Baseball Handicapping Checklist

The following post offers a baseball handicapping checklist for evaluating MLB games.

Feeling overwhelmed trying to handicap baseball games? Following a structured approach help simplify the process and improve your chances of making informed bets.

Read: Lessons from ‘Gambler: Secrets From a Life at Risk’ by Billy Walters

Related: How Much Do Umpires Matter in Baseball Handicapping?

Handicapping MLB games requires conducting in-depth research and analysis. Sometimes it’s easy to forget what to look for – that’s where a checklist helps.

Here’s what you need to know.

Overview

There are several key factors to consider with respect to handicapping baseball including odds, game factors, game matchup, statistics, and betting data. Factoring-in all the different variables can be overwhelming.

That’s where having a structured approach and research checklist can be helpful.

Handicapping Checklist

Below is a breakdown of variables to consider when handicapping MLB (with links). The stars represent level of importance of each variable.

✩ = Minor, ✩✩ = Moderate, ✩✩✩ = Major

Odds

• ☐ Live Odds ✩✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Futures ✩ – view link

Game Factors

• ☐ Probable Pitchers ✩✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Starting Lineups ✩✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Weather Forecast ✩✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Injuries ✩✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Player News ✩✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Park Factors ✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Umpire Assignments ✩ – view link

• ☐ Umpire Rankings ✩ – view link (ranks), view link (stats)

Game Matchup

• ☐ Head to Head ✩✩ – view link

  • Matchup > records & results > head to head

• ☐ Versus Finder ✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Anything Else ✩✩ – view link

Team & Player Stats

• ☐ Batting & Pitching ✩✩ – view link

  • Splits (based on SP matchup)

• ☐ Bullpen ERA ✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Fielding ✩✩ – view link

League

• ☐ Standings ✩✩ – view link

  • Home vs. away, differentials, streaks, L10, day/night, vs. division, 1 run, extra innings

• ☐ Headlines ✩ – view link (MLB), view link (News Now), view link (SportSpyder)

• ☐ Transactions ✩ – view link

Betting Data

• ☐ Money Line ✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Run Line ✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Run Line (First 5 Innings) ✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Game Total (O/U) ✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Game Total (First 5 Innings) ✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Team Total (O/U) ✩✩ – view link

• ☐ Matchup Trends ✩ – view link

Conclusion

In conclusion, this checklist provides a high-level structure of the key factors to consider when evaluating MLB games, ultimately helping you be a more efficient and effective handicapper.