After Opening Day kicked off the MLB season for a majority of teams yesterday, we've hit the ground running with our MLB picks. Only 161 more games to go. I'll be here once a week to provide you with the best bets across the day. Baseball is the best sport to get specific with your bets, and there are plenty of angles to attack any given game. With the weather turning, March Madness at its peak and baseball back, it's the best time of year.
Here are the best MLB picks & predictions for Thursday, March 27th.
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Friday’s Best MLB Picks & Predictions
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook | This Season: 0-0-0
Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros
Yusei Kikuchi takes the bump for Los Angeles as the Angels take on the Astros in Houston. Despite a solid 3.99 ERA last season, it's not exactly lining up to be his night. Away from home last season, the southpaw's ERA jumped to 5.04. His post-All-Star break ERA was 5.51, and his final month of pitching resulted in a 5.92 ERA.
Against the expected Houston starting lineup, Kikuchi has allowed a .903 OPS, including Yordan Alvarez batting 10-for-28 with three long balls off Kikuchi. Carlos Correa is batting .481 in 27 at-bats against the Angels lefty, and he hasn't had the best history at Daikin Park. The Angels are capable of keeping up, but after being shut out to open the season, I expect the Astros to bounce back offensively, given the matchup.
Pick: Astros Team Total Over 4.5 Runs (-110)
Detroit Tigers vs. San Diego Padres
For another game with pitchers who struggled down the stretch last year, we have the Tigers taking on the Padres. In Houston, Framber Valdez fell off a cliff to end the season with a 6.51 ERA over his last five starts. Opponents recorded an .811 OPS against him. Across the season, Valdez struggled more on the road. If he's anything like how he ended the season, the Padres should tee off.
Michael King takes the bump for San Diego, and he really had a tale of two halves in 2025. Before the All-Star break, his ERA sat at 2.59. Post-All-Star break, it dropped to 6.11 over his last five starts. Michael King has some kinks to figure out, too, and Detroit opened the season strong with an eight-run performance. This game should see plenty of runs.
Pick: Over 7.5 Runs (-102)
Cleveland Guardians at Seattle Mariners
Coming off such a wonderful season, I am back in on the Seattle Mariners. Tonight, however, I'm zagging to take the plus-money value Cleveland offers as underdogs. Gavin Williams starts for Cleveland, who was excellent to end the year with a 2.20 ERA over his final 10 starts in 2025.
The expected starting lineup for Seattle only has a .586 OPS against Williams in their career, without much experience. The Guardians pitcher was equally as effective on the road last year as well. Combine that with the Guardians’ top-five bullpen ERA a year ago, and they are set up for success to go 2-0 after winning on Opening Day.
Pick: Guardians Moneyline (+141)
