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Luke Weaver and the Mets’ bullpen continue to get it done

Jun 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Luke Weaver (30) throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images | David Frerker-Imagn Images

The New York Mets’ bullpen has been a stable force for an otherwise disappointing club, and Thursday night in Philadelphia was no different.

Led by Luke Weaver’s continued scoreless inning streak and another save from Devin Williams, the bullpen backed up starter Sean Manaea to secure a 6-4 victory. The win was an example of what this bullpen is capable of when given a chance to protect a lead.

Weaver is in the midst of a career-best and MLB-leading 20-inning shutout streak that dates back to May 1. His current ERA (2.25) and WHIP (0.90) are at career lows, while the bullpen as a whole has been above league average.

Focusing almost exclusively on his fastball, changeup, and cutter, Weaver is using his changeup at a career-high rate. The result has been the lowest hard-hit and sweet-spot rates of his career.

A viral moment waiting to happen, Weaver has been the best offseason acquisition for the Mets’ front office, and he’s one of the few that hasn’t elicited groans from the Queens faithful. The bullpen is maybe the only portion of the roster that’s clearly improved over last year’s team that missed the playoffs.

At the end of New York’s brutal 12-game losing streak in April, Weaver offered perhaps the quote of the year in his postgame interview with SNY’s Steve Gelbs. A statement he’s been able to back up in resounding fashion.

“Look, people smell fear. I’m not the biggest guy in the room, but I ain’t scared of nobody,” he said. “That’s the attitude I try to take, and if I screw up, it’s on me, but at the end of the day I’m going to sleep at night, and I’m going to feel good about the effort I put in.”

As solid as Weaver has been, he might not even be the Mets’ best reliever. According to WAR, that would be Huascar Brazobán, who has done everything the coaching staff has asked of him. Opening games for struggling starters, or coming in late with runners on, Brazobán’s hard-hit rate is in the 99th percentile, even better than Weaver’s.

Williams has had some ups and downs in the closer role, including Thursday night, where he gave up a run and allowed the winning batter to the plate before notching his 11th save of the season. Another offseason addition, Williams has posted scoreless outings in 15 of his last 18 appearances.

New York has enjoyed depth beyond Weaver, Brazobán, and Williams. AJ Minter hasn’t given up a run in his first eight innings since returning from elbow surgery, while Austin Warren has a 2.63 ERA across a career-high 27.1 innings pitched. Brooks Raley had been able to stay healthy and effective despite being in his age-38 season.

The Mets can count on Weaver and the bullpen, but will they feel that way about the rest of the squad before it’s too late, if it’s not already? Getting a win in the series opener against the Phillies is helpful. Maybe take this series, go after the up-and-down Cubs, then rinse and repeat against Philadelphia at home as June winds down. It sounds simple, but it’s been so hard for this Mets squad to go on a run. If they ever do, this bullpen will be a big reason why.

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2026 MLB Draft Preview: Hunter Dietz

Arkansas Razorbacks' Hunter Dietz (32) pitches the ball as Auburn Tigers take on Arkansas Razorbacks at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. on Friday, April 3, 2026. | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

2026 MLB Draft Preview: Hunter Dietz scouting report.

The 2026 is about a month away — the first round kicks off on July 11, 2026 — so its time to start offering capsule looks at players the Texas Rangers could select with their top picks. The Rangers’ first round pick is at #16, their second round pick is at #54, and their third round pick is at #89.

Leading up to draft day, we will be doing writeups of some of the players who could end up getting selected by the Rangers with one of their first three picks. Today we are looking at University of Arkansas lefthanded pitcher Hunter Dietz.

Hunter Dietz is a 6’6”, 235 lb. lefthanded pitcher who just wrapped up his junior year at the University of Arkansas. As a high schooler coming out of Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, Florida, in 2023, he was seen as a potential top five round selection, but went undrafted due to signability issues. Dietz barely pitched his freshman and sophomore seasons due to injury issues, but was part of the Razorback rotation this year.

Dietz is a great big guy who throws his fastball in the mid-90s, touching 98. He has a cutter that touches 90 which MLB Pipeline describes as plus, and which Keith Law says is his best pitch. He also throws a slider and a curveball, which are also see as potential plus pitches. His stuff this season was described as “elite” by Baseball America and “spectacular” by MLB Pipeline.

After facing seven batters his freshman year and seven batters his sophomore year, he threw 11 innings over seven games in the Cape Cod League last summer, striking out 13 batters and walking 12. This year, he logged 85 innings over 16 starts for Arkansas, with a 3.57 ERA, 131 Ks and 31 walks.

Baseball America has Dietz at #41 on their board. MLB Pipeline has Dietz at #15 on their board. Kiley McDaniel puts Dietz at #24 on his top 150 list. Keith Law’s rankings have Dietz at #13 on his board. Fangraphs does not have Dietz on their board. Baseball Prospectus doesn’t have Dietz on their top 30 draft board.

In the June 8 Baseball America mock draft, Carlos Collazo has Dietz going to the Red Sox at #20, and also mentions him in connection with several teams before that, including the Rangers. The BA staff draft on June 15 has Dietz going to the Phillies at #36. Jim Callis’s June 4 mock draft has Dietz at #23 to the Cubs. Jonathan Mayo’s June 11 mock draft has Dietz to Boston at #20. Jim Callis’s June 18 mock draft has Dietz going to the Brewers at #25, but mentions him as a possibility as high as the Rockies at #10. Keith Law’s May mock draft has Dietz going to the Marlins at #14. Law’s June 10 mock draft also has the Marlins at #14 taking Dietz. Kiley McDaniel’s May 29 mock draft has Dietz going to the Kansas City Royals at #30. Kiley McDaniel’s June 18 mock draft does not include Dietz.

As you can see, there’s a big spread in where folks have Dietz ranked and where they see him going. He was referenced as a possibility in the back half of the top ten in a couple of the mock drafts, while other mocks, as you can see, don’t have him in the first round at all.

In what has been a recurring theme with our profiles so far, if Dietz had been healthy during his college career, he’d probably be off the board when the Rangers are picking. The lack of track record and the injury history is worrisome, and, as with several others, what the medicals show when he’s at the Combine will be significant.

Dietz has the build, stuff and repertoire to be a mid-rotation starter, and possibly better if he continues to tick up. His workload would need to be managed early on as a professional, and the injury risk is real, but the upside he offers would make him an intriguing gamble at 16.

Previously:

Liam Peterson

Tyler Bell

Aiden Robbins

Jared Grindlinger

Logan Reddemann

Cooper Harris

Justin Lebron

Cameron Flukey

Derek Curiel

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Zuby Ejiofor is built for the dirty work, making him a perfect fit for the Sixers

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Zuby Ejiofor #24 of the St. John's Red Storm celebrates after a dunk against the Duke Blue Devils during the Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images

For the next month before the 2026 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at No. 22. Next up in this series is St Johns’ Zuby Ejiofor.

Ejiofor quietly put together one of the more impressive senior seasons in the country at St. John’s, emerging as one of the better defensive anchors in college basketball and a legitimate NBA prospect in the process. He was not a household name heading into the year, but his combination of length, motor and playmaking ability for a big made him impossible to ignore by the end of it. Most mocks have him going somewhere in the late first to early second round, but for a Sixers team that needs physicality, rebounding and energy off the bench, he is worth keeping a close eye on as the draft approaches.

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 37 games, 30 minutes, 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 2.1 blocks, 53.6% FG, 30.5% 3P, 71.8% FT

Team: St Johns

Year: Senior

Position: PF/C

Height & Weight: 6’7.5” | 245 lbs

Born: April 20, 2004 (22 years old)

Hometown: Garland, Texas

Strengths

Ejiofor’s calling card is his defense, and it is not close. His combination of lateral quickness and a 7’2″ wingspan allows him to credibly guard one through five, switching onto guards on the perimeter without getting eaten alive and protecting the rim against bigger bodies. That kind of positional versatility is exactly what modern NBA rosters are built around. He anchored the St. John’s defense this past season, averaging 2.1 blocks per game and posting a 4.9 Defensive Box Plus/Minus, numbers that reflect just how disruptive he is as a rotational shot-alterer on and off the ball.

His rebounding is equally impressive. He crashes the glass with an elite offensive rebounding rate driven by instincts, motor and length rather than size alone. The effort and instincts are there regardless of the matchup.

Despite boasting impressive defensive intangibles, his playmaking ability is what really sets Ejiofor apart from other athletic, high-energy bigs. His comfort putting the ball on the floor and finding open teammates is a genuine differentiator. He averaged a career-best 3.5 assists per game as a senior, functioning well in dribble-handoff actions and short-roll situations, reading the floor and finding cutters reliably. Most players in his archetype are catch-and-finish guys. Ejiofor has shown flashes of something more, even leading St. John’s in assists for the season.

As a finisher, he is efficient and decisive. He converts around 54% of his field goals overall, operates at 97% accuracy on dunks, and finishes close-range attempts at a 59% clip. He does not need plays drawn up for him to be productive.

His combine showing in Chicago helped his cause. He shot the ball well enough to plant a seed of doubt in scouts who had written off his offensive range, and his athletic testing backed up everything the tape suggested about his mobility and explosiveness.

Weaknesses

At 6’7.5″ barefoot, Ejiofor lives in the tweener space that might make NBA teams nervous. He is not a true center against physical fives, and his wingspan only covers so much ground when a bigger body has established post position. That size gap shows up most in heavy traffic rebounding situations where length alone cannot compensate.

As a four, the questions shift to whether he can consistently guard faster perimeter players away from the basket without losing his defensive edge. His versatility is his calling card, but tweener bigs can be exposed quickly at the NBA level when matchups get uncomfortable or a team runs a switch-heavy scheme. That said, the league has been trending bigger and longer for years now, which makes the tweener label at least somewhat subjective depending on who you ask.

One of the bigger focal points offensively is his lack of floor spacing. He shot around 31% from three on low volume in college, making him a reluctant shooter that defenses can afford to sag off. Without that perimeter threat, his presence in the half-court can tighten the paint for teammates and limit offensive flow around him when the ball isn’t in his hands.

He is best used as a finisher off rolls, cuts, and put-backs rather than someone you can run plays for when things slow down. He tends to back defenders down and work out of the post rather than operating as a vertical threat, which means longer and more athletic rim protectors can give him trouble when he is trying to generate his own look. That is a fine role, but it puts a ceiling on how much he can be asked to do. Teams drafting Ejiofor need to be clear-eyed about what they are getting: a high-floor, ready-now backup big who can impact winning immediately, but likely within a defined lane.

Positional Fit

Ejiofor projects most naturally as a backup center or small-ball five, though his tweener size ensures the positional conversation will follow him into draft night. The jumper is ultimately the variable that determines how the position question gets answered. If it develops into even a passable perimeter threat, defenses have to respect him on the floor and the positional limitations become far less relevant. If it does not, he risks getting squeezed out of the four by more switchable wings and out of the five by bigger, more physical bodies. How his skills translate are a real question, but his physical tools, athleticism and motor might make up for a lot of his deficiencies early on. In the right system, Ejiofor can carve out a role from day one with room to grow.

Draft Projection

Ejiofor’s draft projection ranges quite a bit, with the higher end sitting in the mid-to-late first round, putting him right in line with where the Sixers are selecting at 22. Most mock drafts have him going in the late first round to a handful of contenders such as the Celtics, Cavaliers, Timberwolves and Nuggets. Ejiofor would slot in nicely with any of these teams, who are all in need of a versatile defensive big alongside their established talent.

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Knicks stars mingle with A-listers at private club after championship parade

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and fiancée Jordyn Woods at Chez Margaux after the team's championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. , Image 2 shows Knicks guard Josh Hart and his wife Shannon Hart at Chez Margaux after the team's championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. , Image 3 shows Adrien Brody and Knicks guard at Chez Margaux after the team's championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
The Knicks took the party from City Hall to Chez Margaux, a social club a few miles away, after their star-studded championship parade in New York on Thursday.

The Knicks took the party from City Hall to Chez Margaux, a social club a few miles away, after their star-studded championship parade in New York on Thursday.

Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and fiancée Jordyn Woods, along with her sister Jodie Woods, were all smiles while partying with his teammates and friends at the private supper club, as seen in new photos.

Knicks forward OG Anunoby was seen talking and laughing with Towns and Woods.

Karl-Anthony Towns and fiancée Jordyn Woods at Chez Margaux after the Knicks’ championship parade in New York on June 18, 2026. BFA.com / BACKGRID

They were singing along to “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” by Kanye West in a video online.

Other photos showed Knicks guard Josh Hart and his wife Shannon.

He posed for a photo with actor Adrien Brody, who wore a brace on his right arm.

Georgina Chapman was also there.

Knicks guard Josh Hart and his wife Shannon Hart at Chez Margaux after the team’s championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. BFA.com / BACKGRID
The Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and fiancée Jordyn Woods at Chez Margaux after the team’s championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. BFA.com / BACKGRID
Adrien Brody and Knicks guard at Chez Margaux after the team’s championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Sansho Scott/BFA.com/Shutterstock

The party took place after an estimated 2 million people attended the Knicks’ ticker-tape parade, which started at Battery Park in Lower Manhattan and moved along Broadway through the “Canyon of Heroes,” ending at City Hall.

Jordyn, Shannon and Ali Brunson, wife of Knicks point guard and MVP of the 2026 NBA Finals, Jalen Brunson, all joined the team atop their championship bus.

The Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and fiancée Jordyn Woods at Chez Margaux after the team’s championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. BFA.com / BACKGRID
Adrien Brody (C) and Georgina Chapman (R) at Chez Margaux after the Knicks’ championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. BFA.com / BACKGRID

The Harts also shared some PDA amid the celebration.

During a ceremony at City Hall, the Knicks received keys to New York City from Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The Knicks beat the Spurs in five games to clinch their first championship since 1973.

Hart, Brunson and Hillman will host their “Roommates” podcast live at the Infosys Theater at MSG on Friday.

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2026 NHL mock draft roundup: Best fits for Bruins in first round

2026 NHL mock draft roundup: Best fits for Bruins in first round originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins had a chance to make a top 10 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft if they had gotten the Maple Leafs’ first-round pick, but Toronto won the draft lottery and will pick first overall.

As a result, Boston will get the Leafs’ first-rounder in 2027 or 2028 to complete the Brandon Carlo trade from March of 2025. This also means the Bruins’ only 2026 first-round pick is their own selection at No. 23 overall.

The Bruins really need a top-six center, particularly a No. 1 center. They don’t have one at the NHL level, although it’s possible that recent first-round picks James Hagens and/or Dean Letourneau could develop into that kind of player.

The B’s also need a right-shot defenseman. If you look at Boston’s top 10 prospects, maybe one of them is a defenseman (Frederic Brunet). The rest are forwards. The organization needs more high-end skill on the blue line.

Even though the Bruins have plenty of specific needs to address, they really should just take the best player available, regardless of position. Boston’s prospect pool came in at No. 19 on The Athletic’s most recent rankings, which is a great improvement from being ranked No. 30 in those rankings in 2025.

But the Bruins still lack elite-level talent in their system, so if a player falls to them at No. 23 and he has a high ceiling, it’s worth taking a shot on him. They took a home run swing on Letourneau at No. 25 in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, and two years later, that pick is looking very nice for Boston.

Which players should the Bruins target in the first round? Here’s a roundup of predictions from recent expert mock drafts.

Scott Wheeler, The Athletic: JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops (WHL)

“The Bruins haven’t used a top-50 pick on a defenseman since 2017, and I’m sure they’d consider Bleyl. But I’m not convinced he gets here, and if he doesn’t, I’m not convinced that Jakub Vanecek, Adam Goljer, Juho Piiparainen or William Håkansson fit in this range when there are likely going to be forwards who are hard to pass up on for their group. All of Hurlbert, Hextall, Novotný and Maddox Dagenais would give them a future top-nine forward with a different look from James Hagens and Dean Letourneau.”

Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic: Casey Mutryn, RW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

“The Bruins keep the Boston College pipeline active. Mutryn, who will be a BC freshman, aims to become the next version of James Hagens. Mutryn is a different type of forward than the explosive Hagens, but he projects to be a dependable middle-of-the-lineup wing/center with a pro game.”

Corey Pronman, TheAthletic: Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo (Sweden)

“Hermansson goes to the Bruins, who, after selecting James Hagens last year, continue to add talent and scoring to their farm system. Hermansson is extremely skilled, but his effort level can waver.”

Mike Morreale, NHL.com: Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL)

“Dagenais (6-4, 196), the son of retired NHL forward Pierre Dagenais, is known for his strong offensive toolkit. The left-handed shot added a welcome layer of physicality to his power game this season, something that would resonate well with Bruins fans. In 62 games, the 18-year-old had 62 points (30 goals, 32 assists) and 25 power-play points (10 goals, 15 assists), highlighting his effectiveness with the man advantage.”

Ben Pope, Chicago Sun-Times: Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo (Sweden)

“Hermansson is an eye-opening offensive talent who struggles with consistency.”

Hannah Stuart, Bleacher Report: Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo (Sweden)

“So who is Hermansson at his best? A highly skilled playmaker who can create in a variety of situations and who has especially been dominant against his own peer group. Driving play is second nature to him thanks to high-end handling abilities and the good facets of his skating; namely, his top speeds and the edgework that allows him to be slippery and elusive.

“His skating posture could use some work, but that’s what skating coaches are for. His physicality could use some improvement, and we’d like to see greater clarity on whether he can translate those creation abilities to the professional level.”

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Cubs roster move: Moisés Ballesteros optioned, Justin Dean recalled

Justin Dean in the field for the Cubs during Spring Training 2026 | | Getty Images

Moisés Ballesteros had an excellent start to his 2026 season, serving mostly as the Cubs designated hitter. Over his first 25 games this year, “Mo Baller” batted .387/.435/.710 (24-for-62) with five doubles, five home runs, 16 RBI and 12 runs scored.

Unfortunately, he then went into an extended slump. Since that great start he’s batting just .128/.217/.170 (12-for-94) with one home run and 24 strikeouts in 34 games.

The Cubs quietly optioned Ballesteros to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday’s off day, per the team’s transactions page.

To replace Ballesteros on the 26-man active roster, outfielder Justin Dean was recalled from Iowa Friday.

Dean is 29 and a career minor leaguer who played in 18 regular season games for the Dodgers last year, mostly as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner (only two plate appearances). He also played in 13 games for the Dodgers in last year’s postseason, all as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement.

You might recall this play from Game 6 of the 2025 World Series [VIDEO].

That’s Dean in center field for the Dodgers, putting his arms up to indicate the ball hit by Addison Barger of the Blue Jays was stuck in the wall. That prevented Toronto from scoring a run on that play, and the Dodgers eventually won the game (and the World Series).

Dean wore uniform No. 1 for the Cubs in Spring Training this year and I assume he’ll continue to wear it when he makes his Cubs debut. Oddly enough, if he plays this weekend, that Cubs debut will be against the Blue Jays.

As for Ballesteros, he absolutely has the talent to hit at the major league level. The league appears to have adjusted to him and now he’ll have to make adjustments himself. I believe he’ll do so and will be back at some point later this season.

As always, we await developments.

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Why not another year of Eugenio Suárez?!

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 08: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Cincinnati Reds blows a bubble-gum bubble during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on June 08, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This week’s MLB Reacts question may well feature a classic case of striking while the iron is hot. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll look back on it later as an example of being irrationally exuberant at precisely the wrong time.

Either way, this week we got some pretty definitive results!

On Tuesday, we laid out the case that the projected roster of the Cincinnati Reds in 2027 sure looked like it could use a thumper, a big bat capable of playing corner infield defense given the holes existing both on their roster as-is as well as on the farm behind it. We also highlighted that in Eugenio Suárez, they’ve already got a franchise icon who is capable of providing just about all of that, whose mutual option for next year could maybe be reworked into a contract for the 2027 season.

Of course, we also asked that the morning after Geno socked a pair of homers – one a grand slam – while driving in 6 runs in a 12-0 rout of the New York Mets. The timing seemed impeccable for some classic Geno love, and that’s precisely what happened.

70% of respondents thought bringing back Geno for the 2027 was a good idea!

In the two games since that two-homer night, Geno has gone 0 for 8 with 5 Ks. He’s hitting .212/.274/.376 on the season (a .651 OPS), with just 7 homers and 25 RBI through 47 games played. Baseball Reference values him at -0.5 bWAR, and FanGraphs concurs (-0.5 fWAR), and his 35th birthday is almost exactly one month away.

Perhaps we’d get a markedly different result here if we’d asked on just about any other day of the 2026 season. But this week, after Monday’s game, it’s clear that Geno once again endeared himself to the Cincinnati Reds faithful, who wouldn’t mind seeing him back in the uniform again next year.

MLB Reacts is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook.

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South Side Sox Reacts: The White Sox … win the World Series?!?

Writer error (yeah, Brett’s wearing this one) prevented the issuance of our customary White Sox question this week (it concerned the area on the roster to strengthen at the trade deadline), so we’ll table it for a week from now. But that doesn’t mean you didn’t get your national surveys this week, with some fun questions to weigh in on!

The first national question … was a bummer. But timely, given Rob Manfred’s announcement on Thursday that MLB owners would seek to slash the MLB draft to 12 rounds (and along with it the bonus pool) and instituting an international draft as well. Just as the White Sox are getting back to winning, ominous labor issues loom over the game. A majority — but frankly, not a big enough majority — anticipated pinning the blame on ownership, which is (always) the correct answer. Presumably, a South Side fan base voted anti-owner at a clip much bigger than 58%:

The second national question was much more fun, albeit predictable. It’s not looking good — nor should it — for the American League this year:

Bless you crazies who tabbed the White Sox to go all the way. You gotta figure that Every Single One of the White Sox support votes came from this very site. STUFF THE BALLOT BOX BABY!

Did you miss out on this round of questions? No worry, sign up here to participate in our weekly emailed surveys, and have your White Sox voice be heard!

This week’s Reacts is brought to you by FanDuel.

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Cardinals vs Royals Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The St. Louis Cardinals are small road favorites in Kansas City, priced -120 on the moneyline.

My Cardinals vs. Royals predictions and MLB picks see value in backing the Redbirds to come out on top in a high-scoring affair on Friday, June 19.

Who will win Cardinals vs Royals today: Cardinals moneyline (-120)

Neither starting pitcher inspires much confidence — both have red flags that suggest regression is coming — so I’ll defer to the offenses and bullpens, where the St. Louis Cardinals look better.

They sit 14th in SLG and 13th in runs, while the Kansas City Royals rank outside the Top 20 in both categories.

The Cardinals are 19th in bullpen FIP while the Royals are 29th, giving them a pitching advantage after the first handful of innings.

I think the Cardinals deserve to be bigger favorites, and would back them on the moneyline up to -130.

Covers COVERS INTEL:Seth Lugo has posted a 42.6% hard hit rate over the last 30 days, fifth-highest among today's projected starters.

Cardinals vs Royals Over/Under pick: Over 9 (-115)

Seth Lugo is sporting a 3.86 ERA despite a 5.30 xERA. He has gotten much better results than deserved, and the Cardinals are capable of bringing him back down to earth.

They sit 10th in wOBA vs. right-handed pitching this month and will benefit from playing in a hitter-friendly park.

The alarm bells are ringing for Michael McGreevy, whose 2.99 ERA masks that he ranks in the 10th percentile with a 5.58 xERA.

Kansas City ranks sixth in wOBA against righties in June and has performed better at home all year.

Play the Over to -130.

Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 34-27, -0.65 units
  • Over/Under bets: 32-27-2, +1.69 units

Cardinals vs Royals weather

Temperatures in the low 80s are expected with slight winds blowing out. The bats will see a small boost.

Cardinals vs Royals odds

  • Moneyline: Cardinals -120 | Royals +100
  • Run line: Cardinals -1.5 (+140) | Royals +1.5 (-160)
  • Over/Under: Over 9 (-115) | Under 9 (-105)

Cardinals vs Royals trend

St. Louis has hit the team total Over in 24 of its last 35 away games (+11.45 units, 27% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Royals.

How to watch Cardinals vs Royals and game info

LocationKauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
DateFriday, June 19, 2026
First pitch8:15 p.m. ET
TVApple TV
Cardinals starting pitcherMichael McGreevy
(3-5, 2.99 ERA)
Royals starting pitcherSeth Lugo
(2-4, 3.86 ERA)

Cardinals vs Royals latest injuries

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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What will Romy Gonzalez’s role be for the Red Sox?

Romy Gonzalez began a rehab assignment at Double-A on Tuesday.

Prior to the season, I outlined the impact of Romy Gonzalez’s injury, combined with the Red Sox letting Rob Refsnyder go to Seattle. I worried that the lineup would struggle against left-handers without both of them. I should have also added that the lineup would struggle against right-handers without both of them.

Sure, Gonzalez’ .978 OPS in 143 plate appearances against lefties would be welcomed. But his explosive bat was pretty good against everybody a year ago. Romy hit .286 with a .718 OPS against right-handers a year ago. Of players with 100+ plate appearances this season, the only Red Sox with a higher OPS than .718 against all pitchers are Willson Contreras, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu. Outside of these three hitters, no one is owed anything in terms of playing time going forward. This lineup team is broken.

He could return during the upcoming road trip, but should be back for the Yankees series on Thursday, at the latest. As Gonzalez embarked on his rehab assignment, manager Chad Tracy said, “With the power potential and the thump with the bat, we’ve got to get him involved.”

How involved, though? Gonzalez played second base on Tuesday and designated hitter on Wednesday. Tracy mentioned they’ll work him in at first base in the minor leagues to be the backup to Contreras at first base. In my mind, Romy should be an everyday player. Mix him in at shortstop during the rehab, where he has played 117 MLB innings defensively, so that he can shift over there if Marcelo Mayer (.588 OPS) continues slumping.

Additionally, who should be the corresponding move? Andruw Monasterio plays all of the same positions that Gonzalez does, and over the past 30 days, he’s slashing .194/.242/.355 with a 42.4% K-rate. The Red Sox are also carrying three catchers, who have a combined total of 2 home runs and 19 RBI in 329 plate appearances. One of whom is Connor Wong, whose last home run came on September 8th, 2024 (!!!), and still has an option remaining.

A reminder that a year ago, Romy had the seventh best batting average (.305) in all of baseball, out of players with 300+ plate appearances.

How often do you think Romy should play, and who should hit the road? Discuss in the comments, and be good to each other.

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Justice department says it will investigate MLB amid Pride hats controversy

Landen Roupp was one of several players to write a Bible verse on their hats during the San Francisco Giants’ Pride Night game.Photograph: Scott Marshall/AP

The US justice department has launched a civil rights investigation into Major League Baseball after the league criticized three San Francisco Giants players who wrote Bible verses on their hats during the team’s Pride Night.

Most of MLB’s 30 teams celebrate Pride month with a themed game to acknowledge the LGBTQ community and its baseball fans. During a 12 June game against the Chicago Cubs, pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker wrote Bible verses on their hats, which featured the Giants’ logo in rainbow colors, while pitcher Sam Hentges chose not to wear the themed cap at all.

MLB said in a statement on Monday that writing on hats “violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations.”

Related: Professional baseball team cancels game after players refuse to wear Pride jerseys

On Thursday, assistant US attorney general Harmeet Dhillon wrote a letter to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred saying the justice department had referred the league to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate whether the discipline amounts to religious discrimination.

“The Civil Rights Act prohibits MLB and its franchises from unreasonably burdening the rights of players with religious objections to serving as the League’s vehicle for pro-Pride messages,” Dhillon said in the letter. “Federal law is clear: employers must modify their uniform requirements to reasonably accommodate their employees’ exercise of religion.”

Dhillon called MLB’s decision to allow players to wear Black Lives Matter uniform patches in 2020 a “double standard”. Andrea Lucas, the EEOC chair, reposted Dhillon’s letter saying the agency could not confirm the existence of a charge or investigation without a court filing or public resolution, but added: “Rest assured, however, that EEOC is committed to protecting the religious liberty of all workers.”

Roupp said after the Giants’ game last week that the decision to write on his cap was not malicious and that there was “no hate at all”. Hentges said he did not appreciate being told to wear the cap for a cause he did not “morally support”.

After MLB’s warning to the Giants players, vice-president JD Vance weighed in on X, saying: “Trump won we don’t have to do this anymore”, referencing Pride hats. Republican senator Josh Hawley wrote a letter to Manfred voicing his concerns over what he termed a “pattern of discrimination” against Christian players.

The league has said that its warning about writing on caps has nothing to do with the content of the message, and that it has sent the same warning for Mother’s Day messages and names of family members.

The controversy over Pride nights is not new in baseball. In 2022, several members of the Tampa Bay Rays refused to wear the team’s rainbow-themed logos in “faith-based decisions”. This week, it extended beyond the majors, as the independent league York Revolution forfeited a game after some of its players refused to don the Pride Night jerseys.

The Giants released a statement after their Pride Night saying they are “proud to support Pride Night and the LGBTQ community” while also respecting that “individuals may make personal choices about participating in team activations” and apologizing for the “pain and anger [of] many in the LGBTQ+ community”.

San Francisco has a large LGBTQ population and holds an important place in the history of American LGBTQ rights. The director of the city’s Pride efforts told NBC Bay Area that the moment was painful for many Giants fans.

“I hate that it’s dividing us, this time of year I hope that we’re unifying people,” said Suzanne Ford.

“It’s so ludicrous that this story is being spun that Christians are being discriminated against,” she added.

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Bryce Harper and the Burden of Great Expectations

Sunday Night Baseball is coming to Citizens Bank Park this week when the New York Mets take on the Phillies at 7:20 p.m. ET in a game that can be seen on NBC and Peacock. Both teams got off to slow starts this season, but the Phillies have turned things around and still have designs on a long October playoff run.

And if that happens, one of the main reasons will be due to the play of their first baseman Bryce Harper. Harper has accomplished an almost impossible task: he has lived up to extraordinary expectations. He was perhaps the most hyped position-player prospect in history, certainly the most hyped in the last 30 years.

Harper has outperformed expectations. Remember, he was a mega-star before his first major league plate appearance. He went from child prodigy (he skipped the final two years of high school to concentrate on his baseball development) to one of the game’s most enduring superstars.

Harper was the first player selected in the June 2010 draft. He won the National League MVP Award in 2015 with a season that would fit in nicely on the back of Ted Williams’ or Barry Bonds’ baseball card. Harper would capture another NL MVP Award with a different team six years later in 2021. In 2022, Bryce won the NLCS MVP, leading the Phillies to the World Series.

It is the middle of 2026—Bryce’s 15th season in MLB. It is his eighth season in Philadelphia, since signing his 13-year contract in early 2019. He’s on pace for a 35-homer season. He’s slugging .496. His OPS is .860, and his OPS+ is 133 (not far off from his career 142).

I appreciate all of this.

Aaron Judge: Born April 26, 1992: 385 HR
Bryce Harper: Born October 16, 1992: 378 HR

Harper is six months younger than Judge and has virtually the same amount of home runs. Judge does have one more piece of hardware: he has three MVPs, and Harper has two.

If Harper compares to one of the greatest right-handed batters ever (Judge), he also compares quite favorably to one of the greatest left-handed batters—Barry Bonds.

Through 7,000 PA
Bryce HarperBarry Bonds
(through 9/6/24)(through 6/19/97)
5,858AB5,755
332HR346
1,026BB1,143
1,647H1,651
.281AVG.287
.389OBP.405
.521SLG.545
.910OPS.950

Through their first 7,000 plate appearances, Bonds had won three MVP awards, and Harper two. Bonds had slightly higher average, on-base, and slugging percentages, but it was all close. Clearly on Hall of Fame tracks.

You know what happened to Bonds. He didn’t decline after 7,000 plate appearances. He did the opposite, to an extreme degree. Harper has followed a more natural projection.

After their 7,000th PA
Bryce HarperBarry Bonds
816AB4,093
46HR416
.268AVG.314
.365OBP.494
.504SLG.694
.869OPS1.187

We should be celebrating Harper for being this good this far into his contract, this far into his career.

The two contenders for the “Most Hyped Position Player” entering MLB the last 50 years besides Harper were probably Alex Rodriguez and Bo Jackson.

Bo was out of baseball by the time he was 31, a victim of a damaged hip.

Alex’s name was linked to steroid use and admitted in 2009 to taking a banned substance when he arrived in Texas as a free agent in 2001. His name was linked to Biogenesis, a company investigated for providing performance-enhancing substances to players. Arod received a 211-day suspension and missed the entire 2014 season. He has not received much support for the Hall of Fame despite superb statistics.
           
That’s the pattern that most of these prodigies follow. There are only a few paths. One is that the journey ends prematurely, due to the body breaking down. Another, as we saw with Rodriguez and Bonds, is prolonged greatness aided by performance-enhancing substances. The third is inevitability, where a player performs to high expectations, and then has a natural regression.
           
That’s Harper.
           
Harper has hit 15 home runs this season, a 5.1 HR% that would be his highest since 2021. Assuming the 33-year-old plays only six more seasons after this one, let’s be conservative and give him 18 more this season to end 2026 with 395. Now, project him for only 2,400 more at-bats through 2031 and a 4.7% HR percentage. That gives him 112 more home runs, meaning he would finish with 507 home runs.
           
That’s 500 home runs without being suspended or widely suspected of cheating. That’s 500 home runs and (at least) a couple of MVP seasons and deep playoff runs while coming back from broken thumbs and Tommy John surgery and hamstring injuries along the way.
           
More fighting back time: Bryce this season is striking out less and walking more than his career averages. He is performing well in the eighth year of his 13-year deal, which is remarkable given the number of long-term contracts which don’t work out in the end. Harper started 2026 with a memorable game-tying home run in the World Baseball Classic. Will he end one with a memorable October blast?
           
This weekend, Bryce will face the Mets, a familiar opponent as Harper has spent his entire career in the N.L. East. Harper has hit 40 home runs against the Mets. Is that a lot?

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Philadelphia Phillies

May 19, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) on deck against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Most HR vs. Mets

60 — Willie Stargell, HOF
49 — Chipper Jones, HOF
49 — Mike Schmidt, HOF
48 — Willie McCovey, HOF
48 — Ryan Howard
45 — Hank Aaron, HOF
42 — Pat Burrell
40 — Bryce Harper

Harper has hit home runs against some terrific Mets pitchers: Johan Santana, current teammate Zack Wheeler, Bartolo Colon, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Max Scherzer, and Edwin Diaz.

▶ A few Father’s Day connections between the Phillies and Mets

It’s Father’s Day every Philadelphia Phillies game:

Don Mattingly’s son Preston Mattingly is the general manager of the Phillies. It’s hard to imagine a father-son duo operating a team as GM-manager. Wait, the son is the boss of the father?
           

It’s nice that the Mets play the Phils on Father’ Day:

Phillies’ TV announcer Tom McCarthy’s son Pat McCarthy is a radio broadcaster for the New York Mets.

The most memorable Phillies/Mets game played on Father’s Day:

The Phillies and Mets played on Father's Day--also June 21--in 1964. It was memorable.

Philadelphia's Jim Bunning pitched a perfect game--only the fifth all-time...the first in regular season play since 1922....the first in the National League since 1880.

Jim Bunning of course was a Hall of Fame pitcher (224-184, 3.27). He was a sidearm pitcher, mostly for the Tigers and Phillies. When he retired, he was second on the all-time strikeout list (only to Walter Johnson). Following his baseball career, he became a member of the United States Senate (from Kentucky) from 1999-2011. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 85. 

A great use of ChatGPT is to find out exactly how many times since 1964 has Father's Day been on June 21. 2026 will be only the ninth time (1970, 1981, 1987, 1992, 1998, 2009, 2015, 2020, and 2026).

Can lightning strike twice on the same date with the same franchises? Where’s Benjamin Franklin when you need him?

Editors’ Note: Elliott Kalb - dubbed “Mr. Stats” decades ago by Marv Albert and Bob Costas - is the former Senior Editorial Director at MLB Network and a longtime contributor of research and information to NBC Sports’ telecasts.

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Cavs final report card: Jarrett Allen

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 21: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a free throw during the game against the New York Knicks during Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 21, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

There is something to be said about a player who just goes out every night and does what you expect them to do. Jarrett Allen is one of those guys for the Cleveland Cavaliers, even in a year where he saw his shot-making efficiency take a slight dip. Nevertheless, it was another positive season for Allen on both ends of the floor. The question now, heading into the offseason, is whether he will be on the roster next season.

Regular Season Stats

  • 15.4 points
  • 8.5 rebounds
  • 1.8 assists
  • 63.8% FG
  • 10% 3PT FG
  • 70.9% FT

For the sixth-straight season in a Cavaliers uniform, Allen averaged at least 13 points and eight rebounds per game. His offensive game is what it always has been, a rim-runner and paint janitor that can be relied upon to get up for the routine dunker spot lob. He profiled as an ideal fit next to James Harden in the starting lineup, feasting on the excellent pick-and-roll passing chops of the Cavs’ point guard. Sure enough, Allen’s stats ballooned after Harden arrived in Cleveland to round out an otherwise excellent season.

Prior to the Harden trade, Allen was having a fairly underwhelming regular season for his standards. The shot-making efficiency was below his usually elite standards, and the rebounds had taken a step back as well. Allen’s defense has always been at least good, if not elite on certain nights. After the All-Star break, Allen’s defense did pick up in a meaningful way — falling in line with what was a career month of February. In fact, in that month, Allen averaged 22.3 points per game on 74 percent shooting, adding 11.5 rebounds per game and more than a block per contest with nine double-doubles.

Another ho-hum, solid season for the Cavs’ starting center, but the story will always go back to postseason performances. The lights were not too bright for Allen in these playoffs, as he scored in double-digits in 13 games and notched a double-double in three of those.

If there was a knock on Allen this past season, it would be that he was available for only 56 games, down from the full 82 he played the year prior. That is the lowest number of games played for Allen since 2021-22, despite playing 27.1 minutes per game. But Allen was very good in the games he played.

Allen’s future will be the big topic of the offseason for the Cavs, as his contract is excellent value and he has a very high floor with generally good activity on both ends. It is fair to wonder if Allen’s play this past season impacts the front office’s plans to reshape the roster. The Cavs could, and likely will, run things back with the front court of Allen and Evan Mobley. That would not be the worst thing in the world, especially if the Cavs get another season like they just did out of Allen. Based on his career stats and consistency, assume more of the same for next year.

Grade: B+

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Astros Prospect Report: June 18th

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - JULY 24: Ethan Pecko #20 of the Corpus Christi Hooks pitches during the game between the Amarillo Sod Poodles and the Corpus Christi Hooks at Whataburger Field on Thursday, July 24, 2025 in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Photo by Vanessa Buentello/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (31-39) lost 3-2 (BOX SCORE)

Pecko got the start for Sugar Land and was great going 7 innings allowing just 1 run while striking out 5 batters. The offense got on the board in the 7th on a Price walk. They took the lead in the 8th on a Salazar RBI triple. VanWey allowed a run in the 8th as the Isotopes tied it. The game went to extras and in the 10th inning, the Isotopes walked it off as Sugar Land fell 3-2.

Note: Ferreras is hitting .468 in Triple-A.

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (30-36) lost 11-7 (BOX SCORE)

Hicks started for the Hooks but ran into some trouble allowing 6 runs over 4.2 innings. The offense got on the board in the first inning on a Spence solo home run. In the 3rd, they scored 3 more runs on a Spence 2 run home run and Brutcher solo home run. Holy added a solo home run in the 4th. The offense got 2 runs back in the 7th on Spence and Brutcher RBI singles but the pen struggled allowing 5 more runs as the Hooks fell 11-7.

Note: Spence is hitting .377 in June.

A+: Asheville Tourists (17-48) lost 3-2 (BOX SCORE)

Oakes got the start but struggled allowing 2 runs while retiring just 2 batters. Asheville got on the board in the first inning on a Call sac fly. Carr relieved Oakes and went 4.1 innings allowing 1 run. In the bottom of the 5th, Call connected on a solo home run. Unfortunately the game was called after 5 innings due to rain as Asheville fell 3-2.

Note: Nunez is hitting .386 in June.

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (32-33) won 9-4 (BOX SCORE)

Shoemaker started for the Woodpeckers and allowed 1 run over 3.2 innings. The offense blew the game open in the third scoring 8 runs on a Flores 2 run home run, a run on an error, a Cauro RBI double, Ramirez 2 run double, Gomez RBI single and Huezo RBI single. Mathiesen and Cassedy were solid in relief allowing 1 run each. There was about a 2 hour rain delay but the Woodpeckers were able to hold on for the 9-4 win.

Note: Cauro is hitting .310 this season.

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: Josh Hendrickson – 7:35 CT

CC: Cole Hertzler – 7:05 CT

AV: Parker Smith – 5:35 CT

FV: TBD – 6:05 CT

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NBA Mock Draft 2026: Who do the Clippers take at No. 5?

With the 2026 NBA Draft less than a week away, one question affecting the league is what Milwaukee will do with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Moving the veteran forward would likely involve the Bucks receiving draft picks in return, and it would also affect what the team does with its own pick. With the first four picks seemingly settled, that is one of the situations that will significantly affect Tuesday's first round in Brooklyn.

Another question is what the Clippers will do at No. 5. While the team did acquire Darius Garland last season, there's still a need for perimeter depth. And that part of the draft won't lack for quality options. Below is our most recent mock draft, including all 60 picks, with NBC Sports writers Raphielle Johnson and Kurt Helin providing some thoughts on the first rounders.

First Round

1. Washington Wizards: G/F AJ Dybantsa, BYU

While Darryn Peterson may be angling to go first overall, Dybantsa remains the Wizards' choice, according to recent reports. His offensive versatility and athleticism make the former BYU standout an excellent option for Washington, especially if they re-sign Trae Young to address the need at point guard. - Raphielle Johnson

2. Utah Jazz: G Darryn Peterson, Kansas

Utah president Danny Ainge does not care if Peterson worked out for the Jazz. Nor does he care that Peterson's agent is also the agent for Keyonte George, and he's worried that a Peterson/George backcourt could cannibalize each other's touches. There was a lot more smoke around Ace Bailey not wanting to go to Utah last year, Danny and Austin Ainge drafted him anyway. While there are rumors that the Jazz really like Boozer, we're going to bet they make the pick of the player with the highest upside and who fits best with their current roster. That's Peterson. - Kurt Helin

3. Memphis Grizzlies: F Cameron Boozer, Duke

While Ja Morant remains on the Grizzlies roster for now, there will clearly be a changing of the guard in Memphis. Adding Boozer, who hails from a winning college program and is the son of a former pro in Carlos Boozer, will help with the rebuild. Plus, the Grizzlies can use some more depth in the frontcourt. - Johnson

4. Chicago Bulls: F Caleb Wilson, North Carolina

Wilson and his off-the-charts athleticism next to Matas Buzelis? That is an entertaining foundation for Tiago Splitter to build upon. - Helin

5. LA Clippers (from Indiana): G Keaton Wagler, Illinois

Is this pick where the 2026 draft "starts?" One could argue that, especially if the first four picks go as many expect. Wagler's emergence factored into Illinois reaching the Final Four for the first time since 2005, and the combination of size and offensive skill set makes for a good fit within the Clippers' perimeter rotation. - Johnson

6. Brooklyn Nets: G Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

Brooklyn may have drafted two point guards one year ago — Egor Dëmin and Nolan Traoré — but neither really showed the spark and scoring touch that Acuff brings. Brooklyn needs talent and an entertaining star, and Acuff can be exactly that. - Helin

7. Sacramento Kings: G Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville

Of the guards projected to be selected in this segment of the draft, Brown may offer the highest ceiling because of his shooting ability and offensive gifts. However, he'll need to become a more efficient lead guard at the NBA level. The Kings desperately need to rebuild, and addressing the point guard position would be a good place to start. - Johnson

8. Atlanta (from New Orleans): G Kingston Flemings, Houston

Atlanta showed a lot of promise after the Trae Young trade last season, and they took more games off the Knicks in the playoffs than any other team, but CJ McCollum is not the long-term answer at point guard. The lightning-quick Flemings is a quality passer and decision maker, and he could be setting up Jalen Johnson and company for years to come. - Helin

9. Dallas Mavericks: G Brayden Burries, Arizona

NBA insider Jake Fischer reported earlier this week that Burries impressed the Clippers in a recent workout, so it's possible that he isn't on the board when the Mavericks come up. However, if he is, the former Arizona guard would make for a good addition to a perimeter rotation headlined by Kyrie Irving, who's returning from a torn ACL. - Johnson

10. Milwaukee Bucks: F Nate Ament, Tennessee

This is a bet on Taylor Jenkins' player development skills — there is a much better player in Ament than we saw at Tennessee last season. His defense and his shooting have to improve; a lot of things need to get better, but the Bucks are rebuilding, so betting on a player's upside makes sense. - Helin

11. Golden State Warriors: F/C Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan

Thought to be a late-first round option at the beginning of the pre-draft process, Johnson appears likely to hear his name called during the lottery. He's one of the best defenders in this class, regardless of position, and the Warriors need reinforcements in the frontcourt. Given the experience he has, most recently winning a national title, Johnson has the temperament required to offer immediate value to a veteran team looking to make one more run. - Johnson

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from LA Clippers): C Aday Mara, Michigan

I'm not sure Mara is where Oklahoma City plans to go in the draft — they have the more versatile Chet Holmgren on the roster already — but if he falls all the way to 12 on the board, they may have to take him as the best player available. It may take a year or two for the 7'3" center to develop, but he could eventually slot into Isaiah Hartenstein's role. - Helin

13. Miami Heat: G Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama

Given the Heat's connection to Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors, it's possible that this pick is included if Miami makes a deal. Philon has been reportedly linked to Milwaukee, and the Heat also like the former Alabama guard, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. Regardless of where he lands, Philon has the offensive skill set needed to make an immediate impact next season. - Johnson

14. Charlotte Hornets: F Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

Charlotte has the start of a rotation it likes based around LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller. Now Lendeborg steps in as a ready-made four, giving them some defense and passing. Lendeborg doesn't have to create here, just finish the plays set up by others, and he showed he could do that all the way through Michigan's championship run. - Helin

15. Chicago Bulls (from Portland): C Hannes Steinbach, Washington

The Bulls have their head coach in Tiago Splitter; now, they need to go about filling their roster for a proper rebuild. There's been a clear need to upgrade the frontcourt, even before Chicago traded Nikola Vučević at the February deadline. Steinbach has great hands and is an excellent rebounder; drafting him would be a good move for the Bulls. - Johnson

16. Memphis Grizzlies (from Phoenix via Orlando): G Christian Anderson Jr., Texas Tech

Memphis needs everything and nobody is going to go wrong taking the best shooter in the draft. - Helin

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Philadelphia): F Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers

In addition to having two first-round picks in this draft, the Thunder also has to account for last year's first-round pick, Thomas Sorber, returning from a torn ACL. And with some key decisions to make with veterans Isaiah Hartenstein and Luguentz Dort, it's possible that lead executive Sam Presti looks to save some money somewhere. If Lopez is the pick, he would go into an excellent situation for a developing player. - Johnson

18. Charlotte Hornets (from Orlando via Phoenix): C Chris Cenac Jr., Houston

Charlotte is looking for help along the front line, so this may be higher than a lot of teams expected Cenac to go, but it makes sense for the Hornets. Cenac is a development project, a player with all the athletic tools, but he needs to work on his feel for the game and his shot. He's also got to show more consistent rim protection than we saw in Houston. A lot falls on Charles Lee and his staff with this pick. - Helin

19. Toronto Raptors: C Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky

Even with the selection of Collin Murray-Boyles in last year's draft, the Raptors still have needs to address in the frontcourt. Sandro Mamukelashvili can opt out of his deal and become a free agent, while starter Jakob Poeltl struggled with back issues for most of last season. Quaintance comes with some risk given his knee injury, but he boasts a high ceiling thanks to his athleticism and rim-protection ability. - Johnson

20. San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta): G/F Dailyn Swain, Texas

If he plans to get on the court for Mitch Johnson, Swain will have to improve his defense and shooting. That said, he's going to fit in with San Antonio because he's big (6'7"), physical and likes to drive into the paint. The Spurs need more size on the wing; there's a role for Swain if he can grab it. - Helin

21. Detroit Pistons (from Minnesota): G Bennett Stirtz, Iowa

Whether it's through the draft or free agency, the Pistons need to add supplementary playmakers to help lighten Cade Cunningham's workload. Stirtz does come with some defensive concerns, but he's an excellent shooter who had the ball in his hands a lot at the college level. - Johnson

22. Philadelphia 76ers (from Houston via Oklahoma City): G/F Cameron Carr, Baylor

Carr is a knock-down 3-point shooter (37.4% last season for the Bears) who moves well off the ball and can put the ball on the floor and attack closeouts. His game should translate to the next level, but he's got to get a lot stronger and become a better, more physical defender. You can see a role for him in Philly. - Helin

23. Atlanta Hawks (from Cleveland): F Koa Peat, Arizona

Peat didn't have the best draft combine showing, as his perimeter shot remains a work in progress. However, the physicality and athleticism that he brings to the table should be enough to ensure the forward goes in the first round. The Hawks can use additional depth at the forward position, even if strengthening their options at center is the priority this offseason. - Johnson

24. New York Knicks: F Allen Graves, Santa Clara

Knicks fans are going to love him, and Mike Brown might as well, because he plays a high-IQ game and his strengths help a team win the possession battle (he will get you some steals). That said, the Santa Clara star fell this far down the board because he's a bit of a project — there's nobody better to learn from firsthand than the Villanova core in New York. - Helin

25. Los Angeles Lakers: C Tarris Reed Jr., UConn

Simply put, Deandre Ayton was not consistent enough last season. And regardless of what he decides to do with his player option, the Lakers need a post player who's more compatible with Luka Dončić in the two-man game. Reed, who was outstanding in the Huskies' run to the national title game, has the potential to be that kind of post player. - Johnson

26. Denver Nuggets: G Isaiah Evans, Duke

He's got good size (6'6") and he's a quality movement shooter, and there's a path to him becoming a quality NBA rotation player. But he's going to have to get stronger, improve his feel for the game — get open for Nikola Jokic and he will find you — and become a better defender. A bit of a project, but a good pick this deep for Denver. - Helin

27. Boston Celtics: F Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

Jefferson's final season at Iowa State was short-circuited by an ankle injury suffered during the NCAA tournament, but he is one of the most versatile offensive talents in this draft class. He can score and create for others, and Jefferson's basketball IQ would make him a good fit for Joe Mazzulla's system in Boston. - Johnson

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Detroit): C Henri Veesaar, North Carolina

When Rudy Gobert entered the league from France, Utah's strength and development team spent a couple of years building him up physically to become the elite defender and force he is today. It's similar for Vessaar, but the other side of the coin — his strength and conditioning need to get a lot better so he can become a solid NBA defender, because he's already got the shot and handle teams are looking for at the five in the modern NBA. Good roll of the dice here by the Timberwolves. - Helin

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (from San Antonio via Atlanta): G Meleek Thomas, Arkansas

Cleveland had the NBA's most expensive roster last season, and while they reached the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavaliers weren't very competitive after Game 1. Due to payroll constraints, the front office needs to find talent at an affordable price. Thomas has one of the quickest releases in this draft class, and his shot-making ability would fit nicely in a rotation headlined by Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. - Johnson

30. Dallas Mavericks (from Oklahoma City via Washington and Philadelphia): G Ebuka Okorie, Stanford

Okorie has an NBA-level skill: He is arguably the best driving guard in this class. He gets downhill and touches the paint almost at will, it seems. His handle is elite for a guy not yet in the NBA. However, his finishing on those drives — whether passing out or scoring — needs to improve, as do his defense and decision-making. There is potential there as a guard next to Cooper Flagg, but Okorie has work to do. - Helin

Second Round

31. New York Knicks (from Washington via Oklahoma City and Houston): C Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's

32. Memphis Grizzlies (from Indiana via Milwaukee): G/F Sergio De Larrea, Valencia (Spain)

33. Brooklyn Nets: G/F Richie Saunders, BYU

34. Sacramento Kings: G/F Alex Karaban, UConn

35. San Antonio Spurs (from Utah via Minnesota): F Baba Miller, Cincinnati

36. LA Clippers (from Memphis via Atlanta and Utah): G Emanuel Sharp, Houston

37. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Dallas): G Jack Kayil, Alba Berlin (Germany)

38. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans via Boston, Detroit and Portland): G Ryan Conwell, Louisville

39. Houston Rockets (from Chicago via Washington): G Braden Smith, Purdue

40. Boston Celtics (from Milwaukee via Orlando): F Dillon Mitchell, St. John's

41. Miami Heat (from Golden State via Charlotte, New York, Oklahoma City and Atlanta): F/C Izaiyah Nelson, South Florida

42. San Antonio Spurs (from Portland via New Orleans): G Vsevolod Ishchenko, Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia)

43. Brooklyn Nets (from LA Clippers via Houston): C Ugonna Onyenso, Virginia

44. San Antonio Spurs (from Miami via Indiana): G Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee

45. Sacramento Kings (from Charlotte via San Antonio, Atlanta and New York): G Jaden Bradley, Arizona

46. Orlando Magic: F Trevon Brazile, Arkansas

47. Phoenix Suns (from Philadelphia via Houston and Oklahoma City): G Nick Boyd, Wisconsin

48. Dallas Mavericks (from Phoenix via Washington): G Bruce Thornton, Ohio State

49. Denver Nuggets (from Atlanta via Brooklyn and Golden State): G/F Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt

50. Toronto Raptors: C Felix Okpara, Tennessee

51. Washington Wizards (from Minnesota via Detroit and New York): F Tobi Lawal, Virginia Tech

52. LA Clippers (from Cleveland): F/C Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA

53. Houston Rockets: F Bryce Hopkins, St. John's

54. Golden State Warriors (from Los Angeles Lakers via Toronto, Miami and Cleveland): G/F Tobias Jensen, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

55. New York Knicks: F Nick Martinelli, Northwestern

56. Chicago Bulls (from Denver via Minnesota, Phoenix, Charlotte and Phoenix): F Tobe Awaka, Arizona

57. Atlanta Hawks (from Boston): G Noam Yaacov, Oostende (Belgium)

58. New Orleans Pelicans (from Detroit via New York, Brooklyn, Phoenix, Orlando and LA Clippers): G Kylan Boswell, Illinois

59. Minnesota Timberwolves (from San Antonio via Indiana): G Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State

60. Washington Wizards (from Oklahoma City via San Antonio and Miami): G Milos Uzan, Houston