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The Knicks’ win streak extended to 12 games with a statement victory in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Tonight, they’ll try to continue that by taking a 2-0 lead over the San Antonio Spurs.
Though the Knicks got off to a hot start, they found themselves trailing the Spurs, but a huge late-game run helped secure the 105-95 victory.
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Sling TV is another affordable way to watch TV live and stream NBA games; its Select plan includes ABC and starts at $19.99/month.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
Path 3 has already been rumored to be under consideration. Boston is among the teams linked to Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in trade rumors, and such a deal almost certainly would require shipping Jaylen Brown out of town.
Do Stevens and the Celtics need to make such a drastic move, or should they run it back with largely the same group plus a healthy Jayson Tatum? Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated joined Friday’s Early Edition to discuss which path he’d take.
“I don’t see a real reason to overreact to a bad playoff loss given what this season was supposed to be,” Mannix said. “I mean, the expectations coming into the year were extremely low. They wind up winning 56 games, having a better offensive rating this year than they did last year.
“Yeah, it was an ugly way to go out against Philadelphia, and obviously, they have some needs to address if they want to be considered a championship contender, but they’ve got the core of a championship-contending team. They’ve got two superstars that know how to play with each other. They’ve got a second star who elevated himself this year into that first tier of players.”
Brown stepped up in Tatum’s absence, leading Boston to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. When Tatum returned, it was like he had never left. The Celtics’ star tandem picked up where it left off before Tatum’s injury and appeared ready to make a run at Banner 19.
Then, they blew a 3-1 series lead to the Sixers.
Despite that devastating result, Mannix looks at this year’s Eastern Conference champions as a reason not to make any drastic decisions.
“I think looking at the New York Knicks is a great example of why you want to keep things together, because one of the reasons the Knicks are playing in the Finals right now is because of their chemistry,” Mannix said. “Jalen Brunson has been around for four years. Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, two or three years. They’ve built chemistry over multiple years and they’re playing and succeeding as a team.
“The Celtics have done it even longer with this group, and I would love to see them go out, try to find a big man, try to find a little bit more depth in the backcourt, and then run it back next year with a healthy Jayson Tatum and a vastly improved Jaylen Brown.”
Boston enters the offseason with a glaring need for frontcourt help. It could also use a playmaking guard and a another reliable scoring option for when Tatum and Brown need a breather.
White, a Celtic since 2022 and a key member of the 2024 championship squad, is owed $30.34 million for the upcoming season. The three-time All-Defensive selection is one of Boston’s few trade chips that could bring in a significant haul.
Perhaps a big-man upgrade and other improvements on the margins will be enough. But as opportunities arise in the offseason, Stevens will have to seriously ponder whether a major change is best for the franchise’s future.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MAY 25: Luigi Suigo, #19 of U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan receives the All-Tournament Trophy from Michele Gherardini, representative of Adidas after Adidas NextGen Euroleague Finals Championship game between U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs U18 Zalgiris Kaunas at Mubadala Arena on May 25, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by David Grau/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)
The NBA is truly a worldwide league, boasting 135 international players from 43 countries at the beginning of the 2025-2026 season (NBA News, 10/22/25). So, as well as evaluating US college and G League prospects, team scouts also have the daunting task of crisscrossing the globe for new talent. Is there another Luka Doncic making his name with Real Madrid? Another Giannis bending rims in the shadow of the Acropolis? Another Wemby towering over the Arc de Triomphe?
For the Utah Jazz, who only (only!) have the second pick in the entire draft, is it worth trading some of their assets for the chance to land the next big continental phenom? Let’s take a look at some of the worldwide talent on offer and you can decide for yourself. ‘
Karim Lopez is the undisputed top international prospect in this year’s draft. The 6’8” Mexican born wing is currently playing down under with the New Zealand Breakers. Watching his highlights, you see a player who can do a little bit of everything: ball handling, three-point shooting, creating his own shot, setting up teammates, driving to the basket. His size, athleticism and quick hands also provide glimpses of his potential on the defensive end. But as he is expected to be drafted between 11 and 14 on most draft boards, it would be a huge stretch for the Jazz to shell out enough player and future draft capital to acquire him.
Not to worry though. If you can’t afford a Cadillac, perhaps there’s a sporty mid-size sedan in the Jazz’s price range. Or perhaps in the case of this next player, a stretch limo. Standing 7’3” with a 7’5” wingspan, weighing in as a 289 lb Heavyweight, and optimistically referred to by one pundit as “The Italian Wemby” (whoa there, fella), Luigi Suigo is projected to be picked anywhere from the late first round to the early- to mid-second round. Watching his highlights, it’s easy to see why NBA scouts would be intrigued by this towering Goliath. He dominates the paint, easily putting back misses by his teammates. But he can also step back beyond the arc and hit threes, though his three-point percentage needs improvement. The capital needed to take a flyer on Suigo could be a lot less, especially if he drops into the second round. And it’s enticing to think of him as a backup rim protector to Walker Kessler.
Jack Kayil, a 6’5”, 185 lb German point guard is projected to be picked between 37-40 or per some analysts will remain undrafted. Playing for ALBA in Berlin during the 2025-2026 season, he averaged 11.7 points, 3.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds, while shooting just over 34% from three. His handle is reminiscent of Keyonte George and he could be a promising backup guard, especially if the Jazz don’t select Darryn Peterson with the second pick. Kayil is currently committed to Gonzaga, but that could change if there is more interest from NBA teams.
The Jazz, of course, may be completely happy with just taking the second pick and keeping their future draft capital and current players intact. There’s nothing wrong with that, especially considering that the 2027 NBA draft will likely have more intriguing international prospects: Dash Daniels, an elite defender with Melbourne United, whose brother, Dyson Daniels, had a breakout season with the Hawks; Miikka Muurinen, Lauri Markkanen’s Finnish national team sidekick, who will have completed a year with the University of Arkansas; and Sergio de Larrea, a 6’5”, 175 lb shooting guard from Spain, a three-point marksman with a high basketball IQ, who reminds me of Austin Reaves. But my suspicion is that Austin Ainge and the rest of Jazz management are keeping their options open, both here and overseas, as they try to create an edge in their quest to get back to the post season.
The Freeway Series gets renewed as the Los Angeles Angels make the short trip to Chavez Ravine to face the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight, with the home side favored.
Reid Detmers and Roki Sasaki toe the rubber in the series opener, potentially creating some value on the underdog.
See why my Angels vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks for Friday, June 5, are enamored with Reid Detmers.
Who will win Angels vs Dodgers tonight: Angels (+175)
Plug your nose if you have to, but the Los Angeles Angels are undervalued in this series opener.
Reid Detmers gives them a starting pitching advantage. His 2.92 xERA, 20.8% K-BB%, and 104 Stuff+ are clear indicators of an effective arm.
Roki Sasaki’s hittable heater (.328 xBA) and penchant for allowing loud contact (11th percentile barrel rate) are major concerns.
The Angels’ bullpen will be fully rested after Thursday’s day off, whereas the Los Angeles Dodgers are playing their eighth game in as many days and have a 6.08 ERA in the last 10 days.
I'd play this to +165.
COVERS INTEL: Detmers is bound for positive regression given his 60.8% left-on-base rate. That’s the worst luck among all qualified starters, so no wonder his actual ERA is nearly two runs higher than his xERA.
Angels vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-125)
There’s value betting on Detmers’ positive regression, combined with a bruised-up Dodgers lineup. Let's break it down...
Shohei Ohtani sat yesterday with a blister
Max Muncy may be absent after a hard collision on Thursday
Mookie Betts (.183/.246/.365) has temporarily lost the ability to hit baseballs
Teoscar Hernandez is still on the IL
Not great.
The Dodgers were already an Under team (12-19 O/U at home) and are looking even more so like one, given the circumstances.
Both starters have an above-average Stuff+ (104) and are in fine form, so it’ll be another low-scoring Dodgers game.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 21-19, -2.41 units
Over/Under bets: 29-12, +16.61 units
Angels vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Angels +178 | Dodgers -185
Run line: Angels +1.5 (-125) | Dodgers -1.5 (+105)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-110) | Under 8 (-110)
Angels vs Dodgers trend
The Dodgers have cashed the Under in 15 of their last 22 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Angels vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Angels vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Friday, June 5, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
KTTV, SNLA
Angels starting pitcher
Reid Detmers (2-5, 4.63 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Roki Sasaki (3-3, 4.59 ERA)
Angels vs Dodgers latest injuries
Angels vs Dodgers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Jackson Chourio is one of the hottest hitters in baseball at the moment. He owns a .765 xSLG over the last week, including three home runs during that span, while possessing a 44.4% hard-hit rate. If we take a deeper dive, the power is very evident. Chourio also has a .524 ISO across his previous six games.
He'll face Colorado Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner tonight. The starter recently returned from the IL and has made just one start since late April, so we'll look at his season as a whole.
Feltner owns a 6.35 xERA and has allowed a 46.9% hard-hit rate. He's also surrendered 38.3% of his contact through the air, while carrying a concerning 16.1% HR/FB rate.
That's an appealing matchup for Chourio, who owns a 33.3% HR/FB rate over the last week and continues to generate loud contact consistently.
With this game taking place at Coors Field — one of the most favorable home-run environments in baseball — the conditions only strengthen the case.
I'll take this pick up to +200.
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Brewers.TV, Rockies.TV
Home run pick: Oneil Cruz (+388)
Oneil Cruz is consistently making loud contact at the moment. Aside from his three bombs in the last six games, he owns an astounding 23.1% barrel rate during that span while carrying a ridiculous .912 xSLG.
Cruz has also slugged above .500 against left-handed pitching this season, and he'll face Atlanta Braves southpaw Martin Perez this evening.
Perez has been getting hit, with 34.1% of the contact he's allowed against left-handed batters coming in the air, and 14.3% of those fly balls leaving the yard. That's a recipe for disaster against a hitter like Cruz, who has seen 36.4% of his fly balls against lefties land in the bleachers.
I'll play this pick up to +350.
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, BravesVision
Home run pick: Tyler Soderstrom (+496)
Tyler Soderstrom is making plenty of loud contact right now, carrying a 52.6% hard-hit rate and an expected slugging percentage north of .500 over the last week. The Athletics slugger has also gone deep twice in his last six games, and the matchup is what stands out most here.
The Houston Astros hand Peter Lambert the ball, and while he hasn't allowed a home run across his last two starts, the underlying metrics suggest he's been fortunate. The right-hander has surrendered a 46.7% fly-ball rate, 46.7% hard-hit rate, and a 22.7 average launch angle during that span. Those indicators suggest opposing hitters are generating the type of contact that often turns into home runs.
Add in the short porch in left field at Daikin Park, and this matchup becomes even more appealing.
I'll take this pick up to +400.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC Sports California, Space City Home Network
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 9-57, -12.56 units
Today’s HR parlay
Jackson Chourio
Bet Now +11625
Oneil Cruz
Tyler Soderstrom
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Admittedly, it wasn’t “total” speculation. There were already whispers that the Brooklyn Nets were interested in Nate Ament in the upcoming NBA Draft, whether at #6 overall or after trading down. But stronger was the inductive reasoning behind it; given what we know about Brooklyn’s recent drafting history and Ament’s profile, the fit is almost too obvious. But we’ll get to that.
Over the past week, the whispers have become PSAs. Our own Connor Long reported that the Nets were interested in the University of Tennessee product, while Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports just mocked Ament to Brooklyn at #6, adding that the Nets are indeed “drawn” to him…
For what it’s worth, NetsDaily has not heard anything directly from Nets sources about their draft plans, though team insiders are telling people they “feel good” and are “excited” about the summer. Not much there.
But sources around the league — agents and their employees, as well as scouts for rival teams — all paint the same picture: The Nets are very interested in Ament. In fact, some sources are debating whether it’s an outright “lock” that Brooklyn takes the 6’10” forward. You hear phrases like “league-wide expectation,” and when other prospects are mentioned (Karim Lopez, Aday Mara, or one of the guards), the boldest convictions are that they could still be “in play.”
Three weeks out, there is such widespread agreement on Brooklyn’s interest that you wonder if it’s smoke. Or if Brooklyn is telegraphing their interest in a prospect recently projected to go much lower than #6 so as to facilitate a trade-down. O’Connor did note in his latest mock that “plenty of teams [are] interested in trading into this spot.”
The Egor Dëmin selection last season is a valuable reference point, likely part of why these sources feel confident about Brooklyn taking Ament. The team’s interest in Dëmin pre-draft was well known, but few believed the Nets would actually take Dëmin at #8 overall, a clear reach relative to most draft boards. (ESPN had the BYU product at No. 13 in their last mock.) After Brooklyn’s stunning 2025 NBA Draft — from the Dëmin selection to the other four picks to their jubilant reactions in the war room — sources aren’t putting anything past them.
While Dëmin and Ament are not identical prospects, there are important similarities, particularly when you consider how they could fit into the next iteration of the Brooklyn Nets. The thinking goes: Size + shooting provides a floor, and once GM Sean Marks goes star-hunting in the trade market, long viewed as an inevitability, those players theoretically slot in comfortably next to high-usage players.
If Brooklyn does take Ament, they clearly don’t believe this crop of guard prospects (Acuff, Wagler, Brown Jr., Flemings) will produce that aforementioned high-usage star. That thinking may be most in line with consensus; teams are lower on that group of players than the general public might be, hence players like Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara shooting up mocks.
Nate Ament could be a prototypical Nets prospect darling for other reasons. Let’s list ‘em.
Prospect pedigree: Ament was the No. 4 prospect in his high school class before an underwhelming freshman season at Tennessee. Dariq Whitehead, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, and to a lesser extent, Egor Dëmin were all extremely hyped prospects who lost hype during their pre-draft year.
High-character billing: Watch an interview. Read this Marc J. Spears story. Nate Ament does seem like a hard worker with a very pleasant attitude, affirmed by those in the know. We know the Nets really, really value character.
Weaknesses: The general sell is size + shooting, right? Well, Ament shot 33% from deep, 37% on long twos, and under 79% from the line. Not terrible, but Brooklyn would certainly be banking on a shooting leap, nothing new for them. Ament also struggled with physicality and explosiveness, creating space and/or finishing at the rim. How many current Nets could that last sentence apply to?
O’Connor gave Ament a bit of a pass on the shooting:
[O]ver the second half of the year for Tennessee, he flipped a switch and shots began to fall. He averaged 23.8 points over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everyone why he was a top recruit in the country. Then he dealt with an ankle injury that ruined his momentum entering March and severely struggled during the tournament.
We haven’t heard anything from Nets sources about their interest in Nate Ament. Brian Lewis tweeted Friday that Ament has not yet worked out for Brooklyn. Acuff was in Wednesday, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, the first word any of the top prospects have been in. And while league sources are quite clear on their opinion, there are still nearly three weeks until the 2026 NBA Draft. Things can change in a hurry.
Alas, even if Ament to Brooklyn isn’t a “lock,” the noise and our own inductive reasoning is simply too much to ignore. We’ll have plenty of analysis coming, namely an interview with a prominent NBA Draft analyst on Brooklyn potentially taking Ament. But we can say this: If it does come to fruition, particularly without a trade-down from #6 overall, it will be a very polarizing (at best) decision within draft circles, perhaps even more than the Dëmin selection…
Nate Ament has declared for the draft out of Tennessee. Draft range is ballpark No. 8 to No. 18 on draft night. Polarizing prospect for scouts. The ones who like him really like the upside. The ones who don't aren't interested at all. Would bet he ends up back half of lottery. pic.twitter.com/f5VejArtQV
For those looking for more discussion on Nate Ament, I appeared on the most recent episode of Locked On Nets with Erik Slater, where we discussed Ament at length. Once again, we’ll have further analysis of Ament and other prospects before the draft, starting this weekend.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 13: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros reacts after striking out during the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park on May 13, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Astros have reinstated 2B Jose Altuve from the 10-day IL.
The club optioned OF Zach Dezenzo to Triple A after last night’s game.
Altuve, 36, was initially diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain, but recovered faster than expected. Altuve last played May 16, missing almost 3 weeks with an injury that was expected to sideline him 4-6 weeks.
Altuve started the season red hot, hitting .378 over the first 11 games of the season, but then cooled off considerably, and was batting only .245 at the time of his injury.
Dezenzo, 26, was batting .191 this season with the Astros in limited time. He was also 3 for his last 21 at the plate with 11 strikeouts. Dezenzo should see regular time in Sugar Land alongside Joey Loperfido and Zach Cole as the team hopes at least one of them will find their batting stroke and get hot, allowing them to be productive upon a recall.
Ten years ago, home teams wore white uniforms for 97% of NBA playoff games, and alternate jerseys were rarely worn during the postseason. This year, only 32% of playoffs games have featured home teams in white—many fans have voiced a desire for that number go back up—as NBA team’s jersey choices have become more chaotic.
The New York Knicks wore their non-traditional black uniforms at Madison Square Garden for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but the San Antonio Spurs were not allowed to wear their popular Fiesta jerseys for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
This week, Club Sportico talked to the NBA to get the league’s perspective on alternate uniforms during the playoffs, and whether the home whites tradition could ever return, even if only for the Finals.
The San Antonio Spurs opened the NBA Finals at home with another glorious Fiesta night. Just as they’d done in previous rounds, fans wore the team’s 1990s “Fiesta” shades, divided into tangerine, fuchsia and turquoise sections of the arena, to create an awesome visual.
But, unlike in the first two rounds, the team itself was not dressed as colorfully. Despite being cheered on by a giant sherbet menu, the Spurs wore their traditional black instead of their Fiesta jerseys. This wasn’t a surprise—Sporticoexplained back in April that the NBA requires teams to wear their “primary uniforms” in the conference finals and Finals.
The league’s priorities, though, seemed contradictory to me. If the NBA wants a more classic look for the higher-profile later rounds, then why allow the Spurs to wear black at home, when home teams typically wore white for the league’s first 70 years?
I talked to Christopher Arena, the NBA’s SVP of on-court and brand partnerships, to get his perspective.
“There’s something about world-building as a team hosts a game that they can tell a story wearing whichever uniform they’re wearing,” Arena said. “If in the early rounds, that’s about City Edition and Fiesta and doing t-shirt giveaways that paint the crowd, great. If that’s about a more traditional team like the Knicks and they just want to wear white at home, that’s great too.”
The league does recognize the importance of history—it’s one reason City Edition jerseys are no longer allowed late in the playoffs. The Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets clinched the 2019 and 2023 Finals, respectively, wearing alternates that debuted in those particular seasons and are no longer worn. The NBA understood that this wasn’t ideal.
“When you get to these big, call it trophy, T-shirt, hat moments… there’s something about seeing the teams in their core identities and fans connecting to that,” Arena said.
Don’t expect the home whites tradition to come back, but towards the end of our conversation, Arena seemed open to the idea of having some “dividing line” to distinguish certain games when teams would have to wear white at home.
“You could do just the Finals. You could do conference finals and Finals. You could do all the playoffs, including the play-in. You know, you could do Friday night games,” Arena said.
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Aaron Judge was officially moved to the injured list before the Yankees' game against the Red Sox on Friday, June 5. Top prospect Spencer Jones was recalled to take his spot in the outfield. Judge was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his first right rib and is expected to miss several weeks.
The Yankees said Judge will be shut down for four to six weeks before reimaging. That means the most optimistic timeline would be a late July, early August return.
Jones, a left-handed slugger, made his major-league debut last month and was underwhelming. The No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline, Jones hit .167/.259./.167 in 27 plate appearance during his first stint. The Yankees are thin in the outfield at the moment with Giancarlo Stanton on the IL with a right calf issue and Jasson Dominguez also on the IL with a left shoulder strain.
Jones has shown power potential for years. At Triple-A Scranton this year, he is hitting. 269 with a .571 slugging percentage, 13 home runs and 48 RBI in 43 games.
The 2022 first-round pick out of Vanderbilt has also shown penchant for striking out a lot. During his first major-league stint, he struck out at a 44.4% rate. In Triple-A he has struck out 60 times in 185 plate appearances this year.
While he is also 6-foot-7 like Judge, he is stepping into a big hole in the lineup left by the Yankees captain.
Before the injury, Judge, the two-time reigning American League MVP, was hitting .248 with 17 homers in 261 plate appearances.
It is a big moment for Jones, who fell off the Top 100 prospect lists last offseason after 109 strikeouts in 298 Triple-A plate appearances. He was demoted May 21 with instructions to work on his swing.
Now the Yankees will have time with Judge on the shelf to see what Jones can do.
Former Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Johansson was heading into the summer as one of the NHL's top pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) scorers. However, instead of testing the market or re-signing with the Minnesota Wild, Johansson is taking his talents overseas.
Farjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) has announced that they have signed Johansson.
Johansson just had a very good season for the Wild, posting 15 goals, 34 assists, and 49 points in 75 games. This was the first time since 2022-23 that Johansson recorded at least 40 points and the second-most points he had in an NHL season. While this is the case, Johansson is heading home to play in the SHL.
Johansson played in 60 games for the Sabres during the 2019-20 season, where he recorded 13 goals, 17 assists, and 30 points. His time with the Sabres ended during the 2020 NHL off-season when he was traded to the Wild in exchange for Eric Staal.
In 1,058 career NHL games over 16 seasons, he posted 200 goals, 366 assists, and 566 points. Overall, the former Sabre had himself a strong NHL career, and he should be a big pickup for Farjestad BK.
TAMPA BAY, - MARCH 16: George Lombard Jr. #26 of the New York Yankees singles in the first inning during the 2024 Spring Breakout Game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Tampa Bay, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
The idiot that said, “Harper is coming” asks:Rather than focus on trade acquisition candidates, let’s focus on who might get traded away for a moment.Who in the Yankee organization do you believe will be most likely to be traded away at the trade deadline?
Let’s start with the prospects that carry value but probably will be sticking around. Spencer Jones’ security in the organization became a lot stronger after news broke that Aaron Judge would be going on the IL with a stress fracture in his ribs, and earlier today he was indeed called back up to the major leagues for what will likely be a lengthier stint than his first one. Carlos Lagrange is viewed as a potential stalwart in the Yankee rotation, but he’s also moving over to the bullpen to get a shot at contributing this year and thus likely is also safe, especially given the team’s need for relievers. Finally, George Lombard Jr. looks to be the future Yankees shortstop and could be ready as soon as next spring, with an outside shot of getting a look this year even. He’s the team’s top prospect overall and among the game’s best in any organization meaning he could carry a lot of weight as the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade, but it would take a monumental one to convince the Yankees to part with the promising infielder.
Elmer Rodríguez sits near the top of the organization’s pitching prospects with Lagrange, and he made his MLB debut earlier in the year after a meteoric rise following his trade acquisition from Boston. He’s a name that the Yankees would certainly also like to hold onto, but he also sits on the threshold of player that the Yankees might listen in on for the right deal. There are, however, some other pitching prospects with less of a pedigree and may not have a path to the majors laid out for them yet. Bryce Cunningham fits this bill, having been held back by a couple of injuries, and even though you can never have too much pitching I’m almost certain that New York will pull from their depth here to look for a good upgrade. Given the team’s needs, it makes more sense to me that the team will trade from their pool of players outside of the upper echelon to get relief arms or an upgrade to the bench, and Cunningham fits the bill for the type of player they’d be willing to gamble on.
BetweenthePinstripes asks:At the end of every season, there’s always a team (or three) that go on a tear, upending the standings and altering the playoff picture. What’s your best guess as to which team(s) will play their best baseball at the end?
I’m afraid that the main answer to this question will be the Astros, who sit in fourth place but have survived the big blows that the pitching staff took and have started to get their lineup in order even without Carlos Correa for the rest of the season. The AL West still looks to be a mess of a division, with the Mariners finally back in first place but clinging to a 2.5 game lead over the Rangers and Athletics. Houston is a couple ticks behind at 5.5 games behind, but being three games out of a postseason spot in the final Wild Card is nothing to scoff at all things considered. With Yordan Alvarez on an absolute heater at the plate, they could force the window of contention open a crack after missing the postseason last year.
Outside of the Astros, there’s another team in their division that could turn it on late in the year. The Mariners got off to an abysmal start offensively, but their push back to the top of the division was achieved by some of their regular stars finding their groove at long last. With a core of Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, and Randy Arozarena alongside the veteran assistance of Josh Naylor this is a team that should compete, and their rotation outside of Luis Castillo has been lights out on a near-daily basis. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see them make a run for not just the division title but a shot at hosting an ALDS or even an ALCS matchup, and they have the blueprint of what went right for them last year as the calendars turned towards fall to study from.
torturedsoulv1 asks: Will the Yankees playoff rotation be just Cole/Fried/Schittler. Or does Rodon get a start? I guess it depends on days off between games.
Days off are the essential factor, and given the turnaround for each round of play the Yankees would likely go with the main three for the Wild Card Round (assuming all of them stay locked in and healthy should they make it there). From the ALDS on it depends on what they can get away with, but Carlos Rodón has done more than enough to earn a bit of trust in a hypothetical Game 4. As for the overall order, that remains to be seen as well — Schlittler’s making a case for himself to be one of the best if not the best pitcher in the AL this year, which should give him the upper hand even over a pitcher as prolific as Gerrit Cole should winning be the biggest factor.
MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 28: Brady Singer #51 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, September 28, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds should be fresh following their off-day on Thursday, but they’re also ‘fresh’ off losing 4 of 6 at home during their most recent homestand against the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals, respectively.
Now, the Reds are in St. Louis and ready to face a Cardinals club that they saw briefly two weeks ago in a series that was a complete weather mess. You’ll recall that the Friday game between these two was banged, they played a Saturday doubleheader to compensate, and then Sunday’s game was postponed until later in the season.
Even with those surprise breaks, the Cincinnati pitching staff has still been in complete shambles. They’ve been forced to cycle through players (Yunior Marte, Lyon Richardson, Brandon Liebrandt) and cull them from the 40-man roster just to find some, any fresh arms to activate, and their league-worst bullpen continues to give up games that the offense has fought hard to make close. Such was definitely the case again on Wednesday in the series finale when Tony Santillan was rocked in a 5-2 loss to Kansas City.
Still, this Reds club limps in at 31-30, above .500 for the time being. It’ll be up to Brady Singer in the series opener to turn his own personal struggles around, as on Thursday he still sported the single worst HR/9 (2.82) of the 119 MLB pitchers who have thrown at least 50 IP so far this year. He also ranks 4th worst in ERA (6.18), 3rd worst in xERA (6.49), and dead last in FIP (6.88) among that group, which is the kind of individual calamity that can tank an entire team’s season if not rectified quickly.
Kyle Leahy will start for the Cardinals. First pitch is set for 8:15 PM ET.
Jay Leach skates in a practice for the Kraken in December 2023.
The Rangers hired Jay Leach to lead their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Named the ninth head coach in Wolf Pack history on Friday, Leach joins the Blueshirts organization after serving as an assistant coach in the NHL over the previous five seasons with the Kraken (three) and the Bruins (two).
The 46-year-old Leach is an experienced addition and has been a candidate for multiple head coaching vacancies in the NHL in recent years.
Jay Leach skates in a practice for the Kraken in December 2023. NHLI via Getty Images
“Players gravitate toward him,” Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan told The Post of Leach at the time, when he was still head coach of the Penguins. “He’s a good leader. He’s been in leadership roles when he was playing in the American League, and so he brought all of that to the coaching aspect of what he’s doing now. When I got a chance to work right next to him in Wilkes-Barre, I was really impressed, but not surprised, with his work ethic. He rolls his sleeves up, he works hard at being a good coach, and he brings a certain humility to the job every day that I think is so important for all of us.
“He has strong convictions of how the game should be played, but he also understands there’s more than one way to play the game and that you have to work with people, both players and coaches alike, in order to try to build the necessary collaboration to have success in today’s NHL.”
President and general manager Chris Drury bringing on Leach makes a lot of sense for an organization that is looking to refresh its prospect pool.
Plus, Leach has ties to Sullivan, who brought him onto his staff with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during the 2015-16 season.
When Sullivan was promoted to the Bruins, Leach succeeded him and took over the team.
Jay Leach is pictured during a Bruins game in November 2025. Getty Images
The last time Leach served as head coach was from 2017-21 with the AHL’s Providence Bruins.
Over those four seasons, the Syracuse native led the team to back-to-back Atlantic Division titles.
Providence compiled a 136-77-26 record under Leach, who also helped the team reach the AHL’s Eastern Conference Finals as an assistant in 2016-17.
The Bruins eventually brought Leach back as an assistant at the NHL level over the last two campaigns.
A defenseman drafted 115th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes, Leach appeared in 70 NHL games across five seasons for the Bruins, Lightning, Devils, Canadiens and Sharks.
He ultimately played 12 seasons of professional hockey before making the jump into coaching.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 17: Alex Nedeljkovic #39 of the Pittsburgh Penguins tends goal against Zach Benson #9 of the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game on January 17, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The NHL’s salary cap is rising but many teams still find themselves in various degrees of uncomfortableness when it comes to the salary structure. The Pittsburgh Penguins are not one such team.
Offer sheets have been a seldom used venture by NHL general managers, there have only been four in the last decade. Montreal signed Carolina’s Sebastian Aho in 2019, the Hurricanes matched and retaliated two years later by giving Jesper Kotkaniemi what looks like a regrettable amount of money that the Canadiens did not match. Then in 2024 St. Louis fired shots across the bow by targeting Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from Edmonton, which the cap-strapped Oilers opted not to match.
Going back to the entire NHL salary cap era from 2006-present, there have only been 12 total completed offer sheets. Only four of those 12 were successful to acquire a player from a team unwilling or unable to match the compensation.
The St. Louis moves showed the potential is not gone to take the aggressive action, so let’s check on this year’s crop via Sportsnet.
As every team looks at improving over the off-season, will any use an offer sheet to chase talent?@RoryBoylen has everything you need to know about compensation and which players could be interesting RFA targets. https://t.co/dsQNwg6cPb
The important information to know is the different levels of compensation required, which for 2026 is as follows:
Based on these splits, it’s a challenge to anticipate signing a mega-star like RFA Jason Robertson to an offer sheet. It would easily require first round picks from 2027-30, which is a cost too far to support making such a move.
However, as STL showed, targeting rising players who could play into a higher cost than they’ve shown in the past can pay off handsomely for the price of a second or third round pick as a sweet spot for trying offer sheets. This could be the key area of opportunity.
Zach Benson, Buffalo Sabres
As previously mentioned, if Buffalo re-signs Tuch, it would immediately be tight to next year’s salary cap. Meantime, 21-year-old Zach Benson became a core piece of the Sabres this season with a breakout 43-point campaign (in 65 games) and an even better showing in the playoffs. It might be fair to ask: Should Benson actually be Buffalo’s priority here?
Benson, drafted 13th overall in 2023, is a player who whispers say was of much interest to the Penguins had he just slipped one more pick in the draft to where they were at. (Pittsburgh ended up selecting Brayden Yager, who was traded not long after).
Sportsnet also notes that Buffalo has center Peyton Krebs and defenseman Michael Kesselring as potential restricted free agents. The Sabres currently have $17.6 million in cap space, though it stands to reason over half of that amount would be taken away if they end up re-signing star forward Alex Tuch.
Granted, if the Sabres don’t re-sign Tuch, there wouldn’t be much of a point in trying to fish away Benson via offer sheet. They’ll be in good enough shape to match in that situation. Assuming they did sign Tuch, would the Penguins be so bold as to transfer an unprotected 2027 first round pick (plus a third, which they have an extra selection in that round already) to get Benson on an offer of $7 million?
Benson scored 43 points in just 65 games this year and was a great playoff performer with nine points in 13 games and a very active, physical presence. He also just turned 21-years old and could be worth an investment to be a part of the core for a while.
It would take some faith that Benson could get a glow up like Holloway did, who went all the way up to 63 points in his first season with the Blues and was worth his contract plus the second round pick to give up. This isn’t a surefire risk-free proposition, but it could be something to think about considering the Pens were rumored to have really liked Benson in the pre-draft process. After three seasons in the NHL, there’s even more to like.
Mavrik Bourque, Dallas
The Stars’ top priority is to get Robertson under contract, which would be a big ticket, certainly in the $12 million range, that would put them over the cap. Meantime, the 24-year-old Bourque would be offer sheet eligible after his first 20-goal season. Perhaps a quiet playoff showing may cool interest in going the offer sheet route, and GM Jim Nill may be looking at trade options instead.
Pittsburgh and Dallas have been a good trade fit with one another recently. The two worked together last year to send Matt Dumba plus a second round pick to the Pens last year to ease some Stars cap woes. Those problems are back again for them, which means the Pens might not even need to offer sheet Bourque to acquire him. Volunteer to take the salary of Ilya Lybushskin ($3.25m for one more year) and then it could see what other particulars would need to be done to get Bourque as a part of the deal could be a workable gambit.
If dangling that carrot via a trade ended up not working out, the Pens could always turn to using the stick of the offer sheet for Bourque. It looks like the Stars have about $13 million of cap space for next year, of which Robertson would require almost all of it. Should a team come in with a $4.7 million offer for Bourque, that might put a lot of strain on the Stars’ structure – depending on what further moves they could make to get around that. Something’s got to give in Dallas, if a team adds a little more pressure to the situation they might be able to get Bourque out of it, via whatever means it might take via trade or offer sheet.
Olen Zellweger/Pavel Mintyukov, Anaheim
Carlsson and Gauthier grab most of the attention in regards to Anaheim’s RFAs, but it also has two young defencemen who are offer sheet eligible. Zellweger and Mintyukov, two 21-year-olds, both finished with 22 points this season, while Mintyukov averaged about a minute-and-a-half more of ice time, mostly because of his shorthanded minutes.
Of the two, Zellweger may be the one to watch more closely on the offer sheet front. His average ice time dropped by nearly two minutes from 2024-25 to 2025-26 and he only played three playoff games for the Ducks.
These two have been oft-talked about, with little more new ground to tread. Anaheim having to give new contracts to breakout stars Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier makes them a very interesting team to watch this offseason. They also have a total of two NHL defensemen currently signed for next season according to CapWages. A lot is going to go on out there. Maybe the Pens can get involved, maybe not, but watching the Ducks navigate this summer will be worth watching.
Zack Bolduc, Montreal
One of Montreal’s four RFAs, Bolduc scored 12 goals for the Canadiens this season but got to 19 with St. Louis the year before that. If he stays in Montreal, a new contract might come in the range of $3 million, but is there a team out there that values his potential higher than that?
When Montreal traded for Bolduc last summer, our scout Jason Bukala wrote that it had “acquired at worst a middle-six forward. He’s more likely a top-six winger.” That didn’t come to fruition right away, but Bolduc is still just 23 years old. If a team still sees him as a player who could score 20-25 a season and have top-six upside, might they take a shot on a short- or medium-term contract worth around $4.5 million — a rate that might make Montreal a little uncomfortable and require only a second-round pick as compensation?
A team like the Pens could pay a little more for a player in salary, assuming they really liked the player or thought he could take off to justify the move. Whether or not they would actually want to do that is of course the unknown $64,000 question. Bolduc, 23, has yet to really take off, does Pittsburgh (or anyone else) think he could have that Holloway-esque type of increase in the future? If so, $4 million and giving up a second round pick would be a small price to pay. If not, onto the next.
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More often than not the offer sheet goes unused, though the increased amount of second+third round picks that Pittsburgh has in the next few years makes them decent candidates to use if the right situation was out there. The Pens have used that to acquire Egor Chinakhov and Elmer Soderblom in trades, straying outside the lane to attempt an offer sheet coup would be unexpected but a bold, risky move at attempting to bolster the team’s talent level.
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It’s officially time to Knight up.
After an impressive Game 2 comeback overtime win, Sebastian Aho’s Carolina Hurricanes tied Mitch Marner’s Vegas Golden Knights at one game apiece in the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals.
Next up, the high-stakes series heads to the VGK’s home T-Mobile Arena. The two Sin City contests are scheduled to take place:
A hypothetical Game 6 — if the Finals goes that far — would go down Sunday, June 14 in Vegas.
If you’d like to be at any one of these Stanley Cup tilts, last-minute tickets are still available.
Better yet, prices have significantly decreased since we last reported on how much they cost for games at the T-Mobile Arena.
When our team wrote about prices for Stanley Cup games in Vegas on June 1, prices started at $1,604 including fees on SeatGeek at the time of publication.
Now, just a mere four days later, seats can be found for as low as $666 including fees.
Yes, prices have dropped nearly $1,000 (!) in just four days.
Throw in the fact that you can save $10 off purchases over $250 at checkout using promo code NYPOST10 and you’ve got a steal of a deal (Editor’s Note: this discount is only valid for users’ first purchase on SeatGeek).
In theory, the Knights should be coming home, up 2-0.
However, Knights Head Coach used a coach’s challenge on goaltender interference with five minutes left in regulation and got his call overturned, which resulted in a two-minute minor penalty that led to a power play for the ‘Canes, a momentum shift and their subsequent victory.
“Instead of Vegas going home looking to move to the verge of a second championship in nine years of existence, the series is all square, despite [Carter] Hart making some big saves and Brett Howden scoring his playoff-leading 12th and 13th goals,” The Post noted in a Game 2 postmortem.
When asked for comment, Head Coach John Tortorella said: “I have my thoughts. I’m not discussing it here.”
We can’t wait to see what happens next.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes below.
What do tickets cost to see Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup home games?
All Vegas Golden Knights T-Mobile Arena Stanley Cup home game dates and the cheapest tickets available (versus what they cost on June 1) can be found here:
Vegas Golden Knights home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Ticket prices started at on June 1
Game 3 Saturday, June 6
$666(including fees
$1,774(including fees)
Game 4 Tuesday, June 9
$709(including fees
$1,604(including fees)
Game 6 Sunday, June 14
$939(including fees
$1,635(including fees)
How much are Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup home game tickets?
A complete calendar including all Hurricanes Eastern Conference Finals home game dates at the Lenovo Center and the best prices on tickets (compared to what they were going for on June 1) are listed below.
Carolina Hurricanes home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Ticket prices started at on June 1
Game 5 Thursday, June 11
$1,009(including fees)
$1,717(including fees)
Game 7 Wednesday, June 17
$2,064(including fees)
$2,086 (including fees)
How to watch the Hurricanes and Golden Knights on TV
Fans hoping to catch Tortorella’s talented team on the tube can watch all playoff games on ABC in the US or Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports in Canada.
Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.
If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.
Huge 2026 concerts
Not sure what to do once the final buzzer sounds on the 2025-26 NHL season?
No worries.
Many of the most exciting acts around will be out and about all summer long. Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live.
• Evanescence with Spiritbox
• Tame Impala with Djo
• Five Finger Death Punch
• Avenged Sevenfold with Good Charlotte
• RUSH
Plus, you won’t want to miss Metallica’s Sphere residency. They’ll be at the eye-popping venue from October through March 2027.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
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