What's the best sportsbook for MLB betting?

Bovada has a lot of odds, but if you are looking for the best MLB odds, you might want to check BetOnline’s MLB betting options. All big American sportsbooks offer a wide variety of baseball betting online.

When's the best time to make MLB bets?

You can make MLB Futures bets throughout the year. On a game day, you can make pre-game bets or try your hand at live-betting. Alternatively, track MLB betting trends and see where the value is.

What are today's best MLB Bets?

The best MLB bets today will always be the ones that are the most fun for you, and that fit into your baseball betting strategy.

What can I bet on in the MLB?

MLB betting offers a huge variety of bets. These include propositions, lines, totals, and spreads.

What other baseball leagues can I gamble on?

This will vary depending on your online sportsbook, but many have markets on baseball from Thailand, South Korea, and elsewhere.

Is it legal to bet on baseball games online?

Yes, it is. While laws vary by state, you can almost definitely use online sportsbooks available in the US. In some rare cases, you may have to use a local sportsbook.

What are some baseball betting tips?

The biggest tip is always to have fun! If this means playing it safe, go for it. If this means rooting for the underdog, that’s fine too. Enjoy yourself!

Which bookmaker offers the best MLB bets today?

Bookmakers always offer their own unique selling points, so to say one is the best for MLB bets is tough. Find the bookmaker that suits your needs.

Best MLB Betting Sites 2024

MLB World Series 2024
Los Angeles Dodgers	+375
Atlanta Braves	+550
Houston Astros	+900
New York Yankees	+1000
Texas Rangers	+1100
Philadelphia Phillies	+1200
Baltimore Orioles	+1400
Toronto Blue Jays	+2000
Seattle Mariners	+2200
Minnesota Twins	+3000
Arizona Diamondbacks	+3500
Chicago Cubs	+3500
Boston Red Sox	+3500
New York Mets	+3500
St. Louis Cardinals	+3500
Tampa Bay Rays	+3500
San Diego Padres	+3500

Top Sportsbooks To Bet On MLB

If there’s one sport to master when betting on sports, then MLB should be it. With its 162-game, regular-season schedule, few sports offer the sheer amount of betting opportunities that MLB does. Of course, none of that is worth a salt if you don’t have a reliable sportsbook to handle these bets all season long.

That’s why we’ve hand-picked the very best sportsbooks for MLB betting and are giving them to you below. Check out our list of the best baseball betting sites:

Best Overall Sportsbook For MLB Betting Is BetOnline

Alright, this decision wasn’t exactly easy, but once we carefully weighed everything, it’s clear that BetOnline is THE all-in betting site tailor-made for MLB betting. It checks every single box one we look for in online betting sites. Huge betting menu? Yep. Bonuses? Of course. Great user experience? Without question.

betonline mlb betting

Let’s begin with the actual bets themselves. BetOnline is a “double whammy” in that it offers a massive betting menu for MLB and it does so at great prices. Any bettor that uses BetOnline during the MLB season will have little reason to bet elsewhere. Sure, you can “shop lines”, but BetOnline will be the standard — if not, darn real close to it. Furthermore, the site offers each MLB bet you can possibly ever need, including spreads, props, specials, futures, etc.

New bettors can get a head start on betting MLB with BetOnline’s welcome bonus. As it stands, new players can earn a dollar-for-dollar match on their first deposit — up to a whopping $1000 in free play. Now imagine, how many different MLB bets could you make with a cool grand? A lot, trust us!

Last but not least, BetOnline is one of the most trustworthy names in the entire online betting industry, and that’s been the case for a multitude of years. If you’re going to be betting on MLB and cashing in and out regularly, then you want to know your money is in safe hands. At BetOnline, that’s certainly the case!

Why MyTopSportsbooks loves BetOnline:

Reliable and trustwothy sportsbook
Large sign-up bonuses
Massive betting menu

Bonus:

50% up to $1,000

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Bovada Is Best Bookie For MLB Betting Lines

Bovada was deadly close to being our best overall bookmaker for MLB. It was edged out because its bonuses aren’t much to write home about (a measly max of $250 for new players). Regardless, of all the sports betting sites, Bovada is still the number-one sportsbook when it comes to getting MLB lines period.

bovada mlb betting

We can’t say enough good things about the betting menu quality at Bovada. That applies to all sports, but especially MLB. You’ll be hard-pressed to find an MLB line that’s NOT available for gambling on Bovada — and that especially goes for live betting. While many sportsbooks are good about presenting a large amount of pregame bets (e.g. spreads, over/unders, props), Bovada also offers just about MLB game for in-play too. So between both options, it’s practically an all you-can-eat buffet at Bovada when it comes to betting on MLB.

Why MyTopSportsbooks loves Bovada:

High-quality betting lines and player props
A variety of payment methods
Easy to use website

Bonus:

50% up to $250

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MLB Bonuses Can’t Be Beat At MyBookie

As we’ve said, MLB bets are plenty and often during the season. For some, that might be an overload for the betting bankroll they manage. If you fall into this group, then there’s a quick solution — cash in a massive bonus for free play. For doing just that, few online sportsbooks outdo MyBookie.

mybookie mlb betting

At the moment, new players at MyBookie can earn as much as $1000 in free play. Initial deposits from first-time players are matched at 100 percent, so you’re not leaving value on the table. Not only is that sum of money great to jumpstart your MLB betting, but it’s also a solid “trial run” for MyBookie itself. You could spend that money while you test out the site and see if it’s for you or not.

Why MyTopSportsbooks loves MyBookie:

Big-money bonuses for players of all kinds
A betting menu that covers it all
Big casino and poker room to complement sportsbooks

Bonus:

50% up to $1,000

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MLB In-Play Is Best Experience At XBet

In-play betting is especially conducive to MLB. That’s because with daily games, sometimes players and/or entire teams can come out “flat.” If you notice this, you can quickly jump into a live bet and capitalize on what you’re seeing. XBet will be the perfect sportsbook to do just that. Why? Because its live betting experience is an industry leader.

xbet mlb betting odds

Lag — even for a few seconds — is enough to derail an in-play betting experience. Baseball might be “slower” than basketball or football, but still, a single pitch can change the entire complexion of a game. Well, at Xbet, you rarely ever have to worry about delays when betting live. That goes for the odds, which change as the game ebbs and flows, and your bets too. So when you click bet, the wager goes through at the suggested line with almost 100-percent accuracy.

Why MyTopSportsbooks loves XBet:

Top-notch live betting experience
One of the best MLB mobile apps
Fast-rising sportsbook gaining popularity online

Bonus:

50% up to $500

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Are you looking for sportsbooks like BetMGM, FanDuel or DraftKings? Or maybe you are looking for Caesars Sportsbook, PointsBet or Fox Bet? That would be totally understandable given the sheer volume of advertising on TV. But, and yes, there is a but: those brands are not available in the biggest US states like Texas, California and Florida. What to do? Don’t panic. The list of brands above includes brands that are available in all big US states. We have tested them all and have accounts with them. Read reviews and find your new favorite sportsbook today!

How to Bet on MLB Baseball

Learning how to bet on baseball is not as complicated as you might think. This guide will have you prepared and ready to hit the ground running. Once you have baseball odds explained, see the various types of bets, and get started on an overall baseball betting strategy, you are ready to go. Betting on baseball is easy once you have the know-how, so let us guide you to the best bets in baseball today.

Well, that is ideal. You do not need to know all that in order to know how to bet on baseball. You can take a more lighthearted approach as well. Being prepared is always a good idea, but so is relaxing and just diving in, with caution. Either way, we wanted to provide you with all the resources, including baseball betting tips, you need to bet on baseball whenever you feel ready to do so.

Types of Major League Baseball Bets

These are the most common MLB betting types:

MLB Baseball Moneyline Betting

The moneyline is the most popular way to bet on a game by game basis. However, you won’t have much time to consider your bets ahead of time. MLB moneylines are only released after the teams involved are done playing the day before. This means that lines will usually be up for less than 24 hours. When it comes to placing a bet, a typical MLB moneyline looks like this. As we showed you earlier in our guide to all things odds related, American odds are written relative to a $100 wager, so you would need to put $220 on the Dodgers to win $100 back. If you staked $100 on the Brewers, you would win $190 should they pull off the upset. Not only will each MLB moneyline list the teams playing, but it will also include the day’s starting pitchers with the line. Odds can vary significantly between the same teams over the course of 48 hours based on who’s pitching. The Dodgers will almost always be heavy favorites when Clayton Kershaw is on the mound (like in the above example). The next day when, say, Rich Hill takes the bump, their moneyline will be a lot closer to +100. Of course, this would depend on who the Brewers counter with.

Betting on the Runline

Beyond picking straight winners on the moneyline, the MLB also has its own spread option, called the “runline,” though it is different than the fluctuating lines of basketball and football. The runline is always set at -1.5 for the favorite, meaning that team must win by two or more runs to cash. If the underdog loses by one run or wins, they cover the bet. Because the spread is always the same, the odds will shift around the runline. Of course, this based on the quality of the favorite. A dominant team like the Dodgers with Kershaw on the mount might be listed at -130 to cover the runline (as in the example above.) In contrast, a lesser favorite could be listed at +170 or higher to win its game by two runs or more. Just like the moneyline, the runline will come with a listed pitcher and one pitcher options.

Betting Baseball Game Totals in the MLB

Again, just as with football and basketball, baseball games come with game totals (a.k.a. over/under), which we explained in detail here. In the MLB, game totals typically range from 7 to 10 runs, and often land on half-run increments, like 8.5. Much like the moneyline and the runline, the game total will be heavily influenced by the quality of the starting pitchers. When someone like Clayton Kershaw is matched up with another ace, for instance, Max Scherzer of the Nationals, you’re apt to see a rare sub-seven total. When a team with a high-powered offense is facing a Triple A call-up late in the year, the total could creep into the double-digits. Let’s go back to our Dodgers/Brewers example to see what this will look like in practice. The total in this game is eight runs. If you want to bet the over, you select the “O 8.” If nine or more runs are scored in the game, you win the bet. If exactly eight runs are scored, it’s a push (i.e. a tie) and your wager will be returned. Since the over is deemed the more likely outcome in this instance (as evidenced by the -120 payout attached thereto), you have to wager $120 to make $100. The under is at even money, meaning you only need to wager $100 to win $100. Over/under may also have a listed pitcher option depending on what sportsbook you’re using.

The Importance of Pitchers in MLB Baseball Betting

In fact, starting pitching is such a big part of handicapping baseball that sportsbooks offer a betting option called “listed pitcher.” Selecting a listed pitcher bet means that, if one of the projected starters for that day doesn’t throw the first pitch of the ballgame, then the bet is deemed no action and the wager is returned in full. They also have “one pitcher” options, where bettors select just one pitcher that has to start to have action.

It’s a useful protection to have; betting the Dodgers at -220 with Kershaw on the mound is often a sound decision, despite the short odds. Betting the Dodgers at -220 with a reliever making a spot start is tantamount to a charity donation.

In this age of instant information, “listed pitcher” is only protection against sickness or a freak accident in warmups. This is because if there are any injury concerns around a pitcher, you’d hear about it long before. However, if you love the Dodgers to win, and you don’t care if Kershaw is throwing, you can select “action” on a moneyline bet, and no matter who steps to the mound to start the game, your wager will count.

Betting on MLB

MLB Series Betting

As you likely know, the baseball schedule is broken up into series, which see the same teams play each other for two, three, or four straight days. The vast majority of series are three-game sets, and many sportsbooks will post lines for those series, as a whole, allowing you to wager on which team will win (at least) two of the three games. Think of it as a moneyline bet for a weekend. Just bet on a team, and if they take at least two of three games in a series, you’ll win. However, series bets come with a few stipulations. For example, games can be ruled no action if a game is postponed or suspended. You also can’t bet two-game series.

Betting on MLB Futures

As for long-term bets, the MLB has the usual futures you find for all major North American leagues: championship odds and division winners. The quickest sportsbooks will post odds immediately after the previous season’s World Series. Likely, they will be available over the course of the entire season, with teams only getting taken off the board when mathematically eliminated from contention. You can also place bets for individual awards like MVP or Cy Young. Win totals are released every spring for all 30 MLB teams for betting over or under. The totals will be taken down at the start of the season, though, so you only have a small window to bet on them. Winning these bets is straight-forward. If you bet on the Cubs’ over in the example above, you would need them to win 96 games or more. If you bet on the White Sox’ over, they only need to win 70.

MLB Baseball Proposition (Prop) Betting

Each MLB game will be accompanied by prop bets as well. Some will be tied to team performance; others will be tied to individual players. Our Dodgers/Brewers game could feature props like the following: If the odds on the moneyline or runline aren’t big enough for your taste, MLB props are where you can find longer odds on a daily basis. As you can see, the more specific a prediction, the bigger the potential payout. However, the overround on props (which considers the implied probability of the options go well beyond 100-percent) tends to be larger than for moneyline, runline, and total bets. That’s why both options for the “total strikeouts” prop is less than even money. In a perfectly fair world, if the over were at -125, the under would be at +125. Why? A -125 payout equates to an implied probability of 55.6%, meaning there has to be a 55.6% chance of Kershaw striking out nine or more batters in order for the wager to make sense for bettors. The -105 payout attached to the under equates to an implied probability of 51.2%, meaning there has to be a 51.2% of Kershaw striking out eight or fewer batters for that wager to make sense for bettors. Obviously, both of those implied probabilities cannot be true at the same time. If there’s a greater than 50% chance that Kershaw will strikeout nine or more batters, then there is necessarily a less than 50% chance that he won’t, since it’s a binary proposition.

Five-Inning Lines

Moneyline and game total bets are also available for five-inning lines. This means whichever team is leading after the fifth inning wins the bet, and the total is settled using the total runs scored to that point.

Baseball Betting Strategies

If you want to be successful in the long-term then you to implement a defined baseball betting strategy and stick with it. It takes discipline to stick with a strategy when you are having a bad run, but just remember there is a reason you developed this strategy in the first place. Long-term success is always the goal with any betting strategy.

Here are three points that you should consider adding as part of your MLB betting strategy.

1. Betting on Underdogs

Betting on underdogs in MLB obviously means a potentially greater payout, but with improved odds comes greater risk of losing each bet. When is a good time to take advantage and why is betting the underdog so appealing?

Why? You can win less often yet still profit more. If, on average, your underdog line was +130, which isn’t a big underdog, you would have to only win 44% of your bets to be profitable. Betting at standard -110 odds (like most NFL point spreads) requires a 52.5% win rate to stay in the black.
Early-Season Games – At the beginning of each season, a lot of experts will have predictions on how the year will play out and sportsbooks listen to the ones they respect while setting odds. If you can find a couple of supposedly weak teams playing well early on, you can take advantage of them before the markets adjust. Since early lines are based on preseason predictions, those teams will remain underdogs despite playing quality baseball as the public continues to bet the presumed favorites.

2. Betting With or Against The Public

“Betting with the public” means taking the favorite. Whereas going “against the public”, means taking the underdog. Betting with the public will have less of a return on investment so you’ll need to get more of those correct to be successful long-term.

Additionally, depending which side you are betting will determine how soon (or how late) you should place your bet. Remember, public teams (like the Yankees and Dodgers) tend to become bigger favorites and while many small-market teams and/or weak team (we won’t name names) tend to become bigger underdogs. That being the case, betting early when you’re wagering on the favorite and delaying when you’re betting on the underdog is great bankroll management.

Every dollar saved or earned goes a long way towards maintaining your survival.

3. MLB Reverse Line Movement

Have you ever monitored a line and seen a favorite go from -200 to -230 then down to -160? The usual cause for this not uncommon occurrence is that the public backs the favorite early one, but then a “sharp” bettor (one who bets for a living) places a large bet on the underdog. Sportsbooks then respond by making the favorite more appealing to the public to attract bets on that side.

Sportsbooks are hoping this will balance out the money on each side. This should be alarming to you as a bettor and make you question what the “sharps” know. Betting against the sharps in this scenario consistently is not a good strategy. Sharps do this for a living and are successful; going against them a lot could send you out of the game.

4. Influences on MLB Betting

Baseball has a wide range of influences on each and every game. Knowing what they are and how to take advantage of them are key. Let’s have a look at some of the key factors that can be used as part of your betting strategy.

1. Starting Pitchers

Before placing a bet, you better glance at the stats for the starting pitchers. A matchup of ace pitchers could mean a low-scoring game. On the flip-side, pitchers with bad stats could mean a high-scoring game, especially in the first five innings. Or maybe there is a lop-sided pitching matchup which could mean taking a moneyline bet. What about a fly-ball pitcher against a home run-hitting team? Take the Over in that scenario!

2. Stats

Some of the main stats to concern yourself with are; ERA, WHIP, OBP, AVG, RUNS. Look for discrepancies and bet accordingly. A few discrepancies to look for are: (A) WHIP vs OBP – Finding a matchup with a high WHIP vs high OBP is an indicator that the offensive team should be successful in getting on base often resulting in runs scored. Same for low WHIP vs low OBP being a successful indicator for the pitcher. (B) ERA vs RUNS – A matchup of a high scoring offense against a pitcher with a high ERA would suggest the offense should have the advantage. (C) Fly Balls vs Home Runs – Finding a pitcher with a high fly-ball rate against a team with a high rate of hitting home runs would again suggest the offense having an advantage in scoring runs. This would assist with an OVER/UNDER bet.

3. Runline

The runline in baseball is the equivalent of a point spread in other sports. In baseball, the standard runline is always -1.5 and +1.5, meaning your team either needs to win by 2+ or lose by only 1 to win. Runline bets are a way to improve your odds when betting on favorites. For example, a moneyline favorite of -280 often have a runline of -135 when playing at home. Taking the runline will have a greater return and, over the long haul, you also won’t need to win as many runline bets as moneyline bets to be profitable due to the return on the bet. Note that the discrepancy between moneyline and runline odds is always greater when the favorite is the home team. That’s because, if the home team is winning by one in the ninth, they won’t have that extra opportunity to score. Also, in extra innings, the game will end immediately if the home team goes up by a single run.

4. Weather

Rain shouldn’t impact your thinking as the game will likely be delayed or postponed until clear skies return. Hot temperatures also shouldn’t matter; while that yields higher-scoring games, sportsbooks have already accounted for this element. The one main advantage you can get from weather is the wind. Is the wind blowing out or in? Meaning, if the wind is blowing out, then the ball is likely to travel further generating more homeruns. Blowing in would have the opposite effect. The wind should impact your decision on placing an Over/Under bet. Wind direction is somewhat predictable, but much less so than temperature. Look for changes in direction and speed right before first pitch and you may be able to gain an informational advantage on the oddsmakers.

5. Umpires

Until MLB has an electronic strike zone, umpires will always have a large influence on the game. A quick Google search for “Pitcher-Friendly Umpires” will show you which umpires are likely to have a large strike zone that favor the pitchers. Games involving these umpires tend to be lower scoring, making them a more attractive Under bet. Change your Google search to “Hitting-Friendly Umpires” and you’ll see which umpires have a tight strike zone favoring the hitter. These games usually have more runs, potentially adding value to Over bets.

6. Ballparks

Much like umpires, the size of the stadiums can influence the Over/Under. Another Google search will reveal which stadiums cater towards hitters and pitchers, respectively. Use this information combined with a team that either hits or doesn’t hit a lot of home runs, to figure out when the stars are aligning for high-scoring and low-scoring games.

7. Line Shopping and Bankroll Management

These are influences on all sports, so make sure you read our full in-depth guides on line shopping and bankroll management. Incorporating both of these fundamental strategies will yield long-term success. Baseball is a sport that should really enhance your profitability. With so many games, you’ll find plenty of bets to take advantage of. Make sure the key strategies in this guide are a baseline for your betting endeavors. When not betting baseball. make sure you read our other sports-betting guides so you can be successful in those sports too!

5. Try An MLB Parlay

Sports bettors tend to stick the straight up moneylines. However, online sports betting offers many more opportunities to take the best odds and make them ever better. Online MLB bettors can also make parlay bets. Whether in the playoffs or during the regular season, this is a great way to multiply your risk and reward and start to earn some real money.

MLB Live Betting

MLB live betting is a truly great combination. Baseball is a particularly great sport for live betting due to its pace. You can really see the odds change with every pitch, swing, and run. There are plenty of breaks for the odds to update, where you have some time to consider placing a wager given the new reality.

Betting live is a great way to place bets on MLB tonight. You can sign up right at the moment and get started in some exciting action. In fact, live betting is one of the biggest baseball betting trends.

There are several great in-game baseball wagering options. Each with its own slightly different baseball betting system. Here are the big ones

The first team to a certain number of runs
The outcome of the next at-bat
Strikeouts in next half inning
Total hits
Moneyline, or the final outcome of the game

Focus on a couple of MLB Bets

Betting live on the MLB is a great way to make some extra bucks and get even more excitement out of your entertainment budget. Because there are so many options, and your time is limited, I would recommend implementing time-saving strategies. This will help you make the best decisions in the heat of the moment.

A big one is to just focus on one or two potential bets. For example, keeping an eye on one team’s bullpen is much more feasible than keeping an eye on both teams’ bullpens, where the runners are, which batters are up, and how the fielders are performing. Always look for value. Find the MLB best bets today to ensure you’re in with a chance of achieving profit in MLB betting.

mlb betting strategy

Best MLB Betting, May 2024

Atlanta Braves are favored to win the 2024 World Series at +490 odds at BetOnline.
Houston Astros have +1500 odds to win the championship at Bovada.
Los Angeles Dodgers are top contenders at +300 odds to clinch the title at XBet.
Philadelphia Phillies have +1200 odds to lift the Commissioner’s Trophy at BetUS.
Texas Rangers are sleepers with +1500 odds to win it all at BetOnline.
Baltimore Orioles have +1100 odds to be crowned champions at Bovada.
Tampa Bay Rays are longshots with +4500 odds at XBet.
Minnesota Twins have +2000 odds to win the World Series at BetUS.
New York Yankees are +6500 to win it all at BetOnline.
San Diego Padres have +5500 odds to be champions at Bovada.