DALLAS, TX - APRIL 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a photo with Kyrie Irving #11 and Dereck Lively II #2 during the 2026-26 Rookie of the Year Presentation on April 29, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Last week’s poll question was a simple one: does it matter to you if the next Dallas Mavericks head coach is hired before or after the NBA Draft? The response was rather overwhelming!
A whopping 87% of respondents want a coach hired before the draft. I suppose with the news that the Chicago Bulls are honing in on a head coach (my belief is that it’s Tiago Splitter), we end up looking like the last person at a school dance without a partner.
Marc Stein has reported some candidates Dallas is interested in: Minnesota’s Micah Nori, Houston’s Royal Ivey, Toronto’s Jama Mahlalela, Boston’s Tony Dobbins and former Hawks, Bucks and Blazers head coach Terry Stotts. The two college coaches were apparently not really seen as feasible and never went beyond an overture.
As a person that usually has a million strong opinions, I am not concerned by Dallas not having a coach yet. Cooper Flagg is the hard part and that’s done now. Who they hire next I have confidence in already because this front office has a track record I believe in. So if they hire someone in the next several days, great. If not, we’ll live.
The national polling question asked which NBA event fans were more focused on.
The results track with what I’d expect. Most fans really were locked in on the NBA Finals, and why not, it was a great series. I can’t believe I enjoyed that as much as I did. The other quarter of fans are very focused on the NBA Draft. That’s certainly the case here given the number of draft articles we’ve been pumping out. If you want to see what the odds are for given picks, head on over to our partner FanDuel, where you can see how the bettors think things are going to shake out. The Maverick spot at 9 has me worried; I just can’t help it.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 30: Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals on May 30, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Morgan Givens/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jared McCain’s NBA career has had an odd start. The former Duke star was a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year last season when he had a knee injury in mid-December. He suffered a thumb injury this year, and Philadelphia had a deeper backcourt rotation as well, and he didn’t get that much time. Then, on February 4th, he was traded to Oklahoma City, and by the end of the season, emerged as a deadly weapon for the Thunder.
Maybe next year, we can see what he can do across a full season.
Now that he has some downtime, the Sacramento native and his OKC teammate, Jalen Williams, hit L.A. to take in Friday’s U.S.-Paraguay match in the World Cup. The U.S. rolled, of course, winning 4-1, so maybe they should ask the pair back for their next match as a good-luck charm.
Here are some more links about McCain and how well things have worked out for him in OKC so far.
A year ago was the Summer of Waiting for the Warriors as Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency took over their offseason. The same situation won’t arise one year later.
“Well, for my personal summer vacation plans it’s very important,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy joked one month ago on May 15. “I don’t want to – I hope I don’t have to be dealing with roster construction to the end of September, but that was a unique situation.
“My guess is it probably won’t happen again in that regard. We have some things to figure out, though. Draft and then obviously Draymond [Green] has his player option, and we’ve got some unrestricted free agents that we’d like to get back. So a busy summer, as always, and then hopefully it ends up shorter than last year.”
Golden State’s busy offseason began once all parties could take a deep breath and not have any emotional decisions after losing in the NBA play-in tournament, including Steve Kerr’s ultimate choice of remaining the Warriors head coach. In terms of contracts and getting the ball rolling there, the offseason began Sunday.
Teams can start negotiating with their own free agents the day after the NBA Finals ends. The Warriors have four unrestricted free agents, three restricted free agents and three with player options. That leaves them with just six players currently under contract, and two of them will start the season rehabbing knee injuries.
Steph Curry is eligible for a contract extension on Aug. 29, which he has stated he wants, and Brandin Podziemski is rookie contract extension eligible to avoid restricted free agency next offseason. A rookie contract extension has to be signed by 3 p.m. PT the day before the 2026-27 regular season starts.
Free-agent negotiations with players not on your own teams begins June 30 at 3 p.m. PT ahead of the July 1 free agency moratorium and teams being able to officially sign free agents on July 6 at 9:01 a.m. PT. There’s business to be done before then, however, throughout the final two weeks of June.
The Warriors for the first time in years are going into the offseason under the luxury tax, with the NBA’s projected salary cap for the 2026-27 season being right around $165 million. The Warriors also should have the $15.1 non-taxpayer midlevel exception to use, but it’s unlikely they can use it and still have the flexibility to fill in their roster and stay under the tax. The NTMLE should be a strong asset to use at their disposal.
Shortly after the 2026 NBA Draft, the Warriors will have a much better idea of their roster and expenses. Golden State has three key players who have to decline or exercise their player options by June 29.
Now that the 2025-26 NBA season has concluded and the draft is one week away, here is a look at the Warriors’ offseason outlook.
NBA Draft
First Round:No. 11 Pick
Second Round: No. 54 Pick
Under Contract
Steph Curry: $62.6 million
Jimmy Butler:$56.9 million
Moses Moody: $12.5 million
Brandin Podziemski: $5.7 million
Gui Santos: $4.6 million
Will Richard: $2.2 million
Player Options
Draymond Green:$27.7 million
Al Horford: $6 million
De’Anthony Melton: $3.5 million
Unrestricted Free Agents
Kristaps Porzingis: Bird Rights
Gary Payton II: Bird Rights
Seth Curry: Non-Bird Rights
Charles Bassey: Non-Bird Rights
Restricted Free Agents
Pat Spencer: Bird Rights
Quinten Post: Early Bird Rights
Nate Williams: Non-Bird Rights
“Let’s see where we go when the trade deadline comes around and into the spring,” Dunleavy said regarding the state of the Warriors and his outlook for the 2026-27 season. “I think the last couple of years we can say we’ve added talent in a good way in February.
“Who knows where we’ll be come April, March, May. … But by the end of the year, if you have Steph Curry on your team, Steve Kerr is the coach and Jimmy Butler is back, in a seven-game playoff series, I don’t want to say we can’t beat anybody.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate after Game Six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Carolina Hurricanes won 3-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
The Hockey Guy provides assessments for where teams stand in their competitive windows, and he saves the Devils for last:
“General manager Sunny Mehta should pursue some of the bigger trade targets available this offseason, such as Jordan Kyrou, but there’s the salary cap to worry about, too. As such, there could be some under-the-radar, though potentially riskier, trade candidates that Mehta could pursue over the coming weeks. Let’s look at who those could be and why some of these trade targets offer buy-low, high-reward potential.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“If there’s one commonality between most of the armchair-GM trade proposals, it’s the repeated inclusion of the same Devils’ pieces: the 12th overall pick, Simon Nemec, and Dawson Mercer. A draft pick is what it is, and I’ve certainly laid out the Nemec of it all before, but I feel as though it would be a worthy endeavor to dive into what Mercer actually brings to the table as a player and determine whether or not he deserves to be in these trade conversations. Half of those I’ve spoken to believe him to be a strong, all-situations asset to the team; a player the Devils cannot afford to lose. The other half believes that he is what he is — a 20-goal, 40-point player — and that he’s best used as a trade chip by virtue of his trade value being higher than his on-ice value.” [Devils’ Advocates]
“Twenty years later, the Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions again. Brandon Bussi stopped all 22 shots he faced, and the Hurricanes set off a Stanley Cup celebration with a heavy presence of their fans who made the trip here, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.” [NHL.com]
Jordan Staal is awarded the Conn Smythe:
#SoundTheSiren captain Jordan Staal is the 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy winner for MVP of the #StanleyCup playoffs, as voted by @ThePHWA.
Staal had a Stanley Cup Final for the ages, becoming the first player to score in each of the first five games in 70 years.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 31, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Vitals
Player: Evgeni Malkin Born: July 31, 1986 (Age 39 season) Height: 6’ 5” Weight: 213 pounds Hometown: Magnitogorsk, Russia Shoots: Left Draft: 2004 first round (2nd overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins 2025-26 Statistics: 56 games played, 19 goals, 42 assists = 61 points ; 6 games played, 2 goals, 1 assist in playoffs. Contract Status: Malkin signed a one-year deal on May 26th to return to the Penguins in 2026-27 for his 21st NHL season after completing a four-year contract that wrapped up with the 2025-26 season.
Story of the Season
At 39 years old, Evgeni Malkin entered the 2025-26 season as the fifth oldest player in the NHL, preparing to play in his 20th NHL campaign in what will be a Hall of Fame career. While he may no longer be the player he was at his peak, Malkin proved to everyone that he still has something left to give, posting over a point per game season as he approaches his 40th birthday.
Malkin wasted no time getting his season rolling with a red hot right out of the gate that helped propel the Penguins up the standings and had people raising their eyebrows after preseason predictions had them as basement dwellers rather than playoff contenders.
Through the first month of play in 2025-26, Malkin paced the Penguins in scoring, producing 17 points in the month of October. There was a short period of time where he was leading the league in points courtesy of his hot start. That pace eventually cooled off, but Malkin made it clear he still had gas in the tank and could produce at a high level for the Penguins.
Coming off a 2024-25 season where he played 68 games, injuries (and a bad decision on his part) limited Malkin to just 56 games this past season. In December, the Penguins played 14 games, but Malkin appears in just two of those games, missing the rest due to injury. Malkin’s absence from the lineup coincided with one of the Penguins worst stretch of the season, surely not a coincidence given the level Malkin was playing at before going down.
In total, Malkin missed 15 games between early December and when he returned on January 8th but he wasted no time getting back on the scoresheet, recording a goal in his return to action and racking up 13 points across 12 games played in the month of January.
Of course not all of Malkin’s time out of the lineup was injury related. In an early March game against the Buffalo Sabres, Malkin slashed Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin across the neck and was handed a five game suspension for his actions.
Much like his return from injury in January, Malkin returned to the lineup on March 16th in Denver and did so with a bang against the Avalanche, recording a pair of goals and an assists in a shock 7-2 Penguins victory over the eventual President’s Trophy winners.
In the playoffs, Malkin found the back of the net twice to tie the team lead for goals scored in the Penguins six game loss to the Flyers in the first round.
October and January are the big months here that really stand out for Malkin this season. It should be noted those two months are when his legs were the most fresh, at the beginning of the season and coming off a long injury layoff that saw him miss 15 games. December and February were low volume in terms of games played because of injury and the Olympic break, but Malkin was still clicking at above a point per game pace even in those small sample sizes.
Regular season 5v5 advanced stats
Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 18 forwards on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.
Perhaps not the driver of play that he was at his peak, but Malkin’s scoring rates still remain among the highest on the team at 39 years old. His goal total improved slightly from last year, but it’s dishing the assists where he earned his money this season. Maybe Malkin does need to focus on shooting the puck more in 2026-27 with his GF% being that high and his shooting percentage being in the top half of qualified skaters.
2025-26 proved to be a major bounce back season for Malkin following his career-worst worst performance in 2024-25. The offensive impact this year was back in a major way and WAR rankings shine favorably on his game.
Malkin is always going to live in the Sidney Crosby shadow but has some incredible playmaking chops of his own. At this point he is a much more effective player setting up his teammates than taking the shots himself, and a shift to wing has freed him up to be more involved on the forecheck. Malkin also remained incredibly productive on the power play, leading the team in power play points per 60 minutes played and ending up with 26 PPP in his 56 games.
Malkin was able to increase his amount of shots from mid and high danger zones from last season, despite playing in 12 less games. That might say more about 2024-25 than this current year. Overall, through coaching inputs on zone starts and skill he’s still able to spend lots of time in the offensive end and as little as possible in the defensive part.
Age and a few knee surgeries have put a ceiling on what was once the most explosive skater of his generation back in his heyday. These stats show a real ceiling to how fast Malkin can be these days, right around the 20mph area. He still has the burst to remain worthy of playing in a league that gets a little faster each season, even as he slows, it’s just not quite the same as it once was and missing that high gear.
Evgeni Malkin, are you KIDDING @Joe_Brand1?? Another day, another bank shot. Here's how Geno's goal sounded on our airwaves, presented by S&T Bank. pic.twitter.com/MH4r2XTrMQ
One has to wonder in this coming season will be the last for Evgeni Malkin in his Hall of Fame career. There were whispers last offseason that 2025-26 was going to be the end, at least for his time in Pittsburgh, but an impressive age 39 season left little to doubt that Malkin can still play and it led to a one year deal for 2026-27 and a 21st NHL season where he will be 40 years old.
Malkin was already among the oldest players in the league last season and he could climb even higher this season depending on other retirement decisions from those ahead of him on the list. At some point his NHL career will come to and end, but until that time comes, it’s best to just enjoy having Malkin in a Penguins uniform, the only uniform he should ever wear as an NHL player.
Ideal 2026-27
There were two 40 year old forwards in the NHL in 2025-26, Alexander Ovechkin and Corey Perry. Evgeni Malkin will be 40 when next season begins so they can serve as a good comparable for what to expect from Malkin as he laces up the blades for his 21st NHL season.
Ovechkin posted 32 goals and 32 assists for 64 points while playing all 82 games. Corey Perry recorded 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points in 72 games played.
Malkin nearly equaled Ovechkin last season in total points despite playing 26 less games and he far surpassed Perry’s numbers in less games as well. Whether or not either of those guys play in 2026-27 remains to be seen, but we know Malkin will be in the league for another year.
Gone of the days of Malkin being a 30 goal scorer and even the 20 goal mark may be a stretch for him anymore, but what we do know is he can still distribute the puck to rack up assists. Given that he will likely still be in the Penguins top six and getting top power play time, a repeat of the season we just saw from Malkin, minus some injuries perhaps, will do just fine for the Penguins.
Bottom line
Evgeni Malkin entered 2025-26 with doubts about his future with the Penguins as he was entering the final season of his contract. As the season played out and it became apparent that Malkin still had much to give and his future in Pittsburgh was secured for another season with a well earned one-year contract that will see him play his 21st NHL season with the Penguins in 2026-27.
Injuries did force Malkin from the lineup more than in past seasons, playing his fewest amount of games since the 2021-22 campaign when he played in only 4q contests. Still though, when Malkin was on the ice he showed the talent that has made him a future Hall of Famer, scoring at over a point per game pace for the first time in four seasons.
There was some angst among the Penguins fan base about bringing Malkin back for 2026-27, but this season showed he can still produce and he’s not blocking anyone in the system. It was an easy call to give him a new deal and if he can put together a similar season at 40 years old, then it’s a win all around.
Final Grade
A-.
At 39 years old and in his 20th NHL season, Malkin posted a point per game and played a key role in helping the Penguins get back to the playoffs. His red hot start had the Penguins off and running and put them in good position to survive the rough patches that were to come. He did go down with injury that cost him a large chunk of games in the middle of the campaign, but he returned and produced straight away.
All in all, it’s hard to be too critical of a 39 year old who is still playing and contributing at the level of Evgeni Malkin did in 2025-26. He earned his new contract and here’s to hoping we see this version of Malkin again in the new season.
Feb 16, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (5) drives past Houston Cougars guard Kingston Flemings (4) during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images | Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
The back end of the 2026 NBA Draft is going to be quite the adventure for the league, including the Dallas Mavericks. The conglomerate of players who could go between picks 15 and 45 is truly fascinating. One of the players who seems to firmly fit in that range is Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson.
The basics
Joshua Jefferson (born November 21, 2003) was born and raised in Henderson, NV, just outside of Las Vegas. His father, Ben Jefferson, played football for the University of Maryland. As an offensive lineman, he went undrafted in the 1989 NFL Draft. Jefferson spent a few years bouncing around the NFL before eventually retiring in 1995. Joshua’s two brothers also played college football. Noah Jefferson played at USC and Florida Atlantic, while his other brother Cameron played for UNLV and Arkansas.
Choosing basketball was a good decision for Joshua, as he was the Southern Nevada Boys Athlete of the Year in 2022, as well as the MaxPreps Player of the Year. Jefferson helped lead his Liberty Patriots to their first ever state championship in 2022, defeating powerhouse Bishop Gorman 63-62 in overtime. Jefferson scored the last six points of regulation to force overtime. The win ended Gorman’s run of nine consecutive state championships in class 5A.
Joshua Jefferson’s 2025-26 season by the numbers | CBB Analytics
Jefferson spent a full four-year term in college, starting off at Saint Mary’s. Jefferson was a productive player for the Gaels, including averaging 10 points and nearly seven rebounds per game in 2023-24. However, after a season-ending leg injury, Jefferson decided to hit the transfer portal, where he signed with TJ Otzelberger and the Iowa State Cyclones. Jefferson blossomed as a player in Ames, as he averaged 17 points, over 7.5 boards and nearly five assists per contest. With his eligibility exhausted, Jefferson is off to the NBA draft.
The good
When you talk about unique players, Joshua Jefferson truly has a unique offensive game. There are very few forwards in college basketball who have the blend of scoring and passing skill that Jefferson does.
Jefferson was such an integral part of the Cyclones offensive attack, as without him on the floor, the lack of creation was evident. Tamin Lipsey did a nice job of running the show at point, but the real sauce that made Iowa State go was Jefferson’s ability to be a hub from inside the arc. When he was operating at the nail and attacking downhill, Iowa State was at its best.
The unique trait that teams hope they can maximize is the passing. Jefferson is without a doubt the best passer in this class of forwards. The vision is excellent, and the craftiness and creativity to find the correct windows is exceptional. He can use both his right and left hand to get the ball to teammates on time and on target. In an NBA setting, allowing him to play in the short roll in advantage situations will be elite offense.
i can't imagine joshua jefferson facing up and attacking set defenses in the NBA as often as he does in college and the passing chances won't be this challenging
i want my NBA role players overqualified and that's exactly the kind of offensive talent jefferson boasts pic.twitter.com/fXoca9BafQ
Jefferson does not have the athletic gift of speed or agility, but he is able to get to the rim and finish using a combination of size, feel and footwork. He goes to a little hook shot quite a bit, typically over his left shoulder but he is comfortable taking and making them with both hands. He’s not really ever going to be a “dump it down to him on the block” type, but if given the space to operate, he handles it well enough to get to where he wants to go.
Areas of concern
Jefferson shot it fine from three, as he’s been right around 35% from deep for the better part of three years now. However, he doesn’t always look willing to shoot them. For him to reach his potential in the NBA, having the three as a counter he believes in would go a long way.
Against top-of-the-line teams, Jefferson saw a bit of a drop in both efficiency and effectiveness. Some of that is to be expected, as the better teams figure to guard a bit better, but it was something to note. In fairness to him, teams LOADED up on him in conference play, daring anyone not named Milan Momcilovic to beat them from deep. Still, it’s worth noting.
Jefferson, as expected, tested like an average-to-slightly-below-average type of athlete at his position during the NBA Combine. In fairness to him, he’s coming off a tough ankle sprain he suffered in the NCAA Tournament, so perhaps he even tested worse due to that. Jefferson is not a slob or anything, he’s what I would consider passable as an athlete. He leverages his smarts and technique help him on the defensive end to compliment the size and movement skills he does have. But it isn’t a stretch to say that there will be some matchups that are tough for him to cover.
Fit with the Mavericks
There’d have to be some reshuffling of the forward room to make this fit. Namely, PJ Washington and Naji Marshall, two guys who figure to be featured heavily in trade discussions, would likely need to be moved to allow for a cheaper, cost controlled Jefferson. That said, if the front office is able to accomplish that, I think Joshua Jefferson would be a fantastic fit around Cooper Flagg and whoever they draft to compliment Kyrie Irving in the guard room. His IQ and playstyle would be a great ying to Cooper’s yang. Even if it requires moving on from a vet and moving up from pick 30, the Mavericks should try and pull it off.
NBA comparison
There’s some Collin Murray-Boyles here with Jefferson, which is ironic since Jefferson is the older player here. There’s a bit of extra seasoning to Jefferson’s game, largely seen in the passing and craft. Another good comparison is Kenrich Williams. Kenny Hustle was able to carve a career out for himself coming out of TCU, and Jefferson should be able to do the same, especially if the shot falls for him like it has for Williams at various times throughout his career. I think there’s real room for him to overachieve those if he hits his peak outcome.
“The San Antonio Spurs, alongside Friends of the Carver/IDEA and the David Robinson Fellowship Program, joined Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio on Friday, June 12, for a volunteer build day celebrating Habitat’s 50th anniversary. Nearly 250 volunteers participated in the effort, helping advance Habitat’s mission of creating affordable homeownership opportunities across the community. As part of the celebration, Spurs Sports & Entertainment and Friends of the Carver/IDEA announced a combined $100,000 commitment to Habitat’s 50th anniversary initiative, which aims to build more than 50 homes across San Antonio this year.”
Spurs legend David Robinson spent the morning landscaping, painting and beautifying three homes on San Antonio’s East Side.
“Habitat for Humanity has transformed lives in San Antonio for 50 years, and we’re honored to help celebrate that legacy,” said Patricia Mejia, Chief Impact and Inclusion Officer at SS&E. “Habitat’s commitment reflects our shared belief that strong communities are built through opportunity, partnership and people coming together to make a difference.”
Additionally, the Spurs provided 50 tickets to Game 5 of the NBA Finals to residents of the homes supported through the initiative.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 6: Andrew Painter #24 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on after allowing a solo home run in the top of the third inning to Colson Montgomery #12 of the Chicago White Sox at Citizens Bank Park on June 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The White Sox defeated the Phillies 6-3. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I know this is not baseball, and you’re probably not interested, but it was incredible to see a World Cup match played in Philadelphia last night. I personally was unable to secure tickets, but just seeing the enthusiasm surrounding the match was something awesome to watch.
Compare that to the lethargy displayed by the Phillies yesterday and it’s the definition of two ends of a spectrum.
Jun 14, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles infielder Pete Alonso (25) walks back to the dugout after running the bases in the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! I hope that, despite the poor play of the Orioles, you were able to have a nice weekend. I went to the game on Saturday, and the weather was just great. It was hot in the sun, but for a 4 p.m. game much of the stadium was in shade. That’s about the only good thing I have to say about that game. Well, it was nice to see Pete Alonso hit a home run and have an all-around good day.
Yesterday’s game was another drag. The Orioles had so many chances at the plate but couldn’t capitalize. Trevor Rogers looked good, which is refreshing. It was a shame to see Rico Garcia have another bad outing, but I try to be rational about that one. He was never going to get through the season with a 0.68 ERA. Through his first 24 games, Garcia gave up just two runs. That is not sustainable. He has not allowed runs in three of his last four games. I’m ready for his regression to be over. If you want to read all the ugly details of yesterday’s 9-3 loss, check out Tyler Young’s game recap.
Since their impressive 7-3 homestand, the Orioles have gone 6-7. They won one series, split one, and lost two. It’s been frustrating, but not terrible. Even so, if you feel like you’re ready for a little vacation from the Orioles, this is your week. They are off today and kick off a nine-game West Coast road trip on Tuesday in Seattle. From Seattle, they head to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers and Angels. I don’t have to tell you that this is going to be a very tough trip. They will face two first-place teams, one of which is the best team in baseball. And baseball on the West Coast is always a tough task.
Of the nine games being played, three start at 4 p.m. Eastern time. The rest begin around 10 p.m. This is a good chance to decompress from the team. Or, you can stay up way too late. Then if they lose, you can be mad at both them and yourself as you struggle to get to work the next day. I might be speaking from experience.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! I’m sorry to say that you have no Orioles birthday buddies. Not a single Oriole was ever born on June 15th. There are two Hall of Famers born on this day in history, however. Wade Boggs (68) and Billy Williams (88) are celebrating today, so happy birthday to them.
On this day in 1997, the Orioles completed a sweep of the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta. The game went into extra innings tied at 3-3, when Lenny Webster hit a game-winning two-run homer. The Braves and Orioles came into the series with 42 wins each, tied for the most in baseball. The Orioles left with a 45-19 record, 8.5 games better than the next team in the American League. 1997 was fun.
In 1999, Will Clark got his 2000th hit as a member of the Orioles. It came in the 10th inning of a 2-2 tie with the Royals. Three batters later, Charles Johnson hit a walk-off single. Clark ended his career with 2,176 hits, 153 of which came with the Orioles.
In 2013, the Orioles lost to the Red Sox, 4-3, on a gorgeous Saturday in Baltimore. It was the only game of the four-game series that the Red Sox won. I don’t recall anything about that game except that I checked the score one time during my wedding reception. I do remember the wonderful weather. Happy anniversary, Paul!
And one year ago today, the Orioles beat the Angels, 11-2. Scott Blewett was the opener ahead of Cade Povich and allowed both Angels runs. He blew it. Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías hit two-run homers. Gary Sánchez had a grand slam. Ramón Laureano and Coby Mayo also had RBI hits.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 12: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after the final out of the ninth inning in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field on June 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Misiorowski threw a complete game and allowed only one hit. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last Week’s Results
Monday: Brewers 15, Athletics 14
Tuesday: Athletics 7, Brewers 5
Wednesday: Athletics 4, Brewers 3
Friday: Brewers 6, Phillies 0
Saturday: Phillies 9, Brewers 8
Sunday: Brewers 4, Phillies 0
Division Standings
Brewers 43-26
Cardinals 38-31 (5.0 GB)
Cubs 37-34 (7.0 GB)
Pirates (8.5 GB)
Reds (10.5 GB)
Last Week
Brewers: 3-3
Cardinals: 3-3
Cubs: 3-3
Pirates: 2-4
Reds: 2-4
Top Pitching Performance of the Week
This past week was filled with a lot more offensive performances than it was with pitching. Of course, half of the week, some could say you could put an asterisk on, as they played at a Triple-A stadium. Naturally, in the first game back in an MLB ballpark, we get the best outing from a Brewers pitcher all week. Yet again, Jacob Misiorowski earns this week’s top pitching performance after his dominance on Friday night.
On what was the first of many more strikeouts to come, Misiorowski hit 104.5 mph on the radar gun to retire Kyle Schwarber. He then went on to strike out 14 more batters to tie the second-most strikeouts in a game by a Brewers pitcher. That wasn’t even the best part; Misiorowski tossed a complete-game shutout in 95 pitches, making it the most strikeouts in a Maddux (a complete game of fewer than 100 pitches).
As I previously mentioned, it was quite the week for the Brewers’ offense as they benefited from the small field of play in Las Vegas. Overall, throughout the last week, the offense posted 41 runs and somehow only came away with three wins. There were many phenomenal performances throughout the course of this week, but none was more impactful than Jackson Chourio’s efforts at the plate. Over this past week, we saw Chourio hit .457 with a .943 SLG. He crushed five home runs, including a two-home-run performance on Saturday’s loss to the Phillies, drove in 10 hitters, and struck out only five times.
Some honorable mentions for top hitting performances of the week:
Blake Perkins went 2-for-4 against Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez on Sunday with a three-run home run and a double, continuing to see the ball well over his career against the southpaw.
Andrew Vaughn shone in the slugfest that was the opening game of the Las Vegas series, as he went 4-for-6 at the plate with four RBIs, a double, and a home run.
Jake Bauers carried the majority of the load in the Crew’s win on Friday night as he smashed a three-run blast in the series opener against the Phillies.
Injury Notes & Roster Moves
The time has officially come as the Brewers will be calling up their No. 4 prospect, Cooper Pratt, for the start of their series against the Guardians on Tuesday night.
Brandon Woodruff’s return is nearing as he threw 68 pitches in 3 2/3 innings in the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday. He will have one more minor league appearance before potentially rejoining the Brewers rotation.
DL Hall received an anti-inflammatory injection on Friday for his minor pectoral injury. He’s expected to return in late July.
Brandon Lockridge is also nearing a comeback as he underwent a platelet-rich plasma injection in his knee on Thursday after experiencing some setbacks while working out. He will still have to complete a rehab assignment before moving forward.
Quinn Priester’s struggles on his rehab assignments continue, as he threw 73 pitches and gave up five walks in 2 2/3 innings. He was scheduled to pitch again in the minors, but has since gone back on the IL. The team is currently reevaluating the plan moving forward.
Jacob Waguespack was traded to the Detroit Tigers for cash.
The Detroit Tigers’ road series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field was cut short on Sunday by bad weather, resulting in a de facto sweep by the home team over the two games they did manage to play. It is a bit of a shame, since the Guards would have been without their three best hitters, but it is what it is.
Next up, the Motor City Kitties head to Houston to face the Astros for the second leg of their current road trip, seeking to snap their two-game losing streak. The ‘Stros have not been very good this season so far but are coming off a series win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman despite dropping the final game on Sunday.
To open things up, right-hander Troy Melton will take the mound for the Olde English D looking to continue his tightwire act so far this season. The 25-year-old has looked pretty decent this year as far as outcomes are concerned, but his FIP is 5.36 (vs 2.81 ERA) and his strikeout rate sits at 13.7% (3rd percentile) while accumulating zero fWAR in 25.2 innings.
However, the Tigers are 3-1 when he starts, so one cannot complain as long as the wins keep stacking up.
Melton has faced Houston just once in his young career — a perfect one-inning appearance last year on Aug. 18 in which he threw just nine pitches, with six going for strikes, resulting in one strikeout. His team went on to win that one, 10-0.
Opposite him is fellow righty Kai-Wei Teng, who permanently moved from his relief role in mid-May to a starter and has made a total of seven starts so far. The 27-year-old’s last three appearances have been unimpressive to say the least, posting a 7.71 ERA and 6.39 FIP over 14 innings of work, allowing 17 hits (three home runs) and nine walks — plus a pair of hit batters — while striking out 13 over that stretch.
Monday will be Teng’s first-ever appearance against the Olde English D.
Take a look below at how the two match up in the opener of the weekday series at Daikin Park.
Detroit Tigers (29-42) vs. Houston Astros (33-40)
Time (ET): 8:10 p.m. Place: Daikin Park, Houston, Texas SB Nation Site:The Crawfish Boxes Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 73: RHP Troy Melton (3-0, 2.81 ERA) vs. RHP Kai-Wei Teng (3-5, 3.71 ERA)
Happy birthday to Hall of Famer Billy Williams, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 1938 – Johnny Vander Meer of the Cincinnati Reds stuns the baseball world by pitching his second successive no-hitter in five days, defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers, 6-0, as Brooklyn plays the first night game ever at Ebbets Field. In front of 38,748 fans, including spectator Babe Ruth, Vander Meer strikes out seven and walks eight, including three one-out walks in the 9th inning, and other stories as well.
Today in baseball history:
1928 – Ty Cobb of the Philadelphia Athletics steals home for the 54th and final time in his 24-year career to extend his major league record. It comes in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians.
1964 – The St. Louis Cardinals make one of their best trades ever, acquiring outfielder Lou Brock from the Chicago Cubs for pitchers Ernie Broglio and Bobby Shantz and outfielder Doug Clemens. As a member of the Cardinals, Brock will set the all-time stolen base record and reach the 3,000-hit mark. Broglio will soon be felled by arm injuries and will only win seven more games in the majors, while Shantz and Clemens will only make marginal contributions.
1969 – En route to setting the National League record of playing in 1,117 consecutive games, Billy Williams, after fouling a pitch off his foot in yesterday’s contest, hobbles to the plate as a pinch-hitter in the Cubs’ 7-6 loss to Cincinnati at Crosley Field. The contest marks the first time “Sweet Swingin’ Billy” has not been in the starting lineup during the 878 games of the streak.
1215 – King John of England signs the Magna Carta at Runnymede near Windsor in Surrey, limiting royal authority and establishing the principle that the king and his government are not above the law.
1775 – George Washington is appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army a day after Congress establishes the force.
1842 – John C. Frémont sets off from Kansas River on his first expedition of the Oregon Trail with frontierman Kit Carson as his guide.
1869 – World’s first plastic celluloid is patented by John Wesley Hyatt in Albany, NY.
1878 – World’s first moving pictures captured on camera using 12 cameras, each taking one picture, to determine if all four of a horse’s hooves leave the ground.
1921 – Bessie Coleman earns her pilot license in France becoming the 1st African-American woman and Native American to hold one.
1951 – Joe Louis scored his last knock out victory.
1980 – US Open Men’s Golf, Baltusrol GC: Jack Nicklaus sets new tournament scoring record 272 (-8) to win his 4th Open title, 2 strokes ahead of Isao Aoki of Japan.
1984 – American boxer Thomas Hearns retains WBC light middleweight title with 2 round KO of Roberto Durán of Panama at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas; marks first time in his illustrious career Durán knocked out.
2012 – Apple I computer sells for a record $374,500.
2015 – Stanley Cup Final, United Center, Chicago, IL: Chicago Blackhawks defeat Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-0 for a 4-2 series victory; Blackhawks’ 6th Championship.
Today in music history:
1965 – Bob Dylan records the single “Like a Rolling Stone” (#1 in Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”).
1973 – “Let’s Get It On” single released by Marvin Gaye (Billboard R&B Song of the Year, 1973; No. 4 overall).
1974 – “Back Home Again”, the 8th studio album by John Denver, is released (Billboard Album of the Year, 1975).
1974 – Novelty song “The Streak” by Ray Stevens hits #1 on UK pop chart.
Kevin Villavicencio of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies throws the ball during a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on June 12, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Thanks to a rain delay that turned into an early completion, Syracuse fell below the .500 mark. Jonah Tong did not pitch particularly well, allowing four runs on eight hits over 5.0 innings, but silver lining: he only walked a single batter, just the second time all season. Buffalo pitched CJ Van Eyk wasn’t much better, allowing three runs on nine hits over 5.2 innings, but that’s the luck of the draw sometimes.
Trailing for most of the game after taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the eight, the Rumble Ponies came back from a four-run deficit in the middle innings thanks to a two-run Jose Ramon double in the fifth and a two-run Jacob Reimer homer in the seventh. After Binghamton failed to score in the bottom of the tenth, a throwing error by Kevin Villavicencio allowed Somerset’s automatic runner to score.
The Cyclones put up a five-spot in the bottom of the third, with all nine batters coming up to the plate in the inning. Mitch Voit drove in a run with a single into left, and a few batters later, stole home when Daiverson Gutierrez drew a walk and the Frederick infield fell asleep. Even if he hadn’t, he would’ve come home to score, as JT Benson whacked a three-run homer over the left-center wall to make it a 5-0 game. Both teams would score a bunch more, but in the end, Brooklyn stood tall.
It wasn’t exciting, but the St. Lucie Mets got the job done. Simon Juan put the team on the board with a solo homer in the top of the first, the team plated an insurance run in the top of the third- which came in handy because Palm Beach scored a run of their own in the bottom of the inning- and then they plated one more in the top of the eighth. Cam Tilly was solid for three-and-a-third innings, and the bullpen behind him blanked the Cardinals.
Jun 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan (41) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Joe Ryan was famously traded from the Rays to the Twins at the 2021 deadline as part of the deal that brought Nelson Cruz to Tampa Bay for its postseason push and veteran leadership in a clubhouse that saw its future in Wander Franco. Fast forward a few years and Ryan looks like an ideal candidate to add to the Rays rotation.
If you’ve been following this series, we can cut to the chase: While Ryan isn’t quite on Tarik Skubal’s level as a frontline starter, the acquisition cost could be comparable because the acquiring team would control him through 2027 rather than just the remainder of this season.
Ryan profiles as a strong number two starter thanks to a deep arsenal, deceptive release traits, and an ability to generate swing-and-miss with multiple shapes, including a sweeper nicknamed The Alien.
He’s coming off a career high in innings last season (171) and is currently on pace to land in a similar range this year. As his fastball usage has declined, Ryan’s overall performance has continued to improve, and he’s arguably having the best season of his career. He’s someone who could help take this rotation to the next level late this summer and into the postseason.
For a Rays club that will carefully manage the workloads of Shane McClanahan, Griffin Jax, Steven Matz, and Drew Rasmussen, adding another durable starter like Ryan would provide both quality and much-needed stability.
Similar to what I wrote about in the Rays trading for Skubal, I think it starts with one of Brody Hopkins or Nathan Flewelling. I don’t think the Rays would entertain moving Theo Gillen for a year and a half of Joe Ryan. Given the trajectory of Gillen’s stock, he may already be too valuable to include in that type of deal.
The market for starting pitching is always competitive, so it would require a mild to moderate overpay to acquire Ryan. A package centered around Hopkins or Flewelling likely wouldn’t be enough on its own. The Rays would probably need to include another prospect from the next tier to make their offer competitive. This next tier of prospects includes:
SS Daniel Pierce
C Caden Bodine
RHP Michael Forret
INF Cooper Flemming
RHP Anderson Brito
RHP Santiago Suarez
RHP TJ Nichols
It would sting to give up one of them in addition to Hopkins or Flewelling, but that’s the cost of a higher end starter at most trade deadlines.
Minnesota has the luxury of patience. With another season of team control remaining after 2026, they don’t have to move Ryan. That leverage is exactly what makes him such a difficult player to acquire, but also what makes him one of the most appealing targets for a team like Tampa Bay that’s trying to maximize both this postseason run and next year’s rotation. Joe Ryan may not be the best pitcher available, but his extra year of team control means he could cost nearly as much to acquire as Tarik Skubal.
The curtain fell on the 2025-26 season on Sunday night when the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 to claim the Stanley Cup in six games. While it’s not much of a consolation, the Montreal Canadiens can at least say that the champions-to-be eliminated them. Carolina was an absolute force in the postseason, going 16-3, and thoroughly deserves the championship.
Jordan Stall was named the Conn Smythe winner even though he only had 12 points in 19 games after scoring six goals in the Cup final alone, including at least one in the first five games of the series against Vegas. As the Canes’ players celebrated and took their lap with Lord Stanley’s Cup, three former Canadiens won their first Cup: Nicolas Deslauriers, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Mike Rielly.
Deslauriers, who spent two seasons in Montreal, is an energy player who has made his name with his fists. The Hurricanes acquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers at the trade deadline, so he hasn’t been a member of the team for long, but he was clearly very appreciated by his new teammates as he got to raise the Cup quite early last night.
However, it’s worth noting that he may not qualify to have his name engraved on the Cup as he didn’t play at least 41 regular-season games with the Canes and didn’t play a single game in the Cup final, being limited to just one game in the first round, against the Ottawa Senators. However, the team can petition the commissioner for a player’s name to be engraved on the Trophy if extenuating circumstances prevented them from being available to play. Deslauriers wasn’t injured; he was a healthy scratch.
As for Mike Reilly, who played parts of three seasons with the Canadiens, he was signed as a free agent by the Canes this past offseason for just one year to a contract with a $1.1 million cap hit. He skated in 42 games with Carolina during the regular season and will therefore qualify to have his name on the Cup, despite not playing a single game in the playoffs.
Finally, former third-overall pick Jesperi Kotkaniemi, whom the Canes poached from the Habs with an unreasonable offer sheet in the 2021 offseason, also played 42 games in the regular calendar, putting up nine points, meaning he will also have his name on the priceless trophy. It’s probably not how he dreamt of winning Lord Stanley’s mug, as he has fallen out of favour with the Canes’ coach Rod Brind’Amour, but he will still be remembered as a Cup champion.
Back in 2021, he was offered a single-season contract by the Canes with a $6.1 million cap hit in what looked like a retaliatory offer sheet after the Canadiens had tried to poach Sebastian Aho from Carolina with an offer sheet in the 2019 offseason. Well aware that the Finn wasn’t worth $6.1 million per season, the Canes signed him to an eight-year contract extension before the end of the 2022 season, which had a $4.82 cap hit. He even has a 10-team no-trade clause. The centerman never put up more than 43 points in a season, and there have been plenty of rumours about the Canes trying to trade him in the last couple of seasons. Still, they failed to find any takers, which was hardly surprising, given both the term and the money remaining to be paid under his contract.
It wouldn’t be a shock if the Canes elected to buy him out this summer, since it was the first time in his tenure with Carolina that he wasn’t used in the playoffs. Should the Champions elect to do that, he would have a $850,000 cap hit until the end of the 2033-34 season. While no one likes to admit they were wrong, it might be time for Carolina to admit the offer sheet backfired and cut its losses.
All things considered, though, the Canes’ front office hasn’t been wrong often, as last night’s Cup win proves. It was the franchise’s second championship win after raising the Cup in 2006; back then, they had eliminated the Canadiens as well.
