MLB Betting at Bally Bet Sportsbook

Major League Baseball is the oldest major professional sports league in the world. In 2023, its popularity in the U.S. saw a resurgence that meant it pipped the NBA and NHL in terms of total number of fans.

When it comes to betting on the MLB, you'll find the usual betting markets - moneylines, totals, and props - are all popular. But baseball's format also gives you bets on the run line and the excellently titled "Grand Salami." Let's get into the betting options unique to the MLB, plus some tips and strategies for how to bet on this league.

Popular Types of MLB Bets

The first step when it comes to placing your MLB bets is knowing how to read betting lines. They are pretty easy to understand, with a minus sign (-) representing the favorite and a plus sign (+) representing the underdog. While betting on the favorites is less risky, backing the underdogs can give you more payouts.

What we love about the MLB is that many games are available around the year, and the underdogs often upset the favorites. Yes, that could mean greater potential winnings on your stakes are possible throughout the year, but the key takeaway for spectators and bettors is that it keeps things interesting.

At Bally Bet, you'll find a range of MLB betting markets, including player props, futures, and parlays. Here's how they work in practice.

Moneyline

With a moneyline bet you're predicting a team to win a game. This type of bet is the most popular in the MLB, perhaps because it's the straightforward to understand.

For instance, you could back the Boston Red Sox to beat the Baltimore Orioles in a game against each other. It’s up to you to decide who you think will win the contest, whether they are the favorites or underdogs.

Over/Under

Also known as the totals line, this bet is not about who wins the game. When you place a bet on over/under, you're predicting that the total number of runs will be above or below a set number.

For example, a sportsbook may set a game's total number of runs at 10.5. Say you bet -10.5, and the Arizona Diamondbacks scores 4 and the St. Louis Cardinals scores 5 for a total of 9 runs — that's below 10.5, so you win the bet.

Spread

Baseball spreads are also known as the run line. For this type of bet, you predict not just whether the favorite will win a game, but whether they will win by a certain number of runs; or, you bet the underdog will avoid losing by that same number of runs.

Say a book sets a spread of -1.5 for the Atlanta Braves against the Chicago Cubs. If you back the Braves to cover the spread, you win the bet if they beat the Cubs by two or more runs.

Props

A prop bet is a bet on an individual element of the gameplay rather than the overall outcome. This could be a team prop bet or a player prop bet. You'll see odds for things like how many runs a particular player will score, the number of total bases a player will collect, the team to score first, over/under total home runs combined, and more.

As an idea, you could bet on the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Arizona Diamondbacks going into extra innings.

Futures

If you like to play the long game, then futures bets are for you. Instead of betting on short-term events like the result of a game, you'll be guessing what'll happen come the end of the season. That includes betting on who you think will win the AL and NL MVP awards or which team will win the World Series.

For instance, you might bet on the Minnesota Twins winning the next World Series, or Shohei Ohtani winning the AL MVP Award.

Parlays

Bettors play parlays by combining many picks into a single bet slip. Bally Bet lets you select wagers from different games and enjoy combined odds.

So, you might bet on the Guardians beating the Diamondbacks as well as the Cubs covering a +1.5 spread against the Braves. If either bet falls through, you lose the whole thing; if both come to be, your bet will pay out in line with the combined odds.

Baseball Grand Salami

Of all the sports betting terms out there, "Grand Salami" is one of our favorites. If you're new to MLB betting, you might be unfamiliar with it. A Grand Salami is both an incredible name and a way to spice up game day, as it's a bet on the total number of runs across all MLB games played on a given day.

An example Grand Salami could be betting that there'll be over 28.5 runs across the Los Angeles Angels vs. Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees vs. Oakland Athletics, and Colorado Rockies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates games all being played on one day.

Live Betting

In-play betting can really ramp up the excitement of any game, as you get to watch the action unfold and react to it in real time. With our sportsbook, you can also keep track of the performances of your favorite teams and players, and make more informed betting decisions as a result.

Tips for Betting on the MLB

Whatever your experience with the MLB and baseball betting, there's a bet type for you. But if you want to get really into the intricacies of this league, check out our baseball betting tips below.

Know the sport well

Sounds pretty obvious, but if you don't follow the MLB regularly, you might miss some specific rules that often affect the odds for each game. Or you might miss out on a bet type you didn't even know existed for the league.

Check team news and injuries

Injuries are unfortunately inevitable, and if they result in key players missing out on a game, they'll affect the odds in many ways. Players can also be ruled out for a couple of games due to suspension over misconduct. Think back to when Noelvi Marte was suspended for 80 games for a PED violation. If a team is missing its top hitter, you might think twice about a bet on them to cover the spread.

Avoid heavily backing favorites

Lots of bettors like to wager on the favorite team in a head to head. But, do your research, and you'll see that backing the MLB's underdogs can have a lot to offer. The favorites can't always win — what's the fun in that, anyway?

Focus on the stats

If you want the best out of your stake, place bets using stats. Check for the head-to-head record, recent forms, and average number of runs per game. You may also check on a player’s stats if you want to bet on such a player. Shohei Ohtani is one of the few reliable players who delivers week in and week out. Spotting someone like this can require a good deal of analysis, though.

Manage your bankroll

Betting requires a high level of discipline. We always encourage players to set a budget to manage their bankroll. This budget could be a monthly or weekly amount — never more than you can afford to lose. While betting is for fun and excitement, remember to be rational and avoid betting on impulse.

Check playing conditions

Playing conditions include weather forecasts and home advantages. Wind is an important factor in the MLB and it can affect the ball's speed. The air temperature affects the ball’s trajectory and sometimes impacts a team’s performance. You should also check if a team performs better on home turf or away from home before placing your wager.

A Quick Overview of the MLB

The MLB is made up of two leagues: the National League (NL) and the American League (AL). The NL was established in 1876 before the AL in 1901. The leagues joined hands to form the MLB in 1903 and then became one organization in 2000, which is now led by the Commissioner of Baseball.

The game has grown since, now comprising 30 teams, 29 in the U.S. and one in Canada. Each team plays 162 games in a season before 12 teams proceed to the playoffs. The playoffs see teams compete in the Wild Card Series, Division Series, and Championship Series before the most anticipated event of the season, the World Series, which is a best-of-seven event between the champions of the AL and NL.

Some of the notable franchises to have stamped their names on the World Series are the New York Yankees (27 titles) and the St. Louis Cardinals (11 titles). The Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics have nine titles each.

MLB Betting vs. College Baseball Betting

There are no significant differences between the types of bets offered for the MLB and college baseball. We offer odds for both leagues, and this includes the moneyline, spreads, and much more. The only difference is in the number of available games for wagering. While each team plays at least 162 games in the MLB, each NCAA Division 1 team can play a maximum of 56 games per season.

Rest assured that we provide a selection of odds for all these games.

No matter if you want to place pregame or live bets, you won’t miss out on the excitement when you play with us.

Thanks to our baseball betting platform, available in your browser as well as an app on your phone, you can place a wager from the comfort of your home or on the go!