CINCINNATI, OHIO - MARCH 31: Cincinnati Reds mascot, Mr. Redlegs, on the field prior to a game against the Texas Rangers at Great American Ball Park on March 31, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s going to be 97 degrees where I live on Wednesday. The dog days of summer are officially here.
In the world of baseball, transaction season heats up with the weather. Such is the nature of establishing a trade deadline around the end of July – this season it’s on August 3rd – as teams become forced to classify the first 100 or so games of their season into one of two distinct evaluations.
Is this team good enough to invest in further? Should we give them the best chances to win as many games as possible this year?
Or, is this team the Cincinnati Reds?
Joking aside, that’s not completely true. While teams get lumped into the buyers or sellers categories as the trade deadline approaches, the Reds often don’t even do enough to qualify for either. And just last summer, they pulled off the remarkable feat of being a buyer at the deadline for a player who actively made them so bad in 2026 that it’s been a net negative investment.
This is a different Reds club than last year, obviously. This time around, their April magic has been replaced by hell from the injury gods, their record in close games having now been turned on its head by a threadbare bullpen. Across the entire sport’s highest level, only the Colorado Rockies have a worse run differential than these Reds, who once again reside in the cellar of the National League Central division.
So, it’s unsurprising that when asked at the end of last week whether or not this club should be a buyer, or a seller as trade season heats up this summer, roughly 3 out of 5 of you responded that they needed to start selling off players.
Digging themselves out of this hole is going to be difficult when Hunter Greene is still several weeks away. It’ll be difficult without half their bullpen, without Elly De La Cruz for another week or so.
The problem is, what Cincinnati has on the fringes of its long-term plan is a handful of players who haven’t exactly stacked up a ton of value on the trade market.
Eugenio Suarez is the biggest name of the bunch, but he’s having the single worst season of his career and will turn 35 years old this summer. The veterans signed to anchor the bullpen – Emilio Pagan, Pierce Johnson, Caleb Ferguson – are either injured or have been already this year, limiting the significance of any return if they are moved. Nate Lowe has hit well for most of the year, but there’s a reason why his market this offseason was so poor the Reds got him on a minor league deal in the first place. And pending free agent Brady Singer has the fourth lowest fWAR of the 130 pitchers who have thrown at least 50 IP so far this season.
So, selling at the fringes here doesn’t even do much to improve the future, aside from saving a few million bucks that the owners likely wouldn’t pour back into the team 100% anyway. The question I should probably have asked – and likely will again soon – is whether there are pieces that still have more team control than that group who don’t look like they fit the future of this franchise’s next window to compete who should be marketed this summer. That’s the kind of move that could bring back something of significance, a move that could shake the foundation of a franchise that’s found a way to stumble through this rebuild almost as badly as it stumbled through the last two.
Regardless, it sure looks like this club has no business being a buyer this summer. And if that’s the case, they might as well end up sellers.
Jun 14, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers (16) reacts after flying out against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images | Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Oh well. You win some, you lose some. Or, in the Giants’ case, you mostly lose. It has been a year since the Giants traded for Rafael Devers, and like most of their big swings since allowing Buster Posey to take the reins of the front office, the team has come up empty and looked bad in the attempt. It turns out that the critics of the deal were spot on. Devers’ contract was underwater from the moment the Red Sox signed him to it and the collapse of his skillset came even faster than the projection. Do the Giants inspire failure or does everything they touch turn to garbage by sheer coincidence? In any case, there’s nothing that can be done to improve Devers’ hitting.
He’s hitting .235/.293/.413 on the season while playing every game. He has 9 homers and is tied for the lead league in doubles with 21; so, you know, it’s not all bad. But the underlying metrics affirm what we’ve seen throughout the year: a hitter who’s a mess at the plate. At the end of May, I looked at Matt Chapman’s hitting metrics and came away with the thought that he’s not in an age-related decline but instead a focus or talent disruption. I see a vaguely similar situation for Devers, too.
He still hits the ball hard. That counts for something. His 49.5% Hard Hit rate is 88th percentile and average exit velocity of 91.9 mph is 87th. His 9.5% Barrel rate is the only other category where he measures as above average (61st percentile); but, these are all still big declines from last year, and especially his heyday of 2021-2024 (.279/.354/.519 — 126 HR 384 RBI — +17.0 fWAR).
He’s also whiffing on pitches at the same rate over the past several years. It’s 31.6% this year (10th percentile), but compare that back to 2021:
The big line of demarcation in his career was going from 2023 to 2024 when the big problem cited for why the contract was already underwater first asserted itself: that’s his contact rate in the strike zone. From 21-23 it was 79.2% on average. In 2024, it dropped to 74.9% and last year it fell to 73.9%. This year, it’s at 74.2%. The league average in this stat is between 76-77% every year. Just to give you some more context, going back to 2021, here are the 10 worst zone contact rate guys who got enough at bats to qualify for the batter leaderboards:
10. Luke Raley, 76.8% 9. Patrick Wisdom, 76.8% 8. Zack Gelof, 76.0% 7. Chris Taylor, 75.1% 6. Christopher Morel, 74.7% 5. J.D. Davis, 74.3% 4. Gabriel Arias, 74.0% 3. Matt Wallner, 73.2% 2. Jose Siri, 72.6% 1. Joey Gallo, 72.3%
Because of his outstanding 21-23, Devers winds up ranking just the 13th-lowest; however, if we adjust the years to 2024-present, Devers experiences a dramatic reranking.
10. Kyle Schwarber, 80.3% 9. Ryan McMahon, 80.3% 8. Adolis Garcia, 80.2% 7. Teoscar Hernanez, 79.9% 6. Mark Vientos, 79.9% 5. Jazz Chisholm, 79.1% 4. Randy Arozarena, 78.4% 3. Oneil Cruz, 77.9% 2. Nolan Gorman, 76.6% 1. Rafael Devers, 74.6%
All this to say that Devers’ continued inability to make consistent contact in the strike zone is now crashing into his other declined skill: pitch recognition. From 21-23 he had a called strike percentage of 10.7%. In 2024 it rose to 12.3% and last year it was 13.2%. This year, it’s 15%. Now, this rate has maybe a lot to do with ABS. Called balls have been turned to strikes against Rafael Devers 7 out of 9 times. He’s won just 1 challenge out of 6.
But the increased called strike rate parallels with a trend of him simply swinging less. Prior to 2024, he was swinging at around 53.5% of pitches thrown. That rate has dropped to 50% the past few seasons. His 30.3% strikeout rate is the highest of his career by far — 22% for his career, 25.5% for 2024-2025. So, what’s happening? He’s swinging less often but getting more called strikes (ABS is a partial culprit, of course) and still swinging and missing a lot when he does pull the trigger.
That bat speed doesn’t look good.
Statcast only tracks bat speed back to 2023, but take a look at this decline:
This is getting down to around LaMonte Wade Jr.’s at the start of last season, when he looked so bad I wondered if it was a portent of doom (it was!). LWJ’s wound up falling all the way down to 70 mph last year, but in a very small sample with the Astros this season (13 PA, where he has a 1.135 OPS) it’s up to 73.2 mph.
So, it’s not impossible that Devers makes some adjustments and optimizes his skills, some of which are working for him this season. But it’s hard to envision him making that turnaround… at least this season.
Luis Arraez was a free agent who set out to prove himself as a second baseman. Yes, Ron Washington has been there to give him some very relevant support, but it started with his tenacity. Jung Hoo Lee’s hitting seems to have improved because he’s been studying Luis Arraez. So, whatever turnaround to his career that might happen will have to come from Rafael Devers himself. Hitting coaches rarely get credit for fixing hitters and the Giants’ current coaching staff seems a lot more hands off or outright bad as any in recent memory.
But before you go thinking that I’m calling Devers’s character into question, let me put it this way: I think he’s taken to first base just fine, and that doesn’t happen if he doesn’t put in the work. When I watch him play the field, I see a goofy guy with a baseball-only body doing his best to field… and he’s okay. Definitely closer to terrible than great, but I wouldn’t characterize the play as outright bad. He’s also playing every day, which I think is a credit to him for having a degree of focus that would keep him interested in doing exactly that.
So, the focus is there, which only leaves buy in. Does he think he needs to make some changes to his swing or approach?
The Giants probably don’t feel like they know him well enough to have that conversation either. The coaching staff turnover being part of that and the green-ness of the current staff the other part. But also, as much as we’d like to think that the data revolution brought Apple Store-level service to every player, where a quant with an iPad just scoots up next to a player and is able to help them with a few graphics and optimized phrasing, I think it still comes down to the player seeking out what they need and doing the important work of actually incorporating changes into their approach. That’s why the headline reads as it does. Athletes aren’t often able to remake themselves on the fly in part because it’s hard to accept that the usual way of doing things has stopped working.
So, I guess in a way, this post is a lot like that Matt Chapman post. Unlike Chapman, though, Devers is definitely experiencing a physical decline of some sort (he’s not hitting the ball as hard), but the decline from a good player to a practically useless one appears to be entirely self-engineered. It’s unlikely that a 29-year old goes out like this based on aging alone. But, as Buster Posey is fond of saying, baseball is hard.
The situation isn’t hopeless, especially since Devers wound up having a good year after a rough time following the trade last year. It’s just that nothing the Giants have done this year and most of the last decade should give anyone hope for a better future.
After making $116 million during his NBA career, former Knicks small forward Trevor Ariza made just $2,316 last month as a trainer for the disabled, according to an income and expense declaration filed in court.
Ariza, 40, was forced to detail his financial position due to a custody battle with his ex-wife.
An NBA champion with the Lakers in 2009, Ariza also declared $50,000 in cash and bank accounts, and $2.5 million in real estate, which he bought while he was playing.
Trevor Ariza waits to sub in for the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. New York Post
His expenses for the month included $2,000 on healthcare, groceries, utilities, education and auto expenses and insurance, and another $1,000 on clothes and cleaning.
The $11,500 declared expenses are glaringly higher than the ex-NBA players’ average monthly salary of $6,000.
Ariza spoke out about his financial situation earlier this year, stating that he has a negative $230,000 in his bank account.
Trevor and Bree Ariza in 2014. WireImage
He also claimed his ex-wife, Bree Anderson Ariza, “refuses to work or contribute financially, despite being able to do so.”
The former small forward has been attempting to lower his child support payments in court over the past year.
“I’ve been exploring deals, trying everything to create income. Nothing stable has come through. Things changed since we finalized this [divorce],” he said.
Trevor Ariza playing for the Lakers in 2022. NBAE via Getty Images
Ariza was drafted by the Knicks with the No. 43 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft and went on to play for 10 different teams throughout his 18-year NBA career.
At his peak, Ariza signed deals worth $34 million, $32 million, $25 million, and $15 million, bringing his career earnings to $116 million.
The San Antonio Spurs learned a few hard lessons during their 2026 NBA Finals loss to the New York Knicks, and to hear Draymond Green tell it, they have another still to go.
The Warriors forward took to his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” to admonish the young Spurs for what he called a “disheartening” lack of leadership as the team left the floor following Saturday’s series-ending defeat without offering any formal congratulations to the victorious Knicks.
“Oh, by the way, y’all ain’t going to come shake [Jalen Brunson’s] hand?” Green said. “No problem. What’s the first thing Jalen Brunson did? Beeline to [Spurs coach] Mitch Johnson. Respect. Much respect. I would have loved for the Spurs players to be there for them to shake [the Knicks’] hands. They walked off. That was disappointing, a bit disappointing.”
New York secured its first NBA championship since 1973 by beating San Antonio in five games, with the title-decider coming on the Spurs’ home floor. When the final buzzer sounded on a 94-90 Knicks win, nearly every Spurs player—including star center Victor Wembanyama—left the floor immediately.
Per reports, only the San Antonio coaching staff and backup center Luke Kornet remained to offer their respects to New York players.
“The reason it was disappointing is because when you go ‘mano y mano,’ toe to toe, blow for blow with a team and they get the better of you, those that become champions look them in their eyes and say ‘respect.’” Green said of the Spurs’ postgame exit. “And then you go to the locker room. That’s what those that become champions do…Look your killer in the face.”
Green did give San Antonio some grace, conceding that the team is generally very young and lacks the veteran presence that might have helped avoid what he saw as a lapse in sportsmanship.
“To see [the Spurs] walk off the court, it was disheartening. I’ll blame it on youth,” Green said. “I’ll blame it on lacking the leader to show them that ‘hey, this is what you do. Not walk off.’ I blame it on that.
“There’s a way to win and there’s a way to lose. And walking off the court, not looking your killer in his eyes, ain’t the way to lose…I hate it. I hate when people do it. And I hated to see those young Spurs do it because I actually think they’re capable of doing something special…and I would urge those young Spurs [to] reach out to Jalen Brunson however you can. Reach out to Karl-Anthony Towns however you can. Reach out to Josh Hart, however you can. You tell [those] dudes ‘congratulations.’”
The Knicks, for their part, didn’t appear all that concerned.
The celebration was ON in the @nyknicks locker room last night after winning their first NBA Championship in 53 years 🏆🍾 pic.twitter.com/3aprwZbaiT
However, it looks like the unsigned restriced free agent could be on his way back to North America to join the Penguins next season instead.
First reported by Swedish outlet Expressen and later announced by Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas, Okuliar and the Penguins finalized a contract that will bring the Slovakian forward to the organization in 2026-27, nullifying the final year of his current contract with reigning SHL-champion Skellefteå. The deal is a one-year, two-way contract that runs through the end of next season and is worth $850,000 at the NHL level.
The 26-year-old was Skellefteå's best player en route to their title, amassing six goals and 13 points in 15 playoff games, which tied him for first and landed him in second for those categories, respectively, in the SHL playoffs.
In 46 regular season games with Skellefteå, Okuliar had 15 goals and 29 points. Last season followed a 2024-25 AHL campaign with the Charlotte Checkers that included 19 goals and 41 points in 69 games.
The Penguins have signed forward Oliver Okuliar to a one-year, two-way contract that runs through the 2026.27 campaign, worth $850,00 at the NHL level.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound undrafted center has yet to appear in an NHL game, as he has bounced between North America and Europe for most of his playing career. He spent a few seasons in the QMJHL and WHL before returning to Czechia, sprinkling some time in Finland and Sweden as well. He returned to the AHL with the Panthers' organization in 2024-25, went back to Sweden, and is now an unsigned RFA.
Okuliar has also represented Slovakia on several occasions internationally, most recently during the 2026 Winter Olympics - where he registered one goal and two points in six games - and at the 2026 World Championship in Switzerland, putting up two goals and five points in seven games.
Comedian Kevin Hart and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith are among those who think celebrity Knicks superfan Spike Lee should get a championship ring after the franchise won its first title in 53 years.
Hart shouted out Lee in an Instagram video posted on Sunday.
“Give Spike a ring,” Hart said of Lee, who has likely paid many millions for tickets over the last 40 years. “Spike deserves a f–kin championship ring, and I’m saying it here. Give Spike a New York Knicks championship ring.”
Spike Lee celebrates after the Knicks win their first NBA championship in 53 years on June 13, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Responding to a tweet advocating for the 69-year-old director to get a ring, Smith wrote Sunday, “I completely support this for Spike Lee. No Knicks’ fan deserves this more than him.”
Fans were divided in their responses to Smith.
“I’m sorry but this man ain’t shoot one shot or grabbed a rebound,” one X user wrote. “Let him enjoy the parade just like the rest of us. He’s good.”
“No. Players, coaches, executives and other members of the organization get rings, not fans, even if they’re superfans,” another wrote.
One supportive fan wrote, “Give the man his flowers! And the ring.”
“Agree. Fans are part of the team and he’s been there for the good, the bad and the ugly when a lot of us (like me) wouldn’t even watch on TV,” another wrote. “I saw the 70 and 73 teams as a teen and waited in hope for this day but Spike was the ultimate fan!!”
Jalen Brunson lifts the NBA Finals MVP trophy after the Knicks’ championship win on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Unlike those who frequent Celebrity Row, Lee pays for his seats. As of March 2020, Lee was spending $300,000 a year for his pair of courtside season tickets.
Lee has had tickets since 1985 after the Knicks drafted Patrick Ewing. It’s unclear how much he’s paid in sum over about 40 years, and his seats weren’t always courtside, but it’s safe to say he’s spent several million.
He also travels for the playoffs and was in attendance in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland and San Antonio throughout the Knicks’ championship run, including Saturday’s clincher.
The Mets are dealing with yet another injury, with right-hander Christian Scott hitting the IL.
The club announced that Scott has been placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to June 12, with right hip impingement. Right-handers Tobias Myers and Jonathan Pintaro have been called up, and righty releiver Daniel Duarte has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
Additionally, the Mets claimed infielder Zack Short off waivers from the Detroit Tigers and transferred infielder Jorge Polanco to the 60-day IL.
Scott pitched 4.2 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday in his most recent outing.
Overall, Scott has made nine starts this season, pitching to a 3.10 ERA over 40.2 innings.
The Mets already have Kodai Senga on the IL, and with Sean Manaea and David Peterson pitching out of hybrid starter/bulk reliever roles, Scott, Freddy Peralta, and Nolan McLean were the only three definitive starters.
While Scott’s next start likely would have fallen on Tuesday, the Mets have left things vague with their rotation plans for the upcoming series in Cincinnati.
Myers will start on Monday night, but the team did not announce starters for the following two games.
There would seem to be a strong possibility that Jonah Tong will eventually get recalled to take Scott’s place in the rotation. Tong made three appearances for the Mets earlier this season, posting a 3.60 ERA. Since being optioned back to Triple-A, Tong has allowed eight earned runs in 9.0 innings over two starts.
Left-hander Zach Thornton is also on the 40-man roster, making him a possibility as well.
Meanwhile, moving Polanco to the 60-day IL doesn't seem to be any reason for concern, as he hasn't played since April 14, making this more of a paper move than anything else.
The 31-year-old Short played 10 games with Mets in 2024 and spent this year's spring training with the Yankees. He played 23 games with the Tigers this season, hitting .167.
Austin Reaves is about to become one of the most sought-after free agents in basketball, but all signs continue to point toward him staying exactly where he wants to be: Los Angeles.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons have both emerged as potential suitors for the Lakers guard as free agency approaches. Yet despite the outside interest, league executives remain skeptical that anyone will actually pry Reaves away from the Lakers.
NBA Insider says Austin Reaves could draw interest from the Nets and Pistons as Lakers free agency approaches. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“The Lakers are widely expected to re-sign Reaves,” Stein reported, citing both Reaves’ affection for Los Angeles and his growing chemistry with Luka Dončić as major factors working in the team’s favor.
That mutual interest has become one of the NBA’s worst-kept secrets.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) and guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrate after scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After averaging a career-best 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds last season, the 28-year-old has positioned himself for the biggest contract of his career.
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick hopes to retain Austin Reaves to build off a year coming off of a postseason appearance. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
The Nets have long been viewed as the biggest external threat. Previous reports suggested Brooklyn could have interest in offering Reaves a four-year deal worth as much as $178.5 million.
However, Stein noted there have been recent indications the Nets may prefer shorter-term contracts rather than aggressively pursuing marquee free agents this summer.
LA Clippers Vs. Brooklyn Nets at The Barclays Center: Terance Mann #14 of the Brooklyn Nets along with Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets, Nic Claxton #33 of the Brooklyn Nets Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Detroit’s interest appears less concrete as well.
While Reaves would fit seamlessly alongside All-Star guard Cade Cunningham, Stein reported the Pistons are expected to focus more heavily on trade acquisitions than major free-agent spending.
Detroit also faces looming extension decisions involving young cornerstones Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, making a massive offer sheet for Reaves more complicated.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns fights with Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham for position to get the rebound JASON SZENES/ NY POST
That leaves the Lakers in a familiar position.
Reaves has evolved from an undrafted role player into one of the franchise’s most important building blocks. His ability to score, create offense and thrive alongside stars has made him a natural fit next to Dončić, who has publicly expressed his desire to continue playing with his close friend.
The Lakers know replacing that production would be nearly impossible.
As one NBA executive recently told The Athletic, “You can’t let a talent like that walk.”
Outside teams may continue doing their homework on Reaves over the coming weeks. But unless something changes dramatically, the expectation around the league remains the same: Austin Reaves will get paid, and he’ll probably be getting paid by the Lakers.
A familiar name to Vancouver Canucks fans hit trade rumours a couple of days ago.
Kevin Weekes of ESPN was the first to report that the New Jersey Devils are “gauging market interest” for goaltender Jacob Markström. The former Canuck left Vancouver in free-agency in 2020 and ended up going from the Calgary Flames to the Devils via trade. He signed a two-year extension worth $6M per year in October of 2025, with both years including modified no-trade clauses.
Markström’s 2025–26 season wasn’t terrible, by any means. The 36-year-old started the bulk of the Devils’ games, putting together a record of 23–19–1 and a 3.07 GAA and .883 SV%. The previous post-season, despite winning only one game, the goaltender managed to put up a 2.78 GAA and .911 SV% in New Jersey’s first-round loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. In Game 5 of this series, he faced 54 shots. He’s a capable goaltender who likely wants to chase a Stanley Cup as his NHL career progresses.
That said, could the right move result in Markström returning to Vancouver?
Why A Move For Markström Could Make Sense
As a Canuck, Markström’s time in Vancouver began when he was brought into the organization as part of the Roberto Luongo trade in 2014. He didn’t make the full-time jump to the NHL until the 2015–16 season, during which he registered a 2.73 GAA and .915 SV% in 33 games played. The goaltender spent four seasons as teammates of now co-Presidents of Hockey Operations Daniel and Henrik Sedin, having also played alongside them at the 2013 IIHF World Championship and 2016–17 World Cup of Hockey. Markström also spent three seasons in Vancouver with Manny Malhotra as an assistant coach.
There’s a clear familiarity between Markström and the organization that could provide success from a culture perspective. With Vancouver’s current status as a rebuilding team, bringing back a former player in Markström could make sense if they were able to acquire assets as a return for taking on the veteran’s salary. Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson has made it clear that he’s a big believer in acquiring leaders moving forward, and given his previous experience with Vancouver and how big of an impact he had on some of the team’s young players in his time there, Markström’s return could provide a neat story. However, logistically speaking, this isn’t a path the Canucks should follow.
Why Trading For Markström Is Not Something The Canucks Should Do
The first — and most obvious — thing to consider is how bringing in Markström would make Vancouver’s already-cluttered goaltending situation even more cluttered than it already is. For a deal for Markström to work, Vancouver would need to send one of Thatcher Demko or Kevin Lankinen back the other way. With Lankinen’s contract currently carrying a no-move clause, Demko would have to be the one flipped — though this could only take place before July 1, as Demko’s own no-move clause would kick-in alongside his new $8.5M annual cap hit.
Even if, hypothetically, Demko is moved for Markström, the Canucks still haven’t erased their cluttered goaltending issue. While they may have shaved $2.5M per year (and a whole extra year of $8.5M) off their goaltending budget in this scenario, they’d still have to deal with the fact that Nikita Tolopilo is also waiting in the wings — this time unable to be sent down to the Abbotsford Canucks without having to pass through waivers.
Unless they flipped both Demko and Tolopilo somehow — which could still be possible, but would take a lot of work — Vancouver would be losing out on assets for a goaltender.
Something else to keep in mind when it comes to a Markström move is that the goaltender has yet to win his first Stanley Cup — something that would likely be a priority for him given that he can still perform well and is still capable of stealing games for his team. Through his 16-year NHL career, Markström has only made the post-season three times — once with Vancouver (2020), once with the Flames (2022), and once with New Jersey (2025). The farthest he has gone is Game 7 of the second round. As his career draws on, it’s likely Markström would want to chase a Cup with a contending team rather than engage in another rebuild.
The veteran also has a 20-team no-trade list in the first year of his deal, though it’s unclear which teams are currently on it.
Feb 12, 2020; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom (25) celebrates after being named first star the Vancouver victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Arena. Vancouver won 3 -0. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
A Markström Move Makes Sense For Contending Teams — Not Vancouver
Despite the cultural fit, as much as Vancouver has relied on bringing back old voices in shaping their management staff, bringing Markström back to the Canucks isn’t a move that the organization should pursue at this moment. While recouping assets to take on his two-year contract would be favourable for a Vancouver team that doesn’t look to be contending any time soon, there are too many moving pieces that would need to be juggled in order for him to make his return, including packaging up one or two of their current goaltenders.
At the end of the day, Markström’s services would be best suited for a different team — one that’s closer to contending than Vancouver currently is.
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It's been a long road to get here, but former Ottawa Senators defenseman Mike Reilly has himself a Stanley Cup ring.
Reilly, the lone former Senator on the Cup-winning Carolina Hurricanes, was a healthy scratch in the final game on Sunday night, a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, but was still a key member of the club this season.
So, as is tradition, he fired on his skates and full gear to be part of the photos and on-ice celebrations.
The Wrap Around show recentlly discussed the idea of the Senators going after Jake DeBrusk in a trade.
Reilly signed with the Hurricanes as a free agent and appeared in 42 regular-season games this season, recording nine points. The Minnesota native also contributed during Carolina's playoff run, picking up two points in two postseason games against the Flyers, including a two-assist performance in Game 2 of the Eastern Semifinals.
Having a player as good as Reilly as a black ace in the playoffs certainly speaks to the 'Canes depth.
"Yeah, I'm probably the extra guy, but I understand," Reilly said after his two-point game last month. "I'm just trying to stay as ready as I can and as sharp as I can. At times, it's not that easy, but when your name gets called, you gotta be ready."
Signing with a team as good as Carolina, the eventual Cup winner, Reilly had to know he might be in a battle for playing time. But he got into just enough games this season, one more than the 41-game minimum required to have his name engraved on the Cup.
It's certainly been an interesting few years for Reilly, who's with his seventh NHL team. During his stop with the Islanders in 2024, three years after he left the Senators, he suffered a concussion, and during routine testing, doctors discovered he needed heart surgery to address a preexisting condition.
Who knew that a concussion could have a silver lining?
Moments like that suddenly shove hockey to the background and make you think about life and the big picture, but Reilly had a successful procedure and was obviously able to make a full recovery.
That ordeal, combined with his long NHL road to get here, made the former Senator's Sunday night victory party all the sweeter.
LAS VEGAS — All those home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field, and the Colorado Rockies never rang up the scoreboard the way they did in steamy Las Vegas.
If this is what big league baseball looks like in Sin City, pitchers might run for cover in a couple of years under every craps table in town.
Willi Castro had seven RBIs, Hunter Goodman got a career-high five hits and the Rockies set a franchise record for runs with a 23-9 victory over the Athletics on a 101-degree afternoon at Las Vegas Ballpark.
“You’ve just got to make contact and the ball’s gonna go,” Goodman said.
Castro and Goodman each hit two of Colorado’s six homers. Troy Johnston and TJ Rumfield also went deep for the last-place Rockies (27-45), who ended a three-game losing streak.
Scheduled to move to Las Vegas full time in 2028, the A’s got a taste of the city this week with a six-game homestand against Milwaukee and Colorado at the site of their top minor league affiliate.
The teams involved combined to score 102 runs in a stretch that began with a wild slugfest when the Brewers outlasted the Athletics 15-14 in a 12-inning game that featured 11 homers and 34 hits.
Colorado’s lineup provided an exclamation point, but Goodman is going to reserve judgment about major league baseball in Vegas.
Because while the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators of the Pacific Coast League play outdoors, the A’s are gearing up to move into a new $2 billion stadium under construction on The Strip. That building will be enclosed.
“I’ll be curious to see how it plays,” Goodman said. “I think time will tell. With it being indoors, I don’t know if it will play the same or not. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer has participated in plenty of games similar to the series finale, especially at Triple-A Albuquerque.
“This is a very, very tough environment to play baseball,” he said. “As you saw, obviously the ball flies in the thin air, the heat and the sun. It’s just a hard place to play.”
Castro finished with four hits, including a grand slam off Scott Barlow in the eighth inning. Goodman drove in four runs and Kyle Karros also had four hits as the Rockies piled up 24 in all — one shy of the team mark established against Houston on Sept. 25, 2011.
Max Muncy and Tyler Soderstrom homered for the A’s (35-36), who had won four straight. Lawrence Butler got three hits and Zack Gelof extended his hitting streak to 18 games.
Tomoyuki Sugano (7-4) got the win despite giving up eight runs and nine hits in five innings. Eiberson Castellano tossed three scoreless innings to earn a save in his major league debut.
Athletics starter Jeffrey Springs (3-7) allowed eight runs — six earned — and seven hits in four innings.
Colorado scored six times in the fifth to build a 14-6 lead. Goodman homered to begin an outburst capped by Tyler Freeman’s run-scoring triple.
A’s right fielder Carlos Cortes moved to the mound in the eighth and was their most effective pitcher, yielding one run and three hits in the final 1 2/3 innings.
The Athletics went 4-2 on their Las Vegas homestand, winning a pair of three-game series. They return to their regular temporary home in West Sacramento, California, for a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Even though it became clear over the last several seasons that the Knicks winning it all for the first time since 1973 was at least a possibility, it actually happening has altered the brain chemistry of the city.
Despite the belief that it could happen, there were still looks of disbelief on many people's faces when it actually did.
Now let's rewind for a bit to remember how the Knicks got here...
There was triumph (twice) in the 1970s, some modest playoff success in the early 1980s, the arrival of Patrick Ewing that eventually made the Knicks a title contender again in the 1990s, and then two decades of near-irrelevance, with the only positive blip during that time being the Carmelo Anthony years that maxed out in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2013.
As someone who grew up on the 90s Knicks, my early fandom was pockmarked by the near misses of a tough, resilient team, and the fact that Michael Jordan and the Bulls were almost always standing in the way.
There was 1993-94, when the Knicks took a 3-2 NBA Finals lead to Houston but couldn't stop Hakeem Olajuwon (who got his hand on John Starks' potential title-winning shot at the end of Game 6).
There were Reggie Miller's eight points at the end of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Pacers, and New York's loss in Game 7 of that series when Ewing's finger roll just wouldn't go down.
I thought the 1996-97 Knicks would've had a real chance to take down Jordan's Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they didn't get there because their roster was decimated by suspensions after a fight P.J. Brown of the Heat started at the end of Game 5 in the semifinals.
The 1998-99 run to the Finals was incredible, but the Knicks never really stood a chance going up against the Spurs' Tim Duncan and David Robinson without the injured Ewing.
From the point the Knicks lost the title in 1999 until their recent run of serious contention in 2022-23, New York bringing a title back to the Garden felt like a pipe dream.
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
And when it started to feel possible that the Knicks had something special brewing, Brunson sacrificed $113 million dollars in order to help Leon Rose keep building around him.
As the Brunson Knicks started to ascend, in came Josh Hart and OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. By the end of this regular season, with their core surrounded by a tremendous supporting cast and led by head coach Mike Brown, it felt like it could finally be the Knicks' time.
But at the start of the playoffs, even after the Knicks proved over the last several seasons that they had what it took to be a serious contender, they were still doubted.
The Celtics and Cavaliers had better NBA title odds than New York when the playoffs began, with it feeling especially absurd that Cleveland's odds were better.
After the Knicks dispatched the Hawks in the first round, it was "the 76ers aren't Atlanta, how will the Knicks stop Tyrese Maxey?"
After the Knicks swept the Sixers, it was "the Cavaliers are a different animal."
After the Knicks steamrolled the Cavs, it was "the Eastern Conference was weak -- the Western Conference Finals are the real NBA Finals."
But this Knicks team was deep, united, and super talented. Most of all, they were selfless and impossible to keep down. They had proven by the point they reached the Finals against the Spurs (and months before, really, as I wrote after covering their close loss to the Thunder on March 5) that they could beat anyone.
And they did.
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates with his teammates after the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
During the Finals against the Spurs, anywhere you went in the city became a watch party.
The partying, jubilation, and incredible scenes we've witnessed in every neighborhood in the city have been a sight to behold. But it's the togetherness and unity of the people celebrating that has been the most special aspect of all of this.
It's the strangers hugging one another. Ecstatic fans helping the sanitation workers do their job after the clincher. People from all walks of life dancing with each other in an incredible spectacle of spontaneous community in the streets.
In a way, it's like the city is holding up a mirror to this Knicks team and vice versa. There is a certain attitude and swagger about New York City, it's true. But there's also togetherness. And it's been on display these last few weeks as millions have rallied around a team like never before.
That's because the Knicks are the only team that can truly unite the whole city.
The Mets and Yankees can't, because the fan allegiances are split. The same goes for the Jets and Giants. As far as the Rangers, their fans greatly outnumber Islanders supporters, but hockey is the clear fourth sport in the city.
Oct 5, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; Former New York Yankee Andy Pettitte throws the first pitch between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals before the game during game one of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
When putting together a team, general managers should have an eye on today, of course, but also on the long-term outlook of the franchise. Some players will be considered key cornerstones several years. Sometimes, teams can get a decade-plus of quality performance from a major leaguer if they are extremely lucky. In the specific case of Andy Pettitte and the Yankees, we are talking about 15 campaigns of steady, reliable play.
Not only did Pettitte post some really solid regular-season numbers over the course of his long career, but he also became a postseason hero who is at or near the top of multiple October leaderboards. A big part of the late-90s dynasty, the left-hander won five World Series with the Yankees, made three All-Star teams, and has a plaque in Monument Park..
For his invaluable contributions in numerous title-winning squads and his incredible consistency over the years, we ranked Pettitte tenth in our Top 100 Yankees list.
Pettitte was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 54 years ago, to parents Tommy and JoAnn Pettitte. His family moved to Texas when he was eight-years-old, which probably played a role in his decision many years later to leave the Yankees for the Houston Astros after the 2003 campaign. He grew up in the Lone Star State, attending Deer Park High School in Deer Park, Texas, where he started showing off his talent on the mound. Like many baseball players who made it to the bigs, he also showed promise in other sports. In Pettitte’s case, football, where he was an offensive and defensive lineman.
With the help and support of his father, Pettitte developed a love for baseball at a young age. He looked up to Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens as a young fan, and the latter would become a teammate and friend of his in the majors.
After graduating from high school, Pettitte went to San Jacinto College North in Houston, instead of a traditional four-year program. He lasted until the 22nd round of the 1990 MLB Draft, where the Yankees scooped him up, in part because everybody thought he would go to college. The left-hander never had top velocity and was considered “chunky,” “lumpy,” and “pudgy” at the time, per the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR).
Before joining the Yankees, he had an excellent year at San Jacinto College and, under the guidance of coach Wayne Graham, became more disciplined, gained strength, lost weight, and developed a sharp focus on the mound.
Pettitte signed with the Yankees a year later, in 1991, and started his journey as a minor league pitcher, throwing a knuckleball that his new battery mate, Jorge Posada, couldn’t consistently catch. He developed in the Yankees’ minor league system until 1995, when he made his MLB debut. That year, he would unofficially become part of the Yankees’ emerging crew of talented homegrown players that would eventually be known as the “Core Four”: himself, Posada, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera. Those four players would be the backbone of New York’s upcoming dynasty.
Between April 29 and May 13, 1995, Pettitte was used as a reliever with mixed results. Then, he got a chance to start in late May and never looked back, finishing third in the AL Rookie of the Year race. Little did he know that he was about to make history.
The following season, 1996, would probably be the most memorable of his career. He led the league in wins with 21, posted a 3.87 ERA, finished second in the AL Cy Young race, and helped the Yankees win the World Series for the first time since 1978, beating John Smoltz in Game Five.
The 1997 campaign was Pettitte’s best in pinstripes from a statistical angle. He posted a 2.88 ERA in the burgeoning steroids era, racked up 7.2 fWAR, and finished fifth in the AL Cy Young voting. The Yankees would exit the postseason against Cleveland, though.
In 1998, however, the Yankees would start a three-year run of winning every World Series with Pettitte as one of their aces. That year, he won the last game of the Fall Classic with 7.1 scoreless frames against the Padres.
In those three years from 1998 to 2000 that resulted in three straight championships, Pettitte posted a rather underwhelming 4.42 ERA, but was always available and raised the team’s floor. He saved his best for October, when the lights shone brightest: his 3.26 postseason ERA over that span was key to every one of the championships that made up the Yankee dynasty.
As you can imagine, the southpaw was a huge part of the late-1990s, early-2000s rivalry with the Boston Red Sox. He earned a win in the unforgettable 2003 AL Championship Series, helping the Yanks advance to the World Series, where he contributed a minuscule 0.57 ERA in a losing effort.
He wasn’t a part of the squad that inexplicably lost four straight games in the 2004 ALCS because he joined Roger Clemens in Houston as both Yankee hurlers signed with the Astros. For Pettitte, it was a homecoming, and it allowed him to play a World Series in front of his people, even though they lost to the Chicago White Sox.
After three seasons with the Astros, Pettitte returned ahead of the 2007 campaign. In 2008, he witnessed the final act of the old Yankee Stadium, as the Yankees missed out on postseason baseball. They would return to the grand stage in 2009, though, as Pettitte helped them win the Fall Classic with a 4.16 regular-season ERA and an even better 3.56 postseason ERA.
Pettitte initially announced his retirement in February 2011, spending a year away from the game before coming back to wrap up his career with a solid 2012 (2.87 ERA) and 2013 (3.74 ERA).
He is, without a doubt, one of the most respected Yankees of all time. Nobody has won more postseason games than him, and he retired with a 3.81 ERA in the playoffs.
Pettitte finished his eighth season on the Hall of Fame ballot with 48.5 percent of votes, needing to reach at least 75 percent in two remaining attempts. Perhaps he doesn’t have the rate stats or individual awards to be a no-doubter member of the Hall, but he does have the legacy and the totals.
After his career, Pettitte has focused on becoming a baseball dad, but he did rejoin the Yankees in the summer of 2023 to be an advisor. He was also the pitching coach of Team USA in the 2023 and 2026 World Baseball Classics (WBC).
Yankees fans who grew up watching the team in the late 1990s and early-2000s certainly enjoyed the sight of Pettitte working from the left side of the mound. He was never rattled and always seemed in control of his emotions and situations. You don’t see that calm demeanor and the look of a silent assassin that he gave opposing batters very often these days.
Happy birthday, legend!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 26: Romy Gonzalez #23 of the Boston Red Sox warms up before a game against the Detroit Tigers on September 26, 2025 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I’m almost reluctant to type this onto the page, because I fear it’s a hope so delicate that discussing it in print could endanger its very existence, but alas: the Red Sox may soon receive a boost on offense. Romy Gonzalez, the Platoon Paul Bunyon himself, will begin a rehab assignment tomorrow with AA Portland. He will play second, first, and DH, in hopes that he can return by the start of the Sox’ next homestand ten days from now. “With the power potential and the thump in the bat, we’ve got to get him involved,” said Chad Tracy. “It could be [against] lefties, it could be [at] DH, he could play second base. There could be certain righties where it doesn’t make sense [to start Gonzalez]. But whatever it is, we know the capability of the bat and the power potential that brings. We’re going to certainly get him involved.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
Romy’s return comes at an opportune time for the Sox, who still have no idea when the other Romy, Roman Anthony, will be healthy enough to swing a bat again. The problem for Anthony? His injury is actually kind of groundbreaking. “I’ve been doing this 32 years. I actually have never heard of a ring finger-isolated CMC ligament tear,” said one orthopedist. “The joints in which the ligaments get injured are usually not the CMC level … They’re at the knuckle or joints within the fingers. If you look up ring finger ligament sprain, you’ll find nothing — zero — because it’s not a common injury.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
Romy Gonzalez will immediately step in and give a boost to what has been the Sox’ biggest weakness in 2026: right-handed hitting. But he won’t be the only source of righty power in the lineup. Willson Contreras has been an absolute beast. “I think the approach of making contact, trying to make contact is working,” Contreras said. “I know that I’m in a good stretch right now, but I’m trying not to overthink or think too much. I’m trying to keep my game simple, make contact and let everything happen.” (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Last night’s loss wasn’t solely the fault of the offense, though. While he’s generally a strong rookie campaign, Connelly Early has been faltering a bit lately and is struggling to keep the ball in the park. “I hope those come back to Earth a little bit,” said Andrew Bailey of the homers he’s been giving up. “But when you look at the grand scheme of things, he does generate some whiff. The batted ball quality is a little bit concerning in that the slug is out of the park.” (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
But while last night’s game wasn’t much fun for Sox fans, at least the 5,000 Scottish football fans in attendance got to see some taters. Here’s a closer look at their joyous march to the ballpark. (Justin Turpin, WEEI)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 12: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after the final out of the ninth inning in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field on June 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Misiorowski threw a complete game and allowed only one hit. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s no place like home and the Atlanta Braves will surely be grateful to have spent some time in their own respective beds instead of what they had to deal during what ended up being a terrible road trip against the White Sox and Mets.
With that being said, it’s not like the Braves are coming home for a cakewalk. The Giants may have a poor record but they’ve been known to spring some upsets this season and the Brewers will be bringing arguably the most talented pitcher in all of baseball to town in the form of Jacob Misiorowski. Atlanta’s going to really have to work to get things back on track, so let’s see what the week ahead has in store for them.
June 16-18: San Francisco Giants
Current Record: 29-43 Projected Record (via FanGraphs): 74-88
On paper, the Braves probably couldn’t have asked for a better opponent to take on upon returning home from a rough road trip. The Giants have been pretty bad this season and outside of Casey Schmitt launching a bunch of dingers, there hasn’t been much for the fans in San Francisco to cheer about — either on or off the field.
San Francisco’s offense has been mostly middle of the road in terms of performance, as they have produced a team wRC+ of 102 off the strength of a team slash line of .257/.307/.416 with a .316 wOBA. As I mentioned before, Schmitt has largely been responsible for the power as he’s currently the only Giants hitter with over 10 homers so far this season. Unless there’s a complete disaster on Atlanta’s part, we aren’t going to be seeing the Giants hitting a ton of balls over the fence during this series.
With that being said, this lineup isn’t full of pushovers, either. Luis Arraez seems determined to continue hitting nothing but singles, Matt Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee have been productive with little-to-no power and Bryce Eldrige has been playing the role of “exciting young player” for the struggling Giants. Atlanta’s pitching staff will have to be on their game to keep this crew quiet and they have to be taken seriously — this same Giants team won a series at Wrigley Field and split a four-game series in Milwaukee against the Brewers (more on them later) so this is not a team to be taken lightly.
Still, the lineup will have to get the job done against a pitching staff that has largely struggled. Considering what ballpark the Giants spend most of their time in, it is honestly kind of shocking that they have the fifth-worst team ERA- in all of baseball (113) along with a bottom-10 FIP- (108). Then you look at what two of their three probable starters for this series have done so far this season and it all makes sense.
Adrian Houser is set to start for San Francisco during the season opener and he’s looked very vunerable on the mound all season. Of the the 13 starts that he’s made so far, he’s given up at least three runs in 10 of those starts. Five of those 10 starts saw him give up at least four runs and he hasn’t had a start of the “three runs or less” variety since May 17 against the Athletics. Meanwhile, Wednesday’s starter Robbie Ray has been a bit better but his stats have been skewed a bit after he got lit up on May 18 against the Diamondbacks for 10 runs on 11 hits. With that being said, the Nationals did get him for five runs on seven hits in his last outing so it’s entirely possible that the Braves might punish him like the Nats did.
Landen Roupp will be a different story, as he’s proven himself to be the top guy in San Francisco’s rotation so far and could really give the Braves some problems during his scheduled start on Thursday. Even if all of San Francisco’s starters do a solid job, the Braves could still turn things around late in the game if San Francisco’s bullpen continues to have issues. JT Brubaker and Keaton Winn have given opposing batters fits but outside of that, nobody else in this bullpen has really stood out as being of the shutdown variety. If the Braves are going to bounce back from that awful road trip, this should hopefully be the series to make it happen.
Tuesday, June 16 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision, Gray TV) Wednesday, June 17 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision) Thursday, June 18 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
June 19-21: Milwaukee Brewers
Current Record: 43-26 Projected Record: 92-70
Well, there’s no two ways around it: The Braves will probably have a serious fight on their hands once the Brewers come to town. For starters (for lack of a better term), Jacob Misiorowski will likely be starting the series opener against the Braves. In case you’ve been living under a rock, Misiorowski has essentially been dominating hitters so far this season with his near-overwhelming stuff. His heater is five mph above average, his slider and curve are both seven mph above average, and his cutter and change-up are both six mph above average. No matter what he’s throwing, it’s going to have high velocity and it’s going to be nasty. He’s thrown 54.1 innings since May 1 and has given up a grand total of two runs (only one of which were earned) on nineteen hits with just nine walks and a whopping 80 strikeouts.
Miz’s most recent start was astonishing. He pitched a complete game against the Phillies where he only gave up one hit and struck out fifteen batters on 95 pitches (a Maddux!). He was a Kyle Schwarber hit away from what would’ve been one of the more dominant Perfect Games that you’ll ever see. Assuming Milwaukee sticks to their current rotation plans, the Miz will be coming to town and the Braves are going to have their hands full.
Oh yeah, the rest of the team is still pretty good too. At this point, picking against the Brewers before the season to do well is one of those things where I’ll only believe it where I see it because this team has been a buzzsaw so far. Brice Turang has been productive in all facets of the game, old friend William Contreras has been raking, Jackson Chourio continues to be exciting, Jake Bauers is a true threat at the plate and then guys like Garrett Mitchell and Andrew Vaughn are tough to deal with. Even Christian Yelich and Gary Sanchez have been handing out lumps to opposing pitchers so far.
All that has combined for the Brewers to have one of the best offenses in baseball so far. They’ve hit for 107 wRC+ as a team (for reference’s sake, they’re right behind the Braves who have a team wRC+ of 108) and have collectively delivered a slash line of .255/.341/.392 with a wOBA of .326. Their stats are pretty similar to Atlanta’s except the Brewers are getting on base a bit more while the Braves have done a bit more damage in the slugging department. Still, Milwaukee’s offense has been getting the job done in a major way and Atlanta’s pitching staff will have a real challenge on their hands this weekend.
Friday, June 19 at 7:15 p.m ET (BravesVision) Saturday, June 20 at 4:10 p.m. ET (BravesVision) Sunday, June 21 at 1:35 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
All stats referenced were from FanGraphs before Sunday’s action so they may be slightly different