Specializes in college sports as well as the Major US Sports.
*This subscription currently includes 3 NCAA-B picks but more may be added during the term of the subscription.
*This subscription currently includes 3 NCAA-B picks but more may be added during the term of the subscription.
*This subscription currently includes 3 NCAA-B picks but more may be added during the term of the subscription.
*This subscription currently includes 3 NCAA-B picks but more may be added during the term of the subscription.
*This subscription currently includes 3 NCAA-B picks but more may be added during the term of the subscription.
*This subscription currently includes 3 NCAA-B picks but more may be added during the term of the subscription.
The Boston Red Sox are on the road to open the season against the Seattle Mariners. Boston finished last season at 78-84 and last in the AL East. Seattle went 88-74 and was in playoff contention in the last week of the season. Last season, the teams split six meetings with the Mariners taking two of three at home. Brayan Bello makes the start for the Red Sox. In 28 starts last season, he went 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA, and a 1.338 WHIP with 132 strikeouts over 157 innings. During spring, he went 0-1 with a 3.93 ERA, a 1.309 WHIP, eight walks and 18 strikeouts over 18.1 innings of work. Seattle will go with Luis Castillo on the mound. He made 33 starts for the Mariners last season, going 14-9 with a 3.34 ERA, and a 1.096 WHIP, with 219 strikeouts over 197 innings. During the spring, he was 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA, and a 0.927 WHIP, with six walks and 22 strikeouts over 18.1 innings of work. Bello pitched well in his two outings against the Mariners last season but you can’t be sure how good Boston will be this season. Castillo was good last season and the Mariners have a deep, talented bullpen. I like Seattle to open the season with a home win.
Play on Seattle. This is a free play.
The Detroit Tigers open the season against Central Division rivals the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers went 78-84 last season while the White Sox were 61-101 and as one of four teams to lose 100 games. The Tigers send Tarik Skubal to the mound to face Garrett Crochet. Skubal pitched well last season, allowing 28 runs in 80.1 innings pitched while striking out 102 batters. They did not do a lot in the off-season and are hoping their young players can step up. White Sox starter Garrett Crochet has battled injuries the past two seasons, missing all of 2022 and pitching only 12.2 innings last season. The Tigers have a lineup with great potential and are facing a pitcher with more questions than answers. The Sox still have some pop in their lineup but I think they will struggle against Skubal. Play on Detroit. This is a 2% play
The Minnesota Twins open the season on the road versus the Kansas City Royals. The Twins will open the season with Pablo Lopez on the mound. He was 11-8 with a 3.66 ERA last season. The Royals will go with Cole Ragans on the mound. He was 7-5 with a 3.47 ERA last season. Minnesota is 6-4 in its last 10 games against Kansas City. The Twins won the AL Central title last season, but that is not saying a lot as it was the worst division in baseball. The Twins lost key players from their rotation with Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda leaving in the offseason. Minnesota’s pitching was one of the best in the league last season and they will need to produce again this season. The Royals matched a franchise record with 106 losses and was one of two teams in the division with over 100 losses.Kansas City’s pitching was among the worst in the league last season. Lopez was 3-0 in three starts against the twins last season, giving up just six runs. Minnesota has the better lineup on paper and if things hold to form they have a huge advantage in the pen based on last season. Take the twins to open the season on the road with a win.
Play on Minnesota. This is a 4% play.
The Washington Nationals will visit Cincinnati to take on the Reds. The Nats will send Josiah Gray to the mound and the Reds will counter with Frankie Montas. Gray finished last season with an 8-13 record and a 3.91 ERA, with a 1.46 WHIP in 30 starts. Frankie Montas made just one appearance last season with the Yankees due to a shoulder injury. Washington has been in rebuilding mode and has a young core of players. Gray pitched well on the road last season, posting a 2.97 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 18 starts. The Reds are also a young team that has their eyes on the playoffs. Montas was only able to make one appearance on the mound last season. The Reds just missed the playoffs last season and want to get off to a good start this season. The Reds have a young exciting lineup that should find success against Gray. Montas is a question mark but this is a good team to face after a long layoff as the Nats lineup is not that scary.
Play on Cincinnati. This is a 3% play
The St. Louis Cardinals open the season with a four-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday afternoon. St. Louis finished last season at 71-91 and in the basement of the NL Central. The Dodgers have already played this season, splitting two games with the Padres in Korea. St. Louis added starters Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson to their rotation. Gray is already on the IL with a hamstring injury. Miles Mikolas gets the start for the Cardinals in this one. He went 9-13 with a 4.78 ERA, and a 1.316 WHIP in 39 starts last season. He led the league in hits and earned runs allowed. During spring training, he was 2-0 with a 4.78 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. The Dodgers showed the bats are just fine as they put up 11 runs in a 15-11 loss to close out the Korea series. Tyler Glasnow opened the season for LA, going 5 innings and allowing two runs on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts. During spring, he was 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA, a 0.70 WHIP, three walks, and 14 strikeouts over 10 innings of work. Mikolas is a pitch-to-contact pitcher and the Dodgers lineup can make contact. Glasnow needs to have better control than he had in the first game. The Dodgers are at home and this lineup is loaded. Los Angeles has already played two regular season games which has to be an advantage. I like the Dodgers to pile on the runs off Mikolas early. Lay the 1.5 runs for value.
Play on the LA Dodgers minus 1.5 runs. This is a 3% play!
The Los Angeles Angels kick off the baseball season in Baltimore to take on the Orioles. LA will send Patrick Sandoval to the mound to face former Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes. Sandoval went 7-13 last season with a 4.11 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 28 starts. Burnes finished last season with a 10-8 record and a 3.39 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 32 starts with Milwaukee. Los Angeles comes into this season without Ohtani but they still have Mike Trout. Sandoval did not pitch well on the road last season, going 5-7 with a 3.81 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 16 road starts. Baltimore was the young upstart team last season, winning 101 games and making the playoffs. The Playoffs didn’t go so well but they are looking to do better this season and went out and got an ace in Burnes. Burnes has recorded 200 or more strikeouts in each of the past three seasons. The Orioles were 49-32 at Oriole Park in 2023. Baltimore was 5-2 against Los Angeles last season, outscoring the Angels 41-27. These Orioles have won eight of the previous 10 games against the Angels. I like Baltimore in this one but I will be looking for value early with Burnes on the mound. Lay the 1.5 runs at + money.
Play on Baltimore on the run line. This is a 3% play.
As a former professor, Dan brings a high IQ approach to sports handicapping. He has a deep understanding of all facets of the game be it football, basketball, baseball, soccer or boxing. His contacts and friends include linemakers from across the globe.rnrnI post my plays by 1 pm on game day and usually earlier in the week for NFL and NCAAF.