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Bruins trade targets: Four top-six forwards B's should consider pursuing

Bruins trade targets: Four top-six forwards B's should consider pursuing originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins will not be a true contender again until they fix their offense.

There were a lot of reasons for Boston’s lackluster 2024-25 season in which it failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The goaltending was subpar. The penalty kill was uncharacteristically bad. The team struggled defensively.

But a lack of scoring, especially on the power play, is what really doomed the Bruins. They were one of the worst offensive teams in the sport. The only reliable scorers were David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie.

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If you watched the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the Stanley Cup Final in particular, you know that without enough high-end offensive talent, it’s extremely difficult to win a championship.

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers combined to score 45 goals in the Cup Final (7.5 per game). The Panthers averaged 4.1 goals per game in the playoffs overall — the second-highest average for a Cup champion in the last 15 years. Scoring is up, and the Bruins need to keep pace.

So, how do the Bruins add much-needed goal scorers to their roster before next season? Free agency is one option, but the 2025 class isn’t super deep. Only one player who’s able to become an unrestricted free agent this summer — 34-year-old John Tavares — scored more than 27 goals this past season.

The trade market is perhaps the best place for the Bruins to make immediate upgrades.

After taking a sledgehammer to his roster at the trade deadline in March, B’s general manager Don Sweeney now has a lot of assets to use to make deals. Those assets include five first-round picks and four second-round picks over the next three drafts, as well as some talented prospects.

Which players should the B’s target via trade? Let’s look at four players worth considering.

Jason Robertson, RW, Dallas Stars

2024-25 stats: 35 G, 45 A in 82 games

Contract: Signed through 2025-26, $7.5 million salary cap hit

The Stars are in a tough salary cap situation. They just traded a very good forward in Mason Marchment to the Kraken for third- and fourth-round picks. If the Stars choose to free up more cap space, would Robertson be available?

“The Stars aren’t actively shopping him but are listening on him to educate themselves on the market and what teams might be willing to do at some point,” The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported Saturday.

It also doesn’t sound like the Stars are in a rush to do something.

“The market interest is already pretty robust for Robertson, as it should be,” LeBrun added. “Either way, though, I don’t see a quick resolution in the coming week or two. This is a slow-play situation where he’s either extended by the end of the summer or traded in August.”

Robertson would be a perfect addition to the Bruins lineup. He is a tremendous goal scorer and would take a lot of pressure off Pastrnak. Robertson scored 35 goals last season, and he has averaged 37.8 goals over the last four years. He scored 41 goals in 2021-22 and 46 in 2022-23. He also is quite durable, having not missed a game since 2022.

Robertson is entering the final year of his contract, and a long-term deal would be expensive. But 25-year-old forwards who consistently score 30-plus goals are tough to develop and acquire.

Martin Necas, RW, Colorado Avalanche

2024-25 stats: 27 G, 56 A in 79 games

Contract: Signed through 2025-26, $6.5 million salary cap hit

Necas took his offensive production to a new level in 2024-25, setting career highs with 56 assists and 83 points in 79 games between the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche. He also scored 27 goals — one short of his career-high set in 2022-23.

Necas has averaged 26.3 goals over the last three seasons, and he’s a very good playmaker on the wing. He’s also one of the fastest players in the league, and the Bruins definitely need to play with more pace next season.

His zone entries are elite as well, and that’s an area that new Bruins head coach Marco Sturm mentioned in his introductory press conference where Boston must improve.

Necas is also just 26 years old, so he would fit the age timeline of the Bruins’ core players. He also is from Czechia and has played quite a bit with Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha during international tournaments, including a gold medal triumph at the IIHF World Championship in 2024.

Necas is able to become a UFA next summer. If the Avalanche aren’t able to reach an extension with Necas, would they move him at some point? The Bruins should at least give Colorado a call.

Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks

2024-25 stats: 15 G, 30 A in 64 GP

Contract: Signed through 2031-32, $11.6 million salary cap hit

The strongest argument against trading for Pettersson is his contract. He is signed for the next seven seasons with a $11.6 million cap hit. That’s a huge salary and one that wouldn’t be super easy for the Bruins to absorb.

On the flip side, No. 1 centers are very tough to find, and Pettersson is supremely talented.

The 2024-25 season was a tough one for the Canucks and many of their players. A reported feud between Pettersson and J.T. Miller resulted in the latter being dealt to the New York Rangers during the season. The situation seemed to affect Pettersson, who saw his production drop from 89 points (34 goals, 55 assists) in 82 games in 2023-24 to just 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) in 64 games last season.

However, Pettersson is in the prime of his career at 26 years old. He has three seasons of 80-plus points, including a career-high 102 during the 2022-23 campaign. He’s great on the power play and has elite playmaking talent.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to at least contact Vancouver and see what the price might be.

Marco Rossi, C, Minnesota Wild

2024-25 stats: 24 G, 36 A in 82 GP

Contract: RFA on July 1

Rossi just had the best season of his career, setting personal bets in goals, assists, points, power-play points and time on ice. The No. 9 overall pick from the 2020 draft can become a restricted free agent in July. He did benefit from playing alongside star wing Kirill Kaprizov for much of the 2024-25 season, but he clearly has impressive offensive talent.

So far, the Wild and Rossi haven’t been able to agree on an extension. The Athletic’s Michael Russo recently reported that Rossi “had been looking for a long-term deal in the Matt Boldy range ($7 million) — an area the Wild have so far shown no appetite to go near.”

The Vancouver Canucks have offered the Wild the No. 15 pick in next week’s NHL Draft, plus a player, in exchange for Rossi, per Patrick Johnston of The Province. Should the Bruins match that offer?

It’s definitely worth considering. Rossi is a 23-year-old center who has scored 21-plus goals each of the last two seasons and should have his best years still ahead of him. And the Bruins very much need centers with top-six talent.

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Casey Schmitt making case to stay in Giants' lineup after Matt Chapman returns

Casey Schmitt making case to stay in Giants' lineup after Matt Chapman returns originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Two years and one month ago, when Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers still were in the American League East, there was a stretch of games that seemed to indicate the Giants might not have a need at third base for the rest of the decade. 

Casey Schmitt arrived as a shortstop in May 2023, but only because Brandon Crawford was on the IL at the time. He was one of the best defensive third basemen in the minors, and when he hit the ground running, it looked like the Giants might have a homegrown player at the hot corner for years to come. 

During that first week in the big leagues, Schmitt showed off the entire arsenal. He became the first Giant since Willie McCovey to record eight hits in his first three games. Two of them were homers, including a 443-foot blast that left the bat at 111.6 mph. Even his sprint speeds were high. 

Schmitt looked like a future star. When a prominent prospect-ranking site moved him to the back end of their top 100, team officials joked that it was a sly way to cover for Schmitt not getting as much publicity as he should have in the minors. 

The two years since that eye-opening first week have been uneven, but Schmitt appears to have rediscovered that form, and the timing couldn’t be better for the Giants. 

In Sunday’s 9-5 win over the Boston Red Sox, Schmitt had four hits for the first time since his third big-league game. His homer screamed out of the yard at 111.6 mph. It was his hardest-hit ball since that loud home run at Chase Field two years ago. 

Since taking over for the injured Chapman at third 12 games ago, Schmitt has a .415 average, 1.210 OPS and four homers. 

“It’s been great to see,” manager Bob Melvin said Sunday. “He’s hitting the ball the other way, pulling the ball — he gets into a 3-1 count (today) and he’s looking for a fastball and he does some damage with it to the pull side. He’s seeing the ball really well right now. He’s gotten an opportunity to play.”

Schmitt has given the Giants more than they ever could have expected as a Chapman fill-in, but also another option at a time when they might otherwise be forced to look externally for help at second base. 

Tyler Fitzgerald’s slump has dropped his OPS to .609, and he has just two homers one season after putting his name in the record books with a stunning second-half power display. Christian Koss has struggled in his opportunities, and overall, the Giants rank 27th in OPS from their second basemen. 

The staff still has plenty of belief in Fitzgerald’s talent, and he ranks among the league leaders in Defensive Runs Saved, but they need more offensive production out of the position and Schmitt looks poised to be a good option once he’s no longer needed at third base. Chapman took the splint off his sprained right hand on Friday, and he’s hopeful that he can return to the lineup in about two weeks. The staff is a bit more cautious, but the rehab process has gone well so far. 

A lot can happen in two weeks, but there are reasons to believe that this version of Schmitt will have more staying power. Two years ago, the league adjusted quickly, taking advantage of a young player who swung at everything. 

Schmitt still is striking out at a high clip, but he has doubled his walk rate and cut his chase by about 10 percent. When that came up on Sunday’s “Giants Postgame Live,” Schmitt smiled. 

“Who would have thought, right?” he said.

“It’s just grinding, to be honest with you. I know it was a big problem,” he continued. “I feel like last year I took a better step forward working on it, and this year I wanted to make sure I continue to work on it. It’s just working with (the hitting coaches) and just trying to swing at good pitches and go up there and not try to do too much and not worry about my swing. 

“I would try and do a little too much and tinker too much and now it’s just, I’m going up there with what I’ve got and I’m going out there and competing.”

With Sunday’s big game, Schmitt’s average is up to .286 and his OPS is .831, which ranks third on the team behind Devers and Heliot Ramos. The latter was the breakout star last season, and the Giants will be in much better shape for a second half run if Schmitt can become this year’s version. They also will be a lot more comfortable at the trade deadline next month.

After acquiring Devers, the front office doesn’t expect to be able to add salary at the deadline. Perhaps Buster Posey can convince ownership to keep stretching, but the Giants also are short on young assets after trading Kyle Harrison and James Tibbs. If they do decide to part with more prospects, they’d probably be better served using them on starting pitching depth or another right-handed bat for the outfield rather than on a second baseman. 

Schmitt hasn’t started a game at second base this season, but he made 29 starts there the previous two years. If he keeps hitting like this, there could be a lot of time on that side of the diamond once Chapman returns. 

“Whatever the team needs me to do, that’s what I’m going to do,” he said Sunday. “That’s always been my motto.”

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Coventry makes history and has steel to make IOC role more than a puppet show | Sean Ingle

Bach’s successor is already making a positive impression but will need all her resolve at mammoth organisation

A new day has broken, has it not? For several reasons, Tony Blair’s 1997 election victory speech comes to mind on what will be a historic and symbolic day for sport. Because in Lausanne on Monday, after plenty of handshakes and platitudes, the 41-year-old Kirsty Coventry will become the first female and first African president of the International Olympic Committee in its 131-year-old history.

It has been, by any measure, a dizzying ascent. In 2016, Coventry stepped out of an Olympic pool for the final time in Rio. Now, nine years later, she is the most powerful person in sport. Yet as she takes charge, there are some who suspect that the new dawn will look rather like the old one – and that her predecessor, Thomas Bach, and his administration, will remain puppet masters behind the throne.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s epic season adds one more trophy: Finals MVP

OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander understood the assignment of Game 7.

"Those are the minutes, those are the moments when the best players, the biggest stars, the superstars, Hall of Fame players, make their name. I want to have that name, I want to have those titles attached to my name," he said.

Haliburton excelled under the brightest of lights: 29 points and a career-playoff-high 12 assists in Game 7, leading the Thunder to a 103-91 win and the team’s first championship in the city. He controlled and orchestrated the game in a masterclass performance, and with that, he was the unanimous NBA Finals MVP.

Gilgeous-Alexander's list of accomplishments in these Finals and throughout this season is historic:

• He is only the fifth player with 25+ points, 5+ rebounds and 10+ assists in Game 7 of the NBA Finals (Jerry West, Walt Frazier, James Worthy and LeBron James).
• First player to be named the regular-season regular season MVP and Finals MVP in the same season since LeBron James in 2012-13.
• First player to earn regular-season MVP and win the NBA championship in the same season since Stephen Curry in 2014-15.
• First player to win the NBA scoring title and the NBA championship in the same season since Shaquille O'Neal in 1999-00.
• Fourth player to win the NBA scoring title and be named the regular-season MVP and the Finals MVP in the same season (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan — four times — and Shaquille O'Neal).

"Yeah, it's hard to believe that I'm part of that group. It's hard to even fathom that I'm that type of basketball player sometimes," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "As a kid, you dream. Every kid dreams. But you don't ever really know if it's going to come true. I'm just glad and happy that my dreams have been able to come true. That's a "thank you" to everyone that's been in my corner that helped me get there."

His teammates were in awe.

"At the end of the day that's going to go down in history as one of the greatest seasons that's ever been had by a player," Chet Holmgren said. "It's amazing to be a part of that, to witness somebody going through it, succeeding in so many different ways He really makes it a joy to be around. It's never about him. It's always about us. It's always about winning. His talent shines through all of that. We saw that all year. He's a hell of a basketball player, but he's an even better person."

"I think he has a unique mindset. I think he gives us a lot of confidence," Isaiah Hartenstein said of SGA. "Like we say all season, he's always zero and zero. I don't think he ever gets too high, too low. A great leader on and off the court. He also puts the work in. If you see him on a daily basis, the work he puts in on and off the court, the way he leads. I've been with a lot of players, a lot of superstars, but just how ego-less he is really makes him special."

That 0-0 always mindset — which his teammates tease him about at times — has carried him to one of the great individual seasons in NBA history. And it earned him the NBA Finals MVP and a ring.

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Luis Torrens reacts to Francisco Alvarez being sent down, becoming Mets' everyday catcher

Luis Torrens became the Mets' everyday catcher Sunday when New York optionedFrancisco Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse.

Manager Carlos Mendoza cited a lack of consistency when he explained the Mets' move for the 23-year-old, which makes Torrens the unquestioned starter.

"I'm going to continue to do my job the way that I've been doing it," Torrens said through an interpreter after Sunday's 7-1 loss at the Philadelphia Phillies.

"I'm going to prepare as if I'm in the lineup, day in and day out, and try to help the team win games."

Torrens, 29, is slashing .227/.303/.336 with one home run and 13 RBI through 46 games this season. His defense has been a strength and is something that he takes pride in.

"I feel like that's something I've been working on since the offseason, and to be able to put those into action with games, it feels good, and that's what we work for," Torrens said through an interpreter.

An 0-for-3 Sunday followed a 2-for-4 Friday in which he was a bright spot during the Mets' 10-2 loss, and Torrens hopes that the lineup consistency will keep his offense trending up.

"Yeah, I expect so," Torrens said through an interpreter.

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Mets promoting prospect Carson Benge to Double-A Binghamton: report

Carson Benge appears to be moving up the ladder. The Mets' 2024 first-round pick has been promoted from High-A Brooklyn to Double-A Binghamton, MLB Pipeline reports, after a fantastic campaign for the Cyclones.

In 60 games, Benge slashed .302/.417/.480 with four home runs, five triples, 18 doubles and 37 RBI. He added 15 steals with just two caught stealing and had a .897 OPS.

MLB's No. 83 prospect and the Mets' No. 5 prospect, according to SNY contributor Joe DeMayo's prospect list, Benge ended his time in Brooklyn with at least one hit in six of his last seven games and will look to continue that production with the Rumble Ponies for the duration of their season.

Selected No. 19 overall out of Oklahoma State in 2024, the outfielder has done nothing but impress since joining the Mets' farm system. In 15 games with Low-A St. Lucie after getting drafted, the 22-year-old hit .273 with an .856 OPS -- numbers good enough for him to start this season at High-A Brooklyn.

A two-way player in college, the lefty-swinging Benge focused solely on hitting as a pro and has already become one of the best position prospects in the game. If he keeps up his trajectory, the Mets could potentially see Benge in the majors either in 2026 or 2027.

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Thunder take charge in second half, pull away to bring first title to Oklahoma City with 103-91 Game 7 win

OKLAHOMA CITY — When it mattered most, the Thunder looked like the team that had dominated the NBA all season.

For six-and-a-half games, Indiana’s pressure defense and sharp rotations frustrated the Thunder offense. Oklahoma City was slow to get into its actions, was forced to play more isolation than it prefers, and — as long as the Pacers were taking care of the ball — the Thunder were stuck in the mud. Indiana was relentless, kept scoring, kept pushing.

Then, for the final 24 minutes of Game 7 (against a shorthanded Pacers team), the Thunder looked every bit the best team in the NBA, forcing turnovers, playing with pace and hitting their shots. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looked like the MVP, scoring and also orchestrating the game, finding his teammates. For 24 minutes, everything clicked.

Oklahoma City has its first NBA championship since moving to the city, following a 103-91 Game 7 win at home.

It was a fitting end to a season in which the Thunder were the best team in the league, boasting 68 wins and a historic +12.8 net rating. The best team won.

"I think the most impressive part was the group that did it, the group we had, we had so much fun playing together," Gilgeous-Alexander said of this team. "It made it feel like we were just kids playing basketball. It was fun."

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was deservedly named NBA Finals MVP, the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to win the regular season MVP and Finals MVP awards, as well as an NBA title.

He cemented his name on that trophy in Game 7 when he made the Pacers pay for the lower pickup point they had success with in Game 6, he turned the corner on drives then either hit his patented fadeaway or kicked out to the open shooter. It was a masterclass from SGA, who finished with 29 points and 12 assists.

This game, however, was essentially decided in the first quarter, and in the saddest of ways.

Tyrese Haliburton was not afraid of the moment. He came out with three early deep 3-pointers for nine points that had the Pacers up by a handful early, and it looked like this could be one of those nights for him. Then came the sickening moment that silenced even the OKC crowd.

Haliburton had to be helped back to the locker room, a towel draped over his head. He would not return to the game with what the team officially called a “lower leg injury,” but Haliburton’s father confirmed to ABC that it is a torn Achilles.

That didn’t take the fight out of the Pacers — they continued to play pestering elite defense, contesting every drive and shot inside the arc while the Thunder shot just 4-of-18 from beyond the arc in the first half.

The Pacers shot 8-of-16 from beyond the arc in the first half and were up 48-47 at the half because of it. For the game, Pascal Siakam and T.J. McConnell had 16 points and played their hearts out.

Then came the second half and the game changed.

The Thunder got four offensive rebounds and a couple of turnovers by the Pacers in the first three minutes, which changed the momentum of the game. As did this Lu Dort 3.

Then the rest of the Thunder started to hit their 3s — after the game was tied 56-56, the Thunder forced two more turnovers, hit three consecutive 3-pointers, the lead was up to nine and the building was rocking. The Pacers hit some shots, but they fell into the habit of trying to do too much individually, not moving the ball like they are capable, and this is where not having Haliburton to settle them made a huge difference. All the while, the Thunder kept forcing turnovers, and hit more 3s in the third quarter than they did all of the first half.

By the end of the third it was 81-68 Oklahoma City and the party was on. The Pacers were the Pacers and never quit, making the Thunder work for it, but the party never stopped.

And it carried out into the streets and the Oklahoma City night.

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Thunder beat Pacers in Game 7 to win franchise’s first NBA title in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City Thunder players hold the Larry O'Brien Trophy aloft after claiming the NBA title.Photograph: Manuela Soldi/EPA

The Thunder became NBA champions on Sunday evening, topping the Indiana Pacers 103-91 to capture Oklahoma City’s first major pro sports title.

Oklahoma City’s Game 7 answer, as during their dominant regular season, was youth. NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points and dished 12 assists to lead his team, supported by strong efforts from forward Jalen Williams (20 points) and Chet Holmgren (18 points, eight rebounds). The game was won amid decibel counts above 100, with thousands of Thunder fans stamping in unison as the team’s trio of young stars pushed the club toward the franchise’s first title since moving from Seattle in 2008.

“We definitely have room to grow that’s the fun part of this, we don’t have many people in their quote unquote prime,” said Gilgeous-Alexander after the game.

Schedule

Best of seven. Thunder win series 4-3.

Thu 5 Jun Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110

Sun 8 Jun Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107

Wed 11 Jun Game 3: Pacers 116, Thunder 107

Fri 13 Jun Game 4: Thunder 111, Pacers 104

Mon 16 Jun Game 5: Thunder 120, Pacers 109

Thu 19 Jun Game 6: Pacers 108, Thunder 91

Sun 22 Jun Game 7: Thunder 103, Pacers 91

How to watch

In the US, all games will air on ABC. Streaming options include ABC.com or the ABC app (with a participating TV provider login), as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM and Sling TV (via ESPN3 for ABC games). NBA League Pass offers replays, but live finals games are subject to blackout restrictions in the US.

In the UK, the games will be available on TNT Sports and Discovery+. As for streaming, NBA League Pass will provide live and on-demand access to all finals games without blackout restrictions.

In Australia, the games will broadcast live on ESPN Australia. Kayo Sports and Foxtel Now will stream the games live, while NBA League Pass will offer live and on-demand access without blackout restrictions.

The Thunder overcame yet another relentless performance from the Pacers, who worked most of Game 7 without Tyrese Haliburton. The All-Star point guard splashed three three-pointers in the game’s first seven minutes before falling to the floor in the first period driving on the Thunder defense, crumpling without contact, immediately slapping the floor in anguish. The Pacers ruled him out for the remainder of the game with a lower leg injury. The player’s father, John, later told ESPN his son had injured his achilles.

“I could not imagine that happening in the biggest game of my life,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “It is so unfortunate, it is not fair.”

The Pacers led by five with Haliburton on the floor, and the first half featured 11 lead changes with nine ties, but Indiana ran out of energy competing without their All-Star as the evening moved along. Reserve Pacer point guard TJ McConnell, whom the Thunder already prepared to hound after his superb Game 5 and 6 finals performances, contributed 16 points and six assists but also seven turnovers, working a season-high 28 minutes.

The Thunder kept their longtime large starting lineup. Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren started together, and the home team remained tall, keeping the two bigs in the lineup as super sixth man Alex Caruso entered alongside the two seven-footers (a rare look) in the first quarter, immediately splashing two three-pointers.

Caruso started the second half and was key in spreading the floor for Williams, only 24, who scored nine points in the third quarter. Holmgren, who recently turned 23, managed seven in the period. Gilgeous-Alexander, who will be 27 in July, hit for six points and three assists in the third as the Thunder outscored the visitors 34-20 in the decisive third quarter, driving a close game into a rout.

A three from Myles Turner tied the score at 56-56 in the third before the Thunder responded with a trio of three-pointers from their foundational triptych: Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, and Williams in a row. McConnell turned it over twice in the stretch as the Thunder ran a one-point half-time deficit into an 81-68 advantage meeting the fourth quarter.

Bennedict Mathurin’s transition scoring dragged Oklahoma City’s 22-point lead down to 12 with 4:40 left in Game 7 before Gilgeous-Alexander pushed the Thunder into the free-throw bonus, a whistle earning ire from Pacer coach Rick Carlisle, who was close to being ejected.

Gilgeous-Alexander extended the lead to 14 with two free throws, McConnell missed a layup over Holmgren, and the Thunder saw their first NBA title in Oklahoma City take hold.

Gilgeous-Alexander was named finals MVP, capping a brilliant season for the Canadian star.

“This isn’t just a win for me,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “This is a win for my family. This is a win for my friends. This is a win for everyone who was in my corner growing up. This is a win for the fans.”

The night was dampened by Haliburton’s injury and absence. The Pacer guard delighted NBA fans in canning buzzer-beating, game-winning baskets over Milwaukee, Cleveland, New York, topping the Thunder in Game 1 with the game’s deciding basket after yet another Pacer comeback win. An achilles injury could knock Haliburton out for all of 2025-26, knowledge not lost on his teammates as they sweated to battle the Thunder.

Indiana gave all, but the Thunder owned more.

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Mets' Carlos Mendoza explains 'concern' after Sunday's 7-1 loss at Phillies

Sunday's 7-1 loss at the Philadelphia Phillies was the Mets' eighth defeat in the past nine games. The finale of New York's third straight series loss saw left-hander David Peterson last four innings, done in by a five-run fourth where the Phillies (47-31) batted around, while the Mets (46-32) went scoreless through seven.

The combination leaves New York a game behind Philadelphia in the National League East Division entering this week's four-game series against the Atlanta Braves, which starts with Monday's 7:10 p.m. opener at Citi Field, and manager Carlos Mendoza is aware of the strain on his bullpen.

"Not going to say concerned, but we lost two quickly," he said when asked about being more concerned about the pitching than the lineup. "... I feel like the concern now is more like the state of the bullpen and how we've used those guys.

"Obviously, we've been shuffling a lot of guys. But we've got to find a way, we've got to find a way. We've got some really good arms in this room, and they'll get back on track and they will get us back on track here."

While right-hander Griffin Canning gave the Mets five innings in Saturday's 11-4 win, which snapped New York's season-high seven-game skid, Peterson's seven-inning outing last Tuesday at the Braves was the staff's last start of five frames or more.

Peterson's season-low four-inning start Sunday came at a time where the Mets, who are in the throes of a 13-game stretch without a day off from June 17-29, could have used the length.

"I wouldn't say surprised," Peterson (5-3, 2.98 ERA), who allowed five runs on six hits (two homers) while striking out four and walking three, said when asked if he was surprised about not getting past the fourth inning.

"It's part of the game. Obviously not happy with it. But I'll go back and watch it and see what I did well and see what we need to work on, and we'll move on to the next one."

Up next, the Mets get a rematch with Atlanta (35-41) after this past week's three-game sweep.

The Braves enter with two defeats in their past three games after they lost this weekend's series at the Miami Marlins.

"I think it's important to remain positive, to remain united," catcher Luis Torrens said through an interpreter. "We know that situations like this are going to happen, but I think, at the same time, it's important to continue to go out there. We know what we're capable of doing ... winning games how we're trying to."

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There Are ‘12-15 Teams’ In The Mix For K'Andre Miller

James Guillory-Imagn Images

With K’Andre Miller on the trade block, what is the level of degree of interest in the young defenseman?

According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, there have been 12-15 teams in the mix on Miller in recent weeks. 

Miller is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1 and is in need of a new contract extension. 

At the NHL Draft Combine, Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects shared a similar sentiment.

“One player whose name keeps popping up at the Combine is K'Andre Miller,” Robinson wrote via X. “I'm told the Rangers have let teams know he's available, but clubs are weighing that option versus the Offer Sheet route. Appears to be significant interest in the 25-year-old.”

According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, it seems inevitable that Miller will be moved this offseason.

The 25-year-old still appears to have value due to his potential despite coming off a season in which he regressed in his overall level of play.

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Mets' offense powers out in 7-1 loss to Phillies

A night after the Mets' offensive explosion, New York's went cold in Sunday's rubber game at the Philadelphia Phillies, a 7-1 loss.

Here are the takeaways...

-Cruising for the first three innings, David Peterson was jumped by the Phillies in the fourth after Kyle Schwarber tagged him for a solo shot to lead off the frame and break a scoreless tie.

After getting the first out of the inning, Nick Castellanos swung at Peterson's first offering and lined a double to put Philadelphia back in business. A walk to J.T. Realmuto and a single by Otto Kemp doubled New York's deficit and all of a sudden Peterson was on the ropes.

Still just one out in the inning, Edmundo Sosa, who finished a triple shy of the cycle, had the big hit with a 430-foot three-run bomb that put the Phillies ahead, 5-0, as the crooked inning continues to haunt the Mets.

Peterson's night was done after four innings, his shortest outing of the season, and five earned runs allowed on six hits and three walks. The rough outing came after three straight starts in which the lefty had pitched at least seven innings, a stretch that included his shutout at home against the Washington Nationals.

The five earned runs was also the most Peterson has allowed this season and increased his ERA from 2.60 to 2.98.

-On the other side, Jesus Luzardo turned in a masterful performance as he continues to torture New York. Entering Sunday, the left-hander was 4-2 against the Mets with a 3.02 ERA in 44.2 innings over eight starts, all with the Miami Marlins. Luzardo ended up going 6.2 scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and a walk while striking out seven.

-The Mets did have an opportunity to get to their nemesis in the first inning after Francisco Lindor led off the game with a single before advancing to second on a wild pitch following a strikeout. With a runner in scoring position, Juan Soto flied out to right field and Pete Alonso struck out as New York's problems with RISP continue. The team finished 0-for-3 in that situation.

-Tyler Zuber made his season debut in the seventh after his recent call-up and it didn't go well with the right-hander giving up two earned runs on three hits. He came back out for the eighth and pitched a clean inning.

-Prior to Zuber, Dedniel Nuñez made his first MLB appearance since May 16 and pitched a scoreless inning -- a possible good sign for the Mets who are in need of bullpen help.

-Lindor got New York on the board in the eighth with a solo shot. It's the first time in their last 29 games the Mets lost a game in which Lindor homered.

Game MVP: Jesus Luzardo

The lefty continued his string of impressive performances against the Mets.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets return home to take on the Atlanta Braves for a four-game series starting on Monday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

RHP Paul Blackburn (0-1, 6.92 ERA) faces off against RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (5-4, 3.26 ERA).

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Sixers draft profile: Ace Bailey has inspired tons of pre-draft debate

Sixers draft profile: Ace Bailey has inspired tons of pre-draft debate  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A scouting report on NBA draft prospect Ace Bailey:

  • Position: Wing 
  • Height: 6-foot-7.5 (without shoes)
  • Weight: 203 pounds 
  • College: Rutgers 

Strengths 

Bailey plays with a serious smoothness and self-assured nature. He has explosive bursts — out-of-nowhere blocks, emphatic slams — but largely seems to glide with an athleticism beyond combine testing numbers. 

Rutgers’ listing of Bailey’s height at 6-10 was a bit generous. Still, he’s got good size for an NBA wing, including a wingspan just over 7 feet. It also helps that Bailey has a high release on his jump shot and can fire it very quickly. 

Shotmaking is the most attractive aspect of Bailey’s game. He scores plenty of tightly guarded buckets — catch-and-shoot jumpers, pull-ups, leaners, post-up fadeaways. As a freshman in the Big Ten, Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and one steal per game. 

He believes he can make anything and that he’ll be great in the NBA. Asked about players he’s modeled his game after at the combine, Bailey told reporters, “(Kevin Durant), Paul George, Jayson Tatum and (Tracy McGrady). I can see some (Carmelo Anthony) in me, too. We create shots, we can shoot over defenders, create our own space.” 

Bailey’s defensive tools are eye-catching. It’s not hard to imagine his positional versatility and weak-side shot blocking being significant assets at the next level. Given Bailey’s youth (18 years old) and the muscle he’s likely to gain over the next few years, the notion that he’s due for major development on both ends is reasonable. 

Weaknesses 

On a 15-17 Rutgers team, Bailey’s decision-making wasn’t stellar. He dished out just 38 assists over his 30 games and committed 61 turnovers.

If Bailey continues to lean on shooting in the NBA, it’s fair to have questions about why his basic numbers were unimpressive. He shot 46 percent from the floor, 34.6 percent from three-point range and 69.2 percent at the foul line. Shot selection is relevant here, and Bailey was much better on free throws in the second half of the season — 46 of his final 56, 82.1 percent — but he doesn’t have the sharpshooting résumé of prospects like Tre Johnson and Kon Knueppel.

Bailey’s lack of physical strength may be limiting early in his NBA career, especially when it comes to reaching the paint and scoring there. If that’s the case, he’ll need to be an elite jump shooter in order to score efficiently. 

Separate from Bailey’s skills, his handling of the pre-draft process has drawn headlines. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported, “The feedback from his interviews at the draft combine in Chicago was not all that positive, with some teams expressing concern about his lack of preparation and focus.” Bailey canceled a scheduled workout with the Sixers and has not yet visited any teams, ESPN reported.

Fit 

The Sixers may wind up with a guard-heavy core of the future that features Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and Quentin Grimes. Bailey certainly would not be redundant. 

For any team, the optimistic vision of what Bailey could be is appealing. No one would mind a two-way wing who drains tons of tough shots. 

Of course, it’s possible to think Bailey could become a fantastic NBA player and still feel someone else like VJ Edgecombe is a better overall prospect. There’s clearly no consensus. 

George is a noted admirer of Bailey. 

“I think he has big-time potential,” George said on his podcast. “He has big-time talent. He can score from any spot on the floor. He has an isolation game, which you don’t see that often in kids that size that early. He can make plays, he can shoot over the top of defenses, he can take advantage of mismatches, he can handle the ball in pick-and-rolls. He can catch and shoot. He can defend. 

“I’ve seen him play elite defense on chase-down blocks … running guys off threes, keeping guys in front of him. I think he just has tremendous talent across the board. … I love his upside, man. I’ve been a fan of his game for a little while now and I think he’s going to be huge in the league. People think it might take him a minute, based on his skill set, but I think he’s going to come into the league and make noise right away.” 

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Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton forced to leave Game 7 with apparent serious lower leg injury

OKLAHOMA CITY — Tyrese Haliburton said he understood the risks of playing through a calf strain to be on the court for Games 6 and 7 of the NBA Finals.

"I have to understand the risks, ask the right questions," Haliburton said before Game 6. "I'm a competitor; I want to play. I'm going to do everything in my power to play. That's just what it is."

In the first quarter of Game 7, Haliburton planted to drive past an Alex Caruso closeout and his leg gave way and he fell to the ground in obvious pain.

Instantly he was surrounded by a circle of teammates, and the usually deafening Paycom Arena got quiet. Haliburton had to be helped back to the locker room, a towel draped over his head. For everyone in the building, it was hard to see.

There is no official announcement, but this has all the earmarks of a ruptured Achilles (something that can happen playing through a calf injury). It was eerily reminiscent of Kevin Durant going to the ground in the 2019 Finals when he tried to return too early from a calf injury and ended up tearing his Achilles.

The game was tied 16-16 when Haliburton was injured.