Major League Baseball returns Thursday with a stand-alone prime-time game on ESPN (8:05 p.m.) with the Houston Astros visiting the Texas Rangers in hitter-friendly Globe Life Park.
After a first half of offensive explosiveness, I see no reason it won’t continue right off the bat (pun intended), so I’m going with the “1st Inning Yes” wager (that there will be a score by either team in the opening inning).
Both teams are a solid 53.3 percent with the 1st Inning Yes this season, so that certainly adds to the confidence that at least one of the offenses will break through.
As you know, to beat the vig at -110, you need to hit 52.3 percent. This selection is written before the vig attached to the Yes has been posted. Hopefully it’s not too much more than -110 or -120. With Framber Valdez expected to pitch for the Astros and Lance Lynn on the mound for the Rangers, the vig should be relatively low.
The play: Astros-Rangers, 1st Inning Yes.