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Betting Major League Baseball
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Introduction
The page will endeavor to give the recreational baseball bettor advice on the various bets. I have no handicapping skill in baseball whatsoever, so the best I can do is steer you towards the best type of bets. There are three primary ways to bet on baseball, as follows.
- Money line: Bet on which team will win.
- Total: Bet on whether the total number of runs will fall above or below a stated number, usually between 7 and 12.
- Run line: Similar to a bet against the spread in football or basketball. However, in baseball the better team is always favored by 1.5. If the money line indicates neither team is favored, then either team could be the favored team.
Compare Online MLB Odds
Baseball MLB
Today
San Francisco Giants
Miami Marlins
Money Line
-105
1200
⇗1,385.00
Spread
196
(-1.5)
165
(2.5)
⇗30.00
Featured Insight
The San Francisco Giants face the Miami Marlins in what promises to be a thrilling MLB matchup. The Giants have been strong at home with a solid pitching lineup, while the Marlins rely on their batting depth.
Chicago White Sox
Washington Nationals
Money Line
270
⇗381.00
125
⇗575.00
Spread
155
(-1.5)
⇗9.00
115
(-2.5)
⇗30.00
Featured Insight
The Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals have fluctuating performances this season. The White Sox show strong batting averages but struggle with consistency.
Tampa Bay Rays
Minnesota Twins
Money Line
-128
⇗2.00
375
⇗265.00
Spread
157
(-1.5)
-120
(2)
⇗15.00
Featured Insight
The Tampa Bay Rays have shown consistent strength throughout the season, making them a tough opponent. However, the Minnesota Twins, with a solid home record and recent performances, can't be underestimated.
Arizona Diamondbacks
San Diego Padres
Money Line
-106
⇗3.00
120
⇗227.00
Spread
149
(-1.5)
-115
(1)
⇗65.00
Featured Insight
The Arizona Diamondbacks face the San Diego Padres in a pivotal MLB matchup. The Diamondbacks boast a strong offense, but the Padres' pitching depth can pose a challenge. Key players include Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte and Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr.
Texas Rangers
Money Line
-120
112
Spread
165
(-1.5)
-185
(1.5)
Featured Insight
The Texas Rangers demonstrate strong offensive capabilities, often outpacing their opponents in runs. Meanwhile, the Oakland Athletics are struggling this season with their pitching lineup, which could be advantageous for Rangers’ hitters.
Houston Astros
New York Yankees
Money Line
138
⇗2.00
-150
Spread
-115
(1.5)
⇗5.00
102
(-1.5)
⇗2.00
Featured Insight
The Houston Astros are facing the New York Yankees, both teams with strong lineups. The Astros have a solid recent track record, while the Yankees are unpredictable with streaks of both wins and losses.
Kansas City Royals
Los Angeles Angels
Money Line
-129
⇗12.00
118
⇗9.00
Spread
147
(-1.5)
⇗8.00
-165
(1.5)
⇗5.00
Featured Insight
The Kansas City Royals face off against the Los Angeles Angels. The Royals have struggled this season, with a weak pitching lineup. Meanwhile, the Angels, led by star players like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, show strong offensive plays.
Milwaukee Brewers
Pittsburgh Pirates
Money Line
-138
125
Spread
150
(-1.5)
-170
(1.5)
⇗5.00
Featured Insight
The Milwaukee Brewers have a solid record against the Pittsburgh Pirates this season, making them favorites. The Brewers' strong pitching staff, particularly in the bullpen, gives them a key advantage.
Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia Phillies
Money Line
-129
⇗6.00
119
⇗1.00
Spread
160
(-1.5)
-175
(1.5)
Featured Insight
The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are set for a competitive matchup. The Braves' strong offensive lineup and the Phillies' formidable pitching staff are key aspects. Watch for Ronald Acuña Jr.
Cincinnati Reds
Detroit Tigers
Money Line
-104
-106
Spread
-160
(1.5)
⇗5.00
142
(-1.5)
⇗3.00
Featured Insight
The Cincinnati Reds face off against the Detroit Tigers in this MLB matchup. Watch for key players like Joey Votto from the Reds and Miguel Cabrera from the Tigers.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Chicago Cubs
Money Line
-118
109
Spread
157
(-1.5)
-175
(1.5)
Featured Insight
The Los Angeles Dodgers, with their strong offense and deep pitching roster, face the Chicago Cubs, who have shown inconsistency this season. While the Dodgers have a solid track record at home, the Cubs' away performance has been shaky.
This Week
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
Money Line
-137
127
Spread
147
(-1.5)
-182
(1.5)
Featured Insight
The Baltimore Orioles face the Boston Red Sox in a key matchup. The Orioles have shown strong offensive skills recently, while the Red Sox struggle with pitching consistency. Look for Baltimore’s young talents to exploit Boston's pitching weaknesses.
Money Line
-156
141
Spread
135
(-1.5)
-147
(1.5)
Featured Insight
The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies matchup promises excitement, as both teams boast powerful lineups. The Braves have a slight edge with stronger pitching, but the Phillies' offensive prowess shouldn't be underestimated.
Toronto Blue Jays
Cleveland Guardians
Money Line
-131
119
Spread
Featured Insight
The Toronto Blue Jays have a strong offense led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, while the Cleveland Guardians rely on a balanced approach with strong pitching. The Blue Jays are considered favorites, but the Guardians' pitching might be a decisive factor.
New York Mets
Colorado Rockies
Money Line
-216
194
Spread
Featured Insight
The Mets have strong pitching but struggle with consistency. The Rockies are weak on the road but have a robust offensive lineup. Factor in Citi Field's pitcher-friendly dynamics when betting. Consider betting on a low-scoring game or Mets' margin of victory.
Money Line
-133
122
Spread
146
(-1.5)
-182
(1.5)
Featured Insight
The Tampa Bay Rays face the Minnesota Twins in an intriguing matchup. The Rays' strong pitching rotation and the Twins' solid batting lineup make for a competitive game.
Money Line
-102
-101
Spread
-189
(1.5)
152
(-1.5)
Featured Insight
The Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers are set for an exciting matchup. The Reds have shown strong performance lately, driven by a powerful offense. Meanwhile, the Tigers are struggling with consistency.
Money Line
-123
112
Spread
170
(-1.5)
-196
(1.5)
Featured Insight
The Milwaukee Brewers, with a stronger bullpen and better offensive stats, enter as favorites against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Brewers have shown consistent pitching and their hitters are performing well, while the Pirates are struggling to maintain consistency.
Money Line
118
-130
Spread
-137
(1.5)
112
(-1.5)
Featured Insight
The MLB clash between Houston Astros and New York Yankees promises intense action. The Astros, with a strong lineup led by stars like Altuve and Alvarez, face the Yankees' power hitters, such as Judge and Stanton.
Money Line
-120
110
Spread
152
(-1.5)
-189
(1.5)
Featured Insight
The Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals face off in an interleague matchup. The White Sox have strong pitching depth, while the Nationals rely on young talent. Watch out for Chicago's consistent hitters and Washington's home field advantage.
St. Louis Cardinals
Seattle Mariners
Money Line
127
-140
Spread
-145
(1.5)
118
(-1.5)
Featured Insight
St. Louis Cardinals and Seattle Mariners face-off in an intriguing MLB matchup. Mariners' pitching is strong, led by their ace, while the Cardinals rely on a balanced lineup. Consider Mariners in moneyline, especially at home.
Money Line
-125
113
Spread
Featured Insight
The Texas Rangers face the Athletics in a crucial MLB matchup. The Rangers, with a robust offense, aim to leverage their batting strength. The Athletics, struggling with injuries, rely on home advantage and strategic pitching to counter.
Money Line
-125
113
Spread
Featured Insight
The San Francisco Giants face the Miami Marlins in an intriguing MLB matchup. The Giants, with their strong batting lineup, seek to capitalize on Miami's inconsistent pitching. Key player performance and recent form might tilt the advantage slightly to the Giants.
Money Line
108
-119
Spread
Featured Insight
The Arizona Diamondbacks face the San Diego Padres in an intriguing matchup. Arizona's consistent offense will clash with San Diego's strong pitching. Pay attention to Arizona's Christian Walker, who has been in great form.
Money Line
-126
⇗8.00
114
⇗7.00
Spread
Featured Insight
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a strong offense and a reliable pitching rotation, giving them an edge over the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have struggled against left-handed pitchers, which could be advantageous for the Dodgers.
Money Line
-118
107
Spread
Featured Insight
The matchup between the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels features two teams looking to finish the season strong. Watch for Angels' star Shohei Ohtani, who can influence the game both as a hitter and pitcher. The Royals' young talent like Bobby Witt Jr.
Baseball MLB World Series Winner
Later
Competitor/Team
Los Angeles Dodgers
New York Yankees
Seattle Mariners
Atlanta Braves
Detroit Tigers
Chicago Cubs
Toronto Blue Jays
Texas Rangers
Baltimore Orioles
New York Mets
Milwaukee Brewers
Philadelphia Phillies
Boston Red Sox
San Diego Padres
Houston Astros
Pittsburgh Pirates
Cleveland Guardians
Cincinnati Reds
Kansas City Royals
Arizona Diamondbacks
Athletics
San Francisco Giants
Tampa Bay Rays
Minnesota Twins
Los Angeles Angels
St. Louis Cardinals
Miami Marlins
Chicago White Sox
Washington Nationals
Colorado Rockies
Quote
200
800
1200
1400
1800
2000
2200
2200
2200
2500
2500
2800
3300
3300
3500
3500
4000
4000
5000
6000
6000
6600
6600
10000
10000
15000
25000
30000
40000
75000
Baseball NCAA Baseball
Today
Arizona Wildcats
Money Line
500
⇗200.00
122
Spread
110
(-1.5)
-133
(-3.5)
⇗233.00
Featured Insight
In the upcoming game between the Arizona Wildcats and BYU Cougars, consider Arizona’s strong batting lineup and recent performances. BYU’s pitching has shown vulnerability recently, which may give the Wildcats an advantage.
Cincinnati Bearcats
West Virginia Mountaineers
Money Line
115
-142
Spread
-250
(1.5)
170
(-1.5)
Featured Insight
The Cincinnati Bearcats face the West Virginia Mountaineers in an intriguing matchup. The Bearcats' strong pitching could be crucial against the Mountaineers, who have a potent lineup. Consider the Bearcats if they maintain their defensive form.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Money Line
290
⇗125.00
-200
Spread
-110
(1.5)
-111
(-4.5)
⇗8.00
Featured Insight
The Illinois Fighting Illini and Nebraska Cornhuskers face off in an exciting matchup. The Cornhuskers have shown strong defensive play this season. However, the Fighting Illini’s offense is explosive, often leading to high-scoring games.
Florida Gators
Texas A&M Aggies
Money Line
345
⇗245.00
-145
⇗35.00
Spread
-105
(2.5)
⇗77.00
125
(-1.5)
Featured Insight
The Florida Gators and Texas A&M Aggies are set to face off in an exciting MLB matchup. The Gators have a strong pitching lineup, which could give them an edge. However, Texas A&M has a formidable batting lineup that could counter Gators' pitching.
Purdue Boilermakers
Money Line
-270
1400
⇗1,165.00
Spread
-118
(-5.5)
⇗11.00
-110
(2.5)
Featured Insight
The MLB USC Trojans and Purdue Boilermakers matchup is generating buzz. Insights suggest focusing on team statistics and player form. USC boasts a strong offensive lineup, while Purdue has a solid defense.
Stanford Cardinal
Florida St Seminoles
Money Line
219
-130
⇗200.00
Spread
-110
(2.5)
100
(-1.5)
⇗225.00
Featured Insight
The Stanford Cardinal and the Florida State Seminoles are both competitive teams. Stanford's robust pitching staff could be a key factor, while Florida State’s strong batting lineup poses a threat. It's crucial to consider recent game performances and injuries.
Miami Hurricanes
California Golden Bears
Money Line
-270
375
⇗167.00
Spread
-115
(-2.5)
-105
(3.5)
⇗23.00
Featured Insight
Miami Hurricanes and California Golden Bears face off in a thrilling MLB matchup. Miami's strong pitching and California's resilient offense set the stage for an exciting clash.
Oregon St Beavers
Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
Money Line
-600
⇗75.00
345
⇗5.00
Spread
-130
(-2.5)
⇗25.00
-110
(2.5)
⇗15.00
Featured Insight
The Oregon State Beavers hold a strong track record in their meetings against the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors. Their pitching lineup and offensive consistency give them an edge. Hawai'i struggles on the road, making them the underdogs in this matchup.
Oklahoma Sooners
Money Line
-185
153
Spread
-105
(-1.5)
-120
(1.5)
Featured Insight
In the upcoming MLB match between the Auburn Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners, it's crucial to consider the teams' recent performance. The Auburn Tigers have shown strong offensive capabilities, while the Oklahoma Sooners excel in pitching.
Arkansas St Red Wolves
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Money Line
-215
169
Spread
-105
(-1.5)
-107
(1.5)
Featured Insight
The Arkansas St Red Wolves face the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in an exciting MLB matchup. Expect a tight game as both teams have shown strong offense. The Red Wolves have been consistent in their batting, while the Ragin' Cajuns boast a solid pitching lineup.
Louisville Cardinals
Clemson Tigers
Money Line
132
⇗17.00
-159
Spread
-120
(1.5)
110
(-1.5)
Featured Insight
Analyzing the matchup between the Louisville Cardinals and the Clemson Tigers reveals a competitive edge for the Cardinals, thanks to their strong pitching lineup. Louisville's recent form has been impressive, giving them momentum.
Tulane Green Wave
UTSA Roadrunners
Money Line
160
-210
Spread
-125
(1.5)
-101
(-2.5)
Featured Insight
In this MLB matchup, the Tulane Green Wave faces the UTSA Roadrunners. Consider Tulane’s strong pitching and recent form, giving them a slight edge. However, UTSA’s home advantage could be significant.
Mississippi St Bulldogs
LSU Tigers
Money Line
-235
184
Spread
-130
(-1.5)
103
(1.5)
Featured Insight
Mississippi State Bulldogs face LSU Tigers in a high-stakes MLB match. Consider Mississippi’s batting lineup and LSU’s pitching strength. Watch for player injuries or lineup changes. LSU has historical home advantage; beware close betting margins.
This Week
Vanderbilt Commodores
Texas Longhorns
Money Line
189
-245
Spread
100
(1.5)
-109
(-2.5)
Featured Insight
The Vanderbilt Commodores and Texas Longhorns matchup promises excitement, with Vanderbilt known for a strong pitching lineup and Texas boasting impressive hitters. Bettors should consider Vanderbilt’s defense against Texas’s offense.
San Diego Toreros
Saint Mary's Gaels
Money Line
146
-197
Spread
-101
(1.5)
-132
(-1.5)
Featured Insight
The matchup between the San Diego Toreros and Saint Mary's Gaels is expected to be competitive with a focus on pitching. Historically, these teams have had close games and consistent defensive plays.
Arizona St Sun Devils
Baylor Bears
Money Line
-235
181
Spread
101
(-2.5)
-105
(1.5)
Featured Insight
Analyzing the Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Baylor Bears matchup, expect a competitive game based on both teams’ recent performances. The Sun Devils have shown a strong offense, but their defense can be inconsistent.
Source of Data
The data this analysis is based on is from the Major League Baseball games played over the 2016 and 2017 seasons. I had to remove two games because of incomplete data. The total number of games this page is based on is 4,929.
Fun Facts
The following table shows the average number of runs, hits, errors.
MLB Averages 2016-2017
| Item | Away | Home | Total1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs | 4.47 | 4.64 | 9.10 |
| Hits | 8.71 | 8.64 | 17.34 |
| Errors | 0.58 | 0.58 | 1.16 |
| Total | 13.76 | 13.87 | 27.61 |
Notes
1. Totals may not appear to agree with sum of the parts, due to rounding.
Money Line Bets
When it comes to betting money lines in baseball, or any sports bet for that matter, what is number of basis points, or "cents" between the lines of the two teams. For example, a 10-cent set of lines would be +120/-130 or +105/+105. Following is the theoretical house edge by number of cents in the lines, assuming the probability of each team winning is close to 50%.
- 10 cents: 2.38%
- 15 cents: 3.49%
- 20 cents: 4.55%
As of this writing (Sept. 20, 2018) here are which sports book groups offer which sets of money line bets in baseball.
- 10-cent lines: Westgate, William Hill, South Point, Stations, CG Technology, Golden Nugget, Jerry's Nugget, Boyd
- 15-cent lines: Stratosphere, Caesars, Wynn
- 20-cent lines: MGM/Mirage, Treasure Island
Home or Road Teams
I show money line bets on road teams perform slightly better than home teams. Here are the expected return for both:
- Road teams: 98.30%
- Home teams: 97.99%
I do not think this 0.3% difference is statistically significant.
Favorite or Underdog
Following is the expected return for both underdogs and favorites against a 10-cent line:
- Underdogs: 98.49%
- Favorites: 97.79%
Not surprisingly, the underdogs did better. This seems to be true in every American sport.
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Over/Under Bets
The following table shows the number of times the total runs was over, under, and exactly on the over/under line. The return column shows the house edge, assuming a 20-cent line. Note that the house edge is 2.25% less on Under bets.
Over/Under Bets in MLB
| Outcome | Number | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over | 2315 | 46.97% | 5.45% |
| Under | 2373 | 48.14% | 3.20% |
| Push | 241 | 4.89% | |
| Total | 4929 | 100.00% |
Run Line Bets
Based on sets of 20-cent lines, I show the following expected returns:
- Underdog +1.5: 96.34%
- Favorite -1.5: 96.90%
I must say I'm surprised to see favorites outperform underdogs on the run line. This is not the case in the NHL on the puck line. The difference is fairly small at 0.64% so I would not trust the favorite side to continue to do better.\
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Internal Links
- Obscure Topics in Betting Major League Baseball — These are some tables I didn't bother to update when I updated this page with new data. Use the tables in this page, based on data from 2000 to 2009, with a grain of salt.
- Betting the NFL In-depth look at betting professional football.
- Betting the NBA In-depth look at betting professional basketball.
- Appendix 1 Comparative study on who has the best lines in Vegas.
- Appendix 2 Various topics in sports betting.
- Appendix 3 List of Las Vegas sports book families.
- Appendix 4 Fair prices to buy and sell points in the NFL.
- Appendix 5 Explores sports futures in greater depth.
- Appendix 6 Lost and expired tickets.
- Appendix 7 Companion to appendix 1, showing NFL money line pairs from several Internet sportbooks.
- Appendix 8 Comparitive study on who has the best lines offshore.
- Appendix 9 Companion to appendix 8, showing NFL money line pairs from offshore sportbooks.
- NFL Teasers.
- Total number of kickoffs in Super Bowl 43. Were there 9 or 10?
- Vegas sports book comparison at WizardOfVegas.com. Who offers what odds on parlays and teasers, as well as rebate percentages.