Posts

Posted on

Ex-Giants exec Zaidi has great response to ‘Dodgers plant' fan theory

Ex-Giants exec Zaidi has great response to ‘Dodgers plant' fan theory originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s never easy switching sides in one of sports history’s greatest rivalries, but former Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi now has done so twice between his various roles with San Francisco and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Zaidi’s seven seasons as the Giants’ top executive were sandwiched between a role as Dodgers general manager from 2014 to 2018 and now serving as a special advisor in Los Angeles — and he recently addressed the popular, albeit silly, fan theory that he simply was spying on San Francisco during his time in the Bay in a Q&A with the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser.

“[Given] your Dodgers-Giants-Dodgers trajectory, I’m sure you’ve heard this fan theory that you were a Dodgers plant all along,” Slusser asked Zaidi this weekend as his current team played his former. “What’s your response when you hear things like that?”

“I have definitely heard that,” Zaidi told Slusser. “I know this whole thing is like, ‘Yeah, he really just came to sabotage the team and leave it in a mess.’ And if that’s true, if you look at the standings, I guess I did a pretty bad job of sabotaging.”

The Giants, who feature plenty of players on their roster brought to San Francisco by Zaidi, currently trail the Dodgers by just two games in the NL West standings despite losing two out of three in their series over the weekend. Now led by legendary Giants catcher Buster Posey as POBO, however, the team is right in the thick of the MLB playoff race at 41-31 after three consecutive seasons of .500-or-lower baseball.

But before that, Zaidi’s regime with then-manager Gabe Kapler at the helm produced the winningest team in franchise history with the 107-win squad in 2021, which fell to — ironically enough — the Dodgers that postseason in the NLDS.

So, it certainly is safe to say Zaidi wasn’t doing a great job of ruining the Giants during his tenure. And as the Dodgers put together a super team in Southern California, it wasn’t difficult for fans to compare San Francisco’s struggles in recent years to its biggest rival.

Now, as the race between the Giants and Dodgers is the tightest it has been in years, Zaidi is focused on giving his new job his all, too — and it’s quite a different role than he’s used to.

“I joked a lot when I first got to the organization that it’s kind of like when you’re a kid and you get taken to a really expensive department store and your parents are like, ‘Don’t touch anything. Don’t break anything,’ ” Zaidi told Slusser. “That’s kind of how I felt, because it’s been a really successful team and organization since I left. They certainly don’t need me, don’t need my thoughts or advice, they’ve clearly demonstrated that with the recent run of success. …

“I’m not really involved in the day-to-day. I’m just kind of around to advise, to serve as a sounding board. One of the things that I’ve really enjoyed being back is, when you’re in a leadership management role, sometimes it’s just putting out fires constantly, you don’t always have time to sit with a scout or an analyst or someone in player development and really be able to dive deep on topics. My schedule now is allowing that a little bit more, and so I’ve gotten to do that more than I would the last few years and that’s been a lot of fun.”

With the way the Giants are rolling this season and how happy Zaidi appears in his new role, it looks like all parties are satisfied — no matter how wild the theories were.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Posted on

The Red Sox called up their top prospect and swept the Yankees. Then they made a stunning trade

The week began with Boston calling up top prospect Roman Anthony. It ended with the Red Sox trading slugger Rafael Devers. In between, they swept the rival Yankees.

What’s next for this team is anyone’s guess.

Boston took two of three from the second-place Rays and then swept the first-place Yankees to pull a game above .500. The Red Sox are 9-17 in one-run games, but they won three of those in a row against Tampa Bay and New York.

All of that seemed to signal a potential turning point for a team that’s struggled to sustain success since trading Mookie Betts after the 2019 season. But now the post-Betts era has become the post-Devers era.

It appeared Devers would be a franchise cornerstone for years to come after the Red Sox signed him to a 10-year contract in 2023. Now he’s been sent to San Francisco following a tumultuous start to this season. When the Red Sox added Alex Bregman, it opened a new can of worms over where Devers would play, and his relationship with the team went south.

So Boston moves forward — with Devers gone and Bregman and fellow infielder Triston Casas on the injured list. The Red Sox scored at least eight runs in four of five games from June 4-9. Then they held opponents to one run or fewer in three of their next five.

Anthony is baseball’s top-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Boston drafted him with the 79th pick in 2022, and the 21-year-old outfielder had a .914 OPS at Triple-A Worcester when called up.

He’s 1 for 17 at the plate so far. Now he might be under even more pressure — both this year and in the future. Boston has just one winning season since trading Betts to the Dodgers.

Next in line?

MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 prospect is Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler, who was drafted 72nd in 2021. He’s 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in 13 starts this year at Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Pirates, of course, already have one outstanding young pitcher in Paul Skenes, and even he hasn’t been able to prevent them from falling 15 games under .500. Pittsburgh ranks dead last in the majors with 3.18 runs per game.

Excitement about Chandler’s future? Sure. Can he fix what’s holding the Pirates back? Perhaps not.

Trivia time

Devers began his career in 2017. Since then, he leads the Red Sox with 215 home runs. Betts is still fourth on that list with 85, even though that only includes three of his seasons in Boston.

Who are the two players between Devers and Betts on that list?

Line of the week

Spencer Strider struck out 13 in six scoreless innings in Atlanta’s 4-1 victory over Colorado. The Braves desperately could use some positive signs from Strider, who is 1-5 with a 4.35 ERA. Atlanta took two of three from the Rockies but is still eight games under .500.

Comeback of the week

The Arizona Diamondbacks scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat San Diego 8-7. Geraldo Perdomo’s three-run triple tied the game with one out, and then Josh Naylor scored Perdomo with a grounder.

San Diego’s win probability topped out at 98.7% in the ninth, according to Baseball Savant.

Trivia answer

J.D. Martinez, with 130 homers for the Red Sox since then, and Xander Bogaerts with 115.

Posted on

Canadiens: Should Hughes Consider Making An Offer To A Former Pest?

Anybody who’s been watching the Stanley Cup Final since the start of June will have to admit that the Florida Panthers made one of the best trades of the year when they obtained ultimate pest Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline for a conditional second-round pick at the 2027 draft.

The diminutive forward spent 16 years wearing the Black and Gold, and his departure shook many of the Bruins’ faithful, but given their lack of results this season, it was the right move. Furthermore, since the Panthers won at least two rounds in the playoffs and the veteran has appeared in more than 50% of their games (he started in all 22 games), the conditional second-round pick in 2027 has become a first-round pick in either 2027 or 2028.

Canadiens: St-Louis Speaks About Cole Caufield, And Arber Xhekaj
Could The Canadiens Take A Big Swing On Mason West?
A Few Canadiens’ Players Enjoy F1 Action

That’s not to say Florida isn’t getting its money’s worth. In 22 games so far this postseason, Marchand has scored 10 goals and picked up 10 assists. Six of these goals have come in the Stanley Cup Final, and he now leads all active players in Cup Final goals with 13, and he’s the first and only player to have scored five or more goals in a Cup Final for two different teams.

At 37 years old, he looks like he was dunked in the fountain of youth before the start of the playoffs, and one of his goals in game five was just amazing, leaving even teammate Matthew Tkachuk struggling to find the words.

When a champion is finally crowned, though, Marchand will be free as a bird and looking for a new stomping ground. His latest eight-year deal carried a $6.125 million cap hit, and he performed consistently throughout it. Some thought the off-season surgery he went through last year would slow him down, but he came back and played 71 games this season, recording 51 points in the process.

The left winger has now played 1,100 games in his career and has 980 points to show for it, along with 1,115 penalty minutes. He’s also collected the fines and suspensions from the Player’s Safety Department, relentlessly flirting with the line through his 16-season career. After becoming the most suspended player in NHL history, he made a conscious effort to clean up his game and was successful, becoming an elite player and a great leader.

His impressive display in the Cup Final no doubt caught the eye of numerous GMs around the NHL, and he should be in for an interesting payday. The Halifax, Nova Scotia native has said at the start of June that he’s not rulling out anything as he approaches free agency, menaning that every team who fancies adding the mix of skill, grit, leadership and experience can feel free to make an offer, meaning teams north of the border are included. Marchand is a proud Canadian who has worn the Maple Leaf proudly on numerous occasions over the years. He was part of the Four Nations Face-Off champion Canadian Team and also won gold for Canada at the 2016 World Championships, playing alongside Canadiens’ alternate captain Brendan Gallagher.

In 58 career games against the Habs, he scored 48 points and recorded 81 penalty minutes. Would it be weird to see Marchard rocking the Sainte-Flanelle? Of course, he had been a hated rival for years around these parts, but that didn’t stop former Montreal Canadiens’ GM Marc Bergevin from trying to sign power forward Milan Lucic when he became a UFA.

Of course, there’s a possibility that Marchand may like to stay put in Florida, especially if the Panthers do manage to win a second Stanley Cup in a row, but the Cats have got quite a few pending UFAs and they won’t come cheap. Stud defenseman Aaron Ekblad is up for a new contract. His last deal ran for eight years and had a $7.5 million cap hit, and he’ll be looking for a sizeable raise. Uber pest Sam Bennett also needs a new contract, coming off a four-year deal that had a $4.425 million cap hit. While he’s never scored more than 51 points in the regular season, he is indispensable in the playoffs. He plays a gritty game, which sometimes results in casualties, and he has 22 points in as many games. He’ll be looking for a big raise.

In other words, the Panthers might not have the cash to retain Marchand’s services, and if they don’t, should the Canadiens make a pitch? As good as Marchand has been throughout these playoffs and his career, he remains an undersized winger who’s 37 and will soon be hanging up his skates.

If the Canadiens were further along in their rebuilds and had addressed their size issue, he could have been a great complementary piece, but the Canadiens are not there yet. Hughes is more likely to focus his efforts on younger and bigger players, regardless of how good Marchand remains.

Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Posted on

Hamilton reveals distress over ‘devastating’ groundhog accident at Canadian F1 GP

  • ‘I love animals so I’m so sad about it. That’s horrible’

  • McLaren chief warns Norris after Piastri collision

Lewis Hamilton has spoken of his distress after his Ferrari struck a groundhog during the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, describing the accident as “devastating”.

The incident occurred 13 laps into the race, damaging the underside of Hamilton’s car and leaving the animal lover distraught. He had qualified in fifth on the grid and had been hoping to make inroads on those ahead of him while managing his tyres. But the accident cost him half a second per lap and was followed by other problems with the car.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Swept by Rays, Mets look ahead to 10 games against NL East rivals Braves and Phillies

NEW YORK — The New York Mets head into 10 straight games against NL East rival Atlanta and Philadelphia after getting swept in a series for the first time this season.

New York was held to one hit in 20 plate appearances with runners on base, when the Tampa Bay Rays closed a three-game sweep with a 9-0 victory.

“You hate to get swept here at home, but you’ve got to move on,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It’s 162 (games), you’re going to go through stretches where this is going to happen. Obviously we’ve got to play better. We didn’t execute, we didn’t play clean baseball and they made us pay.”

New York hadn’t been swept in 36 series of two or more games dating to last Aug. 9-11 at Seattle, its third-longest streak and the longest since a team-record 58 from May 15, 1987, through May 11, 1988.

The Mets stranded 30 runners in the series and batted .148 (4 for 27) with runners in scoring position against the Rays, who are a big league best 18-6 since May 20.

Starters Clay Holmes, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning combined to throw just 13 innings for the Mets. Paul Blackburn, who will replace the injured Kodai Senga in the rotation, allowed four runs while getting just one out in relief.

Megill and Canning gave up six runs apiece as the Mets division lead was cut to 2 1/2 games over Philadelphia.

Atlanta shuffled its rotation to line up Spencer Schwellenbach, defending Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale and Spencer Strider in the series against the Mets. Ronald Acuña Jr. is hitting .390 with seven homers and 14 RBIs in his first 21 games since returning from a torn ACL.

“When you look at that team, on paper, that’s a really good team,” Mendoza said. “Obviously they’ve had some struggles. The three guys that we’re facing, they’re elite pitchers. And then you look at their lineup, they’re healthy. We’ve got to get ready. The next 10 days, we’ve got to play well.”

Posted on

Aaron Civale gets a little wild in White Sox debut after trade from Brewers

ARLINGTON, Texas — Aaron Civale got a little wild in the right-hander’s first start for the Chicago White Sox two days after he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Civale walked four of the first seven hitters he faced in a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 30-year-old finished with four walks, one off his career high, while allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 strikes and 39 balls. Chicago trailed 2-1 when he was replaced by Dan Altavilla to start the sixth.

“Not the cleanest,” Civale said. “It’s been a whirlwind of a week. First couple of innings, just getting back out there and settling in and getting used to the new team, new catcher and all of the above.”

The White Sox acquired Civale a day after he said he wanted to remain a starter — for the Brewers or another team — following his demotion to the Milwaukee bullpen. The Brewers made the move to clear the way for hard-throwing prospect Jacob Misiorowski to join the rotation.

Civale (1-3) pitched a scoreless first inning despite three walks, thanks in part to Wyatt Langford’s double-play grounder.

The fourth walk ended up costing Civale when Adolis García scored on the first Texas hit — a two-out double from Ezequiel Duran in the second inning.

The Rangers made it 2-0 on Marcus Semien’s sacrifice fly in the fifth, when Civale allowed three hits but struck out Jake Burger to end the inning with runners at second and third.

“Credit to him for grinding through that and getting through five innings,” said manager Will Venable, who was ejected after a couple of close calls didn’t go Civale’s way in the first inning. “Not his sharpest day, but with these veteran guys that have experience, they’re able to navigate tough situations.”

All 123 of Civale’s regular-season appearances in the major leagues have been starts. This is the third consecutive year he has been part of a midseason trade. Milwaukee got him from Tampa Bay last year. The Rays acquired him from Cleveland in 2023.

“It never gets easier,” Civale said. “There’s comfort in experience that you have, but every time it’s new and it’s a different challenge in itself. You’re trying to make that adjustment as quick as you can. Was out there trying to compete and I wasn’t filling up the zone like I would have liked to.”

Milwaukee sent Civale, who is eligible for free agency after this season, to the White Sox for first baseman Andrew Vaughn and $807,000 in cash.

Civale said he had no issues with anybody in the Brewers clubhouse, or the coaches there. He just wanted to remain a starter, like he had also been for all 86 of his minor-league appearances.

The outing against Texas lowered Civale’s ERA to 4.67 this season, when he is making $8 million. He has allowed nine runs over 24 innings in five starts since a stint on injured list with a strained left hamstring.

Civale threw just six of his first 19 pitches for strikes, and it was during that stretch that home plate umpire Marvin Hudson, the crew chief, gestured into the Chicago dugout. Moments later, he ejected Venable.

The second career ejection for Venable, a first-year manager, came on Father’s Day. The first was on Mother’s Day. Venable was a bit wide-eyed when that was pointed out to him.

“I was unaware of that,” Venable said. “But that is an interesting coincidence.”

Posted on

Report: Former Kings GM McNair joins Clippers in advisor role

Report: Former Kings GM McNair joins Clippers in advisor role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

A familiar face is headed to Southern California. 

Former Kings general manager Monte McNair, the 2022-23 NBA Executive of the Year, is joining the Los Angeles Clippers in an advisory role, ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported Monday, citing league sources.

Back in April, McNair’s five-year tenure as Kings GM ended after mutually agreeing to part ways less than an hour after Sacramento’s 2024-25 NBA season-ending blowout Western Conference play-in loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center. 

Days later, the Kings filled the vacancy by hiring longtime NBA executive Scott Perry as the organization’s next GM.

In McNair’s last season in charge, Sacramento entered the season with high expectations, but, instead, the team experienced lots of instability. 

Less than three months into the season, McNair dismissed Mike Brown despite the coach signing a multi-year contract extension over the summer.

Over a month later, McNair was forced to trade a frustrated De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs for star Zach LaVine. Soon after, the organization lost key members of its staff, foreshadowing the end of McNair’s reign in Sacramento.

McNair is a graduate of Oak Park High School, located around 30 miles north of Los Angeles.

His career now has come full circle as he heads back south.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Posted on

Men's 2026 Olympic Hockey Teams Announce Their First Six Players: Tracker And Reaction

The 12 national men's hockey teams competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan all announced the first six players on the roster on Monday.

Here's a look at each squad's first players with reaction.

Team Canada

C: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

C: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

C: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

D: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

C: Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers

C: Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning

Canada is looking to win their 10th gold medal at the Olympics and third straight in tournaments that allowed NHL players. As usual, the team is littered with superstars and Stanley Cup Champions. Among the six players, there are eight Cups and counting. 

Reinhart is the only new player from the 4 Nations preliminary roster. Instead of him, it was Marchand who was among the first six players listed.

Team USA

C: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

D: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

D: Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins

C: Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

LW: Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators

LW: Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers

Team USA is looking for revenge after the way the 4 Nations Face-Off final ended, with them losing in overtime. They’ve also had no luck in the Olympics for quite some time. The men's last gold medal in ice hockey at the Olympics was in 1980. The last time they earned a medal at the Olympics was in 2010 when they got silver after Sidney Crosby’s golden goal for Canada.

However, the personnel is different for the U.S. this time around. The roster is filled with all-stars and award-winners like Matthews and Quinn Hughes, along with Cup champions in Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk.

Team Finland

RW: Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars

C: Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

C: Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers

G: Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

D: Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars

D: Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars

Team Finland’s preliminary roster for these upcoming Olympics is identical to the initial roster they listed for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Aside from Saros, all the players on this list played in the conference final of the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

The Dallas Stars own the most Finnish players, and not just on this preliminary roster. If Roope Hintz and Mikael Granlund are picked later in the year to go to the Olympics, they’ll have a reunion with their teammates from their club.

(Rob Schumacher-Imagn Images)

Team Sweden

RW: William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs

LW: Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings

D: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

RW: Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings

D: Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres

LW: Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche

Team Sweden made a few changes to their preliminary roster from the 4 Nations team. One name that stands out is Colorado Avalanche captain, Landeskog. He made a dramatic return to hockey during this past post-season after being sidelined with a severe knee injury for nearly three years. 

Kempe, Raymond and Dahlin weren’t among the first names announced for the 4 Nations tournament. However, all three players featured for Sweden in the tournament last February.

Team Latvia

G: Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets

D: Uvis Balinskis, Florida Panthers

C: Rodrigo Abols, Philadelphia Flyers

G: Arturs Silovs, Vancouver Canucks

C: Teddy Blueger, Vancouver Canucks

C: Zemgus Girgensons, Tampa Bay Lightning

In the 2023 World Championship, Latvia defeated the U.S. in the bronze medal game to earn the first top-three finish in the country’s history. Defenseman Kristians Rubins scored the overtime-winner to seal a 4-3 win over Team USA.

Team Latvia is the only nation that has listed two goaltenders on their preliminary roster. Merzlikins and Silovs have some NHL playoff experience, with Silovs taking the reigns for the Canucks with Thatcher Demko injured. The Latvians will need both of their goaltenders to step up and hold off the elite offenses of the opposition.

Team Italy

D: Luca Zanatta, Pustertal/Val Pusteria (ICEHL)

D: Thomas Larkin, Schwenninger Wild Wings (Ger.)

C: Diego Kostner, HC Ambri-Piotta (Sui.)

C: Daniel Mantenuto, HC Bolzano (ICEHL)

G: Damian Clara, Anaheim Ducks

C: Tommy Purdeller, Pustertal/Val Pusteria (ICEHL)

Team Italy is the host nation and home team as the Winter Games are held in Milan. They have one player on this list who is associated with an NHL team. Goaltender Clara is in the Anaheim Ducks system.

He hasn’t played an NHL game up to this point, but he has made appearances with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Ducks. Clara played two games for them in this past season, recording a 3.15 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage.

Team Czechia

RW: David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

C: Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche

C: Pavel Zacha, Boston Bruins

D: Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks

G: Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

LW: Ondrej Palat, New Jersey Devils

The Czechs have had success in international tournaments before. Just last year, Team Czechia won gold at the 2024 World Championship. It was a big deal for the nation as fans filled the streets of Prague in celebration.

After they won the tournament, Pastrnak posted a picture of himself with the trophy with a caption that read, “Maybe Four Nation invite now?"

Czechia is more than capable of upsetting some of the big teams in this tournament. They could even be considered a big team themselves skilled players like Necas and Dostal to shut the door in goal.

Team Switzerland

D: Roman Josi, Nashville Predators

C: Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils

D: Jonas Siegenthaler, New Jersey Devils

LW: Timo Meier, New Jersey Devils

LW: Kevin Fiala, Los Angeles Kings

RW: Nino Niederreiter, Winnipeg Jets

Team Switzerland is another team capable of upsets. There is plenty of leadership sprinkled around in this team, especially with the captains of the Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils on this team.

It won’t only be on former Norris Trophy winner Josi and former Selke Trophy finalist Hischier to lead this team. Players like Niederreiter and Fiala have the experience and skill with a combined 1,620 regular-season games between them.

Team Germany

C: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

C: Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators

D: Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings

G: Philipp Grubauer, Seattle Kraken

C: Nico Sturm, Florida Panthers

LW: Lukas Reichel, Chicago Blackhawks

Hockey in Germany has grown drastically over the years. When they played in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, the roster had a handful of players who had played in the NHL.

Now, the Germans can say they have star players on their team, beginning with Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers center has six 100-point seasons, a Hart Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, a Rocket Richard Trophy and more.

Don’t forget the supporting cast of the talented Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators and the physical Seider of the Detroit Red Wings, who captained Germany in the 2025 World Championship.

Team Slovakia

D: Martin Fehervary, Washington Capitals

LW: Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens

LW: Tomas Tatar, Zug (Sui.)

D: Erik Cernak, Tampa Bay Lightning

D: Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils

C: Martin Pospisil, Calgary Flames

Slovakia’s preliminary roster has a great mix of veteran and young players. However, these players have one theme seasoned into all of them, and that is grit.

Calgary Flames’ Pospisil leads the way in that aspect of the game. In this past regular season, the center finished the campaign with 301 hits, third in the league. Even the Montreal Canadiens’ Slafkovsky joined Pospisil on the list of top hitters, recording 194 hits.

However, it doesn’t end there, as D-man Fehervary blocked shots consistently for the Washington Capitals this season. He averaged 1.85 blocks per game, totalling 150 over 81 games.

Team Denmark

RW: Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets

G: Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes

C: Lars Eller, Washington Capitals

RW: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tampa Bay Lightning

LW: Jonas Rondbjerg, Vegas Golden Knights

D: Jesper Jensen Abo, EC-KAC (ICEHL)

Denmark’s preliminary roster is highlighted by goaltender Andersen, who is coming off a solid playoff campaign for the Carolina Hurricanes. He led the team to the Eastern Conference final with stellar performances in the first two rounds against the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals.

Ehlers and Bjorkstrand are skilled wingers with excellent offensive skill for the Winnipeg Jets and Tampa Bay Lightning, respectively. The Danish wingers have had multiple 20-goal seasons in the NHL and will look to bring their best for their nation in February 2026.

Team France

D: Yohann Auvitu, HC Vítkovice (CZE)

C: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, HC Ajoie (Sui.)

D: Jules Boscq, HPK (Fin.)

D: Hugo Gallet, Tappara (Fin.)

RW: Jordann Perret, Mountfield HK (CZE)

LW: Alexandre Texier, St. Louis Blues

France doesn't have as much NHL experience as other squads, but there are some notables.

Auvitu, Bellemare and Texier have made appearances in the NHL. St. Louis Blues’ Texier is the only player who currently plays in the NHL. He scored six goals and 11 points in 31 games this past regular season.

Bellemare played 700 games in the NHL for five teams. He played his final season with the Seattle Kraken in 2023-24. Auvitu played 58 NHL games for the Edmonton Oilers and the New Jersey Devils.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Posted on

Mets prospect Jonah Tong turns in another terrific start for Double-A Binghamton

Mets prospect Jonah Tong's dominance in Double-A Binghamton continued on Sunday.

The right-hander fired 5.0 tremendous innings, allowing one run on two hits while walking none and striking out five.

Tong has been close to unhittable over his last nine starts dating back to April 27, allowing more than one run just once.

Overall this season, he has a 1.97 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with 96 strikeouts in 59.1 innings over 12 starts -- a rate of 14.6 strikeouts per nine.

Speaking with SNY a few weeks ago, Tong discussed his ascension and highlighted what he's working on -- including his new slider.

"Right now we’re tinkering with shapes, so I can’t really tell you what exactly is happening," Tong noted about the slider. "We’re tinkering with a few things, but really happy with the progress of that."

The 21-year-old right-hander is also mindful of the need to limit his walks.

"The most obvious one for me is the walks right now," he said. "They’re definitely there. I do think – and I’m really confident -- that they’re not always gonna be there. It’s just more getting my feet wet and getting into the season. Last year happened for me right out of the gate, and this year it’s just a little bit slower when it comes to that.

"It’s just being more consistent, and knowing that when I’m in the zone we’re gonna have a lot of success. And just feeling confident in that. So I think just being in the zone early and often, and having the ability to put away hitters is something I’ve shown I can do – I just need to do it a little more consistently."

Tong's promotion to Triple-A Syracuse might not be imminent, but it will be a mild surprise if it doesn't come before the calendar flips to July.

Posted on

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers Game 5: TV/stream info, date, time for 2025 NBA Finals

The 2025 NBA Finals return to Paycom Center in Oklahoma City as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder host Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers in Game 5. Tip-off is at 8:30 PM ET tonight on ABC.

RELATED: Pacers vs. Thunder Game 5 Predictions - Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for June 16

The series is now tied 2-2 after OKC’s 111-104 victory on Friday night. The Pacers opened up with an aggressive start, scoring 20 points in the first five minutes of play. They built an early lead, but the Thunder continued to answer back.

Oklahoma City trailed by seven entering the fourth quarter, but Gilgeous-Alexander stepped up, scoring 15 points in the final four minutes to lead the Thunder to victory.

"I knew what it would have looked like if we lost tonight, and I didn't want to go out not swinging — not doing everything within my power and my control to try to win the game," said Gilgeous-Alexander.

"The guys deserve that much from me."

Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2025 league MVP, finished with 35 points. Jalen Williams added 27 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed 14 points and a team-high of 15 rebounds.

"We got stagnant. Their second shots were a big problem, when you're unable to rebound, it's hard to continue to play with pace and tempo," said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle.

"We're going to have to dig in, circle the wagons, and come back stronger on Monday. This was a big disappointment, but there's three games left."

Pascal Siakam led the way for the Pacers with 20 points in the loss. Haliburton finished with 18, while Obi Toppin scored 17.

RELATED:With minutes left before their title dreams faded, Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder’s biggest stars stepped up

NBA: Finals-Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers
How much does home-court advantage matter to players in the NBA Finals?
Indiana fed off the crowd during its Game 3 win, but players will say the advantage is more about the comfort of routines at home.

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers Game 5:

  • Date: Tonight, Monday, June 16
  • Time: 8:30 PM ET
  • Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK
  • TV Channel: ABC

RELATED:Pacers’ Rick Carlisle defends referee Scott Foster in wake of fan criticism

mathuringilgeousalexander.jpg
Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Preview: 2025 NBA Finals prediction, schedule, who to watch
The Thunder come in as heavy favorites, but we also have some best bets to consider this series.

When is Game 5 of the NBA Finals?

Monday, June 16, at 8:30 PM ET on ABC.

What channel is the Thunder vs Pacers game on?

The Thunder vs Pacers series will take place on ABC.

Thunder vs Pacers Series Scores and Schedule:

*All times listed are ET  (* = if necessary)

  • Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110
  • Game 2:Thunder 123, Pacers 107
  • Game 3:Pacers 116, Thunder 107
  • Game 4: Thunder 111, Pacers 104
  • Game 5: Pacers at Thunder - Mon. June 16, 8:30 PM on ABC
  • Game 6: Thunder at Pacers - Thu. June 19, 8:30 PM on ABC*
  • Game 7: Pacers at Thunder - Sun, June 22, 8 PM on ABC*

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for each game of the Thunder vs Pacers series!

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Path to the NBA Finals:

The Thunder are seeking their first NBA title since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008. The last time the franchise reached the Finals was in 2012, dropping their series against LeBron James' Miami Heat in 5. Here is how they advanced to the NBA Finals:

Oklahoma City swept the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies in the First Round, eliminated the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in 7 in the Conference Semifinals, and defeated the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves in 5 in the Western Conference Finals.

RELATED:Times, they are a changin’ - Thunder vs. Pacers Finals highlights generational change sweeping NBA

Indiana Pacers’ Path to the NBA Finals:

The Indiana Pacers are seeking their first NBA title. The team's last Finals appearance was in 2000, when they lost to the Lakers in 6. Here is the team's path to the Finals:

Indiana eliminated the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks and the No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 games, before knocking out the No. 6 New York Knicks in 6 to advance to the Finals.

Head to nbcsports.com/nba for the latest news, updates, and storylines!

Posted on

Oilers are on cusp of making the wrong kind of Stanley Cup Final history

Oilers are on cusp of making the wrong kind of Stanley Cup Final history originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Will the Edmonton Oilers finish as Stanley Cup runners-up again?

Edmonton was pushed to the brink of elimination in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Saturday, losing Game 5 at home by a score of 5-2 to the defending champion Florida Panthers. The series now shifts back to Florida for Game 6 on Tuesday, when the Panthers will have the chance to pull off a repeat championship.

The rare Cup Final rematch between Florida and Edmonton has played out much differently than last year, when the Oilers erased a 3-0 series deficit before dropping the decisive Game 7 on the road.

Panthers-Oilers Round 2 has been a back-and-forth battle with three overtime contests in five games. Edmonton took the series opener before Florida responded with two straight victories. The Oilers evened the series in Game 4, but the Panthers pulled back ahead in Game 5.

Now, Connor McDavid and Co. need to win two straight elimination to avoid becoming repeat Stanley Cup runners-up.

Has an NHL team ever lost back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

The Oilers wouldn’t be the first team to suffer Cup Final losses in consecutive seasons.

How many NHL teams have lost back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

Since the start of the expansion era in the 1967-68 season, there have been just two instances of the same team losing at least two Cup Finals in a row.

Who was the last NHL team to lose back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

And it’s been nearly 50 years since it last happened. The Boston Bruins lost the 1977 Cup Final to the Montreal Canadiens before suffering the same fate against Montreal in 1978. Boston’s consecutive Cup Final defeats were part of a four-peat for Montreal from 1976-79.

The only other team to record consecutive runner-up finishes is the St. Louis Blues, who were defeated in three straight Cup Finals. St. Louis lost to the Canadiens in 1968and 1969 before falling to the Bruins in 1970. The Blues wouldn’t make it back to the Cup Final until 2019, when they defeated the Bruins for the franchise’s first championship.

Posted on

England’s Littler and Humphries lacked team unity at World Cup, insists Price

  • Welshman says ‘team ethic didn’t show with England’

  • Defending champions booed in ‘rubbish’ performance

Gerwyn Price said the lack of unity shown by Luke Littler and Luke Humphries contributed towards England’s “rubbish” performance at the World Cup of Darts.

Price and his Welsh compatriot Jonny Clayton finished runners-up in Frankfurt after losing a last-leg shootout against the Northern Irish duo Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney.

Continue reading...
Posted on

USA and other nations reveal first 6 players for 2026 Olympics hockey rosters

USA and other nations reveal first 6 players for 2026 Olympics hockey rosters originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It’s all starting to come together for the Milan Cortina Olympics.

With NHL players set to return to the Olympics in 2026 for the first time since 2014, national teams across the globe are scrambling to sign up their stars.

USA Hockey confirmed on Monday the first six players who will be on its roster:

  • Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
  • Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
  • Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
  • Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
  • Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers

Mike Sullivan of the New York Rangers was previously announced as the coach for the 2026 Olympics and 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.

Five of those six players competed for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, losing in overtime to Canada in the final. Hughes was set to be on the roster, but he withdrew from the tournament due to injury.

Aside from the U.S., the other 11 countries also revealed the first six players for their rosters. Here’s a look at who will be heading to Italy in February:

CANADA

  • Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
  • Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
  • Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
  • Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

FINLAND

  • Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
  • Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
  • Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
  • Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
  • Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars
  • Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

SWEDEN

  • Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
  • Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
  • Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings
  • William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
  • Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

CZECHIA

  • Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche
  • Ondrej Palat, New Jersey Devils
  • David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
  • Pavel Zacha, Boston Bruins
  • Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks
  • Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

SWITZERLAND

  • Kevin Fiala, Los Angeles Kings
  • Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils
  • Timo Meier, New Jersey Devils
  • Nino Niederreiter, Winnipeg Jets
  • Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
  • Jonas Siegenthaler, New Jersey Devils

SLOVAKIA

  • Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens
  • Martin Pospisil, Calgary Flames
  • Tomas Tatar
  • Erik Cernak, Tampa Bay Lightnings
  • Martin Fehervary, Washington Capitals
  • Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils

GERMANY

  • Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
  • Lukas Reichel, Chicago Blackhawks
  • Nico Sturm, Florida Panthers
  • Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators
  • Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings
  • Philipp Grubauer, Seattle Kraken

LATVIA

  • Rodrigo Abols, Philadelphia Flyers
  • Teddy Blueger, Vancouver Canucks
  • Zemgus Girgensons, Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Uvis Balinskis, Florida Panthers
  • Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets
  • Arturs Silovs, Vancouver Canucks

DENMARK

  • Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets
  • Lars Eller, Washington Capitals
  • Jonas Rondjberg, Vegas Golden Knights
  • Jesper Jensen Aabo
  • Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes

FRANCE

  • Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
  • Jordann Perret
  • Alexandre Texier, St. Louis Blues
  • Yohann Auvitu
  • Jules Boscq
  • Hugo Gallet

ITALY

  • Diego Kostner
  • Daniel Mantenuto
  • Tommy Purdeller
  • Luca Zanatta
  • Thomas Larkin
  • Damian Clara
Posted on

Orioles at Rays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 16

It's Monday, June 16 and the Orioles (30-40) are in Tampa to take on the Rays (39-32). Zach Eflin is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Ryan Pepiot for Tampa Bay.

Both Baltimore and Tampa Bay are coming off series sweeps of their opponents over the weekend. The Orioles outscored the Angels 19-7, while the Rays outscored the Mets 24-9.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Orioles at Rays

  • Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
  • Time: 7:35PM EST
  • Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
  • City: Tampa, FL
  • Network/Streaming: MASN2, FDSNSUN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Orioles at the Rays

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (+107), Rays (-129)
  • Spread:  Rays -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Rays

  • Pitching matchup for June 16, 2025: Zach Eflin vs. Ryan Pepiot
    • Orioles: Zach Eflin, (6-2, 4.08 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.2 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Rays: Ryan Pepiot, (3-6, 3.31 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Rays

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Orioles and the Rays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Tampa Bay Rays on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Orioles at Rays

  • The Rays have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against divisional opponents
  • The Rays' last 3 games have gone over the Total
  • The Rays have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.30 units
  • Baltimore is 6-3 when Zach Eflin pitches this season
  • Tampa Bay is 5-9 when Ryan Pepiot pitches this season

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Celtics Draft Fits: Could Koby Brea bring elite 3-point shooting to Boston?

Celtics Draft Fits: Could Koby Brea bring elite 3-point shooting to Boston? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

There are many ways to make a living in the NBA. One of the most effective in 2025 is shooting 3-pointers at a high rate.

Almost every team uses the 3-point shot as a major focal point of their offense in 2025. Just look at the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. The Thunder ranked No. 6 and the Pacers were No. 9 in 3-point percentage during the regular season. The Pacers are shooting a league-best 39.3 percent from beyond the arc in the playoffs.

We can debate whether the abundance of 3-pointers in the modern game produces the most exciting product possible, but the fact is teams need to be able to shoot well from 3-point range to maximize their potential.

More Celtics Draft Fits:

The Celtics are no strangers to taking 3-pointers. In fact, they set league records for 3-point shots made and attempted per game this past season.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea for the C’s to add even more shooting to their roster in the offseason, and the 2025 NBA Draft is a great place to find those players.

The Celtics own the No. 28 overall pick in the first round and the second pick (No. 32 overall) in the second round of the upcoming draft.

One player with the 3-point shooting talent to make an impact with the Celtics is Kentucky wing Koby Brea.

Learn more about Brea and his potential fit with the C’s below:

Koby Brea’s bio

  • Position: Wing
  • Height: 6-foot-7
  • Weight: 215 pound
  • Birthdate: Nov. 6, 2002
  • Birthplace: Washington Heights, New York
  • College: Kentucky

Koby Brea’s collegiate stats

  • 2024-25 (w/Kentucky): 11.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 47.0 field goal pecentag (36 games)
  • 2023-24 (w/Dayton): 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 51.2 field goal percentage (33 games)
  • 2022-23 (w/Dayton): 6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 36.3 field goal percentage (28 games)
  • 2021-22 (w/Dayton): 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 43.6 field goal percentage (35 games)
  • 2020-21 (w/Dayton): 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 40.0 field goal percentage (17 games)

Koby Brea’s collegiate accolades

  • 2024 Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year
  • 2022 Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year

Koby Brea’s highlights

Why Koby Brea fits with Celtics

Koby Brea might have the prettiest 3-point shooting stroke in the 2025 draft class. He shot 43.5 percent from 3-point range at Kentucky last season — one year after hitting those shots at an impressive 49.5 percent rate for Dayton in 2023-24. Brea made 43.4 percent of his 3-pointers over his five-year college career.

The issue with Brea is there aren’t many other super-impressive aspects of his skill set. He’s not an elite defender. He doesn’t rebound at a high level. His playmaking ability doesn’t fill up a highlight reel.

As our Celtics insider Chris Forsberg explains, Brea is an intriguing draft fit for the Celtics based on his 3-point shooting, but can he improve the other areas of his game?

“Koby Brea as the best 3-point shooter in the entire draft? Finishing his college career at Kentucky, Brea shot 44 percent from 3-point range for the Wildcats during his fifth college season after transferring from Dayton,” Forsberg said, as seen in the video player above. “He has decent size for a wing and provides elite shooting from distance.

“But the rest of his game is light on NBA qualities. Brea is often compared to someone like Duncan Robinson. So if Brea’s 3-point shot transfers to the NBA, he could be a useful rotational presence. Brea is likely to be a second-round pick and could land on the Celtics’ radar if they’re willing to develop the rest of his game.”