The Braden Montgomery era begins on the South Side

Feb 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago White Sox outfielder Braden Montgomery against the Milwaukee Brewers during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Armed with switch-hitting power, an elite throwing arm, and sky-high expectations, Braden Montgomery makes his long-awaited arrival on the South Side. | (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

The future keeps arriving on the South Side. Prior to Tuesday night’s series opener, before the Braves roll in, the White Sox officially selected the contract of Braden Montgomery from Triple-A Charlotte. One of the most hyped call-ups of this whole rebuild is now, at last, real.

Montgomery, No. 2 in Chicago’s system and No. 21 in all of baseball (MLB Pipeline), has been banging on the door since Opening Day.

He started the year in Birmingham, and it took about five minutes for the 23-year-old switch-hitter to torch the Southern League. Player of the Month in April, up to Charlotte by May 5. The brakes? He never found them.

The numbers across the season: .314/.422/.548, 10 bombs, 41 RBIs, 52 runs, 39 walks in 56 games between Birmingham and Charlotte. And in his last 10 with the Knights, he basically turned into Barry Bonds: .474/.580/.711, on base like it was a birthright.

At that point, there wasn’t much left to prove.

This call-up is another notch for the blockbuster Garrett Crochet trade between Chicago and Boston in December 2024. Montgomery was one of four bodies in that deal — Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth, Wikelman González, the others. All four have reached the majors (although González started the season in Charlotte and is currently on the IL), and the trade isn’t even two years old.

For Montgomery, the journey to the majors has been anything but ordinary.

The former No. 12 overall pick entered the 2024 draft as one of the most talented players in college baseball after starring at Texas A&M. His combination of switch-hitting pop, incredible athleticism, and an arm that could knock over a mailbox from the outfield. A broken ankle suffered during the Aggies’ postseason run briefly slowed his ascent, but it did little to diminish the excitement surrounding his long-term potential.

Since turning pro, the hype train has only picked up speed.

Scouts drool over the power, but that’s just the start. The arm is a cannon — 70-grade, no exaggeration — and he can handle center or right. Most see him sticking in right, but the ability to play center is a nice bonus for a team still sorting through its future core.

The best part is that Montgomery isn’t just a slugger. He works counts, draws walks, and owns the strike zone. That patience, plus the pop, is why scouts see him as a real middle-of-the-order threat.

Now the White Sox and their fans will find out how quickly those tools translate in the big leagues.

Montgomery’s call-up came as part of a roster shuffle, with Joe Rock up from Charlotte, Rikuu Nishida and David Sandlin back to Triple-A, and Austin Hays to the 60-day IL.

But let’s be real: Tuesday is all about Montgomery.

For a team still building towards the next competitive window, these call-ups are the measuring stick. Some are just bodies. Some are hope.

Montgomery feels like something more.

The Sox think they landed a cornerstone in the Crochet deal. Starting tonight against Atlanta, fans get their first look at whether he can turn all that promise into something real.

The Braden Montgomery era? It’s here. Get excited.

White Sox Weekly: June 1-7, 2026

Jun 6, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago White Sox shortstop Jacob Gonzalez (7) walks off the field after a victory against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Hey, at least Jacob Gonzalez had a massive first career home run this past week. | (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

Last week, we turned the page to a new month. The White Sox hit the road for their sixth road trip of the year. Instead of building off of a 6-1 home stand, they dropped four of six.

June was always going to be a tough month for this South Side squad. The month started with a continuation of the division matchups that ended May, moved on to a trip to Philly, relentlessly pushes into three series against some of the best teams in the league, and ends with three divisional series. Which is why after recently taking three of four from the Twins at home, it seemed like a sure thing the domination of the Minnesota club would continue.

For the bats, much of this trend continued this week. The Pale Hose scored no fewer than four runs in all six games they played.

Miguel Vargas came to play in the opener in Minnesota. Two-run home runs were the name of the game for the third baseman. He hit not one but two in the 9-6 loss:

In Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to the Twins, Vargas showed up again with a two-run single. RBI’s five and six of the week put the White Sox up 3-0 at the time:

On Wednesday, the White Sox finally got into the win column, 8-0. Vargas went 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs and his eighth RBI of the week. Had an MVP been named for the series, it would have gone to the 26-year-old.

Randal Grichuk kept his team in the opener on Friday in City of Brotherly Love. The outfielder was brought in specifically to hit against lefty pitching, and hit against lefty pitching he has. This season five of his six home runs and 12 of his 19 RBIs can be credited to facing a left-handed pitchers. Jesús Luzardo was Grichuk’s most recent victim: The DH for the night nabbed two solo shots off the starter and kept the game within striking distance, but the White Sox would ultimately end up losing, 8-6:

The six runs scored on Saturday, however, would be enough to earn the win. Both Colson Montgomery and Jacob Gonzalez homered, and we’ll show you the latter home run because it was the first long ball of J-Gone’s career. The ball traveled 428 feet into the second deck of right field, so it was no cheapie:

There were six lead changes in Sunday’s 9-5 loss. There were no home runs for the White Sox in this effort, but Tristan Peters smacked his 15th double of the year. The brief Banana is now batting .307 on the season. Peters was designated for assignment by the Rays before Chris Getz made a call to trade for him. A trade that cost the club cash and a player to be named later. While Tampa is sure to get a PTBNL upgrade from a system nobody to an actual prospect, for now one team’s loss is another team’s treasure.

The pitching this week was feeling the effects of playing 13 games in a row.

The highlight of this pitching struggle could be summarized best in David Sandlin’s performance. As you might remember, the rookie’s career debut was highlighted by retiring 18 in a row after giving up a solo home run to Byron Buxton to start the game. Last week, Sandlin started a second game against the Twins to open the series in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The result could not have been more different. He only made it through four innings, giving up eight runs on eight hits and four walks.

During the rubber match in Philly on Sunday, Sandlin entered the game after a Tyler Gilbert open. This time he made it through 3 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks. His home runs allowed has now climbed to four after just 13 1/3 innings of work over three game appearances.

This week was also the week Davis Martin finally stumbled. A bad start was bound to happen, but Buxton and company is not who I anticipated this struggle to happen against. The starter added a second loss to his record after pitching 4 2/3 innings. He surrendered six runs on 10 hits and struck out a season-low two batters.

Relief pitching did not have a great week, either. Tyler Davis and his 12 ERA over the stretch was a perfect example of this. His first of the week, on Monday, was an inconsequential ninth run given up to the Twins in a 9-6 loss. On Friday, Davis had a scoreless outing against the Phillies. What happened on Sunday to finish up the week, you ask? Davis entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a 5-4 lead and a job to hold the score there. Hold the score he did not. After three hits, a walk and one strikeout, the inning ended with the Good Guys in a 7-5 hole. The rubber match would be lost by a final of 9-5. An opportunity for a .500 week and a series win going into playing Atlanta was squandered by one inning of poor pitching.

As if that relief pitching wasn’t ugly enough, Bryan Hudson came out of the week with a 27 ERA in 1 1/3 innings of work. His two appearances in Philadelphia were both two outs apiece, giving up two runs in each. To no one’s surprise, there were no strikeouts involved during these outings.

Hopefully the Monday off-day will prove as a reset for Zach Bove’s pitching staff. The club will need a locked-in rotation and bullpen if they are to squeak out some wins against the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cardinals vs Mets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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Freddy Peralta doesn't give the New York Mets enough of an edge over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals tonight to take the home team to win straight up on the moneyline.

New York is a -117 favorite, and my Cardinals vs. Mets predictions are fading the home team to find value elsewhere, particularly with the Over.

Let's dig in with my MLB picks on Tuesday, June 9.

Who will win Cardinals vs Mets today: Cardinals moneyline (+112)

The New York Mets have played better baseball of late, but I'm not champing at the bit to take them to win straight up at -117 in this spot. The St. Louis Cardinals are the better value proposition at plus money on the road.

This price reflects the pitching matchup more than anything, as Dustin May is pitching opposite Freddy Peralta. However, Peralta has been underwhelming in his first (perhaps last) season in Queens.

Compare his under-the-hood metrics year over year, and you'll see the Mets may have gotten hosed by the Milwaukee Brewers (whomst among us?) in their offseason trade (well, not really, as neither Brandon Sproat nor Jett Williams has looked that good). Last year, Peralta generated whiff and strikeout rates in the 83rd and 84th percentiles, respectively. This year, those have fallen to the 71st and 60th.

Additionally, Peralta saw a three-point Stuff+ dip and a slight drop in his Location+ from April to May, as his pitches simply aren't fooling hitters and he's not hitting his spots. 

His 3.63 ERA isn't terrible, but it's worse by nearly a full run from a season ago, and his expected ERA is 3.79 with an expected batting average of .237 (both in the 57th percentile). 

All told, he's getting hit more frequently and harder, and with bat-speed darling Jordan Walker waiting in the wings, I like the value in the visitors because Peralta isn't giving New York the edge implied by the price. I'd play the Cardinals to +105.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Peralta's 14.3 BlastCon% is the highest it's been since it was first measured in 2024, meaning his offerings are getting squared up at top speed more frequently, particularly helping favor the Over 7.5.

Cardinals vs Mets Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-115)

With Peralta getting squared up frequently, and May similarly struggling to suppress scoring, we've taken our first step toward the Over 7.5.

And while Peralta's fly-ball rate is a reasonable 35.5%, that's so far below his career rate that it's reasonable to expect some normalization. 

Lars Nootbaar and JJ Wetherholt are healthy, which only bolsters St. Louis' offense alongside Walker and Alec Burleson.

May boasts an average fastball velocity of 96.8 mph, which ranks in the 84th percentile. Pretty good! Unfortunately, his average exit velocity is 90.4 mph, which is in the 19th percentile. Not great!

With wind blowing out toward right-center, per BallparkPal, it's shaping up to be a long day at the office for these hurlers.

Mets outfielder Juan Soto has the best matchup rating on today's slate, according to Batters-Box. If the Mets stack lefty bats like Soto and the red-hot Carson Benge, May will be in trouble, as they've hit .299/.371/.448 against him this season.

I'd take the Over 7.5 as short as -145 or pivot to Over 8.5 at plus money around +120 as an alternative.

Jason Wilson's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 3-0, +2.88 units
  • Over/Under bets: 2-1, +1.1 units

Cardinals vs Mets odds

  • Moneyline: Cardinals +113 | Mets -117
  • Run line: Cardinals +1.5 (-178) | Mets -1.5 (+170)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-113) | Under 7.5 (+108)

Cardinals vs Mets trend

The New York Mets have hit the Game Total Over in 10 of their last 14 games at home (+7.80 Units / 51% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Mets.

How to watch Cardinals vs Mets and game info

LocationCiti Field, Flushing, NY
DateTuesday, June 9, 2026
First pitch7:10 p.m. ET
TVCardinals.TV, SNY
Cardinals starting pitcherDustin May
(3-6, 4.59 ERA)
Mets starting pitcherFreddy Peralta
(4-4, 3.63 ERA)

Cardinals vs Mets latest injuries

Cardinals vs Mets weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Dodgers face tough task vs. Paul Skenes in Pirates opener

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 4: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch in the second inning during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park on September 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers haven’t lost two games in a row in four weeks, but that run of success will be put to a tough test in Tuesday night’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

In a week in which they scored nine runs in one inning — their biggest frame since 2021 — the Dodgers also scored two or fewer runs in three of seven games last week and were held scoreless in 52 of their 62 innings at the plate.

Now they try to get the bats back on track against Pirates ace Paul Skenes.

Tuesday marks the fifth time in five series since Skenes debuted in 2024 that the right-hander will face the Dodgers. In his rookie season, the Dodgers and Pirates split those two games, and Skenes looked relatively human, with seven runs allowed in 11 innings, including three home runs.

Last year, Skenes simply fixed the glitch, and did not allow any runs to the Dodgers in 12 1/3 innings over two starts, both Pirates wins, en route to winning the National League Cy Young Award, after finishing third as a rookie. In total, Skenes has 33 strikeouts against only three walks against the Dodgers, with at least eight strikeouts in all four starts to date.

Skenes this year has allowed 15 runs (11 earned) in 20 innings over his last four starts, all Pirates losses. It’s just the second time Skenes has failed to pitch six innings in four consecutive starts, but last year’s four-game stint included a pair of scoreless starts.

The recent skid ballooned Skenes’ ERA to 3.09, which stands out because during his first two major league seasons saw him post a 1.96 and 1.97 ERA. That ERA this year still ranks 11th in the National League, while his 2.29 xERA is second. Skenes’ strikeout rate (29.5 percent) ranks fourth, while his strikeout-minus-walk rate (24.8 percent) is third.

Skenes is third in FanGraphs WAR (2.2) in the National League, tied with Shohei Ohtani, who will start on the mound on Wednesday and be the first batter Skenes faces on Tuesday. Ohtani homered off Skenes in their first meeting, on June 5, 2024, but overall has just two hits in 11 at-bats against him, with six strikeouts and a walk.

Andy Pages has four hits in six at-bats against Skenes, including a home run and two doubles, but only two other Dodgers have multiple hits off the Pirates ace — Kyle Tucker has a home run and double in five career at-bats, while Freddie Freeman has two hits in 12 at-bats, including a double.

Tuesday game info

  • Teams: Dodgers at Pirates
  • Ballpark: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
  • Time: 3:40 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

Former Canadiens First-Rounder Lands Big Payday With Wild

Former Montreal Canadiens forward Michael McCarron has landed a nice payday from the Minnesota Wild.

The Wild have announced that they have re-signed McCarron to a six-year, $20 million contract. 

This is certainly a significant raise for McCarron. The former Canadiens forward just finished his two-year, $1.8 million contract, where he had a $900,000 AAV. Now, he has a $3.33 million AAV with his new deal from the Wild and will do so for a long time.

Clearly, Wild general manager Bill Guerin was very happy with what McCarron provided after they acquired him from the Nashville Predators ahead of the deadline. In 20 regular-season games with Minnesota following the trade, he had three goals, five points, and 40 hits. He also had two goals and four points in 11 playoff games for the Wild this spring. 

McCarron was selected by the Canadiens with the 25th overall pick of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. In 69 games with the Habs over three seasons, he posted two goals, six assists, eight points, 110 penalty minutes, and 185 hits. 

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Anytime Goal Scorer Predictions & Parlay for Game 4

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The Stanley Cup Final continues tonight with Game 4, and I've found solid value in the goal-scorer market. 

My Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights anytime goal-scorer predictions will highlight Brett Howden, Jackson Blake, and Mitch Marner. 

Read more in my NHL picks for Tuesday, June 9. 

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights goal scorer predictions for Game 4

Player to score a goalOdds
Hurricanes Jackson Blake+315
Golden Knights Brett Howden+275
Golden Knights Mitch Marner+185
💲Goal scorer parlay+2000

Goal scorer pick: Jackson Blake (+315)

Jackson Blake has been a breakout star for the Carolina Hurricanes in these playoffs, scoring five times. Blake leads the team with 6.33 individual expected goals and in individual great-danger chances with 28. Even though he's yet to find the back of the net in the Final, the opportunities are there. 

Carolina is also scoring 4.67 expected goals per 60 minutes when Blake is on the ice, indicating his importance to its offense. Additionally, Carolina is generating more than 17 high-danger chances per 60 minutes with him in action.

Given the volume of quality chances he's generating, Blake is an appealing candidate to find the back of the net.

I'll play this pick up to +250. 

Goal scorer pick: Brett Howden (+275)

Brett Howden has been doing it all for the Vegas Golden Knights this postseason, already scoring 13 goals. Three of them have come in the Stanley Cup Final. Howden has also generated 38 individual Fenwick attempts, ranking among the Top 5 players on the team.

His line was incredibly active in Game 3, accounting for four of Vegas' five goals in the overtime victory. More importantly, Howden's 21 individual high-danger chances lead the Golden Knights this postseason, highlighting how often he's finding dangerous scoring areas.

The veteran has also recorded eight shots on goal through the first three games of the Final. With his confidence high and opportunities continuing to come, Howden remains an attractive goal-scorer option.

I'll play this pick up to +225.

Goal scorer pick: Mitch Marner (+185)

Mitch Marner was the star of the show on Saturday evening, scoring a hat trick in the second period for the Golden Knights. The veteran has been a key piece for Vegas throughout the postseason, and the underlying metrics support his recent success.

Marner ranks second on the team with 4.1 individual expected goals and has generated 54 individual Fenwick attempts during the playoffs. He also erupted for 10 shots on goal in Game 4 and is averaging 4.66 shots per game in the series.

With the opportunities continuing to come at a high rate, Marner remains a solid candidate to find the back of the net again.

I'll play this pick up to +150.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights anytime goal parlay

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Not intended for use in MA.
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Grant Holmes takes the mound for the Braves at the White Sox

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 03: Grant Holmes #66 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch during the MLB game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Atlanta Braves on June 3,2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta,GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

After a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates where they were able get through without facing Paul Skenes, the Atlanta Braves are headed to Chicago where the Acuña brothers will be facing off.

Grant Holmes will be taking the mound, and as we have seen, he tends to run out of gas after going through the lineup twice. A big question mark is after an off day if Didier Fuentes will be available for long relief if needed. A combo of Holmes and Fuentes in the same game seems to be a solid strategy of it can be done.

So far this season Holmes has an ERA of 3.86 and FIP of 1.317, which are both right on par with the rest of his career. However, his 21.2 percent strikeout rate is the worst of his career, and his expected ERA (xERA) of 4.49 shows he is due for some regression. He has been particularly fortunate with a left on base percentage of 83.3 when his career average is 79.2, and his BABIP against him is .256, which is lower than his career .287.

Oddly, it is the second time a hitter faces him in a game when he struggles, not the third. Hitters are averaging an OPS of .569 the first time they see him, a 1.010 the second time, and a .519 the third. Nine of his twelve HRs that he has given up have been during the second time through the order. It will be interesting to see how Walt
Weiss handles him moving forward.

Only two players on the entire White Sox active roster have faced Holmes, and neither have more than two at-bats. Coincidentally it is Ronald Acuña’s brother, Luisangel, who has those two at-bats and he is hitless. Randal Grichuk is hitless in his one at-bat.

Like the Pirates that the Braves just swept, the White Sox are a team that have been surprisingly good on offense. They are fourth in MLB in HRs, and seventh in total runs per game. Good news for the Braves is they are bottom ten in ERA with a 4.38 right behind their crosstown rivals, the Cubs.

Former Braves pitcher Erick Fedde was originally slated to take the mound for the Braves. But then it was announced that Brandon Eisert will be opening. Eisert held Atlanta hitless last season in 1.1 innings and has had a solid year thus far in 14.0 innings. This season he has a 3.21 ERA, 2.97 FIP, and a 1.214 WHIP. He also has fifteen strikeouts to only five walks.

Based on Fedde originally slotted to start, it can be guessed that he will be following Eisert. Fedde’s time with the Braves is probably time that he would like to forget when he had an ERA of 8.10 in 23.1 innings in 2025. Fedde is not exactly doing well this season either. He currently sports an ERA of 4.94 and an xERA of 4.50. His xERA is in the bottom 33.0 percent of MLB. He is only striking out 14.2 hitters which is in the bottom 4.0 percent of MLB and is walking 9.4 percent, which is in the worst 40.0 percent.

On paper, the Braves’ offense should be licking their chops should they get to face Fedde, but we never truly know with the great game of baseball what will happen. Ronald Acuña and Austin Riley have had the best success against Fedde on the team. In nineteen at-bats Acuña has three HRs, a .316 average, and a 1.277 OPS. In twenty- two at-bats Riley has a .982 OPS with one HR. Another player to keep an eye on is Michael Harris. We already know he is on fire this year, but in his nine at-bats against Fedde he has a .667 average and 1.445 OPS. As far as Eisert goes, there is not enough data to really draw any conclusions, but based on his 14.0 innings this year, the Braves need to get him off the mound as fast as they can to move on to the other pitchers on the White Sox roster.

First pitch is at 7:40 EDT

Game Info

Game Time: Friday, June 9th, 7:40 pm EDT

Location: Rate Field, , Chicago, IL

Watch: BravesVision / Gray TV

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

Sour Milk and Alek Thomas

Alek Thomas in the dugout. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Inspiration.

I kept some oat milk in the refrigerator, thinking that when the time was right, it would be much better than regular milk.  Eventually the milk went sour.  I thought of Alek Thomas.

Doubts appeared before it happened.

“At this point, expecting Thomas to anchor center field for a competitive Diamondbacks club feels optimistic. His tools suggest upside, but four seasons of stasis on offense and regression on defense tell a different story.” — Jeff Irving, December 2025

“On the other end of the age spectrum, this season may be the last chance for Jorge Barrosa and Alek Thomas to have a breakthrough performance.” — Makakilo, February 2026

Ben Seigel asked, “When will the front office start to make some decisions on Alek Thomas?”  He made a strong argument:

“And there are multiple high-level prospects currently sitting down in Reno chomping at the bit for an opportunity including Tommy Troy, Ryan Waldschmidt, and eventually A.J. Vukovich when he returns from injury. That’s also not taking into account Jordan Lawlar’s eventual return…” — Ben Seigel, April 2026

My article, Which Outfielder Will Most Exceed Expectations? had a table of FanGraphs 2026 projections of four statistics (wRC+, OBP, HR/PA, and SLG) for each of six possible Diamondbacks outfielders.  This season with the Diamondbacks, Thomas fell significantly short of each of his four projections.  Also he fell short of the projections of the other possible outfielders except for Barrosa (SLG and HR/PA).

What happened?

This season with the Diamondbacks, Alek Thomas struggled at the plate.  He had several career low statistics, such as .222 OBP, .340 SLG, 3.0 BB%. His defense in center field, although above average, had not returned to the level of 2022/2023, when he was twice nominated for a gold glove.

Instead of optioning Thomas to AAA until he was ready to return, the Diamondbacks DFA’d him to remove him from the 40-man roster.  That opened a trade window prior to Thomas being available to other teams on waivers.  Only if he was not traded, and only if no team claimed him on waivers, would he be available to return to the Diamondbacks. 

The Dodgers made a trade offer that the Diamondbacks liked, so Thomas was traded to the Dodgers for Jose Requena, a 17-years-old outfielder. 

Mike Hazen’s comments are key to understanding the Diamondbacks’ viewpoint.  The bolded italics were added by me. 

  • “I think he made changes this offseason, fundamentally, to target some of those things. I know he worked at all those things. It hasn’t translated.” — Mike Hazen, May 2026
  • “I feel like if we just optioned him, feeling like he’s buried, sitting down there, biding his time until he gets another opportunity, I wasn’t sure that we were going to get the best version. This is the opportunity we’ll have to get the best version of him if he’s still here.” — Mike Hazen, May 2026

In the minors, had other outfielders developed to the point that keeping Thomas in the Majors would stunt their development?  My view is that the desired player mindset is working extraordinarily hard to prepare, not knowing whether an opportunity would happen.  I hold up Yilber Diaz as the prime example of the desired player mindset in the following two AZ Snake Pit articles:

Is there an undiscovered Alek Thomas?

Alex Thomas, 1-6 June, AAA (Pacific Coast League) results follow (Data from Baseball Savant):

  • Alek Thomas did not swing at five waste zone pitches (far from the strike zone).  That seems to reflect a very positive change compared to the 2026 season in the Majors, when he swung at 20.6% of waste zone pitches with zero hits.
  • Recently, Alek Thomas’ OBP was worse in AAA (.176 vs .222), but xOBA was a little better (.327 vs .275).  Again, that seems positive.
  • Recently, Alek Thomas hit a lot more ground balls compared to fly balls (roughly 4:1 vs 1.7:1).  This change likely reflects swing changes after being traded to the Dodgers. Recently, his launch angles are rarely in the optimal range. See table for more details.

The following table shows Exit Velocities (EV) , Launch Angles (LA), and Ball-In-Play (BIP) information for Alex Thomas 1-6 June, AAA.

My conclusion is that there are signs that Thomas made positive changes at the plate.  The undiscovered Alek Thomas may be emerging.

Summary.

This season was Alek Thomas’ last chance for a breakout season with the Diamondbacks. His defense was above average (albeit less than it was), but he struggled at the plate. His offseason work did not translate to season results. The Diamondbacks DFA’s him. Then they traded him to the Dodgers.

Perhaps Thomas now has a mindset similar to Yilber Diaz : working extraordinarily hard to prepare, not knowing whether another opportunity will happen.

In his first week in AAA, Alek Thomas reduced his swings at waste zone pitches (20.6% to zero), increased his expected on-base-percent, and hit a home run. On the other hand, he hit a lot of grounders, perhaps because his launch angles are rarely in the optimal range. The undiscovered Alek Thomas may be emerging.

Rockets need to have a long, hard look in the mirror

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 1: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Houston Rockets are frustrated after a second straight first-round exit in the playoffs, and it should spark questions about how the team proceeds moving forward.

This is the first season the Rockets have not taken a step in the right direction since Ime Udoka took over as head coach. They haven’t had many concerns up until this point, but the lack of progress can be concerning.

It poses a very difficult question they must answer going into free agency.

“Do the Rockets just run things back, hoping that a healthy Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams and further development from Ausar [sic] Thompson and Reed Sheppard propel them higher up the conference hierarchy?,” ESPN analyst Zach Kram wrote. “Or do they think something is fundamentally wrong with their core, and thus more dramatic changes — like trading Sengun for a different, better-fitting star — should be on offer?”

The Rockets are definitely in a predicament, but the injuries suffered during the season may save them from automatically pushing the panic and reset buttons. The Rockets still have a lot of potential and growth, but there should definitely be questions on whether this group can actually get the job done.

If things continue to remain stagnant or go south after the 2026-27 season, changes will have to be made. Depending on how the season goes, that may result in the Rockets moving on from Udoka, some of their core players, or both, but change will have to take place.

The finger should probably get pointed at Udoka before any young player they have drafted since 2021, but that all depends on how these players bounce back from a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.

TDS community, should the Rockets run it back or is a massive change necessary for this roster? Let us know in the comments section below.

Mets' Kodai Senga scratched from Tuesday's rehab start due to ulnar nerve irritation

The Mets have announced that Kodai Senga will not make his scheduled Tuesday rehab start with Double-A Binghamton due to ulnar nerve irritation.

Tuesday’s start would have been Senga’s fourth rehab outing. In his first three starts, Senga has allowed seven earned runs on 14 hits over 12.0 innings. 

Manager Carlos Mendoza previously noted that Senga's velocity was "a little down" in his last start.

Senga has been on the IL since April 28 while dealing with lumbar spine inflammation.

Prior to landing on the IL, Senga had been struggling mightily, pitching to a 9.00 ERA in five starts, making his spot in the rotation questionable at best whenever he is fully healthy. 

 

Astros News: Dana Brown Won’t Sell; Wade Jr to IL; Arrighetti Milestone

HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 07: Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) flies out to left in the bottom of the sixth inning during the MLB game between the Athletics and Houston Astros on June 7, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The latest news on the Houston Astros!

Another day, another injury: LaMonte Wade Jr. is heading to the IL, and Joey Loperfido is being recalled per Brian McTaggart:

The IL stint follows a hamstring injury:

The number is ZERO.

Dana Brown also doesn’t intend on selling:

Josh Hader has been on fire since returning:

Hader struck out the side yesterday in the 9th. He has 7K in 3 IP, has not allowed a hit.

Altuve on his sprint home to score the winning run Monday:

In Chandler Rome’s most recent piece, he discusses several topics: The Astros will maintain they are buyers; a LH hitting OF is the team’s biggest need; Doubts Yordan will be dealt; a potential Jeremy Pena trade window; Christian Vazquez impact on staff & what kind of playing time he may get upon the return of Yainer Diaz; the Astros patience with Mike Burrows:

Cole Hertzler is movin’ on up:

Seven years ago today, Yordan Alvarez made his major league debut:

Collin Price got hit first big league hit:

Milestone for Spencer Arrighetti:

Of note: In Bob Nightengale’s latest column, he mentions teams that are ‘delusional’ in their statements about not being willing to sell despite bad records. The Astros are not one of the teams he mentions.

Things he does mention:

  • Aroldis Chapman likely to be dealt
  • Freddy Peralta wants a Max Fried type deal in FA
  • DBacks and Ketel Marte still at odds
  • Twins SP Bailey Ober filed a formal complaint about the quality of baseballs, and believes they led to his latest injury. More pitchers are echoing his sentiments

Ben Stokes set to be left out of England squad for second New Zealand Test

  • England captain considering his long-term future

  • ECB continuing investigation into nightclub incident

Ben Stokes is highly unlikely to be included in England’s squad for the second Test against New Zealand after the 35-year-old asked for space and time to consider his long-term future amid the fallout from a nightclub incident in the early hours of Monday morning.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is determined to bring the latest furore surrounding the culture of the men’s Test team under control before the start of the Women’s World Cup on Friday, with a temporary end to Stokes’s time as captain expected to be confirmed when the squad is announced within the next 48 hours.

Continue reading...

Dodgers vs Pirates Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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Let’s hope the elements don’t interfere with a tape-measuring showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers star-studded lineup and Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes at PNC Park on Tuesday, June 9.

My top Dodgers vs. Pirates predictions and MLB picks are calling for Los Angeles to eke out a low-scoring win against Skenes tonight.

Who will win Dodgers vs Pirates today: Dodgers moneyline (+100)

The Pittsburgh Pirates have lineup regulars Brandon Lowe (knee) and Oneil Cruz (hand) day-to-day with minor injuries, and ace Paul Skenes is struggling on the bump with 15 runs allowed across his past four starts.

Obviously, Skenes’ underlying 3.07 xFIP and 3.25 xERA highlight there’s been some tough luck during the skid, but he’s also tasked with facing the best lineup in the majors by wOBA and OPS against right-handed pitchers tonight.

Add the potential for rain delays and/or stoppages due to forecast rain and thundershowers, to Pittsburgh ranking 20th in bullpen ERA over the past 30 days, and the Los Angeles Dodgers moneyline is playable to -110.

Covers COVERS INTEL: While it’s a small sample, Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Eric Lauer’s dipped to a 21.7% squared-up contact rate across two starts with his new team after allowing a 34.4% mark through 36 1/3  innings with the Toronto Blue Jays to start the season.

Dodgers vs Pirates Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-115)

With the highlighted Pittsburgh injury question marks and overall lack of success against left-handed pitchers, I’m anticipating the Pirates doing limited damage at the dish to keep this total Under the number.

Additionally, even with Skenes’ noted bump in the road, he still paces the majors in xERA since debuting in 2024. So, I fully expect him to pitch well and hold the Los Angeles bats largely in check.

Of course, the Dodgers have also played to the Under in 27 of their past 45 games (+7.30 Units / 15% ROI), so I like this bet down to -125.

Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 24-13, +12.73 units
  • Over/Under bets: 13-10, -2.37 units

Dodgers vs Pirates odds

  • Moneyline: Dodgers +100 | Pirates -120
  • Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (+155) | Pirates +1.5 (-185)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-105) | Under 8.5 (-115)

Dodgers vs Pirates trend

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won 32 of their last 45 road games (+10.00 Units / 13% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Pirates.

How to watch Dodgers vs Pirates and game info

LocationPNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
DateTuesday, June 9, 2026
First pitch6:40 p.m. ET
TVSportsNet LA, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Dodgers starting pitcherEric Lauer
(2-5, 5.74 ERA)
Pirates starting pitcherPaul Skenes
(6-5, 3.09 ERA)

Dodgers vs Pirates latest injuries

Dodgers vs Pirates weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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San Jose Sharks Draft Targets: Chase Reid

The San Jose Sharks will enter the 2026 NHL Draft with two first round draft picks, 2nd and 20th overall. We're going to start by taking a look at players likely available with the second overall selection.

The Sharks desperately need to fill their cupboards on the blue line, and they have a number of options to do so if that's the route they choose to go. Chase Reid is at the top of many experts' lists and he could fill a major need in San Jose. 


Prospect Info

Name: Chase Reid 

2025-26 Team: Soo Greyhounds - Ontario Hockey League

Date of Birth: Dec. 30, 2007

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 194 lbs

Position: Defense (Right-Handed)


Statistics:

Games Played - 45

Goals - 18

Assists - 30

Points - 48

Shots - 177

Shooting Percentage - 10.2% 

Plus/Minus - +27 


Rankings:

NHL Central Scouting (North America): 2nd

The Hockey News - Tony Ferrari: 8th

The Hockey News - Ryan Kennedy: 4th

Elite Prospects: 2nd

Sportsnet - Sam Cosentino: 4th

Sportsnet - Jason Bukala: 6th

Smaht Scouting: 6th

Dobber Prospects: 5th


What Experts Are Saying:

"Reid has some of the widest swings in his game. He can be the kind of defender who seems to be around the puck all game long, generating chances off the rush or in the zone. In other games, he occasionally looks like the game is just getting away from him, and he's trying to do a little too much. He should work some of that inconsistency out of his game as he matures. " - Tony Ferrari

"He’s an outstanding skater who averaged over 26 minutes per game of ice time with the Hounds and contributed 18 goals and 30 assists in 48 regular-season games. He provides a transitional element and a heavy/accurate shot from distance. Reid is active and hard to defend in the offensive zone, but agile and quick enough to retreat and defend on time when pucks are turned over." - Jason Bukala

"Reid possesses a great combination of size and skill across all 200-feet of the ice surface. He is an intelligent and mobile two-way, right-shot defenseman who knows when to act and where to be. He has a heavy shot which he likes to showcase from the point, especially on the man advantage. Inside the offensive zone, he knows when to pinch up and support the offense. He showcases a high-end level of vision with an ability to find open teammates in good scoring areas. These traits, combined with his mobility, help him as a puck transporter, sometimes opting to take the puck up the ice himself and carrying it across both bluelines" - Dobber Prospects


Reid is far from a perfect player at this stage in his career, but he shows signs of a future top-pairing defenseman at the NHL level. If he's able to become a more consistent player and work on some of the mistakes he occasionally makes, he could be a key part of the Sharks' blue line for many years to come if he's the player that Mike Grier opts to select. 

If The Oilers Make Their Babcock Bed — They’ll Have to Sleep In It

After firing Kris Knoblauch following the 2025-26 season, the Edmonton Oilers were hoping that the reason they had to let him go -- leaking that they were trying to interview Bruce Cassidy -- would be made available by the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas had blocked Edmonton (and all other teams) from even speaking to him. As the messy situation unfolded, it was becoming clear that Cassidy was their top choice.

Fast forward a couple of weeks, and suddenly Mike Babcock is "their guy." 

Say what?

Without confirmation that Cassidy would ever be permitted to interview, the Oilers have shifted their coaching search focus to an ex-NHL coach who hasn't won a playoff series since 2013 or coached a playoff game since November 2019. Oh, and that same guy, who also hasn't won a Stanley Cup since 2008, has a history of bullying players, treating human beings like garbage, and abusing his power for all the wrong reasons. 

Sure, Babcock has an incredible resume that would put him in the conversation for the most decorated NHL coach ever. And yes, he might push this current group of Edmonton Oilers beyond their comfort zone, hold them accountable, and the team might win. This may also be one of the biggest blunders in recent coaching memory, all because the Oilers didn't want to wait a week to say if Vegas was going to change their minds.

Something Happened Here...

The NHL reaffirmed that Vegas is within its rights to deny Cassidy permission to interview with divisional rivals like Edmonton. It's certainly possible that the Oilers' first choice is completely off the table, at least for now. But did the Oilers know that? Was there another conversation with Golden Knights management and ownership that essentially guaranteed that the interview was never coming?

Maybe, but it seems far-fetched to imagine the same manager, Kelly McCrimmon, who said they wanted to focus on the playoffs, would suddenly take the time to speak with the Oilers during the Stanley Cup Final. 

All the while, the Los Kings swooped in and hired Peter Laviolette, another possible option for Edmonton. 

Somewhere along the way, a coach that no other team is even giving the time of day to entered the picture. Babcock was a rumor, a theory, a wild idea that no one really took seriously. It was a suggestion that garnered similar responses from analysts, fans, and media -- 'They better not do that.'

Then came Darren Dreger's report that the Oilers were consulting with the NHLPA to determine whether there were any objections that would need to be resolved before potentially hiring Babcock.

It was later revealed that the Oilers' leadership group had recently spoken directly with Babcock to discuss this possibility. They were on board. 

Dreger added that if an investigation is warranted, the NHL would manage it, and that there was even a suggestion that D.J. Smith would likely join Babcock's staff if he's hired.

Clearly, this was much further down the road than anyone could have imagined.

Players Are On Board As Babcock To Oilers Is Real, Just Waiting for ApprovalPlayers Are On Board As Babcock To Oilers Is Real, Just Waiting for ApprovalDaryl Katz and Edmonton’s leadership group have reportedly approved a stunning pursuit of Mike Babcock, signaling a high-stakes coaching gamble as the team awaits league clearance.

How Desperate Are the Oilers That This Became Real?

There is no doubt that the inexplicable and illogical urgency is driven by the fact that the coaching pool got uncomfortably small. Pair that with Connor McDavid's timeline and his incredible urgency to win and you get to where things sit today.

The Oilers are waiting for the NHL to approve a move that just a few days ago, everyone thought was a bad joke.

McDavid signed a two-year extension, meaning next season is a critical one before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The first chance Edmonton had to make good on the gift he gave them ended in a first-round loss to Anaheim.

“I think it’s ownership driven… It’s a really desperate time there and there’s no room for error," said Elliotte Friedman. He added that Daryl Katz is pushing for this, which explains his willingness to pay a coach for three years after letting him go. It explains why the Oilers are willing to ignore the optics of this and do what they feel they need to. "It's a desperate time there. There's no room for error," he added. There is a feeling that the players "got away with too much."

Oilers Will Have to Lie in the Bed They're Making

The fact that Edmonton is no longer willing to wait for Cassidy, or go another route, means they're banking that his wildly unpopular choice is the right one. It's not; this is a decision they're going to have to live with and face the consequences of. 

The fallout from this could be gigantic. Players may avoid the Oilers in free agency or via trade. Some current members of the roster might want out. If the Oilers don't win, it will look bad. If an incident happens that proves Babcock hasn't learned anything in his time away, it will look worse. 

Ownership and the top players on the team don't seem to care. They believe this is the right choice, opinions be damned. 

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