MLB’s Opening Day Odds and Value Picks
By James Moreau | 21 Mar, 2026

From the Dodgers’ quest for a third straight title to Bryan Woo’s Cy Young potential, we break down the smartest bets for the 2026 season.

As we approach MLB Opening Day, the 2026 betting landscape is full of player prop opportunities fueled by an influx of international emerging stars ready to disrupt the status quo.

It would be a mistake to not acknowledge that the Dodgers are heavy favorites to three-peat especially after adding 4x All-Star Kyle Tucker to an already stacked roster.  While taking the +210 line isn’t particularly sexy it feels like free money at this point.

Similarly, Shohei Ohtani has won MVP three times in a row and there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t make it a fourth – especially after beginning the World Baseball Classic with a Grand Slam.  A heavy favorite at -135, Ohtani’s dual-threat impact makes this a generational lock.

For a higher-value pick, consider Seattle’s Bryan Woo to win AL Cy Young at +1700.  In his third year the Chinese American finished 5th in the voting with a sub-3.00 ERA and 15 wins.  Woo’s efforts led to the M’s winning the West for the first time since 2001 and brought them to the brink of their first World Series appearance in franchise history.

Staying in the AL West, look for Tatsuya Imai to win AL Rookie of the Year at +1200.  The Astros’ latest signing arrives from the NPB with high-velocity heat and a devastating slider.   While Houston has been in decline, they still have a solid roster to help Imai rack up wins and be in contention to win the division.  With ‘stros ace Framber Valdez departing this offseason, they will depend on productivity from Imai immediately.

The homerun over/under for the splashy White Sox acquisition, Munetaka Murakami, is set at 27.5.  Though the slugger has legendary power, he’s coming off an injured NPB season, preceded by two years of reduced productivity.  He infamously batted less than .100 against pitches over 93 mph, so he may be in for a rude MLB awakening.  Perhaps not, but let’s see proof of concept first – take the under.

Since betting the under is less fun, let’s look at Kazuma Okamoto whose over/under homerun line is set at 22.5.  The Blue Jays’ new third baseman has cleared 30 homers in six straight Japanese seasons and now moves to a hitter-friendly park.  In comparison to Murakami, who has the higher ceiling, Okamoto has a higher floor.  Expect him to contribute right away for the AL Champs and take the over.