2025 MLB Opening Day Best Bets: Dodgers Begin Defense of Title Against Tigers
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Willie Bee
- March 27, 2025
Top MLB Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (+127) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
From Toronto to Texas to Tinseltown we go on our Opening Day travels, in search of the best bets to get the season started and our baseball bankrolls blooming. In all, a half-dozen teams with playoff aspirations are part of our picks, so have your peanuts and crackerjacks handy.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Thursday, March 27, 2025 – 03:07 PM EDT at Rogers Centre
I wonder what the tariffs are on baseball being imported from the United States into Canada, and vice-versa? Oh well, not to worry since I’m sure conservatives and liberals on both sides of the 49th parallel will work it all out in the next election just as well as they did in the last one.
Toronto sends José BerrÃos to the bump opposite Baltimore’s Zach Eflin, and BetOnline sees it as a pick with each side on a -105 moneyline.
Both Hurlers Sharp in Final Spring Starts
Eflin only made four official spring starts, but his final tune-up last Saturday was a good one with three no-hit innings in a combined no-no against the Pirates. He joined the Orioles from Tampa Bay last July and won his Baltimore debut, which just so happened to come against the Blue Jays.
Berrios came to camp in midseason form; actually, he pitched better than in June and July last year. He faced the Orioles twice, once at home and once on the road, and though he failed to decision in either game, Toronto won them both while Berrios held Baltimore batters to a .196 average.
Baltimore won the season series a year ago, 7-6, but the Blue Jays took 4 of 7 in Toronto where the ‘over’ cashed 5 times. I like the Canadians in this one.
MLB Pick: Blue Jays ML (-105) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
New York Mets vs. Houston Astros
Thursday, March 27, 2025 – 04:10 PM EDT at Daikin Park
The Astros and Mets played their first official MLB games 63 years ago, and each has won a couple of World Series titles since. Now, Houston hosts New York to begin what will be their 64th season, each favored to play on in October in search of a third championship.
New York trots Clay Holmes out to the former Enron Field/Minute Maid Park mound, and Houston turns to Framber Valdez in hopes of starting the season on a winning note. The Astros are -125 on the MLB odds board.
‘Over’ Cashes 7 of Last 10 Meetings
This will be Holmes’ first start since his 2018 rookie season with the Pirates, and the Alabama native has made 300 relief appearances since then. He looked very comfortable starting in his first spring with the Mets, pitching to a 0.93 ERA with 23 K in 19+ innings.
Houston made some big changes over the winter, but one constant is Valdez, who is coming off a fine 2024 (15-11, 2.91). One concern this spring was 10 walks in 15+ innings.
So much focus will be on Jose Altuve playing left field for the Astros, and of course, Juan Soto now wearing a Mets uniform. But at the end of the game, it will be Holmes and the New York bullpen that get it done.
MLB Pick: Mets ML (+115) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Thursday, March 27, 2025 – 07:10 PM EDT at Dodger Stadium
Back in the 1970s, when the Yankees were big spenders on the free agent market, Dodgers fans bemoaned George Steinbrenner trying to buy championships. Nowadays, LA fans cop the Michael Corleone line: It’s business, nothing personal.
It’s very big business, indeed, with a payroll that tops all of baseball. Part of that payroll is the $28 million paid to Thursday starter and 2-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell. Detroit counters with defending AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal’s puny $10 million contract.
Snell Makes Dodger Debut
It could hardly have been a better spring for Skubal. After leading the AL in wins, ERA and strikeouts, the native Californian showed remarkable control with 24 strikeouts and only one walk in his five outings (19.1 IP). He no-decisioned against the Dodgers in Motown last July, striking out 8 and allowing 2 runs in 6 frames.
Snell spent most of spring on the back diamonds, and was part of LA’s offseason shopping. This will be his Dodger debut but has been pitching at Chavez Ravine the last four seasons while with the Padres and Giants, going 1-0 with a 2.22 ERA (28.1 IP).
A Late-Afternoon Matinée
Top-rated sportsbooks have the Dodgers chalked on a -175 moneyline with 6.5 for the total between the CY trophy recipients. One thing bettors want to keep in mind is Snell delivers the first pitch a little after 4 o’clock local time when the weatherman calls for partly cloudy skies and 66°.
After playing the ‘foreign season opener’ in Seoul last year, the Dodgers came back to LA and got 2024 started with a hot 6-1 homestand. Totals also ran hot to the ‘over’ (5-1-1 O/U/P). It all adds up to a run-line play on the champs for my final free MLB pick.
MLB Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (+127) at Heritage Sports
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
