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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 19: Collin Murray-Boyles #12 of the Toronto Raptors battles for the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 19, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This year’s iteration of the Toronto Raptors Summer League team has high expectations. Last summer, the Raptors made it to the semi-finals before falling to the Sacramento Kings. The Raptors brought a defence-first roster headlined by Collin Murray-Boyles, Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, Ulrich Chomche, and Chucky Hepburn. The group was flanked by veterans like A.J. Lawson and Jamison Battle.
While Murray-Boyles is technically listed on the roster, he’ll likely be on a minutes restriction after proving his importance in the NBA playoffs. It’ll be up to a combination of young, scrappy guards like Hepburn and Martin, and the rookie Allen Graves to carry the mantle.
Below are the reported rosters that the Raptors will face during the annual summer tournament.
Boston Celtics
Chris Cenac Jr. (6’11, drafted 27th in 2026 by Celtics)
Tucker DeVries (6’7, undrafted in 2026)
Hugo Gonzalez (6’6, drafted 28th in 2025 by Celtics)
Kyle Mangas (6’4, undrafted in 2021, played for Austin Spurs)
Dilon Mitchell (6’8, drafted 40th in 2026 by Celtics)
Nick Pringle (6’10, undrafted in 2026)
Day Day Thomas (6’1, undrafted in 2026)
John Tonje (6’4, undrafted in 2025, played for Maine Celtics)
Milos Uzan (6’3, undrafted in 2026)
Jordan Walsh (6’6, drafted 38th in 2023 by Sacramento Kings, played for Celtics)
Chauncey Wiggins (6’10, undrafted in 2026)
Amari Williams (6’11, drafted 46th in 2025 by Orlando Magic)
Cenac: In an alternate timeline, Cenac’s free-fall in the 2026 NBA Draft stopped with the Raptors. The versatile and high-potential forward will be a fun matchup to watch, particularly for Graves fans.
Gonzalez: In a competitive NBA regular-season game, Gonzalez finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a block against the Raptors. His frenetic energy will be turned up to the max in a Summer League environment.
Houston Rockets
Davide Casarin (6’5, played in Lega Serie A)
Oscar Cluff (6’11, undrafted in 2026)
Quadir Copeland (6’6, undrafted in 2026)
Isaiah Crawford (6’6, undrafted in 2024, played for Rockets)
Michael Foster Jr. (6’8, undrafted in 2022, played in Israeli Basketball Premier League)
Miller Kopp (6’7, undrafted in 2023, played for Cleveland Charge)
Chris Ledlum (6’6, undrafted in 2024, played in the Bundesliga Basketball League)
Ben Middlebrooks (6’10, undrafted in 2205, played in the Swedish Basketligan)
Stevie Mitchell (6’3, undrafted in 2025, played for Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
Tristen Newton (6’5, drafted 49th in 2024 by Indiana Pacers, played for Valley Vipers)
Daishen Nix (6’5, undrafted in 2021, played for Valley Vipers)
Bruce Thornton (6’0, drafted 31st in 2026 by New York Knicks)
Casarin: He’s been playing professional ball overseas since he was 15 years-old. Now 23, the cerebral guard and Lega Serie A Most Improved Player is ready to leave his mark in the NBA.
Thornton: Both of the Rockets’ picks were traded. Thornton was originally selected by the Knicks at the top of the second round and moved to Houston.
Indiana Pacers
Keion Brooks Jr. (6’7, undrafted in 2024, played for the Noblesville Boom)
Cameron Hildreth (6’4, undrafted in 2025, played in the Liga ACB)
MJ Iraldi (6’6, undrafted in 2025, played for the Boom)
Yuki Kawamura (5’7, undrafted in 2023, played for Pacers)
Keba Keita (6’7, undrafted in 2026)
Taevion Kinsey (6’5, undrafted in 2023, played for Santa Cruz Warriors)
Tamin Lipsey (6’1, undrafted in 2026)
Rienk Mast (6’10, undrafted in 2026)
Gabe McGlothan (6’7, undrafted in 2024, played for the Boom)
Taelon Peter (6’3, drafted 54th by the Pacers, played for the Boom)
Alex Reese (6’9, undrafted in 2021, played for the Rip City Remix)
Kowacie Reeves Jr. (6’7, undrafted in 2026)
Jalen Slawson (6’7, drafted 54th in 2023 by Kings, played for the Boom)
Braden Smith (5’10, drafted 38th by Chicago Bulls)
Jalen Warley (6’6, undrafted in 2026)
Hildreth: Played for Basquet Girona in 2026, a club founded by former Raptor and champion Marc Gasol
Smith: As the NCAA’s All-Time leader in assists (1,103), Smith will be an intriguing watch, particularly as a floor general in a chaotic environment.
Miami Heat
Ezra Ausar (6’8, undrafted in 2026)
Kendall Brown (6’7, drafted 48th in 2022 by Minnesota Timberwolves, played for Maine Celtics)
Cam Carter (6’3, undrafted in 2025, played for Sioux Falls Skyforce)
Ryan Conwell (6’3, drafted 37th in 2026 by Oklahoma City Thunder)
Tre Donaldson (6’2, undrafted in 2026)
Myron Gardner (6’5, undrafted in 2023, played for the Skyforce)
Vladislav Goldin (7’0, undrafted in 2025, played for the Skyforce)
J’Vonne Hadley (6’5, undrafted in 2026)
Keyshawn Hall (6’6, undrafted in 2026)
Meechie Johnson (6’1, undrafted in 2026)
Trevor Keels (6’5, drafted 42nd in 2022 by the New York Knicks, played for the Skyforce)
Nate Kingz (6’3, undrafted in 2026)
Arnas Sakenis (6’11, undrafted in 2026)
Ian Schieffelin (6’8, undrafted in 2025)
Tre White (6’7, undrafted in 2026)
Jahmir Young (6’0, undrafted in 2024, played for the Skyforce)
Conwell: The second-rounder is a pure bucket-getter. Conwell is one of the best shooters in this year’s rookie class.
Young: Averaged 26.0 points and 8.9 assists in the G League last season
The Atlanta Braves will look to make it three in a row over their divisional rivals as they host the New York Mets this afternoon.
Atlanta is a -113 favorite heading into this game, and I’m backing the home team to continue New York’s misery in my Mets vs. Braves predictions. Read on for a complete analysis of this matchup and to get my free MLB picks for Sunday, July 5.
Who will win Mets vs Braves today: Braves moneyline (-116)
The already poor New York Mets offense has been floundering lately, averaging just 2.6 runs per game over their last five outings.
The Braves hit Nolan McLean well the first time they saw him this year. While Atlanta has an issue with chasing bad pitches, McLean only generates a 27.9% chase rate. I’m taking the Braves at -120 or better.
Meanwhile, the Mets only managed one run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings the last time they faced Perez. I’m backing the Under, and I’d be willing to do so at a flat 9-run total as well.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 13-22, -9.84 units
Over/Under bets: 13-20, -7.96 units
Mets vs Braves weather
Mets vs Braves odds
Moneyline: Mets -108 | Braves -116
Run line: Mets +1.5 (-200) | Braves -1.5 (+165)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+105) | Under 9.5 (-127)
Mets vs Braves trend
The Mets are just 2-12 over their last 14 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Braves.
How to watch Mets vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Date
Sunday, July 5, 2026
First pitch
12:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Mets starting pitcher
Nolan McLean (5-5, 3.78 ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
Martin Perez (6-5, 3.27 ERA)
Mets vs Braves 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.
Four-time NBA Champion and 21-time All-NBA selection LeBron James undoubtedly is the biggest name left on the market, and is taking his time to figure out where he might finish his career.
While James’ move surely will have major implications for the league in several ways, current Warriors free agent Draymond Green recently said on the “Draymond Green Show” that people don’t understand just how much things change with James moving around.
“People don’t understand the weight that LeBron James carries,” Green said. “Still, after 24 years, I still think people don’t understand the force, the weight that this guy carries. From an overall standpoint, the economics that he brings to a team, the economic impact that he may have on a city.
“Also, the basketball, any time LeBron James is on the floor, A your team has a chance to win. But B, you have to account for him in a major way.”
There is no timeline on when James will make his decision on his future, but Golden State was among the 10 teams that his agent, Rich Paul, mentioned as contenders for his services.
If the Warriors were able to land James, they would be able to pair him with Steph Curry and form a duo of two of the best players in NBA history. The acquisition might also give Golden State one final chance at pushing for a title.
UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 24: Dink Pate #1 of the Westchester Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Long Island Nets on March 24, 2026 at The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Evan Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2024-25 season was one of the most successful in franchise history for the Westchester Knicks. They won a franchise-record 22 regular-season games, captured a second straight NBA G League Winter Showcase title (the first team ever to repeat), and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals. The season reinforced Westchester’s reputation as one of the league’s best developmental programs . . . before a step back in 2025-26.
This past season, Westchester stumbled out of the gate, going a painful 1-13 in the G League Tip-Off Tournament. The slow start kept the Knicks out of the Winter Showcase championship bracket, but the early portion of the schedule still gave young players and two-way prospects valuable game reps.
The club finished 14-22 and 13th in the Eastern Conference, ranking near the bottom of the G League in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Westchester averaged 112.9 points per game but allowed 119, resulting in the league’s worst defensive rating and underscoring the organization’s biggest area for improvement heading into 2026-27. The defensive slip was a surprise, considering who their coach is.
Head coach DeSagana Diop has helmed the team since 2022. A former defensive-minded center drafted eighth overall in 2001, he spent 12 seasons in the NBA before beginning his coaching career with the Texas Legends, then serving as an assistant with the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets. He also coaches the Senegal national team.
During his time in White Plains, Diop has emphasized defense, player development, and a strong organizational culture, helping prepare prospects for opportunities with the Knicks. Widely regarded as one of the organization’s rising coaching talents, the big fella has earned recognition for his developmental work and his player-first approach. Given the success he’s had with the club so far, we’re guessing that the stinker last season was just a blip. The W-Knicks will rise again!
Dink Pate, a 20-year-old guard who stands 6’8”, emerged as one of Westchester’s biggest developmental success stories. The young Texan averaged 16 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while making significant strides as a shooter. After entering the season with questions about his perimeter game, Pate knocked down 37% of his three-pointers, earned a spot in the NBA G League Next Up Game, and flashed the versatile two-way potential that once made him one of the nation’s top recruits.
He’s also a front-runner for the best name in the G League. Sometimes I’ll be walking around the house and it just pops into my head: Dink Pate. It sounds like a tiny serving of ground liver. But, I digress. Barring injury, the MSG Knicks are too deep at guard for Pate to get any room, so try to catch this kid in White Plains as often as you can.
Linebacker-sized Trey Jemison III gave Westchester a steady interior presence, averaging eight points, eight rebounds, three assists, and 1.4 blocks across 21 games. The two-way center anchored the paint with his rebounding and rim protection when not waiting in the wings as a break-in-case-of-emergency center for the big league club.
Given that the MSG Knicks are short-handed after losing Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, Jemison has the opportunity to prove he is ready for a bigger role on Mike Brown’s team. If so, that doesn’t mean that you won’t see him in Westchester—Huk played seven games there last season, diving his time between White Plains and Manhattan. Also, TJ3 has a reputation for being a gentle giant, so don’t be shy about asking for his autograph.
Forward Nick Jourdain (6’9”, 220 lbs) quietly emerged as a dependable rotation forward, averaging 7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds while appearing in 32 games. The 25-year-old undrafted rookie brought energy, rebounding, and defensive versatility, giving Westchester another intriguing developmental prospect to monitor.
Check out this half hour long documentary on him, produced by the G League. This is so good, it deserves a second post sometime.
If his age surprises you, note that Jourdain played five years of college ball, with three at Temple and two at Memphis. If his offensive skills (which are not great) catches up with his defense (which is), Jourdain could generate more interest from NBA clubs.
Bryson Warren (G, 6’3”, 175 lbs) emerged as one of Westchester’s breakout performers, averaging 19.8 points and five assists while displaying the shot-making and playmaking. He’s an intriguing prospect who made the most of his G League opportunities and positioned himself as a player worth watching.
Familiar face Pacome Dadiet (15 GMS, 23 PPG) flashed the offensive upside that made him a draft target, Dillon Jones (18 GMS, 15 PPG) showcased his all-around game as a playmaking forward on a two-way contract, and veteran Isaiah Roby (32 GMS, 12.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG) provided steady frontcourt production while earning the NBA G League Community Assist Award for his leadership on and off the court.
Tyler Kolek played just four games with the team, but left a mark. He delivered probably the best performances in franchise history, erupting for a career-high 42 points and 11 assists while knocking down nine three-pointers in a 141-131 win over the Greensboro Swarm. He capped the remarkable day by joining the Knicks that evening and scoring 11 points off the bench, giving him 53 points across two games in a single day.
This should be an important step-forward year for Kolek at MSG, but even so, expect him to get a few reps at White Plains to stay sharp. Whenever you hear that Kolek has been assigned to the Westchester Knicks, buy a ticket.
Stay tuned for a 2026-27 season preview.
Go W-Knicks!
P.S. I wasn’t going to include this because it might stir some feelings for you, but here’s Huk balling out with the Dubs last season:
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 29: Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday, June 29, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Natalie Reid/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Last place teams don’t really have the right to complain about All-Star snubs. Nevertheless, Willson Contreras, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Sonny Gray are free to feel at least a little aggrieved in being left off the American League All-Star team, the roster of which was revealed last night. Ranger Suárez and Aroldis Chapman — both worthy enough selections — will represent the Sox. Rafaela, though, is second in the American League in fWAR amongst all centerfielders, just a shade behind Byron Buxton, who was elected as a starter. Contreras leads American League first basemen in that category. Sonny Gray is just 20th in fWAR among AL starters, but is second in ERA. Here are the full rosters. (MLB.com)
And given that he’s a veteran who has seen it all at this point, you might be wondering whether Sonny Gray even cares about going to the ASG. But he absolutely does. “I was disappointed for sure,” he said. (Sean McAdam, MassLive)
Contreras may or may not be disappointed about the All-Star snub, but he’s got other things on his mind: mainly, the seven-game suspension he’s facing. And, yesterday, he spoke through tears in offering an apology. “Those situations could have been avoided and controlled and handled better,” he said. “It’s been a really tough week, emotional week for me. I hope that they understand how emotional it has been, and I’ll prove myself with my actions on the field from here moving forward and show the kind of person that I truly am.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
No one can complain about Aroldis Chapman’s selection, particularly in light of the fact that he just set the all-time strikeout record for relievers. “That’s great, that reflects on what I’ve done throughout my career,” Chapman said through an interpreter. “On the other side, just want to be out there every time I can to help the team win and to save games.” (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
In light of the record — but acknowledging the very short tenure — the question must be asked: where does Chapman rank on the list of all-time Red Sox relievers? (Daniel Yanofsky, NESN)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Larry the cat at Number 10 Downing Street on June 21, 2026 in London, England. The prime minister is facing calls to announce a timeline for his departure from office ahead of an expected leadership challenge by Andy Burnham, who is re-entering parliament after his victory in the Makerfield by-election. (Photo by Ben Montgomery/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I’m late to yesterday, so happy 5th of July to those reading me from the United States. Better late than never, ask the Knicks fanbase. On to some links and notes.
Andre Drummond gave his first public comments since joining the Knicks, and he seems to understand he’s joining “something bigger than me.” Speaking with Mika Ortiz, the Big Penguin said he brings “a similar talent, similar energy,” to New York as Mitch did.
The Knicks had an early interest in three-time champ Kevon Looney before landing on Drummond. That’s ancient news, as now we are dealing with reports pointing toward a possible trade for Hornets 24-year-old Moussa Diabate and his $2.5 million expiring deal, per Jake Fischer and Marc Stein.
On the veteran front, Jonas Valanciunas is another name that still won’t fully go away and keeps gaining traction. I have a full post on it coming out later today, but for now, I can tell you that Denver has made him available in trade discussions, with a deadline for waiving him scheduled for Wednesday.
The New York Post’s Zach Braziller discussed three potential Summer League storylines, including a potential trade involving Pacome Dadiet, who seems to have lost his place on this team. If you’ve read me here or the comments section, you already know I’m all in for freeing that cap space by dumping him somewhere, even if it takes a bunch of picks to sweeten the deal. A tease:
“The clock could be ticking on the 6-foot-9 Dadiet. Diawara appears to have passed him. In two years, Dadiet has played in only 47 games as a Knick. Over the next few weeks he has a chance to impress. The better he performs, the better for the Knicks. Dadiet could be a trade chip, with the team looking to avoid the second apron, and with roughly $6.5 million to spare.”
Staying SL, there is some conflicting stuff going on involving rookie Jack Kayil. The German was left off the Knicks roster, but now it looks like his agent is saying he’ll be there in Las Vegas.
Patrick Ewing is leaving his Knicks ambassador role and returning to coaching with the Wizards. More from us on it here. Big Pat coached MJ back in his first stint there, and who knows if he will have the chance to load-manage LBJ there next!
Rich Paul told Forbes that James is not expected to make his free agency decision “anytime soon,” which still means it could happen any day.
It took them a few days, but plugged-in folks out there finally realized they had to include Bronny in the LBJ sweepstakes, somehow, some way. And now, here we are with Cleveland supposedly leaving roster spots open not for James, not even for James Harden, but for Bronny. Savannah must be pissed.
For some reason, I don’t remember including this James Dolan interview with Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post in any of my post-championship Bulletin posts. I found chunks elsewhere, I think, but not the full feature back then. Weird. Still worth the read, even if the subject isn’t the most appreciated people around these places. Dolan discussed the Thibs firing, son Quentin’s magic hands, and a bunch of other stuff. Quote sample:
“The thing is, is to learn. Right? That might be the thing I feel best about is, I felt, I feel, that now after 25 freaking years of doing this, I might actually have learned something.”
Braden Smith shouted out Brunson when discussing undersized guards succeeding in the NBA in a Q&A with Hoopshype. He believes a little dude renaissance is slowly but surely coming to the league, even though the free-agent market has gone wild the other way, with one particular team doing stupid things to land one.
Our friends from MeridianSports reported on Saturday that UCLA has offered Serbian prospect Nikola Kusturica (currently at FC Barcelona) a $12 million NIL deal for two seasons. He’s 17 years old. AJ Dybantsa is 19 and will earn around $15 per year the next two seasons in the NBA. Sheesh…
Jun 21, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Former Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley waves to the crowd after his retirement ceremony before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-Imagn Images
This is a simple question of the day: who is your favorite all time Phillies player and why?
I’m interested in the mix that we get with current and former players.
JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Quinn Mathews #60 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch during a spring training game against the New York Mets at Roger Dean Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite another season where the St. Louis Cardinals struggled in June, the team still sits in postseason contention as the second half begins. The past two weeks of the month made things feel worse than they actually are, but being five games above .500 in a rebuild season, things are not too bad in St. Louis.
*Disclaimer: I am writing this on Thursday afternoon due to the holiday so some stats/thoughts may be outdated by Sunday’s post*
The entire offense struggled at the same time which was unfortunate as the starting pitching started to right the ship at times. Series losses to the Marlins and Diamondbacks made the vibes a little worse for the Cardinals. As we continue to discuss buy vs. sell at this year’s deadline, the end of June made it clear that the best course of action is likely subtraction from the 26-man roster. While disappointing, Chaim Bloom committing to the plan he set out since being named POBO will still create plenty of exciting storylines for the rest of the season, even if the postseason slips out of grasp.
A sell off will create opportunity for Cardinals prospects to flourish
To avoid going too far into the “buy or sell” conversation that we continue to beat into the ground, I am going to guess that at least three spots on the major league roster will be opened up via trade. While a rebuild usually entails Johnny No-Name getting playing time after the deadline, the Cardinals’ farm system has talent that is close enough to the major leagues to warrant a look. With Chaim Bloom creating excitement and optimism among fans with his work in the front office, even a losing second half could be fun to watch, for lack of a better word.
According to FanGraphs, the Cardinals have the 10th-best farm system and a lot of that talent is at Double-A or better already. If and when Bloom makes deals from the major league roster, the returns will hopefully continue to push that ranking into the single digits. Assuming the players coming to St. Louis are not established big leaguers, Bloom is more likely to give the big league promotions to the minor leaguers with a track record in the organization. The first of these would likely be one of Bloom’s offseason acquisitions in Hunter Dobbins.
Dobbins has been solid overall this season, notching a 6-1 record and an ERA under 4.00 in 16 games between Memphis and St. Louis. The righty profiles as a mid-rotation arm who can have some spectacular outings mixed in with a consistent run of quality starts. There will be plenty of innings available next season and Dobbins will have one of the lengthier auditions for a role heading into the 2027 season.
If the injury luck continues for the Cardinals’ rotation, then seeing prospects like Brycen Mautz and Quinn Mathews make a prolonged major league stay may only happen in a relief or swingman role. JoJo Romero is my pick for most likely to be dealt, creating an instant need for a lefty option alongside Justin Bruihl. Mautz is on the 40-man already and has one game under his belt while Mathews would need to be added to the roster count. Mathews must be added to the 40-man this offseason to be protected in the Rule 5 draft. Trades for minor leaguers will keep those roster spots open, so there would be no issue with activating the lefty to the roster.
Before moving to the position player side, it would be plausible to see Cooper Hjerpe get a late season opportunity. The lefty was just activated from the 60-day IL and will be pitching in Double-A as he works his way back to full strength. Along with Hjerpe, I would like to see Tink Hence get a shot, but that could be wishing against hope. When we asked Chaim Bloom about Tink, it was not very encouraging to hear his uncertainty with what the former top prospect needs to fix. The clock is ticking on his time with the organization and a relief role is the only way he is going to get a call.
To the hitters, we all know about Joshua Baez and what he has done to minor league pitching this year. The outfielder slugged his 28th homer of the year but has yet to move past the chase rate concerns that are constantly brought up. Focusing on what he can do, Baez provides pop the lineup is missing, the speed to cause chaos on the bases, and a decent enough fielding tool to play all three outfield spots. I do not personally know if he is “ready” for the bigs, but it makes sense to see what the guy can do against major league pitching, even if it is just to give him exposure like the organization did with Masyn Winn and Jimmy Crooks.
In my less exciting but still fun category, I expect to see Luis Gastelum in this disaster of a bullpen at some point before the end of the season. His strong season has continued in Memphis as his season ERA sits at 2.38 while striking out more than a batter per inning. Mason Molina was just bumped up to Triple-A and he could earn consideration for a promotion, but he is further down the pecking order than the other arms.
And finally, how the demoted Cardinals handle the last half of the season will be another note I will be keeping an eye on through September. Victor Scott II, Nolan Gorman, and Thomas Saggese were all demoted to provide new opportunity for others on the roster and their path to returning to St. Louis is cloudy at best. Of the trio, unfortunately Saggese has been the best thus far in Memphis, but that is nothing to brag about at this point. I want all three of them to become regular contributors on the Cardinals’ major league roster, but they need to make something happen in Triple-A first.
While there are times where the team has been frustratingly flat, I am really most excited about watching a Cardinals team that seems to care on a nightly basis. That is an immeasurable observation and surely every player on every team wants to win every night, but with a roster of young guys who still need to prove their worth, we are more likely than not to see a hard nine innings of baseball.
Let me know what you’re most excited about for the second half. If you think its a deep playoff run, great! If you want to see an endless cycle of prospects getting a cup of coffee in the majors, also cool! I’ll be seeing the Cardinals up close these next two weekends. Sunday, I will unfortunately head to Wrigley to take advantage of a friend’s company tickets behind home plate. Then I will be heading to St. Louis next weekend for our annual family trip and hope to see some good baseball from the stands. I will likely go Tarps Off.
Any time it would like to stop raining in the Chicago area would be fine with me.
Saturday’s 3-0 Cubs loss to the Cardinals was delayed 59 minutes before it began by yet another heavy rainfall that drenched the north side of Chicago, then delayed another 15 minutes after the end of the sixth inning when it became impossible for players to see the ball due to heavy fog that blew in off Lake Michigan after the rain ended.
What month is this, anyway? April? November?
This is what it looked like from my perch in the left field bleachers (Bluesky link):
But they couldn’t see much from the press box, either:
You can no longer see the centerfield scoreboard from the broadcast booth at Wrigley Field because of the fog during this Cubs and Cardinals game pic.twitter.com/9AjjcXAEHI
The fog finally lifted about 10:20 p.m. and the teams finished the game. There’s not much to talk about here from a Cubs point of view, though.
Shōta Imanaga’s first pitch of the game was sent into the left-field bleachers by JJ Wetherholt. After that Imanaga settled down and threw fairly well, though he walked three, and one of those walks led to the Cardinals’ second run in the third inning. Imanaga did strike out eight [VIDEO].
Tyler Ferguson, Ryan Rolison, Trent Thornton and Caleb Thielbar attempted to keep things close. The four relievers combined for 4.1 innings in which they allowed four hits and one run, with five strikeouts.
It didn’t matter because the Cubs offense was moribund. They had five hits and four walks off five Cardinals pitchers, but got just three runners past first base. The tone seemed to be set when Pete Crow-Armstrong, who walked to lead off the first for the Cubs, was thrown out trying to steal. In the third, Michael Conforto led off with a single and two outs later advanced to second when PCA walked again. A force out ended that inning. Conforto singled again in the fifth and two outs later went to second when PCA was hit by a pitch. That inning ended on a foul popup.
In the eighth, PCA led off with a single. That’s one good thing — PCA reached base in all four of his plate appearances. Alex Bregman followed with a walk. Two on, nobody out! All that did was result in an 0-for-3 with RISP, because the inning ended on a ground out and two strikeouts.
PCA’s season OBP has reached .380, nearly 100 points higher than the .287 he posted last year. The .380 figure ranks 10th in the National League (and is only .007 behind Freddie Freeman, who is sixth).
Any time the Cubs offense would like to wake up again would be okay by me. After the 23-run outburst Wednesday, the Cubs have scored one run total in their last 18 innings.
Fifteen minutes later play resumed, but it wasn’t any different for the Cubs, who stranded eight runners.
Fog fact from BCB’s JohnW53:
On May 20, 1960, at Milwaukee, the Cubs played their first abandoned game that was scoreless after more than 2 innings. It remains their only 0-0 unofficial game halted in the fifth inning — and their only abandoned game of any length that was stopped because of fog.
“The Cubs and Braves tried valiantly Friday night to win a running battle with the elements,” said the Tribune. “Maybe they are gaining on the fickle weather man, for they did play four and a half scoreless innings during a weird three and one-half hour program.
“After a light rain caused a 1 hour, 28 minute delay in the first inning, a fog blew in from Lake Michigan, and the athletes sparred their way into the fifth inning with two slick pitchers, Warren Spahn and Don Cardwell, refusing to yield a run.
“But Plate Umpire Frank Dascoli, finally convinced when he could barely make out the outfielders and Shag Crawford, umpiring at second base, that baseballs no longer could be detected in flight, called another halt.
“After a half hour wait, the game was proclaimed no contest.”
And facts about this game from John:
This was the 181st game since 1901 in which the Cubs were shut out by the Cardinals. It was the 2,409th between the teams.
Only 75 of the shutouts have been at Wrigley Field, including just three of the last 13. The previous two were by 3-0 on June 14, 2024, and by 1-0 on Aug. 22, 2022. ….. The Cubs had failed to score in only 12 of 226 previous games on the Fourth of July, three of them vs. the Cardinals. They had been blanked in seven of 136 games at home, twice by the Cards.
The reason for the large number of games on July 4 is, of course, that for many decades holiday doubleheaders were common.
Also, yes of course I know it doesn’t matter what TV channel the game is on, but the Cubs have not done well in games carried on various national channels this year:
The Cubs lost no ground to the Brewers in the NL Central race, as Milwaukee lost at Arizona. The Cubs still trail the Brewers by six games, but are now just half a game ahead of the Cardinals.
The Cubs will attempt to salvage the final game of this series Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Javier Assad will start for the Cubs and Matthew Liberatore goes for St. Louis. Game time is 1:30 p.m. CT (yes, 1:30, not 1:20) and TV coverage will be streaming on Peacock (full national broadcast, no blackouts). Today’s game preview will post at 12 noon CT.
NHL free agency may have slowed down now that July 1 has passed, but there are still a good number of unrestricted free agents (UFAs) who have not signed with teams. A decent number of them are former Columbus Blue Jackets players, as Patrik Laine, Nick Blankenburg, James van Riemsdyk, and Danton Heinen have all not landed new deals yet.
Laine spent four seasons with the Blue Jackets from 2020-21 to 2023-24 before being dealt to the Montreal Canadiens following his trade request. The skilled winger spent most of his time with the Canadiens injured and played in just five games last season for Montreal.
Blankenburg spent his first three NHL seasons with the Blue Jackets from 2021-22 to 2023-24. He recorded new career highs with eight goals, 16 assists, and 24 points in 61 games last season split between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche. With this, the former Blue Jackets blueliner should eventually find a new home.
van Riemsdyk spent the 2024-25 season with the Blue Jackets, where he recorded 16 goals and 36 points in 71 games. He followed that up this past season by posting 15 goals and 31 points in 72 games with the Detroit Red Wings. The potential for him to land a one-year deal or PTO with another NHL team is there. That is assuming that the 37-year-old does not retire.
As for Heinen, he finished this past season with the Blue Jackets after they acquired him from the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the Egor Chinakhov trade. In 33 games with Columbus following the move, the 10-year veteran posted five goals and five assists.
The NHL has seen most of this year's top unrestricted free agents (UFAs) sign their new contracts. While this is the case, there are still some decent players who have yet to be signed.
Interestingly, a former Buffalo Sabres blueliner is the best UFA defenseman still available for the taking: Logan Stanley.
It is a bit surprising to see that Stanley has not found a new home at this point in the off-season. The 6-foot-7 defenseman just had the best season of his NHL career so far in 2025-26 and is right in his prime at 28 years old. Yet, at the time of this writing, he is still looking for his next contract.
With Stanley now being the top UFA defenseman still on the market, it feels inevitable that he will find his new home soon. Teams will always value big defensemen who play an edge, and Stanley fits that description.
Stanley showed last season that he can also produce some offense from the point, as he set new career highs with nine goals, 17 assists, and 26 points in 76 games split between the Winnipeg Jets and Sabres. He also recorded 110 hits and 128 penalty minutes.
It will be interesting to see where Stanley ends up, but he could be a good fit on multiple teams.
Free agency in the NHL is off to a flying start. After the first four days, teams around the league have over 200 contracts and committed over one billion dollars. With this in mind, here is a look at where players who were part of the Vancouver Canucks organization in 2025-26 have signed during Free Agency 2026.
Mar 24, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Curtis Douglas (42) shoots against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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The St. Louis Blues are looking to add young but established players this off-season, highlighted by the additions of Connor McMichael and Mason MacTavish.
Nikishin is a 24-year-old left-handed defenseman who just completed his rookie season with the Hurricanes, winning the Stanley Cup. In the regular season, Nikishin posted 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games while averaging 18:11 of ice time.
In the playoffs, Nikishin’s role diminished, and he played in 17 of 19 games. However, he was on the receiving end of a heavy hit in the first round against the Ottawa Senators, recording just one assist and averaging just 14:50.
Despite his role diminishing, Nikishin remains a very solid two-way defenseman who can play in any situation. In his time in the KHL and briefly on the Hurricanes’ second power play unit, Nikishin demonstrated the ability to quarterback a power play. He has a heavy shot, but also possesses the vision to distribute the puck from the blueline.
On the defensive side, Nikishin boasts a 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame and uses his long reach to knock pucks off his opponents’ sticks. Physically, Nikishin doesn’t fear getting involved, as he threw 132 hits and blocked 94 shots.
In the regular season, Nikishin posted a Corsi For percentage of 58.39 percent, an expected goals percentage of 55.56 percent, and a high-danger for percentage of 53.8 percent at 5-on-5 according to naturalstattrick.com.
Adding Nikishin to the lineup would give the Blues four left-handed defensemen, as he would join Philip Broberg, Cam Fowler, and Theo Lindstein.
The Hurricanes have placed a high price tag on Nikishin, and recently, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that teams interested in Nikishin will have to take Jesperi Kotkaniemi as well.
Nikishin is currently a restricted free agent but is ineligible to receive an offer sheet. If the Blues are serious about a trade, the only path is through a trade.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 27: New Orleans assistant coach Joe Boylan before the New Orleans Pelicans versus Los Angeles Lakers game on February 27, 2019, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Icon Sportswire) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Another hire for Dusty May's first NBA coaching staff: Joe Boylan.
After stints with five other NBA teams, including Memphis, Boylan was initially expected to reunite with Taylor Jenkins on his new Milwaukee staff. But l’m told Boylan is now Dallas-bound along with Willie Green. https://t.co/KPdMGnEddB
Boylan’s resume is somewhat sparse compared to someone like Green, with a start in 2013-2014 as an assistant coach involved in player development with the Golden State Warriors. His next coaching stint came in the same role for the New Orleans Pelicans beginning in 2018 and lasting two seasons before another brief hiatus. He joined the Minnesota Timberwolves staff as an assistant from 2022-2024 and then landed with the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2024-2025 season, also as an assistant.
The slightly spotty coaching history lends an air of mystery to Boylan and what he brings to the staff, but a deeper look shows those gaps were filled with roles in the G League. It should also be noted that his various stints have paired him with generally accomplished coaches Mark Jackson, Alvin Gentry, Chris Finch and Taylor Jenkins, the latter of whom is at the helm in Milwaukee. Despite familiarity with Jenkins, it seems Boylan is choosing Dallas, despite reports to the contrary. Multiple sites, including our friends at Brew Hoops previously reported that Boylan was reuniting with Jenkins, but that no longer appears to be the case.
Getting back to what he brings to the staff, Boylan is known as a player development guru and founder of Cognition Coach. This is a cerebral person that is skilled at getting the best out of players by way of teaching player how to self-organize and pivot around game situations to problem-solve their way through a variety of scenarios. In short, it simulates game like scenarios and is more spontaneous and chaotic than rote drills that typically take place in a vacuum against token (or outright absent) defenses. Boylan has been quoted as saying:
“I became known as the ‘games coach.’ I was the guy you went to when you wanted a situation with defense and decisions. By that time in my career, I had adopted the CLA [constraints-led approach] as the underpinning of all of my practice design. Jaden McDaniels went from shooting 66 percent at the rim in his rookie year, doing the Mikan Drill, to 68 percent in Year 2, to 72 percent in his third season, to an elite 74 percent by Year 4. We exposed him to situations similar to the game, over and over again. No matter what situation arises, the player knows how to solve it. Maybe it’s a spin move in one scenario but a scoop in another. Maybe changing speed or direction works one time, maybe changing hands the next.”
Assistant coaching hires are rarely the exciting news of the offseason, but Boylan and his particular style are certainly intriguing. With a two core rookies in Cooper Flagg and Morez Johnson, Jr., along with newcomers Sergio de Larrea, Tobi Lawal and others, Boylan could prove to be a major boon to a young developing team.
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COVERS INTEL: The Mets 
