Yankees get back Gerrit Cole; Cameron Brink suffered a torn ACL; The NBA’s top 75 trade targets

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Good morning everyone, especially…

GERRIT COLE

No, the Yankee didn’t win the last AL East game oriole last night. Still, there’s reason to celebrate the ace Gerrit Cole has returned to the mound and is off to a solid start.

After missing the first 75 games of the season with elbow inflammation, Cole made his 2024 debut and didn’t start well. Cole allowed a hit double and an earned run in the first inning, but he really steadied from there.

Cole ultimately went four innings, striking out five batters while allowing three hits and two earned runs. (Cole lobbied for another round, but he was persuaded by his manager to call it a night Aaron Boone.)

Those aren’t the most eye-catching statistics, but under the circumstances, this is a very encouraging step forward for the reigning AL Cy Young champion. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Cole’s first start was his velocity.

During his breakdown about Cole’s outingOur Dayn Perry brought out that heat.

• Perry: “What’s encouraging for Cole and the Yankees is that his fastball reached 97.5 mph. Overall, the 28 fastballs he threw averaged 95.1 mph. That speed is down a bit from his usual level, but it’s nothing to worry about because he’s still suffering from muscle tension.”

The Yankees ultimately lost the game 7-6 in 10 innings. That put a damper on Cole’s return to the field at Yankee Stadium, but overall it was still a positive night. New York still owns first place in the AL East, and now its top arm is back in the rotation.

👍 Honorable mentions

And it wasn’t a good morning for…

CAMERON ROUND

spark rookie Cameron Brink out for the remainder of the 2024 season after tearing her ACL in Tuesday’s game against the Connecticut Sun.

Brink, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, fell awkwardly while driving on a drive against the Sun forward Brionna Jones. The injury at the time appeared bad and those initial concerns were confirmed on Wednesday when she was further evaluated.

After her season-ending injury was confirmed, Brink posted a message for her fans on Instagram.

• On the verge: “You never think it will happen to you. And yet sometimes it happens with every hard job. It’s confusing but I know it will only make me stronger. I will no deviation and I will continue to love this life- I’m not defined by basketball, but it is something that I love so much and I will work every day to get back to it Goodbye to basketball but just see you later.

Before his injury, Brink’s WNBA career was off to a good start. Not only is she averaging 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, but she’s on track to become the first rookie since. Brittney Griner average at least two blocks per game.

Thanks in part to her defensive acumen and high work ethic, Brink received praise from WNBA MVPs Diana Taurasi And A’ja Wilson.

What makes Brink’s injury even more disappointing is that fans won’t get to see her at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Brink is is set to represent Team USA as part of the 3×3 women’s basketball team later this summer.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏀 NBA Season Recap

The 2023-24 NBA season is officially underway and now it’s time to look ahead to what an eventful summer will look like. Our team of experts at CBS Sports has coverage of the upcoming season from every angle.

For starters, there’s an impressive list of potential free agents with just a few weeks left until negotiations open. In his list of top 30 free agentsOur Brad Botkin has some questions about where to stay LeBron James And Paul George wind up.

• Botkin: “Will LeBron leave the Lakers? Probably not, but it’s not out of the question. On the other hand, George is a serious threat to leave LA as the Philadelphia 76ers are equipped with maximum cap space and very motivation to add George along with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the latter of whom is also a (restricted) free agent.”

A player will not be free to be Pacer star Pascal Siakam. He signed a maximum contract of 189.5 million USD stays with the Pacers on Wednesday.

Of course, the NBA trade market is always full of drama and this summer will be no exception. The biggest name in trade rumors right now is Heat Super star Jimmy Butler.

If the Heat decide that Butler’s asking price is a little too high for their blood, there will be many suitors lining up to add him. Our Sam Quinn selected a few possible landing spots.

Butler is not the only name being mentioned in trade talks these days and there will certainly be more moves over the next few months. Quinn compiled list of top 75 commercial targetsAnd Eagle outstanding Young Tea are among the names near the top.

first. Jimmy ButlerHeat
2. Young TeaEagle
3. Darius wreathCavalry
4. Brandon IngramPelican
5. Dejounte MurrayEagle

Finally, the 2024 NBA Draft begins in less than a week and CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone is here provides in-depth scouting reports on each of the top 10 prospects. Boone’s #1 prospect, Alex SarrSet yourself apart with elite versatility.

• Boone: “In a wide-open 2024 NBA Draft class, Sarr – literally and figuratively – towers over the competition with his size, movement skills and long-term potential. He is a center with a combination of guard skills who can play in the post position and out on the perimeter.”

🏌Preview of the Travelers Championship

The final signature event of the PGA Tour season will take place this weekend when a field of 71 golfers heads to TPC River Highlands to participate in the tournament. Travelers Championship.

One of the golfers who will not be participating in the Travelers Championship is Rory McIlroywho is about to experience a heartbreaking loss at the US Open.

Scottie SchefflerOtherwise, he will tee it up at TPC River Highlands this weekend as he looks to bounce back from a poor performance at the US Open. In our Travelers Championship previewPatrick McDonald said he still has great confidence in Scheffler.

• McDonald: “The world’s No. 1 player spent many of his professional debuts at Pinehurst. He carded four straight superior rounds for the first time in 120 professional starts and averaged just one birdie per round. Additionally, the level of concern remains a major problem.” 0 when Scheffler hits the ball as normal but is deceived on the putting surface.”

Despite the difficulties at the US Open, Scheffler is the favorite to win at TPC River Highlands. Here are the top five candidates, according to the bookmakers:

• Scottie Scheffler (2/7)
• Xander Schauffele (1/7)
• Ludvig Åberg (1/12)
• Collin Morikawa (1/12)
• Viktor Hovland (January 18)

Check out ours All expert predictionsincludes winner, contender and sleeper options.

📺 What we watch on Thursday

⚽ Euro 2024 – Slovenia vs Serbia9 a.m. on Fox
⚽ Euro 2024 – Denmark vs England12 noon on Fox
⛳ Travelers Championship — Round 13 p.m. on Golf Channel
⚽ Euro 2024 – Spain vs Italy3 p.m. on Fox
🏀 Sparks in Liberty7 p.m. on Prime Video
⚾ Giants at Cardinals7:15 p.m. on Fox
⚽ Copa America – Argentina meets Canada8pm on FS1