ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 30: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on May 30, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cardinals President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom has been much more aggressive over the last couple of weeks in churning through young players on the roster than was originally expected. Victor Scott II, Nolan Gorman, and Yohel Pozo are currently in AAA Memphis, and Catcher Pedro Pages has been relegated to backup as Chaim Bloom has shown a greater willingness to shake things up as of late. Platoon thumper Nelson Velazquez, Lefty Catcher Jimmy Crooks, and corner infielder Blaze Jordan have overtaken the spots on the roster and have made a notable improvement in offensive output since.
The potential for churn and change could be on the horizon for the pitching staff, as both Kyle Leahy and Matthew Liberatore are not flourishing in their current roles, and the bullpen could benefit from some additional proven firepower to elevate it to the next level. Both Leahy and Liberatore were accomplished relievers before becoming starters over the last 2 seasons.
The thing that made Kyle Leahy so successful last season in his multi-inning reliever role was the shorter bursts allowed his stuff to play up and allow him to leverage the very best performing pitches in his arsenal. Having to throttle some of his stuff down to last longer in the game, which he isn’t particularly doing anyway, takes away from that and is proving to make him a below-average starter. I would argue for two elements. 1. It was a good idea to test their internal hypothesis that Leahy could be a big league starter. The value of his doing so would be a long-term benefit to the organization if it were successful. 2. It’s clear that it’s not the correct role for his capabilities, and he still has the capacity and opportunity to positively impact this roster with a shift back to the bullpen and jettisoning the ever-unlucky or ineffective Chris Roycroft from the 40-man.
The other part to this, and the more unfortunate, appears to be that the first half of last season was the aberration in Liberatore’s production, and the 2nd half of Libby was more of the real thing. Dating back to July 5th of 2025, Matthew Liberatore has pitched 130 IP and posted a 4.85 ERA and a 5.21 FIP. Liberatore has recently seen an uptick in strikeout rate, and perhaps taking that element to the pen would afford the Cardinals an additional weapon from the left side and prevent overexposure for Justin Bruihl, who performs effectively in lower leverage opportunities.
So, who takes their place?
Naturally, Hunter Dobbins would be the first name to step in for Kyle Leahy, and we’ve seen Dobbins have the ability to get into a groove and can provide the Cardinals with more length and the ability to provide production from a starter’s workload.
The other replacement? Cardinals 2024 MiLB Pitcher of the Year Quinn Matthews. It’s been a struggle for Quinn as he has taken a little longer than expected to adjust to the big league baseball in AAA, and he also dealt with a shoulder issue last season that delayed his development. Much like in 2025, Matthews struggled with his command but has seemed to figure something out in his last 2 starts. 2-0 12 IP, 0 ER, 15K’s, 2 BB’s. Remember how I recommended removing Roycroft from the 40-man roster earlier? It would be to add Matthews to it.
Adding both Dobbins and Matthews to the starting rotation would benefit the short and long term. Right in the Chaim Bloom wheelhouse. Moving Leahy and Liberatore to the bullpen while both have 4 years of control remaining benefits both the short and long term of the organization… You know where I’m going with this. The Cardinals have shown a willingness to make aggressive improvements with both the short and long term in mind, and it is yet to be seen if they will follow suit on the pitching side of things. The options are presenting themselves. The roles appear to be clear-cut as to how you maneuver the 40-man, but who would be the odd man out in the bullpen after Roycroft is unclear. I’m sure most of you would make the argument that it would be just removing Bruihl, and I wouldnt give that much push back on that, but I’m not sure how the Cardinals would feel about exposing Bruihl to waivers. I suppose we can chalk that up to the ol’ TBD on that front, but it will be something to keep an eye on moving forward.
(Stats via Baseball Savant, Prospect Savant, and FanGraphs)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is the NL's leading vote-getter at designated hitter. Never has this Dodgers dynasty had four players start an All-Star Game, but they're poised to do so, powered by a deep, star-laden roster and a vast fan base clicking digital ballots. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
If fans all around the major leagues are sick and tired of the Dodgers, they have a funny way of showing it.
The Dodgers win too much and spend too much, so offensive to so many outside Los Angeles that the league shutting down next season has somehow become an acceptable outcome if the Dodgers cannot be stripped of their payroll advantage.
So, a pox on all their honors, right?
Apparently not. When Major League Baseball unveiled its initial batch of All-Star voting results Monday, four players from the team that so bothers the rest of America were in position to make the National League starting lineup.
Shohei Ohtani leads at designated hitter, Freddie Freeman at first base, Max Muncy at third base, and Andy Pages in the outfield.
“You look across the league, across baseball, and we have a lot of recognizable names,” Muncy said. “We have really talented players who have been playing really well this year.
“For a lot of us, the game has been speaking for us.”
Maybe not all four hold their leads in voting. Or maybe the Dodgers get more, as they seem to do in everything: Mookie Betts ranks second at shortstop, and Will Smith ranks second at catcher. Never has any team had six players start an All-Star Game.
In all the years Andrew Friedman has assembled super teams here, never have the Dodgers had four players start an All-star Game. That has happened once in franchise history, in 1980: infielders Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes and Bill Russell and outfielder Reggie Smith.
Love the Dodgers, or love to hate them, fans are voting for them.
“We’ve played well the last couple of years,” Freeman said. “We’re playing well again.
“A lot of eyes are on us. A lot of fans know all of us. And we’re playing good baseball.”
Mookie Betts, throwing to first base after forcing out Tampa Bay's Austin Slater at second on Monday, is second in NL voting at shortstop. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
In olden times, voting was conducted largely on paper ballots distributed at the stadium. With digital ballots, you can vote from anywhere, to the delight of a team that has extended its fan base to Japan.
“There’s no question we have a very, very strong fan base, domestically and internationally,” Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. “There’s no question that’s an advantage.
“But, in every case this year, the players that are up there this year certainly deserve it. It just speaks to the quality of the players we have.”
“Who ever said that?” Kasten said. “I’ve always said the opposite. I think we have been good for baseball, and I think everyone in baseball would agree.”
Said Freeman: “I think that’s just noise. We’re good for baseball. You just saw it in Chicago.”
The Chicago White Sox average 22,000. The Dodgers showed up over the weekend, and the White Sox sold out — all three games, at 38,000 per game.
“To say we’re bad for baseball,” Freeman said, “I think that’s what Doc would say is a lazy statement.”
Doc is Dave Roberts, the Dodgers’ manager. He laughed. He already branded popular critiques of the Dodgers as “lazy” once this season. He didn’t want to say it again.
But, if the Dodgers give people what they want to see, how can they be ruining the game?
“That’s a great point,” Roberts said. “I think people still love talent. They love the way our guys play. And they should be showcased in the midsummer classic.”
This year’s All-Star Game is in Philadelphia, home to the most passionate of fan bases. The Dodgers and Phillies each represent the National League, but can you imagine what the Phillies fans might have to say about four — or more — Dodgers introduced in the, er, home team lineup?
People love to hate the Dodgers. Philly fans love to hate, period.
“It would probably be a lot of fun,” Muncy said. “At the All-Star Game, you’re just there to celebrate the best players in baseball.
“Obviously, there will be boos and cheers for everybody. You’re just there to celebrate the talent, and not necessarily what team they’re playing for.”
If they’re playing for the Dodgers? Philly fans booed Santa Claus. Shohei Ohtani, you have been warned.
Florida Complex League Yankees:W, 9-2 at FCL Tigers
3B Richard Matic 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB LF Wilberson De Pena 3-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, 1 SB — 11 homers this year, had five all of last year LF Isael Arias 0-0 C Queni Pineda 1-5, 1 R, 3 K, 1 SB 2B Leni Done 3-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB CF Jose Castro 3-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 K RF Robbie Burnett 1-2, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K RF Estivenzon Montero 0-2, 2 K SS Dexters Peralta 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K DH Francisco Vilorio 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K 1B Christofer Reyes 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Danny Flatt 2.2 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR Alexander Almonte 3.1 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K (win) Jorge Luna 2 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K Austin Breedlove 1 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, pickoff error
Dominican Summer League Yankees:W, 11-1 (7) vs. DSL White Sox
CF Isaias Castillo 0-4, 3 K SS Stiven Marinez 1-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 K, throwing error RF Yostin Pena 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 2 K 2B Juan Torres 2-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, 1 SB DH Manuel Aguilar 2-2, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB 3B Abrahan Pichardo 0-4, 1 K C Cesar Lopez 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 R 1B Jose Peralta 1-1, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB LF Kendry Diaz 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 K
Hector Moreno 1.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K Fredy Penuelas 4.1 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 6 K (win) — 0.75 ERA in 12 innings, had a 10.23 ERA in 22 frames last year Jose Vargas 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K
Dominican Summer League Bombers:W, 14-11 at DSL Twins
DH Daniel Santana 0-3, 1 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 3 SB SS Mani Cedeno 2-4, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 CS 2B Carlos Bello 2-4, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 SB, 1 CS — second blast was a three-run shot to complete a six-run ninth and take the lead RF David Carrera 1-5, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K C Alessandro Rodriguez 3-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 K, throwing and pickoff error 1B Poly Ojeda 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB 3B Germayhoni Beltre 2-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SB, throwing error LF Richard Meran 0-3, 3 K PR-LF Sebastian Pinto 0-1, 1 CS CF Alfiery Matos 1-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 SB — classic DSL game, eight steals and three caught stealing as a team
Randy Angomas 3.2 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 4 BB, 3 K Kevin Centeno 3.1 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR Diego Carrillo 1 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (win, blown save)
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt takes batting practice during spring training workouts Monday, February 17, 2025, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. | Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup!
As a reminder, you can find this roundup — covering everything you need to know about each of the Brewers’ minor league affiliates — every Tuesday morning right here on Brew Crew Ball. For consistency, all organizational prospect rankings will reference MLB Pipeline unless otherwise noted.
Triple-A Nashville Sounds (41-25)
Opponent this week: vs. Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays)
Record this week: 3-3
Standout performances:
Eddys Leonard: 8-for-15, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K Akil Baddoo: 6-for-14, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 5 BB, 1 K Luis Matos: 5-for-16, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K Luke Adams (No. 11): 5-for-17, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K Kaleb Bowman: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K Tyson Hardin (No. 16): 11 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 16 K
As you may have heard, the biggest news out of Nashville this week is the promotion of shortstop prospect Cooper Pratt (No. 4), who will join the Brewers on Tuesday for their upcoming series against the Guardians.
Pratt got off to a slow start in his first Triple-A season, but he’s been seeing the ball better lately, hitting .267/.357/.430 with a .787 OPS over the last month. During that stretch, he led all Sounds players in hits (23) and RBIs (15, tied with Akil Baddoo). For more on Pratt’s promotion, check out Dave’s coverage from when the news broke on Sunday afternoon.
Cooper Pratt has been called up to the major leagues by Milwaukee 👀
The shortstop finalized an eight-year, 50.75MM extension in early April.
After missing the last four games of last week’s series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, the recently-extended Luis Lara (No. 5) played in all six games this week, going 5-for-21 with a pair of RBIs. Lara, who’s hitting .329 with a .919 OPS and seven home runs on the season, should be the first outfield prospect promoted should any of the Brewers’ starting outfielders miss time.
Eddys Leonard paced the Sounds in batting average, going 8-for-15 with a homer and a triple. Leonard isn’t nearly as highly regarded as Pratt or Jett Williams (No. 3), but he’s been more productive at the plate than both. His .930 OPS and 10 home runs both lead the Sounds.
Luke Adams also had a great week, going 5-for-17 (.294) with a home run. Like Pratt, he’s started to heat up with the weather, posting a 1.066 OPS over the last month.
Luis Matos has also been solid for the Sounds. At just 24 years old — he won’t turn 25 until January — he’s still young enough, and has enough upside, to earn another opportunity with the Brewers. However, Matos is out of minor league options and had to clear waivers just to join Nashville, which complicates any potential path back to Milwaukee.
As for the pitching staff, Tyson Hardin continues to shove since his promotion to Triple-A. Over two starts this week, he allowed just three runs while racking up 16 strikeouts in 11 innings. After struggling to start the season in Double-A, Hardin now has a 1.89 ERA and 0.93 WHIP through his first six Triple-A starts.
Tyson Hardin just completed his fifth start at the AAA level, and it was another impressive one.
Junior Fernández, Gerson Garabito, Reiss Knehr, and Craig Yoho all each pitched at least two scoreless innings. Brett Wichrowski, promoted to Nashville last week, has now given up eight runs through his first 10 2/3 innings in Triple-A.
Next week’s opponent: @ Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals)
Double-A Biloxi Shuckers (32-29)
Opponent this week: @ Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox)
Record this week: 4-3
Standout performances:
Jesús Made (No. 1): 9-for-29, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 6 K Mike Boeve: 10-for-25, 2 2B, 7 RBI, 6 BB, 7 K Jacob Hurtubise: 6-for-17, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K Blake Burke (No. 15): 8-for-26, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 9 K Jack Seppings: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K Tanner Gillis: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K Jaron DeBerry: 6 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K Stiven Cruz: 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K Bishop Letson (No. 8): 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Death, taxes, and Jesús Made raking. Made’s OPS is actually under .800 (.785), but he’s hitting .280 with six home runs — as many as he had last year. Nothing to see here. He’s still the best prospect in baseball.
That's our #1 Prospect in Baseball!
A 109 mph rocket off the bat of Jesús Made makes it 4-1 Shuckers!
Mike Boeve, who was a top 10 organizational prospect at the beginning of last year before dropping out of the top 30 entirely, has quietly had a bounce-back season in Biloxi. He’s still not really hitting for power, but he’s hitting .276 with a .347 OBP over the last month — roughly in line with his season-long stats (.259 average, .351 OBP).
Blake Burke added an opposite-field home run this week, pushing his season total to 14. His power numbers have been in a class of their own; Darrien Miller and Matthew Wood rank second on the team with eight homers apiece.
Other than Made, Boeve, Burke, and Jacob Hurtubise, no Shucker hit over .300. Biloxi went 4-3 this week on the strength of their pitching. Five different pitchers — Jack Seppings, Tanner Gillis, Jaron DeBerry, Stiven Cruz, and Bishop Letson — pitched at least five innings while allowing three runs or less. Cameron Wagoner and Jesús Broca both pitched three scoreless innings.
Next week’s opponent: vs. Columbus Clingstones (Atlanta Braves)
High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (33-26)
Opponent this week: vs. Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Record this week: 4-2
Standout performances:
Andrew Fischer (No. 6): 6-for-13, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7 BB, 6 K Josh Adamczewski (No. 10): 7-for-16, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 2 K Josiah Ragsdale (No. 30): 5-for-14, BB, 4 K Juan Baez: 4-for-12, 2B, 3 RBI, BB, 4 K Daniel Guilarte: 3-for-10, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 5 K Quinton Low: 4 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
The Timber Rattlers have had a great season, but their lineup took a significant hit on Sunday when Andrew Fischer and Josh Adamczewski earned promotions to Double-A Biloxi.
Fischer is already up to 20 home runs on the season, so much ado has been made about his performance, but Adamczewski’s promotion might be even more overdue than Fischer’s. He’s hit above .320 in each of his three seasons in the minor leagues, a stat that seems borderline unbelievable. In 166 games with Wisconsin this season, he’s slashing .331/.464/.572 with nine home runs and 21 extra-base hits.
The jury is still somewhat out on Adamczewski’s eventual defensive home. He began his professional career as a middle infielder but has spent the entire season in left field (save for 1 1/3 innings at second base). As we’re seeing with Lara, the Brewers may not have much room in the outfield if he’s ready soon. Still, Adamczewski’s hit tool has always been his calling card, and players who can hit tend to find their way into the lineup one way or another.
Josh Adamczewski has a .241 iso and a sub 20 K rate I’m supposed to believe he’s not gonna be insane
Other than Adamczewski and Fischer, not a lot of gaudy hitting numbers out of Wisconsin this week. Josiah Ragsdale, who’s been having a breakout season, was the only other Timber Rattler to hit over .300. Ragsdale, a seventh-round pick in 2025, hit .300 in 70 at-bats with the Warbirds (then the Carolina Mudcats) last year, so it’s not like he was completely off the prospect radar. Still, Ragsdale’s slugging percentage has jumped from .314 last year to .438 this season. With 169 at-bats under his belt, that improvement is becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss as a fluke. He’s looking like a legitimate find by the Brewers’ scouting department.
— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) June 14, 2026
Pitchers Braylon Owens (5 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K) and Ethan Dorchies (4 IP) had less than inspiring outings this week. Dorchies only allowed three hits but walked three batters and gave up three runs in his outing. Quinton Low went 4 2/3 innings, allowing four hits but only a single earned run, and Josh Knoth pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out five.
Knoth, the No. 33 overall pick in 2023, missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. In his first four games with the Timber Rattlers, he has a 2.19 ERA with 12 strikeouts and seven walks over 12 2/3 innings pitched. Knoth, who was highly regarded coming into the draft, is a name to keep an eye on as he starts to get his feet under him.
Next week’s opponent: @ Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals)
Single-A Wilson Warbirds (34-29)
Opponent this week: @ Hill City Howlers (Cleveland Guardians)
Record this week: 3-4
Standout performances:
Juan Ortuno: 6-for-22, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K José Anderson: 5-for-26, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 12 K Brady Ebel (No. 13): 3-for-17, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 BB, 6 K Enniel Cortez: 4 2/3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Much has been made of Andrew Fischer’s strikeout numbers, but José Anderson is closer to what Fischer’s skeptics fear he might be. After this week’s four homer showing, Anderson has already hit a whopping 16 home runs. He’s also struck out 104 times in 214 at-bats and is hitting just .182 with a .284 on-base percentage. Of his 39 hits, 16 (41%) have been home runs.
Anderson is still just 19 years old, so his troubling strikeout and on-base numbers don’t automatically rule out a major league future. At the same time, he clearly possesses major league caliber raw power. The combination makes him one of the most intriguing — and difficult to evaluate — prospects in the Brewers’ system.
Other than Anderson and Juan Ortuno (6-for-22 with three extra-base hits), the hitting stats out of Wilson this week aren’t anything to write home about. Brady Ebel cooled off with a 3-for-17 showing, although he hit two home runs. Handelfry Encarnacion went 2-for-24 with a pair of singles, although he only struck out three times. Pedro Ibarguen went 3-for-18 with a pair of doubles. Jadyn Fielder, who went 3-for-9, was the only Warbird to hit over .300.
As for the pitchers, Miqueas Mercedes threw three scoreless innings to bring his ERA down to 4.15. Mercedes, Enniel Cortez (4 2/3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER), and Bryce Schaum (1 2/3 IP, K, 2 BB) were the only pitchers to record scoreless weeks. That doesn’t include infielder Luis Lameda, who threw a scoreless inning at the end of the Warbirds’ 12-6 loss on Tuesday. The 20-year-old Lameda isn’t a pitcher, but this is a nice excuse to bring up that he’s hitting .296 with a .785 OPS after hitting just .211 in Single-A last year.
Next week’s opponent: vs. Charleston RiverDogs (Tampa Bay Rays)
Player of the Week
It has to be Andrew Fischer, who hit two home runs before his promotion to bring his season total to 20. Since the Timber Rattlers became a High-A affiliate in 2021, no player had hit more than 16 home runs in a season. Fischer’s 20 homers in just 54 games leave him two shy of the franchise record of 22, shared by Khris Davis (2010), Victor Roache (2013), and Clint Coulter (2014).
Fischer finishes his Timber Rattlers tenure with an extremely encouraging .298/.443/.675 slash line, offering an exciting glimpse of what could be in store for the 2025 first-round pick.
Andrew Fischer just hit his 17th homer of the season
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 05: Ilya Solovyov #7 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game on February 05, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Vitals
Player: Ilya Solovyov Born: July 20, 2000 (25 years old) Height: 6’3” Weight: 208 pounds Hometown: Mogilev, Belarus Shoots: Left Draft: Seventh round pick (205th overall) in 2020 by the Calgary Flames 2025-26 Statistics: 0 goals and 5 assists for 5 points in 14 regular-season games; 0 points in three playoff games. Contract Status: Signed through 2026-27 ($850,000 cap hit)
Story of the Season
The Penguins acquired Solovyov’s expiring contract in January by sending Valtteri Puustinen and a 2026 seventh-rounder to the Colorado Avalanche.
At the time Solovyov had skated in 16 games with the Avalanche and three games with the team’s AHL affiliate.
The trade came around the time Kris Letang was sidelined for two games with an upper-body injury. He suffered a fractured foot about a week and a half later that gave Solovyov a chance to slot into the lineup.
Solovyov spent most of his time in the regular season the bottom pairing with Connor Clifton.
He made his playoff debut in Game 4 as a substitute for Clifton on the right side of Ryan Shea. The Flyers never scored a goal with Solovyov on the ice, which was enough for head coach Dan Muse to keep dressing him over Clifton until the Penguins’ Game 6 elimination.
The Penguins re-signed Solovyov in May to keep him under contract for one more season before he hits unrestricted free agency in 2027.
Solovyov was traded to the Penguins on Jan. 20. He saw his ice time climb after the trade from 11:34 per game in Colorado to over 14 minutes per game in Pittsburgh.
Regular season 5v5 advanced stats
Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 11 defensemen on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.
These numbers come with the major caveat that Solovyov played just 14 games this season with the club. Within that small sample size, however, Penguins were generally excellent at generating scoring chances and poor at stopping opponents from scoring when Solovyov (generally paired with Clifton during the regular season) was on the ice in a sheltered role.
Solovyov is dealing with a limited sample, but he is a player that WAR sees some positive and encouraging signs for the minutes that he has played by being able to put a nice impact offensively and defensively overall in what he’s been asked to do. The goals and finishing will likely come down in time once he plays more, but it shows some tools. One possible issue is taking penalties, Solovyov was called for five minor penalties in 15 games with the Penguins (and three more in 16 games with Colorado), he’ll want to cut down on the amount of times he gets whistled for infractions relative to the small amount of time he’s played in the future.
Solovyov does have some power on his shots and as shown in the lower left chart, had the versatility to spend time on the left and right points during different stretches. He doesn’t have a lot of dynamic puck skills but that nice shot power could be part of the reason to get him into games in the future.
Solovyov’s skating is functional, he’s good in short areas and making pivots when needing to defend. His straight-line speed and acceleration is in-line with his 6’3, 210 pound frame to not exactly be thought of as one of the speedier skaters in the league.
Highlights
Solovyov assisted on a Ryan Shea goal in his Penguins debut on Jan. 29.
After extending Solovyov, the Penguins have Sam Girard, Ryan Graves, Parker Wotherspoon, Caleb Jones and Owen Pickering as some of the left-shot defensemen signed through next season.
With Shea hitting free agency and potentially set for a raise that could push him out of the Penguins’ pay range, will Solovyov be able to win a more regular roster spot in training camp? If not, he could be set to head into next season in a similar seventh-defenseman role to what Clifton (also a pending free agent) played last season.
Ideal 2026-27
Solovyov spent three seasons as a fringe roster player and part-time AHL player with the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche. His ideal 2026-27 season would likely include him earning a spot in training camp and playing his first full-time campaign in the NHL.
Bottom line
The Penguins saw Solovyov in a limited sample size and mostly in a sheltered role last season, but he served as a largely reliable bottom-pairing option when called into the lineup. There’s a chance a strong training camp could earn him a longer look at the NHL next season.
It’s well known that the Montreal Canadiens have one of the deepest pools of prospects in the NHL, thanks to years of high draft picks. One of their most successful prospects this past season has been right-shot defenseman Bryce Pickford. The third-round pick who was selected 81st overall by the Habs at the 2025 draft has had a season for the ages with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL.
On Monday, the CHL announced that Pickford had been named the defenseman of the year, thanks to an 83-point season, which included 45 goals and saw him finish the campaign with a plus-55 rating. No defenseman has scored more goals than Pickford in the last 40 years, and he’s impressed the Canadiens so much in the early goings of the season that he was signed to his ELC just before Christmas.
However, the news wasn’t all good on Monday, as The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler reported that the prospect may need shoulder surgery this offseason after playing through an injury this season. While this is definitely not good news, it’s impressive that he was able to perform the way that he has, considering the injury.
While Pickford has had a dominant season in the WHL, it’s important to remember that the step between that junior league and professional hockey is a steep one. Given where the Canadiens are in their rebuild, it will also be interesting to see whether they choose to let him develop or include him in a package for some immediate help.
Some would advocate that trading a right-shot defenseman when he has that much potential would be ill-advised, and it’s certainly not a course of action that would have been entertained back in 2022, but things have changed since then. The playoffs have made it obvious that the Canadiens need another right-shot defenseman, preferably one who can handle top-four minutes.
If the Canadiens aren’t convinced that David Reinbacher can be that player, they may need to go outside of the organization to fill that need. You have to give something to get something, as they say, and they won’t get an established right-shot blueliner if they do not dangle an enticing asset in front of a possible trade partner.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 4: Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone pauses on the podium at the end of a news conference wrapping up the season at Toyota Center in Houston, Monday, May 4, 2026. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
The 2026 NBA Draft is nearing. The draft is on June 23rd and 24th — the literal definition of around the corner.
The Houston Rockets hold two picks in this year’s draft, which is a bit unusual, as the Rockets typically sacrifice their draft picks for proven talent. Buy and large, the Rockets have generally been in a contending state.
When jockeying for a title, you have to go all-in. The window is short. This year’s Rockets team has several needs.
And just two second-round draft picks, the 39th pick and 53rd pick. However, this is a loaded draft, at both the top and the back end. The Rockets can add difference makers at both spots.
I put on the General Manager hat and made the selections for the Rockets.
Pick #39 – Ugonna Onyenso- Center -Virginia
Mar 14, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Virginia Cavaliers center Ugonna Onyenso (33) blocks the shot of Duke Blue Devils guard Cayden Boozer (2) in the second half during the men's ACC Conference Tournament Championship at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
There’s a possibility that Onyenso may not be on the board when the Rockets make this pick. Onyenso has been going in the early 30s in many mock drafts, in part because of the number of big men that decided to return to school, in the name of NIL riches (and development, in some cases).
Onyenso is a bit limited offensively, but he’s shown the ability to knock down the occasional outside shot. And he’s got good touch around the rim.
But let’s face it. This pick isn’t about offense. It’s about Onyenso’s defensive strengths, particularly rim protecting and/or shot blocking. He was one of the best in the country at it. Cam Boozer saw firsthand, as Onyenso blocked four of his shots, when they faced off. Onyenso averaged a nation-leading 2.9 blocks (and a 17.4 percent block rate).
His 7-foot-5 wingspan is tough for opponents to deal with. And Houston needs to be looking for a long-term replacement for Steven Adams.
It’s worth taking a gander around other mock drafts to see what other prognosticators have the Rockets doing with this pick. Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman actually has the Rockets taking Onyenso here as well.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – MARCH 22: Otega Oweh #00 of the Kentucky Wildcats dribbles against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Rockets need wings that can shoot from deep. Otega Oweh isn’t exactly that.
But his outside shot is a work in progress. In his first year as a starter at Oklahoma, he made 37.7 percent from long range. He made 35.5 percent from three in his first year at Kentucky and 33.3 percent this past season.
The percentages have declined slightly but the volume has gone up (1.7 attempts as a sophomore, 2.1 attempts as a junior and 3.8 attempts as a senior). His outside shot needs continued improvement. But it’s not like Oweh can’t score.
He averaged 18.6 points this past season, which led Kentucky and ranked sixth in the SEC. He’s marvelous at attacking and getting to the rim.
It’s tough to stop him when he gets downhill. And he’s a good defender, which will get the attention of Rockets coach Ime Udoka.
A quick peruse around other mock drafts shows Wasserman’s projection of the Rockets selecting Wyatt Fricks of Marshall here. Vecenie has the Rockets taking UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau.
As for the top pick, our friends over at Fanduel have AJ Dybantsa at -450, followed by Darryn Peterson at +380, Cameron Boozer at +1700, Caleb Wilson at +7500 and Darius Acuff at +20000.
Williams sisters have won six doubles titles at SW19
French Open finalist Chwalinksa awarded wildcard
Serena and Venus Williams will rekindle their doubles partnership at Wimbledon this month after receiving a wildcard into the women’s doubles draw. The All England Club announced the recipients on Tuesday morning in one of the most highly anticipated wildcard announcements in recent memory considering Serena’s return this month after four years of retirement.
Serena, a seven-times singles champion, did not request a singles wildcard and the 44-year-old has remained coy about whether she plans to return for singles. Venus, a five-time singles champion, has also not received a singles wildcard. Venus has competed on the tour since her debut in 1994, only stopping due to health-related issues. She turns 46 on Wednesday.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: Trey Jemison III #50 and Kevin McCullar Jr. #9 of the New York Knicks arrive to the arena before the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you look down the bench of every NBA team, you’ll see all types of different stories, journeys, and life experiences.
Since the NBA established two-way contracts to allow teams to go past the 15-man roster limit to build organizational depth in 2017, that’s never been truer.
While two-way guys are almost always rookies or relatively young players who would otherwise be populating G-League rosters, they’re still in a unique spot of being able to bridge the major and minor leagues of the sport, similar to a baseball player on a 40-man roster. As such, you’ll see them suit up in games at times, whether consequential or not, but see them in street clothes come playoff time.
Here are the players to sign a two-way contract with the Knicks from 2017-25 and how many games they played for the team:
Luke Kornet, July 2017 (66 games)
Isaiah Hicks, October 2017 (21 games)
Allonzo Trier, July 2018 (88 games)
Kadeem Allen, January 2019 (29 games)
Ivan Rabb, October 2019 (0 games)
Kenny Wooten, January 2020 (o games)
Jared Harper, November 2020 (8 games)
Theo Pinson, November 2020 (17 games)
Myles Powell, April 2021 (0 games)
Jericho Sims, August 2021 (177 games)
Luka Samanic, October 2021 (0 games)
Feron Hunt, March 2022 (2 games)
Trevor Keels, July 2022 (3 games)
DaQuan Jeffries, November 2022 (17 games)
Duane Washington Jr., February 2023 (0 games)
Moses Brown, March 2023 (0 games)
Jaylen Martin, July 2023 (0 games)
Nathan Knight, July 2023 (0 games)
Dylan Windler, July 2023 (3 games)
Charlie Brown Jr., October 2023 (8 games)
Jacob Toppin, October 2023 (25 games)
Dmytro Skapintsev, December 2023 (2 games)
Ariel Hukporti, July 2024 (79 games)
Boo Buie, November 2024 (0 games)
Matt Ryan, December 2024 (19 games)
MarJon Beauchamp, March 2025 (6 games)
A lot of forgettable names here. A couple of good pulls who played briefly for mediocre teams. A few of these guys used their time on a two-way contract to parlay it into guaranteed contracts and multi-year careers. Overall, many of these dudes came and went with their NBA careers.
For Trey Jemison III, Dillon Jones, and Kevin McCullar Jr., none of them were able to dress for the postseason, no matter what injuries or circumstances affected the 15-man roster. Their season was functionally over the second the team lost to the Charlotte Hornets on April 12.
But what they did beforehand still matters, and what they meant as locker room guys throughout the postseason does as well. Every player to wear the orange and blue this year contributed to this story, and will get a ring to show for it.
While these three got to enjoy the celebration with their teammates, I’d be remiss to not mention Tosan Evbuomwan, who started the season on a two-way deal and appeared in five games before being released on January 7. He never scored a point and played just eight minutes, but he goes down as one of the 20 men to contribute to this run.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 13: Trey Jemison III #50 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait after winning Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Let’s start with Jemison, who’s already rubbed shoulders with the likes of LeBron James and Luka Doncic as a brief member of the 2024-25 Lakers in one of the now five stops in his career. Undrafted out of UAB in 2023, he’s additionally played for Washington, Memphis, and New Orleans across two seasons before inking a two-way contract in the 2025 preseason to join the Knicks.
Despite not playing a big role in the season, he played seven minutes on Opening Night against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to an injury to Mitchell Robinson, serving as the backup center while Ariel Hukporti started in place of an also-injured Josh Hart. He wouldn’t see the floor for another 32 days, but was here all season long.
He played a season-high 18 minutes in the NBA Cup hangover game against the Pacers, scoring five points and five rebounds. He’d occasionally sub in for brief spells when a big man was injured, playing a total of 13 games and 82 minutes before donning street clothes for the rest of the run.
While he didn’t play, he stayed somewhat in the public eye through his wife’s Instagram. Alex Glover, a former SMU volleyball player, posted her and Trey’s gameday fits throughout the playoff run, something that continually showed up on my feed for the last 8 weeks.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 13: Dillon Jones #33 of the New York Knicks of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait after winning Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Next, a two-time champion. Someone who, briefly, thought he was a Knick on draft night, but got an opportunity of a lifetime when he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder just minutes later, winning a title in his rookie year before circling back to New York to complete the Patrick McCaw special.
Dillon Jones grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, spending the first three years of his high school career there before transferring to Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas for his senior year. A three-star recruit, he got a scholarship at Weber State, where he enrolled in the fall of 2020. After four years, including a strong senior year which saw him win Big Sky Player of the Year, he declared for the 2024 NBA Draft, where he was a late first-round prospect.
When the Knicks were on the clock at No. 24 that year, they swiftly traded the pick to the Washington Wizards, acquiring No. 26 and No. 51. In typical Leon Rose fashion, he didn’t hold onto that first-round pick, trading it to the Thunder for five second-round picks. They used one of those picks (and two others) to trade up for Tyler Kolek later that night.
Jones just so happened to be picked 26th, joining the Thunder while technically spending a few minutes as a Knick and legally being drafted by the Wizards because of the NBA’s moratorium. Joining a team that drafts multiple players a year with dozens of pending picks in the future, Jones entered a crowded room in a draft class that included Ajay Mitchell (also briefly a Knick) and Nikola Topic.
As such, on a team that would go on to win a championship, he didn’t get to play much. He got into 54 games, starting three, but would usually only be called on due to injuries. Come playoff time, he played mostly garbage time throughout 10 appearances, but was a champion, and that’s all that matters.
But the problem with him being on the most stacked roster with a lot of assets is that the pieces on the boundary are expendable. Exactly one year after being drafted, he was salary-dumped back to the Wizards, who later waived him in October. Just like that, he was out of a job just 16 months after being a first-round pick.
When the Knicks waived Evbuomwan in January, a two-way spot was open, so the team decided to pick up a guy with a championship in Jones to fill the roster spot.
He only got into seven games, played just 39 minutes, and scored just nine points as a Knick, but somehow found his way into big moments. He was the first player I saw holding the Eastern Conference Champions trophy after the ceremony. He was the one draped over Karl-Anthony Towns after the miraculous Game 4 comeback.
He’s the only player on the roster who can say they’re a two-time champion. No asterisks needed; it’s an exclusive group. Congrats, Dillon!
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 13: Kevin McCullar Jr. #9 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait after winning Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Kevin McCullar Jr.’s journey came full circle in a way you wouldn’t expect.
Born and raised in San Antonio, he was a star at Karen Wagner High School before fracturing his tibia as a junior. Instead of returning for his senior year, he elected to graduate a semester early to get a head start at Texas Tech, where he had committed as a four-star recruit.
He spent four years with the Red Raiders, evolving into a gritty, do-anything wing playing 30 minutes a night by his junior year before deciding to take it up a notch, transferring to Kansas for his redshirt senior season and playing two years there due to COVID-19 eligibility rules. It turned out that the sixth year was the charm for him, as he blossomed into one of the best players in the Big 12 in 2023-24, being named a Third-Team All-American.
But while his age was certainly a factor for why his stock was low entering the 2024 draft, McCullar also hadn’t shaken the concerning medical history. He suffered a bone bruise that hampered him for the final two months of the season in January 2024, ultimately requiring surgery on it after it proved too difficult to play on when the Jayhawks made the NCAA Tournament.
Those concerning medicals saw him plummet down the board after once being viewed as a sleeper at the back end of the first round. The 23-year-old finally saw his free-fall end at No. 56, when the Knicks, who traded back from No. 40 to pick up a 2028 2nd, selected him as the third member of their four-player class.
His knee injury would hold him out of Summer League, and we wouldn’t see him on the basketball court until he suited up for the Westchester Knicks on January 31, 2025. He made an impact for the G-League club right away as he built back to full strength, ultimately playing in four games with the big league club towards the end of the season.
He had to wait a concerningly long time to be re-signed on a two-way deal for 2025-26, but it was clear early on that the Knicks really thought highly of a healthy McCullar. He dropped 30 in a Summer League game, he had a 30-11-5 game down in Westchester, and when he was suddenly called upon to play a rotation role in late December due to injuries, he was ready.
Out of nowhere, McCullar was the most impactful player on the floor in the December 27 win in Atlanta, playing 23 minutes and putting up 13 & 8, looking like a mini-Josh Hart.
That performance gave him a rotation spot for the next two weeks, but as the Knicks went through the three weeks from hell and both Hart and Landry Shamet returned from injury, he went back to Westchester.
He’d ultimately top his career high with a 14-point game in Game 82 against the Hornets, the last time we’ve seen him play. Of the three two-way guys, I’ve noticed him the least over this playoff run, but I think it’s clear that the Knicks seem to have the most invested in him. Going into next season, it’ll be interesting to see if he’s earned a full-time roster spot, or if he’ll have to look elsewhere for a fully guaranteed payday.
But that’s for July. Enjoy it, Kev, you’re a champion!
–
(P&T will be doing player-by-player article tributes over the next few weeks to commemorate the special team that ended our long, half-century nightmare)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 14: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts after striking out during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on September 14, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees are welcoming one of the AL Central leader into town tonight, and it’s not the Cleveland Guardians team that they’ve played so much of recently. No, after shuffling back and forth once more it is the Chicago White Sox sitting atop the Central by tiebreaker at this moment, surprising everyone by jumping out to a 38-32 record and escaping the cellar of the division. However, you’d be forgiven for not thinking that could’ve been a possibility, both because of that record being only a few games above .500 and for the fact that they’re sitting at a meager +12 run differential heading into Tuesday’s action.
They’re far from the only ones struggling in that department. The White Sox’s main competition, and the team that was alone in first place just a week ago, is actually negative in run differential. The Guardians have been outscored by three runs this year, yet sit in prime position to contend for a postseason berth with a 39-33 record. The same is true in the AL West, where the competition is even more bunched up: the 37-36 Mariners control first place by a half-game and have the second-highest run differential in the AL, but all that’s good for is a +20 mark when the Yankees lord above them with +107. The Athletics are dead even at 36-36 but would occupy a Wild Card slot if the season ended today, and they have a whopping -42 run differential! The Rangers are barely below .500 and barely above in the run differential discussion being positive by four runs, but they’re only a game out of a Wild Card.
The Yankees are busy trying to get some separation from the Rays, but they’re a piece of that puzzle as well — the only other team in the AL to have cracked 40 wins thus far, Tampa sits at a +7 in run differential after dropping a nail-biter to the Dodgers on Monday. The rest of the AL East is under the bus as a result of their poor play, but the Rays have been one of the few outliers to separate themselves from the pack and contest the Yankees, thanks in no small part to having swept them early in the year and taking a split in their latter meeting. They’re the only ones standing in New York’s way at the moment though, and as Jake discussed yesterday morning, it’s not exactly early in the season anymore. But we’ve taken the microscope to the East already, so I want to point it at the rest of the cast today.
Chicago and Cleveland sit a fair bit over the rest of the AL Central, but the gap is hardly insurmountable, especially given how both teams have been dealt blows to their roster. Munetaka Murakami was one of the biggest revelations of the early season after getting looked over in the offseason, but his injury took a big chunk of Chicago’s offensive engine out with him. Cleveland sits in a similar boat with a much-more established face, having lost Jose Ramírez for the next few months. Does that open the door for a team like the Twins, who have sat in mediocrity for most of the year but have rarely left the middle of the pack? They lack the depth of those two teams, but they’re only six games out and have played better ball in June than how they ended May. Could that be the glimmer of hope for the Tigers, thought to be dead in the water after losing Tarik Skubal and falling into the cellar after being picked as preseason favorites? Skubal is back now, and despite a terrible record are only nine games out of it — they blew a bigger division lead just last year, so perhaps this could be their revenge. The Royals are probably the hardest sell of the bunch, deserving of their last place position, but they have an MVP frontrunner in Bobby Witt Jr. and could perhaps will themselves into Wild Card talks if no one else takes the reins.
Out in the West, things are even more chaotic. The Mariners are ahead only after getting themselves out of their early season doldrums, and seeing their offense start to come to life. The rotation is one of the scariest in the league, even with a rather ineffective Luis Castillo, but that hasn’t netted them any ground in the standings at the end of the day. The A’s defy rhyme or reason, boasting a strong enough offense but have been buried by their inability to prevent runs, and yet for a long portion of the year they led this division and still find themselves a mere half-game out. Texas has had the inverse problem, with a stellar rotation buoyed by an offense that has had role players step up but lacked any meaningful production from their stars. Somehow Houston, who looked dead and buried after an abysmal April that saw them weather an onslaught of injuries, is only four games out of the Wild Card and 4.5 out of the division outright. I’m willing to write off the Angels (sorry Mike Trout, nice to see you doing well again though), but everyone else in this division looks ready to scrap their way to 87 wins and potentially come out with the crown. It’s wild to see.
If push came to shove, I couldn’t name a single one of these teams that I feel confident in separating from the pack. I could see logic in picking any one of them, but not enough to rule out the reasons that the others have kept them within arm’s reach this whole time. A week ago Cleveland looked to be the one closest to breaking out, but they lost their homegrown hero and suddenly that gap has gone up in smoke again. I do think the Tigers have a run in them that’ll keep the Central bunched up, while the West is anyone’s guess — I think the A’s will finally play to their strength level and fall behind the pack, but I don’t know if that will be the Mariners outclassing them so much as it will be them just fading away after a decent enough start. I think the last thing anyone out west wants to see is Houston get any closer, but Yordan Alvarez might be willing that team to just that. Is there a team that you believe will cut themselves out of the net? Who are they, and what gives you that belief if you have it?
We’ve got a busy day ahead of us, so let’s run through the docket quick. Matt starts us off with a look at the White Sox pitchers the Yankees will face in this upcoming series, and then I’ll be back to break down the Rays’ loss to the Dodgers in detail as our only feature game of the Rivalry Roundup. Jeff gets to wish a current Yankee a happy birthday as Will Warren turns 27, Michael covers the last week down in the minor leagues, Sam examines some potential parallels to the 2019 Next Man Up Yankees, and Nick delivers the Yankee Reliever Confidence Index for June.
Top-level rugby is fast becoming a different sport and finalists illustrate the domestic talent Borthwick needs to harness
For anyone who hasn’t yet watched them, the weekend’s two English Prem semi-finals were brilliant adverts for the sport. The game between Northampton and Leicester fizzed with speed and quality passing. The following day’s encounter between Bath and Exeter involved one of the best fightbacks and tautest finishes imaginable.
The upshot is a Northampton v Exeter final this Saturday, a showpiece with the potential to be just as absorbing. Henry Pollock v Greg Fisilau, Tommy Freeman v Henry Slade, Fin Smith v Harvey Skinner … not to mention two intelligent English coaching teams led, respectively, by Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty, and Rob Baxter and Dave Walder. If the Rugby Football Union is pondering future homegrown alternatives to Steve Borthwick there are some increasingly strong candidates.
The New York Knicks celebrate with the Larry O'Brien trophy after defeating the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA finals on Saturday in San Antonio.Photograph: Darren Abate/AP
The year of New York
Sometimes it’s just your year. When infectiously optimistic young mayor Zohran Mamdani was elected this past fall, there was a palpable vibe shift in the city. That’s not to say that there’s a direct correlation between the New York Knicks being NBA champions and the era of buoyant positivity permeating the city, but it’s also not to say there’s not one. Other American cities will, inevitably, have their moment in the sun again soon. But 2026 is the year of New York (someone get that memo to the Mets).
It may come across as condescending to you’ll get ‘em next time a group of professional athletes who were on the verge of a championship, but the it doesn’t feel like the San Antonio Spurs just squandered a golden opportunity. If anything, they far, far overachieved this year: it’s almost entirely unheard of for a young team to make it all the way to the finals in their first rodeo. The core of Victor Wembanyama (22 years old), Stephon Castle (21) and Dylan Harper (20) certainly took their lumps along the way, and lessons learned are often painful. But it’s not looking through rose-colored glasses to say that this Spurs team will be rodeo-ing for many seasons to come.
The Thunder are not inevitable
As the saying goes, that’s why they play the games. I’m old enough to remember nine months ago, when the Oklahoma City Thunder seemingly didn’t know how to lose and everyone in the NBA media ecosystem was talking about how they were going to cruise to a repeat championship. Flash forward to the present: where the formidable Thunder met their end against the pugnacious Spurs in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. Oklahoma City will absolutely be heard from again, and it wouldn’t be shocking if they wound up back in the finals next year. But let this be a lesson: in an era of parity, dynasties are best left labeled in hindsight, not prematurely.
LeBron shouldn’t retire yet
A 41-year-old with a beard full of grey being the guy to single-handedly backpack his team to a first-round playoff victory sounds fantastical. But there is one timeline in which it’s possible: the one with LeBron James. James has been asked about retirement relentlessly for the past several seasons, and the question is understandable. He is old enough that his own son is now his teammate. But he is, quite frankly, still too damn good to hang it up. When the Lakers found themselves without their top two scorers – All-NBA first-teamer Luka Dončić and guard Austin Reaves – the then-third option had to pull his cape out of the closet. He responded by dragging Los Angeles through the first round almost by force of will. Wherever James ends up next season, it simply cannot be retirement.
Everyone who has played any level of organized basketball has heard the same refrain: “We gotta play all 48.” But it’s rare that playing 46 or 47 minutes worth of high-level hoop comes back to bite you … anywhere besides the NBA playoffs. This year’s eventual champions, the Knicks, are that fact personified: clawing back from down 29 points in the second half of Game 4 to complete the largest comeback in NBA finals history. They knew what all great, connected, fearless teams know: it’s never over until it’s over. All it takes is, as captain Jalen Brunson put it after the Game 4 comeback, “chipping away”.
Steph needs help
Listen, maybe it’s just over. But Stephen Curry is still really, really good, and I for one am tired of watching him flame out in the play-in or, at best, the first round year after year. At this point, the 2022 championship feels like a fever dream. Maybe the answer is a 2024 Olympics-style reunion with old rival LeBron James. Maybe the long-rumored Giannis Antetokounmpo pipedream somehow comes to fruition. The Golden State Warriors are running short on time. They need solutions, and quickly. Otherwise, the flashes of brilliance Curry still delivers every spring will become increasingly fleeting, until one day they’re gone.
The Twitter DMs were real
Do we have concrete proof that the controversial, mean (and, if we’re honest, occasionally hilarious) Twitter DMs leaked earlier this season actually came from the keyboard of Kevin Durant? Not exactly. But the evidence is mounting. The most damning exhibit may have been the first round of the playoffs, where Durant’s Houston Rockets were bounced by a Lakers squad relying on meaningful postseason minutes from not only LeBron James Sr, but also junior. Death by Luke Kennard is a pretty scathing indictment all by itself. The Rockets were a walking reminder that talent and chemistry are not the same thing. They looked discombobulated and unmoored with or without Durant in the lineup, but they often seemed to be having a lot more fun when he wasn’t.
The Knicks won 16 of 19 games during their march to the title, but two of those three losses came in the first three games of the opening round. The opponent? A feisty Atlanta Hawks team that finally admitted defeat on the Trae Young experiment and embraced the future in the form of Jalen Johnson and his Most Improved Player running mate Nickeil Alexander-Walker. In exchange for Young, Atlanta landed the perfect veteran steward in CJ McCollum, who, as shocking as it may sound, was the only player in the entire postseason to consistently make the Knicks look mortal. Add in all that athleticism and depth, plus the No 8 pick in this year’s draft courtesy of the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Hawks should enter next season with a puncher’s chance in what promises to be a fascinating Eastern Conference.
Philly need to turn the page
Speaking of embracing the youth movement, there’s another team in the Eastern Conference that could stand to do the same. For a brief moment – around the start of the second round – it looked as though the stars were finally aligning for this moribund version of the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel Embiid looked like an MVP candidate again. Paul George didn’t look like a walking contractual albatross. Everything was clicking in a way that seemed to validate the grand vision that Daryl Morey had spent years chasing. Then the wheels came off. Morey is out of a job, and the underlying reality has reasserted itself. If there’s a path forward for Philadelphia, it probably doesn’t involve squeezing one more run out of Embiid and George. It involves turning the page, embracing the future, and building around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe instead.
The Celtics should shake it up
There will be several coaches on the hot seat this summer. Joe Mazzulla, fresh off a Coach of the Year award, probably won’t be one of them. But he showed some serious warts in these playoffs – and, honestly, last year’s too – with his apparent unwillingness to stray from a three-point-heavy dogma even when circumstances demanded it. The pithy press conference quotes are cute and all. They become a lot less charming when your team keeps running aground on the same shoals every postseason. Beyond any tactical adjustments, the Boston Celtics have a major personnel decision to make. Jaylen Brown, the mercurial star who appeared to relish his months-long stint as the team’s No 1 option, may never have more trade value than he does right now. My takeaway? Sell high on Brown, and use the return to retool both the roster and the philosophy underpinning it.
There was a time, not all that long ago, when the blockbuster trade that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns looked like a genuine win-win. While Towns didn’t exactly cover himself in glory during the title-clinching Game 5 of the NBA finals, that debate was settled this postseason. Randle once again proved more liability than asset when the games mattered most, while DiVincenzo will spend most, if not all, of next season recovering from an achilles tear. Meanwhile, Towns was indispensable during the Knicks’ march to the championship. He was particularly brilliant in Games 1 and 2 of the finals, helping set the tone for a dominant series victory and validating the gamble New York made when it acquired him.
Don’t make too much (or too little) of the regular season …
Somewhere between “the NBA regular season is irrelevant” and “the NBA regular season is the bible” lies a more nuanced truth: there is plenty to be gleaned from the six months between October and April, but none of it is definitive. Take, for example, the Detroit Pistons, who steamrolled the Eastern Conference for much of the regular season but carried glaring playoff-centric flaws that were obvious to anyone looking closely enough. Or the Knicks, who faced the opposite problem: a team that wasn’t blowing the doors off opponents during the 82-game marathon because it was clearly ironing out wrinkles in preparation for the 16-game sprint. The signs were there all along, not least when they captured the NBA Cup in December. On the other side of the ledger sat the Spurs. Their regular-season dominance over the Thunder turned out to be more than a curiosity; it was a preview. When the Spurs knocked Oklahoma City out in the conference finals, the warning signs had already been there for months. So by all means, take lessons from the regular season. Just don’t mistake them for gospel.
… and don’t trade for James Harden
There’s a famous meme, born from a scene in Arrested Development, in which one character asks: “Did it work for those people?” The response: “No, it never does. I mean, these people somehow delude themselves into thinking it might ... but it might work for us.” That, in a nutshell, is the James Harden experience. Every few years, a different NBA front office succumbs to a kind of selective amnesia. Executives are charmed by Harden’s remarkably regular-season production and convince themselves that this time will be different. They willingly suppress the memory of the playoff shortcomings that have followed him throughout his career until, inevitably, those memories come flooding back in painful fashion. Then comes the disappointment. Then the trade request. Then the wheel spins again. I will never fully understand how the optimism persists, but the Cleveland Cavaliers became the latest franchise to learn the same lesson as so many before them: when the calendar turns to April, May and June, Harden simply cannot be treated as a dependable No 1 option.
There was one trait shared by the three best teams in the playoff field – the Thunder, Spurs and Knicks – they were run by smart, shrewd front offices. Their intelligence manifested in different ways. Oklahoma City and San Antonio largely built through the draft. New York took a more aggressive path, assembling their core through trades and free agency. But all three organizations excelled at the same fundamental task: roster construction. You may not have the Thunder’s seemingly endless depth. You may not have the Spurs’ lottery fortune. You may not possess the je ne sais quoi, culture and sheer stubborn resilience that powered the Knicks to a championship. But putting smart people in charge is one of the few competitive advantages available to every franchise.
You can win with a small guard
Becky Hammon is a brilliant basketball mind, a damn good coach and, unfortunately, the source of a quote that will live in infamy. “If your best player is small, you’re not winning,” Hammon said in 2023 while arguing that Brunson, listed at 6ft 2in, could never be a true No 1 option on a championship team. Given that Brunson now possesses both an Eastern Conference finals MVP and an NBA finals MVP trophy, it goes without saying that the take did not age particularly well. If the NBA teaches the same lesson over and over, this season hammered it home more forcefully than most: there is no single blueprint for superstardom. Brunson has flaws. Plenty of them. He is also one of the most outrageously clutch players the league has ever seen. The goal is not to find a flawless basketball demigod molded in the image of ames or Michael Jordan. The goal is to find a truly great player, one capable of leading a locker room and elevating teammates, then intelligently and relentlessly build a roster that amplifies his strengths. The Knicks’ radio broadcaster Tyler Murray captured it perfectly in his final call of the season: “The 2026 New York Knicks will forever be remembered as the team that proved no lead is too big, and no guard is too small.”
Jun 14, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice (22) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a ninth inning home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Gerry Angus-Imagn Images | Gerry Angus-Imagn Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Ben Rice shook off a rough start to Sunday’s game before connecting for the game-winner in the ninth, a two-run shot that staked the Yankees to a 3-1 lead. It was the second straight game New York won on a ninth-inning long ball as they won their first series in Toronto since 2023. “There were definitely some swings that weren’t very convicted on my end, so to finish the day on a good one — that feels nice,” Rice said. José Caballero followed with a three-run homer to put the game out of reach. In comparison with Rice’s relative wall-scraper, Caballero’s blast traveled 420 feet. “That’s one of those he hits in BP all the time,” manager Aaron Boone said.
New York Post | Greg Joyce: The Yankees have no plans to use Rice at catcher in the near future. The slugger, who came up through the minor leagues playing backstop, has played exclusively at first and DH this year while posting a .998 OPS that ranks second in baseball. “Not yet,” Boone said on Rice going behind the plate. “We talk about it a lot. That’s not in the plans right now, but we’ll see.” The hesitancy is likely due to Rice’s importance to the lineup, which is currently without Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton and can ill afford to lose the man who’s been their best hitter this season. For his part, Rice remains open. “I love catching,” he said. “Right now, it hasn’t been in the equation as much. With that being said, I always appreciate the position so much.”
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Jasson Domínguez’s first day back in the big leagues was a busy one. Informed near midnight on Friday that his rehab stint would be cut short in light of an injury to Trent Grisham, the Martian spent much of Saturday in transit. After taking a bus from Moosic, PA to Newark, NJ and a plane up to Toronto, he arrived at Rogers Centre about an hour before first pitch. After a caffeine spree that included two Red Bulls and four espresso shots, he manned right field for the first time in his career and hit a key fourth-inning homer in the victory. Domínguez expressed optimism about the move to right field after spending most of his time in left during past stints with the Yankees. “In Triple-A, I had a couple of fly balls, a couple of plays,” Domínguez said. “It felt pretty good. I feel like it’s better than left field when I started. Maybe the angle is better.”
Forbes | Peter Chawaga: Our condolences to the family of Al Closter, who has passed away per Baseball Almanac. The southpaw appeared in 16 games with the Yankees between 1971 and ‘72, going 2-2 with a 5.58 ERA, the longest stint in a career that also included stops with the Senators and Braves. Closter also represented Team USA in games against Japanese players at a demonstration baseball tournament at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, long before baseball became an Olympic sport. Closter was 82.
Make no mistake about it, Steph Curry remains a superstar who still is playing at an elite level when healthy. He also just missed 39 games and will turn 39 years old at the end of the next NBA season.
The Warriors need more backcourt help around him, and more depth at both guard positions in general. Curry remains under contract and isn’t going anywhere. Brandin Podziemski is under contract and is eligible for an extension this offseason to avoid restricted NBA free agency next offseason.
The only other healthy guard under contract is Will Richard, who was a pleasant surprise as a second-round rookie. The only other guard under contract outside of Richard is Moses Moody, who is rehabbing a torn patellar tendon, and he’s more of a wing.
Between age and the state of the current roster, guard play needs to be an upgrade for the Warriors. Here are three who could be available with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Of these three prospects, Burries is the least likely to still be available when the Warriors are on the clock. There isn’t one trait of his that jumps out over the others. Burries is a combo guard who can do a bit of everything, as he displayed in his one season at Arizona.
He was Arizona’s leading scorer at 16.1 points per game, and was their leader in both 3-pointers made (70) and steals (59). Burries has every ability to make a difference defensively and offensively, and at the least can complement teammates around him well. As an older freshman who will be 21 before his first NBA game, Burries plays like a high-IQ, high-motor impact guard.
Burries showed up for spotlight games and always seemed to bounce back. He scored just seven points on 1-of-5 shooting in his first game against Houston, only to then outscore Kingston Flemings 21 to eight for a five-point victory in the conference tournament championship game, which came one game after scoring only three points. In front of Warriors coach Steve Kerr in the Sweet 16, Burries was awesome against Darius Acuff Jr., scoring 23 points with five rebounds, two steals and two threes in a blowout win against Arkansas.
Like a lot of the top guards in the draft, Burries has a range of places he could go to in the lottery. The Warriors sure would be happy to see him still available at No. 11.
Brayden Burries with insane read and game winning block for Arizona
A lead guard in the SEC who averaged 22 points per game, shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 39.9 percent behind the 3-point line on high volume, almost always will be seen as a top 10 pick. Playing under the rim and weighing 176 pounds almost always pushes you to the back end of the first round. Philon falls somewhere in the middle.
Though he isn’t an elite athlete, Philon is silky smooth with the ball in his hands. He played two seasons at Alabama, is younger than Burries, and truly made the leap as a sophomore. His points per game jumped 11.4 points, he essentially shot 40 percent after shooting a lowly 31.5 percent as a freshman, and he dropped 35 points on Michigan for his final game in college.
How many players on the Warriors last season could beat their man off the dribble and be a real scoring threat? The list isn’t a long one. Philon would be an immediate jolt of offense in that regard.
Even with having such a slender build that calls for real questions defensively, Philon has to be an option for the Warriors.
Speaking of making the leap as a sophomore, Anderson did exactly that.
He went from making the Big 12’s All-Freshman team to then being named the conference’s Most Improved Player. Anderson averaged 18.5 points and 7.4 assists per game while shooting 41.5 percent from deep on an eye-opening 7.9 attempts per game. Playing mostly at 19, and now 20, Anderson led the Big 12 in minutes and assists, along with ranking fifth in points per game, but did finish second in total turnovers.
If he were bigger, he’d be going a lot higher in the draft. Anderson came in slightly below 6-foot-1 barefoot at the combine and weighs 180 pounds. However, he does have a 6-foot-6 wingspan, and the tape should speak for itself as someone who wasn’t deterred anywhere on the court.
Christian Anderson with 31-11-7 tonight vs. a Cincy. Shooting 44% on 8 3PT attempts this year, but tonight he was great with his pace getting to spots inside the arc. Having an awesome season balancing scoring with playmaking. pic.twitter.com/CPntMbk0pS
Anderson is more of a trade back option for the Warriors, or trading back into the first round after making their first pick. Adding him would bring a lot more instant excitement to Chase Center.
