MLB's biggest surprises thus far, plus two Game 7s clinched
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Good morning! Don't lose in Game 6 today.
When a playoff series reaches Game 6, the matchup becomes primal. The team down 3-2 is likely playing at home, back against the proverbial wall, fighting for another day. Those with a chance to clinch want to avoid the sometimes suffocating pressure of a Game 7 at home.
We had six Game 6s (say that fast) last night across the NBA and NHL. Let's start with the clinchers:
Real survival, though, comes via our most hallowed tradition: Game 7. Glory awaits:
Both Game 7s are set for tomorrow, both involving Denver sports teams. Let's move on.
We are officially a month into the MLB season, which means we can start taking these relatively small sample sizes seriously. There are things we expected to happen: The Dodgers are a juggernaut. The Rockies are abysmal.
But every baseball season brings surprises, and I've identified two — one good, one bad — we need to discuss. I successfully annoyed Windup author Levi Weaver into helping me:
Let's start with a Good Team, the Giants at 19-13 so far. What's our read?
💬 I'm not sure I had any strong feelings about what the Giants would be this year, but it certainly wasn't this. In a division that features a baseball Death Star and two other legit playoff contenders, they were in first place as recently as a few days ago.
Despite a recent skid, this year is still a massive success. Also don't forget there is a whole new regime in San Francisco, led by franchise legend Buster Posey. Fun.
Now onto the bad, which is particularly distressing: Baltimore. What gives?
💬 Because it's the Orioles and not the big-name Yankees or Dodgers, it's easy to lose sight of the number of injuries they've had (a lot). Still, this season feels a lot like lighting a firecracker fuse, standing back, and… and… and… ah dang it this one's a dud.
In the last two years, the Orioles have produced at their highest level in decades, with nary a playoff win to show for it. Now they're back in the basement, looking up at traditional AL East powers like New York and Boston. Bleh.
Thank you to Levi, who has done wonderful work in The Windup already this year. Let's keep moving:
De Bruyne to Chicago?
Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne is favored to sign with the Chicago Fire this summer, The Athletic's Paul Tenorio reports, after the Belgian international departs City, where he's played for the last 11 seasons. De Bruyne has said, however, that he's open to remaining in Europe. Expect competition to be rife. More details here.
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Ruggs III wants a second shot
In a podcast interview, Packers running back Josh Jacobs said his former teammate Henry Ruggs III is training in prison and remains hopeful for a second shot at the NFL. Ruggs is serving time for his role in a drunk driving accident that killed a woman and their dog, and is up for parole next year. Jacobs said he's even talking to teams on Ruggs' behalf. Read his full comments here.
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📺 NHL: Jets at Blues
8 p.m. ET on TNT/Max
Our schedule is clearing out as teams are eliminating, paving a path for us to watch only good games. Here's a lovely Game 6 in which the home team faces elimination. Playoff hockey nerves at 10 throughout this matchup.
📺 NBA: Rockets at Warriors
9 p.m. ET on ESPN
Ditto here, where Golden State can close out Houston on its home floor. Is this moment too big for the young, feisty Rockets? Or is this a defining moment as the team skies upward? Legacy stuff at stake here.
Get tickets to games like these here.
Yes, the Kentucky Derby favorite is named 'Journalism.' No, the media did not rig this. The real story is better, in which the horse's trainer is focusing on the race after having his life upended by the Los Angeles fires.
A big report from our MLB crew: The strike zone is shrinking, players say, due to a quirk in the latest umpire CBA. Read it here.
Wait, is Texas really spending $40 million on its 2025 football roster? Sam Khan Jr. investigated.
Loved this so much: As a kid, Pete Crow-Armstrong never wanted to root for his dad's favorite team. Now, he's starring for them.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said his team needs to get 'into championship shape' this offseason. Shots fired.
It's official, the Panthers are officially Florida's hockey powerhouse.
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Is this 2001? Do I need to break out my binder of cards? Yes, there is a boom of Pokémon cards right now, and it's tangentially helping the sports-card market.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: The latest update on the drama between Bill Belichick, his girlfriend and CBS.
Most-read on the website yesterday: Mike Sando's report on what executives really thought of the Shedeur Sanders slide, plus other NFL Draft takes.
Ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
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