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Edwin Diaz Facebook posts link Dodgers pitcher to cockfighting since 2016

MLB pitcher Edwin Diaz appears to have made little effort to hide years of involvement in illegal cockfighting in his native Puerto Rico prior to May 15.

A Facebook page for Edwin O. Diaz Laboy that appears to belong to the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher includes about a dozen video of cockfights. Some of the birds fought until they stopped moving and were removed from the pit of the arena.

A federal ban prohibits cockfighting in all 50 states and in U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico. USA TODAY Sports reviewed publicly available photos and videos of Diaz, roosters and cockfights posted to the Facebook account on May 15. Other posts to the account were locked to the public. Public access to the photos and reels appears to have since been restricted.

Along with photos and videos of Diaz pitching, smiling with family and friends and promoting community activities, posted to the account are more than 150 photos of roosters, cockfighting clubs or breeding facilities. One photo shows roosters packed into cardboard boxes, their heads poking out of cutout holes above small feeding dishes taped to the boxes.

The account also includes 26 reels featuring roosters, some fighting in organized matches. Others are shown on what appears to be a breeding facility where Diaz is featured holding roosters while promoting upcoming cockfights in multiple videos.

Edwin Diaz and Martin Maldonado celebrate the win against Cuba.

In one video, young-looking roosters are scurrying about what looks like a pen. A caption accompanying the video reads, "Upcoming champions in development."

Photos and videos of Diaz posted to the account date back to 2010. The first photo of a rooster was posted on Nov. 30, 2016, while the account's first promotion of Club Gallistico de Puerto Rico, a cockfighting club, was posted on July 31, 2018. Diaz has been featured in multiple videos and photos posted to social media promoting the cockfighting ring.

Diaz's full name is Edwin Orlando Diaz Laboy. He is currently on the injured reserve after undergoing surgery on April 22 to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, the Dodgers announced April 20.

Representatives of both MLB and the Dodgers declined comment when reached by USA TODAY Sports for a story that linked Dias to cockfighting in Puerto Rico through photos, videos and promotional material found on social media.

Multiple animal welfare organizations have called upon MLB to investigate Diaz's involvement in cockfighting since the story's publication.

Catch up: Kentucky Derby winning jockeys, MLB pitcher tied to illegal cockfighting in Puerto Rico

Diaz, a three-time MLB All-Star, is pictured wearing a Dodgers uniform on Facebook in promotional material for cockfights.

He did not respond to interview requests USA TODAY Sports submitted to a publicist for the Dodgers and to THE TEAM, which represents Diaz.

The Facebook page also includes a photo of Diaz standing between Puerto Rican jockeys Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr., also linked to cockfighting through photos, video and promotional materials on social media.

Reaction: Edwin Diaz cockfighting ties spur calls for discipline of MLB player, jockeys

Jose Ortiz won the Kentucky Derby May 2 on Golden Tempo and Irad Ortiz finished second on Renegade. The brothers are two of thoroughbred racing's top jockeys, both scheduled to ride in the Preakness Stakes on May 16.

This developing story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Photos, videos of Edwin Diaz link pitcher to cockfighting since 2016

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Game 44 Game Day Thread – Texas Rangers @ Houston Astros

Jul 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; The Silver Boot trophy is on display on the concourse for the Lone Star series with the Texas Rangers playinng against the Houston Astros at Global Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

Texas Rangers @ Houston Astros

Friday, May 15, 2026, 7:10 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / CW33)

Daikin Park

RHP Jack Leiter vs. RHP Spencer Arrighetti

Today’s Lineups

RANGERSASTROS
Joc Pederson – DHBrice Matthews – 2B
Ezequiel Duran – SSIsaac Paredes – 3B
Brandon Nimmo – RFYordan Alvarez – DH
Josh Jung – 3BChristian Walker – 1B
Evan Carter – CFBraden Shewmake – SS
Jake Burger – 1BZach Dezenzo – LF
Alejandro Osuna – LFZach Cole – CF
Kyle Higashioka – CCam Smith – RF
Justin Foscue – 2BChristian Vazquez – C
Jack Leiter – RHPS. Arrighetti – RHP

Go Rangers!

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Warriors assistants Terry Stotts, Jerry Stackhouse won't return next season

The Golden State Warriors were able to retain head coach Steve Kerr, inking him to a multi-year deal, but his top assistants won't be back in the Bay Area next season.

Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse will leave the Warriors sideline after their contracts expire and they won't be renewed, according to ESPN's Anthony Slater.

Stotts is looking to get back to an NBA head coaching opportunity and wanted to throw his name in the candidacy pool, ESPN reported. Stotts' NBA coaching career spans more than three decades. He took his first head coaching job in the NBA in 2002 with the Atlanta Hawks. His most successful stint came with the Portland Trail Blazers from 2012 to 2021, where he coached the team to consecutive playoff appearances, including a Western Conference finals run in 2019.

Stotts joined Golden State in 2024 for his second stint with the team. His first tenure as Warriors assistant came in the 2004-05 season under head coach Mike Montgomery.

"I enjoyed my time with Steve, the staff and players," Stotts told ESPN. "My two years there were fulfilling. Nothing but well-wishes."

Stackhouse joined the Warriors as an assistant with Stotts in 2024. Before agreeing to join Golden State, Stackhouse coached six seasons at Vanderbilt. He was named 2023 SEC Coach of the Year for leading the Commodores to a 22-15 record. He was fired after the following season after a lackluster year.

ESPN reported that Stackhouse, too, is searching for a head coaching opportunity.

Those two weren't the only assistants to cut ties with Golden State. Prior to the end of the season, Chris DeMarco left in January to become head coach of the New York Liberty, moving up Kris Weems in the coaching hierarchy.

Golden State will continue its coaching search to fill the sideline alongside Kerr.

One candidate, ESPN reported, is Willie Green, who began his coaching career with the Warriors in 2016 as an assistant. He's since went on to become an assistant for the Phoenix Suns and head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans from 2021 to 2025.

Warriors assistant coaching candidates

When there were discussions about whether Kerr would return, various names came up as to who might succeed him. Well, now that Golden State has retained him, and instead lost their assistants, a few other coaching positions must be filled.

If these were some of the candidates to take Kerr's job, why shouldn't some names be mentioned to coach alongside him? Here are some names to keep in mind as the Warriors search to fill their assistant coaching vacancies:

Andre Iguodala

Iguodala is a former Warrior who won four championships with the franchise and was named the 2015 Finals MVP. He's been an All-Star and played a veteran role mentoring young guys, especially during the Warriors' 2022 championship run, which birthed an iconic meme during the NBA Finals in a teaching moment with Andrew Wiggins.

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GAME THREAD: Reds at Guardians, game 45 of 162

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 05: Rhys Hoskins #8 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium on May 05, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here’s the Reds lineup:

Here’s the Guardians lineup:

Let’s go, Guardians!

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Is Jalen Duren a max player? Pistons have tough offseason questions coming with him, Ausar Thompson.

Last offseason, when the Pistons and Jalen Duren discussed a contract extension, he thought they underestimated his value, and the result was that the sides did not agree to a new deal. Then Duren went out this season and showed them what he was worth: 19.5 points a game on 65% shooting, plus 10.5 rebounds while playing elite defense (he was on some Defensive Player of the Year ballots). He is almost certainly going to be an All-NBA player. That led to the expectation Durent had earned a max contract extension this summer, a five-year deal worth at least $239 million, and up to $287 million with that All-NBA nod.

Then the playoffs started.

Duren has struggled this postseason, averaging 10.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game when the team needs him most, while his lack of outside shooting has helped clog up the Pistons' offense at times. Things got so bad that coach J.B. Bickerstaff played Paul Reed over Duren during the fourth quarter and overtime of a critical Game 5.

Which begs the question, is Duren still worth a max contract? Here is what one front office executive told Brian Windhorst of ESPN:

"He's not a max player, but they're probably going to have to give him the max," an East executive said of Duren. "Because now [cap space] teams like Chicago or Brooklyn might see him as someone they could get with a max offer sheet and Detroit will have to match.

"With the new apron rules, it might come back to bite [the Pistons], and it's just another example of how the CBA crushes team building."

The Pistons need to re-sign both Duren and Ausar Thompson this offseason, two key defenders and part of the culture built in Detroit, but also two non-shooters who have led to spacing problems in the playoffs as Orlando and then Cleveland have thrown multiple defenders at Cade Cunningham and dared anyone else to beat them. If both get huge deals (Thompson will likely get a contract similar to the $25 million a season that Dyson Daniels agreed to in Atlanta), the Pistons lose flexibility to add another shot creator and/or more shooting the team needs.

Can the Pistons get Duren to take the 25% max ($239 million over five years) and not more? If the Pistons try to get him to take less than that, could a team with cap space in need of a center — Chicago and the Los Angeles Lakers both check those boxes — swoop in and try to poach him (Detroit has the right to match any offer).

As the executive quoted by Windhorst suggests, one of the consequences of the tax aprons in the CBA is that teams CANNOT miss on max contracts, or they quickly become anchors. Duren has earned the right for the Pistons to back the Brinks truck up to his home, he deserves the massive contract coming. How massive, and can he continue to play at this level, are the questions. And there are no easy answers.

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Blackhawks At World Championships: Teuvo Teravainen Impresses, USA Loses To Host Switzerland

The Chicago Blackhawks have seven players participating in the IIHF World Championships. All of them were in action on Friday in Switzerland, the first day of the tournament. 

Two Blackhawks are on Team Sweden, which was defeated by Canada 5-3. Anton Frondell was a healthy scratch and Arvid Soderblom was the backup goaltender, so neither impacted the game. 

There was a reason to keep an eye from a Blackhawks perspective, however, as Ivar Stenberg suited up for Sweden. He will be a top-five pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, where the Blackhawks currently hold the fourth overall selection. 

Stenberg scored a goal early in the contest, but it was waved off for a high stick. He didn’t have any points that counted, but you can tell from watching him that the hockey IQ is there for him to be an impact player once he reaches the NHL. 

Teuvo Teravainen suited up for Finland, and he recorded two assists in their win over Germany. For someone who struggled to put up points at the end of the NHL regular season, this was a good showing. Both Sweden and Finland are poised for deep runs in the tournament once the elimination rounds begin. 

Four Blackhawks are on Team USA’s roster. One of them, Drew Commesso, was the third goalie who didn’t dress for their opening game. The other three, Wyatt Kaiser, Oliver Moore, and Sam Lafferty all suited up as skaters. 

None of them recorded a point, and Team USA lost to host Switzerland. After the Swiss took a 2-0 lead, the Americans started to play better and push the pace, but they were unable to get it tied before a third goal was scored to make it 3-1, which held as the final. 

There was a fourth game that involved no Blackhawks, which was won 4-1 by Czechia over Denmark. It was a good slate of hockey, but there is a long way to go before anyone creates any separation. There is also the possibility of more players joining as they get eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

The next chance to watch a Blackhawks player will come on Saturday when Teravainen and Finland suit up against Hungary. On Sunday, Team USA will battle Great Britain, and Sweden will play Denmark. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

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GameThread: Tigers vs. Blue Jays 6:45 p.m.

Detroit Tigers right fielder Wenceel Pérez (46) misses the ball that resulted a Boston Red Sox left fielder Masataka Yoshida (7) double during the seventh inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Monday, May 4, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Detroit Tigers (19-25) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (19-24)

Time/Place: 6:45 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site: Bluebird Banter
Media: Apple TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Ty Madden (0-0, 2.45 ERA) vs. RHP Trey Yesavage (1-1, 0.68 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Madden211.029.34.959.32.650.2
Yesavage313.126.38.829.42.210.5

Lineups

BLUE JAYSTIGERS
George Springer – DHKevin McGonigle – SS
Yohendrick Pinango – LFDillon Dingler – C
Vladimir Guerrero – 1BColt Keith – DH
Kazuma Okamoto – 3BRiley Greene – LF
Daulton Varsho – CFMatt Vierling – CF
Jesus Sanchez – RFGage Workman – 3B
Ernie Clement – 2BZach McKinstry – RF
Andres Gimenez – SSSpencer Torkelson – 1B
Brandon Valenzuela – CHao-Yu Lee – 2B

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Pistons vs. Cavs Discussion: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More

May 13, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) celebrates in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

They say that in a tense situation, you should open with a joke. Here is a joke. There are no players on the injury report for the Detroit Pistons, meaning everyone is available to play. It’s just a shame that the only thing that brings everyone back together is a funeral.

End of joke.

Anyway, the Detroit Pistons are facing elimination on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have not lost a game in Rocket Arena during these playoffs. The Pistons have been here before. They trailed the Orlando Magic 3-1 and triumphed. What kind of performance will we see tonight? Hopefully one like in Game 1 of this series, where it was clear that Detroit was the better team. Will we get that tonight? Not based on the last three games. But it’s basketball. Anything can happen.

Game Vitals

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Watch: Prime Video
Odds: Pistons +3.5

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (2-3)

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Cleveland Cavaliers (3-2)

James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

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Game Thread: This guy’s throwing Junk!

MIAMI, FL - MAY 04: Janson Junk #26 of the Miami Marlins pitches during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on Monday, May 4, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Owen Gupta/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Go Rays!

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New York Yankees @ New York Mets: Cam Schlittler vs. Clay Holmes

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 23: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees warms up in the bullpen prior to the game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thursday, April 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Natalie Reid/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The first Subway Series matchup of the season features a pitching duel that, a few years ago, would have sounded completely ridiculous. Currently the best starter on the Yankees staff, Cam Schlittler enters Friday night looking less like a youngster trying to stick in a rotation and more like a legitimate Cy Young contender, while former Yankees closer Clay Holmes gets the nod in Queens for the Mets.

There is not much more to say about Schlittler at this point other than he has simply been dominant. Entering play Thursday, the Yankees’ 25-year-old right-hander led Major League Baseball in ERA, FIP, WHIP, and H/9.

For fun, pick between one of these two stat lines so far this season: pitcher one is 6-2 with a 1.98 ERA and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings, while pitcher two is 5-1 with a 1.35 ERA and 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings. If you took the former, congratulations, you picked Paul Skenes. If you picked the latter, you picked Schlittler. In his last outing, Schlittler tossed another gem, allowing just two hits and no runs before watching the Yankees’ bullpen let the game slip away late in Milwaukee.

The Yankees have already seen Schlittler rise to the occasion in rivalry games this season, particularly at Fenway Park against Boston, and now he gets to take center stage across town. A strong outing Friday night against the Mets would only continue building what is rapidly becoming one of the best stories in baseball.

Of course, on the other side stands a very familiar face. Holmes’ transition from Yankees closer to Mets starter last year has gone far better than many expected, as the right-hander enters tonight with a 1.86 ERA across 48.1 innings pitched over eight starts. Impressively, Holmes has yet to allow more than two runs in a single outing while consistently working at least five innings deep into games. Really putting together, a quality performance each start.

If the National League was not currently in the middle of a potential all-time great Cy Young race and the Mets were not buried near the bottom of the standings, Holmes would probably be receiving much more national attention for the season he is putting together. Yankees fans know better than most that Holmes possesses electric stuff. His first season as a starter was a success, and his performance so far this season shows he has continued to build off those positive results.

The pitching matchup may headline the night, but both offenses enter the series with very different levels of pressure. The Yankees continue to lean on one of the streakiest lineups in baseball that has several players yet to have a hot streak, while the Mets arrive in the Subway Series battered by injuries. Francisco Lindor, Francisco Alvarez, Luis Robert Jr., and Jorge Polanco are all currently on the injured list and Bo Bichette has struggled badly, leaving Juan Soto as one of the few consistent and dangerous bats remaining in the lineup.

Soto’s status carried some uncertainty entering Friday after fouling a ball off his foot earlier this week. However, after being listed as day-to-day and serving as the designated hitter Thursday (while homering), Soto returns to left field and bats third in the opener. The Mets will hope his health holds up for the weekend as the lineup around him has struggled to consistently generate offense for much of the season.

The Yankees go with a lefty-heavy lineup tonight, as Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe are the only two right-handed hitters scheduled to start. Spencer Jones, a day removed from his 25th birthday, serves as the designated hitter while batting seventh in the lineup. Aaron Boone has publicly said the coaching staff needs to get several guys going offensively, and the Yankees will hope the off day and return home to New York can help right the ship.

Naturally, this being the Subway Series, both teams arrive in Queens through very different circumstances. The back pages of the sports section show the Yankees chasing another postseason run while the Mets are simply trying to stay afloat after a disappointing start to the season. Rivalry games always seem to take on a life of their own regardless of what the standings say, and with both teams struggling recently, both clubs will hope this series can help build some positive momentum. Subway Series, let’s play ball!

How to watch

Location: Citi Field – Flushing, NY

First pitch: 7:15 pm ET

TV broadcast: Apple TV

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App 92.3 HD2

Streaming: MLB.tv (out-of-market only)

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Cavs vs. Pistons Game 6 open gamethread

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 13: Max Strus #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers walks off the court after defeating the Detroit Pistons in overtime in Game Five of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals tonight.

Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!

Go Cavs!

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Cavs have a secret button for Game 6; when do they press it?

DETROIT, MI - MAY 13: Max Strus #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers plays defense on Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 13, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reached a point in their second-round series with the Detroit Pistons where all the cards are already on the table. It’s unlikely either team will do anything overly shocking in Game 6. It will be more of the same, with minor tweaks and varying execution.

One trick the Cavs have up their sleeves, however, is when and where they choose to trap Cade Cunningham.

Cunningham might carry the heaviest individual load in the league. Detroit’s success on offense relies almost entirely on his shoulders. That’s why his usage is through the roof, with Cunningham attempting the most field goals per game in the playoffs at 21.6.

This can lead to great things. Cunningham was lights out for most of Game 5, scoring 39 points and pushing his team to the brink of a 3-2 lead. But something changed in the final minutes, and the toll of everything Cade had carried up to that point was eventually paid.

The Cavs began sending two to the ball. Cunnigham saw multiple defenders in front of him, with pressure on him as soon as he crossed halfcourt. This forced Cunningham to give up the rock and work harder to get open. That’s a lot to ask of someone who played 48 minutes in Game 5. The results speak for themselves.

Cunnigham struggled against the trap. He scored just 2 points in the final 10 minutes of regulation and overtime, shooting 1-4 and turning it over at a key point of the game. Max Strus, who stole Cunningham’s inbound pass in the fourth quarter of Game 3, once again capitalized on Cunningham’s exhaustion by ripping him in the backcourt during overtime of Game 5.

When you’re tired, you make mistakes. The Cavs waited until the perfect moment to ramp up the pressure on Cunningham. The question is, can they find the same luck tonight?

“It’s a feel,” said Kenny Atkinson. “Do you do it after a timeout? You do it to throw them off balance, so do you do it on the first play? To end the game? Obviously, you’ve got to know when to, or not to, go with it.”

Doubling a player like Cunningham comes with risks. You’re giftwrapping the Pistons’ offense a numbers advantage by putting two on the ball. You can get burned in a hurry if Detroit’s role players convert on those scenarios.

That’s why it’s important to deploy this strategy at the right time. Do it too early, and you risk allowing the Pistons to find a rhythym. Do it too late, and well, you’re too late. Mixing up the coverage and keeping Cunningham on his toes is all you can do.

“He’s a great player, we can’t give him one look,” said Aktinson. “So we’re gonna keep mixing it up, and there have been games this series where we didn’t double-team, so it’s a feel.”

The Cavs have an opportunity to eliminate the 60-win Pistons and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018. To do so, they’ll have to activate their best defensive strategy at the right moment and deliver the knockout blow.

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Mitch Marner’s Playoff Surge Fuels Conn Smythe Value

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Life as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan could have taken the darkest of turns if the franchise hadn’t been gifted the first-overall pick in this year’s draft.

However, the real kick in the crotch for Buds backers has to be the play of Mitch Marner in the playoffs.

Luckily, there's a way to remedy this when it comes to the latest NHL odds...

Son of a Mitch

After advancing to the Western Conference Final on Thursday, Mitch Marner leads all NHL playoff skaters in points with seven goals in 12 games.

By comparison, Leafs Nation watched the winger go 31-39 SU in the postseason during his tenure with Toronto, winning just two of 11 playoff series and averaging 0.81 points per game.

For Leafs fans like myself, there is a way to fix this, and it’s not just a hedge on happiness. Marner is currently listed at +1000 in the latest Conn Smythe odds, while the Vegas Golden Knights sit around +575 in Stanley Cup odds. 

If Vegas knocks off the Colorado Avalanche and Marner keeps contributing, that Conn Smythe line could shrink to +300 by the Final, especially if Vegas enters it as an underdog. 

There are only two true potential Conn Smythe winners in the West: Nathan MacKinnon or Marner, and the latter has a five-point cushion over the Avalanche forward.

Born Sinners

Everyone thinks the Avalanche are going to roll over the team from Sin City, but this series could be tighter than expected.

When healthy, the Minnesota Wild are arguably a better team than Colorado.

Against the Avs, Joel Eriksson Ek being injured was a massive gut-punch for a team already thin at center, and defenseman Jonas Brodin missing time hurt as well. The top-heavy Wild piled huge minutes onto their stars and faded late.

Vegas’ goaltending may be better, considering Colorado has already made two changes in net this postseason, and the potential shoulder issue for Cale Makar is significant.

The Mitch is Back

Marner is looking electric alongside a red-hot Brett Howden (eight goals in his last nine games) and William Karlsson, who knows his way around playoff hockey.

The Avs are favorites for a reason, but if Mark Stone returns to the lineup, this could become a six- or seven-game war.

Since John Tortorella took over as head coach, Vegas is 14-4-1 including the playoffs, boasting a +31 goal differential. If Marner’s success is tough to watch, go grab him at 12/1 for Conn Smythe. 

It’s the balance of the hockey world: Leafs fans get the first-overall pick, but Marner wins the Cup and playoff MVP.

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.

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NBA Playoff Friday discussion

May 13, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) dribbles defended by Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) in the second half during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Here are the NBA playoff games for Friday, May 15, 2026:

  • Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder — 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
  • Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons — 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

In addition, the Washington Mystics play the Indiana Fever tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game is on ion.

Enjoy the games!

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Game #44 GameThread: Jays @ Tigers

Oct 7, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; A detailed view of empty seats in a rain delay before game three of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs between the Seattle Mariners and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

I’m happy to have a series that’s not against the Rays.

And it is on Apple TV. Stupid MLB.

I’ve been to Comerica Park once, for one game. We’d gone to Lansing to watch the Lugnuts and the Tigers had a day game, while the Lugnuts were playing in the evening. So there was time to drive to Detroit watch the game and come back and watch the Lugnuts.

Lansing is a very nice town and they had a pretty walk along the river.

Today’s Lineups

BLUE JAYSTIGERS
George Springer – DHKevin McGonigle – SS
Yohendrick Pinango – LFDillon Dingler – C
Vladimir Guerrero – 1BColt Keith – DH
Kazuma Okamoto – 3BRiley Greene – LF
Daulton Varsho – CFMatt Vierling – CF
Jesus Sanchez – RFGage Workman – 3B
Ernie Clement – 2BZach McKinstry – RF
Andres Gimenez – SSSpencer Torkelson – 1B
Brandon Valenzuela – CHao-Yu Lee – 2B
Trey Yesavage – RHPTy Madden – RHP

Go Jays Go.