The Chicago White Sox open a three-game set with the New York Yankees tonight at Yankee Stadium, with N.Y. listed as a -145 favorite despite Aaron Judge being shelved with a fractured right rib.
My White Sox vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, June 16 expect Chicago to pull off the upset.
Who will win White Sox vs Yankees today: White Sox moneyline (+129)
Former New York Yankees man Josh Donaldson said it simply recently in an interview about Aaron Judge’s absence:
It’s not the same team.
I agree with him and will be playing the Chicago White Sox moneyline down to +100 tonight.
Gerrit Cole’s 6th-percentile whiff rate serves as a massive red flag because it means he still doesn’t have his best stuff.
Chicago’s offense is well-positioned to take advantage, with Miguel Vargas (.398 xwOBA) along with Randal Grichuk (.388 xwOBA) flashing elite expected production.
Conversely, Davis Martin’s 88th-percentile chase rate should play well.
White Sox vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-120)
While both hurlers boast xERAs under the 4.00 mark, their underlying contact metrics suggest some looming trouble.
Gerrit Cole's 4th-percentile ground ball rate is a concern against a lineup with sneaky power. On the other side, Davis Martin faces his own hurdles with a 9th-percentile hard-hit rate allowed, surrendering loud contact at a 46.5% clip.
Even with Judge sidelined, the Yankees still have Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger to provide pop, while the Chicago lineup features a trio of bats sporting xSLG marks over .530.
Play to -130.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 29-25, +6.46 units
Over/Under bets: 33-21, +14.82 units
White Sox vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: White Sox +124 | Yankees -144
Run line: White Sox +1.5 (-178) | Yankees -1.5 (+146)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-122) | Under 7.5 (+100)
White Sox vs Yankees trend
The White Sox have hit the team total Over in 34 of their last 50 games (+16.30 Units / 28% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Yankees.
How to watch White Sox vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, YES
White Sox starting pitcher
Davis Martin (9-2, 2.41 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (1-1, 2.45 ERA)
White Sox vs Yankees latest injuries
White Sox vs Yankees weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Jalen Brunson celebrating the Knicks championship with an officer nearby.
One uncomfortable moment involving Rick and Jalen Brunson and a Texas deputy sheriff after Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio has begun making the rounds on social media as the Knicks celebrate their historic championship.
In the video, Jalen greets and poses for a photo with a man as a Bexar County deputy sheriff approaches the scene behind them.
The deputy sheriff then appears to push Jalen, seemingly indicating to him that he must get out of the way.
Jalen Brunson #11 and Assistant Coach Rick Brunson smiles with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 6 of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
"Don't push him"
–– Rick Brunson after deputy sheriff pushes Jalen Brunson during Knicks celebration in San Antonio pic.twitter.com/BDEmD1CukM
Jalen turned to the deputy sheriff, appearing annoyed and responding before his father Rick — an assistant coach with the Knicks — came in and said, “Don’t push him.”
In the background of the video, viewers can see a woman respond to the deputy sheriff, seemingly saying “He’s the Finals MVP.”
The moment came amidst in-arena celebrations of the Knicks’ first championship in 53 years.
They clinched their third title in franchise history — and first in 53 years — on Saturday with a 94-90 win over the Spurs at Frost Bank Center.
Brunson received the Bill Russell Trophy for Finals MVP shortly after putting up 45 points in a heroic closeout game performance.
Jalen Brunson celebrating the Knicks championship with an officer nearby. NBA_NewYork/X
The win sent New York into a celebratory frenzy as the city watched the Knicks celebrate over a thousand miles away in Texas before flying back home late that night.
Rick Brunson, now an assistant coach with the Knicks, is a former player himself, having spent parts of three seasons in New York from 1999-2001.
The elder Brunson was a part of the last Knicks team to make the Finals in 1999. That year, coincidentally, the Spurs defeated the Knicks in five games for their first title in franchise history.
Braden Montgomery’s debut was more than anyone could have expected. | (Jayden Mack/Getty Images)
This stretch of games had it all. A long-awaited MLB debut, a thrilling walk-off win against the best team in baseball, and almost having a perfect game thrown against them. This week, the White Sox made a statement to the entire league that they can compete in big ways.
The week started with the National League-leading Atlanta Braves arriving in Chicago. Brandon Eisert opened for Erick Fedde, who each gave up two runs apiece. Matt Olson accounted for the Braves’ first three runs with a pair of homers. A fourth run scored on an error. Down 4-0 in the top of the third, things were starting to feel like they might get out of hand. Enter Miguel Vargas, whose 16th home run of the season cut the Braves’ lead in half. The rest of the game and all the highlights from Tuesday are dedicated to Braden Montgomery.
In the fourth inning, the right fielder knocked his first MLB hit and pushed across his first RBI to bring the White Sox within one. It would be rookie Jacob Gonzalez to tie it in the seventh and take the game to extras.
In the top of the 10th inning, the Braves pulled ahead 5-4. This is when the cinema started. With two outs and the tying run on third base, Braden launched a line drive into the right field bullpen to light the pinwheels and send fans home thrilled. Letting the kids play is really paying off.
Wednesday was the pitchers’ duel that we had all been waiting for. Chris Sale, who was traded by the White Sox to the Boston Red Sox back in 2016, made his sixth start against his former team. In those six starts, the southpaw was 2-2, struck out 47 batters, and owned a 2.91 ERA. Sale may be reaching his elder years in the league, but there doesn’t seem to be much slowing him down. His 16th year in the league is quickly shaping up to be a career year, posting just a 2.31 ERA in 13 starts and hitting 99 mph in Wednesday’s game.
Facing off against him was Davis Martin. This year’s ace was coming off his worst start of the season and desperately needed a bounce-back start. Bounce back he did. The righthander carved through the Braves lineup, going six innings, giving up no runs, and striking out six. The start brought his ERA back below 2.50 and hopefully righted the ship.
Sale, who allowed only two earned runs, did earn the loss in the second game of the series. The only scoring in the entire game for the home team happened in the bottom of the fourth inning. The frame opened with a Montgomery double. The now traded Derek Hill plated the newly minted right fielder on an RBI single. Then Hill came around to score on a very exciting ground out by Luisangel Acuña.
The Braves’ lone run scored in the bottom of the seventh inning on a fielding error by Vargas. As someone who did not want to see our lead diminished and who has the third baseman on her fantasy team, the error was not received well. A locked-in Seranthony Domínguez and Bryan Hudson more than made up for it as Will Venable’s squad secured a series win against the best team in baseball.
It did not matter that Thursday’s game was postponed until August 20. The season series against an incredibly solid squad has been secured. It should be noted that this rainout does mean the White Sox will play 16 games in a row in August, but we will cross that bridge when we get there. The more important thing was to focus on the World Series-winning Dodgers coming to town.
The big headline ahead of this series was Shohei Ohtani leaving Thursday’s game with knee inflammation. It appeared we might catch a break and not have to face one of the greatest hitters in the game. This was true for Friday’s series opener. One would think the message to the team would be to take advantage of this, and it seemed they took the hint.
Not only did the offense score eight runs against Roki Saski and Blake Trinen, but Anthony Kay was the only White Sox pitcher to give up any runs to the LA squad. Kay, who was coming off a start where he gave up six runs to the Phillies, gave up just two runs over his five innings of work and struck out seven. Who would have thought!
Everyone on the offense, except for Gonzalez, recorded a hit in the 8-2 victory. Vargas and Chase Meidroth lead the effort with three hits apiece. This made me very happy for my fantasy baseball team. Andrew Benintendi notched his seventh homer of the year with two outs in the bottom of the first to start the scoring, and Tristan Peters brought the scoring to a finish in the bottom of the fifth with his second triple of the year. It was a great start to the weekend.
Do you know what kills the vibe of a weekend? Watching the opposing pitcher carry a perfect game into the eighth inning and a no-hitter into the ninth. Yoshinobu Yamamoto entered Saturday with 2.68 ERA and 6-2 record. After 8 1/3 innings on 109 pitches, seven strikeouts, and no walks, the 27-year-old righty left the game with a 2.52 ERA and a 7-2 record.
It’s hard to win a game when you can only score one run in the bottom of the ninth inning. It is even harder to win a ballgame when your pitching staff gives up seven runs. Sean Burke did not show up with the same magic as Yamamoto. The game started with a home run from Ohtani, who returned to the lineup in the leadoff spot. Max Muncy added insult to injury, hitting two long balls against South Side pitching.
Had the team ended the week 3-2, I would have been happy. Instead, the Chicago White Sox gave fans the shock of the decade with a six-run sixth inning. The highlights of the sixth inning offense were three long balls. The first homer came from Sam Antonacci, the left fielder’s second home run of the year and first to leave the ballpark, tying the game at one. The second by Colson Montgomery (finally, a good hit after a rough week) made the lead more comfortable, bringing the score to 4-1. Meidroth’s two-run shot took a game-tying grand slam off the table, making it 6-1.
Relief pitching almost spoiled it, giving up one run in each of the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. In fact, Domínguez faced the go-ahead run in the final frame on two occasions. A force out and a strikeout of Freddie Freeman finally ended the threat and secured the win and the White Sox’s eighth home series victory in a row!
This week was one worth celebrating. It took the South Side squad all the way up to sixth in MLB’s power rankings. A position well earned. However, there are problems with the pitching staff that this front office desperately needs to address. The issue is not how the team has been playing in Bridgeport, but rather how they have been performing on the road. Just how bad is it?
When the White Sox are in the comfort of their own home, the pitching staff ranks sixth in MLB with a 3.41 team ERA and is tied for first with the Tampa Bay Rays with 24 wins. When the show is taken on the road, it is a completely different story. The hurlers are 14-21 with the league’s third-worst road ERA of 5.30. A friendly reminder: each team has to play the same number of games at home as on the road. An almost two-point difference in ERA and significantly fewer road wins are not a recipe for sustained success.
With that being said, Bob Nightengale reported this week that Chris Getz is going to be aggressive at the trade deadline. Now, this is Bob, so I take what he says with a grain of salt, but this makes sense given what was just discussed above. There are clear holes in the pitching, and acquiring a solid starter or two could go a long way toward getting this team across the finish line. May I suggest making a play for Tarik Skubal or Dustin May? If injuries continue to pop up with Colson and other key members of the offense, it also might behoove them to snag a veteran slugger. Time will tell. Getz appears to have a few prospects to entice teams with down on the farm.
Another test is on the horizon with an away series against both the Yankees and Tigers this week. Here’s to hoping something starts clicking with the pitching staff while they’re in the Bronx and it carries over to the visit at Comerica.
Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; The 2025 NBA Draft class and NBA commissioner Adam Silver stand on stage before the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The NBA draft is a week away and a new batch of mocks dropped following the conclusion of the Finals. Parsing through the different projections for the Sixers at pick 22 reveals new names compared to mock drafts after the combine.
With new president of basketball operations, Mike Gansey, in position to command the war room for the Sixers, the 22nd pick will be the first revelation as to his team-building strategy moving forward.
“With Cleveland I’ve always been pretty good with the draft, I think we’ve drafted well,” Gansey said last week on 97.5 The Fanatic. “We’ve been able to hit on some guys, you know, through the G-League, two-ways, you know Dean Wade, Sam Merrill. Those guys who helped us win playoff games this year we basically got for free.”
Confidence in his drafting ability is a major plus, however the limited time he has had between getting the role of president of basketball operations and the draft has presented a new challenge.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, “the 76ers are still relatively early in their decision-making process and will begin bringing in players for workouts this week.”
Better late than never, but the condensed timeline has drawn more uncertainty over the Sixers mindset heading into draft night. Below is who national draft experts have Gansey picking with just a week until the draft.
Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Texas
The 6’7” Swain put up a strong season at Texas, averaging 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He showcased his athleticism through savvy finishing at the rim, coast-to-coast decision making in transition, and opportunistic defense. He has a knack for picking off lazy passes and is a determinded rebounder on both ends.
The mark on Swain’s resume revolves around his three-point shooting. In two seasons with Xavier, Swain shot 20% on 54 attempts from deep. His improvement at Texas, 34% on 93 attempts, is a good sign, but the jumper will need to be sped up a few notches when facing NBA-level defense. Both Woo and SBNation’s Ricky O’Donnell have the Sixers picking Swain at 22 in their most recent mocks.
Woo said of Swain:
“There are still questions around his shooting, but teams view his ability to get downhill and solid defensive upside as worth the long-term investment.”
Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State
USA Today’s Bryan Kalbrosky has the Sixers taking Iowa State senior Joshua Jefferson with the 22nd pick. The 6’9” forward put up 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game in 35 outings for the Cyclones. He used his larger frame to consistently create positioning in the post for easy finishes or passes to open teammates.
He showed a confidence to pull-up from three-point range and his shooting form appears sound and quick enough to transfer to the NBA level. His decision-making and passing prowess made him an offensive initiator for Iowa State, and saw the ball in his hands often to make the right play or take the open catch-and-shoot jumper with no hesitation. He shot 35% on 110 attempts from three last season.
Jefferson’s athleticism yields more towards power as opposed to speed, but he has room to grow displaying such on the defensive end and as a screener.
Kalbrosky on Jefferson:
“The All-Big 12 standout was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who got hurt during March Madness and otherwise could have come into the pre-draft process with even more hype and momentum due to his unique skill set.”
Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston
Houston freshman Chris Cenac Jr. has become a popular choice for mock draft curators projecting the Sixers pick. The popularity stems from Cenac’s measurables as compared to his statistical output last season. He is 6’11” in shoes, has a 7’5” wingspan and 240-pound frame.
He averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game. Cenac showed confidence with his jump shot even if it did not bear fruit, shooting 30% on 90 attempts. He shot 62% from the free throw line on 58 attempts, and registered only 1.3 “stocks” per game (steals plus blocks). He played intelligent off-ball offense on a team with a strong ball-handler in Kingston Flemings, utilizing backdoor cuts and crashing the offensive glass for easy opportunities with the defense out of position.
“Houston handed him a starting role with national title aspirations and trusted him with heavy minutes. But the Cougars fell short again, in part because Cenac struggled to stay out of foul trouble, couldn’t score efficiently, and was overeager to play on the perimeter despite having the body of a bruiser. He arrived in college with lottery expectations, and he still could become that player in the future. But the NBA team drafting him is taking a project.”
With this new slate of projections to work off of, let us know which prospect you would take at pick 22 for the Sixers in the comments.
The Carolina Hurricanes have barely had time to pop the champagne and the sportsbooks are already moving on, posting their early Stanley Cup odds for the 2026-27 season. As always with early markets, there are some numbers that make sense and others that are going to raise a few eyebrows around the league.
Leading the way is the Colorado Avalanche, who open as the outright favorites at +700. The Hurricanes sit right behind them at +750, giving Carolina a realistic shot at becoming the fourth back-to-back Stanley Cup champions since 2016. The Vegas Golden Knights, who fell short in the Final this spring, are listed at +1000 as they look to rebound and finish the job next time around.
At the other end of the board, the Vancouver Canucks find themselves at the very back of the pack at +50000, with the Calgary Flames just ahead of them at +30000. Both franchises have considerable ground to cover before anyone seriously considers them legitimate contenders.
The Detroit Red Wings open at +6600, a number that raises questions when you consider they were among the better teams in the league before a late-season collapse knocked them completely out of playoff contention.
This places them behind surprising teams that finished worst than the Red Wings last season like the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks and tied with the New York Islanders. The odds feel like they are pricing in the uncertainty surrounding the franchise rather than the talent on the roster, and that uncertainty is real and significant.
Hanging over Detroit heading into the offseason is the trade request from captain Dylan Larkin and how the organization will choose to handle it. If the Red Wings make substantial additions in an effort to convince Larkin to stay, the team could look dramatically different and considerably more dangerous by training camp. If they move him, they figure to receive a sizeable return in assets that could accelerate the rebuild or restock the core depending on the direction Larkin's replacement takes the team.
Beyond the Larkin situation, Detroit enters the offseason with legitimate foundational pieces already in place. Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider represent two of the better young players at their respective positions in the league, and Justin Faulk provides experienced veteran presence on the back end. Perhaps equally compelling is the collection of players entering contract years, a group that includes Alex DeBrincat, Andrew Copp and goaltender John Gibson.
Players with something to prove in a contract year have a way of elevating their games, and if that group collectively steps up, Detroit could be a much more dangerous team than the current odds suggest.
If general manager Steve Yzerman makes the right moves this summer, whether that means keeping Larkin or maximizing his return, Detroit's true cup odds may look very different from what the sportsbooks are currently offering and might be the most interesting number on the entire board.
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Goalie Joseph Woll is the clear centerpiece of Tuesday's blockbuster Philadelphia Flyers trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but we can't be so quick to dismiss the teammate coming to Philadelphia with him.
The Flyers sacrificed Sam Ersson, Emil Andrae, and a 2026 third-round pick to acquire Woll, 27, from the Maple Leafs, in addition to defenseman Simon Benoit, who will presumably replace Andrae in the lineup.
And, although Andrae was in and out, and up and down the lineup under Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet, Benoit could eat into those free minutes and then some.
During his Tuesday media availability, Flyers general manager Danny Briere was plenty complimentary of his new defenseman, and suggested a larger role could be there for the taking based on his traits and style of play.
"Maybe he's even higher in the lineup, too. Why not?" Briere said when asked if Benoit would be the de facto No. 7 defenseman.
"We like the physicality he brings, and we like the size and skating aspect, too. Really good skater. . . I think it's going to probably be a little easier for the coaches, having a guy like Simon Benoit back there to use."
Benoit, 27, is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound defender who plays a very meat-and-potatoes game.
Formerly undrafted, Benoit started his NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks, where he was teammates with former Flyers tough guy Nick Deslauriers and affable duo Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale.
After getting his chance, the rugged French-Canadian rearguard carved out a career for himself as a physical, defense-first penalty killer, insulator, shot-blocker, and tough guy.
Benoit can and will drop the gloves, and played some of the best hockey of his NHL career with the Maple Leafs, even if some of it wasn't especially pretty at times.
For what he is, though, the Flyers are trading out Andrae, and perhaps Noah Juulsen, for a player more similar to Nick Seeler.
By extension, this allows the Flyers room to both get younger and less experienced on defense, and make a lineup spot for younger and less experienced players on the right side in David Jiricek and Oliver Bonk.
And, given the nature of his game, Benoit would be a natural fit alongside someone like Drysdale or Jiricek, who can play more freely to generate offense as a result.
Trading with the Maple Leafs and getting both Benoit and Woll allows the Flyers to do different things to their lineup without making too significant a commitment financially.
Benoit has one year remaining on his contract at a meager $1.35 million cap hit, while Woll has two on his at a $3.667 million cap hit.
With that said, the Flyers have just over $5 million committed to two players who will be key cogs in the lineup this season, with Benoit especially having the potential to provide even more value to Tocchet and Co. than advertised at face value.
Rockies prospect Cam Nelson rounds the bases for the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies. | Photo courtesy of the Fresno Grizzlies, 2026
The pitch was a slider, up.
With two strikes and two outs, that’s usually a pitcher’s count – but Cam Nelson had been hunting something he could drive all night, and this was it.
“I was just looking for a pitch up, a pitch I could do damage with,” Nelson said. “I saw a breaking pitch up, and I did damage on a pitch I knew I could. From there it just kind of felt pretty surreal. Rounding the bases and all that was pretty awesome.”
BACK-TO-BACK WALK-OFF WINS. MY GOODNESS, CAM NELSON 😱
Grizzlies went into the 9th down 5-0 and were down to their last strike before Nelson ended the game 6-5 with this moonshot! 🌕 pic.twitter.com/5u6LoZJgEU
— Fresno Grizzlies (@FresnoGrizzlies) June 4, 2026
The swing produced his second home run of the year, his first walk-off blast as a professional, and capped another big night for a Fresno Grizzlies club that has been no stranger to late-inning drama in 2026.
“We’re definitely rolling, especially scoring late in games,” Nelson said. “It’s awesome to have that fire behind all of us.”
For Colorado Rockies fans who haven’t been tracking the Low-A box scores closely, the 22-year-old outfielder is quietly building one of the more intriguing offensive profiles in the lower minors – not on the strength of loud tools, but on an advanced eye and a knack for being on time.
A foundation built in two places
Nelson’s path to pro ball ran through two very different stops. He spent three years at St.Paul’s School in Maryland before transferring to PDG Baseball Academy for his senior season, and he credits each with shaping a different part of his skillset.
“St Paul’s was really good for me from an academic standpoint. I feel like I really got my ground from there, and it really helped my transition into Wake just for all the classroom things,” he said. “Then going to PDG my senior year, I needed to get a little bit more competition. Playing more games, playing down south, it really helped me prepare for college in both ways.”
At Wake Forest, Nelson landed in the middle of one of college baseball’s most loaded programs – two trips to regionals and a clubhouse stacked with future high-round picks. Watching former teammates like Nick Kurtz and Chase Burns break through at the big-league level so quickly has not been lost on him.
“It’s definitely pretty cool to see. Seeing Kurtz in the MVP race right now is pretty awesome, and it’s crazy to think I was playing with him two years ago,” Nelson said. “Same thing with Burns – he’s been throwing really well. It’s awesome to see.”
More than the name recognition, Nelson says those teams taught him who he needs to be on the field.
“They were huge from the standpoint of my development, helping me realize I’ve got to fit into a certain role,” he said. “I’m a center fielder, a guy that’s really good at defense and has really good legs. So it’s about trying to make sure I’m not overdoing my role and doing what I can while I’m in the game.”
Learning from the setbacks
Ask Nelson about the moments that have shaped him the most, and he doesn’t point to the highlights. He points to the time he spent off the field.
“The setbacks with injuries have really taken a little toll on me these past few years – dealing with a broken finger, and then some knee issues,” he said. “Those have been times where I’ve had to take some time and think about my game. It was really hard not being out there playing, so for me it was kind of like a mental break, but at the same time I was really just ready to get back out there.”
That experience has changed how he takes care of his body now that he’s playing more than he ever has.
“I have to stay on top of everything – hip exercises, knee exercises, every single day,” Nelson said. “Especially now that I’m playing five, six games a week, staying on top of all my exercises has been really important.”
The jump from college to the daily grind of pro ball was an adjustment in its own right.
“At the start it was a little tough,” he said. “Just recognizing that I needed to have a really solid routine every day.”
The two-way itch
Like a lot of elite amateurs, Nelson came up as a two-way player and pitched a bit at Wake before settling into the outfield full-time. A part of him still misses the mound.
“There’s a little part of me that does miss it,” he admitted. “I kind of always knew I was going to be an outfielder, just from my tools in general. But I do miss it – coming in and maybe closing a game would be pretty cool.”
The pitching background pays off in a less obvious way: It sharpened how he reads at-bats from the other side.
“At least when I face lefties, I think about how they would attack me now,” he said. “Thinking back to how I would attack hitters, I feel like it makes it a little bit easier for me.”
Discipline as an identity
The headline number in Nelson’s first full season is his patience. Nelson leads the California League in walks and ranks among its top 10 in on-base percentage – and he says that command of the strike zone is nothing new.
“It’s always been a thing I’ve been pretty good at – having good discipline, knowing what pitches I need to swing at, which pitches are good to swing at, and in what counts,” he said. “Especially now, after college, some guys aren’t as sharp as they are up there at the higher level. So I try to make sure I get my pitch early and in the right counts.”
That foundation set the stage for a breakout May, when his batting average registered roughly 70 points higher from where it sat in April, with fewer strikeouts. Nelson chalks the surge up to a mix of support, repetition, and timing.
“One, just the support from my teammates and coaches – they’ve been a huge help,” he said. “But for me, being able to get my swing off early has really been helping. We’re facing these guys more than once now, more than twice, so I’m starting to get my grounding. I just know I’ll continue to get better throughout the season.”
A young, hungry group
Nelson is quick to fold his individual progress into a team story. The Grizzlies are young – many of them, like Nelson, are products of last year’s draft class, with others pushing up from complex levels – and that mix has produced a brand of baseball he clearly enjoys being part of.
“It’s been a ton of fun. We have a ton of energy coming to the field every single day,” he said. “A lot of us are just coming out of college, and some guys are coming up from the ACL and DSL, so those guys are hungry and ready to play. It’s a different brand of baseball – very high energy. It’s a team you expect to see a lot of wins from throughout the rest of the season.”
What he wants Rockies fans to know
For fans just getting acquainted with him, Nelson’s self-scouting report is less about tools than temperament. And the player he grew up emulating tells you a lot about the swing he’s built.
“I’m a very high-energy player. You’re going to get my all out of me every single game – I play every game like it’s my last, and I just want to win.” he said. “Growing up, one of the guys I watched was Bryce Harper. Seeing him get into the league at 19 was something pretty cool to watch, and I was very mesmerized with his left-handed swing. That was one guy I liked watching growing up.”
As for the organization’s marching orders since drafting him, the message has been refreshingly simple.
“They picked me up for the player I am,” Nelson said. “They told me to go out there and play the brand of baseball I know – get on base, score runs. That’s pretty much it.”
The ultimate destination, of course, sits a mile above sea level. But Nelson is careful not to let Coors Field pull his focus off the work in front of him.
“That’s definitely the long-term goal – it always has been,” he said. “But at the stage I’m at right now, I’m taking it day by day, trying to be great at all the little things I’m working on at this moment. Once I feel like I’m getting really good at those things, I can start having greater expectations for myself.”
For now, the formula is working. Get on base, score runs, play with energy – and trust that the rest follows.
The Isotopes had a difficult week in Tacoma, dropping five of six games. In typical PCL fashion, the pitching struggled as the ‘Topes allowed nine or more runs in four of the six games they played. The lack of roster continuity has seemingly caught up with Albuquerque, as they’ve now dropped nine of their last 12 games. They now sit just one game above .500, and are 6.0 games back of first place in the PCL.
Stock UP: Charlie Condon
Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) appears to have found his stride as June reaches its midpoint. The highlight of his week came Friday, when he went 4-for-4 with two home runs, five RBIs, and two walks. The 23-year-old has posted a 1.003 OPS across 12 games this month and is showing increasing comfort in the outfield.
Valente Bellozo endured another difficult outing in Tacoma this week, as the stat line reflects. It’s a troubling trend for the right-hander, who has allowed 14 earned runs over just 8.1 innings across his last three appearances.
The Yard Goats continue to grind out wins, largely on the strength of their pitching staff. Strong performances from Jackson Cox and Jack Mahoney led the way this week, helping Hartford maintain the second-best record in the Eastern League.
Stock UP: Jack Mahoney
Jack Mahoney was phenomenal in his lone start this week. The University of South Carolina product tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out 10 and issuing no walks. Mahoney has been nothing short of excellent since returning from the IL, posting a 0.83 ERA across five starts for Double-A Hartford in 2026.
2022 second-round pick Jackson Cox made his Double-A debut this week and appeared to have no trouble with the transition. The 22-year-old right-hander turned in 5.1 strong innings, allowing just three hits while striking out eight in Hartford’s 11-1 victory on Friday. His dominant performance provided an encouraging first glimpse of what he can bring to the Yard Goats’ rotation.
High-A: Spokane Indians (4-2, 27-36 overall)
After a 2-4 start to June, the Indians bounced back in a big way during their trip to Eugene, taking four of six from the league-leading Emeralds to climb back to .500 on the month. It was no easy task, as four of the six contests were decided by a single run. Despite the strong showing, Spokane remains in fifth place in the Northwest League, 14 games behind first-place Eugene.
Max Belyeu enjoyed nothing short of a monster week at the plate. The No. 15 PuRP prospect recorded two multi-homer games, driving in seven runs and scoring eight more over the course of the six-game series. The 2025 draft pick now owns a 1.199 OPS in June and continues to be one of the hottest hitters in the system.
🎶 Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities 🎶
Hedges, another member of the Rockies’ 2025 draft class, found success against Eugene this week. The former third-round pick recorded a pair of three-hit performances and slashed .364 over 22 at-bats during the six-game series.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (3-3, 33-30 overall)
Fresno remained three games above .500 and within four games of first place in the California League after a 3-3 week. While the results have cooled somewhat of late, with the Grizzlies going 6-6 in June, they have continued to stay afloat despite being without Ethan Holliday, Derek Bernard, and Clayton Gray.
Stock UP: Bryson Van Sickle
In a week that wasn’t exactly chock-full of storylines in Low-A, Bryson Van Sickle’s performance was impossible to ignore. The Grizzlies reliever tossed seven scoreless innings across two appearances, allowing just two hits while striking out 11. His dominant week earned him California League Pitcher of the Week honors.
The ACL Rockies remained atop the Arizona Complex League standings after a 3-1 week, highlighted by a 22-hit, 22-run outburst on Thursday. Through 31 games, they lead the ACL with a remarkable +90 run differential, further cementing their status as one of the league’s most dominant clubs.
Stock UP: Alessander De La Cruz
The 20-year-old German native enjoyed what was arguably his best four-game stretch of the season, going 9-for-17 (.529) with four extra-base hits, five RBIs, and six runs scored. He was a key contributor in the ACL Rockies’ 22-2 victory on Thursday, finishing 4-for-5 with a double, two walks, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 09: Grant Holmes #66 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rate Field on June 09, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are headed home and will face the San Francisco Giants after arguably their worst stretch of the season.
The good news is that the Giants are not good this year, and Drake Baldwin will be back for this series. Time will tell on the Baldwin return if he is back to full strength, but what we do know is that the Braves lack of rotation depth due to injuries is starting to rear its head.
The #Braves today returned C Drake Baldwin from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list, and outrighted C Austin Wynns to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Because of the state of injuries, it appears that Grant Holmes will be getting another start, even though he has proven that he gets absolutely rocked the second he faces a hitter the second time through. The first time Holmes faces a hitter in a game they are averaging a slash line of .187/.256/.280, which is excellent. The second time in a game he faces a hitter they are averaging a slash line of .317/.391/.663. When every single hitter you face averages MVP numbers the second time you face them, that is a recipe for disaster.
If Holmes does indeed get the start (the Braves have swayed recently from their probable pitchers), it will be shocking if Didier Fuentes does not come in to pitch in a long relief role early in the game. Ritchie would potentially have this long relief role if it were not for the Strider injury. Of all the Giants hitters, only four have faced Holmes before and none of them have more than five at-bats. Rafael Devers leads the team with those five at-bats, and he has a .400 average in that span.
Fortunately for the Braves they will be facing Adrian Houser in the midst of arguably the worst season of his career. His 5.54 ERA is the second worst of his career and his 1.538 WHIP is his worst of his career. His expectancy stats (XSTATS) paint the picture that he can’t blame bad luck on his poor performance either. His xERA so far has been 5.44, which is good for bottom 13.0 percent of qualified pitchers. Pretty much every stat that matters is in the bottom 13.0 percent or worse. The only thing he has going for him is his slightly above league average walk rate of 8.1 percent.
Of the players on the Braves’ active roster, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies have faced Houser the most with seventeen and sixteen at-bats respectively. Both players have seen success with Riley hitting .471 with a HR and Albies hitting .375 with a .974 OPS. Michael Harris has a much smaller sample with eight at-bats but has an average of .375 in that span. Surprisingly, Matt Olson has struggled in his eleven at-bats against Houser where he has only hit .182 with a .630 OPS.
The Braves could really use a boost offensively as they have only scored more runs than three other MLB teams in the month of June.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 09: Carter Jensen #22 of the Kansas City Royals is seen against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on June 09, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the reasons I felt good about the Kansas City Royals coming into the season was that I was extremely impressed by what we saw from Carter Jensen in September of last year. Jensen came up to the majors and immediately looked like one of the best hitters on the team, sporting a .300/.390/.550 slash line, good for a wRC+ of 159. It wasn’t just the results, but how he achieved them. The left-handed hitter drew nine walks compared to 12 strikeouts and flashed a sweet swing at the plate with some outstanding power. I didn’t expect Jensen to be 60% above league average as a hitter again, but I assumed he would be above average at the plate and behind it as a catcher, which would make him a very valuable player even as a rookie.
Jensen has not been the most disappointing player on the Royals this season – that title can be shared with Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, and Lucas Erceg, in my opinion. But 40% of the way through the season, he has been a replacement-level player, which falls well short of expectations.
On one hand, this is not particularly surprising. It’s hard to be a rookie in MLB and live up to the expectations that us overeager fans can put on the players. Jensen currently has an 81 wRC+, which is disappointing given what he did last year but right in line with rookie catcher averages.
It’s hard for hitters to adjust to major-league pitching in their first extended taste of the big leagues when pitchers get a chance to study their tendencies and find weaknesses to exploit. That adjustment can be extra difficult on catchers, since they are also spending a lot of time learning on the defensive side of the ball as well.
The biggest sign of pitchers adjusting to Jensen is his increased strikeout percentage. Jensen is striking out in 28.8% of his plate appearances this season after only striking out in 17.4% last season. The catcher is swinging and missing at more pitches; his swinging strike percentage has gone from 10.9% to 12.4%. He is also looking at more pitches in the zone; his called strike percentage is up from 13% in 2025 to 16.5% in 2026.
Looking over Jensen’s Baseball Savant page gives us some more clues as to what might be contributing to the increase in strikeout rate and the adjustments that the 22-year-old will hopefully make as he continues to improve and adjust to MLB pitching. Statcast labels pitches thrown in the middle zone of the plate as “Meatballs,” and these are generally pitches that you want to swing at. Last season, the catcher swung at 79.2% of meatballs, which is above the major-league average of 76.2%. This season, Jensen is only swinging at 68.4% of meatballs.
I appreciate that he is attempting to take pitches and work the count, but this looks like a hitter being a little too cautious and not aggressive enough to me. I think if Jensen can get back to the level of aggressiveness on good pitches to hit that he found last season, he will both strikeout less and start making better contact. That seems achievable and something that should get better with time. I’m not worried currently about Jensen’s future ability at the plate, but for this season we may be watching more of him trying to figure out how to make good swing decisions against the best pitchers in the world.
It’s been the defensive side of the ball for Jensen that has stood out to me most when watching the Royals this season, particularly his blocking. Among 69 qualified catchers, Jensen is second-to-last (only above Logan O’Hoppe) in blocking runs above-average with -7 catching runs. Statcast estimates that Jensen should have 11 wild pitches + passed balls based on the quality of pitches he has received, but instead the catcher has 18. The rookie has struggled in particularly with balls low and to his left, which is a pitch that needs to be blocked to help your pitchers go for strikeouts. He’s had some truly awful blocking attempts. If the Royals were competitive this season, I’d feel like a Carter Jensen passed ball would be a Chekhov’s Gun just sitting there for a clutch moment. It doesn’t look like we will need to worry about it sabotaging this season, however, as there has been plenty of sabotage to go around.
The catcher does have some positive qualities behind the dish. He’s been slightly above-average as a framer, and has been much better than Perez at framing this season. Jensen has a quick pop time is currently in the 80th percentile in Caught Stealing Above Average. His overall defense as a catcher has been around replacement level despite giving away 8 runs with his poor blocking skills, so any improvement to his ability to block pitches is going to make his defense a net positive.
Jensen is skilled and athletic enough to figure out how to move to his left and block tough pitches. I believe that anyone who can make this catch can improve on their blocking ability:
We’ve also seen Bobby Witt Jr. make remarkable strides on defense after a difficult rookie campaign, so we know it can be done. Research by Tom Hanrahan has shown that catchers get better at handling pitchers after their rookie season, which is both encouraging and a reminder that Jensen is juggling a lot by leading off and catching as much as he is.
The struggles Jensen is currently working through seem like solvable issues and somewhat normal for a rookie catcher. I’m still optimistic about his future with the Royals, but watching him so far this season has reminded me that it’s tough to make the leap from Triple-A to MLB, and that I should have factored in more growing pains when estimating how the Royals would perform this season. Jensen looks like a rookie catcher out there, and at least so far, my expectations for something more were overly optimistic.
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 26: Pacome DaDiet is drafted 25th overall by the New York Knicks during the 2024 NBA Draft - Round One on June 26, 2024 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks enter the 2026 NBA Draft with a luxury few championship teams enjoy: patience. The draft will be held June 23-24, and New York, fresh off a title run that ended a 53-year drought, is scheduled to make the 24th, 31st, and 55th selections.
The championship core is in place. The challenge now is finding affordable contributors who can strengthen the bench, fit the culture, and grow alongside the vets. Over the next week, Posting and Toasting will profile prospects who could hear their names called by the Knicks, breaking down the strengths, weaknesses, backgrounds, and potential fits. Bookmark this page to track who we profile, and if there’s someone you’d like us to spotlight, drop the name in the comments below.
Updates
6/21/2026: Jake Fischer reports that Atlanta, Golden State, Oklahoma City, Charlotte, and Chicago have all shown varying interest in drafting frontcourt help between picks 8 and 15. The resulting leaguewide expectation is that Aday Mara, Morez Johnson, Jr., and Hannes Steinbach could all be gone before the second half of the first round begins. This puts a spotlight on the next tier: Jayden Quaintance, Tarris Reed, Jr., Henri Veesaar, Zuby Ejiofor, and Chris Cenac, Jr. The Knicks may not love all five equally, but they can’t assume their preferences will survive until slot 31. They might have to use the 24th pick on the big they actually want, rather whoever remains after the Lakers, Celtics, et al. finish clearing the shelves.
6/19/2026: ESPN published its final 2026 big board Friday morning, and the most relevant section belongs almost entirely to New York. Seven prospects connected to the Knicks’ range sit between No. 25 and No. 32: Isaiah Evans, Zuby Ejiofor, Henri Veesaar, Meleek Thomas, Sergio de Larrea, Alex Karaban, and Tarris Reed Jr.
6/18/2026: Jake Fischer reported that league sources expect New York to trade either No. 24 or No. 31. Fischer also identified Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a Knicks target and noted that Minnesota, which selects 28th, is interested. The logical implication is that New York may need to take de Larrea at 24 and then shop No. 31, potentially exploiting the bidding window between the draft’s first and second nights.
One of the most intriguing boom-or-bust prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft, pairing elite defensive instincts, a massive 7’5.25″ wingspan, relentless rebounding, and explosive lob-finishing ability with major concerns about his offensive limitations and recovery from a devastating knee injury that limited him to four games at Kentucky. Still just 18 years old, he projects as a long-term developmental center who could thrive in the G League while refining his shooting and decision-making. If healthy, his ceiling resembles a Robert Williams III or Clint Capela-type rim protector, but his poor free-throw shooting and raw offensive game remind us of someone. . . .
Two-time national champion Alex Karaban averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 37.4% from three and 85.1% from the line last season. Karaban brings NBA-ready shooting, off-ball movement, smart team defense, quick decisions, and extensive big-game experience after starting 150 of 151 career games in college. The concerns are his limited self-creation, average athleticism, defensive ceiling, and old age. For the Knicks, he profiles as a low-maintenance bench forward who could replace some second-unit production and reliability if New York needs a cost-controlled rotation piece on the wing.
A 6’10” Tennessee center with a 7’2” wingspan and a clear defensive profile. Okpara protects the rim, sets hard screens, rolls with purpose, finishes lobs, and gives teams a traditional backup center to slot into their rotation immediately. His offense is limited, and his passing is kinda basic. He still bites on too many fakes, but the tools are real and just need to keep getting live reps and battling NBA bigs in order to hone his game. For the Knicks, he makes sense as a No. 55 or two-way target if they want cheap frontcourt insurance behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, assuming the latter doesn’t bolt out.
A physical wing from blue-blood Kentucky who averaged 20.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals while developing into one of the SEC’s better two-way players. Oweh brings point-of-attack defense, transition scoring, rim pressure, and enough catch-and-shoot growth to intrigue teams late in the draft. His concerns—and they aren’t small—are his poor shooting and jumper mechanics, finishing touch, handle, and decision-making, all of them offensive issues. For the Knicks, he profiles as a tough defensive wing who could compete for very-deep-bench minutes and spend more time developing in Westchester than taking over any rotational role.
A rugged St. John’s big man who averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.2 steals while sweeping Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Ejiofor brings toughness, rebounding, defensive activity, short-roll passing, and a relentless motor that fits the Knicks’ bench identity. The questions are his tweener size, unproven jumper, and whether his interior game translates against NBA length. A St. John’s-to-Knicks path would make for a strong Madison Square Garden homecoming story.
A 6’7” St. John’s forward and elite athlete who averaged 8.3 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while giving Rick Pitino a high-motor cutter, rebounder, defender, and transition finisher. Mitchell’s explosiveness, defensive versatility, passing growth, and vertical play-finishing give him an NBA pathway… but the truth is Mitchell is only a late second-round option, if not a two-way candidate outright. That’s because his shooting is awful, he can’t nor wants to stretch the floor, and doesn’t have a quite reliable jumper or free-throw to save his life, narrowing his role among pros from the get-go.
One of the most unique prospects in this draft class, combining power forward size and strength with playmaking instincts. His high basketball intelligence, rebounding, passing, and defensive activity make him an intriguing connective piece who could thrive in a bench role, but concerns about his athleticism, shooting confidence, and age limit his upside.
An explosive scoring guard who led the ACC in scoring as a freshman, combining elite shot creation with remarkably low turnover rates. His biggest questions are his 6-foot-2 frame and whether his on-ball scoring will translate against NBA size and defenses. For the Knicks, he projects as a high-upside developmental guard who could spend time in Westchester while refining his game. If he falls to No. 31, he’s an excellent value.
One of the safest center prospects in the draft. The 6’10”, 263-pound UConn big averaged 14.7 points, 9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2 blocks per game while shooting 61% from the field. Thriving as a physical interior presence, elite rebounder, and surprisingly effective passer, Reed’s strengths include bruising screen-setting, short-roll playmaking, paint protection, and relentless work on the glass. We loved the toughness and defensive discipline. His limitations are equally clear: nil floor spacing, trouble with perimeter switches, meager vertical explosiveness, and almost 23 years old. Still, Reed could provide immediate backup-center depth and serve as a low-cost insurance policy behind Mitchell Robinson.
A 7-foot center who revitalized his draft stock after transferring to North Carolina, where he averaged 17 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting an impressive 43% from three. His combination of floor spacing, passing, touch around the basket, and offensive versatility makes him one of the most intriguing stretch bigs in the draft. Concerns center on his lack of strength, inconsistent defense, and questions about whether he can hold up physically against NBA centers or anchor a defense. For the Knicks, Veesaar would offer a completely different look than Mitchell Robinson as a floor-spacing backup center.
This 6-foot-6 Spanish guard is one of the more intriguing international prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft after playing meaningful minutes for Valencia Basket in Spain’s ACB and EuroLeague. The 20-year-old combines strong size, advanced playmaking, reliable shooting indicators (37% from three, 81% from the stripe), and professional experience against veteran competition. Compensates for lack of athleticism, scoring, and defense with a good feel for the game, decision-making, and positional versatility. The Knicks have reportedly shown interest in de Larrea, who could give cost-controlled guard depth behind Jalen Brunson, Deuce McBride, and Tyler Kolek.
Isaiah Evans Evans, a 6’6” sophomore, emerged as one of college basketball’s top shooters last season, averaging 15 points per game while shooting 38% from three-point range and nearly 19 points per game during Duke’s NCAA Tournament run. His deep-range shooting, off-ball movement, and positional size makes him an intriguing fit for a championship roster that could benefit from offense off the bench.
Chris Cenac, Jr. Houston freshman Cenac is an intriguing big man who could be available at the 24th or 31st spots. Standing nearly 6’11” with a 7’5” wingspan, he combines elite physical tools, strong rebounding instincts, and emerging perimeter skills. He averaged 9.5 PPG and 7.9 RPG while leading Houston in rebounding as a freshman, showing the ability to finish at the rim, stretch the floor, and defend multiple actions. His offensive skills are raw and his playmaking and rim protection need development, but he profiles as a long-term frontcourt project behind Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
A 19-year-old combo guard from the University of Arkansas who projects as a mid-to-late first-round pick and could be available when the Knicks select at No. 24. Thomas averaged 15.6 points per game while shooting an impressive 42% from three-point range and 84% from the free-throw line, showcasing one of the best shooting profiles among guards in this draft class. Beyond his perimeter shooting, he offers secondary shot creation, strong defensive instincts, and a competitive edge on both ends of the floor. What’s not to like?
A physical, 6’9″ forward/center with a 7’3.5″ wingspan who brings elite rim-finishing, relentless rebounding, and defensive versatility from a championship run at Michigan. While he lacks individual shot creation and needs to improve his passing vision, his soaring free-throw efficiency hints at burgeoning floor-spacing potential. For the Knicks, Johnson Jr. represents ideal, cost-controlled frontcourt insurance e at pick No. 24 or 31.
McIlroy not a fan of planned two-tier system for events
Fleetwood and Åberg drawn with world No 2 at US Open
Rory McIlroy believes the “false economy” created by the threat of LIV Golf may now be putting some well-established PGA Tour events at risk. The world No 2 and current Masters champion said he felt people had lost sight of how good the tour was before it too had a huge cash injection.
When the Saudi breakaway started luring away some of the top talent on multimillion-dollar contracts during the early years the PGA Tour’s response was to restructure, creating eight signature events each with smaller field and prize funds of $20m (£15m), plus generating a number of associated financial benefits.
Everyone’s favorite quick hitters. I found a couple of first-inning props that should get the sweat going to kick off the evening while still delivering a full thrill ride.
Let's dive into my favorite NRFI predictions and MLB picks on Tuesday, June 16.
Best NRFI/YRFI predictions today
Pick
Odds
/ - YRFI
-126
/ - NRFI
-142
/ - NRFI
-131
Giants at Braves: YRFI (-126)
One of my favorite matchups on the board today has the potential to produce a ton of runs, and we are all over the YRFI in this one, folks.
San Francisco Giants right-hander Adrian Houser takes the mound against an Atlanta Braves lineup that features seven hitters with at least a strongly rated matchup. Houser also enters the day as the lowest-rated pitcher on Batters-Box, so we have to be rooting for runs here. Through 13 starts this season, he owns a 9.00 ERA in the first inning, while allowing opposing hitters to slash .302/.409/.698.
Things do not get much better for Braves right-hander Grant Holmes, who owns the third-worst pitcher rating on the slate. He will have to navigate a Giants lineup featuring three elite-rated hitters and two more with strongly rated matchups. Through 13 starts, Holmes has posted a 4.83 first-inning ERA, allowing eight runs in those appearances.
With a combined nine elite-rated hitters and three strongly rated hitters in this matchup, I think the -126 price tag makes a lot of sense. I would be comfortable playing this up to -130.
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: BravesVsn, NBCSBA
Blue Jays at Red Sox: NRFI (-142)
Back-to-back weeks taking an NRFI featuring Boston Red Sox right-hander Payton Tolle, who draws a Toronto Blue Jays offense that has not been making much hard contact or barreling the baseball over its last 12 road games. Meanwhile, Tolle has been nails in the first inning, posting a 2.00 ERA while allowing just two runs through nine starts. Opposing hitters are batting only .194 with a .242 OBP and .419 SLG against him in the opening frame.
On the other side, Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease has also been tremendous in the first inning, sporting a 3.00 ERA while allowing just five runs across 12 starts. Opposing hitters are batting .217 with a .280 OBP and .413 SLG. Cease also gets the luxury of facing a lineup that does not feature a single elite or strong-rated hitter in the current season timeframe ratings at Batters-Box.
Additionally, the Red Sox lineup features eight hitters with strikeout rates above league average and seven hitters with ground-ball rates above league average.
Sure, -142 is a heavily juiced price for an NRFI, but I would still play it at anything near this number. You could also consider pairing it with another prop from today's card.
The White Sox enter this matchup after taking down two of the National League's best, winning a series against the Dodgers this past weekend and the Braves in the series prior. Can they keep the momentum rolling against a red-hot ace?
Early on, I am leaning toward Cole recording a clean first inning. Through four starts this season, nobody has been able to touch him in the opening frame. He owns a 0.00 ERA, while opposing hitters are batting just .083 against him.
Martin has been impressive in the first inning as well. Through 13 starts, he has allowed only two runs in the opening frame, with opposing hitters batting .191 and carrying a .255 slugging percentage.
I am expecting some offensive regression from the White Sox following their first series win over the Dodgers since 2014. Meanwhile, with Aaron Judge out of the Yankees lineup, I think Martin can navigate the first inning cleanly and get in and out without any damage.
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: YES, CHSN
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 5-1, +2.1 units
What is a NRFI prediction?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) picks add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI pick is a prediction that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're predicting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI pick is the exact opposite. You're predicting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI picks add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for those looking for a quick resolution.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
“BORD$ still values him as a high-end reserve, with his $9.4 million valuation falling well short of the contract dollars,” Hollinger wrote. “I could see the Hawks picking up the option to use his contract in a trade, but it’s more likely that they decline it and either re-up at a lower number or move on.”
BORD$ is Hollinger’s proprietary player valuation system, which factors in regular-season production, age, injury history and projected minutes to estimate what a player is actually worth on the open market.
Kuminga averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range across 36 games with the Hawks after being traded by the Warriors in February. The 23-year-old was selected No. 7 overall by Golden State in the 2021 NBA Draft, a pick the Warriors hoped would develop into a long-term frontcourt piece next to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green before injuries and inconsistency stalled his rise.
The numbers tell only part of the story. Kuminga was in and out of Hawks coach Quin Snyder’s rotation for much of the season — a pattern not unlike his up-and-down role under Kerr in Golden State, where his minutes fluctuated wildly from game to game despite flashes of real talent.
The Hawks have until June 29 to make their decision. If they decline the option, Kuminga becomes an unrestricted free agent — though Hollinger’s valuation suggests his next contract may once again fall short of what he believes he’s worth.
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 12: Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with Adley Rutschman #35 after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Friday, June 12, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Mariners return home after a rough road trip with some reinforcements waiting to join the squad. The return of both Cal Raleigh and J.P. Crawford should alleviate some of the issues plaguing the team over the last few weeks by lengthening the lineup. There are still issues on the pitching staff — Andrés Muñoz’s back issue that forced him from the game on Sunday being the most concerning — but the roster definitely looks a lot stronger with the M’s superstar catcher back on board.
After splitting a four-game series in Baltimore last week, the Orioles make the trip out to the West Coast this week to wrap up the season series against the Mariners. If you watched any of that series, you’re already familiar with what the O’s bring to the table — nothing much has changed in the four days since these two teams met last.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
Taylor Ward
LF
R
332
20.2%
19.0%
0.095
123
Gunnar Henderson
SS
L
330
24.2%
7.9%
0.191
99
Adley Rutschman
C
S
216
14.4%
10.6%
0.217
128
Pete Alonso
1B
R
316
22.2%
10.8%
0.220
123
Samuel Basallo
DH
L
215
25.6%
8.8%
0.211
117
Leody Taveras
CF
S
217
21.2%
10.6%
0.114
104
Colton Cowser
RF
L
171
28.7%
11.1%
0.162
97
Blaze Alexander
3B
R
170
22.9%
5.9%
0.118
118
Jackson Holliday
2B
L
82
29.3%
11.0%
0.169
79
The biggest change to the O’s lineup already happened last Thursday when Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo returned from their respective minor injuries that had held them out of the first three games of that series in Baltimore. Otherwise, I’ll just paste in what Isabelle wrote about the team below:
The Orioles currently have the fifth-highest strikeout rate and the sixth-highest walk rate paired with some distinctly middle-of-the-road contact numbers. It’s also worth noting that only four players have accrued 200+ plate appearances at this point, indicative of intermittent injury struggles and some reclamation projects. Former AL Rookie of the Year contender and longtime light at the end of the Bad Years in Baltimore Tunnel, Adley Rutschman (“play badly for Adley” is a clever little ditty that will live on in my brain for eternity) had a torrid start, but has cooled in recent weeks. Gunnar Henderson is being propped up by his good defense, Taylor Ward is as annoyingly-decent as ever, and former “friend” Leody Taveras has slashed his strikeout rate by third, which makes him a reasonably functional big leaguer. Their big offensive signing, Pete Alonso, petrified everyone with his frigid start, but he’s since been about what you would expect. Other names to note are Samuel Basallo, their younger, better (?) catcher who had a scorching month at the plate in May; Jackson Holliday, former top prospect and eternal nepo baby, who started the season on the injured list; and Coby Mayo, pressed into service at third after Jordan Westburg’s season-ending elbow surgery.
Brandon Young graduated from the Orioles’ development pipeline last year after landing sixth on their 2025 prospect list. He’s got above average skills across the board but no clear carrying tool to push his profile above a back-end starter. His fastball is probably his best pitch, though he’s introduced a new slider this year that shows a lot of promise. He’ll also mix in a curveball and a splitter to keep left-handed batters at bay. His strikeout rate isn’t all that impressive, but he’s found some success by limiting the amount of hard contact he allows.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Kyle Bradish
73.1
22.6%
12.1%
15.5%
50.0%
4.30
4.70
George Kirby
84
21.1%
6.0%
10.1%
52.0%
4.07
3.40
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
7.7%
25.7%
94.0
84
68
133
0.401
Sinker
39.6%
27.7%
94.7
95
84
129
0.302
Curveball
12.0%
27.9%
84.3
104
130
114
0.261
Slider
40.7%
18.7%
87.0
114
95
109
0.339
From a previous series preview:
Kyle Bradish looked like he had made the jump to ace-dom back in 2024 but Tommy John surgery derailed his breakout. He returned to the mound late last year and looked like he was ready to pick up exactly where he left off. Things haven’t gone so smoothly this season, however. The key to his success all those years ago were his two breaking balls. His curveball has looked fine this year, but his slider has been knocked around a bunch. The effectiveness of his sinker has also waned a bit because he’s struggled to locate that pitch in the zone. That’s led to a pretty big jump in walk rate to go along with a much lower strikeout rate.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Shane Baz
82
18.9%
9.0%
8.2%
36.8%
4.06
4.02
Bryan Woo
82
24.0%
4.6%
8.3%
35.5%
4.28
3.26
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
23.1%
40.6%
96.2
104
80
86
0.364
Sinker
16.0%
1.8%
95.2
90
59
135
0.323
Cutter
32.8%
7.5%
89.5
97
86
78
0.353
Changeup
0.2%
13.0%
88.5
77
37
91
0.474
Curveball
27.9%
37.1%
85.3
102
91
104
0.291
The Orioles traded for Shane Baz this offseason in an effort to bolster their rotation and then signed him to a five-year, $68 million extension after his first start with the ballclub. At one point, Baz was a highly regarded prospect in Tampa Bay’s organization but Tommy John surgery derailed much of his development. Over the last two years since returning from that injury, he’s been merely average rather than transcendent like many thought he’d be as a prospect. With Baltimore, he added a sinker to his repertoire and emphasized his excellent curveball at the expense of his four-seam fastball. It’s a good trade off in theory but he’s struggled through an up-and-down season so far. His strikeout rate is down six points and left-handed batters in particular are crushing his pitches.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Mariners
37-36
0.507
—
+20
L-L-W-L-L
Athletics
36-36
0.500
0.5
-42
W-W-W-L-W
Rangers
35-37
0.486
1.5
+4
W-L-L-W-L
Astros
33-41
0.446
4.5
-45
L-W-W-L-L
Angels
29-44
0.397
8.0
-39
W-W-W-L-L
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Rays
41-28
0.594
+6.5
+7
W-L-L-W-L
Guardians
39-33
0.542
+3.0
-3
L-L-L-W-W
Athletics
36-36
0.500
—
-42
W-W-W-L-W
Rangers
35-37
0.486
1.0
+4
W-L-L-W-L
Blue Jays
34-38
0.472
2.0
-22
W-L-W-L-L
Orioles
34-39
0.466
2.5
-33
W-W-W-L-L
The Athletics had a weird week in Las Vegas last week, winning four of six on that special “homestand” but losing their game on Sunday by a score of 23-9 against the Rockies. The team returned to Sacramento last night and beat up on the Pirates in the first game of a three game set against Pittsburgh. The Rangers wound up salvaging a single win in their weekend series against the Red Sox but lost the first game of a series against the Twins last night.
Jun 13, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement (22) attempts a bunt and pops out against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Jays made a trade yesterday. Connor Seabold, who was DFAed, was traded to the Royals for minor league pitcher Denis Samudio and cash.
Samudio is a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher from Panama. He was pitching in the Arizona Complex League (the Arizona equivalent to the Florida Coast League). He’s a little old for that league. He was signed as an international free agent before the 2025 season.
There is a sentence about him in the FanGraphs KC prospects list.
Samudio was an older signee who performed on the complex last year. He throws strikes and touches 95 with some of the best vertical break in the system.
He’s pitched 5.2 innings this year with 3 hits, 2 earned runs (3 unearned), 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. I’d say he was a lottery pick, but anyone who can throw 95 at the start of his professional career might be interesting to watch. He’s been assigned to the Dunedin Blue Jays.
Turning to Seabold, he pitched in 5 games for us in the rotating last-man-in-the-pen role. In 3.1 innings, he allowed 6 hits, 3 earned, 2 walks, and 1 strikeout. He’s played parts of five years in the majors with six different teams (he’s been in nine different organizations). When you are out of options, and you are on the bubble, that’s how things go.
Looking ahead, we have three games in Boston starting tonight.
Starting Pitchers:
Dylan Cease (3-3, 2.91) vs. Payton Tolle (3-3, 2.70).
Max Scherzer (1-4, 10.23) vs. Jake Bennett (1-2, 5.28). If I were a betting man, I’d take the over on this game.
Trey Yesavage (3.3, 3.78) vs. Sonny Gray (8-1, 3.03)
How long do they keep going with Max? You know the answer is ‘Longer than we’d like’. But, if he’s crushed again today, I don’t see the point in starting him over Spencer Miles. Neither one is going to get you through 5 innings, but at least Miles could get us there while still within a one-possession game. Or he could come out when Shane Bieber is ready to return (which could be next week).
I get that it is a little more delicate when you are dealing with a future Hall of Famer, but having a starter with an ERA over 10 is not something you can sustain.
We have two players leading their position in All-Star voting. Ernie Clement and Vladimir Guerrero. Ernie deserves to go. Vlad…..not so much. But I do remember Davey Lopes getting voted into the All-Star Game despite a poor season. When asked about it, he said something like, ‘I’m not sure who the All-Star Game is for, the players or the fans.‘ Suggesting that, if it were for the players, his getting voted in would be a bad thing. If it is for the fans, well, they should get the players they want to see.
I remember, even then, not caring about the All-Star game, but thinking it was wrong that Dodgers fans voted more than anyone else, so more of their players went than truly deserved.
Vlad is a personality who will make the game more fun. If you have voting, you sometimes get the wrong person.
Elsewhere in the organization, Ricky Tiedeman pitched today in the FCL, starting the road back, throwing one inning, 5 batters, 2 hits, 1 earned, 2 strikeouts.
I was curious to look; the Jays have had 11 successful sac bunts, one more than league average. That’s only 11 too many. The Rays are at the top with 22. The Yankees have just 1. I hate things that make me want to like Aaron Boone. Fortunately, there are many reasons not to like him.
We are fourth in sac flies with 21; the Royals are on top with 29, the A’s at the bottom with 12.
COVERS INTEL: Martin’s 97th-percentile pitching run value on his offspeed stuff has been elite throughout the 2026 campaign.
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