Baseball is often referred to as America’s pastime, and it’s also a sport that provides plenty of opportunities for sports bettors.
Being an informed bettor increases your chances of success: Do your research and consider various factors, such as team performance, injury reports, and home-field advantage before placing a wager.
Whether you’re a casual fan or a seasoned bettor, MLB betting can be a fun way to add thrill to the game.
Let’s dig into all the ways you can bet on baseball.
Moneylines
MLB moneyline betting is as simple as it gets. This process simply involves betting on the team you think is going to win a specific game.
For every game all season long, oddsmakers assign odds to both teams based on their implied odds of winning that day’s game.
The underdog will be represented by plus-money odds, while the favorite will have negative odds.
Here’s an example: Los Angeles Dodgers (-240) vs Arizona Diamondbacks (+300)
In this example, the Dodgers are -240 favorites to win the game.
- If you wagered $240 on Los Angeles to win, you would net $100 of profit with a Dodgers victory.
- Conversely, if the Diamondbacks win as +300 underdogs, a $100 bet on Arizona would net $300.
Moneyline betting can be a great option for beginners who are new to MLB betting or for bettors who want a simple, straightforward wagering experience.
Spreads
Spread betting in baseball is similar to other sports like football and basketball, but this format holds a few key differences to keep in mind.
In baseball, spread betting is often referred to as the “run line.” The run line is typically set at 1.5 runs: The favorite team needs to win by 2 or more runs, while the underdog team can lose by 1 run and still cover the spread.
One key difference between baseball and football or basketball is the frequency of scoring. While football and basketball games tend to have high-scoring point totals, baseball games tend to be much lower-scoring, with games often ending with a tally of 3-2 or 4-3.
This can make it more difficult to cover a spread in baseball. A single run can have a significant impact on the outcome of the game.
Another difference is the importance of the starting pitcher. In football and basketball, there are many players who can impact the outcome of the game. In baseball, the starting pitcher plays a crucial role in the game and can have a significant impact on the outcome.
It’s important to consider the starting pitchers when making a spread bet in baseball. A strong pitching performance can limit the number of runs scored and make it more difficult to cover the spread.
Overall, while spread betting in baseball is similar to other sports, the lower-scoring nature of the game and the importance of the starting pitcher make it a unique and challenging betting option.
Totals
In addition to a moneyline and a run line, each MLB game will also have a total. That total represents the number of combined runs expected to be scored by both teams during the game.
When wagering on the total, bettors have the option to choose the Over (if they think more runs will be scored) or the Under (if they think fewer runs will be scored).
In MLB totals betting, it is paramount to account for the offensive, defensive, and pitching capabilities of each team. Teams with strong offenses and weak defenses and pitching tend to play high-scoring games, while squads with weak offenses and strong defenses and pitching tend to play lower-scoring games.
You also will want to familiarize yourself with each of the 30 MLB stadiums.
Each has a different configuration. Some ballparks are known specifically as hitters’ or pitchers’ parks, which often affect the number of runs scored.
Totals betting can be a great option for MLB bettors who want to focus on the overall score of the game instead of which team will win or lose.
By considering all the factors discussed above, bettors can make informed decisions and potentially earn profits from MLB totals betting.
What other types of MLB Betting odds are available?
In addition to moneylines, spreads, and totals, there are several other types of MLB betting options available.
Futures Betting
MLB futures betting focuses on season-long wagers, like predicting the AL and NL MVP, Cy Young, or Rookie of the Year.
Futures bets can also be placed on team performance, such as the number of games a team will win during the season or whether they will make the playoffs.
These bets can offer higher payouts than single-game bets, but are more of an investment because of the time it takes for them to come to fruition.
If you like investing in the stock market, futures betting may be of interest to you. If you’re looking for a quick return on your investment, prop betting may be more up your alley.
Prop Betting
MLB props allow you to bet on specific outcomes or events within a baseball game, rather than the overall outcome of the game itself.
This can include betting on a variety of events, such as how many runs will be scored, the number of hits or strikeouts for a particular player or team, which team will score first or last, or whether a specific player will get a hit or home run in a specific inning or game.
Some prop bets also allow you to bet on smaller portions of a game, giving bettors a quick resolution to their bet instead of having to watch the full nine innings.
NRFI & YRFI
NRFI stands for “No Run First Inning" and it’s a type of MLB prop where you wager on whether the first inning of a game will end with zero runs scored.
The opposite, and less popular version of this bet is called a YRFI, or “Yes Run First Inning.”
In NRFI and YRFI betting, the rest of the game doesn’t matter – only the first inning. This can be a good option for bettors who want a quick result and don’t want to wait for the entire game to finish.
Sportsbooks will set odds for whether or not the first inning will end with zero total runs scored, with the odds typically being close to even money (i.e. around -110 for both options).
NRFI betting can be a fun and exciting way to add some variety to your MLB betting options. However, it’s important to do your research and consider various factors that could affect the outcome of the first inning, such as the starting pitchers, the weather conditions, and the playing field.
First Five Betting
MLB First Five betting, also known as “First Half,” “First 5 Innings," or “F5” betting, is an option where you’re wagering on the outcome of the first five innings of a game, rather than the full nine innings.
In MLB First Five betting, the result of the game after the first five innings determines the winner and loser of the bet, regardless of what happens in the rest of the game.
Sportsbooks will set odds for which team will be leading after the first 5 innings, with the odds typically resembling the moneyline, but staggered at closer to even money.
Here’s an example: Los Angeles Dodgers (-170) vs Arizona Diamondbacks (+150)
In this example, if you bet on the Los Angeles Dodgers they are leading the game 3-2 after the first five innings, your bet would win. Similar to a moneyline, you would need to be $170 on the -170 price to return a $100 profit on Los Angeles.
First Five betting is particularly useful if you want to bet on a team with a bad bullpen, as you won’t have to worry about whether the relievers blow a save late in the game.
Parlay Betting
Just like with other sports, MLB parlay betting involves placing a wager on multiple baseball games at once.
A parlay bet combines two or more individual bets into a single wager, and all bets must win for the parlay to be cash.
In MLB parlay betting, you can choose to bet on the outcome of multiple games, such as the moneyline or run line.
For example, you might place a parlay bet on the moneyline for three different games: the Yankees to beat the Red Sox, the Dodgers to beat the Giants, and the Astros to beat the Rangers.
If all three teams win, your parlay will pay out a greater profit than you would have earned if you wagered on all three games separately. However, if any of the teams lose, your parlay bet loses.
The potential payout for a parlay bet is higher than that of individual bets because of the increased risk involved. The more bets included in the parlay, the higher the potential payout.
However, it’s important to remember that the more bets included, the less likely it is for the parlay to be successful.
Overall, MLB parlay betting can be an exciting way to bet on multiple games at once and potentially earn a higher payout, but it’s important to carefully consider your bets and the risks involved before placing a parlay wager.