Things did not go well for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday night, dropping Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Finals series to the Toronto Marlies by a 5-1 margin. It was close game into the third period before the Marlies erupted late in the game to take over.
It sends the series back to Northeast Pennsylvania on Sunday night for Game 6 with the Penguins facing elimination in a 3-2 series hole.
The series is by no means over, but it is going to take back-to-back wins to get through to the Calder Cup Finals.
Whether they pull that off or not there have been some big developments for the Penguins prospect pool during this playoff run.
First, there’s been the play of the young forwards that are in that “NHL Tweener” category in Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty. While they have yet to establish themselves as NHL regulars, they have been excellent AHL producers and have continued that through the playoffs. Both players have matching stat lines of four goals, five assists and nine total points in 14 games, while McGroarty just scored a huge game-winning goal late in Game 4 of the series, forcing a turnover and then finishing the play with a slick goal.
They still need to translate that over to the NHL, but seeing them perform in bigger games and bigger moments is an encouraging development.
Defenseman Harrison Brunicke has also been, by all accounts, an absolute force on the blue line and at 19 years old, with only 32 games of pro hockey experience (AHL and NHL combined) entering this playoff run, has become the team’s unquestioned, without-a-doubt, No. 1 defenseman.
“Since I saw him in Buffalo two years ago (at the 2024 prospect tournament) until now …” MacDonald started, shaking his head. “He’s been doing a great job. The physical tools have always been there. But now he’s recognizing when to go (jump into the play), and when not to go. He is realizing he doesn’t have to do everything for everyone on the ice. You can see it.”
And also:
“Everyone talks about his skating ability,” MacDonald said. “And how he can move pucks. But did you see how many shots he blocked (in Game 4)? That, to me, is what separates him. The way he competes in the D-zone. He makes great players offensively for us at this level. But he’s great on the penalty kill. He’s great down low. Great stuff.”
Given the Penguins lack of elite prospect depth on defense, and given the ages of their current right-shot defenseman, the development of Brunicke might be one of the most important elements of their prospect pool at the moment. Especially given his age, talent and upside. Stepping right into an AHL role at 19, with little pro experience, and taking over games as your team’s “go-to” defenseman is a massive development.
Hopefully a big confidence boost as well.
Then there is starting goalie Sergei Murashov.
While he has had a couple of shaky moments over the past few games, he has been a big part of getting the Penguins to this point of the playoffs and is still owning a .930 save percentage through 14 playoff games.
His AHL numbers continue to pop off the page, and he is still making highlight reel saves (and a lot of them) on most nights.
There have also been some new faces making immediate impacts at forward.
Mikhail Ilyin, the Penguins’ fifth-round draft pick in 2023, came over from Russia late in the regular season, and after appearing in just two regular season games the 20-year-old forward has wasted no time making an impact in the AHL. He is up to nine points in 14 games this postseason after scoring his second goal of the playoffs on Friday night.
The player that might be one of the most positive developments, however, is 2025 first-round pick Bill Zonnon.
After showing up at the start of the playoff run, having already studied and learned the Penguins system before he even arrived and sat down with the coaches, Zonnon simply started producing right from the word go and is up to seven points in 10 games. From the moment he was drafted there was a belief that he might have been the most NHL-ready and most sure-thing (as if such a thing exists in the NHL Draft) of the Penguins’ three first-round picks. Maybe not an overly high-ceiling player, but at least somebody that could be a very good middle-six forward in the NHL.
He has done nothing to dispute those claims, and might even be raising expectations a bit.
He is only 18 years old, had no pro hockey experience prior to a month-and-a-half ago, and has not only held his own in the AHL playoffs, he has been one of their most productive players since arriving.
The Penguins farm system is still lacking that one “dude” at the top that has franchise-changing ability. Maybe Murashov can be that due to his position and ability. Maybe. Projecting goalies is like projecting Southwestern Pennsylvania weather. Who really knows? Even so, there is legitimate depth and a nice list of potential NHL players that could be productive players as early as next season. They are taking big steps toward that this postseason in the American Hockey League. It is encouraging to see.
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela has homered in back-to-back starts, and his hitting profile suggests he’ll continue his hot play at the plate against Baltimore Orioles starter Kyle Bradish, making his hits prop an attractive play at -130.
Read on for my Blue Jays vs. Orioles predictions and MLB picks for Saturday, June 6.
Orioles vs Blue Jays predictions
Orioles vs Blue Jays best bet: Brandon Valenzuela Over 0.5 hits (-130)
Brandon Valenzuela is hitting the ball well over his last nine games, sporting an .870 OPS in that stretch, including back-to-back games with a home run.
The rookie slugger profiles extremely well against Baltimore Orioles starter Kyle Bradish, who primarily throws a sinker/slider combination.
The rookie catcher owns a .400 batting average and .920 slugging percentage against those pitches, while generating hard contact at a 61.1% clip.
Additionally, Valenzuela has cashed this prop in 11 of his last 15 games.
Despite his recent surge, the books are still mispricing him by having him priced at -130, which is well below every other Toronto Blue Jays hitter on the market today.
I’d play Valenzuela’s Over 0.5 hits up to -145.
COVERS INTEL: Bradish’s 3.44 ERA suggests regression as his 4.04 xERA ranks in the 51st percentile, while sitting in the 13th percentile in barrel rate.
Orioles vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)
I’ll continue to bet on the Blue Jays' bats today and wager on both George Springer and Nathan Lukes getting a hit.
Springer has dominated Bradish in his career with a 1.263 OPS with six extra-base hits in 19-career at bats.
He’s also starting to heat up at the plate with nine hits in his last eight games.
As for Lukes, he’s eclipsed his hits total in nine of his last 10 outings, sporting a 191 WRC+ in that stretch, while also owning a .333 batting average against sinker/sliders.
Orioles vs Blue Jays SGP
Brandon Valenzuela O 0.5 hits
George Springer Over 1.5 total bases
Nathan Lukes Over 0.5 hits
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Orioles vs Blue Jays home run pick: Brandon Valenzuela (+700)
Bradish has allowed just two homers in his last five outings, so we’ll make this just a half-unit wager.
However, the Blue Jays hitter with the best power profile against Bradish is once again Valenzuela, who has gone yard in back-to-back games.
He's been swinging a hot power bat recently, and since May 1, the slugging catcher owns a .400 average and a 1.067 slug-rate against Bradish’s two most commonly thrown pitches.
Valenzuela also owns a 60% hard hit rate against them, which ranks 2nd on the Jays behind Yohendrick Pinango.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 30-32, +2.85 units
SGPs: 13-49, +10.35 units
HR picks: 9-53, -0.80 units
Orioles vs Blue Jays odds
Moneyline: Baltimore -105 | Toronto -105
Run line: Baltimore -1.5 (+153) | Toronto +1.5 (-175)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-115) | Under 8 (-105)
Orioles vs Blue Jays trend
The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the Game Total Over in 6 of their last 7 games (+4.90 Units / 65% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Orioles vs. Blue Jays.
How to watch Orioles vs Blue Jays and game info
Location
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Date
Saturday, 6-6-2026
First pitch
3:07 p.m. ET
TV
MASN, SN
Orioles starting pitcher
Kyle Bradish (3-6, 3.44 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Bryadon Fisher (2-1, 2.62 ERA)
Orioles vs Blue Jays latest injuries
Orioles vs Blue Jays weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 20: Kansas City Royals catcher Elias Diaz (43) gestures as he runs the bass after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning during a MLB game between the Boston Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals on May 20, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
MLB Rumors: The Texas Rangers are signing free agent catcher Elias Diaz, per multiple reports.
Diaz, 35, has been with the Kansas City Royals this season before being released earlier this week. He has spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies. In 2025 he was with the San Diego Padres, slashing .204/.270/.337 in 283 plate appearances over 106 games.
The Rangers have an open 40 man roster spot due to Sam Haggerty being designated for assignment yesterday. The speculation is that Danny Jansen could be headed to the injured list. The Rangers don’t have another catcher on their 40 man roster aside from Jansen and Kyle Higashioka, and none of their AAA catchers are guys you’d feel comfortable using in a regular backup catcher role in the big leagues.
After starting the year in AAA, Diaz had slashed .227/.261/.591 in 23 plate appearances over 10 games for the Royals after being added to their major league roster. Diaz came up to be the Royals’ third catcher due to concerns about Salvador Perez’s health, but was dropped in favor of Tyler Tolbert last in late May.
Mar 26, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) dribbles the ball against the Houston Cougars in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Hey guys, pay no attention to the other thing happening in the NBA right now…trust me…not worth your time. Your Brooklyn Nets are just 17 days away from the NBA Draft! We’ve talked about almost every prospect Nets prospect on here except for one…Scott Richey of the News Gazette is here to help us take a look at him!
In this episode of The Brooklyn with Pooch & Collin, we touch on:
Drafting for talent vs position
Keaton Wagler’s fit with the Nets
How he stacks up against Ament, Acuff, Mara, and Brown Jr.
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 05: Luis García Jr. #2 of the Washington Nationals celebrates at home after hitting a two run home run in the first inning during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Friday, June 5, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Julia Jacome/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Nationals Embarrass Diamondbacks in Home Run Fest Ildemaro Vargas was hit by a pitch one night after the Max Muncy collision. Adrian Del Castillo pitched. Merrill Kelly and Philip Abner were both hammered hard, resulting in five hime runs surrendered in a game the team had best forget in a hurry.
Luis Garcia Jr. Has Big Night in Rout of Diamondbacks The seven-year vet had a multi-homer game, which included his career-first grand slam, which he hit by winning the lefty-on-lefty matchup against Philip Abner.
Jose Fernandez Demotion Explained Most anyone could see he needed a bit of time back down in Reno to get regular reps and make some adjustments as he was struggling to adapt to the league’s adjustments to him. He’ll get regular playing time now and will likely be back before long.
Other Baseball News
Top-100 Prospects by Team The Diamondbacks feature only two names on this list and one is currently playing on the 26-man roster already.
We are Closer to the End than the Beginning Examining how Gerrit Cole might be the best draft selection of the past 15-20 years, who came from what was far and away the best draft class of this generation.
Jeff Passan’s Early Trade Deadline Preview Despite last night’s collapse, the Diamondbacks are still very much in the running for a playoff berth in the National League and could look to bolster the team rather than selling off. Then again, one more bad week could see them as sellers. Basically, weren’t we already in this position the last two seasons?
He is getting difficult usage and struggling mightily, with shot attempts being 70-25 in favor of the Carolina Hurricanes during his minutes. That is a good thing.
He is spending a lot of his time in the defensive zone and bleeding shots as a result, which creates plenty of block opportunities.
Hanifin has made the most of them, stepping in the way of at least four pucks in both games thus far.
With these outputs, I’d easily play to -200.
Game 3 Prop #2: Jackson Blake Over 0.5 points (-115)
John Tortorella uses Shea Theodore against elite competition at home while the Hanifin pairing primarily sees second lines.
That means Carolina’s second unit is the one I want to target in Game 3.
Enter Jackson Blake. He leads the entire playoffs in scoring chances during 5-on-5 play and has played almost 10 more minutes than any other Hurricanes forward in that game state.
He does a lot of the facilitating for his line and should have plenty of the puck in this matchup, giving him a great chance of finding the scoresheet.
Playable to -135.
Game 3 Prop #3: Pavel Dorofeyev Over 0.5 points (-125)
Pavel Dorofeyev has yet to record a point but all the numbers under the hood are encouraging.
The Golden Knights have won the chance battle during his minutes and he’s been plenty involved in the offensive zone.
Dorofeyev ranks second on the team with six chances through two games. Of the seven Golden Knights with at least four opportunities, he is the only guy who hasn’t picked up a point.
He’s skating on the top line, he’s skating on the top power play, he’s generating looks, and Frederik Andersen is struggling.
I like him to break through in Game 3. Bet to -135.
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PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 05: Luis García Jr. #2 of the Washington Nationals rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run in the first inning during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Friday, June 5, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Julia Jacome/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Maybe the Miami Marlins truly are the kryptonite for this offense. After that Marlins series, fans were starting to get concerned that this was the start of an offensive slide for the Nats. However, those concerns were quickly put to bed last night with the Nats putting up 14 runs on the Diamondbacks.
Back at the end of April, we wrote about how resilient this offense is. Every time they get knocked down, this offense gets up and becomes even stronger. They were punched in the mouth against Miami, and poor Merrill Kelly got to face an angry Nats offense. Luis Garcia Jr. made a statement with a two run homer to start the game, and the electric offense took it from there.
It was one of those games where everyone was eating. Six Nationals hitters had multi-hit days, including Daylen Lile who really needed a big game. Lile’s chase issues are well documented, but he is a great hitter when he is controlling the zone. He was locked in last night, going 3 for 6 with a homer. Lile has had a slightly underwhelming season, but he is still on pace for 20 homers and nearly 80 RBI’s.
Lile has been a very hot and cold hitter this season, so hopefully this can be the start of one of those heaters. When Lile is locked in, he can truly carry an offense. We saw that at the end of last season and during that Reds series this year. Daylen Lile gets his hits in bunches. When he sees a couple fall, that ball just gets very big for him. Lile is such a natural hitter, so when he is trusting his instincts, he can be unstoppable.
When this lineup came out, a lot of Nats fans were scratching their heads. They wondered how the Nats could be a consistent offensive threat with Nasim Nunez, Jorbit Vivas, Jose Tena and Drew Millas all in the lineup. However, this offense is at its best when fans are beginning to doubt them. Of course this is the lineup that puts up 14 runs. Those bats at the bottom of the order were a big part of the outburst as well.
Vivas had a particularly nice game. His struggles with runners in scoring position have been well documented this season. Before last night, he was 0 for 25 in those situations. Vivas got that monkey off his back with two hits with runners in scoring position, including a clutch double which drove in two runs.
There were a lot of run-producing bats in the lineup last night, but none of them drove in more than Luis Garcia. The Nats first baseman hit two home runs, including a grand slam which truly made this game a rout.
Garcia is an interesting player to talk about. He has so many flaws that really stick out and limit his game. However, his combination of bat to ball skills and power still make him intriguing. For the season, Garcia is hitting .263 with 7 homers, 37 RBI’s and a .745 OPS. His .454 slugging percentage is also a career high.
There is no question that Garcia has hitting ability. However, his poor approach and lack of defensive value make him a bit problematic. Personally, I think the Nats should cash in on Garcia at the deadline and give Abimelec Ortiz those reps down the stretch. It is no guarantee that Ortiz can match the offensive production that Garcia gives this team though. We are deep into his career now, and I am still not quite sure if Luis Garcia Jr. is good or not.
One player who I know is good is James Wood. After an uncharacteristically poor series against the Marlins, Wood got back on track last night. As he often does, Wood hit a home run that just left me shaking my head. On a ball up by his neck, he absolutely drilled a long home run off of Merrill Kelly. His OPS for the season is up to .944, and I still think the 23 year old has plenty of untapped offensive upside.
Wood and CJ Abrams are the engines of this offense. We saw the offense sputter when those two were not performing against the Marlins. Last night, both Wood and Abrams had two hits and homered. They are such an elite duo, and both deserve to start the All-Star game.
For the next two games, the Nats are going to have to solve one of their few offensive problems. It is not as bad as last year, but the Nationals offense still struggles a bit during day games. We wrote about this the other day, and it remains quite a strange problem.
Nats offense during night games in 2026: 122 wRC+, 1st in MLB Nats offense during day games in 2026: 89 wRC+, 26th in MLB@oakley please sponsor these guys so they can see https://t.co/7NhKoTry61
They will have a chance to up those numbers this afternoon in the desert. Personally, I do not think the day game issues are a massive worry. The offense is still so good that I trust Matt Borgschulte’s process. However, it will be something for us to monitor these next couple days.
Whenever we doubt this offense, they always show up. Last night was a big game for the Nats, who had fallen below .500. They made a statement that this team is not going anywhere. Now, they have a chance to get back above .500 and flex their muscles on the west coast.
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 08: Tsung-Che Cheng #1 of Team Chinese Taipei bunts in the eighth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Chinese Taipei and South Korea at Tokyo Dome on March 8, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The WooSox did not have an ordinary assignment today. The opposing pitcher on the mound was a guy you may have heard of named Max Scherzer, a bonafide hall-of-famer in the twilight of his career on a rehab assignment for Buffalo (Blue Jays AAA) from forearm tendonitis and ankle inflammation. The 41-year-old was not expected to be 100% yet, but this is Mad Max we’re talking about. He’s still got the stuff, striking out five with that tricky slider. But Scherzer only made it into the fourth. When he did get hit, the hits came in waves, and he allowed three extra-base hits in that time including a Matt Lloyd home run to make it a 3-1 lead for the WooSox and it only got better from there. The WooSox had a rehab appearance of their own mound; Patrick Sandoval started the game allowing Raymond Burgos to be the bulk guy. Winning on a night a top contemporary pitcher starts the game is a great accomplishment.
And hopefully it doesn’t come to this, but next man up, should it come to that for any reason, is looking like it could be Tsung-Che Cheng. The 24-year-old has defensive versatility, is a speed demon on the basepaths, can be slotted into second, third, or short, and makes contact. This was all evident in limited action during the WBC this spring. And on Friday, he had a statement two-RBI single against Scherzer and another RBI knock when the lead needed protecting in the eighth. So many of these hits have came from the bat of Cheng on the year. It’s easy to see there’s so many infielders with similar versatility ahead of Cheng, but he’s using an option year anyway and so if the Red Sox need to burn another infielder due to (insert any circumstance here) then there’s worse calls to make.
Coming out of relief, Dalton Rogers pitched a hitless four innings against the Yard Goats (Rockies AA) and now stands at just three earned runs in 23 innings of work since being promoted to the double-A squad after his first appearance in Greenville back in April. The rest of the pitching staff got touched up, though, getting saddled with a six-run ninth inning to steal defeat from the depths of victory. The offense had an explosive inning of their own, though, or else Hartford would have run away with it. That seven-run sixth was the only inning in which Portland scored. It included a grand slam by Abhram Liendo. In the following inning, Caden Rose started the inning off wih a triple, and Portland’s winning percentage expected was north of 98 percent. Sadly, finishing the game out on top wasn’t to be.
In this 0-0 game where Rome (Braves High-A) walked off Greenville with the first run of the game, you really have to tip your hat to both pitching staffs. Jojo Ingrassia was no slouch and Joe Vogatsky recovered nicely from his mess of a relief appearance earlier in the week. But, you can’t compete with 1 run allowed unless you also score a run, and Greenville stranded ten, struck out sixteen times and went hitless in seven attempts to bring in runners in scoring position.
Going 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position in a close game, is, of course, not a way to win the game, but the RidgeYaks got to the Warbirds (Brewers A) for a lot of runs despite the team getting four hits on the night. In the end, though, it was, in part, Salem’s propensity for giving up walks (eleven) caught up with them, as they started the inning with one and ended up getting walked off with a grand slam.
Have a steaming hot Saturday. And, as always, expletive the Yankees.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Javier Perez #68 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during the third inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (27-34) won 9-6 (BOX SCORE)
Ferreras put Sugar Land on the board in the 2nd inning connecting on a 3 run home run. They got another run in the third on a Whitcomb RBI single. In the 4th, the offense added 3 runs on a Loperfido 2 run double and Whitcomb RBI single. Alexander added a 2 run home run in the 5th inning. Hendrickson started for Sugar Land and allowed 6 runs over 5 innings of work. The bullpen was solid tossing 4 scoreless innings as they closed out the 9-6 win.
Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Tom Cosgrove, LHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Jayden Murray, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (SAVE)
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (24-31) lost 6-0 (BOX SCORE)
Swanson started for the Hooks but struggled allowing 5 runs over 3.2 innings. He was relieved by Guedez who allowed one unearned run over 2.1 innings. Torres and Cuevas had scoreless outings but the offense was quiet all night as they were shutout in the 6-0 loss.
A+: Asheville Tourists (15-39) won 11-4 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the first inning scoring a run on a Call RBI double. They scored 5 more runs in the third inning on a Thomas RBI single, Moss 2 run single and Lytle 2 run double. Smith started for Asheville and went 6 innings allowing 4 runs, 2 earned, while striking out 5. The offense continued to add on getting a run in the 5th on a Lytle solo home run and 2 in the 6th inning on Moss 2 run home run. In the 7th, the offense got 2 more on Thomas RBI single and Powell sac fly. The bullpen tossed 3 scoreless innings as they closed out the 11-4 win.
Parker Smith, RHP: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K (WIN)
Jackson Wells, RHP: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Bryce Collins, RHP: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (25-30) won 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the third inning when Huezo connected on a 3 run home run, his 9th home run of the season. Perez got the start and was dominant for the Woodpeckers tossing 7 scoreless innings while striking out 10 batters. Weber came on in relief and allowed 2 runs but held on for the save as the Woodpeckers won 3-2.
EPSOM, ENGLAND - JUNE 06: Bay City Roller ridden by Oisin Murphy (red & white silks) wins the Coolmore Coronation Cup during The Betfred Derby Day at Epsom Downs Racecourse on June 06, 2026 in Epsom, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hickory starter Aidan Deakins struck out seven in five innings, giving up a solo homer. Louis Marinaro struck out two in two scoreless innings.
Hector Osorio was 3 for 4 with a homer. Yolfran Castillo had a hit and a stolen base. Braylin Morel doubled. Marcos Torres doubled. Dewar Tovar and Josh Springer each had a hit.
Caden Scarborough started for Hub City, allowing one run in three innings, striking out three and walking three. Case Matter allowed a run in an inning, walking two and striking out two. Joey Danielson struck out one in a scoreless inning.
Malcolm Moore was 2 for 5 with a homer. Paxton Kling was 2 for 6 with a pair of doubles. Chandler Pollard and Gleider Figuereo each had a double.
For Round Rock, Gavin Collyer faced three batters, striking out two of them and walking one. Rehabbing Cole Winn faced three batters, retiring two of them, one by strike out, and walking one. Josh Sborz, re-signed by the Rangers after exercising his opt out earlier this week, faced four batters, walking one of them striking out one, and allowing two hits, one of which was a homer. Emiliano Teodo faced three batters, walking one of them and retiring two of them, one via strikeout.
Cam Cauley had a double and a walk. Jarred Kelenic had a hit, a walk and a stolen base. Blaine Crim had a hit and a walk.
In the midst of a lot of off-season drama is the Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights.
The series enters Saturday's Game 3 with a 1-1 tie. Each team had a multi-goal comeback through the first two games, which is the first time that's happened in the 108-year history of the Stanley Cup Final.
Through all that madness are a lot of other great storylines that don't get the attention they deserve. One of them, according to ESPN's number one play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough, is former New Jersey Devils superstar and MVP Taylor Hall.
Hall has made a handful of stops since departing the Devils organization, but he is finally in the perfect spot with the Carolina Hurricanes. He has been one of their best forwards during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and is in the mix for the Conn Smythe Trophy.
A strong finish to the series for Hall and a Hurricanes win would give him a chance to take home that hardware.
McDonough has the opinion that Hall is the top story that doesn't get enough attention, mostly because of what he's gone through in his up-and-down NHL career.
"Here's a guy who's 34, No. 1 overall pick, he's been on seven different teams, has kind of had a lot of ups and downs in recent years," McDonough said on Hall when asked about the most underrated storyline. "He was a fourth-line player at the start of this year as a former league MVP, Hart Trophy winner, accepted it gracefully, and worked his way up to now being on the line that's been the best in the playoffs. He's their leading point scorer, and he's third in all the playoffs in points.
So I think his story to me would be the one that hasn't been told. The hard part for us, we talked about this before on the broadcast, there's no time for almost any storytelling.
There’s no adequate amount of time in hockey to tell those stories. Taylor Hall was a first round pick, league MVP, seventh team, fourth line, blah, blah, blah. The puck's in the net while you're in the middle of that sentence.
That's one of my frustrations, a little bit with hockey play-by-play. I love the pace of it. That's part of what makes it as fun as it is, but there's very little time, unfortunately, to tell stories like that one."
There are Taylor Hall fans still remaining in New Jersey. He is the only Hart Trophy winner in the history of the franchise after all. A team that had Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Zach Parise, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Patrik Elias, amongst others, over the years, doesn't have another MVP.
There is no denying McDonough's claim about Hall being a top underrated story. If he wins the Cup and the Conn Smythe, that would give him a borderline Hall of Fame resume, which shouldn't be ignored.
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TULSA, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 19: Jake Gelof #6 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates with Zyhir Hope #13 after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Catching up on Friday highlights in the Dodgers minor leagues, and a pair of major leaguers tackling third base this week in Triple-A.
Player of the day
Tulsa third baseman Jake Gelof homered twice and doubled on Friday night, part of his three-hit, three-run, three-RBI night.
The Comets rallied late after falling behind 5-0 early, but it wasn’t enough in a loss to the Round Rock Express (Rangers).
James Tibbs III walked twice and hit a two-run home run, his league-leading 18th of the season, and played his third straight game at first base after four weeks of being limited to designated hitter duties. Tibbs has seven home runs in his last 10 games.
Tommy Edman played his first game at third base on this rehab assignment, during which he’s also played three games at second base, plus once each in left field, center field, and at DH.
Two big innings sank the Drillers in a high-scoring loss to the Amarillo Sod Poodles (Diamondbacks), who scored five runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh.
Josue De Paula doubled, singled, walked, and drove in a run. Mike Sirota homered and walked in the loss.
High-A Great Lakes
Two two-run home runs were more than enough for the Loons in a shutout win over the Lansing Lugnuts (A’s). Nico Perez hit the first home run in the first inning, and Jose Meza joined him in the fifth.
Great Lakes pitched a shutout, but it was a wild ride for piggyback pals Brooks Auger and Jacob Frost. Both pitchers walked five batters to bookend the game, with Auger striking out four in his four-inning starts, and his single allowed was the only hit of the game for Lansing. AAfter five up and five down by Matt Lanzendorfer in between, Frost walked five and struck out three in his 3 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his first professional save.
Class-A Ontario
The Tower Buzzers scored in five consecutive middle innings to beat the Stockton Ports (A’s).
Mairo Martinus, playing third base on Friday, doubled twice and singled. Easton Shelton homered, walked twice, scored two runs, and drove in a pair.
Transaction
Triple-A: Veteran catcher Seby Zavala was released. The 32-year-old non-roster invitee in spring training hit .196/.323/.353 with two home runs in 62 plate appearances for Oklahoma City, with 12 starts at catcher and four more at first base.
Jun 5, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers fans celebrate between innings during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images | Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) drives on Boston Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez (28) during the second quarter of game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
FeltonX
What’s the difference between an offense centered around Brown and an offense centered around Tatum?
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the best X’s and O’s guy. Thankfully there are lots of great minds writing for this site. However, my feel for it is that Tatum is better at distributing the ball (including setting up the play, bending the defense, and taking advantage of what the defense gives him). The downside is that he is sometimes a little too deliberate, holding onto the ball instead of making decisive decisions. Brown is a bit more decisive but that can get him in trouble if he guesses wrong and while he’s improved as a distributor, he’s not as adept at it as Tatum is.
Some have defined it as Brown being a play-finisher while Tatum is more of a play-maker. That might sound dismissive, but you need both and they’ve obviously had success together. So why not feature both?
Hurdler17
Would it be worth it to use a TPE and picks for Dort at 18mil or Hartenstein at 28 million. OKC has to start paying JDub and Chet, and these bench guys have a team options and are paid way more than they would get in the open market probably.
From OKC’s perspective I could see Dort being a cap casualty, so he’ll be on the market. With that said, I don’t think he addresses the Celtics needs. Hartenstein would be exactly what we’re looking for, but I find it hard to believe that OKC will let him go. Especially after Chet’s most recent impression in the playoffs. Also, does OKC really need more picks? I guess they are good currency if they are in the future, but at some point you have to trade them or use them.
ArmenianCeltsFan123
Would you be open to trading Sam Hauser, a pick, and another player (maybe a sign and trade with Vucevic) in exchange for Myles Turner who would fit into our TPE? You’d be doing right by Hauser to send him back to his hometown and you’d open up some room for the younger core to get more rotation minutes. I also like the idea of a veteran, playoff-tested center who can spread the floor and is a decent rim protector. Of course this only works if Milwaukee is heading for a rebuild.
Mindful we’d be taking on some additional money in that deal but with some maneuvering I think you’d still be able to pull it off and stay below the luxury tax without breaking up the Jays or trading D White. Welcome your thoughts.
First of all, Turner fits right into the TPE, so you technically don’t have to include any other salaries going the other way. Of course, the Celtics would probably want to cut costs, so they might end up sending out Sam Hauser and/or other assets in a hypothetical trade.
I think the consensus on Turner is that his best days may be behind him. He has theoretical value as a stretch big that should be able to defend, but I don’t know if that’s the guy the Celtics need. He certainly isn’t going to solve the “attack the rim with layups and dunks” issue.
Good, creative thinking though. I might prefer someone like Nic Claxton if he’s available. Or preferably someone a little cheaper.
overseasfansince1984
I’ve posted this before and would appreciate your opinion. It seems to me that the era of dominant big wings is over in the modern NBA. Every contender is now built around a skilled guard and a shooting big, with wings relegated to being 3-and-D players. I don’t have a definitive answer to this question, but is it wise to double down on having two big wings as your best, and most expensive, two players, or should we consider following the new trend?
It is an interesting question. I would pose a question back: Is it more of a guards/bigs era, or is the shortage of elite big wings creating a situation where other positions have to step up? The Celtics won a title 2 years ago with two big wings. OKC’s title was based on a point guard and a very high quality wing (and an elite defense).
I still think that having elite wings is something that all 30 teams would prefer to have. The Celtics have 2 of them and we shouldn’t overlook that or overthink it. The next objective is to build the roster around them.
The more challenging thing (and not really part of your question) is how do you build a roster around two wings making close to $60M each? There’s the rub.
The Next Banner
The best thing that ever happened to the 29 teams chasing the Oklahoma City Thunder may have been the rise of the San Antonio Spurs.
That sounds great for San Antonio, but how does it help everyone else, especially the Boston Celtics?
I think of it like Final Jeopardy. If the leader has $20,000 while second place has $9,000 and third has $8,000, the game is essentially over. The leader can play conservatively because no one is close enough to force a difficult decision. But if second place has $15,000 instead of $9,000, the leader is suddenly forced to take risks. Those risks create opportunities for everyone else.
The NBA is obviously more complicated than a game show, but the principle is similar. My theory is that the Thunder and Spurs may push each other into making roster moves and strategic adjustments designed specifically to beat one another. In doing so, they could become more optimized for that matchup while becoming slightly less optimized against the rest of the league.
If that happens, the existence of a true rival could create opportunities for every other contender.
Thoughts?
Really creative question, thanks for this. I think I follow your logic. In short, by pushing OKC to “solve” the Wemby problem, they may expose weaknesses that non-Spurs teams can exploit. I’ll add that the Aprons and Tax Threshold will have a say in that process as well. The Celtics were forced to make strategic cuts and Boston is a big market. I can only imagine what kinds of financial decisions the Thunder need to make now. Granted, they have the picks to help make things happen and a great GM. So we’ll see.
It is, perhaps, a little easier in the East since you know that you’ll only have to face Wemby if you reach the Finals and (cue the cliche) “anything can happen in a 7 game series.”
All that said, these things evolve quickly. Just 11 months ago everyone assumed that OKC was the major puzzle to solve for the next 5 years. Now we’re on to the next thing. I tend to think that (ironically, given Brad’s comments) the key to solving the Wemby problem is elite outside shooting. But I guess we’ll see.
Katahdin
What are your thoughts on a trade with Detroit for Stewart? The Celtics need another center and toughness. Detroit needs shooting. Hauser plus picks with Stewart coming into the trade exception?
Great minds think alike. I’ve proposed the same (or a similar) deal in the past. I don’t remember if I wrote about it in an article or whatever, but it makes sense. Beef Stew is certainly a guy that puts pressure on the rim. The Pistons could use some more shooting. Both teams win? Same logic could apply to several bigs that could be on the market.
CelticsWest
What are realistic developmental targets in 26-27 for the students/grads of Celtics University? All of em: Neemi, Walsh, Baylor, Hugo, RHJ, Amari, Shulga, and even John Tonje.
Ok, let me put on my best fortune teller outfit and gaze into my crystal ball.
Queta: You can’t teach size, and Neemi has the dimensions of an old-school center with enough athleticism to play in the modern NBA. I’m done doubting him, he’s a legit starting center for a contender right now. I don’t think he’ll develop into an All Star, but then again he doesn’t need to.
Walsh: I worry about his offensive feel, but you can’t argue with his defensive impact. I’m sure he’s putting up thousands of 3 pointers a day in his offseason workouts. If he can master that skill, he could have a long career as a 3-and-D wing.
Baylor: Oh man, what’s Baylor’s upside? In his mind it is probably Michael Jordan. I would settle for Aaron Neesmith. Don’t read into that comparison too much, I was just trying to think of level-of-impact, not necessarily play-style. He’s probably a good enough Hauser replacement (less shooting % and more playmaking) if they decide to move on from Sam.
Hugo I refuse to put a ceiling on, if only because I have no idea what his upside is. He certainly trends more defensive, but he’s got some good feel for the offensive end as well. I think he has the talent to be a starting wing but in Boston he’ll likely be stuck behind the Jays for the foreseeable future and that’s ok.
The rest are all in the “roll of the dice” category. Any of them could be a rotational player next year with starter upside down the line. Any of them could be out of the league just as quickly. We’ll see. I think Harper is my favorite, but I’m also rooting for Amari because of his size.
357Dust
Who can they realistically get for DWhite? Tweaking around the edges isn’t good enough. AND if they are not breaking up the Jays then the most valued piece around the league has to be DWhite even with slippage – no one really wants to trade DWhite but they broke him with this Chuck a Three and by not allowing him to play the best version of himself they have diminished his impact.
The last 2 playoff exits should not be dismissed, ignored or just brushed aside. So the real question is what is the playstyle they want to move forward with. Are they on the same page? Is it we prefer dunks or is it chuck a three or finding 2 on 1’s and creating 2 on 1’s and seeking out 2 on 1’s – if we want to do this chuck a three thing – then go acquire more shooting and really commit to this. Otherwise cut the crap and play the right way – but the problem is Tatum prefers to play 30 feet from the basket which really doesn’t fit what Brown and White do best which is play in midrange or at the basket……so pick a lane and figure it out.
They cater to Tatum and they are a prisoner of his DNA and as long as this is who he is – we will have 2024 and that is about it. Toss in the new ownership group more concerned with the bottom line and taxes (mostly avoiding them that is) then it really will be hard to look like we did in 2024. Brad has his work cut out for him and anxious to see how this all unfolds.
This reads more like a statement than a question, but I’ll take the first question and start there. I think the Celtics could get a lot for Derrick White if they decided to trade him. I wrote about this earlier and submitted De’Aaron Fox as an option, though that might be less realistic with them in the Finals. White is basically a fringe-All Star level player, who’s worth is nearly impossible to measure with stats. We already lost Jrue Holiday and Al Horford, two critical glue type pieces to our title. I think the dropoff from losing White would be noticeable if not easily defined or measured.
With all that said, the team is going to need to make difficult decisions with the cap and tax and if they aren’t breaking up the Jays, the next biggest salary to look at is White’s. So nothing can be dismissed out of hand.
Mitchs Dad
Do we take statements of ownership and management at face value or do we read between the lines? In other words are the Celtics prepared to spend (if so, when?)
Actions always speak louder than words. We have yet to see the new ownership group have a chance to show their actions as Wyc and the previous group did. I tend to think that they’ll follow the same gamplan. If the team is good enough to contend, and there’s a reasonable pathway to that goal, I do think they’ll spend. But I wouldn’t expect them to go deep into the tax for marginal upgrades or questionable salaries.
If Brad can present them a plan that makes sense, I think they’d be willing. But time and actions will tell.
MPLBaller
I don’t understand why the Celtics have to avoid the repeater tax in the 2026-27 season, can’t they do that in the 2027-28 season. It seems to me, this would a be a wasted year under the premise of saving $$. They have a 27 million dollar TPE to use, tradable contracts in White, Hauser and any other the young players out side of Hugo. Plus they will need to pay Pritchard if the Celts want to keep him. Why not swing for the fences this year and worry about the 27 season to be under the cap.
Good question, and I’ll once again stress that I’m not a cap expert, but I do love reading and listening to Keith Smith, so I’ll give this a shot. Keep in mind that if the team wants to avoid the repeater tax, they have to be below the tax line in 3 out of 4 years. Since they were tax payers the previous 2 years, this past year is year one of that scenario. If they blow through the tax this year, then that would put a lot of pressure on the team to either contend immediately (not out of the question) or drop below the line for the following 2 years.
I think everyone assumes they’ll try to duck the tax based on their actions of the past year (dipping below the line with all the offseason and trade deadline moves). However, as stated above, if the team is convinced that they are ready to contend, I would imagine that they’ll at least be willing to entertain options to pay the tax going forward.
poindexterregan
There’s talk OKC might be looking to move Chet Holmgren. We need a bone-fide big, any interest here if we can’t get Giannis?
Chet didn’t exactly cover himself in glory in the Spurs series. Of course, playing against an alien can do that to you. That said, he’s still an elite level defensive big with upside on the offensive end. If he’s available, the price will be high. And speaking of price, keep in mind he’s set to be paid a lot on the extension that is set to kick in this summer, starting at $41M per year.
If he’s really available, he’s an interesting option to consider. I just wouldn’t hold my breath that he’s available at a reasonable price.
RyderRanger
There seems to be a glut of wings on the team. A good thing in some ways but not realistic for all to develop and fit. So who goes and who stays? I got the impression Brad REALLY likes Hugo, and at 20 years old I see them wanting to develop him for sure. But then you’ve got Walsh, Scheierman, Harper jr etc. If they keep 2 of them, which other guy sticks with Hugo? My guess is Scheierman, what is yours?
I think Scheierman seems to have the most well-rounded game, so I think he has a leg up. I’m not ruling out the other two though, especially when you factor in their ages. As I mentioned elsewhere, Walsh has a way to go on offense, but his defense makes him work keeping around. Decisions become harder on guys like that when they approach their next contract. At some point you have to either commit or give his spot to someone else with better upside. For that reason, I think Walsh is the most likely to be included in a trade if they need to make salaries work.
c’s the day
Are we too excited (and biased) about our young bench? Who truly projects to be a contributor, journeyman, or out of the league?
We covered some of this ground in some of the other questions above, but briefly I think Hugo can be a starter (or high level sub behind the Jays), Scheierman can be a contributor, Walsh and Harper have to show more if they want to be more than a journeyman. Garza has value as a 3rd string center, but shouldn’t be the first big off the bench (at least in the playoffs).
BirdStealsTheBall
I still believe in this team. We’ve got two elite wings in JB and JT. Tatum is going to come back this year better than ever. We’ve got an All NBA 1st team defensive player in D. White whose shooting is likely to return to the mean next year. We’ve got former sixth man of the year Pritchard and a whole bunch of young guys with huge upside. Queta is a solid back up center. We are one decent center away from being contenders. I have faith.
Preach on. At a minimum this team needs to address the center position, but we’ve known that for the past year. I think we also need some depth at point guard. We know that Brad wants to attack the basket more and I think that will require some roster management, but can also be a point of emphasis for the core of the team right now.
I think ultimately we overachieved a bit in the regular season and found out in the playoffs just how valuable guys like Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and Al Horford were to the playoff success of this team. That’s not easy to replicate, in particular with a younger bench. However, our young wings will grow from this year’s experience and we’ll see how the rest of the roster fills out. It should be an interesting offseason and a fun season coming up.
COVERS INTEL: Bradish’s 3.44 ERA suggests regression as his 
Noah Hanifin
Jackson Blake
