Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith hasn't abandoned hope of playing football again after suffering a devastating leg injury in November -- even though he will have an external fixator on his right leg for at least another month.

In his first public comments since the injury, Smith told Fox 5 DC's Angie Goff that he still wants to play. Smith suffered a compound fracture in his right leg during a Nov. 18 loss to the Houston Texans. He endured multiple surgeries because of an infection, and amputation became an option at one point, sources have said.

But now Smith feels good enough to at least consider returning, even if multiple hurdles remain and the team views the possibility as a long shot.

"That's the plan," he told Goff on her Oh My Goff podcast, which was published Friday. "There are steps I've got to conquer before I get there. ... Learning to run again. That's a big one. I'm already throwing. Throwing isn't a problem, but dropping [back], moving around, change of direction."

Smith, 35, said he must wear the external fixator for at least another four to six weeks, which would put the total time in the contraption at around 7½ months. Smith remains realistic about his future.

"The steps I'm at now are lifestyle steps," he said. "I'm still working on playing basketball with my kids and running around after my daughter. Those are things I have to conquer anyway until I get to the point where I'm walking on the field. I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited about that challenge. The stronger I get every week, the more I do, the more hopeful I am that that's a real possibility."

The Redskins selected Dwayne Haskins in the first round of the draft, pegging him as their quarterback of the future. They did so knowing the long road Smith faced and that, even if he does return, he might not be the same quarterback he was before the injury. Smith's running ability was a big part of his game.

Washington also has Colt McCoy and Case Keenum under contract for this season, but neither is signed beyond 2019.

Smith signed a four-year contract worth up to $94 million, with $71 million guaranteed, in 2018. The Redskins never planned to cut him this offseason, uncertain about his playing future and also knowing they would take an approximate cap hit of $40 million, accounting for a $12 million insurance policy. They could cut him after this season but would still incur a hit of $20 million, once again getting some relief with insurance.

Smith told Goff he had played golf earlier that morning and then went through physical therapy. He called it his most active day since the injury. They later played a game of dodgeball, with Smith stationary, in a local mall.

He called the past three months "life-changing" because he could start driving again and was off crutches.

"The first four months were really, really hard," he said. "Just to be in a wheelchair as long as I was. When you have independence and lose it ... that was the hardest part."

He credited the effect the external fixator has had on his recovery.

"This thing is gonna save my leg, save my bone, allow me to heal and walk again and hopefully play football again," Smith said.

Smith told Goff that "every week or two weeks" he is doing something in physical therapy that he didn't think he could. It could be a physical or mental hurdle.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say mental obstacles, there are things with my leg I don't trust yet," Smith said. "I feel I'm quite a bit further along than I think."

That progress, and a desire to focus more on what he must do each day, has helped him stay positive.

"It's crazy looking and it sucks what happened, but at the same time, people out there have it way worse," he said. "Life happens, and for me, I feel like this is a time for me being tested and having a challenge in front of me, and how can I handle it?"

NEW ORLEANS -- A historic week for the New Orleans Pelicans came to a peak Thursday evening when general manager David Griffin and the front office chose Zion Williamson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

"We had a rather eventful evening," said Griffin, the team's executive vice president of basketball operations, as he plopped down at a dais set up in the Pelicans' media room.

It had, after all, been a long day.

An hour earlier, Griffin had been seated around a table with coach Alvin Gentry, scouts and other members of the Pelicans' front office in their temporary "war room" phoning into New York City. The room erupted into cheers and high-fives when the Williamson pick was finally made.

"We are [beginning to] crescendo now," Griffin said. "I think it is only going to continue to grow."

Selecting Williamson first was a predictable move, but a win that the smarting Pelicans desperately needed.

It has been a turbulent few months for the franchise. Anthony Davis, their best player, publicly requested a trade in February. The move sent the team into a tailspin. Days after then-general manager Dell Demps failed to send off Davis by the February trade deadline, he was fired. The Pelicans then stumbled to an awkward end of the season.

New blood came along. A new head of basketball operations took the helm, and the Pelicans won the lottery for the No. 1 pick in the draft. Griffin agreed to trade Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and four draft picks.

Of course, Griffin could not address any of those moves because the trade cannot become official until July 6, and talking about dealing Davis to L.A. would violate NBA rules. But suddenly, the attention that New Orleans was getting shifted from pity and concern to awe: Another once-in-a-generation star was on the way to the Big Easy.

"Winning that moment was a watershed moment for us as a franchise," Griffin said of the lottery.

All week, the city had been abuzz. Candles with Williamson depicted as a saint began popping up around the French Quarter. The maitre d' at Commander's Palace -- a famed culinary destination here -- proudly told diners they had missed Williamson by only a couple of days. And on Thursday, thousands of fans, dressed in Pelicans red, packed Manning's sports bar ready to shoot streamers into the sky.

New Orleans' draft night became even more lucrative when Griffin agreed to flip the No. 4 pick the team acquired from the Lakers for the Atlanta Hawks' No. 8, No. 17 and No. 35 picks. In the package for the No. 4 slot, the Pelicans also agreed to send Solomon Hill to the Hawks, which created more salary-cap space for New Orleans. According to estimates by ESPN front-office expert Bobby Marks, Griffin now has $31 million to spend on free agents.

Minutes after news of the trade circulated on Twitter, "David Griffin" began trending in New Orleans. Still, the biggest move of the night was choosing Williamson.

"One of the very first things I said to our staff in our first meeting was, 'Someone make the case to me for Zion Williamson,'" Griffin said. "They thought I was kidding. I said, No, seriously, talk me into Williamson, and it took a while for anyone to formulate words. It is hard for people to express it."

Even though it was far from a surprise selection, Williamson teared up in the interview immediately after his name was called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

"Oh, you can hear people say things like, 'Oh, that it was likely I was going to go No. 1,' but I guess you don't know until you actually go through it," Williamson told reporters in New York. "Hearing my name called, and I was able to make it on stage without a tear, shake the commissioner's hand, but in the interview with my mom standing beside me, and my emotions just took over."

Ten miles from the Pelicans' headquarters, thousands of fans dressed in red braved the sweltering 91-degree heat to cheer on their team at a watch party.

Williamson, who has drawn comparisons to a young LeBron James, might not transform the franchise overnight. After all, he is only 18 years old.

"This is Jrue Holiday's team," Griffin said. "Zion is going to be learning how to win at a really high level. At some point, if there is a time that the baton gets passed in terms of who is expected to carry us to win games, it will. That is not now."

Griffin continued: "Let Zion be that kid. Don't write this like he is here to save this franchise. He is not. He is here to join this family."

But Williamson's promise alone has caused season-ticket holders who were threatening to walk away to instead renew their seats after the team earned the rights to draft him. It made Gentry stand up from his lottery-night seat and yell, "F--- yeah!" (Since the video of the coach hollering went viral, Gentry has been gifted a shirt with the expletive written on it.)

Williamson's message to the city was simple: "Let's dance!"

With that, New Orleans fans at the watch party cheered and opened their arms as if to begin to rumba with their new potential franchise player.

Nando De Colo -- one of the EuroLeague's top guards -- is planning a return to the NBA and could command an ample free-agent market.

"I have asked my agents to explore NBA opportunities over the coming weeks," De Colo, 32, told ESPN. "I am excited for the next challenge in my career."

The 6-foot-5 De Colo finished a successful five-year run with CSKA Moscow this season, averaging 14.7 points and 3.4 assists per game while shooting nearly 45% on 3-pointers. CSKA won the EuroLeague championship for the second time in his tenure, and De Colo was a three-time first-team All-EuroLeague player and a second-team choice twice.

He left the NBA for CSKA after the 2013-14 season with the Toronto Raptors, who still hold his rights. Toronto has the option to extend a qualifying offer to De Colo, which would give the NBA champions the opportunity to match a restricted free-agent offer sheet from another team.

De Colo played nearly two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs before a trade deadline deal to Toronto in 2014, where he finished out the season. De Colo was the No. 53 overall pick by the Spurs in 2009.

Rick Pitino has turned down an offer to return as president and coach of Panathinaikos, the franchise he led to a Greek League championship this season, Pitino told ESPN on Friday.

The Naismith Hall of Fame coach said he wants to return to the full-time pursuit of a job in the NBA -- as a coach or in a player personnel or advisory role.

Pitino led Panathinaikos to a Greek Cup title, completing a 15-0 season. The team was 7-0 when he arrived. Pitino also led the team into postseason play in the EuroLeague playoffs.

Pitino, 66, won NCAA titles at Kentucky and Louisville, reached seven Final Fours and claimed conference titles in the Big East, SEC and ACC. His career has also been marred by scandals that led to his demise at Louisville, where a national title and two Final Four appearances were vacated. He was fired in 2018.

Pitino was dismissed at Louisville in the aftermath of an FBI investigation into college basketball recruiting. Testimony and recordings of government-taped calls suggested that Pitino was unaware of the payments made to a former Louisville recruit's family.

The FBI inquiry was the last in a series of scandals at Louisville -- including an NCAA investigation into strippers and prostitutes used during recruiting visits to the school.

In the NBA, Pitino resigned from the Boston Celtics in January 2001, during his fourth season, with a 102-146 overall record. He was considered to have been overwhelmed with dual roles after signing pro sports' biggest coaching/executive deal to date (10 years, $70 million). He resigned with nearly $30 million left on the deal.

"I'm not looking for any of that [control] at this stage of my life," Pitino told ESPN in December. "I want to develop teams and develop players and build a winner. I value analytics. I want to fit into an organization. At this stage, that's all I'm interested in."

Pitino had a shorter but more successful run as coach of the New York Knicks in the late 1980s, winning an Atlantic Division title and reaching the playoffs twice (1988, 1989) before leaving for Kentucky. Under Pitino, the Knicks won 52 regular-season games and reached the conference semifinals in his final season.

NEW YORK -- The Toronto Raptors are NBA champions. Anthony Davis has been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. And Zion Williamson has officially been drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans. With the 2019 NBA draft behind us, a long-awaited free agency is almost here.

What are the biggest things to watch over the next few weeks? How did draft night change the landscape?

Here are eight questions and storylines to monitor closely, including Kawhi Leonard's destination, the Boston Celtics' next moves, the Lakers' roster questions and more.

More: Pick-by-pick analysis | Trade tracker

1. The King of the North is now The Kingmaker

The NBA Finals showed Kawhi Leonard is not only one of the most dominant forces in the NBA, he's quite arguably the best player in the sport. In the wake of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson going down with injuries that will sideline them for most or all of next season, Leonard becomes the best player available on the market. He has the power to determine the direction of the league next season and beyond.

If Leonard remains with the defending champion Raptors, they will not only be one of the favorites to emerge from the East, they will have a legitimate shot at back-to-back titles. But if Leonard goes to the other favorite to secure his services, the LA Clippers, they could suddenly become favorites to win the West.

There isn't another player on the market with that kind of power, giving the 2019 Finals MVP the opportunity to shape the league's future.

2. How are the Lakers going to fill out their roster?

Outside of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and 2019 second-round pick Talen Horton-Tucker, the Lakers have only four players on the books in Kyle Kuzma, Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones -- and all but Kuzma could wind up on the move between now and July 6, when the NBA's moratorium on transactions comes to an end.

Depending on when the Lakers time their trade with the Pelicans for Davis, they'll have two options: spend a large chunk of money on one big piece, or split it up among several rotation players. Either way, Los Angeles will have an extremely thin roster around its two star forwards.

When James united with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami in 2010, the Heat had Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller, Mario Chalmers and a roster full of castoffs. At this point, it's hard to see the Lakers even being that deep -- and James is about to turn 35.

If anyone is capable of making it work, it's LeBron. Still, that's an awfully big burden to put on James and Davis. The West is wide open, but the Golden State Warriors had more star power atop their roster and greater depth than these Lakers will have. That still wasn't enough. It's going to take a lot of creativity from L.A.'s front office to pull this off.

3. What do the Knicks do now?

The Knicks came into the offseason hoping to wind up with some combination of Zion Williamson, Davis and Durant. Now the Knicks are facing the very real prospect of winding up with none of those players.

Williamson officially landed with the Pelicans on Thursday, Davis was traded last week, and Durant -- even if he does go to New York -- probably won't play next season because of a ruptured Achilles.

All of that leaves the Knicks in a precarious position heading into free agency. They are still expected to pursue Durant and other top free agents, but New York has maintained it isn't going to be chasing lesser players just for the sake of using its cap space. That could leave the team's long-suffering fan base stuck with the possibility of competing for the league's worst record yet again.

If growing pains are a product of RJ Barrett and Kevin Knox getting up shots and Mitchell Robinson growing on defense all while Durant recovers from his injury, that's one thing. If it is happening with no prime-time players waiting in the wings, that's very different.

4. What about the Clippers and Nets?

Both teams made surprise runs to the playoffs last season with hard-working, hungry rosters all while setting up the summer with multiple max salary slots in free agency. Now the question is: What will each team do with all that space?

The Clippers have been chasing Leonard all season, hoping to lure the Southern California native back home as the centerpiece of what they hope is a championship roster. But after Toronto's title, L.A. is no sure thing. The Nets have been heavily linked to Kyrie Irving in recent weeks, and the Boston Celtics have been expecting Irving to leave for some time now.

This is a high-stakes game for both franchises. With space and a loaded free-agent class, this is the time to strike. So how would they adjust if they strike out?

Just ask the Washington Wizards how quickly things can turn. In 2016, the Wizards thought they were going to wind up with Al Horford. But when Horford landed in Boston, Washington ended up committing to Ian Mahinmi, Andrew Nicholson and Jason Smith.

Oops.

5. Pelicans open the Zion era with a continued roster overhaul

Pelicans VP David Griffin turned the Lakers' No. 4 selection into a suite of picks including Nos. 8, 17 and 35 in this year's draft, plus a 2020 first-rounder from the Cavaliers that will convert to two second-rounders if it remains in the top 10 next year. Add that to the haul of future picks the Pelicans received in the trade with the Lakers and they suddenly find themselves with as much draft ammo as any team in the league.

New Orleans used its 2019 picks to take Texas center Jaxson Hayes, Virginia Tech's Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Marcos Louzada Silva of Brazil. Now the Pelicans not only have Williamson to build around, they have a bevy of long athletes who can fly up and down the court -- the preferred style of play for head coach Alvin Gentry.

Add in the fact that the Pelicans have over $30 million in salary-cap space and they could both chase a playoff spot in 2020 and have the ability to improve through the draft for years to come.

Will they be real players in free agency?

6. A wild night for the Phoenix Suns

It was a crazy ride for the Suns on draft night -- one that began with the choice to trade down from No. 6 to No. 11, acquiring forward Dario Saric from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the process.

At that point, Phoenix stunned everyone by taking North Carolina forward Cameron Johnson -- a wing who ESPN's Jonathan Givony projected to be taken at No. 30 and multiple teams thought would be a second-round selection. Instead, Johnson was selected in the lottery and the Suns passed up the chance to take point guard Coby White at No. 6.

Then, 13 picks later, the Suns got their point guard of the future by trading a 2020 Milwaukee Bucks first-round pick to the Celtics for the No. 24 pick, which they used to draft Virginia guard Ty Jerome. Coupled with a trade earlier in the night that sent forward T.J. Warren and the No. 32 pick to the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix dramatically altered its team and still could have over $20 million in cap space this summer to pursue a high-priced free agent.

If Thursday night was any indication, expect more fireworks from the desert.

7. Interesting moves by the Pacers

The Pacers are a professional, reliable franchise typically run with sound reasoning and discipline. That's why their moves on Thursday caused several raised eyebrows around the league.

The first was the Warren trade. While shrewd from a cap standpoint -- especially considering Indiana received pick No. 32 simply for absorbing a player proven to be a reliable NBA scorer -- some wondered if it foreshadowed Bojan Bogdanovic and Thaddeus Young heading elsewhere in free agency.

Similar speculation followed Indiana's first-round selection of Georgian center Goga Bitadze. There is already a healthy debate around the league as to whether the Pacers' current young big men, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, can play together. Similar debate will follow regarding Bitadze's fit, leaving open the possibility of a trade down the road to remake Indiana's roster.

Indiana has money to spend and is expected to target Ricky Rubio in free agency to play alongside Victor Oladipo in its backcourt. But the Pacers clearly have more work to do before their offseason is through.

8. Celtics fail to swing a big deal

Coming into Thursday night, the Celtics were expected to make some noise with their three first-round picks. But reality wound up being much different.

Boston did make a pair of deals, though both were of the minor variety, moving back four spots in the draft in one trade and securing a future first-rounder in another. As a result, the Nos. 14, 20 and 22 picks in Thursday's draft eventually turned into Indiana swingman Romeo Langford, Tennessee big man Grant Williams, Purdue point guard Carsen Edwards, LSU guard Tremont Waters and the Bucks' 2020 protected first-round pick.

Those three additions, plus the likely departures of Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, leave the Celtics with a team featuring 10 players who are 25 or under at the moment -- along with close to $25.8 million in room, per ESPN's Bobby Marks, to try to add another impact player to the roster.

This time a year ago, Boston was expected to enter this night with a high lottery pick (courtesy of the Sacramento Kings) and the possibility of adding Anthony Davis via trade. Instead, the Celtics wound up with a few middling selections and potential cap space.

When Boston was coming off its Eastern Conference finals appearance a year ago, things were supposed to be far, far different than this.

CHICAGO -- It hasn't exactly been an everyday or even every year occurrence for the Chicago Cubs under Theo Epstein and his front office: A homegrown pitcher making his way to the big leagues with the stuff to stick around. All that might have changed on Thursday, when 24-year-old Venezuelan righty Adbert Alzolay made a stunning debut in the Cubs 7-4 win over the New York Mets.

Alzolay pitched four-plus innings in relief, retiring 12 of the first 13 batters he faced -- including 11 in a row -- until a ninth-inning home run and a walk chased him from the game. He dazzled, striking out five with a solid arsenal, led by his changeup, his third-best pitch.

"He has the potential, for years to come, to be that guy," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "The stuff is really good. Good delivery, strike thrower. He has the kind of ability that he can transform a group."

Once he settled in, Alzolay began to shine. A one-out walk to the second batter he faced got him focused, as he struck out four in a row soon after. He is the first Cubs pitcher in the expansion era to accomplish that feat while making his debut. Alzolay sailed through innings five through eight, before tiring in the ninth.

"After the walk [in the fifth], man on first, Robinson Cano stepping into the batter's box and I was like, 'You have to work now,'" a smiling Alzolay said after the game. "I was feeling normal. Then when I look at the first hitter I was like, 'Oh my God, everything is coming through right now. My dream that I always had as a kid is coming through.'"

The Cubs have traded some of their prospects over the past few years in order to keep their window of winning open for as long as possible, but their inability to develop pitching in-house isn't something they've shied away from. Until Thursday, they had failed at that task.

"If you're running the organization, it's a big deal," Maddon said before the game. "When you have them right out of the womb, there's a lot of investment in that. There's always a sense of pride in developing.

"The fact that we've had a hard time developing pitchers at the big league level, it's good to get your feet on the ground with that, and then try to recreate the template as you move it along. I think everyone takes a strong pride in watching his development."

In other words, the Cubs are hoping Alzolay is the first of many arms that finally make it through their system under Epstein and Maddon's regime. Alzolay's next task will be to start a game -- something that could take place in five days, as Kyle Hendricks spends time on the injured list with a sore shoulder.

For now, the affable Alzolay will simply enjoy the moment. He said his mom and dad were watching the game back in Venezuela and then were crying with him on the phone afterward. The Wrigley Field crowd also was watching with great interest and showed him love with a standing ovation as he came out of the game in the ninth. He acknowledged the fans accordingly.

"Everyone was standing up, going crazy, so I just tipped my hat," Alzolay said, still smiling. "The best thing to happen to me right now. Just amazing. All the people were cheering my name. Did my job, did my part. We won the game. Just amazing."

It's unclear what the protocol is for a rookie as he walks off the mound, but Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo summed it up well. You only get one chance at a first impression. Alzolay made a good one.

"That's funny," Rizzo said of Alzolay's cap wave. "You enjoy the moment. You only get one big league debut.

"It was an exciting day."

Left-hander Dallas Keuchel will make his debut for the Atlanta Braves on Friday, getting the start against the Washington Nationals.

Keuchel, the American League Cy Young winner in 2015, signed a one-year deal on June 7 worth about $13 million. He made two starts in the minors, posting a 1.93 ERA over 14 innings with 13 strikeouts.

Keuchel, 31 spent seven seasons with the Houston Astros, going to the All-Star Game twice and posting a 76-63 record with a 3.66 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.

Last season, he went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 204 2/3 innings.

He became a free agent after the season and waited out a sluggish market before joining Atlanta. He is expected to bring veteran leadership to a young Braves team that won the National League East last year and leads the division by 4½ games this season.

A historic homecoming, a delayed debut and a marquee matchup in the Bronx have our attention this weekend. Here's what we're thinking and what we're looking for.

The big storyline of the weekend is Albert Pujols' return to St. Louis (Angels at Cardinals, Friday, 8 p.m., ESPN+; Sunday, 7 p.m., ESPN). Among hitters you've seen, does anyone match Pujols in his prime?

Eddie Matz: Aside from Barry Bonds and his trusty asterisk, the only guy who is even in the same ballpark is Miguel Cabrera. But he never controlled the strike zone the way that Pujols did. In fact, Miggy has finished with more walks than strikeouts just once in 16 seasons. That was in 2011, the same year that Pujols accomplished the feat for a 10th consecutive time. Ten!!! So yeah, Pujols was pretty much in a league of his own.

Sam Miller: I'm going to just except Barry Bonds from this premise, so that we have something to talk about. I would definitely watch a BattleBots episode between mid-'90s Frank Thomas and mid-'00s Albert Pujols: Al hit .337/.435/.640 with 295 homers and a 178 OPS+ over his best seven years; Frank hit .330/.452/.604 with 250 dingers (the strike cost him 20 or so) and a 182 OPS+ from 1991 through 1997. That might qualify as a match, and since I was a much smaller human being at the time, Frank seemed proportionately larger and scarier to me. But Al's numbers never told the whole story. He was also the best defensive first baseman in baseball, and also the best baserunning first baseman in baseball, and through age-30 only four players -- Cobb, Mantle, Hornsby and A-Rod -- had more career WAR. At a certain point, you get so high on the leaderboards that nobody exactly matches anybody; they might have comparable value, but nobody I saw could ever do precisely what Al did, in the way Al did it.

David Schoenfield: I'll throw out this guy named Mike Trout. Using Sam's seven-year criteria, Trout hit .310/.420/.579 with 235 home runs from 2012 to 2018, good for 178 OPS+. He doesn't quite have the same home run power as peak Pujols, as he has reached 40 home runs just once while Pujols reached 40 six times in an eight-span from 2003 to 2010. Trout, however, draws more walks and has played in a tough hitters' park in what has generally been a lower-scoring era than the 2000s. Oh, and he may be having his best year yet in 2019 as he's on pace for 48 home runs and posting career-bests in OBP and slugging.

The Astros are in New York for four games at Yankee Stadium in what may well be an American League Championship Series preview. If these teams were to start a best-of-seven series tomorrow, who would be your pick?

Matz: Back in March, I picked the Astros to win the World Series. In the three months since then, they haven't done anything to change my opinion of them. And last time I checked, in order for an American League team to win the World Series, first that team has to win the ALCS. So if the Stros started a best-of-seven series tomorrow -- regardless of the opponent -- I'm taking them. Of course, I'd feel a whole lot more comfortable if George Springer and Carlos Correa were, ya know, healthy.

Miller: Tomorrow? It would be the Astros. But next week, when Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are both back and have both shaken off the rust? Well, still the Astros. But a month from now, with Luis Severino and Domingo German healthy and giving the Yankees' rotation much-needed depth? In that case, give me the Astros. Maybe, maybe, maybe in October -- when Dellin Betances is healthy too -- I'll give you a different answer, but it would depend on how many Astros unexpectedly retire before then. The Astros are incredible.

Schoenfield: Like Eddie, I'll stick with my preseason pick to win it all, and that's the Astros. But I can't wait to see how this Yankees lineup plays out once Judge returns -- Gleyber Torres is the projected No. 9 hitter and on pace for 36 home runs while hitting over .280 and slugging over .500. Are you kidding me? The one caveat is that the lineup is very right-handed and the Astros have Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole from the right side and a whole slew of tough-to-hit righties in the bullpen. On the other hand, Verlander and Cole have been extremely vulnerable to the home run. So maybe I'll just go with the Twins.

The Braves are activating Dallas Keuchel to make his season debut against the Nationals. What kind of numbers can Atlanta expect from Keuchel the rest of the way?

Matz: In a perfect world, Keuchel gives the Braves the same kind of turbo boost that CC Sabathia gave the 2008 Brewers. Or that Verlander gave the 2017 Astros. But those were trade acquisitions involving pitchers who had actually been pitching in major league games. The last time Keuchel faced real big league hitters was nine months ago, back when baseballs occasionally stayed in the park. Even though he has been a ground ball guy historically, the veteran lefty could be in for a rude awakening. I'm forecasting 15 starts with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Not exactly prototypical Keuchel numbers, but markedly better than what Atlanta has been getting from the back end of the rotation.

Miller: Considering how unconventional Keuchel's "spring training" has been, they probably can't exactly expect anything, other than a lot of ground balls. But the key thing is this: He will round out a rotation that is, on paper, already quite deep but has been, in practice, close to disastrous after the top three this season. So if they make it to the playoffs, and Mike Foltynewicz (5.53 ERA) and Kevin Gausman (6.21 ERA) still haven't figured things out, the Braves can expect not to need to rely on either one.

Schoenfield: For what it's worth, Keuchel has a 3.05 career ERA in interleague games versus 3.66 overall, so moving to the National League and facing the pitcher's spot could help. Anyway, I love this signing and I think Keuchel will be excellent. His addition is even more important when you consider that Mike Soroka and Max Fried are in their first season in a major league rotation, so their stamina down the stretch will be a potential issue. I wouldn't be surprised if he's starting Game 1 of the playoffs.

Speaking of expectations, what are you most looking forward to seeing this weekend?

Matz: At the risk of sounding redundant or too much like a total fanboy, I can't wait to see what Hyun-Jin Ryu does on Saturday against the Rockies. I mean, in a year when home runs and scoring are up by 6,000% (give or take), the Dodgers southpaw hasn't allowed a long ball since April and is on pace to become the first hurler in MLB history to finish the season with a negative ERA (give or take). Color me captivated.

Miller: Aaron Judge should be back, making baseball better. There are players whose styles I personally prefer, players who are better overall and players who are funnier and more unpredictable. But Judge is, at this point, arguably the most recognizable active baseball player, thanks to his size, his city, his frequent presence on television sets and his incredible dinger mashing. There is just a different energy when baseball's most recognizable player is on the field. You feel like you're part of an audience, watching the thing that you're supposed to be watching along with everybody else who is watching. I'm excited to see some dingers.

Schoenfield: All of the above! It will be interesting to see how A.J. Hinch and Aaron Boone manage the series. Will they have shorter-than-normal hooks for their starters and manage these games more or less like playoff games? Will they be more willing than in a typical June series to use, say, Ryan Pressly or Adam Ottavino for three games in a row or three times in four days? Braves-Nationals is a big series and I'm going deep off the board for one final watch: Jordan Yamamoto of the Marlins became the first pitcher since 1898 to throw seven-plus innings and allow three or fewer hits in his first two starts. He's slated to go Sunday against the Phillies.

PICK 'EM TIME

Nobody's been hotter this season than Cody Bellinger and virtually nobody's ever been hotter than Charlie Blackmon was last weekend. Who will have more total bases in this weekend's Rockies-Dodgers games: Blackmon or Bellinger?

Matz: From 2012 through 2018, major leaguers as a whole posted a .747 OPS. Over that same stretch, Charlie Blackmon has a .732 OPS at Dodger Stadium. In other words, Chuck Nazty is a below-average hitter at Chavez Ravine. I'll take Bellinger.

Miller: Teams are starting to lay down spike strips to slow down Bellinger, with four intentional walks this month and an overall walk rate that's about 5 percentage points higher than in April and May. Blackmon, meanwhile, has walked once in the past month. It wouldn't surprise me to see Bellinger reach base eight times in this series but lose the total base count to Blackmon, by a tally of like 7-6.

Schoenfield: Blackmon would be likely to slow down even if he were facing the pitching staff of the 1962 Mets. Instead, he's scheduled to face Walker Buehler (two straight scoreless starts and a two-hit, 11-strikeout performance in the start before that), Ryu and Kenta Maeda (3.08 ERA over his past seven starts). So I'll go with Bellinger.

With the Yankees nearing full power and the hard-hitting Astros in town, home runs could be the talk of the Bronx. Total homers for the three games this weekend: Over or under 9.5?

Matz: There's a sporting chance that Justin Verlander and J.A. Happ -- who've already combined for 37 gopher balls this season -- could allow 9.5 homers all by themselves on Sunday. Over.

Miller: These are probably the two best offenses in the AL. But they're also two of the top five pitching staffs. I'll brush aside Verlander's homer vulnerabilities this year and take the under.

Schoenfield: I'll take the under as well, if only because the Astros are still playing their B lineup and I think we'll see a lot of innings from the stellar Houston bullpen. Of course, Yordan Alvarez could hit six pop flies to right field at Yankee Stadium and end up with six home runs. Seriously, MOVE THE FENCES OUT AT THAT PARK. RIGHT FIELD IS A JOKE.

Who do you like Sunday night: Angels or Cardinals?

Matz: St. Louis has been on SNB three times this season, and has lost all three. But that was way back in the spring. As the old baseball adage goes, "The most dangerous team is the one that's lost three straight Sunday night games, especially when the game in question is the first Sunday night contest after the summer solstice." Or something like that. Sooooooo ... let's go with the Cards.

Miller: These feel like the two .500iest teams in baseball right now. I'll take the Angels for the matchup, since they've crushed righties this year. It'll be interesting to see the right-hander Miles Mikolas -- who rarely strikes anybody out -- face a lineup that strikes out less than any other team. I'm not sure which side that clash of styles favors.

Schoenfield: I want to pick the Angels because it's a rare national TV game for Mike Trout and I want to see him go 3-for-4 with two home runs, a walk, a stolen base and 57 autographs signed before the game.

TWO TRUE OUTCOMES

Each week, we ask our panelists to choose one hitter they think will hit the most home runs and one pitcher they think will record the most strikeouts in the coming weekend. Panelists can pick a player only once for the season. We'll keep a running tally -- and invite you to play along at home.

Home run hitters

Matz: Freddie Freeman

Miller: J.D. Martinez

Schoenfield: Pete Alonso. Nobody has picked Big Pete yet. Why do we hate the Mets?

Strikeout pitchers

Matz: Trevor Bauer

Miller: Chris Sale

Schoenfield: Cole Hamels

Josh Griffiths and Natasha Cockram also form part of the elite fields for Sunday’s race

Matt Clowes and Tracy Barlow are set to defend their titles at the JCP Swansea Half Marathon this Sunday, writes Alex Donald.

Clowes is a regular competitor who has become a stalwart of the local running scene in South Wales. The Cardiff man stormed home in 64:43 last time to rewrite the previous course record of 64:49 set by multiple Welsh champion Dewi Griffiths in 2015.

He was relatively untested last year despite 2017 British marathon champion Josh Griffiths coming home as the runner-up on the course which remains unchanged this year.

Sunday’s race will again see a contest between the pair where Clowes may have the upper hand following victory over Swansea Harrier Griffiths at the Speedway 10km near Chepstow last weekend.

Griffiths does have more proven half-marathon form to his name this time, however, following a dip under 65 minutes for the first time at February’s eDreams Barcelona Half Marathon while on Welsh team duty.

Peter Huck of Barrow & Furness Striders AC is the next fastest on paper followed by Exmouth Harrier Tom Merson and 2017 Welsh cross country champion James Hunt of Cardiff AC.

Barlow will return to Wales’ second city on Sunday and had commented 12 months ago that the course suited her and that she prefers warmer weather, so the promised warm conditions could suit her.

Barlow has proven pedigree with a 72:18 half-marathon best to her name, set at the Commonwealth Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff back in October. The Thames Valley Harrier is also a seasoned Great Britain & Northern Ireland international, most recently representing the team at the European Championship marathon in Berlin last August.

Natasha Cockram will add some local flavour on Sunday. The Micky Morris Racing Team athlete has a marathon best of 2:34:39 from the Chevron Houston Marathon at the start of the year. Her half-marathon PB of 77:53 is due to be amended and this could happen on the flat and fast course along the Swansea coastline.

Charlotte Taylor-Green of Bristol & West AC has a 75:46 clocking to her name, with Alaw Beynon-Thomas of Swansea Harriers and Hayley Munn of Rugby & Northampton AC also racing and also sub-67 minute performers at their best.

Watch the Diamond League action unfold in real style on July 12

In the heart of the French Riviera, the Principality of Monaco hosts some of the finest sporting occasions in the world every year.

From the iconic F1 Grand Prix to the Champions League, there is so much on offer.

It’s also a wonderful destination for athletics fans. Since its entry in 2010 in the IAAF Diamond League, the Herculis EBS meeting in Monaco has enjoyed great success and witnessed amazing performances from the best athletes on the planet. It ranked as the World’s Best Meeting in 2011, 2014, 2015, as well as last year.

The event returns this year to the Louis II stadium on Friday July 12 and tickets are on sale for what promises to be another memorable occasion, with star names such as Noah Lyles and Shaunae Miller-Uibo already confirmed.

Prices start from just €10 but why not watch the action unfold in style by opting for a VIP Prestige ticket?

With a VIP Prestige ticket to the Herculis, you will enjoy some of Louis II Stadium’s best views accompanied by extra comfortable seating. The ideal location of your seat puts you as close as you can get to the world’s best athletes, as well as to the Prince’s VIP area.

Highlights of this vantage point are the panoramic view of the stadium and the excellent angle for watching the track’s thrilling finish line right in front of you, as well as a fine view of the high jump on your right side.

Also included in the VIP Prestige package is a VIP welcome, as well as a gourmet buffet with champagne, wine, beer and soft drinks on offer.

There are ticket, flights and hotel packages available. To find out more visit herculis.com and book your place to experience one of the Diamond League’s most renowned meetings on the mesmerising Cote d’Azur.

TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS, VISIT HERCULIS.COM