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Colorado Rockies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates game discussion: Jared Jones vs Michael Lorenzen

Jun 10, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) pitches in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Be ready to bust out the brooms on a sunny Father’s Day afternoon. After back-to-back nights with nail-biting conclusions in the ninth inning, the Colorado Rockies are somehow on the verge of sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Denver. It’s the first day of summer, the forecast is for clear skies and high temperatures, and the ball might be flying with today’s pitching match-up.

Right-handed veteran Michael Lorenzen has struggled through the spring with the Rockies. His 12 home runs allowed are the second-most among the pitching staff and his ERA has been below 6.00 just once so far. He has especially struggled at Coors Field with an 8.44 ERA over seven starts.

However, Lorenzen might finally be turning a corner. The 34-year-old is coming off of his best two starts of the season—interestingly enough both against the Chicago Cubs. In both starts—one on the road and one at home—Lorenzen gave up just one earned run with minimal walks and at least five strikeouts while working for five innings.

Right-handed pitcher Jared Jones will be on the bump for the Bucs this afternoon. Jones is making his fifth start of the season after completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery, which robbed him of his 2025 campaign after a promising 2024.

Jones enters today’s game with a 6.23 ERA and four home runs allowed, but 18 strikeouts over 17.1 innings of work. His last outing came against the Sacramento Athletics, where he worked four innings and gave up five earned runs on eight hits—two of which were home runs.

In two career starts against the Rockies, Jones has given up six earned runs on seven hits with a home run and has struck out 16 batters in 11.2 innings. His primary pitch is a high velocity four-seam fastball that averages 98.8 MPH and he backs it up with a slider, a changeup, and a curveball.

First Pitch: 1:10 pm MDT

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

PiratesSB Nation Site:Bucs Dugout

Lineups:

For the visiting Pirates:

And the home Rockies:

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Tatsuya Imai impresses, Jasson Dominguez gets his shot

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.

The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope this helps you determine whether the player fits your team's needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition for your specific roster.

To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.

⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

Paul Goldschmidt - 1B, NYY (37% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, HOT STREAK)

Goldschmidt's roster rate has been soaring upwards, but it's still under 40%, so he can stay here. In 38 games since May 1st, the veteran is hitting .324/.378/.577 with 10 home runs, 32 RBI, and a 9.5% barrell rate. He is playing much every day at first base or DH and will continue to get extra playing time with Aaron Judge sidelined for the next 6-8 weeks and the Yankees having fewer outfield spots to juggle. He hits near the top of the Yankees' lineup, which is good for run production. He needs to be added most everywhere now. Josh Bell - 1B, MIN (13% rostered) is another veteran who is remaining fantasy relevant. As Bell has aged, he has become more dependent on pulled fly balls for production, which has led to a streaky season from him. We're in the middle of a hot stretch now, but expect a cold stretch to come soon as well.

Lawrence Butler - OF, ATH (36% rostered)

(EVERYDAY PLAYER, POWER-SPEED UPSIDE)

Butler has started six of seven games entering play Sunday after Brent Rooker's injury freed up some playing time for the Athletics. He had a home run, stolen base, and scored four runs on Friday night in a chaotic game out in Sacramento and will enjoy one of the league's best hitter environments while he's in the lineup. He's a great power, speed option moving forward despite a catastrophic season thus far.

Kody Clemens - 1B/2B/OF, MIN (32% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Clemens' roster rate has climbed 9% this week, but he's still qualified for this list. Over his last 30 games, Clemens has been the best hitter on the Twins not named Byron Buxton. He's batting .271/.301/.551 with seven home runs, 18 runs scored, 18 RBI, and one steal. Clemens also has a career high 13.3% barrel rate and a solid 44% hard-hit rate this season. Some of that success has come from dialing back how often he was looking to pull the ball in the air. Even though his overall pull rate is similar to last year, his Pull Air% has fallen from 23.2% to 19.3%, and his opposite field rate has gone from 17% to 27.1%. Clemens has also shortened his swing from 7.3 feet to 7.1 feet. While that’s not a major difference, it may be helping him against four-seam fastballs. Last year, he had a -16 Run Value against four-seamers, hitting .158 with a .289 slugging percentage. This year, he has a Run Value of 1 and is hitting .246 on fastballs with a .475 slugging percentage. Much of this production looks real.

Dominic Canzone - OF, SEA (28% rostered)

(HOT STRETCH, POWER UPSIDE)

We had Canzone here last week, and the roster rate has climbed from 16% to 26%, so he's still eligible. He hits the ball hard, so he's always going to find stretches where he's producing and needs to be added in a lot of places. Over his last 30 games, he's hitting .325/.404/.663 with seven home runs, 15 runs scored, and 13 RBI. He will sit against lefties, so that's something to factor into the math, but he's slated to face only one lefty next week, which is good news. We were infatuated with Garrett Mitchell - OF, MIL (6% rostered) earlier in the season, but there were some major contact concerns. While much of that is still present, he is on a hot streak, hitting .325 over 10 games in the last two weeks with two home runs, eight runs scored, and six RBI. He has the plus raw tools to take a gamble on.

Andrew Vaughn - 1B, MIL (28% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, POWER UPSIDE)

Vaughn's roster rate has dropped this week, likely because he isn't playing every day. Still, he has started three of the last four games and five of the last seven. If he were a left-handed hitter, nobody would blink at him sitting against lefty starters and playing 75% of games. Over the last two weeks, he's gone 12-for-29 (.414) with one home run, five runs scored, and nine RBI. Yes, the power may take some time to come back, but a hitter swinging the bat like that is going to force his way into the lineup.

Dalton Rushing - C, LAD (24% rostered)

(BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Will Smith is not yet ready to come off the IL with his neck inflammation, so we may get another week of Rushing as the Dodgers' starting catcher. He may have cooled down from his torrid start to the season, but he's hitting .286/.388/.429 with one home run, six runs scored, and four RBI over his last 15 games. That, and his presence in this lineup, makes him worth rostering in one-catcher leagues while Will Smith is out. Joe Mack- C, WAS (3% rostered) has also been producing lately, hitting 9-for-27 over his last nine games with two home runs and seven runs scored. He's still more of a defensive catcher, but the bat isn't nothing, and Endy Rodriguez - C, PIT (2% rostered) is starting to grab more playing time away from Henry Davis. Rodriguez has gone 7-for-25 (.280) over his last 10 games with two home runs and three RBI. He was a former top prospect before two years of injuries and could be worth a gamble.

Samad Taylor - 2B/OF, SD (18% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

Samad Taylor was called up from Triple-A when Nick Castellanos was designated for assignment and has hit the ground running (literally), going 12-for-33 (.364) with eight runs scored, eight RBI, one home run, and four steals in nine games. Those stats are great, but he also had just a 27% hard-hit rate in Triple-A and a league-average 85% zone contact rate. He’s hitting the ball on the ground 60% of the time with the Padres and has the speed to beat out infield singles, so the batting average and stolen bases could be there, but he’s a career .250/.313/.327 hitter in 118 MLB plate appearances, so don’t expect him to keep producing at this level. Tyler Callihan - 2B/OF, PIT (2% rostered) would be another option for deeper formats since he has earned regular playing time with the Pirates. He's hitting .313/.436/.625 in 14 games with two home runs and six RBI. Keep in mind, he was hitting just .223 with a 27% strikeout rate in Triple-A this year, but he has been a productive hitter in the Reds' minor league system before, so we'll add in deeper formats and see how long he can produce.

Sunday update: Taylor went 4-for-8 between Friday and Saturday with three runs scored. He hit second for Padres in each game and is slotted to hit lead-off on Sunday. Profile aside, there's plenty of value in that.

Nasim Nunez - 2B/SS, WAS (18% rostered)

(STOLEN BASE UPSIDE, HOT STREAK)

We expected Nunez to be a burner who gave you little else, but he's now hitting .280/.325/.360 over his last 25 games. That comes with just 12 runs scored and nine RBI, but also seven steals. If he's going to hit for this kind of batting average, or really even like a .250 average, then his stolen bases are going to be really valuable in fantasy formats.

Joshua Baez - OF, STL (17% rostered)

(POTENTIAL CALL-UP, POWER UPSIDE)

We like to get ahead of prospect stashes on the waiver wire, and it might be time for Baez to wind up as your stash. He had a four-home run game earlier this week and then crushed his 24th home run of the season on Thursday. The 22-year-old leads the entire International League with 24 big flys in 64 games. That also comes with 12 stolen bases to create a nice power/speed combo. There are some lingering concerns about his contact since he’s struck out nearly 31 percent of the time at the Triple-A level this season, but when you have that kind of power and speed, you can still produce fantasy goodness. You could look to stash Yohandy Morales - 1B/3B, WAS (2% rostered), who is now up to 15 home runs and 45 RBI on the season to go along with a .325 batting average and a .962 OPS in 63 Triple-A games. He’s ready for a chance at big league pitching, but with Curtis Mead playing well at third base, the Nationals will need to use Morales as a DH or a first baseman.

Jasson Dominguez - OF, NYY (14% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, POST HYPE UPSIDE)

It's been a slow start for Dominguez since coming off the IL, going 3-for-17, and also having to get a tooth pulled. However, we know the type of talent that he has, and all three of those hits were for extra bases, including a home run. He's going to play regularly with both Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham sidelined, so don't be scared off by the slow week.

Sunday update: Dominguez had two hits apiece on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, he jumped up to the second spot in the Yankees' lineup and Saturday stuck in there against a left-handed pitcher. This is a golden opportunity for him to prove himself as an everyday player and that volume alone makes him intriguing for us.

Blaze Alexander - 2B/3B/SS/OF, BAL (12% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, STATCAST DARLING)

It seems that Blaze Alexander may have finally won himself a starting role. After putting up strong production in a part-time role, Alexander has started five straight games for the Orioles and seems to have supplanted Coby Mayo at third base. He appeared in Eric’s article last week on hitters to target based on their May resultsbecause, since May 1st, he's been the best hitter on the Orioles, slashing .384/.426/.545 with 18 RBI, 12 runs scored, two home runs, and five steals in 110 plate appearances. He's making better-than-league-average contact in the zone with a better hard-hit percentage than league average as well. There is an intriguing profile here, but it's more of a deep league add right now until playing time emerges.

Sunday update: Alexander sat on Friday, but was back in the lineup on Saturday and drove in two runs with a double. He started at shortstop while Gunnar Henderson was the DH and Mayo got the start at third. There's a lot to like here if Alexander can fully take this job.

Henry Bolte - OF, ATH (10% rostered)

(RECENT HOT STRETCH, POWER UPSIDE)

It took a little while for Bolte to get going at the MLB level, but over the last two weeks, he's hitting 14-for-42 (.333) with two home runs, two steals, and six runs scored. Of course, the Athletics have played in either Sacramento or Las Vegas for every game since June 7th, so that's certainly something to keep in mind. However, Bolte had improved his contact rates in the minors this season, and that seems to be carrying over. There is swing and miss in his game, so this may not be the smoothest ride, but it's fun right now. You could also add Cole Carrigg - OF, COL (16% rostered), who has produced power with three home runs in his nine MLB games, but has gone just 7-for-33 otherwise. The Rockies have three games at home this upcoming week and then all seven games at home the week after, so that could lead to decent power production.

Jordan Lawlar - OF, ARI (9% rostered)

(OFF THE IL, UPSIDE POTENTIAL)

Jordan Lawlar is back from the 60-day IL after fracturing his wrist and got right back in the starting lineup. Much like Dominguez, it's been a slow week, with Lawlar going 4-for-20 with three runs scored and two RBI. However, he has just a 3/2 K/BB ratio and has stolen three bases in five games, so there is still production coming. Expect his bat to heat up soon too.

Sunday update: Lawlar is back on the injured list with a hamstring strain. This guy just can't catch a break.

Matt Shaw - 3B/OF, CHC (8% rostered)

(EVERYDAY PLAYER, POWER-SPEED UPSIDE)

Shaw has started six straight games in right field since Moisés Ballesteros was sent to Triple-A and Seiya Suzuki shifted back over to designated hitter. He homered on Saturday and has hits in four of five games since taking over a starting spot. There's still plenty of potential in his bat and at worst, he should contribute stolen bases and a high contact rate as a multi-eligibility player.

Cooper Pratt - SS, MIL (7% rostered)

(PROSPECT CALL-UP, MODEST UPSIDE)

The Brewers called up Cooper Pratt this week to turn the shortstop reins over to their young prospect. The 21-year-old was slashing .241/.349/.386 batting line in Triple-A, which is not exciting, but he had been hitting better prior to his call-up. He's also gone 3-for-9 in his first three games with two RBI and one steal. Eric recorded a video this week with more thoughts on Pratt’s fantasy upside.

Sunday update: Pratt stole two bases over the weekend and should be a solid option for anyone out there who needs stolen bases.

Lars Nootbaar - OF, STL (5% rostered)

(OFF THE TIL, STATCAST DARLING

Nootbaar is another boring outfielder who is set to come off the injured list following offseason surgery on both of his heels. We know that you've been waiting for that Nootbaar breakout for a long time, but he remains a solid/productive player who should be in an everyday role on a solid Cardinals team. In 12 games since coming off the injured list, he's hitting .268 with two home runs, seven runs scored, and six RBI. He's a productive player and will continue to settle in. Speaking of boring outfielders, Lane Thomas - OF, KC (2% rostered) is getting more playing time thanks to Jac Caglianone moving to first base with Vinnie Pasquantino hurt. Thomas has three home runs in his last 12 games and has been a player to get hot in the second half before. He could be worth a gamble in deeper formats.

Kyle Karros - 3B, COL (2% rostered)

(EVERY DAY PLAYER, GOOD SCHEDULE)

Karros has been quietly productive over the last month, hitting .303 in 26 games with three home runs, 15 runs scored, and 10 RBI. As the son of an MLB player, he has a good understanding of the strike zone and a disciplined approach at the plate. The power isn't tremendous, but the batting average could be pretty good in Coors Field. However, this is also an add for schedule. The Rockies play three games at home this upcoming week, but then all seven games at home next week. It could be a good time to add Rockies players to get ahead of that.

Christian Moore - 2B, LAA (1% rostered)

(PROSPECT HYPE, RECENT CALL-UP)

Christian Moore got the call on Thursday with Mike Trout landing on the injured list. He weirdly played left field, which doesn't make much sense since he was playing mostly third base in the minors. The 23-year-old had made some real adjustments at the plate in Triple-A, making more contact and better contact, and was slashing .333/.468/.585 with nine homers, 45 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 252 plate appearances. We're not sure why the Angels would throw a new defensive position at him along with a call-up. Still, this is a highly talented young hitter who's getting another shot. We should probably give him one too.

Sunday update: Moore has struck out seven times in his first eight plate appearances and made each a base running and defensive miscue over his first two games. Then, he was out of the lineup on Saturday. The Angels do things differently than most other big league clubs, so keep a close eye on Moore's role as it evolves.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Stephen Kolek - SP, KCR (47% rostered)

Kolek has been on a good run of late, so this is just a situation where you're going to keep riding it until the wheels fall off, which they likely will. Kolek isn't overpowering, but he wins with command and limiting hard contact with a deep pitch mix that includes six pitches he'll throw at least 10% of the time. You can feel comfortable using him when he's rolling like this, and we'd start him against the White Sox next week, but just be sure to jump off the ride if it starts to wobble.

Gage Jump - SP, ATH (37% rostered)

Man, we wished he pitched in a different ballpark. Jump has pitched to a 2.37 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 30.1 innings since being called up. His fastball, which dominated in the minors, hasn't missed the same kind of bats at the MLB level, so his strikeout rate is down a bit, but he has plus raw stuff and is pitching well, so we're happy to keep rolling him out there next week in San Francisco.

Tatsuya Imai - SP, HOU (35% rostered)

Imai is coming off his best start as a big leaguer after striking out 11 Guardians on Friday over six inning and allowing three runs. His famous backwards slider was diabolical, forcing 17 swings-and-misses while working firmly as his primary pitch. He commanded it excellently both low and below the zone as well as fading away from the Guardians’ left-handed hitters. Most impressively, Imai had let up three runs before the third inning was over and it looked like this was going to turn into yet another start that went off the rails. However, he composed himself and dominated from that point on retiring the final 11 batters he faced. So far, his two-pitch approach hasn’t fared particularly well and we must remember that this Guardians’ lineup sans José Ramírez and a handful of other starts is one of the weakest in the whole league. Still, that slider looks like it can truly carry him when it’s on like it was tonight.

Griffin Jax - SP/RP, TB (35% rostered)

We're just going to keep banging the drum for Jax. We don't love that short leash, but it had never been that short before, so maybe the Rays are just being cautious for a short stretch, like they did with Drew Rasmussen last summer, when he had like four straight starts where they pulled him at four innings. Jax has a deep pitch mix and has managed to maintain velocity even when moving out of the bullpen. This is the profile of a pitcher who should deliver for your fantasy teams, and he gets the Royals for his next start, and we're going to keep believing.

Sunday update: Jax got the win against the Nationals on Friday after allowing two runs over five innings and striking out five batters. His changeup forced seven whiffs against an almost all-left-handed lineup and looked dominant at times. He has all the tools to be a successful starting pitcher. Just keep an eye on his workload because the Rays have still been reluctant to let go around the lineup three times.

Troy Melton - SP, DET (30% rostered)

Melton has not had the strikeout numbers that we hoped to see when he came off the injured list, and he was recently scratched with lower back soreness, but it appears he'll make a start this weekend. He has a 2.81 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in his first four starts, which he has done with great control of a solid 97 mph four-seamer, plus a good slider and cutter. He also pairs that with a sinker, curveball, and splitter to give him a deep arsenal that we can dream on. If he comes out of this weekend's start healthy, you can look to add him where he's available.

Sunday update: Melton quelled his injury concerns with a strong start on Saturday going six innings and allowing one run against the White Sox with five strikeouts and three walks. His fastball, curveball, and slider each forced three whiffs and his cutter helped neutralize the lefties. He is a solid, sturdy starting pitcher.

Andre Pallante - SP, STL (28% rostered)

We've had Pallante in this article a few times because his velocity is up, he has more vertical movement on his four-seamer, and he has always had a good slider. Now he gets a solid two-start week against Arizona and Miami. This is not likely to be an add for the rest of the season (unless you're in deeper formats), but he's commanding the ball well now and has a good schedule, so let's let it ride.

Yoendrys Gomez - SP/RP, MIN (23% rostered)

Gomez has been really good since joining the Twins and has emerged as their clear closer. Eric recorded a video with some detailed thoughts this week.

Sunday update: Gomez pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Saturday in a blowout win for the Twins. He remains their clear closer despite not having a save chance since Monday.

Grant Taylor - RP/SP, CWS (22% rostered)

Taylor had a mediocre outing against the Dodgers this past week, which has inflated some recent stats, but he has looked really good all season. We know you only want to add him if he's the White Sox closer, but he has more value to their team as a high-leverage reliever. That still makes him a great add for ratios and the stray win or save here and there.

Javier Assad - SP, CHC (19% rostered)

Assad is pitching pretty well right now and gets the Mets next week. That's about it. He threw seven pitches in his last start against the Rockies and got just two whiffs. His command has been fairly mediocre in his last few outings, and he doesn't have overpowering stuff, so we don't love this play, but if you're in a deeper formats, these are the plays you kind of need to gamble on.

Mick Abel - SP, MIN (18% rostered)

Mick Abel struck out five while allowing one earned run over five innings on Tuesday in his final rehab start for Triple-A St. Paul. He threw 44 of 61 pitches for strikes and seems set to come off the injured list this weekend. We still have some concerns about his health, but he was so good before getting hurt that we'd rather have those concerns with him on our bench.

Sunday update: Abel suffered a setback in his recovery from elbow inflammation and is no longer expected to return this week. He is expected to get an MRI this week, so keep an eye on his status.

Sean Manaea - SP/RP, NYM (16% rostered)

It's your yearly stretch of Manaea being fantasy-relevant. He's throwing around 92 mph with his four-seamer again, which is usually when his results click in. If he has that velocity and keeps the fastball up with the sweeper low in the zone, he's going to be effective. It's not a great start against the Cubs, but they've been scuffling a bit, and Manaea has had long stretches of production before, so we might be in one.

Elvis Alvarado - RP, ATH (15% rostered)

Alvarado has two of the last three saves for the Athletics and seems to have emerged as the right-handed closer to be paired with Hogan Harris. Alvarado has a fastball that can touch 103 mph and looks the part of a dominant closer when he's on. There have been some command issues in the past, but he took steps forward last year as well, so we don't mind this as a spec save gamble.

Sunday update: Alvarado helped calm down a wild game on Friday night where the Athletics outlasted the Angels 12-11 in 10 innings. It took him just 21 pitches to throw two scoreless innings — including in the 10th with the ghost runner on second base — and wound up with the win. He remains a quality closer spec.

Anthony Kay - SP, CWS (10% rostered)

We know the recent stretch hasn't been kind to Anthony Kay, but he just faced the Phillies, Dodgers, and Yankees in consecutive starts, which is pretty brutal. Over that stretch, his ERA jumped from 3.77 on June 1st to 4.61 now. We're choosing to blame the schedule more than anything. He gets a two-start week this week against the Guardians and Royals, which are two offenses we don't really fear. We'd prefer this in deeper formats, but we could see it working out in 12-team leagues as well.

Ian Seymour - SP, TB (8% rostered)

This remains a bet for the future. This offseason, Eric wrote about Seymour as one of his favorite late-round starting pitcher targets,which you can read here for full thoughts on his arsenal, and then he went ahead and lost a rotation spot to both Steven Matz and Nick Martinez. After getting blitzed out of the bullpen in the first game of the season, Seymour has been good for the Rays, and is now getting a chance to start again. The stuff hasn't looked as crisp, as Eric wrote about in his streaming starting pitcher article, but there is upside here.

Sunday update: Seymour had a so-so start against the Nationals on Saturday allowing three runs and seven hits over five innings with four strikeouts and zero walks. His fastball changeup are a solid duo, but he didn't command his sweeper as his third weapon and it was hit hard as a result. We still like him as a deep league option with long-term upside.

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Dodgers on Deck: Monday, June 22 at Twins

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 4: An entrance to Target Field right field plaza on April 4, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers have no more home games remaining in June after Sunday, as they start a nine-game road trip on Monday against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis. This is the fourth consecutive series for Los Angeles against American League teams.

Left-hander Eric Lauer gets the ball in the series opener, making his fifth start since joining the Dodgers. Lauer has a 3.22 ERA and 4.24 xERA with Los Angeles, with 14 strikeouts and five walks in his 22 1/3 innings. He’s lasted at least 5 2/3 innings in three of the four starts, and the Dodgers have won all four of his starts to date.

Minnesota scored seven runs in 5 1/3 innings off Lauer on April 11 when he was pitching for the Blue Jays. That game was at Rogers Center in Toronto.

The Twins are under .500 this season, but through Saturday have won five of their last six games, and are 20-19 at home. Zebby Matthews starts for the home team in the series opener.

Monday game info

  • Teams: Dodgers at Twins
  • Ballpark: Target Field, Minneapolis
  • Time: 4:40 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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Astros vs. Guardians Game Discussion: 6/21/2026

HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 19: Jeremy Peña #3 of the Houston Astros celebrates with Christian Walker #8 at home plate after hitting a solo home run in the third inning during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Friday, June 19, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kairi Mano/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (36-42), who have won three of their last four series, will play the rubber game of their three-game set with the Cleveland Guardians (41-36) today in a Father’s Day matinee at Daikin Park.

RHP Kai-Wei Teng (3-6, 4.31 ERA), who tossed 2.2 scoreless innings against the Guardians back in April, will get the start for the Astros today opposite RHP Slade Cecconi (3-5, 4.60 ERA) and the Guardians.

MY WAY OR THE KAI-WEI: RHP Kai-Wei Teng has split his season between the bullpen (13g) and rotation (8 starts), posting a 4.31 ERA (26ER/54.1IP) and a .232 opponent average with 58 strikeouts in 54.1 innings pitched.

Teng is new to the Astros, as he was acquired from the Giants this offseason in exchange for minor leaguer C Jancel Villarroel.

A native of Taiwan, Teng is the second Taiwanese-born player to appear with the Astros in their history, joining RHP Chia Jen-Lo, who made 19 relief appearances with the Astros in 2013.

A MONTH OF WINNING: Over the last month, dating back to May 21, the Astros have gone 16-11 (.593), which ties as the fifth-best record in the Majors and is the second-best record in the AL.

Top Records since May 21 (AL)

1. Yankees 16-9 (.640)

2. Astros 16-11 (.593)

3. Blue Jays 16-12 (.571)

VS. THE GUARDIANS: The Astros and Guardians have played each other in the regular season 102 times in their franchise histories, with the two teams splitting those matchups with 51 wins apiece.

Those games have also been evenly split in Houston (26-26) and Cleveland (25-25), which includes a 23-23 record at Daikin Park.

RACKING UP K’S: The Astros have struck out 62 batters through 45.0 innings in five games this homestand, which are their most strikeouts in any five-game span this season.

In 2026, Astros pitchers rank fifth in the AL in strikeouts (671), while their opponent today, the Guardians, rank first with 707.

PEN PALS: Since May 15, the Astros bullpen has a 2.78 ERA (36ER/116.2IP) with 112 strikeouts, a 1.02 WHIP and a .190 opponent average.

Among AL teams since May 15, the Astros bullpen ranks first in ERA, first in WHIP, and first in opponent batting average.

The Astros are also 19-14 since May 15.

LAST NIGHT’S TRADE: Announced last night, the Astros acquired minor leaguer 1B Cameron Sisneros from the Cubs in exchange for RHP Jayden Murray.

Sisneros, 25, has split the 2026 season with Double A Knoxville and High A South Bend in the Cubs organization, batting a combined .265 (44×166) with eight doubles, six home runs, 37 RBI and an .840 OPS (.419 OBP/.422 SLG).

STREAK SNAPPED:DH Yordan Alvarez had his 25-game on-base streak snapped last night by going 0x3. In the streak, which ran from May 22 – June 19, Alvarez hit .366 (34×93) with nine homers, 24 RBI, 16 walks, a .459 OBP and a 1.158 OPS. This ranks as the fifth-longest streak of his career and his longest since the 2024 season.

BACK WITH A VENGEANCE: Since SS Jeremy Peña returned to the lineup on May 18, the Astros have gone 17-13, while Peña has hit .295 (33×112) with four doubles, six homers, 18 RBI and an .851 OPS in 30 games. Prior to that date, Peña played in only 10 of the Astros first 48 games of the season, with the Astros going 19-29 in those contests.

MY BOY BLU: RHP AJ Blubaugh struck out the side in a perfect 1.0 inning of relief last night, giving him five consecutive scoreless appearances (9IP), in which he’s struck out 11 batters with a .103 (3×29) opponent batting average. Blubaugh has been on a strong run since April 11, going 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA (10ER/39.1IP) in his last 25 appearances.

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1973 – In a 12-2 win over the Padres, 1B Lee May becomes the second player in club history to hit three HR in a game. 2B Tommy Helms adds a grand slam. RHP Ken Forsch goes the distance for the win. A young LF Dave Winfield hits his first Major League homer for the Padres.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Sunday, June 21, 1:10 p.m. CT

Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX

TV: SCHN

Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

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NetsDaily Off-Season Report – No. 9

BROOKLYN, NY - NOVEMBER 11: A generic photo of the Barclays Center arena logo before the game between the Toronto Raptors and the Brooklyn Nets on November 11, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

A decade ago, we were told that at least one NBA team stopped talking with the Nets, complaining that the team’s front office would leak trade inquiries to the media. Also, a decade ago, the Nets chief scout, aka director of player personnel, would announce which prospects were coming into the Championship Center in East Rutherford, then after the workout would brief the media on how it had gone.

That at changed when Sean Marks walked in the door. Above the exit to the team conference meeting room, he attached a sign, “Disagree and Commit.” both a mantra but also a warning: whatever was said in this room should not go any further. Disagree inside this room, but don’t take those disagreements outside it. No leaks, period.

Against this backdrop, the 2026 Draft has left not just fans but certified pundits and draftniks mystified about what the Nets are about to do. It’s a closed shop.

As Sam Vecenie of The Athletic and the New York Times wrote:

The Nets continue to befuddle the league relatively, and I’ve heard a lot of what will likely turn out to be misinformation regarding their plans. That’s partly because the Nets have engendered a belief league-wide that they evaluate draft prospects differently than many other teams. I’ve heard all the guard prospects in this range for them. The Ament buzz has quieted down in the last week

Brett Siegel of Clutch Points similarly wrote of attempts of figure out the Nets strategy:

 [T]he rumored interest of the Nets taking a long look at Ament continues to make its rounds from team to team. Could Ament actually be the player Sean Marks wants to add? This wouldn’t be shocking whatsoever, as the Nets have a very unique way of drafting and do not always go with the status quo, which we tend to believe when looking at mock drafts and big boards.

And Brooklyn native Mike Scotto admits he too is perplexed:

Should Brooklyn remain at six, who they’ll select is a bit of a mystery to teams around the league, considering the Nets have been linked to guards Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff, Mikel Brown Jr., Kingston Flemings, forward Nate Ament, and center Aday Mara at various points.

In other words, they don’t pay a lot of attention to what others are saying. As we — Lucas Kaplan and Connor Long included — have learned, most of what we know about the Nets plans for the Draft come from other teams scouts and front office staff along with agents, all trying to divine just what Sean Marks and co. are planning. Writers talk about “rival teams” having a “sense” about what Brooklyn will do. For all they and we know, the Nets could be planning a big surprise. They often do this time of year.

The single biggest indicator of interest we’ve seen about any of the prospects — that the Nets had visited Mikel Brown Jr. in Orlando — apparently was sourced from a member of the Brown family, not from inside.

And this part of Nets culture is not just about discouraging leaks from the inside. It’s also about spreading disinformation about their intentions — active measures. A few years back when the Trail Blazers were getting ready to move on from Damian Lillard, there was a lot of speculation that the Nets were interested in him. They were not.

In the next two days, expect that there will be a little more intel, some of it even accurate, but Marks would only be too happy if no one knows what he plans until Adam Silver intones, “with the sixth pick, the Brooklyn Nets select…”

Final Workout List

As we’ve noted, the 20 or so invites to the Draft’s “Green Room” are in New York for the usual round of interviews and visits to city landmarks like the Empire State Building and Times Square. The Nets and the Knicks have a bit of advantage in that they can invite prospects to their training facilities right up to Tuesday morning, as long as they haven’t exceeded the league maximum of two workouts/interviews.

Indeed on Sunday, it looks like they have used that advantage and brought in a top pick, Morez Johnson Jr., the 6’9” rim protecting Michigan power forward who would seem to be way high for the No. 6 pick, but just around right if Brooklyn is looking to trade into the middle of the first round. It could be a one-on-none workout or others could have been invited to 168 39th Street in Sunset Park.

We’ve been keeping track of who’s been in, as best we can (see above) and here’s what we got:

First, the potential lottery picks:

  • Darius Acuff, Arkansas’s 6’2″ lead guard who is, along with Mikel Brown probably the prospect most linked with the Nets at No. 6.
  • Mikel Brown, the 6’4″ Louisville lead guard who the Nets worked out at a gym near his Orlando home … and visited with his family. He’ll be at HSS Training Center soon for his second look-see.
  • Kingston Flemings, yet another lead guard, from Houston. The most athletic of the four or five but at 6’3″ with only a 6’4″ wingspan the smallest as well. He’s scheduled.
  • Nate Ament, seen as a top four prospect both coming out of high school and in early mock drafts, the 6’10” Rwandan-American wing is polarizing following a disappointing season at Tennessee.
  • Karim Lopez, who Ament went up against Tuesday at HSS, is an Mexican who played for New Zealand in the Australian league where he was the top young player.
  • Morez Johnson, one of three possible picks out of Michigan’s national championship squad. The 6’9” Johnson exploded at the NBA combine showing off considerable rim-protecting talents.

And the rest. It should be noted that the Nets and other teams as well work out players not just for the big team’s roster but for the G League as well as summer league rosters and training camp invites.

  • Trevon Brazile, Darius Acuff’s teammate at Arkansas, a 6’10” senior who’s been mocked to the Nets in the second round:
  • Ben Humrichous, Keaton Wagler’s teammate at Illinois, a 6’9” senior.
  • A.K. Okereke, Vanderbilt’s 6’7” sharpshooting forward who hit 40% of his threes this season.
  • Chase Ross, Marquette’s 6’6” sharpshooting wing who hit 36% of his threes. Also, a bit of a 3-and-D possibility.
  • Keba Keita, the 6’9” BYU center from the west African nation of Mali who played with both Dybantsa and Egor Demin;
  • Cruz Davis, Hofstra’s high scoring 6’3” lead guard. Could he fit with nearly Long Island Nets;
  • Malik Dia, a 6’9” 3-and-D type who played at Vanderbilt, Belmont, then his final two years at Ole Miss;
  • Grant Newell, another 6’9” forward who played at California, North Texas and most recently Western Kentucky;
  • Jevon Porter, a 6’11’ center for Missouri who at 22, is MPJ’s younger brother.
  • Xaivian Lee, a 6’4” lead guard who finished his career at Florida after three solid years at Princeton. A Korean-Canadian.
  • Brenen Lorient, a 6’9” wing who shot 38.9% from deep for his career at West Virginia and before that at Florida Atlantic and North Texas.
  • Fletcher Loyer, 6’5” 3-point specialist for Purdue who is the brother of Nets head video coordinator Foster Loyer and son of New Jersey Nets assistant John Loyer.
  • Tramon Mark, a 6’6” shooting guard who led the Texas Longhorns in scoring.
  • Collin Parker, Austin Peay’s 40.4% 3-point wing who at 6’8” is one of several tall sharpshooters who’ve been in.
  • Nick Pringle, a 6’10” bruiser who played with Darius Acuff at Houston.
  • Jaden Henley, Grand Canyon’s 6’7” wing, a 3-point specialist.
  • Isaac McKeenly, Mikel Brown’s 6’4” backcourt running mate at Louisville and another 3-point specialist;
  • Kobe Knox, a 6’5” wing at South Carolina named for Kobe Bryant;
  • Corey Stephenson a 6’6” shooting guard who played last season FIU after two years at UCSB;.
  • Dain Dainja, a 6’9” forward who averaged 14 points and six rebounds for the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce last season;
  • Kowacie Reeves, a 6’7” German wing who shot nearly 40% from three at Georgia Tech last season on his way to 15.1 ppg season;
  • Peter Suder, a 6’5” senior from Miami (Ohio) who hit better than 40% of his shots from deep;
  • Bruce Thornton, at 6’2”, he is, along with Darius Acuff, the shortest prospect we’ve seen. The Ohio State senior was one of the top scorers in the Big 10 at 19.9 per game.

That’s 29 in total, probably less than half the number of total prospects.

Draft Sleeper of the Week

This is the last one, obviously. In the eight previous “sleeper” sections, we’ve looked at three of the four lead guards: Darius Acuff of Arkansas, Mikel Brown Jr. of Louisville and Keaton Wagler of Illinois. In addition, we’ve looked at three international players, Karim Lopez of Mexico, Sergio De Larrea of Spain, Luigi Suigo of Italy (who dropped out of the Draft and will attend Villanova) as well as Iowa State’s point forward Joshua Jefferson. And way back before the Lottery, we profiled A.J. Dybantsa. Oh well.

So who’s missing? Kingston Flemings of Houston, the fourth lead guard … and Nate Ament whose name you may have heard amidst much weeping and gnashing in some sectors of Nets Twitter. Interesting fellow. Let’s start with his parents, former Wayne State star Albert Ament and Godelive Mukankuraga. The two met in Rwanda where both worked for Catholic Relief Services, part of the group’s efforts in the aftermath of the Genocide Against Tutsi in Rwanda.

They eventually moved to Manassas, Virginia where their son, Nate, was born and starred both at the local high school and then a private school. He first broke onto the national scene in 2023-24 when he starred on the AAU circuit with Team Loaded Virginia, then landed a spot on the Team USA Under-18 team, winning the gold in Buenos Aires. Darius Acuff and Mikel Brown Jr. were the stars of that team.

“It was amazing winning the gold medal,” he later told The New Times, a Rwandan magazine who profiled him. “I was very proud. I feel that I represented only my country but also my family. I had a lot of fun with my teammates. and it was great to see the world.”

Then, last summer, after committing to Tennessee, he was one of the dominant players at the McDonald’s All-American game at Barclays Center.

Jonathan Givony of Draft Express told Nate Duncan two days ago that Ament and Darryn Peterson were the stars of the game…

“We walked out of the McDonald’s All-American Game last year in Brooklyn, there were NBA GMs asking, ‘tell me why this guy isn’t the No. 1 pick in the Draft.‘ He was that impressive in the game. It was him and Darryn Peterson. (A.J.) Dybantsa was awful that whole week in Brooklyn, like practices, scrimmages.”

By then, he had risen to the top ranks of preseason mock drafts, topping off at No. 4. Then, his freshman year at Tennessee, he disappointed with shooting splits of 40/33/79 and some deeper concerns. In his final collegiate game vs. Michigan which featured NBA sized front court of Morez Johnson Jr., Aday Mara and Yaxel Lindeborg, he finished with seven points on 2-of-12 shooting and fouled out. Tennessee got wiped out by the eventual national champ.

Overall at Tennessee, there were issues with his consistency, his strength, his athleticism etc. Still, as Givony’s commentary on Ament noted, there were positives, especially with the longer arc of his trajectory

“He was really up and down. There questions about his toughness. His athleticism is a major concern, 43% from two. So, am I telling you a million percent that he’s going to make it? No, but I’m intrigued because I’m seen him in different settings. I’ve seen him the improvement that he’s made.

“First time I saw him, at the U18 Camp two summers ago, even before that – I think it was April (2024) at USA, he was like a bean pole then. He was 180 pounds. He was afraid of his shadow. But he gained 30 pounds in the last two years. Is he a real player yet? No, but I just like the trajectory.

“I look at his body now. His body is going to be awesome in three or four years, then you’re looking at a guy who’s 6’11”, who’s 225 who can handle the ball, who can make shots who’s an awesome kid. He’s shown some passing. That’s a pretty interesting player.“

He also thinks that he may not have reached his full potential at Tennessee because of his fit in Rick Barnes system, suggesting that he might even work as 2 in the NBA.

“He has these really long strides. He can push off the glass. Then you know he can do things off the dribble. He can actually play pick and roll,” Givony told Duncan. “The issue that he ran into was that he was playing the 3 on a Tennessee team that had very little shooting and they really played two bigs next to him.

“I think he’s got a little more shot creation in the pick-and-roll game that what he was able to show. I think he was a better passer than he was able to show. I think the spacing in the NBA game will help him a lot, better shooting around him will help him a lot.”

Bottom line for Givony: “He’s 6’11” in shoes, with a handle, ahot making and flashes as a passer and defender … interesting.“ Of course, Givony isn’t the only draftnik to look at Ament and see possibilities that may not evident today. Some though wonder if there isn’t some needed adjustment ins said trajectory. Our own Lucas Kaplan talked earlier in the month with Ben Pfeifer, another draft analyst (following Lucas’ breaking news on the Nets interest in Ament.)

Pfeifer’s bottom line was not nearly as positive as Givony’s. Like we and everyone else has said, he’s polarizing.

In 2025, Brooklyn drafted a smattering of future complementary pieces, and that’s what Ament projects as. Maybe the Nets view themselves as such a marquee free agent/trade destination that they’ll intentionally eschew high-end star swings like Mikel Brown Jr., Aday Mara, or Kingston Flemings for better roster/size fits. But if Ament is Brooklyn’s sixth pick, it would be an undeniably disappointing selection with potentially damaging long-term ramifications. 

Indeed, we’ve written a lot about Ament in the build-up to the Draft. In 48 hours, we will see whether it was worth the effort. In the meantime, here’s some highlights:

By the way, historically, how have we done with these Draft Sleeper features over the decade and a half we’ve written them? To be fair, we’d say, horrid. Oh well.

Final Note

We’re keeping this short because starting at 8:00 p.m. ET, we will be within 48 hours of the Draft and that’s when news starts to break. In fact, we might even have to update things.

That said, we want to comment on the week’s big event in the NBA: the Knicks championship and the reaction in the City. New York is deeply, deeply in love with the Knicks team (if not their owner), thrilled with how the parade and Mayor Mamdani’s speech sent an electric charge through the five boroughs (if not their owner) etc.

The outpouring was historic and wholesome and wonderful. Good for the Knicks, their fans and the city (if not their owner.) How will it affect the Nets? That’s going to take a while to figure out. It would seem in the short run, the plan will be stay the course, keep with the plan. Long term who knows. Can the Nets make the city’s love for BASKETBALL infectious beyond MSG? Is there still validity to the generational fandom marketing strategy when everyone is wearing blue and orange? Can they please win??

We found one data point this week that we thought was interesting enough to share: The number of NetsDaily followers on Twitter, aka x.com, remained stable. In fact, it jumped, from 65,257 before the Finals to 65,280 today, no doubt driven up by Draft and free agency speculation. Thanks to those 22 new followers, by the way. We suspect that, while not scientific, it may be an indicator that the Nets fan base isn’t deserting the team in droves, particularly those who are more than casual. It’s a starting point, we guess.

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Cardinals at Royals 6/21 game discussion

KANSAS CITY, MO - JUNE 14: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Stephen Kolek (32) pitches in the third inning during a MLB game between the Houston Astros and the Kansas City Royals on June 14, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

After an extremely rare Saturday off day, (thanks World Cup), the Royals, winners of three straight contests will try and sweep their in state rival, the St. Louis Cardinals. After the Cardinals won the first two matchups, the Royals have won the last three, already clinching a season series tie.

Stephen Kolek will get the start today for the Royals. Last Sunday, Kolek threw 7.1 scoreless innings against the Astros in a 4-0 victory. Over 8 starts with the Royals this season, Kolek has thrown 50.1 innings, with a 2.68 ERA and a 4-1 record. Kolek started the only game the Royals won in St Louis, going 6.1 innings, allowing 4 hits, no runs, 1 walk and striking out 3.

Bobby Witt Jr. is still out of the lineup, but Matt Quatraro said he is feeling and moving around better, he will be reevaluated before tomorrow’s game in Tampa Bay. Maikel Garcia is back in the lineup; he is batting second and playing shortstop.

Here is the rest of the Royals starters in today’s contest.

The Cardinals have lost three in a row, and 6 of their last 10 games. Dustin May will start for them today. May just threw a complete game shutout against the Padres, allowing just one hit. May did start against the Royals in St Louis, in that start he went 6 innings, allowing 4 hits, 3 runs, walking 4 and striking out 3.

Here is the Cardinals lineup behind May.

Both teams will be saluting to the Negro Leagues, wearing special hats, honoring their city’s negro league teams. The Royals are 32-45 on the season, they are 9 games back in the division, and 6 games back of the final wild card spot.

First pitch for today is set for 1:10 p.m. CT, the game can be watched on Royals.TV.

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Game Discussion for St. Louis Cardinals vs Kansas City Royals Sunday

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Dustin May #3 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch during the first inning of the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 09, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The St. Louis Cardinals will return to Kauffman Stadium Sunday after a day off thanks to World Cup activities in Kansas City. The Cardinals will ask Dustin May to be the best version of Dustin May as he gets the start Sunday afternoon. He’ll be up against RHP Stephen Kolek who’s 4-1 on the season for the Royals. First pitch scheduled for 1:10pm central time and the game broadcast will be available on Cardinals.tv.

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San Diego Padres at Texas Rangers

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 20: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the tenth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on June 20, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

San Diego Padres (39-36) at Texas Rangers (36-40), June 21, 2026, 11:35 a.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Globe Life Field – Arlington, TX

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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  • Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
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  • Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads

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Game 77 Game Day Thread – San Diego Padres @ Texas Rangers

Jun 19, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of the field during the first inning between the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

San Diego Padres @ Texas Rangers

Sunday, June 21, 2026, 1:35 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

The Shed

RHP Lucas Giolito vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi

Today’s Lineups

PADRESRANGERS
Samad Taylor – RFWyatt Langford – CF
Jackson Merrill – CFJosh Jung – 3B
Manny Machado – 3BBrandon Nimmo – RF
Gavin Sheets – LFJake Burger – 1B
Will Wagner – DHJoc Pederson – DH
Xander Bogaerts – SSEzequiel Duran – SS
Ty France – 1BAlejandro Osuna – LF
Sung-Mun Song – 2BKyle Higashioka – C
Rodolfo Duran – CNicky Lopez – 2B
Lucas Giolito – RHPNathan Eovaldi – RHP

Go Rangers!

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GameThread: Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox, 1:40 p.m.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 30: Starter Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of the home opener at Chase Field on March 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox

Time/Place: 1:40 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site: South Side Sox
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Davis Martin (9-3, 3.31 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (0-1, 12.27 ERA)

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Report: CJ McCollum re-signs on one-year, $21 million pact

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 28: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks in action during Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on April 28, 2026 in New York City. The Knicks won 126-97. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Just a few days before the NBA draft, Shams Charania of ESPN broke a piece of big free agency news. Unrestricted free agent CJ McCollum will reportedly return to the Hawks on a one-year deal:

Jake L. Fischer of the Stein Line substack and Bleacher Report added a report that the deal has a 7.5% trade kicker:

Since the Hawks acquired McCollum’s full bird rights last trade deadline, the one-year deal gives him an implied no-trade clause.

After being coming over midseason, the veteran guard helped guide the Hawks to a blazing hot finish to their regular season. McCollum averaged 18.9 points per game on 56% true shooting in 41 games with the team during this span.

But arguably, he saved his best performances for the postseason, twice hitting last minute buckets to help the Hawks take two games off the champion Knicks.

McCollum will be 35 years old next season, and there’s a chance they add a young perimeter player to the mix with their eighth overall pick this week, so this is a great compromise between retaining a key contributor while remaining focused on the future.

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Guardians Minor League Recap: Is Blasco for Real?

Columbus Clippers 6, Scranton Railriders 3

Clippers improve to 41-32

Don’t look now, but catching prospect Kody Huff has quietly been having a great season in Columbus as well. Huff was perfect at the plate on Saturday, going 1-for-1 with a home run and three walks, raising his season OPS to .929, which is second on the team only to Cooper ingle.

Speaking of Ingle, he walked and had an RBI from a sacrifice fly.

Other standouts for the day were Ralphy Velazquez, who went 2-for-4, and C.J. Kayfus, who went 1-fo-3 with a walk.

This game saw the activation of top pitching prospect Yorman Gomez and he was solid, striking out eight batters and walking zero in 3.2 innings. He allowed two runs on four hits.

Trenton Denholm followed with one run allowed in 3.2 additional innings and Franco Aleman finished off the game with 1.2 perfect innings and three strikeouts to earn his eight save.

Akron RubberDucks 1, Altoona Curve 3 (F/10)

RubberDucks fall to 34-33

There wasn’t much to say about this one on the offense end. Juan Benjamin had the best game, going 1-for-3 with a double, a steal and a walk. Jose Devers also went 1-for-3 with a walk.

Starting pitcher Josh Hartle was excellent, allowing one run (zero earned) on just two hits in 6.1 innings pitched. He struck out four and walked three.

Jack Jasiak followed with 1.2 scoreless innings and four strikeouts and Jack Carey initially pitched a scoreless ninth inning, but then gave up two runs in the top of the 10th and Akron was unable to answer.

Hill City Howlers 10, Augusta GreenJackets 11

Howlers fall to 31-37

There was plenty of offense for Hill City, just not enough pitching on Saturday. Luis De La Cruz paved the way, going an impressive 4-for-5 from the field with a home run and a double, just missing the cycle by a triple. He also stole a base.

Dauri Fernandez singled, walked twice and stole two bases while Anthony Martinez doubled and walked twice. Martinez has a .945 OPS at Hill City and should be playing at Lake County right now. I expect a promotion by the All-Star break.

Johnathan Martinez also had an excellent game, going 2-for-4 with a home run.

Starting pitcher Will McCausland was knocked around for five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and a walk in 5.1 innings pitched. Keegan Zinn allowed another three runs in just 0.2 innings.

Unfortunately, after Hill City rallied for four runs to take a 10-8 lead in the top of the ninth inning Ettore Giulianelli failed to get more than one out before giving up three runs to allow Augusta to walk it off.

ACL Guardians 11, ACL Royals 4

Guardians improve to 23-14

The ACL Guardians struck early and often in this one, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first two innings and then adding another five runs the rest of the way thanks to 11 hits and seven walks.

Once again, the Guardians were paced by Alejandro Blasco, who has been a freaking revelation this season at the ACL. The kid does nothing but tattoo the ball, hitting .500 with a ridiculous 1.887 OPS in the rookie league.

Blasco blasted two more home runs on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with six RBIs and a walk. In 12 games played thus far, he has seven home runs, five doubles and 11 walks. Yes, he’s averaging at least one extra base hit and one walk per game.

Pedro Dalmagro also had a great game, going 4-for-5 with a triple. Steven Cruz reached base three times by going 1-for-3 with two walks and three stolen bases while Rodny Rosario went 1-for-3 with a double and two walks.

Rehabbing pitcher Harrison Bodendorf allowed two runs on four hits in 2.0 innings. Erigaldi Perez stood out on the mound, allowing one run on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 4.1 innings.

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Kraken acquire Mackie Samoskevich in a trade with the Panthers

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken acquired young forward Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers for the No. 25 pick in the NHL draft on Friday and a second-rounder next year, the teams announced Sunday.

Samoskevich is a 23-year-old with 64 points in 160 regular-season and playoff games who gives the Kraken a much-need infusion talent after they missed the playoffs for the fourth time in their five years of existence. He is a restricted free agent who needs a new contract.

“Mackie is a talented young player who we are excited to bring into the fold,” Seattle general manager Jason Botterill said. “He has speed, skill and scoring ability. A Stanley Cup champion with the Panthers in 2025, Mackie’s a player who can contribute offensively and add a spark to our lineup.”

Trading Samoskevich for picks clears space as the Panthers retool following a season that got derailed by injuries after they won the Stanley Cup back to back in 2024 and ’25. The 25th pick, a late first-rounder, originally belonged to rival Tampa Bay, while the second will be the higher of Winnipeg's or Columbus'.

Samoskevich was the No. 24 pick in the 2021 draft who then played at Michigan alongside new Kraken teammate Matty Beniers.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

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Game Thread: White Sox (39-36) at Tigers (32-44)

White Sox ace Davis Martin looks to get back on track in Detroit today. | John Jones-Imagn Images

The precipice of getting swept: a familiar, yet unfamiliar, circumstance on the South Side as of late.

Familiar because, hey, we watched this team in 2023, 2024 and 2025. It’s not like we didn’t see the brooms get broken out with more regularity than just about any set of fans, ever. Hell, they got swept three times in the first 19 games of the season just this year!

Now, just when we thought we’d broken free, all we can do is watch the Tigers creep back over the horizon like an eagle returning for another go at Prometheus.

Nonetheless, Davis Martin is probably the guy we want to see out on the hill to claw a game back and thwart the sweep. Despite Martin’s clunker against the Yankees earlier this week, he’s still giving them the best chance to win when he steps on the field, and this is the kind of game they need to get if they want to show that this magical first half hasn’t been a pure mirage.

I am going to be looking closely at Martin’s velocity early in the game. His four-seamer has slowed down incrementally in three straight starts now, going from a peak of 95.2 mph on May 16 to 93.8 mph last Tuesday, slowest since April. There’s a pretty strong argument that Martin’s start against the Yankees looks a bit differently if simple bad luck hadn’t let Ben Rice squib one against the shift in the third inning, or had Jacob Gonzalez not forgotten to cover his own base a few batters later.

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That being said, Martin’s stuff was not at its sharpest on Tuesday, and when you factor in his six-run stinker against Minnesota a few starts back, it might begin to constitute a worrisome trend if it persists today. Martin threw just a single fewer inning in his first 14 starts last season than he has through his first 14 of this year, but it was after his 14th start of last year that he went on the IL with a forearm strain that wound up costing him a month. Going on the standard four days rest this afternoon, today could be a litmus test for where the budding ace is at right now.

Also, hey, Grant Taylor is available! Just like yesterday, and Thursday, and Wednesday and Tuesday. When asked about Taylor’s inactivity, Will Venable yesterday sounded frighteningly close to the precipice of simply walking back their preseason ramp-up goal of 100 innings pitched.

I don’t love it. Let’s hope this Sunday lineup can keep them in the game long enough for Taylor to show his face today.

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Today marks just the second day off of the season for Miguel Vargas, who has earned a breather more than just about anybody else on this roster. Though he was still hitting the ball plenty hard, Vargas has run into some hard luck as of late, going just three for his last 27 without a walk over the last seven games.

The state of the Tigers offense is rough, and letting them complete the sweep would be quite a deflation in a way that no loss to the Yankees ever could be. I genuinely thought for a moment that this was a light getaway day lineup from A.J. Hinch before realizing that James Outman and Trei Cruz are actually near the top of their depth charts.

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We’ve got an early one yet again, as first pitch is scheduled for 12:40 p.m. CT at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit. If you want to join us, broadcasts are available on CHSN (TV) and WMVP AM 1000 (radio), like always!

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2026 NHL Draft: How Do Players Selected 27th Overall Historically Compare to 20th Overall?

When the San Jose Sharks sent the 20th overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the 27th overall selection and Michael Kesselring, a question immediately popped in my mind: just how different are the players often available at 20th overall and 27th overall?

Of course, the obvious fact of the matter is that the Sharks will have seven less players to choose from when they take the stage, but is there a major difference in the caliber of player at each draft choice? Let’s take a look.

Hockey Hall of Famers

The most obvious place to start: how many players from each draft position have found themselves enshrined at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto?

Three players drafted 20th overall have been inducted to the Hall of Fame at this point, but more could follow in the near future.

The first 20th overall pick inducted into the Hall was Larry Robinson in 1995. The legendary defenseman was drafted 20th by the Montreal Canadiens during the 1971 NHL Draft. He went on to play 1,384 games in the NHL, the majority of which came in Montreal, although he finished his career with the Los Angeles Kings. He’s the NHL’s all-time leader in plus/minus, finishing his career with a +722, and won six Stanley Cups as a player.

Michel Goulet was the next 20th overall selection inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame, earning that honor in 1998 after 15 seasons and 1,089 games in the NHL. He was selected 20th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1979.

Most recently, legendary goaltender Martin Brodeur, who was selected 20th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1990, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 after setting numerous records throughout his career.  

27th overall is a bit tricky in regards to the Hockey Hall of Fame, as technically two players drafted with that pick have gone on to be enshrined at the Hall of Fame, but only one was inducted as a player. Joe Nieuwendyk is the sole 27th overall pick to be inducted into the Hall for his playing career.

The Calgary Flames selected Nieuwendyk in the 1985 NHL Draft, and at the time, the 27th overall pick was in the second round. He went on to play 1,257 career games in the NHL for a number of different teams, and he was a three-time Stanley Cup Champion. 

Colin Campbell was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a builder, but he was also selected 27th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 1973 NHL Draft. 

For the sake of the on-ice argument, we won’t count Campbell toward the total of 27th overall picks to make it to the Hockey Hall of Fame since it wasn't based on his playing performance. As a result, there were three Hall of Famers drafted 20th overall and only one Hall of Fame player drafted 27th overall.

While the Hall of Fame is a nice accomplishment, quite a few great players never get that honor and it's far from the only milestone worth looking at.

1000+ Games Played

Longevity is key to a successful NHL career. If a player makes it past the 1,000-game plateau, it means they were an impact player in some regard, even if they weren’t necessarily a superstar. With a late first-round pick, general managers aren’t looking for the next Macklin Celebrini or Sidney Crosby; typically, they’re looking for their long-term third-line center or second-pairing defenseman. While they certainly won’t be disappointed if they strike gold, it’s not the expectation. 

Five players drafted 20th overall have played 1,000 or more games in the NHL: Brent Burns, Robinson, Brodeur, Goulet, and Travis Zajac.

At 27th overall, there have been six players to pass the 1,000-game threshold. Scott Mellanby, Nieuwendyk, John Carlson, Tie Domi, Scott Gomez, and Steve Staios all were able to hit that milestone before retiring, and Carlson is still going.

200+ Games Played

Now that we’ve gone over impact players, the next question becomes, how many legitimate NHL players have been picked with each selection? Although calling someone an NHLer is often subjective, the threshold we’ll use for this is 200 games played, as it’s very difficult for a player to hang in the league for that long if they’re playing above their skill level. 

There have been 32 players selected 20th overall who have gone on to play in 200 or more NHL games during their career. California native Beau Bennett was the last player to meet the criteria, as he finished his playing career with exactly 200 games played. 

That number drops slightly with the 27th overall selection, as only 28 players drafted 27th overall have appeared in 200 or more NHL games. With that being said, it’s not a substantial difference. 

Overall, it appears that, as expected, the 20th overall pick does have a higher chance at producing a superstar player and an NHLer in general. With that being said, the 27th overall pick has historically had quite a few effective role players with lengthy careers.

While the 20th overall selection gives the Buffalo Sabres a wider prospect pool to choose from, the 27th overall pick produces effective players at a similar rate, meaning the Sharks didn’t give up much value at all to add a useful defenseman, Michael Kesselring, to their blue line.

All-in-all, it appears both teams got exactly what they needed from the trade. The Sabres get a slightly higher chance of getting a player that will eventually crack the NHL, while the Sharks kept their lottery ticket and added the exact type of player they’d hope to get with the 20th overall selection in Kesselring.