Opening Day is quickly approaching as the World Baseball Classic wraps up, and we're turning our attentions back toward spring training with three MLB picks on Monday, March 16.
I'm making three moneyline spring training predictions, highlighted by the San Diego Padres, as they face a San Francisco Giants lineup missing its best bats.
Spring Training predictions for March 16
| Pick | Odds |
|---|---|
 LAA moneyline |
+105 |
 SD moneyline |
-125 |
 CHC moneyline |
+100 |
Pick #1: Angels moneyline
Los Angeles Angels right-hander George Klassen has looked electric this spring, posting a 2.25 ERA with nine strikeouts over eight innings of work as he pursues a rotation gig to open the regular season.
A strong outing against the Athletics would go a long way toward making that happen. The A's have some big boppers like Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, and Tyler Soderstrom, but this is a lineup that also struck out 23% of the time (tied for 10th in MLB) last year.
The plus money on the Angels' moneyline offers enough value, especially with no starter yet announced for the A's, that I'll take the plunge.
Pick #2: Padres moneyline
I don't know if the Walker Buehler experiment will work out for the San Diego Padres, but they will keep trying in case they strike gold.
Initially, he seems like a good fade candidate against the San Francisco Giants, but that's before you notice that Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Heliot Ramos aren't in the starting lineup.
While the Friars have neither Manny Machado nor Fernando Tatis Jr. active as they lick their wounds from the Dominican Republic's controversial World Baseball Classic ouster, Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts are still taking reps.
Even if Giants SP Tyler Mahle has yet to surrender a run in spring (he has issued seven walks in six innings), I'll take the more complete offense this afternoon.
Pick #3: Cubs moneyline
I'm really high on Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams this season, but with Jose Ramirez nursing a banged-up shoulder, the offense will likely be without its best weapon against the Chicago Cubs.
Cade Horton hasn't had great results this spring, but he showed that he can hang at the big-league level in his 2025 rookie campaign, boasting a 2.67 ERA over 118 innings.
Lineups haven't been announced, but the edge there should typically favor Chicago. Doubly so with Ramirez on the bench or otherwise limited due to injury.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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