After nearly a four-month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 MLB season will get underway this week. The season will open with a marquee matchup between the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals Thursday night, followed by a full slate of games Friday. To get you ready for the start of the season, we’ve laid out a three-way parlay for the first two days the MLB season.
MLB Opening Day Parlay: Picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, July 21 at 11:15 a.m. ET.
New York Yankees at Washington Nationals: NYY moneyline (-139)
This is the best matchup of the week, particularly when you’re talking about pitching battles. We’ll be treated to SP Gerrit Cole versus SP Max Scherzer to open the 2020 season, as the Yankees take on the defending world champions.
The Yankees are primed to make a deep playoff run this season now that they have an ace to complement their powerful lineup, and that’ll become evident quickly. The Nationals are plenty talented and it’ll be a close game, but it’s hard not to feel good about the Yankees here, especially with empty stadiums taking away from a team’s home-field advantage.
If New York can knock Scherzer out of the game by the fifth inning, the game will be in the Yankees’ hands.
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Detroit Tigers at Cincinnati Reds: CIN moneyline (-176)
SP Sonny Gray rejuvenated his career last season with the Reds and I expect him to carry that success over into this year. He’ll be on the bump for this one against one of the worst teams in baseball, yet the moneyline is still only -176.
The Reds look like contenders with OF Nicholas Castellanos and 2B Mike Moustakas in the lineup now, as well as a solid bullpen to back up Gray and a revamped starting rotation. The Tigers will be trotting out SP Matthew Boyd for the first game of the season, with a mediocre lineup taking on Gray and the Reds.
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Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox: MIN moneyline (-106)
There isn’t a closer matchup on the Opening Day slate of games than the one between the Twins and White Sox. It’ll be SP Jose Berrios against SP Lucas Giolito, who are two of the best young pitchers in the American League Central.
The Twins still boast a highly powerful lineup and figure to be in playoff contention, but the White Sox could have something to say about that with a solid roster of their own.
This will be our first look at rookie phenom OF Luis Robert, who will be in the conversation to lead the majors in home runs. I feel better about the Twins’ more-experienced lineup than I do about Chicago’s early in the year.
MLB Opening Day Parlay: Payout
A $10 bet on this three-way parlay at odds of +426 would return a profit of $42.60 if all three legs hit.
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