How to Bet on Baseball in 2025: Types of MLB Bets You Can Make

If you’re new to MLB betting, you might find how odds are displayed and what your various betting options are confusing at first blush. We’re here to help you demystify some of the more puzzling parts of MLB betting.

Wondering how to bet on baseball? We’ve got you covered with MLB baseball betting basics, including what kind of bets you can make and some simple tips to follow.

When you’re betting on the MLB, you’ve got a plethora of options available. These options include straight-up bets on which team will win the game, how much they’ll win by, how many runs will be scored, and other aspects of individual player performances, such as how many strikeouts a pitcher will have in a game.

Read on for a crash course in how to read and bet on MLB lines and the types of bets available on baseball at online sportsbooks!

What Does an MLB Baseball Line Look Like?

First, let’s take a look at how sportsbooks post odds for upcoming baseball games.

The image above shows odds for a Friday game between the Red Sox and Tigers.

There are two listings for the same game. You can discern from the date, time, and teams that all the odds pertain to the same game. The second line here is called an alternate line, which offers sports bettors the chance to bet on a larger point spread with odds updated accordingly. Knowing this is the perfect start to finding out how to bet on MLB games.

Understanding Baseball Betting Options

When you’re betting on baseball games, there are six main types of bets you can make: moneyline, run line, totals, proposition (prop) bets, futures and parlays.

Baseball Moneyline Betting

Betting on which team will win the game outright. Odds are displayed with a plus (+) for the underdog (the amount you win for a $100 bet) and a minus (-) for the favorite (the amount you need to bet to win $100).

Example: Yankees -150 vs. Red Sox +130. A $150 bet on the Yankees wins $100, while a $100 bet on the Red Sox wins $130.

Baseball Run Line Betting

A point spread in baseball, usually +/- 1.5 runs. You can bet on the favorite to win by more than 1.5 runs or the underdog to lose by less than 1.5 runs (or win outright).

Example: Dodgers -1.5 (+120) vs. Giants +1.5 (-140). A bet on the Dodgers wins if they win by 2 or more runs. A bet on the Giants wins if they win outright or lose by only 1 run.

Betting Totals (Over/Under) in Baseball

Betting on the total number of runs scored in a game by both teams. The sportsbook sets a line (e.g., 7.5), and you bet whether the actual total will be over or under that number.

Example: Over 7.5 runs (-110) / Under 7.5 runs (-110).

Baseball Prop Bets (Proposition Bets)

Wagers on specific events within a game that don’t necessarily relate to the final outcome. Examples include:

• Total strikeouts by a pitcher.
• Number of home runs hit in the game.
• Whether a specific player will get a hit.
• First team to score.

Here’s an example of what that might look like at your favorite sportsbook:

Baseball Parlays

Combining two or more bets into one wager. All individual bets (legs) must win for the parlay to pay out. Parlays offer higher potential payouts but are riskier.  

Baseball Futures

Wagers on events that will happen in the future, such as World Series betting, the league pennant, or individual player awards (e.g., MVP, Cy Young).

In-Game Betting or Live Betting

Have you ever been watching a baseball game and noticed a palpable shift in momentum? Maybe the Yankees just tied the game with a three-run rally in the seventh, and are about to turn the ball over to their excellent bullpen. You might be sitting there thinking, “I wish I could go back in time and bet on the Yankees to win.” Well, you can’t go back in time, but you might still be able to bet on the Yankees to win thanks to in-game betting.

Live betting is exactly what it sounds like: the best sites for online baseball betting allow you to wager on games that have already started. Canadian baseball fans will soon be able to participate in live betting once online sportsbooks in Canada launch.

The types of bets you can make with live betting will be the same as the ones discussed above. But the odds will shift depending on the score and the stage of the game. You won’t be getting a handsome payout, and the juice (or vig) will be higher when you bet on the Yankees in the seventh inning when they’re up by four runs. Conversely, you can make a pretty penny wagering on comebacks.

Cut-Off Times for Placing Bets

Unless you’re in-game betting, you will need to place your wager by a certain time in order for it to be accepted by the sportsbook. For baseball games, the cut-off time is the opening pitch. But keep in mind that broadcasts can be delayed, and sites can take a minute or two to process wagers. Best practice is to get your bet in at least a few minutes early.

You might be wary about placing a bet too early, fearing that something big will happen to completely alter the outlook. After all, pitchers get scratched shortly before game-time on a regular basis. (You can’t expect those fragile little things to pitch threw a blister!)

You might not have to worry about that, depending on what site you’re using. Many will refund your money/void the bet if one of the listed pitchers doesn’t start. Read the terms, conditions, and rules of all sites carefully before you start betting!

Top MLB Sports Betting Promo Codes

If you’re in the market for the very best MLB sports betting promo codes, look no further than the table below to find the top options in the industry today:

Make sure you do your due diligence on each of these individual sportsbooks as they each have unique features that will benefit MLB sports bettors in different ways.

How to Bet On Baseball in 2025

If you’re wondering how to bet on baseball in 2025, you’ve come to the right place. Applying the knowledge you just learned and wagering responsibly on all the diamond action is an effective baseball betting strategy for MLB betting in 2025, whether you entered as a novice or already have a sophisticated baseball batting order strategy.

With 162 games in the regular season for each team plus playoffs, betting on baseball in 2025 presents massive wagering opportunities. From opening day right through the dog days of summer, betting on baseball in 2025 effectively is one of the most reliable ways to pad your bankroll.

Betting on MLB moneyline, runline, over/under (totals), prop bets, live betting, and parlays are just some of the ways of how to bet on baseball in 2025. Whether you’re a rookie sports bettor or seasoned sharp, you’ll enjoy MLB baseball betting throughout the calendar year.

Expand Your Sports Betting Knowledge Today!

Looking to broaden your sports betting horizons? We’ve got you covered with our series on how to bet on sports!