MLB Betting Odds Explained

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

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.

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

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.