The oldest sports league in America, Major League Baseball (MLB) is also one of the most popular. If you’re looking to start with MLB betting, you’re at the right place. Discover the highest-rated sportsbooks, MLB odds, markets, and betting tips.
MLB Format Explained
An MLB season typically runs from March to October. The league now has 30 teams competing throughout 162 matches each, trying to rank and secure their place in the rest of the tournament.
Twelve teams, six from both the American League and the National League, enter the MLB playoffs. The two best teams from each division automatically advance to the Division Series, while the rest play through the Wild Card round of best-of-three matches. From there, the league goes into the Divisional round, followed by the Championship Series and the World Series.
Similar to the NBA, the MLB also has its own All-Star game called the Midsummer Classic. This event happens in mid-July and is a face-off between the American League and the National League. It’s the halfway point of the MLB season and, although it’s not as big in the betting world as the NBA All-Star game, you can absolutely bet on it, too.
What Makes a Good MLB Betting Site
Choosing where to bet on MLB is as important as knowing which teams to bet on. Most sportsbooks nowadays cover this league, as well as the rest of baseball tournaments.
Therefore, knowing which sportsbook is better than the competitor is more nuanced and our analysis includes several factors. Here are our MLB betting tips on choosing the ideal sportsbook.
Market Variety
Baseball, and MLB online betting respectively, is unique when it comes to markets and betting lines. A good MLB betting site should, therefore, offer a solid variety of betting options that cover all those markets - from run lines to outrights and player futures. This is a simple fare, really, as you’ll want as many different options as possible.
Payment Methods
Depositing and withdrawing funds at online betting sites should be as hassle-free as possible. This means allowing customers to easily reload their accounts and offering a good variety of payment options from debit cards to e-wallets and crypto. The best betting sites tend to have minimum transactions as low as €10, with no extra fees added.
Live MLB Betting
Like many team sports, baseball is ripe for live betting opportunities. We’re looking for sportsbooks that not only offer live betting on MLB matches but also have prop bets and features that enhance the experience. If there’s a live-streaming feature, too, that’s a big plus.
Bonuses and Promotions
Everybody likes free stuff and we’re always on the lookout for various bonuses. These can include free bets, extra funds, or boosts when making accumulator bets. When it comes to MLB betting, online sportsbooks typically promote it by offering boosted odds and weekly cashbacks for your lost bets.
Getting Started at MLB Betting Sites
If you’re new to MLB betting, or baseball in general, you might be intimidated by all the jargon and different markets at baseball betting sites. The truth is, placing a bet on MLB doesn’t differ much from any other bet and you’ll quickly start making more advanced bets once you’ve mastered creating your betting slip for baseball matches.
Here’s how to place your very first MLB bet:
- Explore our list of the best MLB betting sites above and select a sportsbook that you fancy the most.
- Sign up for an account and complete the necessary verification.
- Activate your welcome bonus if offered or check the requirements for the welcome offer.
- Deposit some funds into your account using your preferred payment method. If you’re looking to score the welcome bonus, make sure you’ve deposited enough money to trigger the sports betting bonuses.
- Look for the baseball matches in the sportsbook and find the section with MLB sports betting.
- Select the match you wish to place a wager on, choose the market(s) to add to your betting slip, enter the wager amount, and confirm your bet.
Most Popular MLB Betting Markets
Right now, you should have a grasp of placing bets on MLB matches. You’ve signed up at a sportsbook and have, hopefully, collected your welcome bonus at one of the betting sites listed above.
But, how do MLB betting lines work and what can you bet on? Let us explain.
MLB Run Line
Run lines are what spread bets are called in baseball. These are handicap lines, basically giving a team an advantage or disadvantage by a set number of runs, typically 1.5 or above. Positive values indicate the underdogs, while the favourites will have to cover the spread as they start with a negative score.
Totals (Over/Under)
Totals betting is very popular in baseball as it can be a high-scoring sport, so it’s no surprise that you’ll frequently find it at MLB sportsbooks, too. This market can be a total combined score, individual players’ score, or a per-team bet, including action bets where you’re pitting two players against each other.
MLB Player Props
Speaking of player bets, MLB is ripe for various player prop betting opportunities. Bets like the player to hit a home run, the number of strikeouts, and the total number of bases are just some of the markets you’ll encounter.
Game Props
Very challenging, but potentially the most lucrative market, as you can bet on the exact score of the match, whether the first pitch will be a strike or the exact inning at which one of the teams will score a home run.
Team Futures
In for the long haul? If you’re the type of bettor who’d prefer to make an outright bet and wait for the whole season to collect their winnings, then check out team futures bets. This is the most lucrative option when betting on MLB, but also the riskiest as lots can happen during the season.
MLB Betting Tips to Elevate Your Betting Experience
Before you go and sign up at one of the new betting sites and start filling up your betting slip, we’ve got a few quick tips to help you along the way.
Practice managing your bankroll. In the betting world, there’s one important rule to remember - never bet with your heart. Instead, research into each team, their previous matches and form, and only then place your bet. Additionally, never spend more than you’re comfortable with losing and avoid bonus chasing if the money’s tight.
Learn how to read MLB betting lines. Since this is an American sport, you’ll most likely encounter odds presented in the American format, meaning that the plus (+) sign stands next to the underdogs, while the favourites will have a minus (-) sign next to their odds. What this means in practice is the amount of money you’ll win on a $100, or how much you’ll need to bet to win $100.
Diversify your bets. There are many ways to bet on MLB, so it’s best to try to find alternative markets instead of constantly relying on, for example, parlays and outrights. Try out handicap bets or totals, or use them to combine with your basic moneyline bets to maximise your winnings.
