The Key for the week of June 23
The Debut of Chase Burns
Less than a year after the Reds drafted him #2 in the MLB draft, Chase Burns made his major league debut this week--against the Yankees, no less (nothing like being thrown into the deep end of the pool). Burns spent his college career first at Tennessee, where he eventually was bumped from the starting rotation to reliever, then to Wake Forest, where he returned as a starter, logging a 10-1 record with a 2.70 ERA and striking out a record 191 batters. He was on the fast track to the bigs from the beginning, and his Reds debut did not disappoint with five innings of work, allowing three runs and eight strikeouts with a no-decision in the Reds’ extra-inning win. With injuries continuing to plague the Reds staff, a fresh arm like Burns will be a big help leading up to the All-Star break and beyond.
Some Injuries Hurt More than Others
The Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton knew the risk of further injury was there, but he decided to play in the NBA Finals anyway with his strained right calf. When he crumpled to the floor in the first quarter of Game 7 with a snapped Achilles, not only was he in pain, so was every Pacer fan who knew that their team’s chances to win just got tougher. But the injury also means the Pacers have some decisions to make in the off season, since Haliburton probably will take the entire next season to rehab. Free agency opens July 6, and the team has some cash flexibility to sign free agents. One player they probably want to keep is Myles Turner, who has spent his 10-year career with the Pacers. If he walks, though, that will give them even more room to sign a significant free agent.
The Las Vegas A’s?
Get used to saying it. The peripatetic franchise which started in Philly in 1901, then traveled to Kansas City, then to Oakland and for a hot minute in West Sacramento, now is officially heading to Vegas as its new home. The team broke ground this week at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue (remember when that area was basically a ghost town at the end of the strip?) for the new ball park, scheduled to open in 2028. And as what is typical in Vegas, it’ll be more than just a stadium—on the property will be a hotel resort and entertainment complex, courtesy of Bally’s. Oh, and the roof will be a see-through dome to offer views of the Strip, New York-New York and MGM Grand. In a town that major league sports avoided like the plague because of gambling, Las Vegas now sports three of the big four, with the NBA Summer League always a draw. The times they are a’changing.
Ben’s Best Bet
Ben says, get out your strawberries and cream and embrace the grass courts of Wimbledon. Qualifiers are going on this week, with the main draw starting next week. Early odds from BetMGM have Carlos Alcaraz the favorite on the men’s side after coming off his thrilling French Open win, and Aryna Sabalenka the women’s favorite. American Coco Gauff is third favorite, though, and Ben says don’t be surprised if the American heads to London and conquers the grass courts.