The relationship between Independence Day and Major League Baseball goes back a long time, and the holiday has a habit of producing moments that transcend the box score. The most famous came in 1939, when Lou Gehrig, weeks removed from an ALS diagnosis, told the crowd he considered himself the luckiest man on earth. It remains one of the most iconic speech in sports history.

The Fourth has also been unusually kind to pitchers chasing history. In 1980, Nolan Ryan become just the fourth pitcher ever to reach 3,000 career strikeouts. Four years later, knuckleballer Phil Niekro reached the same milestone. In 1983, Dave Righetti threw the first July 4th no-hitter of the modern era against the Red Sox, ending it by striking out Wade Boggs in the sweltering New York heat.

And then there was 1985, when the Mets and Braves played 19 innings on July 4th, ending at nearly 4 in the morning on the 5th. Braves pitcher Rick Camp hit a home run in the 18th to keep the game alive but the Mets won 16-13. The post-game fireworks went off at dawn, to the displeasure of everyone in the neighborhood.

Now, MLB markets July 4th as much as possible to bring fans in. All 30 teams play on Saturday, in their special stars and stripes uniforms. You might even be able to find a drive-in movie theater to watch your local team.

⚾ Home Run Cheat Sheet

Pine’s Home Run Sheet gives you everything you need to find the best bets before first pitch:

Projections & Odds – Jaxon's HR projection and live over/under odds
Hit Rate – Track how often each player has gone deep over their last ten games and more
Confidence Score – Know which plays Jaxon likes most at a glance

Click on any player to view detailed stats!

⚽️ The World’s Game on July 4th Weekend

The World Cup Round of 32 wraps up today and we immediately dive into the next round of knockout games.

Colombia vs. Ghana

Colombia went unbeaten through the group stage, conceded just one goal in three matches, held Portugal to a scoreless draw, and generated 1.33 goals per game. Luis Díaz led the team with 11 shots and contributed a goal and an assist. Davinson Sánchez anchored the build-up with 183 accurate passes. This is a team built on balance, and they've been executing it cleanly.

Ghana, on the other hand, has survived on defensive grit and goalkeeper Benjamin Asare. They held England scoreless and beat Panama, but their offensive volume is minimal. Antoine Semenyo and Fatawu Issahaku lead the team with just three shots each.

Colombia's sustained pressure is the kind that eventually wears down defenses. Back Colombia.

Canada vs. Morocco

Stephen Eustáquio's 92nd-minute volley against South Africa gave Canada their first ever knockout win and sent them through in dramatic fashion. Alphonso Davies is expected to return to the starting lineup after making his tournament debut off the bench in that match. His absence hurt Canada throughout the group stage, and his return meaningfully changes what this team can do in transition.

Morocco is the deserved favorite after beating the Netherlands on penalties, controlling 70% of possession and 801 passes in that match before Issa Diop equalized in the 91st minute and Yassine Bounou made the decisive save in the shootout. They are disciplined and dangerous on the counter.

Canada spread is the play. Canada proved against South Africa they can absorb possession and stay alive in tight games.

England vs. Mexico

This matchup has every chance of being the game of the tournament when it’s all said and done.

England needed a Harry Kane brace in the final fifteen minutes to survive against Congo DR after trailing for most of the match. Now they travel to the Estadio Azteca, one of the most physically and atmospherically demanding venues in world football, days after a high-intensity match.

Mexico's home-field advantage here is not just narrative. The altitude and crowd at the Azteca have historically troubled European sides. England's 90% pass accuracy and 59.7% possession suggest technical quality, but managing energy in that environment is a concern. I’m backing the hosts to send England packing.

 🌲 The Pine Line

🏒 One more year! One more year! The greatest goal scorer in hockey is coming back.

🏈 Eligibility rules for college athletes just changed. The new model keeps it pretty straightforward.

🏀 The NBA shake-ups aren’t done. Even rivals are completing trades this offseason.

🏎️ Silverstone brings out the best in F1. The designs are the highlight this year before lights go out.

Bet smarter, not harder.

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