Opening Day Bold Predictions

Mar 29, 2015; Kissimmee, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (13) singles to center field during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

It’s here. The 2015 baseball season begins Sunday night with a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. The rest of the teams with play on Monday. Your fantasy baseball season also begins on Sunday. If you play in a weekly league, your roster will lock at game time. In a daily league, you have 24 to make sure your roster is perfect. Before the games begin, here are my bold predictions for Opening Day 2015. 

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Alex Rodriguez hits first home run

All winter was focused on the relationship between A-Rod and the New York Yankees. Will he play third base? How much playing time will he get? Anyway, he has impressed in the spring and the two parties seem to be on good graces. He will begin the season as the team’s DH and batting seventh, a huge change for Rodriguez. Rodriguez is ranked as the 25th-best third baseman. He should still be available in most leagues. I believe he will prove all the doubters wrong by crushing his first A-bomb of the season.

Matt Kemp and Justin Upton go back-to-back

A lot has been made of the San Diego Padres this offseason. They made a big splash by signing a lot of big-name free agents. However, the fantasy value of some of their signees dropped. Petco Park is one of the least-friendly parks for hitters. As a result, the home run projections for their power hitters aren’t what they were the year before. However, I believe Kemp and Upton will kick off the Padres season the right way with back-to-back home runs.

Corey Kluber disappoints in first start 

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Kluber shot out of the cannon last season on his way to winning the AL Cy Young award. He had 269 strikeouts with a 2.44 ERA and 1.095 WHIP. Some experts predict him to repeat while others are picking his teammate Carlos Carrasco. Regardless of who you pick, Kluber will make the decision easy for you. Facing the young Houston Astros team, Kluber will not make it out of the sixth inning while giving up four runs. He will be good as your No. 1 pitcher this season, but his first start will be a struggle.

Max Scherzer dominates

Scherzer followed his 2013 Cy Young season with a great 2014 campaign. Now pitching in the National League East, Scherzer will have some pretty favorable matchups, including his Opening Day one against the New York Mets. The Mets may have one of the worst batting lineups this season. Scherzer will take the mound and dominate his division rival. He will go eight innings with 10 strikeouts and one earned run. Scherzer will be worth the second-round pick you used on him.

Those were my bold predictions for Opening Day. Feel free to comment with your own predictions and let me know if I am realistic or crazy with mine.