MLB Betting Guide 2024

Moneyline bets

Moneyline betting enables you to wager on which team will win the game. Pick the team you think will win, lay your wager, and enjoy the action. It’s as simple as that. Here’s how moneyline betting, using American odds, works:

NEW YORK YANKEES -150

TORONTO BLUE JAYS +120

In the above example, the New York Yankees are listed as -150 favorites. That means sports bettors loyal to the Bronx Bombers must place a $150 bet to win $100. Alternatively, a successful $100 bet on the Blue Jays will result in winnings of $120. Use our betting odds calculator to check your potential winnings before laying your wager.

Spread/Run Line

Just like the point spread in NBA and NFL betting, the run line enables you to bet on the margin of victory in an MLB game. However, due to the relative low-scoring nature of baseball, the run line is typically set at 1.5. Payouts are determined by moneyline odds attached to the run line. Here’s how it works:

NEW YORK YANKEES -1.5 (+160)

TORONTO BLUE JAYS +1.5 (-140)

If you think the Yankees can win this game by more than one run, you can bet $100 to win $160. And if you fancy the Blue Jays to stay within one run of New York, you will need to bet $140 to win $100.

Prop bets

You can take your baseball betting action beyond the final score by making the most of MLB prop bets. These enable you to wager on aspects of an individual game apart from the final score. Player prop bets cover the performance of an individual player. Team or game prop bets focus on the performance of one or both of the teams involved in a game. Here’s how it works:

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. home run total: OVER/UNDER 1.5 (+250)

Margin of victory: Yankees win by 3 or 4 runs (+400)

In the above examples, you can bet on Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to have a big day at the plate, and if he hits more than 1.5 home runs, your $100 bet will generate winnings of $250. The team prop focuses on margin of victory. But, unlike the run line, New York must win by either 3 or 4 runs for your $100 bet to pay out a tidy $400.

Over/Under bets

Over/under betting, also known as totals betting, enables you to wager on how many total runs will be scored by both teams in a game. Here’s how it works:

NEW YORK YANKEES @ TORONTO BLUE JAYS - O 9.5 (-115)

NEW YORK YANKEES @ TORONTO BLUE JAYS - U 9.5 (-105)

In the example above, the OVER/UNDER or total is set at 9.5. That means if you think that these two teams will combine to score more than 9.5 runs, you will bet on the OVER. If you think the game will be low scoring, you will take the UNDER. Like the run line, payouts are determined by moneyline odds attached to the total. That means it will take a $115 bet on the OVER to generate $100 in winnings, while it will take a $105 bet to net $100 for sports bettors taking the UNDER.

Futures

MLB betting action is not limited to just one game. In fact, the wagering starts long before the season begins, with MLB futures betting. Simply put, futures betting enables you to wager on the success of a specific player or team over the course of the season. Want to bet on what team will win the World Series, or who will take home MVP honors? Here’s how it works:

Odds to win 2022 World Series

LOS ANGELES DODGERS +500

HOUSTON ASTROS +700

NEW YORK YANKEES +900

In the example above, the Dodgers are listed as +500 favorites to win the World Series, which means a successful $100 bet will win you $500. Of course, futures odds are constantly changing based on team or player performance. This means there is often plenty of opportunity to find value further down the odds long before the first pitch of the season is tossed.

Parlay bets

Parlay betting allows you to add a layer of complexity and excitement to your MLB betting strategy by combining multiple bets into a single ticket, which pays out with enhanced odds. Of course, there is a catch. Each of the bets included in your parlay must win for the parlay to be considered a winner. Depending on the sportsbooks, you can combine as many as 10 or more bets into a single parlay, but for the sake of this example, we’ll keep it simple.

NEW YORK YANKEES -150

OVER 9.5 -115

PARLAY ODDS +212

The above example illustrates a two-bet parlay, with both bets placed on our hypothetical Yankees @ Blue Jays game. If the Yankees win and the total goes OVER 9.5 runs, this parlay is a winner, with a $100 wager returning winnings of $212. Parlays can also include bets from different games, or even different sports, allowing you to combine bets on that Saturday afternoon baseball game and on Monday Night Football. Consider utilizing expert picks for more complex parlay bets to increase the chances of your wagers being successful.

MLB Schedule, Scores, & Standings

You need to keep tabs on what teams are playing today to help plan your betting strategy. Look no further than Online Gambling’s MLB Season Schedule to stay in the loop. Our MLB Scores and Standings will give you another easy-to-read snapshot of past and upcoming baseball action to maximize your knowledge and ensure you make smart bets.