Last Updated on January 23, 2026 12:51 pm by admin_001
MLB betting odds give you action every single day from April through October. With 15 games on most nights and 162-game schedules for every team, baseball offers more betting opportunities than any other major sport. Our odds comparison tool tracks run lines, moneylines, and totals across multiple sportsbooksâupdating constantly as lineups are confirmed and pitching matchups take shape.
The MLB odds above cover every game on today’s slate, with lines updating throughout the day as sportsbooks react to betting action and late-breaking news. Baseball betting rewards preparation, so use this page to track movement and find the best available prices before first pitch.
How to Read MLB Betting Odds
Baseball betting centers on three main markets: the moneyline, run line, and total.
The moneyline is straightforward. Pick the team you think wins. Favorites carry a minus sign (-150 means bet $150 to win $100), while underdogs show a plus sign (+130 means bet $100 to win $130). The bigger the number, the wider the gap between teams.
MLB moneylines swing more dramatically than other sports because starting pitchers carry so much weight. An ace on the mound can turn a mediocre team into a -180 favorite. When that same team runs out their fifth starter two days later, they might be +110 underdogs. No other sport sees this kind of daily fluctuation based on a single player.
The run line works like a point spread but sits at 1.5 runs for almost every game. Favorites must win by two or more runs at -1.5, while underdogs can lose by one run and still cover at +1.5. About 28% of MLB games finish with a one-run margin, which explains why run line odds often flipâthe favorite on the moneyline becomes the underdog on the run line.
Totals (over/unders) set a combined run number for both teams. You bet whether the final score lands over or under that mark. Totals typically range from 7 to 10 runs depending on the pitching matchup, ballpark, and weather conditions.
Understanding MLB Line Movement
MLB lines move constantly, and understanding why helps you find value.
Starting pitcher changes create the biggest swings. When an ace gets scratched for a bullpen game, lines can shift 50 cents or more within minutes. Sportsbooks won’t even post odds for some games until both starters are confirmed, which is why you’ll see “OFF” next to certain matchups early in the day.
Weather matters too. Wind blowing out at Wrigley Field pushes totals higher. A cold April night in Minnesota drops them. Rain delays can reshuffle bullpens and change everything.
Sharp bettorsâprofessionals who bet large amountsâoften move lines early in the day. If you see a line shift opposite to where public money is going, that’s usually sharp action. These early moves often signal where the closing line value will land.
Lineup announcements also trigger movement. A star hitter getting a rest day won’t move the needle like a pitching change, but it matters for totals and can shift moneylines by 10-15 cents.
When MLB Betting Lines Are Posted
Sportsbooks typically post MLB odds the night before each game, but those opening lines come with a catchâthey’re often posted without confirmed starting pitchers.
The real action starts the morning of game day. Teams usually announce lineups 3-4 hours before first pitch, and that’s when lines sharpen. You’ll see the most movement between lineup release and the first wave of sharp betting that follows.
For West Coast games, this means afternoon movement on East Coast time. A 7:10 PM PT game in Los Angeles won’t have firm lines until early evening ET.
If you’re betting futures or looking ahead, most books post series odds and weekly lines as well. The MLB betting strategies that work for daily games don’t always translate to longer-term markets, so approach those separately.
Finding Value With MLB Odds Comparison
Line shopping sounds tedious until you realize what’s at stake. Getting -115 instead of -120 on every bet adds up to thousands of dollars over a full season.
Baseball rewards shopping more than most sports because the juice varies so much between books. One sportsbook might have the Dodgers at -145 while another sits at -155. That’s real money.
Run lines offer another angle. When you like a heavy favorite but hate laying -200 on the moneyline, the -1.5 run line might offer +120. You’re adding riskâthey need to win by twoâbut the payout structure changes completely. Use this tool to compare both markets and find the better value play.
Our odds tool lets you search for specific matchups and works seamlessly on mobile, so you can check prices right up until first pitch.
MLB Betting Strategy Tips
Baseball’s 162-game season demands a different approach than football’s 17-game sprint. Here’s what actually moves the needle.
Respect starting pitching, but don’t overpay. Yes, aces dominate. But laying -200 on any MLB game is dangerous territory. Even the worst teams win 60 games a year, and elite pitchers still lose 25-30% of their starts. The public tends to overvalue big names, creating value on the other side.
Learn the ballparks. Coors Field in Denver inflates offense by roughly 10% due to thin air. Seattle’s T-Mobile Park suppresses scoring by a similar margin. These factors get baked into the odds, but totals at extreme parks still offer opportunitiesâespecially when casual bettors ignore weather and wind direction.
Underdogs win more often than you think. Baseball has more parity than the odds suggest. A +150 underdog implies 40% win probability, and plenty of dogs in that range win 42-45% of the time. Small edges compound over a long season. Track your bets in units rather than dollars to measure real performance.
Target specific situations. Teams on long road trips fade late in the series. Day games after night games produce tired lineups. Bullpen usage from previous days creates predictable weaknesses. The how to bet on MLB guide covers these spots in detail.
More Sports Betting Odds
Looking for odds on other sports? Check out these pages:
- NFL betting odds
- College football betting odds
- NBA betting odds
- College basketball betting odds
- NHL betting odds
Each page features real-time odds comparison across the same sportsbooks, plus sport-specific strategy and analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does +1.5 mean in MLB betting? The +1.5 is the run line for underdogs. Your team can win the game outright or lose by exactly one run and you still win the bet. It’s baseball’s version of a point spread, though the number stays fixed at 1.5 for most games rather than moving like football spreads.
Why do MLB betting odds change when pitchers are scratched? Starting pitchers influence MLB games more than any single player in other sports. They face 20+ batters and often pitch into the sixth inning or beyond. When an expected starter gets scratched, sportsbooks immediately adjust odds to reflect the replacementâsometimes by 50 cents or more on the moneyline.
What time do MLB lines come out? Opening lines typically post the night before each game, but they sharpen significantly on game day. Teams announce lineups 3-4 hours before first pitch, which triggers the biggest line movement as sportsbooks and bettors react to confirmed information.
Do MLB betting odds include extra innings? Yes. Moneyline and run line bets include extra inningsâthe game plays until there’s a winner and that result determines your bet. Totals also include extra innings unless you specifically bet a “9 innings” or “regulation” total, which some sportsbooks offer as an alternative.
What is the run line in baseball betting? The run line is baseball’s point spread, set at 1.5 runs for nearly every game. Betting the favorite at -1.5 means they must win by two or more runs. Betting the underdog at +1.5 means they can lose by one run (or win) and your bet cashes. About 28% of MLB games end with a one-run margin.
How do ballparks affect MLB betting totals? Ballpark dimensions, altitude, and weather all influence scoring. Coors Field in Denver boosts offense by roughly 10% due to thin air that lets balls carry farther. Pitcher-friendly parks like Oracle Park in San Francisco suppress runs. Sportsbooks account for these factors when setting totals.
Should I bet the moneyline or run line in MLB? It depends on price and confidence level. The run line offers better payouts on favorites but requires a two-run win. If you believe a favorite wins comfortably, the -1.5 run line provides more value than a steep moneyline. For close games or underdogs, the moneyline or +1.5 run line often makes more sense. Compare both markets using our line shopping guide.
Bet Responsibly on MLB Games
Sports betting should be entertainment, not a financial strategy. Set a budget before the season starts and stick to it regardless of results. If betting stops being fun or starts affecting other areas of your life, resources are available.
The National Council on Problem Gambling offers confidential support at 1-800-522-4700. Most legal sportsbooks also provide self-exclusion tools and deposit limitsâuse them proactively rather than waiting until you need them.