How To Bet On the MLB

Moneyline

In baseball games, the Moneyline bet is the preferred betting selection. The bet means staking money on an outright winner. In a game between the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners, for example, you can bet on the Rangers to win. Moneyline odds are presented with a -ve for the favorites and +ve for the underdogs. Let's say, in the above example, the Rangers are expected to win, and the odds are -130. It means you have to stake $130 to win $100 if your bet turns out to be correct. The Mariners have odds of +110, meaning a $100 wager earns $110 if the selection is right. In Moneyline bets, favorites pay less than even money, while underdogs pay more than even money on a correct outcome. Offering better prices on underdogs is how oddsmakers and sportsbooks balance the action.

Run Line

If you have ever bet on sports before, then you know about wagering the point spread. With this option, instead of putting money on a team's final result, you wager on the margin of victory. Baseball has a run line, though, not a point spread. The idea behind a run line is to even the playing field by giving the least favorite team an advantage. In baseball betting, this edge is fixed at 1.5 runs, with the underdog getting a headstart, while the favorites receive the same as a handicap. Say, the New York Yankees are heavy favorites against the Oakland Athletics in a game. The odds for the Yankees would be something like +1.5 (-150) and -1.5 (+120) for the Athletics. For a Yankees bet to pay out, the team must win by 2 or more runs. A wager on the Athletics pays if they win outright or lose by a run.

Parlays

Although only available on selected MLB betting sites, parlays are great options. Especially, when you want to increase potential profits without spending too much. A parlay is a mix of bets, where you can wager on two or more selections. The more the number of legs in a parlay, the bigger the payout. However, this bet also comes with a higher risk than most. For a ticket to pay out, every selection in your parlay bet must win. If you have four picks and only three wins, then you burn the entire wager. Here's an example of a 4-leg parlay:

1. Toronto Blue Jays Moneyline -215
2. Chicago Cubs Moneyline -155
3. San Diego Padres +4.5 (-110)
4. Washington Nations Team to Score First -110

Future Bets

As the name suggests, you are betting on a future event. It's a long-term wager you win if your prediction turns out to be true. Betting on the winner of the World Series is one of the most common futures bet. You can make this selection any time; before the season, in the pre-season, during the regular season, and even in the playoffs. Sportsbooks provide a range of picks for futures, for instance, total wins for a team, yards by a quarterback, and average points for a player. You can even wager on awards, like the rookie of the year and MVP. Baseball betting has attractive payouts for futures bets due to the number of teams and games.

Prop Bets

Wagers that don't fall into the main categories are classified as proposition bets. If you want to experiment with baseball bets, then these are the selections to consider. They are propositions that sportsbooks make on events happening or not during a specific game. For this reason, you can find unique betting opportunities. A prop wager can be unrelated to the final outcome in an MLB game. Game and player propositions are the most popular. For example, a bet could be that a starting pitcher throws 6 1/2 strikeouts. An example of a game prop wager is Team to Score First. The availability of various statistics allows operators to create more prop bets.

Look Out For The Best Available Betting Lines

Never settle for the first odds that look slightly appealing. The biggest mistake novice bettors make is wagering on any decent sportsbook. Betting sites have varying prices for the same baseball games. You might find a difference of $5 between the two platforms. Therefore, failing to shop around for the best prices means leaving good money on the table. Odds comparison can boost your potential winnings up to 15%, so why not do it? Oddspedia compiles MLB odds from more than 30 sportsbooks to give you the most competitive prices in different markets.

Take Advantage Of Sure Bets

When betting on the MLB, try to reduce your risk as much as possible. Although some bets might be more exciting, they also carry an increased risk of losing money. You can wait until you become a more confident bettor to experiment with such bets. In the meantime, stick to sure bets as much as possible. Whether it's a Moneyline or run line wager that has a high chance of winning, place it. Avoid listening to the hype surrounding certain bets or wagering with your gut. Make sound analysis using available information to put money on selections you are confident about.

Follow MLB Tipsters And Their Expert Predictions

Given the stiff competition in sports betting, you need all the edge you can get. Relevant information on MLB betting provides that. Fortunately, a lot of online resources offer considerable baseball details that can help with your wagering. MLB tipsters give predictions, tips, strategies, and odds on different games. Use this expert information to make smart betting calls. Baseball tipsters save you a lot of research. You can also find tools like odds calculators and comparators on these platforms.

Take The Small Wins And Profits

Not every baseball bet has to generate huge profits, and that's a lesson to keep in mind as a new beginner. Reduced risks might mean small wins and profits, but it's how you grow. Big wins are exciting, but they are hard to come by. A series of small wins add up over time to give you decent profits without investing too much at a go.

Not Familiar With The MLB or Sports Betting

Information is your friend in sports betting. Each move you make has to be well thought out. Hence, you must know everything possible about baseball. Some bettors don't realize this. A lack of knowledge about MLB or baseball in general leads to other mistakes. You wouldn't know how to pick the best if you can't tell them apart. Deciding which team to wager on is difficult when you don't know how it performs in Major League Baseball.

Ignoring Team Form And Injuries

A team's performance influences the outcome of a bet. Therefore, if you don't pay attention to a team's condition, it prevents you from making smart judgment calls. The slightest change in a team's form can cause a win or loss in a competition. Baseball has small win-loss margins. An injured star pitcher, for example, could see a favorite lose its edge, meaning sportsbooks have to adjust their odds. If you don't keep up with such details, then you can't take advantage of better prices. Keep an eye on MLB stats, but avoid focusing too much on standings.

Mismanaging your bankroll

Money management is critical in sports betting. Ignoring it is setting yourself up for failure. From the minute you log into your betting account, know the budget available. Without a budget, you could lose control of your spending and use money meant for other needs. Your bankroll should be cash you are comfortable losing. Managing your bankroll also means knowing the unit stake for each wager. Ideally, it should be 1%- 5% of your bankroll. Failing to keep an eye on your bankroll could mean big losses that land you in financial trouble.

Avoid betting on your favourite team

A common mistake among bettors, even seasoned ones, is putting money on heavy favorites. The urge to wager on the preferred side in an MLB game is understandable. Maybe the team is in its greatest form, has an excellent run in the season, or has star players. It's why casual bettors are quick to bet on such teams. Sportsbooks know this too and use that to make money. For this reason, favorites have short odds, resulting in small payouts. Regardless of how good your preferred team looks, don't wager on it for the sake of nostalgia.