Once the summer comes around, baseball betting skyrockets - it's the only sport out of the four major United States leagues that is playing every day in the warm weather.
How do Odds Work in Baseball?
Odds in baseball work the same as every other major sport in the United States. One team will be favored (minus sign in front of number), and the payout correlates with who is supposed to win the game.
In the example below, Philadelphia (-130) is the favorite to beat San Francisco (+110). The -130 number implies a win probability of 56.5%, and a $100 bet would profit $77 (total payout of $177) if Philadelphia wins. A $100 bet on San Francisco would profit $110 (total payout of $210).
Team | Odds | Bet Amount | Expected Payout |
San Francisco | +110 | $100 | $210 |
Philadelphia | -130 | $100 | $177 |
Baseball Betting Markets
From moneylines, run lines, and totals, to player props, game props, and futures, baseball has plenty of markets to bet on. Are you good at picking home run hitters? What about your pick to win the World Series? bet365 has you covered for everything baseball.
Moneylines
A moneyline bet is the simplest bet in sports. It's just picking the winner of the game, just like the example with the table above. The margin of victory does not matter in this market, The team with the minus (-) is favored, while the team with the plus (+) is the underdog.
Run Lines
A run line in baseball is effectively the spread in most other sports. It's similar to hockey where the team favored will typically have a -1.5 run line with odds associated to the likelihood that they win by two runs or more.
If we use the example above, perhaps Philadelphia is -1.5 on the run line. That would mean that Philly would have to win by two or more runs for the bet to be a winner. Meanwhile, if San Francisco wins the game, or loses by one run, the SF +1.5 run line bet would be a winner.
Totals
Along with a moneyline and a run line, every game will also have a total. Commonly referred to as the "over/under" of the game, bookmakers will determine the line for the total runs scored in the game, and bettors can choose whether or not the teams will score over or under the line. This market is also typically a coin flip, with the odds for the over and under listed at -110 most of the time.
Prop Bets
Baseball has plenty of prop bets, especially for players. Home runs, total bases, HRRs (hits + runs + RBIs), and much more are available to bet on for hitters in MLB, while pitcher strikeouts, outs recorded, etc. are available for pitchers.
Baseball also has plenty of game props that are popular. Picking "yes" or "no" for a run to be scored in the first inning is a common bet due to how quickly it'll be settled. Also, the first five innings will have a moneyline if you don't want to worry about the bullpen coming in. If you want to bet on even quicker markets, you can even wager on if the next pitch thrown at any point of the game will be a ball, strike, or in play.
Parlays
Parlays are also very common in baseball. A parlay combines several different bets into one, but even just two selections would constitute a parlay. All bets (or legs) have to win for the parlay to win. A riskier form of sports betting, the chances of winning are low, but the payouts are tremendous.
Bettors can parlay all the moneyline winners of the day, along with totals, point spreads, and player props.
Same Game Parlays
Same Game Parlays are parlays that are built from...the same game, For example, adding Philadelphia to win and Bryce Harper to hit a home run to your bet slip would create a Same Game Parlay (SGP).
Special Baseball Bets
Baseball is known for having special markets, and lots that are open for the whole season. The All-Star Break, home run milestones, first innings, and more are all significant markets for Major League Baseball.
Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is one of the most exciting events in all of sport. The most powerful hitters in MLB will take turns swinging at soft-toss baseballs and attempting to hit as many homers as possible in their allotted time slot.
The Derby provides tons of special markets including the longest home run hit, the most homers hit in a round, and the overall winner. Last year, Cal Raleigh made history as the first catcher to ever win the Home Run Derby.
Player Milestones
Player Milestones are also a common form of betting for the MLB season. Bettors can wager if players will reach 20+, 30+, or 40+, home runs for the season, or if a pitcher will record 150+ or 200+ strikeouts for the season, along with other milestone markets.
NRFI/YRFI
The "NRFI/YRFI" is one of the fastest ways to get your bet settled when betting baseball. It's very simple: You select either "yes" or "no" for there to be a run scored in the first inning by either team, and odds are usually a coin-flip.
Tips for Betting on Baseball
Having a strategy to bet on baseball and the MLB is essential for all bettors. Below, we've outlined some common tips to keep in mind when placing your bets on baseball.
Know the Weather
Knowing the weather in baseball is key. Heavy precipitation with winds blowing in make it nearly impossible to hit a home run, while a 90-degree day in the middle of July could help the ball fly. Having a sense of the wind, temperature, precipitation, and air pressure can help you find a friendly hitting condition or a friendly pitching condition.
Hitters Only Get ~4 At-Bats Per Game
It's important to remember that unlike football, baseball, or hockey where a player will spend nearly or more than half the game on the field/court, baseball is more of an individual sport where even the star players will have only about four chances at the plate to impact the game. Be cautious with betting on hitters as they have to wait for the eight other hitters to hit before getting back up to the plate.
Responsible Gambling on Baseball
Baseball is a sport with plenty of luck and unpredictability involved. The hardest batted ball of the game could be hit straight to a defender for an out, while the softest hit of the game could bloop in for a single. Before placing big wagers, test your research and theories with smaller units to see if your return of investment is positive or negative.
For more on responsible gambling, bet365 has a dedicated resource page that can be found at https://responsiblegaming.nj.bet365.com/us.
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Baseball Betting FAQs
1. What Does "-1.5" Mean in Baseball Betting?
The -1.5 "spread" in baseball is called the run line. It works the same way as a typical spread, as the -1.5 team will have to win by two or more runs to cover, while the +1.5 team can either win or lose by one to cover.
2. What is "Total Bases" in Baseball Betting?
Total bases is a very popular player prop market for hitters. Typically, most players will have their total bases number set at 1.5, and bettors have the option to choose over or under.
Total bases takes into account how many bases batters have reached off of hits. For example, a single counts as one base, a double counts as two bases, a triple is three bases, and a homer is four bases. A player that hits two singles in the same game will have two total bases on the day, and someone that hits a homer and a double in the same game picks up six total bases. Be cautious, as walks or hit-by-pitches do NOT count contribute to the players' "total bases" tally.
3. What Does "F5" Mean in Baseball Betting?
F5 in baseball refers to the first five innings. If you think a starting pitcher is going to dominate the opposing team's lineup, but you're worried about the bullpen, the first five innings is the way to go. The F5 will have a moneyline, total, and run line just like a typical game.
4. Can You Bet on Minor League Baseball?
Yes. Triple-A game markets are available to bet on, but not player props for those games. Also, NCAA baseball and Asian baseball leagues such as Korea's KBO, Japan's NBP, and Taipei's CPBL are all available to bet on.
5. What is DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) in Baseball Betting?
Each day, bettors will select nine players using a fair budget that equalizes the playing field. Bettors' entries will be placed into a group where the top scores earn money. DFS is not available on bet365.
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