Understand the Moneyline
The moneyline is one of the most common bets in baseball wagering at www.streakforthecash.com. It simply involves picking which team you think will win the game. If the moneyline odds for a team are negative (e.g. -150), this means you would need to bet $150 to win $100 on that team. Positive moneyline odds (e.g. +130) indicate how much you would win if you bet $100. Favorites have negative odds while underdogs have positive odds. When assessing moneyline value, consider things like starting pitchers, injuries, and recent team performance.
Shop For the Best Lines
The moneyline odds for a MLB game will vary across different sportsbooks. Oddsmakers all have their own methods for setting lines. Doing your homework and finding the best price on the team you want to bet can make a big difference in long term profits. Opening multiple sports betting accounts gives you the ability to compare lines and wager where you have the edge. Be sure to factor in things like juice and vig when line shopping.
Know When to Bet Totals
Betting on the total or over/under for a MLB game can often provide more value than the moneyline. Sportsbooks are pretty sharp on setting straight up prices. The total, however, involves predicting how many total runs the two teams will combine for. This is much harder to consistently pinpoint. Pay attention to matchup factors like the over or under tendencies of starting pitchers, bullpens, batters, and ballparks. Weather can also impact the total.
Follow Advanced Statistics
Relying solely on a team’s win-loss record isn’t enough when betting on baseball. You need to look at predictive stats and metrics to gain an edge. Some key ones to know are OPS (on-base plus slugging), WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched), xFIP (expected fielding independent pitching), hard hit rate, exit velocity, and more. Stats like these that analyze underlying performance and skillset can help uncover betting value on teams or players the public may be underestimating.
Manage Your Bankroll
Proper bankroll management is vital if you want to bet on MLB long term. Have a budget and stick to bet sizes that are a small percentage (1-5%) of your bankroll. Incrementally increase your bets as your bankroll grows. Avoid tilting and chasing losses by being disciplined. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Maximize profits and minimize losses by knowing when to increase and decrease bet amounts based on your results and bankroll fluctuations. Baseball has a long season so take advantage of the large sample size.
In summary, being a winning MLB bettor requires shopping for the best lines, understanding advanced analytics, betting totals and props in smart spots, managing your bankroll, and finding soft lines that the average public bettor misses. It’s a game of margins, so gaining any advantage you can against the sportsbooks is crucial over the long haul of a baseball season with thousands of games. If you pay attention to the details and follow a disciplined approach, profits will follow in America’s pastime.
