Ricky Dimon
The first weekend of the 2025 MLB is here, and it includes a full 15-game schedule on Saturday. With the MLB experts on a heater to begin the season (4-0 with these picks through 2 days), let’s get into my MLB best bets of the day.
Also don’t forget to check out our MLB picks for Saturday’s slate. Additionally, don’t miss our 2025 MLB futures guide, which features win total futures, best bets on the MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year, division winner selections and World Series predictions from our team of experts.
MLB best bet: Baltimore Orioles vs Toronto Blue Jays Over 8.5 (-112)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing
Baltimore vs Toronto Over 8.5 was among my successful best bets on Friday and I’m going right back to the well. These 2 American League East rivals have taken turn bringing out the best in the opening series of 2025. The Orioles rolled to a 12-2 victory on Thursday before the Blue Jays got revenge with an 8-2 win on Friday. I wouldn’t be surprised to see both teams do damage in this one.
The pitching matchup is Dean Kremer of Baltimore vs Max Scherzer of Toronto. This has been an awful matchup for Kremer. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 10-for-28 lifetime against him with 5 home runs; George Springer is hitting .292 in 24 at-bats; Alejandro Kirk is 6-for-17 and has walked 3 times. As for Scherzer, he is 40 years old and has pitched in a mere 17 games since the start of the 2023 season. His debut with the Jays may not go well against a powerful O’s lineup.
MLB best bet: Houston Astros ML over New York Mets (-122)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Griffin Canning is taking the mound for New York on Saturday. It’s safe to say that Canning would not be in the Mets’ rotation if not for a slew of injuries to begin the season. It would be no surprise to see him get pummeled by an Astros lineup that added Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker this past offseason – and, of course, it still boasts Yordan Alvarez in the 3 hole.
Houston is countering with Spencer Arrighetti, whose second half of the 2024 campaign was electric. Arrighetti has overpowering stuff at times and the right-hander projects to have an outstanding season for the Astros. I love the pitching matchup for Houston, so give me the home team to win outright.
Read our full Astros vs Mets prediction
