TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Newhook broke a tie with 8:53 left and the Montreal Canadiens outlasted the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Game 7 on Sunday night to end the thrilling first-round series.
The Canadiens will face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round after finishing off their first series victory since losing the Stanley Cup Final to Tampa Bay in 2021. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Buffalo.
Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes made 28 saves and Nick Suzuki got his first goal of the series for Montreal.
Each game of the series was decided by one goal and four went to overtime. The score was tied or within one goal for all but six minutes in the seven games.
The Lightning were eliminated in the first round for the fourth straight season after falling two wins short of a Stanley Cup three-peat in 2022.
Tampa Bay’s tough defense held the Canadiens without a shot for nearly 27 minutes from the first period into the third and just four through two periods. Brandon Hagel made an outstanding, sliding stick save with an open net in the final minute but the Lightning couldn’t get the tying goal during a 6-on-5 and 6-on-4 for the final six seconds.
Montreal got a couple lucky bounces to score twice on its first eight shots on goal and finished with only nine.
After Lane Hutson fired a slap shot that went wide and bounced back out, Newhook skated backhanded the puck out of the air and in off Andrei Vasilevskiy’s pad and his backside.
Playing in front of their 461st consecutive sellout crowd and hundreds more fans watching from Thunder Alley outside Benchmark International Arena, the Lightning lost for the 11th time in their last 13 playoff games at home, including three times in this series.
The Canadiens didn’t have a shot on net in the second period despite two power-play chances. They became the first team to have zero shots in a playoff period since Pittsburgh in Game 1 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals against Nashville.
Dominic James tipped in Charle-Edouard D’Astous’ one-timer from just inside the blue line to tie it at 1 on a power play in the second period.
Suzuki opened the scoring 1:21 left in the first. After scoring 29 goals in the regular season, Suzuki needed a lucky bounce to get one. His redirection of Kaiden Guhle’s slap shot was heading wide but the puck hit Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser and went in.
Montreal’s Martin St. Louis, a Hockey Hall of Famer whose No. 26 is retired by the Lightning, became the fifth player to appear in a Game 7 for a team and coach against them in another.
Another name can be added to the long list of candidates interviewed for the Vancouver Canucks' open general manager job. In a post on social media, TSN's Darren Dreger wrote, "Former Ottawa Senators GM, Pierre Dorion was in Vancouver last week and has interviewed for the Canucks GM vacancy." Dorion has not been listed with an organization since 2023, when he was let go by the Ottawa Senators.
Dorion has plenty of experience as an NHL executive. He served as the Senators' GM from 2016-2023, and before that, was with Ottawa in different capacities since 2007. Dorion also spent time as a scout with both the New York Rangers and the Montréal Canadiens since 1994.
Under Dorion's leadership, the Senators posted a regular-season record of 225-261-59. During that time, Ottawa made the playoffs once, which was in 2017. Some notable draft picks made during Dorion's time as GM include Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson and Brady Tkachuk.
May 9, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion attends a press conference to introduce Guy Boucher as the new head coach of the Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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With Minnesota Timberwolves' superstar Anthony Edwards on pace to play in Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs barring any pregame setback, switching up the playstyle that won them their series against Denver may be the best call.
These Timberwolves vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks expect Rudy Gobert's rebound total to take a hit as a result.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 1 prediction
Who will win Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 1?
Spurs: The comedown from toppling their biggest rival is probably reason enough to doubt the Timberwolves in Game 1. This matchup should be closer than the 13.5-point spread suggests, but Minnesota is on the road and more worn out, both physically and emotionally.
Timberwolves vs Spurs best bet: Rudy Gobert Under 10.5 rebounds (+102)
Gobert faced Victor Wembanyama only once this season, but he only played 29 minutes in that 104-103 Timberwolves win despite not being in foul trouble.
Wembanyama can camp out in the paint on defense when Gobert is in the game, stifling any Minnesota drives.
Without Donte DiVincenzo and with Anthony Edwards's shot already struggling before his hyperextended knee, the Timberwolves need some space inside. Expect more five-out lineups from Minnesota with Julius Randle as the primary defender on Wembanyama.
Quite possibly the biggest X-factor in this series — aside from Anthony Edwards returning — may be how Julius Randle shoots from beyond the arc.
If Gobert’s minutes need to be limited to draw Wembanyama out of the paint, thus obviously impacting Gobert’s scoring as well as his rebounding, then Randle hitting some 3-pointers will best pull Wembanyama out of the paint. But Randle is a streaky shooter. From Feb. 1 to the end of the regular season, he shot 27.3% from deep.
Do not bet on Randle’s shooting until he proves it in this series. But he will get that chance, and he should play plenty of minutes to rack up rebounds.
Timberwolves vs Spurs SGP
Rudy Gobert Under 10.5 rebounds
Rudy Gobert Under 8.5 points
Julius Randle Over 6.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Randle, Not Rudy
If Randle hits a couple of 3-pointers, Minnesota will suddenly have a viable offensive plan against the Defensive Player of the Year. And while Randle is a streaky shooter, he did hit multiple 3-pointers in three of the six games against the Nuggets.
Timberwolves vs Spurs SGP
Julius Randle Over 20.5 points
Julius Randle Over 1.5 threes
Julius Randle Over 6.5 rebounds
Timberwolves +13.5
Timberwolves vs Spurs odds for Game 1
Spread: Timberwolves +13.5 | Spurs -13.5
Moneyline: Timberwolves +500 | Spurs -700
Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5
Timberwolves vs Spurs betting trend to know
Both the Timberwolves and the Spurs were considered “Under” teams this season, Minnesota cashing Unders in 49 of now 88 games (55.75%) while San Antonio did so in 51 of 87 games (58.6%). Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Spurs.
How to watch Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 1
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Monday, May 4, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock/NBC
Timberwolves vs Spurs latest injuries
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His first came in the top of the fourth when he demolished a 2-0 Jack Kochanowicz sinker 427 feet to the rock pile in center to give the Mets a 2-1 advantage.
Vientos joked postgame that he liked that one better.
“I got all of it, hit it pretty good,” he said.
The second one was also a big one for the Mets, though, as it helped extend the lead and put the game away for good in the top of the eighth.
Vientos jumped on a 2-1 Nick Sandlin sinker at the top of the zone, ripping it 103.3 mph over the left-field fence.
It was the sixth multi-homer game of Vientos’ career.
“I was just trying to put together good at-bats,” he said. “I know when I’m on and I’m feeling good that I’m a game-changer especially with the bat, and I got the job done today.”
And it wasn’t just today, as Vientos has been swinging a much-better bat of late.
The slugger has turned things around very nicely at the plate -- hitting .275 with two doubles, three homers, seven RBI, and a .891 OPS over his last 12 games.
“I feel good,” he said. “I like the at-bats I’ve taken the past few days, I just want to keep on it, keep putting good at-bats together, and just take it into this series in Colorado.”
With all of the Mets’ injuries, this would be the perfect time for him to catch fire.
“We’ve seen it when he’s going, when he’s driving the ball,” Carlos Mendoza said. “We haven’t seen it in a while, but when he gets hot he can carry a team -- that’s the power and the hitter he’s capable of, he came through today.”
It’s no longer just a crazy idea – Clay Holmes is a bona fide starting pitcher for the New York Mets.
After another stellar outing against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday in which he went 6.2 innings while allowing one run on four hits and three walks in the Mets’ 5-1 win, Holmes is now 4-2 with a 1.69 ERA (0.98 WHIP) in seven starts.
That’s more than simply a good beginning to the season, Holmes is pitching himself into the Cy Young award conversation and it’s time people everywhere took notice.
“It’s unbelievable,” said manager Carlos Mendoza about his right-hander’s performance. “We saw it again today. That first inning was a battle after the first couple of guys get on and he’s up to like 30-something pitches, [but] before you know it he’s able to get to those middle innings.
“[He] kept making pitches and for him to go back out for the seventh, he’s just on another level right now physically, mentally.”
It’s true, Sunday’s outing didn’t start out the best for Holmes who walked the first two batters he faced as part of a 27-pitch first inning. But after giving up a run four batters into the game, Holmes turned it on and settled in nicely, not only holding the Angels scoreless the rest of the way, but keeping his pitch count low enough to go deep into the game.
After the game, Mendoza marveled at the former reliever’s ascension into ace starting pitcher.
“The way he’s making adjustments in games, the way he’s using his pitches, trusting the defense when he needs to… overall from Clay, solid,” the skipper said.
Over his last three starts, Holmes has allowed three earned runs over 19.2 innings and has gone at least six innings in all of them. Twice already this season Holmes has pitched seven innings after achieving that just once in 2025.
Holmes’ 1.69 ERA is the fourth-lowest in the majors and his 42.2 innings pitched this season is top-10, wildly impressive for a guy who made the switch from reliever to starter just last year.
Holmes credits his success with the “confidence and trust” of his sinker, the pitch that made him so effective as a late-inning reliever in his career and why David Stearns believed he could make the transition to the rotation in the first place.
While the sinker is his bread and butter and the pitch he throws 49 percent of the time, according to Baseball Savant, Holmes knew he would have to expand his arsenal to more than just one pitch, which he did.
Mixing in a sweeper, changeup, cutter, curveball and four-seamer, Holmes has options up there. However, instead of shying away from his sinker this season and abandoning what makes him so special just because his role has changed, the right-hander has embraced who he is and is using it to his advantage.
“I think for me there’s kind of a comfort thing and I feel like – you know the trust with the sinker was always there, but I feel like, especially now I just feel like there’s a lot of confidence and trust with the sinker,” he said. “That’s who I was as a reliever and I knew that was who I would be as a starter, but I felt like I kinda had the confidence and the trust of the sinker and when I have that I feel like I’m able to pitch off of it and really feel like myself and pitch with some confidence.”
Now in his second year as a full-time starter, Holmes knows the ropes a bit more and rather than learning how to be a starting pitcher and focusing on superfluous things, he can dial it in on what kind of starter he wants to be.
So who does Holmes want to be? Someone who unapologetically throws his greatest weapon, the sinker, nearly half of the time.
“I knew I would have to expand the arsenal, it wouldn’t be all sinkers, but with that, I’m not gonna say distracted but you know there has to be some kind of widening of the arsenal and so there’s focus there,” he said. “And I think more than anything this year is just the confidence with the sinker, like I can still pitch off this and it’s more of a mentality thing, just kind of attacking with the sinker.
“That’s kind of what I had as a reliever and it’s not so much, okay let me get ahead with the sinker or kind of use it to set up something else, it’s like here’s the sinker. So I think just getting back to that mentality with it has kind of just helped the life and the finish to it and I think it’s just been helpful so far this year.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 07: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against Cason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on April 07, 2026 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. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There shouldn’t be any similar remarks from the Lakers this round, though, because, according to Lakers head coach JJ Redick, the Thunder don’t foul.
“You’re talking about a team that’s top five in every category that’s disruptive-based — steals, blocks, turnovers, forced, all that stuff,” Redick said after Sunday’s practice. “And they don’t foul. They somehow do all of that without fouling, which is one of the most remarkable things I think in NBA history.”
Add that to the keys of the game: the Thunder don’t foul.
No need to be concerned with how aggressive Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander is as an on-ball defender or his push-offs offensively. Don’t worry about Luguentz Dort committing a dirty play and putting a Lakers player at risk with a move that belongs in AEW, not the NBA. They don’t foul.
Jokić and Thunder get HEATED after Lu Dort flagrant 😳
Don’t expect any Redick crashouts during this series. He will remain as cool as the other side of the pillow, since he wouldn’t be asking for a call when there isn’t one to make.
“They don’t foul,” Redick said. “The whistles aren’t gonna be there. So, it’s like, you accept that going in, they don’t foul.”
Given that the NBA is a copycat league, maybe other teams should try defending without fouling. Why foul when you can just play elite defense and clamp other teams down without reaching in or making illegal contact on an offensive player?
It’s going to be an uphill battle for the Lakers, who haven’t quite adopted the strategy of not fouling yet. Hopefully, they’ll be able to take some notes in this series.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 25: Aaron Gordon #32 of the Denver Nuggets looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter of Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on April 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-96. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is rumor central in Suns’ land, as every day it seems a new name pops up on social media, with fans discussing whether the team should trade for them. That is what comes with the offseason: speculation from fans, and it runs rampant when a team gets eliminated, too. This is where the latest rumor comes from, as in his latest reporting, Brett Siegel from Clutch Points stated this snippet.
The Lakers, Suns, and Celtics are among the win-now teams expected to show interest in Aaron Gordon as realistic trade suitors, per @BrettSiegelNBA
“Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Celtics are among the many win-now teams Gordon would obviously fit… pic.twitter.com/GbCHQkMsqc
Well, this is now interesting, isn’t it? Denver has just lost in the playoffs, and with their finish, it is clear that changes will take place. One of those could be Aaron Gordon, who struggled to stay healthy this year for the Nuggets. Yet even if that is the case, how do the Suns even do this, and does it even make sense?
How could it get done?
The Suns have multiple ways to get to Gordon’s remaining $71 million he is owed over the next two seasons, with the 2023 NBA Champion owed $31.9 million in 2026-27. One is with using Dillon Brooks, whom one Denver page has suggested.
According to @BrettSiegelNBA the Suns have interest in potentially trading for Aaron Gordon
Another is using Jalen Green’s contract to move off the young guard. Lastly, it is combining Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale’s deals to reach $30 million to trade for Gordon.
Which would make the most sense?
In my view, the first point doesn’t make sense, as Brooks has already shifted the culture for Phoenix, and there is no need to ship him out for someone who would do the same. Brooks also makes less than Gordon and is set up for an extension, one that the Suns want to pay him, so it does not look like he is on the move.
Green could make sense salary-wise for the Suns, but for the Nuggets, it does not at all. The Nuggets need to shed salary this year to resign Peyton Watson, so taking on Green does not make that easier. He would also be in a troubling situation with Jamal Murray.
Realistically, the last option makes the most sense for both parties. Denver can get some scorers alongside Nikola Jokic, and the Suns get a power forward. I still see a problem with this trade.
Why does it not get done?
This is due to the Nuggets realizing that, with this move, they are still dealing with salary issues. As I said earlier, the Nuggets want to re-sign Peyton Watson, and rumors have swirled that they might trade guys like Gordon to do so. Even with saving a little over $4 million on this deal, that is not enough to get a deal with Watson. Forcing the Nuggets to have them move off one of Allen or Royce to figure out how to still do cap gymnastics with Camreon Johnson or Christian Braun. This is a headache the Nuggets would rather not get into, even if it splits one of their contracts into two smaller ones.
For the Suns as well, yes, this allows more development time for Rasheer Fleming and Ryan Dunn, while slotting Gordon as the permanent power forward. With his injury history and larger contract, this is something I’d rather not jump on. Even if he brings championship experience and is a great fit, it is risky. If he is hurt, does this mean Fleming or Dunn is shoved to be the PF at one point? What if they are not ready? Will fans turn on them as they did with Oso Ighodaro when he was out of position at the beginning and end of the year? Those are questions I would rather not get into, because with this fanbase, we already know the answers.
As Mat Ishbia stated, continuity will be a big part of this team. I don’t think that means no moves will happen, but a change for a star role player doesn’t make sense.
What do you think? Do you think the Suns should do this?
Jan 17, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) and guard Anthony Edwards (5) try to keep San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) from a rebound in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
The Spurs will host the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday as heavy favorites despite the uncertainty surrounding Anthony Edwards’ status. Even if the injured superstar guard returns, he’ll likely be limited by two knee injuries, so San Antonio is expected to win this series, as long as they play with the focus and intensity required for any postseason matchup.
So far, the “young team struggling with the bright lights” narrative hasn’t fit this group, but they will face a tough test against Minnesota. If Edwards remains out, they will have to avoid complacency and put away a veteran team with two consecutive trips to the Conference Finals on their back. If Edwards does return and looks anything closer to his best self, they’ll face a formidable opponent.
It’s an interesting matchup in many ways, but one that is hard to preview because of the potential absence of a superstar. For now, let’s assume Edwards will either be out for a few games and/or severely limited at least for the first few.
The Spurs should run their offense through Wembanyama, but without forcing things
Rudy Gobert is coming off a terrific series against the Nuggets in which he contained Nikola Jokic’s scoring largely by himself in the first few games, a feat that only a few others can even hope to achieve. He’ll get another chance at proving his many, many haters wrong about his playoff impact when he matches up with Wembanyama, but it’s arguably going to be a tougher battle for the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, as long as San Antonio plays smart
Unlike the Nuggets, the Spurs have enough shot-creation elsewhere to have Wemby to act as a decoy and draw Gobert out of the paint, putting tremendous pressure on a perimeter defense that is missing integral pieces. If Gobert sags off of Wemby to try to remain near the paint, as he did in their one regular-season matchup, Wemby can get open threes. The Timberwolves might decide to bet on Wemby, a streaky shooter, struggling to make them pay, but Wembanyama can also attack off the dribble if he has a runway and a well-spaced floor, and Gobert has traditionally struggled with agility more than strength.
At his best, Wembanyama is also less post-oriented than Jokic and can do work coming off screens and acting as a rim-runner. If Wemby’s shot is off and Gobert does a good job containing him one-on-one, allowing the Timberwolves to deny the corner three-pointers their defense does a terrific job of preventing, San Antonio can just force the big man to chase Wemby through the perimeter as they set him up for open jumpers. They can also use Wemby’s tremendous gravity as a roll man to get their guards going, as Gobert would likely focus on trying to prevent lobs and staying in place for defensive rebounds.
If the Spurs use Wembanyama smartly and Gobert struggles to guard him without much help, it might lead Chris Finch to do what other coaches have tried in the past: use a forward on Victor. Julius Randle had some success guarding Wembanyama on his own during the regular season as long as he was allowed to be physical with him, especially when the Spurs tried to get their superstar going through touches at the elbow or free-throw line. The problem then is that there’s no true safe place to slot Gobert. The Trail Blazers put their center on Stephon Castle, but he has hit shots and, equally importantly, has known when to take them and when to continue running the offense, even when he’s initially open.
The Timberwolves’ defense can be great at times, especially when Gobert is shining, but San Antonio has ways to hurt them, as long as they don’t fall for the trap of trying to get any one player going. Wembanyama, in particular, seems to understand now that at this point in his career, in which he lacks a go-to move, his versatility is his best weapon. As long as the ball and players move, scoring should not be too hard despite Minnesota having a few elite defenders.
The perimeter defense needs to be suffocating
While the big man matchup seems to be the key on offense for the Spurs, on the other end, the biggest battle will probably be waged on the perimeter. Julius Randle will score, and Naz Reid could take advantage of his size advantage against a smaller Spurs forward group, but San Antonio can live with that. The most important task with Edwards out or limited will be to prevent the other Wolves’ guards and Jaden McDaniels from going off, as they did in turns against the Nuggets.
Stephon Castle will likely be tasked with guarding McDaniels, unless Mitch Johnson makes the bold decision to put him on Randle. The Wolves wing is mostly known for his defense and might be an 11-point-per-game scorer for his career, but he averaged close to 18 against the Nuggets despite his outside shot abandoning him. He can use his length to shoot over defenders from midrange, and if he’s not pressured, he can get to his spots off the dribble on drives, finishing with finesse near the rim or with explosiveness at it. The Spurs have handled craftier scorers, but the importance of making McDaniels look like the elite role player he’s been instead of a nascent star ready to make the leap would have a direct impact on both Minnesota’s offense and their confidence.
Beyond McDaniels, the Wolves have some guys who can’t be discounted when it comes to exploding for big scoring nights. Ayo Dosunmu dropped 43 off the bench in one game against the Nuggets, and he’s a dynamic two-way guy with limitless energy. Bones Hyland might shoot a team out of a win, or he might string together enough buckets to keep the offense going for a stretch by himself. Shannon Jr. is not gun-shy, and his confidence should be sky-high after his performances in the last two games against Denver. Mike Conley, who is closer to retirement than his prime, can still pick apart a lazy defense or hit open shots if they are conceded to him.
It’s tempting to focus on the Timberwolves’ one true advantage on offense: their size at the big forward spots, and especially Randle’s scoring. But they are a team first and foremost, built around defense and a transcendent perimeter scoring talent that shouldn’t be at his peak whenever he returns. Preventing others from stepping up and filling that void is arguably the most important task for the Spurs this series.
Prediction: Spurs in 5
As mentioned, it’s hard to preview and even harder to predict a series in which there’s uncertainty about such a major factor. If Edwards returns early in the series and looks like himself, there’s no way the Wolves don’t make it a long battle that could go either way. If he takes a while to return or looks hobbled, and the Spurs play with appropriate fear against a tough, experienced opponent, their talent advantage should be enough to overcome a size disparity that favors Minnesota and get to the Conference Finals without suffering too much.
Ronald Acuna Jr. was placed on the injured list on Sunday morning due to a hamstring strain that he suffered the day before.
Acuna had come out of the Braves’ 9-1 win over the Rockies on Saturday after starting to limp in pain during the second inning when he was running out a ground ball he hit to second base.
Acuna had undergone an MRI in Denver to understand how severe the injury was and will now be on the IL with a left hamstring strain.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. was placed on the IL. Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
The MRI revealed a Grade 1 hamstring strain and Braves manager Walt Weiss said it “could have been a lot worse.”
“Not too serious, but serious enough that we had to put him on the list,” Weiss told reporters on Sunday. “It’s not going to be just a couple of days. It’s going to be more than, so we need to put him on the IL. Hopefully, it will be sooner than later. No idea with these soft tissue injuries, how long they’re going to take.
“But I think the silver lining is the MRI showed it wasn’t too serious.”
The Braves called up José Azócar to fill the spot left by Acuna.
The five-time All-Star was off to a slow start this season, slashing .252/.362/.378 over 152 plate appearances, while hitting just two home runs.
Atlanta has also dealt with its fair share of injuries this season, with the loss of Acuna being the latest one.
The Braves have eight pitchers listed on their IL as of Sunday, with a varying degree of injuries that they’re recovering from, which includes closer Raisel Iglesias, reliever Dylan Dodd and starter Spencer Schwellenbach.
Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss, left, helps Ronald Acuña Jr. off the field after he was injured while running out a ground ball in the second inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Saturday. AP
The Braves won Sunday’s game 11-6 over the Rockies to take the weekend series.
Atlanta is in first place in the National League East with an 8 ½ game lead over the Marlins.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 04: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees in action during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 4, 2025 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Anthony Volpe began his minor league rehab assignment on April 14th, it felt like a foregone conclusion that he has headed to the big league roster once he completed it. Fast-forward to today, and the organization has made the decision to go the other direction, activating him from the IL just to option him down to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Following today’s game, the Yankees returned INF Anthony Volpe from his rehab assignment, reinstated him from the 10-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The move comes after days of speculation, as manager Aaron Boone was notably noncommittal on Volpe’s immediate future with his rehab assignment nearing the end. What was seen as his likely activation target in the start of this most recent homestand with the Orioles came and went without a word on his status, pushing the final decision into the weekend. Eventually, time ran out and the Yankees showed their hand, sending down their everyday shortstop since his arrival to the majors in 2023 in favor of keeping José Caballero as the starter.
Caballero’s play has been the biggest factor in this development, seeing as general manager Brian Cashman deemed Volpe’s return a near-automatic assumption right before Volpe’s rehab began, saying “that’s always been the plan.” Caballero was hitting for a paltry .384 OPS at the time of those comments, but has since gone on a heater raising his OPS to .719. His last 12 games he’s been particularly hot, hitting for a .302/.348/.535 triple slash (.883 OPS). Coming off of a season where he played most of the year hurt and consequently looked terrible, Volpe needed his competition to look unimpressive if he hoped to be handed the starting gig back, but that just hasn’t happened.
During his rehab assignment, Volpe played four games with Scranton and eight with Double-A Somerset, earning a .683 OPS with one homer and six RBI when combining his games across the two teams. Had he hit the ground on fire during his rehab, perhaps he still could’ve won out and retained his position, but the team’s last-minute decision indicates that they were waiting to see something from the 25-year-old that didn’t manifest in time for them to feel comfortable inserting him back in their lineup. Volpe will now have to work on his game in Triple-A in order to earn his playing time back, in what may prove to be his first real run through the level of competition. Volpe played just 22 games with Scranton at the end of the 2022 season before winning the starting job with the Yankees in spring training ahead of 2023, and had been with the team through the good times and hard times since.
Volpe’s future will also be impacted by the development of George Lombard Jr., the team’s top prospect who was also recently promoted to Triple-A after raking to start the year in Somerset. Lombard’s trajectory through the organization could see him make his MLB debut as early as the end of this season, with a decent shot at earning a role with the 2027 team. Lombard shifted over to third base to allow Volpe to play his natural position during his rehab, and the fastest track to the majors might see Lombard move around the infield should the team want to play him over Ryan McMahon or Jazz Chisholm Jr., but he’s already an elite defender and finding his bat in the upper levels of the minors. That’s reminiscent of how a young Anthony Volpe looked when he was the team’s top prospect and rising through the organization, but now he finds his security in the team’s future threatened in the short and long-term if he cannot tap into that nascent talent again.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 4: A Colorado Rockies fan uses an umbrella to avoid the snow in the first inning of the home opener against the Athletics at Coors Field on April 4, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tomorrow’s series opener between the Mets and Rockies at Coors Field has been moved up from 8:40pm EDT to 5:40pm EDT. Adjust your viewing plans accordingly.
The change was made due to the expected inclement weather, with temperatures expected to reach a high of 70 around midday before diving into the 30s in the evening. This, paired with forecasted freezing rain, has resulted in an earlier start time, much like what the Mets did earlier in the year for some home games.
The team will face some weather whiplash after leaving Anaheim, where they took two of three from the Angels this weekend. At their lowest, temperatures during the series never dipped below 60 degrees. To contrast, Denver is expecting snow later in the week, which could potentially affect the later games in the series. For now, no further changes have been announced. The high temperatures for Tuesday and Wednesday’s games are not expected to eclipse 40 degrees.
The Mets announced that they will use an opener on Monday, with David Peterson serving as the bulk man for New York following his most recent ineffective outing. The Mets have not revealed who the opener will be, but he will be opposed by Rockies’ right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano. Freddy Peralta and Christian Scott will pitch on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, weather permitting.
Carson Benge is looking more and more comfortable at the big-league level with each passing day, and on Sunday afternoon he put together easily his most complete showing to this point.
The youngster helped the Mets on both sides of the ball as they defeated the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 to secure their first series win in nearly a month.
Benge pieced together tremendous at-bats each of his first two times up, walking on six pitches in the top of the third and then eight pitches in the fourth.
The second one proved to be a big one, as the Mets took the lead just two pitches later when Mark Vientos crushed his first two-run homer of the day.
Benge grounded out in the sixth but was able to do some damage of his own in the eighth, lining an RBI double down the right-field line to give New York an insurance run.
Vientos followed that again with a two-run shot, putting this one away for good.
The 23-year-old wasn’t done there, though, as he made the best catch of his career to this point to rob Vaughn Grissom of extra-bases in the bottom of the ninth.
Benge raced over to the right-field line before laying out full extension to somehow make the pulchritudinous play, as Gary Cohen described it on the SNY broadcast.
"I was kind of surprised to tell you the least," Benge said. "If I see a ball that I think I can get to, I'm going to go after it -- I'm just glad that I was able to come down with that one there."
"If that ball falls that's a completely different inning," Carlos Mendoza added.
This is just the latest of what’s been a string of strong performances from the former first-round pick as he continues finding his footing at the big-league level.
He's now hitting .290 with three XBH’s, four RBI, and a .333 OBP over his last 10 games.
“It just feels like a juiced baseball game now," Benge said. "It kind of took me a while to get my feet settled and different things like that, but now I feel like I’m finding my groove and getting comfortable out there."
Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie produced an all-round masterclass to help the Peshawar Zalmi win their first Pakistan Super League title in nine years, defeating Marnus Labuschagne’s Hyderabad Kingsmen during Sunday’s final in Lahore.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 15: Raisel Iglesias #26 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after getting the last out as MLB was honoring Jackie Robinson Day during the MLB game between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves on April 15, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After today’s victory against the Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters that closer Raisel Iglesias will be activated from the 15-day Injured List on Tuesday in Seattle where the Braves will be taking on the Seattle Mariners.
Walt Weiss says after the game that closer Raisel Iglesis should be activated Tuesday
Iglesias’ return will help fortify the Braves bullpen has it has dealt with significant turnover in the past two weeks.
The Braves, who are 25-10 after sweeping the Rockies, should also get back catcher Sean Murphy in Seattle, but the exact day Murphy will be activated is not known. With outfielder Ronald Acuña, Jr. going on the 10-day IL due to a hamstring injury and fellow outfielder Michael Harris II nursing a quad injury, Atlanta could have an interesting decision to make with Murphy’s activation. It is possible Harris II could go on the IL.
Iglesias has yet to allow a run this season, striking out 11 in 8.2 inning across eight games. He has also saved five games, which still leads the team.
DENVER, CO - May 1: Atlanta Braves Michael Harris II (23) celebrates after his ninth inning two-run home run during a game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 1, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As long as baseball continues to be played at altitude in Coors Field, there will be the potential for a whole bushel of runs to be scored in any given game. With the Atlanta Braves running as hot as they have to start this season, there was plenty of potential for the Braves to put in some serious work at the plate.
Even with the Rockies sending some decent starting pitching to the mound for this series, it was clear that they’d have a pretty big task on their hands to keep this Braves team quiet. As it turned out, there wasn’t much that Colorado’s pitching staff could do to stop Atlanta during this series as the Braves did a bunch of hitting early and often. How much damage did they end up doing? Let’s go into detail!
This one got off to an extremely poor start for Grant Holmes and the Braves, as the Rockies lit him up for five runs in the first inning and then added on another one in the second via a solo homer from Mickey Moniak to make it a 6-0 lead. That’s how it stayed through three innings as the Braves were forced to dig themselves out of a hole from the middle innings onward. Fortunately, Holmes ended up staying out there for five innings and was able to successfully pass the baton to Anthony Molina, Didier Fuentes and eventually, Robert Suarez.
Now, how on Earth did Robert Suarez end up getting involved? That’s because Holmes calming down and the bullpen clamping down ended up being crucial as the Braves started to claw their way back. Matt Olson got the Braves on the board with a solo homer in the fourth and then it all came unraveled for Colorado once Jose Quintana exited the game following the sixth inning. A productive out from Jonah Heim cut the deficit to four runs in the seventh and then the eighth was when Atlanta delivered the haymaker.
The top of the order managed to load up the bases with one out, which set the stage for Mauricio Dubón to continue his surprisingly-good start to the season at the plate with a big hit here. He didn’t hit it out but he hit it to the wall and in an outfield as big and expansive as Coors Field, that’s massive trouble. Dubón’s triple cleared the bases to tie the game and then he scored on a sacrifice fly from Ozzie Albies to tie it up in Atlanta.
The ninth inning rolled around and Michael Harris II was called upon for pinch-hitting duty after Jonah Heim led off the frame with a walk. Sure enough, Money Mike was able to deliver another big hit off of the bench as he crushed one into the seats in right field to give the Braves-partisan crowd in Denver something to roar about. That’s how Robert Suarez ended up getting involved and making his fourth save of the season in order to complete a fantastic comeback win for the Braves.
This one was a bit more straight-forward for the Braves as they ended up rolling to a wire-to-wire beatdown of the Rockies in this one. Drake Baldwin crushed a dinger in the first inning and that was the first of three dingers for Atlanta in this one — and the first two RBI of four on the day for Baldwin. Austin Riley got some frustration out in the fifth inning with a two-run shot that made it 8-1 and then Matt Olson demolished a no-doubter in the ninth inning that brought us to our final score.
While this was all going on, Chris Sale put in another great evening of work on the mound. Sale went seven innings while only giving up one run on three hits and three walks. He also struck out11 batters in the process. Pitching in this series wasn’t easy for anybody so it was very impressive to see Sale go out there and continue to be dominant despite the extremely hitter-friendly environment tripping up other pitchers over the course of this series. Sale’s strong effort meant that the Braves only needed to turn to Dylan Lee and Hunter Stratton to close things out from the bullpen.
The only real blemish in this game for the Braves (outside of missing out on a rare Coors Field shutout win thanks to an RBI double from Jordan Beck) was that Ronald Acuña Jr. strained his left hamstring and ended up having to go on the 10-day IL as a result. The obvious hope is that it’ll be closer to 10 days on the shelf for Acuña rather than anything longer than that but it’s still a bummer to see that the injury bug has once again continued to pester the Braves.
The initial story heading into this game was Spencer Strider’s 2026 regular season debut. This was always going to be a tricky way to start the season for Strider and sure enough, that was the case. He only made it through 3.1 innings and while he did strike out six batters, he walked five and conceded four hits on his way to giving up three runs during his time out there. It also didn’t help matters that Aaron Bummer came in and got knocked around for two runs while he recorded an inning’s worth of outs.
Fortunately, it helped that the Rockies continued to provide little-to-no resistance to Atlanta’s lineup. In fact, this game was all about Jonah Heim, of all people. Heim went into this game with just three RBI to his name over the course of 11 games played. He now has eight, after he pushed five runs across the plate with his bat. Heim picked a great day to collect five RBI (his most in a single game since September 11, 2023 against the Blue Jays) since you can see what the score ended up being. Heim’s breakout ended up making a big difference as his efforts at the plate pushed the Braves to their second sweep so far this season — both on the road, no less!
With the series win, the BravesVision broadcast pointed out that the Braves are now off to their best 35-game start since 1892. Yes, you read that correctly: THE YEAR OF OUR LORD EIGHTEEN-HUNDRED-AND-NINETY-TWO. That is wild and this stat from Sarah Langs of MLB.com with the added contest of the top five 35-game starts makes it even wilder.
Best 35-decision starts in Braves franchise history:
What do all of those other starts have in common? They’re all in the 1800s! This is the best start that any of us currently living have ever seen from the Braves over this many games. Getting this deep into the season with this many wins banked is absolutely vital. They could slow down eventually but even if there is a downturn in form, as long as there isn’t a major slump then the Braves are going to be right in the thick of it as far as Postseason contention for the whole season.
The performance at Coors Field was impressive as well. Now granted, the Rockies are the Rockies (which is to say they don’t figure to be great this season) but they also still have to be taken seriously in their home stadium. It’s a venue that can bring up any type of result at any given moment and one where offense is expected but also not a given. If you don’t believe me then take a look at last year’s series for the Braves in Colorado, which is one that they managed to win while scoring only 15 runs (including a game where they only scored one run) and hitting zero home runs. This time, they scored 28 runs and cracked seven dingers. The offense is clearly in a much better place right now than last season and that’s been the engine that has powered the Braves to their lofty spot in the standings so far.
The Braves will now look to continue taking care of business as they will continue their trip out West with a visit to Cascadia to face off with the Mariners. Seattle has gotten off to a mediocre start so far and Atlanta will have to rely on the bottom of the rotation to continue getting the job done. With that being said, we’ve gotten to the point now where the Braves have to like their chances whenever this current version of Bryce Elder takes the mound and JR Ritchie has been encouraging as well. Grant Holmes will need a turnaround performance and hopefully the pitcher-friendly environment of T-Mobile Park will provide that opportunity for Holmes. It’ll be tricky (there’s that word again) but with the way the Braves have been playing so far in 2026, it’s more-than-possible that they can keep this going in Seattle with another series win. We’ll see what happens!
COVERS INTEL:
