In addition to the actual courtside chairs occupied by some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment, fans can also own game-used signed basketballs, jerseys, and the actual nets.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce attend the Cleveland Cavaliers Eastern Conference Final game against the New York Knicks in Cleveland, Ohio Aaron Josefczyk/Shutterstock
Among the most coveted items heading to auction are the courtside seats used by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce during the Cavaliers’ playoff run at Rocket Arena. Also available are seats connected to actor Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, comedian and lifelong Knicks supporter Ben Stiller and Cleveland native Machine Gun Kelly.
New York Knicks superfan Ben Stiller sat courtside during the second quarter of Game 4 of the ECF. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
The celebrity chairs headline a larger Eastern Conference Finals collection authenticated and curated by The Realest, the Cavaliers’ Official Authentication and Memorabilia Partner.
The auction also includes the official game-used basketball from Game 3 and the game-used nets from the two conference finals games played in Cleveland on May 23 and May 25. Items any Knicks diehard would love to own, especially if they go on to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years.
Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner and Tracy Morgan watch the second half of Game 4 of the ECF. AP Photo/Tim Phillis
For Cavaliers fans, the auction offers pieces directly connected to one of the most electric playoff atmospheres in franchise history. For Swifties, sports fans and collectors alike, it presents something even rarer.
A chance to own a piece of history from the action on the court.
As most of the hockey world watches the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, many in the industry are gearing up for the NHL Draft, which will take place on June 26-27 in Buffalo, NY.
Despite decent odds of winning the NHL Lottery Draft last month, the Calgary Flames find themselves drafting sixth overall, a spot the franchise is familiar with, having selected Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk in that spot.
This year, aside from the top two prospects, Gavin McKenna (Penn State) and Ivar Stenberg (Frölunda HC), the rest of the draft class is a toss-up.
On June 4, The Daily Faceoff's top prospect writer, Steve Ellis, released his latest Mock Draft, picking right-handed defenseman Keaton Verhoeff from the University of North Dakota with the sixth overall pick.
According to his Elite Prospects profile, Verheoff, who is from Fort Saskatchewan, AB, ranges from #3 all the way down to #12 in pre-draft rankings, with a handful of outlets listing him at #1 and #2.
After tallying 47 points in 75 games in the WHL with the Victoria Royals, Vernhoeff jumped to the NCAA last season, racking up 20 points in 36 games with the University of North Dakota as a freshman. Meanwhile, he was Canada's U18 captain and had four assists at the latest World Juniors, where Canada won bronze.
Vernhoeff will turn 18 on June 19, and if the Flames select him, he'll become the youngest defenseman on the organization's depth chart, taking the spot from Alex Hurtig, the only 20-year-old signed to a deal.
If Calgary drafts him and doesn't ink him to an entry-level deal, Vernhoeff would join Mace'o Phillips (19) and Jakob Leander (19) as the only under-20 defenders in the system, but not under contract.
Despite the many mock drafts that have the Flames staying at sixth overall, many insiders wonder if General Manager Craig Conroy will make a deal to move up in the draft. However, if that doesn't happen, and Calgary stays the course, Vernhoeff may not be the only intriguing option at sixth overall.
PORTLAND, OREGON - DECEMBER 14: Assistant coach Terry Stotts of the Golden State Warriors looks on before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on December 14, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks parted ways a few weeks ago, the Mavs kicked off the search for his replacement. We previously covered the news that Dallas was exploring potential fits with collegiate stalwarts Jon Scheyer and Dusty May, and now word has come out that Terry Stotts is also being considered for the job.
If Stotts’ name strikes you as familiar, that’s because he was an assistant under Rick Carlisle during the Mavericks’ 2011 championship season. Aside from that memorable run, Stotts has held coaching roles at the NBA level since 1994 when he began as an assistant for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s former iteration, the Seattle Supersonics. That stint afforded him some NBA Finals experience when the Sonics came up short to the Chicago Bulls in 1996. He was then an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks, and then the Atlanta Hawks for whom he eventually took the head coaching job. He then spent a year with the Golden State Warriors as an assistant, before returning to Milwaukee for two years as the head coach.
After that, he was with Dallas as an assistant coach from 2008-2012 where he again returned to the NBA Finals, but with better results. 2011 put Stotts in the rarified air of those that were a part of the pinnacle of Mavericks’ history, playing an instrumental part in the championship run. He parlayed that stint into a long tenure as the Portland Trailblazers head coach from 2012 to 2021, then took some time off before returning to the Warriors as an assistant coach for the past two seasons.
In all, Stotts has accumulated a 402-318 record (55.8% winning percentage) as a head coach in the NBA. Over more than 30 years, he has either coached, or coached against, some of the best coaches and players the league has ever seen. He is a basketball lifer – you don’t stick around as long as he has unless you both belong and badly want to be there.
Rumors are that Stotts now only wants to consider head coaching jobs, and will be in the mix for the open position in Dallas. The Mavericks would be well served with Stotts steering the ship. At age 68 and with his resume, he has seen it all. He would instantly command respect simply based on who he is – there would be no rookie coach inexperience to harp on from either the players or media. He would bring the necessary discipline to what will likely be a young team led by Cooper Flagg, while also knowing full well how to manage the veteran players. Throwing back to the 2011 championship team would also bring a nice connection to the past for the Mavs, who could still afford to bolster good will with the fanbase.
Stotts would likely be something of a transitional coach, but that too could be a boon to the franchise. He could ably prepare one of his assistant coaches to take the reigns from him in a few years, or Dallas could simply choose to go another way when the time comes. Either way, Stotts brings a safe – but not mundane or low-ceiling – coach to the franchise, and one who can help lead the team into the next phase. The Mavs could certainly do worse.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 2: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves reacts with Ozzie Albies #1 after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Truist Park on June 2, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Stop me if you’ve heard this before over the course of this excellent season, so far: The Atlanta Braves have won another series. Sure, they were definitely favorites to take another two-out-of-three games against a Toronto Blue Jays squad that had been spinning its wheels in the mud for a bit but the remarkable consistency of this team is truly something to behold. They’ve taken care of business with nearly every opportunity that they’ve had so far this season and the expectations remained the same as Atlanta returned home from another productive road trip.
Still, this could’ve been a tough series for the Braves. The Blue Jays have had some strong pitching and a lineup that was seemingly itching to return to the level of production that helped propel them to the AL pennant in 2025. If any team currently has a target on their back based on current performance, it’s Atlanta. Toronto was surely looking to use this series as a way to get their season on track but as we’ve seen on numerous occasions, the Braves have no intentions of letting off of the proverbial gas pedal. So let’s take a look at how this series turned out.
As we’ve gotten used to seeing lately, the Braves got off to a quick start in this one as the plated two runs to start things off. Ronald Acuña Jr. didn’t homer this time but his walk did help matters as Michael Harris II immediately followed it up by driving one deep into center field for an RBI double that sent Acuña racing from first to home. Ozzie Albies eventually brought home Money Mike with a sacrifice fly and it was 2-0 Braves to get things going.
Toronto did respond immediately, though. Kazuma Okamoto has hit the ground running since moving over from NPB to MLB and his two-run dinger off of Bryce Elder tied things up in the second. Considering that the Blue Jays had Kevin Gausman going, it sure felt like runs would be at a premium and it was totally feasible to imagine that this thing could’ve stayed 2-2 until both teams dipped into their bullpen.
As it turned out, the Braves weren’t done scoring off of Gausman. Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies got the job done with two outs on the board against Gausman in the third inning as Olson’s double and Albies’ subsequent RBI single put Atlanta back in front. Toronto knotted it back up with a sacrifice fly from Daulton Varsho in the sixth inning but the sixth ended up being the end of the line for Gausman. That was when Matt Olson hit a skyscraper shot out towards the Chop House that just about made it into the grass in home run territory to lead off the sixth in order to put Atlanta back in front by a lone run.
From that point forward, it was on the pitching staff to make sure that that single run from Olson’s blimp shot held up. Elder ended up winning the duel against Gausman by pitching into the seventh before passing the baton to the dynamic back-end duo of Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias. The tying run for Toronto did make it into scoring position against Iglesias in the ninth inning but a harmless pop up from the bat of Jesús Sánchez fell into Austin Riley’s glove to end the game and allow the Braves to set the tone in yet another series.
This time, it was Toronto who got off to a fast start as they plated a run in the first inning to go ahead. It could’ve been a lot worse, though, as they loaded up the bases with nobody out against Grant Holmes. Fortunately, Holmes was able to get out of that jam with just the one run allowed and that ended up being a huge development considering how the rest of the game ended up going. Atlanta responded in the second inning with a bloop RBI single from Ha-Seong Kim (who badly needed something like that to go his way for once) to tie the game up at one run apiece.
Nathan Lukes ended up having a very solid series and you know it was good for him because he smacked his first dinger of the season in the third inning to put Toronto back in front. Fortunately for us Braves fans, that was as good as it got for the Blue Jays in this one as the Braves forged ahead from that point forward. Mauricio Dubón came up to the plate in Atlanta’s half of the third inning with two men on and two outs and Dubón proceeded to make some more two-out magic happen as he sent one out to the home bullpen in right-center for a three-run bomb off of Patrick Corbin that put Atlanta back in front.
Thanks to Grant Holmes throwing six steady innings and Atlanta’s bullpen clamping down on Toronto from that point forward (outside of a ninth inning moonshot from Brandon Valenzuela off of Tyler Kinley), the Braves were able to eventually pull away. Ozzie Albies essentially put the game to bed in the seventh inning as he bopped one out off of the scoreboard below the Hank Aaron Terrace in left field for Atlanta’s second three-run dinger of the night. Two innings later, the Braves were celebrating their 17th series win of the season — it’s still just June, mind you.
Well, when you consider how the xBA results went for the first two games (Blue Jays lost the first game despite winning the xBA battle .211 to .188 and lost by four runs in the second game while only losing the xBA battle by .11), it kind of felt inevitable that the Blue Jays would eventually see something go their way in a tangible matter during this series. That was the case in this one, as they racked up sixteen hits (10 of which came off of Chris Sale) and never trailed on their way to salvaging the series with a 7-2 win.
A three-run third inning where Sale really had to labor to get out of it was the early pivotal point of this contest and it sure helped Toronto’s chances when the debuting Chad Dallas managed to escape the bottom of the third by only giving up one run on a Matt Olson sacrifice fly. That one run was all the Braves could muster up against Toronto’s pitching staff until the eighth inning, which is when Mauricio Dubón fired up everybody in the ballpark (particularly the large “Tarps Off” contingent in the 400 level) with a solo shot that cut the deficit to just one run.
Any hopes of a fantastic finish were quashed following the ninth inning, though. Reynaldo López made his first appearance since May 31 and reader, it wasn’t a good one. He got dinged for four runs on five hits and a walk and those four runs essentially made it so that Toronto could breathe a bit easier on their way to completely thwarting any hopes the Braves had of pulling off a comeback win for a sweep.
The Atlanta Braves are currently experiencing some real baseball first-world problems. “Oh no, they’ve won 17 out of 20 series but only two of those were sweeps.” “Oh no, the bullpen had a rare off night.” “Oh no, the star offseason signing is struggling, I guess they’ll have to choose between two perfectly capable replacements on any given night.” Basically, if these are the quibbles that your team has to deal with at any given time, then things are going quite alright.
It was especially nice to see the Braves take the two games where Chris Sale didn’t start. It’s certainly a rare occasion to see Sale give up so many hits and have to deal with so many baserunners in any given start so it’s good that this off-night of sorts came when the Braves already had the series in hand. Bryce Elder continues to simply find ways to get the job done and Grant Holmes showed some real resilience in his start to make sure that he didn’t fall victim to the same pratfalls that have tripped him up in recent starts.
Plus, the offense just continues to keep on raking. Mauricio Dubón had a bit of a blip at the plate but he appears to be determined to prove that he can get the job done with the bat as well as his glove. Ronald Acuña Jr. didn’t carry over his supernova form from the road trip but he’s definitely looked a lot more productive as he starts to find some steady form again. Matt Olson continues to be, well, Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies has been continuing to undergo a resurgence of his own. Despite the wobble on Thursday, Atlanta’s entire pitching staff is still rolling along and doing a great job of limiting any damage that they may sustain so that this offense can keep on having opportunities to change the game with any given at-bat.
So yeah, life continues to be good for the Atlanta Braves during the 2026 season. The Pirates will be coming into this weekend’s series playing some pretty good baseball so it’s not like Atlanta’s going to be getting any type of respite when it comes to the competition. Still, when a team is running as hot as the Braves have been, it’s hard to really bet against them slowing down until it actually happens. We’ll see if that’s the case on the weekend or if the Braves will continue to steamroll over anybody who happens to be in their way on the schedule.
I might be jumping the line here to comment on the farm system review by Brendan Gawlowski posted to FanGraphs this morning, as Brady does such a great job covering the minor leagues for McCovey Chronicles already and friend of the site and former contributor Roger Munter has had the corner covered for years via his There R Giants site, but I’m compelled to offer the prospect skeptic’s perspective.
The San Francisco Giants have traditionally, historically had a bad farm system, with the type of success that’s on par with a broken clock being right twice a day. The “broken clock” bit is my description, but I don’t think it’s only a matter of opinion to say that except for the late-60s, mid-80s and definitely the 2010s, the Giants haven’t done much in player development. Except for those little hiccups, it’s vacillated between afterthought or laughingstock. But even now, I think I have to admit that Randy Winn might be the sort of classy, special sauce the farm system needed. The success this season is undeniable (basically every level has a winning record and, overall, is 151-97).
The idea that the system’s luck (or skill, even!) could be turning is worth investigating. Is the FanGraphs piece more evidence of a turnaround?
Let’s look at the piece itself, which offers 14 players with Future Values of at least 45 (Low End Regular or Platoon Player). Five of these are a cut above that:
5. SP – Keyner Martinez (50 FV — Average Everyday Player) 4. SS – Luis Hernandez (50 FV) 3. 2B – Jhonny Level (50 FV) 2. SS – Josuar Gonzalez (50 FV) 1. 1B – Bryce Eldridge (55 FV)
That’s a fun group, and it’s great to see a young pitcher in the top 5. I know of Hernandez and Gonzalez and obviously Eldridge, but I, personally, haven’t heard of Keyner Martinez because, again, in my lifetime, the Giants have been pretty bad at developing prospect and I’ve stayed focused on the funny-in-its-own-right major league team.
Martinez was the 10th-ranked prospect in the Giants’ system by the McCovey Chronicles community back in November despite missing the 44-player list entirely in the previous season. Brady wrote:
Martinez was a slightly older international signee from Venezuela, as he signed in 2023 but didn’t debut until 2024, his age-19 season. He skipped the DSL and made his debut in the Arizona Complex League, where his results were very mediocre.
But he transformed over the offseason, and took the ACL by storm in 2025, posting a 1.90 ERA and a 2.70 FIP, with a staggering 67 strikeouts against just 10 walks in 47.1 innings. At the end of the ACL season he joined Low-A San Jose’s roster, where he continued to shine, posting a 2.86 ERA and a 3.96 FIP, while striking out 30 batters in 22 innings, with 11 walks.
Just as, if not more importantly, is the way it looked. Martinez earned hype from any and all prospect hounds covering the ACL and Cal League, and even rose up to the No. 6 spot in the recently-released Giants prospect rankings at Baseball America.
Brendan Gawlowski sounds like one of Martinez’s hype men.
He was my favorite pitcher on the Arizona complex last summer, and I’m inclined to stay aggressive on his projection even as he’s battled through a few growing pains in the Cal League. […]
He’s well built, he moves well, the delivery flows, and I think he’ll clean up the control and eventually ascend into a big league rotation. Martinez was a Pick to Click for me in the offseason, and Eric and I have seen enough to bump him into the Top 100. He projects as a mid-rotation starter.
But Jhonny Level? I’ve been hearing about him for at least a year. The prospect hounds and amateur scouts love the kid. I’m glad to see him moving up and up and up the lists.
Gawlowski’s writeup paints a pretty picture for we prospect-averse Giants fans out there:
Level is advanced for his age. On the lighter side, he’s strong for his build and has a mature feel for when he can turn it loose and drive a pitch to the pull side from both sides of the plate. His bat is quick, and while he’ll sometimes expand on spin — particularly with two strikes — he’ll also show you good zone control and pitch recognition on the right day. A lot of guys who chase as youngsters tend to keep chasing as they get older, but in Level’s case, he looks more discerning than the numbers indicate.
AWOOGA. HUMMINA HUMMINA. PANT, PANT. I was trying to avoid getting my hopes up, but now I’m even more excited than when I first heard people talking about him last year.
Of course, let’s focus on the two other big middle infield prospects. The FanGraphs writeup affirms the Giants’ scouting of the plaeyrs. Regarding Hernandez:
Even for a player widely seen as advanced beyond his years, it was still something of a surprise when the Giants had him skip the Dominican complex and sent him straight to Scottsdale for spring training this year.
It was the right call, as Hernández has been awesome on both sides of the ball.
The Josuar Gonzalez capsule is a little more concerning with the injury aspects, but he maintains:
Gonzalez ultimately has a very strong heuristic profile as a switch-hitting up-the-middle player with power, and he has All-Star ceiling if his hit tool is average or better.
This is all very encouraging to read. At the same time, it’s tough to ignore the echoes of from the past. Your Marco Luciano report here, a Luis Matos capsule there. Indeed, let’s go back a bit in time.
2019
FanGraphs gave 8 Giants at least a 45 FV grade, but two stood out with 55 FVs: Joey Bart and Marco Luciano. Heliot Ramos was right behind them with a 50 FV, and there’s Logan Webb at #5 with a 45+ FV. Hunter Bishop was between Ramos & Webb with a 45+.
2021
Seems only fair to skip the year when the minor league season was canceled. Of course, the Giants’ farm system still managed to produce something just slightly less depressing than a global pandemic: failed prospects. Marco Luciano led FanGraphs’ ranking with a 60 FV. Joey Bart fell to 50, Heliot Ramos stayed at 50 and — oh, what’s this? — Luis Matos cracked the top 5 with a 50 FV. Prodigal pitcher Gregory Santos moved up to #5 and Patrick Bailey and Kyle Harrison were 6th and 8th, respectively, with 45+ FVs.
2022
Their end-of-season updated report for the year gave us 9 Giants with 45 Future Values, Gregory Santos Heliot Ramos’s stars having fallen into this range (6th and 8th on the list). Averson Arteaga was 5th with a Future Value of 45. The top 4 is a splash of cold water: Luciano (55), Matos (50), Harrison (50), Bart (50).
2023
By the time we get to this update, the top prospect is Kyle Harrison (55 FV) and Luciano has fallen even further (50). Rayner Arias is #3 with a 45+ FV and the Giants only have 6 more to crack 45 — though, debuting at #9 is Bryce Eldridge.
2024
The top prospect is Carson Whisenhunt? A 50 Future Value and 78th on FanGraphs’ top 100. Bryce Eldridge is #2 in the system, per FanGraphs, with the same Future Value and 85th in their top 100. Only four other players have Future Values of 45: Rayner Arias, Joe Whitman, Reggie Crawford, and James Tibbs III. Wow, stupendous work, Farhan Zaidi and co. This is a failed farm system.
2025
Bryce Eldridge is the #16 prospect in their top 100, #1 in the Giants’ system and has a 55 Future Value at the updated prospects report on FanGraphs. Josuar Gonzalez is #2 with a 50 FV and Carson Whisenhunt is #3 with a 50 FV, too. Blade Tidwell checks in with a 45+, and the Giants have four more with 45 FVs: Gavin Kilen, Drew Gilbert, Jhonny Level, and Trevor McDonald.
With 14 players carrying Future Values of 45 or more, this is the best prospects list the Giants have had in at least 7 years. But let’s go back as far as the list goes: 2017. I want to see something. Here are all the Giants prospects who’ve made it to the majors (though, not necessarily with the Giants):
Christian Arroyo (#1 in 2017)
Tyler Beede (#2 in 2017)
Bryan Reynolds (#3 in 2017)
Ty Blach (#4 in 2017)
Andrew Suarez (#5 in 2017)
Steven Okert (#6 in 2017)
Chris Stratton (#9 in 2017)
Matt Krook (#10 in 2017)
Chris Shaw (#11 in 2017)
Steven Duggar (#14 in 2017)
Dan Slania (#15 in 2017)
Reyes Moronta (RIP) (#17 in 2017)
Sam Coonrod (#21 in 2017)
Joey Bart
Heliot Ramos
Marco Luciano
Shaun Anderson
Alexander Canario
Sean Hjelle
Gregory Santos
Jake Wong
Aramis Garcia
Ray Black
Logan Webb
Camilo Doval
Mauricio Dubon (#7 in 2019)
Luis Matos
Joe McCarthy (#13 in 2019)
Tristan Beck (#20 in 2019)
Prelander Berroa (#21 in 2019)
Kai-Wei Teng (#22 in 2019)
Tyler Fitzgerald (#25 in 2019)
Mike Gerber (#30 in 2019)
Grant McCray (#33 in 2019)
Jaylin Davis (#34 in 2019)
Jose Marte (#37 in 2019)
Trevor McDonald (#38 in 2019)
Caleb Kilian (#40 in 2019)
Will Wilson (#7 in 2020)
Casey Schmitt (#21 in 2020)
Luis Basabe (#29 in 2020)
Jose Siri (#33 in 2020)
Caleb Baragar (#35 in 2020)
Patrick Bailey
Kervin Castro (#24 in 2021)
Carson Ragsdale (#28 in 2021)
Jason Vosler (#44 in 2021)
Cole Waites (#46 in 2021)
Dedniel Nunez (#47 in 2021)
Carson Whisenhunt (#5 in 2022)
Keaton Winn (#9 in 2022)
Mason Black (#12 in 2022)
Ford Proctor (#14 in 2022)
Landen Roupp (#25 in 2022)
Tristan Peters (#27 in 2022)
Thomas Szapucki (#28 in 2022)
Randy Rodriguez (#29 in 2022)
Ryan Walker (#47 in 2022)
Wade Meckler (#7 in 2023)
Spencer Miles (#17 in 2023)
Victor Bericoto (#21 in 2023)
Hayden Birdsong (#22 in 2023)
Erik Miller (#28 in 2023)
Bryce Johnson (#44 in 2023)
Nick Avila (#28 in 2024)
Bryce Eldridge
Blade Tidwell (#4 in 2025)
Drew Gilbert (#6 in 2025)
Jesus Rodriguez (#13 in 2025)
Jonah Cox (#15 in 2026)
Daniel Susac (#21 in 2026)** — does this count? I don’t think so.
That’s 70 or 71 players across 10 seasons, and not all of them for the Giants. Many of them not even good, but if we’re to say the jury’s out on Hayden Birdsong, Victor Bericoto, Eldridge, Tidwell, Gilbert, Jesus Rodriguez, Jonah Cox and Daniel Susac (though, he probably shouldn’t be counted as he’s Rule 5), how many “good” players are in this bunch? Well, here are all the ones who’ve had positive fWAR in the majors:
Logan Webb, 25.4 fWAR
Bryan Reynolds, 20.0
Patrick Bailey, 10.2
Mauricio Dubon, 7.9
Jose Siri, 6.8
Chris Stratton, 4.5
Camilo Doval, 4.2
Joey Bart, 3.3
Tyler Fitzgerald, 3.3
Heliot Ramos, 3.3
Landen Roupp, 3.2
Ryan Walker, 2.8
Steven Okert, 2.3
Tyler Beede, 2.0
Ty Blach, 2.0
Randy Rodriguez, 2.0
Reyes Moronta (RIP), 1.8
Casey Schmitt, 1.8
Tristan Peters, 1.1
Steven Duggar, 1.0
Dedniel Nunez, 1.0
Trevor McDonald, 0.9
Gregory Santos, 0.9
Keaton Winn, 0.8
Christian Arroyo, 0.6
Erik Miller, 0.6
Tristan Beck, 0.5
Bryce Johnson, 0.5
Wade Meckler, 0.5
Kai-Wei Teng, 0.5
Sean Hjelle, 0.4
Spencer Miles, 0.4
Andrew Suarez, 0.4
Caleb Baragar, 0.3
Kervin Castro, 0.2
Prelander Berroa, 0.1
Hayden Birdsong, 0.1
Sam Coonrod, 0.1
And how many of these ought to even be considered Giants prospects — Siri, Dubon, and Susac certainly feel like cheats, and if you wanted to include Bryan Reynolds that’d make sense. Of course, if you were to compare farm systems, maybe the Giants don’t seem so unusual. I’m not sure of that, though, because I can pick apart this list pretty easily, and that’s why I have remained a prospect skeptic where the Giants are concerned for so many years. I just think it’s a bad situation when a young baseball player gets drafted by them.
Reynolds, Dubon, and Siri did their best work away from the Giants. Tyler Fitzgerald’s success is based entirely on a 6-week stretch. Patrick Bailey was traded away. I don’t know what it means that only 2 of the top 10 prospects over the past 10 seasons are still with the Giants and that most had success with other teams. It doesn’t seem like it speaks well of the Giants’ situation.
But what the minor league affiliates’ success and this FanGraphs ranking supposes is that it’s a system on the rise. Maybe we’ve seen some version of this idea before, but this time it does feel a little different. A little pre-2010, if you know what I mean…
Does that mean it’ll all work out and we’ll get a parade out of this? No. Baseball is hard. But maybe the Giants are getting a little bit better at developing players?
Apr 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Seranthony Dominguez (58) celebrates after defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Before the season, it was expected that the Chicago White Sox wouldn’t have many save opportunities for their relievers to convert. They were coming off three straight 100+ loss campaigns, including a 41-121 bottoming out in 2024. But the Sox have been one of the biggest surprises this season, checking in at 33-29, good for second place in the American League Central.
As a result, there have been plenty of save opportunities, and the man who has closed out the majority of them is former Phillie Seranthony Dominguez.
You likely remember Dominguez as the rookie who looked electric in his rookie season of 2018, only to lose effectiveness, and then ultimately over two years of his career thanks to a UCL injury. After his return, he showed flashes of his former dominating self, but there was too much inconsistency, and the Phillies ultimately shipped him to Baltimore at the 2024 trade deadline.
For the 3rd time in his last 5 outings, Seranthony Dominguez allows a go-ahead or game-tying home run. Cardinals up 6-5 in the 8th.
He served as the Orioles closer down the stretch and while he converted ten saves, he gave up a decent number of runs. He was used in a setup role for 2025 until the Orioles traded him to the Blue Jays at the deadline.
After serving as a setup reliever for the Jays, he signed a two-year deal with the Sox in the offseason and was established as their closer. Results have been mixed: While he has eleven saves, he’s also blown three chances, and his FIP is at 5.22. Basically, he’s the same guy he was for the Phillies: He can look dominating for much of the time, but there will be games when he looks incapable of retiring a batter.
Hating on the White Sox
There’s not much of a rivalry between the Phillies and the White Sox with only 28 games played between them all time, and I’m having trouble remembering any that were particularly memorable. (Oddly, five of the 28 have gone to extra innings, including all three games in 2013.)
But you know what? Screw the White Sox.
The White Sox used to be cool. They had iconic uniforms, with their hats being worn by famous rappers, and as a result became really popular with suburban white kids.
Ice Cube spearheaded the Chicago White Sox snapback’s popularity, replacing his former Raiders gear (which was too associated with his days with NWA). He debuted the hat in his video for “Steady Mobbin,” cementing it in Hip Hop culture. pic.twitter.com/Hoy42OsM0r
However, that coolness never really translated to the on-field product, because they rarely make the playoffs (since somehow winning the 2005 World Series, they’ve made the postseason just three times) and will be forever known as Chicago’s “other team.”
The White Sox could have beaten Camden Yards in kicking off the retro trend with their stadium but instead built perhaps the most boring stadium ever. (Though Nationals Park would have a word.) They were “fortunate” enough to find a corporate sponsor that matches the stadium’s vibe, because Rate Field sounds like it should be hosting adult league games, not a Major League Baseball franchise.
You know a franchise is down bad when they start retiring the numbers of players like Paul Konerko and Mark Buerhle. Admittedly, I’m a retired number elitist who thinks the honor should be reserved for iconic, all-time greats, but when you start hanging the numbers of “Hall of Very Good” players, it feels like it cheapens the honor. Frank Thomas should have his number retired; Konerko should be on the Wall of Fame or whatever equivalent they have.
Last week’s answer: The Phillies recorded one hit off of Roki Sasaki in the 2025 NLDS. World War II buffs will appreciate the irony that the one hit was off the bat of Max Kepler. 7redseven was correct.
This week’s question: The first ever Phillies vs. White Sox game was played on June 18, 2002 and saw the White Sox prevail 6-3 in 12 innings. What future Phillie delivered the go-ahead hit in the 12th?
Additional thought about the series
Are you sure we can’t get any more games against the Padres?
The schedule makers say no, so the Phillies will see if their recent strong play can be duplicated against a different opponent. The good news is that different opponent is missing its best offensive player.
Much of the Sox’ success has been fueled by rookie Munetake Murakami who is on the IL with a hamstring strain. The Japanese import made a huge early splash, prompting several Phillies fans to ask why the Phillies didn’t pursue him to replace Alec Bohm at third base.
The Phillies reportedly did pursue him, but the biggest problem – aside from Japanese players apparently hating Philadelphia – is that he’s probably not a major league quality defender at third base. The Sox have had him exclusively at first base and designated hitter, and the Phillies have players already entrenched at those positions. There were also questions about how well his Japanese league numbers would translate, but he’s had no problem adjusting to major league pitching so far.
Since he’s on the IL, there will be little opportunity for irate Phillies fans to question why they didn’t sign him. Then again, if Alec Bohm continues to hit into double plays at a prodigious rate, those questions still might get asked.
It’s a loaded 15-game slate on the diamond Friday, June 5, and I’ve got a trio of NRFI predictions to cover you throughout the action.
My top MLB picks call for a low-scoring first frame between the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers to start the night, with the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins also blanking the first inning to round out my betting card.
This is a tough matchup for the Tigers, too. Seattle righty Bryan Woo has fired four consecutive scoreless opening frames to improve to 10-2 to the NRFI this season, and Detroit has been held without a first-inning run in seven of its past 10 games while ranking 16th in batting average and 15th in xwOBA during the stretch.
It’s a similar matchup in the bottom half, too. Cleveland southpaw Parker Messick hasn’t allowed a first-inning run all season while holding opposing hitters to a minuscule .371 OPS. The Rangers rank 28th in wOBA against lefties, too.
This is also a soft matchup for Twins righty Zebby Matthews. The Royals have only scored in the first inning in 25% of their games while struggling to a 26th-place wOBA over the past 30 days.
Matthews also sports a smooth 3.01 xERA through four starts, which slides in well below his front-facing 4.63 ERA, so this is a spot for him to sail through the opening frame.
I’d back this NFRI down to -125.
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Apple TV
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 11-11, -3.54 units
What is a NRFI prediction?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) picks add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI pick is a prediction that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're predicting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI pick is the exact opposite. You're predicting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI picks add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for those looking for a quick resolution.
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.
On this day 107 years ago, Eddie Collins hit the only grand slam of his career, in a win at the Yankees. | (Photo by TPLP/Getty Images)
1919 With the score tied, 1-1, deep into a game at the Polo Grounds facing the Yankees, Eddie Collins belted an inside-the-park grand slam that rolled into the very deep reaches of right-center field. Eddie Cicotte completed the win, improving to 10-1 on the season. The White Sox went three games up in the American League race, at 25-11.
Given that he hit just four homers in his career before 1910, when complete records became available, this was the only grand slam of Collins’ 47-homer career.
1923 While long road trips were not uncommon in the days of train travel and fewer teams, the White Sox set a franchise mark that remains today in embarking on a monthlong road trip. The Pale Hose visited all seven American League clubs on the journey, which lasted 27 games and a full month — not returning home until a July 7 doubleheader. Strangely enough, the long trip did wonders for the club, as the White Sox went 18-9 and improved from last in the league (eighth) at 15-24, 13 games out to third place, at 33-33.
Ultimately the club faltered and fell back to seventh place at a 69-85-2 record by season’s end. The culprit? That awful home cooking! (For the season, the White Sox were 39-40 on the road and 30-45 at home!)
1935 White Sox rookie pitcher John Whitehead saw his eight-game winning streak to start his MLB career snapped, losing to the St. Louis Browns, 2-0. Whitehead would finish 13-13 in his rookie campaign, with 18 complete games and 4.9 WAR, finishing 19th in AL MVP voting.
“Silent John” amassed in impressive 11.6 WAR in 127 games over four-plus seasons on the South Side. Ironically enough, he was dealt to the Browns during the 1939 season.
1960 White Sox pitchers Russ Kemmerer and Frank Baumann both fired shutouts in beating the Kansas City Athletics in a doubleheader. The Sox won both games by the same score: 2-0. The A’s combined for only 10 hits on the Sunday afternoon.
1967 Eddie Stanky did it again. The White Sox manager let loose a verbal assault on Red Sox All-Star Carl Yastrzemski. Before a three-game set in Comiskey Park, Stanky was quoted as saying, “He may be an All-Star from the neck down, but in my book he’s a moody ballplayer … and I don’t like moody ballplayers.”
Red Sox fans were incensed, and let Stanky and the Sox have an earful, as well as throwing tomatoes at him whenever he went to the mound when the Sox went to Boston the following week.
2022 With a ground-rule double to drive in the first two runs of a 6-5 win over Tampa Bay in a game the White Sox would never trail, Jake Burger recorded the game-winning RBI in a fourth straight White Sox win — a record that dates back to at least 1974.
Burger’s streak started with a three-run homer on May 25 vs. Boston, the only runs needed for a 3-1 win. Next was a 12th-inning single that won it against the Cubs on May 29. Then came a two-run shot in the eighth inning of a 2-1 game vs. the Rays on June 4, which the White Sox held on to win, 3-2.
You might note the wide range of dates, indeed during this 10-game stretch that Burger established his clutch mark the White Sox went 4-6. This win brought the club to 25-27, in its seemingly endless quest to get past the .500 mark. It would end up exactly there, at 81-81 in the disappointing spin into another rebuild — one that seems like it will last the rest of the 2020s.
RALEIGH, N.C. — The status of Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb moving forward in the Stanley Cup Final is unclear after he took a puck to the face in Game 2.
Coach John Tortorella had no update on McNabb other than to confirm the 35-year-old was traveling home with the team. Game 3 is in Las Vegas.
McNabb left Game 2 after taking an 87.3 mph slap shot from Nikolaj Ehlers square in the face just past the midway point of the first period. McNabb dropped his stick, went down to the ice and grabbed his nose as he skated immediately off and down the tunnel.
“It’s a scary play,” forward Brett Howden said. ”You never want to see that. Just hope he’s doing all right.”
Vegas went the rest of the way with just five defensemen. McNabb’s exit had a domino effect that led those guys to playing more minutes than usual, and in particular Jeremy Lauzon was on the ice for all four Carolina goals, with one shot banking in off him, another partially the result of him losing a one-on-one battle with William Carrier and Seth Jarvis’ overtime winner going past him.
“You lose a guy like Nabber who logs heavy minutes, such a good teammate, plays the game so hard, it’s tough,” captain Mark Stone said. “They battled as hard as they could.”
McNabb was coming off the first three-assist performance of his NHL career in Game 1. He is one of three original Golden Knights players who have been around for the franchise’s entire nine-year existence and are in the final for a third time.
“He’s a vital part of this team,” said center William Karlsson, who also has been around since the beginning. “He’s been here for a long time and has been vital every year. I think he is extremely good defensively, helps us out in PK situations and stuff like that. Of course, tough to not have him for the remainder of that game.”
The Golden Knights had their optimum, healthy lineup back for the series opener when Lauzon returned from his puck-to-the-head injury that had sidelined him since the second round. That did not last long.
Either Ben Hutton, a left-handed shooter, or Kaedan Korczak, who was playing in place of Lauzon, figures to play in Game 3 if McNabb is unavailable.
Jorge Polanco is going to need a bit longer before re-joining the Mets.
The New York Post's Mike Puma reports that despite the possibility that Polanco could return from his rehab assignment for Friday's series opener against the Padres in San Diego, the veteran will remain in Syracuse.
The 32-year-old has struggled in his brief stint in Triple-A. Polanco is hitless with one walk in two games in Syracuse after going 2-for-5 with a home run in three games in Double-A Binghamton.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said earlier in the week that the organization would have conversations with Polanco regarding his availability for the weekend.
"We got to talk to the player, how he's feeling, and all that. And he's got to get cleared from the medical staff as well," Mendoza said. "It could be in play that he's active on Friday. But again, if he needs more at-bats, and it's not so much like how he's feeling physically, I think there's a combination of a lot of things there."
Polanco's first year in Flushing has been marred by injuries. Polanco played through Achilles bursitis, which relegated him to the DH role, before landing on the IL with a right wrist contusion in mid-April. Mendoza said that the wrist contusion is now a non-issue, but that Polanco will have to play through his Achilles bursitis. That means he'll be mostly a DH when he returns, although the Mets expect him to be available at first base when needed.
Before he landed on the IL, Polanco struggled at the plate. In 14 games, Polanco hit .179 (10-for-56) with one home run and three doubles to go along with two RBI.
Once the Mets wrap up their weekend series against the Padres, they return home for a three-game set with the Cardinals starting Tuesday.
A SERIES STORY: The Cubs have lost seven and split one of their last eight series. They were 2-6 in the first games of those series and have lost the last five. They are 8-12 in all first games but 5-5 at home, 7-4 in first games after having won the last game of the previous series and 3-3 at home after having won the finale of the previous series. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
OUTHITTING THE OTHER GUY: After making only four hits through eight innings last night, the Cubs made seven in the ninth to outhit the Athletics, 11-7. The Cubs are a remarkable 27-2 when they have finished with more hits. The only losses were at home to the Pirates, 2-0, on April 10, and at St. Louis, 6-5, last Friday. They are 2-1 when they and their opponent have had the same number of hits and 4-27 when they have given up more than they have made. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
RISPy BUSINESS: The Cubs made six hits last night with runners in scoring position — five of them in the ninth inning — to match their season high, accomplished four times before. Their 10 at bats last night were their fewest in any of the games. They were had 12 vs. the Mets on April 17, 14 vs. the White Sox on May 15, 16 vs. the Angels on April 1 and 18 vs. the Phillies on April 14. The Cubs won all five games. They are 6-0 with five hits with RISP and 3-2 with four, for a total of 14-2 with at least four. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Carlos Zambrano and Will Ohman combined on a one-hit shutout of the Astros in Houston, the only hit a one-out single by Preston Wilson in the eighth. Zambrano also hit a three-run homer as the Cubs won 8-0. It happened 20 years ago today, Monday, June 5, 2006.
— MLB Daily Lineups (@DailyMLBLineups) June 5, 2026
Edward Cabrera, RHP vs. Robbie Ray, LHP
Edward Cabrera’s return from the IL, where he sat out two weeks with a blister, comes at a time when the Cubs really need a solid outing from a starting pitcher.
So all we can do is hope the blister issue is behind him and he can do that.
Last year against the Giants, June 25, 2025 in San Francisco, he threw 5.1 innings, allowed three hits and two runs, and struck out six. I think we’d take that today.
Robbie Ray is 34 and will be a free agent at season’s end. As such, he’s been mentioned as someone the Cubs might have trade interest in.
His year, though, hasn’t been very good. He hasn’t gone more than five innings in any of his last five starts and in one of them (May 18 vs. the D-backs) he allowed 10 runs and two homers. (Insert obligatory “He’d fit right in with this staff with the homers” joke here.)
Ray has been particularly bad away from San Francisco (6.23 ERA in six road starts, nine HR in 30.1 innings, 2.83 ERA in six home starts, four HR in 32.1 innings), so a) the Cubs might be able to hit him and b) maybe don’t trade for him?
Please visit our SB Nation Giants site McCovey Chronicles. If you do go there to interact with Giants fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
RALEIGH, N.C. — A failed coach’s challenge by John Tortorella was a momentum-changing moment in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
His Vegas Golden Knights appeared to score with five minutes left in regulation, but referee Jean Hebert waved it off immediately, citing goaltender interference. Hebert announced that he and the other on-ice officials thought Ivan Barbashev pushed Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen to knock the puck into the net.
Tortorella after some deliberation decided to challenge the play, and it did not take long for officials and the on-site NHL situation room to stick with the call on the ice of no goal. The Hurricanes scored on the ensuing power play 25 seconds later and went on to win 4-3 in overtime to tie the series.
“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie,” Tortorella said. “Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie and it goes through him into the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”
It was purely a video review of goalie interference and had nothing to do with whether the whistle was blown before the puck crossed the goal line.
“The ruling on the play was goaltender interference,” executive vice president and director of officiating Stephen Walkom told a pool reporter. “He waved it (off) immediately. He believed that it was under the goalie, and the Vegas player went after the puck and interfered with the goalie and his ability to freeze the puck and waived it off immediately.”
Mark Jankowski just had tied it for the Hurricanes a few shifts earlier after Logan Stankoven started the comeback from down 2-0. On the opposing bench, Carolina players and coach Rod Brind’Amour were not sure how the review was going to go.
“Obviously, you’re hoping for the best,” center Sebsastian Aho said. “You can’t really control it. I didn’t have a really good view of it, so I had no clue. So, I was just hoping for the best.”
Brind’Amour decided not to challenge for goalie interference in Game 1 because there were too many variables at play. His thinking turned out to be right again.
“It happened to us in I guess the first game: When it’s called a goal or no goal on the ice, it better be 100% to challenge it,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s the rule we go by. So, they called no goal on the ice, so that’s kind of how I think it worked out. I don’t know. I don’t know what the explanation is. It looked like he had it covered, and then all of a sudden it was in the net. I don’t know. I haven’t really looked at it. I was just happy that it went our way.”
Andersen went full extension to make a paddle save to deny Barbashev on the initial shot. A scrum ensued around the crease with players diving at the puck hoping to knock it in or keep it out.
“To me, it felt like a no goal,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said. “Obviously, I’m on the other side, but I’m sure they have a different opinion. My gut was like, ‘Man, there’s no way.’ What an incredible effort my Freddie just staying with that one and finding a way to get a piece of that. I was flopping everywhere. I didn’t know what was going on. Freddy just stuck with it. The guy’s an absolute animal. That was a pretty crazy play and obviously a game-changer for us.”
The punishment for a failed coach’s challenge is a two-minute minor penalty. Vegas was 4 for 4 on the penalty kill against Carolina’s power play to that point in the series.
“I’m not sure how they go about their thought process, Brind’Amour said. “They’ve obviously killed all the penalties. That’s a big one.”
Staal made sure the Golden Knights didn’t kill this one, tipping defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere’s point shot in for just the Hurricanes’ eighth power play goal of the playoffs. Seth Jarvis made it nine when he scored in overtime, though it may have never gotten to that point had Tortorella not challenged.
“You’d like to make them pay every time,” Aho said. “It’s a big swing because the other option is going down a goal. But other than that, every time you get a power play, you’re trying to score. So, it’s not that different, but obviously it was a big swing.”
The NHL scouting combine is reaching the main portion of the event, with the intense physical testing coming up this weekend. It's been an important week for the Toronto Maple Leafs, particularly considering they have the first overall pick at this year's draft, which is coming up on June 26 and 27.
The results of the scouting combine don't always tell the story of whether a player will become a star in the NHL or not, but it's still interesting to see who might be the strongest or most agile prospects in the draft class.
With that, here's a look at a brief history of current Maple Leafs at the NHL combine in previous years.
Nick Robertson - Pull Ups
At the 2019 NHL combine, Maple Leafs left winger Nick Robertson finished among the best performers at the pull-up test.
This event seems to favor athletes who are light, and the 5-foot-9 Robertson is certainly that. For further reference, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson completed 18 pull-ups in 2022, the second most ever.
In that 2019 draft, the Maple Leafs selected Robertson in the second round with the 53rd overall pick.
Defenseman Jake McCabe wasn't drafted by the Maple Leafs, but has been with Toronto for the past four seasons.
Nonetheless, he had a great showing in the horizontal jump event when he was eligible to be drafted in 2012. Not only is he tied for the 11th-best jump at 119 inches, but that was also the best score of his entire draft class.
The Buffalo Sabres went on to select McCabe in the second round of the 2012 draft with the 44th pick.
Easton Cowan and William Nylander, both first-round picks by the Maple Leafs, performed well in the pro agility test.
Nylander, a part of the 2014 combine and draft class, marked a 4.28-second time in this event. That held up as the second-best time of his class, and tied for 15th on the all-time board.
The right winger ended up getting selected eighth overall by Toronto in 2014 and has since emerged as an NHL star.
As for Cowan, his test was off the charts as he holds the all-time record for the pro agility event. He completed the drill in 4.07 seconds.
Cowan was a surprise pick by the Maple Leafs when he was drafted 28th overall in 2023, but maybe this performance on this particular drill shed some light on him.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 26: Starting pitcher Cade Cavalli #24 of the Washington Nationals reacts after striking out the side to end the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on May 26, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As Cade Cavalli put it, when you have 32 outings in a season, you are not going to have your best stuff every time. The key to being a good starting pitcher in this league is to manage the outing when you do not have your A game. This is something Cavalli is learning, and we are already seeing improvements.
Back in Mid-April, Cavalli had an outing where he could not get out of the second inning against the Pirates. The Nats big right hander just totally lost the zone and could not re-find it. It seemed like Cavalli was destined for a similar outing against the Marlins. He could not find the zone in the first inning, walking three batters, including one with the bases loaded.
However, we got to see the maturation process from Cavalli. He turned his outing around, giving the Nats five solid innings, only allowing two runs. Cavalli also did not walk a batter after that first inning. He told me that he “wanted to make the hitters swing the bat”. With Cavalli’s stuff, good things tend to happen when he is around the zone.
By the third inning, Cavalli really found his good stuff and started to bully the Marlins hitters. There was a neat overlay that showed Cavalli’s fastball and his curveball. It gave you a cool visual of just how nasty his stuff is. Just when you need to gear up for a 98 MPH fastball, he drops in a hammer of a curveball.
One theme that Cavalli kept emphasizing is that he is trying to learn everyday. Cavalli turns 28 in August, and has been in the Nats organization for a long time, but he is still an inexperienced pitcher. He was a two-way player for much of his college career and then lost a lot of reps due to his slow Tommy John recovery. Despite debuting in 2022, Cavalli has only made 24 career starts.
As an inexperienced member of this staff, Cavalli said he has learned a lot from veterans like Zack Littell and Miles Mikolas. He told me that seeing the routines of these older pitchers is helpful, saying “It is not necessarily having conversations with them, it is just being a part of their day. Seeing how they prepare for starts and treat their bodies”. For me, this emphasizes the importance of having veterans around. They don’t even need to be vocal leaders, just having young guys see what it takes to be in this game for a long time matters.
It is not like those veterans are not talking either. Cavalli told me that the starters like to sit in the dugout during games, and just talk about baseball. They discuss “little nuances of the game” as he put it. Whether that is pitch location, what pitch to throw in a specific count, or when to pick off.
Cavalli was named the Opening Day starter in Spring Training, but now it feels like he is truly settling into that role of being a frontline starter. In his last 7 starts, Cavalli has a 3.38 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 40 innings. For me, the inning pitched number is what truly stands out. At the beginning of the season, Cavalli was struggling to get through five innings. However, in these 7 starts, he is averaging 5.7 innings per outing.
Getting deeper into games is what will make Cavalli a top of the rotation starter. Hopefully, he can get that average to 6 innings as he enters his prime. I think Cavalli has the ability to go deep into games, but he needs to be more efficient. He has the ability to hold his velocity, but he has a tendency to have one really long inning.
When you watch Cavalli, you always get the sense that there is more in the tank. The combination of his fastball and curveball is a special foundation. His heater has been sitting at 97 MPH since the start of May, and the curveball is one of the best in the sport. Cavalli could be one of those pitchers who peaks in their early to mid 30’s.
“There’s something more in the tank there.”
Despite Cade Cavalli’s production this season, the Nationals seem to believe he has yet to unlock his full potential. pic.twitter.com/sP8u5snFAm
Starting pitchers peaking in their 30’s is not too uncommon, especially for guys who do not have a lot of mileage on their arms. Zack Wheeler and Max Scherzer are two good examples of pitchers who truly hit their peak after 30. Cavalli is not going to be that caliber of arm, but I think the same idea applies for him. Due to his injuries and the fact he was not a full time pitcher in college, there are not a whole lot of innings in that arm, which is a good thing.
Cavalli also has some clear areas where he can improve as well. His command and control can both be hit or miss at times. He has outings where he is pounding the zone, but he can lose it very quickly. As he gets more experienced, Cavalli will learn how to settle in. We are seeing growth in that area, as shown by his last start.
Another area that Cavalli could explore is his changeup. I think Cavalli has the bones of a great changeup. However, he only uses it 9% of the time, and it feels like he does not trust it enough. When that pitch is working, it can be a devastating offering, especially to lefties. It has so much movement, and I think it could unlock a new element of his game.
While Cavalli is doing a good job keeping the ball in the yard, he has allowed a lot of hits this year. A pitcher with his stuff should not be allowing a .269 average against. His WHIP of 1.42 is also simply too high for a pitcher of his caliber. A part of that high WHIP is the 10 batters he has hit, most of them coming on breaking balls that hit batters in the foot.
There is so much for Cade Cavalli to learn and improve, yet he is already a good starting pitcher. He has a 3.62 ERA, a 3.00 FIP and a 3.76 xFIP. Imagine what Cavalli could be if he irons out some of the warts in his profile. I am not sure he has the command to be a true ace, but I think he has the ability to be a rock solid number two starter. Even in his current form, Cavalli is a number 3 starter in a good rotation, and he is just settling in right now. The sky remains the limit for the Nats big righty.
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was hit by the puck during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday in Raleigh, N.C. (Karl B DeBlaker / Associated Press)
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was forced to leave Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday after taking a puck to his face on a slap shot midway through the first period.
The 14-year veteran, who played for the Kings from 2014-2017, did not return to the game. ESPN is reporting that McNabb was taken from Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., to a hospital for evaluation.
Vegas coach John Tortorella did not have an update on McNabb’s status after his team’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Carolina Huricanes, and the Golden Knights had not provided one as of early Friday morning.
McNabb was defending in front of the net with 9:08 remaining in the first period when a blistering shot by Carolina winger Nikolaj Ehlers hit him in the facial area. Slow-motion replays show the puck may have struck the protective visor on McNabb’s helmet near his eyes.
After crumpling to the ice, McNabb immediately climbed to his feet, skated off the playing area and headed down the tunnel while holding a hand over his nose and mouth.
“It’s a scary play,” Vegas forward Brett Howden said after the game. ”You never want to see that. Just hope he’s doing all right. We haven’t seen him yet but hope he’s doing OK.”
Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin said: “Any time you see that happen to a teammate, especially to a guy like Nabber who is a huge part of this team, a leader, it’s tough. It’s hard to see that happen to any guy on the ice. We’re just hoping for the best for him.”
Born in Davidson, Canada, McNabb was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round of the 2009 entry draft. He played in 37 games for the Sabres and was acquired by the Kings on March 5, 2014. Los Angeles also received Jonathan Parker and a pair of draft picks in exchange for Hudson Fasching and Nic Deslauriers.
McNabb had six goals and 36 assists in three seasons with the Kings before being selected by Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft. This is his third Stanley Cup Final with the Golden Knights, who won the championship in 2023.
In Vegas’ 5-4 Game 1 victory against Carolina on Tuesday, McNabb had three assists for the first time in his career. Ben Hutton and Kaedan Korczak are possible options to take McNabb’s spot if he can’t play in Saturday’s Game 3 in Las Vegas.
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