Yankees test Jasson Dominguez in right field with Aaron Judge sidelined

A baseball player wearing a New York Yankees uniform and sunglasses throws a baseball.
Jasson Domínguez #24 of the New York Yankees warms up prior to the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, May 7, 2026 in New York, New York.

The Martian is learning to inhabit a new planet.

Jasson Domínguez played right field Tuesday at Triple-A and was scheduled to do so again Wednesday, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

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Dominguez has never played right field in the majors — and only done so once in his minor-league career — but could be preparing to take the injured Aaron Judge’s vacated spot

“The good thing is reports [are] that he was very comfortable doing it,” Boone said before the series-sweeping 8-4 victory against the Guardians. “Seems like it went off without a hitch. His pregame [drill work] was apparently good, too. I think he was happy to do it to add to different ways he can help us.”

The Yankees could move versatile left fielder Cody Bellinger to right field to accommodate Domínguez, though Bellinger’s defense has been elite. And left field at Yankee Stadium is the more spacious ground.

Jasson Domínguez warms up before the Yankees’ win over the Rangers at the Stadium on May 7, 2026. MLB Photos via Getty Images

Of course, that thinking assumes Dominguez (shoulder) will be promoted to the majors once his rehab is complete, which is no guarantee as Boone lives in the “day-to-day” world and prospect Spencer Jones continues to hit well in his second promotion.

“We invested so much because we switched Jasson to left field before last year to help with the transition so we wanted him to really focus on that,” Boone said. “But to be able to have the versatility, I think, is important. Spencer has done a good job of getting some real reps in both corner spots as well as continuing to have center field in play. I think it just adds to their overall value a little bit.”

Jasson Domínguez looks on from the dugout during the Yankees’ loss to the Blue Jays on May 20, 2026 at the Stadium. Getty Images

Ryan Weathers, who will start Friday’s game on six days’ rest, was warming up in the fifth inning in case Carlos Rodón’s start was cut short.

He would’ve pitched an inning on regular rest to help a bullpen that threw 10 ²/₃ innings the previous two games.

“He was very much in play today — not just in an emergency situation, either — which is awesome in and of itself,” Boone said. “He was ready for whatever we needed. He could’ve factored in in a winning way.”

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If used, Weathers would’ve slotted back into the rotation on his next turn after off days.

“I think I’m glad we didn’t use him,” Boone quipped. “I was going to go to him in the sixth, but Carlos having a really efficient fifth and feeling like he was good to go back out for the sixth took [Weathers] out of it for at least the time being.”


The humidity that admittedly fatigued Gerrit Cole during Tuesday’s four-inning start, including a 29-pitch inning, was back (and worse) Wednesday afternoon.

Cole and Rodón both are working their way back after starting the season on the injured list.

“It’s definitely summer now,” Rodón said. “It was warm. It’s part of the gig. It’s what we do. There is a job to be done. Go out there and compete.”


Angel Chivilli (shoulder) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A. He pitched in two games for the Yankees earlier this season.

“Nova Knicks” NBA Finals Game 4: Open Thread

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 03: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 03, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Where: Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)

When: Wednesday, June 10 at 8:30 PM EST

How to watch: ABC

Betting Line: NY -2.5 (subject to change), O/U 216.5 (subject to change) via FanDuel

Game #68: Brewers at Athletics Game Thread

HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 05: Athletics starting pitcher Jack Perkins (50) throws a pitch in the bottom of the second 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

Tonight, the Athletics will take on the Brewers in the series finale of the first of two series at Las Vegas Ballpark this week. After dropping the opener 15-14 in the highest scoring game of the season so far, the A’s rebounded last night with a 7-5 victory, hitting five more home runs and getting strong relief outings from Elvis Alvarado and Mason Barnett.

Having launched 12 home runs through their first two games in Las Vegas, the A’s powerful offense looks well-positioned to keep the long-ball barrage going in another matchup that figures to produce plenty of runs.

Making his second start and 19th appearance of the season, A’s right-hander Jack Perkins brings a 2-3 record, 6.19 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts in 32 innings into today’s matchup. The 26-year-old struggled in his first start against the Houston Astros, allowing five runs on five hits over four innings while taking the loss.

Like Ginn, Perkins is very familiar with this hitter-friendly ballpark. He made nine starts for Triple-A Las Vegas last season and three more appearances with the affiliate this year before earning his promotion to the majors. Perkins’ high-velocity arsenal gives him the ability to miss bats and limit damage, even in a venue that tends to favor hitters.

However, inconsistency and occasional command issues have plagued him during his brief MLB career, which is not uncommon for a young pitcher. If Perkins can trust his stuff, pound the strike zone, and keep the ball on the ground, he should have success this evening. Otherwise, the Brewers’ lineup could capitalize on his mistakes the way the Astros did in his previous outing.

Here’s the Athletics’ lineup for this series-deciding contest:

This is an interesting lineup that A’s manager Mark Kotsay has put together for tonight’s game. Nick Kurtz and Tyler Soderstrom, the team’s two hottest hitters in this series, occupy the first two spots in the order. Meanwhile, Carlos Cortes is making his first start of the series as the designated hitter and is surprisingly slotted into the cleanup spot rather than leading off.

Given how well Kurtz has been swinging the bat, it would seem to make more sense to flip him and Cortes in the lineup to maximize Kurtz’s RBI opportunities with runners on base. Another notable development is Brent Rooker’s absence from the starting lineup for a second consecutive game. The A’s have not indicated any issues, but they can ill afford to lose one of their most dangerous hitters to another stint on the injured list.

Cortes is not the only A’s player making his first start in Vegas. He is joined by outfielder Lawrence Butler and second baseman Jeff McNeil, two players who have had their playing time drastically reduced lately due to major offensive slumps. Zack Gelof moves back to third base with Max Muncy getting the night off, while Alika Williams earns his third straight start at shortstop.

That starting nine will be facing Brewers right-hander Brandon Sproat, who was involved in one of the biggest trades of the offseason. The New York Mets sent Sproat and a minor league infield prospect to Milwaukee in exchange for Freddy Peralta.

The 25-year-old has gone 1-4 with a 6.17 ERA through his first 12 appearances with the Brewers, including ten starts. In his most recent outing against the Colorado Rockies, Sproat received a no-decision after allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings.

Only A’s backup catcher Jonah Heim, who is not in tonight’s lineup, has previously faced Sproat. While the element of unfamiliarity could work in the young right-hander’s favor against A’s hitters, the A’s may benefit from the fact that Sproat has likely never pitched in this ballpark before. If the hosts can repeat the approach and offensive execution they displayed over the first two games, they should have opportunities to score against this talented but inexperienced pitcher.

And Milwaukee’s lineup for tonight’s contest:


The Brewers’ lineup features most of their regulars, with the lone exception coming behind the plate, where Gary Sànchez gets the start in place of William Contreras. The top of Milwaukee’s order is especially dangerous now that Andrew Vaughn is back in the lineup after appearing as a pinch-hitter last night.

As a result, Perkins will need to be careful when attacking the strike zone and do his best to keep the ball in the ballpark, something his teammate J.T. Ginn handled well in yesterday’s outing.

Time to win the series and head into tomorrow’s off day with good vibes. Let’s go A’s!

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NBA Finals, Game Four

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 5: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs defends Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the game during Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Here we are again. Another NBA Finals game. The Spurs narrowly won game three with some clutch shooting, both of shots from the floor, and free throws. Now that the series isn’t going to be a sweep, will be get something other than “Assault: It’s not assault if you’re from South Texas.” reffing. We have Zach Zarba on the call, and in the conference finals, I’ve liked his refereeing the most.I’m not sure how the Knicks got away from having KAT cook Wemby off the dibble, but they did.

Anyhow, it should be interesting, and you can talk about it all right here!

It is decision time for Blake Butera and Paul Toboni about Mitchell Parker and the Nationals bullpen

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 18: Mitchell Parker #70 of the Washington Nationals watches a hit ball during a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on May 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Well that sucked. Just when it looked like the Nationals had a sweep in the bag, the bullpen completely melted down. The Giants rallied from 9-1 down to stun the Nats. DMV product Bryce Eldridge hit a walkoff grand slam to finish off a humiliating defeat for Blake Butera and the Nats.

What happens after this game will be telling. For a more traditional front office and coaching staff, heads would absolutely roll after this kind of loss. However, I am not sure whether this analytically minded front office will deviate from their plan. As we have seen this season, there is a long term vision in place and we are seeing that translate on the field.

After this one though, I think it is time for some old school behavior. Blake Butera and Paul Toboni need to send a message to the players and the fans that what happened this afternoon was not acceptable. The two primary culprits of this bullpen meltdown were Mitchell Parker and Paxton Schultz, and their places on the team need to be examined.

For Parker, I honestly have no idea what this braintrust sees in him. The results have not been there, his stuff is below average and he does not seem to have the mentality to be a high leverage arm. Despite all of this, Parker constantly gets thrown into big spots, rarely succeeding. In the past month, Parker has an ERA over 8, and has allowed 7 homers in 16 innings. 

This is not a team that is in the gutter, and the front office needs to act that way. When guys aren’t producing, they should be let go. Parker has been consistently terrible for over a year now. Since May 1st of 2025, he has a 6.44 ERA in 159.1 innings. What more do you need to see from this guy? As the saying goes, insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Mitchell Parker pitching on this upcoming home stand would give fans a pretty good indication that this front office and coaching staff has no interest in winning this season. Going all in on 2026 is not logical either. This team is still in year one of a new era. However, we know what we have in Mitchell Parker. It is unfair to the fans and the pitchers in Rochester to keep trotting this guy out there.

The other culprit of this meltdown requires a more nuanced conversation. Paxton Schultz has had a very strange season. He has been solid in 18 of his 20 outings. However, in the other two appearances, he has had some of the worst meltdowns you will ever see. He has shown the ability to be a quality arm, he has just been completely unable to stop the bleeding. 

On the one hand, if you can’t be trusted to protect a 9-1 lead, you should not be on the roster. However, I think Schultz has some traits to be a fine reliever. In the heat of the moment, you would like to see a change, but I would understand if they stuck with Schultz. Today was absolutely dreadful, and he is arguably the biggest reason for the collapse, but you cannot be overly reactionary.

What happens next will tell us a lot about this new regime. They have some very important decisions to make heading into this home stand. This team has a playoff caliber offense, but the bullpen can explode at any time. Will this front office send a message or will they continue to only look at whatever numbers are telling them Mitchell Parker is a major league caliber pitcher? The roster moves or lack thereof will tell Nationals a lot about Paul Toboni and Blake Butera.

NBA Finals Game Thread: Knicks vs. Spurs, Game 4, June 10, 2026

Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) vies for the ball against San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (4) during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Knicks enter Game Four with a chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. First they must correct the offensive issues that led to their 115-111 loss in Game Three. While the Spurs deserve credit for defensive adjustments centered around Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, New York’s biggest problems were self-inflicted: stagnant ball movement, costly turnovers, and a reliance on iso-ball that produced just 18 assists and squandered quality scoring opportunities.

One poor shooting night does not erase six weeks of dominant basketball, but New York will need more from Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and the supporting cast while also doing a better job protecting possessions and containing Wembanyama. No easy task. Tip-off is 8:30 pm EST on ABC. This is your game thread. This is Pounding the Rock. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Hold onto your humanity, it’s about to get wild in here. And go Knicks!

Bryce Eldridge walk off slam caps Giants massive comeback

The San Francisco Giants pulled off a major comeback, walk-off win against the Washington Nationals after being down eight runs in the final two innings on Wednesday.

Giants' young prospect Bryce Eldridge was the man of the hour, putting the nail in the coffin with a triumphant walk-off grand slam in the bottom ninth inning, giving San Francisco an 11-10 victory.

Eldridge finished the game with a stat line of 1-for-4, including two runs and 4 RBIs. The 21-year-old rising star was the organization's top prospect in 2025, and he's proving why he was worthy of the ranking.

During the 2026 MLB season, Eldridge has steamed up a batting average of .298 with four home runs and 12 RBIs. His OPS is .907 through 28 games played.

Bryce Eldridge is the youngest player in MLB history to hit a walk-off grand slam. The previous youngest was Roberto Clemente.

Giants massive comeback win

There hasn't been much magic in San Francisco. The Giants offense has highs and lows. In some spurts, they can look like one of the best groups in baseball, but then they'll turn around and have a letdown.

Against the Nationals, all signs were pointing towards another letdown. Then the eighth inning happened.

San Francisco trailed 9-1 as they took bat in the bottom eighth. All it took was one inning for the team to catch a rhythm and crawl their way back into the game.

The trek for a comeback started with a solo homer from Matt Chapman that went yard 409-feet over center field. It was Chapman's second home run of the day.

Rafael Devers, who had been an inconsistent hitter so far through 2026, smacked a solo home run right after Chapman. Devers' went 408 feet to center. Daniel Susac registered an RBI that brought Jung Hoo Lee in for a run. Drew Gilbert was next after Susac, registering an RBI on a sacrifice ground ball that took Eldridge home. Susac scored stealing home after a wild pitch.

The Giants trailed 9-6 going into the final inning. San Francisco loaded the bases after Devers was walked and Lee singled to right.

It was the perfect position for Eldridge to have a fairytale ending to their game with the Nationals. He took bat at the plate, swung and sent it back 326 feet to right field as he reeled in Chapman, Devers and Lee before he rounded the bases back home.

Giants win, 11-10.

Gabe Lacques contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Bryce Eldridge walk off grand slam signals arrival for young star

It’s time for Finals Basketball: San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks, Game 4

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.

What a difference a game makes! The Spurs went into the Garden on Monday night needing a win to stay alive in the series, because being down 3-0 in a seven game series in the NBA is a death sentence. The conventional wisdom was that the hostile and chaotic atmosphere of Madison Square Garden would throw the Spurs off balance and benefit the Knicks, when the reality was that the Silver and Black were the more poised team in Game 3. This team really showed that the are at their best when they have to perform by winning Game 7 against the Thunder in Oklahoma City to advance to the finals, and they delivered a similar performance in Game 3 of the Finals.

The Spurs turned things around because they went full Popovich in Game 3, and gave the Knicks some nasty, which the fans REALLY didn’t appreciate. I had a discussion with a coworker this morning and we agreed that the Finals against the Knicks are not the most rigorous series that the Spurs have played in the postseason, because both the Minnesota and Thunder series were more physical. But it seems like hell to the Knicks fans, who danced through the first three rounds against feather-soft opponents. They’ve cultivated a narrative where Victor Wembanyama is a diabolical combination of Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Jack the Ripper, because he threw a guy who was pulling on his jersey to the ground1. TO THE GROUND! Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that about half of the lyrics of the Talking Heads’ Psycho Killer2 are in French.

Stephon Castle did about the best job that anyone can do on Brunson. He got his points, but they were inefficient, and he didn’t get anyone else involved in the offense. Dylan Harper had another fantastic outing for the Silver and Black, and Victor Wembanyama contributed magic from beginning to end. The Spurs are going to have to bring that kind of effort again tonight, because the Knicks are going to put together their best effort tonight. Devin Vassell was relatively quiet in Game 3, and a breakout game from him would be an asset for the road team.

A win tonight ties up the series, making a three game series with the Spurs having two at home. If the lose tonight, the Silver and Black need to win three games in a row to take home the trophy, which is a much tougher road. It’s going to be the most pivotal game of the series, just like the last one was. GO SPURS GO!!

  1. It should have been called a foul, but the refs missed it in real time. I thought it was possibly a Flagrant 1 foul, but the league office reviewed it the following day and ruled that it wasn’t.
  2. David Byrne was extremely prescient when he wrote that song in 1974. Victor hates people when they’re not polite. Maybe the Knicks should fa-fa-fa-fa run away …

Game Prediction:

KAT gets in a fight with Brunson because Jalen never passes the ball to him.

San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks, NBA Finals, Game 4
June 10, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT
Streaming: ESPN
TV: ABC
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

Bryan Reynolds robs Shohei Ohtani of home run in Dodgers-Pirates game

When Shohei Ohtani is pitching − as he is against the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday, June 10 − it's simply mano a mano, Ohtani vs. the batter, with Ohtani prevailing the vast majority of the time.

This time, though, the Dodgers are also letting him serve as designated hitter, which means Ohtani vs. the opposing pitcher – along with eight other defensive players.

And on this night one of them thwarted him.

Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds robbed Ohtani of his 12th home run, ranging to his right and hopping above the short left field wall to snag the ball before it could land among a group of sun-splashed patrons.

Ohtani drove a Jared Jones full-count 99 mph fastball the opposite way, 101.7 mph off the bat. According to Statcast, the 383-foot drive would have been a home run in 25 of 30 parks.

Well, probably 26 of 30, were it not for Reynolds’ well-coordinated leap to keep this game scoreless.

Ohtani did hit a two-run home run in the ninth, but it was not quite enough as the Dodgers lost 9-8.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bryan Reynolds robs Shohei Ohtani home run in Dodgers vs Pirates game

Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago Cubs game thread: Shota Imanaga vs. Michael Lorenzen

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 3: Michael Lorenzen #24 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 3, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Scott Strazzante/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Colorado Rockies’ series opener victory against the Chicago Cubs was a resounding success. They got pitching and hitting, and played an overall great game to shake off the mess of the Milwaukee Brewers series. Granted, the Cubs are not in the best of places at the moment, but victories like that have hopefully set the stage for the Rockies to secure another series victory.

Michael Lorenzen (2-8, 8.01 ERA) continues his quest for answers in 2026 for the Rockies. Lorenzen once again struggled in his last outing against the Los Angeles Angels, as he allowed eight runs on 10 hits over 3.1 innings of work. The majority of damage came in the second inning, where he just couldn’t throw strikes, and the Angels were punishing mistakes over the plate. He has been left floundering, trying to tweak mechanics and get comfortable on the mound, but those answers have eluded him thus far. The key for Lorenzen seems to be finding a way to mitigate the “one bad inning” trope that has plagued many Rockies pitchers, and a great way to do that is by throwing quality strikes and establishing his command early.

Unfortunately, Lorenzen has a 9.67 ERA at home this year hanging over his head as well as a career 7.36 ERA against the Cubs. However, he Will tonight be a moment that Lorenzen can start to change the narrative of his season?

Meanwhile, the Cubs will send out Shota Imanaga (4-6, 4.74 ERA) to make the start. The Japanese veteran has been reliable since making his MLB debut with the Cubs in 2024, where me posted a 2.91 ERA. 2025 wasn’t as crisp, but he still managed a sub-4.00 ERA and decided to accept a qualifying offer from the Cubs for this season. His third big league season has been a little tougher, but Imanaga is still a quality pitcher not to be taken lightly. He has recorded six quality starts and will attack the zone with a current tally of 74 strikeouts against 19 walks. He’s more prone to give up the long ball, having allowed 17 this season after allowing 31 last year. He was roughed up by the Athletics at Wrigley Field in his last start, giving up six runs on six hits, including four home runs, over six innings.

In his lone career start against the Rockies, Imanaga fired six shutout innings, allowing just two hits. This will be his first start at Coors Field.

First Pitch: 6:40 pm MDT

TV: Rockies TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

SB Nation site: Bleed Cubbie Blue

Lineups:


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John Smoltz sounds alarm on potential MLB lockout: ‘Baseball will suffer’

Former Atlanta Braves player John Smoltz in a blue suit and red tie stands in a dugout with baseball equipment.
Former Atlanta Braves player John Smoltz stands in the dugout after the game against the Detroit Tigers at Turner Field on October 2, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Like many others in the baseball world, Hall of Famer John Smoltz is concerned about the possibility of an MLB lockout.

The current collective bargaining agreement between the league and the MLB Players Association will expire after the 2026 season, setting up a long-anticipated negotiating period, with the prospect of a work stoppage looming.

Smoltz said it won’t be a good look if things can’t be worked out between the two sides.

“We know that if they don’t get this worked out, baseball will suffer. They cannot afford to have a stoppage with all the good that has been done and all the great games that have been played lately with the World Series,” Smoltz told Fox News Digital.

At the end of May, the league’s proposal included a salary floor for each ball club and a “more divisive” salary cap, something the players have long been opposed to.

Former Atlanta Braves player John Smoltz stands in the dugout after the game against the Detroit Tigers at Turner Field on October 2, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images

MLB made clear it didn’t agree with the MLBPA’s first proposal, which did not call for any sort of spending cap.

“The MLBPA’s proposal would reduce the amount [of money] transferred to lower-revenue Clubs, weaken the Competitive Balance Tax, and lead to even more payroll disparity than exists today,” MLB said in a statement after it released its own proposal.

“For example, under the Union’s proposal, the Dodgers would pay less in luxury tax payments, giving them an additional $70 million to spend on payroll.”

Smoltz spoke to what he believes is a competitive balance issue across the league, which is a factor in these CBA negotiations.

“There’s a competition issue within baseball that some system is claiming that it’s going to fix. I question that big time,” Smoltz added. “Until you have teams and owners that want to put the best product they can on the field in their market, it’s hard for me to be able to tell somebody what they can and can’t spend in a free market world.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) speaks with Rob Manfred, the commissioner of the MLB, in March. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Baseball has certainly achieved momentum in the American consciousness as of late. The league shared in early May that viewership is up 44 percent compared to the 2025 season for exclusive national games, the best number in the past nine seasons. The excitement brought on by the 2025 World Series certainly helped with that; Game 7 averaged a combined 51 million viewers across the United States, Canada and Japan.

New Kings coach Peter Laviolette looks to build pillars for success

Kings new head coach Peter Laviolette tours the locker room at the team's training facility in El Segundo.
Kings new head coach Peter Laviolette tours the locker room at the team's training facility in El Segundo. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

When Kings’ new head coach Peter Laviolette took a tour around the Los Angeles area, he thought he was only going to get a one-bedroom home with a view of the water. His children, though, piped in: “Make sure you get a four-bedroom,” Laviolette remembered his three children saying.

During Laviolette’s time away from the sport, the 61-year-old traveled to Scotland and watched his son play in the East Coast Hockey League. The time away has given Laviolette time to rethink his coaching, and after 30 years of coaching, including 23 as a head coach in the NHL, he’s bringing a trident approach to reshape culture and win games. Centering a hockey family is one part.

“For me, there’s three real important pieces,” Laviolette said. “First, build a family inside the locker room, inside the organization. Secondly, to really work to try and build the culture to get players and organizations to think about the choices they make and how that can affect the culture. And then the third part is the actual game on the ice, just making sure that every day from the start of training camp we work at the game.”

Los Angeles hired Laviolette to a three-year contract after he spent a year away from the sport. Laviolette’s coaching experience stretches 1,594 games, the ninth-highest career total, with six teams: the Capitals, Flyers, Islanders, Hurricanes and Predators. Most recently, he was fired by the Rangers in 2025 after two years with the team.

His postseason success might be the biggest draw for the Kings, who have seen middling success in the years since their second Stanley Cup title in 2014. Los Angeles made the playoffs each year since the 2021-22 season, but the team did not advance past the first round.

Meanwhile, Laviolette is only the fourth coach in hockey to lead three teams to the Stanley Cup Final. He last won with Carolina in 2006, but he earned two President’s Trophies in 2017-18 and 2023-24 with the Predators and the Rangers.

Kings general manager Ken Holland, left, and Peter Laviolette hold up a jersey with the new coach's name on it.
Kings general manager Ken Holland, left, and Peter Laviolette pose for a photo during the new coach's introductory news conference Wednesday at the team's training facility in El Segundo. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

Still, Laviolette, despite his track record of first-year turnarounds, is joining a team in flux. The Kings fired coach Jim Hiller after the Olympic break. Interim coach D.J Smith helped guide the team to an 11-6-6 finish, aided in part by a trade for Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, whom Laviolette has also coached.

“I had a really good relationship with Artemi in New York,” Laviolette said. “He’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever coached, and I’m really happy to get to work with him again. He’s an amazing talent.”

Using the winger to go on the prowl is one of the small changes Laviolette plans to bring. The Kings have historically prioritized defense in a league that has shifted to attacking. Los Angeles fell to 30th in goals per game last season (2.68), the first time the Kings averaged fewer than three goals since the 2021-22 season. The team was also 28th in power-play percentage at 17%. Laviolette acknowledged that Los Angeles needed to change, highlighting that an attack-forward mindset has been a keystone of his coaching.

“I don’t think it should be irresponsible to defense,” he said. “But through my experiences, and even just watching the playoffs right now, this is an attack-oriented game, and you have to be willing to move.”

Where does Panarin fit?

“He has the ability to be a game-breaker and a difference-maker,” Laviolette said. “He’s not just a goal scorer. He’s not just a playmaker. He’s elusive. He’s shifty.”

The goal for next season is to score 250 times, according to Kings’ vice president and general manager Ken Holland. The team scored 220 last season.

“We’ve got to get back to scoring more goals,” Holland said. “Part of that’s going to be personnel driven, part of that’s going to be probably style‑of‑play driven, mentality, and certainly the head coach has a lot to do with it.”

As Laviolette meets current staffers and decides whom to bring in, Holland is managing the phones to reach out to assistant coaches and players. Smith has definitively moved on. Phil Housley, whom Laviolette described as an “excellent coach,” could be another potential candidate. Housley worked with Laviolette as one of the Rangers’ assistant coaches between 2023 and 2025.

Still, it’s hard to say the Kings will be a Cup contender with Laviolette. His teams tend to dramatically decline two or three seasons after his hiring. He struggles to develop younger players, instead relying on veterans to carry the weight. Laviolette will have to amplify players like Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke, each a talented 23-year-old with high ceilings.

The Kings’ success will rest in how well Los Angeles adapts to Laviolette’s coaching trident. The veteran coach, to his credit, projected confidence.

“When you put those three things together,” he said. “You can really become an unstoppable force.”

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

NBA Finals, Game 4 Thread: Knicks vs. Spurs

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks battle for position during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We have ourselves a series. Down 2-0 with their backs against the wall going into Madison Square Garden, the young Spurs came up with a huge 115-111 win in Game 3.

Plenty changed in the Spurs’ favor for them to take the series to 2-1 and give themselves a real chance to get back into these Finals. Victor Wembanyama, of course, led the way. San Antonio made a clear effort to increasingly get him the ball near the rim and throw up high passes for him to catch lobs, or simply rise above defenders for good interior positioning and find easier chances to set up and finish. For the first time in the series, he attempted more layups and dunks than jumpers. Wemby was more impactful on defense too, and put together a dominant night with 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and three blocks.

Along with others like Julian Champagnie (12 points with three triples), Devin Vassell (11 points with 3-of-4 three-point shooting) and Stephon Castle (23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, plus his usual physical defense) remaining effective to round out the offense, the Spurs did what they needed to take care of business in Game 3.

Meanwhile for the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns continued to compete quite well on defense but quietened down offensively, scoring just 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting. If Wemby continues to thrive in the paint and outmatch Towns again in Game 4, that’ll be a big factor in the Spurs’ favor.

That wasn’t the only problem for the Knicks. Apart from issues like having a harder time containing Wemby inside, losing the free throw battle (22 attempts compared to the Spurs’ 32), and having 13 turnovers to the Spurs’ eight, Jalen Brunson struggled. Even though he led the Knicks in scoring again with 32 points and obviously remains the primary concern for San Antonio, Brunson finished Game 3 shooting a fairly cool 11-of-25 — taking him to just 39.0 percent shooting on two-pointers and 31.8 percent from three for the Finals so far. Along with over dribbling the ball, which helped cause the offense to stagnate on too many possessions, the Spurs were able to pull ahead of a Knicks offense that wasn’t at its best.

Brunson and others (Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet also had cold scoring nights on Monday) will need to bounce back and rediscover more fluid ball movement and varied offense to turn things around in Game 4.

So, what’s your Game 4 prediction? Do the Spurs tie things up at 2-2 and head back to San Antonio with a chance to take a series lead? Do the Knicks counter again with their own adjustments and a stronger showing from Brunson to go up 3-1? Let’s discuss in the comments and follow along with all the action.

Game Details

When: June 10, 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
Watch: ABC
Radio: ESPN Radio
Follow: @LibertyBallers

The Cincinnati Reds bullpen did it again

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 10: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres hits a walk-off solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds at Petco Park on June 10, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Two of the big boppers on whom the Cincinnati Reds are depending with Elly De La Cruz sidelined stepped up late and did their parts in big, big ways, respectively. JJ Bleday, who deserves to be on the National League All Star team at this juncture, smashed a 391 foot solo homer off San Diego Padres starter Michael King in the Top of the 7th to give the Reds a 3-2 lead, and Eugenio Suarez followed with a 365 foot sand wedge into the seats beyond left field to give Cincinnati an insurance run at 4-2 in the Top of the 8th.

All that remained to be taken care of was holding on to a 2-run lead for the game’s final pair of innings. You know, the classic task asked of bullpen arms all over the sport.

Unfortunately, this is the Cincinnati Reds bullpen we are talking about, or at least what remains of it.

Caleb Ferguson was wholly unable to retire the left-handed bats the Padres sent up to face him in the Bottom of the 8th, and Tony Santillan couldn’t bail him out of the jame he’d created. That sent the game to the 9th with the game tied at 4, and though the Reds got a leadoff single from Matt McLain and a later walk from Sal Stewart, the Reds couldn’t find a way to score a run to take the lead.

Devoid of other fresh options, Terry Francona turned to the recently recalled Chase Petty, who was just brought back to the team after Zach McCambley was optioned on the back of his 30+ pitch outing earlier in the series. That’s Chase Petty the starter, who was tasked with pitching in an extremely high-leverage relief role that’s almost completely unheard of for him at this juncture of his career.

He looked mostly fine out there, to his credit. He pounded the zone. He threw strikes. The problem is, though, that despite the walk problems that have plagued the entire pitching staff over the course of this borderline-miserable season, this was an instance where he might well have been better off nibbling than humming balls right over the plate to some of San Diego’s best hitters.

One of those, of course, is Fernando Tatis, Jr. He’s found his swing again after a mammoth gap between homers, socking his first of the year earlier in the week and posting a 4-hit game earlier this series. So, when Petty spun an 89 mph slider right into the middle of the strike zone to the Padres star, it was hard to envision anything other than what happened.

That laser from Tatis just cleared the LF wall, and that was that. Cincinnati hemorrhaged yet another late lead, lost their fourth straight series, and sunk to just 32-35 on the season overall. They’ll have Thursday off to think about it while traveling back across the country to think about it, and on Friday they’ll welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks to Great American Ball Park.

What a brutal game. What a brutal month. What a brutal, brutal sport.

Knicks-Spurs Game 3 viewership hit over 26 million in huge NBA Finals ratings win

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 goes up for a shot against San Antonio Spurs #5 during Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 goes up for a shot against San Antonio Spurs #5 during Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

The NBA league office must be salivating over the TV ratings for the NBA Finals.

Monday’s Game 3 broadcast between the Knicks and the Spurs was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 in nearly three decades, averaging 23.8 million viewers, data released by Nelsen showed on Wednesday. 

Viewership for the game peaked late in the fourth quarter with 26.3 million people tuning in. 

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 goes up for a shot against San Antonio Spurs #5 during Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The last time that more people tuned in for a Game 3 in the NBA Finals was in 1998, when the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls were closing in on a second three-peat. 

It also holds the distinction of being the most-watched television program on broadcast TV since the Super Bowl in February, when the Seahawks defeated the Patriots. 

The NBA Finals are averaging 19.1 million viewers through the first three games of the series, which makes it the second-most-watched following ABC/ESPN taking over coverage of the championship round in 2003. 

The ratings also represent a massive increase from last year’s finals between the Thunder and Pacers, seeing a 114% uptick in viewership this year. 

The massive ratings shouldn’t be a surprise with the Knicks back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and the Spurs having the biggest name – literally and figuratively – in Victor Wembanyama. 

Game 4 on Wednesday night will surely draw more big numbers for broadcasters with the Spurs eying a chance to even the series up before it shifts back to San Antonio, and the Knicks looking to put their Western Conference foe on the ropes.