PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 18: Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (left) and Philadelphia Phillies Managing Partner and CEO John Middleton (right) applaud and the Phillie Phanatic reacts after the 2026 MLB All-Star Game logo is revealed during Philadelphia's 2026 All-Star Game Declaration on July 18, 2025, at Dilworth Park, in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
We are one week into Phase 1 of the 2026 All Star Game voting. There have not been any voting updates, but I felt it was worth a reminder to get those votes in while you can!
Last week, I recommended that we prioritize voting for just two San Francisco Giants players: Luis Arraez and Casey Schmitt.
And while that’s still the case, I’m going to also request we throw some votes Jung Hoo Lee’s way, after the tear he’s been on lately.
But that’s up to you! Regardless of who you vote for, you should make sure to get your votes in here.
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants continue this three-game series against the Washington Nationals tonight at 6:45 p.m. PT
When I said I wish there was a way for the Cubs to get healthy enough to force Jameson Taillon from the rotation, this wasn’t what I meant nor the order I wished it came in.
But let’s talk about the performance put in by Javier Assad!!! I know an unexpected, lengthy, nearly-perfect relief appearance happens a 2-3 times each year, but that was one stellar performance, that ended up getting wasted by the offense! AGAIN! But let’s look at the positive side of this. Omitting his two disastrous outings in April, in 25.2 IP, Assad has allowed 7 hits, 4 walks and 2 earned runs for a 0.71 ERA and a 0.44 WHIP with 19 K. Hopefully, when he gets the ball put in his hand every fifth day (I’m assuming), he will continue with this mindset and performance level. It would have been great to see if Taillon could have continued the solid work he put in against the A’s last week. Maybe he will be the replacement and Assad can keep this run going on the way to a healthy rotation. And here’s a little tidbit I came across:
Javier Assad: first Cubs scoreless relief appearance of more than 6 innings since Tom Dettore (also 6.1 IP) 8/16/1974
This weekend was “Pile on Alex Bregman” time. There were several repetitive articles (almost as many as during PCA’s chatting-to-the-fans weekend), so I plucked one for your reading (dis)pleasure.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Matt Shaw Reportedly Being Activated Tuesday, Kevin Alcántara’s Clock Ticking. “Alcántara will be out of options after this season, and it’s really difficult to imagine the organization suddenly getting comfortable with him being a full-time member of the roster in 2027 and beyond.”
Cory Sparks (North Side Baseball): 3 Cubs Right-Handed Hitters Who Need to Step Up. “The Cubs’ lackluster-at-times offense needs to see more from it’s contingent of right-handed sluggers in order to get back on track.”
The Buddaheads (also known as BB Chung King & The Screaming Buddaheads) were a Los Angeles-based blues-rock band founded in 1989 by Japanese-American guitarist and producer Alan Mirikitani, who performed under the stage name B.B. Chung King. The band earned widespread acclaim for their high-energy electric blues, extensive touring, and control over their own independent music releases before disbanding in July 2015 following the sudden death of Mirikitani from a heart attack.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
NEW YORK — Before anyone even asked him a question, Mike Brown constructed the narrative.
His Knicks had just lost Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals here at Madison Square Garden by four points. And with that, New York ceded some leverage back to the San Antonio Spurs in the series.
Brown opened his press conference with a statement, like he always does following games. This time, however, and in a rather uncharacteristic fashion, he bemoaned the game’s officiating.
The Spurs shot 10 more free throws than San Antonio in Monday night’s 115-111 New York loss, but Brown took exception with consistency in the second half.
"First of all, I want to make sure I get something clear: coach Mitch Johnson and the Spurs, they won the game tonight," Brown started. "They came and took the game. But I will say this: I never thought I would be in the NBA Finals and see a team get 24 free throw attempts in the second half to another team’s eight. I don’t complain much about officials or the fairness when it comes to the free throw attempts.
"San Antonio is a great team. They are a great team, okay. It’s going to lower our odds big time, big time, if we play Game 4 and in the second half, they get 24 free throw attempts to our eight. Maybe we were fouling. Maybe we were fouling. But they fouled, too."
To further make his point, Brown stipulated that because the Spurs shot 24 free throws in the second half, it was worse than the box score indicated.
"Now, we didn’t play good," Brown acknowledged. "San Antonio played great. We could have played better. There was a lot of things that we didn’t do that we did in Game 1 and Game 2.
"But to go 24 free throw attempts in the second half, that’s 48 for the game, if you think about the way they called that second half, compared to eight. All the shots we took, we got fouled four times, roughly, for eight free throw attempts."
The reality is that San Antonio took 32 free throws and converted 25 of those. The Knicks, by comparison, made 18-of-22.
But doubling up the second half attempts is a convenient manipulation – one that disregards the fact that New York attempted 14 free throws in the first half, compared to San Antonio’s eight.
And by going down this path, Brown, in essence, created an environment in which he made excuses for New York’s poor play. He even acknowledged as much.
"It’s going to be that, because I said it," Brown said. "The story is going to be that."
Yet, New York lost the battle in points off turnovers by a margin of 21-7. It settled for far too many 3s in the fourth quarter. And the Knicks did not match San Antonio’s aggression for most of the game.
Now, all that said, this is a calculated move by Brown.
He knows Game 4 is massive. If the Knicks win, they move to 3-1 and take complete control of the series, needing just one victory out of three remaining games to claim their first title in 53 seasons. If they lose, however, the series heads back to San Antonio tied at two games apiece.
By getting this out there – and Brown may have to pay the price in the form of a fine – he’s exerting direct pressure on the officiating crew for Game 4 to put their thumb on the scale somewhat. Essentially, Brown is putting out the narrative that his team has been wronged.
The implication being that some corrective measure is owed to the Knicks. Whether it pays off remains to be seen, but, with a title on the line, it’s certainly worth a shot.
Now, were some of the calls enforced against New York in the second half soft? Certainly. But if you look closely, most came after New York lazily grabbed at players after they had put themselves in compromising positions.
Did the Spurs get away with some calls? Potentially. But that doesn’t account for why New York shot just 7-of-27 in the fourth quarter, including a brutal 2-of-14 from 3-point range, many of those decent looks.
"That ain’t cost us the game," Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said when asked about officiating. "We turned the ball over. We didn’t execute. We didn’t do what got us 13 straight wins; that’s how you lose a game."
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 07: Mickey Gasper #30 of the Boston Red Sox throws the ball during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Blah blah blah transaction news.
Carlos Narvaez appeared in 112 games at catcher last season, tallying 15 home runs and playing solid defense, though he’s struggled at the dish this season and has taken a back seat to Gasper since Chad Tracy took over. He’s 27 years old and still pre-arbitration, meaning he’s under team control for the foreseeable future. Connor Wong had a miserable 2025 at the plate but has bounced back this year, although the power still hasn’t returned. He’s 30, but still has a few years of team control left. Mickey Gasper is the surprise addition to the group. He’s been the best of the group offensively, but also is the wrong side of 30 and has only just made the major leagues.
So, what should they do for the rest of this season? Do they let Narvaez work through his slump at the plate because he’s the most likely of the group to be the catcher of the future? Do they continue to run Gasper out to try to give a boost to the struggling offense? Do they let Connor Wong continue to handle the staff, because pitchers seem to like him? Do they trade for Ethan Salas? I don’t know. You tell me.
Talk about whatever you want and be good to one another.
Brent Lillibridge’s three-run homer in the eighth inning of a 15-3 on this day 16 years ago was the exclamation point for the beginning of streak that would see the White Sox with 25 of 30 and surge into first place. | (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
1947 In a game at Comiskey Park against the Yankees, a fan held up the contest for nearly an hour while he argued a call with one of the umpires. That’s right … a fan!
The Sox would eventually win the game, 9-8, in 10 innings, scoring seven unanswered runs to pull it off. Jake Jones’ single scored Floyd “the Blotter” Baker to win it.
1974 In at 10-6 loss at Comiskey Park, Ron Santo hit two home runs, including an inside-the-park homer to left field, as part of a 3-for-4 day. His nine total bases were by far the most the future Hall-of-Famer had in a single game during his disappointing single season on the South Side.
Why does this fact merit inclusion among the top moments in White Sox history? Well …
1981 … EXACTLY seven years later, the White Sox recorded their next inside-the-park home run, and it was even a weirder play than sluggish runner Santo circling the bases for a homer.
After Chet Lemon reached on an error to start the White Sox half of the fourth, already up, 1-0, vs. the Blue Jays, Wayne Nordhagen drove a fly ball down the right-field line. It looked foul, so Nordhagen stood in the box and watched — until the ball landed fair. Future White Sox left fielder George Bell, then a rookie known as Jorge and playing in just his 30th MLB game, re-injured his right ankle against the short, right-field foul wall chasing after the fly (the game started an hour late due to rain, so the slick grass/warning track contributed to the re-injury).
With Bell crumpled on the ground, the ball rolled to the wall and left center fielder Barry Bonnell to sprint over to make the play. That gave Nordhagen enough of a start to circle the bases, to his surprise:
I didn’t know what was happening. My helmet fell down over my eyes after I swung, and I didn’t even know where the ball went. I couldn’t believe it when Winks [White Sox third-base coach Bobby Winkles] was down there waving [me home].
The homer put the White Sox up by the eventual final, 3-0. Richard Dotson threw a five-hit shutout — his fourthalready in a breakout campaign. It would also be Dotson’s last start until August, as three days from now the players’ strike would hollow out the middle of the 1981 season.
1987 White Sox outfielder (and future GM) Ken Williams hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning, breaking up a no-hit bid by the A’s Curt Young.
It would be the only hit on the day for the Sox, who lost, 8-3.
2010 The White Sox stood at an awful 24-33 and 9 1/2 games out of first place heading into play, but a 15-3 drubbing of the Tigers started a 15-1 streak (through June 26) and 25-5 sprint to the All-Star break (July 11) that turned the season around. (For good measure, the White Sox won the first game out of the break, making it 26 of 31.)
In this game, the White Sox were shut out in five of their eight frames, but seven-spots in both the fourth and eighth innings dealt the death blows for Detroit. Every White Sox batter recorded at least one hit — even pinch-hitter Brent Lillibridge, who clubbed a three-run homer in the eighth. Omar Vizquel led the way among hitters, with three hits. Freddy García was the beneficiary of the onslaught, going seven innings to improve to 6-3 on the season.
By the All-Star break, the White Sox streak had landed them atop the AL Central by a half-game, at 49-38.
2021 The injury bug again impacted the White Sox, as second baseman Nick Madrigal, hitting better than .300 at the time and playing a solid second base, tore his right hamstring trying to run out a ground ball in the seventh inning of a game against the Blue Jays in Chicago. Madrigal became the third Sox starter to suffer a major injury and miss significant time, the others being outfielders Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert Jr.
The Sox were leading 2-1 at the time, but after Madrigal’s season-ending injury melted down and lost, 6-2. The second baseman remained on the field for several minutes before being helped off, not putting any weight on his right leg. Surgery was performed the next week, and his season was over. On top of that, his White Sox career ended in July, with Madrigal being traded to the Cubs as part of the Craig Kimbrel deal at the deadline.
2022 It was a decision that left the baseball world shaking its head.
White Sox manager Tony La Russa, already under the microscope by fans and the media for his seemingly strange baseball decisions, made one that will be talked about for years. With the Sox losing, 7-5, to the Dodgers at Guaranteed Rate Field, he ordered an intentional walk to Trea Turner in the sixth inning. The count on Turner at the time was 1-2, leaving everyone from fans at the game to White Sox TV broadcasters stunned and wondering what the rationale for the move was.
The decision then blew up in La Russa’s face when five pitches later Max Muncy blasted a three-run home run to left-center field. Upon reaching home plate Muncy then looked towards the White Sox dugout and let loose with an expletive-filled comment. The runs would prove important as the Sox lost, 11-9.
While the Philadelphia Flyers may have missed the boat for a potential Dylan Larkin trade, all hope is not lost for finding a top-six center this offseason.
Larkin will turn 30 next month, and while is talent and leadership are undeniable, the Flyers can find themselves better long-term fits elsewhere.
Plus, they need their young players, such as Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone, to find their stride and reach their maximum potential at the NHL level before adding a veteran star.
Those two, at the peaks of their powers, are the whole appeal to Philadelphia's operation anyway.
One of the more intriguing names the Flyers have been linked to in recent weeks and months is Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers, who, 331 games into his NHL career, has yet to finish a season with 30 goals or 60 points.
Beniers, 23, was the esteemed No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, and a 57-point rookie campaign helped earn the Hingham, Massachusetts, native a seven-year, $50 million contract with the Kraken.
Heading into Year 3 of that deal, the Kraken are still very much a mess of an expansion team. Beniers, with just four full seasons under his belt, has already played for two different general managers and three different head coaches.
Lost in Seattle's island of misfit veterans and prospects, the Kraken pivot could very well do with a change of scenery, which the Flyers can and should be willing to provide for Beniers.
With Michkov, Martone, Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, and Trevor Zegras in the fold, the Flyers have significantly more talent, and more dynamic talent, than the Kraken do, and that would help Beniers ascend offensively.
He may not ever be more than a Nico Hischier-type at his absolute peak, but Beniers is a player the Flyers can win with if they continue to build properly.
The player picked right after Beniers in 2021 was Mason McTavish, who was selected by the Anaheim Ducks.
We've already seen this movie with Zegras, where a young player succeeds early but struggles with coaching changes and additional responsibilities that don't mesh with play style.
McTavish, a swashbuckling power forward with very little speed, looked like he was turning the corner last year with 22 goals and 52 points, but his ice time and opportunity decreased significantly with Joel Quenneville taking charge of the Ducks.
Still, McTavish did finish the season with a respectable 41 points in 75 games, plus six points in 10 playoff games.
Comparatively, though, Noah Cates did finish with 47 points for the Flyers this season.
With a McTavish trade, the Flyers are betting purely on potential.
The 23-year-old is already a questionable fit due to his skating, but the Flyers are reportedly interested and they are in a position where they can afford to be patient.
Such a move has already paid dividends with Zegras, and Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet is the type of coach who can find parts of himself in McTavish and coax those elements out of him onto the ice for quantifiable results.
McTavish has five years remaining on his contract at a $7 million cap hit, and his trade value may very well never be lower than it is now.
(Photo: Rob Gray, Imagn Images)
Last but certainly not least is Utah Mammoth forward Barrett Hayton, who just limped through the worst statistical season of his NHL career.
Hayton, a 26-year-old pending RFA, broke into the NHL under Tocchet in 2019-20, and he was the fifth overall pick back in 2018.
Hayton, of course, has some talent to him to earn that draft slot, and he did score 20 goals and 46 points for Utah just a year ago, establishing career-highs in both categories.
After the way this season went, though, a change of scenery is in order.
Tocchet knew heading into last season that veteran center Christian Dvorak, who played for Tocchet in Arizona and was teammates with Hayton, had more offense in his game.
Dvorak promptly responded with 18 goals and 51 points for the Flyers this season in a top-six role, and Hayton, four years younger, could follow a similar path.
Hayton struggles with playmaking and finishing, at times, but he's a fairly decent skater at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, and knows where he needs to go to put himself in a position to score.
As was the argument for Beniers, Hayton would thrive in a new environment with more skilled, dynamic talents to support him.
With the 26-year-old in need of a new contract, now is a natural time for the Flyers to buy low and invest in Tocchet, his coaching skills, and a former top-five draft pick.
LAS VEGAS — If the Toronto Maple Leafs go with someone like Joe Pavelski to be their next head coach, Logan Stankoven could see it working.
One day before the Carolina Hurricanes face the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, Logan Stankoven sat down for a one-on-one with The Hockey News after the team’s practice at T-Mobile Arena.
“I mean, if that’s the way he wants to go, I see him being very successful,” Stankoven said, citing the veteran’s personality, recent experience and proven ability to connect with younger players.
“It was nice just being able to live there and learn from him and you could see why he played so long, just the way he takes care of his body and whatnot, and, yeah, that was a blast for me. It was a good learning experience,” Stankoven said.
NEWS: Pierre LeBrun on OverDrive mentioned that Joe Pavelski is 'one of the five candidates' for the Maple Leafs' head coaching position #LeafsForever 👀
Those months reinforced to Stankoven why Pavelski earned such widespread respect around the league, even from players who never shared a locker room with him. Stankoven pointed to his leadership, hockey sense and willingness to mentor as standout traits.
“I think just his leadership. He’s not a flashy guy, the way he plays, like, he’s so good with his stick. He’s not the fastest guy. He’s not the biggest guy. But he reads the game so well, and he’s really smart, Stankoven said about Pavelski. “For me being a smaller guy, it was cool to learn from him. Like, even before or after practices, he’d kind of pull me aside and we’d work on tips and stuff. And he was, like, he’s the best in the game at that. So it was just cool to learn from him and see what made him successful.”
“I think just his personality and his demeanor, it’s easy to see why he could get a coaching job. Yeah, I mean, just shortly removed from the NHL.
Stankoven, 23, sees a clear advantage for coaches who have only recently left the playing ranks, especially in an era when the game continues to speed up and systems evolve.
“Teams do play a different way. Each team has their own system, but just the way the new era is, I mean, younger guys coming up and the way the game’s gotten a little bit faster and systems have kind of changed from back in the day a bit. So I think, if younger guys that are shortly removed from the league, I think they’d have a better understanding of what they need.”
He added that recent players often relate more naturally to today’s roster because they have lived through the same modern demands.
“I think from just personal experience, coaches that have played in the league, like, recently they relate to, they understand you, being through it all.”
Stankoven’s own rapid rise from that Dallas living-room mentorship to contributing in the Stanley Cup Final shows the lasting impact of learning from someone still fresh off the ice.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 11: Avery Hayes #85 of the Pittsburgh Penguins waits for a face-off in the first period during the game against the Washington Capitals at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 11, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Vitals
Player: Avery Hayes Born: October 10, 2002 (age 23) Height: 5’ 10” Weight: 180 pounds Hometown: Westland, Michigan Shoots: Right Draft: Undrafted 2025-26 Statistics: Five goals, zero assists in 16 regular-season games Contract Status: Hayes is signed through the 2026-27 season on his $867,500 entry-level contract.
Story of the Season
Hayes played 16 games with the Penguins this season, but he still led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with 24 goals in 42 games.
The winger made his NHL debut on Feb. 5, during which he scored two goals in the first period of a 5-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres just before the Olympic break.
That made him one of seven NHL players to score twice in the first period of their debut in the league.
Hayes had a harder time finding immediately success during his next stint in the NHL, a 10-game post-Olympics stretch during which he didn’t mark the scoresheet.
He was called up again at the end of March and scored his third NHL goal in a win at the New York Islanders.
Although he struggled to find ways to mark the scoresheet, Hayes was regularly visibly for his heavy hits and for his penalties (he recored 12 penalty minutes in just 16 games).
Hayes stayed up with the Pens for the final three games of the regular season, during which time the Penguins had already locked up a playoff spot. He recorded another two-goal night in the regular season finale against the St. Louis Blues.
Hayes didn’t crack the Penguins lineup during the playoffs. He added another three goals in 15 AHL playoff games as the WBS Pens made it to the Eastern Conference Finals before Sunday’s Game 6 overtime elimination loss by the Toronto Marlies.
Hayes made his Penguins debut just before the NHL paused the season for the Olympics from Feb. 6 to Feb. 24. When NHL play resumed, he appeared in the lineup for 15 of the Penguins’ 25 remaining regular-season games.
Regular season 5v5 advanced stats
Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 18 forwards on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.
The Penguins didn’t spend a lot of time in the offensive zone when Hayes was on the ice, but his five goals in just 178 total minutes of ice time technically made him the most efficient scorer on the roster. He also recorded 23 hits in 25 games, per Hockey Reference.
Highlights
FIRST GAME, FIRST SHOT, FIRST GOAL FOR AVERY HAYES 🐧
— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 1, 2026
Questions to Ponder
Can Hayes crack the Penguins roster to start the next NHL season?
He’ll join Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen as fringe roster players who got a taste of NHL playing time last season and could get another shot at the roster next training camp.
The potential departures of players like Noel Acciari and Kevin Hayes could open up some bottom-six spots for a player like Hayes.
If he doesn’t make it in on the October roster, Hayes will likely continue starring for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as the AHL team braces for the potential loss of Sergei Murashov to the NHL next season.
At the time of his February debut, Hayes was one of 12 rookies who played for the Penguins last season. Turning some of those players into full-time NHLers alongside Ben Kindel would help Kyle Dubas restock the roster at a relatively low cost this offseason.
Ideal 2026-26
Hayes struggled to make an impact on offense throughout most of his time in the NHL last season. An ideal 2025-26 campaign would include him finding a way to contribute on offense, earning a roster spot in training camp and then providing a physical presence in the Pens lineup next season.
It was obvious throughout the WBS Penguins’ run in the Calder Cup playoffs that Hayes knows how to get other under players’ skin. The Penguins could use a pest-like player like that if Hayes is able to make the jump to the NHL next season.
Bottom Line
Hayes has spent two seasons as one of the top forwards in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and will get his best shot yet at a season-opening spot on the Penguins’ roster next fall.
The 23-year-old showed sparks of potential last season, particularly in his historic two-goal debut and with his consistent heavy hits, but he’ll need to find a way to make more of an impact on offense to carve out a more permanent place for himself on the Penguins’ bottom six.
Final Grade
C
Hayes would likely get an A for his work with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, especially during the regular season before his drop in production during the playoffs. In the NHL, he struggled to regularly contribute on offense but showed flashes that will likely get him another audition during training camp this fall.
What grade do you think Hayes deserves for his first 16 games with the Penguins?
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 08: Blaze Alexander #23 of the Baltimore Orioles is called out by umpire umpire Mike Muchlinski #76 at second base as Alexander was trying to tag up on teammate's Samuel Basallo #29's fly out in the eight inning against the Seattle Mariners at Orioles Park at Camden Yards on June 8, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters!
Things have not gone well for the Orioles over the last few days. After an impressive run where they won 10 of their last 14 games, the team has now lost three in a row. And they’ve done so in excruciating fashion. On Saturday, Kyle Bradish was very bad. On Sunday, they blew a four-run lead. And last night, they bumbled around on the bases and did not take advantage of their chances and had some straight-up botches. If you want to read more about that one, you can check out Paul Folkemer’s recap.
I admit it. I’m down on the Orioles again. It’s only been three losses, but it feels like more proof that the Orioles are just a very uneven team.
Last night, when the Orioles were trying to rally, they had runners on first and third with one out. The score was 6-3. Pinch-hitter Samuel Basallo hit a fly ball and posed like it was going to land 400 feet away. Instead, Julio Rodríguez caught the ball in front of the warning track. Jackson Holliday tagged from third to score, and for some reason, Blaze Alexander tried to tag at first. Rodríguez had no chance at Holliday, but he nailed Alexander at second for the third out. And because he was tagged out before Holliday touched home plate, the run did not count. That’s not ok!
That wasn’t the only bad play last night. Pete Alonso left about a billion men on base. The Orioles, for some reason, continue to bring in Anthony Nunez in a high-leverage situation. The catcher was a guy named Sam Huff, who played while both Adley Rutschman and Basallo sat on the bench.
Of course, one bad stretch doesn’t make a bad season. But the Orioles have yet to climb out of the hole they dug themselves into to start the year, so getting out is going to be tougher and tougher. I propose they start to turn it around tomorrow with a win.
More Orioles injury updates – MASN Sports Chris Bassitt is on the IL but Dean Kremer could return soon. Cade Povich is resuming baseball activities. Samuel Basallo has a bony growth on his wrist, which is a weird injury. But he did bat yesterday so it’s not impeding him too much.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have just one Orioles birthday buddy, John Andreoli (36). Andreoli played in 23 games with the Orioles in 2018. It’s not a great birthday buddy, to be honest.
On this day in 1960, the Orioles signed pitcher Tom Phoebus to a minor league contract. Phoebus appeared in 199 minor league games before making his debut in 1960. He pitched for the Orioles through 1970. In 1968, he threw a no-hitter
In 1984, Mike Flanagan pitched a complete game shutout as the Orioles defeated the Tigers, 4-0. It was Flanagan’s second complete game against the Tigers in a week. Six days earlier, he allowed one run in nine innings in a 2-1 win.
In 2016, both Keegan Akin and Pete Alonso were drafted in the second round of the amateur draft with 10 picks between them. Who do you think was drafted first?
In 2019, the Orioles sent international bonus slot money to the Phillies for pitcher Thomas Eshelman. Eshelman appeared in 31 games, about half starts, with the Orioles from 2019 to 2021 with a 5.77 ERA.
Florida Complex League Yankees: L, 10-9 (11) at FCL Phillies
3B Richard Matic 0-5, RBI, BB, 2 K CF Wilberson De Pena 1-6, 2 K C Queni Pineda 1-4, 2B, 2 BB, 2 K 2B Leni Done 3-6, 2B, 2 SB DH Jose Castro 2-4, RBI, 2 BB, K, 2 SB, CS RF Francsco Vilorio 0-3, 2 K LF-1B Christofer Reys 1-2 SS Dexters Peralta 3-5, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, CS, fielding error 1B Justin Capellan 0-4, BB, K LF-RF Estivenzon Montero 0-2, RBI, BB, K
Stanly Alcantara 3.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R (5 ER), 6 BB, 1 K Marco Manzano 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 1 K Austin Breedlove 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K Rafael Arias 1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K, HBP, throwing error (hold) — started the ninth inning with a 9-7 lead, and went walk, walk, throwing error, HBP before getting pulled Jorge Luna 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 4 (!) HBP (loss, blown save) — stranded the bases loaded in ninth and tenth, but couldn’t quite hold in the 11th
Dominican Summer League Yankees:L, 5-4 (7) vs. DSL Tigers 2
CF Isaias Castillo 2-2, HR, RBI, BB 2B Stiven Marinez 1-3, RBI, K RF Yostin Pena 2-3, HR, RBI SS Juan Torres 0-3 DH Cesar Lopez 0-1, BB, HBP 3B Abrahan Pichardo 0-3, 2 K, fielding error C Juan Martinez 0-2, BB 1B Jose Peralta 0-2, 2 K, CS, throwing error LF Kendry Diaz 0-3, fielding error
Hector Moreno 0.2 IP, 0 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 1 K Fredy Penuelas 4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 7 K Luis Rodriguez 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 0 K (loss, blown save)
Dominican Summer League Bombers:L, 13-0 (7) at DSL Marlins
3B Dariel Santana 0-2, BB, K SS Mani Cedeno 0-2, BB, K, throwing error 2B Carlos Bello 0-3, 2 K RF David Carrera 0-1, 2 BB, K C Alessandro Rodriguez 0-1, BB, fielding error PH-1B John Rosillo 0-1 DH Germayhoni Beltre 0-3, K LF Richard Meran 0-3 1B-C Stalen Ramirez 0-2, 2 K, HBP CF Alfiery Matos 0-2, K — yes, that’s a no-hitter. At least they drew some walks
Randy Agomas 1.2 IP, 0 H, 6 R (4 ER), 5 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP (loss) — a truly DSL statline. Poor guy has a 30.86 ERA Kevin Centeno 2.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 3 K Ronald Tejada 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 K Oscar Vasquez 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
The Detroit Tigers open up the second half of their current six-game homestand on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Twins. With five wins in six tries so far this month coming against the leaders of the American League East and West divisions, AJ Hinch’s squad now has a chance to make up some ground in the AL Central this week.
The Motor City Kitties currently share space in the division cellar with the Kansas City Royals, while the Twinkies are 2.5 games ahead of them in the standings. The Cleveland Guardians currently lead the pack, with the Chicago White Sox trailing not too far behind them.
The series opener will see right-hander Troy Melton take the mound, coming off an impressive eight-inning performance against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Pete, where he allowed just two runs on four hits (one home run) and two walks while striking out five en route to his second win of the 2026 campaign.
The 25-year-old has faced Minnesota just once before in his young major league career in relief last year on Aug. 5 at Comerica Park. Melton threw a pair of hitless, scoreless frames, allowing a pair of walks and striking out one in what turned out to be a 6-3 loss for the Tigers that day.
Up against him is fellow righty Taj Bradley, who has regressed slightly after missing some time in May due to right pectoral inflammation. Since his return to the rotation, the 25-year-old has made three starts, putting up an ugly 5.93 ERA but far more respectable 3.40 FIP over 13 2/3 innings of work, allowing 15 hits and nine walks while striking out 18 batters.
Bradley last faced Detroit earlier this season on April 7 at Comerica Park, earning a quality start on 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits and no walks while striking out 10 — also hitting a pair of batters — en route to his second win of the year with a 4-2 final score.
Here is how the two match up on Tuesday night.
Detroit Tigers (27-39) vs. Minnesota Twins (30-37)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:Twinkie Town Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 67: RHP Troy Melton (2-0, 1.74 ERA) vs. RHP Taj Bradley (5-2, 3.56 ERA)
Milwaukee Brewers third base prospect Luke Adams waits for batting practice during spring training workouts Monday, February 17, 2025, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. | Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup! I’m filling in for Adam this week.
As a reminder, you can find this roundup — covering everything you need to know about each of the Brewers’ minor league affiliates — every Tuesday morning right here on Brew Crew Ball. For consistency, all organizational prospect rankings will reference MLB Pipeline unless otherwise noted.
Triple-A Nashville Sounds (38-25)
Opponent this week: @ Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Miami Marlins)
Record this week: 3-3
Standout performances:
Luke Adams (No. 11): 4-for-17, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 3 SB, 8 K, 3 BB Cooper Pratt (No. 4): 6-for-23, 1 2B, 1 3B, 4 RBI, 3 SB, 4 K, 3 BB Ethan Murray: 4-for-6, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 SB, 5 BB Garrett Stallings: 5 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 K Thomas Pannone: 5 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K Reiss Knehr: 4 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K Jacob Waguespack: 3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 K
Luis Lara was noticeably absent from the Sounds’ lineup this week, as he hasn’t appeared in a game since Tuesday, when he went 0-for-4 with a walk in the series opener. No word on if he’s injured, but something to keep an eye on ahead of their next series.
In positive injury news, Luke Adams returned to the lineup after missing more than a month, and he slugged three homers, swiped three bags, and drew three walks for a .235/.381/.765 line across five games.
— Nashville Sounds (@nashvillesounds) June 3, 2026
Most of Nashville’s other regulars — Brock Wilken, Eddys Leonard, Akil Baddoo, Tyler Black, Jeferson Quero, and Jett Williams — had rough weeks, but Cooper Pratt had six hits and three steals across 23 at-bats. Shortstop Ethan Murray also went 4-for-6 with five walks and two steals for a .667/.818/.833 line over three games.
On the mound, Garrett Stallings and Thomas Pannone both had scoreless starts, as Stallings went five innings with five strikeouts and Pannone went 5 2/3 innings with three strikeouts. Reiss Knehr went 4 1/3 scoreless innings across three relief appearances, striking out five, while Jacob Waguespack made a pair of appearances spanning three innings, also striking out five.
— Nashville Sounds (@nashvillesounds) June 7, 2026
Next week’s opponent: vs. Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays)
Double-A Biloxi Shuckers (28-26)
Opponent this week: vs. Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays)
Record this week: 3-3
Standout performances:
Dylan O’Rae: 3-for-13, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 SB, 3 K, 2 BB Matthew Wood: 5-for-12, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K, 6 BB Jaron DeBerry: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K Bishop Letson (No. 8): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K Manuel Rodriguez: 6 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
It was a fairly disappointing week for the Biloxi offense, as no players had more than five hits on the week, and top prospect Jesús Made went just 4-for-18 with no extra-base hits. Made was also 0-for-2 on steal attempts.
Matthew Wood led the offense with five hits, slugging a pair of homers and driving in three while drawing six walks to just one strikeout. Blake Burke and Dylan O’Rae both homered, and O’Rae was one of three players with multiple steals on the week, joining Mark Coley and Eduardo Garcia.
While the offense didn’t have a great week, some of Biloxi’s starting pitchers looked fantastic. Bishop Letson had the best start of the week, going six scoreless with a team-high eight strikeouts, allowing just three hits and a walk. Jaron DeBerry had his second consecutive great outing, going six scoreless with five strikeouts and just three hits and two walks allowed. Manuel Rodriguez went 6 2/3 innings with one run allowed, and Tanner Gillis went six innings with two runs allowed and seven strikeouts.
Next week’s opponent: @ Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox)
High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (29-24)
Opponent this week: @ Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins)
Record this week: 3-2
Standout performances:
Andrew Fischer (No. 6): 7-for-18, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 7 R, 1 SB, 6 BB, 7 K Josh Adamczewski (No. 10): 7-for-16, 2 HR, 2 2B, 9 RBI, 5 R, 2 SB, 2 BB, 4 K Eric Bitonti (No. 23): 3-for-11, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 K Josiah Ragsdale: 5-for-8, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 SB, 3 BB, 2 K Ethan Dorchies: 5 1/3 IP, 0 ER (1 R), 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K Braylon Owens: 5 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Andrew Fischer, who was named the Brewers’ Minor League Player of the Month for May, continued his raking ways this week. After batting .281/.439/.674 with three doubles, a triple, 10 homers, 20 RBIs, 25 runs, and 21 walks in 24 games in May, he hit .389/.542/.889 with three homers, seven RBIs, seven runs, and six walks in five games this week. Oh, and he broke the Timber Rattler single-season home run record (17) in just 48 games. Not bad for the 22-year-old prospect.
Andrew Fischer takes home the Brewers Minor League Player of the Month Award for May 🏅
Fischer put up 10 home runs (T-2nd in MiLB) and an incredible 71% Hard-Hit rate (100th percentile) and 77% Air rate (99th percentile) that propelled him to a 1.113 OPS in the month 🔥… pic.twitter.com/0oeZ7hEQXu
— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) June 8, 2026
ANDREW FISCHER IS A HOME RUN MACHINE 🔥
In 49 games Fischer has hit 18 homers‼️ @sirfischer3
— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) June 7, 2026
Fellow top prospects Josh Adamczewski and Eric Bitonti also homered twice each, as did Luis Castillo. Braylon Payne added a homer, and Luis Peña, who returned to the lineup last week, went 2-for-8 with three steals and four runs scored this week.
— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) June 7, 2026
Ethan Dorchies turned in the best start of the week, going 5 1/3 innings with one unearned run allowed on four hits and three walks, striking out five. Braylon Owens, who was named the Brewers’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May after striking out 35 to just nine walks over 25 innings, went five innings in his outing this week, allowing one run and striking out a pair.
Braylon Ow(e)ns May. 😤
Owen’s struck out 35 over 25 innings pitched in May. He made five appearances – three starts – with a save and a 4.32 ERA. #tratnationpic.twitter.com/4OnTZH9Uta
— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) June 5, 2026
Next week’s opponent: vs. Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Single-A Wilson Warbirds (31-26)
Opponent this week: vs. Salem RidgeYaks (Minnesota Twins)
After a rough start to the season, the Warbirds have found a rhythm, as they now sit in second place in the Carolina League North at 31-26. They won five of six against the Salem RidgeYaks, outscoring them 48-39 in the series.
José Anderson led the offense with three homers and 10 RBIs this week, slashing .263/.333/.789 across 19 at-bats, including a walk-off grand slam. Kevin Garcia and Pedro Ibarguen both homered, too, as Ibarguen led the Warbirds with six hits this week. No. 13 prospect Brady Ebel went 5-for-24 but added a whopping seven walks for a .387 on-base percentage. Filippo Di Turi also walked off Saturday’s game in a 4-3 victory.
Jayden Dubanewicz went 6 1/3 total innings over two appearances, striking out a team-high eight, though he allowed five runs, just two of which were earned (2.84 ERA). Carlos Carra went 6 1/3 innings with one run allowed and six strikeouts, while Joshua Quezada allowed one unearned run and struck out six over 4 2/3 innings. Andrew Healy went 2 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his start, and Peyton Niksch went 3 1/3 scoreless frames in relief, striking out four.
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 21: Cameron Flukey #2 of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers pitches against the LSU Tigers in Game 1 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals at Charles Schwab Field on June 21, 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals are set to be one of the big players at this year’s Amateur Draft. The Cardinals own 6 of the top 86 picks, including 13, 32, 50, 68, 72, and 86 overall. They also have amassed a war chest of 16,612,300, which is the 6th largest behind PIT (19.1 M), TBR (19.0 M), CWS (17.5 M), SFG (17.3 M), and MIN (16.9 M). The added caveat that those are the top 5 teams in the draft, which may help the Cardinals a bit, should they try to float a player down the board a bit if they can negotiate an overslot deal for a player they really want that is directly ahead of them in the order.
We visited with Joe Doyle of Overslotbaseball.com, who is one of the top independent amateur scouting content creators, on the Viva El Birdos Podcast, and he shared with us the Cardinals’ new “prototype” St. Louis is looking for. These are Big-bodied pitchers with big fastballs and athletic shortstops/up-the-middle type players whose athleticism would play up as they move down the defensive spectrum. Think of how San Diego has built their roster. Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr, Jackson Merrill, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth. These players came up capable of playing average or above SS, moved off the position, and are capable of letting their natural athleticism play up at their defensive position.
Pitchers like Liam Doyle, Tanner Franklin, Ty Van Dyke, Ethan Young, Payton Graham all come to mind, and then offensively, Ryan Mitchell and Jalin Flores. This year’s class is not thought to be as strong as seasons past, though the 2027 draft is thought to be one of the deepest in years, and should rival the ‘23 class. Make no mistake, there is still plenty of talent to be had in this year’s crop.
I wanted to highlight some of the more intriguing names that I’ve keyed in on that might tickle the Cardinals’ fancy.
Pitchers (Pick 13):
RHPCameron Flukey – Coastal Carolina
6’6 210 lbs
FB – 60 CRV- 55 SL – 55 CH – 50 CTRL – 55 FV – 55
Flukey entered the 2026 season as one of the top arms in the class, given his combination of big stuff and ability to overpower hitters. He suffered a Rib stress fracture after his first start of the season, but was able to make it back by the end of April to maintain his stock. Between himself, Liam Peterson, and Jackson Flora, only Flora was able to truly separate himself this season and will likely be a top 5 pick and thus be out of the Cardinals’ range. Flukey should have a high floor as a starter in a 2-3 type mold in a big league rotation if he avoids the injury bug moving forward.
The aforementioned Peterson was another one of the top college pitchers entering this season, and while he demonstrates the same type of electric stuff that Flukey does, his command is noticeably worse than Flukey’s. Peterson still runs a fastball up into the high 90’s and has 2 distinct and effective breaking pitches and an improving changeup. There’s still real mid-rotation upside with Peterson, with some reliever fallback in his profile.
Dietz is my personal favorite for the Cardinals at 13 as things stand if the team decides to go the pitching route. We know how much the Cardinals love their lefties and being able to feature 4 plus pitches immediately and a 5th with a chance to be average fits the mold of today’s modern starter, and the upside is immense. Probably the best Arkansas lefty to be draft eligible since Hagen Smith. Dietz would be capable of challenging Liam Doyle, Brandon Clarke, and Quinn Matthews as the best lefty in the system immediately.
Position Players (Pick 13):
SS Justin Lebron – Alabama
6’2 180 lbs
Hit – 45 Power – 60 Run – 60 Arm – 60 Field – 60 FV – 55
Justin Lebron came into the season as a near-consensus top 5 selection lock, but due to some hit tool struggles this season in SEC play, Lebron has taken a little bit of a tumble in terms of his draft stock. Outside of the hit tool, he is plus across the board, and the idea of an infield in 2 years featuring Winn, Wetherholt, and Lebron could look like the 2010’s Astros (minus the trash cans) of Bregman, Correa, and Altuve. The Cardinals’ hitting development staff has proven its ability to get the most out of raw, tooled-up athletes with hit tool concerns, see: Baez, Joshua, and Peete, Tai.
CF Derek Curiel – LSU
6’2 192 lbs
Hit – 60 Power – 45 Run – 55 Arm – 45 Field – 55 FV – 55
We love a good player comp, right? Scouts say that Curiel reminds them of a young Christian Yelich. Take that for what it’s worth. A wiry CF with an advanced hit tool and capable of playing a strong CF early in his career, before he’s likely pushed to LF later when his speed and athleticism diminish. Certainly would seem to have the floor of an everyday CF with the chance for more if he can add some strength and grow into above-average power.
CF Trevor Condon – Etowah HS (Georgia)
5’11 178 lbs
Hit – 60 Power – 45 Run – 70 Arm – 55 Field – 60 FV – 55
Again, we try not to get too ahead of ourselves when we hear comps, but one name that’s mentioned synonymously from an offensive standpoint with Condon is Kevin McGonigle. The contact, barrel control, and strike zone control are the primary calling cards, along with his ability to burn on the bases and play an excellent defensive CF. This is a dark-horse candidate, but one that certain corners of the industry believe is possible. If you’re able to get any kind of power out of this kid, he’s likely a perennial All-Star if he combines that with health.
I could do this for every round, but for the sake of time, I will just highlight a few additional players who I find interesting, and I think would fit the Cardinals’ “type.”
SS Tyler Spangler – De La Salle (California)
6’3 195 lbs
Hit – 55 Power – 55 Run – 50 Arm – 55 Field – 55 FV – 50
Likely a 3rd basemen at the next level, he also gives some scouts Corey Seager vibes in the box from the left side. The ability to be average to above across the board and at such an imposing frame with a sweet lefty swing would inspire optimism in Cardinals fans for years to come.
SS James Clark – St. John Bosco (California)
6’1 195 lbs
Hit – 55 Power – 45 Run – 60 Arm – 50 Field – 50 FV – 50
Reminiscence of Ryan Mitchell abounds with this player. The ability to hit and control the strike zone at an advanced level, with the ability to play anywhere on the diamond long term. Fits the mold of the new regime’s ideology.
SS Dee Kennedy – Kansas State
5’11 190 lbs
Hit – 55 power – 50 Run – 55 Arm – 55 Field – 50 FV – 50
Probably an above-average 3B at the next level, Kennedy has all the athleticism and pop to add to a Cardinals pipeline in search of more high upside talent on the dirt.
Mid-rotation arms are never a bad thing when drafting talent to continue infusing your pipeline, and Radel fits the bill. His release point and pitchability are what give him the ability to separate himself from others in a similar range. Expect to hear his name called in the top 50.
Your classic high-floor mid-rotation starter that the Cardinals made their money on drafting in the 2010’s, Ben Blair has every tool in the toolbox to be a quality mid-rotation starter at the highest level if all goes to plan.
RHP Carson Wiggins – Arkansas
6’5 215 lbs
FB – 80 SL – 70 CTRL – 45 FV -45
Before Wiggins blew out his elbow last season, he looked like a near lock to go in the first round last year. Now he’s likely not pitching at all this year, and still is likely to hear his name called in to the top 100 thanks to his impressive overpowering stuff.
Rabe is shooting up draft boards after his performance in the playoffs thus far and should remind Cardinals fans a bit of Tanner Franklin if he were to have been a starter his final season at Tennessee. One of my personal favorites to keep an eye on.
The draft is always an exciting annual milestone in the season, and this year should be no different. While the Cardinals might not be poised to grab a generational talent in this year’s crop, there are still a lot of players with intriguing upside to continue building the farm system back up to its former glory. We will continue to try to be one of your main sources for draft coverage. Joe Doyle will join us one more time, pre-draft, on draft week to give us the latest intel and buzz as the event grows near. We have also been kicking around the idea of a livestream for the draft and posting the link in the article so that we can all consume and react to night one of the picks as they happen in real time, and I have a few very intelligent guests in mind to rotate in as the night goes on. Would you like for us to do that, or is that something you’d be interested in? Let me know in the comments and I will plan accordingly if the result is overwhelmingly positive.
On June 9, 1993, the Montreal Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 to capture their 24th Stanley Cup, defeating Wayne Gretzky and his team in just five games. After the win, Patrick Roy was awarded the second Conn Smythe Trophy of his storied career. He would go on to win another one with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001, becoming not only the first player to win the playoffs’ MVP title three times, but also the first player to win it in three different decades, with his first win coming in 1986.
This 1993 conquest by the Canadiens is also the last time a Canadian team won Lord Stanley’s Mug, but it has to be said that the American teams that have triumphed since have always had more than their fair share of Canadian players. This year, the Vegas Golden Knights have 18 Canadians on their roster while the Carolina Hurricanes have nine, ensuring that Canada will once again leave its mark on the Cup.
It’s been 33 years since the Habs have won the big prize and in those years, they’ve made the Cup final once while their journey was stopped in the Conference Final three times, against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Halak spring of 2010, against the New York Rangers with the infamous Carey Price/Chris Kreider collision and this season, against the Hurricanes in what could rightfully be called the Dobes spring.
While this latest journey to the Conference Final came as a surprise with Montreal being ahead of schedule in its rebuild, it feels different from 2010 and 2014. Back then, it felt like the organization was banking on great goaltending and rolling the dice on offense; it’s no longer the case. With Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, and Lane Hutson, the Canadiens have more firepower than they’ve had since their last Cup conquest, and it certainly feels like they have reasons to hope their 25th championship could come soon. If you ask Demidov, he’ll even tell you he believes this team will win a few Cups in the not-so-distant future.
Ivan Demidov on the Habs future:
“This is a team that’s going to win, not only one Stanley Cup, but I think a couple more. That’s my expectation. That’s what I see in this team.” pic.twitter.com/4rySL0HIdL
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 27: Angel Martínez #1 of the Cleveland Guardians singles on a line drive to center field, scoring Chase DeLauter in the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Progressive Field on May 27, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland leads 3-1. (Photo by Russell Lee Verlinger/Cleveland Guardians/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians lost 7-5 to the Yankees in 10th inning, and life is awful.
Death, taxes and Tim Hill shutting down the Guardians.
Hunter Gaddis had not given up a run in 9.1 innings.
Let’s go Slade Cecconi and Parker Messick. And let’s go get another reliever.
