Editor’s Note: The Braves-Phillies game has been reschedule to March 29th due to heavy rain forecast according to MLB officials.
The crack of the bats, the popping of mitts, the cha-ching of betting slips being cashed. Those are the sounds of Opening Day, and while the NCAA is busy with its Sweet 16, there are sweet opportunities for beating the MLB odds with all 30 teams in action on Thursday.
Top MLB Pick: Cubs-Rangers Over 8.5 (+100) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Thursday, March 28, 2024 – 03:05 PM ET at Citizens Bank Park
It’s always good theater when the Braves and Phillies get together. Just bring your umbrella and wear a jacket if you’re taking in the show Thursday afternoon in Philadelphia where there’s a 60% chance of rain and the thermometer may not reach the 50s.
Coupled with tough weather conditions, batters are going to also have to face tough pitching with Spencer Strider (0-0, 0.00) on the hill for Atlanta opposite Zack Wheeler (0-0, 0.00). BetOnline is chalking the Braves on a -125 moneyline with 7.5 for the total.
Strider 8-2 Lifetime vs. Phils
Strider has won his last eight regular season outings vs. the Phillies, four of those coming last year when the former Clemson star limited Philadelphia to 7 runs in 26 innings. Atlanta then gave Strider no support in two postseason starts against the Phillies, and he lost them both.
One of Wheeler’s best outings of 2023 came against the Braves, holding them scoreless for 8 innings while striking out 12 in a May start. He then split a pair of September assignments against them, and earned a no-decision in Game 2 of the NLDS, Atlanta’s only win of the set.
‘Over’ 7-4 Last 11 Meetings at CBP
Philadelphia won that playoff series 3-1, same as the Phillies did in 2022. Atlanta won the 2023 season series 8-5, and did the same thing in 2022 by winning 11 of 19. The Braves were 5-1 in the regular season games played at CBP last year.
Ride with Strider and the Braves as small chalk on the MLB odds.
MLB Pick: Braves ML (-119) at Heritage Sports
Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals
Thursday, March 28, 2024 – 04:10 PM ET at Kauffman Stadium
The good news is the Royals aren’t picked to finish last in the AL Central. The bad news is that’s because the White Sox are in the same division.
Minnesota is expected to rule the AL Central this time around, and one reason is Pablo Lopez (0-0, 0.00). Kansas City counters with young lefty Cole Ragans (0-0, 0.00), and top sportsbooks are favoring the Twins around -115.
Sweeps the Norm in Kauffman Meetings
Lopez came away with 3 wins in as many starts against the Royals last season, including a complete-game shutout. Ragans was acquired by KC in a deal with Texas, and he was solid in a dozen starts for the Royals (5-2, 2.64).
The last four series these two teams have played in Kansas City resulted in sweeps, two broom jobs each by the Twins and Royals, something to keep in mind for the rest of the set this weekend. With the wind blowing out on Thursday, however, I’ll bite on the ‘over.’
MLB Pick: Over 8 (+102) at Heritage Sports
Chicago Cubs vs. Texas Rangers
Thursday, March 28, 2024 – 07:35 PM ET at Globe Life Field
After taking in a game from the National League and one from the American League, let’s balance it out with the only interleague matchup for Opening Day as the Texas Rangers begin defense of their championship at home against the Chicago Cubs.
With about $83 million worth of pitching sitting on the injured list (Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom), it’s Nathan Eovaldi (0-0, 0.00) getting the nod for Texas against Chicago’s Justin Steele (0-0, 0.00).
Scoring Shouldn’t be a Problem for Texas
Eovaldi is coming off a fine season, getting off to a fast start in 2023 before missing time after the All-Star break. He ended 12-5 with a 3.62 ERA in 25 regular season starts, then went 5-0 in six postseason assignments. This spring saw Eovaldi post a 2.63 ERA in four outings.
After leading the AL in scoring (5.44 rpg) and long balls (233), the offense should only be better. Rookie Wyatt Langford, the No. 4 overall pick last June, had a huge spring and will battle teammate Evan Carter for the AL Rookie of the Year Award.
Cubs Lead All-Time Series 11-10
Steele also enjoyed a fine 2023 and is something of a chic MLB pick for NL Cy Young for a Cubs team that is expected to battle the Cardinals and Reds for the NL Central. He held the Texas lineup to a run across six innings last year in their series at Wrigley.
These two have not met often, just 18 times before their series last April in Chicago where the Cubs took 2 of 3. The best trend going is the ‘over,’ 5 of the last 6 going past the totals, and I like the bats to make it 6 of 7.
MLB Pick: Over 8.5 (+100) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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