Deadspin | Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl might not be ready for playoff opener Mar 10, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Out with a lower-body injury since March 15, Edmonton Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl might miss the beginning of the Stanley Cup playoffs, coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters on Monday. “Leon is going to be on the ice this week and I don’t anticipate him playing any games in the regular season, and in the playoffs, sometime in the first round if things go well,” Knoblauch said. “I’m not ruling that out (first game of the playoffs), but I would just anticipate sometime in the first (round). There’s a period of time we anticipated his return and we said it was going to be right around the end of the regular season, at the start of playoffs.” Despite missing the last nine games, Draisaitl entered Monday as the NHL’s fifth-leading scorer this season, posting 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists) in 65 games. With five games left in the regular season, the Oilers (39-29-9, 87 points) are tied atop the Pacific Division with the Anaheim Ducks entering the week, and begin a three-game road trip Tuesday in Utah against the Mammoth. Edmonton closes the regular season on April 16, two days before the start of the postseason. A three-time All-Star, Draisaitl has been a beast in the past two postseasons, helping Edmonton advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025, losing to the Florida Panthers both times. In the 2025 playoffs, he compiled 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists), following a 31-point postseason (10 goals, 21 assists) the previous spring. Fellow Oilers forward Zach Hyman, who is out with an undisclosed injury, will likely miss the road trip, which includes games at the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings. The 33-year-old has 51 points (31 goals, 20 assists) in 57 games this season. “Hyman, I would think he’s going to play one if not two games before the end of this season,” Knoblauch said. “So, this week he’s out and not playing.” Last season, Draisaitl missed the final seven games with an undisclosed injury, but returned for the opener of the postseason to help lead Edmonton back to the Cup Final. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Oilers #Leon #Draisaitl #ready #playoff #opener

Deadspin | Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl might not be ready for playoff opener
Mar 10, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Out with a lower-body injury since March 15, Edmonton Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl might miss the beginning of the Stanley Cup playoffs, coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters on Monday.

“Leon is going to be on the ice this week and I don’t anticipate him playing any games in the regular season, and in the playoffs, sometime in the first round if things go well,” Knoblauch said. “I’m not ruling that out (first game of the playoffs), but I would just anticipate sometime in the first (round). There’s a period of time we anticipated his return and we said it was going to be right around the end of the regular season, at the start of playoffs.”

Despite missing the last nine games, Draisaitl entered Monday as the NHL’s fifth-leading scorer this season, posting 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists) in 65 games.

With five games left in the regular season, the Oilers (39-29-9, 87 points) are tied atop the Pacific Division with the Anaheim Ducks entering the week, and begin a three-game road trip Tuesday in Utah against the Mammoth. Edmonton closes the regular season on April 16, two days before the start of the postseason.

A three-time All-Star, Draisaitl has been a beast in the past two postseasons, helping Edmonton advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025, losing to the Florida Panthers both times. In the 2025 playoffs, he compiled 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists), following a 31-point postseason (10 goals, 21 assists) the previous spring.

Fellow Oilers forward Zach Hyman, who is out with an undisclosed injury, will likely miss the road trip, which includes games at the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings. The 33-year-old has 51 points (31 goals, 20 assists) in 57 games this season.

“Hyman, I would think he’s going to play one if not two games before the end of this season,” Knoblauch said. “So, this week he’s out and not playing.”

Last season, Draisaitl missed the final seven games with an undisclosed injury, but returned for the opener of the postseason to help lead Edmonton back to the Cup Final.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Oilers #Leon #Draisaitl #ready #playoff #opener

Sports news April 7, 2026

Mar 10, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Out with a lower-body injury since March 15, Edmonton Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl might miss the beginning of the Stanley Cup playoffs, coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters on Monday.

“Leon is going to be on the ice this week and I don’t anticipate him playing any games in the regular season, and in the playoffs, sometime in the first round if things go well,” Knoblauch said. “I’m not ruling that out (first game of the playoffs), but I would just anticipate sometime in the first (round). There’s a period of time we anticipated his return and we said it was going to be right around the end of the regular season, at the start of playoffs.”

Despite missing the last nine games, Draisaitl entered Monday as the NHL’s fifth-leading scorer this season, posting 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists) in 65 games.

With five games left in the regular season, the Oilers (39-29-9, 87 points) are tied atop the Pacific Division with the Anaheim Ducks entering the week, and begin a three-game road trip Tuesday in Utah against the Mammoth. Edmonton closes the regular season on April 16, two days before the start of the postseason.

A three-time All-Star, Draisaitl has been a beast in the past two postseasons, helping Edmonton advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025, losing to the Florida Panthers both times. In the 2025 playoffs, he compiled 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists), following a 31-point postseason (10 goals, 21 assists) the previous spring.

Fellow Oilers forward Zach Hyman, who is out with an undisclosed injury, will likely miss the road trip, which includes games at the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings. The 33-year-old has 51 points (31 goals, 20 assists) in 57 games this season.

“Hyman, I would think he’s going to play one if not two games before the end of this season,” Knoblauch said. “So, this week he’s out and not playing.”

Last season, Draisaitl missed the final seven games with an undisclosed injury, but returned for the opener of the postseason to help lead Edmonton back to the Cup Final.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Oilers #Leon #Draisaitl #ready #playoff #opener

I Call This Post: Nostalgia in Motion

Deadspin | Mariners hope Julio Rodriguez can return against Giants Jul 17, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodriguez (44) watches play from the dugout during the fifth inning against San Francisco at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images The Seattle Mariners expected to have star center fielder Julio Rodriguez back in the lineup when they returned from the All-Star break on Friday. That didn’t happen, but they hope he will be able to play Saturday when their three-game interleague series with the San Francisco Giants continues in Seattle. Rodriguez has been on the seven-day concussion list since July 3. He suffered the injury when was hit in the back of the helmet by a thrown ball while beginning a slide into second base against the Los Angeles Angels the day before. Rodriguez worked out with the Mariners on Friday and planned to take some swings in the batting cages. “If that goes well, we’ll see where he’s at (Saturday) in terms of (if he’s) ready for activation or needs more time,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “There’s not been a setback or anything. We need to check every box before he gets out here and plays a major league game. “Obviously you don’t want to mess around with head injuries, and they all sort of come in different forms and feel differently for different guys over a period of time.” The Mariners, who have lost six of their past seven games to drop behind first-place Texas in the American League West race, certainly could use Rodriguez, who is batting .259 with 14 homers and 40 RBIs. “I think it’s maybe less about what he does and how he kind of responds to it,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “But getting a chance, I think, (Friday) to take some pitches off the (pitching machine) in there, a chance to see some more game-like reps or off the machine. That kind of thing. All of the reports have been good, and he seems ready for all of that. It’s a matter of getting those reps, being OK with it and then responding well and being ready to go.” The Mariners continued to struggle on offense Friday as they lost 7-0 to San Francisco. Landen Roupp allowed only two hits over seven innings for the Giants, who got a grand slam from Willy Adames and a two-run shot by Bryce Eldridge. It was the third consecutive victory for the Giants, matching a season high. “It’s nice to kind of see the fresh-start attitude and vibe that’s going around,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said. “One thing we’ve struggled with, I think, is that you’ve got great expectations going into the season, and the past can weigh on you a little bit. The future is not here yet, and the past is over and done with. The best thing we can do is focus on today. It’d be nice to build a little momentum.” The Giants will look to continue to do that Saturday when they send All-Star Logan Webb (5-7, 3.86 ERA) to the mound against a fellow right-hander in the Mariners’ Bryan Woo (7-6, 4.23), who grew up in the Bay Area. Webb has lost his past two starts, to Colorado and Toronto, giving up 12 runs on 16 hits over 10 innings. He’s 0-1 with a 5.29 ERA in three career starts against Seattle. Woo got a no-decision his last time out July 7 at Miami, when he allowed four runs (three earned) over five innings in his team’s 6-5 loss in 10 innings. He’s 6-0 with a 2.10 ERA at home this season and 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts against the Giants, his boyhood team. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mariners #hope #Julio #Rodriguez #return #Giants

#Deadspin #Mariners #hope #Julio #Rodriguez #return #Giants">

mwasimuddin125 0

Jul 17, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodriguez (44) watches play from the dugout during the fifth inning against San Francisco at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

The Seattle Mariners expected to have star center fielder Julio Rodriguez back in the lineup when they returned from the All-Star break on Friday.

That didn’t happen, but they hope he will be able to play Saturday when their three-game interleague series with the San Francisco Giants continues in Seattle.

Rodriguez has been on the seven-day concussion list since July 3. He suffered the injury when was hit in the back of the helmet by a thrown ball while beginning a slide into second base against the Los Angeles Angels the day before.

Rodriguez worked out with the Mariners on Friday and planned to take some swings in the batting cages.

“If that goes well, we’ll see where he’s at (Saturday) in terms of (if he’s) ready for activation or needs more time,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “There’s not been a setback or anything. We need to check every box before he gets out here and plays a major league game.

“Obviously you don’t want to mess around with head injuries, and they all sort of come in different forms and feel differently for different guys over a period of time.”

The Mariners, who have lost six of their past seven games to drop behind first-place Texas in the American League West race, certainly could use Rodriguez, who is batting .259 with 14 homers and 40 RBIs.

“I think it’s maybe less about what he does and how he kind of responds to it,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “But getting a chance, I think, (Friday) to take some pitches off the (pitching machine) in there, a chance to see some more game-like reps or off the machine. That kind of thing. All of the reports have been good, and he seems ready for all of that. It’s a matter of getting those reps, being OK with it and then responding well and being ready to go.”

The Mariners continued to struggle on offense Friday as they lost 7-0 to San Francisco.

Landen Roupp allowed only two hits over seven innings for the Giants, who got a grand slam from Willy Adames and a two-run shot by Bryce Eldridge.

It was the third consecutive victory for the Giants, matching a season high.

“It’s nice to kind of see the fresh-start attitude and vibe that’s going around,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said. “One thing we’ve struggled with, I think, is that you’ve got great expectations going into the season, and the past can weigh on you a little bit. The future is not here yet, and the past is over and done with. The best thing we can do is focus on today. It’d be nice to build a little momentum.”

The Giants will look to continue to do that Saturday when they send All-Star Logan Webb (5-7, 3.86 ERA) to the mound against a fellow right-hander in the Mariners’ Bryan Woo (7-6, 4.23), who grew up in the Bay Area.

Webb has lost his past two starts, to Colorado and Toronto, giving up 12 runs on 16 hits over 10 innings. He’s 0-1 with a 5.29 ERA in three career starts against Seattle.

Woo got a no-decision his last time out July 7 at Miami, when he allowed four runs (three earned) over five innings in his team’s 6-5 loss in 10 innings. He’s 6-0 with a 2.10 ERA at home this season and 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts against the Giants, his boyhood team.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Mariners #hope #Julio #Rodriguez #return #Giants">Deadspin | Mariners hope Julio Rodriguez can return against Giants

Jul 17, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodriguez (44) watches play from the dugout during the fifth inning against San Francisco at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

The Seattle Mariners expected to have star center fielder Julio Rodriguez back in the lineup when they returned from the All-Star break on Friday.

That didn’t happen, but they hope he will be able to play Saturday when their three-game interleague series with the San Francisco Giants continues in Seattle.

Rodriguez has been on the seven-day concussion list since July 3. He suffered the injury when was hit in the back of the helmet by a thrown ball while beginning a slide into second base against the Los Angeles Angels the day before.

Rodriguez worked out with the Mariners on Friday and planned to take some swings in the batting cages.

“If that goes well, we’ll see where he’s at (Saturday) in terms of (if he’s) ready for activation or needs more time,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “There’s not been a setback or anything. We need to check every box before he gets out here and plays a major league game.

“Obviously you don’t want to mess around with head injuries, and they all sort of come in different forms and feel differently for different guys over a period of time.”

The Mariners, who have lost six of their past seven games to drop behind first-place Texas in the American League West race, certainly could use Rodriguez, who is batting .259 with 14 homers and 40 RBIs.

“I think it’s maybe less about what he does and how he kind of responds to it,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “But getting a chance, I think, (Friday) to take some pitches off the (pitching machine) in there, a chance to see some more game-like reps or off the machine. That kind of thing. All of the reports have been good, and he seems ready for all of that. It’s a matter of getting those reps, being OK with it and then responding well and being ready to go.”

The Mariners continued to struggle on offense Friday as they lost 7-0 to San Francisco.

Landen Roupp allowed only two hits over seven innings for the Giants, who got a grand slam from Willy Adames and a two-run shot by Bryce Eldridge.

It was the third consecutive victory for the Giants, matching a season high.

“It’s nice to kind of see the fresh-start attitude and vibe that’s going around,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said. “One thing we’ve struggled with, I think, is that you’ve got great expectations going into the season, and the past can weigh on you a little bit. The future is not here yet, and the past is over and done with. The best thing we can do is focus on today. It’d be nice to build a little momentum.”

The Giants will look to continue to do that Saturday when they send All-Star Logan Webb (5-7, 3.86 ERA) to the mound against a fellow right-hander in the Mariners’ Bryan Woo (7-6, 4.23), who grew up in the Bay Area.

Webb has lost his past two starts, to Colorado and Toronto, giving up 12 runs on 16 hits over 10 innings. He’s 0-1 with a 5.29 ERA in three career starts against Seattle.

Woo got a no-decision his last time out July 7 at Miami, when he allowed four runs (three earned) over five innings in his team’s 6-5 loss in 10 innings. He’s 6-0 with a 2.10 ERA at home this season and 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts against the Giants, his boyhood team.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Mariners #hope #Julio #Rodriguez #return #Giants

Update: Kimi Antonelli has taken pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Just two races remain ahead of Formula 1’s August shutdown, this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix and the Hungarian Grand Prix next week.

Who will take pole position at historic Spa-Francorchamps?

Max Verstappen topped the timing sheets in the first hour of practice on Friday, ahead of the Ferrari duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. But Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli struck back in the second hour of practice, leading the way with a lap time of 1:45.944, ahead of Lando Norris and Verstappen. Hamilton and Isack Hadjar rounded out the top five in FP2.

But later today, following the third hour of practice, the lap times will count for real. Follow along with us here at SB Nation as we track qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. The session begins at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, so check back early and often. And you can also join the conversation at the brand new F1 Feed, here at SB Nation.

Belgian Grand Prix provisional grid

Here is the provisional starting grid for the 2026 F1 Belgian Grand Prix, which will be filled in throughout the session. It is worth noting that Norris will take a ten-place grid penalty as McLaren has fitted his MCL40 with a new power electronics unit, the fourth of the season and one more than the three allowed under the rules. Hadjar is also going to start at the back of the grid as Red Bull installed several new components over the season allowance, adding up to a 30-place penalty and a back-of-the-grid start.

Update: So although Norris qualified 3rd, he will start 13th.

Row	Position	Driver	Team	Position	Driver	Team
Row 1	1	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	2	Max Verstappen	Red Bull
Row 2	3	Lando Norris	McLaren	4	George Russell	Mercedes
Row 3	5	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	6	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari
Row 4	7	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	8	Arvid Lindblad	VCARB
Row 5	9	Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	10	Isack Hadjar	Red Bull
Row 6	11	Liam Lawson	VCARB	12	Pierre Gasly	Alpine
Row 7	13	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	14	Nico Hülkenberg	Audi
Row 8	15	Carlos Sainz	Williams	16	Oliver Bearman	Haas
Row 9	17	Alexander Albon	Williams	18	Esteban Ocon	Haas
Row 10	19	Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac	20	Sergio Pérez	Cadillac
Row 11	21	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	22	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin

What happened in qualifying?

Here is how the qualifying hour unfolded. All updates are in Eastern time.

11:11: It’s Antonelli, as he nips Verstappen for pole. Norris bailed out of his final effort.

11:04: Red flag at Spa to clear gravel off the track, ahead of the final runs. But Norris tops the timing sheet after the opening efforts.

Look for Hadjar to give Verstappen a tow again, as he did on the first attempt.

10:51: Q3 is underway with 13 minutes on the clock. Pit lane roars to life with Lindblad leading a group of cars out that includes both McLarens and both Red Bulls.

10:44: Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are the ten drivers in the hunt for pole position, and advanced to Q3 in that order. Remember, however, that Norris and Hadjar are facing grid penalties, so the best Norris can start is P11. Hadjar’s penalty is sending him to the back of the grid.

10:42: Lawson, Gasly, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Sainz, and Bearman are out in Q2.

10:34: The Ferraris are next, and Leclerc slots in second, with Hamilton fourth.

Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are the top ten right now. Lawson, Gasly, Hülkenberg, Colapinto, Sainz, and Bearman are in the drop zone.

10:32: Verstappen jumps to second, with Lindblad third and Piastri fourth, all of which shuffles Russell down to P5.

Russell then drops to P6 when Norris jumps to P2.

10:31: Antonelli sets the early benchmark with a 1:45.142, followed by Russell more than a half-second behind him.

10:26: Q2 is underway, but the track is quiet for now.

10:20: Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Hamilton, Russell, Lindblad, Leclerc, Antonelli, Piastri, Lawson, Bortoleto, Gasly, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Sainz, and Bearman are the drivers moving on to Q2, in that order.

10:19: Albon, Ocon, Bottas, Pérez, Alonso, and Stroll are the six drivers out in Q1.

10:14: Four minutes are left, and the drivers are rolling out for their final push laps.

10:11: Seven minutes remain in Q1. Norris is at the top of the board, followed by Verstappen, Hadjar, Lindblad, and Antonelli.

Colapinto, Ocon, Pérez, Bottas, Alonso, and Stroll are the six in the drop zone. Hülkenberg sits 15th, and Albon in 16th.

10:05: Hamilton is on the track, as the Ferrari mechanics got the job done.

10:04: The clock hits 15 minutes and the rest of the grid roars to life.

10:01: Green light at Spa, and 18 minutes to lose the six slowest drivers. Stroll, Bottas, and Pérez are the three drivers on the grid. Stroll and Alonso each face a ten-place grid penalty, but they were more than a second behind the Cadillacs during practice.

9:57: Qualifying is set to begin in just a few minutes.

The final hour of practice was more of the same at Spa.

Antonelli topped the timing sheets ahead of Norris, finishing more than one-tenth ahead of the McLaren driver. But the biggest story might have been the shunt from Hamilton, as the Ferrari driver found the barrier at Turn 13, in a crash similar to the one Pierre Gasly suffered during FP2:

The mechanics at Ferrari now face a race against the clock to get his car ready for qualifying.

Here are the full results from FP3 at the Belgian Grand Prix:

#Belgian #Grand #Prix #takes #pole #position #Spa">