Jazz Chisholm Jr. found a way to keep Aaron Judge’s bat in the Yankees’ lineup.
After being held hitless by the Red Sox in each of his first three plate appearances on Sunday, the slugging infielder decided to make a change when he stepped to the bat rack.
Chisholm grabbed Judge’s 35-inch, 33-ounce bat instead of his own and ended up clubbing the first pitch he saw to deep right-center for a three-run homer.
“I was swinging and missing when I thought I was hitting the ball,” Chisholm said. “Sometimes you just need a little more weight and a little less on your swing.”
This isn’t the first time the lefty slugger has borrowed Judge’s bat.
Chisholm used one to homer off a position player in his second game as a Yankee, but also tore his right oblique after swinging too hard with the heavier lumber last April.
This time around, he knew he needed to just keep things simple.
“When I pick up his bat I know I can’t swing as hard as I can, or else I’ll tear an oblique like last year,” Chisholm said. “It helps to be able to just control the barrel, and just try to touch the ball instead of trying to hit it so hard.”
Chisholm’s dipped into most of his other teammates bats too, aside from Paul Goldschmidt and Giancarlo Stanton.
While Stanton’s bat is too difficult for him to swing, he of course, wore the injured slugger’s pants in an effort to break his slump at the plate late last month.
With Sunday's homer, Chisholm is hitting .306 with 11 RBI and a .918 OPS over his last 19 games.
The left-hander, in a bulk relief role, allowed two earned runs on four hits over four innings in the Mets’ 7-3 victory over the Padres.
It was Manaea’s sixth straight respectable outing since May 6, when he was removed from a game in Colorado after only one-third of an inning because of struggles.
Manaea, who worked behind opener Huascar Brazobán, was afforded a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning.
Freddy Fermin hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame and Manaea was removed for the sixth.
Sean Manaea prepares to throw a pitch during the Mets’ June 7 win against the Padres. Imagn Images
“The first-pitch fastball to Fermin, I wish I got that back,” Manaea said. “But, yeah, [the outing] was OK.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza could appreciate that Manaea went after hitters.
“He had to pitch today, which was good to see with so many righties, a heavy righty lineup,” Mendoza said. “For him to use the cutter, for him to use the changeup, got swings and misses with the fastball. Not an easy lineup to navigate and I thought he did a really good job.”
Carson Benge became the fourth Mets rookie to record a five-hit game that included a home run.
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The others were Pete Alonso (Aug. 15, 2019), Alex Ochoa (July 3, 1996) and John Milner (Sept. 8, 1972).
Mark Vientos was absent from the starting lineup for the third time in four games as Mendoza went with Jared Young at first base and MJ Melendez in left field, allowing DH duty for Juan Soto.
The struggling Vientos has seen his OPS drop from .703 to .617 over the past three weeks,
“It’s been hard for [Vientos], it’s been a rough stretch,” Mendoza said. “He’s just got to continue to fight. He’s got to continue to come in every day with the mindset that there’s adjustments. He’s got to continue to work, and he’s been doing that, so off the field that is kind of some of the things we’re looking for.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 30: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 30, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Spurs find themselves 0-2 in the Finals, and the way they got there isn’t surprising. The Knicks have been a horrific matchup for a while in no small part because San Antonio lacks size at the forward spots, an issue that has been apparent for a while but has only recently become troublesome. And Johnson was expected to be part of the solution.
It’s not Keldon’s fault that the team needs him so badly
The Spurs came into the season knowing that the big forward spot was a weakness. Jeremy Sochan, once considered the long-term answer at the position, had lost Mitch Johnson’s trust late last season and as his shot never improved, he faded out of the rotation before being waived at the deadline. Harrison Barnes was doing well as a placeholder in the starting lineup, mostly by not making mistakes and hitting shots, but his jumper abandoned him and opponents were playing off him to help on Wembanyama. The patchwork solution was to start Julian Champagnie, a natural small forward, at the power forward spot. It worked, as Champagnie offered strong rebounding, more switchability, and more dangerous shooting, helping San Antonio find its best shape.
What happened in the starting lineup had some effects on Johnson’s play, but he was entrenched as the sixth man and his duties didn’t really change. What he brought to the table in terms of size and physicality, however, became more important simply because the Spurs got smaller. Against a lot of teams, it wasn’t as big of an issue, and Mitch Johnson filled out the minutes at power forward with Barnes, Keldon, and even rookie Carter Bryant at times, giving the team bodies to sop up minutes. Still, the concern remained: the Spurs didn’t have frontcourt size that they could rely on except for the Sixth Man of the Year.
Johnson has struggled all playoffs, but in past series, the Spurs could still survive
Johnson has been bad all playoffs, except for a few games. His minutes are down, his scoring efficiency fell off a cliff, as he can’t finish inside, and his rebounding is not the strength it once was. The Spurs have been fine even with his struggles, in part because Dylan Harper has had several standout performances off the bench, providing interior scoring and rebounding and being a credible outside shooting threat. Keldon’s lack of production was an issue, but it was not a killer for San Antonio, mostly because of matchups.
In past series, the Spurs faced teams that started paint-bound centers, which allowed Victor Wembanyama to have someone to guard close to the rim. Some trouble emerged when those teams went to their stretch bigs who could draw The Alien out, but San Antonio’s one-man zone helped alleviate those issues, with the drawback being occasionally poor defensive rebounding. That’s where Johnson, who is not particularly tall but is strong enough to guard big forwards and has boundless energy on the boards, would come in handy. Still, the Spurs made do until now.
The Spurs desperately need a viable big forward to match up better against the Knicks
The unique problem the Knicks present has a name: Karl-Anthony Towns. If Wembanyama guards the sharpshooting Towns, he’s away from the paint, where he’s not looked comfortable defending this series. Needless to say, that’s been a problem for San Antonio, since the best rim protector arguably in league history is largely neutralized. Other teams (and the Spurs in other opportunities) have placed their center on Josh Hart and have had a big forward who can hang with Towns on drives, guarding the big man. The Silver and Black don’t have one of those. The closest is Johnson, but he’s been so ineffective at everything that he’s become an afterthought, logging 24 total minutes in two games.
Outside of lineup versatility, not being able to rely on Johnson affects the Spurs when they have Wembanyama switching on the perimeter. When that happens, they need a big body in the paint, keeping Towns and the Knicks from getting offensive rebounds. Johnson has not been able to do that in the opportunities he’s had, but he seems like the only viable option off the bench. Bryant is too light and mistake-prone. Barnes will box out diligently, but he lacks the youthful energy and athleticism Johnson has. Expecting Keldon to solve the Towns issue would be foolish, but the Spurs need him to be solid enough on offense to be playable and hope he can at least help with rebounding and physicality.
Johnson’s leadership and energy could also help in general
Even if Johnson doesn’t help solve the serious Towns-related issues, having another bench player who can have a positive impact could really help the Spurs. At his best, Keldon is a passable shooter who gets to the rim on straight-line drives on offense. San Antonio hasn’t had huge issues putting points on the board, but another threat after kickouts and someone who will run the floor could be useful, if for no other reason than to keep others fresh. Right now, only Dylan Harper can be counted on to show up for the second unit, and that’s clearly not ideal.
Beyond the sheer production, Johnson could also have an impact on the team’s mentality. He’s a locker room leader who has a penchant for making plays that get his teammates excited. Every time he drives at a defender’s chest, finishes through contact, and screams “and-one!” or gets an offensive board over several opponents provides a mini morale boost. As the Spurs try to come back from a 2-0 deficit in the Finals, something that only five teams have done in league history, they’ll need everything their longest tenured player on the roster can offer.
The Spurs got a true New York welcome outside their hotel Sunday.
As the team was walking out to its bus, Knicks fans lined the street and jeered the Western Conference foes ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday.
The Knicks and Spurs have had two days between games after the Knicks toppled San Antonio on the road in Games 1 and 2 to take a commanding 2-0 series lead as they try to win their first championship since 1973.
While they haven’t played since Friday, the excitement around the Knicks’ first trip to the NBA Finals since 1999 has not died down, and that was clear by the throngs of fans who waited outside the Spurs hotel.
In the video posted to social media, the boos exploded as the Spurs stepped out of their Manhattan hotel and only picked up as San Antonio superstar Victor Wembanyama made his way to the team bus.
Victor Wembanyama gets booed by fans outside the team hotel June 7. Screengrab via X/@capstoreonline
One fan could be heard shouting, “keep the bus running” at the Spurs and then “get ready to go golfing, buddy!” toward Wembanyama as he emerged from the hotel.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama speaking to the media at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
— Big Knick Energy (@BigKnickEnergy_) June 7, 2026
Knicks fans have become as much of a story during the team’s run to the NBA Finals as the players themselves, as the raucous watch parties and celebrations outside Madison Square Garden have become an internet sensation.
Victor Wembanyama gets booed by fans outside the team hotel ahead of Game 3 on June 7. Screengrab via X/@capstoreonline
Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the Secret Service, said in a statement that, “After careful coordination and assessment, the Secret Service and the NYPD jointly determined that outdoor watch parties could not be accommodated in the immediate vicinity of Madison Square Garden.”
An NYPD spokesperson said that they “expect watch parties at Madison Square Garden to resume for Game 4.”
Monday will mark the first time that the NBA Finals have been played at MSG since June 21, 1999, when the Knicks defeated the Spurs 89-81 in Game 3 to cut their series deficit to 2-1.
De'Aaron Fox attempts a shot during the Spurs' June 3 loss to the Knicks.
All eyes are on Victor Wembanyama.
But all ears are on De’Aaron Fox.
The Spurs point guard and one of their veteran leaders at 28 years old, Fox made it clear Sunday that he believes San Antonio can recover from a 2-0 deficit against the Knicks in the NBA Finals.
“We’ve lost a Game 1 at home and we’ve been able to fight back,” Fox told The California Post. “We’ve played well on the road throughout the course of the playoffs. I don’t think any of us in the locker room are thinking we can’t do it.”
Fox’s unyielding belief in the Spurs is powerful and penetrating for a young team that features the 22-year-old Wembanyama, 21-year-old Stephon Castle and 20-year-old Dylan Harper.
The Spurs are facing a daunting challenge considering only five teams in NBA history have recovered from a 2-0 Finals deficit, and no team has ever done it after dropping its first two games at home.
De’Aaron Fox attempts a shot during the Spurs’ June 3 loss to the Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
For the Spurs, it’s obvious that Game 3 is essentially a do-or-die contest.
Fox intends to do everything he can to make sure his team has the requisite intensity in Game 3 on Monday, including modeling it himself.
The two-time All-Star struggled in Game 1 with seven points on 3-for-13 shooting. He bounced back in Game 2 with a 20-point performance on 8-for-12 shooting, going 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.
He plans to take things to another level in Game 3.
“It could go downhill quickly or we could fight back,” Fox told The California Post. “So, for me, you want to come out and just be aggressive and just allow our team to follow suit.”
When Fox speaks, the Spurs’ locker room listens.
While role players Harrison Barnes and Luke Kornet have been a part of championship teams, Fox is a star with playoff experience, a rare commodity on the Spurs.
“He’s an experienced guy that we’ve always been able to turn to when we need it,” Wembanyama said. “Especially I think it’s easy to forget that our guards are really young, how precious he’s been for them.”
De’Aaron Fox (r.) is pictured during the Spurs’ June 5 loss to the Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
Fox has helped guide the Spurs behind the scenes throughout the season.
During a game against the Warriors before the All-Star break in February, he felt as though his team didn’t have the requisite focus so he took over a timeout and posed a question to his teammates. “Do we want to be the team that every [opponent] wants in the playoffs?” he asked.
His words helped shake the Spurs out of their short-lived stupor as they went on to finish with the second-best record in the league this season at 62-20.
Fox averaged 18.6 points on 48.6 percent shooting, 6.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds a game, a marked dip from his career-high 26.6 points he averaged for the Kings in 2023-24.
De’Aaron Fox is pictured during his June 7 press conference for the Spurs. Charles Wenzelberg
He’s still capable of producing those eye-popping numbers, but he has willingly sacrificed touches while playing alongside Wembanyama after the Kings traded him to the Spurs in February 2025.
His selflessness hasn’t gone unnoticed, especially by Barnes, who played alongside Fox in Sacramento before they both landed in San Antonio.
“It’s huge,” Barnes told The California Post. “It can’t be stated enough the things he’s done. When he came here last year, I think he had in the same week 50 and 60 points, you know what I mean? I think those things aren’t talked about enough. You talk about the youth of this team. This is his second playoff run.”
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Fox has gained his teammates’ respect for many reasons, including his lack of ego, his skills and his leadership.
Before joining the Spurs, Fox helped lead the Kings to the No. 3 seed in the West and snap a 16-year playoff drought in 2023.
Now he has an even greater challenge.
He’s trying to help the Spurs believe in themselves while the world has already counted them out.
“There’s a reason why we’re so good,” Fox told The California Post. “We have a talented group. We have a group that is willing to share, willing to play together and we want to continue to do that. But we need to play better.”
Some of the Knicks' most loyal fans won't be able to afford tickets to the NBA Finals.
Some have waited 53 years for this moment.
Some have waited their entire lives.
But most of the Knicks’ most loyal and devoted fans will watch the most-anticipated games of the century somewhere other than Madison Square Garden.
As of Sunday, the cheapest ticket on the secondary market for Game 3 of the NBA Finals was listed at more than $7,000.
For Game 4, the get-in price for the most expensive game in NBA Finals history — also, the potential title-clincher — was more than $10,000.
Multiple tickets have already sold for six figures, while a charity auction for courtside seats on NBA.com has seen the highest bidder offer $500,000.
“I kind of wish the ticket prices weren’t as crazy as they are,” Josh Hart said following Sunday’s practice. “I feel like a lot of people who have been waiting for this moment for a very long time unfortunately aren’t able to get into the building, when the cheapest ticket is $7,000 or $8,000. So that’s ridiculous.
Josh Hart is pictured during his June 7 press conference. Charles Wenzelberg
“It’s going to be rocking, but obviously I wish those were a little cheaper.”
Jose Alvarado, 28, long dreamed of being part of such a day, growing up a Knicks fan in Brooklyn.
When Alvarado takes the floor with the chance to help his team claim a 3-0 stranglehold in the series against the Spurs, his wife, children, parents and brother will be in the building.
But his friends must look elsewhere for the toughest ticket imaginable.
Knicks fans celebrate after Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 5. Michael Nagle for the NY Post
“I see it’s $11,000 [each], I say no,” Alvarado said. “They know the love. They know what it is. [But] it’s a lot of money … I ain’t doing that. I tell you that much.
“It’s a good thing and a bad thing. That means we got a fanbase that’s willing to do anything to come out and see us and we’re grateful for that. … We’re just seeing what we can do because not a lot of people can afford that. … I’m gonna throw a watch party for my neighborhood [in Williamsburg]. Just improvise and be grateful for the situation we’re in. That’s what New York is all about.”
The Garden will be filled with more excitement than ever before, but so will so many homes, so many bars and so many watch parties.
If a title is clinched at home, the celebration will spill out onto the streets, turning Seventh Avenue into a party that may never end.
“If we win the championship, I don’t know what I would do, but that’s probably one thing that’s gonna go through my head to see how I can go out there and celebrate with everybody,” Alvarado said. “If that happens, it definitely will be something I’ll think about.”
As Knicks coach Mike Brown and his players spoke to the media Sunday ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, rapper Fat Joe sat in the back of the room at Madison Square Garden.
He teased Brown about his shoes.
He shouted “wooo” after Jalen Brunson said talent evaluators missed “everything” by allowing him to slip to the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft, where he was selected 33rd by the Mavericks.
It wasn’t long before the cameras were pointing at Fat Joe, who shared his thoughts on the Knicks, who have a 2-0 lead over the Spurs and are just two wins away from winning their first title since 1973.
He praised the Knicks for playing team basketball and exciting a city that hasn’t been to the Finals in 27 years.
He also paid his respects to Knicks owner James Dolan.
“Shoutout to Mr. Dolan, greatest team owner in the game,” Fat Joe said. “Very misunderstood. They villainize Mr. Dolan like almost like a Bruce Wayne, like a Batman movie and this is Gotham City. This man, all these watch parties, this man takes care of us.”
Fat Joe went on to reveal how Dolan had his back.
Fat Joe is pictured at the Garden on June 7. Charles Wenzelberg
“The other day I was in Cleveland and I bought courtside [tickets] — this is a real story, guys — and they took it away when they knew it was Fat Joe, the Knick fan,” he said. “Mr. Dolan was so pissed, he said, ‘Man, if we go Game 5, I’m putting the owner up in the deck.’ … I said, ‘Man, this guy, he’s for us.’”
The Knicks went on to sweep their Eastern Conference finals series against the Cavaliers, apparently sparing Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert that indignity.
Fat Joe went on to call New York “the place to be right now.”
“I’ve been hanging out with Timothée Chalamet,” he said. “This guy has been hitting every block party all over New York City, just grabbing the mic, killing it.”
Fat Joe acknowledged that he wasn’t sure the team was going to be this successful this season, especially after it fired coach Tom Thibodeau last June.
James Dolan is pictured during Game 2 between the Knicks and the Spurs on June 5. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
“I was a little nervous with coach,” he said. “I ain’t going to lie. I love Thibs, so when [Brown] came I said, ‘What did we do?’ The man [proved to me] that he’s an incredible, incredible coach.”
The Knicks have won 13 playoff games in a row, the second-longest postseason streak in NBA history behind the 2017 Warriors, who won 15 in a row.
Suffice it to say, Fat Joe is a believer now.
“Right now, if you analyze the numbers, we might be looking at the greatest team ever,” he said.
May 26, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Jahmai Jones (18) hits an RBI single in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Well, we had some good times in 2025. Lefty masher Jahmai Jones seized that role from Andy Ibáñez, hero of the 2024 AL Wild Card series win over the Houston Astros, last year and he ran with it. This year it just isn’t happening, and while it’s easy to give up on a bench bat too quickly when the sample size of plate appearances is still too small, we’re now into June, the Tigers are a desperate team, and Jones shows zero signs of getting hot. Game after game, Jones is entering to pinch-hit for Colt Keith, or Kerry Carpenter, or Zach McKinstry, failing to get it done, and then costing them another bench move as Jones can’t really be trusted to play much in the outfield. There has to be a better way.
One of the failures of Scott Harris’attempts to build a complete roster is the presence of limited players that continue to undercut their supposed philosophy of having a very flexible, versatile bench. They already rely on too many jack of all trades, master of none, types in the first place. Not only is Jones not getting it done against left-handed pitching this year, he can’t really do anything else other than pinch-run effectively. Having a player in such an extremely limited and specific role isn’t ideal even when he’s hitting well, but you can deal with it. When he isn’t hitting, the Tigers are playing with a 12-man position player roster.
In 2025, Jones hit seven homers and posted a 159 wRC+ in 150 plate appearances, mostly against left-handed hitters. This year he has two homers and a grisly 35 wRC+ in 86 plate appearances and it has to stop now.
Obviously 86 plate appearances is a small enough sample that it’s hard to make too much of it under normal circumstances. With the Tigers desperate for help, there just isn’t time to wait around for Jones to figure it out. They’ve been very patient with him already, but with a stacked injury list it didn’t really matter because they already had no way to replace all their vacant roster spots. Now that they’re getting healthy, that last roster spot becomes the real point of dispute.
For my money, the smart move here is to call up Trei Cruz. A switch-hitter with typically balanced splits, who is arguably the their best center fielder right now, Cruz would open up a lot more options on the Tigers roster. He’s also a decent shortstop who could make Zack Short a moot point as well. Cruz is unlikely to hit any more than Zach McKinstry does and he generally does his best work hitting left-handed against right-handed pitchers, so don’t expect too much from his bat. However, his defensive versatility, pesky, disciplined at-bats, and speed on the bases would be an asset and actually give the Tigers more of the flexible bench they want, while opening up other options on the roster at the same time.
Adding Cruz, who is already on the 40-man roster to the mix, would allow them to sit Wenceel Pérez and Matt Vierling more against right-handed starters, with Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter in the corners. Pérez is a significantly better hitter against left-handed pitching, and he could then fill Jones’ role, with the added benefit of being marginally more functional defensively. Cruz’s presence would also give AJ Hinch a second option at the shortstop position, allowing them to DFA Zack Short and bring up one of Hao-Yu Lee or Max Anderson to play some third base, while otherwise riding the bench waiting for lefty relievers to pinch-hit against.
The biggest flaw in the plan is that Cruz has only been back with the Toledo Mud Hens for seven games. He’s not exactly tearing it up even by Triple-A standards, but while you’d like to catch him on a hot stretch, this isn’t really about his bat so much as how he frees up the rest of the roster and injects some flexibility back into the mix. Letting them use Pérez, Vierling, and perhaps one of their young, right-handed hitting infielders to hit left-handers, is only one of the benefits.
The Tigers could also choose to replace Jones by adding right-handed hitting Triple-A outfielders like Ben Malgeri or Corey Julks to the 40-man roster in Jones’ place. Julks has major league experience as a replacement level corner outfielder, and he’s hit 11 homers and stolen 8 bases for the Hens across 211 plate appearances this season. Julks doesn hold a 1.076 OPS against left-handed pitching this year, though we’re only talking about 52 appearances. He didn’t hit at all in the major leagues against either left or right-handed pitching, however. He’s also 30 years old and it’s highly unlikely that he’s figured it out at this point.
Malgeri is a little more interesting as the 26-year-old homegrown outfielder is a good enough outfielder to play center field in a pinch. He has six homers and seven steals for the Mud Hens this year, with an OPS against left-handed pitching of 1.148 in 67 plate appearances. I wouldn’t get too excited, however, as Malgeri didn’t hit lefties at the Double-A level last year, and overall has the track record of a career minor leaguer.
If the Tigers can’t quite quit on Jones just yet, and want to give Cruz some time to get his bat going, another option is to simply DFA Zack Short and use Zach McKinstry to spell McGonigle at shortstop as needed. That would at least open up the option of calling Lee back up, or adding Max Anderson to the 40-man roster and bringing him up instead. Anderson’s lack of plate discipline is going to remain his undoing, as he swings at everything, but he does have the hands to make a good amount of contact anyway, and plenty of power against left-handed pitching.
Lee is the better prospect of the two in my book, as he’s a little more disciplined and a better defender due to an edge in his range over Anderson. On the other hand, Anderson is pretty steady, and doesn’t make as many mistakes. Pick your poison.
The final option is for Scott Harris to go trade for a part-time, right-handed hitting outfielder who is more versatile than Jones. At this point, any player like that who can at least hit for some average and be more useful defensively would be an upgrade. That’s probably not in the cards this time of the year, especially with Harris running the show.
Jahmai Jones was a force off the bench in 2025, but it just isn’t happening this year. The lack of production isn’t just hurting the Tigers in his plate appearances, it’s costing them at-bats from good left-handed hitters late in games as well, with no gains to offset that issue. As long as he’s on the bench, manager AJ Hinch has to try and get him going somehow, but they can’t keep doing this any longer without a big sign from Jones that he’s about to turn things around. Even if the Tigers do DFA Jones, there won’t be that much interest in a lefty mashing DH who isn’t hitting at all. He may end up accepting an assignment to Triple-A Toledo to try and get back on track.
I feel like a broken record, but the Tigers can’t keep holding non-prospect level players they aren’t even willing to use in a limited role on their 40-man roster. If Jace Jung can’t help you right now, and he cannot, when is that supposed to happen exactly? The same is true with Trei Cruz and first baseman Eduardo Valencia. The latter is unfortunately a pretty balanced splits type overall, and so not really a good fit to replace Jones, and he’s even less valuable defensively and on the basepaths. Cruz is the one who checks the boxes as a near average center fielder who can also play shortstop, switch-hit, steal bases, and generally be a pest to opposing pitchers. If the Tigers don’t trust him to handle center field and shortstop to an acceptable degree, there’s no reason he should have been on the 40-man roster to begin with.
The Tigers might prefer to give Cruz some more games to get back to full speed against Triple-A pitching before joining his father and grandfather as major league players, but it’s hard to think of a move that could open up more options for them and create the flexible, versatile sort of bench that Harris always says that he wants. The Tigers have been very patient with Jahmai Jones, but they really need to try to freshen up their bench. Trei Cruz won’t provide a lot of offense, but his defensive ability would at least give them options to get more out of their bench spots.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were a great surprise this season. After many expected them to be among the worst teams in the NHL, the Penguins instead finished second in the Metropolitan Division standings and made the playoffs.
Sidney Crosby was one of the biggest reasons for the Penguins' major turnaround this season. This is because the 38-year-old center was once again dominant for the Penguins, posting 29 goals, 45 assists, and 74 points in 68 games. With this, Crosby averaged more than a point per game for the 21st season in a row.
Due to how wonderfully Crosby played this season, he has earned himself a nice shout-out.
The Hockey News had Crosby at the No. 12 spot for their top 100 players of the 2025-26 season rankings. Given how well Crosby played yet again this season, it is easy to understand why he has been named as one of the NHL's best players for this campaign.
Crosby just continues to thrive as his career carries on, and he is showing zero signs of slowing down. It is going to be fascinating to see what kind of season he will put together for the Pens in 2026-27 from here.
Jun 5, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looks to move the ball past San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the fourth quarter during game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
As the Spurs head into Game 3, they have some positives to build on defensively. In Games 1 and 2, they utilized a similar defensive stratagem on Jalen Brunson that worked in the Western Conference Finals against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. So far, they have limited the Knicks star point guard from taking over. In San Antonio, the Spurs stayed within striking distance but came up short.
During the regular season, Brunson averaged 26 points on 46.7% shooting. During this postseason he has stayed consistent. In the last two games, he’s averaged 25 points on 33.9% shooting. Against the Spurs, Brunson has to work harder to get his points. And with all that extra ball-handling comes an increase in turnovers, from two-and-a-half in the regular season to four per game in the Finals.
What is working for the Spurs? Simply put, Stephon Castle has been brilliant. In the first two games, Castle covered Brunson for 9:24, by far the most time by any member of the Silver & Black. During that time, Brunson has scored 8 points on shooting 2 of 10, or 20%.
After Game 1, Castle stated, “I thought we did well. We kept him off the line, for the most part. He made some tough shots late. I feel like a lot of his buckets were loud because they were back-to-back. The shots he did get to go were consecutive, so it hurt a little bit more. But looking at the box score, looking back on it, I think we did a pretty good job on him.”
The only player limiting Brunson to a lower shooting percentage is De’Aaron Fox. On his watch spanning 4:25, Brunson did not score, going 0 for 6 with two turnovers.
After Game 2, Fox echoed Castle’s sentiment from Game 1, “I think we’ve had a good defense majority of the year. We’re just trying to make it difficult on him. I think we’ve done a good job both games. He’s made big shots at the end of games. He’s a hell of a player. Even when you make it difficult on good players, they’re talented so they’re going to end up making shots. He’s done that, especially at the end of the games. I don’t know if I would say just change much of what we’re doing. He’s made timely shots.”
Dylan Harper, guarded Brunson for 5:49 and held him to 2 points on 1 of 3. After Game 2, Harper said of Brunson, “He’s a great player. I feel like he kind of likes moments like that. He steps up in those big moments. I think for us we have to keep doubling down on our game plan, kind of just seeing what works and just keep going to that.”
Victor Wembanyama also boasts some good defense on the Knicks guard. The Defensive Player of the Year has held Brunson to just just 25%, 3 of 12 shooting, in the first two games. Most of Victor’s 2:53 covering him has come after switching onto him while defending the pick and roll. In those situations, Brunson is 1 of 7.
Where Brunson has found success, and where the Spurs will need to make a more concerted effort, is when Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, and Carter Bryant end up on him. Champagnie has allowed Brunson 22 points on 9 of 13 shooting, or 69.2%, in 4:54. Meanwhile, Vassell has allowed 5 0f 9, or 55.6%, over 2:59, yielding 10 points. Carter Bryant, who’s only been on Brunson for 2:05, has allowed 6 points on 3 of 5 shooting.
Vassell spoke on Sunday about covering him when he’s made those clutch shots, stating, “Yeah, it feels like those are the moments that he lives for, especially in the fourth quarter, clutch. I feel like we’re doing a really good job on him, making him shoot some tough shots all throughout the game. Even those clutch shots are very tough shots that he’s been hitting.”
The Spurs lost by ten in Game 1 and by a single point in Game 2. In Game 1, Brunson scored 30 points. 12-31 38.7% going 4 of 4 from the charity stripe, By comparison, the Spurs did better in Game 2, limiting him to 20 points, 7-25, 28%, 4 of 5 free throws.
Overall, there have been stretches where Brunson struggles to get the ball through the hoop. After hitting the opening shot of Game 1, he didn’t score again until the halfway point of the second quarter. In fact, he scored 3 in the first, 8 in the second, and 6 in the third. It wasn’t until his 13-point fourth quarter eruption that the Knicks separated from the Spurs for the win. It’s key to why Brunson came in fifth for Clutch Player of the Year this season, and exactly where the Spurs must lock in if they hope to take Game 3 in New York.
The Mets dropped a tough one on Saturday night, falling to the Padres on a Freddy Fermin homer in the late innings, despite receiving an encouraging outing from Nolan McLean.
Austin Warren allowed a go-ahead blast in a rare hiccup thus far this season, then Mark Vientos' struggles continued as he went down easily on three pitches to end the game with the tying-run on-base.
Instead of sitting and sulking in the finale on Sunday, though, the Mets were able to come back and put together a complete effort from top-to-bottom to secure the series victory.
“It was a really good team win,” Carlos Mendoza said.
The offense was terrific after being held in check on Saturday, putting men on-base in all nine innings as they broke through for seven runs on 13 hits and four walks.
Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette stayed hot, but it was Carson Benge who led the way with a solo homer and RBI triple as part of his first-career 5-for-5 day.
“It was really cool to see,” Carlos Mendoza said. “Rockets pretty much everywhere, using the middle of the field, staying short and on top of the ball -- he set the tone for us.”
Benge is the third youngest player Met to go 5-for-5, and their first rookie since Pete Alonso (2019).
And he wasn’t the only youngster to shine, as A.J. Ewing showcased his outstanding range once again with a running grab in left-center to rob the Padres of extra-bases in the bottom of the eighth.
Ewing also drove in a run, and extended his hitting streak to five games with a ninth-inning single.
“I’m loving him out there,” Benge said.
“I feel like something cool or special is going to happen every day,” Sean Manaea added.
Manaea was terrific as well serving as the bulk reliever, holding the struggling Padres offense to just two runs across four innings of work to lower his ERA to 3.28 over his last four appearances.
Brooks Raley, A.J. Minter, Luke Weaver, and Devin Williams put the finishing touches on the victory.
After starting the road trip with a pair of tough losses in Seattle, the Mets were able to rebound nicely to finish it off 3-3, and winners in seven of their last 10.
They now head home for a big six-game stretch with the Cardinals and Braves.
“We just have to continue to win series,” Mendoza said. “Bouncing back after a tough one last night, they showed up today and set the tone early -- that’s what you want to see -- now enjoy the day and be ready for our homestand.”
The Buffalo Sabres finally took a major step forward this season. This is because they not made the playoffs for the first time since 2011 but also had the best record in the Atlantic Division and made it to the second round of the post-season.
Rasmus Dahlin was a major reason for the Sabres' success this season. The 26-year-old defenseman had a monster season, scoring 19 goals and setting new career highs with 55 assists and 74 points in 77 games. He was also named a finalist for the Norris Trophy, but Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski ended up taking it home.
Still, it was a spectacular 2025-26 season for Dahlin. Due to this, he has now received some major praise.
Dahlin was given the No. 15 spot in The Hockey News' top 100 NHL player rankings for the 2025-26 season. When looking at how dominant he was this season for the Sabres, it is not difficult to understand why he has been ranked as one of the best players in the NHL this season.
Dahlin jumped up pretty significantly from last year rankings, too, as The Hockey News had him at the No. 33 spot for the 2024-25 season.
Overall, it was undoubtedly a great year for Dahlin. It is going to be fascinating to see what he does as an encore for the Sabres during the 2026-27 season from here.
It was on this day in 1997 that the collective euphoria of the first Stanley Cup victory in 42 years washed over the city of Detroit in a sea of confetti and champagne.
Boosted by goals from Nicklas Lidstrom and Darren McCarty, the Detroit Red Wings swept the Philadelphia Flyers four games to none, capturing the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1955.
Goaltender Mike Vernon, who had won the Stanley Cup earlier in his career with the Calgary Flames, caught a leaping Steve Yzerman in his arms as the final horn sounded at Joe Louis Arena, sparking a celebration that everyone in attendance would remember for the rest of their lives.
Vernon would be named the recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, while Yzerman soon received the Stanley Cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
As Yzerman lifted the Cup into the air for the first time, the collective weight of over four decades of frustration melted away.
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