Worldwide Sports News
Go Rays!
Sign up for a user account and get:
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.
Several hitters enter Wednesday's slate with underlying power metrics that suggest more home runs could be on the way in my MLB player props.
I'll include Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kazuma Okamoto, and Freddie Freeman in today's home run parlay.
Read more in my MLB picks for Wednesday, June 3.
| Player to hit a HR | Odds |
|---|---|
 Pete Crow-Armstrong | +487 |
 Kazuma Okamoto | +525 |
 Freddie Freeman | +571 |
| 💲Today's HR parlay | +24517 |
Pete Crow-Armstrong is starting to heat up. Over the last week, he owns a 63.2% hard-hit rate and 26.3% barrel rate. While PCA has just one home run during that stretch, the underlying metrics are excellent, evidenced by a .772 expected slugging percentage. The Chicago Cubs outfielder has consistently punished mistakes and should like this matchup against Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs.
Springs has allowed 50% of his contact against left-handed hitters to come in the air this season, with 10% of those fly balls leaving the yard. The veteran has also been vulnerable recently, as 36.3% of the fly balls he's allowed across his last two starts have resulted in home runs.
That's a dangerous setup for Crow-Armstrong, who has consistently elevated the baseball lately, posting an average launch angle above 26 degrees over his last 30 plate appearances.
I'll play this pick up to +400.
Kazuma Okamoto has emerged as the Toronto Blue Jays' premier power threat, launching 13 home runs this season. The Blue Jays slugger is locked in at the plate, posting a 27.3% barrel rate and .556 ISO over his last seven games. What's even more encouraging is the way he's generating that power, putting 50% of his contact in the air during that span.
That profile matches up well against Atlanta Braves starter Grant Holmes. Over his last two outings, Holmes has allowed a 52% hard-hit rate and 20% barrel rate, both indicators that opposing hitters are consistently making dangerous contact. He's also surrendered a 37.5% fly-ball rate during that stretch.
That's an appealing combination for a hitter like Okamoto, whose recent surge has been fueled by both elite quality of contact and consistent lift. If Holmes continues allowing elevated hard contact, Okamoto has a strong chance to capitalize.
I'll play this pick up to +450.
Freddie Freeman has shown signs of finding his power stroke recently, putting 38.1% of his contact in the air over the last week while posting a37.5% HR/FB rate. While his 9.5% barrel rate is modest compared to some of baseball's elite sluggers, Freeman continues to generate the type of contact capable of leaving the yard.
The matchup is what stands out most. Zac Gallen has allowed a 44.1% hard-hit rate and 14.7% barrel rate across his last two starts, suggesting opposing hitters are consistently making dangerous contact. Freeman has also enjoyed some success against Gallen throughout his career, taking him deep twice in 29 at-bats.
If Gallen's recent contact issues persist, Freeman has a favorable opportunity to capitalize.
I'll play this pick up to +500.
| Pete Crow-Armstrong | Bet Now +24517 |
| Kazuma Okamoto | |
| Freddie Freeman |
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.
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.
The wait is over. The 2026 NBA Finals tip off tonight as the San Antonio Spurs host the New York Knicks in Game 1.
With tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. ET at Frost Bank Center and the Spurs listed as 5.5-point favorites, our Covers experts break down their favorite NBA picks and predictions for Wednesday, June 3.
| Pick | Odds |
|---|---|
 Jason Logan:  Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 rebounds | -155 |
| Jason Logan: Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 threes | +135 |
 Douglas Farmer:  Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds | -125 |
| Douglas Farmer: De'Aaron Fox Over 1.5 steals | +160 |
Odds courtesy of bet365.
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!
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Price: -155 at bet365
Jalen Brunson’s contributions don’t stop at scoring.
The New York Knicks' burly point guard can also clean the glass and unlike the opening three rounds, Brunson faces a smaller San Antonio Spurs squad.
Beyond 7-foot skyscraper Victor Wembanyama and a few backup bigs, the Spurs’ main rotation doesn’t go beyond 6-foot-7, and that gives smaller guards a fighting chance on the boards (take Wemby out and San Antonio drops to an average height of 6-foot-6.1 – fourth shortest).
Brunson was an active rebounder in three meetings with San Antonio this season, snatching four rebounds in each of those outings while averaging more than seven rebounding chances per game.
Price: +135 at bet365
With Victor Wembanyama lurking in the key, the Knicks need to stretch a Spurs defense that doesn’t have much length beyond Wemby. That means smaller defenders and cleaner looks for Brunson.
Projections lean toward a trio of triples from Brunson, with an underdog game script giving Over 2.5 threes a shot in the arm at plus-money.
Price: -125 at bet365
Amid relative offensive struggles in that second-round series, Victor Wembanyama still cleared this modest rebounding prop in four of the five games he played genuine minutes in. (Let’s just ignore his stats from Game 4, when Wembanyama was ejected after playing 12 minutes for an egregious elbow to Naz Reid’s throat.)
The only game in which Wembanyama fell short of this prop was the clinching Game 6, when the San Antonio Spurs led by 13 at halftime and 26 by the end of the third quarter. Even Wemby’s 27 minutes did not require full effort. Otherwise, Wembanyama ruled the glass, averaging 15.5 rebounds per game.
Price: +160 at bet365
This is as much a bet on how often Jalen Brunson will handle the ball as it is on De’Aaron Fox’s quick hands. Fox should be Brunson’s primary defender more often than not — allowing Stephon Castle to match up with a bigger wing — and when facing such a ball-dominant point guard, the steal opportunities will be bountiful.
Fox cleared this prop twice in the final three games of the Western Conference Finals, again facing a ball-dominant guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Betting on Fox’s steals prop makes most sense early in the series — as is the case with any Spurs — as it may take a game or two for New York to adjust to this unique, Wembanyama-supported defense. San Antonio’s perimeter defenders can be aggressive, knowing the quality of rim protection awaiting behind them.
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.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Tomas Hertl joined the Vegas Golden Knights in a trade in March 2024 when they were defending champions, fortifying a group that had just won the Stanley Cup and expected to contend perennially with an elite forward in his prime.
He had just one point in the playoffs that spring, a first-round exit, then just five last year in a second-round loss. It was “here we go again” when Hertl languished in the final 20 games of the regular season without a goal, a stretch that reached 29 before he ended it against Anaheim on May 10.
That two-month drought now feels like ancient history, especially after Hertl was the hero in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, scoring the go-ahead goal with under four minutes left to beat Carolina and take the lead in the series. It’s his second winning goal in three games, and the scoring touch is back at just the right time for the Golden Knights.
“I haven’t coached him for long, and a lot of those games weren’t that good,” coach John Tortorella said. “I think he’s grown. He never stopped working. I thought there were some major struggles in his game, but he never stopped working at his game. It’s just great timing, just to try to balance our lineup. He has given us some very important minutes.”
Hertl will be counted on for more of those big minutes in Game 2 at the Hurricanes and beyond in the final. As one of the Vegas players who has not hoisted the Cup, he certainly was feeling the pressure when the puck wasn’t going in the net earlier this postseason and his ice time got reduced as a result.
“Obviously, it’s not easy because everybody’s looking at me,” Hertl said. “I watched YouTube videos of how I score, talk with family and stuff.”
A call from former San Jose teammate Joe Pavelski, who has scored 74 goals in 291 NHL playoff games, set him straight. They talked for a half-hour on May 9, Hertl scored the next night and then had a goal streak with two in a row.
“He’s still texting me, which I really appreciate it and obviously all the teammates always around me,” Hertl said.
Hertl’s goal in the Cup final opener was the fourth of the night scored by a player who hasn’t won the Cup. Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers scored the first two, and teammate Shayne Gostisbehere tied it in the third period with what would have sent the game to overtime if not for Hertl finishing a beautiful backhanded feed from Colton Sissons.
“I just tried to get open, and I don’t even say a word and he just make an incredible play,” Hertl said. ”I won’t say it was an easy shot, but I don’t think the goalie have time to move, so it was kind of open.”
The almost pained look of relief on Hertl’s face from the second round this time was pure, unfiltered joy for the 32-year-old from Czechia.
Hertl’s happiness was only matched and perhaps eclipsed by those of his teammates, who watched him go through the worst slump of his professional career. Now in his second final after losing with the Sharks in 2016, the way Hertl is playing makes Vegas look every bit like the winner it expects to be.
“Everyone goes through tough stretches,” original Golden Knights player Shea Theodore said. “His just kind of came at that bad time. He’s scored some really big goals for us here, and it’s great having him feel a little bit more and get that confidence.”
The first two games of this series have been a real bummer, but the Nats have a chance to salvage things this afternoon. They will look to avoid a sweep at the hands of a Marlins team that has given them all sorts of trouble. Hopefully the bats can wake up today.
Blake Butera is making a couple changes to the lineup. Dylan Crews will be all the way up in the 2 spot. James Wood will DH and Daylen Lile will be in left field. Luis Garcia Jr. will be in the 8 hole, while Nasim Nunez will be back in the lineup as the second baseman. Andrew Alvarez will get the start, but Brad Lord should be ready when needed.
The Marlins are going righty heavy with their lineup. Christopher Morel, Javier Sanoja, Esteury Ruiz and Connor Norby will be in the lineup after not appearing yesterday. Kyle Stowers and Joe Mack are the only left handed hitters in the lineup, which sets up well for Brad Lord. Max Meyer has been great for the Fish this year and will get the ball today.
Sign up for a user account and get:
Game Info:
Stadium: Nationals Park
Time: 1:05 PM EST
TV: Nationals.TV
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
A sweep to fall under .500 would be very demoralizing, which makes today a big game. The Nats go on a west coast trip after this, so they will want to have some good vibes heading on to that long flight. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
After two productive seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL, star forward Matvei Michkov has been nominated to receive permanent recognition from his hometown of Perm back home in Russia.
As first shared on X by our good friend Uggg, Michkov, 21, has been nominated for the 2026 Stroganov Prize by the Perm community, awarded annually to the person who brings honor and glory to the Perm Krai region through their endeavors and achievements.
Michkov has been nominated by the Perm community for, of course, high achievement in sports. Here's what they had to say on Michkov's candidate page:
"Matvey Michkov – the only Perm hockey graduate who was selected in the first round of the NHL draft," the page read.
"The 2024/2025 season was Matvey Michkov’s triumphant debut in the NHL. Twice recognized as the best rookie of the month in the NHL and became the most productive Philadelphia rookie in the 21st century. In the 2025/2026 season, Matvey reached 73 (31+42) points in 100 games in the NHL – the best figure for Flyers rookies since 1995."
Flyers Trending Towards Big Dan Vladar Contract ExtensionAccording to an NHL insider, the Philadelphia Flyers are already closing in on a Dan Vladar contract extension.Two years into his NHL career, Michkov now sits at 114 points in 161 games for the Flyers, recording 20 goals and 51 points this past season despite its perception as a hugely disappointing campaign for the youngster.
That success, though, has made the 21-year-old a local icon, and it's a matter of when and not if he earns permanent recognition, be it through the Stroganov Prize or something else.
"Matvey Michkov today is the brightest representative of the younger generation of Russian sports on the world stage. He is a model for thousands of young athletes of the Kama region and a worthy successor to the traditions of famous Perm athletes," the Perm community concluded.
It speaks volumes about Michkov to be looked upon in this way, and it only further proves he belongs with the Flyers as a big piece of what the organization is building.
Young standouts like Michkov, Porter Martone, Denver Barkey, Jack Berglund, and Jett Luchanko have all led by example on and off the ice in different ways, and that makes the Flyers' future look that much brighter going forward.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Colton Sissons smiled widely and raved about how much fun it was to play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
He and the Vegas Golden Knights traded chances, goals, saves and counterpunches with the Carolina Hurricanes, getting the championship series off to a terrific start. Vegas won a high-scoring, entertaining 5-4 affair that usually would drive an old-school coach like John Tortorella crazy.
“I think he enjoyed it,” Sissons said. “Obviously the result.”
It was a game so good even Torts enjoyed it.
Game 1 had a little bit of everything, from Nikolaj Ehlers scoring 25 seconds in for the Hurricanes and lifting an already riled-up crowd to its feet to each goaltender making big saves to keep the puck out of the net. The only thing missing was the lockdown defense that got these teams to this point, but that only made for a more exciting opener.
“Both teams played good defense for certain minutes, other times not,” Tortorella said. “You just never know what’s going to happen.”
What happened was a lot of scoring from two of the best defensive teams in the playoffs. It was the first Cup final game in history with a goal in the first 30 seconds of each of the first two periods.
Ehlers scored his first off the rush and second on a breakaway. The two-goal lead lasted all of 80 seconds before Shea Theodore scored, and Ivan Barbashev and William Karlsson put Vegas ahead, rallying from another deficit.
“It was great from our group to kind of battle back,” Theodore said.
Jordan Staal scoring his first goal at this stage of the playoffs since 2009 and breaking older brother Eric’s record for the longest gap between Cup final goals brought the crowd back to life. So did Shayne Gostisbehere tying it with under nine minutes left in regulation.
With time ticking closer to overtime, the Golden Knights made one more highlight-reel play in a night full of them. Sissons’ backhand pass set up Tomas Hertl — who also had a rough go the first couple of rounds — for the go-ahead goal with 3:34 left in regulation.
Long before Sissons and Hertl teamed up on the winner, each guy was denied on a Grade-A scoring chance by Carolina’s Frederik Andersen. At the other end of the rink, Carter Hart made some 10-bell saves of his own.
Logan Stankoven got in all alone on a breakaway in the first with a chance to break the game open.
“That could’ve been a dagger,” Sissons said.
Instead, Hart made that save and kept Vegas in the game throughout. His best came with under four minutes left and the score tied, flashing his glove to rob Seth Jarvis, Carolina’s top-line right wing whose snakebit struggle of a run continued.
“He gives us so much confidence,” Sissons said. “When we needed him most, he was there.”
The start of the Cup final quickly got the NHL past a lackluster third round, when Vegas swept Colorado in the West and Carolina bounced back from a rough start against Montreal, winning four in a row to blow through the East final roadblock that had been an issue for so long.
Fans were buzzing from pregame warmups, and the two teams put on a show worth the hefty price of admission.
“I thought it was a great game from both sides,” Theodore said. “That’s a loud building to play in front of.”
After a ton of excitement between two hockey powerhouses, viewers can only hope for six more games just like this one.
Carolina Hurricanes fans began chanting, "No means no" during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Why were they doing that?
It was an apparent taunt toward Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart, who, along with four others, was part of the high-profile Hockey Canada sexual assault trial in London, Ontario. All were found not guilty by a judge.
Hart took a leave of absence from the Philadelphia Flyers right before being charged in 2024. The players' NHL teams didn't renew their contracts. After the not guilty verdict, the league said the players remained ineligible to play in the league but later set timelines for their returns. Hart, a free agent, signed with the Golden Knights in October.
Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were charged with one count of sexual assault. McLeod faced a second charge of being party to the offense.
All five were in London, Ontario in June 2018 for a Hockey Canada gala celebrating their gold medal in the world junior championships. Police charged them in February 2024 with sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room after meeting her in a bar. Hart was the only player who testified at the 2025 trial.
After a mistrial and the dismissal of a second jury, Justice Maria Carroccia said she would render a verdict in the case.
"I cannot rely upon the evidence of (the accuser) and then considering the evidence in this trial as a whole, I conclude that the Crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts before me," Carroccia said before pronouncing all five not guilty on July 24, 2025.
The NHL said it found the allegations "disturbing" and players were ineligible to return while it reviewed the judge's ruling.
In September, the NHL cleared a path for a return, noting each player "expressed regret and remorse for his actions."
The league said players could sign on Oct. 15 and play on Dec. 1. Hart signed with the Golden Knights on Oct. 16.
After signing with the Golden Knights, Hart told reporters he had learned a lot during his time away from the game and that he would only take hockey questions afterward.
He played his first game Dec. 2, a shootout win, and was hurt on Jan. 8. He missed nearly two months, but he returned on April 2, which – along with a coaching change to John Tortorella – helped Vegas makes the playoffs.
Hart helped the Golden Knights win three rounds, including a sweep of the No. 1 overall Colorado Avalanche. Vegas is in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since winning the 2023 title.
The Athletic asked Hart at Stanley Cup Final media day to follow up on his October comment about what he learned.
"I’ve learned a lot," Hart said. "I’ve grown a lot since then. And I’ve been able to meet a lot of good people in the community, and I think the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation has done a really good job of making it easy for me to integrate into the community and meet a lot of cool people and just really fortunate to be here in Vegas.
"And it’s a great culture of people, and like I said, I met a lot of cool people, and I’m just very fortunate to be here in Las Vegas and with this group."
The video on the Golden Knights' website fades at this point, and The Athletic said the team cut short the interview.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon addressed Hart's signing during a news conference the same day.
"We went through a lengthy process of due diligence with Carter," McCrimmon said, per the Athletic. "Carter is a really good person. He’s ingrained himself in our community. He’s a player that I’ve known a long time, long prior to him becoming an NHL player. Playing very well. Obviously a big part of how our team is at this point that we’re at today, and he’s fit in seamlessly with his teammates."
Neither goalie was a difference-maker in Game 1. The Golden Knights won 5-4 and lead the series 1-0.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why fans chanted at Carter Hart during Game 1: Controversy, explained
The Colorado Rockies’ rookie first baseman, TJ Rumfield, was honored on Wednesday morning as Major League Baseball named him the National League Rookie of the Month for May. He’s the eighth Colorado player to win the award since its inception in 2001, and the first since Nolan Jones in September 2023.
Rumfield, 26, slashed .310/.400/.483 with an .883 OPS and a 139 wRC+ while swatting four home runs and collecting 12 RBI, leading all qualified NL rookies in nearly every category.
The trade with the New York Yankees to acquire Rumfield has continued to pay dividends for the Rockies, as he has cemented himself as a staple in the Rockies’ lineup thanks to his keen approach and ability to make contact. May was just another step forward after an already impressive start to the season in April.
In 25 games last month, Rumfield failed to collect a hit in just six games. He had six multi-hit games, including four three-hit games. His power stroke arrived early in the month, with three home runs through his first 10 games, but tapered off as the month progressed.
His vision at the plate was on full display as he led the Rockies with 10 walks during the month while also striking out just 14 times in 100 plate appearances. Rumfield had only two games in which he struck out more than once.
Rumfield is now batting .286/.361/.456 on the season with eight home runs and 30 RBI over 59 games and is already off to a strong start to protect his title in June.
Sign up for a user account and get:
Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!
The White Sox limp into the finale of this three-game set looking to avoid a sweep before finally getting a much-needed off-day. The timing couldn’t be better, because after Minnesota, the schedule turns downright cruel. Chicago’s next 12 games come against the Phillies, Braves, Dodgers, and Yankees. Every one of those clubs is above .500, and Atlanta currently owns the best record in baseball.
Oddly enough, offense hasn’t been the biggest problem this week. Even without Munetaka Murakami in the lineup, the Sox have shown they can still score enough runs to compete. The pitching staff, however, has been another story. David Sandlin was knocked around in Monday’s opener, and Davis Martin endured his roughest outing of the season in Tuesday night’s loss. That leaves Erick Fedde with the task of stopping the skid.
Which version of Fedde shows up will go a long way toward deciding this game. The veteran righthander enters at 0-5 with a 5.40 ERA, but those numbers hide two very different seasons. In April, Fedde looked like a reliable mid-rotation arm, posting a 2.86 ERA and 0.99 WHIP while consistently giving at least five innings. May, on the other hand, was a disaster. He reached five innings only once, was tagged for a 9.00 ERA, and opponents hit .360 against him. With Noah Schultz expected back at some point, Fedde needs to start showing signs of life, or he may find himself on the waiver wire.
The Twins counter with righthander Taj Bradley, who has rebounded nicely after a rocky finish to last season following his arrival from Tampa Bay in the Griffin Jax trade. Bradley is 5-1 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, though he is coming off his shortest outing of the year after allowing four runs in four innings against Pittsburgh last week. Bradley attacks hitters with a power four-seamer that sits 96-97 mph, along with a cutter, splitter, and curveball. The White Sox would be wise not to go hunting that fastball. Bradley’s breaking-ball metrics are far less impressive than his fastball numbers, so the recipe is simple: stay disciplined, don’t chase, force deep counts, take the walks when they’re there, and make him throw secondary pitches in the strike zone. When the Sox get a mistake, they need to elevate it.
The lineup reflects that approach. Sam Antonacci gets another shot atop the order after continuing to provide quality at-bats and speed on the bases. Miguel Vargas remains one of the club’s hottest hitters and will bat second, while Andrew Benintendi slides into the DH spot. Colson Montgomery hits cleanup, and Chase Meidroth’s on-base ability will be important against a strikeout pitcher like Bradley, while Jacob Gonzalez, Tristan Peters, Drew Romo, and Rikuu Nishida round out a lineup that will need patience as much as power this afternoon.
For Minnesota, Byron Buxton and Brooks Lee headline a lineup that has already done plenty of damage in this series. The Twins have scored 15 runs over the first two games and will be looking to keep the pressure on Chicago’s pitching staff, searching for answers.
One more game before the off day. The Sox would like nothing more than to head home to face Atlanta with a win and avoid carrying a sweep into what may be the toughest stretch of their season.
First pitch is set for 12:40 p.m. CT on CHSN, with radio coverage on ESPN 1000.
Sign up for a user account and get:
CHICAGO — Athletics manager Mark Kotsay is looking at his options for his rotation after Luis Severino was sidelined by a strained right shoulder.
The A’s brought up right-handers Kade Morris and Mason Barnett from Triple-A Las Vegas before a 2-1 victory at the Chicago Cubs. Right-hander Michael Kelly and left-hander Jacob Lopez were sent down, and right-hander Brooks Kriske was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Morris, one of the team’s top pitching prospects, is looking to make his major league debut. Barnett pitched two scoreless innings for the A’s on April 19 against the Chicago White Sox.
“We’ve worn the bullpen down a little bit,” Kotsay said. “But they’ll provide some length right now and we’ll make a decision, you know, which one of them gets an opportunity going forward to fulfill one of the vacancies in our rotation right now.”
Severino, 32, was placed on the 15-day injured list after he pitched one inning in an 8-2 loss to the New York Yankees. Kotsay said Severino will be out for “a minimum four to six weeks at least and if not more.”
The A’s also are playing without right-hander Aaron Civale, who went on the 15-day IL because of shoulder tendinitis. Gage Jump was brought up from Las Vegas, and the left-hander pitched seven solid innings against the Cubs for his first career win in his second major league start.
“Tonight, you know, they just put swings on the ball and missed the barrel,” the 23-year-old Jump said. “The fastball was good, but I got to be able to land the breaking balls when I need them. That’ll bring more swing and miss, and that’s what I need right now. But I’ll take going deep in games.”
Lopez started a 13-8 loss to the Yankees, surrendering seven runs in two-plus innings. The left-hander is 4-3 with a 6.75 ERA in 10 starts and two relief appearances for the A’s this year.
Following their series against the Cubs, the A’s begin a weekend set at Houston. Their next off day is on June 11.
Morris, a third-round pick in the 2023 amateur draft out of the University of Nevada, was acquired in a July 2024 trade with the New York Mets for Paul Blackburn. Morris went 5-3 with a 4.45 ERA in 11 starts for Las Vegas before his promotion.
“I think he’s throwing the ball well,” Kotsay said. “He’s a pitcher that pitches with a lot of emotion. I’m sure when he steps on that mound for the first time, there’s going to be a lot of energy, a lot of excitement. ... The Triple-A season has gone pretty well for him. He has been performing at a pretty good clip.”
While the A’s are dealing with some injuries in their rotation, All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson is making his way back from a left shoulder injury. He is with the team in Chicago and could begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend.
“Obviously, Jacob feels good about where he’s at right now,” Kotsay said. “You know, this will be a couple days of pretty good work here, pregame.”
It’s a Paul Skenes Wednesday as the reigning CY Young Award winner takes the mound for the Pirates as they continue their three-game series against Yordan Alvarez and the Astros in Houston.
The Pirates brought their offense to the series opener scoring ten runs against former Pirate Mike Burrows (3-7) and four Houston relievers enroute to a 10-6 win. Oneil Cruz (15) and Brandon Lowe (14) each launched three‑run homers, while Endy Rodríguez (1) added a two‑run shot to help Pittsburgh erase an early deficit and roll to their fourth straight win and their seventh in their last ten games. Bubba Chandler (2-6) was not sharp, allowing four runs (three earned) over five innings and struck out but three but it was enough to earn the win. For the Astros, Yordan Alvarez continued his torrid power stretch with his 21st homer and three RBIs, but Houston couldn’t keep pace offensively.
Pittsburgh’s offense has been fueled by several hot hitters over the last 10 games. Endy Rodríguez leads the club with a .375 average, followed closely by Jared Triolo (.364) and Nick Gonzales (.357). Spencer Horwitz (.321) and Konnor Griffin (.317) have also been steady contributors, while Brandon Lowe (.275 with 3 HR) and Oneil Cruz (.244 with 4 RBI) have been their most reliable home run threats. As a result of this offensive surge, the Bucs have outscored their opponents in their last ten games by 13 runs.
For Houston, the problem has not been their bats. The offense has been steadier than their record suggests, and their top hitters over the last 10 games reflect that. Yordan Alvarez has been the centerpiece, going 11-for-35 with six home runs, continuing to sniff a run at the Triple Crown. As a team, the Astros have gone 6–4 over their last 10, posting a .227 average but outscoring opponents by 17 runs thanks to timely hitting.
Tonight’s pitching matchup features Paul Skenes (6-5, 2.89 ERA) and Spencer Arrighetti (7-1, 1.34 ERA). Skenes has yet to find his groove this season. He has been close to elite but at the same time almost pedestrian compared to his previous campaigns. Arrighetti, however, has been even better than the flame-throwing Skenes. He has been the bright spot on a dismal Astros’ staff, posting a 1.13 WHIP with 43 strikeouts.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
NEW YORK — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was out of the starting lineup for Tuesday’s game against Cleveland because of a bone bruise in his upper right rib that he feels in his right shoulder, and he might miss a few days.
“He’s been kind of the last couple of weeks kind of dealing with some shoulder soreness, just kind of more nagging,” manager Aaron Boone said before the series opener against the Guardians. “Then over the weekend, the last couple of games in Sacramento, I think it became a little more than just that, where I noticed with some swings and stuff. It became a little more than just nagging. I think it was affecting him.”
Boone said tests on the team’s off day revealed the bruise. Judge met with team physician later Dr. Christopher Ahmad and following the 9-4 loss, Boone said Judge will see a specialist.
Judge had an rib injury in March 2020 when doctors discovered a stress fracture in his right rib. The injury occurred when he dove for a ball in September 2019, but Judge did not miss any time because of the injury because the 2020 season was delayed due to the pandemic.
“Tough to say,” Boone said. “We’ll look at it and that’s why we want a specialist to look at it too and just try and rule out anything or see if there’s something else to see.”
In March 2020, doctors discovered a stress fracture in his right rib, stemming from a dive he made in a game the prior September. He was shut down for two weeks, but the season was delayed until July due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Judge is hitting .248 and 17 homers and 38 RBIs. The three-time AL MVP has one homer in his last 18 games since May 10 and ended an 11-game homer and RBI drought with a game-ending, two-run drive in the ninth inning to give the Yankees a 2-0 win over Tampa Bay on May 24.
Judge entered the game against Tampa Bay in a 1-for-24 slump that dropped his batting average to .246. He was hitless in 15 at-bats before singling in the first inning.
“I think probably something that’s been affecting him a little bit here recently, especially this weekend,” Boone said. “So, hopefully, it is something that we just get calmed down here and put it behind us.”
Judge won the batting title last season when he batted a career-high .331 with 53 homers and 114 RBIs in 152 games. He missed 10 games from July 26-Aug. 4 with a flexor strain in his right elbow sustained on a throw to home July 22 in Toronto. He underwent a plasma-rich injection and did not require offseason surgery, though he did not return to the outfield until Sept. 5.
When Judge was hurt last season, Giancarlo Stanton played 17 games in the outfield. Stanton has been out since April 24 with a strained right calf.
José Caballero made his 22nd career start in right field and third since being acquired from Tampa Bay at the July 31 trade deadline.
Judge had started 52 of New York’s first 59 games in right field. Rookie Spencer Jones made four starts in right field before getting sent down May 23 and Cody Bellinger has started two games.
The Yankees said prospect Carlos Lagrange is being moved to the bullpen at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to possibly provide relief help at the major league level later this season.
“We definitely view him long term as a starter,” Boone said. “But in the 2026 lens, there’s a chance for him to potentially impact us out of the bullpen while not really disrupting anything moving forward.”
Lagrange is rated as New York’s fourth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline and the No. 2 pitcher.
Lagrange is 0-3 with a 4.41 ERA in 11 Triple-A starts. Across 49 innings, he has allowed 40 hits and 25 walks, striking out 63 while holding opponents to a .215 batting average.
The 23-year-old is averaging 98.9 mph on fastballs this season and has topped out at 103.0 mph on a fastball after spending time with the Yankees at spring training.
“It’s electric stuff,” Boone said. “The exciting thing for me was, really being around him for the first time, seeing the person and the competitor.”
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement has a knack for making contact at the plate, and he is poised for another productive day offensively with Grant Holmes on the mound tonight for the Atlanta Braves.
That makes Clement Over 1.5 total bases my favorite play for today’s Blue Jays vs. Braves predictions and MLB picks for Wednesday, June 3.
Ernie Clement enters Wednesday's matchup leading the American League with 70 hits while recording a hit in 14 of his last 15 games with a 1.041 OPS.
His hitting profile matches up well against Atlanta Braves starter Grant Holmes, who relies on his slider with a 48% usage rate against right-handed hitters.
Clement owns a .348 average and a .432 slug-rate against the slider.
Additionally, Holmes relies on getting consistent whiffs and chases on that slider to get his outs.
That’s hard to do against Clement.
Clement chases pitches outside the zone more than almost any hitter in baseball at a 44.9% clip; however, Clement sits in the 94th percentile in whiff and 99th percentile in strikeout rating. Which means he’s able to get to balls outside the zone and put them in play, which is why he owns a 75.3% chase-contact rate.
I’d play Clement Over 1.5 bases up to +120.
COVERS INTEL: Clement’s consistency at the plate has resulted in a 190 WRC+ over his last 15 outings, averaging 2.3 total bases per game. Nathan Lukes owns a .440 batting average and a 195 WRC+ in his last 29 at-bats since returning from the IL for Toronto and has cleared his 0.5 hits total in seven straight outings.
Another value bet is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Under 0.5 strikeouts. He’s cleared this total 12 times in his last 15 outings and ranks in the 97th percentile in strikeout rate this season, with just a 13% K-rate against the slider.
Holmes has given up 11 home runs this season, including four in his last two starts.
He’s allowing a lot of hard contact this year, ranking in the 17th percentile in hard hit rate this season, with six homers coming off his fastball.
Enter Kazuma Okamoto, who leads the Jays with 13 home runs, most of which off four-seamers, and has the hardest hit rate on the team, ranking in the 95th percentile in baseball.
The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 20 of their last 30 away games (+10.35 Units / 29% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Braves.
| Location | Truist Park, Cumberland, GA |
| Date | Wednesday, 6-3-2026 |
| First pitch | 7:15 p.m. ET |
| TV | BravesVision, SN1 |
| Blue Jays starting pitcher | Patrick Corbin (2-1, 3.65 ERA) |
| Braves starting pitcher | Grant Holmes (3-2, 3.95 ERA) |
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.
As the calendar flips from May to June, and the NHL Stanley Cup final has begun, the majority of significant transactions between now and the start of the 2026-27 season will likely take place over the course of the next four to six weeks.
The Anaheim Ducks find themselves in unfamiliar waters after what could be seen as their first successful season in nearly a decade. They enter the offseason with a projected $38.7 million in cap space, two core RFAs (Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier) to sign to big extensions, two secondary RFAs (Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger) on whom tough decisions will have to be made, and one to three areas on the roster potentially in need of upgrades.
Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Trade Partners/Targets, Atlantic Division
Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Shopping List
Anaheim could now be seen as a desirable destination for players on the move. Even after RFAs are inked to new deals, the Ducks will still have considerable cap space to add quality players to their roster who could help them now and moving into a bright future.
After feasibly identifying three areas in need of an upgrade on the Ducks’ depth chart (right shot defense, second-line center, top-nine winger), now seems like a good time to identify paths in which general manager Pat Verbeek could go about adding to his group and numerous organizations’ situations they could target around the league.
I’ve decided to break this up by division, so we’ll take a look at some teams in the Central Division, which features three bona fide cup contenders, a couple of teams on the rise, and a couple potentially looking to reset a bit.
Disclaimer: This exercise is purely speculative. Some players mentioned have been previously reported to be in trade discussions, while others haven’t. This is intended to provide ideas on the type of players the Ducks could target this offseason.
(Alphabetical Order)
The Avs recently saw their spectacular season come to an unspectacular end, as the Presidents’ Trophy-winning club was swept in the Western Conference Final by the Vegas Golden Knights after dispatching the Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild in nine total games through the first two rounds.
They only have a projected $2.29 million in cap space heading into the offseason, with just four NHL defensemen under contract. They’re likely going to have to subtract from their forward group to add to their blueline.
As one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL, it may benefit the Ducks to look for two-way, 200-foot forwards to fill gaps in their young core’s game. Artturi Lehkonen (30), Ross Colton (29), and Nicolas Roy (29) all have one year remaining on their current contracts and could fit that bill.
Lehkonen has an AAV of $4.5 million (12-team NTC), Colton has a $4 million AAV, and Roy’s is $3 million.
Another potential target Colorado could look to offload is Valeri Nichushkin (31), who is coming off his least productive season since 2020-21. He has four years remaining on his contract at a $6.125 million AAV.
The Avs will be forced to move some money out this summer if they intend to keep their contending window as open as possible. They’ll have a new general manager at the helm, as Chris McFarland is on his way to the Nashville Predators organization.
The Stars continue as one of the Western Conference’s elite clubs year after year, but haven’t been able to get over the hump and hoist the Stanley Cup. They enter the 2026 offseason with $10.1 million in projected cap space, but they’ll likely have to clear more space to fit in RFA winger Jason Robertson’s potential extension, which could result in a top-heavy depth chart.
Robertson (26) has been at the center of trade discussion and speculation for the last two summers now, remains without a contract, and is one year from UFA eligibility. If he's made available via trade, the Ducks have the pieces to acquire the Arcadia, CA native, despite his potential addition not necessarily filling a need for the Ducks.
If an extension is inked between the Stars and Robertson, other pieces in Dallas could entice Anaheim. Mavrik Bourque (24) broke out a bit in his second full season in the NHL and could fit nicely with the Ducks as a middle-six center. He’s an RFA this summer, and due to the Stars’ cap sheet, this is a perfect offer sheet scenario if a trade cannot be agreed upon.
Elsewhere in Dallas, Tyler Seguin (34) is in his mid-30s, expensive ($9.85 million AAV), has one year remaining on his deal, and is often injured, but when he’s on the ice, he’s remained productive. Verbeek values experience, and Seguin may require a valuable asset or two attached if the Stars intend to move on.
Lastly, an Ilya Lyubushkin (32) reunion could make sense, as he had chemistry with a rookie Pavel Mintyukov in 2023-24 before the former was traded. He has one year remaining on his contract with a $3.35 million AAV.
Similarly to Colorado, the Stars have difficult waters to navigate, as they push forward and accumulate as many “kicks at the can” as possible with their window wide open and their core in their primes.
The Blues have been one of the most active and discussed teams in the NHL from the days leading up to the 2026 trade deadline to the present. They had the second-worst record in the NHL at the deadline, but finished strong and only missed the playoffs by four points.
Reports suggest the Blues will remain active as they look to stay competitive while making some changes to their core. Three of the biggest names who continue to appear on trade boards and in discussions are Robert Thomas (26), Jordan Kyrou (28), and Colton Parayko (33).
All three players would be immediate fits and impact contributors on the Ducks’ roster. Thomas is consistently one of the NHL’s top play creators and offers a premium two-way skillset, even killing penalties. Kyrou’s production took a bit of a dip in 2025-26, but he had three straight 30-plus-goal seasons prior, and he remains a forward who can make plays at high speeds and tilts the ice considerably. Thomas and Kyrou have matching contracts, with five years remaining at an $8.125 million AAV (full NTC).
Parayko could be the coveted ideal right-shot defense partner for the Ducks’ emerging star defenseman, Jackson LaCombe (25). He’s in the latter stages of his career, but the Canadian Olympian and Stanley Cup winner in 2019 is an immediate stylistic fit and is on an increasingly reasonable contract, with four years remaining at a $6.5 million AAV (full NTC).
At the trade deadline, a deal was agreed upon between the Sabres and Blues to send Parayko to Buffalo, but the defenseman was unwilling to waive his NTC. Reports have since come out that he was willing to waive for Anaheim or the Los Angeles Kings and that his preference may be for the Alberta native to remain in the Western Conference.
The Blues have built a quality prospect and young player pool despite not picking near the top of the draft. They can add significantly to that pipeline by moving on from some excellent players at every position who are firmly in their primes.
Ducks’ Granlund, Solberg Win Medals at 2026 Men’s Worlds
Anaheim Ducks Offseason Rumor Roundup: 5/28/26
Lessons the Anaheim Ducks can Learn from the Success of the Vegas Golden Knights