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
May 23, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Owen Caissie (17) runs toward second base after hitting a two-run double against the New York Mets during the second inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Sometimes, prospects end up being better trade chips than actual players. That might be the case with Owen Caissie who has already been part of two prominent trades but has yet to find his footing in the major leagues.
After being selected by the Padres in the second round of the 2020 draft, Owen Caissie was soon shipped to the Cubs as part of their trade for Victor Caratini and Yu Darvish. Once in the Cubs system. he quickly rose the ranks and established himself as a top 50 prospect, being chosen for the Futures Game in both 2024 and 2025.
After dominating AAA in 2025, he was called up to the Cubs in August but struggled in a twelve-game cameo. The Cubs were apparently not overly impressed since they sent him back down and then sent him to the Marlins as part of the deal for Edward Cabrera.
Marlins fans got excited because Maissie played for Team Canada in the WBC and batted .412 with a home run.
Owen Caissie delivered at the plate for Team Canada in WBC pool play 💪
Baseball’s No. 43 prospect slashed .500/.529/.929 with a homer, three doubles and five RBIs in 14 at-bats.
The Marlins installed him as their regular right fielder, and his season got off to a promising start when he hit a walk off home run in the third game of the season.
The good times did not continue as he went into a slump shortly after that. After showing some signs of life in May, he’s struggled in June with only two hits in the month so far.
Player development is rarely linear, so Maissie could well turn things around quickly. But as of now, he’s been far more valuable in the transaction column than on the field.
Hating on the Marlins
Would you look at that? The Marlins are at .500 thanks to a group of young players that have showed some promise. Shall we guess how this is ultimately going to end?
That young core might put it together and make the playoffs in the near future. And just as people think the team is ready to be an actual contender, management will start to ship off some of those players because they’ve begun to, or about to get more expensive.
There’s a debate about why the Marlins have been such a failure of a franchise, minus two insanely fluky World Series runs. Does ownership not spend money because the fans don’t support the team, or do the fans not support the team because ownership never spends enough money to sustain success?
It’s likely a little of both, but between the Marlins and Rays, we have a lot of evidence that Florida fans don’t pack the stadium even when the teams are good. The Marlins have had a few owners over the years, and while some of them have been among the worst to ever own a major league team, every one of them has come to the conclusion that its simply not worth spending a ton of money on the team.
Chronicling the accomplishments, shortcomings and controversies of the four owners that the Marlins have had in their three-plus decades of existence. https://t.co/ONvROXLWUw#marlins#miami#FightinFish
Back in 2020, a bunch of their fans got all in my mentions because the Marlins were better than the Phillies in the short season, and they thought they had stolen a future star in Sixto Sanchez. They’ve been quiet ever since.
If MLB ever tried contraction, the Marlins would likely be one of the first teams on the list, and only a handful of people would actually miss them.
Remembering a guy who played for both teams
Billy McMillon
In 1997, the moribund Phillies traded Darren Daulton to the Marlins, so he could finish out his career with a contender. In return, they got outfielder Billy McMillon. I attended “Billy Mac’s” first game with the Phillies, and to my delight, he launched a grand slam in the third inning as the Phillies romped over the Giants.
I was convinced the Phillies had a future star on their hands. They did not.
He would only hit one other home run as a member of the Phillies, but I appreciate the symmetry in that he hit it in his last game with the team.
— Philly Sports By Number (@philly_number) March 11, 2026
I don’t know why McMillon spent the entire 1998 and 1999 seasons in the minors – it’s not like those Phillies teams were overflowing with talent – but he never returned to the majors before becoming a free agent after 1999. He spent a few seasons as a quad-A player getting brief stints with the Tigers and A’s before moving on to a minor league coaching career.
Additional thought about the series
The Phillies’ offense had a tough time of it against the Brewers’ top pitchers, but hopefully they can start to hit better against a far less imposing trio of starters in this series:
Ryan Gusto is a quad-A caliber player with a 6.00 ERA
Former Phillie Tyler Phillips has recently switched from the bullpen to the rotation with mixed results.
Sandy Alcantara has improved in his second post-Tommy John season, but he’s far closer to league average than Cy Young winner at this point.
Then again, it isn’t hard to imagine the Phillies’ struggling to score runs against these guys. Apparently, there’s a rule that at least two – if not more – players on the team have to be in a miserable slump at any given time. In the month of June, Trea Turner and Justin Crawford both have sub-.500 OPS while J.T. Realmuto is plodding along with a .167 batting average.
Players are going to go through slumps during a long season, but is too much to ask that the slumps not be so drastic and maybe they could do it one at a time? It’s hard to win games when you’ve got three or four automatic outs in the lineup at any given time.
Last week, the Arkansas guard reportedly worked out with Sacramento, KCRA’s Sean Cunningham reported Monday, citing sources.
According to sources, former Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr. worked out for the Kings in Sacramento last week. It was not publicized and there was no media availability following his workout.
The Kings publicly have hosted pre-draft workouts for several players, such as Tennessee guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Connecticut forward Alex Karaban, Kansas guard Tre White, Illinois guard Kylan Boswell and Louisville guard Ryan Conwell.
Acuff’s reported workout in Sacramento, however, was not made public.
It is no secret that the Kings have had their eye on the 6-foot-3, 190-pound prospect, especially with the team’s desperate need for a starting point guard. Acuff easily could fill that void in Sacramento’s roster, considering his scoring abilities on all three levels and playmaking skills.
In only one season at Arkansas, Acuff averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game and shot 48.4 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range in 36 starts.
Acuff’s impressive freshman season earned the Detroit native several awards, including first-team All-America, All-SEC honors and SEC Player of the Year.
With such a strong résumé under his belt, Acuff highly is regarded as one of the top prospects in this year’s draft, making it difficult to imagine that he will remain on the board for Sacramento with the No. 7 overall pick.
Other players who have been associated with the Kings’ No. 7 pick include Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. and Houston guard Kingston Flemings.
However, if Acuff remains available at No. 7, it would be harder to imagine the Kings passing on a player with his caliber and star potential.
Two teams attempting to get back to .500 on the season and out of last place in their divisions meet at the Great American Ball Park tonight when the Mets (32-39) and Reds (33-37) meet for a three game series.
New York has won three of the last four games as they enter the series. The Mets are hitting .237 (24th) as a group this month, but have the eighth-most home runs (19). The pitching staff has carried New York to a 6-6 record this month. The Mets own a 3.81 ERA (4th), the best WHIP (1.09). and second-best OBA (.213).
The Reds have won five of the past six starts with Chase Burns on the mound, which is good news considering Cincinnati is 2-8 in the last 10 games entering this series. In June, the Reds have the second-worst batting average (.218) with the fourth-most strikeouts (112), and second-fewest runs scored (37). The Reds will need another dominant outing from Burns who's recorded 10 straight games with two or fewer earned runs.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Mets at Reds
Date: Monday, June 15, 2026
Time: 7:10 PM EST
Site: Great American Ball Park
City: Cincinatti, OH
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Mets at the Reds
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: New York Mets (+119), Cincinnati Reds (-143)
Spread: Reds -1.5 (+153), Mets +1.5 (-186)
Total: 8.5
Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Reds
Monday's pitching matchup (June 15): Tobias Meyers vs. Chase Burns
The Mets’ Juan Soto is hitting .293 with 58 hits, 15 home runs and 34 RBI over 198 at-bats
The Mets’ Marcus Semien is hitting .218 with 56 hits and 60 strikeouts over 122 at-bats
The Reds’ JJ Bleday is hitting .266 with 42 hits, 12 home runs, and 30 RBI over 257 at-bats
The Reds’ Will Benson is hitting .188 with 18 hits and 38 strikeouts over 96 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Mets at Reds
The Mets are 30-41 ATS, ranking sixth-worst
The Reds are 37-33 ATS
The Reds are 42-27-1 to the Over, ranking third-best
The Mets are 34-31-6 to the Under, ranking ninth-best
The Reds are 16-19 ATS at home
The Mets are 15-20 ATS on the road, ranking ninth-best
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Mets and the Reds
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Reds and the Mets:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Reds on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Reds at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.5
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 13: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins hits a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth inning of the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on June 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Steven Garcia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a middling week for the Twins, going 3-3, wrapping up a three-series run against AL Central rivals with a series loss in Detroit before finishing the week at home with a series win against the Cardinals. In that time, the Twins homered 14 times, with Byron Buxton making his return from running into the wall in the Royals series to hit four homers himself. Royce Lewis, who played five games at first base this week, looks like his Triple-A self with three homers as well. Starting pitching was the biggest source of consternation, with the starters giving up 24 earned runs in 32 innings pitched. For the season, the starters have combined for a 4.61 ERA, eighth-worst in the league. The team goes on a week-long road trip, heading down to Dallas and then Phoenix.
The Past Week on Twinkie Town:
Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!
Game threads and recaps are back! Commiserate with your fellow fans as we experience the season together.
The Yankees have weathered the Aaron Judge storm reasonably well and now hold a one-game lead over the Rays. The White Sox and Guardians are now tied for the AL Central lead, while the Mariners hold a one-game advantage over the A’s. Incredibly, the Twins are still only three games out of the last wild-card spot.
Nothing has really changed in the National League. It’s Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Milwaukee in the top three spots. (Eagle-eyed readers will note this is the same exact thing I wrote last week). That being said, while Atlanta has a pretty large lead in the NL East standings, only two games separate the top three teams. The Cardinals, Phillies, and Padres round out the three wild card teams.
