The world champs have the No. 24, No. 31, and No. 55 picks in this week’s draft.
Of note, the Knicks have been talking to teams about deals that include the No. 24 pick as recently as Tuesday morning.
WHO HAVE THEY WORKED OUT IN THE NO. 24 TO NO. 31 RANGE?
Michigan PF Morez Johnson Jr.
Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas
Duke wing Isaiah Evans
St. John’s big man Zuby Ejiofor
UConn forward Alex Karaban
Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile
Houston guard Emanuel Sharp
South Florida big Izaiyah Nelson
Virginia big Ugonna Onyenso
WHAT ARE POSITIONS OF NEED?
That depends on what the Knicks plan to do in free agency.
Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, Jeremy Sochan, Mohamed Diawara (restricted), Ariel Hukporti (restricted), Kevin McCullar Jr. (restricted) and Trey Jemison (restricted) are free agents. Jose Alvarado has a player option. Miles McBride is eligible for an extension.
Apr 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) shows emotion after a play against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena. / Brett Davis - Imagn Images
If Robinson and Shamet are back, the Knicks probably look at size on the wing or a player who can handle the ball. Ejiofor has some fans in the organization. If they think they are losing Robinson or Hukporti, maybe the Knicks draft a center? Tarris Reed Jr. from UConn would be a strong pick in New York’s range.
**Owner James Dolan said recently on WFAN that he doesn’t want to spend into the second apron. I have to think that Dolan was mistaken, referencing the penalties a team incurs when it is in the second apron for three out of five seasons. The Knicks would need to get into the second apron to re-sign Robinson and Shamet. So it wouldn’t make sense for the club to limit spending at below the second apron. Especially a team coming off of a championship whose best player (Jalen Brunson) took a pay cut to help build out the roster. If Dolan is serious about the second apron, it will significantly impact the Knicks’ offseason.
WHO HAVE THEY WORKED OUT IN THE NO. 55/UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT RANGE?
The No. 24 pick is their own first-rounder – which is a rarity for the franchise. As things currently stand, the next time the Knicks have their own first round pick is in 2030. They will send their 2027, 2029 and 2031 first-rounders to Brooklyn as part of the Mikal Bridges trade. They also have a first-round pick swap with the Nets in 2028.
The No. 31 pick is from Washington as part of the 2022 NBA Draft night trade of the No. 11 pick to Oklahoma City. The Knicks will get Washington’s second-round pick in 2026 and 2027 as part of that trade. The deal was executed as part of an effort to clear enough cap space to sign Brunson in free agency.
The No. 55 pick is New York’s own selection. Including the 2026 draft, the Knicks have at least six second-round picks in the next three drafts.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on after a three-point basket as teammates celebrates during the second quarter of an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at Crypto.com Arena on February 24, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the Lakers are set to potentially have a lot of cap space this summer, it comes with a lot of moving parts attached.
That cap space is only created if the team renounces the cap holds on certain players — namely LeBron James — and only matters if they have players they want to sign or acquire via trade. It’s going to be a juggling act for the Lakers that could, and likely will, leave someone as the odd man out.
Could that be Rui Hachimura? The wing is set for a big payday after a strong regular season and playoffs as a shooter. In a recent piece for ESPN, Dave McMenamin revealed that some around the league wonder if Rui might have to look elsewhere for that payday.
The biggest unknown is swingman Rui Hachimura. The 28-year-old forward followed up a strong regular season (11.5 points per game on 51.4% from the field and 44.3% from 3) with a brilliant playoffs (17.5 points on 54.9% overall and 56.9% from 3) while playing on an $18.3 million expiring deal.
Several league sources told ESPN they believe Hachimura could be the odd man out and that he might need to explore the market to find a desired deal.
The market for Rui is almost certainly going to be at the mid-level exception, given how few teams have cap space. That will allow the Lakers an idea of what to expect in his next contract and plan accordingly.
But Rui and the rest of the free agents aren’t obligated to wait on the Lakers. If he wants a deal quickly while the team wants to wait to see how things across the league play out, that deal might have to come from some other team.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 1: Edmundo Sosa #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies tags out Daylen Lile #4 of the Washington Nationals attempting to steal second in the top of the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park on April 1, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Nationals 6-5. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a rubber match for the series yesterday afternoon, the Nationals hung around against the Rays, taking a 3-2 lead into the 7th inning, but were unable to hold onto it, as a Jonny DeLuca 2-run blast off Orlando Ribalta in the bottom of the 7th gave the Rays a 1-run lead they would hold onto for the 4-3 win. The Nats didn’t play bad baseball by any means this series, but still were only able to take 1 of the 3 games, bringing them to 40-38 on the season, now a half game back of the third wild card spot in the National League.
Heading home after a short weekend road trip, the Nats are now faced with what is, for my money, one of their most critical series of the entire decade so far. Having blown away everyone’s expectations so far for where they would be in the standings by late June, the Nats now will do battle with the Phillies in a 4-game set at home, one that could set the tone for the rest of the season.
Take 3 out of 4 (or better), and you bring yourself right next to or above the Phillies in playoff positioning, while sending a message this team is for real. Take only 1 out of 4 (or worse), and playoff dreams start to go back to “just wishful thinking”.
The Phillies are riding some good vibes into this series, having just taken the weekend series from the Mets, which included both a Bryce Harper cycle and a Kyle Schwarber 3 home run game in the 15-3 win on Saturday. The offense hasn’t always been there at times for them this season, with the 4th fewest runs scored as a team in the NL, but the pitching staff has been strong, led by Cy Young candidate Cristopher Sanchez.
Game One – Monday 6:45 PM EST
PHI: TBD
After sending down Andrew Painter a few days ago, who had an ERA that started with a 7, the Phillies will have to get creative with their pitching tonight. Fangraphs lists RHP Alan Rangel, who has a 3.99 ERA in Triple A this season, as the probable starter, though no announcement has come of him joining the big league club yet.
WSH: LHP Foster Griffin (7-2, 3.32 ERA)
Game Two – Tuesday 6:45 PM EST
PHI: Jesus Luzardo (6-4, 4.20 ERA)
WSH: RHP Zack Littell (6-6, 5.45 ERA)
Luzardo had one of his better outings of the season last time out, throwing 7 innings of 2-run ball and striking out 9 Marlins in a win
Littell has run into trouble in his last 2 outings after a string of good ones, giving up a combined 9 runs, including 4 over 5 innings against the Royals.
Game Three – Wednesday 6:45 PM EST
PHI: RHP Aaron Nola (3-4, 5.71 ERA)
WSH: RHP Miles Mikolas (2-6, 5.47 ERA)
Nola hasn’t always been reliable for the Phillies in 2026, but he got the job done his last time out, with 5 innings of 2-run ball against the Mets in a no-decision.
Mikolas had been rolling in the month of June, but he ran into trouble in his last start against the Rays, giving up 5 runs over 6 innings of work in a loss.
Game Four – Thursday 6:45 PM EST
PHI: LHP Cristopher Sanchez (9-3, 1.80 ERA)
WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli (4-4, 4.07 ERA)
After carrying a scoreless innings streak up to 50 2/3 innings, Sanchez has come back to Earth a little, which still means for him 6 innings of 1 run ball in a win in his last start.
After being moved back from his Friday start to Saturday due to illness, it was clear Cavalli wasn’t 100% still, giving up 2 runs and walking 3 batters over 2 2/3 innings pitched.
Start Off Strong
The Phillies have their rotation lined up for games 2 through 4 of this series, but not tonight, as they likely will call up a starter from Triple A and hope they can get them through enough innings to save the bullpen for the rest of the series. It is critical that the Nationals’ lineup gets going early tonight and forces the Phillies to go to the pen early and burn through arms. Secure a big win tonight, and you only need to take 1 of the next 3 to secure at least a series split.
The Cubs swept the Mets at Wrigley Field in April and outscored them 18-7 in the three games.
Perhaps seeing the Mets again can get the Cubs back on a winning track.
For more on the Mets, here’s Chris McShane, manager of our SB Nation Mets site Amazin’ Avenue.
The 2026 Mets are an unmitigated disaster. When they played the Cubs at Wrigley earlier this season, they were in the midst of their twelve-game losing streak, and the best thing I can say about them is that they’ve been somewhat better than that in the two months since that streak ended. Still, they haven’t done nearly enough to climb out of the hole they dug. Injuries to Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Clay Holmes have played a significant part in the team’s extremely underwhelming performance, but it’s pretty clear that the roster that David Stearns built for the 2026 season — one that cost well over $300 million — is deeply flawed.
Things might not have been perfect if the Mets kept all of the big players they chose to move on from following the 2025 season, but it’s very hard not to dwell on the fact that the front office was very happy to let Pete Alonso walk and had no viable plan for replacing him. At the time of this writing, his 17 home runs and 119 wRC+ would have him tied for the team lead in home runs and second in wRC+ if he were still with the Mets. Did the Mets avoid some ugly years at the end of a long-term contract for Alonso? Sure. But it’s hard to give a damn about that when the team is owned by one of the richest people on the planet, one who happens to be building a casino in his team’s parking lot to get even richer.
As for this series, I can tell you that the Mets’ lineup can look functional in any given game, but when they get off to a slow start, they tend to take some of the weakest at-bats you’ve ever seen and go down silently. Of the four starting pitchers the Cubs will face, Nolan McLean and Sean Manaea are the better two at the moment. Both have had struggles at different points of this season but have been better of late. Kodai Senga, however, has been awful outside of his first two starts of the season, and Freddy Peralta is coming off the worst start of his career, one that left him with a 4.83 ERA that feels like the cherry on top of the Mets’ horrendous offseason.
Fun facts
The Cubs are two losses away from 200 against the Mets at New York, where they have won 186 and tied one, for a winning percentage of .484.
They had percentages of .556 (10-8) at the Polo Grounds and .470 (146-165-1) at Shea Stadium. At Citi Field, they are .537 (29-25), but .400 (4-6) since 2023. Last year, they lost two of three.
Their last sweep visiting the Mets was three games in 2022. Other recent sweeps were three games in 2019, four in 2018 and three in 2015.
The Cubs were swept in four games in 2016. In 2021, they lost three, then won the fourth.
In all 783 games between the teams, the Cubs have outscored the Mets by just four runs, 3,383-3,379. They lead the rivalry 402-379, with two ties.
NOTE: At the time this series preview posted, the Cubs did not have a starter listed for Thursday’s series finale. It would be Ben Brown’s turn, but it’s possible the team might activate Matthew Boyd from the injured list — he last pitched Saturday in a rehab start for Triple-A Iowa, so he’d be on four days’ rest — and save Brown to open the series in Milwaukee on Friday. As always, we await developments.
Times & TV channels
Monday: 6:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, also streaming on Peacock (outside the Cubs and Mets market territories)
Tuesday: 6:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Wednesday: 6:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Thursday: 6:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
The Cubs have won six of their last nine, which is pretty good (especially after that 7-22 slide!). Meanwhile, the Mets are 5-7 in their last 12 games.
The Mets, though, are better at home (18-18) than on the road (16-25). And several of the pitching matchups here appear to favor the Cubs.
The Cubs really need to keep stacking series wins so I’ll say they will do that and win three of four.
Up next
The Cubs head to Milwaukee for a three-game divisional matchup with the Brewers beginning Friday evening.
uMay 31, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. (25) bunts the ball during the seventh inning against Los Angeles Angels at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images | Pablo Robles-Imagn Images
The Rays have been an analytical team for decades, maximizing the talent on their payroll-deprived roster for years. After five consecutive playoff appearances from 2019-23 that included a pennant, the team missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. But they have rebounded this year with a terrific start using an old formula familiar to Royals fans – put the ball in play and make things happen on the bases.
The Rays and Royals are the top two teams in baseball in contact rate, but while the Royals have the second-highest flyball rate, the Rays put the ball on the ground with the fourth-highest groundball rate. The Rays also go the opposite way more than any team except the Brewers. They are eighth in stolen bases and Baserunning Runs, and have attempted and executed more sacrifice hits than any team in baseball.
That being said, they have only done slightly better offensively than the Royals. And they have faded lately after a hot month of May, going 7-11 this month.
Kansas City Royals (32-46) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (43-31) at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Yandy Díaz is third in all of baseball in batting average at .326, and he is hitting .364/.439/.653 in home games. Junior Caminero is hitting .291/.417/.468 against lefties. Jonathan Aranda is a career .324/.324/.486 in 11 games against the Royals.
Speedster Chandler Simpson has a 10.8 percent strikeout rate, tenth-lowest among qualified hitters, and his 58 percent groundball rate is the highest in baseball. He is hitting just .125/.169/.125 over his last 19 games. Cedric Mullins has the highest flyball rate in baseball at 59 percent. Simpson is one of the best defenders in baseball in the outfield, by Outs Above Average, while Caminero is the second-worst defender at any position.
Drew Rasmussen has the 11th-highest strikeout rate and lowest walk rate among all qualified starters. His 2.59 ERA is second-lowest in the American League. He has a 49.3 percent groundball rate, ninth-highest among starters. Rasmussen has a 1.69 ERA over his last five starts, including striking out a career-high 13 batters on June 10 against the Red Sox.
Shane McClanahan missed the last two seasons due to injury, but the two-time All-Star has picked up where he left off. He has a 2.05 ERA in six home starts this year, and lefties are hitting just .133/.235/.178 against him. He had his shortest outing of the year his last time out, exiting in the fourth inning after giving up a career-high five walks. He has a 2.30 ERA in three career starts against the Royals.
Griffin Jax was a closer to the Twins, but the Rays have converted him to a starting pitcher. He has slowly ramped up, but has yet to go more than five innings in a start. Salvador Perez is just 2-for-17 (.118) in his career against Jax.
Ian Seymour is also a former reliever who has slowly ramped up to starting, pitching a season-high five innings in his last start against the Nationals. He mostly throws a changeup and sweeper, only mixing in his 91 mph fastball 22 percent of the time. Opponents are hitting just .171 against his sweeper with a 42 percent whiff rate.
The Rays’ bullpen has struggled with a 4.53 ERA and a 4.76 FIP. They do have the fourth-lowest rate of allowing inherited runners to score. Bryan Baker has been a terrific pickup, and his 19 saves are third-most in baseball. Kevin Kelly has a 58.9 percent groundball rate, 11th-highest among relievers. All-Star pitcher Craig Kimbrel has given up one run in three innings since joining the Rays following his release from the Mets.
The Rays are glad to be back at Tropicana Field after a year away when the stadium was being repaired following Hurricane Milton. They are 26-10 at home this year, by far the best home record in baseball. The Royals swept all three games in St. Pete last year, and have not lost a series here since 2022.
Jul 18, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third base Nolan Arenado (28) looks on in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
As the St. Louis Cardinals prepare to open a series at Busch Stadium against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday night, they also welcome back Nolan Arenado. We all have our memories of Nolan’s time with the St. Louis Cardinals, but I’d like to focus on one aspect of the man that had nothing to do with hie performance on the field. Nolan Arenado proved to the St. Louis Cardinals fans that he was and is a man of his word.
I remember February 1, 2021 like it was yesterday. I had a fellow baseball friend who was familiar with the Colorado Rockies that the St. Louis Cardinals were about to pull off a blockbuster trade to bring the likely future Hall of Fame third baseman to St. Louis. Once the details were released, I was floored at what then President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak was able to pull off. The St. Louis Cardinals received Nolan Arenado and mammoth cash considerations to the tune of $51 million dollars in exchange for LHP Austin Gomber, INF Elehuris Montero, RHP Tony Locey, INF Mateo Gil and RHP Jake Sommers.
My only concern at the time of the trade was the possibility of Nolan Arenado using the opt-out options that remained in his contract. I can’t remember which sports writer asked Nolan during one of the online interviews after the trade was announced, but the issue of the opt-out was brought up and Nolan said that he had no interest in using it. He said he had always admired the Cardinals and wanted to end his career in St. Louis.
Nolan Arenado had one opt-out option remaining in his Colorado Rockies contract and he was convinced to waive his no-trade clause and accept the St. Louis Cardinals trade by being given an additional opt-out option after the 2022 season. I remember looking at the third base market at the time thinking that Nolan could have made a fortune as a free agent. If you remember, Arenado was 3rd in the MVP vote after the 2022 season. However, in late October of 2022, Nolan Arenado said he would not opt-out of his St. Louis Cardinals contract. Even with his promises to stay in St. Louis, I was genuinely surprised that Nolan chose to stay with the Cardinals instead of obtaining an even bigger payday. I was already a Nolan Arenado fan, but those choices to honor his word made me an even bigger one.
We are all aware of the offensive decline in Nolan Arenado’s performance his final two seasons in St. Louis that was at least partially due to nagging injuries that he chose to play through. Natural age decline no doubt played a part also, but at the end of the day one of my best memories of Nolan Arenado will always be his desire to become a St. Louis Cardinal and keeping his promise to play out his contract as long as the organization wanted him. I have no doubt he’ll get a hero’s welcome back to Busch Stadium Monday night. He has earned it.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 18: Colorado Rockies mascot "Dinger" waves a flag to signal the start of the Comfort Dental "Tooth Trot" costumed mascot race during a break in the action of a game between the Colorado Rockies and the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field on September 18, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sunday didn’t go quite as planned as the Red Sox fell short of completing a sweep of the Seattle Mariners. However, winning two out of three isn’t the worst outcome either. The Sox are playing .500 on the road. That’s about as much as you can ever hope for. The failure is the home record. That’s where they need a big turnaround. But for now, there’s another opportunity: the Colorado Rockies.
While Boston enters Denver at 31-44 and the Rockies have a 30-48 mark, the teams are not quite equals. The Red Sox have an expected record of 37-38 against the Rockies 31-47. And that’s because the Sox have a -7 run differential and the Rockies have a mark of -90. As they say, pitching, pitching, pitching.
With Brayan Bello still lost in the wilderness, Jake Bennet gets another big league start. Since returning from Triple A, the southpaw has tossed 10.0 innings while allowing 10 hits, 6 runs (4 and 2), while striking out 9 and walking just 1. The Sox pitching prospect hasn’t been overwhelmed by the majors so far and he’ll keep getting opportunities as long as Bello is searching for whatever it is he lost before 2026 began. Bennet will be opposed by Ryan Feltner. If you’re thinking “wasn’t he a Sox prospect years ago?” no that a was Durbin Feltman who is, in fact, still pitching in the American Association for Kansas City. Feltner is a righty in his sixth season with the Rockies. He’s sitting on a career 5.18 ERA / 4.52 FIP over 380 innings so this is who is he is. His two best starts of the season came back-to-back against the Giants and Brewers where he went six innings and allowed 0 runs and 1 run, respectively. Then the Cubs hit him hard twice, keeping Feltner from reaching 5 innings either time out.
Where would the 2026 Red Sox be without Sonny Gray? Probably behind the Rockies. What more is there to say? Gray is coming off a 7.0 inning, 3 run outing against the Blue Jays that the Sox lost 4-3. He’s only pitched in Coors Field once (2019) but allowed just a single run in 7.0 innings. Fingers crossed he remembers he thrived at altitude. He’ll face Sean Sullivan (again, not Sean O’Sullivan who made four starts for the Sox in 2016). A southpaw, Sullivan is two games into is MLB career. So far it’s been a little weird: 3 shutout innings against eh Athletics and 4.0 innings against eh Cubs where he allowed 8 runs. The 22 year old, who was born in Boston, was putting up a 5.60 ERA in Triple A in 11 starts. But that was in the Pacific Coast League where offense runs high.
Ranger Suarez took a no-hitter into the seventh innings last time out and left with just a single hit. There were a few walks, but it was a solid outing. One in a string of solid outings for Suarez who has given the Sox three wins in his last five starts, though he himself has just a single W. Suarez has made four appearances (3 starts) in Colorado and has a 3.20 ERA in 19.2 innings there. The most recent was a 6.2 shutout inning performance in 2025. Kyle Freeland is a 33-year-old lefty in his 10th season with the Rockies and is in the middle of, perhaps, his worst season. He’s allowed 56 runs in 66 innings along with 88 hits. He does have 57 Ks against 16 walks, which is good. Although it’s also that batters aren’t waiting for a walk. They’re just hitting the ball. He’s from Denver, was drafted by the Rockies in the first round back in 2016, has played for his hometown team his entire career and is signed through this season, although there is a vesting option if he hits 170 innings. Neither strikeout rate or (18.7%) nor walk rate (5.2%) are particularly high, so there’s still something there. He just tossed 7.1 innings against the Pirates and only gave up 2 runs. But before that was 6. And before holding Milwaukee to 3 runs he was tagged for 6 but the Angels and 8 by the Dodgers. This feels like the “Danger! High ERA pitcher about to dominate Red Sox” start of the series.
Catcher Hunter Goodman leads the team with 21 homers.
Old friend Brennan Bernadino has a 3.86 ERA in 30 innings.
First baseman TJ Rumfield is slashing .280/.360/.475.
These aren’t the old Rockies with a big offense backed up by,well, poor pitching. But with a new front office maybe that will start to change.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Monday, June 22: Jake Bennett (4.79 ERA / 3.35 FIP) vs. Ryan Feltner (5.05 ERA / 4.96 FIP)
Tuesday, June 23: Sonny Gray (3.12 ERA / 3.88 FIP) vs. Sean Sullivan (10.29 ERA / 6.96 FIP)
Wednesday, June 24: Ranger Suarez (2.93 ERA / 2.84 FIP) vs. Kyle Freeland (7.36 ERA / 5.09 FIP)
Boynton joined May's staff in 2024 after serving seven years as Oklahoma State's head coach. Boynton was on Brad Underwood's staff for a year at OSU before Underwood left for Illinois. Boynton was elevated to head coach and posted a 119-109 (.522) record, which included two NIT quarterfinals appearances and a trip to the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Prior to his time in Stillwater, Boynton worked for Underwood for three seasons at Stephen F. Austin. Boynton then followed Underwood to Oklahoma State for one season, before Underwood left for Illinois and Boynton was promoted to head coach.
Boynton has had assistant coaching stints at Furman, Coastal Carolina, Wofford, South Carolina, Stephen F. Austin and Oklahoma State, before being promoted to head coach at OSU after Brad Underwood took the Illinois job in 2017. In seven seasons at Stillwater, Boynton posted a 119-109 (.522) record, which included two NIT quarterfinals appearances and a trip to the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
What was Mike Boynton's role at Michigan?
Boynton was hired as an assistant coach on May's inaugural staff at Michigan in 2024, and also served as the program's defensive coordinator.
Mike Boynton NCAA Tournament record
Boynton has a 1-1 record at the NCAA Tournament as a head coach, with his lone win coming against No. 13 seed Liberty 69-60 in the first round in 2021. Oklahoma State subsequently fell to No. 12 seed Oregon State in the second round, sending the Cowboys packing.
It was a disappointing finish for the Cowboys, especially as they were led by future No. 1 overall pick and first-team All-NBA guard Cade Cunningham, now of the Detroit Pistons. It was the only season of his seven as a head coach that his team reached March Madness.
Mike Boynton coaching career timeline
Here's a look at Boynton's full coaching history, including each stop of his career:
2004-05: Furman (graduate assistant)
2005-07: Coastal Carolina (assistant)
2007-08: Wofford (associate head coach)
2008-13: South Carolina (assistant)
2013-16: Stephen F. Austin (assistant)
2016-17: Oklahoma State (assistant)
2017-2024: Oklahoma State (head coach)
2024-2026: Michigan (assistant)
2026-present: Michigan (interim head coach)
Where did Mike Boynton go to college?
Mike Boynton played four seasons at South Carolina, where he later served as an assistant coach from 2008-13.
He started 47 career games for the Gamecocks, averaging 4.3 points with 2.0 assists per game from 2000-04.
The Los Angeles Kings have unveiled their 2026-27 preseason schedule, a four-game exhibition slate highlighted by the return of the annual “Empire Classic” at Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 19 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The condensed schedule continues a division-heavy theme for Los Angeles, with matchups against familiar Pacific Division opponents and a pair of in-state meetings with the Anaheim Ducks, along with a home date against Utah.
Los Angeles Kings 2026-27 Preseason Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 19 — vs. Vegas Golden Knights — 6:00 p.m. (Toyota Arena, Ontario, CA)
Tuesday, Sept. 22 — vs. Utah Mammoth — 7:00 p.m. (Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA)
Wednesday, Sept. 23 — at Anaheim Ducks — 7:00 p.m. (Honda Center, Anaheim, CA)
Saturday, Sept. 26 — vs. Anaheim Ducks — 1:00 p.m. (Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA)
Tickets for the Empire Classic will be available via axs.com and ontarioreign.com. Fans looking to attend the Sept. 23 and Sept. 26 home exhibition games at Crypto.com Arena are encouraged to explore Season Ticket Membership options through lakings.com/memberships, while full preseason ticket details are available at lakings.com/preseason.
The schedule arrives amid a broader league-wide restructuring of the exhibition calendar. The NHL has trimmed the preseason from six games per team to four as part of a wider scheduling overhaul connected to the league’s move toward an 84-game regular season.
League officials have framed the change as a way to reduce injury risk in exhibition play while shifting emphasis toward meaningful regular-season games. The adjustment was agreed upon by the league and NHLPA under the current collective bargaining agreement, which runs through the 2029-30 season, following growing concern over high-profile injuries sustained during preseason action in recent years.
For fans who're already craving to end that hockey itch, help is on the way, but it'll arrive in September.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 14: Koa Peat #10 of the Arizona Wildcats drives against Chris Cenac Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars in the second half during the championship game of the Big 12 Tournament at T-Mobile Center on March 14, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re now a day away from the 2026 NBA Draft, set to be one of the best of the decade with a strong class of intriguing young prospects. The Sixers, as many of you know, hold the 22nd selection. With the draft closing in fast, talent evaluators from all corners are publishing their final mock drafts ahead of the big night. Let’s check in around the league and see who’s being projected to Philadelphia at 22.
Let’s keep things on our homecourt, starting with SB Nation. Ricky O’Donnell has the Sixers selecting Jayden Quaintance out of Kentucky, over names such as Ebuka Okorie, Allen Graves and Joshua Jefferson.
For those unfamiliar with Quaintance, my colleague Will Rucker wrote an excellent profile outlining his strengths and weaknesses. The basic rundown: Quaintance is a true bruiser with a legit frame at 6’10, 253 lbs, and a 7’5.25 wingspan. He’s still raw and just 18 years old, which suggests a longer development runway compared to most prospects in this range. The big red flag is health related, as he tore his ACL in February 2025. He played only a few games for Kentucky before being shut down entirely due to knee swelling during the ramp-up process.
Quaintance at 22 would be a big swing, but a healthy version could make this a pick people look back on fondly. He’d blend well alongside Joel Embiid, embracing the dirty work with rebounding and finishes around the basket. By most accounts, though, the knee is a real concern that could cause him to tumble well below 22. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo reported that ‘multiple team sources fear could cause [Quaintance] to miss time next season’. Will the Sixers be willing to take that chance? We’ll know soon enough.
Shifting over to ESPN, Jeremy Woo’s yearly mock draft has the Sixers selecting Ebuka Okorie over names such as Chris Cenac Jr., Henri Veesaar, Jayden Quaintance and Zuby Ejiofor.
For those unfamiliar with Okorie, Will Rucker also wrote his draft profile, which can be found here. The basic rundown: Okorie is a small guard (I already hear the comments) at 6’2.5 with a solid 6’7.75 wingspan, legit burst and shiftiness, and stellar ball handling. The red flags are defensive concerns, mainly tied to size rather than effort, and finishing around the basket. That said, he’s one of the better shooters and scorers in this draft, capable of creating his own shot. His numbers test well, and the eye test backs them up. He has one of the deeper bags in this class.
Okorie, in a vacuum, is a solid guard prospect. If the Sixers want a proven scorer, it’s hard to do much better than him. Most of the hesitation here would stem from his size, but after last season’s postseason run, I’d set fit concerns aside. This team just needs guys who can play. Not only can Okorie play, he might be the best prospect on the board at No. 22.
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman is one of the more renowned names in the draft world, and he just published his final intel-based mock draft. At 22, he has the Sixers selecting Chris Cenac Jr. over names such as Hannes Steinbach, Zuby Ejiofor and Meleek Thomas.
For those unfamiliar with Cenac, you can check out Greg Frank’s draft profile on him found here. The gist: he’s a legit big man with a 6’11 frame at 240 lbs. He’s a strong rebounder with a good motor, which bodes well for what the Sixers need. He’s also a strong athlete, capable of running the floor and finishing lobs. On top of that, he’s a willing jump shooter with good mechanics, which would hypothetically open up his game at the power forward position. His weaknesses mainly pertain to overall refinement. He’s a raw player who needs to be coached up to reach his ceiling, gets in foul trouble often, and doesn’t shoot great for his size.
Cenac has long been linked to the Sixers for obvious reasons. They simply need a better answer at backup center, with or without Embiid. Cenac has skills that should translate from day one, and if you believe in his upside, he should be able to play alongside Embiid or without him. It’s hard for me to see Cenac as the best player available at 22, but the theoretical fit is undeniable.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor published his mock draft 10.0, with the Sixers taking Veesaar at No. 22 over names such as Tarris Reed, Dailyn Swain, Ebuka Okorie, Zuby Ejiofor and Joshua Jefferson.
Veesaar is a skilled big man boasting a near 7-foot frame. He’s a smart basketball player, capable of being a connective piece and making quick reads as a playmaker. Offensively, he has soft touch and finishes well around the basket, with floor spacing capability to boot. Defense is where most of the red flags pop up. He isn’t the most athletic big in this draft, being heavy footed and lacking vertical pop on that end. The closest NBA comparison I can think of is Kelly Olynyk, who offers offensive skill but not much on defense outside of rebounding and the occasional block.
While Veesaar is a safe option, he might just be that. The Sixers need an innings eater at the backup five spot, but I’m not sure how much upside Veesaar truly offers beyond what he gives you from day one. I’d comfortably go Swain in this mock draft, but it’s clear many talent evaluators around the league are prioritizing the Sixers adding a young big.
Finally, we’ll check out The Athletic, spearheaded by Sam Vecenie. In this mock draft, the Sixers go with Koa Peat, over names like Chris Cenac, Tarris Reed, Zuby Ejiofor and Ebuka Okorie.
Peat, like Cenac among many others, is one of the few players we know worked out for the Sixers. The fit makes sense. The Sixers value forwards who can play next to Embiid and embrace the dirty work, and Peat does exactly that. He excels as a rebounder and hustle player, is switchable, and can hang with most wings and even some centers. He has serious bounce and would inject athleticism into the roster. On the other hand, his shot needs serious rework, as he’s essentially a non-factor from range. As a player who relies heavily on physicality, adjusting to bigger, faster, and stronger NBA competition could be a challenge. You’re likely looking at a project player when it comes to Peat.
Peat fits the profile of a player the Sixers should be targeting. At 22, though, better options are likely available. If the Sixers were to trade back into the draft in the second round, he’d be a very intriguing name that makes a lot of sense.
Two months after claiming the second national championship in program history, Michigan has found itself in the market for a new men’s basketball coach.
The last coach to leave right after winning the tournament was former Kansas coach Larry Brown, who made a habit of leaping from one spot to the next in his well-traveled career.
Dusty May was not supposed to follow that same path. After a steady building process resulted in one of the best teams in recent NCAA history, the belief coming out of this year’s Final Four in Indianapolis said that May was poised to become one of the faces of college basketball.
Boynton will have this coming season to convince Michigan to give him the full-time job. Looking toward next winter, here’s USA TODAY Sports’ glance at where Michigan could eventually go to permanently fill May’s shoes:
Boynton ran the defense under May — his work helped the Wolverines outscore opponents by nearly 20 points per game — and was the head coach at Oklahoma State from 2017-24. The results were very mixed: OSU won 20 games three times and reached the second round of the tournament in 2021 but went just 119-109 overall and 51-75 in Big 12 play. Still, Boynton has the qualifications and experience to step into the job at a late date and potentially keep the roster intact, or at least strong enough to stay a factor in the Big Ten and Final Four hunt.
Josh Schertz, Saint Louis
The list of outside candidates begins with Schertz, a close friend of May’s and a coach with a similarly prolific up-tempo offensive scheme. His system could be installed fairly seamlessly and mesh well with the Wolverines’ current roster. Schertz has also proven himself by winning 32 games at Indiana State in 2024 and then leading Saint Louis to 29 wins and the second round of this year’s tournament, where the Billikens were bulldozed by Michigan. Schertz could come eventually with May’s recommendation, which might carry weight in the school’s search.
Nate Oats, Alabama
Oats signed a massive extension that links him to Alabama through 2032 and has experienced his share of controversy, most recently this past season with Charles Bediako’s eligibility debate and guard Aden Holloway’s suspension in the wake of felony drug charges. But he’s also won 70% of his games, reached the Final Four, made two Elite Eight trips and advanced out of the tournament’s opening weekend in each of the past four years. He also spent a decade coaching high school basketball in Michigan before being hired as an assistant at Buffalo in 2013. Oats is in a good spot with the Crimson Tide but could be enticed by the opportunity to coach a program with more support and resources.
Billy Donovan
Donovan is currently out of coaching after stepping down from his spot with the Chicago Bulls after the end of the regular season. While he had his share of NBA success, Donovan is best known for the powerhouse he built Florida, where he claimed back-to-back national championships. Despite his time away from the college game, Donovan has essentially been linked to every major NCAA job opening since he left the Gators over a decade ago. Is Michigan the position that would bring him back? May showed how quickly the right coach can make things happen in Ann Arbor. But it’s unknown whether Donovan is interested in navigating the current landscape of college sports.
T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State
Otzelberger seems very content in Ames, having already declined overtures from more historically relevant programs since kickstarting the Cyclones’ current run in 2022. Since taking over five seasons ago, he’s led Iowa State to three Sweet 16 berths, four 20-win seasons and at least 25 wins in each of the past three years. While Otzelberger’s teams have been more recognized for defensive intensity, he’s proven himself to be malleable enough as a coach to potentially blend in his style with the tempo that defined May’s tenure.
Brian Dutcher, San Diego State
Formerly a longtime Michigan assistant who was on the staff for the 1989 national champions and then spent another 18 years under former Michigan coach Steve Fisher with the Aztecs, Dutcher has won at least 21 games in every season since replacing Fisher in 2017 and led SDSU to the national title game in 2023. A few factors not in Dutcher’s favor are his age — he’ll turn 67 in October — and that SDSU has taken a bit of a recent dip, dropping out in the First Four of the 2025 tournament and missing this year’s bracket altogether.
The Ducks' 2025-26 season has been over for just over a month and with the 2026 NHL Entry Draft just around the corner, it feels like a good time to start recapping this past season for each player in the organization.
Today's edition of 'By the Numbers' will feature players who wore Nos. 51-60 this season.
If you missed the previous edition of 'By the Numbers', you can click here to read it.
Olen Zellweger
Zellweger was a mainstay on the Ducks' blue line up until the tail-end of the regular season, when a couple of defensive shortcomings seemingly put him in head coach Joel Quenneville's doghouse. There was an emphasis on defensive habits, with Zellweger deployed on the penalty kill throughout the season as opposed to the power play, where his skills may have been better utilized.
Tyson Hinds' call-up and subsequent strong play left Zellweger a spectator at the end of the regular season and into the playoffs. He went an entire month without playing in a game before he re-entered the lineup out of necessity for Game 4 of their playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Paired with Ian Moore, he picked up a secondary assist on Moore's game-winning goal while playing mostly sheltered minutes on the bottom pair.
May 14, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) controls the puck past Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during the third period in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
In Game 5, his play earned him more ice time and a promotion to the second defensive pair alongside John Carlson. He then tied the game late in the third period, though the Ducks fell in overtime. He was scoreless in Game 6 but had almost 14 minutes of ice time.
A pending RFA this summer, the Ducks appear to be at a crossroads with both Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov, who is also an RFA. The two lefties have taken turns showing flashes of what they can become if given the proper ice time and runway. However, neither has been able to do this on a consistent basis just yet. With Jackson LaCombe entrenched as the Ducks' No. 1 on the left-hand side, it's a battle of who will be the No. 2 behind him.
Lucas Pettersson
After splitting time between the HockeyAllsvenskan and the SHL in 2024-25, Pettersson spent most of the past season with Brynäs in the SHL before finishing out the year in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls. He had 20 points in 40 games, primarily playing on the wing. Pettersson was also part of Sweden's gold medal-winning squad at World Juniors, collecting six points in six games.
Drafted as a center in the second round of the 2024 draft, Pettersson may project better as a winger due to his size (5-foot-11) and speed. He is dependable in both zones and has shown that he can contribute offensively off the rush and on the man advantage. He would be a candidate for the penalty kill as well.
As of now, it's unclear whether Pettersson will play for the Gulls in 2025-26 or return to Sweden for another season with Brynäs. The Gulls' forward depth is in flux, with Jan Myšák departed to HV71 in the SHL, Justin Bailey needing a new contract and Nikita Nesterenko and Sam Colangelo expected to be up with the Ducks full-time. If Pettersson does return to Brynäs, it would give him the chance to play either down the middle or on the wing again.
Tarin Smith
Smith was named captain of the Everett Silvertips prior to the start of the 2025-26 WHL season, his fourth full season with the club. He appeared in 60+ games for the third consecutive season, setting a new career high in assists (55) and points (71) as one half of the Silvertips' top defensive pairing.
Unfortunately, his final WHL postseason was cut short due to a dislocated shoulder that he suffered during the Silvertips' first playoff series. He will be out of the sling at the end of June and be able to resume skating in August. November is the targeted date for his full return to the ice, and he'll be doing it in the NCAA after committing to the University of Minnesota this past May.
An offensively-gifted defenseman, Smith was a finalist for the WHL Defenseman of the Year. Continued focus in the defensive zone will be a priority for him as he transitions to the collegiate game and goes up against older and stronger players.
Coulson Pitre
After spending the entire 2024-25 season with the Gulls, Pitre split the 2025-26 season between the AHL and ECHL. He was nearly a point per game player in the ECHL with the Tulsa Oilers (21 in 26 games), but failed to replicate that kind of production with the Gulls, putting up just five points in 25 games.
An upper-body injury that occurred prior to training camp kept Pitre out until almost November. After returning, he was then assigned to Tulsa, where he remained until January, when he was recalled to the Gulls. Pitre spent most of his time with the Gulls in a bottom-6 role, rotating between center and wing. His development has been hampered by injuries and he hasn't been able to carve out a consistent role with the Gulls through two full seasons.
May 14, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) controls the puck past Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during the third period in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Like 2023 second round pick Nico Myatovic, Pitre thrives in a complementary role, forechecking hard, retrieving/recovering pucks and setting up his higher-level teammates. However, it's been difficult for Pitre to find the same level of success at the AHL level that Myatovic has recently started to find.
Health will be paramount for Pitre as he enters the final year of his ELC. He could be in line for a bigger role with the Gulls this upcoming season depending on what moves are made during the summer.
Maxim Massé
Massé had his best season to date in 2025-26, setting career highs across the board. He eclipsed 100 points for the first time in his juniors career and helped lead the Chicoutimi Saguenéens to a QMJHL championship.
After four full seasons in the QMJHL, Massé will be heading to the NCAA to play for UMass. He follows in the footsteps of fellow Ducks prospects Roger McQueen, Alex Blais, Saguenéens teammate Emile Guité and the aforementioned Smith in transitioning from the CHL to the NCAA.
"It's good for the development," Massé said in an interview with THN Anaheim this past February. "We're only playing 30-40 games a season. Gaining some strength in my lower body and upper body, too, and just getting better with my skating. (The Ducks) were supporting me 100% in that."
Improving his skating, in addition to continuing to add strength, has been a focus for Massé since he was drafted by the Ducks in 2024. Playing collegiate hockey will allow him to ply his trade against older and stronger players and provide a bigger challenge than the CHL.
Yegor Sidorov
After a strong rookie season in the AHL in 2024-25 with 34 points in 59 games, Sidorov took a slight step back offensively in 2025-26. He had 29 points in 68 games while finding himself moving up and down the lineup throughout the season.
Scoring goals has never been an issue for Sidorov, who had a prolific juniors career in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades. The big question was whether he could impact the game in other ways outside of scoring. It appears that he is still trying to find his 'B-game' after a promising start to his pro career. Sidorov was also a healthy scratch for both of the Gulls' Calder Cup Playoffs games against the Colorado Eagles, with players like scrappy forward Cal Burke getting the nod over him.
May 14, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) controls the puck past Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during the third period in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
With a new coaching staff entering the picture, Sidorov could find himself in a more consistent next season. He too is in the final year of his ELC and will likely be part of the group competing for a spot on the NHL roster during training camp, with Troy Terry expected to be out until December after recently undergoing hip impingement surgery.
Sidorov was one of the final training camp cuts last season and if he once again doesn't make the cut, he could at least still be in line for a bigger role with the Gulls. Finding ways to impact the game outside of the scoresheet could help him get that.
Ethan Procyszyn
Procyszyn was a 30-goal scorer for the second consecutive season, also his second season as captain of the North Bay Battalion in the OHL. His points total dipped slightly from his career-high 64 in 2024-25, but he continued to be a driving force for the Battalion in 2025-26.
A gritty, hard-nosed forward, Procyszyn grabs points any way he can and is the true definition of a grinder. His playstyle suits the NHL game quite well, as teams are always looking for players who are willing to go the dirty areas of the ice.
Procyszyn signed his ELC in April following the conclusion of the Battalion's playoff run, though he didn't appear in any games for the Gulls. He'll be able to get his feet wet in the AHL next season as one of the Gulls' depth centers behind captain Ryan Carpenter.
Sasha Pastujov
After a surprise demotion to the ECHL to start the 2024-25 season, Pastujov returned to the AHL with a chip on his shoulder, putting up 45 points in 43 games. He built off of his strong season by leading the Gulls in points (57) in 2025-26 and also finished second on the team in goals (21).
Pastujov is a cerebral player who shows good vision and has a strong shot in his arsenal. Skating has always been the knock on him, an area that he has previously acknowledged needs work. He just completed his third full season as a professional and is a pending RFA. It's likely that he'll be tendered a qualifying offer and should be given a chance to compete for a spot on the NHL roster.
If he isn't able to crack the NHL roster, he'll slot into the Gulls' top-6 and be relied upon as one of their top playmakers.
Tyson Hinds
Another player who went through the rigors of the AHL for a few seasons before finally getting the call to the NHL, Hinds spent most of the 2025-26 season with the Gulls before being called up to the Ducks in April. He appeared in the last six games of the regular season and the first nine games of the Ducks' first playoff run since 2018 before being a healthy scratch for the final three games of the Golden Knights series. This came after logging heavy minutes as part of the Gulls' top defensive pair alongside Tristan Luneau.
May 8, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Tyson Hinds (60) plays for the puck against Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) during the first period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Hinds fits the mold of the modern-day stay-at-home defenseman, a mobile defender who uses his length and skating to take away lanes and knock the puck away. He fared well (for the most part) alongside whoever his defensive partner was and wasn't afraid to activate offensively when the opportunity called for it.
He is a pending RFA and will likely be tendered a qualifying offer. The left side of the Ducks' defense is a bit crowded at the moment, so it's difficult to envision there being a regular spot for Hinds. But he showed that he is ready to be an everyday NHLer and could find a role as the seventh defenseman.
May 15, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter Rob Refsnyder (30) reacts after striking out during the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
In mid-May, I went to a lovely afternoon game against the Padres. With a bowl of curry katsu from Tamari Bar and garlic fries in lap, surely, I thought, nothing could ruin such a pleasant day.
I was right, until the bottom of the eighth inning, when Rob Refsnyder was called to pinch hit for Dominic Canzone against a lefty reliever. A pretty normal decision, given that it is his actual, literal job.
As incensed as if someone had suddenly screamed directly into his ear, the man behind spent the next two minutes screaming directly directly into my ear. “You fucking suck! Rob Refsnyder, you fucking suck! Fuck you! Dan Wilson, are you fucking stupid? You’re worthless!” Never mind that Dan Wilson didn’t make the call, as he was ejected mid-way through the game. Never mind that we were only about 10 rows back from the field and not too far from the batters box, so his words were likely pretty audible.
On that day, Megan and I decided we were going to be big Rob Refsnyder fans. It’s been fun to root for a fellow Asian American and average height king! So, it brings me no joy whatsoever to say that the Refsnyder Era may have run its course. Like the Chicxulub impactor came for the Mesozoic and the dinosaurs, a knee injury and regression to the mean has come for Good Refsnyder.
A situation like this (a painfully underperforming, aging veteran signed to a $6m contract) always threatens to bring out the masses that howl for Jerry Dipoto’s head and that we need to fire Scott Servais NOW to turn this team around!! But, in fairness, criticism of the signing is in order.
True, Refsnyder had the 8th-highest OPS against LHP from 2022-2025 (min 500 PA), ahead of Mookie Betts and right behind Ketel Marte and Jose Altuve, good for a wRC+ of 155 during that time. However, it is also true that over that same time period, he ran a .377 BABIP against lefties and a .348 BABIP against righties. His career BABIP sits around .297, perfectly average, not indicative of some Williams-esque BABIP skill. It doesn’t take a Szymborski to see the cliff looming ahead of the Roadrunner-ing Refsnyder.
What Dipollander couldn’t have predicted, though, was that Refsnyder would suffer a vague but nagging knee injury that would bother him all season. That, plus some bad luck (a .149 BABIP feels a bit karmically heavy-handed here) has made Refsndyer the second worst batter this season by wRC+ (min. 100 PAs), his meager 26 beating out only Ke’Bryan Hayes’ 10 (!?).
Dan Wilson has recently referenced the veteran’s struggles recently in the most Dan Wilson-y way possible – standing by his Guys, vaguely but supportively.
“Every player has been through this at some point. [Refsnyder] continues to make his adjustments…we talk about the process a lot, and the process has been good. He’s getting good pitches to hit, he’s putting the barrel to the ball and he’s hitting the ball at people, and hit the ball on the ground a little bit. But you know, he’s close, and he’s had some big hits for us throughout,” Wilson said. “It’s a matter of trial and error and trying to find the right adjustment, and there’s no question that you know Ref is doing everything he can, and you know it’s coming soon.”
Wilson is never going to talk poorly of his players to the media, as he shouldn’t! It’s what makes him a great leader. But this feels more like Wilson supporting his player as a person more than true organizational faith being placed in Refsnyder turning this around now.
So, like it was for Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton (apparently), it’s time to make a decision. With the Mariners floundering around .500 and a precipitous grasp on the mediocre AL West, the Mariners can ill-afford to keep this roster spot on cruise control. I see two reasonable options here.
Refsnyder takes a phantom/sort of real IL stint. This would give him some time off the knee, which could help him in the medium-term return to at least being serviceable at the plate. In case some rest doesn’t help, the Mariners can take that time to try a couple different options and see who they feel most comfortable with taking those at-bats. A little more time to see Jhonny Pereda, Patrick Wisdom, or Brennen Davis (health permitting) surely couldn’t be worse than what we’ve been seeing from Ref recently.
Skip straight to the second part of option 1 and bid farewell to one of the several and truly Good Guys of recent Mariners history.
I’m inclined to go with option 1 here, as it gives the Mariners some time to kick the can down the road, which typically is a good thing – the more information you can gather before making roster decisions, the better. But something’s gotta give, and with the way Refsnyder has been playing, that roster spot has gotta be given somewhere a little more productive.
Monday's MLB card is loaded with star power, and a few of baseball's biggest bats find themselves in favorable matchups.
Before locking in your MLB player props, here are the hitters I'm targeting to leave their mark tonight.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Shohei Ohtani
Over 1.5 total bases
-138
Jake Bauers
Over 1.5 H/R/R
-131
Kyle Stowers
Over 1.5 H/R/R
-124
Shohei Ohtani Over 1.5 total bases (-138)
“Colby, are you backing the power of dad because Shohei Ohtani just had a child?”
What? Now I am.
We back numbers here, folks. Off-field stuff is just a cherry on top. That said, I do love the great one this evening.
The number one rated hitter on Batters-Box today happens to be the Dodgers superstar, who continues to post some of the most delectable elite-rated trends.
In 133 elite road ratings:
Hit: 75.19%
2+ Hits: 33.83%
Home Run: 28.57%
2+ Bases: 59.9%
The great one has been on fire offensively as of late, posting a near 70% elevation rate while producing 77% hard contact and a 31% barrel rate over his last 30 road plate appearances. Over his last 90 at-bats against right-handed pitching, he also owns a .567 wOBA.
The Minnesota Twins send out right-hander Zebby Matthews, and like many others, we are still trying to figure out what a “Zebby” is. However, that is beside the point. Matthews owns one of the worst pitcher ratings on the slate and has struggled badly against lefties. Over his last 60 lefties faced, he has a 9.00 ERA and 7.01 xERA while allowing 48% hard contact, a 16% barrel rate, and a 70% elevation rate. Those hitters have produced a .350 xBA, .644 xSLG, and .417 xwOBA against him.
This will easily be one of Matthews’ biggest tests of the season, and I fully expect Ohtani to take full advantage this evening.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MNNT, SNLA
Jake Bauers Over 1.5 hits, runs, RBIs (-131)
Entering today with an elite rating on Batters-Box is Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers, who has been producing so much hard contact that I had to back him in some form this evening. Over his last 30 plate appearances, he has generated 77% hard contact and a 15.4% barrel rate against right-handed pitching. Zooming out to his last 60 plate appearances, he still holds a 73% hard contact rate and a 13.3% barrel rate, while posting a .596 slugging percentage and a .428 wOBA.
He draws Cincinnati Reds right-hander Brady Singer, against whom he holds 82% arsenal coverage. At home this season, Singer owns a 5.61 xERA and 5.33 xFIP, allowing 42.2% hard contact and a 14.1% barrel rate to opposing hitters. Those bats have produced a .280 xBA, .527 xSLG, and .380 xwOBA.
If you are not in the juice-paying mood tonight, pairing Bauers with one of the other plays on the card sets up a strong plus-money two-leg parlay.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CINR, BREW
Kyle Stowers Over 1.5 hits, runs, RBIs (-124)
A consistently trustworthy hitter for his HRR prop is Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers, who enters with his 36th elite rating. In his previous 35, he has cleared this prop 54% of the time. At home, in 21 elite ratings, he has homered 28.57% of the time and gone over this prop 61.9% of the time.
The Fighting Fish slugger has been on a tear over his last 10 games, generating 63.2% hard contact, a 26.3% barrel rate, and elevating the ball 63.2% of the time. He also owns a .667 SLG, 1.109 OPS, and .471 wOBA in that stretch.
Stowers draws Rangers starter Kumar Rocker, against whom he has nearly 70% arsenal coverage. Rocker has consistently struggled vs left-handed hitters, who over his last 60 faced are producing 51% hard contact, a 12.2% barrel rate, and a 67% elevation rate, along with a .434 xBA, .826 xSLG, and .400 xwOBA.
I am trusting the trends tonight, and this feels like a strong spot for Stowers. If you are not a fan of laying juice, Stowers records a hit 71% of the time when he is elite. Pair him with Bauers for plus money.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MIAMI, RSN
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 239-426, +1.4 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.
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers re-signed defenseman Connor Murphy to a five-year contract worth $20.5 million on Monday.
The team announced the deal roughly 24 hours after extending center Jason Dickinson for the next five seasons at $20 million. Murphy and Dickinson joined Edmonton in separate deals from Chicago as pending unrestricted free agents ahead of the trade deadline in early March.
Murphy, like Dickinson, improved the Oilers’ ability to keep the puck out of their own net. Their goals-against average was 3.34 in the 62 games before acquiring them and dropped to 2.90 in the final 20 games of the regular season with them.
That number shot up to 4.33 in a first-round loss to Anaheim, though that also included goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram combining for a playoff-worst .866 save percentage.
General manager Stan Bowman could address the goaltending situation via trade or free agency, and he and the front office need to hire a coach after firing Kris Knoblauch, who led consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup in 2024 and '25.
Re-signing Murphy, 33, is part of the organization's commitment to being better defensively in an effort to finally get Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl their first championship after more than a decade in the NHL together. Murphy has skated in 840 games in the league with the Coyotes, Blackhawks and Oilers.
Shohei Ohtani
Jake Bauers
Kyle Stowers