New York Yankees Vs. Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox At Texas Rangers, And More Opening Day Previews

MLB brass has made its share of bad decisions and non-decisions in recent years, but you have to commend their call to spread Opening Day over two days. It gives bettors a chance to get an early look at all the teams and the respective players that are in a new uniform to start the season.

The New York Yankees are usually the biggest mover and shaker in the offseason, but they made only minor tweaks after falling to the Texas Rangers in last season’s American League Championship Series. The Yankees were upstaged by the rival Boston Red Sox, who acquired both Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford after missing the postseason in 2010.

New York opens its 2011 campaign on Thursday afternoon against the Detroit Tigers, while Boston is in Arlington for a Friday afternoon tilt against Texas to kick off the season.

Over in the National League, the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants begin defense of their improbable title on Thursday against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine.

(For live baseball lines, trends on all of the Opening Day games and a list of nearly 1,000 fun prop odds on who will win the Cy Young awards, MVPs and more, check out SB Nation’s lines partner Odds Shark.)

Detroit Tigers (+135) at New York Yankees (-145)

The Yanks send CC Sabathia to the hill against the Tigers’ Justin Verlander in a battle of elite starters on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.Sabathia went 21-7 with a 3.18 ERA last season to headline a New York rotation that’s lost Andy Pettitte to retirement, while Verlander was 18-9 with a 3.37 ERA in ’10. The teams split eight meetings last season, with the Bronx Bombers going 3-1 against the moneyline in New York. [ Matchup Report ]

San Francisco Giants (+100) at Los Angeles Dodgers (-105)

The league’s top-ranked pitching staff in 2010 sends its ace to the bump as a short underdog when Tim Lincecum and the Giants take on the Dodgers on Thursday. San Francisco led MLB with a 3.36 team ERA last season, and it rode the staff all the way to its first World Series crown since the team moved from New York in 1958.

Los Angeles counters with lefthander Clayton Kershaw, who was only 13-10 despite a 2.91 ERA last season. [ Matchup Report ]

Boston Red Sox (-120) at Texas Rangers (+110)

Friday’s slate of Opening Day games is headlined by the opener of a three-game set between the Red Sox and Rangers in Arlington. Boston bolstered its lineup with the acquisition of Gonzalez and Crawford, but where it really hopes to improve this season is on the mound. Jon Lester gets the call on Friday for the BoSox, while Texas begins the year with C.J. Wilson taking the ball. [ Matchup Report ]

Over in the NL on Friday, Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies host the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park, while the Chicago Cubs entertain the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. Live odds, matchups, links to Opening Day games and more every day, visit Odds Shark.