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Report: Anaheim Ducks 'Guaranteed' They Will Match Any Offer Sheet Attempt on Leo Carlsson, Analysis

The Anaheim Ducks entered the 2026 offseason with a projected $38.8 million in cap space, holes throughout their depth chart (most notably on the right side of their blueline), and six NHL RFAs (Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, Tyson Hinds, Ian Moore) in need of new contracts, with two of them projected to be sizable extensions: Leo Carlsson (21) and Cutter Gauthier (22). 

After signing Moore to a two-year contract extension, trading Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues, and trading Olen Zellweger to the Buffalo Sabres, the Ducks entered the July 1 free agency period with a projected $44.6 million in cap space, and the number of NHL RFAs in need of contract extensions decreased to four (Carlsson, Gauthier, Mintyukov, Hinds).

What AJ Greer Brings to the Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Make Slew of Signings on Day 1 of 2026 Free Agency

Offer sheets are an intriguing aspect of every NHL offseason, but notoriously, they’re rarely extended and signed. NHL clubs may sign opposing RFAs to offer sheets between July 1 and Dec. 1, and once signed, the player’s original team has seven days to either match the offer or send the player to the team they signed with in exchange for predetermined compensation.

Of the Ducks’ four current RFAs, only Carlsson, Mintyukov, and Hinds are eligible to sign offer sheets with opposing teams, as Gauthier does not meet the experience criteria. Typically, offer sheets have only been successful when extended to second-tier RFAs. When offered to top-tier players, they’re immediately matched.

The Ducks were relatively quiet to open the NHL free agency period despite losing a trio of veteran RHDs, as well as some depth forwards from their 2025-26 roster. Their only NHL acquisitions to date have been forward AJ Greer, forward Jeff Malott, defenseman Nick Jensen, and goaltender Laurent Brossoit. 

They currently have a projected $35.2 million in cap space, the most in the NHL by over $5 million. 

A combination of a seeming lack of reverence for the 2026 NHL Draft, an ever-increasing salary cap, and a thin unrestricted free agent market has led to the most eventful NHL offseason in recent memory. 

Which brings us back to offer sheets. The New Jersey Devils have already signed Utah Mammoth center Barrett Hayton to a one-year, $4.78 million offer sheet, of which Utah has until July 8 to match or lose the player for a second-round pick as compensation. 

With high-profile RFAs such as Jason Robertson, Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, Simon Edvinsson, etc., currently eligible for offer sheets, some have speculated whether this may be the offseason where these prolific players sign offer sheets.

Premier NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported on Twitter that if teams were to attempt to acquire Carlsson from the Ducks via offer sheet, it would be immediately matched, and the reason for their lack of activity to this point in the offseason is to maintain cap flexibility.

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

“Saw one offer sheet yesterday, Barrett Hayton (with) New Jersey, and are wondering about more,” Friedman wrote. “Heard over the past few hours Anaheim guaranteed it will match any attempt on Leo Carlsson, and the reason the Ducks haven’t made many moves is to make sure to be in a safe cap position.”

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek has established a reputation as one of the tougher GMs in the NHL to negotiate with, especially for RFAs, and especially more when they’re coming off their ELCs. Since he’s taken over in the Ducks’ front office, he’s taken negotiations with Troy Terry to the minutes before entering his scheduled arbitration hearing, and he’s taken negotiations with Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and Mason McTavish well into training camp without a deal in place.

The two significant RFA contracts Verbeek “got ahead of” in terms of negotiations were Lukas Dostal in the summer of 2025, where a five-year contract extension was signed several days before arbitration hearings were set to commence, and Jackson LaCombe in Oct. 2025, where an eight-year deal was signed nine months before his current one was scheduled to expire. 

Author’s opinion: By not having Carlsson under contract by July 1 and this report coming out a day after, it appears, from the outside, as though Carlsson and his representation have been given all leverage in negotiations with the Ducks.

It’s become more fashionable over the last 5-10 years in the NHL for GMs to sign their young star players well before their ELCs expire so as to have them committed to their teams for as long as possible, to as low an AAV as possible, before they truly break out and acquire more leverage.

“We reached a point, maybe late October/early November, that we decided to table talks with any of our young players and just focus on playing hockey,” Verbeek said when asked about contract negotiations with pending RFAs at the trade deadline. “And if they play hockey well, then all the contract stuff will take care of itself. I just wanted their mindset to be worried on playing good hockey and helping this team win and get into the playoffs.”

During Verbeek’s exit interview, Verbeek expressed his desire to get his high-profile RFAs (Carlsson and Gauthier) signed before training camp.

“In a perfect situation, I’d like to get them done in a week here,” Verbeek said on May 15. “I’m hoping for the best to try and make sure that everybody’s excited for training camp and all of us are happy. I don’t have a crystal ball to say how it’s going to go, but we’re going to do our best to make sure that we get everybody excited and there for camp.”

“I’d like to get it done as soon as possible, but we all have to cooperate with one another, right? That’s the goal,” Verbeek continued when asked about the motivation to get contracts signed before July 1.

Carlsson reiterated Verbeek’s sentiments at his own exit interview, on May 15, to get a contract agreed upon before training camp and relayed that negotiations hadn’t taken place to that point. 

“No, not really. We’ll just take it into summer, see what happens,” Carlsson said when asked about any preliminary contract talks between him, his representation, and Verbeek.

When asked about a preferential timeline for a deal, Carlsson said, “I want to get it done before training camp so I can be here with the team as early as possible.”

At of the end of the first round of the recent NHL Draft, the last time the media spoke with Verbeek, when asked about the status of RFA contract negotiations, he said, “They’re ongoing. That’s all I can say. We’re talking, and we’ll see where it goes.”

This remains an important offseason in the growth of the Anaheim Ducks franchise, on the heels of their first playoff appearance since 2018 and with the goal to “keep pushing this football down the field,” as Verbeek stated at the Draft on June 26. 

The landscape of the Ducks roster and depth chart, along with projections regarding the upcoming season, is still very much in question after recently losing McTavish, Zellweger, John Carlson, Jacob Trouba, Radko Gudas, Ross Johnston, and Jeffrey Viel, and acquiring Greer, Mallot, Jensen, and Brossoit.

Author’s opinion: It seems as though by not having contracts agreed upon with Carlsson and Gauthier, the Ducks were and remain unable to significantly add to and improve their roster due to uncertainty regarding the amount of cap space they’d have to work with. 

AJ Greer Speaks on Signing with the Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim Ducks Extend Seven RFAs Qualifying Offers, Four Not Tendered

Report: Ducks Sign A.J. Greer to Four-Year Contract

Ducks Acquire A.J. Greer from Panthers

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LeBron James' agent Rich Paul says star would've signed with Knicks if they didn't win NBA title

As the Knicks are enjoying their summer as reigning champs, NBA free agency and the rumor mill that comes with it is already in full swing.

And apparently, if New York didn't beat the San Antonio Spurs to win their first title since 1973, they'd be the top choice for the biggest free agent on the market -- LeBron James.

James' agent Rich Paul told Max Kellerman on the Game Over podcast that James would have chosen to sign with the Knicks if they didn't win the 2026 NBA Finals. 

"I think it's difficult, right? Because the last thing you want to do is mess up something like that. The Knicks has a good thing going. If the Knicks hadn’t won, there would be no board. He’d be going to the Knicks," Paul said.

Paul shared a whiteboard of potential destinations for James with reasoning for each, showing that he's mainly considering the Philadelphia 76ers, Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, and Cleveland Cavaliers as his next team. The secondary teams shown include the Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and Spurs.

While the idea of James playing for New York has been rumored multiple times since 2010 (when James infamously made "The Decision" to go to the Miami Heat), Paul made it sound like it would have happened this summer.

"Jalen Brunson would literally have to pick up the phone and say, 'Hey man, there’s no issue with me.' And I'm not saying that would make his decision... They (Knicks) have checked in," Paul said. "The one thing for sure, you want to respect what those guys have built. And also, it's Jalen Brunson's show. You want to respect that. He's earned that right, he's performed well, you want to respect that."

Although, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reported late Thursday night that the Knicks "should not be seen as a potential destination for James" and are "very happy with the core of their roster." Begley notes that the Warriors, Heat, Cavaliers and Sixers are viewed as teams with serious interest in the future Hall of Famer.

James, who will turn 42 at the end of December, announced on June 30 that he'll be leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons and choose a new team for the 2026-27 season. He is expected to play at least one more year in the NBA, but where that will be remains to be seen.

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Series Preview: St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 1: Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs hits a home run during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field on July 1, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The St. Louis Cardinals will celebrate the 4th of July weekend against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field this weekend. The Cardinals archrivals are nearly as hot as the weather the past two weeks and it will present a challenging weekend for St. Louis to be successful.

The last 10 games tell a completely opposite story for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. A couple weeks ago, the Cardinals were ahead of the Cubs in the National League Central standings, but the streaking Cubs have leapfrogged the Cardinals and are now within a handful of games of the front-running Milwaukee Brewers. The Chicago Cubs are 9-1 in their last 10 games while the St. Louis Cardinals are 4-6. That amazing come-from-behind win Thursday night gives them great momentum, though. According to MLB.com, here are the pitching matchups for St. Louis and Chicago this weekend:

Friday, July 3 – Andre Pallante RHP 9-5, 3.83 ERA, 68 SO vs David Peterson LHP 4-6, 5.86 ERA, 65 SO

Saturday, July 4 – Kyle Leahy RHP 6-4, 4.09 ERA, 67 SO vs Shota Imanaga LHP 5-6, 4.30 ERA, 92 SO

Sunday, July 5 – Matthew Liberatore LHP 4-5, 5.33 ERA, 79 SO vs Javier Assad RHP 6-1, 4.53 ERA, 31 SO

David Peterson won his most recent start against the Milwaukee Brewers going 5 2/3 innings allowing 2 earned runs and just 5 hits. Shota Imanaga earned a no-decision against the San Diego Padres on June 29 tossing 6 1/3 innings allowing 9 hits, but just 2 earned runs. Javier Assad only lasted 2 2/3 innings against the Padres on June 30 as he gave up 4 earned runs on 5 hits.

The Chicago Cubs offense has been on fire the past couple of weeks. Dansby Swanson hit 5 home runs over a 19-hour span driving in 11 runs during his outburst. Over his last 10 games, Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong hit .289, recording 11 hits (including 3 home runs), 9 RBIs, 9 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases. Ian Happ has been red-hot also over his last 10 games, batting .341 with 14 hits, 4 home runs, 14 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Seiya Suzuki has been on a tear, batting .317 with 13 hits, 2 home runs, 11 RBIs, and 7 runs scored in his past 10 games. One Cub who hasn’t been hot is Alex Bregman. Over his past 10 games, Alex Bregman has batted .222 (7 for 32) with 1 home run, 4 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. He also drew 7 walks, boosting his on-base percentage to .368.

Based on recent trends, it would appear that the St. Louis Cardinals will have their hands full over the 4th of July weekend, but that’s why we play baseball games instead of just study their numbers. You never know what will happen between the bases especially when it’s the Cardinals and Cubs at Wrigley Field.

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Yankees Sequence of the Week: Yovanny Cruz (6/30)

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 30: Yovanny Cruz #96 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on June 30, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There’s really no way to sugarcoat the way the Yankees are playing right now. The offense is impotent, the starting pitching has been suspect, and the defense unacceptable. It’s all added up to a season-high seven-game losing streak and a plummeting from 3.5 games up in the standings to four games behind the Rays for first in a two-week span. There have been very few moments worthy of praise during this barren spell, but one that absolutely stands out was Yovanny Cruz’s two scoreless innings with three strikeouts against the Tigers on Tuesday in his first appearance since being called up from Triple-A for the second time this season.

We join Cruz to open the seventh inning with the Yankees already trailing, 9-2. It’s as much a mop-up role as it is an audition to see if he merits sticking in the big league bullpen for longer than the two games of his initial cup of coffee back in May. Stepping into the box to lead off the inning is Kerry Carpenter, a lefty presenting an immediate extra challenge for the righty Cruz. Carpenter has already homered in the first off a Cam Schlittler cutter, hinting at the danger of throwing a pitch that breaks toward him.

One of the most important things for Cruz — and indeed any reliever — is to get ahead in the count with the first pitch. The difference between 0-1 and 1-0, especially late in games, is enormous. As such, there’s no messing about here, Cruz hoofing his fastball in the zone.

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Um, what did I just see? My attention immediately snapped to the TV when I saw 101 on the corner inside and at the knees for called strike one. That’s almost an un-hittable pitch. For the rest of this AB, and frankly the rest of Cruz’s outing, my antenna was up. I knew he had high octane stuff from his initial cup of coffee but this is another level entirely. It’s such a crucial pitch to garner the strike one call in that spot, opening up bountiful opportunities for chases on the back-foot slider.

That’s exactly what is on the mind of Cruz and Ali Sánchez, the backstop immediately calling for a slider below the zone.

View Link

Cruz misses his spot, but earns the strike two call by back-dooring the mislocated slider to the corner up and away. While he certainly did not intend that location, it reminds me of an interesting point that David Cone has brought up on recent broadcasts. He talked about how effective a weapon the high slider can be for called strikes — despite the age-old prescription that an elevated slider is a dangerous pitch to throw. Because the pitch looks like a ball high out of the hand, it is common for the hitter to give up on it early. And because a slider has later movement than other breaking balls like the curveball or sweeper, hitters often don’t have time to react upon seeing the downward break that brings the pitch into the zone. Again, I’m not sure this was the intention from Cruz here, but it worked exactly how Coney described.

With the count quickly 0-2, I expected Cruz to stick with his wipeout slider and focus on better execution down and in.

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Wait a second, Cruz throws a splitter now?!?! Not only that, but it’s a totally disgusting pitch?!?! This looks like one of those classic Fernando Cruz splitters that just nosedives off the table about halfway to home, except this one is thrown at 90 mph. Carpenter somehow catches the slightest nick foul to stay alive, though Sánchez is convinced that it was a clean whiff.

When you can throw a splitter with that much late diving movement and command it to your spot, you just have to stick with that pitch and let the hitter get himself out, as we have seen from Fernando Cruz in some of his highest leverage spots.

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This one isn’t executed quite as well as the first one, catching a fat part of the plate down and in. However, Carpenter is again fooled as I suspect the scouting report said nothing about Cruz throwing a splitter. He swings as if it’s a four-seamer at the belt, meaning he is way early and over the top and can only pound it foul into the ground around home plate.

Carpenter has shown zero indication that he is able to adjust to this splitter, so all Cruz needs to do is command one a bit lower than the last one and he should get the strikeout swinging.

View Link

That is exactly what Cruz is able to achieve, unleashing a filthy splitter on the corner low and away. Carpenter still hasn’t made the adjustment and he is made to look foolish whiffing way out in front of this pitch that would have been called strike three even if he had left the bat on his shoulder. You can’t get much closer to a perfect pitch than this.

Here’s the full sequence:

Is it possible Fernando Cruz helped teach his new bullpen mate his disappearing splitter? Cruz threw seven splitters on Tuesday, the pitch averaging 90.2 mph and 32 inches of drop. That would place his splitter immediately into the elite tier when it comes to movement, the nearest comp for the pitch being Roki Sasaki’s splitter, which exhibits the 13th-most vertical drop vs. average of any splitter in MLB. It’s the type of overwhelming movement that can make the pitch a platoon-neutral offering, nasty enough to elicit whiffs from both right-handed and left-handed batters.

Yovanny Cruz has been pretty much untouchable in his first three MLB appearances. He has faced 15 batters and allowed one hit and no walks while striking out six. The question for him has always been his strike-throwing ability, and it certainly appears he has started to iron out those issues. After getting sent back down following his two appearances in May, Cruz slashed his walk rate from 12.2-percent to 7.1-percent with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and the fact that he has yet to issue a walk at the big league level lends further credence to these improvements.

Although the Yankees’ bullpen has been crying out for better swing-and-miss stuff, they curiously made the decision to demote Cruz after the matinee on Wednesday. David Bednar needed to be activated off the paternity list, but one can’t help but wonder if perhaps they might have been better off dropping someone else instead.

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Give Duran his money!

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 21: Jhoan Duran #59 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, June 21, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

It was an interesting poll this week, me asking you which player should get a contract extension first were the Phillies to offer someone one. Here are the results:

That’s about as close to a 50/50 split as you can get.

If we’re focusing in on Jhoan Duran, I see why the team would want to make sure he is locked up for the foreseeable future. His dominance on the mound means some team is going to eventually pay for his services, his age also a factor in discussion as he’s still relatively young enough that good years are likely still ahead of him. At this point, a deal similar to the first one the Mets gave Edwin Diaz is probably the starting point for any kind of extension offer the Phillies would give to him in order to keep him off of the open market.

The looming issue in that is the CBA discussions happening right now. What if somehow there is a salary cap put into place? Would the Phillies even be able to extend Duran to a figure that would be commensurate with his ability and past comps to his profile? He still has another year of arbitration left, so nothing is particularly pressing, plus the team probably wants to see what the endgame of the negotiations looks like between the league and the player’s association before committing to anything substantial with Duran or Brandon Marsh for that matter. But if it were up to you, Duran would be the first choice to get a deal done.

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MLB Predictions and Moneyline Picks for Friday, July 3

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Crack open a cold one because the long holiday weekend has finally arrived. To kick off the festivities, we're bypassing the heavy favorites and hunting for pure value on Friday's baseball board.

I'm backing multiple live dogs tonight, including the Twins and Padres, to cash some high-yielding tickets before the fireworks even start in my MLB moneyline predictions.

Here is my deep dive into Friday’s MLB picks for July 3.

MatchupPick
Cardinals Cardinals
vs
Cubs Cubs		Cubs
<<-120>>
Pirates Pirates
vs
Nationals Nationals		Nationals
<<-133>>
Twins Twins
vs
Yankees Yankees		Twins
<<+167>>
Orioles Orioles
vs
Reds Reds		Orioles
<<-113>>
White Sox White Sox
vs
Guardians Guardians		White Sox
<<+122>>
Mets Mets
vs
Braves Braves		Mets
<<+106>>
Giants Giants
vs
Rockies Rockies		Rockies
<<+138>>
Rays Rays
vs
Astros Astros		Astros
<<+102>>
Red Sox Red Sox
vs
Angels Angels		Angels
<<-102>>
Marlins Marlins
vs
Athletics Athletics		Athletics
<<-122>>
Brewers Brewers
vs
Diamondbacks Diamondbacks		Brewers
<<-141>>
Padres Padres
vs
Dodgers Dodgers		Padres
<<+228>>
Blue Jays Blue Jays
vs
Mariners Mariners		Blue Jays
<<-117>>

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 7-3.

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Expert MLB moneyline picks for July 3

Cardinals vs. Cubs: Cubs (-120)

Cubs win probability: 55%

Does anyone want to get in front of the red hot Chicago Cubs right now? The Cardinals in their last six games own a 40 wRC+, .494 OPS and .092 ISO. Meanwhile, the Cubs have a 156 wRC+, .399 wOBA and .923 OPS during that span.

Take the Cubs on the eve of this holiday weekend.

Pirates vs. Nationals: Nationals (-133)

Nationals win probability: 57%

Nationals right hander Foster Griffin has been on a tear over his last five outings, owning a 1.15 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 27.50% strikeout rate. The Pirates have been very swing happy this past week, owning a 29.3% strikeout rate, while the Nationals have been no better, they have still one of the most lethal offenses in baseball. James Wood has gone cold as of late, but he is still producing a 92% hard hit rate. Insane. 

I like the Nationals here. 

Twins vs. Yankees: Twins (+167)

Twins win probability: 38%

I am going to keep this super short.

The  New York Yankees own a 1 wRC+ in their last six games. One. They are frozen solid.

Take the value in the Twins. 

Orioles vs. Reds: Orioles (-113)

Orioles win probability: 53%

Despite having a horrific start to the year, Trevor Rogers has turned this around as of late. The Orioles southpaw owns a 1.40 ERA, 2.07 xERA and 0.78 WHIP in his last three starts. I think his recent dominance continues and he leads the Orioles to a win this evening. 

White Sox vs. Guardians: White Sox (+122)

White Sox win probability: 45%

This feels like a clear bounce back spot after last night’s heartbreaking loss. Snagging the White Sox at +122 looks like the right angle, leaning into the power of friendship and a get right spot. Anthony Kay has also been steady lately, posting a 3.65 xERA over his last three starts. If he can deliver six solid innings, Chicago should be in a strong position to close it out and cash.

Mets vs. Braves: Mets (+106)

Mets win probability: 48%

I am already backing Juan Soto this evening, so why not take the entire Mets team? Christian Scott has been on a tear on the road, while Grant Holmes has been getting lit up by left handed hitters. I like the Mets as an underdog here, especially with how inconsistent both teams have been. Feels like the price is right, give me the value.

Giants vs. Rockies: Rockies (+138)

Rockies win probability: 42%

Sure, Logan Webb is on the mound for the Giants, and he has been nails, but so has the Rockies offense lately. Ryan Feltner for Colorado has also been solid in his recent starts, posting a 2.70 ERA over his last three outings.

I like the value on the Rockies.

Rays vs. Astros: Astros (+102)

Astros win probability: 50%

Rays starter Nick Martinez has slowly been regressing over his last five starts, as he owns a 5.14 ERA in that span. Spencer Arrighetti has not been much better overall, but at home he has been solid, posting a 3.56 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.

I think after a massive week at home, hitting the road could cool down a Rays offense that has been on fire lately. I am willing to take the risk here.

Red Sox vs. Angels: Angels (-102)

Angels win probability: 50%

Both offenses have been ice cold as of late, so we are going to have to back the better pitcher. Red Sox left hander Jake Bennett has been nails in his last three outings, but Reid Detmers has been consistent all season long, owning a 2.88 xERA on the year with a 1.06 WHIP as well.

Give me the hometown team to come through.

Marlins vs. Athletics: Athletics (-122)

Athletics win probability: 55%

The Athletics offense has been pretty cold this past week, but they draw Marlins right hander Tyler Phillips, who has a 5.00 ERA, 5.02 xERA, and 1.37 WHIP in his last five starts. Phillips allows a ton of hard contact, and this should be a good spot for the Athletics to get back on track.

Brewers vs. Diamondbacks: Brewers (-141)

Brewers win probability: 58%

The lone winner of the Rafael Devers trade, Kyle Harrison and man has he had himself a season! The left hander owns a 2.57 ERA and 1.03 WHIP on the year. He draws a very cold Diamondbacks offense, while having one of the hottest offenses backing him this evening. 

Brewers. Pay the juice.

Padres vs. Dodgers: Padres (+228)

Padres win probability: 30%

It is either the Padres come out with a chip on their shoulder after blowing an early 6-0 lead last night, or they tuck their tail. Either way, I think taking the Padres at +228 is worth the sprinkle. The offense has been hitting the ball very well this past week, and they could get their revenge this evening.

Take the value!

Blue Jays vs. Mariners: Blue Jays (-117)

Blue Jays win probability: 54%

Another game featuring two ice cold offenses, and I have to take the better pitcher, which means backing Blue Jays right hander Dylan Cease. On the season he owns a 3.02 ERA, 2.79 xERA, and a 1.24 WHIP. These numbers have been consistent all season long.

Luis Castillo on the other end has been a literal punching bag, and the Blue Jays offense should be able to break out against the heavy fastball pitcher.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Luka Dončić is excited about the Lakers’ offseason signings

EL SEGUNDO, CA - OCTOBER 08: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during the all access practice on October 08, 2025 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Lakers were already Luka Dončić’s team, but now that LeBron James has departed, he is, without question, their biggest star.

This makes pleasing him with the franchise’s direction the highest priority. Given that this is an offseason where a ton of cap space could be created and the Lakers had few players guaranteed to return, the pressure was on the front office to deliver quality moves to improve the team.

According to a report by Dan Woike of The Athletic, Luka has liked what’s happened so far, particularly the reported trade for Walker Kessler and the team’s ability to keep Austin Reaves.

According to league sources, Luka Dončić was “excited” about the Lakers’ signings, with the team addressing his biggest desires for the roster by keeping Austin Reaves and getting an elite rim-protecting center in Kessler.

Those sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deals have not been completed, said the Lakers kept in regular communication with Dončić and his team despite a significant time gap, with the star guard spending his summer in Europe.

Getting these two deals done for the Lakers came at a hefty price.

Trading for Kessler required giving up multiple first-round picks and agreeing to a four-year, $130 million deal. And to keep Reaves will reportedly cost $185 million across four years. Still, if it means Luka is happy, maybe that’s all that matters.

The franchise has gone all in on him, and the two most important things are his happiness and the team’s competitiveness.

Reaves has max talent, and now his money matches his basketball ability. Kessler is a clear upgrade in the frontcourt compared to what LA has played with over the last two seasons.

So not only can the basketball argument be made that these are good moves, but with Luka also wanting them, the choices the Lakers have made are no-brainers.

The Lakers have always been a superstar-friendly team.

They made sure Magic Johnson was happy with the head coaching situation in the 80s. During the Kobe Bryant era, they found him a big so he could win a pair of titles. And even if things ended with LeBron, the Lakers certainly made big moves for him, including trading for Anthony Davis and later, Russell Westbrook in an attempt to win it all.

It’s no surprise Luka is getting the same treatment.

Dončić is happy that the Lakers have the pieces he’s asked for. Once the roster is finalized, he’ll have the ingredients he needs to cook up a title run in LA.

For now, it’s summertime and good vibes are all that’s needed. Dončić is happy, the Lakers should be pleased with their moves and we have plenty of time to see how it all looks in reality in the fall.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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Flyers Reveal Jett Luchanko Underwent Procedure Prior to Development Camp

The Philadelphia Flyers have finally expanded on the ailment that has chronically been plaguing top center prospect Jett Luchanko for the last few years.

Luchanko, 19, was held off the ice for back-to-back development camps due to injury, though no procedures were ever officially announced... until now.

Despite playing each of the last two seasons mostly as normal, Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr revealed after the conclusion of development camp Friday that Luchanko had a procedure done on his core to address a "lingering" injury.

"He had a proceudre done on his core. It's been lingering for about a year and a half. I don't even know the timeline. He's been working out lots down there, should be skating over the week and be ready to go," Flahr said. "He doesn't like to make excuses, but at the same time, his speed, skillset, there's hopefully a full summer to train and train properly."

While there typically isn't a silver lining we can take from a prospect's injury, Luchanko hasn't produced a ton of offense in the two years since being drafted, and now there's a good chance that Luchanko just hasn't been fully healthy for much of that time.

Exclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyExclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyIn an interview with The Hockey News, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere discusses his top prospects, former players, free agency, and more.

The Flyers' 2024 first-round pick is expected to compete for an NHL roster spot out of training camp when healthy, and so long as Luchanko indeed remains healthy, there is a good chance he can do it.

Regardless of he makes the NHL or not, the 2026-27 season will be Luchanko's first as a full-time professional player.

The speedster has played nine NHL games with the Flyers, including one in the Stanley Cup playoffs this past postseason, as well as 16 AHL games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms between the regular season and Calder Cup playoffs.

Of note, Flyers general manager Danny Briere told The Hockey News in a recent Q&A that Luchanko would not make the Flyers' NHL roster as a reserve player, and would only be kept up if he was one of the top-12 regular forwards.

Considering how much hockey Luchanko has missed, and how much hockey he's played at less than 100%, this is the smartest and safest move by the Flyers.

Flyers rookie camp opens on Sept. 11, leaving Luchanko with two more months to rehab, recover, and train.

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Tatum breaks silence on Jaylen: ‘Nothing but love and respect for you'

Tatum breaks silence on Jaylen: ‘Nothing but love and respect for you' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It was at least a little noteworthy that Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum had no public reaction or message to this week’s shocking trade that sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia. Considering the duo has been one of the best one-two punches in the NBA for close to a decade, the silence raised a few eyebrows around Boston.

Yet almost 48 hours after the news broke, Tatum has chimed in.

Tatum posted a photo of himself with Brown in their earliest NBA days, with a message attached to his former teammate:

9 years! Forever grateful for all that we accomplished together, for pushing me to be a better player. From first round exits to winning a chip together I’m thankful for it all. Nothing but love and respect for you as a player and as a person! Looking forward to see how you attack this next chapter of your career and wish nothing but the best for you! Continue to be special.

Tatum was drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in 2017, a year after Brown was taken at No. 3 by Boston. They forced Cleveland to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference finals in their first year together, reaching at least the third round of the playoffs in five of their first seven seasons together.

Aside from their work together on the court, they also shared a memorable moment in 2023, when the All-Star Game took a back seat to their impromptu one-on-one matchup.

Tatum was named the MVP of that game, while the pairing of course won a championship for Boston a year later.

That All-Star Game showdown was notable because it was the first chance for anyone to really watch the two Celtics stars play against each other on both ends of the court. With Brown heading to Philly, though, it’s a sight that’s going to become a lot more common.

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Wrapping up free agency: Spurs shore up the 4

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 5: Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs plays defense during the game against Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons on March 5, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The San Antonio Spurs’ first order of business was re-signing their own, but they didn’t stop there.

Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes, who shared the Spurs’ power forward spot most of the year, were locked down in Day 1 of the NBA’s free agency period. The Silver and Black rewarded Champagnie with a new 3-year, $45 million contract and brought back Barnes on a 1-year, $8 million deal.

Though Champagnie supplanted Barnes in the starting lineup last season, time will tell who starts in 2026-27 because … Tobias Harris joined the Spurs on a 2-year, $31 million deal after helping Detroit earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference last year. Harris ranked second on the Pistons in scoring with 18.1 points per game while grabbing a team-high six defensive rebounds per game.

His 30 points (including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc), 9 rebounds, and 3 steals were crucial in Detroit’s Game 7 win over Orlando in the first round of the 2026 playoffs.

Harris has been a double-figure scorer in all but his first two seasons in the NBA. He’s started every game in the last nine years, despite bouncing from the Pistons to the Clippers to the 76ers and back to Detroit in that span.

Of course, Barnes had his own nine-year starting streak before Champagnie’s skill set and effectiveness moved him to the bench the second half of last season.

The Spurs still have their full bi-annual exception (about $5.5 million) remaining for the last two full roster spots. From last year’s Western Conference championship roster, Bismack Biyombo, Jordan McLaughlin, Kelly Olynyk, Mason Plumlee, and Lindy Waters III remain unsigned as unrestricted free agents.

Guard David Jones Garcia and forward Harrison Ingram have two-way qualifying offers, making them restricted free agents. The Spurs can have up to three players on two-way contracts.

Outside the lines, the Spurs made a splash Thursday night by signing “free agent” coach Billy Donovan as the team’s lead assistant following Sean Sweeney’s departure for the head job in Orlando.

Donovan spent the last six seasons as Chicago’s head coach. Despite never claiming a Central Division title and making just one playoff appearance with the Bulls, he brings championship pedigree with his back-to-back national championships at Florida in 2006 and 2007.

After a college coaching career that also included a national runnerup finish, another Final Four, and three more Elite Eight appearances, Donovan made his way to the NBA in 2015-16. He led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a Northwest Division championship and the Western Conference Finals.

Now, he’ll be helping Mitch Johnson and the Spurs as they try to keep the Thunder from advancing no further than that in the years to come.

No bias on Tobias

Fan reaction to the Tobias Harris signing was mixed on social media, but the Spurs earned generally good reviews from around the league.

Sports Illustrated’s Dan Lyons rated the Harris signing an A-, recognizing him as “one of the few Pistons to elevate his game in the postseason” and calling him “a rock-solid signing” for the price.

Bleacher Report said the full mid-level exception seemed a little high for Harris at his age (soon to be 34). But BR’s staff still gave the signing a B due to Harris’ veteran presence and playoff experience.

Zach Harper from The Athletic also weighed in with a B, calling Harris a “very good short-term option” who the Spurs just need to “consistently knock down outside shots.”

Looking at the offseason as a whole, Kurt Helin from NBC Sports gave the Spurs an A-. He said Harris is “a good role player who can catch-and-shoot corner 3s and put the ball on the floor when needed; he’s a good veteran fit for them at a position of need.” Helin also praised the re-signing of Champagnie and the Spurs’ focus on bigs in the draft.

Harris video makes the grade

One thing we can all agree on … Tobias Harris brought it with his free agent announcement video:

Wemby World Cup vibes

And speaking of videos, this clip of Victor Wembanyama’s pinpoint free kick is making the rounds on social media. His French countrymen are on the short list of World Cup favorites, but if they end up needing any help …

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Zakhar Bardakov Officially Lands With KHL Powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg

When Zakhar Bardakov's time with the Colorado Avalanche came to an end, it never felt like a permanent goodbye.

Just weeks after returning to Russia, the 25-year-old forward has officially signed a one-year contract with KHL powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg, taking the next step in a move that had been building since his arrival in North America. While the signing closes one chapter of his career, the Avalanche have quietly ensured another could still be written by extending Bardakov a qualifying offer, allowing the organization to retain his NHL rights.

Bardakov's departure from Colorado was never a surprise behind the scenes. When the Avalanche signed him from the KHL, his contract included a clause allowing him to return to Russia if he was assigned to the American Hockey League. It was a unique provision that reflected his status as an established professional rather than a traditional prospect expected to spend years developing in the minors.

Although Bardakov earned a roster spot out of training camp and steadily adjusted to the North American game, his opportunity remained limited throughout the season. He finished with one goal and nine assists in 60 games while averaging just 7:12 of ice time, spending much of the year on Colorado's fourth line. His lone assignment to the AHL with the Colorado Eagles, where he scored in his only appearance, ultimately reinforced the reality that a larger role wasn't likely to come in Colorado.

That reality became even clearer in the playoffs, when Bardakov was a healthy scratch for the entire postseason despite appearing in 60 regular-season games.

Rather than remain in limbo, Bardakov chose the more familiar path. His one-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg gives him an opportunity to play significant minutes for one of the KHL's premier organizations while continuing his development against high-level competition.

For the Avalanche, however, the story doesn't necessarily end there.

By issuing Bardakov a qualifying offer before his departure, Colorado retained his NHL rights, meaning any future return to North America would still go through the Avalanche. If Bardakov thrives with SKA and decides another NHL opportunity is worth pursuing, Colorado—not another club—would control that next chapter.

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The Senators Didn't Ignore Free Agency, They Rebuilt Their Depth

The Senators have had an extremely quiet start to free agency, at least in terms of adding impactful NHL players to their roster.  

But GM Steve Staios was able to address another important area, and that's adding prospects and depth to a farm system that badly needs it.

Steve Staios says he's in a holding pattern in free agency as he waits on Claude Giroux.

On Wednesday, Staios signed five free agent players who are all expected to begin the year in Belleville. But some of them are also players capable of helping in Ottawa right now when the inevitable injuries strike.

The Sens signed forwards Sammy Blais, Philippe Daoust, Ryan Suzuki and Philip Tomasino, along with defenceman Christian Kyrou, to two-way contracts.

That followed the late June acquisition of winger Kasper Halttunen from the San Jose Sharks and the drafting of Jonas Lagerberg Hoen and Jaxon Cover in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

None of the Canada Day signings generated headlines around the NHL, but collectively, they tidily improved the Sens' organizational depth.

Among the new signees who might play in Ottawa this season, the headliner is undoubtedly Sammy Blais, who helped the St. Louis Blues win the Cup in 2019.

The 30-year-old has appeared in 278 NHL games and has some bite to his game, something the Senators suddenly have a little less of following Brady Tkachuk's departure.

Blais plays an abrasive style, finishes checks, and makes life uncomfortable around the opponent's crease. In many ways, his style resembles Nick Cousins, a player the Sens valued enough to bring back this summer on a two-year deal.

Blais gives the Senators another veteran capable of stepping into a fourth-line NHL role if injuries create an opening.

Philip Tomasino has the highest offensive ceiling of the new signings.

The season after Nashville made him a first-round pick in 2019, Tomasino returned to the OHL and had 100 points in 62 games. As an NHL rookie, he then had 32 points in 76 games for the Predators, but it's been a slow fade in productivity ever since.

He's played in 218 NHL games and is still just 24 years old.

Although he spent much of last season in the American Hockey League, he produced 41 points in 52 games while splitting time between the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia organizations. His last meaningful NHL season was two years ago with 23 points in 50 games for Pittsburgh.

If Tomasino rediscovers some of the offensive game that made him a first-round selection in 2019, he could force his way back into NHL consideration.

As a sidebar, we could have turned this article into a smooth piece of clickbait by announcing that the Sens had acquired Kyrou and Suzuki. They did do that, but the players are, in fact, the younger brothers of Jordan and Nick.

Christian Kyrou brings intriguing upside.

Kyrou is coming off his best pro season in pretty much all categories after recording 34 points in 59 games with Lehigh Valley in the American Hockey League. Ottawa's NHL blue line appears settled, but offensively skilled, right-shot defencemen are always valuable organizational assets.

Ryan Suzuki arrives after helping lead the Chicago Wolves to the Calder Cup Final, where he led the club in playoff scoring with 18 points in 21 games. Like Tomasino, Suzuki is a former first-round pick who gives Belleville another skilled offensive player.

The signing of Philippe Daoust is a Belleville success story. The Senators' 2020 Draft pick was on an AHL deal last season and went off with a 50-point season. It was his best pro season in all categories by a country mile, more than doubling his previous personal bests in goals, assists, and points.

The question he'll need to answer is how much of his production came from playing on a line with Arthur Kaliyev and Xavier Bourgault. Kaliyev is a UFA and won't be back, while Bourgault is an RFA, waiting on a new deal.

Beyond the signings, there's also Kasper Halttunen, who could be a beast in Belleville this year. He was acquired in the William Eklund trade, a spinoff of the Brady Tkachuk deal.

Halttunen provides organizational depth, but he's more than that. He's immediately become one of the Senators' best prospects.

In 2024 and 2025, the big Finnish winger (6-foot-3, 205 lbs) helped the London Knights win back-to-back OHL titles with an outrageous 32 goals in 35 playoff games.

His rookie AHL season with the San Jose Barracudas this year was a learning experience, but at age 20, he still managed 35 points in 69 games.

On their own, none of these additions is likely to change the current roster. But combined with Lagerberg-Hoen and Cover, they do provide important new depth and paint a clear picture of a GM keeping a better eye on the future.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published on The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For full coverage of the Senators, check out one of the latest headlines below:

Senators Walk Away From Belleville Sniper Who Scored 40 Goals This Season
Are The Senators Planning To Carry Three Goalies On Their Roster?
Former Senators Defenseman Joins Belleville's Coaching Staff
Former Sens Goalie Traded To Rangers As Sens Continue To Pick Up Part Of His Tab

Senators Officially Sign Samuel Ersson As Their Backup Goalie
Meet The Future: Senators Draft Offensive Skill With Two First-Round Picks
At A Glance, Senators' Draft Day Trades Are Head Scratchers
Brady Tkachuk Had a Chance to Write His Own Story. He Chose Matthew's

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Sixers reportedly sign Rayan Rupert to two-way deal

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 12: Rayan Rupert #32 of the Memphis Grizzlies brings the ball up court against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on April 12, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Another day, another Mike Gansey move.

Albeit this one a level tamer than what we have seen from the Sixers new president of basketball operations in the past 48 hours.

The 76ers signed 22-year-old Rayan Rupert to a two-way deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Rupert averaged 5.2 points per contest last season, appearing in 64 games and getting heavy minutes once being acquired by the Memphis Grizzlies at the trade deadline.

He has more to show as a shooter considering he went only 39% from the field last season, but his 33-10-10 night against the Bucks (on April 5, 2026) showcased how his 6-foot=7 frame can be a triple-threat option offensively. He followed up that performance with back-to-back 12-rebound games to close out the season.

He is a handsy defender who will make the ball-handler pay for lazy drives. He picked up nine steals combined in the final three games of the season. The level of competition he saw in those games, however, renders a two-way deal realistic. He will be able to grow consistent and develop as a shooter with the Delaware Blue Coats and be called up as needed.

Rupert is the first reported player the Sixers have signed to a two-way deal this offseason. They still have two other slots to fill. It seems likely Rupert will also be a part of the Sixers’ summer league team in Vegas. We’re still awaiting the release of the roster for those games.

Rupert is an ideal player to take a flyer on with a two-way deal. We’ll see what else Gansey has in store for the other two-way spots.

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Pistons announce Summer League roster

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 25: Ebuka Okorie #23 and President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon of the Detroit Pistons pose for a photo during the Detroit Pistons press conference introducing Ebuka Okorie on June 25, 2026 at the Pistons Performance Center in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

There are few surprises on the Detroit Pistons’ roster for the upcoming NBA Summer League, and that’s just fine. The team will be headlined by first-round pick Ebuka Okorie, a quick-scoring guard from Stanford. The No. 17 overall pick is used to having the ball in his hands, creating his own shot, and getting to the rim. Those are the kinds of prerequisites that allow you to star in Summer League.

The team will also feature college basketball’s reigning shot-block leader and Detroit’s second-round pick Ugonna Onyenso from Virginia. Having a dominating presence at the top of the key and near the rim should at least make for some enjoyable games for Pistons fans.

Elsewhere on the roster, you will find last year’s second-round pick Chaz Lanier. The sharpshooter from Tennessee didn’t get much run in his inaugural season in Detroit so it will be nice to dust him off and see what he can do when given plenty of shots.

Current two-way player Isaac Jones, acquired in a trade with the Sacramento Kings last season, will be at Summer League for Detroit, as will players from Detroit’s G League team, the Motor City Cruise. Dawson Garcia and Brice Williams will suit up. Former Atlanta G League player for the College Park Skyhawks Basheer Jihad will also play for the Pistons in Vegas. Latavious Mitchell played overseas in Ireland.

The rest of the roster comprises college players looking to turn heads and secure two-way spots or contracts overseas. That includes Roddy Gayle Jr. of the University of Michigan and Corey Stephenson of Florida International University.

Detroit Pistons Summer League Schedule

The Pistons will play at least five games at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, which kicks off on July 9. Four games have already been announced.

The slate is as follows (all times Eastern):

  • July 9 at 5:30 p.m.: Pistons vs. 76ers (Prime Video)
  • July 12 at 4 p.m.: Pistons vs. Cavaliers (Prime)
  • July 13 at 4 p.m.: Pistons vs. Knicks (Prime)
  • July 15 at 6 p.m.: Pistons vs. Suns (ESPN U)

Read more about Detroit’s Summer League schedule.

Full Detroit Pistons Summer League Roster

The full roster for the Detroit Pistons Summer League team is as follows:

  • Drake Allen, guard, Utah State
  • Dawson Garcia, forward, Motor City Cruise
  • Roddy Gayle Jr., forward, Michigan
  • Jaden Henley, guard, Grand Canyon
  • Isaac Jones, forward/center, Detroit Pistons
  • Basheer Jihad, forward/center, Arizona State
  • Chaz Lanier, guard, Detroit Pistons
  • Latavious Mitchell, forward, Ballincolig
  • Ebuka Okorie, guard, Stanford
  • Ugonna Onyenso, center, Virginia
  • Corey Stephenson, guard, Florida International
  • Orlando Thomas, guard, Langston
  • Brice Williams, guard, Motor City Cruise
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Red Sox Minor Lines: Hickey’s two big flies power the Woo Sox

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 12, 2026: Nathan Hickey #82 of the Boston Red Sox warms up prior to a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex on March 12, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Worcester Red Sox 7, Syracuse Mets 5 (BOX)

It was bombs away for the Woo Sox on Thursday, hitting four home runs on the day, two of which came off the bat of Nathan Hickey. Hickey’s first home run, as well as Mickey Gasper’s, were off of Mets prospect Jonah Tong. Tong (5.90 ERA) has taken a major step back in Triple-A this season.

Trailing 5-4 in the eighth inning, Hickey’s second home run was a two-run shot, which put Worcester ahead for good over Syracuse (NYM).

Braiden Ward also had two hits and added an insurance run with a homer of his own in the ninth inning. Devin Sweet was the opener ahead of Tyler Uberstine, who threw three perfect innings, striking out five. Eduardo Rivers got the win, as he was also perfect in 2 1/3 innings, with four strikeouts. Wyatt Olds threw two hitless innings for his second save.

Jack Anderson (2-4, 5.26) will be on the hill for the Woo Sox Friday at 6:35.

Altoona Curve 10, Portland Sea Dogs 3 (BOX)

A six-run sixth inning for the Curve (PIT) off reliever Dalton Rogers did the Sea Dogs in on Thursday night. Rogers relieved starter Gage Ziehl, who struck out eight over five innings, allowing just one run. Ziehl has been excellent in his last seven starts, not allowing more than two runs in any of them. He is 3-0 with a 2.04 ERA and a 9:41 walk-to-strikeout ratio during that time.

Home runs from Jack Winnay (2) and Brooks Brannon (11) were the highlights for Portland offensively. Winnay was 2-for-4. Franklin Arias had the day off. One can only hope that it was to give him some time to pack his things to get to Triple-A. A rehabbing Nick Sogard went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored before being replaced.

John Holobetz (3-3, 4.67) is on the bump, Friday at 6:20.

Winston-Salem Dash 5, Greenville Drive 4 (BOX)

Another mediocre outing from Kyson Witherspoon put the Dash (CWS) ahead early in this one. Witherspoon allowed six hits and four runs over four innings. While the strikeouts are there (65 in 61 innings), Witherspoon has walked 30 batters and has a 5.02 ERA.

Two-RBI days from both Antonio Anderson and Stanley Tucker helped the Drive tie the game up at 4-4. A walk-off single by the Dash’s George Wolkow won the game, saddling reliever Matt McShane with the loss.

Greenville’s Alex Bouchard (1-2, 5.65) will get the ball on Friday at 6:30.

Salem RidgeYaks 16, Augusta GreenJackets 10 (BOX)

It must be really heating up around Hotlanta, as the RidgeYaks and GreenJackets (ATL) combined for 26 runs on Thursday. Salem had home runs from Skylar King, Adonys Guzman, and Louis Andujar, with King leading the way with three hits and four RBI as well. King, Guzman, Andujar, Andrews Opata, and Andruw Mussett all had multiple RBI for the RidgeYaks.

Naturally, the pitching wasn’t pretty on either side. Starter Jacob Meyers couldn’t throw strikes and was pulled after 1 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned), on … zero hits? Brady Tygart was credited with the win, despite allowing three runs.

On Friday at 6:35, Salem will send Christian Foutch (0-5, 6.75) to the mound.