When it comes to making an MLB bet worth it, GambleSpot considers playing it smart for you to make the most of your chances, especially in games where there are big showdowns and impressive outings from respective teams and players night in and night out. If you want to enjoy and make the most out of your betting experience in the MLB, then you should try the different markets that MLB betting sites have to offer.
Here are some of the recommended betting markets that you should try placing wagers on.
MLB Moneylines
Some of the MLB best bets made over time usually come from the simplest markets. Moneylines are common in every sport when it comes to betting, but this is just outright betting on the winner of a given game. There is no need to try and predict the score as all you have to do is just pick a team that you think has the best chance of winning – and then hope that their odds will hold up well to win big by the end of the ninth inning.
MLB is a game that is full of momentum swings, which is why not all baseball picks today may be the best option every single time. Research should accompany your betting decisions, especially when it comes to high-stakes games that involve teams sitting at the top of the league, or even lowly teams battling just to end a slump. The MLB can be unpredictable at times, which is why moneylines offer generous rewards if you ever get it right.
MLB Runline
The run line is the MLB’s version of spread betting. If you are quite familiar how spreads work, all you just need to do is to bet on a team and predict the winning margin. This can be either a team to lose by a set number of runs, or a team to win by a set number of runs. Most of the time, bookmakers set up the numbers usually before the game begins, and it usually updates as soon as the actual game begins.
For those who are just betting for the first time and are keen to find expert MLB picks, the run line usually has favorites set with a minus (-) sign next to the number of runs that the team is expected to win with. The underdog, on the other hand, will have a plus (+) sign next to the number of runs that it is expected to lose with. For the bet to win, you just have to guess the amount of runs that a team will either win or lose with. Most of the time, the payouts are even bigger when your wager on the underdog wins.
Over/Under and Game Totals
Game totals and over/under often coincide as these markets both deal with the scores. When it comes to the MLB bets, you just have to take a guess on the total runs that will be scored in the game – on both sides combined for nine innings. In the 2023 season alone, the average runs scored per game was at 9.1, taking a huge leap from the 8.5 runs averaged in the 2022 season. This just means that the number gets bigger from one season after another, and game totals are fairly easy to win.
On top of that, the over/under market adds some spice to your betting experience. For this one, all you have to do is to predict the total score of the game from the two clubs combined. Then you will have to bet if the score goes over or under a set number by the oddsmakers by the end of the game. Depending on the playing teams, there can be a variation from the average runs scored per game, which if it ends in a tie in an event that an extra inning is played, the bookmakers are most likely to reimburse the bet.
Parlays
Take your betting experience to the next level with the top MLB picks at your disposal and gain multiple big wins with parlays! MLB parlays combine various market bets such as over/under, game totals, run line, futures bets, prop bets, and many other options that will allow you to create a string of wagers that will win you a bigger reward if all predictions are correct.
Parlays can be a mix of different sports as well, which allows you to come up with a more comprehensive set of wagers from the MLB, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL for instance. It also allows you to create a bigger winning bet that will unfold once the sports season ends. This will lead to a much more rewarding payout especially if all your guesses went right in the high-stakes wagers you made.
Futures Betting
One of the best markets that would yield promising rewards in the long run is futures betting. It is considered one of the best bets for MLB today thanks to its unpredictability and high-risk and high-reward turnout. For those avid MLB fans, it is a great chance to enjoy watching the big games from your favorite teams while they contend for a chance to win in their matches.
These can be wagers on regular season awards, such as MVP, Cy Young Award, and many other individual awards in the MLB. On top of that, you can also wager on which team will come up with a league-record in wins, a division championship, or even a finish at the top of the World Series if you’re feeling a bit confident in your wagers on experts’ MLB picks.
Prop Bets
Prop bets add some flair in your betting experience as these can be random wagers depending on the bookmakers. To simplify this, all you need to do is to just bet on a “yes” or “no” market considering that these will be a wide range of options. For example, you can bet on “x player to hit two home runs in the fifth inning” or “x player to reach three strikeouts in one inning” and many more. All of these can also be eligible for an over/under bet depending on the players’ and teams’ performances.
The prop bets are offered in multiple numbers in a single game. These are various scenarios of “what-ifs” in the game that will reward bettors with impressive payouts if they get it right. From time to time, these either involves players for individual feats, all the way to teams reaching a set amount of strikeouts or home runs, it all leads to rewarding and promising wagers.
