MLB Opening Day Betting Odds: Lines for Thursday’s 15-Game Slate
Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images. Pictured: Gerrit Cole.
Opening Day of the 2021 MLB season is here, so it's time to check out which teams are favored on the 15-game slate.
Unlike previous years, when MLB has one or two highlight games the day before Opening Day proper, all 30 teams are set to open their season on Thursday, April 1, with games beginning as early as 1:05 p.m. ET and as late as 10:10 p.m. ET.
Sit down, buckle in and enjoy the baseball all day!
Check out our free MLB odds page, which automatically surfaces the best line for every game.
Toronto Blue Jays (+155) at New York Yankees (-185), 1:05 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 7.5 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: LHP Hyun-Jun Ryu vs. RHP Gerrit Cole
The Blue Jays made the expanded postseason in 2020 and look to take another step forward in 2021 after the additions of George Springer and Marcus Semien, among others. They'll begin against the juggernaut Yankees, who had a quiet offseason after finishing second to the Rays in the American League East last year.
Cleveland Indians (-195) at Detroit Tigers (+160), 1:10 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 7 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: RHP Shane Bieber vs. LHP Matthew Boyd
Despite trading Francisco Lindor in the offseason, Cleveland will open as strong favorites (63.6% implied odds) against the rebuilding Tigers because it will have reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber on the mound. With a plethora of young talent in its rotation, Detroit will turn to veteran lefty Matthew Boyd.
Baltimore Orioles (+140) at Boston Red Sox (-165), 2:10 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 9.5 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: LHP John Means vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi
The Orioles are again expected to be among the worst teams in baseball and while the Red Sox aren't expected to compete for a playoff spot, they clearly have a superior roster. The pitching matchup here will feature 2019 All-Star against former World Series hero Nathan Eovaldi, who will have to be one of Boston's anchors this season in the rotation.
Minnesota Twins (-105) at Milwaukee Brewers (-110), 2:10 p.m. ET
Over/under: 8 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: RHP Kenta Maeda vs. RHP Brandon Woodruff
An interleague matchup between 2020 playoff teams is plenty interesting, as the Twins look to fend off the White Sox in the AL Central race while the Brewers are expected to compete with St. Louis atop the NL Central. Minnesota will start veteran Kenta Maeda over José Berríos, while the Brewers will go with the hard-throwing Brandon Woodruff.
Pittsburgh Pirates (+180) at Chicago Cubs (-210), 2:20 p.m. ET
Pitching matchup: RHP Chad Kuhl vs. RHP Kyle Hendricks
The Cubs are tied for second-biggest Opening Day favorite, mostly because of their competition. The Pirates have the lowest win total in baseball and will be surrounding exciting young star Ke'Bryan Hayes with a hodgepodge of mediocrity. Chad Kuhl will get the nod for Pittsburgh, while the North Siders turn to the reliable Kyle Hendricks.
Atlanta Braves (-110) at Philadelphia Phillies (-110), 3:05 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 7 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: LHP Max Fried vs. RHP Aaron Nola
The first of two true toss-up matchups on Opening Day is also the first of what promises to be a ton of big matchups in the uber-competitive National League East. The Braves are again defending champions and will turn to 2020 ace Max Fried, who broke out as the Braves' go-to starter last year. The Phillies re-signed J.T. Realmuto but didn't do much to help overtake the teams ahead of them in the NL East. Philadelphia will turn to Aaron Nola, who will anchor its rotation this season.
Los Angeles Dodgers (-215) at Colorado Rockies (+180), 4:10 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 11 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: LHP Clayton Kershaw vs. RHP Germán Márquez
The biggest on-paper mismatch, as expected, involves the Dodgers, who have a win total of 101.5 compared to Colorado's 64.5. Los Angeles will go with Clayton Kershaw over Trevor Bauer and Walker Buehler. Regardless of which ace it is, the Dodgers will have the big advantage on the mound against the underrated Germán Márquez.
Arizona Diamondbacks (+195) at San Diego Padres (-235), 4:10 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 8.5 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: LHP Madison Bumgarner vs. RHP Yu Darvish
The Padres were the offseason's clear winners, and now we'll get to see if that on-paper success will translate to wins on the field. San Diego signed Fernando Tatis Jr. to a massive extension and added Yu Darvish and Blake Snell, among others, to an already exciting core. Darvish will get the ball for the opener in San Diego against Madison Bumgarner.
St. Louis Cardinals (+100) at Cincinnati Reds (-115), 4:10 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 7 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: RHP Jack Flaherty vs. RHP Luis Castillo
The first sighting of Nolan Arenado in Cardinals red during a regular season game will happen in Cincinnati, as St. Louis will have its sights on another division title against the Reds, who saw a Cy Young Award winner leave in Trevor Bauer and otherwise stayed quiet this offseason. The Cardinals will start Jack Flaherty against Luis Castillo in a matchup of electric right-handers.
Texas Rangers (+140) at Kansas City Royals (-165), 4:10 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 9 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: RHP Kyle Gibson vs. RHP Brad Keller
This is one of the least-appealing Opening Day matchups since it features two teams that are not expected to sniff playoff contention in 2021. The Royals are at least a little bit interesting with several fun, young pitchers such as Kris Bubic and Brady Singer in tow, and they added in Andrew Benintendi and Carlos Santana to boost the lineup. Right-handers Brad Keller and Kyle Gibson will make up the pitching matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays (-140) at Miami Marlins (+125), 4:10 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 7.5 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: RHP Tyler Glasnow vs. RHP Sandy Alcantara
An interleague battle between two Florida teams is one of the more sneaky-fun matchups of Opening Day. Even after trading Blake Snell, the defending AL pennant winners will start the exciting Tyler Glasnow, while the Marlins will go with the reliable Sandy Alcantara on the mound.
New York Mets (-140) at Washington Nationals (+125), 7:09 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 7 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: RHP Jacob deGrom vs. RHP Max Scherzer
The Mets were the talk of the offseason for reasons both good and bad. The first look at Francisco Lindor in a regular-season game will come against the 2019 World Series champions. This game might have the best pitching matchup of the day in Jacob deGrom vs. Max Scherzer.
Chicago White Sox (-110) at Los Angeles Angels (+100), 10:05 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 8.5 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: RHP Lucas Giolito vs. RHP Dylan Bundy
The White Sox are the most popular bet in the futures market with at least one book, and they'll begin their journey to build off last year's playoff berth against the best player on the planet. Southern California native Lucas Giolito will take the mound for the White Sox, while Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani are likely to hit for right-hander Dylan Bundy.
Houston Astros (-110) at Oakland Athletics (-110), 10:07 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 8.5 (-110/-110)
Pitching matchup: RHP Zack Greinke vs. RHP Chris Bassitt
Astros-Athletics is turning into one of the most fun emerging rivalries in baseball. The teams brawled last season following Houston's garbage-can-banging controversy and played an intense playoff series last October. They'll meet in the opening series of the season with Houston starting Zack Greinke against the A's Chris Bassitt.
San Francisco Giants (-110) at Seattle Mariners (-110), 10:10 p.m. ET
Over/Under: 8.5 (-110/-110)
Pictured: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. LHP Marco Gonzales
The final first pitch of the day is the second toss-up matchup according to the oddsmakers. The Giants are clearly behind San Diego and Los Angeles in the NL West, although they have a solid team with some up-and-coming young talent. The Mariners are ripe with emerging prospects throughout the season, although top prospect Jarred Kelenic will start the season in the minors. The pitching matchup here will pit Kevin Gausman vs. Marco Gonzales.
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