If the Montreal Canadiens are looking to address their big organizational need, they’ll need to be willing to part with enticing young assets, and one of their prospects really fits that bill. 20-year-old right-shot defenseman Bryce Pickford just had a season for the ages in the WHL.
In 55 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers, the blueliner put up 83 points, including 45 goals. His numbers were so impressive that he has been nominated for both CHL defenseman of the year and player of the year. That’s not at all surprising given the fact that he won both awards in the WHL, but it still shows how exceptional a season he’s had. A third-round pick by the Canadiens at the latest draft, Pickford had impressed them so much by Christmas that they already signed him to an ELC.
Of course, success in the WHL doesn’t always translate to success in the NHL, but his stock is still quite high right now, and a rebuilding team that lacks a pure offensive defenseman may well be interested in his profile. The Canadiens themselves need a right-shot defenseman, but in an ideal world, they’d need one who’d be able to step in the NHL right now, and that’s not Pickford.
Dominating in the OHL, against younger players is one thing, but making the jump to the pro level is quite another. Generally speaking, defensemen need more time than forwards to reach their full potential, and as we’ve seen in these playoffs, the Canadiens’ window of contention has already started opening.
However, Kent Hughes has always been clear that he wants to build a perennial contender, not just a team that will have a great shot at winning the Cup once and then be taken apart. The contracts he’s been able to sign his players to reflect that reality. Hughes is not just about the now; he’s about the long-term as well. There’s a balance he’ll have to strike between getting the pieces that will move the needle in the right direction for his team now and planning for the future as well. He won’t make trades that will leave his prospect cupboard bare, but he won’t overly stockpile either.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 10: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals is showered by sunflower seeds thrown by teammates after he hit a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the third inning at Oracle Park on June 10, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite the loss last night, Nationals fans still got to see the James Wood show up close and personal. The Nats 23 year old slugger hit one of his majestic shots off of Bryce Miller. Unlike most of his home runs, this ball was pulled and got out of Nationals Park in a hurry.
James Wood with a LASER for his 19th home run of the season!
As you can see, James Wood has been one of the best players in all of baseball this year. It is only June 13th, and Wood has already matched his WAR total from last season. Despite Wood’s insane power and freakish size, it still does not feel like he gets talked about enough around the league.
Once the Nats climb up the standings over the next few years, I am sure that will change. When Wood is at his best, he is a truly breathtaking player. That elite version of Wood is exactly what we have gotten for most of this season. He looked all out of sorts the first week and a half of the season, but since then he has been consistently dominant.
In his last 30 games, Wood is hitting .316 with a .996 OPS. We all know that the 6’6 slugger has crazy power, but he has been a truly elite all around hitter lately. There will always be strikeouts in his game, but similarly to Aaron Judge, the quality of contact is so good that he can also hit for average.
Aaron Judge is not a name to throw around lightly, but I think Wood is the closest thing we have seen to Judge. As we know, Judge has been the most dominant hitter of the 2020’s, with an OPS over 1.100 from 2022 to 2025. Reaching those heights could be a tough ask, but I think Wood can be a guy who posts OPS marks over 1.000 in his prime.
A big reason for that is how often he barrels up baseballs. Right now, Wood has a barrel rate of 25.3%. That is comfortably the best mark in the league, with Judge being the closest with a 21.7% barrel rate. In the statcast era, Wood currently has the 4th highest barrel rate of all time, only trailing 3 Judge seasons.
James Wood currently has the 4th highest barrel rate in the statcast era only trailing 3 historic Aaron Judge seasons pic.twitter.com/Gms6WyxM5e
For context, a barrel is a ball hit at least 98 MPH at a certain launch angle threshold. The harder the ball is hit, the wider the threshold is. Here is a link to MLB’s definition of a barrel. It is a somewhat weird definition, but the point is that barrels are the best contact a hitter can make. The batting average on a barrel tends to be in the .700 range and those hits tend to go for extra bases as well.
In an era where power is as important as ever, being the best at finding barrels is incredibly valuable. James Wood finds the most barrels in all of baseball. Among players 25 or younger, the barrel gap is enormous. Wood has 42 and the next closest players have 28. This just shows you why Wood has the highest offensive ceiling of any young player in the game.
3 players under 25 years old have over 25 barrels this season:
James Wood – 42
Sal Stewart – 28 Nick Kurtz – 28
James Wood is going to be one of the top hitters in baseball for a long time. pic.twitter.com/To2xAxU5q5
There were times last season and to start this year where I was tough on Wood. The strikeouts were worrying, and he did not look like the same guy we saw in the first half of last year. However, as I probably need to remind myself more, patience is required for these young players. This version of Wood is the best we have seen yet. I think he is at a higher level than he was in the first half of last year.
A big reason for that is his batted ball profile. Even when Wood was rolling last season, he was hitting a lot of ground balls. In the first half of 2025, Wood’s ground ball rate was 50.2%. This year that number has been cut to 38.5%, which is a massive cut. Fewer ground balls means more barrels and more damage.
The fact Wood is hitting more balls in the air makes me less concerned about him having a power drop off in the second half again. Even if he goes through some stretches where the strikeouts pile up, he will have more chances to go deep when he does hit the ball.
Watching Wood hit all these line drives and flyballs is a glorious thing. He has the best opposite field power I have ever seen in a player. Over half of his home runs go to left center, with many of them being in near identical locations. Here is a video of all his home runs, at least through May 26th, and I loved watching it.
— Baseball Performances (@MLBPerformances) May 27, 2026
From Bryce Harper to Juan Soto to James Wood, Nationals fans have been blessed to have some of the best left handed bats of the 21st century on their team. While Wood still has work to do to get into that category, he certainly has the ability to do it. At just 23 years old, Wood has a .953 OPS and is underperforming his xwOBA by 25 points.
The last thing Wood has to do before he can truly be anointed as one of the game’s best is to keep this up for a full season. Last year he hit a wall, but I think Wood will have learned from that. There is only one way to find out for sure though. For now, let’s just sit back, relax and watch the big man hit.
After exiting Friday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays early, the Yankees have placed OF Trent Grisham on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, the team announced Saturday.
In a corresponding move, the team returned Jasson Dominguez (AC joint sprain) from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 10-day injured list.
Grisham left the game with hamstring tightness in the sixth inning, appearing to injure himself while rounding first base and making an awkward slide into second on a throw home after hitting a two-run single.
New York replaced Grisham on defense with Max Schuemann, who moved to right field with Spencer Jones shifting to center field.
Dominguez, who has been out since May 7, was scheduled to play in another rehab game in Triple-A on Saturday before Grisham's injury forced the team to bring him back sooner than planned. He will start in right field for the first time on Saturday, joining Jones and Cody Bellinger in the outfield.
Over 66 games this season, Grisham is hitting .232 with eight home runs and 35 RBI while manning CF on a daily basis. On the other hand, Dominguez has played in just nine big league games this year (30 at-bats) and owns a .200 batting average with one home run and four RBI.
Stanton suffers minor setback
Aaron Boone told reporters Saturday ahead of their game against the Blue Jays that DH Giancarlo Stanton felt a tweak in his calf while running bases this week and may get more imaging.
Stanton was expected to return to the team during their upcoming homestand, but that is now up in the air.
The veteran slugger has been sidelined since April 24 with a right calf strain.
Artemi Panarin already knows what Peter Laviolette wants — and now the Los Angeles Kings are betting that familiarity can help fix an offense that’s been stuck in neutral for years.
The Kings officially introduced Laviolette as the 32nd head coach in franchise history on Wednesday, handing the 61-year-old the job of reshaping a team that has not won a playoff series since its 2014 Stanley Cup run and was most recently swept by the Colorado Avalanche in a blunt reminder of how far it has fallen behind the NHL’s fastest contenders.
That series told the story in simple terms: five goals total, very little sustained pressure, and long stretches where Los Angeles simply couldn’t generate anything off the rush or in transition.
Known for early offensive spikes and aggressive, pace-driven systems, Laviolette has built a coaching career on unlocking scoring quickly — whether in Carolina, Philadelphia, Nashville, Washington, or most recently with the Rangers.
Across those stops, the results have followed a familiar rhythm: immediate jump in offense, playoff appearances, and at times deep runs, including a Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006 and additional trips to the Final in 2010 and 2017.
But the most relevant connection in Los Angeles might not be system-based — it’s personal.
Artemi Panarin already knows the ceiling Laviolette can unlock.
In New York, Panarin produced one of the best seasons of his career under Laviolette in 2023-24, finishing with 49 goals and 120 points — a top-five Hart Trophy finish and one of the most productive offensive years in Rangers history. He followed that with another strong season before eventually being traded to the Kings earlier this year.
Now, the two are reunited.
“He can change a game on any given night,” Laviolette said of Panarin. “I’m really excited to work with him again.”
Panarin’s arrival in Los Angeles has already shown early signs of impact. He finished the regular season with 27 points in 26 games after the trade and accounted for two of the Kings’ five goals in the playoff sweep against Colorado — one of the few players who consistently found space in an otherwise compressed series.
That production stands in sharp contrast to the broader offensive profile of the roster. The Kings finished 29th in the NHL with 225 goals and were outscored by 22 on the season, finishing 20th overall with 90 points — the lowest-ranked playoff qualifier in the field.
Laviolette made it clear this week that philosophical labels won’t dictate usage or responsibility.
“There’s not going to be two sets of plans for those that we consider offensive and those that we consider great defensive defensemen,” he said. “There will be one set of rules, one set of plans.”
The challenge, however, is structural. Unlike his time in New York, Laviolette won’t have an elite play-driving defenseman like Adam Fox to stabilize breakouts and ignite transition play. That places more pressure on a blue line that combined for just 23 goals and 110 assists in the regular season, then managed only a single point of offense in the postseason.
It also forces a broader identity shift — one the Kings have resisted for years.
Still, there is optimism inside the organization that Laviolette’s track record translates. He has guided teams to the playoffs in 11 of the past 14 seasons he finished behind an NHL bench and ranks seventh all-time in coaching wins with 846.
General manager Ken Holland pointed to that consistency when explaining the hire.
“You look at his resume, all the teams he’s been with, the impact he’s had in the first couple of years,” Holland said. “It’s a hard league to win in.”
For Los Angeles, the calculation is simple but risky: the structure has taken them as far as it can. Now they’re betting pace, aggression, and a system built to unleash scorers will take them further.
Jun 12, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) leaves the field after being lifted during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images | John Hefti-Imagn Images
In their return to the baseball field after mounting a historic comeback against the Nationals on Wednesday, the San Francisco Giants — you guessed it! — were nearly shut-out by the Chicago Cubs.
You know how when you come back from the store and you want to speed-up the cool-down process on some room-temperature beverages because you’re throwing a party, so you pop a couple cans into the freezer…and then inevitably forget about them. That’s what happened here: the offense forgot to take their bats out of the freezer. Their heads were lost in the clouds after the walk-off grand slam. They were buzzin’. The off-day on Thursday turned into a weekend — two days where no real baseball happened. The lineup managed just four baserunners over 6 innings against Cubs starter Javier Assad, who has thrown 12.1 scoreless frames against the Giants within the past five days.
When the rest of the line-up went 1-for-26, Bryce Eldridge, batting second, went 3-for-4 — the only who reached scoring position, made it to third base, and finally touched home after his solo shot in the 9th inning.
Luis Arraez led off the game with a single, extending his hitting streak to a dozen games, but Jung Hoo Lee’s 18-game tear was unfortunately wrapped with him standing in the on-deck circle as Rafael Devers went down looking to end the night.
Lee didn’t go down quietly. With two-outs and Eldridge standing on third, he pulled a 96 MPH grounder that chased after a single between first and second, but Gold Glover Nico Hoerner closed the hole. In the 7th, turned on an inside fastball from southpaw-slinger Hoby Milner that off the bat looked like it could be a double in the right-center gap — but the extra-bases liner was easily run down by Seiya Suzuki patrolling the alley.
Thus ends a remarkable streak dating back to May 14th in which Lee transformed into the hottest hitter in the league. In 78 at-bats, Lee bagged 36 knocks (29 singles), good for a .480 average, as he saw his season batting average balloon from .265 to .333, currently the second highest in MLB. Perhaps if there was a little more pep in his teammates’ steps, Lee might’ve got another crack at keeping the streak alive.
And then there’s the pitching. If you look at this game in a vacuum, you can’t blame the SF arms for a loss in which zero runs were produced by the bats until one-out in the 9th inning. Fair — but this game does not exist in a vacuum. Fans dragged their feet into this game knowing, feeling in their gut the facts that Bryan Murphy spelled out for us. The 2026 Giants pitching staff is historically bad, and their weaknesses were on full display Friday night: self-inflicted stress and fatigue, the inability to close out innings, or have one reliable fireman able to throw a wet-blanket on a fire. Starter Landen Roupp worked his way into 8 full counts, threw 100+ pitches, and didn’t complete the 5th inning. The Cubs scratched their first run across in the 4th after Roupp walked leadoff man, Michael Busch, and scored from first on a hit-and-run double by Suzuki. Roupp walked another to start the 5th and was pulled after Alex Bregman’s two-out double put runners at second and third. Tony Vitello went to lefty Erik Miller to face the lefty Busch, who spit a hanging slider out into the cove for a three-run homer.
Life is all about context. It’s about relationships and interactions that get so haphazardly colored and re-colored by one’s actions and decisions. The dominant emotions felt by fans towards the Giants pitching staff right now is distrust and dread. Those emotions have been earned and reaffirmed many times over the season so far, and reached a new low for many after some of the pitching staff’s pointed protest of Pride Night. The choices made by Roupp, JT Brubaker, and Ryan Walker to chalk a Bible reference onto to their SF Giants Pride logo hat, or in the case of Sam Hentges, not wear the hat at all, will have a much, much longer shelf-life in the community’s collective memory than their pitching performances on Friday night, or throughout the year.
Some were quick to praise those players’ choice. Some have mourned it, wishing that God changed their God mind, scrapped the covenant made with Noah and sent the rains again. Throw Logan Webb on the new ark and let the rest of the pitching staff be swept up in a flood. That’s kinda how I’m feeling this Saturday morning as I frustratingly and bitterly turn my Bible to Genesis 9 and read the words: “I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh.” (NRSV)
Hmmm… Every living creature… All flesh… A big ol’ rainbow splashed across the sky… Sounds like Pride Night to me.
Perhaps, for the pitching staff specifically, a new covenant is needed. Let’s plop a massive Ten Commandments-like statue right in the middle of the bullpen at Oracle and chisel some reminders into the stone tablets: Thou shalt not walk the lead-off hitter in an inning.Thou shalt control the running game. Thou shalt maintain count leverage and be efficient with thou pitch count. Thou shalt not become predictable with your pitch selections. Thou shalt not hang sliders. And most importantly: Thou shalt love others because if God is anything worthwhile, then God has to be love, and thou shalt think about how love is not just an emotion you feel, but the emotion you make other people feel by your actions.
We’ve reached the point where these Cubs now feel like someone you dated some time ago. You see a couple of good things, but your brain just keeps reminding you of all of the painful moments from the past. Even against two teams that have already played themselves firmly into wait til next year territory, two nice looking road wins isn’t nothing. A couple of strong pitching performances back to back and some signs of the offense coming back to life wants to feel good. But of course, before these two nice games were three losses to these same two teams right before it. And before that, it was pretty ugly for a while. And so, it’s going to take an awful lot of this to get us to start leaning back into it.
And so, we friend zone this team. We don’t want to hear it talking about this time is going to be different. We’ve been burned. Hard. They tried in April and into early May to show us that not only could this team be a playoff team but a team that could win at least a series after it gets there, like its predecessor did. But we’re savvy baseball fans. We’re not going to be fooled so easily. Yeah, these games looked good. But we’ve been fooled before, only to get burned. Nothing has really changed. These are the same players that were losing all of those games.
I mean, I guess Matt Shaw came back. I don’t think that’s nothing. But I didn’t have Shaw on my scorecard as locker room leader. He’s one of the youngest guys on the team. I just think he’s a key bat against left handed starters. The Cubs haven’t faced one this week and he hasn’t started a game. And they lost the first couple of games after he got back. So that isn’t a change. At least not yet. None of the wounded starters is back. I mean, Edward Cabrera is. And he started one of the wins. But he’s been back for a little while now. He was also here for some of the losing. So that isn’t a change. He hasn’t been all that good as a Cub. The potential is there. But will he put it together?
Then Seiya Suzuki had that grand slam on Thursday. That’s proof of concept in that it qualifies as an actual hit with runners in scoring position. He crushed that double on Friday that started the scoring in that game. Not RISP, but still scored a run. Then Michael Busch added a three-run homer. You can’t have a grand slam or a three-run homer without them being hits with runners in scoring position. All those runners aren’t on first. Big hits with RISP. Two days in a row. A good start from Cabrera and a very good start from Javier Assad.
Doubles. Homers. That’s slug. Why did this team stop slugging? Every position player on this team has the potential given ample playing time to hit 15 homers. Many of them have the potential to hit twice that. Why did the slug go away? Whether or not you like OPS as a simple barometer of offensive prowess, it does have some value that way. It’s a really simple stat, even if it’s a weird one for us to add two numbers that have different denominators together into one number. Also, it still has some predictive value for a player or a team. It’s a simple metric. On base. Plus slug. That slug is important. I would argue that it’s the more important part of the two. It’s hard to beat teams with walks and singles alone. You’ll do it a handful of times per season. But it just isn’t sustainable.
This team was a lot of fun back in April and early May, no? We had a lot of good times together. So many walk-offs. I wish we could get back to the way things were back then. Those were the best days. Maybe it would be different this time? Maybe we’ve learned from our mistakes.
Three Positives:
Javier Assad threw six innings. He allowed three hits and a walk. He struck out five. This is Javy when things are good. Worked into some trouble, but so elusive and evasive. Feels like a second generation championship era pitching offspring. Managing and inducing weak contact.
Michael Busch had the big three-run homer and also drew a walk. Made the game comfortable.
Seiya Suzuki doubled his first two times up. Both were smoked, the second one just didn’t have the kind of lift to get out of the park, particularly to center. Drove in the first run.
Game 70, June 12: Cubs 5, Giants 1
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Javier Assad (.258). 6 IP, 21 BF, 3 H, BB, 0 ER, 5 K (W 4-1)
Hero: Seiya Suzuki (.217). 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, R
Sidekick: Michael Busch (.199). 1-3, HR, BB, 3 RBI, R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Ian Happ (-.067). 0-4, R
Goat: Moisés Ballesteros (-.049). 0-4
Kid: Dansby Swanson (-.039). 1-3
WPA Play of the Game: For the second straight day, the big hit is a Seiya Suzuki fourth inning extra-base hit. This one, an RBI double with a runner at first and one out. Scored the game’s first run. He ended up on third himself (and later scored the second run) after a throw towards the plate. (.178)
Giants Play of the Game: Bryce Eldridge singled to right leading off the fourth inning for the Giants with the Cubs up two. (.048)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 69 Winner: Seiya Suzuki received 124 of 145 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Busch +23
Ben Brown +11.5
Pete Crow-Armstrong/Michael Conforto +10
Ian Happ/Trent Thornton, Carson Kelly +7.5
Caleb Thielbar/Phil Maton/Jameson Taillon -8
Matt Shaw -10
Dansby Swanson -12
Seiya Suzuki -23.5
Up Next: Game two in San Francisco Saturday night. It’s Ben Brown Day for anyone who celebrates. Ben is 2-2 with a 1.74 ERA and has been the bright, shining star of this team. They ended up needing extra innings to do it, through no fault of Ben’s, but the one game the Cubs won against the Giants in Chicago was Ben’s start. The Cubs are 11-7 when Ben Brown pitches in a game, 4-2 when he starts.
Trevor McDonald (2-3, 4.15) threw five innings, allowing a run on four hits and three walks while striking out six last Sunday in Chicago. The Giants eventually won that game. Despite a relatively pitching friendly home park, he’s been better on the road (3.27 in four starts) than at home (5.29 in three starts).
I’m not going to lie, three straight wins would be cool. It’s going to take more than that for me to be over the last month or so of baseball, but you know. It’s a start.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 25: David Parrish of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during Yankees Photo Day at Legends Field on February 25, 2005 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sports are a part of our lives that provide us with the best human stories. While we don’t have access to the everyday lives of players we see on the field, court, ice, or diamond every night, those with more access than most have the responsibility to tell their stories. And one of the most curious Yankees stories is David Parrish.
Selected twice by the Yankees, Parrish never took the field in pinstripes despite donning them in the dugout. But his story is still one of the most interesting (and, for many, potentially sad or disappointing): working his way up to the minors, coming up to the major leagues, and sitting in the dugout without any playing time.
David Michael Parrish Born: June 13, 1979 (Ypsilanti, MI) Yankees Tenure: 2000-06 (minors); 2004 (called up but didn’t play)
Parrish was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and moved to Yorba Linda, California, at a young age. The son of Lance Parrish, an eight-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove Award winner, six-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and 1984 World Series champion with the Detroit Tigers, David played high school baseball at Esperanza High School. After a successful high school career that put him on the map for plenty of scouts, he was initially drafted by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 1997 MLB Draft, but instead chose to return to Michigan to play for the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
He didn’t play much in 1998 and 1999, but in his 2000 season, he was the starting catcher for the Wolverines—where future well-traveled big-leaguer Rich Hill was his batterymate—and posted some excellent numbers, including a .432 on-base percentage and a .621 slugging percentage. Along with his .356 batting average, his OPS came out to 1.409 that season, putting him amongst the best college baseball prospects.
The Yankees decided to dip back into the well again under general manager Brian Cashman and select Parrish again, this time in the first round (28th overall) of the 2000 MLB draft, hoping to fare better than they had with their last batch of first-round picks, which were absolutely abysmal. However, he was still considered a reach at the time.
Parrish was a touted pick selected between 1996 (Eric Milton, who was traded to the Twins in the Chuck Knoblauch deal) and 2004 (Phil Hughes). But it would be another pick in a string of many that would turn out poorly for the Bombers. David would never achieve much above A-ball. He finished with a .664 career Double-A OPS and .644 career Triple-A OPS between 2002-08. However, the real story for Parrish comes from his time on the Yankees’ roster from May 13-16, 2004.
On May 12th, Yankees starting catcher and the year prior’s third-place finisher in American League MVP voting, Jorge Posada, suffered a broken nose when he was struck by a thrown ball while trying to break up a double play. Parrish was then called up and assigned uniform No. 57, providing insurance behind backup catcher John Flaherty.
Despite his hopes and dreams of stepping into a major league game, Parrish never got the chance. Yes, he got to exit the Yankees clubhouse and sit in the dugout for major league games. But Posada returned to the lineup on May 18th. And while he was in the dugout for the Yankees through a series with the Seattle Mariners, one of his father’s former teams, his dreams were short-lived. He never appeared in a game, and, according to our site manager who covered those 2004 Yankees with extreme depth, he doesn’t even remember Parrish making a TV appearance. As such, he became a “phantom player.”
The Yankees and Parrish eventually parted ways early in 2006. The team was set with Posada for the foreseeable future, and considering Parrish’s production in the minor leagues, or, rather, lack thereof, there was no reason for them to keep him around with a new crop of players coming in (including Francisco Cervelli). The Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, and San Diego Padres organizations all took a flyer on him, but despite those teams giving him a chance, he never returned to the majors. Parrish eventually retired in 2008 following his age-29 season in Long Beach in the Golden League, where he played only 10 games. In fact, in the last three seasons of his minor league career, he played only 111 games with a collective batting average of .187, almost solidifying that his time playing any sort of professional baseball had come to a close.
Since the selection of Parrish in the first round of 2000, there was mostly a string of disappointing picks for the Yankees. There were picks who drew plenty of hype from the media and those outside of baseball spheres but didn’t end up signing with the men in pinstripes, including Mark Prior and Gerrit Cole, the latter of whom obviously ended up signing with the Yankees as as free agent later in his career, and exciting minor leaguers who never seemed to truly put it together for them in pros such as the aforementioned Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Joba Chamberlain. But, it’s also important to remember what happened the majority of the time, which was players who just weren’t great picks at all by the Yankees front office and its scouting staff, increasing scrutiny from the fanbase.
Parrish’s story is one that is disappointing, but it’s also a good reminder that not every sports story is glamorous. There are plenty of those who see the light of day for just a moment and are eventually dragged back to what is viewed as the doldrums. Sure, it’s still professional baseball, but it’s very different than walking through the tunnel and into the Yankees dugout donning the pinstripes. Additionally, as the son of a decorated MLB player, there was somewhat of a legacy to live up to. However, Parrish made it as far as he could, and he will forever have the story of sitting in that Yankees dugout for a series, experiencing life as a Yankee in front of fans in The Bronx.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 26: Manager Don Mattingly #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies catches a foul ball during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This week, we asked you the question about what kind of grade you would give Don Mattingly on the job he’s done this season. You answered.
It’s pretty funny that both times the team has made a managerial change in the early part of the season, the team has gone on a run and gotten themselves right. There hasn’t been much he has had to do in his tenure so far since a lot of the team’s improvement has been the players simply playing better.
It doesn’t hurt that his arrival as manager almost perfectly coincided with the return of Zack Wheeler from the injured list.
There is still a lot of questions to ask about what Mattingly will ultimately do differently when the chips are down. He’s clearly not afraid to use Jhoan Duran often, but what about in the dog days of summer? Will he start to save some bullets for a possible postseason run? One thing Mattingly did do differently was sit down Alec Bohm for a few days when he was struggling. Will Mattingly do the same with players like Trea Turner or J.T. Realmuto, players with a bit more cash in the bank account?
So far, though, he has done a fine job. No complaints about it.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 05: Martín Pérez #33 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Friday, June 5, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
In a bit of a rough patch of play and missing two of their best bats in Ronald Acuna and Drake Baldwin, the Braves are hoping to be able to beat the Mets in game 2 of their series behind Martin Perez.
It appears likely that Sean Manaea will get some bulk innings for the Mets, though he came in after an opener in his last appearance before eating 4.0 innings. Manaea has been pretty good in this non-starting bulk innings role, with an xERA, FIP, and xFIP right around 4.00. He’s working with a pretty low-velocity arsenal at this point, but does have some pretty good extension. He’s working with some very horizontally moving stuff, primarily pitching off of his four-seamer, sinker, and sweeper, with a cutter and changeup sprinkled in on occasion. His walk and strikeout rates have been quite average, with a below average ground ball rate. Manaea is pretty average but not bad and a rough equivalent in quality to what Martin Perez has been this season. The hope is that the Braves’ offense can make something happen in the absence of a few of their stars.
Martin Perez will look to continue his relative success this season, as he has a great 3.00 ERA but an xERA, xFIP, and FIP all around 4.00, much like Manaea, but as a totally acceptable number for the fifth starter. He’s been getting it done with his changeup, using his sinker and cutter with a few four-seamers and curves mixed in. This feels like advantage Mets on paper, without Acuna or Baldwin and with roughly equivalent pitchers on the mound. Here’s hoping that some combination of a good/lucky Perez start and some real offense can make it happen.
The ball gets away from New York Knicks Patrick Ewing (R) as teammate Anthony Mason (L) blocks out New Jersey Nets Armon Gilliam (C) during the first half of their NBA game 20 December 1994 in New York. (Photo by MARK D. PHILLIPS and - / AFP) (Photo by MARK D. PHILLIPS/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
For the past 25 years, any remotely good New York Knicks team would eventually get compared to the 1990s Knicks. Makes sense, considering they were the most modern-era squad close to going the distance after New York last celebrated a title in 1973.
If you’re like me, you weren’t around back then. If you’re like my father, you weren’t either. So yeah, the ‘90s are the golden Knicks benchmark for contemporary NYK teams because that is what happens when a franchise spends 50-plus years mostly selling fans hope but ultimately dealing them pain. Alas.
Now, however, this comparison can’t make any more sense.
The 2026 Knicks will play Game 5 of the freaking NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs tonight, heading into it up 3-1, one win from their first championship since forever, and with a chance to topple the heights reached by both the 1994 and 1999 Knicks mobs.
As stupid as it might have sounded just two months ago, the Knicks are the favorites to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy when all is said and done, with FanDuel giving them -500 odds to the Spurs’ +385 entering Saturday’s matchup. See it to believe it!
The 1994 Knicks were the true big one. Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason, Derek Harper, all of them led by Pat Riley on the sideline, and coming off a 57-win regular season. The Finals run? Seven games against Hakeem Olajuwon’s Rockets. The ending? A title being close enough to hurt Knicks fans forever.
Then came 1999, the weirdest miracle run. After a shortened regular season following an infamous lockout, the Knicks entered the playoffs as a true underdog with the No. 8 seed out East, beat Miami, beat Atlanta, beat Indiana, and reached the Finals against 2026 dance partners the Spurs. By then, Ewing was hurt, and that was as damaging as what happened five years earlier, with neophyte Tim Duncan and admiral David Robinson pulverizing New York’s hopes in five outings.
These Knicks feel a bit different from those two historic squads in NYK lore. Those two Finals-bound teams were tough as nails, and while the current Knicks can put the clamps on anybody, there’s a distance there, and it’s fair to say that the Julius Randle-RJ Barrett stage of the roster was closer to that than the current version of it.
Jalen Brunson, as the face of the franchise, gives the Knicks the late-game guard those ‘90s teams never really had, in a clear contrast to the forward-and-big-heavy talent crammed into the past iterations of the winning Knicks.
Yes, Karl-Anthony Towns is in the paint these days, but you can’t even start to compare as he’s more of the finesse variety and gives New York a shooting touch who changes everything on the floor.
OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are two of the best two-way wings in the Association and clear-cut models of modern basketball, compared to the grittier and darker and dirtier 1990s wrestling-ball.
Perhaps Josh Hart—with a s/o to Jose Alvarado too—is the latest remnant of that nearly glorious era, only just born 20 years after he should, but lucky to find his way to New York, blossomed into the Energizer Bunny we came to know and love.
The ’90s teams built the standard for Knicks toughness and togetherness, but they will always be remembered for coming oh-so-close, as endearing as they are and will ever be to our hearts.
The 2026 Knicks, however? Oh, boy, these dudes have a chance to cross all t’s and dot all i’s.
One more win, and the 2026 Knicks will forever stop being compared to the 1990s Knicks. They will pass them, put themselves on par with the golden ’70s Knicks, and force new comparisons for the near and distant future.
One miserable week doesn't erase six brilliant months, and Joe Sakic made it abundantly clear the Colorado Avalanche have no intention of confusing disappointment with disaster.
The Avalanche bulldozed the NHL on their way to the Presidents' Trophy, finishing as the league's highest-scoring team while allowing the fewest goals. For most of the season, they looked less like contenders and more like an inevitable champion.
Then came four games against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The sweep was ugly. It was frustrating. It was also, in Sakic's eyes, far too small a sample to justify detonating a roster built to compete for championships.
“We could panic and try and blow everything up and start all over,” Sakic told reporters. “But this team, what they’ve done over the course of the year, was pretty remarkable. Now, I want to give them an opportunity to try and do it again.”
That philosophy should shape every major decision the Avalanche make this summer.
You don't tear down a mansion because one toilet clogged.
For weeks, speculation has surrounded Colorado's unrestricted free agents, but Sakic's comments paint a much different picture than the one many fans expected.
If the general manager genuinely believes the Western Conference Final was little more than one terrible stretch against an elite opponent, there is little incentive to gut the supporting cast that helped produce a 121-point season.
That could mean a majority—if not all—of Colorado's unrestricted free agents return.
Nick Blankenburg proved to be a dependable seventh defenseman, Brent Burns showed he could still handle significant minutes at 41 years old, Brett Kulak brought stability to the blue line after arriving at the trade deadline, and Joel Kiviranta battled through multiple injuries to provide a steady, reliable presence even if the offensive production never fully materialized. Kiviranta also earned a spot on Finland's roster for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, where he represented his country alongside fellow Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen and former Colorado star Mikko Rantanen.
Keeping that group intact would align far more closely with Sakic's public message than pursuing wholesale change.
The bigger question belongs to restricted free agent Jack Drury.
According to DNVR's AJ Haefele, Drury declined multiple contract offers from the Avalanche during the season. That naturally raises concerns about whether negotiations could become complicated, but it doesn't necessarily mean the two sides are headed for a breakup.
Negotiations often become a game of patience.
And Colorado has a compelling comparable.
As The Hockey News' Stefano Rubino recently noted, the Minnesota Wild signed veteran center Michael McCarron to a six-year contract carrying a $3.33 million average annual value. Drury is smaller, younger and brings a completely different skill set, but his value to Colorado extends far beyond the scoresheet.
His faceoff numbers routinely climb above 60 percent, making him one of the NHL's most dependable specialists. Whether protecting a one-goal lead late in the third period or creating an offensive-zone possession after an icing call, Drury consistently wins critical draws that tilt games.
Fourth-line centers rarely command massive contracts, but elite defensive centers who dominate the faceoff circle are considerably harder to replace than many realize.
Finding common ground should remain a priority.
None of this means the Avalanche will spend the offseason standing still.
Sakic acknowledged the organization will examine every avenue to improve the roster, including the trade market. Without an abundance of premium draft picks, player-for-player hockey trades may become Colorado's preferred method of creating flexibility.
Ross Colton remains an obvious candidate.
The 28-year-old enters the final season of his four-year, $16 million contract, and Colorado explored moving him before the trade deadline without finding a suitable partner. His postseason usage also raised eyebrows after he was scratched for the first two games against the Los Angeles Kings before eventually returning to the lineup.
Valeri Nichushkin's future is another conversation that refuses to disappear.
At his best, Nichushkin is one of hockey's most dominant power forwards, capable of controlling games with his size, puck protection and two-way play. He is also signed through 2030 with a $6.125 million annual cap hit.
The challenge isn't talent.
It's availability.
Nichushkin missed the final five games of Colorado's first-round series against Seattle in 2023 after leaving the team for what the organization described as personal reasons. A Seattle police report later revealed an intoxicated woman had been discovered in his hotel room before Game 3.
Months later, he entered Stage 1 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, which carries no disciplinary penalty but requires inpatient treatment.
After returning and producing nine goals in eight playoff games, Nichushkin suffered another setback, failed a drug test and entered Stage 3 of the program, resulting in a suspension without pay for a minimum of six months.
Since being reinstated, however, there have been no additional incidents, and by all accounts he has remained in good standing while returning to the lineup.
That reality makes any decision involving Nichushkin far more nuanced than simply measuring goals and assists.
The Avalanche certainly have options this summer, but Sakic's comments suggest evolution rather than revolution.
Colorado does not believe its championship window has slammed shut.
Instead, the organization views the season-ending stretch as an outlier that interrupted what was otherwise one of the strongest regular-season performances in franchise history. But as has been reported extensively, it wasn’t simply a bad week. There were underlying issues that were exposed and never fully corrected, and addressing those gaps will be a priority moving forward—whether that means adding a young left-shot defenseman via trade, or injecting more size and physicality up front.
If the man in charge truly holds that belief, it’s unlikely he will overhaul a roster that spent six months proving it belongs among the NHL’s elite.
The Stanley Cup is days from being awarded, the NHL combine has concluded, and in the weeks prior to the NHL Draft at the end of June, the rumor mill has been churning under the surface, as we may be on the precipice of an explosive summer or a disappointing one in terms of player movement. Two high-profile players (Dylan Larkin and Darnell Nurse) have already requested trades from the teams that drafted them, and indications suggest there may be more to come.
The Anaheim Ducks are notoriously quiet, especially at this time of the year, keeping their cards close to their chest. As a result, their name has only been mentioned in speculation, but, in a refreshing change of pace, that speculation has focused on significant potential moves.
It appeared as though Ducks’ current assistant coach, Jay Woodcroft, was a finalist for the head coaching vacancy with the rival Los Angeles Kings. NHL insider, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, reported on Sunday that the list of finalists included Peter Laviolette, and Laviolette was ultimately hired on Monday.
The only head coaching vacancies remaining in the NHL are with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers. The Leafs are reported to have made contact with former Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins and are uninterested in Woodcroft. Both are former head coaches of the Edmonton Oilers, and thus their names haven’t appeared in rumors regarding that vacancy.
However, another former Ducks head coach, Mike Babcock, is reported to be the frontrunner for the Edmonton job, pending an NHLPA investigation into reported wrongdoing during his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023.
Lastly, San Diego Gulls head coach Matt McIlvane has been announced as assistant coach for the Boston Bruins and head coach Marco Sturm. Sturm was the head coach of Germany’s national team during the 2018 Winter Olympics, with McIlvane serving as his assistant.
McIlvane will fill the vacancy left behind by Jay Leach, who was announced as head coach of the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack. The Gulls will now need to fill their head coaching vacancy, and Friedman suggested Gulls assistant coach Dave Manson may be in line for a promotion to the position.
Dylan Larkin
Following Larkin’s trade request from the Detroit Red Wings, he submitted an initial list of destinations he’d be willing to accept a trade to. The teams on the list have been in contention, with Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reporting them to be the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights. Various other reports have suggested the Tampa Bay Lightning and/or Dallas Stars are on the list.
Since reports of his three-team list arose, Larkin has been requested by Wings general manager Steve Yzerman to expand his list. If his list were to expand, St. James and others have suggested the Ducks may be on that second list.
Elliotte Friedman reported that he, “had not heard Anaheim, but I’ve had people say to me, ‘Anaheim is a team that could do it.’” He went on to speculate during “NHL Tonight” that, “If it’s the Ducks, maybe you get Mason McTavish and something.”
Mason McTavish
McTavish continues to be the name that the national media discusses from the Ducks roster in terms of potential availability for a trade. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun relayed on TSN Radio’s “Melnick in the Afternoon” on Wednesday that teams continue to call Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on his status.
“I really think there’s a chance he gets moved,” LeBrun said. “I think teams are obviously intrigued, given where he was drafted and his pedigree, but also concerned because they’re wondering what’s happening there. They want to know why the Ducks are taking so many calls on him.”
Auston Matthews
For the first time in Matthews’ career, the Toronto Maple Leafs failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2025-26. They are heading in a new direction, with a new front office, eventually a new coach, and the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
It had been reported that one of the Leafs’ goals, from ownership and the new front office, was to sell Matthews on a direction for the organization, and it would appear they have no intention of moving on from their captain in 2026.
However, that hasn’t stopped insiders like LeBrun from speculating on the matter. He reported the Ducks, along with the Kings and Utah Mammoth, had been keeping tabs on Toronto’s situation.
“So, unless something dramatic happens in the coming weeks, the Leafs captain will be back next season in Toronto,” LeBrun wrote in his “Rumblings” column on Wednesday. “That’ll be disappointing for a long list of teams that were keeping an eye on how things developed on the Matthews front, including the likes of the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Utah Mammoth.”
The Braves still have baseball's best record, but they've now lost three straight games, including Friday's series opener against the last-place Mets. Atlanta will try to even the series and set things right on Saturday.
With a favorable pitching matchup and more than two months of results, I like their chances.
My Braves vs. Mets predictions and MLB picks call for Atlanta to roll.
Who will win Braves vs Mets today: Braves run line -1.5 (+167)
The Atlanta Braves haven't lost more than three straight this season. Even with Ronald Acuna Jr. injured, Atlanta is hitting. They've scored 5 or more in four of the last six games. And they've allowed 3 or fewer in four of the last six as well.
The New York Mets'Sean Manea is making his first start of the season. In 14 games as a reliever, Manaea has a 5.02 ERA and the highest walk rate and WHIP of his career.
I'm looking for the Braves to tee off. If the run line is over +150, I'll give up the 1.5 to cash in.
COVERS INTEL: On six or more days' rest, Martin Perez has a 5.10 ERA and .287 average against. The only time he's worse is on short rest. For his career, Perez has a 4.23 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and a .272 average against when on schedule. That balloons to 5.13, 1.46, .286 when the schedule changes.
Braves vs Mets Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+101)
The Mets have scored 12 runs in the last two games, although they've allowed 25 in their last four.
Atlanta starter Spencer Strider left Friday's game with an injury after three innings, and yet the Mets' bullpen may be in worse shape. New York used four relievers on Friday, and the Mets' pen has pitched 19.2 innings in the last three games, with a 5.49 ERA.
A Thursday rainout pushed Braves starter Martin Perez back a day. He has struggled as a starter when his routine changes. Marcus Semien, Juan Soto, and Bo Bichette are a combined .307 with .853 OPS against Perez. Take the Over if it's plus.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 20-24, -2.99 units
Over/Under bets: 24-24, -1.43 units
Braves vs Mets odds
Moneyline: Braves +104 | Mets -108
Run line: Braves -1.5 (+170) | Mets +1.5 (-178)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+104) | Under 8.5 (-108)
Braves vs Mets trend
The Atlanta Braves have covered the Run Line in 36 of their last 50 away games (+23.75 Units / 39% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Mets.
How to watch Braves vs Mets and game info
Location
Citi Field, Flushing, NY
Date
Saturday, June 13, 2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
BravesVision, SNY
Braves starting pitcher
Martin Perez (4-3, 3.02 ERA)
Mets starting pitcher
Sean Manaea (1-1, 5.02 ERA)
Braves vs Mets latest injuries
Braves vs Mets weather
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.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 12: Ildemaro Vargas #6 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates after Matt McClain #9 of the Cincinnati Reds was called out at first base to end the 8th inning at Great American Ball Park on June 12, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Of course the game where Jordan Lawlar makes his return to the field and then puts together a player-of-the-game performance would be pre-empted by Apple TV, leaving the majority of fans with no way to watch it. At least there was something else worth watching elsewhere last night as the USMNT kicked off their World Cup challenge with a convincing pounding of their South American rivals, Paraguay.
Diamondbacks News
June 6th, 2025 – D-backs are .500, and have Eduardo Rodriguez facing Nick Lodolo in Game 1 in Cincy
June 12th, 2026 – D-backs are .500, and have Eduardo Rodriguez facing Nick Lodolo in Game 1 in Cincy
Let's just hope we don't get the same outcome as last year….
Diamondbacks Grind Out Much Needed Win Eduardo Rodriguez was Houdini in the first inning and out of the game before finishing the third, having thrown 85 pitches and allowing two runs (one earned). But Jordan Lawlar and Nolan Arenado flashed some leather and the bullpen locked things down. The Diamondbacks’ offense, anemic of late, scraped together five runs and stopped the losing streak.
Eduardo Rodriguez’s Baffling Start 85 pitches. Eight outs. It was the shortest outing of the season by an Arizona starter giving up less than eight runs — Ryne Nelson’s 0.1-inning blowup being the shortest overall. Rodriguez only surrendered two, one of them coming from a throwing error from outfielder Jordan LAwlar.
Jordan Lawlar Returns, Helps Stop Skid with Glove, Bat, Legs Outside of a throw to third that took a short hop and ended up in the dugout, allowing an unearned run to score, the return of Jordan Lawlar could not have gone much better, or come at a better time.
Other Baseball News
Brewers’ Miz Hurls 15 K CGSO If he keeps pitching like he has been, Jacob Misiorowski is going to need to clear some space on his mantle.
Chase Dollander Expected to Undergo Tommy John Surgery Of course the first capable pitcher the Rockies have had in over a decade is now set to miss a year and change of work and there is no telling how he will return. The pain in Colorado just keeps getting worse.
Boone Says Chapman Not Owed Apology Aaron Boone fired back, responding to claims by Aroldis Chapman that he is owed an apology by Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman for removing him from 2022 playoff roster
Tarik Skubal will start in Cleveland against the Guardians on Saturday, just 38 days after undergoing surgery to remove a loose body from his left elbow. pic.twitter.com/exUwl4rFgF
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 12: Spencer Strider #99 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday, June 12, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Well, the sad writing was brightly stenciled onto the proverbial wall last night, and there goes Spencer Strider to the Injured List, again:
The #Braves today recalled RHP Anthony Molina to Atlanta and placed RHP Spencer Strider on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. Additionally, C Drake Baldwin begins a rehabilitation assignment tonight with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Strider departs, perhaps temporarily, with a 127 ERA-, 131 FIP-, and 103 xFIP-. Despite the hope that he’d build on an extended but uneven stretch in the rotation after returning from a series of injury woes last year, his 2026 was similarly uneven, with him seemingly alternating between “really good” and “ah, nuts” on a start-to-start basis. In aggregate, the bad was worse than the good, and while a Strider without HR/FB issues would be a useful rotation piece (his aggregate 102 xFIP- last year, and 103 this year), it’s not clear whether he can avoid HR/FB issues given what’s transpired when he’s pitched. In any case, there’s now a bigger hurdle ahead of him, as his velocity precipitously declined amid mechanics-related command issues over the course of yesterday’s start, and now we’re in wait-and-see mode.
Anthony Molina has been a prime yo-yo candidate for the Braves this year. This will be his third time pulled up to the big league club, though he’s only made one appearance for the Braves. His performance as a swingman for Gwinnett has been pretty blah — an FIP and xFIP in the mid-4.00s — but he’s not really here to get outs while preventing runs, as the focus on any appearance he makes will be the former with little attention paid to the latter.
Stay tuned for… more bad news, but maybe the Braves will snap their skid later today in New York.
COVERS INTEL: On six or more days' rest, Martin Perez has a 
