The weather is getting warmer, the sun is out later, which only means one thing: Spring is quickly approaching, and baseball season is here.
The Major League Baseball season will officially begin on March 27, when 28 MLB teams will be in action.
The BetMGM online sportsbook has plenty of options for baseball bettors, so here’s a quick rundown of the five most popular bets.
MLB Moneyline Betting
Baseball moneyline betting is the simplest way to bet on baseball games. In moneyline betting, you simply pick which team will win the game.
- Favorite: The team that is expected to win is given a negative moneyline, such as -150. This means that for every $150 you wager, you can win $100 (plus your original $150 back).
- Underdog: The team expected to lose is given a positive moneyline, such as +130. This means that for every $100 you bet, you can win $130 (plus your original $100 back).
Moneyline betting is straightforward because you’re simply betting on who will win, but the odds vary depending on the teams’ perceived strength.
MLB Over/Under Betting
Baseball over/under betting is a type of wager where you bet on whether the total number of runs scored in a game will be higher or lower than a number set by the sportsbook.
The sportsbook sets a total number of runs for the game, called the “over/under” line. For example, if the over/under line is set at nine runs, you’re betting on whether the combined total runs scored by both teams will be over or under that number.
- Over: If you bet the over, you’re predicting that the total number of runs will be greater than 9.
- Under: If you bet the under, you’re predicting that the total number of runs will be less than 9.
If the final score is, for example, 5-4 (total nine runs), it’s considered a push (a tie), and typically, the stake is refunded.
YRFI/NRFI Baseball Betting
YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) and NRFI (No Run First Inning) are two popular betting options in baseball. These bets focus on whether a run will be scored in the first inning of a game.
- YRFI (Yes Run First Inning): This bet is a wager on whether a run will be scored in the first inning of the game. If either team scores a run during the first inning, the bet wins.
- NRFI (No Run First Inning): This bet is the opposite of YRFI. You are betting that neither team will score in the first inning. For the bet to win, both teams must go scoreless in the first.
This type of bet settles very quickly, since only one inning is needed for action.
Home Run Prop Bets
MLB home run prop bets are wagers that focus on whether a specific player will hit a home run in a particular game. These prop bets are not tied to the outcome of the game itself, but to an individual player’s performance.
If you bet on a player to hit a home run in a particular game and he does, the bet would win. The bet would lose if the player fails to hit a home run.
World Series Winner Betting
World Series winner betting is very simple. You’re betting on a particular team to win the World Series.
These bets can be placed at any time – prior to the year, during the year, or even during the playoffs. Of course, the odds will change based on how a particular team is doing.
The odds reflect a team’s likelihood of winning the World Series. For example, if a team has odds of +500, it means that for every $100 you bet, you could win $500 if that team wins the World Series.
This type of betting offers high potential rewards, but it can also be risky because you’re predicting the outcome of the entire season or postseason, which involves many variables.
New to sports betting? First, explore our Introduction to Sports Betting. Then check out our recommendations at Flip The Switch for online sportsbooks, along with offers to get started. And if you’re not an avid sports fan, you can still find some fun and unusual bets to enjoy!
