MLB Baseball - Umpire Betting Logs

If starting pitching is the most important piece of the baseball betting data pie, then MLB umpire stats are close behind. Also on that pie: whipped cream, because it always makes pie better.

The man behind the plate has his own tendencies when it comes to calling a game, the same way pitchers have their own way of delivering to the dish — think Tyler Rogers' submarine style or Clayton Kershaw's exaggerated leg kick. 

When you look at a home plate umpire's stats, you get to see some stats that you wouldn’t necessarily pay attention to when handicapping your MLB bets. An umpire with a bigger strike zone may call more strikeouts and often, the corresponding stat is more UNDER wagers. Conversely, umps with a small strike zone that leads to more hittable pitches and walks means more baserunners can translate that to more runs and OVERs for bettors. Some umpires appear to favor home teams, whereas others are big proponents of the away squad.

Umpire Stats - Betting Takeaways

Some umps just bring good luck to the home team. For example, Den Bellino and Phil Cuzzi have been lightning rods for excellent home performance. The home team is incredibly profitable when either of these umpires are behind the plate, adding another wrinkle to your betting strategy if you like a home moneyline, let's say.

On another front, Andy Fletcher is an interesting case study. He's the best OVER guy among regular plate umps, averaging 12.28 runs per game alongside a 23-6 OVER/UNDER record, as of September 12th. If you're looking for one more reason to bet the OVER this year, take a look to see if Fletcher is behind the plate.

The umpire stats we feature here at Odds Shark should be incorporated into your daily handicapping regime during baseball season.