Baseball Betting Guide

Played predominantly in the United States and Canada, baseball is a two-team bat and ball sport. Each team has nine players, and a game usually has nine innings divided into two halves. The court is diamond-shaped, and the aim is to score more runs than the opposing team.

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the largest professional league for this sport and draws millions of spectators worldwide. With fans increasingly interested in betting on the game, there hasn't been a better time to dig into the betting markets and apps available.

Guide To Baseball Betting

Those new to the world of baseball betting can find it a confusing game to wager on. However, this guide will cover all aspects, from choosing a sportsbook to placing an actual wager. When betting on baseball, there are several key factors to consider first. These include the betting markets and odds offered, the starting pitcher, the conditions of the field, recent team performances, the umpires, and so on.

While placing a wager is relatively straightforward, there are a few ways to gain an edge. These include thoroughly researching the bet of choice, selecting niche bets with better odds, and tracking stats for players and teams.

Choosing a reliable sportsbook that offers the best possible odds will provide added value when betting on this sport. This is because by line shopping for the sportsbook that offers the highest odds for a particular wager, bettors will be able to minimize their losses on the favorites (should they lose) and maximize their profits on the underdog (should they win). Line shopping also facilitates placing more bets at a lower cost and increases a player's bankroll growth rate.

The 7-game MLB Championship Series is one of the top four sporting events, with the most wagers placed every year in the US. To place successful wagers, players must research team and player stats and find the best odds for the bets they wish to make.

How To Bet On Baseball

Because baseball is a low-scoring sport with many games decided by just one run, choosing the winner outright is one of the most common bets. This type of bet is called the moneyline. Together with over/under and prop bets, these wagers are popular and available in many sportsbooks.

When baseball betting online, choosing the right sportsbook is essential as the bet types and odds offered will vary from bookie to bookie.

Additionally, although the MLB provides the main betting market for this sport, other major events, particularly international competitions, should not be overlooked. These include the World Baseball Classic, World Series, and WBSC Premiere.

The best time to place a wager is the last hour before the first pitch because starters are crucial in this game. Moreover, bettors can adopt specific betting strategies for more wins. First, it's wise to bet on divisional underdog teams with high totals when they are playing on the road. Secondly, players should not always bet on the favorites as the odds are likely low.

Step-by-step guide

To bet on baseball online, players should complete the following steps.

1. Choose a sportsbook or app — bettors should select one reliable baseball betting app or site.

2. Create an account — players should then sign-up and open an account by providing the required bio-data.

3. Confirm the details — sportsbooks usually require new members to verify their identity. Some bookies may send a confirmation code via phone or email, and others will send a link through which bettors can verify their details.

4. Choose a payment method and deposit — the account holder should pick one payment option and fund their account.

5. Start betting — finally, bettors can view the available betting markets and their odds and place a wager.

Baseball Betting Types And Formats

When it comes to betting on baseball, punters will find a wide range of bet types on offer, including moneylines, run lines or point spread bets, totals, prop bets, futures, and parlays. One of the most popular bets is the moneyline, where bettors make a straightforward wager on which team will win. Run lines and totals are also popular as they are based on the number of runs scored.

Top sportsbooks will offer a wide range of betting lines to select from. However, learning to read the odds is essential before wagering. Sportsbooks worldwide use three odds formats — American, fractional, and decimal. US sportsbooks most commonly use the American format, where the favorite is denoted by a minus sign, while a plus sign indicates the odds for the underdog.

This baseball betting guide will take a closer look at some popular baseball bet types.

Moneylines

This is the most popular bet in baseball and involves predicting the overall winner. The American odds format focuses on winning $100 on a particular bet, though players can wager any amount. If the player is betting on a favorite baseball team, the odds will have a minus (-) symbol in front of them, and they show how much money they'll have to risk to win $100.

However, if betting on the underdog, the odds will have a plus (+) sign in front of them, showing how much they'll win from a $100 bet. So, wagering $130 on the Yankees at -130 would win $100 (plus the original $130) if the Yankees win the game. If the odds were +130 for the Yankees, betting $100 would win $130 plus the original stake.

Totals

These bets are also called over/under bets. They depend on the total number of runs scored in a single baseball game. Before the game, for example, the sportsbook will set a line on what they think is the total number of runs scored by both sides, which may be 6, 7, 9, or higher.

A bettor must decide whether the final figure will be greater or less than the given number. So if the total is 8, to win the over bet, the number of runs scored must be nine or more, while to win the under, the total number of runs scored can not exceed 7. If the results match the player's prediction, they'll win; if not, they'll lose.

Prop bets

Short for proposition bets, props, or side bets are speculative types of baseball bets based on the occurrence or non-occurrence of specific actions. Two kinds of prop bets relate to particular outcomes in games (game props) and specific outcomes relating to players (player props).

For example, a prop bet may be placed on whether a specific player will score a run, the number of home runs scored in the first innings, or whether a team will break a set winning percentage. Modern bettors can arm themselves with plenty of player and team data, and, as a result, prop bets can be a great way to add some extra entertainment to baseball betting.

How To Make Baseball In-Game Bets

In-game betting, also called live betting, allows players to place bets even after a game has begun. This bet type is frequently available at top sportsbooks, so it's never too late to place baseball bets while the game is in progress. Interestingly, in-play wagering allows users to take full advantage of live odds while watching the game.

Some sports betting companies provide odds on every possible outcome. At Bovada Sportsbook, for example, gamblers can wager on a batter's single, double, or triple (all-in-one bet). Others include home runs, walks, and hit-by-pitch (all in one) bets.

Besides Bovada, other US sports betting apps offering in-game wagering include BetOnline, MyBookie, SportsBetting.ag, and BetNow. However, bettors need to understand the ins and outs of the game when placing live bets, lest they go broke quickly. Even though the odds change quickly, players can still win big through this type of bet.

Finding The Best Baseball Betting Apps

Bettors should note the following essential aspects to find the best possible sportsbook app.

1. Security: players should choose licensed betting apps with a good reputation in the industry. A bookie's licensing information should be displayed on its official website.

2. Bonuses and offers: while some players overlook the bonus aspect of baseball betting, the best sportsbooks will offer welcome bonuses and rewards programs through which bettors can seize various promotional deals.

3. Market coverage: players should select an app that provides a wide range of betting opportunities, including different bet types for local and international games.

4. Odds: bettors should consider line shopping to ensure their chosen sportsbook consistently offers the best odds.

5. Payment options: the best betting apps offer several payment gateways and ensure safety and security.

6. Withdrawal times: most players want their winnings as soon as possible after betting, so bookies that offer fast payouts are the best.

Additionally, the best baseball betting app should have the following characteristics:

1. It should provide adequate analysis and highlight videos for the sport. The bettor should also be able to get expert tips, statistics, timetables, and scores and watch live videos.

2. Google Assistant is included. The bookie should allow users to construct rosters and leagues, score complete games, and export them for sharing.

3. Supports various languages.

4. It is easily accessible and has a straightforward registration process.

Betters should avoid unlicensed apps and have few betting lines and poor odds. Finding the best sportsbook app can be daunting, so check out our list of recommended apps.

Baseball Online Betting Offers

Players can find numerous baseball betting offers online, particularly during the MLB season. Typical offers include a welcome bonus for joining a sportsbook, reload bonuses, refer-a-friend offers, and rewards programs.

Baseball-specific bonuses include risk-free bets and playoff bonuses (every game). These betting offers are meant to attract new bettors and retain old ones. Depending on the sportsbook or betting app and the type of offer, players may get extra funds to bet with, free bets, or get back a portion of the money lost to use for placing a new wager. These benefits put bettors in a position to win without spending as much from their own pockets.

Extra wagering credits can give players more chances to try their luck in baseball betting. Some sportsbooks even have no-deposit bonuses, such as a free bet where a player does not need any payment to claim. Such wagers are usually limited to best with specific odds but are still a great way to test out the sportsbook.

Drawbacks of Baseball Betting Offers

Although having additional dollars to play with is appealing, baseball bettors should be aware of several constraints. Some reload bonuses, for example, provide bonus cash that may only be used for a specific sporting event. These are called short-term rewards because these deals are only available for a few days.

One of the most significant downsides of using a bonus when betting is that some require payments, which is where things get complicated because each offer requires a minimum deposit. Furthermore, the bonus amount is usually proportional to the money deposited, so the larger the deposit, the more bonus bettors will receive. Should a player deposit less, they'll get less significant bonuses.