Today is the first day of the 2023 MLB season with all teams in play. There are 15 games on the slate for opening day, and legal online MLB betting sites have posted game lines for each one.
There are also Major League Baseball futures on the board that suggest the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers are the most likely teams to make it to the 2023 World Series.
While it may be too early on in the season for placing a bet on the World Series, gamblers shouldn’t sleep on some of these long odds that will pay out handsomely in October if the correct franchise is wagered on.
For instance, even though the Astros are favored to repeat in 2023, placing a bet on their +600 moneyline right now will lock in those odds. 6-to-1 payouts can be earned if they go all the way.
A bet of $100 on a Houston championship has the potential to earn net profits of $600 for those with the patience to wait until October for a payout.
For bettors that are looking for some action in today’s games, outside of individual game lines, there are some fun prop bets on the boards that encompass all season openers.
Here’s one that’s been posted over at Bovada Sportsbook that is taking action on the first MLB player to hit a home run today.
Player to Hit First Home Run of 2023 Season
- Aaron Judge (NYY) +1000
- Austin Riley (ATL) +1200
- Matt Olson (ATL) +1200
- Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL) +1200
- Giancarlo Stanton (NYY) +1600
- Anthony Rizzo (NYY) +1600
- Ozzie Albies (ATL) +2400
- Joc Pederson (SF) +2800
- Joey Meneses (WAS) +3000
We’ve only posted the first handful of contenders as online sportsbooks have listed dozens of players with odds that are astronomical.
Another enticing Major League Baseball prop bet is the following that asks which game will feature the most combined runs scored.
Thursday March 30th – Highest Scoring Game
- BAL Orioles @ BOS Red Sox +700
- MIN Twins @ KC Royals +725
- PIT Pirates @ CIN Reds +850
- ATL Braves @ WAS Nationals +900
- COL Rockies @ SD Padres +1000
- TOR Blue Jays @ STL Cardinals +1000
- CHI White Sox @ HOU Astros +1100
- MIL Brewers @ CHI Cubs +1200
- SF Giants @ NY Yankees +1200
- ARI Diamondbacks @ LA Dodgers +1200
- LA Angels @ OAK Athletics +1400
- CLE Guardians @ SEA Mariners +1400
- DET Tigers @ TB Rays +1400
- NY Mets @ MIA Marlins +1600
- PHI Phillies @ TEX Rangers +1600
The Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox are positioned as the two teams that will score the most on opening day 2023, but still, there is a massive +700 moneyline posted for that outcome.
There are dozens more specials featured at Bovada and at the other sites included in our online sportsbook reviews. Some books are amenable to custom bets that have been proposed by their members, and if popular enough, they’ll add the odds to the boards for everyone to wager on.