Major League Baseball is back, from the first pitch of the season to the coronation of the 2021 World Series Champion, look no further than SportsTips.com for daily MLB picks and predictions!
Look below to find our free MLB picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
Tampa Bay Rays @ Miami Marlins – 7.10PM ET
Contesting what was their first match of the season the Rays came away with a 1-0 victory over the Marlins at loanDepot park. Playing in back-to-back games they’ll be going at it in Miami again in what is sure to be a great encore clash.
The sole homer of their clash came from 2019 All-Star Austin Meadows as he hit a great ball to right-center field.
The 25-year-old Outfielder wasn’t the only one to star for his side as Tyler Glasnow also put on a show for Tampa Bay during Opening Day. The right-hander conceded just one hit and he struck out six without a walk. Outside of that, a total of 57 from his 76 attempted pitches resulted in strikes.
*All together now*
SHEEEEESH pic.twitter.com/vSuJDX8tPc
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 2, 2021
This was a near-perfect start for last season’s East Division champions and no doubt they’ll be looking to go 2/2 in this next encounter. And while they may have left it late with their homerun coming in the 8th innings, they showed the type of composure that all great teams do when facing difficult pressure.
And again they should slightly edge this encounter.
MLB Pick – Tampa Bay Rays (-120)
MLB Spread – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Runs Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Chicago White Sox @ Los Angeles Angels – 9.38PM ET
What a fantastic way to help get the new season underway! We have the White Sox and the Angels going head-to-head at Angel Park and for the second time in two days after Los Angeles just beat them 4-3. The MLB so far is having a superb start.
One critical moment that stands out from this clash is when 3X AL MVP Mike Trout hit a massive RBI single to tie the scores up in front of the 13,027 fans in attendance. The Center Fielder did what he’s paid big money to do.
In the leadup to that moment it had been the Angels Shohei Ohtani getting one on the board after a mistake from the opposition’s second-placed basemen Nick Madrigal. That set the stage for Trout to work his magic.
With Trout also having produced 46 RBI (runs batted in) last season and getting one on board during this game, he’ll be a key factor for Los Angeles in this repeat clash. Not to mention the 1380 hits that he had as well, he’s a very influential player when he’s out on the pitch.
This was a big win from the Angels who didn’t have a particularly good season most recently. However, this victory will have given them all the confidence in the world. We could well perhaps be seeing the start of something from the 1X World Series winners.
MLB Pick – Los Angeles Angels (-122)
MLB Spread – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Runs Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Houston Astros @ Oakland Athletics – 9.40PM ET
In what was both sides’ opening match of the season the Astros proved to be no match for the Athletics as they prevailed 8-1 in what was an absolute thrashing. With the clash occurring at the Oakland Coliseum the home side were embarrassed. Now with them meeting again no doubt Oakland will be searching strongly for the win.
With the Athletics topping the AL West Division last season this result came as a massive shock. But if anything, it shows that Houston will be hot on their tail this year as last campaign they were 2nd on 29 wins.
The time has come and we can’t wait to welcome you back to Minute Maid Park!
Single game tickets for the month of April, including Opening Day – are on sale NOW!
🎫: https://t.co/V37BWPNPjY pic.twitter.com/wxjqFwOXTA
— Houston Astros (@astros) March 24, 2021
Boy oh boy didn’t Astros right-hander Zack Greinke have himself a game! The former NO.6 pick claimed six innings in what was the first Opening Day victory of his career. Making his performance even better was the fact that he didn’t allow a single run.
And in two nice little bits of history for Houston they haven’t lost an opening day game since they transferred to the American League (2013) and this was their 9th win in a row when it comes to season openers.
On the flip side, this was just their 10th victory from their past 24 away contests. Bring on the second encounter.
MLB Pick – Houston Astros (+128)
MLB Spread – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Runs Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Arizona Diamondbacks @ San Diego Padres – 10.10PM ET
Last season Arizona finished in last place in the West with just 25 wins to their name. As for San Diego they finished in 2nd with 37 victories. And didn’t the Diamondbacks have a point to prove as they fell just short, going down to their division rivals 8-7 in what was a thoroughly entertaining Opening Day affair at Petco Park. And now they go at it again!
Credit to the Diamondbacks for taking the lead with a 1st period 1-0 win. Whilst in the 5th they came away with a commanding 6-0 score line. And their home runs came courtesy of Ketel Marte X1, Asdrubal Cabrera X1, Tim Locastro X1 and Stephen Vogt X1.
For the victors both Eric Hosmer and Wil Myers scored a homer each. During the 2020 season Hosmer had 9 home runs and Myers 15. The two seasoned veterans will both be extremely happy to have got on the board so early on in the campaign.
This was the Padres second straight victory over the Diamondbacks and their third straight win over their previous season openers. Last season they accumulated a 21-11 record at home and if this win is anything to go by then they’ll be hard to beat once again at Petco Park.
Based on what we just saw anybody could take this clash out.
MLB Pick – Arizona Diamondbacks (+200)
MLB Spread – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Runs Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
San Francisco Giants @ Seattle Mariners – 10.10PM ET
Playing at one of the best stadiums in all of Baseball ala T-Mobile Park the standard of play was fit for the venue as the Mariners claimed a huge 8-7 victory over San Francisco to start off their campaign 1 and 0.
For Seattle what clinched it was winning the 8th period 6-0. And in what was a tremendously exciting game we are incredibly lucky to see the second battle be contested so shortly after the first.
San Francisco may have opened the scoring via a home run through Evan Longoria after he hit a fly ball to right field, but it was a walk that helped clinch it for the home side. Jake Fraley walked and Evan White scored. Taylor Trammell moved to the 3rd and Dylan Moore to the 2nd.
Opening Act#SFGiants | #ResilientSF pic.twitter.com/GDcpug2FMn
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) April 2, 2021
And with the Giants initially claiming a 2 to nothing lead, that the Mariners were able to overcome it showed they have a lot of steel and nerves within their side. The Mariners looked a lot better than the team that finished with a poor 13-23 away record last season.
If the Opening Day is anything to go off then things are changing for a lot of teams including Seattle. If we even get half of what we got in the first clash in this one then we’re in for a treat.
MLB Pick – Seattle Mariners (-130)
MLB Spread – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Runs Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our MLB hub page for all your baseball needs!
Want more picks? We have just launched our Premium Picks service, and for a limited time only, it is free! *T&Cs Apply.
*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
