Spencer Steer has played just about everywhere across his college and professional careers. One place he has never played, though, is in CF.
On the same day that news broke that Matt McLain would be heading to the 10-day IL with a calf strain he picked up shagging balls in CF as a player who hadn’t played and CF since college, the Reds are going to roll out Steer as their CF in Friday’s series opener in Great American Ball Park against the Chicago Cubs.
That’s right!
Despite the Reds brass having touted Noelvi Marte’s athleticism and natural instincts as capable of playing some CF, Marte will instead start in RF on the night, with the decision to shoehorn Steer into CF the latest in a long, crumbling line of decisions made by the powers that be in Cincinnati. This all also coincides with the return of Ke’Bryan Hayes at 3B, so perhaps the front office is so convinced that Hayes’ defense is transformative at the hot corner that where anyone else plays defensively truly doesn’t matter.
That’s the headline, tonight, or at least the co-headline. The other is that Hunter Greene will make his second start since returning from elbow surgery with hopes that literally anything other than what happened in his first start is what we get to see.
First pitch against the Cubs is set for 7:10 PM ET. Starting lineups for both clubs are listed below.
Oct 27, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) celebrates after hitting home run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game six of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Last year at about this time, the Mariners got stomped by the Yankees and looked ready to limp into the All-Star break with a final series against the best team in baseball. Then they went to Detroit and beat the pants off the Tigers, setting up one of the most important second halves in team history. The Mariners will hope to find a bit of that do-or-die magic again in 2026, after getting swept by the Marlins earlier in the week and now facing the first-place Rays before the pause.
The biggest change for the Mariners today is Colt Emerson is not in the lineup. J.P. Crawford will instead play shortstop and Buddy Kennedy will play third base. Luke Raley also gets a day off in favor of Miles Mastrobuoni in right field.
Julio Rodríguez is not joining the team in Tampa Bay. Brendan Donovan is in Arizona getting ready for a rehab assignment.
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros and Rangers will renew their rivalry tonight in Arlington, TX, with the first game of a big three-game weekend series at Globe Life Field.
Astros ace RHP Hunter Brown (1-0) will get the start for Houston in what is his seventh start of the season and his first in 2026 opposite the Rangers.
He’ll be opposed by reliever turned starter RHP Cal Quantrill (3-1).
THE SILVER BOOT SERIES: The Astros are 5-2 vs. the Rangers thus far in the 2026 Silver Boot Series, which includes winning three of four in Arlington earlier this season from May 25-28.
Since the start of the 2017 season, the Astros have won or split nine straight season series against the Rangers, going 98-53 against the Rangers in that span.
THIS WEEKEND’S TELECASTS: All three games this series will be televised by Space City Home Network with Kevin Eschenfelder, Geoff Blum and Lauren Callender on the call.
Shelby Coppedge and Brian Bogusevic will host the pre and postgame shows from the SCHN studio.
SUPPORT FOR VENEZUELA: The Astros Foundation held incredibly successful relief drives last week to support Venezuela after devastating earthquakes hit the country on June 24.
With combined efforts from the Astros Foundation, several of the Astros partners and many Astros fans, the group put together 115 pallets of non-perishable food items, household needs, hygiene items and more, which will make their way to Venezuela.
THE SLOW TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 26-18 since May 21, which is the best record in the AL in that span.
On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros are 16-10 on their last four road trips combined and are 22-16 on the road since going 1-9 on their first road trip of the season.
The Astros have won four of their last six road series dating back to May 22.
WINNING THE CLOSE CALLS: The Astros are 9-6 in one-run games and 21-11 in two-run games.
Nine of the Astros last 10 wins and 14 of their last 16 victories have come by two-or-fewer runs.
The last time the Astros won a game by four-plus runs was on June 19 vs. CLE, in a 9-3 win.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE!: The Astros would like to wish a Happy Birthday to LHP Steven Okert, who turned 35 yesterday.
Despite being the eldest member of the Astros bullpen, Okert leads the club and ranks third in the AL in appearances (44).
WEDNESDAY IN WASHINGTON: The Astros dropped the rubber game of their three-game series in Washington on Wednesday night by a score of 8-2.
3B Isaac Paredes (2×4) and LF Zach Dezenzo (2×3) both picked up two-hit games in the contest.
1B Christian Walker (1×4) reached a milestone, hitting his 200th career double.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have reinstated SS Jeremy Peña from the 10-day IL and have designated IF Braden Shewmake for assignment.
Additionally, RHP Kai-Wei Teng began a minor league rehab assignment for the FCL Astros today, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning.
BROTHER BROWN: RHP Hunter Brown will make his seventh start of the season tonight and his fifth since returning from a lengthy stint on the IL with a right shoulder strain.
He has shown some rust upon his return, but has been effective on the seaon, posting a 3.38 ERA (11ER/29.1IP) while allowing 23 hits in 29.1 IP (.213 opp. avg.) with 35 strikeouts.
ALL-STAR ALVAREZ: DH Yordan Alvarez has been voted by the fans as the starting DH for the AL All- Star team.
This marks the fourth All-Star selection for Alvarez (2022-24, 2026) and the second time that he has been voted as a starter (also in 2024).
MVP-CALIBER: DH Yordan Alvarez is a strong MVP candidate, currently leading all of baseball in OPS (1.030), OBP (.416), SLG (.614), and total bases (208).
Additionally, he ranks first in the AL in HR (29), first in RBI (67), tied for first in XBH (45), second in hits (105), second in batting average (.310), third in runs (62), and tied for fourth in walks (59).
THE LONG BALL LIST: DH Yordan Alvarez has hit 199 career homers and is looking become the sixth player in club history to reach the 200-homer mark.
SECOND HOME: DH Yordan Alvarez had a huge four-game series in Arlington earlier this season, hitting .400 (6×15) with five homers, eight RBI, six runs scored and three walks in the four contests.
In just 34 career games at Globe Life Field, Alvarez ranks 12th all-time at the stadium in home runs (17), just ahead of the Rangers DH Joc Pederson (15 HR in 93g) and 1B Jake Burger (11 HR in 94g).
BEST IN TEXAS: 2B Jose Altuve has 38 home runs and 101 RBI in his career vs. the Rangers, which are his most vs. any opponent.
All-time in MLB history opposite the Rangers, Altuve ranks fifth in runs scored (144), seventh in homers (38), and eighth in hits (242).
CONGRATS JV!: The Astros would like to congratulate RHP Justin Verlander on an incredible career after he announced on Wednesday that he would retire following the season.
Verlander pitched parts of seven seasons with the Astros (2017-19, 2021-24) and had some of his best years, winning two World Series titles (2017, 2022), being named an All-Star three times (2018-19, 2022), and earning two Cy Young awards (2019, 2022) in an Astros uniform.
FEELING DRAFTY: The first day of the MLB Draft begins tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. CT and will include rounds 1-4 of a scheduled 20.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, July 10, 7:05 p.m. CT
Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 29: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, with Colorado Avalanche's Rick Pracey, Director of Amateur Scouting, with the "golden ticket" which gives the Avalanche the 1st overall pick in the NHL Draft, at the TSN studios in Scarborough. (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
The past thirty years of Avalanche hockey have featured incredible highs, and some very, very dismal lows.
As an avid fan of The Simpsons, I’ve witnessed plenty of “best of times” moments, but also been subjected to a smattering of unpleasant “blursts” of times. In this latest edition of an ongoing off-season series, I take a look back through the past thirty years, highlighting one moment that stands among the best, and comparatively, the worst (or blurst, if you will) each season.
Here are the best and blurst moments from another five years of Colorado Avalanche history.
2010-2011
The Best: Foote’s Farewell Finale (April 10, 2011)
Two words: The Shift.
With the Avs fresh off a six game winning streak prior to the start of the holidays, there was little reason to panic. However, after treading water in January, things fell apart rather quickly: the team had a disastrous finish to the season, going 10-34-4 heading into the team’s final game on home ice against the Edmonton Oilers.
Avs captain Adam Foote was also playing in his final game, as he had previously announced he would retire at the end of the season.
With Avs fans having been deprived of giving Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg (spoilers) a proper farewell on home ice, they wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away with Foote. In return, Foote gave the Pepsi Center crowd a memorable final shift.
With both teams tied at three in overtime and the clock winding down, Foote skated onto the ice and into the Avs zone. With a flip of his wrists moments later, his stick caught and launched the stick of Edmonton defender Ladislav Šmíd high into the air, then proceeded to repeatedly manhandle Edmonton winger Teemu Hartikainen along the end boards (in plain view of the referee) before shoving him down to the ice and finishing him off with a check in the corner.
The fans in attendance roared in appreciation as Foote skated to the bench, his final shift at an end.
Not long after, David Jones would tally the game-winner in overtime, ensuring a 4-3 victory for the Avs. Foote was named first star of the game and received a rousing ovation before skating off the ice for the last time as a player.
A rare bright spot in a largely forgettable season.
The Blurst: St. Valentine’s Day Massacre (February 14, 2011)
Many people have a love/hate relationship with Valentine’s Day.
For Avs fans, this particular Valentine’s Day was filled with both.
It didn’t start out that way. Love was in the air, and the reunion with Peter Forsberg, who had just signed a pro-rated contract for one (likely) final return with the Avs just days earlier, was imminent, or so they thought. Rather than discussing his return with the media who assembled at Pepsi Center, Forsberg made the following statement:
“I played hockey my entire life,” he said, “but I decided I played my final game.”
The Avs were in the middle of a four game road trip when Forsberg made his return to hockey. They lost in Columbus by a score of 3-1 on February 11, and lost in Nashville by a 5-3 score the next night. Instead of a heartfelt reunion on Valentine’s Day, Avs fans were now reeling from heartbreak.
The breakup was official, and there’s no worse time for a breakup than Valentine’s Day.
Both the roster and the fanbase had little time to come to terms with the news, as there was still a game to be played that night against Calgary. If there was anything that could help perk up the brokenhearted, getting their first win of the post-Forsberg era would be a great start.
Not on this night.
Any hopes that the Avs could be competitive vanished almost immediately after puck drop, as Calgary scored eighteen seconds into the contest. By the end of the first period, the Avs trailed 5-0. The Avs would score the only goal of the second period, but Calgary added another four goals in the third to win by a 9-1 margin.
The loss was the eighth in a row for the Avs, and eighteenth in their past twenty-four games. The Avs would muster only five more wins during the regular season.
It’s hard to play with any heart when it was broken by one you love.
Sheryl Crow said it best: the blurst cut is the deepest. Or something like that.
2011-2012
The Best: Milan Hejduk Named Captain (November 14, 2011)
It had been over six months since Adam Foote skated into retirement, and the Avs had yet to announce who would succeed him as captain.
“This is obviously a big honor,” Hejduk told The Denver Post. “It is a big accomplishment. I’ve been in the league a long time, and this is pretty cool.”
Head coach Joe Sacco had plenty of praise for his new captain. Citing his tenure and on-ice success, Sacco said of Hejduk, “He’s been an Avalanche now for 13 years. He’s won a Stanley Cup. He’s a product of the system here, and he’s what we want our young players to strive for.”
Hejduk was the first European-born captain in Avalanche history, and the second captain from the former Czechoslovakia in franchise history. His tenure as captain lasted only one season, with Gabe Landeskog succeeding him on September 4, 2012.
A well-deserved honor, and a bright spot in an otherwise vanilla campaign for the Avs.
The Blurst: Yaroslavl Lokomotiv Plane Crash (September 7, 2011)
The worst moment of this season for the Avs didn’t take place during a hockey game.
In fact, it didn’t even take place in the Western Hemisphere.
On September 7, a small aircraft carrying Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) hockey team Yaroslavl Lokomotiv crashed shortly after takeoff. Of the forty-five passengers on the aircraft, all but one perished.
Several former NHL players had been part of the Lokomotiv roster and coaching staff. Two of the victims were former Avs defensemen Kārlis Skrastiņš and Ruslan Salei.
Skrastiņš, who was acquired from Nashville in June 2003, spent four seasons with the Avs. In 275 regular season games, Skrastiņš scored nine goals and collected thirty-three assists for a total of forty-two points. He appeared in 20 playoff games, collecting three assists.
Skrastiņš most notable moment with the Avs took place in February 2007, as he skated in his 487th consecutive game, setting a League record for consecutive games played by a defenseman. He played a grand total of 832 regular season games in the NHL, spending time in Florida and Dallas in addition to his time spent with Nashville and Colorado.
Ironically, both players were traded for each other. In February 2008, Skrastiņš was sent to Florida, along with a 2008 third-round pick, in exchange for Salei. Salei spent parts of three seasons with the Avs, scoring eight goals and collecting twenty-six assists for a total of thirty-four points in 101 regular season games. He scored one goal and added four assists in eleven playoff games.
Throughout his fourteen year career in the NHL, Salei spent the first nine seasons with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim before joining Florida, and he played his final season with Detroit after leaving the Avs to wrap up his NHL tenure. He played a grand total of 917 regular season games and 62 playoff games.
As reported by Reuters, a September 2012 investigation by Russia’s lead investigative agency determined that the pilots of the aircraft did not receive the necessary training that was required to fly the plane, and that they had been given permission to fly on the basis of “falsified documents”.
Vladimir Markin, spokesperson for the agency, named Vadim Timofeyev, deputy head of the airline operating the flight, responsible for “blatant violations” and charged with violation of air safety rules. He was sentenced to five years in prison, but was amnestied and released.
Everything about this incident goes far beyond hockey, and the negligence involved could have been completely avoided.
Though their time with the Avs was brief, may the memories of them as fathers, family, friends, and hockey players, remain timeless.
2012-2013
The Best: Milan’s Magical Milestone (February 04, 2013)
In a previous edition, I covered Patrick Roy’s historic milestone of 1000 appearances as a goalie. While reaching this milestone as the first goalie to do so is incredible, it’s important to keep in mind that, out of the 1029 games that Roy played, more than half of those games (551) were played as a member of the Montréal Canadiens.
This context doesn’t diminish Roy’s legacy by any means. Nor the legacy of Adam Foote or Joe Sakic, both of whom also eclipsed the 1000 game milestone, but played quite a few games for teams based in other markets.
On this night, Milan Hejduk became the first ever player in franchise history to reach the 1000 game milestone, and to do so entirely as a member of the Avalanche. In a pregame ceremony prior to hosting the Dallas Stars (who had future Hall of Famer and fellow Czech Republic teammate, Jaromír Jágr, on their roster at the time), Hejduk received a commemorative gift of crystal, along with a silver stick from Sakic and a standing ovation from the Pepsi Center crowd.
With Dallas leading in 2-0 in the first period, Hejduk gave the crowd something else to cheer about, as he opened the scoring for the Avs. P.A. Parenteau tied the game in the second period, but Dallas captain Jamie Benn responded with the go-ahead (and game-winning) goal shortly after.
Hejduk may not have been the household name like some of the other franchise greats, but there’s something fitting about him being the first (and still, only) player to do so entirely in an Avs sweater. He didn’t have the punishing, physical style of a Peter Forsberg or the swagger of a Roy. Although not as lethal as Sakic’s, his shot and his hands were his greatest assets, allowing him to routinely find the back of the net and stealthily climb up the franchise scoring ranks. He was already well-respected in the locker room and viewed as a leader among his peers, exemplified by succeeding Foote in his brief stint as Avs captain, and again as an assistant for the youngest captain in franchise history (at the time), Gabe Landeskog.
And on this unassuming night in the middle of an unnecessarily truncated season (spoilers), the best moment belonged to the man who quietly, and fittingly, made franchise history on his own terms.
The Blurst: Bettman Locks The Doors…Again (September 15, 2012)
Here we go again.
Labor peace had been the standard in the NHL ever since the lockout that cancelled the 2004-2005 season came to an end. The salary cap structure ushered in an era of parity across the majority of the League, much to the delight of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Surely, neither side would allow the same thing to happen again.
Gulp.
On September 15, with a single day remaining until the expiration of the seven-year long collective bargaining agreement that had been in place since 2005, Bettman announced that the players would be locked out once more. As was the case in announcing the previous lockout, Bettman again cited a failure to come to terms on a new agreement as primary reason for this lockout.
This lockout, however, wasn’t a battle over the institution of the salary cap system. Rather, the central focus was on hockey-related revenue (HRR) and how the entirety of that revenue was divided between the owners and the players. Another area of focus was the duration of player contracts.
Although several proposals were exchanged between both sides, neither could find common ground. By the time that the 2012-2013 season was set to begin, both sides remained far apart. As negotiations continued, portions of the season schedule were cancelled as the months ticked by. By the end of November, the Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, and the NHL All-Star Game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, had also been cancelled.
The NHL Players Association appealed to the hearts and minds of their fans in a video that featured several of the League’s marquee players (including a very fresh-faced Gabe Landeskog) in support of their cause. In contrast to Bettman’s statements placing blame on the players, they spoke plainly about their love for the game and the concessions they’ve made in order to foster an agreement with the League. (You can check out that video up above.)
The two sides finally reached a tentative deal on January 6, 2013. A new salary floor and ceiling of $44 million dollars and $66 million dollars, respectively, were announced, along with the new contract lengths (seven years for new contract signings, while current contracts could be extended for eight years), a temporary window allowing teams to buy out contracts, and a fixed arbitration award of less than $3.5 million dollars.
The NHL’s Board of Governors ratified the new agreement three days later on January 9, and the NHL Players Association followed suit on January 12. Instead of a fully cancelled season, a shortened regular season totaling 48 games began on January 19.
The Avs opened the shortened season on the same day at the Xcel Energy Center, falling to the Minnesota Wild by a score of 4-2. Notably absent from the roster was center Ryan O’Reilly, who had yet to come to terms on a new contract with the Avs during the work stoppage. He would rejoin the club on February 28, hours after the team matched a two year offer sheet tendered by the Calgary Flames.
Had it not been for a reenactment of the labor stoppage between the NHL and the Players Association, perhaps the fortunes of O’Reilly and the Avs may have turned out differently, or they could have played out exactly as they did.
We’ll never truly know, but what is known is that both—the lockout more than anything—was definitely blurst material.
2013-2014
The Best: Central Division Champions (April 13, 2014)
With first-year coach Patrick Roy behind the bench for the 2013-2014 season, many didn’t envision the Avs having much success. In fact, more focus was placed on Roy than the roster from the early going due to his emotional outburst towards Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau on opening night.
The team raced out of the gates, winning fourteen of its first sixteen games. Even on nights—and there were many—when the ice was heavily tilted in goaltender Semyon Varlamov’s direction, the Avs still kept winning. Bucking the early season projections, the Avs clinched their first postseason appearance since 2010 with a 3-2 victory over the visiting San Jose Sharks on March 29.
Not content with merely securing a spot in the playoffs, the Avs set their sights on the top spot in the Central Division. However, the St. Louis Blues also had their eyes on a first place finish. The young Avs sent a message to the more seasoned Blues in a 4-0 victory at Scottrade Center on April 5, but it took until the very last day of the regular season for the playoff standings to settle.
Despite losing their final regular season game in overtime to Anaheim, the Avs narrowly squeezed past St. Louis to claim the Central Division crown. This marked the first time in eleven years that the Avs had won their division.
Against all odds, and with a rallying cry of, “Why Not Us?” as their mantra as the regular season concluded, the playoff-bound Avs were set to host the Minnesota Wild, who had previously defeated the Avs in the postseason eleven years earlier.
Surely, the only thing better than making the playoffs is a strong showing in the playoffs…right?
The Blurst: Another Meltdown Against Minnesota (April 30, 2014)
After winning the first two games against Minnesota on home ice, the Avs headed to St. Paul, where a win at Xcel Energy Center could solidify their grip on their first round series.
Both teams went scoreless throughout regulation, but a flagrant kneeing incident from Minnesota’s Matt Cooke injured defenseman Tyson Barrie, who would be lost for the remainder of Game Three due to the injury from the hit. The NHL suspended Cooke for seven games for his hit, but the damage had been done: the Avs would be without their best defenseman through the rest of the series.
Semyon Varlomov was sensational throughout this game, stopping forty-four shots through regulation. For their part, the Avs didn’t test Minnesota goaltender Devan Dubnyk nearly as much, mustering just twenty shots through three periods. Mikael Granlund scored the game-winner in overtime to secure the victory for Minnesota.
Two nights later, Minnesota would tie the series with a 2-1 victory in Game Four. The Avs responded on home ice in Game Five with a 4-3 victory. Minnesota staved off elimination back in St. Paul with a 5-2 victory in Game Six to set up the second straight Game Seven between both clubs at Pepsi Center.
Both teams traded goals throughout the game, but an open shot from Erik Johnson gave the Avs a 4-3 lead with less than ten minutes to play in the third period. With time winding down in regulation, Minnesota’s Jared Spurgeon fired the puck into the top corner past Varlamov to tie the game.
In the overtime session, Minnesota’s Dany Heatley sent the puck to an open Kyle Brodziak at center ice. Brodziak skated into the Avs zone with Nino Niederreiter. As Johnson had jumped up for an offensive chance in the Minnesota zone moments earlier, defenseman Nikita Zadorov was left to defend the oncoming rush on his own. He timed his play to take the low part of the net away from Niederreiter, but the Minnesota winger flung the puck up high, finding the far corner behind Varlamov for the series-clinching goal.
For the second time, Minnesota eliminated the Avs in a sudden death outcome in a Game Seven.
This blurst does have a silver lining: as Avs fans now know, the next meeting between both clubs turned out much differently.
2014-2015
The Best: Avs to Host Detroit at Coors Field for 2016 NHL Stadium Series (January 24, 2015)
Since the advent of the Winter Classic and the subsequent debut of the NHL Stadium Series, Avs fans began to wonder when they would get their shot at participating in one of the League’s outdoor events.
Once Avs fans began seeing League darlings like Boston, Chicago, and Pittsburgh get repeat invites to partake in the outdoor games, anticipation turned to irritation. While it’s understandable that the League wants to market its stars on the biggest stages possible, playing an outdoor game with the Rocky Mountains in the background has to have some appeal to the NHL, right?
Finally, the wait was over: the Avs would get their opportunity to host an outdoor game as part of the 2016 NHL Stadium Series. The spectacle would take place the following year at Coors Field, with the Detroit Red Wings as their opponent.
Everything about the announcement was perfect. Coors Field would make for the perfect venue to host an outdoor game, with the trademark Colorado sunsets amid the Rockies providing the scenic appeal for those in attendance and for eagle-eyed viewers on television. Longtime fans of both teams would be able to reminisce and revel in the rivalry of old, and pass those legendary tales to a new generation of fans who came after its peak.
The announcement of the future overshadowed the Avs of the present, and was the highlight of that season for good reason.
February 2016 couldn’t come soon enough for Avs fans.
The Blurst: Brad Stuart’s Two-Year Contract Extension (September 29, 2014)
As the free agency period opened on July 1st, Avs general manager Joe Sakic made some splashy moves.
Having just acquired Daniel Brière from Montréal the day before, he signed future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla to a three year contract. This move was followed up with the signings of center Jesse Winchester (who was forced to retire due to complications after sustaining a concussion in preseason play), and defensemen Zach Redmond and Nick Holden.
Sakic made other moves to shore up the talent for the AHL farm team, the Lake Erie Monsters, but there was one more big name that Sakic reeled in via trade that raised eyebrows: defenseman Brad Stuart was acquired from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2016 second round pick and a 2017 sixth round pick (the Avs would later reacquire both picks to draft left wing Cameron Morrison and defenseman Denis Smirnov in their respective draft years).
While the idea of acquiring a veteran defenseman seems good on paper, giving that player a contract extension without careful evaluation of how that player fits into your system is hardly a recipe for success. Yet, that’s exactly what Sakic did in this case: on September 29, Stuart signed a two-year, $7.2 million dollar extension through the 2016-2017 season with the Avs, well in advance of the start of the regular season.
A veteran of fourteen NHL seasons, Stuart’s best days were clearly behind him as the 2014-2015 season got underway. He played 65 regular season games that year, scoring three goals and ten assists for a total of thirteen points.
Injuries limited Stuart to six games and zero points the following season. He was placed on waivers on June 29, 2016, and his contract was bought out the next day.
The signing may have been one of Sakic’s earliest missteps as a general manager, but we can all agree that the highlight goal of Stuart’s tenure with the Avs was his center ice goal he scored on Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford. Now that is a blurst!
Was there a best (or blurst) from these five years of Avalanche hockey that was overlooked? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Victor Wembanyama is extension-eligible this offseason and is the definition of a no-brainer max player.
Wembanyama and his Spurs just lost in the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks — a team that could be built out as a title contender because Jalen Brunson took a massive discount on the max contract he was offered ($113 million off the max he could have asked for).
This implies that an agreement on an extension was reached and that Wemby will take less than the full max, something Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported as a rumor circulating at Summer League in Las Vegas.
Wembanyama, the reigning unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, would qualify for a Rose rule 30% max contract, estimated to start at $53.5 million and be worth more than $300 million over the course of the five-year contract.
The Spurs can see financial reality and the NBA's tax aprons coming for them. Wembanyama is extension-eligible this summer (the contract would kick in for the 2027-28 season), then Stephon Castle is eligible for his extension next summer, then Dylan Harper the year after that — all of that on top of De'Aaron Fox's four-year, $221.7 million extension that kicks in for next season.
Any discount Wembanyama takes helps keep a young roster that has already been to the NBA Finals together long term. His desire to win is no secret, but don't expect NBA superstars to take a discount so owners can save money on the tax to become a trend.
Jul 5, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Sproat against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Update: the start of the game has been delayed by 10 minutes due to weather. (I’m not convinced that’s the only delay we’ll deal with tonight, nor, apparently, is Curt Hogg.)
It’s the start of the last series before the All-Star break (weather permitting) and the Brewers are in Pittsburgh to wrap things up with a three-game set with the Pirates. Brandon Sproat takes the mound for the Brewers, while first-time All-Star Braxton Ashcraft will pitch for the Pirates.
Before we get to tonight’s starters, we’ve got a transaction to tell you about. Since time is, as they say, a flat circle, the Brewers have signed Bryse Wilson to a major league deal. To make room for him, they’ve sent Drew Rom to Triple-A Nashville and they’ve designated Easton McGee for assignment.
Wilson pitched for the Brewers in 2023 and 2024, serving mostly as a long-relief, semi-mop-up option. In 2023 he had quite a nice year: in 53 outings, Wilson pitched to a 2.58 ERA and went 6-0. He struggled more in 2024, but he pitched over 100 innings in a swingman role and was slightly above league average via ERA+. However, in both seasons Wilson vastly outperformed his peripheral numbers, and since leaving the Brewers, things have been a struggle. He made 20 appearances for the White Sox in 2025 and had a 6.65 ERA in 47 1/3 innings; in three big-league appearances in 2026 (two with the Cubs, one with the Phillies) he’s allowed seven runs, all earned, in 9 2/3 innings. Wilson’s role with the Brewers, for however long it lasts (likely not long), will surely be similar to what it was when he last pitched for them in 2024: mop-up duty. (For those who are optimists, Wilson is generally good at not walking guys, but he doesn’t really strike them out, either, and over the last couple seasons he has been eminently hittable, with about 12.5 hits per nine innings.)
Back to tonight’s action. Sproat will look to get into the break on a high note. Sproat’s last outing was a mixture of good and bad: he was not pitching well, needed 92 pitches, and allowed eight baserunners to get through just four innings pitched. But the good news is that he was mostly able to work his way out of trouble, too, and he somehow allowed just one run in those four innings, a game which Milwaukee eventually won 3-2 against the Diamondbacks. It was an encouraging sign of maturation that he didn’t just implode when things weren’t going well. Since the beginning of June, Sproat has a very solid 3.30 ERA in 30 innings pitched and the team is 5-1 in his starts, a stark contrast to his 6.24 ERA and 5-6 team record prior to last month.
Ashcraft has been quite good for Pittsburgh, as evidenced by his status as an All-Star injury replacement. He’s just 26 and in his second season, and he’s done nothing but pitch well since his debut in late May of last season. This year, Ashcraft is 9-3 with a 3.24 ERA (134 ERA+) and even better 3.16 FIP. He’s got sterling peripherals (10.1 K/9, 2.1 BB/9) and is a hard thrower who plays a curveball and sinker off a four-seamer that sits around 97 mph. The curveball, especially, is one of the better ones in the league.
The Brewers continue to rotate through their position players as they reach the end of this 18-games-in-17-days stretch. Christian Yelich is back in the leadoff spot, while the outfield goes Luis Lara, Garrett Mitchell, and Sal Frelick from left to right. William Contreras is behind the plate, while the infield is Joey Ortiz, Cooper Pratt, Brice Turang, and Jake Bauers.
As I hinted at above, there’s weather moving through Pittsburgh over the next couple of hours. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one doesn’t start on time, though it looks like they should be able to get it in tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. CT, so we’ll see what happens. Find the game on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 30: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers embrace after the game on November 30, 2025 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Earlier this week, we asked Cleveland Cavaliers fans which Eastern Conference team improved most this offseason. Four teams have made drastic moves that are expected to change their playoff trajectory. However, one team stood out more than the rest.
Philadelphia winning the poll isn’t too surprising. They made the flashiest move of the offseason by swapping out Paul George and draft capital for Jaylen Brown. Brown was a peripheral MVP candidate last season. Putting him in the place of George should be an instant upgrade.
That said, I am surprised that the Raptors didn’t get some more support here. Assuming that the trade for Kawhi Leonard actually goes through, they should be on the shortlist of Eastern Conference contenders and present matchup issues for a Cavs team that struggled against them last postseason.
The Heat and Celtics’ place in the poll feels warranted. Miami should be much better with the addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it’s fair to wonder if they are true threats in the East without additional help.
The odds on FanDuel show a tightly contested battle for the top of the Eastern Conference next season.
Currently, the defending champion New York Knicks are the favorites to have the top seed in the conference at the end of the season at +310. Behind them are the Celtics (+440), Detroit Pistons (+450), Cavs (+800), Sixers (+850), and then the Raptors (+1000).
The odds to win the 2027 Finals don’t reflect that order. The Knicks are the top team in the East at +900, followed by the Celtics (+1300), Raptors (+1600), Sixers (+2200), Pistons (+2200), and then Cavs (+2200).
We’ll see how this shakes out soon enough. And we’ll see how the possible return of LeBron James to the Eastern Conference potentially shakes the odds up even more.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 09: Manager Craig Stammen #14 of the San Diego Padres takes the ball from Griffin Canning #17 during a pitching change in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on July 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres are still without a series win this month. The club struggled against Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly last night, scoring just one run on a Manny Machado homer in the second inning. After that, the club managed just two hits. Griffin Canning pitched well, navigating trouble to give up just two runs. Unfortunately, that was all Arizona would need.
Tonight, the Toronto Blue Jays will come to town to face San Diego. The Padres have considerably less momentum heading into the series, with the Blue Jays having just beat the San Francisco Giants (and almost throwing a no-hitter against them on Wednesday night). Hopefully, San Diego will be able to regain some offensive momentum against Toronto tonight.
Taking the mound
Shane Bieber (TOR) v. JP Sears (SD)
Bieber hasn’t looked great since returning from injury. After surprising many by re-signing with Toronto, Bieber hasn’t helped his free agency case this season. In his first three starts back, the righty’s posted a 9.00 ERA across 13 innings pitched. He’s also posted a ridiculous 2.08 WHIP.
His most recent start against the Seattle Mariners was, by far, his worst. Bieber surrendered seven runs to the Mariners across just four innings pitched. The Padres will look to tag him for that many in the hopes of a series opening win.
Similar to Bieber, Sears has made just three starts this season for San Diego. He’s pitched infinitely better than Bieber, but has still struggled. His high 4.70 ERA is only due to his start against the Chicago Cubs last week. Sears surrendered six runs to the Cubs across just 4 2/3 innings.
Sears rebounded immediately against the Los Angeles Dodgers with five scoreless innings against the rivals. He hasn’t faced Toronto’s lineup very much in the past, which should give him a slight edge over the Jays.
Batter up!
San Diego’s lineup has been resurgent but spotty lately. They’ve scored 29 runs in their last eight games for an average of 3.63 runs per game. Excluding the two games they were shut out, the average bumps up to a much more respectable 4.83 runs per game. The lineup will need to show up against Bieber tonight in order to win the series opener.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Manny Machado, 3B
Gavin Sheets, LF
Ty France, 1B
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Miguel Andujar, DH
Luis Campusano, C
Of the Friars, Bogaerts has had the most career success against Bieber. The short owns a .364 batting average and 1.144 OPS against the righty in 11 at-bats. If he can replicate that tonight, it would be a fantastic turnaround to the struggles that Bogaerts has been recently mired in.
Relief corps
After a few tiring weeks, the bullpen has been spared from overuse as of late. That was mostly true last night, with Yuki Matsui, Bradgley Rodriguez, Wandy Peralta and Adrian Morejon covering the final 4 1/3 innings. Each pitched a full frame, with Rodriguez covering 1 1/3 innings for San Diego.
That leaves Jhony Brito, Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio and Mason Miller as options for tonight. Brito looked solid in his 2026 debut on Tuesday night but hasn’t been used since. Hart and Marinaccio have been rough lately and will look to turn things around facing the Jays.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 17: Pitcher Braxton Ashcraft #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates fields the ball and throws to first base to get the out of Henry Bolte #33 of the Athletics in the bottom of the third inning at Sutter Health Park on June 17, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are still at PNC Park for a weekend series as they host the NL Central leader Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game set.
The Pirates hope to start the series off strong with a win by handing the ball to Braxton Ashcraft, who is arguably Pittsburgh’s best starter this season. Ashcraft has won his last four starts and is coming off a win against the Washington Nationals on July 4. He pitched 5.2 innings, giving up six hits and one earned run, and earned a 7-1 victory on Independence Day.
The Brewers will counter with right-hander Brandon Sproat, who is making his 16th start of the year. Sprote is coming off a short start against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 5, where he pitched four innings and gave up five hits and one earned run. He was not part of the decision because he did not pitch long enough, but the Brewers picked up a 3-2 win. Milwaukee has won each of Sprote’s last four starts, so they hope to continue their hot streak with him on the mound.
It’s the final series before the All-Star break, and with the Pirates sitting at .500, this weekend is critical for Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes.
India opener Smriti Mandhana fell agonisingly short of becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s as the celebrated ground staged its inaugural women’s Test on Friday.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Mohamed Diawara #51 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 15, 2025 at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Skip the Cirque du Soleil, go past the roulette table, and head straight to the basketball court, because Summer scrimmages are back in Vegas, baby! Will the games be pretty? Unlikely. But they will give you an early look at the Knicks’ young talent (e.g., Jack Kayil, Tyler Nickel) and give rostered players (e.g., Mohamed Diawara, Pacome Dadiet) a chance to prove they deserve more attention heading into training camp. Expect Diawara and Dadiet to carry much of the offensive and defensive workload. Across the floor, the Summer League Nets will field a promising young roster led by Egor Demin, Mikel Brown Jr., Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf. Expect them to give T.J. Saint’s squad a run for their money!
Tip-off is 6 pm EST on Amazon Prime / Gotham. This is your game thread. This is Nets Daily. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be good humans. And go Knicks!
SACRAMENTO, CA - JULY 6: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on July 6, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The California Classic was plenty of fun for Nets fans. Egor Dëmin absolutely showed out, and Mikel Brown Jr. showed up just in time to make a serious first impression. Now, they’ll take their talents along with the rest of the summer squad and head over to Las Vegas to play the Knicks. Their summer hype is a well-earned celebration tour. Brooklyn’s summer holds a lot of weight as they assess their rotation entering the 2026-27 season.
Four games… then 3+ months until the next game. Enjoy them!
🏀 Key Info
Who: Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks
Tip-off Time: 6:00 PM ET
Broadcast: YES Network, Gotham Sports App, Prime Video, NBA TV, NBA League Pass, ESPN+
Location: Las Vegas, NV (Thomas & Mack Center/Pavilion)
✍️ Game Preview
The Nets’ other two-way player, and second-round rookie Tyler Bilodeau, was electric beyond the arc. His 3-point shooting has always been his calling card, nailing 46.4% of his 3-point attempts at UCLA last season. He quickly flashed that ability in two Summer League games, averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 26 minutes per game while converting 58.3% of his 3-point attempts. He even drilled four triples in just the first half of the Nets’ final game at the California Classic.
Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
In the meantime, check out The Brooklyn with Pooch & Collin as they talk about the California Classic, offseason, and what to look for in Las Vegas.
With no clear-cut top pick, the pressure is on for White Sox brass to make the right call at noon Saturday. | (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Chicago’s future will be decided this weekend in a conference room in Philadelphia, at approximately 12 p.m. CT. Although I only partially mean it facetiously, that’s how the front office has seen the first pick of the 2026 MLB draft since the Winter Meetings that revealed its lottery win.
For the last seven months, Chicago’s baseball operations, scouting, player development and coaches have debated who should be the face of the franchise by 2030: Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson or Vahn Lackey. National and local scouting reports, podcasts, and analysts have done their fair share of speculation, but let’s shift the conversation and read between the lines and assess what these picks say about the organization’s belief in itself.
Scouting department reflection If the pick is Cholowsky: Seeing would be believing that Cholowsky’s last three college years were the real deal. The 21 year-old slugger peaked last year with a .353/.480/.710 and 23 HRs and 74 RBIs, regressing only slightly in his 2026 campaign. Picking the UCLA Bruin signals that the scouting department believes these numbers aren’t flukes, and that GM Chris Getz has full trust in the scouts’ eyes.
Emerson: If Getz’s confidence is a 10 out of 10 for Cholowsky, it would be a 12/10 for Emerson in the scouting department. Taking a high-schooler is always riskier than a college player, but banking on a player who slashed .398/.515/.648, had 13 home runs and a 19.7% walk rate in 223 games in the Perfect Game Tournament, one of the most elite travel ball programs in the country, would indicate that the scouts believe Emerson isn’t even close to his ceiling, and that Getz believes so, too.
Lackey: A catcher hasn’t been taken with the first pick of the MLB draft since Adley Rutschman in 2019. For Lackey to be in the discussion means the scouts see something truly special in him, and so does Getz. His rapid acceleration from slashing .214/.330/.381 in his freshman year at Georgia Tech to .397/.519/.772 two years later is forgivable because his glove and arm steal scouts’ eyes. This is a bold pick, but the upside and trust are there.
Development department reflection If the pick is Cholowsky: Chicago is relying on Cholowsky to come in mostly-baked, because they’re more confident in their talent development in fine-tuning a prospect than early pipeline stages. Only two of the Sox’s last 11 first-round picks (since 2016) came from high school. Chicago is relying on Cholowsky’s college maturation, noted by a 2.5% strikeout rate drop and 2% walk rate increase from freshman to junior year, to compensate for its hit-or-miss development skills, primarily with position players.
Emerson: Confidence is sky-high with player development. Paul Janish is the new sheriff in town, and he’s ready to turn the tables on the Sox’s poor PD track record. This doesn’t mean that Emerson doesn’t lay plenty of groundwork. His natural, powerful swing, plus arm and decent speed make him a dream pick in many eyes. But he’s only 18 years old, even if he’s more developed than many college players.
Lackey: Like Cholowsky, Lackey is close to a finished product. Having Walker McKinven, former Brewers catching and strategy and run prevention coach, as the bench coach instills a lot of confidence in the Sox’s ability to translate Lackey’s 55-grade fielding and 50-grade arm into a reliable, daily catcher. Going with a guy whose profile isn’t far off from Cholowsky’s alludes to a high degree of confidence in the coaching staff’s ability to raise Lackey’s ceiling and floor.
Baseball operations reflection If the pick is Cholowsky: Although a crowded infield seems like a problem, the Sox embrace it because they know Will Venable can put together a decent lineup. Getz’s trust and confidence in Venable has grown exponentially this year, even if the dramatic home and road splits call his management into question. If Venable is finding a way to win without the first overall draft pick in his arsenal, let’s see what he does when he has the most highly-anticipated shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
Emerson: Adding Montgomery as the No. 22 overall pick in the 2021 draft was the tip of the high school prospect iceberg. Seeing Montgomery’s transformation from a struggling Triple-A hitter riddled with injuries to a cumulative 5.3 WAR player in essentially a year’s worth of games was a sign that the research, player development and scouting departments figured out the right recipe for above-average talent at a cost-effective price. Now, it’s time to rinse and repeat the formula. It’s time to go back to drafting players with 50-grade fielding and speed and smooth lefty swings.
Lackey: The Sox aren’t happy with their backstops of today or tomorrow, and Lackey could earn the starting job quickly. There’s little faith that Kyle Teel or Edgar Quero, or anyone else in the minors, can be every pitcher’s favorite catcher and provide elite defense. Making the unorthodox choice to snag a catcher with the top pick in the draft also hints at the front office’s preference for a slow-burn player who can provide more defensive value in the long run at a lower price point than a flashy, versatile shortstop.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 19: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center on March 19, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s a lot of noise — some informed, some not — that LeBron James is signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency. However, nothing is set in stone or guaranteed until James or his team announces where he plans on playing next season. And rumors are flying in every direction.
To prove that point, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on a recent radio interview that a “good source” told him that James signing in another city was a “done deal.” He didn’t say that it was a done deal or that he was reporting it. The point here was to say that there are rumors in other cities as well.
"I'm hearing stuff in other cities too. I'm not gonna say who but I had somebody on the phone with me today that I consider a good source who was swearing it's a done deal in another city," – @WindhorstESPN on the latest LeBron rumors 😯😯😯 pic.twitter.com/4uHgOsAC86
Figuring out which other team Windhorst could be referring to is anyone’s guess. The Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Golden State Warriors all make compelling cases to varying degrees.
At this point, we still don’t know anything for certain. While it seems the Cavs are the ones expected to land James, other teams make compelling cases as well. And those other teams still feel like they are in the race for LeBron.
We’ll figure out how this ends in due time. All we can say right now is that it doesn’t seem like LeBron is in any type of rush to make a decision. The endless speculation and rumors could drag on for anywhere from several more hours to several more weeks.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 9: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning at Globe Life Field on July 9, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for July 10, 2026 against the Houston Astros: starting pitchers are Cal Quantrill for the Rangers and Hunter Brown for the Astros.
It is the final series prior to the All Star Break. Texas has three at home against Houston. Silver Boot excitement!
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Langford — LF
Jung — 3B
Nimmo — RF
Burger — 1B
Duran — SS
Carter — CF
Lopez — 2B
Higashioka — C
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +117 underdogs.
