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Ryan Mason ready to ‘write own script’ with West Brom after perfect Spurs ending

Having helped Tottenham win the Europa League the 34-year-old is stepping out on his own after building a library of coaching experience

For Ryan Mason, this opportunity has been a few years in the making. Since retiring from playing aged 26 after fracturing his skull – a horror injury that required 14 metal plates to be inserted into his skull, held together by 28 screws – he has built a library of coaching experience, working under José Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Ange Postecoglou. This coming season, after accepting his first full-time managerial role at West Brom, he has an opportunity to show his workings. “My last game was as a 25-year-old and I have had a seven-, eight-year apprenticeship, which in normal circumstances is quite a long time,” he says.

Nothing was normal about the end of Mason’s playing career. For a while there were 45 staples and he had a six-inch scar across his head. For about 10 days he had to be spoon-fed and being able to pick up a glass of orange juice was a major milestone. At the time he felt his career was in its infancy but stepping into coaching, initially in the Spurs academy, he discovered a new passion. “I definitely have a fire inside of me to be successful and fulfil the sort of dreams and ambitions that I had as a player,” he says.

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Mets' Carlos Mendoza on pulling Clay Holmes in sixth inning: 'I thought he did his part there'

With the Mets clinging to a one-run lead in the top of the sixth inning, manager Carlos Mendoza decided to pull starter Clay Holmes after 5.1 innings to go to his bullpen.

That decision ultimately decided the game as Reed Garrett entered and immediately allowed a game-tying double before the roof caved in on the reliever following a grand slam that broke the game wide open.

Holmes was taken out after 90 pitches and holding the Brewers to just one run -- a Sal Frelick solo shot to start the game. The right-hander did issue four walks, a trend lately, including three in a row in the fourth to three straight lefties.

After escaping that bases-loaded jam with a huge double play, Holmes began the sixth by walking another lefty in Christian Yelich. He retired Jackson Chourio, but that was it for the 32-year-old with Milwaukee due up three more lefties.

"I thought the lefties were giving him a little bit of a tough time, especially after watching that fourth inning and you watch that Yelich leadoff walk with three lefties coming up and at 90 pitches there, I thought he did his part there," Mendoza said after the loss.

Over his last three starts, Holmes has walked 14 batters in 15 innings. It hasn't necessarily caught up to him as he's allowed just six earned runs during that time, however it hasn't allowed him to pitch deeper into games.

With New York in desperate need of length out of its starters -- Wednesday's Game 1 of the doubleheader was the first time a Met starter pitched into the sixth inning in 17 days -- the walks (not just from Holmes) need to be fixed.

"That’s part of the decision," Mendoza said regarding Holmes' increased walk total factoring in his choice to pull the right-hander. "... I just felt like, especially today, he was trying to use the secondary [pitches], the slider, sweeper as backdoor pitches as opposed to land[ing] it below the strike zone and get chases there. He was trying to be maybe a little bit too fine there and that’s when he started losing it and walk some of the lefties."

The skipper also mentioned that he didn't think Holmes' changeup was "in play today against the lefties" and that it's an important pitch that he'll need this season.

Holmes was asked about that changeup and agreed with his manager that he "didn't really have it today" and saying it's been "hit or miss" for him lately.

"I think early on I was getting a lot of swing and miss out of the strike zone," he said. "The profile has kinda been a little bit inconsistent, the feel’s been a little bit inconsistent so I think it’s one thing that I definitely need to work on and need to find that pitch so I can go in the zone and still get the chase with it when I need to as well.

"It’s definitely a pitch that was very useful early on and it’s kinda been hit or miss here lately so it’d be nice to have it back."

And although Holmes said he never wants to get pulled, he said the decision is out of his control. He also mentioned that it was "definitely a hot day" and that he felt like he was tiring towards the end.

Mendoza was asked if the Mets went into the game with a pitch count on Holmes (who was supposed to pitch in Tuesday's rain out) for whatever reason like they've had on him in the past, particularly after his start in Colorado where he threw just 79 pitches over 5.0 innings, and he said "not necessarily" but pointed to the game and how he looked for the reasoning.

"When you got a guy that’s at 90 pitches in 5.1 [innings], you know, like, you’re asking what? 100 [pitches]? 10 more pitches? That wasn’t gonna be the case," Mendoza said. "We got some other guys that can cover 18 innings."

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Sánchez deals against Padres as Phillies collect another series win

Sánchez deals against Padres as Phillies collect another series win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The fireworks celebration the Phillies wonderfully put on at this time every year were almost threatened to be delayed Wednesday night in Game 2 of a doubleheader with the San Diego Padres.

Surprisingly, not because of rain or even the threat of it. No, it was all Christopher Sánchez’ fault. The left-hander mowed through the Padres lineup time and time again with such quick efficiency that it was feared the game would be completed well before darkness set upon Citizens Bank Park.

The threat of a delay was put to rest, really in one at-bat by the Padres, and while it differed from the efficiency of Sánchez, it featured his resilience.

With Gavin Sheets on first and two outs, Sánchez and Padres third baseman Jose Iglesias had an epic 10-pitch battle that had Iglesias foul off six pitches. With the count 2-2, Sánchez froze Iglesias with a 96-mile-an-hour sinker for the final out of the inning. He threw 7.0 innings on an 85-pitch gem.

He allowed just five hits, one earned run, struck out five and didn’t allow a walk in the Phillies 5-1 win. Sánchez improved to 7-2 on the season and the Phillies to 51-36 after the day/night split.

“He’s been, just like the rest of them, just wonderful,” said manager Rob Thomson of Sánchez’ night. “The changeup is swing and miss and the sinker… He had some balls hit hard off him but so much soft contact. He’s just attacking. Attacking the zone, trusting his stuff.” 

Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm each pitched a scoreless inning as the Phils took two of three from the Padres.

First baseman Bryce Harper was not in the lineup for Game 2, as he continues to ease back from the wrist injury that kept him sidelined for 22 games. So far in his two starts since his return on Monday, Harper is 1-for-6 with a couple of strikeouts, a walk and was hit by a pitch. More importantly, he has taken hard cuts at the plate and has shown no hesitation in doing so. There has been no apparent flinching after a swing, no matter the result.

“I didn’t want to risk it,” Thomson explained. “He was available to pinch-hit. He felt fine. I just didn’t want to get him heated up again. Now if the game’s on the line, we’d go. That was the only reason, just precaution.”

Otto Kemp took over first base in the nightcap and provided a couple of singles, a walk, and some nice fielding plays.

Sánchez, like others on the starting staff, had a phenomenal month of June. In his five starts totaling 34 innings, he allowed just 25 hits and seven earned runs (1.85 ERA), while he struck out 33 and walked just six.

Normalcy returned to the Phillies starting rotation in the form of Cristopher Sánchez after a shaky start from Mick Abel in Game 1. Abel allowed five earned runs after getting just five outs in the 6-4 loss, while seven of the first nine batters Sánchez faced were retired on ground balls. 

Sánchez breezed through the Padres lineup to start the game on just 23 pitches. He then gave up a run in the fourth, though through no fault of his, really.

Fernando Tatis, Jr. led off the inning by beating out a dribbler to third. Sánchez then had him picked, but Otto Kemp’s throw to Trea Turner at second was awry and wound up in center field. Tatis went to third then scored when Jackson Merrill squeezed a single through the right side on a drawn-in infield for a 1-0 Padres lead. 

“I always go out and compete and do the best that I can and I always aim to not walk anyone,” said Sánchez through the team interpreter. “The important part is that we (starting pitchers) all act the same when we’re doing well and when we’re not. We’re just out here to support our team and to be the best of ourselves and go out and compete.”

The Phillies responded to the Padres’ go-ahead run immediately, as Alec Bohm led off the bottom of the inning with a single, moved to second on a groundout by Nick Castellanos and scored. Then came Max Kepler, who launched a bomb into the seats in right for a 2-1 lead. Kepler perfectly back-footed a 2-2, 90-mile-an-hour slider 379 feet off starter Dylan Cease for his 10th home run of the season. 

After Sánchez worked his way out of a two on, one out jam with consecutive strikeouts to end the fifth, Brandon Marsh led off the bottom of the fifth with a bomb to dead center for a 3-1 lead. Trea Turner reached on an infield single. He moved to second on a foul out by Bohm on a wonderful, sliding snare by third baseman Iglesias near the tarp. Turner scored on a Nick Castellanos single for a seemingly commanding 4-1 lead, considering the way Sanchez was waltzing through the San Diego lineup. 

“I like the way that I’m attacking,” said Marsh of his at-bats. I can definitely  improve a lot more on a lot of things. But, for what it’s worth, I like where I’m at personally and just have to continue to take it day-by-day and at-bat by at-bat.”

The Phillies added another in the seventh when Kyle Schwarber worked a two-out walk. Pinch-runner Johan Rojas stole second then crossed home on a triple to right by Bohm. 

The Phillies secured a 5-1 victory over the Padres, closing out Wednesday’s doubleheader and another series win.

They have Thursday off before welcoming the Cincinnati Reds in for a three-game series, beginning Friday at 1:05 p.m.

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Golden Knights Sign Kaedan Korczak To Four-Year Extension; Sign Jeremy Davies To Two-Year Contract

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Kaedan Korczak (6) skates with the puck during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed defenseman Kaedan Korczak to a four-year, $3.25-million extension and have also signed defenseman Jeremy Davies to a two-year contract.

Korczak set a career-high in games played and points this year, recording 10 assists in 40 games while averaging 15:04 of ice time. It's highly likely and almost a certainty that Korczak eclipses both those marks as he is set to become a full-time NHL player next season after the unfortunate news of Alex Pietrangelo's health. 

Throughout the 2024-25 season, Korczak was utilized exclusively to replace any injured defenseman, but the 2025-26 season will be different. Korczak is set to step into the lineup as a trusted defenseman night in and night out and will have the opportunity to compete with Zach Whitecloud for a spot in the top-four. 

Korczak has all the tools needed for a modern defenseman. He is a capable skater with a 6-foot-3 frame and a solid first pass. When in the lineup, the 24-year-old has won his minutes at 5-on-5, but with an increased role and an increase in ice time, it'll pose a new challenge for the former second-round pick (41st overall) in the 2019 NHL draft.

Korczak was set to become a Group-6 UFA next summer if he didn't reach the 80-game threshold. He signed a two-year $825,000 extension last season as an RFA but will become a UFA when his contract concludes in 2030. His new contract won't kick in until the 2026-27 season. 

Davies is a 28-year-old left-handed defenseman who has accumulated 23 games of NHL experience in his career. Davies has been a solid AHL player overall, scoring 44 goals and 174 points in 329 games. 

The Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC native is a safe bet for organizational depth that will likely have to clear waivers at some point during training camp. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Golden Knights Confirm and Announce Signings Of Several Players Golden Knights Confirm and Announce Signings Of Several Players The Vegas Golden Knights have confirmed and announced the signings of Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad, Dylan Coghlan,  Cole Reinhardt and Jaycob Megna. REPORT: Golden Knights Interested In Trading For A Pair Of DefensemenREPORT: Golden Knights Interested In Trading For A Pair Of DefensemenThe Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly interested in trading for defensemen Rasmus Andersson and Bowen Byram.
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Nashville Predators free agent Marc Del Gaizo signs with Canadiens

The Nashville Predators have lost another player in free agency as defenseman Marc Del Gaizo signed with the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. 

He agreed to a one-year, $775,000 contract, making as much as he did this past season in Nashville. 

Del Gaizo was drafted by the Predators 109th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft out of UMass Amherst.

This past season, he split time between Nashville and Milwaukee, scoring nine points in 46 games with the Predators and 12 points in 30 games with the Admirals. Del Gaizo also had five points in 10 playoff games with Milwaukee. 

Del Gaizo had two different contracts during his two years in Nashville. During the 2023-24 season, he had an annual hit of $850,833. He made about $75,000 less this year. 

General manager Barry Trotz said that the goal of free agency was to improve the defense, which likely included adding depth. Del Gaizo is on the rise, as last season was the most NHL games he had played in a single season. 

The Predators have about $10.1 million in salary cap space. 

During this free agency period, the Predators have signed two defensemen: Nicolas Hague from the Vegas Golden Knights and Nick Perbix from the Tampa Bay Lightning. They have also extended a qualifying offer to Luke Evangelista. 

Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sissons were traded to Vegas as part of the trade with Hague. 

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Mailloux: 'I Think I’m Ready To Make That Jump Full-Time.'

Defenseman Logan Mailloux (24) is grateful to be given the chance to be in the NHL full time after being acquired by the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- When the Montreal Canadiens made a splash on the trade front and acquired defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, Logan Mailloux felt like he was on borrowed time.

So when the defenseman was traded to the St. Louis Blues by the Canadiens for forward Zack Bolduc on Tuesday, there was perhaps a sense of relief, and one of appreciation that the 22-year-old will get the opportunity to be a full-time NHL player.

"After I’d seen the Dobson trade come in to Montreal, it was a little bit of a logjam there on the back end, to be honest," Mailloux admitted on Tuesday. "They’ve got some young guys there, some other guys as well. When that happened, I thought there might be a chance (of getting traded). I didn’t really know anything until today. I’m really excited to get to St. Louis and get the chance to play."

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said as much, when he announced that Mailloux, who has all of eight games' worth of experience at the NHL level, including seven last season (two goals, two assists), has a job here and it's up to him to keep it.

"We think he's NHL-ready now," Armstrong said. "I talked to him, I told him he'll have the opportunity to ... he has a job now. It's his job to come into camp and keep it."

This wasn't going to be the case in Montreal, which chose Mailloux with the 31st pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, 14 spots after the Blues selected Bolduc at No. 17, and the 6-foot-3, 213-pound right-handed shot is more than grateful.

"I’m really excited to come to St. Louis," Mailloux said. "I think they’ve got a great group of guys, and I’m really looking forward to continuing my journey, on and off the ice. Coming to St. Louis and being able to make a positive impact, whether it’s on the ice or off the ice, I think I want to come in there and be able to do some good.

"It’s pretty nice, to be honest. I think they’re giving me a chance here trading for me. I think they gave up a good prospect, a good player. I think I’m NHL ready as well. I think I’m ready to make that jump full-time. Hopefully, come in here and be able to contribute to some wins and some success next year."

Mailloux, who had 80 points (26 goals, 54 assists) in 135 games playing for Laval of the American Hockey League the past two seasons, attributes his success to playing well both offensively and defensively. He's known as an offensive defenseman but feels his positive play stemmed from both ends of the ice.

"I think it was my play on both sides of the puck this year," he said. "I think that’s one of the areas that I made a step compared to my first year. I think I was playing more of a complete game, being physical and trying to provide some offense when I can. Just being able to be out there and be a reliable player.

"I think when I came in my first year, I was a little more raw. I didn’t play too much hockey before that, to be honest. Had one full year of junior in the OHL (with the London Knights), but other than that, I had some injuries and some stuff going on before that. I think coming in and being able to play two full seasons in Laval, I didn’t really miss a game. Just being able to fully round out my game, I think, was definitely a big step I made this past year."

Even if the Blues parted with Bolduc, who came into his own with 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists) in 72 regular-season games last season and flourished when Jim Montgomery took over as coach in late November, Mailloux falls into the mix of a lineup that's got a group of 10 players at 25 or younger.

"They’ve got a good team there," Mailloux said. "It’s pretty exciting to see what they have going on. Got a bunch of young talent, some guys who’ve put up some really good seasons and some young guys who are up and coming as well. I think, hopefully, I fit right in with that age group as well. I’m really excited to get going and hopefully win some games for a long time here."

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Source: Warriors, Kings, Pistons discussing Jonathan Kuminga, Malik Monk trade

Source: Warriors, Kings, Pistons discussing Jonathan Kuminga, Malik Monk trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga and Malik Monk could be on the move soon.

The Warriors, Kings and Detroit Pistons are discussing a three-team blockbuster that would send Kuminga and veteran point guard Dennis Schröder to Sacramento in separate sign-and-trade deals, a source told NBC Sports California.

The trade discussions remain fluid.

Schröder, on Tuesday, reportedly agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract with the Kings.

The Kings, in turn, would send Monk to the Pistons, and second-year NBA guard Devin Carter and newly acquired big man Dario Šarić to the Warriors, the source said.

The Kings parting ways with Monk has been the most likely scenario this offseason, two sources told NBC Sports California.

Sacramento also would send two second-rounders to Golden State, the source said.

For Kuminga, the trade would put an end to a turbulent Warriors tenure and give him a fresh start with the Kings.

The Warriors selected Kuminga with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and while the 22-year-old showed flashes of potential, he never has been a perfect fit alongside Steph Curry.

Kuminga and the Warriors didn’t agree on a contract extension before the 2024-25 NBA season, and he played out the campaign not knowing what the future held for him. He became a restricted free agent Sunday when Golden State extended a $7.9 million qualifying offer.

But the trade market for restricted free agents hasn’t been robust this week, limiting Kuminga’s options outside of the Warriors.

In four seasons with the Warriors, Kuminga averaged 12.5 points on 50.7 percent shooting from the field.

General manager Mike Dunleavy had hoped to acquire players in a potential sign-and-trade for Kuminga, but in this scenario, the Warriors would add a future asset while clearing salary cap space.

Sacramento would revamp part of its roster with the move, adding a starting point guard in Schröder and a potential game-changing talent in Kuminga.

The 31-year-old Schröder spent time with the Brooklyn Nets, Warriors and Pistons last season, averaging 13.1 points and 5.4 assists in 75 games. The Kings would be his 10th NBA franchise.

Carter, the No. 13 pick in last year’s NBA draft, battled injuries as a rookie and could join a Warriors team where minutes are hard to come by. He averaged 3.8 points in 11.0 minutes in 36 games.

Monk has been open about finding a home in Sacramento, so his departure would be bittersweet for the 27-year-old.

NBA free agency has been a whirlwind since the negotiating period opened Monday afternoon, and the Warriors and Kings could shake things up even more if they pull off this deal with the Pistons.

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Fernandez 'shocked' by interest from club as 'huge' as Rangers

Emmanuel Fernandez in action for Peterborough United
Rangers were impressed with Emmanuel Fernandez's progress from non-league football [Getty Images]

Emmanuel Fernandez admits he "was shocked" that a club as "huge" as Rangers were interested in his services before signing a four-year contract and exiting Peterborough United.

The 23-year-old centre-half was in a side that finished 18th in League One last season but now has the prospect of playing in the Champions League.

"I am honoured," he told Rangers' website. "It is a huge club with a great fanbase and I think I can kickstart my career and have a good journey here.

"I was shocked when I heard about Rangers, because it is such a big club, but it was the place I wanted to be.

"I haven't played at this level, there will be a lot of life changes for me, but it is something I want to be part of and I can't wait to get started."

Starting as a youth with Brentford, Fernandez signed senior terms with Gillingham but was released after loan spells with Sheppey United and Margate.

He then spent a year with Ramsgate before joining Peterborough in 2021, but it was not until after further loans to Spalding United and Barnet that he became a first-team regular, making 42 appearances last season.

Rangers head coach Russell Martin believes Fernandez has "a huge amount of potential".

He said: "He has a strong physical presence, is a commanding defender and I believe, in this environment, we can help him develop and provide him with the opportunities to take his game to the next level."

Sporting director Kevin Thelwell added that Rangers "have been impressed with his development and journey from non-league football to League One".

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A Noiseless But Purposeful Free Agency For The Penguins

It was another slower-than-usual July 1 for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. In contrast with previous years, they stayed away from the big-name free agents, instead opting to sign depth pieces to short-term contracts.

Some fans aren’t thrilled about the lack of splashy moves, but Penguins general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas was transparent about his intentions and followed through with them.

“I think it’s like we’ve discussed. They’re not going to be the long-range, big-money guys in their 30s. It just doesn't fit at all with what we’re going to do,” Dubas told the media over the weekend.

While the organization hasn’t officially declared a rebuild, its actions speak volumes. That process arguably began at the 2024 trade deadline, when the Penguins dealt star forward Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes. It continued last offseason with the free-agent signings of defenseman Matt Grzelcyk and forward Anthony Beauvillier.

They were paid in extra draft picks to take on forwards Cody Glass and Kevin Hayes, signaling a focus on asset accumulation. Over the next two years, the Penguins have been aggressively stockpiling draft capital.

This free agency mirrored last year’s approach. The team signed defensemen Alexander Alexeyev, Parker Wotherspoon, Caleb Jones, and Phil Kemp, along with forwards Justin Brazeau, Anthony Mantha, and Rafael Harvey-Pinard.

Mantha is expected to take on a role similar to Beauvillier’s from last season—contributing roughly 15 goals before potentially being flipped at the trade deadline. Beauvillier tallied 13 goals and 20 points in 63 games last season (in Pittsburgh) and netted the Penguins a second-round pick from the Washington Capitals. 

If Mantha, who is recovering from knee surgery due to an ACL injury he sustained in the 2024-25 season, can produce at a healthy rate, the Penguins might expect a better return than the second-round pick the Capitals paid for Beauvillier.

Mantha also brings much-needed size to the lineup, a point Dubas has emphasized repeatedly in media appearances. He wants the Penguins to be bigger and harder to play against.

Brazeau and Wotherspoon help in that department, too. Brazeau, a towering 6’6” forward, isn’t shy about playing a physical game. He chipped in 11 goals and 22 points across 76 games with the Bruins and Wild last season and plays a responsible two-way game. He’s exactly the kind of player playoff teams value at the deadline.

Wotherspoon addresses the left side of the defense—a major focus for Dubas this offseason. He's a strong skater, dependable in his own zone, and can handle third-pairing minutes with ease. While he won’t bring much offense, his reliability fills a pressing need.

There’s still more work to be done on the left side of the defense, but Wotherspoon is a step in the right direction after last year’s struggles at the position.

Jones, Harvey-Pinard, Alexeyev, and Kemp will compete for roster spots in training camp. If they don’t crack the NHL lineup, they’ll provide valuable depth in Wilkes-Barre, where the Penguins are looking to improve their AHL affiliate’s performance next season.

The Penguins might not be a playoff team in 2025–26, but this methodical approach is part of a larger plan to return to contention. There’s also time for more moves before the season starts. The team has a surplus of forwards and will be looking to their young talent—Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, and Tristan Broz—to push for full-time NHL roles.

McGroarty and Koivunen looked NHL-ready by the end of the 2024–25 season, but they’ll still need to earn their spots in camp and the preseason.

Forwards Connor Dewar and Philip Tomasino are also returning after signing one-year deals on Tuesday. Though they reached free agency when Dubas chose not to extend qualifying offers, both ultimately re-signed.

The last two free-agent periods may have looked different for Pittsburgh, but they’ve been necessary. The real heavy lifting still lies ahead, but this was undoubtedly another step in the right direction.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!     

Featured Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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North Hollywood mural lauds Dodgers' Kiké Hernández 'for standing up for what is right'

A mural on a gray outdoor wall features a large portrait of Kike Hernandez showing his right hand with two championship rings
A mural featuring Dodgers fan favorite Kiké Hernández was recently painted by local artist Louie Palsino on the Noho Tires & Wheels building in North Hollywood. (Chuck Schilken / Los Angeles Times)

Dodgers utility player Kiké Hernández was not born and raised in Los Angeles.

A North Hollywood mural seemingly inspired by the San Juan, Puerto Rico, native's stance on immigration sweeps shows that doesn't matter.

Hernández began a June 14 Instagram post by stating, "I may not be Born & Raised, but this city adopted me as one of their own."

Local artist Louie Palsino has cemented the second part of that statement in a new mural on the side of the Noho Tires & Wheels building on the 5600 block of Lankershim Boulevard. It features Hernández's image surrounded by the words "Born X Raised" and "Los Angeles."

Read more:Dodgers Dugout: It's time for Kiké Hernández to retire ... as a pitcher

Hernández said plenty more in the post, which seems to have inspired Palsino. The two-time World Series champion expressed support for his adopted city's immigrants and dismay at how many of them were being treated in a series of sweeps by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The sweeps in Los Angeles have sparked protests locally and elsewhere in the country.

"I am saddened and infuriated by what’s happening in our country and our city," Hernández wrote. "Los Angeles and Dodger fans have welcomed me, supported me and shown me nothing but kindness and love. This is my second home. And I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights."

Under the name Sloe Motions, Palsino has painted a number of high-profile murals, including one in the Fashion District of Kobe and Gianna Bryant that was vandalized, restored, then vandalized again all within the last few months.

Read more:He created the beloved Kobe and Gianna Bryant mural. L.A. taggers keep defacing it. 'It hurts me'

He declined to discuss the Hernández mural for this story, instead directing The Times to a statement he posted about it on Instagram last week.

"Thank you @kikehndez for standing up for what is right and for Los Angeles," Palsino wrote. "this ain’t a political post or anything to stir up any government agenda to divide us. this is just paying homage to standing up for what is right and a real one.god over government."

Palsino painted the Hernández mural on a building that already featured two of his other Dodgers-themed pieces — one of legendary broadcaster Vin Scully on an adjoining wall and one of iconic Mexican pitcher Fernando Valenzuela on the gate in front of the garage's driveway

When the gate is pulled open, a split image of Valenzuela and Hernandez is created.

Vin Scully, Kiké Hernández and Fernando Valenzuela of the Dodgers are showcased in murals on the Noho Tires & Wheels building
Local artist Louie Palsino has painted several Dodgers-themed murals on the Noho Tires & Wheels building in North Hollywood, including images of (clockwise from left) Vin Scully, Kiké Hernández and Fernando Valenzuela. (Chuck Schilken / Los Angeles Times)

Hernández has been a Dodgers fan favorite since his first stint with the team in 2015-20. In 2017, he hit three home runs, including a grand slam, in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs to help send the Dodgers to the World Series.

Read more:Here are 11 Fernando Valenzuela murals to visit in L.A.: 'He did so much for the Mexican community'

He signed with the Boston Red Sox as a free agent after the Dodgers' 2020 World Series championship, but returned to L.A. in a July 2023 trade. Hernández hit .262 in 54 games with the Dodgers that season, helping him earn a one-year, $4-million contract for 2024.

Last postseason, Hernández was a key member of another Dodgers championship team. He hit one of the Dodgers' two solo home runs in a 2-0 win against the San Diego Padres in the decisive Game 5 of the NL Division Series. He then contributed seven hits and four RBIs in the NLCS against the New York Mets and five hits against the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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NHL Free Agency 2025: Six Losers So Far

The first day of the NHL’s 2025 free-agent frenzy is now in the books, and as is tradition on THN.com, we’re examining the winners and losers from the beginning of the free-agent period. 

On Tuesday, we broke down the five biggest winners, and today, we’re looking at the six teams who, for different reasons, have to be labelled as losers. 

In alphabetical order:

Boston Bruins

The Bruins did a lot of roster shuffling, acquiring role players including former Oilers right winger Viktor Arvidsson, former Blue Jackets left winger Sean Kuraly and former Kings left winger Tanner Jeannot. But there’s a reason those three veterans were available – namely, that their previous teams felt they were expendable. And picking up spare parts and reclamation projects was not the way the Bruins operated in their recent heyday.

Boston GM Don Sweeney had a decent amount of salary cap space heading into the free-agent frenzy, but after spending most of it in the past few days, he can’t expect prognosticators to project that the Bs will be a playoff team next season. At best, they look to be only slightly improved on paper, and in a highly competitive Atlantic Division, they haven’t done enough to be pegged as a Stanley Cup post-season team in 2025-26.

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres made a handful of moves – most notably, the re-signing of RFA center Ryan McLeod, and the UFA signings of or trades for fringe players including goalie Alex Lyon, defensemen Zac Jones and Conor Timmins, and wingers Josh Doan and Justin Danforth. Meanwhile, the status of RFA star defenseman Bowen Byram is still in limbo, with many expecting he’ll be traded by Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams, but there has been no movement on the trade front as of Wednesday afternoon.

Consequently, these current Sabres roster changes are thoroughly underwhelming. Adams is gambling he’s made the team better by buttressing their bottom two lines of forwards and their bottom defense pairing, but we just don’t see anyone Buffalo has added as being true needle-movers. 

At a time when Buffalo is desperate to get back in the thick of the playoff race in the Atlantic, there’s not enough there to expect the Sabres will end their 14-year streak without post-season hockey.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Hawks have struggled for years to play at a level that is anywhere close to being a playoff contender, and Chicago GM Kyle Davidson changed coaches this summer in an effort to raise the competitive bar for his team. However, other than trading for fourth-liner Sam Lafferty, the Blackhawks have done nothing of consequence. Budding star Connor Bedard needed some high-end talent to elevate his game in 2025-26, but thus far, Davidson has given him nothing different to work with.

Chicago still has approximately $21.3 million in cap space, and it’s possible that Davidson is hanging onto as much of it as possible to spend on the very deep class of UFA stars on course to be available in the summer of 2026. 

But we’re judging this organization based on the here and now, and looking through that prism, you can’t come to any conclusion other than the fact that the Hawks will almost assuredly finish well out of a playoff spot next season. 

Detroit Red Wings

Like the Blackhawks, the Red Wings are an Original Six franchise who have seen better days. Detroit GM Steve Yzerman has been preaching patience with his lineup, but Wings fans are starting to grow tired of seeing him kick the competitive can down the road. And very few moves he’s made in the past few days qualify as legitimate roster improvements.

Yzerman did trade for former Anaheim Ducks star goalie John Gibson, so there’s an upgrade in net. But otherwise, Detroit has only retained aging star winger Patrick Kane, and signed veteran winger James van Riemsdyk and fringe defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker. This is hardly the stuff of Grade-A acquisitions. 

Todd McLellan watches the play against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)

Even if Yzerman’s gamble on internal improvement comes to pass, the Red Wings don’t have the elite talent to compete with other Atlantic teams. So you can’t say they’ve been anything other than losers through the first couple days of free agency.

Edmonton Oilers

Despite nearly winning a Cup this past season, the Oilers weren’t able to persuade key role players to re-sign with the team. Right winger Connor Brown left via free agency for the New Jersey Devils, while right winger Corey Perry departed for the Kings. Those are two losses that will be hard to address.

Edmonton was able to re-sign star defenseman Evan Bouchard to a four-year, $42-million contract extension, and center Trent Frederic also agreed to a long-term extension. But otherwise, their only additions are bottom-six winger Curtis Lazar and mid-tier winger Andrew Mangiapane, the latter of whom hasn’t scored more than 17 goals in any of the past three seasons. 

At best, the Oilers are approximately the same in terms of all-around talent, and that may not be good enough to keep Pacific Division and Western Conference teams at bay next year. That makes them a loser on our list.

Los Angeles Kings

Kings GM Ken Holland had a boatload of cap space heading into free agency and used a whole lot of it, signing Perry away from Edmonton, then inking former Senators backup goalie Anton Forsberg as well as veteran Montreal right winger Joel Armia and former Devils D-man Brian Dumoulin. 

But the most dubious signing, from our point of view, was the four-year, $18-million contract Holland gave to journeyman defenseman Cody Ceci, who is now on his seventh NHL team in eight seasons. Were there really competing teams out there who were offering Ceci anything close to what he wound up getting? Sorry, but we just don’t see it.

Basically, the Kings haven’t done nearly enough to see them as being as improved as their Pacific rivals around them. Holland has quickly left his imprint on the roster, and with approximately $5.99 million in cap space, he may not be done making additions to his group. But as it stands, Los Angeles has become more mediocre than anything else, and this is why we have them as a loser thus far in free agency.

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Penguins Sign Big Former Capitals Defenseman To One-Year Contract

Ahead of free agency, Pittsburgh Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas said he wanted to improve the team's left-side defense.

And he appears to be putting some names into the mix for next season.

On Wednesday, the Penguins signed former Washington Capitals defenseman Alexander Alexeyev to a one-year, one-way contract worth $775,000. This comes after the Capitals did not qualify Alexeyev, as he was an RFA.

A former first-round pick by Washington in 2018 (31st overall), Alexeyev, 25, is a big, physical presence on the blue line. He uses his 6-foot-4, 229-pound frame to shut down opponents and clear the net-front, and that bigger, "hard-to-play-against" style has been a point of emphasis for GM and POHO Kyle Dubas in terms of adding to the roster, especially on the back end.

In 80 career regular season games with the Capitals, Alexeyev has registered a goal and eight points. He also appeared in 10 playoff games for Washington in 2025. 

Alexeyev - along with the newly signed Parker Wotherspoon, prospect Owen Pickering, and veteran blueliners Ryan Shea and Ryan Graves - figures to be in the mix for a larger role in the top-four for the Penguins this season.

NHL News: Penguins Sign Big Former Oilers DefensemanNHL News: Penguins Sign Big Former Oilers DefensemanThe Pittsburgh Penguins are adding more size to their defensive depth. 

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Feature image credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

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Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw joins MLB's 3,000-strikeouts club. Here's the full list

Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw joins MLB's 3,000-strikeouts club. Here's the full list originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Clayton Kershaw’s longevity has seen him reach another milestone.

The Los Angeles Dodgers star threw the 3,000th strikeout of his career against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, joining an exclusive list of MLB pitchers.

The 37-year-old Kershaw entered the game just three strikeouts away from the milestone, and is now the 20th pitcher to reach the mark. He’s also the third active player in that category alongside two other all-time greats.

Here is the full list of MLB pitchers who have thrown 3,000 strikeouts or more:

Who has the most strikeouts in MLB history?

Nolan Ryan has the most strikeouts in MLB history with 5,714 tallied across 27 seasons. He played for the New York Mets, Houston Astros, the then-California Angels and Texas Rangers.

Which MLB pitchers are in the 3,000-strikeouts club?

Here’s the list of the pitchers above 3,000 strikeouts in chronological order (year achieved in parentheses):

  • Walter Johnson, Washington Senators: 3,508 (1923)
  • Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals: 3,117 (1974)
  • Gaylord Perry, San Diego Padres: 3,534 (1978)
  • Nolan Ryan, Houston Astros: 5,714 (1980)
  • Tom Seaver, Cincinnati Reds: 3,640 (1981)
  • Steve Carlton, Philadelphia Phillies: 4,136 (1981)
  • Ferguson Jenkins, Chicago Cubs: 3,192 (1982)
  • Don Sutton, Milwaukee Brewers: 3.574 (1983)
  • Phil Niekro, New York Yankees: 3,342 (1984)
  • Bert Blyleven, Minnesota Twins: 3,701 (1986)
  • Roger Clemens, Toronto Blue Jays: 4,672 (1998)
  • Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks: 4,875 (2000)
  • Greg Maddux, Chicago Cubs: 3,371 (2005)
  • Curt Schilling, Boston Red Sox: 3,116 (2006)
  • Pedro Martinez, New York Mets: 3,154 (2007)
  • John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves: 3,084 (2008)
  • CC Sabathia, New York Yankees (2019)
  • Justin Verlander, Houston Astros: 3,471 and counting (2019)
  • Max Scherzer, Los Angeles Dodgers: 3,419 and counting (2021)
  • Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers: 3,000 and counting (2025)

Which active MLB pitchers are in the 3,000-strikeouts club?

Alongside Kershaw, Justin Verlander of the San Francisco Giants and Max Scherzer of the Blue Jays are the active pitchers in the club.

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Warriors reportedly among seven teams included in Kevin Durant-to-Rockets trade

Warriors reportedly among seven teams included in Kevin Durant-to-Rockets trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Former Warriors great Kevin Durant is on the move again, and Golden State could play a part in facilitating the move for the former NBA MVP.

The Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns are working on expanding the blockbuster Durant trade to include an NBA-record seven teams, with the Warriors being among them, The Athletic’s Fred Katz reported Wednesday.

The Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves are the other teams that reportedly could be worked into the deal.

The initial report on June 22 stated Houston would send guards Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, along with a slew of draft picks — including the No. 10 overall selection in 2025 — to Phoenix in exchange for Durant.

With potentially five additional teams in the mix, it’s unclear what the final compensation might be for the superstar scorer, or what the franchises being worked in the deal can expect as part of the deal.

After the Warriors reportedly pursued Durant before striking a deal with the Miami Heat for Jimmy Butler before the 2025 trade deadline, Golden State still might be involved in a transaction including Durant after all.

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How will Mazzulla handle adversity? Mannix and Forsberg weigh in

How will Mazzulla handle adversity? Mannix and Forsberg weigh in originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Joe Mazzulla’s fourth season as Boston Celtics head coach will be his most challenging yet.

The Celtics parted ways with key contributors Jrue Holiday (trade), Kristaps Porzingis (trade), and Luke Kornet (free agency) this offseason as they shed salary to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. Veteran big man Al Horford could be next to leave in free agency, and superstar Jayson Tatum will miss most if not all of the 2025-26 campaign recovering from a ruptured Achilles.

That leaves Jaylen Brown and Derrick White as the top two options on an otherwise underwhelming Celtics roster. Boston signed big man Luka Garza and forward Josh Minott in free agency, but they have been end-of-the-bench options in their last three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. And while Anfernee Simons (acquired in the Holiday deal) has upside, his $27.7 million salary makes him an obvious candidate to be moved this summer.

So, how will Mazzulla handle the adversity during what’s likely to be a rocky season in Boston? Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated shared his take during the latest episode of NBC Sports Boston’s The Off C’season.

“This is the most fascinating part of this season,” Mannix said. “Because I don’t think that Joe Mazzulla is hard-wired for mediocrity. Like, how is Joe Mazzulla going to handle a four-games-in-six losing streak? Or being a .500 team with no real chance to compete? Literally ever since he took over, this team was a championship contender. …

“The answer is, I don’t know. Joe is so intense and so focused on winning every single game and every single matchup every game. He takes losses personally. He is tormented by this stuff. I think this is going to be very interesting to watch how he handles all this.”

NBC Sports Boston’s Celtics insider Chris Forsberg offered an optimistic outlook, noting that Mazzulla has embraced challenges throughout his tenure.

“I’m the other way. He loves adversity,” Forsberg said. “Some of his happiest press conferences are when they got their butt kicked. … I think this actually plays right into what Joe wants to coach.”

This upcoming season, however, Mazzulla won’t have an elite starting five to lean on. The 2025-26 Celtics almost certainly won’t break any 3-point shooting records, so Mazzulla will have to find a new approach with players who probably wouldn’t have seen the court often with the championship core still intact.

“One thing coming off that first season that he did say was that he didn’t do a great job of necessarily leaning into the younger players. He was so focused on the core and chasing a championship that he maybe lost sight of the guys that he came up coaching and trying to develop,” Forsberg added. “Invariably, this year, the biggest thing for Joe is gonna have to be — he’s actually gonna have to like a rookie. Like, he’s gonna have to play Hugo (Gonzalez) and see what he can do, and play some of these younger guys.

“That’s gonna have to be a little bit of the switch for him, where he’s just hard-wired to just chase and win. He’s gonna want to play Jaylen Brown and Derrick White 40 minutes when that might not be the best thing for this team. He should lean into the (Josh) Minotts of the world and the (Luka) Garzas of the world and let’s see what you’ve got in potential complementary pieces.”

Mazzulla will get his first look at some of his new young talent, potentially including first-rounder Hugo Gonzalez, when Celtics Summer League begins on July 11.

Watch the full episode of The Off C’season featuring Mannix, Forsberg, Drew Carter, and Kevin O’Connor below: