Nuccio DiNuzzo/MLB Photos via Getty Images. Pictured: Opening Day at Wrigley Field in 2020.
Opening Day of the 2021 MLB season is still four weeks away, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait to bet on the slate of action we’re going to see on April 1.
BetMGM released Opening Day lines on Wednesday, which you can find below. 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.
While lines are likely to move as teams finalize rosters and Opening Day starters are announced in the coming weeks, some teams are more obvious to project than others.
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Toronto Blue Jays (+135) at New York Yankees (-165), 1:05 p.m. ET
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 division a year ago. The anticipated starting pitching matchup would pit Hyun-Jin Ryu against Gerrit Cole.
Cleveland Indians (-175) at Detroit Tigers (+140), 1:10 p.m. ET
Despite trading Francisco Lindor in the offseason, Cleveland will open as strong favorites (63.6% implied odds) against the rebuilding Tigers because it will presumably have reigning Cy Young winner Shane Bieber on the mound. With a plethora of young talent but no clear knowledge of who will start, the Tigers could go with former No. 1-overall pick Casey Mize in this spot, or a less-exciting veteran such as Matthew Boyd or José Ureña.
Baltimore Orioles (+160) at Boston Red Sox (-200), 2:10 p.m. ET
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 is again unclear, but barring good health, would likely feature John Means vs. Eduardo Rodríguez.
Minnesota Twins (-150) at Milwaukee Brewers (+120), 2:10 p.m. ET
An interleague matchup between a pair of 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 likely start Kenta Maeda over José Berríos, while the Brewers’ best choice is Brandon Woodruff.
Pittsburgh Pirates (+180) at Chicago Cubs (-225), 2:20 p.m. ET
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. The best bet to start Opening Day for Pittsburgh is Mitch Keller, while the Cubs, after trading Yu Darvish during the offseason, will likely turn to Kyle Hendricks.
Atlanta Braves (-115) at Philadelphia Phillies (-115), 3:05 p.m. ET
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 they will likely turn to promising youngster Ian Anderson, who was great in 2020 but still qualifies as a rookie in 2021. The Phillies re-signed J.T. Realmuto but didn’t do much to help overtake the teams ahead of them in the NL East. It would be hard to imagine them starting anyone other than Aaron Nola here.
Los Angeles Dodgers (-300) at Colorado Rockies (+230), 4:10 p.m. ET
The biggest on-paper mismatch, as expected, involves the Dodgers, who have an over/under of 101.5 compared to Colorado’s 64.5. The only question for the Dodgers is whether they start the legendary Clayton Kershaw or young, emerging ace Walker Buehler. Either way, they will hold the edge over the Rockies, even with the underrated Germán Márquez likely to take the mound.
Arizona Diamondbacks (+180) at San Diego Padres (-225), 4:10 p.m. ET
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. Whether the Padres start Darvish, Snell or Dinelson Lamet is to be determined. Arizona will choose between Madison Bumgarner and Zac Gallen.
St. Louis Cardinals (-175) at Cincinnati Reds (+140), 4:10 p.m. ET
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 winner leave and otherwise stayed quiet this offseason. The Cardinals should start Jack Flaherty here, health pending, while the Reds will choose between Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray.
Texas Rangers (-110) at Kansas City Royals (-120), 4:10 p.m. ET
This is one of the least-appealing Opening Day matchups as it takes place between two teams 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 brought in Andrew Benintendi via trade as well. Even with the young arms, the safe bet is on them starting veteran Brad Keller on Opening Day. The Rangers traded their ace, Lance Lynn, and their starter should be Kyle Gibson.
Tampa Bay Rays (-175) at Miami Marlins (+140), 4:10 p.m. ET
An interleague battle between two Florida teams is one of the more sneaky-fun matchups of Opening Day, especially if we get the pitching matchup we’re likely to see. Even after trading Blake Snell, the defending AL pennant winners should throw the exciting Tyler Glasnow, while the Marlins have the option of going with Sixto Sánchez, who proved to be one of the most talented young pitchers in baseball last season.
New York Mets (-120) at Washington Nationals (-110), 7:09 p.m. ET
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 should provide for the best pitching matchup of Opening Day, as we’re likely to see Jacob deGrom against Max Scherzer.
Chicago White Sox (-135) at Los Angeles Angels (+110), 10:05 p.m. ET
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 should take the mound for the White Sox, while Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani should hit in support of either Dylan Bundy or Andrew Heaney.
Houston Astros (-120) at Oakland Athletics (-110), 10:07 p.m. ET
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, and Houston is likely to throw Zack Greinke. Oakland will choose between whistleblower Mike Fiers, Sean Manaea, Jesús Luzardo and Chris Bassitt.
San Francisco Giants (-115) at Seattle Mariners (-115), 10:10 p.m. ET
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 have a solid team with some upcoming young talent. The Mariners are ripe with emerging prospects, although it seems unlikely we’ll see Jarred Kelenic on Opening Day. The most likely pitching matchup here would pit Kevin Gausman vs. Marco Gonzales.
