Yankees first baseman Ben Rice has been named AL Player of the Week for the final week of May.
From May 25-31, Rice hit .462 with 11RBI and a 1.418 OPS. He capped things off with a four-RBI performance against the Athletics in which he had a two-run double and two-run triple in the same inning.
Rice is in the midst of a phenomenal 2026 season, posting a 1.056 OPS with 17 home runs and 44 RBI, pairing up with Aaron Judge to make one of the best righty-lefty hitting combos in all of baseball.
In a little over a calendar year, Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrettrequested a trade, signed a contract extension, broke the single-season sack record, adjusted his contract in a way that allowed for a trade, and was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. For the Browns, the future is the focus, including talented NFL draft classes in 2025 and 2026.
Cleveland GM Andrew Berry has 11 draft picks to work with in what is expected to be an uber-talented NFL draft class in 2027. Our Browns mock draft saw QB Arch Manning turning in one orange uniform for another.
Shortly after 4 PM, the team announced the Garrett trade, making it official. The timing is vital as the trade will technically process on June 2nd for salary cap purposes. In a lengthy statement, Berry made it clear the type of back and forth the team had in making the decision to move on from Garrett:
“We have long taken the stance that our goal was for Myles Garrett to be a one-helmet player for his entire career,” Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry said in a statement. “After rewriting the record books and representing our organization with excellence, we were sincere in that desire as we entered this offseason and did not envision a world where Myles was not a Cleveland Brown.
“When the Rams first approached us with the possibility of trading Myles, we remained convicted in our position, but as discussions intensified we were stuck at a legitimate crossroads: do we hold on to a truly generational player who has become the identity of our team, or do we make the difficult decision that we think is best for the organization over the long run?
“In that framework, the decision became clear, although our emotions were muddled. We, and more importantly, our fans, have grown up with Myles, and he’s an enormous source of pride for our team. However, as we embark on a new era of Browns football with a young core and a replenished asset base, we felt this move was important to our transition.
“Chief among the considerations to make the decision was the inclusion of Jared Verse – a player our fan base will love. At 25 years old with two Pro Bowls and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award under his belt, we receive a young, elite player at a premium position who will only continue to improve in his third NFL season. Jared’s passion and relentless style of play will be embraced by our fans. He will fit right in with the established identity of our defense. We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome him to the Dawg Pound!
“We recognize the unexpected nature of this trade, but it opens up great opportunities for our franchise. We are excited to welcome Jared into the organization, along with the cap flexibility and draft pick resources to deploy to the rest of the roster that will allow us to add to our budding core on both sides of the ball.”
Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam also shared their thoughts on the trade:
“Myles Garrett has been the best player on our team and one of the best defensive players in the history of the game, since we drafted him in 2017,” Managing and Principal Partners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. “His legacy is immense and we could never adequately articulate our appreciation for how he played the game and for being the best player he could be for the Cleveland Browns over the last nine years. He has left a deep imprint on our franchise, with our fans and with the Dawg Pound.
“Clearly this was not an easy decision, particularly with Myles because we’ve watched him come into our organization and grow like a member of our family. Trading Myles was never our intent, but we also recognize that certain opportunities demand serious consideration, and we believe this is the right move for our team. Adding a young defensive star like Jared Verse, along with valuable draft assets, are necessary to strengthen a talented young core and align with the youth of our team. Our goal continues to be building a consistently winning franchise that our fans and this region deserve, and we believe this move creates the best path towards that.
“We met with Myles on Saturday and told him we are extremely grateful for all that he contributed to our team and to our community and that he will always be a Cleveland Brown. We look forward to welcoming him back at the appropriate time and wish him and his family only the best.”
What do you think of Berry’s explanation for the tradeand the Haslams’ thoughts?
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The Dodgers travel to Arizona not entirely knowing what to expect from the Diamondbacks, who aren’t just playing another regular-season series. This 31-27 Diamondbacks team is playing to validate its presence as a worthy postseason contender this year. It is true that even if the Dodgers sweep the Diamondbacks, they’ll still carry a more than decent chance of making the postseason, but the path they took to get here has Arizona playing to show they’re something more than just a byproduct of an easy schedule.
After a difficult start to the year, Arizona won 11 of 13 by strictly beating up on the Rockies and Giants, only to go on and be swept by the Mariners this weekend. Overwhelming success against the bottom of the NL West might carry them somewhere, but for any true contender (the Dodgers) to take them seriously, they’ll have to prove themselves at a whole different level, and that starts with games like these.
The first matchup of the series has a couple of southpaws on the mound with well over one thousand innings between them. Justin Wrobleski is coming off his magnificent display against the Phillies, while Eduardo Rodríguez is in the middle of his best campaign since joining Arizona. Rodríguez made his season debut outdueling Tyler Glasnow, only to see his offense fail to contribute, leading to an eventual 3-2 loss for the Snakes. Even though Wrobleski has had his moments, this is about as favorable a matchup as Arizona will get against Los Angeles. Tuesday’s between Eric Lauer and Mike Soroka also has Arizona with the edge.
Arizona isn’t the only team playing to prove a point, though. This might also be seen as the time for the Dodgers to hand the Diamondbacks a reality check, sending a young starter on the road against a division rival’s ace.
Several of the 2016 World Series champion Cubs have begun a podcast called “The Lovable Reunion” to reminisce about that championship season.
Now, a number of your favorite 2016 Cubs will have a live “Lovable Reunion” show at the Chicago Theater in downtown Chicago on Thursday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m., during MLB’s All-Star break, the day before the 2026 Cubs will resume their season at Wrigley Field against the Minnesota Twins.
Participating 2016 Cubs will include Anthony Rizzo, David Ross, Joe Maddon, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, Miguel Montero and Dexter Fowler, and possibly others.
“The podcast has been such a success with The Volume that a reunion event like this felt like something we couldn’t miss out on doing with such a special team and group of guys,” said Rizzo. “We can’t wait to reminisce in person, bringing fans back to the moments that made 2016 unforgettable.”
Ross added, “The Chicago Theatre, this city, and this team — it doesn’t get more iconic than that. We can’t wait to give the fans a night they’ll never forget.”
There’s a presale tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2 at 10 a.m. CT, for active listeners of the podcast, and the general on-sale for this show is Friday, June 5 at 10 a.m. CT. Tickets will be available at this link — I have been told that link will be live when the presales begin. (No, I don’t know who qualifies for presales, so check it out tomorrow.)
Sounds fun. Enjoy!
It's official: Myles Garrett is headed to Los Angeles.
Just after 4 p.m. on Monday, the Browns and Rams both announced that Garrett has been traded to L.A.
In exchange for Garrett, Cleveland will receive edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick.
Browns General Manager Andrew Berry noted earlier on Monday that he would have more to say once the deal was complete. He issued a lengthy statement in Cleveland’s announcement of the deal.
“We have long taken the stance that our goal was for Myles Garrett to be a one-helmet player for his entire career,” Berry’s statement reads. “After rewriting the record books and representing our organization with excellence, we were sincere in that desire as we entered this offseason and did not envision a world where Myles was not a Cleveland Brown.
“When the Rams first approached us with the possibility of trading Myles, we remained convicted in our position, but as discussions intensified we were stuck at a legitimate crossroads: Do we hold on to a truly generational player who has become the identity of our team, or do we make the difficult decision that we think is best for the organization over the long run?
“In that framework, the decision became clear, although our emotions were muddled. We, and more importantly, our fans, have grown up with Myles, and he’s an enormous source of pride for our team. However, as we embark on a new era of Browns football with a young core and a replenished asset base, we felt this move was important to our transition.
“Chief among the considerations to make the decision was the inclusion of Jared Verse — a player our fan base will love. At 25 years old with two Pro Bowls and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award under his belt, we receive a young, elite player at a premium position who will only continue to improve in his third NFL season. Jared’s passion and relentless style of play will be embraced by our fans. He will fit right in with the established identity of our defense. We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome him to the Dawg Pound!
“We recognize the unexpected nature of this trade, but it opens up great opportunities for our franchise. We are excited to welcome Jared into the organization, along with the cap flexibility and draft pick resources to deploy to the rest of the roster that will allow us to add to our budding core on both sides of the ball.”
Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam also issued a statement on the deal to send Garrett to Los Angeles:
“Myles Garrett has been the best player on our team and one of the best defensive players in the history of the game, since we drafted him in 2017,” the Haslams’ statement reads. “His legacy is immense and we could never adequately articulate our appreciation for how he played the game and for being the best player he could be for the Cleveland Browns over the last nine years. He has left a deep imprint on our franchise, with our fans and with the Dawg Pound.
“Clearly, this was not an easy decision, particularly with Myles because we’ve watched him come into our organization and grow like a member of our family. Trading Myles was never our intent, but we also recognize that certain opportunities demand serious consideration, and we believe this is the right move for our team. Adding a young defensive star like Jared Verse, along with valuable draft assets, are necessary to strengthen a talented young core and align with the youth of our team. Our goal continues to be building a consistently winning franchise that our fans and this region deserve, and we believe this move creates the best path towards that.
“We met with Myles on Saturday and told him we are extremely grateful for all that he contributed to our team and to our community and that he will always be a Cleveland Brown. We look forward to welcoming him back at the appropriate time and wish him and his family only the best.”
Garrett departs the Browns as arguably the best defensive player in franchise history. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 draft, Garrett has a franchise record 125.5 sacks, setting the NFL’s single-season record with 23.0 in 2025.
A two-time AP defensive player of the year and five-time, AP first-team All-Pro, Garrett played 134 games for the Browns, registering 23 forced fumbles, 18 passes defensed, six fumble recoveries, 149 tackles for loss, and 239 QB hits.
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win” — Sun Tzu
When the season began, I fully expected the Knicks to represent the Eastern conference in the NBA Finals. The West? Different story.
If the defending champions opening their title defense with a 24-1 start was in any way typical, then Oklahoma City would’ve been the clear-cut faves. But it isn’t; these days, neither is repeating as conference champs, much less going the full Monty in June. The main reason to pick against the Thunder was as simple as “the last seven champs didn’t repeat, either.” Still, back in October I would have picked the Thunder, the Nuggets, the Timberwolves to meet the Knicks in the Finals. Could’ve squinted my way to the Lakers or Rockets, even. But the Spurs? Who even are these people?
ORIGIN STORY
For their first six years, the San Antonio Spurs were the ABA’s Dallas Chaparrals. I assumed that’s short for “chaps,” and was briefly excited at the prospect of two teams named after pants battling it out for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. There was a racing team called Chaparral Cars back in the day, named after the chaparral bird (i.e. the roadrunner), but no, that ain’t it, either. A chaparral is basically a bunch of shrubs in a climate that’s mild and wet in the winter, then hot and dry in the summer. Fires in these regions are uncommon, and uncommonly intense.
The Chaps were led by Hall of Famer Cliff “Lil’ Abner” Hagan, their 36-year-old player-coach. A Hall of Fame player, Hagan was Josh Hart before Josh Hart: a 6-foot-4 do-it-all maestro who piled up points, rebounds and assists. In 1974 the Chaparrals became the San Antonio Spurs, ditching their red, white and blue uniforms for the silver and black better known today. The owners decided to sell the team, either to San Antonio or El Paso. Spoiler: El Paso lost. Originally they were to be called the “San Antonio Gunslingers,” but somehow ended up the Spurs instead.
On the last day of 1978 season, Denver’s David Thompson scored 73 points to pass George Gervin as the league’s leading scorer. The Iceman needed 58 that night to win the scoring title. He put up 63. Gunslinger.
MODERN-ER HISTORY
For 14 of their first 16 seasons in the Association, San Antonio finished .500 or better. Of the four former ABA sides to switch leagues (Indiana, Denver and New Jersey the other three), the Spurs were the most successful at first. Playing in the Eastern conference back then, they nearly reached the Finals a couple of times in the 1970s, only to be thwarted by the then-Washington Bullets. Imagine the Bullets and Gunslingers fighting it out to the bitter end.
The mid-1980s were a low point, including a six-year run without a winning record, but when it comes to the Spurs low points are often where bouncebacks begin. When the 1986-87 season ended, the 12-win Clippers were far and away the league’s worst team, followed by the Knicks and Nets (24 each). Lottery luck was lacking: the Nets picked Dennis Hopson third, the Clippers chose Reggie Williams fourth and the Knicks didn’t draft until 18th, thanks to them having shipped Chicago that year’s first and the following year’s second for Jawaan Oldham. Oldham played 44 games for New York that year, then 64 the rest of his career. The Bulls turned those picks into Scottie Pippen and B.J. Armstrong.
The Spurs waited two years for their draft pick to join them, but once David Robinson did they joined the NBA’s glitterati and they haven’t really looked back. Over his first seven seasons, the Admiral’s crew won between 47 and 62 games, even seemed a legit title contender in some. But a house built on the likes of Larry Brown and Dennis Rodman cannot stand standing still for long, and in 1996, after Robinson suffered from a back injury and then a broken foot, the Spurs sunk to a franchise-worst 20-62. But remember: when these cats fall, they bounce.
In the ’97 draft, a loving God kept the tanking Celtics from Tim Duncan, instead sending the swimming Virgin Islander to the Alamo (skip to 11:27 in the video if you want the money shot). By the time Bob Pettit2.0’s playing days were finished, San Antonio had lapped the field.
The Spurs won 50-plus games a record 18 years in a row, had a winning record 22 years straight and tied another record with 22 consecutive playoff appearances. Did you know the Spurs once won a playoff series eight straight seasons? Pretty good, right? Doesn’t match the Knicks’ best mark (nine straight from 1992-2000), but still. Not bad. The Spurs have almost always been above-average, and on the few occasions they’ve stumbled they turned that loss of balance into a leap of brilliance.
THE SPURS TODAY
How young are the Spurs? Mason Plumlee and Kelly Olynyk are their only players old enough to remember life the last time they met New York in the Finals in 1999.
In this postseason the Spurs play six dudes 25-plus minutes a game; all five starters average over 30. Three Spur reserves have suited up in every one of their playoff games: Keldon Johnson, Luke Kornet and Harrison Barnes.
Don’t waste your breath getting into any big- vs. small-market beefs this series. San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States, with a bigger population than Dallas, San Francisco or Boston.
There is a sizable, risible percentage of people who believe that Jalen Brunson can’t possibly have success in these Finals against the Spurs defense, because of how much Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled against it. Certainly Brunson has his work cut out for him, between unanimous Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama and the size, strength and defensive tenacity of Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper. Relatedly, the premiere scorers the Spurs have dealt with this postseason have been Deni Avdija, hobbled Anthony Edwards and shorthanded Shai. He may not go for 61 again, but JB’s not just some guy.
There’s plenty to be concerned about from a Knick perspective, duh. The Spurs killing off the Thunder is good news, given the Knicks have struggled more with OKC than anyone else the past few seasons. Every player the Thunder have is seemingly between 6-foot-6 and 7-foot-Holmgren, which figured to wear on Brunson over a seven-game series, especially with OKC’s defense something straight outta ICE training. At least the Spurs feature De’Aaron Fox mightily, leaving one defender Brunson is bigger and stronger than.
But Spiderman can’t breathe easy when Venom is dead, not when he has to deal with the monster still breathing. Wemby is Carnage. It’s hard to imagine the Spurs not hacking the ever-living s#$% outta Mitchell Robinson and his bum right hand all series. And unless Mitch gets over some of his male insecurities and starts shooting free throws underhanded, he could become downright unplayable — not what you want when he’s literally one of like four people alive who can credibly guard Wembanyama. If Mitch is compromised in any way, the Knick title hopes could boil down to whether Karl-Anthony Towns can play 40-plus minutes a night and staying outta foul trouble.
In addition, the Spurs are just way more talented, particularly in two-way players, than anyone the Knicks have seen in these playoffs. If Castle weren’t such an incredibly accomplished and ahead-of-his-time second-year star, Harper could start his own Netherlands with all the flowers he’d be (rightfully) getting. Fox is a two-time All-Star, still closer to 28 than 29. Justin Champagnie made as many 3s as Brunson and more than any other Knick. And you just know Harrison Barnes is gonna come off the bench and somehow give KAT all kinds of problems on defense. Maybe both ends.
But here’s the thing: the Knicks present the Spurs with questions they have yet to be asked in the playoffs. For starters: Wembanyama’s defensive domination has — in part — benefited from all three of his playoff opponents being unable to play five-out offense. In the first round, Portland’s Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III combined to shoot 8-of-34 from deep; in the second, Naz Reid, more a hybrid bench big, drilled 15-of-33; and in the Western finals, Chet Holmgren was 3-of-12. Rudy Gobert and Isaiah Hartenstein both missed their one and only 3-pointers.
With respect to Reid, he’s nowhere near the offensive package or fulcrum Towns is; whatever 3s he took were likely the result of his teammates’ dribble penetration and Reid himself attacking or side-stepping closeouts. Even if we include Reid’s production with the other centers the Spurs have faced, that lot combined to go 26-of-90 (29%) from distance over three rounds. KAT’s made nearly as many by himself, on half the attempts (22-of-45, 49%). If Wemby guards him, he won’t be as free to help his teammates; if Wemby’s on Hart or somebody else and tries to close-out on KAT, the 7-foot Towns is one of the few players in the league who won’t feel like it’s an eclipse.
Another ray of hope: Harper, Castle, Wembanyama, Champagnie and Vassell are 19, 21, 22, 24 and 25. This is the first playoff run for each of them. The Spurs enter the Finals having played 100 regular-season and playoff games so far (101 if you count the time the Knicks beat them that counts, but doesn’t). The Knicks are older, presumably stronger, and hopefully better conditioned for long playoff runs.
Until they take off for San Antonio, the Knicks haven’t flown anywhere but Atlanta since April Fool’s Day; in that same stretch the Spurs have taken 13 flights. The Spurs’ crowd will be the first hostile fans the Knicks have played in front of since March in Houston. And as distressingly and speciously corporate as the Garden crowd gets the higher the ticket prices go, I’m here to tell those of you who’ve never witnessed MSG in the Finals that it hits more than a little different than The Rose Garden, the House that A-Rod Will Ruin and Never Forget What We Did To Seattle Coliseum.
The Spurs are really, really quite good. They often are. The Knicks are really, really good too. They’re often not. Now that I’ve given you the background on both, forget all you’ve read. Don’t try to guess what will happen. Let it wash over you. Let it unfold. If the Knicks lose, trust me, that’s the easiest way to prep yourself for the fallout. And if the Knicks win . . . . . .
Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we take a look at Bronny James
While seemingly every sports fan across the globe was giving their unique and different take about Bronny James and his spot on the Lakers roster, Bronny was busy working quietly in the background.
Spending much of his first two seasons in the G League, Bronny had brief moments of flashes of his progress, typically coming in blowouts or on nights when most of the team was out. However, injuries late in the season forced him up the depth chart and into the rotation and, for the first time in his young career, he showed what he could do in meaningful minutes.
It was an encouraging look at a player the Lakers have invested in the last two seasons. The question is, did he show enough for the Lakers to count on him moving forward?
For good portions of the season, Bronny was in the G League and playing well. Across the first 73 games of the Lakers’ season, Bronny played 32 times and averaged only seven minutes per game. Only five of those games saw him play at least 10 minutes, showing how limited he was to garbage time or one rotation at most per game.
A better summary of his season would be his time with South Bay, where he played 14 games. He averaged 15.6 points per game, but shot 56.4% from the field and 45.6% from three. He found his groove over the course of the season and looked a lot like the prospect that had so many scouts excited when he was in high school.
Eventually, injuries in the final month of the season opened the door for him to play meaningful NBA minutes again. Bronny took that confidence he gained in the G League and looked like a different, improved player with the parent Lakers.
His improvements didn’t directly result in big stat lines, but the assuredness and comfort he played with were the most noticeable difference. After looking overwhelmed by the moment too often during his rookie year and the beginning of his second season, Bronny finally looked like he belonged.
That all became really important when Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves went down with injuries and it became an all-hands-on-deck approach entering the playoffs. That included Bronny, who played in the first four games against the Rockets, including a memorable moment with LeBron during Game 3.
Eventually, as the games got more intense and the margin for error slimmed, Bronny fell out of the rotation, but it was an encouraging sign that he could see the floor at all.
Bronny was always going to be a project and the team certainly had to spend quite a bit of time developing him. While the work isn’t done, that they finally started to reap some of those benefits was a great sign this season.
After two seasons with a full-guaranteed contract, Bronny’s deal is only partially guaranteed for next season. However, it becomes fully guaranteed on June 29 and it seems unlikely the Lakers move him before then.
He’s only on the books for $2.3 million next season and has a fourth season with a team option with a decision not due until late June of 2027.
It’s not a necessity for Bronny to return, but there are a lot of other players on the roster who should be replaced before him. Bronny is on an affordable deal and showed enough to warrant bringing him back.
No longer is he tied to his father and even if LeBron leaves the Lakers this summer, Bronny has done enough to warrant a spot on this roster next season and, after devoting so much to help him develop, the Lakers should keep him around to see the benefits of all of that.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
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The New York Knicks have a significant rest advantage over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
Those fresh legs, however, aren’t enough to convince basketball fans that New York can knock off San Antonio for the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973.
Kalshi — one of our favorite prediction market apps currently give the Knicks a 36% chance of winning the 2026 NBA championship. And while those odds aren’t great, they aren’t impossible.
I dissect the NBA Finals matchup and highlight the five things New York has to do – and do well – if it’s going to shock the Spurs and hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Jalen Brunson shoulders the scoring load for the New York Knicks, but their postseason push has enjoyed balanced efforts across the starting lineup.
All five starters are averaging more than 11 points, and New York has watched players step up when Brunson struggles, be it Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, or Josh Hart. Even super-streaky Mikal Bridges has been constant the past two rounds.
The X-factor for New York will be bench production.
The Knicks need guys like Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, and Mitchell Robinson to contribute when the starters need a blow. The San Antonio Spurs have a couple of capable bench players in Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson, and New York’s reserves need to at least counter that.
Unlike an Oklahoma City squad falling apart at the seams versus the Spurs, New York comes in relatively healthy – save for center Mitchell Robinson.
Robinson enters the NBA Finals with a broken right pinky finger and is questionable for Game 1.
Kalshi is offering prediction markets on Robinson’s next game and whether it will be before June 4 (with Game 1 scheduled for June 3) or after June 4. They’re giving him an 80% chance of playing in Game 1 even though he’s been spotted wearing a splint ahead of the series.
Having Robinson in the lineup is vital to defending Victor Wembanyama. The Knicks don’t have much size beyond Karl-Anthony Towns, and with Robinson in, the defense can roll out different matchups between him, KAT, and Hart to see what bugs the Spurs’ 7-footer the most.
In two meetings versus San Antonio, Robinson averaged four points and five rebounds with a +10.0 plus/minus rating over 33 total minutes. New York won both of those games.
Playing against big, bad opponents is nothing new to the Knicks. They just took down Cleveland’s twin towers of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, thanks in large part to Hart’s solid shooting.
Hart isn’t known for his offense, so Cleveland opted to assign rim protector Allen to the 6-foot-5 guard. The Cavs hoped Hart’s poor outside shooting would allow Allen to sag off and stick to patrolling the paint.
However, Hart made Cleveland pay by shooting 45% from the floor, including 35% from beyond the arc for the series. He shot the ball 49 times in the four ECF games, and 25 of those FGAs were graded as “wide open” without a defender within at least six feet.
Hart needs to do the same with Wembanyama, expected to check him on the defensive end, as San Antonio wants to keep the shot swatter in the key. But if Hart stays hot and makes those open looks, the Spurs either have to move Wemby out or switch up things defensively.
Getting the French 7-footer away from the rim is vital to the Knicks being able to break down San Antonio’s guards, get inside, and either score at the rim or find open shooters. It all starts with Hart.
A big part of the Knicks’ offensive success has been the emergence of Towns as a “point forward” for New York.
Towns is operating out of the high post on many possessions, dragging a bigger defender away from the hoop and finding cutters to the rim and shooters coming off screens. The 7-footer is averaging almost six dimes on 6.6 potential assists – nearly double his regular season passing production.
On top of that playmaking, KAT can hit the outside jumper and make big defenders pay for not closing out. Towns hit at a 50% clip from deep versus the Cavaliers and went 2-for-5 from outside in two of the three meetings with the Spurs this year.
Towns could also find himself attacking inside should San Antonio toss smaller players at him. If Wembanyama is on Hart, the Spurs will have to use 6-foot-7 Julian Champagnie or 6-foot-5 Johnson to stop KAT – or reach down the bench to Luke Kornet, Harrison Barnes, or Kelly Olynyk.
Towns is behind Brunson and Wembanyama in the NBA Finals MVP prediction markets, with Kalshi giving him a 5% shot at taking home the individual hardware. A $1 investment pays $100 at KAT’s current price.
San Antonio wants to force deep misses, grab long boards, and push the ball in transition to beat the Knicks down the floor.
The Knicks’ best line of defense is simply making their shots and forcing the Spurs to start their possessions off the inbounds more often than not.
When it does miss, New York can’t just watch and needs to get bodies back, pick up the ball handler, and slow the Spurs down. A little pressure on the ball handler could go a long way for New York.
We’ve seen San Antonio get sloppy – albeit with injuries to PGs – but the Knicks have tenacious on-ball options and solid defenders off the bench. They’ve forced more than 15 turnovers per contest, generating an average of 20 points from those mistakes in the postseason.
The Knicks have done a much better job of slowing down transition attacks in the postseason than in the regular season, when they allowed the eighth-most points per possession to transition teams. In the tournament, that metric has been trimmed from 1.17 to 1.05.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
Texas Rangers lineup for June 1, 2026 against the St. Louis Cardinals: starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for the Rangers and Michael McGreevy for the Cardinals.
The Rangers begin the month of June with a short road trip to St. Louis. Jacob deGrom will try once again to get to win #100, and if he can strike out eight batters today, he will pass Tom Gordon for #108 on the all time strikeout list.
Evan Carter is starting in center field, and of course, offensive catalyst Nicky Lopez is holding down the ninth spot in the order.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Jung — 3B
Nimmo — RF
Burger — 1B
Duran — SS
Osuna — LF
Carter — CF
Jansen — C
Lopez — 2B
6:45 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -129 favorites.
Every day, Pinstripe Alley offers updates on what the Yankees’ top American League opponents are up to through the Rivalry Roundup. The AL East is well-trodden ground there, but with the end of the month upon us, we’re going to take a peek around MLB as a whole and check in with each of the other five divisions. Who’s surprising? Who’s underwhelming? Who’s simply mediocre at the moment? Read on and find out.
Unlike the mediocrity that seems to be overtaking large chunks of the American League, the National League features a much higher quantity of good baseball teams up to this point in the season. The Braves in the East have the best record in baseball, and the Dodgers are the Dodgers, but they find themselves in a division that’s anything but a cakewalk.
The NL West has obviously produced very good teams over the last handful of years, but the division has a tendency to be a bit top-heavy. While the top line is still quite good, there are multiple clubs in the West with high aspirations for October, and with good reason.
Top Position Player: Andy Pages (2.7 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Shohei Ohtani (1.9 fWAR)
Once again adding big-ticket players over the offseason, the Dodgers are unsurprisingly one of baseball’s best teams again. They are not, however, game-breakingly dominant. They still feature a roster that boasts several of the game’s very best players, and will almost certainly be the World Series favorites throughout the season, but they are also not without their flaws, though neither is anyone else.
The offense continues to be led by Shohei Ohtani (despite a “diminished” 150 wRC+), Freddie Freeman, and a resurgent Max Muncy. At the top of the fWAR leaderboard, however, is Andy Pages, who is proving that last year was no fluke, and perhaps even a preview to even greater production. Their greatest strength has long been incredible depth, and with multiple All-Star level catchers and nine different hitters producing above league average, the same rings true in 2026. While their pitching has been impressive, durability has often been their Achilles Heel, which will certainly be something to monitor later in the season. Nevertheless, FanGraphs has them as the significant favorite in all of baseball to win their division, clinch a bye, and win the World Series.
Top Position Player: Xander Boagaerts (1.1 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Mason Miller (1.5 fWAR)
Five games back of the Dodgers, the Padres have played some good baseball on the whole in 2026. That being said, they aren’t doing it in a way that was expected or even desired. The lineup regulars have been middling at best, with only Gavin Sheets and Ty France putting up good numbers in significant playing time. Most concerningly, Manny Machado is in the midst of his worst offensive season to this point, and Fernando Tatis Jr. has one home run in 241 plate appearances.
Yet somehow, the Dads are making it happen, proud owners of the top Wild Card spot in the NL as things stand. While Michael King has led the charge for their rotation, they are certainly helped by the continued otherworldly performance of Mason Miller, who has a 0.46 FIP and is striking out more than half of the batters he faces, making himself an unlikely Cy Young candidate.
Top Position Player: Corbin Carroll (2.6 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Michael Soroka (1.5 fWAR)
Once again, the D-Backs are also fully in on the conversation and hold a share of a playoff spot as well. After some roster shifting at last year’s deadline and over the offseason, they are proving to be a formidable club once again. The stars are doing their job, as Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte continue to be some of the league’s best players, while the offense has enjoyed a rejuvenated newcomer in Nolan Arenado, who’s posting his best wRC+ (130) since 2022.
On the pitching side, while Zac Gallen has been highly disappointing, veterans Eduardo Rodriguez and shockingly, Michael Soroka have delivered plenty on the mound. Appearing healthy, the 28-year-old is doing plenty to keep his club above water, and only has one dud to show for in his 11 starts this season. FanGraphs has Arizona’s postseason odds just above 40 percent, a good bit above that of the Padres.
Top Position Player: Luis Arraez (2.3 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Landen Roupp (1.6 fWAR)
Seemingly always involved, the Giants are where the NL West drops off a cliff. Already 15 games back in the division, 2026 has not gone to plan, despite some nice surprises. Luis Arraez has played well as a newbie by the Bay, while Casey Schmitt’s 12 homers and 145 wRC+ have been a major boost. The infield, however, has suffered difficult starts from both Matt Chapman and Willy Adames. Logan Webb has also been a disappointment by his standards, contributing to the major hole the club has found themselves in as we head to June.
Top Position Player: Mickey Moniak (1.4 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Antonio Senzatela (0.7 fWAR)
The Rockies. Still kind of doing their thing, though admittedly a good bit better than the historic lows they saw last season. That being said — still not good! At least Mickey Moniak’s career year has been a fun story, and they have a handful of interesting hitters, including former Yankee prospect TJ Rumfield. Someday they’ll figure things out (right?).
The Chicago Blackhawks lost Jack Pridham. He wasn’t going to sign with them, so they traded his rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He didn’t see much of a path to success in the Chicago organization, so he had other ideas.
After the trade was made, it became known that he was going to go to Denver, where he would find tremendous success with a truly elite NCAA program. There, he will attempt to translate his skills to a much tougher system against better opponents, which should better prepare him for the pro game.
It’s a tough loss for the Blackhawks, but they got a third-round pick for him, which is what they paid to select him in the 2024 NHL Draft. It also isn’t going to make or break the organization going forward. Their pipeline will be just fine.
As far as forwards go, they already have Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, and Frank Nazar at the NHL level. All of them are under 22 years old and are only going to get better. They also have high-quality depth players in the form of youth with Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, and Sacha Boisvert.
In the pipeline, Roman Kantserov, Vaclav Nestrasil, Marek Vanacker, and AJ Spellacy were all ahead of Pridham on the ranking chart. Guys like Nathan Behm, John Mustard, and Mason West are also in the mix. With all of those players around, Pridham didn’t see a true path to the NHL, and that’s fair.
If the Blackhawks can turn half of those players mentioned into legitimate NHL contributors, the future will remain very bright. Right now, their farm is superior in the league for a reason. Building through the draft has been their philosophy, and sometimes losing players like Pridham comes with that mentality.
Time To Acquire NHL Talent Using Prospects
The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of great prospects. Clearly, they aren't all going to make it to the NHL on a full-time basis. There isn't enough room.
The prospects mentioned are aware of that reality, hence Jack Pridham's decision not to sign. If they see a path to more success elsewhere, they will take it.
This is a reason for the Blackhawks to start acquiring more NHL-ready talent. They have been a bottom-five team for a handful of years now, and it's time to come out of that.
With all of the youth in the lineup already, they must start experiencing late-season games that are meaningful. Trading prospects for players who will contribute right away will help the front office avoid players deciding to leave, as Pridham did.
Sure, they recouped a third-round pick this time, but they might not be as fortunate next time. Over the summer, especially around the draft and free agency, there will be opportunities for Kyle Davidson to improve the team. Some of these prospects are assets in that quest.
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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired the rights to forward prospect Jack Pridham in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
The 20-year-old Pridham was selected by Chicago in the third round of the 2024 draft. He was eligible to re-enter the draft if he didn't sign an entry-level contract with an NHL team or commit to a college by 5 p.m. EDT on Monday.
Tampa Bay said Pridham had committed to play NCAA hockey next season, and the school was “expected to be announced in the coming days.”
The Blackhawks received a third-round selection in the 2027 draft in the deal with the Lightning.
Pridham had 46 goals and 44 assists in 65 games this season with Kitchener in the Ontario Hockey League. He also helped the Rangers win the OHL championship and Memorial Cup.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Gerrit Cole look like themselves again, we heap more praise on Jacob Misiorowski and Cristopher Sánchez, Mariners fans show appropriate levels of petty, and we add to the list of weird baseball injuries.
As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.
Let’s get started!
▶ Check out Eric Samulski’s SP streamer recommendations for this week!
Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, June 1
Last week: 1
Consider this: The Braves have been the best team in baseball this season despite Ronald Acuña Jr. not being his usual self at the plate while also missing time due to injury. Well, “La Bestia” has awoken.
Ronald Acuña Jr. CRUSHES the first pitch he sees
— MLB (@MLB) May 31, 2026
He has now homered in FOUR straight games! pic.twitter.com/gb8JCNgJE4
Acuña had just two home runs through his first 42 games this season. He’s hit five in his last four games.
Last week: 2
The Dodgers are rolling right now, with 14 wins in their last 17 games. Perhaps the best sign? Progress from Roki Sasaki. He’s allowed just four earned runs with a 19/2 K/BB ratio in 17 3/ innings over his last three starts.
Last week: 4
For as impressive as Cristopher Sánchez was in the month of May, you could argue that Jacob Misiorowski was better. He allowed just one run in 38 1/3 innings while compiling a 57/6 K/BB ratio. Opposing batters hit just .109 against The Miz in May, compared to .181 for Sánchez.
Last week: 3
The Rays hit their first real rough patch in recent days, but Shane McClanahan continues to be a rock in this rotation. He fired five innings of one-run ball for the win against the Angels on Sunday and holds a sterling 2.45 ERA across 11 starts.
Last week: 6
I said in last week’s column that it would be nice to see more strikeouts from Gerrit Cole, so of course he went out there and struck out 10 batters last Wednesday against the Royals. It’s easy to dream about a postseason rotating led by Cole, Max Fried, and Cam Schlittler, but there’s a long way to go.
I can’t move on from the Yankees without mentioning their 13-run third inning against the A’s on Sunday. The offensive eruption fell just one run shy of the highest-scoring inning in franchise history. And they did it all without hitting a home run. Perhaps equally strange, they were held hitless in every other inning.
Last week: 7
In a week where the Guardians dropped four out of six, it was announced that Travis Kelce is a new minority owner. The legendary tight end grew up a Cleveland fan and even considered a career in baseball, so it’s a surely a bucket list item to be involved with his hometown team. Patrick Mahomes is undoubtedly happy for his friend, but of course he took the opportunity to roast him.
Congrats! @tkelcepic.twitter.com/qlt9I58TJFhttps://t.co/s2qhkDBQ1b
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 27, 2026
Last week: 5
The Padres have lost six out of their last seven games, but hey, Fernando Tatís Jr. finally hit his first home run of the season Saturday. It was a no-doubter, too, as he launched it 451 feet.
EL NIÑO!!! pic.twitter.com/b3ElpWGvHx
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 30, 2026
That had to feel good. Tatís had gone 240 plate appearances without a home run dating back to last season.
Last week: 17
Now that's a leap. With six straight wins, the Mariners are back where we thought they’d be. Over .500 and in first place in the AL West.
Remember the piggyback drama with Luis Castillo last week? Well, Bryce Miller and Castillo did an excellent job in Sunday’s series finale against the Diamondbacks, setting up Victor Robles’ walk-off RBI single.
Side note: I respect pettiness. And the reaction from Seattle fans to the Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly the Seattle SuperSonics) losing Game 7 to the Spurs was just priceless.
The Mariners have hit four home runs, and they just showed the Thunder losing on the big screen.
— Josh Kirshenbaum (@J_Kirshenbaum) May 31, 2026
T-Mobile Park is having a pretty good time right now pic.twitter.com/1FL3lTncT1
Last week: 8
You may not like it, but this is what peak dad looks like.
DAD CAUGHT THE FOUL BALL WITH KID IN HAND! pic.twitter.com/UGQCz35grJ
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 1, 2026
Us dads might not know where anything is, and we might forget to pack the sunscreen, but if there’s a foul ball in the vicinity and we just happen to be holding our kid, that’s not going to stop us from fulfilling our destiny.
Last week: 14
That’s right, the White Sox have bumped the Cubs out of the top 10. I didn’t plan it this way, but it’s a cool symbolic moment. It took the White Sox until July 5 last year to reach 30 wins, so whether they can maintain this level of performance or not, there’s progress being made. It’s just a shame that Munetaka Murakami will miss several weeks due to a hamstring injury.
Last week: 10
The Cubs finally got back in the win column last week, but they finished the month of May at 13-16. Shota Imanaga exemplifies the struggles, as he gave up 10 home runs with a 5.80 ERA over six starts in May.
Last week: 13
Coming off a sweep of the Twins, the Pirates have won six out of eight. They’ll have to get by for a little while without star rookie Konnor Griffin, but Ryan O’Hearn had two hits (including a homer) in his return from the IL on Sunday. Jared Jones is also back after undergoing surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow last May.
Last week: 11
While the offense continues to struggle, Cristopher Sánchez keeps chasing history. The southpaw broke the Phillies’ franchise record with 44 2/3 scoreless innings. It’s the seventh-longest such streak in MLB history, with Orel Hershiser (59 IP) still sitting on top. He’ll try to keep climbing on Wednesday against the Padres.
Last week: 9
The Diamondbacks fall out of the top 10 after being swept by the Mariners. Folks in the r/baseball community were critical of their inclusion last week given that they got hot while playing teams like the Rockies and the Giants. There’s some validity to that criticism. Up next is a major test against the Dodgers.
Last week: 12
Troubling sight for the Reds on Sunday, as Elly De La Cruz was forced to leave due to right hamstring tightness. He landed on the 10-day IL on Monday. Not an ideal start to June after the Reds went 10-17 in May.
Last week: 15
Behind a potent offense, the Nationals went 16-12 in May. It's easy to forget that they actually went 15-12 last May. This is still a flawed team, but their success feels more real this time.
Last week: 19
In a bizarre scene, Blue Jays outfielder Jesús Sánchez was forced to exit Sunday’s game against the Orioles after he was hit in the right wrist on a ball thrown by a kid from the stands.
Jesús Sánchez was forced to leave the game after being hit by a baseball thrown by a fan. https://t.co/JpECpWGntmpic.twitter.com/UyKtOyreUh
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 31, 2026
It was apparently a miscommunication, with no ill will on the part of the kid. And fortunately it doesn’t appear as though Sánchez is seriously injured. With the way things have gone with the Blue Jays this year, it’s about time they caught a break on that front.
Last week: 21
The Rangers have hovered around the .500 mark through much of the first two months. Is this the week they finally make a push? After taking care of business against the Royals over the weekend, they get the Cardinals on the road to begin the week before returning home to face the Guardians. One encouraging note is that Wyatt Langford is back playing rehab games after dealing with a nagging forearm injury.
Last week: 22
The vibes are improving in Baltimore. Including a five-run comeback against the Blue Jays in the ninth inning on Saturday (see below), the Orioles went 7-3 during their 10-game homestand. Now they’ll head on the road to face the Red Sox and the Blue Jays.
COMEBACK COMPLETE!
— MLB (@MLB) May 30, 2026
Pete Alonso caps off a 5-run 9th with a #walkoff for the @Orioles! ❄️ pic.twitter.com/HlaZNCY1Dk
Last week: 16
The A’s can’t wait to hit the road. They lost five out of six on their recent homestand and are now 11-17 at Sutter Health Park this season. The difference, not surprisingly, is stark. The A’s have a 5.73 ERA (29th in MLB) at home compared to a 3.39 ERA (fourth-lowest) on the road.
Last week: 23
After a brutal April, the Astros went 15-14 in May and have won seven out of their last 10. Cam Smith has swung the bat better in recent days (hitting .300 over his last 11 games), but he’s also contributing with the glove.
Cam Smith went UP to take a home run away pic.twitter.com/c5gLBeZUSE
— MLB (@MLB) May 29, 2026
Last week: 18
Six straight losses for the Twins, who continue to have rotation issues. Minnesota lost Bailey Ober due to right elbow inflammation over the weekend and also designated Simeon Woods-Richardson for assignment after he posted a 7.74 ERA through 12 appearances (10 starts) to begin the year.
Last week: 24
It’s been a tough start to the season for Jarren Duran, but he’s finally seeing results. He’s hitting .347 with six homers and 14 RBI over his last 11 games. He’s improved his season OPS by nearly 150 points during the hot stretch.
Last week: 26
The Mets were swept by the Marlins last weekend while scoring just two runs across three games. This past weekend, they turned the tables by plating 25 runs in a three-game sweep of Miami. Baseball!
Last week: 20
Add this one to the annals of weird baseball injuries. Eury Pérez threw four scoreless innings against the Blue Jays last Wednesday before he was forced to exit the game after injuring himself while stretching the dugout. It turns out that he suffered a high-grade strain of his right gracilis, which is one of the muscles in the inner thigh area.
Last week: 27
Where did this come from? A fixture near the bottom of the league in runs scored through two months, the Giants knocked around the Rockies for 19 runs on Sunday as Jung Hoo Lee had a five-hit day. He’s 11-for-15 (.733) since coming off the injured list.
Last week: 25
The losses are piling up. KC has dropped six straight and 16 out of their last 19. Maikel Garcia left Saturday’s game with a hamstring issue and there’s a chance he could end up on the injured list.
Last week: 28
If you lose 21 out of 25 games, you deserve to find yourself here. Yes, the rotation has been hit hard by injuries, but the Tigers were last in the majors with 81 runs scored in May.
Last week: 29
If you are going to get ejected, make sure it’s for something as ridiculous as a National Anthem stand-off.
We have a National Anthem standoff. pic.twitter.com/FZWRKUQqIn
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 30, 2026
Before you get on your soapbox, just realize that Brent Suter was unlikely to pitch anyway after he threw 25 pitches the night before. Just embrace the pure silliness that can only happen in baseball.
Last week: 30
As Paul DePodesta attempts to figure out how to win in Colorado, one of the big responsibilities will be setting the foundation at the minor league level. That’s why it’s disappointing to hear that last year’s first-round pick, Ethan Holliday, is done for the season after surgery to address a stress fracture in his left foot. The 19-year-old hit .262 with nine home runs and a .952 OPS over 33 games with Class A Fresno this season.
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The Seattle Mariners will look to stay hot as they welcome the New York Mets for the start of a three-game series on Monday night.
Seattle should have its way with New York’s pitching tonight, which is why I’m taking the home team to win in my Mets vs. Mariners predictions.
Let’s dig into tonight’s matchup as I explore my free MLB picks for Monday, June 1.
Seattle Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78 ERA) has dropped his WHIP to 1.01 this season behind his fastball. It’s one of the best pitches any starter is throwing this year, with Baseball Savant rating it in the 100th percentile for Fastball Run Value.
The New York Mets are giving Austin Warren his first start tonight, with Sean Manaea (0-1, 5.56 ERA) likely picking up the bulk of the innings. The Mets are 2-10 in Manaea’s appearances this year. This is a mismatch on the mound, and I like the Mariners to win at anything better than -150.
COVERS INTEL: The Mets are hitting four-seam fastballs and sinkers – pitches that make up more than 60% of Hancock’s arsenal – for line drives just 21% of the time against righties, the fifth-worst percentage in the majors this year.The Mariners have been effective against lefties this year, with 20% of all balls they’ve hit off of southpaws being pulled in the air. They should find success against Manaea, who has an average fastball velocity of just over 90 MPH, which will let those Seattle bats get around on him.
The Mets should provide something towards the total, as they’ve averaged 7.25 runs per game during their four-game winning streak. Even if Juan Soto and company can’t generate more than a couple of runs, the Mariners might get there themselves. I’m taking the Over at even money or better.
The Mariners are 3-1 straight up in Hancock’s last four starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Mariners.
| Location | Stadium, City, State/Province |
| Date | Monday, June 1, 2026 |
| First pitch | 9:40 p.m. ET |
| TV | Mariners.TV, SportsNet New York |
| Mets starting pitcher | Austin Warren (1-1, 1.40 ERA) |
| Mariners starting pitcher | Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78 ERA) |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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