Baseball betting allows for more wagering opportunities than any other sport, with the Major League Baseball season consisting of more games to bet on than anything else. And bettors can get involved in the search for a baseball betting payout for all of it, from spring training to the regular season, all the way through the postseason. In this guide to MLB betting, find out what kinds of MLB bets can be placed and what bettors should keep in mind while placing them.
Bettors can look forward to a long list of MLB baseball bet types, from the markets that are common across all sports to the more baseball-specific options out there. These main types of baseball bets each have some nuances that make them unique within the context of a baseball game or season.
The run line bet in baseball is similar to a point spread wager in other sports such as the NFL. In a run line wager, bettors who back a favorite have runs subtracted from the team’s score at the end of a game, while underdog bettors have those runs added to their team’s score. Whichever team ends the game with more runs after their handicap is applied, wins the bet.
One thing that makes run line betting different in baseball than it is in other sports is the fact that the handicap amount is often fixed at 1.5 runs. Whereas NFL or NBA spreads can range greatly depending on the gap in talent between teams, the likelihood of a one-run game in Major League Baseball often makes the spread 1.5 runs.
One of the most common types of wagers in all of sports betting is the moneyline bet. The moneyline bet simply asks bettors to correctly predict which team is going to win a game. Of course, this is not as easy as it sounds, as bettors have to decipher which team has the advantage in various matchups, with the high level of variance in each at bat coming into play also.
Worth noting about baseball moneylines is that bettors can make them contingent on which starting pitcher throws for a team. Say, for example, that the Toronto Blue Jays have their ace pitcher scheduled to throw in a game. A bettor can set their wager to stipulate that the bet only has action if that pitcher does take the mound. That way, if the ace is scratched, the bettor’s funds are not at risk on a lower quality starter.
Bettors are used to totals betting across all sports. But in baseball games, the number of runs scored can vary wildly. Some games will see MLB teams score no runs, while the next game could see that same team put up 30 runs. In the totals market, it is up to the bettor to determine whether the amount of scoring for a game will go over or under the total set by the sportsbook.
Unlike basketball, which has a uniform court size, baseball fields come in different sizes depending on where a game is played. For example, the Baltimore Orioles play in one of the smaller parks in Major League Baseball, making the team more susceptible to high-scoring games.
And it isn’t just the size of the field that can make the difference. The Colorado Rockies play their games at high altitude, which allows baseballs hit in the air to carry farther than they would elsewhere. Because of this, the Rockies are also often involved in high scoring affairs, which should be taken into account when handicapping the sport.
The first five innings markets for MLB games are easier on a handicapper in some ways. They ask the same spread, total and moneyline questions as full game bets, but they are graded by a sportsbook based on the outcome of the first five innings of a game instead.
These markets are perfect when dealing with teams that have an inconsistent bullpen, as a bullpen is unlikely to get into a game before the end of the fifth inning. If a team like the White Sox is having trouble with its bullpen, smart bettors may opt for the first five innings markets rather than taking their chances down the stretch with a bullpen they can’t trust.
There are a number of exotic wagers up for grabs at nearly every sportsbook during the MLB season. Prop bets are the most plentiful, as bettors are asked to answer questions about the performances of players and teams for each game. Player props include the number of total bases a player will amass in a game, while team props could ask for the combined number of runs, hits and errors in a contest.
Futures bets can go in any number of directions as well. The most common futures bets are about which team will win the World Series, or which team will win the American League or National League pennant. But there are also markets for individual players, such as which team will win the Cy Young award or league MVP award, pitting stars like the Brewers’ Christian Yelich against the field.
Finally, live betting on baseball allows bettors to wager on markets with odds that are updated as the game is taking place. These updated odds reflect the results that have played out on the field to that point in a game. There is also the possibility to bet on the outcome of individual at-bats, something that cannot be done before a game begins.
The MLB playoffs are among the most exciting in sports, as games and series can flip on one pitch. There are several unique ways to bet on the MLB playoffs, beyond just futures markets on which team will win the World Series and single-game markets.
One such way to bet on the playoffs is to bet on the outcome of each individual series. If the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants are playing one another, there will be betting odds available prior to the start of that series. And with each game that happens, the odds will be updated.
For a more granular approach to betting on each series, bettors can take a swing at the number of games a series will last. With MLB seeing the Houston Astros play dramatic World Series against the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers, the seven game series option has been one worth exploring in recent seasons.
As far as MLB betting strategy is concerned, the most important piece of advice is to avoid parlay betting. Parlays can be fun and can offer large payouts potentially, but the variance levels in baseball make them incredibly difficult to hit.
Just thinking about teams that have had recent success in baseball, the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals have reached the World Series more than the New York Yankees in the last decade. And with everyone from the Boston Red Sox to the Washington Nationals winning titles recently, there is often no telling who will come out on top.
But to get an edge betting on baseball, bettors should understand how different lineups stack up against their opposing pitchers. With the abundance of scouting reports available to teams today, bettors should know how hitters have done against each pitcher to find out where they might have an advantage on a game to game basis.
