For South African bettors, nothing compares to a new baseball season for one simple reason – opportunity. Football, rugby and cricket are hugely popular, but few sports offer as many games across a season as baseball. More games mean more chances to follow the MLB odds and potentially win money. With 162 games in a regular season and various baseball betting options available, there is plenty of action for bettors. Our experts will explain how to bet on baseball and highlight the best MLB bets to consider.
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How to Bet on Baseball
The objective of baseball is simple: score more runs than the other player in nine innings. Should the game be tied after nine, then the teams play extra innings until someone wins.
Moneyline Baseball Betting
The idea behind moneyline betting is to level the playing field by creating a balance between the risk and reward of betting on either team. We all like to bet on favorites because they are more likely to win. But because of that, bets on favorites pay less.
For example, in the season opener, the New York Yankees (-140) are favored to beat the Washington Nationals (+120).
Should the Yankees win, you would have had to bet R140 to win R100. They are more likely to win as the favorites, hence a smaller reward (payout) for less risk. But should the Nationals win, a R100 bet will win R120.
Bettors can win more on underdogs, which makes up for the risk involved in betting on them.
Runline Baseball Betting
Runline betting acts just like the point spread for a football game. Favorites don't just have to win; they have to win by more than the runline.
Underdogs can lose a game, but if they lose by less than the runline, the bettor wins.
In the season opener, the runline is 1.5 runs. So, for a bet on the Yankees to pay out, they will have to win by at least two runs (or more than 1.5). Consequently, the Nationals can lose by a run (less than 1.5) and still pay out.
Use our odds calculator to find out how much your runline bet can potentially win.
Totals/Spreads Baseball Betting
Totals, or team totals, work just like the over/under wagers listed when you bet on NBA and NFL games. The number listed by sportsbooks will be the total number of runs scored by both teams. Bettors can bet on whether they think the total number of runs scored in the game will be more (over) or less (under).
For the season opener, the total is 7.5 runs. Should the Yankees and Nationals score at least eight and cover the over, it pays out at +100. But if they score seven or less, the payout is -121.
Best Baseball Bets
You know how to read baseball betting lines and how to bet on baseball games, now it's time to start making wagers. Don't pick just any old game and go with the moneyline, though. Some bets are going to be better than others. So, how do you figure out which ones are the best baseball bets?
First, you must do your homework. Information is key, and with baseball, there is plenty available. As for what the best bets are, they will be a mixture of value and likelihood of winning:
Take the Under – Especially Indoors:
Recreational bettors like to vote on the over since more runs tend to equate to a more exciting game. Because of them, the house will increase the odds on the under, giving it more value. When games are in domes, without weather being a factor, conditions favor the pitcher.
Underdogs are your Friend:
That may seem counterintuitive since they lose more often than win. But when they do win, since the odds are plus, they pay out more. If you were to bet solely on underdogs, you can come out ahead despite winning less than half of your wagers.
Bet on Underdogs Early in the Season:
Oddsmakers are learning the rosters for every team and figuring out how to adjust accordingly early on. You are going to be more likely to find value at this time. But don't wild bet on underdogs; be sure and do your homework first to identify the better bets.
Whatever you do, don't bet on every game. That is not a sound baseball betting strategy. Some bettors say, 'you have to be in it to win it', but those are probably trying to borrow money off you. You should only bet on the games that you feel confident about.
Avoid heavy favorites, too. They may seem like sure bets because of the odds, but the best teams lose to the worst ones with surprising frequency. While the odds are a large minus number, the payout is small if you do win. But when you lose, the loss will hurt your bankroll. They just aren't worth it.
Baseball Betting Strategy
What is a good baseball betting strategy to use on games? The answer to that question depends on what you are looking for.
If you are just looking for some recreational betting to make games more interesting, then put your money into futures bets. The odds of winning these wagers are not great, and you have to wait to get paid. But your money will not be lost after a single game either.
Bettors looking to make a profit however should stay away from futures. They will tie your money up all season, and you will not have a chance to make it back if you lose.
If you are looking to bet on games, the basis for every strategy is the same: do your homework. Be aware of the baseball betting lines and if they have changed. Know who the starting pitchers are, and how they have been pitching. Be mindful of anyone battling injuries, coming back from injuries, or trying to play through them. Are they in a pitcher or hitter-friendly park?
With the wealth of data available in baseball, it's easy to lose yourself in the numbers. But you will not know what you need until you become familiar with what data is available. Shop around for your betting lines, too. They will not vary greatly, but a few extra points will mean more money in your pocket (if you win).
As for some specific single-game baseball betting strategies:
Beware the Underdog— Unless it's a Divisional Game:
Betting on underdogs can be exciting and pays well (when they win). When it comes to divisional games, both teams know each other well, which gives the underdog a better shot at winning. They will still lose more than they win, but with the moneyline being longer, you win more.
Parlays with Heavy Favorites:
You want to win more money, but don't like rolling the dice on underdogs. Try combining two or more heavy favorites into a parlay (one bet with multiple legs/games). The more games you add, the higher the payout. But you also take on more risk. If one leg loses, you lose no matter how many other legs won.
Break Down Big Parlays:
If there are multiple games you feel good about, don't bet one massive parlay. Break them down into many smaller ones. That way, you can minimize the risk a little while still getting a nice payout.
Against the Public:
The public can often get emotional about a game. Rather than bet with a cool head, they let emotion sway their decision making. So, as the money on one side grows more substantial, the house will shift the odds to try to compensate. This will, in turn, create some inflated odds for the house. It will also result in a higher payout for those who bet against the public and with the house. This strategy is only advisable when the public is heavily leaning towards one side.
Baseball Betting Tips
Betting on baseball games can be challenging. Even the best teams will lose around 40% of their games. So, how can you increase your chances of coming out on the winning side more often than not?
Following these baseball betting tips will help you avoid some of the more common pitfalls, and make smarter bets:
Do your Homework
That is the basis of every baseball betting strategy. With the plethora of data available, you never have to guess. Every decision should be an informed one.
Leave Emotions out of Betting
While the idea of betting against your team may sound criminal, they are not going to win every game.
Bet Sober
It is much harder to make a rational, informed decision about a game after a few beers. You are also going to be more likely to let emotion take over.
Only Bet what you can Afford to Lose
Decide in advance how big your bankroll will be for the season and keep to it. Bet in increments that will make it last as long as you want it to. Resist the urge to bet more to make up for losses, too.
Develop a Specialty
Pick a team or niche and learn everything about it. Know the team or niche well, and it will become easier to make informed bets as the season goes on.
Always Check your Betting Slip Before Logging off
As much as computer geeks hate to admit it, their programs are not infallible. Make sure the betting slip says what it should say before logging off to watch the game.
Don't Expect to get Rich Quick
It is possible to make good money betting on baseball games, but it takes time and patience. For every bettor who struck it rich on an underdog, hundreds, if not thousands, lost it all.
Beware the 'Sure-Fire' Baseball Betting Tips you Saw on Some Blog
Some of these tipsters are paid by sportsbooks to promote specific bets. Rather than make money on games, they are trying to make money off you.
How to Find the Best Baseball Betting Sites
Now that you're ready to bet on baseball, you want to know how to find the best sportsbooks. But how do you sift through all of the online baseball betting sites to find the best one for you with so many options these days?
Start by comparing odds different sportsbooks offer on the same game to find the best odds. Shop around for the best promotional offers, too. Then, ask yourself these questions:
How Easy is the Site to Use?
If it is difficult to deposit money and place a wager, betting will not be nearly as much fun as it could be.
What Sort of Banking Options do they Offer, and How Reliable are They?
Everyone banks differently, so the more reliable options a sportsbook has, the better.
What Betting Options Does the Sportsbook Offer?
If you are just looking for games, this may not be a big deal. But if you are looking for prop bets or futures bets, some books will carry a wide variety while others will just offer the basics.
