The 2023 MLB season gets going this afternoon with 15 games set across the league.
The start of Major League Baseball season also means the start of the MLB gambling season, and we have you covered.
Below, you'll find the betting odds and pitching matchups for all of Thursday's 15 games, as well as links for further analysis for everything you need to know ahead of Opening Day.
MLB Opening Day Odds, Picks
All odds via FanDuel and as of Wednesday evening. For up-to-the-minute MLB odds all season long, click here.
Today's Best Bets
Opening Pitch: Senior MLB writer Sean Zerillo breaks down his betting card for Opening Day.
For all of our staff's favorite bets for Opening Day's 15-game slate, including picks on Giants-Yankees, Twins-Royals, Rockies-Padres and more, click here.
For top prop picks on Braves-Nationals, Tigers-Rays and Angels-Athletics, be sure to read Alex Hinton's prop betting guide.
Is PrizePicks more your speed? Tony Sartori has you covered with the best picks to build out your lineup.
| Matchup | Max Fried vs. Patrick Corbin |
| First Pitch | 1:05 p.m. ET |
| Braves Odds | -270 |
| Nationals Odds | +220 |
| Total | 7.5 |
After falling short of their World Series defense a season ago with an NLDS loss to the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies, the Atlanta Braves get another season started ripe with lofty expectation. On the other side, the Washington Nationals are expected to be among the world teams in the majors in 2023, and send fading veteran Patrick Corbin to the mound.
D.J. James lays out why and how he's targeting Atlanta's offense in this Opening Day affair.
| Matchup | Logan Webb vs. Gerrit Cole |
| First Pitch | 1:05 p.m. ET |
| Giants Odds | +154 |
| Yankees Odds | -184 |
| Total | 7 |
The Bronx Bombers once again have their eyes set on the World Series following another year with a disappointing finish. After bringing back Aaron Judge on a monster deal and getting some other reinforcements around him, expectations are sky-high. With Gerrit Cole on the mound, they'll look for the Opening Day win against the underrated Logan Webb and the perpetually pesky San Francisco Giants.
| Matchup | Kyle Gibson vs. Corey Kluber |
| First Pitch | 2:10 p.m. ET |
| Orioles Odds | +110 |
| Red Sox Odds | -130 |
| Total | 9 |
The Baltimore Orioles surprised many a season ago by defying expectations, and they enter this season with renewed hope and the No. 1 prospect in baseball, Gunnar Henderson. Optimism for the Red Sox is probably more tempered than it's been in quite time.
| Matchup | Corbin Burnes vs. Marcus Stroman |
| First Pitch | 2:20 p.m. ET |
| Brewers Odds | -148 |
| Cubs Odds | +126 |
| Total | 7.5 |
The Chicago Cubs made headlines this offseason with the acquisition of Dansby Swanson, not to mention some nice, under-the-radar moves like Trey Mancini, Eric Hosmer and Cody Bellinger. They'll face a familiar foe on Opening Day in the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers and Corbin Burnes.
Tony Sartori on why he's focused on Burnes with his Opening Day bet.
| Matchup | Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Shane McClanahan |
| First Pitch | 3:10 p.m. ET |
| Tigers Odds | +190 |
| Rays Odds | -230 |
| Total | 7 |
It's difficult to find much optimism around the Detroit Tigers organization, as fans and pundits alike expect another season at or near the cellar of the American League Central. The Tampa Bay Rays are, at this point, a regular postseason competitor, and have their ace on the mound in Shane McClanahan against Detroit's Eduardo Rodriguez, who is hoping for a bounce-back season.
Jim Turvey says not to get too cute with your Opening Day bet. Go with the clearly superior side.
| Matchup | Aaron Nola vs. Jacob deGrom |
| First Pitch | 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Phillies Odds | +116 |
| Rangers Odds | -134 |
| Total | 6.5 |
The Philadelphia Phillies are banged up entering Opening Day, but will begin their NL Pennant defense with their ace on the mound in Aaron Nola. The Texas Rangers spent big on an ace of their own this offseason, and it's someone with whom the Phillies are very familiar: former Mets frontliner Jacob deGrom.
| Matchup | Mitch Keller vs. Hunter Greene |
| First Pitch | 4:10 p.m. ET |
| Pirates Odds | +112 |
| Reds Odds | -132 |
| Total | 8.5 |
Two of the National League Central's bottom-feeders square off on Opening Day when the Cincinnati Reds play host to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pittsburgh has some intriguing young talent, however, while everyone's favorite sleeper, Hunter Greene, toes the hill for Cincy in his first Opening Day start.
Tanner McGrath says the total is simply too high in this matchup of underrated hurlers.
| Matchup | Max Scherzer vs. Sandy Alcantara |
| First Pitch | 4:10 p.m. ET |
| Mets Odds | -126 |
| Marlins Odds | +108 |
| Total | 6.5 |
Opening Day obviously provides us with aces aplenty across the league's landscape, but arguably none are better than this matchup in Florida, where reining NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara squares off with future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer.
| Matchup | Pablo Lopez vs. Zack Greinke |
| First Pitch | 4:10 p.m. ET |
| Twins Odds | -148 |
| Royals Odds | +126 |
| Total | 8.5 |
The Minnesota Twins are hoping to complete with the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox in what should be a competitive top of the American League Central. The Kansas City Royals aren't expected to be there as they get some of their young guys reps in what's expected to be another tough season.
| Matchup | Alek Manoah vs. Miles Mikolas |
| First Pitch | 4:10 p.m. ET |
| Blue Jays Odds | -120 |
| Cardinals Odds | +102 |
| Total | 8 |
The St. Louis Cardinals are expected to be the class of the National League Central this season, while the Toronto Blue Jays are hoping to become exactly that in an uber-competitive American League East.
| Matchup | Dylan Cease vs. Framber Valdez |
| First Pitch | 7:08 p.m. ET |
| White Sox Odds | +132 |
| Astros Odds | -156 |
| Total | 7.5 |
The defending World Series champion Houston Astros begin their defense at home against the Chicago White Sox, who are hoping to put the misery of last season's disappointing campaign in the rear-view mirror.
B.J. Cunningham on why he expects Chicago to spoil Houston's championship celebration.
| Matchup | German Marquez vs. Blake Snell |
| First Pitch | 9:40 p.m. ET |
| Rockies Odds | +176 |
| Padres Odds | -210 |
| Total | 7.5 |
The San Diego Padres have higher expectations that maybe ever before this season, after an incredibly busy offseason and while sporting some of the game's biggest stars in Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.
| Matchup | Shohei Ohtani vs. Kyle Muller |
| First Pitch | 10:07 p.m. ET |
| Angels Odds | -235 |
| Athletics Odds | +194 |
| Total | 7 |
Do the Los Angeles Angels have what it takes to get Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout to the postseason? Sean Zerillo thinks so.
| Matchup | Zac Gallen vs. Julio Urias |
| First Pitch | 10:10 p.m. ET |
| Diamondbacks Odds | +154 |
| Dodgers Odds | -184 |
| Total | 7.5 |
The Los Angeles Dodgers are in an unfamiliar position entering the season — they're not World Series favorites. They should still be quite good, mind you, and young ace Julio Urias takes the ball on Opening Day against another emerging ace, Zac Gallen, and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
| Matchup | Shane Bieber vs. Luis Castillo |
| First Pitch | 10:10 p.m. ET |
| Guardians Odds | +104 |
| Mariners Odds | -122 |
| Total | 6.5 |
The Seattle Mariners are flying high after snapping their long postseason drought a year ago. They have their eyes on making it back-to-back, but so do the Cleveland Guardians, who are American League Central favorite for a reason.
Nick Martin on why he thinks Seattle can make it 1-0 at home on Opening Day.
MLB Preseason Analysis
Staff Picks, Futures Odds, More
- 30 Bets For 30 Teams: Future Odds & Analysis For Every Team
- Favorite Futures: Our Staff Breaks Down Their Favorite Future Bets Ahead of Opening Day
Sean Zerillo's Season Overview
Sean Zerillo is the engine that runs Action Network's PRO MLB Projections. You can follow him on the Action App for his up-to-the-minute MLB bets all season long.
- Zerillo's MLB Win Totals, Team Futures & More
- Zerillo's Best Bets For MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year
- Zerillo's Best Bets For Season-Long Stat Leaders
- Zerillo's Breakdown Of The Make/Miss Playoffs Market
Content To Get You Ready
- Action PRO gives you data-driven projections and access to PRO Tools to help you become a more successful bettor.
- MLB Betting Trends, Notes, Systems Entering Opening Day, from our director of research, Evan Abrams.
- 10 Pitchers Undervalued By The Betting Market Entering Opening Day
- 7 Pitchers Overvalued By The Betting Market Entering Opening Day
More Awards Chatter
Staff writer Jim Turvey uses historical data to identify his best bets for some of the big MLB awards.
