“Err… isn’t it just rounders with gloves?” We’ve heard the jokes before. Some wise guy in the pub still thinks it’s funny to laugh at baseball, despite being a massive cricket fan.
Baseball isn’t the biggest sport in the UK or Ireland but its popularity is growing. Punters are finding that betting on baseball – especially with live streams and in-play odds available – is a great sport to get into.
If you’re new to the game and haven’t bet on baseball before then don’t worry. Paddy’s got you covered with our quick guide to baseball bets. From understanding the core markets to figuring out how the scoring works, we’re here to help!
How to bet on baseball
You can bet on Major League Baseball at Paddy Power simply by signing up and making your first deposit. Our baseball odds are located in the same place on the Paddy Power website and app, so it’s easy to come back to it time and again.
You’ll see all upcoming games, any live games currently taking place, and a list of the outright odds where you can bet on the World Series winner and other similar markets.
To bet, simply click on the odds you want to follow and enter your stake in the bet slip. Hit the ‘Place Bet’ button to complete the bet and then sit back to follow the game.
Baseball betting is just the same as betting on any other sport. The odds reflect the likelihood of something happening. The longer the odds, the more you win but the less likely it is to occur.
Fenway Park is an iconic baseball stadium
Baseball betting odds you need to know
New baseball betting fans might not know all the rules to the game and how this affects the odds. Well, we’re not going to talk you through the full rulebook here. Below are the very basics to how baseball betting works in relation to the sport’s rules of play:
You win by scoring the most runs – There are no draws in baseball. Teams earn a run when a player successfully makes it round all four bases after being ‘at bat’. If a player hits the ball into the stands then they can trot around the bases and score a home run.
Innings matter – Each team has nine innings in a game. An innings ends when a third batter is ‘out’. This happens after either being caught, run out when running to a base, or struck out when they miss three pitches of the ball. You can bet on the correct score in each inning when betting on live baseball.
Pitchers rule the show – Baseball pitchers set the tone for games. They need to throw three strikes to get a batter out, or hope the hitter is caught when they hit the ball or run out. You can bet on a pitcher not having a run scored against them, or how many innings they pitch.
Scores are tight – The beauty of baseball betting compared to, say, cricket betting or basketball betting, is you can confidently bet on the final score. The most common score in MLB over the past century is 3-2. If you’re betting on the scores then this is a good place to start.
Home runs are great – You can bet on a player to hit a home run during a match. This is a simple bet and usually reserved for the big ‘sluggers’ in each team. A home run carries far more value than, say, a six in cricket. It can turn a game, especially if there are other batters located on the bases.
Run lines – Another popular baseball bet type is ‘run lines’. Here, you can bet on a team to win the game with a positive or negative weight added to their total runs. It’s much the same as handicaps in football. So, if you think the Athletics will crush the Cubs, you could bet on Oakland -3.5. They need to win by four runs for you to win your bet.
Alternative run lines is a popular baseball bet
Baseball betting tips
Now you know how to bet on baseball and what the core odds are, it’s time to look at some MLB betting tips. These are designed to give you an easier start to your journey as a baseball punter.
Expert bettors will have heard this stuff before but it’s important to master the basics.
Scrutinise the home team – Home field advantage in baseball is a thing – but not as important as in football. Hosts in the MLB win 54% of home games. This is a narrow margin but it’s important to know because you shouldn’t rely on the hosts winning a game purely because they have more fans in the stadium. If the odds suggest a home team is not guaranteed to win then this might be your chance to back the away team.
Play the runs – The most common score in MLB is 3-2 and the average runs per team over the season is 4.62. You can therefore confidently set the bar at between eight and nine runs for any game. Use this as your benchmark when betting on runs. Are there some mean pitchers on both teams? If so then perhaps the game will feature few runs. Do your research and place a smarter bet.
Back the sluggers – Baseball teams are allowed one designated hitter who doesn’t field. All they do is wait to step up to the plate and try to fire the ball into the stands. These are the guys you should keep an eye on when betting on home runs. Most favourites are around 4.00 to score a home run, which suggests a 25% probability. This is a good starting point when you’re deciding to back a slugger. Not all top-hitters are DHs, so keep an eye on the form books too before deciding who to bet on.