Kyle Schwarber vs Colorado Rockies 

• Schwarber, who has homered twice already this season, has taken German Marquez deep twice in 14 at-bats.

Willson Contreras vs Los Angeles Angels

• Contreras has doubled, tripled, and homered against Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson.

German Marquez (COL) vs Christopher Sanchez (PHI) 

The Rockies’ all-time strikeout leader, German Marquez, makes his return to the mound on Tuesday for the first time since suffering an elbow injury last July.  

At his best, Marquez is one of the most underrated pitchers in the game, but this is obviously a tough ask going up against a Phillies side playing its home opener after making only five starts over the last two seasons. 

Michael Soroka (WAS) vs Bowden Francis (TOR) 

The Blue Jays and their complete lack of run support has been frustrating to watch to start the season, but this does look a good spot to back them with the Nats turning to veteran right-handed Michael Soroka in his first start for the team. 

I had a big opinion of the Canadian before he departed for Tommy John in 2021/22, but he’s yet to rediscover his best stuff on the mound, pitching to a rough 4.74 ERA across only nine starts last year for the White Sox. 

Soroka’s spring numbers (13 earned runs across 15.2 innings of work) don’t read much better, so I’ll take the Over on the Jays here after regaining some confidence with a 3-1 win over the Orioles yesterday. 

Ben Brown (CHC) vs Joey Estes (A’s) 

The Cubs split their opening series with the DBacks two games apiece on Monday after blowing a four-run lead in the eighth. 

Chicago’s offence has been surprisingly bright to start the year, but their relievers have struggled to avoid opposing bats – particularly in the middle innings. 

This is another rough road game for a team that has played in Tokyo and Arizona to start the year, and although Sacramento is hardly a daunting place to visit, there are minor question marks over second-year starter Ben Brown, who allowed two runs in as many innings during the second-leg of the Japan series against the Dodgers. 

With Tyler Soderstrom swinging a hot bat, the Over on the A’s total looks like a nice play as well. 

Juan Soto @ Houston Astros  

• Soto struck out swinging to end Game 1 yesterday, so you can be damn sure he’ll be playing with a chip on his shoulder after the Mets failed to deliver at the plate. Soto owns a pair of hits against Astros starter Hunter Brown, including a double that registered close to 88 MPH off the bat.  

Christopher Morel vs Colorado Rockies 

• The Rays step out for their first game at their new temporary home, George Steinbrenner Field, a ballpark that saw 104 minor league home runs hit in 2022/23. Morel, meanwhile, has taken Rockies starter Kyle Freeland deep twice during his career, so in his first full season with Tampa Bay, he looks a nice bet to kick things off with a bang. 

Mitch Keller (PIT) vs Connor Gillispie (MIA)  

The Marlins pulled off the surprise upset on Opening Day, walking off the Pirates on a Kyle Stowers single to win 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth.  

Lucrative future trade piece Sandy Alcantara pitched into the fourth and struck out seven in his return from Tommy John, but the Marlins’ pitching falls off in a hurry with righty Connor Gillispie set to make his club debut after signing a one-year deal in January. 

The former Cleveland Guardian made only three appearances during his rookie season last year, so it’s unlikely he pitches deep into this game. 

On the flip side, Pittsburgh’s lineup doesn’t inspire much confidence either. Still, Mitch Keller has developed into a reliable third man in the Bucs’ rotation, coming off a tidy spring that saw him allow only four earned runs across 15 innings of work. 

Tylor Megill (NYM) vs Hunter Brown (HOU) 

We’ll run it back with the Mets, who lost on Opening Day 3-1 to the Astros in what was a rather uninspiring display from an offensive standpoint. 

New million-dollar man Juan Soto walked twice and recorded a hit, but outside of a double from Luis Torrens, the Mets left 10 men on base.  

Still, this is a better spot to back them with Astros righty Hunter Brown taking the mound. You can’t read too much into it, but the third-year starter was hit hard during spring training, surrendering seven earned runs on 13 hits across 12 innings of work.  

Last year, the Mets were one of the better bounce-back bets off a loss, playing to a tidy 45-33 record. With Tylor Megill looking to build on a career-best 4.04 ERA last season in his fourth year with the team, I’ll take the Mets as underdogs again. 

Reynaldo Lopez (ATL) vs Dylan Cease (SD) 

The Padres kicked off their season with a 7-4 win over the Braves on Friday, led by a monster 4 RBI day from Jackson Merrill and a vital seventh-inning homer from Gavin Sheets. 

Michael King lasted only 2.2 innings after giving up three earned runs, but Padres fans have to feel good about putting up some runs on reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale. 

Sticking with pitching, the Friars send Dylan Cease to the mound for Game 2. The veteran righty threw six scoreless innings when he last faced the Braves to go with 11 K’s and just three walks allowed. 

Paul Goldschmidt ($5.80) vs Milwaukee Brewers 

• Goldy, the Yankees’ new first baseman, has taken Brewers starter Freddy Peralta deep twice during his career, the hardest hit averaging 92.5 MPH off the end of the bat.

Adolis Garcis ($5.25) vs Boston Red Sox 

• Coming off a down year, Rangers slugger Adolis Garcia can bounce back in a big way against the Red Sox in Texas’ home opener. He’s registered a pair of hits against Garrett Crochet in the past and went yard three times during the spring.

Isaac Paredes ($7.50) vs New York Mets 

• Acquired in the Kyle Tucker trade from the Cubs, Paredes has landed in the perfect park with Daikin Field’s measurements lending itself to plenty of home runs for the pull-happy third baseman.

Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs Cole Ragans (KC) 

One of the better pitching matchups on the Opening Day slate between Cleveland’s new $48.5 million man Tanner Bibee, and one of the fourth-leading AL Cy Young vote-getter last year, Cole Ragans.  

The Royals dominated these AL Central games last year to lead the majors with a 33-19 record, but I think Bibee is the arm I want to be betting on here following four successful postseason starts where he allowed a combined six earned runs to go with 16 strikeouts. 

Last season, the Guardians ranked third in runs scored against southpaws, as Ragans found out the hard way when he gave up five earned runs in just 4.2 innings of work during a start in late June. 

Clay Holmes (NYM) vs Framber Valdez (HOU) 

We’re getting a decent price here on the new-look Mets as Juan Soto prepares to make his regular season debut.  

Former Yankee closer Clay Holmes takes the mound as a starter on the back of an inpsired World Series run that saw him allow a grand total of zero runs in five appearances, while the Astros turn to veteran lefty Framber Valdez, who started last year’s Opening Day allowing three earned runs in a loss to the Yankees.  

The Mets still have some concerns at catcher and second base with Francisco Alvarez and Jeff McNeil on the IL, but this is also a new-look season for the Astros with Alex Bregman now in Boston, Kyle Tucker in Chicago, and Jose Altuve playing left field.  

Justin Steele (CHC) vs Zac Gallen (ARI) 

The Cubs are 0-2 heading into Opening Day after losing back to back games during the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers. 

Justin Steele takes the mound after giving up five earned runs in Game 2 during a brief four-inning start, while the DBacks turn to Zac Gallen, who sports a tidy 2.60 ERA across six career starts against the Cubs. 

Chicago is the warm favourite to win the NL Central this year, but with Kyle Tucker struggling right through spring, and the hot corner still a work in progress behind Matt Shaw, I think the Dbacks are a good bet here at home.