New York at Houston

The Yankees will be without Gerrit Cole to start the season. That has elevated Nestor Cortez to become the Opening Day starter in Houston. The Yankees were 20-11 in his 31 starts in 2022, but injuries derailed his 2023 season where he pitched to a 4.97 ERA. He had a horrible spring and if this is what the Yankees are running out there for Opening Day, it looks like trouble ahead. They will face one of the best in Frambar Valdez. Valdez had a 3.45 ERA last year. Valdez is vastly superior here, and Cortez is far removed from success, and hard to trust off a poor spring. Make the play on Houston.