Expand your Horizons – Betting on Baseball (Part One)

Guest post written by Paul Micelli

Bettors in the UK have a tendency to stick with sports that are known and trusted; after all, it can be foolish to speculate on a wager when there isn’t sufficient knowledge to substantiate an investment. In recent years American sports have begun to enjoy a much higher profile in the UK and baseball is becoming an increasingly popular form of sports entertainment on this side of the pond.

Talk to American gamblers and many will support the notion that Baseball is actually one of the more predictable sports played in the US. Consistency is a key factor in any betting activity and baseball has proved to be an excellent means of making long-term profits. Jerry Patterson, author of the renowned ‘Sports Betting: A Winner’s Handbook’, said that “more big scores have been made betting on baseball than any other proposition.”

Once of the most popular theories surrounding baseball is punters don’t gamble on the sport because they don’t know how, particularly as there is never a definable sports spread available. Although this is true to a certain degree, learning how to wager on this popular American pastime couldn’t be easier. Before placing wagers, bettors on this side of the Atlantic should take some time out to understand how the US money line actually operates.

Seasoned sports fans that enjoy a flutter on baseball will already know that it is rarely advisable to bet on odds that are greater than -140 and in most cases, it can be more profitable to look for valid reasons to support the underdog in any individual game. Statistically, betting on underdogs can still be highly profitable even if you win with less than half of the bets you place.

Understanding the Run Line

Essentially, the run line is a combination of the money line and point spread and this replaces the betting spreads that are already familiar in other US sports. Although this may sound confusing, the run line is actually much easier to understand than many bettors realise. The run line uses a consistent spread of 1.5 runs (although, on occasion, this will be extended to 2.5 runs). The favoured team on the money line will also be the favoured team on the run line.

As an example, let’s look at a theoretical money line in a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Boston Red Sox. The regular money line will usually be displayed in terms similar to those listed below:

• Kansas City Royals: +165
• Boston Red Sox: -180

In effect, bettors preferring the chances of a Royals victory will be placing a $100 bet to win $165. Those backing their Boston rivals will be risking $180 to win $100. However, the run line appears differently and would usually be listed in the following manner:

• Kansas City Royals: +1.5 -125
• Boston Red Sox: -1.5 +105

In this case, those backing the Royals will actually be risking more money than they actually stand to win ($125 to win $100) but the Kansas City side are receiving a 1.5 run lead prior to the game starting. Even if the Royals lose by one run, those backing the Royal will still win because of the 1.5 run advantage.

To be continued…