MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 6: Former teammates LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Love #42 of the Miami Heat hug after the game on November 6, 2023 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As free agency nears, it’s become evident that the most likely outcome for LeBron James is that he continues his career as a Laker.
During Wednesday’s episode of ESPN’s “NBA Today,” longtime NBA journalist Marc J. Spears stated that not only does he believe LeBron will return to Los Angeles, but Kevin Love could be joining him.
"I'm hearing that [LeBron's] likely coming back [to the Lakers]. … Kevin Love could likely be joining the Lakers too."@MarcJSpears gives some insight on what could be next for LeBron 🏀 pic.twitter.com/EV1Qwqiixf
While the kind of numbers LeBron could be receiving on his new deal is still unknown, it’s no surprise that he is likely to return. He’s been with the franchise for eight seasons, has won a title in LA, his son is on the team and he is still playing at a high level, averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game.
With Luka Dončić now the franchise player, LeBron can continue helping the Lakers transition into this new era while remaining on a team with title aspirations. The partnership between the Lakers and LeBron remains beneficial for both parties.
Now, what is surprising is hearing that Love could be joining the Lakers.
Love has been connected to the Lakers before, with reports indicating LA wanted to sign him back in 2015, but that never happened. Instead, Love signed a long-term deal with the Cavaliers and went on to win a title with LeBron in 2016.
Clearly, the bond between James and LeBron remains strong, and it is likely one of the reasons he would want to join the purple and gold next season.
At his age, Love is no longer putting up numbers anywhere near his career averages. He averaged just 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds for the tanking Jazz this past season.
However, he would come in to be a veteran and an end-of-the-bench big man who can provide leadership to this team. Considering that Love has 16 years of NBA experience, he could help teach young players how to be pros and serve as one of the team’s vocal leaders.
A lot can change between now and when free agency begins, but bringing back LeBron would be a big win for LA, and Love coming on as a veteran would be a nice addition as well.
His departure means the Iowa Wild will soon be led by their third head coach in three years and the fourth since Bill Guerin took over Minnesota's hockey operations in 2019.
But while another coaching search will dominate the headlines, Iowa's problems extend far beyond who's standing behind the bench.
The Iowa Wild finished the 2025-26 season with a 27-36-9 record, placing 28th out of 32 AHL teams. It marked the third consecutive season Iowa finished near the bottom of the league standings.
In 2024-25, Iowa finished 27-37-8, ranking 30th out of 32 teams. The year before, they posted the exact same 27-37-8 record and finished 29th.
Three straight seasons near the bottom of the standings would be concerning for any organization. However, the bigger issue is that Iowa hasn't been able to offset those struggles with a steady pipeline of NHL-ready talent.
The standard defense of poor AHL results is simple: winning isn't the primary objective. Development is.
That's true. But the problem for Minnesota is that Iowa hasn't done enough of either.
Over the past three seasons, the club has struggled at both ends of the ice. Iowa ranked 30th in the AHL in goals against in 2023-24, allowing 245 goals. They slipped to 31st in goals against in 2024-25, surrendering 251 goals. This season, they finished 31st in goals scored.
They haven't been able to defend. They haven't been able to score. And they haven't been able to win.
What's particularly puzzling is that these struggles have occurred while Minnesota has repeatedly been praised for possessing one of the NHL's deepest prospect pools.
For years, the Wild's sytem ranked among the league's best. Yet many of those highly touted prospects either bypassed Iowa entirely or spent years there without becoming NHL regulars.
Since Guerin became general manager in 2019, only three of his Wild draft picks have appeared in at least 45 games for both Iowa and Minnesota: Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren and Daemon Hunt.
Rossi and Ohgren were traded as part of the blockbuster deal that brought Quinn Hughes to the Wild. Hunt was traded to acquire David Jiricek before eventually being reclaimed on waivers from Columbus.
And Jiricek was a failed development project.
He played 51 AHL games with Iowa and 31 NHL games with Minnesota. The Wild traded Hunt, a 1st-round pick in 2025, 3rd and 4th-round picks in 2026 and a 2nd-round pick in 2027 for Jiricek before trading him for Bobby Brink one year and three months later.
Meanwhile, several other notable prospects spent years developing in Iowa with little NHL opportunity to show for it.
Ryan O'Rourke, the 29th overall pick in 2020, played 229 games for Iowa but never appeared in an NHL game with Minnesota. After going unsigned, he spent part of this past season with three different teams.
Carson Lambos, a first-round pick in 2021, has played 207 games in Iowa and has appeared in just one NHL game with Minnesota.
David Spacek, selected in the fifth round in 2022, has suited up for 192 AHL games while appearing in only two NHL contests for the Wild.
Jack Peart, a second-round pick in 2021, has played 123 games in Iowa without making his NHL debut.
Michael Milne, a third-round selection in 2022, played 172 games in Iowa and appeared in one NHL game before being traded to Tampa for a guy who spent a few months in the Wild's orgazation.
In fact, only five drafted players who have played both NHL or AHL games for the Wild since Guerin became general manager remain in the organization today.
Jesper Wallstedt, Lambos, Spacek, Hunter Haight and Hunt. That doesn't necessarily mean those players won't become NHL contributors.
Wallstedt has emerged as a legit NHL goaltender and was the Wild's starter in thr playoffs. While Lambos and Spacek may still have opportunities ahead of them.
Haight seems like he has an NHL future but whether that is actually with the Wild will remain to be seen.
This does raise questions about Iowa's overall track record as a development environment. The constant turnover hasn't helped.
Mike Murray originally oversaw Iowa before transitioning into a role focused solely on assisting Minnesota. Matt Hendricks later took over as Iowa's general manager.
Behind the bench, Tim Army gave way to Brett McLean. McLean left after two seasons to join the Vancouver Canucks' NHL coaching staff. Cronin lasted one season before accepting a position with St. Louis.
Now another coaching search begins.
At some point, Minnesota has to determine whether the issue is coaching, management, roster construction, player evaluation or the development system itself.
Because after three consecutive bottom-five finishes, the questions are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
The Wild don't need Iowa to win a Calder Cup every season.
But they do need Iowa to become a place where prospects improve, earn NHL opportunities and learn how to win.
Right now, the results suggest that isn't happening nearly enough.
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Jose Alvarado is ready to follow the Knicks’ lead if a White House visit comes together.
The Knicks guard said in a TMZ interview that he would be open to making the trip to Washington, D.C., if the newly crowned NBA champions decide to go as a team.
“If there’s a chance, I’m going wherever my teammate goes,” Alvarado told TMZ Sports while leaving iHeart studios in New York.
Jose Alvarado holds the NBA Finals trophy draped in a Puerto Rican flag. Getty Images
The question came just days after the Knicks finished off the Spurs on Saturday to win the NBA Finals, setting off a week of celebrations across the city.
Championship teams have traditionally been invited to the White House, though the custom has become more complicated in recent years, with some teams skipping the visit or sending limited groups.
President Donald Trump watches Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
There has not yet been a reported invitation for the Knicks, but President Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden after receiving an invite from team owner James Dolan.
Alvarado’s answer suggested he is not looking to make an individual statement either way.
Instead, the 28-year-old said he would go with whatever the group decides.
Knicks' Jose Alvarado weighs in on the potential White House visit after NBA finals win. pic.twitter.com/f0Bi3ElC9H
Jun 17, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Andrew Painter (24) stands on the mound against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
It was a semi-getaway day for the Phillies and Marlins and after getting embarrassed a bit by the Phillies the previous two games, Miami came out swinging. On the day, they battered Andrew Painter and the rest of the Phillies’ pitching staff, putting up twelve runs on thirteen hits. It started early
The Phillies got a good day from Trea Turner (three hits on the day), Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott (two hits each) on offense, but it just wasn’t enough. Even after Painter departed, the bullpen also had a rough day. Tanner Banks allowed four runs in his inning of work, Orion Kerkering was a bit shaky and it got so bad, Garrett Stubbs was called upon to pitch in the ninth even though he was catching start the day.
But the big story was and is Andrew Painter.
Andrew Painter still has a viable path to being an MLB starter, especially with his willingness to mix pitches lately.
But it starts with finding a fastball he can execute at a high level with some degree of nastiness. Whether it's a Sinker or Cut Fastball, he needs it. pic.twitter.com/8vxNoGy3Ga
The fastball is just complete garbage right now, his command is sketchy at best and to be as kind as possible, his spot on the team is just nowhere near as guaranteed as it was when the season started.
The Phillies have bullpen action in the second inning as Andrew Painter once again is getting hit around. The rookie's spot in the rotation is tenuous.
You can almost feel the lack of confidence exuding off Painter when he’s on the mound, the lack of trust in his fastball something of an issue. Yes it takes players varying amounts of time to recover from a Tommy John surgery like Painter had, but he simply doesn’t look as though he belongs at the major league level.
Even it means making a move to Bryse Wilson or Alan Rangel, Andrew Painter needs to be sent down to Lehigh Valley, for the betterment of him as a pitcher and the betterment of the team.
They cannot continue to run him out there, back to back, with a struggling Aaron Nola as well. It’s taxing on the bullpen and taxing on the team as well. There has to be some consideration for the group as a whole and whether or not he puts them in the position to win. Right now, he does not.
The Phillies will be fine as a whole, but Andrew Painter? He’s bad right now.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JUNE 10: Jake Bennett #64 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the bottom of the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 10, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Red Sox dropped the series opener against the Blue Jays following a series win over the weekend against the Texas Rangers. Boston sits at 6-15 against the American League East entering play Wednesday as Jake Bennett returns to the mound for his fourth big-league start. The left-hander allowed four earned runs in five innings against the Tampa Bay Rays his last time out.
Here’s who the Red Sox send to the plate behind him Wednesday night.
The Blue Jays counter with Bradydon Fisher in place of Max Scherzer, who gave up three runs in 3 ⅔ innings against the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate in Worcester in a recent rehab outing before returning to the injured list.
ATLANTA — It didn’t just cross Robbie Ray’s mind when he had made it through his fifth no-hit inning Wednesday afternoon. This exact scenario came up in his pregame meeting to go over his plan of attack.
“It’s funny,” Ray said. “We were talking about before the game going no-hit through eight innings, [and] like you don’t get a no-hitter.”
It didn’t quite get that far, but there was at least a moment where it looked like the decision for Ray to pick up where things left off in the bottom of the second inning of the Giants’ suspended series opener against the Braves could cost him a place in the history books.
Entering in relief to begin the bottom of the second, Ray tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings, struck out eight and didn’t surrender a hit until the seventh inning of a 7-2 win in the first game of a split doubleheader.
“The offense certainly did a good job of swinging the bat, but I felt like they were feeding off the vibe of how he was throwing,” manager Tony Vitello said. “Regardless of whatever’s true, he kind of led the way and got us in a great spot at the end of the game.”
It looked like the Giants would make it through the first game of the doubleheader having only used one reliever in addition to their two starters. Dylan Smith, however, issued a pair of walks with one out in the ninth, prompting Vitello to use his closer, Caleb Kilian, to protect a five-run lead.
“Not looking to mess around,” Vitello said. “Just looking to win whenever we have an opportunity.”
It had been a little over 18 hours since Adrian Houser threw his last pitch of the bottom of the first when Ray started the bottom of the second with a grunt that bounced off the walls of a more than half-empty Truist Park shortly after 2 p.m.
Only a small sliver of the 31,266 who bought tickets for Tuesday night’s rain-shortened contest returned the following afternoon. The teams played an inning and half followed by a 1 hour, 52 minute delay before the series opener was suspended shortly before 10 p.m. local time.
“When I was warming up before the game, there was no fans,” Ray said. “And then when I went to the bullpen, they opened the gates and there were like 10 fans. So it definitely felt empty.”
The sparse crowd witnessed Ray flip the Giants’ fortunes on the mound, after Houser was tagged for two runs in a rainy first inning Tuesday night, while their bats picked up right where they left off.
After pouncing on Grant Holmes the night before, the Giants were already up 3-2 and solo shots from Rafael Devers, Jung Hoo Lee and Willy Adames made sure Ray pitched with a comfortable lead.
Devers started things off with his 10th of the season in the fifth, and Lee went back-to-back with two outs to make it 5-2. Adames added on another insurance run in the eighth with his 12th of the season.
Robbie Ray was senational on Wednesday afternoon, limiting the Braves offense in San Francisco’s 7-2 victory Wednesday afternoon. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
What it means
Thanks to Ray’s strong effort, the Giants are able to enter the second game of the doubleheader and look ahead to the rest of their road trip without too many concerns about their pitching depth.
They won’t however, have a fresh closer after Vitello called on Kilian in a non-save situation. That said, the manager didn’t rule out using Kilian if they have a late lead. He only used eight pitches.
Against 5 Braves pitchers, the Giants scored 7 runs on 10 hits, including three homeruns. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Who’s hot
Despite allowing five runs in his last start, Ray looked to be moving in the right direction with his longest outing in more than a month and only his second this season without issuing a walk.
Ray took that progress and built on it against the Braves.
“He rolls through those first three innings, really, close to a 15-pitch average, and it’s a little different than what he’s had,” Vitello said. “He looked like he was excited to throw today and he was efficient right out of the shoot.”
The only base runners Atlanta mustered against Ray until Austin Riley led off the seventh with a double were two lone walks, neither of which made it past first base.
Leaning on his sinker over his four-seamer, Ray’s eight strikeouts were his most in 15 times toeing the rubber this season and his 6 ⅓ innings of relief represented his second-longest outing of the year — his first time completing six or more innings since May 8.
“Everything’s kind of coming together,” Ray said. “Everything felt good in my last one. It just felt like the results weren’t there. I was just able to build on that today. The two-seam has been a good pitch for me lately. It’s something I’m still developing and still getting comfort for.”
Ray, who has traditionally relied on his four-seamer at the top of the strike zone, turned to his two-seamer 29 times in 94 pitches, more than any other offering. He had been throwing it only about 5% of the time.
“The game’s kind of changed a little bit,” Ray said, with the Automated Ball-Strike System. “You used to be able to exploit the top of the zone, especially when you’re ahead. I feel like the two-seam is a pitch that allows you to get some early outs. That’s kind of what I’ve been able to use it for.”
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It had only been a little more than a week since Adames’ last home run, but it might as well have been a year. Between his two-homer game in the Giants’ opening game at Wrigley Field and his solo shot in the eighth, Adames had been 1-for-31 with 11 strikeouts.
Likewise, Devers’ home run was also only his second of June while batting an equally poor .161 (9-for-56). Neither player is exactly making it easier to move their hefty contracts as the Giants reportedly listen to offers for their highly paid, underperforming stars.
Up next
A short break, and then the second game of the double header. Both teams can add a 27th player, and the Giants used their roster spot on Carson Whisenhunt, who will make his first start of the season in the nightcap against the Braves’ regularly scheduled starter, JR Ritchie.
Whisenhunt was named the Pacific Coast League’s pitcher of the month for May and is 5-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) — 2.76 dating back to his last start of April.
Jordyn Woods said her lucky bag has "seen better days" after it made the rounds during the Knicks' 2026 NBA Championship run, and that she's "hanging it in the rafters" following the team's championship parade on Thursday.
Jordyn Woods said her lucky bag has “seen better days” after it made the rounds during the Knicks’ 2026 NBA Championship run, and that she’s “hanging it in the rafters” following the team’s championship parade on Thursday.
Woods, engaged to Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, accessorized with the sold out Tux Clutch Mini Summer Citrus in the color orange ostrich at nearly every game during the Knicks’ playoff run — including New York’s 13-game win streak — and it became an unofficial good luck charm for fans.
“I made this sample [of the bag] for the [NBA] playoffs from my brand, Woods by Jordan, and I started wearing it — we won a game, it became a superstition to me,” Woods said during an appearance on “TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle” on Wednesday, with her bag in tow.
Jordyn Woods discussed her lucky bag during an appearance on “TODAY with Jenna and Sheinelle” on Wednesday June 17, 2026. YouTube/TODAY
“And then it really went viral when I couldn’t bring it to the game [the Spurs’ 115-111 Game 3 win over the Knicks] and it was the first game we lost in 50 days or something. So that’s when the phenomenon really came when we lost and I couldn’t bring my bag.
“After tomorrow I’m going to hang it in the rafters — the parade, it will come, and then I think she needs a rest. She’s been working overtime.”
Jordyn Woods’ lucky bag that she carried during the Knicks’ 2026 NBA championship run featured on her appearance on “TODAY with Jenna and Sheinelle” on Wednesday June 17, 2026. YouTube/TODAY
Some Knicks faithful were nervous when Woods didn’t bring the bag to Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden due to heightened security and a temporary no-bag policy because President Donald Trump attended.
Woods, who debuted the bag at the beginning of the playoffs in April, brought it to the Knicks’ 94-90 Game 5 victory over the Spurs on Saturday night in San Antonio, which secured their first championship in 53 years.
Jordyn Woods on celebrity row during the second quarter of the Knicks-Hawks first round playoff series, Game 1, at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostNew York City, NY jordyn woods arrives at Madison Square Garden for the conference finals Game 2 of the New York Knicks vs Cleveland Cavaliers playoff series on May 21, 2026. UrbanxDivinity / BACKGRID
The bag is sold out on Woods’ website, along with two other colors, blue ostrich and black croco.
It can be preordered and is expected to ship in September, according to a notice, entitled “Lucky Bag Pre-Orders,” on the website, adding that there is “unprecedented demand” for the bag.
“The response to the lucky bag (Tux Clutch Mini) has been truly incredible, and we are so grateful for the overwhelming love and support,” it read. “We were honestly shocked by the extraordinary response.
Jordyn Woods, Kit Harington and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks pose for a photo after the game against the Atlanta Hawks during round one, Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. NBAE via Getty Images
“As a result we have had to set the product as “made-to-order” this way everyone who wants the lucky bag has an opportunity to purchase it.”
The Knicks’ championship parade will be held in New York City on Thursday, starting at 10 a.m. ET.
Jun 17, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder John Rave (16) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images
Royals put together a complete game to avoid the sweep in the nation’s capital. The 6-2 final score was a product of a mostly solid all-around game for a team that needed it. Things got off to a very quick start when Carter Jensen led off the game with the first solo home run of the day.
Three more solo home runs came in the early parts of the game for the Royals. John Rave hit his first big-league homer of the year in the 2nd inning. In the 3rd they took it up a notch with two more solo blasts when Lane Thomas and Michael Massey went back-to-back to give Kansas City of 4-0 lead.
Every Royal in the starting lineup reached base today and only Nick Loftin failed to get a hit. It really was Carter Jensen’s day though. After opening the game with a blast, he proceeded to get on base four more times and ended the day 4-4 with a walk. His OPS went up 43 points in one game. Hopefully this means he is back on track after struggling a lot in May and early June. Rave deserves the honorable mention here too with a home run and a triple.
The final two runs for the Royals were started by Rave opening up the 6th inning with a triple because James Wood misplayed a liner off the wall and he fell down in doing so. Nick Loftin moved him to third on a ball hit back to the pitcher and then Isaac Collins bunted him home. It counted as a sac bunt though there were no outs on the play when Luis Garcia Jr. decided to go home. He almost made a nice play, watch below.
This was easily Luinder Avila’s best start of his young career. Walks have been a major problem for him, and he finally avoided the free passes this afternoon except for the very last batter that he faced. His final line was 5 2/3 IP, 3H, 1BB, 1ER, 5K dropping his BB/9 from 6.19 to 5.5 on the year. He barely gave up any hard contact. It was a great day for Avila. The one run was on a double given up by Matt Strahm who continued his recent struggles. He faced two batters, gave up two hits and run scored on each. He was bailed out on the second one when Dylan Crews tried to stretch a single into a double and was thrown out on a very close play that the Nationals challenged and lost.
Lucas Erceg looked better than I have seen him look in at least a month. He took the 7th inning and knocked them down one two three. One ball was hit hard but it was on the ground. The third batter, Jose Tena, struck out on a slider. John Schreiber took care of the 8th and turned it over to Alex Lange still 6-2. Lange did plunk the first batter and then move him to second on a passed ball that Jensen just missed. Second base is all the further Curtis Mead would go as Lange took care of the next three.
The three game road trip is over and the boys will be playing baseball in Kauffman for a weird series with the Cardinals starting tomorrow night. They play Thursday, Friday, and Sunday with an almost unheard-of off day on a Saturday thanks to the World Cup. It will be Ecuador and Curacao that get the parking lot that day.
Jun 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; An Atlanta Braves grounds crew member works on the field during a delay against the San Francisco Giants in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The current rough patch for the Atlanta Braves continued on for another game as they simply got outclassed by the San Francisco Giants over the course of a rain-delayed/suspended contest in Cobb County.
This game started on Tuesday night in wet conditions, which ended up being a double-edged sword for the Braves in particular. Grant Holmes got the ball to start things off and the Giants proceeded to jump all over him while he was busy trying to get his bearings about him in the terrible conditions. San Francisco had already put a run on the board before loading up the bases with just one out. Fortunately, Holmes was able to get out of that situation without giving up much damage but he walked in a run and gave up a sacrifice fly in the second inning so by the time the game was suspended, the Braves were down 3-2.
Those two runs came in the first inning, which was easily the high point of the entire game for the Braves. Drake Baldwin led off and the very first swing he took ended up with a ball that landed deep in Chattahoochee Falls in center field for a leadoff dinger that tied the game up. Michael Harris II singled immediately afterwards and he was brought in by Mauricio Dubón for what was then the go-ahead run. Unfortunately, Harris tweaked his back while crossing home plate and so he ended up leaving the game after that since Walt Weiss didn’t want to chance anything due to the conditions.
After the Braves finished off that frame, we ended up getting an unofficial rain delay that turned into a game suspension. The game was restarted at 2:00 p.m ET on Wednesday and from that point forward, the Giants dominated the Braves. Despite struggling for most of 2026 so far, Robbie Ray was seemingly back in Cy Young form as he delivered his best start since April 7 when he held the Phillies scoreless for nearly seven innings. Ray went 6.1 innings in the restart and gave up two hits and two walks while striking out eight batters and giving up zero runs. Atlanta’s lineup had no answers for Ray on this particular afternoon in what was one of the low points for the Braves in terms of plate performance.
Things weren’t much better on the mound. Dylan Dodd came on in the fourth inning and while he was able to get through his first five batters without giving up a hit, it all came to a screeching halt in the fifth inning which is when Rafael Devers and Jung Hoo Lee hit back-to-back dingers to make it a three-run lead for San Francisco.
The two teams traded scoreless innings in the sixth and the seventh before the Giants got back onto the scoreboard with another home run — this time, Willy Adames cracked his 12th dinger of the season to push the lead to 6-2. For reference’s sake, the Giants had hit the fourth-fewest amount of homers in the National League so far this season but they went deep three times in this one.
Anthony Molina gave up the homer to Adames and then he surrendered another run in the ninth inning to make it a 7-2 game after two singles from Luis Arraez and Bryce Eldridge culminated in a productive out from Matt Chapman plating a run.
Once it was Atlanta’s turn in the ninth, they did get a single from Mike Yastrzemski and Ha-Seong Kim got on base (!!!) with a four-pitch walk that prompted the Giants to have to go deeper into their bullpen with Caleb Kilian getting the nod to finish things off. Kilian proceeded to strike out the final two batters and that was that!
This was just a comedy of errors from the words “Play Ball” for the Braves. Well, “errors” is probably a bad word to use here since Atlanta actually played some solid defense in this one but in all other facets, this was not a good performance from the Braves at all. Hopefully things will be better later on tonight with JR Ritchie taking the mound and they’ll also have their offering of high-leverage bullpen guys available for the nightcap. Still, the offense has got to wake up because that was just very dull to watch them get dominated by present-day Robbie Ray and the rest of San Francisco’s pitching staff.
Zakhar Bardakov came to Colorado believing his breakout season in Russia had finally earned him a real NHL opportunity.
Instead, it became a one-year stopover.
According to PuckPedia, Bardakov is expected to sign with KHL powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg after spending the 2025-26 season with the Colorado Avalanche. While the 25-year-old forward is heading back to Russia, Colorado will retain his NHL rights as a restricted free agent after his one-year entry-level contract expired.
The decision isn't exactly a shock.
Bardakov found a home on Colorado's fourth line, but that's where he stayed. According to reports, the Russian forward became frustrated with his limited role and spoke with his agent about the possibility of securing more ice time. That request apparently never led to a bigger opportunity.
On a roster overflowing with offensive talent, there simply wasn't a path to consistent minutes.
Bardakov finished his rookie campaign with one goal and 10 points in 60 games while averaging just 7:17 of ice time per night. When the playoffs arrived, he never saw the ice.
For a player still trying to establish himself, returning home offers something the Avalanche couldn't: the chance to play meaningful minutes every night and continue developing in a familiar environment.
Ironically, it was that same environment that earned him his NHL shot in the first place.
Originally selected by the New Jersey Devils in the seventh round (203rd overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Bardakov spent several seasons developing in the KHL before his signing rights were traded to Colorado in 2024 as part of the deal that sent Kurtis MacDermid to New Jersey.
At the time, he looked like nothing more than organizational depth.
He had produced six goals and 18 points in 42 games during the 2022-23 season before following it with six goals and 12 points in 51 games in 2023-24. There was little reason to believe he was on the verge of becoming an NHL option.
Then came a breakout that changed everything.
Bardakov exploded for 17 goals and 35 points in 53 games with SKA St. Petersburg during the 2024-25 season, finishing with a plus-20 rating and eclipsing his offensive totals from the previous two seasons combined.
The surge convinced the Avalanche he was ready to make the jump across the Atlantic. With injuries piling up throughout the organization, Colorado brought him to North America to provide depth and energy in the bottom six.
He answered the call, appearing in 60 regular-season games and earning the trust of the coaching staff with a physical, reliable style, even if the offensive numbers never followed.
Now, his departure creates another vacancy on an Avalanche roster that is quietly being reshaped.
Colorado traded Ross Colton to the Nashville Predators earlier this week in a move widely viewed as a salary-clearing decision, making Bardakov the second forward to leave the organization's depth chart in as many days.
The Avalanche still hold his NHL rights, leaving open the possibility of a return down the road.
For now, though, the player who bet on himself by coming to North America is betting on something else: that more opportunity back home will ultimately give him the best chance to make it back to the NHL on his own terms.
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES: The Chicago White Sox Frank Thomas (R) slides safely into second base as New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter (L) loses the ball in the third inning 22 May 1999 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. The Yankees defeated the White Sox 10-2 in the first game of a doubleheader. AFP PHOTO/John ZICH (Photo credit should read JOHN ZICH/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
The New York Yankees’ greatness can be measured and appreciated in many different stats; one of them is that at some point or another, they’ve played at least one playoff series against 26 of the other 29 active teams in Major League Baseball, eye-popping even for a team with 27 World Series titles and 41 pennants to its name. Surprisingly, not all three exceptions are members of the National League—that is the case for the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals, but the third one resides on the South Side of Chicago, a 1901 founding member of the American League that predates the Yankees themselves. One might excuse expansion teams such as the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays for not featuring in this contingent, but for the Chicago White Sox to be a part of this select group, that’s just strange.
Beginning a weeklong homestand this week, the Yankees host the White Sox in a rare battle—particularly over the last few seasons—of these two teams both fighting for division leads. Just as the Yankees overtook the Rays, the White Sox fell to even with the less surprising Cleveland Guardians. While it is far too early to be certain of the Pale Hose sustaining this level of play as a legitimate threat to make the postseason, their current presence in the hunt and upcoming matchup with the Yankees provide the ideal segue to discuss the history, or in this case, lack thereof, between them.
For well over a century, the Yankees’ success has been as close to a constant as any team could get, and thus, the reality of assessing never-before-seen playoff matchups involving them leaves the responsibility entirely on the other side. It’s the Rockies’ fault for only making one Fall Classic in their history, and the same applies to the Nationals. And even then, the Yankees could’ve easily faced one of the two with better luck in the 2007 or particularly the 2019 postseason. If we want to include the Montreal Expos as part of the Nats’ history, they fell just two runs short of a showdown with New York in 1981 after losing to the Dodgers in a winner-take-all NLCS Game 5.
Around for far longer than those two aforementioned NL clubs, the White Sox playoff history is equally lacking given its context, with Chicago having played in a total of 11 postseasons dating back to 1901. It is a staggeringly low total for a team with 125 years of history. Out of those 11 appearances, four came prior to the existence of divisional play and postseason series in each league, with Chicago advancing straight to the Fall Classic in 1906, 1917, 1919, and 1959.
Here we’ll note that if said divisional play had been introduced earlier in the ’50s or ’60s, perhaps the Yanks and White Sox would have gone head-to-head in an American League Championship Series. Modern fans might not realize that those White Sox were quite competitive with the dynastic Yankees between 1952-64, but finished third six times and runner-up on four occasions. The Yankees were also third during Chicago’s lone pennant-winning season in 1959.
So we move on to 1969 and the beginning of the ALCS. The Yankees have never shared a division with the White Sox, who were quickly sorted into the AL West prior to the existence of the AL Central. A playoff matchup was possible! But they were rarely contenders at the same time. The White Sox won two AL West crowns, in 1983 and 1993. Both came during the Yankees’ 14-year playoff drought. Another White Sox division title in 2008 arrived in conjunction with New York’s run of 13 consecutive postseason appearances coming to a close.
We’re left with only four occasions in MLB history when both these teams made the playoffs.
Through one of the postseason’s most impressive runs back in 2005—when they won the championship, losing only one game across three playoff series—the White Sox nearly had the Yankees in their way, but New York faltered in the do-or-die Game 5 of the ALDS against the Angels. Whatever one’s feelings are regarding that 2005 Yankees team, they probably could’ve offered the Sox a bigger challenge than the Angels, who lost four straight after winning Game 1, seeing the elder Vladimir Guerrero wrap up that series with a 1-for-20 line. There is also an alternative path: if the Red Sox had finished ahead of the Yankees in the standings (both teams finished with the same record and the Yanks won the division on an off-field tiebreaker) the Yankees would’ve been the ones matching up with the Pale Hose in the ALDS.
While the Yankees didn’t get a chance to run into the eventual champs in 2005, the opposite was the case a few years prior in 2000. The American League’s top seed in that season, the White Sox were swept by the Mariners, a turn of events that handed the Yankees home-field advantage in that year’s ALCS against the Alex Rodriguez-led Seattle club. Despite having the worst record, the Yankees got the edge as division winners on their way to winning the Fall Classic.
Decades later, while the 2021 campaign didn’t present a particularly close possibility given that the Yankees lost the Wild Card Game to the Red Sox and the White Sox were on the other end of the bracket, scheduled for an ALDS matchup against the powerhouse Astros (one that they lost in a gentleman’s sweep), the 2020 campaign tells a more interesting story.
The way seeding worked in the shortened 2020 campaign with each of the three divisions guaranteed at least two playoff teams, meant that even though Cleveland and Chicago finished with the same record, Cleveland, which had the tiebreaker, secured the fourth seed, while the ChiSox had the seventh seed. Had the White Sox finished ahead of Cleveland, they would’ve played the five-seed Yankees, who actually had a worse record than both. Instead, Chicago lost to Oakland in the first round, and that was that.
To this day, the 2020 through 2021 period is the only one in which both the Yankees and White Sox made the playoffs simultaneously in consecutive years. Unfortunately for Chicago, things spiraled miserably for their window of contention after that, and 2026 is the first year with signs of life since then.
Lastly, with the possibility of a lockout looming, we’d be remiss not to touch on what transpired in the 1994 campaign, another one with unfulfilled potential for a Yankees-White Sox playoff series. When play stopped, the Yankees and White Sox were the top two teams in the American League. Cleveland was chasing Chicago, only a game back, but even if they managed to pass the White Sox, it would only turn a likely ALCS matchup into a certain ALDS one. While the Yankees went on to dominate the second half of the ’90s, the White Sox didn’t get back to the postseason until 2000, leading to several lean years wasting the prime of Frank Thomas.
This won’t go on forever. Remember, the Yankees had never played the Blue Jays in the postseason until last year either. The deck of cards metaphorically representing an MLB season will eventually deal us a Yankees/White Sox playoff matchup — it could even happen in 2026 if both sides keep up the good work. May the Ron Hassey Bowl one day come to pass.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 3 Dylan Harper #2, Victor Wembanyama #1, De'Aaron Fox #4, Stephon Castle #5 and Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The beauty of the 2025/26 Spurs season was that it brought back expectations. For half a decade, San Antonio lay dormant as it recovered from the Kawhi Leonard fiasco, putting together respectable but unremarkable teams as it seemed to look for a sign, a path. Some beloved veterans and homegrown young guys had to leave to allow for the creation of a burgeoning contender, led by Victor Wembanyama.
Nothing could have prepared the fanbase, and likely the organization, for what was to come. Instead of just making the playoffs in Wemby’s third year, the goals shifted as the Spurs proved much better than anticipated. The modest expectations somewhat reluctantly evolved, and the chance for elation and heartbreak increased. In a short period of time, San Antonio went from the team of the future to a legitimate contender, which not only reached the Finals but could have won them.
The ascendance looks predetermined now, but it wasn’t the case early on. It seems ancient history by now, but the Spurs came into the season with some serious question marks. Victor Wembanyama missed the end of the past year with deep vein thrombosis and didn’t have time to gel with the new acquisition, De’aaron Fox. Jeremy Sochan, then considered a core piece, was hurt while training with the Polish national team, bringing further uncertainty to the forward spot, a noticeable weakness. San Antonio had made a somewhat controversial pick in the draft by selecting a point guard, Dylan Harper, second overall, adding a special talent but creating a logjam in the backcourt. Finally, Mitch Johnson, a rookie head coach, stuck around without the interim tag.
The preseason predictions of an around .500 team seemed prudent. Early injuries made it impossible to figure out just how good the Silver and Black could be right off the bat, but there was a sense that the team could surprise. It would take a while to see how Fox and Wembanyama fit together, but even with changes to the starting lineup, San Antonio got off to a good start. The Spurs won eight of the first 10, with a star-making performance by The Alien on opening night and a few up-and-down games. As Wemby got hurt, the team could have taken a nosedive down the standings, but didn’t. Luke Kornet, the big free agency addition, held down the fort inside and Fox showed off his scoring prowess on an expanded offensive role. A quarter into the season, the Silver and Black had one of the best records in the West despite serious absences.
There were some impressive wins along the way, but also a few losses to prospective playoff teams that suggested caution about the team’s ceiling was valid. Those concerns disappeared as the Spurs beat the Thunder three times in a row without Wembanyama, largely on the strength of their guard play and displaying the identity that would make them a nightmare to face. San Antonio emerged as a tenacious defensive team with the youth to pressure the rim and run, the talent in the backcourt to match up with anyone, and a game-changing defensive player in Wembanyama who looked like a superstar when he was available. The run-up to the Emirates NBA Cup Finals showed they also had the confidence to win big games, and while the loss to the Knicks foreshadowed how the Silver and Black’s season would end, by the mid-point, it was clear the Spurs had arrived.
It wasn’t all perfect, of course. The young guards could not shoot from outside, which forced Fox to an off-ball role more often than it would have been ideal. Sochan had lost ground in Mitch Johnson’s consideration because he, too, struggled to space the floor and didn’t fit well with Kornet off the bench. Rookie Carter Bryant was force-fed some minutes and looked clueless, and Harrison Barnes was showing signs of slowing down after a brilliant start. With the trade deadline nearing, a move to fortify the forward rotation, which seemed like a weakness despite Keldon Johnson’s productive year, felt appropriate. The front office disagreed or couldn’t find the right offer. Sochan was waived, and soon after, Julian Champagnie took over the starting big forward spot from Barnes, a change that proved sufficient to help San Antonio separate from the pack in the West.
The Spurs returned to the playoffs after seven years as the second seed in the West and faced the outmatched Trail Blazers, which came out of the play-in. They easily took care of business despite missing Wembanyama for a game due to a concussion. The second round was supposed to be their big test, as a loss to the Nuggets in the last game of the regular season put San Antonio on a collision course with the consensus third-best team in the conference. Instead, it was the Timberwolves who were there after eliminating Denver in a battle of injured teams. It was a tougher matchup, as the physicality increased, leading to a frustrated Wembanyama throwing a dangerous elbow to Naz Reid that got him ejected but not suspended. Ultimately, Minnesota didn’t have enough firepower with Anthony Edwards limited, and the Spurs advanced to the conference finals, giving everyone the matchup they were waiting for.
Thunder-Spurs didn’t disappoint. Game 1 was an instant classic, and the two West young superpowers traded blows in a series marked by physical play, momentum swings, and a coaching chess match. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the recently crowned two-time MVP, took advantage of an aggressive San Antonio defense geared toward stopping his scoring to set up his teammates, until Mitch Johnson adjusted. Wembanyama saw all kinds of defenders on him, from big guards to centers. Oklahoma City, despite missing their second-best player, Jalen Williams, and his natural replacement, Ajay Mitchell, got a 3-2 lead in the series, and the Silver and Black’s chances weren’t looking great. Once again, the Spurs surprised everyone with their poise, as Wembanyama led the way while other players took turns stepping up to secure a comeback win that made them the favorites to win the title.
Unfortunately, the dream run ended there. The Knicks came out of the East and were a terrible matchup for a much smaller San Antonio team. The Spurs put up a fight, always leading at some point and occasionally by double digits, but couldn’t hold on, making mistakes at the worst possible times and lacking the depth to survive the non-Wembanyama stretches. Every game was similar to the next, and the result was the same in all but one. New York always had an answer and never stopped fighting despite big deficits, giving itself a chance to out-execute its opponent late. Even in a game in which the Spurs led by 29, they just kept fighting, waiting for their opportunity to pounce, and taking advantage of it once it presented itself. Jalen Brunson, who struggled with efficiency early in the series, was an assassin when it counted, and all of San Antonio’s weaknesses manifested at the same time.
Despite the rough ending, it was a memorable season for the Spurs. They returned to the playoffs, made their deepest run in over a decade, saw Wembanyama emerge as a true superstar, and the two young guards as potentially great running mates. The 4-1 end result in the Finals doesn’t truly show how close they were to the Larry O’Brien and their sixth banner. And few, if any, teams looked better set up for the future.
At the same time, it can feel like a wasted opportunity in which the Spurs’ patience, one of their most praised virtues, might have backfired. A small addition at the deadline, a more developed offensive system installed despite the youth of a sizable part of the roster, and more direct involvement from the coaching staff to orchestrate things in key moments could have resulted in a title.
It’s all a matter of perspective. The league has more parity than ever, and it should continue to do so since the tools to build dynasties appear to have been legislated out of the game. In that context, a Finals appearance can be seen as a prize in itself, especially for such a young team. It can also be seen as a precious and rare chance to secure a title at a time when doing so can be considered harder than ever, even with talented rosters. And the Spurs couldn’t capitalize on it.
The hope is that the lessons learned along the way will help San Antonio do what many others are struggling to accomplish: build a lasting contender that has multiple opportunities to win it all. The talent is there. Now it’s time to build around it.
Jun 10, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images | Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Max Scherzer is scratched from today’s game with back spasms, which turns tonight’s game into a bullpen day. We were hoping we were finished with those.
Whoops, a change, Max has been put on the IL, so he’s gone for 15 days at least. Chad Dallas is back on the roster and apparently will be active tonight, so they knew about Max’s back for at least a few hours. I’m wondering if he’s had his last game as a Blue Jay. Next week, Shane Bieber should be back, and would be a much better choice for that spot in the rotation.
Braydon Fisher will be the opener. Spencer Miles last pitched three days ago, 2.2 innings, so he will be available, but Simeon Woods Richardson hasn’t pitched in nine days, so he will likely be the bulk guy. He’s only pitched in one game with the Jays, which is out of character for our team. We usually pitch a guy until his arm falls off.
The Draft is six days away and there’s no real consensus on who the Nets like. Sure Mikel Brown Jr. appears to be gaining ground but who knows if he’ll be there at No. 6.
So, let’s talk about free agency!
In one of his occasional intelligence notes, Hoopshype’s Mike Scotto talked about a couple of moves Brooklyn could move, including a possible trade of the Nets’ senior player, the only one who was around for the Clean Sweep, the arrival and departure of the Big Three and tank, Nic Claxton. He starts by sharing what he knows about the Hornets interest in the Blazers Donatus Sabonis, then looks at who else might be appealing to Charlotte.
However, Charlotte has been resistant to including one of their two first-round picks in this year’s draft (No. 14 and 18) in Sabonis trade talks. Initial talks between the Kings and Hornets surrounding Sabonis and Charlotte’s unwillingness to include a first-round pick in the talks were first reported by Sam Amick of The Athletic.
With Charlotte considering a starting-caliber center upgrade, other centers besides Sabonis are on their radar, including Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton, league sources told HoopsHype. In addition, it’s worth noting that the Nets have expressed interest in Hornets free agent guard Coby White in the past when he was on the Chicago Bulls, sources said.
For the record, Claxton, 27, has two seasons left on his four-year, $97.0 million contract — $23.3 million in 2026-27 and $21.1 million in 2027-28. In 69 games last season, he averaged 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds, both near the low end of his seven-year career, as well at 1.1 blocks, his lowest production since his rookie year when he played only 16 games. On the other hand, his 3.7 assists were nearly double his previous yearly high.
White, a year younger, is an unrestricted free agent so we’re not talking about a trade unless it’s a sign-and-trade which carries its own restrictions going forward. White last season made about $10 million less than Claxton but but missed 32 games in an injury-plagued season, the most of his career, while playing only 25 minutes a game, the lowest in his seven years. His numbers were in line with his career, averaging 17.4 points on 45/26/82 splits.
What the Hornets expecting when they traded Collin Sexton and Ousmane Dieng plus three second-round picks was the player White had been the previous two seasons, when he averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 34.8 minutes while hitting 45.o percent of his shots and 37.3 percent of his 3-pointers.
While intriguing on its face, the switch-out doesn’t seem to make sense for the Nets, absent another move or moves. They’d be giving up their only rim protector for a player who at the moment doesn’t seem to fit with their timeline, considering how many playmakers they took in last year’s Draft and how they may add to that number on June 23.
Scotto also joined other writers, like Dan Woike and Tim Bontemps in talking about Nets interest in the Lakers Austin Reaves.
Reaves has put himself in a position to earn a projected salary of over $40 million per season. Reaves can sign for up to a five-year, projected $239 million deal with the Lakers or a four-year, $177 million deal with another team.
The Athletic’s Dan Woike mentioned the Brooklyn Nets are expected to offer Reaves a four-year, max deal and also reported the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons are interested in pursuing Reaves.
Brooklyn has Reaves on their radar and has the clearest path to offering a max contract outright in free agency with cap space.
Reaves first step will have to be declining his $14.9 million player option next year, which is seen as a formality. Once that happens, we may see some action.
After dropping the first two games in Cincinnati and draining the bullpen, the Mets needed a strong performance out of Nolan McLean on Wednesday afternoon.
The right-hander stepped up and delivered perhaps his most dominant outing of the season, going 7.0 innings with no earned runs (one unearned), nine strikeouts and just one walk. He threw 101 pitches and looked much more like the 2025 version of himself who came up to the majors and absolutely overmatched hitters, doing his part as the Mets’ bats came to life in a 9-1 win over the Reds.
“Man, that was excellent there. He dominated that lineup,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “It starts with the command of all of his pitches, and he was on today, he was spot-on. He attacked, and the way not he was not only using the four-seam, the sinker, the cutter, that allowed him to use his secondary pitches, but man, that was pretty impressive there.”
McLean, who lowered his season ERA to 3.67, acknowledged that Wednesday’s start was his best of the season from a complete performance standpoint, and his four-seam fastball usage was a big part of it. Of his 101 pitches, McLean threw 27 four-seamers, getting eight called strikes and generating five whiffs on 11 swings.
"I was establishing the zone early, and I was able to get some chases late," he explained.
It’s no secret that the Mets’ starting rotation has been in a state of disarray. Christian Scott landing on the IL with a hip issue was the latest blow to the rotation, and Kodai Senga struggled on Tuesday night in his return to the big league mound, adding even more uncertainty.
But McLean said that he’s not feeling any extra pressure to perform. In his mind, the goal is the same every single time he steps between the white lines.
“I wouldn’t say I put any more pressure or responsibility on myself. Every time I go out there, I’m trying to win a baseball game,” he said. “I think if everybody’s trying to do that and we’re all pulling the same rope, good things will happen.”
Knicks' Jose Alvarado weighs in on the potential White House visit after NBA finals win. 
