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Baseball betting odds at VivatBet

VivatBet: The Heart of Baseball Betting

We Call the Pitch, You Hit the Win

Baseball is more than a sport: from the first pitch to the final out, the MLB season is full of drama.

Here at VivatBet, we bring you the latest baseball odds and betting markets. Back the next World Series champion or dive into the All-Star Game. We've got you covered.

Baseball Betting at VivatBet

When it comes to betting on baseball, we've got all the angles covered for the MLB season. You can keep it simple with a money line bet – just picking the outright winner of a game.

But for those who like to dig deeper, we offer a full roster of specialised markets:

Outright Winners: Think you know who'll win it all? Back your pick to take the American League pennant, the National League pennant, or go all the way and crown the World Series champion.
Run Line Betting: This is our version of handicap betting. It levels the playing field by giving a favourite a run deficit to overcome or an underdog a head start, offering more value than a standard money line bet.
Total Runs (Over/Under): Will it be a pitcher's duel or a slugfest? Bet on whether the combined runs scored by both teams will be over or under a set line.
Total Home Runs: Fancy a game with some fireworks? Bet on the total number of times the ball is sent out of the park by both teams combined.

Pros and cons of betting on baseball

Why bet on baseball when there are other, more popular and understandable sports? There are three reasons:

Baseball championships are mainly held in the summer, when most other team sports are on break. This makes it a worthy alternative to football and hockey.
Baseball, apart from MLB, is a clear small market, which means that there are plenty of bookmaker errors in this sport that can be turned to your advantage.
There can be no draws in baseball, which makes predictions easier and allows you to use various strategies, such as chasing or betting against the favourite.

The downsides are weak odds (for most championships, they are limited to outcomes and total scores), low limits (compared to football, for example) and a classic small market margin of around 7%.

So, if you haven't changed your mind, it's time to learn more about the sport. The most logical place to start is with the basics — how the game is played and what the terms mean.

Focus on underdogs in matches between division rivals. The MLB calendar has plenty of series where teams battle it out within their division. These are often the most important matches in the championship. Scouts thoroughly study pitchers' pitches and batters' habits, so the underdog has a better chance of winning. This is especially true when the totals are high and the favourite is playing away.

Since 2005, all underdogs in intra-division matches have lost -72.1 points, while against other teams they have lost a staggering -645.7 points. The situation changes significantly if you add a couple more factors.

First, the underrated club must be playing away. People overestimate home advantage, so the visiting team has an edge.
Second, a high score gives the underdog an edge, since more runs means more chaos and unusual situations.

Since 2005, the system has had a +71.2% success rate. The 2023 season saw Detroit achieve 67.3% of wins against division rivals, and yet not reach the play-offs. However, bettors still made money.

So, an intra-division match with the favourite playing at home and an equal probability (8.5 innings) means it's a good bet on the underdog.

Keep an eye on the weather forecast as matches played in open stadiums are impacted by wind. Bet Labs archive data shows a total probable lower when wind speeds >8 km/h (55.1% probability). ROI on blind under bets is +6.4%. Direction of wind is key: determine hits/outs.

Umps are authority in baseball, so VAR is not welcome (umpires determine strike zone visually).

Some umpires have stricter boundaries for the rectangle, which leads to more walks and, consequently, more runs. For others, the strike zone is slightly larger from the outset, which means more strikeouts in favour of the defence, which plays into the hands of the TM. This is the case with Ron Kulpa, in whose games the bottom passed in 57.2% of cases — that's a 10% ROI. Umpires also determine whether a bat swing has taken place. Roughly speaking, whether the batter moved the bat while attempting to hit the ball. This can determine the fate of an inning at a key moment in the game.

It is hardly worth betting based solely on the umpire of the upcoming game, but it is worth considering as an additional factor. After all, umpires are human. They operate under pressure, which can help the home team.

However, some umpires absorb the hatred of the crowd and act in defiance. For example, since 2005, visiting underdogs have been stronger in 47.3% of cases with a 9.4% increase in ‘swarming’ when Cowboy Joe West was umpiring the game. The opposite is true for Lance Branksdale. With him, home teams won 60% of games with an 11.1% ROI.

Tips for Betting on Baseball

Baseball might seem complex, but its wealth of statistics is a bettor's best friend. Whether you're betting on a single game or the World Series winner, these key metrics will give you an edge:

Key stats to know:

Pitcher's ERA (Earned Run Average): The average number of runs a pitcher allows per nine innings. An ERA below 3.00 is elite, while anything above 5.00 suggests the pitcher is struggling.
Batter's BA (Batting Average): Measures how often a batter gets a hit. Hitting .300 is the mark of a top-tier player.
Batter's RBI (Runs Batted In): The number of runs a batter directly produces. Reaching 100 RBIs in a season is an outstanding achievement.
Player's WAR (Wins Above Replacement): An all-in-one advanced stat that shows a player's total value. A WAR above 6.0 indicates an MVP-calibre season.

Beyond the stats:

Team Form: Baseball is a game of hot and cold streaks, especially late in the season when teams fight for playoff spots.
Injuries & Rest: Pay close attention to team news. A key pitcher's injury can derail a team, and star players are often rested during the long regular season – always check the starting line-up before you bet.

Popular events and sports news

Baseball Betting FAQ

What are the main bet types in baseball?

The main bets are Moneyline (pick the winner), Run Line (a -1.5/+1.5 point spread) and Total Runs (Over/Under). You can also bet on First 5 Innings (winner/total after 5), Player Props (hits, home runs, strikeouts), Run Totals by Team and Futures (World Series, MVP, division winners).

How does the Run Line work?

Baseball's spread: favoured team must win by 2+ runs (starting at -1.5 runs); underdog team can lose by 1 run or win outright (+1.5 runs). A great way to get better odds on a favoured team or add insurance to an underdog pick.

What are First 5 Innings bets?

Bet on the Moneyline or Over/Under total for the first 5 innings. The rest doesn't matter. This market focuses on the starting pitcher. If one team has a big advantage, that's where the value lies.

How important are the starting pitchers?

Extremely cause they are the single biggest factor. Always check the confirmed starting pitchers before placing a bet. A last-minute pitching change can completely alter a game’s odds. Also research pitcher splits (home/away, vs. left/right-handed batters).

How do ballparks affect betting?

Some parks are hitter-friendly, others pitcher-friendly. Always consider the park factor when betting.

What is a "listed pitcher" rule?

When you bet on a game, you are usually betting on the starting pitchers that are listed. If either pitcher changes before the game starts, your bet is usually cancelled and you get your money back. This rule protects you if something you ordered is swapped for a different item at the last minute.

What happens if a game is postponed or suspended?

If a game is postponed before it starts, all bets are void. If a game starts and is suspended (e.g. due to bad weather), most bets require the game to reach five innings (or 4.5 innings if the home team is leading) to be official. Otherwise, bets are void, except in markets like 'First 5 Innings', where the outcome is already known.