Baseball Betting Explained

Our baseball section here covers such things as odds, ats standings, and the baseball betting line explained. Most of you understand how the odds work but for those that don’t check out the baseball odds page, which will also give you live odds for today’s games. May 06, 2019 Baseball wagering is unique in that there is no traditional point spread set for a ballgame. Instead, sportsbooks focus on run totals, the run line, and, most commonly, the money line (ML). When you wager on the ML, you are picking who you think will win the contest outright.

What is sports betting?

Sports betting revolves around placing a wager on the outcome of an upcoming game or event.

Bettors attempt to forecast the results and make their best guess on what the outcome will be.

Bettors typically wager with a sportsbook. Oddsmakers at the various books will set lines or odds for the available wagers.

Essentially, the odds show the likelihood of a particular event occurring. Also, they point to the potential return for those who bet successfully.

Sportsbooks offer a wide range of markets.

From major sports such as NFL betting and NBA betting to niche offerings such as cricket and rugby, you’ll find plenty of wagering opportunities available.

The same applies when it comes to bettingtypes.

The most standard wager merely involves choosing a winning side. However, there are plenty of other ways to bet and factors to consider.

Sports betting is a popular pastime that is attracting even more attention due to legalization in several US markets.

Why do people bet on sports?

The answer varies from person to person.

Some folks bet for entertainment purposes, while others wager based on the profit potential.

Plenty of bettors have their specific reasons. So, let’s take a look at some of the more common answers to the question:

  • Entertainment: Quite simply, betting on sports is fun. While games and events can be entertaining enough, adding a little money into the equation can enhance the enjoyment.
  • Profit Potential: If you’re correct on your bets, you’ll win money. Naturally, that applies in reverse, too. However, the chance to earn a profit keeps folks engaged and leaves them coming back for more.
  • The Challenge: While the concept of picking winners and losers is simple, continual success is far from a sure thing. Therein lies another part of what keeps folks so engaged. Sports betting is a mental challenge that can prove to be quite stimulating.
  • Skin in the Game: What’s the easiest way to make a random game or event that you have no rooting interest in that much more appealing? By having a little skin in the game on the outcome, you can suddenly have a contest to look forward to and enjoy.
  • Ease of Getting Started: In states that have fully legalized sports betting, getting started is a breeze. You can sign up with an online or mobile betting operator and be up and running in minutes. It was once a fantasy to have a sportsbook in your pocket. That’s now a reality.

There are plenty of other reasons why folks may choose to bet on sports, but the above list covers the primary ones. It’s a fun pastime that can be quite rewarding. Furthermore, the interest level will only continue to grow as more states legalize it.

Sports betting 101

So you’re new to sports betting and ready to get started. Now what?

Beginning any new endeavor can be overwhelming at first, but many times you’ll see it’s not all that tough once you start digging in. That’s certainly true with sports betting.

As with many other situations, it’s best to start with the basics and build out from there:

  • Benefits of Sports Betting: Legalized sports betting has been a boon for each of the states the industry has entered. A practice that was once illegal is now generating additional tax revenue. Furthermore, jobs have been and continue to be created in each new market.
  • Is Sports Betting Legal?: In May 2018, the US Supreme Court finally weighed in on a long-running case that questioned the legality of a federal ban on sports betting. The justices ruled that it was a matter for states to decide for themselves. Many of them have done just that and now have thriving sports betting industries.
  • How to Start Betting on Sports: It couldn’t be easier to get started betting on sports. Many operators are serving the legal markets, and signing up for an account with them is a snap. From there, you can add and remove funds from your account with ease and begin exploring opportunities.
  • The Mechanics of Sports Betting: One of the coolest things about sports betting is that you can get as advanced as you like at your pace. You can keep it simple and stick to the basics, or dive in with both feet to improve your skill level from the start. That’s ultimately up to you, and there’s no right or wrong approach. It comes down to a matter of what works best for you.
  • Understanding the Odds: This is an area that can confuse those new to the game. In a nutshell, odds tell you the implied probabilities and potential return for successful wagers. For a simplified example, negativeodds imply a favorite and less of return potential. While positiveodds point to an underdog and the potential for bigger returns.

For each of the categories, there’s a lot more to understand moving forward. As you advance, you can explore topics, such as the odds, in much more depth. Before long, those once foreign concepts will evolve into something you understand well.

Understanding types of bets

As you gain experience with sports betting, you’ll soon come to understand that there’s a lot more to it than picking winners and losers.

There are many ways to bet on sports, and each requires its own set of knowledge.

Here’s a look at the main types of bets you can place at sportsbooks.

  • Moneyline: A moneyline bet is the most straightforward of all bets. You’re simply picking the winner of the game. Favorites are designated with negative odds such as -110, while underdogs typically have positive odds like +120.
  • Over/Unders: Also known as a totals bet, over/unders is a wager on the total points scored in a game. Oddsmakers set a benchmark number, and then you decide if you think the total will go “over” or “under” that number.
  • Prop Specials: A prop bet is essentially a side wager on something that may occur during a game. Examples include whether an NFL quarterback will throw for a certain amount of yards or not, or how many total points will be scored in a half of an NBA game.
  • Accumulators: An accumulator is a wager on four or more outcomes on a single ticket. For this bet to be a winner, all your selections must be correct. One wrong choice means that the accumulator bet is a loser.
  • Parlays: A parlay is a wager in which you choose two or more bets on a single ticket. All the wagers on your ticket must be correct to win. Parlays are popular wagers that are high-risk while offering the chance for higher returns.
  • If/Reverse: This type of bet is essentially a chain reaction. You place two or more bets together. If the first one is correct, then the second bet goes through as well. If the first bet is a loser, then the chain stops, and no additional bets are placed.
  • Pleasers: This is a wager on two or more games at the same time. You place a bet on odds that are more favorable toward the bookmaker but have a chance at greater returns if your bets are correct.
  • Futures/Outrights: A future or outright bet is a wager on an event that has yet to happen. For example, you can place a bet on the winner of the upcoming Masters Golf Tournament. Futures markets on popular sports such as the NFL can be quite active.
  • Point Spread: Point spread bets are most popular for sports such as the NFL or NBA. Oddsmakers will designate a margin of points that you must factor into the equation. To “coverthespread, favorites need to win by more than the margin, while underdogs cover when they keep the margin less than that.
  • Handicap: A handicap bet is similar to point spread betting. An additional margin is added to the equation, such as two goals in a hockey or soccer game. As opposed to betting on huge favorites, you can place bets on them with a handicap in exchange for more favorable odds.
  • Live Betting: Live betting is one of the most popular innovations the industry has seen in recent years. These are wagers you can place after the action has gotten underway. Markets will vary, and the odds move fast, which helps to enhance the appeal. For online and mobile operators, live betting has evolved from a niche offering to a must-have feature.

For those new to sports betting, it can be helpful to start with the simpler bets, such as moneylines and totals, before branching out into other areas.

As you gain experience and confidence in each area, you can add more options to the arsenal. You’ll be able to try them all eventually and determine which ones work best for you and your strategy.

Things to keep in mind

Sports betting can be extremely entertaining, and there’s also the chance to make a profit while doing something you enjoy. That’s a win-win scenario, but it’s also essential to go into it with a clearhead.

There’s always the possibility of hitting a big parlay you’re going to get rich with overnight. Sports betting is challenging and can be a grind, but that’s also part of the appeal.

Spread

Begin sports betting with realistic expectations and with a laser-like focus on being disciplined.

For those new to the game, you should consider the money you are wagering as part of your entertainment budget.

Only wager what you are comfortable betting and don’t exceed that amount. There will be plenty of time to increase your stakes as your skills improve, so there’s no need to rush it while you’re still learning.

Last but not least, remember that this is something you should find entertaining and enjoyable. If it stops feeling that way — or if you hit the inevitable losing streak — don’t be afraid to take a break.

Taking a step back and reflecting a bit will allow you to tweak your approach and strategy where needed. Taking a breather and gaining additional perspective can lead you to feel rejuvenated when you’re ready to play again.

How do sportsbooks make money?

Sportsbook operators are for-profit entities. As such, they’re not providing a betting marketplace out of the goodness of their hearts. The goal for them is the same as you: to makemoney.

Books that don’t accomplish that goal won’t be around too long. Oddsmakers who consistently take a beating will eventually be looking for a new line of work. That said, the overwhelming majority of established operators are really good at what they do.

They turn a profit as a result. So, how do they do that? Sportsbooks make money by the commissions they collect for taking action on bets. This is often referred to as the vig or juice.

Let’s consider an example using a standard set of point spread odds of -110.

  • You place a $100 bet at odds of -110.
  • If your bet is correct, you’ll get back $190.90, which is your $100% stake, plus a profit of $90.90.

So why didn’t you double your money? That’s because the bookmaker has essentially kept a percentage of the return for themselves. In addition, consider that the operator is also taking bets on both sides of the equation.

In a perfect world, they’ll receive even action on both sides. Half of the bets will win, while the other half will lose. The net of what they collect, minus what they pay out, represents profit.

Of course, not all bets will attract even action, which is why you’ll see odds move after they are released. If the bookmaker’s liability on one side of an outcome becomes too great, they’ll make the odds a bit more favorable on the other side to attract more action.

Mistakes you should avoid

Whenever you are starting with something new, it’s essential to understand that there will be a learning curve.

Mistakes will happen along the way, but you can learn from each of them and improve your overall knowledge base.

When it comes to sports betting, you’re going to make mistakes. You’ll miss something that seems obvious in your handicapping in advance of the game. Or you’ll place a bet on odds that suddenly become a lot more favorable on the side you are leaning.

It’s all going to happen, and there’s no way to prevent every mistake. However, you can avoid many major pitfalls that could make your sports betting career short-lived.

  • Don’t Chase Your Losses: You’re going to lose some bets. Any sports bettor who tells you they win all the time is simply not being truthful. When losses happen, analyze why, suck it up and move on. Do not attempt to “get even” by doubling down because you’re “due for a win.” That can be a quick recipe for disaster.
  • Don’t Bet Over Your Head: It’s essential to have a crystal clear budget in mind for your sports betting bankroll. Only deposit what you can afford to lose, and resist the urge to go overboard when things aren’t going your way. If your weekly budget is gone, take that as an opportunity to take a break and get back to it with a clear head.
  • Don’t Be Unrealistic or Overestimate Your Skills: By nature, many sports fans are passionate. Some folks can take that to the extreme and feel as if they are always right and are destined to make tons of money betting. Don’t be that guy or gal. Know that you’ll have work to do regardless of your sports knowledge level, and also keep your profit goals reasonable.

Sports betting can be a great source of entertainment and a potentially profitable venture. However, the chances of both happening increase when you avoid the above pitfalls.

There isn't a sport around that features more games during their year than that of Major League Baseball. There are 30 teams playing 162 regular-season games, plus the postseason as they each look towards the goal of winning the World Series. But with over 2,000 games in the regular season, oddsmakers form a bunch of MLB betting odds relating to the daily matchups, season totals, futures and more.

Betting on the MLB is not much different than wagering on NHL betting lines or those for other sports. With run lines, moneylines, and over/unders as only a minute amount of options for betting on the MLB, this page is designed to cover all of the topics to support you. Whether you are an experienced bettor and just getting started, the basics of Major League Baseball betting and the expected betting line options are all presented on this page.

MLB Game Lines

MLB Run Lines Explained

The run line for Major League baseball is essentially like a point spread. Though with the run line, it is consistent across the board. Whereas in football, oddsmakers will install various point spreads for different games, an MLB run line stays at 1.5. Where you see the changes are in the payouts on the run line. So, for every game oddsmakers will set a team in the role to have to cover 1.5 runs by winning by two or more, and a team to cover by losing by one run or winning straight up. But just because a team is set in the role of having to cover 1.5 runs, does not mean they will be favored to cover. In fact, a lot of times, teams installed where they have to cover with a two-run win or more payout more than the team on the other side of the line.

MLB Moneyline Betting Odds Explained

Baseball

Betting the moneyline on Major League Baseball is simply betting on the straight up winner of the game. There is no run line, there is no point spread. If you think the Dodgers are going to beat the Padres, you bet on the Dodgers to win the game outright. However, the payouts on the moneyline can look a lot different than on the run line. Since there is no run line where a team has to cover any spread, the payouts for the favorite will be a lot less. And on the other side, the payout for the underdog will be quite a bit higher. Making a straight-up moneyline wager is definitely easier than betting the run line, but that will also be reflected in the payouts.

MLB Run Totals Explained

Betting on the run totals for the MLB is one of the easiest methods to sports wagering. As one of the most popular styles of MLB betting, oddsmakers project a combined total run amount from both of the teams playing in a given contest. A bettor must only select whether they believe the total number of runs at the end of the game will be higher or lower than the projections. Because there are only two options, the odds are generally close to even, with the exception of the vigorish. Oddsmakers may also set a run total line on individual MLB teams to give more betting options.

MLB Team Props

Team prop wagers for Major League Baseball are set for each game, but can also be for more broad betting lines relating to the entire season in a particular stat category, or whether or not a certain team makes the playoffs. In most cases though, oddsmakers will set down a variety of team + game prop betting lines for each matchup during the season. And these team props do not necessarily directly relate to the outcome of the game. They are wagers placed on smaller outcomes. For example, the team to hit the first home run in the game, or record the first hit could be examples of a team prop. Once the bet has been satisfied, it is done, and the rest of the results of the game do not matter.

Baseball

MLB Player Props

Just like with team props, player proposition betting lines within Major League Baseball are based on smaller outcomes within a game, as opposed to the run line or moneyline for a matchup. These are player performances, or can put players against each other. An example might be how many hits a player will have in a specific game. The result is not based at all on the score of the game, but only on how that player performs. The bet is won or lost on how you bet on that player prop.

MLB Live Betting Odds Explained

With the increase in online sportsbook technology, Live Betting is a new facet of betting that is gaining a lot of momentum. It's very interactive, and with Major League Baseball having so many games during the season, they occupy a large section of this area. Betting live on the MLB can involve a number of different wagers, from alternate moneylines, to team and player props and more. Most online sportsbooks will detail which games are available within their live betting platform along with a list of the bets that are available at the time. These live wagers change all the time, which is part of the fun of it.

World Series Odds Explained

Betting

World Series Betting odds for Major League Baseball are up and formed almost year-round. From the moment the World Series from the previous season is completed, oddsmakers from World Series Futures for the next season. They are up during the offseason, and through the regular season on into the playoffs. They can change throughout the year, obviously hinging on the performance of the teams during the season. This allows bettors to gain access to a variety of teams’ odds to win the World Series no matter how poorly or amazingly the team is playing.

Bovada Sportsbook - Top Sportbook With MLB Games

This something that all players know when it comes to signing up for Bovada. There are always baseball games on the site for players to bet on. The games are great and even during the playoffs, players know that the games will still be very important and very good all season long. This means that players can place all kinds of wagers which only means more money.

Prop bets will be everywhere for MLB games and that also means using the live betting feature as well. Bovada also offers mobile betting as well for players and this means that players can use their phone to place their bets. With Bovada, they make sure players can place wagers at any tim

BetOnline Sportsbook - MLB Games Will Always Be On BetOnline

There should be no issues with players who have an account on BetOnline. The reason this is true is that there is so much on here for players to bet on and that includes wagering on MLB games. All sports are here for players to wager on but players like all the MLB games that are presented to them to wager on during the regular and the playoff season. The MLB season is so long that many bets can be made and then there are also the MLB feature bets as well that have great odds as well.

The point spreads, moneylines, and other options are here for all players to take advantage of and when players put in big cheese, the return is even greater! There are also surprises that occur during the season so players that take upset capitalize big time. Knowing that there are live betting options and mobile betting feature here on BetOnline is just another bonus that lets players know this is the best sportsbook out there to sign up for.

MyBookie Sportsbook - MLB Games Big On MyBookie

Signing up for a MyBookie account is one of the top things that players should do. No matter what sport you like, MyBookie has it all and sticks out because every sport is on the sportsbook. MLB has all of their games on here as well! Baseball games can be very long from time to time so now that means that live betting on baseball games is one thing that many players take a glance into. With nine winnings in each game, live betting will have many prop bets pop up and that means more money to be won.

Baseball Betting Lines Explained

Live betting isn’t the only thing that is exciting when playing MLB games on MyBookie. Using your phone and using the mobile betting features is something that many players use as well so they can travel and still make the huge wagers they want to on their favorite team. MyBookie has great banking methods as well which means players have no issues transferring their money on and off their MyBookie account. This online sportsbook is so easy for players to use it only makes sense to sign up for an account!

SportsBetting Sportsbook - Top Betting Options On MLB On SportsBetting

One of the things that stick out to players about SportsBetting is the age requirement to sign up for an account. All players have to be is 18 and older and all the things that these online sportsbooks offer are there for players to use. MLB is one of the hot sports to bet on so there will be a lot of games here to bet on for your baseball fans! Even with all sports here on SportsBetting, MLB has a lot of different games which means more prop bets are here for players to wager and make money on.

Baseball Betting Explained Results

The New York Yankees are one of those teams that are always good and the thing is sometimes when players choose the upset of them to lose, SportsBetting has the odds set up to where players can cash out huge. This is the main reason why this online sportsbook is better than any other one out there for players to choose from. Check out SportsBetting before the real MLB games show up!

Mlb Betting Explained

MLB Odds
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