TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 8: Rajai Davis #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays is embraced by teammates after driving in the winning run in the eighteenth inning during MLB game action against the Texas Rangers on June 8, 2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thirteen Years Ago
The Blue Jays and Rangers played 18 innings; best of all, the good guys won. I miss these kinds of games.
It was one of those games that felt like it would never end.
Early on, we scored three runs in the third inning. Edwin Encarnacion singled. Adam Lind walked, moving Edwin to second. Then Colby Rasmus hit a line drive to right-center field. Edwin ran home and scored easily. Lind also tried to score, but the relay throw from Jurickson Profar, the Rangers’ second baseman, was wide of home, so both Lind and Colby scored.
After that initial burst, we put up zeros for the next 14 innings.
Mark Buehrle started strong. Just a month earlier, he allowed a seven-run inning against the Rays, but his season turned around after that. In the five starts between then and this game, Mark posted a 3.38 ERA.
On this day, he pitched 7 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 earned run (a Jeff Baker home run in the seventh), 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts, with 92 pitches thrown. He deserved a win for that outing.
Though I don’t remember much about Baker, he had a solid season at the plate, hitting .279/.360/.545 with 11 home runs. Despite playing 11 seasons, he only appeared in over 100 games once, with 104 for the Rockies in 2008.
Buehrle should have secured the win, but after Steve Delabar pitched a scoreless eighth, Casey Jansen gave up 2 runs in the ninth for his first blown save of the season. Since he finished with 34 saves and just 2 blown, we can give him a pass.
After that, our bullpen pitched nine scoreless innings. From the recap:
Dustin McGowan entered in extras for his first appearance since 2011, walking the leadoff batter. After getting a double-play ball that Mark DeRosa booted, a hit batter loaded the bases, but Dustin grabbed a strikeout to escape.
Juan Perez replaced him and allowed a medium fly to right, but Jose Bautista’s strong throw cut down the runner at the plate. Perez pitched 2 innings, giving up 1 hit, 1 walk, and recording 1 strikeout.
Neil Wagner followed, getting 2 outs to close the 12th.
Next up, Brett Cecil pitched a clean 12th with one strikeout.
Brad Lincoln then pitched four strong innings: he allowed 1 hit, walked 1, hit 2 batters, and struck out 3. I figured Gibby would stick with him until the game ended or his arm fell off. But instead…
Aaron Loup came in, gave up a hit and hit a batter, but escaped the 18th without allowing a run.
Brad Lincoln was terrific. Despite pitching four excellent innings, he was sent to the minors the next day. It felt unfair.
On the Rangers’ side:
Yu Darvish threw 7 innings, giving up 2 earned and 1 unearned run. We had 6 hits against him.
Neal Cotts went 1.1, allowing just a hit.
Jason Frasor, a former Blue Jays reliever, went 1 inning, allowing a hit.
Robbie Ross: 1.2, with a hit and a walk.
Ross Wolf threw 6.2 innings, constantly working himself in and out of trouble. And then, in the 18th:
With one out, Maicer Izturis lined out, then Emilio Bonifacio singled—one of his 47 singles out of 57 hits that year. After Josh Thole popped out (he hit .175/.256/.242 that season, but pinch-hit for DeRosa in the 16th), Wolf threw wide on a pickoff, and Bonifacio took third. Rajai Davis then singled him home for the walk-off win.
From the recap:
Jays of the Day: Lincoln (.570 WPA), Perez (.499), Buehrle (.297), Cecil (.143), Loup (.143 and the win), Wagner (.142), Davis (.223) and Rasmus (.141).
Suckage: Janssen (-.280), Izturis (-.367), DeRosa (-.183, plus the error), Thole (-.132)
Three guys had the number for possible Suckage Awards, but I’m not giving them out: McGowan (-.213), though the error was DeRosa’s fault; Bautista (-.155), but his throw from right redeemed him; and Bonifacio (-.147), but he drew the wild pickoff and scored the winner.
There is a popular meme of Kobe Bryant from the 2009 NBA Finals.
In a news conference, despite the Lakers ahead 2-0 in the series, he was asked why he wasn’t smiling.
“What’s there to be happy about? Job’s not finished,” he famously replied. “Job finished? I don’t think so.”
Jalen Brunson recreated that moment Sunday, as the Knicks prepared for Monday night’s Game 3 at the Garden up 2-0.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson speaks to reporters after practice ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 7, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / NY Post
“In my mind there’s nothing really to celebrate yet,” the Knicks captain said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done.”
Brunson has had complete focus throughout the postseason. When the Knicks clinched a spot in the Finals for the first time in 27 years, a video was posted of the team celebrating in the locker room. Brunson was sitting on his own, a look of determination on his face instead of joy. He has refused to take promotional photos with the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Asked about the excitement in the city, as the Knicks look to clinch their first title in 53 years, Brunson said he has refused to soak it in. He’s repeatedly told reporters he would look back at what this team accomplished when it’s over. Not a second sooner.
“I do my best to stay present in the moment, to do the things I can to make sure my mind is right,” said Brunson, the first player in NBA history to score the game-winning points in the final two minutes of consecutive Finals games. “Being mentally and physically ready every day. Trusting my work. That’s what’s gotten me here.”
Kobe Bryant speaks to reporters after the Lakers’ Game 2 win in the 2009 NBA Finals. Getty Images
When Game 2’s wild ending was brought up, Brunson looked at the glass half-empty. Yes, he was happy the Knicks were able to rally after blowing a 14-point advantage, but he was also concerned with what led to them losing that lead.
“We do need to be able to finish the game better,” he said. “Unacceptable the way we just obviously let that 14-point lead go the way we did.”
Clearly, Brunson is taking after Bryant. The only time to celebrate is when the ultimate goal is accomplished.
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 14: Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles tags out Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners trying to stretch a single into a double in the first inning during a baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 14, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Home sweet home. After going .500 on their six-game road trip, the O’s return to Baltimore, where their most recent homestand resulted in a 7-3 record and some of their most inspired baseball of the season. This time it’s going to be a tougher task, with all seven games coming against winning teams, starting with the AL West-leading Mariners.
The M’s have been red hot of late. They were four games under .500 as recently as May 24, but then they rattled off an eight-game winning streak to take control of their underwhelming division. They were the preseason favorites to win the West and, after a sluggish start, they’re now on track to do so.
The Mariners always seem to have a quality pitching staff, and this season is no exception. Seattle’s 3.50 team ERA is second only to the Yankees among American League teams. That includes their usual stable of quality starters as we’ll discuss below, but their bullpen has been particularly effective with a 3.15 mark that leads the AL. That’s even despite a rocky performance from All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz, who has given up 15 runs in 23.1 innings and has blown five of his 14 save opportunities. The latest one came just yesterday, when Muñoz coughed up two runs in a walkoff loss in Detroit.
But the crew setting up Muñoz has been stellar. Right-hander Matt Brash has allowed only one earned run in 16 innings. Offseason acquisition Jose A. Ferrer — the A is for Awesome, I guess — has a 1.55 mark in 32 games, teaming with Gabe Speier (2.16) to form a potent lefty duo. And former O’s washout Eduard Bazardo, who made three terrible appearances with the Birds in 2023, is now one of Seattle’s most reliable relievers. Go figure.
On offense, the Mariners have been steady but unspectacular. They were surely expecting more from Cal Raleigh, last year’s 60-homer-hitting AL MVP runner-up. Raleigh has a miserable .560 OPS this season and is currently on the injured list with a right oblique strain. The M’s also haven’t gotten much from first baseman Josh Naylor (.682 OPS), whom they re-signed to a five-year, $92.5 million extension this past offseason.
But the Mariners’ outfield has picked up the slack. Luke Raley and Julio Rodríguez lead the team with 13 homers apiece, and Randy Arozarena leads all M’s position players with a 2.6 WAR. Designated hitter Dominic Canzone (144 OPS+) and shortstop J.P. Crawford (10 homers) have also been big contributors offensively. The Mariners also called up top prospect Colt Emerson to play third base, and he’s performed well so far. The Mariners’ lineup skews very left-handed, with all of their regulars except Rodríguez and Arozarena swinging from the left side. That could be a problem for the Orioles, who have three right-handed pitchers starting in this series.
Game 1: Monday, 6:35 PM, MASN
RHP Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.80) vs. TBD
The Mariners’ rotation features five above-average, homegrown hurlers under the age of 30. Not gonna lie, I’m a little jealous. They’ll start the series with Hancock, who’s been the best of them all so far. The 27-year-old, who’d had only middling results in three seasons since debuting in 2023, has put it all together in 2026. In addition to his impressive ERA, he’s carrying a sub-1.00 WHIP and is striking out a batter per inning. Hancock faced the Orioles once last season, holding them to one run in 5.2 innings, with an Adley Rutschman dinger his only blemish.
As of this writing, the Orioles still don’t have a starter listed for the opening game. It’s Chris Bassitt’s turn, but he left his last outing early with lower back tightness and his status for tonight is unclear. If Bassitt can’t go, the O’s presumably will call up Trey Gibson, who last started June 3 for Triple-A Norfolk and would be on regular rest.
At 29, Gilbert is the graybeard of the Mariners’ rotation (not counting veteran Luis Castillo, who’s been moved to long relief). The 2024 All-Star is continuing to limit walks and rack up strikeouts, though he’s among the lowest percentile of pitchers for hard-hit %, barrel %, and average exit velocity, so batters have been squaring him up a decent amount. The O’s offense will need to be aggressive and attack pitches in the zone. The only Orioles who have faced Gilbert frequently are his former AL West opponents Taylor Ward and Leody Taveras. Ward is 6-for-22 with a homer against him, while Taveras is just 2-for-17, but both hits are home runs.
Meanwhile, Rogers might be creeping his way back to being a solid pitcher, if not his dynamite 2025 self. In each of his last two starts, he’s begun the game with 5+ scoreless innings, only to hit the wall and lose effectiveness around the 70-pitch mark. It’s progress, for sure. This is a good matchup for Rogers, as the lefty-heavy Mariners are batting just .209/.290/.336 against southpaws this year.
Game 3: Wednesday, 6:35 PM, MASN
RHP George Kirby (5-5, 4.04) vs. RHP Brandon Young (4-1, 3.47)
Could Brandon Young be the first successful Mike Elias-signed and developed Orioles pitcher? It’s shaping up that way. The 27-year-old has rattled off three straight quality starts and now has the best ERA of any Orioles starter. Young has been a huge boost to an O’s rotation that’s been wracked by injuries, and his spot seems more than secure right now. This will be his first career start against Seattle.
Kirby, a former first round pick, began his career with three strong seasons from 2022-24 before slipping a bit last year. This season he hasn’t quite returned to form, with a career-worst K/9 of 7.4 and the highest WHIP and H/9 rate of his career. Still, that could just be small-sample-size noise. For whatever reason, he’s seen the Orioles a lot; his eight career starts against them are his most against any non-division opponent, though he’s just 2-5 with a 3.26 ERA. Ward, the former Angel, has tagged Kirby for three career homers.
Bradish seemed to have reclaimed his ace status after a stellar May, but he got roughed up by the Blue Jays in his first start of June. Hopefully it was just a one-off. Overall he’s pitching with the same kind of stuff and swagger that he displayed in his great 2023 season, looking fully recovered from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2024. Bradish will need to be careful with Arozarena, who has homered twice against him in his career.
Woo, 26, is the youngest Mariners starter and the one coming off the best 2025 season, when he was an All-Star and finished fifth in the AL Cy Young vote after posting a 2.94 ERA in 30 starts. Woo worked six or more innings in his first 25 starts of that year, which seems like a herculean task in this day and age of baseball. He hasn’t quite matched that durability this year, already with three starts in which he failed to last six innings. Woo has had four outings of six or more shutout innings, but also four outings in which he allowed four or more runs, including his most recent start in Detroit. This might be a good time to give Taylor Ward a day off; he’s 0-for-13 with five strikeouts lifetime against Woo.
How many games do you think the Orioles will win in this series, Camden Chatters? Let us know in the comments.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Brooks Brannon #71 of the Boston Red Sox and David Sandlin #20 of the Boston Red Sox walk in from the bullpen before an exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 14, 2025 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If Triple-A baseball borrowed hockey’s “three stars of the game”, the WooSox’s pick for first star in the finale against Buffalo (Blue Jays AAA) would be easy. They had two extra-base hits; both came from lead-off guy Braiden Ward, and one of those doubles drove Tsung-Che Cheng in to make it a 5-2 ball game. The bullpen was then pretty nails following Michael Sansone’s five innings of work where he allowed just two runs. Worcester now has four consecutive wins.
It’s pretty clear that Ward, the return for Brennan Bernardino, sees the ball well more often than not and is a strong backstop for the depth of the outfield in the minor league organization, and while primarily an outfielder, he’s also logged time at second base since being drafted by the Rockies in 2021. Ward finished off that series with a .522 slugging percentage in the month so far and his OBP is nearing .400 on the season. He’s a step below the rest of the outfield options currently in Boston for sure, but the last person trusted with the distinction of Worcester’s regularly leadoff guy (Nick Sogard) ended up on the Major League roster before his new stint on the injured list.
Now, while we’re discussing trends Worcester buys into… anyone care to explain this e-mail I got from them?
Gage Ziehl, who started his 2026 campaign in a rough spot, again looked awesome after initially giving up a run in the first, going five scoreless after that giving the Sea Dogs a really good chance to put Hartford (Rockies AA) away with his six total innings of one-run, eight strikeout ball. The offense wasn’t too pretty, as, through seven, the Sea Dogs were clinging on to a 2-1 lead. It was then that Franklin Arias’ team OPS crown, which was thought to be untouchable as he ran through May with it hovering around 1.3, was relinquished when Brooks Brannon had a solo shot over the “Maine Monster” in left in the eighth inning, and that sealed it for Portland. Oh, silly me, I’m forgetting the important part. That mammoth ball travelled 464 feet with an exit velocity of 115 miles per hour. Brannon, ironically enough, is pictured above with David Sandlin, who we know as the prospect in “fine, damn, here’s a prospect too, just get Jordan Hicks off of this baseball team” trade, in which the Sox acquired Ziehl. He now has nine home runs on the season. Here that absolute rocket is.
Look, I’m going to be honest: amidst people wondering why the 20-year-old Arias isn’t getting a call up to Triple-A, I’m actually pretty confounded on why Brannon, who plays first as well as catcher, isn’t getting a shot at playing first base in Worcester. (Brannon has been DH’ing the majority of games this season as Ronald Rosario and Johanfran Garcia have been splitting time on the bump.) I’m a Matt Lloyd fan, sure, but the upside is limited there. Brannon is 22, has a few years in the minors now having been drafted in 2022, put on 25 pounds over the winter and has really established his power tool in the process. Now that his OPS has eclipsed 1.000, time to make the call.
Greenville: Cancelled, Rain
The finale with Rome (Braves High-A) is scrapped entirely.
The finale in Wilson (Brewers A) was over almost before it began as Salem ends the series having won just 1 of 6. Any night you commit four defensive errors, you don’t stand a good chance at winning, but the offense kept up with the defensive shortcomings. Shortstop Avinson Pinto celebrated his 19th birthday (it was on May 29th…. close enough) with a triple and a home run. Unfortunately, though, the triple and Kleyvar Salazar’s grand slam happened in the midst of Salem being scored on in four consecutive innings; the game was 11-5 at its worst and even the 4-spot from Salazar couldn’t draw the game any closer than a two-run deficit. It’s nice, though, to see catchers slugging up and down the organization.
Williams enters in great form, sporting a 2.80 xFIP, 27.2 K%, and 3.2 BB% over the last 30 days. He's played his best at home, where he has allowed more than two runs only once through six starts.
New York Yankees starter Will Warren has shown some red flags of late, posting an xFIP (5.01) nearly double his ERA (2.78) the past 30 days. Back the Guardians to -135.
Yankees vs Guardians Over/Under pick: Under 8 (-115)
The Yankees have predictably slowed down offensively without Aaron Judge in the lineup. They’ve scored 20 runs over five games, and were held to four or fewer in four of them.
Williams is allowing an average of just 1.70 runs per start in Cleveland, so this is not a spot we should see a spike.
Run line: Yankees +1.5 (-200) | Guardians -1.5 (+165)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)
Yankees vs Guardians trend
The Guardians have cashed the moneyline in 16 of their last 25 games for +6.6 units and a 21% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Guardians.
How to watch Yankees vs Guardians and game info
Location
Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Date
Monday, June 8, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
FS1
Yankees starting pitcher
Will Warren (7-1, 3.22 ERA)
Guardians starting pitcher
Gavin Williams (9-3, 3.20 ERA)
Yankees vs Guardians latest injuries
Yankees vs Guardians 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.
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Spurs Game 3 computer picks
Dylan Harper Under 5.5 rebounds (-115)
Projection: 3.83 rebounds
This is the one and only five-star play our model found for this game, sitting with a 25.75% EV edge. Dylan Harper has been a beast on the boards, but our projections call for fewer rebounding chances for the guard at MSG tonight.
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Julian Champagnie Over 10.5 points (-115)
Projection: 11.25 points
Julian Champagnie took only five threes in Game 2, but still finished with eight points. The San Antonio Spurs need him to knock down outside looks to avoid a 0-3 hole, and his volume will be high enough to reach 11 points.
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De'Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points (-112)
Projection: 16.26 points
After a sluggish Game 1, De'Aaron Fox found his groove in his last outing with 20 points. Mitch Johnson has proven he is riding with his veteran PG, and he'll continue to get plenty of shots.
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Knicks Game 3 computer picks
Josh Hart Under 4.5 assists (-112)
Projection: 3.48 assists
Josh Hart has had a rough NBA Finals thus far, playing just 18 minutes in Game 2. While that was mostly due to foul trouble, our model doesn't see Hart's playmaking having much impact tonight.
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Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 assists (-150)
Projection: 4.97 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns has been doing it all for the New York Knicks this series, eclipsing this assist total in both games. KAT is averaging nearly six assists per game in the postseason, and our model calls for him to dish out four more tonight.
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Jalen Brunson Under 25.5 points (+100)
Projection: 24.87 points
The Spurs have made it clear they're willing to let anyone but Jalen Brunson beat them. JB scored just 20 points on horrible efficiency, and one can only assume he'll get the majority of the defensive focus tonight at MSG.
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How to watch Spurs vs Knicks Game 3
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Monday, June 8, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Eli Willits #2 of the Washington Nationals bats during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 19, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Paul Toboni and the Nationals front office must have been in a giving mood last night because they made all sorts of promotions. Several prospects, including some of the biggest names in the organization rose up the ranks. Eli Willits, Devin Fitz-Gerald and Ethan Petry were among the players to be promoted.
Eli Willits will be the first 18-year-old debuting at the High-A level in 2026 💥
The #Nats have promoted several prospects including 3 Top-15:
— WSH №1/MLB №4 Eli Willits to High-A — WSH №5/MLB №97 Devin Fitz-Gerald to Double-A —WSH №13 Ethan Petry to Double-A pic.twitter.com/lguQHAgDuB
This is a monster day for the organization. Willits and Fitz-Gerald are two of the Nats top five prospects, and now they are moving up. Fitz-Gerald is headed to Double-A, while Willits takes his place in the High-A infield. None of these promotions were overly surprising, just all of them happening at once was a bit of a shock to the system.
The biggest promotion of the day was Eli Willits, the former number one overall pick. Willits got off to a slower start, but has picked it up in a huge way. After a monster series this week, Willits is now hitting .300 with a .918 OPS in Low-A. Of course, Willits also brings elite defense and base running to this quality offensive game.
So far this season, Willits has been a slightly different hitter than expected. His 23.3% strikeout rate is a little bit higher than anticipated. However, he has shown more power than evaluators were expecting, especially this early in his career. Willits already has 6 homers and 14 extra base hits on the season. He is also one of just ten 18 year olds to have at least a 150 wRC+ at Low-A, with some impressive names on that list.
Eli Willits was having a historic season at Low-A
He was 1/10 18-year-olds at the level since 2006 to record a min. 150 wRC+ (min. 230 PA)
The others?
Trout Harper Stanton Wander Chourio Basallo Tatis Jr. Jon Singleton Freeman
Having seen Willits, he just looks like such a safe bet to be at least a solid big leaguer, which is a crazy thing to say about an 18 year old. Everything he does on the field is so smooth and natural. He is an incredibly sure handed fielder, with just one error all season. Willits could probably play a quality big league shortstop tomorrow. He is also like the energizer bunny on the bases. The youngster is always looking to make plays, as shown by his 29 steals.
He will be in for a fun matchup to start his High-A career though. The Blue Rocks head to Greensboro, where an elite pitching prospect resides. Seth Hernandez was the 6th overall pick in last year’s draft and has established himself as an elite pitching prospect already. He absolutely tore through Low-A before his promotion. Now the two blue chip prospects will likely face off sometime this week.
Potential Seth Hernandez vs Eli Willits matchup this week in Greensboro https://t.co/DpYOmMiTJw
Willits is the biggest name to be promoted in this spree, but there are plenty of other movements on the farm. Talk Nats was all over this, so a major shoutout to him. One promotion that was a long time coming was Ethan Petry’s move to Double-A.
As a productive SEC hitter, it just felt like High-A was too easy for Petry. Now, he will be tested at the Double-A level. I will be looking to see if his contact rates stay strong. Petry was making in zone contact at an above average clip in High-A despite being known as a power over hit guy. If those contact skills translate to AA, he could be a potential top 100 prospect.
Speaking of top 100 prospects, Devin Fitz-Gerald got called up to Double-A as well. The timing on this one is intriguing because DFG was in the midst of a major slump. He just snapped an 0 for 22 skid in his most recent game. However, before this cold streak, Fitz-Gerald was one of the hottest bats in all of minor league baseball. There was a time last month where it felt like he was homering every game.
🚨Devin Fitz-Gerald: A+ —> AA
237 PA at A+: .267/.373/.530 | 12 HR | 26 XBH 11/12 SB | 17.7-K% / 12.9-BB%
DFG makes the jump to AA at just 20 years old. This comes after he busted an 0/22 slump earlier today. Super exciting upside #DFGT50pic.twitter.com/PhFZpzTYYY
— Nats Of The Future (@NatsOfTheFuture) June 7, 2026
While Fitz-Gerald has cooled off, his season OPS is still above .900. That is highly impressive for a 20 year old who plays his home games in pitcher friendly park. There is also a chance that his slump may have actually led to his promotion. That home run frenzy may have led to some bad habits forming. By getting to a new level, Fitz-Gerald is going to have to focus on making contact rather than swinging for the fences on every swing.
Those home runs might have made Fitz-Gerald’s swing a little too big. He has a great ability to pull the ball in the air, which leads to homers, but DFG should not be trying to be a home run hitter. Fitz-Gerald is at his best when he is trying to hit line drives to right field and then swinging for the fences when he gets the right pitch. Once he remembers that he is a pure hitter with power and not a slugger, the results will come.
One other promotion I wanted to shout out is Jack Moroknek, who dominated in Low-A. He was a joy to talk to when I chatted to him for my story when I went down to Fredericksburg. Moroknek is a self aware guy, who knows he is not some mega prospect. He is just really happy to be playing professional baseball and being teammates with guys like Eli Willits. The 11th rounder still has a long way to go, but I am keeping my eye on him.
These are the only promotions we know for now, but there could be more coming. With Petry and Fitz-Gerald coming to Double-A, a Cayden Wallace promotion would make a lot of sense. Wallace is 24 and has been performing in Double-A. The Triple-A infield is crowded, but his versatility makes it easy to find him a spot in a lineup. Sam Petersen has also been hitting the ball well lately, but the AAA outfield is even more crowded.
This is a big day for the organization, especially with Willits being called up. After he was drafted, Eli Willits said his goal was to be in the big leagues by the time he is 20 years old. He will be 18 for all of this season, and has already made it to High-A. Willits is on track to be in the big leagues as a 20 year old, and could even get a cup of coffee as a teenager if he has a monster year next season.
While the big league team is making more noise than expected, the farm system is still a massive priority for the new regime. The farm has more depth than I can ever remember, and these promotions are a good example of that. In the past, a lot of players got promoted too quickly, with Seaver King being a good example. However, it is tough to say that any of these guys did not earn these promotions. I am excited to watch these guys perform at the next level and march to the big leagues.
The 29-year-old centerman, who won gold with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics, is entering the fourth season of an eight-year deal worth $8.7 million annually.
Per Helen St. James of the Detroit Free Press, the New York Islanders, who are looking to add a top-six scorer, are not one of the teams on Larkin's shortlist, which was submitted to Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman.
Those three teams are believed to be: Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights.
While this list can be expanded on, and likely will be, it's clear that Larkin wants to join a Stanley Cup contender, as he should, after years of waiting for Yzerman to build a winning hockey club in Michigan.
NHL Insider Frank Seravalli has cited The Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James, and confirmed that Dylan Larkin has submitted a three team list for a trade out of Detroit.
The three teams are the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and, to no one's surprise, the Vegas Golden Knights. Shocker, right?
This means that the Columbus Blue Jackets are effectively out of the running for Larkin's services.
Many fans considered it a pipe dream anyway, but with the Zach Werenski connection, many believed that it could be a move that very well might happen. Other fans knew from the start that Larkin would never come to Columbus, as the soon-to-be 30-year-old had no interest in a team like Columbus.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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CLEARWATER, MEXICO - MARCH 14: Gabriel Rincones Jr #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies dives into second base during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It was a day of completing series for the minor league teams. How did the team’s youngsters do?
Rochester 7, Lehigh Valley 6
Part of a looming issue facing the big league team right now is depth. What if there was a major injury of some kind, particularly to the pitching staff? Is there someone there that you would feel good about bringing to the major leagues? While the pitching staff would be a problem, what about the outfield? We know that Gabriel Rincones would likely be the initial choice, but outside of that? Keaton Anthony (2-5, RBI)? Dylan Carlson (2-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI)? Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
Binghamton 4, Reading 2
Speaking of looming things, the trade deadline is coming. The team has a good amount of prospect capital playing in Reading right now, some of it performing quite well. Aroon Escobar (0-3, K) is one of those prospects that might attract attention, as is maybe Bryan Rincon (1-4) and Raylin Heredia (2-4, R, HR, 2 RBI). The pitching prospects? Maybe not so much.
Brooklyn 5, Jersey Shore 3
Pedro Leon (2-3, R, 3B, HR, 3 RBI) is an interesting player. Originally signed to give them some outfield depth at the major league level, he got hurt in spring training and has had to rehab and various parts of the minor leagues. Now in High-A, he’s been mashing the ball….but why isn’t he moving up the ladder? They have Dante Nori at Reading, which is who they’d like to get regular at bats at that level, but what about Lehigh Valley? Why not go there and see if he can be an option in centerfield there? Is Dylan Carlson too much to overcome? Do they like Leon enough to just let him hit the ball hard in Lakewood? I have questions.
Clearwater 11, St. Lucie 8
Nathan Humphreys, have a day. The young DH went 4-4 with two home runs and five RBI, leading the Threshers to victory. He wasn’t alone in the offensive explosion either. Juan Villavicencio and Jonathan Hogart each had three hits on the day, both hitting a home run. Sean Youngerman was pretty bad on the mound, allowing six runs in two innings, but when offenses are doing things like that, you can look past the mound struggles.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 08: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic (50) on the mound against the Detroit Tigers on May 8th, 2026 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Royals have spent much of the season looking like a team destined to sell at the trade deadline. At 27-39, they own one of the American League’s worst records and remain on pace for nearly 100 losses. The starting pitching staff is likely to be targeted by several contenders.
USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale wrote an early preview of the trade deadline, focused largely on Tigers pitching star Tarik Skubal. He reports that Royals pitcher Kris Bubic is drawing interest from the upstart Athletics. But he adds, theRoyals may not be ready to dump their roster despite their record.
The Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins, two more teams going nowhere, say they aren’t ready to sell considering the AL absolutely stinks, and they are somehow still alive in the wild-card race.
Despite all their struggles, the Royals are only 5.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, and a recent stretch of five wins in seven games has offered a glimpse of the club many expected to contend this year.
Bubic has been out since mid-May with elbow soreness and had a bullpen session this week, but has no timetable to return. The 28-year-old Northern California native was an All-Star last year, and had a 4.11 ERA in nine starts this year, his final year before he is eligible for free agency.
If the Royals decide to become sellers, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha could also draw significant interest, although both are in the middle of multi-year contract extensions. Cole Ragans could be attractive if he can establish his health – he has also been since May and was shut down after he experienced discomfort in a rehab start. Relievers Matt Strahm, John Schreiber, and Alex Lange could also be targeted by teams needing bullpen help.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 07: Esteury Ruiz #3 of the Miami Marlins slides into home against Hunter Feduccia #9 of the Tampa Bay Rays to score during the seventh inning at loanDepot park on June 07, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees flirted with leaving the weekend against the Red Sox winless, as they were tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the eighth and hadn’t taken advantage of an excellent day from Cam Schlittler. Thankfully the Bombers’ bats came alive at last, Cody Bellinger breaking the ice with a solo shot before a Trent Grisham RBI single and a three-run blast by Jazz Chisholm Jr. gave the Yanks some breathing room. Final score: 6-1 Yanks and an offense hopefully back on track.
Here’s what else was going on in American League action on Sunday, which included a key game that brought the Yanks back to the forefront of the AL East.
Tampa Bay Rays (37-25) 1, Miami Marlins (31-35) 4
The Fish really did the Yankees a solid over the weekend, as despite entering with a 29-34 record, they took two out of three from the first-place Rays. In fairness to Tampa Bay, Sunday was a tougher matchup with former Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara in control. He went seven strong innings, allowing one run on five hits and a walk, the lone score coming in the third when Yandy Díaz singled in Taylor Walls after the latter swiped second.
Griffin Jax isn’t a schmuck though, and for his part, the recently-converted reliever shut the Marlins down in five scoreless frames. With Garrett Cleavinger, however, the Fish fared better. Liam Hicks worked a one-out walk in the sixth and Otto Lopez tied the game with a triple that Cedric Mullins failed to cut off in center.
Kyle Stowers lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Lopez and the Marlins were in front.
Miami added insurance runs after a strike-’em-out/throw-’em-out double play that was part of a three-batter seventh for Sandy. Steven Matz entered for Tampa Bay, fresh off his return to the bullpen with the Rays abandoning their effort to make him a starter again. His first relief appearance didn’t go so hot either. The lefty walked Esteury Ruiz, allowed a stolen base, and then issued a free pass to Jakob Marsee. The duo executed a double steal, and the Rays brought the infield in. Joe Mack grounded to shortstop, but catcher Hunter Fedducia couldn’t handle the throw home. Both Ruiz and Marsee scored to make it 4-1, Miami.
Michael Petersen and Anthony Bender combined to allow a mere Jonathan Aranda single across the final two innings as the Marlins took the series. The Rays are now back in a virtual tie with the Yankees for first place in the AL East, technically percentage points ahead of them at 37-25 (.597) vs. 38-26 (.594), but they have played two fewer games than the Yanks. On the MLB.com standings page, they’re even in terms of games ahead/behind. Regardless, the Rays host the Red Sox for three at the Trop next while the Yanks go to Cleveland.
Other Games
Toronto Blue Jays (32-34) 6, Baltimore Orioles (31-35) 4: The Jays enjoyed beating Baltimore 6-4 so much on Saturday that they did the exact same thing yesterday. There was more drama to this one, as the O’s jumped out to a 4-0 lead with an ambush on Kevin Gausman, Colton Cowser and Taylor Ward both homering in the four-run fifth. An inning later, the Jays stormed back. Yohendrick Piñango led off with a homer against Shane Baz, and after a Jesús Sánchez double and an error by Gunnar Henderson, the floodgates opened. An RBI groundout, single, and double followed, the last an Andrés Giménez hit to tie the game at 4-4. Nathan Lukes then reached on an infield single that caromed off the mound, and the play was just so slow enough for Giménez to come all the way around to score. Brandon Valenzuela later homered off Rico Garcia for an insurance run and Louie Varland retired three batters in a row as the potential tying run to nail down the Jays win.
Seattle Mariners (34-32) 4, Detroit Tigers (27-39) 5: The brutal season for Andrés Muñoz continues. The two-time All-Star closer has been dreadful in 2026, and he blew another game on Sunday, dooming Seattle to a series loss at the hands of the Tigers. They’ve been playing better this past week, but Seattle had this one in hand. Run-scoring hits from Josh Naylor, Cole Young, and Randy Arozarena gave the M’s a 4-1 lead. It was trimmed to 4-3 due to an ineffective Cooper Criswell, and then Muñoz entered for the ninth. He issued consecutive walks with one out to Zach McKinstry and the man whose triple had already cut into Seattle’s lead, Wenceel Pérez. A soft grounder moved the runners over, and down to Detroit’s last out, rookie Kevin McGonigle came through with a two-run single to win it.
Cleveland Guardians (37-30) 0, Texas Rangers (32-33) 10: The Mariners’ loss was the Rangers’ gain, as the obliterated the Guardians to move to within a game and a half of Seattle in the underwhelming AL West race. (The A’s also won to move to within 2.5.) It was a nice atonement for Texas after a 6-0 loss on Saturday. Cleveland’s Joey Cantillo was obliterated to the tune of seven runs on nine hits, three of which came on homers to Josh Jung, Wyatt Langford, and Justin Foscue. Jacob deGrom threw six scoreless for the Rangers, yielding just three hits. The Guardians retained a two-game AL Central lead over the White Sox, who would be leading the AL West. Unfortunately for them, it is not 1983 or 1993.
LE PUY-EN-VELAY, FRANCE - JUNE 08: (L-R) Joao Almeida of Portugal, Pablo Torres of Spain and UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Gianni Vermeersch of Belgium, Callum Thornley of Great Britain, Haimar Etxeberria of Spain and Team Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and a general view of the peloton competing during the 78th Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes 2026, Stage 2 a 234.3km stage from Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux to Le Puy-en-Velay 624m / #UCIWT / on June 08, 2026 in Le Puy-en-Velay, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hickory starter Evan Siary allowed two runs in five innings, striking out four and walking one. Owen Proksch struck out two and walked one in two innings. Michael Trausch faced four batters, threw six strikes in 21 pitches, and allowed a hit, three walks and two runs.
Hector Osorio was 3 for 5 with a homer — his 13th of the year — and I wouldn’t be shocked if this was his last game at Hickory. Paulino Santana had a pair of doubles. Daniel Flames doubled. Josh Springer had a hit. Brayling more had a pinch hit single.
Hub City starter D.J. McCarty struck out nine in 4.2 IP, allowing two runs, including a solo homer, and walking one. Case Matter threw 0.2 scoreless. Joey Danielson struck out two in a shutout inning.
Yeison Morrobel was 3 for 5 with a walk and a homer. Esteban Mejia was 3 for 4 with a homer and a stolen base. Maxton Martin had a hit.
In Game One, Dylan MacLean gave up four runs in four innings, striking out two and allowing a pair of homers. Josh Trentadue walked one in a shutout inning. Wilian Bormie threw a scoreless inning.
Josh Smith began his rehab assignment, hit leadoff, playing second base, and was 2 for 3 with a homer and a walk. Rafe Perich homered. Dylan Dreiling had a hit and a pair of walks.
In Game Two, Bryan Magdaleno walked two and struck out one in a scoreless inning. Ryan Lobus threw 1.2 scoreless innings.
Josh Smith led off and DH’d in Game Two, going 0 for 1 with a walk before being lifted for a pinch hitter. Rafe Perich was 2 for 3 with a homer. Ian Moller homered.
Round Rock starter David Davalillo was lifted after recording just two outs, likely because he was at 34 pitches for the inning, with an 11 pitch walk to Alek Thomas being his final batter. Thomas Ireland allowed two runs in three innings, striking out two and walking two. Gavin Collyer allowed a run in 1.1 IP, striking out one and walking one. Michael Otanez struck out one and walked one in 0.2 IP, allowing a run. Emiliano Teodo walked one and struck out one in a shutout inning.
Alejandro Osuna was 2 for 4. Cam Cauley and Blaine Crim each had a hit.
14 Apr 1997: Pitcher John Hudek of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. The Astros won the game 4-2. | Getty Images
John Hudek’s start was something that only Hollywood could conjure up. A year to the day from when he was in Toledo, Ohio and the Tigers dropped from the 40-man roster, he’d appear as an All-Star for the Houston Astros. He was a model of perseverance. He’s reliever John Hudek, and he’s our 23rd entry of our continuing Legends Series.
Q: You made your MLB debut with the Astros in April of 1994. Three months later you were an All-Star. What do you remember about that 1994 All Star Game?
A: In the game, first they told me to go and get loose. So, I threw like five pitches and I was ready, I was so hyped up. I honestly didn’t even know I was facing Cal Ripken Jr and I struck him out. I just brought fastballs to him pretty much. I was so locked in.
My approach was always; it’s me against you, so I didn’t even pay attention to who I was facing. Afterwards though, I was like oh my gosh! I got Cal! (laughs)
Q: That 1994 All-Star Game was also fun because at one point, you, Doug Drabek, Biggio, Bagwell and Caminiti were all on the field together. What was it like having so many teammates on the All-Star team?
A: Back then having five in the All-Star Game was a big deal. It was such an incredible experience.
You’ll remember that was the year that Bagwell was hitting everything. It didn’t matter if there were no outs, or two outs, he was getting guys who were on base in. The thing about that group of five, is that we all earned the right.
Drabek had won the Cy Young with Pittsburgh earlier so going back and playing that night was awesome.
Q: Of the 194 games that you appeared in, what was the most memorable for you?
A: I had situations that were cool. My first official save was incredible. Sometimes what I remember is just the friendships.
One time, I gave up a bomb and Bagwell is out there and he’s taking forever to come in and I’m like, “let’s go” and he’s like I can’t, I’m waiting for that ball to come down that you threw (laughs). That thing went all the way up on the tarps in Miami but that’s how we would bring each other down to earth. Stuff would happen every outing, but every save was special and of course that All-Star Game was big.
In one my career official at bat, I actually got a hit and drove in a pair of runs!
Q: How close a group was that 1994 team?
A: I played with Derek Bell in High School. Gonzo was also there, Dave Magadan was from there, so all of those guys and then you had so many great players thrown into the mix, it was a special group and time. Those guys didn’t have any attitudes; they just played hard and had fun.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 07: Corbin Carroll #7 of the Arizona Diamondbacks gestures to his dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Chase Field on June 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game Recaps
[Dbacks.com] ‘Pretty dominant’: Soroka’s latest gem salvages D-backs’ homestand – Behind another good outing from Michael Soroka, the Diamondbacks beat the Nationals, 5-1, on Sunday afternoon to avoid a sweep in the three-game series. They finished up their week at home with a 3-4 mark. “Probably an incomplete grade,” manager Torey Lovullo said when asked to assess the homestand. “Nothing overly alarming, and nothing to get overly excited about. I want to come home and win baseball games. “It’s been a bit of an up-and-down stretch for the Diamondbacks. They dominated a run of 13 straight games against the NL’s two worst teams, going a combined 11-2 against the Rockies and Giants. They got swept in Seattle before coming home to face the Dodgers for four games.
[AZ Central] Michael Soroka’s career revival continues with 8th win of season – Michael Soroka’s last winning season was 2019, when he went 13-4 for Atlanta and was a National League All-Star. Seven years later, he’s headed toward more wins than losses; he’s 8-3 after holding the Nationals to a run on three hits over seven innings on Sunday, June 7, at Chase Field. Soroka matched his season high for most innings pitched in a game, and also struck six. He recorded his first seven-inning game with one or fewer runs allowed since August 2019. “It says a lot about how the team’s played,” Soroka said, asked what eight wins says about how he’s pitched in 2026. “I’ve been on the other end of the wins stat in my career. I went 0-and-10 in 2024. I didn’t pitch well for a good chunk of that. But these guys have supported me with some runs and some good defense.”
[MLB Trade Rumors] Diamondbacks Sign Max Kepler – News broke last January about Kepler’s positive test for the PED known as Epitrenbolone, and with Kepler still on the free agent market, his camp and Major League Baseball worked out an agreement for Kepler to serve his 80-game suspension even if he didn’t land a new contract. Since Kepler didn’t sign until now, he has been serving his 80-game suspension as if he was still a member of the Phillies (his former team). This makes June 25 the first day Kepler is eligible to take part in the 2026 season, so he’ll get a couple of weeks of ramp-up time in the minor leagues before making his D’Backs debut. Even before the suspension, Kepler was likely facing a tough market given his lack of production with the Phillies last year. He hit .216/.300/.391 with 18 home runs over 474 plate appearances, and even those modest numbers now come under the cloud of the PED suspension.
[SI] What D-backs’ Ugly Series Loss to Nationals Told Us — And What It Didn’t – After being blown out 14-1 in game one, the D-backs picked up just two hits against Zack Littell in game two. Littell had an ERA north of 5.00 coming in to Saturday’s game. But more critically, Arizona could not find a way to bring runners home once on base. They turned in a dismal 1-for-12 performance with runners in scoring position in this series, including an 0-for-7 day in game three’s 5-1 win. That game might have been a blowout victory with a semblance of improved RISP hitting. It’s a problem that the Diamondbacks only had 12 at-bats with runners in scoring position. It’s a worse problem only one resulted in a hit. This will have to change very quickly.
[Arizona Daily Star] Early signs point to progress in Diamondbacks’ pitching pipeline – “It’s good to see progress, but it’s too early to necessarily say what the long-term progress is going to be in that area,” D-backs general manager Mike Hazen said. “It’s going to take some time.” Hazen said some of the improvements can be traced to philosophical changes and processes implemented by Jeremy Bleich, the club’s new assistant general manager, who was hired in December to revamp the team’s pitching infrastructure. Hazen said Bleich has made a “major impact” on improving strike-throwing from a mentality standpoint. He said the club’s changes to add velocity are still taking shape. “We’re obviously trying to build the engines of our pitchers safely, engines that can drive higher average velocities and I think they’re doing a good job of that,” Hazen said.
[Arizona Sports] Report: D-backs 2B Ketel Marte continuing to frustrate segments of organization with absences – Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte has continued to frustrate segments of the organization for taking days off, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Marte missed the Diamondbacks’ game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. The decision was a combination of Marte and Arizona’s medical staff due to lower back and hamstring issues, and they did not want to risk further injury, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro. Marte’s absence was a talking point last season as there was some drama off the field due to absences and days-off requests around the All-Star break, which reportedly rubbed teammates the wrong way given the timing of the requests. He later apologized.
[AP] Kyle Freeland now Rockies’ all-time innings pitched leader – The Denver native got Luis Rengifo to fly out in the fifth inning to take over the top spot. That first out to center put Freeland at 1,312 2/3 innings for his career and one-third ahead of Aaron Cook, the sinkerball specialist who notched 1,312 1/3 innings for Colorado from 2002 to ’11. Freeland received an ovation and made sure to appreciate the moment — just like former Rockies manager Bud Black once instructed.”I kind of thought of Buddy, that he’d love for me to tip the cap,” Freeland said after the Brewers finished off a three-game sweep with a 12-4 win Sunday. “I know that he would have probably told me, ‘Hey, make sure you tip your cap to the fans out there for their support of you over the years.’ I made sure I found my family to tip my cap to them, too.”
The War Between (2025)
Rating: C+
Dir: Deborah Correa
Star: Damian Conrad-Davis, Sam Bullington, Wayne Charles Baker, Essa O’Shea
We’re familiar with the location in which this takes place. Picacho Peak is just off to the right of I-10, as we head down to Tucson. By our marriage vows, I am required to refer to it as “Pikachu Peak,” every time we pass it, and Chris is obliged to roll her eyes and snort derisively. In 1862, it was the site of the second-most Western conflict of the Civil War, though the “Battle of Picacho Pass” hardly deserves the name, since it was more of a ninety-minute skirmish. There was barely a dozen men on either side, with the Confederate group prevailing and able subsequently to warn Tucson of the approaching Union army. It’s in the wake of this event that the film begins.
COVERS INTEL:
Spurs
Knicks
