Sports News – Page 1007 – Worldwide Sports News

May 18, 2026

Round Three Preview: All Eyes on the Defense

With the final four teams set, the matchups become even more magnified. As the Colorado Avalanche are set to take on the Vegas Golden Knights to earn a ticket into the Stanley Cup finals, here is a closer look at whose defense is stout enough to win a championship.

Colorado Avalanche

Devon Toews – Cale Makar

Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski

Josh Manson – Brent Burns

Extra: Nick Blankenburg, Jack Ahcan, Alex Gagne?

To end the regular season head coach Jared Bednar experimented with his defense testing out Brett Kulak on the top pair with Cale Makar and then Devon Toews on the second pair. That’s mostly been reversed as the trusty duo of Toews-Makar has played an extraordinary amount of minutes this postseason and have had great success at 61.50% of the expected goals together. Toews leads the Avalanche defense core with eight points and Makar hasn’t been quite as productive with five points, though four are goals.

For the rest of Colorado’s defense pairings it has been pretty mix-and-match especially due to the injuries. First to Josh Manson and then when he returned in Game 4 of the Wild series suddenly Sam Malinski was a surprise scratch with an upper-body injury. Brent Burns and Josh Manson played a lot together in the regular season and Brett Kulak saw the most time with Sam Malinski through the first seven playoff games, which are seemingly the ideal pairings.

With practice resuming ahead of the Vegas series, all eyes have been on the collection of Avalanche defensemen at practice, or lack thereof. Cale Makar only skates in games at this point, as expected. Now Brent Burns is suddenly absent and both Josh Manson and Sam Malinski have been limited in skates. Most, if not all four, should be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals according to Bednar. Still, there appears to be plans in case one of the aforementioned defenseman can’t suit up as Jack Ahcan was never sent back to the AHL and Colorado Eagles rookie Alex Gagne was a recent practice participant despite never having played in the NHL. This Avalanche defense core has already been stretched thin with just one absence the dominoes are set to tumble.

Vegas Golden Knights

Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore

Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson

Ben Hutton – Dylan Coghlan

Extra: Kaedan Korczak; Injured: Jeremy Lauzon

The big story on defense for the Golden Knights was the one-game suspension to Brayden McNabb but he’s expected back in the lineup for round three. Colorado fans know well of McNabb’s physical reputation and ill-advised hits but he’s grown into a large role with Vegas as part of their top pairing. He is also the top penalty killer for Vegas and scored shorthanded in the Anaheim series.

As the other portion of Vegas’ top pairing, Shea Theodore is also their leader on defense with nine points and four goals. He is the top power play quarterback and has scored a goal and three assists on the man advantage. Together with McNabb expect to see Theodore play a lot against Colorado’s top forwards.

On the second pair for Vegas is a due of defensemen for Vegas both acquired in trades from the Calgary Flames, first Noah Hanifin in 2024 and Rasmus Andersson just recently in January of this year. Hanifin has been the more productive one with six assists but both chip in on occasion. Even as a second pair these two play well over 20 minutes a night and figure to do so in this upcoming series with Colorado.

Veterans Dylan Coghlan and Ben Hutton round out the depth with 25-year-old graduated former prospect Kaedan Korczak filling in as needed. Another depth option, Jeremy Lauzon has been sidelined since early May after taking a puck to the head. All will have their hands full containing Colorado moving forward.

May 18, 2026

Lack of Adjustments Proved Costly for Ducks against Golden Knights

The 2025-26 season came to an end for the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, in Game 6 of the second round, at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Ducks defeated the defending, back-to-back Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in the first round. It was a series in which the Ducks and their coaching staff baited the Oilers into playing the Ducks’ preferred brand of hockey, and a series where the Ducks’ coaches played the right cards and made the right adjustments at the proper times.

Takeaways from the Ducks' 5-1 Loss to the Golden Knights, Vegas wins Series 4-2

Takeaways from the Ducks' 3-2 Overtime Loss to the Golden Knights, Vegas Leads Series 3-2

In the first round, Anaheim had a clear and direct game plan against two of the world’s top centermen, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Specifically, against McDavid, the coaching staff hard-matched defense pair, Jackson LaCombe and Jacob Trouba, and as a five-man unit, pressured him the entire 200-foot ice surface, focusing on the backcheck and eliminating his ability to attack laterally.

After dropping Game 1 of the series, a game the Ducks felt was winnable, head coach Joel Quenneville made a sneaky last-minute lineup adjustment, swapping Chris Kreider and Cutter Gauthier on their respective lines just before puck drop. He went on to swap the two again at the last minute, after a Game 5 loss, going on to secure a Game 6 victory.

Every time now-former Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch made an adjustment of his own, Quenneville was there to match and eclipse. As the series progressed, Anaheim became more stingy defensively, doing well to keep Edmonton to the perimeter in the defensive zone and simplifying their breakout approach, electing to high-flip a higher percentage of pucks to the neutral zone, where forwards could win puck battles against retreating Edmonton defensemen.

The Ducks series against the Golden Knights played out nearly identically early on, but it was John Tortorella and the Vegas coaching staff that got the better of the Ducks as the series wore on.

After dropping Game 1, a tight affair where the Ducks could have easily been seen as the better team, both by eye test and underlying numbers, Quenneville made another cheeky surprise lineup change just before Game 2 puck drop, but this time, the adjustment was far more dramatic.

Quenneville scratched young $7 million AAV forward Mason McTavish and rookie defenseman Ian Moore, who had been slotted as a fourth-line forward for Game 2, in favor of energy fourth liners Ross Johnston and Jansen Harkins.

The Ducks won Game 2 handily, but dropped Game 3 decidedly. Quenneville reinserted Moore and McTavish for Game 4, along with Olen Zellweger, who made his NHL Playoff debut. Quenneville stuck with his Game 4 playing roster (minus Ryan Poehling, who exited Game 5 early with an upper-body injury) for Games 5 and 6, both of which the Ducks lost, ending their season.

The Knights saw the return of their long-time, middle-six, two-way center, William Karlsson, for this series against Anaheim. Tortorella tried him on the third line, but quickly found he was better suited for the second, and kept him there for the duration of the series.

Other than Karlsson’s return and fit, the only adjustments Vegas had to make were tinkering with their third defensive pair and navigating top-pair defenseman Brayden McNabb’s Game 5 ejection and Game 6 suspension.

Though Quennville’s lineup adjustments found some success in the second round against Vegas, they didn’t have quite the impact that they did in their opening series against Edmonton.

Tactically, Quenneville and the Ducks’ staff didn’t have an answer for the waves of the Knights’ offensive pressure and sound, stingy zone defensive structure.

Vegas was able to do to Anaheim what Anaheim did to Edmonton: force them to play their brand of hockey. Vegas is a cycle-heavy team on the offensive side of the puck, valuing possession time and using that time to break down opposing defensive structures and open dangerous lanes.

Defensively, Vegas plays contained. They keep opponents to the perimeter, block shots, and force mistakes, to which they aim to capitalize. The Ducks made those mistakes, and the Knights capitalized in abundance.

Anaheim failed to adjust, and their only answer offensively was to funnel more pucks and bodies toward Carter Hart and the Vegas crease. Those pucks were predictably blocked and cleared along with any semblance of traffic in front of Hart.

Hart showed vulnerability during Vegas’ first-round series against the Utah Mammoth when he was forced to defend rushes and when he was forced to move laterally. Anaheim wasn’t able to force him into doing either and made his job infinitely easier.

Vegas’ puck management negated Anaheim’s rush attack. Ducks’ defensemen were far less active and involved offensively than they had been during the season or their first-round series. Even if their ability to join rushes had been negated, activating defensemen down the halfwalls and having them jump to soft ice could have, in theory, been a factor in chipping away at Vegas’ seemingly impenetrable slot.

The Ducks have, for all intents and purposes, kicked their contention window open and will be aiming to at least return to the second round of the playoffs and contend for Stanley Cups for the foreseeable future.

These playoffs provided some unexpected success, and perhaps more valuable, offered a chance to learn what it takes to battle on a nightly basis and defeat the same opponent four times in seven games.

They also learned that each opponent offers vastly different styles from the previous, and they have to walk the tightrope of being willing to make tweaks to their approach without sacrificing their identity and what brought them to where they are.

The Ducks will have a long offseason of reflection. They will expect their young core pieces to take further leaps in their development and hit the ground running in October in a volatile Pacific Division.

Olen Zellweger Has Given Ducks A Boost

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek Finalist for General Manager of the Year

May 18, 2026

NHL Rumors: 4 Flyers Potential Goalie Targets

Samuel Ersson had a very rough 2025-26 season. Due to this, it would not necessarily be surprising if the Flyers looked to bring in another goalie this off-season to form a tandem with starter Dan Vladar.

Due to this, let's look at four goalies who the Flyers could consider targeting during the off-season.

Joseph Woll, Toronto Maple Leafs

If the Maple Leafs make Joseph Woll available for trade due to their surplus of NHL-caliber goalies, the Flyers would be wise to target him. The 27-year-old would have the potential to form a strong tandem with Vladar if acquired. In 117 career NHL games, he hasa 63-43-9 record, a .906 save percentage, and a 3.34 goals-against average.

Stuart Skinner, Pittsburgh Penguins

If the Flyers want to go the free agency route, Stuart Skinner stands out as a potential target. The 27-year-old has a ton of playoff experience and has shown in the past that he can make an impact when playing at his best. In 224 career NHL games, the former All-Star has a .902 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average.

Connor Ingram, Edmonton Oilers

If the Edmonton Oilers do not re-sign Connor Ingram, he could be an interesting backup option for the Flyers. The 29-year-old goalie had a solid bounce-back year with the Oilers this campaign, posting a 16-10-3 record and an .899 save percentage in 32 games. He also had a .907 save percentage in both 2022-23 and 2023-24, which adds to his appeal.

Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers

Could the Flyers look to make up for a big past mistake and try to bring back Sergei Bobrovsky? The 37-year-old had an ugly 2025-26 season but also led the Florida Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner is a star when playing at his best and would have the potential to be an excellent short-term addition for Philly in a tandem with Vladar.

May 18, 2026

Rays Minor League Roundup: Week 6

MONTGOMERY, AL - MARCH 31: Austin Overn #6 of the Montgomery Biscuits poses for a photo during the Montgomery Biscuits photo day at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Photo by Ethan Lowe/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

This was the 6th week of full minor league play (stats are entering play on Monday, May 18th).

According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), 19-year old Caden Bodine has regained his spot as the top hitter spot in the Rays system. The backstop was recently added to Baseball America’s top 100 prospect rankings and is up to 4th in the Rays system.

Meanwhile, Aidan Cremarosa is still the team’s top minor league pitcher and among the top performers in all of minor league baseball and is also now ranked 27th in the Rays system by Baseball America. The 22-year old was taken by the Rays in the 8th round of the 2025 draft out of Fresno State. Thus far over seven starts in Single-A, Cremarosa has a 2.54 ERA | 2.33 FIP with a 37.7 K% & 4.1 BB% over 39 IP.

RUMBLINGS

Baseball America has updated their top 30 prospect rankings, I will feature the statlines of the updated top 10 going forward.
Three Rays prospects were featured on Baseball America’s Hot Sheet: Theo Gillen, Austin Overn, and Emilien Pitre
OF Brailer Gurrero has been placed on the Injured List
1B Tre’ Morgan began a rehab assignment

TEAM LEADERS

Must currently be assigned to that team
Baseball America’s top ten prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.
(minimum of 70 TBF & PA)

Tampa Bay Rays

Top 10 Prospects

None currently on active roster

Durham Bulls

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .323, Victor Mesa Jr (hasn’t played since 4/15)
OBP: .417, Victor Mesa Jr (hasn’t played since 4/15)
SLG: .565, Victor Mesa Jr (hasn’t played since 4/15)
HR: 6,Blake Sabol
wRC+: 152, Victor Mesa Jr (hasn’t played since 4/15)
SB: 17, Jacob Melton (Placed on the IL on 4/23)

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 2.37, Evan Reifert
FIP: 2.99, Trevor Martin (promoted to MLB on 5/15)
K%: 34.6%, Joe Rock
BB%: 6.4%, Jonathan Heasley
WHIP: 1.21, Evan Reifert
AVG: .164, Evan Reifert
WHIFF%: 14.4%, Jonny Cuevas

Top 10 Prospects

#2 Brody Hopkins
- AAA: 3.35 ERA | 5.23 FIP | 24.9 K% | 19.9 BB% | .206 AVG | 13.3 WHIFF% | 40.1 IP
#3 Jacob Melton
- AAA: .231/.346/.431 | 40.2 K% | 15.9 BB% | 1 HR | 17 SB | 98 wRC+ | 82 PA
  - 4/23: Suffered sprained ankle. Expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Montgomery Biscuits

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .341, Cooper Kinney (promoted to AAA on 5/5)
OBP: .432, Cooper Kinney (promoted to AAA on 5/5)
SLG: .612, Xavier Isaac
HR: 11, Xavier Isaac
wRC+: 168, Cooper Kinney (promoted to AAA on 5/5)
SB: 27, Austin Overn

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 1.67, Michael Forret
FIP: 2.70, Alexander Alberto
K%: 33.3%, Alexander Alberto
BB%: 1.4%, Gary Gill Hill
WHIP 0.93, Michael Forret
AVG: .156, Michael Forret
WHIFF%: 15.6%, Michael Forret

Top 10 Prospects

#9 T.J. Nichols
- AA: 1.80 ERA | 1.74 FIP | 25.0 K% | 0.0 BB% | .300 AVG | 12.3 WHIFF% | 5 IP
- CPX: 1.80 ERA | 2.63 FIP | 20.0 K% | 0.0 BB% | .300 AVG | 9.2 WHIFF% | 5 IP
  - 4/7: Placed on Injured List
  - 5/9: Began rehab assignment in Complex League
#10 Santiago Suarez
- AA: 5.93 ERA | 5.46 FIP | 28.8 K% | 5.1 BB% | .245 AVG | 13.7 WHIFF% | 27.1 IP
  - 4/25: Placed on Injured List
  - 5/5: Activated from Injured List

Bowling Green Hot Rods

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .327, Theo Gillen
OBP: .454, Tony Santa Maria
SLG: .645, Theo Gillen
HR: 9, Connor Hujsak
wRC+: 168, Theo Gillen
SB: 15, Tony Santa Maria

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 3.49, Anderson Brito
FIP: 4.42, Anderson Brito
K%: 30.2%, Jacob Kmatz
BB%: 6.4%, Garrett Gainey
WHIP: 1.33, Garrett Gainey
AVG: .217, Trevor Harrison
WHIFF%: 13.6%, Anderson Brito

Top 10 Prospects

#1 Theo Gillen
- A+: .327/.427/.645 | 25.2 K% | 13.7 BB% | 8 HR | 14 SB | 168 wRC+ | 131 PA
#3 Nathan Flewelling
- A+: .290/.378/.532 | 25.2 K% | 11.9 BB% | 8 HR | 3 SB | 131 wRC+ | 143 PA
#6 Anderson Brito
- A+: 3.49 ERA | 4.42 FIP | 30.2 K% | 12.4 BB% | .248 AVG | 13.6 WHIFF% | 28.1 IP

Charleston River Dogs

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .379, Caden Bodine
OBP: .433, Caden Bodine
SLG: .614, Caden Bodine
HR: 5, Taitn Gray & Caden Bodine
wRC+: 179, Caden Bodine
SB: 13, Alberth Palma

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 2.00, Trey Pooser
FIP: 2.33, Aidan Cremarosa
K%: 37.7%, Aidan Cremarosa
BB%: 3.8%, Aidan Cremarosa
WHIP: 0.77, Aidan Cremarosa
AVG: .171, Aidan Cremarosa
WHIFF%: 18.2%, Aidan Cremarosa

Top 10 Prospects

#4 Caden Bodine
- A: .379/.433/.614 | 3.9 K% | 9.2 BB% | 5 HR | 1 SB | 179 wRC+ | 152 PA
#5 Cooper Flemming
- A: .308/.405/.469 | 16.3 K% | 11.8 BB% | 3 HR | 5 SB | 143 wRC+ | 153 PA
#7 Daniel Pierce
- A: .250/.318/.417 | 29.0 K% | 5.6 BB% | 4 HR | 5 SB | 102 wRC+ | 107 PA
  - 4/22: Placed on the 7-day IL
  - 5/2: Activated from the IL
#8 Taitn Gray
- A: .270/.387/.451| 22.0 K% | 15.3 BB% | 5 HR | 3 SB | 131 wRC+ | 150 PA

May 18, 2026

Victor Wembanyama, Spurs reportedly headed to Europe for two NBA games next season

Victor Wembanyama is fast becoming the biggest international star in the NBA — if he's not already the biggest draw outside the USA, he's close.

Which is why the NBA is sending the French star Wembanyama and the Spurs for two games in Europe, including one in Paris, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line.

The NBA schedule for next season will not come out until August, but it will include two international games in January for the Spurs, one in Paris and the other in Manchester, England (a city that is expected to be part of NBA Europe when it launches, planned for the fall of 2027). The Spurs will face Zion Williamson and the Pelicans (unless Zion gets traded this offseason).

The Spurs played two games in Paris in January of 2025, splitting the games against the Pacers.

Those will not be the only two international games next season; the NBA is expected to return to Mexico City for a game, as it traditionally does. In the preseason, the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets are scheduled to play in the NBA China Games 2026, scheduled for Oct. 9 and 1, at The Venetian Arena in Macao.

May 18, 2026

MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets, Picks, Parlay & Odds for Monday, May 18

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

There is a 14-game slate across MLB tonight, and that means lots of opportunities for baseballs to leave the yard.

Shohei Ohtani will start seeing better results for his efforts as he steps in against San Diego Padres starter Michael King. He joins Corbin Carroll and Drake Baldwin to round out our MLB home run predictions.

Keep reading for my MLB picks for Monday, May 18.

UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.

Best MLB home run props today

Player to hit a HR	Odds
Corbin Carroll	+620
Drake Baldwin	+434
Shohei Ohtani	+304
💲Today's HR parlay	+15432

Home run pick: Corbin Carroll (+620)

Corbin Carroll has been red-hot lately. He's batting .421 over the last seven days, and he just smoked two home runs in the series finale against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. While Carroll only has seven bombs overall this season, he's clubbed three this month, and tonight's matchup is an intriguing one for the outfielder.

The San Francisco Giants send Robbie Ray to the hill, who is HR-prone at times. He's already given up 10 long balls in 2026. Although he only has one homer versus southpaws, Carroll is batting .414 vs left-handed hurlers.

Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSBA, DBACKS.TV

Home run pick: Drake Baldwin (+434)

Drake Baldwin is emerging as one of the top power-hitting catchers in the big leagues. The 25-year-old is hitting .301 with 13 home runs, which ranks eighth overall across the Majors. Baldwin has smacked three bombs across his previous five games, and he also has four hits in his last three appearances.

The Atlanta Braves are on the road tonight to take on the Miami Marlins, and Baldwin has cracked seven HRs away from home. He's just 1-for-5 lifetime against Max Meyer, but the righty just gave up two long balls in his last outing.

Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Braves.Vision, Marlins.TV

Home run pick: Shohei Ohtani (+304)

Shohei Ohtani is off to a bit of a slow start at the plate, hitting only .258 with seven home runs. But there are signs of him heating up. Ohtani has five hits and seven RBI across his last two games, finishing 3-for-5 on Sunday, and 2-for-4 on Saturday with a double and a triple. He's jumping on everything at the moment.

Ohtani will be licking his chops ahead of tonight's matchup. The Los Angeles Dodgers take on the San Diego Padres, who hand Michael King the ball. That's a welcome sight for Ohtani, who is 6-for-14 lifetime against him with three bombs.

And in spite of the underwhelming results (for him), Ohtani ranks in the 90th percentile or better in barrel rate, average exit velocity, and expected slugging.

Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet LA, PadresTV

Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record

HR picks: 6-36, -5.08 units

Today’s HR parlay

Corbin Carroll	Bet Now +15432
Drake Baldwin
Shohei Ohtani

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

May 18, 2026

Dodgers pitcher count continues to rise

May 17, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers Chayce McDermott (62) delivers during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images

In the last eight days, three different pitchers made their Dodgers debut.

On May 10, Wyatt Mills appeared in his first major league game since 2022, and pitched thrice more since. Charlie Barnes was called up Friday, pitched in two games in his two days, then was optioned to Triple-A on Sunday. Chayce McDermott closed out the ninth inning of Sunday’s blowout win in Anaheim in his first game wearing Dodgers blue.

The Dodgers are up to 23 pitchers used this year, and that’s before newcomer Eric Lauer, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday and will be activated at some point in the next couple of days.

Twenty-three pitchers is a lot through 47 games, but it’s part of a trend in baseball in recent years, with roster churn at an all-time high. Five major league teams have used more than the Dodgers this year, for instance.

The Dodgers in 2021 set a franchise record with 39 different pitchers used, then matched it two years later. They got to 40 pitchers in 2024, and used exactly 40 pitchers in 2025 as well. Here’s how many pitchers those teams used through 47 games:

2021: 22 pitchers (remember Mike Kickham?)
2022: 26 pitchers (en route to using only 31 pitchers for the year)
2023: 22 pitchers (Tyler Cyr, hello)
2024: 25 pitchers (Connor Brogdon, anyone?)
2025: 27 pitchers (Lou Trivino had only just begun)
2026: 23 pitchers

With over 70 percent of the season remaining, let’s get some predictions: How many pitchers will the Dodgers use during the 2026 season?

May 18, 2026

Potential Knicks NBA Finals tickets are selling for more than $100,000

A slice of pizza from Joe’s, a bagel from Zabar’s, a dirty water dog — only in New York. Getting gouged $100,000 for a ticket to a basketball game — also, only in New York. Knicks fans who are dying to see their team return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 are facing some of the most astonishing prices imaginable on the secondary market. Prices for the first home game of the finals at Madison Square Garden have gone through the stratosphere, and even nosebleed seats are selling for an eye-watering price.

Tickets for the Eastern Conference Finals are going for upwards of $500 in the upper deck against the Cavaliers, but <a href="https://www.stubhub.com/new-york-knicks-new-york-tickets-6-3-2026/event/160286427/?backUrl=%2Fnew-york-knicks-tickets%2Fperformer%2F2742that’s chump change compared to a prospective NBA Finals game.

Some of the worst seats in the house are selling for over $4,000, with a seat (almost) courtside selling for a ludicrous $77,371. The worst part: Tickets are selling at these prices. This isn’t simply some scalpers trying to get their bag, as a ticket on the right side of courtside sold over the weekend for over $102,000.

The sickening prices are a product of the secondary market gone mad, which has become all too common for, well, everything. Sites that once existed as a way for fans to re-sell tickets to games they could attend have become the breeding ground for grifters, working as part of large computer farms to buy up tickets as soon as they go on sale to everything and then re-list at a higher price. It’s all well and good to enjoy the schadenfreude when a game’s value collapses and they have to eat a loss, but unfortunately, this is the exception and not the rule.

The volume with which resellers operate at means that in the long run, they come out ahead, especially when it comes to the courtside seat example, which would have sold at approximately $7,000 when first listed, ridiculous in its own right, but who cares when someone is willing to re-buy at $100K due to FOMO.

It’s just nice to know that amidst rampant inflation, food insecurity, soaring housing prices, and families struggling to afford childcare, there are people who can spend $100,000 on a ticket to a basketball game. It’s truly the glorious future the founding fathers envisioned for us.

May 18, 2026May 18, 2026

Guardians vs Tigers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's MLB Game

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Detroit Tigers look for just their third win in 13 games when they host the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night.

Cleveland leads the AL Central thanks to picking up five wins in a six-game span. However, my Guardians vs. Tigers predictions and MLB picks are fading the visitors withSlade Cecconi taking the bump.

Who will win Guardians vs Tigers today: Tigers moneyline (-145)

Slade Cecconi is getting pummeled by opposing hitters. His 5.60 ERA and 5.05 FIP rank among the worst in the majors for pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched.

Opponents have posted a .595 xSLG vs. Cecconi's fastball this year. He’s also performed far worse on the road, with a 6.60 ERA vs. a 3.60 home ERA.

Framber Valdez has put up quality numbers in seven of nine starts. He’s facing a Cleveland Guardians lineup ranked 21st in hard-hit rate and eighth in ground-ball rate vs. RHP over the past two weeks.

COVERS INTEL: Slade Ceconi has posted an astronomical 19.96 ERA against hitters facing him a third time this season.

Guardians vs Tigers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-128)

Once the starters give way to the bullpens, scoring will get much more difficult.

Over the past two weeks, the Detroit Tigers rank 29th in hard-hit rate, and dead last in HR/FB rate and wRC+. Cleveland’s pen ranks second in K-rate in that span.

Detroit’s pen has forced a league-high 55.2% GB rate during that timeframe. That’ll come in handy, seeing as the Guardians have posted the fourth-highest GB/FB rate while ranking 25th in BABIP.

Cleveland punished the poor-pitching Reds this weekend, but will regress to the mean today for another Under.

Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record

ML/RL bets: 6-10, -4.67 units
Over/Under bets: 11-5, +5.74 units

Guardians vs Tigers odds

Moneyline: Guardians +138 | Tigers -144
Run line: Guardians +1.5 (-156) | Tigers -1.5 (+150)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+117) | Under 8.5 (-122)

Guardians vs Tigers trend

The Tigers have cashed the Under in seven of their last 10 games for +3.70 units and a 34% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Tigers.

How to watch Guardians vs Tigers and game info

Location	Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Date	Monday, May 18, 2026
First pitch	6:40 p.m. ET
TV	FS1
Guardians starting pitcher	Slade Cecconi (2-4, 5.60 ERA)
Tigers starting pitcher	Framber Valdez (2-2, 4.32 ERA)

Guardians vs Tigers latest injuries

Guardians vs Tigers weather

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

May 18, 2026

Rockets insider offers update on Amen Thompson extension

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 1: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Houston Rockets phenom Amen Thompson is eligible for a contract extension this offseason for up to five years at $251 million.

That’s the most the Rockets can offer, but there’s reason to believe Houston would not want to give him that much money, given how much they have to spend elsewhere. Houston Chronicle reporter Varun Shankar believes the Rockets won’t offer a full max contract to Thompson this offseason.

“Do not expect Amen Thompson to get a max contract extension. Such a contract would pay him a quarter of the salary cap over the next few seasons, but the impressive guard/forward still faces enough questions about his shot and eventual offensive profile. That, combined with the Rockets’ precedent of getting relatively team-friendly extensions, should keep him in the ballpark of 20-23% of the salary cap,” Shankar wrote.

Thompson and his camp have a right to push for a max extension, scoring 15 points in all six games of the playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, including 26 points in Game 3.

During the season, Thompson averaged a career-high 18.3 points per game while also establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the league. He is only 23 years old, so the sky is truly the limit for him and what he can achieve as he continues to grow in the NBA.

The Rockets value him highly and should look to pay him a max contract, or very close to it.

TDS community, should Thompson get the max this offseason? Chime off in the comments section below.

May 18, 2026

Affordability checks in gambling need a rethink when even proponents are calling for pause

Gambling Commission set to rubber-stamp new regulations that could inflict irreparable damage on the racing industry

James Noyes, one of the initial proponents of affordability checks for gamblers, has issued an urgent call for a pause in their implementation. Stuart Andrew MP, the gambling minister in the last government and also a former supporter of checks, agrees with him. The British Horseracing Authority has suggested that implementation could cost the industry £250m annually in revenue as punters refuse to supply personal financial information to gambling operators and shift to the unregulated black market instead.

At a board meeting scheduled for Thursday, the Gambling Commission is expected to ignore the rising tide of concern and rubber-stamp the formal introduction financial risk assessments, as the Commission calls them. Tens of thousands, conceivably hundreds of thousands, of punters with licensed UK firms could soon be required to provide documentation on salary or assets before they can continue to gamble, despite initial promises – from Andrew, among others – that the process would be frictionless for all but a minority.

May 18, 2026

Penguins Have Trade Target To Consider In Canucks Sniper

The Pittsburgh Penguins should be looking to add to their forward group this off-season. It is clear that they could use another skilled winger in their top nine, and this will only be more of the case if Anthony Mantha signs elsewhere this off-season.

When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk stands out as a very interesting potential target for the Penguins to consider.

With the Canucks being in a rebuild, DeBrusk's name has been in the rumor mill since leading up to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. If he is made available by the Canucks this off-season, the Penguins would be wise to kick tires on him.

If the Penguins landed DeBrusk, he would have the potential to slot nicely in their top six. He would also give them another skilled forward on their power play.

DeBrusk would be more than a rental for the Penguins if acquired, too, as he has a $5.5 million cap hit until the end of the 2030-31 season.

In 81 games this season with the Canucks, DeBrusk scored a team-best 23 goals and recorded 42 points. This is after he scored a career-high 28 goals and posted 48 points in 82 games for Vancouver in 2024-25. With numbers like these, he would be a nice pickup for a Penguins club looking to continue to head into the right direction.

May 18, 2026

Spurs vs Thunder Props & NBA Playoffs Game 1 Best Bets

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

In a matchup that felt inevitable, the top two seeds will clash in the Western Conference Final, and Game 1 tips off tonight.

The MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and their runners-up will all be on the floor tonight as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder host Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs at Paycom Center.

Our Spurs vs. Thunder props break down some of the night’s most favorable values, giving you my best NBA picks for Monday, May 18.

It's all part of our full Spurs vs. Thunder predictions for Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.

Best Spurs vs Thunder props for Game 1

Player	Pick
Stephon Castle	Over 5.5 assists	-160
Devin Vassell	Over 2.5 made threes	+150
Isaiah Hartentstein	Over 18.5 PRA	-120

Game 1 Prop #1: Stephon Castle Over 5.5 assists

-160 at bet365

Stephon Castle has found the ball in his hands a lot this postseason, and he ranks second on the San Antonio Spurs in usage rate and first in assists.

Among players with at least 10 games played, Castle’s 6.1 assists per game are tied with Jalen Brunson for fifth-most, and his 28.9% assist percentage is 10th among players with 30+ minutes per game.

Castle has hit 6+ assists in six of 11 games overall and three of five road games, and with De'Aaron Fox banged up, the second-year man could see an uptick in playmaking responsibilities.

Game 1 Prop #2: Devin Vassell Over 2.5 made threes

+150 at bet365

Devin Vassell is only shooting 32.3% from beyond the arc this postseason, but his career 37.2% mark from deep means that there is room for positive regression in the Western Conference Final.

Vassell can enjoy improved efficiency against a Thunder team that’s allowed the seventh-most efficient 3-point shooting (36%) and fifth-most made 3-pointers (12).

The volume is there for Vassell, whose 65 triples are the 10th-most in the playoffs. If he can improve his shooting percentage in this favorable matchup, Vassell can reach three triples and cash this plus-money prop.

Game 1 Prop #3: Isaiah Hartenstein Over 18.5 points + rebounds + assists

-120 at bet365

The Spurs, and Victor Wembanyama in particular, limited Chet Holmgren in the regular season. Holmgren’s 16.5 Usage Rate and 10.5 points per game against the Spurs were his lowest marks against any team.

Conversely, Isaiah Hartenstein’s 19.7 Usage Rate against the Spurs was his fourth-best mark.

Wembanyama’s defensive attention will likely remain focused on his rival, Holmgren, who can stretch the floor. Hartenstein, as a result, should see less of Wemby, allowing him to stay productive in the paint.

Hartenstein has gone for 19+ PRA in five straight games and six of his last seven.

Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!

Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!

Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!

Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

MORE NBA FREE PICKS

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

May 18, 2026

Barracuda Name Igor Chernyshov & Quentin Musty as Team Rookies of the Year

The San Jose Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda concluded their team award announcements earlier this week when they revealed their Rookies of the Year, Igor Chernyshov and Quentin Musty.

Chernyshov, the Sharks' second round pick during the 2024 NHL Draft, had some previous professional experience, as he spent some time playing in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League with Dynamo Moskva.

Chernyshov split his time between the Sharks and the Barracuda during the 2025-26 season, appearing in 41 games for the Barracuda. During that time, he scored 13 goals and 33 points. Despite having limited time in the AHL, he still finished ninth on the team in points.

Chernyshov also 28 NHL games, where he was just as impressive. He scored nine goals and 19 points.

Musty, on the other hand, was a true first year professional having previously played with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League. The Sharks' 26th overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, Musty also had an impressive first season at the AHL level. In 61 games, he scored 21 goals and 45 points. He was tied for the third-most goals on the team and had the fourth-most points on the Barracuda.

Of the two, Musty is the most likely to return to the Barracuda for the 2026-27 season as we'll likely see Chernyshov make the jump to the NHL on a full-time basis next season. Regardless, they both made a major impact for the Barracuda during their rookie seasons.

May 18, 2026

Clean Laundry: Mariners vs. White Sox Series Preview

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 16: Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox reacts in a game against the Chicago Chicago Cubs at Rate Field on May 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Great news: Gavin Sheets is not (any longer) on the White Sox. He can’t hurt you anymore.

Bad news: If you’re reading this, you’re probably going to be watching some more Mariners baseball.

If you told me in January that the Mariners would be one game out of the Wild Card and just two games back of the division in mid-May, I would have been a little disappointed but still feeling pretty decent. It has, instead, been a remarkable case of horrific process and exceptionally weird results. There has been very little pleasure in this season and the most consistent thing they have to offer is their baffling inconsistency. Fresh off a truly brutal sweep at the hands of their most fearsome rivals, Seattle welcomes the plucky White Sox into T-Mobile Park. The chance to rise to .500 will have to wait, but as we’ve learned over these past 50 years, there is always the possibility of new horrors.

Game	Time	Mariners Starter	White Sox Starter	Mariners Win%	White Sox Win%
Game 1	Monday, May 18 \| 6:40 pm	RHP Bryan Woo	LHP Noah Schultz	65.1%	34.9%
Game 2	Tuesday, May 19 \| 6:40 pm	RHP Luis Castillo / RHP Bryce Miller	LHP Anthony Kay	61.3%	38.7%
Game 3	Wednesday, May 20 \| 1:10 pm	RHP Emerson Hancock	RHP Sean Burke	59.7%	40.3%

*Game odds courtesy of FanGraphs

Overview	White Sox	Mariners	Edge
Batting (wRC+)	107 (3rd in AL)	104 (4th in AL)	White Sox
Fielding (FRV)	3 (5th)	-13 (14th)	White Sox
Starting Pitching (FIP-)	102 (11th)	98 (9th)	Mariners
Bullpen (FIP-)	107 (12th)	87 (2nd)	Mariners

These are not your 2025 White Sox. Nor your 2024 White Sox. Nor your 2023 White Sox. Would you call them “good”? Well, that’s entirely up to you. But they do have higher upside and much more interest than they have for the vast majority of this decade. You saw that when they wriggled their way into a series win against the M’s barely a week and a half ago. They’re coming off of a walk-off win against the Cubs to secure the Windy Winsome Cup or whatever they pitched the Chicago rivalry to be called (it’s the Crosstown Classic), are one game back in their division and would be leading in the West. Something, something, no religion.

Player	Position	Bats	PA	K%	BB%	ISO	wRC+
Sam Antonacci	LF	L	109	12.8%	6.4%	0.132	130
Munetaka Murakami	1B	L	199	33.2%	18.1%	0.327	155
Miguel Vargas	3B	R	198	16.2%	15.2%	0.259	146
Colson Montgomery	SS	L	188	28.7%	9.0%	0.287	136
Chase Meidroth	2B	R	189	23.3%	10.1%	0.110	101
Andrew Benintendi	DH	L	146	28.8%	7.5%	0.153	92
Jarred Kelenic	RF	L	44	27.3%	11.4%	0.103	88
Tristan Peters	CF	L	118	22.0%	7.6%	0.086	90
Drew Romo	C	S	47	21.3%	17.0%	0.368	147

There’s Munetaka Murakami, of course. Transcendent Surf’s Up penguin that he is. Their 2021 first rounder, Colson Montgomery has been playing like how you’d hope a first rounder would. Miguel Vargas has found his stride and may be the platonic ideal of the White Sox aesthetic. Sam Antonacci is running with that Team Italy energy and is on base constantamente. Tristan Peters is having a career year (it’s all relative), Andrew Benintendi is there for a millennial jump scare, and I will not address Chase Meidroth, because it’s important to have a for-no-good-reason nemesis.

As you’ll see below, it’s the offense that continues to be a primary driver, and drive they will. I’m just hoping they don’t run over Seattle’s bedraggled pitching corps.

Probable Pitchers

Updated Stuff+ Explainer

Stuff+ scores for Mariners starters

Pitcher	IP	K%	BB%	HR/FB%	GB%	ERA	FIP
Noah Schultz	29.1	20.8%	16.8%	5.9%	35.1%	4.91	4.36
Bryan Woo	53	22.3%	4.7%	7.5%	30.3%	3.91	3.47

Pitch	Usage vRHB	Usage vLHB	Velocity	Stuff+	Whiff+	BIP+	xwOBA
Four-seam	38.7%	21.7%	95.4	96	122	132	0.317
Sinker	28.7%	52.2%	95.3	82	68	121	0.351
Cutter	21.0%	26.1%	89.5	101
Changeup	11.6%	0.0%	89.7	82
Sweeper	26.8%	63.0%	82.9	116	98	94	0.341

Noah Schultz entered the season as the White Sox top pitching prospect. The organization had handled him pretty carefully after drafting him out of high school in the first round of the 2022 draft. He’s also dealt with shoulder, forearm, and knee injuries over the last few years that have stunted his development a bit. The scouting report is impressive, however. He throws from a low slot and gets a ton of horizontal movement on all of his pitches. That doesn’t help his fastball, which grades out merely average, but his sweeper has flashed plus plus potential. All those injuries have taken a toll on his ability to command his repertoire, but the raw stuff looks promising and he’s got a very high ceiling if he can put everything together.

Pitcher	IP	K%	BB%	HR/FB%	GB%	ERA	FIP
Anthony Kay	41	15.3%	10.0%	12.5%	41.4%	4.61	5.49
Luis Castillo	44	21.3%	7.9%	12.3%	34.1%	6.34	4.57

Pitch	Usage vRHB	Usage vLHB	Velocity	Stuff+	Whiff+	BIP+	xwOBA
Four-seam	35.3%	29.4%	95.7	91	64	87	0.467
Sinker	14.9%	47.9%	95.0	112	137	142	0.377
Cutter	23.7%	21.0%	91.0	99	77	142	0.425
Changeup	23.7%	0.0%	85.8	111	85	104	0.248
Slider	2.4%	1.7%	84.4	109
Sweeper	19.8%	52.1%	82.6	109	84	86	0.330

From a previous series preview:

After a few years of riding the Triple-A shuttle for the Blue Jays, Anthony Kay signed a two-year deal with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of NBP. He excelled in Japan and returned to the US this offseason, signing a two-year deal with Chicago. He developed a sinker and a sweeper overseas, giving him a much deeper repertoire to keep batters off balance. Unfortunately, that revamped arsenal hasn’t helped him find much success against batters this year. The stuff models really like his sinker and a few of his secondary pitches, but he’s throwing a thoroughly mediocre four-seam fastball 30% of the time right now. That pitch is getting absolutely crushed. He simply isn’t working deep enough into counts to properly utilize his secondary pitches, his strike out rate has cratered to just 14.0%, and his ERA and FIP are both approaching six.

The Mariners haven’t officially announced their starter for Tuesday’s game, but it’s expected that Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller will combine to pitch the majority of the game in piggyback fashion. I suspect Castillo will be given the “start” and work through the lineup once before handing things off to Miller.

Pitcher	IP	K%	BB%	HR/FB%	GB%	ERA	FIP
Sean Burke	48.1	20.3%	5.4%	8.3%	36.8%	4.10	3.61
Emerson Hancock	53.2	27.1%	4.8%	14.5%	44.6%	3.02	3.62

Pitch	Usage vRHB	Usage vLHB	Velocity	Stuff+	Whiff+	BIP+	xwOBA
Four-seam	29.9%	43.1%	94.2	112	83	101	0.322
Sinker	21.6%	9.3%	94.3	89	48	170	0.315
Cutter	2.1%	6.9%	90.0	86
Changeup	0.3%	5.8%	85.8	87
Curveball	14.9%	29.4%	79.4	87	67	108	0.298
Slider	31.1%	5.4%	86.8	90	96	105	0.299

From a previous series preview:

Sean Burke showed some flashes of promise in his first full season in the big leagues last year. His 4.22 ERA was perfectly acceptable for a rebuilding Chicago club, though his 4.92 FIP wasn’t nearly as encouraging. Still, there was a stretch in May and June where he ran a 3.33 ERA and a 4.06 FIP across nine starts. Things are looking up for Burke this year. He’s dramatically improved his command and cut his walk rate by more than half, down to 5.1%. He doesn’t strike out that many guys, but simply reducing the amount of traffic on the bases has helped him dramatically improve his topline results.

The Big Picture:

Team	W-L	W%	Games Behind	Run Diff	Recent Form
Athletics	23-23	0.500	—	-13	W-L-W-L-L
Rangers	22-24	0.478	1.0	+3	W-W-L-L-W
Mariners	22-26	0.458	2.0	+6	L-W-L-L-L
Astros	19-29	0.396	5.0	-51	W-L-W-W-L
Angels	16-31	0.340	7.5	-60	L-L-L-L-L

The Mariners didn’t fall too far behind the A’s and the Rangers because those two teams lost their rivalry weekend series too. Nothing really changed in the AL West standings beyond Texas gaining a single game to jump over the Mariners into second place. The Athletics will head to Anaheim to face the miserable Angels this week while the Rangers head to Colorado to face the Rockies. The Astros will look to build off their series win against their cross-state rival in a series against the Twins in Minnesota this week.