NEWSLETTER
You are looking to get started betting on baseball. Where do you even begin? Here’s a guide on how to bet on baseball. A look at the bet types, odds, top baseball betting sites, and more. This is everything you need to know on how to bet on baseball.
Best MLB Betting Sites
Before you even decide to place a wager on a Major League Baseball game, you will need to know the best baseball betting sites on the market. Here are a few of the best options in terms of sportsbooks to bet on baseball.
BetMGM
[bet-promo id=”286818″ ]
BetMGM is a prominent name in the sports betting industry. The sportsbook has features such as live betting, edit my bet, and more. It also has promotions throughout the year for new users.
DraftKings
[bet-promo id=”251181″ ]
DraftKings has a strong and popular sports betting platform. It has a rewards program, solid promotions, odds boosts, and more for baseball bettors.
FanDuel
[bet-promo id=”168477″ ]
FanDuel has made a name for itself as one of the best places for live betting. It’s a great option to get started as you learn how to bet on baseball.
PointsBet
[bet-promo id=”305740″ ]
PointsBet has made a name for itself in the betting market with unique options such as “Points Betting.” Also, it has solid offers such as second chance bets and more for new users.
Caesars
[bet-promo id=”293166″ ]
Caesars has one of the best reward programs in the business to go along with live betting, promotions, odds boosts, and more for baseball bettors.
Betfred
[bet-promo id=”344580″ ]
Betfred is growing in the United States. The sportsbook has solid features that include promotions, live betting, and early cashouts for baseball bettors.
BetRivers
[bet-promo id=”338165″ ]
BetRivers is quickly expanding and is another option if you are looking to handicap baseball. You can get 2nd chance bets, odds boosts, rewards, and more from this sportsbook.
Tipico
[bet-promo id=”358646″ ]
Bettors can get access to Tipico Sportsbook in states such as Ohio, New Jersey, Colorado, and Iowa. It’s a solid option for new baseball bettors. You can get solid bonuses and more with Tipico.
The MLB Season
The MLB regular season is 162 games. It lasts from the beginning of April until October. The playoffs consist of a Wild Card, Divisional, Championship Series, and World Series. The Wild Card round is a three-game series while the Divisional round is a best of five. The Championship and World Series are each a seven-game series.
There are 30 MLB teams that compete with 15 in the American League and 15 in the National League. This presents a lot of opportunities to place bets at the top sportsbooks.
An MLB game lasts nine innings. The home team only bats in the bottom of the ninth inning if the game is tied or the team is losing. If the game is tied after nine full innings, teams play extra innings until one team wins the game. The home team always gets a last chance to bat if they are losing the game or it’s tied.
MLB Odds and Wagers
There is a long list of odds and bet types you will find on the top baseball betting sites. These include moneyline bets, prop bets, total bets, and more. Here are some of the options you will see as a baseball bettor.
Moneylines
A moneyline bet is when you wager on which team will win the game. That’s all that matters. You pick either team to win the game. Favorites are listed with negative odds while underdogs usually have positive odds.
For example, the Chicago Cubs are a +150 underdog in a baseball game vs the Pirates. You decide to place a $100 bet on the Cubs. Their starting pitcher throws a gem and they win the game. You would win $150 due to the moneyline odds.
Run Line Bets
A run-line bet works like a point spread in other sports. You are betting on a team to cover the spread but it’s called a run line in baseball. A favorite usually has a -1.5 run line while an underdog has a run line of +1.5. This is the case because baseball games are low scoring and usually decided by a few runs.
For example, the Red Sox might be -1.5 run favorites vs the Yankees. To cover the run line, they would have to win by two runs or more. This is where wagering on baseball is slightly different. In other sports, you will see the point spread vary each game. Baseball is consistent at the -1.5 or +1.5 mark. A lot of baseball games are decided by just one run.
Totals
Total bets are also called over/under bets. These wagers are looking at the total runs scored by both teams combined in the game. A sportsbook will set a line on the runs scored in a game and you will bet over or under that amount.
For example, the total for the Rays-Yankees game might be 9.5 runs. If you decide to bet the over, you need at least 10 runs scored in the game to win.
Props
There are tons of different prop bets in baseball. A prop bet is a wager within a game but it isn’t necessarily tied to the end result. Common props in baseball include picking a player to hit a home run or how many strikeouts a pitcher will have. There are player props, inning props, game props, and more.
Parlays
A parlay is when a bettor combines multiple bets into one wager. Each bet is called a leg. The more legs you add, the harder it will be for the bet to win. Parlays are a popular option in online sports betting.
They can involve bets from multiple games or you can place a same-game parlay on events within one individual game. All legs in a baseball parlay need to win for an MLB bettor to win the bet.
Futures
A baseball futures bet is when a bettor is wagering on an event or outcome down the road. Legal MLB betting sites will have all sorts of futures odds such as which team will win the World Series, who will win MVP, and more.
The odds for futures will move throughout the season based on many different factors. Bettors can track them as they shift and change based on the performance of teams, players, injuries, and more.
Live Betting
Live betting is booming across the nation. Bettors can track baseball odds while the action is ongoing. You can place baseball props and more. The odds and lines shift quickly based on what is happening in the game.
First Five Innings Bets
In baseball, a popular bet type is first five inning bets. You are placing a wager on the results of the first five innings of a game. A bettor can place wagers on moneylines, totals, spreads, and more. These will differ from the lines set for the entire game.
These types of bets are popular in baseball due to bettors wagering on the performance of a particular starting pitcher early in a game. For example, if betting moneylines for the first five innings, you might look at the starting pitching matchup.
How to Bet on Baseball Betting Tips
What betting trends should you follow when you look to bet on Major League Baseball? Your betting strategy is up to you and you can do more research to figure out the best bets to place. Until then, here are a few common and profitable tips to get you started.
Stay Away From Heavy Favorites in Baseball Moneylines
We know it’s tempting and you want to bet on heavy favorites. Don’t do it. The best teams in baseball lose 60-70 times a season. Just because they are a heavy favorite does not mean they are going to win the game. As you check the games to bet, find the best value possible when placing moneyline bets.
Check the Weather
Is it going to rain? Is it going to be freezing cold? What about the wind? With most games taking place outside, the elements might have a significant impact on baseball wagering. Rain vs a clear day might change the outcome of the game.
Shop and Find the Best Odds
Don’t be afraid to shop around for the best odds at multiple sportsbooks. You don’t have to stick to just one sportsbook. You can check to see how the lines and odds compare. For example, the odds for a baseball moneyline at one sportsbook might be +135 and +150 at another. The +150 gives you more value as a bettor.
Focus on a Few Teams
Baseball offers the chance to bet on a lot of teams and games. Don’t go too crazy. Focus on a few teams or one division. This will prove to be a much better strategy than betting randomly across the league.
Common Sports Betting Mistakes in Major League Baseball
As you get started and you’re betting baseball, there are a few common mistakes you’ll want to avoid. Here’s a guide to betting on baseball common mistakes.
Betting Way Too Many Games
It’s easy to get caught up in how many games there are and start betting like crazy. This is a common rookie mistake. You don’t have to bet on MLB games online all the time. Research and find the best possible bets. Betting on too many games is an easy way to start losing.
Betting Without Doing Research
Don’t bet randomly. This is another rookie mistake. New baseball bettors will start placing random bets to get started. This is not going to lead to success. The best sports bettors do research and understand the best possible bets to make.
Poor Bankroll Management
Understand how much money you want to bet per game, per bet, etc. Keep track of your bankroll and have a solid strategy when betting baseball online. It’s easy to just keep throwing money at it when you lose. Stick to your plan and have specific bet sizes before you get started.
How to Start Betting MLB Games
To get started, you will need to register with a sportsbook. Take advantage of any promo codes available when you sign up as a new user. The top sportsbooks will dish out bonus bets, deposit matches, and more to a new user. Be sure to understand the terms and conditions.
When you sign up with a sportsbook, you will have to enter your personal information. This includes your name, birthday, address, and more. A sportsbook needs this information to verify your identity. Also, geolocation will confirm you are within the borders of a legal sports betting state and can place wagers.
You are now ready to place a bet. Check out the top baseball parlays, props, futures, moneylines, totals, and more. Do your research and fill up your bet slip.
Baseball Betting FAQs
Yes. In legal and live betting states, you can start betting on baseball games. The top sportsbooks will have odds for Major League games. You can compare sportsbooks to shop for the best lines and odds. This will give you the best value for the bets you place. There are plenty of betting options with 162 games in the regular season and 30 teams.
A run-line bet is like a point spread. You are betting on the run differential. In baseball, it’s referred to as the run line. The run-line for a favorite is -1.5 and +1.5 for the underdog. The American odds on a run-line might vary in baseball more than in other sports. They won’t always be -110 on both sides.
There are a lot of ways to bet on baseball. These include futures bets such as which team will reach the World Series, who will win the MVP, who will win the Cy Young, and more. You can bet on the World Series winner before the season even starts if you wish.
Yes. The best sportsbooks will have baseball moneylines, run-line bets, totals, and more. You can compare the different odds with multiple sportsbooks for the full game, the first five innings, and more.
21+ and Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
