It’s time for some Major League Baseball. America’s pastime is here once again to give us plenty of action throughout the year. There’s plenty of storylines to go in the new baseball season. Baltimore will be desperate to get back into the playoffs, finishing .500 last season after making the ALCS in 2014. Meanwhile, Minnesota is on an upswing as the Twins climbed up to second in the AL Central last year after they finished dead last in 2014.
Line: Minnesota Twins (+110) at Baltimore Orioles (-120); total 8.5 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Minnesota Twins (0-0)
The Minnesota Twins look to make another step forward this season. They went 19-11 in spring training including 4-2 against Baltimore. But take that record with a grain of salt. After all, it’s just spring training. Their 83-win season behind, the Twins are still embroiled in the long game of player development. Their first few games will be a good gauge as to where they are in the majors.
Prospects Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton are due to take a step forward this season. Sano had the bigger impact last year, hitting .269 with 18 homers and 52 RBIs. Meanwhile, the likes of Joe Mauer, Brian Dozier and Trevor Plouffe should continue to solidify the lineup.
Mauer led the team in batting average (.265), OBP (.338) and hits (157). Dozier hit the most homers (28). Plouffe drove in the most runs with 86 RBIs. They were four of just seven to play in at least 100 games last season. Expect this group to once again lead the team.
The Twins are set to put Ervin Santana on the mound Monday afternoon. He made just 17 starts last season due to a PED suspension, going 7-5 with a 4.00 ERA. He had a strong spring, though, conceding just two earned runs in 10 spring innings with a 0.90 WHIP.
Santana was a bit better on the road last year, going 5-3 with a 3.64 ERA compared to 2-2 with a 4.53 at home. He also ended the 2015 season on the right foot, going 4-1 with a 1.88 ERA in September.
Minnesota has won five of their last six regular season games on the road.
Betting on the Baltimore Orioles (0-0)
Baltimore had a pretty rough offseason. Dexter Fowler appeared close to signing before changing his mind to return to the Cubs. Yovani Gallardo came on board, but Wei Yin Chen (one of the team’s best starting pitchers) left in free agency. There’s also the issue with outfielder Hyun Soo Kim, who failed to make the transition from South Korea to the majors and refused to be assigned to the minors.
Despite their issues, Baltimore should still be a good baseball club. They still have plenty of power especially with Chris Davis in the batting order. He’ll have some help from the arrival of Mark Trumbo and Pedro Alvarez. The Orioles hit 217 homers last season (third in MLB) and will still be a force to be reckoned with at the plate.
Chris Tillman makes his third straight start on Opening Day, but his presence on the mound is not all that reassuring. He tanked in 2015, finishing with a 4.99 ERA in 31 starts. He also posted his worst strikeout rate (6.2 K/9) and walk rate (3.3 BB/9) since 2010 and 2011 respectively. Tillman managed to go 11-11 last season, but with plenty of help from the Orioles’ bats.
The Orioles have lost four of Tillman’s last five starts against Minnesota.
Writer’s Prediction
Tillman continues to struggle this season. Minnesota (+110) wins their first game of the year.
