MLB Opening Day Betting – Take the Red Sox over the Rangers

Baseball is back, with a potential playoff preview in the MLB Opening Day Betting! With the Red Sox favored to win the East, and the Rangers favored to win the West, could we be seeing some October baseball on April 1?

Boston Red Sox (0-0 SU, 0-0 O/U, 0-0 O/U) at Texas Rangers (0-0 SU, 0-0 R/L, 0-0 O/U)

Friday, April 1: 4:05 p.m. ESPN, Live from Ballpark at Arlington, Arlington, TX

Betting Odds:

Boston: -1 ½, +130, -125

(Jon Lester-L)

Texas: +1 ½, -150, +105

(C.J. Wilson-L)

Total Runs:

Over 8 ½: -125

Under 8 ½: +105

It looks like it, as both these teams come in loaded, and ready to make a run at the division title.

This MLB Opening Day Betting preview needs to start with the Texas Rangers, who parlayed a surprising AL West victory into the club’s first World Series run last year. And they did it behind one of the most explosive offenses in baseball.

Texas was led by last year’s AL MVP Josh Hamilton, who finally proved that with his immense skills, he was the best player in baseball. Hamilton hit a spectacular .359, and added some pop with 32 home runs and 100 RBI, numbers that were even more impressive considering that he missed 29 games with a rib injury. While Hamilton’s protection in the lineup, lad Guerrero is now in Baltimore, the Rangers have added former Red Sox All-Star Adrian Beltre to fill the void. Beltre hit 28 home runs last year in Boston. Finally, outfielder Nelson Cruz showed immense power, hitting 22 home runs in little over 300 at bats in 2010.

Of course if there’s one team that can match the Rangers in the MLB Opening Day Betting, it has to be the Red Sox right? This is an interesting mix of returning players and veterans, all of which have their eyes on a World Series prize.

Boston’s prized offseason acquisition was undoubtedly former Tampa outfielder Carl Crawford, who hit over .300 for the fifth time in six seasons last year. He’ll join a lineup led by former MVP Dustin Pedroia, who was limited to 75 games last year, but still hit .288 with 12 home runs. And of course there’s “Youk,” Kevin Youkilis, who was limited to just 102 games himself, but is a multiple time All-Star.

And obviously with all this offense, what the MLB Opening Day Betting pick will come down to is pitching. Which is why we like the Red Sox so darn much here.

Boston enters this game with stud lefty Jon Lester on the mound. The 27-year-old was one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2010, with 19 wins and 225 strikeouts in 208 innings pitched. As for Texas, well they’ll be throwing C.J. Wilson, who won 15 games in his first season as a starter last year. Entering year two, we’re not nearly as confident with him, especially going up against an ace like Lester.

It’s hard to believe but baseball season is here, and it’s time get your wagers in now. And the first of the season needs to be on the Red Sox. They’re the MLB Opening Day Betting pick to make!

MLB Opening Day Betting Pick: Boston Run Line (-1 ½, +130)