Baseball Betting Guide

Baseball, unlike football, is not popular in all countries. However, residents of the USA, Venezuela, China, Japan, South Korea, Cuba, and Taiwan highly value this sport and are happy to bet on it. This can be not only fun but also profitable. This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about baseball betting.

We are sure that for new users, studying the tips is mandatory. This will help you avoid mistakes and choose the best tactics from the very beginning. Therefore, read our full sports betting guide on different disciplines.

How to Bet on Baseball

Baseball matches involve two teams alternatingly playing defense and attack. Teams earn a point in attack when a player runs through all the bases one after another. Baseball is played on a field of about 1 hectare, divided into two zones: infield and outfield. Almost all bookmakers accept bets on this sport, and this can be done both in pre-match and live.

Prematch

In the pre-match list for each match, offers are available for the winner, totals, and handicaps, runs of both teams, first and last points. In additional markets in most bookmakers you can find bets on the results of individual runs, extra innings. Less often, bookmakers provide bets on races up to N runs, first run and victory, result and total.

Live

Bets on live baseball at bookmakers include current pre-game offers and results for individual innings. Bookmakers provide video broadcasts for popular matches.

What to Consider

When placing bets on baseball in a bookmaker, players take into account the specifics of the sport. Baseball competitions are held mainly in the summer season. In baseball, sensations occur frequently – on average, 55–65% of matches are won by favorites, and in 35–45% of matches, outsiders win.

The pitcher is the most important player on the team, whose throwing greatly influences the dynamics of the game. When analyzing, it is necessary to consider the pitcher’s form and individual skill, and plans for the participation of the favorite in the upcoming match.

Baseball stadiums vary in length and width and have different wind roses that speed up or slow down the flight of the ball. Some arenas host predominantly productive confrontations, while others host less productive ones. The stronger the wind in the stadium, the higher the likelihood of a higher total.

Types of Baseball Bets

The betting markets presented by the bookmaker largely depend on the type of sport, so in different sections, you can find a different set of offers. Let’s find out what you can bet on in baseball.

Moneyline Betting

In non-ball matches, this type of bet is quite common because the rules of the game do not imply a draw. Thus, the money line replaces the well-known 1X2. The difference from the 1X2 line is that in the moneyline, there is no bet on a draw. The description shows only the odds for the victory of the first and second players, respectively. You have to decide which player you believe will win more and make a bet accordingly.

Run Line Betting

This bet requires you to select the team that will win within a certain number of runs. It is distinguished from the previous type by the presence of the indicated number of wounds. In this parameter, this type resembles an over/under.

Total Bets

A total in baseball is a numerical indicator of how many runs a team can score in 9 innings. As in other sports, the total can be general and individual, calculated for the entire match or part of it (5 innings, 1 inning, etc.), and bets on it are among the most popular within this discipline.

A total in baseball can be calculated based on the number of runs scored (displayed on the scoreboard), the number of runs scored by one of the sides in a particular (one or more) innings, as well as the number of runs (a player has run 3 bases and returned to home).

Prop Bets

Proposition bets, also known as special bets, are bets in which you bet on specific outcomes or events in a game. These bets are often called “fun bets” because they add an extra element of excitement to the game beyond simply betting on the final outcome.

In baseball, prop bets often focus on player performance, team props, or game props. Game props are bets on events that may occur during the game, but do not directly relate to the final result, such as the number of outs.

First 5

You can bet on the outcome of the first five innings. This market is popular among bettors who focus on the first part of the game.

Futures Betting

As with any other sport, you can bet for the long term. For example, it depends on the winner of the tournament or on the overall performance of the season. This option is suitable for patient bettors since the results will not be known soon.

Live Baseball Betting

Many players prefer to bet on an event that is already underway. This is a fun method because you can simultaneously watch events unfold on the field. In addition, it allows you to make a more accurate analysis and correctly predict the outcome. This bet is unique in that it offers dynamic odds that change in real time depending on the progress of the game. If a team takes an early lead, its chances of winning may decrease, while the other team’s chances of winning may increase.

Types of Baseball Events You Can Bet on

Now that you know the main markets, we need to talk about the championships and events suitable for betting.

Regular Season Betting

The baseball championship is divided into a regular season and playoffs. Accordingly, you don’t have to wait for the winner of the entire tournament to be determined but place a bet on the team that will win the regular season. This practice is characteristic not only of baseball but of all American sports.

Betting on the Playoffs and World Series

At the end of the regular season, the winners of their divisions qualify for the playoffs (there are 6 such teams). Two more participants in the next stage are determined in matches between teams that take 4th and 5th place in each league. The playoffs are called the World Series. The playoffs conclude the championship and determine its winner. Technically, these bets are the same as regular season bets. 

Betting on All-Star Game in MLB

Major League Baseball is a North American sports league that unites the best American and Canadian baseball clubs. Major League Baseball is divided into the National League and the American League, which have held tournaments separately from each other for more than a century. The leagues were unified only in 2000. The leagues are very different from each other, even going as far as differences in the interpretation of baseball rules.

All-Star is an interesting game format in which teams of the best players meet. These dream teams compete with each other but do not participate in the overall championship. Nevertheless, fans really love these games.

Spring Training Bets

Each spring, teams play a series of matches to warm up after the offseason and prepare for regular games. Even though these games are not important for the season, bettors are happy to bet on them. You can also consider them as preparation for serious bets.

Baseball Betting Tips and Strategies

To make correct predictions, you need to take into account various game parameters. Here are the main factors that influence outcome and performance in baseball.

Pitcher form.	The stronger the pitcher on a team, the greater its chances of winning. The best player at that position is most often released in the first inning. Five innings is the standard “must-have” for star pitchers in MLB.
Series of victories and defeats.	Consider the current form of the two teams. It’s not uncommon for baseball to have long winning or losing streaks.
Features of the stadium.	The main differences are in the size of the sites and in windy conditions. Teams such as the Boston Red Sox, Colorado, New York Mets, and New York Yankees have home stadiums that are considered the windiest, while the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and Tampa Bay Race” are windless. The stronger the wind in the stadium, the greater the likelihood of a high total.
Weather.	Wind strength, air humidity, probability of precipitation, etc., are important here.
Team factors.	Tournament motivation, absence of injured players, change of coach, and others play a significant role in the game process.

Once you have analyzed these factors, you can decide on an overall strategy. Let’s look at the basic tactics that will help you win regularly.

Betting on Outsiders and Favorites

When betting on outsiders and favorites, a baseball strategy is used – a point handicap with odds of 1.80-2.20. It’s not uncommon for Major League Baseball games or the first five innings to end with a one-run lead. Here, you bet on baseball according to the following principles:

• Select matches where the outsider team plays away.
• Analyze the statistics of personal meetings between opponents at a given stadium.
• Give the favorite a handicap from (-1.5) to (-3.5) if the odds for the home team to win are below 1.80.

You can also play according to the opposite principle: take a positive handicap against an underdog playing at home. It is important that the hosts have high motivation and that there are no problems with the form of the main pitcher.

Strategy for a Draw in an Inning

One of the common betting strategies is to bet on a draw in the inning. The following principles work here:

• most innings end in a draw;
• bookmakers give low odds for a draw – 1.50-1.70, rarely reaching 1.90;

Calculate the amount of each next bet using the formula:

(amount of the first bet + amount of losses) / (odds – 1).

Any overtaking in bets is dangerous. But baseball rarely goes more than four innings without a tie.

Financial Strategy in Baseball Betting

In baseball betting, the strategies illustrated above do not guarantee a win. Therefore, be sure to follow the principles of financial management:

• choose a financial strategy: flat, fixed interest, Kelly criterion, etc.;
• stick to the bet size according to the chosen system;
• make sure that the bet amount does not exceed 10-15% of the total bank;

Don’t bet around the clock on all games in different championships – choose one championship and understand its specifics.

Any system is effective only with proper analysis of matches, adherence to financial strategy, and a share of luck over the course. For baseball betting, the most detailed statistics about the MLB league are available. Study it and test your strength in test mode before playing for real money.

Pros and Cons of Baseball Betting