Major League Baseball
MLB Betting - Best MLB Bets Today With Rivalry
Baseball is one of the oldest institutions in American sports. Major League Baseball (MLB) has provided a platform for the highest standard of the game for over 100 years. The 2023 regular season began on March 30, running until October 1 before the playoffs begin.
It features 30 teams from across the United States, split into two conferences: the American League and the National League. The teams are then divided into groups of five that separate them geographically, named the East, West, and Central divisions.
The MLB dominates the sporting landscape during the summer months in the United States. Here in our breakdown, we’ll guide you through all you need to know about betting on the MLB, offering our expert MLB predictions and betting tips.
MLB Breakdown
Major League Baseball, or MLB for short, is the oldest professional sports league in the United States, founded in 1903. The American League and the National League were originally two separate baseball leagues that merged to form the MLB.
Of the currently-active 30 teams in the league, six teams have failed to win a World Series title: San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, and Tampa Bay Rays. The Seattle Mariners are also the only modern club without an appearance in the title game.
All 30 clubs compete over the course of a season, stretching from May to September, in a bid to qualify for the playoffs. The campaign is a test of endurance, with teams competing throughout 164 games.
The top three sides in each division earn an automatic spot into the post-season in their respective league, while there is also room for one wild card. After the wild card round, the remaining four sides compete in the Divisional and Championship Series. The two sides that win their respective leagues compete in the World Series for the MLB crown.
MLB Teams
30 teams compete in Major League Baseball. These teams are divided into two leagues: The American League and the National League. Each league is further divided into three divisions consisting of five teams: Central, East, and West.
American League Central
- Chicago White Sox
- Cleveland Guardians
- Detroit Tigers
- Kansas City Royals
- Minnesota Twins
American League East
- Baltimore Orioles
- Boston Red Sox
- New York Yankees
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Toronto Blue Jays
American League West
- Houston Astros
- Los Angeles Angels
- Oakland Athletics
- Seattle Mariners
- Texas Rangers
National League Central
- Chicago Cubs
- Cincinnati Reds
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- St. Louis Cardinals
National League East
- Atlanta Braves
- Miami Marlins
- New York Mets
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Washington Nationals
National League West
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Colorado Rockies
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- San Diego Padres
- San Francisco Giants
MLB Betting Odds Guide
When you access an MLB betting site like Rivalry, you are presented with several options to place wagers on a game or an outright market, often through a decimal odds system.
For example, the New York Yankees have odds of +100 to win the World Series. If you were to wager on the Yankees to win the World Series with a bet of $1, you would win $2, including your stake. The same figure can be represented as 2.0.
Understanding the odds system when MLB betting is essential to ensure you know what value you are receiving when lodging a wager online. It can be tough to grasp at first, but after a couple of bets, you will feel more comfortable lining up a bet on MLB online. We’ll now guide you through what wagers are available wagering on the MLB with Rivalry.
What Types of MLB Bets Can You Make?
Several types of wagers are available when you bet on any MLB games.
Moneyline – This is the most prevalent bet on the market. With moneyline, you’re betting on a team to win a single game or a series. You will be presented with a numerical value for the two teams in a wager on a game. If your chosen selection wins, you will receive a payout from the sportsbook.
Over or Under – This MLB betting option presents a value set by the sportsbook. These markets can include MLB score predictions, the number of runs scored in the match or by a team, along with markets for individuals for batters and pitchers. You have a simple choice when choosing either to back the over or the under on the value. If your outcome occurs, you win the bet.
Parlays – You will select two or more games to wager on for this MLB betting option. Baseball games are often played simultaneously around the United States, which gives you options to bet on the outcome of two or more games. You select two or more teams to win their respective contests. This type of wager improves your odds, although all your chosen teams need to win to succeed.
Futures – If you follow MLB betting tips, these can be valuable wagers to place at the start of the season. There will be markets for the World Series winner, AL and NL winners, MVP winner, and Young Winner, along with winners of the respective divisions. The odds tend to be longer and provide value if your selection wins.
Our Major League Baseball Predictions
Anticipation is growing for the MLB playoffs as the regular MLB season continues to trundle on, with the MLB postseason beginning on October 3 and running until November 4.
Below are our free MLB predictions and MLB playoff picks..
Houston Astros
Houston is currently the narrow favorite in line to win the 2023 World Series. They won the 2022 World Series and will want to continue their win streak into 2023.
New York Yankees
Throughout MLB history, the New York Yankees have been the most successful team, winning the World Series on 27 occasions. They are currently a front-runner for taking home the 2023 World Series crown.
What Rivalry Offer MLB Bettors
Here at Rivalry, we are experts in the betting world, providing many options, from esports titles like CS:GO and League of Legends to traditional sports like the NBA playoffs and football - there's something for everyone!
We are proud to provide our customers with a great range of betting markets and competitive odds for those who want to bet on MLB online, along with other major sports across the globe. We even have welcome bonuses for any new accounts made with us!
On our site, you will be supported for all your sports betting requirements, including a 24/7 live chat option and our wagering learning resource, Rivalry Academy.
How To Place An MLB Wager?
You’re almost all set to bet on the MLB, but now you require the most crucial step of all. Want to know how to place a wager on the MLB with Rivalry? Here is our step-by-step guide:
- Enter the Rivalry website and click the Sign-up button.
- Enter your email address and create a password (alternatively you can sign-up using a social media account).
- Enter your financial information along with a deposit.
- Once your registration is complete, you will be able to access the site.
- Choose the market you wish to bet on and click on it.
- Once the betting window opens, place your stake.
- Click the Bet button to complete the wager.
It’s as easy as it sounds to place a wager on Rivalry! You can place as many wagers at once as you like as long as you have enough funds in your account. We even offer new welcome bonuses and offers for new accounts, so what are you waiting for!
FAQs about MLB and baseball betting
Is betting on MLB legal?
Yes! Betting on MLB and other traditional sports betting is entirely legal with Rivalry. We are a fully regulated and licensed online bookmaker registered under the Isle of Man Supervision Commission.
Can I use my smartphone to place MLB bets?
Of course! Rivalry.com is entirely mobile-friendly, so you can place your MLB and baseball bets while on the move.
How do MLB computer picks work?
MLB computer picks are calculated by an algorithm that highlights the best betting markets for customers to target. The computer bases its selections on the data regarding both sets of teams and their respective players before a contest. It attempts to predict the game’s outcome based on this raw information.
How can I win betting on MLB?
It takes a keen eye to gain a win on an MLB wager. The best path to success is to perform your research to gain all the information you can about the sport, notably, the teams and players involved. Then apply that information to your bet and hope that the team and players perform to standard to allow you to win your wager.
What are proposition bets?
Proposition bets are wagers on an event occurring in an MLB game or over the course of a season. For example, you could have a wager on a player to score a home run or a pitcher to have a no-hitter. There are also more quirky bets to suit casual bettors, such as whether a catch will be taken or dropped in the crowd. There’s something to suit all bettors.
How do you decide your MLB playoff predictions?
Our free MLB picks are carefully crafted considering the current statistics in the season, including recent player/team performance, injuries, match location, and many other factors.
