MLB Betting Trends: Patterns to Watch in the 2023 Season
Freddie Freeman, Will Smith
Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

The 2023 Major League Baseball season is a week old, and many gamblers are strategizing how to bet on their favorite teams at online casinos and sportsbooks.

Knowing the latest MLB betting trends can be challenging with the constant changes in team rosters and game schedules. That’s why this brief guide from online casino experts of Leafletcasino.com provides insights on this session’s MLB betting landscape.

Major League Baseball is a popular sports betting choice for many gamers. Each spell presents a new opportunity to win real money with the right wagers. This season, watch out for these popular baseball betting trends.

Home vs. Away Team

Home-field advantage is an essential factor when betting on MLB games. In the 2022 season, the New York Yankees had an incredible 16-2 record against left-handed pitchers at home. The Minnesota Twins also went 14-3 against lefties as a home favorite. On the other hand, the Kansas City Royals struggled on the road against right-handed pitchers, going 15-43 away from home.  When making your bets, watch each team’s records to understand performance.

Moneyline Betting

Moneyline betting is one of the most popular types of bets in baseball. Gamblers choose the team they predict will win the game. The point spread is never considered. Each team is given odds, with the favorites having negative ones while the underdogs get favorable odds. With real cash operators from sports betting and online casinos, gamblers have more chances to win real money on the wagers. You could pick underdogs with nice odds but have a good chance of winning the game. Avoid heavy favorites with lower odds of winning and less value for your bet.

Run Line Betting

Run line betting is another popular bet in baseball, where the bookmaker sets a spread of 1.5 runs for the favorite. Look for value in teams consistently winning by two or more runs or the ones losing by one run in close games.

Over/Under Betting

Over/under betting is where the bookmaker sets the total number of runs they expect the two teams to score in a game. Gamblers then bet on whether the total runs scored exceed that number. Monitor each team’s offensive and defensive performances to understand the scoring potential.

Lessons from Past MLB Seasons

Baseball is a game of statistics, and successful betting in Major League Baseball requires understanding past patterns. Here are some key lessons from previous seasons that may form your fundamental money-betting strategies this time.

Common Patterns in Successful Bets

Successful gamblers focus on specific tendencies rather than betting on a team because of the overall performance. For example, they pay attention to starting pitchers, injuries, weather conditions, and recent head-to-head matchups. Such bettors also consider factors like a team’s performance at home versus on the road and their performance against specific types of pitchers. Finding teams with strong bullpens or starting pitching also leads to successful bets. Another pattern is paying attention to the betting lines and identifying when they may bring value.

Successful bettors consistently find and exploit market inefficiencies. This requires a deep understanding of the game and quickly analyzing data to identify opportunities.

Identifying Changes in Performance

Another key to successful betting is identifying changes in team performance throughout a spell. This could be monitoring player injuries, roster changes, and other factors. It can also involve analyzing performance fluctuations, such as changes in batting averages or pitching statistics. Players might be struggling with injuries or recently made significant roster changes. It’s a good move to bet on baseball against such a team until there’s time to adjust.

Monitoring trends in a team’s performance lets players identify when it may be over-performing or underperforming compared to the actual talent level. This helps them to identify value opportunities and make more profitable wagers at the real money casinos.

Top MLB Teams to Watch

The Houston Astros are probably the strongest team in the American League, with an impressive lineup led by Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Yordan Alvarez and a strong pitching staff anchored by Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier.

The Los Angeles Dodgers remain the favorites in the National League. They have a star-stacked lineup that features Mookie Betts, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman. Clayton Kershaw and Jose Urias also lead their impressive rotation.