Let’s get some high numbers and preseason Devils action out here. | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Tonight’s the night…the first round of the NHL Draft takes place via conference calls and hopefully through less-awkward TV means than last year (though we’ll never forget that Matthew Schaefer moment).
Islanders News
With the 13th overall pick, the Islanders…will probably select someone. [Newsday]
This is the Islanders preseason schedule, feel the excitement. [Isles]
Some more mock drafts…Oscar Hemming enters the chat. [NHL]
Oh and here’s another mock draft, another one sending Tynan Lawrence to the Isles. [ESPN]
ERMEGRD, the Canadiens supposedly called the Isles about Bo Horvat and the Isles said no. {click} [THN]
Elsewhere
Here’s another draft ranking, a top 100. It has Stenberg above McKenna. [Sportsnet]
And here’s another mock draft. It has OHL LW Ethan Belchetz to the Isles. [Sportsnet]
Here are some random late thoughts about random top 100 prospects. [Athletic]
How do 13 NHL scouts feel about the top defensemen in this draft? [Athletic]
Rumor roundup: Buffalo isn’t done dealing, Blue Jackets will have conversations with Werenski. [Sportsnet | NHL]
The Blue Jackets sent three draft picks to Colorado for Valeri Nichushkin, who probably won’t be happy there and they’ll hope will stay out of trouble and off IR. [NHL]
The Flyers send asshat Garnet Hathaway to the Panthers for some late-round picks, and retain half his salary. [NHL]
Not the Draft
The Capitals have tampered done a sign-and-trade for 33-goal scorer Alex Tuch, inking him to an eight-year, $84 million contract. He is 30. [TSN | NHL]
The Predators and Avalanche swapped a bunch of That Guys. [TSN]
Why…why did the Blackhawks swing so big for Bowen Bryam? [Athletic]
Jason Robertson reportedly declined something like eight years and $15 million AAV from the poor Kraken. [Sportsnet]
He also reportedly declined interest from the Blues, who offered “multiple first-round picks” if they could do a sign-and-trade. [@JeffMarek]
The “ins and outs” of the NHL exploring expansion in Texas. [TSN]
Connor McDavid says the Oilers top players all agree it’s high time they have a coach who abuses them; enter Mike Babcock. [Sportsnet]
The Senators have another uphill climb after having to trade Brady Tkachuk. [Sportsnet]
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 25: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees signs autographs before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees dropped their series opener against the Red Sox in a rather sloppy effort, with several errors culminating in Cam Schlittler allowing a four-run fifth inning capitalized by a big two-run home run off the bat of former Yankee prospect Caleb Durbin. That blew what was a 2-0 New York lead up until that point, but despite clawing one of those runs back the Sox added some big insurance with two runs in the eighth and then survived an Aroldis Chapman jam in the ninth. A rough one to be sure, but there’s still three more games to be played out in Fenway before heading back to the Bronx.
We’ve got a loaded schedule on deck before the Yankees take the field again later tonight. Nick starts us off with a look at the rotation depth as June comes to a close, and then Sam has the Rivalry Roundup featuring the Rays gaining a game back in the standings after a dominating win. Josh takes the opportunity to regard Derek Jeter’s illustrious career in relation to his baseball fandom on the captain’s birthday, Peter examines Ryan Weathers’ latest start in the Sequence of the Week, Michael takes the June Swoon narrative under the microscope, and finally I’ll be back to open up the mailbag and answer more of your questions.
Today’s Matchup:
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Time: 7:10 p.m. EST
TV: YES, NESN
Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Questions/Prompts:
1. Tonight will be the Yankees’ 81st game played. Will their second-half record eclipse the 48-49 wins they’ll have from the first half?
2. Did you believe that the old Aroldis Chapman was going to emerge in that ninth inning and blow it last night?
The Hens scored in the top of the tenth after a well pitched game, and reliever Jack Little slammed the door, striking out the side in the bottom half to win in Worcester on Thursday.
Sawyer Gipson-Long has pitched better of late, and he turned in a solid start on Thursday. The right-hander’s outing ended after he allowed a two-run homer to Tyler McGonough in the fifth, but he was nearly perfect otherwise, racking up seven strikeouts on the night. Ricky Vanasco and Woo-Suk Go each gave the Hens two scoreless innings of relief.
The Hens opened the scoring in the third when Andrew Navigato and Max Clark led off with singles. Trei Cruz struck out, but a fly out from Gage Workman was enough to get Navigato to third, and Clark then stole second. An infield single that pitcher Brayan Bello couldn’t handle scored Navigato for a 1-0 lead.
Brett Callahan singled with one out in the sixth and stole second and third, but Tyler Gentry and Jace Jung struck out. Finally in the eighth, Max Anderson tripled the opposite way off Kristian Campbell’s glove in the right field corner, and a blooper over the shortstop from Callahan was enough to get the run home and tie the game.
In the top of the ninth, with Cruz starting at second, Gage Workman walked, and a Max Anderson single to center scored Cruz to make it 3-2. Unfortunately, Callahan popped out and Gentry grounded into an inning ending double play.
So, Jack Little took over in the bottom of the 10th looking to hold the lead and wrap this up. He quickly punched out the first hitter on a bunt attempt, and then punched the second one out as well. A 95 mph heater above the zone blew away Micky Romero, and that was good work from Little to earn the save.
Anderson: 3-5, R, 2 RBI, 3B
Clark: 2-5, SB
Callahan: 2-5, RBI, 2 SB
Gipson-Long: 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K
Coming Up Next: The Hens will look to make it five straight on Friday at 6:45 p.m. ET.
It was a pretty good night for the offense, but Max Alba and the pitching staff were not good in this one.
Peyton Graham reached on a force in the first and then stole second, scoring on a Chris Meyers single for an eraly 1-0 lead. It didn’t last as the Ponies got to Alba for five runs in the second and third innings combined.
In the bottom of the third, Seth Stephenson singled and scored on a Peyton Graham triple to left that should’ve been caught, but wasn’t. Thayron Liranzo walked, and Graham scored on a wild pitch that got Liranzo to second. He scored on a Meyers single to make it a 5-4 game, but that was as close as they’d get.
Catchers doing work. Luke Shliger and Thayron Liranzo both throw inning-ending darts to second base. pic.twitter.com/vKLYEwCkfh
Eric Silva allowed a run in the fourth, but the SeaWolves got that one back in the bottom of the fifth on an Andrwe Jenkins sacrifice fly that scored Meyers. Again it was 6-5 and a one run game, but the bullpen couldn’t shut the Ponies down. Johan Simon allowed two runs in the top of the seventh with aid from a Graham error at shortstop. Max Burt got those runs back with his first Double-A home run, a two-run shot, after taking over for Izaac Pacheco, who left with a leg injury.
Max Burt entered tonight’s game for Izaac Pacheco and promptly hit a 2-run blast to left to pull Erie within one run. @ZachSurdenik on the call. pic.twitter.com/YBYhDmAr39
Luke Taggart allowed two runs in the top of the ninth as the Ponies put this one to bed.
Graham: 3-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, 3B, BB, SB
Meyers: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, BB
Bigbie: 2-3, R, BB
Alba (L, 1-3): 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, BB, K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:35 p.m. ET start on Friday with the SeaWolves up 2-1 in the series.
West Michigan Whitecaps 11, Dayton Dragons 4 (box)
Lucas Elissalt was pulled after a long first inning, allowing just one run but topping the 30 pitch mark that triggers the insta-hook. It mattered little as the offense raked and the bullpen did a solid job holding things down the rest of the game.
The Dragons led 2-0 early, but the ‘Caps seized control in the third. Singles from Caleb Shpur and Woody Hadeen were followed by walks to Andrew Sojka and Ricardo Hurtado, plating a run. A sac fly from Luke Shliger scored Hadeen, and then Clayton Campbell got a mistake pitch and pumped a three-run jack to left to make it 5-2 Whitecaps.
Clayton Campbell crushes a 3-run homer to left and the Whitecaps go up 5-2. It’s his 5th home run of the year. pic.twitter.com/DCLhFDfAno
In the fourth, Stephen Hrustich singled and scored on a Sojka single later in the inning. In the seventh, Sojka led off with a triple and scored on a Hurtado single. Shliger singled as well, and after Campbell flew out, Samuel Gil singled to shortstop to load the bases. Juan Hernandez plated two with a single, and Shpur and Hadeen came up with RBI singles to make it 11-4.
Preston Howey tossed three innings of one-run ball to pace the bullpen, while Ryan Harvey earned the win despite allowing a pair of runs in 2.1 innings of work.
Bryce Rainer had the day off.
Hadeen: 2-4, R, RBI, BB, K
Sojka: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 3B, BB
Campbell: 1-3, R, 3 RBI, HR, BB
Harvey (W, 2-2): 2.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start on Friday with the Whitecaps down 2-1 in the series.
Malachi Witherspoon got wild after a good start to his outing, but it didn’t matter to this game as the Flying Tigers cranked out 14 hits and drew 7 walks to crush the Tortugas with ease.
Jordan Yost opened the game with a single but was erased on an Edian Espinal double play ball. That was too bad, as Beau Ankeney smoked his 11th home run for a 1-0 lead.
Beau Ankeney crushes a solo homer 414 feet to left to give Lakeland an early lead. It’s his 11th home run of the season. pic.twitter.com/VFf7YIc3C5
In the second, Zach MacDonald reached on a bunt single with one out and then stole second for his 20th steal on the season. Anibal Salas reached on an error and a wild pitched scored MacDonald. Hunter Robbins doubled in Salas, and Jack Goodman was hit by a pitch. An Espinal two-run single made it 5-0, and then Ankeney doubled in Espinal and scored on a Carson Rucker single to make it 7-0 through two innings.
Witherspoon gave up a solo shot in the third. In the fourth, he issued three walks and allowed three runs, with a Rucker error extending the inning and making them unearned.
An RBI double from Dobbins that initially looked like a homer scored MacDonald in the fifth. Ankeney singled in two runs later on in the inning to make it 10-4.
Xiomer Guacache got into a huge two-out, bases loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth, but MacDonald made a spectacular diving catch in center field to rob an extra base hit and probably save three runs.
Dobbins and Yost walked in the top of the seventh and advanced 90 feet on a passed ball. An Espinal two-run single made it 12-4. The bullpen leaked a run each in the seventh and eighth, but this was out of reach by then.
Ankeney: 3-6, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2B, HR, K
Espinal: 2-5, R, 4 RBI, BB, K
Dobbins: 2-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B, 2 BB, K
Yost: 2-3, R, 3 BB
Witherspoon: 4.0 IP, 4 R, 1 ER, H, 4 BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:35 p.m. ET start on Friday with the Flying Tigers down 2-1 in the series.
Alemain Cruz gave the Tigers a pretty good outing and the bullpen was alright, but they couldn’t put any runs up on the board. Michael Oliveto had a double for his first extra base hit in pro ball, and shortstop Angel de los Santos continues to hit and get on base, but otherwise it was a pretty weak effort in this one from the offense.
Seven-time champion could face Swiatek in third round
Ostapenko and Sabalenka drawn in Raducanu’s quarter
Serena Williams will face Australia’s Maja Joint at Wimbledon in her long-awaited return to singles competition after four years of retirement, a match between two players born nearly 25 years apart.
Joint, a talented 20-year-old who won Eastbourne last year, has struggled badly with her form this year, compiling a 3-15 record in 2026. The winner of their first round match could face the in-form Filipino 25th seed Alexandra Eala.
The high school baseball landscape across the country has been elite, to say the least.
In a perfect world, one might ask: in a winner-take-all state title contest, who and how would we craft a lineup featuring players from across the country?
For this list, we've crafted a roster of 20 seniors. The breakdown of the roster is as follows:
Pitchers (6)
Catchers (3)
Infielders (6)
Outfielders (5)
Here's the USA TODAY Sports Starting 9, along with a coaching staff we'd build below in a hypothetical state title game.
Eric Booth Jr., Oak Grove (Miss.) OF
Booth is the top prep outfielder available in this year's MLB Draft, and will be a contributor right away in pro ball for whichever organization he's in. With Oak Grove this season, Booth hit .481 with 20 extra-base hits, 31 RBI and 55 runs scored. He walked 45 times and swiped 23 bases, making him the ideal leadoff hitter in this hypothetical state title game.
Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian (S.C.) LHP
Bolemon was nearly unhittable this season for the Sabres, pitching to a 0.17 ERA over 41 1/3 innings pitched, allowing just one earned run. Over that span, he allowed just 11 hits and 13 walks while striking out 91 batters. Expect Bolemon to be a likely first-round pick, considering the emphasis clubs place on prep left-handed pitchers on a yearly basis.
Coleman Borthwick, South Walton (Fla.) RHP
Borthwick is a big fella at 6-foot-6, 255 pounds, but he can sling it from the right side with a fastball that has been awfully close to hitting triple digits. With South Walton this spring, Borthwick pitched to a 0.21 ERA, allowing just 18 hits and 7 walks over 65 2/3 innings, striking out 121 in that stretch. Borthwick could see himself break into the first round, but picks 31-40 seem a lot more likely should he choose to forgo his Auburn commitment.
Blake Bowen, JSerra (Calif.) OF
Bowen's a prime DH candidate in this starting lineup at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, with a power grade of 60 by MLB.com. Bowen also played football for JSerra and has plenty of athleticism to make things happen in the outfield in his pro career. At the MLB Combine, he registered 15 hits that had an exit velo north of 100 MPH.
Will Brick, Christian Brothers (Tenn.) C
Brick gets the start at catcher on this roster, hitting .517 with 10 extra-base hits for Christian Brothers this season. Originally part of the 2027 class, Brick decided to reclassify after a highly successful stint with Team USA's 18U team, which competed in Japan in October, where he hit .333 while playing strong defense behind the dish. While the bat is a work in progress, many believe his defensive skills will translate to the next level.
Brody Bumila, Bishop Feehan (Mass.) LHP
While Bumila wouldn't start this game, he's an elite lefty who is poised to make the big leagues at some point in his career. His fastball has reached triple digits and features a lot of inverted vertical break, making life tough for hitters. At 6-foot-9, the arm slot is especially tough.
Trevor Condon, Etowah (Ga.) OF
The younger brother of former Georgia star and Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Condon, Condon had a stellar senior year for Etowah, hitting .504 with nine home runs, 42 RBI and 17 doubles in 36 games. His decision-making at the plate is strong despite being a teenager, making him a long-term player in many organizations that value that in their philosophies. With elite speed as well, expect Condon to make an impact on this squad.
Sean Dunlap, Crown Point (Ind.) C
Dunlap has largely been a consistent player behind the plate for Crown Point, and is very fast despite the toll catching takes on the knees. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder hit .473 with nine home runs, three doubles, 11 doubles, and 45 runs batted in, adding 32 runs scored and with just six strikeouts over 112 plate appearances.
Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian (Texas) INF
Expected to be a top-three pick in this year's draft, Emerson's set to become the next big shortstop to come out of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Following the footsteps of Bobby Witt Jr., Emerson grades out near the top in hitting, power, running, arm and fielding, making him a franchise player for whoever drafts him.
Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach (Calif.) OF/LHP
Grindlinger's likely to go pro as a left-handed arm, but we're going to start him in left field. In a Huntington Beach uniform this year, Grindlinger hit .376 with a team-high 41 hits, adding 14 extra-base hits and 22 RBI, striking out twice in 125 plate appearances.
Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep (Fla.) INF
The younger brother of Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr., Jacob Lombard is primed to be even better than his big brother. With Gulliver this year, Lombard batted .477 with 10 home runs and 25 RBI, leading the way with 42 hits and 52 runs scored. His 1.471 OPS led the team, and he will be a likely top-five pick in this year's MLB Draft.
Bo Lowrance, Christ Church Episcopal (S.C.) INF
Lowrance's 6-foot-5 frame, at least on this team, makes him a likely first baseman despite primarily playing third. He has a solid left-handed bat at the plate and will be able to make an impact in pro ball. Whether or not he forgoes his Virginia commitment remains to be seen.
Taj Marchand, James Island (S.C.) INF
If you want all-around tools and defensive value, Marchand's your guy. His arm is elite, along with his bat, making him a second-round prospect with clear potential to make a splash. While he may not start on this squad with Emerson, Lombard, and others in the infield, it does not take away from the fact that he starts on virtually any other squad.
Cole Prosek, Magnolia Heights (Miss.) C/INF
Prosek simply couldn't be stopped this season for Magnolia Heights, hitting .585 (76-130) with 18 home runs, 19 doubles, a pair of triples and 79 RBI with 62 runs scored. He added 31 walks and had a 1.855 OPS against Mississippi competition. While he is currently a primary third baseman, Prosek could project as a catcher in pro ball and make this roster as one of three catchers.
Gio Rojas, Stoneman Douglas (Fla.) LHP
Rojas gets the nod as the starting pitcher in this theoretical state title game, and is the top left-handed arm on many draft boards. The Stoneman Douglas product transferred from the Denver area after his freshman year, helping the Eagles win three straight state titles. In a Stoneman uniform, Rojas was 28-1 with a 0.65 ERA with 285 strikeouts over 162 innings, allowing 73 hits and 36 walks against elite competition in South Florida.
Aiden Ruiz, The Stony Brook (N.Y.) INF
Ruiz is a fascinating prospect because he's a switch-hitter and an ambidextrous thrower, making him exclusive on this roster in that regard. His defense is the best on this team, grading out with a 70 in the field and a 60 arm. With Team USA's 18U team, his defense forced Grady Emerson over to third base, something we're replicating here. His speed and fielding are too good to keep on the bench.
Logan Schmidt, Ganesha (Calif.) LHP
Schmidt's young for his age here at 17 years old by the time the Draft rolls around, but that doesn't mean he isn't up there with Rojas and Bolemon in terms of quality. The California product can attack the zone but still has some room to grow, making him a secondary option out of the bullpen if need be.
Landon Thome, Nazereth Academy (Ill.) INF
The son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome, Landon Thome has an impressive bat from the left-hand side with exit velos in the high 90s and low 100s. With his power, much like his dad had with the Indians, Phillies, and White Sox, among others, Landon could see that it would come with maturity and a bigger build beyond the 6-foot, 177-pound frame he's currently in.
Kaden Waechter, Jesuit (Fla.) RHP
Kaden Waechter, another son of a former big leaguer (Doug Waechter), has starred for Jesuit since his sophomore year, making him a well-known product in the high school space. Waechter has delivered and then some for Jesuit over the years, pitching to a 13-5 record with a 1.01 ERA, striking out 135 over 104 1/3 innings. Over that stretch, his WHIP sits below 1.00, as he also generates ground ball and fly ball outs.
Noah Wilson, McCallie (Tenn.) OF
With McCallie, Wilson hit .385 as a senior with 45 hits, 17 extra-base hits, and 41 runs scored to go along with 23 stolen bases. Not many teams wanted to pitch to the prospect, as he walked 33 times as well. While he may not start on this team, he very well could come off the bench in a pinch-hit or pinch-running role, depending on the situation.
COACHES
Manager: Todd Fitz-Gerald, Stoneman Douglas (Fla.)
Fitz-Gerald's been around some elite prospects over the years, and joins this staff alongside his palyer Gio Rojas. The Stoneman Douglas coach has built a national dynasty in South Florida, winning six consecutive state titles in Florida's toughest classification. The Eagles defeated then-national No. 1 Venice 2-1 in the Class 7A title game behind a masterful effort from Rojas.
Assistant Coach: Rick Arnold, Trinity (Ky.)
Arnold's Trinity Shamrocks were deemed the MaxPreps and Perfect Game National Champions after a 41-3 season that concluded with a KHSAA Championship. Trinity scored 411 runs in 44 games and conceded just 85 runs.
Assistant Coach: Jared Halpert, Harvard-Westlake (Calif.)
One of two coaches from the Golden State on this staff, Halpert has been at the school for over a decade, churning out consistent results in the nation's largest state. The Wolverines went 26-6 this year and were the second best squad in California behind St. John Bosco.
Assistant Coach: Andy Rojo, St. John Bosco (Calif.)
Speaking of the Braves, Rojo's Bosco team was the best in California this year, going 27-6 with a CIF Southern Section Division I title over Norco. The Braves have eclipsed 20 wins in each of Rojo's first three seasons with the program.
Assistant Coach: Doug Rush, Tomball (Texas)
Rush and Tomball were virtually unstoppable all season long, going 44-1 with a UIL 6A DII State Championship, beating Houston Memorial 9-1. The Cougars conceded just 79 runs over 45 games, and scored 328 during that span.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.
In recent drafts, the Philadelphia Flyers have gone out of their way to draft big, strong, physical players to add to their prospect pool, and the 2026 NHL Draft is looking to be no different.
The Flyers, of course, could truly end up choosing anyone when they are first on the clock at Pick 21, whether it be a winger, a defenseman, or another center.
Not all of these prospects are cut equal, especially at the defense position, and that could cause some variance at the back of the draft order.
For example, The Athletic NHL prospect expert Scott Wheeler released his final NHL mock draft of the year, and he has the Flyers taking a big swing on defense... literally.
While not everyone may agree with the valuation, including Wheeler himself, the Flyers select defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii in the first round in this mock draft.
Sokolovskii is a 6-foot-8 defenseman who plays for the London Knights (shocker!), and he is widely regarded as the meanest player in the entire draft class.
"Sokolovskii’s name has been one of the most hotly discussed among NHL scouts over the past few months, and I expect he’ll be selected in the 20s now. He’s the biggest player in this class, he might be its most naturally aggressive and he can move. Those three things made him a source of intrigue for the scouts this year," Wheeler wrote.
"His steep development curve in the second half of this season sold the league on his prospects as the next Nikita Zadorov type, and the trust in the London Knights to get him there (coincidentally, they also developed Zadorov) is another confidence booster. I believe the Flyers are the start of his range."
The Flyers have made it no secret that they would like to get bigger and stronger on defense, and have admitted that the left side of their defense, where Sokolovskii plays, is far weaker than the right.
Passing, puck skills, and decision-making will be question marks for Sokolovskii, but the Kazakh rearguard is undeniably a punishing defender who can do it all in his own zone.
For myself, Sokolovskii is a harder sell due to the simple fact that I believe it to be easier to teach players to defend (Xavier Villeneuve) rather than to teach them how to pass, handle the puck, and make smart choices under pressure.
At the same time, Sokolovskii's size can't be taught either, and that makes him a true unicorn in the 2026 draft class.
Remember, just two years ago in 2024, Anton Silayev was expected to be a top-five pick, slid a little, and still went 10th overall to New Jersey.
Right or wrong, teams cover those players, and the Flyers understandably accept that risk in this latest mock draft.
CBS Sports | Dayn Perry: I’m sure you’ve heard by now MLB’s latest offer in ongoing CBA talks. The league proposes caps on free agent contracts, “hometown” or a Bird Rule-esque advantage for teams to retain their own players by adding an additional year to those capped contracts, and setting a slightly higher MLB minimum salary for players with two years of service. In short, well…
MLB has ultimately proposed an NFL hard-cap, with NBA contract structures, and less-than-NHL price percentages.
Interim head of the MLBPA Bruce Meyer went on to say that he’s never seen the membership or their agents quite so united before. This is going to drag out a while.
New York Daily News | Mike Lupica: Yesterday was Cam Bump Day, and while as of writing I do not yet know how it turned out, if I were to bet I’d bet on it going well. (Editor’s note: mixed bag.) Cam Schlittler seemingly stands alone atop the AL Cy Young race at the halfway mark of the season, and perhaps the best part of it all is how good he has been against the Yankees’ storied rivals in Boston. In his two previous starts against the Red Sox this year he’s spun a 1.32 ERA and that’s not even counting his near-legendary Wild Card performance last October. That’s how you build yourself into a cornerstone of a franchise, which Cam seemingly is on his way to doing.
New York Post | Greg Joyce: Poor Ryan McMahon. For about two weeks the Yankee third baseman felt sicker and sicker, to the point where he had difficulty eating much of anything. He was finally able to see an ears, nose and throat specialist during the Yankees’ time in Detroit, finally diagnosed with a peritonsillar abscess that required immediate lancing and draining and boy pictures online of this thing look gross! I’m sure Mac’s feeling better already.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: We return to the Daily News to examine the case for trading for Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal. You all know the resume, and you all know he’s a free agent at the end of the year. With Detroit struggling to assert itself in a bad division, there’s been more and more smoke that the club may trade their ace in July. I’m not necessarily on board with the idea, but that’s a phone call you take if nothing else.
Following tonight’s game, the Yankees optioned C J.C. Escarra to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
And in the last news of the morning, the Yankees sent catcher J.C. Escarra back down to Triple-A following the loss to Boston. This would seem to indicate that Ali Sánchez will return from the paternity list in advance of tonight’s game.
He missed all of 2024 with a knee injury that required multiple surgeries to fix.
He fractured his thumb in May and is just now back with the Mets. In the times between those injuries, he’s struggled to remain consistent at the plate, posting a .662 OPS in 61 games since 2025.
Mauricio is hitting .216 for the Mets this season.
Mauricio’s thumb fracture prevented him from seizing an opportunity when Francisco Lindor was sidelined with a calf strain in late April.
Now, he’s got another chance, as the revolving door of healthy infielders continues. Semien’s trip to the IL comes just one day after Lindor returned. The team is still without Jorge Polanco for the foreseeable future due to Achilles bursitis.
“Overall, I thought the at-bats were OK, especially from the right side,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of Mauricio’s return. “First game back, after being out for quite a bit … as far as that, I thought it was OK.”
Ronny Mauricio rips an RBI double in the fourth inning of the Mets’ 4-3 loss to the Cubs in 10 innings on June 25, 2026 at Citi Field. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Mauricio recorded a double and a strikeout in the loss. He also committed an error on a throw to first in the sixth inning.
There was one big shot to leave a mark Thursday for Mauricio. He came up in the bottom of the ninth with two on and two outs. A walk-off could’ve given him a moment to remember.
But he grounded out, and the game went to extra innings. In the 10th, Pete Crow-Armstrong’s double sent automatic runner Matt Shaw home and gave the Cubs the lead.
MEts merch shop
47 Brand logo cap
1986 eco tote bag
Mets fiber beach towel
14-ounce sculpted relief mug
Customizable jersey
Color block logo backpack
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
The Mets couldn’t score in the bottom of the 10th and were swept away, dropping their sixth straight.
It’s likely not Mauricio’s only shot in the coming days, considering Mendoza called Semien “week to week” before Thursday’s loss.
Mauricio hopes this stint can be a turnaround to a big league career that has thus far been disappointing, despite some glimpses of promise.
Climate crisis is on show every day when sportspeople do their thing and the rest of us sweat on the sofa
Nothing sharpens the distinction between professional athletes and the rest of us like a week of truly hot weather. While we’re apologetically crying off long‑in‑the-diary engagements – so sorry, just can’t face it in this weather – elite sportspeople are blinking the rivulets of sweat out of their eyes while squinting under a hot and heavy helmet, then doing 22-yard sprints with a couple of kilos of padding strapped to their legs.
As one of nature’s non-athletes, I speak not only with admiration but with genuine wonder. My experience of the past week has been working out how not to do things, or, if forced, doing them half‑heartedly because, you know, I haven’t slept. My friends and I message each other the latest innovations in fan strategy (“Apparently putting a frozen bottle of water in front of it helps”) and talk about our journeys on public transport as if we’ve just survived the Somme.
George Wolkow mashed two home runs in Winston-Salem’s 14-9 victory over Hub City. | (Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Charlotte Knights 7, Rochester Red Wings 6 (11 innings) Jonathan Cannon had a rough four-inning start that included three unearned runs of the six scored, but the Knights (44-34) were able to claw back and walk-off the Red Wings (46-30) in extras, 7-6. Cannon made his 10th start and ended up allowing eight hits, and the unearned runs were attributed to a fielding error from Andy Weber. The righty also struggled with control by hitting a batter, tossing a wild pitch, walking three, and striking out four in comparison, but it didn’t outweigh the damage.
Dominance out of the Knights bullpen helped pave the way for Charlotte batters to stage the comeback. Caden Connor was the sole Knight with more than one RBI, driving in the two tying runs with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth. Korey Lee accounted for the the other two extra-base hits with a double and a homer, but Andy Weber ended up (mostly) redeeming himself from his previous error to walk it off and end the game … on an error from the second baseman, 7-6. Really, the second baseman probably should have made the play, but Lee was hoofing it the whole way and beat was still able to beat the throw.
Righthander Ben Peoples managed both of the extra frames, and was perfect while striking out two and earning his fifth win. Peoples has been excellent and has posted a 2.45 ERA in 28 appearances and 36 2/3 innings, but his walk rate could use a lot of work, hanging over 10% for this season which isn’t sustainable even with his increased 28.4% strikeout rate. Peoples could be another pitching prospect that we see rise to the bigs this season, but it’s unclear if that will be anytime soon.
Knoxville Smokies 5, Birmingham Barons 1 Lefthander Lucas Gordon tossed for six solid innings and allowed two runs on four hits, a home run, and struck out eight in the process, ultimately receiving his fourth loss of the season as the Barons (26-46) dropped their sixth straight today with the 5-1 loss to the Smokies (41-31). The Birmingham bats only had two fewer hits that Knoxville, 7-5, but they fumbled all of their chances to score runs by going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and leaving six on base.
Overall, the defense as a whole was having a bad day. Caleb Bonemer committed three errors at short, and the two relievers out of the Barons bullpen – Jackson Kelley and Morris Austin – each gave up at least one run. To be fiar, the Barons weren’t capable of scoring runs anyways, it didn’t end up making a difference. For the sole Birmingham run, third baseman Alec Briley mashed a solo shot to avoid the shutout, but the offense was otherwise flat. On to the next one.
Winston-Salem Dash 14, Hub City Spartanburgers 9 Winston-Salem had actually blown a five-run lead after giving up four runs to the Spartanburgers (36-36) in the third and fourth innings, but a six-run offensive explosion in the ninth led the Dash (41-31) to victory, 14-9. Not only did Winston-Salem put up 10 hits as a team, six of them were for extra bases and they also walked 13 times. Somehow even with scoring 14, they went just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and ended up leaving 11 on base; not a great day for Hub City pitchers, but I’m not complaining.
Alex Ungar and George Wolkow combined to go 3-for-9, scoring three times and driving in nine: five from Ungar that included a grand slam in the ninth, and four from Wolkow, who mashed two homers on the night. Aside from these standouts, James Taussig and Ryan Burrowes also rounded up two hits with the latter scoring three times.
Righthander Max Banks gave up two earned (four total) in his 2 2/3 inning start, allowing the Spartanburgers to catch up and then take the lead in the fourth as Drew Conover ended up with a blown save before he was bailed out by the hot bats and the final three pitchers out of the Dash bullpen. Winston-Salem pushed through Jake Bockenstedt’s five walks, and righthander Madison Jeffrey wound up with his first win of the season.
Columbia Fireflies 7, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 3 The Cannon Ballers (35-37) are now riding a three-game losing streak after losing to the Fireflies (37-35), 7-3. Offensively, Kannapolis got rocked and were outhit, 11-3, but a pair of errors from Columbia helped the Ballers avoid the shutout. With ample chances, they went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position while leaving six on base. Jaden Fauske posted two of the three Kanny hits, and Matthew Boughton ripped a double for the third, both players scoring once.
Truman Pauley made his 14th start of the season, ultimately giving three (two earned) on six hits, two walks, and six strikeouts, but it’s been a rough year for him as this wound up being his seventh loss. The remainder of the bullpen wasn’t much to write home about, either. Anthony Patterson III acted as the long reliever, but immediately got into trouble in the sixth and gave up three, but was otherwise solid for his final two innings despite the lack of offense.
ACL White Sox 12, ACL D-backs 1 (7 innings) It was great to see the ACL Sox (12-27) offense explode against the D-backs (21-19) Thursday, with a nine-run third frame as the main difference in the win for the Sox, 12-1. Jose Mendoza mashed a two-run shot in the second, and the bats popped off the next inning to give more than enough run support for the pitching staff to hang on and win the game. The third frame consisted of: four base hits, a double, four walks, two errors, a hit batter, and a wild pitch. Ouch, but thank you to the ACL D-backs for the morale booster. The Good Guys needed just two pitchers to get through the game, with righthander Justin Fuson earning his first win of the season while allowing just three hits and striking out five.
DSL Arizona Red 10, DSL White Sox 8 (7 innings) Unfortunately the DSL White Sox (5-13) took another one on the chin, getting outhit, 8-4, by the DSL Arizona Red team (12-7) and losing, 10-8, despite going 3-for-5 with runners in scoring in scoring position. The Sox manufactured as many runs as the did by walking eight times, which was two more than they struck out (six), but the AZ Red squad went 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Both teams’ starters allowed six runs, but the Alexander De Los Santos surrendered four in his 2 2/3 frames and ended up with his second loss of the season.
Feb 11, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Brad Stevens the president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics congratulates guard Jaylen Brown (7) for receiving the NBA player of the month award for his performance in the month of January before their game against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
You know the old internet meme. A dog with a fedora sits in a room. A mug is on a table. And the walls are on fire. Seemingly calm despite the circumstances, the dog says, “this is fine.”
To most of the talking heads, this is where the Celtics are heading into free agency. After striking out in their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, many suspect that 1) Jaylen Brown has/had asked to be traded, 2) bridges have been burned between him and the front office, and/or 3) Brad Stevens is actively shopping the 2024 Finals MVP and 2026 All-NBA Second Teamer.
On Thursday, ClutchPoint’s Brett Siegel reported that “Jaylen Brown has not once approached the organization or Brad Stevens to ask for a trade.” The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer also said that “Boston is very much moving forward in the market with the thought that they don’t have to trade Jaylen Brown..I don’t believe at this juncture that the Celtics want to move Brown unless it makes them better.”
Despite those missives throwing water on a lot of the speculation from more mainstream outlets like ESPN, there’s still an air of indecision with the fanbase. Brad Stevens tried to quell those rumors in his post-draft presser, but actual NBA GMs and armchair GMs alike have already hit the trade machine with possible deals that could make sense for the Celtics.
We polled our readers on the current state of the team before free agency starts on June 30th at 6 pm EST:
What does Jaylen Brown think? Well, he’s overseas at the moment, but on Wednesday, he simply tweeted that he “loves cats.” It’s not exactly the energy-shifting attitude we were expecting from JB, but it ain’t the “this is fine” dog either.
Despite the palace intrigue at Waltham, our friends at FanDuel still have the Celtics as the favorite at +210 to represent the East in next year’s Finals and third behind the Thunder and Spurs to raise the Larry O’Brien.
The NHL trade market has heavily favored sellers over the last few days, and the Philadelphia Flyers could choose to cash in on one of their most popular players as a result.
Ahead of Friday's 2026 NHL Draft, NHL insider Frank Seravalli posted his compiled list of the top 40 trade targets around the league, which is ordered by likeliness of a trade coming together.
There weren't any surprises at the very top of Seravalli's list: Dylan Larkin, Mason McTavish, and Matthew Knies were among the oft-discussed names high in the ranking.
Notably, there was only one Flyers player included by Seravalli, and that is winger Owen Tippett, who clocks in at 39th on the list of the 40 names.
It has been reported several times over recent weeks and months that the Flyers do not necessarily want to trade Owen Tippett, unless an offer they absolutely cannot refuse is made.
Tippett, 27, will have a 10-team no-trade list kick in on July 1, so that, more than anything else, could be a driving factor in any potential trade from the Flyers' perspective.
Tippett's $6.25 million cap hit is looking more and modest with each passing year, especially with his ability to create offense for himself using his legs.
At the same time, the Flyers have decisions to consider at the winger position.
Porter Martone will be playing in his first full NHL season in 2025-26, and we can assume that Matvei Michkov will stick around for the long haul, too.
That leaves two more spots in the top-six for Travis Konecny, Tyson Foerster, Tippett, Alex Bump, Denver Barkey, and, potentially, Trevor Zegras if he cannot stick at center permanently.
Plus, the Flyers still hold the 21st overall pick in Friday's draft, which could very well be used on another winger given Tippett's age and Konecny's age.
Some teams picking inside the top-15, like the Buffalo Sabres, Seattle Kraken, and San Jose Sharks (the ninth pick, not the second), may feel incentivized to trade their picks for more immediate help to take the next step.
The Flyers have plenty of wingers to offer, with Tippett clearly being the most valuable of the bunch with his rare combination of size, athleticism, speed, and skill, and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen could always be included to make it a real package.
Ristolainen was, notably, left off Seravalli's list, though the trade market this week has proven that this could change at any minute.
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 6: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks reacts to a play in the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 6, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks are expected to lose center Mitchell Robinson in free agency.
According to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, Robinson is “unlikely to return to the Knicks next season,” mostly because of New York’s self-imposed financial cap.
“Heard it’s unlikely Mitchell Robinson will be back with Knicks next season. He’s longest tenured Knick but also an unrestricted free agent. Owner James Dolan said he’s unwilling to pay into second apron so running it back with bench is not feasible.” — New York Post’s Stefan Bondy
According to Bondy’s sources, the longest-tenured Knick, with the team since New York drafted him with the No. 36 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, is expected to depart and put an end to his time in New York shortly after becoming a champion.
Heard it’s unlikely Mitchell Robinson will be back with Knicks next season. He’s longest tenured Knick but also an unrestricted free agent. Owner James Dolan said he’s unwilling to pay into second apron so running it back with bench is not feasible.
Robinson’s situation is tied directly to the franchise’s financial stance, with Knicks owner James Dolan making it clear his organization will not cross the second apron this summer, even though that would inevitably lead to breaking the title-winning core, with the exception of the under-contract starting five.
“There’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron,” Dolan said. “I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.”
Dolan’s mandate has already influenced New York’s early offseason moves, including trading out of the 2026 NBA Draft’s first round to avoid adding guaranteed salary to its books, ultimately landing two second-round rookies that will likely sign minimum or two-way contracts.
Meanwhile, SNY’s Ian Begley added that retaining Robinson would likely require a pay cut from the big man, which feels highly unlikely given his value on the open market has increased and multiple suitors—the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings among them—could enter a bidding war for his services.
“It’s unlikely Mitchell Robinson returns to the Knicks because, in the best case scenario, he’d have to take a pay cut in order for NYK to remain under 2nd apron.” — SNY’s Ian Begley
Even out of the upcoming free-agency context, there is no realistic scenario in which Robinson, who isn’t necessarily old (he will play next season at age 28) but has only appeared in 167 games of the last possible 328 (51%) in the regular season, would take such a massive pay cut to fit the Knicks’ books.
Robinson has completed a four-year, $60 million deal with an average annual salary of $15 million per year. As things stand, per Yossi Gozlan, Mitch would need to take a substantial discount and sign for around $8-$9 million for New York to retain him. The word out there is that the Lakers and Kings would start their pitches at Robinson’s current $15-million-per-year salary with the expectation that the figure would increase.
Earlier on Thursday, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst already said that “There is a real possibility that (the Knicks) won’t keep Mitch Robinson.”
“There is a real possibility that they won’t keep Mitch Robinson. The Knicks are working on it. They made several different moves to free up about $4 million in airspace under the apron. There’s a possibility they may trade off another player to save some money. They’re trying to figure out Mitch Robinson, but I would say it’s not a guarantee that it will work. I would say Mitch Robinson is 50/50… maybe 51/49 to come back.” — ESPN’s Brian Windhorst
If Mitch has played his last game as a Knick, he’d leave New York with 397 regular-season games under his belt, averaging 7.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. On top of that, he appeared in 53 postseason games, putting up 4.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game.
With free agency nearing, the gap between Robinson’s market value and what the Knicks can offer appears to make his return to Manhattan unlikely. Blame it on the little room for maneuvering imposed by the NBA’s second apron, but mostly on Dolan’s stubbornness. Some things never change.
We're in the sweet spot of the NBA rumor mill season: The NBA Draft is behind us, NBA free agency starts in less than a week, and deals are getting done. We've had two massive trades already (three if you want to count Julius Randle to Brooklyn, which set the table for LaMelo Ball to Minnesota). What are the latest rumors? Here's a roundup.
Mitchell Robinson likely not returning to New York
Knicks owner James Dolan has been clear during a couple of interviews since New York won its first title in 53 years: He wants to keep this roster together, but he would not go into the second apron to do it.
That's where the math gets ugly, and why the Knicks traded out of the first round of the NBA Draft (first round picks get a guaranteed contract). Even with all their moves, expect Mitchell Robinson to be the odd man out, reports Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
Heard it’s unlikely Mitchell Robinson will be back with Knicks next season. He’s longest tenured Knick but also an unrestricted free agent. Owner James Dolan said he’s unwilling to pay into second apron so running it back with bench is not feasible.
Other teams around the league have been preparing for this, and Robinson — coming off a title run where he was crucial for the Knicks off the bench — will have a number of suitors.
Kawhi Leonard open to return to Raptors, Spurs
Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are in the midst of negotiating a contract extension, but the sides are reportedly not close to a deal. Leonard, 35 and coming off an All-NBA season, is entering the final season of his current deal at $50.3 million, and the Clippers want him to take a healthy pay cut. Leonard doesn't like the number the Clippers are presenting.
Which has led to some speculation about a trade. However, if that happens, Leonard has some leverage because the team that deals for him will want him to sign an extension — and he would do that with his two former teams, San Antonio or Toronto, reports Jake Fischer at The Stein Line. He would not do that with two other teams that have had their eye on him, Miami and Detroit, Fischer reports.
Toronto reportedly has been interested if Leonard becomes available. San Antonio has not been reported as an interested party, and whether the organization would want a reunion after a messy exit the first time around in 2018 is, to put it politely, up for debate. It's also unclear if any other interested teams (Golden State has been mentioned) would get a thumbs-up from Leonard.
Lakers reportedly open to Jarrett Allen for LeBron
With all due respect to Brian Windhorst — a genuinely good person and great reporter, someone I like and respect — this is a reach. At best.
Discussing a potential LeBron James return to Cleveland, Windhorst said this on ESPN Cleveland radio (hat tip Real GM).
"I think if the Cavs were willing to do that, they could have LeBron, obviously LeBron would have to want to sign with the Cavs," - @WindhorstESPN says the Lakers would KILL to get Jarrett Allen in a trade for LeBron. pic.twitter.com/WiFmIABUiE
"There is a thought process out there in Los Angeles and if the Cavs were interested in this, the Lakers would sit up in attention right now. That they would sign-and-trade LeBron for Jarrett Allen. I think if the Cavs were willing to do that, they could have LeBron. Obviously, LeBron would have to want to sign with the Cavs. But if your pathway to pay LeBron the money is to trade Jarrett Allen for him, the Lakers would kill for Jarrett Allen."
First, Windhorst is right, if LeBron wanted this and the Cavaliers were open to it, the Lakers would jump at trading for Allen. All Cleveland could offer to LeBron as a free agent is the veteran minimum, and if you think LeBron would play for the minimum you have not been paying attention to his career. Allen is set to make $28 million next season (and has two guaranteed years at $62.7 million beyond that), and a salary basically matching that number might be palatable to LeBron.
However, there are a few issues here. First, and Windhorst brushes past this but it's huge: Does LeBron want to return to Cleveland? He plays with his son on the Lakers, in a city where his family has made a home and is happy and settled. Does he want to move to Cleveland (or Akron) for a year? Does he want to leave the West Coast?
Second is the money issue. Completing a sign-and-trade for LeBron would hard cap the Cavaliers at the first apron, expected to be about $209 million. Cleveland currently has about $222 million in projected salary on the books, so while LeBron may take a little less and James Harden takes a lower per-year number on his extension, that's still $13 million to cut, which will hurt the team's depth. Then there's the question of just how open Cleveland really is to trading Allen, although they may have to in the coming years for financial reasons.
All of which is to say, this is a long shot. At best. But with the Lakers and LeBron reportedly not really discussing a number yet in any detail, speculation about his future will fill the void.
Other NBA rumors, news
• Detroit still interested in Herro. Tyler Herro reportedly is excited to be back in Milwaukee, where he was born, to play for the Bucks... except they may not keep him if the right offer comes in. Detroit, still looking for an elite second playmaker to put next to Cade Cunningham, is still interested, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line.
• Atlanta picked up its $2.41 million team option on Mouhamed Gueye for next season, which was expected. He played a big role as a backup big for them last season.
• Expect Jazz to keep Walker Kessler. Don't take my word for it (although league sources have told NBC Sports that other teams don't think he's really available), listen to Jazz owner Ryan Smith on Run it Back.
"We love Walk. He's a big piece of where we're going."
San Diego Padres Catcher Freddy Fermin (Photo by Mike Nowak/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres welcomed Freddy Fermin back to the starting lineup after missing a little more than a week while recovering from concussion symptoms. He guided spot starter JP Sears to a victory and secured a series sweep over the Atlanta Braves. The lone negative is Fermin failing to make an impact from the bottom third of the lineup.
He went 0-for-2 in his return, which dropped Fermin’s season batting average to .145 with a disappointing .505 OPS in 124 at-bats. The lack of offensive consistency has been a season-long issue. The Padres cannot go through another rough stretch of the bottom of the order struggling to score runs.
It is time for the front office to acquire a better hitting option at the catcher position.
Padres reluctant to call-up Salas
At first when Fermin went out of the lineup, the Friars were reluctant to bring Ethan Salas to the majors. It seemed like a smart decision, as the organization wanted him to continue his development in Triple-A. But any thought of a promotion to the majors has been put on hold, as Salas has been put on the minor league injured list.
The organization seems to be at the crossroads, as acquiring another catcher seems inevitable. Fermin’s return should not deter the front office’s aggressiveness. It is time to find someone who can compete for playing time. Given the bleak state of the minor league system’s catching depth, it is wise for the Padres to look for answers on the trade market.
The lineup does not need a blockbuster move
Let’s forget the notion of a blockbuster move; the lineup does not need an impactful bat. But you want to deal for a catcher who can knock in runs from the bottom third of the order.
You may see Colorado Rockies Hunter Goodman or Detroit Tigers Dillon Dingler become viable catching trade options as we get closer to the deadline. Both are good pitch framers who can provide a clutch hit late in close games.
The front office will need to do its due diligence on identifying the right addition to the roster.
The Friars need an upgrade at the catching position. If they cannot secure the right fit for the lineup, it might limit their chances to clinch a postseason berth.
