7:05 p.m. ET: New York Mets (0-0) at Washington Nationals (0-0)
Odds: Mets -126 / Nationals +117
Total: 9 -110
The Mets are trying to win the World Series this year while the Nationals are rebuilding. Both teams are without their best pitchers to start the year. Washington is waiting on Stephen Strasburg and Joe Ross which leaves Patrick Corbin for the opener. Corbin went 9-16 and allowed 37 home runs last year. Corbin had a 4.66 ERA in 2020 and a 5.82 ERA in 2021. The Mets are going with Tylor Megill after the DeGrom and Scherzer setbacks. New York went 7-7 in spring training that ended with a blowout loss to this Washington team so they will be looking to return the favor in this regular-season game. The Mets’ starter Tylor Megill did not allow an earned run in spring training. The Nationals have a career .113 batting average against Megill with 5 hits in 28 at-bats. The Mets have a career .248 batting average against Corbin with 54 hits in 199 at-bats with Pete Alonso(.333), Mark Canha(.333), J.D. Davis (.345), and Francisco Lindor(.333) lead the way. The Mets bats should be ready to go this considering they scored 9 runs including 5 home runs in 17 innings against the Corbin last year. Look for the Mets to win the road opener.
The Bookie: Mets -126
1.26 Units to win 1 Unit on NY Mets to win
9:38 p.m. ET: Houston Astros (98-78) at Los Angeles Angels (104-73)
Odds: Astros +113 / Angels -122
Total: 8.5 -110
The Houston Astros open the season on the road in Los Angeles. The starting pitcher for the Astros is left-hander Framber Valdez who went 11-6 with a 3.24 ERA, and 1.25 WHIP with 125 strikeouts last year. The starting pitcher for the Angels is Shohei Ohtani who went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 156 strikeouts last year. Valdez faced the Angels early last season twice and he allowed 4 ER in 5 IP in his first start and then dominated in his second start not allowing a run in 7 IP. Ohtani faced the Astros twice and also had one very good start and one very bad start. The current Astros roster has a career .293 Batting Average against Ohtani with 15 hits in 53 at-bats. The Angels have a career .297 batting average against Valdez with 33 hits in 108 at-bats. In recent history, the Angels haven’t done well against the Astros with Houston going 13-6 against the Angels last season. Ohtani has never beaten the Astros, he is 0-2 with a 6.86 ERA against them in 5 starts. The Astros lost Carlos Correa, but they still went to the World Series last season and return everyone else.
The Bookie: Astros +113
1 Unit to win 1.13 Units on the Astros to win.