DENVER, CO - JUNE 24: Colorado Rockies mascot Dinger carries a laundry basket onto the field before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 24, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Rockies rolled into May with a surprising record of 14-18, but since then they’ve gone a much more familiar 21-35 to really dig into last place of the NL West. Of course, all season long, the Giants have been burrowing at the edges trying to breach their trench. The teams are separated by 2 games for last place in the division. So, this 3-game series could be pivotal from an embarrassment standpoint.
Sure, the Rockies are inured to win-loss embarrassment by now, but if the Giants came into town and delivered a whoopin’, they might smart a little bit because the Giants have already lost a series in Coors and have been the Diamondbacks’ doormats this season. Meanwhile, the Giants could fall to last place! The last time they were last place on July 5th was… okay, well, not that long ago. In 2019, they were 39-48 on July 5th. But still! Not where the team expected to be this season!
The Rockies might be right on schedule for a 2030 renaissance, though. Hunter Goodman has carried his All-Star 2025 into this season (27 HR, 1.7 fWAR in 340 PA), while prospect Kyle Karros has developed quite nicely in his first full season amassing 1.4 fWAR in 279 PA and a season wRC+ of 96. But in June (81 PA), he led the team with a line of .357/.444/.586 (167 wRC+). He’s performing well alongside trade pickups like T.J. Rumfield (125 wRC+) and Jake McCarthy (112 wRC+). They didn’t add a lot from the outside but have simply managed to improve some of the players on the roster.
Yes, for the Rockies it will always come down to the pitching. That’s still bad. But this Fourth of July weekend, they welcome a team that was as bad as they were in June. For the month, the Rockies had a team fWAR of 4.9 (23rd) while the Giants were 21st with 5.0 fWAR. Now, that team performance for the Giants is buoyed by Logan Webb & Robbie Ray’s dominance (1.4 fWAR & 0.7 fWAR, respectively). But here’s where the comparison gets wacky:
The Giants had a great starting pitching performance throughout the month while the Rockies were stellar in the bullpen. The Giants’ -0.4 fWAR (4.36 ERA in 295.1 IP) was the fifth-worst value in relief pitching for the month. Colorado’s +2.1 fWAR in 375.2 IP was squarely in the middle of the pack (15th). The teams had virtually identical bullpen FIPs (4.45 for SF, 4.46 for COL) but the key difference between the two was that the quality of contact against the Rockies relievers was slightly worse than what hitters could do against the Giants’ silly relief corps.
So, we have our eyes to tell us that the Giants’ bullpen has been bad, but just comparing to the Rockies’ ‘pen really adds an extra layer of despair. A lot of us will be seeing fireworks this weekend, but before the season began you might’ve expected that because of the Fourth of July holiday and not because of an explosively bad reliever group.
Series overview
Who: San Francisco Giants (36-50) at Colorado Rockies (35-53) Where: Coors Field | Denver, Colorado When: Friday & Saturday at 5:10pm PT, Sunday at 1pm PT National broadcasts: Peacock (Sunday)
Projected starters Friday: TBD vs. Ryan Feltner (RHP 2-2, 4.42 ERA) Saturday: TBD vs. Tomoyuki Sugano (RHP 8-4, 4.80 ERA) Sunday: TBD vs. Tanner Gordon (RHP 2-2, 6.69 ERA)
Giants to watch
Bryce Eldridge: His June overall looks really impressive (.295/.385/.474 — 4 HR), but the second half of the month paints a different picture. Since June 15 (55 PA), he’s hitting just .184/.273/.286 (61 wRC+). I’d really like to see him hit some home runs into Nate Schierholtz/Alex Dickerson territory. For reference:
Luis Arraez: He has just a career .274/.319/.323 line at Coors Field (69 PA) and that just seems a little odd for a player like him. Yes, the .274 average makes sense, but that’s a spacious outfield and it seems like he’s so predictable when he hits the ball in the air that the size of the outfield would hardly seem to matter. But Arraez has been on an absolute tear the past two weeks: .415/.457/.707 in his last 11 games (47 PA), so him coming to a cold stop in Coors Field would be a real surprise.
Logan Webb: It was a bit of a headscratcher when he made his return off the IL in Coors Field, but he acquitted himself nicely in just 4.1 innings and he went on to have an absolutely dominant June, so, I’m not nervous to see him pitch there again when last place is on the line.
Prediction time
The Giants salvaged a game in the last Coors series with a 19-6 win, which boosted them to a +6 run differential for the three games despite losing said series. They hit 3 homers in that finale to give them 4 in the series. My prediction: they will hit at least 4 home runs in this series, too.
After falling behind 6-0, the Los Angeles Dodgers (57-31) stormed back and beat the San Diego Padres (43-43), 12-7 on Thursday. Dalton Rushing tied a career-high with four hits and four RBI, while Kyle Tucker added four hits and reached base five times.
Los Angeles is 5-2 versus San Diego this season outscoring the Padres, 41-22 over those seven games. The Dodgers have won five of the last six games overall and 12-4 over the past 16 contests. Shohei Ohtani will start on the mound and the Dodgers have won two straight and six of the previous seven when he starts.
San Diego has lost six straight games, which ties a season-long. The Padres are hitting .284 (6th) with 10 home runs (T-5th), and 13 doubles (T-5th) over those six games. The problem has been the pitching staff. The Padres pitchers boast an MLB-worst 10.48 ERA over the last week to go along with an outrageous .351 OBA (last) and 2.19 WHIP (last).
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 Padres at Dodgers
Date: Friday, July 3, 2026
Time: 10:10 PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV / ESPN
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.
Odds for the Padres at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Friday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-251), San Diego Padres (+203)
Spread: Padres +1.5 (-103), Dodgers -1.5 (-117)
Total: 8.0
Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Dodgers
Friday's pitching matchup (July 3): Shohei Ohtani vs. Michael King
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is hitting .291 with 89 hits, 18 home runs and 50 RBI over 306 at-bats
The Dodgers’ Kyle Tucker is hitting .249 with 74 hits and 72 strikeouts over 297 at-bats
The Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting .280 with 93 hits, 5 home runs, and 33 RBI over 332 at-bats
The Padres’ Jackson Merrill is hitting .212 with 68 hits and 88 strikeouts over 321 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 Padres at Dodgers
The Dodgers are 43-45 ATS
The Padres are 46-40 ATS, ranking seventh-best
The Dodgers are 46-42 to the Under
The Padres are 46-39-1 to the Under, ranking fifth-best
The Dodgers are 17-24 ATS at home, ranking sixth-worst
The Padres are 21-19 ATS on the road
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Padres
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 Padres and the Dodgers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.0
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
DENVER — Logan Webb was hardly the worst pitcher in baseball to begin this season, but he had performed far from his own high standards when he hit the injured list in the first week of May.
Now, in his first full month back, the San Francisco Giants ace earned the highest honor available to him.
Webb was named the National League pitcher of the month for June, beating out the Milwaukee Brewers’ electric ace Jacob Misiorowski for the first monthly honor of his career.
San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb was named the National League pitcher of the month for June. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
In five starts, Webb allowed just three earned runs and walked only four batters while striking out 29. His 0.71 ERA was the sixth-lowest by any Giants starter in a month dating back to 1913, the most dominant month by any San Francisco starting pitcher since Noah Lowry (0.69) in August 2005.
Misiorowski turned in the most dominant start by anybody in the league this season with his 15-strikeout complete game shutout that required only 95 pitches. But Webb made one more start, threw 10 more innings in total and edged out the 24-year-old fireballer’s 0.96 ERA for the month.
Webb beat out the Brewers’ electric ace Jacob Misiorowski for the first monthly honor of his career. AP Photo/Justine Willard
Webb, of course, had a memorable outing of his own that set the tone for the rest of the month.
In his second start back from the IL, Webb took a perfect game against Misiorowski’s Brewers into the sixth inning and didn’t allow a hit until the seventh in what would be his first of three starts he didn’t allow an earned run. He followed those seven shutout inning with his first of three straight starts of eight innings — the first Giants starter to complete eight frames thrice in a row since Madison Bumgarner in 2015.
Clearly, Webb was impacted by the bursitis in his right knee that forced him to the IL for the first time since he established himself at the top of the Giants rotation in the second half of 2021.
Getting healthy isn’t the only thing that spurred arguably the best run of Webb’s career.
The Giants’ ace began calling his own pitches — most of them, anyway — in his second start back from the injured list, flirting with a perfect game in seven one-hit innings in Milwaukee.
“I didn’t throw the best until then. I just came back and [thought] I’ve done it before, I haven’t thrown to these guys a lot,” Webb said. “I mean I was with [Patrick Bailey] for a long period of time. There’s a trust factor in those sorts of things.”
It worked out so well that Webb has continued the practice, trusting himself over two new catchers to keep batters guessing.
He was 2-4 with a 5.06 ERA when he landed on the IL after his May 5 start against the San Diego Padres.
Just two months later, he is 5–5 with a 3.09 ERA and a candidate to make his third All-Star Game.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Center Deandre Ayton, attempting to score over Rockets guard Amen Thompson, has been traded to the Washington Wizards for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round draft picks. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers have traded center Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round draft picks, in 2031 and 2032, people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter confirmed to The Times on Friday.
Ayton picked up his player option for $8.1 million on Sunday.
But it became obvious that he was expendable as the starting center once the Lakers acquired 24-year-old center Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade deal worth four years and $130 million.
The Lakers now will be in the market for a backup center.
Centers such as Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas and Kevon Looney are still available. Drummond played 21 games for the Lakers during the 2020-21 season, when he was picked up on the buyout market.
The Lakers acquired Ayton last season after the Portland Trail Blazers bought out his contract, and then signed him to a two-year, $16-million deal.
He averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 72 games last season with the Lakers while shooting 67.1% from the field.
The Wizards believe the 7-foot Ayton will be a good fit alongside centers Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr.
The 6-3 Hardy, who spent three-plus seasons with the Dallas Mavericks before being traded in February to Washington, averaged 9.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 42.4% from the field and 39.7% from three-point range last season.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 10, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After a quiet opening night of free agency, the Lakers got to work. On July 1, they agreed to a sign-and-trade for Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and agreed to sign Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton. A week later, they added Kevon Looney on a one-year, veteran-minimum contract.
In total, the Lakers have shelled out more than a quarter-billion dollars this summer. After entering free agency with the ability to create more than $50 million in salary-cap space, they’re now basically out of spending power.
There may be another shoe still to drop, though.
The Lakers traded Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks. Flipping Ayton’s $8.1 million salary for Hardy’s $6.0 million salary gives the Lakers a bit of remaining cap space, but not enough to do anything meaningful with… yet.
The Lakers renounced the rights to all of their remaining free agents—and the cap holds for Lakers legends such as Wayne Ellington and Dion Waiters—to give themselves enough cap room to make the Kessler, Grimes and Mamukelashvili deals official. They’re now free to sign Sexton with the room mid-level exception and can officially sign Austin Reaves to his new four-year, $184.8 million max contract… unless they have something else (Jonathan Kuminga?) up their sleeves.
The Lakers have no remaining salary-cap exceptions after spending the room MLE, so they can only offer minimum contracts to other free agents for now. They do have a pathway to create more cap space for Kuminga or another free agent, although it would likely involve either salary-dumping Jarred Vanderbilt or waiving him and stretching the remainder of his contract.
Since Looney is signing a one-year deal, his $3.9 million contract will count as only $2.45 million on the Lakers’ books, and they’ll add him via the minimum exception once they’re done spending cap space. They’re also now hard-capped at the first apron after acquiring Kessler via sign-and-trade.
Here’s a look at where the Lakers stand financially in the wake of their free-agent flurry and the Ayton trade.
Player
2026-27 (pre-Reaves/Sexton)
2026-27 (after Reaves/Sexton)
Luka Dončić
$49,488,300
$49,488,300
Austin Reaves
$20,906,361
$41,240,250
Walker Kessler
$30,232,558
$30,232,558
Quentin Grimes
$13,953,488
$13,953,488
Sandro Mamukelashvili
$13,000,000
$13,000,000
Jarred Vanderbilt
$12,428,571
$12,428,571
Collin Sexton
N/A (Room MLE)
$9,366,000
Jaden Hardy
$6,000,000
$6,000,000
Jake LaRavia
$6,000,000
$6,000,000
Dalton Knecht
$4,201,080
$4,201,080
Cameron Carr
$3,316,200
$3,316,200
Kevon Looney
(Minimum exception)
$2,449,421
Bronny James
$2,296,271
$2,296,271
Adou Thiero
$2,150,917
$2,150,917
TOTAL
$163,973,747
$196,123,057
SALARY CAP
$164,961,000
$164,961,000
CAP ROOM
$987,253
-$31,162,057
LUXURY TAX
$200,428,000
$200,428,000
TAX ROOM
$36,454,253
$4,304,943
1ST APRON
$209,015,000
$209,015,000
1ST APRON ROOM
$45,041,253
$12,891,943
2ND APRON
$221,686,000
$221,686,000
2ND APRON ROOM
$57,712,253
$25,562,943
Once the Lakers sign Reaves and Sexton to their new deals, they’re projected to be less than $5 million below the $200.4 million luxury-tax line and roughly $13 million below their first-apron hard cap.
Since the Lakers can’t cross the first apron this season, they will have considerable in-season trade flexibility. Teams above the first apron can’t take back more salary than they send out in trades, but teams below it can take back significantly more.
Kessler, Grimes, Mamukelashvili and Sexton won’t be trade-eligible until Dec. 15 at the earliest, but that’s something to file away for ahead of the trade deadline.
Can the Lakers create more cap space?
Between Reaves, Sexton, Grimes, Luka Dončić and rookie Cameron Carr, the Lakers now appear to be set in the backcourt. Their frontcourt is also in fairly good shape between Kessler, Mamukelashvili, Looney, Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia.
However, their situation at the three leaves much to be desired, barring a massive leap from either Adou Thiero or an immediate impact from Carr.
Even if Reaves, Dončić and Grimes all start together in a three-guard lineup, the Lakers could use some additional wing help. They have a few pathways to continue adding to their roster this offseason despite being capped out.
The Lakers could always look to salary-dump Vanderbilt ($12.4 million), but they don’t have much left to sweeten any trade offers. They now have zero tradable first-round picks, only one remaining first-round swap (2032), but do have three second round picks now after the Ayton trade.
They could also pull a 2025 Milwaukee Bucks and waive-and-stretch Vanderbilt. Doing so would leave them with a $5.1 million dead cap hit in each of the next five seasons, but that would equip them with an additional $7.3 million of spending power this summer. They’d have to spend that newfound cap space before they officially signed Sexton, Reaves or Looney to their new contracts.
As the game of free-agency musical chairs runs out, the Lakers might be able to snag a wing for cheap — perhaps even on a minimum contract — since they can offer a legitimate role. Playing alongside an elite playmaker like Dončić could help players improve their market value moving forward, too. But if the Lakers hang on to Vanderbilt, they’re likely done with their big moves in free agency.
Do the additions of Kessler, Mamukelashvili, Grimes, Sexton and Looney outweigh the departures of LeBron James, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Ayton and Hachimura? Do the Lakers have something else up their sleeves? We’ll find out soon enough.
Detroit Red Wings prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa had reached a crossroads with the organization that selected him in the opening round (15th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
He was no longer waivers-except, and was in need of a new contract with restricted free agency looming on July 1. Rather than extend him, the Red Wings traded him to the Utah Mammoth in return for the 23rd overall pick in the 2026 Draft.
Since then, Cossa has signed a two-year contract with a $2 million salary cap hit, while the Mammoth traded backup goaltender Vitek Vanecek to the New York Islanders. Right now, it appears as though the road is paved for Cossa to begin his NHL career.
He only has one game of NHL experience under his belt, having come in to relieve Ville Husso against the Buffalo Sabres in December 2024; he helped the Red Wings earn a 6-5 shootout victory.
While speaking on the final day of Development Camp, Red Wings Director of Player Development Dan Cleary attested to Cossa's character.
"Sebastian is a good man," Cleary said. "I really liked working with Sebastian. He's on the goalie side, and I like to tell him, 'I don't really know a lot about goalies, but I certainly know a lot about character and trying to help you and move along.'"
Cossa finished what would be his last season with the Griffins going 26-8-4, recording a 2.33 goals-against average along with a .915 save percentage.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Last season, Lakers Nation was the latest fan base to talk itself into the potential of Deandre Ayton before the season, only to watch reality unfold. He was inconsistent but generally fine, although clearly not the guy they needed as a two-way center next to Luka Doncic.
The Lakers are now trading Ayton to the Washington Wizards for guard Jaden Hardy and two Wizards second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
This trade doesn't make immediate sense for Washington, where Ayton will come off the bench, backing up Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis as the starting bigs. With those two bigs on the books, did the Wizards need to put in two picks to take on more money for a backup center?
Last season, Ayton was up and down — as he has been throughout his career — and averaged 12.5 points and eight rebounds per game. Ayton, the 27-year-old former No. 1 pick, picked up his player option for $8.1 million for the coming season.
The Lakers traded for Walker Kessler and are paying him big money (four years, $130 million) to be the center of the future next to Doncic. With Jaxson Hayes now in Utah, the Lakers will look to the market for a backup for Kessler, with Charania mentioning Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas and Kevon Looney. The Lakers need to get the backup big right, as Kessler played just five games last season due to shoulder surgery and 58 the season before that.
The Lakers also get Hardy, 24, who played a limited role in Dallas to start last season but was sent to Washington as part of the Anthony Davis trade. With the Wizards, he played about 20 minutes a night off the bench in 23 games and averaged 12.6 points a game, shooting 42% from 3-point range. He will get a chance for backcourt minutes off the bench for the Lakers.
He's also making just $6 million this season, saving the Lakers a little money. Hardy has a team option for $6 million for the 2027-28 season.
The Lakers, nearly devoid of draft picks after the Kessler trade, add a couple of second-rounders to help fill out their stockpile. They may need those picks if they want to trade someone like Dalton Knecht or Jarred Vanderbilt for a player they think helps more now.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 16: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers & Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game on March...
However, it seems that one key holdup in the Warriors’ pursuit of another star player could keep them from signing James, which ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania asserted during a July 3 appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up” podcast.
The Golden State Warriors’ inability to acquire Anthony Davis could be what keeps them from signing LeBron James in free agency, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. NBAE via Getty Images
When asked which teams he believes have a “legitimate” shot at landing James in free agency, Charania said: “At least a few. But this is a true free agency process, because so much has changed, right? There’s fluidity that comes with it, with information. A few days ago, the [Philadelphia 76ers] didn’t have Jaylen Brown. So now they do … So now they have to be on the radar of LeBron James.”
“The [Cleveland] Cavaliers, the [Miami] Heat — they’re two teams that are known quantities. The Warriors, going into free agency; they dreamt up a grand plan of Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, LeBron James,” Charania continued.
“The big domino with them is trying to get a player like an Anthony Davis, so you can bring in LeBron James and Anthony Davis as a package deal. Short of that, they’re not really looked at right now at the top of this list. But things can change.”
James’ future is still TBD, but the Warriors are losing steam. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Charania is alluding to Golden State’s interest in signing James’ former Lakers running-mate, Davis, as a way to entice the NBA record-breaker to bring his talents to the Bay Area.
But the Washington Wizards (with whom Davis is under contract through next season) have asserted that they have no intention of trading him at this point.
Shams on the Warriors/LeBron:
"The big domino with them is trying to get a player like an Anthony Davis, you can bring in LeBron James and Anthony Davis as a package deal. Short of that, they're not really looked at right now at the top of this list."pic.twitter.com/5bYL0OGUVJ
Since the prospect of reuniting with Davis was seen as a big reason why LeBron might want to join the Warriors, that no longer being realistic presents a tough reality check for Golden State.
Then again, the Warriors still have Curry, who James would surely love to play alongside. And as Charania said himself, things can change very quickly in the free agency landscape.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
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!
COVERS INTEL: 
