MLB Opening Day 2026 Picks & Predictions
Written by: Danny Burke
Published: Thu Mar 26, 2026, 11:57 am ET
Read Time: 4 minutes
mlb
Happy (full) Opening Day, ladies and gentlemen! A pseudo holiday that many, myself included, celebrate every year. Baseball is back, warmer weather is on the horizon, and for at least one day, every fan can believe this could be their team's year.
There are 11 games on the 2026 MLB Opening Day slate, so let's dive into some of my favorite plays to kick off the season.
Cubs vs Nationals First 5 Under 4 Runs (-125)
Nothing beats Opening Day at the Friendly Confines, but with it comes the potential for heavy winds. That's exactly what we'll see at Wrigley Field this afternoon, with double-digit winds blowing in from left field and gusts over 20 MPH.
Tomorrow vs Nationals: 58° ☁️ Wind blowing in from LF at 12mph💨 Gusts up to 26mph #Cubs #Weather #OpeningDay
— Wrigley Winds (@WrigleyWinds) March 25, 2026
Matthew Boyd gets the nod as the Opening Day starter for the Cubbies after putting together a quality 2025 campaign. He went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA, but a 4.22 xFIP suggests some regression could be on the horizon for the 35-year-old. Still, this is a favorable spot against a Nationals lineup that ranked 27th in wRC+ (78) against left-handed pitching last season.
On the other side, 27-year-old right-hander Cade Cavalli takes the bump for Washington. He made 10 starts last year, going 3-1 with a 4.25 ERA, but a more encouraging 3.93 xFIP.
Chicago's offense is coming off a strong year, posting a 110 wRC+ against righties, and added Alex Bregman to the lineup this offseason. However, they'll open the season without a key bat in Seiya Suzuki, who begins the year on the IL after suffering an injury in the WBC.
With the wind blowing in, Opening Day jitters, and a missing piece in the middle of the Cubs order, this could set up as a slower start out of the box for Chicago. As for the Nationals, their offense was among the worst in baseball last year, and there's little reason to expect a major jump here.
I'm not overly bullish on Boyd long-term, but this is a spot where he can be effective. Rather than trusting a shaky Nationals bullpen late, I'll target the first five innings and play the under.
Phillies -1.5 (+145) vs Rangers
One of my favorite pitchers from last season takes the bump for Philadelphia in lefty Cristopher Sanchez, who's coming off a 13-5 campaign with a 2.50 ERA, a 26.3% strikeout rate and a 58.3% ground ball rate.
He'll face a Rangers lineup that posted a measly 83 wRC+ against left-handed pitching last year, and now enters the season without Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia.
Meanwhile, the Phillies bring back a loaded lineup and add Garcia to the mix. They'll be matched up against a solid arm in Nathan Eovaldi, who posted a 1.73 ERA last season, but also a 3.03 xFIP. P
hiladelphia ranked sixth in wRC+ against right-handed pitching last year (110) and should pick up right where they left off.
The Phillies moneyline is a bit too steep, but they have more than enough firepower to cover the run line at a very appealing price, so that's what I'll be backing in the City of Brotherly Love.
Best Bets:
Still Didn't Get Your Fix?
Follow me on X @dannyburke5 for all my picks, analysis and plenty more. Also be sure to follow Betting News on 'X' and Twitch to catch us on stream! Betting News is also on TikTok! Follow us for more picks and news every day and check out our Free Expert Picks for every major sports league.
More MLB News
MLB Betting News
MLB Picks and Predictions for June 12, 2026: Backing Two Underdogs
MLB Betting News
(6/11) MLB | The Daily Dinger Report — Thursday Dingers
MLB Betting News
MLB Picks and Predictions for June 10, 2026: Plus Money Wagers
Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly
Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER
Check Out All of Our Betting Resources at Betting News
Danny Burke is a betting analyst with a decade of sports media experience. He got his start at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sharing picks on the local ESPN affiliate. After college, he hosted shows for VSiN in Las Vegas before returning to Chicago to launch 'Rush Hour', the first daily sports betting show from an Illinois casino. He also co-hosted 'Props and Locks' on Fox32’s Bears pregame show and ran 'Bet On, Chicago' on WLS-AM 890.
This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Betting News makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.