Baltimore Orioles vs Los Angeles Angels Opening Day Odds, Pick, Prediction
| Angels Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -130 | 7.5 -122o / -100u | +160 |
| Orioles Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +108 | 7.5 -122o / -100u | -190 |
There is nothing like Opening Day. It is a tradition like no other that is consistent with the freshly cut grass, smells of the ballpark, and a clean slate for all 30 ballclubs.
The Baltimore Orioles will host the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon. It will be the newest Oriole, Corbin Burnes, on the bump facing off against southpaw Patrick Sandoval.
The O's made a big splash over the winter as they completed a trade with the Brewers to land their newest ace. Meanwhile, the Angels failed to re-sign superstar Shohei Ohtani and have entered a transition period for their franchise.
Let's break down the matchup and uncover the best betting angle below with my Angels vs Orioles pick and prediction.
Los Angeles Angels
Let's face it, the Halos are in for a long season in the AL West. They decided against trading Ohtani at the deadline last year, only to lose him in free agency to the Dodgers.
The projected lineup for the Halos does not have much experience against Burnes. They are a combined 3-for-16 with two walks in their lifetime against the 2022 NL CY-Young winner.
Ron Washington took over as manager in the offseason, and he has already boasted about how his team will be aggressive on the basepaths. He specifically mentioned that he expects Mike Trout to steal more often, which should help the middle of the lineup drive in more runs.
With the loss of Ohtani, there is a lot of offensive production that needs to be replaced. Trout spent the majority of the season on the shelf, so his health becomes imperative.
It is not a great Opening Day matchup for the Halos, especially against Burnes. With skeptical weather at best, it is setting up to be a low-scoring ball game. Sandoval did not have the best 2023, but his 2022 production suggests he is capable of being a legitimate top-of-the-rotation arm.
He should keep the ball in the park and generate a respectable performance. The Halos' offense is getting overlooked because of the Ohtani departure, but they're far too right-handed heavy for me to think about them spoiling Burnes' debut.
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Baltimore Orioles
Expectations can not be higher for a team that ran through the AL East like a chainsaw through butter last season. These Orioles are youthful, talented, and somehow became even better in the offseason.
Oh, and they have two top prospects Jackson Holliday and Colten Cowser, who are eagerly waiting in the wings for their promotion to the show. There is a boatload of talent to go around, and now they have a true ace anchoring their staff in Burnes.
I expect the O's to be trendy favorites backed by the public on Opening Day, which gives me pause. I can not lay the type of juice that most books are offering, and with a total of 8, I expect the matchup to be a lower-scoring affair.
Sandoval is not ace, but his road numbers and excellent changeup should have the O's off-balanced for most of the afternoon. The only hitter with notable success against Sandoval is outfielder Austin Hays, who is 4-for-9 lifetime against him.
If Sandoval is not sharp, it will not be smooth sailing against a much-improved Halos bullpen. They spent the majority of their offseason bolstering it.
Angels vs. Orioles
Betting Pick & Prediction
I absolutely love the under in this spot, and there are a few key nuggets that have led me to that conclusion.
According to Statcast, we noticed a drastic dip in offense at Camden Yards in 2023:
- Park Factor 2020-2022: 7th
Park Factor 2023: 27th
Last year coincided with the Orioles moving the right field wall back, and the park is simply not the hitters' paradise it used to be.
With the wind projected to be blowing in from center field at about 10-12 mph, fly balls are going to have a tough time leaving the ballpark. Combining the variables of brisk March weather and two starters who rarely give up the long ball, it is a good spot to take an under.
