Baseball Betting - How To Bet On MLB Games

Last time I placed a bet on a baseball game, the expression “It’s a marathon and not a sprint,” came to mind. If you know this saying you will have an idea of what it is like to bet on Major League Baseball. 

Baseball season is the longest in all professional sports here in the US. The teams play 162 games during the regular season, which comes after a month of spring training games, and before a month of the postseason. 

You can bet on baseball from the end of February to the first of November; there are games almost daily.

It is essential to make sure you have an idea of how all the various baseball betting lines and odds work. Once you have an idea and you start figuring out how it works, it could keep you busy basically all season long.

Betting lines and odds

There are some key teams you need to know and understand when betting on Major League Baseball. Let’s take a look at those:

• Moneyline: In baseball, since there is no real “point spread,” - most bets on who is going to win is made via the moneyline bet. There is a run line, which we will explain next. But a moneyline is like it would be in the NFL or NBA. If you are looking at a game and the St. Louis Cardinals were -180, and the Chicago Cubs were +150, you can take the Cardinals, and a $180 bet would win $100, or bet the Chicago Cubs at +150 would mean $150 bet would win you $110.
• Runline: Run-line betting can be an alternative to moneyline. This gives a different option. So in the earlier scenario with the Cardinals at -180 and Cubs at +150. You may get the Cardinals -1.5, so they would have to win the game by two runs or more, and they may be listed at +114. So winning by two runs or more would benefit them and pay out more. On the other side, the Cubs would be at +1.5, which means win the game or lose by one, and they may be listed at more like -135. Bet $135 and win $100.
• Total: Here, you do not need a certain team to win. Totals are over or under-bets. In Major League Baseball, each game will have a total. You have the opportunity to bet OVER that number or UNDER that number. This is the TOTAL amount of runs by BOTH teams combined.

When looking at odds, you need to understand the three formats: American, Decimal and Fractional.

American: When you see American odds: you will see a number +145 or -145. This is how you determine your moneyline bet. 

Fractional odds: For fractional odds: you multiply the fraction showing by the amount you bet to show a winning profit of your bet.

Decimal: Decimal odds vary because they will show the amount you would win, which includes the original bet. These are shown one number, which would be the amount you win on a $1 bet. So 2.25 would be $2.25 for every $1. 3.35 = $3.35 for every $1 wagered.

Best betting sites for MLB betting

These are the sportsbooks we recommend when betting on baseball:

Other popular MLB betting types

There are many other popular Major League Baseball bets. Let’s take a look at some of them and how they work:

Future bets are very popular and are very common during the off-season. Bettors love to use spring training to get in with some of the following wagers:

• World Series winner - each team, no matter how good or bad they are projected to be, will have odds to win the upcoming World Series. The Atlanta Braves may be something like +800, while the Pittsburgh Pirates would be something like +45000. The bigger the underdog, the more likely they are not to have any chance of winning the World Series.
• Divisional winners - each of the five teams in the six divisions will have odds to win their division. Preseason is the best time to get them because the odds will change as games happen throughout the season.
• MVP predictions - many of the top players in the league will have odds to win the Most Valuable Player. Something like Shohei Ohtani at +400, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr at +1200.

Each game will be listed in your favorite sportsbook, and some games will have a ton of prop bets available for that game. Prop bets are wagers that you can bet on during the game.

Some baseball pro bets might look something like this (granted this might be outdated when you read it)

• Ronald Acuna Over/Under: 0.5 hits in against the Dodgers
• Max Scherzer Over/Under: 8.5 strikeouts against the Rockies

While these are just a few examples, there are plenty of opportunities to wager on Prop Bets in Major League Baseball. Be sure to understand what the prop bet means before you start placing bets on them.

Parlays are when you combine multiple bets into one. So instead of getting payouts on each of the individual bets that you like, you can parlay them together and give yourself a chance at a bigger payout. The problem with parlays = you must win ALL the bets in a parlay to win the bet.

Lastly, live betting continues to grow in popularity. In live better (also known as microbetting), you can live bet the result at the end of an inning, during an inning, a certain at-bat, half-game, etc. 

You can also live bet the total runs for the same time periods or even specific upcoming plays. There are advantages to live betting, but it takes paying attention or careful strategy to be profitable in the long term.

Tips for becoming a sharper MLB bettor

Sports betting isn’t just about luck—it’s about strategy, discipline, and staying cool under pressure. Whether you’re just starting or looking to level up your game, here are some tips to help you bet smarter.

Take a closer look at teams and players

Before you place a bet, spend some time digging into the details.

• Check out how the team has been performing lately—are they on a winning streak or struggling to keep up?
• Look for their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the strategies they tend to use.
• Don’t forget about the opposing team and any game-day factors, like injuries or weather, that could make a difference.

Stick to credible sources for your research and be picky about where you get your info. Not every opinion out there is worth your time.

Manage your bankroll like a pro

A solid bankroll strategy can make all the difference.

• Start with an amount of money you’re comfortable betting and divide it into smaller “units.”
• Use those units to determine how much to bet on each game. For example, instead of betting randomly, you might choose to bet 1 or 2 units on lower-risk games and more on ones you feel confident about.

This approach helps you stay in control and makes it easier to track your wins and losses over time.

Don’t let emotions take over

One of the biggest mistakes bettors make is letting emotions get in the way.

• Avoid chasing losses. Betting big to make up for a bad day can lead to even bigger losses.
• Don’t go overboard after a win, either. Stay consistent with your strategy.
• Keep your personal biases out of it—just because you love a team doesn’t mean they’re the smart choice to bet on.

Betting is a numbers game, so focus on stats, trends, and facts—not your feelings.

Keep track of everything

If you’re not tracking your bets, you’re missing out on valuable insights.

• Write down every bet you place—who you bet on, how much you wagered, and whether you won or lost.
• Review your record regularly to spot patterns. Are you more successful with certain types of bets or specific teams?

There are plenty of online tools that can help make tracking your bets easier. The more data you have, the better your chances of refining your strategy.

Stay sharp and keep learning

Sports betting isn’t just about picking winners—it’s about thinking ahead and making smart moves. By doing your homework, sticking to a bankroll plan, keeping your emotions in check, and tracking your bets, you’ll be in a much better position to win consistently.

The most important thing? Have fun with it, and always bet responsibly!

Betting on the World Series

The World Series is one of the most exciting events for sports bettors, offering tons of opportunities to place bets and test your strategies. 

Taking place in the fall, right in the heart of the football season, it’s a prime time for bettors to explore a variety of wagers.

How the postseason works

The road to the World Series starts in early October with the wildcard games. Under the current format, seven teams from both the National League and American League qualify for the postseason. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Wildcard Round: Teams battle it out for a spot in the next round.
• Divisional Series: After the wildcard games, the field narrows to eight teams.
• Championship Series: The winners of the Divisional Series face off to determine the champions of each league.
• World Series: The final showdown between the National League and American League champions decides the ultimate victor.

With so many games leading up to the World Series, the postseason provides a wide range of betting options, from individual game outcomes to series winners and prop bets.

If you’re looking to dive into World Series betting, make sure to do your homework on teams, players, and pitching matchups. The more informed your bets, the better your chances of success!

Each of these series are best of 5 of best of 7 series. So while the game in itself is worthy of being bet on, there are also opportunities to bet on how the overall series will go.