Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade by submitting a three-team list of desired destinations, a person familiar with discussions confirmed to The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because talks are private. The Detroit Free Press first reported the development earlier in the day.
Larkin has a full no-trade clause as part of his contract, and his list was limited to being dealt to Vegas, Minnesota and Florida. He has five years left on an eight-year, $69.6 million contract, which carries an annual salary cap hit of $8.7 million.
The 29-year-old’s trade demand comes after completing his 11th season in Detroit, and 10th straight without a playoff berth. The Red Wings’ decade-long postseason drought now stands as the NHL’s longest active run after the Buffalo Sabres qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 15 years this season.
The Red Wings faltered down the stretch in becoming the NHL’s second team to have 69 points through 53 games only to miss the playoffs.
From Waterford, Michigan, Larkin enjoyed success in his Olympic debut, by winning a gold medal representing the U.S. at the Milan Cortina Games in February.
The challenge for Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is working out a deal with any of the three teams, who each are projected to be in the bottom half of the NHL in having $15.2 million or less in cap space available entering next season, according to spotrac.com.
And they include the Golden Knights, who rank 31st among the NHL’s 32 teams in currently having just $4.6 million of space available.
It’s unclear whether Larkin would be open to potentially expanding his list.
Larkin has spent his entire career in the Detroit area. He played collegiately at Michigan, and was selected by Detroit with the 15th pick in the 2014 draft. He’s a six-time 30-goal scorer, and coming off a season in which he had 67 points, including a career-best 34 goals in 74 games.
LAS VEGAS — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour is wearing his poker face well in Las Vegas.
Brind’Amour has decided who will be in net against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
He’s just not telling anyone.
“It’s always a suspenseful thing around here that I have to hold on to,” Brind’Amour said after practice. “It seems to have taken a life of its own, so I kind of enjoy it.”
Vegas leads the series 2-1 after a wild 5-4 double-overtime win in Game 3. The teams split the first two games in Carolina.
Starting goaltender Frederik Andersen didn’t practice, which Brind’Amour described as a maintenance day, but backup Brandon Bussi was on the ice along with Pyotr Kochetkov. All three were in rotation over the first three months of the regular season.
Asked what the coaches were telling him about his chances of playing in Game 4, Bussi smirked: “You know, Rod’s our coach, right?”
Andersen was brilliant for the Hurricanes, playing every minute of their first 15 playoff games before Bussi replaced him after Vegas took a 4-0 lead after the second period of Game 3.
Bussi shut down the Knights until Shea Theodore’s game-winning shot caromed off the end boards and went in after the goaltender inadvertently deflected it with his left skate 5:38 into the second overtime.
Brind’Amour told reporters he didn’t anticipate “a lot of changes” to the lineup, but would “see how (Andersen is) feeling.”
The coach quashed the notion that Andersen may have suffered a head injury when Ivan Barbashev’s left hip viciously collided with the netminder’s head. Andersen dropped to the ice face-first, where he lay flat with his arms sprawled out.
Bussi, who hadn’t played since April 14 before replacing Andersen, said his mindset doesn’t change on how to prepare for a game, whether as a backup or starter.
“It’s the same thing for me every day,” Bussi said. “I put my head down, I work hard. I just do the same thing every time. It’s easier that way.”
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes said they have confidence in whoever leads the team onto the ice inside T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night.
“Freddie has been unbelievable, Bussi’s been unbelievable this year, and Koch, before he got injured, he was incredible,” Nikolaj Ehlers said. “So we got a ton of confidence. We want to play the same hockey that we know we can play. In the end it doesn’t matter who’s in the net, we’re going to do our best to limit their chances and give them less hard work to do during the games.
“It doesn’t matter. We have full confidence in all three goalies.”
Taylor Hall said the smaller intangibles to consider might be the goaltenders’ styles of play and how to react when an explosive team such as Vegas is firing on net.
“Bussi plays an aggressive style, so I would say it’s more about taking away the other options around the ice a bit more so that he can just focus on that shot if we do give up a chance,” Hall said. “Where Freddie’s more patient, and he’s more of a, ‘let’s see what happens.’ He’ able to kind of save some backdoor plays and things like that.”
In other injury news, forward William Carrier skated at practice after missing the third period and OT after appearing to injure his arm during a check on Jeremy Lauzon.
Retired American baseball players Whitey Ford (left) and Bill White (right) congratulate Bill Virdon who had just signs a managerial contract with the New York Yankees, New York, New York, early 1974. Both Ford and White were former Yankees. (Photo by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s iteration of our birthday series brings us to an unusual spot relative to some of the entries thus far. With limited options of players born on June 9th, we instead will be celebrating and looking back on Bill Virdon, a solid player, but a man who made his mark on the Yankees in a managerial role.
A 12-year big league veteran, and winner of multiple awards over the course of his career, his time in the game was far from insignificant. With the Yankees, his chapter is rather short, though there is still plenty to look back on with regard to the career of Virdon.
Bill Virdon Born: June 9, 1931 (Hazel Park, MI) Died: November 23, 2021 (Springfield, MO) Yankees Tenure: 1950-53 (minors); 1974-75 (manager)
Born during the Great Depression in Michigan, Bill Virdon actually kicked off his professional baseball career with the Yankees, signing a contract with the club prior to the 1950 season and peaking with a .317/.381/.439 showing in 42 games with the Double-A Birmingham Barons in 1953. A promotion to Triple-A Kansas City didn’t go as well though, and before making it to The Show, he was gone. Virdon was dealt away in the deal that brought veteran bench bat Enos Slaughter to New York leading up to the 1954 campaign.
A year later, the acquisition would pan out for the Cards. In 1955, Virdon broke onto the scene with a 17-homer season and a .281/.322/.433 slash line that was good enough for National League Rookie of the Year honors. His sophomore campaign was even better, splitting time with St. Louis and, following a mid-season trade, the Pirates.
Virdon would actually spend the rest of his playing days in a Pittsburgh uniform, starting his tenure there with a rather impressive stretch. He was consistent and an above-average contributor for the Buccos, as he put up at least 2.0 bWAR in every season with the Pirates through 1960, as a slightly below-average hitter with a good glove in the outfield. Along with several others, Virdon was part of a formidable defensive unit for Pittsburgh in 1960, a team that beat the Yankees in that year’s World Series. He had two hits in the Game 7 stunner, including an infamous infield single that hit a pebble and struck Tony Kubek in the throat, helping spark a five-run rally in the eighth before teammate Bill Mazeroski’s memorable shot.
Although his overall production waned as he entered his 30s, Virdon won a Gold Glove Award in 1962, and remained with the club through the mid-’60s. His playing career came to a close after a brief six-game cameo with the club in 1968 at the age of 37. By the time his retirement came around, Virdon had already spent time as a minor league manager, and as a player-coach with the Pirates, serving as a precursor to the rest of his time in the baseball world.
Post-retirement, Virdon immediately got in on the coaching game, and would reach the top of the hill in the 1972 season. That year, he was hired as the manager of his old Pirates club, and he kicked off his tenure on a good note, winning their division before losing the NLCS to the Reds that season. He was the manager during Roberto Clemente’s tragic passing, and eventually lost his job after a middling start to the 1973 season.
For the 1974 campaign, George Steinbrenner brought him on board to manage the Yankees, replacing the burnt-out Ralph Houk. Virdon once again got things kicked off successfully. That year, Virdon captured his first Sporting News Manager of the Year award, leading the Yankees to a 89-73 record after a sub-.500 showing in ’73.
Virdon got the Bombers off to a fine start in 1975, but his time as the head honcho was cut short when the skipper who would become Steinbrenner’s main man suddenly hit the market. After being fired by the Rangers, Billy Martin came on to become the new Yankees manager mid-season (his first stint), obviously resulting in Virdon being let go.
That wasn’t the end of his managerial career, however, as he latched on to the Astros job during that same season, and never looked back. Virdon would spend eight seasons as Houston’s manager, and although they were mediocre to begin his time there, they eventually won a division title in Game 163 of 1980, netting him another Manager of the Year Award. Both distinctions were the second such of his managerial career. In the Astros’ first foray into postseason play, they took a 2-1 NLCS lead over the Phillies, only to drop back-to-back games in extras at the Astrodome to concede the pennant to the Phils. They returned to October play as second-half champs in the split-season of ’81, but for the second year in a row, the eventual champs knocked them out as the Dodgers enacted their vengeance for losing in 1980.
Dismissed following an ugly start to ’82, Virdon wrapped up his time on the big league stage with two years as the manager of the Expos from 1983 to ‘84, finishing just around .500 in Montreal. He would spend further time on Major League coaching staffs, but would never again be a manager.
On the whole, it was a successful run for Virdon in baseball, as a 12-year career, Rookie of the Year Award, and multiplte Manager of the Year Awards are not things everyone can boast. Although his time with the Yankees was minimal, his mark would be hard to deny as a baseball-lifer, and a pretty good one at that.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson at Game 3 of the NBA finals at Madison Square Garden on 8 June.Photograph: Ross D Franklin/AP
The New York Knicks are leading the NBA finals 2-1 against the San Antonio Spurs, much to the excitement of fans across the world. It’s their first appearance in the playoff finals since 1999, when they lost the best-of-seven series to the very same Texas team.
We would like to hear from New Yorkers and Knicks fans, both in the state and around the globe, about how they’re feeling in this current moment. With the Knicks doing so well after so long, how are you celebrating? Are you still optimistic despite the Spurs’ close win in Madison Square Garden on Monday? How are you feeling about the future?
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HOUSTON, TX - MAY 1: Austin Reaves #15 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As soon as the NBA Finals are over — which could be as early as Wednesday at this rate — expect the Lakers to get to work.
The day after the Finals end, teams are allowed to legally begin negotiating with their own free agents. No team would ever dare to tamper before that in Adam Silver’s NBA, so the last few weeks of June will be the Lakers’ best chance to lock down commitments from LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and the rest of their free agents.
If they don’t have a firm answer by 6 p.m. ET on June 30, the Lakers might have to pivot elsewhere.
That’s both the gift and the curse of being able to have upward of $50 million in cap space this offseason.
Getting to that number requires some significant sacrifices, though. The Lakers would have to renounce their free-agent rights to everyone other than Reaves, including LeBron and Hachimura.
Unless both players choose to sign elsewhere, that potential $50 million of cap space is a pipe dream. That’s because until they sign somewhere or the Lakers renounce them, they’re going to count against the Lakers’ books in some capacity.
Those two in particular will prevent the Lakers from having any cap space until they decide upon their fates one way or another.
Between LeBron, Hachimura and Reaves alone, there’s a clear order of operations in which the Lakers need to work this offseason to maximize their flexibility.
Their own free agents
By June 30, the Lakers need to have a firm-ish answer on James, Hachimura and the rest of their free agents other than Reaves. Otherwise, they won’t know how much money they can realistically spend in free agency.
LeBron will count as $57.75 million (his max salary) against the Lakers’ cap until he re-signs with them, signs elsewhere, retires or the Lakers renounce his rights. Hachimura will count as nearly $27.4 million. Those two alone put the Lakers well above the cap, and that’s not even counting Luke Kennard ($13.2 million cap hit), Jaxson Hayes ($6.6 million) or Deandre Ayton and/or Marcus Smart if they decline their respective player options.
The Lakers will have at least a week-and-a-half to legally negotiate with them before any of them can begin legally negotiating with other teams. (Because again, no one would dare to tamper in Adam Silver’s NBA.) That should give them plenty of time to suss out the likelihood of bringing each of them back, and the price tag it’d likely cost.
Perhaps LeBron says he’s willing to come back and take whatever’s left over after the Lakers go free-agent shopping. The Lakers could hash out agreements with the rest of their free-agent targets, but they’d have to re-sign LeBron first to get his massive cap hold off their books before they’d have to sign anyone else.
The same goes for Hachimura to a lesser extent. If he’s getting less than $27.4 million as the starting salary of his next contract, his cap hold would count as more than his next deal will. Once the Lakers signed Hachimura to that contract, they’d carve out additional financial flexibility with which to navigate the aprons.
If they don’t have a clear answer by June 30, though, they may face the difficult decision of whether to renounce either player (or both).
If the Lakers renounced either James or Hachimura, their cap holds would be removed from their books, but they would also forfeit their Bird rights. That means they’d only be able to re-sign them via cap space or with a salary-cap exception.
Once the Lakers finish the rest of their free-agent business, they can then turn their attention to Reaves.
Reaves’ cap-hold trick
Reaves has been the skeleton key to kickstarting the Luka Dončić era for a while now. He’s likely in line for a max or near-max deal this offseason, whether from the Lakers or another team, but he’ll count as only $20.9 million on the Lakers’ books until they re-sign him.
Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Timesrecently said that from what he understands, “Austin wants the max. Is he willing to give the Lakers a hometown deal? I’m not so sure about that. Maybe he does, but maybe his reps don’t want to.”
The $50 million of cap space figure above includes Reaves’ $20.9 million cap hold. A max contract for Reaves will start at $41.25 million next season, assuming a $165 million salary cap. Once he signs that deal, he’ll count as his new salary on the Lakers’ books. Until that time, he’ll count as only $20.9 million.
So, even if the Lakers announce early in free agency — or even during the legal negotiating period after the Finals — that they’ve reached an agreement with Reaves, that doesn’t mean they’re going to sign him as soon as the July Moratorium lifts on July 6. They’ll spend the rest of their cap space first and then re-sign him afterward to take advantage of his well-below-market cap hold.
The only thing Reaves’ next contract will affect is the Lakers’ proximity to the luxury tax and the aprons. He has zero impact on what they do in free agency aside from how his next contract fits into their larger financial picture.
Depending on which of their other free agents they bring back and how much it costs to do so, the Lakers might have a walkaway price for Reaves that’s below a full max. We’ll see what they have planned for LeBron, Rui and their other free agents, along with anything else they might have up their sleeves.
But no matter what order those decisions are announced in, there is a clear chain that the Lakers need to follow once they’re ready to make those deals official.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, ranked first in the NL West with a 42-24 record, face the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are third in the NL Central with a 34-32 record. The game is essentially a pick'em, with Pittsburgh at -110 and the Dodgers at -110. Starting pitchers are Eric Lauer for the Dodgers, with a 5.74 ERA, and Paul Skenes for the Pirates, with a 2.83 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
The New York Yankees, ranked second in the AL East with a 39-26 record, face the Cleveland Guardians, who are first in the AL Central with a 37-31 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -120 moneyline compared to the Cleveland Guardians' +110. Starting pitchers are Gerrit Cole for the Yankees, with a 2.00 ERA, and Slade Cecconi for the Guardians, with a 4.92 ERA.
How to watch New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians
Date: Tuesday, June 9
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET / 3:40 p.m. PT
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
TV Channels: TBS, Guardians.TV Presented by Progressive, WKYC 3, Amazon Prime Video
I'm looking to get in and get out of a few games this evening by attacking the YRFI/NRFI market for my MLB picks.
Both Sox games immediately caught my attention this afternoon, and so did the matchup out in Las Vegas. A few strong spots stand out on the board tonight, so let's dive into my best NRFI/YRFI predictions for June 9.
Eric Fedde takes the mound for the White Sox this evening, sporting a 9.00 first-inning ERA after allowing eight runs across eight starts.
Opposing hitters own a .294 batting average, .824 slugging percentage, and 1.118 OPS against him in the opening frame. Over his last five starts, the White Sox right-hander has posted a 68.4% elevation rate and a 2.21 HR/9.
Grant Holmes gets the ball for Atlanta, and he has struggled in the first inning as well, allowing eight runs on 10 hits through 12 starts. Over his last five outings, Holmes has surrendered plenty of hard contact, giving up a 51.4% hard-hit rate and a 12.9% barrel rate. He also owns a 2.10 HR/9 and a 62.9% elevation rate during that span.
Using the current season timeframe on Batters-Box, these lineups feature six elite-rated bats and three additional hitters with strong ratings. That gives us nine total bats in favorable spots to do damage at the plate this evening.
Both teams also rank inside the top 10 in YRFI percentage. The Braves own the second-highest road YRFI rate at 39.39%, while the White Sox rank 10th overall at 32%.
With this being the best number available, I'd be comfortable playing it up to -125 if needed.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CHSN, BravesVsn
Red Sox at Rays: NRFI (-135)
I am all over both Sox games today, but for this pick, I want NO RUNS.
The Red Sox southpaw enters today having allowed just two runs through eight games, both coming on solo home runs. Aside from that, he has surrendered only one other hit during that span. Over his last five outings, he has done an excellent job limiting hard contact while posting a 0.61 HR/9.
On the other side, Martinez has put up similar numbers over his last five appearances, allowing just 36.5% hard contact with a 6.7% barrel rate, while carrying an elite 2.4% walk rate.
Through 12 games this season, the first inning has been where the Rays right-hander has shone most, sporting a 0.75 ERA and allowing just one run.
Offensively, we only have to worry about two hitters with strong matchup ratings: Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero. Both profile well against left-handed pitching, but I'm willing to take that risk given the edge the starting pitchers hold in this matchup.
Polymarket is currently offering the best price on this prop, so I would aim to find a number as close to that as possible.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: RAYS, NESN
Brewers at Athletics: NRFI (+150)
Someone is going to see this and want to chirp me, so I'll make it real easy for you: it's @ColbyMBets.
Now, back to why you're here, the logic.
First of all, yes, I am aware of the elevation in this matchup. I saw the fireworks last night. However, at this price, I think we're getting some real value on the Milwaukee Brewers and Athletics to stay scoreless through one inning.
On the bump for Milwaukee is left-hander Robert Gasser (great pitcher name), who, despite a lower ground-ball rate, isn't allowing much hard contact. Through his first couple of starts this season, opposing hitters own just a .192 xBA and .335 xSLG against him.
On the other side, Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn has been dealing over his last five outings, posting a 1.59 ERA while carrying a 42.6% ground-ball rate.
Opposing hitters are producing just a 38.2% hard-hit rate and a 5.9% barrel rate, while owning a .197 xBA. Through 11 appearances this season, Ginn has posted a 1.64 ERA in the first inning, allowing only two runs on nine hits.
People are going to harp on the elevation because it's second only to Coors Field, as if Coors has never had a scoreless first inning. If I'm wrong, it won't be the first time, and it certainly won't be the last.
At +150, the price is simply too sexy to pass up.
Time: 10:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSCA, BREW
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
2026 MLB Record picks: 197-345-29, +1.30 units
What is a NRFI prediction?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) picks add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI pick is a prediction that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're predicting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI pick is the exact opposite. You're predicting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI picks add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for those looking for a quick resolution.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are entering the summer with several pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs). Now, three of them have been ranked among the NHL's best pending UFAs.
Mantha was given the No. 8 spot, and it is pretty easy to understand why. While he had a disappointing post-season for the Penguins, he thrived during the regular-season. In 81 games this campaign with Pittsburgh, he recorded 33 goals and 64 points. After a season like this, he will generate a lot of interest if he tests free agency.
Skinner landed the No. 20 spot on Johnston's list. When noting that he is one of the top pending UFA goalies who can test free agency this summer and has a ton of playoff experience, he should have a good amount of suitors. In 50 games this season split between the Edmonton Oilers and Penguins, he had a 23-17-9 record, an .888 save percentage, and a 2.92 goals-against average.
As for Shea, he was given the No. 23 spot on Johnston's rankings. The 29-year-old just had a breakout year for Pittsburgh, setting new career highs with six goals, 29 assists, 35 points, and a plus-30 rating. Now, he is due for a new contract, and he should land himself a very nice raise. That remains the case whether he re-signs with the Penguins or signs elsewhere.
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 26: The Milwaukee Bucks round 1 pick 23 during the 2024 NBA Draft - Round One on June 26, 2024 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Kostas Lymperopoulos/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
At last month’s draft combine, there was some intel that the Bucks were operating as if they’d have “multiple picks” in this month’s NBA Draft. Now, the rumor didn’t specify whether or not they’d necessarily be first-round picks, but naturally, the first place many minds jumped to was that the Bucks would net an additional first this month in a Giannis trade. However, there are some viable other options Milwaukee has in the first round.
There is a possibility they could trade down this year to obtain a future draft pick. For example, I’ve read some scuttlebutt online that OKC is interested in trading up from 12. If the Bucks are willing to move down two spots, perhaps they could receive one of the two firsts the Thunder controls next year (they also hold swap rights on a third and could receive a fourth if the Spurs somehow fall to 16th or lower). Milwaukee doesn’t have firsts in 2027 or 2029, but it seems like when this happens, the team trading up sends a first-rounder they own for the following year.
A likelier scenario with the Thunder is swapping no. 10 for their picks at 12 and 17, which came to them courtesy of the Clippers and Sixers. Charlotte is another possibility: they have their own pick at 14 and Orlando’s at 18. If either team wants to trade up, the Bucks should definitely listen. This is a loaded draft, and many of the prospects projected after about ninth could end up anywhere. If the Bucks are zeroed in on a particular guy, he might end up falling to them at 12th anyway, and then they’d have another mid-first selection to do with as they please.
I encourage you to read more about these names in our ongoing community draft board series. But for now, what should the Bucks do: stand pat or move down and pick up another selection?
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 07: Ezequiel Duran #20 and Justin Foscue #14 of the Texas Rangers salute each other after a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field on June 07, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Season Record: 32-33
Week Record: 4-2
Series Record: 10–10, 1 split
GAME 60: 2-1 Win @ St Louis Cardinals
GAME 61: 7-4 Win @ St Louis Cardinals
GAME 62: 3-5 Loss @ St Louis Cardinals
GAME 63: 3-2 Win vs Cleveland Guardians
GAME 64: 0-6 Loss vs Cleveland Guardians
GAME 65: 10-0 Win vs Cleveland Guardians
The Rangers had one of their best weeks of the season. Starting the week off with a win streak that extended to five games, the longest of the season. Texas went 4-2 for the week and won three series in a row, again, the longest streak of series wins for the season.
Currently the Rangers are just a game under .500 and second place in the division. They outscored their opponents 25-18 and managed to get hits together with runners in scoring position.
Dare I say, they look good?
For what it’s worth, this time last year the Rangers were 30-35
On Tuesday, they’ll start a quick, six game road trip. First to Kansas City to play a team they very recently swept to kick off the series and game winning streak.
They will then go to Boston to play a team that is far below .500 and hopefully keep up a continued streak.
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 08: Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates the win with Brandon Marsh #16 after the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 8, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On April 26, the Phillies lost to the Atlanta Braves, 6-2. The lonely two runs scored by the team were thanks to a home run by Kyle Schwarber, but it felt like an exercise in futility. Aaron Nola had given up six runs in the initial two innings of the game, a game that was closed out not by the intended trio of Orion Kerkering-Brad Keller-Jhoan Duran, the plan that the team had put forth earlier in the year, but instead by Tim Mayza-Chase Shugart-Nolan Hoffman. It was a Sunday and Chris Sale was on the mound, so right handed hitters dominated the lineup, with Edmundo Sosa, Dylan Moore and Felix Reyes all getting the start. Alec Bohm had a .412 OPS after the game.
The team was then 9-19.
The vibes were low.
Fast forward to today.
The Phillies are six games over .500 and they have possibly the leading Cy Young candidate in Cristopher Sanchez, another starter in Zack Wheeler that might join Sanchez in the top five in voting, a potential group five All-Stars in Sanchez, Wheeler, Schwarber, Duran and Bryce Harper with Brandon Marsh looking more and more a choice every day. They’re beating good teams again, playing capable offense and being supported by (mostly) good starting pitching at the front and the aforementioned trio at the end.
It was the perfect time to ask a question that had to do with the playoffs since, well, we’re in June and it’s time to being considering such things.
Ask that question earlier in the year and it’s more than likely that the results would be flipped, if not decidedly so, in the other direction.
It truly is amazing what some good play will do not only to a team that isn’t playing particularly well, but for a fanbase that is so caught up in the daily doings of the team. Scroll back even though these very pages and you will sense the doom and misfortune that had fallen on us all. The gamut was run between the very last shreds of optimism to even a total and complete rebuild. Now this poll has the team making the playoffs with time to spare?
Vincent Perozo of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies enters the field before a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on May 16, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Venezuelan catcher Vincent Perozo was signed on July 2, 2019, the first day of the 2019-2020 international free agent signing period. He missed the 2020 due to the coronavirus cancelling the minor league season and made his professional debut in 2021, skipping over the Dominican Summer League completely and playing with the FCL Mets. Battling through a shoulder injury for much of the season, the backstop appeared in 18 games and hit .173/.349/.269 with 1 home run, 0 stolen bases in 2 attempts, and 10 walks to 21 strikeouts. He began the 2022 season promoted to Single-A St. Lucie but only spent about a week there before being sent back down the Florida Complex League. He appeared in 36 games for them and hit .283/.387/.475 with 4 home runs, 1 stolen base in as many attempts, and 11 walks to 32 strikeouts. He was promoted back to the St. Lucie Mets at the end of August and went 3-14 with a double and a homer, giving him a .129/.200/.323 batting line in 9 games with St. Lucie with 1 home run, 1 walk, and 8 strikeouts. He remained in St. Lucie for the 2023 season, spending the entire year there, and hit .226/.322/.381 with 8 home runs, 1 stolen base in 2 attempts, and 32 walks to 103 strikeouts in 88 games. The Mets had the 21-year-old repeat the level in 2024 and the youngster regressed, hitting .173/.280/.229 in 78 games with 10 doubles, 1 home run, 4 stolen bases, and drew 27 walks to 81 strikeouts.
Perozo began his fourth consecutive season with St. Lucie and was a bit better this time around, hitting .259/.376/.378 in 58 games with 9 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 3 stolen bases in 7 attempts, and 25 walks to 42 strikeouts. He was promoted to High-A Brooklyn in August and finished the season with the Cyclones, hitting .167/.265/.200 in 20 games with 2 doubles, 0 home runs, 2 stolen bases in 4 attempts, and 5 walks to 19 strikeouts.
The backstop began this season with Brooklyn, but has bounced all over the Mets’ minor league system since the beginning of the year, filling in wherever needed. Perozo was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse for a single game in mid-April, was then sent to Binghamton for a pair of games, and then sent back to Brooklyn. In mid-May, he returned to Binghamton in what appears to be his actual, permanent assignment.
At the plate, the left-handed Perozo stands square at the plate, standing tall and holding his hands low. The 5’11”, 170-pound backstop has a smooth, uppercutty planar swing that gives him good coverage low in the zone but makes him weak to pitches upstairs. When he connects with a ball, particularly low balls, he shows unexpected power, but his aggressive approach at the plate has led to an elevated strikeout rate, depressed walk rate, and a great deal of poor contact. Perozo is having more success now in Binghamton than he has almost anywhere, and it is no coincidence that his Pull% is down slightly, his Cent% and Oppo% are up, his Line Drive rate is up, and his groundball rate is down.
Behind the plate, Perozo will never be a standout defensive catcher because his arm is only average at best, but scouts and evaluators give him good grades for his mobility behind the plate, framing and receiving abilities, and his ability to work with his pitchers.
Frank Camarillo
Week: 1 G (1 GS), 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (High-A)
So-Cal native Frank Camarillo was drafted by the Mets in the thirteenth-round of the 2025 MLB Draft, the 403rd overall pick overall. A right-handed pitcher who attended the University of California: Santa Barbara, Camarillo did not have that many innings under his belt when selected. In 2023, his freshman year, he appeared in 4 games in total, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits and a walk over 2.2 innings, striking out 2 batters. In his sophomore season, he appeared in 13 games and posted a 7.97 ERA in 20.1 innings, allowing 27 hits, walking 12, and striking out 18. In his junior year, he posted a 6.53 ERA in 20.2 innings over 8 games, allowing 25 hits, 8 walks, and 19 strikeouts. While he supplemented the innings he pitched by pitching in collegiate summer leagues, he still had only 98.2 innings of work under his belt prior to being drafted- and with poor results, to boot.
The Mets did not have the right-hander appear in any games for the rest of 2025, and when the 2026 season began, assigned him to the Single-A St. Lucie Mets. The 22-year-old appeared in 7 games for them, starting all 7, and was serviceable, posting a 4.35 ERA in 31.0 innings, allowing 27 hits, walking 11, and striking out 28. Near the end of May, he was promoted to the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones and has since made 3 starts with them, allowing 7 earned runs in 17.2 innings, good for a 3.57 ERA, while allowing 17 hits, walking 4, and striking out 8. Altogether, he has a combined 4.25 ERA over his first 10 professional starts, allowing 44 hits, walking 15, and striking out 36 in 48.2 innings.
With a pronounced high leg kick, the 6’4”, 210-pound right-hander throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot, dropping down and pushing off the mound with a decent amount of extension. His repertoire consists of a fastball, slider, changeup and splitter. By and large, he uses his fastball almost half of the time, his slider and changeup almost half that, and his splitter sparingly.
His fastball- which statcast registers as a distinct four-seam fastball and a distinct two-seam fastball, which may actually only be a two-seam fastball or a four-seam fastball, based on its characteristics- sits in the mid-90s, ranging 90-96 MPH. With a low spin rate hovering around 2,000 RPM, the pitch has slightly above-average vertical drop and horizontal movement compared to other fastballs, as the magnus force its spin produces is not strong enough to counter the force of gravity. When thrown up in the zone, the pitch produces slightly above-average induced vertical break readings- as high as 18 inches while playing with the St. Lucie Mets- due to the fact that Camarillo releases the ball from a flat approach angle thanks to his extension off the mound and arm slot.
His slider sits in the low-to-mid-80s, ranging 81-85 MPH. It, too, features a low spin rate, giving it gyroscopic break that results in an average amount of vertical drop but almost no horizontal movement. His changeup sits in the same velocity band and features as much vertical drop as his slider, but with much more horizontal movement, averaging about 18 inches while he was pitching in St. Lucie. His splitter is very seldom used, only seeing action a handful of times per game, but it has been his most effective strikeout pitch. Sitting in the high-70s-to-low-80s, the pitch has averaged 1,000 RPM when used, causing it to absolutely fall off of the table with sharp, sudden vertical drop.
All in all, Camarillo does not have high-octane strikeout stuff, which is why he has been a bit hittable in both St. Lucie and Brooklyn. He gives up a lot of line drives and a lot of pulled flyball contact, which is not optimal- but may be hidden in Brooklyn to a degree, where the stadium is extremely tough on left-handed hitters.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Victor Wembanyama get tangled up on a play during the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game.Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images
Knicks coach Mike Brown had harsh words for the officials about what he characterized as inconsistent foul calls in New York’s 115-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA finals.
The Spurs took 24 free throws to the Knicks’ eight in the second half Monday night at Madison Square Garden. Fourteen of San Antonio’s attempts came in the third quarter, when New York took just three. In the final period, frustrations boiled over: the Knicks were whistled three times in the opening 64 seconds, and within three minutes they were in the bonus.
Brown opened his postgame news conference with comments about the officiating and returned to the topic several times. The teams will meet again in New York on Wednesday for Game 4.
“I don’t complain much. I never thought I’d see that in an NBA finals game, and I saw it tonight. That’s tough to overcome when you’re playing against a great team, Brown said. “San Antonio won the game. I’m giving their head coach and their players a lot of credit. But as a team, if you take away the fouls and the free throws that should have, in my opinion, been a little bit more even, again maybe we fouled that many times but they fouled, too. And it’s not shown at the end of the day on this box score.”
“I talked to [the officials], and they said, well, this is a foul, this is a foul,” he added. “That’s the question I had with them is, you’re right. Maybe we did foul. But they fouled, too. If they do this in Game 4 where it’s 24-8 in the second half, it’s going to be tough for us to win.
“The story is going to be there. But there are some controllables that we did not do a good job of doing. We allowed them to hit first at the beginning of the game. We allowed them to hit first in the beginning of the second half. We turned the ball over and we were stagnant offensively and we allowed them to get to the paint, and we did not pay attention to detail to what we are supposed to do defensively.”
Victor Wembanyama, who led the Spurs with 32 points, had nine free-throw attempts, tied with New York’s Jalen Brunson for the most of any player. A play in which the 7ft 4in center shoved the 6ft 2in point guard but did not result in a whistle drew criticism from Knicks fans on social media after the loss, the team’s first in more than two months.
Brunson was blunt when asked about the play: “Whatever you saw is what you saw.”
Video of Victor Wembanyama-Jalen Brunson shove
Officiating has been a storyline of these NBA finals. Across the three games, the Spurs have averaged 28 free-throw attempts to the Knicks’ 20.3. Several foul calls – including ones that were successfully overturned after challenges by both teams – swung the momentum in key moments during Game 3.
Knicks players did not have the same vocal criticism as Brown after the result. They pointed to their 13 turnovers, off which the Spurs had 21 points.
“That ain’t cost us the game. Turned the ball over. Didn’t execute. Didn’t do what got us 13 straight wins in a row. That’s how you lose a game. We didn’t do what we’ve been doing for 13,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “We decided to do something different, and it ain’t going to work. Throwing the ball away is a clear indication of how you’re going to lose the game, especially in the playoffs.”
Brunson echoed that sentiment.
“I think we turned the ball over a lot, first and foremost, and also we were fouling a lot and put them at the line about 30 times,” he said. “With our live ball turnovers, got them out in transition. They were definitely capitalizing off of those.”
For one night at least, Mike Brown didn’t have the golden touch.
The Knicks coach earned some blowback after his decision to sit superstar Jalen Brunson for 7:11 spanning the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth quarter in Monday’s Game 3 loss.
Brunson exited with the Knicks trailing by one and returned with the team losing by five points in its eventual 115-111 defeat that sliced its NBA Finals series lead to 2-1.
Mike Brown coaching the Knicks during Game 3. Getty Images
Added CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn: “I don’t want to second guess Mike Brown too much. The last time I did that he won 13 in a row. But it felt to me like the game swung when he took Jalen Brunson out with foul trouble with 4.5 minutes to go in the third. Needed to dominate those (Luke) Kornet minutes, couldn’t without JB.”
Brown has been a wizard with his in-game decisions during this magical Knicks run, often finding the right combinations and being rewarded with stellar play from his backups.
It’s always tricky when starters encounter foul trouble, though, and it’s fair to wonder if he waited perhaps a little too long to insert Brunson back into the game after he picked up his fourth foul.
The Knicks trailed 79-78 at the time when he exited with 4:29 left in the third quarter, a key moment since the Spurs also took out Victor Wembanyama at the same time.
The Spurs took advantage when Jalen Brunson wasn’t on the court. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
The Spurs are more vulnerable during those moments when Kornet spells Wembanyama — he played 9:16 on Monday — and that opens chances for the Knicks.
The Knicks managed to hold court in the remainder of the third quarter to trail by one point, 92-91, entering the fourth, meaning they gained on ground with Wembanyama on the bench.
The start of the fourth then swayed the game.
The Spurs, with Wembanyama back in the fold, grabbed a 96-91 lead before Hart entered the game with 10:36 remaining, and Brunson entered 1:18 later.
The Knicks did not score their first basket of the period until 8:30 remained in the contest, which cut the deficit to 98-93, and they did not work their way back to within three points until the final minute.
They shot just 7-for-27 in the final quarter.
“I liked some of the looks, but I also think we were pretty stagnant. There’s definitely things that we can learn from,” Brunson said of the fourth quarter. “Especially with our approach when we start the game and with the way we start the half, I don’t think we did well and I don’t think I did well either.”
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