Welcome to Opening Day! Although the 2025 MLB season has technically kicked off, this marks the branded version of Opening Day. Don’t forget, the Cubs and Dodgers faced each other twice in Japan, with the Dodgers winning both matchups. We started off strong with best bets, achieving a record of 2-1 in the opener.
Today, we’re excited to witness 14 games on Thursday, making it easier to identify appealing betting opportunities. However, wagering in baseball can be quite challenging, especially at the beginning of the season until we have ample current data. Keep this in mind if you’re considering making your first bets.
As an experienced better, I’m ready to jump in. Below are my top three favorite bets for Opening Day, along with a few other interesting options I’ve noticed.
(Lines provided by DraftKings)
The futures props regarding Skenes might seem exaggerated as he is favored to win the Cy Young and lead the majors in strikeouts, but he’s up against a struggling Marlins team on Opening Day. I’m willing to wager that he gets at least seven strikeouts, even if the odds are high.
In the previous season, Skenes recorded seven or more strikeouts in 16 out of 23 starts. Against the Marlins, he struck out nine in just six innings in their one matchup last year. The Marlins haven’t faced Skenes much and that gives him a distinct advantage. As Brewers star Christian Yelich stated about Skenes, he possesses significant pitching skills for his age and is adept at using his arsenal effectively.
Skenes has shown potential this spring, throwing as many as 85 pitches and hurling 51 in a recent outing on March 22, fully prepared to dominate the weak Marlins lineup today. A score of 5-3 or 6-2 would still secure a win for us, indicating that we do not need a full-on slugfest to succeed.
