MLB moneyline explained
Who do you think will win? Find out how to place a moneyline bet on the Major Leagues.
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MLB Betting Odds, Picks, & Expert Analysis
Major League Baseball (MLB) is the pinnacle of America’s oldest and, arguably, most beloved sport. MLB betting online is a great way to feel connected to the game and become more invested in each contest. There are many ways in which you can do so, and we can help you cover your bases.
MLB: Most popular markets
The World Series is the end goal for every MLB team, making it a popular betting market among fans every year.
Heading into a new season: MLB predictions and sites offering MLB free picks will often focus on the top contenders from the previous season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who won the World Series in 2020, opened the 2021 season as favorites to win the championship, although their odds before Opening Day were +350, compared to their +500 opening line for 2022.
Eventual champions, the Atlanta Braves, were +1000 to win the 2021 World Series before the season got underway, while the Astros were +2500 longshots – eventually losing to Atlanta in Game 6.
Can the Braves repeat? Will the Dodgers make it two championships in three years? Or will a team like the New York Yankees (+1000) or San Francisco Giants (+1600) make it to the Fall Classic as big-priced underdogs?
Led by four All-Star selections in Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Michael Brantley, and Ryan Pressly: the Houston Astros (+350) will be looking to make it five American League titles in six seasons in 2022.
The reigning AL champions and current favorites fell just short to the eventual World Series champions, the Atlanta Braves in six games of the 2021 World Series, but will no doubt be in contention once more.
The Chicago White Sox (+575) are among the other fancied teams to win the American League pennant in 2022, along with the New York Yankees (+500) who are hoping Aaron Judge can continue his 2021 form, after 39 home runs and 97 RBI’s last year.
The Los Angeles Dodgers (+275) are the favorites to win the National League pennant this season and for good reason - the Dodgers won a staggering 106 games in the 2021 season and will understandably be respected once again in 2022.
Last season's surprise package, the Atlanta Braves (+425) are another side fancied to do well, they won the NLCS last season when defeating the Dodgers 4-2 and then went on to win the World Series too, meaning they have now made the last two NLCS.
Such is the competition in the National League: there is no shortage of viable dark horse candidates with the Milwaukee Brewers (+800), San Francisco Giants (+800) and New York Mets (+900), all capable of causing an upset.
Betting on who will win the AL or NL MVP is a lot of fun as it means focusing on the best performers in each respective league.
The early season options will often be the previous year’s winner and top contenders. As the season progresses it is not uncommon for contenders to emerge, while others fall out of contention - it all depends on how well they play.
It is worth noting that unlike other pro sports leagues, AL and NL MVPs are less likely to come from winning teams.
Once the World Series match-up is set, MLB sportsbooks will often offer odds on who will win the World Series MVP too.
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What is the World Series?
The World Series is the culmination of the MLB season where the winner gets the biggest prize in baseball – the title of World Series champion. With the length of the MLB regular season (a huge 2,430 games in total) and structure of the playoffs, it is often viewed as the hardest title to win among the four major North American sports.
The duration of the regular season makes it possible for several teams to appear to be favorites during the season. This helps make betting on the World Series one of the most popular and exciting sports betting opportunities.
Live betting on the MLB
Most MLB sportsbooks offer in-play or live betting with great MLB odds.
Live betting offers you the chance to bet on the action as the game is in progress. Just because the game has started, that doesn’t mean you cannot still bet.
Sportsbooks are constantly adjusting their odds depending on how the game is playing out. Live betting is a popular way to bet on the MLB because it allows you to see how momentum is swinging in a game before locking in a wager.
One common in-game betting option is the correct score after a particular inning:
| 3rd Inning Correct Score | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Astros, 1-0 | +600 | Tie, 0-0 | -200 | Oakland Athletics, 1-0 | +550 |
| Houston Astros, 2-0 | +1500 | Tie, 1-1 | +4000 | Oakland Athletics, 2-0 | +1600 |
| Houston Astros, 2-1 | +4900 | Tie, 2-2 | +12000 | Oakland Athletics, 2-1 | +5200 |
Based on the above, a $100 live bet on the game to be scoreless after the third inning will win you $50 (plus your $100 stake). Use our bet calculator to see how much a different bet total will win you.
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Image Credits: © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports, © Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports, © Albert Cesare / The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK, © David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
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