#MLB’s opening weekend had everything and a lot of wagering

LAS VEGAS — It was nearing midnight Friday on the West Coast when Matt Olson’s grand slam in Oakland put bookmakers from coast to coast on tilt. The baseball season had just begun, and it was already a nightmare for some.

“After the first two days,” William Hill sportsbook director Nick Bogdanovich said, “we were crying like most bookmakers do.”

Favorites had won 14 of the first 16 games, much to the thrill of the betting public. Olson’s slam in the 10th inning put the score Over the total of 8½ and lifted the favored A’s to a 7-3 victory over the Angels. Parlays were cashing and Twitter was buzzing about baseball.

By Sunday night, when the Giants upset the heavily favored Dodgers in Los Angeles, the script had flipped. Bookmakers were no longer crying about baseball.

“Activity was very strong and the handle was enormous,” BetMGM book director Jason Scott said. “The [bettors] won Opening Day with the Yankees and Dodgers, but bookmakers finished in front over the weekend.”

Underdogs went 17-12 (with one pick ’em game) on Saturday and Sunday, serving a harsh reminder to bettors that winning rarely is easy.

The opening weekend of MLB action offered just about everything — starting pitchers were scratched, closers blew ninth-inning leads, the Marlins, Orioles and Tigers each won twice on the road, the Dodgers lost twice at home — and a coronavirus outbreak within the Marlins’ clubhouse led to two games being canceled on Monday.

“We lost pretty good the first two days and won pretty good the last two days to come out ahead,” Bogdanovich said. “It was so busy this weekend, it was insane. But it’s just fun watching baseball again.”

Mookie Betts’ debut in blue was a Hollywood flop. The Dodgers, hyped as the best team in baseball, were -380 favorites on Saturday and -340 favorites on Sunday in consecutive losses to the Giants, who were predicted to finish last in the National League West. After signing a 12-year, $365 million contract extension, Betts batted .150 (3-for-20) with one RBI.

The lowly Orioles took two games in Boston to share first in the American League East with the Yankees and Rays. The Yankees scored only nine runs in three games yet won twice in Washington while Giancarlo Stanton homered twice.

Dr. Anthony Fauci’s feeble ceremonial first pitch in D.C. made him a candidate to join the White Sox staff. A popular pick as an AL team on the rise, the White Sox trotted out pitchers who allowed 27 runs in three games, including two lopsided losses.

Remember the speculation about starting pitchers not going deep into games early in the season? Kyle Hendricks threw a three-hitter with nine strikeouts and no walks in the Cubs’ 3-0 victory over the Brewers at Wrigley Field, where a small group of fans practiced social distancing on rooftops across the street.

Hendricks did not leave his fate to a closer. The Mets handed a ninth-inning lead to Edwin Diaz on Saturday and regretted it as the Braves rallied for a 5-3 win in 10 innings. The Mets’ starter on Sunday, Rick Porcello, was bombed in a 14-1 loss.

Porcello was slightly better than the Angels’ Sunday starter, Shohei Ohtani, who allowed the first six batters to reach base before getting pulled. Ohtani surrendered five runs in a 6-4 loss in Oakland.

Pitcher injuries were another storyline. After the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw was scratched from an Opening Day start with a back injury, the Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg was scratched with a nerve issue in his right hand. Rangers starter Corey Kluber lasted one inning before leaving with shoulder tightness. Astros ace Justin Verlander was shut down with a forearm strain, although Verlander denied reports that he’s out for the season.

Verlander’s injury status was enough for William Hill oddsmakers to boost the Yankees to 175 favorites to win the AL, with the Astros falling to 5-1.

Road teams improved to 23-23 after winning Sunday’s final two games.

“We’re seeing something come down quickly, and it’s that home-field advantage is not the same with cardboard fans,” said Dave Cokin, a Las Vegas baseball handicapper.

Four days into the season, no undefeated teams remained. It’s the first time since 1954 that no team started 3-0, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

A shortened season promised to be strange and it’s already delivering, with the Marlins’ coronavirus issues delivering the worst news.

“Betting is through the roof,” Bogdanovich said. “Baseball is strong, and let’s hope it stays that way.”