Blue Jays vs Yankees Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB Game

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Trey Yesavage baffled New York Yankees batters in his lone career outing against them in the playoffs last October, and I expect another strikeout-filled outing for the Toronto Blue Jays starter tonight. 

Read on to see why with my Blue Jays vs. Yankees predictions and MLB Picks on Wednesday, May 20. 

Blue Jays vs Yankees predictions

Blue Jays vs Yankees best bet: Trey Yesavage Over 5.5 strikeouts (-140)

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage has picked up right where he left off last postseason, as one of the hardest pitchers to hit in baseball. 

He’s got a 1.40 ERA with 21 strikeouts in just four appearances, going Over tonight’s 5.5 posted total in three straight, largely thanks to a 90th-percentile whiff rate

I’ll bet on him doing it for a fourth straight game tonight in a matchup that favors him immensely. 

The New York Yankees own the seventh-worst strikeout rating in all of baseball, with the fifth-worst against the splitter, specifically. 

Additionally, Yesavage has just one career start against the Yankees where he went 5 1/3 innings of hitless baseball with 11 Ks.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Yesavage ranks in the 97th percentile with a .162 xBA.

Blue Jays vs Yankees same-game parlay (SGP)

I’ll continue to ride with Yesavage for the second leg on my SGP and take Under 2.5 earned runs allowed. He’s been Under that number in all four of his starts this season. He also limits hard contact, respectively ranking in the 88th and 99th percentiles in barrel and hard-hit rates

For the final leg of my SGP, I’ll take Daulton Varsho to go Over 0.5 hits tonight. He’s heating up with hits in four straight, totaling nine in that stretch. He’s also 1-for-4 lifetime against Cam Schlittler.

Blue Jays vs Yankees SGP

  • Trey Yesavage Over 5.5 strikeouts
  • Trey Yesavage Under 2.5 earned runs
  • Daulton Varsho Over 0.5 hits
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Blue Jays vs Yankees home run pick: Daulton Varsho (+405)

This will be a half-unit wager as Schlittler has only surrendered two home runs this season. 

However, he does give up some hard contact, ranking in the 42nd percentile in opponent hard-hit rate. 

Varsho owns a 60% hard-hit rate against the four-seam fastball, which Schlittler uses most often against lefties. 

Yankee Stadium is a hitters' park, so if Varsho gets hold of one over the plate, he will take it for a ride.

2026 Transparency record
  • Best bets: 21-26, +1.55 units
  • SGPs: 8-39, -5.2 units
  • HR picks: 8-39, +3.65 units

Blue Jays vs Yankees odds

  • Moneyline: Toronto +150 | New York -175
  • Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-140) | New York -1.5 (+120)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-110) | Under 7.5 (-110)

Blue Jays vs Yankees trend

The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the Team Total Under in 15 of their last 23 away games (+6.40 Units / 24% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Yankees.

How to watch Blue Jays vs Yankees and game info

LocationYankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
DateWednesday, May 20, 2026
First pitch7:05 p.m. ET
TVSportsnet ONE, Amazon Prime Video
Blue Jays starting pitcherTrey Yesavage
(1-1, 1.40 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcherCam Schlittler
(6-1, 1.35 ERA)

Blue Jays vs Yankees latest injuries

Blue Jays vs Yankees 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.

Mizzou bats spark early, but No. 16 Mississippi State ends Tigers’ season in 12-2 run-rule loss

Following a thrilling first-round SEC Tournament victory over Ole Miss, Missouri baseball saw its postseason run come to a bittersweet end in Hoover, Ala. The Tigers were unable to carry their momentum into Wednesday morning’s second-round matchup against the Bulldogs, falling short in a seven inning run-rule loss.

Despite the final score, sophomore left-hander Brady Kehlenbrink provided a memorable performance on the mound for the Tigers. Kehlenbrink racked up eight strikeouts in just 4.1 innings of work, keeping Mizzou within striking distance before the Bulldog’s offense came alive.

Early Fireworks and Strong Pitching Kept Tigers Close

The game started with high hopes and plenty of momentum for Mizzou. Tigers slugger Kam Durnin wasted no time getting Mizzou on the board, launching a two-seamer to center field for an early run. After homering last night, Durnin has now gone deep in back-to-back games.

On the mound, Kehlenbrink started strong for the Tigers in the first, with a strikeout on the board and no runners allowed on base. Kaden Peer added another hit for the Tigers in the second, lining a single after recording one against Ole Miss. 

The Bulldogs picked up their first hit of the game on a single from freshman Jacob Parker, but Kehlenbrink answered with another strikeout for the Tigers. Moments later, Mateo Serna nearly threw Parker out at second, though the call was overturned after review. 

Chris Patterson then misplayed a ground ball at third for a fielding error before Ryder Woodson launched a three-run homer, making that his sixth of the season and putting the Bulldogs ahead 3-1. Kehlenbrink dealt again with his third strikeout of the day to end the inning.

Middle-Inning Grind

Pierre Seals got the ball rolling again for the Tigers in the third with a single to left. He then tried to steal second, but came off the bag and was called out. Kehlenbrink responded by throwing a groundout and back-to-back strikeouts, giving the Tigers the 1-2-3 inning they needed.

The Bulldogs dealt a 1-2-3 inning for themselves in the fourth. Kehlenbrink then deals his third and fourth strikeout in a row for the Tigers, retiring seven straight with a popout to end the inning.

Peer snagged his second hit of the day on a single up the middle to get the fifth inning started for the Tigers. Patterson then hits a sac-fly to right, bringing Peer home and changing the score to 3-2 Mississippi.

Kehlenbrink threw back-to-back walks before throwing his eighth strikeout of the day. Soon after, the Bulldogs extended their lead to 4-2, with a single up the middle bringing in a run. Kehlenbrink walked another, before Sam Rosand came in as a reliever for the Tigers with the bases loaded. Rosand then threw a strikeout, ending the fifth with a groundout he scooped up and threw to first.

Durnin launched a single to right, his second hit of the game, but the inning ended with no runs added for the Tigers. 

Mizzou’s Fate Sealed in Sixth

The definitive blow came in the bottom of the sixth inning when a 4-2 deficit unraveled for the Tigers. Trouble came as Vytas Valincius hit a homer for the Bulldogs, extending their lead to 5-2. Mississippi added two more singles, the second one from a fielding error by third baseman Chris Patterson, before the Tigers headed to the bullpen.

Isaiah Salas came in for Rosand with the bases loaded and one out. From there, a batter was hit-by-pitch, extending Mississippi’s lead to 6-2, and another walk drove in another run to make the score 7-2. 

Pierre Seals was unable to catch a ball in right, adding another run for Mississippi, and another run was added on a groundout. Finally, Valincius hit a three-run homer, his second home run of the day, extending their lead to a staggering 12-2 before Salas managed a strikeout to end the frame.

Starting pitcher Tomas Valincius for Mississippi ended his day after six innings with eight strikeouts. 

The Tigers then started off the seventh with a walk on Donovan Jordon, but Mississippi managed a double play, ending the game for the Tigers on a run-rule loss.

Memorable 2026 Season 

Mizzou finished its 24-31 campaign with monumental moments that established a solid foundation for the future of Missouri baseball.

The Tigers managed to win their home series against Vanderbilt, marking their first SEC home series victory since 2024 and their first series win over the Commodores since 2018. Alongside this, they took the series against No.24 Kentucky in Lexington, claiming their first road series win against an SEC opponent since 2021. Although the season is over, these series wins provided plenty of optimism for the program moving forward.

Ralphy Velazquez Might Be Very Good

AKRON, OHIO - MAY 03, 2026: Ralphy Velazquez #24 of the Akron RubberDucks bats during the third inning against the Harrisburg Senators at 7 17 Credit Union Park on May 03, 2026 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Ralphy Velazquez is playing his first Triple-A game as this post is published.

Since 2017, the best hitters with 200 or more plate appearances at Double-A’s Eastern League at 20 years old or younger, are:

Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. – 171 wRC+, 10.2/7.9 K/BB%, 11.6 Swinging Str. %, 38/43 Fly/Pull ball %
Kevin McGonigle – 162 wRC+, 12.6/16 K/BB%, 7.9 Swinging Str. %, 35/42 FB/PB %
Ezequiel Tovar – 153 wRC+, 21.7/8.5 K/BB%, 15.2 Swinging Str. % 39/39 FB/PB %
Rafael Devers – 150 wRC+, 17.2/9.7 K/BB%, 10.6 Swinging Str. % 35/42 FB/PB %
Francisco Alvarez – 150 wRC+, 24/12.2 K/BB%, 16.1 Swinging Str. %, 45/53 FB/PB %
Riley Greene – 143 wRC+, 27.3/11 K/BB%, 11.7 Swinging Str. %, 30/37 FB/PB %

By comparison, during his time as a 20 year-old at Double-A:
Ralphy Velazquez: 171 wRC+, 17/12 K/BB%, 11.9 Swinging Str. %, 34/34 FB/PB %

It’s official. We have 90% of Vladimir Guerrero. Bring him up and let’s ride.

In all seriousness, Velazquez has more to prove, of course, now that he’s been called up to Triple-A. He should work on pulling the ball more than he does and attempt to add some lift, if possible. But, folks, we cannot sell short how exciting of a hitter he is. At the age of 20, he is showing advanced professional skill against the much more advanced pitching of Double-A. IF (big “if”) he can keep some semblance of this up now that he is in Columbus, this should begin to look like a top 20 to top 10 prospect in MLB, even if limited to first base. You can see above that being an excellent hitter at Double-A at 19-20 does not make becoming a major league all-star hitter a sure thing… but it’s about as close as you can get.

Should Ralphy play in Cleveland at some point this summer? That will be entirely determined by whether or not he is able to continue to perform well against Triple-A pitching. If so… then I would guess he is going to force the issue in September when rosters expand. Should (knock on wood) any injuries come into play affecting first base/DH, he could get an earlier opportunity, also. This is an exceptionally talented hitter and Guardians fans should be excited.

Guardians vs. Tigers prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 20

The Guardians (28-22) look to make it three in a row against the Tigers (20-29) tonight at Comerica Park.

 

Cleveland has outscored Detroit 12-5 through the first two games of the series. Last night, the Guardians won 4-3. Rookie Travis Bazzana drove in a pair with his second home run of the season to pace the offense. Steven Kwan and Brayan Rocchio each drove in a run to round out the scoring for Cleveland. Parker Messick allowed a couple earned runs over five innings but did not factor in the decision. Colin Holderman pitched a scoreless sixth to earn his first win of the season. Spencer Torkelson cracked his seventh home run of the season for the Tigers. Tyler Holton took the loss in relief of Keider Montero.

 

Tonight, Cleveland hands the ball to Tanner Bibee, who enters the night still searching for his first win of the season. The veteran is 0-6 with a 4.15 ERA.Detroit is turning to reliever Drew Anderson. The right hander is stepping into a Tigers’ rotation that has been ravaged by injuries. While they try to stay afloat until some of their starting pitchers return, the true issues with Detroit have to do with an offense that has scored the third-fewest runs in the American League. Other than Riley Greene and Kevin McGonigle, no one is a threat in that lineup. Meanwhile, Cleveland continues to be led by José Ramírez but he is not alone in that lineup. Youngsters Bazzana and Chase DeLauter have helped shoulder the load. DeLauter has driven in 30 runs this season and Bazzana is hitting .328 in May.

 

The Tigers sit 7.5 games behind the Guardians in the American League Central and 3.5 back of the final Wild Card spot. Doubtful they can afford to fall much further behind in either race.

 

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.

Game Details and How to Watch: Guardians vs. Tigers

  • Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Comerica Park
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Tigers.TV, CLEGuardians.TV

 

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: Guardians vs. Tigers

The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Cleveland Guardians (-120), Detroit Tigers (+100)
  • Spread: Guardians -1.5 (+138), Tigers +1.5 (-167)
  • Total: 7.5 runs

Probable Starting Pitchers: Guardians vs. Tigers

Pitching matchup for May 20:

  • Guardians: Tanner Bibee
    Season Totals: 52.0 IP, 0-6, 4.15 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 47K, 20 BB
  • Tigers: Drew Anderson
    Season Totals: 27.0 IP, 1-1, 4.67 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 31K, 12 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Guardians vs. Tigers

  • Travis Bazzano is enjoying a 6-game hitting streak (12-26)
  • Steven Kwan is just 3-27 over his last 9 games
  • Riley Greene has hit safely in 15 of 17 games in May and is hitting .433 for the month
  • Spencer Torkelson did go yard last night but is hitting just .136 for the month

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!

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Guardians vs. Tigers

  • The Guardians are 13-12 on the road this season
  • The Tigers are 13-10 at home this season
  • The Tigers are 24-25 on the Run Line this season
  • The Guardians are 28-22 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 26 times in games involving the Guardians this season (26-24)
  • The OVER has cashed 22 times in Tigers’ games this season (22-25-2)

 

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions: Guardians vs. Tigers

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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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.

 

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Guardians and the Tigers:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Guardians on the Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line on the Run Line
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 7.5 runs

 

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Picks, Predictions & Best Bets for Thunder vs Spurs Game 2 on May 20

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How the Oklahoma City Thunder adjust to their Game 1 loss to the San Antonio Spurs should be the most intriguing part of Game 2. That conversation can start with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose impact is altered by overlapping so many minutes with Victor Wembanyama.

These Spurs vs. Thunder predictions dive into the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander odds and will not bet on the two-time MVP staggering his minutes entirely away from the Defensive Player of the Year, though that is an adjustment worth pondering for Game 2 tonight.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander prop pick for Game 2

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander best bet: Over 28.5 points (-105 at bet365)

In a game that went to double overtime and saw the Oklahoma City Thunder eventually lose by seven points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing 51 minutes and posting a -15 stands out.

It is not a coincidence that San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama played 49 minutes and posted a +16.

Wembanyama is the best rim deterrent in the NBA, the best rim deterrent since... well, that historical lookback can be pondered another day.

The Thunder are deep. It is one of their greatest assets. They have the personnel to better stagger SGA into the minutes Wembanyama rests, and there should be more minutes without Wembanyama after that double-overtime effort on Monday.

Such a stagger would immediately boost Gilgeous-Alexander’s shooting; his 7-for-23 showing in Game 1 was ugly yet still yielded 24 points. Any improvement in his shooting should set up the MVP to reach 30 points in what is effectively a must-win for OKC.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander same-game parlay

Wemby’s rim presence often turns drives into passes, part of how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander managed 12 assists in Game 1. Just as vitally, the MVP’s teammates showed up. The Thunder shot 17-for-45 (38%) from deep, boosted by Alex Caruso’s 8-for-14 mark.

Even if (when) Caruso’s shooting tails off, SGA’s assist numbers should still be near double digits all series long. Wembanyama’s rim presence demands that.

Simply put, Gilgeous-Alexander needs to do a bit of everything in this series, as he often has to for the Thunder. That is the burden of being a ball-centric MVP.

He will need to find his moments to preserve some energy, and that should come on the glass. Gilgeous-Alexander grabbed only three rebounds in 51 minutes in Game 1. Credit Wembanyama. Credit Stephon Castle. Credit Dylan Harper.

Also realize it is somewhat prudent of SGA to sacrifice some rebounds in the name of playing aggressive defense and dictating OKC’s offense.

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Spurs vs Thunder Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for Game 2

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After a thrilling Game 1, our Spurs vs. Thunder computer picks are back for more ahead of tonight's Game 2 at Paycom Center.

Our NBA player prop projections will help you make the best data-driven Spurs vs. Thunder predictions and NBA picks possible for Wednesday, May 20.

Spurs vs Thunder computer picks for Game 2

Spurs SpursThunder Thunder
Wembanyama o1.5 threes
+150
Hartenstein o4.5 rebounds
+105
Vassell o11.5 points
-120
Mitchell o9.5 points
-110
Castle o16.5 points
-110
Holmgren o13.5 points
-125

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Spurs Game 2 computer picks

Victor Wembanyama Over 1.5 threes (+150)

Projection: 1.95 threes

Among the highlights from the Spurs' Game 1 victory was an insane 3-point shot from Victor Wembanyama.

He's priced at +150 to connect on two shots from downtown tonight, and our computer believes the Over is the play.

Wembanyama is projected to bank just under two triples, and that combined with the plus odds offers a +22.08% EV edge.

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Devin Vassell Over 11.5 points (-120)

Projection: 12.61 points

Devin Vassell has gone for 12+ points in five of his last seven overall.

Our computer is calling for 12.61 points from the Spurs' shooting guard in Game 2, making this a four-star play.

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Stephon Castle Over 16.5 points (-110)

Projection: 17.21 points

There's a +9.36% EV edge associated with this play. Our system is backing him to stay hot as a visiting player.

"Stephon Castle has tallied 22.8 points per game over the last five games while playing away from home."

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Thunder Game 2 computer picks

Isaiah Hartenstein Over 4.5 rebounds (+105)

Projection: 7.16 rebounds

With our system calling for Isaiah Hartenstein to top his rebounding prop by over two full boards, this a five-star play.

Hartenstein came up short of this number in Game 1, but beat this line in eight of his last nine before that.

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Ajay Mitchell Over 9.5 points (-110)

Projection: 12.98 points

Ajay Mitchell is projected to beat this line by a dramatic margin of 3.5 points, good for a +25.28% EV edge. Our computer values his feverish recent output.

"Mitchell has averaged 18.8 points per game over the last five games, 4.7 higher than he's averaged in all games this year."

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Chet Holmgren Over 13.5 points (-125)

Projection: 16.43 points

Our computer is calling Chet Holmgren to top this prop handily, so this is a five-star play with a +24.46% edge.

Holmgren has cleared this line in eight of his last 10, and recent team trends suggest it will happen again.

"The Thunder rank as the 3rd-highest scoring offense in the league over the last 20 games. The San Antonio Spurs have played at the 9th-quickest pace in the NBA over the last 5 games, which ought to boost opportunities for the Thunder."

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How to watch Spurs vs Thunder Game 2

LocationPaycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
DateWednesday, May 20, 2026
Tip-off8:30 p.m. ET
TVNBC/Peacock

Not intended for use in MA.
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Golden Knights vs Avalanche Anytime Goal Scorer Predictions & Parlay for Game 1

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The Vegas Golden Knights are in Denver to take on the No. 1-seeded Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

Highlighted by star winger Martin Necas, let's take a look at my three Golden Knights vs. Avalanche goal scorer predictions and NHL picks for May 20.

Golden Knights vs Avalanche goal scorer predictions for Game 1

Player to score a goalOdds
Avalanche Martin Necas +155
Avalanche Brock Nelson+285
Golden Knights Jack Eichel+220
💲Goal scorer parlay+1500

Goal scorer pick: Martin Necas (+155)

Martin Necas was an elite finisher in the regular season, scoring 38 times on 27 expected goals. Outperforming his xG is nothing new – Necas scored 27 goals on 20.5 expected last year, and 24 on 19.8 the season prior.

He is an exceptional shooter who consistently scores at rates higher than the norm, yet he has one playoff goal despite generating 26 chances and 2.8 expected goals.

Necas has generated plenty of looks. They just haven’t gone for him, and it’s only a matter of time before that changes.

It’s also worth noting that Necas scored three times over three regular-season meetings with the Vegas Golden Knights, with his multi-goal performance coming against Carter Hart.

Expect Necas’ success to continue in this series, starting tonight.

Goal scorer pick: Brock Nelson (+285)

Hart really struggled with high-danger shots during the regular season, posting a .761 save percentage on those looks, ranking 68th among 70 netminders to play at least 700 minutes at 5-on-5.

Brock Nelson is a prime candidate to take advantage. He ranked second on the Colorado Avalanche in high-danger opportunities this season, and the vast majority of his shot volume comes from directly around the net.

Nelson also has a great track record of shot-generation against the Golden Knights and other strong shot-suppression teams.

He generated multiple shots on net in all three regular-season meetings. More noteworthy, Nelson has averaged 2.6 shots on net and recorded multiple SOG in nine of his last 10 against Top-10 shot suppression sides.

Goal scorer pick: Jack Eichel (+220)

Jack Eichel has piled up the assists during the playoffs, but don’t let that fool you: he’s been a very active shooter.

Eichel leads the Golden Knights in shot attempts and shots on goal but has scored just one time due to an unsustainably low 2.86% shooting percentage.

He scored on 10.38% of his shots in the regular season and has converted on at least 10% of his looks in all five seasons with the Golden Knights. He is an obvious regression candidate.

That could come sooner than later against an Avalanche team that is suddenly struggling to get saves. 

They posted the worst save percentage of any team in the second round, and it wasn’t just one guy. Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood both struggled at points and were pulled from the net as a result.

Golden Knights vs Avalanche anytime goal parlay

  • Martin Necas 
  • Brock Nelson
  • Jack Eichel

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.

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2023 NHL Draft Looks Like A Masterclass For Chicago Blackhawks, Kyle Davidson

The Chicago Blackhawks made 11 selections in the 2023 NHL Draft. 2 of them were in the first round, 4 were in the top 50, and 8 were in the top 100.

The Chicago Blackhawks also kicked off the draft by taking Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats with the first overall pick. 

Three full seasons later, it is clear that this draft has the potential to be an incredible class for the organization. There are already a handful of players who have roles in the NHL ahead of schedule, with more on the way. The class is as follows:

1. - Connor Bedard

19. - Oliver Moore

35. - Adam Gajan

44. - Roman Kantserov

55. - Martin Misiak

67. - Nick Lardis

93. - Jiri Felcman

99. - Alex Pharand

131. - Marcel Marcel

167. - Milton Oscarson

195. - Janne Peltonen

Connor Bedard is the star that the Blackhawks selected him to be. He is also far from being a finished product in his development. He is trending towards being an elite number one center on a contending team. It’s only a matter of time, and maybe a linemate or two, before he becomes known amongst the league’s best. 

Oliver Moore was the other first-round pick from 2023. He is arguably the fastest player that the Chicago Blackhawks have in the entire organization, and his skills match his speed. He is a diverse forward who gives an honest effort at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill. Moore’s speed is always going to be the number one thing people bring up, but as soon as his production starts to climb, he has the potential to be a high-end middle-six winger. 

At 35th overall, the Blackhawks made a goalie selection. Adam Gajan is a Slovakian net-minder who has really ascended as a young player within the pipeline. Playing for the University of Minnesota, he was one of the best goalies in college hockey during the 2025-26 season. He didn’t dress, but he was even named to be an Olympian with Team Slovakia in Milano Cortina. 

Roman Kantserov, whom the Chicago Blackhawks selected 44th overall, may be the biggest steal of the Kyle Davidson era. There is a long way to go, but he put up some incredibly encouraging numbers in the KHL, including leading the league in goals. Kantserov has top-line winger potential, and he may get a crack at it as soon as opening night. 

As far as other prospects from 2023 that Chicago is banking on, Nick Lardis is amongst the quickest risers. He went from being a 3rd round pick to scoring a legendary amount of goals in the OHL with 71 and scoring at a 20-goal pace during his rookie NHL season. Lardis could become one of the best pure snipers on the team with his ability to put the puck in the net from close or far. 

Most of the rest are still trying to impress their way to NHL contracts, which may or may not come for them. Bedard, Moore, Lardis, and Kantserov are safe bets to play on the opening night roster. 

Gajan will start as part of a tandem in the AHL, but it won’t be long before he gets his chance to make his NHL debut. For Misiak, Felcman, Pharand, Marcel, Oscarson, and Peltonen, more time is needed. Roster spots are not as available as they once were, so everything will have to be earned. 

If the Blackhawks get four good forwards and a good depth goaltender out of one draft, it’s a big win. That’s especially true when one of them is a borderline generational talent. Early in the rebuild, these selections were consequential, as we are learning in 2026. By 2030, the draft may look even better. 

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Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa: Europa League final – as it happened

Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendía and Morgan Rogers were all on target in Istanbul as Unai Emery’s side outclassed their opponents

Villa have form for goalkeeper woes in European finals. Jimmy Rimmer went into the 1982 European Cup final with a sore neck, having taken a whack in training a couple of days before the match. He lasted nine minutes before giving way to 23-year-old substitute goalie Nigel Spink, who went on to have the match of his life. So all won’t be lost should the worst happen to Martinez …

… though our man on the spot, Ben Fisher, has just reported that “the glove is now back on and he’s practising claiming crosses from coaches and the other goalkeepers.” So panic over, for now at least.

Emi Martinez may have an issue here: Villa’s goalkeeping coach, Javi Garcia, has just spent the past couple of minutes taping one of Martinez’s fingers and now the Argentinian World Cup winner is continuing to warm up with his right goalie glove in his left hand. He looks very mobile, but it doesn’t seem ideal.

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“State Of The Rotation”: A Projected Weakness, An Actual…?

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 29: Luis Severino #40 of the Athletics pitches in the top of the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Sutter Health Park on April 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In baseball, rarely does everything unfold as expected. The unpredictability of baseball is one of its gifts as well as one of its most confounding aspects. The Seattle Mariners were widely believed to be the cream of the AL West crop, projected to win well over 90 games. Who thought they would sit 4 games under .500 and that Cal Raleigh, on Memorial Day, would be on the IL sitting on 1/3 of a season batting .161/.243/.317 with 7 HR?

Projection system were not in love with the A’s rotation, ranking it near the bottom going into the season. Here’s how it is shaping up as we fast approach the 1/3 mark — significant because it’s traditionally when front offices take a hard look at their team and make changes if need be.

Health: Let’s not overlook, with relief, how the A’s starting pitchers have stayed healthy. They opened the season with Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, Aaron Civale, Jacob Lopez, and Luis Morales and none has had to miss a turn, or go to the IL. Morales was replaced by JT Ginn who, despite a brief scare, was able to make his next start and is only getting better.

Now onto performance…

Luis Severino

In a way, Severino has been about as expected: flashing plus stuff, very inconsistent, high pitch/inning counts and high walk totals, prone to giving up runs in flurries, sometimes brilliant.

The A’s may have paid for a front of the rotation SP but what they have is also valuable, just not as valuable, and that is a #4 SP whose 4.45 ERA approximates how he has performed.

Expectations going forward: Probably more of the same as this has been Severino much of his career since his hey days of 2017 and 2018.

Jeffrey Springs

Springs started like gangbusters, hit a rough patch, and then gave the A’s an excellent start against the Giants his last time out. Overall he has pitched like he did in 2025: terrific on the road, less so at home. Springs’ away ERA this season is 3.04 whereas at home, where he has given up 6 of his 8 HRs, it balloons to 4.60.

Expectations going forward: Springs will generally give you a chance to win, but will also require a fair amount of bullpen support as he averages between 5-6 innings/start. Like Severino, Springs is a luxury to have as your #4 SP — and you are pushing your luck to ask him to be more.

He’s also a good one to push back a day if it means starting a road trip instead of finishing a home stand — though unfortunately, Severino’s and Ginn’s struggles at home make it hard to do any clever manipulating.

Aaron Civale

Civale has been great. Using a wide variety of pitches and mixing them up to keep hitters off balance, he has been everything the A’s could have asked for and more. Civale’s 2.70 ERA would rank 7th in the AL if he had enough innings to qualify (he barely misses but will qualify after tonight’s start assuming he lasts at least 2.1 IP).

However, Civale’s success does come with a caveat: all the underlying metrics suggest he is due for a big regression. His xERA is 4.38, his xFIP 4.66, his K rate just 6.75/9 IP. Civale needs to be very fine with his location and he has mostly been so far. He has also been unsustainably terrific with runners on base, stranding 90.3%, far above his career rate of 74.5%.

Expectations going forward: Take nothing away from what Civale has done, but you have to expect some rougher times ahead just naturally from a pitcher whose results so far have greatly exceeded the predicted outcomes.

Jacob Lopez

Ruh roh. What to do with Lopez. Has he pitched his way out of the rotation after failing to complete the 4th inning when staked to a 6-0 lead? As good as Lopez was in 2025 he has been bad in 2026.

The stats which pop out, besides his unsightly 6.14 ERA, are 30 BB in 44 IP and a K rate that has plummeted from 10.97 last season 6.55 this season. Lopez is a mess and while he was given more rope than Morales you have to wonder if the A’s will continue to trot him out every 5th day.

Expectations going forward: With the dreaded 1/3 mark upon us, figure the A’s will shake things up in some way either moving Lopez to the bullpen, where he can compete with Jose Suarez for “lefty who scares you, not opponents, when he is summoned, or to AAA (Lopez has one remaining option). Maybe the A’s just ”stay the course” a while longer with Lopez in the rotation, but don’t count on it as he’s been über-shaky for a long stretch now.

Luis Morales

Morales was terrible in spring training, worse to start the season, and was quickly demoted to AAA — where if it’s even possible, he pitched even worse yet.

Only in his last 3 appearances (out of the bullpen) has Morales started to right the ship a bit, and it’s really more “he hasn’t been terrible”: 4 IP, 4 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. It has brought his AAA season ERA down to 9.72 with 24 hits in 16.2 IP, 6 of them HRs, along with 13 BB.

Expectations going forward: Morales is still in the A’s future plans, but 2026 might wind up being a “get right” season. I wouldn’t look for a call up to Sacramento any time soon.

JT Ginn

We all know what Ginn did his last start. What’s less obvious is how solid he has been in aggregate, posting a 2.97 ERA. Is it for real? It may just be.

The key is that Ginn has finally figured out how to get LH batters out. Here’s the comparison between 2025 and 2026:

LH batters in 2025: .340/.416/.630, 10 HR in 38 IP

LH batters in 2026: .233/.331/.398, 4 HR in 27.1 IP

That’s worth a “Fosse wow” right there. What hasn’t shifted as much is the huge home/away splits where Ginn, after his no-hit bid, holds a 1.67 ERA on the road but a 5.21 ERA at home.

Expectations going forward: Ginn has historically had trouble staying healthy, but if the arm holds up the A’s might have themselves a gem who has figured out how to leverage his stuff — and with that you can expect that so long as LH batters don’t pose a huge issue for him, the home performance will improve and the home/away splits will move closer to one another.

Overall: The A’s don’t have a lot of SPs who get deep into games — only Ginn has really shown that strength — and there really aren’t front of the rotation arms there unless you buy into Ginn as an emerging staff leader. It’s kind of a “5.1 IP, 2 or 3 ER” group waiting for the arrival of an exciting young arm attached to Gage Jump or Wei-En Lin.

What would you like to see the A’s do, at the 1/3 mark, with this rotation, given who they have in MLB, who they have at AAA, and what the trade market looks like as we head towards trading season? No easy answers here, just an AL West that currently would require only 81 wins to get fitted for a crown.

Brewers vs Cubs Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Milwaukee Brewers can complete a sweep of the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night and we like their chances to do so. 

Here are my Brewers vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks for May 20.

Who will win Brewers vs Cubs today: Brewers ML (+104)

The matchup screams Milwaukee Brewers again. They now have the lowest whiff rate in the sport and a 26% chase rate, also bottom of the league, and that contact-first profile is a problem for Edward Cabrera

Cabrera's chase rate is elite, but Brewers hitters don't expand, which forces his game plan into the zone where his stuff plays down. When that happens, his bottom-40 % barrel rate and poor expected ERA come into play.

On the other side, Kyle Harrison has more than enough stuff to slow the Chicago Cubs. I’d play the Brewers to -120.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Edward Cabrera's fastball run value sits in the 10th percentile.

Brewers vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Under 6.5 (-115)

It's a small number, but Wrigley winds loom large again. Gusts could reach up to 25 mph, along with temperatures in the 50s. Thus, before you even get to the handicap, this is the biggest story.

Now, when you think about Kyle Harrison, it gets clearer. His hard hits will suppress ball carry even further, as they sit in the 94th percentile of the sport.

In addition, Cabrera, despite his hard-contact issues, owns a 93rd percentile offspeed run value that helps mitigate damage when the changeup is working. I wouldn't play this past 6.5, but it's good to -125.

Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 19-18, +0.16 units
  • Over/Under bets: 23-14, +11.54 units

Brewers vs Cubs odds

  • Moneyline: Brewers +100 | Cubs -120
  • Run line: Brewers -1.5 | Cubs +1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Brewers vs Cubs trend

The Milwaukee Brewers have hit the Moneyline in 15 of their last 20 games (+8.50 Units / 33% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Brewers vs. Cubs.

How to watch Brewers vs Cubs and game info

LocationWrigley Field, Chicago, IL
DateWednesday, May 20, 2026
First pitch7:40 p.m. ET
TVBrewers.TV, Marquee
Brewers starting pitcherKyle Harrison
(4-1, 2.09 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcherEdward Cabrera
(3-1, 4.06 ERA)

Brewers vs Cubs latest injuries

Brewers vs Cubs 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.

Mariners Reacts Survey: Six Men Out

May 19, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller (50) throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Well, Mariners fans, I’d be lying if I told you this season was off to an ideal start, or even a good start, or even an average start. At least then they’d be above .500. The team has struggled in all aspects with performance and injuries including, but not limited to, Brendan Donovan, Cal Raleigh, Gabe Speier, Matt Brash, Victor Robles, Carlos Vargas, and Logan Evans. This has led to a variety of patchwork lineups and stopgap fixes in the hopes that they will all return sooner rather than later, and the Mariners’ record has suffered for it.

Despite these issues, the Mariners have had quite a bright spot this year in the form of longtime organization Quad-A player Emerson Hancock. Hancock has had his fair share of pots of coffee, but this most recent one seems to have stuck. Hancock has dominated teams throughout the AL to start the season, posting an impressive 3.02/3.64 ERA/FIP alongside a very solid WHIP of 1.01. It’s come thanks to the absence of poor old Bryce Miller, who has been suffering at the hands of repeated elbow issues since last season. But Miller is now back and healthy, and everyone looks around awkwardly, as it seems Hancock has displaced him. The Mariners reacted with a temporary six-man rotation to test things out, resisting the urge to displace Luis Castillo or Emerson Hancock right away.

Now the Mariners have run this rotation for a week and, with more feedback, have progressed to “piggybacking” Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo together on Tuesday night. While the Mariners ended up walking out with the loss, Miller looked pretty good in his 5 innings, and Castillo seemed serviceable in his two and a third. Jerry Dipoto has already expressed resistance to moving either to the bullpen full-time, as he told reporters recently:

“If you go to the bullpen, you don’t maintain your pitch volume for very long. And that’s the worst thing that could happen to the depth of our starting rotation is taking one of our top six starting pitchers, send them to the bullpen, and then 10 days later, their pitch volume is no longer a factor.”

It’s looking unlikely that either will have an extended stay in the bullpen, so now we have to ask ourselves: should the Mariners run a six-man rotation for the rest of the year? Let us know what you think via the poll and comments below.

Of course, they don’t have to run six men, but if they don’t, then who is the odd man out? Presumably, barring sudden injury (knock on wood), it could be any one of Hancock, Castillo, or Miller. Personally, I think it’s extremely likely that Castillo is moved to mostly long relief/piggyback starts, with the hope they can trade him later this season. Obviously, if they switch him to a full-time reliever, he loses value, as much value as a starter with a 6 ERA can have anyway, so the idea would be to keep him stretched out and available for spot starts and the like until such a time as he can be moved on. But let us know what you think, answer the poll, and leave comments below on your thoughts!

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mariners fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

SEC baseball tournament: Vytas Valincius blasts two homers in same inning

Baseball players dream of a two-homer game.

How about a two-homer inning?

Mississippi State outfielder Vytas Valincius lived that dream Wednesday in Hoover, as the Bulldogs rolled in their 2026 SEC Tournament debut 12-2 over Missouri, advancing to tomorrow’s Quarterfinals against top-seeded Georgia.

And Valincius did his damage to break open what was a two-run game.

The Mississippi State outfielder came to the plate to leadoff the bottom of the sixth inning, with the Bulldogs leading 4-2. He attacked the first pitch he saw, a 91-mph fastball over the heart of the plate, and quickly deposited that fastball over both walls in left field:

The blast also set a new single-season record for team home runs at Mississippi State:

But Valincius was just getting started in the sixth, and that new program record would grow soon enough.

Because the Bulldogs batted around in the inning, bringing Valincius to the dish again in the sixth with a pair of runners on the bases.

This time, Valincius homered on a blast to straight-away center:

By the time the inning ended, Mississippi State had a 12-2 inning thanks to an eight-run sixth, and the Bulldogs recorded three outs in the seventh to complete the win via the run rule.

Now the Bulldogs face … the Bulldogs on Thursday, with a spot in the SEC baseball tournament Semifinals on the line.

We’ll see what Valincius has up his sleeves tomorrow.

Dodgers vs Padres Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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After swapping first place in the NL West over the first two games, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres play the rubber match of their series in San Diego. The Dodgers are up by half a game and will send Shohei Ohtani to the mound.

The Padres counter with Randy Vasquez, who is having a breakout year but may not match up well. My Dodgers vs. Padres predictions and MLB picks call for the Dodgers to tighten their hold on first place with a win.

Who will win Dodgers vs Padres today: Dodgers -1.5 (+100)

The Los Angeles Dodgers have their Cy Young candidate set to throw.Shohei Ohtani is in the Top 2% in pitching, fastball, and breaking ball value and has an ERA and WHIP below 1.00.

He's also back in the lineup after being held out in recent starts. He’s 10 for his last 19 with 21 total bases and 10 RBI.

The San Diego Padres start Randy Vasquez (5-1, 2.68 ERA), with career-best rates in several statistics. His swing and misses are up, but he’s allowing solid contact more often than in past seasons, a danger against this L.A. lineup.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Randy Vasquez has added more than a mph to his fastball and sinker velocities, and opponents haven’t caught up. Still, they’re hitting .364 against his cutter and .300 against his curve, both up significantly from last year. Plus, the Dodgers have four batters (Ohtani, Hernandez, Muncy, Tucker) in MLB’s Top 40 against either the sinker or four-seamer.

Dodgers vs Padres Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (+100)

Vasquez is getting batters to swing and miss, but when they make contact, they drive the ball. He’s in MLB’s bottom quartile in average exit velocity allowed, as well as hard-hit and barrel rate.

The Dodgers have four batters in MLB’s Top 40 in barrel rate, four in the Top 50 in hard-hit percentage, and three in the Top 40 in average exit velo. Blowing it past them seems like a shaky prospect.

Ohtani has been lights out on the mound for the Dodgers this year, but L.A. used five relievers for 66 total pitches on Tuesday. San Diego’s pen is even more fatigued after they used five for 78 pitches.

Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 14-19, -4.33 units
  • Over/Under bets: 18-19, -2.51 units

Dodgers vs Padres odds

  • Moneyline: Dodgers -163 | Padres +156
  • Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (+105) | Padres +1.5 (-125)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-102) | Under 7.5 (-118)

Dodgers vs Padres trend

The Dodgers have covered the run line in 24 of their last 40 road games for +9.25 units and a 19% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Padres.

How to watch Dodgers vs Padres and game info

LocationPetco Park, San Diego, CA
DateWednesday, May 20, 2026
First pitch8:40 p.m. ET
TVSportsNet LA, Padres.TV
Dodgers starting pitcherShohei Ohtani
(3-2, 0.82 ERA)
Padres starting pitcherRandy Vasquez
(5-1, 2.68 ERA)

Dodgers vs Padres latest injuries

Dodgers vs Padres 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.

Matt Brash activated to boost Mariners thinned bullpen

SEATTLE, WA - MAY 15: Matt Brash #47 of the Seattle Mariners arrives prior to the game between the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Friday, May 15, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Connor Jalbert/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Seattle Mariners announced Wednesday morning that they have activated RHP Matt Brash off the 15 day injured list, where he’d been healing from inflammation in his right lat. Correspondingly, LHP Robinson Ortiz was optioned back to Triple-A Tacoma. Brash made a pair of rehab assignments with the Rainiers, having been out since the first of May.

It’s a huge relief to see Brash back in close to the minimum needed time. The righty was sharp in the first month of the season, helping quell threats and bridging the gap between starters and closer Andrés Muñoz. Since Brash went down, Seattle has had to lean on some of their less-heralded options in the pen, and to their credit they’ve largely stepped up. Jose Ferrer has been sterling, while Alex Hoppe, Cooper Criswell, Domingo Gonzalez, and Nick Davila have been quite effective, albeit in mostly low-leverage usage. However, extended usage and thinness among the more trusted arms has likely contributed to seeing some M’s starters left in long enough to blemish their numbers. Brash’s return also may take some heat off Eduard Bazardo, who has been taxed heavily over the past, well, year and a half.

Ortiz will sadly have to wait even longer for his first big league moment. The 26 year old southpaw has been a professional baseball player for 10 years and got to spend Tuesday night as a big leaguer at last. For his sake, hopefully the southpaw merits another opportunity to turn his spectral cup of coffee into one with genuine form.