Dave Roberts grateful to be able to attend daughter’s college graduation: ‘Don’t feel like I’m being judged’

CHICAGO — If you catch a shot of the Dodgers’ dugout on Sunday, don’t expect to see manager Dave Roberts on the top step.

Roberts is away from the team for Sunday’s series finale against the White Sox, having flown back to California on Saturday night to attend a college graduation ceremony for his daughter, Elle, the younger of his two children.

Bench coach Danny Lehmann will serve as interim manager for the day.

Manager Dave Roberts is set to attend a California college graduation ceremony for his daughter, Elle. Getty Images

“This is my fourth and last one,” Roberts joked Saturday afternoon of his kids’ graduation ceremonies, with his daughter graduating from Stanford University this weekend.

“I’ve had two high school graduations, two college graduations … I can’t believe it. I shaved today to take away all the grays so I don’t look old. But I’m feeling a day older today.”

While there’s no turning back the clock, Roberts noted how he appreciates the way the culture of the sport has evolved over the years. Once upon a time, it would have been taboo for a manager to miss a game for such an occasion. Now, Roberts said he encourages his staff to be present for similar family celebrations.

Roberts is away from the Dodgers for Sunday’s series finale against the White Sox. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

“I think that’s one of the good things about the way the world has evolved, to where you do some things for mental health or your family, and it’s not frowned upon that you care less about your job,” he said. “That should be applicable to everyone. It’s good to feel like I can go, and I don’t feel like I’m being judged because I’m going to celebrate my daughter.”

Roberts said he encourages his staff to be present for similar family celebrations. Matt Marton-Imagn Images

For the sake of travel logistics, it helped that the White Sox scheduled a late-afternoon start time for Saturday’s game. 

As soon as the last out was recorded, and the Dodgers slapped hands on the field after Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s near-perfect game and no-hitter, Roberts hustled back to his office, quickly got changed and departed for the airport for a sentimental day off.

“You see it all around baseball,” he said. “People are doing things for their family, and paternity leave, things like that. It’s healthy.”

Miguel Rojas said he left Saturday’s game early after aggravating a lower right shin issue he has been dealing with the last couple days. He downplayed the issue as nothing too concerning.

During the seventh inning, Rojas exited after tweaking the injury while hopping out of the way of an inside pitch.

However, he described the decision as more of a precaution, not wanting to risk playing at less than 100% given Yamamoto’s push for a perfect game.

Rojas said he would be available off the bench Sunday.


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Astros vs. Royals Game Discussion: 6/14/2026

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 08: Spencer Arrighetti #41 of the Houston Astros pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 08, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (33-39) will conclude their six-game trip with the final game of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals (28-43) today at Kauffman Stadium.

May AL Pitcher of the Month, RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-1, 2.21 ERA) will be on the mound for the Astros, opposite RHP Stephen Kolek (3-1, 3.14 ERA) and the Royals. The Astros are 3-2 on this road trip.

HOT SPAGHETTI: Today’s Astros starter RHP Spencer Arrighetti made his season debut on April 15 and has since gone 7-1 with a 2.21 ERA (14ER/57IP) and a .185 opponent average while allowing one-or-fewer earned runs in seven of his 10 starts. Among AL pitchers with 50+ innings pitched, he’s posted the lowest opponent average, while ranking second in ERA and tied for fourth in wins.

PITCHER OF THE MONTH: RHP Spencer Arrighetti was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for May after going 4-1 with a 0.93 ERA (3ER/29IP) and a .165 opponent average (16×97) in five starts in the month. In May, he posted the lowest ERA and opponent average among AL starters, while ranking tied for third in wins.

VS. THE ROYALS: The Astros and Royals are facing each other for the first time this season. The Astros went 3-3 against the Royals last season, including a 1-2 record at Kauffman Stadium. The Astros own a 60-49 record all-time record against the Royals, including a 31-24 record at Kauffman Stadium.

PEN PALS: Since May 15, the Astros bullpen has recorded a 2.67 ERA (29ER/97.2IP) with 88 strikeouts, a 1.03 WHIP and a .184 opponent batting average. Among AL teams since May 15, the Astros bullpen ranks first in opponent batting average, first in WHIP and first in ERA…the Astros are also 16-11 during since May 15.

MAKING THE PLAYS: The Astros are tied for the fewest errors in the AL (28) with the Athletics. Houston has posted the best fielding percentage (.989) in the AL, topping the Athletics (.989), Royals (.988) and Yankees (.988) by a few percentage points.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND: Following today’s game, the Astros will travel back to Houston for a six-game homestand that will feature two three-game series against AL Central opponents in the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Guardians. The Astros are 16-19 at Daikin Park this season and went 4-5 in their last homestand.

HIT PAREDES: IF Isaac Paredes is one double away from recording his 100th career double…is looking to become just the 4th Mexican-born player in MLB history with 500 career hits, 100 doubles and 100 home runs, joining IF Vinny Castilla, IF Jorge Orta and IF Aurelio Rodríguez.

ON THE LEADERBOARD: DH Yordan Alvarez leads the Majors in OPS (1.093), SLG (.658) and total bases (169) and is tied for the Major League lead in home runs (24). In the AL, he ranks first in RBI (54), first in extra-base hits (37), first in hits (84), first in batting average (.327), second in OBP (.435), fourth in walks (46) and fourth in runs (49).

HOMER HAPPY: DH Yordan Alvarez hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the first inning of Fri. night’s game vs. KC. He became the third player in franchise history to record two home runs in a single inning, joining Lee May on April 29, 1974 and Jeff Bagwell on June 24, 1994.

RIBEYE STEAK: DH Yordan Alvarez also recorded six RBI in the first inning of Fri. night’s game, becoming the first player in franchise history to record at least six RBI in a single inning, the last player in MLB history to record at least six RBI in a single inning was LAD OF Cody Bellinger on June 2, 2021 vs. STL. He’s also the 17th player in MLB history to do so.

YORDAN’S SLAM: DH Yordan Alvarez hit his sixth career grand slam on Fri. night at KC. Alvarez now ranks tied for fourth in franchise history in grand slams, trailing only 2B Jose Altuve (7), 3B Alex Bregman (7) and OF Carlos Lee (7).

AIR YORDAN: DH Yordan Alvarez is on pace to hit 54 home runs, which would set the single-season franchise home run record, passing IF Jeff Bagwell’s 47 home runs in 2000. Alvarez’s single-season career-high in home runs is 37, which he recorded in 2022.

ON BASE MACHINE: OF Yordan Alvarez is on a 20-game on-base streak. During the streak, he’s batting .389 (28×72) with 19 runs, two doubles, nine home runs, 23 RBI, 15 walks and a 1.286 OPS. It is his second-longest on-base streak this season, behind a 22-game on-base streak from April 4-28. It is the second time in his career, he’s recorded two 20-game on-base streaks in the same season, also did so in 2023 with on-base streaks of 30 games and 36 games.

WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER: In the AL, 1B Christian Walker ranks second in RBI (52),behind only teammate OF Yordan Alvarez (54 RBI). Also ranks, fifth in extra-base hits (32), tied for fourth in home runs (18), fifth in total bases (135) and 11th in SLG (.506). In the field, Walker has not committed an error in 70 games.

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1996 – 1B Jeff Bagwell ties a Major League record and sets the franchise high with four doubles in the Astros 9-1 win at San Francisco. Bagwell also ties the franchise record for the most extra-base hits in a game.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Sunday, June 14, 1:10 p.m. CT

Location: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

TV: Space City Home Network

Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

Mike Brown now has been part of 5 NBA championship runs. The Knicks got this one right

Mike Brown now has been part of 5 NBA championship runs. The Knicks got this one right originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Mike Brown didn’t seem to be the New York Knicks’ first choice to take over as coach last spring, when the team fired Tom Thibodeau and was linked to at least a half-dozen other candidates who held various jobs around the NBA.

In the end, he clearly was the right choice.

Brown is now a five-time NBA champion coach — four of those rings won as an assistant, the fifth coming as head coach of the Knicks. He joins only Red Holzman on the list of those who won titles as coach of the Knicks, and fittingly, he did it on June 13.

There’s a banner in Madison Square Garden that says “Holzman 613” to commemorate his win total with the franchise. Brown won this title on 6/13.

“I’m pretty good at trying to control what I can control,” Brown said. “I had zero control over who else was interviewing, who was denied permission. I had zero control over that. I just did the best I could in the interview process. I went about my business and waited until it was either going to progress or end. … I was pretty nonchalant about it as time went on. I just let it unfold the way it unfolded.”

Brown speaks fondly of his days with Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, a place his family still calls home — and the place where the Knicks captured this title after topping the Spurs in five games. He raves about his years coaching with Steve Kerr in Golden State as well.

Brown was an assistant on the 2003 Spurs title team, then was with the Warriors for three more title runs. He was the NBA’s coach of the year while with Cleveland in 2009; the Cavaliers wound up firing him. He was the NBA’s coach of the year again while with Sacramento in 2023; the Kings wound up firing him, too.

But in New York, he’s a legend for life now.

“Mike was invaluable to this run,” Knicks forward Josh Hart said. “He understands what it is to be a champion. He understands how to build a team, how to build habits that will put you in this position. We’re so grateful, so thankful to have him at the top. He kept us even so many times. He’s brought the best out of us, as people first. I’m so happy for him. He’s the reason why we’re here. He’s the reason why we’re here, and we’ve got love for him.”

Brown kept the mood light throughout the postseason push, didn’t blink when the Knicks were down 2-1 in Round 1 to Atlanta after a pair of one-point losses, and always seemed to be the calm in the eye of the storm. Social media was blowing up with how Brown wasn’t the right coach for the job when the Knicks trailed the Hawks.

New York went 15-1 from there. And a 53-year wait between titles is now over.

“I am so tired. I mean, I’m gassed,” Brown said. “You know, this stuff is harder than what you think.”

Maybe so, but he makes it look easy.

Yankees At Jays Game Thread

DETROIT, MI - MAY 17: A detailed view of the custom Toronto Blue Jays 50th anniversary sleeve patch worn on a jersey during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on May 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. The Blue Jays defeated the Tigers 4-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Game #72. A win would be nice.

No Vlad and no Andrés today. Hopefully they will be back quick.

Today’s Lineups

YANKEESBLUE JAYS
Paul Goldschmidt – 1BGeorge Springer – DH
Ben Rice – DHNathan Lukes – CF
Jasson Dominguez – RFAlejandro Kirk – C
Cody Bellinger – CFYohendrick Pinango – RF
Amed Rosario – 3BKazuma Okamoto – 3B
Jose Caballero – 2BJesus Sanchez – LF
Max Schuemann – LFErnie Clement – SS
Anthony Volpe – SSDavis Schneider – 2B
Ali Sanchez – CCharles McAdoo – 1B
Will Warren – RHPPatrick Corbin – LHP

Shohei Ohtani thinks flawed pitching mechanics led to recent knee swelling

CHICAGO — Turns out Shohei Ohtani actually does have a theory about what caused his recent left knee inflammation, after all.

After returning to the Dodgers’ lineup on Saturday — and promptly hitting a leadoff home run before later drawing three walks — Ohtani spoke to reporters for the first time since Thursday, when he left the team’s game in Pittsburgh early with swelling in his knee that would keep him sidelined on Friday, as well.

Previously, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had said the cause of Ohtani’s injury was unknown, speculating only that it might have occurred while he was running the bases Thursday night.

Shohei Ohtani returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup on Saturday following his knee injury. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

But on Saturday, the two-way star offered a different explanation, pointing back to his 6 ⅔-innings pitching start Wednesday as the potential source of the issue. 

“There wasn’t one incident in which it suddenly happened,” he said in Japanese. “I think it’s because in my last start [pitching], the way I threw wasn’t very good.”

In that start against the Pirates, Ohtani gave up a season-high four runs (three earned) while throwing 102 pitches. Results aside, however, he indicated it was flaws in his mechanics that led his knee to swell up the next day — when he remained in the Dodgers’ lineup as designated hitter instead of getting an off day as he had following his previous four pitching starts.

The good news for the Dodgers is that Ohtani’s knee problem appears to be behind him, at least for now. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The good news for the Dodgers is that Ohtani’s knee problem appears to be behind him, at least for now.

Medical imaging he got on his knee Friday came back clean, according to Roberts. And on Saturday, Ohtani said he “felt good” when he woke up and is “pretty confident that I’ll be able to stay healthy,” with the swelling he was experiencing in the back of his knee having finally dissipated.

The slugger certainly didn’t seem hampered at the plate Saturday, when he led off with his 14th home run of the year.

And as things stand, he is still on track to make his next scheduled pitching start Wednesday, after testing out his knee in some flat-ground catch play on Saturday morning.

“It wasn’t 100% today,” Ohtani acknowledged. “But with the next three, four days, I feel pretty confident, with enough recovery, that I should be able to make the next start.”

The only concern moving forward is whether Ohtani’s pitching could continue to aggravate his knee.

The slugger certainly didn’t seem hampered at the plate Saturday, when he led off with his 14th home run of the year. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The last time he had knee troubles was in 2019, when a rare congenital condition in his kneecap — called bipartite patella, where the bones of the kneecap don’t fuse together at birth — flared up on him as he went through a pitching progression during his return from Tommy John surgery, ultimately requiring an operation to address the problem that September.

The Dodgers don’t believe this situation is related, and Roberts said the club wasn’t planning to change its usage plan with the two-way star.

Still, it will be something for the Dodgers and Ohtani to monitor, starting with the next time he takes the mound for his scheduled outing Wednesday.


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Rangers vs Red Sox Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Boston Red Sox are short home favorites against the Texas Rangers, but I’m taking the near-pick’em road side.

Connelly Early’s contact profile gives Texas the better matchup path, while Nathan Eovaldi’s chase, whiff, and ground-ball traits give the Rangers more ways to survive. I’m also leaning Under, as both offenses carry modest scoring baselines.

Read all about it in my Rangers vs. Red Sox predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, June 14, 2026.

Who will win Rangers vs Red Sox today: Rangers moneyline (-102)

It’s a coin-flip game that's not being priced like one, and that’s mostly the edge. I’m grabbing the Texas Rangers here and would play them to -110. 

I’m a long-term fan of Boston Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early, but he’s young, raw, and has work to do. 

His contact profile for this matchup isn’t ideal. He’s yielded a barrel rate of 11%+ along with a hard-hit rate in the Bottom 20th percentile. 

This Rangers lineup can be erratic, but one thing it has is plenty of power, with six in the lineup having a hard-hit rate over 40%.

Give me Texas for a two-unit play.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Nathan Eovaldi owns 99th-percentile offspeed run value, key against a team that struggles against them.

Rangers vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Under 9 (-105)

I’m taking the Under because Nathan Eovaldi’s Top-20 percentile chase and whiff rate create a run-prevention path, and the market is pricing up two offenses with modest scoring baselines

Early’s contact quality is the concern, but Texas can do damage and still keep this Under if Eovaldi controls Boston’s chase-heavy approach.

His elite ground-ball rate, in addition to the strikeout stuff, is the key separator in a game I project closer to 8.1 runs. 

Play to -130.

Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 29-24, +4.46 units
  • Over/Under bets: 33-20, +15.87 units

Rangers vs Red Sox odds

  • Moneyline: Rangers -108 | Red Sox +104
  • Run line: Rangers -1.5 (+163) | Red Sox +1.5 (-170)
  • Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+117) | Under 9.5 (-122)

Rangers vs Red Sox trend

The Texas Rangers have hit the Game Total Under in 26 of their last 50 games (+4.50 Units / 8% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Red Sox.

How to watch Rangers vs Red Sox and game info

LocationFenway Park, Boston, MA
DateSunday, June 14, 2026
First pitch7:20 p.m. ET
TVNBC
Rangers starting pitcherNathan Eovaldi
(5-7, 4.26 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcherConnelly Early
(5-4, 3.30 ERA)

Rangers vs Red Sox latest injuries

Rangers vs Red Sox 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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets, Picks, Parlay & Odds for Sunday, June 14

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It’s a full 15-game slate in the MLB, and there are plenty of home runs to be hit.

I’ve picked my favorite MLB player props for the day, highlighted by Shohei Ohtani and Jordan Walker.

Read my MLB picks for Sunday, June 14, below.

  • UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.

Best MLB home run props today

Player to hit a HROdds
Reds Shohei Ohtani+216
Reds Jordan Walker+462
RedsHunter Goodman+195
💲Today's HR parlay+5138

Home run pick: Shohei Ohtani (+216)

Shohei Ohtani’s bat has come alive this weekend, with the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar going yard in three straight games.

This afternoon, he’ll square up against Chicago White Sox starter Erick Fedde, who’s allowed 14 dingers – tied for the 13th most in the majors.

Fedde’s cutter has been hit out of the yard six times this season, and that’s a pitch Ohtani loves to see. The reigning NL MVP is batting .412 against that pitch with a .765 SLG.

Chicago’s bullpen has also been brutal, allowing 38 homers (7th most).

I’ll play Ohtani up to +220 here.

  • Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: SportsNet LA, Chicago Sports Network, WCIU TV

Home run pick: Jordan Walker (+462)

There’s hardly anyone in the majors with a more impressive batting profile than Jordan Walker, who ranks in the top percentile for bat speed and 98th percentile in average exit velocity.

The St. Louis Cardinals slugger has hit 10 of his 18 homers off fastballs, and Minnesota Twins starter Taj Bradley goes to his four-seamer half the time.

Walker has smashed six home runs against the four-seamer, with a 57.1 hard hit%. 

Batting at Target Field, which is tied for the second-highest Park Factor (103), Walker has a good chance to go yard.

I’ll play Walker up to +440.

  • Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Cardinals.TV, Twins.TV 

Home run pick: Hunter Goodman (+195)

Hunter Goodman is on pace for another career year, and that’s no surprise, given that his bat speed (87th percentile) and barrel % (91st percentile) rank among the MLB leaders. 

The Colorado Rockies catcher is feasting on breaking balls, and he’ll enjoy today’s matchup against the Athletics. Starter Jeffrey Springs has surrendered 16 homers, tied for sixth most in the majors, with nine of those against breaking pitches.

Springs’ slider is his second-most common pitch, and Goodman has hit the slider out of the park more than anyone else this season (8 HR).

Play this one up to +190.

  • Time: 3:05 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NBCSCA, Rockies.TV
Chris Faria's 2026 Transparency Record
  • HR picks: 7-22, +1.87 units

Today’s HR parlay

Reds Shohei OhtaniBet Now
+5138
Reds Jordan Walker
Reds Hunter Goodman

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays: Will Warren vs. Patrick Corbin

May 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren (29) pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

If momentum is a real thing, the Yankees should have a lot of it on their side today after stealing a win behind Paul Goldschmidt’s ninth-inning dinger. Of course, momentum is also only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher, but at least on paper the Yankees seem to have the edge in Sunday’s series finale in Toronto.

Will Warren is that aforementioned starter for New York, sitting half a win behind his 2025 performance while having thrown 100 fewer innings. What’s really invigorating to me with Warren is how close all his peripheral measurements are to his ERA — no more than a third of a run difference between xERA, FIP, and xFIP. That last one is critical, since we’ve seen some pitchers, like Cam Schlittler and Dylan Cease, see some immediate regression when a team hits a home run or two. Instead, Warren is by all the data we have pretty much as good as he’s shown. He’s also going a full third of an inning deeper than he was last year; 2025 saw him average not quite five innings a start. Eight of his 13 starts this year have seen him get past that mark.

All of Patrick Corbin’s peripherals are pretty in line as well, except that they’re not nearly as good as Warren’s. The real problem for Corbin is how much he gets squared up, with a hard-hit rate of more than 43 percent. The Yankees took advantage of that contact control problem when they faced him in the Bronx back in May — Corbin lasted just four innings, yielding three runs on six hits and three walks. Although the Toronto bullpen got some time off yesterday with Kevin Gausman’s excellent outing, a similar performance by Corbin to that May 18th matchup would be appreciated today.

The lineup is about as patchwork as it gets these days with all the injuries. The top four is as representative as ever, but the team is going to be asking a fair amount from Max Schuemann who’s in left today, and Ali Sánchez who gets the job behind the plate. They’re stacking righties against the southpaw Corbin.

Do note the odd start time. It’s part of the counter-tariff thing.

How to watch

Location: Rogers Centre – Toronto, ON

First pitch: 1:37 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES, Sportsnet, SN1, TVA Sports

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | SN590 THE FAN (TOR)

Streaming: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv (out-of-market only)

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Washington Nationals vs Seattle Mariners Game Thread

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 13: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals celebrates his RBI single against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Nationals Park on June 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Nats got a much needed bounce back win yesterday and will have a chance to win yet another series. It was a nice, well rounded effort with production up and down the lineup. The pitching was also rock solid. A series win today would fully erase the stench from the San Francisco meltdown.

Blake Butera has made a few adjustments to the lineup. James Wood has moved to the DH spot, meaning Daylen Lile will be in left, Jacob Young in center and Dylan Crews in right. Crews will be all the way up in the 3 spot today. Keibert Ruiz will hit 5th, which is higher than usual. Jorbit Vivas returns to the lineup in favor of Curtis Mead. PJ Poulin will be opening for Miles Mikolas.

There are only a couple changes to the Mariners lineup. Victor Robles will play center field, giving Julio Rodriguez a day to rest as the DH. Jhonny Pereda will be back behind the plate after Mitch Garver caught yesterday. Colt Emerson gives the Mariners a big threat in the 9 spot. Emerson Hancock has had a breakout year, and he will be on the mound today.

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Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 1:35 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

This is a big rubber match for both teams. The Mariners are in a fight for the AL West, while the Nats look to stay above .500. After the Mariners drew first blood on Friday, the Nats bounced back. Now, the series is up for grabs. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.

James Dolan jokingly told Knicks players to avoid sex during playoffs

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows James Dolan lifts the Larry O'Brien trophy as the Knicks celebrate winning the NBA championship on June 13, 2026, Image 2 shows James Dolan (r.) is interviewed by ESPN's Ernie Johnson (l.) during the Knicks' trophy ceremony on June 13, 2026

The Knicks may be celebrating in more ways than one.

Prior to their championship run this postseason, James Dolan jokingly asked the players to avoid sex during the playoffs, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.

In the unexpected speech from Dolan, who took over control of the Knicks in 1999, he reportedly told players about the importance of sacrificing and how much he believed in this Knicks roster to end the team’s now-previous, 53-year title drought.

“They were a little surprised, but the words hit,” a source told SNY.

James Dolan lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy as the Knicks celebrate winning the NBA championship on June 13, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
James Dolan (r.) is interviewed by ESPN’s Ernie Johnson (l.) during the Knicks’ trophy ceremony on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

More than two months later, Dolan and the Knicks earned the championship they so desperately craved as they defeated the Spurs in Game 5 on Saturday night.

Dolan was front and center during the Knicks’ title celebrations, as he was presented the Larry O’Brien by commissioner Adam Silver and apologized to fans for the team’s struggles.

“Hey, New York, I’m sorry it took so long, but here we are, and hopefully it won’t take that long again,” Dolan said.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson were all smiles after winning their first rings. NBAE via Getty Images

He also interrupted Josh Hart’s postgame press conference to urge New Yorkers to be safe back home during their celebrations.

That advice wasn’t entirely heeded, as 63 people were arrested, four were stabbed and one was shot after the Knicks clinched their title win.

The Knicks will hope their parade on Thursday goes off without any hiccups.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Braden Montgomery is here, Shane Drohan is nasty

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.

The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope this helps you determine whether the player fits your team's needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition for your specific roster.

To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

Mauricio Dubon - 2B/3B/SS/OF, ATL (41% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

It seems that, with Ronald Acuna Jr. sidelined, Dubon is going to be the regular starter in left field. He was also starting games at shortstop before that, so there are myriad ways the Braves can get him into the lineup. It's a small sample size, but over his last 10 games, Dubon is tied for 15th in baseball in WAR, hitting .313/.405/.625 with three home runs, eight RBI, and one steal. A 28% hard-hit rate would suggest that his six homers this season are a fluke, but he has essentially doubled his career barrel rate and is lifting the ball more than he has since 2022. You're not likely to get some league-winning upside here, but Dubon is a solid hitter who is batting fifth every day for a good lineup. That's valuable in a lot of formats.

Braden Montgomery - OF, CWS (38% rostered)

(RECENT CALL-UP, POWER UPSIDE)

Montgomery was called up on Tuesday and had a historic debut, as one of just five players since 1900 to hit a walk-off home run in his debut. We have some worries about his Triple-A swinging strike rate and below-average overall contact rate, but we think the power and speed could be intriguing. Eric recorded a video about Montgomery on Wednesday, so check that out.

Bryce Eldridge - UT, SF (37% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, POWER UPSIDE)

Last week, Eldridge was 17% rostered, so this roster rate really needs to climb higher. As we highlighted last week, an injury to Heliot Ramos allowed the Giants to try Casey Schmitt in the outfield and free up a spot for Eldridge, who, since May 18th, is hitting .371/.451/.629 with three home runs, 16 runs scored, and 11 RBI. That comes with a 12.5% barrel rate and 55.4% hard-hit rate in 56 batted ball events. He’s hitting more line drives this year than we saw last year, which limited the power output initially, but we're starting to see him look to turn on the ball more often now that he's gaining confidence. Another young power option from that same article mentioned above could be Coby Mayo - 1B/3B, BAL (3% rostered). In 74 plate appearances since May 13th, Mayo is hitting .250/.311/.515 with five home runs, 14 runs scored, and 11 RBI with a 58% hard-hit rate, 89.1% zone contact rate, 10.5% SwStr%, and 110.2 mph EV90. He's not playing every day because Blaze Alexander is also playing well, but Mayo's power could be valuable in deeper fantasy formats.

Sunday update: Eldridge is 4-for-7 through Friday and Saturday with another home run. His hype is reaching a fever pitch and he can't be left on any waiver wires, UT-only be darned.

Noelvi Marte - 3B/OF, CIN (35% rostered)

(RECENT CALL-UP, POST-HYPE UPSIDE)

Since being recalled, Marte is 5-for-15 with two runs scored and three steals while starting four of six games. Marte is a former top prospect who hit 14 home runs and stole 10 bases in 90 games last year while hitting .263. He crushed Triple-A this year after he was demoted, hitting .369/.409/.575 in 176 plate appearances with eight home runs and nine steals. He's worth an add because few guys on the waiver wire have his upside.

Sunday update: Marte smacked two home runs between Friday and Saturday and we remain excited about his potential.

Andrew Vaughn - 1B, MIL (29% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, POWER UPSIDE)

Vaughn was dropped in many leagues over the last couple of weeks because it seemed like he had lost his job to Jake Bauers after his return from hamate bone surgery. While it's true that Vaughn is not an everyday player right now, he's started in four of the last five games and has been swinging the bat well, hitting .406/.433/.594 in his last 20 games with one home run and 12 RBI. Yes, the power may take some time to come back, but a hitter swinging the bat like that is going to force his way into the lineup.

Dalton Rushing - C, LAD (28% rostered)

(BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Will Smith has now officially been placed on the injured list, so we expect this roster rate to jump pretty quickly. However, if Rushing is available in your league, now is the time to scoop him up. He may have cooled down from his torrid start to the season, but he's hitting .286/.388/.429 with one home run, six runs scored, and four RBI over his last 15 games. That, and his presence in this lineup, makes him worth rostering in one-catcher leagues while Will Smith is out. Keibert Ruiz- C, WAS (19% rostered) has been solid at the plate for a while now. Since May 1, he's been hitting .354/.368/.662 with four home runs and 17 RBI. Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic wrote a great article on how a dozen coaches sat down with Ruiz to create a plan for him moving forward. The crux of that meeting was that they believed Ruiz had a great foundation for success but needed to swing harder and pull the ball more. Solid. This season, Ruiz's bat speed is up, he has a career-high 39.8% hard-hit rate, and his average exit velocity is up over three mph to 89.7 mph. He's one-catcher league viable right now.

Sam Antonacci - 2B/3B/OF, CWS (24% rostered)

(GREAT LINEUP SPOT, SPEED UPSIDE)

Antonacci has been productive for a while now. Since May 1st, he's hitting .304/.400/.360 with 25 runs scored and eight steals. He's not going to give you much power production, but he's hitting leadoff on a good team, so the runs will be there, and he stole almost 50 bases last season, so we know the speed will be there. An elite contact profile, combined with his multi-position eligibility, makes him a solid add in most formats. Last week, we said that we wish Blaze Alexander - 2B/3B/SS/OF, BAL (7% rostered) was playing more. He then started four of seven games between when that article was published and now. Not bad but not great. So far this season, we've wanted more playing time for Casey Schmitt and Curtis Mead, among others, so maybe bet on the talent. Alexander can play all over the field, so the Orioles can use him 4-5 times a week to give other guys a day off. He appeared in Eric’s article last week on hitters to target based on their May resultsbecause, since May 1st, he's hitting .366/.411/.549 with 18 RBI, 10 runs scored, and four steals in 92 plate appearances. He's making better-than-league-average contact in the zone with a better hard-hit percentage than league average as well. There is an intriguing profile here, but it's more of a deep league add right now until playing time emerges.

Curtis Mead - 1B/2B/3B, WAS (23% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, FORMER TOP PROSPECT)

We’ve written a lot about Curtis Mead over the last month. He wasin Eric’s mid-May article on hitters who should produce more power, as well as in a video Eric recorded about his recent production and his latest article on May hot streaks. In 121 plate appearances since May 1st, Mead has hit .255/.372/.490 with six home runs, 17 RBI, and 19 runs scored. That came with a 45% hard-hit rate, a 12.5% barrel rate, 90% zone contact rate, and 6.2% SwStr%. His exit velocities aren’t off the charts, but his 89.4 mph average exit velocity is over two mph better than his career average. He flattened his swing a bit this year and is looking to pull and lift the ball more than usual, which will make the most out of his solid but not elite exit velocities. Among 260 hitters with at least 100 plate appearances this season, Mead ranks 52nd with a Pull Air% of 22.9%. His exit velocity on his fly balls and line drives is 93 mph, which is the same as Cal Raleigh, Cody Bellinger, and Salvador Perez, so that will be just fine for power production.

Spencer Horwitz - 1B, PIT (21% rostered)

(EVERY DAY PLAYER, RUNS UPSIDE)

The Pirates have been a better offense than many expected, and Horwitz has played a big role in that. He has taken over the leadoff spot in the lineup and is hitting .315/.381/.533 over his last 25 games with six home runs, 14 runs scored, 16 RBI, and one steal. Not much has changed from previous seasons, other than the fact that he is being far more selective (swinging 6% less overall) and making far more contact. He's not hitting the ball any harder than he has previously, and so some of this elevated batting average and power feels like a fluke, but it's worth chasing the results right now while he's producing.

Kody Clemens - 1B/2B/OF, MIN (21% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Over the last month, Clemens has been far and away the best hitter on the Twins. He's batting .289/.317/.598 with six home runs, 14 runs scored, 12 RBI, and one steal in 25 games. He has his highest barrel rate ever (13.7%) and his highest average exit velocity ever (92.7 mph). His swing decisions and contact rates are similar to what we've seen from him in the past, but he also had 19 home runs in 119 games last year, so him pushing 25 home runs this season wouldn't be a surprise if he gets full-time playing time. He also had a .243 xBA last year, so his coming close to a .250 average on the year could also make sense. That's a pretty solid player.

Paul Goldschmidt - 1B, NYY (16% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, HOT STREAK)

Don't look now, but Goldy is holding off Father Time. In 32 games since May 1st, the veteran is hitting .313/.383/.548 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, and a 40% hard-hit rate. He is playing much every day at first base or DH and will continue to get extra that kind of playing time with Aaron Judge sidelined for the next 6-8 weeks and the Yankees having fewer outfield spots to juggle. He hits near the top of the Yankees' lineup, which is good for run production. Now could also be the time to stash Jasson Dominguez - OF, NYY (12% rostered), who began a rehab assignment last Friday and has been swinging the bat well in Triple-A. Anthony Volpe has not been good for the Yankees lately, so Jose Caballero could go back to playing shortstop more regularly, which would open up a spot for Dominguez to replace Judge in right field when he returns.

Sunday update: Dominguez returned on Saturday and immediately hit a home run. With a long runway of playing time, this could finally be his moment.

Dominic Canzone - OF, SEA (16% rostered)

(HOT STRETCH, POWER UPSIDE)

Dominic Canzone hits the ball hard, so he's always going to find stretches where he's producing and needs to be added in a lot of places. Over his last 25 games, he's hitting .303/.370/.606 with five home runs, 11 runs scored, and eight RBI. Five home runs should get you a lot more than eight RBI. He will sit against lefties, so that's something to factor into the math, especially against the Red Sox and their three lefties next weekend. Ryan Ward - 1B/OF, LAD (3% rostered) is also in a strong side platoon with Teoscar Hernandez out, so he could draw four starts next week. He's gone .242/.265/.576 in 10 games with three home runs and 11 RBIs. Ward also hit 34 home runs in the minors in 2024 and 36 home runs in 2025, so there could be some power upside here.

Colton Cowser - OF, BAL (15% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, POWER UPSIDE)

Another week of Cowser in here as his roster rate has climbed from 7% to 14%. The 26-year-old has started to turn things around, hitting .292/.365/.631 over his last 25 games with seven home runs, 14 runs scored, 16 RBI, and two steals. That comes with a 17/8 K/BB ratio but just a 28.6 percent hard-hit rate. Given the hot streaks we’ve seen him go on, now is the time to pick him up but remember that he is going to sit against most left-handed pitchers. The power hasn't been there for Henry Bolte - OF, ATH (7% rostered), but he is hitting .288 with four steals in his last 20 games while playing basically every day for the A's. They play all of their games at home this upcoming week, so while I'm worried about his overall contact rate, I think he's a decent gamble for this week.

Jordan Lawlar - OF, ARI (13% rostered)

(OFF THE IL, UPSIDE POTENTIAL)

Jordan Lawlar is back from the 60-day IL after fracturing his wrist. He's also right back in the starting lineup on Friday. It seems like he will return to center field, moving Tommy Troy to the bench and Ryan Waldschmidt to left field. Lawlar had hit .333/.400/.556 in 20 plate appearances before fracturing his wrist in April, so he's worth an add to see if he can get that production back.

Sunday update: Lawlar had a wonderful return to the lineup on Friday night with a huge two-run bloop single late and this fantastic catch in center field.

Do not forget about him and his legitimately massive power-speed potential.

Joshua Baez - OF, STL (12% rostered)

(POTENTIAL CALL-UP, POWER UPSIDE)

We like to get ahead of prospect stashes on the waiver wire, and I think it might be time for Baez to wind up as your stash. Lars Nootbaar came back last week, so there is no immediate opening, but maybe the Cardinals decide not to have two catchers in the lineup every day and give Baez a shot. Baez has big-time power and hit .274/.347/.632 in 106 at-bats in May with 10 home runs, 24 RBI, and a 34/9 K/BB ratio. He’s now continued that pace to begin June and is knocking on the door. Another possible stash would be Kaelen Culepper - SS, MIN (3% rostered), who has 14 home runs and 40 RBI on the season to go along with a .269 batting average and .861 OPS. He hit .280/.4076/.540 in May with seven home runs, 21 RBI, seven steals, and a 22/19 K/BB ratio. I understand that Tristan Gray is playing well, but, at some point, a team like the Twins needs to try its top prospect over a 30-year-old journeyman. Lastly, you could look to stash Yohandy Morales - 1B/3B, WAS (2% rostered), who is now up to 15 home runs and 42 RBI on the season to go along with a .339 batting average and a 1.012 OPS. He’s ready for a chance at big league pitching, but with Curtis Mead playing well at third base, the Nationals will need to use Morales as a DH or a first baseman.

Cole Carrigg - OF, COL (10% rostered)

(PROSPECT HYPE, COORS FIELD)

Called up by the Rockies earlier this week, Carigg is a tooled-up outfielder who has enough raw power and speed to instantly be on our radar. His prospect shine faded after a so-so season last year at Double-A as a 23-year-old, but he cut his strikeouts dramatically at Triple-A this season while getting showing off his raw power. He already has two big league homers and seems to have displaced Jake McCarthy in center fielder and could be a fun option when the Rockies are home in Coors Field

Caleb Durbin - 2B/3B, BOS (8% rostered)

(STOLEN BASE UPSIDE, HOT STREAK)

Don't look now, but Caleb Durbin is heating up. Actually, do look now; that's the point of this article. Over his last 15 games, Durbin is hitting .313/.320/.583 with two home runs, 10 RBI, and one steal. This is a guy who was really solid as a rookie last season and had a few 30-steal seasons in his minor league career before swiping 18 bags with the Brewers last year. Clearly, moving to a new team led to some issues early on, but Durbin has begun to settle in and could be a solid asset for batting average and, eventually, speed. The man who took his place in Milwaukee at third base, David Hamilton - 2B/3B/SS, MIL (4% rostered) has provided fantasy value over the last few weeks because he has three home runs and four steals over his last 12 games while also hitting .282. A lot of that damage has come in two good games, but we know Hamilton has elite stolen base upside, so this could be worth chasing.

Jacob Gonzalez - 1B/2B/SS, CWS (6% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, BREAKOUT POTENTIAL)

We've been intrigued by Gonzalez since he was promoted two weeks ago to cover for the injured Munetaka Murakami at first base. He's had a bit of a swing and miss issue over his first nine games in the big leagues — 29% strikeout rate — but he has just a 9.7% swinging strike rate, so that number should come down. He's also hitting .308/.419/.423 with a 53% hard-hit rate. Those are things we like to see.

Jake Mangum - OF, PIT (5% rostered)

(EVERY DAY ROLE, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

The Pirates have started to give Mangum nearly every day at-bats, and he's delivering. Over his last 19 games, he's hitting .339/.367/.446 with one home run, seven RBI, and six steals. We know that he can run, so the stolen base totals are the real pull here, but if Mangum is going to play 75% of the games for the Pirates, he's worth a gamble.

Lars Nootbaar - OF, STL (4% rostered)

(OFF THE TIL, STATCAST DARLING

Nootbaar is another boring outfielder who is set to come off the injured list following offseason surgery on both of his heels. We know that you've been waiting for that Nootbaar breakout for a long time, but he remains a solid/productive player who should be in an everyday role on a solid Cardinals team. In six games since coming off the injured list, he's just 5-for-22, but that comes with two home runs and five RBI. He'll settle in. Speaking of boring outfielders, Andrew Benintendi - OF, CWS (2% rostered) has under-the-radar moments of production every season. He jumped on a Process+ leaderboard since the middle of May, and over his last 21 games, he's hitting .265/.342/.500 with four home runs and 13 RBI. That will work in deeper formats on a good offense.

Wade Meckler - OF, LAA (2% rostered)
(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, RECENT HOT STREAK)

Maybe this is happening for Meckler? In 18 games with the Angels, he's hitting .316/.391/.509 with two home runs, 10 RBI, and two steals. He's slowed down a bit from his hot start, but he's just 26 years old, has solid enough bat speed, and has always made a ton of contact in the minor leagues. He makes good swing decisions and has begun lifting the ball more than we saw from him in the Giants' organization. He's not going to be a true power threat, but he can drive the ball into the gaps, and he's hitting third every day for the Angels. That's valuable in a 15-team format.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Cade Cavalli - SP, WAS (34% rostered)

Sure, go for it. Cavalli's last start against Arizona wasn't good, and we're not particularly fans of him as a breakout starting pitcher, but he has a 3.88 ERA and a 24% strikeout rate on the season and gets Tampa Bay this week, which is a fine, but not great matchup. I dunno, we get it but don't love it.

Sunday update: Cavalli earned the win on Saturday against the Mariners after allowing three runs over five innings with five strikeouts. We're keeping an eye on his sweeper as the key to potential unlock him. It forced three whiffs on four swings yesterday as a supplemental secondary weapon supporting his knuckle-curve and needs to be such for him to take the next step.

Dustin May - SP, STL (34% rostered)

A pitch mix change has unlocked a solid run of production for Dustin May. In his first three starts of the year, May threw almost 31% four-seam fastballs and just 11% cutters. He had a few terrible outings in that stretch and wasn't missing bats at all with a 17% strikeout rate and 7.4% swinging strike rate. Then, he made a shift. Over his next nine starts, he reduced his fastball usage to 24% and upped his cutter usage to 26%. That also enabled him to save the four-seamer to use more up in the zone for swings and misses. Since then, May has a 3.38 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 23% strikeout rate, and nearly 11% swinging strike rate. That will work in most formats. He gets a good two-start week this week against the Mets and Twins, both on the road. He'd then get the Royals the week after that. I'm also OK using his teammate, Andre Pallante - SP, STL (16% rostered) against the Mets this week because his velocity is up, he has more vertical movement on his four-seamer, and he has always had a good slider.

Griffin Jax - SP/RP, TB (34% rostered)

Yes, I still believe in Griffin Jax, and I figured more people would after his performance this week, throwing five shutout innings against the Marlins while striking out four and allowing just three hits. That was on just 62 pitches. We don't love that short leash, but it had never been that short before. He has a deep pitch mix and has managed to maintain velocity even when moving out of the bullpen. This is the profile of a pitcher who should deliver for your fantasy teams, and he gets the Nationals and Royals for his next two starts. Don't give up hope yet.

Sunday update: Jax was fantastic on Saturday against the Angels allowing just one unearned run over five innings with five strikeouts and didn't walk a batter. His sweeper was electric forcing seven whiffs on just nine total swings and we're very bullish on his potential as a starting pitcher.

Stephen Kolek - SP, KCR (34% rostered)

Kolek has been on a good run of late, heading into his weekend start against the Astros, and gets a decent run against two solid but not overly scary offenses in the Cardinals and Rays after that. Kolek isn't overpowering, but he wins with command and limiting hard contact. You can feel comfortable using him when he's rolling like this, but just be sure to jump off the ride if it starts to wobble.

Walbert Ureña - SP, LAA (32% rostered)

We've had Ureña on here a few times, but he's emerging as a solid streaming option this year. His power changeup (at 90 mph) is a really good pitch, and he uses it to both righties and lefties. He has showcased inconsistent command of an 87 mph sweeper, but that can miss plenty of bats to righties when it's on. He needs that sweeper because his fastball is just empty velocity, and will only be successful if he can get ahead with his other pitches and then try to get hitters to chase outside of the zone with elevated four-seamers. He gets Houston this week, which isn't a great start, but it isn't one we're scared of right now.

Troy Melton - SP, DET (28% rostered)

Melton has not had the strikeout numbers that we hoped to see when he came off the injured list, but he does have a 2.81 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in his first four starts. He's done that with great control of a solid 97 mph four-seamer, plus a good slider and cutter. He also pairs that with a sinker, curveball, and splitter to give him a deep arsenal that we can dream on. Melton is set to face Houston on the road this week, but then it gets confusing if the Tigers are bringing back Casey Mize and Justin Verlander, along with Tarik Skubal. We don't think Verlander looks ready to return, but our opinion doesn't matter to Detroit.

Alex Lange - RP, KC (25% rostered)

It seems that Lucas Erceg has finally pitched his way out of the closer's role in Kansas City. That has given Lange a chance to convert the last four saves for the Royals. The former Tigers' starter has a 4.06 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and 34/18 K/BB ratio in 31 innings, so this is not the profile of a lockdown reliever, nor does he have anything close to elite swing-and-miss stuff. Still, he has produced of late and seems to be getting the chances now, so you can roll the dice if you want.

Sunday update: Lange took the loss on Saturday after entering a tie game in the eighth inning, finishing off that frame, then walking the lead-off batter in the ninth and letting them come around to score. Command has always been an issue for him (career 5.3 BB/9) and we like his role much more than his skills.

Grant Taylor - RP/SP, CWS (24% rostered)

Taylor was called on for a save chance against the Phillies last Saturday and completely blew them away. He struck out the side on 14 pitches, went up 0-2 on all three hitters, regularly sat near 100 mph with his heater, and forced six whiffs in that one inning of work. He was then called on to pitch two innings against the Braves this week and recorded a win without allowing a run. If he’s ever unleashed as the White Sox’s full-time closer, he’d instantly be one of the nastiest in the league. Even now, he is a great add for ratios and the stray win or save here and there.

Shane Drohan- SP/RP, MIL (20% rostered)

I broke down Drohan's transition to the rotation in my streaming starting pitcher article on Monday, so I encourage you to check that out for a deep dive. I hate that his next start is against the Braves and that I don't trust the Brewers to keep him in the rotation, but I do like him as a pitcher.

Sunday update: Drohan had by far his best bat-missing outing as a big leaguer on Saturday forcing 17 whiffs. He also allowed eight hits and four runs in five innings, but also struck out seven and didn't walk a batter. His slider and curveball combined to force 10 swings-and-misses on 14 total swings and he threw at least 78 pitches for the second straight start, making his transition to a full-time starter feel nearly complete. His tantalizing potential as a starting pitcher is undeniable.

Mick Abel - SP, MIN (15% rostered)

Abel threw 47 pitches in a rehab outing at Triple-A on Wednesday and looked good. He's probably about two weeks away from returning to the Twins' rotation, but now could be the time to stash him if you have the bench space.

Yoendrys Gomez - SP/RP, MIN (14% rostered)

Gomez has been really good since joining the Twins, pitching to a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings with a 19/7 K/BB ratio and four saves. His 114 Stuff+ score is pretty good, and he has a really good fastball and slider pairing. The Twins aren't winning too many games, but I think Gomez feels more stable as a pitcher than Alex Lange.

Ian Seymour - SP, TB (9% rostered)

It seems like the Rays may finally be giving Ian Seymour a chance to start, and I couldn't be more excited. I wrote about him as one of my favorite late-round starting pitcher targets,which you can read here for full thoughts on his arsenal, and then he went ahead and lost a rotation spot to both Steven Matz and Nick Martinez. After getting blitzed out of the bullpen in the first game of the season, Seymour has been good for the Rays, pitching to a 3.60 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 26.6% strikeout rate in 35 innings. Remember that he was a good starting pitching prospect in the minors with the Rays as well. This has a chance to stick.

Elvis Alvarado - RP, ATH (5% rostered)

The Athletics have won four games in a row — all by two runs or fewer — and Alvarado has saved two of them. They've had a revolving door at closer all season with nine players saving at least one game and no one saving more than six. Hogan Harris () still appears to be their preferred ninth inning option, but Alvarado has a fastball that can touch 103 mph and looks more like the part when he's on. Saturday night was an example of that when his fastball averaged 102 mph and he forced five swings-and-misses in a clean inning with two strikeouts. He's a quality speculative closer to take a chance on.

Sunday game thread: vs Padres, 1:35

Jun 9, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Trevor Rogers (28) delivers during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: James A. Pittman-Imagn Images | James A. Pittman-Imagn Images

Throughout most of Saturday’s game, this series finale was setting up to be just another nondescript rubber match between inter-league foes. Then, in the ninth inning of a game that was out of reach, the Padres plunked Gunnar Henderson as retaliation for Xander Bogaerts being hit in the head earlier in the afternoon. Now this game has a bit more flavor to it.

Adding another dimension to it are Craig Albernaz’s strange comments afterwards. Mark covered it in the Bird Droppings this morning. Albernaz described the pitch that hit Henderson in the midsection as “the right way” and that the Orioles had “no gripes” about it. Huh? Henderson certainly seemed to have gripes standing on first base and in his own post-game meeting with the media. And there were angry reactions in the team’s dugout too when the HBP happened. The Padres had attempted to hit Henderson earlier in the game and failed. Twice. It should have been over then. Triple dipping on a bean ball attempt isn’t “the right way” at all.

The charitable way to interpret the manager’s comments are that he doesn’t want anyone else to be hit today. That could be understandable, although his wording is still poor. The more critical reading is that Albernaz is completely out of touch with the locker room. Maybe HE didn’t have any gripes, but some of the players definitely did. It is possible to condemn the Padres and support your players without stirring the pot any further. Albernaz did not achieve that.

My personal hope is that no one else is intentionally hit by a pitch today, mostly because that’s extremely dangerous and it would likely lead to some lengthy suspensions at this point. Albernaz clearly wants it to all be over too. It will be interesting to see what the Orioles players do. If Henderson is genuinely mad about the entire thing, it’s not out of the question that someone on the pitching staff—probably a reliever later in the game—takes matters into their own hands. If that happens, it would be a very bad sign for Albernaz and where he stands in that clubhouse.

Within all of that subtext is a game to win. The Orioles lost a game in their pursuit of an AL Wild Card spot on Saturday. They need to stay on the front foot and keep the heat on those ahead of them in the standings. Another good showing from Trevor Rogers would go a long way towards making that happen. Let’s see it!

Orioles lineup

  1. Taylor Ward, LF
  2. Gunnar Henderson, SS
  3. Adley Rutschman, DH
  4. Pete Alonso, 1B
  5. Samuel Basallo, C
  6. Leody Tavares, RF
  7. Colton Cowser, CF
  8. Jeremiah Jackson, 2B
  9. Blaze Alexander, 3B

LHP Trevor Rogers (3-6, 6.15 ERA)

Padres lineup

  1. Fernando Tatis Jr., 2B
  2. Jackson Merrill, CF
  3. Manny Machado, 3B
  4. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  5. Gavin Sheets, 1B
  6. Samad Taylor, LF
  7. Nick Solak, DH
  8. Jase Bowen, RF
  9. Rodolfo Durán, C

RHP Walker Buehler (3-3, 4.33 ERA)

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Diamondbacks @ Reds discussion

CINCINNATI, OH - MARCH 26: A general view outside of the stadium including the city skyline prior to the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeffrey Dean/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Today’s Lineups

DIAMONDBACKSREDS
Ketel Marte – DHBlake Dunn – CF
Corbin Carroll – RFJJ Bleday – LF
Gabriel Moreno – CSal Stewart – 3B
Nolan Arenado – 3BNathaniel Lowe – 1B
Ildemaro Vargas – 2BEugenio Suarez – DH
Geraldo Perdomo – SSNoelvi Marte – RF
Jordan Lawlar – CFMatt McLain – SS
LuJames Groover – 1BJose Trevino – C
Tommy Troy – LFEdwin Arroyo – 2B
Zac Gallen – RHPAndrew Abbott – LHP

A terse introduction today, after a late night. Started with watching Scotland win their first World Cup game in 28 years at Republica Empanada (highly recommended) in Mesa. Then over to the Mesa Amphitheater for a concert by The Human League, Alison Moyet and Soft Cell (whoever thought an outdoor concert in June was a good idea, should be tied down to an anthill). And finished off with eighties night listening to DJ Bueller at The Thunderbird. A lot of fun, but we are, frankly, too old for it. 🙂 A very relaxed Sunday is thus in prospect, with the D-backs hoping to get off the RISP trauma trail, and take the series in Cincinnati.

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Video captures the exact moment NYC ‘lost its mind’ over Knicks’ historic championship

Video shows the exact moment New York lost its collective mind as the Knicks secured an historic first NBA Championship since 1973.

The viral clip shared on X was taken at the end of Saturday’s victory in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, as jubilant fans could be heard screaming across the city.

“Hear the exact moment Manhattan lost its mind,” said the caption for the video, filmed from a high-rise balcony.

“I could hear this from Queens that’s how loud it was,” one X user wrote.

Many users, even those with no connection to New York or the Knicks, highlighted how astonishing the video was.

“There are some people (not many but they’re out there) who don’t like sport. It leaves them cold, they don’t ‘get’ it. Imagine that? Could never be me,” wrote one X user.

“I love when real sports cities win,” added a second.

Soccer fans in New York for the FIFA World Cup were also caught up in the cathartic celebrations following the Knicks’ triumph.

“We thought we were coming for the World Cup, and here we are caught up in an NBA tsunami,” wrote one soccer fan who had come over from France.

The Empire State building was lit with blue and orange to honor the Knicks’ historic win. Getty Images

Thousands upon thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets moments after the Knicks completed another double-digit fourth-quarter comeback to clinch the series against the San Antonio Spurs, 4-1.

Fans quickly took to the streets to celebrate the team’s first NBA championship since 1973.

However, amid the widespread celebration, there were also sporadic incidents of violence, with 63 arrests and a shooting near Times Square.

Knicks fans react on 28th St. in Manhattan, Saturday, June 13, 2026 to Knicks winning the NBA Championship. Robert Mecea for New York Post

Knicks owner James Dolan, speaking after the victory in San Antonio, urged fans to stay calm.

“We need to tell everybody in New York that we know that they’re celebrating, we want them to have a great time,” he said at a press conference.

“Please be safe. Don’t get hurt, don’t hurt nobody.”

Fans watch game 5 of the NBA Finals between the NY Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at the Heineken Riverdeck at Pier 17 Knicks Watch Party on Saturday, June 13, 2026 in New York City. Michael Nagle for NY Post

An official parade for the victorious team will be held on Thursday, culminating in a ceremony at City Hall.

President Trump, a long-time Knicks fan who attended Game 3 of the finals at the Garden with Dolan, congratulated the team on his Truth Social platform.

“What a year it has been but, even more so, what incredible playoff wins we have all witnessed, especially the last four — maybe the greatest in the history of basketball,” the president said.

Of Jaylen Brunson, Trump said, “A star is born.”

Braves vs Mets Chat and Discussion: Bryce Elder vs Freddy Peralta

Jun 13, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; General view of Citi Field during the fourth inning between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The stage is set, and both teams are looking to close it out in this early Sunday matchup. The streets of New York are ready to add another win under their belts, but will the Braves put a stop to it?

First pitch is set for 1:40 PM EDT.

Game Notes

Lineups

Preview