Jackson Blake has emerged as one of Carolina's most important offensive weapons this postseason, climbing the Conn Smythe odds board as the Hurricanes prepare for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
With Carolina opening the series against Vegas tonight, my Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes predictions are backing Blake to stay hot and continue his impressive playoff run.
Let's dive into the matchup with my NHL picks for Tuesday, June 2.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight!
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1 prediction today
Who will win Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1?
Carolina: The Hurricanes were exceptional on home ice in the regular season, and that has carried forward in the playoffs. They are 6-1 with a +9 goal differential and have controlled better than 56% of the expected goals — more than 3% higher than any other team.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes best bet: Jackson Blake Over 0.5 points (-135)
The Noah Hanifin - Rasmus Andersson pairing has lost their 5-on-5 minutes on the scoreboard and controlled just 41.20% of the expected goals share, ranking them 16th out of 17 pairings to log 100+ minutes in the playoffs.
John Tortorella is giving them a lot of defensive zone starts, which doesn’t make life easy, but they’re still struggling to limit chances and keep the puck out.
Jackson Blake leads the Carolina Hurricanes in offensive zone start percentage (89.57%), expected goals, and time on ice at 5-on-5. He is the most likely candidate to take advantage. Play to -150.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1 same-game parlay
Taylor Hall is pacing the Hurricanes in points, primary points, and sits tied with Blake for the top spot in high-danger chances.
He is a dual-threat player and has seen the same kind of favorable usage — albeit in less ice time — as Blake. The two play together at 5-on-5 and on a second power play unit that gets plenty of run, giving them a strong correlation.
The Hurricanes have a +67 high-danger chance differential through three rounds, well clear of the +33 differential the Golden Knights possess. They are playing lights out, have home ice, and rust won't be an issue in Game 1 this time around.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes SGP
Jackson Blake Over 0.5 points
Taylor Hall Over 0.5 points
Carolina Hurricanes moneyline
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1 goal scorer pick
Jackson Blake (+250)
Blake leads the Hurricanes in expected goals generated, high-danger chances, and rebound opportunities on home ice in the playoffs. He is all around the net and, as alluded to, he’s seeing favorable usage to create those opportunities.
Carter Hart ranked 66th among 67 eligible goaltenders in high-danger save percentage during the regular season. He struggled to stop shots in tight, and Blake will test him with plenty. Playable to +240.
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes odds for Game 1 today
Moneyline: Golden Knights +130 | Hurricanes -155
Puck Line: Golden Knights +1.5 (-205) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-120) | Under 5.5 (+100)
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes trend
Carolina has won 20 of its last 25 games (+13.50 units, 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 1
Location
Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Date
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Puck drop
8 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Golden Knights vs Hurricanes latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Oklahoma City's James Tibbs III is introduced before a minor league baseball game between the Oklahoma City Comets and the Albuquerque Isotopes at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 27, 2026. | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Dodgers minor league affiliates combined for nine home runs on Saturday.
Player of the day
James Tibbs III is running roughshod through Sugar Land, Texas this week. He hit a three-run home run and delivered an RBI single for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday night, giving him five home runs and 15 RBI in five games so far during this series.
â Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) May 30, 2026
On the season, Tibbs is hitting .317/.419/.644 and leads the Pacific Coast League with 16 home runs, 50 runs batted in, 34 extra-base hits, and 134 total bases.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Home runs ruled the day in the Cometsâ win over the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros).
In addition to Tibbs, Seby Zavala also hit a three-run home run and Jack Suwinski hit a solo shot.
Charlie Barnes started and struck out four with no walks in his five innings, and allowed one run for the win. Five innings matched his longest outing of the season, done four times with Iowa before getting claimed off waivers from the Cubs on May 9.
Double-A Tulsa
Shortstop Elijah Hainline, who had already walked three times on Saturday, hit the game-winning grand slam to cap a seven-run eighth inning in the Drillersâ comeback win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals).
Josue De Paula had three hits, including two doubles, and scored three times in the win for Tulsa. Zyhir Hope and Griffin Lockwood-Powell each doubled, singled, and drove in two runs.
Patrick Copen pitched into the seventh, when he allowed his fourth run of the game and left trailing after his 6 1/3 innings, three walks, and four strikeouts.
High-A Great Lakes
The Loons only managed to score two runs, wasting a combined 14 strikeouts and only one walk by the pitching staff in a road loss to the Dayton Dragons (Reds).
Brooks Auger stretched out for his longest start since returning from the injured list in late April, going five innings with two runs allowed and a season-high seven strikeouts. Jacob Frost, the 2025 10th-round pick, piggybacked with Auger for the fifth time in the last five-plus weeks, and struck out seven of his own in three innings. The winning run for Dayton came on a two-out triple in the eighth inning and a wild pitch from Frost.
Class-A Ontario
The Tower Buzzers joined the power party with five home runs of their own to rout the Visalia Oaks (D-backs). Ontario scored six runs in the fourth inning, three in the fifth, and five more in the sixth.
Ching-Hsien Ko didnât homer, but he did reach base five times with two singles, a double, and three walks, and scored three times. Catcher Anson Aroz reached base four times, including a three-run home run, and scored three times. Jaron Elkins homered and stole a base, part of his two-hit, two-RBI, and two-run evening.
Arizona Complex League
Alek Thomas played all seven innings in center field his second game since getting acquired by the Dodgers on May 12, and was hitless in four at-bats with a strikeout and a run scored against the ACL Guardians in Goodyear. Thomas also played on Thursday, and had a hit in his three at-bats plus a walk against the ACL Brewers at Camelback Ranch.
OKLAHOMA CITY â Julian Champagnie is headed home to play in the NBA Finals in New York City â and it's hard for him to get his head around it.
A kid born in Brooklyn who played his high school ball at Bishop Loughlin Memorial in the city, who honed his style and found toughness on playgrounds around the city, then went to college at St. John's, is a key reason the San Antonio Spurs are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
"That's every kid's dream. That's every kid's dream," Champagnie said, shaking his head in disbelief when asked about playing in the Finals at Madison Square Garden. "I remember my first time actually playing in the Garden. I was at St. John's, and I was just like in awe of just how much greatness has gone through there, and what that means for a kid from the city. Being that now we got to go play against [the Knicks] for a championship, that's personal."
San Antonio gets that opportunity in part because Champagnie stepped up when his team needed him. In Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, Champagnie knocked down six 3-pointers â the only other players to hit six 3-pointers in a conference finals are the Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson â and finished with 20 points.
Julian Champagnie (20 PTS, 6-10 3PM) played a HUGE part in the @spurs' Game 7 win tonight!
He joins Klay Thompson (2016) and Stephen Curry (2x) as the only players in NBA history to knock down 6+ 3PM in a Conference Finals Game 7 pic.twitter.com/zoWkyAmR3p
"Julian's amazing. He deserves everything that he gets," Victor Wembanyama said. "And he's the type of guy that makes you want to die for him on the court, because he gives so much effort, and he's got such an amazing story."
Champagnieâs journey
That story sounds like a fairy tale now, but Champagnie's journey to get here was anything but.
Three years ago, Champagnie wondered if he was even going to get another chance in the NBA.
On Feb. 14, 2023, the Philadelphia 76ers waived Champagnie from his two-way NBA contract. Why? The 76ers never told him. However, his exit created a two-way contract spot for Mac McClung, who not-so-coincidentally was about to represent the 76ers in the All-Star Saturday Night Dunk Contest.
"Back then, being what, like 22 I think I was [21, actually], I thought it was over. I ain't gonna lie to you," Champagnie said. "I was always told how small the window is to kind of push and get your foot in the league and stay there and make a career for yourself. So getting opportunity only in the G League, and then getting waived with no warning, no nothing, explanation or anything. It was tough. It was tough for a 22-year-old kid who was just thinking I was gonna chase my dreams and telling myself, 'You could do this.'
"Obviously, I had no clue where I was gonna end up. My agent told me, like, it could be anywhere. Obviously ended up being in San Antonio. I put my head down and said, 'Make it work.' Like whatever they give you, make it work, whatever they need you to do, make it work. And just find, find that spot."
Finding that spot meant becoming a much better defender.
When Champagnie got to San Antonio, it was Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich himself who sat him down and told him in language we cannot repeat here that his defense needed to get better if he wanted to play.
"In short, and TV-friendly [language], he told me that I have a niche, which is being able to shoot, but it's gonna be useless if I can't play defense," Champagnie told NBC Sports back before the playoffs started. "So that was kind of the message, he pushed to me and told me to play harder, put more effort into that end of the floor. Be more physical and be more nasty. That was the word he used, nasty."
There was no instant success â Champagnie wasn't sure this stop would work out any better than the last one.
"Absolutely not," Champagnie laughed. "Man, when I first got here, I had no clue. I was going through a bunch of workouts, and I'm like, 'Man, I don't know if I'm gonna be able to do this.' Like, this is a whole different step from collegeâŠ
"I took it personal. I said, 'All right, well, if I want to play, I got a guard.' That's what Pop told me. So that's kind of how I took it, but I didn't think that it would pay off, honestly. Truly, at first, I was like, I don't know."
But Champagnie got better and better on the defensive end, to the point where he is now a plus NBA defender. He found his niche.
"I feel like the best thing about me, I try to just fit in where I can, and I think that's what I did when I got here, and it's been treating me good so far," Champagnie said from the podium after Game 7. "I can't complain about it, you know. I love my teammates, love the coaching staff, love everybody at the organization. It's a great place to be â there's no better place that I could be, honestly and truly."
Going home
He may love San Antonio, but Champagnie is excited to go home and play in a building he reveres, in front of the family he loves.
"I get to play in front of a lot of my family," Champagnie said. "My family hasn't come to no games yet, I've been keeping it strictly basketball right now. And when the Knicks made the championship, I tell them, 'Well, if we get this done, you guys can come to everything if you want to.'...
"It's up the block. I passed by there so many times, I played in there so many times, so being able to go back there and compete for a championship, there's just no better feeling."
Well, the one better feeling might be winning that championship â and he's now a starter and a critical part of a team that could do just that.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: Tobias Myers #32 of the New York Mets walks off the mound after pitching during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field on May 25, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mets are hopeful Jorge Polanco, who has been sidelined with Achilles bursitis, will return next weekend in San Diego.
The Mets honored late longtime team photographer Marc Levine with a Mets Hall of Fame Achievement Award.
Pitching prospect Channing Austin has been making some waves in the Metsâ system this season.
If Mark Vientos and Brett Baty donât help the Mets climb out of this hole they are in by July, the Mets may want to consider trading one of them at the deadline, writes Will Sammon of The Athletic.
The Marcus Semien for Brandon Nimmo trade was one of the best trades in baseball last offseasonâŠfor the Rangers, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Around the National League East
The Nationals came roaring back with a six-run seventh inning to beat the Padres 9-4, despite Fernando Tatis Jr.âs first home run of 2026.
The Phillies had a thrilling come from behind victory as well, as Edmundo Sosaâs go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth off Tanner Scott lifted Philadelphia to a 4-3 win over the Dodgers.
The Phillies designated former Met Zach Pop for assignment to make room on their roster for Max Lazar, who they activated from the 60-day IL and sent to Triple-A.
Itâs been over two years since Brandon Marsh played with Shohei Ohtani on the Angels and they were teammates for less than two seasons, but Marsh still gets asked about it.
Ronald Acuña Jr. blasted two home runs in the Bravesâ 5-2 victory over the Reds.
Angels reliever Brent Suter and rehabbing Rays pitchers Steven Wilson and Manuel RodrĂguez took the anthem standoff so seriously at Tropicana Field yesterday that they were all ejected from the game before first pitch. Even the mascots got involved.
In a huge blow to the White Sox, slugger Munetaka Murakami was placed on the injured list with a Grade 2 hamstring strain that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks.
Pete Alonsoâs walk-off hit capped off a five-run ninth inning for the Orioles as they won a 6-5 thriller over the Blue Jays.
MLB.com reviewed seven storylines to watch as the calendar turns to June, including whether early season disappointments like the Mets, Tigers, and Red Sox can turn things around.
Pete Crow-Armstrong may be heating up, as he notched four hits in the Cubsâ 6-1 win over the Cardinals.
The IIHF has announced its Hall of Fame class for 2026. Featured in the eight-person class is former Vancouver Canucks winger Thomas Vanek. The IIHF Hall of Fame is located at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and honours some of the greatest moments in international hockey.
Vanek's time in Vancouver was short but memorable. The Austrian winger played 61 games for the Canucks in 2017-18, during which he recorded 17 goals and 41 points. Close to the trade deadline, Vanek was moved to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Jussi Jokinen and Tyler Motte.
As for the international stage, Vanek is considered the best Austrian player to play in the NHL. He represented his country at multiple World Championships, as well as the 2014 Winter Olympics. During his NHL career, Vanek played in 1029 games while recording 789 points.
Vanek will be joined by Andres AmbĂŒhl, Patrice Bergeron, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Niklas Kronwall and Florence Schelling in the player category of this year's class. The other two inductees are Ralph Krueger and Luc Tardif, who will enter in the builders category. Other IIHF Hall of Fame inductees with connections to Vancouver include Pat Quinn, Pavel Bure and current Canucks Assistant General Manager Cammi Granato.
Feb 20, 2018; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Thomas Vanek (26) skates against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
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TORONTO, ON- APRIL 7 - The Toronto Raptors bench players dance to their seats as the Toronto Raptors play the Miami Heat at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. April 7, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
Although the heartbreaking loss in game 7 was a sad way to end the season, itâs hard to find a Raptors fan that isnât full of hope for next season. Already they outperformed in almost every metric, they clinched the playoffs (a feat that hasnât been achieved since 2022) and phenomenal performances from the younger players on the roster has made everyone wonder what we could be in another year or two.
Some players come into the league and are incredible immediately, but teams are built around the guys who come in and work hard and do their job on the court. You need superstars, but you also need a deep bench that can contribute and win the minutes where they are on the court.
With that in mind, letâs take a look at the bench, their year, and one thing weâd like them to work on over the summer that will take them to the next level as a contributor to this team.
While the numbers arenât overwhelming, itâs undeniable that heâs played a big role on the team this year. Throughout the year, many fans drew comparisons with Kyle Lowry (maybe a tad prematurely, but I like the confidence). His âDawgâ mentality, the effort on both ends of the court, and his willingness to do any job have all raised his stock.
While there werenât clear trends over the course of the season, as a starter, thereâs significant jumps in virtually every stat: 11.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 7.5 apg, 39.6% FG.
His biggest assets are currently his gritty defence, facilitation for everyone else on the court, and (when heâs hot) long range shooting. He is undeniably a passionate and intense player, but thatâs everything that you want in a competitor.
Where he could improve is developing a floater. Heâs done a lot to get big men lobs and easy shots underneath, but at times, he doesnât have the gravity to keep paint protectors on himself when he dives into the paint before distributing. If he can consistently score on push shots and floaters, that should open up more space for rollers and cutters with far less resistance because the defence will have to commit to one or the other.
"EIGHT SECONDS! EIGHT SECONDS!"
Jamal Sheadâs reaction to forcing a late-game 8-second violation in Game 4 vs. Cleveland is EVERYTHING.
Toronto seeks a 3-2 lead tonight at 7:30pm/et on ESPN đ„
Despite being only 6â7â, his strength and athleticism allows him to play much bigger than he is. He spent minutes playing as a center, bringing us some of the most exciting, rim-rocking dunks of the season. It also allowed him to defend centers much larger than him and hold his own. In the playoffs, he brought us exciting, fearless rim protection that will only get better as he ages.
One of the most obvious skills he demonstrated throughout the season was his ability to read rebounds. Averaging almost as many offensive as defensive rebounds per game, he offered Toronto a myriad of second chance opportunities through sheer will. He has the intensity and the mindset to be a difference maker which he has already been doing in his first NBA season.
Offensively, he was able to be a lob threat, operate in screen and roll actions, and later on, developed a midrange game that allowed him to capitalize if defenses slacked off of him.
Heâs already earning well-deserved accolades including the nod to attend the NBA Rising Stars game and received an All-Rookie Second Team selection.
Where he could improve is shooting. Itâs hard to ask someone to be everything, but teams like the Spurs and the Nuggets that are able to run pick and pop actions capitalize on a center that can score from anywhere on the floor. Two thirds of his shots this season came from within a few feet of the basket. If he can extend that, even to the edges of the paint, that can create more options for everyone on the court.
Sometimes people expect a sophomore slump. Some people might even try to frame this season as a slump since across the board, he averaged fewer points, assists, and rebounds than last season. If you look further, youâll see jumps in shooting efficiency. His FG% jumped over 4% to 44.6%, and he shot 40.9% from long range, a 6% increase from the previous season.
With the health of Ingram and more bodies on the court, he touched the ball a lot less. A learning curve that not everyone would master, he struggled early on in October and November, but by April, he was averaging 10/4/2 and shooting 50% from the field in that calendar month.
While the numbers might not be overwhelming, all we should see is the leaps he made throughout the season, his effort and development in getting better and responding to tough games, and the aspect of how his game is developing. He has shown the ability to score from all over the floor, with potential to be a consistent, talented 3-level scorer.
What I would love to see from him this summer is just getting shots up. The only way to build consistency and confidence is to continue to work on the craft, and if he can put April numbers up all season long, he could be one of the most valuable bench players on the team.
This season: 6.0 points || 1.9 rebounds || 0.7 assists
Going from starting every night and playing 30 minutes per game to a single start and 14 minutes per game would be jarring for any player. For Gradey, this has been a tough year. The overall health of the team, new lineups, and early struggles saw him pushed deeper down the bench as the season progressed. Ultimately though, how he responds to this season will be the biggest determiner of his future on the team and in the league.
Weâve seen flashes of his ability as a shooter, but the shadow of Jamison Battle is looming. He wasnât able to do much of what weâd expect and the lack of minutes meant that he wasnât able to work out any of his issues on the court. In the past heâs struggled but a stint in the G-League and some opportunity to just shoot the ball helped him get into rhythm.
Itâs not time to sell stock in him yet though. He belongs in the league. He had his first career double-double this season, which will be a silver lining he will have to focus on.
What he needs to work on this summer is his long range shooting. What earned Battle minutes over him consistently was when Gradey got his chance, he wasnât able to convert. He needs to touch the floor and knock down those floor-spacing shots. His defence could also use some help, which would help him stay on the floor longer to work out some of his shooting yips.
Being behind Lopez and Portis in Milwaukee, he never had the opportunity to show what he was truly capable of in his first two seasons. San Antonio was ushering in the Wemby era, so they didnât have room for him either.
Lucky for Toronto. Mamu has exceeded expectations consistently.
His physicality and strength allowed him to be a presence in the paint at both ends of the court. His long range shooting provided Toronto with some floor-spacing that they donât have with Poeltl. He came out night after night and kept up with some of the best bigs in the league and held his own.
The biggest question is if he will be back. Mamu has a player option next year to the tune of 2.8 million, but it wouldnât be surprising if he opted out in search of more money with the work he put in this year.
The one thing he could work on is decision making. At certain junctures throughout the season, the intensity of a game would lead him to force shots, often through multiple defenders and come up empty. While it didnât always cost them the game, ultimately every possession matters and Iâm sure the Raptors would like to have some of them back. Passing out or developing more of an ability to draw fouls in the paint would all be beneficial for him and (hopefully) Toronto next year.
Those numbers will not jump off the page at you. In fact, saying he logged solid playing minutes in a series-clinching game wouldnât be the conclusion you would draw. And yet, here he is.
He didnât get a ton of opportunities throughout the course of the season, but when he did, his shooting felt more like a guarantee than a question. One of his most thrilling games was a 20 point performance in which he remained perfect from the field (7 for 7) followed up by a 14-point (5 for 5) night in game two of the playoffs.
He definitely earned his place on the team and the opportunity to prove himself further. His long-range shooting can be a crucial piece of the Raptorsâ offence and when he is run off the line, heâs shown a solid mid-range game as well.
Defence should be the focus of his offseason. He committed a fair amount of personal fouls, often by trailing his mark. He would be a target for the other team at times which might send him to the bench if heâs giving up more than heâs getting offensively. Adding more defensive tools to his toolchest could help him stay on the floor to make the big shots when needed.
While thereâs plenty of future potential, Mogbo, Hepburn, and Martin are probably not ready yet. Theyâve all shown flashes, but the jump to the NBA is a challenging one, and these guys have their work cut out for them. Iâd imagine any and all of them will probably spend next year working on their game in the G-league.
Temple has been the resident veteran and while he doesnât log many minutes, Toronto has kept him around for a reason. A steadying voice with encouragement and wisdom. Itâs unclear if heâll be back next year or that will fall to a guy like Ingram, but his presence has been an asset. Heâs always on the bench pointing and coaching everyone on how to grow.
Trayce Jackson-Davis was underwhelming. I would be surprised if Toronto picks up the option as he gradually fell out of the lineup altogether outside of garbage time.
Lawson has had probably the best season out of the deep bench, earning his way to a standard NBA contract. While the future is uncertain, the growth he has shown over the course of the season and his ability to pick himself back up after being passed over by multiple teams shows his unwavering effort. He keeps showing up, doing what he needs to do, and hoping it will continue to earn him a spot on the roster. Obviously Toronto has faith in him, or he wouldnât be on the court in an elimination game. Hopefully heâs back next year.
While we have a couple months, free agency, the draft, summer league, and a whole bunch of possible changes, what Toronto is building is encouraging. There is a lot of young talent with a lot of heart on this team that has what it takes to contribute on this team in the coming years. Hopefully a couple months of work can help bring them to the next level.
May 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy (17) in the dugout before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Red Sox arenât actually worse in the first month of the Chad Tracy eraâŠbut they feel worse.
With this early milestone just passed, itâs fair to ask what has changed. If things had actually changed, this would be a really fun exercise. But, as I look around, a fair answer isâŠnot much? There have been some cosmetic differences, sure, like Mickey Gasper and Nick Sogard being called up from Triple A. Trevor Storyâs hernia forced a decision at shortstop, with Marcelo Mayer eventually slotting into the starter role. If not for Storyâs IL stint, thatâs a change which I suspect would not otherwise have been made right now. (For the record, Iâm in favor of it.)
But the anemic offense hasnât changed. Neither has the winning percentage, at least not by much. Nor the Sox place in the standings, either.
The one place I see a clear difference is in the fan support. The Sox have lost us in 2026. I say this as a lifer, and with genuine regret.
At the end of April, surprising as the timing was, the firing of Cora & Co. seemed to hold out some hope for a big change. A morale boost, a turnaround, a shift in mechanics/procedure/process/whatever that might have cracked open a new version of this team. There was also the hope that all of the individual players who are âjust not performing to their career norms,â as Craig Breslow put it, would either get on track due to the coaching change, or naturally emerge from their respective slumps if given enough time. While Duran and Mayer may be showing more signs of life recently, this hasnât happened across the board.
Allowing ourselves to believe that shaking things up with the coaching staff might right the ship was a dream that might have been semi-believable in April. I wasnât sure that was what needed to happen, but I was willing to let the theory play out. I wouldâve been thrilled if it had worked.
But itâs not April anymore; itâs the cusp of June. Shit has gotten real over the past month. No matter the state of the AL East and the possibility that the Sox still have a ridiculously reasonable chance at making the third Wild Card spot, everyone agrees that the team is just terrible. I see it in comments, message boards, casual conversations. On air, in print, online, among friends. The team is painful to watch and this whole thing [gestures wildly] is painful to watch.
I have no trouble critiquing a play, a bad performance, an approachâŠbut I sure donât like to criticize the entire enterprise. It goes too far against the grain to feel like everything is wrong. I want to feel like thereâs a possibility for redemption or joy somewhere in this season, but I canât find it right now. I canât believe Iâm saying this, but I stay away from the televised games whenever I can. Iâm not sure I can be bothered to travel the seven miles downtown to see them when they come to Seattle in June. My entire life, this has been unthinkable. Iâve gone to outlandish, crazy lengths to see the Red Sox whenever, wherever, and however I can.
Iâm usually a pretty positive person and many people who know me might say that I live for the Red Sox. It takes a lot to turn a diehard fan into a stone. Blame FatseâŠblame CoraâŠno, blame Breslow. Sell the team. I havenât advocated for any of those things. And yetâŠ
In grad school, it was common to talk about âfilling up the vessel.â Forgive this fine arts-speak, which is a shorthand way to talk about replenishing creative energy. The vessel is you. The vessel gets emptied as you naturally go about your day, expending energy. Doing something restorative, or even betterâinspiringâfills up the vessel. This could be as simple as avoiding burnout by going home to get some rest. I think it was Picasso who said he invited people to his studio every morning (filling up the vessel), so that he had something to paint every afternoon.
Our damn Red Sox vessel is dry and weâre parched and weâre in a drought, okay? And we still have 105 games left on this slog through treacherous terrain (see: Guardians, Orioles, Yankees, Rays next on the schedule). Thereâs nothing new being poured into our collective vessel.
If it werenât for Payton Tolleâs big heart and Connelly Earlyâs grin as he leans on the dugout rail and talks with the other pitchers, Iâd have nothing at all in the tank for this team.
Yes, of course, if Roman Anthony returns rested and healthy, and once again takes up the mantle of superstar-in-the-making, that would add something to the vessel. If Garrett Crochet gets back to being a lights-out pig, thatâs more for the vessel.
Itâs summer now. Theyâre still my team butâŠthe Red Sox have to give us something. Fans have become pretty depleted over the last month.
Good morning! The Mariners are looking for a series sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks after another dominant win last night. Bryan Wooâs seven innings of two-hit ball with nine strikeouts were complimented by four home runs to secure a 5-1 win. As Connor mentioned in his recap last night, the Mariners are finally back at .500 (for the first time since March 30th) and won consecutive series for just the second time all season.
Bryce Miller gets the start today against RHP Merrill Kelly at 1:10 PM in trial #3 of the piggyback plan.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Ryne Nelson #19 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Maddy Grassy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Team News
D-backs seeking return to winning ways after entering mini-skid âI said it last night, we knew coming up here it was gonna be a dogfight and we got only one thing to do, and thatâs go out and play our best baseball game tomorrow and try and salvage one game here,â Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. âWeâve been playing good baseball. I have every reason to believe that will continue tomorrow.â
Bryan Wooâs Dominant Start Raises Concerns Over Diamondbacks Offense
Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno combined to go 0-for-15 with one walk (by Perdomo in the ninth inning) and five strikeouts. Arizona did not record an extra-base hit on the night, with Ryan Waldschmidt providing the other base hit of the night â off the Seattle bullpen. https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/onsi/bryan-woo-dominant-start-concerns-diamondbacks-offense
Oreo has made enough cookies to go to the moon and back 5 times.
Since Oreo was introduced to the market in 1912, over 450 billion Oreo cookies have been sold worldwide.
According to Greek traditions, tossing childrenâs loose teeth to a roof brings good luck.
The Greeks have always been known for their own way of doing things. In some cultures, children keep their loose teeth under pillows to swap for cash from the tooth fairy. However, the Greeks had their children throwing loose teeth onto roofs. Yeet!
The Hawaiian alphabet contains only 13 letters.
The Hawaiian alphabet contains a total of five vowels that are both long and short. It also contains a total of eight consonants. Hawaiiâs alphabet represents all the basic sounds and phonemes in their language.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MAY 30: Zach Neto #9 of the Los Angeles Angels scores on a wild pitch before Ian Seymour #61 of the Tampa Bay Rays can make the tag in the seventh inning of a game at Tropicana Field on May 30, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees offense couldnât keep the momentum rolling for a fourth straight night. Following efforts of 15, seven, and eight runs, their valiant comeback attempt in the ninth fell just short in the second game against the Aâs. They still have a chance to win the three-game series today with Will Warren on the mound. Fortunately for them, the Rays also stumbled, so there is no change atop the standings, though there was plenty of other excitement involving the Yankeesâ AL rivals.
Los Angeles Angels (23-36) 14, Tampa Bay Rays (35-20) 3
A day after surrendering seven runs in the seventh to squander a late lead, the Angels rebounded at the Trop to drop two touchdowns against the Rays. He may be the personal kryptonite of the Yankees, but Drew Rasmussen stumbled over his worst start of the season to give up five runs on four hits and two walks in four innings. Angels starter Reid Detmers was marginally better with his five innings of three-run ball, but this game was all about the lead his bats generated for him and never stopped building.
Detmers didnât have to wait l0ng for that lead, the Angels ambushing Rasmussen for four runs in the top of the first. Mike Trout singled and Vaughn Grissom and Jorge Soler drew a pair of walks to load the bases with one out for Wade Meckler, who demolished an absolute no-doubter to right for a grand slam to give his starter a four run lead before even taking the mound.
Yandy DĂaz clawed one back with a home run to lead off the bottom-half, but the Rays would always be in chase mode. Los Angeles extended their lead scoring one in the fourth on a Meckler leadoff single and Donovan Walton RBI double and another an inning later on a booming solo shot from Trout. The Rays responded with a pair in the bottom of the fifth on a Junior Caminero RBI double and Ryan Vilade RBI groundout, and then threatened by loading the bases in the sixth on three straight two-out walks, but their failure to plate any of the three opened the door for Los Angeles to kill the game off in the ninth after a wild pitch in the seventh allowed their seventh run to score â an output they would double in the ninth inning.
SebastiĂĄn Rivero led off that ninth with a walk, Nick Madrigal was hit by a pitch, Trout walked, and Grissom was hit by a pitch to plate the eighth run. Jose Siri drove in the ninth with an RBI groundout, and Adell drove in the remaining pair on the bases with a mammoth 431-foot three-run bomb to center. Oswald Peraza then went back-to-back for lucky run number 13, and a Walton single and Rivero RBI double put a bow on the scoring.
Baltimore Orioles (27-32) 6, Toronto Blue Jays (29-30) 5
In a reversal of fortune from Fridayâs events at Camden Yards, the Blue Jays were in the driverâs seat for most of this game, and they were the ones who had a 5-1 lead late. They handed it off to closer Jeff Hoffman in the bottom of the ninth, only to see him give it all up as the Orioles scored five to walk it off. It wasted something of a strange outing from Trey Yesavage, who managed to hold Baltimore to a run in five innings despite walking seven batters. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 4-for-5, Kazuma Okamoto hit a two-run double and JesĂșs SĂĄnchez an RBI double, and Ernie Clement drove in a run with one of his two singles.
However, weâve seen the way a ninth inning led can evaporate when Hoffman is closing. He plunked Coby Mayo with one out and Leody Taveras drove him home with a triple. Jackson Holliday plated Taveras with a single before advancing to third on a Colton Cowser double. Hoffman and Connor Seabold then combined to walk three straight batters to plate two more runs and bring Pete Alonso to the plate with the score tied, 5-5. Alonso fought off a 2-1 fastball on his hands to the opposite field for the walk-off single.
Bryan Woo authored another gem, holding the Diamondbacks scoreless for seven innings allowing just two hits and no walks to go along with nine strikeouts. Ryne Nelson wasnât so lucky, coughing up five runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings. Four of those runs came via the solo home run, Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone leaving the yard in the second and Colt Emerson and Julio RodrĂguez going deep in the third. Seattleâs fifth and final run came in the sixth, Randy Arozarena leading off with a groundball that resulted in a Jose Fernandez throwing error and Arozarena standing on second, a Raley single to move him to third, and a Cole Young sac fly to bring him home. With the win, the Mariners push their record above .500 for the first time since March 30th.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Alex Lodise #74 of the Atlanta Braves warms up during the first 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
Saturday was a rough day down on the Atlanta Braves farm system, as the teams in the organization combined to drop all six games played. Making things tougher were a JR Ritchie start that lasted just a third of an inning, plus another less than impressive start from Lucas Braun. There were some positives though, as Manuel Campos filled up the boxscore, Jordan Groshans had a monster game, Luke Sinnard had a positive second start in High-A, and Gensi Angeles had another scoreless start.
Nashville Sounds 8, Gwinnett Stripers 3
Maverick Handley, C: 2-3
Ben Gamel, CF/RF: 2-4, 2B, R, RBI, .186/.310/.347
JR Ritchie, SP: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 2.70 ERA
JR Ritchie didnât have his command in this game and turned in one of the shortest starts of his career, lasting just a third of an inning. Ritchie walked four and allowed a hit, and all five of those guys came in to score â though he did record a strikeout for his lone out. Javy Guerra provided some length out of the bullpen, allowing a run over three innings of work before Daysbel Hernandez and Hayden Harris each went an inning and a third â Harris with a scoreless outing and Hernandez allowing two runs. James Karinchak went two scoreless frames with four strikeouts to finish off this game.
The bottom of the order was the only source of offense for the Stripers in this one, as Maverick Handley, Ben Gamel, and Jose Azocar each had two hit days, with Gamel recording a double. Outside of that trio, who hit 6/7/8 in the lineup, singles by Rowdy Tellez and Brewer Hicklen were the only others to reach base safely.
Biloxi Shuckers 9, Columbus Clingstones 4
Jordan Groshans, 3B: 3-3, HR, BB, R, 3 RBI, .258/.337/.529
David McCabe, 1B: 1-3, 2B, BB, R, .254/.362/.522
Lucas Braun, SP: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 7.04 ERA
Lucas Braun made the start in the first game and allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk over five and a third innings. Braun, who has struggled a bit more in his starts with Columbus this year, struck out four and had seven whiffs. Luis Vargas followed Braun and allowed five runs in just two thirds of an inning, before a scoreless inning from Blane Abeyta.
Jordan Groshans went off in the first game, going a perfect three for three with a homer, walk, and three runs batted in. That gives him 10 homers and 27 RBI to go with his .865 OPS for the Clingstones. David McCabe also reached base multiple times, doubling in three at bats, plus a walk and a run scored. Tristin English also added a two-hit game that included a double, while Luke Waddell singled and walked in the loss.
Biloxi Shuckers 5, Columbus Clingstones 0
Logan Braunschweig, LF: 1-2
Luke Waddell, SS: 0-2, BB, .242/.363/.377
Ian Mejia, SP: 5 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 8.82 ERA
The second game saw Ian Mejia make the start and allow five runs (four earned) over five innings of work, allowing six hits and two walks with three strikeouts before giving way to Samuel Strickland. Strickland came out of the pen and pitched the final two innings of scoreless baseball and picked up one strikeout.
The second game saw Columbus get dominated by Biloxi starter Jaron DeBerry, who allowed just one hit and two walks in his seven inning shutout. The recently promoted Logan Braunschweig had the lone hit, a fifth inning single. Luke Waddell and Archer Brookman drew the pair of Clingstones walks, as Waddell reached base for the third time on the day between the two games.
Luke Sinnard made his second start with Rome on Saturday, allowing a pair of runs on three hits and a walk over five innings. Sinnard struck out five with eight whiffs on 78 pitches as he continues to build back up after his late start to the season. Jacob Shafer followed and allowed two runs in his inning, while Justin Long and Riley Frey each allowed a run over an inning of work.
The Emperors managed just two runs on three hits. Cody Miller homered and stole a base, while Dixon Williams added a double. Beyond that the only Emperors to reach base were a walk by Colby Jones and a single from Colin Burgess. Isaiah Drake and John Gil were both hitless, though Gil did steal a base.
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 2, Augusta GreenJackets 1
Zach Royse continued to dominate Low-A hitters on Saturday. He went seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks, in addition to eight strikeouts and an impressive 22 whiffs. That takes him to 48 strikeouts over 48.1 innings to start the season, and probably gets him closer to a move up the ladder. Lewis Sifontes pitched a scoreless eighth inning to finish things off on the pitching side.
The Augusta offense faced a tough test in this pitchers duel, as outside of a two for four game from Alex Lodise and a two for three with a walk day from Dallas Macias, they had just three additional singles and two walks on a day off for Tate Southisene. Michael Martinez, Luis Guanipa, and Cooper McMurray had the remaining singles.
FCL Rays 12, FCL Braves 3
Manuel Campos, SS: 2-3, BB, R, 3 SB, .274/.411/.397
Gensi Angeles started off with four and a third scoreless innings, allowing just a pair of hits and a pair of walks as the Braves led 3-0. Angeles struck out three and picked up four whiffs in another strong performance. Daniel Brooks followed for the next two outs of the inning and came back for the sixth, but the sixth was a very bad inning as the Braves allowed 10 runs to score. Brooks got one more out, but allowed five runs (two earned) before giving way to Melvin Hidalgo, who walked the five batters he faced and allowed five unearned runs. Edward Cedano pitched one and two thirds scoreless innings before Juan Olmos allowed two additional runs in his inning of work.
On the hitting side Manuel Campos had a game of ups and downs. He went two for three with a walk, stole three bags, and scored a run â but he also made three errors in the field. Rehabbing Owen Carey walked in four plate appearances and stole a base, while Caden Merritt walked, scored a run, and batted one in. Both Campos and Carey had exit velocities above 97 MPH. Diego Tornes was hitless in four at bats.
Five years on May 31, the New York Islanders entered TD Garden trailing in the second round, 1-0.
The Boston Bruins, a heavy favorite over the Islanders, dominated Game 1 behind a David Pastrnak hat trick, and if the Bruins took Game 2, the series would've felt over before even reaching Nassau Coliseum.
Game 2 couldn't have started worse for New York.
Two-and-a-half minutes into the game, Charlie Coyle broke behind the Islanders' defense. He made a power move, and tucked it neatly passed Semyon Varlamov, 1-0 Bruins.
That lead carried over into the second period, where Boston continued to carry play, and were outshooting the Islanders 17-9.
Pastrnak took a needless goalie interference penalty just over five minutes into the second period, and the game changed.
Josh Bailey banked one in off of Jeremy Lauzon, a power play goal and a tie game.
Minutes later, Kyle Palmieri stuffed home the go-ahead goal. Just like that, the pesky Islanders flipped a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead.
Leo Komarov drew a penalty on Brandon Carlo late in the second period, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau made the Bruins pay.
The three-goal second period gave the Islanders a 3-1 lead, normally a guaranteed win for those shutdown Islanders.
The Bruins roared back in the third period.
With 9:26 to go in the third, Patrice Bergeron made it a one-goal game, with a one-timed shot from the slot.
Then, with just over five minutes to go in the third period, the Islanders took a too many men on the ice penalty.
It took Boston less than 30 seconds to tie the game at 3, courtesy of Brad Marchand.
A season-ending disaster felt distinctly possible. A blown 3-1 lead in the third period, losing in overtime, and going down 2-0 in the series could've spelled the end.
Casey Cizikas wouldn't let that happen.
Lauzon turned the puck over at his own blue line, springing Cizikas for a rink-wide breakaway.
Cizikas didn't get too fancy, didn't overdo it. Just came flying in with speed, gave Tuukka Rask the eyes, and sniped home over Rask's blocker.
Rutgers never got the chance to see Dylan Harper play in the tournament but it turns out that he is pretty good in that format.
The former Rutgers star is off to the NBA Finals after the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday night.
Harper played 27 minutes in this game finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds on 5-for-8 from the field. He averaged 14.7 points per game in the conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In Game 1 of the WCF, he made an immediate impact with 24 points, six rebounds, and seven steals in a double-overtime win.
Harper averaged 12 points in 26.3 minutes per game, proving to be a key component off the bench. Now, the New Jersey native will get a chance to face the New York Knicks, and fellow Garden State star Karl-Anthony Towns, in the NBA Finals.
New Jersey is the place where Harper made his name at Don Bosco High School. A career that featured over 1,600 points came to an end with a 19-game winning streak and a state championship.
Harper committed to Rutgers, joining Ace Bailey, in what was a historic recruiting class. The team did not live up to the hype as it went 15-17 and missed the NCAA Tournament.
Harper dominated its way to a state championship in high school and is now a key rotation piece for a Spurs team that is returning to the NBA Finals.
So, Rutgers fans, how did this team miss the tournament two years ago?
That is a question that you will have to live with, especially with the current state of the team. Nonetheless, Rutgers will be represented in this yearâs NBA Finals and that is not something that can be said every year.
Cincinnati Reds center fielder TJ Friedl (29) prepares to bat as Houston Astros pitcher Tayler Scott (54) prepares to deliver the pitch in the third inning of the MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024.
I was in Cincinnati and Great American Ballpark. I have to say, regardless of the outcome, that I really liked it. Yes, itâs small. Not just the outfield dimensions, though. Itâs cute, as the wife remarked. I feel that the rows are closer together in the lower bowl. I didnât realize how pitched the right outfield seats and the left field upper deck were. The left field seats donât quite bring you into the left fielderâs lap like the Crawford boxes in Houston do. But it draws you in closer. The entrance pulls you into queues separated by statues of Reds gone by. Built in 2003, it just missed the trend of opening up the seating so that you can see the action from the concourse. But overall, really nice.
The staff at the park were very friendly. No one questioned me as I entered the lower bowl. Iâve never had that experience in Atlanta. The ushers in the last three Braves ballparks made it a point to check your ticket and make sure everyone is seated exactly where they should be. The concessions that we visited were grab and go cafeteria style ones. Their postgame fireworks went for 20 plus minutes, and without a lot of fluff either. I donât what they would do for the Fourth, maybe declare war on Kentucky?
So where do you rate Great American Ballpark? Itâs not home, but I liked it. Are there away parks that you like more?
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres reacts to a home run during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The months long wait is over. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a 451-foot solo home run in the top of the fifth inning that gave the San Diego Padres a 3-1 lead over the Washington Nationals. Padres starter Michael King was cruising through the first six innings of the game, and it appeared the Friar Faithful were going to see their superstar end his homerless drought and their team get a second consecutive win. That changed when the Nationals scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and cruised to a 9-4 win at Nationals Park on Saturday.
The home run by Tatis followed solo home runs by Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado. Of course, all three home runs followed what proved to be the game-winning two-run home run by Jackson Merrill the night before. The Padres offense looked to be coming to life a bit with home runs from all four of their superstars, three of which have been mired in season long slumps.
King was performing like the ace he has shown himself to be. He allowed one run on a solo home run in bottom of the third inning and appeared to be in complete control. In the bottom of the seventh he allowed back-to-back singles before loading the bases with a walk. He then hit a batter and that made the score, 3-2. King was taken out of the game and was replaced by Bradgley Rodriguez who could not get out of the inning. before the Nationals had a 7-3 lead. It was a difficult inning to watch, even for San Diego manager Craig Stammen who was ejected arguing a force play at second base.
Machado hit an RBI-double in the top of the eighth inning to make the score, 7-4 but Wandy Peralta allowed two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and the 9-4 deficit proved to be too much for the Padres to overcome. San Diego will have a chance to win the series against Washington today 10:35 a.m.
Padres News:
Any time your team goes 3-6 on a homestand itâs going to be a long and difficult week. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball recaps the week that was and highlights some of the struggles that led the Padres to a losing week at Petco Park.
