Major League Baseball betting has grown rapidly in recent years. Fans of MLB have a good variety of options as to which websites or apps, or even in-person sportsbooks, to use. Consider this a guide to betting on MLB games, props and futures for any interested parties.
Betting on baseball can look complicated to beginners, but there are ways to simplify the betting process. Where MLB betting differs from football and basketball, for example, is that the money line is much more heavily used while the run line (in other sports, you'll hear this one called the "point spread") is generally always 1.5. The total is the total number of runs scored by both teams. Player props cover a myriad of different stats, given how many stats are used in baseball.
Making sure to "shop around" is key. There aren't always huge advantages, but when locking in on a play for the night, sometimes better odds can be found by perusing different sports betting apps. For example, if you really like the Yankees to win that night, it's possible to find them to win at -125 on the money line on several sites, but then stumble upon them sitting at -118 somewhere else. Finding the most favorable number is a good way to win on at top baseball betting platforms and increase your potential winnings in the long run.
How to bet on MLB games
Generally speaking, a bettor will find the "MLB" tab on a sportsbook. From there, every game for the day's MLB action will be listed along with the starting pitchers.
The primary markets with every game will be the run line (spread), total, and money line.
Run line
What is known as the point spread in other sports is referred to as the "run line" in baseball betting. It will nearly always be 1.5. This means that the betting favorite team is favored to win by 1.5 runs. Simply, if you believe a team will win by at least two, this is the play, as the run line will have better odds than just a money line play.
On the other hand, if you believe an underdog will play close and maybe win, but you also like the cushion, taking the +1.5 runs means you'd cash your bet with an outright win or a one-run loss from that team.
Total
Also known as the over/under, this is simply the total number of runs scored by the two teams. A 6-4 final score is 10 runs on the total, so it would hit the Over on 9.5 or the Under on 10.5.
Keep in mind that runs scored in extra innings count toward the total.
Money line
This is simple. It is just a bet on which team you think will win the game. The odds will generally show the underdog with a +, such as +125, meaning you can bet $100 to profit $125. The opposite is the case with the favorites, as -125 means you bet $125 to profit $100.
The money line bets are the most common plays, but any of the three options here are pretty common and easy to understand, especially once a user has gotten a little betting experience.
MLB prop betting
There are so many prop bets in baseball betting. Bettors can wager on (among other things) hits, runs, home runs, RBI, total bases, stolen bases, singles, doubles, triples and walks, and that's just pertaining to batters. For pitchers, some available props are strikeouts, outs recorded, to record a win, hits allowed, earned runs allowed and walks allowed.
The setup on any of these will be a total, also known as an "over/under". Some sportsbooks also offer options to select one or more, two or more or so on for each player in those categories, with each successive tally coming at higher odds. For example, Francisco Lindor may have odds of -210 to record a hit in a given game, while being priced at +260 to record two or more and +1300 to record three or more.
Hits + Runs + RBI
There's also an increasingly popular combination prop of H+R+RBI (hits plus runs plus RBI). The line is often set at 1.5, but it depends on the level of player; sometimes with outstanding hitters like Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge, it's 2.5. Just add the hits, runs and RBI. For example, if Judge goes 1-for-4 with a solo home run, that's one hit, one run and one RBI – a total of three, and therefore a win for Over 2.5.
Team total
There's also a popular team-level prop most commonly referred to as the team total. It refers to runs scored by that team, so if you hear someone refer to the "Dodgers team total," it's just how many runs the Dodgers score in that game.
First X innings
Game bets can also be shortened to the first three innings, first five innings or first seven innings. That is, one could play the money line in the first five innings for a team with an excellent starting pitcher but a bad bullpen, to avoid the risk the bullpen would bring in the late innings.
First inning run
Further, an interesting prop that some bettors love playing is first-inning runs scored. The line is basically always 0.5, so the "no run first inning" play has become popular (even referred to as NRFI or pronounced "nerfy").
MLB parlays
Generally speaking, MLB bettors can parlay almost any bets together in an attempt to ratchet up the possible winnings, but MLB bets are incredibly difficult to win anyway, so parlay bets become increasingly tough with each additional leg. There's a reason the odds look so appealing.
Several sites will offer different promos for parlays together at the top of the webpage/app. Caesars Sportsbook is big with this. It will often pair two players on the same team to both hit home runs with the team logo and significant odds shown in the graphic. It'll also name groups of bets, such as "Base Secured" and show how much a $20 bet would win if all five of the listed bets come through.
MLB futures betting
MLB has so many divisions and awards, so there are always ample opportunities to grab futures bets. At any given point from spring training until the playoffs, an MLB bettor could find odds for a plethora of markets, including the following:
- World Series champion
- American League champion
- National League champion
- Division winner for any of the six divisions
- MVP winner (AL and NL)
- Cy Young winner (AL and NL),
- Rookie of the Year (AL and NL)
- Manager of the Year (AL and NL)
- To make the playoffs
There are even chances for "division finish exactas," which means correctly slotting the finish of each of the five teams from a given division (for example, picking the NL West correctly as Dodgers, Padres, Diamondbacks, Giants, Rockies).
Further, stat winner futures are also available if a gambler wants to bet on who will lead the majors in hits, runs, RBI, home runs, doubles, triples, stolen bases, wins, strikeouts, ERA or saves.
When we're looking at team props in the playoffs, specifically to win the World Series, keep in mind how much of a crapshoot the Major League Baseball playoffs can be. This game is meant to be played over large samples and playoff series are small samples, so upsets and general chaos happen often.
