Opening Day is officially in the books as we now move on to the second day of the 2021 MLB regular season. After a jammed-packed 13-game schedule, we have seven games on the MLB slate beginning at 2:10 p.m. ET Friday afternoon.
Before the first pitch between the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox at Fenway, we’ll take a look at the best games on the schedule, rookies to keep an eye out for, and fantasy spotlight.
Best Games To Watch
Despite only seven games on Friday’s schedule, there are still a couple of games you try to check out. The first game that you might want to watch is the Los Angeles taking on the Colorado Rockies in the second game of a four-game series. On the mound for the Dodgers will be Trevor Bauer. Bauer was the most-coveted free agent pitcher this season and signed to a three-year, $102 million deal.
Bauer will try to replicate what he did in last season en route to winning the NL Cy Young. The veteran starting pitcher posted a career-high 1.73 ERA, along with 100 strikeouts in 73 innings pitched. Another game to keep an eye out for is the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. the San Diego Padres, which is final game on Friday night. Blake Snell will be making his Padres debut after being traded in the offseason by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Last season, Snell posted a record of 4-2 along with an ERA of 3.24. The 28-year-old is only a couple of seasons removed from winning the AL Cy Young award and apart of dynamic 1-2 combination apart of the Padres’ rotation.
Fantasy Spotlight
If you had one of the top picks in your respective fantasy baseball draft, then you likely had the option of drafting Mike Trout. The Los Angeles Angels outfielder is a generational talent and a frontrunner for AL MVP. On Friday night, he’ll be facing Dallas Keuchel, who is the vet on the White Sox pitching staff. Over his career, Trout has fared well against the former AL Cy Young winner, going back to his days with the Houston Astros. Trout is 15-46 with two home runs and two RBI in 53 plate appearances against Keuchel. He also has 13 strikeouts and seven walks over that span of time.
Rookies to Watch
Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Dylan Carlson of the St. Louis Cardinals were the standout stars from Opening Day. Both players are legit contenders for the NL Rookie of the Year award and hit home runs. On Friday, we have two good rookies facing off against each other in Bobby Dalbec (Boston Red Sox) and Ryan Mountcastle (Baltimore Orioles).
Dalbec is a power-hitting infielder, who led everybody in Spring Training with seven home runs. Last season, the 25-year-old slugged .263/.359/.600 with eight home runs and 16 RBI. However, he also had 39 strikeouts in 92 plate appearances, which needs to be cut down this season. As for Mountcastle, the 24-year-old is one of the Orioles’ best prospects and offensive players. In 35 games last season, he slashed .333/.386/.492 with five home runs and 23 RBI.
MLB Betting Splits, April 2
| BAL Orioles | +1.5 | 8% | 16% | Over 9.5 | 55% | 36% | +163 | 39% | 30% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAL Orioles | +1.5 | 8% | 16% | Over 9.5 | 55% | 36% | +163 | 39% | 30% |
| BOS Red Sox | -1.5 | 92% | 84% | Under 9.5 | 45% | 64% | -190 | 61% | 70% |
| TB Rays | +1.5 | 68% | 63% | Over 7.5 | 30% | 40% | +104 | 46% | 71% |
| MIA Marlins | -1.5 | 32% | 37% | Under 7.5 | 70% | 60% | -124 | 54% | 29% |
| LA Dodgers | -1.5 | 90% | 83% | Over 12.0 | 34% | 22% | -265 | 80% | 88% |
| COL Rockies | +1.5 | 10% | 17% | Under 12.0 | 66% | 78% | +215 | 20% | 12% |
| CHI White Sox | +1.5 | 80% | 65% | Over 8.5 | 75% | 59% | +100 | 88% | 82% |
| LA Angels | -1.5 | 20% | 35% | Under 8.5 | 25% | 41% | -115 | 12% | 18% |
| HOU Astros | +1.5 | 42% | 56% | Over 8.5 | 15% | 52% | +118 | 54% | 43% |
| OAK Athletics | -1.5 | 58% | 44% | Under 8.5 | 85% | 48% | -137 | 46% | 57% |
| ARI Diamondbacks | +1.5 | 7% | 12% | Over 8.0 | 51% | 64% | +195 | 17% | 22% |
| SD Padres | -1.5 | 93% | 88% | Under 8.0 | 49% | 36% | -235 | 83% | 78% |
| SF Giants | +1.5 | 28% | 57% | Over 8.5 | 65% | 46% | +112 | 81% | 79% |
| SEA Mariners | -1.5 | 72% | 43% | Under 8.5 | 35% | 54% | -130 | 19% | 21% |
MLB regular season schedule for Friday, April 2nd
If no streaming option is listed, game is available on MLB.tv pending blackout restrictions.
Orioles vs. Red Sox, 2:10 p.m. ET
Rays vs. Marlins, 7:10 p.m. ET
Dodgers vs. Rockies, 8:40 p.m. ET
White Sox vs. Angels, 9:38 p.m. ET
Astros vs. A’s, 9:40 p.m. ET
Giants vs. Mariners, 10:10 p.m. ET
Diamondbacks vs. Padres, 10:10 p.m. ET, ESPN+
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