Posts

Posted on

Red Sox News & Links: Injury updates on Ranger Suárez, Roman Anthony

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 03: Starting pitcher Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Fenway Park on May 03, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For all the consternation about Caleb Durbin’s bat, at least his glove appears to working just fine. “Not hitting stinks when you feel like you’re a good hitter and you feel like you should be helping the team and producing on that side of the ball, but I know I can impact the game outside of just hitting home runs,” Durbin said. “The defense, I take a lot of pride in that. I’ve seen how important that is throughout the course of the season, so for me, that’s the standard.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

Unfortunately, the man playing immediately to Durbin’s left has not been so reliable in the field this year. And after a costly error is yesterday’s game, it’s time for the Sox to rethink Trevor Story at shortstop. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)

But at least Story isn’t ducking responsibility. “It shows that it’s tough to win in this league making mistakes like that. Can’t happen. You’ve seen the way we can play when we are playing good defense. It’s a strong suit of ours this year. That one’s on me and I have to clean that one up.” (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)

Story is right that defense has been a strong suit of the Red Sox, and the pitching hasn’t been bad, either. And the pitching staff will get a boost when Ranger Suarez returns from his minor hamstring injury this Thursday, when he’ll face his former team, the Philadelphia Phillies. Before he takes the ball, Brayan Bello will once again follow an opener tomorrow night before Sonny Gray pitches on Sunday. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

Speaking of returning from (hopefully) minor injuries, Roman Anthony hopes to return when he’s eligible to come off the IL on May 15. “There’s so much that goes on in the hand, and I’ve never dealt with a hand issue before,” said Anthony. “So, I think just getting the news back, understanding that it’s nothing very serious, is the best news we could have gotten. The treatment is pretty simple, trying to get a lot of blood flow circulating around the wrist and the arm. Nothing too crazy. Just a little sprain. The ligament near the ring finger. Nothing that will take too long. So, I think that’s the best part.” (Rob Bradford, WEEI)

But the Red Sox don’t need Anthony to merely return to health, they need him to return to being the hitter he was in his first taste of the big leagues last year, because right now the Red Sox offense is embarassingly sub-par at Fenway Park in particular. (Rob Bradford, WEEI)

Perhaps Anthony will be aided by Chad Tracy, who appears to have brought “calm to the chaos” that was the Red Sox in the immediate wake of the Alex Cora firing. (Steve Buckley, The Athletic)

Posted on

Diamondbacks vs Rangers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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

Despite a bumpy start, the Texas Rangers are right in the mix in the wide-open AL West, and they’ll look to build on a strong weekend as they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight.

Texas enters this matchup on the heels of back-to-back shutout victories over the free-scoring Chicago Cubs, and my Diamondbacks vs. Rangers predictions expect Nathan Eovaldi to keep a faltering Arizona offense at bay here.

Read on for my free MLB picks for this May 11 battle.

Who will win Diamondbacks vs Rangers today: Rangers moneyline

-125 at Polymarket

It’s about time the Texas Rangers’ offense woke up, and there were encouraging signs in the Cubs series, including Josh Jung’s six-hit weekend.

Tonight, they hand the ball to ace Nathan Eovaldi, who’s back on track with a 2.45 ERA in his past five starts. Texas has picked up victories in Eovaldi’s last two outings, so I’m riding with the hosts, who’ve also won three of their last four outings at Globe Life Field.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks have lost four in a row on the road, and they’re 3-7 in their last 10 games. Plus, Arizona is sweating on the health of 1B Carlos Santana, too.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Only three teams have gathered fewer hits than the D-Backs (304) this season, and the visitors have scored two runs or fewer in four of their last five games.

Diamondbacks vs Rangers Over/Under pick: Under 7.5

-110 at Polymarket

Both starters are capable of putting the clamps on hitters, and I’m not ready to trust two of the shakier lineups in the majors this year. That makes the Under an appealing play, and it’s been a winning ticket in the D-Backs’ past five games.

Eovaldi only allowed one run through eight innings last Wednesday against the New York Yankees, while Arizona starter Michael Soroka had a similarly steady outing that same night.

Though the visitors have trended towards the Over this season (20-17), the Under is 23-15 in Texas’ 38 games — and that feels more realistic tonight.

Tom Oldfield's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 2-5, -3.93 units
  • Over/Under bets: 6-1, +4.41 units

Diamondbacks vs Rangers odds

  • Moneyline: Diamondbacks +113 | Rangers -117
  • Run line: Diamondbacks +1.5 | Rangers -1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5

Diamondbacks vs Rangers trend

The Under is 7-3 in the Rangers’ last 10 contests. Find more MLB betting trends for Diamondbacks vs. Rangers.

How to watch Diamondbacks vs Rangers and game info

LocationGlobe Life Field, Arlington, TX
DateMonday, May 11, 2026
First pitch8:05 p.m. ET
TVDiamondbacks.TV, RSN
Diamondbacks starting pitcherMichael Soroka
(4-2, 4.14 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcherNathan Eovaldi
(4-4, 4.15 ERA)

Diamondbacks vs Rangers latest injuries

Diamondbacks vs Rangers weather

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.

Posted on

Who is a player you wished you could see play in his prime?

Satchel Paige, pitcher for the Negro League's Kansas City Monarchs, stands at the top of the dugout with baseball in hand. 1942.

Professional baseball has been around for a century and a half, with a rich tradition of players. One of the things I love about the game is that although there are different eras – some with more offense, some with less, some with more home runs, some with more steals – the game is essentially the same. But the different eras provide an opportunity for different skillsets to excel. You have precise hitters like Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams in the “golden era”. You have dominant, intimidating pitchers in the 60s like Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson. You have blinding speedsters in the 70s and 80s like Lou Brock and Rickey Henderson. You have big boppers in the home run era like Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr.

But some of these players came before our time, before YouTube, when we can only listen to or read the stories of those that saw them in their prime. An off day seems like the perfect time to ask a simple baseball fan question: if you could travel back in time and watch one player at the absolute peak of his powers, who would it be?

By many accounts, Leroy “Satchel” Paige was among the greatest to ever pitch. His feats are legendary. There was the story of time the he intentionally walked the bases loaded to face Josh Gibson, then struck him out on three fastballs. There are accounts of him telling his fielders to sit down, for they weren’t needed, or Paige telling the hitter what was coming, knowing his pitches couldn’t be touched. He made his MLB debut at age 42 (or thereabouts, no one knew his true age), and was a very solid pitcher well into his 40s, even throwing three scoreless innings at age 58.

So I would love to see Paige in his prime. Did he live up to the legends? What was fact and what was fiction? How much fun was it to see him engage in his showmanship?

Who played before your time that you wish you could get a chance to see?

Posted on

Reds set rotation for Chase Petty recall as Rhett Lowder heads to IL

May 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Chase Petty (61) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Reds have the day off on Monday after Sunday afternoon’s series-winning victory over the Houston Astros. They also have a much clearer picture of how their banged-up starting rotation will look this upcoming week as they welcome the Washington Nationals to Cincinnati before heading up to Cleveland for a series over the weekend.

According to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, the Reds have leaned on today’s day off to shuffle their healthy starters in a way that will accommodate the loss of Rhett Lowder to the 15-day injured list, a move that’s expected to be announced prior to the start of Tuesday’s game against the Nationals. It will feature Brady Singer in the opener on Tuesday, Nick Lodolo on Wednesday, and Chase Burns on Thursday, with Friday’s opener on the road against Cleveland listed as ‘TBD.’

Chase Petty threw 79 pitches in 3.2 IP for the AAA Louisville Bats just yesterday in his first start back at the level after being recalled to start last Monday’s series opener for the Reds against the Chicago Cubs. Given how much more advanced he looked in the start in Wrigley relative to the struggles he went through in his initial call-up last season, it would be a shocker if Petty were not recalled to take Lowder’s turn in the rotation on Friday – especially now that it will be on his regular rest.

Cincinnati could also opt to keep Andrew Abbott on regular rest and pitch him on Friday, and even add Petty to pitch Saturday and give the youngster an extra day of rest before his return to the bigs.

What remains to be seen is how the Reds juggle the few days in between. In all likelihood, they’ll recall one of Zach Maxwell, Kyle Nicolas, or Jose Franco to bridge the gap to Petty and give them depth in the bullpen for the series against the Nats. Franco threw 22 pitches yesterday for AAA Louisville in a scoreless pair of IP, while Nicolas allowed a trio of hits and a walk (and 3 runs, somehow all unearned) in 1.1 IP and 35 pitches. Maxwell, meanwhile, hasn’t pitched since May 8th when he threw 25 pitches in a pair of perfect innings against the Nashville Sounds.

We’ll find out before tomorrow’s first pitch!

UPDATE

As was pointed out in the comments quite succintly, Chase Petty exited his start on Sunday with AAA Louisville with what’s being called a blister/nail problem. So, that obviously calls into question whether or not he’ll be ready to jump back into the rotation this week, or if the Reds will play it much slower with him.

Posted on

Lakers pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo at trade deadline

INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 15: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Luka Doncic #77 of World Team is introduced before the game during the 75th NBA All-Star Game as part of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 15, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Lakers’ pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline this year was rather mundane. Without any real firepower to offer in a deal, they were quite far away from a competitive offer.

LA was limited to just one first and a host of expiring salaries they could offer. Even if one of those included Austin Reaves, it wasn’t going to be a competitive offer, so you could hardly blame the Lakers for being on the outside looking in when it came to chasing Giannis.

However, it never hurts to ask and they still reportedly made a run at him. On Monday morning, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Bucks were “open for business” when it came to Giannis trades. In the article, he revealed the Lakers were one of the teams that asked about Giannis at the deadline.

The NBA playoffs represent another landmark point for the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. Sources said postseason teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers pursued Antetokounmpo at the February deadline, and their finishes to the campaign will play a major factor in their aggressiveness to trade for Antetokounmpo.

When the last trade negotiation for a superstar resulted in the Luka Dončić deal, it’s not a surprise they asked. But the Lakers were never going to be serious contenders for him in February.

Still, it could have given them some insight into what the Bucks would be looking for in a trade so that the Lakers had a sense of whether they were interested in working on a deal once the summer rolled around. Now, they have three first round picks and a lot of cap space to potentially make the deal, plus the potentially more enticing option of an Austin Reaves sign-and-trade.

That being said, considering what the Bucks are searching for, according to Shams, the Lakers might not be able to make all that competitive of an offer yet again.

There is expected to be a robust market for Antetokounmpo, and ownership and front-office officials expect to maintain their trade deadline asking price of a young blue-chip talent and/or a surplus of draft picks, sources said.

Is Reaves, who is 27 and about to be paid a salary at or near the max, considered a young blue-chip talent? Unlikely. And unless the Bucks have really loved Bronny’s spot minutes in the playoffs, the Lakers don’t have any of those.

Now, whether the team should pursue Giannis is another question worth asking, especially with how the regular season went after the trade deadline. Is it worth shaking things up to bring in Giannis?

Those are questions the team is likely going to have to face rather soon as the season nears its conclusion.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Posted on

Canadiens Surging Forward Just Keeps Getting Better

The Montreal Canadiens picked up a 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 3. With this, the Canadiens now have a 2-1 series lead over the Sabres. 

Alex Newhook was certainly a significant reason for the Canadiens' Game 3 victory over the Sabres. This is because the Habs forward scored two goals in the matchup. 

With this strong performance, Newhook now has five goals and six points in 10 playoff games so far this spring. Yet, more notably, he has four goals over his last two games alone. With this, the 25-year-old forward is playing some excellent hockey at the perfect time for Montreal. 

Newhook's strong start to the post-season comes after he had a solid 2025-26 regular-season. While Newhook was limited to only 42 games this season, he had 13 goals and 25 points. This is after he had 26 points for the Canadiens last season, but in 82 games.

With all of this, it is clear that Newhook is continuing to hit a new level with the Canadiens. It has been a successful campaign for the 2019 first-round pick, and it will be intriguing to see how he builds on it as the playoffs continue from here. 

Posted on

Carlos Rodón returns to a very different Yankees rotation

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón throws during the first inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, May 10, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

While the Yankees didn’t get the result they wanted, falling in a one-run game against the Brewers, it was encouraging seeing Carlos Rodón back on a big league mound, regardless of the outcome. Rusty, as to be expected for someone coming from such a lengthy absence, Rodón battled himself on top of a dangerous Milwaukee lineup and held his own through plenty of traffic. The pitcher we have so often seen deliver worse results than the quality of his outings would indicate, due to untimely home runs, more than held his own by keeping the ball in the yard. Rodón covered 4.1 innings, allowing more runs (3) than hits (2) as the Yankees took a 4-3 loss in a quiet day offensively.

Highlighting just how inefficient Rodón was, following a trend we’ve seen in his rehab outings, the left-hander walked the leadoff batter in three of his first four innings—the cardinal sin for a pitcher to do it once, much less in more than half of his innings. It wasn’t just the lack of long balls that prevented this from being a blow-up, as he only allowed a pair of hits. Velocity-wise, Rodón sat at 95.7 mph on his four-seam fastball, but it should be noted that the number drastically decreased from the 97.0 mph in the first to the 94.5 mph he showed in his final inning. In fact, the root of those walks came from poorly located fastballs that the Brewers kept laying off with a zone rate of 32 percent, well below league average and Rodón’s average as well.

Assessing the bigger picture moving forward, this could be the beginning of a new era for Rodón with the Yankees—the rotation he returns to is one far different from the one he left behind. Not even in the wildest dreams of most fans could you have imagined what has transpired with the likes of Cam Schllitler and Will Warren, particularly the former establishing himself as one of the best pitchers in the sport. Even if you’re still cautious about the promising signs Warren has exhibited in 2026, we’ve always known the raw tools for a great pitcher were there, so it’s difficult not to be at least a tad excited.

Evidently, it’s natural that Rodón will carry a lot of pressure on him to deliver in the most crucial moments, regardless of how the rotation shapes up around him, but we’re well off the role he was brought on to fulfill a few years ago, and that can only be a good thing. This is a rotation that’s at or near the top of the leaderboards in many categories, with none other than Gerrit Cole on his way back as well. The production has been so outstanding that one could even make the argument for a move to a six-man rotation based on merit once Cole is back, because it’s hard to justify booting Ryan Weathers from a starting role.

Focusing on Rodón, it’s not even a question of pressure or hierarchy but an acknowledgment that he has his work cut out for him to regain his previous standing on this staff. Last season was the closest we’ve seen to the best version of Rodón, and maybe that’s the best he can do at this stage in his career. Either way, the inconsistencies of his first two seasons won’t cut it, and unlike in the past, the Yankees have alternatives, all thanks to an outstanding development system.

Posted on

MLB Power Rankings: Rays take charge in the AL East, Tigers tumble after Tarik Skubal injury

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, the Rays are surprising everyone, Elmo is a good luck charm for the Phillies, J.J. Wetherholt and Bobby Witt Jr. turn on the afterburners, and the Orioles have the best giveaways.

As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.

Let’s get started!

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, May 11

Check out Eric Samulski’s SP streamers for this week!

1) Atlanta Braves

Last week 1

A tough week for the Braves organization as we lost both Ted Turner and Bobby Cox. Like most people in the U.S. in the 1990s, I got to watch a ton of Braves games because of their presence on TBS. What stuck out to me as a kid was how much Cox was willing to go to bat for his players. It’s one of those things that is hard to fully quantify, but it surely had an impact. Often times it was a call Cox disagreed with, but there was some strategy behind it too. I’m confident that his 162 ejections is one of those records that will never be topped.

2) Chicago Cubs ⬆️

Last week: 4

The Cubs finally cooled down over the weekend against the Rangers, but they now have two 10-game winning streaks this season. Keep in mind that no other team has even one 10-game winning streak this season. It’s clear the Cubs are here to stay, but starting pitching remains an area of concern after Matthew Boyd suffered a meniscus tear while “sitting down to play with his kids.” As a 40-something dad, I have never felt more seen.

3) Tampa Bay Rays ⬆️

Last week: 5

The Rays finally saw their winning streak come to an end on Friday, but Nick Martinez got them back in the win column on Sunday with another fantastic start. Martinez has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all eight of his starts this season and holds a stingy 1.70 ERA. Back at The Trop, this franchise just keeps finding a way.

4) Los Angeles Dodgers ⬇️

Last week 3

Winning the Cy Young Award is pretty much the only thing Shohei Ohtani hasn’t done at this point. How much longer can we say that? While Ohtani isn’t posting otherworldly numbers with the bat this season, he’s been nearly untouchable on the mound. He’s boasting a 0.97 ERA through six starts with 42 strikeouts and just nine walks through 37 innings. How fun would it be to see Paul Skenes and Ohtani duking it out for the award down the stretch?

5) New York Yankees ⬇️

Last week: 2

The Yankees got swept by the Brewers over the weekend and have now lost four out of five to fall out of first place in the AL East. Carlos Rodón was shaky in his season debut on Sunday, allowing three runs on two hits and five walks across 4 1/3 innings. The good news is that the Orioles are up next.

6) Milwaukee Brewers ⬆️

Last week: 12

A big statement for the Brewers over the weekend, as they swept the Yankees capped off by Brice Turang’s walk-off two-run homer on Sunday.

It was an eventful weekend in Milwaukee, as fellow NBC Sports colleague CC Sabathia was inducted into the Brewers’ Wall of Honor in recognition of his incredible run with the club in 2008. Calling CC my colleague never gets old.

7) San Diego Padres ⬇️

Last week: 6

While Fernando Tatís Jr. is still searching for his first home run of the season, his bat came up big on Sunday. After breaking his own bat, Nick Castellanos used Tatís’ bat to deliver a game-tying homer with the Padres down to their final strike.

Tatís is now up to 167 plate appearances without a home run this season.

8) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬇️

Last week: 7

Would you believe it, Paul Skenes is still Paul Skenes. He has a 1.31 ERA since his clunker of an Opening Day start.

9) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 10

On one hand, this is an embarrassing moment for Fernando Tatís Jr., but it’s also a lot of fun to watch.

Wetherholt circled the bases in just 15.2 seconds, which is very fast, but if you keep reading this article, you’ll find that someone else got him beat this weekend.

10) Athletics ⬆️

Last week: 13

Nick Kurtz drew a walk on Sunday against the Orioles to stretch his on-base streak to 34 games. That’s the longest on-base streak for an A’s player since Nick Swisher reached safely in 36 straight games 20 years ago.

11) Cleveland Guardians

Last week: 11

The Guardians pulled off a fascinating trade with the Giants, acquiring Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey for left-handed pitcher Matt Wilkinson and the 29th overall pick in July’s MLB Draft. Bailey is widely regarded as one of, if not the best, defensive catcher in all of baseball, but he holds a weak .224/.281/.328 batting line over 384 major league games. Not sure what backup catcher Austin Hedges had to say about the move, but I can imagine it was probably something like, “Hey, I’m literally right here.”

12) Cincinnati Reds ⬇️

Last week: 8

The Reds lost eight in a row before winning the final two games of their series against the Astros over the weekend. Cincinnati’s starters rank 24th in MLB with a 4.61 ERA, but Chase Burns has been magnificent. He tossed six innings of one-run ball on Saturday, lowering his ERA to 2.11 ERA on the year.

13) Philadelphia Phillies ⬆️

Last week: 17

Alec Bohm hadn’t hit a home run since Opening Day and found himself on the bench for back-to-back games, but he broke out with a pair of homers on Saturday while driving in four runs. If Bohm had it his way, Elmo would be in the broadcast booth for every game.

The Phillies are now 10-3 under Don Mattingly as they continue to move up the rankings. I have a feeling they aren't done climbing.

14) Texas Rangers ⬆️

Last week: 16

Credit to the Rangers, who stopped the Cubs’ 10-game winning streak and shut out their potent offense in back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday. Is Jacob Latz the most underrated pitcher in baseball at the moment? It sure feels like it. The southpaw has allowed just two runs and five hits over 20 2/3 innings this season. He’s a big reason why the Rangers have had the best bullpen in the majors so far.

15) Kansas City Royals ⬆️

Last week: 21

The funnest moment of the weekend was easily Bobby Witt Jr.’s inside-the-park home run against the Tigers. Please enjoy.

Witt rounded the bases in a blazing 14.13 seconds. Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, that’s the fourth-fastest home-to-home time in the Statcast Era.

16) Seattle Mariners ⬇️

Last week: 14

One step forward, one step back. The Mariners took two out of three from the red-hot Braves to begin the week before dropping two out of three to the White Sox over the weekend. Cal Raleigh is in the midst of the longest hitless streak of his career. He’s hitting just .161 through 38 games. Perhaps a matchup against the Astros to begin the week, a team they have dominated lately, will get Raleigh and the M’s going.

17) Detroit Tigers ⬇️

Last week: 9

The Tigers lost five in a row before besting the Royals on Sunday Night Baseball on Peacock and NBCSN. Tarik Skubal is reportedly aiming to return sometime in June, but it’s could be rough in the interim while they try to hold down the fort with all of these injuries. Also, that sort of turnaround for Skubal would be pretty much unheard of in baseball.

18) Chicago White Sox ⬆️

Last week: 25

Munetaka Murakami’s home run-hitting prowess has been one of the biggest stories of the 2026 season so far, but Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas are also doing their part on the power front. The White Sox are the only team who has three players with at least nine home runs.

19) Toronto Blue Jays ⬇️

Last week: 18

Fresh off returning from an ankle sprain, Addison Barger unleashed this 101.2 mph laser from right field on Saturday.

Absolutely insane. Unfortunately, he woke up on Sunday with some elbow soreness and was sent for an MRI.

20) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬇️

Last week: 15

It’s been rough lately, but the Diamondbacks have won back-to-back games for the first time since April 17-18. Top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt has made his presence felt with the bat and the glove in the early going.

21) Miami Marlins ⬇️

Last week: 19

It took until Xavier Edwards’ 278th major league game for him to hit his first homer against a right-handed pitcher. That was on Friday against the Nationals. And because of course he did, he homered against a right-hander on Saturday as well.

22) Washington Nationals ⬆️

Last week: 23

C.J. Abrams begins the week tied with Atlanta's Matt Olson for the MLB lead with 36 RBI. He’s already up to nine homers, which puts him on pace to easily pass his career-high of 20 homers from 2024. His barrel rate is on the rise and he’s showing much more patience as the Nationals’ regular cleanup hitter.

23) Boston Red Sox ⬆️

Last week: 26

Even with Sunday’s loss to the Rays, the Red Sox have won four out of their last six games. Roman Anthony could return later this week after he went down with a wrist injury last Monday.

24) Baltimore Orioles ⬇️

Last week: 20

On Friday, the Orioles drew their largest crowd since Opening Day. And let’s be honest, the team on the field was sort of secondary. The fans came out in droves and waited in absurdly long lines for this Tupac bobblehead. And I have to admit, it’s pretty awesome.

The Orioles are leading the league in cool giveaways. I’m currently plotting a way to get a Turnstile jersey on July 10th.

25) Minnesota Twins ⬇️

Last week: 22

While the Twins have fallen a bit from their early-season perch, you certainly can’t blame Byron Buxton. He’s connected for 13 homers in his last 24 games.

26) Houston Astros ⬇️

Last week: 24

The injuries keep coming for the Astros. This time it’s Carlos Correa, who felt a pop in his ankle while taking batting practice last week. Turns out he tore a tendon in the ankle and will miss the rest of the season. Call me crazy here, but it’s beginning to feel like this just isn’t the Astros’ year.

27) San Francisco Giants ⬆️

Last week: 30

The Giants are missing their ace Logan Webb due to right knee bursitis, but at least Rafael Devers’ bat is starting to perk up. He homered in back-to-back games last week and is hitting .333 (10-for-30) so far in May. This team has been hurting for offense, which is one reason behind the Patrick Bailey trade, but Devers simply finding his groove would go a long way to getting them back on track.

28) New York Mets ⬇️

Last week: 27

On their nine-game roadtrip, the Mets took two out of three from both the Angels and the Rockies before losing two out of three to the Diamondbacks while scoring just five runs in 28 innings. Juan Soto and Bo Bichette went a combined 0-for-20 in the series. With the Mets’ depth being tested, it’s very difficult to win if those guys aren’t hitting.

29) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 29

Hunter Goodman broke out with 31 homers last season and he’s backed that up by launching 10 homers through 37 games so far this season. Oddly, he’s been much better on the road (.283 average, eight homers, .946 OPS) than Coors Field (.197, two homers, .656 OPS) so far.

30) Los Angeles Angels ⬇️

Last week: 28

You might have missed this past Friday, but Alek Manoah pitched in his first major league game since May 29, 2024. That’s a span of 709 days for the former Blue Jays right-hander. He pitched a clean inning with a strikeout against his former team as he tries to revitalize his career.

Posted on

Thunder vs Lakers Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for Game 4

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

The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from joining the New York Knicks in the conference finals, with the Los Angeles Lakers down 3-0.

We've checked our model and found the top NBA player prop projections to help you make your NBA picks.

Hungry for more? Check out our complete Thunder vs. Lakers predictions for May 11!

Thunder vs Lakers computer picks for Game 4

Thunder ThunderLakers Lakers
Dort o6.5 points
+100		Ayton o9.5 points
+102
Mitchell u16.5 points
-105		Reaves u5.5 assists
+120
Hartenstein o8.5 points
-105		Kennard o9.5 points
+100

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

Thunder Game 4 computer picks

Luguentz Dort Over 6.5 points (+100)

Projection: 8.33 points

This is a five-star play according to our model, showing a 25.73% EV edge. Lu Dort is always ready to take a couple of threes if the Oklahoma City Thunder's offense calls for it, and he shoots the long ball at a 37% clip.

He scored 10 points in Game 3, and projections call for a similar Game 4.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Dort Now at bet365!/span

Ajay Mitchell Under 16.5 points (-105)

Projection: 14.71 points

Ajay Mitchell has been shredding the Los Angeles Lakers, but our model believes this is two points too high. With OKC sitting as a 12-point favorite, Mitchell might not see as much floor time as normal.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Mitchell Now at bet365!/span

Isaiah Hartenstein Over 8.5 points (-105)

Projection: 9.60 points

The Lakers have no answer for Isaiah Hartenstein. The big man has scored 10+ points in back-to-back games, and our model calls for him to approach that total again.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Hartenstein Now at bet365!/span

Lakers Game 4 computer picks

Deandre Ayton Over 8.5 points (+102)

Projection: 10.65 points

Deandre Ayton looks horrendous out there, but he's still scored 10 points in two of three games against OKC. The Thunder are more than happy with letting him shoot, and he'll get his tonight.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet ayton Now at bet365!/span

Austin Reaves Under 5.5 assists (+120)

Projection: 5.28 assists

Austin Reaves is a stupendous playmaker, but the Lakers need him to score more than ever. He'll do all he can to help keep L.A. alive, and more shots will result in fewer assists.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet reaves Now at bet365!/span

Luke Kennard Over 8.5 points (+100)

Projection: 10.06 points

Luke Kennard is one of the best pure shooters in the NBA. He's scored 10+ points in two straight, and it looks like he's found a rhythm again. Nine points are easily obtainable for the guard.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet kennard Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Thunder vs Lakers Game 4

LocationCrypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
DateMonday, May 11, 2026
Tip-off10:30 p.m. ET
TVPrime

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.

MORE NBA 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.

Posted on

Sabres Show Lack Of Discipline And Defensive Awareness In Game Three Loss


The Buffalo Sabres are facing their first true crisis since the middle of December, when they turned their season around and became one of the biggest surprises of the NHL season. After a one-sided 5-1 loss in Game 2 on Friday, the Eastern Conference Semi-Final with the Montreal Canadiens shifted to the Bell Centre. The Sabres entered the contest undefeated on the road, winning all three games in their series win over the Boston Bruins, but that perfect record may have had more to do with the quality of their opposition.

The Canadiens responded after allowing a Tage Thompson goal 53 seconds into the game, tying the game before the end of the first and scoring three times in the middle frame in a 6-2 victory over the Sabres on Sunday night. Similar to the loss in Game 2, Buffalo’s worst performers were their core players, as Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Rasmus Dahlin were all -2 on the night, while the Habs got a pair of tallies from their power play and significant contributions from depth forwards Alex Newhook, Zach Bolduc, and Kirby Dach.

“Montreal’s a good team, they made us pay for our mistakes.” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. “I said before this started, they beat a hell of a team. They are a hell of a team. Don’t take them for granted. If we don’t realize it now, we’re never going to realize it.”

 Other Sabres Stories

Canadiens Sluggish In Game 1 Loss 

Apparent from nearly the outset was the Sabres inability to limit scoring chances. Goalie Alex Lyon was peppered with 29 shots over the first two periods, and in spite of playing well, could not make up for some lax Buffalo defensive play, such as Thompson and Tuch lagging behind and allowing Bolduc to close in on the goal that increased the Montreal lead to 3-1. 

The Sabres were also unable to maintain a level of composure, which is something they displayed against the Bruins and in Game 1. After a scrum late in the first period in which Habs forward Zach Bolduc fell on top of Sabres goalie Alex Lyon, Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn’s response left little room for doubt, as he plowed into Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes at nearly full speed. Malenstyn’s minor led to Juraj Slafkvoský’s goal to make it 4-1. 

“You have to be smart. We took five O-zone penalties. Our discipline for that wasn't good enough. You let them operate five-on-four." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. "We ended up with a broken stick penalty killing, goal-against. And you give them that much time, they're going to get opportunities.”

The Sabres did not hold a scheduled practice on Tuesday, and possibly could make some lineup tweaks for Game 4. Veteran center Sam Carrick was cold-cocked by Montreal's Arber Xhekaj at the end of Game 3, while defenseman Logan Stanley could be replaced after an ill-advised pass on Bolduc's goal. 

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

THN.com/Free
THN.com/Free
Posted on

The Wizards are smart to keep all options open at No. 1

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 31: Forward AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars controls the ball as he is defended by guard Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half at Allen Fieldhouse on January 31, 2026 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Washington Wizards were one lottery ball away from landing Zion Williamson in 2019 and Cooper Flagg in 2025. In 2023, Washington held six of the possible 11 remaining numbers in the draft lottery before narrowly missing out on the No. 1 pick, which became Victor Wembanyama.

But the franchise many called “cursed” after its several near misses in the lottery finally got its glorious moment on Sunday afternoon when NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum revealed the Wizards had won the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.

So, after all those years awaiting the top pick to select the franchise’s next star, surely they wouldn’t consider trading down, right!? Well, it’s not as simple as that.

It should come as no surprise to Wizards fans that Michael Winger, the team’s President of Basketball Operations, told TheSteinLine’s Jake Fischer that the Wizards ”will at least consider trading down.“

Washington is keeping all of its options open, as it should, in a draft deprived of a sure-fire No. 1 pick. The 2026 draft class lacks a Wemby or a Williamson that everyone knows is going first overall and every executive understands would be impossible to trade for.

While AJ Dybantsa is viewed by most as the favorite to be selected by Washington, it’s not a lock. Darryn Peterson, and even Cameron Boozer, have drawn buzz as potential candidates to go No. 1. Just look at how certain draft boards differ.

ESPN and The Ringer pinned Dybantsa as their top prospect, while DraftExpress has Peterson going No. 1.

In a draft that lacks a clear top choice, Washington would be smart to keep it’s hand close to its chest. Why openly admit your preference between Dybantsa and Peterson? Why say there’s a clear No. 1 choice? Why give rival teams any information regarding your draft strategy?

There’s no reason to do any of those things, which is why Winger said Washington will consider trading down.

Winger means this in the same way he means there’s several prospects Washington will consider with the top choice. Maybe they internally view Dybantsa as miles ahead of Peterson and Boozer. Maybe they don’t.

But why offer that information to the Utah Jazz, or other teams, who could offer a lucrative trade package for the top pick?

If Utah truly wants Dybantsa — the two have several connections spanning from the 6-foot-9 forward’s playing days at Utah Prep and BYU to the many Jazz games he attended last season — they’ll have to pay a premium price. And they know that.

The Wizards will do their homework. They’ll bring Dybantsa and Peterson in for private workouts, meetings and physical tests. Just as they’ll do for prospects like Boozer, Caleb Wilson and more. And Washington’s brass — comprised of Winger, general manager Will Dawkins, senior vice president of player personnel Travis Schlenk and others — will determine its top prospect.

If the Wizards believe Dybantsa is the obvious choice at No. 1, they can simply select him and move forward with a generational talent as the face of their franchise. Should they believe Peterson is on the same level, if not a step better, than Dybantsa, they can milk Utah for several key assets while still selecting their preferred prospect at No. 2.

Bottom line: Washington is in a terrific spot. They can draft the best player in the class, or they can trade down, pick up an additional first-round pick and maybe more, and still leave with a generational talent they likely believe is better than whoever goes No. 1.

Will Washington trade the top pick? I think it’s unlikely. But they’d be dumb to not keep their phones open to at least here Utah’s offer.

Posted on

The Lakers aren’t giving up on the series yet despite being on brink of sweep

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 9: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

In the first round, it was the Lakers who were up 3-0 over the Rockets, looking to complete a sweep. Now, in the second round, they are on the other side, looking to avoid going out in four games against the Thunder.

So far, the odds don’t look so good. Not only have the Lakers lost all three games, but they have been blown out in each. Oklahoma City has an average margin of victory of 19.6 points and a net rating of +20, which is the best in the second round.

Add in the fact that the Lakers lost all four games against the Thunder in the regular season and will have to play Game 4 without Luka Dončić, and it’s hard to find any sort of optimism. So, it’s no surprise that FanDuel’s odds have the Thunder ending this series in a sweep as they are currently -560 favorites.

Still, for the Lakers, it’s not over till it’s over.

“You just come and compete,” Austin Reaves said after Game 3. “It’s a bunch of guys in this locker room that are competitors. Basically, the message after the game was we’re going to come in here Monday and we’re going to win. Obviously, the situation sucks, but that doesn’t give us the license to quit.

“We got to come in here and compete. We owe the organization that. We owe each other that. We owe our fans that. So, we’re going to come here Monday and play as hard as we can.”

The Lakers might not have found the recipe for success, but it hasn’t been due to a lack of trying.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick has made defensive adjustments, has found success limiting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring and has gone to players who were out of the rotation, like Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero.

However, it hasn’t turned a loss into a win, since the Thunder just have too many playable guys who can step up and perform.

“Typically, if you can poke holes at a team in a playoff series, there’s a good chance they might have like a temporary solution or can sort of adjust maybe a little bit,” Redick said. “This team in-game, because of their personnel, can just adjust like that. They need shooters on the floor? Great. They need multiple wing defenders on the floor? Great. They need two bigs on the floor? Great. They’re a terrific basketball team. I said that before the series. I’ve been very impressed with them. I still think we can beat them. But we got to be better.”

To the Lakers’ credit, there has been no sign of quitting from this team. Redick can be seen coaching every night like it’s Game 7.

Marcus Smart’s defending SGA hard, Reaves keeps trying to attack the paint and generate offense and LeBron James is playing well over 30 minutes per game at 41 years old.

The room for error that the Lakers have is slim to none. OKC is the defending champion and hasn’t lost a playoff game yet. Clearly, beating them isn’t easy and to do so will take a complete performance.

“Well, obviously, everything,” LeBron said of what will be needed in Game 4. “Everything and more to beat a team like this. We’ll have to be at our best on Monday.”

Winning four straight games after losing the first three in a best-of-seven is daunting. It’s never been done before. Someone will eventually do it.

The Lakers will attempt to be that first team, and it starts on Monday with Game 4.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Posted on

Game 4 Was Classic Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 10: Naz Reid #11, Anthony Edwards #5, Ayo Dosunmu #13 and Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images


Game 4 was a must-win for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

That was true coming into the night with the Wolves down 2-1 in the series, and certainly became true after Victor Wembanyama launched an elbow at the neck of Naz Reid and ejected the San Antonio Spurs’ best player from the game with a Flagrant Two foul.

When Wembanyama exited the game with 8:39 left in the second quarter, the opportunity for Minnesota was obvious. With the other team’s best player out for the rest of the game, the Wolves’ path to winning Game 4 became a lot cleaner and, to put it bluntly, easier.

The Timberwolves showcased why in the next few possessions. Without Wembanyama’s rim protection, the Wolves went straight to the rim for layups and took what was a two-point lead when Wemby went out to a nine-point lead within a few minutes.

What happened from there was classic Minnesota Timberwolves basketball in the worst and best way.

The Wolves stopped attacking the paint or getting many good looks on offense. Their ball pressure relaxed, which allowed the Spurs to get to their preferred spots on the floor, and at times, Minnesota mentally lost track of the game, including more than once allowing the Spurs to get a fastbreak bucket following a made basket on the other side of the floor.

As has consistently happened during this era of Timberwolves basketball, instead of stomping out any chance for the Spurs to come back, the Wolves let their foot off the gas. They appeared to play down to the level of their opponent, despite that team being of high quality even without their best player.

“I thought we let our mind slip more than anything else,” Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch said after the game. “I felt like we lost our way a little bit and then gave them life. We never expected them to just go away.”

The Timberwolves only won the second quarter minutes following Wemby’s ejection by two points, which put their lead at four points heading into the third quarter, which allowed the Spurs during the halftime break to reset their rotations and their strategy for the rest of the game.

The start of the second half didn’t go much better for Minnesota. They missed 13 of their first 17 shots, while the Spurs made nine of their last 11 shots to win the third quarter 28-20.

The San Antonio lead grew to eight points, and with less than eight minutes left in the game, a nervous energy began to take hold inside the arena. While that feeling of anxiety has been absent from this Timberwolves postseason run, it is certainly an emotion that Target Center crowds have become well acquainted with going back years and decades.

The difference with this Timberwolves team is that they have Anthony Edwards. With the season on the line, Edwards scored 16 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter to drag a lifeless Timberwolves offense back into the lead.

“Today is Mother’s Day, so I just wanted to win for my mom,” Edwards said of his late mother, whom he lost in 2015 when he was in eighth grade. “I couldn’t lose this game for her.”

Edwards did exactly that. He did not allow the Timberwolves to lose this game while playing 40 minutes for the second straight game. With offense stuck in the mud and the Spurs throwing constant double-teams at the Timberwolves’ superstar, Edwards did just enough to get the Wolves over the finish line.

In the same way that the Wolves often play down to the perceived level of their opponent, Edwards and the Timberwolves responded when their back was up against the wall. Despite having numerous poor stretches of play, when the game mattered most, the Wolves made enough winning plays to get the job done.

It was an ugly win for the Timberwolves in Game 4, but the manner in which they got the win doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the series is tied 2-2 with a set of three games left to determine who advances to the Western Conference Finals.

“Now it’s just take it one game at a time, trying to figure out how to get a win,” Edwards said about the rest of this series. “That’s the only thing that’s on my mind right now, trying to figure out how to get a win.”

Posted on

Avalanche vs Wild Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NHL Playoffs Game 4

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

Cale Makar has already cemented himself as one of the most productive playoff blueliners in NHL history, recording 90 points across just 86 postseason games.

After a frustrating showing in Game 3, tonight’s Avalanche vs. Wild predictions set up as a prime bounce-back spot for Colorado’s star defenseman to make an impact offensively.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Monday, May 11.

  • UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win. 

Avalanche vs Wild Game 4 prediction

Who will win Avalanche vs Wild Game 4?

Avalanche: The Colorado Avalanche tend to respond very quickly following losses. While they definitely weren’t good enough in Game 3, they still managed to generate 4.39 expected goals and a whole batch of chances. That they’ve done that every single game bodes well for their outlook in Game 4 and the series.

Avalanche vs Wild best bet: Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists (-155)

Cale Makar is always lauded for his ability to control the game from the back end and have his hand in everything — and it’s true.

The superstar Colorado Avalanche defenseman has picked up a point in at least 57% of the on-ice goals in four consecutive seasons, and never below 52%.

So far in these playoffs? We’re talking 35%. The Avalanche are piling up the goals, chances, and shots with Makar out there, and he’s driving a lot of it. He just isn’t getting many points.

Given how many touches he gets every single night, and the kind of minutes he plays, that is bound to change.

Avalanche vs Wild Game 4 same-game parlay

Martin Necas has recorded three shots on goal in each game this series, and his attempt volume has progressively increased each game. Necas has Makar behind him a lot at 5-on-5, and the latter facilitates a lot on the power play, making the two highly correlated.

Going the other way, it’s hard not to get excited about Mats Zuccarello. He has averaged 2.7 shots on 5.0 attempts in this series and recorded multiple shots in 11 of the past 13 games against the Avalanche. They pay a ton of respect to Kirill Kaprizov, which opens things up for Zuccarello.

Avalanche vs Wild SGP

  • Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists
  • Martin Necas anytime goal
  • Mats Zuccarello Over 1.5 shots on goal

Avalanche vs Wild Game 4 goal scorer pick

Nazem Kadri (+295)

Nazem Kadri has recorded 15 shots on goal through three games, tying him for first among all players in the series. He is getting a lot of looks around the net, and his presence on the top power-play unit makes him a very strong value at this price.

Avalanche vs Wild odds for Game 4

  • Moneyline: Avalanche -135 | Wild +115
  • Puck Line: Avalanche -1.5 (+175) | Wild +1.5 (-215)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+100) | Under 6.5 (-120)

Avalanche vs Wild trend

The Colorado Avalanche have hit the Moneyline in 19 of their last 25 away games (+10.45 Units / 27% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Wild.

How to watch Avalanche vs Wild Game 4

LocationGrand Casino Arena, St. Paul, MN
DateMonday, May 11, 2026
Puck drop8:00 p.m. ET
TVESPN, Sportsnet

Avalanche vs Wild latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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.