Top MLB Betting Lines and Odds for Baseball Bettors

The odds presented for MLB games aren't notably different from those for other North American leagues, such as the NBA and NHL, where each game results in a win or loss with no ties.

That means the vast majority of online sportsbooks during baseball season will provide an odds dashboard with the moneyline, run line, and over/under total for each game.

This is an example of an MLB odds table from DraftKings Sportsbook.

This is an example of an MLB odds dashboard from DraftKings Sportsbook.

That said, there are still multiple formats for these odds. The three you need to know about to read MLB odds and understand how to bet on MLB games are American, Decimal, and Fractional.

American betting odds, or moneyline odds, are primarily used in the United States.

They are based on a baseline bet of $100 and can be either positive or negative, indicating the profit or the amount you need to bet to win $100 respectively.

Basic Concept

Positive odds indicate how much profit you will make on a $100 bet, while negative odds indicate how much you need to bet to make a $100 profit.

• Example: Odds of +250 mean you will profit $250 on a $100 bet. Odds of -150 mean you need to bet $150 to make a $100 profit.

Calculating Winnings

• Positive Odds: Winnings = (Stake x (Positive Odds / 100)) + Stake
• Example: If you bet $100 at FanDuel with odds of +200, your total return will be $300 ($100 x 2 + $100). The profit is $200 ($300 - $100).

• Negative Odds: Winnings = (Stake / (Negative Odds / 100)) + Stake
• Example: If you bet $150 at odds of -150 at BetRivers, your total return will be $250 ($150 / 1.5 + $150). The profit is $100 ($250 - $150).

Comparing Odds

• Positive Odds: Indicate a lower probability of the outcome and a higher potential return.
• Negative Odds: Indicate a higher probability of the outcome and a lower potential return.

Quick Tips

• Odds of +100: This is evens, meaning you double your money if you win.
• Negative Odds: These show the favorite in the matchup, requiring a larger stake to win a smaller profit.
• Positive Odds: These show the underdog in the matchup, offering a larger profit for a smaller stake.

Decimal betting odds, commonly used in Europe, Australia, and Canada, are a straightforward way to understand potential returns from a bet.

Basic Concept

The decimal number represents the total return for every unit bet. This includes both the profit and the initial stake.

• Example: A bet with odds of 2.50 means you will receive $2.50 for every $1 bet if your wager is successful.

Calculating Winnings

• Formula: Winnings = (Stake x Decimal Odds) - Stake
• Example: If you bet $10 at odds of 3.00 at BetMGM, your total return will be $30 ($10 x 3.00). The profit is $20 ($30 - $10).

Comparing Odds

• Higher Decimal Odds: Indicate a lower probability of the outcome and a higher potential return.
• Lower Decimal Odds: Indicate a higher probability of the outcome and a lower potential return.

Quick Tips

• Decimal Odds of 2.00: This is evens, meaning you double your money if you win.
• Odds Less Than 2.00: These are "odds-on" and signify that the return is less than double your stake.
• Odds Greater Than 2.00: These signify that the return is more than double your stake.

Fractional betting odds, commonly used in the UK and Ireland, may seem less intuitive at first glance than the other formats. However, once you understand the basics, they provide clear insight into the profit you can make relative to your stake.

• Basic Concept: The fraction represents the profit relative to the stake. The numerator (top number) is the profit, and the denominator (bottom number) is the stake.
• Example: Odds of 5/2 mean you will make a profit of $5 for every $2 bet if your wager is successful.

Calculating Winnings

• Formula: Winnings = (Stake x (Numerator / Denominator)) + Stake
• Example: If you bet $10 at odds of 3/1 at Bet365, your total return will be $40 ($10 x 3/1 + $10). The profit is $30 ($40 - $10).

Comparing Odds

• Higher Fractions: Indicate a lower probability of the outcome and a higher potential return (e.g., 10/1).
• Lower Fractions: Indicate a higher probability of the outcome and a lower potential return (e.g., 1/2).

Quick Tips

• Fractional Odds of 1/1: This is evens, meaning you double your money if you win.
• "Odds-On": These are fractions where the numerator is smaller than the denominator (e.g., 1/2), indicating that the return is less than double your stake.
• "Odds-Against": These are fractions where the numerator is larger than the denominator (e.g., 3/1), indicating that the return is more than double your stake.

MLB odds evolve significantly while games are taking place.

Baseball lends itself to live betting because of its relatively slow pace of play, which includes breaks after every half-inning and during pitching changes. This allows bettors to evaluate the movement of each team's odds and find logical entry points for their wagers.

For instance, if a particular pitcher is warming up in the bullpen for the final inning, that might give a bettor confidence in a late moneyline wager. Star closers are an example of players who could motivate this type of behavior.

During the 2024 season, there were six closers who produced 30 or more saves, and all of them converted those save opportunities at an extremely high rate.

If you knew one of these players was entering the game, you might be inclined to bet on their MLB teams' moneylines, considering their track record for preserving leads.

Meaningful substitutions can happen too quickly in some sports to inform live betting strategies, but in MLB games, there is time to adjust tactics and make new wagers on any pitching change, which comes with a commercial break.

Anyone interested in betting on baseball will find a variety of available markets ranging from common bets to more exotic wagers.

Below is a rundown of some of the options for MLB betting:

MLB Moneyline and Runline

The simplest MLB bets are moneyline and run-line wagers. These MLB lines are generally what bettors see first in the baseball section of any online sportsbook.

A money line is a bet on which team will win outright, regardless of the margin of victory.

A run-line bet is a point spread wager. Outside of extreme scenarios, the run line is almost always -1.5, meaning that when you place a bet on this market, you are generally wagering on one team to either win by two or more runs or stay within one run of their opposition.

MLB Totals and Props

A couple of other popular bet types are totals and prop bets.

There are multiple ways to bet on totals. The most common format is game run totals, where bettors wager on whether both teams will combine to produce more or fewer runs than a specified line. It's also possible to bet on one team's output rather than the game total.

Bettors can also be more specific with their totals by targeting specific sections of the game, such as the first three or five innings.

When it comes to prop bets, there is a dizzying array of options. Most sportsbooks have specific markets for outcomes for all 18 players in a game's starting lineups and both starting pitchers.

Examples of prop betting markets for hitters include runs, hits, RBI, total bases, home runs, and stolen bases. The most common pitching props are wins, outs, and strikeouts.

MLB Parlays and Series Betting

MLB betting allows for plenty of parlay possibilities, either within a single game or combining multiple contests.

The simplest parlay bet is a wager that multiple MLB games will simultaneously have specific results. Instead of placing moneyline bets on three different teams, a bettor may try to increase their potential payout by putting those three wins into a single wager.

Here's an example of how that works if you bet $10 on three different favorites at -110 or bet the same total amount ($30) on all three of them to win simultaneously.

[DraftKings Parlay Calculator]

It's important to remember that putting multiple bets into a parlay vastly reduces the chances of winning, though, and parlay bets tend to be extremely profitable for sportsbooks.

Series bets are a notable betting type specific to Major League Baseball. Because the MLB season is primarily structured as a three-game series, it is possible to wager on which team will win at least two of the three contests. While these wagers are not available in two-game and four-game series, the three-game format is most common.

MLB Futures Odds and World Series Odds

Baseball can be difficult to predict on a day-to-day basis, leading some bettors to prefer futures betting.

Sportsbooks offer various futures markets on season-long team achievements, such as winning divisional titles, exceeding a particular win total, or winning a World Series title.

You can bet on teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Yankees to win the next World Series all year round. However, the odds listed consistently change due to team performance during the season or off-season transactions.

It's also possible to bet on individual players exceeding specific statistical thresholds or winning awards like the Cy Young or MVP.

First Inning and First Five Innings Betting

On the other end of the spectrum, it's also possible to wager on a particular section of any given game. The most common bets in this genre are bets on the first inning or first five innings.

While these intervals may seem arbitrary, there is a structural reason they are favorites among MLB bettors. The first five innings, for instance, are the period of the game when it is most certain that both teams will use their starting pitchers, and it is difficult to know which relievers might come out of the bullpen after that.

Some pitchers also have lengthy statistical track records of thriving or struggling in the first inning. When bettors are confident in both starting pitchers in a particular game, they might opt for “No Runs First Inning” or NFRI bets.

For example, in 2024, New York Mets starter David Peterson had the lowest ERA in the majors when he faced batters for the first time in a game (1.15). That performance could influence bettors to make NRFI wagers in his starts.

MLB betting allows baseball fans to engage with America’s pastime in a new way. By understanding the fundamentals, exploring diverse bet types, and developing informed strategies, you can enhance both your betting experience and appreciation for the game.

Below are the key takeaways from this guide:

Understanding MLB Odds Basics:

• Familiarize yourself with odds formats: American, Decimal, and Fractional.
• Learn key concepts like implied probability and how odds impact potential payouts.
• Recognize how sportsbooks set lines based on team performance, pitching matchups, and public betting trends.

Bet Types and Strategic Considerations:

• Common MLB bets include moneylines, run lines, totals, props, and parlays.
• Explore specialized options like series betting, first-inning bets, and live in-play wagering.
• Leverage player stats, pitching matchups, and game conditions to inform your wagers.

Final Thoughts

Betting on MLB games can be enjoyable and rewarding when approached with knowledge and preparation.

From mastering odds formats to analyzing key game factors, this guide equips you with the tools to make informed and confident wagers.