Knicks fans have made trolling the Spurs an around the clock job during the 2026 NBA Finals.
Knicks fans have made trolling the Spurs an around the clock job during the 2026 NBA Finals.
After San Antonio’s 115-111 road win over New York in Game 3 on Monday, Spurs players were greeted with boos from a crowd of people waiting outside the Ritz Carlton in New York on Tuesday.
The Spurs were getting on their team bus while surrounded by New Yorkers who were filming with their phones.
Knicks fans were back at it today — booing the Spurs as they left their New York City hotel.
The Spurs exited the Ritz Carlton in New York and were greeted by taunting Knicks fans after a Game 3 win over the in the NBA Finals.
A total of 21 people were taken into custody after an “incredibly reckless” post-game reaction that resulted in multiple injuries and people piled on top of police cars, the NYPD said.
Two people were charged with assault on a police officer, and five cops were hurt.
Knicks fans booed the Spurs as they exited the Ritz Carlton in New York the morning after a Game 3 win over the Knicks in the NBA Finals. XThe Spurs beat the Knicks115-111 in Game 3 on June 8, 2026.
“People climbed on top of scaffolding, light poles, police cars and NYPD trucks, causing significant damage,” an NYPD statement said, adding people refused police orders to clear the area.
“The crowd was throwing glass objects at each other and police officers, and they ripped bus signs and trees out of the ground to throw them.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the Bryant Park watch party earlier in the day after the Madison Square Garden party was cancelled due to President Donald Trump’s attendance and heightened security at Game 3.
Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on against the Knicks during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8, 2026 at Madison in New York, New York. NBAE via Getty Images
“F–k you Wemby” chants rang through the world’s most famous arena on Monday night as Knicks faithful made Spurs center Victor Wembanyama their latest villain.
The 7-foot-4 French phenom said he wasn’t aware of the fights between fans when asked about it Tuesday.
“My thoughts, of course, is that, I mean, we can’t forget it’s a game,” Wembanyama said. “We’re just playing a game out there. And I am all for passion, but to the respect of each other. It’s unacceptable.”
It's the Stanley Pup that Vancouver managed to secure earlier this week. The puppy-themed tournament pits adorable, adoptable puppies from Brandywine Valley SPCA against one-another in a game of 'who can put the ball in the net first'. NHL stars and celebrities alike come together in support of dog adoption.
Last week, it was revealed that the Canucks' representative at the Stanley Cup would be none-other than Zeev Boop-Em, with the pup taking part as a member of the Pacific Division alongside Macklin Celewienie of the San Jose Sharks, Evan Boucharf of the Edmonton Oilers, and Cutter Go-Fetcher of the Anaheim Ducks.
During the high-stakes competition that aired on June 8, it was the Pacific Division pups that took home the 2026 Stanley Pup. En route to the win, they took down the Central Division by a score of 6-5, as well as the Metropolitan Division by 6-5 in the championship game. The Metropolitan Division advanced to the championship with a 5-4 win against the Atlantic.
Photo Credit: @NHL - X
The Pacific Division managed to erase a 5-3 deficit during their first game of the competition, with Jack Eich-Howl of the Vegas Golden Knights scoring the game-winner with guidance from actor Keenan Thompson.
In the championship game, the Pacific got off to an early 2-0 lead thanks to Jaden Snorts of the Seattle Kraken and Devin Collie of the Calgary Flames. Logan Chompson of the Washington Capitals scored to bring the Metropolitan Division within one goal before Matthew Schae-Furry of the New York Islanders tied it up at two apiece. Bone Jenner of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Artemi Paw-Narin of the Los Angeles Kings brought the score up to three per team. Owen Nip-It of the Philadelphia Flyers scored twice to make it 5-3, but goals from Collie and Eich-Howl (2) put the game back in the Pacific's favour, securing the win.
Nearly every puppy who took part in this week's tournament has since been adopted.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 14: Joel Kuhnel #66 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on August 14, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Chicago 8-5. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You may recall Joel Kuhnel from his days with the Cincinnati Reds. Big guy, he is – listed at 6’5” and 290 lbs. He was an 11th round pick out of the University of Texas-Arlington, threw a heavy heater, and made it into 14 games with the Reds in 2019-2020 before injuries shut him down for most of 2021.
He was a big part of the 2022 Reds bullpen most of the entire year, though, getting into 53 games, pitching 58.0 IP, and even logging a save, his 6.36 ERA wholly different than the 3.96 FIP he posted, as he did own a pretty impressive 56/14 K/BB in his time. With similarly frustrating surface stats during the start of the 2023 season and a dwindling ability to be jockeyed back and forth between Cincinnati and AAA Louisville, Kuhnel was designated for assignment and eventually traded to the Houston Astros for cash.
Since then, he has bounced like a basketball that rolled down the driveway. He’s been with Houston, Tampa, and eventually with the Athletics, the latter of whom traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers after the A’s, too, had DFA’d him late last week.
What’s interesting about any of this, you ask? Well, the Brewers – who have a pitching lab that has turned just about anyone into superstars – seem to have known exactly what to do when they got their hands on Kuhnel. Here’s a quick glimpse at what his stuff looked like with the A’s vs. what it looked like in his first appearance on the mound for Milwaukee:
So, in the matter of two days, he went from throwing his fastball at 94 mph to touching a hundred (with a 99.5 mph average overall). That’s even significantly higher than the 96.4 mph he averaged during his first call-up with Cincinnati in 2019 as a young buck.
That a team uncovered something like this is pretty miraculous at the macro level, and insanely frustrating on the micro level for the Reds. Not only is he their former arm, he’s now doing this within the division while their own bullpen is a raging conflagration that has already derailed their entire season.
For the Brewers, though, he’s just their latest success story even if this doesn’t pan out with Kuhnel being a perennial All Star. That they can clearly identify these kinds of inefficiencies right under the noses of the rest of the sport – particularly within the NL Central – is a pretty damning indictment of the clubs trying to chase them down.
The Reds, who are already 10.5 games back of the 41-23 Brewers, will face Milwaukee seven times between now and July 2nd.
Jun 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela (59) hits a solo home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Over the past two weeks the Jays are 7-6. The offense has scored 4.5 runs per game.
Hot
Brandon Valenzuela: Played in 10 games, starting 9. Hit ..290/.361/.677 with 3 double, 3 home run, 6 RBI, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts.
And he didn’t have a sac bunt over these two weeks. Yay. He’s been amazing. If he walked a bit more I’d say the second coming of Carlos Delgado. It is getting close to the point that they will have to figure a way to keep him in the lineup when Alejandro Kirk comes back. He played a little bit of first base in the minors and of course he could DH. He’s hit lefties and righties about the same this year, .823 OPS vs RHP, .771 vs LHP. Base stealers are 6-0 against him in the past 10 days. On the season he’s thrown out 21% of base stealers, just slightly below league average.
Ernie Clement: Started in all 13 games. Hit .346/.346/.596 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 7 RBI, 0 walks and 7 strikeouts.
Started 11 games at second, 2 at short. I often talk about guys that control the strikezone. Ernie doesn’t have a strikezone. If a pitcher throws it, he’ll swing and it works. There is more than one way to be successful. Baseball Savant has him at 1 percentile for chase rate and 3 percentile in bat speed, which you would generally say ‘this guy can’t be successful’. But he is 95 percentile in ‘squared-up’. He’s also 92 percentile in whiff rate and 98 percentile in strikeout rate. I’d generally think that his not a player that will age well, but he already has a slow bat speed, will it drop that much more as he ages? He’ll be interesting to watch over the next few years.
Jesús Sánchez: Played in 11 games, 9 starts. Hit .323/.344/.516 with 3 doubles, 1 homer, 5 RBI, 0 walks and 8 strikeouts.
The power hasn’t been there the way we expected, but he’s hitting well. He could go on the list of guys who really should DH, but that list is surprisingly long for a team that was building around defense just a few years ago. I don’t know that there has been a shift in philosophy or if this is just the type of player who has been available. The fun part of his defense if that he seems as surprised as the rest of us when he games a catch. Baseball Savant has him at the 5 percentile in range and 23 percentile in arm value with a 67 percentile in arm strength, suggesting he throws the ball well, but perhaps not on target or to the wrong place.
Kazuma Okamoto: Started 13 of the 13 games. Hit .298/.377/.511 with 1 double, 3 home runs, 10 RBI, 3 walks, and 18 strikeouts.
Fairly quietly, he’s been very good lately. I think he’s going to be a streak hitter. Weeks of cold and weeks of hot, but then I think that all of us are streak hitters. His defense looks better than I thought it would, but Baseball Savant suggests it isn’t great, 37th percentile range and 30th percentile arm strength. I would have guessed better. Savant also likes his bat speed (91th percentile), barrel % (89th percentile) and hard hit % (93rd percentile).
Yohendrick Pinango: Played in 11 games, starting 8. Hit .303/.343/.606 with 1 double, 3 homers, 7 RBI, 2 walks and 11 strikeouts.
He’s been great. Like Sanchez, he’s likely better suited to DH, though I hate the idea of something that young DHing. FanGraphs has a him at a -1 Outs Above Average, but that’s in limited innings. I like watching his at bats. He seems to be hitting the ball harder lately, four home runs on the season and three were in the last 11 games. Just 24, I think we are going to enjoy his watching his career.
Nathan Lukes: He’s played in all 12 games, starting 10. Hit .349/.404/465 with 2 doubles, 1 homer, 4 RBI, 3 walks and 7 strikeouts.
He’s picked up right where he left off before the injury. It is too bad that we have so many good left handed hitting outfielders, it is hard to get them all the playing time they need. He’s played all three outfield positions starting 7 games in right, 2 in left and 1 in center. He’s a better player than I tend to give him credit for. Outfielders without a lot of power or speed tend to get less credit than deserved. But he’s getting on base 36% of the time, he makes the plays in the outfield.
Cold
Daulton Varsho: Played in 12 games, starting 9. Hit .200/.286/.333, with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 RBI, 4 walks and 6 strikeouts.
A sore wrist has him out of the starting lineup at the moment. He’s been going in as a defensive sub. The down side of that is that they can’t backdate if they decide to put him on the IL. I don’t know if his wrist is improving. I also don’t know how long his wrist has been bothering him.His defense has been looking better lately.
Vladimir Guerrero: Started 12 of 13. Hit .261/.314/348 with 4 doubles, 3 RBI,4 walks, and 6 strikeouts. And 1 steal.
1 start was as DH. Yeah he’s slumping. I don’t know how to fix it. If I did, I likely wouldn’t be a blogger. He has been getting hard contact in pretty much every game, course not every at bat. He’ll seem to have a good at bat, hit one into a glove and then the next at bat isn’t as good. He’s still 96th percentile expected batting average, 94th percentile bat speed. But chase rate is up, 36th percentile and squared up is 56 percentile. Strikeout rate is still low 96th percentile. Walk rate is still high 77th percentile.
Andrés Giménez: Played in all 13 games, starting 11. Hit .220/.273/.341 with 1 home runs, 2 doubles, with 3 RBI, 1 steal, 2 caught stealing, 2 walk and 10 strikeouts.
His RISP numbers have dropped, .749 OPS now on the season, two weeks ago it was .973 on the season. Still a good number but dropping. I love watching his defense and I like him at short. Baseball Savant says 96th percentile in range. How you value bad bat, great glove is tough. Since I play OOTP, I value offense more. In real life? Baseball Reference has him at a 0.2 WAR, Fangraphs 0.8 WAR. Next year, he’s being paid $23.5 and for the two years after that. I don’t know that I’d want to be paying that to a guy who doesn’t hit.
George Springer: Started 11 games, 10 starts. Hit .214/.298/.286 with 3 doubles, 1 RBI, 4 walks and 8 strikeouts, with 1 steal and 1 caught.
I don’t know….we have half a dozen guys who should DH. But, Springer is popular with his teammates. And he’s making a lot of money. He is hitting lefties (.725 OPS) much better than righties (.590) so you could look to platoon him and see if his bat comes around. We do have a few lefty batters who would be better served as DH. That, of course, might be a hard sell to him and maybe to the clubhouse.
Myles Straw: Played in 11 games, 5 starts. Hit .222/.300/.278 with 1 double, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts..
He’s getting more playing time with Varsho’s injury. I don’t think his defense is quite what it used to be, but it is still good.
Tyler Heineman: Started 4 games. Hit .167/.286/.250 with 1 double, 2 RBI, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts.
He threw out 5 of 12 basestealers. The Marlins tried to steal 9 times against him, on May 27, but he threw out 4. If he would be hitting like he did last year, Brandon wouldn’t be playing so much. I kind of feel bad that he’s going to be DFAed when Kirk comes back, but he’ll likely land another backup job before long.
IL
Anthony Santander: Might get into a game before the end of the season. Who knows.
Alejandro Kirk: He should be back soon, maybe by the weekend.
Addison Barger: He’s likely a couple of weeks from coming back.
Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) celebrates with teammates after shooting a three point basket to tie the game against the Santa Clara Broncos as time expired in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images | Jeff Le-Imagn Images
With the Kentucky Basketball roster essentially finalized following Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic’s withdrawal from the NBA Draft and commitment to the Wildcats, attention now shifts to where forward Jayden Quaintance and guard Otega Oweh will be selected in the NBA Draft.
Kentucky’s roster currently includes Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Milan Momcilovic, Ousmane N’Diaye, Malachi Moreno, Jerone Morton, Braydon Hawthorne, Kam Williams, Justin McBride, Franck Kepnang, Mason Williams, Trent Noah, Reece Potter, and Zyon Hawthorne, with one roster spot still open heading into the final stretch of the offseason.
Now, let’s take a look at where Quaintance and Oweh could hear their names called during this month’s NBA Draft.
Jayden Quaintance Mock Draft Projections
Ricky O’Donnell (SB Nation) No. 16 – Memphis Grizzlies O’Donnell writes that, “Last time he was right physically, JQ looked like an elite paint protecting prospect as a 17-year-old at Arizona State. The Grizzlies feel like the type of franchise that would take a chance on him.”
Brett Siegel (ClutchPoints) No. 20 – San Antonio Spurs Siegel notes the Spurs would be using a “luxury” pick while pairing a long-term frontcourt piece next to Victor Wembanyama.
Jeremy Woo (ESPN) No. 20 – San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta) Woo describes Quaintance as a “wild-card prospect” with major defensive upside, but one whose draft stock depends heavily on medical evaluations after knee issues limited him to four games at Kentucky.
David Cobb (CBS Sports) No. 17 – Oklahoma City Thunder Cobb highlights Oklahoma City’s ability to take a calculated risk on a player with elite defensive traits and long-term potential.
Sam Vecenie (The Athletic) No. 19 – Toronto Raptors Vecenie emphasizes that Quaintance’s projection remains volatile until full medical clarity is available, calling him a potential top-10 talent if fully healthy.
Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report) No. 23 – Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers) Wasserman points to Quaintance’s 7-foot-5 wingspan and defensive instincts while noting uncertainty tied to his injury recovery and development.
Otega Oweh Mock Draft Projections
Brett Siegel (ClutchPoints) No. 57 – Atlanta Hawks Siegel notes Oweh’s slashing ability and transition scoring but projects him as a developmental wing.
Kevin O’Connor (Yahoo Sports) No. 53 – Houston Rockets O’Connor highlights Oweh’s breakout scoring moments, including a 35-point NCAA Tournament performance, while noting limitations as a primary creator.
Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report) No. 43 – Brooklyn Nets Wasserman praises Oweh’s athleticism, cutting, and defensive versatility, projecting him as a role-player fit in a spacing-heavy system.
Jeremy Woo (ESPN) Undrafted Woo lists Oweh outside the draft board, citing questions about offensive creation and consistency.
It will be interesting to see if Oweh is drafted, but Kentucky will at least have one player selected in Quaintance, which is always a strong recruiting point, even though he only played in four games. The schedule for the two-night event breaks down as follows:
First Round: Tuesday, June 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET (Broadcast: ABC, ESPN) Second Round: Wednesday, June 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET (Broadcast: ESPN)
The Los Angeles Kings didn’t just hire another head coach—they doubled down on a philosophy that has repeatedly failed to deliver lasting success.
A Familiar Gamble
Peter Laviolette was hired as the franchise’s next head coach on Monday, replacing interim coach D.J. Smith after Jim Hiller was dismissed in March.
On paper, it’s an impressive résumé. Laviolette enters Los Angeles as a Stanley Cup champion with 846 career victories, ranking seventh in NHL history, and more than two decades of NHL coaching experience.
But résumés don’t win future playoff series.
Since Darryl Sutter departed the organization in 2017, the Kings have now cycled through five different head coaches. Laviolette becomes the seventh man to occupy the position during that stretch, a revolving door that raises an obvious question: Is this another solution, or simply another reset?
More than anything, this hire feels less like a calculated move and more like a franchise hoping history suddenly changes.
Success And Inconsistency
To Laviolette’s credit, there is legitimate hardware on his résumé.
He guided the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup in 2006, delivering the organization’s first championship. Yet the celebration didn’t translate into sustained success. Carolina missed the playoffs in each of the following three seasons, ultimately leading to his dismissal.
A similar pattern followed in Philadelphia.
After replacing John Stevens during the 2009-10 season, Laviolette immediately sparked the Flyers, leading them all the way to the Stanley Cup Final before losing in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks. The momentum gradually faded as Philadelphia suffered additional early playoff exits before eventually missing the postseason entirely, resulting in another coaching change.
His tenure in Nashville was arguably his most stable. The Predators reached the playoffs in five consecutive seasons and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, only to lose in six games against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Less than three seasons later, Laviolette was fired midway through the 2019-20 campaign.
The trend continued in Washington. The Capitals exited in the first round in consecutive years before missing the playoffs altogether in 2022-23.
Then came New York.
In his first season with the Rangers, Laviolette guided the club to the Eastern Conference Final before losing to the Florida Panthers. One year later, the Rangers missed the playoffs entirely, ending his tenure after just two seasons.
The common thread isn’t that Laviolette never wins.
It’s that the success almost always arrives quickly before disappearing just as fast.
Was D.J. Smith That Bad?
That’s what makes this decision so puzzling.
What exactly was wrong with D.J. Smith?
The Kings may have been swept by the Colorado Avalanche, but the series was far more competitive than the final result suggests. Los Angeles battled in every game, and Anton Forsberg delivered everything he had between the pipes.
D.J Smith didn’t do a bad job filling in. Credit: Brad Penner
Smith also brought an identity that seemed to resonate throughout the locker room.
His message was straightforward: show up every day, compete relentlessly, and embrace the physical side of hockey.
Even away from games, Smith practiced what he preached. Behind the scenes, he could regularly be seen jumping on the stationary bike and completing workouts alongside his players. It wasn’t just a symbolic gesture—he led by example.
Players respect coaches who demand accountability while holding themselves to the same standard, and Smith embodied that philosophy.
For a franchise searching for consistency, that seemed like a foundation worth building upon rather than abandoning.
Chasing The Past Instead Of Building The Future
Nobody should question Laviolette’s accomplishments.
He’s a Stanley Cup champion. He’s reached three Stanley Cup Finals. He’s compiled one of the most successful regular-season coaching records in modern NHL history.
But in 2026, this feels like a significant gamble.
Los Angeles isn’t hiring the version of Peter Laviolette that lifted the Stanley Cup in 2006 or took Nashville to the Final in 2017. They’re betting that a coach whose recent stops have ended with declining results can suddenly reverse a trend that has followed him for nearly two decades.
And what is the ultimate objective?
Is it simply making it out of the first round every once in a while?
For a franchise that has spent years searching for stability behind the bench, this feels like another roll of the dice rather than a long-term vision.
Laviolette absolutely has the experience to prove critics wrong, and if he succeeds, the Kings will look brilliant.
But recent history suggests something else.
Lately, when the Kings gamble, they lose.
And betting on Peter Laviolette in 2026 might be their biggest wager yet.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 21: Wilder Dalis #3 of the Colorado Rockies runs to third base to score on a two-run double hit by Ethan Holliday during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 21, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Original poto by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images 3/21/2026
Wilder Dalis (No. 24 PuRP) was signed by the Colorado Rockies in May 2023, well after the big signing period that usually happens in January, and has been an under-the-radar prospect since.
Baseball America described him as a “late bloomer” who “turned in an inauspicious pro debut,” but Dalis turned things on in 2025 when he made his stateside debut – slashing .352/.440/.525 in 56 games in the Arizona Complex League followed by .241/.333/.379 in 31 games in Low-A Fresno.
Ahead of the 2026 season, Brendan Gawlowski of FangGraphs wrote, “Dalis stood out in a positive way. He’s a good athlete with a chance to stick at short… it’s early, but the arrow looks up here.”
Wilder Dalis may not get as much fanfare as his Rockies org-mate Roldy Brito.
Dalis grew up in Maracay, Venezuela, as an only child where he lived with his mother and aunt. He started playing baseball when he was two years old and was a shortstop and right-handed batter.
When he was 12, he picked up switch hitting.
“I’ve got a very good swing from the left,” he said. “My tío said ‘You’ve got a good swing. You’re gonna try to be a switch hitter,’ and I switch hit the whole way.”
Despite growing up hitting righty, Dalis now prefers hitting left-handed.
“It’s more comfortable,” he said. “It’s more free, so it’s good, and my right hand has more power.”
In 2025, Dalis batted left-handed much more than right-handed and found success. In 309 plate appearances as a left-handed batter (87 games), Dalis slashed .319/.410/.480 with 26 extra-base hits. By comparison, in 46 plate appearances as a right-handed batter (30 games), he slashed .250/.333/.400 with four extra-base hits.
Through May 3 with the Fresno Grizzlies, Dalis has batted left-handed nearly twice as often as right-handed in 2026, but has also struggled a bit more. In 76 plate appearances as a left-handed batter, Dalis has hit .161/.316/.339 with two doubles and three home runs. In 25 plate appearances as a right-handed batter, Dalis has hit .261/.280/.435 with one double and one home run.
Off the field, Dalis prides himself on having a good relationship with his teammates and with fellow Venezuelan shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who is also from Maracay.
“He’s talked to me offensively about how to use my hands and how to stay back,” Dalis said of Tovar through interpreter Fred Ocasio, “and defensively just always try to create that good hop and use my hand out in front to create that good hop to field the ball.”
Tovar had good things to say about Dalis, as well.
“He has all the talent in the world,” Tovar said through interpreter Edwin Perez. “I think once he puts it all together and gets that maturity that all of us professional baseball players do. I think he’s going to show a lot of people that talent because he’s a very, very talented guy.
Dalis also works really well with fellow switch-hitter Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP).
“He gives me a lot of advice and a lot of energy. He’s a really good player,” Dalis said. “The mental aspect of the game is where we help each other out (most). We talk a lot about having confidence and playing the game with confidence.”
It helps that all of the players move as a cohort from the Dominical Summer League to the Arizona Complex League, and then on to Fresno and beyond.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with my teammates,” Dalis said. “I don’t think there’s any difference (between the ACL and Fresno) because I’ve played with all the guys here, and there’s no difference. We all came together from the Dominican to Arizona.
“But there was one thing: When I left for Fresno, I was playing with more Americans,” he continued. “I liked listening to them and learning about them as well, because they know different things.”
Dalis is currently ranked 18th in the system according to MLB.com and Baseball America. But he’s not worried about rankings. He’s looking towards the future and what he can bring to the Rockies when the time comes.
“Obviously, I know I’m talented,” he said, “but I’m not thinking about ‘Hey, I’m a prospect in the Top 100’ or whatever. I know what I have and my abilities, and that’s it. I don’t worry about the other stuff.
“Hopefully in the near future, I’ll be there (in the majors) and can help the team win and make an impact with the team in Denver.”
The Isotopes dropped four games in their series against the Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels), including an odd and rare 1-0 loss in a pitching duel. When the Isotopes won, their bats were firing on all cylinders and the pitching was able to stave off the Bees, but the two sides rarely worked in tandem during this series. The Isotopes are sitting at 34-29, 4.0 games back of the PCL lead.
⬆️ Stock Up:No deep drive into left from this Castellano
Signed this off-season to a minor league contract, 25-year-old right-handed pitcher Eiberson Castellano made his Triple-A debut against Salt Lake and turned in quite the gem. Castellano was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for his six scoreless innings of work, giving up just one hit while tallying seven strikeouts and two walks.
What a Triple-A debut! Eiberson Castellano tossed 6.0 scoreless innings of one-hit ball with seven strikeouts at Salt Lake on Saturday night, earning the win in his first outing as an Isotope.
Zac Veen (no. 9 PuRP) continues to push for a fresh chance at playing in the big leagues with yet another strong week. Veen went 11-for-28 with a home run, three doubles, two triples, four RBIs, and two stolen bases. Veen has been playing very well for the Isotopes this season, hitting .317/.417/.525 with eight home runs, 12 doubles, three triples, 40 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases.
Helped by a series split against the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox), the Hartford Yard Goats sit atop their division in the Eastern League. The series got off to a rough start as the Yard Goats were blown out and shut out. The next day the pitching staff gave up ten runs in another loss. However, Hartford then rattled off three strong wins to seal a series split.
⬆️ Stock Up:Running Up That Hill
GJ Hill had his best series of the season after largely struggling this year with Double-A Hartford. Hill went 9-for-21 at the plate with a double, a triple, four home runs, and ten RBIs. With this series, he boosted his OPS from .643 all the way to .794 on the season.
GJ Hill cannot be stopped! 😤
He homered YET AGAIN tonight, his 7th HR in his last 14 games 🎥 ⬇️
He launched it over the Maine Monster, which is comparable in height and distance to the Green Monster 🚀
Left-handed pitcher Griffin Herring (no. 10 PuRP) made just one appearance out of the Yard Goats’ bullpen this series and it was a rough one. Herring went just 0.2 innings and gave up seven earned runs on three walks and four hits—including a home run—without recording a strikeout.
Upcoming
The Yard Goats will host the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays) in a seven game series that includes a double-header on Wednesday.
High-A: Spokane Indians (2-4, 23-34 Overall)
After losing the first two games of the series against the Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks) it looked like the Spokane Indians could regain their footing. They won two in a row including a 12-5 blowout. Unfortunately, they then lost their final two games of the series including a thud of a series finale via a 14-0 beatdown.
⬆️ Stock Up:Continued rehab progress
Right-handed pitcher Gabriel Hughes (no. 12 PuRP) made his second rehab start with the Indians and looks ready to return to action. Hughes struck out six over three shutout innings while giving up two hits and a walk. A return to the active roster in Albuquerque would mean a lot to both the Isotopes and the big league squad, who are both in desperate need of pitching reinforcements.
⬆️ Stock Up:
Outfielder Robert Calaz (no. 6 PuRP) still hasn’t quite found his power swing in Spokane, but he had a very solid week at the plate. Calaz went 9-for-18 with a double, a triple, a home run, and seven RBIs with two walks and only three strikeouts.
Now tied for last in the Northwest League, the Indians are off to Eugene to play the league-leading Emeralds (San Francisco Giants).
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (3-3, 30-27 Overall)
Plenty of runs were scored in a series split against the California League South-leading Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego Padres). The Fresno Grizzlies are still two games back in their own division behind the San Jose Giants, but they still have one of the better records in the league.
⬆️ Stock Up:Never in a pickle
2025 draft pick and right-handed closer Seth Clausen continues to quietly be an underrated gem for the Grizzlies pitching staff. The 16th round pick pitched a combined 3.1 innings of scoreless, hitless late innings work against the Storm with a strikeout and a walk. Opposing batters are hitting just .122 against Clausen and he currently has a 1.61 ERA over 28 innings this season.
⬇️ Stock Down:Missing the Marcos
Right-handed pitcher Marcos Herrera was a fairly reliable starting pitcher for the Grizzlies last season. In 21 appearances—19 of which were starts—he posted a 3.93 ERA. Unfortunately, this season has been a rough one. Herrera has a 9.28 ERA in 12 starts so far. This week he struggled again. In 4.2 innings he gave up nine earned runs on 11 hits—two of which were home runs—and four walks while striking out four.
Upcoming
The Grizzlies have six game series ahead of them against the Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks).
After a 5-0 week, the ACL Rockies find themselves sitting atop the Arizona Complex League with the best record in the desert. They even had two games in which they scored 14 or more runs.
⬆️ Stock Up:Ugarte A La Carte
First baseman Ronny Ugarte went 10-for-18 at the plate this week with his best game coming against the ACL Giants where he went 4-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs.
⬇️ Stock Down:More of a concept than a Concepcion
18-year-old righty Kevin Concepcion (no, not the wide receiver drafted by the Cleveland Browns this year) made his first start since joining the Complex League after two solid relief appearances. The start went poorly, with Concepcion giving up six earned runs on seven hits and a walk over just 2.2 innings of work.
The Colorado Avalanche offseason has been a roller coaster of emotions, and free agency hasn't even started yet. Chris MacFarland is leaving for the Nashville Predators on a reported massive offer, which forces Joe Sakic to take the mantle of General Manager back and adds even more pressure on this front office to make changes to a team many thought could/was better than the 2022 Stanley Cup team.
One contract that will need to be tackled this summer is that of forward Jack Drury, who is a restricted free agent. With the team having just under $3 million in cap space, he is a key depth piece to keep, given his on-ice work, and he's only 26 years old. The question is: what does he want, and what are the Avalanche willing to pay? Well, one major factor just got resolved that could play into their negotiations over how much Drury could be paid.
Minnesota Wild Already Making Moves
Earlier today, the Minnesota Wild announced they have re-signed pending unrestricted free agent Michael McCarron to a six-year, $20 million extension, with a $3.33 million cap hit. The contract includes a no-movement clause for the first three seasons, then a modified 15-team no-movement clause for the final three seasons.
McCarron started the season with the Predators and, in 59 games, scored five goals and seven assists for 12 points before being traded to the Wild for a 2028 second-round pick. In 20 games with the Wild, he scored three goals and two assists for five points, following that up with two goals and two assists for four points in 11 playoff games.
While his point production might not stand out, it needed to be evaluated given the Wild's lack of center depth. This is a signing that if the Wild can secure another bona fide top-six center, McCarron as a bottom-six center is tremendous value, considering his lineup with Yakov Trenin and Vladimir Tarasenko was great for them in the playoffs.
The Avalanche Could Use The Wild As Leverage
If you're Sakic and start talks with Drury, this is the exact number range you want to sign Drury for, and it comes with greater benefits than the McCarron signing. While the size differential is noticeable, and how that was a major topic when the Avalanche lost to the Golden Knights, and how the team needed to get “tougher, bigger, grittier”. Drury plays like he's 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds.
He's not afraid to throw the body or get infront of the puck to block a shot, and is a great addition to the penalty kill. He's also great at the faceoff; he finished the regular season with a 58.1% win rate, which is the third-highest on the team. He's a pivotal guy you want on the penalty kill or for a defensive zone draw. Better than Nicolas Roy, Nazem Kadri, or Ross Colton. In the playoffs, he remained excellent, going 76-48 for a 61.3% win rate.
The biggest factor in getting an extension, and in the Avalanche being more open-minded about a longer-term contract, is his age. McCarron is currently 31 and will turn 32 on March 7, 2027. While yes, the Wild are in win-now mode, and the cap hit of $3.33 million over the next six years isn't awful with the cap going up, it's the no-movement clause that could be a factor if the Wild need to make drastic changes.
Drury is 26 years old and turns 27 on February 3, 2027, so even if the Avalanche match with the same contract and similar numbers, it helps lock in Drury, who can get better with time. When his contract is over, it opens up more possibilities for signing him when he's 32, by which time the team will ultimately be completely different, with a completely different cap situation.
Sakic and the Avalanche have some moves to make this summer. No doubt we will see some names start popping up around the NHL Entry Draft as the Avalanche look to free up some cap space. However, keeping Drury with the team for the long term should be a priority for the team if/when they open up some cap space this summer.
The Mets are getting a huge piece back in their lineup, with the club activating catcher Francisco Alvarez off of the IL.
In a corresponding move, catcher Hayden Senger was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
Alvarez suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee while swinging a bat against the Tigers on May 12. And while the initial diagnosis had Alvarez likely to miss 6-8 weeks, he has been activated in just four weeks, including a brief rehab stint.
The young catcher is hitting .241 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 37 games this season, but he was heating up prior to his injury. In his last seven games played, Alvarez is hitting .292 with a ,375 slugging percentage.
The hope for the Mets was that Alvarez would be able to be activated at some point during their current six-game home stand against the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves, which begins on Tuesday night, and it turns out that he'll now be availability for the entire homestand.
After tearing through the playoffs, Karl-Anthony Towns completely went cold during the Knicks' Game 3 loss to San Antonio.
Don't expect that slump to carry over, though.
Our Spurs vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks for tonight's Game 4 action are banking on Towns to assert his dominance and turn the tide for New York.
UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & +775 SGP!
Spurs vs Knicks Game 4 prediction today
Who will win Spurs vs Knicks Game 4?
Knicks: You can view the Knicks’ Game 3 loss two ways. First, after winning 13 straight postseason games New York is ripe for regression and this is a sign of things to come. Or, finally losing a game – especially in the extreme setting of Game 3 – takes the pressure off the Knicks to be perfect.
I’m subscribing to the latter, considering a lot of New York’s Game 3 wounds were self-inflicted. Turnover troubles and cold 3-point shooting are like a Mentos and Coca-Cola for transition attacks like the Spurs.
The Knicks will tighten the bolts, control tempo, and get back in the win column at home on Wednesday.
Spurs vs Knicks best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 32.5 points + rebounds + assists (-112)
The San Antonio Spurs mixed up their defense, sending guard Stephon Castle at the 7-footer. While that threw off Towns, he was also passive cutting, posting, and attacking (when he wasn’t passed up in pick-and-pop spots).
Even so I recall a couple of possessions where the veer-back switch was either nonexistent or late, windows the Knicks missed on KAT PnPs. Part of why KAT wasnt in rhythm tonight is because the team didn't particularly focus on getting him into a rhythm.
Coach Mike Brown singled out his lack of activity, and I expect the Knicks to get KAT early touches in Game 4.
He’s thrived as a passer against smaller defenders, and my projections call for 19+ points, 12+ rebounds, and 3+ assists, with a higher ceiling on dimes. That should have Over 32.5 PAR priced around -130.
COVERS INTEL: Towns’ usage sunk to 14% in Game 3 — a dip from his 19.9% rate in the opening two games of the finals and his 20.3% usage in the playoffs. The last time his usage dropped this low, KAT came back the following contest with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists over just 26 minutes in Game 4 of the ECF.
Spurs vs Knicks Game 4 same-game parlay
The Knicks may not get to use the brooms in the NBA Finals, but they can get out the mops and clean up their messy play after a turnover-plagued Game 3 loss.
New York will settle down after an emotionally charged night in MSG, not throwing gas on the Spurs’ transition fires with giveaways and long misses.
I also see the officials trying to balance out some of the foul shooting discrepancies from Game 3 (a squeaky coach gets the grease), which can mean more trips to the stripe for New York or the refs swallowing their whistles.
Unders have been the right side of most NBA Finals games in recent years, cashing in at better than 60% since 2005-06. Game 3 finished Over the total, thanks in part to San Antonio scoring 25 points from the foul line with the clock stopped.
New York cleans up the turnovers and brings this series back to the half-court style we saw in the opening two games, keeping this final score short of the 216.5 O/U.
Karl-Anthony Towns seemed to have left his groove in Texas. He was flat in Game 3, lacking aggression in the offense — with or without the basketball.
The Spurs are sending 6-foot-6 Stephon Castle at the big man, and we saw KAT exploit smaller defenders throughout the playoffs, especially with his passing from the top of the key. My projections call for 35 PRA for Game 4, with some models calling for as many as 41+ combined stats.
Spurs vs Knicks SGP
Knicks moneyline
Under 216.5
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 32.5 PRA
Our "from downtown" SGP: The KAT Came Back
San Antonio’s defensive switches may have caught Towns off guard in Game 3 but opportunities will be abundant with New York looking to jumpstart KAT early on in Game 4. His passing and rebounding stats should surge against small defenders and his scoring projections all sit north of 17 points, with a ceiling of 22+ points on Wednesday.
Spurs vs Knicks SGP
Knicks -1.5
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 16.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds
Spurs vs Knicks odds for Game 4 today
Spread: Spurs +1.5 | Knicks -1.5
Moneyline: Spurs +105 | Knicks -125
Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5
Spurs vs Knicks betting trend to know
Karl-Anthony Towns has averaged 20.14 points when failing to score 15 or more points in the previous game this season, including the playoffs. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Knicks.
How to watch Spurs vs Knicks Game 4
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC, ESPN
Spurs vs Knicks latest injuries
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.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 14: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a three point basket during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on February 14, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we take a look at Rui Hachimura.
Three years ago, the Lakers made a bet on Rui Hachimura, acquiring the free-agent-to-be on the hopes they could unlock his potential after an underwhelming run in Washington.
Fast forward to present day and Rui has developed into one of the league’s very best 3-point shooters, making good on their gamble. When the Lakers have needed him over the years in the postseason, he’s repeatedly stepped up.
In the playoffs this year, he elevated his game once again, punctuated by one of the best games of his career in the team’s Game 4 loss to OKC. Now, he’s set for free agency once more with the Lakers facing another decision about whether he’s part of the future.
How did he play?
In the season as a whole, it was a mixed bag. If you look at his raw numbers, his numbers were down effectively across the board this season. He averaged his fewest points (11.5), rebounds (3.3) and assists (0.8) per game across a full season since he joined the Lakers, a byproduct of both fewer minutes than last year while also having his role streamlined.
His 3-point attempt rate was at a career high, as was his effective field goal percentage. While he still took a fair amount of long twos this year (13.6% of his field goal attempts), his shots inside 10 feet were dramatically down. The average distance of his shot was 16.5 feet, marking the first time in his career that number has eclipsed even 15 feet.
In short, the Lakers and head coach JJ Redick pushed his shot attempts more and more to the perimeter with positive results as he shot 44.3% from range.
While Rui’s production fluctuated throughout the year, his shooting remained constant. Rui began the season in the starting lineup, but eventually moved to the bench as part of the logical swap with Marcus Smart. It didn’t pay off immediately for Rui, as he struggled in his new role.
Eventually, though, he found a groove and, over a 29-game span from late January up to the season-changing loss in Oklahoma City, Rui averaged 10.2 points per game on 52.2% shooting from the field and 45.7% from range.
That eventually set the table for his playoffs, which were much-discussed. He averaged 17.5 points per game on an absurd 56.9% shooting from three. He was huge in a postseason run where the Lakers needed players to step up.
Even if it came in a role he isn’t likely to play if he returns to the Lakers, there’s certainly something to be said about Rui’s ability to step up in the playoffs time and time again.
His performance left things on a high heading into the offseason and could have made him some money along the way, too.
The price point will be the key here, but that would apply to most of the team’s free agents. At the end of the day, it would be hard to replace what Rui does.
There’s plenty of discussion about what he doesn’t do well, like rebound and defend, and the Lakers need more of that either from Rui or, more likely, other wing players acquired this summer.
But there is also something to be said about a sharpshooting wing who has years of chemistry with Austin Reaves, LeBron James and, at least since he’s been here, Luka Dončić. That is also valuable.
Losing Rui for nothing would both be a tough pill to swallow from an asset management standpoint as well as create a big hole that would need filled.
The San Antonio Spurs made up substantial ground in NBA Finals prediction markets after the team clawed its first win of the series Monday and cut the deficit to 2-1.
The New York Knicks are still favored to win the series, although they’re down to 63% from as high as 79% at Kalshi.
Key Takeaways
The Spurs gained 16% probability of winning the Finals by stealing Game 3.
Prediction market users like the Knicks to win Game 4.
Jalen Brunson has stayed fairly consistent in Finals MVP markets; Victor Wembanyama and Karl-Anthony Towns have been volatile.
No team in NBA history has lost the first two games of the NBA Finals at home and gone on to win the championship. The Spurs still have a long way to go to rewrite the history books, but they took a crucial step with Monday’s 115-111 win at Madison Square Garden.
Kalshi users gave the Spurs a 64% chance to win the Finals before the series began. They still had a 53% chance even after they lost Game 1, but they plummeted to as low as 21% after going down 0-2.
Support flipped in favor of the Knicks for Game 3, where they were 2.5-point favorites. The apple cart was upset once again, as Victor Wembanyama’s 32 points, eight rebounds, and six assists powered the visitors over the line.
The latest prediction market data from Kalshi suggests the Knicks have a 63% chance of winning the Finals, while the Spurs have a 37%. Nearly $290 million has been traded since the market opened after the conclusion of last year’s Finals.
A win for the Spurs in Game 4 could make them the favorites to win the Finals, seeing as they’d host two of the final three matchups. The Knicks are still favored in Game 4, but only just, at -1.5.
Kalshi’s Game 4 prediction market has the Knicks at a 53% chance of winning the crucial fourth encounter, with very little movement since the final buzzer sounded in last night’s thriller. The Spurs have a 47% chance, which has also virtually not changed during that period..
Finals MVP markets
NBA Finals MVP prediction markets have proved to be fairly volatile through three games.
Wembanyama, who had a 63% chance of winning the award a week ago, is down to 36%. He had fallen as low as 18% when his team was down 0-2.
Jalen Brunson has seen the least movement, settling at 47%, after entering the series at 32%. His probability essentially hasn’t changed since the Knicks won Game 1.
Karl-Anthony Towns has already seen huge peaks and valleys. He surged from 6% to 38% entering Game 3, only to fall back to 14% after the loss.
The only other player with a likelihood of winning the Finals MVP greater than 1% is OG Anunoby, who scored 28 points in Game 3 and has averaged 20.7 points and 4.0 rebounds for the series.
Kalshi users have traded nearly $12.6 million in the Finals MVP prediction market.
Who will win MVP?
As things stand, the Finals MVP is unclear. All three players mentioned above have their selling points and shortcomings.
Wembanyama only shot 28.6% from the floor in Game 1 despite posting a 26-point, 12-rebound double-double. He followed that up by committing the pivotal turnover that led to Brunson’s game-winning free throw with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, and then missed the game-winning jump shot.
However, Wemby was back to his best in Game 3, with the aforementioned 32-point, eight-rebound, six-assist stat line. He has averaged 29 points, 9.7 boards, 3.3 dimes, and 3.3 blocks for the series.
Brunson has been instrumental in his team’s attack. Much of the Knicks’ offensive success has come from him blowing by his primary defender and getting two feet in the paint, which has triggered a series of rotations by the Spurs’ defenders that has often created open looks for teammates. He also showed up with big buckets in the fourth quarter of Game 1 and the game-winning free throw in Game 2.
That said, the Knicks guard was extremely inefficient and careless with the basketball. His 37% field-goal and 31.8% 3-point shooting are well below his standard, and he logged just as many turnovers as he did assists.
Towns was the Knicks’ best player in Games 1 and 2, although his scoring average (19.5 points) was still 5.5 points behind Brunson’s. He was also a relative no-show for Game 3, putting up 11 points, eight rebounds, and one assist, and only taking 10 shots.
Armed with switch-hitting power, an elite throwing arm, and sky-high expectations, Braden Montgomery makes his long-awaited arrival on the South Side. | (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
The future keeps arriving on the South Side. Prior to Tuesday night’s series opener, before the Braves roll in, the White Sox officially selected the contract of Braden Montgomery from Triple-A Charlotte. One of the most hyped call-ups of this whole rebuild is now, at last, real.
Montgomery, No. 2 in Chicago’s system and No. 21 in all of baseball (MLB Pipeline), has been banging on the door since Opening Day.
He started the year in Birmingham, and it took about five minutes for the 23-year-old switch-hitter to torch the Southern League. Player of the Month in April, up to Charlotte by May 5. The brakes? He never found them.
The numbers across the season: .314/.422/.548, 10 bombs, 41 RBIs, 52 runs, 39 walks in 56 games between Birmingham and Charlotte. And in his last 10 with the Knights, he basically turned into Barry Bonds: .474/.580/.711, on base like it was a birthright.
At that point, there wasn’t much left to prove.
This call-up is another notch for the blockbuster Garrett Crochet trade between Chicago and Boston in December 2024. Montgomery was one of four bodies in that deal — Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth, Wikelman González, the others. All four have reached the majors (although González started the season in Charlotte and is currently on the IL), and the trade isn’t even two years old.
For Montgomery, the journey to the majors has been anything but ordinary.
The former No. 12 overall pick entered the 2024 draft as one of the most talented players in college baseball after starring at Texas A&M. His combination of switch-hitting pop, incredible athleticism, and an arm that could knock over a mailbox from the outfield. A broken ankle suffered during the Aggies’ postseason run briefly slowed his ascent, but it did little to diminish the excitement surrounding his long-term potential.
Since turning pro, the hype train has only picked up speed.
Scouts drool over the power, but that’s just the start. The arm is a cannon — 70-grade, no exaggeration — and he can handle center or right. Most see him sticking in right, but the ability to play center is a nice bonus for a team still sorting through its future core.
The best part is that Montgomery isn’t just a slugger. He works counts, draws walks, and owns the strike zone. That patience, plus the pop, is why scouts see him as a real middle-of-the-order threat.
Now the White Sox and their fans will find out how quickly those tools translate in the big leagues.
Montgomery’s call-up came as part of a roster shuffle, with Joe Rock up from Charlotte, Rikuu Nishida and David Sandlin back to Triple-A, and Austin Hays to the 60-day IL.
But let’s be real: Tuesday is all about Montgomery.
For a team still building towards the next competitive window, these call-ups are the measuring stick. Some are just bodies. Some are hope.
Montgomery feels like something more.
The Sox think they landed a cornerstone in the Crochet deal. Starting tonight against Atlanta, fans get their first look at whether he can turn all that promise into something real.
The Braden Montgomery era? It’s here. Get excited.
Hey, at least Jacob Gonzalez had a massive first career home run this past week. | (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
Last week, we turned the page to a new month. The White Sox hit the road for their sixth road trip of the year. Instead of building off of a 6-1 home stand, they dropped four of six.
June was always going to be a tough month for this South Side squad. The month started with a continuation of the division matchups that ended May, moved on to a trip to Philly, relentlessly pushes into three series against some of the best teams in the league, and ends with three divisional series. Which is why after recently taking three of four from the Twins at home, it seemed like a sure thing the domination of the Minnesota club would continue.
For the bats, much of this trend continued this week. The Pale Hose scored no fewer than four runs in all six games they played.
Miguel Vargas came to play in the opener in Minnesota. Two-run home runs were the name of the game for the third baseman. He hit not one but two in the 9-6 loss:
On Wednesday, the White Sox finally got into the win column, 8-0. Vargas went 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs and his eighth RBI of the week. Had an MVP been named for the series, it would have gone to the 26-year-old.
Randal Grichuk kept his team in the opener on Friday in City of Brotherly Love. The outfielder was brought in specifically to hit against lefty pitching, and hit against lefty pitching he has. This season five of his six home runs and 12 of his 19 RBIs can be credited to facing a left-handed pitchers. Jesús Luzardo was Grichuk’s most recent victim: The DH for the night nabbed two solo shots off the starter and kept the game within striking distance, but the White Sox would ultimately end up losing, 8-6:
The six runs scored on Saturday, however, would be enough to earn the win. Both Colson Montgomery and Jacob Gonzalez homered, and we’ll show you the latter home run because it was the first long ball of J-Gone’s career. The ball traveled 428 feet into the second deck of right field, so it was no cheapie:
There were six lead changes in Sunday’s 9-5 loss. There were no home runs for the White Sox in this effort, but Tristan Peters smacked his 15th double of the year. The brief Banana is now batting .307 on the season. Peters was designated for assignment by the Rays before Chris Getz made a call to trade for him. A trade that cost the club cash and a player to be named later. While Tampa is sure to get a PTBNL upgrade from a system nobody to an actual prospect, for now one team’s loss is another team’s treasure.
The pitching this week was feeling the effects of playing 13 games in a row.
The highlight of this pitching struggle could be summarized best in David Sandlin’s performance. As you might remember, the rookie’s career debut was highlighted by retiring 18 in a row after giving up a solo home run to Byron Buxton to start the game. Last week, Sandlin started a second game against the Twins to open the series in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The result could not have been more different. He only made it through four innings, giving up eight runs on eight hits and four walks.
During the rubber match in Philly on Sunday, Sandlin entered the game after a Tyler Gilbert open. This time he made it through 3 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks. His home runs allowed has now climbed to four after just 13 1/3 innings of work over three game appearances.
This week was also the week Davis Martin finally stumbled. A bad start was bound to happen, but Buxton and company is not who I anticipated this struggle to happen against. The starter added a second loss to his record after pitching 4 2/3 innings. He surrendered six runs on 10 hits and struck out a season-low two batters.
Relief pitching did not have a great week, either. Tyler Davis and his 12 ERA over the stretch was a perfect example of this. His first of the week, on Monday, was an inconsequential ninth run given up to the Twins in a 9-6 loss. On Friday, Davis had a scoreless outing against the Phillies. What happened on Sunday to finish up the week, you ask? Davis entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a 5-4 lead and a job to hold the score there. Hold the score he did not. After three hits, a walk and one strikeout, the inning ended with the Good Guys in a 7-5 hole. The rubber match would be lost by a final of 9-5. An opportunity for a .500 week and a series win going into playing Atlanta was squandered by one inning of poor pitching.
As if that relief pitching wasn’t ugly enough, Bryan Hudson came out of the week with a 27 ERA in 1 1/3 innings of work. His two appearances in Philadelphia were both two outs apiece, giving up two runs in each. To no one’s surprise, there were no strikeouts involved during these outings.
Hopefully the Monday off-day will prove as a reset for Zach Bove’s pitching staff. The club will need a locked-in rotation and bullpen if they are to squeak out some wins against the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Freddy Peralta doesn't give the New York Mets enough of an edge over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals tonight to take the home team to win straight up on the moneyline.
New York is a -117 favorite, and my Cardinals vs. Mets predictions are fading the home team to find value elsewhere, particularly with the Over.
Let's dig in with my MLB picks on Tuesday, June 9.
Who will win Cardinals vs Mets today: Cardinals moneyline (+112)
The New York Mets have played better baseball of late, but I'm not champing at the bit to take them to win straight up at -117 in this spot. The St. Louis Cardinals are the better value proposition at plus money on the road.
This price reflects the pitching matchup more than anything, as Dustin May is pitching opposite Freddy Peralta. However, Peralta has been underwhelming in his first (perhaps last) season in Queens.
Compare his under-the-hood metrics year over year, and you'll see the Mets may have gotten hosed by the Milwaukee Brewers (whomst among us?) in their offseason trade (well, not really, as neither Brandon Sproat nor Jett Williams has looked that good). Last year, Peralta generated whiff and strikeout rates in the 83rd and 84th percentiles, respectively. This year, those have fallen to the 71st and 60th.
His 3.63 ERA isn't terrible, but it's worse by nearly a full run from a season ago, and his expected ERA is 3.79 with an expected batting average of .237 (both in the 57th percentile).
All told, he's getting hit more frequently and harder, and with bat-speed darling Jordan Walker waiting in the wings, I like the value in the visitors because Peralta isn't giving New York the edge implied by the price. I'd play the Cardinals to +105.
COVERS INTEL: Peralta's 14.3 BlastCon% is the highest it's been since it was first measured in 2024, meaning his offerings are getting squared up at top speed more frequently, particularly helping favor the Over 7.5.
Cardinals vs Mets Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-115)
With Peralta getting squared up frequently, and May similarly struggling to suppress scoring, we've taken our first step toward the Over 7.5.
And while Peralta's fly-ball rate is a reasonable 35.5%, that's so far below his career rate that it's reasonable to expect some normalization.
With wind blowing out toward right-center, per BallparkPal, it's shaping up to be a long day at the office for these hurlers.
Mets outfielder Juan Soto has the best matchup rating on today's slate, according to Batters-Box. If the Mets stack lefty bats like Soto and the red-hot Carson Benge, May will be in trouble, as they've hit .299/.371/.448 against him this season.
I'd take the Over 7.5 as short as -145 or pivot to Over 8.5 at plus money around +120 as an alternative.
Jason Wilson's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 3-0, +2.88 units
Over/Under bets: 2-1, +1.1 units
Cardinals vs Mets odds
Moneyline: Cardinals +113 | Mets -117
Run line: Cardinals +1.5 (-178) | Mets -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-113) | Under 7.5 (+108)
Cardinals vs Mets trend
The New York Mets have hit the Game Total Over in 10 of their last 14 games at home (+7.80 Units / 51% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Mets.
How to watch Cardinals vs Mets and game info
Location
Citi Field, Flushing, NY
Date
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
Cardinals.TV, SNY
Cardinals starting pitcher
Dustin May (3-6, 4.59 ERA)
Mets starting pitcher
Freddy Peralta (4-4, 3.63 ERA)
Cardinals vs Mets latest injuries
Cardinals vs Mets 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.
COVERS INTEL: Towns’ 
