If nothing else, these Seattle Mariners are baseball’s ultimate duality, hoarding the game’s most precious and fading commodity to great success, providing the proper foundation to attain the ultimate goal.

“Pitching is king,” notes Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, proud receiver of a starting rotation that’s pitched more innings than all but one major league club this season. “It doesn’t matter what level you’re playing at. Pitching is always going to be king. I’d say fielding is a close second.

“We do both those things really well. That’s kind of where it has to start.”

Yet it also can’t finish until the Mariners shake free of their albatross: An extended run of hitting futility that exemplifies the worst facets of modern baseball and threatens to nullify their starters’ handiwork.

“I don’t think what we’re doing right now is sustainable – from an offense and pitching standpoint,” notes designated hitter Mitch Garver, who’s lugging a .173 batting average and .280 on-base percentage, yet still finds himself in the middle of Seattle’s lineup most nights.

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“We cannot lean on our pitching staff that heavily all year long. We have to figure it out on the offensive front. And we haven’t even come close to reaching our potential on that end.”

And perhaps it’s really that simple.

The Mariners hit the Memorial Day checkpoint almost exactly a .500 team: At 28-26, they are a product of their environment. A legitimate five-man rotation, filled with once and future All-Stars and youngsters with crackling fastballs, leads the majors’ starters in WHIP (1.04), and has thrown the second-most innings, behind only the 38-16 Phillies.

Yet that greatness is largely nullified by an offense that’s 27th in runs, batting average (.224) and OBP (.297) and 24th in OPS (.667) within a historically grim offensive environment. Garver is one of eight regulars or semi-regulars with OBPs between .272 and .306, yet with just three to six home runs.

In other words, an offense with little chance at stringing together three or four hits – yet not hitting enough home runs to make up the shortfall.

That grim pattern extended to superstar Julio Rodriguez, a notoriously slow starter who had just two homers until homering in consecutive games Saturday and Sunday; he has a .306 OBP and 90 adjusted OPS. Rodriguez’s slow start – and he has a career .766 OPS before the All-Star break, .939 after – isn’t the only thing feeling like déjà vu for Mariners fans.

A year ago, they were 28-25 entering Memorial Day and finished with 88 wins, third in the AL West – and a game out of the playoff field.

In 2022, they were 20-28, rallied for 90 wins and a playoff berth before toppling Toronto in the wild-card series but getting swept by Houston in the AL Division Series.

And three years ago, they hit the holiday 28-27, won 90 games, finished second in the West – but missed the wild-card contest by two games.

It’s a pattern the Mariners would love to break. Ah, well.

“This group has relied on the pitching so much over the last two or three years. It just can’t be that way anymore,” says Garver, whose Texas Rangers finished two games ahead of Seattle a year ago and then went on to capture the World Series.

“We need to score more runs and the players – we’ll be the first to say we’re not doing a good enough job, and we’re not.”

Fortunately for the Mariners, the definition of good enough just might be changing.

A mild, mild West

 The last week of September has in recent years turned into a grim spin of the roulette wheel for the Mariners. They’re not unlike a student who skates through the first half of class, picks it up for midterms – like the Mariners’ 38-15 rampage through July and August last year – and sees if the final exam goes their way.

Last year, their final was 10 games against the Astros and Rangers, all three teams vying for two playoff spots – and they failed miserably.

Seattle lost five of those first six games and was eliminated on the season’s penultimate day, when Texas won 6-1 at T-Mobile Park. The Mariners have not won the AL West since 2001 – Ichiro Suzuki’s famed Rookie of the Year/MVP campaign – and have spent most of the past decade hovering around 86 wins but looking up at an Astros team that won many more.

Monday night, the Astros begin a four-game series at T-Mobile Park in an unfamiliar position: At 24-29 and 3 ½ games behind Seattle. The defending champion Rangers aren’t much better, at 25-29.

For all their offensive inconsistency – and the Mariners have been held to three runs or less in 11 of their last 20 games – they’re actually in a far better spot than they’re accustomed.

Yet also harbor the sinking feeling that spring struggles sow autumn despair.

“Every game matters but it’s also such a long season,” says Bryan Woo, who debuted in June 2023 and has a 1.66 ERA this year in four starts off the injured list. “We really didn’t play our best ball, or even better baseball, until July or August.

“You stay consistent on things you’re working on, and we always hold ourselves to a really high standard. But also not get caught up because you’re going to have bad games.

“Regulate the highs and lows. Keep on chugging.”

Fortunately, Woo and his colleagues are pretty good at regulating.

‘The best trade we’ve ever made’

The Mariners’ identity was solidified for the better on July 30, 2022, when trade-happy but arbitrage-loving GM Jerry Dipoto dealt four prospects – including prized infielder Noelvi Marte – to the Cincinnati Reds for Luis Castillo, a couple weeks after Castillo’s second All-Star appearance.

Suddenly, Seattle’s annual trudge toward 85-ish wins had a north star.

Paired with reigning Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, Castillo won four games and gobbled up 65 innings down the stretch. He carried a shutout into the eighth inning of the Mariners’ first playoff game in 22 years, beating Toronto to kick-start a wild-card sweep.

And has arguably been even more valuable since.

After signing a $108 million contract extension, Castillo has lent definition and occasional dominance to rotation mates Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Woo and Bryce Miller, who range in age from 24 to 27.

“Absolutely the best trade we’ve ever made,” says Mariners manager Scott Servais. “We gave up some really good young prospects, but to get a guy like that – a top of the rotation guy, the job he does every fifth day when he takes the ball, but also what he does for Logan and George and Bryce and Bryan, when you have that lead dog out ahead.

“Those guys are awesome young pitchers. Luis has a lot more experience, the ability to work through lineups. He has a certain persona about him like he’s the guy – and he loves that.

“It was probably a little bit painful for some in the organization because you give up a lot of good young players, but – risk vs. reward. You gotta know when to shoot the bullets and we did a great job.”

Gilbert and Castillo rank third and 10th in the majors in innings pitched, respectively. Now in his fourth season and possibly headed to his first All-Star Game, Gilbert has taken on a greater leadership role with the younger pitchers.

But all take their cues from Castillo, 31, the lone veteran after Ray underwent flexor tendon surgery and was traded.

“He understands us really well, every person’s personality type,” says Gilbert of Castillo. “I think he just has that calming presence and this confidence about him. I’ve gone to him plenty of times and he’s helped me take a step back, understand what you do well and not really worry about anything else.

“I feel like there can be a lot more searching when you’re on your own. You can go through great times and the bad times can be rough.”

The organization’s pitching program – helmed at the big league level by pitching coach Pete Woodworth, pitching strategy director Trent Blank and former big league reliever Danny Farquhar – has reinforced the talent unearthed by the club’s scouting and development.

Woo has been untouchable since returning from elbow inflammation, allowing just 14 baserunners in 21 ⅔ innings, just three years after he was picked in the sixth round out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

“My first start wasn’t very good and I didn’t know what to do,” Woo says of a major-league debut in which he gave up six runs in three innings to Texas last June 3. “They were like, ‘You don’t need to change anything, just use things a little different here or there and have confidence in what you do.’

“That was a pretty big deal for me coming up. The message is, ‘You’re here for a reason. Keep doing what you do really well. Continue taking advantage of your strengths.’”

Don’t look up

The Mariners would prefer to balance their strengths. Saturday, after another feeble offensive effort in a 3-1 loss to the Nationals, Servais called a team meeting, reiterating well-worn themes for a club that lost its fourth in a row.

“I think we’re capable of much, much more,” Servais said before the series. “That was the original thought when we put the team together. I think the players agree with me on that one.”

Mercifully, they took advantage of Nationals starter Patrick Corbin’s 6.29 ERA coming into Sunday and amassed 10 hits in a 9-5 win to cap a 4-6 road trip that began in Baltimore and Yankee Stadium.

Now, the Astros, and the rest of the summer. As always, the Mariners are in it. They have learned that there’s no time like the present to seize some control of their destiny.

“You don’t want to look up and we finish last season in a three-way tie with Texas and Houston – who even gets in? Texas ends up winning the whole thing,” says Gilbert.

“It came down to the wire. It’s great to be in that position. But if you win three or four you should’ve won in May or June that you might’ve lost by one run – those games really come back to matter at the end.”

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres knew they were getting the best pure hitter in the game.

They knew they were getting a steal from the Miami Marlins who are paying virtually his entire contract.

They knew they were getting one of the most genuine, likable players in the game.

But nearly one month since they acquired Luis Arráez, don’t be surprised if the Padres walk up and personally thank each and every one of the Marlins for sending him their way when they meet Monday afternoon.

Arráez, who produced two more hits and made a sensational diving stop that stalled the New York Yankees’ offense before it got started Sunday, has been a sparkplug for the Padres offense since his arrival, winning 5-2 against the Yankees in front of a sellout crowd of 45,371 at Petco Park.

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Arráez is hitting .391 in 20 games with the Padres and teammates and opponents are raving about the impact he has made.

“I love the intensity he brings with his at-bats,’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously, just about as good as it gets from the bat to ball standpoint. But I just love the intensity with how he plays the game.’’

The Yankees had walloped the Padres the first two games of the series, 12-1, with their starters pitching 12 shutout innings and yielding only six hits, while tormenting the Padres’ pitchers with five home runs.

Just when it looked like the Yankees, with the most powerful offense in the game, were getting started when Aaron Judge lined a 115.8-mph ball off the left field wall and then Alex Verdugo hit a liner that appeared headed towards the right-field corner.

Uh-uh.

Arráez, playing first base, dove to his left, snared it to end the rally, the Yankees’ momentum, and perhaps even turned around the game.

“That play was huge,’ Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “When that happened, I thought, “OK, things may be going our way today.’ ‘’

When the game ended, there was Arráez, batting leadoff, producing two more hits and an RBI. He has 23 multi-hit games this season while striking out a league-low 14 times.

“It’s incredible what he has done for us,’ Padres All-Star third baseman Manny Machado said Sunday. “We all knew how good he was, winning two batting titles, but he’s even better. It’s just so impressive what he’s doing. Every single time.

“I mean, he puts the pressure on a pitcher immediately. It takes a toll on a pitcher when the first batter he faces is him, seeing him work the count, getting a hit, starting a rally. He can put a pitcher on the ropes immediately. He brings such a toughness to the lineup.

“He’s just so dangerous. He’s a difference-maker and a threat to win any game by himself.’’

Arráez, already being compared to Padres eight-time batting champion Tony Gwynn, says it’s been an honor being able to talk about Gwynn’s prowess with Gwynn’s son, Tony Jr., a broadcaster with the Padres.

Gwynn was a career .338 hitter, and Arráez, winning back-to-back batting titles with the Minnesota Twins and Miami Marlins, has almost identical stats after 589 career games. He is hitting .327 in his career, nearly 90 points above the .240 league average.

“I know everyone loves home runs, and slug, and all of that stuff,’ Arráez tells USA TODAY Sports. “But I love to hit. I love to get on base. That’s what I try to do every at-bat.

“Oh, and I hate striking out.’

Arráez has struck out only 179 times in 2,425 plate appearances.

Slugger Joey Gallo struck out 213 times alone in 2021.

“The guy is such a spark for us, he’s the closest thing we’ve ever seen to Tony Gwynn,’ Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis said. “He’s one of the best hitters I’ve ever seen play the game of baseball. You watch his steady work ethic. His daily routine. It’s just so impressive to be close to him and learn what he’s all about.

“His type of energy over here is contagious. He motivates you. We’re all feeding off him.’

Arráez, who’s hitting .335 overall this season, can make history if he wins another batting title. No player has ever won three consecutive batting titles with three different teams.

He trails only Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani (.336) in the National League batting race.

“I’d love to win the batting title every year,’ Arráez says, “but what I really want is to win a World Series. That would mean everything to me. That would be the ultimate season.’’

Really, just watching his preparation, his approach at the plate, the Padres say, makes them a better team. They’re intently studying his actions, trying to duplicate his bat-to-ball skills. Certainly, it has had an impact on the entire lineup. They’ve scored six or more runs in seven games since Arráez’s arrival.

“He just brings in so much joy and excitement to the team,’ Machado said, “and he brings in a lot of new ideas, which has been awesome.

“What he does you don’t see enough in this game. Seeing him win two batting titles is cool, but to see it first-hand is completely different. He knows the game. He knows what they’re going to do to him. And he sprays the ball everywhere.

“He’s just what we needed.’

Arráez showcased his skills on the Padres’ last road trip, hitting .545. He produced a career-high eight consecutive multi-hit games, and has seven three-hit games this season.

“He’s got this high baseball IQ, with great focus, a great approach, and great physical talent,’ Shildt said. “It’s the perfect combination.’

If it was only as easy as Arráez makes it look. There are more strikeouts than hits in baseball. Teams resort to swinging for the fences because they can’t string together hits.

“I mean, it’s hard to hit the ball, really hard,’ Arráez says. “There are a lot of nasty pitchers. That’s why I don’t focus on homers. I’ll let the other guys hit homers. I just want to get on base, which is important to help my team win. There are so many nasty pitchers, you’ve got to try to do everything you can. And for me, that’s getting on base.

“That’s what I do best, take walks, get hits, whatever it takes.’

Arráez really has no contemporaries but there’s no one he enjoys watching more than Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. Freeman is a career .301 hitter, a three-time Silver Slugger winner, who also happens to have 326 home runs.

Arráez has 25 career homers.

“He’s a big guy [6-foot-5, 220 pounds], he just tries to hit up the middle, and he homers, too,’ said Arráez, 5-10, 175 pounds. “If I got big like him, I think I’ve got homers like him. But he just wants to hit.

“I love watching him.’

Arráez religiously studies tape on opposing pitchers, but says he stays away from scouting reports (“I don’t trust them.’) He wants to see their arsenal for himself. And if it’s a pitcher he has never seen, well, he’ll take a few pitches to get comfortable.

“I just want to follow my plan, do my thing, and let’s see where it takes us at the end of the season. If I get five hits, I want to come back tomorrow and get five hits again.’

Arráez, who has been used as the DH with the Padres more than he has played the field, would prefer playing every day at second base. He wants to be in the heart of the action. And now that second baseman Xander Bogaerts is out at least two months with a broken shoulder, there is more playing time to be had in the field.

“I don’t like DH,’ he said. “I fall asleep when I’m DHing. I need to move around. I want to play defense. Sometimes, I don’t want to play first, but I know they need me there. I love second base, everyone knows that.

“But most of all, I love to hit.’

Says Machado: “Believe me, that’s where we love watching him too. Right there in that batter’s box.’

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Selection day has arrived in college baseball, the official start of the quest for the sport’s ultimate destination, the College World Series in Omaha.

First, however, the 64-team field must navigate the regionals, with the winners at the 16 four-team double-elimination sites advancing to the best-of-three superregional round a week later.

In addition to the seed order at all 16 sites, the NCAA committee also unveiled the top eight overall seeds in the field. That group will be guaranteed to be playing in friendly environs should they advance, but it doesn’t guarantee a trip to Omaha. That seems especially true this year in what appears to be a wide-open field of title contenders. Here’s everything you need to know about the draw.

Who are the top teams in the NCAA baseball tournament?

Defending champ LSU will be a long shot at best this time, needing a late push just to make the field. But the SEC is well represented at the top of the bracket as the likes of Tennessee, Texas A&M, Kentucky and Arkansas have all hovered at or near the top of the polls for much of the season. The conference also broke a record with 11 teams selected and five of the eight national seeds. ACC top finisher North Carolina and league rivals Clemson and Florida State could also make some noise, as could Oregon State and Oklahoma. The best hope among non-power conference representatives looks to be East Carolina or UC Irvine, but the Sun Belt Conference could also offer a candidate or two.

Who are the top players?

There might not be a Paul Skenes in this year’s field, but there’s certainly no lack of arm talent. Wake Forest’s Chase Burns finished the regular season with 169 strikeouts. Arkansas’s Hagen Smith wasn’t far behind with 150 while allowing just over four hits per nine innings. Duke’s Beilenson and ECU’s Trey Yesavage also sport top-five ERAs. Top sluggers in the tournament include Georgia’s Charlie Condon, the Texas A&M duo of Jace Laviolette and Braden Montgomery, Tennessee’s Christian Moore and Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana. Florida getting a nod while on the bubble means two-way star Jac Caglione will continue his career in the tournament.

Who are the top 16 seeds?

Tennessee (50-11)
Kentucky (40-14)
Texas A&M (44-13)
North Carolina (42-13)
Arkansas (43-14)
Clemson (41-14)
Georgia (39-15)
Florida State (42-15)
Oklahoma (37-19)
North Carolina State (33-20)
Oklahoma State (40-17)
Virginia (41-15)
Arizona (36-21)
UC Santa Barbara (42-12)
Oregon State (42-14)
East Carolina (43-15)

NCAA baseball tournament bracket, schedule

All times Eastern

Regionals

Knoxville Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 2 Southern Mississippi (41-18) vs. No. 3 Indiana (32-24-1), 1 p.m.

Game 2: No. 1 Tennessee (50-11) vs. No. 4 Northern Kentucky (35-22), 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Greenville Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 1 East Carolina (43-15) vs. No. 4 Evansville (35-23), 1 p.m.

Game 2: No. 2 Wake Forest (38-20) vs. No. 3 Virginia Commonwealth (37-21), 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Norman Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 2 Duke (39-18) vs. No. 3 Connecticut (32-23), 1 p.m.

Game 2: No. 1 Oklahoma (37-19) vs. No. 4 Oral Roberts (27-30-1), 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m.

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Tallahassee Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 1 Florida State (42-15) vs. No. 4 Stetson (40-20), noon

Game 2: No. 2 Alabama (33-22) vs. No. 3 Central Florida (35-19), 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Fayetteville Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 1 Arkansas (43-14) vs. No. 4 Southeast Missouri State (34-25), 3 p.m.

Game 2: No. 2 Louisiana Tech (45-17) vs. #3 Kansas State (32-24), 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m.

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m.

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Charlottesville Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 1 Virginia (41-15) vs. No. 4 Penn (24-23), noon

Game 2: No. 2 Mississippi St. (38-21) vs. No. 3 St. John’s (37-16-1), 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Tucson Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 2 Dallas Baptist (44-13) vs. No. 3 West Virginia (33-22), 3 p.m.

Game 2: No. 1 Arizona (36-21) vs. No. 4 Grand Canyon (34-23), 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4 p.m.

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 10 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Chapel Hill Regional

Friday, May 31

No. 2 LSU (40-21) vs. No. 3 Wofford (41-18), noon

No. 1 North Carolina (42-13) vs. No. Long Island (33-23), 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Lexington Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 1 Kentucky (40-14) vs. No. 4 Western Michigan (32-21), noon

Game 2: No. 2 Indiana State (42-13) vs. No. 3 Illinois (34-19), 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Corvallis Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 2 UC Irvine (43-12) vs. No. 3 Nicholls State (38-20), 4 p.m.

Game 2: No. 1 Oregon State (42-14) vs. No. 4 Tulane (35-24), 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4 p.m.

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 10 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Raleigh Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 2 South Carolina (36-23) vs. No. 3 James Madison (34-23), 2 p.m.

Game 2: No. 1 North Carolina State (33-20) vs. No. 4 Bryant (36-19), 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Athens Regional

Game 1: No. 1 Georgia (39-15) vs. No. 4 Army (31-21), 1 p.m.

Game 2: No. 2 UNC Wilmington (39-19) vs. No. 3 Georgia Tech (31-23), 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Clemson Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 2 Vanderbilt (38-21) vs. No. 3 Coastal Carolina (34-23), noon

Game 2: No. 1 Clemson (41-14) vs. No. 4 High Point (34-25), 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Stillwater Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 2 Nebraska (39-20) vs. No. 3 Florida (28-27), 3 p.m.

Game 2: No. 1 Oklahoma State (40-17) vs. No. 4 Niagara (38-15), 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2 p.m.

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m.

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Santa Barbara Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 2 San Diego (40-13) vs. No. 3 Oregon (37-18), 3 p.m.

Game 2: No. 1 UC Santa Barbara (42-12) vs. No. 4 Fresno State (33-27), 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4 p.m.

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 10 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Bryan-College Station Regional

Friday, May 31

Game 1: No. 1 Texas A&M (44-13) vs. No. 4 Grambling (26-26), 1 p.m.

Game 2: No. 2 Louisiana-Lafayette (40-18) vs. No. 3 Texas (35-22), 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m.

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m.

Monday, June 3

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary

Super Regionals

June 6-June 8

Knoxville Regional winner vs. Greenville Regional winner

Norman Regional winner vs. Tallahassee Regional winner

Fayetteville Regional winner vs. Charlottesville Regional winner

Tucson Regional winner vs. Chapel Hill Regional winner

Lexington Regional winner vs. Corvallis Regional winner

Raleigh Regional winner vs. Athens Regional winner

Clemson Regional winner vs. Stillwater Regional winner

Santa Barbara Regional winner vs. College Station Regional winner

College World Series bracket, schedule

At Charles Schwab Field, Omaha, Neb.

Friday, June 14

Game 1: TBD vs. TBD

Game 2: TBD vs. TBD

Saturday, June 15

Game 3: TBD vs. TBD

Game 4: TBD vs. TBD

Sunday, June 16

Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser

Game 6: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner

Monday, June 17

Game 7: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser

Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner

Tuesday, June 18

Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser

Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser

Wednesday, June 19

Game 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner

Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner

Thursday, June 20

Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 11 loser, if necessary

Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser, if necessary

Championship series

Saturday, June 22

Bracket 1 winner vs. Bracket 2 winner, TBA

Sunday, June 23

Bracket 1 winner vs. Bracket 2 winner, TBA

Monday, June 24

Bracket 1 winner vs. Bracket 2 winner, TBA, if necessary

SUNRISE, Fla. – Jacob Trouba finds himself at the center of the NHL conversation yet again.

The New York Rangers captain has become a polarizing figure for his rugged play and crunching checks. Some laud him as one of the league’s best open-ice hitters, while others − mostly from opposing fan bases − adjudge him to be a dirty head-hunter.

Trouba has been fairly accountable over the years when he believes he’s pushed too far over the line, but the 30-year-old defenseman wasn’t quite as remorseful for Sunday’s elbow on Evan Rodrigues in New York’s 5-4 overtime win over the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference.

‘He kind of went to the middle,’ Trouba said following Monday’s optional practice at Amerant Bank Arena. ‘It all happens pretty fast. It’s not something you’re thinking about 1,000 times over and over again. It just happens fast. It’s hockey. I don’t have a great explanation for it.’

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety deemed the play worthy of a $5,000 fine, the maximum allowable under the CBA, which it handed down Monday afternoon.

“Take the hat, pass it around,’” Panthers coach Paul Maurice quipped to reporters. “Poor lad. Poor Jake. He won’t be able to eat.”

The reality is that many of Trouba’s oft-criticized hits are clean − hard, yes, but executed within the rules of the game while using proper technique. Sunday’s incident rose to a different level because, rather than keeping his elbow tucked, Trouba clearly extended it in an attempt to get a piece of Rodrigues as the Florida forward tried to avoid the contact.

Replays from various angles show that Trouba didn’t make direct contact with Rodrigues’ head, which is likely what prevented the minor penalty from elevating to a five-minute major.

‘Any time they review it, you don’t really know what’s going to happen,’ Trouba said. ‘I didn’t think it was anything that crazy.’

Asked if he felt that Rodrigues — who threw his head back just after contact was made and then remained down on the ice — or any other Panthers have embellished at points in a series that has featured 13 penalties against the Rangers through three games, Trouba simply said, ‘No comment.’

‘We have to play physical, but we definitely don’t want to be taking six penalties,’ said Trouba, referring to the amount of calls against New York in Game 3. ‘They’ve got a good power play. Discipline is definitely is something we’re going to have to be better at – I’m going to have to be better at – but we definitely want to play a hard, physical game. That’s part of what makes our team good.’

The Rangers would help themselves out by spending less time defending.

Florida has had a distinct advantage in possession, particularly Sunday while lead New York 108-44 in shot attempts. The Panthers being on the attack so often has made the Rangers increasingly vulnerable to whistles, which tend to go against whichever team doesn’t have the puck.

Before Game 3, Trouba and his defensive partner, K’Andre Miller, had been off to a strong start in the series. They didn’t allow any goals against in the first two games, with the Rangers holding a 37-35 edge in shot attempts while they were on the ice, according to Natural Stat Trick. But they were victimized for two five-on-five goals Sunday, plus another on the penalty kill, while being out-attempted 34-9 at 5v5.

It’s probably no coincidence that Trouba was only called for one penalty in Games 1 and 2 combined, then three alone in Game 3.

‘It’s obviously something we want to improve on,’ he said.

While the Rangers acknowledge the need to tighten up their defense and cut down on the penalties, they’ve also made it clear they don’t want their captain backing down after the fine.

He leads the team with 48 hits through 13 playoff games, with head coach Peter Laviolette encouraging him to keep it up heading into Game 4 on Tuesday.

‘We need that physical presence,’ Laviolette said. ‘That’s something that he brings, and he brings it all the time. We’re in a physical series right now, and so we need guys playing hard and playing physical. He’s somebody that we can count on to do that. There’s some (penalties) that I don’t necessarily agree with (Sunday), that he went to the box on, and so it is what it is. But from what he brings to the team for his physical presence, our group needs that. He’s been consistent with it really his whole career.’

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.

Basketball Hall of Famer and storied sports broadcaster Bill Walton passed away Monday at the age of 71 after a long battle with cancer.

Walton was a dominant basketball player, earning a Finals MVP Award in 1977 with the Portland Trail Blazers and then following that championship up with a regular season MVP win in 1978. His love for the game was evident even after his career ended, when Walton turned to the broadcast booth. As a broadcaster, Walton was known for his eccentric style, legendary one-liners, and insightful commentary. He will be greatly missed.

Here are some reactions to Walton’s passing from some of sports media’s biggest figures.

Sports world reacts to Bill Walton’s death

Basketball Hall of Famer and broadcasting icon Bill Walton died Monday after a long battle with cancer, the NBA announced. He was 71.

Walton played for 14 years in the NBA, and his list of accomplishments as a college and professional player is hard to match. He was a two-time national champion at UCLA, where he won three straight national college player of the year awards and earned three consensus first-team All-American nods from 1972-74.

After the Portland Trail Blazers selected Walton first overall in the 1974 NBA Draft, he won a title with them in 1977 and was named Finals MVP. He also won another title in 1986 with the Boston Celtics.

Walton’s playing career is only a part of the impact he had on the game of basketball and the world of sports. After it ended, the Hall of Fame player began an illustrious career as a sports broadcaster. Starting in 1990 and over the next 30 years, Walton became known for his use of catchphrases, seemingly unrelated tangents and relentless excitement while calling games.

These are some of his best moments from that broadcasting career.

Best Bill Walton broadcasting and media moments

‘Thankfully Mr. Tyson is doing great,’ the boxer’s representatives said Monday in a statement shared through his publicist, Joann Mignano. ‘He became nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing. He is appreciative to the medical staff that were there to help him.’

Tyson’s representatives also dismissed ‘false reporting’ that the flight had been delayed because of his medical situation, saying instead that a two-hour delay prior to takeoff was ‘due to an air conditioning issue on the aircraft.’ The incident took place on a cross-country flight Sunday to Los Angeles.

Tyson, who turns 58 at the end of next month, will face Jake Paul in a boxing match in Arlington, Texas, on July 20. The fight will be streamed live on Netflix at no additional cost for subscribers. The pair completed a promotional tour for the fight – alongside undercard fighters Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano – first in New York and then at AT&T Stadium, the venue for the match.

During the press conference May 13 in New York, Tyson said he was ‘doing great’ but added that his ‘body is (expletive) right now’ and he was ‘really sore’ from the initial stages of his training. The fight against Paul, who is 27, will be conducted in eight two-minute rounds.

It is unclear whether Tyson’s medical condition that affected him during the flight would disrupt his availability for the match against Paul.

Tyson last fought in a sanctioned match on June 11, 2005, when he lost to Kevin McBride by technical knockout. Tyson most recently fought in November 2020 in an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr.