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S️picy Opening Day Predictions ⚾️
Baseball is back, baby! Here's what you need to know.
Kate Magdziuk
March 30, 2023
Happy Opening Day, baseball fans 👋
It’s been a looooong offseason, but we made it! We left Spring Training in one piece (well, most of us — I’m still mourning Jose Altuve’s broken thumb).
We have a lot to get into today, as we dive head-first into baseball season!
⚾️ Opening Day’s best games & how to watch 📺️
Editor’s note: All long-form articles in today’s newsletter were written by our Senior Social Media Manager (and MLB expert!) Nolan Megna. ❤️ Big thanks to him for helping prep us for the 2023 MLB season & the excellent coverage that’s sure to come.
⚾️ Opening Day’s best games ⚾️
All 30 major league baseball teams will take the field Thursday for MLB’s 2023 Opening Day. Here are some games I’ll be keeping an eye on.
When: 4:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: MLB.TV subscription or free trial, if you’re out of market
Pitching matchup: Alek Manoah vs. Miles Mikolas
Moneyline odds (AKA, odds to win): Blue Jays -106, Cardinals -110 (This one is a total coin flip, folks!)
Why it’s a goodie: This one is simple. This is just a solid matchup between two teams both with the potential to win their respective divisions this year. We 💗 competitive games. Good job, MLB.
When: 4:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: MLB.TV subscription or free trial, if you’re out of market
Pitching matchup: Max Scherzer vs. Sandy Alcantara
Moneyline odds: Mets -126, Marlins +108 (Mets favored to win in Miami)
Why it’s a goodie: This isn’t as competitive a matchup as you might usually like, but this is a matchup between a pretty darn good team (Mets) and one young team that should be fun to watch (Marlins). Plus, we get to enjoy an Opening Day showdown between two of the top three pitchers favored to win the National League Cy Young award in 2023.
When: 4:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: ESPN or live stream on WatchESPN
Pitching matchup: Dylan Cease vs. Framber Valdez
Moneyline odds: White Sox +120, Astros -142 (Astros favored to win)
Why it’s a goodie: The Chicago White Sox have plenty to prove this year after missing the playoffs last year and the loss of offensive powerhouse José Abreu… who signed this offseason with... who else, but the Astros. This will be his first time ever taking the field in another uniform… against his former team, no less. All eyes on Abreu! Oh, and the reigning World Series champs, too, I guess.
Today’s Betting Academy odds reminder 🎓️ When betting on the moneyline, AKA which team will win…
Teams with minus odds (indicated with a “-”) are considered the favorites to win! The number listed after the “-” indicates the amount of money you would have to wager to win $100 in profit if they won.
Teams with plus-odds (indicated with a “+”) are considered the underdogs. The number listed after the “+” indicates how much profit you’d win if you were to wager $100 on that team and they won.
📖 These rule changes have baseball looking a little different this year. 📖
In the never-ending quest to perfect America’s favorite pastime, the MLB has enacted several rule changes… none of them bigger than the daunted…
Pitch clock ⏰ Is this the most controversial rule change in baseball? Yep.
Pros: It makes the game faster! We no longer have to stare at batters as they readjust their gloves for the umpteenth time prior to a pitch until they get the fit just right. Pitchers have to do just that — pitch or get off the pot!
Cons: It infringes on wholesome moments like this one with Giants pitcher Sergio Romo, who was harmlessly enjoying a standing ovation as he took the mound for the last time in his professional baseball career.
Sergio Romo is playing in an exhibition game at Oracle Park tonight so he can retire as a member of the Giants.
After Romo entered to an ovation, his first batter was awarded a ball because he took too long to throw the pitch
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia)
3:45 AM • Mar 28, 2023
That’s not the only rule change on the horizon, though! Read more about the rule changes enacted for the 2023 season here. 👇️
🌶 Spicy National League predictions 🌶
🔥 Spicy American League predictions 🔥
🏆️ 2023 MLB award predictions 🏆️
Betting Academy tip 🎓 A wager on which team will win the World Series, or even which players will win various season-long awards, is called a futures bet — aka, a bet on an outcome in the future!
Predicting the future is difficult, of course, so generally, odds will be higher on these types of bets — meaning your potential profit (if you’re correct) can be higher!
For more betting insights, including key terms and core concepts, head over to The Betting Academy!
Until next time, friends. 👋