How to bet on MLB: Guide, strategies, how to bet and more

From run lines to player props, here's everything you need to know about the basics of baseball betting

Among the four major sports, baseball is the only game in town during the dog days of summer. Because teams usually play five-to-seven times per week, there is no shortage of opportunity when it comes to MLB betting. 

Below, we'll take a look at the ins and outs of baseball betting at the best sportsbooks, and offer some tips and strategies that can help you become a successful bettor.

What are the MLB betting basics?

Much like football and basketball, the most common types of MLB bets are the money line, the point spread and the total.

Money line

Money line betting is simply picking the outright winner of a game. One team is the favorite and will be identified by having a "-" in front of its odds, while the other is the underdog and usually has a "+" before its odds. 

For example, the New York Yankees might be -150 favorites in their contest against the Toronto Blue Jays, who may be +130 underdogs. Bettors that side with New York would have to wager $150 to win $100, but if they place a wager on Toronto, they would win $130 for every $100 they put down if the Blue Jays win.

Run line

Point spread betting in baseball is referred to as the run line. The spread is usually set at 1.5 runs, meaning the favorite must win by two or more runs to cover and the underdog must either win outright or lose by just one run for that bet to cash.

Each team's run line has also likely has what's called the vig or juice. This is what the bettor must pay to place a wager. In that Yankees-Blue Jays example, New York could be displayed as -1.5 (-105) on the run line. That means if the Yankees won by two or more runs, New York run line bettors would lay $105 for every $100 they placed on the wager.

Total

Betting the total is also very popular in baseball. Also known as over/under betting, the bettor is wagering on the total number of runs scored by both teams in a game. 

For instance, if the oddsmakers set the number at 7.5, the clubs must combine for at least eight runs for an Over bet to hit. If seven runs or fewer are scored, the Under would be a winner. The Over and Under also have vigs attached to them.

What is MLB prop betting?

Prop betting has become wildly popular, as it offers bettors ways to wager on team and individual performances.

MLB team prop bets are less common than player prop bets, but there still are many opportunities for value. Team prop bets include things such as how many runs or hits a club will record in a game, which team will score first and whether or not runs will be scored in specific innings.

Player prop bets are more plentiful. Oddsmakers offer over/under bets on statistics such as the number of hits, RBI and total bases in a game for hitters, and strikeouts and outs recorded for pitchers. Bettors can also wager on whether or not a player will hit a home run in a contest.

One example of an MLB player prop bet is how many hits three-time batting champion Luis Arraez will have in the San Diego Padres' game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. If the number is set at 1.5 and Arraez goes 3-for-4, a bet on the Over would win. 

In that same contest, a bettor may want to wager on Shohei Ohtani hitting a home run for Los Angeles. Sportsbooks could set the odds of him going deep at +200 and failing to homer at -250. If a bettor believes the three-time MVP will belt one out of the ballpark and wagers $100, they would make a $200 profit if he comes through. If the bettor doesn't think Ohtani will homer, the winning bet would pay out $100 on a $250 wager.

How do MLB futures bets work?

A futures bet is a wager on an event whose outcome is determined in the near or distant future. These types of bets can pertain to either a team or an individual player and often offer large payouts if you pick the right longshots.

Futures bets can be made before a season begins or even while the campaign is in progress. Some markets for team futures include which club will win a division, pennant and the World Series. One of the most popular team futures wagers in MLB betting is win totals.

Oddsmakers set over/under numbers for the amount of wins each of the 30 MLB teams record during the regular season. Betting on win totals keeps bettors interested in every game throughout the summer.

Some types of player futures bets include who will win awards, such as MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year. Bettors can even wager on which player will lead his respective league in categories like home runs, RBI and strikeouts.

What are some advanced MLB betting options?

In addition to the aforementioned types of bets, numerous other options are available. One that is very popular among baseball bettors is the parlay, which is when you link multiple bets (what are called legs) together to create one wager with higher odds and a potential better payout.

Regular parlay

MLB parlays can have at least two legs and include many combinations of wagers for multiple games, such as a two-leg parlay that features a run line bet for one contest and a home run prop for another. It's important to understand, however, that the more legs you add to a parlay, the tougher it is to cash.

Same-game parlay

Same-game parlays have become a very popular form of betting parlays. A same-game parlay is when all of the legs are bets from a single game. Run lines, totals, player props and game props are usually available at sportsbooks to include in same-game parlays.

For example, a three-leg parlay for a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies could include a money line bet on Philadelphia, the Over on the total number of runs scored in the game and Kyle Schwarber to hit a home run.

Teasers and round robins

Teasers and round robins are variations of a parlay that you can wager on for MLB at most sportsbooks. A teaser allows the bettor to adjust the run line in their favor on two or more teams. So you could tease an underdog's run line by additional runs, such as making it +2.5 to +1.5. Or you can tease a favorite's run line from -1.5 to +1.5. However, such wagers pay much lower odds than a standard parlay.

A round-robin parlay is a bet in which all legs do not have to hit in order for the ticket to win. Baseball round robins allow you to choose anywhere from three to eight teams. You then can make combination parlays that involve two to six clubs. 

For instance, a five-leg parlay by two essentially turns the bet into a parlay of every possible two-team combination on the ticket. Three of the five legs must hit for the bettor to make a profit, although two will result in a modest payout. Check your preferred sportsbook for round-robin parlay odds and options.

First five innings wagers

One type of bet that is unique to baseball is the first five innings bet. Here, you only are wagering on the first five innings of a game rather than a full game, and most bets—such as money line, run line and totals—can be placed in this fashion. Many bettors like to make first five innings bets because they focus mainly on the starting pitchers and take the bullpen out of the equation. Since the bullpen is dependent on recent workloads and you don't know who will pitch that day, it eliminates some of the variance compared to knowing who the starting pitcher will be.

Can you live bet on MLB?

Yes, you can. Live bets are made after the game has begun and while it is still in progress. You can live bet the money line, run line and over/under, and some sportsbooks allow live betting on player props and things such as the outcomes of specific at-bats.

Live betting is popular for MLB games because it allows you to observe how the momentum is going in a contest before you place a wager.

MLB live betting provides you with better information than you had prior to the game. For example, if a starting pitcher isn't in good form, you can take advantage of that and wager against his team.

Betting on the World Series

There are several factors to consider when wagering on the World Series. One is how the participating teams performed in their previous matchups. If the clubs only had a series or two against each other during the regular season, the best method is to compare outings in games against foes that have styles similar to the one of their upcoming opponent.

Home-field advantage can be another important component, as can a team's form entering the Fall Classic. Analyzing pitching matchups is a must, and paying close attention to the history between opposing pitchers and batters is crucial.

The same types of bets that are available for games during the regular season can also be accessed in the World Series, and wagers such as predicting the length of the series are popular.

What are some MLB betting tips and strategies?

Now that you've read the different types of MLB bets you can make, here are some advanced betting strategies to consider before placing wagers on them. 

Be aware of a team's current form

Where a team is situated in the standings isn't always a good indicator of whether or not it will win the game on which you're planning to wager. Every club goes through its ups and downs over the course of the season, so it might be prudent to bet on a fourth-place team that is on a hot streak as it prepares to face an opponent that leads its division, especially if that club hasn't fared very well of late. Recognizing these kinds of patterns is important, and while they're not foolproof, they are better indicators than how a team has performed over the entire season.

Study the pitching matchups

Even if a starting pitcher is having a season worthy of consideration for the Cy Young Award, there's usually a team or two that historically has had his number. The hurler could enter a contest with a 14-4 record and 2.04 ERA, but if he has lost seven of his nine career starts against his next opponent, including two earlier in the current season, betting on that club may be a good idea.

Be aware of the home plate umpires

No two umpires tend to be the same when it comes to calling balls and strikes. Some have small strike zones, forcing pitchers to be as accurate as possible. Others have large strike zones, meaning hitters can't be as selective as they would like to be. Learning the differences between umpires when they're behind the plate can help you when making prop bets on walks and strikeouts.

Check the weather forecast

Knowing what the weather conditions will be for outdoor games can help you determine how to make certain bets. If strong winds are predicted, their direction likely will dictate whether home runs will be plentiful or scarce. If rainfall took place before or during a game, the grass on the field will be affected and limit players' running abilities. Meanwhile, humidity can cause balls to carry farther than they normally would and result in some unexpected homers.

Key MLB betting terms to know

We've introduced several key words for MLB betting throughout the article, but here is a refresher on them below. 

Vig/juice: The vig, or juice, is a fee sports bettors pay on every wager and serves as the primary source of the house edge in MLB betting. For instance, betting $110 to win $100 on a run line wager involves $10 of juice. This guarantees the sportsbook turns a profit regardless of the outcome of the game.

Bad beat: This term is used when something unexpected happens to negatively change the outcome of a bet when it appeared as if it was a winner. One example of this is a ninth-inning run that resulted in the team you wagered on in a run line bet not covering.

Cover: This describes when a team or entity covers the run line. For instance, the Boston Red Sox covered the -1.5 run line in their 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. 

Backdoor cover: The term used to describe when an underdog scores late in the game to unexpectedly cover the run line.

Action: A bet of any denomination on any sporting contest is considering having action on said contest.

Handle: The total amount wagered on a specific event or sport at a sportsbook. For example, the state of Nevada's legal sportsbooks reported a handle of $151.6 million on the Super Bowl last season.

Chalk: A common term used to describe betting on the favorite in a game or another sporting event. For example, Boston was -150 chalk against Kansas City. 

Underdog: The team that is assigned odds by sportsbooks to indicate that it has an implied probability of under 50% to win the game.

Favorite: The team that is assigned odds by sportsbooks to indicate that it is mathematically expected to win the game.

Even money: A bet that requires no vig is considered even money. For example, a bettor wagered $200 to win $200 on the Pittsburgh Pirates at even-money odds against the Colorado Rockies. 

Push: A term used to describe when a sports wager is declared a tie due to the outcome of the game, resulting in a refund for bettors. In baseball, pushes occur on first five inning bets if the game is tied after five frames and they can also happen for full-game totals.

Sharp: A term used to describe the real or imagined advantage that a serious sports bettor has over both casual bettors and the sportsbook. It also can be used as a noun, as someone can be referred to as a "sharp."

FAQ

What are the most common types of MLB bets?

There are many options for MLB betting, but the most common are the money line, the run line and the over/under for total runs scored. Prop and futures bets have become quite popular, as have first five innings bets. You even can combine some of these bets into parlays.

Where can I bet on MLB?

If you are in a state that has legalized sports betting, any of the licensed sportsbooks available to you will offer a wide array of MLB betting options. 

Can you bet on Minor League Baseball?

Definitely, although it might be difficult to find odds for minor league games. However, they can be found at select sportsbooks.

Is home-field advantage important in MLB?

It definitely can be, considering that all MLB stadiums have different dimensions. This means that the home team is much more familiar with the ballpark than the visiting club and potentially can use that to its advantage.

Scott Erskine

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