- MLB’s Opening Day features 28 of 30 teams in action on Thursday
- Paul Skenes had a K/9 rate of 11.5 in his rookie campaign
- See my favorite MLB Opening Day predictions and best bets, below
Thursday is the domestic version of MLB Opening Day after the Chicago Cubs and LA Dodgers took part in the Tokyo Series last week. 28 of the 30 teams are in action, and I’ve got three plus-money wagers to help mark the occasion.
MLB Opening Day Picks & Best Bets
We’ll start in the player props category, where NL Cy Young odds favorite Paul Skenes is being criminally under valued. Skenes is +134 at FanDuel to record eight strikeouts, something that is very attainable given the matchup versus the Marlins.
Claim the latest promo codes at North America’s top betting sites.
MLB Opening Day Pick #1: Paul Skenes 8+ Strikeouts (+134)
Skenes’ sensational rookie campaign saw him post an 11.5 K/9 rate. He pitched at least 6 innings in 16 of 23 starts, reaching 8+ strikeouts 13 times. He threw 18 innings this spring, and matched last year’s strikeout rate to the decimal with 23 K’s
Skenes’ overpowering stuff is electric, and often too much to handle for even baseball’s best teams. Florida’s lineup is far from elite, and is extremely strikeout prone. The Marlins whiffed last season at the NL’s seventh highest rate. They faced Skenes one time, and it did not go well. The Pirates star fanned nine Miami hitters over 6 innings, limiting them to a single run.
The Marlins own a bottom-five projection in the MLB win total odds, and I’m betting they get off to a rocky start in 2025 versus Skenes.
MLB Opening Day Best Bet #2: LA Angels -1.5 (+112)
For my second MLB Opening Day best bet, I’m looking to fade the Chicago White Sox right out of the gate. Chicago hosts the LA Angels, and there’s a good chance the White Sox roster is even worse than last season.
They finished an astonishing 41-121 last season, and proceeded to gut the bulk of the talent from their roster. Ace Garrett Crochet was traded away, and now the team is comprised of youth an unproven players. Oddsmakers certainly don’t have any faith in Chicago, as their current 53.5 win total is the lowest ever set over the last 35 years.
The White Sox will turn to 25-year-old Sean Burke on Thursday, who was shaky in the spring. He allowed five runs, nine hits and five walks over 10.2 innings, and has just three career starts on his MLB resume.
Los Angeles is coming off a franchise low 63 wins in 2024, but will have a healthy Mike Trout, and a big advantage on the mound. They’ll give the ball to Yusei Kikuchi, who held the lifeless White Sox to a .217 average and two earned runs over 18 innings a season ago. Give me the Angels -1.5 at +112 over at ESPN BET.
MLB Opening Day Pick #3: Tigers vs Dodgers Under 6.5 Runs (+102)
Betting the under on any LA Dodgers game takes some faith. The World Series odds favorite can explode for double-digit runs in any matchup, but I can’t resist pulling the trigger in Thursday’s contest versus Detroit. Under 6.5 runs is currently +102 at DraftKings, which cracks my card as the third best bet.
This wager is predicated on the elite pitching we should be treated to. Reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal gets the nod for the Tigers, while LA counters with Blake Snell.
Skubal led MLB in ERA and strikeouts last season, and has a strong track record versus the Dodgers. He’s held their lineup to a .194 average over a couple starts, and a minuscule .333 slugging percentage. NL MVP odds leader Shohei Ohtani is 0-for-6 lifetime against Skubal, while no Dodger hitter has more than one extra-base hit versus the lefty.
Snell meanwhile, has been up and down since his 2018 Cy Young campaign, but he’s always had plenty of success against Detroit. The lefty has limited the current Tiger batters to a .172 average, with a 41% strikeout rate.
Once Snell exits the game, LA’s elite bullpen can take over. That unit was among the best in the Majors last season, and began the year by holding the Cubs to two runs in 10+ innings, with a 80% strand rate and 13 strikeouts.
As the MLB season kicks off with its early Opening Day, fans and bettors alike are eager to see how their favorite teams will perform. With a long offseason behind us, it’s time to make some predictions and place some bets on what we can expect to see in the early games of the season.
One of the most anticipated matchups of Opening Day is the defending World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, taking on the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers are coming off a dominant season and are favored to win this game. However, the Rockies have made some key acquisitions in the offseason and could give the Dodgers a run for their money. This game is definitely one to keep an eye on and could go either way.
Another exciting matchup to watch is the New York Yankees facing off against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees are always a strong team, but the Blue Jays have been making some noise in the offseason with their young talent. This game could be a close one, but the Yankees are favored to come out on top.
In terms of betting, there are a few key factors to consider when placing your bets on these early games. One important factor is starting pitching. A strong starting pitcher can make all the difference in a game, so be sure to look at who will be taking the mound for each team. Another factor to consider is recent performance. Look at how each team has been playing in spring training and how they have performed against each other in the past.
Overall, the early games of the MLB season are sure to be exciting and full of surprises. Whether you’re a fan looking forward to seeing your team in action or a bettor looking to make some money, there are plenty of opportunities to get in on the action. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the start of another thrilling MLB season.
