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Astros vs Blue Jays Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB Game

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Houston Astros starter Mike Burrows should be in for a tough day against the pesky Toronto Blue Jays batters, who profile well against him, making Over 2.5 runs allowed my favorite play of the day. 

Read on for my Astros vs. Blue Jays predictions and MLB picks for this Wednesday, June 24 matchup.

Astros vs Blue Jays predictions

Astros vs Blue Jays best bet: Mike Burrows Over 2.5 earned runs (-150)

The Toronto Blue Jays' offense is turning a corner, averaging 4.6 runs per game with a 113 WRC+ over their last 10 games. 

They also profile well against Mike Burrows, who throws a heavy dose of the four-seamer, with the changeup as his main secondary pitch. The Houston Astros' hurler owns a 5.89 ERA this season, allowing 4.3 runs per game over his last six full starts. 

Toronto handles his pitch mix well with a league-leading .263 average against the four-seamer and changeup with a .440 slug rate.

The Jays have seen a power uptick lately as well, with 15 home runs over their last 10 games, which is a big reason why they’ve been able to score more runs lately. 

I’d bet this to -160.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Burrows gives up a lot of contact, ranking in the 22nd percentile in xBA, and decently hard contact with a high air-ball and line drive rate. 

Astros vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

Kazuma Okamoto has a hit in four of his last five games and profiles well against Burrows’ pitch mix, owning a .346 average against them since June 1. He’s recorded at least one hit in 14 of 19 games this month.

The Astros own a 32% strikeout rate against the splitter with a 38% whiff rate. Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage uses the splitter as his out-pitch and generates a 40% whiff rate on it.

Astros vs Blue Jays SGP

  • Mike Burrows Over 2.5 earned runs
  • Kazuma Okamoto Over 0.5 hits
  • Trey Yesavage Over 5.5 strikeouts
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Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.

Astros vs Blue Jays home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+265)

Okamoto profiles well against Burrows, who’s a contact pitcher that gets barreled up at a 9.1% rate and ranks in the 54th percentile in hard-hit rate 

The Jays slugger barrels the ball better than any other Blue Jays and makes hard contact with a .300 average and a 56.8% hard-hit rate against Burrows’ top pitches. 

Additionally, Burrows has surrendered 18 home runs through 14 starts this season, including at least one in eight of his last 10 outings. 

Despite the favorable matchup, I’ll make this a half-unit wager due to the volatility of the home run market. 

2026 Transparency record
  • Best bets: 36-40, +1.15 units
  • SGPs: 14-62, +0.15 units
  • HR picks: 13-63, +2.4 units

Astros vs Blue Jays odds

  • Moneyline: Houston +120 | Toronto -140
  • Run line: Houston +1.5 (-160) | Toronto -1.5 (+140)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)

Astros vs Blue Jays trend

The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the first five innings (F5) run line in seven of their last 10 games (+3.65 Units / 31% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Blue Jays.

How to watch Astros vs Blue Jays and game info

LocationRogers Centre, Toronto, ON
DateWednesday, 6-24-2026
First pitch7:07 p.m. ET
TVSCHN, SN
Astros starting pitcherMike Burrows
(3-8, 5.79 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcherTrey Yesavage
(3-3, 3.76 ERA)

Astros vs Blue Jays latest injuries

Astros vs Blue Jays weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Lakers selection of Cameron Carr loved by experts

WACO, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Cameron Carr #43 of the Baylor Bears smiles after a play in the first half during the game against the Arlington Baptist Patriots on December 29, 2025 at the Foster Pavilion in Waco,Texas. (Photo by Jake Schroeder/Baylor Athletics)

This NBA Draft has been lauded as one of the deepest in recent years.

Despite having a pick late in the first round, the Lakers still traded up to No. 24 and drafted Cameron Carr, providing the team with an explosive guard who immediately improves this team’s athleticism.

Considering where they were drafting, the Lakers did the best they could, picking a player with good defensive instincts and a certified 3-point shooter.

Here’s a look at the grades from a number of outlets for the selection.

J. Kyle Mann, The Ringer

Grade: A

Carr was reportedly projected to go as high as 14, and the lowest I’d heard he could slide to was 19. But this could end up being a blessing in disguise. Luka streamlines the games of the players around him, and he’ll give Carr more catch-and-shoot 3-point opportunities than he can handle. The Lakers need perimeter depth—they’re currently composed mostly of guards and beefier wings like Rui Hachimura, who’s an unrestricted free agent—so trading up a spot to grab a player they didn’t expect to be available was a nice piece of business.

John Hollinger, The Athletic

Grade: B+

I had Carr rated five spots higher than this and like his fit in L.A. as an athletic shot-maker who can do more than just make jump shots. I think Carr has a chance to be the player the Lakers thought they were getting when they picked Dalton Knecht. The Lakers paid to trade up and make sure they got their guy. 

Bryan Kalbrosky, USA Today

Grade: A

Cameron Carr was surprisingly still available this late in the first round despite having arguably the best performance of anyone at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine. Arguably the best athlete of anyone, especially among prospects in this range, Carr also provides value as someone who can stretch the floor as a shooter as well. With a wingspan nearly 7-foot-1, he should make a defensive impact breaking up passing lanes and blocking shots as well.

Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report

Grade: A

The Lakers were routinely linked to centers throughout mock draft season, which made sense in that the position was clearly a big need. There probably wasn’t enough said about the other needs on this team, though, like defensive playmaking and athleticism on the perimeter, which Cameron Carr will provide in droves.

Carr crushed it during the predraft process, which should’ve surprised no one. He has incredible length (a near 7’1″ wingspan jutting out of his 6’4.5″ frame), anti-gravity hops and an incendiary three-ball. His game is easy on the eyes, even if there are some questions about his creation chops.

It is entirely easy to envision him in a three-and-D role, although he needs to get stronger and more comfortable playing with physicality to really thrive in it. It also takes a good amount of optimism to picture him growing beyond that label, since his handle lacks wiggle, and his playmaking lacks vision.

Carr could have gone 10 picks earlier than this, and it wouldn’t have raised eyebrows (or received a harsh grade). This is awesome value at this spot in the draft, and Carr’s play-finishing should shine alongside a shot-creator like Luka Dončić.

Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation

Grade: B

Carr is knockdown three-point shooter on the wing with a 7’1 wingspan and the hops to dunk the ball and block shots at the rim. What’s not to like? Well, I worry he doesn’t have much utility in terms of driving and passing, and I think his defensive projection is a little overrated because he struggles to contain the ball. This is still a pretty good value play, and his shooting will definitely fit well next to Luka Doncic.


Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo Sports

Grade: A-

Luka Dončić said in a recent interview that he’d ideally like to be paired with shooters that can space the floor so he’s not doubled as often. Well, he got his wish here with Carr after the Lakers traded up to the No. 24 pick with the Knicks. You could have watched every Tennessee game for two years and genuinely not known that Carr existed. Then he transferred to Baylor, and led the team in scoring, shot nearly 40% from 3 on high volume, and looked like a 3-and-D role player who also has blossoming skills off the dribble. With NBA genes in his blood, as the son of former player Chris Carr, Cameron has the skills to make it in the NBA. But at 184 pounds with not a ton of games under his belt, he’s going to get introduced to the NBA’s physicality in a way college basketball never did. The Lakers could use his shooting and creation, though, as another wing on the roster.

Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports

Grade: B+

Carr definitely slipped a bit, but his physical traits and shotmaking is hard to find at this point in the draft. Carr followed up on his breakout season at Baylor with a terrific showing at the combine. Has a rare overlap of bouncy athleticism, extreme length (7-foot-plus wingspan), and shot-making, which is the basis for high long-term upside projections. Carr is a true three-level threat who can be a tough shot-maker from the perimeter, a constant threat to rise and fire in the mid-range area, and a straight-line slashing threat.

Carr is one of the few perimeter prospects in this draft who can combine length, athleticism, and shot-making. He still has some maturing to do, but Carr gives the Lakers physical tools and shooting range to match. He lacks physical strength and may not have an NBA-ready frame, which could be initially problematic on both ends of the floor. 

Stephen Noh, The Sporting Tribune

Grade: A–

The Lakers traded up one pick in order to select Carr, who slid from his projected range in the mid-to-late teens. This is a nice fit for him. He’s not great at creating his own shot, but he won’t need to while playing next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. What he can do is jump out of the gym and shoot 3’s. He’s the perfect play finisher to put next to those two. And he has one of the best gunners in NBA history in JJ Redick to draw up plays for him.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.


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Fantasy Baseball Steals Report: Jasson Domínguez shows speed, Reds have a problem

Welcome to the steals report! I will be here every Wednesday to go over important stolen base trends so you can find more speed for your fantasy teams.

Stealing a base is as much about the opposing pitcher and catcher as it is the actual base runner themself. So, being able to spot which teams and pitchers specifically are being run on most frequently will help you to figure out who can swipe some bags over the next week.

Last week, I talked about the Yankees potentially running wild against the Reds and they stole 10 bags in their three-game series over the weekend.

Before we get to this week’s important trends, here is the stolen base leaderboard on the season so far.

philsharperpowerranks.jpg
MLB Power Rankings: Harper and Schwarber fuel Phillies rise, Marlins feasting in June
The Phillies have the best record in baseball (33-16) since Don Mattingly took over as manager.
  • DJShortBW.jpg D.J. Short
    ,

Full Season Stolen Base Leaders

Player
SB
CS
Nasim Nuñez
31
3
Bobby Witt Jr.
28
4
José Ramírez
24
2
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
23
4
Oneil Cruz
21
4
Randy Arozarena
19
4
Fernando Tatis Jr.
18
8
Pete Crow-Armstrong
18
5
Jakob Marsee
18
9
José Caballero
17
7
Chandler Simpson
17
8

Nasim Nuñez has surged to the top of this leaderboard and is hitting better of late. He keeps finding ways to stay in the Nationals’ lineup everyday.

Otherwise, nearly half of this list is on the injured list right now. Thankfully, Bobby Witt Jr. seems to have avoided a similar fate with his knee injury and should be back in the Royals’ lineup soon.

Last Seven Days Stolen Base Leaders

Player
SB
CS
Nasim Nuñez
5
0
Jasson Domínguez
4
0
Jackson Merrill
4
0
Cooper Pratt
4
0
Dansby Swanson
3
0
Otto Lopez
3
0
Andrés Giménez
3
0
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
3
0
Bryson Stott
3
0
Chandler Simpson
3
0

Jasson Domínguez has hit the ground running – literally – since returning from the injured list. Do not overlook him if he happens to still be available on the waiver wire as a power, speed threat who’s hitting second for the Yankees against right-handed pitching.

There are questions about how Cooper Pratt’s bat will translate to the big leagues, but he’s getting on base so far and running when he does.

Our long national nightmare is over because Chandler Simpson has finally stolen a base again after going six weeks without successfully doing so.

Stolen Base Disappointments

Player
SB
CS
Geraldo Perdomo
11
7
Zach Neto
11
7
Ceddanne Rafaela
9
6
Austin Martin
8
5
Daylen Lile
7
5
Andy Pages
7
4
Garrett Mitchell
6
5
Gunnar Henderson
6
4
Willi Castro
5
4
Maikel Garcia
5
3
Lawrence Butler
5
3
Isaac Collins
4
4
Steven Kwan
3
1
Ozzie Albies
1
3
Jose Altuve
1
2
Willy Adames
1
2
Mookie Betts
1
2

For as much better Geraldo Perdomo has been as a hitter, he’s been remarkably inefficient as a base stealer.

Same with Zach Neto who just can’t get out of his own way in that realm so far.

Fantasy Baseball Stolen Base Targets

The Reds have allowed the most stolen bases in each of the last three weeks and have steamrolled their way to the most allowed in total on the season. Over the last seven days, opposing teams stole 12 bases against them and were only caught twice.

Andrew Abbott has been consistently targeted by base stealers lately. The Yankees swiped three bags against him and Jose Trevino on Saturday and with that, he’s now allowed the most stolen bases of any pitcher in the league.

Funny enough, he picked José Caballero off second base right after he stole it in the second inning. Abbott is remarkably low in terms of pick-off attempts considering how much he’s struggled lately in the running game.

Yet, Chase Burns was the Reds’ biggest culprit this week. The Yankees stole six bases against him and Tyler Stephenson on Sunday! They caught a runner as well and Burns picked Anthony Volpe off first, but six stolen bases is a load. Especially when only eight runners reached base during his entire start.

Being so effective all season may have hid some of Burns’ potential struggles in the run game because well, you can’t steal first base and his 1.06 WHIP is among the lowest of all qualified pitchers. We will keep an eye on him moving forward while targeting the Reds.

They face the Pirates and Brewers over the next week and Abbott is scheduled to next pitch on Friday night in Pittsburgh. So, take a look at Jake Mangum, Cooper Pratt, Jared Triolo, and David Hamilton as stolen base streaming options coming up.

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Ranger Suárez takes the ball in search of winning road trip

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 19: Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox tosses the ball during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 19, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

TV: NESN

First Pitch: 3:10 p.m. ET

The Red Sox should be playing for a sweep of the Rockies in the series finale, but we’ll finally let go of a rare Aroldis Chapman dud from Monday night. Boston got an exceptional start from Sonny Gray with 11 strikeouts in Tuesday’s win and could see another strong outing from Ranger Suárez on Wednesday. The lefty took a no-hitter into the seventh inning last time out against the Mariners and allowed two earned runs or less in each of his last three outings. 

Here’s who the Red Sox will send to the plate behind him Wednesday afternoon at Coors Field. 

The Rockies counter with lefty Kyle Freeland, who earlier this season set the franchise record for innings pitched in a Colorado uniform. 

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Kodai Senga moved to bullpen

Jun 23, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Mets are moving Kodai Senga to the bullpen, manager Carlos Mendoza announced before Wednesday’s doubleheader. Mendoza said that Senga could be used in a variety of roles, including multiple-inning bulk relief or high-leverage spots on back-to-back days. 

Senga has struggled to the tune of a 10.08 ERA in seven starts this season. Since returning from the injured list with lumbar spine inflammation on June 16, Senga has allowed eleven runs in 7.2 innings. Tuesday night’s start got off to a scintillating start, with Senga touching 98.9 mph and striking out a pair in the first inning — but things swiftly came crashing down, as the Cubs pounced for five runs in the second and two more in the fourth. That seems to have been the final straw in pushing Senga out of the rotation.

“We saw what he’s capable of doing,” Mendoza said in a press conference before Wednesday’s games. “We’ve seen flashes of it. You see the first inning yesterday, and he comes out throwing 98, 99, just throwing the fastball by people.”

With Christian Scott on the cusp of returning from an IL stint with a right hip impingement, Senga’s next turn in the rotation is likely accounted for. Scott, Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, and David Peterson will be the Mets’ starting five — at least for now. If Senga can replicate Tuesday night’s high-velocity, high-command first inning a few times per week, perhaps he’ll be a valuable piece of the 2026 Mets’ pitching puzzle once again.

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This Cavaliers star has been connected to a potential Jaylen Brown trade

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 08: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers chase a loose ball during the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena on March 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 109-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga was the narrative of the summer. Rumors swirled about whether or not the Milwaukee Bucks would prefer the four quarters on the dollar trade from the Miami Heat or the star-for-star swap from the Boston Celtics. Once the Bucks decided to accept Miami’s trade offer over Boston’s for Giannis, the narrative shifted from one star to another.

Now, Jaylen Brown has shifted into the forefront as one of the league’s best players looking for a change of scenery. There have been teams linked to Brown even when it appeared the Bucks might move Brown to a third team if they received him in a Giannis return.

One of the teams that could be in the mix if they wanted to be is the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a segment on NBC Sports Boston, SI’s Chris Mannix mentioned that there is a name on the Cavs roster that is connected to a potential return for Brown.

“The name and team that came back to me is Evan Mobley and the Cleveland Cavaliers.” Mannix went on to describe how Mobley is the archetype of a player that Boston is currently interested in. There would also be some tough money matching that would need to be accomplished as the Cavaliers are currently in the second apron.

Then, once this news started swirling, it required some insight from Cleveland’s best Brian Windhorst. On his regularly scheduled call with ESPN Cleveland, Windy poured some water on this rumor: “I don’t think they are looking to move him (Mobley) right now.”

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A Mobley for Brown trade could be a disaster on multiple fronts. In terms of talent acquisition, it is a real argument that Brown is more talented than Mobley. Obviously, they are two different archetypes of players, so it’s an apples-to-oranges situation. However, the basketball fit is more of a problem when it comes to Brown. Hypothetically, in a world where the Cavaliers make a version of this deal, the nucleus becomes James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Brown vying for possessions and shot attempts.

Brown is not a connective tissue kind of player; I would argue that the way he impacts offenses is similar to the way Mitchell does. We already saw what Mitchell looked like with Darius Garland, someone who also plays their best when they are on ball all the time, and there was strife there. Harden makes more sense next to Mitchell because Harden’s passing, even at this late stage of his career, is a step above the rest.

While Harden can make Mitchell’s shot portfolio easier, Brown would mostly be on ball to generate his own looks. The quotes coming from Brown in recent months about how this is his favorite season he has ever had would also shine a light on the fact that he wants to be the guy on his next team. Mitchell is the guy in Cleveland. Harden knew Mitchell was the guy in Cleveland, which is what made the pairing work offensively.

The situation in Cleveland could become toxic quickly and could become a “your turn, my turn” kind of offense. Kenny Atkinson’s preferred system of ball and player movement doesn’t exactly fit with what a trio of Harden, Mitchell, and Brown would likely turn into.

If the Cavaliers were serious about Brown, it would actually balance the roster more, as well as the offense, to look at a deal around Mitchell for Brown. Although that doesn’t seem like the direction the team is looking for now. At this moment, it seems like the core four group will be back together in some form.

Obviously, things can change; however, for now, it appears that even though the Cavaliers have attractive players, they are equally as attractive to Cleveland.

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RAIN DELAY- GUARDIANS AT WHITE SOX: Fedde vs. Bibee, discussion

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 21: Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on June 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here’s the Guardians’ lineup at the halfway point of the MLB season today, game 81:

Here’s the White Sox lineup:

Let’s go, Guardians!

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Despite Recent Trade Trends, The Canucks Should Not Avoid Drafting American Prospects

With the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on the horizon, there is growing concern among Canadian fan bases surrounding American-born prospects. This concern is valid considering recent trends of American players demanding trades out of Canada. While there is always a future risk that a player will eventually want to head back to the USA, it should not deter the Vancouver Canucks from selecting American players in this year's draft.

While it's true that some players don't want to play in Canada, there are examples in almost every Canadian city of Americans who have committed long-term to their organizations. Last off-season in Vancouver, Brock Boeser signed a seven-year deal while Thatcher Demko re-signed for three more seasons. As for other examples, Kyle Connor is set to begin an eight-year extension with the Winnipeg Jets, while Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson have made long-term commitments with the Montréal Canadiens. 

One of the best ways to prevent players from asking out, regardless of nationality, is to build a winning organization on the ice. If a Canadian team becomes a contender, players will be more likely to stay or sign in that city. The Canadiens are a good example, as their players sound very committed to the organization after a recent trip to the Eastern Final. 

All of this leads to the big question this week: will the Canucks skip American prospects for fear they may leave or not sign with the organization? The answer should be no, as Vancouver can not afford to skip out on talent at this point in the rebuild. Unless a prospect says they do not have any interest in being selected by a Canadian team, the Canucks should consider drafting them if they are the best player available at the position. 

Vancouver Canucks 2026 NHL Draft Target Tracker Vancouver Canucks 2026 NHL Draft Target Tracker A list of all Vancouver Canucks 2026 NHL Draft target articles.

Ultimately, the decision of a few players should not impact how a team like Vancouver operates. Yes, there is potential risk in the future, but missing out on a game-breaker out of fear they may one day ask out is not something that should dictate the Canucks' decisions this week. If Vancouver can start building a winning team, it should ensure that players, regardless of nationality, want to stay with the organization long-term. 

Team USA at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge (Photo Credit: Erica Perreaux/CHL)
Team USA at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge (Photo Credit: Erica Perreaux/CHL)

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Opposing Pitchers: Stop Throwing Fastballs to Alec Bohm

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 20: Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on June 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I’ve never been a pitcher— unless we count a few Be a Pro save files in various editions of MLB: The Show —, but I have to imagine it’s something of a relief to throw a fastball. You don’t have to torture your arm with some tendon-twisting, movement-generating motion, you don’t have to worry that your offspeed pitch will get sniffed out and given one-way airfare out of the park. You just get to rear back, and throw it as hard as you can. Just like you did when you were first messing around in the backyard.

Pitchers who face the Phillies don’t always have the opportunity to do so. They first have to work their way past Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, whose faces appear annually on the “WARNING: Do Not Throw These Men a Fastball” list thoughtfully distributed to pitchers league-wide. After that, though, they probably want to toss a bunch of heaters to whoever’s up next. Alec Bohm? He’s got a pretty slow bat. Yes, why not toss him some fastballs? It must be tempting to do so, because he’s seeing a greater percentage of fastballs than any Phillie besides Justin Crawford.

Opposing pitchers reading this, please read the following carefully: do not throw fastballs to Alec Bohm. I know he ranks in the 28th percentile for bat speed. I know he was really bad against fastballs in the first month of the season. He is not bad at hitting them anymore. By telling you this, I have done my due diligence. If you ignore me, I can’t be held responsible.

I really hope they didn’t read that, though. Because I would like pitchers to keep throwing fastballs to Bohm. And so would he, I’d imagine. (All stats prior to Tuesday’s game). His tremendous struggles at the plate in March and April were a result of his dismal performance against fastballs (wOBA of .177) and breaking balls (.191). And so it came as no surprise when he kept seeing a steady diet of the same in May. But as the weather heated up, so did his bat. His performance against both fastballs and breaking balls improved in the fifth month, but much more so for the former: his wOBA against the fastball leapt up to .347, nearly double what it had been. His wOBA against the moving stuff went up from .191 to .260; notable, but comparatively modest. In June, his wOBA against breaking balls dropped, but his performance against fastballs just kept rising: wOBA of .423. And yet, he’s seeing a slightly greater percentage of fastballs in June than he did in May, which in turn was a slightly greater percentage than he saw in April. Hence the warning above.

But how’s Bohm doing it? His BABIP against fastballs just keeps rising: it was a dismal .113 across March and April, more than doubled in May, and now sits at a whopping .395 in June. That only gets us part of the way there, though. What’s behind the change in BABIP? Some luck, surely, both good and bad: he underperformed his expected stats against the fastball in April, and he’s overperforming against them in June. But there’s something real there, too. He’s changed the way he’s attacking against fastballs.

Firstly, he’s swinging at them more. He started out the season with a tremendous reluctance to swing at fastballs: 43% swing rate, the second-lowest in a month across his career. But that changed fast: in May his swing rate against fastballs was 48.9%, and it June it was 52%. And his contact rate has followed the same pattern, having gone from 84.7% in March/April to 92.2% this month. Swinging more isn’t necessarily good, but if you’re pairing it with hitting more of the pitches you swing at, well, that alleviates some of the concerns. And it should be noted that this is fastball-specific—he hasn’t increased his swing rate for breaking pitches to an appreciable degree over the course of the season, and he’s swinging less at offspeed pitches.

He’s not swinging at just any fastballs, though. He’s more selective than that. Here’s his swing rates on fastballs, by month, and by Attack Zone.

Swing Rate, Attack ZoneMarch/AprilMayJune
Heart63.6%75.4%87.9%
Shadow47.2%48.2%48.5%
Chase6.3%22.9%18.9%
Waste0%00%

He’s swinging more at fastballs over the heart of the plate, where he can do the most damage.

And the nature of the hits he’s getting on those fastballs have changed. In March/April, 15.7% of his hits on fastballs were line drives, and 51% are ground balls. In May, the split was 25.5%/41.8%, and in June it’s 32.5%/42.5%. That’ll get you better results.

But opposing pitchers just haven’t taken notice. As mentioned above, they’re throwing him more fastballs now than at the beginning of the season. Maybe they’re not believers in what he’s doing, thinking that he’ll regress to the mean sooner rather than later. Maybe they’re just really itching to throw some fastballs after having to avoid tossing them to Schwarber and Harper. If Bohm keeps this up, eventually pitchers are going to stop throwing him so many heaters. But no rush, enemy hurlers— take your time.

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NBA reacts to Austin Reaves' historic Lakers contract: What the deal means

Austin Reaves is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers on a historic deal that seems to be one of those win-win situations you so rarely hear about.

ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday dropped major purple and gold news, reporting that Reaves "intends to sign a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to return to the franchise, with a player option for the final season in 2029-30."

The deal helps bring back a fan favorite who proved to be an invaluable offensive threat, and it also makes some history. The reported deal would make Reaves the highest-paid undrafted player in the league's history.

From making history to what this means for the Lakers' cap room and bringing back LeBron James, the NBA world has thoughts, opinions and analysis on the news:

Austin Reaves, Lakers contract news reactions: What it means

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Austin Reaves' reported Lakers contract sparks debate, reactions

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Lakers fulfill one offseason priority, reportedly agree to re-sign Austin Reaves for four-years, $185 million

At the top of the Lakers' offseason priority list was re-signing Austin Reaves; the only question was how much this would cost. With at least a couple of teams looming to poach him away as a free agent — Brooklyn and Detroit were mentioned — the Lakers ultimately had to pay a little more than they may have ideally wanted.

The Lakers got their man. Reaves is set to return to the Lakers on a four-year, $184.8 million extension, with a player option on the final season, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by other reports. This slightly exceeds the max that other teams could have offered Reaves.

Reaves will decline his $14.9 million player option to sign the new deal. For the 28-year-old guard there were going to be no hometown discounts this time around, this was Reaves chance at a generational wealth contract and he had to grab it.

Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds a game last season, shooting 36% from 3-point range. A fan favorite, Reaves proved he could be the secondary shot-creating guard next to Luka Doncic that the Lakers need, plus he could effectively run the offense when Doncic was out. The only concern was that he played in just 51 games last season due to an assortment of injuries.

Reaves was undrafted out of Oklahoma and played on the Lakers' Summer League team in 2021. He performed well enough to be given a two-way contract not long after that, but before the team even reached the regular season, they had converted it to a standard NBA contract. By 2023, the rising Lakers star re-signed on a team-friendly four-year, $53.8 million contract.

This new contract will not impact the Lakers' offseason cap space and spending. While the sides agreed to the contract they will not sign the deal until the Lakers have finished their other offseason business (they can go over the cap for Reaves because they have his Bird rights). The Lakers are looking to spend or make trades this summer to upgrade at center and get a two-way wing player, and they will also likely re-sign LeBron James for a ninth season with the team.

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Cubs roster move: Ben Brown to injured list

As if the Cubs didn’t have enough problems, right-hander Ben Brown was placed on the 15-day injured list today with a neck strain. The move is retroactive to Sunday.

Here are all the roster moves made by the Cubs today, per press release from the team:

The Chicago Cubs today selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Vince Velasquez and recalled right-handed pitcher Gavin Hollowell. In corresponding moves, right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, right-handed pitcher Ben Brown has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a neck strain (retroactive to June 21) and right-handed pitcher Eduarniel Nunez was designated for assignment. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Tyler Ferguson was appointed as the 27th man for today’s doubleheader against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

What we know is that Matthew Boyd is going to be activated from the injured list to start Thursday’s game against the Mets in New York.

Brown would have been on target to start Friday against the Brewers in Milwaukee. That start likely now goes to Colin Rea, who last pitched Saturday against the Blue Jays at Wrigley Field.

Beyond that I have no idea what the Cubs will do for starters for the Saturday and Sunday games in Milwaukee. With both Javier Assad and Shōta Imanaga going in the doubleheader today, neither would be available until at least Monday. That means likely another recall, or a bullpen game, or both.

As always, we await developments.

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Flyers Have Clear Bowen Byram Trade Alternative in Young Hurricanes Star

The Philadelphia Flyers may have missed out on Bowen Byram, but the good news is that there are always more fish in the pond we call the NHL trade market.

As has the team themselves have said, the Flyers would like to upgrade on defense if possible, and while a veteran like John Carlson is still an option, what better way to do it than for the short and long-term?

Byram, 25, has long-term appeal, even if his next contract would have been an albatross on the Flyers in their current situation.

Another player who may be available, of similar age and skill, is surprisingly none other than Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin.

According to TSN NHL insider Darren Dreger, "Multiple teams have confirmed Carolina is considering trade involving Alexander Nikishin. The 24-year-old Stanley Cup champion is a pending RFA, so the Canes are weighing trade interest vs extension."

On a deep Hurricanes team, Nikishin won't get the top-four role he's capable of playing when stuck behind former Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, K'Andre Miller, and Jaccob Slavin on the depth chart.

In Carolina, the Russian was, at best, a No. 5 defenseman with some serious talent and physicality, but with rare opportunity to fully harness those gifts.

Flyers 'Entered' Trade Discussions for Former 4th Overall Draft PickFlyers 'Entered' Trade Discussions for Former 4th Overall Draft PickThe Philadelphia Flyers are beginning to consider a potential trade opportunity for former No. 4 overall draft pick Shane Wright.

The Flyers, on the other hand, just traded Emil Andrae in a package for Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit, and they want to get bigger and better on defense.

They have all the assets in the world to pull off a trade, even with a division rival (run by hometown hero Eric Tulsky), and they have all the money in the world to sign Nikishin to an extension.

A former captain of SKA St. Petersburg, Nikishin can do it all at both ends of the ice. He's long and mean and can use his size and strength to kill plays before they develo.

Offensively, Nikishin is poised, a willing and able shooter, and a plus in transition with his legs and passing.

Making the jump from the KHL straight to the NHL, Nikishin scored 11 goals, 22 assists, and 33 points in 81 games for the Hurricanes, but recorded only one assist in 17 playoff games in a reduced role.

Despite his age, Nikishin is still developing and improving as a player on North American ice, and that's just fine.

For the Flyers, there is a significant benefit to having Nikishin and Matvei Michkov--former teammates, mind you--in the same locker room, communicating with each other, learning together, and pushing to be the best NHLers they can be.

It's worth noting that Michkov had a up-and-down sophomore season following the departures of Russian teammates Ivan Fedotov and Egor Zamula.

Tulsky and Flyers GM Danny Briere have done business together in the past, with the Nick Deslauriers trade that effectively cost the Hurricanes nothing, and there would be mutual benefits for both sides depending on the final trade package.

Yes, the Hurricanes did knock the Flyers out of the playoffs, but this is still an opportunity for the Flyers to get bigger, younger, and better as a team.

AFP Analytics currently projects Nikishin to sign a six-year, $38.6 million extension ($6.44 million AAV), which is perfectly affordable for the Flyers and just barely above Travis Sanheim's $6.25 million cap hit in a rapidly rising salary cap climate.

If the Flyers are truly interested in Nikishin, there are no downsides, and it just comes down to getting a deal done.

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Bruins falling behind as East rivals make bold moves to improve

Bruins falling behind as East rivals make bold moves to improve originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Tuesday was one of the most exciting days of player movement in the NHL in a long, long time. There were several trades made, many including a star player and/or a first-round pick.

The salary cap is rising, and teams are motivated to make bold moves to improve their roster in pursuit of a Stanley Cup title.

The Boston Bruins did not participate in Tuesday’s action, and they have been very quiet so far this offseason.

In fact, the B’s have done pretty much nothing. They did trade prospect Andre Gasseau and a draft pick to the San Jose Sharks for two draft picks last week, but that’s a very minor move.

The Bruins’ inactivity is putting them in a tough position. Right now, they look like the fifth- or sixth-best team in a loaded Atlantic division. They appear, as currently constructed, destined to be fighting for a wild card playoff berth next season, with another first-round exit as the most likely outcome.

“(It’s) obviously an important time in the season for us,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said at his pre-draft press conference Wednesday. “And it’s been busy, obviously, around the league and chatter. I don’t think the transactions are going to stop between now and the timeframe in July.

“We’re eager to be participating, haven’t yet, I guess what we did with [Andre] Gasseau, but there’s been a lot of chatter so I expect things to continue in terms of player movement and stuff heading into the draft to be busy.”

The Bruins better get busy.

They returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season and took a big step toward becoming a good team again following a disastrous 2024-25 campaign. But maintaining their standing as a playoff team and inching closer to contender status could prove very difficult next season.

Why is that? Look no further than the Bruins’ rivals in the division.

Over the last few weeks, several of these teams have made substantial moves to change their roster and try to improve.

The Florida Panthers’ run of three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final ended this past season due to injuries. But the Panthers should be a top contender again next season with a healthy roster, and they recently traded for a top-six power forward in Brady Tkachuk. Florida sent the Ottawa Senators three first-round picks (including No. 9 overall in Friday’s draft) and a second-rounder.

The Senators, who made the playoffs last season, wasted no time in using those assets to replace Tkachuk. They sent the No. 9 pick to the San Jose Sharks to acquire promising young William Eklund.

The Buffalo Sabres returned to the postseason in 2026 after a 15-year absence and defeated the Bruins in a six-game first-round series. They made a blockbuster deal with the Blackhawks on Tuesday that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to Chicago in exchange for the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, among other pieces involved. Buffalo can use the No. 4 pick to draft an elite prospect or trade it for a veteran star (maybe a goalie?).

Bo ByramBrian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The Sabres traded defenseman Bo Byram to the Blackhawks on Tuesday in a deal that sent the No. 4 pick to Buffalo.

The Tampa Bay Lightning finished second in the division last season, and their roster is much better than the Bruins’. It features the reigning Hart Trophy winner (Nikita Kucherov) and a Vezina Trophy finalist in net (Andre Vasilevskiy). The Montreal Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference Final after a 106-point regular season. After some tough years in Montreal, the Canadiens are back. Their roster is loaded with premium young talent signed to team-friendly contracts.

Even the Toronto Maple Leafs should be much better next season after winning the NHL Draft Lottery in May and signing the top free agent defenseman, Darren Raddysh, after trading for his rights.

Despite all of these rival teams being proactive in bolstering their rosters, Sweeney seems unconcerned with the strength of the division.

“Florida, obviously they had injuries last year. They were a good team prior, they’re a good team now,” Sweeney said. “Montreal just took a step, Detroit’s looking to take a step, Buffalo took a step, they just traded some players. The moving parts are there. Ultimately, you’re going to have to show up and win your games. I think we’re competitive within our division. We were last year. And you’re going to need to be, because you are playing those games more frequently than the others.

“I don’t think it’s to the point where you’re like, oh, our division is overwhelming us by any stretch. I think we’re perfectly fine to compete within our division, but we have to address some areas in order, to your point, to acknowledge that other teams have finished ahead of us right now.”

Teams outside the division have improved, too. The Washington Capitals missed the playoffs by just four points last season. Over the last 24 hours, they have made bold trades for two top-six forwards in Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch.

The most impactful moves the Bruins can make to improve the roster would be adding another top-six forward (preferably a center) and a top-four defenseman who plays on the right side of the blue line. Boston’s lack of speed and skill were obvious in the playoffs. Those upgrades aren’t going to come from within, at least not in 2026-27. Outside reinforcements are required, and the trade market is the place to make those deals.

“You have to be in the trade market at this time of the year,” Sweeney said. “I just don’t think you can be singularly focused on UFA and internal growth and expectation that somebody’s just going to take the job. You’ve got to go out and actively find some guys that your pro guys have identified can help you.”

Many of the Bruins’ core players are in the win-now stage of their careers. David Pastrnak is 30 years old. Pavel Zacha is 29. Charlie McAvoy is 28. Jeremy Swayman is 27. If the Bruins plan to win with these players, the clock is ticking.

“We’re trying to improve our hockey club,” Sweeney said. “We’re competitively driven as I said, our players are going to be impatient in that regard. Organizationally, we’ve tried to look at this as, what’s our window. We did a good job to get back and be competitive this year relative to where we were a year ago. We had some players, you know, young players get integrated and take steps. We’d like to add to the group, you know, so it has to be. Whether that’s in a move up or move back or if that’s in a player acquisition, you know, we have to be in the marketplace.”

The Bruins need to get in the marketplace ASAP and make some moves or the 2026-27 season could be lost before it even starts. There’s no worse position to be in than a fringe playoff team, and that’s exactly where the Bruins stand on June 24, 2026.

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Dodgers look for sweep against Twins

The Los Angeles Dodgers have taken the first two games from the Minnesota Twins, but will face their best starter in Wednesday night’s game.

Joe Ryan was pushed back from Tuesday’s start to give him a few days to rest after an illness. Ryan threw 97 pitches in his last outing, striking out seven and only walking two batters. However, that outing only lasted 5.0 innings. The Dodgers offense beat up on the Twins bullpen on Tuesday night, so the Twins would like to see him go much deeper into the game.

Over his last seven games, Ryan has only allowed 12 earned runs, walked five, while having a 0.96 WHIP. Overall, he has a 2.99 ERA on the season and could be making one of his last home starts for the Twins, as trade deadline rumors swirl around him.

It’s Wednesday, so of course that means its Shohei Ohtani Day on the mound. Ohtani took a pitch off his pitching hand on Tuesday, is still dealing with knee inflammation, and had a blister develop in his last start. Still, manager Dave Roberts said that he is good to go in both his capacities, as he will be hitting as well as pitching Wednesday.

Ohtani sits at a 1.47 ERA, and his last two outings have been a little rough. He had only allowed seven earned runs across his first 10 starts of the season but has allowed seven total over his last two outings.

The Dodgers offense finally erupted on Tuesday night, with each batter having at least one hit, and scoring 12 runs as a unit, as the Dodgers are still missing a bunch of their roster to assorted injuries.

Kyle Tucker will not be in the lineup on Wednesday, giving him more rest with the off day on Thursday and the hope is he will be ready for the Padres series this weekend. Tucker was removed from Monday’s game when Roberts noticed him wincing when he arrived at second base, and he is dealing with lower back pain. He could resume swinging a bat on Wednesday.

Dalton Rushing could return to the backstop on Wednesday, as he told Roberts he was good to go before Tuesday’s game.

Tuesday game info

  • Teams: Dodgers at Twins
  • Ballpark: Target Field, Minneapolis
  • Time: 4:40 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)