Top MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (3/28)
It’s the best day on the sports calendar: Opening Day. There is a full slate of games to choose from, and all the teams come in hoping to make a run to the World Series.
Let’s look at the best bets for Day No. 1 of the MLB season.
Thursday’s Best MLB Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
New York Yankees (+130) @ Houston Astros (-155) | O/U 8.5 (-115/-105)
How are things going in the Yankee Universe? Fans thought the team was going to go for it all when they signed Alex Verdugo and Marcus Stroman, plus traded for Juan Soto. However, there was no other big splash. Even with Stroman, there are still questions about this Yankees rotation, especially with Gerrit Cole out for a while.
It will be Nestor Cortez getting the ball for Opening Day, and after a stellar 2022, 2023 included two IL stints and being inefficient when he was on the mound.
The Astros did not get to defend their crown, as they lost to the eventual champions Rangers in the ALCS, but with all of staples returning, they are looking to get back to the Fall Classic. This will be one of the more dangerous lineups in the league again; they led the MLB last year in runs scored, home runs, Batting Average and OPS.
Justin Verlander is injured, so Framber Valdez gets the ball, and he regressed in 2023 after a phenomenal 2022 season.
With all the fantastic bats, these lineups could finish at the top of almost every power category. Look for them to come out hot in this one.
Bet: Over 8.5 (-115)
Toronto Blue Jays (+114) @ Tampa Bay Rays (-135) | O/U 7.5 (-115/-105)
Expectations are high for the amount of talent the Blue Jays have. Last year was disappointing, being swept out of the Wild Card round by the Twins. The offense will be the strength of this team with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, but with Matt Chapman and Whit Merrifield gone, this lineup loses power and speed.
Jose Berrios will get the start with Kevin Gausman injured. After a terrible start to the season by going 4-4 with a 4.22 ERA in his first 10 starts, he got better with a 3.39 ERA in his final 22 starts.
The Rays’ 2024 Opening Day roster will be much different than in 2023. Pitchers Shane Baz, Taj Bradley, Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen are all injured. Shane McClanahan will not pitch in 2024, and Tyler Glasnow was shipped off to the Dodgers.
This will allow Zach Eflin to get the start. In his first season in Tampa, he posted a career year with an American League-leading 16 wins and a 3.50 ERA.
It never matters who leaves the Rays; Kevin Cash is one of the best managers and will make the lemons into lemonade. As good as Berrios was towards the end of last year, he finished 11-12 and was one of the more dependable pitchers in that rotation.
Bet: Rays Moneyline (-135)
San Francisco Giants (-105) @ San Diego Padres (-115) | O/U 7.5 (-110/-110)
The Giants knew they had to improve this roster if they wanted to compete in this division. They added Matt Chapman, Jorge Solar and Jung Hoo Lee from Korea to the lineup and signed National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell. Leading this team is former Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin, who just led Arizona to their first World Series since 2001.
Logan Webb will start, and you hope he can shake off the spring training because he was awful with a 10.97 ERA.
The Padres will also be a little different because, as mentioned, Snell and Soto are gone. They still have an excellent top half of their lineup: Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth, and Manny Machado. They were also fantastic in the second game in Korea, going a combined 10-for-17 with 10 RBI.
Yu Darvish will get the ball. He’s coming off an abysmal season, going 8-10 with a 4.56 ERA.
The Giants didn’t make a massive splash in free agency, but what they picked up works perfectly for them. They have pitchers who can give them quality innings and a lineup that can make contact and move the carousel around the bases.
Bet: Giants Moneyline (-105)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday: