His strong run of form should continue against the Detroit Tigers, who rank 21st in both OPS and OBP vs. right-handed pitching.
The Texas Rangers have a better matchup against Framber Valdez. Although he has pitched better of late, this is a spot where we could see a hiccup.
The Rangers lead the majors in batting average and sit second in wOBA against lefties since June 1. They should provide Eovaldi with enough support to get a win.
Eovaldi has started six games over the last two months against teams striking out at a Top-10 clip. He's averaged well over six innings while posting a 2.56 ERA.
Playing in a pitcher’s park against a strikeout-heavy team missing one of its most productive bats against righties (Gleyber Torres), he should fare well.
Valdez owns a 3.23 ERA over the past month and has opponents hammering balls in the dirt, sporting a ridiculously high 63.5 GB% along the way.
Runs should be hard to come by, making the Under an appealing play up to -110.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 46-37, -1.35 units
Over/Under bets: 45-34-4, +6.79 units
Tigers vs Rangers weather
Tigers vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Tigers +100 | Rangers -120
Run line: Tigers +1.5 (-210) | Rangers -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-120) | Under 7 (+100)
Tigers vs Rangers trend
The Rangers have cashed the Under in 24 of the last 40 home games for +8.95 units and a 21% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Rangers.
How to watch Tigers vs Rangers and game info
Location
Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Date
Thursday, July 2, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
Detroit SportsNet, RSN
Tigers starting pitcher
Framber Valdez (4-5, 4.05 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcher
Nathan Eovaldi (8-7, 3.95 ERA)
Tigers vs Rangers 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.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 08: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 08, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The trade means that George will have suited up for five teams, with three massive trades centered around the three-level scorer. Now that the Celtics deal is in the rearview mirror, we can look back at these staggering deals to see everything that has been given up for PG-13 over the years.
George was traded from the Pacers to the Thunder in 2017 for Victor Oladipo, who seemed destined to become a star — and Domantas Sabonis, who Oklahoma City took with the No. 11 pick the year prior. This was the smallest haul for George, but represented two young talents that were supposed to be cornerstones of the Pacers for years to come.
Next up was the mammoth trade to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019, when the Clips were trying to build a big-two contender with Kawhi Leonard and George as the centerpieces. The NBA-shaping deal sent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, FIVE first-round picks, and two pick swaps from L.A. to OKC.
George declined his player option with the Clippers in 2024, and signed a max-deal with the Sixers.
That brings us to Wednesday, when the 76ers traded George to the Celtics for Jaylen Brown, as well as a 2028 1st round pick/swap (whichever is more favorable), and two second-round picks. Brace yourselves for everything that Paul George has become over the years, because it’s WILD.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jaylen Brown
Jalen Williams (2022 draft pick)
Cason Wallace (2021 draft pick)
Domantas Sabonis
Nikola Topić (2024 draft pick)
Tre Mann (2021 draft pick)
Thomas Sorber (2025 draft pick swap)
Aday Mara (2026 draft pick swap)
Victor Oladipo
Danilo Gallinari
Oh, and OKC still has one more 1st-rounder coming in 2027. So, you could either have Paul George, or literally everything needed to build an NBA franchise.
Apr 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane (88) skates against the New York Rangers during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Danny Wild-Imagn Images
NHL free agency spilled into Thursday with some high-profile players still on the open market, including a three-time Stanley Cup champion.
Patrick Kane is still available after spending the past three years with Detroit. Kane is 37 now and a decade from winning the Hart Trophy as MVP when he led the league in scoring but takes playoff MVP experience and three Cup rings wherever he goes. Also unsigned are wingers Vladimir Tarasenko, who has won twice, and Anthony Mantha, who is coming off a career year, and forward Claude Giroux, who is still chasing a championship at 38.
The first 11-plus hours of free agency featured more than 55 players changing places across the league with more than $360 million worth of contracts. And that’s not even counting Bowen Byram becoming the highest-paid defenseman at an average salary of $12.5 million beginning in 2027 under his new deal with Chicago after he was acquired in a trade with Buffalo.
Byram’s time with that distinction may be short if Colorado gets a new contract done with two-time Norris Trophy-winner Cale Makar, which also would into effect in 2027-28.
The salary cap getting another record increase to $104 million led to some big-money deals but also reduced the depth of available talent because teams had room to re-sign their top players. New Jersey extended captain Nico Hischier, Florida re-signed center Eetu Luostarinen and Philadelphia rewarded goaltender Dan Vladar with a long-term contract.
New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche was expecting a break after a busy stretch with the draft and free agency happening less than a week apart. And yet, he’s also keeping an eye out.
“We’ll have probably over $40 million of cap space next summer,” Darche said. “I’m still going to be working the rest of the summer, especially the next couple weeks. A lot of GMs, I won’t lie to you, they go on vacation and it goes pretty silent on the GM chat. But if I have opportunities to improve the team, I will. Every single day, it’s a relentless pursuit of trying to get better.”
Hischier’s Devils made a splash late Wednesday by tendering an offer sheet for Utah center Barrett Hayton for $4.775 million. The Mammoth, who acquired Vincent Trocheck in a trade with the Rangers, have a week to match or would receive a second-round pick as compensation.
The threat of an offer sheet remains for Dallas winger Jason Robertson, who turned down a trade to Seattle last week and needs a new contract. The Stars signed forward Joel Kiviranta to a one-year contract after he had nine points in 51 games for Colorado last season.
Reigning Norris winner Zach Werenski won’t be going to the Stars and reaffirmed with two years left on his deal that he’s happy to be in Columbus after trade rumors settled quickly.
On Thursday, one day after being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, the former Boston Celtics superstar took to social media with an official goodbye to the city he has called home for the last 10 years.
Read the full statement below:
First and foremost, thank you to the most high, even in the midst of adversity. I’m here with gratitude
I”m still processing how this all went down. I’m excited and disappointed at the same time. I earned my respect from this city. I never asked for shortcuts or special treatment. I simply showed up every day, put my head down, and accepted every challenge.
The relationships I built here, the battles we fought together, the championship we brought to this city, and the connection I shared with the fans, I’ll carry on with me.
Saying goodbye isn’t easy when you’ve invested your heart into something.
I’m big on respect and actions speak louder than words. To the people of Boston, thank you. To the community I built here I love you, and to the shiftaz we are locked in for life.
As one chapter closes, another begins.
I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to join Philadelphia. Every city has its own identity, its own passion, and its own expectation. I respect that, and I’m looking forward to earning that respect the only way I know how – through the work.
The Celtics selected Brown with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. The 29-year-old developed into an All-NBA talent alongside co-star Jayson Tatum, leading Boston to six Eastern Conference Finals appearances, two NBA Finals berths, and one championship. He was named MVP of the 2024 East Finals vs. the Indiana Pacers and the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
In this year’s playoffs, the Sixers erased a 3-1 series deficit to defeat Brown and the Celtics in the first round. Now, Philly will include Brown in a loaded projected starting lineup that also features Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Dean Wade, and Joel Embiid.
Boston received Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-rounders from Philly in exchange for Brown.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 28: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks controls the ball against Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the second half at the TD Garden on October 28, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I have this thing happening to me. Every day I go to bed, and without fail, I always find myself waking up at around 4:30 to 5 a.m. Funny thing is, the stuff tends to work in waves; sometimes it disappears and stays that way for a month and I sleep uninterrupted nightly, then it might come back for a week, or two, or eight, or whatever. Must be about aging. Whatever.
I woke up earlier today and checked the time exactly at 5:00 am. There was a notification on the phone; it was Russell Richardson in the P&T Slack letting us boys know about the infamous Jaylen Brown trade.
I checked it, was surprised, couldn’t really believe it, but that was it. Turned to the other side of the bed to try and catch some more sleep till the alarm sounded around an hour later, fully knowing my destiny was not to earn a single extra second of unconscious rest. It’s always the same.
With all of our crew sleeping overseas, I tasked myself with covering the trade in the early morning here in Spain after reading a bunch about it to get the full picture of it. You can read about in my earlier post linked above. And if you read that little story, you know I cut it short of where I wanted it to go because I have to admit I was going to go overboard. Hence, this new (Part II?) post.
With the near-factual feeling across the NBA world regarding how unexpected and ridiculous and hilarious and nonsensical (so much so Brad Stevens extinguished his Instagram account) Boston’s decision to flip Brown — coming off his best NBA season — for a 36-year-old human and four dubious draft picks, it just hit me that while this was ludicrous, the truth is that we’ve been watching similar stuff unfold in front of our eyes for a full week and change.
So consider this post your “how does Brown’s deal affect the Knicks?” silly breakdown, only expanded to the full Eastern Conference and linked to the beaten-to-death concept of parity.
There have been 8 different NBA Champions in the past 8 years 🏆
🔸2026- New York Knicks 🔸2025- Oklahoma City Thunder 🔸2024- Boston Celtics 🔸2023- Denver Nuggets 🔸2022- Golden State Warriors 🔸2021- Milwaukee Bucks 🔸2020- Los Angeles Lakers 🔸2019- Toronto Raptors pic.twitter.com/TSyAwuuo54
Too much has been written and said about the new NBA Parity Era. And hey, it might be true, because there have been eight different champions in eight consecutive years — including your reigning, defending, undisputed NBA Champions of the World, the New York Knicks. But also, hey, it might be just the damn whole lot of roster-building randomness the NBA is dealing with these days, isn’t it?
After nine days of offseason transactions, from the draft to the first two days of free agency, the Knicks are the only team that can claim to have something no other team in the Eastern Conference can confidently say: ridiculous continuity. Yes, New York has lost Mitchell Robinson (RIP) and has a bench featuring a whole lot of guards, one unproven forward, and… no centers at all. As I type this, pending further moves, it’s a reason for concern.
But the East, simply put, is utterly unrecognizable these days. You don’t need to come out of a ten-, five-, or two-year-long coma to spot the differences. Just a little week-long trip to a hospital without Wi-Fi could have your head spinning as you read this.
Miami landed Giannis Antetokounmpo but lost Norman Powell and a bunch of rotation players.
The Hornets followed by sending their two best players away in LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges to the Western Conference, taking a step back and looking forward to a brighter future.
Philadelphia answered the Heat’s blockbuster by acquiring Brown in the most shocking trade since Luka Doncic went to LA.
Toronto brought Kawhi Leonard back, but sent two starters in Brandon Ingram and Grady Dick the other way.
The Pistons have lost J Cole and could whiff on bringing Jalen Duren back, although even if they do, they are just going nowhere, so don’t worry.
Indiana flew under the radar and was awful last season, but they will have Tyrese Haliburton back and nearly all of the roster that graced the 2025 NBA Finals.
Cleveland is perhaps the closest to the Knicks in terms of staying the same, only they might have the biggest FA signing of the year coming their way in LeBron James.
Atlanta, Orlando, and Chicago mostly stood pat but they don’t scare anybody.
You already know Washington is my dark horse for ECF, but all they did was luck into the No. 1 pick.
Miami still needs to build half of its roster with pocket money. Philadelphia has one of the highest ceilings in the conference, but Joel Embiid’s health won’t hold, and we’ll see how the Maxey-Edgecome-Brown trifecta meshes. Toronto looks better defensively, but again, the chem might not be there for them to contend. Boston will be kinda good anyway, but they will lack the ultimate punch come killing time. The 2025 Pacers were a mirage. Cleveland is Cleveland. And the Pistons are the biggest lie in recent history.
The Knicks enter the season knowing exactly who they are. That doesn’t guarantee another trip to the Finals, but it’s a much better place to be than trying to build chemistry around another blockbuster trade coming off a championship.
But again, when it comes to parity, and while the reigning champs are the one team keeping the core together and running it back for the most part, it’s just impossible to bet on them against the field for the 2027 NBA title, given how much the league has changed in a matter of days. How can you expect any consistency when one whole damn conference has changed entirely, and the other one has done the same, as this business is a zero-sum game?
If you don’t recognize the LA Lakers roster above, you’re not alone. It’s the same story out West. Los Angeles parlayed LeBron’s departure into literally $450 million, all of them spent in a 15-minute flurry of moves.
The Timberwolves are putting all their money in a fun LaMelo-Ant backcourt that might equally win games or force Minny’s fans out of the arena out of frustration.
The Blazers don’t have money for their coach or their G League team, but they just traded for Ja Morant.
Shouts out to the Thunder and the Spurs — even though they’ve made a few moves — for nearly keeping their squads together, barring blatant dumpings and hiring a rapper.
So with all of the above written, how does the NBA or any fan out there expect anything else than “parity” or, better said, just plain dumb randomness? Who can really predict the outcome of a system whose variables change massively from one iteration to the next?
And again, even if the same suspects and longest-running teams will always at least be considered to be in the picture once again—your Knicks, Spurs, Thunder—there is nothing you can really do if you’re dealing with 15 different, new teams every year. As Knicks fans, we know it from the inside. New York slowly started to put together a team to beat the Celtics (which they did a year ago), but ultimately didn’t even meet Boston on their way to the title, and now the C’s look nothing like they did in 2024.
The Wolves appeared to be locked into building a tank to stop the Nikola Jokic Nuggets (which they achieved), only now they have flipped their roster entirely, while Denver remains nearly the same. Get back in time, and you’d find the Rockets attempting to build the anti-KD-GSW machine, only for Durant to bolt out after the 2019 title. The Big 3 Celtics (for the young lads, the ones featuring Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen) were built for countering LeBron James before he even moved out of Cleveland to form his own Voltron in Miami.
Who’s to say how the Eastern Conference picture will look come April? If you ask me this very minute (I have scheduled this story to publish five hours from now, who knows how the picture will look by that time…), this might be it compared to how things were by June 15 (not a per-se standings table, just a perception).
Jun. 15 EC Ranks
July 2 EC Ranks
1. Knicks
1. Knicks (-)
2. Celtics
2. Raptors (+4)
3. Cavaliers
3. Heat (+6)
4. Pistons
4. Celtics (-2)
5. Sixers
5. Sixers (-)
6. Raptors
6. Pacers (+5)
7. Hornets
7. Pistons (-3)
8. Hawks
8. Cavaliers (-5)
9. Magic
9. Wizards (+6)
10. Heat
10. Hawks (-2)
11. Pacers
11. Magic (-2)
Long story short, you can plan and make moves for the present, but as is the case with our brains and attention spans, rosters are so much in flux and long-term planning is shrinking into a yearly affair that it just doesn’t make any sense to think more than two springs ahead. You can keep your team together (good), but you can plan for chaos elsewhere. And even if you get better or worse, there are still a thousand pieces moving around and out of your control that can swing your position up or down in the table at a moment’s notice.
These days, the League looks like a snow globe in the hands of a wicked two-year-old with erratic hand-shaking tendencies.
Parity, randomness… who cares? It will all have changed again before you close this page.
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 23: Jack Natili #69 bats during the 2026 Draft Combine at Chase Field on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
2026 MLB Draft Preview: Jack Natili scouting report.
The 2026 is less than two weeks 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 Cincinnati catcher Jack Natili.
Jack Natili is a 6’3”, 198 lb. righthanded hitting catcher for the University of Cincinnati. Natili went undrafted int 2023 out of high school in Pennsylvania, and played for Rutgers as a freshman before transferring to Cincinnati, where he’s played the past two seasons. A junior, Natili turned 21 in March.
Offensively, Natili is a power-over-hit guy. He has a swing that is geared towards getting the ball in the air, helping him make the most of his plus power. However, his swing is described as getting long, and he can have problems catching up with fastballs. He is described as making good swing decisions, so his issues are less about chasing pitches out of the zone and more about making contact often enough with pitches in the zone.
Defensively, Natili has a plus arm which is perhaps his biggest asset behind the plate. He’s described as having made strides in his work behind the plate, though he’s not considered a particularly strong blocker or receiver of pitches. Nonetheless, he is expected to be able to stick behind the plate. As is the case with most catchers, he has below-average speed.
Natili hit .230/.386/.367 in 183 plate appearances for Rutgers as a freshman, striking out 32 times and walking 12 with 5 homers. As a sophomore for Cincinnati, Natili slashed .338/.451/.556 in 244 plate appearances, striking out 53 times and walking 30 times with 9 homers. He took a big step forward power-wise this year, hitting 19 homers in 276 plate appearances while slashing .339/.424/.674, with 29 walks against 56 Ks.
Catchers are always in demand. Power is always in demand. Thus, catchers with power are always going to be attractive to teams.
Natili is seen as someone who is always going to have a lot of swing and miss in his game, with the question offensively being if he can handle velocity well enough for him to utilize his power, rather than just being blown away by professional pitchers at the upper levels. The possibility is strong enough for him to likely go somewhere in the second through fourth rounds.
Jan 18, 2024; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Dillon Dube (29) against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Sergei Belski/Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
ST. LOUIS — Dillon Dube signed a free agent contract with the St. Louis Blues, making him the second of five players acquitted in the Canada 2018 world junior sexual assault case to get an NHL deal since the trial ended just under a year ago.
Dube was signed for $850,000 for next season on a one-way contract, which means he gets paid that salary whether he’s in the NHL or the American Hockey League. He played 58 games this past year for the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds after agreeing to a professional tryout in December with St. Louis’ top minor league affiliate.
“We’ve gotten to know him a lot better through that time frame,” said general manager Alexander Steen, who added the organization was well aware of the situation and spoke to coaches and teammates about how Dube was in Springfield.
“He wants to be a positive influence. He’s had a positive influence on (that team) or a positive impact,” he added. “He approaches it with a sincerity and humility. Since I got here in St. Louis, the organization has always been a second-chance organization and this is Dillon’s opportunity and we feel confident in giving it to him — to fight for a spot on our team next year.”
The 5-foot-11 winger who turns 28 on July 20 follows goaltender Carter Hart back into the league. Hart signed with Vegas in October and backstopped the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to Carolina in six games.
The NHL in September reinstated Hart, Dube, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton, allowing them to play beginning Dec. 1. That came after a judge in London, Ontario, found them not guilty of sexual assault and McLeod additionally of a separate count of being a party to the offense.
McLeod in October signed a three-year contract to remain in the Russia-based KHL. Foote signed an AHL deal with the Chicago Wolves and played for them this past season. Formenton played in Switzerland.
As NHL free agency continues to unfold, three former members of the Calgary Flames have found new opportunities heading into the 2026-27 season.
Veteran winger Victor Olofsson is joining the Vegas Golden Knights after splitting last season between the Colorado Avalanche and the Flames. The 30-year-old appeared in 78 games during the 2025-26 campaign, recording 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points. He now adds experienced scoring depth to a Golden Knights team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
Forward John Beecher is also on the move, signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers. Beecher, 25, suited up for 35 NHL games between the Boston Bruins and Calgary last season, collecting three goals and four assists while providing versatility and size down the middle.
Another fan favourite in Calgary, Justin Kirkland, has also secured a new deal in free agency. The 29-year-old has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000. Kirkland appeared in 20 games with Calgary during the 2025-26 season, contributing one goal and one assist while earning an opportunity to establish himself at the NHL level.
On Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets bolstered their bottom six, signing forward Noah Gregor to a one-year, $850,000 deal.
The former San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers forward brings exactly the kind of energy and checking presence that a depth line needs to be effective night in and night out at the NHL level.
Gregor, originally selected by San Jose in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Draft, has spent the better part of eight seasons carving out a professional career built on forechecking, physicality and an agitating style that opponents consistently find difficult to play against.
Over 330 NHL games, the forward has put up 40 goals and 39 assists for 79 points, numbers that reflect a player whose value extends well beyond the scoresheet. At the AHL level, Gregor was an even more pronounced difference maker, posting 25 goals and 32 assists for 57 points in just 69 games across five seasons.
We have a 1-1 game in Colorado thanks to Noah Gregor 😼
His most recent chapter in Florida may have been what caught Winnipeg's attention most. In 37 games with the Panthers this past season, Gregor filled his checking role to perfection, becoming a noticeable and disruptive presence on a Stanley Cup contending roster.
He agitated opposing teams, won puck battles along the wall and brought an infectious energy that resonated within one of the league's top organizations. That ability to fit seamlessly into a winning culture while excelling in a specific role is a quality Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has consistently sought out when rounding out the bottom of his roster.
For Winnipeg, Gregor slots naturally into a checking line role alongside similarly detailed forwards, giving head coach Scott Arniel another reliable option for penalty killing situations and the kind of grinding, forecheck-heavy shifts that can swing momentum in a close game.
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With equipment strewn across the ice and streamers cascading from above, Jesper Boqvist found himself at the center of the celebration inside Amerant Bank Arena as fans roared and he and his Florida Panthers teammates reveled in their Stanley Cup championship on June 17, 2025.
Yet amid the celebration, one person was foremost in Boqvist’s mind: his son, who happened to turn two months old on that unforgettable day.
“He was there, sleeping through it all,” Boqvist said with a shy smile. “It was special, for sure.”
At 26 years old, Boqvist already achieved what every hockey player sets out to do: to hoist the Stanley Cup.
But the path from the New Jersey Devils' second-round pick to Stanley Cup champion was anything but straightforward. With a stop in the Boston Bruins organization in 2023-24, he faced moments that tested his resolve.
After leaving the Devils organization, Boqvist signed a one-year NHL contract with the Bruins. The young Swede was coming off a season where he scored 10 goals and collected 21 points in 70 games.
After a challenging training camp in Boston, the organization sent him to the American Hockey League (AHL) to start the season with the Providence Bruins.
“It is always hard for anyone who comes in new,” then Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery told the Boston Herald at the time. “You are trying to acclimate, you are trying to understand how we want to play. Almost every player wants to do what you are asking of them. They are trying to assimilate; they are also trying to find their way in a new city. They have got a bunch of new teammates, and they are trying to find their comfort zone everywhere off the ice, and then they are trying to find their comfort zone on the ice.”
Back in 2023, Boqvist told The Hockey News that he was going through a learning period and that the system in Boston was very different from what he had experienced in New Jersey.
In Providence, he played under head coach Ryan Mougenel, who recognized that confidence was the catalyst for the forward's success.
As Boqvist settled in, his game took off.
“He wasn't nearly as good of a player at the beginning of the year as he was at the end of the year,” Mougenel said in a phone interview. “He was a totally different player, and I think the only thing that can be attributed to that is confidence.”
The versatile forward appeared in 31 AHL games and, while there, made the most of his time, even offering guidance to the young Swedes in Providence.
“The quality of person is off the chart,” Mougenel continued. “He came down here, and he didn't sulk. He worked and enjoyed it.”
When Montgomery eventually called Mougenel in need of a call-up, Boqvist was part of one of the AHL’s top lines. Serving as a driver, he made his linemates better.
“It was one of those times as a coach where the second (Boqvist) went up; it was 100 percent the right call,” Mougenel said.
“I think for a player like him, (whose game depends on his) confidence, I think he needed the American League level to get that back, but it was pretty evident in his last 10 games that we had him that he didn't belong in the American League,” he continued.
After his season with the Bruins, Boqvist signed with Florida as a free agent, where he carved out a meaningful role and ultimately became a Stanley Cup champion.
“It has been a wild ride,” Boqvist told The Hockey News back in March. “Leaving New Jersey and going to Boston for a year, I learned a lot from my experience there. The locker room and the people there. Then coming to Florida, obviously the reigning champs and the expectations that come with that. Learning from all these guys and seeing what they do day to day.
“Along the way, I have taken some steps too, and I felt like when I had a chance, I contributed last year, too,” he continued.
On June 30, the Devils reacquired Boqvist along with Evan Rodrigues and Ben Steeves, in exchange for forward Angus Crookshank and goaltender Jacob Markström.
Boqvist returns to New Jersey as a father and Stanley Cup champion. He feels his overall game has improved: he's become a more reliable two-way center who can be used on the penalty kill and can add a bit more physicality than he showed in his first stint with the Devils.
Reunited with his Nico Hischier, Jonas Siegenthaler and Jesper Bratt, among others, the addition of Boqvist provides New Jersey much-needed depth and another weapon in their bottom six.
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
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FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 7: Miguel Bleis #44 of the Boston Red Sox bats during a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 7, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Wednesday against the Mets, Brayan Bello had a start. It was… a start. It was fine. He allowed three runs, went five innings, throwing 50 strikes on 81 pitches, struck out six and didn’t walk anyone. The pitching staff as a whole hurled fourteen strikeouts and, aside from Noah Song, were all huge in high-leverage situations. Allan Castro again played hero, hitting what would become the game-winning RBI single last night. This is the second consecutive game that the outfielder was instrumental in a win.
I mean… at what point is it enough of a sample size to admit that Franklin Arias can hit this level of pitching and that it’s time to evaluate his bat at the next level? Yesterday against Altoona (Pirates AA) he hit a home run for the second consecutive game, the third such time he’s had a home run streak, as he’s now at 17 homers on the season. He’s slashing .329/.414/.606. I mean, come on now.
Brooks Brannon’s bat woke up with a bases-clearing double. The team surpassed a slumping Hayden Mullins getting hit to death and managed to win having had just five knocks on the night.
Luke Heyman led the charge with his seventh home run of the season, but there was simply too much Winston-Salem (White Sox High-A) offense to overcome. Jojo Ingrassia couldn’t go any longer in this game but pitched solidly enough overall for five innings. The bullpen, though, let a ton up, unable to hold the 4-2 lead they had after six innings, and this game just wasn’t winnable after an 8-run 8th inning for the Dash.
Feels like a Red Sox game, doesn’t it? The pitching staff allowing just two hits to the Green Jackets (Braves A). Avinson Pinto matched that total himself, but all four Salem hits were singles, and the RidgeYaks couldn’t advance any runners and also couldn’t draw any walks. Tough to win a baseball game in that capacity no matter how good the pitching is.
The Chicago White Sox have won six of the last nine and are priced at -110 to come out on top in tonight's series opener.
My White Sox vs. Guardians predictions and MLB picks suggest the road team should be favored against a Cleveland team missing its best player.
Who will win White Sox vs Guardians today: White Sox moneyline (-110)
Slade Cecconi has allowed six runs over his last five starts and managed a 1.88 ERA, despite a 3.97 xFIP and 4.02 FIP.
Opponents hit an unsustainably low .229 on balls put in play over the past month. Even more unsustainable is that he has stranded 93.3% of baserunners, which is miles above his 71% career average.
The Chicago White Sox rank ninth in ISO and 12th in wOBA vs. righties since June 1, making them a strong candidate to bring Cecconi back to earth.
White Sox vs Guardians Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-110)
This total is half a run too high. Cecconi has not pitched as well as his numbers suggest, but it’s not as if he should be getting shelled. He simply deserves middling results rather than high-end. In a pitcher’s park, I don’t think he’ll get blown up entirely.
The Cleveland Guardians are missing a couple of key bats, and it shows. They rank 24th in wOBA and 29th in ISO against righties at home since June 1.
Davis Martin has allowed only five runs through six starts against Bottom-10 teams in OPS vs. right-handed pitching. Bet the Under to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 46-37, -1.35 units
Over/Under bets: 45-34-4, +6.79 units
White Sox vs Guardians weather
White Sox vs Guardians odds
Moneyline: White Sox -110 | Guardians -110
Run line: White Sox -1.5 (+150) | Guardians +1.5 (-175)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)
White Sox vs Guardians trend
The White Sox have cashed the moneyline in 26 of their last 45 games (+9.4 units, 19% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Guardians.
How to watch White Sox vs Guardians and game info
Location
Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Date
Thursday, July 2, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, Guardians.TV
White Sox starting pitcher
Davis Martin (9-3, 3.00 ERA)
Guardians starting pitcher
Slade Cecconi (4-6, 4.19 ERA)
White Sox vs Guardians latest injuries
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Up front, the club reunited with centre Ben Jones, who returns to the organization after spending the past two seasons in the Minnesota Wild system. Jones signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level.
The Flames also re-signed forward WilliamStromgren to a one-year, two-way contract. The Swedish winger made his NHL debut with Calgary last season, appearing in three games, while enjoying a productive year with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers. Stromgren finished fourth on the team in scoring with 47 points (11 goals, 36 assists) in 66 games.
On the blue line, Calgary added three defencemen. Jake Livingstone agreed to a one-year, two-way deal after posting 17 points in 52 AHL games with the Charlotte Checkers last season.
Fellow right-shot defender Mike Benning also signed a one-year, two-way contract following a campaign that included his first 18 NHL games with the Florida Panthers, where he recorded six points.
The Flames also brought in veteran Andreas Englund on a one-year, two-way contract. The 30-year-old has appeared in 200 NHL games across five organizations and adds size, experience, and organizational depth to Calgary’s defensive group.
AJ Greer’s signing rights were acquired by the Anaheim Ducks from the Florida Panthers on June 29 in exchange for the signing rights to now-former captain Radko Gudas.
Both players have now been signed by the teams that acquired them. On Tuesday, reports surfaced of Greer’s contract signing, which has a four-year term and a $4.25 million AAV, along with a 10-team no-trade clause throughout the duration. On Wednesday, it was made official by the Ducks.
Greer (29) is coming off a career year with the Florida Panthers, where he reached a career high in goals (17), assists (15), and points (32) in 78 games, while playing the most consistent minutes in his career (12:26 TOI/G).
Prior to the 2025-26 season, Greer had mustered just 49 points (19-30=49) in 248 career games.
“I just really put my head down and gave it everything I had,” Greer said of the opportunity he earned and the production he displayed in 2025-26. “I know that I can do that again. I don’t think it’s a one-off. Personally, I know what’s in the tank, and I’m a competitor. I’m only going to get better, I believe. So, I’m really looking forward to this opportunity.”
Greer had an up-and-down journey to get to this point in his career, where he was able to parlay a 32-point season into a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract.
He was drafted in the second round (39th overall in 2015) by the Colorado Avalanche out of Boston University of the NCAA. After a year and a half of subpar production, he left BU for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL, where he saw more offensive success.
From 2016 to 2022, Greer played mostly in the AHL, with occasional NHL stints with the Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils franchises. Between 2022 and 2025, he played in an exclusive fourth-line role for the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, and Florida Panthers, winning a Stanley Cup with Florida in 2024-25.
The Panthers suffered several injuries to key players in 2025-26, following back-to-back Stanley Cup wins and three consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final. Those injuries paved the way to top-nine minutes for Greer, who saw a skyrocket in production and shooting percentage (16.4%), playing more reliable nightly minutes and with more talented linemates.
On the ice, Greer isn’t likely to dazzle with puck skills or impeccable vision. Instead, he’s more of a traditional grinder with remarkable skating, especially given his 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame.
His on-ice strengths include a relentless motor, plus defensive habits, and consistent forechecking tendencies. He singlehandedly forces turnovers from opposing retrieving defensemen and funnels those pucks to the high danger area of the ice.
In the offensive zone, he shields pucks well and keeps his feet moving in order to keep pucks moving. Off-puck, he is constantly fighting for positioning and battles his way to soft ice, rendering himself difficult to play against. His release isn’t lightning quick, but his heavy shot can beat NHL goaltenders from distance if he’s given enough ice.
In transition, he’s never going to be a puck transporter, but he makes smart, effective puck plays to advance through neutral ice and gain bluelines. Defensively, he backchecks through proper lanes, putting back pressure on opposing rush attacks. He gets to his spots for breakouts and is as disruptive as he can be against the cycle, eliminating lanes and options.
In theory, Greer will get a lot of puck touches with his new club, in his new system, with his new teammates, and under his new coach. He offers elements of in-zone offense, disruptive defense, and forechecking that the Ducks desperately needed in 2025-26 and their ensuing playoff run.
Though Greer hasn’t accumulated much time on the penalty kill in his NHL career, if he can add that element to his repertoire, his value will only increase for Anaheim and make them better on special teams, an area of weakness for the better part of a decade.
Greer’s off-ice mentality and determination bleed onto the ice, and his self-awareness and appreciation of the opportunity given to him will undoubtedly lead to him becoming an instant fan and locker room favorite in Anaheim.
Jonas Vingegaard is coming off a Giro d’Italia victory, but Tadej Pogacar remains favourite and can take his fifth title
Two strings to the Dutch team’s bow: Jasper Philipsen to add to his 10 stage wins and repeat his 2023 points jersey, Mathieu van der Poel to do VDP things: crazy breaks, forceful lead-outs, sniffing out openings. Philipsen has just won the Tour of Belgium; his co-leader hasn’t won since March but was a force in the spring Classics, then after time out from racing, ran Pogacar close in the Tour de Suisse time trial. He also copped a fine for going topless in the leader’s hot seat; not many make headlines merely for sitting down, but that’s charisma for you.
COVERS INTEL:Eovaldi ranks in the 93rd percentile in chase rate, which should serve him well against a Detroit team with the seventh highest strikeout percentage vs. righties.
