MLB Expert Picks For Mar. 20: Opening Day Is Here...Sort Of

Opening Day is here — sort of — so our MLB expert picks will kick it up a notch, too. 

While other clubs play exhibition baseball, the Dodgers and Padres will open the season in Seoul, Korea for a unique two-game set. 

Let's explore two picks for this game that, with the time difference, takes place March 20 at 6 a.m. ET: 

Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres

Pick 1: Dodgers -1.5 (-120)

The Dodgers might be the perfect squad to start their season early. Los Angeles has the best lineup in baseball — that's indisputable — and they can stack lefties against Yu Darvish, who starts for the Padres.

Tyler Glasnow's 7th & 8th Ks thru 5.

And 🤫 [0 hits, 1 bb] pic.twitter.com/srPtrE1nlw

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 12, 2024

Beyond that, Tyler Glasnow is stretched out and looked fantastic in spring, pitching to a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings with 14 strikeouts.

Pick 2: UNDER 8.5 Runs (+105)

I discussed this in Odds Shark's new baseball show on X Spaces, Three True Outcomes, and I'm a believer in the UNDER for Wednesday's game.

The Gocheok Sky Dome is a perfectly neutral stadium, which doesn't move the needle, but I'm counting on the new environment and earlier games to shake things up.

Hitters need reps to sort out their timing, and this earlier start date (a week earlier than normal) means guys might not be fully synced. Add in Glasnow pumping 100 mph for five innings, and we're looking at a LAD win and UNDER 8.5 runs.