Jan 21, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette looks on from the bench in the second period against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Peter Laviolette will be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday.
The 61-year-old Laviolette is expected to get a three-year contract to take over his seventh NHL team. The Kings have made the playoffs in five consecutive seasons, but they’ve also endured five straight first-round exits under three head coaches and two general managers.
Laviolette is returning to the NHL after being fired by the New York Rangers in April 2025. He has also led the New York Islanders, Carolina, Philadelphia, Nashville and Washington during a 23-year head coaching career highlighted by a Stanley Cup championship with the Hurricanes in 2006.
Laviolette’s teams have reached the postseason in 11 of the past 14 seasons he finished behind a bench, and he also led the Flyers (2010) and the Predators (2017) to the Stanley Cup Final. His 1,594 career games coached are the ninth most in NHL history.
In his first West Coast NHL job, Laviolette is taking over a good team that is stuck in a profound rut, unable to become a Stanley Cup contender.
General manager Ken Holland fired Hiller shortly after the Olympic break in the coach’s second full season in charge, and the Kings went 11-6-6 after Smith stepped up from his assistant’s role. Smith, who was a candidate for the permanent job, got the Kings into the final Western Conference playoff spot — but Los Angeles was swept out of the first round by the Colorado Avalanche.
Holland acquired high-scoring forward Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers last winter, and high-scoring forwards Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala are all returning in the fall.
The intense Laviolette became known for creating aggressive offensive attacks and making quick franchise turnarounds in his previous stops. He could be part of an organizational shift for the Kings, who have spent two decades as a philosophically defense-first team — to the regular detriment of their offense.
Los Angeles finished 29th in the NHL in scoring last season with just 220 goals, easily the fewest among playoff teams. The Kings are in the bottom half of the NHL in scoring over the past five seasons despite making the playoffs every year.
Holland publicly wondered whether the Kings are too defensive-minded after they scored just five goals in their four-game sweep at the hands of the Avs, but he didn’t commit to a change in team philosophy.
David Peterson went the entire road trip last week without appearing in a game for the Mets, but he remains committed to the cause in his low-leverage relief role.
“I see myself long term as a starter,” Peterson said. “Right now, I’m in the bullpen and I am going to be prepared and ready to finish when I’m given the ball, and my whole goal is to help this team win as many games as possible.”
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The lefty last pitched May 31, when he logged four innings against the Marlins and allowed one earned run. It was Peterson’s first outing after he was removed from his bulk relief role, pitching behind an opener, and replaced by Sean Manaea.
Peterson, who owns a 5.18 ERA, said he’s in constant communication with the coaching staff about potential opportunities for him to pitch.
“I still feel comfortable going up to a number like 80 or 90 [pitches],” Peterson said. “What they have in mind might be different, but I also think it depends on the situation: what the outing is going to look like, the length of it and that is obviously something we are going to have to monitor depending on what the workload is.”
David Peterson (23) reacts as he walks back to the dugout after ending the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Queens, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
A.J. Ewing’s sprint into the gap Sunday to rob Xander Bogaerts in the eighth inning was just the latest highlight reel catch for the defensively gifted center fielder. Ewing reached across his body with an outstretched glove in full stride to complete the catch.
Ewing and Carson Benge have teamed to give the Mets an elite defensive dynamic.
“I had it in Toronto a little bit with a great outfield and you don’t realize how many hits they take away,” Bo Bichette said. “But it’s not just their defense. The energy they bring, the excitement they bring to the yard being their first season in the big leagues, it’s good for all of us.”
BALTIMORE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners placed shortstop J.P. Crawford on the 10-day injured list with a right hand contusion and recalled infielder Ryan Bliss from Triple-A Tacoma before Monday night’s series opener against the Baltimore Orioles.
Detroit starter Framber Valdez hit Crawford in the third inning of Friday’s game, and the 31-year-old missed the final two games of the series against the Tigers. The IL move is retroactive to Saturday. Crawford is hitting .228 with 23 RBIs in 55 games, and his 10 home runs are already the third most in his career.
Seattle manager Dan Wilson said it was hard to know how long Crawford would need on the injured list. Crawford will remain with the Mariners and receive treatment during a three-city trip that concludes this weekend in Washington.
“He’s doing OK,” Wilson said. “Just coming a little bit slower than we thought, so we think it’s probably the smart thing to do at this point. It’ll be retroactive, so hopefully we’re getting him back as soon as possible. (There’s) still quite a bit of pain.”
Bliss made Seattle’s opening day roster and played in one game before getting sent to the minors. He hit .204 with a homer and 15 RBIs in 51 games for Tacoma.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti defended center Chet Holmgren after his struggles against the Spurs in the Western Conference finals.
“He drives winning on so many different levels for us,” Presti said in a press conference on Monday.
“He’s a first-time All-Star, second in Defensive Player of the Year, third-team All-NBA.”
Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder goes up for the rebound during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals. NBAE via Getty Images
Holmgren’s scoring average dropped from 17.1 points per game to just 10.7 points during the playoff series against the Spurs.
In the most important game of the season, the center managed just two shots for four points in a rough 33 minutes.
Presti, however, isn’t “really that concerned about him.”
“This is a guy that is intrinsically motivated,” Presti added. “He doesn’t need people questioning him or things on the internet to drive his improvement. … He doesn’t need somebody to nudge him, he doesn’t need somebody to question him. It’s just kind of how he’s wired.”
The struggles against the Spurs weren’t just in the playoffs.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein (55), Aaron Wiggins (21), and Chet Holmgren (7) watch the closing moments of their loss to the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of Game 7. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
Holmgren hit his yearly average of 17 points just once in the 11 games he played against San Antonio this season. Victor Wembanyama came off the bench in that one game after missing the previous 12 with an injury.
The second overall pick in the 2022 draft took at least nine shots in nine of 10 games leading up to the Western Conference finals. He hit that mark just twice against the Spurs.
Against the Lakers, when there was no Wembanyama, Holmgren averaged 20 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.
“We were sweeping our way to the Western Conference finals primarily because of his efforts in the [Laker] series,” Presti said.
The New York Knicks fans are not above letting the officials know how they feel about anything.
In the second quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle ran over New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson as a shot attempt went up and he tried to maneuver in for a rebound.
The officials reviewed the play during a timeout and determined that no further action was needed, other than a loose-ball foul on Castle.
But the Knicks faithful let it be known they were not pleased, with chants such as "bulls---," and “refs you suck”, that had the censors clearly napping on the job as it came through loud and clear on the broadcast on ABC.
The Knicks stormed back from a 12-point first-quarter deficit and took a 64-57 lead at halftime.
May 25, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Colorado Rockies outfielder Troy Johnston (20) is greeted in the dugout after scoring in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Walking into Sunday’s game vs. the Brewers, my brother-in-law asked me a great question: Who is your favorite current Rockie? Most years, I have a pick right off the bat.
Sometimes it’s the superstars like Larry Walker, CarGo or Chuck Nazty.
Last year, perhaps due to my desire to have the first baseman of the future, it was Michael Toglia and then Warming Bernabel.
This year, I had to pause and think. But then the answer came.
Troy Johnston.
The hits and batting average are great, but it’s the joy. For years, the Rockies have needed the joy and laughter that a big personality can bring to the clubhouse. His defense leaves something to be desired, but his positive presence gets my vote.
My brother-in-law said Jake McCarthy for the hustle, the speed, the ability to make things happen and, of course, the mullet.
What about you? Who is your favorite current Rockie? And why?
Do you value the production on the field, the story behind the player, a chance meeting or autograph or something other random factor?
Jun 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Some years ago, I learned that Canada has a fast food chain known as New York Fries. I am from New York, and I do not know of any particular connection between that fair city (state? I assume it’s named for the city?) and fries. I have always been somewhat baffled by this. Sort of like how the Blue Jays were baffled by Cristopher Sánchez tonight.
The game started when Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner struck out and grounded out respectively. Turner wasn’t sent down on a force out, but rather on a tag, as an errant throw pulled Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off the bag. Bryce Harper made it to first when Toronto left fielder Yohendrick Piñango misjudged a fly’s trajectory just enough, with the ball bouncing off his glove for an error. Harper would’ve had more than one base, but he missed the bag as he rounded first, and had to turn back. Everyone was just a little off, a tad confused, like I was when I discovered that Canadian Smarties aren’t the same as American Smarties (they’re like M&Ms, but with a slightly thicker shell. Highly recommended, if you can find them). The bottom of the first, happily, was quite ordinary, as Sánchez handled the Jays with his usual efficiency.
The fireworks in the top of the second were of a more favorable sort. With two outs, Bryson Stott worked a double, and Adolis García sent a slider soaring swiftly into the SkyDome seats (Disclaimer: I am aware it is now the Rogers Center. For the sake of alliteration, I choose to ignore this). The third inning saw the Phillies load the bases without a hit: two walks and a hit by pitch. They got their first hit of the inning via Alec Bohm, who sent one through the gap on the left side of the infield to score one. Realmuto sent his pitch right up the middle to score another. Stott’s patience at the plate must make him frustrating for any pitcher; even more so when the bases are loaded for the third consecutive batter. Stott walked, and the Phillies had more baserunners in the inning than Saskatchewan has lentils (Saskatchewan is a leading producer of lentils). The Jays put Phillies out at home on the next two balls in play, and the Phillies ended the inning up 5-0, having thoroughly tortured the passerine pitcher.
The Jays put their first runner on via Myles Straw double to lead off the third, advanced him via groundout, then scored him via another. That was a good development for the Jays; but it was not accompanied by more. Cristopher Sánchez continued to stymie the Jays, who lost their hitting coach when he objected to a call a little too vociferously.
Corbin departed after the fourth, with Simeon Woods Richardson, winner of the prestigious “Pitcher With A Name That Absolutely Sounds Like A Character from Jeeves and Wooster” award five years running, putting the Phillies down in order. No doubt the Drones Club will be buzzing about that.
They’ll buzz even more about Ernie Clement’s solo shot against Sánchez in the bottom fifth, which narrowed the Philadelphia lead to three. It seemed like it would get narrower. Piñango lead off the bottom sixth by reaching third on a ball that bounced off the wall, and then slipped away from García. The slightest mistake would score him. But Sánchez decided to reassert his dominance with a three consecutive strikeouts. He celebrated like a man who had redeemed himself from the pits of defeat. It would be tough to describe the performance that had led up to that redemption as a failure, even if it was technically beneath the lofty standard he’s set for himself in 2026. But everyone needs a struggle to overcome, so that their work may have meaning, and when you’re as ludicrously effective as Sánchez is, you have to adopt a really loose definition of struggle.
If you’re a batter facing him, though, you get to go with the normal definition. Clement made it to base by singling against Sánchez in the seventh, and Straw walked, but no runs scored, because Sánchez is not particularly fazed by mortal concerns like “baserunners”. Afterwards, he took his 10 strikeouts back to the dugout and called it a day.
Brad Keller took over in the eighth. Like Sánchez in the prior inning, he allowed two baserunners, via walk and single, and like Sánchez, he did not grant them the luxury of a trip home. But turnabout is fair play, and Tommy Nance, coming in for the Jays in relief for the ninth, mirrored the accomplishment: Justin Crawford and Schwarber singled, but both were stranded.
The Phillies turned to Jhoan Duran to finish it. It was not one of his best performances; he didn’t record a single strikeout. But after all of the Ks produced tonight by Sánchez, he might’ve just wanted to give Phillies fans a change of pace. He allowed a double, but put the other three Jays he saw down on ground outs. That was the game.
The Phillies are 36-30. The series against the Blue Jays continues Tuesday at 7:07.
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 08: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts after almost getting hit by a pitch in the seventh inning during the baseball game against the Seattle Mariners at Orioles Park at Camden Yards on June 8, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A whisker. An eyelash. The tiniest antenna on the tiniest fly. That’s the margin of difference that cost the Orioles their best chance to beat the Mariners in tonight’s series opener. A potential O’s comeback bid was ruined by an ABS-overturned call — and later, some baserunning stupidity — as the Birds fell to Seattle, 6-3.
Let’s set the scene. It was the bottom of the seventh inning and the Orioles trailed, 5-2, but they were primed to rally their way back into the game. Against recklessly wild reliever Matt Brash, the O’s had already scored one run on a wild pitch, and they’d loaded the bases with just one out for Pete Alonso. One good swing could cut the Orioles’ deficit further. One great swing could give the Orioles the lead for themselves.
Brash had no command. He’d already thrown two pitches near the head of Taylor Ward, the second of which plunked him. He’d walked Gunnar Henderson. And he proceeded to fall behind Alonso 3-0, putting the O’s slugger in control of the at-bat. You couldn’t ask for a better run-scoring situation. Even the Orioles couldn’t blow this, right?
Yeah, uh…funny story. Alonso inexplicably hacked at a 3-0 pitch (which might have been in the strike zone, but that’s not the point, Pete) and fouled it off, then swung through a fastball for strike two. Then came the pivotal 3-2 pitch, a heater up. Alonso held off, plate ump Gabe Morales called ball four, and the O’s appeared to have a run-scoring, bases-loaded walk.
But: hold everything. Catcher Jhonny Pereda tapped his helmet for a challenge. As the ABS graphic popped up on the scoreboard, the Camden Yards crowd watched in horror as the teensiest, weensiest sliver of the animated ball, no bigger than Abraham Lincoln’s eye on the head of a penny, clipped the very top of the strike zone. The call was reversed. A bases-loaded walk had become a rally-crushing strikeout. Alonso, who had already made his way to first base, crumpled to his knees in disbelief.
Brutal. Just brutal. I’m as big a fan of anyone as the ABS system, but boy did it haunt the Orioles there. I guess you could argue that the pitch was too close to take, but it sure looked like a ball to me in real time, and to Alonso too. With the air totally deflated from the stadium, the O’s didn’t score, as Colton Cowser grounded out to leave ‘em loaded. The Mariners, against all odds, maintained their three-run lead.
Sadly, that wasn’t the only tremendously stupid way in which the Orioles squandered a late-inning rally. The very next inning — now down 6-2 after the M’s scored against Albert Suárez in the eighth — the O’s again had something cooking against reliever Eduard Bazardo. They began the inning with a single and a Jackson Holliday walk, and with one out, Blaze Alexander scorched an RBI single to left to make it a 6-3 game. Once again, the Orioles brought the tying run to the plate, and pinch-hitter Samuel Basallo strolled up to bat, bringing the Camden Yards crowd back to life.
On a 2-1 pitch, Basallo connected for a deep shot to center. He dropped the bat, certain he’d just delivered a game-tying homer. He had not. Julio Rodríguez tracked it down in front of the warning track. Still, the ball was plenty deep enough for Holliday to tag up from third base. As Holliday headed to the plate, Alexander foolishly tried to tag from first and advance to second. Rodríguez delivered an on-target throw and Ryan Bliss slapped the tag on Alexander. Double play, horrible baserunning, but hey, at least the O’s got one run out of it. …Right?
Yeah, uh…funny story about that, too. The Mariners requested a challenge, claiming that Alexander was tagged out before Holliday crossed home plate. And lo and behold, the replay proved them right. The run was wiped off the board, the would-be sac fly was just an inning-ending double play, and the Orioles, as Willy Wonka would say, get nothing. You lose. Good day, sir.
And lose they did, as the O’s went quietly in the ninth against struggling Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz, who entered the day only nine for 14 in save opportunities but had no problem against a demoralized Birds team. A 6-3 loss went into the books as truly one of the dumbest of the year.
Other dumb things happened, too. Fill-in starter Trey Gibson, called up from Triple-A Norfolk earlier in the day when Chris Bassitt landed on the injured list, held the Mariners lineup in check for four scoreless innings, but they started to hit him hard in the fifth. They smacked three singles and a sac fly to tie the game at one (after the O’s had taken a 1-0 lead in the third on a sac fly of their own).
With two on and two out, manager Craig Albernaz made a fateful pitching change. Taking out Gibson wasn’t the problem; the rookie didn’t seem to be fooling hitters and hadn’t struck out anyone all game. But Albernaz’s choice to replace him was a head-scratcher. He went with Anthony Nunez, who has a 7.98 ERA since the start of May and has suffered several recent blowups in high-leverage situations. This is the guy you’re going to trust in a critical spot, in a tie game, with multiple runners on base, against the heart of the M’s lineup? How about Andrew Kittredge? Tyler Wells? I’d even accept Rico Garcia, even if it was only the fifth inning.
Nunez wasn’t the guy to go to, and he immediately showed why, walking Rodríguez to load the bases and then serving up a backbreaking grand slam to Josh Naylor. On one swing, the Mariners took a 5-1 lead. Sigh.
The game felt like it was over at that point. It wasn’t, exactly. The Orioles had plenty of chances to come back. But as we’ve seen, they all went horribly wrong.
WWE star Danhausen is in attendance for Game 3 of the NBA Finals, after uncursing the Knicks when they went down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
The Knicks have won 13 straight since then.
“I hope [the Knicks] get to 3-0, then I think we’re smooth sailing,” Danhausen said on “Hoop Streams” pregame. “But who knows? It’s not over yet.”
Danhausen, wearing his signature white, black and red face paint and a No. 0 blue Knicks jersey, posed for a photo with Knicks celebrity superfan Ben Stiller before Monday’s game.
Danhausen cursed ESPN star Stephen A. Smith and the Knicks on “First Take” before the start of the NBA playoffs after Smith was “rude” to him.
The WWE star asked Smith for an apology and money on Twitter, but the television personality did not provide either.
Danhausen has since lifted the curse on a Cameo message bought by J-Starr of BodySlam.net.
I’m not apologizing for a damn thing @DanhausenAD. Not a damn thing. Curse or no curse, the @nyknicks have NO BUSINESS losing this series to the @ATLHawks — no matter how good that young team is. No business. If the @Knicks lose this series, heads need to roll. Period. President!… https://t.co/RX6frRTRAI
“It’s a team effort. It’s Danhausen and the Knicks,” Danhausen said about taking credit for the 13-game win streak. He was also on hand at MSG for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers.
The former AEW performer also cursed the Carolina Hurricanes before their double-overtime loss in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Danhausen has since reversed the curse onto the Golden Knights.
From left: Former Knicks Iman Shumpert and Jeremy Lin, host Vanessa Richardson and WWE star Danhausen on the “Hoop Streams” pregame show on June 8, 2026. ESPNNew York Knicks players huddle on the court before Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the San Antonio Spurs. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
The self-proclaimed evil entity is one of the most unique members of the WWE roster, being the sole member in the comedy-horror lane.
His catch phrase, “Very nice, very evil,” is on par with someone who carries a jar of teeth into every match, but chastises people for swearing.
WWE wrestler Donovan Andrew Danhausen aka Danhausen leaves ESPN in his Dracula-like costume in New York City. Christopher Peterson / SplashNews.com
Danhausen curses opponents, or in this case, Stephan A. Smith and the Knicks, by pointing both of his hands at them.
While never working in the moment, the curses tend to catch up with opponents at some point, including the curse that caused Dominik Mysterio to lose the Intercontinental championship to Penta.
It didn’t take long for things to get testy on Monday night at the Garden between the Knicks and Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Victor Wembanyama was in the middle of it with a little less than five minutes left the first quarter of San Antonio’s 115-111 win when he aggressively shoved Jalen Brunson in the first quarter.
The two were battling for position with the Knicks in possession when Wembanyama shoved Brunson on the back of his neck, forcing the New York star to catch his balance as he fell toward the court.
Brunson immediately bounced back up and seemed to say something to the Spurs big man, who smirked and then turned his attention to Josh Hart.
Victor Wembanyama shoved Jalen Brunson in NBA Finals Game 3.San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) puts up a shot as New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) and New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) watch during the first quarter of NBA Finals Game 3 on June 8, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
No foul was called on that particular instance, but moments later, Keldon Johnson was whistled for a foul.
ESPN broadcaster Richard Jefferson opined on air that the referees should have called a flagrant 1 on Wembanyama for his actions in that moment, and also mentioned how “Wemby’s laughing at it.”
It wasn’t the only tense moment of the first quarter.
Hart got called for a technical foul after Luke Kornet made contact with him under the basket. Hart shoved him back after getting up off the court.
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 03: Houston Astros starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (41) throws a pitch in the top of the third inning during the MLB game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros on June 3, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (30-37) begin a six-game road trip with the first game of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels (25-41) tonight at Angel Stadium.
The May AL Pitcher of the Month, Spencer Arrighetti (7-1, 1.94) will be on the mound for the Astros, opposite RHP Grayson Rodriguez (2-2, 9.50) and the Halos. The Astros have won 10 of their last 16 games.
HOT SPAGHETTI: Tonight’s Astros starter RHP Spencer Arrighetti made his season debut on April 15 and has since gone 7-1 with a 1.94 ERA (11ER/51IP) and a .184 opponent average while allowing one-or-fewer earned runs in seven of his nine starts. Among AL pitchers with 50+ innings pitched, he’s posted the lowest opponent average, while ranking second in ERA and tied for third in wins.
PITCHER OF THE MONTH: RHP Spencer Arrighetti was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for May after going 4-1 with a 0.93 ERA (3ER/29IP) and a .165 opponent average (16×97) in five starts in the month. In May, he posted the lowest ERA and opponent average among AL starters, while ranking tied for third in wins.
ROAD TRIP: Tonight is the first game of six game road trip for the Astros. The Astros will face the Angels for a three-game series before traveling to Kansas City to face the Royals for another three-game series. The Astros are 14-18 on the road this season but went 7-3 on their last road trip.
THE LAST 22: Since May 15, the Astros are 13-9 thanks in large part to their pitching, which has produced a 3.54 ERA (77ER/196IP) and a .194 opponent average, which ranks second in the Majors in that span. Their bullpen has been even better in those last 22 games, working to a 2.77 ERA (23ER/74.2IP) and posting a league-best .160 opponent average.
MAKING THE PLAYS: The Astros have committed the fewest errors in the AL (25) and have posted the best fielding percentage (.989) in the AL, topping the Royals (.989) by a few percentage points. Among all Major League teams, only the Padres (20) and Dodgers (22) have committed fewer errors than the Astros.
VS. THE HALOS: The Astros and Angels will face off for the second time this season.. The last time was on Opening Weekend at Daikin Park, where the two teams split the four-game series.
The Astros went 8-5 against the Angels last season, including a 4-2 record at Angel Stadium. The Astros own a 140-90 all-time record against the Angels, including a 6646 record at Angel Stadium.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros placed IF Nick Allen on the 10-day IL due to a left hamstring strain. To take his place on the active roster, the Astros recalled IF Shay Whitcomb from Triple A Sugar Land.
ON THE LEADERBOARD: DH Yordan Alvarez leads the Majors in OPS (1.080), SLG (.650) and total bases (154) and leads the AL in home runs (22) and RBI (48).
Also in the AL, he ranks tied for first in extra-base hits (35), second in batting average (.316), second in OBP (.431), second in hits (75), fourth in runs (45), and tied for fourth in walks (44).
KEYSTONE FLIGHTS: 2B Jose Altuve hit the 260th home run of his career on Saturday and his 240th while playing the second base position, surpassing 2B Lou Whitaker for the 10th-most home runs by a second baseman in MLB history. Per Elias, Altuve now immediately trails 2B Ian Kinsler (246) and 2B Joe Gordon (246) on that all-time list.
YOR-GONE!: DH Yordan Alvarez hit his 192nd career regular season home run on Saturday, which moved him into sixth in Astros history in home runs, surpassing 3B Alex Bregman.
EVERYDAY OKERT: LHP Steven Okert worked 1.0 scoreless innings yesterday, giving him 31 appearances this season, which ranks tied for sixth in the Majors. Since May 3, he’s recorded a 1.69 ERA (3ER/16IP) with 17 strikeouts, four walks, a 0.69 WHIP and a .130 opponent batting average.
AL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: OF Yordan Alvarez has been named the AL Player of the Week for the week of June 1-7. For the week, he batted .476 (10×21) with 6 runs, 1 double, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 5 walks and a 1.386 OPS. This marked his second AL Player of the Week award this season, also won for the week March 30-April 5.
DOWN ON THE FARM:RHP Javier Perez was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 1-7. Perez made one start for Single A Fayetteville on June 5, where he allowed two hits and struck out 10 in seven scoreless innings against Columbia. This season, Perez has posted a 2.82 ERA (17ER/54.1IP) with 64 strikeouts, a 0.83 WHIP and a .181 opponent batting average in 10 appearances .
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1990 – In a pitcher’s duel in the Dome, OF Glenn Wilson walks off the Reds with a 3-run HR in the 11th inning off closer Randy Myers for a 3-1 victory. Astros starter Mike Scott goes all 10.0 innings, tallying 10 K’s along the way to earn the win. Reds starter Tom Browning hurled 9.0 scoreless frames.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Monday, June 8, 8:38 p.m. CT
Location: Angels Stadium, Anaheim, CA
TV: Space City Home Network, SCHN2 (Spanish)
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
The Academy Award-winning director was seen wearing a custom #14 Pope Leo jersey to Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Lee received the jersey from the pontiff last year during his visit to the Vatican in November.
Lee also wore the jersey during Game 2 of New York’s first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. The Knicks lost that game 107-106 at the Garden. They lost the next game, too, to fall behind in that series 2-1 on April 23 – their last loss before this current 13-game postseason winning streak.
Jun 8, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) makes a catch for an out during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Mariners 6, Orioles 3
Happy Andrés Muñoz: Josh Naylor, .33 WPA
Sad Andrés Muñoz: Patrick Wisdom, -.10 WPA
Game thread comment of the day:
I can hear this comment
Side quest: What kind of music does each Mariner reliever make? For some reason I feel like Cooper Criswell makes Noah Kahan-style folk music.
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 07: Aramis Ramirez #16 of the Chicago Cubs follows through on a two-RBI double scoring teammates Starlin Castro #13 and Reed Johnson #5 during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on September 7, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s another week here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Thanks for stopping by. We always like to see a friendly face. There’s no cover charge tonight. We still have a few good tables available. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last week I asked you which Cubs player was most deserving an All-Star nod. The vote had a pretty clear winner as Ben Brown received 45 percent of the vote. Nico Hoerner was in second place with 21 percent. Pete Crow-Armstrong got 16 percent of the vote and I suspect he’d get a lot more votes had I conducted the poll today.
Here’s the part where we listen to jazz and talk movies. You’re free to skip that if you want. You won’t hurt my feelings.
Tonight we’re finishing up our tribute to the late, great Sonny Rollins, who passed away last month at the age of 95. Here is Rollins in 1975 playing the Duke Ellington tune “In a Sentimental Mood” along with pianist McCoy Tyner. There’s also an introduction from Chick Corea.
This is mostly pure Rollins and just his saxophone feeling the mood.
Helvetica (2007), directed by Gary Hustwit, is a documentary about the font that I’m currently using to write this essay, although what font you’re actually reading this in probably something else. The film does a great job at showing us how something that is so ubiquitous in our lives that we don’t even generally notice it has the capability to change the way we perceive things. It does less well trying to explain the context of Helvetica and the esoteric debates that graphic designers are so passionate about.
Helvetica was a new sans serif typeface created in 1957 by Swiss graphic designers searching for a new font in line with the ideas of postwar modernism. Originally called Neue Haas Grotesk, the name was changed to “Helvetica,” a play on the Latin name “Helvetia” for Switzerland, to make it more marketable around the world. Helvetica was simple, clean and bold, which marked it as different than the fonts commonly used in design at the time. It made a statement.
Helvetica was quickly adopted by advertisers. The way the designers interviewed in the film explain it, the fancy typefaces used before Helvetica were harder to read and could blend into the background. They also came across as more of a polite request to the viewer. Helvetica, in contrast, was bold and bright. Rather than a request, Helvetica was more definitive and came across as a command. Helvetica was authoritative. Because it was quickly adopted by governments and big corporations for its legibility, it became associated with status and power.
Hustwit interviews a lot of graphic designers and it seems like all of them have something to say about Helvetica. Some of them love it for its clean, powerful modernism. They love it because it is a blank slate that can serve so many different purposes. But as one designer points out, there’s a difference between being “legible” and having something to say, and according to some, Helvetica’s simplicity doesn’t say much. Others criticize it for being “fascist,” calling it a symbol of authority and a killer of creativity, which is why governments and corporations love it so much. Still more point out that anything that becomes as commonplace as Helvetica is will become boring and conformist over time.
Hustwit intercuts these interviews with designers with a steady stream of signs, logos and advertising that use Helvetica. He really makes you notice something that may have passed over hundreds of times before.
Where Helvetica falls down, just a bit, is where it throws us into a passionate argument without really giving us the context to fully understand it. If you’ve ever come across a group of graphic designers angrily arguing about font choices on social media, you know the feeling. It’s kind of fun to watch them get all worked up, but you don’t quite understand why they’re so angry. One of the designers admits he spends most of his day thinking about fonts and typography, but he doesn’t really explain why to those of us who don’t. Which makes it harder to understand his passion for Helvetica.
Still, it’s an interesting watch, especially in the way is both shows and tells how Helvetica took over the world. It’s also illuminating in the way it shows that a mere font, something that most of us don’t even notice, can manipulate how we think and how we behave.
Here’s the trailer for Helvetica. There’s no dialogue, but this will give you a good sense of how the font is everywhere.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.
We’re one quarter of the way through the 21st century, so there have been a lot of “best of the quarter-century” articles over the past year or so. On top of that, the recent emergence of Pete Crow-Armstrong had me thinking if the trade that brought him to Chicago ranks among the best trades in Cubs history.
So tonight, I’m asking “Which Cubs trade was the best one this century?” I have a few candidates. I guess I should have put “other” in there, but I can’t imagine any of you seriously voting for one that I didn’t list. You can mention other favorites in the comments.
The ones that I think are the candidates for best Cubs trade of the century (so far) are:
July 23, 2003: Aramis Ramírez and Kenny Lofton from the Pirates for José Hernández, Bobby Hill and Matt Bruback.
Lofton was a key member of the 2003 team down the stretch, replacing the injured Corey Patterson. He left at the end of the season as a fre agent. Ramírez, of course, became the Cubs’ starting third baseman for nine season, was a two-time All-Star with the Cubs and is now in the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame.
Hernández played 58 games for the Pirates before they released him. Hill was the big prize prospect in this trade, but he never really established himself, playing just a year and a half in the majors before going down to the minors for good.
Bruback never made the majors.
November 23, 2003: Derrek Lee from the Marlins for Hee-Seop Choi and Mike Nannini
Lee broke Cubs fans hearts in the 2003 National League Championship Series, but he quickly became a fan favorite after his acquisition. He played seven seasons as the Cubs’ starting first baseman, made two All-Star teams and finished third in MVP voting in 2005 when he won the batting title with a .335 average along with 50 doubles and 46 home runs. Most years that’s easily good enough for the MVP, but Albert Pujols and Andruw Jones both had career years that year as well.
Choi spent one year in Miami before getting traded to the Dodgers, primarily for Paul Lo Duca. He only spent a year and a half in LA but played eight years in Korea before retiring. He never lived up to his potential, but you have to wonder how much the concussion that cost him the second half of the 2003 season player a role in that.
Nannini never made the majors.
January 6, 2012: Anthony Rizzo and Zach Cates from the Padres for Andrew Cashner and Kyung Min-Na.
I don’t think I need to tell any of you about Rizzo. He was the Cubs’ starting first baseman for eight full seasons and parts of two more. He made three All-Star Games, won four Gold Gloves and recorded the final put out of the 2016 World Series.
Cashner played five years for the Padres and in two of them, he was a pretty good starting pitcher. His first year in San Diego he pitched out of the bullpen and in the last two he struggled with injuries.
Neither Cates nor Kyung Min-Na played in the majors.
July 31, 2012: Kyle Hendricks and Christian Villanueva from the Rangers for Ryan Dempster.
Both Hendricks and Villanueva were minor leaguers when the Cubs acquired them. Hendricks was considered a low-ceiling “pitchability” guy who someone managed to get more out of less stuff than any other pitcher through terrific control and a nasty changeup. He pitched 11 seasons in Chicago, won an ERA title in 2013 and finished third in Cy Young Award balloting that year. He started Game 7 of the 2016 World Series and allowed just two runs, one earned over nine innings in that curse-breaking series.
Villanueva never made the majors with the Cubs, but he did play a season and change in the majors with San Diego before a long career in Japan and Mexico that is still ongoing.
Dempster only started 12 games in Texas and had a 5.09 ERA. The Rangers made the Wild Card that year, but lost the one-game playoff to Baltimore. Dempster played one more year in Boston (where he got a World Series ring) before retiring.
July 2 2013: Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop from the Orioles for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger.
Arrieta was a former top-five prospect in the Orioles system who flopped in the major leagues before getting dealt to the Cubs. He pitched on the North Side for five years before leaving in free agency. In that time, he won a Cy Young Award and threw two no-hitters. He won two games in the 2016 World Series.
Strop was a key member of the Cubs bullpen for seven years. He was mostly a setup man, but he did save 29 games in Chicago.
Feldman pitched a half-season in Baltimore. Clevenger bounced back and forth between Baltimore and Triple-A Norfolk for three seasons.
July 30, 2021: Pete Crow-Armstrong from the Mets for Javier Báez and Trevor Williams.
Crow-Armstrong had been the Mets 2020 first-round pick but only played six games before he missed the rest of 2021 with a shoulder injury. He quickly established himself as the Cubs’ top prospect. He made his major-league debut late in 2023. He won a Gold Glove and made the All-Star team in 2025. This year he leads the Cubs in both fWAR and bWAR
Báez had a very good half season with the Mets, but the rest of the team fell apart and they finished the 2021 season below .500. He then left for Detroit as a free agent where he’s struggled.
Williams pitched a year and a half with the Mets, totaling 12 starts and 28 relief appearances. He had a quite good 3.17 ERA for the Mets in that year and a half. The Mets did make the Wild Card Series in 2022, but Williams did not pitch in it.
So now it’s time to vote. What was the best trade for the Cubs in the 21st Century?
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Jun 8, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (6) tags out Boston Red Sox centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) in the sixth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Yanno, for a game in which the Sox only had five baserunners, made opener Ian Seymour look like Clayton Viola-Koufax for four (!) innings, Tampa couldn’t miss on challenges, and started with a leadoff home run by Yandy Diaz, tonight’s 3-1 loss wasn’t all that bad imho. Connelly Early pitched well and Marcelo Mayer absolutely pasted a homer for Boston’s only run:
Ceddy had a neat catch, too.
Meanwhile:
You win some, you lose some. I wish I had more to say. I actually watched the whole game and everything. It was nice and tense and a good was to pass the time until the basketball game started, if nothing else. That’s what baseball does, baby! Even the so-so kind. So so now it’s time to go.
(@HEATVices) 
