Atlanta hasn’t scored more than five runs in a game in any of its last seven contests, and may struggle against Scott’s sweeper, as they have just a 21.8% air pull rate against the pitch, which ranks 23rd in MLB. The Mets are third-worst in the majors in run scoring, having put up just 3.98 runs per game on the year.
Given those trends and a solid pitching matchup, it’s hard to see a whole lot of runs coming tonight. This total is far too high, and I’m taking the Under at 8.5 runs or more.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 13-21, -8.84 units
Over/Under bets: 12-20, -8.74 units
Mets vs Braves weather
Mets vs Braves odds
Moneyline: New York +102 | Atlanta -104
Run line: New York -1.5 (+159) | Atlanta +1.5 (-167)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-122) | Under 8.5 (-131)
Mets vs Braves trend
Atlanta is 2-8 straight up in its last 10 games overall. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Braves.
How to watch Mets vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Date
Friday, July 3, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Mets starting pitcher
Christian Scott (2-0, 3.20 ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
Grant Holmes (4-4, 3.96 ERA)
Mets vs Braves latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
INGLEWOOD, CA - MARCH 31: Caleb Love #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers warms up before the game against the LA Clippers on March 31, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers are rounding out their eventful free agency week with two-way signings, it seems. Fresh off inking Rayan Rupert to a two-way deal, they’ve now signed former Portland Trail Blazer Caleb Love to a two-way contract. ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report the news:
Free agent guard Caleb Love has agreed to a two-way NBA deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/6u3rnDG8Uy
For those who aren’t familiar with Love, he’s a former five-star recruit with quite an extensive college resume. He played five years in the NCAA, three with the North Carolina Tar Heels, later transferring to Arizona and playing two years there. Across 142 total college games, he averaged 15.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists. He accumulated 200 made three-pointers.
Love declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, and to the surprise of some, went undrafted. He went on to sign a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite never being converted, Love saw plenty of action at the NBA level during his rookie season. He appeared in 49 games for them, starting one, and averaged 10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from three. Love’s best stretch of basketball occurred from late December through the beginning of February, where he averaged 15.3 points on 43.3 percent shooting. I’d encourage you to check out his game logs, as for a first-year undrafted guy he really lit it up.
Love now caps off the new “guard glut” of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Labaron Philon and Anfernee Simons. There’s no shortage of scoring amongst this group. Love also has quite a few Sixer-centric connections. A year ago, he faced off against Edgecombe in a heated rookie workout, and also crossed over with Dalen Terry during his time at Arizona.
Caleb Love and VJ Edgecombe going blow for blow last off-season
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) July 3, 2026
With the signings of Love and Rupert, the Sixers are now down to one vacant two-way spot. Considering Rupert is best classified as a wing, and Love is a guard, it’s safe to assume that could go towards bolstering their big man rotation, currently occupied by Joel Embiid, Adem Bona, Johni Broome, and Jabari Walker.
DOUBLE FIGURES, PART 1: Wednesday’s 23-3 demolition of the Padres was the 10th game this season in which the Cubs scored at least 10 runs. They had 22 double-digit games last season, after having had only 12 in 2024, half their total in 2023. They are 5-4 this year in their next games after double-digit outbursts. Since 2000, they are 165-158 in next games and have averaged 4.80 runs in those games. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
DOUBLE FIGURES, PART 2: The Cubs had not scored 10 or more runs at home against the Padres since an 11-7 win on May 28, 2012, their longest such drought against any National League opponent. Their longest now is against the Marlins, since a 13-4 win on May 9, 2018. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
A HIT MACHINE: The Cubs have made 40 hits in their last three games: 10, 13 and 17. They had made only 16 in their previous three, and a total of 41 in their previous seven. The Cubs made double-digit hits in five straight games April 12-17 and in four straight April 21-24. This is their first streak of at least three games since then. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
DANSBY SWANSON’S CASE FOR PLAYER OF THE WEEK: In the three games so far this week, Swanson is batting .615/.615/1.846 (8-for-13) with a double, five home runs, 11 RBI, seven runs scored and only one strikeout.
The Cardinals lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cardinals lineup.
David Peterson, LHP vs. Andre Pallante, RHP
David Peterson’s first Cubs start, last Friday in Milwaukee, was a success. This despite seeing the first pitch he threw in a Cubs uniform deposited into the seats by Jackson Chourio. After that he was really good.
Peterson faced the Cardinals three weeks ago in New York and trust me, you do not want to look at this boxscore link. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. That night Peterson was being used as a “bulk guy” after an opener, so this game will obviously be different, and, hopefully, better.
Andre Pallante threw three innings against the Cubs May 29 in St. Louis and allowed eight hits and four runs. Ian Happ smashed a three-run homer off him in the first inning.
Pallante posted a 3.16 ERA in five June starts, and that would have been better if he hadn’t allowed five runs in 6.2 innings in his most recent start, June 27 vs. the Marlins.
Pallante doesn’t strike out or walk a lot of guys so the Cubs should look to put the ball in play.
Please visit our SB Nation Cardinals site Viva el Birdos. If you do go there to interact with Cardinals fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
The past week has only been Maksim Sokolovskii's first taste of action as a Philadelphia Flyers prospect, but if his performance against his peers says anything about his future, look out.
Sokolovskii, 17, was drafted 27th overall by the Flyers in the 2026 NHL Draft earlier this month, and while many bemoaned the choice because he fits the "big guy hits hard" mold, there is actually so much more depth to the 6-foot-7 defenseman's game than that.
At development camp, the London Knights product flashed everything he has to offer: effortless skating, strength, confidence, a good defensive stick, and... dangles with the puck on his stick!
No, really, Sokolovskii can do it all. This isn't to say that the new Flyers prospect is a world-beater or finished product--far from it--but it should reinforce the Flyers' belief that the defender has sky-high upside as a player.
Mechanically, Sokolovskii's skating needs some work, and he can still be loose and awkward when handling the puck. The good news is that the Flyers have five or six years to develop that, on top of his superhuman size and strength.
Sokolovskii's performance in the 3-on-3 tournament to finish out the Flyers' development camp was his most impressive of the week by far, giving a glimpse of what he can be if everything goes right in his development.
Maksim Sokolovskii is elite
Drew this penalty shot after going between his legs on a breakaway attempt right before pic.twitter.com/fwjUGhdlbR
Again, yes, it is a development camp against other prospects and camp invites.
The highlight of the 2026 first-round pick's morning was the penalty shot attempt he converted on draft classmate Martin Psohlavec, going backhand-forehand and scoring blocker side.
How did a defenseman like Sokolovskii get a penalty shot in a 3-on-3 game, you might ask?
The Kazakh defender was all over the ice, constantly getting north in open space to receive pucks and create offensive opportunities. Sokolovskii frequently demanded the puck from his teammates, and was astonishingly effective at creating offense from behind the opposing net--a long way from the point at the blue line.
It was easy to see Sokolovskii's daredevil personality coming out on the ice; to draw the penalty shot, he made an audacious attempt at a between-the-legs shot on Psohlavec, drawing a hook from a back-checking defender in the process.
With his absurdly long reach, Sokolovskii was also able to consistently create second- and third-chance opportunities, even after he and his teammates lost the puck or missed on a scoring chance.
The first of those resulted in a Jack Nesbitt goal from the high slot, with Sokolovskii supplying the assist from behind the net. Another came courtesy of Alex Bump a few shifts later.
"Sokolovskii, he likes to go, he actually likes to handle the puck. He has some things he's going to have to learn, but we want him to be trying things, especially in this environment," Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said after Friday's tournament.
Sokolovskii flipped a switch over the past 10-ish minutes of game time, and is now pulling off stuff like this pic.twitter.com/Ba2fouJJ73
"You want him to try to make plays and get up ice and take himself out of his comfort zone. I think all these players, whenever you get to junior or the American league, you play safe and try not to make mistakes and all this stuff. When you're a young player, especially junior and minor leagues, we want you to try things, just try to improve. Every player wants to be an offensive guy and score goals and make plays, and obviously they're going to be defense-first, but then we want guys to join the rush. Modern-day NHL, you need guys coming in a second wave to score."
This is less about making Sokolovskii out to be Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar, or even Zdeno Chara or Victor Hedman, and more about showing what his full potential could be like down the road.
Sokolovskii was one of the youngest players in the entire 2026 draft class, not turning 18 years old for another week, which leaves him plenty of developmental runway.
Naturally, Sokolovskii is the star of the show simply because of his anomalous size, but his development camp showing proved that he has quite the bag of tricks in his locker, too.
LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, went on his “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman and broke down which teams are in contention for the 41-year-old superstar.
It’s highly unusual for an agent to publicly discuss his client’s active free agency, especially for someone as high profile as James.
But we got a glimpse into James’ thinking in the episode that aired Friday.
LeBron James’ destination will be the No. 1 talking point in NBA circles until the legend mades a decision. Getty Images
There were 10 teams on Paul’s whiteboard, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks.
“If the Knicks hadn’t have won [the championship], there wouldn’t even be no board,” Paul said. “He’d be going to the Knicks.”
Agent Rich Paul breaks down which teams James is considering in NBA free agency in a bizarre scene using a whiteboard with shocking details. Getty Images
Other times, Paul played coy, such as when he was asked why the Warriors, who are presumed to be one of James’ top destinations, were in a corner of the whiteboard as opposed to being featured front and center like the 76ers, Heat, Timberwolves, Nuggets and Cavaliers.
“You can think whatever you think,” Paul said. “This is my board. You decide what you want to think.”
Paul also revealed a few tidbits on James’ thinking about a reunion with the Cavaliers, who James spent two stints with from 2003-10 and 2014-18, including carrying them to their only championship in 2016.
Paul referred to assistant general manager Brandon Weems as “basically LeBron’s brother.” He also intimated that Darius Garland (who’s also represented by Klutch Sports) no longer being on the team is a drawback for James.
“No offense to Harden, but no Garland, because he loves Garland like he loves [Tyrese] Maxey,” Paul said.
Paul made it clear that there has been overwhelming interest in James, adding that aside from “one organization, maybe two” he has heard from every team in the league. He said that next season won’t necessarily be James’ final one in the NBA.
Paul added that James’ wife, Savannah, and 11-year-old daughter, Zhuri, gave him “the green light” to go anywhere.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Jun 3, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes (66) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves are set to face their division rival for the second time this year. The last-place New York Mets took the first series, scoring high in their wins back in June. Grant Holmes is set to take the mound and is looking to kick the series off on a high note.
Holmes is taking the place of Bryce Elder, whose velocity dropped in his last outing. And for Holmes’ (3.96 ERA) last appearance, he pitched through four innings and only gave up one hit and no runs. Across his last seven outings, his ERA has risen to 4.20, and he has gotten a career-low 20.7% strikeout rate in 2026 during his third year in the league.
He’s hoping that this matchup will improve those stats, along with his career-high 11.1% walk rate.
Mets’ Christian Scott is currently boasting a 3.20 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP after his return from the IL just a few weeks ago. In his last outing against the Phillies (June 27), he pitched through four innings and gave up two runs, three hits and two walks with six strikeouts to add.
He said that his main goal was to establish his offspeed stuff early in the game, but otherwise, he felt he’s been consistent with landing his pitches in the zone.
Scott plans to get a head start, still in the process of bouncing back and regaining his strength from injury. Holmes will need to emulate the same game plan, but also give positive signs of showing up strong for the Braves on the defensive end. The offense, on the other hand, will have to hold down its end.
ENGLEWOOD, CO - JULY 09: Joe Sakic (C) is honored as he announces his retirement during a press conference at the Inverness Hotel on July 9, 2009 in Englewood, Colorado. (L-R) are Don Baizley, Debbie Sakic, Joe Sakic, Pierre Lacroix and Greg Sherman. Sakic played 20 years in the NHL with the same organization, the Quebec Nordiques from 1988-1995 and the Colorado Avalanche from 1995 to 2009. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The past thirty years of Avalanche hockey have featured incredible highs, and some very, very dismal lows.
As an avid fan of The Simpsons, I’ve witnessed plenty of “best of times” moments, but also been subjected to a smattering of unpleasant “blursts” of times. In this first of an ongoing off-season series, I take a look back through the past thirty years, highlighting one moment that stands among the best, and comparatively, the worst (or blurst, if you will) each season.
Here are the best and blurst moments from another five years of Colorado Avalanche history.
2005-2006
The Best: The Lockout Ends (July 22, 2005)
After lasting over ten months, the NHL and NHL Players Association came to terms on a brand new collective bargaining agreement, ensuring that all thirty clubs would return to action in the fall.
A hard $39 million dollar salary cap took effect as part of the agreement, and with it, a lot of uncomfortable decision had to be made by Avs GM Pierre Lacroix. With Lacroix’s hands bound by the new salary cap, longtime fixtures Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote were not offered new contracts, and instead signed long-term deals with the Philadelphia Flyers (the team that originally drafted Forsberg in 1991) and Columbus Blue Jackets, respectively.
Lacroix mobilized to fill the void in the wake of the departure of Forsberg and Foote. He signed both center Pierre Turgeon (previously with the Dallas Stars) and defenseman Patrice Brisebois (previously with the Montréal Canadiens) to two-year contracts on August 3.
The Avalanche began the season in Edmonton on October 5, losing by a score of 4-3.
Three nights later, the late Marek Svatoš made his NHL debut against the Dallas Stars, scoring the go-ahead goal to secure the Avs’ first win of the season. The 2001 seventh-round pick (227th overall) would go on to have the best season of his short NHL career in his rookie campaign, scoring 32 goals and 18 assists for 50 points before a shoulder injury in March 2006 sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
The drama of losing both Forsberg and Foote to free agency, the subsequent signings of Turgeon and Brisebois, the rapid rise of Svatoš, and an eventual return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs would not have been possible if not for this moment.
Hard to find a better moment of the season than the League resuming play again.
The Blurst: Brad May Signed by Colorado (August 20, 2005)
They signed WHO?!
When news had broke that the Avs had signed Brad May, the excitement over the return of hockey turned the stomachs of Avs fans sour. How could this franchise sign the very person–a multi-year contract at that–who openly admitted that a bounty was placed on Steve Moore’s head?
“Brad May is a good skater who brings us additional grit, leadership and experience,” said Avs GM Pierre Lacroix.
A far too simple justification in the wake of a far too complex situation.
Avs fans got an early look at May in burgundy and blue on September 16 during the Avs’ Burgundy and White Game at the University of Denver, and they didn’t hold back. Boos showered the Magness Arena ice surface each time that May was in possession of the puck. Although he didn’t finish the game due to sustaining a groin injury during the contest, the message was clear: you are not welcome here.
This would have been an opportunity for May to try to make amends for his role in the attack on Moore, but that would have been far too easy. “I’m not even interested in talking about it, really,” he said to The Denver Post after the game. “It’s just what it is.”
So much for the olive branch.
Head coach Joel Quenneville defended his new winger in an equally tone-deaf manner. “I think this is a thing that’s going to be over with, and the fans are going to like his style of play,” he said. “He’s a tough guy who can play. There are some tough guys who can be more difficult to get in the games. The role of the tougher player has to be that you feel comfortable with him on the ice.”
What a way to double down.
May played 64 regular season games during his Avs tenure, scoring three goals and six assists for a total of nine points. He appeared in three postseason games, registering zero points. He was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on February 17, 2007, in exchange for goaltender Mike Wall.
Wall never played a game for the Avs. May would win the Stanley Cup with Anaheim that summer.
The most controversial signing in franchise history felt all too long of a blurst for being so brief.
2006-2007
The Best: Budaj Goes Beast Mode (February 27 – April 07, 2007)
By this time in Avalanche history, making the playoffs wasn’t just an expectation: it was pure assumption. The thought that this team that set such high standards from year to year could ever be outside the playoff picture was simply unfathomable.
After losing to Anaheim on February 25, the Avs were squarely on the outside looking in, and an eleventh consecutive playoff appearance since relocating from Quebec was in jeopardy.
Something had to change. On February 27, Peter Budaj, who had been backing up José Théodore in goal, stepped into the crease for the Avs, and proceeded to win ten of his next twleve starts in goal (losing once in overtime and once in a shootout).
The playoffs were once again within reach. Théodore was reinserted back into the lineup on March 27–his first start in a month–but a 3-0 loss to Vancouver that night all but ensured Budaj would get the chance to pull the Avs across the finish line and back for an eleventh straight playoff appearance.
Budaj won his next four starts, setting up a dramatic matchup on April 7 in Nashville. Unfortunately, the magic ran out for Budaj, as Peter Forsberg, who had been acquired by Nashville before the trade deadline, set up another former Avalanche winger in Paul Kariya for the go-ahead (and game-winning goal). The loss sealed the Avs’ fate, as they would miss the playoffs for the first time since leaving Quebec.
Budaj started all but three games during that run, pulling off an insane 14-2-2 run to pull the Avs within a hair of the playoffs, a goaltending streak that wouldn’t be duplicated for nearly twenty more years.
The Blurst: Alex Tanguay Traded to Calgary (June 24, 2006)
In October 2002, Avs general manager Pierre Lacroix traded Chris Drury and Stéphane Yelle to the Calgary Flames for forwards Dean McAmmond, Jeff Shantz, and defenseman Derek Morris. Morris was the centerpiece of that deal in the eyes of Lacroix, who cited Morris’ abilities that could be a fixture on the blue line into the future.
Lacroix was roundly criticized for dealing away two key pieces of the team that had just won the Stanley Cup less than four months earlier. Morris played just over two seasons with the Avs, registering 17 goals and 59 assists in 117 regular season games, while only recording three assists in seven postseason games. He was traded to the then-Phoenix Coyotes prior to the trade deadline in 2004.
François Giguère, who succeeded Lacroix as general manager, made a similar move with similar shortcomings. Alex Tanguay, who was on the verge of becoming a restricted free agent in July, was traded to Calgary in exchange for defenseman Jordan Leopold and two second round picks in 2006 (used to draft center Codey Burki) and 2007 (used to draft goaltender Trevor Cann).
Both Giguère and Leopold spoke after the trade. “Jordan is a solid defenseman and a very good skater,” he said in comments to the Associated Press. “He is only 25 years old and has a bright future ahead of him.”
“I have an offensive background and I like to show it,” said Leopold.
Leopold spent three seasons with the Avs, but injuries kept him out of the lineup throughout his tenure, limiting his offensive capabilities. He scored 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points in 122 regular season games, and like Morris, managed to record only three assists in seven postseason games.
Tanguay set career highs in assists (59) and points (81) the following season with Calgary. He would play another year with the Flames prior to making stops in Montréal and Tampa, then returned to Calgary for three more seasons. He racked up another 90 goals and 191 assists for 281 points across 391 regular season games in that span.
Leopold would be sent back to Calgary on March 9, 2009, for defensemen Lawrence Nycholat and Ryan Wilson, along with a 2009 second round draft pick (later used to draft defenseman Stefan Elliot). He played for six more teams across five more seasons before retiring.
Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Or blurst it. Or something.
2007-2008
The Best: Franchise Victory #1000 (December 09, 2007)
José Théodore’s time with the Avs was certainly an adventure.
On this night when the St. Louis Blues came into town, the adventure lived up to its billing in the best way.
Jay McClement broke open the scoring for St. Louis just past the halfway mark of the first period. His future teammate, Milan Hejduk, would tie the game just over five minutes later. Hejduk’s second goal of the game a little over five minutes into the second period gave the Avs their first lead of the night.
McClement was awarded a penalty shot seconds later, and he tied the game at two.
At the halfway point of regulation, Paul Stastny put the Avs ahead 3-2, scoring the first of four goals (Wojtek Wolksi, Brett Clark, and Ryan Smyth scored the other three) past St. Louis goaltender Hannu Toivonen in a span of 6:26. The comfortable lead felt less so after Doug Weight and David Perron scored a minute apart early in the third to make things more nervewracking interesting, but three straight goals by Stastny, Hejduk, and Wolski put the game out of reach.
A meaningless goal from Lee Stempniak with less than a minute to play wrapped up this affair, with the Avs emerging with a 9-5 victory, their 1000th as a franchise.
Hejduk took first star honors of the night, recording a career best six points in one game and scoring the fifth career hat trick of his career. Stastny was right behind him, with two goals and three assists, good enough for second star honors. Overall, ten skaters recorded points for the Avs in this contest.
Although Toivonen had a pretty rough night, Théodore’s wasn’t much better, having allowing five goals on twenty-eight shots, but a win is a win.
This game stood as the highest scoring game played on home ice in franchise history until the Avs’ 9-6 victory over the Minnesota Wild in Game Two of their second round playoff series this past May.
For now, being the highest scoring regular season game on home ice–and recording the 1000th franchise victory–is a pretty impressive feat for second place on that list.
The Blurst: McLeod Mouths Off in Motown (April 26, 2008)
The rivalry between the Avs and Red Wings featured a lot of trash talking, but this was the first (and only) time that an inanimate object was the focal point of wrath between both clubs.
The Avs were at Joe Louis Arena for Game Two of the Stanley Cup semifinals. Having lost Game One two nights earlier, they were eager for a spark to build on to prevent from falling further behind in the series.
During the national anthem, a spectator threw an octopus onto the ice. Avs enforcer Cody McLeod scooped up the lifeless sea creature, shook it vigorously in the direction of Detroit’s Dallas Drake and Dan Cleary, then launched it past an arena attendant stationed near the back of the Avs bench.
McLeod’s actions certainly were motivational…for the Red Wings. Led by Johan Franzén, Detroit would score four unanswered goals (including an eventual hat trick for Franzén) en route to a 5-1 victory and a 2-0 series lead. Ian Laperrière scored the only goal in the contest.
The Avs would lose both games on home ice, falling in Game Three by a 4-3 decision, and Game Four by a lopsided 8-2 decision, reminiscent of the Game Seven defeat six years earlier in the Western Conference Final.
Losing, even decisively, to your most hated rival, is one thing. To get swept out the playoffs by your most hated rival?
That’s a blurst.
2008-2009
The Best: The 300 Club (January 18, 2009)
It’s fun when players reach a milestone moment in their careers, but when two players hit the same milestone in the same game, that a certain kind of special.
With the Avs leading the Calgary Flames 2-1 in the second period, Ryan Smyth scored a shorthanded goal to reach the 300 goal mark. Just under five minutes later, Milan Hejduk also scored his 300th career goal.
How often has something like this happened? Turns out, it’s pretty rare: the last time a pair of teammates reached the 300 goal mark in the same game was back on February 26, 1983, when Danny Gare and Ivan Boldirev of the Detroit Red Wings accomplished the feat against the New York Islanders.
Smyth and Hejduk are the last pair to most recently accomplish the feat. They both took first and second star honors in the Avs’ 6-2 victory over Calgary that night, but this achievement is in a class by itself, twice over.
The Blurst: Snowblower v. Sakic (December 09, 2008)
You had to know this was coming.
The 2008-2009 season saw Joe Sakic begin his twentieth NHL campaign at over a point per game pace into early November. A herniated disk put a pause in his season, causing him to miss three weeks of action. He returned in the Avs 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on November 26, but pulled himself after a brief shift two nights later against the Phoenix Coyotes.
Avs fans waited for news on his recovery and eventual return to the lineup. December 10, the team announced that Sakic would miss the next three months of action for an entirely different reason: surgery on his left hand to repair tendon damage and three broken fingers.
The culprit? Sakic’s own snowblower.
“He put his hand where he should not have put it. He’s, in a way, lucky. He’ll have a full recovery,” Team vice president Jean Martineau explained to The Denver Post.
Had Sakic’s recovery gone according to the projected timeline, he would have returned to the lineup in mid March, just in time to gear up for a potential playoff appearance. At the time of Sakic’s injury, the Avs were hovering just above the .500 mark with a 14-13-1 record, with plenty of time in the season to put themselves into postseason contention.
The exact opposite occurred, with the Avs going 18-32-4 for the remainder of the season and missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. Sakic never suited up for the Avs again.
“He’s very, very mad at himself. I’ve never seen him like that, and I’ve known him for 21 years,” Martineau further elaborated. “He knows he made a mistake.”
Unfortunately, a mistake that literally cut Sakic final season short.
All thanks to an appliance designed to clear out snow and ice, the very foundations of…an avalanche.
2009-2010
The Best: Craig Anderson’s San Jose Shutout (April 18, 2010)
The 2009-2010 season saw the Avs take their first steps to forge a new identity. Joe Sakic had retired at the start of the year, and the newest class of Avs draft picks featuring Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly were now the foundations to build the next wave of success.
A shootout win in Vancouver in early April ensured that the Avs would return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They drew the powerhouse San Jose Sharks–the team they hosted for Sakic’s jersey retirement–as their first round opponent.
After splitting the first two games at the Shark Tank, both teams met for Game Three at Pepsi Center on April 18. San Jose threw everything they could towards Craig Anderson, who stopped a whopping fifty saves in regulation to keep the Sharks off the board. The upstart Avs, however, struggled to put pucks on Evgeni Nabokov throughout the game, mustering just sixteen shots through sixty minutes.
The brilliance of Anderson and the lack of offense by the Avs sent this game to overtime.
With less than a minute gone in the extra frame, San Jose’s Dan Boyle attempted to fling the puck around the end boards in the Sharks zone. O’Reilly reached out with his stick and grazed the puck with the very edge of his blade. The puck changed direction just enough to sneak between Nabokov and the near post, securing an improbable 1-0 victory for the Avs and a 2-1 series lead.
Having witnessed this game in person, the video above doesn’t do the crowd’s reaction justice. The Pepsi Center crowd’s chants of, “Andy! Andy! Andy!” in recognition of Anderson’s fifty-one save performance still stand out, even among recognizing other incredible goaltending performances in the pantheon of Avs netminders.
It was the season’s best moment, and signaled a future full of promise.
The Blurst: A Snowy Saturday Shellacking (November 14, 2009)
The new-look Avs were enjoying some early season success as the 2009-2010 season got underway. Through the first eighteen games of the year, they compiled a 11-4-3 record, a result that may have caught more than a few people by surprise.
With the Vancouver Canucks coming into town as part of Hockey Night in Canada’s late night presentation, the Avs would be front and center to take on one of the strongest teams in the League. Despite losing their last two games to Edmonton and Chicago, the young Avs had little reason to doubt they could compete with Vancouver.
It didn’t take long for Vancouver to assert their will. Henrik Sedin scored his first goal of the game just under two minutes into the period, and the Canucks didn’t look back. Head coach Joe Sacco pulled Craig Anderson was pulled after the first period in an attempt to inject some life into his squad, but Vancouver would increase their lead on a Mathieu Schneider goal as the game approached the halfway point of regulation.
Marek Svatoš and Matt Hendricks broke through in the third period to finally solve Roberto Luongo, but Vancouver rattled off four unanswered goals in response. The lopsided 8-2 defeat illustrated that, as promising as the nucleus of talent on the Avs roster was, they had a long way to go before they could compete with the likes of a true Stanley Cup contender.
Was there a best (or blurst) from these five years of Avalanche hockey that was overlooked? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 14: Matt Turner #1 of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team poses for a photo with Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels before throwing out the first pitch prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 14, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a feel-good four-game sweep of the Yankees, the Washington Nationals were the next challenge and after winning game one the Sox crashed hard. We don’t need to go into the next two games eccept for the impact on the road trip: No Willson Contreras, essentially.
For the most important stretch of the season remaining – 6 games against two mediocre teams and 3 against a good White Sox club – the Red Sox may be without their best player this season (non-Durbin division). Seven games out of 162 is about 4.3% of the season. With the All-Star Break, Cavalli may not functionally miss a start at all depending on how the Nationals reset their rotation. Not ideal.
The Angels have been reeling. Mike Trout, in the midst of a big year, hit the IL. The team fired their GM, and the Angels are headed to yet another losing season. Los Angeles is sitting at 36-51 to Boston’s 37-48 record entering play.
Jake Bennett is coming off a masterful start against the Yankees. 6.1 innings and 1 run to the former first place AL East club. He’s looking like an excellent acquisition by Craig Breslow. If he turns into a solid rotation member that’s a tremendous win for even a very good prospect who is more suited for relief. He’ll face Reid Detmers. The Angels starter has been up since 2021 and is breaking out this season. Detmers was hit hard for 8 runs in 5.2 innings on May 13 but then put up a true gem: 8 innings, 1 run, 14 Ks. And has mostly been cruising since then. He had as hiccup against the A’s in their minor league park but then handled them better at home. He is a lefty so hopefully we’ll see some vintage Romy vs Lefty magic.
Sonny Gray has been the #2 that was promised. What else can you say at this point? He’s making a great case to be traded or to stick around and just anchor the rotation that has lost all the depth from March. Someone needs to pitch innings. He’s opposed by a second lefty, Sam Aldegheri. In his third season in Anaheim, Aldegheri is not having the breakout Detmers has enjoyed. He only strikes out 15% of batters but walks 9.8% so this might be a short night if the Sox are hitting. He’s allowed 4 home runs in his 29 big league innings this year across 5 starts (8 total games).
Ranger Suarez missed out on the fun against the Yankees but pitched the Sox to their only win against the Nationals. Striking out 8 in 6.0 innings he turned in another solid start this year. There’s usually an inning where he runs into some trouble but he’s so good he can get out of almost any jam. Ryan Johnson, fresh off his latest Knives Out sequel will finish the series for the Angels. A righty, he’s strugglesd. Although an ERA over seven…we’ve seen this story before in 2026. Will it drop to 6.50 or lower if the bats take the night off?
Mike Trout is on the IL. As is old friend Yoán Moncada.
Zach Neto is leading the Angels with 18 homers.
Another old friend, Vaughn Grissom, is hitting .231/.311/.369.
Jarren Duran is coming off an absolutely brutal .144/.168/.227 month of June after his .261/.331/.548 line in May. Will July treat him better?
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, July 3: Jake Bennett (3.27 ERA / 3.11 FIP) vs. Reid Detmers (3.88 ERA /2.96 FIP)
Saturday, July 4: Sonny Gray (2.69 ERA / 3.58 FIP) vs. Sam Aldegheri (4.85 ERA / 4.93 FIP)
Sunday, July 5: Ranger Suarez (2.94 ERA / 2.72 FIP) vs. Ryan Johnson (7.40 ERA / 6.07 FIP)
The Brewers (53-32) and Diamondbacks (43-43) meet for a three game set at Chase Field as both look to get back in the win column. Milwaukee is 2-1 versus Arizona this season and outscored the Diamondbacks, 28-9 over those three games.
Milwaukee is 8-3 in the last 11 games, but coming off a 7-2 loss versus Cincinnati. The Brewers won the first three games of the series and now find themselves in a spot they have routinely played well in. That's the opening game of a series. Believer it or not, but the Brewers won 15 of the first 16 games of a series.
Arizona is coming off a 6-4 loss to San Francisco on Wednesday, but won two out of the three to win the series. The Diamondbacks had a day off yesterday and lost three of the past four games following a rest day. The Diamondbacks have the toughest remaining strength of schedule for the first half of the season with the Brewers, Padres, and Dodgers left.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Brewers at Diamondbacks
Date: Friday, July 3, 2026
Time: 9:45 PM EST
Site: Chase Field
City: Phoenix, AZ
Network/Streaming: MLB TV / Apple TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Brewers’ William Conteras is hitting .293 with 91 hits, 9 home runs and 51 RBI over 311 at-bats
The Brewers’ Joey Ortiz is hitting .202 with 36 hits and 38 strikeouts over 178 at-bats
The Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll is hitting .269 with 83 hits, 13 home runs, and 44 RBI over 309 at-bats
The Diamondbacks’ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is hitting .220 with 31 hits and 28 strikeouts over 141 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Diamondbacks
Arizona is 46-40 ATS, ranking eighth-best
Milwaukee is 48-37 ATS, ranking fifth-best
Arizona is 45-36-2 to the Under, ranking second-best
Milwaukee is 45-38-2 to the Under, ranking third-best
Arizona is 23-19 ATS at home, ranking ninth-best
Milwaukee is 21-14 ATS on the road, ranking third-best
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Brewers
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Diamondbacks and the Brewers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Brewers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Brewers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.5
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Luka Dončić listens to a question when speaking with the media after a Los Angeles Lakers game. Getty Images
Despite any external criticism Los Angeles has received, Dončić approves the moves the Lakers have made up to this point, as he was quoted saying he was “excited” about the Lakers’ signings in a July 2 article from Dan Woike of The Athletic.
It’s not surprising to hear Dončić share this sentiment. For one, he’s a low-maintenance star who probably wouldn’t voice his displeasure in public, even if he felt like the Lakers hadn’t built enough around him yet.
Dončić dribbles during a Lakers game. Getty ImagesThe Lakers have received a lot of criticism in recent days by those who believe they need to build a better roster around the star guard. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Plus, bringing Reaves back and adding Kessler are objectively solid moves that put the Lakers in a solid position to start the offseason, which Dončić is right to feel excited about.
Now the question becomes whether these moves are enough to make the Lakers a true championship contender, or whether they’re an acquisition or two away from cementing themselves as Western Conference contenders in their first season after the James era.
If the Lakers do manage to secure one more star, Dončić’s opinion will be even more earned, and LA fans will feel more at ease without James being on their roster as the 2026-27 season approaches.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 29: Manager Skip Schumaker #55 removes relief pitcher Chris Paddack #40 of the Texas Rangers from the game during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on June 29, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pitchers Joe Ross and Chris Paddack and outfielder Jarred Kelenic, all of whom were designated for assignment several days ago, have all cleared waivers and become free agents.
Paddack was signed on June 29 for a one shot deal, pitching as the bulk guy behind opener Tyler Alexander on June 29 in Cleveland and then being DFA’d the next day. He gave the Rangers four innings of two run ball in the win, making it a successful signing, as far as I’m concerned. I imagine the Rangers will be looking to sign him to a minor league contract now to pitch for Round Rock, whose rotation is rather puny right now.
Ross and Kelenic were designated for assignment on June 29, clearing roster spots for Paddack and for Cam Cauley. Ross was brought up from AAA because the Rangers needed an arm in the pen, and in five games he went eighth innings and allowed five runs. His most notable appearance was his third outing for the Rangers, when he came into the game to start the top of the 10th inning against the Padres, walked Samad Taylor, and then gave up a three run homer to Manny Machado.
Kelenic was up because, well, the Rangers needed a body that could play the outfield on the bench. When Wyatt Langford went on the injured list and the Rangers needed a righthanded hitter rather than a lefthanded hitter who could play outfield on the bench, the Rangers dropped him for Cauley.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on January 30, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are FINALLY in the news for reasons other than AJ Dybantsa, Anthony Davis or Trae Young. Maybe Russell Westbrook as well?
On Friday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Wizards will acquire Deandre Ayton from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Jaden Hardy and two of the Wizards’ second round draft picks in 2031 and 2032.
Just in: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two Wizards second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/bAEtSFpTNi
Ayton, a center, averaged 12.5 points and 8 rebounds per game in 72 appearances for the Lakers. His most notable reign was from 2018-23 when he played for the Phoenix Suns, his first team where they made the NBA Finals but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. With the exception of his lone season with the Lakers, Ayton has averaged a double double in points and rebounds every season he played.
Hardy, who now would be with LA, averaged 9.2 points per game in the 2025-26 season starting with the Dallas Mavericks and later the Wizards.
With Ayton now in DC, it will be interesting to see how or whether he, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr will fit together.
Jun 21, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (62) throws against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
Major League Baseball’s press release also cites these meaningful stats:
– The two-time All-Star dealt at least 7.0 innings in all five of his starts, becoming the first Giants pitcher to make five consecutive starts of at least 7.0 innings since Ty Blach did so twice in 2017. Webb permitted two-or-fewer runs in all five starts, becoming the first Giants pitcher since Madison Bumgarner in 2013 (6 GS) to make at least five consecutive starts of 7.0 innings and two-or-fewer runs permitted. Overall, his eight starts of at least 7.0 innings this season are tied with Nathan Eovaldi, Sánchez and Michael Wacha for the most in the Majors.
– The 2025 Rawlings Gold Glover became the third Giants pitcher in the Divisional Era (since 1969) to throw at least 35.0 innings in a single month and maintain an ERA under 0.75, joining Kevin Gausman (37.0 IP, 0.73 ERA in May 2021) and Noah Lowry (39.1 IP, 0.69 ERA in August 2005). Of the group, Webb’s four walks were the fewest.“
But Webb has looked like the best version of himself since returning from the injured list and it has been a rare respite from the hellacious viewing experience that has often been the San Francisco Giants here in 2026. His starts make it feel as though anything is possible.
Remarkably, his rotation mate Robbie Ray also received votes (4-0, 1.36 ERA). His resurgence has timed out nicely with the trade deadline, too…
But anyway, Logan Webb returning to out-pitch the likes of Jacob Misiorowski, Max Meyer, and Chris Sale is a great story, whether you’re just rooting for the Giants or rooting for the Giants to make some big deadline deals. Well, okay, there’s also the conversation about Logan Webb becoming an All-Star now, and either serving as the team’s lone representative or as a travel partner for somebody else (Luis Arraez, Casey Schmitt)?
Congratulations to Logan Webb on another career achievement. He’s sort of building a ground-up case to someday win a Cy Young Award, creating a reputational aura that might push him to be top of mind come that award in the future. But here in the present, it’s good enough to know that he was never really gone but now he’s incredibly back and, as the players say, shoving.
Rui Hachimura also remains an unrestricted free agent, with multiple teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves expressing interest in signing the 6-foot-8 forward.
Every deal the Lakers have agreed to have a player option at the end of the contract.
In return for Ayton, the Lakers will receive Hardy — who averaged 12.6 points last season with the Wizards on 42% shooting from three. Getty ImagesHardy and Lakers star Luka Dončić were teammates together in Dallas. NBAE via Getty Images
But Ayton was also a polarizing player because of his inconsistent motor and his play style not fitting the archetype the Lakers need. Dončić has long craved a rim-running, rim-protecting center who he can dominate with in the pick-and-roll — two things Ayton isn’t.
Despite his talents, which have been evident since he entered the league, it was clear he wasn’t going to develop into the kind of big man the Lakers needed him to be.
The Lakers are searching for another backup big man, with Andre Drummond, Kevon Looney and Nick Richards all viable options.
In Hardy, the Lakers are acquiring a 23-year-old guard who fits into the team’s desires to get younger and more athletic.
The 6-foot-3 Hardy, the No. 37 pick in the 2022 draft out of the now-defunct G League Ignite, averaged 12.6 points in 23 games with the Wizards after being traded to Washington midseason.
He’s averaged 8.4 points on 38.6% shooting on 3-pointers in his NBA career.
Hardy was teammates with Doncic in Dallas for 2 ½ seasons before Doncic was traded to Los Angeles, with the Mavericks trading Hardy to Washington in February. It isn’t clear what role Hardy will have if he stays on the roster since the Lakers already have several backcourt players ahead of him on the depth chart. He has two years and $12 million (team option for 2027-28) left on his contract.
The trade netted the draft-pick depleted Lakers two second rounders, which can be included in a trade for along with their own 2033 second-round pick and 2032 first-round pick swap as they look to more roster improvements.
With Hardy’s 2026-27 salary ($6 million) $2.1 less than Ayton’s ($8.1 million), the Lakers will create more financial flexibility for themselves as they continue to search for a backup big and wing defender.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 5: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball while being defended by Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 5, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers’ roster shuffling has continued with another trade that also lands them some sorely-needed draft capital.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, LA is trading Deandre Ayton to the Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two second round picks.
Just in: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two Wizards second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/bAEtSFpTNi
Finally, Rob Pelinka got Anthony Davis his center.
This deal will only open up about an extra $2 million in cap space for the Lakers. Hardy is making $6 million this season with a team option for $6 million next season. Ayton was set to make $8.1 million this season.
To do that, they will need to clear contracts off the books, which the addition of the two second round picks should help them do. In short, this feels like a precursor to another trade and then a free agent signing.
Ayton’s season in LA was underwhelming, but largely because he did not establish himself as the team’s center of the future. He still showed he can be a reliable rotation player and a starter on some teams, but he was not the rim-running, lob-catching center the team needed and certainly did not want to be Clint Capela this season.
Hardy averaged 12.6 points per game on 42% shooting in 23 games with the Wizards in the second half of last season. He did spend time in Dallas with Luka Dončić. However, as a guard in an already crowded backcourt, Hardy is likely going to be on the outside looking in.
COVERS INTEL: The Mets have a 20.5% air pull rate against fastballs and sliders thrown by righties, pitches that make up 71% of Holmes’ arsenal.
