The Atlanta Braves are taking on the St. Louis Cardinals looking to secure their first series win since the twentieth of June, almost two full weeks ago.
Hurston Waldrep is making his much anticipated first start of the season after making one appearance this year where he went two innings. It will be interesting to see if he will be on a strict pitch count and how long he will go if he is pitching well. He will be facing Dustin May who had a one hit shutout two starts ago but followed that up with a six earned run start where he was removed after two innings.
If the Braves can get the bats going early, they may have a shot to get a two-game winning streak going for the first time since that series win previously mentioned.
First pitch is at 7:15 EDT. Follow along in the comments.
The Senators have taken care of another piece of their goaltending puzzle, signing Leevi Merilainen to a one-year contract worth $1.1 million for the 2026-27 season.
The deal is a one-way contract, a detail that could have important implications for the Sens' roster decisions heading into training camp. He was also arbitration-eligible, but after the season he just had, that may not have gone so well for the young Finn.
Steve Staios spoke last week about what his staff likes about Samuel Ersson.
Merilainen entered last season as the undisputed backup to Linus Ullmark after showing excellent promise during a brief NHL stint in 2024-25. But that opportunity slipped away with some below-average performances early in the year.
He struggled with an 8-10-1 record, a 3.51 goals-against average and an .860 save percentage in 20 appearances.
As his confidence waned, the Senators turned to veteran James Reimer, who had signed as a free agent just before the season. Reimer stabilized the position, playing well enough to keep the backup job for the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs, while Merilainen returned to Belleville.
With the B-Sens, Merilainen looked closer to the kind of prospect Ottawa had envisioned to start the year. He posted an 8-8-1 record in 19 games with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.
The Senators selected the Finnish netminder in the third round (71st overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. He has since appeared in 34 NHL games. Meanwhile, he's compiled a 39-29-6 record, a 2.59 goals-against average, and a .911 save percentage across 84 career AHL games.
The extension also raises an interesting question: Could Ottawa carry three goaltenders on its NHL roster next season?
That approach, used by the Stanley Cup-champion Carolina Hurricanes this season, has become increasingly common around the league. It could be particularly appealing for the Senators given Linus Ullmark's history.
Ullmark has never started more than 50 games in a single NHL season. Last year also served as a reminder that his availability can't always be taken for granted. Ullmark has been injury-prone in Ottawa, and he's also been open about his mental health challenges. To get the best version of Ullmark, the Senators know they'll need to carefully monitor both his workload and overall well-being throughout the season.
Keeping Merilainen alongside Ullmark and newcomer Samuel Ersson would give head coach Travis Green plenty of flexibility while ensuring the club has experienced NHL depth if injuries arise.
But at the same time, it's probably not the best development model for the 23-year-old Merilainen.
So if the Senators decide against the notion of carrying three goaltenders, they'll face a difficult decision because nobody is waiver-exempt. Both Meriläinen and Ersson would need to clear before being assigned to Belleville.
One thing is clear. The Senators weren't prepared to lose Merilainen for nothing. By giving him a one-way contract, they've signalled they still believe he can become an NHL goaltender.
The challenge now is figuring out where he fits.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published on The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For full coverage of the Senators, check out one of the latest headlines below:
Welcome to The California Post’s weekly Dodgers recap, where baseball writers Dylan Hernández and Jack Harris review the week that was, hand out very official awards and take stock of the state of the season.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Will tempers flare in Padres rematch?
Around this time last year, the Dodgers-Padres rivalry reached its boiling point, after a flurry of hit batters amid a stretch of seven games in 10 days between the clubs led to a benches-clearing incident at Dodger Stadium.
The second-place Padres are visiting Dodger Stadium this weekend, and tempers might flare during the rivalry series against the first-place Dodgers. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
This weekend, similar circumstances could be in place.
The teams, fresh off the Dodgers’ series win in San Diego last weekend, are again engaged in a seven-games-in-10-days stretch. And last Sunday’s finale at Petco Park saw five batters get hit –– including Fernando Tatis Jr., whose repeated plunkings last year served as kindling to the rivalry’s eventual blowup.
Granted, tempers didn’t flare then. And a key piece of last year’s hot-blooded equation — former Padres manager Mike Shildt, who confronted Dave Roberts during the June 2025 melee — is no longer in the picture.
Another key difference now: The Dodgers have pulled away in the National League West race, entering with a 12-game division lead that already feels almost insurmountable.
Still, if the Padres are going to get back into the division picture, this four-game trip to Chavez Ravine represents their best opportunity. That could enhance the stakes of the series and perhaps the emotions of a quick-turn rematch, too.
“We try to take every series with the same importance,” Roberts said on the eve of this weekend’s series. “But obviously you know winning that series would be [big]. That is the goal.”
AP Photo/Matt Krohn
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tommy Edman (.366 average, 1 home run, 8 RBIs in 12 games back from offseason ankle surgery)
After he played through — and was clearly hampered by — an ankle injury for most of last year, it was easy to forget how impactful a healthy Edman can be.
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The switch-hitting utility man has offered a quick reminder lately, however, returning to action with a flurry of production after missing the first three months of the year recovering from offseason ankle surgery.
Edman has taken his typical quality at-bats (getting on base at a .435 clip) while also flashing the kind of power he failed to maintain last year once his ankle began bothering him (two doubles, one triple and one home run that traveled 428 feet, his longest since 2021).
Of all Dodgers hitters since his return, his .971 OPS trails only Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts.
“Just a continuation of making sure I’m keeping a good approach, dictated by the situation,” Edman said after a four-hit, four-RBI game Tuesday. “I just feel like I’ve been pretty consistent this far.”
That has also been true of Edman’s switch-hitting abilities, as he’s hit better than .350 from both sides of the plate.
In Edman’s first couple seasons with the Dodgers, his left-handed swing had been noticeably weaker. But so far this year, he’s gone 10-for-27 from that side of the plate.
“I feel like this is kind of one of the rare times where both swings feel good, both from the right and left,” he said. “It’s really tough to maintain both swings over the course of the season, so just happy that I feel that way right now.”
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Emmet Sheehan (5 innings, 1 run, 5 strikeouts in win vs. Padres; 4-5, 5.08 ERA on season)
The third-year right-hander not only reaffirmed his place in the Dodgers’ starting rotation with a strong outing in San Diego last weekend, but more importantly, he might have unlocked a new pitch.
After working with assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness on a new curveball grip in a pair of between-starts bullpen sessions, Sheehan showcased the changes effectively while navigating what was arguably his best start in months.
The new version of the pitch was harder (averaging 79.3 mph compared with 76.8 mph before) and had a little less drop (5 inches fewer, to be precise, according to MLB’s Baseball Savant data).
The result was a breaking ball that was easier to keep in the zone and tougher for opposing hitters to lay off.
Even while throwing it over the plate more than 70% of the time, Sheehan got six whiffs off nine swings against the pitch (a dramatic shift from the 28% whiff rate it had been inducing this season), and only one ball was put in play against it.
“I think trying to change speeds and make them respect stuff in zone that’s not the fastball is really important,” Sheehan said.
Maybe it’s the thing that will help him turn his previously disappointing season around.
PROSPECT OF THE WEEK
Eduardo Quintero (.294 average, five home runs, 37 RBIs, .834 OPS this year in High-A Great Lakes)
The Dodgers’ reigning Minor League Player of the Year got off to a slow start following an offseason promotion to High-A, hitting just .195 in April.
Ever since then, though, Quintero has rediscovered his scorching form from last season, hitting .372 with a .941 OPS in May and .333 with a 1.011 OPS in June. Those latter stats were boosted by three home runs, including his first career grand slam earlier this week.
Eduardo Quintero (@Dodgers) launches the first grand slam of his career
(Where we speculate about potential future Dodgersacquisitions — sometimes far-fetched, sometimes not)
Sonny Gray, Red Sox (ETA: August)
Tyler Glasnow has started throwing again, but the deliberate pace of his recovery remains disconcerting. Glasnow has already missed nearly two months with back problems.
The Dodgers were fortunate to have their four best starting pitchers healthy for the postseason last year, but there’s no guarantee that will be the case again. Unless the team is comfortable with Roki Sasaki or Justin Wrobleski starting games in October, it should monitor the market for starters.
The Tigers’ Tarik Skubal is the grand prize of this trade market, but the cost for him will be extremely high. Gray, 9-1 with a 2.69 ERA, is a potential alternative. Gray’s contract includes a $30 million mutual option for next year that features a $10 million buyout. That added cost would force the Red Sox to ask for less in return since just getting his deal off the books would count as a victory for them. As far as the free-spending Dodgers are concerned, it’s just money.
New York has tried to acquire New Orleans center Yves Missi this offseason, but multiple offers to the Pelicans have been rejected, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes. The Pelicans view the big man as a vital core figure.
The Pelicans have also reportedly told the Knicks that they have no intention of moving Missi.
Yves Missi of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 3, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NBAE via Getty Images
It’s not the first time that the Knicks have pursued the 6-foot-11 big man in 2026, with The Post’s Stefan Bondy reporting in February that the team approached New Orleans specifically about Missi.
At the time, a source told Bondy that New Orleans was looking for a first-round pick in exchange for Missi. The Knicks did not have any first-rounders to give up.
The Knicks have seemed to have heightened their search to fill the gap left by Robinson’s departure, which was a foregone conclusion — with owner James Dolan saying he was unwilling to go into the NBA’s second apron — after the celebration of the team’s first title in 53 years settled down.
A league source also told The Post that the Knicks were among the teams that were vying to sign Marvin Bagley III before he eventually agreed to a deal with the Nuggets.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson reacts on the court during the first half. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Missi averaged 5.7 points per game and 5.8 rebounds last season with the Pelicans, while also averaging 1.5 blocks per game.
The big man is one of New Orleans’ best offensive rebounders and rim protectors, and it makes sense that the Pelicans are not interested in sending him elsewhere.
The Knicks do need to fill the hole in their frontcourt after Robinson’s departure.
Jun 21, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dustin May (3) pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Cardinals will finish up their stay in Atlanta before heading to the (not so) friendly confines of Wrigley Field for the 4th of July weekend. Dustin May will make the start for the Cardinals while the Atlanta Braves will send Hurston Waldrep to the mound. First pitch at Truist Park is once again set for 6:15pm central time and the game’s TV broadcast will be available on Cardinals.tv.
DENVER, CO - JULY 2: Jake McCarthy #31 of the Colorado Rockies is congratulated by Mickey Moniak #22 after hitting a two run home run in the fourth inning at Coors Field on July 2, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After falling behind early from a shaky start by their starting pitcher, the Colorado Rockies rallied offensively and the bullpen shut things down to secure a series split with the Miami Marlins and a 14-4 victory.
Lorenzen’s shaky command
Something seemed to finally start clicking for Michael Lorezen over the month of June and the hope was to keep things rolling into July. His first start this month proved to be a grind.
Lorenzen’s command was shaky from the get-go. Liam Hicks led off the game with a single, followed by a double from Otto Lopez. Both pitches were left over the plate and the Marlins did not miss. Lorenzen then issued a walk to Kyle Stowers to load the bases. Xavier Edwards grounded into a force out that could have been a double play if Edouard Julien hadn’t hesitated on the throwing decision. The play scored the run to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead. Lorenzen then issued another walk to Griffin Conine to load the bases once again. Owen Caissie lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Lopez and give the Marlins a 2-0 lead.
He escaped the inning on the next hitter and rebounded with a quick 1-2-3 second inning. Lopez smacked a lead-off triple in the top of the third and came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Edwards to extend the lead 3-1. Thanks to a couple of nifty defensive plays about the run, including a sharply hit ball to Julien, Lorenzen ended the inning without any further damage.
The command waned again in the fourth inning when he issued a pair of walks and gave up a single to load the bases for the third time. The Marlins scored their fourth run of the game to take back the lead at the time on a ground ball that was bobbled at first base.
Handed another lead heading into the fifth inning, Lorenzen gave up another pair of walks to force his removal from the game with one out. He ended up going just 4.1 innings, tying a career-high of six walks while striking out just one batter. He allowed four runs on four hits while throwing 51 pitches, 30 for strikes.
It was a gritty start for Lorenzen as he battled himself, but he mitigated catastrophic damage. However, constantly struggling against yourself is a tough way to pitch and is something he’ll try to reassess before his next start.
Stay hot Mickey!
After falling a single shy of a cycle on Wednesday, Mickey Moniak wasted no time starting another bid for a cycle on Thursday. In his at-bat of the game, Moniak once again slugged a home run, his 15th of the season, to get the Rockies on the board. It was the third straight game that he hit a home run in his first at-bat, becoming the first player to do that in franchise history.
In his second at-bat in the third inning, Moniak then laced a double to right field but then struck out in the fourth inning. He struck out in his third at-bat but then came through with an RBI single in the sixth inning.
Moniak would ground out in the seventh inning, ending his day just a triple shy of the cycle which is a much less rare feat than falling a single shy. He ended up going 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Early offensive returns
After Moniak’s home run and TJ Rumfield’s double in the first inning, the Rockies started to find some offensive rhythm in the third inning against Marlins’ starter Ryan Gusto.
Jake McCarthy led off the inning with a walk and moved up to third base on Moniak’s double. After Rumfield flew out, Willi Castro came through with a huge two-run single to tie the game 3-3.
The Rockies came close to tacking on two more runs when Cole Carrigg sent a ball down the line that went foul. Colorado requested a review, and after a lengthy process, it was determined that the foul ball would stand.
Manager Warren Schaeffer offered his insights after the game, agreeing that it was indeed a foul ball.
“My angle was absolutely terrible,” Schaeffer said, “but on a homer, you get a free challenge so you might as well take it in case something happens. Maybe it goes our way, so there’s no harm in doing that. But I think it was clearly foul. All of the guys that were in line with that — including the home plate umpire, Ramon [De Jesus] — said that it wasn’t even close.”
After falling behind by a run heading into the bottom of the fourth, the Rockies built some opportunities early in the inning. A pitch hit Kyle Karros to start off the inning, ending Gusto’s day having allowed three runs on four hits over three innings.
Brett Sullivan then bounced into a fielder’s choice and was later thrown out trying to steal second base with Julien at the plate. Julien drew a walk against reliever lefty-killer John King to bring McCarthy to the plate. King hung a 2-1 slider up and in, which McCarthy blasted into right field to give the Rockies a 5-4 lead. It was his first home run against a left-handed pitcher since April 2023.
The Rockies weren’t done, as they ended up throwing together a massive rally in the sixth inning to extend their lead 12-4.
Carrigg kicked things off with a bunt single, followed by a strikeout of Karros. The Rockies proceeded to have the next seven straight batters reach as Sullivan singled and Julien walked. McCarthy then dealt another blow with his two-run single.
Moniak followed with his single, while Rumfield added an RBI single of his own. Castro was then hit by a pitch, and Troy Johnston chopped a ball into right field to drive in two more runs.
Carrigg capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in the seventh run of the inning. The Rockies now have 15 innings in which they have scored five or more runs, which is tied for the most in MLB this season.
“Really solid approach in that inning, ” Schaeffer said, “and most of it, honestly, was left-on-left, which was ultra-impressive for our guys to take those at-bats like that. Mick, Rum, Troy, Jake… the homer left-on-left. I mean, it’s a big day. That’s big time for those guys.”
A few for the road
Later in the eighth inning, with utility player Javier Sanoja on the mound, the Rockies tacked on a few more runs. Rumfield was hit by a pitch and was later followed by a Johnston double. Carrigg delivered another sacrifice fly to drive in his second RBI of the game. Karros then walked, and Sullivan hit an RBI single to drive in Johnston and give the Rockies a 14-4 lead.
The Rockies ended up with 14 hits in the game while striking out just four times and drawing five walks with two hit-by-pitches. McCarthy drove in four runs with his two hits while Rumfield, Johnston, and Sullivan each had two hits. Julien also led the team with two walks on the day. Karros was the only starter for the Rockies to not have a hit. The team also went 5-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and the top four guys went 8-for-16 with nine RBIs on the day.
“Those guys continue to be good,” Schaeffer said. “They take good, solid at-bats every day. They don’t take days off. They grind. And Mick, two days in a row [was] one hit away from the cycle, which is pretty special.”
Bullpen heroes
Plenty of praise deserves to be placed on the bullpen as they tamed the Marlins for the second straight game. After Lorenzen departed the game in the fifth inning with two runners on base in a one-run game, the Rockies turned to Brennan Bernardino. The lone lefty reliever quickly got a fly out and a line out to end the inning and preserve the lead. He then started the sixth inning, recording two outs while allowing a single.
“Bernie’s been extremely consistent,” Schaeffer said. “You always want to give him the ball — no matter if it’s righty or lefty, but most of the time we try to give him left-handed matchups because he’s our only lefty. But he throws strikes consistently, and you know that. And that’s of huge importance to a manager that you’re going to throw strikes. He did a great job again today on a back-to-back, going 1+.”
With Lopez stepping up to the plate with two outs and a runner on second, Victor Vodnik was called upon for the right-on-right matchup. Vodnik won the battle with ease by inducing an infield pop-up to end the inning. He then came out for the seventh inning and faced the minimum after allowing a lead-off single and getting a double-play, followed by a ground out.
“Vic was really good today, which was good to see,” Schaeffer said. “It was a step forward for Vic. And then Ags with two solid ones, saving the ‘pen down there. We didn’t have to use Jimmy [Herget] and Senza today, which were the only two short guys available, so it sets us up again for tomorrow.”
Zach Agnos closed out the game with two quick and clean innings. The bullpen allowed just three hits and didn’t give up a walk while recording just one strikeout.
Up next
The Rockies will celebrate the holiday weekend by welcoming the San Francisco Giants into town. Ryan Feltner (2-2, 4.42 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Rockies. Logan Webb (5-5, 3.09 ERA) takes the mound for the Giants.
Sammy Blais' time with the Montreal Canadiens organization is officially over.
The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have signed Blais to a two-way contract.
Blais spent most of this past season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket and was a very important veteran player on their roster. In 35 games with Laval in 2025-26, he posted 14 goals, 24 assists, 38 points, and 62 penalty minutes. He also had three goals, five points, and 20 penalty minutes in five playoff games for the Rocket this spring.
Blais played in 13 games during this past season with the Habs, where he recorded two goals, three assists, five points, and 78 hits. He also had a brief stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs before the Canadiens claimed him back off waivers, where he had one goal, three points, and 28 hits.
Overall, Blais was a solid veteran depth player for the Canadiens to have around. Now, he will look to be the same for the Senators after landing this new contract. The possibility of him earning a bottom-six role with the Senators out of training camp is there.
In 278 career games over eight NHL seasons, Blais has recorded 30 goals, 49 assists, 79 points, 132 penalty minutes, and 913 hits. He also won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 20: Patrick Bailey #16 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
First pitch for the series opener between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres is at 7:10 p.m.
However, fans formed a gigantic line outside of Dodger Stadium before noon because of the team’s giveaway for Thursday’s game, many of whom brought hundreds of dollars to pick up a rare item.
Melanie Castaneda and Patrick de la Cruz show off baseball cards during a giveaway. Wally Skalij for CA PostFans exchange money for cards. Wally Skalij for CA PostFans wear straw hats with a red band and “LA” logo. Wally Skalij for CA Post
ONE PIECE Night at Dodger Stadium is an event surrounding the popular Japanese anime and manga series. The show follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate whose body is made of rubber, as he gathers a loyal crew called the Straw Hat Pirates.
And thus, the Dodgers giveaway on Thursday is a straw hat and a Luffy card for the first 52,000 fans. One Piece Night will also feature a special themed drone show for fans following the game.
The rivalry between the Dodgers and Padres is alive and well, but the expected near-capacity crowd is primarily because of the giveaway and themed-night.
Fans showed up hours in advance to secure their giveaway items, but many also showed up with cash in hand, some offering upwards of $500 apiece for the special card that can only be obtained at this game.
Another fan showed a video of a business card with a QR code from aggressive buyers offering to snatch up these collectible cards.
Straw hats were the biggest accessory pregame. Wally Skalij for CA Post
While the straw hats were seen on several fans’ heads throughout the game, they weren’t nearly as coveted as the One Piece Luffy card, as evidenced by new eBay listings.
Listings for just the straw hat alone on eBay range from $65 to $200, but those pale in comparison to listings for the card.
“Buy it now” listings for the card alone range from $700 to $1,500, though several auction listings are lower, at the moment.
Still, the card has proven to be quite lucrative, especially if these cards are ultimately graded by PSA and given the coveted 10 grade.
The Dodgers’ first One Piece night in 2025 also included a card and a straw hat giveaway, with the card from last year also fetching staggering amounts.
Last month, a sealed 2025 One Piece card from last year’s giveaway sold last month for $2,200, with a PSA 10 graded card selling just days ago for over $5,100.
Irene Hernandez and her grandson Elias Rodriguez holding up baseball cards. Wally Skalij for CA PostThis was one of the most popular giveaways this season. Wally Skalij for CA Post
The Dodgers look to extend their 12-game lead in the NL West with a series opening win against San Diego, who is coming off its worst loss in franchise history. The Chicago Cubs handed the Padres a 23-3 beatdown Wednesday, completing the three-game sweep.
Roki Sasaki will take the mound for the Dodgers in Thursday’s series opener. The right-hander is coming off three rough outings, where he’s given up 13 runs across 14 innings. He is sporting a 4.88 ERA in 72 innings pitched this season.
Ramiro de la Cruz and Jasmine Garcia showing off baseball cards. Wally Skalij for CA PostFans displaying three baseball cards featuring an illustration of Luffy from “One Piece” in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform. Wally Skalij for CA PostA fan at a Dodgers game wears several straw hats stacked on his head. Wally Skalij for CA Post
Opposite Sasaki is Padres right-handed pitcher Randy Vasquez, who has posted a 4.44 ERA across 81 innings. Vasquez had a strong start to the campaign, but his performance has drastically declined as of late.
The right-hander gave up seven runs (four earned) against the Dodgers in his most recent start last weekend.
Regardless of the outcome for Thursday’s game, Dodgers fans will be able to enjoy One Piece Night at Uniqlo Field.
May 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) looks to shoot while defended by New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the fourth quarter during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavaliers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have invested a lot of faith in Evan Mobley. They’ve tightly clung to him as their biggest trade asset, keeping him off the table despite some enticing options becoming available.
You’d only do something like this if you believe the 25-year-old star has more room to grow. Potential is the most valuable thing in sports. Mobley had that in spades during his first few seasons. But now? There are questions as to how much higher his ceiling can get.
That’s why earlier this week we asked you, Fear the Sword readers, to share your opinion on Mobley’s future development. Has he reached his ceiling, or is there potential left to uncover?
It was a perfect split. Exactly half of the voters said that Mobley has already reached his ceiling.
I’ll admit. I’m surprised.
It’s bold to say anyone has reached their potential at just 25 years old. Mobley has already been an All-Star, All-NBA player, a two-time All-Defensive member, and won Defensive Player of the Year. That’s a stronger start than I think some fans realize.
This poll isn’t just about Mobley himself. But it’s a show of faith in Cleveland’s developmental system. To assume that Mobley has peaked is to believe that the Cavs have already put him in the best possible position to succeed. Again… I’m surprised that half of the voters believe that.
Mobley’s development has not been Cleveland’s main priority. They’ve put almost all of their chips into building around Donovan Mitchell. Their moves in free agency and on the trading block have supported that. Mobley, on the other hand, is largely asked to fill the margins and support Mitchell more than anything. This isn’t a team that’s constructed around Mobley being the guy.
From that perspective, I can’t imagine that Mobley has reached his ceiling. There has to be more to uncover in the event Mobley is ever the focal point of a team. Even in his current role, the Cavs can do more to boost Mobley as an offensive creator.
The Cavs currently have the sixth-highest odds of winning the 2027 NBA championship. They probably won’t get any higher than that if Mobley really has peaked as a player.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 30: Cade Cavalli #24 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park on June 30, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The penalties from Tuesday night’s brawl were handed down, and MLB delivered a harsh ruling. Cade Cavalli and Willson Contreras were each suspended 7 games, while Miles Mikolas got 5 and Nate Eaton got 3. The 7 games for Cavalli, who did not throw a punch or get physical during the confrontation, feels harsh.
Suspensions from the brawl between the Nationals and Red Sox, per @BNightengale:
Willson Contreras: 7 games Cade Cavalli: 7 games Miles Mikolas: 5 games Nate Eaton: 3 games pic.twitter.com/2wAGG6y3da
In case you forgot, the Nats and Red Sox got into a major brawl the other day. After Cade Cavalli was upset that Contreras cut him off on his way to the dugout, he let him hear it after he struck out the first baseman. Cavalli painted a breaking ball on the outside corner, and told Contreras “sit down boy”.
The language Cavalli used was not very tasteful, especially considering the fact that Contreras is a person of color. Yesterday, Cavalli apologized for that language, saying he did not understand the connotations of using the term boy in that way. Paul Toboni also chimed in, saying that he spoke with Cavalli. Both said that he will eliminate that “boy” term from his vocabulary.
However, it just feels like the punishment does not fit the crime here. Seven games is a long suspension. I understand that it is different with a starting pitcher, but Cavalli still is not getting paid for those 7 games when he otherwise would. That is something that the MLBPA is not going to be happy about.
When you look at previous suspensions for language, the punishments have been much lighter. Players like Jarren Duran and Yuli Gurriel got fewer games for using or doing much more openly bigoted things. Duran only got two games for yelling a homophobic slur, while Gurriel got 5 for openly mocking the appearance of Asian people in the dugout. Should Cavalli have said what he did? No, but the punishment does not fit the crime here.
Where is the precedent for a 7 game ban for trash talk (distasteful sure but not like Cade said a slur)? Cavalli did not throw any punches or engage in anything physical and was not even ejected from the game. Seems harsh
While considering pitchers and position players are a slightly different animal, the MLB is setting a pretty wild precedent here. Cavalli is being suspended without pay for the same amount of time as Contreras who charged the mound, used his helmet as a weapon and threatened a fan on social media. That seems pretty extreme if you ask me.
Willson Contreras throws his helmet during a benches clearing incident after Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli told him to “sit down boy” pic.twitter.com/IBEyYXKReN
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 1, 2026
If I were Cavalli’s agent, I would certainly be telling him to appeal this. The appeal system is highly unlikely to hold up that level of suspension. At most, the suspension should be five games to where Cavalli misses one start. Where those other two games are coming from beats me.
Once again, I am not excusing his language or actions, but this penalty is over the top. Cavalli did not even get thrown out of that game, and now he has the same penalty as Contreras?
I understand my bias here, but this just feels like a situation where a hefty fine is the best option. The longest suspension you could convince me on is 5 games. Again, this is just my opinion, but when you look at the precedent things are clear. Cavalli did not throw a punch (or a helmet), but he is getting the same percentage of his paycheck docked as Contreras.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts on the court during the second half at Barclays Center, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Brooklyn, NY. (Corey Sipkin for the...
Ever since LeBron James informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would be signing elsewhere in free agency this offseason, one of the biggest stories in basketball has been with which team he’ll sign and end his legendary NBA career.
The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers are thought to be the two favorites. However, a third team has reportedly now entered the mix: the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers are thought to be two favorites for LeBron James. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to emerge as a strong suitor for LeBron James due to the Tyrese Maxey connection, per @WindhorstESPN
Maxey, who shares the same Klutch Sports agency as LeBron, is viewed as a major recruiting tool for Philly. pic.twitter.com/6GCoUHgl9y
This stems from a July 2 report from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who asserted during a Thursday segment of “NBA Today” that James’ longstanding connection to 76ers star guard Tyrese Maxey (they’re both signed to Klutch Sports Group, which is founded by James’ business partner Rich Paul) will be how the 76ers attempt to lure him to Philadelphia.
Windhorst asserted that Maxey and James are close, and have attended numerous events together. What’s more, the NBA record holder reportedly has a good relationship with 76ers star center Joel Embiid, as the two won a gold medal for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics together.
James’ longstanding connection to 76ers star guard Tyrese Maxey may be how the 76ers attempt to lure him to Philadelphia. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConPhiladelphia finalized a trade for Jaylen Brown with the Boston Celtics on July 1. AP Photo/Matt Slocum
Philadelphia finalized a trade for Jaylen Brown with the Boston Celtics on July 1, which included the 76ers sending Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks to Boston in exchange for the five-time All-Star.
Brown being on the Celtics already makes them look like a favorite to win the 2027 NBA Championship. Adding the 22-time All-Star to that mix would have that team even more lethal.
Of course, just because the 76ers are interested doesn’t mean James heading there is a done deal. But he does have strong ties to the franchise’s top players, which could be a deciding factor on where he goes next.
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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Luke Maile #17 of the Kansas City Royals at bat during the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 24, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals have made a lot of transactions today, which could be exciting for fans hoping for a shakeup, but they’re mostly internal to the team.
The first announced move was to reinstate Stephen Kolek to the 26-man roster from the Family Medical Emergency List. In a corresponding move, Jose Cuas was optioned back to Omaha. Cuas pitched two innings last night in his season debut, and while he did allow a run, he also struck out three. So hopefully we’ll see him get more chances going forward.
Then, shortly before the game, the Royals announced that they had selected Luke Maile’s contract from Omaha and added him to the major league team. To accommodate his addition to the 40-man and 26-man rosters, John Rave was demoted back to Omaha and Eric Cerantola was designated for assignment.
Personally, despite Cerantola’s unsightly big league performances so far – 10 walks and a 10.13 ERA in 5.1 innings – I would have preferred to keep him around over Mitch Spence. At least Cerantola could also get a strikeout on occasion. I also probably would have demoted Tyler Tolbert or Kameron Misner over John Rave. Rave hasn’t actually made any boneheaded plays at the big league level so far this year, which is more than I can say for the other two, and I’m still very fascinated to see where his revamped swing could take him. But the Royals didn’t agree.
Considering Salvador Perez is also not in tonight’s starting lineup, we can add 2 + 2 and get 4. Salvy is probably hurting again. So the best move probably would have been to go ahead and put him on the IL so they could have a full, healthy bench. But the Royals would prefer to demote Rave to Omaha rather than put the aging catcher on the IL, which is what it’s there for. The IL has not stopped being lava, I guess.
Oh, and the Royals made one other under-the-radar move. It didn’t even get announced on their main social channels:
Royals fans from the last few years before Dayton Moore was fired will remember this move. The “add a guy we used to like a few years ago because we desperately need someone to pitch and heaven knows we don’t want to try anyone new!“ special. No guarantees that Barlow will make it back to the bigs with KC, but considering the bullpen carousel we’ve been on all year, I wouldn’t bet against it, either.
Finally, we got this tidbit from Anne Rogers:
Cole Ragans underwent a UCL repair on his left elbow yesterday. That was what the #Royals had feared but ultimately expected, and now they’re looking at getting Ragans back midseason next year.
Based on the timeline, it’s possible Cole Ragans underwent the internal brace procedure rather than a third Tommy John surgery, but it’s a pretty brutal blow to lose him for not just the remainder of this season, but at least midway into next year, too. It would seem to make it even less likely that they trade either Michael Wacha or Seth Lugo at this deadline, even if they’re currently the only guys with trade value that it would make any sense for the Royals to part with.
Feb 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) grimaces as he waits for play to resume against the Golden State Warriors in the third period at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images | David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Welcome to day three of the LeBron James sweepstakes. Today, we gained new insight into the short list of teams jockeying for the King. Once again, this news benefits the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Golden State Warriors reportedly do not feel they are at the top of LeBron’s short list, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
“I’m hearing a growing belief from them that they don’t believe that they’re necessarily at the top of that short list,” Slater said on ESPN.
Golden State emerged as a potential landing destination for James earlier this week. James has formed a close relationship with Draymond Green over recent years and has openly praised Stephen Curry numerous times.
The idea of rivals becoming teammates is a sour one for many fans. But ending his career with a grand finale next to Curry is something that James is apparently considering.
The Warriors took the first step towards acquiring James when Green opted out of his contract. This paved the way for Golden State to make additions to the roster and potentially offer LBJ more money. Thus far, this hasn’t proven to be enough.
This begs the question: if Golden State isn’t first, who is?
The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers are the other two teams reported to be on James’ short list. Though teams like the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Minnesota Timberwolves have been mentioned in passing by various outlets.
Truth is, no one can predict what James will do. But using all of the information at our disposal, I can’t imagine Cleveland isn’t at the front of the race.
Cleveland is the only city where LeBron can still be King even if he isn't the best player on the roster
The Cavs offer more than any other team. Cleveland is the only city where James can compete for a title as a supporting player while still being the King. He’ll reign supreme in Cleveland even if James Harden, Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell play larger roles. That’s something James can’t get in Golden State or Miami.
All of the boxes are checked in this scenario. James would be in a city where he is beloved. He’d be joining a team that is missing his expertise more than anything else. There’s even a Swenson’s in Rocket Arena. I can’t imagine this doesn’t entice LBJ.
