The Houston Astros were able to grind out a 2-1 win in the series opener Thursday night.
While Detroit is slightly favored to even things up Friday, my Astros vs. Tigers predictions and MLB picks see value in backing the road team.
Who will win Astros vs Tigers today: Houston Astros (+100)
Spencer Arrighetti was borderline untouchable the first couple of months despite rocky numbers beneath the surface.
The pendulum has swung a little too far the other way over the last month, with Arrighetti posting a 5.79 ERA despite a respectable 3.89 FIP.
He is poised to get back on track against the Detroit Tigers, who sit 26th in wOBA vs. righties the past two weeks.
The Houston Astros rank 16th in wOBA and eighth in ISO during the same period. They should cause trouble for Keider Montero, whose 4.68 xFIP signals regression is coming.
Back Houston to -115.
COVERS INTEL:Montero ranks in the the 13th percentile in K%, which should lead to a lot of balls put in play by an Astros attack sitting eighth in hard hit rate vs. righties the past two weeks.
Astros vs Tigers Over/Under pick: Under 9.0 (-115)
The Astros have struggled to deliver ceiling-level offensive performances, scoring four runs or fewer in eight of their last 10 games.
It’s been a similar story for the Tigers. They plated just 28 runs over the last nine games (3.11 per), eight of which came Under the pre-game total.
While Arrighetti and Montero have both pitched worse than their season outputs suggest, these are not the offenses to truly take advantage.
The bullpens are also in great shape, and each team sits Top-3 in bullpen FIP during the month of June.
Bet the Under to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 42-31, +2.2 units
Over/Under bets: 38-31-4, +3.24 units
Astros vs Tigers weather
Temperatures in the high 60s are expected with slight winds blowing inwards. Small boost to the pitchers.
Astros vs Tigers odds
Moneyline: Astros -105 | Tigers -115
Run line: Astros +1.5 (-210) | Tigers -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 9.0 (-105) | Under 9.0 (-115)
Astros vs Tigers trend
Houston has won 12 of the last 18 away games (+7.50 units, 40% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Tigers.
How to watch Astros vs Tigers and game info
Location
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Date
Friday, June 26, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
SCHN, DSN
Astros starting pitcher
Spencer Arrighetti (7-3, 3.31 ERA)
Tigers starting pitcher
Keider Montero (3-5, 3.68 ERA)
Astros vs Tigers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
It’s Draft Day in the NHL, and this week has lived up to promises of years past from an entertainment standpoint. Tuesday was one of the most impactful landscape shakeup days in the history of the NHL, with four major trades finalized and the NHL coaching carousel finally coming to a stop for the time being.
The Anaheim Ducks didn’t get in on the week’s trade action, but were able to re-sign young right-shot defenseman Ian Moore to a two-year, $1.15 million AAV contract. The Mason McTavish trade saga seems to be on the verge of a conclusion, but until then, here’s what some of the top NHL insiders have been reporting or speculating on when it comes to the Ducks this offseason.
A McTavish trade seems imminent at this point in time. If a deal does go through, he’ll be the third straight former top-ten pick to take contract negotiations into a training camp following the expiration of his ELC, only to be eventually traded before that contract concluded.
Anthony Di Marco from dailyfaceoff.com reported earlier in the week that the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers have either called or have been keeping tabs on McTavish’s availability.
“Among the teams who have called on McTavish are the Calgary Flames, Daily Faceoff was told. According to a team source, the Flames don’t feel like they have what the Ducks are looking for in exchange for McTavish; the same source said that Verbeek is looking to make ‘hockey deals,’” Di Marco reported in his column.
“When speaking with an Eastern Conference executive, DFO was told McTavish’s value is not as high across the league as it was a season ago,” He continued
“One team who is believed to be keeping tabs on McTavish is the Philadelphia Flyers, who have been on the lookout to add a center all offseason. Despite McTavish playing on the wing for large stretches of last season, the Flyers believe he is a true center, according to a team source.”
It now seems the Ducks are deciding between two offers: one from the St. Louis Blues and one from the New York Rangers. Frank Seravalli first reported the Rangers’ involvement on Thursday evening, followed by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun and ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reporting that another offer was on the table from the Blues.
SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman furthered the reporting late Thursday night on his “32 Thoughts” podcast, when he hinted at potential pieces from each organization.
“I think the Blues, one of the key parts of their offer, is the 11th overall pick, and the Rangers, it’s a player, I believe,” Friedman said. “I don’t want to guess the name of the player. I’m not sure”
Friedman went on to report Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek’s desire for win-now pieces as opposed to draft picks.
“I don’t think the Ducks want picks. I think they want someone that can help them now,” Friedman continued/ “They’re in win-now mode. They want someone that can help them now. He (Verbeek) thinks he takes his time. So, we’re on his timetable, not ours. If I’m right about the St. Louis pick, the 11th overall pick, being the key part of their offer, I don’t think it’s necessarily something he wants to keep. So, if he does take the Blues offer, one of the things I think here, he might be saying, ‘Okay, I have the 11th pick, what can I do with it?’”
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen has connected McTavish to the Ottawa Senators throughout this process, reporting the organization’s interest. It appears now that the price has become too rich for the Sens. Friedman confirmed Garrioch’s report.
“I don’t believe the Senators are in on McTavish. The asking price has gone up,” Garrioch reported on Twitter.
“Ottawa, I heard, was in this. It was believed Ottawa had a lot of interest in Mason McTavish,” Friedman said. “There are a lot of ties in there. I think at the end of it, Verbeek liked what was being offered more from St. Louis and the Rangers.”
Defensemen
Last week, defenseman John Carlson relayed his intention to forgo re-signing with the Ducks after the organization traded for him at the 2026 trade deadline. It seems like the Tampa Bay Lightning are the frontrunners for Carlson, and fellow right-shot blueliners Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba will likely join him in free agency.
“Anaheim’s D, Carlson, is now going to market. I think a lot of people wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up in Tampa Bay,” Friedman said. “Trouba, I think, is going to market, and it looks like Gudas is too. There was some talk about Gudas in Toronto. But I don’t think that’s going to be happening.”
Seravalli reported on Twitter that the Ducks are hoping to trade Carlson’s signing rights for a draft pick before the veteran defenseman hits the market.
“Preference of the Ducks is to move the rights to John Carlson in exchange for a pick, but it sounds like the handful of teams interested in jumping the queue for the top free agent D have irons in the fire at the moment,” Seravalli tweeted.
Finally, the Ducks have been connected to Blues defenseman Colton Parayko since the trade deadline, but Seravalli reported via Twitter that the Blues have removed Parayko from the trade block and are no longer taking calls on him.
“One player coming off the trade targets board today is Colton Parayko. The Blues have told inquiring teams Parayko is unavailable, same answer for Robert Thomas,” Seravalli said.
The Mariners and Guardians open a weekend three‑game set tonight in Cleveland. The Guardians are home after salvaging the final game of their three-game series against the White Sox. Cleveland won, 4-3, in ten innings last night. Cade Smith gave up solo home runs to B Montgomery and Randal Grichuk to blow a 3-1 lead last night but Cleveland prevailed in the tenth thanks to a Kahlil Watson single that scored Petey Halpin. The Mariners dropped their second straight in Pittsburgh last night. Bubba Chandler was elusive last night, limiting the Mariners to one run over 5.1 innings despite giving up five hits and walking three hitters. Seattle was 1-10 with runners in scoring position as they fell back to .500 for the season (41-41). The Mariners have scored three or fewer runs in 11 straight games.
It is not surprising that the season series between Seattle and Cleveland is tied 2–2 heading into tonight’s matchup. Both teams have shown similar statistical profiles on the mound and at the plate. Seattle owns a .231 team batting average with 100 home runs, while Cleveland sits at .228 with 75 homers. Seattle carries a 3.71 ERA (5th in MLB), and Cleveland follows closely with a 3.79 ERA (6th).
Tonight’s pitching matchup features Luis Castillo for Seattle and Joey Cantillo for Cleveland. Castillo enters at 2–6 with a 5.22 ERA, 69 strikeouts, and a 1.40 WHIP across 70.2 innings. Cantillo’s season has been far more positive with an overall record of 6–3, a 4.05 ERA, 76 strikeouts, and an identical 1.40 WHIP over 80 innings.
Seattle’s hottest hitter over the last week plus is Dominic Canzone. The fact he is considered a hot hitter despite going just 8‑for‑30 in his last 10 games is a testament to just how bad Seattle has been at the plate. Julio Rodríguez is 3-9 over the last two games but is hitting a mere .198 in June. Cleveland’s Travis Bazzana is 11‑for‑36 with two doubles, three home runs, and seven RBI over his last 10 games.
Lets dive into tonight’s 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 the how to catch first pitch, 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.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Mariners vs. Guardians
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.
The Latest Odds: Mariners vs. Guardians
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
Josh Naylor picked up at least 1 hit in each of the 3 games against Pittsburgh (5-11)
Randy Arozarena is just 2-20 over his last 6 games
Cal Raleigh has hit in 3 straight games (3-12)
Brayan Rocchio was 4-14 in the 3 games against the White Sox earlier this week
Rocchio is 9-30 over his last 7 games
Kyle Manzardo was 1-9 against the White Sox
Steven Kwan was 3-8 against the White Sox the past 2 games after going hitless in his previous 4 games (0-8)
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!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Mariners vs. Guardians
The Mariners are an MLB-worst 31-51 on the Run Line this season
The Guardians are 43-38 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 39 times in Cleveland’s 81 games this season (39-42)
The OVER has cashed 39 times in the Mariners’ 82 games this season (39-40-3)
Expert picks & predictions: Mariners vs. Guardians
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Mariners and the Guardians:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Guardians on the Moneyline.
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The National Hockey League is set to host the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo, New York, over the course of the weekend. The first round will take place on Friday night, while the rest of the event will take place on Saturday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently on the clock for another day, as they will make the first overall pick. They will be followed by the San Jose Sharks, who won the second lottery spot. The Vancouver Canucks, who had finished in last place in the league in 2025-26, will round out the top three.
Although the New Jersey Devils had a lackluster season, the 12th overall pick is a decent consolation prize. They may use the selection on a player that they believe will help them down the line, or they will trade it for immediate help.
Surrounding New Jersey's selection are the 16 picks that were involved in the lottery. Lots of parts have already been moved through trades this week, and more are sure to follow. This is a mock of all those lottery picks, including New Jersey's selection at 12:
1. Toronto Maple Leafs - Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State
The Toronto Maple Leafs had one rough year and lucked into the top spot via the lottery. Now, they have the right to select Gavin McKenna, who has superstar NHL potential.
2. San Jose Sharks - Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda
After some moves made this week, the San Jose Sharks select Ivar Stenberg out of Sweden. They had some lottery luck once again, and now they have a legit star winger in the making coming to play with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.
3. Vancouver Canucks - Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford
The Vancouver Canucks could use some help down the middle of the ice in the short and long term. They address that need with their new head coach's son, Caleb Malhotra, at third overall.
4. Buffalo Sabres via Chicago Blackhawks - Chase Reid, D, Sault St. Marie
After trading Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Buffalo Sabres have the fourth overall pick. With it, they use it on a defenseman in Chase Reid. One day, the hope for them will be that Reid is as good as Byram but much younger.
5. New York Rangers - Carson Carels, D, Prince George
The New York Rangers have their pick of defensemen outside of Reid here, and they opt to go with Carsen Carels for a safer pick.
6. Calgary Flames - Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota
The Calgary Flames need help everywhere, but they have a wonderful pipeline in the making. If Keaton Verhoeff, who has tremendous puck skills, can reach his potential at the pro level, the Flames will have an even brighter future.
7. Seattle Kraken - Viggo Bjorck, RW, Djurgarden
The Seattle Kraken need a star with some offensive flair. They have had Artemi Panarin and Jason Robertson turn them down over the last couple of months, despite big money. Viggo Bjorck has that type of talent worth taking a risk on.
8. Winnipeg Jets - Alberts Smits, D, Jujurit
The Winnipeg Jets have a wonderful ability to draft and develop defensemen. Alberts Smits, who is kind of a buffer to the next wave of blue-liners in the draft, makes great sense for the Jets organization.
9. San Jose Sharks via Ottawa Senators via Florida Panthers - Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert
This pick has had its fair share of movement. It was supposed to belong to the Chicago Blackhawks, but then the Florida Panthers protected it by being in the bottom ten. Then, they traded it to the Ottawa Senators for Brady Tkachuk, who flipped it to the San Jose Sharks for William Eklund. If they use the second overall pick on a forward, which all signs point to, they are likely to use the ninth pick on a defenseman. Daxon Rudolph would be great for their organization.
10. Nashville Predators - Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University
The Nashville Predators take Tynan Lawrence here, who was once a top-three pick possibility. Boston University wasn't as smooth a transition for him, so his stock fell a little bit. A team like Nashville would love to take him on as a project who could become a star forward.
11. St. Louis Blues - Oscar Hemming, RW, Boston College
The St. Louis Blues have four picks in the first round, and three of them are in the lottery portion of the draft. They could go with any position at any time, especially with the needs that they have. Boston College forward Oscar Hemming is the selection for them here. With Jordan Kyrou gone, they will need eventual help up front.
12. New Jersey Devils - Wyatt Cullen, F, USNTDP
The New Jersey Devils are, as currently constructed, a team designed to use their speed and skill. They didn’t score a lot of goals in 2025-26, and they’d like to stock their pipeline with players who can help them be a fast team over the course of the next few years. Wyatt Cullen is someone who fits that mold as a prospect. It will take some time to become a full-time NHL player, but he is worth considering if the Devils don’t trade the pick.
13. New York Islanders - Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor
The New York Islanders made two incredible picks in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, headlined by rookie superstar Matthew Schaefer. Now, they can follow that up with a great selection in Ethan Belchetz of the Windsor Spitfires.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets - Alexander Command, C, Orebro HK
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a lot of question marks within their organization, including Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Zach Werenski. For now, however, a forward in Alexander Command could help them brighten their future.
15. St. Louis Blues via Detroit Red Wings - Malte Gustafsson, LD, HV71
The St. Louis Blues make their second of three picks within the top 16 using the 15th overall pick acquired in the Justin Faulk deal. Malte Gustafsson, a defenseman, helps them re-stock their prospects at the position as they retool.
16. St. Louis Blues via Washington Capitals - Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver
Making consecutive picks is scheduled to be the reality for the Blues, as they also hold 16 from the aforementioned Jordan Kyrou deal. Another defenseman makes sense for them, and this time it's Ryan Lin.
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Jun 21, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryce Harper (3) forces out New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
I don’t often struggle to write series previews. In fact, it’s often my favorite article to compile for Amazin’ Avenue. But I’m going to be honest, I’m struggling to even think about where to begin with this one. But here goes…after a truly horrific stretch of baseball, the New York Mets (34-47) welcome the division rival Philadelphia Phillies (45-36). The two teams squared off last weekend, with Philadelphia taking two out of three on their home turf, and the Mets will look to return the favor.
The Mets enter this series on a six-game skid, a losing streak which began against the Phillies and was exacerbated as the Mets endured a truly embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Cubs at Citi Field. The Mets ended up losing all seven games they played against the Cubs this year, including their three games at Wrigley Field in April.
Losing games is one thing, but these games were borderline noncompetitive, and each game had its own embarrassing component. After a Monday night rain out, the series kicked off in earnest on Tuesday with Kodai Senga putting the final nail in his own coffin by getting rocked once again. Senga, whose ERA now sits at 10.08 after seven starts, has found himself relegated to a bullpen role following his putrid season, but given his performance, you can excuse any Mets fan for being skeptical that this move will pay off.
Following their 9-6 loss on Tuesday, the team was swept in a double header on Wednesday. The winners of the day game (besides the Cubs) were the Norwegians, who captured the hearts and minds of New Yorkers everywhere. The losers, of course, were the Mets and Mets fans everywhere, who are subjected to watching this team. The Mets actually led 3-0 thanks to back-to-back homers from Jared Young and Francisco Alvarez, but the Cubs went on to score 10 unanswered runs. In the nightcap, the Mets’ infield made six (6!) errors en route to a 10-5 loss which was as demoralizing as it was deeply embarrassing.
The series concluded with the closest of the four matches, an extra innings loss on Thursday. The Mets were once again plagued by bad defense, which directly resulted in three unearned runs charged to Freddy Peralta’s final line. The first error came on a routine play that Ronny Mauricio, who was called up earlier that day, could not make, which kicked off a three-run inning for the Cubs. As Carlos Mendoza (now former manager of the Mets) said post game, the errors the team has been making, specifically the ones in this game, were extremely routine plays. Despite a two-run homer from Wagaman and another dinger from Young, the Mets fell in extra innings and ended up leaving a season-high 14 runners on base in the sweep-clinching defeat.
Dansby Swanson had a series for the ages against the Mets, driving in 15 home runs and hitting three homers across the four games. In fact, he was held hitless in the fourth game, so all of that offensive production came in the first three games. In the first game of the doubleheader alone, he hit two homers, including a grand slam, and drove in seven runs for Chicago, matching a career high.
On the bright side, Francisco Alvarez has begun to heat up offensively, hitting three homers in the series. He now has eight home runs and a .258/.326/.436 slash line on the season, with a 115 wRC+ and a 0.9 fWAR. Since returning from the IL on June 9, he’s hitting .294/.345/.529 with four homers and a 145 wRC+ in 14 games. At the very least, from the crop of youngsters that includes Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos, and Bretty Baty, Alvarez has at least provided you with something to feel good about, and he figures to be the only one from that group to factor into the future.
Any dreams of chasing a Wild Card spot have all but been dashed with this losing streak, as the vibes are literally lower than I can ever remember with this club. At the exact halfway point of the season, the Mets reside at 34-47, meaning that they’re on pace for 68 wins. If these trends continue, they would fail to win 70 games for the first time since the 2003 season, and it’s never a good thing to be compared to the Art Howe years. The Mets are currently 9.5 games back of the final playoff spot in the National League, but only two games ahead of the Rockies for the worst record in the league. They currently are tied for the sixth-worst record in baseball, which is important for MLB Draft Lottery odds, because if they snag a top-six spot of the MLB Draft order, they won’t be dropped ten spots due to the payroll penalty.
While David Stearns said he will evaluate the team’s situation with respect to them being buyers or sellers up until the August 3 deadline, the team has seemingly already made it known to the league that they are open for business with their first big move, which was moving on from long-time pitcher David Peterson. The club sent him across to the visitor’s clubhouse after Wednesday’s doubleheader sweep while acquiring an infield prospect in return. Peterson was a free agent so moving on made sense regardless of the team’s situation, but it does at least show that the club seems to be leaning towards the sellers route. With little left to play for on the field, all eyes will be fixated on the trade deadline as the Mets look to extract some value and build up their farm system to help build towards a (hopefully) better future.
And as we publish this article, the team announced “the departure of Carlos Mendoza”, meaning they will have yet another new manager. Andy Green will take over as the interim skipper for the remainder of the 2026 season. A lot more will be discussed about this in the coming days, you can be sure.
The Phillies are in a completely different spot from the Mets. They come in to this series as winners of seven of their last ten games and hold the top Wild Card spot in the National League, one game clear of the Cubs, who just walloped the Mets this week. After a really sluggish start, they are only four games behind the Braves for first place in the National League East. After firing their manager, Rob Thomson, following a 10-19 start, and inserting Don Mattingly into the interim role, Philadelphia is 35-17. After losing their first game to Washington in their recent four-game set, they won the last three, with each of them coming thanks to a ninth inning rally. In the two middle games, they were down to their final strike before erupting to steal the game from the Nats. Must be nice.
Friday, June 26: Zach Thornton vs. Zack Wheeler, 7:10 PM EDT on WPIX
Thorton is making his second spot start for the Mets this season in place of the recently-departed David Peterson. In his one outing, he allowed four earned runs over 4 2/3 innings while striking out three and walking two against the Nationals on May 20, which resulted in a loss. In seven outings in Triple-A so far this season (including six starts), he owns a 4.80 ERA. He has struck out 29 and walked 14 across his 31 innings in Syracuse.
Wheeler’s last start came against the Mets on Sunday Night Baseball, and he picked up his seventh win of the 2026 campaign against just one loss. In that outing, he allowed two earned runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings, and he struck out seven while walking three batters. In the month of June so far, he has three wins and has posted a 1.82 ERA and a 3.55 FIP in 24 2/3 innings. Opposing batters have managed just a .165 batting average and .559 OPS against him during this stretch, and he’ll look to finish the month off strong against his old club.
Saturday, June 27: Christian Scott vs. Alan Rangel, 7:10 PM EDT on SNY
This will be Scott’s first start in 15 days after he landed on the injured list with a right hip impingement. Perhaps the injury could help explain Scott’s trouble with the long ball in his last start, which came against the Cardinals on June 11 in a game the Mets eventually won. After surrendering just one home run across his first eight starts, he gave up three in the first two innings against the Cardinals, but was able to hold them at bay after that rough start. He ended up going 4 2/3 innings, allowing a season-high seven hits while striking out six and walking one. He did keep his streak of 18 starts allowing four runs or fewer to begin his major league career, which remains a Mets record. Scott has been the Mets’ best starter this year since making his return to the majors, leading the club with a 3.10 ERA.
Rangel is a journeyman pitcher who made his major league debut with 11 innings across five outings for the Phillies last season. He signed as an international free agent in 2014 and bounced around from the Braves to the Angels to Philadelphia, where he finally got a chance at major league action. Saturday will mark his first major league start after making seven relief appearances over the past two season with the Phillies. He enters play having allowed two earned runs over eight innings pitched. His last time out, he pitched five innings and limited the Nationals to one run on five hits. He threw 72 pitches in that one (a career high in the majors), so he is probably in line to pitch between 70 and 80 pitches in this start.
Sunday, June 28: TBD vs. Jesús Luzardo, 1:40 PM EDT on SNY
TBD
The Mets could turn to Tobias Myers or a bullpen game on Sunday, unless they want to promote someone from the minors.
Luzardo has had a bit of an up-and-down year for Philadelphia, and June is a perfect encapsulation of his struggles. In two of his outings this month, he’s allowed five earned runs. In the other two, he’s allowed one earned run and two earned runs. In the latter, he matched his season high by going seven innings. Despite that, the club has won each of his last six starts and eight of his last ten. In his most recent outing, he settled for a no decision but did strike out a season-high 13 batters while allowing five earned runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings against the Nationals. He is currently seventh among NL starting pitchers in innings pitched, and can be relied upon to give the team length, even when he is struggling.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 13: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros pitches in the fourth inning during a game against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park on May 13, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (35-42) won 11-0 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning scoring 2 runs on a Dezenzo RBI single and Ferreras RBI groundout. McCullers got a rehab start for Sugar Land and went 3 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts. The offense got 2 more runs in the 7th on a Biggio RBI triple and Whitcomb RBI single. Sugar Land blew it open in the 8th scoring a run on a wild pitch, a Brooks grand slam, Cole walk and Spence walk. Hendrickson tossed 5 scoreless innings in relief and Fleury had a scoreless 9th to close out the 11-0 win.
Jose Fleury, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (33-39) lost 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
Blanco made a rehab start for the Hooks and went 3.1 scoreless innings with 2 strikeouts. The offense got on the board in the 6th inning on a Brutcher bases loaded walk. They got another run in the 8th inning on a Schiavone RBI single. Hertzler went 4 innings in relief allowing 1 run with 3 strikeouts. The Hooks took a 2-1 lead into the 9th but Swanson allowed 2 runs as Tulsa walked it off.
Cole Hertzler, RHP: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Nic Swanson, RHP: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (19-52) won 7-6 (BOX SCORE)
The Asheville offense got on the board in the first inning on a Powell groundout. They got 2 runs in the 2nd inning on a Daudet 2 run home run. Oakes started for Asheville and while he struck out 8 over 3.1 innings, he also allowed 4 runs. The offense got another run in the third on a double play and then 3 runs in the 4th on a Moss RBI double and Walker 2 run single. Cruz allowed 2 runs in relief but the rest of the pen was scoreless as they tossed 4.1 innings to close it out.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (36-35) won 5-1 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning thanks to a Flores 2 run home run, his 10th home run of the season. Shoemaker started for the Woodpeckers and pitched well allowing 1 unearned run over 4.2 innings. The offense added a run in the third on a Luciano RBI double and another in the 4th on a Vasquez sac fly. The offense got another in the 8th on a Nigh RBI single. Weber tossed 3.1 scoreless in relief and Mathiesen closed the door with a scoreless 9th inning as the Woodpeckers won 5-1.
I like the underdog Boston Red Sox to make it two out of two when they meet up with the New York Yankees tonight as +101 home underdogs.
They took the series opener last night and now see a pitcher who is both exploitable and familiar to them.
Here are my Yankees vs Red Sox predictions and MLB picks for Friday, June 26.
Who will win Yankees vs Red Sox today: Red Sox moneyline (+101)
Will Warren is a pitcher I've successfully faded all season, and there's reason to do the same here. I'd play the Boston Red Sox down to -108.
The issue with Warren has always been that when he's not getting strikeouts, his average hard-hit rate gets exploited by his high-velocity stuff. He also generates whiffs mostly in the zone, pairing a 24% strikeout rate with a bottom-30 percentile chase rate.
The more often you see him, the more success you have. Boston ranks fifth in MLB in doubles, gap-to-gap power that benefits from Fenway Park
COVERS INTEL:Payton Tolle posted a 39% whiff rate on his four-seamer between the majors and minors in 2025.
Yankees vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-116)
I like the Over.
Payton Tolle has walked 10.8% of hitters across varied with a hard-hit rate over 38%. I expect him to be slightly better than his counterpart because of his strikeout stuff, but that doesn't mean it will come without any struggle.
A hard-hit issue against this New York Yankees lineup is a problem, even without Aaron Judge, as they've ranked in the top five of barrel rate and hard-hit rate league-wide all season. Play to 9.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 30-28, +4.67 units
Over/Under bets: 35-24, +14.77 units
Yankees vs Red Sox weather
Yankees vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: Yankees -105 | Red Sox +104
Run line: Yankees -1.5 | Red Sox +1.5
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Yankees vs Red Sox trend
The Boston Red Sox have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline in 5 of their last 7 games (+4.25 Units / 48% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Yankees vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Friday, June 26, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
YES, NESN
Yankees starting pitcher
Will Warren (7-2, 3.45 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Payton Tolle (3-5, 3.08 ERA)
Yankees vs Red Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 15: Jacob Lombard before the 2026 World Baseball Classic game between Team USA and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Baseball scouts love bloodlines, and for good reason. Growing up around the game often provides a head start that can’t be taught, as Bobby Witt Jr. has demonstrated. Jacob Lombard is one of the top prospects for the MLB draft to be held on July 11 during All-Star Week, and he comes from one of baseball’s most accomplished families. He is the son of former major leaguer and current Tigers bench coach George Lombard and the younger brother of Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr., but many evaluators believe the younger Lombard possesses even greater upside.
Standing 6’3” with an outstanding blend of athleticism, speed, and power, Lombard has long been one of the most closely watched players in the 2026 draft class, earning attention on the showcase circuit since his early teens. Scouts consistently praise not only his physical gifts but also the polished instincts and baseball IQ that come from growing up around the game.
Lombard’s ceiling is driven by one of the loudest toolsets in the draft. Keith Law of The Athletic describes him as possessing “some of the best pure tools in the draft class,” highlighting his 70-grade speed, plus raw power, and the athleticism to remain at shortstop long term. Baseball America similarly notes that his profile is “littered with 60s,” calling him one of the best defensive shortstops in the class with graceful actions, excellent footwork, and the ability to become a plus defender. MLB Pipeline echoes those assessments, praising his outstanding range, hands, instincts, and speed while projecting him to stick at shortstop for years. All three outlets agree that if everything comes together offensively, Lombard has legitimate superstar potential.
The biggest question is whether his bat will fully develop to match his exceptional physical tools. While evaluators praise his quick bat speed, low-maintenance swing, and advanced approach, each publication also points to swing-and-miss concerns. Law notes that Lombard struck out on 39 percent of his swings during tracked showcase events in 2025, struggling particularly against sliders and premium velocity. Baseball America identifies his bat-to-ball skills as the biggest question in his profile despite solid pitch recognition, while MLB Pipeline notes he occasionally struggled with elevated fastballs. They also write he is a “people-pleaser”, which may make him more coachable, but they suggest he may have been guilty of making too many mechanical adjustments while trying to incorporate advice from various instructors on the showcase circuit.
If Lombard proves he can make enough consistent contact against elite pitching, there are few players in the class who can match his overall upside. His combination of size, speed, defensive ability, power potential, and baseball instincts has made him a consensus top-ten talent, with some evaluators believing he has the tools worthy of consideration near the very top of the draft. The risk is centered almost entirely on the hit tool, but the reward is a true five-tool shortstop capable of impacting the game in every facet.
Keith Law had a mock draft with the Royals taking Lombard at #6, writing that the Royals were “heaviest” on Lombard and Booth. Kiley McDaniel at ESPN writes that the Royals prefer Lombard over prep outfielder Eric Booth Jr. and pitcher Gio Rojas.
The Royals need more offense, regardless of position. By the time Lombard is ready for the big leagues, Bobby Witt Jr. will be able to opt out of his current contract – and even if the Royals bring him back, Lombard has the athleticism to move to another position. He is the kind of toolsy coachable kid the Royals tend to love, but the questions about his contact skills should give fans a bit of pause. The upside is high with Lombard, but the organization’s track record on developing good plate discipline is spotty, at best.
On the other hand, the last time the Royals selected a toolsy shortstop whose dad played in the big leagues, it worked out just great. But can Lombard be a generational player like Bobby Witt Jr. or another prep star that struggled to hit professional sliders?
One of the biggest questions facing the Detroit Red Wings amidst the ongoing saga with the trade request from captain Dylan Larkin is what kind of package they'll receive in return.
Speculation has ranged everywhere from getting NHL ready players and prospects in return to simply getting a futures-driven package of draft capital, the latter of which would do nothing to help Detroit in the short-term.
In recent days, it has been reported that the Dallas Stars have emerged as a potential frontrunner for Larkin, and the most obvious return request that GM Steve Yzerman could ask from former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill are the rights to pending RFA forward Jason Robertson.
However, acquiring Robertson and getting him signed to a new contract that Yzerman would be comfortable with may prove difficult.
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, Robertson rejected a contract offer from the Seattle Kraken, whom he was granted permission to speak with, that would have paid him $15 million annually over eight years.
Jason Robertson has rejected an 8-year, $15mil AAV contract offer from the Seattle Kraken, per @FriedgeHNIC
An annual salary of $15 million would have made Robertson the second-highest paid player in the NHL behind only Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, who now earns $17 million per season, and ahead of Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, who earns $14 million annually.
Meanwhile, the Stars themselves are experiencing difficulties in signing their three-time 40-goal scorer. According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, Robertson rejected a contract that would have paid him $12 million annually, the same AAV that star forward Mikko Rantanen is now earning.
"According to one NHL source, the Stars had offered Robertson a contract of eight years with $12 million AAV, which would match the contract they handed Mikko Rantanen after acquiring the winger from the Hurricanes," Kaplan reported.
What's more, Robertson also reportedly rejected a move that would have sent him to the St. Louis Blues, as he's allegedly not interested in joining them.
Sources indicating the St Louis Blues offered a package that included multiple first round picks to the Dallas Stars for Jason Robertson but he is not interested in signing there.
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COLUMBUS, OHIO - JUNE 18, 2026: Cooper Ingle #2 of the Columbus Clippers runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at Huntington Park on June 18, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The news broke last night that Cooper Ingle is getting the call for the Guardians.
Cleveland Guardians Prospective was the first I saw with the move on Twitter:
Cleveland #Guardians are promoting 24-year-old (C) prospect Cooper Ingle before the Seattle Mariners series starts at home Friday night.#GuardsBall
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) June 26, 2026
It will be interesting to see what move is made to get him on the 26-man. (To get him on the 40 seems easy enough with the various injuries the team has sustained). One would assume it is a Petey Halpin demotion. But, what if it isn’t? …A Gabriel Arias or a Stuart Fairchild being DFA’d? A shock David Fry demotion? An even more shocking Rhys Hoskins DFA?
I am sure it’ll be Halpin.
Meanwhile, Ingle has a 150 wRC+ with a 22/18 K/BB% in Columbus. I checked his Baseball Savant for performance against various fastballs – .464 wOBA/.418 xwOBA – breaking balls – .361 wOBA/.301 xwOBA – and offspeed – .349 wOBA/.333 xwOBA. He seems ready for a big league challenge. He also has a 1.112 OPS in Columbus and a .865 OPS on the road. The biggest issue with Ingle is that he hasn’t been able to hit LHP very well… but, hey, join the club here. He has a .611 OPS vs LHP this year and his career numbers are solidly in the mid 600’s range.
But he’s here, he’s real and he’s spectacular. Ingle was ranked the 7th best Guardians prospect by this site, 4th in the Guardians system by Baseball America, 3rd by MLB Pipeline, 10th by FanGraphs, 5th by ESPN and 7th by the Athletic.
Drafted as a catcher, recently, Ingle has seen a bunch of time in left field. It will be interesting to see if the team mostly abandons him catching or if he mixes in occasionally with Patrick Bailey and Austin Hedges. It certainly cannot hurt to have him hanging out with those two.
I applaud the Guardians for their aggression with promotions. Would have been nice to have Ingle in Chicago… but I should not complain. I am very excited to have tickets for his likely debut tonight. Bringing my 3 year-old daughter for Ingle and fireworks as the Mariners come to town. Now, if the rain will just hold off…
AROUND MLB:
The Royals and Tigers lost.
The Pope says he is following the White Sox’ season. Explains a lot tbh.
MLB and MLBPA are still exchanging CBA ideas and insults.
It's another edition of Knicks Mailbag, with SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley ready to answer your questions surrounding the team. Let's get started...
Have the Knicks been in conversations with teams about centers they can trade for? - @jmere09nyc
Yes. Before the draft, they checked in with at least one team with a center under contract. Obviously nothing came to fruition. The team contacted by the Knicks was ultimately unwilling to part with its big man. The Knicks’ approach in this check-in was more than just due diligence, according to the team the Knicks spoke with. They were genuinely trying to get a deal done. Was this because they knew Mitchell Robinson would not be back? I don’t know the answer to that, but logic tells you they wouldn’t have put a call in if they thought Robinson would be back. If the Knicks want to stay under the second apron next season, Robinson would have to take a significant pay cut to return to the team.
You can make the argument that Robinson is the best unrestricted free agent on the center market. The Lakers are among the teams in need of a center. Reports have linked the Lakers and Robinson. SNY hasn’t independently confirmed those reports, but Robinson will certainly have interest from teams around the league.
If the Knicks lose Robinson, they will have to find a serviceable center via the trade market or free agency.
Free agency will be difficult because they will not be able to offer much more than a minimum deal. The next place to turn is the trade market. Maybe Moussa Diabate is available from Charlotte after they drafted a big man to add to their large center rotation? The Knicks have previously showed interest in Goga Bitadze, Yves Missi and Nic Richards. I’m sure they will look at all options on the table if Robinson does not return.
Could a yearly pay cut with more years added work? I don’t see any other team giving him more than 2 years? Maybe? - Via Kenny
The Knicks can give him a five-year deal. So they have the opportunity to offer more guaranteed money in the scenario you propose. But the Knicks can also offer him more money annually than he is making now. They would just have to exceed the second apron to do so.
Do you think staying under the second apron is to protect from Mitch injury issues? - Via @therealgmlopes
If you go over to sign him you’re basically stuck if he has his yearly injury. If they can keep him and stay under the apron, that’s not an issue. Also staying under leaves S&T as an option for him.
This would make sense to me. If you are worried about committing multiple years to Robinson due to injury, that’s understandable. But I can’t wrap my head around why the Knicks wouldn’t want to exceed the second apron this offseason.
The penalties are significant (as ESPN’s Bobby Marks explains in this video) but this team just won a championship.
Owner James Dolan has never been shy about spending money. Why would that change now? Dolan said in a WFAN interview recently that he didn’t want to go over the second apron. He reiterated that stance internally prior to the draft. He has not shared the specific reasons why he does not want to go over the second apron.
The strongest pushback to staying under the 2nd apron is BOS won while over it and DEN won + then immediately lost depth bc of it. If NYK believes this group can win multiple titles why should preserving future flexibility take priority over retaining everyone on the title team? - @Brock_Aller
This is a question that will hang over this offseason until it’s explained to the fan base. Every title team loses players. But this situation is different because the Knicks can spend the money to retain Robinson and Landry Shamet. By staying under the second apron, they will have to choose one or the other.
VALENCIA, SPAIN - MAY 13: Sergio de Larrea, #5 of Valencia Basket celebrates at the end of the EuroLeague Play Off Game Five match between Valencia Basket and Panathinaikos Aktor Athens at Roig Arena on May 13, 2026 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by JM Casares/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)
Three international players? That’s how many the Dallas Mavericks drafted this week. That’s three more than last season.
And it’s a huge shift from the previous year, where the Mavs either traded or refrained from resigning every single international player still on the team – after having at least one but up to five European or international players on the roster continuously for over 30 years.
The Dallas Mavericks have had a proud tradition of being first-movers on international talent for decades. We all know how Dirk Nowitzki was doubted before Dallas put their trust in him, and how Luka Doncic fell to third in the 2018 draft, despite being the biggest prospect in years – mainly because he never played college basketball.
The Mavs have been known to look abroad consistently and turn their focus outward and in new places to find promising talent since the 1990s.
But under the leadership of General Manager Nico Harrison and head coach Jason Kidd, who was brought to Dallas in 2021, things changed.
As Mark Cuban stepped away, eventually selling the majority of the franchise in 2023, the outward focus turned inward, and stars – who were once superstars – were valued higher than potential and hidden treasures. The thought-process seemed to be that old is trustworthy, new is risky and what once worked will always work. And with that, the Mavs as a franchise came to a standstill.
But a sudden course correction has taken place recently. New leadership, consisting of experienced, international scouts were brought to Dallas, and with that a shift and a tangible rebuild has commenced.
New GM Mike Schmitz and president Masai Ujiri wasted no time looking outside the US to find diamonds in the rough for this year’s draft, despite only being in Dallas for a little under two months.
And it looks like there might be three this year, though it’s unclear who will be stashed (remain with their overseas team to develop). The Mavs traded Koa Peat at 30 to get Sergio De Larrea (to the New York Knicks) from Valencia, a club that just secured an incredible ACB Spanish championship win over powerhouse Barcelona.
De Larrea is a Spanish point guard and a 6’7 shooter, straight out of the European basketball tradition, and more specifically, the Spanish – just like Luka Doncic.
De Larrea debuted for Valencia’s best team and in the Euroleague at 17. After playing for some smaller and reserve teams and declining offers to play college basketball in the US, he returned to a regular role with Valencia as a point guard in 2024/25.
Other noteworthy accomplishments from the 20-year-old include a FIBA World Cup U19 Gold medal with Spain in 2023 and a Spanish Liga ACB Young Player of the Year award in 2026.
The likelihood of this being a draft-and-stash seems lower at the moment than just after the draft. According to Spanish sources, the Mavs’ commitment to De Larrea is “completely firm, because their new coach, Dusty May, considers him a guaranteed part of next season’s roster… Any possibility that De Larrea would remain with Valencia Basket has essentially disappeared.”
There aren’t many 6’7, 20 year old primary ball handlers who can self-generate paint touches, navigate screens and flash the craftiness that Sergio De Larrea has…⤵️
Sergio De Larrea isn’t a particularly impressive finisher at the rim, 58.7% and just 43.7% as a driver, BUT his… pic.twitter.com/1Doug23p9G
Basically, this is not some scrappy European guy, but at 20, he’s a player who could develop into a serious shooting guard, at least, in the NBA. As Schmitz confirmed after the draft, the Mavs leadership has a strong focus on positional size, and here he also checks all boxes at 6’7.
The second player of this Mavs draft, who may have come even more out of nowhere to many, is Russian wing Vsevolod Ishchenko (Seva). The Mavericks traded cash considerations to the Los Angeles Lakers to acquire his draft rights. He was selected with the No. 56 pick.
Seva is considered more of a clear draft-and-stash, and the still raw 6’8 Russian wing, playing in the not very athletic Russian VTB United league, stands out as extremely athletic. He looks to have a huge potential, and can be an asset and development piece for the Mavs down the line.
He made his name early in Russia’s youth basketball system, earning two VTB Youth April MVP awards while dominating the junior ranks for Lokomotiv Kuban-2 at 18. This earned him a spot on Lokomotiv Kuban’s senior team in the professional Russian VTB United League. He was named a VTB United League All-Star and took home the league’s Young Player of the Year award this season.
Seva’s efficiency stands out, according to RotoWire. Shooting above 50 percent from the field and over 46 percent from three on respectable volume for a 20-year-old, he has a solid shooting touch. Along with his frame, it makes him dangerous on the perimeter. “He moves fluidly in transition, attacks downhill with body control and absorbs contact at the rim.”
The third player is English Tobi Lawal, selected at 48 by the Mavericks. The 23-year-old didn’t start playing basketball until 16, and attended City of London Academy basketball programme before he left for prep school in Lee, Maine. He stayed in the US and spent his college years at VCU and Virginia Tech. The last two years at Virginia, the 6’8 power forward averaged just above 12 points.
With these three players, three of four drafted by the Mavs, the return of an international outlook and a welcoming of fresh currents in Dallas means a certain level of excitement in the Mavs world and especially for the many international fans of the franchise.
Paradoxically, it feels like the Mavs are returning to the past. Back when they took a chance on Dirk, and put everything on Luka.
There’s a feeling among Mavs fans that the tide has turned and new, exciting prospects and ways of playing and rebuilding have emerged. And that is not a bad way to start a new season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they've re-signed forward Mikael Pyyhtia.
The deal is a two-year extension and will be a one-way NHL deal for the 2027-28 season. Getting a one-way deal in the final year is huge for the young Finn.
Per a CBJ PR release, "Mikael is a versatile, two-way forward who brings speed, energy and competitiveness to the lineup,” said Waddell. “He was very good in Cleveland last season, and we are excited about his future."
Pyyhtia has 5 goals and 11 points in 71 NHL games for the CBJ.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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BUFFALO, NY -- It was about a year ago when the New York Islanders traded pending restricted free agent defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Emil Heineman, and the No. 16 and No. 17 in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The trade occurred after Dobson and first-year general manager Mathieu Darche could not come to terms on a contract extension. Although Dobson didn't have any trade protection, he had all the leverage given that he would only move to a team that he was interested in signing with.
Dobson was believed to be asking for something in the $10 million range from the Islanders, but ended up signing an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million annually in Montreal.
Flash-forward a year later and the Dallas Stars find themselves in the same situation with pending RFA forward Jason Robertson.
The 26-year-old goal scorer, who just concluded the final season of a four-year deal worth $7.75 million, turned down an eight-year extension worth $12 million annually.
While Dallas is hoping they can still bring him back, time is ticking and other teams are lining up.
The St. Louis Blues, who own four first-round picks in this draft, were told no by Robertson's camp.
The Seattle Kraken, who have been trying to go big-game hunting for a few years now, were given permission to speak with Robertson, but he turned down $15 million annually on an eight-year deal.
I believe Dobson turned down extensions with the Boston Bruins and the Columbus Blue Jackets before the Islanders sent him to Canada.
While there's been some chatter that the asking price for Robertson is similar to the one that Dallas sent to the Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen -- Logan Stankoven, a conditiional 2026 first-round pick, a conditional 2028 first-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick -- I was told that isn't accurate.
The accurate ask is what the Colorado Avalanche got for Rantanen when they sent him to the Hurricanes -- Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
It doesn't sound like Dallas wants futures, but impact players given that they are a Stanley Cup contender and would like to stay that way, with or without Robertson.
One would expect that every team has called Stars general manager Jim Nill regarding Roberston, including the New York Islanders.
However, the Islanders are a team that doesn't have an impact winger to send back the other way -- not many teams do.
COVERS INTEL:Montero ranks in the the 13th percentile in K%, which should lead to a lot of balls put in play by an Astros attack sitting eighth in hard hit rate vs. righties the past two weeks.
