Claude Lemieux's death revealed as suicide -- just days after carrying torch at NHL Eastern Conference finals: report
Claude Lemieux’s death at the age of 60 was revealed to be by suicide, according to TMZ.
He was found in the warehouse of a furniture store owned by his family in Florida at around 3 am after they’d become concerned he had not come home, per the outlet.
It came just days after he carried the torch in Montreal’s Bell Centre before the Canadiens took on the Hurricanes in Game 3 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference finals on Monday.
Former Montreal Canadiens player Claude Lemieux holds a torch as he enters the arena on Monday. NHLI via Getty Images
Lemieux won the first of his four Cups with the Habs in 1986, adding two more as a member of the Devils (1995, 2000) and a one with the Avalanche (1996).
“A clutch player on the ice and greatly appreciated by Devils’ fans off it, Claude’s impact in bringing the first-ever Stanley Cup to New Jersey will forever be remembered as one of the paramount performances in team history,” the Devils said in a statement. “Widely respected throughout the NHL, both as a trusted agent and a valued colleague, Claude leaves behind a lasting legacy within our game that he gave so much to.”
A famed agitator, Lemieux posted 379 goals and 786 points in 1,215 NHL games, but picked up his game most in the postseason, notching 80 goals and 158 points in 234 playoff matches.
“The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the greatest big-game Players in hockey history,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
Claude Lemieux celebrates a goal against the Bruins in the 1994 playoffs. New York Post
“Lemieux forged his postseason reputation and won the Cup for the first time as a rookie in 1986, when he scored 10 goals in the Playoffs for the Montreal Canadiens. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoffs MVP in 1995, scoring 13 goals in 20 postseason games with the New Jersey Devils. He also was an integral part of Cup-winning teams in Colorado, in 1996, and back with New Jersey in 2000.”
After retiring from pro hockey in 2009, Lemieux went on to become a certified player agent, representing Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen and Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider.
Lemieux is surived by his wife, Deborah, and four children, including son Brendan, a former Rangers forward.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential crisis counseling.
MONTREAL, CANADA- MAY 25: Claude Lemieux carries the torch in the opening ceremony of Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes at the Bell Centre on May 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Matt Garies/NHLI via Getty Images)
Matt Garies/NHLI via Getty Images
Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion whose hockey career was built on playing on the edge with ferocity and physicality, has died. He was 60.
The NHL Alumni Association announced Lemieux’s death in a post on social media. A cause of death was not immediately available, nor was it clear where Lemieux was when he died.
Lemieux was the Montreal Canadiens’ torch bearer prior to Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final at Bell Centre.
As a player, Lemieux was a mix of skill and abrasiveness, not afraid to cross the line in the name of competition.
He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP for his role in helping the New Jersey Devils win their first championship in 1995. A year later with the Colorado Avalanche, he was suspended for two games for a hit from behind on Detroit’s Kris Draper on the way to them hoisting the Stanley Cup for the first time in their first season since moving from his native Quebec.
Lemieux also won the Cup with Montreal in 1986 and returned to the Devils to be a part of their title run in 2000. He played 1,449 regular-season and playoff games with six different teams from 1983-2009.
Lemieux had become an agent in the years since his playing career ended and represented Carolina’s Frederik Andersen, New Jersey’s Timo Meier, Detroit’s Moritz Seider and Boston’s Hampus Lindholm among more than a dozen clients in the NHL.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — On locker room cleanout day last week, General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin did not exactly hide what the Minnesota Wild need.
“The preference would be to get a natural center,” Guerin said Monday during the team’s end-of-season media availability.
There is no doubt that is the focus in the offseason. But the Wild also have to decide what to do on defense.
Zach Bogosian and Jeff Petry both played down the stretch for the Wild in the playoffs and are both veteran right-shot defenders.
Petry, 38, played in nine regular-season games and three playoff games.
Bogosian, 35, played in 41 regular-season games and nine of the 12 playoff games for the Wild. He battled injuries all year, but there is no doubt about how respected he is in the locker room and by the Wild front office.
But, as the old saying goes, sometimes the best ability is durability.
Which makes Brent Burns an intriguing option.
Burns, 41, is a rugged right-shot defenseman who has been in the NHL since 2003 after the Wild drafted him with the 20th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft.
In his 22nd NHL season after signing a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche, Burns joined Phil Kessel (1,064 games) as the only players in NHL history to play 1,000 consecutive games.
The 6-foot-5 defenseman has 273 goals, 672 assists and 945 points in 1,579 career NHL games.
He sits 14th all-time in NHL history for games played, and if he were to play another 82 games next season, Burns would sit 8th in NHL history with 1,661.
Why not bring him back to Minnesota, where it all started?
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Game six of the Western Conference takes place tonight on NBC and Peacock as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder head to San Antonio to take on Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. Live coverage begins at 7:30 PM ET with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
The Thunder lead the series 3-2 after defeating the Spurs 127-114 on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 32 points, Alex Caruso scored 22 off the bench, and Jared McCain added 20, bringing the defending champions just one win away from the NBA Finals.
"We had a tough game the other night," Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. "This team does a great job of just coming back in the next day in a very neutral way, taking whatever the lessons are, applying them forward, and getting into the next opportunity.”
Stephon Castle led the way for San Antonio with 24 points, Julian Champagnie finished with 22, and Wembanyama, who was held to 4-of-15 shooting, added 20.
The Spurs are looking to become just the second team in the last 50 seasons to overcome a 3-2 series deficit against a reigning champion in either the Conference or NBA Finals. The last team to accomplish this was the Cavaliers in 2016 when they beat the Warriors in the Finals.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 07: Duke Brennan #24 of the Villanova Wildcats keeps the ball in bounds in the first half of a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Capital One Arena on February 07, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ever since the Lakers traded away Anthony Davis to acquire Luka Dončić, they’ve been searching for a big man they can rely on.
They went with Jaxson Hayes as a starter for the rest of the 2024-25 season after their trade for Mark Williams didn’t pan out. Then, last offseason, they brought in Deandre Ayton to be the starting center. While Ayton was a positive for the team, it’s clear that frontcourt depth is still a need the Lakers must address this summer.
Perhaps they can find the center they desire in the NBA Draft.
The Lakers have the No. 25 pick and can use it to take a young big man. Details on who the Lakers have done pre-draft workouts with are scarce, but one player that has reportedly worked out for the purple and gold is Duke Brennan of Villanova.
Add the Los Angeles Lakers to the list of NBA pre-draft workouts for Villanova big man Duke Brennan.
At Villanova, he started in all 32 games he played in and averaged 12.4 points on 65% shooting. Brennan was also a monster on the boards, averaging 10.3 rebounds per game. He is the first Villanova player to average at least 10 rebounds per game since Harold Pressley did it in the 1985-86 season.
Brennan is currently projected to be a second round draft pick, so one might wonder why the Lakers are looking at him. Well, for starters, it’s all about the franchise doing its due diligence and looking at as many options as possible.
It’s why the Lakers brought on former Virginia coach Tony Bennett as an NBA Draft advisor. They need to explore every option available to bolster their roster. And finding hidden gems in the draft is a great way of accomplishing that.
Also, things can change between now and the draft. It’s possible the Lakers can either trade for a second round draft pick and select a player like Brennan or bring in players like him that go undrafted.
That’s how Austin Reaves became a Laker, joining the franchise after not being selected in the 2021 NBA Draft.
As we get closer to the draft, expect a myriad of bigs, guards and wings to work out for the Lakers. The franchise could use a little of everything as they attempt to become one of the teams to beat in the Western Conference.
Dave Winfield’s time with the Yankees was memorable — for all the wrong reasons.
The Baseball Hall of Famer spent nine of his 22 big league seasons in The Bronx, racking up awards and honors as one of MLB’s best players from 1981-90, but often sparred with owner George Steinbrenner to the point that the man known as The Boss hired an investigator to dig up dirt on his slugger.
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“Those nine-plus years that I was there, there wasn’t one day that I felt the organization was on my side trying to help me promote me, move me forward,” Winfield revealed on the “All The Smoke Baseball” podcast Wednesday. “You got to go to work every day, a toxic work environment.”
He added: “One of the best things that happened for my career is when I left New York.”
It started when he was signed by the Yankees to a historic 10-year, $23 million deal ahead of the 1981 season after leaving the last-place San Diego Padres.
Winfield alleges Steinbrenner made his intentions regarding the deal clear.
“He basically told me to my face that ‘I’m not going to give you all your money and if you don’t like it sue me’,” Winfield said. “Told me that a couple times.”
David Winfield talking about his experiences with the New York Yankees on the All The Smoke Baseball podcast
Fans were likely blissfully unaware of the the behind-the-scenes turmoil, as Winfield played some of his best baseball in New York.
He was an eight-time All-Star in pinstripes, adding five Gold Glove Awards and five Silver Slugger Awards.
Winfield slashed .290/.356/.495 for the Yankees, mashing 205 homers with 818 RBIs in 1,172 games.
Winfield playing for the New York Yankees AP
But even with all that success, all that Windfield wanted to do was to get out out town.
In 1990, he was granted that wish and was traded mid-season to the California Angels.
Winfield suited up for four different teams in his final six seasons, finally capturing the World Series that eluded him in New York with the Blue Jays in 1992.
Buck Showalter (l) and Georgie Steinbrenner (r). AP
He retired after the 1995 season, totaling 3,110 hits, 465 homers and 1,833 RBIs with a career slash line of .283/.353/.475 — more than enough for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame in 2001.
Winfield opted to enter wearing a Padres hat — a reminder of a time before his Yankees nightmare.
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 15: Sterlin Thompson #30 of the Colorado Rockies runs back to the dugout at the end of an inning during his Major League debut in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on May 15, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Sterlin Thompson (No. 13 PuRP) is most famous among Colorado Rockies fans for being drafted with the compensatory draft pick they received from the departure of Trevor Story. Thompson was drafted 31st overall in 2022 and finally made it to the bigs nearly three years later. Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on May 15, and made his MLB debut later that night against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field.
Over the weekend in Phoenix, Thompson reflected on his first week in the big leagues.
It started with a call to his parents after receiving the news from Isotopes manager Pedro Lopez.
“I called my parents first,” Thompson said. “I called my mom and then she called my dad over, and I told them the news. And she started crying.”
Thompson got to Coors Field and wasn’t immediately in the starting lineup, which gave him some time to take it all in.
“I was just on the bench soaking it in and enjoying the experience,” Thompson said.
But then he was called upon the eighth inning, so he quickly got ready to step up to the plate as a pinch hitter.
“And then I was in the cages and around the eighth inning, they told me I was up in the bottom of the eighth. I was the second one up. So that’s when I started to get my swings in, and then it was kind of quick from when I was told – it was like five minutes from when I was told to when I was in the box, so I had to get a few swings in. And I was the second one up that inning, and that’s how it was in the first debut.”
Thompson saw one pitch in his debut, grounding out to second and going 0-for-1 on the night.
But he had one thought going through his head.
“It’s just like, ‘Here we go. This is everything that you’ve worked for and everything that you’ve wanted,’” he said. “It was kind of everything I pictured – how the debut would be.”
And despite the result, Thompson got the chance to take in everything and reflect on the moments that brought him here.
“It’s a long time coming of just remembering all the years of sacrifice my family put into it – all the days, the long late nights, early mornings – that led into that,” he said. “Just all of those emotions all at once. That’s kind of what I was feeling. It’s a great feeling that I got to the Show. There’s only a select few people that made it, so that’s kind of how I was feeling.”
It took Thompson a few games to get into a groove, but he recorded his first hit in his third game — and it was a weird one! It was initially scored an error on Texas Rangers’ shortstop Ezequiel Duran, but then was changed to a hit by the official scorer.
“I got optioned on Monday and went to Vegas and played two games,” he said. “And on Friday I woke up with like 30 missed calls at 10:30. I had a flight at 1:00, and then got to Arizona around 4:00 pm and DH’d on that Friday night. So that’s been the whole process. It’s been a crazy week so far.”
But it was nothing compared to Tanner Gordon’s epic journey the previous week.
“I had a nice straight flight – non-stop – but I heard about TG’s flight experience,” he said. “But [mine] was quick because when I woke up, they said I was going up, and then I didn’t see anything with the flight right away, and then it came and it was at 1:30. And it was like 11:30 at the time, so I hauled to the airport real quick and then got here [to Arizona] and did my little routine. It was crazy. And P-Lo wasn’t there – he was coaching third base – so Louie Lopez, who was the manager in Triple-A, called me. It was just cool to go and experience that and have ‘P-Lo’ at third base, too.”
Pedro Lopez coached third base for Warren Schaeffer on Thursday and Friday while everyday third base coach Andy González was at his daughter’s graduation. And the moment was not lost on either of them, as Lopez was the one who got to break the news to Thompson.
“When we told Sterlin that he was coming up, it was pretty cool,” Lopez said. “He actually made a baserunning mistake the day he got the call, so I brought him and we were talking about the baserunning, and I said ‘You can’t do that… if you do that and their manager wants to retaliate, you can get hit and you can get hurt.’ And then I told him, ‘And if you pull that tomorrow in the big leagues, I’m telling you right now you’re going to find yourself back in Albuquerque again.’
“And he kind of looked at me,” he continued. “But Sterlin and I go way back – I saw this kid from how he started playing last year in the first month and how much progress he’s made. I keep saying it to this day, I thought last year he was the most improved player out of all in Albuquerque. So just to see where he is now is incredible.”
And Thompson had high praise for his managers.
“It was great, with all the work we put in at Triple-A, to experience that firsthand at the big-league level together,” Thompson said. “And the time he was here, and had that moment in the top of the ninth, it was pretty cool. I think all the guys – the coaches and Schaeff – have all been welcoming since I’ve been here and have helped me settle in all the way.”
But the biggest piece of advice he’s gotten so far?
“Just go and play the game like you know how,” he said. “It’s the same game, so really just control what you need to control and the process of it, and go on doing the little things every day and be consistent at that. That’s something I’ve learned and just building each day at a time. [I’m] trying to get 1% better each day.”
And so far, Thompson has had some excellent moments. On Friday, he recorded his first extra-base hit — a double — and was driven in by Chad Stevens and waved home by Lopez.
Thompson hasn’t set the world on fire yet — going 4-for-24 with a double, two RBI, two walks and four strikeouts in nine games. However, he is showing what he can do and is working to get 1% better everyday like he set out to do.
On Thursday morning, the NHL Alumni Association announced that NHL legend and former San Jose Sharks winger Claude Lemieux has passed away at the age of 60.
Lemieux's NHL journey began when he was drafted by his local team, the Montreal Canadiens, in the second round of the 1983 NHL Draft. He then made his NHL debut during the 1983-84 season and even scored his first career goal during his first eight game stint in Montreal.
Lemieux earned his first Stanley Cup championship in 1986 after splitting time between the Canadiens and the Sherbrooke Canadiens of the American Hockey League.
The tenacious winger would establish himself as a full-time NHLer during the 1986-87 season, playing in 76 games for the Canadiens. He surpassed the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his career as well, finding the back of the net 27 times. He would remain with the Canadiens through the end of the 1980s and into 1990. He was traded to the New Jersey Devils for the 1990-91 season, and spent five seasons in the Garden State.
In his final season in New Jersey, Lemieux won his second Stanley Cup and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for the only time in his career after scoring 13 goals in the playoffs.
The newly established Colorado Avalanche acquired Lemieux ahead of the 1995-96 season. He would go on to win the Stanley Cup for the second straight year during his first campaign in Colorado.
After four full seasons in Colorado, the Avalanche sent Lemieux back to New Jersey in the middle of the 1999-00 season and he went on to win his fourth, and final, Stanley Cup as a member of the Devils.
At the start of the new millennium, Lemieux went to the Phoenix Coyotes for three seasons before being traded to the Dallas Stars in the middle of the 2002-03 season. The Stars would end up buying out his contract, and it seemed that Lemieux's career had come to an unceremonious end. While that would be the case for five years, he eventually made a comeback.
In November of 2008, Lemieux signed with the San Jose Sharks' AHL affiliate at the time, the Worcester Sharks. A month later, he was signed to an NHL deal and finished his career in the Bay Area. Following the conclusion of the 2008-09 season, he officially announced his retirement from professional hockey.
After his retirement, Lemieux became a player agent and represented a number of players, including former Sharks such as Timo Meier and Fabian Zetterlund.
Lemieux was in the spotlight once again just a few days ago, as he carried out the torch for the Montreal Canadiens prior to Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Bruce Cassidy doesn't seem very happy with how the Vegas Golden Knights are handling his contract situation and his termination. Cassidy wants to coach, and while it sounds like the Golden Knights haven't said no entirely to the idea he'll take on a head coaching job elsewhere, it's the location they have an issue with.
During a recent interview with Spittin' Chiclets, Cassidy noted that the Golden Knights have told him that their issue is with where he'll coach if he takes another job. “They just decided they don’t want me working at certain places and I gotta figure out a way to allow me to do that.”
“They just decided they don’t want me working at certain places and I gotta figure out a way to allow me to do that”
The comments are intriguing. While he doesn't mention the Oilers specifically, one can logically assume that's a team the Golden Knights would take issue with. A division rival that has been competitive over the past two seasons, sending a quality coach to a rival is a concern.
However, Cassidy doesn't sound like he's prepared to take this lying down.
There's probably not much he can do and the NHL has reportedly said they can't step in, given that Vegas is paying him and within their legal rights to block a move while he's under contract. However, that they're stopping him from gaining meaningful employment after firing him seems to be the team taking a step beyond ruthless.
Some are wondering if the Golden Knights will soften their stance after the playoffs. Others don't believe they will. Meanwhile, Cassidy is going to have to convince the team to let him walk.
May 6, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill (29) celebrates a 4-3 win over the Houston Astros in the ninth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers, fresh off another sweep of an NL Central foe in the Cardinals, are headed to Texas as they’ll take on the Houston Astros for three games beginning Friday night. The Brewers sit at 33-20 on the season, 4.5 games ahead of the second-place Cardinals heading into Thursday’s play. The Astros, at 25-32, sit in fourth place in the AL West, though they’re just three games back of the first-place Mariners (28-29). Houston wraps up their intrastate battle with the Rangers in Arlington tonight, as the Astros have won two of three entering the series finale.
The Brewers are currently without pitchers Logan Henderson (mid-June), Jared Koenig (early June), Brandon Woodruff (early June), Quinn Priester (TBD), and Rob Zastryzny (early June), as well as Angel Zerpa, who is out for the season. Outfielder Akil Baddoo was activated from the IL and sent to Triple-A Nashville, while fellow outfielder Brandon Lockridge is out until mid- to late June with a knee injury.
On the other side, Houston is without several of their big-name players. On the position player side, Jose Altuve (TBD), Yainer Diaz (June), Carlos Correa (out for season), and Joey Loperfido (could return this weekend) are all shelved. For the pitching staff, they’re without Cristian Javier (June), old friend Josh Hader (June), Hunter Brown (mid-June), Lance McCullers Jr. (TBD), fellow old friend Bennett Sousa (TBD), Ronel Blanco (second half of 2026), and Hayden Wesneski (second half of 2026), giving them a very depleted rotation.
Offensively, the Brewers are led by Brice Turang, Jake Bauers, William Contreras, Christian Yelich, and Jackson Chourio, Bauers leads the team with eight homers thus far, driving in 30 and scoring 29, while Turang has seven homers with 30 RBIs and a team-high 43 runs scored to go with nine steals. Gary Sánchez has struggled lately after jumping out to a hot start, but the return of Chourio and Andrew Vaughn has helped in a big way over the last few weeks. Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Joey Ortiz, David Hamilton, Luis Rengifo, and Blake Perkins round things out. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .246/.332/.364 (.696 OPS ranks 17th), with 37 homers (last), 259 runs (seventh), and 57 steals (second).
Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker are powering the Astros, as Alvarez leads the way with 20 homers and Walker has 15 bombs. Alvarez is hitting .312/.422/.663, making him an early contender for AL MVP. Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith both had five homers, while Smith leads the team with seven steals. Christian Vázquez is the team’s primary catcher with Diaz out, while Brandon Shewmake and Jeremy Peña round out the infield. Jake Meyers starts in center, with Brice Matthews, Taylor Trammell, Zach Dezenzo, Nick Allen, and César Salazar serving as depth. As a team, the Astros are hitting .246/.322/.412 (.734 OPS ranks fifth), with 74 homers (tied for fourth), 253 runs (12th), and 20 steals (29th).
Aaron Ashby sits atop the Brewer bullpen with 25 appearances, also leading the league with nine wins and a perfect 9-0 record. He’s struck out 49 over 35 innings with a 2.06 ERA. Grant Anderson, DL Hall, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill are the other regulars for Milwaukee, with Shane Drohan, Jake Woodford, Chad Patrick, and Carlos Rodriguez serving as depth/long-relief arms. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.14 team ERA (third), including a 3.05 starter ERA (third) and a 3.26 bullpen ERA (seventh). They’ve struck out 514 batters (fourth) over 472 1/3 innings.
The Astros’ bullpen — as you’ll see in the numbers below — is the worst in baseball through two months. Steven Okert leads the team with 26 appearances with a 3.86 ERA, while they’ve had plenty of arms going up and down from the minors and due to injuries. AJ Blubaugh (4.81 ERA over 33 2/3 innings) and Bryan Abreu (6.88 ERA over 17 innings) have both struggled, while Bryan King (3.04 ERA over 23 2/3 innings) leads the team with six saves in eight tries and Enyel De Los Santos (3.57 ERA over 22 2/3 innings) has four saves. Former Cub Nate Pearson, Logan VanWey, and Alimber Santa (who pitched the final two innings of a combined no-hitter in his MLB debut this week) round out the ‘pen. As a staff, the Astros have a 5.12 team ERA (29th), including a 4.84 starter ERA (29th) and a 5.46 bullpen ERA (last). They’ve struck out 469 batters (13th) over 499 1/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, May 29 @ 7:10 p.m.: RHP Coleman Crow (0-0, 2.61 ERA, 2.29 FIP) vs. Kai-Wei Teng (3-3, 2.19 ERA, 3.55 FIP)
Crow, 25, has looked strong in his first two career starts against the Marlins and Twins. Across 10 1/3 innings, he’s allowed three runs on seven hits, a walk, and a hit batter to go with seven strikeouts. He took a no-decision in both appearances, though the Brewers won both of those games. Since that start against the Twins on May 15, he’s made one start with Triple-A Nashville, going 4 1/3 innings with three runs allowed on six hits, a walk, and a hit bitter with five strikeouts against the Durham Bulls on May 22. This marks his first career start against Houston.
Teng, 27, is in his third MLB season and first with Houston after spending the last two with the Giants. After starting the season in the bullpen, he’s made his last three appearances as a starter, totaling 37 innings over 17 appearances (four starts) with a 2.19 ERA, 3.55 FIP, and 36 strikeouts. Teng’s last start was his best yet, as he went six scoreless innings against the Cubs, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out six to pick up the win. This marks Teng’s first career appearance against Milwaukee.
Saturday, May 30 @ 3:10 p.m.: RHP Brandon Sproat (1-3, 5.84 ERA, 5.55 FIP) vs. Peter Lambert (3-4, 3.79 ERA, 3.37 FIP)
Sproat, 25, has picked up his strikeout numbers, but he still has difficulty making it through five innings — across eight starts this season, he’s made it through five-plus innings just three times. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that has translated to difficulties his second time through the order — while hitters are batting .220/.352/.390 against him the first time through, they’re hitting .254/.329/.508 the second time through, including five homers. Sproat went four-plus innings against the Dodgers in his last outing, allowing three runs on four hits, four walks, and a hit batter with seven strikeouts in a 5-1 loss. This marks his first career start against Houston.
Lambert, 29, is in his fifth MLB season and first with the Astros, as he spent parts of four seasons with the Rockies between 2019 and 2024. After coming into the majors as a starter (he made 19 starts for Colorado in 2019), he transitioned to a swingman role before returning to the rotation in Houston this year. Across seven starts this season, he has a 3.79 ERA, 3.37 FIP, and 40 strikeouts across 40 1/3 innings. The former second-round pick sent five innings against the Cubs his last time out, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks with five strikeouts in a victory. Lambert made two appearances against Milwaukee while with the Rockies, totaling eight innings with five runs allowed (5.63 ERA) and six strikeouts.
Sunday, May 31 @ 1:10 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (5-2, 1.83 ERA, 1.88 FIP) vs. Tatsuya Imai (2-2, 6.17 ERA, 6.03 FIP)
Misiorowski, 24, has simply dominated this month. Through five starts, he’s allowed just one run across 31 1/3 innings (0.29 ERA) with 49 strikeouts to just 11 hits and six walks (0.543 WHIP). That makes for one of the more interesting NL Pitcher of the Month races we’ve ever seen, as the Phillies’ Cristopher Sánchez has gone 39 scoreless innings with 45 strikeouts to 25 hits and three walks (0.718 WHIP) across five starts this month. Given that Miz has allowed a run and Sánchez hasn’t, I’d guess Miz needs to go seven or eight scoreless frames with 10-plus strikeouts to have a real shot at winning the award. As is the case with Crow and Sproat, this is Miz’s first career start against Houston.
Imai, 28, signed with the Astros out of Japan during the offseason, agreeing to a three-year, $54 million deal. He reportedly struggled acclimating to American culture, which translated to struggles on the field, though he’s coming off his best start in the majors. After entering Monday night with an 8.31 ERA over his first five starts, he went six no-hit innings against the Rangers, allowing four walks with a pair of strikeouts, as a pair of relievers (Okert & Santa) closed out Houston’s fifth no-hitter in the last five years (including one in the 2022 World Series). This marks Imai’s first career start against Milwaukee.
How to Watch & Listen
Friday, May 29: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, May 30: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, May 31: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
The Astros haven’t gotten off to a great start, and a long string of injuries hasn’t helped them. I’ll take the Brewers to win two of three against their former division rivals.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) drives to the basket during the Brooklyn Nets vs Los Angeles Lakers game on March 27, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The consensus among pundits is that this year’s free agent class is not the best, putting aside the mystery of where LeBron James suits up. That said, the Nets have more than enough cap space to make significant offers for whoever is out there plus draft assets that could be put to use in sign-and-trades.
That said, Tim Bontemps of ESPN is out Thursday with his assessment of where the top eight free agents could win up when the bidding begins in a little more than a month. Among the eight are a couple of players the Nets have had reported interest, including Denver’s Peyton Watson and Minnesota’s Ayo Dosunmu, Bontemps doesn’t mention Brooklyn as potential suitors for those two, but he thinks they could be a player in the player most who will likely wind up with the biggest payday outside of James: his Laker teammate Austin Reaves, the 6’5” 27-year-old shooting guard who would add needed punch to Jordi Fernandez’s offense.
One potential bidder to watch this summer, sources said, is the Brooklyn Nets, who will enter the offseason with more than enough salary cap space to accommodate a max-type player.
While other writers have listed the Nets on the list of potential suitors, Bontemps singles them — and only them — as an LAL competitor for Reaves’ services. Bontemps does note that getting Reaves on the roster would not be cheap.
The majority opinion is that Reaves will remain in Los Angeles — and on a massive raise. But after playing on one of the best value contracts in the league the past few seasons, what number gets that done?
Several scouts and executives predict something in the range of five years, $200 million, but below his five-year max of $239 million, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
“I’d be pretty surprised if the first year starts with a 3 instead of a 4,” an East scout said, “but the Lakers need to keep him, and by all accounts he wants to be there, so I think they make it work.”
Indeed, Reaves is coming off a four-year, $53.8 million contract with Los Angeles Lakers. He also reportedly was offered and declined a four-year $89 million extension from the Lakers, expecting a big payday this summer. Despite missing 31 games, mostly to an oblique strain, Reaves managed to put up big numbers again: 23.3 points on 49/36/87 shooting splits. He also averaged around five assists and five rebounds as well. In his two previous seasons, he missed a total of nine games.
Although he’s not been named to an All-Star team in his time with L.A., he’s seen as one of the franchise’s future keystone pieces along with Luka Doncic. Since he’s an unrestricted agent, the Lakers would not be able to match any bid from the Nets or other teams.
Although Bontemps did not mention the Nets as a team that could pursue Watson but notes that the Nuggets will have to make several moves in order to find the financial resources to keep him.
retaining Watson and keeping the current roster intact would push Denver far into the luxury tax.
The Nuggets have never been big spenders, which is why the belief around the league is that Cameron Johnson (on an expiring $23 million deal) or Christian Braun (on a five-year, $125 million extension signed in the fall) is likely to be moved to create enough room to give Watson something in the per-year range of those players.
Bontemps, a former Nets beat writer for the Post, also cites a Western Conference scout suggesting Watson’s recurring hamstring issues could hurt him.
“They could easily just pay him and pay the tax, but we know how the Kroenkes operate,” a West scout said. “That means sending out either Johnson or Braun, and I don’t know where that lands. The injury stuff is a concern, but so is how they struggled without him.”
Watson is also close to Michael Porter Jr.
In his assessments the off-season possibilities of the Nets’ 27 teams no longer in contention for the O’Brien Trophy, Bontemps’ colleague Bobby Marks noted that the Nets will likely have about $34 million in cap space assuming they deal with the team options for Day-Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams (both $6.3 million) and Josh Minott ($2.6 million). He also noted that Malachi Smith who the Nets signed to a multi-year deal at the end of the season has a $2.1 million team option, indicating the contract isn’t guaranteed.
Bobby Marks laid out some territory familiar to Nets fans as he assessed the franchise that employed him for more than two decades. He found both optimism and pessimism, but mostly a lot of questions.
From an evaluation standpoint, the Nets currently have the look of an expansion tea… The offseason presents an opportunity for Brooklyn to improve significantly, with the No. 6 pick in the draft and cap flexibility this summer..
Marks (again no relation to the Nets GM) wrote that the big question other than their draft pick at No. 6 will be what to do with MPJ, whether they should keep him or trade him for even more assets as well and if they don’t what they should pay him … and how.
[T]he Nets must decide whether to build around Porter or to explore trades. Acquired last offseason from Denver along with an 2032 unprotected first-rounder, Porter averaged a career-high 24.2 points per game and shot 36.3% on 3s. It was his fourth consecutive season shooting greater than 36% from deep. He is on an expiring $40.8 million contract and is eligible for four additional years and up to $234 million.
Porter’s impact on the court, durability and age — he will turn 28 in June — should warrant discussions on a new contract. (Prior to suffering a strained left hamstring last month, Porter Jr. had missed just 14 games since the 2023-24 season.)
Because Brooklyn will have cap space, it could also increase his current salary and then decrease the first year of the extension by up to 40%. For example, Porter would earn $49 million this season and then $30 million next year.
Would a team with Porter, Reaves (admittedly pure speculation) along with the Flatbush 5 and the No. 6 pick help the Nets move into respectability if not playoff contention? The Nets, of course, have no interest in tanking again this year. They will have to swap their first rounder with the Rockets if they finish below Houston in the standings come next April.
Marks also looks into the Nets other free agency this summer, that of Noah Clowney who is looking for an extension beyond 2026-27, the final year of his rookie contract. Marks notes that Clowney had an up-and-down season that could hurt his bargaing position.
Clowney remains an inefficient shooter. For a second straight season, Clowney is shooting below 40% on field goals and 34% on 3s. Defensively, opponents shot 49.9% against Clowney. That ranks fourth worst of any player to contest 750 shots this season.
One final footnote from Marks: “The Nets will have the $9.4 million room midlevel exception available after cap space is used.” That could work out to $29.9 million over three years. Not an insignificant sum.
Claude Lemieux, the four-time Stanley Cup-winning winger who led the Devils to their first championship in 1995 and was one of the most-hated players in the NHL, has died, the NHL Alumni Association announced Thursday.
He was 60.
Lemieux died by suicide, according to TMZ, which reported he was found Thursday morning at the family’s furniture showroom. Per The Athletic, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suicide attempt at the Lake Park warehouse, which has since been closed off for investigation.
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Lemieux’s death to The Athletic, but was not able to release any records.
Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion who led the Devils to their first title in 1995, has died at the age of 60. Getty Images
“The New Jersey Devils organization is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of former Devil Claude Lemieux,” the team said in a statement. “A clutch player on the ice and greatly appreciated by Devils’ fans off it, Claude’s impact in bringing the first-ever Stanley Cup to New Jersey will forever be remembered as one of the paramount performances in team history. Widely respected throughout the NHL, both as a trusted agent and a valued colleague, Claude leaves behind a lasting legacy within our game that he gave so much to. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this time.”
The Quebec native, who won his first Cup with the Canadiens in 1986, was in attendance as Montreal hosted the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night, carrying the ceremonial torch before the game.
“Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community. I wish to express my most sincere and deepest condolences to Claude’s family and loved ones,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said in a statement. “A fierce competitor who rose to the occasion in big moments, Claude was a relentless, courageous, and tenacious player who led the team to the highest honors. He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player. Today we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day.”
A clutch scorer and one of hockey’s most reviled agitators, Lemieux won the Conn Smythe award as the playoff MVP after scoring 13 goals during the Devils’ Cup run in 1995, and after spending the next four-plus seasons with the Avalanche, he returned to New Jersey in a November 1999 trade and helped the Devils win another Cup that season.
— x – Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) May 26, 2026
Lemieux, who became a player agent after he retired, scored 80 postseason goals, the ninth-most all-time.
Lemieux recorded 379 goals and 407 assists in 1,215 regular-season games, and had 158 points in 234 playoff matches.
Traded by the Devils to the Avalanche before the 1995-96 season, Lemieux won a Cup for the second straight season
Claude Lemieux carries the torch in the opening ceremony before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Canadiens and Hurricanes in Montreal on May 25, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
His most memorable moment from that postseason, however, was his vicious hit on Kris Draper during Game 6 of the Western Conference finals
Lemieux drilled Draper from behind in front of the benches at the red line and Draper’s face smashed into the boards, causing a concussion, along with a broken jaw, nose and cheekbone.
After retiring from the NHL following the 2002-03 season, Lemieux mounted a comeback in 2008 at 43 years old, playing 18 games for a Sharks team that won the Presidents’ Trophy.
Devils GM Lou Lamoriello (l.) celebrates with Claude Lemieux (r.) after the team won the Stanley Cup in 2000. NEW YORK POST
He made one playoff appearance for San Jose as it was upset by the eighth-seeded Ducks in the first round in six games.
One of Lemieux’s three sons, Brendan, played parts of seven seasons in the NHL, including 109 games with the Rangers from 2019-21.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential crisis counseling.
Mar 27, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr (20) on the bench after fouling out against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images | Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
The Washington Wizards experienced nearly triple their revenue in new full season ticket revenue and have triple the sales of new season tickets compared to last year, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic. Robbins’ report came after an interview with Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chief Revenue Officer Jim Van Stone.
In Greg’s article, some fans were upset about the increase in ticket prices despite poor performance. But from Robbins’ piece today, the Wizards have a rationale to raise the prices anyway. With the team anticipated to be better in 2026-27, there will be more demand for tickets. And with … maybe … AJ Dybantsa or Cameron Boozer headlining the roster this fall, perhaps the demand and the number of fans in the stands will stay high for years to come.
May 22, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Payton Tolle (70) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
TV: NESN
First Pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET
The Red Sox and Braves will compete in the rubber match of their three-game series on Thursday at Fenway Park.
Payton Tolle and Chris Sale will be the men tasked with getting the job done.
I don’t have to tell you guys just how fun this matchup could be, with the former riding an incredible streak of four consecutive quality starts into the outing, while the latter has allowed six total earned runs across his last seven starts. Tolle and Sale both had an opportunity to meet each other on Wednesday.
Andruw Monasterio, Carlos Narváez, and Caleb Durbin will slot back into the lineup, with the former getting the start as the designated hitter over Masataka Yoshida. Narváez will return behind the dish, while Durbin plays third base.
Kurt Helin
