MLB Predictions and Moneyline Picks for Thursday, March 26

Chris Vasile - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Chris Vasile • Betting Analyst 13+ years betting experience
Updated: Mar 26, 2026 , 06:00 AM ET • 4 min read

Opening Day continues Thursday with a full MLB slate, as we break down the top moneyline picks and best betting value across the board.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29).
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29).

Opening Day continues Thursday with a full MLB slate — and with it, our first real chance to attack the betting board.

With teams settling in, pitchers stretching out, and early overreactions already shaping the market, there’s value to be found if you know where to look.

Below, we break down the top moneyline MLB picks for Thursday, March 26.

MLB moneyline picks for March 26

Matchup Pick
Pirates Pirates
vs
Mets Mets
Pirates
-116
White Sox White Sox
vs
Brewers Brewers
Brewers
-192
Nationals Nationals
vs
Cubs Cubs
Cubs
-217
Twins Twins
vs
Orioles Orioles
Twins
+109
Angels Angels
vs
Astros Astros
Astros
-175
Tigers Tigers
vs
Padres Padres
Tigers
-137
Rays Rays
vs
Cardinals Cardinals
Rays
-120
Rangers Rangers
vs
Phillies Phillies
Phillies
-154
Diamondbacks Diamondbacks
vs
Dodgers Dodgers
Dodgers
-250
Guardians Guardians
vs
Mariners Mariners
Mariners
-250

Lines courtesy of Kalshi as of 3-26.

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Expert MLB moneyline picks for March 26

Pirates vs Mets: Pirates Pirates (-116)

The New York Mets might be deeper, but early-season volatility + Paul Skenes = value. That’s it. In a game with a low total (6.5), the better pitcher matters more than lineup depth. 

White Sox vs Brewers: Brewers Brewers (-192)

The Chicago White Sox boast yet another weak roster with limited offensive upside, and the Milwaukee Brewers have the pitching edge with Jacob Misiorowski getting the ball to open up the season. 

Nationals vs Cubs: Cubs Cubs (-217)

The Chicago Cubs should control this game wire-to-wire. They're the better team with the bigger pitching edge. Laying -240 is not advisable, but it's the right side. 

Twins vs Orioles: Twins Twins (+109)

I believe this line is wrong. It's pricing Baltimore as a clear tier above, but I don't believe that's the case. Twins have enough offense to trade blows, and the pitching isn’t a mismatch. You’re getting plus money in what I believe is a coin flip. Take the Twins.

Red Sox vs Reds: Red Sox Reds Sox (-161)

Boston has the more reliable arm and the more complete lineup. Cincinnati can mash when it gets hot, but until then, we will take a wait-and-see approach. This feels like a game Boston controls if Garrett Crochet is dialed in. 

Angels vs Astros: Astros Astros (-175)

Houston is just better across the board — lineup, pitching stability, experience. Angels can hang for stretches, but over nine innings, I'll take the better side. 

Tigers vs Padres: Tigers Tigers (-137)

Tarik Skubal is the separator. When you have the best pitcher in the game, you don’t need to be perfect elsewhere. The Padres are dangerous, but also inconsistent. Detroit has the edge where it matters most early in the season. 

Rays vs Cardinals: Rays Rays (-120)

Tampa is almost always undervalued because it doesn’t have star power. Pitching matchup is competitive, and the Rays are better at manufacturing runs. You’re getting plus money on the team that just knows how to get it done.

Rangers vs Phillies: Phillies Phillies (-154)

This is one of the tighter games on the board, but Philadelphia at home with the better overall roster is enough. The Texas Rangers are live, but they rely more on timely hitting, and that could be an issue against Cristopher Sanchez.

Diamondbacks vs Dodgers: Dodgers Dodgers (-250)

Arizona isn’t the team I'd back in a fade of L.A. with, unless you’re getting a much bigger pitching edge. Yoshinobu Yamamoto carries his playoff form into the opener and leads the Dodgers to one of many wins. 

Guardians vs Mariners: Mariners Mariners (-182)

Seattle is at home with the better starter and more power upside. Cleveland struggled to string hits together last year, and that'll be tough to do today against quality pitching. 

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Chris Vasile Covers.com
Betting Analyst

Chris Vasile is a betting analyst with over 13 years of experience breaking down soccer betting markets, with additional coverage across the WNBA and NFL. He focuses on finding numbers that are slow to adjust — whether it’s due to scheduling spots, player usage, or recent form — and explaining why a line is worth playing. His work has appeared across major betting and sports media platforms, including Covers, VSiN, BetMGM Network, and SportsGrid, where he’s delivered sharp analysis on both mainstream and niche markets. At Covers, he contributes to major tournament coverage and daily betting content, with a particular focus on soccer. He also runs the Game Day Wagers YouTube channel, where he shares daily picks and betting insights tailored for serious bettors.

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