Baseball is one of America’s most beloved sports – and a prime destination for bettors. With its expansive 162-game regular season and playoffs, MLB betting can be lucratively profitable for any bettor.
When betting on MLB, it’s essential to be able to identify the top baseball bets. By doing so, you could significantly boost your profits.
1. Look for Sharp Action
Baseball is a fast-paced sport that often captures the attention of bettors. However, it’s essential to be aware of the risks involved when betting on MLB games and not place too many bets that could end up costing you money.
To maximize your MLB bets, it is important to learn how to read the market and spot key trends. This can be accomplished by studying team performance over five or 10 games, studying odds, and looking for signs of inefficiencies in the line.
One of the best ways to find value on MLB games is by betting on run lines, also known as the spread. These lines usually feature a 1.5-run spread and give bettors more room to think when making their picks than straight up wagers in the same game. They’re especially beneficial when teams have an experienced pitching staff and face off against a weak opponent.
2. Look for Sweet Spot Underdogs
When betting on baseball, always look for underdogs with great value and potential profits. These bets offer the greatest opportunities to win big.
Finding profitable underdogs in baseball is easy if you look at MLB statistics. In particular, check out teams with an impressive winning percentage against division
rivals.
Teams that compete on an even playing field typically have a greater chance of defeating their rivals than other teams do, as they are more familiar with each other’s pitching. As such, these teams stand a better chance at success against each other than other opponents due to this advantage.
Underdogs thus have an increased chance of exceeding their run totals, which has seen underdogs win 46% of their games and can lead to big profits when correctly backed.
3. Look for Reverse Line Movement
When betting on baseball, be wary of reverse line movement. This can be an indicator that a team’s odds may move against what the public believes to be fair.
Sportsbooks often adjust lines in order to create an even playing field in betting markets. This is particularly true when one side of a bet receives significantly more action than the other MLB Wunderdog.
When this occurs, the books may adjust their line to encourage more bettors to wager on that side. This is known as reverse line movement or RLM.
Reverse line movement can be a useful strategy when you’re feeling confident on one team. However, it should be noted that reverse line movement isn’t always successful and may take some skill to spot. Therefore, only use this tactic if you know for certain the public is heavily favoring one side of an upcoming bet.
4. Look for Weather Factors
Weather is one of the most critical elements to consider when betting on baseball. Unlike other sports like NBA or NHL, MLB will typically postpone or delay games due to inclement weather conditions.
When selecting a ballpark, it’s essential to consider both the weather conditions and pitching tendencies of each team. For instance, starters who allow more fly balls will be more affected by wind than pitchers who throw mostly ground balls.
This information can be used to develop a strategy for over-under wagers. FantasyLabs Co-Founder Jonathan Bales developed the Weather Rating that takes into account each specific weather factor and gauges how hitter/pitcher friendly a game is.
A higher Weather Rating indicates a game is more favorable to hitters and less so for pitchers, while a lower rating suggests an environment that favors pitchers more.
This information can be invaluable for over-under bettors as it helps them decide which team to place their bets on.
