I get it. Sports betting isn’t for everyone — like, say, the interpreter for an international baseball superstar — but some of us quite enjoy it! If you are one of those people, this article is for you. Below, I’m going to list three bets I’ll be personally making for the Opening Day matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers, as well as some of the deals you can still get by signing up for any one of these sportsbooks (here are all the best active sportsbook promo codes).
Of course, I’ve already made my REAL bet … and it didn’t go well for me the last time.
Best New User Offers
As long as you’re located in a state with legal online sports betting (like Illinois, for you Cubs fans), the best available offers will display right here:
Justin Steele: Under 5.5 Strikeouts
DraftKings: Justin Steele Under 5.5 Ks, -125
Justin Steele made 30 starts last season and struck fewer than six batters only 12 times. However, eight of those 12 games came before the end of May, including one start against the Texas Rangers (whose lineup looks pretty similar), when he totaled just 3Ks in his 6.0 innings of work. I’m still expecting a great game and season overall from Steele, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s not at his absolute (strikeout) sharpest early in the year and against the reigning World Series champs.
And for what it’s worth, the Rangers struck out just 21.9% of the time against southpaws all of last season.
Cubs to Win
FanDuel: Cubs Moneyline +104
Be warned, I bet with my heart as much as my head. And I don’t have it in me to bet against the Cubbies on Opening Day, especially when they’re betting underdogs. With that said, I like the Cubs lineup a good bit more than the industry. And we’ve seen first-hand how the World Series hangover can affect a team. With Justin Steele on the mound, Seiya Suzuki coming off a red-hot spring, and all the Cubs regulars healthy and ready to go, I’m feeling good about the Cubs chances. It’s on the road against a good team, but hey … +104 isn’t bad.
Seiya Suzuki to Homer
BetMGM: Seiya Suzuki Over 0.5 HRs +650
I’m such a homer for this bet, but I can’t help it. Seiya Suzuki had a red-hot Spring Training including six homers and a .459/.512/1.081 (307 wRC+) slash line. And that’s after finishing the season on an absolute tear. Nathan Eovaldi (starting for the Rangers) isn’t much of a fly ball pitcher and isn’t particularly home prone, but he does give up more homers and hard contact against righties. And at +650 you can make a tiny bet, but still earn some cash. It’s never easy to pick a guy to homer, but the payoffs are big and the bet is fun.
This article is intended for entertainment purposes and adult users only. Call 1-800-GAMBLER if you have a gambling problem. Please Gamble Responsibly.