Category: Baseball

Usually, this question of the day part is where we ask a niche question about the team. Maybe it’s about someone’s approach at the plate, their recent work at that craft, or what you think about a player’s recent play.

Today is simple. It being the Phillies’ home opener (and season opener), we’re looking for your predictions on how the season will go. You can be as specific as you wish, you can be as broad as you wish. But let’s talk about our prognostications together. Come back later today when we here at TGP give you our predictions for the season so you can all look down on us and ridicule us when we’re wrong.

Let the games begin.

I’ll save the big kahuna question for the Braves’ Opening Day, which is tomorrow. Today is Opening Day for most other teams, so we’ll go with this no-stakes variant.

Normally, I’m pretty excited for Opening Day. Baseball season has a great rhythm, and I look forward to transitioning into it every year. That said, I indulged in a paragraph of how MLB is getting less interesting to me yesterday, and it follows from there that I’m less excited about this season. Maybe some of that is related to the Braves directly — it’s just less interesting to watch a sprinter try to navigate around banana peels than nearly any other story or framing device (other than a rebuilding entirely non-contender), and the self-inflicted season-ruining change they made offensively last year is like the ultimate excitement-excoriator for me.

So, I dunno. I think I’m less excited for this season than for any for 2018-onward. Yesterday’s snoozefest of an Opening Day contest between the Yankees and Giants didn’t help. Nor the fact that I usually take a day off on Opening Day, but the Braves have a night game so there’s no point in pushing it.

But, none of that has to apply to you. So, tell me, where’s your relative excitement meter at?

Ah, a fresh season. Unlimited potential. Anything is possible! Or at least, it feels that way until the moment your favorite team fails to score after having a runner on third base with no outs, or if the bullpen blows a five-run lead. That is when you remember that baseball, while beautiful, may be the most frustrating game of all.

Alas, the Orioles will enter yet another brand new campaign anyway. This one does genuinely begin with lofty aspirations. They were one of the busiest clubs over the winter, and on paper they look like a team that could do some great things. At the very least, they should improve upon their 75 wins from a season ago

The Twins, on the other hand, seem like they could be headed in the opposite direction. They went 70-92 in 2025, which cost Rocco Baldelli his job as manager. Derek Shelton will take the reins. He was last the skipper of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2020 through May of last year, when he was canned after a 12-26 start to the year. It’s not the most aspirational of hires, but Shelton is familiar with the organization, having served as bench coach back in 2018 and ‘19.

This past offseason was highlighted more by what the Twins did not do rather than what they did. Neither Joe Ryan nor Byron Buxton was traded. That would have made sense if the organization then went and made any sort of impact additions to their roster, but they largely sat on their hands. Josh Bell, Victor Caratini, and Taylor Rogers were the “marquee” free agents brought on. While each of them are fine major leaguers, they won’t elevate this team at all.

Instead, their hopes will be pinned on Buxton and Royce Lewis being the best versions of themselves. That is asking a lot of Buxton, entering his age-32 season, who always seems to miss some amount of time. The 126 games he played in 2025 was his most in a season since 2017. Lewis gets hurt a lot too. He played in 106 games last year, the most he has ever played as a big leaguer.

The rotation will be without Pablo López. He had Tommy John surgery in February and will miss the entire 2026 season. He only tossed 75.2 big league innings last year due to a right shoulder strain that became a forearm strain during rehab. But they were stellar innings as he had a 2.74 ERA and 1.11 WHIP prior to being shut down.

Who knows what will happen in the AL Central. Once again it looks like one of the league’s weaker divisions. So maybe the Twins could get some luck and sneak up on a few clubs. But the more likely outcome is that they deal with major injuries again and slump to be one of the worst team’s in the AL. That was the case in 2025, and they still managed to go 6-0 against the Orioles. That can’t happen again for an O’s team with postseason aspirations.

Game 1: Thursday, March 26th, 3:05 p.m., MASN

LHP Trevor Rogers (9-3, 1.81 ERA in 2025) vs. RHP Joe Ryan (13-10, 3.42 ERA in 2025)

Rogers threw just 109.2 innings last year, but he was so dominant that he earned some consideration for the AL Cy Young award anyway. OK, it was just one down-ballot vote, but it’s hard to argue the logic. The southpaw was spectacular, generating 5.4 bWAR, only 1.1 bWAR less than the award winner, Tarik Skubal, who threw nearly twice as many innings. He deserves the start here even if he is a strong candidate for some negative regression.

Ryan is likely to be one of the most sought after players at this year’s trade deadline if the season goes poorly for the Twins. The 29-year-old had a 3.42 ERA and struck out 194 over 171 innings last year, and he won’t hit free agency until after the 2027 season.

Game 2: Saturday, March 28th, 4:05 p.m., MASN

RHP Kyle Bradish (1-1, 2.53 ERA in 2025) vs. RHP Taj Bradley (6-8, 5.05 ERA in 2025)

The great X-factor of the 2026 Orioles could be Bradish. We know how good he can be. Over the last three seasons he has a 2.78 ERA and is striking out 10.1 batters per nine innings. Of course, he only has 240 total innings across those three seasons due to Tommy John surgery in mid-2025. So the big question will be how healthy he can remain. The O’s are likely to be conservative with him early, shortening starts, and skipping his turn occasionally. But when he does pitch it should be dynamite.

It’s not usually a good sign when the Rays trade away a pitcher. That’s an organization that tries to hoard pitching talent as much as possible, but they were OK with swapping Bradley for Griffin Jax last year. Bradley was even worse (6.61 ERA in 31.1 innings) for Twins than he was for the Rays (4.61 ERA in 111.1 innings). Minnesota is hard-pressed to find starting options, so Bradley will get plenty of chances to prove himself.

Game 3: Sunday, March 29th, 1:35 p.m., MASN

RHP Shane Baz (10-12, 4.87 ERA in 2025) vs. RHP Bailey Ober (6-9, 5.10 ERA in 2025)

The Orioles have talked about Baz as the rotation’s ceiling-raiser all offseason. In essence, they swap him into Grayson Rodriguez’s place in the rotation. Right now, that looks like a wise decision. Rodriguez is opening the season on the IL for the Angels while Baz looked quite good in his final spring tuneup against the Nationals. There is no denying the stuff. It’s great. Now he just needs to harness it.

Ober was a disappointment in 2025. After back-to-back seasons worth 3.0 bWAR and an ERA under 4 in 2023 and ’24, he flopped badly last year. His numbers this spring were rather ugly too. Across 13 spring innings he had a 1.769 WHIP and struck out just 4.2 batters per nine innings. You gotta take those stats with a grain of salt, but his trajectory is not what you want if you’re a Twins fan.

Good morning. Unless you’re manager Tony Vitello or on the Giants, in which case I just say I hope tomorrow is a better morning for you. Because the Yankees’ spanked the Giants 7-0 in the first game of the year.

• There was one thing that happened last night that has never happened in an official MLB game before. The Yankees’ José Caballero made the first ever Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge. The call was upheld, so we’re still waiting on that first overturn.
• Christina De Nicola explains how the Marlins practiced using the ABS system.
• Former umpire Richie Garcia blasted the ABS system, saying it will unjustly embarrass the umpires. Not if they get the call right in the first place.
• One thing the Giants did last night was break the weirdest streak in baseball. After 19 seasons of having a different left fielder start for San Francisco on Opening Day, Heliot Ramos made his second-straight Opening Day start for the Giants. This streak goes back to Barry Bonds’ final season in 2007.
• Speaking of Bonds, on the broadcast last night he revealed how he almost became a Yankee, only to hang up on George Steinbrenner when the “Boss” wanted an answer immediately. There’s been some question of the accuracy of the story, as Steinbrenner was officially banned from baseball during the time Bonds described.
• Jordan Schusterman has a preview of the Tony Vitello era in San Francisco. For someone with no professional experience before showing up to camp, he has certainly won over a lot of grizzled MLB veterans.
• Last night’s game was a Netflix exclusive, and Gabe Lacques was thoroughly unimpressed with the Netfilx broadcast, including the constant self-promotion that put Fox in the World Series to shame.
• Andrew Marchand writes that it has become increasingly difficult to watch the Yankees (or any team) on TV these days. (The Athletic sub. req.) He uses the Yankees as an example, but it’s true for most teams.
• The MLB dot com writers have one thing that needs to go right for each MLB team.
• The biggest question for every MLB team.
• One “unknown” factor for every team from MLB dot com.
• Davy Andrews has a semi tongue-in-cheek preview of every team’s best-case and worst-case scenarios in 2026. Here’s every National League team and here’s every American League team.
• Ken Rosenthal has the top 12 storylines for the 2026 season. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Ben Clemens has five big questions for the 2026 season.
• Keith Law makes his pre-season predictions. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Jayson Stark has the numbers that will define baseball in 2026. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Matt Snyder explains how the Dodgers can three-peat.
• Jack Baer has five reasons the Dodgers will win the World Series and five reasons they won’t.
• Will Leitch has four bold predictions for the Cardinals.
• Michael Baumann wonders if injuries to the pitching staff have already doomed the Braves this year.
• MLB dot com has conveniently made up one big butcher’s bill this year. Here’s everyone who will start the season on injured reserve.
• Jason Beck details how Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told touted rookie Kevin McGonigle that he’d made the Opening Day roster.
• Jay Jaffe looks at some well-known names who will start the year in Triple-A.
• The MLB Pipeline crew has one player to watch in each Triple-A affiliate this year.
• Tyler Kepner examines the disappearance of the .300 hitter. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• We now know who the fourth bidder is to buy the Padres. It’s Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores.
• Larry Holder reports that White Sox legend Frank Thomas is suing the White Sox, Nike and Fanatics for using his name without authorization. So that’s a good look for the South Siders.
• Anthony Gharib presents many of the splashiest new concession items at an MLB ballpark near you.
• This, however, is a crime against humanity.

• I never thought I say that the Marlins did something right that the Red Sox messed up. But this looks delicious.

• A lot of teams are featuring a custom-made “9-9-9 Challenge” of nine hot dogs, nine beers over nine innings with team-branded boxes.
• The Giants’ challenge, however, is under fire for only giving you one beer for the “9-9-9 challenge.” Gabe Fernandez reports.
• Joey Votto has installed a new nearly 17-foot clock outside of Great American Ballpark as a thank you to Reds fans.
• And finally, MLB Japan released this new video of Baseball and Breakfast. English explanation at the link.

Last year’s National League East race ended with the Phillies (96-66) winning their second consecutive division crown, while the Mets (83-79) and Braves (76-86) both underperformed expectations and missed the playoffs entirely. The Marlins (79-83), meanwhile, came close to .500 as they showed promise and play a key role in ending the Mets’ postseason dreams on the final day of the regular season, and the Nationals (66-96) showcased their potential with their young, up-and-coming talent, despite finishing in the cellar.

Heading into Opening Day, the NL East race promises to be one of the most exciting ones to watch around the league. The Mets are projected to bounce back and contend for their first division title since 2015, while the Braves are expected to rebound and the Phillies once again have a roster built for a run at the postseason. So let’s review where things stand at the start of the 2026 season, and what Mets fans might expect from the team’s division rivals.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are coming off back-to-back NL East crowds and four consecutive playoff appearances, though they have failed to make it beyond the Division series in either of the previous two seasons after going to the World Series in 2022 and reaching the NLCS in 2023.

In many ways, the Phillies are “running it back”, as they enter 2026 with a very similar roster to the one they showcased last year. Their key offseason moves were re-signing Kyle Schwarber to a 5-year, $150 deal—Mets fans will recall that the club was also reportedly in on the Schwarber sweepstakes—and catcher J.T. Realmuto to a three-year deal. The Phillies also, very recently, extended two cornerstones of their rotation in left-handers Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, which should offer them rotation stability for years to come. In terms of new faces, the club added slugging outfielder Adolis Garcia and reliever Mitch Keller. On the departure side, Philadelphia parted ways with Nick Castellanos, Harrison Bader, and Matt Strahm. The team will start the year without ace Zack Wheeler as he recovers from thoracic outlet surgery, but after a “successful spring,” he is set to begin a rehab assignment and could be back in April.

Both ZiPS and PECOTA have the Phillies taking a step back in 2026 and relinquishing their NL East crown, and that’s to be expected for a team that’s a year older and not necessarily better. Fangraphs projects the Phillies to win 87 games, which is actually down from their projection of 91 wins and an NL East crown from late January. This update lands them squarely in third place in the NL East but would secure them the second Wild Card in the National League. Baseball Prospectus is a little more bullish, projecting them to finish at 84.9 wins in their up-to-date model on March 25. The Phillies will once again go as far as Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber can carry them, as their veteran core remains strong but, again, one year older. Their rotation remains a strength, even as they wait for Wheeler’s return, and they have the benefit of a full season with closer Jhoan Duran, whom they acquired ahead of last year’s trade deadline.

Atlanta Braves

The Mets’ collapse stole the headlines around the league and took a lot of heat off the Braves, who unexpectedly fell flat on their faces and finished in fourth place after seven straight postseason appearances. The Braves, who won six straight division crowns from 2018-2023, fell below the .500 mark for the first time since 2017.

Atlanta enters the year with a new skipper at the helm, as Walt Weiss is set to succeed Brian Snitker, who held the position for ten years but chose to step down into an advisory role. Weiss previously served as Snitker’s bench coach. On the field, the team added reliever José Suarez and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. They also claimed Osvaldo Bido from the Yankees, inked Rowdy Tellez on a minor league deal, and brought in old friend Dom Smith, who is in position to potentially make the roster out of spring. Atlanta will be managing some injuries heading into this year, specifically to Spencer Strider, who begins the year on the injured list with a left oblique strain. Joey Wentz (torn ACL) and Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow inflammation) both begin the year on the 60-day IL.

Their roster is still loaded with talent, and the project models seem to agree that they will get back on the horse in 2026. Both ZiPS and PECOTA have them narrowly missing a division crown, falling just behind the Mets but handily securing the top Wild Card spot in the NL. Fangraphs sees them winning 88 games (matching the Mets) but falling short in the end. Baseball Prospectus, meanwhile, has them at 88.7 wins, just shy of the Mets’ simulated projection of 89.4.

Ronald Acuña Jr. remains their key player, and a healthy and elite season from their star outfielder could make all the difference (emphasis on ‘healthy’). There’s also Matt Olson, who played 162 games for the fourth straight season and finished with a 136 wRC+ and a 4.7 fWAR. Atlanta also desperately need a bounce back year from Austin Riley, who struggled last season and has not come close to his All-Star self from 2022 and 2023. The biggest bright spot for Atlanta last year was catcher Drake Baldwin, who earned Rookie of the Year honors after a stellar debut season, and he will now be thrust into a more prominent role going forward.

Miami Marlins

The Marlins surprised some folks last year when they came close to .500 and hung around the NL Wild Card picture until the late stages of the season—some of this is certainly due to the subpar competition, no doubt. They also flirted with trading ace Sandy Alcántara, who missed all of 2024 and struggled to regain his form in 2025 until well after the All-Star break. You can be sure that the team will again explore a trade this year, if they are not realistically in a playoff spot—Alcántara’s contract expires at the end of the 2026 season.

The Marlins did what they do best, which is trade their talented players for prospect capital. They made two headline moves in this vein: trading right-hander Edward Cabrera to the Cubs in a package centered around outfielder Owen Caissie, and trading left-hander Ryan Weathers to the Yankees for four prospects. It’s worth noting that Cabrera is under team control through 2028, and Weathers through 2029, which brought in a bigger return. To fortify their roster, the club signed utility player Christopher Morel and acquired Esteury Ruiz from the Dodgers. They also acquired right-hander Bradley Blalock from the Rockies and left-hander Kade Bragg from the Twins.

Unsurprisingly, their season last year has done little to sway perception of their team or inspire much from the projection models. They are, pretty much across the board, viewed as the fourth team in this division, as ZiPS sees them finishing 75-87 and PECOTA has them basically right around that with a sim W total of 74.7. In both scenarios, they fall well short of the third Wild Card spot, failing to earn a postseason spot for the third straight yea after their Wild Card appearance in 2023. They still have some bright young players to watch, including Xavier Edwards and 2025 All-Star Kyle Stowers. At the very least, Mets fans should take comfort in the fact that New York does not play Miami during the final week of the season—their final games against the pesky Marlins are September 7-9 at loanDepot Park.

Washington Nationals

Despite some promising young talent, the Nationals still came close to 100 losses and seem to be nowhere close to contention in the division. They confirmed those thoughts by trading one of their best veterans, pitcher MacKenzie Gore, to the Rangers for a package of five minor leaguers. On the major league side, they made some minor moves, adding Zack Littell, Foster Griffin, and Miles Mikolas, all on relatively affordable one-year deals. The rest of their roster was filled in by waiver claims.

The Nationals are projected to finish right near the bottom of the league yet again. ZiPS sees them finishing the year 69-93, a three-game improvement from their 2025 results. This would give them more wins than just the Colorado Rockies, and would tie them with the projected win total of the Chicago White Sox. PECOTA, meanwhile, is a bit more pessimistic, simulating a total of 67.1 wins for Washington, ahead of just the Rockies (59.4) and Angels (65.5) in their model. This year will be all about the growth of rising stars James Wood and CJ Abrams, and their continued growth will be the main point of concern for Washington in what is ultimately another rebuilding year.

Projections and Predictions

The Mets have been a popular pick to win the 2026 NL East title, and not just from ZiPS and PECOTA (see standings below) but also from several seasoned baseball journalists at MLB, ESPN, SNY, Newsday, the NY Post and more. However, as we have learned far too many times, projections and predictions are a far way off from reality. With that said, the Mets find themselves in a good position and should be able to size up well against the Phillies and Braves as they look to capture their first division crown in over a decade.

Well, here we are at the earliest-ever home opener for the Cubs. You already know how I feel about March baseball in Chicago (they generally shouldn’t, ever). And the forecast for the opener Thursday has temps falling from an early high of near 60 into the 40s. There’s a chance of rain that hopefully will hold off until the game is over.

For more on the Nationals, here’s Sam Sallick, manager of our SB Nation Nationals site Federal Baseball.

There is a lot of “new” for the Washington Nationals this year. They have a new front office, a new manager and a brand new coaching staff. It is a lot of change for an organization that had the same GM/manager combo for nearly a decade before this.

Paul Toboni and Blake Butera want to modernize the Nationals process. They have also provided an infusion of youth. Toboni is just 35 and Butera is the youngest manager in the league at just 33. The roster is also very young, especially on the position player side of things.

The Nats star players at the plate are James Wood and CJ Abrams. Wood had a tough spring after tailing off in the second half last year. However, he has some of the most impressive raw power in the game. Abrams saw his name in trade rumors, but unlike fellow Juan Soto trade piece MacKenzie Gore, he stayed in DC.

Speaking of Gore, the Nats pitching staff has looked very solid this spring. They are short on big names, but they’ve been throwing the ball well. Opening Day starter Cade Cavalli has been throwing the ball as well as anyone. He threw 14 scoreless innings this spring, which helped get him the Opening Day nod despite just 11 career starts.

Cavalli has an impressive arsenal. His mid to upper 90’s fastball and his power curve provide a strong foundation. However, he added a sweeper to give him a better weapon against right handed hitters, who he struggled against last year. I am bullish on Cavalli and think this will be a breakout year for him.

Behind him, the Nats actually have a few veterans in the rotation. Cubs fans know Miles Mikolas very well, and he is in DC now. They also picked up Zack Littell and Foster Griffin. I am intrigued by Griffin, who dominated in Japan the last few years before coming back to the States this offseason.

The Nats probably won’t be good, but hopefully they are better to watch this season. This new regime is rebuilding the rebuild in a lot of ways. However, I trust these new guys to get it right eventually.

Fun facts

The Cubs have a .486 winning percentage against the Nationals franchise since it began play in 1969 as the Montreal Expos. But they are .519 (69-64) since the team moved to Washington after 2004.

They are .526 overall at home vs. the Expos/Nationals, including .523 since 2005.

From 2021-24, the Cubs were 9-4 when hosting the Nationals. Last year, they won the series opener, then lost the next two games.

(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)

Probable pitching matchups

(2025 records in parentheses)

Thursday: Matthew Boyd, LHP (14-8, 3.21 ERA, 1.091 WHIP, 3.65 FIP) vs. Cade Cavalli, RHP (3-1, 4.25 ERA, 1.479 WHIP, 4.53 FIP)

Saturday: Cade Horton, RHP (11-4, 2.67 ERA, 1.085 WHIP, 3.58 FIP) vs. Miles Mikolas, RHP (8-11, 4.84 ERA, 1.318 WHIP, 5.08 FIP)

Sunday: Shōta Imanaga, LHP (9-8, 3.73 ERA, 0.988 WHIP, 4.86 FIP) vs. Jake Irvin, RHP (9-13, 5.70 ERA, 1.428 WHIP, 5.64 FIP)

NOTE: The Cubs do not have starters officially listed for Saturday or Sunday as of the time of this post. Horton and Imanaga are listed here because that’s the order they last pitched in Spring Training games after Boyd. The Cubs are one of only three teams (also Angels and Rockies) that don’t have a starter listed for Saturday. Those three and the Braves are the only teams that don’t have a starter listed for Sunday.

Times & TV channels

Thursday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Saturday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Sunday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Prediction

I don’t see any reason the Cubs shouldn’t take at least two of three here.

Up next

The Cubs host the Los Angeles Angels at Wrigley Field in a three-game series beginning Monday evening.

Get to know the 2026 Cleveland Guardians’ Opening Day Roster with the cheat sheets introducing you to the players you need to know below:

First, our hitters. You can save and paste on to a Word Document and print.

Now, the Guardians pitchers:

For friends, family and co-workers who want a brief refresher on which players will be part of this year’s unfolding Guardians’ story, please feel free to share the above images. Can’t wait to root for our guys!

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers begin their 2026 campaign this afternoon with the series opener of a three-game set at American Family Field. 

Jacob Misiorowski gets the baseball for the hosts, and my White Sox vs. Brewers predictions are eyeing him to be lights out on Opening Day. 

Read more for my MLB picks for Thursday, March 25. 

White Sox vs Brewers predictions

White Sox vs Brewers best bet: Jacob Misioroski Over 5.5 strikeouts (-152)

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski was solid in a brief 15 appearances in his rookie season in 2025, pitching to a 5-3 record and 4.36 ERA. The youngster has serious swing and miss stuff, and that was clear from his 87 strikeouts in just 66 innings of work.

While the righty has never faced the Chicago White Sox, they were 15th in the majors last season in team strikeouts with nearly nine per game.

Misiorowski cashed the Over in Ks in two of his three starts in spring training, and the adrenaline will be at an all-time high for his first career Opening Day start. 

He’ll miss numerous bats in the series opener.

COVERS INTEL: Misiorowski struck out a lot more hitters in Milwaukee last year, racking up 53 Ks in 36 2/3 innings of work compared to just 34 strikeouts in 29 1/3 frames on the road.

White Sox vs Brewers same-game parlay (SGP)

William Contreras is a perfect 2-for-2 lifetime vs. White Sox starter Shane Smith with a pair of singles. That's a small sample size, but he also swung it relatively well in spring training, collecting at least one hit in seven of his eight appearances. 

Sal Frelick has faced Smith three times, and his lone hit was a double. He also had a double in two of his final three Cactus League contests. The outfielder also ranked in the 87th percentile in sprint speed, making it easier for him to stretch a single into a double or to ensure he gets into second on a hard-hit ball in the gap.

The Brew Crew is 8-1 in its last nine meetings with Chicago, and the last time the White Sox came to American Family Field, Milwaukee swept them. Misiorowski will throw a gem and set the tone.

White Sox vs Brewers SGP

• William Contreras to hit a single
• Sal Frelick to hit a double
• Brewers moneyline

White Sox vs Brewers home run pick: Christian Yelich (+540)

Christian Yelich had a bounce-back campaign in ‘25, smacking 29 home runs. That was his highest total since 2019, when he went deep 44 times. Twenty-five of his bombs last year were off right-handed pitchers, and Smith surrendered 17 long balls in 2025, with 13 coming off the bat of lefties. 

Yelich also went yard 14 times at home. He got some confidence back last year, and I like him to start the campaign with a bang.

White Sox vs Brewers odds

• Moneyline: Chicago +154 | Milwaukee -184
• Run line: Chicago +1.5 (-138) | Milwaukee -1.5 (+116)
• Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)

White Sox vs Brewers trend

The Milwaukee Brewers have hit the Moneyline in 86 of their last 142 games (+21.35 Units / 11% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Brewers.

How to watch White Sox vs Brewers and game info

White Sox vs Brewers latest injuries

White Sox vs Brewers weather

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Record and Finish

95-67, first place in the AL East: The time is now! It’s not a perfect Red Sox team, but it’s the best Red Sox team they’ve fielded so far this decade, and its time for them to start making serious waves in the American League. There’s enough talent here where the goal should be to win the division and the pennant.

— Matt Gross

89-73, second place in the AL East: I don’t know why, but it feels like there’s something missing with this team.I like the pitching staff, but the lineup leaves a little something to be desired. Just one or two injuries and the offense could be seriously lacking. I think it’s a good team, but I see one of the Blue Jays or Yankees finishing ahead of them in the regular season. Maybe I’m just too conditioned to the Wild Card Red Sox, though.

— Jacob Roy

92-70, second place in the AL East: If they had gone out and acquired the middle-of-the-order power bat that was publicly stated as a priority for the offseason, I might feel differently, but I still have Toronto a notch above Boston at the moment. I don’t care how they looked on Opening Night, the Yankees running back the same squad and a staff that is mostly injured entering the season is lunacy. The Wild Card game will be at Fenway in 2026.

— Bob Osgood

90-72, second place in the AL East. This is a good team, kind of like last year, with a lot of improvements. The Roman Anthony-less September is looming like a shadow over everything Breslow has built here. Will a run of lefties shut down the roster? We know Duran and Abreu looked better against southpaws this spring but will it carry over? Can Trevor Story repeat his healthy year? Largely I think “yes” to these questions. But some will probably be “no.“ And that’s the difference between 90 wins and projecting, say, 95.

— Mike Carlucci

92-70, second place in the AL East. I think it’s immensely doable. Not adding a big bat is holding them up from taking the division, in my eyes, but putting the attention into the defense and rotation will pay off.

— Maura McGurk

This team sure looks an awful lot like the Seattle Mariners of recent vintage to me: A pitching rotation that could be the best in the game, but a lineup filled with question marks that could go through some ugly stretches this season. Over the past five years, those Mariners have averaged 88.6 wins, and that sounds about right to me. But the Mariners have been in a division with only two other legitimate playoff contenders, and I see three others in this AL East. This team definitely could win 92+ games and the division, but there’s just too much uncertainty on the roster for me to predict that. 88-72, third place in the AL East.

— Dan Secatore

94-68, first place in the AL East. Pretty simple calculus for me, folks: the offense is at least comparable to the 89-win team from 2025, while the pitching has certainly been improved by a considerable margin. It’s a tough division, yes, and maybe I’m too big of an optimist in your eyes. But hope springs eternal, and I think we can make some big strides in 2026.

—Fitzy Mo Peña

Who will have the most pleasantly surprising season?

I’m the Johan Oviedo guy, so I’m supposed to say Johan Oviedo, but his fastball shape in his final spring training start was concerning, to say the least, so I’ll pivot. Just about everyone is counting Triston Casas out. If he can get healthy, I’m willing to bet he’ll hit his way into the lineup. He’s too talented not to become a good player somewhere, at some point, so why not this year?

— Jacob Roy

Let’s go with Caleb Durbin here. His acquisition to play third base was one of the more interesting moves of the offseason, one that left the Brewers without a “true” third baseman themselves. Known as a strong contact hitter, I think that Durbin’s defense is what might truly become standout, leaving the Red Sox at worst with a solid enough infield to not be a liability and, at best, a team that excels finally with the glove. He’s still an unknown quantity going into his age-26 season, but I think the team will be well-served not having a sieve at third, not to name names.

— Jake Reiser

With Romy Gonzalez not ready for Opening Day, the infield bench options will have watchful eyes set upon them by Red Sox Nation. While pennant races usually aren’t won or lost by the bench, there are key moments down the stretch that are defined by a good pinch hit or a heads-up web gem by a guy not in his usual position. Andruw Monasteriomay only have 600 career at-bats, but he may surprise some folks as a righty option on an otherwise lefty-heavy club, and he’s also defensively versatile. Romy Gonzalez and many before him started with the same level of uncertainty. I’m not going to say he’ll be a world-beater or even an every day starter, but he’ll have some moments.

— Dean Roussel

Masataka Yoshida. It’s going to be a tough fight for at-bats but Masa is finally healthy again. He’s adjusted to the American schedule of baseball. His winter was mostly defined as “release him as a sunk cost.” I don’t know exactly what pleasantly surprising for a veteran looks like. 18 home runs, 150 games, and a lot of perfect running form?

— Mike Carlucci

Connelly Early. I think he’s the real deal and knows exactly what he’s doing with all of his vast array of weapons on the mound. He’s constantly getting better, takes the coaching, shows up ready every time it’s his turn, and is probably extra motivated to stay in the rotation now that he’s been handed Sunday’s slot in Game 3 of the season. I would not be shocked if he’s the second most reliable starter behind Crochet by the end of the season.

— Matt Gross

Brayan Bello. Now that he’s the fourth (or fifth?) starter in the Red Sxo rotation, it feels like counting Bello out is the trendy thing to do. But Bello is still just 26-years-old and is signed through 2029, with a club option for 2030. His peripherals may not back it up, but the full-season picture on Bello a year ago was solid. He threw 166 2/3 innings with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. In an 18-game stretch from May 23rd to August 27th, Bello was 8-5 with a 2.69 ERA, going 6+ innings in 13 of those starts! Move on from the shaky final month of the season; Bello has something to prove in ‘26.

— Bob Osgood

I’m going to say Caleb Durbin, even though it wouldn’t be a true surprise to have him do well. He’s a young and motivated head-down guy. His competency at third will be refreshing, and I think he’s going to truly lean into his speed and any possible tool he can wield in service of the team.

— Maura McGurk

Wilyer Abreu: If he steps up against lefties and stays healthy enough to show the power Boston knows he has, the national audience will have no choice but to bring Abreu’s name to the forefront.

— Tim Crowley

I’m optimistic that Ceddanne Rafaela can continue to make some improvements offensively while playing Platinum Glove-caliber defense in center. His xwOBA has climbed each of the last three seasons (2023 wasn’t a big sample size to be fair to him), and while I’m not even expecting him to be a bang average hotter compared to players league wide, it would be great if he could even be a perfectly cromulent back-of-the-order hitter.

—Fitzy Mo Peña

Does anyone even remember that Triston Casasis alive? We don’t know when he’ll be healthy, or whether he’ll have a position waiting for him when he is. But we do know this: There are only two players on the Red Sox capable of hitting over 30 homers and putting up an OBP around. 380. Casas is one of them.

— Dan Secatore

Who will have the most disappointing season?

I’m reluctantly going to say Trevor Story. He cut down on his strikeout rate considerably year over year, but also saw a huge jump in pitches over the heart of the plate. Very few hitters with his power saw as many pitches to hit. I’d expect pitchers to be more careful with him, and I don’t know if he has the discipline to take his walks.

— Jacob Roy

Color me the pessimist here, I don’t see Connor Wong bouncing back to anywhere near his earlier career form. I understand he was injured for a good deal of last season, but that doesn’t prevent me from thinking he’ll be a replacement level defensive-first, ok-framing, poor-hitting backup to Narváez. It’s my biggest question mark on the roster entering 2026.

— Jake Reiser

Regression is a pain. Sonny Gray has been dropping off since 2023,and I don’t see that changing as he transitions into his late-30s. The discrepancy between his FIP and ERA last year would suggest that perhaps he’s gotten a bit unlucky. And, he says in games long enough to allow him to be unlucky. But his hard hit percentage historically, along with the 6.84 ERA in his career at Fenway (albeit with a small sample size), worry me.

– Dean Roussel

I’m feeling the same as Jake but the other way: I think it’s Carlos Narváez. There was nothing expected of him last year. And teams last year seemed to be scouting him to trigger nonsense interference calls. Challenges will hopefully make “framing” less valuable. I honestly think he is still fine. They don’t need a new catcher. But against expectations Narváez might come up short.

— Mike Carlucci

I don’t think there’s any way Aroldis Chapman is as good as he was a year ago, when he was so automatic the game was pretty much over if the Sox took a lead into the ninth. In fact, he was so automatic that the bullpen isn’t really getting any discussion compared to the rest of the team this spring, and bullpens have a funny way of cracking when that happens. Chapman just turned 38 last month, and while he can still dial up the velocity, some regression seems guaranteed. The only question is how far is the fall off.

— Matt Gross

Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Is it a hot take to say that a backup/utility infielder will not take the world by storm this season? No. But if he’s signed for $6 million, putting the team over the second luxury tax threshold, and prevents them in any way from adding additional payroll for a true impact hitter? Yes, I plan to be disappointed. IKF had an OPS of .631 in 2025, with a career rate of .660, alongside an 82 career wRC+. His speed and defense are average at best, and he hit .227 against left-handers a year ago, an area that the team badly can use help in. Nate Eaton can do what Kiner-Falefa has been signed to do.

— Bob Osgood

I’m torn between Aroldis Chapman and Carlos Narváez, simply because I don’t think they can replicate the shockingly good years they had last year, and that will register as disappointment. Particularly in Chapman’s case, when the plan is to rely on him being lights-out again. I hate writing this because I don’t like to throw up any jinxes.

— Maura McGurk

Brayan Bello: Despite the weight of a top rotation starter off of him, Bello still struggles to attack with his arsenal and shows similar struggles to a tough 2025 finish.

—Tim Crowley

Going to, unfortunately, piggy back on what Mr. Roy said about Trevor Story. If anyone is going to disappoint, there’s a good chance it’s the guy with some iffy stuff under the hood who has injury question marks as well. Hope I’m wrong!

—Fitzy Mo Peña

It seems like a lot of Red Sox Nation is already sold on Caleb Durbin being a good to very good infield piece for the next ~5 years. And, sorry, but it’s hard for me to see a guy who hits baseballs with all the force of a rolled-up newspaper being a good big leaguer over the long-term.

—Dan Secatore

Amongst the newcomers, whose City Connect jersey will we see the most at Fenway come September?

The world could collapse into an apocalypse, and sports could be stopped entirely, but Payton Tolle would find a way to say something goofy into a camera. His happy-go-lucky personality, juxtaposed with his pure power on the mound, will make him a fan favorite.

— Jacob Roy

It’s Payton Tolle, full stop. He’s charismatic alongside pretty darn talented.

— Jake Reiser

Connelly Early. He’s young, his stuff is incredible, and he’s a homegrown talent. Plus, he’s a big lefty. Red Sox fans love that.

– Dean Roussel

Given that Fanatics/Nike basically ignore most players these days I think it has to be Sonny Gray who, as a veteran, will have jerseys made. Demand might be Early but good luck finding any number other than 34 in stock.

— Mike Carlucci

If Tolle manages to pop production wise, it’s going to be him with his combination of velocity and personality, but I’ll stick with my guy Connelly Early, who I’m more confident in being a solid rotation piece out of the gate this year, which fans should gravitate towards by midsummer.

— Matt Gross

It’s Payton Tolle. Anyone who has this much pride for the WBC sendoff needs to be a part of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.

— Bob Osgood

Payton Tolle, no doubt.

— Maura McGurk

Tolle. The kid is charming, man.

—Fitzy Mo Peña

Tolle. Could he even be top-five in team jersey sales?

— Tim Crowley

So, um, what’s going to happen with Kristian Campbell this year?

He finally is given a true lane to run in but is stuck in the minors for most of the season…again. His mechanics are still one heck of a work in progress at the dish; it feels like he isn’t the first call-up at all from Worcester. Between Eaton, Hickey, Romero, Sogard, there’s more than enough spot guys that will be called to the big club before Campbell gets a shot.

— Jake Reiser

Some success at Triple A but remains completely blocked. Flipped at the deadline for a bullpen arm.

— Mike Carlucci

I’m not optimistic he gets out of Worcester this year. We’ve pretty much established that Campbell can’t play infield defense at the major league level, which means he’s now buried under the already overcrowded outfield/DH logjam the front office did little to alleviate this winter. This means Campbell really only has two paths to Boston this summer: One, he demolishes Triple-A pitching so much the Sox have to call him up and give him serious at-bats in favor of some combination of the Roman Anthony / Ceddanne Rafaela / Wilyer Abreu / Jarren Duran / Masataka Yoshida (and maybe even Triston Casas). Or two, a bunch of guys get injured and he’s the next best option. Unfortunately, that second scenario feels far more realistic as his quickest ticket back to the big leagues. To be fair though, the one thing he does have going in his favor is he’s right handed, which may lower the bar a little for him to get back to Boston’s unbalanced lineup.

— Matt Gross

He needs to dominate Triple-A LHP to earn the chance to platoon and fill in up in Boston. The roster construction as it stands in the infield makes it really hard for him to play his way back into a starting role.

—Tim Crowley

He works out the kinks in his rebuilt swing throughout the first half of the season and plays a role on the Red Sox in the second half. Injuries will happen with the big club, and the team has made far too big an investment in Campbell to allow a Blake Swihart situation to happen again.

— Bob Osgood

Speaking of jinxes! I would love to see him turn it around but where’s the evidence? His finding a home in the outfield is a mixed blessing; at least he can focus now, which presumably relieves some amount of pressure. But for godsakes this is the worst team to find yourself on in 2026 if you’re trying to make it to the big leagues as an outfielder. Campbell will be available for depth in the second part of the season (I guess) but I think it’s very possible he gets traded at the deadline—and that the fresh start might be good for him.

— Maura McGurk

It’s illegal for you to ask me that.

—Fitzy Mo Peña

In 10 years the 2026 Red Sox season will be remembered for…

The next steps forward. Remember, the name of the game here is CONSISTENCY in making and winning in the playoffs, not just one-and-done. This team is still very young, even with the additions of 3o-year-old Ranger Suárez and 36-year-old Sonny Gray. Roman Anthony is still 21. Marcelo Mayer is 23. Caleb Durbin is 26. Garrett Crochet is 26. Wilyer Abreu is 26. Jarren Duran is 29. The core of this team is well on the short side of 30. This team is still most likely a playoff team, but it’s about your stars of the future taking the next step to being great—and guys like Anthony, Abreu and Duran showcased that in the spring. Let’s see how it translates to 162 games in Boston.

— Jake Reiser

Establishing a floor. This team didn’t really shock anyone when they made a playoff run last year, but just how good how quickly Roman Anthony was surprised even the most optimistic of champions of the young outfielder. Same may be able to be said of Garrett Crochet, who is a bonafide Cy Young candidate…. hopefully perennially. Still, though, a lot of the new additions are guys who come with some volatility, although not as much as last season. Sonny Gray is getting older. Wilson Contreras is getting older. Caleb Durbin has a small sample size in his career. Johan Oviedo does too. If half of these lottery tickets don’t cash in, we’ll still get a playoff team, or one on the verge. Maybe we get a team that goes to Game 3 of the ALDS. Maybe we see a team popping champagne. We don’t know if either result is the lowest or highest result a team can expect, but this year will help establish a floor and give some clarity.

— Dean Roussel

It better be a deep postseason run. This team is as good as any of the other flawed contenders in the American League. With the Dodgers on the other side of the board, this Red Sox team should be right in the mix down to the very end, and this season should be remembered for whatever happens in very meaningful baseball games in the fall. Anything less is an underachievement.

— Matt Gross

A team that took a major step forward to shed the disappointment of the 2019-2025 era. This is a team that feels like it could make the ALCS on the back of its pitching rotation and bullpen, while being an impact hitter short. Hopefully I’ll feel differently after the trade deadline or if Tristan Casas can return and look like the player he was in 2023.

— Bob Osgood

Step two if things go ok. They hang in the division race a while but settle for a Wild Card. Maybe win that first round. We celebrate the progress made since 2022-2024. If Roman is a star, the lefties make gains against same-handed throwers, Early and maybe Tolle are breakouts, well, it’ll be remembered a while no matter how far they go into October as the real Red Sox rebirth.

— Mike Carlucci

For the drastic reduction in errors and once more plying the old-fashioned craft of good infield defense.

— Maura McGurk

Roman Anthony’s MVP campaign and a wild card series victory at Fenway Park.

— Tim Crowley

For being the Red Sox team that formally confirmed that we are back, baby. Even if we don’t end up on top by season’s end, 2026 is going to be the year that confirms it for folks who may not have been convinced after 2025: we’re in a new age, one that will be delicious (to quote a former Boston mayor) for Red Sox Nation.

—Fitzy Mo Peña

Winning the World Series, obviously. Because there’s no other reason why. The Red Sox are the balls!

— Jacob Roy

The near holy ascension of Roman Joseph Anthony.

—Dan Secatore

They might be the two best words in all of sports.  “Opening Day”

“One of my favorite memories of Opening Day from the Astros was in 1980 when my dad opened the home game in the Astrodome after signing the first million dollar contract. It was the Astros vs. the Dodgers and my dad hit a home run off of Don Sutton in that game and the fans went crazy!” – Reid Ryan, former Astros team president.

Richard Hidalgo launched 171 home runs in his major league career but none for him were more special than opening day 2000 at the old Three Rivers Stadium versus the Pirates.

On April 4th, 2000, Hidalgo would hit the first ever Astros Grand Slam on an Opening Day in a 5-2 victory.  “That day was special.  That’s the day that the numbers start to count. I loved that day. On that day, you know you have to do your job and I always wanted to start out good.”

Pitcher Scott Kazmir was no stranger to the pageantry, playing portions of 15 big league seasons across the major leagues.  However, for the 3x All-Star, the Houston native immediately recalled his 2015 transaction to the Astros telling us of a midsummer debut which constituted an “Opening Day” in its own right.  

“Being traded to Houston in 2015 was something really special for me. 

I grew up in Houston, so putting on an Astros uniform and pitching in front of my hometown crowd was a dream I’d carried since I was a kid. My home debut at Minute Maid Park is a memory I’ll never forget. The atmosphere in that ballpark felt like a true homecoming. When the roof is closed and that crowd gets going, it’s electric in a way you can’t fully describe until you’ve felt it.

That whole stretch with the Dodgers coming in for that home series in August was incredible. Houston fans showed up with so much passion, and you could feel the city really believing in that team. Being part of the first Astros playoff run since 2005, getting to experience that postseason atmosphere at Minute Maid as a Houston kid, that’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”

Kazmir would pitch seven scoreless innings in his hometown debut in a decisive victory over Kansas City.  His acquisition would fuel a post season berth for the first time in a decade. Eleven years removed, it’s still a vivid memory for the pride of Cypress Falls. 

SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes answers your Mets questions as the 2026 MLB season begins...

“Do you see them working out an extension with Peralta during the season, or do you think he’ll hit free agency? It feels odd they haven’t been able to make something work despite the difference on years.” – @nutedawn.bsky.social

This is a fascinating one for me because I also thought there was a decent chance they got a deal done before Opening Day, but here are the things we know for sure:

-- Peralta told Jon Heyman of the NY Post he is looking for seven or eight years.

-- David Stearns has no history – literally, none – of giving starting pitchers deals that long. The only reasons he has a history of giving deals that long at all are Christian Yelich and Juan Soto, one of which was the face of the franchise and not a hugely expensive player at the time, the other of which was pushed by ownership. Which leads me to…

-- Steve Cohen has shown a willingness to push to sign superstars even beyond the comfort level of his front office. Does Peralta, who will be 30 at season’s end, rise to that level? Or perhaps more importantly, does he rise to that level over a 30-year-old lefty named Tarik Skubal who will become a free agent this winter, too…?

-- Stearns DOES have a history – an extensive one, actually – of trying to keep Peralta on his teams as long as possible. He traded for him twice. He signed him to an extension when he was young. Comfort with Peralta could ease concerns about what the last years of a deal might look like. Comfort with Stearns could, perhaps, make Peralta more willing to work within the Mets’ preferred parameters.

-- Peralta has family in Queens. He seems to have found comfort in the Mets clubhouse, at least initially, and he has a history of durability.

-- Those things lead me to conclude that while both sides have seemed open to a long-term deal, neither side should be desperate to make one. As a result, I don’t necessarily see failing to get an extension done by the end of the season as a sure-fire dissolution of the partnership: Should Peralta hit the open market looking for an eight-year deal and find a cautious industry reluctant to give it, the Mets could offer a shorter-term, high-dollar deal like they have to many others, offering Peralta security without length.

All of which is to say, I don’t know if a deal will get done during the season. But while starters’ walk-years can often be contentious or complicated, I don’t expect that here. If he signs during the season, great. If he doesn’t, I wouldn’t expect either to abandon the possibility of a potential future with the other.

“How many games do you think Luis Robert Jr. and Marcus Semien will play this year? Are there plans to give them extra rest days in order to keep them fresh?” @dand-ri.bsky.social

This question is so crucial to the Mets' season because Robert Jr. might just be the biggest “if healthy” player of the last half decade, non-Mike Trout division. The Mets were very careful with him during spring training, to the point that Robert admitted he would rather have played in games sooner but understood the Mets’ desire to ensure his oft-injured legs were ready for duty. 

I would expect Carlos Mendoza and Co. to be similarly proactive in resting him regularly to avoid pushing him too far, but not so regularly that he does not start the majority of the games in center field. At some point, the guy just has to play.

Semien is a more complicated case. He does not want rest. He has always wanted to play. It is central to his identity and part of what has helped him develop a reputation as a steady, dogged worker during his career.

When I asked him earlier this spring about maybe playing less to produce more, he said he thinks he is best when he is playing. I’m sure the Mets will give him the chance to prove that. But if he is struggling offensively, like he did at times last year in Texas, I would assume the Mets will have a more convincing case to make that they try a little workload management.

“Do you think Carson Benge would've made the team if Tauchman hadn’t been injured? Was his spot secure based on his spring?” -- @SheaWasBetter

The short answer: Yes. I think once Benge proved he was not overmatched against big-league pitching early in spring, the decision was pretty much made. I know everyone’s been saying this, and it won’t matter if he’s 0-for-30 in two weeks, but he just looked so comfortable – almost defiantly comfortable – in the box and in the clubhouse.

He just seems to have such a simple approach to things. His job is to hit. He hates striking out. So he tries to do the former and not the latter.

Honestly, I think his place became so secure that the Mets wanted to make sure they could go without a backup middle infielder and carry Tauchman as a bench bat instead. I know they planned to get Bo Bichette some shortstop work all along, and I believe that. But I do think that once Benge looked like someone who could start five days a week, the best possible roster included Tauchman on the bench and therefore they needed to make sure Bichette could actually serve as a backup shortstop if needed.

Clearly they think he can, which is why they could bring Jared Young as that lefty bat Tauchman would have been. Anyway, yes. I think Benge secured that spot pretty early.

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Opening Day continues Thursday with a full MLB slate — and with it, our first real chance to attack the betting board.

With teams settling in, pitchers stretching out, and early overreactions already shaping the market, there’s value to be found if you know where to look.

Below, we break down the top moneyline MLB picks for Thursday, March 26.

MLB moneyline picks for March 26

Matchup	Pick
Pirates vs Mets	-116
White Sox vs Brewers	-192
Nationals vs Cubs	-217
Twins vs Orioles	+109
Angels vs Astros	-175
Tigers vs Padres	-137
Rays vs Cardinals	-120
Rangers vs Phillies	-154
Diamondbacks vs Dodgers	-250
Guardians vs Mariners	-250

Lines courtesy of Kalshi as of 3-26.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for March 26

Pirates vs Mets: Pirates (-116)

The New York Mets might be deeper, but early-season volatility + Paul Skenes = value. That’s it. In a game with a low total (6.5), the better pitcher matters more than lineup depth. 

White Sox vs Brewers: Brewers (-192)

The Chicago White Sox boast yet another weak roster with limited offensive upside, and the Milwaukee Brewers have the pitching edge with Jacob Misiorowski getting the ball to open up the season. 

Nationals vs Cubs: Cubs (-217)

The Chicago Cubs should control this game wire-to-wire. They're the better team with the bigger pitching edge. Laying -240 is not advisable, but it's the right side. 

Twins vs Orioles: Twins (+109)

I believe this line is wrong. It's pricing Baltimore as a clear tier above, but I don't believe that's the case. Twins have enough offense to trade blows, and the pitching isn’t a mismatch. You’re getting plus money in what I believe is a coin flip. Take the Twins.

Red Sox vs Reds: Reds Sox (-161)

Boston has the more reliable arm and the more complete lineup. Cincinnati can mash when it gets hot, but until then, we will take a wait-and-see approach. This feels like a game Boston controls if Garrett Crochet is dialed in. 

Angels vs Astros: Astros (-175)

Houston is just better across the board — lineup, pitching stability, experience. Angels can hang for stretches, but over nine innings, I'll take the better side. 

Tigers vs Padres: Tigers (-137)

Tarik Skubal is the separator. When you have the best pitcher in the game, you don’t need to be perfect elsewhere. The Padres are dangerous, but also inconsistent. Detroit has the edge where it matters most early in the season. 

Rays vs Cardinals: Rays (-120)

Tampa is almost always undervalued because it doesn’t have star power. Pitching matchup is competitive, and the Rays are better at manufacturing runs. You’re getting plus money on the team that just knows how to get it done.

Rangers vs Phillies: Phillies (-154)

This is one of the tighter games on the board, but Philadelphia at home with the better overall roster is enough. The Texas Rangers are live, but they rely more on timely hitting, and that could be an issue against Cristopher Sanchez.

Diamondbacks vs Dodgers: Dodgers (-250)

Arizona isn’t the team I'd back in a fade of L.A. with, unless you’re getting a much bigger pitching edge. Yoshinobu Yamamoto carries his playoff form into the opener and leads the Dodgers to one of many wins. 

Guardians vs Mariners: Mariners (-182)

Seattle is at home with the better starter and more power upside. Cleveland struggled to string hits together last year, and that'll be tough to do today against quality pitching. 

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Dodgers’ first game against the Diamondbacks on Thursday will be exclusively televised by NBC, with streaming on Peacock. Lead play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti will call the game, alongside analysts Orel Hershiser and Luis González. NBC Sports plans to use analysts from each team on their broadcast this season, both on Sunday Night Baseball, their earlier Sunday games, as well as the wild card round, all of which will be on NBC Sports.

From Joe Reedy at Associated Press:

“At some point, somebody will ask if you’re around a bunch of baseball people, what three people would you want to have at the dinner table to talk baseball? And I kind of get to do that with this every week,” Benetti said. “It’s going to be two separate people who maybe you haven’t heard have a baseball conversation before. That brings me a lot of joy and curiosity, and we think it’s going to be for fans as well.”

After opening day, the Dodgers have three more games on NBC this regular season.

Links

The Dodgers open the season with eight pitchers on the injured list. They don’t necessarily plan it this way, but last year worked out in the most ideal way possible, with their top four starting pitchers all healthy and thriving for the postseason. Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register wrote about the Dodgers depth, including this from baseball operations Andrew Friedman: “I think we are breaking camp with the most talented group of pitchers one through 20 that we have ever had.”

Jeff Passan at ESPN wrote about how the baseball world revolves around the Dodgers, with this passage capturing how the Dodgers have collected and used that depth:

The Dodgers’ success in balancing the vagaries of a 162-game slog with the urgency of an October sprint is one of their greatest successes. Money gives them stars, yes, but just as much it offers options. If a player is not playing well, or is hurt, or needs to spend time working out kinks, he can with limited interruption to the rest of the team.

Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic wrote about the evolution of the Dodgers clubhouse culture through recent years.

Dave Roberts re-watched Game 7 of the World Series with Jack Harris and Dylan Hernández of The California Post. A fun watch.

Meet the Mets

It’s Opening Day, Mets fans! After a long, cold winter baseball is finally back, and it’s time for another season of Mets baseball.

Ahead of Opening Day, the team finalized its roster with Richard Lovelady and Jared Young grabbing the final two spots.

Freddy Peralta gets the honor of starting Opening Day, and the ace is ready for the challenge of facing Cy Young winner Paul Skenes.

Skenes will be no easy task for both the new Mets and the returning vets who want to put the disappoint of last season in the rear view mirror.

David Stearns worked hard this offseason to overhaul the team, and he’s confident the moves he made will help them withstand the grind of a 162-game season.

Carson Benge will be starting in right field, and he has the potential to be a solid contributer for this team.

There will be no Gary, Keith, and Ron for Opening Day since the game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

The staff at The Athletic made their predictions for the 2026 season.

The Mets are one of the teams interested in signing old friend Drew Smith, who was recently released by the Nationals.

Around the National League East

The Braves had the best record in Grapefruit League action, but historically that has had little bearing on how the regular season will go.

The Marlins signed veteran outfielder Austin Slater to a one-year deal to complete their roster.

Phillies owner John Middleton defended the decision to rename a stadium bar that had honored beloved broadcaster Harry Kalas. It is now named for an energy drink company after the naming rights were sold.

The Nationals surprisingly named Miles Mikolas as their number two starter behind Cade Cavalli, who will start Opening Day.

Around Major League Baseball

The Yankees opened the 2026 season with a 7-0 win over the Giants.

The Opening Day game was broadcast on Netflix, making it the latest streaming service fans need if they want to watch baseball.

The .300 hitter is a dying breed in baseball due in part to both tougher pitching and better defense around the league.

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores is one of the bidders interested in buying the Padres.

Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday will start the season on the IL to give him more time to rehab after suffering a broken hamate bone in his hand.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

It’s to vote on this year’s King of Spring Training!

The championship round of Linus Lawrence’s Mets Madness tournament is in the books.

Lukas Vlahos gave David Stearns a final grade on his offseason moves.

Brian Salvatore previewed Juan Soto’s season.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 1988, the Mets acquired Mackey Sasser from the Pirates.