The MLB season begins tomorrow as the stage is set in Tokyo, Japan. We were in Seoul, Korea last year and saw the Dodgers and Padres split the two games. Then we witnessed the Dodgers roll all the way to a World Series Championship.
The Dodgers return as favorites to repeat, and the Cubs are working to get back to sustained relevancy. Without much data in the early season, we are going to pick our spots to play player props and when to get into some game line action. Let’s jump right into the picks!
Shota Imanaga was fantastic in 2024. In 29 starts he finished 15-3, with a 3.1 WAR, 2.91 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, with a 6.2 K/Walk ratio and allowed opposing hitters just .225 on-base percentage. In 7 of his first 9 starts the games he pitched in stayed under 4. He faced the Dodgers twice last season, and they did tag him a bit. In those two starts Dodgers scored 7 and 3 runs in the first 5.
A majority of the Dodgers lineup does hit LHP pretty well, and a couple of them do have some success against him, in limited plate appearances. Now that Imanaga gets a 3rd start against these guys, and without Mookie Betts in the lineup, I believe he can get through 5 giving up minimal damage. He is one of the top pitchers at not giving free bases and that is huge against this lineup!
Yoshinobu Yamamoto started game 2 of the Seoul series last year and lasted just 1 inning, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, and 5 runs through 43 pitches. Now, he was facing a rather potent Padres lineup and I do not regard the Cubs in the same way. He also gets to make a statement and get that start back, but this time in his home country!
In 4 games these two starters faced against the other team, 3 of those games ended at 4 or under. The push is 100% in play here taking an even number of 4, and if you are okay with some juice, under 4.5 is still -130 on Bet365, which is amazing considering it is -150 other books!
With these two stellar pitchers going, and both looking to improve on their performances from last season (Imanaga vs Dodgers and Yamamoto overseas back home) we can stay under 4 in game 1!
Best Bet:
1% Dodgers/Cubs 1st 5 u4 (-110)
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