CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 23: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts to a no foul call against the New York Knicks during the second quarter in Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden was arrested in Harris County, Texas, early Saturday morning. He was charged with a misdemeanor for unlawfully carrying weapons. This was first reported by TMZ.
According to Harris County’s records, Harden was arrested for “intentionally and knowingly” carrying a handgun in a motor vehicle owned by Harden and in “plain view.” The arrest occurred at 3:41 A.M. on Saturday, June 26. He was booked at 4:57 A.M. that same day.
Harden has been charged with a misdemeanor for unlawful carrying weapons. He has been released on bail, but needs to submit to the following requirements at this time:
Harden cannot possess firearms, ammunition, or other weapons.
He must submit to random urinalysis.
He is “prohibited from using, possessing, or consuming any alcohol, controlled substances, dangerous drug, or marijuana unless prescribed” by a doctor.
Harden is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, June 22nd.
This issue is likely to be resolved relatively quickly. Harden was only charged with a misdemeanor, which is not a serious charge.
“The Cleveland Cavaliers are aware of the arrest of James Harden this morning and are in the process of gathering additional information. We are in contact with James and his representation and will continue to monitor developments as they become available. At this time, we will have no further comment.”
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 13: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter in Game Five of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
He was “intentionally and knowingly” carrying a handgun in a motor vehicle that he owned. The handgun was in plain view and not carried in a holster. He was arrested at 3:41 AM on Saturday and was booked at 4:57 AM. He was released on bail and is scheduled for court later this month.
The Cavs released the following statement about Harden’s arrest on Saturday afternoon:
The Cleveland Cavaliers are aware of the arrest of James Harden this morning and are in the process of gathering additional information. We are in contact with James and his representation and will continue to monitor developments as they become available. At this time, we will have no further comment.
The Cavs acquired Harden at the trade deadline last February. He played in 26 regular-season games and 18 playoff games. He averaged 23.6 points and eight assists on .434/.375/.884 shooting splits in 70 games combined with the Los Angeles Clippers and Cavs last regular season.
Harden has a player option for the 2026-27 season that is worth $42.3 million. At this time, he’s expected to decline that option and sign for a longer deal with Cleveland. After the season, Harden said he “100%” wants to be back with the Cavs.
Apr 11, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of he Toronto Blue Jays players helmets in the dugout during batting practice before a game against the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Happy Saturday.
Vladimir Guerrero is getting the day off. Apparently he’s been dealing with a tight back.
They are saying that Shane Bieber is going to do one more rehab start and then should be ready to join the team. Yimi Garcia will pitch for Buffalo today and likely do one more rehab appearance before he comes up. Addison Barger should get into rehab games next week and shouldn’t need many. And Daulton Varsho is hoping for the minimum stay on the IL.
I don’t know, I think this Bison’s jersey is a crime against humanity.
Today’s lineup. Okamoto hits third. No Kirk, day game after night game. And Charles McAdoo plays first.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 26: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches in the second inning of an MLB game between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals on May 26, 2026 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Yankees’ return to their House of Horrors from yesteryear went about how you’d expect: the Blue Jays offense hammered Ryan Weathers early and often, Alejandro Kirk provided multiple big hits in his return from the IL, and Trent Grisham left the game with a hamstring injury. Even a rather unimpressive night from Trey Yesavage was not enough to turn the tide.
Thankfully, the Yankees have Cam Schlittler. While the burgeoning young ace finally had a stinker two starts ago, he rallied admirably against the Red Sox, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing just a single run on four hits. Granted, Boston’s offense could never be confused for a strong unit, but Schlittler’s AL-leading 1.87 ERA continues to speak for itself. Cam faced the Jays in New York’s first matchup against Toronto this year and drew the short end of a 2-1 loss, surrendering that pair of runs across six quality innings while booking seven strikeouts.
Kevin Gausman is by now a deeply familiar foe to the Yankees. The 35-year-old veteran will be facing New York for the 40th time in his career this afternoon—his numbers in the first 39 are roughly equivalent to his career numbers. Gausman has hit some rough waters lately, allowing four earned runs in each of his last two appearances against the Braves and Orioles. He’ll hope that some home cooking against a team that seems to inexplicably wilt in said home ballpark will serve him well.
Trent Grisham will be absent from the lineup as he hits the IL following his removal from yesterday’s game with a hamstring strain, and Jasson Domínguez will take his place on the roster after getting activated from the IL this morning. Domínguez gets right back in the lineup starting in right field today and batting second behind Ben Rice, with Cody Bellinger remaining in left and Spencer Jones slotting in as today’s center fielder. José Caballero and J.C. Escarra both make their second straight starts at shortstop and catcher, respectively, and Paul Goldschmidt goes back to DH with Rice in the field.
How to watch
Location: Rogers Centre – Toronto, ON
First pitch: 3:07 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Sportsnet, SN1, TVA Sports
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | SN590 THE FAN (TOR)
That, of course, makes life a little different for the club’s amateur scouting staff leading up to the 2026 NHL draft. Barring a trade, the Flyers will pick at 21st overall. It’s their lowest first-round spot since 2020.
So the Flyers know the draft is still critical to what they want to do, even when they’re lower in the order.
“We’ve said it for a long time, we wanted to build a team that was going to be here for a long time; not just to go for it for a year or two,” general manager Danny Briere said last month. “That’s still the same approach on my end.”
The Flyers have only five picks in this draft, which will be held June 26-27. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at 11 a.m. ET.
“I’ll tell you how I feel about drafts and I’ll be totally blunt with you,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said last Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think it’s f—ing bulls–t when I hear about, ‘Oh, this draft isn’t as good.’ Here are the numbers. Approximately 45 players from any draft will play 350 games or more in the NHL. It might be 47 one year, 42 another year. That’s the number — you get 45 players that’ll play 350 games or more with varying degrees of success.
“And I know this about the draft. The teams that get good players from the draft say it was a good draft. The teams that don’t get good players from the draft say it wasn’t a good draft. So when people start telling me about a draft ahead of time, I call bulls–t.”
“What you’re trying to do is find a player that you feel has the potential to be an NHL player,” Button said. “That might be a third-line center, that might be a second-line scoring winger. Hey, listen, maybe you get David Pastrnak, who’s a superstar (drafted 25th overall in 2014).
“But the focus has to be on, ‘OK, what type of player do we like, what type of player do we think the guy can be?’ And then get after it and understand what the development path is, and then try to help that player be the best he can be. Put a stake in the ground and celebrate who you’re drafting.”
Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.
Next up:
Liam Ruck
Position: Winger Height: 6-foot Weight: 174 Shoots: Right Team: Medicine Hat
Scouting report
Ruck is adept at finding his spots and finishing. He can flat-out score and he’s effective in all situations.
“This kid is a hell of a player,” Button, a former NHL GM and scout, said. “This kid knows how to play the game everywhere — offensively, defensively, he’s a great competitor, he’s smart, he knows how to make things happen. I just watch him, he’s a hockey player.”
The 18-year-old led all draft-eligible players with 45 goals in 68 games this season for Medicine Hat. He put up 104 points, second in the WHL to only his twin brother Markus Ruck, who had 108.
“I love Liam. I like Markus, too,” Button said. “It’s very interesting when you think about the two of them and how they play. Markus is the playmaking center and Liam is more bent toward goal scoring, but a great playmaker.”
Liam Ruck is the 10th-ranked player on Button’s May 20 draft list. He scored 16 power play goals, three shorthanded and 10 game-winners. He recorded six games of four or more points. In the playoffs, he added eight goals and four assists over 14 games.
The Ruck brothers are not explosive skaters. They’re a bit undersized and on the thinner side. But those things are not total deal-breakers for teenage players.
“I hear this all the time and I get asked this question: ‘What about their skating?'” Button said. “Well, No. 1, I don’t need them to go on the speed-skating oval, put a stopwatch on them. They’re not in a speed-skating competition. And if [Liam] was a little bit better of a skater, we’d be talking about him at the top of the draft. … He’s a damn good hockey player. And his brother’s a damn good hockey player.”
Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin, the Hall of Fame twin brothers, were forever teammates and often on the same line. Button wasn’t concerned about the Ruck brothers eventually having to find success on separate teams.
“I’ve had this question from a number of people: ‘Well, how are they going to play apart?'” Button said. “I’ve seen them play apart. With the Sedins, I never saw them play apart, ever — not with the national team, not with their junior clubs. I never saw the Sedins play apart. So it’s a legitimate question, how will they play apart? I’ve seen the Rucks play apart and I’ve seen them play really well apart.”
(Randy Feere/Medicine Hat Tigers)
Fit with Flyers
Ruck would give the Flyers a hard decision if he’s still on the board at No. 21.
It’s fair to debate how his game will translate against men at the pro level because of the size and skating factors. But the shooting ability, versatility and hockey IQ are all there.
The Flyers’ future on the right wing would have some serious promise with Martone, Ruck and Matvei Michkov.
Perception around and within the Anaheim Ducks organization is far different from what it was a year ago today. The Ducks were a month removed from hiring Joel Quenneville as their next head coach, two months from taking a 21-point jump in the standings from the year prior, and had declared a mandate to qualify for the 2026 NHL Playoffs.
In his first roster move of the offseason, general manager Pat Verbeek made a trade with a familiar dance partner, the New York Rangers, and acquired forward Chris Kreider (35) along with a 2025 fourth-round pick (Elijah Neuenschwander) in exchange for prospect Carey Terrance (21) and a third-round pick (Artyom Gonchar).
Kreider had two years remaining on his contract, which carried an AAV of $6.5 million. If one were to evaluate this trade from a certain point of view, it could be seen as the Ducks parting with a third-tier prospect and moving down 15 spots in the draft to sign Chris Kreider to a two-year contract, which would have been decent value given the NHL’s increasing salary cap landscape and the projected cap space the Ducks had to work with.
Coming off an injury-riddled season in 2024-25, where he produced just 30 points (22-8=30) in 68 games, Kreider waived his 15-team NTC to facilitate the trade to the Ducks.
The Ducks selected Terrance in the second round (59th overall in 2023) three years ago, and though his defensive upside remains, his potential ceiling is likely that of a fourth-line forward. He was just under a point-per-game player in the two years following his draft year in the OHL, playing for the Erie Otters, but struggled to produce in his first professional season, scoring 17 points (8-9=17) in 68 games.
Gonchar and Neuenschander are still too raw and nearly removed from their draft to evaluate completely, but both are long shots to have long NHL careers at this point in time.
Kreider started his Ducks tenure white hot, scoring ten goals in his first 13 games of the season and 21 points (13-8=21) in his first 25. He made an immediate impact on Anaheim’s top line, where he’d remain for the majority of the season and playoffs, alongside Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry. During that stretch, he was especially beneficial below the dots in the offensive zone and at the net front, offering the Ducks a strength in an area they’ve lacked in recent memory.
As the months progressed through the season, his potency dissipated somewhat, and he finished the season with 50 points (22-28=50) in 75 games while playing a top-six role for the duration of the campaign.
The Ducks qualified for the playoffs for the first time in eight years and advanced to the second round for the first time in nine, with Kreider playing a part in that success. He finished the playoffs with seven points (2-5=7) in 12 games; five in the first round vs the Edmonton Oilers and two in the second vs the Vegas Golden Knights.
Kreider brought with him, from the blaring media light of the New York Rangers, a humor and lightheartedness that was blended with a veteran professionalism. He commanded respect, but was willing to be playful with teammates and the media.
He will enter his 35-year-old season in 2026-27, and with any player in their mid-thirties, his impact will be determined by his ability to fend off Father Time as best he can. The hope is that the younger roster pieces on Anaheim’s depth chart will be able to slot into roles higher in the lineup with more consistency, taking some of that burden off of Kreider’s plate.
The Ducks made the second round in the 2026 Playoffs and will be expecting to return to or eclipse that level in 2026-27. Throughout his 15-year NHL career, Kreider’s been more than willing to get to the hard areas of the ice and is 42 games from reaching the 1000-game milestone. He’s played 135 playoff games in 11 years on top of that total.
If Kreider can notch another 40-50 points in 2026-27, from a lower-profile spot in the lineup and turn in a more productive postseason, the trade to acquire him in 2025 will prove to be an undeniable win for Anaheim. A lot of evaluation regarding this trade will be determined in year two of Kreider’s presence in Anaheim, when expectations have risen, and the team is projected to threaten the $104 million salary cap ceiling for the first time in a long time.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 12: A detail view of the MLB Debut patch worn by Blaze Jordan #33 of the St. Louis Cardinals in his debut game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on June 12, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
(The below is Brandon’s post. It was somehow incorrectly posted as weeks ago, so I’m copying it here)
First Pitch: 1:10 pm CDT TV: Twins.TV Radio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy
After years of going “well, that looks fun,” and keeping up with the PC scene on the outside looking in, I finally broke down and bought my first-ever desktop computer this week, which has come with two immediate benefits. One, the already-significant purchase meant that I felt justified in adding a peripheral into the mix, which means you’re reading this from the comfort of my new Keychron keyboard. The other is that Balatro runs a little bit faster.
I bring this to your attention because I’m assuming that the newfound comfort with which I am, shall we say, strokin’ keys, has no doubt translated onto your screens and is making for a significantly more enjoyable readership experience. Basically, you ARE welcome, and you didn’t have to say all that.
Tonight, the Twins continue their interleague series with the St. Louis Cardinals, one of baseball’s reddest, birdest teams. (You can tell from the logo. And the name!) Despite sort of rebuilding, and asserting their intention to deal away rental pieces next month, the second-place Redbirds are the owners of a 37-29 record which puts them four back of the Brewers and atop the National League Wild Card standings by a full game over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It’s Connor Prielipp, and it’s also Matthew Liberatore. How is that possible? I guess we’re gonna find out. I didn’t think there could be two pitchers in the same game. I’ll have to read up on that.
Some prospects announce themselves with gaudy point totals. Linus Funck spent his first season in North America proving he could become the kind of defenseman coaches trust.
That's exactly what the Colorado Avalanche were hoping to see when they selected the Swedish blueliner in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Funck was never viewed as an instant-impact prospect. He arrived with NHL size, strong defensive instincts and a mature hockey IQ, but the expectation was always that his development would take time. His first season with the OHL's London Knights did nothing to change that outlook.
The 6-foot-3 right-shot defenseman appeared in 65 regular season games, recording four goals and 18 assists for 22 points. Those are encouraging numbers for a defenseman still learning the North American game, especially one whose value extends far beyond the scoresheet.
Funck isn't asked to drive offense. His job is to close gaps quickly, separate opponents from the puck, disrupt passing lanes and make the smart first pass that turns defense into transition. Those details rarely generate headlines, but they're often what determine whether a prospect eventually earns NHL minutes.
Like most European players making the jump overseas, there was an adjustment period. Funck flashed confidence early, looking comfortable with the puck and contributing offensively while adapting to a faster, more physical style of play. As the season progressed and opponents became more familiar with him, the production leveled off, but his overall game never did.
Night after night, he continued to play the same composed, dependable style that earned him regular minutes on one of the OHL's premier teams. For a young defenseman leaving home and adapting to a new country and playing surface, it was impressive on the surface.
The next phase of his development is easy to point out.
At 6-foot-3 and roughly 190 pounds, Funck has the height NHL teams covet, but there's still room to add strength. More muscle should make him even more effective in board battles, net-front coverage and the physical battles that define professional hockey.
The Avalanche have already seen how a dedicated offseason can accelerate a prospect's development. Seventh-round pick Christian Humphreys spent part of last summer working with renowned strength and conditioning coach Lorne Goldberg before arriving at training camp noticeably stronger and more explosive. He carried that momentum into a standout season with the Kitchener Rangers, helping lead the club to its first Memorial Cup championship in more than two decades.
Funck could benefit from a similar approach. Whether it's with Goldberg or another elite strength coach, adding functional strength while maintaining his mobility could unlock another level in his game.
That's where the offensive upside becomes intriguing. With greater confidence and a stronger frame, Funck should feel more comfortable joining the rush, holding pucks under pressure and trusting his instincts in transition without sacrificing the defensive reliability that already defines his game.
For an Avalanche organization that doesn't boast much prospect depth, this is a promising development.
Funck didn't need a breakout season to validate his potential. He needed experience, consistency and proof that his defensive foundation could translate to North American hockey.
He accomplished all three, giving Colorado another reason to believe its patient approach may eventually pay off.
Harden was driving a car with a group of other cars when one of them — not Harden's — was pulled over by Houston police at 3:40 a.m. Harden pulled up behind the police and the other vehicle, and while interacting with police, one officer noticed Harden had a gun in the cupholder of his car, according to the police report. Harden allegedly confirmed the gun was his, which led to his arrest and booking.
Harden is due to appear in court on June 22. He was released from jail on a bond.
While it is legal to openly carry handguns in Texas without a permit, those weapons must be in a shoulder or belt holster at all times.
Harden, a 17-year NBA veteran, played eight seasons — his peak seasons statistically — in Houston and has close ties to the city. He spends much of his offseason there every year.
Harden was traded from the LA Clippers to Cleveland in the middle of this past season and is expected to sign an extension with the Cavaliers this offseason. Between the Clippers and Cavs last season, he averaged 23.6 points and 8 assists per game and shot 37.5% from 3-point range. He is a future Hall of Famer, the 2018 MVP, an 11-time All-Star, an eight-time All-NBA, and a three-time league scoring champion.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 10: New York Knicks fans celebrate winning Game 4 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, on June 10, 2026 in New York City. Madison Square Garden canceled its planned Game 4 watch party outside the arena after New York Knicks owner Jim Dolan criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch over security requirements for the event. (Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images) | Getty Images
5,242 days.
That’s how long it’s been since a major 4 pro sports New York team played for a championship, when the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots on February 5, 2012, winning Super Bowl XLVI.
Since then, the Yankees, Mets, and Rangers have all advanced to their respective championship series, but all won just a single game.
11,679 days.
That’s how many days it’s been since the New York Knicks woke up with a chance to win a championship. That was June 22, 1994. Game 7 of the 1994 NBA Finals against the Houston Rockets. They had two cracks at it, losing Game 6 after John Starks had a pull-up 3 to win it and losing Game 7 by six in Houston.
19,392 days.
That’s how long it’s been since the Knicks were champions of the world. Game 5 of the 1973 NBA Finals. A 102-93 win in Los Angeles against the Lakers. At that time, the Knicks had won two of the last four titles, played in three of the last four Finals, and six of the 27 in league history. It would be unfathomable, at this point, to imagine that this historic franchise would go another 53 years without tasting victory champagne.
But we all know that’s what happened. Despite the promise and grit of the 1990s, tonight will be just the third time in the last 53 years that the Knicks are one win away from a title, and unlike in 1994, they aren’t staring down the barrel of only road games remaining.
Even if the Spurs show some life and force a Game 6 back in New York, it’ll be the first time since Game 7 back in 1970 that the Knicks will have a chance to clinch a championship at home. As things stand, the Knicks are -500 to win the series on FanDuel, but +172 to close it out tonight as 5.5-point underdogs.
It’s almost too close. For a franchise that has constantly waited for the other shoe to drop, it’s a surreal feeling.
Is it really happening? It’s too good to be true. Everything that’s happened in this playoff run has been a degree of impossible to improbable that makes you shed the feeling of existential dread and really makes you believe this is something different.
The history doesn’t matter to this current group. Even if the Spurs put a scare into them by winning Game 5 and maybe even Game 6, the ghosts of past disappointments seem not to affect them.
You’re close enough that, for the first time, you can start to visualize what a championship would be.
The immediate euphoria. The trophy presentation. The visual of the team we’ve spent now 101 games watching throughout the longest playoff run in over 30 years, lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The celebration in the streets of New York. The parade down the Canyon of Heroes. The feeling that, for the first time ever, all the energy you’ve put into supporting this team is finally paying off.
Maybe you can’t visualize it yet. Maybe the pain of the past has you not able to accept what appears to be inevitable until the final buzzer sounds. But that’s what this run has been about.
It’s been about erasing the generational trauma that five decades of Knicks fans have suffered from. The times of never being good enough, never being able to visualize what it would feel like to celebrate the ultimate euphoria that team after team had experienced.
“When will it be my turn?”
Our turn could be coming as soon as later tonight. It’s so hard not to get ahead of yourself, knowing that the Spurs are far from dead and buried, but the simple fact is this.
You only need to be the better team for another 48 minutes.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 18: Pitcher Joe Ross #16 of the Arizona Diamondbacks poses for a portrait during photo day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 18, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have purchased the contract of pitcher Joe Ross from AAA Round Rock, the team announced today. To make room for Ross on the active roster, the Rangers optioned Luis Curvelo to AAA Round Rock. To make room for Ross on the 40 man roster, the Rangers have designated pitcher Michel Otanez for assignment.
The Rangers are in a lengthy stretch of games, and after Luis Curvelo’s one inning, three run outing last night, the Rangers apparently decided that he needed to be replaced by a fresh arm. Thus, we have the addition of veteran righthander Joe Ross.
Ross, 33, is the brother of Tyson Ross, who you may remember pitched for the Rangers in their 2017 season. Ross started the season in the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was designated for assignment, cleared waivers, and ended up pitching for their AAA team for a while. He was released in mid-May and signed with the Rangers, who sent him to Round Rock. After allowing three runs in his first outing of 1.2 IP for Round Rock and a run in his second outing, Ross has had five straight scoreless appearances, totaling 8.2 IP, with six strikeouts against no walks.
Curvelo getting sent down was not surprising, though I thought he might be sent down to make room for Alejandro Osuna, if Corey Seager and/or Evan Carter were too banged up to go today, but not so much so that an injured list move was necessary. Osuna left yesterday’s Round Rock game in the fifth inning, presumably due to Carter having to leave the Rangers game yesterday after hurting his oblique.
As for Otanez, he was claimed on waivers over the winter, and managed to outlast several other 40 man roster members, but the axe finally swung for him. He’s not pitched well at Round Rock, with 37 Ks against 25 walks in 26.1 IP over 25 games, and a 6.15 ERA. The Rangers will now have to trade, waive or release him.
Jun 12, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) scores against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The Dodgers finished off their road trip with one more game against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon at Rate Field, perhaps during time for brunch back in California.
Emmet Sheehan starts the series finale for the Dodgers, with right-hander Erick Fedde on the mound for Chicago.
At the NHL Draft, you never mind picking 32nd overall, because it usually means you just won the Stanley Cup. But this year, that selection didn't come with a prize; just penance.
The Senators will pick at 32, dead last overall, as their punishment for a messed-up trade from five years ago. And since the NHL's original ruling was no pick at all in Round 1, the Sens aren't complaining.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss more on the idea of signing UFA Viktor Arvidsson.
Without the league's change of heart, it would have been a pretty dull first day at the draft for the mighty Sens. Their first pick would have been the coveted 72nd overall selection, which is the pick they got from Florida in the 2024 Vladimir Tarasenko deal.
What also makes the Senators' first-round pick unique is that they're allowed to trade it. Commissioner Gary Bettman still wanted to set an example, and set it the way an elementary school teacher might handle a student who was causing trouble.
Back of the line, kid, and stay there.
So as their time to pick approaches in Buffalo on June 26, there will be no trades, no drama. They will absolutely choose someone at 32.
Senators head amateur scout Don Boyd, who's making a list and checking it twice, talked about his scouting team's preparation this week on TSN 1200 radio.
"We build our list with the idea that these players are going to go in this order, or that we would have them in this order if we were making every pick one to 32," Boyd said. "Other teams will make decisions for us. There may be somebody else outside of our 32 that jumps ahead of our pick, and then we have our list that we can react to that.
"If we were in a position where we could trade the pick... we would still build our list the same way."
No two teams will have the same draft list, so the Senators will almost certainly come away with a player they currently have ranked somewhere in the mid-to-high 20s.
Boyd figures that at least five prospects who they have ranked higher than 32 may be available to them. Or to put it another way, roughly five other teams are expected to use their first-round pick on players who aren't on the Sens' list.
He says there are even three players outside of their top 32 that they would still be very happy with. So they expect to end up with one of eight players.
Boyd, 73, has been around the scouting game for a long time, and was asked how the first-round talent depth this year stacks up with drafts of the past.
"We're looking at a draft that's got a lot of defensemen involved in the top 10-12 of the draft," Boyd said. "There are possibly 6 or 7 that could go in that area... it's a deep draft as far as defensemen go."
One thing that has dramatically changed draft evaluation is the relatively new NCAA eligibility rules.
"Players can go now to major junior and then go to college, and so now our perspective has changed when we're looking at players that are playing at so many different levels.
"We look at players who maybe have not produced at the college level in their first year, and we know they can produce or they've produced before. So we have to go back into their background, acknowledge what they've done in the past and take the big picture of what they've done this year."
Sounds like Boyd and his staff may have a college player or two in mind that other teams might be undervaluing.
The 2026 NHL Draft will be held at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
The San Antonio Spurs are backed against the wall. If they want to stop the New York Knicks from capturing their first championship since 1973, they must defend their home floor and force a Game 6.
Ahead of this high-stakes Game 5 clash, our advanced NBA player prop projections have identified the absolute best value spots on the board. By crunching the data and auditing the latest market lines, we’ve pinpointed exactly where the sharpest betting edges lie.
If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Saturday, June 13.
Knicks vs Spurs computer picks for Game 5
Knicks
Spurs
Anunoby u18.5 points -125
Fox o14.5 points -130
Towns o11.5 rebounds +110
Champagnie o2.5 3-pointers +125
Brunson o5.5 assists -130
Wembanyama o11.5 rebounds +100
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Knicks Game 5 computer picks
OG Anunoby Under 18.5 points (-125)
Projection: 17.51 points
The San Antonio Spurs' top priority tonight? Neutralizing OG Anunoby. In Game 4, Anunoby spearheaded a monumental 29-point New York Knicks comeback, sealing the thrilling win with a historic, miraculous put-back shot.
He finished the night with 33 points on absurd efficiency by shooting 67% from the field, 78% from deep, and 100% from the free-throw line. San Antonio has its hands full with New York’s offense, but limiting Anunoby is the absolute focus for Game 5, making his Under a highly compelling look.
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Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds (+110)
Projection: 11.80 rebounds
Outside of New York’s lone defeat in Game 3, Karl-Anthony Towns has consistently cleared—or come incredibly close to—this rebounding line all series.
He fell just short with 10 boards in the unforgettable Game 4, but with a historic championship on the line, expect KAT to dominate the glass. He has been the driving force for the Knicks throughout this postseason run, particularly against San Antonio's frontcourt.
Bank on him coming up big on the boards tonight to smash the Over.
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Jalen Brunson Over 5.5 assists (-130)
Projection: 6.40 assists
Jalen Brunson has been the engine of New York’s offense, most recently logging 36 points and seven assists in Game 4.
As the Knicks look to close out the series, Brunson’s assist prop presents a major betting edge. He has hit the Over on this line in two of the four matchups during this series and neared it in Game 3.
Because the Spurs' top defensive priority tonight will be forcing the ball out of Brunson’s hands, look for him to turn playmaker and easily clear this total. Back the Over.
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Spurs Game 5 computer picks
De'Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points (-130)
Projection: 17.72 points
De'Aaron Fox loves playing in front of the home crowd, averaging 22.5 points over his last eight games in San Antonio (4.7 points higher than his season home average).
He’ll need that hometown cooking after a highly criticized final sequence in Game 4 pushed the Spurs to the brink of elimination.
San Antonio’s coaching staff is sticking by him, but the message is clear: protect the rock. Look for Fox to slow things down and play a highly strategic, low-mistake style to keep the season alive on Saturday.
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Julian Champagnie Over 2.5 3-pointers (+125)
Projection: 2.5 3-pointers
It was a rough outing for Julian Champagnie in Game 4, as he struggled to a 1-for-7 performance from three-point range.
His inability to stretch the floor was a key component of San Antonio's heartbreaking loss, but a return home for Game 5 might be the exact remedy he needs.
The Spurs are facing elimination, and they need Champagnie to snap out of this slump immediately. If you’re looking at his props tonight, keep in mind that he’s historically a much more potent perimeter threat—expect a focused effort from him as he looks to redeem that Game 4 performance.
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Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds (+100)
Projection: 13.54 rebounds
Victor Wembanyama has split this rebounding line right down the middle so far, clearing it in two of the first four games of the series.
Now, back on his home floor, he has the perfect opportunity to exact some revenge. Expect the young superstar to fully embrace the villain role tonight; New York fans will find plenty of reasons to resent him as he crashes the glass with a vengeance to keep San Antonio's season alive.
Take Wemby on the Over for a dominant performance on the boards.
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How to watch Knicks vs Spurs Game 5
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 01: Fans look on in Monument Park before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on May 1, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you’ve been around the internet in the past week or so, you may have seen the spread of a series of quick and fun little sports games. Seemingly starting with 82-0 and the NBA, games have been sprouting up where you have to try and make the best possible starting lineup after a random generator spits out a franchise and a decade. However, the conceit is that you have no idea what team and decade may come next. You have to balance picking the best possible player while trying not to leave yourself in a spot where you have to take a complete scrub with your final picks.
There has been a baseball version that’s popped up as well, 162-0. Playing that version of those games got me thinking about what would be the best possible team you could make using only the Yankees. So, here’s an effort to try and find out.
Some rules I made for myself include not repeating any players or decades. For example, I wasn’t going to put both 1920s and 1930s Babe Ruth on the team, nor was I just going to stack the team with a bunch of Murderers’ Row era stars and ignore other decades. I also decided to keep some sense of positional realness. Aaron Judge technically has played a handful of games in left field over his career, but I wasn’t going to put him over there just for the sake of stacking the team. The same deal applied to the designated hitter spot, I wanted to pick someone who has spent a good amount of time playing DH.
With that in mind, here’s my team.
Catcher: 1960s Elston Howard Yankees stats in that decade: 959 games, .278/.329/.435, 109 HR, 111 wRC+, 24.7 fWAR
I strongly considered 1970s Thurman Munson for this spot, while a bunch of the other candidates (Yogi Berra, Bill Dickey, Jorge Posada) had their decades locked up by other players. Howard’s still a very good choice though, as he was very good in the ‘60s, including his AL MVP win in 1963.
First Base: 1930s Lou Gehrig Yankees stats in that decade: 1397 games, .343/.453/.638, 347 HR, 173 wRC+, 76.0 fWAR
Yeah, no, there was only one real choice for the ‘30s. The Yankees had other good players that decade and have had other good first baseman, but Gehrig in the ‘30s had one of the single best decades in baseball history.
Second Base: 1980s Willie Randolph Yankees stats in that decade: 1135 games, .276/.378/.355, 35 HR, 111 wRC+, 32.0 fWAR
Both the 1980s and second base were one of the last spots I filled up, but Randolph’s a pretty solid choice considering that. At least according to FanGraphs WAR, he was actually the best Yankee position player of the decade.
Shortstop: 2000s Derek Jeter Yankees stats in that decade: 1500 games, .317/.387/.456, 161 HR, 125 wRC+, 46.1 fWAR
Over the course of his career and the discourse that came with it, Jeter somehow simultaneously became one of the most underrated and overrated players at the same time. However, there’s nothing to argue about over what he did in the 2000s.
Third Base: 1970s Graig Nettles Yankees stats in that decade: 1092 games, .255/.329/.437, 181 HR, 116 wRC+, 40.4 fWAR
You can make an argument for Nettles being one of the most overlooked players in all of baseball history considering his stats compared to how little of a Hall of Fame look he got. I considering a couple different alignments and a couple different third baseman, but than you look at what Nettles did in the ‘70s and it became a pretty obvious pick, at least in my opinion.
Left Field: 1940s Charlie Keller Yankees stats in that decade: 953 games, .281/.406/.521, 173 HR, 152 wRC+, 39.7 fWAR
Left field is an interesting one, as most of the Yankees’ most legendary outfielders have mostly patrolled center and right. If I was being laxer on the rules, I could’ve shoved one of them over here, but I wanted an out and out left fielder, and “King Kong Keller” was probably my best choice there.
Center Field: 1950s Mickey Mantle Yankees stats in that decade: 1246 games, .311/.425/.569, 280 HR, 172 wRC+, 67.9 fWAR
Again, there are other good choices for center field and for the 1950s, but when you just look at what the Mick did, I had to pick him.
Right Field: 1920s Babe Ruth Yankees stats in that decade: 1399 games, .355/.488/.740, 467 HR, 202 wRC+, 106.7 fWAR
The current Yankee captain and the decade so far that Aaron Judge has had is maybe the one player I felt most bad about leaving out, but c’mon, it’s Babe Ruth.
Designated Hitter: 2020s Giancarlo Stanton Yankees stats in that decade: 588 games, .237/.317/.486, 148 HR, 122 wRC+, 6.9 fWAR
As I mentioned, I didn’t want to just shove the next best player in at DH and wanted to pick someone with a legitimate amount of time at the position. Big G’s 2020s stats over that period somewhat pale in comparison to the rest of the entries on this team, but when healthy, the man has hit.
Starting Pitcher: 1990s Andy Pettitte Yankees stats in that decade: 165 games, 1044.1 IP, 3.92 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 81-46, 20.9 fWAR
For as much success as the 1990s Yankees had, picking a representative from them was somewhat tough, as their strength was having very few holes as opposed to having a Babe Ruth level star. In the end, I decided to go with Pettitte to be this team’s starter on the mound.
Relief Pitcher: 2010s Dellin Betances Yankees stats in that decade: 358 games, 381.2 IP, 2.36 ERA, 2.31 FIP, 36 saves, 11.3 fWAR
The Yankees obviously have the greatest reliever ever in Mariano Rivera, but I used his best decades elsewhere and he didn’t pitch long enough into the 2010s to take the spot. Plus, it shouldn’t be forgotten how absolutely unhittable Betances was in his prime.
That’s my team, but I want to see your configurations. Let us know your all-time Yankees lineup picking one player per decade.
Knicks
Spurs