In K-pop, the fans come first, or so catchy South Korean music acts are constantly telling the legions of dedicated followers who have propelled them to international stardom. If it weren’t for the fans, boy band BTS couldn’t possibly have filled SoFi Stadium four times over, and Blackpink would never have been invited to headline Coachella — nor would there be any reason to greenlight a movie like “K-Pop Demon Hunters.”
The title says it all in the high-energy, high-concept supernatural action comedy from Sony Pictures Animation, the versatile toon studio responsible for “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and “The Mitchells vs. the Machines”: Three ultra-talented supernatural protectors use their popularity as girl band superstars to defend the mortal world from demon king Gwi-Ma (Byung Hun Lee).
Known to the world as Huntrix, rebellious woldo-wielding Mira (May Hong), Burbank-raised rapper Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) and purple-braided orphan Rumi (Arden Cho) are what you might call a triple threat: They sing, they dance, they slay demons. When they’re not slicing the evil spirits in half with their phosphorescent pink weapons, the band leverages the love fans show them to build a barrier, known as the Golden Honmoon, that will block the demons once and for all.
But Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), one of Gwi-Ma’s most tortured acolytes, has an inspired idea: Together with four ridiculously handsome fellow demons, he will start a rival group, the Saja Boys, to try to lure Huntrix’s fans to the dark side. What neither Jinu nor Rumi see coming is just how irresistible the two pop stars will find each other. The resulting human-demon rom-com plot might be predictable, but not the twist that “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” which hits Netflix the same day Pixar’s “Elio” opens in theaters, turns out to be the more entertaining of the two animated offerings.
That’s because co-directors Chris Appelhans (“Wish Dragon”) and Maggie Kang (who’s worked in the story departments at DreamWorks, Blue Sky and Illumination) use their unapologetically silly premise to unleash a far more playful approach to computer animation than any of the aforementioned studios have tried. The creative team takes its cues from webtoons and manhwa (Korean graphic novels), emphasizing dynamic silhouettes over smooth in-between movement.
Not clear what that means? Watch how the characters hit and hold lively key poses as the camera glides and zooms around them. What started as a cost-saving measure on animated series such as “Speed Racer” and “The Powerpuff Girls” back in the day now gives “K-Pop Demon Hunters” a distinctly Asian flavor, further embellished with cute comic-book touches.
For example, when Huntrix first glimpse the Saja Boys, the gals stop in their tracks as their pupils swell into puffy red hearts. Reacting to how ripped the guys look, Zoey’s eyes change shapes several more times, from six-pack abs to a pair of buttery corncobs. The lovestruck young lady’s reaction provides an unforgettable alternative to the randy wolf in Tex Avery’s “Red Hot Riding Hood” cartoon, as twin streams of popcorn erupt like happy tears from her flushed red face.
Instead of being gross, the violence proves every bit as visually appealing. The trio’s weapons are so sharp, they slice clean through the demons (easily identified by jagged purple markings on their zombie-like skin), or else cause them to explode into a burst of confetti. Later, they swarm through a rift in the Honmoon, galloping on all fours like so many Gollums as they suck the souls from the nearby humans (implied more than seen, so as to preserve the film’s PG rating).
Fast and efficient, the movie blazes through an exposition-heavy first act in less than 15 minutes, which is right about the time we learn Rumi’s secret: She’s the daughter of a pop-singer mom and demon dad who’s marked by the same purple imprints as the spirits she’s sworn to eliminate. The only person who knows Rumi’s hybrid status is Huntrix’s trusted trainer Celine (Yunjin Kim), who believes that Rumi can keep her demon genes in check. But the group’s mentor never foresaw her protégé falling for a bad boy like Jinu, who’s got a couple secrets up his sleeve as well.
A subplot involving problems with Rumi’s voice doesn’t quite work, although it slows down the storytelling long enough for some fun character moments, like an action-packed trip to the spa and a short-lived staycation, complete with bubble tea and bingsu. You can’t have a CG cartoon these days without adorable animal sidekicks, which come in the form of a grinning tiger demon and a black bird in a tiny gat (hat), both designed to look like they’ve stepped straight out of Korean folklore.
The K-pop angle sets an obvious challenge for the filmmakers in that this toon needs some original tunes to make it sing, plus catchy choreography to distinguish it from vintage shows like “Josie and the Pussy Cats” and “Jem and the Holograms.” Compiled by a range of A-list music producers, the macaronic soundtrack (which mixes English and Korean lyrics) includes three hits for Huntrix, performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — “How It’s Done,” “Golden” and “Takedown” (the latter covered by Twice over the end credits). Better still is “Free,” a standout duet between Ejae and Andrew Choi (Rumi’s and Jinu’s singing voices, respectively).
Because the nimble, genre-hopping movie is set in the world of K-pop, it may not even occur to fans that they’re watching a musical — although it’s kind of hard to deny as you catch yourself singing along.
Update:THR has now confirmed the news. The trade doesn’t add any new details, but does mention that both “Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are reprising their roles as MJ and best friend Ned, although how substantial those roles will be remains unclear.”
Original story follows.
It seems we might get to see Spidey team-up with The Punisher to take on The Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day after all!
Scooper MTTSH is reporting that Jon Bernthal is set to reprise his Daredevil: Born Again role as Frank Castle/The Punisher for a “major role” in the fourth Spider-Man film.
This rumor follows a recent report from Nexus Point News, who claimed that Mark Ruffalo is set to return as Bruce Banner, noting that “Banner’s appearance will be much larger than a cameo, and Ruffalo will have a substantial role in the film.”
We’d be remiss not to mention that the Spidey/Punisher/Hulk combo was first reported by The Hot Mic, with John Rocha mentioning that he had heard that the plan was to have Spider-Man team up with The Punisher to take on The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in a street-level adventure. Co-host Jeff Sneider backed up the rumor by saying Green Goliath’s involvement “passes his smell test,” but he wasn’t so sure about Castle.
Spidey has joined forces with Castle and faced-off with the Hulk on a number of occasions in the comics, and if the studio is indeed laying plans for an eventual World War Hulk(s) movie, it’s entirely possible that Banner could begin his rampage by smashing up New York. Bernthal and Holland have worked together in the past and seem to be good friends, and we could see a very entertaining dynamic between Parker and Castle as they form a reluctant alliance.
Other villains are expected to feature (Tombstone, Scorpion and Boomerang are rumored following a recent report from a Disney event in Vegas), but Spider-Man doing battle with the Hulk is one of many clashes comic book fans have been waiting to see on the big screen, so this potential showdown would be sure to generate a lot of hype and excitement.
If Ruffalo and Bernthal are indeed set to appear, they’ll join new cast members Sadie Sink (the latest rumor points to her playing a Gwen Stacy variant) and Liza Colón-Zayas. We have also heard that Steven Yeun is in talks for an undisclosed role, and Michael Mando is expected to return as the Scorpion.
Unlike the previous films,Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home, Brand New Day is the name of a specific arc from the comics, and focuses on Peter Parker attempting to rebuild his life following the events of the status quo-altering One More Day and Civil War.
Brand New Day features a number of new characters such as Carlie Cooper and Lily Hollister, aka the supervillain Menace, which has led to speculation that Sink may have been cast in one of these roles.
“I’m spending my time exploring the next stage of this amazing character with a team of the most incredible artists in the world,” said director Destin Daniel Cretton during CinemaCon. “We’re all, just daily, nerding out over the suit, how to swing, how to create an event, an emotional story, and a ride that we haven’t really seen before”
Holland did not appear in Las Vegas for the Sony presentation, but did send the following video message.
“I am so sorry I can’t be with you. I am halfway around the world shooting a movie. I know we left you with a massive cliffhanger at the end of No Way Home, so Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a fresh start. It is exactly that. That’s all I can say.”
Spider-Man 4 was recently pushed back a week from July 24, 2026 to July 31, 2026.
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. Two days, two editions of Dodgers Dugout. It’s like “Groundhog Day.”
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The Padres series
The Dodgers won two of three from the Padres, dropping San Diego to third place in the NL West. Several readers were unhappy with the second game of the series, which the Dodgers lost 11-1, feeling they left Matt Sauer in for way too long and brought in Kiké Hernández in too soon, in effect giving the game away.
And you are absolutely right. The Dodgers did give the game away. By choice.
Don’t get me wrong. The Dodgers didn’t go into the game wanting to lose. But, the Dodgers’ bullpen is exhausted. The hope was that Sauer would pitch well and keep them in the game, or heck, even leave with the Dodgers leading. But once the Padres started scoring, Dave Roberts had two choices: Go to his already tired bullpen in hopes they could stop the surge, knowing coming back against a Dylan Cease who was on top of his game was unlikely, or, let Sauer take a beating in order to save the bullpen for Wednesday’s game. The Dodgers went with the second option, and it worked. Because Wednesday, they were able to use seven rested relievers to preserve a 5-2 victory and a series win over San Diego.
Roberts, to reporters after Tuesday’s loss: “You just got to look at where our ’pen is at, and appreciating what we have the next couple days, it wasn’t smart to chase and redline guys. A guy that was available tonight, [Michael] Kopech, I’m not going to pitch him down six or 7-0 in the sixth inning, to then not have him available tomorrow. As the rules are, we abided. That’s kind of what you do to essentially move forward and win the ensuing games.”
Heck, the Dodgers used this strategy in the World Series last season, letting Brent Honeywell get rocked in Game 4, their only loss, to preserve the bullpen.
Of course, most of us grew up in the days of Tommy Lasorda, who wanted to win every game at all costs. If it meant Orel Hershiser or Fernando Valenzuela pitching 10 innings, or Jay Howell pitching five days in a row, that’s what happened. Those days are over. There will come a time again this season where the Dodgers let a reliever get rocked. That’s just the way they approach things. And considering they win more than 95 games every year and have won two titles, it seems to work pretty well for them.
The rest of the series went well. Teoscar Hernández broke out of his slump. Even Michael Conforto played well, going two for seven with a homer. Ben Casparius pitched so well Wednesday (four innings, one run, three hits, two walks, two strikeouts) that Roberts said he is now part of the starting rotation. And the Padres fell to third place. Of course, there’s still 93 games left in the season, so let’s not get too carried away.
A minor quibble
Major League Baseball has got to do something about position players pitching. In Tuesday’s loss, Kiké Hernández started pitching in the sixth inning and finished the game. I’m sorry, but that’s ridiculous. I don’t blame the Dodgers for using the rules to their advantage, but there needs to be some addition to the current rules that state a position player can’t pitch before the ninth inning.
What if you are a fan who saved his money to go to one game this season, and that was the game you picked? You stopped seeing real competition in the sixth inning, as it was a farce after that. If you are a Padres fan, it wasn’t so bad probably, but what if it had been at Dodger Stadium? You would have shelled out around $500 or so to see two-thirds of a real game. It shouldn’t happen. The fans shouldn’t be punished because relievers can’t pitch more than one inning nowadays.
More good news
The Dodgers got some good news on three pitching fronts this week:
Shohei Ohtani took part in another live batting practice session, throwing 44 pitches over three simulated innings, striking out six. Ohtani was so impressive that Roberts said he could return before the All-Star break.
Tyler Glasnow threw a bullpen session, felt OK, and could face live hitters soon.
Blake Snell threw 15 pitches, his first session since suffering a setback in his recovery.
Of course, seeing is believing, and we are a bit away from seeing any of these guys in a real game yet.
And for those asking, the Dodgers do not plan to send Ohtani out on a minor-league rehab assignment. He will continue to do what he’s doing now, facing hitters in simulated game situations, until he’s ready to be activated.
The Giants are up next
The NL West’s new second-place team, the San Francisco Giants, are in town for three games starting tonight, followed by four more games against the Padres. These are the first three of 13 games against the Giants this season, so let’s take a look at them. The Giants have won seven in a row and are only a half-game behind the Dodgers for first place. You can see all the stats on the Giants team page at baseball-reference.com.
Catcher Patrick Bailey (.185/.246/.272, 50 OPS+)
Bailey is a mediocre hitter (although not usually as bad as this season so far), but won the Gold Glove last season. His career high in home runs is eight, so he’s not a power threat. He was put on the IL Wednesday because of a strained neck and will be replaced by Sam Huff or Logan Porter, neither of whom hit well either.
Bonus fact: Bailey has a cannon for an arm, and once was timed throwing the ball to second base in 1.71 seconds, a record since that started being recorded in 2015. He also has the record for fastest throw to first base (1.39 seconds).
First base Dominic Smith (.238/.250/.286, 55PS+)
The Giants designated LaMonte Wade Jr., who had started 41 games at first, for assignment and then traded him to the Angels. Wade was hitting .167. Smith was released by the Yankees on June 2 and signed by the Giants on June 4. His last good season was 2020.
Bonus fact: Smith led Junipero Serra High in Gardena to a CIF title in 2013.
Second base Tyler Fitzgerald (.248/.315/.346, 91 OPS+)
Fitzgerald was the Giants’ shortstop last season, switching to second when they acquired Willy Adames. He hit well last season (.280/.334/.497).
Bonus fact: His father, Mike, played in 13 games with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988.
Third base Matt Chapman (.243/.360/.452, 133 OPS+)
Finally, someone in the Giants infield who can hit. Chapman is one of the best third basemen in the game, finishing 11th in MVP voting and winning the Gold Glove last season. He is in his ninth season overall, second with the Giants, and has won five Gold Gloves. He’s a big reason why the Giants are in second place. However, he was put on the injured list Wednesday because of a sprained right hand. Casey Schmitt will probably get most of the starts in his absence. Schmtt is hitting .224, but hit better than that with moderate power last season.
Bonus facts: Chapman has Tourette’s syndrome. “I’m pretty comfortable with it now, but it was definitely something I was embarrassed about when I was younger,” he told the Orange County Register. “I wanted nobody to know about it because of how kids are. But now that I look back on it, it was a blessing in disguise because it made me who I am today. It gave me that drive and that chip on my shoulder.”
Shortstop Willy Adames (.203/.288/.339, 81 OPS+)
Adames left Milwaukee to sign a seven-year, $182-million deal with the Giants before the season. He finished 10th in MVP voting last season, but has not gotten on track this season at the plate. His defense slipped last season, which is one reason the Brewers let him go. If his bat is slipping as well, that will be an ugly contract for the Giants.
Bonus fact: In 2024, Adames homered in five consecutive games, tying the record for a shortstop shared by Eddie Miller, Alex Rodriguez, Corey Seager, Trea Turner and teammate Tyler Fitzgerald, who also did it last season.
Left field Heliot Ramos (.295/.365/.484, 143 OPS+)
Ramos was an All-Star last season and has been even better this season. He’s one of those guys like AJ Pollock, who provided steady play for three seasons for the Dodgers but drew few headlines.
Bonus fact: He is the first homegrown Giants outfielder to make the All-Star game since Chili Davis in 1986.
Center field Jung Hoo Lee (.275/.332/.446, 123 OPS+)
Lee came to the Giants last season from the Korean League, and his season ended in May because of an injured left shoulder. He has blossomed so far this season. He was a Rookie of the Year and an MVP award winner in the Korean League, so he has tremendous talent.
Bonus fact: Lee played on the South Korean team at the 2020 Olympics and the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Right field Mike Yastrzemski (.239/.332/.376, 104 OPS+)
A fan favorite who puts up steady, if not spectacular, numbers, which describes almost the entire Giants team. He led the Giants in home runs during his rookie season and has been a GoldGlove finalist in right.
Bonus fact: His grandfather, Carl, was apparently a decent ballplayer too.
Designated hitter Wilmer Flores (.256/.323/.412)
Flores is on pace for a career high 26 homers, but only nine doubles.
Bonus fact: Remember the 2015 NLDS, when the Dodgers were playing the Mets and Chase Utley slid hard into Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada, breaking his leg? Flores replaced Tejada at short.
Starting pitching We will focus on the three pitchers scheduled to start against the Dodgers.
Webb is one of the best pitchers in the game, finishing sixth in Cy Young voting last season and second in 2023. Webb and Robbie Ray give the Giants an outstanding 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. Roupp is in his second season in the majors and first as a full-time starter. He is averaging five innings a start, so expect to see the Giants’ bullpen a lot on Saturday. Harrison also doesn’t go much past five, so if the Dodgers can get to Roupp early Saturday, it will set them up for success Sunday too.
Bonus facts: Webb wears contact lenses and without them is considered legally blind due to severe astigmatism…. Roupp played in the minors for the Richmond Flying Squirrels, which I bring up only because I love that nickname…. In his high school career, Harrison went 21-1 and held batters to a .137 average.
Closer Camilo Doval (3-1, 1.69 ERA, 10 saves)
Doval lost the closer job to Ryan Walker last season. This season, Walker got off to a shaky start and Doval won the job back. In 2023, he led the league with 39 saves.
Bonus fact: Doval has 23 siblings and half-siblings.
You look at all of the above, and you notice the Giants have no superstars, like the Dodgers and Padres do. They just have a bunch of guys who do all the little things needed to win games. That’s why they’ve won seven in a row and why they are in second place. Everyone talks about whether L.A. or San Diego will win the West. It could be San Francisco. It’s a big mistake to overlook them.
Dodger Stadium Express
There is a curfew in downtown L.A. because of the violence, looting and vandalism that sometimes accompanied the protests against federal immigration enforcement in the downtown area. Dodger Stadium is not in the curfew area; however, Union Station is, and that’s where fans headed to the stadium take the Dodger Stadium Express bus. The bus will still run during the curfew, according to Metro officials. But it’s best to check Metro alerts.metro.net or via X at @metrolaalerts. for and updates before you leave for the game. You can read more here.
Top 10 first basemen
Who are your top 10 Dodgers first basemen of all time (including Brooklyn)? Email your list to top10firstbasemen@yahoo.com and let me know.
Many of you have asked for a list of players to consider for each position. Here are the 40 strongest first baseman candidates, in alphabetical order:
Del Bissonette, Jack Bolling, Ken Boyer, Greg Brock, Dan Brouthers, Enos Cabell, Dolph Camilli, Hee-Seop Choi, Jake Daubert, Frank Dillon, Jack Doyle, Jack Fournier, Dave Foutz, Freddie Freeman, David Freese, Nomar Garciaparra, Steve Garvey, Adrián González, Buddy Hassett, Gil Hodges, Hughie Jennings, Tim Jordan, Eric Karros, Ed Konetchy, Norm Larker, Sam Leslie, George LaChance, James Loney, Dan McGann, Eddie Murray, Dick Nen, Dave Orr, Wes Parker, Bill Phillips, Albert Pujols, Olmedo Sáenz, Ed Stevens, Dick Stuart, Franklin Stubbs and Tommy Tucker.
A reminder that players are listed at the position in which they played the most games for the Dodgers, which is why Garciaparra is listed here and not at shortstop.
Scheduling note
No Dodgers Dugout this Monday. Instead, we’ll be back Thursday with the top first baseman and Friday looking at what happened against the Giants and Padres. Will the Dodgers be in first place, second or third by then?
Up next
Friday: San Francisco (Logan Webb, 5-5, 2.58 ERA) at Dodgers (Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 6-4, 2.20 ERA), 7:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
Saturday: San Francisco (Landen Roupp, 4-4, 3.29 ERA) at Dodgers (*Clayton Kershaw, 1-0, 4.35 ERA), 7:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
Sunday: San Francisco (*Kyle Harrison, 1-1, 4.56 ERA) at Dodgers (Dustin May, 3-4, 4.46 ERA), 4:10 p.m., ESPN, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
*-left-hander
In case you missed it
Hernández: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is always the calm center during the storm
Shohei Ohtani (and Glasnow and Snell) could be back on Dodgers’ mound sooner than expected
Shaikin: Despite a quiet offseason, Padres are still making noise in competitive NL West
Andy Pages is used to beating the odds, and he’s doing it again with the Dodgers
And finally
From 1988, Kirk Gibson scores from second on a wild pitch (this link should work). Watch and listen here.
Until next time…
Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com, and follow me on Twitter at @latimeshouston. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
Two storied National League East rivals are set ot meet in a key weekend series, and adding to the intrigue is that the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets are newly tied for first place.
Let’s set the scene with the updated National League East standings:
New York Mets: 45-30
Philadelphia Phillies: 45-30
Atlanta Braves: 34-39 (10 GB)
Washington Nationals: 31-44 (14 GB)
Miami Marlins: 29-44 (15 GB)
The Mets presently hold the tiebreaker because they’re 3-0 in head-to-head games against the Phillies this season (they swept them in late April). By way of reminder, the expansion to a 12-team playoff field and the bloated postseason calendar that resulted from that expansion mean no more tiebreaker games. Instead, head-to-head record is the first tiebreaker for playoff spots and seeding, should two or more teams wind up tied at the end of the regular season.
SportsLine presently gives both clubs high odds of making the playoffs — 85.9% for the Mets and 91.6% for the Phillies. However, seeding matters, and it’s entirely possible that the eventual NL East champ will earn one of two coveted first-round byes in the NL bracket (the top two division winners in each league earn those byes). In what figures to be a hotly fought NL East race, every game matters.
Speaking of which, here’s how the pitching probables line up for this three-game set at Citizens Bank Park in Philly:
RHP Griffin Canning (6-3, 3.80 ERA) vs. Mick Abel (2-0, 2.21 ERA)
FOX
Sun., June 22
7:10 p.m. ET
LHP David Peterson (5-2, 2.60 ERA) vs. LHP Jesús Luzardo (6-3, 4.41 ERA)
ESPN
Friday’s opener has the makings of a mismatch on the pitching front. Wheeler is once again a Cy Young contender in the NL with his sub-3.00 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 88 innings. Meanwhile, the Mets will be forced to start the rookie Tidwell, who’s being recalled from Triple-A in time to make his second career start at the MLB level. He gets the call because of the injury suffered by Tylor Megill, who’s on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a sprain in his throwing elbow. The Mets also remain without ace Kodai Senga, who’s been out since June 12 with a hamstring strain (this is to nothing of the injuries to Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, who have yet to pitch this season).
The Phillies are favored at home in Friday’s opener (-203 at DraftKings) as oddsmakers also expect them to win the three-game series (-135).
Now let’s set the scene for this high-stakes clash with four things to know about the upcoming hostilities in Philly.
These teams are headed in opposite directions
As recently as June 11, the Mets held a notable five-game lead in the division. However, they enter this series on a six-game losing streak, having suffered sweeps at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays and the theretofore listless Atlanta Braves. Over those six defeats, the Mets were outscored by a hefty margin of 41-14, which means nothing was working well. The Mets weren’t swept in any of their 22 series prior to the current losing streak. It’s also their longest losing streak since they dropped seven in a row in early June of 2023. To put a finer point on it, the Mets had the best record in baseball prior to the ongoing skid.
As for the Phillies, they enter this clash having won eight of their last 10. That stretch includes taking two of three from the mighty Cubs, sweeping the Blue Jays, and winning three of four from the Marlins. Over that span, the Phillies have put up 51 runs scored against 32 runs allowed. The Mets series marks the start of a challenging schedule stretch for Philly. As of the Friday opener, 18 of Philly’s next 21 games come against winning teams, and 15 of those games are against teams presently in playoff position. As well, the three games against losing teams come against the improving Braves.
Juan Soto is looking more like his peak self
In his first season since leaving the Yankees in favor of a record $765 million free-agent pact with the Mets, Soto has taken a while to find his footing. Back on June 28, Soto endured an 0-for-4 day at the plate against the lowly White Sox, and that dropped his slash line for the season to .224/.352/.393. To be sure, that’s not bad production, particularly once you adjust for league and ballpark conditions, but it’s not anywhere close to peak Soto. June, though, has found Soto back in vintage form. Since the calendar flipped, he’s slashing .310/.481/.621 with five homers in 58 at-bats and 18 walks against just 10 strikeouts. That’s lifted his overall OPS+ to 143. Yes, that losing streak is still intact, but it hasn’t been Soto’s fault. Don’t be surprised if he makes his presence felt this weekend in Philly.
The Phillies need Jesús Luzardo to right himself
In a potential rubber match, the Phils will trot out Luzardo, their major offseason acquisition in a trade with Miami. He looked like yet another frontline presence in the Philly rotation for much of this season, but in his last four starts, he’s hemorrhaged 25 runs and nine unintentional walks in 16 ⅔ innings. That stretch includes a strong start against the hard-hitting Cubs, but otherwise it’s been a disaster. In his last start, a June 17 turn against the Marlins, he allowed four runs on six hits and four walks in five innings against one of MLB’s worst lineups. If there’s any hope to be found, it’s that the Mets’ offense this season has been significantly worse against lefties than they have against righties.
These two rivals won’t meet again for a long time
Whatever the results of the weekend set, it’ll simmer for some time. After Sunday, the Mets and Phillies won’t meet again until a three-game series in Queens scheduled for Aug. 25-27. Then the regular-season series concludes with four games back in Philly from Sept. 8-11. It’s of course entirely possible that the division will still hang in the balance by that late hour, so, to repeat, every game will likely matter in this NL East race.
Prediction
We’ll bow to recent trends, Philly’s home-field advantage, and its big pitching advantage in the opener. The Phillies take two of three, with Luzardo bouncing back in the finale.
The Punisher is officially headed to the big screens, with THR reporting that Jon Bernthal has joined the cast of the upcoming fourth Spider-Man movie, Brand New Day.
Who else is in the Spider-Man 4 cast?
THR’s report notes that Bernthal will join the likes of Tom Holland and a few other stars in the movie. So far, the cast for the movie remains as mysterious as the actual film’s story, with the only confirmed stars being Bernthal, Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, and Sadie Sink, the latter of which will be in a mysterious role.
Although nothing is known about the movie, that hasn’t stopped tons of rumors from floating around. Rumors about what Sadie Sink’s character to Nicole Kidman appearing in the movie have kept fans theorizing on what the movie could include.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is being directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who previously helmed the MCU film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which was released in 2021. Cretton was also attached to direct the fourth Avengers movie for a time, back when it was called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but stepped down from the position in November 2023.
Spider-Man 4 will be released in United States theaters on July 31, 2026, with the film releasing ahead of Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (December 17, 2027) following Doomsday’s delay.
Jon Bernthal has appeared in several Marvel television series as the stone-cold vigilante known as the Punisher, even headlining his own series.
Now he’s taking his guns to the big screen.
Bernthal has joined Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the latest Spider-Man movie from Sony and Marvel. Destin Daniel Cretton is directing the feature, which will shoot in England this summer and has a July 31, 2026, release date.
Much of the movie remains shrouded in mystery. Movie rumor websites have listed upwards of a dozen possible villains, from crime bosses to alien symbiotes, who could appear in the feature, as well as a couple of different versions of the Hulk.
The only thing clear at this stage is that Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are reprising their roles as MJ and best friend Ned, although how substantial those roles will be remains unclear. And Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is the big new addition so far. The story takes place after the events of the previous movie, Spider-Man: No Way Home, in which the entire world knew Peter Parker was Spider-Man and then had that knowledge erased.
Having Bernthal as the Punisher seems to point to a slightly more grounded angle on the story as the character hails from the gritty street corner of Marvel’s universe and, in the comics at least, uses fists, knives and guns to tussle with bad guys, rather than spells or fancy tech. But hey, having him square off against a rampaging Hulk could be fun, too.
Bernthal first showed up as vigilante Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, in Marvel’s Daredevil Netflix series, then starred in his own series that ran for two seasons. He recently returned for a few episodes in Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+.
Marvel is betting on more Punisher and Bernthal in the months and years to come. The character is set to return for season two of Born Again and Marvel is bringing Bernthal back for a Punisher stand-alone feature for Disney+. Bernthal is co-writing the latter. Curiously, one nonnegotiable he had for his return to Daredevil was maintaining the character’s violent, R-rated feel. It will be interesting to see how that translates into the more kid-friendly tone of the Spider-Man movies.
Bernthal and Holland have a charmed history together when it comes to Marvel. The duo were working on the 2017 feature Pilgrimage when prepping to audition for their Marvel roles. The actors helped each other with their audition tapes.
This year, Bernthal’s big-screen output has included starring opposite Ben Affleck in The Accountant 2 for Amazon and appearing in the Rami Malek thriller The Amateur for 20th Century Fox.
The NFL broadcast analyst for CBS and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback will be part of the pro-am at Metamora Fields Golf Club on Tuesday. He is also scheduled to visit the OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois as part of his trip, according to OSF.
Romo, 45, played high school football in Wisconsin and college football at Eastern Illinois. He went undrafted in 2003, but ended up playing 13 seasons with the Cowboys before retiring in 2017. He now is the lead color analyst for CBS’s NFL broadcasts, working with top play-by-play voice Jim Nantz.
What is the OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois Championship?
The tournament for professional players begins 7 a.m. Wednesday and runs through Saturday, with the first two rounds at Metamora Fields and WeaverRidge Golf Club. The final two rounds will play at Metamora Fields. Spectators can attend all rounds at both courses for free.
The men’s purse is an estimated $175,000 with $35,000 going to the winner, and the women’s tournament total purse is estimated at $80,000 with $10,000 to the winner, according to the ATP and ANNIKA websites.
The tournament features a men’s draw from the Men’s All-Pro Tour, a circuit of rising young pro players. The women’s side is the ANNIKA Tour, named in honor of legendary golfer Annika Sorenstam.
Who else is scheduled to play in the event?
Former Morton and University of Illinois star Tommy Kuhl is scheduled to play in the pro tournament. It’s not known yet if he’ll join Romo in the pro-am.
Former Metamora golfer and Germantown Hills native Ryan Ballard is in the draw, as is former Pekin golfer and Pekin resident Mason Minkel, playing under amateur status. Also in the draw are East Peoria and Illinois State golfer David Perkins and former Fieldcrest player and Minonk resident Clay Wells.
Golf learning center: Peoria golf facility being remade like TopGolf. The latest on the $6.5 million project
As of Friday, there are players in the women’s draw from India, Myanmar, Mexico, Colombia, Paraguay, China, Canada, Australia, Germany, South Africa, France and all around the U.S.
The men’s side is mostly players from around the U.S.
What are the APT and ANNIKA Tours?
The APT is a developmental level of the pro game that has produced PGA Tour winners Mark Hensby, J.L. Lewis, Tim Herron, Cameron Beckman, Bubba Watson, and Ryan Palmer, Scottie Scheffler, Hayden Buckley, Michael Arnaud, and 2021 Masters runner-up Will Zalatoris.
The ANNIKA Tour has seen Yealimi Noh, Matilda Castren, Gabby Then, Grace Kim, Sofia Garcia, Alexa Pano, Savannah Vilaubi and Riley Rennell all graduate to the LPGA Tour.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.
The two bottom‑dwellers of the WNBA collide tonight as the Connecticut Sun play host to the Dallas Wings.
Despite their similar records, my Wings vs. Sun predictions have Paige Bueckers & Co. grabbing the win and covering the spread.
Let’s dive further into my free WNBA picks for Friday, June 20.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, with the game airing on ION.
Wings vs Sun predictions
My Wings vs Sun best bet: Wings -4.5 (-110 at bet365)
The Dallas Wings picked up just their second win of the season on Tuesday, beating an upstart Golden State Valkyries side while holding them to just 71 points (the same team who just beat the Caitlin Clark-led Indiana Fever by 11 points).
In that game, I saw two things that impressed me and that I believe the Wings can build off of.
The first — the Wings can, in fact, win games that are close, against the right opposition. This is a team that’s already beaten the Connecticut Sun early in the season, putting up 109 points in that contest. They’ve also had close calls against the Las Vegas Aces and the Seattle Storm in the month of June.
Playing well is one thing, but closing out games is something this young Wings team is going to have to figure out in a hurry.
Meanwhile, the combination of Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale is going to be a nightmare defensively for the next five to seven years. The pair combined for 39 of the Wings’ 80 points vs. the Valkyries, and they now get to attack the worst-rated defense in the league.
In the four games Bueckers missed through injury, the Wings cracked 80 points once, and Ogunbowale averaged just 14.2 points per game. In the three games since Bueckers has been back, she’s averaged 18.3 points. Bueckers keeps the defense honest and makes the players around her better.
I expect the pair to have another big night against a Sun defense that ranks 13th in defensive rating at 114.6. They’ve given up 80+ points in three of their last four losses, including 104 points to a mid Washington Mystics side.
If we throw in the fact that the Sun also sit near the bottom of the league in all the important offensive metrics, I don’t see them being able to score enough to stay within this number.
Paige Bueckers pick: Bueckers’ delivery service
My best bet Paige Bueckers Over 5.5 assists (-130 at bet365)
The Dallas Wings have found the face of their franchise in Paige Bueckers. She’s been everything the Wings hoped she would be in her rookie season.
Through nine games this year, Paige is averaging 17.7 points and 5.7 assists per game. I believe those numbers would be higher if not for her missing some time through injury.
In her return to action, she’s been more focused on getting her shots and putting up points than dishing out assists, but that changes tonight.
The Sun are among the worst teams in the league at giving up assists. They have no elite on-ball defenders that can rattle the Wings PG, and Bueckers is smart/good enough to beat any double-team or trap by finding an open teammate for an easy look.
Over 5.5 assists is the floor. I also wouldn’t mind laddering this to 7+ at +150.
Wings vs Sun same-game parlay (SGP)
Wings -4.5
Bueckers Over 5.5 assists
Marina Mabrey Over 2.5 threes
50% boost available
The Wings have a little momentum on their side, having picked up their second win of the season, and they’ve already blown out this Connecticut side on their home court.
The Sun have dropped four straight, play some of the worst defense in the league, and give up plenty of assists. Bueckers should have no issues setting up her teammates.
Marina Mabrey is the only shot the Sun have at keeping this close. She’s a volume shooter and she’s not afraid to let fly from beyond the arc, hitting at a 30% clip.
Wings vs Sun odds
Wings vs Sun live odds
Wings vs Sun opening odds
Spread: Dallas -4 (-110) | Connecticut +4 (-110)
Moneyline: Dallas -187 | Connecticut +153
Over/Under: Over 164.5 (-110) | Under 164.5 (-110)
Wings vs Sun trend
Connecticut has a record of 2-7 SU (a 22.2% win rate) when it is set as an underdog of +180 or more by bookmakers this season. Find more WNBA betting trends for Wings vs. Sun.
How to watch Wings vs Sun
Location
Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
Date
Friday, 6-20-2025
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
ION
Wings vs Sun latest injuries
Wings: Maddy Siegrist F (Out), Tyasha Harris G (Out), Teaira McCowan C (Out). Sun: Leila Lacan G (Out). Find our latest WNBA injury reports.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
MMA Fighting has PFL 6 results for the Rabadanov vs. Lee fight card and more from the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, on Friday night.
In the main event, Gadzhi Rabadanov tries to spoil Kevin Lee’s PFL debut in the lightweight tournament semifinal contest. Rabadanov has reeled off 11 straight victories, while Lee has lost three of his past five fights.
Former Bellator champion Liz Carmouche squares off against Elora Dana in the co-main event in a flyweight tournament semifinal showdown.
Check out the PFL 6 results below.
Main Card
Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Kevin Lee via TKO (strikes) (R1, 2:37)
Liz Carmouche def. Elora Dana via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Archie Colgan def. Mansour Barnaoui via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Marcirley Alves def. Jake Hadley via unanimous decision (30-26 x3)
Alfie Davis def. Brent Primus via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Justin Wetzell def. Mando Gutierrez via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
‘Don’t you know my nation believes death is sweeter than honey?’ one woman asked correspondent Frederik Pleitgen in a message to Trump
CNN correspondent Frederik Pleitgen is the first Western journalist to enter Iran amid its war with Israel. He used the access to report from a crowd of angry pro-regime protesters in Tehran who chanted “death to America,” burned Israeli and American flags, and threatened President Donald Trump.
“Massive crowds have turned out here in central Tehran to protest against Israel’s strikes against Iran but also against the policies of the Trump administration,” Pleitgen said. “Many of them were chanting ‘Death to America,’ were chanting ‘Death to Israel,’ we saw them burn American flags and burn Israeli flags.”
“So you can see that anger being voiced by many of the folks who are walking here in this protest,” Pleitgen continued as he walked with those folks. CNN aired interviews with some of the protesters, including a woman who took aim at Trump.
“Trump, you are threatening my leader!” the woman yelled into the camera. “Don’t you know my nation believes death is sweeter than honey?”
CNN first aired Pleitgen’s segment around 12:30 p.m. on Friday. Afterwards, anchor Anderson Cooper said Iran’s government “obviously … wants to see people out in the streets protesting, sending a message certainly to people in the United States and perhaps to Israel.” After a second airing of the segment hours later, CNN interviewed Washington Post reporter and former Iranian hostage Jason Rezaian, who explained the problem with broadcasting that message.
“When the regime faces these sorts of existential threats, they mobilize their supporters,” Rezaian said. “At the same time, there is no opportunity, there is no mechanism by which people—millions of Iranians who are opposed to this regime—could organize such a protest or demonstration, especially without fearing or risking arrest or worse.”
One day earlier, CNN aired a segment in which Pleitgen toured the Iranian state-controlled broadcasting headquarters that Israeli warplanes struck. He pointed out the regime’s destroyed tech and food remains as he noted that the attack had sparked calls for “revenge.”
