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We’re finally here. It’s Opening Day in Major League Baseball, and we’ve got a beautiful card to bet on. Let me get to two games I love on the late slate.
Houston Astros (+100) vs. Los Angeles Angels (-121) Total: 8.5
I don’t like the Astros this year, there are simply two many question marks. Aside from the starting rotation — which has issues which will transcend this game — the lineup is filled with aging bats and unproven young players. That’s not an especially fun thing to hear when you’ve got Shohei Ohtani on the hill for the opposing team.
L.A. will get Anthony Rendon back in the lineup once again — which is not something they’ve been able to say for many games since he was signed — and the right-handed slugger is the proud owner of a .901 career OPS against lefties.
There isn’t just any lefty on the mound for Houston, either. Framber Valdez was an incredibly problematic arm for Houston last year whose peripherals didn’t back up his 3.14 ERA. He allowed a 44.4% hard-hit rate, his strikeout rate dwindled and he walked more hitters. It came as no surprise that he allowed five earner runs in back-to-back World Series starts.
The Angels have three excellent power bats, two of which bat from the right side. I think they will take Valdez to town.
Edge: Angels -120
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San Diego Padres (-140) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (+120) Total: 9
This surely isn’t the time to pay this kind of price for Yu Darvish. Not after his ERA ballooned above six runs from July on last year, coinciding with a league-wide crackdown over foreign substances. It’s also not a great time to be believing in San Diego’s offense, which is suffering from the loss of Fernando Tatis, Jr. and is much stronger against right-handed pitchers.
Madison Bumgarner isn’t great, but he will make it tough on left-handed hitters. Also, given he is lefty, San Diego will trot out the likes of Luke Voit, Ha-Seong Kim and Austin Nola to stock up on righties. This offense simply isn’t imposing whatsoever, and it’ll be backing up an aging, troubled pitcher.
I don’t exactly love the Diamondbacks’ bats, but you can at least say they have some consummate professionals like David Peralta and Ketel Marte up top who should get on base and make a win possible.
Edge: Diamondbacks +120
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