The first Monday of the baseball regular season gives us a full slate that comes with interesting matchups at the bottoms of these rotations.
Our MLB predictions for the day feature picks and props, pitchers and hitters.
Top MLB Predictions and Picks for March 30
Athletics vs. Braves Prediction: Atlanta to Not Bat in the 9th
This is one of my favorite markets that DraftKings offers. I prefer to play this angle with bigger favorites instead of asking them to cover the spread, as it takes some of the pressure off the offense and can still survive a late push.
Ideally, both markets cash and we aren’t sweating things.
The A’s were swept by the Blue Jays to open the season, scoring more than 2 runs in just one of those three games. They come with plenty of power upside, but if they don’t realize it, the floor is just so low.
We could see those struggles continue tonight against a pitcher in Bryce Elder who doesn’t seem to get credit for how he finished last season, recording 6+ innings and no more than 3 earned runs allowed in six of his final seven starts.
He didn’t walk a batter in three of his September outings, and his four-pitch mix has me more tempted to buy than sell his stock. The Braves are plenty capable on the offensive end, and even if you want to say that the visitors have more raw power, the discipline numbers skew heavily in favor of the favorites.
With a fully loaded ‘pen, more depth on offense, and the edge on the bump to start the game, this is one way to leverage a mismatch at a reasonable price.
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Tigers vs. Diamondbacks Player Prop: Geraldo Perdomo 2+ Total Bases
I don’t like it any more than you do, but Justin Verlander is something of a target these days. His xERA has increased in each of the past three seasons, and with his heater moving from a weapon to a liability, I’m not sure the path to a reasonable 2026 exists.
Geraldo Perdomo is a switch-hitter, but his ISO splits have always favored when he is swinging from the left side, and that’ll be the case tonight. He’s been locked into the top third of this lineup to open the season, and we saw Verlander very much struggle against those featured run producers (2-3-hole hitters last season: .315 batting average with 41.3% of their hits against the future Hall of Famer going for extra bases).
Arizona’s shortstop is a disciplined asset at the dish who doesn’t miss often when challenged inside the zone (three straight seasons with a +90% Z-Contact%). He can’t be avoided thanks to the power potential behind him, and the talent in front of him often creates high-leverage spots.
I’m not ruling out a multi-hit effort that includes an extra-base knock; we only need one of those things to come true to cash this ticket.
Angels at Cubs Player Prop: Ryan Johnson to record under 14.5 outs
The Cubs didn’t get off to an impressive start this season and dropped two of three against the Washington Nationals, but playing at home against the Angels, who have opened the campaign with a 2-2 record, might be just what the doctor ordered. The main issue for the Cubs was the pitching, not the hitting. They keep leaving men on base game after game, and after scoring 17 runs in the series against Washington, it’s clear their issue isn’t having too many problems.
The pitching matchup favors the Cubs, as the Angels will have Ryan Johnson on the mound. The 23-year-old right-hander made 14 appearances as a reliever in 2025, going 1-1 with a 7.36 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP while also allowing opposing players to hit .364 off him. That said, he transitioned back into a starting role at Triple-A Tri-City and finished with a 1.88 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 65:10 K:BB in 57.1 innings. He might have some momentum, but the Cubs are eager to get back to winning ways, and it’s unclear whether Johnson will be able to repeat what he did in the minors against a potent offense that needs to wake up after hitting a collective .210 in the series against the Nationals. Don’t expect Johnson to complete five innings in his debut as a starter in the majors.
Rangers at Orioles Prediction: Orioles run line
Chris Bassitt pitched well in the spring, going 1-0 with a 2.20 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in five games (three starts) with 10 strikeouts and eight walks over 16 1/3 innings, recording one save. Bassitt is 5-3 with a 3.77 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 17 career games (13 starts) against the Rangers with 69 strikeouts and 31 walks.
The right-hander remained a productive starter last season, posting a 3.96 ERA over 170 1/3 innings with the Blue Jays, though his 1.33 WHIP raises some concerns. He was shifted to a bullpen role during the ALCS and World Series after missing the ALDS with a back issue.
Given Bassitt’s track record of durability and his ability to navigate lineups multiple times, combined with his solid spring form, this matchup leans toward Baltimore. Facing Mark Leiter and a Rangers staff that can allow traffic, backing Bassitt and the Orioles here is the more reliable angle, especially with the edge on the mound and a lineup capable of capitalizing on mistakes.
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