How To Bet On Baseball: MLB Betting Guide 2025

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Before locking in your MLB picks, it helps to understand how baseball betting works. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to sharpen your baseball betting strategy, this guide explains the most common MLB bet types, key strategies, and resources to help you bet smarter in 2025 and beyond.

How to Bet on Baseball

Betting on baseball can feel overwhelming at first, but the basics are straightforward once you know where to start. From traditional moneylines to fast-paced live betting, there are plenty of ways to wager on MLB. Savvy bettors often take advantage of sportsbook promotions, compare odds across our best MLB betting sites, and keep an eye on key matchups such as ace pitchers or hitter-friendly ballparks.

Baseball betting also rewards research and timing. Understanding bullpen usage, lineup changes, and even weather can turn a casual bet into a sharp play. And with markets like NRFI/YRFI or First Five Innings, you don’t always have to sweat a full nine innings to cash your ticket.

Baseball Betting Options

There are many ways to bet on MLB games, each with its own nuances. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular bet types and how to integrate them into your baseball betting strategy.

MLB Moneyline Betting

The moneyline is the most straightforward bet. You're simply picking which team will win the game. The odds indicate how much you stand to win and how likely each outcome is perceived to be.

For example, if the Yankees are -185 against the Blue Jays (+140), this means a winning $185 bet on the Yankees would net you $100, while a $100 bet on the Blue Jays would net you $140. While a Yankees win is more likely, the odds aren't 50/50 as "who will win" might suggest. If you're looking for more value, you could consider a Runline bet (see below).

Another example: the Red Sox and Yankees, two playoff-caliber teams, could meet in the AL Wild Card Round for a spicy showdown. In that spot, sportsbooks might list New York as -130 favorites, meaning a bettor would need to risk $130 to win $100. Boston, as a +110 underdog, would return $110 on a $100 bet if it pulled off the upset. With Aaron Judge in the lineup (and a slew of betting action behind him), oddsmakers may tilt the Yankees toward chalk status, reflecting both his impact and the public betting interest New York commands.

Learn more in our full moneyline betting guide.

MLB Runline Betting

MLB's version of a point spread is usually set at 1.5 runs. For example, if the Yankees are -1.5 against the Blue Jays (+1.5), the Yankees must win by 2 or more runs for your bet to cash. Conversely, the Blue Jays can lose by 1 run or win outright, and you still win your bet. This can provide better odds than a moneyline bet, especially if you're betting on the favorite.

If you bet on the Yankees -1.5 and they win 5-3, your bet wins because they covered the spread. However, if they win 5-4, the bet loses since they only won by 1 run.

Another scenario: in a potential AL Wild Card clash between the Yankees and Red Sox, the runline could list New York at -1.5 (+140) while Boston is +1.5 (-160). That means Yankees bettors would need a 2+ run victory to cash at plus money, while Red Sox backers could still win their wager even if Boston lost by a single run. This bet often mirrors point spread betting in football or basketball.

MLB Totals (Over/Under) Betting

This is a bet on the total number of runs scored by both teams combined. The sportsbook sets a line (e.g., 8.5 runs), and you simply pick whether the total will be OVER or UNDER that number.

If the Dodgers are playing the Padres and the total is set at 9.5 runs, betting the OVER means you think the teams will combine for at least 10 runs. If the final score is 6-5, the OVER wins. If it's 4-3, the UNDER hits. Get a deeper breakdown in our over/under betting guide.

MLB NRFI/YRFI (No Run First Inning / Yes Run First Inning)

These bets focus exclusively on the first inning. NRFI means you're betting on a scoreless first inning, while YRFI predicts at least one run will be scored. These quick bets are popular with baseball fans looking for immediate results and often hinge on starting pitcher matchups.

If Paul Skenes is starting against a weak-hitting lineup, an NRFI bet might be attractive because of his dominance in the first inning. Conversely, a YRFI bet could be the better choice if two teams with explosive offenses face off. We have a full NRFI betting trends guide to help you with your NRFI wagers.

MLB First Five Innings Betting

F5 bets let you focus solely on the first five innings of the game. You can bet on the moneyline, runline, or totals for just the first five innings. This type of bet is ideal for games featuring strong starting pitchers but unreliable bullpens.

If Jacob deGrom is starting for the Rangers, you might bet on them to win the F5 moneyline or take the UNDER for the first five innings, anticipating a low-scoring start.

Check out our first five betting report to see how every team performs in this type of wager.

MLB Parlay Betting

A parlay combines multiple bets into a single wager with a higher potential payout. For instance, you could parlay the Yankees moneyline, the OVER 8.5 total, and Shohei Ohtani hitting a home run. While hitting all legs of a parlay can lead to big winnings, remember: one loss ruins the entire ticket.

MLB bettors often build Same Game Parlays (SGPs) around correlated outcomes like pitcher strikeouts + team win. SGPs are contingent on multiple outcomes within a single game. For example, a three-leg parlay of the Dodgers -1.5, the UNDER 7.5 runs in a separate game, and Freddie Freeman to record 2+ hits might pay out at +600 odds. A $100 bet would win $600 if all three legs hit.

Check our full parlay betting guide and use our parlay calculator to price your combos.

MLB Prop Betting

Props let you bet on individual or team performances — from strikeout totals to home runs. They’re flexible markets ideal for matchup-specific angles. Learn more in our prop betting guide.

Player Props

Player props let you bet on individual performances, like whether Spencer Strider will strike out OVER 7.5 batters. Strider's line might be higher due to his strikeout-heavy style and recent performances, whereas a pitcher like Casey Mize might have a 5.5 K line due to lower strikeout rates or tougher matchups. When betting on props, consider factors like player splits, opposing lineups, and alternative lines for riskier payouts.

If Shohei Ohtani is facing a pitcher with a high home run rate, betting on Ohtani to hit a home run could be a smart prop. Alternatively, if Strider is pitching against a strikeout-prone lineup, taking the OVER on his strikeouts is worth exploring. Our MLB player props projections model is a great resource to help you handicap the various MLB player prop markets.

Team Props

Team props are similar to player props but focus on team performance. Examples include betting on how many total hits or home runs a team will record or whether they'll score in the first inning. These bets can be particularly enticing when a team faces a struggling pitcher or excels in certain conditions.

If the Braves are playing at Coors Field, you might bet on them to score OVER 4.5 runs due to the hitter-friendly environment. Conversely, if they face an elite pitcher like Gerrit Cole, the UNDER might be more appealing.

Futures Betting

Futures bets focus on long-term outcomes, such as who will win the World Series, claim division titles, or earn individual awards like the MVP or Cy Young Award. These bets require patience, but they can offer great value if you spot trends or underrated teams and players early.

World Series Odds — Example
Team	Odds
Los Angeles Dodgers	+450
New York Yankees	+600
Atlanta Braves	+700
Philadelphia Phillies	+800
Houston Astros	+1200

Preseason odds might list the Phillies at +800 to win the World Series. Betting $100 would return $900 in profit if they win. Similarly, you might bet on a breakout player at +1500 to win AL MVP before the season starts.

Here are some futures odds and picks to get you started:

MLB Live Betting

Live betting allows you to place wagers during the game. You can bet on updated moneylines, run totals, or in-game props like the outcome of the next at-bat. Live betting is a great way to capitalize on changing dynamics, like bullpen usage or weather shifts.

If the Red Sox fall behind 3-0 early but are facing a weak opposing bullpen, betting on their live moneyline at +200 could offer value. Be sure to take advantage of our MLB live betting cheat sheet to help you find opportunities to cash your in-game betting experience.

Baseball’s slower pace makes it ideal for in-play strategy, especially with bullpen changes or late-inning swings. See our live betting explainer and MLB live betting cheat sheet for tips.

Baseball Betting Strategies + Tips

Winning long-term requires more than knowing bet types. Baseball betting strategy means studying pitchers, monitoring weather, and identifying spots where oddsmakers may misprice a matchup.

Here are some of the most important angles to keep in mind:

Choosing The Right MLB Betting Site

Not all betting sites are created equally. Some offer live streaming game, some offer great futures odds but their game odds aren't as good for the user. Checking out our MLB betting sites page gives you all the needed information to help you choose where you want to place your baseball bets.

Take Advantage Of Promos

Baseball betting sites often will provide bet boosts, boosted parlays or ongoing promotions to keep you on their betting app or to offer you to join their site. It can sometimes be beneficial to hop to different sites if you're promo chasing. For other people, striking while the iron is hot might be the better approach. See our MLB betting promos page to see what promotions are ongoing for you to use.

Starting Pitchers + Bullpens

Starting pitching is a game-changer in MLB betting. Consider how pitchers perform in various scenarios, such as home vs. away games, against specific teams, or under certain weather conditions. Strikeout-heavy pitchers often dominate player props, while contact pitchers may influence totals betting.

If Clayton Kershaw has a career 2.00 ERA at home but struggles on the road, betting on the Dodgers at home with him on the mound might be a strong play.

That said, starters set the tone, but bullpens decide many late results. Be sure to check out reliever ERA, pitcher game logs, and bullpen workloads before placing bets.

Travel + Weather

Baseball is travel-heavy, and cross-country swings can affect performance. Ballparks and weather matter too — wind blowing out in Chicago is not the same as pitching in a dome. If wind speeds of 15+ mph are blowing out at Fenway Park, betting on the OVER for runs or more home runs could be advantageous. See our home/away reports and daily MLB weather report for edges.

Betting on Streaky Players

Hot or cold streaks can create value. A hitter on a tear may outperform his season-long stats, while a slumping lineup might lag expectations. Identifying streaks early can be profitable.

Umpire Betting

Umpires can significantly impact the game. Some have smaller strike zones, leading to higher-scoring games, such as Clint Vondrak, whose games have an average total of 11.12 runs as of mid-August. Researching the day's umpire assignments can provide an edge. If an umpire is known for a tight strike zone, betting the OVER on runs might be worth considering. You can see which home plate umpires statistics are in terms of OVER/UNDERs and home team results here.

Odds Shark Betting Reports

Dive into our custom betting reports, including ballpark data, underdog report, and the best sports betting strategies hub. These resources help spot market inefficiencies and sharpen your edge.