Game Discussion for St. Louis Cardinals vs Atlanta Braves Wednesday
The St. Louis Cardinals will take another swing at the Atlanta Braves Wednesday night as Michael McGreevy will get the start for the good guys. The Braves will send Reynaldo López to the mound for a 6:15pm central time start at Truist Park. TV broadcast available through Cardinals.tv.
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Golden Knights Send Kolesar to Detroit: Trade Grades & Analysis
As the offseason progresses, the Vegas Golden Knights continue to shed salary. In their most recent cap dump, they traded forward Keegan Kolesar to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a third-round pick in 2029 and a seventh-round pick in 2027.
Kolesar has played 439 regular season NHL games, all in a Golden Knights sweater. In those 439 games, he scored 44 goals and 76 assists. He was part of the Stanley Cup-winning team in 2023 and played a total of 77 postseason games with the Golden Knights.
Analysis
Kolesar is the definition of a grinder, and he can never be accused of taking a shift off. He’s fast, relentless on the forecheck, and doesn’t shy away from dropping the gloves when needed. The Golden Knights will miss Kolesar’s physicality. He’s one tough customer and led the team in hits in each of the last five seasons with 270, 237, 277, 279, and 246, respectively.
However, for all of his strengths, Kolesar makes $2.5 million for the next two seasons. This is a business, and no one understands that better than the Golden Knights. This team loves taking big swings, and even in a rising cap world, getting Kolesar’s cap hit off the books is no small victory.
Trade Grade: A
The Golden Knights are no strangers to salary cap dumps, and they’ve had varying degrees of success in the past when doing so. This time, they move out $2.5 million and gain draft capital in return. For years, the Golden Knights have been in win-now mode, and they’ve mortgaged their futures to remain that way. Shedding salary and getting two draft picks in return is a win in their books.
Kolesar’s energy and physicality will be missed. But the Golden Knights were paid handsomely to part with him, both in return assets and salary cap relief.
LeBron James went from his hometown to Tinseltown — here’s where he will likely take his talents next, ranked
After LeBron James decided not to return to the Lakers for his unprecedented 24th NBA season, teams are clamoring to sign one of the greatest players of all-time, who apparently isn’t factoring money into his free-agency decision for the first time in his career.
The competition has gotten so intense that even the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, weighed in by reposting a report about how the state has the US’s best quality of life and tagging James in it. The PGA Tour got in on the fun as well, posting a photoshopped image of James wearing a Tour-branded polo and cap. Several NFL teams also jokingly shot their shot at the James sweepstakes.
With the competition fierce and James’s decision approaching, let’s break down where the four-time champion and four-time MVP will most likely land. They’re ranked in descending order of likelihood.
Golden State Warriors
Pros: James has said that if he could play alongside anyone in the NBA, it would be Steph Curry. They won a gold medal together at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. They met in four straight Finals from 2015-2018. They dominated the NBA over the last decade. How fun would it be if they teamed up in the twilight of their careers? It would be the greatest show in town, regardless of how deep they went in the playoffs. Not to mention, James is good friends with Draymond Green and has a lot of respect for Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
Cons: Next season, James will be 42, Curry will be 39 and Green will be 37. That’s geriatric in NBA terms. How could they compete against vastly younger and deeper teams such as the Spurs and Thunder? And if Anthony Davis is traded to the Warriors as part of the deal to acquire James, they’d just be adding another oft-injured player to a roster that’s already one injury away from disaster.
Comment: It would be pure cinema. It would be worth the risk. It’s where James would have the most fun.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Pros: This would tie a bow on James’ illustrious career. It’s where he was drafted in 2003 as the prospect with the highest expectations in NBA history. It’s where he sprinted past those expectations. It’s where he completed the greatest comeback of all-time, helping the Cavaliers storm back from a 3-1 series deficit in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Warriors, winning the franchise’s first-ever championship.
When the Lakers played in Cleveland in January, James teared up during a video tribute. This franchise still means so much to him. He grew up just 40 miles from Cleveland in Akron, Ohio. He still refers to himself as “The kid from Akron.” The basketball case would be pretty compelling too, with him playing alongside Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Cons: James wouldn’t want to be so far from his family. He has emphasized how hard it has been to miss so many of his children’s milestones throughout his career. He’s not going to move to the East Coast and be absent for all of his 11-year-old daughter’s volleyball games. Also, ever since James turned 40, his passion has become golf. Cleveland winters don’t exactly facilitate beautiful days spent on the green.
Comment: This would be the storybook ending for James. But it’s hard to imagine he’d pull the trigger on it.
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Miami Heat
Pros: The Heat already acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, and pairing him with James would be thrilling. James has strong ties to the Heat after carrying them to four straight Finals from 2011-2014, winning two championships. James has great relationships with Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra. It’s hard to imagine James going somewhere in which he has no history at this point, so the Heat could be a destination that makes sense.
Cons: When James returned to Miami in March, it was obvious he doesn’t have the same sentimentality for the franchise that he has for Cleveland. He didn’t get choked up. He didn’t wax poetic about his time in Miami. Also, it’s going to take a while for the Heat to figure things out and become contenders in the East. Considering James is fast-approaching retirement, time is a luxury he doesn’t have.
Comment: James and Antetokounmpo would be an exciting pairing, but I don’t think this is really on the table.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Pros: This would be a basketball dream fit for James. Imagine him playing alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels. That team would be so good. James loves Edwards, whom he mentored during the Olympic Games. The two of them would be riffing off of each other in the locker room and creating poetry on the hardwood.
Cons: It’s Minnesota. It’s freezing. It’s wet. That about sums it up.
Comment: There’s no way James is moving to Minnesota. It’s fun to imagine, but this is a nonstarter.
Denver Nuggets
Pros: If there’s one player James doesn’t hesitate to heap praise on besides Curry, it’s Nikola Jokic. After the Nuggets swept the Lakers out of the 2023 Western Conference Finals, James was in awe of Jokic, praising his basketball IQ and literally tipping his hat to him. On his “Mind the Game” podcast, James added that Jokic is the most “dominant, complete player” he has played against.
Cons: James has no history with the Nuggets. Narratives are important to him. Would he really join Jokic’s team in what would potentially be his final season? Nah.
Comment: It would be fun in theory, but it ain’t happening.
Honorable mention: San Antonio Spurs
Pros: If James were prioritizing winning his fifth championship above all else, he should go to San Antonio. Led by the 7-foot-4 phenom Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs skyrocketed past their expectations this season, reaching the NBA Finals. But they lacked something very important: Someone with championship experience who could lead them in crunch time. They had double-digit leads in each of their four losses before making last-second mistakes that had major repercussions. James would be the perfect antidote to those mental collapses. He’d be surrounded by young guns. But San Antonio just signed Tobias Harris to a two-year, $31 million deal, all but closing the door on that opportunity.
Cons: Before the Harris signing, this was fun to think about. The idea of a real-life passing of the torch from James to Wembanyama would’ve been fascinating to witness.
Comment: Oh, well. It was fun to think about for three seconds.
Royals vs. Rays July 1 game discussion
After a 13-14 June, it looks like the Royals main focus is now moving to 2027. But for today, we can still enjoy watching some baseball. Old friend Jose Cuas is back pitching for KC for the first time since 2023 and Randy Dobnak has arrived with him. Jac Caglianone will be back in right field after only hitting last night coming back from minor injury. The Royals beat Shane McClanahan in his last start and will try to beat the Tampa lefty again.
Jets Fan Favourite Signs Two-Year Deal with San Jose Sharks
On Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets will have a new backup goaltender next season after fan favourite Eric Comrie departed in free agency, signing a two-year contract worth $2.3 million with the San Jose Sharks.
Comrie played an important role for Winnipeg during the 2025-26 campaign, stepping into a much larger workload while star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck missed time.
The 30-year-old appeared in a career-high 25 games, posting a 12-11-1 record along with a 3.13 goals-against average and .890 save percentage.
A longtime member of the Jets organization across multiple stints, Comrie earned a reputation as a respected teammate and popular figure in the dressing room and among Winnipeg's fanbase.
Wishing you all the best in San Jose, Coms 💙 pic.twitter.com/hV5gPOG8Px
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) July 1, 2026
His departure marks the end of another chapter with the franchise that originally selected him in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft.
Comrie wasn't the only notable addition for San Jose on a busy day of roster building. The Sharks also acquired veteran defenseman Darnell Nurse from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp.
In free agency, San Jose further bolstered its lineup by signing defenseman Jacob Trouba to a four-year, $33 million contract and winger Mason Marchment to a five-year, $33.75 million deal.
With several significant additions, including Comrie, the Sharks have made it clear they intend to take a major step forward heading into the 2026-27 NHL season.
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Freddy Peralta’s dud buries Mets as veteran’s miserable season continues in loss to Blue Jays
TORONTO — Freddy Peralta sizzled Wednesday, but only in the sense he was turned into Canadian bacon.
Of all the Mets’ disappointments this season, the alleged ace’s shortcomings might be the most perplexing. Peralta is in his career prime and physically hasn’t provided any hint of ailment.
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Try it freeFive-inning Freddy cut his afternoon short by a frame on Canada Day, after burying his team early in a 9-3 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
The Mets (36-51) lost a fifth straight series and sank further into the abyss of a season that may rate as the biggest flop in franchise history. Peralta’s latest dud occurred just hours after team owner Steve Cohen told The Post’s Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman on “The Show” podcast that president of baseball operations David Stearns’ job is safe for the remainder of a five-year contract that runs through 2028.
Offensively, the Mets didn’t show life until the eighth, when Carson Benge delivered a two-run homer. Francisco Lindor hit a solo homer in the ninth. The Mets finished with five hits.
Over four innings, Peralta surrendered five earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks as his ERA surged to 4.81. It was a third straight lackluster start and second outright clunker by Peralta.
“I don’t feel good,” Peralta said when asked about his emotional state. “I’m just going to try to come back and make adjustments.”
Peralta answered in the affirmative when asked if this felt like the roughest stretch of his career.
“Every day I prepare to have success, but the game is crazy — that’s the only way I can describe it right now,” Peralta said. “The thing that makes me feel good is I prepare myself really well. I am not being lazy between starts.”
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Peralta indicated his problems aren’t mechanical.
“The pitches are really good — the shape and the velocity was really good, too,” he said. “Just move forward.”
All of this is occurring against the backdrop of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Peralta, in his walk year, is among the team’s trade chips, but what is his value if he is deemed broken?
Peralta has been far short of the pitcher Stearns thought he was receiving when he dealt Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams to Milwaukee in January in a trade that brought the Mets another struggling pitcher in Tobias Myers (who in recent days was demoted to Triple-A Syracuse for the second time this season).
“We all want [Peralta] to go out there and dominate like we believe he can,” interim manager Andy Green said. “For us it’s just a matter of getting the fastball where he knows he wins. He’s been winning there for a long time in the big leagues. He knows how he’s good and why he’s good, and we all know it. So, it’s just about going out there and executing.”
Kazuma Okamoto’s RBI single in the first inning put Peralta in a 1-0 hole just three batters into the game. Nathan Lukes’ leadoff single and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s ensuing double placed Peralta in immediate trouble before Okamoto delivered. Peralta walked Alejandro Kirk later in the inning, but escaped without another run scoring.
But it turned ugly in the third. Okamoto walked to begin the inning and with one out Alejandro Kirk hit a line drive that deflected off Lindor’s glove for a single. Peralta retired Yohendrick Piñango for the second out, but Ernie Clement stroked an RBI double. Long Island native Sean Keys delivered the dagger: a three-run blast to left field for his first career homer.
Daulton Varsho’s RBI single against Cionel Pérez in the seventh widened the deficit. Myles Straw blasted a three-run homer in the inning that gave the Blue Jays a 9-0 lead.
The Mets’ next stop is Atlanta for four games beginning Friday. The Mets won two of three games against the NL East-leading Braves at Citi Field last month.
The Mets’ mindset heading to Truist Park?
“Go win baseball games,” Green said.
Devils sign Nico Hischier to $58.5 million contract extension
The captain is staying in Newark.
The Devils announced Wednesday that they have agreed to a five-year, $58.5 million extension with Nico Hischier.
The new contract will kick in for the 2027-28 season.
Hischier is entering the final year of a $7.5 million-per-year deal.
Hischier was selected first overall by New Jersey in the 2017 NHL Draft and made his Devils debut that October. He played in all 82 games last season and recorded 66 points with a team-leading 28 goals.
The forward became one of seven players in franchise history with five or more seasons tallying 60 points.
Hischier has 488 points in 609 games for New Jersey, sixth on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.
“Since the day he was drafted as the number one overall pick in 2017, Nico Hischier has represented the New Jersey Devils with class, commitment, and a dedication to the community,” owner David Blitzer said in a statement.
“When I took this job, I knew that Nico was one of the core pieces that I definitely wanted as part of our future,” general manager Sunny Mehta said. “The way he plays the game, his leadership, and selflessness are qualities we value for this team. We all look forward to him leading this franchise, on and off the ice, for years to come.”
The extension comes after there were questions surrounding Hischier’s future in New Jersey following a disappointing 42-37-3 campaign last season. Shopping him could have brought back a haul for a Devils team that has underachieved in recent seasons.
Instead, Hischier comes back and will be under contract through the 2031-32 season, two seasons after Jack Hughes’ current deal expires.
Blue Jackets Sign Owen Sillinger
The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that theyve signed Owen Sillinger to a one-year, two-way NHL/AHL contract for the 2026-27 season.
Don Waddell said via a press release, “Owen is a smart, dependable, two-way forward who brings a strong work ethic every day,” said Waddell. “We are pleased to bring him back and look forward to him continuing to provide valuable depth and experience to our organization.”
Sillinger has scored 50 goals and recorded 98 assists in 271 career AHL games. Last year he set career highs in goals, power play goals and shots.
One day, hopefully he and brother Cole get to play in an NHL game together.
Next Up For Columbus: Free Agency starts on July 1st. Will the CBJ be players?
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Padres humiliated in 23–3 loss to Cubs after Walker Buehler implodes
It’s been an ugly season for the San Diego Padres, but it turned into a nightmare during Wednesday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs.
Walker Buehler, who was coming off of a five-inning performance of one-run baseball against a loaded Los Angeles Dodgers lineup, was torched. The right-hander gave up nine earned runs across four innings at Wrigley Field.
Buehler gave up seven hits and issued four walks in a performance that led to a 23–3 loss for the Padres. It marked the most runs given up by the franchise since 1977, tying the record.
Each Padres pitcher in Wednesday’s game gave up five or more runs during their time on the mound. Reliever Kyle Hart allowed five runs across two innings of work.
Manager Craig Stammen didn’t waste any more bullpen arms with 28-year-old rookie catcher Rodolfo Durán taking the mound for the final two innings of the game. Durán allowed eight more runs against the Cubs lineup.
Chicago hit eight homers against San Diego, including three from infielder Dansby Swanson. He also recorded eight RBIs. Even Dodgers castoff Michael Conforto hit two homers off the Padres Wednesday.
The Cubs outscored the Padres 35-12 in their three-game sweep of the Padres in what is surely one of the San Diego’s worst games in its history.
Though currently tied for second in the NL West with the San Francisco Giants, the Padres have emerged as one of the worst offensive teams in Major League Baseball this season. San Diego’s lineup is hitting at a .224 clip, ranking dead last in batting average.
What’s next for the Padres remains a mystery as president of baseball operations A.J. Preller is expected to make a move at the trade deadline next month.
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Game Discussion: Milwaukee Brewers (52-31) vs Cincinnati Reds (39-45)
Winners of 50 of their last 69 games against the Cincinnati Reds, the Milwaukee Brewers will look to keep on rolling on Wednesday night. The Crew has taken the first two games of this series and a win tonight would secure a series victory.
Just like the first game in this series, it’ll be a battle of left-handers on the mound. The Brewers will have Shane Drohan as their hurler, he’ll be making his seventh start of the season and sixth since being inserted into the rotation at the beginning of June.
Drohan pitched against the Reds his last time out, throwing 4.1 scoreless innings, scattering five hits. He was not very efficient, using 98 pitches to get through those 4.1 IP, but he kept the Reds off the board in what ultimately ended up as a 6-5 Brewers win. His ERA on the season dropped to 3.12.
The Reds will counter with Andrew Abbott and his 3.90 ERA on the season. The Brewers did not face Abbott during their series last week. Abbott last pitched against the Pirates on Friday and gave up three home runs in 5.1 IP.
The Brewers lineup will have some of the usual adjustments they make against left-handers. Gary Sanchez gets the start behind the plate and is batting seventh. That pushes William Contreras to the DH spot and Christian Yelich gets the night off. Yelich has been scuffling a bit at the plate lately and has struggled against lefties a bit more than usual.
Brice Turang, Jake Bauers, and Garrett Mitchell are the only left-handed hitters in the lineup for the Crew. Bauers is playing right field in place of Sal Frelick, who is coming off an incredible month of June. Cooper Pratt is also back in the lineup after getting a day and a half off to help him reset a little bit following some recent struggles. Joey Ortiz mans the hot corner.
The Reds will have their big boppers at the top of their lineup once again with Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart providing a 1-2 punch. Spencer Steer, Eugenio Suarez, and Robert Stephenson make up the meat of their order.
The Brewers will be celebrating America’s 250th anniversary tonight, since they won’t be playing at home on the 4th of July. We’ll see if the Brewers offense can provide some fireworks tonight against Abbott and the Reds pitching staff. First pitch is at 7:10 PM with ESPN having the TV broadcast.
Canucks Sign Defenceman Jamie Oleksiak To A Two-Year Contract
The Vancouver Canucks are adding to their D-core, having signed towering defenceman Jamie Oleksiak to a two-year, $5M AAV contract.
A 6-foot-7 left-shot defenceman, Oleksiak has spent his 14-year NHL career with the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and most recently the Seattle Kraken. Throughout that span, he has played in 758 NHL games and scored 45 goals and 116 assists.
“Jamie is a big body who moves very well on the ice,” Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson said in a press release. “He’s a solid two-way defenceman who isn’t afraid to use his size and strength to his advantage, and we like his reach and athleticism. He competes very hard and has grown into a good leader in the dressing room. Adding him to the mix on the backend will help us in many positive ways.”
Drafted 14th-overall by the Stars in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Oleksiak initially played for Dallas from 2012-13 to 2017-18 but returned to the team from 2018-19 to 2020-21 after a two-season stint with the Penguins. He did not play in his first full 82-game season until 2023-24 as a member of the Kraken.
Oleksiak's best offensive numbers came from his time with the Kraken, as he registered a career-high in goals (9) and assists (16) in a single season with 75 games played in 2022-23.
Last season, Oleksiak put up five goals and 10 assists in 78 games while averaging 16:56 minutes played.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Jalen Brunson, NBA champion Knicks score invites to Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce MSG wedding
The Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce Garden party might include, well, some of the championship tenants of MSG.
Jalen Brunson and “the starting lineup for the Knicks” have been invited to the power couple’s wedding on Friday in New York, Page Six reported.
Along with Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns were invited to the nuptials at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
There are expected to be at least 1,000 guests at the wedding Friday, one day after the pop star and Chiefs tight end have a rehearsal dinner at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Swift and the Knicks are plenty familiar with each other, as the “Welcome to New York” singer took in the Knicks’ historic 29-point comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. It was Anunoby whose flying tip-in in the waning seconds sealed the victory over the Spurs.
Swift, who wore a blue and orange “Stevie Knicks” T-shirt, was sitting courtside on Celebrity Row with fellow singers Este Haim and Alana Haim and “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” actress Mariska Hargitay as the Knicks improbably rallied to win their third game of the Finals.
Kelce, a Cavaliers fan who attended the Eastern Conference finals in Cleveland with Swift, was not in attendance for the comeback.
Este Haim revealed it was Swift who invited her and her sister to the Finals game.
“Taylor invited me and Alana. I’ve never sat courtside ever, so it was a magical experience,” Este Haim told Variety in mid-June. “I’ve never heard the Garden be that loud in my life. It was amazing. I had the best time.”
The Haim sisters, along with Hargitay, are among the other high-profile guests invited to the big bash, according to Page Six.
Some of Kelce’s Chiefs teammates are expected to attend. Three-time Super Bowl-winning coach Andy Reid was among those invited.
Report: Sixers have ‘expressed interest in acquiring' LeBron James
Report: Sixers have ‘expressed interest in acquiring' LeBron James originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The drama level of the Sixers’ offseason skyrocketed Wednesday night.
Hours after the team agreed to trade for Jaylen Brown in a deal sending Paul George and draft picks to the Celtics, The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported the following:
“The Philadelphia 76ers have expressed interest in acquiring free agent forward LeBron James.”
The 41-year-old James has decided he won’t return to the Lakers and is an unrestricted free agent. To join the Sixers, it appears he would need to take a very sizable pay cut from his $52.6 million salary last season. The Sixers will have three major contracts on their books in Joel Embiid, Brown and Tyrese Maxey.
If James came on board, the hope would presumably be that he’d boost the Sixers’ playmaking, versatility and veteran knowhow as the team pushed for an NBA championship. James made his 22nd consecutive All-Star Game last season and averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds. He’s one of the sport’s all-time greats and nowhere near the typical player his age.
Jones wrote that “the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are also considered among the frontrunners for James’ services.”
James has shared summer workouts with Maxey and thinks highly of the Sixers’ All-NBA guard (both are represented by Klutch Sports’ Rich Paul). He won a gold medal for Team USA with Embiid at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Cubs 23, Padres 3: Dansby Swanson’s 3-HR game leads an 8-homer barrage
At times, I’ve promoted the idea that MLB should have a mercy rule – down 10 runs or more after seven innings, the two managers should be able to just say, “We quit.”
It’s games like this that might make me reconsider that idea. On a very hot and windy afternoon at Wrigley Field, Dansby Swanson smashed three homers, giving him five in two games, tying the MLB record for such things. That led an eight-homer demolition of the Padres, 23-3. The eight homers tied the Cubs franchise record, set last July 4 against the Cardinals. That, my friends, was fun, even if the last eight runs came off a position player.
There is a lot of stuff to unpack about this game, so let’s get started!
After a scoreless top of the first, the Cubs got right to work in the bottom of the inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong singled and Alex Bregman walked. After Michael Busch struck out, Seiya Suzuki launched a home run [VIDEO].
For Suzuki, that was his 100th career home run. More on that from BCB’s JohnW53:
Seiya Suzuki is the 27th batter to hit at least 100 home runs as a Cub. He is tied with Keith Moreland. Next up: Shawon Dunston, 107; Willson Contreras, 117; Kyle Schwarber, 121; and Jody Davis, 122. Andy Pafko is 20th, at 126, 12 behind Leon Durham’s 138.
The Cubs made it 4-0 in the second. With one out, Swanson hit his first long ball of the afternoon [VIDEO].
Colin Rea got into a bit of trouble in the third on a double and two hit batters, loading the bases, but ended the inning with a ground ball.
Then the Cubs blew the game open in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Suzuki walkwd and Ian Happ doubled. One out later, Michael Conforto was intentionally walked so Walker Buehler could pitch to Miguel Amaya.
Bad idea, Padres. Amaya’s two-run single made it 6-0 [VIDEO].
That left Conforto on third and Amaya on first and it’s Dansby’s turn to go deep again! [VIDEO]
If you’re keeping count, that’s four homers for Swanson in a game (yesterday) plus three innings (today) and four RBI already. It’s 9-0 Cubs. Incidentally, Buehler had been on a pretty good run, with a 2.64 ERA over his last nine starts. This game marks the first time in Buehler’s career where he allowed nine runs. His season ERA went from 3.81 to 4.61 with his four-inning outing.
Rea made it through the fifth inning, allowing a pair of runs in that frame to make it 9-2. You could tell he was running out of gas in the heat, issuing two walks to load the bases after the two runs had scored, but he struck out Jake Cronenworth to end the inning. Earlier in the fifth, Rea had some defensive help from Happ [VIDEO].
Rea turned 36 today. Fun fact from John about that:
Cubs starters on their birthdays have won six consecutive decisions: Rea today, Jordan Wicks in 2024 and 2023, Justin Steele in 2024, Marcus Stroman in 2022 and Randy Wells in 2010. The last to lose was Carlos Zambrano, who gave up seven runs, six earned, on 13 hits (no homers) and two walks in 5.0 innings on June 1, 2007. Rea’s start is the 11th since then. Since 1901, Cubs starters on birthdays are 21-15, with 17 no-decisions.
The Cubs piled on four more runs and two more homers in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Conforto went deep [VIDEO].
Amaya followed with a walk and Swanson reached on a fielder’s choice, with Amaya winding up on third after an error on Cronenworth.
That set up PCA for this three-run blast, his 19th [VIDEO].
Now it’s 13-2 and the fun isn’t anywhere near done!
Trent Thornton threw a 1-2-3 sixth on only six pitches, and then the Cubs tacked on two more in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Happ walked. One out later, Conforto went deep for the second time [VIDEO].
If you’ve lost count, that’s six Cubs homers and a 15-2 lead.
Jordan Wicks was given the ball for the seventh and he retired the Padres in order. He allowed a run in the eighth to make it 15-3, and that’s when the position player pitcher fun began. Padres catcher Rodolfo Duran had thrown the seventh and retired the Cubs 1-2-3 – the only Padre to do that in this game.
He wasn’t so fortunate in the eighth, but Cubs fans enjoyed the show. Michael Busch, who had been 0-for-4, singled leading off the inning. Suzuki doubled him to third. A single by Kevin Alcántara scored Busch [VIDEO].
A walk by Justin Dean loaded the bases, and Conforto singled to make it 17-3 [VIDEO].
The bases are still loaded for Amaya, whose single made it 18-3 [VIDEO].
The bases are still loaded and there’s nobody out.
Step up, Dansby, and hit a slam!
Oh, we have SO MANY fun facts about that! First, as noted above, that matches the MLB record for most home runs in a two-game span. But also:
Pretty good company, I’d say. Also, from John, who I asked, “Who’s the last Cub to have back-to-back multi-homer games?”
Patrick Wisdom, Aug. 27-28, 2021, at White Sox. Three-run shot in first inning and solo in ninth of first game, then solos in fourth and fifth of second gam
And at Wrigley Field?
Javier Baez, April 10-11, 2018, in 8-5 loss and 13-5 win over Pirates.
Only six such earlier pairs at Wrigley:
Bill Williams, Sept. 9-10, 1968
Andre Dawson, June 1-2, 1987
Sammy Sosa, June 19-20, 1998 and Aug. 20-21, 1999
Derrek Lee, May 27-28, 2005
Alfonso Soriano, May 16-17, 2008
Note that Williams had a day off between games.
Swanson had eight RBI in the game. That also accomplished something rare:
Swanson’s slam was home run number seven. Two outs later, Busch made it eight [VIDEO].
That completed the Cubs scoring.
Wicks finished off the game, allowing a pair of hits in the ninth, but getting this ground ball to end it [VIDEO].
Since Wicks threw three innings and finished up, he gets a save – with a 20-run lead!
More facts about this crazy game from John:
This is the 43rd game since 1901 in which a Cub has hit three home runs. None has hit four.
Michael Busch was the last to do it, on July 4 of last year, when the Cubs set the franchise record of eight home runs that they tied today.
Sammy Sosa did it six times; Ernie Banks, four; Dave Kingman and Aramis Ramirez, three; Kris Bryant, Hank Sauer and Alfonso Soriano, two.
The Cubs are 31-12 in the three-homer games.
…
The Cubs had hit at least five homers in back-to-back games only twice before:
Aug. 10-11, 2002, at Colorado: six, then five, in 15-1 and 12-9 wins
Aug. 1-2, 2023, at home vs. Reds: seven, then five, in 20-9 and 16-6 wins
…
This is just the sixth game since 1901 in which the Cubs scored at least 23 runs.
The last was a 26-7 win at Colorado on Aug. 18, 1995.
The last at home was 23-6 over the Padres on May 17, 1977.
They beat the Cardinals at home, 23-13, on April 17, 1954; the Braves at Boston, 24-2, on July 3, 1945; and the Phillies at home, 26-23, in the highest-scoring MLB game ever, on Aug. 25, 1922.
…
This is the Cubs sixth series sweep of the season: three games vs. the Diamondbacks, Mets and Padres; four games vs. the Mets, Phillies and Reds.
In all other series they are 6-13-2, including three straight losses vs. the Astros and Brewers.
A note on that 23-6 game from 1977 – this game matches that one as the most runs allowed in a game in Padres franchise history.
Saving the best for last from John:
This is just the third game ever that the Cubs won by at least 20 runs!
24-2 at Boston on July 3, 1945
21-0 at home vs. Pirates on April 23, 2022
Lastly, I thought you might like to have a look at my scorecard:
Whew! What an afternoon at Wrigley Field. Oh, and almost lost in all this: The Cubs have won five straight and 15 of their last 19.
The Cubs have a well-earned day off tomorrow and will open a three-game series against the Cardinals Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The Cubs don’t have a starter listed yet but it should be David Peterson’s turn to make his Cubs Wrigley debut. The Cardinals are going with Andre Pallante. Game time Friday is 3:05 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.