The main betting on baseball format for picking a winning team in a game is a moneyline, which is based on a $100 wager. The heaviest favorite you might see in a baseball game is around -300, meaning you would have to bet $300 to win $100. A baseball run line is a point spread or handicap bet. Bets are based on a 1.5 point spread. So if Houston is at +1.5 runs at odds of +140 and Chicago is at -1.5 runs -110, a $110 bet on Chicago would be required to win $100 if they win by 1.5 or more runs. More games mean more opportunity to play the MLB odds and potentially win money. With 162 games a season and various baseball betting options, there's plenty of action for bettors. Our experts will teach you how to bet on baseball, and the best MLB bets to make.

From single-game moneylines to props, World Series odds to live in-game betting, you’ll find a ton of betting opportunities every day of the MLB season – especially in 2021 with the return of the traditional 162-game regular season starting April 1.

1. MLB Baseball Run Totals: The Most Common Outcomes. Successful MLB totals betting starts with a fundamental understanding of the most probable outcomes based on past results. The following chart shows how often certain totals occur in baseball, based on hundreds of thousands of games of data. Frequency of Total Runs Scored Per Game in MLB Baseball.
2. All of that adds up to make Major League Baseball one of the best sports to bet on. For sports betting enthusiasts, baseball has it all. With each team playing a lengthy 162 games per year, and with managers constantly shuffling through pitching rotations and bullpen changes, the potential for skilled wagering is abundant.

MLB Betting is a massive part of the sports betting pie, especially in the US. In 2018 a study from the American Gaming Association estimated that legal sports betting would result in a revenue boost to MLB of a whopping $1.1 billion. That’s outstanding news for the continued growth of the game, and also a great sign for sports bettors.

Here’s everything you need to know to bet on MLB, starting with how you can use your Android or iPhone to get in on the baseball betting online action.

Best MLB betting sites

Having a legal and regulated sportsbook at your fingertips is no longer just a pipe dream. It’s the real deal. There are a number of websites and apps you can use for MLB betting online, including our top choices below.

Where Can I Bet on MLB Online?

The following states have legal sportsbooks that take MLB bets:

You don’t have to be a resident of a legal sports betting state to be eligible to bet. All you need to do is be within state borders.

That means if you live in New York or Chicago, for example, you can still open an account, download the betting app and make all of your financial transactions at home. You only need to cross the border into NJ or IN to place your bets.

How to Download an MLB Betting App

Signing up for a new sportsbook account is quick and easy. First, click on our exclusive links to take advantage of the bonus offers. From there, you’ll go through a simple sign-up process which will prompt you to enter some basic information.

Look for the app download links for iPhone / iPad and Android, which are typically located at the bottom of the main website. Follow the instructions for your device, sign in on your phone, and you’re all set.

Sportsbook apps are intuitive and easy to use with all of the same functions you have on the full online sportsbook, such as browsing the lobby, editing your betting slip, and depositing or cashing out. It’s tough to compete with the convenience of betting on a sportsbook app, and you’ll quickly understand why once you have messed around with the apps for a bit.

One note to keep in mind: you may be prompted to enable geolocation tracking software to use the app. This is standard procedure and nothing to worry about. In a nutshell, the software helps sportsbooks confirm you are located within state lines before placing bets.

If you’re out of state, you can still manage your account via the app. Just know that you’ll have to be back within the borders in order to place your wagers.

MLB odds

Bet on World Series, MLB MVP, Cy Young

Predicting the winner of the World Series is the most popular MLB futures bet, but the opportunities don’t end there. Sportsbooks will offer markets for a number of different MLB futures that attract betting interest, including:

• AL/NL MVP Awards
• AL/NL Rookie of the Year Awards
• AL Pennant Winner
• NL Pennant Winner
• Division Title Winners
• Playoff Qualifiers
• Team Win Totals

Check the current real-time World Series futures odds at legal US online sportsbooks below. Use the drop-down menus to toggle through every legal state and see more futures odds boards. Click any odds to claim your bonus, register a new account and get set up to bet.

The MLB futures betting market is a great way to get a handle on the general bookmaker’s perception of how teams and players rank. This can be especially useful heading into the season as you get a refresher on how to bet and begin to place your single-game wagers.

The (+) number you see represents how much your added payout would for a $100 bet. There will be odds listed for each team as long as they remain in contention. These bets can be great for those who have a knack for spotting dark horse contenders, as well as for bettors who have a fantastic feel for how the season will play out.

MLB win totals explained

While the futures market remains active year-round, it can be a little slow in the offseason. However, interest kicks back up several notches when MLB win totals are released.

Sportsbooks estimate the number of wins for each team and bettors can then decide if they like the team to go Over or Under that amount.

Win totals will be listed for all 30 MLB teams. As you’d expect, odds will fluctuate based on market action and how the teams perform during the season. MLB win totals are a fantastic way to remain engaged all season long.

It’s likely DraftKings and FanDuel will offer win total odds but they aren’t listed as of yet.

How to read MLB betting lines

Whenever you come across a sport you’re unfamiliar with, start with the basics and work your way out. There’s no reason to get bogged down with advanced bets just yet. There will be plenty of time for that, and we’ll go over what you need to know there as well.

For now, understand the three main components of baseball betting lines.

• Moneyline: This is the most common MLB wager. You’re simply choosing who you like to win the game, and that’s it. Favorites will be represented by a negative odds value, while underdogs will have positive odds attached.
• Run Line: In lieu of a point spread, oddsmakers will place a run line on each game. It’s typically set at 1.5. For the favorite, you’ll see a -1.5, while it’ll be +1.5 for the underdog. In both cases, the side you choose has to cover the 1.5 run margin.
• Totals: Also known as Over/Unders, totals betting revolves around the total runs scored in the game. Oddsmakers set the bar, and bettors decide if they like it to go Over or Under. A potential pitching duel could have a total of 6.5 runs, while a potential slugfest could be set at 9.5 runs or higher.

How to bet baseball online

Now that we understand how to read the lines, let’s take a look at some examples for each of the bet types.

Moneyline betting in baseball

Each and every day during the season, you can quickly get a handle on who is expected to win by taking a look at MLB moneyline odds.

• Boston Red Sox +100
• Houston Astros -120

In the above example, the Astros are expected to win the game. If you place a $100 bet at odds of -120 and they do so, you’ll get back $183.30 – your initial stake plus a return of $83.30.

If you like the Red Sox to win and they make it happen, a $100 bet at odds of +100 will return $200 – the $100 bet plus a profit of $100.

Run line betting in baseball

Each game will also have a run line attached to it that’s typically set at 1.5.

• San Francisco Giants +1.5 (-110)
• Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-110)

If you place a bet on the Dodgers, they’ll need to win the game by a margin greater than 1.5 runs. For bets on the Giants, they can lose the game and you can still have a winning bet if they keep the margin less than 1.5 runs.

Odds on run lines are generally in range on both sides of the equation and will move based on market action, just like what you’ll find in point spread-based betting in other sports.

Totals betting in baseball

If you want to get a sense of which games may be high- or low-scoring, then check out the MLB totals odds.

• Over 8.5 (-110)
• Under 8.5 (-110)

Let’s say the above line applies to a game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. Oddsmakers have set the benchmark, and you now have to decide if you think the total runs scored will be Over or Under that number.

Once again, odds will be in range on both sides of the equation, but they will shift based on market action.

Other types of popular MLB bets

In addition to those three basic bet types, there are a number of other ways to bet on MLB. Here are some of the more popular choices and examples for each.

First five inning bets

This is an MLB bet type which has gained a good deal of traction in recent years. As opposed to picking the winner of the whole game, you’re simply choosing who you think will be ahead after the first five innings.

• Minnesota Twins +105
• Oakland Athletics -115

As the oddsmakers see it, Oakland is more likely to be leading after the first five innings are in the books. MLB first five inning betting has grown in popularity as it theoretically takes bullpens out of the equation and allows bettors to focus on the starting pitching matchup.

Alternate run line betting in baseball

As opposed to the traditional 1.5 run line, MLB alternate run line betting allows you to shift the line to something you find more attractive.

• New York Mets +2.5
• Washington Nationals -2.5

Naturally, the odds and potential return will shift when you place wagers on these alternate lines. However, it’s also an interesting tool to boost potential returns on heavy favorites or to gain extra insurance on underdogs.

Innings betting in baseball

This is a quick turnaround wager which typically revolves around whether or not a run will be scored in the first inning.

• Yes +115
• No -145

If you have a good feel for how teams start off – as well as how well the opposing hurlers fare in the early going – then MLB innings betting may be a good area for you to focus on.

MLB Series betting

The MLB season can be a grind, and anything can happen on a daily basis as a result. For those who want to have more control over that variable, consider MLB Series betting in which you’ll be picking the overall winner of full sets of games.

• Philadelphia Phillies +130
• Atlanta Braves -120

In the above example, let’s say these two NL East rivals are playing a three-game set in Atlanta. You expect the Braves to win the series overall, but you wouldn’t be surprised if the Phillies took a game. You can place a bet on Atlanta to win the series. As long as they win two of the three games, you have a winning ticket.

How MLB live betting works

Also known as in-play betting, this is one of the most popular advancements in sports betting in recent years. These are wagers you can place after the action has gotten underway. Odds and markets move fast here, and opportunities will vary. Here’s a sampling of what you may see.

• Outcome of Next At-Bat
• Race to a Number of Runs – i.e. first team to reach 3 runs etc.
• Over/Under on Total Hits in Game
• How many Pitches for Next Inning of Play?
• Outright Winner of Game

When it comes to MLB Live Betting, mobile apps are a must. These are fast-moving markets in which appealing opportunities can pop up in an instant. As always, use discretion and only select the wagers you feel most comfortable with.

US online sportsbooks also offer lines on KBO and Japanese Baseball (NPB). See our full guide to betting on the KBO here.

Prop betting in baseball

In addition to all of the above betting opportunities, you’ll also find a slew of side bets for each game on the docket. MLB prop bets can be player- or team-based. They revolve around something that may happen during the course of the game.

• Total Runs Scored in First Three Innings – Over/Under 2.5
• Team to Score First Run in Game
• Winning Side plus Margin of Victory
• Total Number of Runs, Hits, and Errors by Side
• How Many Strikeouts will Stephen Strasburg have? Over/Under 7.5
• Will Aaron Judge hit a Home Run?
• Who will have more Total Bases – Mookie Betts or Paul Goldschmidt?
• Will Either Side Hit a Triple?

MLB prop bets open up a whole new world of possibilities. Those who have a real good read on team-based metrics can find success, as can those who have a fantasy baseball mindset.

MLB betting trends

Anytime you’re handicapping a game, it should be treated as an event in and of itself. That means priority is given to the matchup at hand, starting pitching matchup, recent play, and other facets that you deem important.

That said, taking a look at MLB betting trends can also be helpful. Here are a few of the things you’ll want to check out.

• Historical Head-to-Head Record for the two teams
• Team record vs. opposing pitcher
• Team Record on Over/Under for season-to-date
• Team Record vs. Run Line for the year
• Home/Away splits for moneyline, run line, and totals
• Record in Last 10 games for both teams
• Ballpark factors on Over/Under
• Day/Night splits for moneyline, run line, and totals

There are times when checking out the above information will produce nothing of value, but there are also plenty of spots in which you’ll find nuggets of information that you can use to your advantage.

What is Public Betting?

Pro oddsmakers are very good at what they do, and sportsbooks aren’t in the business of giving money away to bettors. As a result, having a sense of which way the winds are blowing in terms of public betting interest can be helpful.

There are a few main ways that you can get a handle on the overall public sentiment for a game. First up, pay attention to line moves from the time they are released until the time you place your bets.

Have there been any significant moves in the odds or total? If so, first see if it has anything to do with injuries, lineup changes, starting pitcher questions, or weather factors. If not, then there’s a good chance a good deal of action came in on one side of the equation.

Once you determine the direction of the move, you can gain a sense of which side is being backed more heavily. For example, if oddsmakers make the odds on the Under more favorable than what’s on the Over, a lot of Over bets on the total may have come in.

Next, there are sites out there that track public betting action in percentage form. Keep in mind that sites such as these are not checking every single book out there, but most are checking more than a few.

If nothing else, it’s a good way to get a temperature read on the day’s games. Last but not least, there are plenty of prognosticators out there who freely share their picks on the day’s games.

Once you have a good sense of the consensus on a slate of games, you can then pick your spots and see where there may be a good place to employ a contrarian approach – i.e. betting against the public. After all, the public betting community isn’t always right.

Daily fantasy baseball

There are tons of devoted fantasy baseball players who track their team’s performance all season long as they try to win their leagues. While that’s fun and all, daily fantasy baseball takes the enjoyment to a whole other level.

DFS MLB affords users the opportunity to play whenever they want. There are no rosters to manage or waivers to worry about. Just simply pick a lineup you like whenever you play while staying under the salary cap.

Even better, users enter their lineups in contests where they have a chance to win real prizes. The two biggest operators in the industry, DraftKings and FanDuel, both offer major tournaments with some eye-popping top prizes. You can compare DraftKings and FanDuel here to see how each site stacks up for fantasy baseball.

There are other ways to play as well, including 50/50s and head-to-heads. You’ll find all of the different contest types at various buy-in points for all budgets. Signing up for an account is a breeze, and DFS MLB is legal in more than 40 states across the US to boot.

• Get $20 free play at DraftKings!

Spring Training, Regular Season and Playoffs

For a the 2021 MLB season, here are some of the key dates to keep in mind.

• Mid-February: Pitchers and Catchers begin reporting for spring training, followed by position players.
• February 28: Spring training games begin
• April 1: Opening Day
• July 13: MLB All-Star Game
• October 3: Final Day of Regular Season
• October 5: MLB Postseason begins
• November 3: Potential date for Game 7 of the World Series

From February through November, you will have plenty of opportunities for MLB online betting. There are some important points to consider for each portion of the schedule.

MLB Spring Training

In comparison to the regular season, there’s just not much betting action on spring training games due to the unpredictable nature. However, that hasn’t prevented MLB from frowning upon it anyway. League offices have actually encouraged books to stop offering lines on these games, but that hasn’t deterred operators.

First-Half of MLB Regular Season

The MLB regular season is (usually) a marathon, not a sprint. There will be preseason favorites who start off slow and projected also-rans who get off to blazing hot beginnings. Consult MLB win totals for a guide on projections heading in, and then pay close attention to momentum once the games that matter begin.

Second-Half of MLB Regular Season 2021

After the All-Star break, we should have a good sense of which teams are for real and those who are not. As always, matchups rule the day, but continue to keep a close eye on hot and cold streaks. This can also be a great time for contrarian thinking as you scout out potential upsets.

MLB Postseason 2021

By the time we get here, we’re dealing with the class of the sport for the season at hand. There are bettors who love the MLB playoffs and others who shy away and feel there’s not enough of an edge. Starting pitching and bullpen matchups become even more critical this time of year.

For betting purposes, remember the adage about the MLB season being a marathon as opposed to a sprint. You’ll have plenty of chances to make your move, but you can also pace yourself to stay in the race all season long.

How To Get Mlb Baseball By Streaming Tv

Baseball betting tips

When it comes to betting on sports, it’s always a good idea to have a clear game plan. It’s the same with baseball betting. For starters, normal handicapping rules apply: matchup, momentum, and trends are among the things you’ll want to check out.

Digging even deeper, there are some specific MLB betting systems that have proven to be quite popular. Here are a few that you can consider adding to your repertoire.

1. Don’t go too heavy with huge favorites

Everyone likes a sure thing, but is it really that great of a deal when you’re only getting odds of -200 or more? There will be spots during the season where these bets make the most sense for a slate of games, but finding better value will have a bigger impact on your bottom line. Pay close attention to the games in which the favorite has odds under -150 and pick your spots.

2. Underdog betting can be quite profitable

This one comes with a big caveat: Don’t just randomly bet on plus-money underdogs and expect to turn a profit. They’re underdogs for a reason, and they’ll lose more than their fair share of games as a result. However, a strategic approach of spotting upsets ripe for the picking – even pitching matchup, team momentum – can lead you to some nice returns.

3. Shop for the best lines

Moneyline betting is a huge focus for MLB, but not all lines are created the same. For example, the Chicago Cubs could be the consensus favorite over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. At one book, you find odds of -140 on the Cubs side, while another has them listed at -130. Such a seemingly small number may not seem like a lot, but it can absolutely add up over the course of a season.

It’s important to remember that there isn’t one single fail-proof MLB betting system. However, if you understand several and look for spots where they can be implemented correctly, then you could be on the path towards more winning tickets.

There are countless methods for making MLB predictions that will lead to varying degrees of success. If you want to make money from betting on baseball you need to be able to make consistently accurate MLB predictions, but how do you do it? Read on for some expert insight into making MLB predictions.

What are the challenges with MLB predictions?

Making money from betting is hard, a lot harder than people think. While baseball is a completely different sport to soccer, basketball or tennis, it’s just as difficult to beat the bookmaker and make a consistent profit from betting on it. Each of the aforementioned sports (and many more) have differences that present their own unique challenges, but there are also some similarities between them.

If you’re betting on baseball with a bookmaker you are not only pitting your knowledge, model or strategy against that bookmaker, you are up against everyone else that is betting with them. A bookmaker like Pinnacle doesn’t have to make MLB predictions, they simply use the information provided by all the other bettors in that market to make the challenge of finding value a lot more difficult.

The large sample size (there are 2,430 games in the MLB regular season), the countless data providers and the format of the game are all very good reasons to bet on baseball. However, these are also reasons that will encourage a lot more people to bet on the sport - the more crowded the betting market gets, the sharper the bookmaker’s odds will become.

Additionally, baseball is quite unique in the sense that the way the game is played is very dynamic. Tactical shifts and approaches are commonplace in the MLB - the return of Lou Boudreau’s defensive shifts from 1946 in 2014 being one recent example of note. The unpredictability in how the game is played and what aspects of the game a team places value on mean a successful betting strategy can quickly become a redundant one.

MLB predictions: Why data can be a help and a hindrance

As mentioned above, there is an endless ream of data available in baseball - it is probably the most data heavy sport out there. The use of data has became more prevalent after the emergence of sabermetrics with teams being the first to benefit (Billy Beane’s Oakland A’s perhaps the most famous example). Now, the use of data extends to the betting market, fantasy sports and even the average fan.

Regardless of how accurate your MLB predictions are, if you don’t look after your money properly you’ll soon find that you don’t have any left to bet with.

More advanced metrics such as ERA+, FIP, WAR, wOBA and wRC+ (there are many, many more) are now regarded as a basic component of making MLB predictions. However, it is important to note that there is a distinction to be made between using data and using data effectively.

Once you have collected data, the next step is analysing it and building a predictive model. There are so many data inputs and model functions that can be used to make MLB predictions. Run scoring regression analysis could be used to find an edge on Totals betting, a ranking model with all manner of inputs can be used for Money Line matchups, individual team analysis can be used for season win totals projections and so on.

Making considerations for the unique aspects of baseball when using data to make MLB predictions is a crucial part of the process. Failure to account for things like the strength of schedule, the weather, where a game is played and at what point in the season it is played can have a major impact on your predictions and the results you achieve when betting on them.

• Read: Why basic data isn't enough when betting on MLB

Despite all the benefits that using data might bring, it’s important to remember that while a pattern may exist or an apparent edge might be found, only after thorough testing will you be able to distinguish whether these findings are legitimate and will hold up against the betting market. This can be summarised by the words of Mark Twain; “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

There are plenty of useful resources available to help guard against making the common mistakes that come with data analysis and modelling. Nassim Taleb’s book Fooled by Randomness provides a good explanation of (amongst other things) why “the more data we have the more likely we are to drown in it” and while this is true for most sports, it is especially applicable to baseball given the wealth of available data.

Joseph Buchdahl has written at length about the science of probability and uncertainty in Squares & Sharps, Suckers & Sharks and also has plenty of articles on Pinnacle’s Betting Resources covering things like the difference between correlation and causation. Those after literature more specific to baseball data analysis can look to Jim Albert and Jay Bennett’s Curve Ball (a collection of essays on baseball statistics).

How To Bet Mlb Baseball

What to do once you have your MLB predictions

Producing your own MLB predictions is all well and good but if you want to make money off of them, you need to able to invest in them. A bookmaker will provide odds on an event occurring (which over time will adjust slightly as new information enters the market). If your predictions are consistently more accurate than the one provided the bookmaker, you will be able to make a profit from betting on them.

There are three simple steps to follow if you want start betting on your MLB predictions. Firstly, compare your predictions against the market. The simplest way to do this, depending on what you are trying to predict, is to convert your predictions into percentage chance and compare them against the bookmaker’s odds (in percentage chance) - this will tell you whether you should bet or not.

Failure to account for things like the strength of schedule, the weather, where a game is played and at what point in the season it is played can have a major impact on your predictions.

If after this first step you determine that you should place a bet on your prediction, you need to calculate how much money you should bet - using a staking method to optimise how much money you place on each bet. Finally, you need to measure the success of your approach by analysing results (and this doesn’t just mean over the course of 30, 40 or 50 bets).

Using our examples above, you might have a power rankings model that suggests the Chicago Cubs have a 66% chance of beating the St. Louis Cardinals (after all external factors had been considered). If the bookmaker posts odds of 2.33 (42.92%) for the Cardinals and price the Cubs at 1.694 (59.03%) this would provide you with betting opportunity that offers expected value (you think the Cardinals have a better chance of winning than what they are being given).

How To Bet On Mlb Baseball

Once you have a means of finding an edge (expected value), using a staking method such as the Kelly Criterion will help you bet amounts relative to that edge and ensure that you don’t exhaust your bankroll. Regardless of how accurate your MLB predictions are, if you don’t look after your money properly you’ll soon find that you don’t have any left to bet with.

In addition to refining your approach, analysing the results is arguably the most important part of the process when betting on your MLB predictions. The question of luck vs. skill in betting is something all bettors should be aware of, but one many fail to recognise.

Whether it’s comparing your bets against the closing line (Pinnacle’s is the most efficient available), using the t-test or Bayesian analysis, ensuring your results are down to your skill (method of prediction) rather than luck (randomness) is essential if you intend to succeed in the long term.