We zoomed through the first third of the season and now the St. Louis Cardinals have just 100 games to go in this rebuild season. Unlike most rebuilds, this one has been fun and honestly, maybe we are spoiled by being fans of the Cardinals. That was one of the topics of conversations on Cardinals on My Time with Cardinals Twitter Vibe King @JandySTL.
In our talk about this fun campaign, we both had to take stabs at the Pittsburgh Pirates wondering how their fans can be so upset about rebuilding if this is how easy it is. The meat of our conversations, though, centered around the vibes and energy that can be seen and felt in Busch Stadium these days. It is a different team than fans our used to and this refreshing injection of youth in St. Louis has engaged fans and lost many a shirt.
The Cardinals 2026 season is already a major win
Seemingly every game, Jordan Walker makes us believe a little bit more in his resurgence. With 100 games to go, we are no longer discussing small sample sizes and have moved into end of the year awards. JJ Wetherholt appears to be the real deal for the long-term and while the rest of the roster may have some holes or uncertainties, the Cardinals are in an intriguing spot as a franchise. The trade deadline, some eight weeks away could bring decisions for Chaim Bloom and company, but the main thought is that he will remain future-focused rather than looking to clinch a 2026 postseason berth.
That could spell the end of Cardinals tenures for players like free agents to be JoJo Romero, Dustin May, Ryne Stanek or for older players like Lars Nootbaar and Riley O’Brien. Assuming that at least a couple of those guys are dealt to World Series hopefuls, the Cardinals will look to replace them from the minor leagues or in the trade return. What that means will differ, as Chaim could try to toe the line of competing and retooling like he did by acquiring major league arms Hunter Dobbins and Richard Fitts among prospects.
Without getting too far into trade possibilities, Jandy and I discussed what a realistic trade deadline looks like for this iteration of the Cardinals. We came to the conclusion that, even if we see those guys go, the drop off at the major league level may not be too tough to swallow.
As we hit the summer months, my podcasting schedule gets a little wonky. I will continue to record as often as possible, but make sure you follow and subscribe to the channel for the latest episodes. Keep the feedback and comments coming. Thanks as always!
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 06: Dominic Smith #8 of the Atlanta Braves bats during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Saturday, June 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves took on the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon looking to win yet another series after only losing two series all season long up to this point.
Spencer Strider came to the mound to face Braxton Ashcraft who has an ERA of 1.77 in away games. Strider was looking to continue to develop his pitching coming back from a long recovery from injury. His biggest issue so far this season has been giving up too many hits and HRs, but other than that has looked solid.
In the top of the first inning Strider gave up a leadoff single, but then settled down to pick up a strikeout of Brandon Lowe, arguably the best hitter for the Pirates this season, and then two routine fly out. In the bottom half of the first it appeared that the Braves did not care that Ashcraft has been excellent in away games. Ronald Acuña led off with a single, Mauricio Dubón singled to put runners on the corners with no outs, and after a Matt Olson strikeout, Albies hit a sacrifice fly to center to put the first run on the board. Dominic Smith then singled followed by a much needed Austin Riley double to make the score 2-0.
Yastrzemski challenged a pitch, but lost and struck out to end the first inning.
Outside of a walk to Cruz, Strider looked solid in the second inning. He struck out Endy Rodríguez on a pitch that was close enough to be challenged, and induced a ground out and fly out. In the second, the Braves could not keep the momentum going, Wynns in his first at-bat for the Braves grounded out, and then there were two straight pop ups.
The offense was almost exactly the same for the Pirates in the third. Strider was able to induce a line out and two straight pop ups. The Braves were able to plate another run in the third. Dubón continued his hot streak with a single and after another Olson strikeout Albies got hit by a pitch. Smith moved the runner over to third on a deep fly that Cruz had to jump for at the wall. Albies stole second for his first steal of the season and then Dubón was able to score on the bad throw to second. It technically was scored a steal for Dubón since he was running when the ball was thrown. You be the judge.
The fourth is when things started to fall apart for Strider. He gave up a double to Reynolds to lead off the inning, then after a fly out gave up another double, this time to Nick Gonzales to make the score 3-1. He walked Cruz for a second time and after a strikeout got saved by Acuña when he gave up his third double of the inning but the speedy Cruz was thrown out at home. For the Braves in the fourth they were at the bottom end of the lineup and you can guess what happened, Yastrzemski, Wynns, and Kim were all sat down in a row.
Strider looked to till be shaken up in the fifth. He gave up a lead off single and then had a wild pitch to move the runner to second. He induced a ground out, but that moved the runner over and then Lowe hit a sac fly to tie the game at three. Fortunately, Strider was able to retire Reynolds via a fly out to end the top half of the fifth. We got to see some fun base running for the Braves in the fifth. Acuña led of with a single and after a Dubón strikeout, Matt Olson singled. Then Acuña and Matt Olson had a double steal. That was not a typo, Matt Olson had his second steal of the season. Albies then helped the Braves take the lead when he hit a sac fly to score Acuña. Dominic Smith then continued to add to his Braves legend status by smacking a two run home run to the opposite field to double the Braves lead to 6-3.
Riley then had his second hit of the night with a single, but Yastrzemski could not get out of his slump with a ground out to end the inning.
Dylan Dodd then came in to relieve Strider in the sixth. Strider ended his day with 5.0 innings pitched, three earned runs on five hits (three doubles), three strikeouts, and two walks. It was not his best outing, but certainly not his worst either. Dodd was able to strike out three of the four batters in the sixth with Cruz picking up his third walk of the game. Ashcraft was also relieved in the sixth inning, which appears to be the right move because the Braves were sat down in order.
Dylan Lee came in to pitch the seventh and struggled out of the gate when he walked Tyler Callihan who then stole second for his first steal of the year. Lee then settled down and after a hard hit line out, struck out two to end the top of the seventh. The Braves could not get anything going in the seventh with the heart of the order sitting down in order.
Tyler Kinley got the nod for the eighth inning in what could be considered a bit shocking, but he made it work. He got Reynolds to fly out, but then gave up back-to-back singles to O’Hearn and Gonzales to put runners on first and second with the tying run at the plate. He was able to finally get Cruz out on a strikeout that Cruz challenged and lost, and after a mound visit induced a fly out to end the top of the inning. Smith walked, but that was the only offense for the Braves in the eighth.
Raisel Iglesias came in to close it out in the ninth with a three run lead, and shocker alert, got the job done. He did give up a single, but that was it. We did have something we don’t see everyday happen. When Brandon Lowe was up to bat with two outs he got injured and had to be replaced mid at-bat. On a 1-2 count, Jhostynxon Garcia struck out to end the game.
In what is becoming common place, the Braves’ bullpen was elite and shut down the opponent. The Braves were able to put up six runs on a starter who had a 1.77 ERA in away games previous to today. Dominic Smith continued to show why he needs at-bats with two hits to include a HR and a walk. The Braves had four different players with two hits today.
With the series in the bag already, the Braves look for a sweep of the Pirates tomorrow at 12:35 pm EDT when Bryce Elder is scheduled to take the mound against Bubba Chandler.
San Diego, California - June 05: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres walks back to the dugout as Bo Bichette #19 and Marcus Semien #10 of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Friars at Petco Park on Friday, June 5, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Going into Friday night’s game the San Diego Padres hoped for a turnaround to their recent stroke of misfortune. It was not to be, as the Friars dropped Game 1 to the New York Mets, 5-0.
It was a game full of lowlights, with Michael King surrendering four runs in six innings, while the Padres combined for a measly three hits against Christian Scott and company. They’ll face New York’s ace tonight with a much lower margin for error in a moment where they simply need a win.
The Padres have now gone a full week without winning a game (their last win came on May 29 against the Washington Nationals). The brown and gold simply need to show that they’re capable of outscoring an opponent. Once they do that, the wheels may start turning again.
Taking the mound
Nolan McLean (NYM) v. Griffin Canning (SD)
McLean has looked like an ace despite not pitching like one. He had a rough start to the year before posting a 2.37 ERA in April. His last few starts haven’t been great, raising his ERA back to a modest 4.21 mark.
His one major advantage is that he’s yet to face the Friars. None of San Diego’s batters have faced the right-hander, so they’ll need to figure him out quick. McLean will be sure to rack up some strikeouts, recording 77 through 66 1/3 frames this year.
Canning has rebounded a bit but has not gotten any help. He’s been saddled with a 7.16 ERA but doesn’t deserve it (for the most part). Canning’s certainly been roughed up, but he’s kept the Friars in games. Since giving up six runs to the Milwaukee Brewers in just 1 2/3 innings, he’s allowed no more than three runs in each of his last three starts.
The righty has yet to face most of New York’s lineup, though Marcus Semien has faced him quite a lot (30 at-bats) after their shared time in the American League West. The second basemen owns a career .300 batting average and .856 OPS against Canning.
Batter up!
There’s not much good to say about last night’s lineup. The lone bright spot was catcher Rodolfo Durán walking in two of his three plate appearances. That should tell you everything you need to know about Friday’s loss.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Gavin Sheets, LF
Manny Machado, 3B
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Miguel Andujar, DH
Sung-Mun Song, 2B
Freddy Fermin, C
With the news that Ramón Laureano will likely be out for the remainder of the regular season, the Padres will be forced to tinker with their lineup a bit. Recent call-ups Jase Bowen and Samad Taylor will get some longer looks than they would have if Laureano was returning soon.
Relief corps
After not pitching since last Friday’s win against the Nats, Mason Miller came into the ninth without a lead to protect for the first time this season. He followed a resurgent two innings from David Morgan and promptly gave up a run in 2/3 of an inning before Yuki Matsui pitched the final out.
That leaves the Padres with plenty of options tonight. Morgan was called up last night after Jeremiah Estrada was sent to the injured list. That means Jason Adam, Ron Marinaccio, Adrian Morejon, Wandy Peralta and Bradgley Rodriguez will all be available out of the ‘pen.
"Austin came in late last night and just complained about some neck stuff that was leading to headaches, so we got today with the neurologist just to put him through all the battery of tests and everything," manager Aaron Boone said after the game's postponement. "[He] checked out negative for that, but we wanted to look into the neck and how that is affecting things, so another battery of tests tomorrow."
Boone clarified that Wells came back negative for a concussion as part of the initial tests, but that the team will look into more possible reasons for the headaches on Sunday.
Wells, like Escarra, had been struggling mightily at the plate.
Hitless in his last 11 at-bats, Wells' average has dropped to .166 on the season (24-for-145) with a .533 OPS (51 OPS+, 54 wRC+) in 47 games.
"This complaint is new so whether it’s something that happened last night or a cumulative thing, it’s tough to say," Boone said.
As for how long Wells is expected to be out, the skipper said he hopes it's not long, but with the injury being around his neck, it was something they didn't want to "mess around with."
"Hopefully it’s short," Boone said. "That’s the expectation, but, again, he’ll have testing tomorrow morning."
Ali Sanchez, who was called up by the Yanks after Friday's loss to Boston, was in Saturday's starting lineup.
In 40 Triple-A games this year, Sanchez has posted a .227/.327/.375 slashline (.702 OPS) with six home runs and 11 RBI in 128 at-bats. He has 18 walks to 28 strikeouts.
Sanchez, who signed with New York on a minor league deal in December, has 50 games of big league experience to his name, across four seasons with five different clubs. In that time, the now 29-year-old has 22 hits in 120 at-bats (.183) with a .454 OPS.
Jun 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Royce Lewis (23) reacts with teammates after a walk against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Close and late situations are not the friend of the 2026 Minnesota Twins.
After a leadoff homer made it 1-0 Royals, Joe Ryan settled down for six innings of one-run ball, as Royal righty Luinder Avila matched him with five two-hit frames, walking three and allowing one run in a bases-loaded, no-out situation that the Twins mustered in the home fifth.
From there, it was a bullpen battle. Guess how that turned out?
A combination of Taylor Rogers and Yoendrys Gomez got the Twins to the bottom of the eighth still in a 1-1 deadlock; the efforts of Daniel Lynch IV and Lucas Erceg did the same for Kansas City. Then, with two outs and Matt Strahm on the bump, Derek Shelton sent pinch-hitter Orlando Arcia to the plate. Arcia, not so much known for his power anymore, smashed his first bomb of the year into left, staking Minnesota to a late 2-1 lead.
I guess Eric Orze is a vegetarian. (“Staking/steaking” joke).
If you remember Yostball fondly, the ninth inning was a blast from the past. After Isaac Collins found his way aboard with a groundball single, pinch-runner Tyler Tolbert swiped second and advanced to third after a Kyle Isbel sacrifice bunt. From there, a sac fly tied the game, but not for long! Bobby Witt Jr’s 400th career RBI — a single into left — brought home a third and final run for the Royals, and handed Orze his third blown save of the season.
The Twins, in true Twins fashion, made it as frustrating as possible in the bottom of the ninth. Kody Clemens’ 13th double of the year led off the inning against Alex Lange, but Josh Bell and Austin Martin both went down on strikes. After Victor Caratini reached on a HBP, it was a storybook setup for Royce Lewis (who played second and first in this one.) But on a 3-2 pitch, Royce was called out on a cutter on the corner to lock it up for Kansas City.
The Twins will play for the split tomorrow afternoon. Heck, they might even try their hardest!
May 19, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images | Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
UPDATE: The game was delayed, then ultimately postponed due to heavy rain. It will be made up in a day-night doubleheader on August 29.
It’s a new-look lineup tonight, with a new guy (Anthony Seigler at second), a still-kinda-new-ish guy (Mickey Gasper behind the dish), Marcelo Mayer at a new-ish position (settled at short), and a guy we don’t see very often (Masataka Yoshida starting at DH). We want to see Ranger Suárez get back on track. Let’s see what Caleb Durbin (back at third base, but newly—possibly—charting a path toward respectability at the plate) gets up to today. Away-game vibes, everybody. Let’s go.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart knocks the ball away from San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama in the first half at Frost Bank Center.
SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama looked ready to take the crown.
The first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year became the unanimous Western Conference Finals MVP after ousting back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the reigning champion Thunder in Game 7 in Oklahoma City.
Wembanyama, 22, was widely hailed as the best player in the world.
But through his first two games in the NBA Finals, he hasn’t even been the best big man.
Victor Wembanyama has looked human through two games in the NBA Finals. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Despite respectable numbers (27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks), Wembanyama has struggled to find easy looks against Karl-Anthony Towns, while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 26.7 percent on 3-pointers.
On the other end, Towns (19.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 55.6 percent shooting, 42.9 percent on 3-pointers) has repeatedly dragged the Spurs star away from the rim and blown past him off the dribble.
“It’s very different from [the] previous series,” Wembanyama said after the 105-104 loss in Game 2. “It’s bringing us into difficult areas because they’re good players. [Towns is] a good player.
“We need to put ourselves in better [positions]. We’re digging ourselves a hole. That’s been the theme so far.”
In Game 2, the 7-foot-4 phenom led an incredible fourth-quarter comeback and scored 22 of his 29 points in the second half, but he finished with two misses in the final 30 seconds — including the potential game-winner before the buzzer — and an inexcusable turnover and foul that set Jalen Brunson up for the go-ahead free throw with 9.5 seconds remaining.
“That’s the most frustrating thing, to throw it away after putting in all this work,” said Wembanyama, who admitted to feeling “blurry” in the final minute. “Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely.”
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart knocks the ball away from San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama in the first half at Frost Bank Center during Game 2. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
Wembanyama’s chance for redemption comes Monday in the most anticipated game at Madison Square Garden this century.
He needs a win to avoid the death sentence of a 3-0 series deficit, which no team has recovered from in NBA history.
The 1995 Magic were the last team to lose the first two games of the NBA Finals at home, led by a generational 23-year-old center who would eventually earn four rings and three Finals MVP awards.
But before Shaquille O’Neal claimed the crown, he would endure the embarrassment of a sweep against Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets on the sport’s biggest stage.
“I mean, here we are,” Wembanyama said. “We can’t change the past now. We’re already focused on Game 3.”
Jun 5, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers fans cheer between innings against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images | Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images
That wasn’t the usual way to come back from an 18-3 thrashing the previous day, but the Cubs will certainly take it, I’m sure.
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s two-out game-tying homer in the ninth sent the game to extra innings and when Giants right fielder Victor Bericoto fumbled Michael Busch’s single in the 10th, Dansby Swanson scampered home and the Cubs won 3-2, their eighth walk-off win of 2026.
Let’s rewind to the beginning of this back-and-forth game.
Ben Brown, who’s been just outstanding since joining the starting rotation, continued his excellence Saturday afternoon. He’s got to be the closest thing the Cubs have to an ace right now. And in my view, it’s all because he added more effective pitches to his repertoire. Good for him for putting in the work needed to step up his game to the next level. Here’s Brown’s pitch mix for this one [VIDEO].
Brown allowed just one hit and two other baserunners in his 5.2 innings of work Saturday in a game that was started on time and then had some fairly heavy rain fall in the first two innings. After that it cleared up and it was a lovely afternoon with a lake breeze. No Giants runner got past first base against Brown, who struck out five.
More on Brown’s day from BCB’s JohnW53:
Ben Brown today became only the fifth Cubs pitcher since 1901 to pitch exactly 5.1 scoreless innings. The others all gave up at least three hits.
Ferguson Jenkins did it in relief on April 23, 1966, vs. the Dodgers (four hits)
The later three, all starters: Jake Arrieta, May 3, 2014, vs. the Cardinals (four) Justin Steele, April 25, 2023, vs. the Padres (three) Javier Assad, Sept. 28, 2025, vs. the Cardinals
Jenkins walked none; Assad and Browns, one; and Arrieta and Steele, two.
That was the last batter Brown faced. Caleb Thielbar entered the game to face Rafael Devers, the right move, as Devers hits left-handed.
Unfortunately, Devers took Thielbar deep fot a 1-0 Giants lead, before Thielbar struck out Luis Arraez and Willy Adames to end the inning.
Meanwhile, the Cubs could not do anything with Giants starter Landen Roupp. They had two runners on via walks with two out in the first, but Ian Happ flied out. They had just two other baserunners through five, and one of those runners, PCA on a leadoff single in the third, was erased on a double play.
So the game went 1-0 Giants to the bottom of the sixth. PCA was the leadoff hitter in the inning. Roupp ran an 0-2 count on PCA.
Both teams had chances to score in the seventh and eighth. The Giants got two on with one out against Jacob Webb, but he got two fly balls to Suzuki to end the seventh. In the bottom of the inning, the Cubs loaded the bases on a PCA single, Miguel Amaya hit by a pitch and an infield hit by Busch.
Alex Bregman was the next hitter. He struck out to end the inning, and scattered boos came out of the Wrigley Field stands.
In the eighth, Webb retired the Giants in order. He has become one of the most reliable relievers Craig Counsell has, after a rough start to his season.
The Cubs went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth, and Daniel Palencia entered to throw the ninth. Unfortunately, a couple of singles and a sac fly by Matt Chapman gave the Giants a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Pedro Ramirez grounded out. Carson Kelly hit a line drive — right at Adames.
The Cubs have hit six solo homers this season that tied the score.
Two by Alex Bregman, two by Michael Busch . . . and the two today by Pete Crow-Armstrong.
They hit 16 such homers last year, three by PCA. He also hit one in 2023. His five are tied with Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki for the most by any Cub since 2022.
Ryan Rolison, another scrap heap pickup who’s done a good bullpen job, threw the top of the 10th. He issued a one-out walk, then struck out Devers and got Arraez to hit into a force play to end the inning — after the ball took a bounce off the mound [VIDEO].
So the game went to the bottom of the 10th still tied. Dansby Swanson had been told by Craig Counsell that he’d be getting a couple of days off (today, and presumably Sunday as well). But with Moisés Ballesteros scheduled to be the placed runner, Swanson was sent out to be that runner instead.
So the Cubs even up the series with the Giants — and it’s PCA’s day. He’s now on an 11-game hitting streak, and this was his second four-hit game during the streak. He’s got five home runs in the 11 games and overall during the streak is now batting .413/.490/.822 (19-for-45) with three doubles, five home runs, nine RBI and nine runs scored. I’m not sure how he got locked in this way, but he’s hitting the way he was during the first half last year. Keep that up — and get some of the other Cubs bats going — and maybe they can dig themselves out of this hole.
The Cubs go for the series win Sunday evening at Wrigley Field. They’ll be on NBC’s featured Sunday Night Baseball game (full national broadcast, no blackouts, also streaming on Peacock). Announcers will be Jason Benetti, Jim Deshaies and Hunter Pence. Jameson Taillon starts for the Cubs and Trevor McDonald will go for the Giants. Game time Sunday is 7:30 p.m. CT.
They looked well on their way, or at least well-positioned, to win their fourth straight for the first time all season Saturday afternoon after Rafael Devers put them ahead with his eighth homer while Landen Roupp cruised through the first five frames in a strong bounce-back effort.
The Giants’ Rafael Devers rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Cubs on Saturday. AP Photo/Paul Beaty
It all fell apart thanks to a familiar culprit.
Their bullpen.
Roupp allowed Pete Crow-Armstrong to tie the score on a mammoth home run to lead off the sixth, and after escaping two bases-loaded jams in the sixth and seventh, San Francisco’s relievers couldn’t hold on any longer.
One out from securing a 2-1 win that would have been their fourth in a row, Crow-Armstrong did it again. He demolished the first pitch he saw from Keaton Winn and sent it toward the scoreboard in right field, sending the game to extra innings.
The Cubs sent the Giants onto the streets of Wrigleyville 3-2 losers with their MLB-leading eighth walk-off win of the season when Victor Bericoto booted a line-drive single by Michael Busch in the 10th that allowed Moises Ballesteros to score from second.
Ballesteros was initially held up at third until Bericoto failed to field the ball cleanly.
Bericoto entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Winn, the pitcher, who was due up in the order in the top of the 10th because manager Tony Vitello pinch-ran for designated hitter Bryce Eldridge with Jonah Cox and opted to keep Cox in the game for defense over Casey Schmitt, who was in left.
It resulted in the Giants playing without their slugging top prospect or their team leader in home runs the rest of the game, with the inexperienced Bericoto in right.
“I mean, we got where we wanted,” Vitello said. “Their best player did what he did and from that point on, you’re chasing your tail a little bit on the road. … Schmitty, I don’t think can be labeled just an infielder anymore, he’s spent plenty of time out there. But obviously with the lead, we want our best defense out there in the outfield.”
Winn was attempting to record his fifth out after entering the game in the eighth, a similar task he executed to secure his first career save in the Giants’ 1-0 win against the Brewers earlier this trip.
“Same deal tomorrow with Keaton — still have faith in him,” Vitello said. “What he did in Milwaukee was tremendous.”
After banging out 19 hits and 18 runs a day earlier, the Giants were held to five hits by Ben Brown and the Cubs’ bullpen, with their only offense until the ninth coming on Devers’ solo shot.
Two of their hits came from Jung Hoo Lee, who extended his hitting streak to a career-best 14 games. He and Eldridge ignited a rally against Cubs closer Daniel Palencia to give them a brief 2-1 lead in the ninth. But they were unable to advance, let alone score, the automatic runner on second base in the top of the 10th.
“I don’t think you’re ever OK with a loss, but … we’re playing good ball,” Vitello said. “We played good today. They absolutely battled their [rear ends] off.”
The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong watches one of his two home runs Saturday against the Giants. AP Photo/Paul Beaty
What it means
The Giants didn’t invest in their bullpen this offseason, and Saturday’s loss was just the latest instance of it coming back to bite them.
Without a clear closer, Vitello burned through Caleb Kilian and Erik Miller before handing a tied game over to Winn, who retook the mound in the ninth holding a 2-1 lead.
Since ending April with the second-best bullpen ERA in the majors, the Giants’ patchwork bullpen has regressed to the league’s fourth-worst group, with a 5.22 ERA.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Roupp looked no worse for the wear after dealing with back tightness in his last start.
After laboring through 96 pitches to complete four innings while surrendering eight runs in his last start, Roupp’s velocity was back to normal, and he cruised through 5 ⅔ frames.
“I felt good today,” Roupp said. “I thought today was a step in the right direction for me.”
The only damage the Cubs did against Roupp came on Crow-Armstrong’s first homer that tied the score at 1 to begin his final inning, but after putting the next batter on with his third walk, Roupp responded by getting Busch and Alex Bregman to swing through off-speed pitches at the knees for the next two outs.
“Overall, I think I made a lot of good pitches,” Roupp said. “Really one mistake all day was the fastball to PCA.”
The Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee and his teammates saw their three-game winning streak snapped Saturday. Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Who’s not
Eric Haase lost a low-leverage ABS challenge, leaving the Giants with just one for the rest of the game, when he tried to overturn a ball below the strike zone in the first inning with nobody on and two outs.
It wasn’t the first time this trip the Giants chose a poor time to deploy their challenges. They were forced to protect a 1-0 ninth-inning lead against the Brewers without a challenge remaining Wednesday when Drew Gilbert lost their last one on an upheld strike in the top half of the inning.
On the season, the Giants have been one of the majors’ least effective teams using the ABS system — one of six teams to lose more than they win (48%) with 16.5 fewer overturns than expected, according to Statcast.
Up next
The Giants and Cubs are scheduled to square off at 5:30 p.m. PT on NBC’s nationally televised “Sunday Night Baseball.”
With an expected 4 a.m. arrival back in San Francisco and a date with the Nationals later that evening, the Giants sent Logan Webb, their scheduled starter, home ahead of the team.
“The travel,” Vitello said, “will be a little bit of a kick in the groin.”
TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 6: Ernie Clement #22 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 6, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tara Walton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a feel-good win yesterday, the Orioles put up a clunker today. As is often the way, they were unable to score much until the late innings, and this time it was too little, too late. And the recently very steady Kyle Bradish struggled and lasted just four innings. It was not a winning combo and the Orioles fell, 6-4.
Bradish came into this game on a five-game tear that had us all hoping he was back to the vintage Bradish we knew from before his Tommy John surgery. His first start of June did not go so well. He fell behind early and often today and struggled with his control.
The Orioles blew a two-on, no-out situation in the first inning, but got on the board in the second. Taylor Ward started the game with a walk, as he does, and Gunnar singled behind him. Adley Rutschman moved the runners up with a groundout, but Pete Alonso and Coby Mayo struck out to end the inning.
After the first, the Blue Jays replaced opener Braydon Fisher with Spencer Miles. Miles faced the Orioles inlast Sunday in Baltimore and gave up six runs in three innings, three of which came in on a home run by Colton Cowser. Wouldn’t you know it, Cowser faced Miles in the second inning today and hit another bomb. Unfortunately, it was just a solo shot and was not the start of a rally.
In fact, after the Cowser home run, Miles retired nine straight batters. The next Oriole to reach base was Blaze Alexander when he walked with one out in the fifth. He was stranded when Jackson Holliday and Tyler Ward struck out.
While the Orioles’ batters flailed against Mile, Bradish was falling apart. The Blue Jays tied the game at one in the bottom of the second inning, but it felt like they should have gotten more. Three of the first four batters reached on two singles and a double, but Bradish got a big strikeout and then a groundout to escape.
The third inning was…bad, especially when you take into account that Bradish got the first two batters out. He went 3-0 on George Springer before getting him to ground out, then struck out Nathan Lukes. Vlad Guerrero walked and Jesús Sánchez singled on a ball that Jackson Holliday probably should have gotten to. That set up a three-run, no-doubt homer by Ernie Clement. It put the Blue Jays up, 4-1, and they weren’t finished.
Bradish just needed one more out, but he couldn’t get it. Brandon Valenzuela, Kazuma Okamoto, and Andrés Giménez all singled. Valenzuela came in to score on the Giménez hit, but luckily for Bradish, Okamoto got himself thrown out at third to end the inning.
Bradish labored through a scoreless fourth inning but got a little help from George Springer who was running on a pitch but got thrown out by a mile. He did not return for the fifth inning. His final pitching line: 4 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K. Let’s hope it was just an off day and he’ll be back on track next time.
Keegan Akin came on in relief to pitch two innings, and immediately gave up run of his own. Of course he did. He followed with a scoreless second inning so his ERA actually went down to 8.64. Great job?
Spencer Miles started the sixth inning for the Jays, but exited after giving up Gunnar Henderson’s second hit and getting Rutschman to fly out on a ball he just got under a bit. With a five-run lead, Toronto manager opted to go with Jeff Hoffman.
When last we saw Hoffman, he was blowing the game for the Jays in the bottom of the ninth in Baltimore. Hoffman was charged with five runs back on May 30th in the Orioles walk-off win. It wasn’t quite as bad today, though he did immediately allow a two-run homer to Pete Alonso. That cut the score to 6-3, but Hoffman got out without other trouble.
The Orioles cut into the lead a bit more in the seventh. Mason Fluharty replaced Hoffman. Fluharty struck out pinch-hitter Tyler O’Neill, which is not a surprise. But he could not retire Alexander, who hit his second home run of the season. That made the score 6-4, but the Orioles couldn’t take it any further. Fluharty struck out both Jeremiah Jackson and Ward.
Henderson started the eighth inning with his third hit of the game, an infield hit up the third base line. But none of his teammates could bring him in. Louis Varland, the closer with a minuscule 0.28 ERA, retired the side 1-2-3 in the ninth to end the game. Samuel Basallo pinch-hit, which was good to see after he left yesterday’s game injured. Of course, the cynic in me is worried that they sent him in there to ground out and reaggravate his injury for nothing.
Shout out to Albert Suárez, who the Orioles just keep DFA’ing and re-signing. He pitched two scoreless innings today and worked around a leadoff double that Leody Taveras should have caught in center field. I think maybe Taveras is afraid of the wall because he has a lot of trouble near it. I would be afraid of the wall, too, but nobody pays me to play center field.
Orioles lose, 6-4. They can still get the series win tomorrow, but they will have to beat former Orioles Kevin Gausman to do so.
The Philadelphia Flyers have made it public knowledge that they would like to upgrade their defense if they can, and one avenue they're exploring is the 2026 NHL Draft.
This past week, the NHL Scouting Combine got underway in Buffalo, New York, and the Flyers, alongside the other 31 NHL teams, were able to watch NHL hopefuls test their strength and athleticism, then meet with them.
One player the Flyers met with, according to The Inquirer's Jackie Spiegel, is offensive dynamo Xavier Villeneuve, a defenseman who can do it all on the attacking side of the game.
Villeneuve, 18, is a 5-foot-11, 164-pound defenseman who is committed to Boston University for the 2026-27 season.
The Laval, Quebec, native scored 38 points in 37 QMJHL games with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL, playing alongside Flyers prospect Spencer Gill.
Injuries limited the talented Villeneuve to those 37 games, which hurt his chances of improving on a 60-point D-1 campaign with the Armada, but the talent still shines through.
Villeneuve tried too hard to play hero after coming back from his injury, but it's a credit to the player that he has the talent and confidence to do that.
Time in the gym at Boston will undoubtedly benefit the diminutive defender as he works to become stronger and more explosive.
In their 2026 draft guide, EliteProspects ranked Villeneuve as their 13th overall player, comparing him to Lane Hutson and former Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.
"The only prospect in this year’s draft with higher upside than Xavier Villeneuve is our No. 1-ranked prospect, Gavin McKenna," the guide reads.
"Both are capable of breaking down defences, carrying a top power play, and helping their teams rack up wins."
Villeneuve, just like other mobile defenseman of his stature, like Hutson and Quinn Hughes, isn't much of a shooter, though his vision, skating, aggression, and decisiveness are his biggest strengths.
For a Flyers team that has been dire on the power play for years on end, the second-best power play quarterback in the draft in Villeneuve could be there for the taking thanks to size detractors.
Of course, those same size detractors didn't stop Lane Hutson or his younger brother, Cole Hutson, from also attending Boston University and becoming some of the most exciting young defense prospects in all of hockey.
Lane, of course, is already a Norris Trophy candidate, and he'll only continue to get better.
Gostisbehere, too, is still a productive 50-point player and power play for the Carolina Hurricanes, even at the age of 33.
The Flyers' former third-round pick scored a career-high 33 power play points with Philadelphia way back in 2017-18, and neither side has been able to fully replicate that success since.
That was also the last time the Flyers can say they've had a legitimate power play guy on defense.
Fortunately, they are doing their due diligence with Villeneuve, who has enough variance in his draft stock to reasonably be available for the Flyers to draft with the 21st overall pick later this month.
It helps, too, that Villeneuve is represented by Quartexx Management, who also represent Flyers prospects Porter Martone and Oliver Bonk, as well as recent former Flyers Nick Deslauriers, Morgan Frost, Elliot Desnoyers, and Victor Mete.
Villeneuve was also teammates with Flyers prospects Jack Nesbitt and Matthew Gard on Canada's 2025 U18 World Juniors team.
The Flyers have no shortage of connections to Villeneuve, nor a shortage of reasons to draft him, and all that's left is to make it happen in a few weeks.
Dylan Larkin submitted a trade request to the Detroit Red Wings has taken the NHL by storm over the last few days. Insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Sharks as an interesting potential destination for the 29-year-old center on his latest 32 Thoughts Podcast.
"San Jose, it's got to be so tempting to look at [Macklin] Celebrini and say, 'wow, I'd love to play with that guy for a few years,'" Friedman said on Friday's episode of his podcast while discussing whether or not Larkin may want to make a move to a team still in the rebuilding stage.
Friedman then added, "Is [Larkin] really going to want to leave a team that's been on the precipice of the playoffs for the last couple of years and haven't made it in, for teams that are a little farther away. San Jose is the one team I wonder if they would look at differently."
Friedman mentioned the Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Minnesota Wild as more likely options for Larkin.
Larkin finished the 2025-26 season with 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games. He was the Red Wings' second-best goal scorer trailing just Alex DeBrincat's 41 goals and had the third most points on the team while serving as their captain.
While Larkin would certainly be an intriguing addition for the Sharks to improve their team for the short-term future, there are some legitimate concerns regarding how it would effect them in the long-term.
Macklin Celebrini, Michael Misa, and Will Smith were all drafted as centers, although Smith has spent the majority of his NHL career on the wing to this point. Adding a veteran like Larkin, who would command a top-six role, would either push Misa to the wing or to the third line. If Misa went out to the wing, it could effect his ability to become the Sharks' second line center of the future. At the same time, playing him on the third line would limit his ice time much more than the Sharks would probably like moving forward.
The other issue would then become Alexander Wennberg. The Sharks recently signed him to a three-year contract extension which included a full no-trade clause in the first two seasons of the deal. As a result, if Misa is playing the third-line center role, the Sharks would be paying Wennberg $6 million per season to be their fourth-line center.
Of course, none of this takes into account that the Sharks would have to give up considerable assets to get Larkin in the first place which would be an entirely different conversation.
While adding Larkin would be an interesting concept for the Sharks, it would also add a considerable salary cap hit to their forward group which would leave them less money to address their biggest need, the blue line.
Mike Grier would be wise to inquire about Larkin's services, as any general manager in the NHL should at this stage. With that being said, it's a difficult move to see making sense for the Sharks in the long run.
Shea Theodore scored at 5:38 of the second overtime, avoiding what could have been a potentially devastating loss for the Golden Knights after they blew a four-goal lead, and Vegas beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 on Saturday night for a 2-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
Theodore’s goal, which went off goalie Brandon Bussi’s skate, came long after teammate Mitch Marner had the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history.
The teams take two days off before meeting in Game 4 on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Teams that take a 2-1 series lead in the final went on to win the Cup 46 of 57 times, or 80.7%.
Carolina had been 6-0 in overtime this postseason. The Hurricanes were trying to become the first team to win after trailing by at least four goals in the third period, but now clubs in that situation are 0-109.
“We just left our foot off the gas,” Theodore said on the ABC broadcast. “I think we have to be sharper in the third, but I liked the resiliency out of our group. I liked the way we started that second overtime, and I felt like we were more on our toes.”
This was the 10th time the first three games of a Cup Final were decided by a point. The last time occurred in 2016 series between Pittsburgh and San Jose.
The Golden Knights seemed to have the game in hand after scoring four times in the second, including a natural hat trick by Marner.
But Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal scored goals for the Hurricanes to turn what appeared to be a party atmosphere into a white-knuckler for the Golden Knights. Their goals, occurring 39 seconds apart, are the fastest in a Cup Final game.
Andrei Svechnikov jammed in a puck on a six-on-four power play with 1:42 left to force overtime.
Marner’s scoring outburst came over a 6:10 stretch of the second period, and he had four points in the period. He had the secondary assist on Tomas Hertl’s goal midway through the period.
The last time a player had four points in a period of the Cup final occurred in 1919 when Frank Foyston of the Seattle Metropolitans pulled off that feat.
Marner nearly added to the total in the third period, but failed to capitalize on a breakaway and a penalty shot. Those missed chances came back to bite the Golden Knights.
The Hurricanes made the comeback after changing goalies to open the third, going with Bussi, who stood tall in making 18 saves. Frederik Andersen had given up those four goals on 16 shots.
Carolina also rallied without forward and former Golden Knight William Carrier, who had an upper-body injury in the second period.
Vegas’ Carter Hart stopped 29 shots.
Vegas twice thought it took the lead early in the second period, but the Hurricanes successfully challenged both goals to keep the game scoreless.
Mark Stone’s goal from the slot 36 seconds into the period was overturned when Brett Howden was determined to be offside after a video review. Another review wiped off Jack Eichel’s rebound goal four minutes in when Rasmus Andersson was called for goalie interference.
It’s not the first time this series went against the Golden Knights.
An unsuccessful video challenge by Vegas coach John Tortorella in Game 2 on Thursday night led to a power-play goal by Jordan Staal, whose goal helped the Hurricanes rally to win 4-3 in overtime.
The Golden Knights received a major boost when defenseman Brayden McNabb took the ice. He took a puck in the face in the first period Thursday night at Carolina and didn’t return to the game. McNabb, who had on a cage to protect his face, is Vegas’ best defensive defenseman. He was on the first defensive pair with Theodore.
“I wish I could say it’s shocking, but it’s not,” Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said on the ABC broadcast. “Just the way he comes to the rink every day, it’s like nothing happened. He’s one of a kind. They don’t make them like that anymore, that’s for sure.”
This series has been, if anything, unpredictable.
Each team blew two-goal leads in the first two games, with the Golden Knights rallying in the opener and Hurricanes responding with a Game 2 victory in overtime.
One of the few Ottawa Senators up for an NHL award this season was Jake Sanderson. He was named as one of the finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, so we knew he would finish no worse than third in voting for the award.
On Friday, wait for it, the NHL announced Sanderson finished third.
The winner was Montreal's Cole Caufield, while the runner-up was Anze Kopitar. Kopitar, who retired at the end of the Los Angeles Kings' season, was the sentimental favourite as a result.
The trophy goes to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.
Sanderson was one of the top defensemen in the league this season, putting up 54 points in 67 games, finishing 10th in Norris Trophy voting, and helping Team USA win an Olympic gold medal in Milan back in February.
The Whitefish, Montana native plays a clean game with speed and skill, posting just eight penalty minutes all season. In four NHL seasons (303 games), Sanderson has amassed a total of 55 penalty minutes
Sanderson wasn't exactly rewarded for his sportsmanship this season.
In early March, he missed nearly a month after absorbing a heavy hit from Seattle's Brandon Montour that resulted in a shoulder injury. Then, just eight games after returning, Sanderson's season came to an abrupt end when Carolina's Taylor Hall caught him with a high shoulder in Game 3 of Ottawa's first-round playoff series.
The hit left Sanderson with a concussion, forcing him to miss the remainder of the series as the Senators were swept in four games. Four days later, he was still unable to participate in the team's season-ending media availability.
Fortunately for Ottawa, there are no immediate contract concerns on the horizon. While speculation continues to swirl around the future of other players, Sanderson remains under contract for six more seasons at a cap hit of $8.05 million per year, a deal that already looks like one of the NHL's best bargains.
At just 23, Sanderson has established himself as one of the league's elite young defencemen. If his game continues to improve, and no one in Ottawa thinks it won't, then finishing third in Lady Byng voting will likely be one of the smaller accomplishments in a very long list of NHL honours.
