Are you ready to make some big profits with MLB playoff betting? When there are only a few games remaining in the regular season, you know it’s almost time to compete for baseball’s championship – the World Series. If you’re eager to jump into betting on baseball, then check out this guide on how to up your chances of success when it comes to MLB playoff betting.
Sports Hub helps put bettors in a better position to make more informed wagers and secure those sweet winning streaks. The perfect time to get hot is betting on the MLB playoffs. Our expert handicappers offer outstanding content and the best picks in the industry. So, sit back and learn how your MLB playoff betting can pad your bankroll.
MLB Playoff Betting – Understanding the Teams
To properly prepare for MLB playoff betting, it’s essential to understand each teams’ strengths and weaknesses to make informed decisions. Analyzing each team carefully can give you an edge when it comes to placing bets. From pitching to batting, every team has something unique to offer. Knowing the ins and outs of each team can play a significant role in your betting strategy.
For example, if you know the pitching rotation for the Atlanta Braves and/or the Philadelphia Phillies, that is going to be a huge advantage when looking at MLB playoff odds. Knowing who is going to pitch can help you win more bets in the wild card games.
Look at the Matchups
Keep an eye on the stats and performance of each team. Don’t just rely on overall records or where a team finished the regular season standings. Every team has its own set of strengths and weaknesses that can make or break their playoff run.
MLB playoff matchups are officially set 🍿 pic.twitter.com/kst6Yj6l7O
— ESPN (@espn) October 1, 2023
As a bettor, you have to pay attention to the details, like understanding the new format for the AL and NL playoffs. It’s also worth looking at games against like opponents. For example, if a team played in the AL East and NL West, how did they fare against teams in the playoffs? Armed with this information, you’ll make better decisions and maximize your chances of success in MLB playoff betting.
Do the Research to Gain an Edge
This is a must with any sport. If you are going to be placing bets, you have to have quality information to assess first. That means it’s important to do your research before placing your bets. By checking out key stats, trends, and player performances, you can gain an edge that could make all the difference.
With so much information available at your fingertips these days, it’s easier than ever to dive deep into the data and uncover valuable insights. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or just getting started, taking the time to examine the odds can help you make more informed decisions and increase your chances of success.
Sports Hub’s Expert MLB Handicappers
Our Sports Hub expert handicappers are the best in the business. You can check our leaderboard daily for proof. The reason why our experts are so good is because they do their research. You can always use our Sports Hub cappers to back up your own research.
You can also just let them do the work for you and purchase their premium service plays. Pro Picks – Andrew is Sports Hub’s No. 1-ranked MLB capper over the last 30 days with over $1400 in winnings. He can do the work for you. Regardless of how you get it, information gained from research is one of the keys to successful MLB playoff betting.
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Follow the Money in MLB Playoff Betting
When the MLB postseason rolls around, too many bettors often immediately attempt to predict the outcome of individual games, series, and the eventual World Series winners. However, it’s important to pay attention to where the money is being bet. Keep in mind that the majority of bettors are not professionals, or sharps as they are known.
Most bettors are casual, recreational bettors that like to bet on their favorite teams or players. These casual bettors, aka the “public,” like to bet on favorites, popular teams (like the Los Angeles Dodgers), big-name players, and Overs. The public loves to bet on the Over on game totals and team and player props. Armed with this knowledge, bettors can separate themselves from the rest of the public.
It’s important to remember that the public loses way more often than it wins. That’s why sportsbooks are still in business. Putting yourself on the opposite side of the public – known in the industry as “fading the public” – can often lead to wins. Your MLB playoff betting could take a turn for the better if you simply follow the money.
Understand How MLB Playoff Betting Odds Are Set
You have to understand MLB playoff bettings odds before you place a bet. For beginning bettors, it’s important to know how to identify the favorite and the underdog. It’s also important to know how the MLB playoff betting odds affect a bettor’s payout. We can use an example to help us explain.
- Houston Astros -138 -1.5 (+122) O 8.5 (-110)
- Texas Rangers +121 +1.5 (-113) U 8.5 (-110)
In this playoff matchup, the Houston Astros are the moneyline favorite at -138 odds. Most bettors, even novices, know the favorite is usually indicated by the negative odds. If you like the Astros to defeat the Texas Rangers in this game, you would win $1.00 for every $1.38 wagered. If instead you liked the underdog Twins to win, you would win $1.21 for every $1.00 wagered. Remember, the underdog is a riskier bet and will, therefore, pay out more when you win.
MLB Playoff Odds – Games
MLB playoff betting odds for individual games will be set usually as soon as the pitching matchups are determined. Keep in mind that baseball teams, unlike some other sports, will play in postseason games on back-to-back days (or nights). That means MLB playoff betting odds will be released either late after a game or early the next morning.
Understanding odds is on the keys in how to bet on baseball. The odds can change throughout the day. Early on, MLB playoff betting odds will shift because of sharp money invested heavily on one side of a bet. For instance, using our example, say professional bettors start putting huge sums of money on the Twins for whatever reason. That action could cause sportsbooks to shift the odds enough to where Minnesota eventually became the favorite.
Establish Your Bankroll Limit and Manage Your Money
One of the biggest mistakes that bettors make is mishandling their money. The best bettors will follow a money management strategy and never waver. This strategy includes setting a bankroll and establishing how much to wager per bet. Most of the pros will wager between 1 and 5 percent of their bankroll. For someone with a $1,000 bankroll, 1 percent is $10 and 5 percent is $50. That means all of their bets will be between $10 and $50.
Just because it’s the postseason does not mean that you alter your money management strategy. MLB playoff betting success depends upon setting a bankroll – essentially a budget – and sticking to it. Establishing a budget for MLB playoff betting can help you avoid overspending and minimize the risk of significant losses. Too often, bettors want to try and recoup a bad loss by going above their maximum bet. That is something that can lead to disaster.
Our experts here at Sports Hub didn’t get to where they are now by being reckless. They establish their own rules for their money management and then they stick to their plans. They never deviate and, as a result, they have had great success. Stick to your plan and work it.
Pitching Is Everything
It’s true during the season, but it’s even more magnified in the playoffs. Pitching really is everything. The best playoff teams are those with the best 3 to 4 starters, the best middle relievers, and the best closer. A combination of great pitching makes for a World Series champion.
Your MLB playoff betting strategy should always start with the pitching matchup. Teams will pare down their starting rotation to 3 or 4 instead of the 5 that they use during the regular season. Teams that are able to win their opening series in quick fashion can gain an advantage upon opponents that had to go the distance in their series. Rest is huge for pitchers in the postseason.
"Usually good pitching is going to stop great hitting."
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 2, 2023
Tom Verducci explains why he thinks Tyler Glasnow and the Rays' staff will pose a difficult challenge in the Wild Card round for the Rangers' offense. pic.twitter.com/zLT7tvOQfO
Managers are much more likely to change pitchers after 4 or 5 innings – sometimes even 3! – than they are in the regular season. Your MLB playoff betting needs to take that into account. It may also be worth looking into betting postseason games live. There may be several value opportunities in live betting on baseball.
Take Advantage of Promotions
It’s worth your time to look for promotional offers from sportsbooks that can give you extra value during the MLB postseason. If you are only using one sportsbook, you are hurting yourself. You should be shopping around for the best odds for all your bets. If you’re not, this MLB playoff betting season is the perfect time to open up some new sportsbook accounts.
Now, you don’t just randomly open new accounts. You seek out sportsbooks that offer outstanding welcome bonuses. There are all sorts of bonuses you find to enhance your MLB playoff betting this year. Bonuses can come in the form of free bets, matched deposits, or even enhanced MLB odds on certain games. There may even be bonuses on teams like the Miami Marlins, the Atlanta Braves, the Baltimore Orioles, or any other team that makes the postseason.
By taking advantage of these promotions, you can increase your chances of winning and get more value for your bets. If you get an extra $100 for opening a new account at a certain sportsbook, you can use that extra bonus to bet on a game (or a few games) and make money without the risk. Before you place your next Major League Baseball playoff bet, do some research and check out sportsbook promotional offers.
MLB Playoff Betting FAQs
Why is baseball considered a moneyline sport?
Most bettors will wager on MLB games on the moneyline instead of the run line, which is the equivalent of the point spread. The run line is always set at 1.5. There are a large number of one-run games in MLB. In MLB playoff betting, because the teams are so good it’s difficult to pick a favorite to win by two runs and equally hard to back an underdog to cover when they could give up runs late in a game.
How do the MLB playoffs work?
The division winners in each league automatically make the playoffs. The three teams in each league with the next best records qualify as wild cards. The top two seeds in each league receive a bye. The other four teams in each league play in the wild card round. The wild card series is a best-of-three. The divisional round comes next and is a best-of-five series. The ALCS, NLCS, and World Series are all best-of-seven series.
Can I still bet on MLB futures in the postseason?
Yes, you can continue MLB playoff betting on futures as long as the markets are still open. For example, you can bet on the World Series winner all the way through the playoffs. At some point the market will close. The odds will change too as the playoffs progress.
