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Mammoth Forward Lands New Role Just Days After Retirement

The next chapter of Andrew Agozzino’s hockey career won’t take place on the ice.

Just days after announcing his retirement from professional hockey, the former Colorado Avalanche forward is staying with the Utah Mammoth organization, this time behind the bench. Utah announced Saturday that Agozzino has been named an assistant coach for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, allowing the longtime minor-league standout to transition directly into coaching.

Agozzino spent the past two seasons serving as an alternate captain in Tucson, where he totaled 82 points (39 goals, 43 assists) and 78 penalty minutes in 111 games. His leadership and experience made him a respected voice inside the Roadrunners’ locker room, qualities the organization will now lean on in a coaching role.

Although his NHL opportunities were limited, Agozzino appeared in two games with the Mammoth during the 2025-26 season, adding to a career that spanned eight NHL campaigns with Utah, the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Avalanche.

The 5-foot-10, 187-pound forward finished his NHL career with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) and four penalty minutes across 53 games.

Agozzino’s greatest impact, however, came in the American Hockey League. A three-time AHL All-Star, he compiled an impressive 662 points on 284 goals and 378 assists while appearing in 847 career games over 15 seasons. His consistency and offensive production made him one of the league’s most recognizable veterans before ultimately deciding to hang up his skates.

Now, instead of leading from the ice, Agozzino will help develop the next generation of players from behind the bench as he begins the coaching phase of his hockey career.

We wish Agozzino success in his new role and given his history in the AHL, it would be appear on the surface that he’s the right man for the job. 

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Potential Sabres Trade Or Free Agent Acquisitions – Vladimir Tarasenko

The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures. 

Over the next few weeks, we will continue to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago.  Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.

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Kekalainen ideally would like to make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six. 

Someone who has yet to be signed, and has won a pair of Stanley Cups is veteran winger Vladimir Tarasenko. The 34-year-old has become a gun for hire since being dealt from the St. Louis Blues in 2023. The talented Russian scored 30 or more goals six times in 10 seasons with the Blues, after which he has played for New York, Ottawa, Florida, Detroit and Minnesota. In two of the last three seasons, with Ottawa/Florida and Minnesota, Tarasenko has scored 23 goals.  

The veteran forward is not strong defensively, but still has the skill to play on a second power play unit or in the middle six. Tarasenko would not be the equal of Kane as a playmaker, but has more of an ability to put the puck in the net and in a pinch, can move up higher in the lineup and fit in on the top power play. His last two contracts have been short term (one year with Ottawa, two years with Detroit) with a cap hit of $4.75 to $5 million. 

Still being unsigned at the end of July could mean that Tarasenko is open to a lesser amount or an performance bonus-based deal, which could be a better fit for the Sabres in their current cap situation. 

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Canadiens' First-Round Pick Is Facing A Big Season In 2026-27

David Reinbacher is a prospect whom the Montreal Canadiens are hoping will emerge as a very important part of their roster in the future. The 21-year-old defenseman has the potential to blossom into an impactful player, but he is still looking to make the jump to become a full-time NHLer. 

Reinbacher showed promise last season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket, posting five goals, 19 assists, 24 points, and a plus-18 rating in 57 games. This was after he was limited to only 10 games with Laval during the 2024-25 season due to injury, where he posted two goals and five points.

Reinbacher's solid play in the AHL this past season with Laval also helped him land his first call-up to Montreal's roster. In his first two career NHL games with the Habs, he recorded one assist, one hit, and two blocks. Overall, the youngster had a solid first look in the NHL, and he will now be looking to take a big step with his development in 2026-27.

It is clear that this upcoming season is a very important one for Reinbacher. The Canadiens will be hoping that he can continue to grow his game. If he does, it should open the door for him to receive more opportunities at the NHL level in 2026-27. 

It will be interesting to see if Reinbacher can make the jump to the NHL level next season. The young blueliner has a lot of potential, and he is a big prospect to watch in 2026-27 because of it. 

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Brady Tkachuk Joins MMA Champions For Training Session While Preparing For First Season With Florida Panthers

One of the newest members of the Florida Panthers is preparing for the upcoming NHL season in a unique way.

It’s not unheard of for Brady Tkachuk to work some non-hockey training into his offseason regimen.

The physical forward has been known to utilize MMA training to help sharpen his skills in the past, and this summer is no different.

Earlier this week, former UFC fighter Nick Cantone shared an image on social media from a workout session that included himself, Tkachuk and MMA fighters Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov.

Tkachuk can be seen wearing his gold medal from the 2026 Winter Olympics in the photo.

The hangout took place at Cantone’s gym, the Nicholas Scott Cantone Training Center, which is located in Brick Township, New Jersey.

In joining the Panthers, Tkachuk knew that he was going to be asked to play in a very aggressive and physically demanding system, so to see him gearing up and honing those skills when we’re still over a month from training camp is no surprise.

During his career, Tkachuk has never shied away from playing a tough game and going into the dirty areas of the ice.

NHL forwards who typically play a more physical game than others will average around three to four hits per game and generally are rare to turn down an opportunity to drop the gloves when challenged.

Through his eight seasons, all with Ottawa, Tkachuk has averaged 3.4 hits per game and racked up 821 career penalty minutes, which averages out to just over 100 per season. Of all those penalty minutes, 185 of them have come from his 37 fighting majors.

Now it’s worth noting that Tkachuk has been fighting less in recent years. He only fought three times last season, the lowest amount since his rookie campaign in 2018-19.

Compare that to 24-25, when he fought five times, or 23-24, when he dropped the gloves six times, or the season before that when he was called for eight fighting majors, or the 16 combined times he dropped the gloves in the three years before that, from the 19-20 season to 21-22.

Perhaps as he’s gotten older and more mature, Tkachuk is prioritizing his ice time a little differently and understands a player of his caliber is needed more on the ice than in the penalty box.

Regardless, Tkachuk continues to train in many different ways and focus on an abundance of areas that improve both his hockey and overall physicality.

We’ll see how that translates into the way he plays for the Panthers, arguably the most physical team in the league.

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: Jan 20, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Ottawa Senators left wingBradyTkachuk(7) and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman John Marino (6)fightduring the third period at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins won 6-4. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)

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This “Worst Contract” Ranking Is Missing the Whole Point

Not everyone is sold on the Colorado Avalanche’s biggest offseason extension.

Just weeks after Colorado committed to veteran defenseman Brett Kulak with a five-year, $22.5 million contract carrying a $4.5 million average annual value, one prominent NHL publication has already labeled the deal among the league’s worst.

In its annual ranking of the NHL’s best and worst contracts, The Athletic placed Kulak’s extension at No. 8 on its list of the least favorable deals, pointing to concerns that the 32-year-old’s underlying performance has declined significantly despite earning a long-term commitment.

Kulak arrived in Colorado after the Olympic break in a trade that sent Samuel Girard and a second-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins. His offensive numbers were never going to jump off the page, but the veteran quickly carved out an important role on the Avalanche blue line. He stabilized the team’s top four, eventually settling in on the second pairing alongside Sam Malinski, and logged stretches next to Cale Makar on the top pair whenever Colorado needed him there.

The criticism, though, isn’t about his counting stats at all.

The Athletic built its case around Kulak’s underlying defensive metrics, especially his relative impact on expected goals at five-on-five. The outlet argues his numbers slid throughout the season, and that the decline showed up no matter which team he was skating for.

“His drop-off at five-on-five wasn’t exactly an isolated incident; it was consistent across three different playoff teams,” The Athletic wrote. “Kulak’s relative impact on xG was minus-0.48 in Edmonton, minus-0.14 in Pittsburgh, and a ghastly minus-1.2 in Colorado. In all three locales, his impact on goals was even worse.”

Where I Push Back

This is where I part ways with the analytics crowd — the writers who lean so heavily on the numbers that they lose sight of everything else happening on the ice. The Athletic zeroed in on one narrow slice of data here, when there are plenty of other indicators suggesting Kulak has actually been a net positive for this team.

There’s also a metric these rankings tend to overlook entirely: watching the game. Since Kulak joined the Avalanche, I’ve noticed — without needing a spreadsheet to tell me so — that there’s been a real stretch where he simply wasn’t on the ice for a goal against. For a defenseman, whose entire job description is keeping the other team from piling on his goaltender, that’s no small thing.

He backed it up in the playoffs, too. Kulak was effective for most of Colorado’s run and scored the game-winning goal that sent the Avalanche past the Minnesota Wild and into the Western Conference Final. Yes, his third-round performance dipped — but so did nearly everyone else’s on that roster. Singling him out doesn’t feel fair. Furthermore, Kulak is a pure defensive defenseman, so getting on his case for not having glamorous offensive prowess doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. 

Analytics has its place. It’s a genuinely useful lens for evaluating performance, and I’m not arguing otherwise. But leaning on numbers alone leaves gaps, and those gaps matter. There’s still no substitute for actually watching the games — at least not in my book.

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Former Red Wing Patrick Kane Speaks Fondly About Time In Detroit

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Unfortunately for the Detroit Red Wings, it's no longer "Showtime" in the Motor City.

Future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane, who had been with the club since signing as a UFA in December 2023, chose to return to the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he'd spent the bulk of his career and won three Stanley Cup rings. 

Chicago paid handsomely to lure Kane back into the fold, signing him to a salary cap hit of $8 million for the next two seasons, which will likely be the last of his career.

While Kane ending his career where it began is a fitting conclusion, his departure leaves a significant void in the lineup of the Red Wings, who were considered a longshot to return to the playoffs next season even had he re-signed. 

But just because the Kane era in Detroit is over, it doesn't mean that he won't look back fondly on his playing days wearing the Winged Wheel.

Kane, who spent time in the metro-Detroit area as a youth and was even hosted by the family of former Red Wings forward Pat Verbeek, spoke glowingly about how the organization and the fan base treated him. 

“What can I say about Detroit? I know it’s a huge rival with Chicago, but it was an incredible place to play," Kane said during his introductory press conference with Chicago on Friday. "The fans were great to me, the team was great. Everyone kind of welcomed me with open arms and really embraced me while I was there. So, great, great experience.”

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Kane, who is good friends with Alex DeBrincat, whom he played with in Chicago and Detroit, appreciated the chance for their young sons to continue their friendship with one another.

“I got to watch my son kind of grow up a little bit there and make some good friends with Archie DeBrincat, and they had a great relationship,” Kane said. “So, it was fun to watch that kind of evolve."

Unfortunately for the Red Wings and their fans, they never got to experience Stanley Cup Playoff hockey with Kane in the lineup. While Kane said upon re-signing with Detroit last year that he'd love to skate in playoff hockey at Little Caesars Arena, it wasn't meant to be.

 

Patrick Kane Officially Heads Back To Blackhawks Patrick Kane Officially Heads Back To Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks have nabbed Patrick Kane from the Detroit Red Wings, as the future Hall of Famer heads back to where he won the Stanley Cup three times.

The Red Wings now own the NHL's longest postseason drought at 10 years and counting. Captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade out of town, and GM Steve Yzerman recently stepped down from his role. 

In April, Kane expressed interest in what would have been a third full season in Detroit, but it's likely those aforementioned developments played a role in his choosing to continue his career elsewhere. 

And while he'll finish his career as a Blackhawk, he was happy to have played for the Red Wings.

“Obviously, we didn’t get to the playoffs, which is disappointing, but my experience there was great," Kane said of playing in Detroit. 

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Patrick Kane's Return Makes the Wild-Blackhawks Rivalry Worth Watching Again

For much of the past decade, the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks shared one of the NHL's fiercest rivalries.

The Blackhawks were the team the Wild simply couldn't get past. Chicago eliminated Minnesota from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 2013-15, with Patrick Kane playing a starring role each time.

Whether it was his game-breaking skill, timely goals or ability to frustrate opposing fans, Kane became one of the most recognizable villains in Wild history.

But over the last several years, that rivalry has lost much of its edge. Minnesota is 18-1-1 in its last 20 games against the Blackhawks.

Chicago entered a rebuild after its championship core aged out, while Minnesota established itself as a consistent playoff team. Games between the two clubs no longer carried the same emotion or significance they once did.

Kane's return to the Blackhawks changes that.

No, it doesn't suddenly make Chicago a Stanley Cup contender, nor does it dramatically alter the Wild's outlook in the Central Division. Minnesota will still be judged by how it stacks up against Dallas and Colorado.

What Kane's return does bring back is intrigue.

Every Wild-Blackhawks matchup now has another storyline. Kane returns to the franchise where he became one of the greatest players in NHL history, while Connor Bedard continues his development as the face of Chicago's next era.

On the other side, the Wild are trying to prove they're ready to take another step as legitimate contenders in the Western Conference.

That's a far more compelling matchup than what fans have seen in recent seasons.

There's also a nostalgia factor that can't be ignored.

Wild fans haven't forgotten the playoff battles of the early 2010s. Kane scored several memorable goals against Minnesota and always seemed to save some of his best performances for games against the Wild. While many of the players from those series have moved on, the memories haven't.

Seeing Kane back in a Blackhawks sweater when he visits Grand Casino Arena will undoubtedly bring some of those emotions back.

At the same time, these games now represent a meeting between two very different stages of team building.

Chicago is hoping its young core, led by Bedard, eventually returns the franchise to contention. Minnesota, meanwhile, is trying to capitalize on the prime years of Kirill Kaprizov, Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, Matt Boldy and the rest of its current core.

The stakes may not be the same as they were a decade ago, but the entertainment value should be.

For the first time in years, Wild-Blackhawks games feel like they'll have a little extra buzz. Fans will get another chance to watch one of hockey's all-time great American players return to the team where he became a legend, while seeing how Minnesota measures up against a Chicago club beginning to show signs of life.

The rivalry isn't back to where it was during the Stanley Cup playoff battles.

But thanks to Kane's return, it's a lot more fun than it was a week ago.

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What's next for teams that struck out on LeBron: Warriors, Cavaliers, Heat, Timberwolves

They all took their big swing — Cleveland, Miami, Golden State and Minnesota were all in the chase for LeBron James. All of their big swings missed.

Now what do they do?

The how varies a bit team to team, but the overall theme is they get back to work and pivot to look at the next guys on their list.

Cleveland Cavaliers

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the next step means re-signing James Harden — who opted out of $42.3 million and, while he may take a small short-term haircut, is expected to sign for two years and well north of $60 million — and taking a look at Jonathan Kuminga, reports Joe Varden at The Athletic.

Cavs officials maintained contact with Kuminga and his Cleveland-based agent, Aaron Turner, throughout James' free agency, and there is mutual interest, multiple league sources told The Athletic. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal team and player deliberations...

Basically, Cleveland could comfortably offer Kuminga roughly $6 million this season — the same amount the Cavs would have likely given James. Theoretically, the Cavs could offer Kuminga $15 million under an exception to the salary cap, but doing so would greatly reduce the amount they could pay unsigned veteran star James Harden... Kuminga, though, is more interested in a sign-and-trade deal involving Atlanta because he could earn more money that way. Kuminga is seeking a salary much closer to what he would have earned had the Hawks picked up his option, in the neighborhood of $20 million to $23 million.

The salary cap makes it unlikely either Cleveland or Atlanta is interested in the kind of sign-and-trade Kuminga wants. For Cleveland, a sign-and-trade hard caps it at the first apron, a number the Cavs are about $25 million below. It becomes very hard to re-sign Harden at a fair number, bring in Kuminga at the money he wants and round out the roster and stay under that cap. Cleveland would at least have to trade away Max Strus and Dennis Schroder, is Kuminga really worth that?

From Atlanta's perspective, it currently sits $4.9 million below the luxury tax with 17 players on the books, meaning Atlanta already must trade or waive two players before the season starts — and Kuminga is not one of the guys on the books. For example, if the Hawks sign-and-traded Kuminga for Strus and his $16.7 million, that puts the Hawks at 18 players on the books (only one of those is a partial guarantee) and $11.8 million into the tax. The Hawks aren't going into the tax for Strus or any other role player.

Bottom line, unless Kuminga wants to take the roughly $6 million, Cleveland feels like a long shot.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors are going to focus on re-signing Draymond Green — who declined his $27.7 million player option to give the team flexibility to chase LeBron and others — as well as officially finalize the two-year, $11 million contract with De'Anthony Melton.

After that, how will GM Mike Dunleavy fill out the rest of the roster? While the Warriors could technically sign someone to the mid-level exception of $15 million, then finalize the deals with Green and Melton and go into the tax, the more likely path is to get their two guys re-signed, then round out the roster (two or three spots, depending on if they want 14 or 15 players) with veteran minimum guys, which keeps the Warriors out of the tax.

Would DeMar DeRozan accept the minimum? The Warriors are interested, but that might be all they have to offer.

Miami Heat

After sign-and-trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat are hard-capped at the first apron ($209 million) and, with that, are limited in next moves. They have 12 players on the roster and can offer one player the remaining $7 million of their mid-level exception, then offer one player a veteran minimum (they will leave the 15th roster spot open to start the season).

DeMar DeRozan has been linked to the Heat, and while he is not the classic playmaker that Pat Riley has talked about wanting, he is a bucket. DeRozan averaged 18.4 points per game last season in Sacramento, and he's durable, playing in 77 games. He could be worth some or all of the remaining mid-level exception.

Bradley Beal was another name mentioned by ESPN's Shams Charania, who added they will keep their eye on Klay Thompson, who may get bought out by Dallas. Another couple of names to watch are Seth Curry and, if he gets bought out by Atlanta, Buddy Hield.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota had already been aggressive this offseason, shifting from a defense-first roster with size all along the front line, to a more offense-first roster with LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards in the backcourt (leaving Rudy Gobert to try to be the ultimate backstop in the paint who keeps the team's defense respectable). LeBron would have been plug-and-play at the four, filling a hole in the Minnesota roster (the Timberwolves moved on from both Julius Randle and Naz Reid this offseason).

Now, Minnesota has an open roster spot and can offer the veteran minimum. Whoever they land at this point is not going to be as impactful as LeBron would have been, but Minnesota can get someone. Then just lean hard into their new identity.

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The true price of LeBron James’s final ring chase

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers throws chalk in the air before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 28, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Rocket Arena reserved one of its loudest roars of the year for a late January 30-point blowout.

That cheer wasn’t for anything that happened on the floor; it was instead for the hometown hero, who was playing possibly the last game on the court he had reigned on for over a decade.

LeBron James doesn’t break composure often, but this was different. The ovation and genuine love moved him to tears.

This stood in stark contrast to everything happening in Los Angeles. Instead of being welcomed as a hero, he was celebrated as merely a good basketball player who had his best achievements come in different uniforms.

Based on what was reported, the love he got from Cavs fans was what James really craved. And if so, this latest move is just a repeat of the mistake that had him feeling like this in the first place.

After a month of reiterating that the final chapter of his career would be about happiness and his family, LeBron chose to shamelessly ring chase with the Philadelphia 76ers — a city he has no ties to and is far from a sure thing to win a championship.

On its face, this move is surprising if James is looking for appreciation and praise.

Choosing the Cleveland Cavaliers would’ve provided the perfect storybook ending for the local kid who grew up to become the best basketball player of all-time. There would’ve been 82 more opportunities for moments like that one in January to happen. All the while, he would’ve still had a shot at competing for a championship. After all, the Cavs are just two months removed from playing in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Yet, this all operates under the assumption that James and those around him actually understood what made that connection possible in the first place. Maybe they don’t. After all, this is someone who’s spent their whole career trying to craft the greatest narrative, but has ended up weaving a convoluted tale about someone who bounces from city-to-city based on who can provide the quickest short-term gain.

So from that perspective, this move shouldn’t have been that surprising.

America’s capitalist society has long confused money and attention for cultural relevance and artistry. Commercial success is the standard movies, shows, books, and music are judged. Quality and whether there’s an actual message being conveyed through it don’t matter. This is how we find ourselves in the endless cycle of franchise reboots and empty live-action remakes of things we once loved, but have now lost the core of what made them special.

Hollywood isn’t the only one chasing the ghost of once great things.

Winning is the currency of basketball. LeBron has spent his whole career in Michael Jordan’s shadow. That was inevitable with him entering the league a year after Jordan retired. Why he’s still there now, and probably always will be in the court of public opinion, isn’t because of anything he’s done on the basketball court.

Another championship, or even two, wouldn’t change that because it was never about the rings.

People get invested in stories because they want to feel something. Sports, at their core, are just an ongoing narrative that you hope will invest you for the time you put in. Watching players and teams meet, fall, and maybe one day overcome the obstacles in their way is where the entire joy comes from. And it’s also where we get our idea of what makes someone truly great from.

This part is what James and those around him haven’t understood and probably never will. There’s more to this than just winning at all costs.

Jordan and Kobe Bryant’s greatness came from their play, but also the continuity of their stories. The bond between player, team, and city went through peaks and valleys, but it persisted for decades. The endurance of that marriage made their triumphs more meaningful for everyone and easier to appreciate for outside observers.

LeBron and the athletes who followed his lead threw that playbook out the window. Instead of enduring the natural ups and downs of an organization, they took control of their own narratives.

There are benefits to that. James probably doesn’t win consecutive championships in 2012 and 2013 if he doesn’t join the Miami Heat. Kevin Durant isn’t a back-to-back Finals MVP if he doesn’t go to the Golden State Warriors.

Those choices are completely understandable and what I would do if in that position. Taking ownership of your situation instead of leaving it up to people who may not have your best interests in mind makes sense, but that doesn’t mean the general public has to like it. Every choice, even logical ones, has drawbacks.

Everything LeBron has done throughout his career has been calculated. He’s constantly thought one or two steps ahead of everyone else to put himself and his brand in the best position to succeed. That includes surrounding himself with the best teammates and situations on and off the court to lead to winning. But again, even calculated moves have consequences.

If success is just about winning and making money, then there’s no viable criticism for anything LeBron has done, including this move. After all, LeBron’s Sixers jersey has already sold out. His brand will grow in a large coastal market, which will certainly open up new business ventures. On top of that, the Sixers should do plenty of winning on the court. However, winning alone doesn’t buy adoration. If it could, Durant wouldn’t feel the need to continue making burner accounts to defend his honor.

James found this out during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.

What was supposed to be an expansion of his kingdom ended up being an eight-year footnote. He won a championship, put his name on top of the scoring list, and shared the court with his son. All of those things should’ve been celebrated as once-in-a-generation achievements, but they weren’t. He — predictably — didn’t get the treatment from the fans or team personnel that Kobe did at the end of his two decades spent in one uniform. Not even close, which reportedly influenced him to leave.

James now seems destined to repeat that mistake in another city that has no connection to him. If the Sixers win, the credit will go to Philadelphia’s guys, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. And if they lose, that will fall on LeBron.

By making this entirely about winning one more ring, LeBron has validated the narrative that he’s still chasing Jordan because of the title count. It’s an admission that he isn’t viewed as the greatest, despite being better at basketball than anyone else who’s ever lived.

LeBron doesn’t owe anyone anything. He especially doesn’t owe anything to Northeast Ohio after all he’s done for the community. But viewing things through that prism misses the entire point of why sports matter.

In an idealistic world, you’d like to think the bond between an athlete and a city is what drives decisions. I’m not naive enough to think that it actually does — but there are exceptions to that rule. LeBron and Cleveland seemed to be one in that January moment, and when he yelled “Cleveland, this is for you!” with tears in his eyes after delivering the city’s first championship in over half a century.

This latest decision, and whatever comes down the line, don’t change what happened in the past. Relationships aren’t static. They’re always evolving.

The bond between Cleveland and LeBron will endure past this. He will still return as a hero at some point. Yet, it does complicate things further than they already were.

How James’s last game in Cleveland will look is anyone’s guess. It could come in an inconsequential regular-season game. Maybe this whole summer is swept under the rug, as we do with Jordan’s Wizards jersey. Or, it could come in one of the last games of the conference finals with James trying to end the season in the one place he still calls home. That situation wouldn’t be swept under the rug as quickly.

What we can say with certainty is that moment on that cold January night in Cleveland won’t be replicated again there. At least, not while James is still wearing a jersey. It probably won’t happen at his new home court in Philadelphia either, based on how we’ve seen this story play out in the past. That is the true cost of this last-ditch attempt at one more championship.

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Yankees Birthday of the Day: Doug Drabek

New York Yankees

Good news: the Yankees acquired a future Cy Young Award winner as the Player To Be Named Later in a deal in 1984 that sent their 31-year-old veteran first baseman to the Chicago White Sox.

Bad news: the Yankees traded said Cy Young winner away long before he won the greatest accolade of his career.

Today’s birthday honoree, Doug Drabek, was drafted twice and then traded before ever making his MLB debut. His tenure in the Bronx was brief, but he went on to have a long and successful career and the Yankees almost brought him back when he hit free agency in the early 1990s. It all goes down as a miss for the Yanks.

Douglas Dean Drabek
Born: July 25, 1962 (Victoria, TX)
Yankees Tenure: 1986

A Texas native, Drabek attended St. Joseph High School in Victoria where he excelled as a multi-sport athlete, playing football and baseball. The right-handed hurler caught the eyes of major league scouts, and in the 1980 MLB Draft Cleveland drafted the teenager in the fourth round.

Drabek, however, opted to head to school and hone his craft there rather than toil in the minor leagues. So off he went to the University of Houston, where he was nothing short of spectacular. Drabek set a Cougars record with 27 wins in 268 career innings (including six shutouts). Twelve of those wins came in 1983, and one was a no-hitter. Drabek is a Southwest Conference Hall of Famer and a member of the Houston Athletics Hall of Honor; his No. 16 is now retired.

Three years after choosing the University of Houston over Cleveland, Drabek’s name was again called during the Amateur Draft. This time, the Chicago White Sox chose Drabek in the 11th round of the 1983 edition, and he signed.

Drabek reported to the Niagara Falls Sox of the New York-Pennsylvania League, the White Sox’s Low-A affiliate. The 20-year-old made 16 appearances for Niagara, primarily pitching out of the rotation, with sporadic relief appearances. The following season, he began at A-Ball but after only one start Chicago promoted him to Double-A, where he pitched for Glens Falls in the Eastern League. Before long, however, he found himself on the move again, this time to a new organization. On July 18th, the Yankees sent first baseman Roy Smalley to Chicago for two players to be named later. On August 14th, those two PTBNLs were made public: southpaw Kevin Hickey and Drabek were headed to the Bronx.

New York’s brass immediately assigned Drabek to Nashville, the club’s Double-A affiliate. Drabek pitched the remainder of the 1984 and ‘85 seasons at Double-A, though he was evidently promoted to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers for the International League playoffs.

Unfortunately, Drabek was on the losing end of the ‘85 International League Championship. The Tidewater Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the crosstown rival Mets, beat Columbus three games to one. The fourth and final game was scoreless into the sixth inning until Drabek walked a batter, then surrendered hits to future major leaguers Dave Magadan and Kevin Mitchell, the latter of whom went on to win the 1989 NL MVP Award.

Heading into 1986, Drabek was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 5 Yankees prospect. New York skipper Lou Piniella signaled that Drabek would get a serious look in spring training to see if the young hurler, who’d excelled the past two seasons in the minors, could force his way into the big league rotation. Alas. Drabek was sent back to Triple-A to start the ‘86 campaign, where he struggled mightily.

Despite his struggles, New York called Drabek up to The Show, where he debuted on on May 3rd in Oakland. Entering the game in relief, Drabek hurled 4.1 frames of one-run ball in his initial taste of the big leagues. Two weeks later, he made his first start in Baltimore where he authored four shutout innings. All told, Drabek pitched well for the ‘86 Yanks, who went on to win 90 games, finishing 5.5 games back of eventual AL pennant winner Boston. Maybe he pitched too well.

That offseason, veteran pitcher Rick Rhoden expressed his desire to get out of Pittsburgh. Rhoden was coming off a career season in the Steel City and to get him, the Yankees evidently had to include Drabek in the trade package. The full damage: Drabek, Logan Easley, and Brian Fisher to the Steel City in exchange for Rhoden, Pat Clements, and Cecilio Guante. Rhoden pitched well for New York in ‘87, though he never came close to his lofty 1986 season. He pitched one more year in the Bronx before finishing his career in Houston in 1989.

Drabek, meanwhile, went directly into the Pirates’ rotation in 1987 and began an eight-year streak with an ERA+ above 100. The following year, he won 15 games and kicked off a six-year stretch of throwing at least 219 innings each season.

1990 was the height of Drabek’s career from a personal standpoint. The righty won 22 games en route to an eighth place finish in NL MVP voting and his first and only NL Cy Young Award. That year also started a three-year stretch of Drabek and the Pirates reaching the NLCS only to go down in defeat each time.

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After the 1992 season when the Pirates bowed out to the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS, Drabek reached free agency. The Yankees, where he’d gotten his professional start, were among the interested suitors. But after making an offer to Drabek, along with David Cone and Jose Guzman, general manager Gene Michael pulled all the offers from consideration and started looking elsewhere for starting pitching.

“I tried to get answers quickly from the three,” Michael told the New York Times. “I didn’t want them to take a week and then shop it around to get other clubs to meet it or top it.”

Whether Drabek ever seriously considered the Yankees or not, the path back to the Bronx was gone. Ultimately, he ended up signing with the Houston Astros on a four-year deal. His first two seasons in Houston were up to par, though through some hard luck he led the Senior Circuit in losses in 1993 with 18. Drabek’s 1994 was more conventionally effective, as he went 12-6 with a 2.84 ERA and 140 ERA+, making the NL All-Star team and finishing fourth in Cy Young voting during the strike-shortened campaign.

But Drabek’s final two Houston campaigns were disasters. He departed in free agency and pitched two more seasons—1997 with the White Sox and 1998 with the Orioles—before retiring. Now 64 years old, Drabek is currently the pitching coach for the Reno Aces, Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

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Red Sox Minor Lines: Kristian Campbell stays hot

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 12, 2026: Kristian Campbell #28 of the Boston Red Sox runs off the field after the first inning of a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex on March 12, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Worcester: W, 6-5 (BOX SCORE)

The WooSox now have 45 hits in their last three games. Although this game was close and the Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins AAA) were resilient, tagging every relief pitcher for runs in a bullpen game after Tyler Uberstine opened things up with a scoreless first, the WooSox simply just stayed one step ahead of them. Kristian Campbell continued his hot streak with his fourth home run of the season in the sixth amidst a raucous stage of the game where teams were trading runs for three consecutive innings, and the WooSox also enjoyed a three-hit night out of Mickey Gasper. And don’t count out Tyler McDonough batting out of the nine spot, as his bat continues to stay hot following his promotion. Friday, it was the patience at the plate that made a difference, as he waited out three walks and really extended those innings despite not actually crossing home plate.

Portland: W, 8-1 (BOX SCORE)

No Arias, no problem. Well, not exactly, as the Sea Dogs struggled to put a solid offense inning together against the RumblePonies (Mets AA) but Brooks Brannon, the home run machine, is still on the roster, and he essentially called game in the sixth with his 17th home run of 2026.

No one was getting past this impenetrable wall on the mound. Dalton Rogers, Jesse Wu-Yelland and Max Carlson were all extremely solid in their three innings a piece. Rogers walked six but allowed just one hit. Binghamton would have just one baserunner after the fourth and they’d fall to strikes fifteen times against this Portland pitching staff. I also want to be realistic: while it’s easy for many in the “trade everything who’s not bolted down or named Franklin Arias” camp to look at these performances and say “yay, more trade fuel to buy next week!” the reality is that these are guys who all had a great night against a demonstratively rough season and are unlikely to capture much value. I’d also warn folks that one or two “trade everything” phases put us in the position we’re arguably in now, where we look at these minor lines and lament about how our starters organization-wide are getting thrashed on a weekly basis and how no one outside of about five guys can hit. Unless these guys somehow reach a stage of their development where they truly shine in 2027 and then they’re ours anyway!

Greenville, Game 1: L, 4-10 (BOX SCORE)

Marcus Phillips and Griffin Killander did not have it against Spartanburg (Astros High-A) yesterday afternoon; the most graceful thing about Game 1 was that it was only 7 innings, as Greenville allowed ten runs and only got some relief from getting shelled by Enddy Azocar’s 9th home run and Stanley Tucker’s 2-RBI double. Aside from that, it was all Hub City.

Greenville, Game 2: W, 2-1 (BOX SCORE)

Night and day from game 1. Greenville was patient, drawing seven walks and though they stranded ten runners, some of those walks came back to bite Spartanburg with two separate Ronny Hernandez RBI knocks. Pitching wise, Greenville had nothing to worry about, as Devin Futrell had one of his better nights on the mound. He was one out from capturing a perfect game in the abbreviated contest and struck out nine. Steven Brooks came in when Futrell ran into a bit of trouble in the seventh and slammed the door. All in a day’s work.

Salem: W, 5-3 (BOX SCORE)

We have reached the first player I can recall seeing who was born in 2008. Fresh off the Gulf Coast league, Sadbiel Delzine made his first start in A-ball. At 18, his fastball is at 94 miles per hour and he has a four-pitch repertoire. This was Salem’s first look at him, and although he didn’t go far into the game and got taken yard, he struck six out and overall looked promisingm. Brady Tygart took this the rest of the way and struck five additional Green Jackets (Braves A) out. Catchers had their day on the farm Friday, and Adonys Guzman was no exception, as his fifth-inning shot turned a 3-2 game into a 5-2 game, shifted the tone, and made it possible for Tygart to shove through fifteen outs, as did Skylar King’s three knock night.

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Rob Pelinka has silenced critics with this Lakers offseason

EL SEGUNDO, CA - JULY 02: Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka answers a question during the Los Angeles Lakers welcome press conference for their NBA Draft picks on July 02, 2024, at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The pressure was on Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka this summer to build a roster around Luka Dončić. He didn’t disappoint.

Pelinka went to work, first executing a trade to bring Walker Kessler before signing Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes.

Those were the bigger moves done, but the Lakers weren’t finished. They also added another center in Kevon Looney and some wing depth with Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle while continuing to monitor Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency.

Considering the whirlwind of activity, for our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked fans if their opinion on Pelinka has changed. The results are in, and his approval is up.

This was a good summer for Pelinka. He finally landed an A-list center, a need since before the Anthony Davis trade.

Doing that alone probably makes this a good offseason. When you also add in that the Lakers were able to keep Austin Reaves and added a ton of new young talent, it’s clear why fans are happy with Pelinka.

And it’s not just fans that are pleased with the changes as Dončić is excited about the moves. Considering that he’s the franchise player, that’s good news for Pelinka.

The Lakers didn’t just try to run it back with an old team that was fourth in the Western Conference. Instead, Pelinka made bold moves to shake up the roster.

Another positive for Pelinka, based on this poll, is that only 5% have a worse view of him. That’s a relatively low number and is more evidence that fans have approved of the job he’s done this summer.

In the end, though, what matters most is what ownership thinks of Pelinka and how the Lakers perform this season.

Still, it’s always a plus to have support from the fans. With all the moves Pelinka has made, he is currently in their good graces and that’ll continue to be true if the Lakers play well during this upcoming season.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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Brewers Reacts Survey Results: Prospect trading chips at the deadline

Biloxi Shuckers infielder Andrew Fischer (25) hits the ball during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Biloxi Shuckers at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 7, 2026. | Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

In this week’s Reacts survey, we asked fans which of the team’s top prospects (non-Jesús Made category) they’d be least willing to trade at the deadline. The results may be somewhat surprising:

The Brewers, who sit at 64-39 atop the NL Central, tend to be very cautious when it comes to dealing prospects at the trade deadline. Since the 2008 blockbuster deal for CC Sabathia (which sent team No. 2 prospect Matt LaPorta the other way, as well as player to be named later Michael Brantley, who ended up being the prize of the deal), the Brewers haven’t made a super splashy move.

If they opt to change the status quo, though, it seems likely they’d need to part with at least one of their top prospects. With Luis Lara and Cooper Pratt locked up, and Jesús Made seemingly untouchable, that leaves four position player prospects up for discussion — Luis Peña, Jett Williams, Josh Adamczewski, and Andrew Fischer.

The results of our poll saw Fischer finish as the player fans would LEAST like to see traded. It’s a surprise in terms of prospect ranking, as Fischer is the only one of those players not in MLB’s top 100 prospects, but it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise when you look at Fischer’s stats.

The 22-year-old third baseman was the team’s first-round pick in 2025 (No. 20 overall) out of Tennessee. In his first full season in the minors, he’s appeared in 83 games (between High-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi), and he’s raked his way to a whopping 30 homers, slashing .283/.424/.662. The biggest concern with Fischer comes on his strikeout rate — he’s struck out 123 times in 370 plate appearances. The good news? He’s also walked 66 times.

I’ll quickly give you the 2026 stats on the other three options, too:

Luis Peña (High-A Wisconsin): 38 G, 161 PA, .301/.404/.436, 8 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 33 R, 22 SB (5 CS)

Jett Williams (Triple-A Nashville): 80 G, 358 PA, .234/.341/.385, 9 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR, 41 RBI, 60 R, 21 SB (4 CS)

Josh Adamczewski (High-A Wisconsin + Double-A Biloxi): 78 G, 333 PA, .319/.435/.549, 20 2B, 2 3B, 13 HR, 57 RBI, 57 R, 13 SB (1 CS)

Looking at that, it makes sense why Williams finished with just 2% of the vote despite being at the highest level in the minors.

Thanks for continuing to participate in these polls, and be sure to visit FanDuel Sportsbook for all of your sports betting needs.

Brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

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The Odyssey by Homer

Jul 24, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (16) celebrates hitting a ground-rule double to walk off the Los Angeles Angels in the bottom of the tenth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images | Justine Willard-Imagn Images

The San Francisco Giants returned home battered and broken after a 1-5 road trip in which they suffered five straight losses, including a sweep to the lowly — but well-matched — Kansas City Royals. The offense couldn’t score more than three runs. The pitching, starters and relievers alike, struggled to preserve leads. Crucial defensive mistakes proved the difference in tight, one-run games. The trip felt like a series of humiliations. The team looked like a play-thing for the rest of the league, a new ball of yarn for the Mariners and Royals to paw around at their leisure.

Earlier on in the season, one might graciously refer to these failures as tests, challenges to overcome in order to burnish their spirit in preparation for a climactic confrontation. But it’s July — really late July. Perhaps its overly generous to compare this 2026 season to the ancient epic, but if this was The Odyssey, we’re at the point in which all pretense is gone. Odysseus and his men are no longer victors returning from Troy. Hope and hubris has been wrung out of them by the gods. Logan Webb as Matt Damon as Odysseus tied himself to the mound’s mast and wept as the Sirens tortured him with their unattainable song. After months that have felt like years, Tony Vitello has assembled a raft of driftwood and shoved off into the open water, finally accepting his fate and submitting to the capricious nature of the seas. There is no more wit or cunning or courage to fall back on — it is the only the schedule that floats them back to their harbor.

In this sense, the wins now feel less like triumphs and more like dodges, delays, not-losses. Facing off against another lowly franchise in the Los Angeles Angels, the Giants 7-6 victory in 10 innings revealed more similarities than differences between the two clubs. Logan Webb struggled again, giving up another 3-run frame, jeopardizing an early 4-run lead. Reliever Jason Foley served as the day’s bullpen punching bag when Vaughan Grissom rocked a 2-run homer in the 8th to tie the game. Though they emphatically broke through with 5 runs off starter Grayson Rodriguez, the Angels relievers cooled the offense considerably after the 4th inning. So the mobbing of Rafael Devers after his game-winning single felt more than a bit contrived. They won because they had the last swing. Home field advantage — just like Odysseus in Ithaca. 

The punishment of a fan following a losing season is not the losses, but that you aren’t allowed to celebrate the wins. Is this fair? We shouldn’t be purposefully myopic or naive, rejoicing after each storm we survive without the sober and appropriate recognition that the situation has not changed: We are floating on a raft in the middle of the ocean. We are still not in charge. 

You can’t disregard the wider context. And in my very important role as a sports blogger, it feels like my job at times to belabor the point: A millennial Homer, reminding everyone after anything that everything still sucks.

The over-lapping, layered structure of The Odyssey is designed to hold the whole story all at once. Odysseus retells his story to the Phaeacians which give his memories an awareness of what is to come. Within the past, nests the future. A baseball season can be like this — dense and intricately woven. But just like the ancient epic, there are episodes. Games that work as standalone adventures that can be, and should be, savored and enjoyed. Odysseus and his men escaping the giant-cyclops-shepherd Polyphemus’s cave by blinding him and hiding among his sheep is a heck of a story on its own. I like to think Odysseus himself relished the re-telling in King Alcinous’s court, allowing himself a moment to smirk at his wit when he told the cyclops his name was Nobody, despite the consequences of that interaction that would soon follow.

So let’s free ourselves from context, the burden of the “epic,” and enjoy the little episodes, the minor tales of how the Giants jumped out ahead of the Angels by stubbornly refusing to let starter Grayson Rodriguez record the third out in the early innings. In the 1st, with two outs and nobody on, already down a run, Bryce Eldridge forced Rodriguez to throw 8 pitches, eventually working a walk. Next up, Devers lined his 21st homer over the cars in left. 

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In the same situation in the 3rd, Eldridge, once again spoiled a clean inning for Rodriguez with a 2-out double. Falling behind 2-0 to Devers, the right-hander elected to send him to first to face the same-side bat of Casey Schmitt. Perhaps fueled by the intentional walk, Schmitt annihilated an inside fastball for a 3-run shot — also his 21st — giving the Giants what felt like a commanding 5-1 lead at the time.

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But a good story always has set-backs. The heroes should never just cruise. The Angels provided that necessary adversity, closing the gap with a three run 5th inning off Logan Webb.

Webb gave up a walk and four hits in the frame, with a devastating 2-run triple delivered by number-9 hitter Tyler Heineman. It was Webb’s second triple surrendered in the game, and only back-up backstop Heineman’s fourth extra base hit of the year.  

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Jo Adell’s 7-pitch at-bat, which ended in a lead-off single, set the tone and table in that inning. Webb had him down early in the count, but his fourth and fifth pitches were throwaways, big misses that couldn’t even entice the free-swinging slugger to chase off the plate. Webb then fell behind 2-0 to number-8 hitter Denezer Guzman. With count leverage, Denezer got a fastball over the plate that scooted through a hole into left for another single. A lack of sharpness had Webb on his heels and he probably succumbed to some tunnel vision facing Heineman. He doubled down on change-ups at the bottom of the zone and Heineman didn’t miss the second one. 

The whole game the Angels had their heads bowed facing Webb. Not out of deference, but on the hunt for his signature off-speed at the bottom of the zone. Both triples came off genuflecting swings (the pitch to Neto came in shin high) that deposited the baseball in the furthest ranges of Triple’s Alley. Adell’s lead-off single was on a low-and-away change. Mike Trout’s thoroughly-smoked sac fly to score Heine was on another.

Another outing in which Webb allowed three runs in an inning, but, unlike in Seattle, he finished the inning with the lead, albeit a slim one, was still in-tact. It’d last for a couple more innings. The Giants even extended it with some effective small-ball tactics in the 7th when pinch-runner Grant McCray (taking over for Drew Gilbert after his walk) stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Susac. McCray emerged as the late-game hero, doing the dirty work in preparation for Devers’s walk-off. His base-running in that sixth run allowed them to weather Vaughan Grissom’s game-tying shot, and his outfield assist cut down the potential go-ahead runner in Oswald Peraza for an inning-ending double play which heavily tipped the scales in favor of the home team.

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Now all they had to do was score…

It wasn’t perfectly executed, there were some dice-y moments, but they got it done.

For a moment it looked like Jesus Rodriguez, as the 10th inning Manfred Man, wouldn’t advance to third on Luis Arraez’s knuckling single. After initially freezing on the line-drive, then retreating for a moment as shortstop Zachary Neto made a play on the slow-moving grounder, Rodriguez had to make a mad dash for third when the ball squeaked through to the outfield. With a chance to end the game, Heliot Ramos rolled a comebacker right into the pitcher’s glove — a first out that ratcheted up the pressure for Bryce Eldridge. Instead of walking Eldridge to load the bases and set-up a booby-trapped infield with a myriad of double play or force-out possibilities, reliever Chase Silseth went after the rookie with the hope that his youth and inexperience would cause him to chase. As he did in the 1st, Eldridge stood firm. In an 8-pitch at-bat he navigated four two-strike offerings. He chased only one — a well-located inside sweeper that he fouled off — before working the walk and loading the bases for Devers to play hero and send everyone home.

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Two-start pitchers: Chris Sale headlines an outstanding group of options as we flip the calendar to August

Hello and welcome to the 17th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.

I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.

With the uncertainty surrounding the labor dispute between Major League Baseball and the Player’s Association, we can’t be sure that the 2027 season is going to begin on time. Just make sure to take some time, appreciate and enjoy the second half of the 2026 season, as we aren’t sure what the 2027 campaign will bring.

As fantasy managers start to turn the page to football, there are opportunities to creep up in the standings where others aren’t giving their teams the full attention that they still deserve. Keep putting in the work and plugging away, striving to improve each week, and you’ll reap rewards at the end of this season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week. With teams still trying to get their rotations lined up for the second half, there’s more uncertainty than usual for a Friday afternoon:

⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

We already know that Jake Bennett is going to make two starts for the Red Sox this week (at Athletics, at Dodgers), what we don’t yet know is who else is going to. Ranger Suarez may come off the injured list and start on Sunday, in which case Peyton Tolle would be pushed back to Monday and would be lined up to take the ball twice. If not, then Suarez could pitch on Monday and he would be set up for the two-start week. Both have been great this season, but there’s plenty of ratio risk lurking there given the tough opposition and ballparks that they’ll need to navigate.

The Rockies only have five games on their schedule for next week, so fortunately none of their starters are going to take the ball twice. As we know by now though, even if anyone in their rotation was lined up for two starts, there’s never any justifiable reason for going there.

Someone is going to start for the Blue Jays on Monday and is likely to get a two-start week (at Nationals, vs. Cardinals), with Spencer Miles working in a bulk role as the most likely candidate. If so, he makes for a decent streaming option in deeper leagues. We’ll update here if we get any additional clarification through the weekend.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of July 24 and are subject to change.

American League

▶ Strong Plays

Kyle Bradish, Orioles, RHP (at Tigers, vs. Phillies)

It took Bradish a while to really get his 2026 season on track, as he struggled early, rallied in May, got bombed twice at the beginning of June and has since posted a 2.03 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and a 37/12 K/BB ratio over 40 innings in his last six starts. The matchups aren’t ideal this week, but when Bradish is going right he can silence any lineup. He’s one of the top overall plays on the board this week and needs to be started in all leagues.

Max Fried, Yankees, LHP (at White Sox, at Cubs)

Fried was absolutely brilliant in his return from the injured list this past week, spinning five innings of one-hit, shutout baseball against the Pirates while piling up seven strikeouts. He has delivered elite results every time he has taken the mound this season, and there’s no reason to expect any less in a two-start week this time around. If you waited a week to get him activated to see how he looked, now is the time to get him back in there. This should be all systems go without question.

Gerrit Cole, Yankees, RHP (at White Sox, at Cubs)

Cole really hasn’t shown much rust after missing the entire 2025 season, returning to post a strong 3.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 66/12 K/BB ratio over 62 frames in his first 11 starts. He racked up 11 strikeouts against the Pirates his last time out and appears to be growing stronger with each start. He should be locked into fantasy lineups each and every week, so there’s no decision point here, just sit back and enjoy the added volume from an extra start this week.

Keider Montero, Tigers, RHP (vs. Orioles, at Athletics)

Whatever role the Tigers have used him in this season, Montero has done a terrific job – posting a 3.14 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and a 78/22 K/BB ratio over 106 innings. The limited strikeout rate is mitigated by the extra volume in a two-start week and Montero has been a major asset in the ratio department throughout the season. There’s risk in having to pitch against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park, but it’s not nearly enough of a reason to avoid Montero for a two-start week. He should be started with complete confidence in all leagues.

George Kirby, Mariners, RHP (at Rangers, vs. Twins)

While the WHIP has been a bit higher than we’re used to seeing from the 28-year-old righty, Kirby has still been as solid as ever this season, compiling a 3.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 104/25 K/BB ratio over 124 innings while notching eight victories in his 19 starts. He also enters his two-start week in great form, posting quality starts in each of his last six dating back to June 10. Kick up your feet and enjoy double the production from Kirby this week.

▶ Decent Plays

Jake Bennett, Red Sox, LHP (at Athletics, at Dodgers)

The 25-year-old southpaw is enjoying a terrific rookie campaign for the Red Sox, registering a 2.58 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a 42/9 K/BB ratio over 59 1/3 innings while notching six victories in his first 10 starts. The sledding is going to get tougher this week though, having to battle the A’s in West Sacramento before traveling to Los Angeles to take on the vaunted Dodgers’ offense. He has pitched so well this season, and the Red Sox are winning so many games at the moment, that it’s hard to justify sitting Bennett at this point. Just be aware that the risk of ratio damage is much higher this week than we’re used to seeing from Bennett.

Walbert Ureña, Angels, RHP (vs. Astros, vs. Brewers)

Ureña is quietly enjoying an impressive rookie season for the Angels, boasting a 2.78 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and an 83/47 K/BB ratio across 87 1/3 innings of work. Those numbers would be even better if not for a disastrous start against the A’s where he gave up seven runs over 4 1/3 innings. He should have earned the trust of fantasy managers by now and is an easy start in all leagues for a strong week with both starts coming in a pitcher-friendly environment.

Griffin Jax, Rays, RHP (vs. Rangers, vs. White Sox)

When things go wrong for Griffin Jax, they go really wrong. Twice this year he has been bombed for six runs or more, otherwise he has been terrific. The matchups this week aren’t terribly imposing and he has shown enough consistency that he should certainly be trusted for a week with a pair of home starts. He should be started in all leagues.

Tatsuya Imai, Astros, RHP (at Angels, vs. Rangers)

It really has been all or nothing with Imai this season, either he’s brilliant and piling up strikeouts by the bushel, or he’s getting hammered around the yard and gets bounced within the first few innings. Depending on what you’re looking for, that could appeal to you, especially with a couple of decent matchups on the docket. If I’m going to take a chance, I like to do so with those that are talented and capable of elite performances. Imai has clearly shown that he has that in his range of outcomes. I wouldn’t watch his starts and sweat them out, just throw him in your lineup and hope for the best.

Anthony Kay, White Sox, LHP (vs. Yankees, at Rays)

Kay continues to muddle along in the White Sox’ rotation, posting a respectable 4.21 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and an 80/40 K/BB ratio over 98 1/3 innings. He hasn’t been working deep into games recently, but he also hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in a start since the calendar flipped to July. If you’re content with grabbing around eight strikeouts with decent ratios and an outside shot at a victory, you could roll the dice here, especially in deeper formats.

Kumar Rocker, Rangers, RHP (vs. Mariners, at Astros)

Rocker has done a decent job for the Rangers through his first 19 appearances (17 starts) on the season, registering a 4.13 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and an 86/36 K/BB ratio over 96 innings of work. The matchups this week aren’t terribly imposing, making him a decent streaming option if you’re looking to gain ground in strikeouts especially. For sure I’d be using him in 15-team formats and I may even take the plunge in 12’s.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Seth Lugo, Royals, RHP (at Twins, at Rockies)

Normally I find myself advocating for using Lugo in his two-start weeks, but his recent struggles combined with a visit to Coors Field make it very difficult to trust him at the moment. Being on the road for both starts and being backed by the Royals offense don’t do him any favors in terms of generating wins, and the strikeout upside has always been limited for the veteran right-hander. If you feel like gambling on a low-upside, minimal downside type of two-start option, Lugo should work for you.

Gage Jump, Athletics, LHP (vs. Red Sox, vs. Tigers)

Jump has been extremely inconsistent through his first 11 starts in the big leagues, giving up five runs or more three times while surrendering one earned run or fewer five times already. Unfortunately, most of those struggles have come recently as he has seen his ERA jump from 2.04 to 4.42 since June 24 and now has to battle with two of the hottest teams in all of baseball – with both starts coming at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. If you’re worried about your ratios, it may be wise to sit this one out.

Jack Perkins, Athletics, RHP (vs. Red Sox, vs. Tigers)

If we don’t want to use Gage Jump for a home two-step against the Red Sox and Tigers, then we certainly don’t want to trust Perkins in the same matchups. The right-hander holds an abysmal 6.75 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 62 2/3 innings on the season and now has to tangle with two extremely hot offenses in one of the best hitter’s environments in all of baseball. Stay far away from this one.

Noah Schultz, White Sox, LHP (vs. Yankees, at Rays)

This one definitely isn’t for the risk averse fantasy manager. When Schultz is able to command his pitches, he has proven that he can be a dominant force on the mound. Unfortunately, we have also seen what can happen when he can’t locate, as he got bombed for five runs on 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings against the Rangers his last time out. If you’re the gambling type and want to wager that he’ll pile up strikeouts and keep the ratios in check over a pair of starts this week, you could be handsomely rewarded. The most likely scenario though is that he gets hit pretty hard in at least one of those starts.

Kendry Rojas, Twins, LHP (vs. Royals, at Mariners)

Rojas has been a bit of an enigma so far for the Twins, posting a strong 3.32 ERA and a miserable 1.57 WHIP with a 24/18 K/BB ratio over his first 21 2/3 innings. Eventually, all of those baserunners are going to catch up to him. He’s also not built up to take on a starter’s workload just yet, so the chances of him making it through five innings to even have a shot at earning a victory are very low. He should be able to help out in the strikeout department, but that’s all you’d be getting from streaming this two-start week.

Slade Cecconi, Guardians, RHP (at Reds, vs. Diamondbacks)

Cecconi hasn’t quite been a prominent figure in the Guardians’ rotation this season, struggling to a 4.60 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and an 82/34 K/BB ratio over 103 2/3 innings through his first 20 starts. He hasn’t been particularly trustworthy for fantasy purposes and now he has to run through a pair of difficult matchups – especially having to battle the Reds in Cincinnati. The juice just isn’t worth the squeeze here, as his ceiling doesn’t justify the risk that you would be taking on by streaming him.

Cal Quantrill, Rangers, RHP (vs. Mariners, at Astros)

Quantrill is not someone who has ever been confused with a reliable fantasy option. While he has done a nice job overall for the Rangers this season, his 5.48 xFIP and 4.90 xERA hint that his performance is a house of cards that’s going to collapse at any point. Don’t be the one that absorbs that ratio damage when it all comes crashing down. Stay away.

National League

▶ Strong Plays

Chris Sale, Braves, LHP (at Mets, vs. Nationals)

The 37-year-old left-hander continues to dominate whenever he takes the mound, compiling a brilliant 2.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 134/26 K/BB ratio across 111 innings through his first 19 starts on the season. Now he gets to battle a pair of familiar divisional foes where he should be a favorite to earn a victory both times that he takes the mound. There’s really no reason that Sale should ever be on benches for fantasy purposes, so just sit back and enjoy double the production from the Braves’ ace this week.

Chase Burns, Reds, RHP (vs. Guardians, vs. Pirates)

Burns has been an absolutely dominant force for the Reds this season, posting a 12-1 record, 2.42 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 124/39 K/BB ratio over 107 2/3 innings in his 19 starts. He has been an absolute gold mine for fantasy purposes and there’s really no reason to anticipate that his production is going to fall off anytime soon. Whether he makes one start or two doesn’t impact anything decision-wise for fantasy managers, as he should be locked into all lineups each and every week. He’s one of the top options on the entire board this week.

Zack Wheeler, Phillies, RHP (at Marlins, at Orioles)

Wheeler has been one of the best stories of the 2026 season so far, coming back from a major injury to go 10-2 with a 2.16 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and a 117/22 K/BB ratio over 100 innings in his age-36 season. He has also been remarkably consistent from start-to-start and you know that you’re going to get elite results from him whenever he takes the mound. He’s easily one of the top overall plays on the board once again this week.

Michael King, Padres, RHP (vs. Rockies, vs. Giants)

King is putting together another tremendous season for the Padres, posting a 3.24 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 103/49 K/BB ratio over 119 1/3 innings through his first 21 starts. Now he draws a dream two-start week, getting to battle both the Rockies and the Giants in the pitcher-friendly confines of Petco Park. He’s easily one of the top overall plays on the board this week and should be started in 100 percent of fantasy leagues without question.

Christian Scott, Mets, RHP (vs. Braves, vs. Marlins)

Scott has settled in nicely to the Mets’ rotation, contributing a terrific 3.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 78/29 K/BB ratio over 63 1/3 innings through his first 14 starts. The only problem is that he has made it through five innings just six times in those 14 outings and hasn’t even exceeded 90 pitches in a start since June 5. That lowers his win equity a bit, but he’ll still deliver quality ratios and strikeout numbers, which makes him a strong option in all leagues for his two-start week.

Eric Lauer, Dodgers, LHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Red Sox)

Things could still change, but as of now it looks like even in a six-game week that we’ll get a two-start week from someone on the Dodgers, That’s because Shohei Ohtani is battling a knee issue and it’s unclear when he’ll return to the rotation. Lauer has done a nice job overall since joining the Dodgers, posting a 3.35 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a 26/12 K/BB ratio over 45 2/3 innings of work. What he lacks in strikeouts, he makes up for in win equity by pitching for baseball’s best team. Those limited strikeouts are also buoyed by the added volume of a two-start week. Lauer is a strong play in all leagues this week.

Sandy Alcantara, Marlins, RHP (vs. Phillies, at Mets)

We haven’t quite gotten the vintage version of Sandy Alcantara this season, but he has been leaps and bounds better than the version that we had to suffer through during the 2025 season. The workhorse right-hander holds a 4.01 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 110/38 K/BB ratio over a league-leading 143 2/3 innings. He should be in fantasy lineups most weeks regardless of matchups, and he always makes for a strong option when he’s toeing the slab twice. He should be started in all league sizes without question.

Zac Thornton, Mets, LHP (vs. Braves, vs. Marlins)

The 24-year-old southpaw has been very impressive through his first four starts, putting together a 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and a 17/6 K/BB ratio over 23 1/3 innings. He has gone at least six innings and allowed one run or less in each of his last three starts. While he’s not going to continue at this level, you should absolutely ride the hot hand here in a two-start week. He’s an easy start in all formats this week.

Brandon Sproat, Brewers, RHP (at Giants, at Angels)

Sproat has taken his lumps in the Brewers’ rotation this season, compiling a 5.09 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 91/43 K/BB ratio over 86 2/3 innings through his first 19 outings. It has finally looked like the talent is starting to shine through and everything is clicking into place recently though. Since the calendar flipped to June, Sproat boasts a 3.58 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 39/16 K/BB ratio across 37 2/3 innings. The matchups couldn’t get much better, battling the Giants and Angels in pitcher’s parks. He should be an easy start in all leagues this week and makes for a terrific streaming option in shallower formats where he may still be available.

Landen Roupp, Giants, RHP (vs. Brewers, at Padres)

Roupp has quietly put together a nice season in the Giants’ rotation, registering a 3.93 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 113/45 K/BB ratio over 110 innings through his first 20 starts. He’s had two terrible road starts that have brought that overall line down, otherwise he has been very impressive. He has also been sizzling in the month of July, allowing just three runs over 21 innings (1.29 ERA) while posting a 14/5 K/BB ratio. He should be started with full confidence in all league sizes this week.

Michael McGreevy, Cardinals, LHP (vs. Cubs, at Blue Jays)

McGreevy has been a stabilizing force for the Cardinals and for fantasy managers this season, putting together a 3.07 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 74/27 K/BB ratio across 114 1/3 innings in his first 20 starts. It’s a travesty that it has only led to four victories. The only knock on him, aside from the lack of wins which are out of his control, is the limited strikeout rate. That’s made up for with the added volume from a two-start week. He should be utilized in all leagues this week.

▶ Decent Plays

Cade Cavalli, Nationals, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, at Braves)

Cavalli has legitimately done a nice job for the Nationals this season, compiling a 3.58 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 127/34 K/BB ratio over 110 2/3 innings through his first 22 starts. He has been a useful option most weeks for fantasy purposes as well. Look for that trend to continue with this two-start week on tap. The Blue Jays can be bested by right-handed pitching and though the Braves will be a tougher challenge with Ronald Acuna Jr. back in the mix, it’s not enough to dissuade me from using Cavalli with double the volume this week. Go ahead and fire him up in all leagues.

Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks, RHP (at Pirates, at Guardians)

The 37-year-old right-hander has not pitched well overall this season, but there has been at least a glimmer of hope since the calendar flipped to July. Over his last four starts, Kelly has gone 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and an 18/8 K/BB ratio over 22 innings of work. The matchups against the Pirates and Guardians aren’t terribly imposing, so I’d be tempted to ride with the hot hand here, making Kelly a viable streaming option in all formats.

Mitch Keller, Pirates, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, at Reds)

Overall, Keller’s season has been an extreme roller coaster ride. He started off brilliant, with a 2.87 ERA through his first seven starts. Then he went through a six-start stretch where he was saddled with an 8.70 ERA over 30 innings. Things have leveled off a bit since then though and he’s coming off of a terrific outing where he struck out six batters over five scoreless innings against the Yankees. Keller has always been a viable streaming option in deeper mixed leagues in two-start weeks, and I’m comfortable rolling him out there in both 15 and 12-team formats once again this time around.

Brady Singer, Reds, RHP (vs. Guardians, vs. Pirates)

Singer is having a rough time overall in his second season with the Reds, posting an uninspiring 4.53 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and an 88/32 K/BB ratio across 103 1/3 innings in his 20 starts. The matchups this week aren’t particularly imposing, which gives credence to the idea that Singer could be worth a look as a streaming option. It’s never going to feel warm and fuzzy to put Singer in your lineup for a two-start week, but the overall upside outweighs the risk here, making him a viable play in deeper mixed leagues.

Colin Rea, Cubs, RHP (at Cardinals, vs. Yankees)

Rea pretty much is who he is at this stage of his career, a decent innings eater that can have viability for fantasy purposes in weeks where the matchups fall in his favor. That’s not quite the case having to travel to St. Louis before battling the Yankees to finish the week. What’s nice about Rea is that the chances of him crushing your ratios with a blowup start are minimal, while he should be able to approach double-digit strikeouts in most two-start weeks. The ceiling isn’t that high, but he can be of use in deeper leagues.

Bubba Chandler, Pirates, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, at Reds)

Chandler has yet to deliver the elite results that fantasy managers were hoping for this season as inconsistency has led to a middling 4.47 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 90/56 K/BB ratio over 100 2/3 innings. The stuff is there, he just has to find a way to cut back on the walks to have consistent success at the game’s highest level. The matchups this week are tough, which invites in some extra ratio risk, so it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re fine with piling up strikeouts and taking a shot at a win, Chandler makes for a fine option.

Tyler Mahle, Giants, RHP (vs. Brewers, at Padres)

The overall season line for Mahle looks bleak, as he sits at 2-9 with a 5.31 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a 77/33 K/BB ratio over 83 frames through his first 16 starts. If you squint though, you can see a glimmer of hope coming out of his recent performance. The most likely scenario here is that he deals you some ratio damage and approaches double-digit strikeouts for the week while giving you a shot at a win. If that sounds appealing, go ahead and roll the dice.

Tyler Phillips, Marlins, RHP (vs. Phillies, at Mets)

Phillips has done a decent job overall on the season for the Marlins, registering a 3.52 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 58/36 K/BB ratio over 79 1/3 innings in 26 appearances (10 starts). He has won just two games though and has made it through five innings just once in his last four outings. The matchups are a mixed bag, as the Phillies are likely to cause him trouble, though the matchup against the Mets is softer. He’s fine as a volume play in deeper leagues, but the overall ceiling is very low.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Matthew Liberatore, Cardinals, LHP (vs. Cubs, at Blue Jays)

Liberatore’s overall results on the season have been extremely disappointing, struggling to a 5.18 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 95/38 K/BB ratio over 99 innings through his first 20 starts. He was also knocked around by the Angels his last time out, so he doesn’t enter this week in good form. If you are able to throw caution to the wind with your ratios and are just looking to add volume, you can click his name and hope for the best. Otherwise, I’d avoid.

Andrew Alvarez, Nationals, LHP (vs. Blue Jays, at Braves)

Alvarez has been a somewhat serviceable option as an innings eater for the Nationals, but his 1.50 WHIP has dealt brutal ratio damage to fantasy managers that have risked using him. This two-step looks particularly challenging on paper as I can see that start against the Braves going sideways very quickly. He’s also not likely to be a favorite to earn a win in either start. If all you care about is piling up strikeouts, you could try it, but there are probably better alternatives available.

David Peterson, Cubs, LHP (at Cardinals, vs. Yankees)

The version of Peterson that we have seen through four starts with the Cubs looks a whole lot like the guy who couldn’t keep his spot in the Mets’ rotation. He shows flashes of brilliance now and again, but the overall results have been wholly disappointing. With these particular matchups, Peterson isn’t likely to win a game, he has never been a major asset in the strikeout department and he’s very likely to deliver ratios that will cause major damage – especially in WHIP. If you’re chasing wins and strikeouts and need the volume, maybe you could try it in deeper leagues. I’d try to stay away from this one if possible though.