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Braves ride unexpected contributions into finale vs. Mets

Jun 13, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II (23) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against New York Mets relief pitcher Austin Warren (44) during the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesJun 13, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II (23) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against New York Mets relief pitcher Austin Warren (44) during the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Braves lost a right fielder with a Most Valuable Player trophy on his mantle and a starting pitcher with a 20-win season on his resume within a three-day span this week.

But Eli White and Martin Perez proved the sturdiness of the Braves’ B squad on Saturday afternoon.

The Braves will look to earn a series win on Sunday afternoon when they visit the New York Mets in the finale of a three-game set.

Bryce Elder (5-3, 2.66 ERA) is slated to start for Atlanta against fellow right-hander Freddy Peralta (4-5, 4.04) of New York on Sunday.

White homered and had two RBIs while Perez earned the win by tossing 5 1/3 solid innings Saturday in the Braves’ 3-1 victory.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Braves, whose mini-skid was further marred by Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider heading to the injured list. Acuna, who won the National League MVP award in 2023, sustained a strained left hamstring trying to leg out an infield single against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night. Strider, a 20-game winner in 2023, exited Friday’s start with right elbow soreness.

But White, manning right field Saturday, finished with three hits — one fewer than he had in his previous 20 at-bats dating back to May 9.

The 35-year old Perez lowered his ERA to 2.90 after allowing two runs or fewer for the seventh time in 10 starts. He has become a rotation mainstay with Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep sidelined since spring training.

“The guys who don’t play every day, they’ve been big for us,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “When they get a chance to play, they help us win games.”

Injuries have decimated the Mets, who are in last place in the NL East at 31-39. Opening Day starters Francisco Lindor (left calf), Jorge Polanco (left Achilles) and Luis Robert Jr. (back) are on the injured list while Juan Soto (right calf) and Francisco Alvarez (right knee) also spent time on the shelf.

Soto and Bo Bichette had two hits apiece Saturday, but the rest of the Mets lineup went 2-for-23. Soto was stranded at second in the ninth inning after Alvarez hit into a game-ending double play.

“We have been having a lot of tough times with the injuries,” Soto said.

One of the Braves’ first surprise contributors was Elder, who had a 5.59 ERA the previous two seasons but was pressed into the Opening Day rotation when Schwellenbach and Waldrep suffered elbow injuries in February.

Elder continued his strong season in his most recent start last Sunday, when he didn’t factor into the decision after allowing two runs over six innings in the Braves’ 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Elder is 3-0 with a 3.94 ERA in six career games (five starts) against the Mets.

Peralta took the loss Tuesday night after giving up six runs over six innings in the Mets’ 7-0 setback to the St. Louis Cardinals.

He is 5-2 with a 4.26 ERA in nine games (eight starts) against the Braves.

–Field Level Media

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MLB roundup: Guardians spoil return of Tigers ace Tarik Skubal

Jun 13, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Cade Smith (36) and catcher Austin Hedges (27) slap hands following the win against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn ImagesJun 13, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Cade Smith (36) and catcher Austin Hedges (27) slap hands following the win against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Daniel Schneemann hit a two-run homer off Tarik Skubal, spoiling the American League Cy Young Award winner’s return from left elbow surgery, as the Cleveland Guardians beat the visiting Detroit Tigers 3-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Skubal (3-3), making his first start since April 29, pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits. The impending free agent struck out four, walked one and hit a batter while throwing 80 pitches.

Guardians starter Joey Cantillo (5-3) retired the final nine batters he faced in a five-inning, one-run outing. The lefty gave up six hits and struck out four without issuing a walk, winning for the first time since May 21 at the Tigers.

Schneemann gave Cleveland a 3-1 lead in the third with his 417-foot shot to right field, scoring Jose Ramirez, who left the game later and is set to be placed on the injured list with a broken hamate bone in his left hand. Dillon Dingler singled in Gleyber Torres in the first for the Tigers, but gifted the Guardians the tying run in the second by throwing the ball into left field on an attempted steal of third base by Travis Bazzana.

Dodgers 7, White Sox 1

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s no-hit and shutout bids were broken up by Tristan Peters’ homer leading off the bottom of the ninth, but Los Angeles cruised past host Chicago.

Yamamoto (7-4) only allowed the home run, did not walk a batter and struck out seven in 8 1/3 innings. He retired the first 23 White Sox batters. Max Muncy hit two two-run homers, was 3-for-3 to lead the onslaught. Shohei Ohtani homered, scored two runs and walked three times while Kyle Tucker drove in two runs for the Dodgers.

White Sox starter Sean Burke (3-4) gave up four runs on six hits in four innings with five walks and six strikeouts. Chicago had its eight-game home winning streak snapped.

Cardinals 9, Twins 6

Ivan Herrera hit two home runs, with the second sparking a five-run seventh inning for St. Louis, which posted a victory over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

The Cardinals broke a 4-4 tie with a five-run outburst in as many batters in the seventh. After Herrera and Jordan Walker delivered back-to-back two-out solo homers, Blaze Jordan capped the inning with his first major league long ball, a three-run shot. Matt Svanson (2-1) was perfect in 1 2/3 innings of relief for the Cardinals.

Royce Lewis hit his third home run in his last four games for the Twins. Byron Buxton hit his 22nd home run and Luke Keaschall added a two-run shot. Justin Lawrence (0-3) struck out the first two Cardinals he faced in the seventh before allowing four of the five runs.

Padres 9, Orioles 3

Jackson Merrill and Samad Taylor hit two-run home runs in the first inning as San Diego posted a victory against host Baltimore.

Gavin Sheets, Rodolfo Duran and Manny Machado also homered as part of San Diego’s five-homer outburst while starter Randy Vasquez (6-4) brushed off a rough first inning to pick up the victory. Taylor finished with three of the team’s 10 hits and recorded three RBIs.

Pete Alonso homered, provided a run-scoring double and came a triple short of the cycle. Blaze Alexander also notched three hits for the Orioles, who had a three-game winning streak end.

Yankees 3, Blue Jays 1

Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning and visiting New York defeated Toronto.

Louis Varland (3-2) allowed Cody Bellinger’s bloop single to center to open the ninth. Goldschmidt followed by smashing an 0-1 knuckle curve to left for his ninth home run of the season. David Bednar struck out the side in the home ninth to earn his 14th save, as the Yankees earned a split of the first two games of the three-game series.

Fernando Cruz (4-1) survived three walks in the eighth to get the win. Kazuma Okamoto hit a solo homer for the Blue Jays.

Pirates 3, Marlins 2

Spencer Horwitz’s bases-loaded hit by pitch in the eighth inning was the difference as host Pittsburgh beat Miami.

Tyler Callihan and Jake Mangum tagged Anthony Bender (1-1) for singles and then Jared Triolo drew a walk to bring Horwitz to the plate, whom Bender plunked with the first pitch of the at-bat to give the Pirates the lead. The victory was just the second in the past eight games for Pittsburgh.

Yohan Ramirez (4-2) allowed the first two hitters he faced to reach base in the top of the eighth, but he escaped the jam with no runs allowed. The loss snapped a season-best string of six straight victories for the Marlins, whose scoring came in the form of a pair of RBI singles by Liam Hicks and Heriberto Hernandez. Otto Lopez was 2-for-3 with a walk.

Red Sox 6, Rangers 3

Ceddanne Rafaela hit a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning to lead Boston to a win over visiting Texas.

Jarren Duran hit a two-run home run and Rafaela had two hits and two RBIs. Isiah Kiner-Falefa had two hits and two runs and Willson Contreras was 2-for-4 with a double for the Red Sox. Garrett Whitlock (4-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out one. Aroldis Chapman threw a scoreless ninth for his 14th save.

Jake Burger hit his 12th home run, Wyatt Langford was 3-for-5 with an RBI and Nicky Lopez had two hits for the Rangers.

Nationals 8, Mariners 3

Luis Garcia Jr. hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the fifth inning and Washington defeated visiting Seattle.

CJ Abrams had three hits, drove in two runs and scored twice for the Nationals, who had lost two straight. Starter Cade Cavalli (4-4) picked up the win, allowing three runs on four hits over five innings.

The Mariners capped off a game-tying three-run fifth with Colt Emerson’s second homer in as many days and sixth of the season. Luis Castillo (2-6) gave up five runs (two earned) on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Reds 2, Diamondbacks 1

Noelvi Marte blasted a tie-breaking solo home run in the eighth and Cincinnati held on for a win against visiting Arizona in the second game of their three-game series.

Juan Morillo (1-3) replaced Diamondbacks starter Michael Soroka to start the eighth and served up Marte’s second home run of the season to left-center field with one out to break the 1-1 tie. Reds starter Rhett Lowder went 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run and five hits while striking out six and walking two.

Caleb Ferguson and Chase Petty (1-1) combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief before Tony Santillan closed in the ninth for his third save. Cincinnati had dropped seven of eight.

Braves 3, Mets 1

Martin Perez continued his resurgence by giving up one run over 5 1/3 innings, and Atlanta edged host New York in the middle game of a three-game series between the National League East rivals.

Eli White went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs, while Michael Harris II homered in the eighth for the Braves, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Perez (5-3) gave up one run on four hits and one walk while striking out four over 5 1/3 innings.

Mark Vientos had a sixth-inning RBI single for the Mets, who fell to 2-3 on a homestand slated to conclude Sunday. New York starter Sean Manaea (1-2), who made his first 14 appearances this season out of the bullpen, allowed two runs on four hits and no walks while striking out six over six innings.

Phillies 9, Brewers 8

J.T. Realmuto homered and drove in four runs as Philadelphia held on for a road victory over Milwaukee.

Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh, Edmundo Sosa and Realmuto had three hits apiece for the Phillies, who registered a season-high 17 hits after getting one-hit by Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski on Friday. Bryson Stott contributed two hits, two RBIs and two runs. Left-hander Tim Mayza (2-1) allowed one hit in one-third inning and earned the win for Philadelphia, which has captured eight of its last 11 games.

Jackson Chourio homered twice as part of a 4-for-5 night for Milwaukee. Garrett Mitchell also homered for the Brewers, while William Contreras had three hits for the hosts. Shane Drohan (3-2) was charged with four runs and eight hits in five-plus frames.

Angels 8, Rays 0

Jo Adell went 4-for-5 with a double and three runs scored, and Jose Siri hit a two-run homer as Los Angeles pounded out 15 hits in an 8-0 victory over Tampa Bay in Anaheim, Calif.

Denzer Guzman went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, and Donovan Walton had a double and three hits with two RBIs. Nolan Schanuel also had two hits and two runs scored for the Angels, who won their fourth straight and for the fifth time in six games. Jose Soriano (8-4) allowed three hits, walked two and struck out five.

Rays starter Griffin Jax (1-5) suffered the loss despite allowing just one unearned run on five hits over five innings while striking out five without a walk. The victory clinched the second straight home series win for Los Angeles, the first time that has happened since June 5-11, 2025, against Seattle and the Athletics.

Athletics 7, Rockies 5

Zack Gelof homered and singled to extend his hitting streak to 17 games and the surging Athletics beat Colorado in Las Vegas.

Alika Williams had three hits, Henry Bolte had two hits and Jose Suarez (1-2) tossed 1 2/3 innings of relief for the A’s, who have won four straight in their first homestand at their future home city. Elvis Alvarado got the final three outs for his second save.

Brett Sullivan homered and TJ Rumfield and Troy Johnston had two hits each for the Rockies, who have lost three in a row and seven of nine. Starter Kyle Freeland (1-7) allowed six runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Astros 8, Royals 7

Christian Walker hit one of Houston’s four homers and reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed the tiebreaking run to score in the ninth in a win over host Kansas City.

Jose Altuve, Jake Meyers, Brice Matthews and Walker homered for the Astros, while Yordan Alvarez had three hits. In the ninth, the Astros had runners on first and third with one out when Alex Lange (0-4) got Walker to bounce into a potential 6-4-3 double play, but second baseman Nick Loftin’s throw was wide of first, allowing the go-ahead run to score. Bryan King (1-1) pitched a scoreless with a strikeout.

Carter Jensen’s three-run double in the sixth gave the Royals a 7-5 edge. Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. doubled, for his third hit, in the ninth, but he was doubled off second on Isaac Collins’ liner to end the game.

Cubs 6, Giants 1

Pete Crow-Armstrong hit the first pitch of the game for a home run, Ben Brown beefed up his All-Star credentials with five solid innings and visiting Chicago thumped San Francisco for a second straight win in their three-game series.

Rookie Pedro Ramirez smacked his first career homer and Ian Happ added a third for the Cubs, who also had four doubles amongst their 11 hits. Brown (3-2) pitched into and out of trouble for 15 outs, limiting the Giants to one run despite serving up seven hits and three walks.

San Francisco went 0-for-7 in the game with runners in scoring position, all while Brown was on the mound. The Giants’ only run came in the third when Drew Gilbert walked and came around on a Luis Arraez triple. Trevor McDonald (2-4) was charged with four runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

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Spurs, Thunder tied for best 2026-27 title odds; Knicks fourth

May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) goes in for a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the first half during game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn ImagesMay 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) goes in for a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the first half during game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images

The New York Knicks are in the midst of celebrating an underdog run to the franchise’s first NBA title in 53 years which concluded Saturday night in San Antonio.

The Knicks again will have to beat the odds to repeat as champs — at least according to the opening odds for the 2026-27 NBA Championship winner which were released shortly after the season concluded.

New York opened not with the best, second- or third-best odds to win next year’s championship, according to DraftKings. Instead, New York has the fourth-best odds to win it all at +700.

Instead, it’s the top teams which met in the Western Conference finals in the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won the 2024-25 league title, and the San Antonio Spurs, who lost this year’s NBA Finals in five games. The squads opened tied for the best odds to win next year’s championship at +250.

The Boston Celtics, who earned the No. 2 seed this season before a surprising first-round exit, are the other Eastern Conference team in the top tier of odds to win the 2026-27 title at +550.

After the Knicks, the odds fall precipitously to the Indiana Pacers and Denver Nuggets at +2800, and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at +3000.

Alone with the worst odds? That would be the Sacramento Kings, who are at +100000 to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy next summer.

2026-27 NBA title odds (DraftKings)

Spurs +250

Thunder +250

Celtics +550

Knicks +700

Pacers +2800

Nuggets +2800

Timberwolves +3000

Lakers +3000

Pistons +3000

Cavaliers +3000

Heat +4000

Warriors +4500

76ers +5500

Rockets +6000

Clippers +7500

Magic +8000

Trail Blazers +9000

Hornets +9000

Raptors +10000

Hawks +10000

Wizards +12000

Mavericks +12000

Suns +12000

Jazz +20000

Pelicans +25000

Bucks +25000

Nets +25000

Grizzlies +50000

Bulls +75000

Kings +100000

–Field Level Media

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Team Spirit, FURIA first to clinch IEM Cologne playoff spots

YMCA member Austin Manengu works the keyboard as he plays a game of Fortnite during the unveiling of the new gaming lab at the Maplewood Family YMCA in Rochester Thursday, June 20, 2024. YMCA of Greater Rochester in partnership with Metro Sports & Entertainment Group will open two gaming labs for youth and teens this year.YMCA member Austin Manengu works the keyboard as he plays a game of Fortnite during the unveiling of the new gaming lab at the Maplewood Family YMCA in Rochester Thursday, June 20, 2024. YMCA of Greater Rochester in partnership with Metro Sports & Entertainment Group will open two gaming labs for youth and teens this year.

Team Spirit and FURIA punched their tickets to the playoffs of the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major with their third consecutive Stage 3 victories on Saturday in Germany.

Team Spirit, which earned a bye to Stage 2, and FURIA, which earned a bye to Stage 3, are the first two teams to clinch playoff spots with Round 3 high-match victories. Spirit did so with a 2-1 defeat of 9z Team while FURIA swept BetBoom Team 2-0 to advance.

In other Saturday action, B8 and PARIVISION were the first two teams eliminated from Stage after losing Round 3 low matches. B8 fell 2-1 to FUT Esports while PARIVISION lost 2-0 to Legacy.

At the start of Stage 3, 16 teams were still standing at the Counter-Strike 2 tournament that began with 32 entrants, competing for their share of a $1.25 million prize pool with the grand final scheduled for June 21. The champion receives $500,000.

Stage 3 utilizes a Swiss System format and all matches are best-of-three. The top eight finishers will proceed to the playoffs next week.

Team Spirit rallied for its victory on Saturday, winning 16-13 on Mirage and 16-14 on Dust II after 9z Team opened the match with a 16-12 win on Overpass. Danil “donk” Kryshkovets of Russia led Spirit with 77 kills and a plus-28 kill-death differential in the triumph.

FURIA had less trouble winning their match against BetBoom Team to clinch a playoff spot, running off consecutive 13-6 wins on Overpass and Dust II. Latvia’s Mareks “YEKINDAR” Galinskis led FURIA with 39 kills, and Brazilian Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato had a team-best plus-17 K-D differential.

FUT Esports rallied to remain in contention, dropping the opener 13-10 on Dust II to B8 before rattling off a 13-9 Mirage win followed by a clinching 13-11 Ancient victory. Dmytro “dem0n” Myroshnychenko of Ukraine carried FUT with 58 kills and the only positive K-D differential (plus-10) on the squad.

Legacy swept PARIVISION behind a 16-12 win on Inferno and a 16-13 Dust II triumph. Bruno “latto” Rebelatto led the all-Brazilian Legacy team in kills (52) and a plus-20 K-D differential.

In Round 3 mid matches on Saturday where teams were neither eliminated nor advanced, Natus Vincere edged The MongolZ 2-1, Team Falcons beat Monte 2-1, Aurora Gaming swept G2 Esports 2-0 and Team Vitality outlasted MOUZ 2-1.

On Sunday, three Round 4 high matches will be contested for playoff spots while three Round 4 low matches will eliminate teams before three final Round 5 matches on Monday lock in the playoff field.

Sunday schedule

Round 4 high matches (advancement)

BetBoom Team vs. Team Vitality

Aurora Gaming vs. 9z Team

Natus Vincere vs. Team Falcons

Round 4 low matches (elimination)

MOUZ vs. FUT Esports

The MongolZ vs. Monte

G2 Esports vs. Legacy

Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major prize pool

1. $500,000

2. $170,000

3-4. $80,000

5-8. $45,000

9-11. $15,000

12-14. $15,000

15-16. $15,000 — B8, PARIVISION

17-19. $10,000 — paiN Gaming, TYLOO, BIG

20-22. $10,000 — MIBR, M80, Astralis

23-24. $10,000 — GamerLegion, FlyQuest

25-27. $5,000 — Lynn Vision Gaming, NRG, Team Liquid

28-30. $5,000 — THUNDERdOWNUNDER, Sharks Esports, HEROIC

31-32. $5,000 — Gaimin Gladiators, SINNERS Esports

–Field Level Media

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