There’s no Atlanta Braves game today. It’s another opportunity to kick another game to late August when the Braves will be healthier aaaaaaahahahaha. No really, it could happen I guess. The injury beast might be sated for now. But there are other things going on in the meantime.
MLB
Mets (Sean Manaea) vs Phillies (Aaron Nola) at 6:40 ET on MLB.tv/MLB Network
White Sox (Bryan Hudson) vs Yankees (Ryan Weathers) at 7:05 ET on MLB.tv
Cardinals (Matthew Liberatore) vs Kansas City (Noah Cameron) at 7:40 ET on MLB.tv
Angels (TBD) vs Sacramento (Gage Jump) at 9:40 ET on MLB.tv
MiLB
Hill City vs Single-A Augusta Greenjackets at 7:05 ET on BallySport/MLB.tv
World Cup
Canada vs Qatar at 6:00 ET on Fox Sports 1/Peacock/Telemundo
Mexico vs South Korea at 9:00 ET on Fox/Peacock/Telemundo
What else?
The US Open is happening as well. Also, my kid crushed every school metric this year so we have a Nintendo Switch 2 now. Apparently you can get a $20 yearly subscription to get 60 or so retro games. So I’ll probably be knee deep in the original Zeldas pretty soon. We’re loving some Mario Party Jamboree right now. If you want to tell me what else is fun from a family game standpoint, I’m all ears.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were one of the NHL's biggest surprises this season. After entering the season expected by many to be one of the worst teams in the NHL, they instead finished second in the Metropolitan Division standings and made the playoffs.
Now, the Penguins should look to build off their momentum by putting together a strong off-season. It is clear that the Penguins have some roster needs to address if the hope to have another successful season in 2026-27. One of their top needs is a top-four left-shot defenseman.
When looking at trade candidates around the NHL that could make sense for the Penguins, Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram stands out in a major way. Byram has been generating trade interest as he enters the final season of his contract, as reported by TSN's Darren Dreger.
If the Penguins traded for Byram, he would instantly become their top left-shot defenseman. Furthermore, at just 25 years old, he could be an excellent fit on the retooling Penguins' roster. This is especially so if the Penguins could convince him to sign a long-term contract extension with them if they acquired him.
Ultimately, with the Penguins' blueline needing a boost, bringing in a star defenseman like Byram would make a lot of sense. In 82 games this season with Buffalo, the left-shot defenseman posted 11 goals, 31 assists, 42 points, and a plus-15 rating.
Thoughts on TK drinking a Michelob Ultra? | Photo by Pamela Costello/NBAE via Getty Images
In case you missed it, former Marquette guard Tyler Kolek recently won an NBA championship with the New York Knicks. It was a whole thing, as the Knicks turned into the most dominant team in NBA history (by way of aggregate margin of victory) for about six weeks and rolled through the playoffs after falling behind 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
After the Knicks won Game 5 on June 13th, New York City held a championship parade for the squad on Thursday, June 18th. At some point in the proceedings, Tyler Kolek figured out exactly why the players mostly stay on the floats or in the cars or whatever in the parade. Kolek — who did not play in the NBA Finals but still gets a ring, making him a more successful NBA player than Karl Malone — ended up wandering around down by the barricade along the street with what appears to be a Michelob Ultra bottle in his hand and celebrating with the fans.
This was fine for the first eight NYPD officers that he passed.
Turns out, in fairness, it might be hard to tell that you are an NBA player if you are a 6’2”, 195 pound white guy of relatively average build wearing a ballcap, black T-shirt, and black shorts. That’s the defense for the officer in the white uniform running over to collect Kolek. However, because Kolek did pass by eight different law enforcement officers, I feel like White Uniform Officer and his backup, Bearded Officer With Stripes, qualify as non-ball knowers here. Eight different officers watched Kolek skip on by and said “oh, that Tyler Kolek, what a scamp” and let him go. Not those guys. They tried to stop Kolek and then grab Kolek and turn it into A Whole Thing. If they knew ball, then they would have never come close to stopping the 2023 Big East Player of the Year from doing what he does best.
Thankfully there’s the guy in the matching ballcap that’s right next to Kolek at the start of the video. I’m presuming that he’s team security walking along with the parade for exactly this circumstance. He trails along and then runs up to clearly say “hey, that’s Tyler Kolek, he’s on the team.” The situation immediately de-escalates from there, so no harm, no foul.
Although…..
….. I can’t be the only one who is wondering what the presumably at least slightly intoxicated Kolek is shouting at Bearded Officer With Stripes, right?
Studying tonight's NBA Draft odds reveals a few chances at profit, though prudent predicting is likely the smartest approach ahead of Tuesday, June 23.
Even Shams Charania has been loudly shown to know nothing for sure until picks are made.
Here's why I like Darryn Peterson to be selected before Cameron Boozer, and much more.
Best NBA Draft predictions
Pick
Probability
American Odds
No. 1 Pick Traded: No
90¢
-900
Darryn Peterson over Cameron Boozer
68¢
-213
AJ Dybantsa No. 2 Pick
17¢
+488
Caleb Wilson No. 3 Pick
14¢
+614
Mikel Brown Jr. over Kingston Flemings
76¢
-317
Percentages via Kalshi.
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NBA Draft Predictions & Analysis
No. 1 Pick To Be Traded: No
-900 at Kalshi
This may seem rather obvious, but it is still underpriced.
The tanking in the 2025-26 season was so egregious that it has now sparked paradigm-shifting reforms in the NBA, changes that could have unexpected effects for a decade to come.
The Washington Wizards did not bench Trae Young and Anthony Davis upon receiving them in separate trades, only to now trade away the No. 1 pick. The Wizards see their future. It is based around this top pick, complementing Young offensively and Davis defensively for the rest of the 2020s.
With the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade done — and he would never have re-signed with the Wizards anyway — there is no one on the market that would justify even thinking about moving the No. 1 pick.
Draft matchup: Darryn Peterson vs Cameron Boozer
Pick: Darryn Peterson strong/strongstrong-213 at Kalshi/strong
No, Darryn Peterson has not visited the Utah Jazz, trying to force his way into the No. 1 pick. That looks less and less likely for Peterson, most informed minds expecting the Wizards to select AJ Dybantsa from BYU.
But that does not mean the Jazz will not take Peterson at No. 2. First of all, Utah selected Ace Bailey last year, fifth overall, without ever meeting with him. Second of all, Peterson both has a higher ceiling than Boozer does and fits the Jazz roster better.
Utah already has a massive interior presence that cannot guard wings on the perimeter in Walker Kessler, no matter what contract dispute is going to plague any headline on Kessler for the next few weeks.
Adding Cameron Boozer alongside Kessler would simply be poor roster design in the modern NBA.
No. 2 Pick: AJ Dybantsa
strong+488 at Kalshi/strong
Do not expect this. Dybantsa very much looks like the No. 1 pick. Peterson’s struggles in his one season at Kansas dampened the certainty a front office wants in a No. 1 overall pick.
But perhaps we will look back and scoff at the confusing health concerns that limited Peterson last season. He may prove to be an ironman now that he says he has figured out why cramps repeatedly sidelined him in Big 12 play.
Washington might believe that. And if it does, Dybantsa will certainly not fall past No. 2 overall, especially given the built-in fanbase he would have in Utah as a BYU product.
Peterson is priced at 21 cents to go No. 1 overall, which underscores the touch of value presented here of Dybantsa going No. 2 overall.
No. 3 Pick: Caleb Wilson
strong+614 at Kalshi/strong
Again, this is a long-shot play, but it is offered as skepticism that the Memphis Grizzlies want to invest in another big.
Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey have little in common; Boozer is by far the better and more complete player who can do much more on the court. But the Grizzlies have already made massive decisions around the belief that Edey is a player to build a franchise around, however misguided that may or may not be.
Putting Boozer next to Edey would leave Memphis exposed defensively for years to come, no matter the claimed rim protection provided by Edey. Neither Boozer nor Edey can keep up with the perimeter-driven stars that dictate the Western Conference.
That leaves the Grizzlies with two choices: Either begin to lessen Edey’s shadow on the franchise or draft someone besides Boozer.
Caleb Wilson could help fill the hole that will eventually be left by Ja Morant, whose time with the franchise continues to appear like it is winding down. Optimistically, a Wilson/Edey pick-and-roll could be a foundational piece of a functional offense.
Draft Matchup: Mikel Brown Jr. vs. Kingston Flemings
Pick: Mikel Brown Jr. strong-317 at Kalshi/strong
Mikel Brown Jr. has one of the longest track records of success among the players in this lottery. A back issue cost him a decent amount of his sole season at Louisville, but before then, Brown had already led the U.S. to a FIBA gold medal in the U19 competition last summer.
By comparison, Kingston Flemings emerged on draft boards more thanks to his one year at Houston. He was excellent, and he played up to the competition in the Cougars’ biggest games.
But in NBA front offices, they have been scouting these players for years, and Brown’s earlier successes loom large in draft evaluations.
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.
Let the collaborations between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Lakers begin!
The Dodgers quietly made a surprising declaration Wednesday night when they added a crossover Luka Dončić bobblehead in collaboration with their sister team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to their upcoming promotional nights.
The Dodgers will be giving away the Dončić bobblehead to the first 40,000 fans who attend the Friday, August 21, game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tickets for the game are currently ranging between $87–$2,338.
Luka Dončić in an NBA game with the Los Angeles Lakers. Getty Images
The Dončić bobblehead features the Slovenian baller dribbling a basketball while decked out in his Lakers uniform as he poses on a Dodgers platform.
It’s not unheard of for sports teams to have collaboration bobbleheads with other teams. Indeed, the Dodgers are giving away a Shaquille O’Neal bobblehead on Saturday, June 30, when they host the Baltimore Orioles. On July 11, they’re also collaborating with the neighboring soccer team Los Angeles Football Club by giving away a Son Heung-Min bobblehead.
But what makes the Dončić bobblehead a standout is that it will come out about a month before NBA Training Camp begins and will also mark the first full season of Dodgers owner Mark Walter being the majority owner of the Lakers.
Since then, he’s been tasked with doing to the Lakers what he did with the Dodgers: Bringing them back to their former glory.
In November, ESPN reported that Walter would be bringing in top Dodgers team president Andrew Friedman as a consultant to Lakers president of basketball operations.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
When Walter bought the Dodgers in May 2012, he inherited a historic franchise that had fallen on hard times. In his first full season as owner in 2013, the Dodgers made it all the way to the NLCS, and would then make it to back-to-back World Series in 2017 and 2018, instilling that the glory days of the Dodgers were returning.
Over the last six years, the Dodgers have won three World Series and are on the verge of winning back-to-back-to-back contests, becoming the first professional sports team to do so since the Lakers did from 2000–2002.
For the past 14 years, the Dodgers have been considered one of the best-run organizations in baseball as they have consistently been at the top of merchandise sales, fan attendance, consistently bolstered one of the best farm systems, and have created top fan experiences in baseball.
While it’s just a bobblehead, the messaging by the Dodgers corporation makes it clear: They’re going to do for the Lakers what they did with the Dodgers.
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One of the Chicago Blackhawks' top needs of the off-season is an impactful left-shot defenseman. It is clear that the left side of their blueline is in need of a real boost.
Due to this, the Blackhawks should strongly consider targeting Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram. The 25-year-old defenseman has been creating plenty of chatter in the rumor mill as of late as a trade candidate.
Recently, TSN's Darren Dreger reported that Byram is generating interest from multiple teams this off-season. Given the Blackhawks' need for a top-four left-shot defenseman, it would make sense if they entered the sweepstakes for the Sabres blueliner.
"Multiple teams exploring a trade with the Buffalo Sabres involving Dman, Bo Byram. Byram has 1 yr left on his contract before becoming an unrestricted Free Agent. Agent, Darren Ferris has some history with marching players to the open market. Motivation for trade consideration," Dreger posted on X.
If the Blackhawks acquired Byram, he could be a strong fit on the their top pairing and would give them a clear option for both their power play and penalty kill because of his strong all-around play. Yet, even if he played second-pairing minutes for the Blackhawks, he would greatly improve their top four if acquired.
In 82 games this past season with the Sabres, Byram scored 11 goals and set new career highs with 42 points and a plus-15 rating. He also had four goals and seven points in 13 playoff games for the Sabres this spring. With numbers like these, he would be a strong pickup for a Blackhawks club looking to take that next step in 2026-27.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 18: Brooks Lee #22 of the Minnesota Twins is congratulated by Tristan Gray #4 after hitting a three run home run during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on June 18, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Twins looked to secure their third series sweep of the season, this time in Arlington against the Texas Rangers. The Twins offense continued their being hot from Tuesday night and the bullpen didn’t screw it up too much while the Rangers made a valiant effort.
The game started off on the right foot as Trevor Larnach and Kody Clemens each got on base with a single in the top of the first off of Texas starter Jack Leither. Believe it or not, with two outs, Josh Bell got a grounder through the infield to bring in Larnach and Brooks Lee put the Twins ahead big with a three-run shot to give Minnesota a cushy 4-0 lead before the home team got to the bat rack.
Larnach made another contribution in the fourth inning with a homer of his own, this one of the two-run variety, which knocked Leiter out of the game after the end of the inning with a 6-0 Twins lead. Minnesota struck again in the sixth with another Larnach contribution – this time an RBI single off of southpaw Robby Ahlstrom – to bring the score to 7-0. A Ryan Kreidler homer in the top of the eighth off of Cal Quantrill added two more runs to the Twins’ total.
Meanwhile, Joe Ryan labored through his start today. He limited the Rangers to three hits, a couple of free passes, and notched seven strikeouts, dropping his ERA below 3. However, he only went through five innings today on 97 pitches. He used his four-seam fastball much more compared to his other starts this season. Justin Lawrence was called in for the sixth and allowed two solo homers to Wyatt Langford and Ezequiel Duran, but otherwise escaped unscathed.
The bullpen escaped a couple of jams in the seventh and eighth innings, keeping the heart rates of Twins Territory up just a little bit more than normal. Cody Laweryson allowed a homer to Justin Foscue, but finished out the game without allowing any more runs, securing the sweep for the Twins with a 9-3 win.
The Twins travel to the desert for a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA) answers the call for the Twins while veteran Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11 ERA) will go for the D-backs. Put on the pot of coffee (or do a keg stand and keep the party going) as game time is 845p Central.
May 5, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates with teammate Tyrone Taylor (15) after hitting a three run home run in the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Two of the myriad Mets on the Injured List will begin their rehab assignments on the way back to the majors this weekend, as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies will host both Francisco Lindor and Tyrone Taylor starting on Friday.
Lindor has been on the IL since April 23 with a calf strain, a similar, but more severe, version of the injury that had Juan Soto on the shelf earlier this season. Lindor’s injury has affected the Mets in many ways, whether it is on the defenisve side of the game, necessitating a positional shift from Bo Bichette and some appearances from quad-A players like Vidal Brujan and Zack Short, or the lack of a keystone bat in the middle of their lineup.
The five-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner, and four time Silver Slugger was hitting .226/.314/.355 to start the season.
When Lindor is ready to play, there’s no doubt that he will be a regular part of the Mets’ lineup going forward. That is less likely for Taylor, who already lost playing time to A.J. Ewing when he was called up on May 12. Taylor, a glove-first outfielder with limited offensive potential, is in his age 32 season, was hitting just .186/.210/.320 when he went down on May 26 with a hip flexor injury.
Since both MJ Melenedez and Eric Wagaman still have minor league options, it seems likely that one of them would be sent down to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Taylor, at least in the interim.
The Rumble Ponies face the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at 7:05pm. The game will be available to stream on MiLB.tv.
Jun 18, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) dives but cannot catch a ball hit by Minnesota Twins catcher Victor Caratini (not pictured) during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Texas Rangers scored three runs while the Minnesota Twins scored nine runs.
Just passing through to say the Rangers lost.
The Twins hit a home run in the first inning of each game in this series.
The Twins never trailed in any of the 27 innings in this series.
The Twins won each game in this series by an average of like five runs.
The Rangers were outscored 25-7 in this series.
Jack Leiter allowed six runs in four innings, including four runs in the first inning.
Alrighty, back to watching the World Cup.
Player of the Game: Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran, and Justin Foscue each hit a solo home run so take your pick.
Up Next: With today’s game the Rangers have ignited a hellish stretch of 15 games in 15 days that will take them through June. Next up in that stretch is a home series against the Padres. RHP Jacob deGrom will pitch for Texas in the opener against RHP Randy Vásquez for San Diego.
The Friday evening first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 7:05 pm CDT and you can catch the game on the Rangers Sports Network.
Carson Benge – RF Bo Bichette – SS Juan Soto – LF Jared Young – 1B A.J. Ewing – CF Marcus Semien – 2B Brett Baty – 3B MJ Melendez – DH Francisco Alvarez – C
England captain Ben Stokes could return to Test duty as soon as next week’s series finale against New Zealand, several British media outlets reported Thursday.
Aug 6, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill (29) and catcher William Contreras (24) react after defeating the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are back on the road, as they’ll head to Georgia to take on the Atlanta Braves in a three-game series against the NL East’s top team. Milwaukee, fresh off a pair of series wins against the Phillies and Guardians, sits in first place in the NL Central, while the Braves, with a nearly identical record to the Crew, sit ahead of the Phillies in the East.
Milwaukee’s injuries include Brandon Woodruff (expected to return next week), Coleman Crow (July), DL Hall (late July), Logan Henderson (early July), Jared Koenig (could return in the next week), Rob Zastryzny (late June/early July), Brian Fitzpatrick (likely out for the season), Carlos Rodriguez (TBD), and season-ending injuries to pitchers Quinn Priester and Angel Zerpa. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge is also nearing a rehab assignment, meaning we could see him in late June/early July.
Atlanta is currently without pitchers Spencer Strider (TBD), Joe Jiménez (out for season), AJ Smith-Shawver (out until at least late 2026), Spencer Schwellenbach (late 2026), Danny Young (post-All-Star break), and Joey Wentz (out for season). Infielder Kyle Farmer is out with a forearm strain, catcher Sean Murphy is out until late July with a fractured finger, outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is eligible to return this weekend (though it’s unclear if he’ll be ready at the 10-day mark), and outfielder Michael Harris II is listed as day to day with back tightness.
Jake Bauers leads Milwaukee’s offense with 13 homers, though Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio aren’t far behind at 11 and 10, respectively. Chourio has been the best hitter on the team since returning from injury, hitting over .300 over his 38 games. Gary Sánchez and William Contreras have also provided some pop behind the plate, and Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, Andrew Vaughn, Joey Ortiz, David Hamilton, and rookie Cooper Pratt round out the squad. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .254/.340/.395 (.735 OPS ranks eighth), with 67 homers (26th), 383 runs (third), and 72 steals (third).
Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin are raking for the Braves, as Olson is hitting .276/.346/.552 with a team-high 20 homers and 19 doubles, and Baldwin, a Wisconsin native who missed the last few weeks, has 14 homers and is slashing .298/.381/.540 after winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2025. Harris has also had a resurgence, while Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley also provide some pop. Ha-Seong Kim, Mauricio Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski, and Dominic Smith round out the starters, with former Brewer Rowdy Tellez, Eli White, Jorge Mateo, and Sandy León serving as depth. As a team, the Braves are hitting .254/.320/.423 (.743 OPS ranks sixth), with 97 homers (sixth), 366 runs (sixth), and 39 steals (tied for 22nd).
Aaron Ashby leads Milwaukee’s bullpen with 33 appearances, pitching to a 2.80 ERA, perfect 10-0 record, and 61 strikeouts over 45 innings. Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, and Chad Patrick round out the Brewers’ “A” bullpen, while Craig Yoho, Joel Kuhnel, and Drew Rom are the “B” bullpen, with Grant Anderson fitting somewhere in the middle. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.43 team ERA (fourth), including a 3.39 starter ERA (fourth) and a 3.48 bullpen ERA (ninth). They’ve struck out 708 batters (first) over 645 1/3 innings.
Dylan Lee leads Atlanta’s bullpen with 33 appearances, pitching to a stellar 1.14 ERA with 40 strikeouts over 31 2/3 innings. Just about all of their bullpen has been great, in face, as closer Raisel Iglesias (1.16 ERA) is perfect across 14 save chances, Robert Suarez (0.59 ERA) has allowed just two runs over 30 2/3 innings, and Didier Fuentes (2.25 ERA over 28 IP), Reynaldo López (3.76 ERA over 40 2/3 IP), Dylan Dodd (2.08 ERA over 17 1/3 IP), James Karinchak (0.00 ERA over 3 IP), and Carlos Carrasco (3.46 ERA over 13 IP) have also been solid. As a staff, the Braves have a 3.39 team ERA (third), including a 3.73 starter ERA (fifth) and a 2.91 bullpen ERA (first). They’ve struck out 630 batters (12th) over 649 2/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, June 19 @ 6:15 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (8-2, 1.34 ERA, 1.68 FIP) vs. LHP Martín Pérez (5-3, 2.90 ERA, 3.82 FIP)
Misiorowski continues to dominate all opponents, as he’s among league leaders in just about every major category to this point. He leads the league in ERA (1.34), FIP (1.68), WHIP (1.68), and strikeouts (131) across 87 innings over 14 starts this season. He’s coming off the best start of his career, as he threw a 95-pitch complete game shutout with just one hit allowed and 15 strikeouts, also facing the minimum thanks to a double play. This marks Miz’s first career start against the Braves.
Pérez, 35, is in his 15th MLB season and with his seventh team, as he’s had a resurgence with the Braves this year. An All-Star for the first and only time in 2022 with Texas, Pérez has been about as good as he was that season, pitching to a 2.90 ERA, 3.82 FIP, and 51 strikeouts over 62 innings this season. He’s earned the win in each of his last three outings, allowing six runs over 15 1/3 innings (3.52 ERA) on 11 hits and six walks while striking out 11. Pérez has made five career appearances (four starts) against Milwaukee, with an 0-3 record, 8.54 ERA, and 16 strikeouts over 26 1/3 innings.
Saturday, June 20 @ 3:10 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.47 ERA, 3.05 FIP) vs. LHP Chris Sale (8-5, 2.30 ERA, 2.82 FIP)
If Harrison pitched for just about any other team, he’d be considered the ace of the staff. Thanks to Miz, however, he’s a measly No. 2, even with an 8-1 record, 2.47 ERA, and 3.05 FIP this year. He’s struck out 80 batters over 65 2/3 innings spanning 13 starts, and he also has solid peripherals. He’s coming off a nice bounce-back outing against the Phillies, outpitching Philadelphia ace Cristopher Sánchez as he went six scoreless innings with three hits, a hit batter, and no walks allowed, striking out three on 80 pitches. Harrison’s only appearance against Atlanta came while he was with the Giants in 2024, as he went five innings and allowed three runs on six hits and two walks, striking out six in a no-decision.
Sale, 37, is another lefty veteran for Atlanta, as he’s in his 16th MLB season with his third team. The NL Cy Young winner in 2024, Sale has a 2.30 ERA, 2.82 FIP, and 92 strikeouts over 78 1/3 innings this season. He’s coming off back-to-back losses, though, as he allowed five runs over 11 1/3 innings (3.97 ERA) on 16 hits and three walks, striking out 12 against the Blue Jays and White Sox. Sale is a perfect 2-0 over five career appearances against Milwaukee, with a 1.89 ERA and 45 strikeouts over 33 1/3 innings.
Sunday, June 21 @ 12:35 p.m.: LHP Robert Gasser (0-3, 4.88 ERA, 6.10 FIP) vs. RHP Bryce Elder (5-4, 3.15 ERA, 3.75 FIP)
Gasser, who had a great start to his career in 2024, hasn’t quite found the same magic in 2026, though he is coming off his best start of the year. While he has an 0-3 record, 4.88 ERA, 6.10 FIP, and 24 strikeouts over 24 innings this year, he looked much better than those numbers indicate against the Guardians on Tuesday night, tossing 5 2/3 scoreless frames with two hits and two walks allowed, striking out five on 92 pitches as he took the no-decision in a 2-1 victory. This marks Gasser’s first career start against the Braves.
Elder, 27, is in his fifth MLB season, all with the Braves. After earning an All-Star selection in 2023, he struggled in 2024 and 2025, but he’s bounced back nicely thus far in 2026. Across 15 starts, Elder has a 3.15 ERA, 3.75 FIP, and 73 strikeouts over 88 2/3 innings. He got roughed up against the Mets in his last appearance, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks with just two strikeouts over four-plus innings in an 8-1 loss. Elder has made four career starts against Milwaukee, with a 2-1 record, 4.30 ERA, and 18 strikeouts over 23 innings.
How to Watch & Listen
Friday, June 19: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, June 20: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, June 21: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
This will be a fun series featuring a few high-profile pitching matchups, two solid offenses, and two division-leading squads. I’ll give the Braves home-field advantage as they take two of three.
One of the Montreal Canadiens' top goals of the off-season should be to find an upgrade for their second-line center spot. It would be huge for the Habs to bring in another high-impact center as their Stanley Cup contender window is starting to open.
In a recent article for The Athletic, Arpon Basu named Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha as a potential trade fit for the Canadiens as they look to improve their forward group.
"One example of a player who might be available for a trade is Boston Bruins centre Pavel Zacha, with one year left on his contract at age 29. A left shot to complement Nick Suzuki, strong in the faceoff circle and able to play on both special teams, Zacha would be a great fit," Basu wrote.
When looking at the season Zacha just had for the Bruins, he would certainly have the potential to be a nice pickup for the Canadiens if acquired. In 78 games with the Bruins this season, he set new career highs 30 goals, 35 assists, and 65 points. He has also recorded at least 57 points in three out of his last four seasons. With numbers like these, he could slot nicely as Montreal's second-line center.
The Canadiens rarely make trades with the Bruins due to their historic rivalry. Although this is the case, it would make sense for Montreal to try to land Zacha this summer. It will be interesting to see if they target him from here.
Last night the Cubs were able to take a series from the Colorado Rockies after winning 8-6 at Wrigley Field. However, the devil was really in the details of this particular victory. The Cubs were up 8-2 when the game was turned over to the bullpen, who surrendered a total of four runs in the final two frames to make what had looked like a comfortable victory look a lot closer by the end.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Cubs are going to have to win quite a few more games by putting a lot of crooked numbers on the board. They have been absolutely devastated by pitching injuries to this point in 2026. Despite heroic performances moving from the bullpen (or the minors) into the rotation from Ben Brown, Colin Rea and Javier Assad, the hits just keep coming for the starting rotation and the pen. Just look at this:
This isn’t new territory for the 2026 Chicago Cubs. Honestly, the theme of 2026 might as well be pitchers on the injured list on the North Side of Chicago. The problem is that the elite run creation the team put up in March and April really fell off a cliff as the calendar turned to May and unfortunately it doesn’t look like it’s recovered so far in June:
June looks a little bit better than May on the W/L front, but the run differential tells a different story. It still looks like the offensive juggernaut that existed during the early part of the season has completely collapsed. Not only are the Cubs scoring fewer runs per game, their pitching is giving up more runs than they gave up early in the season.
I’d love last night’s 8-spot against the Rockies to be a signal that the Cubs offense has turned a corner. With closer Daniel Palencia joining pretty much all of what was supposed to be the preseason A-bullpen on the injured list, it’s hard to see a path for this Cubs team to put many W’s on the board unless they score more. It doesn’t seem particularly realistic to expect a rotation of number four and five starters, followed by a bullpen of guys who were supposed to be used in cleanup duty and middle relief to win games without substantially more offense than the Cubs have seen in the last month and half.
Barring a trade, the pitching ranks in Chicago look pretty thin. Fortunately, Matthew Boyd is heading out on a rehab assignment this weekend. Maybe he will be back to help the club within a week or so. They sure could use all the run-prevention help they can get.
