It’s an exciting time for baseball fans as the Major League Baseball teams have announced their Opening Day starters for the upcoming season. The league is hoping to drum up interest in what promises to be a transformative season with the inclusion of a pitch clock.
The highlight of Opening Day will be the matchup between the Miami Marlins and the New York Mets, featuring reigning National League winner Sandy Alcantara and three-time honoree Max Scherzer. Scherzer will debut with the Mets and look to start on the right foot against his old NL East foes. Meanwhile, Alcantara hopes to defend his Cy Young title and lead the Marlins to victory in their home opener.
In a matchup between last year’s NL Cy Young third and fifth-place finishers, left-handed pitcher Julio Urias will debut as the Opening Day starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. At the same time, right-hander Zac Gallen will take the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The excitement doesn’t end there, as several other former Cy Young Award winners will take the mound on Opening Day. Two-time winner Jacob deGrom will debut with the Texas Rangers, while Aaron Nola of the Philadelphia Phillies will be looking to extend his streak of six consecutive Opening Day starts. Nola will face off against another two-time Cy Young winner in a classic NL East matchup.
The Los Angeles Angels will start Shohei Ohtani, fresh off his World Baseball Classic MVP award, and the New York Yankees will send out Gerrit Cole to face the Toronto Blue Jays. The San Francisco Giants will be starting Logan Webb against the Seattle Mariners.
Favorites to Win the World Series
Heading into the season, bookmaker’s World Series odds numbers have been steady but not fixed, and bettors looking to increase their chances of winning have been carefully researching looking for the best MLB bets. Five favorites have emerged: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves.
Los Angeles Dodgers
As the Dodgers gear up for the new season, fans are still reeling from their unexpected NLDS loss to the San Diego Padres. Despite this setback, bookmakers still see the Dodgers as top contenders for the World Series, especially after a remarkable 111-win regular season.
Los Angeles enters the season as the favorite to win the National League and sits just behind the Houston Astros in odds to win the World Series.
The team made several moves in the offseason, signing powerhouse J.D. Martinez and pitcher Noah Syndergaard to one-year contracts.
Question marks include who will replace shortstop Gavin Lux, who is out for the entire season with a knee injury suffered in spring training, and if Los Angeles can make up for the offseason losses of Trea Turner, Justin Turner, and Cody Bellinger.
Houston Astros
Meanwhile, the Houston Astros are coming off an impressive season, winning their second World Series title in history. Despite Michael Brantley’s absence during the postseason, the team has extended his contract and bolstered their potent lineup. With a deep bench of talented players like Framber Valdez, Lance McCullers Jr., and Cristian Javier, the Astros are poised for another successful campaign.
New York Mets
The New York Mets are also a team to watch, boasting an impressive lineup that includes Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and Pete Alonso. While they missed out on signing Carlos Correa, the team was able to sign Justin Verlander away from the Astros. It will be interesting to see how they make up for losing closer Edwin Díaz, who collapsed after closing out Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Still, the Mets are fielding a lineup and rotation with World Series aspirations.
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees have strengthened their pitching rotation, signing Carlos Rodon to join Gerrit Cole and Luis Severino. However, the team still has questions about their offense, particularly with Giancarlo Stanton’s injury history and Gleyber Torres’ potential. The team will need to overcome these challenges to contend for the championship.
Atlanta Braves
Finally, the Atlanta Braves have made a significant move by acquiring Sean Murphy, reuniting him with former teammate Matt Olson. The team also has options with Vaughn Grissom and Orlando Arcia to fill in where needed. With these additions, the Braves want to build on their recent success and make a deep postseason run.
