Basics of Betting Baseball

Although baseball doesn’t always receive as much attention as the NFL or NBA, it should never be overlooked; potential profits all summer is not something any handicapper should neglect. Outlined below are several basic strategies to increase your bankroll during the baseball season.

1)  Totals

Totals in baseball are the same as totals in every other sport, and this may be the best choice if you are just starting out betting baseball. Usually you can get totals at around -110, possibly even cheaper if you shop around. There will be many situations where you may not know what team will win a particular game but have a good idea of how it will turn out. In this case, it’s not a bad idea to bet the total.

2) Moneylines

In baseball, you are required to bet on the moneyline because, unlike football and basketball, there is no pointspread. All this means is that the bettor makes his baseball pick and the price paid is adjusted based on the team that is the underdog or the favorite.  One thing to keep in mind as a baseball beginner is that it’s dangerous playing big favorites. For every -200 favorite lost, you must win two to get even, three for a -300 and so forth. Circumstances like these can really set you your bankroll back if approached inappropriately. The same can be said if you make the mistake of repeatedly attempting to win the big underdogs. One statistic to remember is that even if a team has a great season it will still lose an estimated 38% of its games. Don’t get the wrong idea and neglect the best teams each time they play, but for the most part there’s not a whole lot of value playing the favorite teams.

3) Runlines

Another option is playing the runline. What this does is create a line of 1½ runs for the game, and the bettor can choose to give or take the one-and-a-half spread. This is a safer option than playing the moneyline, as a -250 moneyline will generally be around -150 on the runline. This becomes worthwhile if you don’t want to wager on a favorite team sitting on a pricey moneyline; to win your bet the team would simply have to win by two runs. One thing to note with betting the runline is the chance of a one-run final. Don’t forget to shop around for the best numbers. No matter what sport you wager on, money management and value are priorities. Keep in mind that a throughout the baseball season that because it’s possible to make an upwards of 300 wagers, the juice makes a big difference. Look for specials such as half-priced juice — your bankroll will reflect every tiny edge you take advantage of at the end of the season.

Comments