There’s no Atlanta Braves game today. It’s another opportunity to kick another game to late August when the Braves will be healthier aaaaaaahahahaha. No really, it could happen I guess. The injury beast might be sated for now. But there are other things going on in the meantime.
MLB
Mets (Sean Manaea) vs Phillies (Aaron Nola) at 6:40 ET on MLB.tv/MLB Network
White Sox (Bryan Hudson) vs Yankees (Ryan Weathers) at 7:05 ET on MLB.tv
Cardinals (Matthew Liberatore) vs Kansas City (Noah Cameron) at 7:40 ET on MLB.tv
Angels (TBD) vs Sacramento (Gage Jump) at 9:40 ET on MLB.tv
MiLB
Hill City vs Single-A Augusta Greenjackets at 7:05 ET on BallySport/MLB.tv
World Cup
Canada vs Qatar at 6:00 ET on Fox Sports 1/Peacock/Telemundo
Mexico vs South Korea at 9:00 ET on Fox/Peacock/Telemundo
What else?
The US Open is happening as well. Also, my kid crushed every school metric this year so we have a Nintendo Switch 2 now. Apparently you can get a $20 yearly subscription to get 60 or so retro games. So I’ll probably be knee deep in the original Zeldas pretty soon. We’re loving some Mario Party Jamboree right now. If you want to tell me what else is fun from a family game standpoint, I’m all ears.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were one of the NHL's biggest surprises this season. After entering the season expected by many to be one of the worst teams in the NHL, they instead finished second in the Metropolitan Division standings and made the playoffs.
Now, the Penguins should look to build off their momentum by putting together a strong off-season. It is clear that the Penguins have some roster needs to address if the hope to have another successful season in 2026-27. One of their top needs is a top-four left-shot defenseman.
When looking at trade candidates around the NHL that could make sense for the Penguins, Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram stands out in a major way. Byram has been generating trade interest as he enters the final season of his contract, as reported by TSN's Darren Dreger.
If the Penguins traded for Byram, he would instantly become their top left-shot defenseman. Furthermore, at just 25 years old, he could be an excellent fit on the retooling Penguins' roster. This is especially so if the Penguins could convince him to sign a long-term contract extension with them if they acquired him.
Ultimately, with the Penguins' blueline needing a boost, bringing in a star defenseman like Byram would make a lot of sense. In 82 games this season with Buffalo, the left-shot defenseman posted 11 goals, 31 assists, 42 points, and a plus-15 rating.
One of the Chicago Blackhawks' top needs of the off-season is an impactful left-shot defenseman. It is clear that the left side of their blueline is in need of a real boost.
Due to this, the Blackhawks should strongly consider targeting Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram. The 25-year-old defenseman has been creating plenty of chatter in the rumor mill as of late as a trade candidate.
Recently, TSN's Darren Dreger reported that Byram is generating interest from multiple teams this off-season. Given the Blackhawks' need for a top-four left-shot defenseman, it would make sense if they entered the sweepstakes for the Sabres blueliner.
"Multiple teams exploring a trade with the Buffalo Sabres involving Dman, Bo Byram. Byram has 1 yr left on his contract before becoming an unrestricted Free Agent. Agent, Darren Ferris has some history with marching players to the open market. Motivation for trade consideration," Dreger posted on X.
If the Blackhawks acquired Byram, he could be a strong fit on the their top pairing and would give them a clear option for both their power play and penalty kill because of his strong all-around play. Yet, even if he played second-pairing minutes for the Blackhawks, he would greatly improve their top four if acquired.
In 82 games this past season with the Sabres, Byram scored 11 goals and set new career highs with 42 points and a plus-15 rating. He also had four goals and seven points in 13 playoff games for the Sabres this spring. With numbers like these, he would be a strong pickup for a Blackhawks club looking to take that next step in 2026-27.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 18: Brooks Lee #22 of the Minnesota Twins is congratulated by Tristan Gray #4 after hitting a three run home run during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on June 18, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Twins looked to secure their third series sweep of the season, this time in Arlington against the Texas Rangers. The Twins offense continued their being hot from Tuesday night and the bullpen didn’t screw it up too much while the Rangers made a valiant effort.
The game started off on the right foot as Trevor Larnach and Kody Clemens each got on base with a single in the top of the first off of Texas starter Jack Leither. Believe it or not, with two outs, Josh Bell got a grounder through the infield to bring in Larnach and Brooks Lee put the Twins ahead big with a three-run shot to give Minnesota a cushy 4-0 lead before the home team got to the bat rack.
Larnach made another contribution in the fourth inning with a homer of his own, this one of the two-run variety, which knocked Leiter out of the game after the end of the inning with a 6-0 Twins lead. Minnesota struck again in the sixth with another Larnach contribution – this time an RBI single off of southpaw Robby Ahlstrom – to bring the score to 7-0. A Ryan Kreidler homer in the top of the eighth off of Cal Quantrill added two more runs to the Twins’ total.
Meanwhile, Joe Ryan labored through his start today. He limited the Rangers to three hits, a couple of free passes, and notched seven strikeouts, dropping his ERA below 3. However, he only went through five innings today on 97 pitches. He used his four-seam fastball much more compared to his other starts this season. Justin Lawrence was called in for the sixth and allowed two solo homers to Wyatt Langford and Ezequiel Duran, but otherwise escaped unscathed.
The bullpen escaped a couple of jams in the seventh and eighth innings, keeping the heart rates of Twins Territory up just a little bit more than normal. Cody Laweryson allowed a homer to Justin Foscue, but finished out the game without allowing any more runs, securing the sweep for the Twins with a 9-3 win.
The Twins travel to the desert for a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA) answers the call for the Twins while veteran Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11 ERA) will go for the D-backs. Put on the pot of coffee (or do a keg stand and keep the party going) as game time is 845p Central.
May 5, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates with teammate Tyrone Taylor (15) after hitting a three run home run in the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Two of the myriad Mets on the Injured List will begin their rehab assignments on the way back to the majors this weekend, as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies will host both Francisco Lindor and Tyrone Taylor starting on Friday.
Lindor has been on the IL since April 23 with a calf strain, a similar, but more severe, version of the injury that had Juan Soto on the shelf earlier this season. Lindor’s injury has affected the Mets in many ways, whether it is on the defenisve side of the game, necessitating a positional shift from Bo Bichette and some appearances from quad-A players like Vidal Brujan and Zack Short, or the lack of a keystone bat in the middle of their lineup.
The five-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner, and four time Silver Slugger was hitting .226/.314/.355 to start the season.
When Lindor is ready to play, there’s no doubt that he will be a regular part of the Mets’ lineup going forward. That is less likely for Taylor, who already lost playing time to A.J. Ewing when he was called up on May 12. Taylor, a glove-first outfielder with limited offensive potential, is in his age 32 season, was hitting just .186/.210/.320 when he went down on May 26 with a hip flexor injury.
Since both MJ Melenedez and Eric Wagaman still have minor league options, it seems likely that one of them would be sent down to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Taylor, at least in the interim.
The Rumble Ponies face the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at 7:05pm. The game will be available to stream on MiLB.tv.
Jun 18, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) dives but cannot catch a ball hit by Minnesota Twins catcher Victor Caratini (not pictured) during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Texas Rangers scored three runs while the Minnesota Twins scored nine runs.
Just passing through to say the Rangers lost.
The Twins hit a home run in the first inning of each game in this series.
The Twins never trailed in any of the 27 innings in this series.
The Twins won each game in this series by an average of like five runs.
The Rangers were outscored 25-7 in this series.
Jack Leiter allowed six runs in four innings, including four runs in the first inning.
Alrighty, back to watching the World Cup.
Player of the Game: Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran, and Justin Foscue each hit a solo home run so take your pick.
Up Next: With today’s game the Rangers have ignited a hellish stretch of 15 games in 15 days that will take them through June. Next up in that stretch is a home series against the Padres. RHP Jacob deGrom will pitch for Texas in the opener against RHP Randy Vásquez for San Diego.
The Friday evening first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 7:05 pm CDT and you can catch the game on the Rangers Sports Network.
Carson Benge – RF Bo Bichette – SS Juan Soto – LF Jared Young – 1B A.J. Ewing – CF Marcus Semien – 2B Brett Baty – 3B MJ Melendez – DH Francisco Alvarez – C
England captain Ben Stokes could return to Test duty as soon as next week’s series finale against New Zealand, several British media outlets reported Thursday.
Aug 6, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill (29) and catcher William Contreras (24) react after defeating the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are back on the road, as they’ll head to Georgia to take on the Atlanta Braves in a three-game series against the NL East’s top team. Milwaukee, fresh off a pair of series wins against the Phillies and Guardians, sits in first place in the NL Central, while the Braves, with a nearly identical record to the Crew, sit ahead of the Phillies in the East.
Milwaukee’s injuries include Brandon Woodruff (expected to return next week), Coleman Crow (July), DL Hall (late July), Logan Henderson (early July), Jared Koenig (could return in the next week), Rob Zastryzny (late June/early July), Brian Fitzpatrick (likely out for the season), Carlos Rodriguez (TBD), and season-ending injuries to pitchers Quinn Priester and Angel Zerpa. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge is also nearing a rehab assignment, meaning we could see him in late June/early July.
Atlanta is currently without pitchers Spencer Strider (TBD), Joe Jiménez (out for season), AJ Smith-Shawver (out until at least late 2026), Spencer Schwellenbach (late 2026), Danny Young (post-All-Star break), and Joey Wentz (out for season). Infielder Kyle Farmer is out with a forearm strain, catcher Sean Murphy is out until late July with a fractured finger, outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is eligible to return this weekend (though it’s unclear if he’ll be ready at the 10-day mark), and outfielder Michael Harris II is listed as day to day with back tightness.
Jake Bauers leads Milwaukee’s offense with 13 homers, though Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio aren’t far behind at 11 and 10, respectively. Chourio has been the best hitter on the team since returning from injury, hitting over .300 over his 38 games. Gary Sánchez and William Contreras have also provided some pop behind the plate, and Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, Andrew Vaughn, Joey Ortiz, David Hamilton, and rookie Cooper Pratt round out the squad. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .254/.340/.395 (.735 OPS ranks eighth), with 67 homers (26th), 383 runs (third), and 72 steals (third).
Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin are raking for the Braves, as Olson is hitting .276/.346/.552 with a team-high 20 homers and 19 doubles, and Baldwin, a Wisconsin native who missed the last few weeks, has 14 homers and is slashing .298/.381/.540 after winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2025. Harris has also had a resurgence, while Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley also provide some pop. Ha-Seong Kim, Mauricio Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski, and Dominic Smith round out the starters, with former Brewer Rowdy Tellez, Eli White, Jorge Mateo, and Sandy León serving as depth. As a team, the Braves are hitting .254/.320/.423 (.743 OPS ranks sixth), with 97 homers (sixth), 366 runs (sixth), and 39 steals (tied for 22nd).
Aaron Ashby leads Milwaukee’s bullpen with 33 appearances, pitching to a 2.80 ERA, perfect 10-0 record, and 61 strikeouts over 45 innings. Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, and Chad Patrick round out the Brewers’ “A” bullpen, while Craig Yoho, Joel Kuhnel, and Drew Rom are the “B” bullpen, with Grant Anderson fitting somewhere in the middle. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.43 team ERA (fourth), including a 3.39 starter ERA (fourth) and a 3.48 bullpen ERA (ninth). They’ve struck out 708 batters (first) over 645 1/3 innings.
Dylan Lee leads Atlanta’s bullpen with 33 appearances, pitching to a stellar 1.14 ERA with 40 strikeouts over 31 2/3 innings. Just about all of their bullpen has been great, in face, as closer Raisel Iglesias (1.16 ERA) is perfect across 14 save chances, Robert Suarez (0.59 ERA) has allowed just two runs over 30 2/3 innings, and Didier Fuentes (2.25 ERA over 28 IP), Reynaldo López (3.76 ERA over 40 2/3 IP), Dylan Dodd (2.08 ERA over 17 1/3 IP), James Karinchak (0.00 ERA over 3 IP), and Carlos Carrasco (3.46 ERA over 13 IP) have also been solid. As a staff, the Braves have a 3.39 team ERA (third), including a 3.73 starter ERA (fifth) and a 2.91 bullpen ERA (first). They’ve struck out 630 batters (12th) over 649 2/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, June 19 @ 6:15 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (8-2, 1.34 ERA, 1.68 FIP) vs. LHP Martín Pérez (5-3, 2.90 ERA, 3.82 FIP)
Misiorowski continues to dominate all opponents, as he’s among league leaders in just about every major category to this point. He leads the league in ERA (1.34), FIP (1.68), WHIP (1.68), and strikeouts (131) across 87 innings over 14 starts this season. He’s coming off the best start of his career, as he threw a 95-pitch complete game shutout with just one hit allowed and 15 strikeouts, also facing the minimum thanks to a double play. This marks Miz’s first career start against the Braves.
Pérez, 35, is in his 15th MLB season and with his seventh team, as he’s had a resurgence with the Braves this year. An All-Star for the first and only time in 2022 with Texas, Pérez has been about as good as he was that season, pitching to a 2.90 ERA, 3.82 FIP, and 51 strikeouts over 62 innings this season. He’s earned the win in each of his last three outings, allowing six runs over 15 1/3 innings (3.52 ERA) on 11 hits and six walks while striking out 11. Pérez has made five career appearances (four starts) against Milwaukee, with an 0-3 record, 8.54 ERA, and 16 strikeouts over 26 1/3 innings.
Saturday, June 20 @ 3:10 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.47 ERA, 3.05 FIP) vs. LHP Chris Sale (8-5, 2.30 ERA, 2.82 FIP)
If Harrison pitched for just about any other team, he’d be considered the ace of the staff. Thanks to Miz, however, he’s a measly No. 2, even with an 8-1 record, 2.47 ERA, and 3.05 FIP this year. He’s struck out 80 batters over 65 2/3 innings spanning 13 starts, and he also has solid peripherals. He’s coming off a nice bounce-back outing against the Phillies, outpitching Philadelphia ace Cristopher Sánchez as he went six scoreless innings with three hits, a hit batter, and no walks allowed, striking out three on 80 pitches. Harrison’s only appearance against Atlanta came while he was with the Giants in 2024, as he went five innings and allowed three runs on six hits and two walks, striking out six in a no-decision.
Sale, 37, is another lefty veteran for Atlanta, as he’s in his 16th MLB season with his third team. The NL Cy Young winner in 2024, Sale has a 2.30 ERA, 2.82 FIP, and 92 strikeouts over 78 1/3 innings this season. He’s coming off back-to-back losses, though, as he allowed five runs over 11 1/3 innings (3.97 ERA) on 16 hits and three walks, striking out 12 against the Blue Jays and White Sox. Sale is a perfect 2-0 over five career appearances against Milwaukee, with a 1.89 ERA and 45 strikeouts over 33 1/3 innings.
Sunday, June 21 @ 12:35 p.m.: LHP Robert Gasser (0-3, 4.88 ERA, 6.10 FIP) vs. RHP Bryce Elder (5-4, 3.15 ERA, 3.75 FIP)
Gasser, who had a great start to his career in 2024, hasn’t quite found the same magic in 2026, though he is coming off his best start of the year. While he has an 0-3 record, 4.88 ERA, 6.10 FIP, and 24 strikeouts over 24 innings this year, he looked much better than those numbers indicate against the Guardians on Tuesday night, tossing 5 2/3 scoreless frames with two hits and two walks allowed, striking out five on 92 pitches as he took the no-decision in a 2-1 victory. This marks Gasser’s first career start against the Braves.
Elder, 27, is in his fifth MLB season, all with the Braves. After earning an All-Star selection in 2023, he struggled in 2024 and 2025, but he’s bounced back nicely thus far in 2026. Across 15 starts, Elder has a 3.15 ERA, 3.75 FIP, and 73 strikeouts over 88 2/3 innings. He got roughed up against the Mets in his last appearance, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks with just two strikeouts over four-plus innings in an 8-1 loss. Elder has made four career starts against Milwaukee, with a 2-1 record, 4.30 ERA, and 18 strikeouts over 23 innings.
How to Watch & Listen
Friday, June 19: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, June 20: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, June 21: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
This will be a fun series featuring a few high-profile pitching matchups, two solid offenses, and two division-leading squads. I’ll give the Braves home-field advantage as they take two of three.
One of the Montreal Canadiens' top goals of the off-season should be to find an upgrade for their second-line center spot. It would be huge for the Habs to bring in another high-impact center as their Stanley Cup contender window is starting to open.
In a recent article for The Athletic, Arpon Basu named Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha as a potential trade fit for the Canadiens as they look to improve their forward group.
"One example of a player who might be available for a trade is Boston Bruins centre Pavel Zacha, with one year left on his contract at age 29. A left shot to complement Nick Suzuki, strong in the faceoff circle and able to play on both special teams, Zacha would be a great fit," Basu wrote.
When looking at the season Zacha just had for the Bruins, he would certainly have the potential to be a nice pickup for the Canadiens if acquired. In 78 games with the Bruins this season, he set new career highs 30 goals, 35 assists, and 65 points. He has also recorded at least 57 points in three out of his last four seasons. With numbers like these, he could slot nicely as Montreal's second-line center.
The Canadiens rarely make trades with the Bruins due to their historic rivalry. Although this is the case, it would make sense for Montreal to try to land Zacha this summer. It will be interesting to see if they target him from here.
Last night the Cubs were able to take a series from the Colorado Rockies after winning 8-6 at Wrigley Field. However, the devil was really in the details of this particular victory. The Cubs were up 8-2 when the game was turned over to the bullpen, who surrendered a total of four runs in the final two frames to make what had looked like a comfortable victory look a lot closer by the end.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Cubs are going to have to win quite a few more games by putting a lot of crooked numbers on the board. They have been absolutely devastated by pitching injuries to this point in 2026. Despite heroic performances moving from the bullpen (or the minors) into the rotation from Ben Brown, Colin Rea and Javier Assad, the hits just keep coming for the starting rotation and the pen. Just look at this:
This isn’t new territory for the 2026 Chicago Cubs. Honestly, the theme of 2026 might as well be pitchers on the injured list on the North Side of Chicago. The problem is that the elite run creation the team put up in March and April really fell off a cliff as the calendar turned to May and unfortunately it doesn’t look like it’s recovered so far in June:
June looks a little bit better than May on the W/L front, but the run differential tells a different story. It still looks like the offensive juggernaut that existed during the early part of the season has completely collapsed. Not only are the Cubs scoring fewer runs per game, their pitching is giving up more runs than they gave up early in the season.
I’d love last night’s 8-spot against the Rockies to be a signal that the Cubs offense has turned a corner. With closer Daniel Palencia joining pretty much all of what was supposed to be the preseason A-bullpen on the injured list, it’s hard to see a path for this Cubs team to put many W’s on the board unless they score more. It doesn’t seem particularly realistic to expect a rotation of number four and five starters, followed by a bullpen of guys who were supposed to be used in cleanup duty and middle relief to win games without substantially more offense than the Cubs have seen in the last month and half.
Barring a trade, the pitching ranks in Chicago look pretty thin. Fortunately, Matthew Boyd is heading out on a rehab assignment this weekend. Maybe he will be back to help the club within a week or so. They sure could use all the run-prevention help they can get.
The Ducks' 2025-26 season has been over for just over a month and with the 2026 NHL Entry Draft just around the corner, it feels like a good time to start recapping this past season for each player in the organization.
Today's edition of 'By the Numbers' will feature players who wore Nos. 11-20 this season.
If you missed the previous edition of 'By the Numbers', you can click here to read it.
Sam Colangelo
After getting a good chunk of playing time with the Ducks in 2024-25, there was an expectation that Colangelo would be one of the frontrunners for a depth spot on the NHL roster come 2025-26. He signed a new, two-year deal this past August, broke camp with the Ducks and was in the opening night lineup against the Seattle Kraken, but was a healthy scratch for the next four games. After being re-inserted into the lineup for six games, he was sent down to AHL San Diego. Aside from two separate call-ups with one NHL game apiece, Colangelo spent the rest of the season in the AHL.
Next season may be Colangelo's last shot at a full-time role, at least with the Ducks. He'll be 25 in December, is in the final year of his contract and has just 44 games of NHL experience under his belt. There are a few depth roles that need to be filled, especially if several of the Ducks' pending UFAs are moved on from. Lack of foot speed is an issue that Colangelo has pointed out in the past and hopes to improve. Improvement in that area would help him become a more complete player, as he tends to find the right spots to be in and has scoring prowess, but is sometimes a step slow to get there.
Nikita Nesterenko
While Nesterenko spent many calendar days with the NHL club, his total number of games played did not increase all that quickly. He played in 29 games over the course of three months and was healthy scratched for almost all of December. He even went on waivers, went unclaimed and was then recalled by the Ducks at one point.
A diligent forechecker, Nesterenko had a career night in the seventh game of the season, putting up four points. He checked more boxes for qualities that Quenneville was looking for in a bottom-6 forward than Colangelo or Ryan Strome and was rewarded with consistent playing time up until December.
Nesterenko will be 25 in September and is also in the final year of his contract after signing a two-year contract last June. He, like Colangelo, will be part of the competition looking to fill out the fringes of the Ducks' 2026-27 roster. He is capable of playing all three forward positions and also had stints on the penalty kill.
Drew Helleson
Helleson made the switch to No. 14 this past offseason after donning No. 43 for the early stages of his NHL career. When asked about the number switch, Helleson said he wanted to keep the number four in his jersey number somewhere, but also wanted to respect the legacy left by longtime Duck and former teammate Cam Fowler, who wore No. 4 during the 2010s and for much of the 2020s.
Helleson signed a new, two-year contract with the Ducks last summer and began the 2025-26 season as part of the bottom defensive pair alongside Pavel Mintyukov. When Radko Gudas went down with injury early in the season, Helleson jumped up to the top pair alongside Jackson LaCombe. The childhood friends meshed well initially as a pair, but Helleson began to struggle as his ice time increased.
May 8, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson (14) moves the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
A return to the bottom pairing in January was where Helleson spent most of the rest of the season, save for a couple of stretches where he was a healthy scratch. After Gudas suffered an injury in Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers, Helleson made his playoff debut alongside rookie Tyson Hinds. The pair played eight games together before Helleson's season came to an end due to a groin strain.
With John Carlson and Jacob Trouba both expected to hit free agency, there is a large hole on the Ducks' right side of defense. The possible departure of Gudas, who is also a pending UFA, could make that hole even larger. As it stands, the Ducks' right-handed defense (if they made zero additions) would consist of Helleson, Ian Moore and Tristan Luneau. That's just 203 combined games of NHL experience. Not quite the seasoned veterans you want if you're planning to make a long playoff run next season.
Ryan Strome
2025-26 was a difficult season for Strome. He began the season with an oblique injury, which forced him to miss the first month of the season. Subsequently, his injury led to an increased role for Beckett Sennecke, opening the gateway to what became a fantastic rookie season for the 2024 third overall pick.
When Strome returned, he found it difficult to break into the lineup due to Sennecke's emergence and the absence of a defined role. He didn't fit what Quenneville was looking for in his top-6, despite having the vision and passing ability to be a capable playmaker. He also didn't quite have the grit and high-energy level that Quenneville was seeking from his bottom-6 forwards.
A couple of healthy scratches at the beginning of December foreshadowed what the following months would be like for Strome, as he was shifted out wide from his natural center position upon his return to the lineup. Eventually, he became one of the customary healthy scratches on a game-to-game basis.
Jan 10, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Strome (16) waits for the face-off during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
The lack of production and playing time started to become a focal point. $5 million is a lot of money to have sitting in the press box every night. With the writing seemingly on the wall, Verbeek did Strome right by dealing him to the Calgary Flames for a 2027 seventh-round pick at the trade deadline. This deal opened up cap space and freed up a roster spot for the Ducks and gave the Flames a reliable veteran to help steady their rebuild, a role that Strome embraced when he first came to Anaheim.
While Strome's Ducks career ended unceremoniously, he was a good steward for the team and was never afraid to speak casually about performances, whether individual or team-related. He was one of Verbeek's first free agent signings (alongside longtime friend Frank Vatrano) in the summer of 2022 and helped set the groundwork for where the Ducks are today.
Alex Killorn
This upcoming season, Killorn will be entering the final year of a four-year, $25 million contract that he signed in July 2023. Both he and Radko Gudas joined the Ducks organization on the same day. Previously, they were teammates when they entered the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It was clear early on that Killorn's role would be to complement rookie Leo Carlsson, who had just been selected by the Ducks with the second overall pick a week prior. The pair were joined at the hip during training camp, but a finger fracture during one of the Ducks' preseason games ruled Killorn out for the first month of the regular season. Upon his return, he was back on Carlsson's line.
Injuries were the tale of Killorn's debut season with the Ducks as he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery that January to clear out a lingering issue. "It was just painful, and I felt like it was a negative part of my game," Killorn said. "I got it (cleaned up) and now I feel like there's no hindrances."
May 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Alex Killorn (17) warms up before the start of game two against the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
His role has remained relatively similar as the seasons have passed by. He was the reliable linemate for Cutter Gauthier while he got his feet wet during his first full NHL season, and continued to play alongside Carlsson. His penalty killing acumen has been one of his calling cards since arriving in Anaheim. Head coach Joel Quenneville and assistant coach Ryan McGill leaned on him especially this past season, putting him in a tandem with Ryan Poehling as the top penalty killing unit.
Killorn has not missed a game since that first season with Anaheim, showcasing his durability and endurance. He was one of three Ducks to play in all 82 regular season games this past season. Though he isn't the quickest skater by any means, his intelligence and strength when hanging onto pucks or engaging in board battles make up for his lack of foot speed. He has arguably been Verbeek's best free agent acquisition to date and while his $6.25 million AAV may have been eye-popping initially, he has managed to quell concerns about those numbers.
Troy Terry
Terry endured plenty this season, battling through a chronic hip impingement during the second half of the season and into the playoffs. He still managed to put up 57 points in 61 games and just missed out on his fifth consecutive 20-goal season, though he did hit the 50-point plateau for the fifth time in his career.
One of the team's top forwards and a staple on the power play, Terry has become much more of a facilitator over the past few seasons, following his 37-goal breakout in 2021-22. With players like Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke and Chris Kreider now on the team, there isn't as much of a burden for Terry to be a goalscorer. He does showcase his wicked wrist shot from time to time, with his shooting percentage hovering around 12 percent, feeling more appropriate than his scorching 19.3 percent during his 2021-22 campaign.
On Thursday, the Ducks announced that Terry underwent successful surgery to address his hip impingement and a labral tear. He is expected to be out for five to six months, which means he could be out until December.
Mar 30, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (19) skates on the ice during the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Griffin Hooper-Imagn Images
Terry's absence provides an opportunity for someone like Colangelo, Nesterenko or even Frank Vatrano, who was on the outskirts at the end of this past season, to step in and make an impact. Terry's scoring gradually decreased as the game progressed, with it clear that his injury was impacting his play. He had strong opening and closing performances against the Oilers, but the injury appeared to be taking its toll against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Hip issues can be tricky, as we saw with former Duck Ryan Kesler about a decade ago. The hope is that this surgery will give Terry a clean bill of health and help him get back to the level of play he was at before the hip impingement became an issue.
Chris Kreider
Kreider was acquired by the Ducks last June, following another New York Rangers saga that involved forcing out a player via trade. After Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek acquired Trouba from the Rangers in December 2024 following a brief strong-arm discussion with Rangers general manager Chris Drury, he circled back to grab Kreider for minimal cost (prospect Carey Terrance and a third-round pick) several months later.
The bounties were plentiful early and often for Kreider in his first season as a Duck. If he had any issues acclimating to the other end of the coast, it didn't show in his play as he became a mainstay on the top power play unit in his customary netfront position and the ideal complementary piece alongside Leo Carlsson and Terry on the top line. November was by far his most productive month. He scored seven goals and provided five assists with a plus-3 rating. He reached the 20-goal mark for the eighth consecutive season and was one of six Ducks who reached the 50-point threshold.
However, things took a downturn for Kreider once April hit. He registered three points (all assists) in seven games with a plus-0 rating and then had seven points in 12 playoff games. Most of that production came in the series-clinching Game 6 against the Oilers in the first round, when he had a goal and two assists. Outside of that, he had just four points and a minus-3 rating. He was a minus in every game of the second round against the Golden Knights, aside from Game 6. Despite the lack of production, Quenneville opted to stick with Kreider on the top line alongside Carlsson and Terry.
Apr 30, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Chris Kreider (20) reacts at the end of game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
At 35, Kreider isn't getting any younger. But he didn't cost an exorbitant amount and provided secondary scoring. He probably shouldn't be on the top line again next season, but should be on a line with player(s) who can drive play and set up scoring opportunities for him. He is entering the final year of his seven-year, $45.5 million contract this upcoming season.
Kreider is a cerebral player who doesn't need the puck on his stick very long to make an impact. The lulls in his play may be concerning, especially for someone who received a lion's share of playing time at both 5v5 and the power play. After missing a portion of the 2024-25 season with various injuries, Kreider was relatively healthy this past season, save for a bout with hand, foot and mouth disease. A similar season production-wise in 2026-27 would be welcomed; it's just a matter of continuing to find that success in the latter stages of the season.
Jun 18, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Cleveland Guardians center fielder Daniel Schneemann (10) scores on a wild pitch in the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Brewers were unable to complete a sweep of the Guardians on Thursday afternoon, as Cleveland stayed in the game all day before pulling ahead and ultimately winning 4-2 behind three solo homers.
Shane Drohan worked around a one-out walk in the first, while Parker Messick set the Brewers down in order in the bottom of the frame.
Cleveland had some traffic in the second, as Kyle Manzardo was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a single by Gabriel Arias, but Drohan settled in to record a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to escape the mini-jam.
The Brewers mounted their own threat in the bottom of the second, as Andrew Vaughn and Jake Bauers reached on a walk and single, respectively. Gary Sánchez then brought in the first run of the afternoon on a single just out of reach of second baseman Travis Bazzana, giving Milwaukee a 1-0 lead and putting runners at the corners with no outs.
Blake Perkins followed with a groundout to third, as Arias went home with it to get Bauers trying to score. Cooper Pratt then struck out on a pitch over his head, and Joey Ortiz nearly extended the lead with a hard liner, but right fielder Kahlil Watson — in his MLB debut — made a nice diving catch to keep the score at 1-0.
After Bazzana grounded out to begin the third, Drohan got into a nine-pitch battle with David Fry, who ultimately slugged a homer over the wall in left-center, just out of reach of Perkins, tying things up at 1-1.
Drohan’s third-inning troubles continued, as he gave up a single and walk with one out, but he was able to keep the game tied with a pair of groundouts.
Christian Yelich hit a ground-rule double to begin the third but would be stranded on the basepaths as Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, and Jake Bauers all struck out.
After Drohan bounced back for a 1-2-3 fourth, the Brewers regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. Sánchez drew a walk, Perkins doubled, and Pratt hit a sac fly to make it 2-1 Brewers.
Drohan worked another scoreless fifth, and that marked the end of his day. It was a solid albeit inefficient day for the rookie lefty, as he went five innings with one run allowed on three hits and three walks, striking out three on 91 pitches.
Joel Kuhnel took over for the Brewers in the sixth and gave up a game-tying solo homer to Manzardo on a 1-1 cutter he left over the plate.
Messick kept the tie intact in the bottom of the sixth, and Cleveland pulled into their first lead of the game — and the series — in the seventh, as Grant Anderson gave up a one-out solo shot to Bazzana, making it 3-2 Guardians. Anderson continued to struggle from there, giving up a pair of walks before inducing a pop-out.
Anderson was then pulled for lefty Drew Rom, who promptly walked Manzardo to load the bases with two outs for Arias. Arias didn’t need to do anything, though, as Rom buried his first pitch in the dirt, a wild pitch that allowed all runners to advance and extending the lead to 4-2 before Arias ultimately struck out.
Against lefty reliever Tim Herrin in the seventh, Pratt drew a leadoff walk but was wiped out by a quick 5-4-3 double play off the bat of Ortiz. Yelich then walked, and Guardians manager Stephen Vogt went to Colin Holderman to face Chourio. After falling behind 0-2 against Holderman, Chourio worked it back to a 2-2 count before reaching on a hit by pitch that (luckily) went off his padding. Turang then followed with a walk of his own, and Vaughn got into a full count but grounded out to short to end the inning, as Brayan Rocchio and Rhys Hoskins both flashed the leather to end the frame.
Rom worked around a single, a balk, a wild pitch, and a walk in the eighth, keeping the deficit at two with Hunter Gaddis entering to pitch.
Gaddis, who gave up the go-ahead homer in Tuesday night’s game, walked Bauers to start things off, but Sánchez and the pinch-hitting Garrett Mitchell — who hit that homer on Tuesday — struck out. Pratt fell behind 0-2 but worked it to 2-2 before lining a single to right, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. Vogt didn’t mess around, bringing closer Cade Smith in for Gaddis as he’d have to face the pinch-hitting William Contreras.
Contreras walked on four pitches, meaning Smith would have to face the lefty Yelich with the tying run at second and the go-ahead run at first. Yelich couldn’t make anything of the opportunity, though, as he struck out on four pitches.
Craig Yoho got the ninth inning for Milwaukee, and he gave up a leadoff double to Rocchio but stranded him at third behind a pair of strikeouts and a flyout.
Still facing a 4-2 deficit after a pair of squandered bases-loaded opportunities, the top of Milwaukee’s order would have to mount a rally against the hard-throwing Smith. It wasn’t to be, though, Vaughn was the only player to reach via a four-pitch walk, with Chourio grounding out, Turang striking out, and Bauers flying out.
It was a disappointing loss, as the Brewers had plenty of scoring chances — as a team, Milwaukee went just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 12 on base, not ideal for a team that relies so heavily on small ball. They had five hits and nine walks on the afternoon, but they also struck out 13 times.
Sánchez and Pratt both had an RBI in this one, and Vaughn led the team by reaching base three times, all via walk. Yelich, Bauers, Sánchez, and Pratt all had a hit and walk each.
Beyond Drohan, who left in line for the win, Kuhnel took a blown save and Anderson took the loss with two runs allowed in the seventh. Rom and Yoho worked around traffic in the final few innings, allowing no runs and striking out five over 2 1/3 frames, though Rom did allow the inherited runner to cross via his wild pitch.
After a solid 4-2 homestand, the Brewers are headed back on the road as they’ll take on the NL East-leading Braves in Atlanta beginning Friday night. Jacob Misiorowski is on the hill for Friday’s series opener, with veteran lefty Martín Pérez set to start for Atlanta. First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m.
TSN revealed the top 10 players on their NHL trade bait board for the 2026 NHL off-season. A Pittsburgh Penguins forward was among the players listed, as Rickard Rakell made the cut.
Rickard is no stranger to being the subject of trade rumors, as he was one of the most-talked-about trade candidates during this past off-season. While trade speculation surrounding him died down a bit during the 2025-26 season due to the Penguins being a playoff team, he is finding himself right back in the rumor mill this summer.
With the Penguins being a team that is focused on the future, it is fair to wonder if they could trade a solid veteran forward like Rakell. This is especially so when noting that he has good trade value after having another strong season in 2025-26. In 60 games this campaign with the Penguins, he had 24 goals and 48 points.
This year's pending UFA forwards are not the strongest, either, so it would make sense if Rakell generated a lot of interest during the off-season. This is especially so when noting that he has a bargain $5 million cap hit through 2027-28.
Yet, given how well Rakell has continued to play for the Penguins, there is no question that trading him would hurt their top six. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what the Penguins decide to do with Rakell from here.
