros is their stellar bullpen. Houston relievers have a 3.14 SIERA, which will shut down Kansas City late in the game. Take the plus-money road team.

Phillies vs Brewers: Phillies (+133)

Phillies win probability: 42.9%

The market is making a mistake by pricing the Phillies as big underdogs. Aaron Nola is a top-tier pitcher compared to Shane Drohan. Philadelphia's bullpen supports him with a strong 3.22 SIERA to keep Milwaukee quiet.

Rockies vs Athletics: Rockies (+170)

Rockies win probability: 37%

The Athletics are too expensive to back here. Colorado starter Kyle Freeland has a 4.93 SIERA, which matches up tightly with Jeffrey Springs' 5.00 SIERA. At this large a price, the Rockies and Freeland are too difficult to ignore.

Cubs vs Giants: Cubs (-104)

Cubs win probability: 51%

Ben Brown gives Chicago a stable advantage over Trevor McDonald's 4.21 SIERA. San Francisco's bullpen is in deep trouble, posting a slate-worst 5.21 SIERA over the last two weeks. Back the Cubs at a great price.

Rays vs Angels: Rays (-122)

Rays win probability: 55%

Tampa Bay has a major pitching advantage. Angels starter Jose Soriano struggles with a high 5.69 SIERA and a poor 7.59 BB/9 walk rate. The Rays will score early and exploit a mediocre Angels bullpen.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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When One Rockies Season Is Enough to Remember

MLB: JUN 08 Giants at Rockies

More than 700 players have appeared in a game for the Rockies. Most do not last long. The average Rockies tenure is much closer to two years than five, which makes the long-timers easy to remember and the short stays easy to lose. 

This is not about franchise pillars, or random cameos, but Rockies who packed most of their Colorado story into one season. 

Jeff Cirillo helps draw the line. He spent two seasons with Colorado, and both were productive. In 2000, he hit .326 with 53 doubles, 115 RBI, 195 hits, an All-Star selection, and 4.5 bWAR. 

In 2001, Cirillo hit .313 with 17 home runs, 83 RBI, and 3.2 bWAR. 

If this were just a list of great short Rockies stays, Cirillo would belong. But his tenure had two good seasons, then a transaction afterlife when Colorado traded him to Seattle in the deal that brought Brian Fuentes to Denver. 

This list is narrower: One big year, one sharp impression, and then the moment was gone.

The toolsy outfielder who looked like the future: Nolan Jones, 2023 

The most recent bit of one-summer magic is Nolan Jones.

The Rockies acquired Jones from Cleveland for Juan Brito in November 2022, started him in Triple-A, and did not get the full version right away. He was recalled in April, sent back down, recalled again in May, and then caught fire after returning from the injured list.

In 2023, Jones hit .297 with 20 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and 4.3 bWAR in 106 games. He led the Rockies in Baseball-Reference WAR despite playing barely two-thirds of a season, and his outfield arm gave the profile another loud tool.

Jones looked like more than a nice find. He looked like a possible long-term answer.

Then came the follow-up. Jones fell to -0.8 bWAR in 2024, with injuries and swing-and-miss keeping the breakout from becoming a clean franchise arc. By March 2025, the Rockies had traded him back to Cleveland for Tyler Freeman.

The story has kept moving. Cleveland has since traded Jones to the White Sox. Teams are still searching for some version of the player who briefly looked like a future piece in Colorado. 

Replacing a legend: Justin Morneau, 2014 

Justin Morneau’s Rockies tenure technically stretched into 2015, but his Rockies story is really 2014. 

Todd Helton had just retired. First base at Coors Field had belonged to one player for nearly two decades. The Rockies were not going to replace him with another Helton. Nobody was. 

Then Morneau showed up and won the National League batting title. 

He hit .319 with 17 home runs and 82 RBI, giving Colorado a veteran first baseman who could still really hit. He was not Helton, and the Rockies did not need to pretend he was. Morneau was a former MVP, post-concussion and post-prime, proving there was still a high-level hitter left. 

The batting title can be dismissed by people who dismiss every Rockies batting line, but that undersells the season. Morneau gave Colorado a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat at a position that had just lost the most important player in franchise history. 

As one-year Rockies chapters go, it was about as simple as it gets: batting title, injury-limited follow-up, free agency. 

The Coors Field pitching answer: Joe Kennedy, 2004 

Joe Kennedy might be the most underrated brief-stay season in Rockies history. 

There was no All-Star selection. No major award. No playoff race. The 2004 Rockies lost 94 games, and Kennedy’s season mostly disappeared inside a bad team. 

Kennedy gave the Rockies something they almost never get: a legitimately strong starting pitching season at Coors Field. He went 9-7 with a 3.66 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 162 1/3 innings, 117 strikeouts, a 135 ERA+, and 5.6 bWAR. He became the first Rockies starter to finish a season with an ERA under 4.00 after the team moved to Coors Field. 

Kennedy was actually better in Denver, going 6-1 with a 3.59 ERA in 14 home starts. 

Jason Marquis fits this bucket, too, just differently. He gave the 2009 playoff Rockies 216 innings, an All-Star selection, and 3.5 bWAR in his only season with Colorado before leaving through free agency. 

Kennedy had less visibility and less team success. For one year, though, he solved a problem Colorado has spent most of its existence trying to solve. 

The one-year relievers: Gabe White and Greg Holland

Relievers have their own version of this. 

Greg Holland is the visible one. He came to Colorado after Tommy John surgery, took over the ninth inning for a playoff team, saved 41 games, made the All-Star team, shared the National League saves lead, won NL Comeback Player of the Year, then reached free agency. 

Gabe White is the sneaky one. He came over from Cincinnati in the Manny Aybar trade, put up 4.5 bWAR, a 2.17 ERA, 0.916 WHIP, 84 strikeouts, and a 247 ERA+ in 83 innings, then fell off in 2001 and was traded right back to Cincinnati. 

Holland has the playoff team visibility. White has the “wait, that actually happened?” stat line.

The one that still stands out: Jeffrey Hammonds, 2000

The one that still stands out most to me is Jeffrey Hammonds in 2000.

The Rockies acquired Hammonds from Cincinnati on October 30, 1999, in the trade that sent Dante Bichette to the Reds after seven seasons in Colorado. Hammonds played one season in Denver, reached free agency, signed with Milwaukee, and never again matched that summer at Coors Field.

That one season was the whole story. Hammonds played 122 games for Colorado and hit .335 with 20 home runs, 106 RBI, 14 steals, and made the All-Star team. He was not even the only Rockies position player from that roster to get there. Helton made his first All-Star appearance, and Cirillo was there, too, which is a pretty good snapshot of how ridiculous that lineup became.

The Rockies were built for offense that year. Helton was having a monster season, and Coors Field was still playing huge. But Hammonds was not just along for the ride. He gave them average, gap power, home run thump, some speed, and enough RBI production to stand out even in that environment.

That is what makes it the cleanest brief-stay Rockies season: acquired for a franchise icon, one huge year, free agency, and a reminder that not every breakout is meant to be bought.

The current version 

That is part of the point: sometimes you do not know you are watching a “one-summer-only” Rockies season while it is happening. 

Hammonds looked like he might be part of the lineup beyond 2000. Kennedy looked like he might have found something that worked at Coors Field in 2004. Jones looked like he might be part of the next good Rockies team in 2023. Each one lasted much shorter than it seemed in the moment. 

That is what makes the current roster interesting. Jake McCarthy, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Troy Johnston are Rockies right now, and all three have given Colorado something worth watching. McCarthy has brought speed and useful outfield defense. Sugano has given the Rockies real innings. Johnston is fifth in the National League in batting average and tied with Rafael Devers and Ernie Clement for the Major League lead with 20 doubles

Maybe their Rockies stories keep going. But maybe this summer is the chapter. Maybe years from now, this is the stretch fans look back on as the brief moment when one of them dropped a little magic in Colorado.


ON THE FARM

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 16, Tacoma Rainiers 1

The Albuquerque Isotopes (35-32) crushed the Tacoma Rainiers (28-39) 16-1 on a night that started with Gabriel Hughes’ (No. 12 PuRP) return and ended with Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) and Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) launching back-to-back home runs.

Hughes was excellent in his first game back with Albuquerque after a rehab assignment with High-A Spokane, where he threw six scoreless innings across two starts. The right-hander worked five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four. He threw 58 of his 77 pitches for strikes and earned his first Triple-A win of the season, lowering his ERA to 7.20. Victor Vodnik followed with a scoreless inning, walking one but striking out the side, and Albuquerque pitchers held Tacoma to two hits while striking out 12.

Veen and Condon set the tone in the first inning. Veen doubled to right at 105.1 mph, his 16th double of the season, and Condon followed two batters later with a two-run homer to left-center. The 104.3 mph drive traveled 395 feet and was Condon’s 12th home run of the year.

They kept applying pressure from there. Veen added his 17th double in the third and finished 3-for-6 with two doubles, a three-run homer, three RBI, and two runs scored. He is now hitting .324 with a .985 OPS. Condon finished 3-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI, four runs scored, and two walks. His second homer of the night, and 13th overall, came immediately after Veen’s three-run shot in the ninth. Condon has now homered five times in his last five games, and both Condon and Veen have gone deep in back-to-back games.

The game was still 3-1 after seven innings before Albuquerque buried it. The Isotopes scored nine runs in the eighth, with Vimael Machín delivering the biggest swing on a three-run homer, his ninth of the season. Machín finished 2-for-5 with four RBI

Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 11, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 1

The Hartford Yard Goats (34-26) beat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (30-29) 11-1 behind an impressive Double-A debut from Jackson Cox (No. 16 PuRP) and a huge night from the Hartford offense.

Cox was superb in his first start with the Yard Goats after being promoted from High-A Spokane, where he had posted a 4.23 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 55.1 innings. The right-hander did not allow a hit until the fifth inning and finished with 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out eight. He worked into trouble in the third with two walks and a hit batter, but escaped the bases-loaded jam with a strikeout and kept New Hampshire quiet from there.

Hartford gave Cox breathing room in the second when Conner Capel walked and Bryant Betancourt followed with his 12th home run of the season. Betancourt finished 4-for-4 with three RBI and four runs scored, raising his OPS to .861.

The Yard Goats put the game away with an eight-run fourth inning. Zach Kokoska delivered the biggest swing with a three-run double, his eighth double of the season, and Aidan Longwell later added a two-run double, his 18th. Longwell finished 3-for-5 with two RBI, while Kokoska went 2-for-5 with three RBI.

Cole Messina (No. 26 PuRP) also reached four times as the designated hitter, going 1-for-2 with his ninth double, three walks, and a run scored. Hartford finished with 16 hits and seven walks, giving Cox more than enough support in one of the Yard Goats’ most complete wins of the season.

High-A: Eugene Emeralds 7, Spokane Indians 6

The Spokane Indians (25-36) lost 7-6 to the Eugene Emeralds (41-20) on a walk-off homer after rallying back from a three-run deficit.

Jack O’Dowd stayed red hot, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI. O’Dowd singled home Ethan Hedges (No. 29 PuRP) in the first, doubled in the seventh, and doubled again to lead off the ninth before being stranded at third. In 20 games with Spokane, O’Dowd is now hitting .395/.471/.711 with a 1.182 OPS.

Tommy Hopfe also helped carry the offense, going 2-for-4 with a walk, his sixth home run of the season, and three RBI. Hopfe led off the game with a homer to center field, then tied it in the eighth with a two-run single after Spokane had fallen behind 6-3.

Hunter Omlid gave the Indians a chance, throwing three scoreless innings out of the bullpen with two strikeouts. But after Spokane missed a chance to take the lead in the top of the ninth, Trevor Cohen hit a walk-off solo homer in the bottom half to hand the Indians a tough loss.

Single-A: Visalia Rawhide 5, Fresno Grizzlies 1

The Fresno Grizzlies (31-30) lost 5-1 to the Visalia Rawhide (27-34) after scoring in the first inning but getting held quiet the rest of the way.

Yeiker Reyes opened the game with his first triple of the season, and Ashly Andujar (No. 20 PuRP) brought him home with a sacrifice fly to give Fresno a quick 1-0 lead. Reyes finished 2-for-4 and is now hitting .333 with a .777 OPS.

The lead did not last. Pedro Catuy hit a two-run homer off Riley Kelly (No. 27 PuRP) in the second inning, and Visalia added three more runs in the fifth. Kelly took the loss, allowing five runs, three earned, on three hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four and now has a 5.65 ERA.

Easton Marks gave Fresno a strong finish out of the bullpen, throwing 3.1 scoreless innings with six strikeouts. The Grizzlies managed only five hits, struck out 14 times to one walk, and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.


‘He looked like death’: Sullivan’s MLB debut cut short due to illness | MLB.com

MLB.com’s Arion Armeniakos writes that Sean Sullivan’s Rockies debut was brief but memorable, with illness ending his first big-league start earlier than planned. Even so, Sullivan showed enough poise to make the outing feel more encouraging than disappointing. For a Rockies rotation still sorting through options, it was a strange debut — but a promising one.

A curious spike in Rockies injuries | purplerow.com

Purple Row’s Cory Cohen looks at a Rockies injury spike that has gotten hard to dismiss as normal attrition. Colorado had been one of MLB’s healthier organizations in recent years, but 2026 has brought a wave of injuries across both the major-league roster and the farm.

Sullivan records first multihomer game, looks to bounce back from slow May | MLB.com

MLB.com’s Thomas Harding writes that Brett Sullivan turned a little momentum into his best offensive day as a Rockie, homering twice in Colorado’s loss to the Cubs. The bigger takeaway is that Sullivan is starting to look comfortable again after a rough May and limited playing time behind Hunter Goodman


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Orioles news: The O’s are back on a winning streak

BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 12: Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles jogs back to the dugout after making a catch for an out in the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Friday, June 12, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Good morning Birdland,

These Orioles are a resilient bunch. After last night’s 7-5 win over the visiting Padres, they have now taken three straight, scored seven runs in each of them, and find themselves within one game of the AL’s final wild card spot.

What has been most apparent during the Orioles’ recent resurgence is the improvement of the offense. Yes, they are scoring more runs. But that is simply a byproduct of a better approach. They are more competitive at-bat to at-bat. They are showing patience. They are working counts. They are putting up fight. It’s a beautiful thing to see.

Since May 22, the Orioles have the best offense in baseball. Or at least, no one has scored more runs than them in that span. They also rank in the top 10 of MLB in home runs (7th, 30), walk rate (4th, 10.7%), batting average (9th, .262), on-base percentage (3rd, .346), and slugging percentage (8th, .441), among other metrics.

In that same time, the Orioles have been trotting out eight different players with a wRC+ of 100 or better. That doesn’t even include Samuel Basallo, who just missed the cut off (90 wRC+) and has been dealing with an injury saga in that time. Finally, it feels like the potential of this roster is being realized, to a degree.

It’s probably no coincidence that the Orioles are probably as healthy as they could really hope to be from this day forward. There are some key names missing, including Ryan Helsley, Dylan Beavers, and Dean Kremer. But it’s hard to miss them too badly when some of their replacements have been playing quite well.

Rico Garcia is pitching like one of the game’s best relievers. Colton Cowser has rediscovered his 2024 form and seems to be the everyday center fielder again. And Brandon Young has quietly become the best starter on the team. Sure, there is room to improve, and this team would probably still like to have someone like Jordan Westburg back on the roster. But considering where this team has been at times already this year, things are pretty good!

Links

More this, that and the other leftovers for breakfast | Roch Kubatko
Included in this are Basallo’s post-game quotes regarding the extremely odd injury critique that came from manager Craig Albernaz earlier in the week. It’s unclear what exactly happened internally with the Orioles, but obviously something did happen. Basallo suggests that he wants to move on from it, which seems wise. Hopefully he and Albernaz have had a heart to heart about it, and that will be the end of it.

Jon Meoli: Samuel Basallo’s ‘uncomfortable’ wrist issue made for an uncomfortable week for the Orioles | The Baltimore Banner
Yeah, it was weird. One day we will find out exactly what happened. Was Basallo on the bench so frequently because of the injury, or was Albernaz discipling him in some way? Usually with injuries it’s wise to be cautious. Playing on it can make it worse. And Basallo is a bat that the Orioles need in their lineup in order to get back into playoff position.

3 takeaways: Orioles offense finally hitting the way Mike Elias envisioned | The Baltimore Sun
The lineup was designed to not be overly top-heavy. They wanted a group that could beat you up and down the order. Right now, it’s is firing on all cylinders, and it is a lot of fun to watch.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

  • James McCann turns 36 today. He was the backup catcher in Baltimore for two seasons from 2023-24, with his trademark moment coming when he got hit in the face by a wayward pitch but stayed in the game and played through a clearly broken nose. Currently, he is with the Diamondbacks in the same role.
  • Pedro Strop is 41 years old. A power righty, Strop become a crucial piece in the Orioles bullpen between 2011 and ‘13 before he was traded to the Cubs along with Jake Arrieta.
  • Ernie Whitt turns 74. Much of his 15-season MLB career ws spent in Toronto, but he wrapped up his time in the bigs with 35 games on the 1991 Orioles.
  • The late Tom Gastall was born on this day (b. 1932, d. 1956). He was a reserve catcher with the Orioles between 1955 and ‘56. He died the day after his final game when a small aircraft he was piloting crashed into the Chesapeake Bay.

This day in O’s history

1957 – Baltimore acquires Jim Busby from Cleveland in exchange for Dick Williams. This is the first of three times that the Orioles will either trade away or sell Williams in his career.

1966 – The Orioles trade away a disgruntled Jerry Adair, who wants more playing time, to the White Sox in exchange for Eddie Fisher.

1999 – The Orioles set a club record for runs scored, beating the Braves, 22-1. Cal Ripken Jr. goes 6-for-6 with two home runs. Will Clark goes 4-for-4 with five RBI. Mike Mussina gets the win, tossing seven innings and allowing just the one run.