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Mets' Brandon Nimmo provided cushion for David Peterson's shutout with pair of homers

While the spotlight and laurels belonged to David Peterson on Wednesday night -- and deservedly so -- his complete-game shutout against the division-rival Nationals wouldn't have been possible without a comfortable lead.

So, one of the few Mets teammates Peterson can thank for his gem is Brandon Nimmo. He provided the needed cushion.

The summer wind came blowing into Citi Field, but the ball was fortunately blowing out for Nimmo. The veteran outfielder delivered a pair of homers in the Mets' 5-0 win, and it was the first time that he smacked two long balls in one game since doing so against the same Nationals, back in late April. That day, he tied the Mets' club record with nine RBI.

Nimmo's first dinger of the night came in the fifth inning, as he took a changeup from Nationals starter Jake Irvin deep to left-center to push the Mets' lead to 4-0. Then, in the seventh, he crushed a solo shot to right field off reliever Jackson Rutledge to make the score 5-0.

Peterson only needed one run -- the first came on an upper-body strength RBI double from Pete Alonso -- but the insurance was welcomed and appreciated. Nimmo finished 2-for-3 with a walk and raised his average to .236.

"It's crazy how this field just flips a switch, but I'll take it," Nimmo said when asked about the humid weather. "I'll take every single one of [the homers]. The funny part is, the ball I hit the hardest was an out. So, that's the irony of baseball. But it's fun. I'll take it. I'm so glad I was able to help contribute tonight."

The warmer temperatures are playing to Nimmo's advantage. He's slashing .310/.385/.569 with four homers and nine RBI over his last 15 games (58 at-bats), and the month of June has produced the second-most long balls and second-highest OPS of his career. Signs of good things to come.

"Sometimes you're just going to go through some bad luck, and you should just stay the course," Nimmo said. "A lot of the stuff we go by now is expected numbers. If all of that stuff is pointing to having success, then we kind of lean on that to play out over the course of seven months. You have to understand you go through different seasons, and the weather's going to heat and cool down."

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Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Bednar putting early struggles in rear view, D-Backs closer shelved again

In this week's Closer Report, Atlanta is searching for answers in the ninth inning amid Raisel Iglesias' struggles. The Diamondbacks lose Justin Martinez to the injured list again. And David Bednar is putting his early season troubles behind him with better performance on the mound. All that and more as we run down the last week in saves.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

Tier 1: At the Top

Josh Hader - Houston Astros

Hader keeps on rolling as the top closer in baseball. He picked up a save and a win in two scoreless outings this week. He's struck out multiple batters in each of his last six appearances. The 31-year-old left-hander is up to 17 saves with a 1.29 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and a 43/7 K/BB ratio across 28 innings.

Tier 2: The Elite

Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres
Edwin Díaz - New York Mets
Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins
Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians
Mason Miller - Athletics

Muñoz bounced back after blowing back-to-back save chances. He struck out two batters in a scoreless inning for a save against the Angels on Sunday, then tossed a clean frame in a non-save situation against the Diamondbacks on Monday.

Suarez has now fired off 11 consecutive scoreless appearances since giving up five runs on May 12. He converted two more saves this week and leads baseball with 21.

Díaz tossed two clean innings and recorded one save this week. He's at 14 this season with a 2.30 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and a 42/11 K/BB ratio across 27 1/3 innings. While not producing the same strikeout rate as his peak in 2022, his 39.3% strikeout rate ranks among the top five relievers in baseball.

Duran gave up a run in a non-save situation against the Blue Jays on Saturday, then bounced back with a clean inning and a save on Sunday. The 27-year-old right-hander has posted an outstanding 1.15 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 37/11 K/BB ratio across 31 1/3 innings.

Clase pitched back-to-back games against the Astros over the weekend and converted his 14th save of the season. After struggling to start the season, he's allowed just one run over his last 15 outings since the start of May. Meanwhile, Miller is getting back on track with five straight scoreless outings, including a five-out save with three strikeouts against the Orioles on Friday.

Tier 3: The Solid Options

Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Camilo Doval - San Francisco Giants
Will Vest/Tommy Kahnle - Detroit Tigers
Devin Williams - New York Yankees
Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles
David Bednar - Pittsburgh Pirates
Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals
Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals
Emilio Pagan - Cincinnati Reds
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals

Scott starts this large tier of closers that have had some volatility but have mostly gotten the job done. Scott made three appearances this week, adding two saves for a total of 12. The Dodgers got Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech back from the injured list this week, both of which can factor into the ninth inning based on matchups.

Chapman's strong season continues with another good week on the mound. The 37-year-old left-hander locked down three more saves to give him 12 to go with a 1.59 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 39/9 K/BB ratio across 28 1/3 innings. With Justin Slaten on the injured list with a shoulder injury, Garrett Whitlock figures to step in as the next in line for saves.

Megill surrendered two runs to blow a save chance against the Padres on Saturday before falling in line for a win. He then bounced back with a clean inning on Tuesday against the Braves, striking out two for his 13th save.

After snapping a 21-game scoreless streak in a blown save last week, Doval came back with three saves. The 27-year-old right-hander is up to 10 saves with a 1.69 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 30/15 K/BB ratio across 32 innings. Behind Doval, Randy Rodríguez has been one of the best middle relievers in baseball and has solidified himself as a top setup man and next in line for saves in San Francisco. As many close games as the Giants play, Rodriguez wouldn't be a bad streamer in deep leagues.

It's a similar situation in Detroit, with the team generating plenty of save chances. Vest locked down two more saves this week and is up to 11, with Kahnle behind him at eight. And in New York, Williams struck out one batter in a scoreless inning for a save against the Red Sox on Friday before cleaning up the ninth with two outs for the save Wednesday against the Royals.

Hoffman had one of his better weeks, converting four saves in five days despite giving up a pair of home runs. He's had home run issues this season with eight, passing last season's total of six. Still, he's continued to collect strikeouts and saves.

Bautista struck out the side, working around a walk in a scoreless inning against the Athletics on Saturday for his 12th save. The 29-year-old right-hander has had an overall effective season coming back from Tommy John surgery, posting a 3.32 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and a 28/16 K/BB ratio across 21 2/3 innings.

Bednar has been lights out since returning from a brief minor-league stint on April 19, with a 2.49 ERA and a 30/3 K/BB ratio across his last 21 2/3 innings. He added two saves and a win over the last week.

Helsley gave up a run in each of his last three outings, blowing three straight save chances. The 30-year-old right-hander has had an up-and-down season, posting a 3.75 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and a 28/12 K/BB ratio across 24 innings while converting 13 of 18 save opportunities.

Fairbanks logged a save with a clean inning against the Marlins, then blew a save chance against the Red Sox on Monday, giving up two runs. Meanwhile in Chicago, Palencia had a rare bad outing, giving up a run on two hits and a walk to take the loss against the Phillies on Monday.

Finnegan converted a save against the Rangers on Friday, then was charged with a blown save as he failed to strand the inherited runners in the eighth against the Mets on Tuesday.

Pagán struck out two batters in each of his two scoreless outings this week, adding a save against the Guardians on Monday. The 34-year-old right-hander has converted 16-of-18 save chances with a 3.45 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and a 35/8 K/BB ratio across 28 2/3 innings.

Estévez pitched in both games of a doubleheader against the Cardinals last Thursday, taking a loss with two runs allowed in the first game before locking down a save in the second. He then worked around a hit and a walk to record his 19th save against the White Sox on Sunday.

Tier 4: Here for the Saves

Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels
Shelby Miller - Arizona Diamondbacks
Raisel Iglesias/Pierce Johnson - Atlanta Braves
Jordan Romano - Philadelphia Phillies
Robert Garcia - Texas Rangers

Jansen pitched four times in five days this week, adding two saves to his total, bringing him to 14 with a 4.37 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and a 19/9 K/BB ratio across 22 2/3 innings. With Jansen unavailable Wednesday, Reid Detmers stepped in for the save against the Athletics.

For a second time, the Diamondbacks lost closer Justin Martinez to the injured list. The 23-year-old right-hander was placed on the 15-day injured list with a UCL sprain in his right elbow and could be facing a lengthy absence. This puts Miller back in line for regular save chances in Arizona. He struck out two in a scoreless inning for the save against the Mariners on Wednesday.

The Braves are searching for answers at the closer role with Iglesias taking a step back. The team will likely go with a committee approach. Both Iglesias and Johnson blew save chances in the last week. Dylan Lee could be a speculative pickup for saves as the team has fellow left-hander Aaron Bummer pitching effectively.

No saves for the Phillies this week. Romano was charged with a loss against the Pirates on Friday while Matt Strahm and Taijuan Walker were each charged with a blown save. The Phillies could be a team looking to add to their late-inning mix via trade. In Texas, Garcia surrendered three runs in a blown save against the Rays last Thursday, then converted a save against the Nationals on Sunday.

Tier 5: Bottom of the Barrel

Calvin Faucher - Miami Marlins
Zach Agnos - Colorado Rockies
Brandon Eisert/Steven Wilson - Chicago White Sox

Relievers On The Rise/Stash Candidates

The White Sox closer situation has not been one to go chasing for quite a while, but the team did call up an intriguing young reliever from Double-A Birmingham, skipping the Triple-A level. Twenty-three-year-old Grant Taylor logged 26 2/3 innings in Double-A, posting an impressive 1.01 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and a 37/11 K/BB ratio while generating a 17.1% swinging-strike rate. If he can translate similar production at the MLB level, Taylor can quickly work his way into the saves mix in Chicago, few as they may come.

Reid Detmers has quietly been on an impressive run with the Angels. He's made 11 consecutive scoreless appearances, striking out 18 batters to just four walks in that span. The 25-year-old left-hander has struggled to realize the upside he's displayed at times throughout his young career. However, he just might be figuring it out in this new role as a reliever. Detmers converted a save on Wednesday with Kenley Jansen getting the day off. On Thursday, manager Ron Washington hinted at Detmers possibly being stretched out as a starter again at some point, but he seems to be thriving in the late innings.

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Pressure defense, bench sparking runs, Pacers turn tables on Thunder, take Game 3 and 2-1 series lead

INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time these Finals, the Thunder looked shook.

Indiana brought the defensive pressure — like Oklahoma City has done to so many teams this season — and the result was Thunder players trying to do too much on their own and coughing up 19 turnovers. Indiana leaned into its depth, as the Thunder have done all season, and the result was Bennedict Mathurin scoring 27 and the bench as a whole scoring 49, including Obi Toppin doing this.

Indiana turned the tables on Oklahoma City and gave them a taste of what it was like to play themselves.

The result was a 116-107 Indiana win — its first Finals win in 25 years — in front of a raucous home crowd. The Pacers now have a 2-1 series lead, with Game 4 on Friday night in Indianapolis.

After a couple of rough games for the Pacers' bench, things turned back home.

The spark was T.J. McConnell, whose scrappy, hustle plays changed the dynamic in the second quarter. His steals ignited the crowd and a 15-4 Pacers run that put them in the lead for the first time in the game.

Indiana found its offensive groove thanks to the bench and scored 40 points in the second quarter on just 26 possessions. This from a team that scored 41 and 45 in the first halves of Games 1 and 2.

At the heart of the Pacers' bench play was Mathurin, who shot 9-of-12 on his way to those 27 points, including hitting a couple of 3-pointers on a night the Pacers as a whole struggled from beyond the arc (9-of-27).

In the face of the tempo and pressure, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was gassed in the fourth quarter and couldn't lead the Thunder to the win. The MVP finished with 24 points but on 9-of-20 shooting, with eight rebounds and just four assists. Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 26 points. The Thunder shot 10-of-22 from 3, keeping them within striking distance for much of the night.

However, what won the 68 games and got them to the Finals was their defense, and the Pacers torched that for a long stretch of Game 3. Indiana took better shots and capitalized on them, finishing with a 116 offensive rating (9.5 points higher than the Thunder allowed on average during the playoffs coming into the game).

For Oklahoma City, Game 4 on Friday becomes the season. If they go down 3-1 against a Pacers team that is rising to the moment like this, they will not climb out of that hole.

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Indiana bench shines as Pacers overtake Thunder late for 2-1 lead in NBA finals

Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers blocks a shot attempt by Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter.Photograph: Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Leave it to Indiana’s bench to swing the biggest game of the season. With the starters fading and the game hanging in the balance, Bennedict Mathurin and TJ McConnell turned Gainbridge Fieldhouse into a madhouse, leading the Pacers past the Thunder 116–107 on Wednesday night to seize a 2–1 lead in the NBA finals.

Mathurin poured in 27 points off the bench and McConnell was all over the court – diving for loose balls, snatching steals, dishing dimes – as Indiana overwhelmed Oklahoma City with a 32–18 fourth quarter. The Pacers outscored the Thunder 49–18 in bench points and closed the game on a 22–8 run, flipping a five-point deficit into a win that puts them two victories from their first NBA title.

“We just had guys make plays after plays,” said Tyrese Haliburton. “Our bench was amazing.”

Schedule

Best-of-seven-games series. All times US eastern time (EDT). 

Thu 5 Jun Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110

Sun 8 Jun Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107

Wed 11 Jun Game 3: Pacers 116, Thunder 107

Fri 13 Jun Game 4: Thunder at Pacers, 8.30pm

Mon 16 Jun Game 5: Pacers at Thunder, 8.30pm

Thu 19 Jun Game 6: Thunder at Pacers, 8.30pm*

Sun 22 Jun Game 7: Pacers at Thunder, 8pm*

*-if necessary

How to watch

In the US, all games will air on ABC. Streaming options include ABC.com or the ABC app (with a participating TV provider login), as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and Sling TV (via ESPN3 for ABC games). NBA League Pass offers replays, but live finals games are subject to blackout restrictions in the US.

In the UK, the games will be available on TNT Sports and Discovery+. As for streaming, NBA League Pass will provide live and on-demand access to all Finals games without blackout restrictions.

In Australia, the games will broadcast live on ESPN Australia. Kayo Sports and Foxtel Now will stream the games live, while NBA League Pass will offer live and on-demand access without blackout restrictions.

Haliburton finished with 22 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. Pascal Siakam added 21 points and the basket that all but sealed it: a smooth drive to the rim with 1:09 left to stretch Indiana’s lead to 112–104.

The Thunder, who had taken an 89–84 lead into the fourth quarter, were outplayed and out-executed down the stretch. They shot just 35.3% in the final period, went 0-for-4 from three-point range and committed five turnovers. Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 26 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 24 more and Chet Holmgren had 20 points and 10 rebounds, but went 0-for-6 from deep.

Indiana’s bench provided the burst. McConnell tied the game at 95 early in the fourth by intercepting Alex Caruso’s inbounds pass under the basket and flipping in a layup. On the next trip, he fed Mathurin for a corner three to give Indiana the lead.

After a brief rest, Haliburton re-entered, took a handoff at the top of the key and drilled his fourth triple of the night to make it 101–98 with 6:42 left. Then came a barrage: Andrew Nembhard’s elbow jumper, Obi Toppin’s put-back dunk, Aaron Nesmith’s skip-pass three,and another Mathurin floater. The Pacers had turned a track meet into a runaway.

Thanks to Mathurin’s scoring and McConnell’s defensive activity – he finished with 10 points, five assists and five steals – Indiana controlled the tempo and outworked Oklahoma City in the moments that mattered most.

“So many different guys chipped in,” Haliburton said.

McConnell also made plays earlier in the fourth, hitting a running right-handed layup between two buckets from Mathurin to keep Indiana close at 93–91. When the Pacers finally broke through, they never gave the lead back.

Still, Oklahoma City had one last shot. With 2:35 remaining and Indiana up 110–102, Caruso stole a pass and darted into the open court. As he stepped into the paint, Nesmith met him with a hard two-handed foul that sent Caruso sprawling. Officials reviewed the play, but ultimately ruled it a common foul. Caruso made both free throws, and on the next play, Myles Turner lost the ball out of bounds.

But Turner quickly atoned, stuffing Holmgren twice at the rim on the ensuing possession. Indiana got another stop,and Siakam’s layup put the game away for good.

The win extended a remarkable trend: the Pacers are now 10–0 since mid-March in games following a loss.

Oklahoma City had used a late-third quarter burst, highlighted by a Williams step-back three and Holmgren’s and-one baseline dunk, to take their largest lead of the half. But they couldn’t keep Indiana’s bench contained in the Pacers’ first home NBA finals game since 2000.

Game 4 is Friday night in Indianapolis, where the Pacers can take a commanding 3–1 series lead. Historically, teams that win Game 3 of a tied NBA finals have gone on to win the title 80.5% of the time.

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'You dream of stuff like this': Mets' David Peterson reflects on tossing complete-game gem

The first complete game that David Peterson pitched as a professional didn't satisfy him or come close to meeting the traditional requirements. It was a rain-shortened, five-inning outing back in April 2023, and the Mets happened to lose at home that night to the division-rival Braves.

But that semi-achievement from Peterson is empty knowledge, even if he actually knew about it. After all, the left-hander now has a true and memorable complete game on his ledger, as he delivered nine shutout innings in the Mets' 5-0 win over the division-rival Nationals on Wednesday night at Citi Field.

Peterson needed 106 pitches to accomplish the feat, but that final tally doesn't tell the story of how efficient he was from start to finish. Despite allowing six hits, he struck out six of the 31 batters he faced, induced 13 groundouts, and threw 75 strikes. He never lost control or composure.

"It's awesome, you dream of doing stuff like this," Peterson said after the win. "We try to go as deep as we can into the game. To be able to go all nine was something very special, and something I couldn't have done without Luis [Torrens] and defense, and obviously the offense putting up runs... The plan all along was to go after them. We knew they liked to swing the bat, put the ball in play. So, I trusted my defense and tried to execute my pitches."

Peterson couldn't have felt much sweat dripping down his uniform during the early innings. He faced the minimum through the first three frames, and threw a career-low 32 pitches across that stretch. By the time he completed the sixth with a four-run lead -- three homers between Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto offered the necessary breathing room -- he'd allowed just two hits and logged 66 pitches.

The Nationals placed some pressure on Peterson in the seventh, as he gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning. But the two-on, no-out threat didn't faze the Mets' southpaw. He proceeded to retire the side with an impressive pair of punchouts and a groundout.

It wasn't until the eighth that Peteson nearly lost his shutout bid. After a one-out double from Luis Garcia Jr., a single to center from Jacob Young prompted a bang-bang play at the plate on a relay throw from Tyrone Taylor to Luis Torrens. While the play was initially ruled an out, replay review was required to eliminate the catcher's interference and confirm Torrens' tag on Garcia before he touched home.

Once the review was settled, Peterson got the third out on a fly ball, with his pitch count at 97. When he returned to the dugout, he told Carlos Mendoza that he wanted to complete the job and pitch the ninth, and the Mets' manager acquiesced.

"He came into the dugout and didn't want to give me a look. That, for me, is a sign that he wants to go back out," Mendoza explained. "When a pitcher comes back to the dugout and doesn't want you to even look at him... I called him down into the tunnel and said, "Man, this is a tough one.' He's like, 'Let me finish it, let me finish it.' I said, 'Alright, it's yours.'"

Suffice to say, the decision paid off. Peterson needed just nine more pitches to seal the deal. And while the entire Citi Field crowd gave him a rousing ovation after the final out was made, his teammates mobbed him near the mound and extended him a well-deserved Gatorade bath.

Of course, complete-game shutouts aren't rarer than no-hitters, or given their own chapter in the history books. But what Peterson authored is nevertheless special in today's modern age, with pitchers vulnerable and coddled. He became the Mets' first southpaw to pull off the stunt since 2019.

"I just felt like I had a chance all night. I felt like I was efficient, pitch count stayed low," Peterson said. "It's definitely very special. It's a personal accomplishment, something I've wanted to do. But this doesn't happen without Luis, the communication and being on the same page... I feel like I get the attention for it, but this was a huge team win."

Peterson now owns a 2.49 ERA -- second-best on the Mets -- through 13 starts this season, and he's pitched seven-plus innings in three of his last four outings. His next start will come on the road next week against the Braves, and he'll be handed the impossible task of trying to live up to the shutout level that he finally reached.

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Detroit Tigers prized rookie Jackson Jobe to have season-ending Tommy John surgery

BALTIMORE — Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, the club announced Wednesday.

Dr. Keith Meister, team physician and orthopedic consultant for the Texas Rangers, will perform the operation, which had not been scheduled yet.

“It’s obviously really disappointing news,” Tigers general manager Jeff Greenberg said. “Really feel for Jackson. Obviously everybody sees the talent, and he made a really positive impression to this team in his short time here. He’s going to work through this. He’s a very determined individual.”

Jobe went 4-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 10 starts after making Detroit’s opening-day roster. The 22-year-old rookie was placed on the 15-day injured list with a Grade 1 right flexor strain following his May 28 outing.

“As is standard process in our medical evaluation process, we sought additional evaluations,” Greenberg said. “Through that evaluation process, a UCL injury was also discovered. From there, there were a series of conversations between Jackson, the doctors and the medical staff, and ultimately surgery was determined as the path.”

Selected third overall in the 2021 amateur draft, Jobe was the Tigers’ third-ranked prospect in 2024, according to MLB.com.

The right-hander made two relief appearances for Detroit late last season, then two more in the American League playoffs.

Detroit holds the best record in the AL at 44-25 following Wednesday night's 10-1 loss at Baltimore.

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Yankees' five-run inning the difference in 6-3 win over Royals

Clarke Schmidt threw six scoreless innings and the Yankees used a five-run inning to defeat the Royals, 6-3, on Wednesday night in Kansas City.

Here are the takeaways...

-Royals LHP Kris Bubic came into Wednesday's game leading MLB with a 1.43 ERA, so the Yankees had to take advantage of any opportunities to score runs and they did in the second inning. Cody Bellinger led off the second inning with a triple and after a Jazz Chisholm Jr. walk, Anthony Volpe grounded into a fielder's choice, beating out a double play attempt to drive in Bellinger.

A few batters later, Austin Wells drove in Volpe with a double to right-center. Paul Goldschmidt followed with a two-run single and Ben Rice drove in Goldschmidt -- who took second on the throw home -- to push the Yankees' lead to 5-0.

Bubic allowed a season-high five runs in that 41-pitch second inning, but the left-hander settled down afterward, pitching into the fifth inning before being pulled after just 4.1 innings.

-Schmidt was on the bump for the Yankees and outpitched Bubic. The young right-hander shut out the Royals, twirling his breaking stuff for five strikeouts and keeping the Kansas City batters off balance.

He was also helped by the defense behind him, especially Trent Grisham, who made an incredible diving catch and threw out Maikel Garcia at second, trying to stretch a single into a double.

Otherwise, Schmidt cruised through the Royals' lineup. He threw 91 pitches (54 strikes) across six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out seven.

-The combination of Brent Headrick and Fernando Cruz got the Yankees into the ninth, but Mark Leiter Jr. had a tough ninth and wasn't helped out by his defense. Oswald Peraza called off Wells on a pop-up in the infield and couldn't grab it, and then Salvador Perez launched a two-run homer to end the shutout. After a groundout, the Royals hit back-to-back singles to drive in another run, the second hit coming on a grounder that struck Leiter Jr. and the reliever threw away.

Aaron Boone was forced to bring in Devin Williams to try and close this game. Williams struck out Mark Canha swinging on his airbender changeup and got Jonathan India to ground out to end the game.

-The Yankees' offense, outside of the second, couldn't push across any runs until Aaron Judge came up in the seventh. To lead off, the captain launched a 99 mph fastball the opposite way, 413 feet over the right-center field wall. Judge, how hitting .394, finished 1-for-4 and is the second player (Cal Raleigh) to reach 25 homers this season and is currently on pace for 61.

Chisholm went 0-for-1 with two walks but was pulled in the fifth inning for Peraza. The Yankees announced Chisholm left with left groin tightness. After the game, Boone said the initial strength tests on Chisholm's groin were good, and he isn't too concerned about the issue.

Game MVP: Clarke Schmidt

Schmidt was dominant and the Royals couldn't get any rally going, allowing the Yankees' offense to get to Bubic and the Royals' bullpen.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Royals complete their three-game series on Thursday night. First pitch is set for 7:40 p.m.

Will Warren (4-3, 5.34 ERA) will take the mound while the Royals will send Seth Lugo (3-5, 3.46 ERA) to the bump.

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David Peterson delivers complete-game shutout in Mets' win over Nationals

The Mets extended their winning streak to five games on Wednesday night, as a masterful performance from David Peterson helped them defeat the division-rival Nationals, 5-0, at Citi Field.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Pete Alonso entered the game with MLB's fourth-highest slugging percentage (.589), and he wasted no time in raising that mark. Showing off some impressive upper-body strength, he punched a two-out, first-inning double to center off Nats starter Jake Irvin that somehow one-hopped the wall and drove in Brandon Nimmo from first to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. It was Alonso's league-best 63rd RBI of the season -- his 20th just this month -- and 39th extra-base hit.

-- The Mets inflicted further damage on Irvin in the third. After a one-out double to right from Francisco Lindor -- his 12th of the season -- Juan Soto launched a two-out, two-run homer to right-center to bump their lead to 3-0. The towering 408-foot blast from Soto extended his on-base streak to 13 games and raised his OPS to .854. He's also smacked five homers in his last 11 games.

-- Nimmo became the third Met to go yard in the fifth, when he took an Irvin changeup deep to left-center to push the lead to 4-0. He then belted another in the seventh, a solo shot to right off reliever Jackson Rutledge, to make the score 5-0. The long balls marked Nimmo's second multi-homer game of the season -- his first came against the Nats back on April 28, when he delivered a whopping nine RBI in Washington, D.C.

-- Much to the Mets' delight, Peterson didn't break much of a sweat on the mound. The left-hander faced the minimum through the first three innings, throwing a career-low 32 pitches across those frames, and allowed just two hits through six scoreless. He quickly found himself in a seventh-inning jam after allowing back-to-back singles, but rallied to retire the side by fanning two and inducing a groundout.

-- With a five-run cushion and an economic pitch count, Peterson returned for the eighth... and nearly lost the shutout bid. After a one-out double from Luis Garcia Jr., a single to center from Jacob Young produced a bang-bang play at the plate that required an umpire review for catcher's interference on Luis Torrens. Luckily for the Mets, the tag from Torrens came just before Garcia touched home, and the initial ruling of an out was confirmed by a dramatic replay, and interference was disregarded. Peterson then induced a flyout, becoming the first Met to complete eight innings this season.

-- The Mets kept Peterson in for the ninth, and he made light work of the Nats. He induced a lineout from Amed Rosario, a strikeout from James Wood, and a groundout from Andres Chaparro. After the final out, Peterson received a rousing ovation from the crowd, hugs from several teammates, and a surprise Gatorade bath from Sean Manaea and Tyrone Taylor while speaking to SNY's Steve Gelbs near the dugout. It was the Mets' first shutout from a lefty since Steven Matz in 2019.

Game MVP: David Peterson... who else?

Even those who dig the long ball above all else couldn't dispute Peterson's worthiness for this accolade. He threw nine scoreless innings, striking out six and allowing six hits. His season ERA is now 2.49. He's gone seven-plus frames in three of his last four outings.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets (44-24) will look to sweep the Nationals on Thursday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

Kodai Senga (6-3, 1.59 ERA) is slated to take the mound in the matinee, opposite veteran Mike Soroka (3-3, 4.86 ERA).

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Hernández: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is always the calm center during the storm

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts talks with the media prior to a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
Dave Roberts talks with the media prior to Tuesday's game. (Derrick Tuskan / Associated Press)

Dave Roberts wasn’t pretending to be calm. He was calm.

None of this was new to him, the depleted starting rotation, the fatigued bullpen, the division rivals within striking distance.

Under similar circumstances in past seasons, Roberts pointed out, “We’ve gotten to the other side.”

The Dodgers won a World Series like this last year. They have won the National League West in 12 of the last 13 seasons.

They usually reach “the other side.”

So rather than panic, Roberts waits. He waits for the end of a particularly difficult 26-game stretch, and when Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell can pitch again.

Roberts won’t say this publicly, but the Dodgers just have to tread water until they are whole.

They claimed a 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday to win for the second time in their three-game series at Petco Park, preserving their lead in the NL West.

The Dodgers host the second-place San Francisco Giants in a three-game series that starts Friday and the third-place Padres in a four-game series that opens Monday, after which their schedule will become noticeably softer.

Read more:Teoscar Hernández's home run helps lift Dodgers to series win over Padres

Their remaining opponents before the All-Star break: the Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers. The post-All-Star Game schedule is extremely manageable as well.

Provided a couple of their starting pitchers return as anticipated, the Dodgers should be able to not just win their division but also secure a top-two seed in the NL, which would give them a first-round bye in the playoffs. As it is, the Dodgers are 41-27, only ½ game behind the Chicago Cubs, the league’s current No. 2 team.

Dodgers players have taken on Roberts’ understated confidence and make-do-with-what-you-have approach, which explains how the team has survived a 19-game stretch in which every opponent had a winning record. The Dodgers were 10-9 in those games.

“Character,” Roberts said.

Roberts specifically pointed to Teoscar Hernández, who broke out of a slump Wednesday to hit a key three-run home run; to Freddie Freeman, who he revealed is now dealing with a quadriceps injury in addition to his ankle problems; to Mookie Betts, who has continued to play high-level shortstop while playing with a broken toe.

“Guys are not running from the middle part of the season, the stretch we’re going through,” Roberts said. “We’re just finding ways to win.”

Teoscar Hernández circles the bases after his three-run homer.
Teoscar Hernández circles the bases after his three-run homer. (Derrick Tuskan / Associated Press)

The series win against the Padres was also a credit to Roberts’ ability, and willingness, to play the long game.

With Tony Gonsolin put on the injured list last week, the Dodgers were forced to schedule two bullpen games in San Diego. By punting on the first and refraining from using any of his go-to relievers in a loss, Roberts ensured his team would be positioned to win the series finale.

Again, this was nothing new, as Roberts basically forfeited games in both the NL Championship Series and World Series last year with the remainder of the series in mind.

Roberts elected to send opener Ben Casparius back to the mound to pitch a fourth inning on Wednesday rather than replace him with Jack Dreyer, whom Roberts has grown to trust. The extra inning made a difference. Lou Trivino pitched to the bottom of the Padres’ lineup in the fifth inning, allowing Roberts to deploy Dreyer against the heart of the order in the sixth.

When Michael Kopech walked the bases loaded in the seventh inning, Roberts responded with the necessary degree of urgency rather than allow the recently activated Kopech to try to pitch his way out of trouble. Roberts summoned Anthony Banda, who retired Luis Arráez and Manny Machado to maintain the Dodgers’ 4-2 advantage.

“The bullpen has certainly been used and pushed,” Roberts said. “I just think it speaks to the character.”

And it says something about the manager as well.

Roberts is now in his 10th season as the manager of the Dodgers. He has managed 1,426 games for them in the regular season and another 100 in the postseason. At this point, there’s not much he hasn’t seen, including what the team is dealing with now.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Summer McIntosh, 18, matches Phelps with third world record in five days

  • McIntosh breaks 400m IM world record in 4:23.65 time

  • Third record broken in five days for Canadian teenager

  • 18-year-old matches Phelps’ 2008 mark for single meet

Summer McIntosh broke her third swimming world record in five days on Wednesday night, clocking 4:23.65 in the women’s 400m individual medley at the Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria, British Columbia.

The 18-year-old from Toronto lowered her own world record of 4:24.38, set earlier this year, and became the first swimmer to break world records in three different individual events at one long course meet since Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

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New Twist On Flyers-Nicolas Hague Trade Rumor Revealed

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague has been creating plenty of chatter as a potential trade candidate this off-season. It is understandable, as the 6-foot-6 defenseman is a pending restricted free agent and due for a raise. Thus, the Golden Knights could very well end up flipping him if his asking price for his next contract is too high. 

The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the teams that have been linked to Hague this off-season. When noting that Hague is a big shutdown defenseman right in his prime, he would have the potential to be a solid addition to the Flyers' blueline if acquired. 

However, a new update has been provided regarding the Flyers and Hague trade rumor, which makes it questionable. According to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz, a team source "strongly denied" to him that the Flyers are interested in Hague. In addition, Kurz also added that he does not believe the Flyers will trade for the 26-year-old. 

While Hague appears not to be on the Flyers' radar, adding a new defenseman should be one of the Flyers' top priorities this summer. It is no secret that their blueline could use a boost, and this is especially the case when it comes to their right side.

Nevertheless, it will be intriguing to see what happens with Hague this summer, but Kurz's report creates some doubt about the possibility that Philly will end up acquiring the 2017 third-round pick. 

Philadelphia Flyers Lose Goalie To Overseas ClubPhiladelphia Flyers Lose Goalie To Overseas ClubThe Philadelphia Flyers have lost one of their depth goalies, as Eetu Makiniemi has signed a one-year contract with TPS of the Finnish Liiga. 

Photo Credit: © Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

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Royals place All-Star pitcher Cole Ragans back on the IL and activate reliever Lucas Erceg

MLB: Game Two-Kansas City Royals at St. Louis Cardinals

Jun 5, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (55) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals put left-hander Cole Ragans back on the injured list after one dismal start against the Cardinals, this time with a left rotator cuff strain, and activated reliever Lucas Erceg from the IL before Wednesday night’s game against the Yankees.

Right-hander Jonathan Bowlan also was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to provide some extended depth in the bullpen, and right-hander Trevor Richards was designated for assignment.

The 27-year-old Ragans, an All-Star for Kansas City last season, went on the IL in mid-May with a left groin strain. He returned three weeks later at St. Louis, where he allowed five runs on five hits and three walks in just three innings, dropping him to 2-3 with a 5.18 ERA through his first 10 starts this season.

“It’s very frustrating. I feel badly for him,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He’s a diligent worker. He prepares like crazy to get out here. It’s not a lack of preparation or work ethic. Sometimes you get hurt. You throw 95, 98 miles an hour, it’s something that puts a ton of strain on your body and especially your arm. So it’s very unfortunate. It’s disappointing.”

Ragans, who was 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA last season, was undergoing more tests to determine the severity of the injury.

“I shouldn’t speculate,” Quatraro said, “but if I was going to be pressed on it, I would say we’re optimistic.”

The Royals have the luxury of six starters in their rotation, which means losing Ragans for a while does not dramatically alter their plans. Kris Bubic and Noah Cameron have been revelations early in the season, while veterans Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Michael Lorenzen have been able to give the club dependable innings.

Erceg, who closed games last season but had mostly been used as a setup man for Carlos Estevez, had been on the injured list since May 27 because of a lower back strain. He’s appeared in 24 games with a 1.96 ERA across 23 innings, and his return gives the Royals two of the best late-inning relievers in the American League this season.

“He’s a huge part of what we do not only in the bullpen but as a whole team,” Quatraro said.

Bowlan has made nine appearances for Kansas City this season, going 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA, and should provide some length in the bullpen. Richards allowed four runs over three innings in three appearances during his stint with the Royals.

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AHL Announces 2024-25 Top Prospects Team

The American Hockey League has announced the Top Prospects Team for the 2024-25 season. 

The AHL's hockey operations department and general managers decide this honor. Skaters must have been 22 or under on the first day of the AHL season, played 36 AHL games, and less than 30 NHL games. Goalies must have been 23 or under, player 25 AHL games and less than 20 NHL games. 

Bradly Nadeau was named to the All-Rookie Team and became just the fifth U20 player in AHL history to score 30 goals in a season. 

The 2024-25 Top Prospects Team and their stats are below.

Jet Greaves - G - Cleveland Monsters

AHL: 21-11-6, 2.62 GAA. .920 SP 

NHL: 7-2-2, 1.91 GAA, .924 SP 

Logan Mailloux - D - Laval Rocket

AHL: GP: 63 G: 12 A: 21 P: 33

NHL: GP: 7 G: 2 A: 2 P: 4

Scott Morrow - D - Chicago Wolves

AHL: GP: 52 G: 13 A: 26 P: 39 

NHL: GP: 14 G: 1 A: 5 P: 6

Dalibor Dvorsky - F - Springfield Thunderbirds

AHL: GP: 61 G: 21 A: 24 P: 45 

NHL: GP: 2 G: 0 A: 0 P: 0

Konsta Helenius - F - Rochester Americans

AHL: GP: 65 G: 14 A: 21 P: 35

NHL: GP: 0 

Bradly Nadeau - F - Chicago Wolves 

AHL: GP: 64 G: 32: A: 26 P: 58 

NHL: GP: 2 G: 0 A: 1 P: 1

Check out the Calder Cup Finals schedule here.

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.  

Photo Credit: © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images