Bet on Baseball

Bet on Baseball There are no other games that represent American Sports quite like baseball!

Bit of Baseball Background

This bat and ball sport evolved from a game played in England in the mid-eighteenth century and was brought to the United States by immigrants. It didn’t take very long for baseball to be declared the national sport of the United States, although its popularity has also spread to the entire North American continent, as well as South America, the Caribbean and Asia.

Along with the popularity of a sport comes opportunities to bet on the outcome of games. Betting on baseball has become an extremely popular pastime among fans. There is no doubt that placing a wager adds a unique thrill for fans as it allows you to earn extra money while kicking back and enjoying the game. If you’re new to this concept, the time may be ripe for you to learn ins and outs.

Get Familiar

The most critical aspect to becoming an expert bettor is to familiarize yourself with the game as much as possible. It’s not enough to simply know the teams involved. You should educate yourself on the various rules, which helps if you have a genuine interest in baseball. Sports commentators provide a wealth of information if you take the time to listen, and you’ll be picking up on the jargon in no time.

American League Divisions & Teams

AL East

New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox
Baltimore Orioles
Tampa Bay Rays
Toronto Blue Jays

AL Central

Chicago White Sox
Minnesota Twins
Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Indians
Kansas City Twins

AL West

Texas Rangers
Oakland A’s (Athletics)
Houston Astros
Seattle Mariners
Los Angeles Angels

National League Divisions & Teams

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals
New York Mets
Miami Marlins
Atlanta Braves

NL Central

Chicago Cubs
Louis Cardinals
Milwaukee Brewers
Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers
San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks
San Diego Padres
Colorado Rockies

Start Betting

Already a baseball buff? Then it’s time to start betting. Check out online sports betting sites, which not only provide you with an opportunity to wager, but also provide relevant information and odds for you to study before placing that first bet.

Consider the handicapping tips and look at elements such as the pitch, the team’s record at the particular ball park, the match up and the injuries to team members. The rules are pretty simple. Select your bet type, which may include futures, over/under and parlays to name a few.

Legalities of Betting on Baseball

Sports betting is becoming legal across more and more states in the US. Check out your betting options, depending on where you live in the world and the legalization of this pastime. There are some areas in the world where sports betting is not allowed, while many others provide a legal outlet. Bets may be placed legally through numerous licensed online bookies, while other privately run enterprises accept illegal wagers and you should watch out for these guys. We suggest that you check out the laws in your neck of the woods.

Factors that Affect Betting on Baseball Games

Weather – Due to the large majority of baseball games played in outdoor stadiums it is imperative to check the weather before betting on a baseball game for several reasons. First of all, some teams play better than others in inclement weather. The ball will carry better and be driven further by hitters in warmer weather and higher altitudes such as Coors Field in Denver, CO. There are also particular rules to the game that apply due to weather conditions as well. Please see the rainout rules set by MLB below. According to baseball-reference.com , the official rainout rules are as follows:

Rainout Rules

“A rainout is a game which is either canceled, postponed or suspended because of weather conditions. Rainouts are not necessarily caused by rain: snow, fog, flooding, high winds, lightning storms, or other conditions that create a danger for those playing the game or for spectators, can cause a rainout.

If the rain or other condition occurs before the scheduled start of the game, it may delay its start (a rain delay) or cancel the game for that day. The game is then normally rescheduled to be played at a later date, either as part of a doubleheader or when the two scheduled teams have a common open date on their schedules. If the rainout occurs towards the end of the season and the game has no bearing on the championship, it may simply be dropped from the schedule.

Spectators who have bought tickets for a game which becomes a rainout are issued a "rain check" (usually, the ticket stub is considered the rain check). This can usually be exchanged for a ticket for the make-up date, or for another game later that season.

A rainout can also occur after the game has started; at this point the game is "called". If conditions, improve, the game is resumed as soon as conditions permit and played until its conclusion; this is also called a rain delay. If the game cannot be resumed, the following rules apply:

A game is considered to be a regulation game (also called an "official game") if 4½ innings have been played and the home team is leading, or if 5 innings have been played. If a rainout prevents the completion of a game that has become a regulation game, the result stands, and the remaining portion of the game is not played.
If the game is not yet a regulation game, it is considered not to have started; all statistics are wiped out and the game is replayed in its entirety.
If the game is a regulation game but the score is tied when called, or if the visiting team has taken the lead in its last-half inning at bat and the home team has not had a chance to complete its own turn at bat, the game is a suspended game and is resumed at a later date.
If a suspended game cannot be resumed because of the end of the season, the result is allowed to stand, either as a tie or as a win for the visiting team.”

Home Field Advantage – Baseball is the only American sport where the playing surface and design is unique. All 30 ball fields are completely different, and home teams are always at an advantage. Even players that are playing their former team or a divisional opponent are slightly benefited.
Lineup Card – Check the line ups from each team prior to betting on the game. Players especially star players not in the lineup that day have a significant effect on a ball game.
Pitchers – The starting pitcher of the game is usually a great indication of how well the opposing team will perform offensively at the plate (batting). Check to see the run support the starting pitcher has received recently from his batting line up over his last several starts.
Injuries – Keep up on the injured reserve (IR) list. Players go on and off of this list all the time throughout the Major League Baseball season.
Divisional Match Ups – Every MLB club plays each of the other teams in their division 19 times just during the grueling 162 game regular season. These games are usually close and unpredictable no matter of what record either team holds before entering the match up.
Previous and Recent Records – Easy enough, just look at the numbers and analytics prior to laying down your bet. Try not to think too much into it just stick to the basics.
Previous Games – Look at how the teams have performed over the last week or two. Trends often reveal whether a team is heading up or down.
Streaks / Slumps – Players and teams alike will do whatever they can to keep a streak going or break a slump. Stay up to date on these trends as well.
Day vs. Night Games – Some teams like the Chicago Cubs traditionally play more day games than other teams do, and they usually have better performances during these games. Baseball players are creatures of habit and daily rituals so if any little thing throws off their pregame preparations.
Prime Time Games – A lot like the above category some teams shine brighter on prime time nationally televised games than other ball clubs. Take notice to which teams play better under those conditions.

External Links

MLB.com

Sources:

Rainout, Baseball Reference, June 16, 2019

There are no other games that represent American Sports quite like baseball! Bit of Baseball Background This bat and ball sport evolved from a game played in England in the mid-eighteenth century and was brought to the United States by immigrants. It didn’t take very long for baseball to be declared the national sport of the United States, although its popularity has also spread to the entire North American continent, as well as South America, the Caribbean and Asia. Along with the popularity...