That is far from ideal going up against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who excel against lefties and project to have seven or eight batters hit from the right-side on Friday night.
The Diamondbacks rank fourth in OPS vs. left-handed pitching this season. Isolating matchups against Top-15 opponents in that category, Prielipp owns an 8.44 ERA and has allowed at least four earned runs in all four starts.
Michael Soroka should get all the run support he needs in this one.
Twins vs Diamondbacks Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)
This total is half a run too low for me.
The Diamondbacks possess a highly productive offense against left-handed pitching, especially at home. They rank fifth in wOBA and third in ISO vs. lefties in Arizona.
When they inevitably chase Prielipp from the game, they will face an underwhelming bullpen that sits 28th in xFIP this season.
Minnesota also enters with a red-hot offense, slotting third in OPS vs. righties in June.
Play the Over to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 34-27, -0.65 units
Over/Under bets: 32-27-2, +1.69 units
Twins vs Diamondbacks weather
Temperatures could clear 100 in Arizona today. The heat creates a better envrionment for hitters and will help the ball carry.
Twins vs Diamondbacks odds
Moneyline: Minnesota +145 | Arizona -170
Run line: Minnesota +1.5 (-140) | Arizona -1.5 (+120)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)
Twins vs Diamondbacks trend
Minnesota has hit the Game Total Over in 16 of their last 22 games (+10.50 units, 44% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. Diamondbacks.
How to watch Twins vs Diamondbacks and game info
Location
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Friday, June 19, 2026
First pitch
9:45 p.m. ET
TV
Apple TV
Twins starting pitcher
Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA)
Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11 ERA)
Twins vs Diamondbacks latest injuries
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.
Jun 16, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) reacts after hitting a two RBI single against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The New York Yankees’ offense has looked solid all year, and currently ranks second in MLB with a 115 wRC+. Cody Bellinger has been a big part of that success, and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been able to overcome a rough start to his season and remains a key cog in the Bombers’ World Series dreams.
A few days ago, we asked you, the Yankees fan reading this piece, whether Bellinger and Chisholm have done enough to make the All-Star roster in the American League. The response was clear.
A whopping 98 percent of Yankees fans believe Bellinger should be in Philadelphia next month, playing the Midsummer Classic with the American League. And to be fair, the numbers don’t lie: he is definitely deserving of a spot on the team.
Only four outfielders in the Junior Circuit have a higher wRC+ than Bellinger’s 136: Byron Buxton (149), Aaron Judge (148), Randy Arozarena (139), and Mike Trout (139). Bellinger is also second in fWAR with 2.6, right behind Buxton’s 2.8. These stats tell you that Bellinger, who is slashing a cool .275/.369/.479 with 11 homers and eight stolen bases, is among the very best outfielders in the American League and can’t be left out of the party. The Yankees re-signed him to a five-year, $162.5 million deal primarily with the hope that he could help them win right away; he’s absolutely done that in the first half of 2026.
The first MLB All-Star voting update had Bellinger and Judge among the top five vote-getters in the AL outfield, so they would both be in position to at least advance to the more run-off-focused Phase 2 of the process. Regardless of whether or not he gets a starting spot, he’s likely in good shape to make his third career All-Star team—and first since his MVP-winning 2019—in some capacity. (It’d be a stunner if teammates Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler weren’t there with him, but their cases are clear-cut enough that we did not ask about them or Judge, who might also make it despite his injury).
Now, let’s examine Chisholm’s case.
Yankees fans aren’t so confident that Chisholm deserves to play in the Midsummer Classic. Roughly one-third of them think he should be an All-Star, and to be fair, it wouldn’t be right to proclaim a 102-wRC+ hitter an automatic entry.
Chisholm wasn’t himself in the first month of the year, with a 73 wRC+. Then, he turned things around in May with a 124 mark and has kept playing at a high level in June, with a 122 wRC+. He does have 10 homers and 20 stolen bases, though, and his defensive performance depends on which stat you prioritize: his -5 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) says he has been a disaster, yet his 5 Outs Above Average (OAA) think the world of him.
In other words, Chisholm has lacked consistency this year, and the majority of fans don’t think he is an All-Star at this juncture. That can still change, though, especially since the AL field as a whole at the keystone is, to be kind, underwhelming. Someone has to be the All-Star second baseman. It could still be Jazz.
In the MLB-wide survey, we asked you who will win the World Series. The results are not surprising:
A plurality of the public—roughly 39 percent—believe that the Los Angeles Dodgers will get the three-peat. As of Friday morning, they boast an MLB-best 48-27 record and a nine-game lead in the NL West. They still have plenty of offensive and pitching weapons, and they are run by the same people with the same successful philosophy. They have as good a chance as anyone in the league to win it all.
The Atlanta Braves checked in at second place in the survey, and the Yankees were third. They will need to shore up a shaky bullpen to reach those heights, though, not to mention getting Judge back healthy in time. The rebuilding White Sox actually being in the top five is definitely cool to see.
The former Chicago Blackhawks captain had joined his hometown Jets in 2025-26 after missing two years with health issues. He played all 82 games, finishing with 11 goals, 18 assists and 29 points.
Toews, 38, was a standout with the Blackhawks, recording 372 goals, 511 assists and 883 points in 1,067 career-regular season games over 15 seasons. He was named captain at age 20, and "Captain Serious" helped the team win Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
Toews said winning one Stanley Cup — let alone three — was surreal.
"When (Patrick Kane) scored that (2010 overtime) goal, I think I was one of the last guys off the bench," he said during his retirement announcement at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in Winnipeg. "I wasn't ready to let go until I knew for sure that it was over. Next thing you know, you're hoisting the Cup and you have it back home and in your living room and you're just like, 'How is this happening to me right now?'"
Toews won the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after leading all postseason scorers with 29 points as the Blackhawks ended a 49-year championship drought.
He won the Selke Trophy as top defensive forward during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. The Blackhawks opened that season with a 24-game point streak and captured the Stanley Cup. He had 21 points in 23 games during the 2015 Cup run.
He also won Olympic gold medals with Canada in 2010 and 2014, scoring in both championship games.
Toews' final years in Chicago were marked by health issues.
He missed the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season because of chronic immune response syndrome and also sat out for two months in 2021-22 because of the effects of that and of long COVID. After playing in 2022-23, he skipped two seasons in order to get healthy.
After his comeback season, he was a finalist for the Masterton Trophy for perseverance.
"Sometimes I catch myself wishing that things had gone differently and I could have finished my career on a different note these last five years or so, but truth be told, I'm grateful for the struggle and learning experience I've been through," he said. "Ironically, I feel I've learned so much more about myself and about life through the low points than I ever did when my career was at its heights."
Is Jonathan Toews a Hall of Famer?
Easily. He was a captain of three Stanley Cup championship teams and won several individual awards.
The Hall of Fame also factors in international play and he won two Olympic gold medals. He's a member of the triple gold club, winning a Stanley Cup, Olympics and world championships.
Top NHL free agent defenseman Darren Raddysh is off the market after being acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade deal on Friday, June 19.
Raddysh gets an eight-year deal worth a reported $8.5 million a year. The Lightning received a fifth-round pick in the trade.
The 30-year-old defenseman had a breakout season with 22 goals and 70 points and filled in well while Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman was out with injuries and personal leave. His top season before that was 37 points, so there's some risk with the term in the deal.
"Darren has emerged as one of the NHL’s premier two-way defensemen, combining elite puck-moving ability with poise, competitiveness, and strong play in all three zones," Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said.
But there are intriguing names left on the board. Here's what to know about NHL free agency:
When does NHL free agency open?
The free agent market opens at noon ET on July 1.
Who are the top NHL unrestricted free agents?
10. Anders Lee, New York Islanders
He has been the Islanders' captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals, though he had 19 in 2025-26. Current cap hit: $7 million.
9. Bobby McMann, Seattle Kraken
He had a career-best 29 goals in 2025-26 and took off after his trade from Toronto to Seattle, getting 10 goals and 14 points in 18 games. Current cap hit: $1.35 million
8. Mason Marchment, Columbus Blue Jackets
He struggled with the Seattle Kraken after his offseason trade, but his trade to Columbus revived his season with 32 points in 39 games. He's also an agitator. Current cap hit: $4.5 million.
7. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins
He's the third-highest-scoring player on the free agent list with 64 points after he signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh. Will a general manager be tempted to think he can do that again or look at his subpar production before that? Current cap hit: $2.5 million.
6. Viktor Arvidsson, Boston Bruins
The forward bounced back from a couple subpar seasons and had 25 goals and 54 points after being traded to Boston. Current cap hit: $4 million.
5. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
The goalie won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He'll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.
4. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is expected to either re-sign with the Capitals or retire. Otherwise, he'd be higher on the list. He scored 32 goals at age 40. Current cap hit: $9.5 million.
3. John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks
Carlson, the Capitals' all-time leader in scoring among defensemen, was traded to the Ducks in a shocker. He totaled 60 points in 71 games. Current cap hit: $8 million.
2. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights
The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with one 50-point season and others topping 40 points, including 47 points in 2025-26. He had an average playoffs. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.
1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres
The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He had 33 goals this season as the Sabres ended a 14-season playoff drought. After scoring four goals in the first round, he was held without a point in the second round as the Sabres lost in seven games. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.
Others to watch: Patrick Kane, Frederik Andersen, Mats Zuccarello, Brent Burns
Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is turning a corner, and he profiles extremely well against Chicago Cubs starter Ben Brown to keep the bat warm, making Over 1.5 total bases at a +135 price an attractive play.
Read on for my Blue Jays vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks for this Friday, June 19 matchup.
Blue Jays vs Cubs predictions
Blue Jays vs Cubs best bet: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases (+135)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. profiles extremely well against Ben Brown, who gives up hard contact and throws a mix of curveballs and sinkers to right-handed batters at an 81% rate.
Vladdy has crushed these pitch types all season, with a .392 AVG and a .468 SLG.
He’s starting to heat up, too, with hits in five of his last six games, including his first home run in 32 days yesterday, which could be the confidence-builder he needs to get back to his All-Star self.
Guerrero’s hard-hit rate against the curveball and sinker, averaging 58% since June 1 — up from his 47% season average — points to the potential for more extra-base hits in the future.
A Vladdy breakout is coming, and a favorable matchup against Brown makes this bet playable even at +120.
COVERS INTEL: Brown is a contact pitcher who owns an 85.4% zone-contact rating, matching Guerrero’s 85.5% zone-contact rate, making this a favourable matchup for the Jays slugger, who ranks in the 94th percentile in xBA.
Blue Jays vs Cubs same-game parlay (SGP)
Guerrero Jr. owns just an 4.8% strikeout rate against Brown's principle pitch mix, and has gone Under this number in eight of his 13 June games.
Another Toronto Blue Jays batter who profiles well against the Chicago Cubs starter is Nathan Lukes, who owns a .340 AVG against Brown’s pitch mix, and has recorded 1+ hits in 19 of his last 22 games since returning from the IL.
Blue Jays vs Cubs SGP
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Under 0.5 strikeouts
Nathan Lukes Over 0.5 hits
img loading="lazy" width="100%" height="null" src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/jaysmlcbp.jpg" alt="Canada’s best price for Jays"
Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.
Blue Jays vs Cubs home run pick: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+675)
Brown has surrendered just one home run through 62 innings of work this season, so a quarter-unit wager is in order on this bet.
Brown has been hit hard, ranking in the 29th percentile with a 42.9% hard-hit rate in 2026.
Perhaps after a 32-day buffer between his last two home runs, Guerrero Jr. digs in and goes deep two games in a row. I’ll make a small wager on the breakout.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 35-37, +2.85 units
SGPs: 14-58, +4.15 units
HR picks: 11-61, -0.1 units
Blue Jays vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: Toronto -102 | Chicago -120
Run line: Toronto +1.5 | Chicago -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7 | Under 7
Blue Jays vs Cubs trend
The Blue Jays have hit the Run Line in nine of their last 13 away games (+5.15 Units / 26% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Cubs.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Friday, 6-19-2026
First pitch
2:20 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock, SN
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman (4-4, 3.41 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
Ben Brown (3-2, 1.74 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Cubs latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Cubs weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Heading into the 2026 NHL Draft and then Free Agency, many Calgary Flames fans are discussing which direction the 2026-27 team will head and whether they can collectively take a step forward in their rebuild.
At the moment, the Flames have four free agents, Ryan Lomberg, Victor Olofsson, Jake Bean, and John Beecher (RFA), who may or may not be with the team next season. According to PuckPedia, General Manager Craig Conroy has roughly $22.7 million in cap space, giving him plenty of room to swing a deal to boost the lineup or trade a veteran like Blake Coleman or Jonathan Huberdeau.
Although it is way too early to talk about the end of Dustin Wolf's contract or when Yegor Sharangovich's contract comes off the books, it is interesting to see who Calgary has committed to on long-term deals.
Possible Free Agents in 2027
At the conclusion of the final season at the Saddledome, several players may or may not still be in the lineup for that last game, including Ryan Strome ($5 million), Morgan Frost ($4.38 million), Adam Klapka ($1.25 million), Joel Hanley ($1.75 million), Brayden Pachal ($1.19 million), Yan Kuznetsov ($954k), and Coleman ($4.9 million).
Among the future free agents, Coleman's name ranks among the top 25 on most NHL trade boards, as many await to see whether the Flames work on an extension or opt to trade one of their veteran leaders.
If all the previous names depart the organization, Calgary could reallocate possible $20 million in savings to lock up prospects or acquire younger talent on team-friendly deals.
Whose Sticking Around in 2028?
Although the summer of 2028 is two years away, the Flames may be a completely different franchise, with only nine contracts on the books. Those deals include Huberdeau ($10.5 million), Matt Coronato ($6.5 million), Sharangovich ($5.75 million), Martin Pospisil ($2.5 million), Kevin Bahl ($5.35 million), Olli Määttä ($3.5 million), Zach Whitecloud ($2.75 million), Zayne Parekh ($954k), and Wolf ($7.5 million)
Many of the team's core will still be under contract at the conclusion of the first season at Scotia Place, including Coronato, Pospisil, Bahl, Parekh, and Wolf. But the question then will be, which prospects have stepped up and earned a spot in the Flames lineup, and which veterans could be interested in playing in Southern Alberta in the league's newest arena.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, Parekh will enter the final year of his entry-level deal. If he turns into the team's best defenseman, he could be in line for a significant pay increase, one that could rival Huberdeau's salary. In addition, 2028 also marks the end of captain Mikael Backlund's current deal, meaning the longest tenured Flames player could hang'em up instead of seeking a new start with another team. Finally, that summer will also be the end of Connor Zary's entry-level deal, and it will be interesting to see whether he blossoms into the player the Flames hope for or becomes trade bait for someone else.
2028 and Beyond
Ahead of the 2029-30 season, the Flames will have five contracts still guaranteed as of today, including Huberdeau, Coronato, Sharangovich, Bahl, and Wolf. In 2030, Sharangovich's deal runs out, followed by Huberdeau and Bahl in 2031, Coronato in 2032, and Wolf in 2033.
During the recent CBA renegotiation, the NHLPA and NHL agreed that teams can re-sign their own free agents for up to seven seasons and free agents for up to six seasons. By that point, which current Flames prospect will be in line for a max deal, or could a high-profile player like Cale Makar come home in a free agency blockbuster?
As mentioned before, thinking about roster construction for 2028 and beyond is a little far-fetched, since the 2026 NHL Draft hasn't taken place yet. However, the moves Conroy makes today could go a long way toward shaping the roster at the end of the decade, a point when long-suffering Flames fans would hope their team is contending.
Will the Flames be a playoff team in 2028? Which prospects are you hoping to be NHL regulars by that time? Let us know in the comments.
Jun 18, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) celebrates win against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Your 2026 New York Mets: It Sucks
“It sucks. It felt like you let the team down. The team has been playing really well the last couple of weeks, too. Definitely a blow to me; it sucks.” -Tobias Myers [New York Post]
Wow, the Knicks, that was awesome. Now to take a big sip of orange juice and see what the Mets have been up to since the NBA playoffs started in mid-April…
“My first time out there on a big-league mound in a little while, I just couldn’t gather it all together in that big inning.” -Kodai Senga [New York Post]
“I think command was my main issue overall — just not locating well, getting behind hitters. It’s tough to face major league hitters when you are behind most of the time. It’s something we have already kind of looked at a little bit. We’re going to dig deeper and get to work.” -Tobias Myers [New York Post]
You know things are going great when we’re got some canned ‘we’re banged up and need guys to step up’ quotes…
“Guys will continue to get opportunities and guys will need to step up. We have got a lot of guys in there that are more than capable, and we need those guys to step up, especially right now when we’re banged up.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]
…as well as ‘we needed a win’ in the middle of June quote…
“I don’t know about satisfying, but it felt good. We needed to come out here and win a game.” -Bo Bichette [MLB]
…and a healthy mix of, I don’t know, but quotes where you start with some silver lining and pivot with a hard ‘BUT’ in the middle of your statement ala the Stephen A Smith Tweet…
“I have had some ups and downs so far, but it feels great [regarding his personal season numbers]. I definitely would love to be in a different spot as a team, but I want to help as much as I can to bring them back up.” -Juan Soto [New York Post]
/Stephen A Smith voice/BUT!
“Throughout the year when we get the quality [starting pitching], those guys are going to give us a chance: the offense and the bullpen but we need to be better. We need more from them. We expect more from them and they know that.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]
/Stephen A Smith voice/BUT!
“The first three batters of the game, not ideal what you want to see right away. A couple of walks and then the three-run homer … [Senga] found his sweeper and the slider, but they got him early on there.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]
This quote doesn’t quite fit the ‘Stephen A Smith BUT’ model BUT; Mendoza is starting to really read to me as getting to the Jerry Manuel level of providing quotes that are fodder for a pre-written narrative for the beat reporters as like a nice treat so they’ll be nice to him and help his job security (not saying he shouldn’t do that).
Cool man, it’s really insightful to acknowledge Juan Soto is a ‘really good player’ but he’s not trying to do too much.
“This is a guy that is more than capable of carrying a team, but he’s not trying to do too much. He’s going to continue to take his walks, he’s going to hit the ball hard, he’s a really good player.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]
Along those lines, totally could be true, but I still don’t quite know who is continuing to push the beat writer’s narrative that Soto and Lindor don’t like each other; is it one of them, or their PR team, or someone within the Mets, or just the writers needing easy articles to write
“[Lindor’s] defense and his bat, he’s elite. He’s one of the best defensive players in the game and I think he’s going to help a lot.” -Juan Soto [New York Post]
Nolan McLean continues to remind me of R.A. Dickey and Jacob deGrom as being must watch starts on a dismal team
“Man, that was excellent. [Nolan McLean] dominated that lineup.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
“Awesome. He was attacking with every pitch, and obviously, he’s got what, five-plus pitches? When he’s doing that, he’s pretty good.” -Bo Bichette [MLB]
“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. I think if everybody’s trying to do that and we’re all pulling the same rope, good things will happen.” -Nolan McLean [MLB]
From your lips to Dickey’s ears
“I think that’s contagious, too. Hopefully, what Nolan did today, now we got Sean [Manaea] tomorrow and Freddy and some of the other guys, we need them to step up. They’re more than capable. So, trust those guys. They’re going to go on a run here.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
あなたのその言葉が神様に届きますように
“As long as I can prepare the way I should prepare between outings, I should be able to be effective.” -Kodai Senga [New York Post]
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 18: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts after being hit in the head during the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 18, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Orioles fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Orioles remain tantalizingly close in the AL Wild Card race despite multiple games per week where they look like they should be headed for more like 100 losses. They have been good enough just often enough to stay in it, even though there are many days where it does not feel this way.
There are another 30 or so games to be played before the trade deadline. The Orioles roughly 20-13 to be above .500 by the time the deadline arrives. They will probably seem to still be in the race and make the case to be buyers (or at least not sellers) as long as they can manage at least 17-16 between now and then.
The big question is: Can they do that? I surveyed Orioles fans this week to see where people think this will all shake out. These were the results:
As I said when I posted this survey, I was fairly sure more people would say sellers than not, and really I was just curious about the percentage. That’s roughly two-thirds thinking the team is headed for selling, whatever that might look like. That’s a strong majority.
It’s not hard to understand why. We get reminded of why regularly and are in the middle of one of those stretches right now, with the team having lost four of five games while scoring a combined 11 runs in those games. They’ve wasted pretty good starts from Trevor Rogers, Brandon Young, and Shane Baz in this little stretch. The Orioles are going to have to find a higher gear that we haven’t seen them have for nearly two full years now. It’s a bummer. Hopefully they surprise us like roughly one-third of you think that they will.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara pose for a picture during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026 at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There’s no doubt the 2025-2026 Michigan Wolverines had a successful season. For some, what feels like the bow on top of the story is watching the former players realize their dreams and get drafted into the NBA.
Michigan has three players who are likely do be drafted in the lottery of next week’s NBA Draft. What team would you like to see draft Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr.?
Your author is a Detroit Pistons fan who would gladly take any of the three. However, with Detroit picking at No. 21, it’s unlikely any of them will become available barring a trade. Most mock drafts have all three players in the top half of the first round, but the Pistons could certainly use any of them.
Lendeborg would provide a scoring punch to complement Cade Cunningham while not needing to be ball dominant. Johnson could replace Tobias Harris in time and grow into the starting 4 for the team. Even Mara would provide excellent insurance should Detroit not retain Jalen Duren or trade away Isaiah Stewart.
If we take the home team out of the equation, there are still several excellent spots the former Wolverines could end up in.
Mara is one of the best passing center prospects the NBA has seen in years. It would be fun to watch him in Steve Kerr’s offense in Golden State. Similarly, Mara would be an excellent bench option for the Denver Nuggets. While he’s certainly no Jokic, Denver’s entire scheme revolves around its big men being able to pass the ball. Even a team such as the Memphis Grizzlies would be an intriguing fit for Mara since they have slashers up and down their roster.
For Johnson, the San Antonio Spurs would be the dream scenario in my eyes. He could be the bruising, rebound-first big man who could help keep Victor Wembanyama clean. Johnson also screams “Miami Heat culture” to me when it comes to the intangibles.
Lendeborg has become a bit of a lightning rod in NBA Draft circles. His stock has slipped slightly thanks to a nagging injury, as well as his age. He is one of the most “plug-and-play” prospects in this draft, but the NBA loves upside. Lendeborg is likely closer to his ceiling already than many of the other projected lottery picks. However, I would love to see him be taken by a team like the Spurs as well.
The most common location for Lendeborg in NBA mocks drafts, by far, is the Oklahoma City Thunder. As a team in win-now mode, taking an experienced, high-floor player like Lendeborg makes a ton of sense. However, as a fan, I don’t want to see him be corrupted by the Thunder players and their flopping factory.
Where do you want to see Mara, Johnson and Lendeborg get drafted? Which do you think will go off the board first? Is there a chance any slip to Detroit at No. 21? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
This week in the Rangers Reacts survey, we asked which Texas Rangers player was most deserving of an All Star berth.
The voting was fairly close at the top:
Jacob Latz, who is tied for 6th in the American League in saves and is sporting a 1.62 ERA and a 1.5 bWAR, received a plurality of the vote, at 40%. Latz was just a little ahead of Josh Jung, who has been one of the few bright spots offensively for the Rangers this season, slashing .301/.358/.451 with a 1.5 bWAR. Jung received 32% of the vote.
Ezequiel Duran, who is second in the All Star balloting for second base, received 17% of the vote. He’s played all over the field this year while slashing .278/.331/.435, and has a 1.6 bWAR.
Jacob deGrom, last year’s lone representative, is currently leading the Rangers in bWAR, at 1.7. He received 9% of the vote.
New addition Brandon Nimmo, slashing .256/.327/.404 with a 1.3 bWAR on the year, got just 1% of the vote.
In the national vote, folks were asked who should be blamed if there’s a lock out.
The fact that 42% of respondents would blame the players for a lockout — not a strike, but a lockout, a work stoppage that is the result of owners refusing to let operations and games happen rather than players refusing to play — illustrates how well owners have manipulated public opinion.
39% of folks think the Dodgers will win the World Series. Kinda surprised it is that low.
The Milwaukee Brewers (45-27) take on the Atlanta Braves (46-27) in the first game of a three-game series between divisional leaders with almost identical records. Milwaukee is favored with a -186 moneyline compared to Atlanta's +154. Starting pitchers are scheduled to be Jacob Misiorowski for Milwaukee, with a 1.34 ERA, and Martín Pérez for Atlanta, with a 2.90 ERA.
Alvarez not only carries an elite rating against Bibee but also owns 100% arsenal coverage across the entire pitch mix, per Batters-Box. Not to mention, when having an elite rating, he leaves the yard nearly 22% of the time.
Bibee has been horrible against left-handed bats this season. As of late, over the last 60 lefties faced, he is allowing 45.2% hard contact, a 21.4% barrel rate, while hitters are elevating the ball 64.2% of the time. Those hitters have produced a .460 xBA, .944 xSLG, and .461 xwOBA during that stretch.
The Astros slugger's most recent numbers only pile on to the reasoning. In his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, he owns a .444 batting average, .852 slugging percentage, and a 1.352 OPS, while producing nearly 60% hard contact and a 27.3% barrel rate.
The Rays starter brings a poorly rated matchup ISO, hard contact, and strikeout percentage into today's matchup. He has been allowing plenty of hard contact and high-quality contact. At home against left-handed hitters, opponents are lifting the ball nearly 71% of the time.
Over his last 60 lefties faced, they are producing a 9.8% barrel rate while elevating the baseball 61% of the time. Those hitters also hold a .409 xBA, .591 xSLG, and .363 xwOBA.
Wood is having a career year, and the recent underlying numbers are borderline diabolical. Over his last 30 at-bats versus right-handed pitching, he is posting a .360 batting average, .680 slugging, and 1.113 OPS, with a 50% hard hit rate and 11.1% barrel rate.
For an extra safety blanket, do not be afraid to sprinkle the double on all of these guys, too. A missed home run is likely a double.
Time: 7:10p.m. ET
Where to watch: RAYS, NATS
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 60-200-15, +20.20 units
Today’s HR parlay
Eric Burleson
Bet Now +8087
Yordan Alvarez
James Wood
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We are starting a new series here in the lab. Before we really get started I should run through the customary disclaimers and legalese. I am not advocating making any additions at the trade deadline. In fact, if you have been reading my work regularly you know I’ve argued for the exact opposite. However, when you are in school they teach you how to be a successful debater. A successful debater and persuasive writer can argue both sides of the argument.
If you ignore what the Astros record is and if you only look at where they sit in the standings then you would have to believe they are in the hunt for a playoff berth. They sit four games behind the Mariners for the division lead and are in a similar position in the wild card chase. To be sure, there are plenty of teams in between them on both counts, but they are in striking distance and have played better baseball in May and June.
You could also point out that they were decimated by injuries early in the season and most of those important pieces are back into the fold. You can also look at the likes of Colton Gordon, Hayden Wesneski, and Ronel Blanco coming off long term injuries in July or August. So, make no mistake. I am not arguing for any of these scenarios. However, the premise is that the Astros are financially and organizationally able to make one significant addition this season. They only sit below the tax threshold by a few million and their minor league system is fairly bare.
So, what we are doing in this series is making the case for one area of the ball club to add to, We will continue this into next week because there are definitely multiple holes to fill. The question for us and for the Astros is which hole is the most significant? Today, we start with the starting rotation. We could really get bogged down in the numbers, but we will look at ERA and three popular ERA estimators in xERA, fielding independent pitching (FIP), and xFIP. The x is based on Statcast’s estimates of what it would be based on the quality of contact. First, let’s start with the Astros starters. We will include Lance McCullers Jr. and Cristian Javier because they could theoretically come back.
ERA
xERA
FIP
xFIP
Hunter Brown
1.10
2.17
1.81
2.63
Spencer Arrighetti
2.57
4.53
3.51
4.73
Peter Lambert
3.23
3.51
3.81
4.48
Mike Burrows
5.86
4.61
5.69
4.68
Tatsuya Imai
6.43
4.89
5.24
4.57
Kai-Wai Teng
4.31
4.41
4.88
4.10
Lance McCullers Jr
6.86
4.49
5.06
4.14
Cristian Javier
12.54
7.31
8.56
8.17
On a long enough timeline, the survival rate drops to zero. I have mentioned “magical thinking” before. How we look at Spencer Arrighetti is a perfect example. He could be a guy that got hot at the right time when this team was desperate for any port in a storm. That has tremendous value, but his recent outings show he is probably not THAT pitcher over the long-term. The expected ERA numbers show the lag there. Eventually, the expected numbers and actual numbers will intersect.
The magical thinking comes in when fans and analysts point out that guys like Burrows and Imai look like they will bouce back, but just assume that guys like Arrighetti and Teng will keep on trucking. We are seeing that both Arrighetti and Teng have reached the end of their hot streaks and are beginning to regress to the mean. There’s a couple of things they can do without making a trade to improve their lot in life, but the bottom line is that Peter Lambert is the second best starter on this team and we have to ask ourselves if that looks like a competitive rotation.
The first thing they can do is make sure McCullers and Javier get nowhere near a major league mound. McCullers’ numbers are actually somewhat promising in that the predicted ERAs are better than his actual ERA, but they still aren’t the stuff that makes up a playoff rotation. Javier probably shouldn’t be a starter in any rotation. He probably has one more rehab outing before they need to make some major decisions. Putting him back in the rotation is likely a firable offense.
The second thing that they should strongly consider is transferring Teng back to the bullpen. He has a 5.77 ERA in eight starts, but a 1.80 ERA in 13 relief appearances. Dana Brown robbed him from San Francisco largely because he had similar blowups when they used him as a starter. Give him a pat on the back and thank him for stabilizing the ship when it was threatening to capsize. Still, this team needs to use guys in their best roles. Even if you make these two moves you have a rotation of Brown, Lambert, Arrighetti, Imai, and Burrows.
If we look at the baseball landscape, there are three starting pitchers that are widely considered as available, are in the last year of their contract, and would fit underneath the tax threshold. There is obviously a couple more that would surpass that. At this point, I am just introducing possibilities and not advocating individually for any of them.
I should note that Alcantara leads the National League in innings pitched. He is on pace to eclipse 200 innings and I don’t have to tell anyone how rare that is. If this move is made in July when more than half of the season is complete then his salary fits underneath the tax threshold. Essentially, this becomes similar to picking up Yusei Kikuchi and given his free agent status it probably ends up costing a similar price.
The good news is that Ryan is actually cheaper financially than Alcantara. The bad news is that he would be considerably more expensive in terms of prospect capital. I am almost certain that an Xavier Nayens or Kevin Alvarez would be involved in such a deal and that is a horrible price for a rental. He is a grade above a Kikuchi, so he would be really nice in a playoff series, but absolutely cost prohibitive in the winter.
Holy regression Batman! That statcast ERA looks awful. Most of it tied to a very low strikeout rate. However, when you consider his home environment, these numbers don’t look half bad. He was 10-10 with a 4.64 ERA the previous season in Baltimore. He projects as an end of the rotation arm. The Astros seem to have plenty of those. The question is if the pitching lab sees something they think they can unlock.
Putting it all together
Ryan and Alcantara look like upgrades over what you currently have. There are a number of wild cards to consider here. For one, we don’t know which teams may suddenly want to sell in late July. The American League in particular is pretty muddy as we sit here in June. Secondly, we don’t know if Jim Crane is willing to go over the threshold for anyone. There are also creative deals where money could go the other way to offset an expensive pitcher. These are all possibilities. However, given these three options, is anything particularly exciting you as an Astros fan?
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 18: Slade Cecconi #44 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after picking off Riley Greene (not in the image) #31 of the Detroit Tigers during the bottom of the fourth inning at Comerica Park on May 18, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s time to get annoyed with the Astros’ short left-field porch.
The Guardians are 40-35 with a -7 run differential, 23rd in wRC+ with 93, 10th in baserunning runs above average at 2.2, 10th in Defense at -6.4, eighth in starting pitching ERA at 3.86 (4.17 FIP), and 11th in bullpen ERA at 3.66 (3.66 FIP).
The Astros are 35-41 with a -41 run differential, 12th in MLB with a 103 wRC+, 22nd in baserunning runs above average at -2.4, 16th in Defense at -10.1, 29th in starting pitcher ERA at 5.00 (4.83 FIP), and 25th in bullpen ERA at 4.72 (4.78 FIP).
You’re gonna need to score some runs to beat the Astros. You should be able to take advantage of a poor pitching staff to do it. Please do so, Guardians.
Matchups: Game One, Friday, 8:10PM ET, Tanner Bibee 3.96 ERA (4.69 FIP) vs. Tatsuya Imai, RHP 6.43 ERA (5.24 FIP) Game Two, Saturday, 7:15PM ET Joey Cantillo 4.38 ERA (4.76 FIP) vs. Spencer Arrighetti, RHP 2.57 ERA (3.81 FIP) Game Three, Sunday, 2:10PM ET Slade Cecconi 4.60 ERA (4.33 FIP) vs. Kai-Wei Teng, RHP 4.31 ERA (4.88 FIP)
It’s all about not letting Yordan Alvarez (190 wRC+) and Christian Walker (121 wRC+) – who kills Cleveland – beat you this series. The rest of the lineup is manageble. So, let’s get some hits with runners in scoring position and go take this series. DO NOT LET YORDAN BEAT YOU!!!
Many years ago, I got jumped. Didn’t end well. Concussion. Contusions. Fractured wrist. A thumbprint on my neck, where one of them choked me.
I’ve revisited the scene since. The first time I got all tingly and jumpy. Less and less ever since. It doesn’t hit the way it used to. Sometimes you can measure how from you’ve healed from a trauma by returning to the scene of the crime.
The New York Knicks are 2026 NBA champions, something that would’ve sounded unbelievable as recently as two or three years ago because of where the Knicks were two to three years to five to 10 to 15 before then. I continue to struggle to find words that can capture the feelings I’m feeling this glorious spring. So how about some numbers? Maybe that’s the best way to measure just how far the Knicks came to get where they stand today, as champions of the world (whose owner already promised to pull the plug on the roster. You can lead a horse’s ass to the sparkling waters of the promised land, but you can’t stop him from assing).
First of all, to appreciate just how good the Knicks are now, some context about before. (And if you’re interested, we did run a mailbag yesterday. But between the Knick parade and the capitalist illogic that demands every writer here published eight pieces a day, a lotta good tracks get lost in the shuffle. So click here if you missed it)
RELATIVE RATINGS
The Knicks have rarely been good, historically. Even being 76 games over .500 the past five seasons, the franchise is still 113 games under, all-time. In 1950-51, the first year the NBA tracked relative offensive and defensive rating, the Knicks, led by Vince Boryla, Harry Gallatin and Dick McGuire, finished second in relative offensive rating at 2.9. The only team ahead of them: the then-champion Rochester Royals, led by Bob Davies and a young point guard — name of William “Red” Holzman.
That 2.9 was a level no Knick team could pass until 1989, Rick Pitino’s Bomb Squad. The highest relative offensive rating for any Knick team, ever? The 2013 anomaly, at 5.2. And that’s more of an anomaly than you may think: other than 2013, no Knick team from 1951 to 2024 ever reached the 4-point mark. In 2025, they did it again. In 2026, they did it again.
Rarer still than the Knicks being good anywhere has been the Knicks being good on both ends. Go back to 1952-53 for another mark that stood the test of time: that season ,the Knicks had an offensive rating of 3.0 and a defensive rating of -2.5 (the lower the defensive rating, the better). Guess what? From 1954 to 2025, the Knicks never again put up such strong ratings on both sides of the ball. In 2026, those numbers were 4.0 and -2.5 — greatest in club history.
WINS
Willis Reed retired in 1974, marking the official end of the Knick Golden Age. Patrick Ewing led what I suppose must now be called the Bronze Age, with the Brunson years the new Silver Age. Ewing’s dominant decade-plus drove the Knicks’ longest continuous run of contention. Interestingly, if you subtract the Ewing years from the post-Reed years, that leaves 33 seasons (Brunson’s draft number, Ewing’s jersey number and Dillon Jones’, too). In the first 29 of those seasons, the Knicks won 47-plus games four times. In each of Brunson’s four years in New York, they’ve won at least 47 games.
How big a jump is that? A quick rundown of some of the tripe ball we were forced to swallow over the last 20 years:
The 2006 Knicks began the season losing their first five games. That year they had two five-game losing streaks, two six-game losing streaks, a seven-, a nine- and a 10-game losing streak. Their 23-59 record was their worst in 20 seasons.
Two years later, the Knicks lost five straight three times, plus seven and eight games twice each, tying the ’06 squad with 23 wins. The last time a Knick team won fewer, Willis Reed was a phys. ed. major at Grambling State.
Ahh, 2015 — the first year I covered the Knicks all season. And what a season! Would you believe opening 4-10 with a seven-game losing streak was the high point of the campaign?? It was! That’s what happens in a season a team has separate losing streaks of five, seven, eight, nine, 10 and 16 games. New York dropped 26 of 27 at one point; in a totally separate part of the season, they lost 16 of 18. How bad were those Knicks? You could remove the 1-26 and 2-16 stretches and they’d STILL have a losing record. That’s one way to finish 17-65, setting a new franchise low for wins.
The 2016 Knicks were 22-22 and dreaming of a playoff spot. Losing 12 of 13 en route to a 10-28 finish sunk those dreams.
The 2017 Knicks began the year 16-13. They then lost nine of ten games and 33 of 44.
The 2018 Knicks also started 16-13. They went on to lose 32 of their last 40 contests.
The 2019 Knicks tied the 2015 squad as the worst ever, thanks to a pair of five-game losing streaks, a pair of sixes, a pair of eights and an 18-game losing streak I admit I somehow do not remember. Even though I probably recapped most of those games.
In 2020, David Fizdale had the Knicks on pace for an even worse finish, before he was canned and replaced by Mike Miller. Weekend Dad brought the stability Absent Father never could: in the COVID-shortened season, the Knicks played 66 games, going 4-18 until Fiz got sacked, 8-14 in Miller’s first 22 games and 9-13 after. That’s still a 50-loss pace under Miller, but after Fizdale had them on a 15-67 track, 50 Ls woulda been a stone groove.
TODAY’S TEAM
More good news.
The Knicks are good. Really good. Quite good, actually. I mean, you already knew that. From the championship, natch. From winning 15 of their last 16, or tearing through the playoffs at a 70-win pace. From this team being so lovable that not even the owner’s third turd in the punch bowl in less than two weeks has killed the buzz (1) inconveniencing millions of people to force President Pedo on the masses, in a very “forceful” gesture by a man whose BFFs all seem to be sex criminals and who has himself been charged with rape and convicted of sexual harassment; 2) complaining about the mayor and the NYPD restricting watch parties around MSG as an inconvenience to the fans, the same fans he didn’t give a shit about when President Pedo did the same 48 hours earlier; 3) waiting for the literal DAY OF THE FUCKING CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE to announce the hundreds of millions in property tax exemptions he’s enjoyed the past 25 years won’t compel him to raise the payroll for a title defense AND that he’s dragging the team to President Pedo’s White House, somewhere no NBA team has gone before).
I could give you numbers that show how awesome the Knicks have become. Here, lemme share one that’s kinda my fave.
18 current players have scored 60-plus points in an NBA game. Two of them are Knicks, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Only three other teams have two players who’ve scored that many: the Cavs (Donovan Mitchell, James Harden), the Mavs (Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson) and the Lakers (Luka, LeBron; if LeBron and Austin Reaves re-sign, the Lakers would be the only team with three players who’ve scored 50-plus). I can tell without looking it up that no Knick ever scored 40 points in a game alongside Patrick Ewing (I know John Starks’ career-high was 39). But wait! There’s more.
All five Knick starters have scored 40-plus in a game, with four doing so as Knicks (Josh Hart’s career-high 44 came for Portland back in 2022). Know how many other teams can say that? None — with some asterisks.
The Heat, oddly, are close, and would qualify if Jamie Jaquez Jr. were their fifth starter. But Davion Mitchell is, so no dice. Four Cavs starters can count to cuarenta, but not Max Strus. Wanna real wild horsie? The Kings’ five most frequent starters last year don’t make the grade, but their top-5 in minutes per game do: Keegan Murray, Zach LaVine, Demar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and Russell Westbrook.
But the Heat suck. The Cavs are posers. The Kings, long the Knicks’ closest reflection, are now blessedly a funhouse mirror distortion of the truth, and no more. The Knicks are really, really good. You already knew that. But maybe now you know better just how really, really good they really are.
COVERS INTEL:The Diamondbacks rank second in the majors with a .285 batting average against left-handed pitchers at home.
Alec Burleson
Yordan Alvarez
James Wood
