The Atlanta Braves are -130 favorites to snap their three-game losing streak on Wednesday, June 24.
My Braves vs. Padres predictions and MLB picks see plenty of value in backing Atlanta in a low-scoring affair against one of the league's worst offenses.
Who will win Braves vs Padres today: Braves moneyline (-135)
The Padres own a league-worst .285 OBP against left-handed pitching. They don’t hit for average, they don’t draw walks, and they lack power to cash in even when able to generate traffic.
Martin Perez has conceded two runs or fewer in 11 of 14 starts, and this is a great spot for him to do so again.
While the Braves possess a lot of power vs. lefties, they sit 19th in OBP. They are also playing in one of the more pitcher-friendly ballparks in baseball, which could take away from some of their home run potential.
Play the Under to -120.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 40-29, +3.0 units
Over/Under bets: 36-29-4, +3.59 units
Braves vs Padres weather
Temperatures are expected to hover in the low 70s with wind blowing side-to-side. No real boost for hitters or pitchers.
Braves vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Braves -130 | Padres +110
Run line: Braves -1.5 (+130) | Padres +1.5 (-150)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)
Braves vs Padres trend
San Diego has hit the Under in 16 of its last 23 home games (+8.35 units, 33% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Padres.
How to watch Braves vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
First pitch
8:40 p.m. ET
TV
BravesVision, Padres.TV
Braves starting pitcher
Martin Perez (6-3, 2.78 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
JP Sears (2025: 2-2, 5.47 ERA)
Braves vs Padres 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.
BRONX, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 9: The Bronx Zoo transforms into a vibrant display of autumn colors as fall foliage surrounds its animal habitats in New York, United States on November 9, 2025. Visitors enjoy the mix of wildlife and seasonal scenery, with golden leaves creating picturesque views across one of New York City's most famous attractions. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
The Knicks entered Tuesday night with the No. 24 pick. They left with no first-round picks… but five additional second-rounders, a bag full of cash, and what feels like another Leon Rose-Brock Aller masterclass.
A few notes and links…
Let’s start with the obvious: the Knicks did not trade out of the first round because they hated Sergio de Larrea as I did, or even Koa Peat, Cameron Carr, or any other prospect at reach. Every report coming out before and afterward pointed in the same direction, which is none other than avoiding the second-apron and keeping the title-winning core together. It isn’t simple, but New York is simply operating like the savviest franchise.
As SNY’s Ian Begley pointed out, New York saved itself roughly $3.4 million in first-round salary obligations by moving out of Round 1 and letting others pay for the 24th-best prospect. Can’t complain, let alone if Sergio was the bet.
Even with all the maneuvering from Tuesday and all the surprises yet to come, the Knicks currently have roughly $211 million committed to 11 players, leaving about $10.8 million before reaching the second apron. Not exactly the type of cushion that lets you sleep comfortably, considering all of Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, Ariel Hukporti, Jeremy Sochan, Kevin McCullar Jr., Trey Jemison, and Jose Alvarado don’t have a contract in place right now.
Speaking of Alvarado, Sean Deveney spoke to an Eastern Conference executive who described his upcoming market in the most terrifying way possible.
“Oh, it would be a cluster. He’s the kind of guy you want on the bottom half of the roster if you’re a contender. So all the teams that were after him before will be after him again, and they can all bump him to $6 million with an (cap) exception or go higher, go into the midlevel for him. And you’d have to add some teams to that mix, too.”
Linked to both Alvarado and Tuesday’s dealing and wheeling: remember that New York originally acquired Alvarado by sending two second-round picks and a Frankensteinian Dalen Terry-Guerschon Yabusele body to New Orleans. Suddenly, those freshly-acquired five second-rounders Rose grabbed don’t look quite as random, do they? Keep ’em coming!
If you are still lost amid all the draft sennanigans and deals and cap issues and stuff like that (which I have publicly admitted to being) and you haven’t read Michael Zeno’s breakdown of the cap implications and Knicks situation, do it right now. The entire piece is basically a love letter to Brock Aller, and the argument is simple: second-round contracts are cheaper, they create more flexibility, and could massively help New York retain all/most veterans while staying under the apron.
If you don’t love Nate, fear nothing. I’d keep loving him for you.
Pour one out for the St. John’s crowd, even if it hurts not to have Zuby Ejiofor around. The Red Storm standout ended up going No. 23 to Atlanta, one pick before New York’s original No. 24 selection. Fun what-if: had Zuby been available for the Knicks, would we be talking about trading out of the first round? Worth Weisioning.
Jalen Brunson announced his first children’s book, Jalen Plays It All, and I don’t know why you haven’t preordered it yet.
Speaking of Brunson! Becky Hammon refused to apologize for her take that she couldn’t be the No. 1 option on a title team. “All he did was prove history wrong,” she said, adding that ESPN doesn’t pay her to cancel her own opinions. Stay strong, Becky!
Only wow, she actually admitted being wrong a few hours later, in what sounded like a simple “Here you have it, leave me alone” type of statement. See, Becky’s initial comments sucked, and she knows it. She knows it so much, and it became so clear that she was wrong, that now she’s just trying to escape the spotlight, one she couldn’t bear, in the only possible way. Throwing the rock and hiding her hand as quickly as possible, at the start of a Las Vegas Aces press conference, trying to evade endless loops in X as if this wasn’t the year 2026 of our Lord. Good luck escaping history, Becky.
Not happy with her comments, she went on to say the following thing about Jalen Brunson, probably, perhaps, one has to imagine, thinking that she was being so clever as to make me mad once again, in a plot twist only meant to deflect attention from his initial and unmistakable remark. And in doing so, she inevitably fell for the trap a second time, now finding herself waiting for another eventual round of backlash. Some people never learn, I guess.
“Let me just piss off Knicks fans again and say, I think he’s the greatest Knick ever. Give them something else to talk about… I’ve always been a Jalen Brunson fan. I was a fan of his at Villanova, in Dallas and why this comment went off the rails, I have no idea because it was clearly a historical and analytical take.”
Adam Silver keeps trying to avoid saying the League is going 32 while sounding increasingly locked into the upcoming expansion. The commish said Seattle and Las Vegas remain the focus and, in a new/confirmed development, he floated the 2028-29 season as the first one featuring the Sonics and the Gamblers.
Celtics Corner I: Shams Charania reported before the draft and post Giannis-to-Miami that Boston is “listening, engaging, and discussing” trade offers for Jaylen Brown.
Celtics Corner II: Brad Stevens then said Brown is “a big part of us,” but the funniest thing is that literally five seconds later, he added, “you never know… I don’t want to predict the future.”
Celtics Corner III: These two statements seem somewhat contradictory.
Celtics Corner IV: I support whatever creates the most chaos, and it doesn’t look like the C’s are escaping this messy situation with their duo intact. If it doesn’t break by July, it will by September. And if it stays together all the way up to next season’s tip-off, I would be watching and waiting for the Brown Stream That Bombs It All. Here’s the link, click the notifications button!
Old “report” brought back to life a couple days ago: the Knicks “could pursue” OAKAAK Tim Hardaway Jr. for his third stint in Manhattan. The internet remains undefeated.
Enjoy Round 2.
In honor of him getting his jersey retired, he’s the great Pau Gasol singing “How to Save a Life” pic.twitter.com/SWfuORZPu5
Indiana Fever center-forward Aliyah Boston (7) is introduced Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the first half of the Fever’s season opener game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. | Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s the third quarter of a late May game against the Valkyries and the Fever are looking to cap off a third-quarter rally that saw them overturn a seven-point deficit to take the lead.
With 20 seconds remaining, a miscommunication by the Golden State defense allows Kelsey Mitchell to find Raven Johnson in the corner for a three that ignites the home crowd.
In a moment that could hardly better define the highs and lows associated with playing rookies, Johnson’s excitement after the shot quickly transforms into overzealousness. Without a single player on either team having yet crossed half court, she fouls Veronica Burton 94 feet from the basket to send her to the free throw line.
As cliché of a rookie mistake as it was, it was also a perfect teaching moment, and Aliyah Boston took advantage.
Standing at half court, she waits for Johnson, puts her arms on her shoulders and offers advice. Despite being just 24 years old and in her fourth year in the league, Boston has become one of the team’s leaders.
Boston isn’t new to the role. By her own admission, she’s a natural talker. But talking is not leading, nor is it necessarily communicating, either. Those are skills she’s had to develop over the years, something she credits her college coach, Dawn Staley, for helping kickstart.
It’s also something that came along by necessity. When injuries ravaged the Fever last season, Boston became the point guard of sorts at times. Point guards are vocal leaders, so Boston had to assume that role as well.
All those experiences and circumstances have led to this season, where Boston has blossomed into a leader and a constant voice for the Fever, whether in practice, the locker room, a huddle or during the game.
In this moment against the Valkyries, it’s allowed her to help refocus Johnson in a tight game. The results are immediate as Johnson opens the fourth quarter with a flurry of activity, scoring or assisting on the first seven points of the period for Indiana — including setting up Boston for a layup — as the lead extended to double digits en route to a victory.
Leadership is often demonstrated in the moments behind the scenes and away from the cameras, but that game and that moment offered a rare chance for fans to see how impactful it can be.
It’s been clear for multiple years that the Fever have three stars in Caitlin Clark, Boston and Mitchell.
But sometimes even if something is implied, it’s still best to make it known. So, this preseason, head coach Stephanie White took aside the trio and told them the obvious.
This is your team.
“I think we’ve kind of known that from the jump that it’s really just like, we got to — the three of us like as a unit — we have to make sure that we lead the team in the right direction,” Boston told SBNation of White’s preseason message. “I think it’s always different, especially last year with [Clark] being out, so it was like kind of just finding that group again. But I think, honestly, like we’re doing a pretty good job of it.”
Setting aside the multiple All-Star selections in the last two seasons from the three, they are also among the most tenured players on the roster. The roster turnover since the arrival of Boston and Clark in consecutive drafts leaves them as three of the four longest-serving Fever.
For Boston, even if talking comes naturally, White’s message was a reassurance that the team needed her to speak up. She took that vote of confidence and ran with it this season, and her team has taken notice.
“I think the thing that really stands out is Aliyah’s constantly the one talking in our huddles,” Clark said. “She’s the first voice we have there…She has a very strong voice and you constantly hear it whether it’s in-game, whether it’s on the bench in a timeout, whether that’s in the locker room on not just game days, but even on practice days too.”
Being the vocal leader also hasn’t taken away from Boston’s production either. If anything, the opposite has been true.
She’s averaging 17.2 points, the most of her career, while still grabbing 8.6 rebounds per contest. Much of her jump in scoring can be attributed to her improvement as both a 3-point shooter, where she’s shooting 44.7% on 2.5 attempts per game, and at the free throw line, where she’s shooting 83.8%.
“I think talking about the game is always great and I think it allows you to just see and understand it a lot more, understand teams, player tendencies,” Boston said. “I think the more that you watch, the more you talk about it, it just makes it clearer.”
As great as Boston has been this season, ask just about anyone with the Fever, and they’ll point to last season as the moment Boston took a leap in many ways.
It was a year marred by injuries for the Fever. As quickly as the team would make an in-season signing, another player would fall by the wayside with the point guard position being the most common point of attrition.
To help alleviate the burden of the rotating new faces, the Fever did what they do so often: lean on Boston.
“At times she was our point guard last year,” Clark said. “And if you’re the point guard, you got to communicate a lot, you got to know what’s going on, you got to be on the same page as a coach and you have to be able to get your teammates where they need to be.”
Boston became one of only three players in league history to have at least 350 rebounds and 150 assists in a season last year. She also realized how impactful she can still be as a communicator even if she wasn’t a point guard.
“I think that just my positioning, how we wanted to play, I think that definitely was a super big part of it,” Boston told SBNation. “So for this year, I’m just trying to make sure that I continue on that path.
“I think you can still lead from the post. I know the guards have the ball a lot, but I think being able to just communicate and talk about what I’m seeing is always going to be crucial.”
On top of everything else, the interplay between Boston and Clark remains one of the most reliable actions for any team in the league. What continues to make Boston particularly difficult to defend is her passing ability. As quickly as Clark can find Boston on a roll to the rim, the latter can hit the former on a backcut.
Boston is one of only two players in the league this season with a total rebound percentage and an assist percentage both above 20%. The Fever are putting the ball in her hands more than ever before, evidenced by her career-high 27.8% usage percentage, and she’s repaying them with career numbers.
“She’s solid,” White said. “She doesn’t get too high, she doesn’t get too low. Certainly, every player gets frustrated at times, but she’s an elite communicator. You trust her to make the right play and to make the right read. She brings people together. She’s a connector, which is so important, and she just continues to lead by example and be a vocal leader for our team.”
Those lessons learned from a challenging 2025 season are paying dividends for Boston in 2026. As a team, the Fever have struggled to find consistency this season. Offensively, Indiana is averaging the most points per game in the league. Defensively, they’re allowing the third most.
Not surprisingly, highs and lows have followed them. A recent four-game win streak included a game-winner from Clark in Washington. But that streak came shortly after an ugly loss in Portland, when they trailed by as many as 26.
What remains most consistent throughout it all, though, is Aliyah Boston, who just keeps improving.
Who will win Guardians vs White Sox today: White Sox moneyline (+102)
The Cleveland Guardians head into the finale in the midst of a three-game losing streak, and Tanner Bibee's recent form concerns.
The right-hander has a 4.81 FIP over his last two startswhile allowing 2.19 HR/9. That's a recipe for disaster against the second-best power-hitting team in the majors.
On the other side, Chicago White Sox righty Erick Fedde is throwing the ball well. He's posted a 2.15 FIP across his previous two outings while limiting opponents to a 23.8% hard-hit rate.
Cleveland also has just a .196 xBA over their last seven games and a poor 34.2% hard-hit rate.
Guardians vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-107)
This feels like a game where Chicago scores most of the runs while Cleveland continues to struggle offensively.
Fedde's recent form makes him a difficult matchup for a Guardians lineup averaging just 2.33 runs per game during its current losing streak.
Cleveland's bullpen has been solid lately, posting a 3.95 xERA over the last two weeks, which should help prevent Chicago from completely running away with the game.
The White Sox bullpen hasn't been as sharp, with a 4.63 FIP, but Fedde typically works into the fifth inning and can limit the amount of relief work required.
I can see a 5-2 or 6-2 type game here.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 31-24, +4.65 units
Over/Under bets: 31-23, +3.60 units
Guardians vs White Sox weather
Conditions at Rate Field are expected to be fairly neutral this afternoon, with temperatures around 78°F and moderate winds. While the weather could provide a slight boost to offense, it shouldn't be a major factor in determining the outcome of this game.
Guardians vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Guardians -108 | White Sox +104
Run line: Guardians -1.5 (+144) | White Sox +1.5 (-150)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-100) | Under 8.5 (-104)
Guardians vs White Sox trend
The White Sox have hit the moneyline in 21 of their last 25 games at home (+19.10 Units / 71% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. White Sox.
How to watch Guardians vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
CleGuardians.TV, CHSN
Guardians starting pitcher
Tanner Bibee (2-8, 4.03 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Erick Fedde (2-6, 4.46 ERA)
Guardians vs White 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.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Dennis Cholowski will hit the free agent market on July 1st, his agent confirmed with The Hockey News on Wednesday morning.
The 28-year-old served as one of the club’s depth defenseman, appearing in 17 games for the Devils in 2025-26 and 13 in the American Hockey League with the Utica Comets. He was acquired by New Jersey in March 2025 from the New York Islanders for forward Adam Beckman.
Drafted in the first round in the 2016 NHL Draft, he has additionally played for the Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, and Seattle Kraken.
Cholowski was among the handful of unrestricted free agents facing uncertain futures with the Devils, alongside Evgenii Dadonov, Zack MacEwen, and Colton White.
When NHL free agency opens at 1 p.m. ET on July 1, it will mark Sunny Mehta's first opportunity to navigate the market as the Devils' general manager.
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
On Tuesday, Calgary Flames General Manager Craig Conroy made a blockbuster trade with the New Jersey Devils, acquiring 21-year-old defenseman Simon Nemec and forward Maxim Tsyplakov.
Nemec joins the youth movement in Calgary, one led by 19-year-old Zayne Parekh, 23-year-old Matt Coronato, 24-year-old Dustin Wolf, 24-year-old Connor Zary, and 26-year-old Martin Pospisil.
“I’m pretty excited to join Calgary, it’s a good young team. I think it can be a really good spot for me, so I’m really happy.”
Simon Nemec is eager to join the squad and reunite with his fellow countrymen!https://t.co/ZuN2Mxq3rJ
Moreover, the Flames not only acquired a young player with three years of NHL experience, but Nemec has logged a lot of minutes for Slovakia in international hockey.
Here are five fascinating statistics about Nemec's career.
5. Named MVP of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Nemec had a great 2020-21 season. First, he played 39 games with HK Nitra, scoring 26 points. Then, he led all Slovakian U18 skaters in points and earned a Top 3 Player on Team award at the U20 World Juniors.
However, the following year, in 2021-22, he skated for the first time at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and won the tournament's MVP award and captured a silver medal. As captain, he had one goal and five assists in six games.
4. Nemec Will Be Only the 7th Slovakian Player in Flames History
As of 2026, Nemec is one of just 95 players from Slovakia to play in the NHL, and just the 29th defenseman to skate in a game. Moreover, he is about to become only the 7th player from Slovakia to put on a Flamin' C sweater, joining current teammates Martin Pospisil and Samuel Honzek.
Interestingly, Nemec will become the first and only defenseman from his country to play in Calgary, since everyone else has been a forward. Former Flames players from Slovakia include Adam Ruzicka, Ronald Petrovicky, Robert Dome, and Marek Hrivik.
3. Enjoys Playing Flames Goalies, Past and Present
Nemec has scored only 16 goals in the NHL, with his first coming against Philipp Grubauer and the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 7, 2023. So far, he's lit the lamp against 12 goalies, with Spencer Knight of the Chicago Blackhawks surrendering the most, since he gave up Nemec's only career hat trick on Nov. 12, 2025.
Interestingly, the former Devils' defenseman has beaten both of his new teammates, Wolf and Devin Cooley, while also getting one past former Flames goalie Dan Vladar. With five career goals against the Blackhawks, Nemec should enjoy playing in the Western Conference, as the two teams will meet three times.
2. Third-Highest Scoring Defenseman from 2022 Draft
As the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Nemec is just one of 76 players from his class to suit up for a game in the league. Of course, that year's leading scorer is first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens with 184 points, while Nemec ranks 10th overall in scoring.
With 49 points in 155 games, he is the third-highest scoring defenseman from 2022, behind the Canadiens' Lane Hutson (146 points) and the Anaheim Ducks' Pavel Mintyukov (69 points). Regarding games played, Nemec moves up to 8th and is one of 12 skaters in his draft class to surpass 100 games.
1. Won an Olympic Bronze Medal in 2022
Because Nemec had not yet made the jump to North America in 2022, he had a chance to represent Slovakia at the Winter Olympics. At just 18 years old, he captured a bronze medal when his team defeated Sweden. To make the lineup, Nemec had to play in qualifying games, where he picked up an assist in three contests. At the Winter Olympics, he played in seven games, picking up another assist.
In 2026, Nemec returned to the Slovakian lineup, first in two qualifying games, and six more at the Olympic Games. Once again, they played in the bronze medal game, except this time around, Slovakia lost 6-1 to Finland. Through two appearances, Nemec has already played 13 Olympic games.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JUNE 23: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 23, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees broke their losing streak on Tuesday, narrowly defeating the Tigers 4-3 thanks to a timely two-run shot from Jazz Chisholm Jr. to go ahead for good in the sixth inning. Carlos Rodón did enough to keep them in the game, pitching into the sixth inning and allowing all three of Detroit’s runs, and the bullpen was lights out as David Bednar secured his 15th save of the season. With the win, they put the pressure on the rest of the American League to keep up, so let’s see who managed it.
Tampa Bay Rays (43-33) 5, Kansas City Royals (34-46) 12
Kansas City started off strong early, and then they ran up the score late. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to home runs from Nick Loftin and Jac Caglianone, but Junior Caminero got one of them back in the bottom half on an RBI single to cut the deficit in half. The game stayed in a stand-still from there until the fifth inning, when Shane McClanahan finally buckled. Michael Massey led off with a double and got advanced to third on a bunt, but McClanahan threw the ball away allowing the batter to reach and Massey to score. McClanahan got two more batters to make outs to get on the verge of escaping without a crooked number on the board, but Loftin ripped an RBI single and Caglianone hit his second homer of the game to make it 6-1. All of the runs were unearned due to the error, but given it was McClanahan himself who committed it they might as well have been earned.
We entered pour-it-on territory in the eighth inning, now facing the Rays’ bullpen. A pair of run-scoring doubles, a sacrifice fly, and a wild pitch brought five more runs home and made it an 11-1 blowout. Caminero continued to be the offense for Tampa, this time lifting a solo shot, but Josh Rojas got it right back in the top of the ninth with an RBI double. The Rays finally got their offense cooking in the bottom half, scoring three runs on four hits and a walk, but the rally came nowhere close to closing the gap.
Other Games
Toronto Blue Jays (39-40) 7, Houston Astros (38-43) 9 (11 innings): Houston jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning thanks to homers from Yainer Diaz, Cam Smith, and Taylor Trammell, but Toronto tied it by the seventh thanks to homers of their own from Luis Urías and Daulton Varsho. The Jays then took the lead in the eighth on a two-run single from Kazuma Okamoto, only for the Astros to tie things back up in the ninth thanks to a bases-loaded catchers’ interference and a sacrifice fly.
That brought us to extras, where nothing of note happened in the 10th with both sides going down in order. In the 11th though, Houston finally cashed in with a three-run Joey Loperfido blast.
Toronto got their ghost runner across in the bottom half, but only after a flyout to begin the inning. Two more groundouts closed this one out as Houston continues to crawl closer to the rest of the AL West while Toronto dips back under .500.
Cleveland Guardians (41-39) 1, Chicago White Sox (41-37) 2: The middle innings decided this one, as all the scoring occurred within the fourth through sixth. Colson Montgomery got Chicago on the scoreboard first, flipping a two-out RBI single out to right field. Cleveland countered in the fifth inning with a Kahlil Watson solo shot, but the White Sox recovered their lead in the sixth with a solo blast of their own, this one off the bat of Miguel Vargas. That was all the damage done against Parker Messick as he pitched 7.2 phenomenal innings striking out 10 batters, but it saddled him with a hard-luck loss as the White Sox remain in first place in the AL Central.
Seattle Mariners (41-39) 3, Pittsburgh Pirates (39-40) 2: George Kirby didn’t have his sharpest stuff, scattering eight hits with two walks over six innings, but he managed to limit the damage to just two runs (and only one of them earned). The Pirates built a 2-0 lead by the third inning, but Seattle chipped away with a Cal Raleigh homer in the fourth before Cole Young put them ahead with a two-run shot.
Dylan Moore of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs is present during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The big club had a truly thrilling night as they shocked the Nationals, but the affiliates had one that produced emotions of a rather different sort. All of the Phillies affiliates lost last night, and the pitchers faced particular trouble, with only the Threshers allowing fewer than eight runs. The season is long, and memory is short: the affiliates will put this behind them.
Syracuse 9, Lehigh Valley 6
The IronPigs took a lead with a grand slam in the fourth, courtesy of Dylan Moore, but allowed the Mets to score in every inning from the fourth onwards. Christian Cairo went three for five with 2 runs, and Keaton Anthony contributed two hits of his own. All of the IronPig pitchers allowed runs, and all but one allowed multiple. Starter Tucker Davidson struck out nine, but walked three and allowed five hits and three runs.
Altoona 9, Reading 4
The Fightin Phils scored in four consecutive innings, but just one run in each, and none in any other frame. It wasn’t enough to defeat the Curve, who put up nine runs on ten hits. Luke Ritter worked three walks, and Pedro León and Alex Binelas each had a homer and another hit to add to it. None of the four Phils pitchers who took the mound walked away without allowing a run: starter Braydon Tucker allowed four (three earned) through 3.2 pitched.
Brooklyn 8, Jersey Shore 7
The BlueClaws were in pole position after a five run fifth that gave them a 7-2 lead. Unfortunately, they surrendered three in the bottom of the inning, then were held scoreless the rest of the night as the Cyclones walked them off on a single in the 10th. Only Tyler Pettorini had more than 1 hit. Nick Biddison contributed two RBI. All three BlueClaw pitchers had somewhat rough nights, with Cody Bowker allowing three runs and five hits in four innings, Sam Highfill allowing three runs and six hits in three innings, and Gabriel Barbosa allowing two runs, including the winner, across two innings.
Jupiter 6, Clearwater 5
The Threshers kept the Hammerheads from scoring in eight of nine innings. But a six-run eighth for the visitors gave Jupiter the victory in this shark vs. shark showdown. Griffin Burkholder, Juan Villavicencio, and Alirio Ferrebus had two hits apiece. Jonathan Hogart had a rather satisfiying line, with two walks, two runs, a hit, an RBI, and no strikeouts. Starter Cade Obemueller allowed the Hammerheads to scatter six hits over four innings, but, aided by his 8 Ks, he allowed no runs. Tyler Bowen struggled, allowing five runs on three hits and two walks in 0.2 innings.
DSL Rockies 15, DSL Phillies 11
The DSL Phillies fought back furiously, putting up five runs in the seventh and four in the eighth as they tried to catch up to the Rockies. 11 runs, and all scored the hard way: no homers. A valiant effort, but not enough to secure victory thanks to the Rockies’ scoring in six of their eight frames. Juan Parra, Francisco Renteria, Sebastian Saenz, Dayber Cruceta, and Jose Tovar contributed two hits each. The Phillies had four pitchers, each taking two innings, and each allowing multiple runs. They had only five strikeouts on what proved to be a rough night.
Aug 16, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Los Angeles Dodgers hat and glove in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Loons were the only team to secure a win in a day of limited action in the Dodgers’ minor league system.
Player of the day
The lack of support around Jaron Elkins shouldn’t devalue what was, by all accounts, an impressive performance, particularly on the basepaths. The Tower Buzzers center fielder reached base three times and was responsible for all three of his team’s stolen bases in a 5-3 loss, without getting caught once.
Elkins is right in the middle of his finest run of form this season, having recorded at least one hit in 15 of his last 16 games. It was his second appearance stealing at least three bags, and the first one since the beginning of April.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Even the temporary reinforcement of having Teoscar Hernández in the heart of the batting order wasn’t enough to help the Comets overcome the Aces in a 5-4 loss. Hernández homered on the first day of his rehab assignment, and OKC threatened with the go-ahead run in scoring position in the top of the eighth inning, but Jack Suwinski struck out to strand a pair.
Pitching-wise, it was a game of command struggles for the Comets, with Ryder Ryan and the bullpen combining to walk 12 batters, seven more than the opposition. Ryan took the loss, allowing three earned runs in just as many innings pitched.
Double-A Tulsa
By all effects, this one was over for the Drillers well before the end of the third inning, having allowed nine runs to the Hooks, all of them charged to starter Patrick Copen, who had his worst performance of the season, conceding not one, not two, not three, but four home runs.
One of the side effects of such a large deficit so early is that the offense can check out, at least to a certain extent. In this particular game, that was transparent, with six of the Drillers’ nine starting hitters finishing the game with multiple strikeouts. Their only run came on a Mike Sirota solo blast in the bottom of the third, his only hit, reaching base for a 59th straight game.
Six was the number here. The Loons beat the Lugnuts by six runs in a 7-1 win. They recorded six doubles to account for all of their extra-base hits, and they were six for 17 with runners in scoring position. It was truly a collective effort with a special shout-out to the bottom of the order: Samuel Munoz and Victor Rodrigues, hitters eighth and ninth, were the only ones to record at least three hits in this performance.
Tossing 2.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts, reliever Jacob Frost recorded his seventh win of the season since starter Zach Root was unable to complete five full innings, still pitching a solid game, allowing just the one earned run.
Single-A Ontario
Three unanswered runs to begin the game gave the Tower Buzzers an ideal start; the only problem was that the offense fell flat after that, and the bullpen struggled with walks to eventually cough up the lead in the eighth, losing the game 5-3. These late struggles meant that Ontario couldn’t properly take advantage of a good outing from its starting pitcher, Mason Estrada, with five one-run innings.
Individually, although his performance didn’t carry an impact on the game, unable to drive in a run or score one himself, Elkins now has 22 stolen bases on the year. The center fielder stole three bases in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, which also included a walk. First baseman Easton Shelton hit his 22nd homer of the year.
Tuesday’s scores
Reno 5, Oklahoma City 4
Tulsa 1, Corpus Christi 10
Lansing 1, Great Lakes 7
Visalia 5, Ontario 3
Wednesday’s schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (TBD) at Lansing (Steven Echavarria)
5:00 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Peter Heubeck) vs. Corpus Christi (Bryce Mayer)
6:35 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Landon Knack) vs. Reno (TBD)
6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Visalia (Junior Ciprian)
Jun 12, 2026; Summerlin, Nevada, USA; Athletics pitcher Hogan Harris (36) throws the ball during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Happy Wednesday A’s fans!
The Athletics remain stirred in mediocrity at the big-league level. The “Green and Gold” have been unable to establish a foothold above .500 and take control of a division whose expected pace-setter, the Seattle Mariners, have fallen short of preseason expectations.
The situation is unlikely to improve unless the team receives more consistent pitching performances from both its starters and relievers to complement its potent lineup. At the moment, starting pitchers J.T. Ginn and Gage Jump are the only two starters the A’s can reliably count on every time they take the mound.
Meanwhile, the A’s bullpen comprises several talented relievers, but no true shutdown guy has emerged since the franchise traded Mason Miller last July. Left-hander Hogan Harris is solid, yet he is overworked and finds himself in trouble more often than not. On Father’s Day, he could not protect his team’s lead, giving up a game-tying three-run home run in the eighth inning.
Dominican right-handers Luis Medina and Elvis Alvarado have the flame throwing stuff to become lockdown arms at the end of games. Both pitchers have flashed their potential at times this season, but remain inconsistent, as evidenced by Alvarado surrendering the Angels’ game-winning home run in the ninth inning of Sunday’s series and homestand finale. Last but not least, Mason Barnett, whom the A’s recalled earlier this month, has been a pleasant surprise, pitching well over his last five relief appearances.
The A’s finally designated veteran right-hander Scott Barlow for assignment rather than waiting for him to blow the lead in another game. The team did not do a good enough job to address its bullpen weakness this offseason, as Barlow did not even last till the All-Star Break and fellow offseason signing Mark Leiter Jr. recently landed on the injured list with a hip injury.
Down on the farm, the options are scarce. A few days ago, the A’s promoted Geoff Hartlieb and Matt Krook, giving these two journeymen relievers another chance to compete in the major leagues.
Yunior Tur, a 26-year-old Cuban right-hander holding his own at Triple-A, could receive his first MLB promotion soon as the A’s continue trying to put together the right mix of bullpen arms. On the other hand, pitchers such as Jacob Lopez, Luis Morales and Michael Kelly performed so poorly for the Athletics earlier this season that they are now trying to rediscover their form in the minors.
Will the team’s bullpen continue to struggle, or can the group turn things around? What is your goal for the Athletics as the end of June nears?
Keep voting for Nick Kurtz. Given the season he is having, he deserves to represent the Athletics at the All-Star Game in the state where he grew up.
Shea Langeliers continues to lead all AL Catchers in All Star voting. 🤩
Nick Kurtz, somehow, continues to trail the lead vote-getter among AL first basemen, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., by nearly a million votes. 😬#Athleticspic.twitter.com/O79mwJoyIk
This past weekend, the A’s Triple-A affiliate Las Vegas Aviators clinched the first half Pacific Coast League championship. They will host the second half champion in the best-of-three LCS beginning on Tuesday, September 22.
This is an interesting breakdown of how Tyler Soderstrom has snapped out of his early-season slump to become a consistent contributor in the middle of the A’s lineup.
Since May 24 (108 PA), only 4 qualified hitters have a higher wRC+ than Tyler Soderstrom
Prior to that date, his previous 209 PA turned out a less than stellar performance, batting under the mendoza line and a 76 wRC+
Pitcher Larry Andersen of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during a game. | Getty Images
Larry Andersen’s playing career spanned across portions of three different decades. He’d appear in a pair of World Series with the Phillies, and in 1986 he’d join the Astros several weeks into that magical season, which would culminate in their classic playoff series with the Mets.
Larry joins us for our 28th installment of the Legends Series, exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes.
Q: I want to start with 1986. Can you believe it’s been 40 years? That doesn’t seem possible.
A: It’s remarkable. The memories are still there and of course Game 6, I appeared in and I’ll never forget that. The intensity was incredible. I pitched three innings that game and the noise in the Astrodome was deafening and I’m actually deaf in one ear completely since birth and it was still the loudest thing I’ve ever heard. I thought my nerves were going to jump out of my body. That was a game for the ages, I just wish it had turned out differently for the fans.
Q: How was it that the Phillies would release you in May and you’d land in Houston a few days later?
A: I was released while in Houston, so I knew what kind of team they had. They were good.
The Hendricks brothers were my agents, and they wanted me to play for the Astros, so they set it up where I went and did a side pitching session in the bullpen for Hal Lanier. They immediately saw that there was nothing wrong with me. I was completely healthy. They were completely baffled with the release.
Q: So, what happened?
A: The Phillies had made a trade and had acquired Gary Redus and relief pitcher Tom Hume for John Denny. So, it came down to keeping me or Tom Hume.
I felt like my stuff at the time was just as good as his, but he was making $800,000 and I was making $300,000, so it was an easy choice.
It was easier for the Phillies to eat $300,000 of salary. I understood that. It’s a business.
I waited a few days for the waiver deadline to pass, and then I was playing for the Astros.
Q: There were so many great characters on the Astros back then. Who comes to mind?
A: Doctor Death, Danny Darwin (laughs). He really helped solidify our pitching staff.
It’s funny, Danny had issues with the Montreal Expos. I was facing Spike Owen, and I threw a pitch inside and it created a brawl. In that brawl, Spike Owen came to the mound and came for me, but the rest of the Expos went after Danny Darwin. He had broken Hubie Brooks’ hand earlier in the year, and they were after him even though I threw the pitch that started it.
I don’t know if Danny ever forgave me for that, because he got absolutely pummeled.
Q: If you guys had prevailed in Game 6, is there any doubt in your mind that Mike Scott would’ve won Game 7, advancing you to the World Series?
A: I think it’s easy to say, absolutely. The Mets knew they were done. They were so hellbent on saying Scott was cheating and were always checking the ball and trying to question the nature of his splitter. It was amazing, they were a mess.
Jun 18, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter (22) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Tre Morgan #72 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a picture during the 2026 Tampa Bay Rays Photo Day at Charlotte Sports Park on February 19, 2026 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome back to the mailbag!
Most of the responses I got this time were centered around prospects and the state of the farm so far this year, so that will be the theme of this mailbag article.
pdawd (@JeannotShowYo on Twitter/X): Who in the farm has been the most pleasant surprise and what have they added to their game to make unexpected strides?
Nathan Flewelling has been a pleasant surprise on the defensive side. There aren’t many questions about his offensive impact, but his receiving and throwing have noticeably improved.
This year, he’s doing a better job on the receiving end by showing late glove movement when framing pitches compared to last season. It looked “stabby” last year because Flew would hold his glove in the zone too early in the pitcher’s delivery before grabbing it and bringing it back toward the zone. Now he’ll flash the glove early in the delivery, drop it down to the dirt, and then wait until the pitcher is releasing the ball before gliding his glove to catch the ball and bring to into the zone, all in one motion.
But it’s not just his glove. His improved throwing starts with his footwork. Flew’s arm has always been above average, but his exchange and release needed improvement. Last season, he almost always would catch the ball and then jump up into a throwing position. Now, Flew is consistently getting his feet into a throwing position as he’s receiving the ball. The result is a quicker release and more accurate throws to the 1B side of the 2B bag. His caught stealing rate has improved from 13.9% in 2025 to 34.6% in 2026 so far. Some of that improvement could be driven by High-A pitchers doing a better job of varying their delivery times, but the data coupled with Flew’s observable improvement in his defensive actions signal meaningful growth. Like all teenage prospects, he’ll need to continue to work on his consistency – especially as the physical demands of his position challenge him later in the season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him as a consensus top 50 prospect by the end of the season.
Dhaffa Ghiffari (@dapuik_ on Twitter/X) and Dylan Hood (@DylanHood69 on Twitter/X): What is a reasonable expectation for Carson Williams and his future? Will the Rays ever commit to him, or will he be traded at the deadline?
Carson still looks like an every day SS thanks to his near 70-grade glove and plus power. He has done a nice job cutting down on the whiff compared to last season by using the whole field a bit more – especially with two strikes. There’s impressive impact on both sides of the ball, and now it’s just a matter of opportunity.
I don’t think he would be traded this season because he’s 3rd on the SS depth chart for the ML side. Maybe they’d trade him if they received a SS in return, for him or in some other trade, but it doesn’t seem likely.
Taylor Walls is having a good season by his standards as he’s leaning into his small-ball skillset, and he’s arguably the best defensive SS of this century. Ben Williamson has shown he’s a competent ML utility guy, but lacks the impact defensively at SS and at the plate. Carson should have an opportunity to compete for the starting job after this season (Editor’s Note: How many times have we said that? – DR), but the 2026 draft and trade deadline could change that.
Flappy Gilmore (@FlappyGilmore on Twitter/X): Do you see a spot on the roster for Tre’ Morgan coming, or is he more valuable as a trade chip at this point?
Tre’ Morgan has had an unfortunate run of injuries over the last couple seasons. He looked solid in AAA last year when he was able to stay on the field, and he has adjusted his approach this season in an attempt to unlock more impact but has missed a lot of time already. He’s back in AAA now after showing some impressive bat speed gains during his rehab assignment, so I’m interested to see what he could look like in a larger sample. The defense is 80-grade at 1B as advertised, and his average hit tool should allow him to carve out some sort of role at the ML level.
The experiment with him in the OF seems to have come to an end, so it’s most likely 1B only – which is fine because the defense really is that good. Unfortunately, I’m not sure the Rays could roster Tre’, Yandy, and Aranda in the majors at the same time. I don’t think Tre’ will be traded this season, and I expect him to get protected from the Rule 5 draft this offseason. His health and availability of reps at 1B in the majors will determine if and when he will have an opportunity to contribute.
Sad Rays Fan (@rays4403 on Twitter/X): Which prospects do you realistically think can make an impact this season?
I don’t think he counts as a prospect anymore, but Jacob Melton could really help this roster. He’s a plus defender at all three OF spots and has near 70-grade power. His adjustments to his approach have helped him unlock more damage by elevating the ball. His injury in early May unfortunately set him back, but he’s healthy now and back in AAA. I think he will be up relatively soon once he gets up to speed in Durham.
Most of the prospects who could impact the ML roster this season are relievers. Alex Cook has a combination of solid stuff and command, and he has been dominant after a couple rough outings to start the year in Durham. Alexander Alberto has plus stuff and deception, and his command year-over-year command gains have earned him a recent promotion to AAA. He’s going to be a minor league free agent if he’s not added to the 40-man roster by the end of the year. Ty Johnson looks like he could be an impactful high-leverage reliever or bulk guy capable of going one time through the order in the majors. I’m not sure how he’d look as a starter given his average stuff and command of just two pitches, but his deception should allow him to carve out a valuable relief role in some capacity.
Also in Durham is Carson Williams who has the makings of an everyday SS, but just needs an opportunity. As long as Taylor Walls is in the organization and healthy, Carson won’t find too many reps at SS. He has been learning 2B and 3B this season, and his tools should translate and allow him to be a plus defender at both positions. His opportunity will likely won’t come until next season.
I would love to say Brody Hopkins could help the team this year, but I don’t think it will happen until 2027. He struggled early on to adjust to the AAA baseball, but has been looking much better over his last handful of starts with more reps using that baseball and some small adjustments to his delivery. His shapes have been sharper with more movement like they had last year, and his strike throwing has started to improve. I’m really excited to see him in the majors next season.
It is the stroke that looks easy but can be a nightmare for some of the world’s top players – even Novak Djokovic has the Djokosmash
Elite players are often at their most comfortable when speaking about the fine technical details of their game, but last month at the French Open, a straightforward question about the overhead smash initially drew little more than a regretful shake of the head from Novak Djokovic. “You’re talking to the wrong person,” he said, laughing.
One of the pillars of Djokovic’s legendary career is his complete game. In a sport where most players have a weak point, the 24-time grand slam champion has mastered nearly every stroke.
The Chicago Cubs should be well-rested for Wednesday’s doubleheader opener. Two of Chicago’s last three games have been rained out, so it'll be playing for just the second time since Saturday.
The New York Mets could be without Juan Soto following his early exit last night, and my Cubs vs. Mets predictions are taking advantage of that.
The Chicago Cubs have been streaky all season and are on another hot stretch, winning seven of 10 — including Tuesday’s series opener against the New York Mets. The Mets have lost three straight and five of seven.
New York's bullpen worked more than five innings last night and has a doubleheader today, so starter Nolan McLean needs to go deep. He’s gone past five just twice in his last three starts, and McLean has a 6.75 ERA late in games with a .294 average against.
The Cubs are favored, but at the upper limit of when I’d take them. If it gets to -130, I’d cut bait.
The Cubs are being coy about their pitchers for the doubleheader. Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad could start, but they weren’t specifying the order.
Both pitchers are coming off back-to-back strong outings, and the Cubs' pen has pitched four innings since Saturday. Chicago has been hitting, but the last thing a hot team wants is to sit out days.
New York has scored three or fewer runs in five of the last nine games. The offensive boost the Mets hoped to get from Francisco Lindor’s return for the first time since April 22 got muted when Juan Soto left Tuesday’s game with back trouble.
Play this down to 8.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 23-28, -2.05 units
Over/Under bets: 29-26, +2.04 units
Cubs vs Mets weather
Sunny skies and temps in the mid-80s ensure no weather delay today. The hot weather could add some more pop to balls, but the wind of 10 mph shouldn't play too much of a factor.
Cubs vs Mets odds
Moneyline: Cubs -124 | Mets +106
Run line: Cubs +1.5 (-290) | Mets -1.5 (+215)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-124) | Under 8.5 (-158)
Cubs vs Mets trend
The Chicago Cubs have hit the game total Under in seven of their last nine away games (+4.85 Units / 50% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Mets.
How to watch Cubs vs Mets and game info
Location
Citi Field, Flushing, Queens
Date
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
MARQ, SNY
Cubs starting pitcher
TBD (Y-Y, X.XX ERA)
Mets starting pitcher
Nolan McLean (4-4, 3.67 ERA)
Cubs vs Mets 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.
COVERS INTEL: The Padres will struggle to produce against Martin Perez, who ranks in the 85th percentile in Pitcher Run Value.
