PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 5: Austin Wynns #29 of the Athletics looks on against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 5, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Athletics 9-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Due to injuries to both Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy, the Atlanta Braves are currently having to dip into their reserve tank for help at the catcher spot. Part of that help had been provided by Chadwick Tromp, who did deliver a walk-off knock not too long ago. With that being said, Sandy León has been getting most of the reps behind the dish since the both of them became the top catchers’ duo in Atlanta and as a result, Tromp is now the latest Braves player to take the uncertain ride on the DFA cycle.
The Braves announced that they’ve acquired catcher Austin Wynns from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for cash considerations. Wynns is clearly taking the place of Tromp on the roster because Tromp has now been designated for assignment.
To put this in the nicest terms possible, Wynns has been very underwhelming at the plate so far this season. He’s had 43 plate appearances with the SacramentoAthletics where he hit .077/.143/.077 with a .285 wOBA, a -40 wRC+ and three runs scored. Wynns had been released by the A’s in mid-May, picked up by the Angels a few days afterwards and stashed at their Triple-A affiliate from then until now, as he’s been acquired by the Braves and subsequently called up from Triple-A as well. With all of that being said, Wynns does play some solid defense and as evidenced by the fact that León is getting regularly playing time seemingly solely due to his defense, the Braves have made their decision as to what they value from the catcher’s spot while Baldwin and Murphy are gone.
There was also some shuffling going on elsewhere on the roster that corresponded with this move. Outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. reportedly had an opt-out in his contract where if he wasn’t added to Atlanta’s major league roster by a certain date, he could elect free agency. Well, apparently the Braves didn’t want to lose Keirsey to an opt-out because they called him up to the bigs and then immediately sent him back down to Triple-A. Congratulations on your return to the big leagues, DaShawn Keirsey Jr., we hope you enjoyed your time while it lasted.
Anyways, in order to make roster space for all of this to happen, Sean Murphy has now been transferred to the 60-day IL. This was always going to happen once the Braves needed a roster spot since Murphy’s going to be out for a significant period of time with that fractured finger. This doesn’t change anything with his recovery timeline but it does mean that the Braves can now maneuver with him being on the long-term IL instead of taking up a roster spot on the short-term IL.
So there you have it! There’s some more roster shuffling for you. What do y’all make of all these moves?
The Spurs are caught in a major defensive dilemma regarding how to deploy Victor Wembanyama in Game 2.
Wemby was fantastic guarding the perimeter in Game 1, but it came at a price: removing him from the paint left the defensive glass wide open for the Knicks to feast on.
Our Game 2 Knicks vs. Spurs predictions expect San Antonio to adjust by keeping their star big man near the rim tonight, betting they can live with New York’s outside shooting if it means shutting down those killer second-chance opportunities.
My NBA picks expect Wembanyama to ratchet up his rebounding on Friday, June 5.
UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & +825 SGP!
Knicks vs Spurs Game 2 prediction
Who will win Knicks vs Spurs Game 2?
Spurs: The Knicks accomplished their mission and stole a win in San Antonio, flipping home-court on its ear. New York’s veterans never looked rattled in Game 1, even when falling behind big. And when the pressure built, the young Spurs crumbled late in the fourth quarter.
The Finals nerves are gone and I expect a tight San Antonio side to be much looser and shoot better than a dismal effort in the opener. I could see this being another close contest, but San Antonio is a great team off a loss (21-6 SU) and evens things up in Game 2.
Knicks vs Spurs best bet: Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds (-120)
Not only does his rebounding spark the Spurs’ transition (which was a no-show in 2H), but giving up a Costco-sized pack of offensive rebounds to the New York Knicks is crippling to the defense after forcing a miss.
Wembanyama still wrangled 12 boards on 22 rebounding chances but only nine on defense, as he was closing out on shooters.
His Game 2 rebounding total stays lower at 11.5 O/U with projections ranging from 12.5 to 15+ boards. My number is around 14 rebounds, which should have the Over priced at -185.
COVERS INTEL: Wembanyama spent most of Game 1 guarding Karl-Anthony Towns. Game 2 adjustments could see Wemby assigned more to Josh Hart, who shot just 1 for 5 for three points in Game 1. That allows him to play closer to the rim and stay in prime rebounding range.
Knicks vs Spurs Game 2 same-game parlay
I’m not running to lay the points with San Antonio, as New York doesn’t quit. However, I see the Spurs getting past the initial nerves and executing better offensively. Home teams coming off a loss in the NBA Finals aren’t great against the spread, but they are 24-16 SU since 2005-06.
With Wembanyama grabbing long boards and fueling the transition attack, San Antonio evens this series. He’ll stay closer to the rim and convert more of those rebounding chances, with models calling for as many as 15+ boards in Game 2.
Dylan Harper is a big part of that transition attack with his aggressive play getting to the rim for easy looks. With De’Aaron Fox struggling to score, there’s pressure on Mitch Johnson to give the rookie more run. Harper’s projected for as many as 13 points on Friday.
Knicks vs Spurs SGP
Spurs moneyline
Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
Dylan Harper Over 11.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Out of this World
After the Game 1 loss, Mitch Johnson told reporters the team needs to get Wembanyama going earlier following a quiet opening frame. With a focused effort on feeding the “Alien”, Wemby tops his scoring prop, with some bullish models above 29 points. On defense, staying glued to the paint has him picking up rebounds and sending back a ton of shots.
Knicks vs Spurs SGP
Spurs -6.5
Victor Wembanyama Over 26.5 points
Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks
Knicks vs Spurs odds for Game 2
Spread: Knicks +6.5 | Spurs -6.5
Moneyline: Knicks +190 | Spurs -230
Over/Under: Over 214.5 | Under 214.5
Knicks vs Spurs betting trend to know
NBA Finals games with totals of less than 220 points are 36-60 O/U (62.5% Unders) since the 2005-06 season. The Game 2 total is at 214.5 O/U. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Spurs.
How to watch Knicks vs Spurs Game 2
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Friday, June 5, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Knicks vs Spurs latest injuries
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May 29, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello (66) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
TV: NESN
First Pitch: 1:35 p.m. ET
The Red Sox and Orioles will compete in the rubber match of their three-game series on Thursday at Fenway Park.
Brayan Bello, who has been absolutely phenomenal as a bulk reliever, will return to the starting rotation with the hope that he can keep that form without the help (or lack thereof) of an opener. Jovani Morán and Tyler Samaniego, the two men who have opened for the veteran right-hander, have combined to allow nine runs in four innings across their four starts, while the should-be starter has a 0.71 ERA in 25.1 innings of relief in 2026.
It’s just a matter of bringing that same mentality and execution to his original role…
Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Willson Contreras will remain as the first four in the order, with Andruw Monasterio, Carlos Narváez, and Connor Wong slotting back into the lineup after missing the 8-1 victory on Wednesday. Marcelo Mayer, Masataka Yoshida, and Mickey Gasper are out.
The O’s will essentially run things back, with Leody Taveras and Colton Cowser replacing Tyler O’Neill and Blaze Alexander. Trevor Rogers will get the start.
RALEIGH, N.C. — After carrying the Carolina Hurricanes during the season as their top goal scorers, Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov are ice cold in the playoffs.
That was easier to swallow during the first three rounds, when others down the lineup picked up the slack. Now, it is a problem that could cost them the Stanley Cup.
The Hurricanes have met their match in the final against the Vegas Golden Knights, a seasoned opponent with no glaring weaknesses who won the opener 5-4. In Game 2, the pressure squarely is on Carolina’s best players to get it together before it is too late.
“I know we have a better in us, and we’ve got to show it,” Aho said. “It’s on us to figure it out.”
Top-line scoring woes
Through 14 games this postseason, the trio of Jarvis, Aho and Svechnikov has scored just three times against a goaltender at even strength. The success of the second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake made getting past Ottawa, Philadelphia and Montreal a breeze with a single loss in the three series combiend.
Vegas is a different animal, and Game 1 showed the frustration seeping through for the first line.
“This league is weird: You grip your stick a little tight and you get into a weird matchup, and it can look worse than it is,” Hall said. “But things can change on a dime, especially this time of year.”
The Hurricanes have been waiting nearly two months for that change. Coach Rod Brind’Amour for several weeks has exhibited patience and praised Jarvis, Aho and Svechnikov for doing good things away from the puck that contribute to winning, even if they’re not showing up on the scoresheet.
His tone has changed facing a deficit in the final.
“They got to play in the other team’s end,” Brind’Amour said. “They’re too much one and done and not even one (scoring chance), and it’s not a lot of time. So, they got to get a little more offensive zone time. Kind of like that last shift they had. That was one of the shifts you could say: ‘OK, there you go. That’s how it needs to look.’ We need them to get going.”
Glimpse of what could be
That final shift came with the score tied late in the third period of Game 1, hemming the Golden Knights in their own end and generating quality opportunities. Jarvis had one shot blocked, then two more stopped by Carter Hart, including a flashy glove save that set the table for Tomas Hertl to score the winning goal 21 seconds later.
It was a marked improvement from earlier in the game, when Jarvis passed up an open shot looking for a pass and later missing a wide-open net.
“The chances are there,” Jarvis said. “We’ve had our looks. We just have to capitalize now more than ever. We can’t dwell on the past, can’t dwell on the stuff we missed. It’s about the next shift, the next shot.”
Easier said than done because Vegas is going to adjust, too. Coach John Tortorella has preached a consistent approach, and there is a reason the team has won 20 of 25 games since he took over in late March.
“We have thoughts on how to play this team,” Tortorella said. “We need to be patient. In a number of things, how we have to play, I think, requires patience — and when you get a little antsy against that team, they can capitalize. They’re that good. I think we have an understanding of how we have to go.”
What the Hurricanes need
While Jarvis, Aho and Svechnikov have looked off at times, there is little evidence it comes from a lack of caring. Maybe it’s trying too hard.
“It’s not about work ethic or trying harder, but it doesn’t matter at the same time,” Aho said. “There’s also a part that we almost sometimes try to do too much, instead of just letting the game happen and play the game, let the game come to you in a way.”
Teammates are trying to keep those guys’ heads up and focused as best as possible. Defenseman Jalen Chatfield is all about bringing the positivity.
“Everybody’s giving everything out there,” Chatfield said. “That’s not the question. Sometimes it’s bounces. Sometimes things happen in hockey, but I think as a group, (it is about) leaning on each other to help each other play our best.”
Hall, the No. 1 pick in 2010 and MVP in 2017-18 who has found a groove with his sixth NHL organization at age 34, doesn’t feel the need to coach up other players who are struggling. He maintains the belief that Jarvis, Aho and Svechnikov will turn things around.
“Those guys are great players,” Hall said. “They had their chances and their looks (in Game 1). Some of the looks didn’t turn into chances. But we know how good they are, and we know how good they can be and it’s only a matter of time.”
The NHL announced on Wednesday that Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper had won the first Jack Adams Trophy of his career as the NHL’s top coach. In what was the closest race to the trophy ever, Cooper had 226 voting points, just three more than runner-up Buffalo Sabres bench boss Lindy Ruff, who finished with 223. Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse was third with 199.
Where does that leave Montreal Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis? In fifth place with 50 points, 16 behind Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, who had 66. The Habs’ coach had four first-place votes, seven second-place votes, and nine third-place votes. Comparatively, Cooper received 36 first-place votes, Ruff 26, and Muse 18.
Given how much the Canadiens improved this season, it is surprising to see St-Louis finish fifth. Montreal went from a 16th-place finish and 91 points to a fifth-place finish with 106 points and being in the running for its division title. Of course, some would also argue that his team had quite a playoff run, but voting is held at the end of the regular season, before the playoffs begin. Still, St-Louis can at least say that he beat the league’s top two coaches on his way to the third round.
From all the stats about this young Canadiens’ team, the most impressive is probably the fact that it went from giving 3.18 goals per game in 2024-25 to just 3.06 in 2025-26. From a team that struggled to play the defensive style its coach was advocating, the Canadiens became a team that has understood the assignment. That wasn’t easy, but St-Louis managed to teach his players how they needed to play on the other side of the puck. Of course, it’s not perfect yet, but it has gotten better.
It wasn’t an easy year for the coach, who had to make some tough decisions as his team had progressed so much that a heart-and-soul veteran like Brendan Gallagher had to be a healthy scratch to make way for younger players better suited to St-Louis’ brand of hockey. As evidenced by the veteran media availability on Monday, he didn’t agree with the call, but given the speed at which the last two rounds were played, it’s hard to argue with the coach’s decision.
Even if the playoffs didn’t count for this year’s vote, the experience St-Louis picked up in those seven weeks of postseason action will be invaluable going forward. In the first round, against Cooper, he showed he was able to juggle his lines with the best of them to help Nick Suzuki evade the matchup with Brandon Hagel. If he didn’t make adjustments in that first round, the Canadiens wouldn’t have overcome the Lightning. Of course, his lack of adjustments against the Carolina Hurricanes was part of why the Habs were eliminated, but he picked up some valuable experience there, too.
When looking at St-Louis’ body of work, it’s hard not to mention just how much players like Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky have evolved under his tutelage. The coach has been in their shoes, and he’s seen it all. The way he can relate to every player and how well he communicates are big reasons he’s such a good pilot.
The 50-year-old might have finished fifth in voting this time around, but if the Canadiens carry on their upwards trajectory, he’ll soon be able to add a Jack Adams Trophy to his already crowded mantelpiece, which already features two Art Ross trophies, one Hart, one Lester B. Pearson, and three Lady Bing.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 12, 2026: Kristian Campbell #28 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the second inning of a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex on March 12, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Simply put: the WooSox got carved up by the Bison (Blue Jays AAA) pitching staff. Former Ray pitcher Josh Fleming pitched seven innings of two-hit ball and retired 16 consecutive batters en route to an easy win. To say Eduardo Rivera and Angel Bastardo out of relief couldn’t keep up with this lack of offensive firepower would be an understatement; the WooSox couldn’t find the strike zone all night, walking fourteen Bison throughout the day while allowing them seven hits with runners in scoring position. It got to the point where Nathan Hickey, a first baseman, pitched the ninth and gave up a tater.
No, Franklin Arias, did not hit a home run, though he did get a knock against Hartford (Rockies AA). Johanfran Garcia hoisted a ball into the seats, making a 7-6 game a 9-6 game in a shot that’d make all the difference. While the Sea Dogs pitching allowed three homers, the offense answered with three of their own and got them where it matters. And it wasn’t just home runs that made a difference in this game: the Sea Dogs had just a 12% chance of winning the game entering the fifth, but Abhram Liendo’s home run followed by a Nelly Taylor bases-clearing pop up just outside the infield certainly shifted matters.
While Jack Winnay’s ninth home run in High-A put a pebble in Rome (Braves High-A) pitcher Cedric DeGrandpre’s armor, the Drive hitting him around to start the sixth to the tune of five runs and boosting a tie game into a 7-2 lead. Despite committing three defensive errors, all it took was that one rally in which they hit around the lineup, and it completely changed the complexion of an otherwise close game.
Seen enough of the Red Sox’s offense wasting good pitching starts? Well, it happened in A-ball as the RidgeYaks hit 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position against the Warbirds (Brewers A). Jason Gilman, the 23-year-old from Staten Island and a former Division III player (certainly a rarity…) looked incredible, making it through six innings with 64 pitches, allowing just two hits and no walks, striking out ten, even retiring one runner who reached base via a double play. But Salem just couldn’t pull a winnable game in, stranding 11 and getting caught stealing three times, even one of which would have been crucial.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 03: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates a solo home run with Adolis García #53 in the seventh inning during a game against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park on June 03, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are the lineups for the series (and season) finale against the Padres. Let’s discuss!
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 29: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers on the field prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on April 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/IOS/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the calendar now having flipped to June, it’s only natural to start thinking about other events looming on the baseball horizon (well, outside of the potentially apocalyptic event that’s awaiting everybody once this offseason officially gets underway). One of those is the Trade Deadline, which is set for August 3 this season.
As such, Jeff Passan of ESPN has decided that since we’re just under two months away from that always-fateful day in the baseball season, now’s the time to start figuring out what each team is going to be up to at the deadline. Some teams have more modest goals than others and some teams should be attempting to swing for the fences. Jeff Passan has our Atlanta Braves as one of the teams that should absolutely be going for it at the deadline and honestly, I’d agree with that notion.
Assuming the ball club keeps this up this incredible form, this could shape up to be Atlanta’s best chance in years at making a legitimate World Series run and one of the best ways to make sure that this team is continuing to pull in the right direction for the long haul is to give the squad an adrenaline injection around late-July/early-August with an impact addition or two.
In fact, Passan is suggesting that the Braves should make what would likely be the biggest impact addition of the deadline by adding All-World starting pitcher Tarik Skubal into the fold. Here’s a snippet from Passan’s article where he’s talking about what the Tigers should do at the deadline:
2026 unquestionably will be The Skubal Deadline. Provided the two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner returns from his elbow scope healthy and effective, he will be the focus for every contender. It doesn’t matter that he’s a free agent after the season. The deadline is largely about contenders shoring up pitching staffs, and there’s no better bulwark than the best pitcher in the world. And, no, the prorated amount — around $10 million of his $32 million salary — will not be an impediment. If you can get Tarik Skubal, you get Tarik Skubal.
Here’s where Passan brings the Braves into it:
Hurston Waldrep, is on a rehab assignment. Another, Spencer Schwellenbach, is throwing. And A.J. Smith-Shawver, who underwent Tommy John surgery last year, is ramping up bullpens. It’s not out of the question for all three to rejoin Atlanta by the end of the season.
So why Skubal? Because he’s Skubal. And because all those young arms — not to mention J.R. Ritchie and Cam Caminiti in the minor leagues, and Didier Fuentes at the big league level — give them the firepower to get him. To beat the Dodgers, teams need to assemble a wrecking crew that can go toe-to-toe with the first back-to-back World Series champions in a quarter-century. Starting a series with Skubal and Chris Sale — and having Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder to fill out the rotation — is quite a place to begin.
Now granted, it’s not like Passan is doing any type of actual reporting here — he’s just simply suggesting that the Braves should aim high when it comes to their Trade Deadline aspirations. He also has Skubal as the best fit for basically every team that’s currently flying high in the standings, so it’s also not like he’s exclusively linking Skubal to the Braves, either.
With that being said, I can see the vision. Sure, the Braves will have most of their planned rotation back in action by the time the second half of the season is in swing. They also have some encouraging pitching prospects on the farm that could potentially make some noise as well. Passan mentioned them in his clip and we’ve seen already with Didier Fuentes just how electric he can be when his stuff is really working.
Still, I like to relate this type of thing to that one episode of Family Guy where Peter Griffin and his wife Lois are talking with a sleazy salesman and deciding between receiving a gift of a boat or a mystery prize. While Lois is smartly suggesting that they should just take the boat, Peter is thinking “Yeah, it’s a boat but the mystery prize could be anything! It could even be a boat!” Then the mystery prize turns out to be tickets to a local comedy show while the couple returns home to watch all of their neighbors zooming around the neighborhood in their boats.
So while Ritchie, Caminiti and Fuentes and throw whoever else you want into this fold are all exciting prospects, they’re still mystery boxes at this point compared to the golden boat that is Tarik Skubal. If there’s any possibility of the Braves potentially getting Tarik Skubal and bringing him into the fold, no matter what the cost is, the Braves need to choose the boat in this scenario.
Even if the prospects turn out to become boats themselves, the Braves might be in need of a boat right now more than ever. If you look at the Braves and their “championship window,” you could say that they’re currently in Year 9 of that window after breaking through to win the NL East and return to the Postseason back in 2018. More-than-likely, the Braves are closer to potentially having to rebuild (or at least do a serious retool) than they are to having this window open much longer.
Chris Sale is still fantastic but he’s also 37. Matt Olson is still producing at the plate but he’s going to be 33. Ozzie Albies’ contract is going to be up soon. Sean Murphy may never be the same after his hip injury. Atlanta’s a year-or-two away from potentially having to answer a $500 million question about Ronald Acuña Jr. and his future. Left field is still a revolving door after Jurickson Profar made some pretty dumb decisions. Things are back on track right now but Alex Anthopoulos is going to have a tricky juggling session in the future when it comes to either extending this window or deciding to go in a different direction at some point in the relatively near future.
As such, this does seem like one of those years where if the Braves are in position to go for it, they should. If Tarik Skubal is available (which he likely will be) and Atlanta has any chance of swinging a deal with Detroit, they should be pursuing that with everything they’ve got. It’s one of those things that sounds like a wacky lil’ trade proposal that you’d see anybody cook up on social media because they’re bored and think that this is MLB: The Show but at the same time, when you have guys like Passan talking about it, the possibility of this happening is at least non-zero. That’s better than zero!
I’d like to once agin stress the fact that this isn’t reporting and this is just pure speculation from everybody involved. Alex Anthopoulos did indicate during a pregame interview on this past Sunday that the team would be active at the deadline in order to keep the foot on the pedal but there’s still nothing tangible linking the Braves to Tarik Skubal. With that being said, if there’s even the slightest possibility that Detroit is coveting what Atlanta has in terms of trade assets, there should be no hesitation from the Braves as to what they should do — at least in my opinion. We’ll see what happens.
The red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers look to stay hot as they conclude a four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks in triple-digit temperatures in Phoenix.
The hot stretch (16-4 in their last 20 games), combined with Justin Wrobleski’s unsustainable production, results in the visitors being overvalued.
See my full rationale for backing the home team and the Over with my Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks predictions and MLB picks for Thursday, June 4.
Who will win Dodgers vs Diamondbacks today: Diamondbacks (+118)
Justin Wrobleski’s fluky 2.87 ERA makes him an overvalued asset. He’s especially poor at missing bats, ranking in the fifth percentile in whiff rate and the 13th percentile in K rate.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are uniquely positioned to exploit this weakness. They have the lowest K rate (13.2%) against LHP over the last 30 days while sporting a robust 120 wRC+.
Ryne Nelson is coming off a sizzling May (2.95 ERA, 0.98 WHIP) and has limited the Los Angeles Dodgers’ projected lineup to a .194 AVG and .630 OPS across 98 at-bats.
Good up to +110.
COVERS INTEL: Arizona has been demolishing sliders, posting the third-most runs above average (7.4) against the offering in the last 20 days. Wrobleski relies heavily on the slider, throwing it 33% of the time as essentially his only non-fastball offering.
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (+110)
Two flyball pitchers facing two hot lineups at hitter-friendly Chase Field? Sign me up for the Over.
Nelson has a fifth percentile groundball rate and a ninth percentile barrel rate, and LA has the best wRC+ (132) against RHP in the last 20 days.
Wrobelski has a 25th percentile groundball rate and poor stuff (95 Stuff+), which could spell trouble at Chase Field (second-highest park factor of 104).
Both teams rank inside the top 10 in hard-hit rate over the last 20 days. The loud contact in the air from both starters will result in several big flies.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 20-19, -3.63 units
Over/Under bets: 29-11, +17.61 units
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -125 | Diamondbacks +122
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (+115) | Diamondbacks +1.5 (-140)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (-130) | Under 9.5 (+117)
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks trend
The Diamonbacks have cashed the moneyline in 31 of their last 50 home games. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks.
How to watch Dodgers vs Diamondbacks and game info
Location
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Thursday, June 4, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
SNLA, DBacks.TV
Dodgers starting pitcher
Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.87 ERA)
Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Ryne Nelson (2-4, 4.82 ERA)
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks latest injuries
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks 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.
CANADA - JULY 14: George Bell 1989 and on (Photo by Ron Bull/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
37 Years Ago Today
This is one of my all-time favorite games, played in 1989. But then any game where we beat the Red Sox is a favorite game.
The Blue Jays defeated the Red Sox 13-11 in 12 innings.
After six innings, the Red Sox led 10-0.
Alex Sanchez started for the Jays. He was the team’s first-round draft pick in 1987 and quickly advanced through the minors—perhaps too quickly. Player development has evolved significantly since then. In 1988, his first full season of professional baseball, Sanchez threw 207 innings—a workload unheard of by today’s standards. Minor league seasons are shorter now, and no pitcher, especially a first-year pro, would ever throw 200 innings (very few throw 200 innings in the majors these days, only three in 2025). For comparison, in 2019, Yennsy Diaz led the Fisher Cats with 144 innings, which was likely the most by any Jays minor leaguer that year.
Sanchez made three starts and one relief appearance in 1989, his only season in the majors. This game marked his final start; he recorded just one out while allowing three hits, a home run, three walks, and five earned runs.
Xavier Hernandez entered to stop the bleeding in the first inning. He surrendered a run in each of the next three innings and two in the sixth, but managed to eat up innings, pitching 6.2 frames while allowing eight hits, five runs (two earned), three walks, and striking out two.
Hernandez was also a rookie that year, appearing in seven games for the Jays. After the season, he was claimed by the Astros in the Rule 5 draft. He went on to enjoy a 10-year MLB career, pitching in 463 games, mostly as a reliever.
The comeback began in the seventh. The Jays scored two runs after Red Sox starter Mike Smithson walked Lloyd Moseby and Ernie Whitt to start the inning. Bob Stanley entered in relief and walked Rance Mulliniks to load the bases. Nelson Liriano grounded into a double play, scoring one, and Junior Felix followed with a ground-rule double to bring in another. It still felt like a missed opportunity.
In the eighth, the Jays put up four more runs. With one out, George Bell, Fred McGriff, and Moseby hit consecutive singles to score two. After another out, Mulliniks doubled in another run, and Liriano singled, making it 10-6.
In the ninth, Toronto scored five runs. Tony Fernandez singled, Kelly Gruber walked, and Bell doubled, making it 10-7. After Moseby walked to load the bases, Whitt delivered a grand slam, putting the Jays ahead 11-10.
Unfortunately, Tom Henke surrendered a run in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game to extra innings.
Dennis Lamp pitched scoreless tenth and eleventh innings for the Red Sox, but Duane Ward matched him for the Jays.
In the 12th inning, Tom Lawless led off with a single, Liriano bunted him to second, and Felix followed with a home run. 13-11, Jays.
Ward pitched a perfect bottom of the 12th to secure the win.
Jays of the Day: Whitt (.612 WPA, mainly for the grand slam); Ward (.375, for three innings of no-hit relief); Felix (.298, 3-for-7, including the game-winning homer); and David Wells (.113, who recorded the final out of the ninth).
Other Award: Henke (-.405, for the blown save); Sanchez (-.358); and McGriff (-.144, 1-for-6 on the day, with three errors—two on a single play after mishandling a ground ball and then making an errant throw in an attempt to recover).
The Jays improved to 23-31, second-last in the AL East, while the Red Sox dropped to 24-27, third in the division. Toronto finished strong and claimed first place by season’s end, but ultimately lost to the A’s in the ALCS.
Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) comes off the court after game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
SAN ANTONIO – The NBA’s defending champions required five regular season games and seven Western Conference Finals bashfests to suss out San Antonio’s Spurs, failed.
The Knicks needed but three quarters. Another dynamite fourth quarter from Knick hero Jalen Brunson gave New York its first Finals lead in a over a half-century on Wednesday night, toppling San Antonio 105-95 in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
That previous Finals advantage, a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1973 NBA Finals, was celebrated by Knick reserve center Phil Jackson on a beach at Malibu with an unnamed actress, according to Phil’s book ‘Maverick,’ Jackson “gobbling LSD for breakfast.”
Brunson (and Knicks coach Mike Brown, for that matter) appeared to show little instinct toward toward Phil’s breakfast of champions after Game 1, giving every indication these current Knicks keep these sainted Spurs in sensible range.
And within the same level as previous combatants. We worried over the Knicks faltering against stiff Western competition after facing Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland in the previous three rounds (Eh, Woof, and Whatever). We shoulda concerned ourselves with whether or not San Antonio was ready for the team that only needed 14 outings to escape the East.
The visiting Knicks delicately primed past the restrictions of rust in the team’s first contest since May 25. New York was down 10 points in the second quarter and 14 in the third before colluding to surprise San Antonio in what the NBA calls “clutch minutes,” the final five minutes of a close game. Timing issues aside, it felt as if every second of Game 1 was crucially clutch, the utter and pristine picture of all-out NBA playoff basketball.
Brunson finished with 30 but was no angel on his way toward the mark, flinging lefty hopers over the arms of Victor Wembanyama, spinning out repeatedly on floaters and only using arms on in-and-out three-pointers. Those were practice legs, scrimmage flings, and Brunson (7-22 entering the third period, 5-9 from the floor in the final 12 minutes) needed every second surrounding him to re-locate his crouch.
Once the legs returned, though, over. Brunson’s corner three off a Mikal Bridges offensive rebound with 1:50 remaining gave New York a 97-95 lead, all the grasp it needed. Rust was absolutely an issue, for these visiting Knicks, now they’ll band together to earn a full endorsement deal with an anti-rust spray, we won’t name any brands because we’re not sponsored ourselves, but watch for “polyurethane resins” to be uttered by Jose Alvarado on an advertisement sometime this summer.
Alvarado helped keep the visitor’s wits throughout, his presence was badly needed in the second quarter when Brunson turned his ankle and left the game. Alvarado, perhaps buoyed by Brunson bounding over with both legs to complain to Scott Foster during the injury timeout, hit 3-of-3 from the field in his run, seven points, three defensive boards and an assist and a steal, because he’s Jose Alvarado.
Bothered by foul trouble, Josh Hart barely worked that second quarter. Josh made up for it.
In one of the finest three-point performances in NBA Finals history, Hart’s derring-do stole the home court advantage right out from Texas’ ten-gallon hat. Four steals and six assists from Hart, who covered all angles defensively while still sustaining his sniff for the passing lanes. His shot was off (1-5 from the field, 0-3 from deep) but he was in the right place in every other instance, a superior all-around performance, even if his jumper doesn’t go all the way around.
The home team failed to clasp past 100 points per 100 possessions, the Spurs missed three-quarters of their threes and wasted a four-turnover game, and 15-point first half from Julian Champagnie. Wembanyama was a force defensively but missed 16-21 field goal attempts on his way toward 26 points, a dozen boards and six turnovers, three blocks.
De’Aaron Fox clunked 3-13 from the field on one leg. The veteran developed good looks in the fourth quarter, missed, while Dylan Harper (16 points and seven rebounds through three quarters) watched from the bench. Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, cherished Spurs veterans but a little hype in Game 1, somewhat charged, possibly caffeinated, 5-15 from the floor combined.
It was a learning experience. Fans talked themselves into shouting “Spurs in five” on the way out of the building in Game 1 and, yeah, it ain’t hard to see what’s under that hat. San Antonio does have a seven-and-a-half-foot center with skills, after all.
Yet New York proved none of this counts if the center in question is centimeters removed from what matters, the best attempt available, a Knick splash. New York missed 25-36 three-pointers in Game 1, but its concentration and approach was apparent from the rafters. If Wemby is slightly out of focus, dive to the rim as if the season depends on it. The Knicks are to be commended for maintaining a straight line to the rim anytime Wembanyama was bothered elsewhere, held or held up, New York launching the millisecond his fingertips were no obstacle.
These moments usually require hours to develop, entire games. The Thunder ran out of time, the Timberwolves rarely earned the pause, the Trail Blazers never even caught up to Central time. Yet New York kept its principles in place throughout Game 1 until these fundamentals found paydirt. Until the legs returned, finally out of Connecticut’s practice sweats for the first time in over a week.
The Spurs understand what they have to do now, yet that knowledge was in place well ahead of Game 1. It’s the connection which counts the most, and San Antonio must find out who its conductor is.
New York knows. This is Brunson’s team, the Villanova cats with two battling bigs. Karl-Anthony Towns put himself on the floor throughout Game 1, 18 points and 18 chestbumps with Wemby while defending Victor. Front-to-front stuff, too, the awkward kind.
KAT and Mitchell Robinson’s mystery finger were, in spite of Victor’ 12-13 mark from the free throw line, a bruise-in-waiting for Wembanyama to push through. The Knicks are thick up top and soulful down below and full of brains and wit throughout the middle.
The Spurs are running out of time to define their own personalities, as the showcase in Manhattan draws nearer. The younger team is capable, but can they hold in the face of a crew which doesn’t crack?
The Orioles (29-32) and the Red Sox (25-34) wrap up their three-game series this afternoon at Fenway Park with Trevor Rogers (2-6, 6.84) set to take the mound against Brayan Bello (2-5, 5.63).
The series is tied at a game apiece following last night’s 8-1 win for the Sox. Boston’s offense broke out with 15 hits led by Wilyer Abreu who drove in three runs – two courtesy of his seventh home run of the season - and Willson Contreras and Ceddanne Rafaela each collecting three hits. Chris Bassitt took the loss after allowing three runs in three innings. Baltimore’s bats did manage nine hits including three from Taylor Ward but left 11 runners on base in total as their three-game winning streak was snapped.
Today’s matchup features a pair of struggling starters: Trevor Rogers (2–6, 6.84 ERA) for Baltimore and Brayan Bello (2–5, 5.63 ERA) for Boston. Both pitchers have allowed high hit totals—Rogers 58 hits in 48.2 innings and Bello 71 in 56 innings—setting the stage for another offense‑driven game assuming each holds true to their form to date this season.
A win for the Red Sox means two straight series wins for them. May not seem like much but it’s a potential building block for the struggling franchise. A Baltimore victory would give them the series and seven wins in their last ten games. Each side needs to begin to make a push if they want to truly get in the race for the division crown as the O’s sit 8.5 games behind the Rays and the Sox are 10.5 games back.
Lets dive into today’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Orioles vs. Red Sox
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026
Time: 1:35PM EST
Site: Fenway Park
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, MASN, NESN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Orioles vs. Red Sox
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Baltimore Orioles (-102), Boston Red Sox (-118)
Spread: Orioles -1.5 (+150), Red Sox +1.5 (-182)
Total: 10.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Orioles vs. Red Sox for June 4
Red Sox: Brayan Bello Season Totals: 56.0 IP, 2-5, 5.63 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 40K, 21 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Orioles vs. Red Sox
Gunnar Henderson – hits in 4 straight games (5-18)
Adley Rutschman – 3-8 this series
Leddy Tavares –hits in 7 of his last 8 games (10-28)
Jarren Duran has hit in 10 straight games (15-46)
Ceddanne Rafaela is 13-41 over his last 9 games
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Orioles and Red Sox
The Orioles are 29-33 on the Run Line this season
The Red Sox are 25-35 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 35 times in Baltimore’s 62 games this season (35-25-2)
The OVER has cashed 28 times in Boston’s 60 games this season (28-30-2)
Expert picks & predictions: Orioles and Red Sox
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Orioles and the Red Sox:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 10.5
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 24: Joshua Jefferson #5 of the Iowa State Cyclones instructs his team during the second half of the game between Iowa State Cyclones and Utah Utes at Jon M. Huntsman Center on February 24, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images
For the next month before the 2026 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at No. 22. Next up in this series is Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson.
After spending two years at St. Mary’s, Jefferson transferred to Iowa State. With the Cyclones, his college career truly took off. By his senior season in 2025-26, he was one of the best players in the country. He was named a consensus Second Team All-American and First Team All-Big 12. Unfortunately, Jefferson’s left ankle injury, suffered three minutes into the first round of the NCAA Tournament, cost Iowa State, which ranked as high as No. 2 in the country, a chance to make much noise during March Madness.
The biggest strengths for Jefferson are his basketball IQ, versatility and physicality. All of those traits manifest in different ways.
Spending most of his time at the four, Jefferson operated like a point forward for the Cyclones. In the half-court, he was featured as a playmaking hub at the elbows. He was excellent in the pick-and-roll and in DHOs, creating opportunities for others or getting downhill and finishing with strength and nice touch around the rim. He also got to the free throw line plenty (6.1 attempts per game as a senior). He frequently started the break, grabbing the ball off the rim and pushing it for transition opportunities. For a player at his size, Jefferson is a smart and accurate passer, finding cutters and shooters for easy baskets.
Jefferson is a strong rebounder overall, especially on the offensive glass, where he averaged nearly two a game. His off-ball defense was great for the Cyclones as he averaged 1.9 steals a game over the last two seasons and generally wreaked havoc. While he isn’t the greatest rim protector, he does well to wall drivers off and challenge without fouling. Jefferson’s best assets on the defensive end are his NBA-ready frame and IQ. The frame and physicality are likely genetic — his father, Ben, was an offensive lineman in the NFL, as was his oldest brother. His middle brother played defensive line at the D-1 level.
Jefferson is a Swiss Army Knife-type player. He can do a little bit of everything, even progressing as a three-point shooter in his four college seasons. While he might not have star potential, he has the traits of an excellent connective piece at the next level.
Weaknesses
The reasons Jefferson is a fringe first-rounder are his age, inconsistency with his shot and lack of high-end athleticism.
Jefferson will be 23 in November, making him an older rookie. While the experience clearly helped him improve his game, he didn’t truly dominate until his senior season. The question for NBA evaluators will be whether Jefferson is on a track to continue improving or has already plateaued.
While shooting 34.5% on 3.1 attempts per game is solid for a player with Jefferson’s varied skillset, it’s fair to wonder if he can carry that over to the NBA level. He shot below 30% from beyond the arc in his previous three seasons combined. The improvement on higher volume is encouraging and he’s a solid free throw shooter (72.2% for his career) with good touch inside the arc, but shooting could be a swing skill — as it is for so many forwards.
The athletic testing portion of the combine did Jefferson no favors. He tested poorly in just about every athletic metric. Not historically bad like Johni Broome, but not great. The film shows a player who looks functionally athletic against some high-level competition, but he’s not the fleetest of foot and it’s hard to know until you see him against NBA athletes.
Positional Fit
The theoretical best version of Jefferson is a dream fit for the Sixers.
You could slot him in at the four right between Joel Embiid and Paul George. He could be an excellent connector for the starting group and occasionally take on a bigger offensive role when the stars are inevitably out. Rebounding and passing are two of the Sixers’ biggest needs and Jefferson checks both boxes. His ability to create turnovers and get loose balls would endear him quickly to Nick Nurse. Again though, the shooting will need to continue to improve.
He also fits both timelines. He could potentially be a rotation player now, while making himself into a key cog next to Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the future. It’s not hard to envision Jefferson pulling the ball off the rim and finding Edgecombe for easy transition lobs. Again, Jefferson likely doesn’t have star upside, but finding good, smart, versatile, rotational-level players is also important.
With so many players deciding to go back to school and cash in on NIL money, a deep draft has thinned out quite a bit. Many of the more popular names we’ve seen linked to the Sixers could come off the board before we even reach the 20s. Depending on how it shakes out, selecting Jefferson at 22 might not be a reach.
BetMGM’s well-known ladder bettor won nearly a quarter of a million dollars by backing the New York Knicks over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The anonymous user, who is believed to have profited approximately $2 million during the NBA Playoffs, cashed a range of bets from Knicks +8.5 to Knicks +4.5.
Key Takeaways
The bettor added $85.8K to their growing profit from betting on the NBA Playoffs.
BetMGM revealed bettor won about $1.2 million by backing the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
This is the first time all season the Knicks are favored to win the Finals.
BetMGM News posted on X shortly before tip-off that the sportsbook had accepted $150,000 worth of tickets, the largest of which was an $80,000 wager on the Knicks at +8.5 (-210).
A few hours later, and after the Knicks upset the Spurs on the road, 105-95, all of the bets were graded as winners. BetMGM paid the user $235,787.55, or $85,787.55 in profit. The largest individual win was $118,095.24 for the $80,000 stake on the Knicks +8.5 at -210 odds.
A bettor at @BetMGM wagered $150,000 on @nyknicks to cover in Game 1:
▪️ $80,000 on Knicks +8.5 -210 ✅ ▪️ $30,000 on Knicks +7.5 -175 ✅ ▪️ $20,000 on Knicks +6.5 -150 ✅ ▪️ $10,000 on Knicks +5.5 -130 ✅ ▪️ $10,000 on Knicks +4.5 -105 ✅
The bettor behind these, and other ladder wagers, remains unknown. However, the consistency and uniqueness of their approach make it appear as if the same individual was behind a series of related bets throughout the playoffs.
The user made nearly $1.2 million by backing the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals alone. That included $466,718 in profit from $775,000 in wagers during the Knicks’ historic Game 1 comeback, which saw them recover from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to win in overtime.
That said, the $150,000 in total wagers was on the smaller end of the bettor’s bankroll. They never risked less than $300,000 in the Eastern Conference Finals and had six figures of ladder bets in other series, including the Western Conference Finals and the conference semifinals on both sides of the bracket.
Spurs still favored in Game 2
The Spurs were a consensus 4.5-point Game 1 favorite before Wednesday’s tip-off. They were also BetMGM’s series favorites at -190, giving them just below a two-thirds implied chance to win the championship.
After just one game, the Knicks are now the team in the driver’s seat. They shortened to -140 in NBA Finals odds (58.3% chance), while the Spurs are now +120.
The odds flip put the Knicks in pole position to win the Finals for the first time all season. They opened the season at +700 title odds, but were only +2200 by the time they entered the playoffs.
The Spurs garnered more national respect in recent weeks, although they would still make history with a series win. Their +2500 preseason odds to win the championship would be the second-longest in SportsOddsHistory’sdatabase, which extends back to the 1984-85 season, only behind the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors.
Despite the Game 1 loss, oddsmakers are firmly predicting a Spurs bounce-back in Game 2. Odds for Friday’s rematch have the Spurs at a 5.5-point advantage, meaning they’re even larger favorites than they were in the series opener. They also have -235 moneyline odds (70.2% chance) to the Knicks’ +195 (33.9% chance).
Finals MVP odds and outlook
While the Knicks haven’t won an NBA championship since 1973, they are doing everything they can to rewrite history. Their ongoing 12-game winning streak is tied with the 1999 Spurs, who beat the eighth-seed Knicks in the Finals, 4-1. The record 15-game winning streak belongs to the Golden State Warriors.
Jalen Brunson and Victor Wembanyama are in a bit of a two-horse race in NBA Finals MVP odds, with both receiving odds just above one-to-one. Karl-Anthony Towns is the only other player in close contention.
The NBA will investigate the behavior of fans who sat courtside at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and allegedly directed profanity towards New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson during Game 1 of the NBA Finals, reports Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime and NBATV.
According to the report, the remarks concerned Brunson "flopping," and Brunson, who scored 30 points in the 105-95 win, met with official Scott Foster after the game to discuss the fans' remarks.
The NBA Code of Conduct clearly states the behavior they expect fans to adhere to when attending a game.
"Guests will enjoy the basketball experience free from and without engaging in disruptive behavior, including foul or abusive language, betting-related or other harassment directed towards players or other game participants, and obscene gestures," part of the code reads.
The penalties for fan misbehavior at NBA games are severe; the Code of Conduct states that anyone who violates it could face "ejection without refund, revocation of their season tickets, and/or prevention from attending future games. They may also be in violation of local ordinances, resulting in possible arrest and prosecution."
Jalen Brunson IMMEDIATELY going after Scott Foster and a fan as soon as the clock hit zero 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/aqMTRsuJlz
COVERS INTEL: Wembanyama spent most of Game 1 
