NEWARK, NJ - JULY 03: First-round draft pick Anton Silayev #52 of the New Jersey Devils skates during New Jersey Devils Development Camp at the Prudential Center on July 3, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Anton Silayev has signed his entry-level contract:
BIG deal? Yeah, we'd say so.
We've signed Anton Silayev to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Devils have signed Silayev, 2024 10th overall pick. Draft position, size, and skating are huge pluses in terms of his projectability. Some big question marks around his KHL time, especially this past season when his ice time plummeted. Puck skills and hockey I.Q. might be issues. pic.twitter.com/dwOrODN9pF
On Silayev: âHe may not have a high offensive ceiling, but I am still optimistic about his chances of becoming a useful NHL player. He has a unique combination of size, speed, and agility that is very rare. If harnessed properly, he could turn into an excellent defender.â [Infernal Access ($)]
On the goaltending: âI doubt Allen is going anywhere, but what about Markström? For as much as fans may want a change in net, it may prove easier said than done.â [Devils on the Rush]
Hockey Links
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final goes to the Golden Knights:
VEGAS TAKES GAME 1 OF THE #STANLEYCUP FINAL đŁïž
The James Norris Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability in his position. đ #NHLAwardspic.twitter.com/4bdUVRLi4w
âBruce Cassidy just wants to coach. In fact, he told The Athletic, just for the chance to interview for the current NHL coaching vacancies, heâd forfeit the reported $5 million the Vegas Golden Knights are on the hook to pay him not to coach next season. But the language in his contract with Vegas states the Golden Knights must grant him permission to interview elsewhere even after relieving him of his coaching duties in late March. If he chose to terminate the remainder of his contract, the only thing it would accomplish would be not getting paid. He still wouldnât be allowed to interview because of a noncompete.â [The Athletic ($)]
âThe NHL All-Star Weekend will have an international hockey flavor after the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Winter Olympics. The 2027 midseason classic, scheduled for Feb. 5-6 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, will feature teams representing Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States and a âWorldâ team comprising international players from countries outside of those four.â [ESPN]
More from NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on a number of topics ahead of Game 1: [The Athletic ($)]
âThe NHL is about to enter an exclusive renegotiation period with its two U.S. media rights holders, ESPN and TNT Sports, and will be doing so from a period of historic viewership strength.â [Front Office Sports]
âA report of a potential succession plan for longtime NHL commissioner Gary Bettman surfaced Tuesday in the hours leading up to his press conference to open the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights. While Bettman, 74, was quick to downplay how far along the process was, he also didnât shy away from the fact his career will wind down eventually.â [Daily Faceoff]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
Jun 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo (16) celebrates hitting a home run against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Good morning Birdland,
Beating divisional opponents is usually a good way to get yourself back into the playoff picture. Starting on May 25, the Orioles last eight games have been against AL East foes. They have gone 6-2 in those games. So it tracks that they have progressed from 12.5 games back of first place going into this stretch, and are now only 8.5 games back.
There are still five more games to go in this current AL East âgauntlet.â Two up in Fenway, and then a three-game stop in Toronto. If the Oâs stay hot, they could mess around and get their overall record to .500 or better. That would really be something!
Last nightâs win was close to an ideal game from the Orioles perspective.
Shane Baz was, once again, quite good. He tossed seven innings, struck out seven and allowed just the two runs. His ERA has steadily fallen over his last four starts, from 5.48 on May 9 to 4.29 today. And he has gone seven innings three times in that stretch as well. This is the pitcher that the Orioles hoped they were getting in that big deal with Tampa over the winter.
The bullpen only needed to cover two innings, but they were good and reliable. Andrew Kittredge got the hold in the eighth. It looks like he is all the way back from his early struggles. And Rico Garcia threw up another zero in the ninth, as he has been doing all season long. The Orioles really found something there.
It wasnât the most impressive night from the offense, but their winning formula was on display. They hit a home run (two, in fact!), this time it was one off the bat of Coby Mayo and another from Pete Alonso. Usually they win games in which they go deep. And they continue to show an ability to manufacture a run, turning a Tyler OâNeill single into a âdoubleâ with a stolen base, and then having Leody Taveras bunt him over to third.
This shift in approach that allows for steals and bunts is refreshing. It feels like a rare moment of introspection where the Orioles realized that some parts of their lineup are weaker than others. Giving up an out with a bunt isnât a terrible outcome if you are concerned that the player would otherwise strikeout or hit into a double play. Taveras has been a good trooper with all of this too, now leading the AL in sac bunts.
How quickly the vibe shifted around the Orioles is impressive. It took one good home stretch, and now these guys feel unbeatable. That wonât last forever. Every team has ebbs and flows. But for now, the Orioles have saved their season. Maybe this will be a fun summer after all.
Links
No righty has homered onto Eutaw Street. Hereâs why Alonso could be the first | Orioles.com Itâs probably not âimpossibleâ for a right-handed hitter to get it out there, but man it would be a sight to see. Camden Yards is never a particularly windy park either, so itâs not like you are going to get the ball up into a jet stream. You are welcome to try though, Pete!
Some reasons for the Orioles getting on a roll | Roch Kubatko Itâs an oversimplification, but nearly everyone is playing better than they were in April. It is particularly evident on the starting staff and then from the duo of Colton Cowser and Coby Mayo. Pair that with continued solid work from some of the other regulars, and suddenly you have the contender that many expected the Orioles to be.
The unexpected centerpiece of the Oriolesâ rotation turnaround? Brandon Young. | The Baltimore Banner I was fortunate enough to be at Saturdayâs game, which Young started. He looked good. Like, really good! He mixed pitches, maintained velocity, and kept an even demeanor throughout. Iâm not gonna say he is the Orioles best pitcher, but he has certainly been a catalyst. His ability to get outs feels like it has put pressure on others to improve. And they certainly have done that.
Former MLB player, 26, intends to play college football at SMU | The Athletic Jordyn Adams played in 10 games for the Orioles last year. He had come to the team after being a top prospect with the Angels but never finding his footing at the big league level. Now, it seems he is ditching baseball altogether in favor of a football comeback.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Brandon Waddell turns 32 today. He pitched in one game for the 2021 Orioles.
RamĂłn UrĂas is 32 years old. From 2020 through â25, UrĂas was a crucial utility player for the Oâs, even winning a Gold Glove in 2022 for his work, and posting a solid 105 OPS+ in that time.
Robert Machado is 53 today. His Oâs stint spanned parts of two seasons from 2003 to â04, when he was a reserve catcher for the big league squad.
Izzy Molina celebrates his 55th. He played in one game for the Orioles in 2002, which was still impressive because it came four years after he had last been in a major league game.
Aaron Ledesma is 55 today. The utilityman played for four different big league teams in just a five-year MLB career. That included the 1997 campaign spent in Baltimore.
Jim Gentile is 92 years old. The Orioles Hall of Famer spent four fantastic seasons in Baltimore from 1960 through â63. His standout year came in â61 when he hit .302/.423/.646 with 46 home runs and a league-leading 141 RBI. That earned him a third-place finish in MVP, behind Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle.
This day in Oâs history
2019 â The annual amateur draft takes place today. Despite some rumors to the contrary, the Orioles do as they are expected and select Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman with the first overall pick.
2008 â Randy Johnson moves into second place on the all-time major league strikeout leaderboard. He strikes out eight in 6.1 innings, most importantly getting Mike Cameron in the 1st to pass Roger Clemens for second place with 4,673. The 44-year-old âBig Unitâ trails only Nolan Ryan but will not catch him.
2012 â Carlos Zambrano hits his 24th career homer as the Marlins beat the Phillies, 5-1. That ties him with Bob Gibson for second-most dingers by a pitcher in the post-1962 era, still nine behind leader Earl Wilson.
1970 â Ray Davies of The Kinks travels round trip NY-London to change one word in âLola,â (Coca-Cola to Cherry Cola) because of a BBC commercial reference ban.
1972 â âHot Rod Lincolnâ by Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen hits No. 9.
Chris Suero of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies hits the ball during a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Early on, the RailRiders and Mets matched each other tit-for-tat, with both teams failing to score in the first and second and then both teams scoring a run apiece in the third and fourth. In the later innings, the RailRiders pulled ahead and took a lead that eventually proved too large for the Mets to catch up. They certainly did, rallying in the bottom of the ninth and scoring three runs- all with two outs- but Kevin Parada flied out to former Met Kennedy Corona to end things with the tying run on second.
Binghamton got shutout, logging only two hits- both Chris Suero singles. Suero also added a stolen base, and outside of a Nick Lorusso walk, that was literally all the Rumble Ponies managed on the evening.
Donât look now, but the Brooklyn Cyclones are now the winners of their last 4- this one, sadly, was not a shutout. The BlueClaws got on the board first, scoring a run off of Noah Hall in the bottom of the second, but the Cyclones recouped that run and then some in the sixth. With Grae Kissinger on first, Corey Collins hit his fifth homer of the season off of the fence in right center into the âJersey Shoreâ boardwalk area, putting Brooklyn on top. Dakota Hawkins pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, Ryan Dollar worked around a walk in the eighth, and Hoss Brewer did the same in the ninth, shutting the door on the BlueClaws and recording his second save.
Donât look now, but the Detroit Tigers are undefeated in June after their 8-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night. Sure, the month is only two days old, but the Motor City Kitties have already scored as many runs (18) over the past pair of games as they did in the final six-and-a-half games of May.
I have no clue what happened to this team when the calendar flipped, but I am loving it!
On Wednesday afternoon, AJ Hinchâs squad will try to complete the sweep of the Rays with right-hander Troy Melton on the mound. The 25-year-old has provided some much-needed quality innings in his two starts so far in the 2026 campaign, and hopefully, he can continue to do so in the finale of the three-game series.
This will be his first-ever appearance against Tampa Bay.
Up against him will be fellow righty Nick Martinez, who has been superb so far this season, throwing seven straight quality starts â including three straight coming into Wednesday â while allowing no more than two runs in any of his 11 outings. The 35-year-oldâs strikeout numbers are not particularly impressive, but he has been extraordinarily stingy when it comes to handing out free passes.
The last time Martinez faced the Tigers was last year on June 13, when he allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five over five frames to take the loss. Hopefully, Detroit can replicate that effort â or better â on Wednesday.
Here is a look at how the two match up.
Detroit Tigers (24-38) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (36-22)
Time (ET): 1:10 p.m. Place: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida SB Nation Site:DRaysBay Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 63: RHP Troy Melton (1-0, 1.42 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Martinez (5-1, 1.62 ERA)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JUNE 02: Gleyber Torres #25 of the Detroit Tigers rounds the bases on his lead-off home run in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 02, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After getting Monday off on their way back from the west coast, the Yankees returned to action Tuesday night, opening a series against the Guardians. And, wellâŠit could have gone better.
For one, Aaron Judge was out of the lineup, as he apparently is dealing with a bone bruise, which flared up over the weekend in Sacramento. On the field, Cam Schlittler had arguably the worst start of his young career, as he gave up five runs in just 4.1 innings. Mainly thanks to Paul Goldschmidt, the Yankeesâ offense kept going back and forth with Cleveland for a while. However eventually, more Guardiansâ hits started to find some grass, and they pulled away and broke the game open.
While the Yankees will licking their wounds after that one, did the loss come back to haunt them in the standings? Letâs check in on Tuesdayâs action in this morningâs Rivalry Roundup.
Detroit Tigers (24-38) 8, Tampa Bay Rays (36-22) 0
The Tigers have really been struggling following their playoff berths in the last two seasons, but you might not have known that in this one. They got to the Rays early an often, doing the Yankees a solid in the process.
Detroit also never really had any worries as their pitching had a big game themselves. Jack Flaherty opened the game with five scoreless innings, scattering five hits and two walks. After him, reliever Enmanuel De Jesus came in and stream-rolled the rest of the way. De Jesus inherited a runner from Flaherty when he came in for the sixth and immediately induced a double play. He then retired every batter he faced after that, meaning that he managed to throw four innings despite facing just 11 batter.
The Tigersâ offense tacked on another couple runs from there, recording 10 hits on the day, and coming away with the victory.
Other Games
Atlanta Braves (41-20) 4, Toronto Blue Jays (29-32) 3: Despite outhitting the Braves 9-6, the Blue Jays couldnât cash in more on their opportunities, dooming them to a one-run loss. Toronto managed to quickly come back after Atlanta had taken a 2-0 lead in the first, but eventually they couldnât continue answering after falling behing. Matt Olsonâs towering sixth-inning homer just cleared the right field fence, and ended up breaking the tie for good and giving the Braves the win.
Seattle Mariners (33-29) 8, New York Mets (26-35) 3: The Mariners racked up 8 runs on 11 hits, including a trio of home runs, to dash the Metsâ Bullpen Game plans. While the Mets were initially able to answer an early 2-0 Seattle lead, the Mâs started to add on and pull away after that. Right after the Mets tied the game at two in the top of the third, the Mariners responded with a run courtesy of two Metsâ errors in the bottom of the inning. Seattle then tacked on five more runs over the next couple innings, including three on a Jhonny Pereda homer.
Jun 2, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) celebrates win after striking out San Diego Padres left fielder Jase Bowen (4) (not pictured) to end the game in the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
I know the big news is the Phillies winning last night, but how about how impressively bad the Padres are at hitting with runners in scoring position? I think McCarthy said they were 0 for their last 27 against the Phillies? Thatâs just horrid.
May 31, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) walks to the dugout after retiring the side against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Jacob Misiorowski just almost went a whole month without allowing a run. Over 38 1/3 innings across six starts, he had a 0.23 ERA, he struck out 57 batters, and he walked only six.
While Misiorowskiâs six-start stretch was not the greatest in the history of baseballâit may not even have been the best in the last month, with a tip of the cap to Cristopher SĂĄnchezâI did wonder if it was the best that Brewers fans had ever seen from one of their players.
There is a compelling case, but thereâs also one mammoth, overlooked figure from the franchiseâs history who needs to be given his due. Here are, from 7-to-1, the seven best six-start spans in Brewer history, according to me.
Note: A couple of these extend for more than six games. To keep things simple, in those cases Iâve taken the best six games from whatever the longer streak is, and I did not include another streak-within-a-streak. However, if a player had multiple distinct streaks, I considered them.
Another note: I will reference the Bill James stat âGame Scoreâ in this piece. Game Score is a single number thatâs used to put a sort of quick and dirty rating on a start, but in general itâs pretty accurate at reflecting effectiveness. It is calculated this way:
Start at 50
Add 1 point for each out and 2 points for each completed inning after the fourth
Add 1 point for each strikeout
Subtract 2 points for each hit, 4 points for each earned run, 2 points for each unearned run, and 1 point for each walk
7. Corbin Burnes, April 13 â May 13 2022
40 2/3 IP, 71 average Game Score, 1.33 ERA, 2.62 FIP, 53 K, 5 BB
Surprise: Burnesâ best stretch as a Brewer did not come during his 2021 Cy Young season. It came at the beginning of the next year.
At his best, Burnes was an absolute assassin. He didnât walk anyone. He never missed spots. His best stretch put those things on display. The remarkable thing here is the walks: just five in 40 2/3 innings. He had double-digit strikeouts in three straight starts from April 19-May 1, and allowed only six runs total.
Somehow, Milwaukee only went 3-3 in these games. But it was still an awe-inspiring display of control, and Burnesâ 10.6 K:BB ratio during the span is the best of any of the contending seasons.
6. Brandon Woodruff, May 1 â May 30 2021
42 IP, 73 average Game Score, 1.07 ERA, 2.48 FIP, 49 K, 8 BB
Here you have it: during Burnesâ Cy Young season, it was Woodruff who had the best six-game stretch. And whatâs even more impressive is that it was all part of a much larger streak: from April 7th, Woodruffâs second start of the season, through June 6th, he made 12 starts, never allowed more than two runs, had a 1.25 ERA, and struck out 92 batters while walking 15 in 79 innings.
By Game Score, the six starts he made in May were the best six. Woodruff completed at least seven innings in four of those, and had double-digit strikeouts in three, one of which was a 7 2/3 innings, 10 strikeout, one walk, three hit, one run gem over the division rival Cardinals on May 12th.
5. CC Sabathia, July 13 â August 8 2008
51 innings, 74 average Game Score, 1.41 ERA, 2.33 FIP, 47 K, 7 BB
Picking a six-game stretch for Sabathia as a Brewer is hard. Thereâs a different six-game stretch that overlaps with this one by one game thatâs arguably just as impressive: if you start on August 8th and go to September 5th, his ERA actually drops to 0.96 (though he didnât throw quite as many innings and walked a few more batters, which accounts for the slight drop in average game score from 74 to 72). Thereâs also no real way to squeeze in his brilliant and meaningful starts in the last two games of the season, because he allowed eight runs (though only five were earned) in the two starts prior to those last two.
Sabathia wasted no time as a Brewer. In his first start with the club on July 8th, he allowed three runs (two earned) in six innings. Pretty good. But after that, he ripped off an 11-game stretch in which he had a 1.31 ERA, struck out 89, and walked 15 in 89 innings. He completed six of those games, three of which were shutouts. Sabathia personally went 8-0, and the team was 10-1.
The best six-game stretch by Game Score is from his second start on July 13th through August 8th. The first of three of those were all complete game victories; in those 27 innings he struck out 26 and walked three, culminating with a 3-0 shutout of the Cardinals. After a brief hiccup against the Cubs on July 28th in which he gave up four runs (three earned) in 6 2/3, Sabathia continued with 8 1/3 innings of two-run ball against the Braves and a nine-strikeout, one-walk shutout of the Nationals.
Sabathiaâs best start by Game Score with the Brewers that seasonâand the best of his 19-year Hall-of-Fame careerâcame on August 31st in Pittsburgh. Thatâs the game where he was a bunt-hit away from a no-hitter and struck out 11.
4. Teddy Higuera, August 15 â September 10 1988
48 1/3 IP, 76 average Game Score, 0.93 ERA, 1.57 FIP, 44 K, 10 BB
Weâll see Higuera again below for what he did during the 1987 season, but by some measures, the streak he had in 1988 was better. The 1987 one was special for a different reason which weâll get to, but by the measures of ERA and FIP, his 1988 streak was better.
From August 15 to September 10, Higuera made six starts and completed at least seven innings in all of them. In four of those, he allowed one run (one of which was unearned); in the other two, he allowed zero and two runs. His ERA for the streak was 0.93, and his FIP was a microscopic 1.57.
The Brewers went 5-1 during the streak, but how could you blame Higuera for the loss? Against Seattle on September 10th, he threw a complete game and allowed only three hits, but Seattle won 1-0.
Two starts especially stand out. On August 25th, Higuera went the distance against the Yankees, allowed only three hits, walked one, and struck out nine; that Yankee lineup had two Hall-of-Famers (Rickey Henderson and Dave Winfield) and two Hall-of-Very-Gooders (Don Mattingly and Jack Clark) at the top. The other was an outing against the Tigers on September 4th; Higuera held that talented team to one hit while shutting them out for seven innings.
3. Mike Caldwell, June 28 â July 22 1978
56 IP, 75 average Game Score, 1.13 ERA, 2.59 FIP, 25 K, 7 BB
My list of potential streaks here included 22 different six-start spans. Of that group, Caldwellâs 56 innings were the most. If you do a little math here, youâll come to the realization that 56 divided by six is more than nine. Yes, during this streak, Caldwell averaged 9 1/3 innings per start. He also had the lowest BB/9 of any of the contenders at just 1.1.
The streak started with a complete game shutout of the Yankeesâthe eventual World Series champsâon June 28th. On July 2nd, Caldwell went 10 innings in an eventual 4-3, 11-inning loss. (Of historical note: Seattleâs starting pitcher in this game was named, and I am not making this up, Dick Pole.) On July 7th, Caldwell shut out the Yankees again. That lineup in 1978 had six different guys who got MVP votes, including one Hall of Famer (Reggie Jackson) and two or three more guys who should be in the Hall (Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, Willie Randolph).
On July 13th, the Brewers blew out the Royals 13-2, but heck, why not let Caldwell complete the game? On July 17th, he pitched all nine innings of a 6-1 victory over the White Sox.
The cherry on top of this streak was a 10-inning complete game against the Rangers on July 22nd. In those 10 innings, Caldwell only struck out one batter. The internet tells me it was 95 degrees that day in Dallas. The Rangers played outside back then. It was a night game, at least. Milwaukee won 2-1.
2. Jacob Misiorowski, May 1 â May 31 2026
38 1/3 IP, 77 average Game Score, 0.23 ERA, 0.66 FIP, 57 K, 6 BB
The thing about Game Score is that it rewards innings pitched. You rack up points by accruing outs; a player who pitches six innings starts with a 72 Game Score before factoring in anything else, while a pitcher who goes nine starts with an 87 Game Score. Those extra innings add up.
Thatâs what makes it so impressive that Misiorowski managed the second-highest average Game Score for any streaking Brewers starter, despite throwing less than 40 innings.*
*Technically, there are five six-game streaks ahead of Misiorowski, but they all belong to the same 1987 stretch by Higuera (see below).
This is fresh in our brains, so I wonât spend a ton of time, but a few things from Miz May:
The Brewers went 5-1 during the streak; in the only game they lost, Misiorowski handed a 1-0 lead to his bullpen after seven shutout innings.
Miz struck out at least eight batters in all six games and had double digits three times.
That he walked just six batters in those six games is remarkable. That equates to 1.4 BB/9. Across four minor league seasons, Misiorowskiâs BB/9 was 5.4, and last season in the majors it was 4.2.
Misiorowskiâs K/9 in those six games was 13.4. The current record for a pitcher with at least 1,000 innings pitched is Blake Snell at 11.2. (13.4 K/9 is actually below Mizâs season average of 13.7, which leads baseball, obviously.)
Misiorowski allowed one extra-base hit during his six starts, a double with one out and nobody on to Isaac Paredes on Sunday. Opponents slugged .110 against him. Ben Sheets slugged .134 in 2004.
1. Higuera, August 10 â September 6 1987
53 IP, 80 average Game Score, 1.19 ERA, 2.38 FIP, 45 K, 16 BB
I think this has to be the answer to this question, and hereâs why: in the last three of these six games, Higuera threw three straight shutouts. One of them was ten innings.
Higueraâs start of August 26th, 1987 against Cleveland is tied for the second-best game in Brewers history by Game Score.* Higuera went all ten innings, struck out ten, walked two, and allowed just three hits. Milwaukeeâs Rick Manning walked off future Brewer Doug Jones in the bottom of the tenth with an RBI single.
*This is a fun list:
Number one, also against Cleveland, is the game when Burnes combined with Josh Hader for a no-hitter. Burnes went eight, struck out 14, and walked one for a 95 Game Score.
Two starts are tied with Higuera with a 94 Game Score: on September 27, 1974, Jim Colborn threw the first 13 innings of a 1-0, 17-inning loss to Baltimore. He walked six and gave up eight hits but didnât allow a run.
The other is Sheetsâ 18-strikeout game. He went nine, allowed three hits and a run, and walked one.
Sabathiaâs near-no-hitter, cited above, is just behind those four, at 93.
Juan Nievesâ no-hitter, the only single-person no-hitter in team history, scores an 89, tied for 13th. He walked five and âonlyâ struck out seven in that game.
In his next start, Higuera allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out nine in a 2-0 shutout of the Royals. Another close game! Ross Jones hit a two-out triple in the bottom of the eighth in a 0-0 game, which was the only thing preventing a Higuera no-hitter. But the next batter popped out, Milwaukee got two two-out runs off of Kansas City ace Bret Saberhagen in the top of the ninth, and Higuera sat down Willie Wilson, Kevin Seitzer, and George Brett in order in the bottom of the ninth.
The third shutout came against that seasonâs World Series champions, the Minnesota Twins. The Brewers won comfortably, 6-0⊠but they were only ahead 1-0 until the 6th and 2-0 until the 8th. The Twins only managed two hits and three walks, and Higuera struck out seven. A weird piece of trivia for anyone who likes seeing baseball legends on the âwrong teamâ: the losing pitcher in this game was Steve Carlton! It was the eighth-to-last appearance of his 24-year, 741-game career.
So thatâs the three shutouts that Higuera threw toward the end of the 1987 season. But while he wasnât quite at that level in the three games before that, he was still good. In the first game of this streak on August 10th, Higuera threw the first 11 innings of a 12-inning, 4-3 win over the Rangers. He lost a duel with Baltimoreâs Mike Flanagan on August 15th but threw all eight innings and allowed just two runs in the loss. The only game of the streak that Higuera didnât go at least eight innings was on August 20th, when he allowed two runs on three hits in six innings. But Milwaukee was up 14-2 when he left that game, so they mustâve decided they could let the bullpen get some work.
The last note about this 1987 streak: it was really an eight-game streak. From August 5th through September 11th, Higuera had a 1.27 ERA in 71 innings and averaged a Game Score of 79. Pretty darn good.
A couple quick honorable mentions, for fun:
Cal Eldred had a 0.58 ERA over 46 2/3 innings from August 14th to September 13th of his magical 1992 rookie season.
Somebody named Bill Parsons had a six-game stretch in July and early August of 1972 which included four straight complete games. Two were shutouts, and in a third he allowed zero earned runs (but still lost).
Chris Bosio had an excellent season in 1989, and that was largely due to a stretch from July 19th through August 12th in which he had a 0.77 ERA in 47 innings.
Sheetsâ 18-strikeout game was included in a stretch where he allowed nine runs in 46 innings (a 1.76 ERA), struck out 48, and walked only eight.
Finally, Jim Slaton had a stretch from August 18 to September 11, 1974, when he had a 0.54 ERA over 50 innings. The peripherals were ugly: he had just a 1.7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. But he was effective.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 31: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs is fouled by Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks in the second half at Frost Bank Center on December 31, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, BBN!
The NBA Finals tip off tonight, and like many Finals in the past, this one has plenty of former Cats looking to get a ring.
San Antonio Spurs: DeâAaron Fox, Keldon Johnson
New York Knicks: Karl-Anthony Towns
Obviously, SGA has been showing out for UK, coming off a championship last year and back-to-back MVP awards.
This year, there will be at least one Cat who wins their first ring.
Fox has been harboring an ankle injury, but he played a huge part in getting the Spurs past the Thunder in Game 7, while Keldon Johnson also had a big game to help the Spurs advance. They scored 15 points and 11 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, KAT has been elite for the Knicks this postseason, averaging 16.9 PPG, 10.6 RPG, and 5.9 APG on 57.2FG%/48.93P%. Heâs a big reason the Knicks are there and have been dominating this postseason.
It should be a fun series! Which Cat will get their first ring?
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Kentucky got a good one.
Milan Momcilovic was 1 of 2 players in the country to shoot 50% from the field, 45% on three-pointers, and 85% on free throws this season.
In addition to having a 7-foot-4 alien who can shoot, pass, dribble and single-handedly stop elite offenses from getting to the rim, what makes the San Antonio Spursâ run to the NBA Finals unique is they possess what most champions typically lack: youth.
When the NBAâs championship round tips off Wednesday night, the Spurs will be looking to become the youngest Finals winner in recent NBA history.
NBC News analyzed the average ages of NBA championsâ playoff rotations since 2016, and San Antonio would be the youngest team to win a title â out-young-ing last yearâs Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Spurs rotationâs average age is 24.4, while their opponent, the New York Knicks, are coming in at a relatively ancient 28.8.
Compared with the overall average championship age of 27.8, San Antonio is 3.4 years younger, while the Knicks are 1.0 years older.
The Spurs arenât just a relatively young team on the whole â their best players are also on the younger side.
San Antonioâs leading scorer in the postseason is center Victor Wembanyama, who is only 22 years old and in his third year in the league. Wembanyama would be the youngest leading scorer to lead his team to a Finals victory in recent history. (If he wins Finals MVP, he would join Magic Johnson and Kawhi Leonard as the youngest players to win it.)
The Spursâ three leading scorers â Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and DeâAaron Fox â would also be tied with last yearâs Thunder as the youngest top-scoring trio of the last 11 NBA Finals.
Compared with New York, San Antonio is led by neophytes. The Knicksâ leading scorer, Jalen Brunson, is 29 and in his eighth season in the NBA. New Yorkâs top three scorers â Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby â also average 29, with none younger than 28.
The median age of leading champion scorers is 27, with Wembanyama coming in a clean five years younger.
At least through three playoff rounds, youth and inexperience havenât been barriers for the Spurs. Theyâve already beaten a team that made two straight conference finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves, as well as last yearâs champion, Oklahoma City, en route to the Finals.
In fact, less playoff seasoning may even help San Antonio.
âThe lack of experience is a strength of us,â Wembanyama told ESPN on Tuesday. âBecause we could do impossible stuff because we donât know itâs impossible.â
Did you know this is their first trip to the Finals since 1999? Did you know they havenât lost in more than a month? Did you know they have the most famous fans in the world? Did you know tickets to games at Madison Square Garden cost more than a car?
Stahhhhhp.
Fortunately for folks who arenât Knicks fans, which is pretty much the rest of the country, New Yorkâs opponents in these Finals are the San Antonio Spurs, who might just be the most down-to-earth team in the NBA.
The San Antonio Spurs are America's team in the NBA Finals
Theyâre small market and worth about half what the Knicks are. Their nickname does not bring instant recognition. Their arena does not have name recognition in their own state, let alone the whole world. Their most famous fans are nuns, not celebrities.
Instead of hanging out with Kardashians, Wemby spent last off-season with monks. While not an actual alien, he is interested in outer space and can talk at length about it. Heâs responsible for an uptick in reading in San Antonio, for goodness sake.
The Spurs are what you want in a championship team.
The Knicks are ⊠what New York wants in a championship team.
Knicks are a team only New Yorkers can love
Every sport has at least one team that everyone else loves to hate. The Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. The New York Yankees in Major League Baseball. Duke in menâs basketball.
Itâs usually a byproduct of success, a toxic owner or an arrogant fan base. In the Knicksâ case, itâs a little bit of everything. Well, maybe not the success part. Not lately, at least. But the owner and the fan base more than make up for that.
Longtime Knicks owner James Dolan is easily the worst owner in the NBA. With Dan Snyder having sold the Washington Commanders, he can make a case for worst owner in all of sports.
Heâs picked fights with superfan Spike Lee and Knicks legend Charles Oakley. He provided cover for Isiah Thomas after he was the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit. Dolan treated his WNBA team like something he found on the bottom of his shoe.
Dolan also has reportedly used surveillance technology to track those who are critical of him and ban them from Madison Square Garden in retaliation. Even Knicks fans hate the man.
That kind of smugness is as annoying as a pebble in a shoe to people who arenât from New York. Since we canât take our irritation out on the city itself, its teams become the proxy. The Knicks, the Yankees, the Mets, the Rangers â whoever theyâre playing becomes everybody elseâs second-favorite team.
(Yes, I know I left out the Giants and the Jets. Theyâre too pathetic to hate.)
And if itâs the post-season? The loathing ratchets up to another level.
San Antonio Spurs are easy to root for
Which brings us back to San Antonio.
The Spurs are an incredibly likeable team on their own. This is the franchise of David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich. This is the franchise that showed it really is possible for people from all corners of the world to work together. This is the franchise that has Wemby, who is revolutionizing the game in real time while also being an utterly decent human.
San Antonioâs bandwagon would need extra room regardless of who they were facing in the Finals. That theyâre playing the Knicks makes them Americaâs Team.
C'mon Spurs. Do the rest of the country a solid. The last thing anyone needs is to give New York another reason to brag about itself.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
Leon Rose and the Knicks focused on trades and free agency to construct their core, San Antonio mostly became a contender again by maximizing its draft capital, leading to a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals, won by the Spurs.
The Post dissects how the Knicks took shape.
Jalen Brunson
When he arrived: 2022
How he was acquired: Inked a four-year, $104 million deal in free agency that seemed like a reach but has since become a bargain.
Jalen Brunson gives directions during the Knicksâ practice at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on June 2, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The superstar who left money on the table with his extension two years ago. Brunson has single-handedly shifted the reputation of the Knicks, turned them into a contender and etched a place on their Mount Rushmore, averaging 26.3 points per game while unlocking another tier of that production on the postseason stage.
Karl-Anthony Towns
When he arrived: 2024
How he was acquired: A connection years in the making, the Edison, N.J., native arrived via trade in exchange for a package headlined by Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
How heâs helped them get here: Towns, who grew up a Knicks fan, is one of the best shooting centers of all time and was pegged as the missing piece, the superstar to complement Brunson. The six-time All-Star has averaged 22.2 points and 12.3 rebounds per game across his two seasons with the Knicks, and his point-center role this postseason ignited the offense.
Karl-Anthony Towns takes part in a shooting drill at Knicks practice in San Antonio on June 2. 2026. Jason Szenes for New York Post
OG Anunoby
When he arrived: 2023
How he was acquired: When the first domino in a series of Leon Rose trades fell, Anunoby (and Precious Achiuwa) arrived in exchange for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.
How heâs helped them get here: Known for his defensive skills, Anunoby has added a dynamic scoring ability since coming to the Knicks â and has averaged 19.7 points per game during this playoff run. Heâs an unassuming two-way star who typically draws the most difficult matchup, keeps getting snubbed from All-Defensive First Team honors and makes the most expensive contract in Knicks history ($212.5 million) worth every penny.
OG Anunoby (right) and Mitchell Robinson participate in the Knicksâ practice on June 2 in San Antonio. Jason Szenes for New New York Post
Josh Hart
When he arrived: 2023
How he was acquired: Ahead of the trade deadline in 2023, Hart landed from the Trail Blazers for a package that included Cam Reddish.
How heâs helped them get here: Hartâs career with the Knicks has been defined by adjusting on the fly and fitting into a variety of roles.
He has started and has come off the bench. Heâs demanded defensive matchups and taken over games offensively. His friendship with Brunson and Mikal Bridges from their days at Villanova â and his personality â make every press conference a must-see too.
Mikal Bridges
When he arrived: 2024
How he was acquired: Via a blockbuster that sent five first-round picks back to the Nets.
How heâs helped them get here: Bridges, known for his durability and defense, could never quite escape the price that Rose paid to land him and the price the Knicks paid to keep him (a $150 million extension) last summer. It led to a polarizing relationship with fans, especially when heâd get benched.
But the Knicksâ 11-game winning streak has perhaps altered his image for good, with Bridges averaging 16.6 points per game on a sizzling 62.6 percent shooting.
Mikal Bridges catches a pass during a speed shooting drill on June 2 in San Antonio. Jason Szenes for New York Post
Miles McBride
When he arrived: 2021
How he was acquired: In the second round after the Knicks traded down to No. 36 on draft night.
How heâs helped them get here: McBrideâs three-year, $13 million extension in 2023 was an absolute bargain, as he has embraced his role coming off the bench and providing a spark. He can rip off 3-pointers in bunches (career-best 41.3 percent on 6.6 attempts per game during the regular season) and has answered questions about whether he could make it at this level with his 6-foot-2 frame.
Mitchell Robinson
When he arrived: 2018
How he was acquired: Drafted in the second round in 2018 at No. 36 overall.
How heâs helped them get here: The oft-injured Robinson is the longest-tenured Knick and has seen it all. He ceded the center position to Towns while still being their best offensive rebounder and interior defender.
His most encouraging stat this year? Robinsonâs 73 games between the regular season and playoffs, the most of his career and proof of a season-long load management plan working.
Landry Shamet
When he arrived: 2024
How he was acquired: The Knicks signed Shamet two weeks before training camp began in 2024, and he re-signed with them last summer on a non-guaranteed contract.
How heâs helped them get here: Who knows what wouldâve happened if Shametâs 3-pointer didnât bounce in and help force overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals? The 29-year-old overcame a pair of shoulder injuries the past two seasons and regained his lost spot in the rotation this year before becoming a forever name because of that shot.
Jordan Clarkson
When he arrived: 2025
How he was acquired: After agreeing to a buyout with the Jazz, Clarkson signed with the Knicks on a veteran minimum deal.
How heâs helped them get here: It hasnât been the smoothest of seasons for the former Sixth Man of the Year, as he fell out of Mike Brownâs rotation before recovering a spot late in the year thanks to a commitment to defense.
Jordan Clarkson talks with reporters after Knicks practice in San Antonio on June 2. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
But he assisted the Knicks by signing for the minimum in exchange for a chance at a title. He averaged a career-worst 8.6 points per game during the regular season but has turned back the clock on occasion.
Jose Alvarado
When he arrived: 2026
How he was acquired: The Brooklyn native arrived from the Pelicans ahead of the trade deadline, in exchange for Dalen Terry and two second-round picks, to boost the Knicksâ guard depth.
How heâs helped them get here: This was a homecoming made in basketball paradise. Alvarado is the energizer off the bench capable of thriving in the spotlight of the Garden, someone who can hit 3s â like he did eight times against the 76ers in February â or frustrate opponents to the point of turnovers.
Ariel Hukporti
When he arrived: 2024
How he was acquired: The Knicks landed the rights to Hukporti â the No. 58 overall pick by the Mavericks â on draft day in 2024.
How heâs helped them get here: As the Knicksâ third center, Hukporti has been thrust into critical moments when one or both of Towns and Robinson were out â or when Hack-a-Mitch returned. A Dec. 7 win, when Hukporti earned the teamâs Defensive Player of the Game against a tough Magic team, served as a tangible sign of his value, too.
Tyler Kolek
When he arrived: 2024
How he was acquired: The Knicks moved up to No. 34 to take Kolek in exchange for three second-rounders.
How heâs helped them get here: Kolek quickly became a fan favorite as he competed for backup point guard minutes, delivering memorable performances in the NBA Cup final comeback and on Christmas Day to help save the Knicks. He has fallen out of the rotation since but has two more years of team control remaining to snag a role.
Mohamed Diawara
When he arrived: 2025âČ
How he was acquired: The Knicks took him with the 51st overall pick in 2025.
How heâs helped them get here: The Knicks donât win their Dec. 29 game against the Pelicans without Diawara, who collected a career-best 18 points, and he adds wing depth with his rangy length and athleticism. He wonât log meaningful minutes in the Finals unless something goes terribly wrong, but Diawara â on an expiring deal â flashed enough potential to become an intriguing offseason decision.
Jeremy Sochan
When he arrived: 2026
How he was acquired: Sochan, the No. 9 pick in 2022, signed with the Knicks in February after getting waived by the Spurs.
How heâs helped them get here: Signed as bench depth, Sochan struggled to carve out a role in Brownâs rotation. But when Robinson missed Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Knicks needed him to log 55 seconds of meaningful time with both Towns and Hukporti in foul trouble. Heâs a break-in-case-of-emergency option.
PacĂŽme Dadiet
When he arrived: 2024
How he was acquired: Dadiet was drafted No. 25 overall, joining the Knicks as an 18-year-old forward from France.
How heâs helped them get here: Dadiet remains a G-League player (23.1 points, 4.8 rebounds per game for Westchester this year) logging NBA minutes during garbage time, but on a team filled with expensive veterans, he has two seasons remaining â if the Knicks pick up the final option â to become an inexpensive rotation piece.
A Long Island rooted diehard Knicks fan living in the heart of Celtics territory is going viral for turning New York playoff wins into clever Billy Joel lyrics â and it might just be a good luck charm for the NBA Finals vs. the Spurs.
âWhen I decided to do it, they had won maybe five straight by that point,â 21-year-old Luke Wenner of Attleboro, Massachusetts, told The Post after the streak reached 11 straight.
Diehard Knicks fan Luke Wenner has gone viral for his Billy Joel style game recaps.
âI was like, yeah, might as well see how it goes. Obviously, itâs worked out pretty well,â added Wenner, who has gotten praise from Mick Jaggerâs son, Lucas.
âItâs eight oâclock on a Tuesday, the regular Knicks shuffle in / They swiftly go down from their rustiness â and soon the comeback begins,â Wenner sang and played on piano.
He changed âSheâs Always a Womanâ to âItâll Always Be New York for Meâ when the Knicks swept Cleveland in four, in a clip that was liked over 10,000 times.
The Knicks havenât lost since Wenner started his songs. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
âIâll sit there, as Iâm watching the games, Iâll either pick a song or two of Billy Joelâs to keep in mind,â said Wenner, who idolizes Hicksvilleâs hometown hero Joel.
âIâll be reading the lyrics, and Iâm like, âoh, this playerâs name would work perfectly in this verse.'â
Wenner showed The Post his âFor the Longest Timeâ rework he will release ahead of the teamâs first finals appearance since 1999.
âMaybe some had thought our hope was gone, but the true New Yorkers did stay strong,â it goes.
Wenner grew up a massive Billy Joel fan. Getty Images
âAnd now the timeâs come, letâs go and take home this one â we have been waiting for the longest time.â
The recent psychology and criminal justice grad began with about 70 followers after dropping the Game 1 jingle. Heâs close to 3,000 in a matter of days since blue and orange nation became touched by his tunes.
âItâs just been so great seeing that a huge majority of the comments are very favorable, and they definitely love what Iâve been doing,â Wenner said. âItâs just been nuts.â
Wenner has become an overnight sensation for his Billy Joel Knicks videos.
And, Wennerâs river of dreams is a long time coming after putting up with the folks around Beantown.
âIâve definitely gotten a lot of flak throughout my whole school career, because, pretty much all of my teams have been pretty horrible,â lamented Wenner.
He likened the Knicksâ underdog outlook to that of his G-Men when they faced the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII and again in Super Bowl XLVI.
Wenner is hopeful that Jalen Brunson and the Knicks will win it all this time. Getty Images
âThey didnât give the Giants a chance. So, I think itâs possible,â said Wenner.
âIt would just mean the world to me, especially given that I can rub it in the faces of my fellow Celtics fans.â
With Justin Verlander on the mound, the Mud Hensâ offense honored their famous temp by absolutely mauling Cubsâ pitching on Tuesday.
Verlander, sidelined after one start this spring with a hip issue, looked pretty good. He had no trouble at all with the Cubs, scattering three singles and a double without allowing a walk. He struck out four, pounding the zone consistently throughout his outing. The slider and his changeup were both pretty sharp, and his fastball command looked good as well. Verlander averaged 93.5 mph and 19 inches of IVB, with several pitches topping out at 95 mph. That will do pretty nicely, and hopefully he can find a little more gas in the tank as he builds up. He threw 48 of 64 pitches for strikes. Presumably heâll get one more rehab start before returning to the Tigers.
Funny and nostalgic seeing Verlander in a Mud Hens uniform. Last time I saw him pitch at Fifth Third Park was a rehab start in 2015 before he returned to the Tigers and served notice that his incredible career was nowhere close to done. The only guy who hit him in that game was a young prospect named Francisco Lindor.
Justin Verlander, pitching for the Toledo Mud Hens for the first time in 11 years, ends the first inning of his rehab start with a high fastball for a strikeout. pic.twitter.com/Uuue30yTGR
The Hens gave the future Hall of Famer run support right out of the chute. Max Clark started the game with a walk, and two batters later Max Anderson cracked a two-run shot to left. In the third, Ben Malgeri and Anderson doubled back-to-back, and then Eduardo Valencia cleared the bases with his 10th homer on the year to make it 5-0.
In the fifth, Malgeri led off with his second double of the game, and Anderson reached on an error. Gage Workman plated Malgeri with a single and Valencia singled to load the bases. Trei Cruz stepped into the box and lifted a towering shot to left for a grand slam. 10-0 Hens. They went on to score two more runs in the inning.
Trei Cruz blows the game open for Toledo with this grand slam to left center. Itâs 10-0 Mud Hens. pic.twitter.com/z38SO9bNfq
â Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 3, 2026
Jack Little gave up the lone Cubs run in the seventh. Max Clark launched a solo shot in the eighth against a position player, his third on the year. With Anderson and Workman on in the ninth, Cruz lined out to center field, but a poor throw from the Cubs center fielder allowed both runs to score and make it 16-1.
Anderson: 4-6, 4 R, 4 RBI, 2B, HR
Cruz: 2-6, R, 4 RBI, 2B, HR, K
Clark: 1-3, 3 R, RBI, HR, 3 BB
Valencia: 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR
Verlander (W, 1-0): 5.0 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K
Coming Up Next: Itâs a 1:08 p.m. ET start in Des Moines on Wednesday.
A late rally fell just short on Tuesday night in Richmond.
The SeaWolves scored quickly as Seth Stephenson doubled to open the game, and then scored on a John Peck grounder that went for an error. That 1-0 lead didnât last, as Max Alba allowed three runs in the bottom half and single runs in the fourth and fifth.
In the top of the fifth, Stephenson singled with one out and stole his 25th base of the season. Brett Callahan followed with a walk, and Peck reached on an infield single to load the bases. Patience and a good eye from Thayron Liranzo helped him draw a walk that forced in a run, but Chris Meyers struck out and Andrew Jenkins grounded out to squander a chance at a big inning to get back into this one.
So it was 5-2 Richmond heading into the seventh inning. Stephenson drew a leadoff walk, but was shockingly caught stealing. Brett Callahan drew a walk to replace him, and Peck reached on an error. Liranzo drew another walk to load the bases, and with two outs, Jenkins came through with a two-run single to make it a 5-4 game.
Johan Simon did a nice job taking over from Alba and racking up five straight outs, but Dariel Fregio came on to allow three more runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Flying Squirrels needed those add-on runs.
In the top of the ninth, Peck led off with a double. Liranzo took a called strike three, but Peck stole third and scored on an errant throw from Richmond catcher Ty Hanchey. Jenkins singled with two outs, and he rode home on Izaac Pachecoâs sixth home run to make it an 8-7 game. Peyton Graham followed with a single as the potential tying run and Aaron Antonini drew a walk. Stephenson unfortunately struck out to end it.
Izaac Pacheco with a 2-run moonshot to right to pull Erie within one run in the 9th. Itâs his 6th home run of the year. pic.twitter.com/BxdLL1fy8G
â Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 3, 2026
Stephenson: 2-5, 2 R, BB, K, SB, CS
Peck: 2-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B, K, SB
Graham: 3-5, K
Alba (L, 0-2): 4.1 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 8 H, BB, 6 K
Coming Up Next: Theyâll get back at it on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Dayton Dragons 10, West Michigan Whitecaps 4 (box)
Hayden Minton put together an extemely Jekyll and Hyde outing, and the Whitecaps bullpen did nothing to let them get back into this one.
Minton punched out 10 hitters in 4.1 innings of work. He walked just one and allowed just four hits. The problem was that three of those hits were home runs. He allowed three in the top of the third, and one more as he departed in the fifth.
The Whitecaps answered right back after the Dragons three-run outburst with three of their own in the bottom of the third. Andrew Sojka led off with a walk and Junior Tilien singled. A Woody Hadeen ground out to first moved the runners, and two batters later Garrett Pennington launched a three-run shot, his ninth on the year.
Juanmi Vasquez and Zack Lee each allowed a run in relief. In the bottom of the eighth, Bryce Rainer drew a walk and Clayton Campbell singled. Rainer scored as Jackson Strong grounded into a double play to make it 6-44, but Ethan Sloan allowed four runs in the top of the ninth to end hopes of a comeback.
Pennington; 1-3, R, 3 RBI, HR, BB, K
Rainer: 1-2, R, 2 BB, K
Minton (L, 2-3): 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, BB, 10 K
Coming Up Next: Itâs a 6:35 p.m. ET start in Comstock Park on Wednesday.
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 10, Lakeland Flying Tigers 2 (box)
We got some good news in this one, as left-hander Jake Miller made his season debut in a rehab outing. Miller was our preseason top pitching prospect in the system, although thatâs a bit of a dubious honor considering heâs still not a top 100 caliber starter. After an injury plagued season in 2025 in which he was diagnosed with lumbar back issues that were later linked to hip labrum tears that required surgery on both hips, Miller spent until early May rehabbing and is just now ramping up in game action.
The game, however, did not go the Flying Tigersâ way as Grayson Grinsell was rocked in relief of Miller. Miller fired two scoreless innings of one-hit ball with a pair of strikeouts. Heâs still going to need to develop a cutter or a harder breaking ball to go with a good fourseam-changeup combination and a slow sweeper, but Miller pounds the strike zone and has some deception and good armspeed that helps his stuff play up.
Nice to see Jake Miller back on the mound for Lakeland. Hereâs his first inning of work today. pic.twitter.com/eMPERkZxOT
â Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 2, 2026
Jesus Pinto, rapidly getting love in Tigersâ prospecting circles, blasted a solo shot in the bottom of the second to give the Flying Tigers an early lead. Grinsell took over from Miller in the third and surrendered three runs. Jack Goodman answered back with a solo shot in the bottom of the third.
â Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 2, 2026
So it was 3-2 Fort Myers, and Grinsell then was tagged for three more runs in the fifth. They added on against Pedro Garcia, and the Flying Tigers offense stalled out despite several scoring opportunites later in the game.
Warwick: 2-4, 2B, 2 K
Espinal: 2-4, K
Miller: 2.0 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 2 K
Grinsell (L, 3-2): 2.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 K
Coming Up Next: Itâs a 6:30 p.m. ET start on Wednesday.
Rookie Ball
Our favorite lesser known pitching prospect, RHP Jhonan Coba, led the FCL Tigers to an 8-0 victory on Tuesday, although Johnathan Rogers, the Tigers 20th rounder in Scott Harrisâ first draft in 2023, who recently re-signed with the club at age 21, got the win. Coba went three innings, allowing two hits, no walks, while striking out five. Cris Rodriguez doubled in that game, but struck out twice.
In the second game of a doubleheader, the FCL Tigers roster beat the Phillies 4-3 as well. Cristian Perez, a name to watch, homered in that one, his fifth already on the year for the 19-year-old center fielder. He holds a .990 OPS so far in 19 games.
What a Jhonan Coba 97 MPH, 21.35" IVB fastball looks like up in the zone, traced. pic.twitter.com/klvSrECqxE
â Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 2, 2026
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees takes batting practice before their game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on May 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees lost an annoying game last night in a series opener in the Bronx against the Guardians, but thatâs probably not whatâs front-of-mind for most of their fans. For the first time all year, Aaron Judge was absent from the startng lineup, as manager Aaron Boone revealed that heâs been battling a bone bruise on his right rib cage thatâs affected his shoulder.
In short, it stinks, and while Judge is set to see a specialist today to get another opinion, it appears that for now, the Yankees are in âwait and seeâ mode with no IL move just yet. What was that Homer Simpson once said about The Waiting Game?
Yeah. We donât have a collective game of âHungry Hungry Hipposâ to distact us, so instead I ask you to rate your concern about Judgeâs injury. Maybe it wonât be much in the grand scheme of thingsâremember when the world freaked out about Juan Sotoâs elbow in June 2024 and those were almost literally the only games he missed all year? And yet we canât rule out something more.
So letâs say itâs a scale of 1-5, with 1 representing no conern at all and 5 representing PANIC CITY. I think Iâm honestly at a 2. Bone bruises just make me wary on principle; call it long-term damage from what Derek Jeterâs 2012 bone bruise turnedinto, though obviouly he was four years older than Judge is now and it was a different part of the body. But I do think that this will ultimately be something minor causing Judge to only miss a few games. Maybe. Hopefully.
My primary hope is that if itâs looking like they do need to put him on the IL after the specialist meets with him, they just get it over with and donât play a man short for too long. Again, different injury, but Judge had a quick 10-day IL stint last year to get over a right elbow flexor strain and didnât miss a beat upon returning. Fingers crossed that this is the worst-case scenario.
