This article is part of our MLB Picks series.
Welcome to my first MLB betting article on RotoWire, where I expect to be popping in a couple times a week to offer my slant on wagering opportunities. The new season has kicked off almost without a hitch, save for the Nationals-Mets postponed series. After a significantly shortened 2020, it's certainly exciting to be looking ahead at a full schedule that carries us all the way from the very first day of April until the end of September, as the baseball gods always intended.
Saturdays are a quintessential baseball day, and as such, we have a full schedule beginning just after 1 p.m. EDT. We'll break down three games I like, with two in the earlier part of the day and a nightcap on the West Coast.
I expect to vary which sportsbooks I reference as the season goes on, but Saturday's bets are from PointsBet USA.
Orioles at Red Sox, 1:15 p.m.
Starting Pitchers: Matt Harvey vs. Tanner Houck
The Picks: Red Sox moneyline (-186) for 1 RWBuck; Red Sox -1.5 (+100) for 1 RWBuck
Harvey is getting yet another shot in a major-league rotation despite not only multiple flameouts in similar opportunities in recent seasons, but an average spring in which he had a 4.80 ERA and was touched up for multiple earned runs in three of four starts. Boston's Tanner Houck has a much brighter outlook after wowing as a rookie last season with an 0.53 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 17 innings, including six scoreless frames at Fenway Park. With Harvey consistently hittable, I like the BoSox to win straight up and the plus-money price on winning by at least two runs.
Indians at Tigers, 1:15 p.m.
Starting Pitchers: Zach Plesac vs. Julio Teheran
The Pick: Indians moneyline (-180) for 1 RWBuck
Plesac had a 3.32 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in his first two big-league seasons, and although he got hit around a bit this spring, he put together solid outings in two of his last three trips to the mound. Meanwhile, Teheran is essentially in an opposite scenario, as he managed to hold hitters to a .176 average in 14.2 spring frames after producing an abysmal 10.05 ERA in 31.1 innings in Los Angeles last season. I still have exponentially more faith in Plesac's ability than Teheran's at this point in their respective careers, and the latter's career-long troubles keeping the ball in the park could surface against an Indians squad with some impressive power at the front end of the lineup.
White Sox at Angels, 9:12 p.m.
Starting Pitchers: Lance Lynn vs. Alex Cobb
The Pick: White Sox moneyline (-131) for 1 RWBuck
Secondary Pick To Consider: White Sox -1.5 (+125) for 1 RWBuck
Lynn makes his White Sox regular-season debut after two impressive seasons in Texas during which he showed there was still plenty of life left in his arm. The 33-year-old hit the ground running this spring as well with a solid 3.24 ERA in 16.2 Cactus League frames. He also has an excellent lineup backing him up, while the Angels' Alex Cobb has had trouble keeping the ball in the park the last few seasons, certainly not an ideal issue against the lethal array of mashers Chicago rolls out. I like Chicago to slug its way to a win, and given the appealing price on the run line, I'm comfortable rolling with it as a secondary pick as well.
