It’s a busy night of the diamond, and I’ve got three MLB same-game parlay predictions to cover you for all the action Friday, June 12.
My top MLB picks begin with an AL Central showdown between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians and wrap up with an SGP for the matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins.
Tigers vs Guardians SGP: Detroit motors to another win
The Detroit Tigers are turning the corner with a fifth-ranked xwOBA and 6.9 runs per game during their active 7-2 stretch, while the Cleveland Guardians rank 29th in xwOBA while averaging 3.5 runs per game during their own 3-8 skid.
Additionally, Detroit starter Jack Flaherty has fanned six or more batters in four consecutive starts with a sterling 2.37 xFIP, and outfielder Riley Greene has been a force against righties over the past three years with a high-end .374 wOBA and .237 ISO while hitting in the heart of the lineup.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CLEG, DSN
Phillies vs Brewers SGP: Misiorowski builds on Cy Young bid
Still, I’m expecting Philly rookie Andrew Painter to pitch deep enough to record four or more strikeouts. His 4.68 xFIP is way below his 6.21 ERA, and Painter has limited opposing hitters to a below-average 34.9% hard-hit rate.
Finally, Brewers second baseman Brice Turang is ripe to snap out of a 0-for-9 slump, considering he sports a .304 batting average and .419 wOBA against righties this season.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: BREW, NBCSP
Cardinals vs Twins SGP: Minny lambastes Leahy
St. Louis Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy (4.42 ERA and 4.34 xFIP) has surrendered the highest blast-contact rate among pitchers with at least 50 innings, so I’m anticipating a short outing paving the way for four or fewer strikeouts from the righty.
Left-handed bats have teed off on Leahy to the tune of a .421 wOBA and .962 OPS, and Minnesota Twins infielder Tristan Gray has been sneakily productive down the lineup with four runs, 11 hits and 12 RBI across his past 13 games.
Of course, the Twins have a sizable edge on the mound with Joe Ryan sporting a solid 3.02 ERA and 3.60 xFIP.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MNNT, CARD
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
SGP picks: 8-16, +12.0 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 11: Baltimore Orioles fans arrive at Oriole Park prior to the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Thursday, June 11, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Orioles fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
At times this year, never for more than three days at a time, the Orioles can almost convince you that maybe they will be able to be a good team, or at least a good enough team. If there are a few good games in a row from the starting pitchers at the same time the offense does positive things, when they’re doing that, it doesn’t feel foolish to believe. The only problem is that they can’t do it more than three games in a row. Or at least they haven’t done it yet.
In this week’s survey, I asked Orioles fans whether they think the team can get back above .500 before the All-Star break. At the time I posted the survey, that would have required an 18-12 record before the break. They went 2-1 in the remaining games in the Mariners series since then, so we’re now talking 16-11 between now and July 12’s game. Can they do that? Here’s what you said:
That’s a resounding no. It’s almost even a shocking no, because in my experience these surveys have tended towards the optimistic, perhaps even the foolishly optimistic. With the way the Orioles managed to lose on Monday and Tuesday – the two freshest games in people’s minds as they would have been voting this week – it seems the optimism was temporarily beaten out of them. I don’t blame them. I don’t think this team can get back above .500 before the break either.
They’re probably going to have to fire off at least a five-game winning streak to do it. That’s a tall order with the recent state of the rotation. There aren’t five good pitchers out there. There might not even be two. We’ll see if they can do anything to make us feel a little better in hosting the struggling Padres.
“I see a lot of people saying OG Anunoby is the current favorite for the Finals MVP. And I must say, I agree,” Green said on Friday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show.” “I think he’s been the most consistent. I think, you know, he’s made pivotal plays. He had the block and the bucket to close out the game in Game 4. Jalen Brunson was incredible last game, but I think the first three games, he wasn’t great, was shooting a lot of shots at a low percentage.
“And OG has just been constant. And it hasn’t been like averaging 14 points, 16 points — he’s averaging 24 points on the series, 65 percent from the field, 55 [percent] from three, playing the defense he’s playing, guarding [Victor Wembenyama] at times in the series. I think OG Anunoby has a decent Game 5, and [the Knicks] win Game 5. I think OG Anunoby is the Finals MVP.”
The Anunoby vs. Brunson debate feels a bit reminiscent of the 2015 NBA Finals, when Andre Iguodala was named MVP over Steph Curry. Like Brunson, Curry boasted better stats than Iguodala, but voters recognized and rewarded Iguodala elevating his game on the biggest stage and making a massive defensive impact — the same could be said of Anunoby this series.
Perhaps that could be the reason for Green’s opinion on the matter this time around, already having seen a similar storyline play out a decade earlier.
Regardless, we’ll find out soon enough whether or not Green’s prediction comes to fruition.
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 05: (left to right) Houston Astros center fielder Brice Matthews (0), Houston Astros center fielder Jake Meyers (6), and Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) celebrate the team 5-1 win in the top of the ninth inning during the MLB game between the Athletics and Houston Astros on June 5, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
June is a huge month for Houston, as they face primarily teams with losing records and need to show they can get back to .500 and legitimately chase a playoff spot.
Here is what you said:
More optimism than pessimism among readers, but not optimistic they can crawl to .500 by month end.
Do you think the Astros can get to .500 by the deadline?
The summer hasn't really even begun, but the Edmonton Oilers have made a mockery of what dates have passed by in this NHL offseason. From their coaching search, to their coaching changes, and now a very public trade narrative unfolding with Darnell Nurse, this is a summer that will go down as one of the most embarrassing in franchise history.
Understanding that there is plenty of time for the Oilers to course correct, or frankly, make things a whole lot worse, let's rank what's happened to date.
At the end of a disappointing season, general manager Stan Bowman said that the Oilers would reevaluate everything. From top to bottom, it was time to look inward and figure out what went wrong. Why did this Oilers team take a step back?
That would include a review of management, the coaching staff, and the roster. What wasn't known until later, was that the Oilers had already started looking into changing out the coach. They inquired about an interview with former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy while the playoffs were ongoing. The most ruthless team in the NHL said, 'Nope, not right now.'
When it became public, the Oilers decided to fire Kris Knoblauch before his new three-year contract had even kicked in. Bowman wouldn't confirm his specific interest in another coach, but did say that it was time for a different voice. Without coming right out and saying it, the Oilers hinted that talking to other candidates while you still had your coach employed was standard practice, and technically, it is. The problem? Edmonton didn't do a good job of keeping it under wraps.
In fact, we later learned that they were allegedly the ones to leak Vegas' refusal.
#4: Interesting Names Surface During Oilers Coaching Search
Now, without a head coach and with no guarantee the Oilers would get a chance to talk to Cassidy -- who, by the way, was telegraphed as "the guy," which meant a huge contract would have to follow if hired -- the Oilers started speaking to multiple coaching candidates.
Among them, Craig Berube, formerly of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Berube had just been fired by a team who performed much worse than the Oilers, and his numbers were abysmal in 2025-26. He was linked, almost solely because he'd won a Stanley Cup with the Blues and was a local guy who would have loved the opportunity to coach the Oilers. Of course the optics of hiring a Leafs coach with a bad record of not getting along with elite talent was not ideal.
At the same time, word leaked from Elliotte Friedman that John Tortorella might be a name to watch. His contract with Vegas would be done on June 30th and he was the kind of personality the Oilers might be looking to hire (commands respect and pushes players). And wouldn't you know it, around the same time, Tortorella refused to show up for a media obligation and was fined, with the Golden Knights penalized a draft pick by the NHL.
There's even been talk the Oilers spoke with Jim Hiller, and now there's speculation that Darryl Sutter might be in play.
#3: Kelly McCrimmon Blames Oilers For Cassidy Leak
Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon was on TSN OverDrive and said the Bruce Cassidy news wouldn't have been news if Edmonton hadn't leaked it. His allegation was that the Oilers were the ones who made Vegas' refusal to grant an interview public, hinting that the PR linked to that decision might pressure the Golden Knights into changing their minds.
While it's not been confirmed, it seems odd that McCrimmon would allege such a thing without knowing it was true. This was egg on the face of the Oilers. Not only did their plan backfire, but it backed them into a corner with Knoblauch, requiring they let him go and removing a ton of leverage they might have had in any coaching hire, not just with Cassidy.
All the while, Cassidy publicly says he wants to talk to any and all interested teams. He's not just eyeing Edmonton, but he's coming across as desperate to get back into the league as a coach.
Players ask for trades in the NHL. It happens. However, the Oilers got a trade request from defenseman Darnell Nurse because he became well aware they no longer wanted him. He beat Edmonton to the punch by submitting a list of three to five teams he'd go to, preemptively sparking what is going to be a trade the Oilers are unlikely to win.
Not only will the Oilers have to try and find a way to move his long-term $9.25 million contract, but they'll need to do so while he's got control over where he goes. All the while, the leadership group who wanted Nurse to be part of their success if they ever win a Stanley Cup won't experience it, or have to win it elsewhere.
There's no way that Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman and others are happy about how this all went down. Nurse was solid, but overpaid defenseman. It wasn't his fault the Oilers walked themselves into his contract.
#1: Oilers Pursue Mike Babcock, Investigation Begins
Clearly ranking in the top spot for most embarrassing is the Oilers' pursuit of Mike Babcock. After everything with Cassidy, Edmonton turned to one of the most controversial coaching options available, even though the optics of it are terrible.
Seemingly abandoning their interest in Cassidy, it's reported that the Oilers leadership group spoke with the former Blue Jackets coach and grilled him about what happened there. Either they were good with his answers or he didn't tell them everything, because they walked away thinking, "This is our guy."
Almost immediately, reports emerge of additional, previously unknown allegations tied to Babcock—serious enough to involve the NHLPA and the NHL. The NHLPA is not good with just letting Babcock come back, and they want the dropped investigation from 2023 to resume.
Now, the Oilers are waiting on word, with no idea how long it will take for the NHL to conclude its investigation or what it'll find. Again, Edmonton has telegraphed their move and has come across as so desperate to win and be pushed, they're willing to do so by a former coach that was exiled and still has players who can't stand him, many of whom might avoid the Oilers in free agency or via trade if he's hired.
Even NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh has chimed in during an interiew with @SiriusXMNHL, saying "managers and owners hire head coaches, not the players." That puts Edmonton's leadership group in a tough spot with other members of the players' association.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 09: Fernando Cruz #63 of the New York Yankees celebrates his team's 3-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on June 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fernando Cruz can certainly frustrate. But far more often of late, Cruz has dazzled with both dominant displays and gritty performances coming out of the bullpen. Perhaps no performance better encapsulates these game-changing abilities than his five-out save in the middle game against the Guardians Tuesday night. He struck out four of the five batters he faced including three in a row in the ninth to lock down the Yankees’ 3-2 victory in Cleveland. As impressive as several of the other Yankees pitchers have been, there was really no competition for this edition of Yankees Sequence of the Week.
We join Cruz with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Chase DeLauter standing on first after drawing a leadoff walk. The Yankees cling to a 3-2 lead courtesy of Spencer Jones’ first big league home run and the go-ahead solo blast from Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the eighth. The bullpen has performed spectacularly to this point in relief of a laboring Gerrit Cole, Paul Blackburn, Tim Hill, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird have all put up zeroes following Cole’s departure after four. Cruz has already worked his magic in the previous frame, inheriting a pair of base runners from Bird but striking out Travis Bazzana and getting José Ramírez to line out to strand both in place. Angel Martínez steps to the plate as the Guardians’ last hope having already collected a pair of base knocks on the day.
Cruz has been experimenting with varying his first pitch selection in recent weeks, usually looking to establish a called strike one with a four-seamer or slider to set up chase on the splitter for the rest of the AB. However, he has a single-minded approach in this spot, not wanting to mess around with either of his less dependable pitches. He throws perhaps the best splitter in baseball and goes full send with his number one pitch.
It’s pretty obvious that Martínez is sitting dead splitter in this spot, given the way he is able to track this pitch that starts as a ball above the strike zone and ends as a ball below it. His swing is matched perfectly to the movement of the pitch, but he’s just a tad early as he rips it foul to the right.
Despite seeing that Martínez was all over that first pitch splitter, there’s no flinch from Cruz. It’s almost like he’s saying, “Here’s my best against your best, let’s see if you can beat me.” He maintains supreme confidence in his splitter, knowing that if he executes to his spot, there are very few hitters in the league if any that can hit it.
This is frankly an unfair pitch from Cruz. This splitter breaks downward ten more inches than the previous one. You can see the look of bewilderment on Martínez’s face as he just nicks the top of the ball for a foul tip into J.C. Escarra’s glove. He swung exactly where he thought this pitch would end up based on the movement of the prior splitter, only for this one to dive downwards way more than he was expecting.
Now that Cruz has shown he can throw the splitter in the zone and still get a swinging strike, he has Martínez in big trouble with the count 0-2. If he can execute another splitter just a little lower than the one he just threw, the hitter should have no shot at making contact.
Decent execution from Cruz, even better take from Martínez. This splitter leaves Cruz’s hand looking like an elevated, centrally-located strike before plummeting down and away almost into the dirt — just insane movement on the pitch and kudos to the hitter for not chasing.
That ball doesn’t change anything in this AB. Cruz still has the count leverage overwhelmingly in his favor and knows he can enforce his will upon Martínez with one more well executed splitter.
Swing and a miss, good night. Cruz caps of this untouchable sequence with his best splitter yet. The pitch travels about halfway to home looking like a meatball strike on the inner half. Just after the ball passes through the hitter’s swing decision point, it drops off the table falling over three feet before it reaches Escarra. Martínez has already started his swing before the pitch’s movement kicks in, meaning it is actually impossible for him to make contact.
I don’t think it is a stretch to say that Cruz is the Yankees’ most trusted reliever at the moment. He has by far the best swing and miss stuff of their entire relief stable. With David Bednar’s recent upturn in form, the Yankees once again have a formidable duo for the final two (or more) innings of a winning ballgame. For anyone who may have missed the game on Tuesday or didn’t get to see all five outs that Cruz recorded, I leave this for your viewing pleasure:
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 10: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals in the dugout has teammates throw sunflower seeds at him after he hit a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the third inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on June 10, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a strong start to their series in Baltimore, the Mariners had to settle for a split series after two lackluster efforts on Wednesday and Thursday. That eight-game win streak a week ago is doing a lot of heavy lifting for Seattle’s overall place in the standings. It feels like the team has slipped back into the listless play that defined a lot of the first two months of the season. Maybe it’s just the fatigue of a long East Coast road trip. Whatever it is, they’ll wrap up the trip with a three-game set in Washington DC.
The Nationals have been one of the feel good stories in the National League to start this year. Stuck in a long rebuilding cycle since winning the World Series back in 2019, this is the first time they’ve shown a little progress towards actually breaking out of their doldrums. This big step forward comes after they hired Paul Toboni to take over as their new president of baseball operations last fall, becoming the youngest top executive in baseball. While there’s still plenty of work to do on the roster, especially on the pitching side of things, the lineup has been one of the most potent in baseball this year.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
James Wood
DH
L
322
29.8%
17.4%
0.263
160
Luis García Jr.
1B
L
217
15.2%
3.7%
0.202
107
Curtis Mead
3B
R
192
17.2%
12.5%
0.242
134
CJ Abrams
SS
L
288
20.1%
10.1%
0.239
150
Dylan Crews
RF
R
76
19.7%
2.6%
0.099
45
Daylen Lile
LF
L
300
17.3%
7.7%
0.159
107
Keibert Ruiz
C
S
142
13.4%
2.8%
0.215
113
Nasim Nuñez
2B
S
222
22.1%
9.9%
0.026
51
Jacob Young
CF
R
228
18.4%
4.8%
0.160
90
The Nationals have scored the second most runs in baseball thanks to a handful of breakouts from their young stars in the making. James Wood is looking like he’s ascended to a true superstar level this year; he’s absolutely crushing the ball and has mostly gotten his high whiff rate under control too. He’s already accumulated 3.0 fWAR, just shy of his total from last year, and has slugged 18 home runs. CJ Abrams has also taken a star turn, pushing his wRC+ up to 150 behind a huge increase in power output and patience at the plate.
It’s not just their two stars who have ascended, they’re seeing big steps forward from a bunch of their role players too. Curtis Mead, Keibert Ruiz, Luis García Jr., and Jacob Young have all enjoyed varying levels of newfound success this year.
Zack Littell has carved out a nice little career as a back-end starter after spending the first five years of his career as an up-and-down long reliever. It took a trade to the Rays to unlock his potential and he accumulated 4.4 fWAR across parts of three seasons in Tampa Bay. He signed with the Nationals this offseason and got off to a really poor start with his new ballclub. Through his first six starts of the season, he was running a 7.85 ERA and a 9.03 FIP. As soon as the calendar flipped to May, he turned things around, lowering his ERA to 2.27 and his FIP to 3.47 over his last seven appearances (four starts and three bulk relief appearances). He lives on the margins with a deep repertoire of modest pitches that he can usually command to any part of the strike zone.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Cade Cavalli
69.2
24.3%
8.0%
7.0%
46.3%
3.88
3.36
Luis Castillo
61
22.5%
8.5%
10.7%
36.9%
5.16
4.18
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
39.9%
38.7%
96.5
97
84
67
0.376
Sinker
32.4%
7.4%
96.0
100
79
118
0.346
Changeup
2.4%
15.4%
88.9
90
57
79
0.277
Curveball
25.3%
38.6%
85.3
107
132
118
0.270
Sweeper
25.3%
5.3%
85.5
117
77
123
0.322
It’s been a long and winding road for Cade Cavalli over the last few years. A former first-round draft pick back in 2020, he quickly made a name for himself as a top prospect the next year and made his big league debut in August 2022. He made one start in the majors and then was shut down with a shoulder injury. He injured his elbow the next spring and missed all of ‘23 and most of ‘24. With all that missed development time, it’s no surprise he struggled after rehabbing from his injury. He’s been excellent this year, showing off all the skills that earned him such a high prospect rating all those years ago. His best pitch is a hard curveball and he’s added a variation on that breaking ball that has a bit more horizontal break which Statcast labels a sweeper.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Miles Mikolas
61
14.5%
6.1%
17.7%
45.4%
5.90
5.63
Emerson Hancock
75.2
25.0%
5.8%
12.2%
41.4%
2.74
3.72
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
25.4%
29.1%
93.3
84
90
70
0.366
Sinker
36.4%
19.3%
92.7
88
78
109
0.350
Changeup
1.6%
14.3%
85.8
83
Curveball
11.0%
16.5%
76.5
100
57
124
0.349
Slider
25.7%
20.8%
87.5
94
66
118
0.289
Sweeper
14.7%
1.3%
81.7
94
After years of soaking up innings in the Cardinals rotation, the Nationals signed Miles Mikolas to do the same for their young roster. As you’d expect from a wily veteran, he’s got a deep repertoire of six different pitches that he mixes well to keep batters off balance. His usually excellent command has waned a bit as he’s grown older — his 6.1% walk rate this year is higher than it’s been since 2014 (!). There really isn’t much more to his approach. He doesn’t strike out very many batters, his batted ball profile is pretty average, and his stuff isn’t getting any better with age.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Mariners
36-34
0.514
—
+26
L-W-W-L-L
Rangers
34-34
0.500
1.0
+16
L-W-L-W-W
Athletics
33-35
0.485
2.0
-41
L-W-L-W-W
Astros
31-39
0.443
5.0
-38
W-L-W-L-L
Angels
27-42
0.391
8.5
-42
L-W-L-W-W
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Yankees
41-26
0.612
+7.5
+103
L-W-W-W-W
Guardians
37-33
0.529
+2.0
-6
W-L-L-L-L
Rangers
34-34
0.500
—
+16
L-W-L-W-W
Athletics
33-35
0.485
1.0
-41
L-W-L-W-W
Blue Jays
33-36
0.478
1.5
-18
W-W-L-W-L
Orioles
33-37
0.471
2.0
-30
L-L-L-W-W
The Rangers won their series against the Royals this week, climbing back to .500 and inching closer to the Mariners in the AL West standings; they’ll travel to Boston this weekend. Playing in the Las Vegas heat/altitude/Triple-A band box, the Athletics played three wild games against the Brewers this week. They’ll continue that Vegas homestand with a three-game set against the Rockies. The Astros wound up losing their series against the Angels, squeaking by with an extra-innings win on Monday but losing the deciding game on Wednesday in extras again. They’ll take the place of the Rangers and play the Royals in Kansas City this weekend.
May 25, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) throws a pitch during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski first caught the attention of Phillies fans when he was named to the 2025 National League All-Star team. The selection was somewhat curious because Miz (Sorry for the nickname usage, but I’m not typing out Misiorowski every time) was a rookie with only five career starts. And it was annoying for Phillies fans since they had two veteran pitchers in Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez who merited inclusion over the rookie.
"I love the kid, but he's made five starts."@AJPierzynski12 sides with what Phillies players had to say when asked about Jacob Misiorowski making the All-Star Team. pic.twitter.com/1PltYf99h4
The best competition in baseball this season might be between Sanchez and Miz to see which of them starts the All-Star Game. Miz fans will point to his higher strikeout rate and minimally lower ERA. Sanchez fans will (correctly) counter that he has a higher WAR due to throwing more innings (Miz has never pitched in the eighth inning of a major league game), walking fewer batters, and having a worse defense behind him.
There’s no shame in being the league’s second-best pitcher, so Miz should be proud to get the ball after Sanchez gets the start. It’s not like this is a tough decision for NL manager Dave Roberts. With the game in Philadelphia, does he really want to choose someone besides Sanchez and have the starting pitcher get booed by the crowd?
The Phillies can help their ace’s chances on Friday night when Miz is scheduled to start. The Phillies haven’t done all that well against flamethrowing phenoms in recent years, but they had some success when they saw Miz last season, scoring three runs in 4.1 innings.
Bryce Harper was certainly not impressed by the velocity.
Bryce Harper takes Misiorowski dead center.
One of those few instances where the pitch velocity is faster than the exit velocity.
It’s hard to say that any one MLB franchise is the most irrelevant, but the Brewers are probably on the short list. Back in 1998, when MLB needed a team to switch from the American League to the National League, they went with the Brewers, figuring nobody in the AL would miss them. (And as far as I can tell, they haven’t.)
Much like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Milwaukee originally got their franchise by stealing one from Seattle, but unlike the Thunder, the Brewers haven’t rewarded their new home fans with a championship.
The Seattle Pilots, 1969. They were an expansion team that played only one season before relocating to become the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970. The franchise was founded due to a rapid expansion spurred by the loss of the Kansas City Athletics. pic.twitter.com/A7aYV8thFs
Franchise great Paul Molitor did win a World Series MVP award, but that’s probably not especially comforting for Brewers fans since he did it as a member of the Blue Jays. (Boo!)
As for this year’s team, they’ve established a 3.5 game lead in the NL Central, which means they’re likely headed back to the playoffs. And they’re just as likely to once again lose once they get there. At least the Phillies gave the Dodgers a good fight in the NLDS. The Brewers pretty much rolled over in the NLCS, scoring a total of four runs in the sweep.
The Brewers are somewhat annoying in that they seem to lose a key player or two every offseason and still come back and make the playoffs. They traded Freddy Peralta to the Mets in the offseason, and while Peralta has been a bit disappointing in New York (LOLMets), the Brewers’ pitching staff hasn’t missed him much.
Also, the Brewers retired the number for Bud Selig, which ew, no. When you do something like that, your franchise doesn’t deserve to ever win a World Series.
Last week’s question: In the first ever game between the Phillies and White Sox, future Phillie Kenny Lofton delivered a game-winning hit. Chappdaddy got it right.
This week’s question: The Phillies’ first game at Milwaukee’s American Family Field (nee Miller Park) was a 10-4 win on August 14, 2001. Which Phillie had three hits in that game?
Additional thought about the series
The Phillies have been doing well in the series when both Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler make starts, while the others haven’t gone as well. Sanchez will start on Sunday, but they’ll need to hope that Andrew Painter and Aaron Nola can deliver quality starts the other two days.
Nola has good career numbers against the Brewers, but most of the success against them has come at home. He has a 4.60 ERA in Milwaukee. Some of that was skewed by last year’s start in which he was knocked around for five runs in the first inning, but sadly, there’s nothing about Nola’s performance this season to think that we won’t see a repeat of that.
The New York Yankees, ranked second in the AL East with a 41-26 record, face the Toronto Blue Jays, who are third in the AL East with a 33-36 record. The game is essentially a pick'em, with Toronto at -115 and the Yankees at -105. Starting pitchers are Ryan Weathers for New York, with a 3.86 ERA, and TBD for Toronto.
How to watch New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Pittsburgh (35-34) and Miami (34-35) meet at PNC Park for a three game weekend series in the heat. Miami won four out of seven games last season when the two met, but Pittsburgh took two out of three at home.
Miami has won five straight games and eight of the past nine. The Marlins are currently riding their longest winning streak of the season as the offense has been ripping lately. Miami is hitting .292 over the last five games (2nd) and has nine stolen bases (3rd) to go along with 27 RBI (T-7th). The Marlins also hold the MLB's best ERA in the last seven days at 1.80 with a 1.89 OBA.
The Pirates are coming off a series loss to the Dodgers and have now lost five of the past six games. Pittsburgh ranks 29th in ERA (6.70) over the past seven days (five games) and 28th in the past 15 days (6.14 ERA over 12 games). The Buccos have been struggling but are tied for third in the NL Central and 2.0 games ahead of last place. Pittsburgh was dealt some bad news when Oneil Cruz went on the IL with a broken hand. The offense is hitting .243 (19th) over the past five games with eight home runs (T-6th).
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game details & how to watch Marlins at Pirates
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Time: 6:40 PM EST
Site: PNC Park
City: Pittsburgh, PA
Network/Streaming: ESPN / 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.
The Marlins’ Otto Lopez is hitting .344 with 93 hits, 5 home runs and 30 RBI over 270 at-bats
The Marlins’ Jakob Marsee is hitting .205 with 47 hits and 61 strikeouts over 229 at-bats
The Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds is hitting .265 with 64 hits, 7 home runs, and 40 RBI over 245 at-bats
The Pirates’ Marcell Ozuna is hitting .193 with 36 hits and 60 strikeouts over 187 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 Marlins at Pirates
The Marlins are 34-35 ATS
The Pirates are 34-35 ATS
The Marlins are 39-27-3 to the Over, ranking seventh-best
The Pirates are 40-27-1 to the Over, ranking sixth-best
The Marlins are 14-16 ATS on the road
The Pirates are 16-19 ATS at home
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Marlins and the Pirates
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Pirates and the Marlins:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Marlins on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Marlins at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 8.5
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This was meant to be a rebuilding year for the St. Louis Cardinals. After finishing six games under .500 in 2025, they traded away established veterans like Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado, and Brendan Donovan in the hopes of kick-starting a rebuild around their young roster. In a competitive NL Central division, many expected them to be the doormat for at least the 2026 season. Not that the Cardinals' hitters paid attention or cared.
"We are a young group of guys, but I think a lot of it is our mentality," said rookie outfielder Nathan Church. "We're never out of the game, and we're always going to compete, no matter what the score is. I think having that mentality, one through nine, is what's leading to our success."
It's been a surprising amount of success on the offensive side for the Cardinals. Heading into Friday's games, they rank 9th in strikeout rate (21.1%), 9th in Win Probability Added by the offense, 12th in wRC+ (103), 13th in hard-hit rate (40.3%), 14th in runs scored (298), and 14th in OPS (.715). That has the Cardinals eight games over .500 and currently sitting in a playoff spot despite having only one hitter in the starting lineup who's older than 27: Lars Nootbaar, who has played a total of six games this season.
The Cardinals have four hitters with a wRC+ over 110 this season: JJ Wetherholt, a 23-year-old rookie; Ivan Herrera, a 26-year-old in his first year as a starter; Alec Burleson, a 27-year-old elder statesman; and Jordan Walker, a 24-year-old former top prospect who is finally breaking out. In fact, in many ways, Walker is the perfect example of what makes this young Cardinals offense tick.
Jun 2, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) reacts after hitting a one run single against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Once the No. 4 ranked prospect in baseball heading into the 2023 season, Walker had a solid MLB debut, hitting .276/.342/.445 in 117 games in 2023 with 16 home runs and seven steals. However, he wasn't able to build off that over the next two years. In 2024, he hit .201/.253/.366 with a 28.1% strikeout rate and was limited to just 51 MLB games. He got more of an opportunity in 2025, but hit .215/.278/.306 in 111 games with just six home runs and a 31.8% strikeout rate. To many, it seemed like Walker would become another top prospect who failed to live up to expectations, but Walker never wavered. He kept putting in the work with the firm belief that he would produce at the level he believed he was capable of.
“Walker deserves 100 percent of the credit," Cardinals manager Oli Marmol told MLB.com during this week’s Mets series. "This game is hard. He is the one going out there and actually putting it together, having an approach and being consistent. To go from getting beat up the last couple of years to where he is at mentally and physically at the moment, he deserves the credit.”
Marmol expounded on that before Thursday's season finale, suggesting that Walker's confidence has "freed him up to just be an athlete and go out and compete, and we're seeing it in all aspects of his game."
We're also seeing a similar development up and down the Cardinals' lineup. The hitters pride themselves on their preparation and their faithfulness to a plan, believing that putting in the work before stepping out onto the field will give them a crucial mental freedom once the game begins. Even in Walker's offseason work on his swing, he mentioned that he and [assistant hitting coach] Casey Chenoweth discussed their plan for his approach beforehand and then "started hitting off the machine, not thinking much about mechanics at all."
That dedication to a plan carries over into the day-to-day aspects of the regular season as well. Especially because this is a young offense, Marmol and his coaching staff have really stressed the importance of gameplanning and thinking through your approach before ever taking the field or stepping into the batter's box.
"I think there's a lot of teaching, anytime you have a younger group, as far as like just setting up the framework for how you want them to look at a game plan, when to veer from it, the communication in game, what that looks like," explained Marmol before the series finale against the Mets. "They're continuing to get better and better at that. Our hitters meetings are pretty interactive, where it's not just [Cardinals hitting coach Brant Brown] talking to the group but them speaking into it, and what their plan is. Each hitter goes through and describes what their plan is that day and what they're trying to do against that specific pitcher, but that continues to evolve as far as how well these guys in-game are making adjustments and communicating those adjustments."
That aspect of gameplanning has been the biggest change for some of these young hitters as they rise from the minors to the big leagues.
"You definitely learn really quickly here that you have to just dive deep and be a really good chess player," explained Church, who had 65 plate appearances with the Cardinals last season but won a starting job this year and is hitting .253/.286/.399 with five home runs, 18 RBI, and four steals in 48 games. "In the minors, you kind of get away with stuff, but big leaguers are smart. They do their homework on hitters. Not saying minor league pitchers don't do that, but just trying to understand what the best pitchers are trying to do [against you]."
May 14, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt (26) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the go-ahead run against the Athletics during the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
That was seconded by rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt, another top prospect, who won a starting job in spring training and has impressed with a .248/.354/.388 slash line in 62 games while producing nine home runs, 43 runs scored, 28 RBI, and two steals.
"In the minors, guys are more pitching to their game plan," he explained. "Obviously, the aces of the teams, they make a name doing what they do, so they're gonna do that, but in Triple-A, they're not really game planning too much, just a little bit. Here, it's more of a game plan, so each guy's getting pitched to their weaknesses, and so they'll spend more time scouting that. After that, once the league finds out that you're gonna swing at every slider in the dirt on a two-strike count, you're just gonna see that nonstop."
The hitters' meetings are a great chance for the young hitters and coaches to discuss the tendencies they've been seeing and the ones that they expect to see. Even the youngest MLB players have been playing this game at a high level for long enough that they can identify when a pitcher is attacking them differently, but leaning on coaches and the data they can collect to get specifics is often newer for young hitters.
"I would say the coaches will definitely know [how we're being pitched] because they do a ton of work at just looking out at all of our bats and all the data and things like that," admitted Wetherholt. "I'll definitely have that conversation, like, 'Hey, guys, I'm obviously getting more fastballs in, or getting more sliders down,' and then we'll talk about that and how we want to combat that. If it's a problem, you've got to address it."
Which leads to yet another aspect of hitting that can be challenging for younger hitters: in-season adjustments.
Offseason preparation may be more grueling and time-consuming, but it also feels less pressurized. Even if a hitter is altering their swing or approach, they have five or six months in the offseason to tear things down, construct a plan for rebuilding whatever process they're focused on, and then build it back up with regular checks and tweaks along the way. That's a luxury you don't have in the regular season when you have to not only identify if you're being pitched differently or if there's an issue with your swing, but what the change is and how to combat it, all while still preparing for your game that night. Sometimes, like with Jordan Waker, that can take years to figure out.
"I try and [make adjustments] as quickly as possible, like every at-bat, honestly, is what I try," stated Church. Wetherholt was a bit more temperate, suggesting that, "if you get pitched consistently from back-to-back teams, then you know there's something that people have found that they want to go towards."
Identifying the issue is the first step of the problem, but finding ways to address it during the grind of an MLB regular season is another challenge altogether.
"There's still some stuff that you can do early on in the day, like in the routines where you're working with some mechanical things," admitted Wetherholt. "It's not going to be anything crazy, but we'll talk about just making slight adjustments in the routine, and then, when you get on the field, you're just in compete mode. If anything, a lot can be pitches that you're trying to swing at and hunt, you know, if there are certain pitches that are giving you trouble, try to lay off those, so make those day-to-day adjustments."
Those are the adjustments Wetherholt has already had to make as a rookie. He came out of the gates well, hitting .256/.378/.479 with seven home runs, 27 runs scored, 16 RBI, and four steals in his first 31 MLB games. He then hit a rough patch once the calendar turned to May, slashing .182/.308/.236 with one home run, six RBI, and a 12/7 K/BB ratio in 14 games, but has been able to claw his way back, hitting .286/.351/.357 with one home runs, 10 runs scored, two steals, and a 9/7 K/BB ratio in 17 games since May 19th.
After that first month of the season, it seemed like pitchers started attacking Wetherholt inside more often (7% inside), and also realized that the rookie has a passive approach they could take more advantage of. Up until May, Wetherholt only had a 48% true first pitch strike rate (that excludes first pitch hits, so only when he goes down 0-1 in the count). In his cold stretch in May, that rose to 56% as pitchers found locations in the strike zone early on where Wetherholt didn't feel like offering.
However, from May 19th on, Wetherholt's early ball in play rate has jumped 4%, and his true first pitch strike rate has fallen back to 43%, while his early called strike rate has gone from 21.6% to 19.7%. These are not monumental changes, but are the small, incremental ones that Wetherholt talked about. He noticed that pitchers were being more successful at stealing first pitch strikes against him, so he got a little bit more aggressive, likely in certain areas of the zone where he knew he could still make good contact, and put more balls in play early to avoid falling behind.
"He's just very steady, especially for his age," explained Marmol. "You would think he's been in the league for a while, just the way he handles the ups and downs, and the day-to-day aspect of what we do. There's a certain demeanor to him, a presence, that's just pretty calming. He doesn't ride the highs and lows. It's pretty impressive."
It's impressive and emblematic of an entire lineup filled with young hitters who have tons of confidence and trust in one another.
"I think a lot of it is just having more confidence in myself and just not trying to do too much," said Church about the success of the team's young hitters.
Wetherholt also mentioned the closeness of the lineup: "We all have good relationships, just talk back and forth, hitting-wise. I've talked with [Nolan Gorman] a lot this year, and that's been a ton of fun. And then obviously guys like [Jordan] Walker and Masyn [Winn] are kind of more my age, that helped show me the ropes, but it's just been definitely a combined effort."
A combined effort built on communication and preparation. The Cardinals' hitters will tell you that they don't think too much about their statistics, and they won't be lying. They trust in their gameplanning and know that, if they prepare the right way, they continue to pile up the only stat that matters, wins.
Make no mistake, the Miami Heat are still considered the clear frontrunners to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. If you put trust in such things, it's worth noting that Tyler Herro — one of the primary players who would head to Milwaukee in any deal — has unfollowed the Heat on social media.
"I have heard Boston is shopping people around a lot right now. That Boston is making calls, Boston is open to trading anybody besides Jayson Tatum. And that doesn't necessarily mean they land Giannis at the end of the day but I do believe, based off all the conversations I've had, is that the Celtics are in on Giannis. And if they are making a push on him and that this seems to be currently a two-team race with Milwaukee to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo."
Everyone talking about Boston is using a lot of qualifiers — "if they are making a push" — so the question becomes how much of this is smoke and how much is fire? Is Milwaukee trying to drum up a bidding war or flush out other suitors besides Miami? Or, is Boston really interested? Is Jalen Brown in play to be traded coming off an All-NBA season where he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game? If the Celtics are in, they pose a serious challenge to the Heat as frontrunners.
Minnesota? Orlando? Bucks want clarity
When any trade deadline gets close, we start to see the real offers from teams. What teams are serious, which are not, and what is genuinely on the table.
To this point in the summer, the market outside of Miami for Antetokounmpo has been softer than expected. With the deadline nearing, the Bucks are looking for that from teams on the fringes of the conversations, such as Orlando and Minnesota, reports Sam Amick and Eric Nehm at The Athletic.
Per league and team sources, the Bucks appear to be seeking clarity from several suitors as to what they would actually be willing to offer before making a final decision. The Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic, the sources say, are known to be among them. The Portland Trail Blazers are known to have interest in trading for Antetokounmpo, but it appears more likely — if the Bucks have their way — that they would be involved as a third-team as a way for Milwaukee to regain control of some of the picks they lost in the Damian Lillard trade in 2023.
Minnesota is not likely because, unless Antetokounmpo changes his stance, he does not want to go West (don't forget, he has leverage in these talks because he only has one more guaranteed year on his contract and teams trading for Antetokounmpo will want him to sign an extension, he can tell them he will not).
That said, the Bucks may like what the Timberwolves can offer, The Athletic reports. The Bucks are eying Naz Reid, Terrence Shannon Jr. and two first-round picks. The sticking point is two-way forward Jaden McDaniels — the Bucks want him, and the Timberwolves say he is not available. All of this is moot if Antetokounmpo doesn't want to go West, even to a team with Anthony Edwards.
Orlando is interesting, a team on the rise in the East, but with questions about whether they have a true No. 1 shot creator and bucket getter who can get them a ring. The Magic are expected to let new coach Sean Sweeney try to figure out the Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner puzzle rather than blow it up for Antetokounmpo or anyone else, league sources told NBC Sports. However, if they decide to get in the mix, they can put together an impressive offer.
Teams don’t fully trust Bucks
At the February trade deadline, Bucks general manager Jon Horst listened to trade offers for Antetokounmpo for the first time. However, other teams ultimately felt he was just gauging the market; he wasn't serious about making a deal, league sources told NBC Sports at the time. That widely held belief is an issue for the Bucks now, Amick and Nehm report at The Athletic.
Yet there is, the sources say, a sense of distrust from some teams because of how the Bucks handled trade discussions around Antetokounmpo at the deadline... It was, in the eyes of some, a fact-finding mission that was intended to set the stage for the summer to come. As such, sources say some teams are imploring the Bucks to come to them with all the final details of an offer that they would accept rather than going back and forth. The hope, of course, is that taking that tact would minimize the locker-room impact of the rumor mill.
Good luck with slowing the rumor mill.
Other Antetokounmpo trade notes
• Keep this thought from friend-of-the-site Keith Smith in mind on how the Antetokounmpo trade to Miami would ultimately be structured.
I've said this before, but worth putting here too:
If the Heat make a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, it's to their benefit to send out more salary than they take back. That way they avoid a first-apron hard cap. That gives them more wiggle room to build out the roster.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, ranked first in the NL West with a 44-25 record, face the Chicago White Sox, who are first in the AL Central with a 36-31 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -170 moneyline compared to the Chicago White Sox's +140. Starting pitchers are Roki Sasaki for the Dodgers, with a 4.03 ERA, and Anthony Kay for the White Sox, with a 4.40 ERA.
How to Watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago White Sox
Jalen Brunson is playing the highest-stakes basketball of his life in the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs, and answered the call with his biggest performance yet in a pivotal Game 4.
He scored 36 points on 12-for-25 shooting from the field, grabbing five rebounds, dishing seven assists, and coming away with three steals in a narrow victory in which he hit two of the most clutch shots.
Brunson's night should be a relief to Knicks fans who watched him struggle through the first three games.
In Game 1, it took him 31 shots to get to 30 points, he shot 28 percent for 20 points in Game 2, and while he had solid efficiency in Game 3, his process, turnovers, and defense left much to be desired.
If Brunson is playing more like his past two games (and entire playoffs) than the first two of the Finals, the Knicks are in exponentially better position to close this series out and win their first NBA championship in over half a century.
Here’s what San Antonio has done to disrupt his rhythm, how he got it back, and what that means for Game 5...
The Spurs have maintained the strategy of not letting Brunson get any comfortable looks. He’s pressed 94 feet down the court by the defensive demon Stephon Castle, and his favorable matchups are choices of guys many inches taller than him or Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama.
They’ve had Wembanyama lurking in the paint and are switching or blowing up enough off-ball actions to deter the Knicks from their Karl-Anthony Towns-centric offense, which opened up Brunson’s off-ball game. His free catch-and-shoot or cutting attempts have been few and far between, with only a couple of set plays opening things up for him.
With Brunson largely on the ball, he has consistently seen coverages forcing him to try and score in the packed paint, make the perfect dish-out or hit tough pull-ups. Picks are largely switched among wings, or if Wembanyama is the low man, he’s in a drop that covers twice the space of a normal player.
In the former scenario, that essentially just leaves Brunson playing one-on-one ball, which was much less of a problem against the Cleveland Cavaliers than the defensive-minded Spurs. San Antonio has done well not to allow easy blow-bys, and is packing the paint any time Brunson comes near it.
The reason the first two games were such stinkers was due in part to Brunson growing accustomed to this defense and its individual members, and he’s slowly come to find his angles and attack points on each defender. There were a lot of early forced misses playing into the isolation-ball, where he settled for looks that are available any time in this series.
Defenders are also keeping entirely attached to Brunson if he does get a step, essentially begging him to get into his foul-drawing bag. This can distract him from taking normal in-rhythm shots, or take him out of the game if there’s a tough whistle, like in Games 1 and 2.
It’s no surprise his best games have come when he’s successfully drawn eight and 11 free throws instead of four and five, respectively, in the first two games. Brunson began punishing the Spurs for their physicality in Game 3, and getting Castle into foul trouble may have swung Game 4.
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looks on in the second quarter against the San Antonio Spurs during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
When he’s off a pick and Wembanyama is waiting, the defensive stalwart is up high enough to dissuade Brunson’s mid-range game. On the series, Brunson is only 6-for-26 from his favorite range on the court, a major win for the Spurs' defense.
New York’s shaky spacing and Brunson’s inconsistent playmaking have made this even tougher.
If there aren’t clear passing lanes and the paint is filled with bodies, Brunson simply stalls and passes the ball, which has been a regular occurrence.
This is why the insertion of Jose Alvarado in the fourth quarter of Game 4, and Brunson’s relentless attack on Wembanyama helped open things up. With their anchor out in rotation and another threat carving into the lane, Brunson has had clearer windows to his spots and teammates.
San Antonio is satisfied giving him pull-up threes, one key weak point in their scheme, but without a rhythm behind it Brunson struggled to convert attempts in Games 1 and 2. As he got going in the paint in the latter two games and was more selective about his looks, his three-point shot went in at a much better efficiency at home.
Brunson and the Knicks can use all of this to ensure a solid strategy going into Game 5.
To start, the Knicks can try to force the Wembanyama switch or just bring him into continuous action to run him ragged and get him out of the paint.
The officials may dictate how much Brunson can leverage the Spurs' physicality early - if he can catch Castle on a couple of fouls, it will give him some room in his in-between game. Start off with some clean rim attacks and free throws, and the pull-up game will open up from deep.
Towns has also had big games this series. If the Knicks can get his game flowing more, Brunson could be the beneficiary away from the ball. Of course, this is assuming the Spurs keep with their current approach.
The Spurs have thrown the occasional traps and doubles, but may press the button fully to keep the ball out of Brunson’s hands in this do-or-die game. Perhaps they have Wembanyama always switch to goad him into more tough pull-ups.
Whatever happens, the Knicks have proven they can win with or without Brunson playing his best offensive game. He has been lights out in the clutch and is surrounded by talent starved for this one final win -- let’s see if they can capture it.
The Buffalo Sabres could be on the hunt for some forward help this summer. This is especially so if they are unable to re-sign top pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) forward Alex Tuch.
When looking at players who can hit the market on July 1, Boston Bruins forward Viktor Arvidsson could be an interesting player for the Sabres to bring in on a short-term deal.
Arvidsson showed this season with the Bruins that he can still make an impact. In 69 games this season with the Bruins, he posted 25 goals, 29 assists, 54 points, and a plus-20 rating. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to be a nice addition to the Sabres' middle six and power play if signed.
Arvidsson's experience also adds to his appeal, as he has played in 91 career playoff games. With the Sabres being a team on the rise looking to contenders, bringing in a veteran who has been on multiple long playoff runs like Arvidsson could interest them.
Ultimately, if Arvidsson hits the market on July 1 and the Sabres are unable to bring back Tuch, the Bruins winger could make sense for them to bring in on a short-term. Yet, even if Tuch stays, Arvidsson could be good to have around in a third-line role for more secondary scoring.
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