Dodgers vs White Sox SGP: Yamamoto chews up the Sox
The Chicago White Sox rank 27th in strikeouts and 30th in whiff rate against right-handed pitching. That sets up well for Yoshinobu Yamamoto to have a day.
He has averaged 7.4 punchouts and cleared this line in four of five games against teams ranking 16th or worse in strikeouts, posting a 1.59 ERA in such matchups.
Sean Burke allows a lot of contact to left-handed hitters. Kyle Tucker has hit safely in 18 of 20 games in which he faced a starter ranking 30th percentile or worse in contact allowed.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNLA, CHSN
See full analysis of this game in our Team vs. Team predictions.
Team vs Team SGP: Orioles lefties get to Vasquez
Randy Vasquez has allowed a .276 average, .359 xwOBA, and ranks in the 19th percentile in xSLG against left-handed bats.
Rutschman has averaged 2.5 H+R+R in games against righties who rank 50th percentile or worse in xwOBA vs. left-handed hitters.
Meanwhile, Basallo has cleared 1.5 H+R+R in 71.4% of such matchups – including all eight when the pre-game total was 9.0 or higher. This total sits at 10.0.
Look for Baltimore's bats to lead the way.
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SDPA, MASN
See full analysis of this game in our Team vs. Team predictions.
Team vs Team SGP: Snakes bite in Cincinnati
Rhett Lowder has allowed a .375 xwOBA against left-handed hitters, having a much harder time than against righties.
Corbin Carroll feasted on similar pitchers, recording multiple total bases in eight of his last 11 when facing righties, ranking 30th percentile or worse in xwOBA vs. lefties.
Ketel Marte’s expected stats are strong against righties, and the hitting conditions are favorable at Great American Ballpark.
This is a great spot for the Arizona Diamondbacks to score runs in bulk, putting them in a strong position to get a win.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ARID, CIN
See full analysis of this game in our Team vs. Team predictions.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
SGP picks: 0-0, 0 units
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.
Troy Tulowitzki never got to reach MLB's mountaintop in his decade-plus career.
But he's looking to help Texas reach it at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. The former MLB shortstop is in his sixth season serving as an assistant coach for the Longhorns, and his second under Jim Schlossnagle.
Texas, with Tulowitzki in the dugout, opens up play at the College World Series against No. 3 Georgia at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 13. The Longhorns are making their nation-leading 39th overall appearance at the College World Series, and their first since 2022.
Here's what to know on Tulowitzki:
Who is Troy Tulowitzki?
Tulowitzki is a former MLB shortstop-turned-college baseball coach at Texas. He is in his sixth season coaching at the college ranks.
Is Troy Tulowitzki on Texas baseball's coaching staff?
Yes, Tulowitzki serves as an assistant coach on Schlossnagle's staff at Texas. He was re-hired by Schlossnagle in 2024 when Schlossnagle bolted Texas A&M for Texas. Tulowitzki had spent four of the previous five seasons on former Longhorns coach David Pierce's staff as an assistant coach (2020-2022) and Director of Player Development (2024).
Tulowitzki is currently the Longhorns' hitting and infield coach.
"At the end of my career, all of these numbers and analytics were getting to be too much," Tulowitzki told Bob Nightengale on why he got into coaching. "I wanted something different. I always loved the college game, and getting them young, knowing the impact you can have on kids."
Since he arrived in the Forty Acers, the Longhorns have recorded the five highest home run totals in school history. In 2022, Texas smashed a program record with 128 homers, which broke the previous set by the Longhorns' 2010 roster of 81 homers.
Since 2022, the Longhorns have hit 91 home runs in 2023; 112 in 2024; and 85 in 2025. Casey Borba's solo home run in Game 1 of the Austin Super Regional vs. No. 11 Oregon gave Texas its 100th home run of the season. The Longhorns head into Omaha with 103 homers.
The Longhorns rank fourth in the SEC in batting average (.298) and slugging percentage (.521), while being tied for the second-highest on-base percentage in the league at .420, which is impacted by its SEC-leading 373 walks created.
Tulowitzki is a West Coast product through and through. A native of Santa Clara, California, Tulowitzki played three seasons at Long Beach State.
Troy Tulowitzki MLB career
Tulowitzki was drafted No. 7 overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2005 MLB Draft. He played most of his 13-year career with the Rockies, where he earned all five of his All-Star selections.
Considered one of the premier shortstops at the time, Tulowitzki finished as the runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year to the Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun in 2007 after hitting .291 at the plate with 177 hits, 99 RBIs and 24 home runs in 155 games played.
He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in a blockbuster trade around the 2018 MLB Trade Deadline. He played for the Blue Jays for three seasons, hitting .250 in that span. He finished his career with the New York Yankees, but only appeared in five games for the Bronx Bombers in 2019 before announcing his retirement.
In his decade-plus career, Tulowitzki hit a career .290 at the plate and finished just shy of reaching 1,400 career hits.
"For as long as I can remember, my dream was to compete at the highest level as a Major League Baseball player … to wear a big league uniform and play hard for my teammates and the fans," Tulowitzki said in his retirement statement. "I will forever be grateful for every day that I've had to live out my dream. It has been an absolute honor."
He finished with two-time Gold Glove Awards and two Silver Slugger Awards, and logged three top-10 finishes in MVP Award voting in his career.
Mar 6, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Jack Drury (18) looks on during the game between the Stars and the Avalanche at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The month of June means time for preparations concerning the upcoming 2026-27 season. Now that both the Colorado Avalanche and their affiliate Colorado Eagles have seen their seasons conclude, action should heat up ahead of the new league year on July 1st.
One of the key decision points has to do with the depth of the organization, and specifically what to do about pending Restricted Free Agents as they are due qualifying offers by the end of the month, specifically June 29th. This year’s class is comprised of all forwards and is a larger than usual group for the organization to make a decision on.
One interesting wrinkle is that all of the following six players hold arbitration rights. Typically the Avalanche square away these files because they do not want to get into a negotiation where they don’t have all the leverage. The arbitration process could grant the players multi-year or one-way contracts especially if they have NHL experience, as several on this list do. We should see the Avalanche sign any of these players shortly if they are interested in keeping them as depth options, if not, a trade or simply a non-tendered qualifying offer might occur as the front office surely will want to limit their arbitration cases.
Avalanche Roster
Jack Drury is the clear headliner of this RFA group for Colorado. They would certainly like him to return but arbitration could prove costly. It’s quite telling there were rumors that Drury was already offered a contract extension near the trade deadline and he wasn’t interested in signing at that time. Drury had a solid first full season in Colorado with 27 points and 10 goals but didn’t quite stick on the third line as hoped. The lines of communication between both parties should be open again but how much can the Avalanche invest in a fourth line center when they already have Nicolas Roy on the books for $3 million next season? The Minnesota Wild’s recent signing of depth forward Michael McCarron to a six-year $3.3 million per year deal after scoring 17 points with a career high of 22 only inflates Drury’s comparables.
There’s several ways to interpret the 25-year-old Zakhar Bardakov’s tenure with the Avalanche. In his first year in the North America over the 2025-26 NHL season he dressed in 60 games, scored one goal and contributed nine assists, in an average of 7:12 minutes time on ice per game and held up well defensively with a 56.73% expected goals and 60.71% goal differential at even strength. Was he just another replaceable fourth line forward or is there enough encouraging results to bring him back? It wouldn’t take the Avalanche a lot of coin to retain Bardakov but after spending the entire postseason on in the press box it wouldn’t surprise if both parties wanted to move on.
Colorado Eagles
The safest best on a returnee from this list is Taylor Makar because of obvious familial reasons. He has taken a step forward in his first full season as a pro in his own right. The 25-year-old increased his production as the year went on and finished with 24 points in 52 regular season games and then six points in 17 playoff games. The Avalanche gave him 12 games as well, setting Makar up to spend more time in the NHL if they set their mind to it.
There should be a place in the NHL for Ivan Ivan but it might not be with the Avalanche. He was seen as more of an afterthought with nine games in the 2025-26 season after spending 40 games in the NHL the year prior. He had a good, and healthy, season in the AHL with 26 points in 66 games but really flourished in the postseason. Ivan’s 15 points in 17 games was second on the team and top five in the AHL, and without the benefit of any power play production. He lead the league with a +14 and took only one minor penalty in the postseason. Where Ivan goes from here should be very interesting.
SO NICE, YOU GOTTA SAY IT TWICE ✌️
Ivan Ivan wins it for the Eagles with just 50 seconds to play, shutting down the Wolves' late surge
Signed as a NCAA free agent two years ago, Chase Bradley hadn’t found his groove in the AHL until now. The 24-year-old posted only 23 points in 71 games last year, though 15 of those points were goals. He’s had injury troubles this year which limited Bradley to just 42 regular season games and 12 points. But this postseason was a different story as he scored five goals and five assists n 17 playoff games. With only two games of NHL experience, the Avalanche might move on but he got hot at the right time.
It was a tough season for 24-year-old Danil Gushchin after arriving in a trade from San Jose as he was limited to 49 regular season games and three in the playoffs mainly due to injury. He was productive when he was on the ice with 18 goals and 32 points. Despite spending the bulk of four seasons in the AHL, Gushchin is not yet a free agent and the Avalanche can retain his rights if they like for him to return.
Exceptions
At only 25-years old Matt Stienburg is not listed in the Eagles RFA category as he is a Group VI Unrestricted Free Agent because he didn’t meet the NHL games played requirement for the Avalanche to retain his rights. Other organizational depth players are entering the summer as with UFA status include forwards Jason Polin, Tye Felhaber, and Valtteri Puustinen.
May 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brock Stewart (41) pitches during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Brock Stewart started a minor league rehab assignment on Friday night in the California League. The Dodgers right-hander struck out a pair in one inning of work for Ontario in Lake Elsinore. He allowed a run on a pair of doubles, though the latter was a bloop shot to shallow left field. Stewart threw 18 pitches, and induced three swinging strikes.
“It’s not an arm thing, it’s a foot thing,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on June 6. “We’ve just got to make sure he can recover from the foot thing, covering first base, PFPs, because that’s what set him back last time.”
Player of the day
Jack Suwinski homered twice for Oklahoma City, part of a three-hit game in which the outfielder drove in four runs.
Suwinski has four home runs in four games so far in this interleague series, and during his six-game hitting streak has four three-hit games, hitting a robust .625/.643/1.292 during the streak.
The Drillers were walloped by double digits by the Wichita Wind Surge (Twins).
Mike Sirota walked in the sixth inning, extending his on-base streak to 51 games. Josue De Paula singled twice in the loss, accounting for 40 percent of Tulsa’s hits.
High-A Great Lakes
The Loons split a doubleheader with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), both games decided by a 5-3 score.
Christian Zazueta struck out five in 3 2/3 innings in the winning nightcap, allowing one run.
Wisconsin climbed Jac(k)ob’s ladder in the first game, scoring two runs off starter Jakob Wright in the fourth inning and two more off Jacob Frost in the fifth, during a 3-1 Loons lead into a Great Lakes loss.
Right fielder Samuel Muñoz had a two-run single and walk in the first game. Cameron Decker hit a two-run home run in the second game.
Matt Lanzendorfer walked a pair to but the tying runs on base in the ninth inning of the nightcap, but struck out his final two batters to finish off the save.
Class-A Ontario
Once down 5-0, the Tower Buzzers rallied to beat the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres).
Mairo Martinus tripled and doubled, and drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth with a groundout.
Easton Shelton hit a two-run home run, his team-leading 19th.
On the aforementioned bloop double in the fourth inning, left fielder AJ Soldra and shortstop Joendry Vargas collided in the outfield, and both were down for several minutes. Multiple trainers from both teams tended to the players, and Soldra had to be carted off the field. Vargas remained in the game.
Transactions
Triple-A: With Chuckie Robinson called up to the Dodgers, Oklahoma City got fellow spring non-roster invitee Griffin Lockwood-Powell to help share catching duties after two and a half seasons in Tulsa.
Double-A: Dodgers signed catcher Hayden Gilliland three days after he was released by the Toronto Blue Jays, and assigned him to Tulsa. The 24-year-old hit .228/.374/.380 with three home runs and five doubles in 28 games for High-A Vancouver this eason.
Jun 12, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger (21) is unable to make the catch against Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (40) during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Good morning, LSB.
The Rangers got thumped by the Red Sox last night.
Tarik Skubal’s five-week journey from operating table to a major league mound is complete.
The Detroit Tigers’ two-time American League Cy Young Award winner will make his first start since undergoing elbow surgery Saturday, June 13 against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Skubal underwent an innovative NanoScope surgical procedure May 6 to remove a loose body from his elbow.
The Tigers proceeded to lose 16 of 18 games and 21 of 26 after Skubal was idled, falling to the cellar of the AL Central. They rebounded to win seven of nine, escaping last place as Skubal’s return drew closer to reality.
Now, they take on the division rival Guardians while trailing the first place Chicago White Sox by eight games.
Here’s how to watch the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians on Saturday:
How to watch Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians
The Detroit Tigers take on the Cleveland Guardians in the second game of their three-game weekend series.
Date: Saturday, June 13
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
TV: Detroit SportsNet, Guardians.TV, MLB.TV app
Location: Progressive Field (Cleveland)
Tarik Skubal stats
Skubal posted a 2.70 ERA in seven starts before the Tigers announced he required elbow surgery. While his strikeouts per nine innings (9.3) was down from his two preceding seasons, his strikeout-walk ratio improved to a career-best 7.50, as did his fielding independent pitching (2.11).
In his two Cy Young-winning seasons, Skubal was a combined 31-10 with a 2.30 ERA, 469 strikeouts in 387⅓ innings and a 0.91 WHIP.
Tarik Skubal contract
After winning his arbitration case against the Tigers, Skubal is earning $32 million in 2026. He is eligible for free agency after the season.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Conor Essenburg #34 of the Atlanta Braves bats during the third inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Friday brought a ton of action with it as Atlanta’s minor league teams were in full action. Let’s get into it.
They needed extra innings to do it, but Gwinnett came away with a win on Friday, beating Jacksonville 5-4.
The Stripers bounced back from a less-than-stellar start from Austin Gomber, who tossed 2.2 innings while giving up three runs on four hits.
Trailing 1-0, Gwinnett tied things up in the top of the third as Jim Jarvis scored as Luke Williams reached via error to make it a 1-1 game. The Stripers took their first lead of the game in the top of the sixth. First, Williams scored on a Brett Wisely single to cut the deficit to 3-2 before Brewer Hicklen and DaShawn Kiersey Jr. scored on an Aaron Schunk double to give the Stripers a 4-3 lead.
Jacksonville tied things up in the bottom of the eighth and the Stripers failed to plate another run in regulation.
In the top of the 10th, Gwinnett benefitted from some misfortune on the part of Jacksonville to take a lead.
Luke Williams started the inning at second base before advancing to third on a wild pitch. After a Wisely walk, Williams scampered home on an incredibly wild pitch to give Gwinnett a 5-4 lead.
Rolddy Munoz came on in relief and despite a passed ball, he proceeded to sit down Jacksonville in order to get the save and preserve the win for the Stripers.
(28-30) Columbus Clingstones 6, (30-31) Pensacola Blue Wahoos 3
Columbus came out on the positive side of this one, beating Pensacola by three runs to inch closer to .500.
Lucas Braun got the start for the Clingstones on Friday and he put up a respectable outing as he went six innings, giving up two runs on five hits. He also issued a pair of walks and struck out four as well. It’s Braun’s second straight start of at least six innings pitched and two or less runs given up.
Braun got plenty of help at the plate as the Clingstones scored six runs on 11 hits on the night.
Columbus got the scoring started in this one as the Clingstones plated two runs in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Drew Compton and Tyler Tolve laced back-to-back singles before Keshawn Ogans singled home Compton for the first run of the game. Tolve proceeded to score on a Clohisy single to extend the lead to 2-0.
Will Verdung and Patrick Clohisy led the offensive effort as both guys tallied the only two extra base hits for Columbus — a double apiece. Verdung scored two of the Clingstones’ runs, while Clohisy registered two hits and two walks to his credit.
Briggs McKenzie’s first start at high-A might not have gone according to plan, but it wasn’t necessarily the lefthanders fault.
Across 1.2 innings pitched, McKenzie gave up four runs, only one of which was earned, while striking out two in the process.
McKenzie gave up a soft single in the second inning that was originally called an out, but was overturned despite no official challenge being conducted. He then gave up a pair of bunt singles and his defense committed an error behind him as Bowling Green tallied four runs in the frame. While it wasn’t great, it could have been much worse and it was good to see McKenzie’s composure through the inning.
At the plate, things got off to a scary start as Tate Southisene was hit in the helmet by a pitch. While it could have been much worse, Southisene stayed in the game and was thankfully okay.
Overall it wasn’t the strongest offensive performance for Rome as the Emperors failed to register an extra base hit in this one.
The first run of the game for Rome came in the top of the second as Mason Guerra singled home Isaiah Drake and Owen Carey to make it a 2-0 game. Then, in what was a weird set of circumstances, Colin Burgess reached on an error as the Bowling Green third baseman airmailed a throw to second base, which allowed Guerra to score all the way from first to extend the lead to 3-0.
Trailing 5-3, the Emperors actually tied things up in the top of the seventh thanks to an RBI-single off the bat of Eric Hartman and a run-scoring forceout from Owen Carey.
However, the Hot Rods tagged reliever Colin Daniel for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take an 8-5 lead, which held as the final.
(32-29) Augusta GreenJackets 13, (23-36) Myrtle Beach Pelicans 3
Conor Essenburg, CF: 2-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB
Luis Guanipa, DH: 2-5, 2B, 4 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB
Juan Mateo, 2B: 3-5, RBI, R, BB
Alex Lodise, SS: 1-5, 2B, RBI, R
Cooper McMurray, 1B: 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Landon Beidelschies, SP: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 7 BB, 3 K
The Augusta offense showed up and showed out Friday as the GreenJackets tallied 13 runs on 15 hits to move to three games over .500 on the season.
Conor Essenburg led the charge with a pair of homers and four total RBI on the night to pace the offense. Essenburg also scored four runs while walking three times as well. Essenburg has been as good as advertised to begin his pro career, as he has homered five times in 97 at-bats while posting an OPS of .941.
— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) June 13, 2026
Luis Guanipa also had a very solid day as the designated hitter went 2-5 with a double and four RBI. The biggest swing on the night for Guanipa came in the top of the second as he took a fastball above the zone and launched it into the left centerfield gap to clear the loaded bases to give Augusta a 7-2 lead. With his performance on Friday, Guanipa raised his season OPS to .871.
Leading 10-3, Augusta managed to tack on three more runs in their final at-bat. Austin Machado scored on a sacrifice fly from Alex Lodise, while Cody Miller scored on a Guanipa single — giving him his fourth RBI on the night. The final GreenJackets run came as Essenburg scored on an RBI-double from Cooper McMurray — who tallied two doubles on the night.
The one downside, if you could consider it that, is that Landon Beidelscheies — who tossed 4.1 innings of two-run ball — walked a staggering seven batters in the process.
This one got suspended in the bottom of the fifth inning due to rain with the FCL Braves trailing the FCL Rays 6-2.
Wuilinyer Tovar got the start on the mound and control issues continue to plague the 18-year-old as he issued four walks in 3.1 innings pitched. On the season, Tovar has walked 10 batters in 17 innings , but he has also struck out 13 over that same stretch.
At the plate, Mario Baez led the charge with a pair of RBI on the day, while Arlenn Manzanillo went 2-2 and scored both runs Baez drove in.
Despite putting up seven runs on 12 hits Friday, the DSL Braves will have to continue their search for a second win of the season.
Ezequiel Martinez got the start on the bump and limited the damage to two earned runs across 3.1 innings of work.
Sherrintley Da Costa Gomez continues to impress as the launched his second homer of the season on Friday while driving in three runs and going 3-4 at the plate. Through eight games, Da Costa Gomez is batting .364 with an OPS of 1.290 to go along with it.
Yassel Pena and Starlyn De La Cruz also had solid nights at the plate as well. Pena homered and went 2-3, while De La Cruz went 1-4 with two runs scored and a walk to his credit.
I hate this guy, but will give credit where due. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s another Saturday morning, which means we’re about to record a Meet at the Mitt episode. Look for it later in the day. We’ll be without the baritone of one Anders Jorstad, which is why I’m covering links. He enters Day 7 of his honeymoon, a career high for the young righty.
The Mariners face off against the Nats this afternoon in pefect baseball weather for a change. First pitch is at 1:05 PDT on Mariners TV and 710 KIRO.
In Mariners news . . .
Randy Arozarena left last night’s game early with a hamstring strain that might have been more of a spasm or a cramp, according to Dan Wilson. He’s day-to-day.
The good news from the game was Bryce Miller reaching a new career high in innings pitched with 8.
Down on the farm, Kade Anderson did a stand up with Arkansas’ KATV.
Around the league . . .
Jacob Misiorowski pitched what Brew Crew Ball is calling the best start in franchise history: a 15-strikeout Maddux.
Sandy Alcantara became the fifth active Dominican-born starter to reach 1,000 career strikeouts.
Spencer Strider left last night’s game early. His velo had been down one and a half ticks.
Jonathan Mayo did another mock draft. He sent Bo Lawrence to the M’s.
On May 27, 1941, FDR issued a radio address to outline Hitler’s plan to conquer the world and “strangle the United States.” The Braves-Giants game was paused after the seventh inning so the speech could be aired over the PA system at the Polo Grounds. Read all about the historical oddity from Harrison Golden.
Zach’s Picks
Who else is disappointed with Olivia Rodrigo’s new album released yesterday? “Drop Dead” was such a promising lead single.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Oswald Peraza #2 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates with teammate Mike Trout #27 after scoring a run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 12, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees did not have their A-game in their opener against the Blue Jays, falling behind 5-0 before ultimately losing 8-5 and suffering another potential blow to their outfield with Trent Grisham leaving the game early. While they wait for news on Grisham’s hamstring and whether he’ll need an IL stint, the rest of the league had a chance to capitalize on their loss, beginning with the most significant in their direct competition in Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay Rays (40-26) 3, Los Angeles Angels (28-42) 4
Thankfully, the Rays could not take advantage of the chance to retake sole possession of the AL East. They fell behind early to the lowly Angels, and despite making it a close contest late they couldn’t get over the hump and complete the comeback.
The Rays had a chance to start the game off on a better note, working the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the first, but Ben Williamson’s hard-hit liner went right in the direction of Mike Trout’s glove for the final out. The Angels made them pay for not cashing in, as Trey Mancini’s two-run triple with two outs put them on the board first.
Los Angeles went back to the well in the third inning, getting a leadoff double from old friend Oswald Peraza to kick things off. After a pair of outs moved him up a base but threatened to strand him, Nick Madrigal bounced a single to the right side that barely managed to be contained by the second baseman, but allowed Peraza to score from third. Madrigal then stole second and scored on a Logan O’Hoppe single to make it 4-0.
The Rays didn’t go down lightly, however. After staying quiet for the next few innings against Sam Aldegheri, they managed to start a rally in the fifth when Chandler Simpson led off with a walk. Nick Fortes bounced a ball to shortstop, but an error by Zach Neto kept everyone on base and then a Taylor Walls single loaded the bases with no outs. Jonathan Aranda made it count, singling to left to score two runs, but a double play would end the threat before they could get any more.
The score remained at 4-2 until the ninth inning, when the Rays made one last push. A single and walk put two on with two out, and Aranda again came up with the clutch hit to push one more across. With the tying and go-ahead run aboard, Junior Caminero worked a walk to keep it alive, but pinch-hitter Cedric Mullins struck out to end it.
Other Games
Cleveland Guardians (38-33) 3, Detroit Tigers (29-41) 2: Jack Flaherty has had a rough season, pitching to a 5.35 ERA, and it didn’t get any better after he had to leave this game just three innings in with a leg injury. He gave up two runs on a Brayan Rocchio triple in the second inning, and that would be enough to tag him with the loss as Tanner Bibee spun seven strong innings on the other side. Bibee did get tagged for a couple of solo shots, but the eventual winning run came in the sixth when Angel Martínez hit a one-out double and Steven Kwan scored him on an RBI single.
Seattle Mariners (37-34) 10, Washington Nationals (35-35) 2: The Mariners made this a laugher real quick, scoring five runs in the second inning with a two-run Dominic Canzone triple and a Colt Emerson two-run blast doing the majority of the damage. James Wood got one back for the Nationals with a solo blast in the fourth, but Seattle answered right back with three more in the fifth to make sure that Washington stayed buried. Canzone and Josh Naylor both hit bombs to round out Seattle’s scoring, making it an easy night for Bryce Miller who went eight innings in a winning effort.
Welcome to Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World Series, the new/old favorite from Chris McShane and Brian Salvatore.
Another strange week of Mets’ baseball is in the books. The Mets looked good against the Padres and decidedly not so agains the Cardinals. The starting rotation is a real question mark still, and with the upcoming schedule, things are looking rough for the Mets going forward.
Chris’s Music Picks:
Pink Floyd – Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Brian’s Music Picks:
Sunny Day Real Estate – LP2
You can listen or subscribe to all of our wonderful Home Run Applesauce podcasts through Apple Podcasts, where we encourage you to leave a review if you enjoy the show. It really helps! And you can find us on the Stitcher app, Spotify, or listen wherever you get podcasts.
If you’ve got questions that you’d like us to discuss on the air, email the show at brian@homerunapplesauce.com.
Visit our Patreon for bonus episodes and to help directly support the podcasters whose work you’ve enjoyed for years.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 31: Michael Wacha #52 of the Kansas City Royals looks on against the Texas Rangersat Globe Life Field on May 31, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“He will not make his start on Sunday,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “His forearm feels good (but) his shoulder didn’t respond as well to the previous start. So he is going to see a doctor sometime this weekend, and we’ll know more at that point.”
It was a steep decline from his minor-league numbers. The Royals knew Caglianone would be a work in progress. It just took him time to realize it for himself.
“I took the offseason to really get the mental right,” Caglianone said. “Wasn’t in the best headspace, but, you know, speaking with some psychs and stuff, (I was) finding new pathways to compartmentalize some things. Figuring where to grow, what are the strengths and all that type of stuff played a big role in it.”
Jac Caglianone is hotter than he’s ever been in his big league career. I actually thought it was hotter than any hitter the Royals have had since Witt in 2024 went on that insane run, but there are two who were hotter last year, surprisingly. He had four hits on Wednesday and then two more yesterday. Even with a shoulder issue baked in that caused him to miss a game, Caglianone is now hitting .452/.531/.714 since the start of the last road trip. That 12-game stretch (that does include one at bat before he left in Minneapolis) with a 1.245 OPS is literally one point higher than Witt’s best stretch this season.
Some others who have had a 1.200 OPS or higher in a 12-game stretch with at least 40 plate appearances recently include Mike Yastrzemski last year, and both Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez had stretches with a higher OPS than Caglianone’s right now at some point last year. Actually, one of Yastrzemski’s was a bit higher, too. I know that sounds like I might be downplaying Caglianone, but I’m expressing legitimate surprise that the Royals have had 12-game stretches this hot this recently. Either way, it’s an incredible development that he just continues to hit.
If there’s one thing both Wacha and Lugo have brought to the Royals’ rotation over the past three seasons, it’s consistency. Wacha (4-4, 3.44 ERA) and Lugo (2-4, 3.91 ERA) have been two of the American League’s best starters in recent years, and with both having one more year of club control after this season, they could be intriguing targets for teams looking for rotation help for this season and next.
Kansas City‘s moves the past few seasons have not worked out the way the team had hoped. But starting pitching has been an area of strength for the Royals lately. Moving one or both of their better arms could be the key to injecting some much-needed life into both the farm system and the big-league roster, while knowing the rotation has quality arms such as Cole Ragans and Noah Cameron to build around in the future.
The Columbus Clippers continue their struggles against the Indianapolis Indians, falling 1 to 6 in their third straight loss. Logan T. Allen got the start for Columbus, throwing only 5.0 innings. He allowed 6R/5ER on 6 hits and a walk. In 90 pitches, he threw 59 strikes and struck out 5 batters. All runs for Indianapolis came in the bottom of the fifth inning with a passed ball on strikeout accounting for the unearned. Logan fell to 2-2 on the season. Tommy Mace, Franco Aleman, and Jack Leftwich all threw scoreless innings in their appearances out of the bullpen.
Columbus’ sole run came in the top of the seventh. Angel Genao hit a two-out single followed by a RBI triple from Kody Huff.
The Clippers only recorded 5 hits and 2 walks for the entire game. Cooper Ingle went 2-for-4, George Valera went 1-for-4, Angel Genao went 1-for-4, and Kody Huff went 1-for-3.
Rafe Schlesinger, after being promoted early Friday, made his AA debut. He had a trial by fire with only 4.0 innings pitched. Schlesinger gave up 6R/4ER on 8 hits and struck out 4. A throwing error in the bottom of the third and wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth accounted for the two unearned runs. Sean Matson fell to 0-2 on the season, earning the loss in his 1.2 innings of work. Matson gave up 4 additional runs on 3 hits and 1 walk, he struck out 3 batters. Reid Johnston was the only Akron pitcher to have a scoreless outing in his 1.1 innings of work. Johnston struck out 2. Zane Morehouse pitched the final frame for Akron, sealing their fate by allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks.
Akron’s offense scored 8 runs on 14 hits with 3 errors. Alfonsin Rosario continues to make a splash for the RubberDucks going 2-for-4 with 2 HR and 3 RBI.
The Lake County Captains continued the losing skid for Cleveland minor league teams with a 2-run loss to the Whitecaps. Braylon Doughty gave up 2R/0ER in 5.0 innings of work. He allowed 3 baserunners on 2 hits and 1 walk and struck out 5 batters. Jogly García went 1.2 innings, giving up 4R/ER on 2 hits and 2 walks and struck out 2. Izaak Martinez fell to 2-3 on the season with this loss and blown save. He went 2.1 innings allowing 2R/1ER on 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out a batter. In the top of the third, back to back fielding errors accounted for the two unearned runs for Doughty. In the top of the ninth another throwing error accounted for the unearned run for Martinez. Welbyn Francisca committed three errors at short, two of which contributed to unearned runs. First baseman Kevin Rivas also committed an error for an unearned run in the third.
The Caps kept the game close with a strong first half of the game. In the bottom of the first, Aaron Walton reached on a one-out single for Bennett Thompson to hit a two-out, two-run home run to left.
In the bottom of the second Jeffrey Mercedes singled on a liner to right. Esteban González hit a two-run home run to center field to give the Caps a 4-0 lead.
The Captains’ final run came in the bottom of the fifth. Bennett Thompson drew a lead off walk then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jeffrey Mercedes hit a single to right, scoring Thompson from second base to give LC a 4-run lead. Unfortunately the Captains couldn’t keep the Whitecaps at bay, tying the game in the seventh and giving up the lead in the top of the ninth.
Hill City Howlers (28-32) – Single A
Suspended
The Hill City Howlers starter Jacob Zibin pitched an inning of work before the game was suspended in the bottom of the first. The game will resume today at 3:30PM.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 09: (L-R) Top NHL Draft Prospects Carson Carels, Caleb Malhotra, Keaton Verhoeff, Alberts Smits and Chase Reid pose together for a portrait during the NHL Draft Top Prospects Media Availability prior to Game Four of the Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
As we continue diving into draft prospects here at AATJ, we have exclusively covered forwards projected in the top 15, mostly focusing on players that should likely/potentially be available at 12. It shouldn’t be a secret why we have been focusing on forwards as our prospect cupboard up front is is about as barren as XGMTF’s head. However, Best Player available should ALWAYS be the mantra during the draft and 2026 has several defenseman projected to go early in the draft. So, today I am going to take a look at the left shot guys who couldn’t be more different.
Albert Smits
Smits has had one of the more remarkable paths to get here – and is projected to be the highest drafted Latvian player in NHL history assuming he goes before 14 (Zemgus Girgensons). He is a big boy at 6’3” 209lbs and plays every inch of that size. His journey started when he left Latvia in 2021 at age 13 (by himself) to play in Finland and has steadily progressed eventually playing in the pro league this past season. Where he really started getting recognition was at the WJC and more recently the Olympics this past February where he more than held his own against the best in the world.
Based on being a big, strong, 2-way defenseman from a “non-traditional” country, the most immediate comparable I’ve seen is Moritz Seider. So let’s take a look at some video to see if that holds up:
I honestly can see the comp – he has great 4-way mobility, good instincts and poise with the puck, and makes strong offensive reads. Defensively, his gaps are near perfect and he showed a good stick and closing speed. He’s also not afraid to get physical. In the shift by shift every puck touch was the correct decision. He joins the rush when he should and has a good sense of where he is in the zone and doesn’t get caught. His offense isn’t overly dynamic and may be more muted at the NHL level which is why he is ranked in the 5-9 range on most lists, but he is pro ready and there is not a lot to dislike about his game.
Carson Carels
Carels is a cattle farm kid from Cypress River, Manitoba (pop. 175) – just over the border from North Dakota and west of Winnipeg. He stands 6’2” 198 lbs and profiles as smooth skating transition monster with good physicality and a bit of a mean streak. He was drafted by and joined the Prince George Cougars of the WHL and has represented Canada at every national tournament for which he has been eligible. He had a massive breakout this past season putting up big numbers while wearing an ‘A’ for Prince George and is committed to North Dakota next season.
Carels is firmly in the top 10 draft projections across the board, projected as high as 3rd. Frankly the only thing putting some of the RHD ahead of him is just that, handedness. He is, in my opinion, the best defenseman in this draft class, does everything well and projects as a Jake Sanderson jack of all trades with good offense. Let’s take a look at the videotape:
That comp holds up, although I definitely see him needing a little more polish in his defensive game. He does have good gaps and a good stick and closed well in transition, but feel like that can improve a touch. That being said, I’m big believer in drafting for offense and skating and he has both in spades – which is similar to Sanderson’s profile in his draft year. Get used to this kid there is a very strong possibility he winds up across the river.
Xavier Villeneuve
Villeneuve has largely crept up rankings for two reasons: 1) Lane Hutson’s success and 2) a monster performance at the U18 WJC. He is 5’11” 162 lbs and profiles very similar to Hutson, and frankly Quinn Hughes, as a dynamic undersized, offensive defenseman. In a copycat league, teams and scouts now have their radars on high alert for guys like this so they don’t slip through the cracks again. He is committed to BU net season which will be eye opening if he can elevate at the next level. He tops out at as high as #5, but most lists have him mid-teens to low 20s.
Villeneuve isn’t just a WJC flash in the pan though, for 2 years he has put up PPG numbers in the QMJHL, so let’s dive into some video and see if this kid has got it:
OK so his highlight reel is disgusting, he has fantastic high-zone awareness and ability, creates space and spins off pressure like a certain brother we all know. He also flashed some great passing and elite puck skills, his edgework and skating are elite in his highlights. I can see the Hutson, Quinn (insert undersized great skating Dman here) comps, but like I was with Dageneis, I am skeptical of the QMJHL and how top prospects look there.
So, let’s look at a whole game:
He is definitely an offensive wizard, and basically created a chance every shift for himself or teammates. I love his poise in the zone with the puck. He wasn’t overtly physical but I was mildly surprised that he didn’t shy away from contact, he even laid a few cross checks – one in front of the net, one as the 3rd guy into a puck battle in the corner. His Defensive zone positioning and puck decisions could use some work, it wasn’t egregious, but he did drift a few times puck watching, leaving a back door guy. He also had a few bad clearing attempts that turned into turnovers, and a few times got caught heading up ice leaving a guy behind him.
My Thoughts
If I had to rank these guys, I would have Carels, Smits, and Villeneuve in that order as do most draft rankings. Turns out scouts know things. I spent the most time on Villeneuve because one really have to believe in someone of his stature to take a 1st round flier on him. I was also an undersized defenseman and I’m glad to see the short guy club’s lobbying has finally started paying dividends.
Smits seems the most pro ready as of this writing, simply since his defensive game is the most sound, but I see Carels as the long term best of the group. Unless something crazy happens I’d have to imagine Carels and Smits will be long gone by the time we get to 12. Also, as I mentioned in the opening the defense room seems full at the moment but you never know what it may look like in 2-3 years. Unfortunately, I just don’t think the Devils are in a position to take a risk on a 2-3 year project this draft.
What do you think gang, any interest in any of these guys? Anyone of them stand out? Do you agree with how I have them ranked? Let me know in the comments!
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 19: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a three point basket against the New York Knicks during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This is shaping up to be a busy summer in the NBA with the inevitable Giannis Antetokounmpo trade likely coming after the Finals wrap up. That could be the first domino in what is a transaction-heavy offseason. It remains to be seen what role the Cleveland Cavaliers will play in that busy summer.
The Cavs don’t have many assets they could send out to help boost them into the championship-level tier. One of the players they could dangle in trades is 24-year-old Evan Mobley.
The front office has indicated that Mobley is not on the trade block. While that may be true for the time being, we know that things can change quickly in the NBA.
Earlier this week, we asked Cavs’ fans whether or not they’d be open to trading Mobley for a short-term upgrade. Players like Giannis, Jaylen Brown, and Jaylen Williams were given as examples of players Mobley could be traded for.
According to those surveyed, most would prefer to stick with Mobley.
This is an understandable position to take. Mobley has proven to be an All-NBA player and Defensive Player of the Year, while still having the potential to develop further. There’s a world where Mobley evolves into a top 10-15 player.
At the same time, the Cavs’ window to win a championship is narrow after trading Darius Garland for James Harden. There’s a two to three-year time frame that you could realistically hope to compete. Moving Mobley for someone who gives them a better chance to win now isn’t the craziest idea.
What can we say about Jalen Brunson that hasn’t already been said about Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson?
Absolutely unstoppable.
Brunson’s late-game heroics have the New York Knicks knocking on the door of their first NBA title since 1973 when they visit the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Find out more in my best NBA picks for Saturday, June 13.
Jalen Brunson prop pick for Game 5
Jalen Brunson best bet: Under 5.5 assists (+110 at bet365)
Jalen Brunson is coming off his best passing performance of the NBA Finals, dishing out seven assists on a potential 15 dimes in the New York Knicks' ridiculous Game 4 comeback.
This is a notable swing in passing production, with Brunson registering just nine potential assists in each of the first three games of the series and finishing with totals of two, six, and five helpers versus the San Antonio Spurs.
Those seven assists in Game 4 marked the first time in the past six postseason games that Brunson finished Over his assists total. It also has this prop market skewing toward six dimes, with Over 5.5 carrying a hefty ask and some books up to 6.5 O/U.
This sudden shift in sharing the basketball wasn’t really Brunson’s doing but was more a result of the Knicks having to scrap their initial offensive schemes for Game 4, as well as suddenly hot shooting from New York in the second half.
Coach Mike Brown was aiming to run the ball through center Karl-Anthony Towns and have Brunson play off-ball more in Game 4 to create space for his shots, but KAT got whistled for two quick fouls in the opening minute.
That had Brunson back as the primary ball handler for a good chunk of time. His 115 touches were a series high after posting 95, 95, and 109 touches in the opening three contests.
Game 5 has Brown going back to his game plan of running Towns as a facilitator at the high post and involving Brunson in screen action away from the ball. That prevents his dribble-heavy slop from Game 3’s loss and exposes the switching issues that plagued the Spurs during the Knicks’ rally on Wednesday.
Brunson's early projections sit above six assists for Saturday, which is nothing new. His projections have repeatedly landed north of this number during the playoffs, yet the Under on assists is 6-2 in his last eight postseason showings.
The prop markets are overcorrecting to a unique game scenario in Game 4. I feel confident that Brunson will be focused on firing up shots and won’t give up the ball with the game on the line.
You can find the Under 5.5 assists paying out as big as +118 or go low on the taller total at Under 6.5 (-160).
Jalen Brunson same-game parlay
Brunson’s seven assists in Game 4 had a lot to do with Towns’ foul trouble. New York wants to take the ball out of his hands and create space for his shots as a cutter.
That scheme will lead to more 3-point looks, with Brunson bagging three triples in each of the past two games, and the game script saying the Knicks are fighting from behind.
Brunson has been big on the boards, with five rebounds in each of his last three outings while putting himself in place for an average of 10.0 rebounding chances in those games.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!
Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
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.
LAD vs 
CHW
SD vs 
BAL
ARI vs 
CIN
