So, new to MLB betting, are we? Well, don’t worry; in this article, we will tell you what you need to know to start your MLB betting career. Baseball is a particularly popular sport in the US. However, many of their fans are also into betting, making baseball betting, specifically MLB betting, a popular hobby for casual and die-hard fans.
One of the reasons why MLB betting is particularly popular is because baseball is one of the few sports played during the summer sporting calendar, which runs from late spring and its postseason in October. Because of that, it’s packed with games, with teams playing six to seven games per week.
Another reason it’s very popular is because baseball is a numbers game. You can bet on many aspects by counting the contests, innings, and at-bat measurements. That said, if you want to get into MLB betting, this is the best chance to learn about it. Let’s start with the types of bets you can wager.
Moneyline
Despite looking like a very complicated sport, it’s one of the simplest and, in turn, also very simple to bet with. This is especially true with its low-scoring nature and the game’s ability to change in just a single inning. That said, one of the most popular ways to bet on MLB is moneyline.
If you already have even a little sports betting experience, you’d know that moneyline is betting on which team would win the game. And, of course, you’d also know that the minus sign implies that the specific team is the favorite, and the plus sign means that they are the underdog.
Run Line
The run line is baseball’s version of the spread. Because of baseball’s low-scoring nature, the spreads are usually only a score and a half. Of course, you’d bet on which team would cover their spread. For example, let’s say that the Dodgers are playing against the Yankees.
The Dodgers have a spread of +1.5, and the Yankees have -1.5. If you bet on the Yankees, they must win with at least a 2-point advantage. On the other hand, if you bet on the Dodgers, they have to lose with less than 2 points or outright win the game.
Totals
MLB win totals are a two-parter type of bet. In totals, you have to predict how many points both teams will have at the end of the game. If you want a little more spice in your bets, you could also bet if the points are either lower or higher than the bookies predicted. It’s as simple as that.
Now that you know the most popular types of bet you can make in MLB betting, you’re pretty much set. However, if you want tips to win more bets and go home a bit richer, we have some tips for you.
Check the Weather
Some may call it trivial, but in some cases, the weather can have a huge role in baseball games, especially if the game is played in an open arena. For example, let’s take into account the wind. If the wind goes alongside the ball, there’s a huge chance that the game will have more home runs. You can take advantage of that and bet on the Over in totals. On the other hand, if the wind is going against the ball, there will be fewer home runs, so you can bet on the Under.
Know the Umpires
Umpires can be the make or break for some teams. Some umpires call more strikes than others, and some give pitchers more leeway in their pitches. That said, if you know that the umpire is more relaxed, you can use this information to bet on the moneyline and wager on a team with a star pitcher. With a star pitcher and a relaxed umpire, there will be a lot of strikeouts in the opposing team, potentially losing an entire inning.
Know the Team Schedule
During the start of the season, teams usually let their star players be benched to give them more time to relax as the regular season goes on. Of course, during critical times when the finals are only a few weeks away, they will let their star players have a slow start, which is more like a warm-up for them.
That said, in the weeks leading to the playoffs, the team will be in full swing, which means they will bring their ace game after game. Of course, this can be very tiring for the players. You can usually bet on the opposing team if you think the team will not bring their A-game after a few intense ball games. It’s more like a battle of attrition, and if you know the team schedules, you’ll know which teams to bet on.
Final Words
MLB betting is fun and thrilling, especially nowadays, as we get closer to the playoffs. It’s only a few months away, so you can assume that the star players are gearing up to get into the groove. With this guide, you’re already practically set for MLB betting, and we hope Lady Luck will set her sights on you.