How we rate the best MLB Betting Sites
Wondering how we came to our ratings of the best MLB betting sites? Here are the factors that affect our rankings and recommendations.
- Range of sports, markets, and bet types – A great sportsbook will offer MLB betting as well as betting on other top leagues like the NFL, NHL, NBA, soccer leagues like the English Premier League (EPL), eSports, and more, and offer a wide variety of different bet types and betting markets.
- Bonuses & promotions – Given how many online casinos and sportsbooks there are, many companies have introduced special promotions and bonuses for players, and we tend to prioritize sites that are more generous and offer great deals for signing up.
- Ease of banking & payouts – Our top picks always support top deposit methods in Canada like Interac, Visa, and Mastercard, and make it easy to withdraw your winnings in a timely manner.
- Safety, security & customer support – When rating MLB betting sites, we look for high levels of security like HTTPS and 256-bit encryption for your data. Great customer support is also a must – gamblers must always be able to contact their sportsbook with questions and issues and get a fast response.
- Mobile support – Mobile gambling is becoming very common, so we look for MLB betting websites in Canada that have great desktop websites that are usable on mobile – and also offer dedicated apps for iOS and Android to provide the best mobile betting experience.
Understanding MLB Betting
This guide will help you grasp the key concepts of MLB betting, distinguish it from other sports betting, and explore different types of MLB bets.
Betting Terms and Concepts
Grasping MLB betting terms is crucial. Moneyline bets are straightforward, involving picking a game’s winner. Run lines function like point spreads in other sports, where the favorite has runs deducted and the underdog gets runs added. Parlays combine multiple bets for higher payouts, but all selections must win.
Over/under bets involve predicting the total runs scored in a game. Futures are long-term bets placed on outcomes like season win totals or championship winners. Prop bets focus on specific player or team achievements during a game. Understanding these terms enhances betting strategy and prevents confusion.
How MLB Betting Differs from Other Sports
MLB betting has unique characteristics. Unlike basketball or football, which use point spreads commonly, baseball relies on moneyline and run line bets. The frequent play of MLB games—162 per season—creates many betting opportunities.
Weather conditions play a significant role in MLB betting. Rain can delay or shorten games, impacting bets differently than in indoor sports. Steady performances by starting pitchers provide more predictability compared to the fluctuating nature of single-player impact in sports like basketball.
In addition, MLB’s focus on statistics such as batting averages, pitcher ERA (Earned Run Average), and WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched) gives bettors more data to inform their wagers. This heavy reliance on analytics sets it apart from other sports betting landscapes.
Different Types of MLB Bets
MLB bettors have a variety of bet types at their disposal. Moneyline bets require choosing a game winner, straightforward for beginners. Run line bets adjust final scores to create more balanced wagers. For example, if a team is a -1.5 favorite, they must win by 2 or more runs for bettors to profit.
Prop bets focus on individual player performances or specific game occurrences, such as a player hitting a home run. Futures bets predict outcomes far in advance, such as World Series winners or season total wins. These long-term bets can offer higher payouts.
Lastly, over/under bets involve betting on the total runs scored in a game, adding another layer of strategy. This wide range of betting options allows bettors to diversify their strategies and potentially increase their chances of winning.
Which MLB Games Are Good To Bet On?
All MLB games are great to bet on. You can bet during the preseason if you want. This provides unique opportunities to scope out each team and their performance, and inform later-season betting.
Regular season MLB games are plentiful, too. There are 30 teams and they play 162 games each – so there are, quite literally, thousands of games to choose from, and you can always find favorable odds with a little bit of research and groundwork.
The postseason and the MLB finals are also popular for sports betting. You can bet on individual game outcomes, make special bets such as a total number of runs, or bet on the outcome of the entire series.
Which leagues are the most important in baseball betting?
Wondering which leagues are the most important in baseball betting? Here is an overview of the top baseball leagues you may want to bet on in Canada.
MLB
MLB is the most important baseball league in the world. MLB games are bet upon far more often than any other baseball league, and every Canadian sportsbook will accept bets on MLB games. From individual game bets to series bets, post-season, and championship bets, there are plenty of options.
AAA Baseball
Also known as Minor League Baseball, this “farm system” is part of the MLB, and is designed for developing players. The games are typically in smaller markets and are not always televised, so they can be harder to bet on, but more gambling websites have been adding support for AAA baseball games in recent years.
NPB
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) is widely accepted as the second most important baseball league in the world, but it’s relatively hard to find betting opportunities on NPB baseball on most Canadian sports betting websites.
KBO
Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) is ranked behind the NPB, and also offers gambling opportunities to baseball fans. Again, though, since it’s a non-English league, it can be harder to find games to bet on, or to find statistics that will keep you informed during the season.
Which markets are usually available for gamblers when betting online?
The MLB offers a huge variety of betting markets. A few of the most common types of bets in baseball include:
- Money lines
- Over/unders
- Run lines (betting on wins with a point spread)
- Point spreads
- Parlays
- First Five Innings
- Proposition bets, such as R + H + E (the total Number of Runs, Hits, and Errors in a game)
The Odds in the MLB
Odds in the MLB can vary by a wide margin depending on the betting platform you’re using, their sports betting software, the vig each operator takes, and more. It’s a good idea to compare odds across multiple platforms whenever you can to find the best possible bet.
Short-term bets, such as wagering on the outcome of one game or a series, are common in the MLB. Long-term bets, such as betting on the World Series or National League/American League Champion or MLB MVP are also very common. Let’s take a deeper look at the odds in the MLB, short-term and long-term bets, and more.
Odds ranges in the MLB
Odds ranges for individual games in the MLB can vary quite a bit. It’s common for even matches to have odds of -115 or -120 for the favorite, with +115 or +120 for the underdog. But for more lopsided matches, you’ll see much different odds.
In the first game of the 2019 World Series, for example, the Houston Astros had odds of -213, with the Washington Nationals at odds of +175. And when the playoffs started, the Nationals had even less favorable odds of +1500.
What can gamblers bet on when it comes to the MLB?
In MLB, common bets include 1×3 bets, system bets, and accumulator bets. Parlays and combo bets are also supported by most online sportsbooks.
The odds limitations can vary quite a bit, depending on the matchup and your chosen online sportsbook in Canada. The maximum combined odds and total maximum bet will also vary a lot based on the matchup.
Short-term betting in the MLB
Short-term betting in MLB can be done on a game-by-game basis. However, teams typically play at least two or more consecutive matches against each other, so the outcomes of multiple matches can also be bet upon.
There are also a lot of special bets available for individual games – predicting the number of strikeouts, the score, or even the number of times a pitcher is swapped out during the game, for example.
Long-term betting in the MLB
Long-term betting in the MLB usually consists of predicting the outcomes of the World Series, or the American or National League championship.
The advantage of long-term betting is that, since baseball seasons are long and consist of so many games, it’s possible for underdogs to rise to the top rapidly. Many MLB gamblers choose to bet on both long-term outcomes and individual games for this reason.
Live betting/In-Play betting in the MLB
If you love live and in-play betting, MLB is a great sport to follow. You can bet on the individual outcome of every single at-bat, and make other special bets about the total thrown pitches in a half-inning, total strikeouts, total hits in the game, and much more.
The stars in the MLB
Wondering who some of the most famous MLB players are? Here are some of the highest-tier athletes in this baseball league.
Mike Trout
Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels has won the American League MVP award three years in a row. In the 2019 season, he slammed 45 home runs in 124 games, with 104 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, and an overall on-base percentage of .438.
Christian Yelich
Though Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers missed the last 18 games of the 2019 season with a fractured kneecap, he still came second to Cody Bellinger in the NL MVP Award, with 44 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and a National League-leading batting average of .329.
Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers was the American League MVP in 2018, and finished the 2019 season with 29 home runs, 40 doubles, 16 base steals, and a staggering .915 OPS (on-base-plus-slugging), earning him his third Silver Slugger and fourth Gold Glove.
Cody Bellinger
Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers was the 2017 Rookie of the Year, and the 2019 National League MVP with a 1.035 OPS, 115 RBIs, 47 home runs, and a massive .305 batting average. In his first three seasons, he has averaged 37 home runs and 96 RBIs, making him one of the most promising young players in the league.
The best MLB teams
Looking for a few teams to bet on or follow? Here are a few of the top teams in the MLB to look out for.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a deep bench full of talent like Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts, and recently added top pitchers like Pedro Baez and Brusdar Graterol to build a more consistent bullpen, making them a top team to look out for in future MLB seasons.
New York Yankees
The Yankees are always near the top of MLB rankings thanks to their ability to attract world-class talent including Giancarlo Stanton, Aroldis Chapman, Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, and Gleyber Torres. Thanks to their deep stable of pitchers and sluggers, the Yankees are sure to be competitive in 2020 and beyond.
Houston Astros
Though star pitcher Justin Verlander was injured before the 2020 season, other pitchers like Jose Urquidy and Josh James are there to pick up the slack for the Astros, which also has plenty of sluggers in players like Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and George Springer.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are loaded with sluggers, and have a devastating batting line-up with talent like Miguel Sano, Luis Arraez, and Byron Buxton – as well as a great bullpen, with Rich Hill and the recent additions of Homer Bailey and Kenta Maeda.
Advanced MLB Betting Techniques
Mastering advanced techniques in MLB betting involves using data-driven insights from sabermetrics, optimizing live betting strategies, and understanding bullpen strengths. These approaches can significantly enhance winning probabilities.
Using Sabermetrics in Betting
Sabermetrics offers a comprehensive analytical toolset that goes beyond traditional statistics. Bettors use metrics like Wins Above Replacement (WAR), Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP), and Weighted On-Base Average (wOBA).
WAR measures a player’s total contributions and overall value. FIP isolates a pitcher’s responsibility by excluding the effects of fielders. wOBA quantifies a player’s overall offensive contributions. By incorporating these advanced stats, bettors can make more informed decisions on player and team performances.
Live Betting Strategy
Live betting allows gamblers to place bets during the game, adjusting to real-time developments. Key strategies include watching for momentum shifts and player fatigue.
For example, if a key player gets injured or the starting pitcher loses effectiveness, these events create new betting opportunities. Tracking these changes can help in making profitable decisions.
Additionally, considering in-game statistics, such as the number of pitches thrown or the bullpen activity, can provide crucial insights.
Leveraging Bullpen Strength
Understanding the bullpen is essential in MLB betting. Bullpen strength can greatly influence the game’s final outcome, especially in close matches.
Key metrics to consider are bullpen ERA, WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched), and strikeout rates. A strong bullpen can close out games, while a weak bullpen might jeopardize leads. By analyzing these statistics, bettors can predict how a team’s bullpen might perform in different game scenarios.
Betting on teams with reliable late-inning relievers or fading those with struggling bullpens can offer an edge. Identifying trends in bullpen usage also aids in determining when a team might be overextended.
These techniques, when implemented correctly, can give any bettor an upper hand in the complex world of MLB betting.
Betting On The MLB Is A Great Choice For Any Baseball Fan
If you love baseball, betting on the MLB is a no-brainer. Gambling on baseball is a great chance to dig deeply into the stats recorded about all MLB games, find unique bet opportunities that are being overlooked by the general public, and win big.
Even if you’ve never gambled on sports before, the MLB is a great league to bet on, thanks to the high volume of games and depth of recorded statistics. If you’re a baseball fan, you’ll have a great time betting on the MLB using any of our above-recommended sports betting platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section covers various aspects of MLB betting, including popular betting terms, strategies for success, and recommended platforms.
How does the -1.5 run line work in baseball betting?
The run line in baseball betting often stands at 1.5 in either direction. If you bet on the favorite at -1.5, they need to win by at least two runs for your bet to be successful. On the other hand, betting on the underdog at +1.5 means they can either win outright or lose by one run, and you still win the wager.
Can you explain what ‘ha’ means in MLB betting strategies?
In MLB betting parlance, ‘ha’ typically stands for ‘home advantage.’ This concept suggests that home teams might perform better due to familiarity with their home park and local support. When analyzing bets, considering ‘home advantage’ can provide an edge in predicting outcomes.
What are some top MLB betting strategies for consistent wins?
One effective strategy involves focusing on moneyline bets, especially for games with clear favorites. Another approach is utilizing advanced statistics and data analytics to make informed bets. It’s also crucial to manage your bankroll wisely, avoiding large bets on single games to reduce risk.
Which online platform is recommended for MLB betting predictions?
For reliable MLB betting predictions, Betting.com is a recommended platform. It offers comprehensive insights including favorites, odds, and historical performance data. Other favored platforms include CBS Sports and Odds Shark, which provide valuable betting guides and strategies.
What are popular MLB prop bets to consider when placing a wager?
Popular MLB prop bets include wagers on player performance, such as total home runs, RBIs, or strikeouts by a pitcher. Game-specific prop bets, such as the total number of runs scored by both teams or the outcome of the first inning, are also commonly placed.
What are key tips for becoming a successful MLB bettor?
Becoming a successful MLB bettor involves diligent research and analysis. Understanding team dynamics, player injuries, and weather conditions can offer significant insights. Additionally, diversifying your bets and maintaining disciplined bankroll management are critical practices for sustained betting success.
