MLB betting guide

Major League Baseball is known as America's pastime, but it is not one of the most popular betting markets in the United States. Baseball and betting have had an interesting relationship in the past, but this is a sport that is starting to see more action.

The MLB season is 162 games long, and that does provide plenty of betting opportunities. Baseball is a popular sport to bet on during the summer months, but it gets forgotten about when other major sports are taking place.

Best MLB bets to make

You will see the traditional betting options featured on MLB games, but some of these betting types will work a bit differently. Knowing how each bet works is extremely important when betting on baseball.

When we are discussing examples, we will use the Atlanta Braves as the betting favorite and the New York Mets as the underdog.

Moneyline

A moneyline bet is extremely popular when it comes to MLB betting, and it is the easiest betting type to understand. With a moneyline bet, this is simply picking the winning team in a game, and the potential payout is determined by the odds.

Atlanta Braves -125
New York Mets +145

The Braves are favored to win this game, but it would take a $125 bet on Atlanta to win $100. The underdog Mets could provide a bigger payout as a $100 bet on New York would lead to a payout of $145.

Run line

A run line bet when it comes to MLB is similar to betting against the spread in other sports. Since baseball games don't tend to have a large spread, the run line is typically set at just 1.5 runs each way for nearly every game.

Atlanta Braves -1.5 | (-185)
New York Mets +1.5 | (+135)

In this scenario, the Braves would need to win the game by at least two runs for them to be the right pick. You will notice that the odds have now flipped, though, and there would be a much bigger payout when betting on Atlanta.

New York just needs to keep the final score within one run to be the winner of this bet. Taking the Mets at +1.5 would lead to a much smaller payout than betting on them to win the game outright.

Totals or over/under

A totals bet is extremely popular when it comes to baseball, and this is sometimes referred to as an "over/under." This bet focuses on the total number of points scored in an MLB game, and picking the winner doesn't matter.

Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets
Over 8.5 | (-110)
Under 8.5 | (-110)

If the Braves and Mets combine for at least nine runs, then betting the over would be the right play. If eight or fewer runs are scored in the game, the under would be the right pick.

Futures bets

A futures bet is a wager that is made on something that will happen at the end of the season. Betting on the eventual World Series champion is the top futures bet that you will see, but it's not the only option that is available.

There are also future betting options on which team will win a specific division, and individual player awards can be wagered on as well.

Prop bets

Prop betting was once reserved for the Super Bowl each year, but that is no longer the case. There are a number of parlay betting options now available for each MLB game during the season, and this type of bet typically adds some fun to the betting experience.

Here are some potential examples:

- Will the Atlanta Braves hit 3+ home runs in this game?

- New York Mets pitching staff: Over/Under 10.5 strikeouts

- Will there be an intentional walk issued?

Parlay betting

Parlay betting is simply combining a number of smaller bets into one large wager. If you are someone that wants to get into parlay betting, then you are someone that enjoys taking a big risk.

With parlay betting, bettors are able to combine a number of different MLB picks in an effort to earn a big payday. Each leg that is added to the parlay also increases the risk and makes that bet harder to win.

The betting types listed above can all be included in a parlay bet, but that depends on how the sportsbook wants to set up this type of bet.

Live betting

Live betting continues to be more popular in the US sports betting industry, and baseball has helped that trend grow. Most of the betting options listed above will be offered as a live or "in-play" bet, but these odds will be changing with each pitch of the game.

Tips for betting on MLB

You now have a better idea of the MLB betting options that are available, but that doesn't mean you are ready to place those wagers. Here are some tips of betting strategies to use when betting on MLB, and the hope is that this information will help you win some money.

Pitching matchups matter

The first thing to look at when betting on MLB is the starting pitching matchup for each game. There is much more research that needs to be done, but the pitching matchup can give you a pretty good idea of how that game will go.

Of course, sportsbooks are also looking at the pitching matchups, and that helps them set the betting odds and lines for each game. Dominant pitchers can always get beat when it comes to baseball, but you need to know who each team is sending to the mound to start a game.

Weather can affect outcomes

Most MLB games are played outdoors, and some of these games can be played in adverse weather conditions. If you are planning on betting the run total, then you need to know what the weather is going to be when the game begins.

There are a number of different ways that weather can affect MLB betting, and it could also have no impact at all. You don't need to make your bets based on what the weather forecast is, but this is information that you need to be aware of.

Look at the run line

Most people think that betting the moneyline is the best bet to make when it comes to baseball, but that just isn't the case. Baseball is a game that tends to yield some very close final scores, but that doesn't mean that every game will be a one-run game.

Instead of simply betting the moneyline, take a look at the run line when making a bet on a MLB game. The odds are significantly changed when betting a team -1.5 as opposed to straight up, and it can lead to a much bigger payout.