Sports Betting Tips

Betting on Major League Baseball - Tips, Advice and Information

Now that spring has finally arrived, so too has the MLB season. Betting on baseball can be an extremely tricky venture as one player (the pitcher) is almost single-handedly responsible for the outcome of the game. There are obviously other factors to consider such as weather, scheduling, historical trends, etc, but if you do your homework and bet strategically, you can be successful in the long run. Below, I will explain some of the methods for betting on baseball games, and also offer some tips to help you build your sport book bankroll.

Money Line Versus Run Line

Similar to what we discussed in our Introduction page, you can bet on teams to win the game straight-up, or you can bet on them to cover the Run Line. Unlike football and basketball where the spread varies greatly, the vast majority of Run Lines in baseball are 1.5. So basically, if you're betting on the favorite, they need to win by two runs, and if you're betting on the underdog, they can either win the game or lose by one run.

Totals

In addition to being able to bet on a team to win, you can also bet on the total number of runs that you think will be scored in the game. The number will vary depending on the teams that playing each other and the starting pitchers; sport books will post totals are anywhere from 7 runs to 10 or 11 runs. Simply put, if you think the game will be high scoring, bet the over; if you anticipate a low-scoring affair, take the under. And like everything else with online sports betting, you can always parlay your Totals bet with other totals or side bets to increase your potential winnings.

Tips and Techniques for Betting on Major League Baseball

Historical Trends

The first piece of advice I have to offer is: research. I know, doesn't sound very fun, but trust me--it's worth the effort. Major League Baseball teams play 162 games every season, so that gives us a tremendous amount of information to help us identify trends. For example, certain pitchers seem to always get beaten by certain teams, in certain stadiums; and of course, the opposite also applies in that certain pitchers tend to have tremendous success against certain teams and in certain stadiums. This information is easily found on web site such as ESPN. Go to the MLB Scoreboard page for the day, click on a starting pitcher and then click on "Bat vs. Pitch". This shows you how he has fared against the hitters he is due to face that day. You can also click on "Splits" to show a complete breakdown of his numbers in many different scenarios. Take the time to check this information before you place a wager--it could be the difference between winning money and losing money.

Eliminating the Blown Save

Without question, one of the most frustrating aspects of betting on Major League Baseball is the bullpen blowing a game in which they had the lead. You're cruising along, on the verge of winning some money and then boom--the closer blows a save and you lose your bet. Most online sport books offer a way to eliminate this from happening--it's called a First Half or First 5 Inning Bet. Instead of needing your team to win the game, you just need them to have the lead after the first five innings of the game have been played. This option is not without risk, of course, but you place your faith in the hands of the starting pitcher instead of always-shaky bullpens that populate Major League Baseball. The First Five Inning bet is particularly inviting when a true Ace like Roy Halladay or Tim Lincecum is starting the game.

I would recommend keeping your bets smaller during baseball season. It's a long grind, and the ultimate goal is always to slowly but surely build the bankroll up for football season, when the real gambling fun begins. If you don't get too carried away, do you homework and bet strategically--you can win money betting on Major League Baseball.

Check out more of our sports betting tips articles to become a smarter sports better. Knowledge is power, folks.  Best of luck, and please gamble responsibly!

  --ajec

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