This table makes it quick and easy for baseball bettors to find the best MLB odds available on each game. Simply find the sportsbook offering the best odds on your pick and then click through to the site to place your bet.
MLB odds provide baseball bettors with two useful pieces of information. They highlight the profit you would earn from a successful wager and tell you the implied probability of the bet winning.
This page explains how to read MLB odds. We will also break down the key MLB betting options, including the moneyline, run line, total runs, first 5 innings bets, futures, parlays, and props.
You will then learn how to shop for the best MLB odds, improving your long-term chances of earning a profit as a baseball bettor.
Types of MLB Odds
The top online sportsbooks offer more than 200 betting options on each MLB game. However, most of the action goes on just a handful of popular markets.
This is the most popular MLB betting option. The moneyline simply requires you to predict which team will win the game.
The oddsmakers will assess each team’s relative strengths and weaknesses, factoring in variables such as home advantage, fatigue, injuries, and motivation levels. They will then release moneyline odds on either team to win the game.
Here is an example of an MLB moneyline:
- Boston Red Sox to beat Tampa Bay Rays (-108)
- Tampa Bay Rays to beat Boston Red Sox (-112)
You just need to determine who will win the game, and you will be paid out if your prediction is correct. We explain how to read MLB odds further down the page. Use the moneyline calculator to track potential wins.
The MLB run line allows you to predict who will win after the supposedly stronger team is given a handicap. This market is similar to the point spread on a football game or the puck line on a hockey game.
Here is an example of an MLB run line:
- LA Dodgers -1.5 (-122)
- Miami Marlins +1.5 (+102)
If you think the Dodgers will win the game by a margin of at least 2 runs, you can back them to cover the run line. You will then earn a larger potential profit than you would receive by simply betting on the Dodgers to win the game outright.
Alternatively, you can bet on the Marlins +1.5 if you expect them to either win the game or lose by a single run. You would earn a larger potential profit by betting on Miami to win the game outright, but the run line covers you in case the Marlins lose by a single run.
This is a straightforward bet on the total runs that both teams will combine for over the course of an MLB game.
The sportsbooks will assess the strengths and weaknesses of both teams while factoring in variables like the starting pitcher and the weather. They will then set a total runs line, which could be 7.5 runs on one game, 8 runs on another game, and 8.5 runs on a third game.
Here is an example:
- Over 8.5 runs (-105)
- Under 8.5 runs (-115)
If you expect both teams to combine for at least 9 runs, bet on Over. Alternatively, bet on Under if you expect no more than 8 runs in the game. You do not need to specify which team will win, as this market strictly focuses on total runs.
- Note: The best online sportsbooks also offer alternative total runs lines. For example, if Over 8.5 runs is priced at -105, you might find odds of +117 on over 9 runs or +139 on Over 9.5 runs. That gives you the chance to take on extra risk in exchange for a higher potential profit.
You can alternatively take on less risk for a lower potential profit. For instance, Over 8 runs might be priced at -127, and Over 7.5 runs might be priced at -148.
MLB first 3 innings bets are graded at the end of the 3rd inning. You will find all the same betting options, such as the moneyline and total runs, but they only focus on the first three innings. What happens during the rest of the game is irrelevant.
First 5 innings bets are popular among MLB fans. These bets are graded at the end of the 5th inning. The most common option requires you to predict which team will win after five innings. You simply need to determine who will make a strong start to the proceedings.
The top sportsbooks also offer bets on individual innings and other groups of innings. For example, you can place a run line bet on the second inning or a total runs wager on the seventh inning.
These are long-term bets that run throughout an entire MLB season. Common futures betting markets include backing a team to win the World Series, the pennant, or the division.
You can also place Over/Under bets on the total regular-season wins a team will earn, or you can bet on a team to make or miss the postseason. There are season specials, too, such as the league or state that will produce the World Series winner.
Player futures are also available. For example, you can bet on which player will be named MVP or who will win the Cy Young Award.
Try the futures calculator at Gaming Today before you bet on MLB odds for the entire season.
MLB parlays allow you to combine two or more picks on separate games to form a single bet. For example, let’s say you like three picks:
- New York Yankees to beat Seattle Mariners (-112)
- Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs Over 8.5 runs (-105)
- Houston Astros -1.5 vs. LA Angels (-130)
If you have $30 in your bankroll, you could place a $10 bet on each pick. You would then receive a profit of $26.14 if all three picks prove correct.
Alternatively, you can combine them to form a three-leg parlay. In that case, the profit earned from each correct pick will roll over to the next pick, ensuring the overall profit snowballs.
If you place a $30 parlay and all three picks are correct, you will earn a $166.15 profit. That is significantly higher than the $26.14 you would receive from placing three separate bets. However, if just one pick is incorrect, the parlay fails, so it is a risky strategy.
- Note: You can also create same-game parlays, which feature multiple picks from the same game. For example, you could bet on the Cleveland Guardians to win, Over 7.5 runs, and Angel Martinez to hit a home run.
Use the parlay calculator as you consider this bet’s risks and rewards.
MLB prop bets focus on player stats, team stats, and certain in-game events. These markets tend to be independent of the result.
For example, you can bet on a batter to hit a home run. You can also place Over/Under bets on runs, hits, total bases, RBIs, stolen bases, and so on for each player. Pitcher props focus on markets like strikeouts thrown, hits allowed, and walks allowed.
Team props include the total runs a team will score, the first team to score a run, or the team to win the most innings. Game props might include both teams to score 3+ runs, the inning of the first score or the last score, or whether extra innings will be required.
MLB live betting takes place after a game has started. Online sportsbooks will update their MLB odds on markets like the moneyline, total runs, the run line, alternative lines, and props as the game develops, reflecting the score and the momentum of the game.
That allows bettors to watch the action unfold and then make picks based on the evidence they have seen so far. You will also find some unique markets known as micro-betting options.
For example, you can bet on the result of each pitch: strike, ball, out, or hit? You can also bet on the pitch type: fastball, curveball, or slider?
How To Read MLB Odds
MLB odds are invariably presented in the American format at online sportsbooks. That means they will either be positive or negative. Here is an example of MLB betting odds:
- Pittsburgh Pirates to beat St. Louis Cardinals (+120)
- St. Louis Cardinals to beat Pittsburgh Pirates (-140)
If the MLB odds begin with a plus, the numbers highlight the potential profit you will receive from a successful $100 bet. In this example, a $100 bet on Pittsburgh would deliver a $120 profit.
When they start with a minus, the MLB odds highlight the amount you would need to wager in order to generate a $100 profit. In this example, a $140 bet on St. Louis would deliver a $100 profit.
You can wager any amount you like; the numbers are simply a guide. For example, a $50 bet on the Pirates would deliver a $60 profit, whereas a $50 bet on the Cardinals would result in a $35.71 profit if they won the game. The smaller potential profit on St. Louis tells you it is the favorite.
Implied Probability
The odds can also tell you the implied probability of each team winning. Our odds calculator can work that out for you instantly. Sticking with the example used above:
- Odds of +120 on the Pittsburgh Pirates imply a 45.45% chance of them winning.
- Odds of -140 on the St. Louis Cardinals imply a 58.33% chance of them winning.
You will notice that the two numbers do not add up to 100%. That is because sportsbooks take a house edge on their betting lines, known as the juice or the vigorish.
How To Tell Which Team Is the Favorite
You can tell which team is the favorite and which is the underdog by checking out the potential profit available when you bet on them.
There are three simple rules:
- If one team has negative odds and one has positive odds, the team with the negative odds is the favorite.
- If both teams have negative odds, the team with the largest number is the favorite. For example, if Cleveland is priced at -118 to win a game and Minnesota is -102, Cleveland is the favorite.
If both teams have positive odds, the team with the smaller number is the favorite. For example, if the LA Dodgers are +175 to win the National League and the Philadelphia Phillies are +235, LA is the favorite.
MLB Line Shopping
You can maximize your profits on each winning pick if you shop for the best MLB odds available in your state. Over the course of a season, that can make the difference between earning a profit or slumping to a loss.
Online sportsbooks provide different odds on the same MLB game. Here is an example:
| Moneyline | Sportsbook A | Sportsbook B | Sportsbook C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mets to win | -134 | -142 | -145 |
| Phillies to win | +116 | +120 | +125 |
In this case, Sportsbook A would be the best option if you wanted to bet on the Mets to win the game. A $100 wager at Sportsbook A would deliver a $74.63 profit, compared to $70.42 at Sportsbook B and $68.97 at Sportsbook A. The difference seems small, but it can really add up over the course of a season.
Meanwhile, Sportsbook C would be the best option for anyone interested in backing the Phillies to win. A $100 bet at Sportsbook C would produce a $125 profit, compared to $120 at Sportsbook B and $116 at Sportsbook C.
That highlights the importance of shopping for the best MLB odds before placing your wagers. It helps to hold accounts with multiple sports betting apps or sites in your state, as you can then move quickly after identifying the best odds.
States With Legal MLB Betting
These states offer — or will soon offer — legal sports betting, either at retail sportsbook locations or at retail sportsbooks and online.
MLB betting is available in every licensed sportsbook. However, MLB lines don’t look the same each of them. Some sportsbook odds follow patterns that affect the value bettors get from their wagers.
For example, DraftKings tends to have some of the best odds on the favorite to win. FanDuel tends to favor the underdog. BetRivers has odds similar to those of DraftKings but has an impressive rewards system that sets it apart from DraftKings. BetMGM doesn’t follow a specific pattern, so it’s a must-check for odds-hunters.
Bettors will also find different bonuses in their sportsbooks. Deposit bonuses reward bettors for making large deposits and playing through them. Bonus bets refund lost wagers. Usually, it’s only valid for the first bet, so pay attention.
Bettors seeking a sportsbook to commit to should keep its odds trends and welcome bonus offers in mind. These are the most important features for long-term bettors.
| Arizona | Arkansas | Colorado |
| Connecticut | Delaware | Illinois |
| Indiana | Iowa | Louisiana |
| Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts |
| Kansas | Kentucky | Michigan |
| Mississippi | Montana | Nebraska |
| Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey |
| New Mexico | New York | North Dakota |
| North Carolina | Ohio | Oregon |
| Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Dakota |
| Tennessee | Vermont | Virginia |
| Washington | Washington D.C. | Wisconsin |
| West Virginia | Wyoming |
How To Sign up With an MLB Betting App
Knowing how to bet on Major League Baseball is important. However, understanding how to register for MLB betting apps is an undervalued area of expertise.
Finding the best app for bettors is its own strategy. Some bettors create accounts at every available sportsbook. However, most people don’t want to shop the entire market for the best odds. Instead, bettors should decide what’s most important to them.
Then, they can pick a sportsbook that fits their highest priorities most of the time. Bettors who want the biggest selection of MLB wagers should register at BetMGM. Underdog bettors should wager at FanDuel and favorite bettors at DraftKings.
Once bettors have picked a sportsbook, registration is usually easy. It consists of three steps: collecting personal information, creating an account, and entering a promo code if necessary.
After that, bettors deposit funds, click a set of odds to wager on, and start betting.
Latest MLB News
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MLB Odds FAQ
MLB odds highlight the profit you would earn from a successful bet. They also tell you the implied probability of the bet winning. For example, odds of +105 tell you to expect a $105 profit from a $100 wager, and they also give the bet an implied 48.8% chance of success.
MLB odds of +110 mean you will earn a $110 profit from a $100 wager if the bet succeeds. You do not need to wager precisely $100; the numbers are just a guide. For example, you can wager $20 odds of +110, and you will then receive a profit of $22 if successful.
That means you would need to wager $110 in order to generate a $100 profit. MLB odds of -110 give the bet a 52.4% implied probability of success. Once again, you don’t need to wager precisely $110. For instance, if successful, you could wager $20 at odds of -110 and would then receive an $18.18 profit.
Sportsbooks publish Over/Under MLB odds on the total runs market on a baseball game. For example, you might find odds of -105 on Over 8.5 runs in a game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds and odds of -115 on Under 8.5 runs.
Simply compare the MLB odds available at the various online sportsbooks in your state to determine which site has the best odds. Our table highlights the MLB odds at all the leading sportsbooks so you can quickly see which site has the best price on your pick.
The moneyline is typically the best type of bet for anyone browsing MLB odds. It carries a lower house edge than other markets, and sharp bettors typically focus on the moneyline. The run line is appealing on certain games, but only if there is a heavy moneyline favorite.
BetMGM is the best MLB sportsbook app. This online sportsbook offers competitive odds on a huge variety of pre-game markets. You can also benefit from live MLB streaming, allowing you to watch games on the BetMGM app while considering the various live betting options.
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