We are one day down on what is going to be a marathon of a Major League Baseball season, but the goal is to stay profitable so let’s get you set with two best bets on Friday’s slate.
After every team was in action on Opening Day, it’s a smaller slate on Friday with five games on the docket, including the defending World Series champions Astros, who lost its opener against the White Sox in addition to the Dodgers facing off against the Diamondbacks.
Let’s get to it!
Best MLB bets for Friday, March 31st
- White Sox +130 vs. Astros
- Dodgers -1.5 (+130) vs. Diamondbacks
White Sox vs. Astros prediction and pick
Lynn struggled to stay in the rotation last season, only making 21 starts, posting a 3.99 ERA across 121.2 innings, but he did showcase improved command with less than two walks per nine innings.
If he can continue to throw strikes he’ll see far more success this season with a clean bill of health. While the Astros lineup is a tough ask, the team will be without Jose Altuve for the first few weeks of the season, who is dealing with a fractured thumb.
On the other side, the White Sox will face Cristian Javier, who continues to pitch his way up the rotation. After pitching to a 2.54 ERA last season, and looked the part of a high end starter in spring training with a sub-1.000 WHIP in Spring Training, Javier will look to keep the Astros in the World Series conversation.
However, I’m going to back Lynn and the South Siders at this big of a price. The White Sox may have lost a few familiar names, but Lynn hasn’t had any setbacks health and I expect him to post near-All Star level splits in 2023. If he is healthy, he can produce at a number that can outperform this expectations and have the White Sox live for an early season upset. — Reed Wallach
PICK: White Sox +125
Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers prediction and pick
Merrill Kelly got the nod to start the World Baseball Classic final against Japan, but he didn’t exactly bathe himself in patriotic glory. Kelly went 1.1 innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits, issued two free passes and only had one strikeout. I would not call that great.
However, Kelly was really good last season with a 3.37 ERA and 3.65 FIP across 33 starts. He had 177 strikeouts to just 66 walks. However, that was not the case against one specific team with an L and an A on their hat.
In five starts against the LA Dodgers last year, Kelly had an 8.25 ERA and gave up six home runs in 24.0 innings pitched. His WHIP was 1.958 in those starts. He was a total disaster against the best team in the division and I can’t imagine that after struggling in the biggest game of the WBC and having an abbreviated Spring Training with his team because of it, he’ll pitch better against the team that is his kryptonite.
Though I’m not sure a 34-year-old above average starter should be drawing any Superman comparisons.
The Dodgers didn’t make the splashiest moves in the offseason like some other teams in southern California might have, but they bolstered their lineup with J.D. Martinez and still have a lot of familiar faces in their lineup. Probably the same ones that have haunted Merrill Kelly’s dreams. — Josh Yourish
PICK: Dodgers -1.5 (+130)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.