MLB Spring Training Picks and Predictions for March 1

At his best, Logan Gilbert is a borderline ace. And even if his outing is brief, he gives the Mariners enough of an edge vs. the Rangers that the Seattle moneyline is one of my favorite MLB picks for Sunday, March 1.

Jason Wilson - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Jason Wilson • Betting Analyst
Mar 1, 2026 • 12:41 ET • 4 min read
Logan Gilbert Seattle Mariners MLB
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game

We get another look at Seattle Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert in action this afternoon, and he headlines our spring training predictions as he guides his squad to victory over the rival Texas Rangers.

Rounding out our MLB picks on Sunday, March 1, I'm looking at a pair of totals — one Over, one Under — that are worthy of consideration.

Spring Training predictions for March 1

Pick Odds
Padres/Giants Over 10.5 -105
Mariners SEA moneyline -120
Reds/Athletics Under 11.5 -115
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Pick #1: Padres vs. Giants - Over 10.5

German Marquez makes his non-Rockies debut as the San Diego Padres hope to catch lightning in a bottle to round out their rotation. While the veteran right-hander has been effective in the past, injuries and declining skills culminated in a 6.70 ERA and a career-worst 14% strikeout rate in 2025.

Even with San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb toeing the opposite rubber to start, he's historically pitched more to contact, which can lead to some crooked numbers here and there.

Neither will have a long leash, but both could surrender a couple of runs, leaving our Over prediction in good shape when the bullpens take over.

Pick #2: Mariners moneyline

With pitch counts still limited, you can't put too much stock into a starting pitcher mismatch. However, Logan Gilbert gives the Seattle Mariners enough of an edge over Texas Rangers lefty Jacob Latz that I will happily take the nearly coin-flip odds.

At his best, Gilbert is a borderline ace. He has a career 3.58 ERA and has been mostly durable. He pitched a pair of scoreless innings in his spring debut, and we can expect more of the same today en route to a Seattle victory.

And it's not that Latz is bad, but he's a career reliever who has a propensity for walks. 

Pick #3: Reds vs A's - Under 11.5

The Cincinnati Reds and the Athletics are trotting out secondary lineups, and while some key sluggers will be present early (Nick Kurtz, for example), starting pitchers Andrew Abbott and J.T. Ginn can navigate trouble in the early going.

That will leave things up to relatively shaky bullpens, making this perhaps a bit of a sweat, but even though we'll see our share of laughers in early March, 11.5 is still a high total, and this one measures up to come in just below that number.

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

Jason Wilson is an experienced journalist who has worked in a variety of roles within the industry for the past 18 years. Working at community newspapers in New Brunswick, Jason wore many hats as a reporter, editor, and photographer, covering everything from sports to courts to municipal politics. After shifting gears and working as an educator for a few years in the 2010s, Jason returned to full-time work in media as an MLB news editor for six years at theScore in Toronto before joining Covers in late 2021.

He has honed his editorial acumen over his years in the industry, showcasing flexibility, patience, and a strong work ethic. While he was relatively new to sports betting upon joining Covers, Jason has taken the plunge with gusto to learn the ins and outs of the industry, both as a method to improve professionally and to add an extra angle to his sports fandom.

In addition to sports, Jason is an avid film nut and former movie critic who monitors the Academy Awards betting odds for Covers. Jason holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism degree and a Bachelor of Education degree from St. Thomas University.

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