Baseball is a great game to have a punt on. Whilst it’s most popular in international markets such as the USA, there is still a good following and leagues in Australia. If you are going to try your luck at betting on the a baseball game, then it’s best you understand the different type of baseball bets available!
Baseball bets can vary from your standard bets such as Win, Place found in horse racing, they are instead rather unique bets specific to football, such as Run Line Bets, Home Runs, Strike Outs. In this article we will give you a quick overview on each bet so hopefully you can start sports betting on baseball and making a few bucks!
List of Baseball Bets Explained
The following are the most popular baseball bets across major Australian sports betting sites & sports betting apps.
- Moneyline Bets
- Total Bets
- Run Line Bets
- Future Bets
- Proposition Bets
- First 5 Innings
- Live Betting
- Parlays
- Grand Salami
Moneyline Bets
Moneyline bets are the most popular baseball bets. This is because they are simple and profitable. There are two simple steps to make these bets. In the first step, you need to pick a team that you think will win the game. Secondly, if your chosen team wins the match, you shall be entitled to collect the winning amount.
There are simple rules to these bets; your chosen team should win outright. It doesn’t matter if the team wins by 1 run or by 20. In rare cases, two teams might feature the same vig, however in most cases, favourite and underdog have different vig. If your bet is placed on the underdog and wins outright, you will earn a high rate of profit. However, if you bet on the favourite to win and it wins, you shall earn less profit.
Total Bets
Total bets are popular as Over/Under bets. In these bets, the sportsbook decides the total score of the game. Please note that the number denoted the combined score of both teams. You have to bet on whether the score will be more or less than the score set by the bookie. If you bet on more than the set score, you’d be betting over. Whereas, if you chose less than the set score, you’d be betting under.
For example:
If the bookie has set the score at 10, it will be the combined score of both teams. For example, it could be 7-3, 6-4. 5-5. To place a total bet, you have to decide if the score will be more than ten or less than 10.
If your prediction comes true, you win. If the final score is exact 10, then the bet is termed as a push. The punter will receive the wager amount back. This is one reason why the bookies always set the final score as 10.5 or 7.5. They add the pointers to prevent push bets.
Run Line Bets
In baseball, there is no spread bet; instead, they have a similar bet known as run line bet. The only difference is that the spread number in baseball is fixed. Run line bets allow the punters to place bets on the losing teams. When you place a bet on the favoured team, and it wins by the exact spread number or more, you win your bet. If you place a bet on the underdog to win decisively by a certain score, they have to win by that or more than that number. The favoured team will help you earn a little less profit; however, the winning bets on underdogs are profitable at higher rates.
Future Bets
Future bets are put on events that are not yet decided. These bets are placed before the start of a season and even during the season. For example, the most popular future bet in baseball is who will be the champion. If your guess is correct, you will win the bet. The payout odds are high on teams before the season. However, the odds shift and decrease as the selected team progresses ahead in the season. You can also make future bets on baseball players, such as who will win the MVP and rookie awards of the year.
Proposition Bets
Proposition bets do not fall under any of the above categories of bets. They are simple bets that you place on events that the bookies propose. The bookies will propose questions like:
- Will the coin toss be tails? Yes or No
- Will (name of the player) score first? Yes or no
- Will there be overtime in the game? Yes or no, etc.
These are the examples of what sort of props the sportsbook throws at punters. First, you choose whether the event will happen or not. Then, if your prediction is right, you win the bet.
First 5 Innings
The first 5 Innings is a bet that is viable only for the first 5 innings. Anything that happens after 5 innings does not affect the result of the bet. So the punter has to choose a bet that he wants to place but will only be active till the first 5 innings.
For example- If the punter places a bet on the scores in the first five innings. The scores after the first five innings will declare the result of the bet.
Live Betting
Live betting is another bet in baseball where the bettors are allowed to place a live bet in the ongoing game. The odds are set according to the current score and game stage. Placing a live bet is similar to placing any other bet. You pick the amount you want to wager and bet type. Place your bet. It is that simple. The payouts in live betting are not handsome; however, if you use your experience and expertise, you can earn a good amount through live betting.
Parlays
In a parlay bet, the punter has to select two or more baseball sides. To win the bet, all the sides have to win. Payouts on parlay bets are handsome if you choose more and more sides, and they all win.
Grand Salami
Many bookies offer grand wagers before the day’s action begins. The bookies combine all the ‘Over/Under bet scores for the day and put forward the final score to the punters. The punters then bet on whether the total scores of the day will be over or under the posted total score.
These are a few of the many other bets that punters in a baseball game and win high returns on their wagers. It is recommended to read through the terms and conditions thoroughly before placing your wager.