CINCINNATI, OH - JUNE 15: Jonathan Pintaro #91 of the New York Mets pitches during the game between the New York Mets and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Monday, June 15, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Mets recalled Jonathan Pintaro to be the 27th man on their roster ahead of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Cubs at Citi Field.
The right-hander has now been promoted to the majors four times in the past five weeks, but he’s only appeared in four games this season, posting a 2.61 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched with nine strikeouts and one walk. His most recent outing came on June 15, when he ate 3.2 innings of the Mets’ 12-0 blowout loss in Cincinnati before being optioned the following day. Prior to that appearance, Pintaro had allowed just one hit in 6.2 innings of work.
According to the 27th-man doubleheader rule, Pintaro will be optioned following Wednesday night’s game. Typically, a pitcher can’t be recalled for 15 days after being optioned, but that 15-day window doesn’t apply in this case – so Pintaro could still be eligible to return to the major league roster at any point in the coming weeks.
Pintaro last pitched in Syracuse on Saturday, so he should be able to provide multiple innings for a Mets bullpen forced to cover 5.1 innings in Tuesday night’s loss. Nolan McLean will start Game 1 at 1:10 p.m. ET, while Sean Manaea will start Game 2 at 7:10 p.m. ET.
The Lakers entered the offseason wanting to add depth to their roster.
They wanted to get more athletic.
And they wanted to add elements of youth.
By trading up in the draft order with the Knicks, the Lakers selected Baylor wing Cameron Carr with the No. 24 pick in the first round of the NBA Draft on Tuesday night — accomplishing all three of their key goals.
The Lakers chose Baylor guard Cameron Carr with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft. AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Carr averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks in 33.7 minutes across 34 games in his lone season at Baylor in 2025–26 after spending two years at Tennessee.
Before Tuesday, Cameron Carr wasn’t expected to still be available when the Lakers were on the clock.
Most mock drafts from major media publications projected Carr to be selected just outside of the lottery, between picks 15–20.
Carr (right) averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks in 33.7 minutes across 34 games last season. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Where Carr stands out
Carr’s 3-point shooting and athleticism are his clearest strengths that should immediately translate from college to the NBA.
He shot 37.4% from beyond the arc with the Bears last season, including over 40% on catch-and-shoot 3s, while attempting 6.1 3s per game.
And while standstill shooting is a strength, it isn’t the only time Carr proves dangerous from beyond the arc: He’s a threat spotting up, relocating, curling off screens, and even showed potential as a pull-up 3-point shooter in college.
Carr showed he knows how to leverage his threat as a 3-point shooter into easier scoring opportunities inside the arc, where he shot 60.2%.
He thrived with attacking closeouts or cutting into open space near the rim after defenders pressed up on him too much, using his athleticism to explode for dunks.
Carr had the second-fastest lane agility time (10.46 seconds), second-highest standing vertical leap (38 inches), and third-highest max vertical leap (42 ½ inches) at the NBA combine last month. He uses his explosive athleticism and length in functional ways as a threat in the open floor and above-the-rim finisher/lob threat when he has space in front of him.
Even though he has several areas of improvements on the defensive end of the floor, Carr showed he can at least be a defensive disruptor by using his vertical pop and length (7 ¼-foot wingspan was the longest among players 6-foot-6 or shorter at the combine) to block shots.
Carr has showed the high-end athleticism needed to thrive in today’s NBA. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Where Carr needs to improve
The biggest areas the 6-foot-5 Carr needs to address are his strength and frame.
He weighed 184.4 pounds at the combine, which was the lightest among all players who measured at least 6-foot-3.
Carr’s lack of strength hurts him on both ends of the floor.
He can get bumped off of his driving lanes pretty easily, making it harder for him to finish at the rim, and he can get bumped easily when trying to guard bigger guards and forwards — the types of players he’ll be expected to defend in the NBA — making it challenging for him to stay in front of his assignment.
Carr will need to get stronger and improve his physicality to be a viable point-of-attack defender at the NBA level.
His shotblocking in college showcased his use of timing and instincts in conjunction with his length and athleticism. With more consistent effort and attentiveness, those elements should show up in other areas on defense.
Offensively, he wasn’t a true creator for himself or others for a variety of reasons: The lack of strength; not having much wiggle in his handle; not reading defenses the best (though he’ll make the simple pass).
While Carr’s skillset appears NBA ready, he must improve his strength if he wants to find similar success in the league. Getty Images
Fit/Expectations
The Lakers are as good a fit for Carr as any NBA team since they have the playmakers, led by superstar guard Luka Dončić, who’ll create easier looks for him as he takes on a lower-usage role than he had at Baylor.
Dončić will create the spot-up 3s Carr thrived with during college, as well as connect with the uber-athletic Carr on alley-oops and cuts to the basket.
If free agents Austin Reaves and/or LeBron James return to the Lakers, there will be even more playmakers who’ll allow Carr to focus on his strengths as an off-ball scorer.
Carr will be given chances to prove his worth early in his rookie season as a spot-up shooter. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers could use more defensive proficiency on the wings, but Carr has the tools to be a positive on that end of the floor if he gets stronger and provides consistent effort.
Carr should be in the mix for a spot in the rotation at the start of the season depending on what happens with the rest of the Lakers’ offseason. At the very least, he’ll be a viable depth option.
Draft grade: B+
Carr’s lack of strength, and how that affects his upside on both ends of the floor, is the biggest swing factor for his career.
But his 3-point shooting, cutting, slashing, length and athleticism should make him an impactful player from Day 1 as he develops his body.
Drafting a player of his caliber late in the first round was great value for the Lakers even with the clear areas of improvement.
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Rick Brunson needs to see a longer body of work before he is ready to crown his son.
Soon after the Knicks won Game 5 of the Finals to secure their first championship since 1973, Rick went viral for going out of his way to make it clear that he does not yet think Jalen Brunson is the best-ever Knick. Brunson had just delivered a Finals masterpiece for the ages, scoring 45 of the Knicks’ 94 points.
“I love my son,” Rick said on ESPN not long after the final buzzer. “Patrick Ewing is the best Knick that I’ve ever witnessed.”
Rick (l.) and Jalen Brunson (r.) with Mariska Hargitay (c.) on a float during the Knicks’ championship parade on June 18, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Rick expanded on that sentiment and explained why the claims from a plethora of fans that Brunson had elevated above any other Knick were premature.
“You have to understand we strive for perfection,” Rick told New York Magazine. “I’ve always pushed him. I’m going to continue to push him. People get caught up in the things he’s done in a short period of time, which is tremendous. I mean, look, I’m a proud father, but you have to do this for a long time to be great. I tell him that all the time. You can’t take away from the great ones — the Walt Fraziers, the Willis Reeds, the Patrick Ewings. They did it for a long period of time. So we still have a long way to go, but we’ll get there.
“You always think about next season. That’s how his mind works. We want to get back to where we were this season and hopefully have a chance to compete for another championship. You want more.”
Patrick Ewing (l.) and Rick Brunson (r.) during the Knicks’ championship parade on June 18, 2026. GC Images
Rick was teammates with Ewing during his two brief stints with the Knicks as a player.
Ewing has all the franchise’s statistical records and carried them through an iconic ‘90s era that fell just short of a title. Frazier was the engine of the two previous championship teams — in 1970 and ‘73 — and the King of Cool who later became a beloved announcer for the team. Reed was the anchor of those two championship teams, winning Finals MVP both times along with the NBA MVP award in ‘70 and delivered one of the most iconic moments in league history.
One thing they all have in common is their longevity, not just in the league but with the Knicks specifically. Right now, that’s something that Brunson does not yet have.
“Patrick Ewing, obviously, [that] I witnessed, is the greatest right now,” Rick said previously on “CBS Mornings.” “All-time leading rebounder, points, he has all the stats. But just the type of person Pat was, the type of teammate he was, the work ethic was similar. Pat was the hardest working guy we had and he was the best player.
“Pat did it for 15 years, Jalen did it for four. I don’t rank these players by championships, although it’s great. Pat’s always been a champion in my book. As of today, Big Fella is my favorite.”
Here’s everything we know about her and how she’s been there to support Boozer through his big career moments.
She’s a cheerleader
Cao was raised by her Cuban parents in Miami and attended Our Lady of Lourdes Academy.
There, she practiced cheer and earned All-Dade First Team honors.
Cameron Boozer’s cheerleader girlfriend Yva Lauren Cao poses with Miami’s mascot. Instagram/yvacao
The cheerleader often posts Instagram photos and TikTok videos about cheering and traveling with her teammates, which include getting ready for gamedays.
She’s currently a cheerleader at the University of Miami and pursuing a degree in public relations.
They have a sports rivalry
Cao and Boozer started dating in August 2023 and attended several proms together before their final one in May 2025.
But with Cao attending Miami and Boozer playing at Duke, the two had a sports rivalry this past season.
Cam Boozer with his girlfriend Yva Lauren Cao after the ACC Championship. Instagram/yvacao
Cao cheered at several Miami football games in the 2025 season, including the national championship against Indiana in January 2026.
Boozer, meanwhile, made a name for himself at Duke, averaging 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in his lone season with the Blue Devils.
Despite their rivalry, Cao still attended Duke games last season and shared posts tied to Boozer’s performances. Before a March Madness game, Cao posted a shirt featuring Boozer’s No. 12 jersey.
The cheerleader also made headlines for her gameday fashion, sharing images to Instagram with custom boots and the words “Boozer” on them during March Madness.
Yva Lauren Cao poses with a Cam Boozer shirt. Instagram/yvacao
She was at his side for the 2026 NBA Draft
Cao was also at Boozer’s side for his greatest accomplishment yet.
The cheerleader went to Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 23 for the 2026 NBA Draft, where Boozer was drafted No. 3 overall by the Grizzles.
Wearing a red dress, Cao was the last person Boozer hugged before going on stage to greet NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Cam Boozer and Yva Lauren Cao together. Instagram/yvacao
Cao also shared a message with her boyfriend on his draft night.
“Memphis just gained the best there is!!” Cao wrote on a photo of Boozer at the draft. “So proud of you and beyond grateful to watch your dreams become reality.”
“Your talent is undeniable, but who you are is what makes me proudest. I love you endlessly. This is only the beginning. Here we gooo.”
Cao (red) in front of Boozer during the NBA draft. Getty Images
Boozer joins a Grizzles team in desperate need of a spark after a woeful 25-57 season, and will instantly become a key piece for head coach Tuomas Iisalo.
And who knows, maybe Cao will make some trips to Memphis.
Francisco Lindor will be activate for Game 2 of today’s doubleheader against the Cubs, per Steve Gelbs. The team has been insistent that Lindor would be back in major league action this month and it seems that time table has come to fruition.
Lindor has been out since April 22nd with a calf strain of unspecified severity (with Lindor oddly claiming he’d prefer not to know the grade). He first got into rehab games last Friday (6/19) and went a cumulative 3-for-13 with three singles, a walk, a strikeout, and one steal. That was apparently all Lindor felt he needed to get ready for major league action, though the lingering concern will of course be his tendency to push to play when not at 100%.
At 34-44 and in the midst of a 4-game losing streak, Lindor’s return is quite possible the Mets’ last, best hope to salvage their 2026 season. Despite being 10 games under .500, the Mets are somehow only 7 games back of a wild card spot, though there are six teams between them and the Cubs in the 3rd wild card spot. Replacing Zack Short and some of Brett Baty’s playing time with Lindor will certainly help, though Lindor was batting only .226/.314/.355 (93 wRC+) at the time of his injury and showing some troubling markers of decline. Hopefully he can stave off father time a bit longer and help propel the Mets on a little run heading into the All Star break.
NEW YORK — After his team got rained out two days in a row, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell sounded a little miffed about the second one.
Hours later, he was criticizing a major league rule that led to his ejection following an unusual play.
Chicago’s series opener against the Mets in New York was postponed because of poor weather and rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader at Citi Field.
Counsell and the Cubs also got washed out back home at Wrigley Field when they were supposed to wrap up a series against the Toronto Blue Jays. That game will be made up Aug. 6.
“Look, consecutive rainouts are, they’re troublesome for pitching, for sure. And frankly, yesterday’s game did not need to be rained out. It didn’t rain, and for some reason we didn’t play,” Counsell said in the dugout, with a tarp covering the infield on another drizzly day in Queens.
There were a couple of heavy thunderstorms around Citi Field in the late afternoon and after 11 p.m. It was a wet day throughout with light showers and mist — but the rain mostly stopped between about 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
First pitch had been scheduled for 7:10 p.m., but the game was called approximately 40 minutes before that. In their news release, the Mets announced the game was “postponed due to weather.”
It was the first time the Cubs had back-to-back games postponed because of weather since April 2018 — and the first time in different cities since early October 1986.
Counsell was asked if he sought any sort of explanation.
“Major League Baseball tells you the game’s canceled, and that’s it. Especially on the road. That’s all you get,” he said.
Shota Imanaga had been scheduled to start for Chicago against Japanese countryman Kodai Senga, but with all the uncertainty during the evening about whether the game would be played, the Cubs ended up having Imanaga throw a bullpen and pushed his turn back.
“Just to give him a chance to touch the mound and be a little more in routine,” Counsell said.
Edward Cabrera started against Senga in the opener of a four-game series, which began following an 11-minute rain delay. Cabrera hurt his left leg in a 9-6 victory and is headed to the injured list.
“You stack a doubleheader, which affects — you’re not going to have enough starters available, so we’re either going to end up with a bullpen game or we’re going to call up (someone) later in the week,” Counsell said before the game.
Getting heated
In the seventh inning, Michael Busch drew a one-out walk for the Cubs that appeared to advance Pete Crow-Armstrong from first base to second.
Crow-Armstrong was running on the full-count pitch, however, and slid headfirst into second as Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez threw down. New York manager Carlos Mendoza challenged the play, and a replay review determined Crow-Armstrong was tagged out when he lost contact with second base at one point.
So even though Busch walked, his teammate was out at second.
“No comment. Pretty confusing stuff,” said Crow-Armstrong, who was ushered away from umpires when he attempted to argue.
Counsell got an explanation from the umps about what Mendoza was challenging. But when the call was overturned, Counsell came back onto the field and argued, waving his hand dismissively.
That’s when he got ejected.
“Umpires interpret rules correctly. They don’t get that stuff wrong,” Counsell said. “It’s a bad rule. It’s a terrible rule. I mean, I don’t know what else to say. Like, not a good rule.”
New arm in the ‘pen
Jayden Murray reported to the Cubs and was added to their bullpen after the right-hander was acquired from the Houston Astros in a trade for minor league first baseman Cameron Sisneros.
“This is a guy that’s had a lot of success in the minor leagues. He’s pitched really well in the minor leagues. In the big leagues, he’s gotten just a limited opportunity,” Counsell said. “We’ve got options, obviously, so there’s going to be some flexibility, but we like his performance right now in the minor leagues and think he’s ready to pitch big league innings.”
Murray made his Cubs debut in the ninth and gave up three runs, including Bo Bichette’s homer, before getting the final out.
To open a roster spot, Chicago optioned right-hander Gavin Hollowell to Triple-A Iowa.
The morning after Kodai Senga's latest nightmare outing, when he allowed seven runs on three hits (including two homers) while walking five in 3.2 innings against the Cubs, the right-hander was moved to the Mets' bullpen.
Senga, who is meticulous about his routines and has never pitched in the bullpen during the regular season, will now be asked to adapt to a new role amid a season where he has a 10.08 ERA and 1.91 WHIP and has walked 7.2 batters per nine innings.
"Just like some of the other guys, he could be pitching multi innings," manager Carlos Mendoza said about Senga's potential usage in relief. "He could be pitching high-leverage situations if we need him to. The game will dictate. We saw what he's capable of doing -- we've seen flashes of it.
"You see that first inning yesterday, he comes out throwing 98, 99, just throwing that fastball by people. I think it's just keeping it simple out of that role. We told him: you pitch an inning, you gotta be ready to go the next day. I know there's gonna be an adjustment here. We'll take care of him, obviously. But he's one of those guys now in the bullpen."
It has been disaster after disaster for Senga after he began the season with strong starts on March 31 and April 5.
In five starts since then, with a lengthy injury and minor league rehab assignment in between the first three and the last two, Senga has a 15.19 ERA (11.73 FIP) in 16.0 innings while allowing 22 hits (including nine homers) and walking 17 batters.
Senga has had repeated injury issues since his terrific rookie season in 2023, and his struggles this year are a continuation of his late-season performance in 2025 -- when he had a 6.56 ERA in 8 starts from July 11 through Aug. 31.
He accepted a minor league assignment last September, but could not get to a place where he was comfortable returning to the majors.
Senga now joins a bullpen that includes late-inning options Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Huascar Brazoban, Brooks Raley, and A.J. Minter, as well as Austin Warren, Cionel Perez, and Tobias Myers.
Senga's only big league relief appearance came during the 2024 NLCS against the Dodgers, when he was being eased back in after a lengthy injury.
As far as Senga's long-term future in New York, it's unclear.
Through an interpreter, Senga told Will Sammon of The Athletic on Wednesday that it's his preference to not go to the minors. That complicates things, since the Mets need his consent in order to option him.
He has one guaranteed year left on the contract he signed before the 2023 season, and is owed $15 million in 2027. There is a conditional club option for 2028 that will be available to the Mets if Senga has Tommy John surgery or a right elbow injury that keeps him on the IL for 130 or more days.
Austin Reaves intends to sign 4-year, $185M maximum contract with Los Angeles Lakers.
Austin Reaves is staying in Hollywood.
Confirmed by The California Post, Reaves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million contract to the LA Lakers — the only franchise he’s ever played for.
After declining his $14.9 million player option, Reaves will get the maximum contract extension he was wanting. He will have a player option for the final season.
Austin Reaves intends to sign 4-year, $185M maximum contract with Los Angeles Lakers. AP
Reaves’ new contract is the largest in NBA history for an undrafted player.
Reaves is set to make $41.3M in 26-27; $44.6M in 27-28; $47.9M in 28-29; and $51.2M (player option) in 29-30.
One of the most sensational stories in the NBA, Reaves had a four-year college career that began with two seasons at Wichita State. He transferred to Oklahoma and averaged 18.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game as a senior — albeit on an inefficient 30.5% from three.
He went undrafted in 2021 and was set to sign a two-way contract with the Lakers before that was upgraded to a standard contract in September, a month before the NBA season was set to begin.
Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to return to the franchise, with a player option for the final season in 2029-30, sources tell ESPN. Reaves declined his $14.9M player option for the new max deal. pic.twitter.com/5T8Ze6v0kF
As the Lakers stumbled in Reaves’ rookie season to a 33–49 record, he asserted himself as a part of the rotation after appearing in 61 games (19 starts) and averaging 7.3 points in 23.2 minutes per game.
He continued his rise the following season, playing in 64 games (22 starts) and averaging 13.0 points in 28.8 minutes per game. He also emerged as a dead-eye shooter from deep, knocking down 39.8% of his threes as the Lakers made the Western Conference finals.
The 2023–24 season is when Reaves truly asserted himself as a core part of the Lakers. He played in all 82 games (57 starts) and bumped his scoring average to 15.9 points on 11.5 shots per game, including knocking down 36.7% of his threes.
Reaves played at an All-Star level last season when he averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. NBAE via Getty Images
He continued to get better every season, averaging 20.2 points per game in 2024-25 while starting in all 73 games he played. Reaves also proved his worth as an off-ball guard when he combined with Luka Doncic to give the Lakers one of the more dominant scoring backcourts in the league.
All that hard work culminated in a major breakout season this past year. If not for a few injuries, Reaves played at an All-Star level when he averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game on 36% shooting from deep.
With LeBron James missing the early part of the season, Reaves carried the Lakers to a 13–3 record before the calendar flipped to December. He averaged 32.0 points per game in six October games (including a 51-point performance against the Kings) and 26.9 points per game in 10 November games.
Now Reaves has his maximum contract and the Lakers have made it clear that they’re building around Doncic and Reaves as their core moving forward. Whether two offensively talented guards with limited defense is enough to win a title remains to be seen, but the Lakers have made it clear which direction they’re choosing to go in.
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In his media availability on Monday afternoon, Senators general manager Steve Staios indicated a desire to determine the value of the ninth overall pick he acquired in the Brady Tkachuk blockbuster.
Twenty-four hours later, he had his answer.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Senators announced that they had traded the ninth overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft to the San Jose Sharks for William Eklund and prospects Kasper Haltunnen and Brandon Svoboda.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy share their views on the Brady Tkachuk trade.
The 23-year-old Eklund is the obvious centrepiece of Ottawa’s return. The left winger, who turns 24 in September, was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He has played parts of five NHL seasons, but with the last three as a regular, recording 50 goals and 163 points in 252 career games.
Listed on the NHL website at 5’10” and 188 lbs, Eklund will never be mistaken for Tkachuk. The Swedish product isn’t exactly a burner, ranking in the 53rd percentile in max skating speed (22.31 mph) and 55th percentile in 22+ mph speed bursts according to his Edge data, but he does possess elusiveness through his edgework. It is a skill that creates separation and affords him the time and space to make plays.
Eklund’s best season came as a 22-year-old during the 2024-25 campaign when he tallied 17 goals and 58 points in 77 games. This past season, the winger recorded 15 goals and 53 points in 78 games.
Admittedly, it is always concerning when a young, rebuilding team is willing to move on from one of its young assets. Why would the Sharks not want to keep using Eklund as a young building block?
The answer is simple: with the Sharks possessing the second overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, this trade to procure the ninth overall selection ensures that San Jose will draft left winger Ivar Stenburg and then use that ninth overall selection to address their blue line, their biggest position of need.
At the time the Tkachuk trade was announced, there was some disappointment that the organization did not acquire a warm body that they could immediately pencil into the lineup. With Eklund, the organization added a player with NHL experience and pedigree who will play on one of the top two lines. It also helps that his age aligns with the rest of this team’s young core.
Eklund has three years left on a contract that carries an average annual value of $5.6 million. When his deal expires at the conclusion of the 2028-29 season, Eklund will still have one year of restricted free agent status left before he’s eligible for unrestricted free agency.
Although he has never cracked the 20-goal or 60-point marks, the Senators are obviously hoping that there is untapped upside in the Swedish forward with some room for growth. Intriguingly, despite playing on a porous San Jose team, Eklund has demonstrated some decent defensive metrics, which leads one to believe that the Senators’ structure could bring out the best in his two-way play.
The move is not without risk, however.
The gamble is that Eklund is more of a playmaker than a finisher, and after trading one of the best volume shooters in the league and one of their top goal scorers in Tkachuk, the Senators need someone to help fill the net. Eklund’s five-on-five production rates last season were also relatively unimpressive.
Of the 546 skaters who logged more than 600 minutes of five-on-five ice time, Brady Tkachuk finished 24th with 2.48 points per 60 minutes, and 99th with 0.88 goals per 60. Eklund finished tied for 178th with 1.67 points per 60 and 221st with 0.59 goals per 60.
According to Evolving-Hockey, Eklund played predominantly with Alex Wennberg and Tyler Toffoli, but he did spend some time playing in the top six with other line combinations. Similarly, he spent time between San Jose’s first and second power play units playing to little effect. Per Natural Stat Trick’s data, of the 117 skaters who logged more than 200 minutes on the power play, Eklund finished 96th, averaging 4.23 points per 60 and 101st, averaging 1.35 goals per 60.
Here is his analytical stat card via HockeyStats.com.
Those metrics leave something to be desired, but after hurting his wrist in an exhibition game leading up to the 2025 World Championships, Eklund’s offseason training was negatively impacted. The hope is that, with a healthy summer and playing within the Senators’ system in front of a blue line featuring several strong puckmovers, this new environment will allow Eklund to thrive.
After losing Tkachuk and with aspirations to maintain their level of competitiveness, they will need Eklund to.
Considering how much of the talk leading into the offseason focused on how it was important for Steve Staios to find a winger for Tim Stützle, is Eklund’s style of play a fit, or would he be better suited playing alongside Dylan Cozens on the second line?
As an aside, I am genuinely interested to see how Cozens fares away from Brady Tkachuk, considering how well the two played off each other with their ability to use their size and puck protection to control the cycle game and preserve possession in the offensive zone. Without Tkachuk, can Cozens be as effective as he was last season? That’s the challenge he will face this year.
Looking at the other two prospects, Kasper Halttunen was San Jose’s second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft (36th). The 6’3”, 205 lb Finn just completed his first professional season in North America playing for San Jose’s AHL affiliate, where he scored 16 goals and 35 points in 69 games.
The 21-year-old right winger is renowned for his unbelievable OHL postseason production with the London Knights, in which he scored 32 goals in 35 games across two seasons. Blessed with size and an excellent shot that is capable of beating quality goaltenders from distances, Haltunnen projects as a bottom-six NHL forward.
Brandon Svoboda was San Jose’s third-round pick (71st overall) in that same 2023 NHL Draft class. The right-shot centre finished his sophomore season at Boston University, where he tallied six goals and 15 points in 35 games. Svoboda is listed at 6’3”, and his skating and physical tools project favourably to give him a chance to play professionally, but he projects as a safe floor depth piece.
In a vacuum, I’m left a bit torn. I like the idea of targeting a young piece in Eklund, who has produced at the NHL level and whose timeline aligns with the rest of this young core. I am intrigued to see how he integrates onto the roster and whether this team’s blue line and its structure can benefit his offensive numbers and take them to another level. Adding two prospects in Halttunen and Svoboda to a relatively thin farm system to bolster its depth isn’t a terrible idea either.
At the same time, however, the Senators paid a significant price with a top-10 pick to acquire this trio of players. For a team within its competitive window of opportunity, it is not every year that a top-10 pick winds up in a team’s hands, and they have to maximize its value to make that ascent and be recognized as a Stanley Cup contender.
Obviously, with Brady Tkachuk requesting a trade, there was pressure to get a warm body back in return who could help preserve competitiveness. The risk is that, if Eklund is not a frontline player, the Senators will have a harder time escaping that muddy middle, wherein they’re simply a competitive team whose success is predicated on their structure.
There are more dominoes to fall, so I want to wait to see how the rest of Ottawa’s offseason goes before passing judgment. With approximately $19.5 million in cap space remaining, the Senators have lots of money left to make a splash and improve their roster.
That said, the opportunity cost of acquiring Eklund was high, and when moving such a high pick, the goal is to add impactful players, and I just can’t confidently say that the organization did that on Tuesday.
The Phillies had an eight-run outburst in the top of the ninth inning to pull ahead and beat the Nationals, 14-9. The series is split one apiece as Aaron Nola and Miles Mikolas highlight the series finale.
Philadelphia recorded 17 hits yesterday and scored 14 runs with 12 strikeouts to three walks. The Phillies offense now has scored 36 runs in the last four games and rank top five in batting average, OBP, OPS, and SLG in that span. The Phillies are up 3-2 versus Washington on the season.
Washington is now 2-4 in the last six games and scored four or fewer runs in five straight until last night. The Nationals pitching staff is struggling recently as they attempt to stay above .500 for the season. Washington owns a 5.65 ERA (25th) over the past week and a 4.91 ERA (23rd) in June. The Nationals are back to even on the month with a 10-10 record after blowing the lead yesterday.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game details & how to watch Phillies at Nationals
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Time: 6:45 PM EST
Site: Nationals Park
City: Washington, DC
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
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Odds for the Phillies at the Nationals
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (-132), Washington Nationals (+109)
The Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber is hitting .252 with 72 hits, 29 home runs and 52 RBI over 286 at-bats
The Phillies’ Adolis Garcia is hitting .195 with 45 hits and 84 strikeouts over 231 at-bats
The Nationals’ James Wood is hitting .269 with 82 hits, 20 home runs, and 49 RBI over 305 at-bats
The Nationals’ Jacob Young is hitting .225 with 54 hits and 49 strikeouts over 240 at-bats
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Phillies at Nationals
Philadelphia is an MLB-worst 30-49 ATS
Washington is an MLB-best 49-31 ATS
Philadelphia is 40-34-5 to the Under, ranking seventh-best
Washington is 48-29-3 to the Over, ranking second-best
Philadelphia is 15-22 ATS on the road, ranking second-worst
Washington is 20-20 ATS at home
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Nationals and the Phillies
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Nationals and the Phillies:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Nationals on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Nationals at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 9.5
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NEW YORK — Mets slugger Juan Soto was removed from the game against the Chicago Cubs because of back tightness.
Soto appeared to grimace when he flied out in the first inning. He flied out again in the third and was replaced in left field in the top of the fifth with New York trailing 7-2. Jared Young moved from first base to left field, and Mark Vientos entered at first in Soto’s third spot in the batting order.
In the bottom of the sixth, the last-place Mets announced Soto left with tightness on the left side of his back.
“Back locked up there. So, he’s day-to-day. We’ll see where we’re at. He got treatment during the game, but he got to a point there, you could tell something was off,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after his team’s 9-6 defeat.
“He was making some faces there and obviously I checked with him and he got to a point where it was like, it was bothering him to throw and then to just get his A swing on it. So at that point, I thought it was just best to get him out of the game and have the trainers look at him.”
Soto, a four-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger award winner, began the night batting .301 with 17 homers, 38 RBIs and a .974 OPS. He spent time on the injured list in April with a calf strain.
In other injury-related news, star shortstop Francisco Lindor (left calf strain) had two hits and scored twice in a rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse. A decision is expected soon on whether to reinstate him from the injured list or wait a little longer.
In the same game with Syracuse, outfielder Tyrone Taylor (right hip flexor strain) went 3 for 5 with a homer, a double and three runs against Lehigh Valley. Switch-hitting infielder Ronny Mauricio (broken left thumb) had two hits and three RBIs.
New York expects right-hander Christian Scott (right hip impingement) to come off the injured list and start against Philadelphia.
And the Mets claimed outfielder Jared Oliva off waivers from the San Francisco Giants and optioned him to Syracuse.
CAMDEN, NJ - JUNE 8: Nick Nurse and Mike Gansey pose for a photo as the Philadelphia 76ers introduce Mike Gansey as their new President of Basketball Operations on June 8, 2026 at The Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mary Kate Ridgway/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As his first big move as president of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, Mike Gansey selected Labaron Philon with the 22nd overall pick of the 2026 NBA draft. While getting another consensus draft faller a la Tyrese Maxey in 2020 is certainly cause for excitement, it’s possible the Sixers could be done for now. The team does not currently have a selection in Wednesday night’s second round. Philadelphia’s 47th overall pick was sent out as part of the 2021 trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire George Hill. Subsequent trades had the pick move along to Phoenix and now New York, following a deal last night between the Suns and Knicks for Phoenix to move up into the first round and select Koa Peat with the 30th overall pick.
However, things could change on the second round front for the Sixers. In comments following the first round, Gansey indicated the team may be trying to acquire a selection in tonight’s second round.
Gansey said he's "going to be aggressive." Said the team has several needs and they could look to target someone in the second round. https://t.co/3nLPv6h7eT
Mike Gansey on potentially trading into tomorrow's second round: "We don't have a pick now, but [we'll discuss] where we can get in, who we want to target."
Gansey says the Sixers want to be aggressive and points out that "we have roster spots."
The Sixers currently have 11 players under contract: Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Dominick Barlow, Trendon Watford, Dalen Terry, Jabari Walker, Justin Edwards, Adem Bona, and Johni Broome. Barlow, Watford, and Terry are club options, while Walker and Bona are non-guaranteed deals. Obviously, Philon will take a 12th spot when he signs a contract. Gansey also mentioned last night the team has had contact with the representatives for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes, so bringing those guys back in free agency is definitely on the team’s radar. However, as Gansey said, there’s certainly room for a second-rounder to enter the mix.
Historically, teams are much more willing to move second-round picks, as those obviously don’t carry nearly the same value as first-round selections. Early indications are that nothing will be different this year.
Memphis, like the Knicks at No. 31, is actively fielding offers to move the No. 32 pick for Night 2 of the draft, per sources. So picks 31 and 32 are up for auction in trades around the NBA — with future assets being proposed. https://t.co/HUbpZCinlB
We’ll see what happens tonight, but if Gansey and the Sixers are motivated, it appears the opportunities will be there to acquire a pick in the second round. Stay tuned.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Yaxel Lendeborg after is drafted eleventh overall by the Golden State Warriors during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I have to admit there were no actual losers from the first-round of the draft — just a few teams where I would have done something different with the pick. Most of my analysis is informed by my evaluations from my final big board. I always believe the draft is about chasing the best player available, while free agency and trades are where teams should maximize fit.
Let’s dive into some post-draft analysis for our winners and “losers” from round one. Check back in a few years and feel free to call me out on whatever I got wrong.
I didn’t love what the Grizzlies did with the second pick, trading back twice and landing another power forward in Karim Lopez, who I wasn’t super high on. Whatever. The Grizzlies’ front office is way smarter than I am. Memphis walked away with the best player in the draft, and that makes them the biggest winner.
Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder
The rich get richer. The Thunder drafted Michigan center Aday Mara at No. 12 and then traded up for Iowa point guard Bennett Stirtz at No. 16 to address the two small holes that existed within their roster. Mara is a giant at 7’3 with a 9’9 standing reach, and he gives OKC another big body to throw at Victor Wembanyama in future playoff matchups. Mara doesn’t have much coverage versatility defensively, but he’s very good in drop, and he’s entering an ideal scenario for a drop big with so many nasty point-of-attack defenders in front of him. The Thunder were also hurting for extra ball handling and shooting on last year’s playoff run amid injuries, and Stirtz checks both boxes. He’s a wicked shooter on- or off-the-ball, and he’s one of the draft’s best pick-and-roll operators. Sam Presti crushed it again.
Loser: Milwaukee Bucks
I feel bad for putting the Bucks here because their picks weren’t that bad. Brayden Burries is a nice off-ball guard who can shoot and defend, and I think he’ll be a solid fit next to emerging star (is that too rich?) Ryan Rollins. Nate Ament was not my favorite, but at No. 13, the value isn’t too bad. I just would have gone in a different direction with those picks. I really think the Bucks did well in the Giannis trade, but they have to nail their picks to make this rebuild work. I’m not sure they did that on Tuesday night.
Winner: Chicago Bulls
Bryson Graham knocked it out of the park in his first draft as a lead decision-maker in the NBA. Caleb Wilson was a no-brainer choice at No. 4. His combination of extreme athleticism, high-IQ, and elite work ethic is a great sign for his future. The Bulls went with Dailyn Swain at No. 15, and I’m also a big fan of that pick. Swain is a nasty slasher for a 6’7 wing with a tight handle and the ability to change directions on a dime. Chicago has a pretty big logjam of forwards now with Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue, and Leonard Miller already on the roster, but I think Swain can play the two long-term if he makes any progress with his jump shot. The Bulls aren’t good enough to worry about fit; they just had to get the best available talent. I think they did that with both picks.
Loser: Los Angeles Lakers
A lot of people like Cam Carr, and I get it. He’s a very good off-ball shooter, he’s super long, and he’s got serious hops around the basket. I just worry he could be pigeonholed as a specialist because he’s not much of a ball handler or playmaker, and he struggles to defend at the point of attack with a thin frame. The Lakers needed some shooting, but they also had a lot of other holes, especially in terms of wing defense. I’m not sure how much Carr is really going to help.
Loser: Sacramento Kings
Listen, Darius Acuff was electric at Arkansas. John Calipari has coached a lot of great guards, and I’m not sure any of them had a better freshman year than Acuff. With that said, I’m a bit lower on his NBA projection because I think his defense is terrible and I’m not sure he’ll continue to be a 44 percent career three-point shooter. He could definitely make me look dumb because Acuff is an awesome floor general and a great scorer, but I liked some of the other guards more. The Kings also traded up to take Alex Karaban at the end of the first round, and he wasn’t in the top-45 of my board. I’m sorry, Kings fans! I want good things for you, so I hope your picks prove me wrong.
Winner: Detroit Pistons
I’ve been wanting to see what Cade Cunningham looks like in a less heliocentric role, and the Pistons traded up to deliver him an awesome young point guard. Ebuka Okorie has the best first-step in this class. The Stanford guard is lightning fast with the ball in his hands, putting pressure on the rim and getting the opposing defense in rotation. I was impressed by his shooting, and I think he defends bigger than his size, too. Okorie rules, and I love the fit in Detroit.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts a three-point basket during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on April 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers have taken care of one of their biggest items in free agency.
Austin Reaves has agreed to re-sign with the Lakers, as first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. Reaves will sign a four-year, $185 million deal.
Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to return to the franchise, with a player option for the final season in 2029-30, sources tell ESPN. Reaves declined his $14.9M player option for the new max deal. pic.twitter.com/5T8Ze6v0kF
This is a max deal for Reaves, but over four years instead of five. The AAV of this deal will be $46.5 million. Though the deal is announced now, he won’t sign it until after the Lakers finish with free agency as his $20.9 million cap hold will give the Lakers more flexibility to operate this offseason.
Charania also reported that the Pistons were among the expected suitors if Reaves got to unrestricted free agency and were ready to offer a max contract. The Lakers ensured it would not get to that point by agreeing to a deal before any other team had a chance to negotiate.
Reaves was expected to receive free-agent interest from multiple teams — such as Detroit — on maximum-level salary, so the Lakers stepped up on Wednesday to lock in their homegrown talent. Reaves went from undrafted to a two-way player — to making the Lakers roster and now… https://t.co/gft1J4pThc
While his play was a mixed bag in the postseason, Reaves did have some solid games. In Game 2 against the Thunder, he went 10-16 from the field and scored a team-high 31 points.
Retaining Reaves was clearly a top priority for the Lakers.
This has been lauded as a big off-season for the purple and gold, as they entered it with plenty of roster spots and cap space, which they need to use well to help close the gap with the Thunder and Spurs.
By bringing back Reaves, the Lakers have secured their backcourt and have made it clear with this significant pay raise that they believe the duo of Dončić and Reaves can compete in the West.
With Reaves as the starting guard for Lakers head coach JJ Redick, he’s not only continued to improve, but the team has won 50-plus games in back-to-back seasons, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 2011 when Phil Jackson was the coach.
Overall, this was an easy decision for the Lakers. Reaves has said he wants to be a Laker for life, and the franchise has matched that energy with this contract.
Los Angeles did the hard part already: finding top talent that went undrafted and helping mold them into the players they can become.
This summer was about rewarding that growth with a substantial raise and securing Reaves for years to come. Now, Reaves will remain in a purple and gold uniform, and the Lakers can focus on building out the rest of their roster.
SITE NOTE: Here’s how all the BCB threads will go for today’s doubleheader. This is a normal game preview as would be the case for any afternoon away game. Since this is a split doubleheader, I’ll write a recap after the first game and also include the pitcher matchup and other info for the nightcap. That recap will post as soon as possible after Game 1 is over. Now, on to the particulars for the first game of today’s doubleheader.
We don’t yet know who the Cubs’ 27th man for the doubleheader is, but we do know this:
So, my guess is: Vince Velasquez is the 27th man, with Edward Cabrera to the 60-day IL to make room for him on the 40-man roster. Gavin Hollowell is recalled to replace Cabrera on the 26-man active roster and will stick around for a while, at least until the Cubs decide who’s going to take Cabrera’s spot in the rotation. That spot doesn’t come up until Sunday.
I know, clear as mud. As always, we await developments.
Wednesday notes…
DOUBLEHEADER FACTS: This will be the Cubs’ second doubleheader of the season. The first, at Cleveland on Sunday, April 5, was due to a rainout the previous day. The Cubs won, 1-0, then lost, 6-5. The Cubs swept their only twin bill last year, at home vs. the Brewers, 6-4 and 4-1. They have not swept any of their last eight doubleheaders on the road, splitting five and dropping both games of three. Splits: 2023, 2022 and 2018 at Cincinnati; 2017 at Colorado; 2015 at Pittsburgh. Swept: 2024 and 2022 at St. Louis; 2018 at Washington. The split in 2015 at Pittsburgh was on Sept. 15. Four days earlier, on the 11th, the Cubs won twice at Philadelphia. In the first game, Jake Arrieta gave up one run on six hits and two walks in eight innings, then Justin Grimm pitched a scoreless ninth to complete a 5-1 win. In the second, Kyle Schwarber homered twice and Kris Bryant once, as the Cubs won, 7-3. Bryant and Miguel Montero each had three of the Cubs’ 12 hits. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
RUN SCORING, PART 1: The Cubs have scored at least six runs in four consecutive games, tying for their second-longest streak of the season, April 21-24. They did it in five straight April 12-17. Last year, they had one streak of five games and two of four. They have not had a streak of more than five in 26 years, since they had six in a row April 22-28, 2000. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
RUN SCORING, PART 2: In their last four games, the Cubs have scored 39 runs (eight, 16, six and nine), their second most in a four-game span this season, after 40, April 13-17 (seven, 10, 11, 12). (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel combined to no-hit the Dodgers in Los Angeles, as the Cubs won 4-0. The four pitchers combined to walk eight (!) Dodgers hitters in the first combined no-hitter in Cubs history. It happened five years ago today, Thursday, June 24, 2021.
Javier Assad has been a revelation since his recall from Triple-A Iowa. In three starts this month since that recall: 1.00 ERA, 0.611 WHIP, two runs allowed (both on solo homers). His season numbers are now pretty much in line with his career before this year.
Assad is kind of a Kyle Hendricks-type pitcher. He just gets guys out.
Nolan McLean was a Top 10 MLB prospect last year and had a brief eight-start cameo with the Mets. One of those games was against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Sept. 25, 2025. He struck out 11, but the Cubs also scored five off him in five innings, including a home run by Dansby Swanson and two long balls by Seiya Suzuki.
This year most of McLean’s starts have been pretty good, save for a two-start run in May in which he allowed 13 earned runs in nine innings. Since then: four starts, 1.64 ERA, 1.091 WHIP.
Overall he has a 28.2 percent K rate and 9.3 percent walk rate. This will not be an easy pitcher to hit.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
