Dodgers vs Padres Over/Under pick: Under 8.0 (-110)
Only three of the past 10 head-to-head meetings have gone Over the total, and I expect another low-scoring game in the cards here.
It’ll be very difficult to string together hits against Yamamoto and the Padres lack power for quick-strike offense.
The Dodgers are missing a couple of key bats in Teoscar Hernandez and Will Smith. They’re also playing in a pitcher-friendly park, which will lower their offensive floor and ceiling.
I see this being a 5-2 type of game, and would play the Under to -120.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 44-32, +3.20 units
Over/Under bets: 40-32-4, +3.99 units
Dodgers vs Padres weather
Temperatures in the high 60s are expected with winds blowing east. Slight boost to the pitchers.
Dodgers vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -200 | Padres +165
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (-115) | Padres +1.5 (-105)
Over/Under: Over 8.0 (-110) | Under 8.0 (-110)
Dodgers vs Padres trend
San Diego has been generous to Under bettors this season, owning a 35-44 O/U record. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Padres.
How to watch Dodgers vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Saturday, June 27, 2026
First pitch
8:40 p.m. ET
TV
SNLA, KFMB-CBS8
Dodgers starting pitcher
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-5, 2.65 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
Randy Vasquez (6-5, 4.17 ERA)
Dodgers vs Padres 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.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Morez Johnson Jr. after he is drafted ninth overall by the Dallas Mavericks during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Merriam-Webster defines Schadenfreude as the enjoyment obtained from seeing or hearing about the troubles of others.
As sports fans, you probably experience it all the time.
If you root for the Bears, perhaps you experience it when the Packers lose.
If you root for the Cardinals, you may giggle when a Lincoln Park yuppie slips and faceplants in their own vomit on a Wrigleyville sidewalk.
And if you’re an Illini fan, Juwan Howard getting shitcanned in Ann Arbor likely warmed the cockles of your heart.
Speaking of Ann Arbor.
Native Chicagoan, former Illini commit, signee, and player Morez Johnson Jr. was drafted 9th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
A year after Johnson departed Champaign, he became the Dallas Mavericks’ first-round selection.
It was the next step in a journey that took Morez from St. Rita to Thornton to Champaign, Ann Arbor, and now the Metroplex.
Now Morez’ NBA fate is tied to Dusty May and Cooper Flagg.
Not bad for someone still facing the unjust, vitriolic bile of some Illinois fans.
The palpable emotional incontinence in some Illinois fans’ hatred for Morez makes me ashamed to count myself among them in fandom.
No, I will not just stick to sports. Sports don’t exist in a bubble. They exist in the real world with all the joy and pain of the tangible universe. And the people who participate are just as susceptible to the slings and arrows of time as the average anti-Morez Illinois fan.
You do not own the athletes for whom you cheer.
I think there is a series of constitutional amendments that make it so. And being that ignorant this close to Juneteenth is irony rich enough to get naming rights to a college football stadium in Texas.
I know it’s hard for some of you to look at a young man like Morez and take leave of your faculties when he has the gall not to do what you want him to do.
When Morez transferred from Illinois, some decided to unleash vile personal attacks on the young man and his family.
You wished him ill will. Not just on the court.
It’s fair to wish his new program failure. They are a conference rival.
But some insults went beyond losing basketball games.
In that world, his decision to go somewhere else was not a basketball decision. It wasn’t the choice of an ambitious young man trying to achieve his goals. It was a betrayal.
They wanted to call him a greedy, selfish…haberdasher. And perhaps you do privately.
They scoured the internet for comments about his family.
“See, he comes from a family full of haberdashers.”
It’s like there was some joy in satiating that lustful disdain.
Morez Johnson’s mentor left Illinois. Wouldn’t you feel abandoned if the same happened to you?
When Tim Anderson was placed on administrative leave just before the 2024-25 season tipped off, the balance of the program shifted. The arrival of star big man coach and Underwood ally, Orlando Antigua, marked a different direction. Anderson (and Chester Frazier) recruited players like Morez: tough, physical grinders with evolving skill and the willingness to do whatever it takes to win. Think about the players they brought in:
Terrence Shannon Jr.
Morez Johnson Jr.
Sencire Harris
Ty Rodgers
Amani Hansberry
Antigua brings a different approach to Illinois. He brought in international prospects like Tomislav Ivisic (and later his twin brother). That was the new direction of the program.
The offense was to be built around spacing and shooting and less around having a sledgehammer in the dunker spot.
This is where we find the crux of the basketball insult used to couch more personal animus.
“He left one of the best big men coaches in the country. So that automatically means he had no interest in improving his game. It’s all because that greedy, lying haberdasher wanted to take more money so his family can put shinier rims on their cars.”
His other mentor, Tai Streets, is a University of Michigan alum.
For a “kid who got bad advice from his father,” he sure did get some wise counsel from both of his mentors. He wound up having two productive seasons in the Big Ten, winning a national title, and landing himself in the lottery.
They wanted him to shut up, run, dunk, and rebound. They didn’t see him as capable of growing as a player. I’ll let you sort out what about him made them think he was a finished product at 17.
“But I saw clips of him shooting. It was obvious his shot was broken and his desire to go somewhere else is stupid. You hear that, boy? You do what I want you to do. Screw your dreams and ambitions, what about mine, dammit? The dang Illini need to win me a national championship.“
Okay, so you thought he was one-dimensional and wouldn’t be anything more at Michigan than he was at Illinois.
And to stop you from being willfully obtuse, let’s look at the numbers.
At Illinois, he took approximately 4 shots per game. That number doubled at Michigan.
With the increased volume, his two-point percentage actually increased from 64% to 66%.
So he took more shots inside the arc and shot a higher percentage.
He went from attempting zero threes at Illinois to taking 35 threes on the season at Michigan. Sure, that is low volume. And no, he did not turn into Koby Brea overnight. But the talk about him being an incompetent shooter was absolute rubbish. He shot 34% from behind the arc. For context, Tomislav Ivisic shot 31% from three-point range last season. (That’s not a knock on Tomi.)
Morez Johnson at least showed the threat of a jump shot. He demonstrated that he can make open shots from deep, so you have to respect him. And that’s an element he didn’t get to show as an Illini.
The advanced stats showcase the difference between a good role player on an excellent team and an emerging star on a championship team.
Playing with Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg meant his rebounding numbers went down. His offensive rebound rate fell from 17% to a still excellent 13%. That is a fair critique of his value.
His true shooting percentage increased from 64% to 67%. And he didn’t need the best big man coach in the nation to do that.
He more than doubled his win shares from just under 3 to just over 6. The analytics-driven Illini staff would have to be impressed with that number. To understand his true value, the great Keaton Wagler had 7.2 win shares in his lone collegiate season.
So from a basketball standpoint, Morez wasn’t the same player. He was not relied upon to be the primary rebounder. But his prowess still helped anchor a national champion on the glass. His quickness and switchability defensively made him a Swiss Army knife.
No, Morez didn’t turn from a frontcourt player to a wing while at Michigan. But he demonstrated new skills and the team orientation it takes to succeed at the highest levels. He can play alongside smaller players due to his length and rebounding prowess. He can thrive next to larger players because of his evolving offensive skill.
Dusty May had all three of his former Michigan frontcourt players on the board at number nine. And he chose Morez Johnson. Do you think that pick just happened because someone thought the name Morez sounds cool?
And you were so eager to besmirch his character as a human and a basketball player.
“He was drafted too high. He only went in the top ten because his college coach is in Dallas now.”
No one had a better day at the NBA Draft Combine than Morez Johnson Jr. 〽️
• 17/25 3-point star drill • 16/30 3s off the dribble • Pro Lane Drill (1st) • 3/4 Court Sprint (1st) • Max Vertical Jump (1st)… pic.twitter.com/1yzUaPXigg
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) May 12, 2026
Or, because he, you know, excelled as a player and at the combine.
If Morez really agreed to a deal to stay at Illinois and reneged, is that what makes him so detestable?
Because Brad Underwood had a valid contract at Oklahoma State when he agreed to come to Illinois. Is Brad also a dishonorable man? Or is he an ambitious man who saw an opportunity to enhance his life and took it?
Are you going to hurl the same level of invective at Quentin Coleman? He had a signed agreement to enroll at Wake Forest. Does that mean it’s morally okay to break your word if you’re coming to Illinois but not when you’re going from?
I’ll reiterate, I’m not saying anyone has to root for him. I am definitely not saying that anyone should have become Wolverines fans last season.
But if you think that you have dominion over a young man’s character because he didn’t follow your instructions…
I’m back with more MLB picks following last week’s 3-for-3 showing at the plate, and this time I’ve found some great value in a plus-money prop for Freddie Freeman, as well as picks for Byron Buxton and Chase Burns.
I’ll break down all three in my MLB player props for Saturday, June 27.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Freddie Freeman
Over 1.5 total bases
+118
Byron Buxton
Over 1.5 total bases
-126
Chase Burns
Over 6.5 strikeouts
-156
Freddie Freeman Over 1.5 total bases (+118)
Freddie Freeman is putting together another great season for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he’s only getting better as the summer wears on, batting .429 over the past week with Over 1.5 total bases in each of his last three games.
The southpaw carries a bloated 6.91 ERA over his last six starts, which comes as no surprise given his underlying stats – Vasquez sits in the second percentile in xERA (6.47), xBA (2.97), and barrel %.
Vasquez goes to his cutter nearly a quarter of the time, though it’s been his worst pitch, with batters hitting .345 and slugging .655 against it.
Freeman himself is batting .375 vs. the cutter this season, with a .708 SLG and six extra-base knocks (out of 9 total hits).
I’m surprised this prop is plus-money tonight, but I’m playing it all the way to -110.
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Padres.TV Presented by UC San Diego Health, SportsNet LA,
Byron Buxton Over 1.5 total bases (-126)
The Byron Buxton breakout bash continues. The Minnesota Twins slugger ranks in the 98th percentile in barrel % and 94th percentile in xSLG (.528). Oh, and his 25 dingers are also tied for the second most in the majors.
Buxton has smacked Over 1.5 total bases in five of his last seven games, highlighted by a three-hit outing in yesterday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies. Buxton will make easy work of the Rockies and starter Michael Lorenzen tonight.
Lorenzen has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball this year, sitting in the bottom percentile in pitching run value and second percentile in xBA (.297).
The right-hander relies heavily on his four-seamer, which has been one of Buxton’s favorite pitches to hit. Buxton is batting a team-leading .364 against the four-seamer from righties, with an insane .891 SLG – the ninth-best mark in MLB.
I’ll play this one up to -135.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Rockies.TV, Twins.TV
Chase Burns Over 6.5 strikeouts (-156 at DraftKings)
Chase Burns is averaging 10.7 strikeouts per nine this year, tied for the fourth most in MLB. The Cincinnati Reds sophomore has punched out 7+ batters in seven straight starts, and I foresee him topping that number again vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates today.
Pittsburgh’s 9.27 strikeouts per game are the third most in the majors, and the Pirates will struggle against Burns’ nasty slider.
Burns has finished off 69 of his 102 strikeouts via the slider, which batters are whiffing on more than 51% of the time.
The Pirates, as a team, have gone down swinging 214 times vs. the slider this season (4th-most), while their K% ranks 7th among all clubs (29.9%).
This one is chalky for good reason, but I’ll play it up to -160.
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Reds.TV
Chris Faria's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 6-5, +0.09 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.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 26: Cooper Ingle #30 of the Cleveland Guardians runs off the field after the fourth inning of his Major League debut against the Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field on June 26, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians have a real hitting problem. The Pope is Catholic. Water is wet.
Yes, José Ramírez and Chase DeLauter are out. But, Luis Castillo waltzed into Progressive Field with a 5.22 ERA and shut this lineup down. There is something wrong.
Is it a pull/lift philosophy? Every team in baseball wants to pull the ball in the air, so I’m not sure. They definitely don’t hit the ball hard or barrel the ball often enough. Is that because of pull/lift? Or because their players are just not good enough? The organization needs to do some soul searching… and make some hires from organizations that know what the heck they are doing here (Milwaukee comes to mind).
I was at the game and had a great time with my daughter who is three and does not care about the score. Props to the team for fixing up the kids’ clubhouse from earlier in the year. Now, fix the offense.
Cooper Ingle debuted and looked like he had a solid approach. Hope he gets his first hit tonight. Here is his pre-game interview:
AROUND MLB
The White Sox and Tigers scored a million runs each and won their respective games.
CAMDEN, NJ - JUNE 8: Josh Harris, Mike Gansey and Bob Myers pose for a photo as the Philadelphia 76ers introduce Mike Gansey as their new President of Basketball Operations on June 8, 2026 at The Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. 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 Mary Kate Ridgway/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A few days away from the start of free agency, we still aren’t entirely sure what rules the Sixers will be operating under this offseason.
As is tradition with this team, the luxury tax and the aprons are the bigger concern. They could be as much as $28.3 million under the $201 million tax line, $36.3 million below the $209 million first apron and $49.3 million below the $222 million second apron, but that would require them to decline their team options on Dominick Barlow ($3.4 million), Trendon Watford ($2.8 million) and Dalen Terry ($2.6 million) and waive both Jabari Walker ($250,000 guaranteed) and Adem Bona ($0 guaranteed).
The Sixers will have to decide what to do with Barlow, Watford and Terry by June 29, which is the deadline for player and team options to be exercised. Even if they pick up their team option on Terry, his salary is non-guaranteed until Jan. 10, so they could still waive him before the season begins without being left with a dead cap hit.
All of those decisions—and whether they re-sign Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes and Andre Drummond in free agency—will help determine which mid-level exception (if any) the Sixers have access to this offseason.
Can the Sixers get the non-taxpayer MLE?
If the Sixers use the $15.0 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception this offseason, they would hard-cap themselves at the first apron for the remainder of the 2026-27 league year. That means they could not have more than roughly $209 million in salary on their books at any point until next July.
If they picked up their team options on Barlow and Watford and kept Bona, that would already bring them up to nearly $181.5 million in salary before taking Walker or Terry into account. That would leave them roughly $27.5 million below the first apron. Once they spent the non-taxpayer MLE, they’d be only $12.5 million below.
That would all but guarantee the departures of Oubre and Grimes unless they managed to shed salary elsewhere.
If the Sixers aren’t attached to bringing back Oubre and Grimes, they could even have enough wiggle room under the first apron to spend both the non-taxpayer MLE and the $5.5 million bi-annual exception. That would push them dangerously close to the first apron, which could limit their in-season flexibility, but it might be their best chance to build up their supporting cast in the wake of Oubre and Grimes’ departures.
Unless the Sixers have already made up their minds about Oubre and Grimes, timing might be their biggest hurdle. They might not want to spend the non-taxpayer MLE and hard-cap themselves at the first apron until they see how the Oubre and Grimes situations play out, but they’d also run the risk of losing out on high-end non-taxpayer MLE targets if they wait.
The taxpayer MLE route
If the Sixers do cross the first apron by re-signing Grimes and/or Oubre, they’ll lose access to both the non-taxpayer MLE and the bi-annual exception. Instead, they’d only have the $6.1 million taxpayer MLE as long as they stay under the second apron. If they cross the second apron, they won’t have a mid-level exception at all.
This might be the Sixers’ most likely path this offseason, at least initially. If they spend up to $6.1 million of the MLE, they’d get hard-capped at the second apron, but they’d still have the flexibility to go above the first apron to re-sign Grimes and/or Oubre. If both of them leave and the Sixers decide that they’re fine with a first-apron hard cap, they could always spend the remaining ~$9 million of the non-taxpayer MLE later.
The Sixers also don’t have to use the MLE just to sign free agents. They could use it as a trade exception, too. That would have been their best path to acquire Aaron Wiggins or Isaiah Joe from the Oklahoma City Thunder, although the Sixers presumably had no interest in hard-capping themselves at the first apron before free agency began, particularly for another backcourt player.
If the Sixers do cross the first apron, they also wouldn’t be allowed to take back more salary in a trade than they send out, nor could they acquire a free agent via sign-and-trade. They’d also lose their $4.2 million trade exception from the Jared McCain trade, although it wouldn’t be surprising if they wind up letting that expire regardless.
Given their proximity to the first apron heading into free agency, the Sixers would be taking a major risk by hard-capping themselves early on. If the market is unkind to Oubre and/or Grimes, the Sixers might be able to bring them back at a discount. But if the Sixers had already spent the non-taxpayer MLE by that point, it would be far more difficult to squeeze them in and stay under the hard cap.
So, anyone dreaming of luring John Collins, Rui Hachimura or someone of that ilk with the non-taxpayer MLE should be aware of what that would entail. It’s a feasible possibility, but it would come at a real cost.
May 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) hits a home run during the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández has played in three games in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, and he’s hit a two-run home run in all three games.
Tulsa left-hander Adam Serwinowski allowed only a single and two walks in his seven scoreless innings, with six strikeouts. Seven innings matched a season and career high for Serwinowski, also done on May 22 this year at Wichita.
Over his last seven starts, Serwinowski has a 1.58 ERA with 37 strikeouts and 12 walks in 40 innings.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
The Comets scored four runs in the eighth inning to beat the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) on the road.
The bottom of the order keyed the comeback. Hyeseong Kim, batting seventh, singled twice and scored twice. Next up was catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, who had a double and two singles. Noah Miller, batting ninth as the designated hitter, tripled, doubled, and scored twice.
Miller’s two-run double tied things in the eighth before RBI singles by James Tibbs III and Ryan Fitzgerald provided the lead.
Double-A Tulsa
After Serwinowski, Roque Gutierrez pitched two scoreless innings to save the Drillers’ shutout win over the Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros).
Jake Gelof homered. Second baseman Sean McLain had two hits, scored a run, and drove in another.
High-A Great Lakes
Down 4-3 early, the Loons scored the final six runs to beat the Lansing Lugnuts (A’s). First baseman Jose Hernández homered twice in the win.
Third baseman Logan Wagner homered, doubled, and drove in three runs. Since returning from the injured list last week, Wagner has a hit in all four games, with two home runs
Robby Porco helped pave the way for the comeback with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief with five strikeouts
Class-A Ontario
Hyun-Seok Jang had his best start of the season in the Tower Buzzers’ win over the Visalia Oaks (D-backs). Jang struck out a career-high 10 batters in five scoreless innings, one start after striking out a then-career-high nine in 4 2/3 innings.
Mairo Martinus has been a solid constant for Ontario this season, hitting .309/.360/.506 with 33 extra-base hits, including two doubles, two singles, and three runs scored on Friday, his second straight four-hit affair. Martinus this season has started right field and center field this season, plus all four infield positions. Friday was his seventh start at third base.
Shortstop Joendry Vargas doubled and singled on Friday, and first baseman Oswaldo Osorio homered.
Triple-A: River Ryan, who was originally slated to start Thursday this week, was instead scratched and placed on the injured list Friday. It’s his hamstring again, per Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo at The Athletic, the same injury that sidelined Ryan for a month this April and May. Right-hander Keynan Middleton was activated off the development list.
They can't wait until free agency begins on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, and any trades or deals can officially be consummated until July 6, when the league's moratorium ends.
The Knicks have said they are trying to avoid the second apron, but have re-signed veteran guard Jose Alvarado, and the Oklahoma City Thunder inked Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year, $75 million contract extension.
Stay locked with USA TODAY for all the latest NBA news and rumors:
Now that the 2026 NBA Draft is done, the league's attention turns to the start of free agency, with the official "tampering" period beginning on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.
The Chicago Bulls picked the $2.4 million team option for forward Leonard Miller. The 22-year-old Miller averaged 7.8 points and 3.9 rebounds last season. Miller was part of the February trade that sent Ayo Dosunmu to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
ST BERNARD PARISH, LOUISIANA - JUNE 25: Mitchell Robinson rides in a hometown community parade honoring him as a member of the NBA champion New York Knicks on June 25, 2026 in St Bernard Parish, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mitchell Robinson, the longest-tenured Knick, is drawing googly eyes from suitors in free agency, and recent reports suggest a return to New York is increasingly unlikely.
Robinson has been with the organization since New York selected him with the 36th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Eight years later, he finally helped deliver the franchise’s first championship in more than five decades. If his time in New York is over, it will mark the end of an almost Dickensian rags-to-riches tale.
The NBA’s salary cap complicates things for New York, which appears to be keen on keeping him. Mitch (or the Blockness Monster, if you like) is an unrestricted free agent. The Knicks are operating under a mandate from team owner Jim Dolan to stay below the second apron.
The apron severely limits roster-building flexibility through restrictions on trades, free agency, and future draft management. Because of that, New York simply cannot match the type of offer another team puts forth without making a Sophie’s Choice between Mitch and Landry Shamet. ShamWow played a terrific season for New York, was clutch during their historic playoff run, and now would also like a fair contract, thank you very much.
Several teams have already been linked to Robinson. The Brooklyn Nets (now with more Julius Randle!) reportedly have legitimate interest, while the Los Angeles Lakers (still with all that LeBron energy) are also viewed as a potential destination. Sacramento has been mentioned as another logical landing spot, particularly with former Knicks executive Scott Perry running the Kings’ front office. Regarding that last one: it is hard to believe that Mitch would leave the championship glory of NYC for the hinterlands of the NBA, but money is money, honey.
In New York, Karl-Anthony Towns is the starting center. Robinson is an elite backup who closes plenty of games, but he isn’t guaranteed starter’s minutes. Elsewhere? He could walk into a starting job. That’s an enticing recruiting pitch, especially when those teams also have considerably more financial flexibility than the Knicks.
Losing Robinson would sting for reasons beyond nostalgia. The Knicks watched Isaiah Hartenstein leave for Oklahoma City when the Thunder outbid them (and OKC just doubled down on its investment in him, so no buyer’s remorse there). Watching another elite defensive center leave because another team can simply offer more money would be one to file under “maddening.”
To be fair, there are reasons New York may be reluctant to hand Robinson another lengthy, expensive contract. At a freshly celebrated 28 years old, he has battled injuries throughout his career. Ankle problems, foot injuries, hand fractures, knee issues, and assorted ailments have cost him well over 250 regular-season games since entering the league. Even after appearing in 60 games during the championship season, durability remains one of the biggest questions surrounding his future. Big men age in dog years, remember.
That makes a long-term, high-dollar commitment difficult, particularly for a team already facing the apron constraint. If the big Cajun departs, the Knicks’ in-house depth chart becomes straightforward: 1) Karl-Anthony Towns. 2) Ariel Hukporti…and not much else. Maybe they recommit to Trey Jemison? He has beastly dimensions (6’10”, 270 lbs.) but has yet to prove he’s more than a scrimmage player in the league.
The organization clearly likes Hukporti. The 24-year-old showed flashes of solid play throughout the season and even handled short playoff stints without becoming dizzy from the spotlight. His mobility, rim protection, and energy have given the Knicks reason to believe there’s real upside. He has also looked exactly like what he is at times: a young center still learning NBA basketball.
Whether Leon Rose & Co. believes Huk can contribute 18-22 meaningful minutes every night may determine how aggressively it tries to cling to Mitch—or pursue another veteran.
It’s telling, perhaps, that the Knicks didn’t seem particularly concerned on draft night. They momentarily acquired young center Ugonna Onyenso, who might develop into a fine NBA center, before immediately flipping him to Detroit for cash considerations. That tells us Leon and Wes did not feel desperate to add another developmental big.
If Robinson walks, a few veteran names have surfaced. One who is high on the radar is Nick Richards, who finished the season with Chicago and is now an unrestricted free agent. He is a clean fit because he does not need touches, protects the rim, and operates well as a roller. The front office liked him in the past, and he could be acquired while remaining under the second-apron threshold.
What remains of Kevon Looney might offer championship experience and meet the general criteria on paper, but the word on the street is that he’s mostly cooked and certainly would not be a long-term solution. Other targets floating around the market include Robert “Time Lord” Williams and Marvin Bagley III. These guys all feel more like contingency plans, no?
If Robinson ultimately signs elsewhere, Banner Night will be bittersweet. He will forever be remembered as one of the franchise’s great homegrown success stories and a key contributor to a championship. Hell, everybody loves him—his hometown in Louisiana held a parade for him on Friday. But from a basketball operations standpoint, his departure would immediately force the brass into Plan B . . . or C . . . or D. . . .
So, let’s use this space to chat about it this weekend, family. What would you do? Do you trust Hukporti in a larger role? Would you pursue Richards, Looney, Time Lord, or another veteran? Or would you prioritize finding Robinson’s long-term successor another way? Air it out in the comments below.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 18: Dean Kremer #64 of the Baltimore Orioles prepares to pitch during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Triple-A: Durham (Rays) 4, Norfolk Tides 1
Rehabbing major leaguer Dean Kremer gave this one a good shove, with 6.2 scoreless innings where he gave up only two hits and a walk, notching eight strikeouts along the way. This was an efficient outing as well, as it only took him 79 pitches to do all of that. This was his second outing of this rehab assignment. I’d guess he’ll get a couple more just to be sure he’s built back up all the way, but this was a great step along the way.
Unfortunately for the Tides, reliever Josh Walker managed to give up three runs in a 1.1 inning stint, all of which scored in one swing on a three-run home run.
Tides batters were limited to just six hits across the whole game. Half of these were picked up by Enrique Bradfield, who managed to steal four bases across those three times on base. That’s fun. Creed Willems had two hits. Also fun. The Tides were 0-9 with RISP. That’s less fun. The Dylan Beavers rehab assignment is also not fun. He went 0-4 and is batting .091 in his games with Norfolk.
Former Orioles prospect Michael Forret tossed five scoreless innings for the Bulls.
Cade Povich does not have as good of a rehab start to talk about as Kremer did. Povich, facing Double-A competition, was touched up for four runs (three earned) over only 3.2 innings. The minor leaguers got five hits and drew one walk against him.
This game also featured some bulk relief from Joseph Dzierwa. Not great, unfortunately, as three hits and three walks across three innings led to two runs scoring. He did strike out five guys, so there’s that.
Chesapeake’s offense did not have enough to overcome this, probably since they left ten men on base. One guy who was making good things happen was catcher Ethan Anderson, on base three times with a two-run home run, his 15th dinger of the season. My guy Aron Estrada took an 0-5. He’s still my guy.
High-A: Wilmington (Nationals) 8, Frederick Keys 6
Finally, some offense! And yet the Orioles affiliate still lost. Starting pitcher Yeiber Cartaya failed to get through the first inning, taking 38 pitches to get two outs and give up two runs. The Keys actually still led at this point, given that they’d scored three runs in their half of the first inning. That included the 21st home run of the season by the big man, Victor Figueroa, who leads the entire organization. Figueroa also had a double. He’s OPSing .955 through 64 games.
Though the game was tied in the fourth, Frederick scored again in the fifth and sixth to retake the lead before some unfortunate relief sent the game the wrong direction.
Last year’s third round pick RJ Austin, who’s usually an outfielder, made his second start at third base. Austin led off the game and he had two hits and two stolen bases. Ike Irish, serving as the first baseman, was on base three times and also stole a base.
This one was suspended after only five innings completed due to wet grounds in Fayetteville. Not a whole lot to say about that. The one Delmarva run scored with catcher Miguel Rodriguez hitting his first home run of the season across 19 games played for the Shorebirds and another eight for the FCL rookie team.
That’s four losses by the full-season affiliates. Bummer! If you want to feel a little bit better about the farm, the FCL Orioles team was victorious with an 11-2 score, and each of the DSL Orioles teams (Orange and Black) were also victorious. Orange blasted a Cleveland team for 23 hits.
Saturday’s Scheduled Games
Norfolk: vs. Durham, 6:35. Starter: Nestor German
Chesapeake: vs. Harrisburg, 6:35. Starter: Sebastian Gongora
Frederick: at Wilmington, 6:05. Starter: Boston Bateman
Delmarva: at Fayetteville, 7:05. Starter: Brayan Orrantia
Jun 11, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) watches from the dugout during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Good day fellow Mariners fans, and happy Saturday!
The M’s still haven’t scored 4 runs in a game, but they won anyway in the series opener against the Guardians last night by a 3-1 final.
Between Cole Young and Colt Emerson, it’s been a road trip of fantastic homecomings. Who’s your pick to click tonight and why is it fellow son of Ohio Dominic Canzone?
In Mariners news…
Last night provided a rare benches-clearing incident in a minor league game.
Amidst yet another lost season, the Angels made the decision to fire general manager Perry Minasian and have installed former Cardinals POBO John Mozeliak as their interim GM.
The Mets decided they had to do something as well, canning manager Carlos Mendoza and appointing Andy Green as interim manager.
Alex Coffey at The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote about Roy Halladay’s final spring before his death, during which he rediscovered his love for baseball by coaching his son’s high school team.
Anders’ pick…
Last night was the first night of the NHL Draft, with the Toronto Maple Leafs selecting Gavin McKenna first overall. The pick was announced by none other than Justin Bieber. This got me thinking: who would be the perfect celebrity to host the MLB Draft?
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 7: Miguel Bleis #44 of the Boston Red Sox bats during a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 7, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before many were in their seats at Polar Park, Seth Martinez had already been tagged for a home run and five runs from the Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers AAA) and it didn’t get any less ugly from there. Noah Song also gave up five runs in relief, and the WooSox only had five hits on the night. A couple of depth catchers made their presence somewhat known in the lineup tonight: 24-year-old Juan Montero pinch hit for Jason Delay and Andrew Knizner, who played for the Cardinals for parts of five seasons, DH’d and got his first knock in the organization. Also, Mikey Romero had his fifth home run of 2026. Still, all of that was inconsequential, as the damage was done far, far too early.
John Holobetz continues to string together good starts with another six-inning, three-hit performance in Hartford facing the Yard Goats. (Rockies AA) The Sea Dogs’ offense, besides Miguel Bleis, had just three hits on the night. In fact, Bleis was about the only one keeping it interesting. He led off the game with a home run and also hit another solo shit in the top of the fifth. Sadly, there were already two outs in the inning and Portland could not get any further momentum going to extend their lead, and the bullpen allowed runs in both the seventh and eighth innings. Miguel Bleis has just six home runs on the season and an OPS hovering around just .650, but Friday night was a nice reminder he can have some power.
Kyson Witherspoon pitched six one-run innings but the bullpen let Asheville (Astros High-A) back in the game and then some. It’s disheartening because Steven Brooks just had a solid bullpen outing, but Friday he allowed four hits, five runs and recorded just three outs. Ronny Hernandez and Antonio Anderson (the latter of whom is celebrating a birthday Sunday) both had home runs to pad the lead, but the lead couldn’t stay intact.
The RidgeYaks will be seeing 3-ball counts in their nightmares for a few days. Brady Tygart walked five Pelicans (Cubs A) while recording just five outs, and it didn’t get any better. All together, the pitching staff allowed FIFTEEN walks on the night and was also extremely easy to run on, allowing five stolen bases. As handily as Salem was beat, and as helpful as Andrews Opata (who had a stolen base of his own, his 31st on the season) ended up getting an RBI knock was at the time, this game could have been a lot uglier had Myrtle Beach not stranded fifteen. Yuck.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 08: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic (50) on the mound against the Detroit Tigers on May 8th, 2026 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
He spoke before the season about wanting to use his fastballs more. I’m assuming that was his four-seamer, sinker and cutter. He’s thrown them about 52 percent of the time last year after throwing them about 50 percent of the time last year. I would argue that the extra two percent is somewhat meaningless. So I’m not sure why he’s veered from that, other than the fact that his curve is theoretically his best pitch. It’s one of the highest-spin pitches in all of baseball. Last year, hitters hit .220 with a .352 SLG on it. Coming into yesterday, they were hitting .214 with a .339 SLG. But still, he threw it 18.2 percent of the time last year and had thrown it 14.6 percent of the time this season. To his credit, the sinker, four-seamer and cutter have led the way, while last year, the curve was his number two.
The Royals’ lefty was a great story after converting from relief to put up a pristine ERA in over 100 innings in 2025, but he’s struggled to stay on the mound this year. He’s coming back from shoulder and elbow issues and will have to at least demonstrate that those joints are working. Teams will also have to wonder how much of last year’s work was a fluke, given only slightly above-average strikeout rates and well below average velocity. He’s worth a shot in this year’s market either way.
Bubic is an impending free agent on a Kansas City team that sits 14 games under .500. He’d be an obvious trade candidate if he’s healthy. The southpaw has missed the past five weeks with elbow soreness. He began a rehab assignment a couple weeks ago, reported shoulder discomfort, and was pulled off. That was a seemingly minor issue, as Bubic resumed his rehab stint with Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
The recent history of arm issues is an obvious red flag. Bubic also has a 2023 Tommy John surgery and a ’25 rotator cuff strain on his medical chart. He’s a good pitcher when healthy, making an All-Star team and posting a 2.55 ERA season last year. An uncharacteristic jump in walks has pushed his ERA to 4.11 across 50 1/3 frames this season. He has fanned a quarter of opponents and would fit into the middle of a contending rotation at full strength.
Prospects change constantly and emerge quickly so it is possible someone could help sooner than later. But where it stands today it does not look good. Not only does this raise concerns on internal help but also an ability to pull off a trade using high-end prospects to bring back major league talent, leading to my next question.
How much do you trust this organization with trading for major league talent? The trade for Ragans, based on talent alone, was a home run. No doubt about it. But the other trades in recent memory have not been what you would hope for.
While I don’t think Schreiber would command a top prospect, he could help the Royals net a “turnaround” project or two in return.
Two names that could be included in a Schreiber deal are outfielder Robert Hassell III and pitcher Andry Lara. Both are post-hype prospects who have failed to do much in the Majors and are currently languishing in Triple-A.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 26: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with Ha-Seong Kim #7 after the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on June 26, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Early contact seemed to promise an offensive outburst. Like a summer storm, clouds gathered their arms and threatened rain in the 1st. Distant light flashed, thunder rumbled under the evening’s dark breath. Luis Arraez and Rafael Devers peppered extra base hits off faraway walls in center and right-center. Loud doubles that would’ve disappeared over walls in the majority of Major League parks. Jung Hoo Lee smoked a liner past Braves’ starter Reynaldo López’s ear that seemed destined for the outfield — if not for Ha-Seong Kim’s ensnaring lunge into the gap.
Instead of a second run scoring, the Giants first half-inning ended, and the burgeoning storm dissipated — because there are no summer storms in San Francisco, just the smothering, knock-down damp of the marine layer. Rare is the release, when the heavens open up and rain buckets down, refreshing everything below. There is no cool, just blanket-wrapped-around-the-knees cold in San Francisco.
Devers’s RBI double scored Casey Schmitt from first in the 1st, and that was it for the Giants in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Braves.
There certainly could’ve been more production. More bang and boom, but the order went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They left 9 runners on base, not to mention the outs they ran into on the base paths.
Excited after his lead-off double, Arraez either misread the ball off Bryce Eldridge’s bat, or lost where shortstop Kim was positioned behind him, but the decision to bolt for third on contact got him thrown out there for the first out of the first inning. While Devers’ double did make-up for some of that mistake, the gaffe just felt all too familiar. A here-we-go-again type thing, a reminder that the game of baseball was a buttered watermelon for this team: one second it can be safely secured in their hands, the next, it’s split open and splattered over the pavement.
The disappearing baserunning act returned in the 2nd. Willy Adames was doubled up by centerfielder Michael Harris after he couldn’t scramble back to first in time after a botched hit-and-run play. He picked up where the ball was struck too late, hesitating for a moment near second, thinking the bloop might drop, before cartoonishly turning-tail when he realized the trouble he was in.
That was a tough position to be in — but those are the kinds of cruel breaks a team gets when they’re knee-deep in the muck. Aggressive plays turn around and bite the hand. Leadoff knocks are somehow just outs yet to be recorded. Extra base hits have a rapdily expiring shelf-life. Meanwhile, for the NL East leading Braves, baserunners seem to multiply. Dinky flares turn into runners in scoring position. As Duane Kuiper put it from the booth: Atlanta was winning the battle of 90 feet. Sandwiched between Arraez getting thrown out at third and Adames getting thrown out at first, Austin Riley’s one-out bloop single became an unearned double after starter Trevor McDonald balked him over into scoring position. Immediately after Dom Smith slapped a single up the middle to tie the game.
In the 3rd, Atlanta would take the lead on another gift of 90 feet after Arraez scuttled a routine double play with a throwing error that skipped past Devers at first into the visiting dugout. Instead of two outs and the bases empty, Mauricio Dubón stood in scoring position and continued to advance around the bases on a groundout and Ozzie Albies’s single. Albies would add on again in the 5th with a sac fly set-up by a Dubón infield single and a Matt Olson double — the Braves’ first, and only, extra base hit of the game.
The ball was hit hard, the wind wasn’t making things easier — still, it seemed catchable. Lee, patrolling centerfield, was asked to go to the wall again and couldn’t. He appeared to get spooked by the fence and pulled up short. Maybe that was wise in the long-term, it’s just the tentativeness isn’t what the Giants needed in the short-term.
That double shouldn’t have been decisive. After the 5th, Atlanta’s offense produced little while clouds gathered and darkened overhead for San Francisco. Facing a two-run deficit, the tying run was either on base or at the plate for a hitter in every home frame but the 9th.
Catcher Drew Cavanaugh, in his MLB debut, and number-9 hitter Victor Bericoto did their job. They helped load the bases with one-out in the 5th and reached second-and-third with one out in the 7th.
Both times Bryce Eldridge stood at the plate with a chance to tie the game (or more) with a hit, or at the very least, score a run with something as simple as a fly out. Both times he came up empty. Eldridge couldn’t lay off the disappearing sliders from Hurston Waldrep in the 5th and went down chasing. In the 7th, in an unfavorable matchup against lefty Dylan Lee and not wanting to go too deep into the count, he swung at the first pitch he saw and popped it up to second. Schmitt couldn’t pick-up his teammate and deliver a knock of consequence in either instance.
McDonald finished his night with a nasty front door sinker to bag Riley, pitching into the 6th for the first time in four starts while snapping a string of games in which he walked at least three. The outing was a step in the right direction for the starter after a handful of rough-and-ragged appearances. A trio of relievers — Matt Gage, Sam Hentges, and Adrian Houser — also held their ground over the final 3.2 innings. Frustratingly, considering the hole the team was already in when they took over and what happened on Thursday, the ground they protected so admirably wasn’t worth much.
The pitching did a decent job of holding the Braves at bay, but the bats couldn’t find a way to storm back or storm ahead. The result: another disconnected performance for these Giants.
The Colorado Avalanche may have completed the bulk of their offseason work, but Joe Sakic made it clear Friday that the front office is still looking to add before training camp.
Speaking ahead of the opening round of the NHL Draft, Sakic said Colorado hopes to bolster its forward depth while potentially adding another defenseman, although the team's salary cap situation will ultimately determine what is possible.
"We'd still like to sign one or two forwards and a (defenseman)," Sakic said.
After creating cap flexibility through multiple trades over the past two weeks, the Avalanche used some of that space to sign veteran defensemen Brent Burns and Brett Kulak. Even so, Colorado has less than $6 million in cap space, making value signings the most realistic option once free agency opens.
Sakic acknowledged that several difficult roster decisions were made with the salary cap—not performance—in mind.
"Those decisions for us really were cap decisions, free up some space. We couldn't have brought everybody back," Sakic said.
With much of the roster now appearing set, attention now shifts to the two young forwards Colorado acquired from the Nashville Predators. Both Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux are expected to compete for full-time NHL roles next season.
Svechkov, the former first-round pick, drew praise from Sakic for the way he impacts the game beyond the scoresheet.
"Svechkov, he's like a (Chris) Drury," Sakic said. "He's not quite at Drury's level yet, but we think he can get there, and he's only 23."
L'Heureux brings a completely different element. The hard-nosed winger has built a reputation as an agitator who thrives on playing with an edge—something Colorado felt it lacked during its sweep at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final.
"He's going to be exciting for us," Sakic said. "He's type of player that we were looking for. He'd be great for us, we probably wish we had that player in the playoffs."
The challenge for L'Heureux will be channeling that physical style without crossing the line.
The Hockey News previously reported that one of the Avalanche's biggest shortcomings against Vegas was its inability to match the Golden Knights' physicality. L'Heureux undoubtedly addresses that need, but he also arrives with an extensive disciplinary history.
During three seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL, L'Heureux was suspended nine times, including a 10-game suspension after spearing fans following a game. In 2020 alone, he served four separate suspensions. Overall, he has been suspended 12 times throughout his junior and professional career, costing him 39 games.
His NHL résumé has been much cleaner, although he was suspended three games last season for slew-footing Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon. If L'Heureux can maintain his trademark physicality while staying out of the penalty box and avoiding supplemental discipline, he could become exactly the type of player Colorado believes it was missing in the postseason.
The NHL Draft began Friday and concludes Saturday. The Avalanche hold 10 selections across Rounds 2 through 7 as they look to replenish a prospect pool that has been depleted by years of aggressive, win-now moves.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 24: (L-R) Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton attend the Los Angeles premiere of A24's "The Invite" at DGA Theatre on June 24, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brianna Bryson/WireImage)
Hickory starter Dan Keaney made his second start for the Crawdads this season, and still hasn’t allowed a run, going 4.1 IP, striking out six and walking one.
Yolfran Catsillo homered. Dewar Tovar homered and walked. Marco Argudin drew three walks and stole a base. Angel Arredondo had a hit. Daniel Flames had a hit and a walk.
Caden Scarborough started for Hub City and had his first rough outing of the season for the Spartanburgers, giving up four runs in four innings, walking two, striking out three and giving up a homer. Izack Tiger made his second appearance for Hub City this season, striking out two in a shutout inning.
Gleider Figuereo was 2 for 5. Maxton Martin doubled.
Frisco starter Dalton Pence allowed four runs in five innings, striking out five, walking two and giving up a homer.
Rehabbing Evan Carter played center and went 2 for 2 with a walk and a homer before his scheduled departure from the game. Arturo Disla was 2 for 5 with a double. Ian Moller was 2 for 5 with a double. Max Wagner, a second round pick by the Orioles in 2022 who the Rangers signed back in April after Baltimore released him at the end of spring training, had a career game with three homers.
Round Rock starter Josh Stephan went seven innings, allowing four runs, walking two and striking out three. Luis Curvelo allowed two runs in an inning, walking one, hitting one and striking out two. Emiliano Teodo alwo walked one, hit one and struck out two in an inning, though he allowed just one run.
Josh Smith was 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. Cam Cauley had a hit and a stolen base. Aaron Zavala had a hit.
COVERS INTEL: Randy Vasquez ranks in the eighth percentile in Pitcher Run Value.
Freddie Freeman
Byron Buxton
Chase Burns
