[csense]

For a scientific theory to "predict" something it has to have a mechanism or mechanisms and/or to make reasonably specific empirical claims. To "predict" means that the operation of the theory's mechanism and/or deducible implications of the theory's empirical claims entail consequences that can be observed.

I agree with you completely here. A mechanism in a scientific theory must describe observable, physical phenomena.

That said, and in accordance with the terms given here, what physical event does natural selection explain, that isn't already explained by other mechanisms such as mutation, drift, and recombination...each of which, in and of themselves, do not infer evoution.

[Stultis]

That said, and in accordance with the terms given here, what physical event does natural selection explain, that isn't already explained by other mechanisms such as mutation, drift, and recombination...

Adaptive evolution.