They all took their big swing — Cleveland, Miami, Golden State and Minnesota were all in the chase for LeBron James. All of their big swings missed.
Now what do they do?
The how varies a bit team to team, but the overall theme is they get back to work and pivot to look at the next guys on their list.
Cleveland Cavaliers
For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the next step means re-signing James Harden — who opted out of $42.3 million and, while he may take a small short-term haircut, is expected to sign for two years and well north of $60 million — and taking a look at Jonathan Kuminga, reports Joe Varden at The Athletic.
Cavs officials maintained contact with Kuminga and his Cleveland-based agent, Aaron Turner, throughout James' free agency, and there is mutual interest, multiple league sources told The Athletic. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal team and player deliberations...
Basically, Cleveland could comfortably offer Kuminga roughly $6 million this season — the same amount the Cavs would have likely given James. Theoretically, the Cavs could offer Kuminga $15 million under an exception to the salary cap, but doing so would greatly reduce the amount they could pay unsigned veteran star James Harden... Kuminga, though, is more interested in a sign-and-trade deal involving Atlanta because he could earn more money that way. Kuminga is seeking a salary much closer to what he would have earned had the Hawks picked up his option, in the neighborhood of $20 million to $23 million.
The salary cap makes it unlikely either Cleveland or Atlanta is interested in the kind of sign-and-trade Kuminga wants. For Cleveland, a sign-and-trade hard caps it at the first apron, a number the Cavs are about $25 million below. It becomes very hard to re-sign Harden at a fair number, bring in Kuminga at the money he wants and round out the roster and stay under that cap. Cleveland would at least have to trade away Max Strus and Dennis Schroder, is Kuminga really worth that?
From Atlanta's perspective, it currently sits $4.9 million below the luxury tax with 17 players on the books, meaning Atlanta already must trade or waive two players before the season starts — and Kuminga is not one of the guys on the books. For example, if the Hawks sign-and-traded Kuminga for Strus and his $16.7 million, that puts the Hawks at 18 players on the books (only one of those is a partial guarantee) and $11.8 million into the tax. The Hawks aren't going into the tax for Strus or any other role player.
Bottom line, unless Kuminga wants to take the roughly $6 million, Cleveland feels like a long shot.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are going to focus on re-signing Draymond Green — who declined his $27.7 million player option to give the team flexibility to chase LeBron and others — as well as officially finalize the two-year, $11 million contract with De'Anthony Melton.
After that, how will GM Mike Dunleavy fill out the rest of the roster? While the Warriors could technically sign someone to the mid-level exception of $15 million, then finalize the deals with Green and Melton and go into the tax, the more likely path is to get their two guys re-signed, then round out the roster (two or three spots, depending on if they want 14 or 15 players) with veteran minimum guys, which keeps the Warriors out of the tax.
Would DeMar DeRozan accept the minimum? The Warriors are interested, but that might be all they have to offer.
Miami Heat
After sign-and-trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat are hard-capped at the first apron ($209 million) and, with that, are limited in next moves. They have 12 players on the roster and can offer one player the remaining $7 million of their mid-level exception, then offer one player a veteran minimum (they will leave the 15th roster spot open to start the season).
DeMar DeRozan has been linked to the Heat, and while he is not the classic playmaker that Pat Riley has talked about wanting, he is a bucket. DeRozan averaged 18.4 points per game last season in Sacramento, and he's durable, playing in 77 games. He could be worth some or all of the remaining mid-level exception.
Bradley Beal was another name mentioned by ESPN's Shams Charania, who added they will keep their eye on Klay Thompson, who may get bought out by Dallas. Another couple of names to watch are Seth Curry and, if he gets bought out by Atlanta, Buddy Hield.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota had already been aggressive this offseason, shifting from a defense-first roster with size all along the front line, to a more offense-first roster with LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards in the backcourt (leaving Rudy Gobert to try to be the ultimate backstop in the paint who keeps the team's defense respectable). LeBron would have been plug-and-play at the four, filling a hole in the Minnesota roster (the Timberwolves moved on from both Julius Randle and Naz Reid this offseason).
Now, Minnesota has an open roster spot and can offer the veteran minimum. Whoever they land at this point is not going to be as impactful as LeBron would have been, but Minnesota can get someone. Then just lean hard into their new identity.
The New York Yankees are short road favorites against the Philadelphia Phillies, and I’m laying the small moneyline price.
Philadelphia is undecided who will start tonight's ballgame, while Ryan Weathers brings enough home-run risk to keep the total pointed Over.
Here are my Yankees vs Phillies predictions and MLB picks for July 25.
Who will win Yankees vs Phillies today: Yankees moneyline (-126)
The road to the majors for 32-year-old Brian Keller is admirable, but I’m fading the spot. It is unclear whether Keller will open or work as the bulk reliever, but either way, this is his first MLB appearance against a New York Yankees lineup built around power.
New York enters with an MLB-best 135 home runs, giving it a clear edge against an unproven, fastball-heavy arm likely to cover real innings. Ryan Weathers is not easy to trust, but the Yankees get the better look against an uncertain Philadelphia Phillies pitching plan.
Yankees vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-131)
I'd play the Over 8.5 to -150. Both pitching setups have obvious stress points. Keller’s minor league numbers are strong, but a debuting pitcher or bullpen-bulk plan against the Yankees is still a difficult ask.
The Philadelphia Phillies have their own scoring path against Weathers, whose history against this lineup is ugly. He owns a 9.53 ERA in three career appearances against Philadelphia, and it's easy to see why.
His barrel and hard-hit rate have always been an issue, and this year is no different, with his barrel rate sitting in the bottom 9% of baseball. That's always going to be an issue against a lineup with the likes of Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 39-35, +6.47 units
Over/Under bets: 43-33, +12.32 units
Yankees vs Phillies weather
Sunny skies and slight winds blowing in toward left-centerfield tonight.
Yankees vs Phillies odds
Moneyline: Yankees -121 | Phillies +109
Run line: Yankees -1.5 | Phillies +1.5
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Yankees vs Phillies trend
The New York Yankees have covered the Run Line in 9 of their last 11 games (+7.10 Units / 49% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Phillies.
How to watch Yankees vs Phillies and game info
Location
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Saturday, July 25, 2026
First pitch
6:05 p.m. ET
TV
YES, NBCSP
Yankees starting pitcher
Ryan Weathers (3-7, 4.40 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher
TBD (Y-Y, X.XX ERA)
Yankees vs Phillies latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Each week, The California Post will power rank MLB’s 30 teams and check in on one intriguing awards race.Records as ofSaturday morning.
1) Dodgers (66-38)
This time last year, the Dodgers were mired in an incomprehensible slump. This year? They’ve recovered from a temporary blip (getting swept going into the All-Star break) by winning back-to-back series against the Yankees and Phillies. (Last week: 1st)
2) Brewers (64-39)
Brandon Woodruff is done for the year. But Jacob Misiorowski returned quickly from some pre-All-Star-break arm fatigue. Keeping him healthy the rest of the year has become more important than ever. (Last week: 2nd)
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani has not returned to the mound in the second half, but he has continued to produce on offense. Getty Images
3) Rays (60-43)
Tampa Bay continues to pace a mediocre American League and could be on track for a No. 1 playoff seed for the first time since 2021. (Last week: 3rd)
4) Braves (61-42)
After slumping through most of June and early July, the Braves have steadied themselves, winning six of eight coming out of the All-Star break. They’re also close to finally getting Ronald Acuña Jr. back. Now if they can add some pitching at the deadline … (Last week: 7th)
5) Cubs (58-45)
Two months ago, Pete Crow-Armstrong was batting in the .220s with an OPS below .700. Now? He’s the MLB leader in wins above replacement, according to FanGraphs, more valuable than even Shohei Ohtani in his two-way role. (Last week: 6th)
6) Yankees (58-45)
We always knew the Yankees were Aaron Judge-dependent. But in his continued absence, the offense struggling this badly — they have scored more than three runs just once since the All-Star break and more than five just twice in the last month — has nonetheless been a surprise. (Last week: 5th)
7) Phillies (56-48)
The Phillies’ sustained midseason turnaround has finally hit a little bit of a snag, after post-All-Star-break series losses to the Mets and Dodgers. Of all the league’s true contenders (basically, the first seven teams in these rankings), they might have the most to do at the deadline still. (Last week: 4th)
8) Red Sox (53-49)
What a couple weeks it’s been in Boston, where a Red Sox team that once seemed left for dead has suddenly regained October-contending life with its 15-game winning streak. This was already shaping up as one of the strangest seasons in club history. Now, it has come with one of the more joyous plot twists, too. (Last week: 17th)
9) Diamondbacks (55-49)
They haven’t done quite the same thing as the Red Sox, but the Dbacks are in the midst of their own late-July surge (wins in 8 of 10) that could have massive ramifications. Without it, the team might have had a quiet trade deadline. Now, their front office could attempt to make them more of an actual playoff threat. (Last week: 18th)
10) White Sox (54-48)
The White Sox’s feel-good season keeps on rolling, but it would feel better if Munetaka Murakami hadn’t started so slowly since returning from injury: 6-for-34 with no home runs. (Last week: 10th)
The Red Sox recently won 15 consecutive games to surge in the standings. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
11) Guardians (54-51)
José Ramírez is back. Rookies Travis Bazzana and Chase DeLauter continue to have productive campaigns. And Steven Kwan has finally started to break out of his first-half slump. Don’t be surprised to see the Guardians back in first in the AL Central before long. (Last week: 11th)
12) Pirates (53-51)
Things you may not have known: The Pirates rank second in scoring this year (behind only the Nationals) and third in team batting average (trailing only the Dodgers and Rays). If their Paul Skenes-led pitching staff can get hot, maybe they can be a dark horse in the NL. (Last week: 14th)
13) Cardinals (52-51)
A critical couple weeks lie ahead for the Cardinals, who have started to slip in the standings (now 2 ½ games back of a wild-card spot) and find themselves firmly on the fence of buying and selling at the deadline. (Last week: 9th)
14) Rangers (52-51)
On MLB’s official standings page, there is a stat for each team’s “expected record” based on its run differential. The Rangers, by that metric, should be seven games under .500. Instead, they remain in first place in the AL West, despite having given up 29 more runs than they’ve scored. (Last week: 12th)
15) Mariners (51-53)
It’s difficult to overstate just how drastic Cal Raleigh’s regression has been from last year’s 60-homer season, with the catcher having hit just 10 home runs this term with an MLB-worst .165 average (Last week: 13th)
16) Astros (51-54)
Slowly but surely, the Astros continue to claw their way back up the standings, having pulled within two games of first place in the AL West behind Yordan Alvarez’s MVP-caliber campaign. (Last week: 16th)
17) Padres (51-53)
Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado are finally playing more consistently. Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta are making progress in returns from injuries. Will that be enough to convince general manager A.J. Preller he can be a buyer? (Last week: 19th)
Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal is 4-1 with a 1.48 ERA in his last five starts. AP Photo/Paul Sancya
18) Tigers (50-54)
Speaking of teams trying to figure out a deadline approach, the Tigers are chipping away bit by bit at their wild-card deficit, back within 3 ½ games thanks to a 15-5 surge. A key reason: the return of Tarik Skubal, who is 4-1 with a 1.48 ERA and 44 strikeouts in his last five starts. Whether he stays or goes will be the biggest story in baseball over the next week. (Last week: 20th)
19) Nationals (52-52)
Attn Nationals ownership: Instead of letting CJ Abrams’ name continue to linger in trade rumors, either commit to locking him up long term or getting competitive before he becomes a free agent after 2028. Otherwise, what a waste of a potentially exciting young core this would be in DC. (Last week: 15th)
20) Marlins (52-52)
We should’ve known better than to get Fish Fever. Stunningly, the Marlins have followed up their sudden resurgence in June and early July with a 10-game losing streak that has dropped them immediately back to .500 and (for now) derailed what was shaping up to be an intriguing playoff push. (Last week: 8th)
21) Orioles (50-54)
Another team that has needed just a couple decent weeks to get back in the playoff picture, the Orioles continue to hang around — though still don’t feel like a serious threat in a crowded wild-card race. (Last week: 23rd)
22) Twins (51-54)
The Twins are finally starting to drop down the standings as long expected — just in time to begin selling pieces off at the deadline, as has also been long expected. (Last week: 22nd)
23) Reds (48-54)
After an eight-run clunker in his long-awaited return from injury, Hunter Greene has looked more like himself (including seven shutout innings with 12 strikeouts against the Cubs a couple weeks ago). But it’s almost certainly too late to save the Reds’ lost season. (Last week: 25th)
24) Blue Jays (47-57)
This Blue Jays’ season has been equal parts disappointing and disheartening, turning the good vibes from last year’s World Series run into foreboding dread that a large reset might be in order, starting with a likely sell-off of popular players this coming week. (Last week: 21st)
25) Athletics (44-59)
In a year the Athletics were once looking to take a step forward, they instead have the worst run differential in the majors. (Last week: 24th)
26) Giants (43-60)
It took Tony Vitello seven years at the University of Tennessee before he lost 100 total games. In an abject Year 1 with the Giants, he can only hope he doesn’t reach that mark by the end of this season. (Last week: 28th)
27) Royals (43-62)
There’s been little to laugh about in Kansas City this year. So shoutout to the fan who jumped in the Kauffman Stadium fountains to retrieve Salvador Perez’s home run ball — then had Perez making public pleas to have his arrest for trespassing undone. (Last week: 27th)
The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) is having a spectacular season with 22 home runs and 56 RBIs. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
28) Mets (43-61)
One silver lining ahead of what will be the Mets’ biggest deadline sell-off since 2023: The season after that disappointing campaign, they made a surprise run to the 2024 NLCS. Then again, they never maintained the momentum from that October, either, winding up right back where they started now. (Last week: 26th)
29) Rockies (42-63)
For a Rockies team trying to identify pieces for the future, it wouldn’t make much sense to trade an obvious one in catcher Hunter Goodman, who has been the subject of deadline rumors. Keep him in Denver and see if he can be a core piece moving forward. (Last week: 29th)
30) Angels (41-63)
Unlike the Rockies, the Angels will need to tear things down to build up again. Thus, maybe now is the time to deal someone like Zach Neto. With or without him, the Angels are not going anywhere anytime soon. (Last week: 30th)
Award Tracker: National League MVP
1) Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (.286 average, 22 home runs, 61 RBIs as hitter; 8-2 record, 1.79 ERA as pitcher)
Ohtani’s knee-injury-induced break from pitching has added the slightest bit of intrigue to the MVP race, allowing Pete Crow-Armstrong to jump him in WAR. Still, for now, it’s hard to imagine Ohtani not winding up with his fifth career MVP this season, especially because his pitching absence appears to be shorter term.
2) Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (.285 average, 22 home runs, 56 RBIs)
As noted in the Cubs’ blurb above, Crow-Armstrong’s turnaround has been critical to his team’s playoff push this season. If he can keep this MVP race even somewhat close, prepare to hear plenty of hot takes about how he has been more “valuable” (aka, irreplaceable) to his club than any other player.
3) James Wood, Nationals (.270 average, 28 home runs, 69 RBIs)
A tip of the cap to the Nationals’ youngster, who has validated the substantial hype that has surrounded him since he (and Abrams) were the centerpiece prospects in the Juan Soto trade. The 23-year-old is second in the NL in OPS, third in home runs and third in WAR.
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CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers throws chalk in the air before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Rocket Arena reserved one of its loudest roars of the year for a late January 30-point blowout.
That cheer wasn’t for anything that happened on the floor; it was instead for the hometown hero, who was playing possibly the last game on the court he had reigned on for over a decade.
LeBron James doesn’t break composure often, but this was different. The ovation and genuine love moved him to tears.
This stood in stark contrast to everything happening in Los Angeles. Instead of being welcomed as a hero, he was celebrated as merely a good basketball player who had his best achievements come in different uniforms.
After a month of reiterating that the final chapter of his career would be about happiness and his family, LeBron chose to shamelessly ring chase with the Philadelphia 76ers — a city he has no ties to and is far from a sure thing to win a championship.
On its face, this move is surprising if James is looking for appreciation and praise.
Choosing the Cleveland Cavaliers would’ve provided the perfect storybook ending for the local kid who grew up to become the best basketball player of all-time. There would’ve been 82 more opportunities for moments like that one in January to happen. All the while, he would’ve still had a shot at competing for a championship. After all, the Cavs are just two months removed from playing in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Yet, this all operates under the assumption that James and those around him actually understood what made that connection possible in the first place. Maybe they don’t. After all, this is someone who’s spent their whole career trying to craft the greatest narrative, but has ended up weaving a convoluted tale about someone who bounces from city-to-city based on who can provide the quickest short-term gain.
So from that perspective, this move shouldn’t have been that surprising.
America’s capitalist society has long confused money and attention for cultural relevance and artistry. Commercial success is the standard movies, shows, books, and music are judged. Quality and whether there’s an actual message being conveyed through it don’t matter. This is how we find ourselves in the endless cycle of franchise reboots and empty live-action remakes of things we once loved, but have now lost the core of what made them special.
Hollywood isn’t the only one chasing the ghost of once great things.
Winning is the currency of basketball. LeBron has spent his whole career in Michael Jordan’s shadow. That was inevitable with him entering the league a year after Jordan retired. Why he’s still there now, and probably always will be in the court of public opinion, isn’t because of anything he’s done on the basketball court.
Another championship, or even two, wouldn’t change that because it was never about the rings.
People get invested in stories because they want to feel something. Sports, at their core, are just an ongoing narrative that you hope will invest you for the time you put in. Watching players and teams meet, fall, and maybe one day overcome the obstacles in their way is where the entire joy comes from. And it’s also where we get our idea of what makes someone truly great from.
This part is what James and those around him haven’t understood and probably never will. There’s more to this than just winning at all costs.
Jordan and Kobe Bryant’s greatness came from their play, but also the continuity of their stories. The bond between player, team, and city went through peaks and valleys, but it persisted for decades. The endurance of that marriage made their triumphs more meaningful for everyone and easier to appreciate for outside observers.
LeBron and the athletes who followed his lead threw that playbook out the window. Instead of enduring the natural ups and downs of an organization, they took control of their own narratives.
There are benefits to that. James probably doesn’t win consecutive championships in 2012 and 2013 if he doesn’t join the Miami Heat. Kevin Durant isn’t a back-to-back Finals MVP if he doesn’t go to the Golden State Warriors.
Those choices are completely understandable and what I would do if in that position. Taking ownership of your situation instead of leaving it up to people who may not have your best interests in mind makes sense, but that doesn’t mean the general public has to like it. Every choice, even logical ones, has drawbacks.
Everything LeBron has done throughout his career has been calculated. He’s constantly thought one or two steps ahead of everyone else to put himself and his brand in the best position to succeed. That includes surrounding himself with the best teammates and situations on and off the court to lead to winning. But again, even calculated moves have consequences.
If success is just about winning and making money, then there’s no viable criticism for anything LeBron has done, including this move. After all, LeBron’s Sixers jersey has already sold out. His brand will grow in a large coastal market, which will certainly open up new business ventures. On top of that, the Sixers should do plenty of winning on the court. However, winning alone doesn’t buy adoration. If it could, Durant wouldn’t feel the need to continue making burner accounts to defend his honor.
What was supposed to be an expansion of his kingdom ended up being an eight-year footnote. He won a championship, put his name on top of the scoring list, and shared the court with his son. All of those things should’ve been celebrated as once-in-a-generation achievements, but they weren’t. He — predictably — didn’t get the treatment from the fans or team personnel that Kobe did at the end of his two decades spent in one uniform. Not even close, which reportedly influenced him to leave.
James now seems destined to repeat that mistake in another city that has no connection to him. If the Sixers win, the credit will go to Philadelphia’s guys, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. And if they lose, that will fall on LeBron.
By making this entirely about winning one more ring, LeBron has validated the narrative that he’s still chasing Jordan because of the title count. It’s an admission that he isn’t viewed as the greatest, despite being better at basketball than anyone else who’s ever lived.
LeBron doesn’t owe anyone anything. He especially doesn’t owe anything to Northeast Ohio after all he’s done for the community. But viewing things through that prism misses the entire point of why sports matter.
In an idealistic world, you’d like to think the bond between an athlete and a city is what drives decisions. I’m not naive enough to think that it actually does — but there are exceptions to that rule. LeBron and Cleveland seemed to be one in that January moment, and when he yelled “Cleveland, this is for you!” with tears in his eyes after delivering the city’s first championship in over half a century.
This latest decision, and whatever comes down the line, don’t change what happened in the past. Relationships aren’t static. They’re always evolving.
The bond between Cleveland and LeBron will endure past this. He will still return as a hero at some point. Yet, it does complicate things further than they already were.
How James’s last game in Cleveland will look is anyone’s guess. It could come in an inconsequential regular-season game. Maybe this whole summer is swept under the rug, as we do with Jordan’s Wizards jersey. Or, it could come in one of the last games of the conference finals with James trying to end the season in the one place he still calls home. That situation wouldn’t be swept under the rug as quickly.
What we can say with certainty is that moment on that cold January night in Cleveland won’t be replicated again there. At least, not while James is still wearing a jersey. It probably won’t happen at his new home court in Philadelphia either, based on how we’ve seen this story play out in the past. That is the true cost of this last-ditch attempt at one more championship.
Good news: the Yankees acquired a future Cy Young Award winner as the Player To Be Named Later in a deal in 1984 that sent their 31-year-old veteran first baseman to the Chicago White Sox.
Bad news: the Yankees traded said Cy Young winner away long before he won the greatest accolade of his career.
Today’s birthday honoree, Doug Drabek, was drafted twice and then traded before ever making his MLB debut. His tenure in the Bronx was brief, but he went on to have a long and successful career and the Yankees almost brought him back when he hit free agency in the early 1990s. It all goes down as a miss for the Yanks.
Douglas Dean Drabek Born: July 25, 1962 (Victoria, TX) Yankees Tenure: 1986
A Texas native, Drabek attended St. Joseph High School in Victoria where he excelled as a multi-sport athlete, playing football and baseball. The right-handed hurler caught the eyes of major league scouts, and in the 1980 MLB Draft Cleveland drafted the teenager in the fourth round.
Drabek, however, opted to head to school and hone his craft there rather than toil in the minor leagues. So off he went to the University of Houston, where he was nothing short of spectacular. Drabek set a Cougars record with 27 wins in 268 career innings (including six shutouts). Twelve of those wins came in 1983, and one was a no-hitter. Drabek is a Southwest Conference Hall of Famer and a member of the Houston Athletics Hall of Honor; his No. 16 is now retired.
Three years after choosing the University of Houston over Cleveland, Drabek’s name was again called during the Amateur Draft. This time, the Chicago White Sox chose Drabek in the 11th round of the 1983 edition, and he signed.
Drabek reported to the Niagara Falls Sox of the New York-Pennsylvania League, the White Sox’s Low-A affiliate. The 20-year-old made 16 appearances for Niagara, primarily pitching out of the rotation, with sporadic relief appearances. The following season, he began at A-Ball but after only one start Chicago promoted him to Double-A, where he pitched for Glens Falls in the Eastern League. Before long, however, he found himself on the move again, this time to a new organization. On July 18th, the Yankees sent first baseman Roy Smalley to Chicago for two players to be named later. On August 14th, those two PTBNLs were made public: southpaw Kevin Hickey and Drabek were headed to the Bronx.
New York’s brass immediately assigned Drabek to Nashville, the club’s Double-A affiliate. Drabek pitched the remainder of the 1984 and ‘85 seasons at Double-A, though he was evidently promoted to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers for the International League playoffs.
Unfortunately, Drabek was on the losing end of the ‘85 International League Championship. The Tidewater Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the crosstown rival Mets, beat Columbus three games to one. The fourth and final game was scoreless into the sixth inning until Drabek walked a batter, then surrendered hits to future major leaguers Dave Magadan and Kevin Mitchell, the latter of whom went on to win the 1989 NL MVP Award.
Heading into 1986, Drabek was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 5 Yankees prospect. New York skipper Lou Piniella signaled that Drabek would get a serious look in spring training to see if the young hurler, who’d excelled the past two seasons in the minors, could force his way into the big league rotation. Alas. Drabek was sent back to Triple-A to start the ‘86 campaign, where he struggled mightily.
Despite his struggles, New York called Drabek up to The Show, where he debuted on on May 3rd in Oakland. Entering the game in relief, Drabek hurled 4.1 frames of one-run ball in his initial taste of the big leagues. Two weeks later, he made his first start in Baltimore where he authored four shutout innings. All told, Drabek pitched well for the ‘86 Yanks, who went on to win 90 games, finishing 5.5 games back of eventual AL pennant winner Boston. Maybe he pitched too well.
That offseason, veteran pitcher Rick Rhoden expressed his desire to get out of Pittsburgh. Rhoden was coming off a career season in the Steel City and to get him, the Yankees evidently had to include Drabek in the trade package. The full damage: Drabek, Logan Easley, and Brian Fisher to the Steel City in exchange for Rhoden, Pat Clements, and Cecilio Guante. Rhoden pitched well for New York in ‘87, though he never came close to his lofty 1986 season. He pitched one more year in the Bronx before finishing his career in Houston in 1989.
Drabek, meanwhile, went directly into the Pirates’ rotation in 1987 and began an eight-year streak with an ERA+ above 100. The following year, he won 15 games and kicked off a six-year stretch of throwing at least 219 innings each season.
1990 was the height of Drabek’s career from a personal standpoint. The righty won 22 games en route to an eighth place finish in NL MVP voting and his first and only NL Cy Young Award. That year also started a three-year stretch of Drabek and the Pirates reaching the NLCS only to go down in defeat each time.
After the 1992 season when the Pirates bowed out to the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS, Drabek reached free agency. The Yankees, where he’d gotten his professional start, were among the interested suitors. But after making an offer to Drabek, along with David Cone and Jose Guzman, general manager Gene Michael pulled all the offers from consideration and started looking elsewhere for starting pitching.
“I tried to get answers quickly from the three,” Michael told the New York Times. “I didn’t want them to take a week and then shop it around to get other clubs to meet it or top it.”
Whether Drabek ever seriously considered the Yankees or not, the path back to the Bronx was gone. Ultimately, he ended up signing with the Houston Astros on a four-year deal. His first two seasons in Houston were up to par, though through some hard luck he led the Senior Circuit in losses in 1993 with 18. Drabek’s 1994 was more conventionally effective, as he went 12-6 with a 2.84 ERA and 140 ERA+, making the NL All-Star team and finishing fourth in Cy Young voting during the strike-shortened campaign.
But Drabek’s final two Houston campaigns were disasters. He departed in free agency and pitched two more seasons—1997 with the White Sox and 1998 with the Orioles—before retiring. Now 64 years old, Drabek is currently the pitching coach for the Reno Aces, Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 12, 2026: Kristian Campbell #28 of the Boston Red Sox runs off the field after the first inning of a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex on March 12, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The WooSox now have 45 hits in their last three games. Although this game was close and the Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins AAA) were resilient, tagging every relief pitcher for runs in a bullpen game after Tyler Uberstine opened things up with a scoreless first, the WooSox simply just stayed one step ahead of them. Kristian Campbell continued his hot streak with his fourth home run of the season in the sixth amidst a raucous stage of the game where teams were trading runs for three consecutive innings, and the WooSox also enjoyed a three-hit night out of Mickey Gasper. And don’t count out Tyler McDonough batting out of the nine spot, as his bat continues to stay hot following his promotion. Friday, it was the patience at the plate that made a difference, as he waited out three walks and really extended those innings despite not actually crossing home plate.
No Arias, no problem. Well, not exactly, as the Sea Dogs struggled to put a solid offense inning together against the RumblePonies (Mets AA) but Brooks Brannon, the home run machine, is still on the roster, and he essentially called game in the sixth with his 17th home run of 2026.
No one was getting past this impenetrable wall on the mound. Dalton Rogers, Jesse Wu-Yelland and Max Carlson were all extremely solid in their three innings a piece. Rogers walked six but allowed just one hit. Binghamton would have just one baserunner after the fourth and they’d fall to strikes fifteen times against this Portland pitching staff. I also want to be realistic: while it’s easy for many in the “trade everything who’s not bolted down or named Franklin Arias” camp to look at these performances and say “yay, more trade fuel to buy next week!” the reality is that these are guys who all had a great night against a demonstratively rough season and are unlikely to capture much value. I’d also warn folks that one or two “trade everything” phases put us in the position we’re arguably in now, where we look at these minor lines and lament about how our starters organization-wide are getting thrashed on a weekly basis and how no one outside of about five guys can hit. Unless these guys somehow reach a stage of their development where they truly shine in 2027 and then they’re ours anyway!
Marcus Phillips and Griffin Killander did not have it against Spartanburg (Astros High-A) yesterday afternoon; the most graceful thing about Game 1 was that it was only 7 innings, as Greenville allowed ten runs and only got some relief from getting shelled by Enddy Azocar’s 9th home run and Stanley Tucker’s 2-RBI double. Aside from that, it was all Hub City.
Night and day from game 1. Greenville was patient, drawing seven walks and though they stranded ten runners, some of those walks came back to bite Spartanburg with two separate Ronny Hernandez RBI knocks. Pitching wise, Greenville had nothing to worry about, as Devin Futrell had one of his better nights on the mound. He was one out from capturing a perfect game in the abbreviated contest and struck out nine. Steven Brooks came in when Futrell ran into a bit of trouble in the seventh and slammed the door. All in a day’s work.
We have reached the first player I can recall seeing who was born in 2008. Fresh off the Gulf Coast league, Sadbiel Delzine made his first start in A-ball. At 18, his fastball is at 94 miles per hour and he has a four-pitch repertoire. This was Salem’s first look at him, and although he didn’t go far into the game and got taken yard, he struck six out and overall looked promisingm. Brady Tygart took this the rest of the way and struck five additional Green Jackets (Braves A) out. Catchers had their day on the farm Friday, and Adonys Guzman was no exception, as his fifth-inning shot turned a 3-2 game into a 5-2 game, shifted the tone, and made it possible for Tygart to shove through fifteen outs, as did Skylar King’s three knock night.
NEW YORK — Roki Sasaki isn’t only pitching better.
By his own estimation, he’s also more handsome.
Asked about the larger glove he started wearing after the All-Star break to address his pitch-tipping problems, Sasaki played dumb by describing it as an optical illusion.
“My face became smaller,” he said in Japanese, “so it just looks [bigger].”
In Japan, a kogao, or small face, is considered attractive.
Sasaki joked that he received treatment on his face over the All-Star break.
Which is a good sign for the Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, July 24, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Frank Franklin IISasaki reacts as he walks off the field after the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
A great sign, actually.
His demeanor makes him particularly easy to read, and he has transformed over the first four months of the season from broken to cautiously optimistic to now self-assured.
The side of Sasaki’s personality that emerged in the wake of his most recent start was the same side that surfaced last October, when he caught lightning in a bottle to become the Dodgers’ closer. Back then, Sasaki joked that he wasn’t bothered by the taunts he received on the road because he didn’t understand enough English to know what opposing fans were screaming at him.
As was the case on that World Series run, Sasaki seems to think he’s figured out something.
There is risk involved in trusting the judgment of a relatively inexperienced and emotionally volatile pitcher with a 4.71 ERA, but Sasaki’s improved form reinforces a case I made last month: The Dodgers don’t have to acquire Tarik Skubal.
To be clear, they can acquire Skubal.
They can in the unlikely case the trade market for him implodes and the Tigers let him go at a minimal cost.
But they don’t have to.
Sasaki holding the two New York teams to a single earned run over a combined 12 ⅔ innings in his two most recent starts doesn’t qualify him to be a substitute for Skubal.
Except the Dodgers don’t need Sasaki to be that. By the start of the postseason, they are expecting to have Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow back in the rotation along with Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts to the final out against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2026, in Detroit. AP Photo/Paul Sancya
What they need is insurance — and in Sasaki and Justin Wrobleski, the Dodgers have premium policies.
If one of the Big Four can’t pitch in October, maybe Sasaki or Wrobleski steps in and starts. Or maybe they combine to take down the majority of innings in a bullpen game.
Either way, they provide the Dodgers with adequate cover — enough that the team shouldn’t feel as if it has to trade its most prized prospects for Skubal.
A 26-year-old left-hander, Wrobleski is an All-Star with an 11-2 record and 2.62 ERA. Wrobleski has struck out 27 batters in 20 ⅓ innings over his last three starts, addressing concerns about his inability to miss bats.
Sasaki has also started addressing his shortcomings — in particular, his control problems.
Sasaki’s fastball was down a smidge from his previous start in the Dodgers’ 4-2 win over the Mets on Friday night, but it didn’t matter.
The only run he allowed was on a high fastball in the second inning to Luis Robert Jr., who banged it over the left field wall. He pitched seven innings, allowing three hits and two walks.
“Outside of that,” manager Dave Roberts said, “I thought [innings] four through seven, that split was really unhittable.”
Sasaki pitched. He really pitched.
He averaged 98.6 mph with his fastball, but he threw it only 32% of the time. He threw it less frequently in only one of his previous 13 starts.
In his first time through the order, he controlled the Mets with his slider. He then let his splitter take over.
The splitter was thrown at a similar trajectory as his fastball — only for it to bottom out as it approached the plate. His new glove, or smaller face, presumably kept the Mets from figuring out beforehand what pitch he was about to throw.
Sasaki struck out nine batters and generated 21 swings-and-misses, his most in the majors. He was efficient, throwing only 94 pitches.
“My splitter has been good lately, and it’s one of the reasons I’m able to throw comfortably throughout the game,” Sasaki said. “Of course, there are days in which the pitches feel different coming off my fingertips. But fundamentally, if my delivery is right, I think the forkball becomes easier to throw.”
And from the Dodgers’ perspective, this development makes it easier for them to dream.
About the pitcher Sasaki could become.
About how trading for Skubal would be more of a luxury than a necessity.
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EL SEGUNDO, CA - JULY 02: Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka answers a question during the Los Angeles Lakers welcome press conference for their NBA Draft picks on July 02, 2024, at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The pressure was on Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka this summer to build a roster around Luka Dončić. He didn’t disappoint.
Considering the whirlwind of activity, for our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked fans if their opinion on Pelinka has changed. The results are in, and his approval is up.
This was a good summer for Pelinka. He finally landed an A-list center, a need since before the Anthony Davis trade.
Doing that alone probably makes this a good offseason. When you also add in that the Lakers were able to keep Austin Reaves and added a ton of new young talent, it’s clear why fans are happy with Pelinka.
And it’s not just fans that are pleased with the changes as Dončić is excited about the moves. Considering that he’s the franchise player, that’s good news for Pelinka.
The Lakers didn’t just try to run it back with an old team that was fourth in the Western Conference. Instead, Pelinka made bold moves to shake up the roster.
Another positive for Pelinka, based on this poll, is that only 5% have a worse view of him. That’s a relatively low number and is more evidence that fans have approved of the job he’s done this summer.
In the end, though, what matters most is what ownership thinks of Pelinka and how the Lakers perform this season.
Still, it’s always a plus to have support from the fans. With all the moves Pelinka has made, he is currently in their good graces and that’ll continue to be true if the Lakers play well during this upcoming season.
Biloxi Shuckers infielder Andrew Fischer (25) hits the ball during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Biloxi Shuckers at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 7, 2026. | Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
In this week’s Reacts survey, we asked fans which of the team’s top prospects (non-Jesús Made category) they’d be least willing to trade at the deadline. The results may be somewhat surprising:
The Brewers, who sit at 64-39 atop the NL Central, tend to be very cautious when it comes to dealing prospects at the trade deadline. Since the 2008 blockbuster deal for CC Sabathia (which sent team No. 2 prospect Matt LaPorta the other way, as well as player to be named later Michael Brantley, who ended up being the prize of the deal), the Brewers haven’t made a super splashy move.
If they opt to change the status quo, though, it seems likely they’d need to part with at least one of their top prospects. With Luis Lara and Cooper Pratt locked up, and Jesús Made seemingly untouchable, that leaves four position player prospects up for discussion — Luis Peña, Jett Williams, Josh Adamczewski, and Andrew Fischer.
The results of our poll saw Fischer finish as the player fans would LEAST like to see traded. It’s a surprise in terms of prospect ranking, as Fischer is the only one of those players not in MLB’s top 100 prospects, but it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise when you look at Fischer’s stats.
The 22-year-old third baseman was the team’s first-round pick in 2025 (No. 20 overall) out of Tennessee. In his first full season in the minors, he’s appeared in 83 games (between High-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi), and he’s raked his way to a whopping 30 homers, slashing .283/.424/.662. The biggest concern with Fischer comes on his strikeout rate — he’s struck out 123 times in 370 plate appearances. The good news? He’s also walked 66 times.
I’ll quickly give you the 2026 stats on the other three options, too:
Jul 24, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (16) celebrates hitting a ground-rule double to walk off the Los Angeles Angels in the bottom of the tenth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images | Justine Willard-Imagn Images
The San Francisco Giants returned home battered and broken after a 1-5 road trip in which they suffered five straight losses, including a sweep to the lowly — but well-matched — Kansas City Royals. The offense couldn’t score more than three runs. The pitching, starters and relievers alike, struggled to preserve leads. Crucial defensive mistakes proved the difference in tight, one-run games. The trip felt like a series of humiliations. The team looked like a play-thing for the rest of the league, a new ball of yarn for the Mariners and Royals to paw around at their leisure.
Earlier on in the season, one might graciously refer to these failures as tests, challenges to overcome in order to burnish their spirit in preparation for a climactic confrontation. But it’s July — really late July. Perhaps its overly generous to compare this 2026 season to the ancient epic, but if this was The Odyssey, we’re at the point in which all pretense is gone. Odysseus and his men are no longer victors returning from Troy. Hope and hubris has been wrung out of them by the gods. Logan Webb as Matt Damon as Odysseus tied himself to the mound’s mast and wept as the Sirens tortured him with their unattainable song. After months that have felt like years, Tony Vitello has assembled a raft of driftwood and shoved off into the open water, finally accepting his fate and submitting to the capricious nature of the seas. There is no more wit or cunning or courage to fall back on — it is the only the schedule that floats them back to their harbor.
In this sense, the wins now feel less like triumphs and more like dodges, delays, not-losses. Facing off against another lowly franchise in the Los Angeles Angels, the Giants 7-6 victory in 10 innings revealed more similarities than differences between the two clubs. Logan Webb struggled again, giving up another 3-run frame, jeopardizing an early 4-run lead. Reliever Jason Foley served as the day’s bullpen punching bag when Vaughan Grissom rocked a 2-run homer in the 8th to tie the game. Though they emphatically broke through with 5 runs off starter Grayson Rodriguez, the Angels relievers cooled the offense considerably after the 4th inning. So the mobbing of Rafael Devers after his game-winning single felt more than a bit contrived. They won because they had the last swing. Home field advantage — just like Odysseus in Ithaca.
The punishment of a fan following a losing season is not the losses, but that you aren’t allowed to celebrate the wins. Is this fair? We shouldn’t be purposefully myopic or naive, rejoicing after each storm we survive without the sober and appropriate recognition that the situation has not changed: We are floating on a raft in the middle of the ocean. We are still not in charge.
You can’t disregard the wider context. And in my very important role as a sports blogger, it feels like my job at times to belabor the point: A millennial Homer, reminding everyone after anything that everything still sucks.
The over-lapping, layered structure of The Odyssey is designed to hold the whole story all at once. Odysseus retells his story to the Phaeacians which give his memories an awareness of what is to come. Within the past, nests the future. A baseball season can be like this — dense and intricately woven. But just like the ancient epic, there are episodes. Games that work as standalone adventures that can be, and should be, savored and enjoyed. Odysseus and his men escaping the giant-cyclops-shepherd Polyphemus’s cave by blinding him and hiding among his sheep is a heck of a story on its own. I like to think Odysseus himself relished the re-telling in King Alcinous’s court, allowing himself a moment to smirk at his wit when he told the cyclops his name was Nobody, despite the consequences of that interaction that would soon follow.
So let’s free ourselves from context, the burden of the “epic,” and enjoy the little episodes, the minor tales of how the Giants jumped out ahead of the Angels by stubbornly refusing to let starter Grayson Rodriguez record the third out in the early innings. In the 1st, with two outs and nobody on, already down a run, Bryce Eldridge forced Rodriguez to throw 8 pitches, eventually working a walk. Next up, Devers lined his 21st homer over the cars in left.
In the same situation in the 3rd, Eldridge, once again spoiled a clean inning for Rodriguez with a 2-out double. Falling behind 2-0 to Devers, the right-hander elected to send him to first to face the same-side bat of Casey Schmitt. Perhaps fueled by the intentional walk, Schmitt annihilated an inside fastball for a 3-run shot — also his 21st — giving the Giants what felt like a commanding 5-1 lead at the time.
But a good story always has set-backs. The heroes should never just cruise. The Angels provided that necessary adversity, closing the gap with a three run 5th inning off Logan Webb.
Webb gave up a walk and four hits in the frame, with a devastating 2-run triple delivered by number-9 hitter Tyler Heineman. It was Webb’s second triple surrendered in the game, and only back-up backstop Heineman’s fourth extra base hit of the year.
Jo Adell’s 7-pitch at-bat, which ended in a lead-off single, set the tone and table in that inning. Webb had him down early in the count, but his fourth and fifth pitches were throwaways, big misses that couldn’t even entice the free-swinging slugger to chase off the plate. Webb then fell behind 2-0 to number-8 hitter Denezer Guzman. With count leverage, Denezer got a fastball over the plate that scooted through a hole into left for another single. A lack of sharpness had Webb on his heels and he probably succumbed to some tunnel vision facing Heineman. He doubled down on change-ups at the bottom of the zone and Heineman didn’t miss the second one.
The whole game the Angels had their heads bowed facing Webb. Not out of deference, but on the hunt for his signature off-speed at the bottom of the zone. Both triples came off genuflecting swings (the pitch to Neto came in shin high) that deposited the baseball in the furthest ranges of Triple’s Alley. Adell’s lead-off single was on a low-and-away change. Mike Trout’s thoroughly-smoked sac fly to score Heine was on another.
Another outing in which Webb allowed three runs in an inning, but, unlike in Seattle, he finished the inning with the lead, albeit a slim one, was still in-tact. It’d last for a couple more innings. The Giants even extended it with some effective small-ball tactics in the 7th when pinch-runner Grant McCray (taking over for Drew Gilbert after his walk) stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Susac. McCray emerged as the late-game hero, doing the dirty work in preparation for Devers’s walk-off. His base-running in that sixth run allowed them to weather Vaughan Grissom’s game-tying shot, and his outfield assist cut down the potential go-ahead runner in Oswald Peraza for an inning-ending double play which heavily tipped the scales in favor of the home team.
It wasn’t perfectly executed, there were some dice-y moments, but they got it done.
For a moment it looked like Jesus Rodriguez, as the 10th inning Manfred Man, wouldn’t advance to third on Luis Arraez’s knuckling single. After initially freezing on the line-drive, then retreating for a moment as shortstop Zachary Neto made a play on the slow-moving grounder, Rodriguez had to make a mad dash for third when the ball squeaked through to the outfield. With a chance to end the game, Heliot Ramos rolled a comebacker right into the pitcher’s glove — a first out that ratcheted up the pressure for Bryce Eldridge. Instead of walking Eldridge to load the bases and set-up a booby-trapped infield with a myriad of double play or force-out possibilities, reliever Chase Silseth went after the rookie with the hope that his youth and inexperience would cause him to chase. As he did in the 1st, Eldridge stood firm. In an 8-pitch at-bat he navigated four two-strike offerings. He chased only one — a well-located inside sweeper that he fouled off — before working the walk and loading the bases for Devers to play hero and send everyone home.
Hello and welcome to the 17th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.
I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.
With the uncertainty surrounding the labor dispute between Major League Baseball and the Player’s Association, we can’t be sure that the 2027 season is going to begin on time. Just make sure to take some time, appreciate and enjoy the second half of the 2026 season, as we aren’t sure what the 2027 campaign will bring.
As fantasy managers start to turn the page to football, there are opportunities to creep up in the standings where others aren’t giving their teams the full attention that they still deserve. Keep putting in the work and plugging away, striving to improve each week, and you’ll reap rewards at the end of this season.
This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.
Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week. With teams still trying to get their rotations lined up for the second half, there’s more uncertainty than usual for a Friday afternoon:
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
We already know that Jake Bennett is going to make two starts for the Red Sox this week (at Athletics, at Dodgers), what we don’t yet know is who else is going to. Ranger Suarez may come off the injured list and start on Sunday, in which case Peyton Tolle would be pushed back to Monday and would be lined up to take the ball twice. If not, then Suarez could pitch on Monday and he would be set up for the two-start week. Both have been great this season, but there’s plenty of ratio risk lurking there given the tough opposition and ballparks that they’ll need to navigate.
The Rockies only have five games on their schedule for next week, so fortunately none of their starters are going to take the ball twice. As we know by now though, even if anyone in their rotation was lined up for two starts, there’s never any justifiable reason for going there.
Someone is going to start for the Blue Jays on Monday and is likely to get a two-start week (at Nationals, vs. Cardinals), with Spencer Miles working in a bulk role as the most likely candidate. If so, he makes for a decent streaming option in deeper leagues. We’ll update here if we get any additional clarification through the weekend.
Going Twice…
Note: Probable pitchers as of July 24 and are subject to change.
American League
▶ Strong Plays
Kyle Bradish, Orioles, RHP (at Tigers, vs. Phillies)
It took Bradish a while to really get his 2026 season on track, as he struggled early, rallied in May, got bombed twice at the beginning of June and has since posted a 2.03 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and a 37/12 K/BB ratio over 40 innings in his last six starts. The matchups aren’t ideal this week, but when Bradish is going right he can silence any lineup. He’s one of the top overall plays on the board this week and needs to be started in all leagues.
Max Fried, Yankees, LHP (at White Sox, at Cubs)
Fried was absolutely brilliant in his return from the injured list this past week, spinning five innings of one-hit, shutout baseball against the Pirates while piling up seven strikeouts. He has delivered elite results every time he has taken the mound this season, and there’s no reason to expect any less in a two-start week this time around. If you waited a week to get him activated to see how he looked, now is the time to get him back in there. This should be all systems go without question.
Gerrit Cole, Yankees, RHP (at White Sox, at Cubs)
Cole really hasn’t shown much rust after missing the entire 2025 season, returning to post a strong 3.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 66/12 K/BB ratio over 62 frames in his first 11 starts. He racked up 11 strikeouts against the Pirates his last time out and appears to be growing stronger with each start. He should be locked into fantasy lineups each and every week, so there’s no decision point here, just sit back and enjoy the added volume from an extra start this week.
Keider Montero, Tigers, RHP (vs. Orioles, at Athletics)
Whatever role the Tigers have used him in this season, Montero has done a terrific job – posting a 3.14 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and a 78/22 K/BB ratio over 106 innings. The limited strikeout rate is mitigated by the extra volume in a two-start week and Montero has been a major asset in the ratio department throughout the season. There’s risk in having to pitch against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park, but it’s not nearly enough of a reason to avoid Montero for a two-start week. He should be started with complete confidence in all leagues.
George Kirby, Mariners, RHP (at Rangers, vs. Twins)
While the WHIP has been a bit higher than we’re used to seeing from the 28-year-old righty, Kirby has still been as solid as ever this season, compiling a 3.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 104/25 K/BB ratio over 124 innings while notching eight victories in his 19 starts. He also enters his two-start week in great form, posting quality starts in each of his last six dating back to June 10. Kick up your feet and enjoy double the production from Kirby this week.
▶ Decent Plays
Jake Bennett, Red Sox, LHP (at Athletics, at Dodgers)
The 25-year-old southpaw is enjoying a terrific rookie campaign for the Red Sox, registering a 2.58 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a 42/9 K/BB ratio over 59 1/3 innings while notching six victories in his first 10 starts. The sledding is going to get tougher this week though, having to battle the A’s in West Sacramento before traveling to Los Angeles to take on the vaunted Dodgers’ offense. He has pitched so well this season, and the Red Sox are winning so many games at the moment, that it’s hard to justify sitting Bennett at this point. Just be aware that the risk of ratio damage is much higher this week than we’re used to seeing from Bennett.
Walbert Ureña, Angels, RHP (vs. Astros, vs. Brewers)
Ureña is quietly enjoying an impressive rookie season for the Angels, boasting a 2.78 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and an 83/47 K/BB ratio across 87 1/3 innings of work. Those numbers would be even better if not for a disastrous start against the A’s where he gave up seven runs over 4 1/3 innings. He should have earned the trust of fantasy managers by now and is an easy start in all leagues for a strong week with both starts coming in a pitcher-friendly environment.
Griffin Jax, Rays, RHP (vs. Rangers, vs. White Sox)
When things go wrong for Griffin Jax, they go really wrong. Twice this year he has been bombed for six runs or more, otherwise he has been terrific. The matchups this week aren’t terribly imposing and he has shown enough consistency that he should certainly be trusted for a week with a pair of home starts. He should be started in all leagues.
Tatsuya Imai, Astros, RHP (at Angels, vs. Rangers)
It really has been all or nothing with Imai this season, either he’s brilliant and piling up strikeouts by the bushel, or he’s getting hammered around the yard and gets bounced within the first few innings. Depending on what you’re looking for, that could appeal to you, especially with a couple of decent matchups on the docket. If I’m going to take a chance, I like to do so with those that are talented and capable of elite performances. Imai has clearly shown that he has that in his range of outcomes. I wouldn’t watch his starts and sweat them out, just throw him in your lineup and hope for the best.
Anthony Kay, White Sox, LHP (vs. Yankees, at Rays)
Kay continues to muddle along in the White Sox’ rotation, posting a respectable 4.21 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and an 80/40 K/BB ratio over 98 1/3 innings. He hasn’t been working deep into games recently, but he also hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in a start since the calendar flipped to July. If you’re content with grabbing around eight strikeouts with decent ratios and an outside shot at a victory, you could roll the dice here, especially in deeper formats.
Kumar Rocker, Rangers, RHP (vs. Mariners, at Astros)
Rocker has done a decent job for the Rangers through his first 19 appearances (17 starts) on the season, registering a 4.13 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and an 86/36 K/BB ratio over 96 innings of work. The matchups this week aren’t terribly imposing, making him a decent streaming option if you’re looking to gain ground in strikeouts especially. For sure I’d be using him in 15-team formats and I may even take the plunge in 12’s.
▶ At Your Own Risk
Seth Lugo, Royals, RHP (at Twins, at Rockies)
Normally I find myself advocating for using Lugo in his two-start weeks, but his recent struggles combined with a visit to Coors Field make it very difficult to trust him at the moment. Being on the road for both starts and being backed by the Royals offense don’t do him any favors in terms of generating wins, and the strikeout upside has always been limited for the veteran right-hander. If you feel like gambling on a low-upside, minimal downside type of two-start option, Lugo should work for you.
Gage Jump, Athletics, LHP (vs. Red Sox, vs. Tigers)
Jump has been extremely inconsistent through his first 11 starts in the big leagues, giving up five runs or more three times while surrendering one earned run or fewer five times already. Unfortunately, most of those struggles have come recently as he has seen his ERA jump from 2.04 to 4.42 since June 24 and now has to battle with two of the hottest teams in all of baseball – with both starts coming at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. If you’re worried about your ratios, it may be wise to sit this one out.
Jack Perkins, Athletics, RHP (vs. Red Sox, vs. Tigers)
If we don’t want to use Gage Jump for a home two-step against the Red Sox and Tigers, then we certainly don’t want to trust Perkins in the same matchups. The right-hander holds an abysmal 6.75 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 62 2/3 innings on the season and now has to tangle with two extremely hot offenses in one of the best hitter’s environments in all of baseball. Stay far away from this one.
Noah Schultz, White Sox, LHP (vs. Yankees, at Rays)
This one definitely isn’t for the risk averse fantasy manager. When Schultz is able to command his pitches, he has proven that he can be a dominant force on the mound. Unfortunately, we have also seen what can happen when he can’t locate, as he got bombed for five runs on 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings against the Rangers his last time out. If you’re the gambling type and want to wager that he’ll pile up strikeouts and keep the ratios in check over a pair of starts this week, you could be handsomely rewarded. The most likely scenario though is that he gets hit pretty hard in at least one of those starts.
Kendry Rojas, Twins, LHP (vs. Royals, at Mariners)
Rojas has been a bit of an enigma so far for the Twins, posting a strong 3.32 ERA and a miserable 1.57 WHIP with a 24/18 K/BB ratio over his first 21 2/3 innings. Eventually, all of those baserunners are going to catch up to him. He’s also not built up to take on a starter’s workload just yet, so the chances of him making it through five innings to even have a shot at earning a victory are very low. He should be able to help out in the strikeout department, but that’s all you’d be getting from streaming this two-start week.
Slade Cecconi, Guardians, RHP (at Reds, vs. Diamondbacks)
Cecconi hasn’t quite been a prominent figure in the Guardians’ rotation this season, struggling to a 4.60 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and an 82/34 K/BB ratio over 103 2/3 innings through his first 20 starts. He hasn’t been particularly trustworthy for fantasy purposes and now he has to run through a pair of difficult matchups – especially having to battle the Reds in Cincinnati. The juice just isn’t worth the squeeze here, as his ceiling doesn’t justify the risk that you would be taking on by streaming him.
Cal Quantrill, Rangers, RHP (vs. Mariners, at Astros)
Quantrill is not someone who has ever been confused with a reliable fantasy option. While he has done a nice job overall for the Rangers this season, his 5.48 xFIP and 4.90 xERA hint that his performance is a house of cards that’s going to collapse at any point. Don’t be the one that absorbs that ratio damage when it all comes crashing down. Stay away.
National League
▶ Strong Plays
Chris Sale, Braves, LHP (at Mets, vs. Nationals)
The 37-year-old left-hander continues to dominate whenever he takes the mound, compiling a brilliant 2.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 134/26 K/BB ratio across 111 innings through his first 19 starts on the season. Now he gets to battle a pair of familiar divisional foes where he should be a favorite to earn a victory both times that he takes the mound. There’s really no reason that Sale should ever be on benches for fantasy purposes, so just sit back and enjoy double the production from the Braves’ ace this week.
Chase Burns, Reds, RHP (vs. Guardians, vs. Pirates)
Burns has been an absolutely dominant force for the Reds this season, posting a 12-1 record, 2.42 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 124/39 K/BB ratio over 107 2/3 innings in his 19 starts. He has been an absolute gold mine for fantasy purposes and there’s really no reason to anticipate that his production is going to fall off anytime soon. Whether he makes one start or two doesn’t impact anything decision-wise for fantasy managers, as he should be locked into all lineups each and every week. He’s one of the top options on the entire board this week.
Zack Wheeler, Phillies, RHP (at Marlins, at Orioles)
Wheeler has been one of the best stories of the 2026 season so far, coming back from a major injury to go 10-2 with a 2.16 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and a 117/22 K/BB ratio over 100 innings in his age-36 season. He has also been remarkably consistent from start-to-start and you know that you’re going to get elite results from him whenever he takes the mound. He’s easily one of the top overall plays on the board once again this week.
Michael King, Padres, RHP (vs. Rockies, vs. Giants)
King is putting together another tremendous season for the Padres, posting a 3.24 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 103/49 K/BB ratio over 119 1/3 innings through his first 21 starts. Now he draws a dream two-start week, getting to battle both the Rockies and the Giants in the pitcher-friendly confines of Petco Park. He’s easily one of the top overall plays on the board this week and should be started in 100 percent of fantasy leagues without question.
Christian Scott, Mets, RHP (vs. Braves, vs. Marlins)
Scott has settled in nicely to the Mets’ rotation, contributing a terrific 3.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 78/29 K/BB ratio over 63 1/3 innings through his first 14 starts. The only problem is that he has made it through five innings just six times in those 14 outings and hasn’t even exceeded 90 pitches in a start since June 5. That lowers his win equity a bit, but he’ll still deliver quality ratios and strikeout numbers, which makes him a strong option in all leagues for his two-start week.
Eric Lauer, Dodgers, LHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Red Sox)
Things could still change, but as of now it looks like even in a six-game week that we’ll get a two-start week from someone on the Dodgers, That’s because Shohei Ohtani is battling a knee issue and it’s unclear when he’ll return to the rotation. Lauer has done a nice job overall since joining the Dodgers, posting a 3.35 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a 26/12 K/BB ratio over 45 2/3 innings of work. What he lacks in strikeouts, he makes up for in win equity by pitching for baseball’s best team. Those limited strikeouts are also buoyed by the added volume of a two-start week. Lauer is a strong play in all leagues this week.
Sandy Alcantara, Marlins, RHP (vs. Phillies, at Mets)
We haven’t quite gotten the vintage version of Sandy Alcantara this season, but he has been leaps and bounds better than the version that we had to suffer through during the 2025 season. The workhorse right-hander holds a 4.01 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 110/38 K/BB ratio over a league-leading 143 2/3 innings. He should be in fantasy lineups most weeks regardless of matchups, and he always makes for a strong option when he’s toeing the slab twice. He should be started in all league sizes without question.
Zac Thornton, Mets, LHP (vs. Braves, vs. Marlins)
The 24-year-old southpaw has been very impressive through his first four starts, putting together a 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and a 17/6 K/BB ratio over 23 1/3 innings. He has gone at least six innings and allowed one run or less in each of his last three starts. While he’s not going to continue at this level, you should absolutely ride the hot hand here in a two-start week. He’s an easy start in all formats this week.
Brandon Sproat, Brewers, RHP (at Giants, at Angels)
Sproat has taken his lumps in the Brewers’ rotation this season, compiling a 5.09 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 91/43 K/BB ratio over 86 2/3 innings through his first 19 outings. It has finally looked like the talent is starting to shine through and everything is clicking into place recently though. Since the calendar flipped to June, Sproat boasts a 3.58 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 39/16 K/BB ratio across 37 2/3 innings. The matchups couldn’t get much better, battling the Giants and Angels in pitcher’s parks. He should be an easy start in all leagues this week and makes for a terrific streaming option in shallower formats where he may still be available.
Landen Roupp, Giants, RHP (vs. Brewers, at Padres)
Roupp has quietly put together a nice season in the Giants’ rotation, registering a 3.93 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 113/45 K/BB ratio over 110 innings through his first 20 starts. He’s had two terrible road starts that have brought that overall line down, otherwise he has been very impressive. He has also been sizzling in the month of July, allowing just three runs over 21 innings (1.29 ERA) while posting a 14/5 K/BB ratio. He should be started with full confidence in all league sizes this week.
Michael McGreevy, Cardinals, LHP (vs. Cubs, at Blue Jays)
McGreevy has been a stabilizing force for the Cardinals and for fantasy managers this season, putting together a 3.07 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 74/27 K/BB ratio across 114 1/3 innings in his first 20 starts. It’s a travesty that it has only led to four victories. The only knock on him, aside from the lack of wins which are out of his control, is the limited strikeout rate. That’s made up for with the added volume from a two-start week. He should be utilized in all leagues this week.
▶ Decent Plays
Cade Cavalli, Nationals, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, at Braves)
Cavalli has legitimately done a nice job for the Nationals this season, compiling a 3.58 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 127/34 K/BB ratio over 110 2/3 innings through his first 22 starts. He has been a useful option most weeks for fantasy purposes as well. Look for that trend to continue with this two-start week on tap. The Blue Jays can be bested by right-handed pitching and though the Braves will be a tougher challenge with Ronald Acuna Jr. back in the mix, it’s not enough to dissuade me from using Cavalli with double the volume this week. Go ahead and fire him up in all leagues.
Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks, RHP (at Pirates, at Guardians)
The 37-year-old right-hander has not pitched well overall this season, but there has been at least a glimmer of hope since the calendar flipped to July. Over his last four starts, Kelly has gone 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and an 18/8 K/BB ratio over 22 innings of work. The matchups against the Pirates and Guardians aren’t terribly imposing, so I’d be tempted to ride with the hot hand here, making Kelly a viable streaming option in all formats.
Mitch Keller, Pirates, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, at Reds)
Overall, Keller’s season has been an extreme roller coaster ride. He started off brilliant, with a 2.87 ERA through his first seven starts. Then he went through a six-start stretch where he was saddled with an 8.70 ERA over 30 innings. Things have leveled off a bit since then though and he’s coming off of a terrific outing where he struck out six batters over five scoreless innings against the Yankees. Keller has always been a viable streaming option in deeper mixed leagues in two-start weeks, and I’m comfortable rolling him out there in both 15 and 12-team formats once again this time around.
Brady Singer, Reds, RHP (vs. Guardians, vs. Pirates)
Singer is having a rough time overall in his second season with the Reds, posting an uninspiring 4.53 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and an 88/32 K/BB ratio across 103 1/3 innings in his 20 starts. The matchups this week aren’t particularly imposing, which gives credence to the idea that Singer could be worth a look as a streaming option. It’s never going to feel warm and fuzzy to put Singer in your lineup for a two-start week, but the overall upside outweighs the risk here, making him a viable play in deeper mixed leagues.
Colin Rea, Cubs, RHP (at Cardinals, vs. Yankees)
Rea pretty much is who he is at this stage of his career, a decent innings eater that can have viability for fantasy purposes in weeks where the matchups fall in his favor. That’s not quite the case having to travel to St. Louis before battling the Yankees to finish the week. What’s nice about Rea is that the chances of him crushing your ratios with a blowup start are minimal, while he should be able to approach double-digit strikeouts in most two-start weeks. The ceiling isn’t that high, but he can be of use in deeper leagues.
Bubba Chandler, Pirates, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, at Reds)
Chandler has yet to deliver the elite results that fantasy managers were hoping for this season as inconsistency has led to a middling 4.47 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 90/56 K/BB ratio over 100 2/3 innings. The stuff is there, he just has to find a way to cut back on the walks to have consistent success at the game’s highest level. The matchups this week are tough, which invites in some extra ratio risk, so it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re fine with piling up strikeouts and taking a shot at a win, Chandler makes for a fine option.
Tyler Mahle, Giants, RHP (vs. Brewers, at Padres)
The overall season line for Mahle looks bleak, as he sits at 2-9 with a 5.31 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a 77/33 K/BB ratio over 83 frames through his first 16 starts. If you squint though, you can see a glimmer of hope coming out of his recent performance. The most likely scenario here is that he deals you some ratio damage and approaches double-digit strikeouts for the week while giving you a shot at a win. If that sounds appealing, go ahead and roll the dice.
Tyler Phillips, Marlins, RHP (vs. Phillies, at Mets)
Phillips has done a decent job overall on the season for the Marlins, registering a 3.52 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 58/36 K/BB ratio over 79 1/3 innings in 26 appearances (10 starts). He has won just two games though and has made it through five innings just once in his last four outings. The matchups are a mixed bag, as the Phillies are likely to cause him trouble, though the matchup against the Mets is softer. He’s fine as a volume play in deeper leagues, but the overall ceiling is very low.
▶ At Your Own Risk
Matthew Liberatore, Cardinals, LHP (vs. Cubs, at Blue Jays)
Liberatore’s overall results on the season have been extremely disappointing, struggling to a 5.18 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 95/38 K/BB ratio over 99 innings through his first 20 starts. He was also knocked around by the Angels his last time out, so he doesn’t enter this week in good form. If you are able to throw caution to the wind with your ratios and are just looking to add volume, you can click his name and hope for the best. Otherwise, I’d avoid.
Andrew Alvarez, Nationals, LHP (vs. Blue Jays, at Braves)
Alvarez has been a somewhat serviceable option as an innings eater for the Nationals, but his 1.50 WHIP has dealt brutal ratio damage to fantasy managers that have risked using him. This two-step looks particularly challenging on paper as I can see that start against the Braves going sideways very quickly. He’s also not likely to be a favorite to earn a win in either start. If all you care about is piling up strikeouts, you could try it, but there are probably better alternatives available.
David Peterson, Cubs, LHP (at Cardinals, vs. Yankees)
The version of Peterson that we have seen through four starts with the Cubs looks a whole lot like the guy who couldn’t keep his spot in the Mets’ rotation. He shows flashes of brilliance now and again, but the overall results have been wholly disappointing. With these particular matchups, Peterson isn’t likely to win a game, he has never been a major asset in the strikeout department and he’s very likely to deliver ratios that will cause major damage – especially in WHIP. If you’re chasing wins and strikeouts and need the volume, maybe you could try it in deeper leagues. I’d try to stay away from this one if possible though.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 14: Brett Gillis (78) of the Houston Astros pitches against the New York Mets during a Minor League spring training game on March 14, 2026 at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out yesterday’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (50-48) won 6-2 (BOX SCORE)
Wesneski started for Sugar Land and turned in another good outing allowing one unearned run over 4.1 innings while striking out 7. The offense got on the board in the 3rd inning on RBI singles from Loperfido and Whitcomb. In the 6th, the offense blew it open scoring 4 runs on a Biggio sac fly, Meyers RBI single, and Whitcomb 2 run double. The pen was solid with Carlson allowing the only run in the 9th as he held on for the 6-2 Sugar Land win.
Gillis got the start for the Hooks and pitched really well tossing 6 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts. The Hooks got on the board in the 4th inning on a Janek RBI single. Mancini came on for the 7th but allowed 4 runs as the Sod Poodles took the lead. In the bottom of the 7th, Gomez connected on a 2 run single but that was it as the Hooks fell 4-3.
DeVos started game two for the Hooks and pitched really well striking out 5 over 5.1 scoreless innings. The Hooks got on the board in the bottom of the 5th scoring 2 runs on a Gomez 2 run triple. Guedez closed out the 6th and Chirinos tossed a scoreless 7th inning as he closed out the 2-0 win.
A+: Asheville Tourists (32-61) lost 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
Taylor started for Asheville and he pitched really well allowing one unearned run over 4.1 innings while striking out 4 batters. Asheville got on the board in the 5th inning on a Thomas RBI double. In the 7th, Neyens gave Asheville the lead with an RBI single. The pen allowed a couple of runs as the Hot Rods tied it in the 7th and took the lead in the 8th. Asheville put a few on in the 9th but failed to scores as they fell 3-2.
Note: Taylor has a 2.93 ERA in High-A this season.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (46-46) lost 4-1 (BOX SCORE)
Potter got the start for the Woodpeckers and went 4.1 innings allowing 2 runs while striking out 6 batters. The offense got on the board in the 6th inning on a Cauro solo home run. Gonzalez went the final 3 innings allowing 2 runs as the Nationals extended their lead. The Woodpeckers offense was quiet the rest of the way as they fell 4-1.
Much like the Doomsday clock Disney/Marvel has put in place to count down to the new IP they want to put on screen, the clock is counting down to the trade deadline for MLB. Once the All-Star festivities completed and the season started back up, teams turned their attention back to making deals to put their teams into position for the stretch run and, hopefully, beyond. What the Phillies actually need to acquire and how it should be prioritized is a matter of opinion. The focus has been on bats that can get on base and/or relievers to add to the bullpen, but this weekend also showed us how much they might need someone to create a sense of calm in the fifth starter’s position if they even want to get into the postseason at all.
In order to facilitate those trades, the Phillies will have to surrender something in return, no easy task. Baseball America recently ranked the farm system the team has as the 29th best in the game, something that might make it difficult to make a deal to give them the impact bat/relief arm many would prefer they get. Yet trades will happen and the Phillies will be involved in some capacity, so let’s take a stab at ranking some of their prospects in terms of their trade value and what they might be able to command on the open market. This isn’t necessarily a ranking of what their farm system is as it stands. Rather, it’s look at prospects and how they might rank if we’re talking about those most likely to be dealt.
Note: any scouting reports used here will come from Matt Winkelman’s outstanding work covering the system unless otherwise noted. All stats through Wednesday’s games.
7. Alirio Ferrebus, C, Clearwater
Ferrebus has been one of the few breakouts the Phillies’ system has had this year. Fangraphs had him ranked 20th on the Phillies list coming into the season and all he has done is hit. A .328/.379/.511 line on the year with 11 home runs and 56 RBI is going to get the attention of people, as will the striking out less than 14% of the time he is at the plate. Yet it’s also the way he’s hitting that is going to be enticing. He’s maxed out with a 111.7 mph exit velocity, so the power is there and showing up in game.
Fantastic day at the plate for Phillies prospect Alirio Ferrebus. He went 4-5 with 4 RBI, a double, and this home run.
He’s making good swing decisions, basically doing all the things the team wants him to do. His staying as a catcher is still something of a question mark, but the way he is swinging the bat, he simply needs to get to something a tic below average to have a lot of value. This might be a little low of a ranking, but with catchers, development isn’t really linear. Some might be hesitant to give up a lot for him if he can’t stay as a catcher, which adds to the wild card-ness of his profile.
What would be able to bring the Phillies: Ferrebus likely wouldn’t be enough to be the lead of any significant deal, but he’s a solid second piece in a trade.
6. Bryan Rincon, SS, Jersey Shore
Another breakout for the Phillies, Rincon is healthy and producing. He had 13 home runs and 23 stolen bases, showing more power than he has in the past and regaining the speed that made him an intriguing up the middle prospect. The question is – is there more development left for him, or is this pretty much what he is? If that’s the case, the consideration must be made that his trade value is somewhat small, which brings us to…
What would be able to bring the Phillies: For now, he seems to be very much in the boat of “third piece in a deal” if they were looking to acquire someone fairly significant, as reports seem to be. However, Rincon also has that whiff about him of a player that would be a fine return for a team looking at a one-for-one deal for a bullpen addition. His value might vacillate quite a bit.
5. Marty Gair, RHP, Clearwater
Does 102 do it for you?
#Phillies prospect Marty Gair throws Gas 🔥 He struck out 2 batters in the 9th inning for the @Threshers tonight and hit 102.2 MPH! The hardest pitch thrown by a player in the Phillies org this season
Teams love bringing back wild card arms in trades and Gair is one that would qualify. He has had a solid season down in Clearwater, clearly demonstrating the ability to throw the baseball past hitters at that level. Does it play as he moves up the minor league ladder? Well, looking at at least one game to see his metrics on the fastball, there is something here that teams would be interested in working with. Seeing as how he has an induced vertical break on the fastball of 19 inches with some cut to it, that’s a major league fastball. Maybe it needs some refinement, which he clearly does with that and his secondary stuff, but this is a definite player teams would have interest in.
What would be able to bring the Phillies: Let’s also be realistic here. Gair is a reliever. Teams aren’t going to make a pitcher like that a priority in a deal unless it is similar to Rincon, a one-for-one move for a bullpen arm. Yet this is something that is tantalizing, a piece that could bring some teams something maybe they don’t have in their current system, an arm that can rush it up to the plate with pitch characteristics that play in higher levels
4. Brad Pacheco, RHP, Clearwater
The Phillies seem to be able to develop right handed pitching rather well in their minor league system and it’s beginning to look like Pacheco is going to be another. He had thrown strikes this year and done so with a fastball that reaches into the high nineties, all complemented by a changeup that grades out as plus.
If you're looking for the Phillies' next Ramon Marquez, look no further than Brad Pacheco. He fired off five strong innings for Clearwater tonight.
His last three starts:
16.0 IP, 1.13 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, 18 K. He's walked one batter.
These are the stepping stones teams that can develop pitchers well seek out when looking at prospects to acquire in a deal. Pachecho may have developed into that.
What would be able to bring the Phillies: As all the scouting reports you read about him talk about, being six feet tall has his profile at risk of being a reliever. He’s been developed by the Phillies as a starter and he has shown success, so teams would likely continue that path with him. Does he lead a trade package? Probably not, but he’s a darn good second piece.
3. Aroon Escobar, 2B, Reading
Players in the minors go through down parts of their development as we all know that that development is rarely linear. Escobar is one that is in the down part. He has not had a good season this year as he’s hitting for significantly less power than he did just a year ago. There are some bright spots to see as he’s walking a bit more and striking out a bit less, but even then, there is bit of a line of demarcation with his season. As Winkelman quotes:
Escobar has struggled at Reading, with an overly aggressive approach leading to poor contact quality. He has swung the other way towards passivity in June, and he needs to find a balance between the two approaches.
To me, that screams a player that needs a new voice in his development and perhaps an outside organization will see what he did last year and think they have the solutions to get him back on track.
What would be able to bring the Phillies: It’s probably a lock that Escobar is someone who is dealt at the deadline. What he commands in a deal will probably be the biggest delta of them all. If a team thinks they can fix his issues, he might be someone that is targeted in a deal. They’ll probably try to buy low on him based on his season though.
2. Juan Villavicencio, SS, Jersey Shore
This is where we get into the part of the list where, in my opinion, things are going to start to get interesting. Villavicencio has had a great season so far in Jersey Shore, hitting for some unexpected power and showing that he can stay up the middle long term. If this is the first time you’re hearing about him as a prospect, you’re not alone.
Matt Winkelman, as noted above, is the foremost authority on the team’s prospect system. Here is what he wrote about Villavicencio last year:
Villavicencio received an intriguing amount of time at the top of the FCL lineup after Aroon Escobar’s injury, indicating the Phillies like him. He has some positional flexibility, but he also has struck out a decent rate at each stop and doesn’t really have starting punch in his bat.
And here is what he wrote about him most recently:
Villavicencio has piqued the interest of some evaluators over the years thanks to intriguing raw power and the ability to stay up the middle defensively. However, he barely played and stayed healthy the last two seasons, with much of his time spent on the complex team. This year, he has been healthy, and very productive. He has average raw power, good zone contact rates, and a solid approach.
This kind of jump in what his profile looks like is what gets other teams to notice, something that is starting to happen more often.
What would be able to bring the Phillies: Ever see those trades where a guy looks like a throw-in at the end of a deal and turns out to be something more? That looks like where Villavicencio is headed. If he is someone that looks like he will continue on his current path and teams think he will do so, teams are going to target him in a deal, maybe for something significant.
1. Ramon Marquez, RHP, Jersey Shore
Marquez has had a breakout season for the Phillies to this point and is probably the best prospect the team would move this trade season. His changeup has led to his getting some solid swing and miss, a pitch that has jumped a grade in this season.
Another fantastic outing from Phillies prospect Ramon Marquez.
His final line: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K 73 pitches (51 strikes) 18 whiffs
He has a 2.05 ERA in 44 innings this year, it really cannot be emphasized enough how much of a jump he's taken this season. pic.twitter.com/irS1qqwyuV
What’s interesting is that with Marquez, there are some scouts that spoke with Matt Gelb in an article about the farm system that said he has gotten to, or maybe passed, the level that Gage Wood is at, perhaps the top prospect in the team’s current farm system. If that is true, there might be some belief that the team should hold on to him, but if his profile is this high and they can find a match in a trade, out the door he goes.
What would be able to bring the Phillies: If Wood is completely off the table, Marquez is probably the lead player in any deal of significance the Phillies make.
Honorable mention: Gage Wood, RHP, Reading
Why isn’t Wood amongst the names we have included here? It’s highly unlikely that the team will actually deal him, but we simply cannot rule it out completely.
Let’s consider the Phillies’ many needs, all of which we have covered here. A lot of the names we have seen churning on the rumor mill are names that aren’t exactly that perfect combination of difference maker and having notable team control still in their future. Were that player to exist and the Phillies make a play on him, putting Wood on that table would and should be something they considered.
Notable absences: Aidan Miller, Francisco Renteria
It’s pretty obvious why Miller isn’t included here. Trading him now would be trading him at the lowest his trade value would be. He projects to be an impact player so long as he is healthy enough to scratch that ceiling. However, that health is the X-factor at play. Most teams will likely not want anything to do with him, those that might have interest not wanting to risk giving something of value for him. For now, it only makes sense that the Phillies hang on to him and continue rehabbing his injury.
With Renteria, the upside he has been showing in game situations, one might make the argument that he is the team’s top prospect right now regardless of age or level of competition he’s faced. The team is likely loathe to trade him, preferring that their investment in him pay dividends in their own organization as opposed to another.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 27: Colorado Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog holds the Stanley Cup trophy above his head as he walks off the plane with his teammates at Signature Flight Support at Denver International Airport on June 27, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. The Colorado Avalanche arrived back from Florida after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 and 4-2 in the series to win the Stanley Cup finals.(Photo by Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
The past thirty years of Avalanche hockey have featured incredible highs, and some very, very dismal lows.
As an avid fan of The Simpsons, I’ve witnessed plenty of “best of times” moments, but also been subjected to a smattering of unpleasant “blursts” of times. In the final edition of this off-season series, I take a look back through the past thirty years, highlighting one moment that stands among the best, and comparatively, the worst (or blurst, if you will) each season.
Here are the best and blurst moments from another five years of Colorado Avalanche history.
2020-2021
The Best: Miniseries Schedule Format (Various)
As the COVID-19 pandemic continued after the conclusion of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoff bubble, the NHL tried to find a way for its member clubs to the upcoming season.
A shortened, fifty-six game schedule was unveiled, along with a temporary division realignment. Instead of all 31 teams playing against each other, teams would play solely against members of their own division. Each team would play a total of eight games against each division opponent.
As was the case during the playoff bubble, fans were not permitted to attend. This policy was lifted in April, allowing a fans to attend games, albeit in a very reduced capacity.
The Avs were one of eight teams that made up the West Division, facing off against the Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Los Angels Kings, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, and Vegas Golden Knights.
In order to potential risks associated with traveling from city to city, teams often played “miniseries” of games against the same opponent. The schedule had a couple of variations to keep things a little interesting. In order to re-create home ice advantage, teams would play a couple of games against each other in one city, then travel to the other for a third game. Or, they would play a pair of games in a specific city, then play another pair against that same team on the road as the season progressed.
Playing consecutive games against the same opponent—sometimes on back to back nights—evoked a playoff series atmosphere, and added a new dimension to regular season play. Since teams could only play against other ones within their division, every point held even more significance as the shortened season progressed. This led to heightened physicality during games and, as the season marched towards the playoffs, increased urgency for better playoff positioning, if not staving off elimination from playoff consideration.
The Avs finished with a 39-13-4 record and 82 points, narrowly edging out Vegas via tiebreakers for the best record in the League and their third Presidents Trophy in franchise history.
The format has yet to return in the years following this one, and due to the myriad scheduling conflicts for each venue, it likely won’t be seen again. I felt this scheduling adjustment was a unique method of making the regular season games more compelling. If there’s ever a chance that the League could re-imagine the now 84 game season to recreate this format in some capacity, it could help draw in more viewers that may be inclined to see a rematch between two clubs after a tightly contested game, or see if one team can respond after a blowout loss.
Case in point: the Avs lost their season opener to the St. Louis Blues by a score of 4-1 at Ball Arena on January 13. Two nights later, they responded in convincing fashion, defeating St. Louis by a 8-0 decision.
The highlights below speak for themselves. Who wouldn’t be drawn in by a response like that?
This scheduling strategy was the best move the League could have made under such challenging circumstances.
The Blurst: Nazem Kadri KOs Justin Faulk (May 19, 2021)
After securing the top seed in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Avs drew the St. Louis Blues in the first round. Both teams had previously met only once in the postseason: the Avs defeated St. Louis in five games during the 2001 Western Conference Final en route to their second Stanley Cup championship.
In comments to the media before the series began, St. Louis Blues captain Ryan O’Reilly professed his belief in his team’s capability to prevail over the Avs. “We know that they have a lot of talent over there and they work hard, but for us, it’s an exciting challenge,” said O’Reilly. “We’re going have some fun and we’re going to beat them.”
Oh, oh, oh…O’Reilly.
The Avs took that bulletin board material and ran with it all the way to a 4-1 victory in Game One.
Game Two followed a similar blueprint, until things took an unfortunate turn in the third period. Blues defenseman Justin Faulk had received a drop pass from teammate Robert Thomas in the Avs zone. Avs center Nazem Kadri began skating towards Faulk in an attempt to disrupt the play. Immediately after Faulk shot the puck towards goaltender Philipp Grubauer, Kadri forcefully hit Faulk, with the majority of the contact up high. The force of the impact spun Faulk around before he tumbled to the ice, laying motionless.
Kadri was assessed a match penalty for the hit, and on May 21 ahead of Game Three at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, he was suspended eight games for the hit. The Avs would go on to sweep St. Louis out of the postseason, and advance to face the Vegas Golden Knights.
On May 31, one day after the Avs won Game One by a 7-1 score, Kadri filed to appeal his suspension with the NHL, but the League upheld their decision. The Avs won Game Two against Vegas in overtime by a 3-2 decision the next day.
With half of Kadri’s suspension now served, and two games away from the Western Conference Final, the Avs still had a huge hill to climb. Even if they were to sweep Vegas, they would still be without Kadri for at least two more games in the next series. If Vegas were to push back, the soonest Kadri would be available would be in a winner-take-all Game Seven at Ball Arena.
Unfortunately for the Avs, they wouldn’t get the chance to find out. Vegas won the next four straight games, eliminating the Avs series in six games. This was the third consecutive second-round exit for the Avs, and with it, a possible Stanley Cup berth went bust (or blurst).
Nathan MacKinnon bemoaned the loss in this infamous video. “I’m going into my ninth year next year,” he began, “and I haven’t won shit, so I’m definitely motivated [for next year].”
A year later, the hockey world would find out just how motivated he and the Avs would be.
2021-2022
The Best: Found a Way (June 26, 2022)
After the disappointing end of their playoff run at the hands of Vegas last year, the Avs vowed that this season would be different. To a man, they knew that they couldn’t afford to have another early exit when the playoffs rolled around in the spring.
The COVID-19 protocols presented an added layer of complexity as the year started out. The Avs certainly had some trouble finding their rhythm, losing six of their first ten games of the season. Things went on the upswing afterwars, as the Avs won thirteen of their next sixteen games.
With rising COVID-related concerns, the NHL instituted a schedule pause (spoilers) as the calendar year concluded. When January rolled around, the Avs picked up right where they left off, going 23-2-2 into March. They finished the season on a 15-9-3 run, clinching the top seed in the Western Conference as the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs began.
The Avs handily swept the Nashville Predators in the first round, but had a scare in Game Three when Kuemper suffered a freak eye injury at the hands of future Avs center Ryan Johansen. Pavel Francouz stepped in to keep the goaltending steady.
A second round rematch against the St. Louis Blues proved to be a formidable challenge, and one that was not without controversy. Both teams suffered key injuries in Game Three, with defenseman Sam Girard suffering a broken sternum that knocked him out for the remainder of the playoff run, and Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington sustaining a lower body injury in the aftermath of a collision between Nazem Kadri and Blues defenseman Calle Rosén.
Kadri became the target of racist remarks from a select segment of the St. Louis fanbase after the hit, resulting in an increased security presence for Game Four. Kadri let his on-ice play do the talking, as he recorded a hat trick to give the Avs a 3-1 series lead as the series shifted to Denver for Game Five. Unable to close out the series on home ice, the Avs returned to Enterprise Center for Game Six, with with Helm providing a last-minute goal to secure the series win.
A highly anticipated Western Conference Final with the Edmonton Oilers turned into another lopsided affair. After a high-scoring victory in Game One, Kuemper would be shelved for the remainder of the series due to the aftereffects of his eye injury against Nashville. Francouz again answered the call for the Avs, and an overtime goal from Artturi Lehkonen secured their berth in the Stanley Cup Final. The Avs also lost Kadri to injury early in Game Three, and his return for the remainder of the playoffs was in question.
The Avs hosted the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning to begin the series, winning both games on home ice. They earned a split on the road thanks to an overtime goal by the returning Kadri. Tampa staved off elimination in Game Five, and Lehkonen gave the Avs the go-ahead goal in Game Six to win the series, claiming their third Stanley Cup in franchise history and snapping a twenty-one year championship drought.
Four days later, the Stanley Cup made its return to Denver, with fans lining the downtown streets to celebrate the victory. Head coach Jared Bednar unarguably gave his finest speech of his coaching tenure to date.
As for MacKinnon? He finally won something!
What a difference a year makes.
The Blurst: Down With The Sickness (December 16, 2021)
Winning cures a lot of ills, but even for all its might, it can’t cure COVID.
The Avs were in Nashville to face the Predators in what was originally scheduled to be a quick visit to the Music City before returning home for a rematch against Tampa. However, a surge in positive COVID-19 cases resulted in a total of twelve players for both teams being ruled out of action.
Missing from Colorado’s lineup were goaltender Darcy Kuemper, defensemen Cale Makar and Devon Toews, and forwards Andre Burakovsky and J.T. Compher. The Avs weren’t able to call up any players from Loveland to shore up their suddenly thin lineup, and were forced to play with sixteen skaters. Goaltender Pavel Francouz was pressed into service shortly before puck drop, and Dustin Smith served as the emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) for the game.
On Nashville’s side of the ice, forwards Nick Cousins, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Johansen, Matt Luff, Michael McCarron, Philip Tomasino, and defenseman Ben Harpur also missed the game due to COVID protocol. In addition to the players, Nashville’s coaching staff of Jon Hynes, Dan Hinote, Dan Lambert, Todd Richards, and Ben Vanderklok. Unlike the Avs, however, Nashville did call up reinforcements from their farm team in Milwaukee.
Nashville held a 2-0 lead into the second period, but Mikko Rantanen finally broke through against goaltender Jusse Saros just before the halfway point of regulation. Nashville’s Filip Forsberg would restore the two-goal margin in late in the period. Valeri Nichushkin scored in the third period to keep the margin within one goal, but Nashville added a pair in the final stages of the game to secure a 5-2 victory, which snapped a five game winning streak for the Avs.
“They were shorthanded, we were shorthanded,” Avs head coach Jared Bednar said. “We’re not using COVID as an excuse. We’re here to win a hockey game. We had plenty of capable bodies in the lineup.”
The next day, the NHL announced that it had postponed the Avs’ remaining four games before the holiday break amid more positive COVID-19 cases. On December 20, the NHL went a step further, announcing that it was pausing all games through December 27. However, on the day that the pause was to conclude for the Avs, the League announced that the two remaining games in December—both against the Dallas Stars—would also be postponed.
In total, seven games were postponed and rescheduled in the wake of the Avs’ visit to Nashville. While it was in the NHL’s best interest to take action to adjust and reschedule postponed games, it’s a poor look on the League to risk the health of their entire contingent of players—not just the superstars—amid an uptick in the middle of a two year long global pandemic.
It’s a blurst that, thankfully, didn’t seem to have more longer-lasting consequences than this.
2022-2023
The Best: A Banner Occasion (October 12, 2022)
Opening night is special on its own, but it takes on a whole different aura when the Stanley Cup is the guest of honor in commemorating that long road to championship glory, a ceremony exclusive to only one franchise.
Of all the sights I’ve witnessed in my time watching this team over the years, the sight of Gabe Landeskog (gingerly) skating the Stanley Cup on Ball Arena ice was truly one of the greatest moments I’ve experienced as an Avs fan.
The other great moment? Watching the 2022 Stanley Cup Champions banner being raised to the Ball Arena rafters.
This team was the laughingstock of the hockey world five years prior. Matt Duchene—labeled as the heir to Joe Sakic when the Avs drafted him third overall in 2009—infamously asked for a trade (“I only get one shot at this. I need to play playoff hockey.”) when this team was at its lowest. Patrick Roy—the goaltending backbone of the Avs’ initial championship era—gave the finger to the franchise where he won two more Stanley Cups and had his first head coaching assignment. Several others took their shots at this franchise when it was at its lowest.
Five years later, that had all changed, with that glistening silver chalice and accompanying championship banner as proof of their renaissance to relevance.
Other than winning the Stanley Cup, things don’t get any better than this.
The Blurst: Oh, Captain, No Captain (October 19, 2022)
The Avs had high hopes of defending the Stanley Cup as the season got underway, but started the season without its captain. Gabe Landeskog missed the first three games of the year with a lower body injury. On October 19, the team announced that Landeskog would miss twelve weeks to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery.
The news sent shockwaves through the fanbase. Head coach Jared Bednar said that Landeskog’s knee—the one he had surgery on back in March—began to bother him as the start of the season drew closer. The decision was made early to have the procedure done in the hopes that Landeskog would return shortly after the start of the year.
Landeskog’s surgery seemingly went through without complication. The Avs carried on without their captain, and as the season progressed, worked to positioning themselves favorably for their title defense.
Unfortunately, Landeskog’s recovery stretched beyond the twelve week mark. As January turned to February, then to March, many began to wonder if he would make a return for the upcoming playoffs, if he returned at all. He did make a rare appearance on April 30 as the Avs faced the expansion Seattle Kraken in a do-or-die Game Seven at Ball Arena. Unfortunately, the Avs’ Stanley Cup defense came to an end that evening.
On May 9, the team announced that Landeskog would undergo knee surgery yet again: this time for knee cartilage replacement. The news meant that not only would Landeskog be out for the remainder of this season and the corresponding playoff run, the Avs would not have his services for the entirety of the 2023-2024 season. Further, there was no guarantee that the surgery would allow Landeskog to return to action.
“I just have to do what’s right for my health and really, ultimately, do what I can so I’m able to go out there and play with the guys and continue chasing more Stanley Cups,” Landeskog told reporters on a Zoom call prior to the surgery. “Is it going to be a long road? Yeah. But motivating factors are plenty.”
The cartilage replacement surgery was performed on May 10, and Landeskog began the very lengthy rehab process shortly after.
Losing your leader for not the entirety of this season and the following season on top of a first round exit at the hands of an expansion team? Better believe that’s a blurst.
When the Pittsburgh Penguins came to Denver for a Sunday matinee late in the 2023-2024 season, they faced an Avs squad that had won eleven of their last twelve games. Pittsburgh, however, had lost ten of their previous thirteen games. With one team red hot and the other ice cold, the outcome seemed like a foregone conclusion.
Things got off to a great start…for Pittsburgh. They scored a pair of goals on Avs goaltender Alexandar Georgiev in the first period, then added another pair during the second period. Pittsburgh thwarted every chance the Avs had, giving goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic a relatively quiet time in goal.
The Avs found some life late in the second, as defenseman Sean Walker and forward Yakov Trenin would score a pair of goals 3:25 apart to put some pressure on Pittsburgh. Jonathan Drouin pulled the Avs within one early in the third.
Nedeljkovic was forced to leave the game after a collision with Avs center Casey Mittelstadt halfway through the period. A few minutes later, Nathan MacKinnon scored to tied the game at four.
The Avs wasted little time in the extra session, as Jonathan Drouin completed the comeback in just under a minute to secure the 5-4 victory for their ninth consecutive win.
MacKinnon scored a goal and two assists, putting him at a total of 122 points on the season, eclipsing the previous mark held by Joe Sakic (120) in Avalanche history. For his part, Crosby scored one goal and added three assists. Both players combined for two goals and five assists for a total of seven points, an impressive performance regardless of the outcome.
If there’s a better best than rallying from a four goal hole and pull out a win, it would have to be something pretty remarkable (which may be further down on this list).
The Blurst: Big Val’s Big Violation (May 13, 2024)
Trailing 2-1 in their second round series against the Dallas Stars, the Avs needed to earn another split on home ice to keep the series on even footing. Having lost Game Three by a 4-1 decision, a solid performance throughout the lineup, especially its biggest stars, would be essential.
Unfortunately for the Avs, they were about to receive some very bad news.
The abrupt announcement meant that the Avs would be without Nichushkin for not just the duration of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but through the middle of November in the upcoming 2024-2025 season. With Logan O’Connor already out with injury, and Gabe Landeskog fresh off his knee cartilage transplant surgery, the Avs were now missing three key components from their roster.
Nichushkin’s absence was noticeable as the Avs took the ice for Game Four. Dallas raced to a three goal lead in the first half of regulation, handily winning by a score of 5-1 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Avs forced a Game Six back on home ice with a 5-3 victory in Game Five, but a double-overtime goal by Matt Duchene in two nights later snuffed out the Avs’ playoff hopes.
While losing Nichuskin was a big factor in the Avs losing this series, there were other factors that led to their demise. However, Nichushkin’s own personal struggles consumed him in the worst way at the worst possible time.
With two previous strikes against him in the past, the third proved to be his most costly, and an even costlier blurst for his team.
2024-2025
The Best: The Captain Makes It Happen! (April 23, 2025)
You knew this was coming.
After three knee surgeries, including a knee cartilage transplant that had no guarantee of a successful return to the game, which resulted in three lost seasons totaling over 1032 games, the wait was over.
Captain Gabe Landeskog had been activated from injured reserve, making his long-anticipated return.
Earlier in this article, I mentioned that the sight of Landeskog skating the Stanley Cup on Ball Arena ice was one of the greatest moments I’ve experienced as an Avs fan.
This was on a whole other level.
The anticipation inside Ball Arena was the highest it had ever been, even surpassing the energy during the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. As soon as Landeskog appeared on the Ball Arena video boards, all that pent-up energy stored over three years by Avs fans in attendance, finally found its rightful place. When the house lights came up and Landeskog took pregame warmups, Ball Arena was louder than I’ve ever heard it.
Louder than any comeback victory. Louder than the fiercest rivalry match-up between any of the franchise’s most despised foes over the years. Louder than any of the three Stanley Cup wins. Louder than any—or every—jersey retirement of the greats from the past.
This moment beats them all.
The video above doesn’t do Landeskog’s re-introduction justice. Every fan of this team rode the highs and lows of his recovery, openly speculating—some even doubting—the probability of his return for three years. And finally, three years of determination, commitment, and incredible discipline, finally paid off at last.
You truly had to be there to witness how much emotion went into that moment.
Of all the bests covered in this series, this one may be the absolute summit.
The Blurst: Doomsday in Dallas (May 03, 2025)
It is said that, when the doomsday clock strikes twelve, a man-made global catastrophe will come about.
This is the hockey equivalent.
Not forgotten amid the sheer elation of Gabe Landeskog’s return to action was another familiar face: Mikko Rantanen, who had been traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on January 24, had been acquired by the Dallas Stars on March 07. Rantanen previously returned to Denver as a member of the Stars on March 16, but this was the first time that he would face his now-former teammates in a playoff setting.
Rantanen had a quiet start to the playoffs, recording the secondary assist on Tyler Seguin’s overtime goal that secured a 2-1 victory for Dallas. As the series went on, his presence became more noticeable: he collected three goals and five assists for Dallas in Game Five and Game Six.
The Avs, who weren’t able to force a Game Seven the previous season, managed to do so with their emphatic 7-4 victory at Ball Arena. Two nights later, goals from Josh Manson and Nathan MacKinnon gave the Avs a 2-0 lead, which they carried into the third period.
From there, it all fell apart in the worst way imaginable.
Rantanen scored his first goal at 7:49 of the third period to solve former teammate Mackenzie Blackwood. Nearly six minutes later, with Cale Makar in the box for a tripping penalty, Rantanen tied the game on a shot that deflected off defenseman Sam Girard’s skate. Nearly three minutes later, Dallas took the lead on another power play opportunity.
With Blackwood on the bench for the extra skater in the final minutes, Rantanen gained control of the puck and had nothing between him and the empty net. He completed the hat trick among cheers from the crowd in attendance, adding the exclamation point on the series.
Once again, the Dallas Stars eliminated the Avs for the second straight season, but this time, it was at the hands of someone who had been one of their own for nearly a decade.
Indisputably, a blurst of doomsday-level proportions.
2025-2026
The Best: Going Wild Against Minnesota (May 03, 2026)
A sweep of the Los Angeles Kings in the first round gave the Avs an opportunity to rest up in advance of their upcoming second round. Either they would face the Dallas Stars for the third straight postseason, or they would draw the Minnesota Wild.
With Minnesota winning their first round series against Dallas, the Avs knew they had their work cut out for them, but neither team expected this series to start out quite like this.
Just after the halfway point of the first period, the Avs scored three goals on Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt in 2:01 seconds to take the lead. Later in the period, Minnesota responded with two goals in 1:02 to keep the game close.
The Avs added another goal early in the second period, but Minnesota turned up the pressure, scoring three goals in 10:10 to take a 5-4 lead. Late in the period, the Avs found the equalizer, sending both teams to the locker room tied at five goals apiece.
Early in the third, the Avs scored twice in 2:22, retaking the lead. Minnesota cut the lead to one with just over four minutes to play, but two goals in 0:46 from the Avs (one of which was an empty net tally) capped off the scoring. When the dust settled, the Avs won by a final score of 9-6, in what became the highest scoring game in franchise history, taking a 1-0 series lead in the process.
A performance like this, and the series clincher against Minnesota in Game Five, made believers out of many people—including me—that the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup Final appearance was all but inevitable.
Inevitable, however, would have to wait for another day. Until then, we’ll always have the best memory of a season filled with incredible moments to remember forever.
The Blurst: A Harrowing Heritage Hearkening (Various)
During the shortened 2020-2021 season, the Avs released an updated jersey design as part of the Adidas Reverse Retro Collection. Those jerseys were the envy of the League thanks to their integration of the Avs’ burgundy and white color scheme into the classic look of the original Nordiques jersey design.
While those jerseys won’t ever see a re-release (although they probably should), the Avs did the next best thing as part of their thirtieth anniversary celebrations this past season: a re-release of the original powder blue Nordiques jersey would be worn on select game nights to honor the team’s Québécois roots.
Not counting the Reverse Retro release, this was the very first time that the Avs publicly celebrated their Canadian origins as part of an anniversary year. Putting the classic Nordiques logo front and center, down to the smallest details, even going so far as to integrate Badaboum (Quebec’s original mascot) demonstrated that the organization wanted to put a lot of effort into recognizing their roots.
Given all of this attention to detail, what made this whole effort a blurst?
In total, the Avs wore the Nordique sweaters for eight games as part of their Heritage Series. Here’s a brief look at how the team performed:
October 23, 2025 vs. Carolina Hurricanes: after trailing Carolina (who wore their throwback Hartford Whalers jerseys for the occasion) 4-1 in the first period, the Avs rallied to tie the game late in the third period, but lost via a 5-4 shootout decision.
November 29, 2025 vs. Montréal Canadiens: the Avs scored a pair of goals in both the first and second period, eventually cruising to a 7-2 victory.
January 03, 2026 @ Carolina Hurricanes: Trailing 3-1 to Carolina (who again wore their throwback Hartford Whalers jerseys) after two periods, the Avs would score four unanswered goals to win by a score of 5-3, but lose defenseman Devon Toews to injury.
January 12, 2026 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: The Avs saw a 2-1 lead turn into a 3-2 deficit in the third period. A goal by Martin Nečas tied things up, but an overtime goal from Toronto’s William Nylander saw the Avs fall by a 4-3 score.
January 29, 2026 @ Montréal Canadiens: Montréal scored early and often in this contest, jumping to a 3-1 lead after the first period, ultimately avenging their loss in November with a 7-3 defeat of the Avs at Centre Bell.
March 16, 2026 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: The Penguins jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the first period and never looked back, as they would win one for the returning (but injured) Sam Girard by a score of 7-2.
April 01, 2026 vs. Vancouver Canucks: Goaltending was very optional in this game, as Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen and Colorado’s Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood surrendered a combined fourteen goals. Even though the Avs somehow came back from 3-1 and 6-3 deficits, they still wound up on the losing end, falling to Vancouver by a 8-6 final score.
April 11, 2026 vs. Vegas Golden Knights: In what could very well have been foreshadowing future events, both teams traded goals in the first and second periods, only for Jack Eichel to score the game-winner in overtime, defeating the Avs by a 3-2 decision.
Quebec’s history wasn’t always pretty, and unfortunately, the Avs embraced that side of their heritage a little too literally.
Looking at those results, there’s no way that this nod to history—even one that was as well-meaning as this one—couldn’t be considered a blurst.
Was there a best (or blurst) from these most recent years of Avalanche hockey that was overlooked? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 20: Jeremy Pena #3 of the Houston Astros hits a grand slam in the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Daikin Park on July 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Maria Lysaker/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sometimes the toughest conversations are the ones worth having.
As much as Astros fans would rather focus on another postseason run, the reality is that Dana Brown and the front office have to think beyond this season. Every decision they make isn’t just about winning in 2026, it’s about positioning the organization to remain a contender for years to come.
That brings us to an uncomfortable question.
Is Jeremy Peña the player the Astros should be shopping?
Before you dismiss the idea, consider where this roster currently stands.
Throughout the first half of the season, one of the biggest discussions surrounding the Astros was their infield logjam. Houston simply had more capable infielders than available positions. The injury to Carlos Correa temporarily solved that problem by opening a spot and allowing Dana Brown to postpone a difficult decision.
But that decision hasn’t gone away.
When everyone is healthy, the Astros will once again have to determine how the pieces fit together—not only for this season, but for the future.
That’s where Peña enters the conversation.
He’s approaching free agency, and his representative is Scott Boras.
That fact alone should get the attention of every Astros fan.
We already know how Jim Crane operates.
Throughout his ownership, Crane has consistently shown he’s reluctant to hand out massive, long-term contracts to players nearing free agency. Gerrit Cole walked. George Springer left. Carlos Correa departed. More recently, Kyle Tucker was traded before reaching the open market because the Astros understood the type of contract he would eventually command.
Whether fans liked those decisions or not, they’ve become part of the organization’s philosophy.
So why should anyone assume Peña will be treated differently?
In fact, the circumstances suggest the opposite.
There were reports that Peña and the Astros had the framework of a contract extension before he changed representation. Once Scott Boras entered the picture, those discussions disappeared.
That’s significant.
It suggests Houston may eventually face the same difficult financial decision it has encountered with several other franchise cornerstones.
The difference is timing.
Right now, Jeremy Peña’s value may never be higher.
He’s in the middle of another outstanding season, once again proving himself to be one of the better all-around shortstops in baseball. He’s producing offensively, playing Gold Glove-caliber defense, and still has team control.
That combination would make him one of the most valuable trade chips available if the Astros decided to explore the market.
The return could be enormous.
And here’s where the baseball argument becomes even more interesting.
If Carlos Correa returns healthy next season, Houston already has an accomplished shortstop capable of stepping right back into the position. The Astros wouldn’t be replacing Peña with an unproven rookie, they’d be replacing him with a player who has already excelled at the position in Houston.
That roster flexibility gives Dana Brown options that many general managers simply don’t have. Brown however is also in a contract year, so that could be a factor worth keeping an eye on. He may be in win now mode, regardless of what the right thing to do may be.
None of this means the Astros should become sellers.
Quite the opposite.
Houston can still be aggressive at this year’s trade deadline while simultaneously planning for the future. Contending for another championship and maximizing the long-term value of one of your best players are not mutually exclusive ideas.
The emotional reaction is obvious.
No Astros fan wants to see Jeremy Peña leave. He’s become one of the faces of the franchise and has delivered in some of the biggest moments since arriving in Houston.
But front offices can’t afford to make emotional decisions.
They have to make baseball decisions.
If Dana Brown believes Peña is unlikely to sign a long-term extension—and if Jim Crane remains committed to the financial philosophy he’s followed for years—the smartest move may be to maximize Peña’s value before he reaches free agency.
It won’t be a popular decision.
Neither was trading Kyle Tucker.
But popularity and practicality are rarely the same thing.
The Astros have shown they’re willing to make difficult choices if they believe those moves position the organization for sustained success.
The question now is whether Jeremy Peña is next.
It may not happen before this year’s trade deadline.
But between now and Opening Day next season, don’t be surprised if Dana Brown quietly begins searching for the right deal.
It may be the toughest conversation Astros fans have to face, but it could also be the smartest baseball decision the organization makes.
COVERS INTEL: Ryan Weathers’ four-seamer has allowed a 
