Sorry if my reasoning is boring, but I take teams in their home opener barring a reason not to. Don't see any reason not to here -- "Sweet Caroline," come on (great). Just please no Damon/Affleck. Much as I like them overall, it's enough now. How about them apples? The Sox's Rafael Devers was in an historically bad slump to open the year but may have woken up Thursday in Baltimore with two hits. Devers is 2-for-2 career off Cards starter Erick Fedde. I believe Boston pitcher Walker Buehler (Buehler, Buehler?) will have a good season one more year off TJS and pitching for a possible big contract. Not too worried about his opening effort at Texas.

The Boston Red Sox are back for their home opener after playing seven road games in eight days. I'm familiar with Walker Buehler from his time with the Dodgers, and he isn't performing at his best. Last season, he pitched 75.1 innings and had a 5.81 ERA. Batters hit .289 against him after he missed all of 2023. Let's take advantage of the Cardinals' strong offense against Walker. The Red Sox have not seen Erick Fedde that much, and he has performed well since last September. He has allowed one earned run or fewer in four of five starts, including his first outing of 2025. In the other start, Fedde was "human", giving up three earned runs. Solid plus money line.