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Phillies prospect updates: Andrew Painter's timeline, Mick Abel keeping it up

Phillies prospect updates: Andrew Painter's timeline, Mick Abel keeping it up originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies have used the term “July-ish” as the target for top prospect Andrew Painter’s MLB debut and integration into the rotation but it is unlikely to come before the second half begins on July 18.

The All-Star break is from July 14-17 this year and that will be the period when the Phillies back off Painter and give him a bit more time to recuperate.

“I don’t think so,” manager Rob Thomson said Friday when asked if Painter’s arrival could come before the break.

Painter threw a career-high 81 pitches on Thursday in Norfolk, allowing two runs and striking out five over five innings. The Tides’ lineup included last year’s AL Rookie of the Year runner-up, Colton Cowser, and 2024 All-Star Jordan Westburg. Cowser doubled off Painter all three times he faced him while the rest of the team had two hits.

“Very good, velocity at 98, 99, they said he threw the ball really well,” Thomson said. “Breaking ball was good, got his pitch count up.

“He’s right where we want him.”

Painter’s next start will be Wednesday at Charlotte, the Triple A affiliate of the White Sox. The plan is a pitch count around 85, and if Painter’s efficient the Phillies would feel comfortable letting him complete six innings.

“Health, that’s it,” Thomson said when asked what more Painter needs to show in the minors.

The 22-year-old right-hander already looks like a major-league pitcher with a build similar to Justin Verlander. The No. 5-ranked prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com, Painter has a 2.65 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings at Triple A and owns a 1.83 ERA with 199 K’s in 138 innings overall in the minors. Silly numbers.

When the Phillies add Painter to the 40-man roster and call him up in July, he’ll start, he won’t relieve. It’s too soon for anyone with the Phillies to discuss how the rotation will be adjusted because it’s still more than six weeks away. Going to a six-man staff would be one obvious solution but only if it can be formatted in a way to not give the starters, notably Zack Wheeler, too much rest.

Abel still dialed in

Mick Abel made another strong start at Triple A on Friday night, allowing an unearned run over 4⅔ innings with eight strikeouts.

Abel has a 1.08 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 41⅔ innings across his last seven starts, one of which was a scoreless win in his MLB debut over the Pirates.

The 23-year-old continues to push for a spot in the Phillies’ rotation, which didn’t seem realistic just a few months ago. He was coming off of years of control problems and though he was added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster in December, Abel was behind the five members of the big-league rotation plus Taijuan Walker.

But he’s put together the strongest run of his life. Abel hasn’t solved the walks issue but he’s pitching around them better than ever and allowing weaker contact than ever.

“It really helps because you know you’ve got Painter coming and now you’ve got this other guy who showed it on a pretty big stage (in his debut),” Thomson said last week.

“He (went) right back to Triple A and a lot of times you’ll see that guys who go back, they have an adrenaline dump and they don’t pitch well or stay focused, but he did. That’s a good sign.”

Walker and Nola

Walker did not pitch well in Friday’s 6-2 loss to the Brewers, allowing four runs in four innings on 89 pitches. He will move to the bullpen once Aaron Nola returns from a right ankle sprain. Nola won’t be returning this week, but the Phillies could still, if they deem it worthwhile, move Walker to the bullpen sooner and call Abel up mid-week when he’s ready to make his next start. They could also just keep things status quo with Walker in the rotation until Nola is ready and hope that Abel continues to build confidence and trade value at Triple A.

Manager Rob Thomson said postgame Friday that the Phillies have a lot to discuss before the rotation spot comes up again.

Nola has been sidelined since May 15 with the ankle sprain. He will throw his first full bullpen session on Sunday, 45 to 50 pitches. The Phillies will still want to see him go through fielding drills and potentially live batting practice before he begins a rehab assignment, which could be short.

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Phillies prospect updates: Andrew Painter's timeline, Mick Abel keeping it up

Phillies prospect updates: Andrew Painter's timeline, Mick Abel keeping it up originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies have used the term “July-ish” as the target for top prospect Andrew Painter’s MLB debut and integration into the rotation but it is unlikely to come before the second half begins on July 18.

The All-Star break is from July 14-18 this year and that will be the period when the Phillies back off Painter and give him a bit more time to recuperate.

“I don’t think so,” manager Rob Thomson said Friday when asked if Painter’s arrival could come before the break.

Painter threw a career-high 81 pitches on Thursday in Norfolk, allowing two runs and striking out five over five innings. The Tides’ lineup included last year’s AL Rookie of the Year runner up, Colton Cowser, and 2024 All-Star Jordan Westburg. Cowser doubled off Painter all three times he faced him while the rest of the team had two hits.

“Very good, velocity at 98, 99, they said he threw the ball really well,” Thomson said. “Breaking ball was good, got his pitch count up.

“He’s right at where we want him.”

Painter’s next start will be Wednesday at Charlotte, the Triple A affiliate of the White Sox. The plan is a pitch count around 85, and if Painter’s efficient they’d feel comfortable letting him complete six innings.

“Health, that’s it,” Thomson said when asked what more Painter needs to show in the minors.

The 22-year-old right-hander already looks like a major-league pitcher with a build similar to Justin Verlander. The No. 5-ranked prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com, Painter has a 2.65 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings at Triple A and owns a 1.83 ERA with 199 K’s in 138 innings overall in the minors. Silly numbers.

When the Phillies add Painter to the 40-man roster and call him up in July, he’ll start, he won’t relieve. It’s too soon for anyone with the Phillies to discuss how the rotation will be adjusted because it’s still more than six weeks away. Going to a six-man staff would be one obvious solution but only if it can be formatted in a way to not give the starters, notably Zack Wheeler, too much rest.

Abel still dialed in

Mick Abel made another strong start at Triple A on Friday night, allowing an unearned run over 4⅔ innings with eight strikeouts.

Abel has a 1.08 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 41⅔ innings across his last seven starts, one of which was a scoreless win in his MLB debut over the Pirates.

The 23-year-old continues to push for a spot in the Phillies’ rotation, which didn’t seem realistic just a few months ago. He was coming off of years of control problems and though he was added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster in December, Abel was behind the five members of the big-league rotation plus Taijuan Walker.

But he’s put together the strongest run of his life. Abel hasn’t solved the walks issue but he’s pitching around them better than ever and allowing weaker contact than ever.

“It really helps because you know you’ve got Painter coming and now you’ve got this other guy who showed it on a pretty big stage (in his debut),” Thomson said last week.

“He (went) right back to Triple A and a lot of times you’ll see that guys who go back, they have an adrenaline dump and they don’t pitch well or stay focused, but he did. That’s a good sign.”

Walker and Nola

Walker did not pitch well on Friday against the Brewers, allowing four runs in four innings on 89 pitches. He will move to the bullpen once Aaron Nola returns from a right ankle sprain. Nola won’t be returning this week, but the Phillies could still, if they deem it worthwhile, move Walker to the bullpen sooner and call Abel up mid-week when he’s ready to make his next start. They could also just keep things status quo with Walker in the rotation until Nola is ready and hope that Abel continues to build confidence and trade value at Triple A.

Nola has been sidelined since May 15 with the ankle sprain. He will throw his first full bullpen session on Sunday, 45 to 50 pitches. The Phillies will still want to see him go through fielding drills and potentially live batting practice before he begins a rehab assignment, which could be short.

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The Hockey Show: Talking Stanley Cup Final rematch, Florida Panthers roots with Bob Wischusen

The Hockey Show is heading back to the Stanley Cup Final!

Over the past week, we learned that the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will be facing off in a rematch of last season’s championship series.

Both the Cats and Oilers dispatched their respective conference final opponents in relatively quick five-game series’ and now will get set to lock horns for the second straight year with the Stanley Cup on the line.

On this week’s show, hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork got into the NHL’s Final Four, welcoming NHL on ESPN broadcaster Bob Wischusen to help break down the conference final matchups.

They also get into the Cup Final rematch between the Panthers and Oilers, as well as Bob’s broadcasting career start, which was also in South Florida.

This week’s wins and fails of the week included a golden goal by Team USA, an infamous streak coming to an end, an exceptional play by Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov and a couple of PWHL players getting their helmet cages tangled up.

You can check out the full show in the video below:

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Former Canadiens Player Makes Stanley Cup Final For Fifth Time In Six Years

Although former Montreal Canadiens forward Corey Perry only won the Stanley Cup once in his career, it’s not because he didn’t have the opportunity to compete for a second. The veteran has taken part in five of the last six Cup finals with the Dallas Stars, the Canadiens, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Edmonton Oilers.

So far, he has lost all of these finals, and on Thursday night, the Oilers booked their spot in the Cup Final, where they’ll meet the Florida Panthers for the second year in a row. If revenge is on every Oiler’s mind, Perry will no doubt be looking to end his “impressive” losing streak.

Canadiens: Demidov Named Rookie Of The Year In The KHL
Canadiens: Should Montreal Roll The Dice on Jonathan Toews?
Canadiens Farm Team Lose Game Two And Key Player

The 40-year-old has been a key player for the Oilers this postseason, recording 10 points in 16 games so far. With Zach Hyman being out for the playoffs, Edmonton will need everyone to contribute to the scoring. Amazingly, Perry managed only 30 points in 81 regular-season games, averaging 0.37 points per game, but this average increased to 0.63 points per game in the playoffs. Last year in the postseason, he could only manage three points in 19 games.

Perry will not be the only former Canadiens player in the final; defenseman Brett Kulak, who still plays for his hometown team, has five points in 16 games. GM Kent Hughes sent the blueliner to Edmonton in March 2022, getting a conditional second-round pick at the 2022 draft, a 2024 seventh-round pick, and William Lagesson in return. Since Edmonton didn’t make the Cup final that year, the conditional pick remained a 2022 selection, and it became Lane Hutson. It’s fair to say that was one of Hughes’ best trade returns.

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Jac Caglianone, Shane Bieber and Thairo Estrada

FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS

Jac Caglianone (1B Royals): Rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues

Let’s wish this into existence.

The hope was that the Royals were calling up Caglianone when they dropped Cavan Biggio from the roster on Sunday, but they chose John Rave instead. Three days earlier, they cut Hunter Renfroe but replaced him with an infielder in Nick Loftin. Whether it’s offense or, more likely, defense, the Royals don’t think Caglianone is quite ready, at least not as an outfielder. He has to be close, though.

Caglianone was the sixth overall pick in last year’s draft after a stellar run at the University of Florida. While he was also a legitimate prospect as a pitcher, there was no doubt he was being drafted for his bat, which produced 68 homers in 137 games in his final two years in school. He opened this year in Double-A and hit .322/.394/.553 in 38 games. The Royals just recently promoted him to Triple-A Omaha, where he’s opened up 12-for-37 with five homers. Overall, he’s hit .323/.389/.593 with 14 homers in 216 plate appearances.

Never having played anywhere other than first until this year, Caglianone remains a novice in the outfield, He’s started two games in left and 10 in right, where his excellent arm should help make up for his lack of range. Obviously, he still needs more work out there. He needs it almost as much as the Royals need his bat in the middle of their lineup.

Caglianone should be a future 30-homer guy for the Royals, even while playing half of his games in arguably MLB’s toughest home run park for lefties. Kauffman is actually a fine hitter’s park on the whole, but because homers are the biggest part of his game, it will probably take away from Caglianone’s numbers some. Still, Caglianone isn’t a big strikeout guy for as hard as he swings; he’s fanned just 20.4 percent of the time this season. He should be worth using in mixed leagues as soon as he’s promoted.

Shane Bieber (SP Guardians): Rostered in 29% of Yahoo leagues

Making his way back from last April’s Tommy John surgery, Bieber is set for his first of several rehab starts Saturday. He probably won’t make his return to the Guardians rotation until the end of June, but it’ll likely be too late by then to add him in mixed leagues.

Of course, we don’t know exactly which Bieber we’ll be seeing this year. The 2023 version was a far cry from the AL Cy Young Award winner of 2020, as his strikeout rate dropped significantly for a third straight year and he wound up with a 3.80 ERA. It looked like a turnaround was in store last year, as he followed up an impressive spring by pitching 12 scoreless innings with 20 strikeouts in his first two starts. But that’s when his elbow gave out.

That Bieber worked hard to reclaim some of his lost velocity probably played a role in last year’s injury. It’s certainly too much to expect him to come out firing now like he did last spring, though anything is possible. If he’s in 2023 form, that’s still a useful pitcher, too. Pitching in Cleveland helps limit his homer totals, and he’s always done well in terms of WHIP. There are no guarantees with a pitcher returning from surgery, but Bieber’s a good enough bet to be worth the roster/IL spot a month ahead of his debut.

Thairo Estrada (2B Rockies): Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues

Signed over the winter to replace Brendan Rodgers at second base in Colorado, Estrada is finally ready to make his Rockies debut 10 weeks after a Kumar Rocker pitch left him with a broken wrist. That he’ll play regularly isn’t in doubt. How much running he’ll do will be the determining factor in whether he proves useful in mixed leagues.

Never much of a basestealer in the minors, Estrada surprised everyone by swiping 21 bases in 27 tries while emerging as a useful fantasy infielder with the Giants in 2022., He followed that up with an even better 2023 in which he was 23-for-30 stealing bases, even though he missed nearly a quarter of the season. Last year, though, everything came crashing down for Estrada. He hit just .217/.247/.343 and was 2-for-4 stealing bases in 96 games before finishing the year in the minors.

The two reasons for optimism now is that Estrada’s exit velocity numbers last year were basically the same as the previous two seasons, and he’s gone from a tough park for hitters to the best in baseball in Coors Field. He’s still probably not going to make more than modest contributions in the non-SB categories, but if he gets back to doing some running -- and there’s really no reason for him not to on a team as bad as the Rockies are -- he’ll probably be helpful as an MI in 12-team leagues.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- Camilo Doval remains available in 46% of Yahoo leagues after being returned to the closer’s role by the Giants this week. He’s probably going to be a top-20 and maybe a top-10 RP the rest of the way.

- Gavin Lux probably isn’t a long-term guy in mixed leagues, but the Reds have six home games next week, with at least five of those coming against righties, and Lux is hitting in the cleanup spot with Austin Hays on the IL. As a one-week option, he makes plenty of sense.

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The New York Islanders' New GM Mathieu Darche Tells It Like It Is

The cone of silence is lifting on Long Island.

In Lou Lamoriello’s seven years as the New York Islanders’ GM and president of hockey operations, it was sometimes unclear if players were even under contract to the team, never mind the details of any injuries.

By comparison, new GM Mathieu Darche is reading like an open book.

At his introductory press conference on Thursday, Darche left no grey area regarding the status of the team’s top point producer, Bo Horvat, who was injured last week while playing for Team Canada at the World Championship in Sweden.

“He’s got a little ankle injury, nothing serious,” Darche said. “Four to six weeks – he’s already rehabbing. There’s no concerns whatsoever. They said it’s the type of thing that maybe in the playoffs he would have tried. I think with Bo, you have to tell him ‘You’re not playing’ because he is probably going to try to play through everything. But no, we have no concerns with Bo’s injury.”

Any questions?

Darche was equally straightforward when updating the status of the Islanders’ coaching staff. After clarifying that he and Patrick Roy have not previously met, even though they’re both French Canadian, Darche confirmed that Roy will be back behind the bench next season, but he’ll have new assistants after John MacLean and Tommy Albelin were let go.

“Patrick’s a winner,” Darche said of the Hockey Hall of Famer. “I went to meet with him last weekend, just to get to know him more. I’m extremely comfortable and excited to be working with him. I know he’s passionate. He works hard. And I just decided that was my decision to make changes in the coaching staff. Now Patrick and I will work together to fill the assistant coaches’ positions.”

Islanders Ink Kyle Palmieri, Adam Boqvist To Extensions Islanders Ink Kyle Palmieri, Adam Boqvist To Extensions On Friday, the New York Islanders announced they had signed forward Kyle Palmieri to a two-year extension and defenseman Adam Boqvist to a one-year extension.

Coaching changes are also coming for the Bridgeport Islanders, who finished at the bottom of the AHL standings last season with just 37 points in 72 games.

Darche, 48, spent the last six seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He joined them as their director of hockey operations in 2019 and added the title of assistant GM in 2022.

Darche won two Cups as a member of the Lightning’s management team, but his playing career as a left winger could best be described as ‘journeyman.’ With 250 NHL games and more than 500 in the AHL, that outcome was a win for an undrafted player who made it to The Show after playing Canadian college hockey for four years while studying marketing and international business at McGill University in his hometown of Montreal.

“That’s where I met my wife,” Darche said Thursday. “I told her I’m not a hockey player – I’m just a student that plays hockey. Next thing you know, she followed me for 12 years.”

After ending his pro career with three seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Darche transitioned to broadcasting for the French-language RDS network when he hung up his skates in 2013. Then, he spent seven years as vice-president of sales and marketing for Delmar International, Inc. — a Montreal-founded global player in logistics and supply-chain management and, interestingly, an important corporate partner of both the Canadiens and the Islanders.

Mathieu Darche in 2012 (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

Darche’s experience playing in the AHL and his experience helping to oversee the Lightning’s affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, should help him rebuild the Islanders’ prospect pipeline, which hasn’t produced a homegrown star since Noah Dobson was drafted 12th overall in 2018. 

This year, of course, the Islanders have won the NHL draft lottery and will have a chance to make their first No. 1 pick since John Tavares in 2009. Darche didn’t tip his hand on whether he’d pursue Long Island-born center James Hagens but did acknowledge the special opportunity of holding the first pick.

“You have to do your due diligence,” he said. “Anybody that calls, you have to listen. But someone would really have to knock my socks off because we're going to get a special player. I’m going to do my due diligence, but I expect us to be picking at the end of June.”

Darche’s business acumen will also be welcome for an Islanders team that has squandered the momentum gained with their fans from back-to-back trips to the Eastern Conference final in 2020 and 2021, where they lost both times to Darche’s Lightning.

And after decades of fighting for a first-class arena on Long Island, average attendance has dropped every year since UBS Arena doors opened in 2021, and even homegrown players like Mat Barzal are commenting on the number of empty seats.

“The first line that Mathieu said to me when he did the social media, called Delmar, called the season ticket holders, he said, ‘Look, I want you guys to make more money so I can spend more money,’ ” said John Collins, the Islanders’ co-owner, operating partner and alternate governor, on Thursday.

The Islanders have nearly $21 million in available cap space for the 2025-26 season after signing Kyle Palmieri to a two-year contract and Adam Boqvist to a one-year deal. Now, the team’s most important business on the player side should be a new contract for Dobson, who’s an RFA with arbitration rights. After Brock Nelson’s deadline trade, the opportunity also exists for Darche to retool the forward group and perhaps get younger.

The Islanders only have four players born in the 2000s on their roster: defensemen Dobson, Alexander Romanov and Adam Boqvist and forward Simon Holmstrom.

Amiable and forthright, Darche’s first impression on Long Island was strong on Thursday. Now it’s up to him to walk the walk.

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

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Twins at Mariners prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 30

Its Friday, May 30 and the Twins (30-25) are in Seattle to take on the Mariners (30-25). Zebby Matthews is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Bryan Woo for Seattle.

Minnesota is 1-3 in the last four games, while Seattle is 1-4 over the previous five. Matthews will make his third start, while Woo will make his 11th (Seattle is 7-3 in his starts).

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

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

Game details & how to watch Twins at Mariners

  • Date: Friday, May 30, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: T-Mobile Park
  • City: Seattle, WA
  • Network/Streaming: MNNT, RSNW

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

Odds for the Twins at the Mariners

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Twins (+134), Mariners (-158)
  • Spread:  Mariners -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Mariners

  • Pitching matchup for May 30, 2025: Zebby Matthews vs. Bryan Woo
    • Twins: Zebby Matthews, (0-1, 7.71 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts
    • Mariners: Bryan Woo, (5-2, 2.69 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 10 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Twins and the Mariners

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Twins and the Mariners:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Twins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Twins at Mariners

  • The Twins have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against AL West teams
  • The Over is 18-13-2 in the Mariners' matchups against American League teams this season
  • The Twins have covered the Run Line in 5 straight matchups against the Mariners

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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What we learned as Harrison shines in shutout win over Marlins

What we learned as Harrison shines in shutout win over Marlins originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO — The day off in Miami didn’t do much to jumpstart the offense, but the Giants did get back in the win column Friday. Kyle Harrison threw five dominant innings in his second start of the year and the Giants did just enough to pull away from the last-place Marlins, winning 2-0. 

Miami right-hander Cal Quantrill entered with an ERA north of six, but he always has pitched well against the Giants, and they came in on a lengthy cold streak. It’s been two weeks since they scored more than four runs in a game.

Wilmer Flores, who calls South Florida home in the offseason, tried to change that, singling on the 11th pitch of his first at-bat to get the Giants on the board. A solo shot from Matt Chapman made it 2-0, but as the bats went quiet, the Marlins threatened. They got the tying run to second with one out in the seventh, but didn’t score. Tyler Rogers entered and got an inning-ending strikeout. 

Ks For Kyle

The only thing that could stop Harrison on Friday was a pitch count. He’s still getting built up after spending several weeks in the bullpen, but he showed that he’s ready for another look in the rotation if Justin Verlander needs more time to recover from a pec strain, or whenever the Giants need help. 

Harrison allowed just one hit in five innings, walking three and striking out five. His velocity continues to tick up, and his average of 95.3 mph on his fastball was his highest in a big league start. His previous high came earlier on this trip in Washington D.C., which he averaged 94.7 mph. 

Harrison is now up about three full ticks from 2024, when he dealt with an ankle injury and shoulder inflammation. In two starts in Verlander’s spot, he has allowed two runs on six hits. 

Signs Of Life

Patrick Bailey was cut down at third while trying to tag up in the second inning, but the swing that put him on second was one of his best of the year. Bailey went with an outside sinker and crushed it off the wall in left-center for a double, his first since April 4. 

The ball went 388 feet and would have been a homer in 19 ballparks, including Oracle. Bailey tagged on Casey Schmitt’s liner to center and was thrown out on a 93 mph rocket from Marlins center fielder Dane Myers. 

Earlier in the game, Bailey helped Harrison out with another heads-up defensive play:

Bullpen Scramble

With a day off Thursday, Bob Melvin had a fresh bullpen, but it was an odd look after Harrison departed. 

Tristan Beck began the sixth, but Ryan Walker finished it and then turned the ball over to Erik Miller, who ran into trouble in the seventh. Rogers got the strikeout, but Melvin doesn’t like using him for multiple innings. 

Spencer Bivens, often the long man, got the eighth of a two-run game, but Melvin turned to Camilo Doval with two outs and two on. Doval got a fly ball to center to end the inning and then came back out for a relatively easy ninth on what was a very special day for his family.

Doval’s mom, Rosa, was watching him pitch in the big leagues for the first time. The save was his first since Melvin announced that he’s once again the team’s closer.  

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Capitalism v despotism: Inter v PSG is clash of styles on and off pitch | Jonathan Liew

Champions League final features opposing tactical approaches and two radically different ownership models

In 2021, Oaktree Capital quietly rebranded its “Distressed Debt” division as the “Opportunistic Credit” platform. For decades the LA-based investment fund had specialised in picking up what is known in the trade as distressed assets, a strategy it described as looking for “good companies with bad balance sheets”.

So let’s say your company is screwed. You’re deep in debt, severely short of cash, perhaps even at risk of bankruptcy or default. In sweep Oaktree. They have a mosey around, shake down some creditors, restructure your cost base, perhaps offer you a high‑interest loan to stop the bleeding. Once they’ve got you battle-lean they find you a buyer, you sell up, and they take a fat cut. Four years ago, as they cast an eye over the Covid-emaciated carcass of Inter, this was exactly the strategy they had in mind.

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Imane Khelif must undergo mandatory sex testing to compete, World Boxing says

  • Governing body singles out Algerian in statement

  • World Boxing says new rules will ‘ensure safety’

Imane Khelif must undergo what World Boxing describes as “mandatory sex testing” if she wishes to compete in any women’s event organised or sanctioned by the governing body.

Khelif won gold in the women’s 66kg category at last summer’s Olympic Games, having been cleared to compete despite being disqualified from the 2023 world championships organised by the International Boxing Association for allegedly failing to meet eligibility criteria.

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Mets recall RHP Chris Devenski, option LHP Brandon Waddell to Triple-A

The Mets are calling up right-handed reliever Chris Devenski from Triple-A Syracuse, the team announced ahead of Friday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies.

In a corresponding move, left-hander Brandon Waddell has been optioned to Triple-A.

Devenski, 34, signed last October on a minor league deal and has appeared in one game with the big league team so far, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts over two innings in a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on the final day of April.

In 17 games at Syracuse, the righty has posted a 1.96 ERA and 0.764 WHIP, allowing five runs (four earned) on 10 hits and four walks with 13 strikeouts over 18.1 innings. Devenski pitched to a 6.75 ERA and 1.575 WHIP in 26.2 innings over 19 outings last year with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Waddell, 30, appeared in two games over two stints at the big leagues this year with the Mets (most recently Wednesday's loss to the White Sox), surrendering four runs on 10 hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over 9.1 innings. This was his first MLB action since he appeared with three teams during the 2021 campaign.

The lefty made eight appearances (seven starts) with Syracuse this year, pitching to a 3.06 ERA and 1.392 WHIP over 32.1 innings, giving up 16 runs (11 earned) on 35 hits and 10 walks with 25 strikeouts. He played in South Korea and China before joining the Mets organization on a minor league deal last December.

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Alexei Popyrin advances to last 16 of French Open after beating Nuno Borges

  • Sydneysider wins tough contest 6-4 7-6 (13-11) 7-6 (7-5)

  • No 25 seed is the last Australian man left at Roland Garros

Alexei Popyrin has ensured there was no hangover from Alex de Minaur’s early exit as he got hot on a baking Paris day to reach the last-16 of the French Open with a touch of swagger and a sprinkling of good old-fashioned Aussie grit.

The country’s No 2 player isn’t now just the last man standing in the draw but the last man positively thriving as he downed quality Portuguese Nuno Borges 6-4 7-6 (13-11) 7-6 (7-5) in the Court 14 furnace at Roland Garros to reach the last-16 on Friday.

Alexei Popyrin is through to the last 16 for the first time in Paris!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/JgfPLfu2aO

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2025

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Bar-B-Cast on Red Sox's struggles and ugly season: 'Alex Cora is going nowhere at least this season'

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Based on the conversation between Yahoo Sports' Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman in this episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," it's clear that while things look bleak for the Red Sox, the season isn't over — but there’s a lot of frustration and concern.

The Red Sox aren't mathematically eliminated, and there are still scenarios where they turn things around, especially if prospects contribute and some injured players return and perform. But the path forward is "complicated" and hope is fading, reflected in Boston's big drop in playoff odds. The team’s flaws are showing, and unless things change quickly, they’re at risk of falling out of the race for good.

Here are the key points Shusterman and Mintz discussed on the show:

The Red Sox have struggled recently, particularly with a five-game losing streak entering Friday, lots of one-run losses (6-15 in one-run games), and multiple walk-off defeats. There have also been key injuries — especially to Alex Bregman and Tristan Casas — and some roster inflexibility.

Their playoff odds have plummeted from preseason hopes of 56% down to 18%, according to Fangraphs, as Shusterman mentions. This drop reflects their poor play and the surprising strength of other teams.

Mintz and Shusterman discussed some odd roster choices and poor communication, especially around locking Rafael Devers into the DH spot. However, neither Mintz nor Shusterman believe Cora is on the hot seat, and they think he’s handled the chaos relatively well.

"Alex Cora is going nowhere at least this season," Mintz said. "If I had to rank baseball operations juice amongst MLB managers he would be toward the top of that list. Yeah, he just signed a new contract. The organization believes in him and frankly I think he has done a fair, good enough job keeping this thing from going completely off the rails because it is not his fault."

Despite the mess, there’s still hope in the farm system, with top prospects like Roman Anthony pushing for a call-up (though the front office seems reluctant for a mix of service time and roster jam reasons).

The "Bar-B-Cast" wouldn’t pick Boston to win the division at this point. Shusterman still gives the Red Sox a chance to sneak into a playoff spot, though his confidence is shaken.

For more of the latest baseball news and debates, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Former Golden Knights Goaltender To Feature In Season 2 Of “Faceoff: Inside the NHL”

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) talks with Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) before the start of a game at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Prime Video's Season 1 of “Faceoff: Inside the NHL” was a success, and they have elected to bring it back for a second season, which will feature former Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

Season 1 featured Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, coming off a Stanley Cup win. It showed him dealing with the highs and lows of an NHL season, welcoming a long-time friend in Noah Hanifin and the unfortunate circumstances of losing in the playoffs.

Fleury's experience in the show will likely be quite different. This NHL season was Fleury's final campaign, retiring after playing 21 seasons in the NHL. His long career saw him win three Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a Vezina Trophy, a Jennings Trophy and an Olympic Gold Medal after being selected first overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. 

The 40-year-old joined the Golden Knights in the expansion draft, leading them to the Stanley Cup in the organization's first season. They lost to the Washington Capitals in the finals, but Fleury was the driving force throughout the season.

His time in Vegas took a turn when he lost his starting job under head coach Pete DeBoer. His agent posted a picture with a sword going through Fleury's back, and he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in the offseason. 

The show won't feature any of that but will highlight how beloved Fleury was around the NHL, receiving applause from fans and players lining up to shake his hand as he approached his last handful of games. Throughout his career, the Sorel-Tracy, QC native was known for being a joyous teammate, routinely pranking teammates to keep spirits high.

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

EXCLUSIVE: Former Golden Knight Marc-Andre Fleury Soaking Up Final Moments In The NHL As Wild Aim For CupEXCLUSIVE: Former Golden Knight Marc-Andre Fleury Soaking Up Final Moments In The NHL As Wild Aim For CupLAS VEGAS -- "And now, the end is near. And so I'll face the final curtain. ... I've lived, a life that's full ... I've traveled each and every highway. And more, much more than this, I did it My Way."
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NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Jonathan Marchessault, And Rangers Shopping K'Andre Miller?

The Nashville Predators made the biggest moves in last summer's free-agent market, signing Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei and Jonathan Marchessault. 

However, those acquisitions failed to improve the Predators as they finished 28th overall this season. 

Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli believes Marchessault might welcome a trade after a disappointing season in which his production slipped from 42 goals with the Vegas Golden Knights last season to 21 with the Predators.  The 34-year-old right winger has four years left on his contract with an average anuual value of $5.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list.

Marc Dumont of Montreal Hockey Now cited Seravalli speculating the Canadiens might be a destination for Marchessault. The Habs were in the running for the Quebec-born winger, but they offered up a three-year contract while he sought five. 

The Canadiens' needs have changed since last summer. Dumont doubts the Canadiens remain interested in the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Marchessault, citing management's stated intent to seek elite talent with size. 

On the French-speaking La Poche Bleue podcast, Marchessault said he’s very happy in Nashville and the decision he made a year ago, but he said Montreal holds a special place in his heart.

New Jersey Hockey Now's James Nichols noted the Devils also pursued Marchessault before signing with the Predators. He wondered if they might revisit their interest this summer. 

Vegas Hockey Now's Hannah Kirkell pondered a possible reunion between Marchessault and the Golden Knights. She noted that his contract was an issue before he hit the UFA market, with Vegas offering a four-year deal while he insisted on five.

Kirkell suggested the Predators could retain part of Marchessault's salary in a trade. She pointed out that they want to get younger, and the Golden Knights lack the suitable trade assets to address that need.

Joel Armia and Jonathan Marchessault (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

Meanwhile, the New York Rangers could part ways with K'Andre Miller. 

The 25-year-old defenseman is an RFA with arbitration rights this summer. His struggles this season contributed to the Rangers missing the playoffs.

Remy Mastey cited Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reporting the Rangers are testing the trade market on Miller. Friedman said it's not guaranteed that the blueliner will be traded, but they want to see what his value looks like.

This is a continuation of Rangers GM Chris Drury's efforts to retool his roster. He was among the busiest GMs in the trade market during the regular season. Friedman's report confirms he intends to continue the process in the off-season.

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