<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/toL98EoXRR9fw_PmpFw_XmPAksQ=/0x0:6600x4400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73987519/usa_today_25756772.0.jpg">
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Braves should hit plenty of homers in 2025, who is hitting one on Opening Day? When trying to make a home run prediction, the best place to always start is the handedness of the opposing starting pitcher and then any opposite-handed hitters in the lineup. It's not exclusively true of course, but it’s always the better bet to pick a left-handed hitter taking a right-handed pitcher deep, or vice versa.
So for Opening Day 2025, the Atlanta Braves are in San Diego taking on the Padres, and starting for them is the Braves playoff nemesis Michael King, who dominated them in the Wild Card round last October.
King is obviously a right-handed pitcher, and while Austin Riley or Marcell Ozuna could absolutely do the job, for our official prediction, we’re going to stick with the left-handed and switch-hitting options in the lineup.
Drake Baldwin pulling a Jason Heyward and hitting his first career homer in his first career start would of course be incredible drama, but I can't in good faith pick a rookie as the most likely. Ozzie Albies will have the platoon advantage all game, of course, being a switch hitter, but I feel more comfortable picking him when a left-handed starter is on the mound, as he’s substantially better against them. Jarred Kelenic has got plenty of pop from the left side, but is too inconsistent with it to make him a number one choice.
So the best options come down to: Jurickson Profar, Matt Olson, or Michael Harris II.
Profar homering off his old club on opening day is a fun prediction to go with, Matt Olson is the best home-run hitter of the bunch, and Michael Harris II was absolutely destroying baseballs against this team last October. You’d feel fine picking any of the three.
Official Prediction
Guys who have 50+ home-run type of power are tough to bet against, especially when they have the platoon advantage to start the game, so:
Matt Olson takes Michael King deep on Opening Day for his first of the year.
Opening Weekend Homerun Jackpot
What is it?
For the first weekend of the season (March 27-30), all customers get a Profit Boost to use on ‘To Hit a Homerun’ markets. If their player hits a HR, they win their bet plus a share of the $500k jackpot
How it works
Download or Log In to FanDuel Sportsbook with new or existing account (Link:
Claim your “Profit Boost” token
Place a Pre-Live, Straight, ‘To Hit a Home Run’ wager on any MLB Game during that four-day stretch
Customers who used their token on a player who hit a home run win a share of $500k in bonus bets
<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/toL98EoXRR9fw_PmpFw_XmPAksQ=/0x0:6600x4400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73987519/usa_today_25756772.0.jpg">
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Braves should hit plenty of homers in 2025, who is hitting one on Opening Day? When trying to make a home run prediction, the best place to always start is the handedness of the opposing starting pitcher and then any opposite-handed hitters in the lineup. It's not exclusively true of course, but it’s always the better bet to pick a left-handed hitter taking a right-handed pitcher deep, or vice versa.
So for Opening Day 2025, the Atlanta Braves are in San Diego taking on the Padres, and starting for them is the Braves playoff nemesis Michael King, who dominated them in the Wild Card round last October.
King is obviously a right-handed pitcher, and while Austin Riley or Marcell Ozuna could absolutely do the job, for our official prediction, we’re going to stick with the left-handed and switch-hitting options in the lineup.
Drake Baldwin pulling a Jason Heyward and hitting his first career homer in his first career start would of course be incredible drama, but I can't in good faith pick a rookie as the most likely. Ozzie Albies will have the platoon advantage all game, of course, being a switch hitter, but I feel more comfortable picking him when a left-handed starter is on the mound, as he’s substantially better against them. Jarred Kelenic has got plenty of pop from the left side, but is too inconsistent with it to make him a number one choice.
So the best options come down to: Jurickson Profar, Matt Olson, or Michael Harris II.
Profar homering off his old club on opening day is a fun prediction to go with, Matt Olson is the best home-run hitter of the bunch, and Michael Harris II was absolutely destroying baseballs against this team last October. You’d feel fine picking any of the three.
Official Prediction
Guys who have 50+ home-run type of power are tough to bet against, especially when they have the platoon advantage to start the game, so:
Matt Olson takes Michael King deep on Opening Day for his first of the year.
Opening Weekend Homerun Jackpot
What is it?
For the first weekend of the season (March 27-30), all customers get a Profit Boost to use on ‘To Hit a Homerun’ markets. If their player hits a HR, they win their bet plus a share of the $500k jackpot
How it works
Download or Log In to FanDuel Sportsbook with new or existing account (Link:
Claim your “Profit Boost” token
Place a Pre-Live, Straight, ‘To Hit a Home Run’ wager on any MLB Game during that four-day stretch
Customers who used their token on a player who hit a home run win a share of $500k in bonus bets
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