How to Bet Baseball

This post offers a high-level overview of how to bet baseball.

Understanding the fundamentals is critical when placing MLB wagers.

Read: How to Use Flat Betting For Wagering Success

Related: How to Understand Action vs Listed Pitchers in Baseball

Here is an example of a baseball wager, let’s break it down.

General Overview and Tips

• Away team is always listed on top. In this example, the White Sox are the road team.

• Minus (-) next to the number in the money line indicates the favorite; the plus (+) indicates the underdog.

• The probable pitchers column indicates the expected starting pitcher for each team.

• Bet # is most commonly referred to when verbally placing your wager at the sportsbook.

Wager Types

• Run Line – Royals run line (+1.5 -160) means laying $160 to win $100 (collect $260 total). Kansas City must either win the game outright or lose (by one run) to cover the run line. Conversely, betting on Chicago run line means a $100 bet wins $140 (collect $240 total). Chicago must win the game by two or more runs to cover the run line.

• Total – This refers to the combined amount of runs scored by both teams. You may wager on either the over or under. In this example, the 9.5 total means 10 runs (or more) must be scored to go to the “over”. The price is -110 on both sides, requiring a $110 bet to win $100 (collect $210 total).

• Money Line – This is a bet on which team will win a game (regardless of score). Chicago is a -115 money line favorite. This means a $115 wager on Chicago money line wins $100 (collect $215 total). Conversely, a $100 wager on the Royals wins $105 (collect $205 total).

Additional Baseball Wagers

Screenshot: Baseball Wager Options on a Mobile App

• Alternate Run Line – An alternate run line strategically offers a 2.5 run spread for both sides. To cover the alternate run line spread, the favorite must win by three (or more) runs and/or underdog lose by two (or fewer).

• First Five Innings – Betting on the first five innings is a popularly offered type of wager which hinges on the outcome of the first 5 full innings. This strategic option places a heavy emphasis on the starting pitchers. Listed pitchers must start for the wager to have action. If one of the listed pitchers is scratched, the bet is deemed “no action” and the wager is refunded. Some sportsbooks also offer a 1st inning line which focuses on the outcome of the 1st inning only.

• Futures – Futures in baseball are for predicting division winners, pennant winners, and World Series champs. O/U wins (games won) is another popular futures wager offered at the beginning of the season.

• Live – Live wagering is a popular option for making in-game bets using your sportsbook’s mobile application (check availability). Live wagering offers adjusted run lines, money lines, and more based on the score of the game.

• Parlay – A parlay combines several teams into one bet. In a parlay, all wagers must win, or else the bet is a loser. As many as 10 teams (or more) may be used in a parlay. Totals (O/U runs) may be included in parlays.  In the event of a rain-out, cancellation, or tie, the parlay is reduced to the next lowest number of games. For example, a four team parlay with one game rained out becomes a three team parlay.

• Props – A “proposition bet” is like a side-bet. Common prop bets in baseball include hitting (total hits, homeruns, etc) and pitching (total strikeouts, innings pitched, etc). Prop bets vary greatly from sportsbook to sportsbook.

• Reverse Run Lines – A reverse run line allows you to lay 1.5 runs (-1.5) on an underdog for a larger potential payout. Likewise, a reverse run line allows you to take 1.5 runs (+1.5) on a favorite at a costlier than normal price.

Listed Pitcher(s) Option

Baseball odds are largely dependent on starting pitcher availability. It’s not uncommon for pitchers to be scratched from a game due to injury, illness, and other factors. When you are betting on baseball, you will be prompted to apply one of the following methods to each bet:

• Action – team vs. team regardless of the starting pitcher. This means, regardless of any changes to starting pitchers, the bet stands.

• One Specified Pitcher – wager on or against one specified pitcher, regardless of the other starting pitcher’s status. In the event that the specified listed pitcher doesn’t start, the bet is deemed “no action” and the wager is refunded.

• Both Specified Pitchers – wager in which both listed pitchers must start the game. If both actual starting pitchers are not exactly listed on the wagering ticker, the bet is deemed “no action” and the wager is refunded.

Basically, you must decide if you’re betting on a team (regardless of the starting pitcher) or if the bet is contingent on one (or both) of the announced starting pitchers making their scheduled starts. This gives you some protection against a scheduled pitcher getting scratched unexpectedly before the game.