MLB Odds & Betting Lines 2025

We know that MLB odds can be confusing. Once you understand the basics of betting on baseball, things get easy — quickly. Everything will be fine as long as you do your research and keep it tuned into here, where we cover all your baseball betting needs, including reviews of the best MLB betting sites.

Check out our dedicated guide to World Series odds to jump right into MLB championship betting.

How to Read MLB Odds

If you’re going to start placing wagers on all the betting markets available from the best online betting sites, you’ll need to understand how to read MLB odds. MLB betting odds are displayed in the same manner as any other sport, so if you can read these odds, you’ll also be able to understand odds on hockey, basketball, football, and more.

The MLB odds format displayed here is referred to as “American odds“. In these odds the favourite is represented by a “-” symbol, whereas the underdog is shown with a “+” symbol.

For favourites, the “-” symbol represents the amount a bettor would need to wager in order to generate a $100 win. For example, if the St. Louis Cardinals are given -200 odds to win their next game, you would need to wager $200 in order to win $100 in profits, a total return of $300 including your original stake.

For underdogs, the “+” symbol represents the amount a bettor can win if they wager $100. For example if the Atlanta Braves are slated as underdogs in their next game at +200 odds, a $100 wager would net you a $200 profit, a total of $300 in return including your original stake.

Now that you understand how to read MLB odds, you can use this to compare the betting lines and values offered from each top online sportsbook so you can get the best bang for your buck on your upcoming wager. Each baseball betting site will offer their own lines and odds on the MLB so be sure to see which is offering the best MLB odds available on today’s matchups to maximize your winning potential.

Types of Baseball Bets

The best MLB sportsbooks offer a variety of betting odds and lines for baseball bettors to wager on, and generate their next big win. Each of the baseball betting markets featured below have their own unique winning conditions in addition to varying odds and value.

Learn how you can start betting on the MLB today with the most popular types of MLB bets featured below.

MLB Moneyline

A great starting point for new bettors that never goes out of style, betting the MLB moneyline is simply to place a bet on who you think will win the game outright.

For example: If the Los Angeles Dodgers are facing the Boston Red Sox, you could bet the moneyline for either side of the matchup. Each side will possess their own value, with one team favoured and the other marked as the underdog. Favourites are more likely to win but have less value, while underdogs possess more profitable odds based on their inferior talent level.

MLB Runlines

A branch off of MLB moneyline bets, runlines provide bettors with increased value when backing a favourite, or insurance when betting the underdog. Working the same way as a point spread, a runline is the amount a team needs to win by or lose within.

For example: If the New York Mets are -1.5 run favourites against the New York Yankees at +1.5, the Mets would need to win by two runs or more in order for your bet to win. Inversely, if the Yankees pulled off the upset victory or lose within one-run, then they would cover the runline resulting in a winning wager.

Runlines can be a fantastic way for bettors to get extra value when backing a heavy favourite that they expect to run away on the scoreboard. Alternatively, they can provide an underdog with a form of insurance in the case of a closely contested clash.

MLB Run Totals

Another great MLB betting market that’s easy to get started with is MLB run totals. Run total wagers allow bettors to wager on the final combined score of a matchup to either exceed or fall short of the betting lines listed.

For example: If the Chicago Cubs are playing the San Francisco Giants and the run total line is set at 8.5 runs, then you would bet according to what you think the final score would be. If both teams combine for nine or more total runs, then that means the Over hit. If eight or less runs are scored, then the Under would be the winning pick.

Run totals can be a great way for sports bettors to capitalize on their bets placed on a matchup, especially where they aren’t sure of the final outcome. If two elite offences are clashing then the Over is always a good bet, but if both teams are stingy in giving up runs, then the Under is likely the way to go.

MLB Prop Bets

Adding a new layer of excitement to your MLB wagers, baseball prop bets allow you to wager on specific events that may occur within a game. Baseball prop bets come in a variety of shapes and sizes with both game props and player props.

A game prop is a wager on an event to occur within a game, such as which team will score the first run of the game, whether or not both sides will score, or if a game will go into extra innings. Player prop bets are incredibly popular as they allow you to back all of your favourite MLB players to reach statistical milestones. Some of the most popular player prop bets include players to get a hit, to hit a home run, or Over/Under on strikeouts thrown.

Don’t just wager on the outcome of the game — get some skin in on the action as it unfolds with the baseball prop betting markets available at the MLB betting site of your choice.

MLB Parlays

A great way to add value to your bets, parlays allow bettors to compile two or more wagers into a single bet slip. In order for your parlay to win, each pick featured must be successful. If even one selection comes up short, so does your entire wager.

For example: You could craft a four-team moneyline parlay, and if all four of your picks hit then you will earn a multiplied payout. However, if any of your chosen teams lose their game, your bet results in a loss.

Another form of this betting market is same-game parlays. Instead of betting on the outcome of multiple games, same-game parlays allow MLB bettors to combine game lines and prop bets from a single game into one bet slip.

Due to the increase in value bettors receive based on the amount of legs included in a parlay, these bets can supply you with the best bang for your buck while betting on baseball. At the same time, they can be difficult to win consistently.

MLB Futures

Think you can predict the future of the MLB? Then bust out your crystal ball and place an MLB futures wager today.

Futures are a great way to bet on the MLB, allowing bettors to wager on various upcoming events such as the World Series winner, AL or NL MVP, or Cy Young award winners. These odds are constantly changing as the season progresses, meaning you can potentially find tremendous value if you place your bets at the right time.

As these bets aren’t determined until a later date, they often hold positive value for bettors. There could be a drastic change made within the league that could alter the trajectory of the bets’ success, such as trades, injures, and more.

If you’ve got a good feeling about how the MLB season is going to go, make sure to check out the latest MLB futures betting markets offered by the top sports betting apps and find your next long shot win.

MLB Betting Strategies & Trends: Players to Watch

The MLB season has been off to a red-hot start. Tons of drama. Teams like the Cleveland Guardians have come out of nowhere to shock the league and become one of the best baseball bets to make, especially on the run line. The AL East is more competitive than ever before, boasting must-see divisional matchups night after night with great moneyline MLB odds. The Baltimore Orioles are quickly becoming public darlings, with them cashing some of the public’s biggest bets of the summer so far.

Ever since being acquired by the Atlanta Braves, starting pitcher Chris Sale has seen a resurgence in his career, quickly becoming one of the best pitchers in baseball and a must-have for DFS players. After a “mid” year for the New York Yankees in 2023, A-Aron Judge is living up to his contract by being one of the most clutch hitters in baseball and cashing more than a few Over 1.5 total bases props bets. Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Wilt Jr. is quickly proving his haters wrong by becoming one of the more intriguing young players in the big leagues who can do a bit of everything.

In our opinion, there’s never been a better time to bet on baseball. Yes, there are teams who’ll win no matter what, but because there are so many more markets to bet, you don’t have to be tied down to one market all of the time. For example, you don’t have to bet MLB moneylines and run lines every night. You might be able to find a great matchup for a specific player prop. Maybe the total is overpriced or underpriced. The possibilities are endless.

Our Best MLB Free Picks Today

A big part of our approach is to keep bettors educated on what’s happening in the MLB and how that affects the betting side of things. If you want to be in the loop, click here to have access to our daily MLB free picks.

MLB Betting Market Value & Betting Strategy

Okay, we’ve told you about how great betting on the MLB can be. Now, it’s time to talk about the popular MLB betting markets and how to attack them. As everyone’s favourite Canadian professional wrestler, Chris Jericho, once said, “Drink it in, man!” Believe it or not, we’re going to tell you some things that people have paid thousands of dollars to learn, so pay attention as this is a gift many would beg to receive. The Tree of Knowledge is oozing with information!

MLB Moneyline

If you’ve ever bet on sports before, you’ve probably wagered on a moneyline. In order to win a moneyline bet, the team you picked to win the game outright must do just that. The team can win by a run, or they could win by 10. As long as the team wins, your bet cashes. If the team loses, we’re sorry to say that your bet is a loser.

If you stay in the loop with how sharp bettors will attack a certain baseball game, you’ll instantly notice that they, more often than not, attack moneylines. The reason why wiseguys attack moneylines is that they have algorithms that help them find value.

In the grand scheme of things, value can mean many things to different types of people. Sharp bettors look for what we like to call “weird moneyline prices.” For example, the Pittsburgh Pirates are playing the New York Mets. The Pirates are the home team, but they have a worse record than the Mets. Yet, the Pirates are -135 favourites, meaning you’d have to bet $135 to make $100. While other betters may be jumping to play the Mets at plus money, the wiseguy is looking deeper into the matchup.

Any bookmaker worth their salt will tell you sportsbooks worth billions of dollars don’t put bad lines out, especially when there’s a team like the Mets who many casual bettors will back simply because of the team’s name. So, the wiseguy looks at the pitching matchup. Believe us when we tell you that the starting pitchers help set the line. By that we mean, yes, the Mets might be a better team, but they can’t hit left-handed pitchers if their lives depended on it. Guess who’s on the mound for the Pirates? A left-handed pitcher with an ERA under 3.50 who has had success against the bulk of the Mets lineup in the past.

If the books give out the Pirates at anything better than -135, they’d be giving too big of an edge to bettors. Therein, they’d be putting themselves in a bad spot. Sharp bettors know that and they take those factors into consideration when digging into the game. Maybe the -135 price on the Pirates might be too steep for the sharp bettors to take pregame. That doesn’t mean the sharp bettor can’t wait for a better in-game price. (We’ll touch more on MLB live betting later).

MLB Futures

In a nutshell, when you’re making a futures bet on Major League Baseball, you’re essentially banking on a result to happen down the line. For example, after Chris Sale’s hot start for the Atlanta Braves, you may have made the decision to put some brown bills on him to win the NL Cy Young Award — which is handed out to the best pitcher in the National League.

For this particular example, if Sale wins the NL CY Young, you win your bet. If he doesn’t win and someone bests him in the voting (damn those MLB writers to hell), your bet loses.

2025 MLB MVP Odds

Check back here as we’ll update MLB MVP odds as soon as they become available!

For those wondering, the sharps do make futures wagers. That said, they usually tend to focus on team-based futures like the Cleveland Guardians to win the AL Central. If the wiseguy doesn’t see an edge, they usually don’t bet.

Over the past couple of years, though, the rest of the market has jumped to match what the sharps are doing, especially with futures wagers. By doing so, let’s call them “retail investors” kill the edge of the play and put the sharp player in a better position to get a price on a team that they wanted to bet on in the first place.

Are sharps aware of the effect they can have on the market and the “retail investors?” Yes, which is why they use it. Sportsbooks aren’t stupid, either. They know that the market wants to chase the dragon, which is why lines go up and down.

When you hear seasoned bettors say that “having access to the right information is vital to being a good bettor”, they’re talking about not being influenced by what others in the market are doing to potentially shift the odds in their favour.

Run Line Betting Odds

The run line betting market is the equivalent of a spread bet in the NFL. When it comes to MLB odds, most run lines will be -1.5. That means, if you play the -1.5 “RL,” your team MUST win by two or more runs. If they only win by one run, your bet loses.

Through our many years of experience, when sharps want to bet on a “stinky team” against a juggernaut ball club, they’ll usually play the “stinky team” on the +1.5 RL, so the crappy team doesn’t have to win outright.

How many times over the years have you taken a shot on the Colorado Rockies to beat the Dodgers or the Braves? We’d bet not too many. That said, maybe you have, and the Rockies have a one-run lead all the way up until the bottom of the ninth inning. The closer walks a batter, and the clean-up hitter absolutely belts a ball out to deep left field. The game is over; the Rockies lose by one, but since you played the +1.5 RL on the Rockies, your bet still cashes.

Sharp bettors have had many wins like that one. For them, the RL offers protection.

MLB Totals Odds

Essentially, totals are the amount of runs that both teams will combine to score in a game. As such, totals are bet on as Overs and Unders. For example, the total for the Yankees/Red Sox game at Fenway Park is 11.5 runs. You like the Over, meaning you think both teams will combine to score 12 or more runs. If the score for the game ends up being 7-6 Yankees, you’d win your Over bet (7+6=13). That said, if the score is 5-4 Red Sox, you’d lose your wager on the Over (5+4=9).

Sharps tend to bet a lot of Unders, especially when there are two bad pitchers taking the mound. Sometimes, IN THE RIGHT SPOTS (key phrase), books will overinflate totals to protect themselves if the obvious happens, and both pitchers crap the bed. Wiseguys will usually bite in those situations because they have an edge. With an average totals bet being priced at -110, some sharps have reported having a 59% lifetime win rate, which is pretty good.

MLB Odds Prop Bets

Wiseguys don’t usually bet props because of the limits books place on them. That said, being able to read props lines can help you set your DFS lineups. Plus, these bets have become pretty popular amongst casual bettors who want to cheer for their favourite players.

Two of the most prominent player prop bets are pitcher strikeouts and total bases. Pitcher strikeout markets operate in the same way totals markets do. The book will set a number and bettors get the option to take the Over or the Under. For example, the books we’re offering Braves lefty Chris Sale’s strikeout total at 6.5 for the first few games of the season. If you played the Over, that means Sale would’ve had to strike out seven or more batters. If he failed to do so, your bet would’ve lost.

When you make a total bases bet, you’re betting on a hitter to collect a certain amount of bases by recording hits throughout the game. For example, a single nets you one total base, a double gets you two total bases, a triple gets you three, and a home run gets you four. Something to note: Walks don’t count as bases; only hits count. You’ll either pick the Over on the total bases or the Under. Most hitters are usually offered at 1.5 total bases.

If you’re a DFS player and you monitor your lineup like the CRA monitors your bank account, player props lines and their prices can provide you with some valuable info. Let’s say you have a hitter who usually gets priced at +125 to record Over 1.5 total bases, and all of a sudden, he’s priced at -105; you might not want to bench him that night. The books are essentially telling you that the player might have a good night, or, at least, he has a better shot at having a solid night at the plate.

The same can be said for pitcher strikeouts. Your stud pitcher is usually offered at 7.5 with the Over being priced at -110. One start he’s being offered at 6.5, with the Over being priced at +105.

Of course, these are only a few examples. There are all sorts of props that can be analyzed and used to help build the best DFS lineup possible.

Live MLB Betting Odds

When somebody says that they’re waiting to make an in-game bet, they’re basically “live betting” the game. You see, as the game goes on and the score changes, so do the odds. That’s pretty much everything we’ve talked about, including the moneyline, run line, totals, and even player props.

Many sharp bettors utilize live betting to get good in-game value, especially if they don’t want to bet the pregame price. In our Pirates/Mets example, the sharp players knew Pirates ML was the play. Nevertheless, they didn’t want to buy in on Pittsburgh at the -135 as it was too steep, so they opted to wait for something in-game.

What a lot of sharp bettors will do if they’re planning to bet on the home team in a spot like the one we discussed, they’ll watch the top half of the first inning and hope the Mets score a run or two off one bad pitch. As soon they get the price they want on the Pirates, they’ll make a wager.

This isn’t a foolproof way to make money because very rarely do books give out big in-game edges. And if you get good at finding the value they do give out, you’ll be on the fast lane to being limited. Nevertheless, the option is there, and it can be useful.

Remember, though, sharps have parameters set so they can quickly determine if they’re getting the price they need to make a bet. If they don’t get their price, they don’t make a play. In other words, if you want to become a profitable “live bettor,” start building a strategy.

How to Start Betting on Baseball

Alright, we gave you the lowdown on the betting markets and some strategies you can utilize to attack them. Now, let’s cover some topics that we haven’t touched on and end this article with a bang.

1. Understand MLB Betting Lines

If you read this far, you’ll know that betting on the MLB requires some skill. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re going to bet into some bad spots. Luckily, we’ve taught you some strategies you can use to find value. As always, if you do bet, please wager responsibly. That’s the whole reason why we study lines and look for angles, so we can make educated bets, and to also avoid betting “just for the sake of it”.

2. Compare MLB Odds at Sportsbooks

Some MLB betting sites will offer better lines than others. Heck, some books like bet365 and Betano will offer early payouts. Knowing what books are better than others can lead to you making more money. When you consider the profit margin is so slim from being a winning bettor to a losing one, every cent counts.

3. Create an Account

Once you find a book you like, you’ll have to sign up. That’s pretty easy. Just give them your details and some ID, and complete the KYC verification, and you’ll be betting in no time!

4. Mobile MLB Betting Opportunities

Also, remember that some of the sportsbooks have solid mobile apps. These can be useful when you want to live bet on a game but don’t want to drag your laptop out and keep it charged.

Rule Changes From Last Year’s MLB Season

Last year, there were a few minor rule changes put in place to continue the enhancement of the on-field MLB product.

1. The first rule change put in place was the widening of the runner’s lane along first base. This is advantageous for right-handed batters as this now provides a more direct path for them to navigate after making contact with a pitch. Previously runners would need to stay within the marked three-foot white chalk line during the last-half of distance between home plate and first base. Now, this line will still be marked but is put in place to keep runners out of foul territory when a ball is hit into the area. When a ball is in-play however, runners will be able to go as wide as the dirt allows you, with the grass now indicating the limit to where a player can extend to while flying toward first.
2. Another rule change made last season was a small revision to the pitch clock when runners are on. Previously a 20 second timer, this has now been reduced to 18 seconds with runners on.
3. Also changed in the name of increasing game pace, team mound visits have now decreased from five to four.
4. Lastly, there is now a one-batter faced requirement for all pitchers who are warmed up prior to an inning, before they are able to be replaced.

How Rule Changes Impact Sports Betting & DFS

These recent rule changes have made a massive impact on sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports. With an increase in batting averages and league scoring, this has made a drastic affect on the final scores of each matchup as well as the output of each player.

For avid bettors wagering on player prop bets or DFS, this has made betting on the MLB a much more attractive enterprise. The potential for the Over to hit in a number of statistical categories has increased significantly. Bettors should stay aware of all the rule changes that are introduced in the offseason so you can make educated decisions when crafting your next DFS lineup or MLB bet slip.

Canadians in MLB History

Throughout the long legacy of the MLB, there have been several standout Canadian players that have left their mark on the league. Currently, there are 18 Canadians active in the MLB including notable players such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jordan Romano, and Nick Pivetta. These players have racked up numerous accolades for their spectacular play and have helped pave the way for other Canadian baseball players to crack into the big leagues.

The Toronto Blue Jays

The lone Canadian team in the MLB, the Toronto Blue Jays have an impressive history in the league since their inception in 1977. The Blue Jays are a part of the American League, playing within the AL East. Baseball may be known as “America’s favourite pastime” but the Blue Jays have made Canadian baseball fans proud as they’ve reached the mountain top in the MLB. Winning back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993, the Jays cemented themselves in history behind the stellar play of Roberto Alomar, Paul Molitor, and Pat Borders.

While the Blue Jays have never reached the same success since these championship seasons, they’ve sported some terrific rosters along the way. Falling short of the World Series in the 2015 and 2016 seasons, the Jays made it all the way to the ALCS — losing to the Royals and Guardians (then Indians) in consecutive years.

Some of the top Blue Jays players in team history include Jose Bautista, Roy Halladay, and Dave Stieb. Currently the best players on the Blue Jays are Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Kevin Gausman. Be sure to check out the latest Blue Jays Betting Odds and score your next win supporting this lone Canadian squad.