One of the quietly underrated forwards of his NHL generation, Thomas Vanek was announced Sunday as a member of the IIHF Hall of Fame Class of 2026, earning the honor on the strength of an exceptional international career representing his home nation of Austria.
Vanek's induction is a fitting tribute to a player who, despite never quite receiving the mainstream recognition his numbers deserved, proved himself one of the most reliable offensive contributors of his era. Over 14 NHL seasons and 1,029 games, the Austrian winger accumulated 373 goals and 416 assists for 789 points.
Playing for seven franchises including the Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers, Vanek was most closely associated with the Buffalo Sabres, where he established himself as a consistent 60-plus point threat in his prime.
But it is his body of work in international hockey that earned him this particular honor. Vanek is arguably the greatest player Austria has ever produced on the ice, and his international resume backs that up. He appeared in two Winter Olympics for his country and was a standout presence at the IIHF World Championships, logging 17 points across 19 games in three tournament appearances.
Thomas Vanek is widely regarded as Austria’s most accomplished player, with a standout NHL career and major international appearances. 🇦🇹 #IIHFpic.twitter.com/BLxHMuxT3G
As a junior, he announced himself to the hockey world emphatically, posting a remarkable 17 goals and 11 assists for 28 points in just 16 games across three World Junior Championships.
His time in Detroit, though brief, was memorable on both ends as he joined the Red Wings at the start of the 2016-17 season and made an immediate impact, recording 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points in 48 games before being dealt to Florida as Detroit navigated a difficult rebuild.
He liked the city enough to come back in what would be the final season of his career during the 2018-19 campaign. Vanek returned to the Motor City and put up 36 points in 64 games, still a reliable depth scoring option at the end of his run, and the kind of veteran presence the current Red Wings roster could frankly use.
Since hanging up his skates, Vanek has remained close to the game, working as a Team Consultant with the San Jose Sharks and has also served as an assistant coach for the Stillwater Bantam AA program. Sunday's announcement ensures that his underrated hockey legacy is finally recongized and is now officially enshrined.
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 30: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammate Jake Burger #21 after Duran hit a walk off single to win the game against the Kansas City Royals at Globe Life Field on May 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, folks…
The Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals yesterday by a score of 7-6.
Evan Grant writes that the Rangers come from behind victory sets them up to potentially have a winning homestand.
Joc Pederson homered in the win, and is looking like the guy the Rangers thought they were signing.
In a game without many hits, Columbus got its biggest one in the first inning as Bo Naylor had a two-run single to score Kahlil Watson and Juan Brito.
Watson was the only Clipper who reached base safely twice, going 1-for-3 with a walk. Cooper Ingle doubled and Nolan Jones tripled and scored the other run on a sacrifice fly from Angel Genao.
Starting pitcher Pedro Avila was solid, allowing one run on three hits in 5.0 innings. He struck out seven and walked four.
The bullpen was sensational as Jack Leftwich and Franco Aleman both pitched 2.0 scoreless, hitless innings with just one walk between them while striking out a combined five.
Akron RubberDucks 10, Richmond Flying Squirrels 3
RubberDucks improve to 27-23
Akron got an offensive eruption with five of its 10 hits going for extra bases on Saturday.
Joe Lampe had himself a day, going 3-for-4 with a triple, a double, two runs scored and two RBIs. Alfonsin Rosario also was excellent, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and an outfield assist.
Alex Mooney has been playing better of late. He went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored while Jose Devers went 2-for-4 with a walk to reach base safely three times.
Starting pitcher Dylan DeLucia had his best outing of the season. He allowed one run (zero earned) on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk in 6.0 innings, yet he didn’t get the win because Akron waited to score seven of its runs in the eighth inning.
Adam Tulloch and Hunter Stanley closed out the win with 2.1 combined scoreless innings of relief.
Lake County Captains 8, Beloit Sky Carp 3
Captains improve to 27-22
The bottom of Lake County’s lineup did all the damage on Saturday.
Catcher Logun Clark went 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk. Luke Hill went 1-for-2 with three walks and a stolen base and Maick Collado went 2-for-3 with a double and two walks.
Tommy Hawke also set the table nicely, going 1-for-4 with a walk and two stolen bases while Aaron Walton doubled.
Fresh off a strong week, Jace LaViolette backslid by going 0-for-5 with a golden sombrero.
Starting pitcher Rafe Schlesinger pitched well, allowing one run (zero earned) on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks in 4.2 innings.
Donovan Zsak, Izaak Martinez and Luis Flores combined for 3.1 scoreless innings of relief to close out the win.
Hill City Howlers 7, Fayetteville Woodpeckers 17
Howlers fall to 25-25
The craziest part about this game was based on the final score, you’d have thought starting pitcher Chase Mobley got drilled, but he had one of his best outings of the season.
Mobley allowed one hit with one strikeout and no walks in 2.0 scoreless innings on 32 pitches.
Zane Petty, on the other hand, was tattooed for five runs on six hits in his 3.0 innings of work. Then reliever Aaron Savery got absolutely destroyed for seven runs on seven hits with three walks and no strikeout sin 1.1 innings. Eudry Alcantara didn’t fare much better, allowing another five runs on six hits in 1.2 innings.
Position player Yerlin Luis ended the onslaught with a scoreless ninth inning.
Offensively, Hill City had some bright spots. Yelferth Castillo had a monster game, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a walk.
Luis De La Cruz also had a three-hit game, going 3-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and two steals and Cannon Peebles went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks and a stolen base.
May 30, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) hits an RBI single against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Things are bleak for the New York Mets, towering walk-off home runs from MJ Melendez and a three-game win streak aside. The team has under-performed, been bitten by the injury bug, and overall has been abysmal offensively. The boom-or-bust cycle of the Steve Cohen era is trending once again toward bust in 2026. It’s painful for any fan base to accept the idea of your team being a deadline seller before the summer gets going.
Juan Soto’s continued play at an MVP level might ease some of that pain.
Soto’s last few weeks have been some of the best of his career, and he has appeared like an oasis in the desert that is the Mets’ lineup. It took Soto a while to get going after returning from an early-season calf injury that kept him out for most of April, but he has been spectacular since May 14.
Reaching base safely in the 14 games since then, Soto has been the consistent presence that you would expect from someone earning his astronomical salary. He’s has a 1.310 OPS, eight home runs, 13 RBIs, and 15 runs scored. The kind of hot streak where you could tell your friends that a home run is coming before a Soto at bat, and you just might be right.
Soto’s play as of late has been so impressive that he had Joey Votto singing his praises on a recent MLB Network appearance. Votto compared Soto to Hall of Famer Mel Ott and said that Soto is one of the most important players of the post-integration era.
“I would argue that Juan Soto may be among the best three to five best left-handed hitters of all time,” he added. “Juan Soto is playing against the best players of all time. We’re at the peak of baseball, we’re at the peak of drug testing, we’re at the peak of everything…That’s just my take and he’s been quoted saying that he thinks that he’s the best hitter of all time. I don’t think he’s out of school for that.”
Now that Soto appears to have recovered from injuries and is actively producing, the question for the last-place Mets is: Can the lineup around him help with some of the heavy lifting? So far, the answer is clear no.
New York is 22-19 in games Soto has started, but the team somehow struggles to get wins when he has a big day. In wins, Soto has an .810 OPS with four home runs, and he has a 1.162 OPS with eight home runs in losses. It couldn’t hurt for the rest of the lineup to pile on in games where Soto breaks through or find a way to make teams pay for pitching around him more often.
It can be hard for Mets fans to be positive, and that’s completely reasonable. But maybe Soto at his best and the nearing returns of Francisco Lindor, Francisco Alveraz, and Jorge Polanco can jolt this lineup enough for the club to at least claw back to .500.
If not, the chance to watch Soto is enough for the price of admission and enough to keep tuning in for the rest of the season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder watch the closing moments of their loss to the San Antonio Spurs.Photograph: Tony Gutierrez/AP
Throughout the Western Conference finals, the San Antonio Spurs hoped that Victor Wembanyama could work enough magic while he was on the court to make up for the Oklahoma City Thunder annihilating them while he was off of it. Late in Game 7 on Saturday night, the Thunder must have been licking their chops. Wembanyama picked up his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter. The Spurs led by six at the next break in play, a lead that could disappear in minutes with Wembanyama’s backup, Luke Kornet, on the floor. But there was no choice – Wembanyama checked out rather than risk fouling out.
Immediately, Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein picked off a pass and bolted down the floor to lay the ball in. That would have cut the Spurs’ lead to four, but more importantly may well have set into motion a trend we had seen throughout the series: When Wembanyama sits, the Thunder feast.
Instead, Kornet – a competent but limited player – soared into the air with Hartenstein and blocked the ball into the backboard with an almighty thud. The Spurs recovered the rebound, and Stephon Castle’s short jumper ballooned San Antonio’s lead to eight. “Four-point swing – that might be the play of the game right there,” Reggie Miller said on the broadcast.
After a Thunder turnover, Kornet made way for Wembanyama. Kornet’s fourth-quarter stint lasted just 54 seconds, but he’d done his job. Then the Spurs’ talented, youthful core did theirs to complete a 111-103 win that proved experience isn’t always crucial in the NBA playoffs.
Though the Spurs and Thunder are headlined by extraordinary stars in Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, playoff basketball is about depth. For most of the series, the Thunder won that battle. Their superb bench sometimes outscored their starters. Such is the wealth of talent in the Thunder roster that their second-best player, Jalen Williams, and a vital offensive engine, Ajay Mitchell, sat out games with injuries, and at times they were barely missed. But in Game 7, only Gilgeous-Alexander was on song. He outscored the rest of the Thunder’s starters on his own, 35-31. By the fourth quarter, he was exhausted. The Thunder got 14 fourth-quarter points from Cason Wallace, but nobody else could meaningfully chip in. They were undone by what is usually their biggest strength.
The Spurs, in contrast, got vital contributions from everybody: Kornet’s block. Keldon Johnson hit two three-pointers. Dylan Harper took a long three over Gilgeous-Alexander, ill-advised at first glance, and nailed it. De’Aaron Fox splashed a tricky three-pointer. So did Julian Champagnie, who made six of 10 for the game after struggling to find his shot for most of the series. Wembanyama played the final few minutes foul-free; with his teammates lightening his burden, he never really had to take a risk.
Big picture, it’s shocking to see the defending champions eliminated. Oklahoma City won 24 of their first 25 games this season – even without Williams – and there were murmurs that the NBA should just give them the trophy already. The Spurs weren’t even considered contenders at first, but three wins over the Thunder in December corrected that belief and revealed cracks in the defending champions. This result is what those games suggested was possible.
You could still make the case that, fully healthy, the Thunder are the best team in the league. Gilgeous-Alexander was generally poor this series; and when he finally stepped up in Game 7, his teammates regressed. Chet Holmgren was invisible enough to make ghosts jealous; he’ll hope that invisibility lasts so he can evade the media pile-on that’s sure to come. And despite all that, the Spurs had to win a tight, tricky Game 7 on the road to win this series. The Thunder’s defense remains the gold standard, a whirling mass of swatting hands and waving arms that ventures right up to the line of what will draw a referee’s whistle and no further. They will be back next season, probably healthier and better.
Many will be glad to see them depart the playoffs. Gilgeous-Alexander’s proficiency for drawing fouls has never been popular, but fans’ distaste for his methods has amplified this season. ESPN’s Jay Williams did a segment on Gilgeous-Alexander’s habit of falling over in the pursuit of fouls. Earlier in the series, Hartenstein pulled Castle’s hair under the basket, which somehow went unpunished. Other teams try to manipulate foul calls, but none as consistently, shamelessly, precisely, annoyingly, or successfully as the Thunder. They play effective, unpopular basketball, and even if everyone on Earth teamed up to chant “FLOPPER!” at them they would still carry on with their tactics.
But there’s no denying their greatness. They came closer to repeating as champions than anybody since the peak Golden State Warriors. Wonderful basketball teams in the 2025 Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers have tried and failed to beat the Thunder in a Game 7. The narrative of the Spurs-Thunder rivalry was powered by Wembanyama’s evident disdain for Holmgren, his craving for Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP award. If winning the championship is the Spurs’ dream, beating the Oklahoma City juggernaut was their desire.
When the buzzer sounded, Wembanyama shouted and cried, biting his fist like he wanted to eat it, and clawing at his head like it was too small to contain the ensuing burst of joy. The New York Knicks are up next in the NBA finals. They’re better rested than the Spurs, did well against them in the regular season, and are on an 11-game winning streak. But right now, with the embers of Game 7 still warm, it’s hard to imagine anything in the finals that could matter more than this.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 30: Brandon Nimmo #24 of the Texas Rangers reacts after slideing across home plate to score the winning run against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on May 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rangers 7, Royals 6
What a weird game.
Kumar Rocker went six shutout innings despite walking more batters (3) than he struck out (2).
Rocker wasn’t missing bats — he got 9 swings and misses on 85 pitches — and he gave up a good amount of hard contact. And although he’s usually a ground ball pitcher, the Royals put a bunch of balls in the air against him.
But he still kept Kansas City off the board. The biggest jam he got into was in the third inning, when a single and a pair of walks resulted in a bases loaded, two out situation, but Rocker got Salvador Perez to ground out to end the inning.
Rocker even ended up retiring the final nine batters he faced. He left the game with a 3-0 lead, and surely, with the Rangers’ bullpen going up against a bad Royals offense, Rocker would end up with the win.
Right?
Of course not. Things don’t work out that easily for the Rangers.
Tyler Alexander and Jakob Junis combined to strike out the side in the seventh. That would be much more exciting news if the Royals didn’t also bat around in the seventh, with a double, four singles and another double plating four runs and turning the 3-0 lead into a 4-3 deficit.
Alexander did get credit for a Hold, however, because the Rangers were still up when he left the game. This, despite retiring just one of four batters he faced. That’s kind of funny.
Chris Martin exacerbated things in the eighth inning, issuing a walk to start the inning and then giving up a homer to Carter Jensen.
Chris Martin is now sporting a 7.84 ERA, a 7.56 xERA and a 6.35 FIP. That makes me sad.
Texas had gotten on the board in the first on a Josh Jung home run, then scored a pair of unearned runs in the fourth thanks to an E5 on a fielder’s choice that resulted in runners on first and second with no one out. Alejandro Osuna bunted the runners over, but in doing so hurt his finger and ultimately had to leave the game, because of course what the Rangers really need right now is more injured hitters.
Anyway, the Rangers scored two in the fourth, with offensive catalyst Nicky Lopez singling home the second of those two runs.
I know y’all are fired up about Nicky Lopez.
The Rangers rallied in the eighth and were in position to tie the game, as a Jake Burger double, Ezequiel Duran walk, and Danny Jansen double made it a 6-4 game with runners on second and third and one out. Justin Foscue, pinch hitting for Lopez, popped out, and then Michael Helman, for some reason, tried a two out bunt but popped it up for the third out.
At this point I was all prepared to talk in the thoughts post about how this is what happens when you are relying on the likes of Justin Foscue and Michael Helman to take key at bats and drive home runs late in the game. You fall short and you end up losing and that’s the way it is.
But instead I can talk about how you should never lose hope, you should never give up, you should always keep believing.
Joc Pederson led off the ninth with a home run, his eighth of the season, one fewer than he had all last year.
The Rangers were suddenly down just one.
Josh Jung smoked a ball into the hole at shortstop that Bobby Witt Jr. made a great diving stop on. Jung, not the fleetest Ranger, seemed like he’d be a dead duck at first base. Witt rushed the throw to first, however, and it went way wide, resulting in Jung getting credit for an infield single.
Brandon Nimmo then hit a chopper back up the middle. If Lucas Erceg, the Royals reliever, lets it go past him, it is probably a double play. However, Erceg tries to make a play on it, and it caroms off his glove. Nimmo beats the throw to first for an infield single.
Can you feel the momentum building? Were you sensing a miraculous comeback was at hand?
Or were you convinced that this was a tease, that the Rangers were just setting things up for a heartbreaking loss?
Jake Burger swung at a 2-0 pitch but didn’t get good wood on the ball. It ended up working out for the best, as he flared the ball the other way, just beyond the infield into right field, for a game-tying single.
That set the stage for Ezequiel Duran, who blooped a 1-1 pitch the opposite way. It fell in front of Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone. Brandon Nimmo, at third, broke home once the ball fell in, and slid in ahead of the throw.
Ballgame. A walk off win.
And the first ever major league win for Peyton Gray, whose scoreless ninth inning kept the Rangers in position to make the comeback.
Think how made Royals fans must be about this game. The Pederson homer to get the game within one. Then two infield hits, followed by a flare and a bloop, and your team lost.
Its just the second time this season that a reliever has gotten walked off while facing at least five batters and retiring none of them. The other one was Jordan Romano against the Angels last month.
And it is only the second time in Rangers history that the Rangers have walked it off in such a scenario. The only other time was in 2008, when Fernando Rodney faced six Rangers, retired none of them, and was walked off on a Chris Davis bases loaded single.
Joc Pederson’s homer was 108.0 mph. Brandon Nimmo had a 104.6 mph groundout, a 104.1 mph fly out and a 102.8 mph single. Josh Jung had a 102.2 mph homer and a 101.1 mph single. Jake Burger had a 101.9 mph single.
Kumar Rocker’s fastball topped out at 94.9 mph, averaging 93.4 mph. Tyler Alexander touched 92.7 mph with his fastball. Jakob Junis hit 94.9 mph with his sinker. Chris Martin’s fastball reached 94.7 mph. Peyton Gray maxed out at 93.6 mph with his fastball.
Jackson Blake has emerged as one of Carolina's most important offensive weapons this postseason, climbing the Conn Smythe odds board as the Hurricanes prepare for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
With Carolina opening the series against Vegas tonight, my Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes predictions are backing Blake to stay hot and continue his impressive playoff run.
Let's dive into the matchup with my NHL picks for Tuesday, June 2.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight!
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1 prediction today
Who will win Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1?
Carolina: The Hurricanes were exceptional on home ice in the regular season, and that has carried forward in the playoffs. They are 6-1 with a +9 goal differential and have controlled better than 56% of the expected goals — more than 3% higher than any other team.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes best bet: Jackson Blake Over 0.5 points (-135)
The Noah Hanifin - Rasmus Andersson pairing has lost their 5-on-5 minutes on the scoreboard and controlled just 41.20% of the expected goals share, ranking them 16th out of 17 pairings to log 100+ minutes in the playoffs.
John Tortorella is giving them a lot of defensive zone starts, which doesn’t make life easy, but they’re still struggling to limit chances and keep the puck out.
Jackson Blake leads the Carolina Hurricanes in offensive zone start percentage (89.57%), expected goals, and time on ice at 5-on-5. He is the most likely candidate to take advantage. Play to -150.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1 same-game parlay
Taylor Hall is pacing the Hurricanes in points, primary points, and sits tied with Blake for the top spot in high-danger chances.
He is a dual-threat player and has seen the same kind of favorable usage — albeit in less ice time — as Blake. The two play together at 5-on-5 and on a second power play unit that gets plenty of run, giving them a strong correlation.
The Hurricanes have a +67 high-danger chance differential through three rounds, well clear of the +33 differential the Golden Knights possess. They are playing lights out, have home ice, and rust won't be an issue in Game 1 this time around.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes SGP
Jackson Blake Over 0.5 points
Taylor Hall Over 0.5 points
Carolina Hurricanes moneyline
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1 goal scorer pick
Jackson Blake (+250)
Blake leads the Hurricanes in expected goals generated, high-danger chances, and rebound opportunities on home ice in the playoffs. He is all around the net and, as alluded to, he’s seeing favorable usage to create those opportunities.
Carter Hart ranked 66th among 67 eligible goaltenders in high-danger save percentage during the regular season. He struggled to stop shots in tight, and Blake will test him with plenty. Playable to +240.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes odds for Game 1 today
Moneyline: Golden Knights +130 | Hurricanes -155
Puck Line: Golden Knights +1.5 (-205) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-120) | Under 5.5 (+100)
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes trend
Carolina has won 20 of its last 25 games (+13.50 units, 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1
Location
Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Date
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Puck drop
8 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes latest injuries
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Oklahoma City's James Tibbs III is introduced before a minor league baseball game between the Oklahoma City Comets and the Albuquerque Isotopes at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 27, 2026. | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Dodgers minor league affiliates combined for nine home runs on Saturday.
Player of the day
James Tibbs III is running roughshod through Sugar Land, Texas this week. He hit a three-run home run and delivered an RBI single for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday night, giving him five home runs and 15 RBI in five games so far during this series.
On the season, Tibbs is hitting .317/.419/.644 and leads the Pacific Coast League with 16 home runs, 50 runs batted in, 34 extra-base hits, and 134 total bases.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Home runs ruled the day in the Comets’ win over the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros).
In addition to Tibbs, Seby Zavala also hit a three-run home run and Jack Suwinski hit a solo shot.
Charlie Barnes started and struck out four with no walks in his five innings, and allowed one run for the win. Five innings matched his longest outing of the season, done four times with Iowa before getting claimed off waivers from the Cubs on May 9.
Double-A Tulsa
Shortstop Elijah Hainline, who had already walked three times on Saturday, hit the game-winning grand slam to cap a seven-run eighth inning in the Drillers’ comeback win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals).
Josue De Paula had three hits, including two doubles, and scored three times in the win for Tulsa. Zyhir Hope and Griffin Lockwood-Powell each doubled, singled, and drove in two runs.
Patrick Copen pitched into the seventh, when he allowed his fourth run of the game and left trailing after his 6 1/3 innings, three walks, and four strikeouts.
High-A Great Lakes
The Loons only managed to score two runs, wasting a combined 14 strikeouts and only one walk by the pitching staff in a road loss to the Dayton Dragons (Reds).
Brooks Auger stretched out for his longest start since returning from the injured list in late April, going five innings with two runs allowed and a season-high seven strikeouts. Jacob Frost, the 2025 10th-round pick, piggybacked with Auger for the fifth time in the last five-plus weeks, and struck out seven of his own in three innings. The winning run for Dayton came on a two-out triple in the eighth inning and a wild pitch from Frost.
Class-A Ontario
The Tower Buzzers joined the power party with five home runs of their own to rout the Visalia Oaks (D-backs). Ontario scored six runs in the fourth inning, three in the fifth, and five more in the sixth.
Ching-Hsien Ko didn’t homer, but he did reach base five times with two singles, a double, and three walks, and scored three times. Catcher Anson Aroz reached base four times, including a three-run home run, and scored three times. Jaron Elkins homered and stole a base, part of his two-hit, two-RBI, and two-run evening.
Arizona Complex League
Alek Thomas played all seven innings in center field his second game since getting acquired by the Dodgers on May 12, and was hitless in four at-bats with a strikeout and a run scored against the ACL Guardians in Goodyear. Thomas also played on Thursday, and had a hit in his three at-bats plus a walk against the ACL Brewers at Camelback Ranch.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Julian Champagnie is headed home to play in the NBA Finals in New York City — and it's hard for him to get his head around it.
A kid born in Brooklyn who played his high school ball at Bishop Loughlin Memorial in the city, who honed his style and found toughness on playgrounds around the city, then went to college at St. John's, is a key reason the San Antonio Spurs are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
"That's every kid's dream. That's every kid's dream," Champagnie said, shaking his head in disbelief when asked about playing in the Finals at Madison Square Garden. "I remember my first time actually playing in the Garden. I was at St. John's, and I was just like in awe of just how much greatness has gone through there, and what that means for a kid from the city. Being that now we got to go play against [the Knicks] for a championship, that's personal."
San Antonio gets that opportunity in part because Champagnie stepped up when his team needed him. In Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, Champagnie knocked down six 3-pointers — the only other players to hit six 3-pointers in a conference finals are the Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — and finished with 20 points.
Julian Champagnie (20 PTS, 6-10 3PM) played a HUGE part in the @spurs' Game 7 win tonight!
He joins Klay Thompson (2016) and Stephen Curry (2x) as the only players in NBA history to knock down 6+ 3PM in a Conference Finals Game 7 pic.twitter.com/zoWkyAmR3p
"Julian's amazing. He deserves everything that he gets," Victor Wembanyama said. "And he's the type of guy that makes you want to die for him on the court, because he gives so much effort, and he's got such an amazing story."
Champagnie’s journey
That story sounds like a fairy tale now, but Champagnie's journey to get here was anything but.
Three years ago, Champagnie wondered if he was even going to get another chance in the NBA.
On Feb. 14, 2023, the Philadelphia 76ers waived Champagnie from his two-way NBA contract. Why? The 76ers never told him. However, his exit created a two-way contract spot for Mac McClung, who not-so-coincidentally was about to represent the 76ers in the All-Star Saturday Night Dunk Contest.
"Back then, being what, like 22 I think I was [21, actually], I thought it was over. I ain't gonna lie to you," Champagnie said. "I was always told how small the window is to kind of push and get your foot in the league and stay there and make a career for yourself. So getting opportunity only in the G League, and then getting waived with no warning, no nothing, explanation or anything. It was tough. It was tough for a 22-year-old kid who was just thinking I was gonna chase my dreams and telling myself, 'You could do this.'
"Obviously, I had no clue where I was gonna end up. My agent told me, like, it could be anywhere. Obviously ended up being in San Antonio. I put my head down and said, 'Make it work.' Like whatever they give you, make it work, whatever they need you to do, make it work. And just find, find that spot."
Finding that spot meant becoming a much better defender.
When Champagnie got to San Antonio, it was Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich himself who sat him down and told him in language we cannot repeat here that his defense needed to get better if he wanted to play.
"In short, and TV-friendly [language], he told me that I have a niche, which is being able to shoot, but it's gonna be useless if I can't play defense," Champagnie told NBC Sports back before the playoffs started. "So that was kind of the message, he pushed to me and told me to play harder, put more effort into that end of the floor. Be more physical and be more nasty. That was the word he used, nasty."
There was no instant success — Champagnie wasn't sure this stop would work out any better than the last one.
"Absolutely not," Champagnie laughed. "Man, when I first got here, I had no clue. I was going through a bunch of workouts, and I'm like, 'Man, I don't know if I'm gonna be able to do this.' Like, this is a whole different step from college…
"I took it personal. I said, 'All right, well, if I want to play, I got a guard.' That's what Pop told me. So that's kind of how I took it, but I didn't think that it would pay off, honestly. Truly, at first, I was like, I don't know."
But Champagnie got better and better on the defensive end, to the point where he is now a plus NBA defender. He found his niche.
"I feel like the best thing about me, I try to just fit in where I can, and I think that's what I did when I got here, and it's been treating me good so far," Champagnie said from the podium after Game 7. "I can't complain about it, you know. I love my teammates, love the coaching staff, love everybody at the organization. It's a great place to be — there's no better place that I could be, honestly and truly."
Going home
He may love San Antonio, but Champagnie is excited to go home and play in a building he reveres, in front of the family he loves.
"I get to play in front of a lot of my family," Champagnie said. "My family hasn't come to no games yet, I've been keeping it strictly basketball right now. And when the Knicks made the championship, I tell them, 'Well, if we get this done, you guys can come to everything if you want to.'...
"It's up the block. I passed by there so many times, I played in there so many times, so being able to go back there and compete for a championship, there's just no better feeling."
Well, the one better feeling might be winning that championship — and he's now a starter and a critical part of a team that could do just that.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: Tobias Myers #32 of the New York Mets walks off the mound after pitching during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field on May 25, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets won their third game in a row, soundly defeating the Marlins 6-1 at Citi Field after inducting Lee Mazzilli and former manger Bobby Valentine into the Mets Hall of Fame. This game also included a few firsts: Christian Scott earned his first big league win with five strong innings of work, Hayden Senger launched the first home run of his major league career, and Cionel Pérez pitched a scoreless inning in his first Mets appearance as part of an excellent collective effort by the bullpen.
Jon Heyman provides four reasons why the 2026 Mets could turn things around like Bobby V’s 1999 Mets did.
Cionel Pérez was selected to the roster prior to yesterday’s game and took the roster spot of Tobias Myers, who was optioned to Triple-A. The Mets say he’ll “have a more regular throwing program” in the minors and may end up being an option for the rotation. Anderson Severino was designated for assignment to make room for Pérez on the 40-man roster.
The Mets are hopeful Jorge Polanco, who has been sidelined with Achilles bursitis, will return next weekend in San Diego.
The Mets honored late longtime team photographer Marc Levine with a Mets Hall of Fame Achievement Award.
Pitching prospect Channing Austin has been making some waves in the Mets’ system this season.
If Mark Vientos and Brett Baty don’t help the Mets climb out of this hole they are in by July, the Mets may want to consider trading one of them at the deadline, writes Will Sammon of The Athletic.
The Marcus Semien for Brandon Nimmo trade was one of the best trades in baseball last offseason…for the Rangers, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Around the National League East
The Nationals came roaring back with a six-run seventh inning to beat the Padres 9-4, despite Fernando Tatis Jr.’s first home run of 2026.
The Phillies had a thrilling come from behind victory as well, as Edmundo Sosa’s go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth off Tanner Scott lifted Philadelphia to a 4-3 win over the Dodgers.
The Phillies designated former Met Zach Pop for assignment to make room on their roster for Max Lazar, who they activated from the 60-day IL and sent to Triple-A.
It’s been over two years since Brandon Marsh played with Shohei Ohtani on the Angels and they were teammates for less than two seasons, but Marsh still gets asked about it.
Ronald Acuña Jr. blasted two home runs in the Braves’ 5-2 victory over the Reds.
Angels reliever Brent Suter and rehabbing Rays pitchers Steven Wilson and Manuel Rodríguez took the anthem standoff so seriously at Tropicana Field yesterday that they were all ejected from the game before first pitch. Even the mascots got involved.
In a huge blow to the White Sox, slugger Munetaka Murakami was placed on the injured list with a Grade 2 hamstring strain that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks.
Pete Alonso’s walk-off hit capped off a five-run ninth inning for the Orioles as they won a 6-5 thriller over the Blue Jays.
MLB.com reviewed seven storylines to watch as the calendar turns to June, including whether early season disappointments like the Mets, Tigers, and Red Sox can turn things around.
Pete Crow-Armstrong may be heating up, as he notched four hits in the Cubs’ 6-1 win over the Cardinals.
The IIHF has announced its Hall of Fame class for 2026. Featured in the eight-person class is former Vancouver Canucks winger Thomas Vanek. The IIHF Hall of Fame is located at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and honours some of the greatest moments in international hockey.
Vanek's time in Vancouver was short but memorable. The Austrian winger played 61 games for the Canucks in 2017-18, during which he recorded 17 goals and 41 points. Close to the trade deadline, Vanek was moved to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Jussi Jokinen and Tyler Motte.
As for the international stage, Vanek is considered the best Austrian player to play in the NHL. He represented his country at multiple World Championships, as well as the 2014 Winter Olympics. During his NHL career, Vanek played in 1029 games while recording 789 points.
Vanek will be joined by Andres Ambühl, Patrice Bergeron, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Niklas Kronwall and Florence Schelling in the player category of this year's class. The other two inductees are Ralph Krueger and Luc Tardif, who will enter in the builders category. Other IIHF Hall of Fame inductees with connections to Vancouver include Pat Quinn, Pavel Bure and current Canucks Assistant General Manager Cammi Granato.
Feb 20, 2018; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Thomas Vanek (26) skates against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
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TORONTO, ON- APRIL 7 - The Toronto Raptors bench players dance to their seats as the Toronto Raptors play the Miami Heat at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. April 7, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
Although the heartbreaking loss in game 7 was a sad way to end the season, it’s hard to find a Raptors fan that isn’t full of hope for next season. Already they outperformed in almost every metric, they clinched the playoffs (a feat that hasn’t been achieved since 2022) and phenomenal performances from the younger players on the roster has made everyone wonder what we could be in another year or two.
Some players come into the league and are incredible immediately, but teams are built around the guys who come in and work hard and do their job on the court. You need superstars, but you also need a deep bench that can contribute and win the minutes where they are on the court.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the bench, their year, and one thing we’d like them to work on over the summer that will take them to the next level as a contributor to this team.
While the numbers aren’t overwhelming, it’s undeniable that he’s played a big role on the team this year. Throughout the year, many fans drew comparisons with Kyle Lowry (maybe a tad prematurely, but I like the confidence). His “Dawg” mentality, the effort on both ends of the court, and his willingness to do any job have all raised his stock.
While there weren’t clear trends over the course of the season, as a starter, there’s significant jumps in virtually every stat: 11.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 7.5 apg, 39.6% FG.
His biggest assets are currently his gritty defence, facilitation for everyone else on the court, and (when he’s hot) long range shooting. He is undeniably a passionate and intense player, but that’s everything that you want in a competitor.
Where he could improve is developing a floater. He’s done a lot to get big men lobs and easy shots underneath, but at times, he doesn’t have the gravity to keep paint protectors on himself when he dives into the paint before distributing. If he can consistently score on push shots and floaters, that should open up more space for rollers and cutters with far less resistance because the defence will have to commit to one or the other.
"EIGHT SECONDS! EIGHT SECONDS!"
Jamal Shead’s reaction to forcing a late-game 8-second violation in Game 4 vs. Cleveland is EVERYTHING.
Toronto seeks a 3-2 lead tonight at 7:30pm/et on ESPN 🔥
Despite being only 6’7”, his strength and athleticism allows him to play much bigger than he is. He spent minutes playing as a center, bringing us some of the most exciting, rim-rocking dunks of the season. It also allowed him to defend centers much larger than him and hold his own. In the playoffs, he brought us exciting, fearless rim protection that will only get better as he ages.
One of the most obvious skills he demonstrated throughout the season was his ability to read rebounds. Averaging almost as many offensive as defensive rebounds per game, he offered Toronto a myriad of second chance opportunities through sheer will. He has the intensity and the mindset to be a difference maker which he has already been doing in his first NBA season.
Offensively, he was able to be a lob threat, operate in screen and roll actions, and later on, developed a midrange game that allowed him to capitalize if defenses slacked off of him.
He’s already earning well-deserved accolades including the nod to attend the NBA Rising Stars game and received an All-Rookie Second Team selection.
Where he could improve is shooting. It’s hard to ask someone to be everything, but teams like the Spurs and the Nuggets that are able to run pick and pop actions capitalize on a center that can score from anywhere on the floor. Two thirds of his shots this season came from within a few feet of the basket. If he can extend that, even to the edges of the paint, that can create more options for everyone on the court.
Sometimes people expect a sophomore slump. Some people might even try to frame this season as a slump since across the board, he averaged fewer points, assists, and rebounds than last season. If you look further, you’ll see jumps in shooting efficiency. His FG% jumped over 4% to 44.6%, and he shot 40.9% from long range, a 6% increase from the previous season.
With the health of Ingram and more bodies on the court, he touched the ball a lot less. A learning curve that not everyone would master, he struggled early on in October and November, but by April, he was averaging 10/4/2 and shooting 50% from the field in that calendar month.
While the numbers might not be overwhelming, all we should see is the leaps he made throughout the season, his effort and development in getting better and responding to tough games, and the aspect of how his game is developing. He has shown the ability to score from all over the floor, with potential to be a consistent, talented 3-level scorer.
What I would love to see from him this summer is just getting shots up. The only way to build consistency and confidence is to continue to work on the craft, and if he can put April numbers up all season long, he could be one of the most valuable bench players on the team.
This season: 6.0 points || 1.9 rebounds || 0.7 assists
Going from starting every night and playing 30 minutes per game to a single start and 14 minutes per game would be jarring for any player. For Gradey, this has been a tough year. The overall health of the team, new lineups, and early struggles saw him pushed deeper down the bench as the season progressed. Ultimately though, how he responds to this season will be the biggest determiner of his future on the team and in the league.
We’ve seen flashes of his ability as a shooter, but the shadow of Jamison Battle is looming. He wasn’t able to do much of what we’d expect and the lack of minutes meant that he wasn’t able to work out any of his issues on the court. In the past he’s struggled but a stint in the G-League and some opportunity to just shoot the ball helped him get into rhythm.
It’s not time to sell stock in him yet though. He belongs in the league. He had his first career double-double this season, which will be a silver lining he will have to focus on.
What he needs to work on this summer is his long range shooting. What earned Battle minutes over him consistently was when Gradey got his chance, he wasn’t able to convert. He needs to touch the floor and knock down those floor-spacing shots. His defence could also use some help, which would help him stay on the floor longer to work out some of his shooting yips.
Being behind Lopez and Portis in Milwaukee, he never had the opportunity to show what he was truly capable of in his first two seasons. San Antonio was ushering in the Wemby era, so they didn’t have room for him either.
Lucky for Toronto. Mamu has exceeded expectations consistently.
His physicality and strength allowed him to be a presence in the paint at both ends of the court. His long range shooting provided Toronto with some floor-spacing that they don’t have with Poeltl. He came out night after night and kept up with some of the best bigs in the league and held his own.
The biggest question is if he will be back. Mamu has a player option next year to the tune of 2.8 million, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he opted out in search of more money with the work he put in this year.
The one thing he could work on is decision making. At certain junctures throughout the season, the intensity of a game would lead him to force shots, often through multiple defenders and come up empty. While it didn’t always cost them the game, ultimately every possession matters and I’m sure the Raptors would like to have some of them back. Passing out or developing more of an ability to draw fouls in the paint would all be beneficial for him and (hopefully) Toronto next year.
Those numbers will not jump off the page at you. In fact, saying he logged solid playing minutes in a series-clinching game wouldn’t be the conclusion you would draw. And yet, here he is.
He didn’t get a ton of opportunities throughout the course of the season, but when he did, his shooting felt more like a guarantee than a question. One of his most thrilling games was a 20 point performance in which he remained perfect from the field (7 for 7) followed up by a 14-point (5 for 5) night in game two of the playoffs.
He definitely earned his place on the team and the opportunity to prove himself further. His long-range shooting can be a crucial piece of the Raptors’ offence and when he is run off the line, he’s shown a solid mid-range game as well.
Defence should be the focus of his offseason. He committed a fair amount of personal fouls, often by trailing his mark. He would be a target for the other team at times which might send him to the bench if he’s giving up more than he’s getting offensively. Adding more defensive tools to his toolchest could help him stay on the floor to make the big shots when needed.
While there’s plenty of future potential, Mogbo, Hepburn, and Martin are probably not ready yet. They’ve all shown flashes, but the jump to the NBA is a challenging one, and these guys have their work cut out for them. I’d imagine any and all of them will probably spend next year working on their game in the G-league.
Temple has been the resident veteran and while he doesn’t log many minutes, Toronto has kept him around for a reason. A steadying voice with encouragement and wisdom. It’s unclear if he’ll be back next year or that will fall to a guy like Ingram, but his presence has been an asset. He’s always on the bench pointing and coaching everyone on how to grow.
Trayce Jackson-Davis was underwhelming. I would be surprised if Toronto picks up the option as he gradually fell out of the lineup altogether outside of garbage time.
Lawson has had probably the best season out of the deep bench, earning his way to a standard NBA contract. While the future is uncertain, the growth he has shown over the course of the season and his ability to pick himself back up after being passed over by multiple teams shows his unwavering effort. He keeps showing up, doing what he needs to do, and hoping it will continue to earn him a spot on the roster. Obviously Toronto has faith in him, or he wouldn’t be on the court in an elimination game. Hopefully he’s back next year.
While we have a couple months, free agency, the draft, summer league, and a whole bunch of possible changes, what Toronto is building is encouraging. There is a lot of young talent with a lot of heart on this team that has what it takes to contribute on this team in the coming years. Hopefully a couple months of work can help bring them to the next level.
May 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy (17) in the dugout before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Red Sox aren’t actually worse in the first month of the Chad Tracy era…but they feel worse.
With this early milestone just passed, it’s fair to ask what has changed. If things had actually changed, this would be a really fun exercise. But, as I look around, a fair answer is…not much? There have been some cosmetic differences, sure, like Mickey Gasper and Nick Sogard being called up from Triple A. Trevor Story’s hernia forced a decision at shortstop, with Marcelo Mayer eventually slotting into the starter role. If not for Story’s IL stint, that’s a change which I suspect would not otherwise have been made right now. (For the record, I’m in favor of it.)
But the anemic offense hasn’t changed. Neither has the winning percentage, at least not by much. Nor the Sox place in the standings, either.
The one place I see a clear difference is in the fan support. The Sox have lost us in 2026. I say this as a lifer, and with genuine regret.
At the end of April, surprising as the timing was, the firing of Cora & Co. seemed to hold out some hope for a big change. A morale boost, a turnaround, a shift in mechanics/procedure/process/whatever that might have cracked open a new version of this team. There was also the hope that all of the individual players who are “just not performing to their career norms,” as Craig Breslow put it, would either get on track due to the coaching change, or naturally emerge from their respective slumps if given enough time. While Duran and Mayer may be showing more signs of life recently, this hasn’t happened across the board.
Allowing ourselves to believe that shaking things up with the coaching staff might right the ship was a dream that might have been semi-believable in April. I wasn’t sure that was what needed to happen, but I was willing to let the theory play out. I would’ve been thrilled if it had worked.
But it’s not April anymore; it’s the cusp of June. Shit has gotten real over the past month. No matter the state of the AL East and the possibility that the Sox still have a ridiculously reasonable chance at making the third Wild Card spot, everyone agrees that the team is just terrible. I see it in comments, message boards, casual conversations. On air, in print, online, among friends. The team is painful to watch and this whole thing [gestures wildly] is painful to watch.
I have no trouble critiquing a play, a bad performance, an approach…but I sure don’t like to criticize the entire enterprise. It goes too far against the grain to feel like everything is wrong. I want to feel like there’s a possibility for redemption or joy somewhere in this season, but I can’t find it right now. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I stay away from the televised games whenever I can. I’m not sure I can be bothered to travel the seven miles downtown to see them when they come to Seattle in June. My entire life, this has been unthinkable. I’ve gone to outlandish, crazy lengths to see the Red Sox whenever, wherever, and however I can.
I’m usually a pretty positive person and many people who know me might say that I live for the Red Sox. It takes a lot to turn a diehard fan into a stone. Blame Fatse…blame Cora…no, blame Breslow. Sell the team. I haven’t advocated for any of those things. And yet…
In grad school, it was common to talk about “filling up the vessel.” Forgive this fine arts-speak, which is a shorthand way to talk about replenishing creative energy. The vessel is you. The vessel gets emptied as you naturally go about your day, expending energy. Doing something restorative, or even better—inspiring—fills up the vessel. This could be as simple as avoiding burnout by going home to get some rest. I think it was Picasso who said he invited people to his studio every morning (filling up the vessel), so that he had something to paint every afternoon.
Our damn Red Sox vessel is dry and we’re parched and we’re in a drought, okay? And we still have 105 games left on this slog through treacherous terrain (see: Guardians, Orioles, Yankees, Rays next on the schedule). There’s nothing new being poured into our collective vessel.
If it weren’t for Payton Tolle’s big heart and Connelly Early’s grin as he leans on the dugout rail and talks with the other pitchers, I’d have nothing at all in the tank for this team.
Yes, of course, if Roman Anthony returns rested and healthy, and once again takes up the mantle of superstar-in-the-making, that would add something to the vessel. If Garrett Crochet gets back to being a lights-out pig, that’s more for the vessel.
It’s summer now. They’re still my team but…the Red Sox have to give us something. Fans have become pretty depleted over the last month.
Good morning! The Mariners are looking for a series sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks after another dominant win last night. Bryan Woo’s seven innings of two-hit ball with nine strikeouts were complimented by four home runs to secure a 5-1 win. As Connor mentioned in his recap last night, the Mariners are finally back at .500 (for the first time since March 30th) and won consecutive series for just the second time all season.
Bryce Miller gets the start today against RHP Merrill Kelly at 1:10 PM in trial #3 of the piggyback plan.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Ryne Nelson #19 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Maddy Grassy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Team News
D-backs seeking return to winning ways after entering mini-skid “I said it last night, we knew coming up here it was gonna be a dogfight and we got only one thing to do, and that’s go out and play our best baseball game tomorrow and try and salvage one game here,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ve been playing good baseball. I have every reason to believe that will continue tomorrow.”
Bryan Woo’s Dominant Start Raises Concerns Over Diamondbacks Offense
Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno combined to go 0-for-15 with one walk (by Perdomo in the ninth inning) and five strikeouts. Arizona did not record an extra-base hit on the night, with Ryan Waldschmidt providing the other base hit of the night — off the Seattle bullpen. https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/onsi/bryan-woo-dominant-start-concerns-diamondbacks-offense
Oreo has made enough cookies to go to the moon and back 5 times.
Since Oreo was introduced to the market in 1912, over 450 billion Oreo cookies have been sold worldwide.
According to Greek traditions, tossing children’s loose teeth to a roof brings good luck.
The Greeks have always been known for their own way of doing things. In some cultures, children keep their loose teeth under pillows to swap for cash from the tooth fairy. However, the Greeks had their children throwing loose teeth onto roofs. Yeet!
The Hawaiian alphabet contains only 13 letters.
The Hawaiian alphabet contains a total of five vowels that are both long and short. It also contains a total of eight consonants. Hawaii’s alphabet represents all the basic sounds and phonemes in their language.
