Baseball betting is growing in popularity across the UK and Ireland as the MLB London Series captures the attention of sports fans each summer.
Look, we’ve all heard the jokes about baseball being a boring version of cricket. Scepticism for US sports will always linger in some form on this side of the Atlantic. But whether you love the MLB or not, betting on baseball can prove worthwhile.
This guide will take you through the basics of how baseball odds work. See the difference between American, decimal and fractional baseball odds, explore the most common bet types available, and get tips on how to bet on live baseball.
How to read baseball odds
Paddy Power offers baseball odds in two formats: decimal and fractional. Here’s how they work:
Decimal Odds – These display the overall return you get from a £1 winning bet. For example, if you bet on the Twins to beat the Padres at 3.00 then you’ll make £1 profit + your £1 stake = £3
Fractional Odds – These display your profit relative to your stake. The profit is to the left of the slash, the stake to the right. For example, betting on the Twins to beat the Padres at 2/1 means you earn £2 profit for every £1 you wager.
Sportsbooks in the US also provide American odds of baseball. We don’t do that here at Paddy Power, but here’s how American odds work anyway:
American Odds – These odds are displayed in either positive or negative numbers, and are relative to a £100 bet. All positive odds show you how much profit you make from a £100 wager. So, if the Twins are +200 to beat the Padres then you’ll earn £2 for a £1 bet, £20 for a £10 bet, etc. All negative odds show how much you need to wager to make £100 profit. So, if the Padres are -250 to beat the Twins then you need to bet £2.50 to earn £1 profit, or £25 to earn £10.
Common baseball betting odds
Now let’s look at the most common baseball betting markets available at Paddy Power. These are the bets that newcomers will find most useful when starting out and learning the game.
Moneyline – Over here we’d call it the match odds but the moneyline is how North Americans describe the bet you make on who will win. There are no draws in baseball, so this is a straight choice between the two teams. Crucially, extra innings count in baseball betting.
Total Runs – Bet on how many runs are scored over the course of the gamete. The usual market here is around + or – 8.5 runs.
Home Run Betting – Back a player to hit a home run at any point in the game. Usually the baseball odds set the favourites at around 5/1 (6.0) to hit a homer, but that can vary depending on the quality of the starting pitcher.
Correct Score – Bet on the winner and the final score. The most common score in baseball is 3-2 or 4-3, and these scores will usually have the lowest odds.
Expert baseball betting odds
If you know a little more about baseball or have bet on MLB before, then you might be looking for some more intricate betting options.
Well, we’ve got you covered. Here are some expert baseball odds worth considering when you next bet with Paddy Power!
Run Line (3 Way) – Runs are added or subtracted to the final score, or the home team’s score if you bet on the draw. The value can range from + or – 1 up to + or – 6 and beyond. If you bet on the Twins -1 then they need to win by two or more runs for you to win your bet.
Team Total Runs – Dive into the stats and assess the average runs scored by a team this season, and against selected pitchers, to figure out how many runs a team should score. You can bet above (+) or below (-) the line.
Tri-Bet – Bet on a team to win with a handicap or either team to win by an exact number of runs. This option is often better than backing one of the teams.
Highest Scoring Inning – Back a team to post the highest scoring inning from the 18 minimum innings played in a game.
Innings Betting – Paddy Power offers baseball odds on scores of individual innings bets, such as ‘1st Inning Correct Score’ and ‘3rd Inning Run Line’.
Winning Margin (Bands) – Bet on who will win and the band of their winning margin. For example, Padres to beat Twins by 1-2 runs.
Baseball is a game of stats, which means it’s perfect for betting on. For more baseball odds, check out the Paddy Power baseball betting hub today!
Baseball game odds explained
Live baseball betting takes this game to the next level. You can live stream MLB from Paddy Power throughout the season and, if you’re willing to watch through the night, it’s the best way to get closer to the action.
Now, most of the baseball game odds accessible before the first pitch are still available to bet on during the game. However, bettors need to be aware that the odds can fluctuate hugely with in-play baseball betting.
In fact, the fluctuations are much bigger than other US sports like basketball and NFL. Here are three reasons why:
One homer can transform a game
In baseball, a home run earns you one run. However, if you have teammates on the first, second, and third plate, suddenly a homer lands you four runs. This ability to transform a game in one hit makes live baseball betting more unpredictable, and therefore more lucrative if you nail the right bet. Compare this to basketball betting, where you can only score three points at a time, or NFL where teams rarely go beyond seven points in a scoring moment.
Individuals carry more weight
Baseball is a team game but there is much more emphasis on individuals compared to other team sports. Much like cricket, a top batter or lethal pitcher/bowler can dominate the game. Betting on specific players to score runs, or land strikeouts, is therefore more common in baseball. This becomes particularly pertinent when a closer comes on to see the game out.
Scores are predictable
The most common scores in baseball are 3-2 and 4-3. Thinking about that one-run winning margin is crucial when it comes to live baseball betting, as you can use this as a benchmark before branching out to other bets. That’s harder to do in basketball, where the betting focus is on more game total points, or NFL, where margin of victory is the most popular side bet.
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW