Ligue 1, MLB, and Serie A — The Daily Card

Inter Milan open their Serie A title defense at home against a Monza side that will be without captain Matteo Pessina (knee, 4+ months) and Dany Mota, stripping them of key attacking and midfield creativity. The Nerazzurri are nearly fully fit with a deep squad featuring Lautaro Martinez, Barella, and Calhanoglu — at San Siro, talent wins, and Monza's depleted roster is no match for it. -2.0 at home in a Matchweek 1 showcase is a gift.

Everyone wants to fade the Braves on the road, but Milwaukee's bullpen is absolutely shattered — Abner Uribe, JoJo Romero, and Joel Kuhnel are all on the 15-day IL, meaning late-game leads are far from safe for the Brewers. Atlanta still has Matt Olson mashing (77 RBI, .261 AVG) and D. Lee posting a filthy 2.02 ERA out of the pen, giving them every tool to keep this within a run or take it outright. You give the Braves a cushion of 1.5 runs against a hobbled Brewers bullpen and they'll make you look like a genius — count 'em out at your own risk!

The sheep are lining up to back the mighty Dodgers at home against a Pirates squad sitting under .500 — classic square action. But the public is sleeping on the fact that the Dodgers are running a bullpen MASH unit with Glasnow, Casparius, Treinen, and Will Smith all on the IL, while Yamamoto (2.60 ERA) may not go deep against a Pittsburgh offense ranked 3rd in batting average. The Pirates +1.5 is a backdoor cover waiting to happen — you only need Pittsburgh to keep it within a run, and this battered Dodger 'pen makes that very achievable at near-even money.

This is Matchweek 1 of Ligue 1 and Le Mans is a newly-promoted side stepping up from a lower division, making their top-flight home debut against a battle-tested Brest squad with quality attackers like Mama Balde, Ludovic Ajorque, and Romain Del Castillo. Le Mans is additionally undermined by key absences — Harold Voyer and Brendan Chardonnet are both out, with Hugo Magnetti doubtful — stripping away the defensive solidity that earned them promotion. Getting Brest on a flat spread at near-even money (-105) against a shorthanded, inexperienced Ligue 1 side is pure value.

Inter Milan enter this Serie A opener with no major injury concerns, while Monza are already without captain Matteo Pessina (knee, 4+ months out) — a significant leadership and midfield void heading into Matchweek 1. Inter have dominated this fixture historically, winning their last two H2H Serie A meetings, and with a full squad at the Meazza against a depleted Monza side, covering a -2.0 spread at home is a well-supported play.

The Yankees are on a 4-game winning streak and sport a dominant 3.24 ERA with a superior 72-55 record compared to Toronto's 63-66. The Blue Jays are decimated with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the concussion IL, multiple starting pitchers on the 60-day IL, and several other key contributors banged up — their lineup and rotation are both shorthanded. New York is the healthier, hotter team at home, and elite pitching wins ballgames — lay the -1.5 with confidence.

The Yankees are decimated — Judge (60-day IL, rib), Bellinger (10-day IL), and Stanton (10-day IL) are all out, stripping New York of serious offensive firepower. Meanwhile Toronto has quietly gone 7-3 in their last 10 and they only need to avoid getting swept by more than a run, which is a gift when the Bronx lineup is this hollowed out. Nobody believes in these Blue Jays right now, and that's exactly why I do — fade the paper tiger Yankees and ride the +1.5!

The sheep are blindly backing the Braves while conveniently ignoring that Atlanta is a walking MASH unit — Strider, Schwellenbach, López, and Suarez are ALL on the IL, gutting both their rotation and bullpen. Meanwhile, Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski is pitching at a 1.75 ERA clip and the Brewers are at home, where they get to dictate the terms. Fade the crowd, grab the plus-money on Milwaukee -1.5, and laugh all the way to the window.

The Phillies are scorching hot at 8-2 over their last 10 and riding a 6-game win streak, while the Cardinals sit at just 6-4 in that same span and are 66-63 on the season. Philadelphia sends ace Jesus Luzardo (11-5, 3.23 ERA) to the mound against Harrison Dobbins (3-3, 3.42 ERA), a clear pitching edge at home. Getting the Phillies -1.5 at plus money (+104) is a gift — the line is severely underpricing a surging home team with a superior starter.

The Brewers' bullpen is significantly compromised heading into this series, with Abner Uribe (forearm), JoJo Romero (appendix), Joel Kuhnel (shoulder), and Brandon Woodruff (shoulder/60-day IL) all unavailable — a brutal late-game situation. Meanwhile, Atlanta's lineup features Matt Olson's consistent production and starter Bryce Elder (8-7, 3.92 ERA) facing Logan Henderson (7-2, 2.70 ERA), but even if the Braves trail, Milwaukee's depleted bullpen makes it very difficult for the Brewers to hold a multi-run lead, making Atlanta +1.5 a strong cover candidate.