Baseball: A’s win 2 games. Weekly highlights. Standings.
Baseball/Softball-NCAA: Softball Final is set! Noles vs Sooners. Baseball Regionals are in progress. Supers coming this weekend.
Basketball-NBA: Tied through 2 games.
Football: SEC schedule for 2024 announced.
Golf: Hovland wins Memorial. Zhang wins pro debut!
Hockey: Game 1 of Stanley Cup Playoffs was all Vegas baby!
Horse Racing: Belmont Stakes this weekend!
Olympic Sports: USA did well in FIBA 3×3. TDF COVID strict. Ironman cyclist and cam operator collide. 1500m WR broken.
Tennis: French Open Quarterfinals.
Coming up this month:
French Open 5/28-6/11, WCWS 6/1-9, NBA finals 6/1-18, Stanley Cup Finals 6/3-19, Belmont Stakes 6/10, US Open 6/15-18, MWCS 6/16-26, Euro Games 6/21-7/2, NBA Draft 6/22, NHL Draft 6/28-29
Baseball – MLB:
- Following up on a story from last week, the A’s finally shook a little bit of the losing streak by taking 2 wins against the Braves earlier this week. They won that series! That’s only the 2nd series the team has won this season (Royals were the other). It was a surprise since the Braves are one of the top 3 teams in the National League. Then Marlins swept them to end the week.
- Some quick highlights from the week: The Padres had a 5-run 9th inning to take the win over the Marlins on Tuesday. Rangers RP Grant Anderson gets the W in his MLB debut over the Tigers 10-6. Angels Ohtani hits 2 HRs in their game against the White Sox on Wednesday including his furthest ever at 459 yards. The Reds rallied to beat the Red Sox on Wednesday to take the series over the Boston team for the first time since 1975! Brewers P Burns gets ejected after arguing with the ump and then that game went to 11 innings with the Brewers beating the Reds 5-4. Mets P Clayton Kershaw finally beat the Yankees for the first time ever in his career (16 years). Astros Bregman hits a grand slam to take the Houston team over the Angels. Sunday saw the White Sox beat the Tigers for the sweep with a huge grand slam by Jake Burger. That wasn’t the only slam on Sunday, the Braves had a slam on their final out in the entire game when Rosario hit the 4 run slam to complete the comeback win 8-5 over the Diamondbacks. The Rangers 2B Marcus Semien owns the MLB’s longest hitting streak at 23 after Sunday’s 12-3 win over the Mariners.
- Standings:
- The American League is topped by the Rays with 42 wins followed by the Rangers (38) and Orioles (36). 8 teams are over 30 wins but the losers in this league are low. The A’s are last with only 12 wins. The Royals are also below 20 wins.
- The National League is a tighter race with the Diamondbacks and Dodgers both sitting with 35 wins and the Braves are at 34. 6 teams are over 30 wins so far this season but it’s tight at the bottom too. 3 teams are tied with 25 wins for the bottom (Cardinals, Nationals and Cubs). The Rockies and Reds both only have 26.
Baseball/Softball – NCAA:
- Softball: Semifinals were played today to decide the final so sorry but spoilers! #1 Oklahoma and #3 Florida St went through the winners brackets to advance to the final with no extra games needed. FSU even run-ruled #6 OSU to start off the tournament. The Utah/Washington game was delayed from Thursday but the Huskies won that game on Friday. Alabama and the Utes were then the first teams to be eliminated (the Utes got run-ruled by OSU). #4 Tennessee then got run-ruled by Oklahoma to hand the Vols their first loss of the WCWS. Washington took theirs against FSU in a closer game 3-1. The elimination games on Sunday were close! OSU lost to TN 3-1 and Stanford beat Washington by putting up a single run. That left one team from each conference. SEC TN vs ACC FSU and Pac 12 Stanford vs Big 12 OU. TN put up a good fight in the semifinal but fell 5-1 against the Seminoles. Stanford struck in the first, putting the Sooners down 0-2. But the Sooners aren’t #1 for nothing, clawing back 1 and 1 in the next 2 innings. It was then a pitching game until the 9th inning when the Sooners scored 2 and advanced The Cardinals are known for their pitching and it showed as the Sooners averaged only 3 runs against them (in 2 games) whereas they averaged 10.7 against other teams.
- Baseball Regional round is still going on today so we are waiting anxiously for those games to wrap up. Super Regionals will be a best of 3 series and if you win your matchup, you go to Omaha. #2 Florida had lost their regionals for 3 straight years and lost early so they had to win 3 straight elimination games to advance, but the Gators get it done. TCU pulled off the huge upset, sending Arkansas home in the regional round for the first time since 2017. LSU is in their 16th Super Regional, they trail FSU with 17 as the most in a row. As of now, we are just waiting on 1 game so here’s what I have:
- Wake Forest vs 16. Alabama
- Texas vs Stanford Regional winner (Stanford or Texas A&M)
- LSU vs 12. Kentucky
- Southern Miss vs Tennessee
- Florida vs 15. South Carolina
- Duke vs 7. Virginia
- Oregon vs Oral Roberts
- Indiana State vs TCU
Basketball – NBA:
- The NBA Finals have begun and it is tied through 2 games so far!
- Game 1 was pretty much over by half. The Nuggets showed why they are the favorites as they came out outscoring the Heat 59-42 at half! The Heat came back a little bit with a 30 point 4Q but it wasn’t enough. Denver takes their first finals game ever 104-93. Stars Jokic and Murray combined for 53 of the team’s total points and Jokic had yet another Triple-Double. It should be noted that 70% of the teams that win the first game win the series.
- Game 2 was also in the Mile High City, where the Nuggets were undefeated in the post season. Until Sunday! Despite leading at half yet again (this time by 6), the Nuggets fell short as the Heat had a fire 4Q scoring 36 points. Jokic scored 41 alone and the Heat’s leading scorer only had 21 but the team rallied to take the W 111-108. The Heat continue to defy the odds and even the series 1-1.
Football:
- The SEC announced with the incoming Oklahoma and Texas schools, their schedule will be going to an 8-game conference schedule and no divisions. That is huge as that measn the highest 2 ranked teams in the SEC will play in the Championship game. This is only temporary but it is exciting for those that are usually just fighting for one spot in a lop-sided SEC division. A 9 game schedule was rumored for a while which would feature 3 permanent opponents (to keep long standing rivalries) and then have 6 rotating opponents.
Golf:
- Viktor Hovland has never won on US soil despite winning 3 PGA Tour events (2xs at Mayakoba and once in Puerto Rico) until Sunday when he took home the title at Jack Nicklaus’ home course the Memorial. The final pairing of Rory McIlroy and Si Woo Kim fell apart to be honest with scores of +3 and +1 to open up the tournament for another winner. Denny McCarthy had 3 birdies on the front 9 but bogie’d the final hole to take the tournament to a playoff between himself and Hovland. They went back to play the 18th again and we knew McCarthy was in trouble when he went to the right of the fairway bunker in the rough. He missed a 14 foot putt for par although it was a great putt. Hovland got the iconic handshake from Nicklaus and his first US win!
- Rose Zhang, current reigning 2x NCAA champion at Stanford, won her pro debut at the Mizuho Americas Open. She is the first player to win a LPGA Tour event in her pro debut in 72 years. Zhang is supposedly the next great women’s golfers on the scene since Michelle Wie. Even fellow Stanford grad, Tiger Woods commented on Twitter.
Hockey:
- The Stanley Cup Playoffs began on Saturday. We were tied 2-2 through the 2nd The 3rd was a different story and it was all Vegas baby. The Golden Knights scored 3 including the final one to an empty net. Pretty impressive for the Vegas team as the shots on goal were almost exactly the same for both teams (35 FL vs 34 VGK).
Olympic Sports:
- Team USA did well in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup with the women taking gold and the men taking silver. They lost their first game of the tournament then turned it around to win 7 straight including defeating France in the final. The men lost in heartbreaking fashion to Serbia.
- The Tour de France is still in strict COVID protocol mode with the racers not allowed to sign autographs, or eating outside of their hotels. Masks will be required in the paddock before the start of each round. Last year FRA had 25k covid cases and as of Friday, they only recorded 3k.
- A motorcycle camera operator and an Ironman cyclist collided during the European Championship in GER on Sunday. The cyclist was severely injured and was taken to the hospital, the motorcyclist died. The course got narrow and both lanes were being used by racers and camera people.
- The 1500m women’s WR went down this weekend in the Diamond League race in Florence ITA by ETH Faith Kipyegon. She ran 3:49.11 which breaks the record of Dibaba’s time of 3:50.07.
Tennis:
- The French Open will conclude this weekend and there has been plenty of action.
- On the women’s side, Coco Gauff is the lone American still in. She has her work cut out for her too as she plays POL Iga Swiatek in the Quarterfinals. 2 other Americans lost before the round, Sloane Stephens put up a good fight but ultimately fell to BUL Sablenka. Pera fell to Jabeur. There are only 5 ranked women left and BRA Haddad Maia was the only one I didn’t mention.
- On the men’s side, it’s a different story. There is only one lone player that is unranked left in the Quarterfinals (Congrats ARG Etcheverry). Everyone else is 11 or higher. ESP Alcaraz will face GRE Tsitsipas tomorrow, Djokovic takes on RUS Khachanov, DEN Rune vs NOR Ruud and GER Zverev will play the ARG. No Americans advanced past the 3rd Taifoe arguably got the closest only winning 1 of the 4 sets but he took 2 others to a tiebreaker against Zverev.
What to watch this week
Baseball – MLB:
- Mon 6/5
- Royals at Marlins @ 5:40pm on FS1
- Hernandez vs Garrett
- Royals at Marlins @ 5:40pm on FS1
- Tues 6/6
- Mets at Braves @ 6:20pm on TBS
- Carrasco vs Elder
- Mets at Braves @ 6:20pm on TBS
- Fri 6/9
- Royals at Orioles @ 6:05pm on Apple TV+
- Mariners at Angels @ 8:38pm on Apple TV+
- Sat 6/10
- Red Sox at Yankees – or – Cubs at Giants @ 6:35pm on FOX
- Sun 6/11
- Diamondbacks at Tigers @ 10:35am on Peacock
- Henry vs Wentz
- Red Sox at Yankees @ 6pm on ESPN
- Paxton vs Schmidt
- Diamondbacks at Tigers @ 10:35am on Peacock
Baseball – NCAA:
- Mon 6/5
- Texas Tech vs Florida @ 11am on ESPNU
- Arkansas vs TCU @ 2pm on ESPNU
- Fri 6/9
- NCAA Super Regionals
- @ 11am on ESPN2
- @ 4pm on ESPNU
- @ 5pm on ESPN2
- @ 7pm on ESPNU
- @ 11pm on ESPNU
- NCAA Super Regionals
- Sat 6/10
- NCAA Super Regionals
- @ 11am on ESPN and ESPN2
- @ 2pm on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU
- @ 5pm on ESPN2 and ESPNU
- @ 8pm on ESPNU
- NCAA Super Regionals
- Sun 6/11
- NCAA Super Regionals
- @ 11am on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU
- @ 2pm on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU
- @ 5pm on ESPN2
- @ 8pm on ESPN2
- NCAA Super Regionals
Softball – NCAA:
- Mon 6/5
- 1. Oklahoma vs 9. Stanford @ 11am on ESPN
- If OU losses, Game 3 will also be played
- 3. Florida St vs 4. Tennessee @ 6pm on ESPN
- If FSU loses, Game 3 will also be played
- 1. Oklahoma vs 9. Stanford @ 11am on ESPN
- Wed 6/7
- 3. Florida State vs 1. Oklahoma @ 7pm on ESPN
- Thurs 6/8
- 1. Oklahoma vs 3. Florida St @ 6:30pm on ESPN
- Fri 6/9
- If necessary Game 3 @ 7pm on ESPN
Basketball – NBA:
- Wed 6/7
- Finals – Game 3: Nuggets at Heat @ 7:30pm on ABC
- Fri 6/9
- Finals – Game 4: Nuggets at Heat @ 7:30pm on ABC
Football:
- Sat 6/10
- USFL: Michigan vs Pitt @ 11am on FOX
- USFL: NOLA vs Memphis @ 2pm on NBC
- Sun 6/11
- USFL: Birmingham vs Houston @ 1pm on NBC
- USFL: Phili at NJ @ 6pm on FOX
Golf:
- Thurs 6/8
- RBC Canadian Open – Round 1 @ 3pm on Golf Channel
- Fri 6/9
- RBC Canadian Open – Round 2 @ 3pm on Golf Channel
- Sat 6/10
- RBC Canadian Open – Round 3
- @ 2:30pm on Golf Channel
- @ 4:30pm on CBS
- RBC Canadian Open – Round 3
- Sun 6/11
- RBC Canadian Open – Final Round
- @ 1:30pm on Golf Channel
- @ 2:30pm on CBS
- RBC Canadian Open – Final Round
Hockey:
- Mon 6/5
- Stanley Cup Final – Game 2: Panthers at Golden Knights @ 7pm on TNT
- Thurs 6/8
- Stanley Cup Final – Game 3: Golden Knights at Panthers @ 7pm on TNT
- Sat 6/10
- Stanley Cup Final – Game 4: Golden Knights at Panthers @ 7pm on TNT
Olympic Sports:
- Wed 6/7
- Track & Field: NCAAs Men’s Day 1 @ 6:30pm on ESPN2
- Thurs 6/8
- Track & Field: NCAAs Women’s Day 1 @ 7:30pm on ESPN2
- Fri 6/9
- Track & Field: NCAAs Men’s Day 2 @ 8pm on ESPN2
- Sat 6/10
- Track & Field: Diamond League Paris @ 12pm on CNBC
- Track & Field: NCAAs Women’s Day 2 @ 8pm on ESPN2
Soccer:
- Tues 6/6
- FIFA U20 M: USA vs URU @ 12:30am on FS1
- CONCACAF U20 W: Final – USA vs MEX @ 2:30am on FS1
- Sat 6/10
- Cary Cup Soccer Tournament @ 1pm on NBC
- UEFA: Manchester City vs Inter Milan @ 2pm on CBS
- Sun 6/11
- MLS: Portland Timbers vs FC Dallas @ 9pm on FS1
Tennis:
- Thurs 6/8
- French Open: Women’s Semifinals @ 11am on NBC
- Fri 6/9
- French Open: Men’s Semifinals @ 11am on NBC
- Sat 6/10
- French Open: Women’s Final @ 8am on NBC
- Sun 6/11
- French Open: Men’s Final @ 8am on NBC
