MLB Futures Betting

Betting on MLB Futures

MLB futures allow baseball fans to bet on outcomes months in advance, giving them a chance to immerse themselves in the long-term narrative of the baseball season.

These betting markets span entire seasons and allow you to place bets on individual players, or on an individual game. 

Get ready to discover the ins and outs of MLB futures betting, so you can win big betting on the most exciting major league games of the season. 

MLB Futures Betting Explained

MLB futures betting revolves around making predictions on future outcomes in Major League Baseball. Unlike traditional betting lines on individual matchups, futures bets focus on the long-term prospects of teams, players and overall league performance.

Futures can be some of the most profitable options in all of sports betting if you bet early. When it comes to something like predicting division winners, early in the season, oddsmakers have less information to work with. 

When it’s harder to predict what the outcomes will be, sports betting sites will put up higher odds that will fluctuate after every single game.

If you place a bet on your favorite team to win their respective division months in advance, you can walk away with a hefty profit. 

How To Read MLB Futures Odds

When it comes to reading MLB futures betting odds, the American format is commonly used. In this format, positive odds indicate the potential profit you can make on a $100 wager.

For example, if a team has odds of +350 to win the World Series, a $100 bet would yield a profit of $350 if the team wins. The higher the positive odds, the greater the potential profit.

Example: World Series Winner

• Philadelphia Phillies: +500
• Tampa Bay Rays: +250

In this example, the Philadelphia Phillies have odds of +500, meaning a $100 bet on them would result in a profit of $500 if they won the World Series. Similarly, the Tampa Bay Rays have odds of +250, indicating a $100 bet on the Rays would yield a profit of $250 if they won the World Series.

On the other hand, negative odds represent the amount you need to wager in order to win $100. For instance, if a team has odds of -200 to win their division, you would need to bet $200 to earn a profit of $100 if the team wins the division. As you can see, the higher the negative odds, the higher the amount you need to wager to win a smaller profit.

Example: League Pennant Winner

• Team A: -300
• Team B: -150

In this example, Team A has odds of -300, indicating that you would need to bet $300 to win $100 if Team A wins the league pennant. Team B, with odds of -150, would require a bet of $150 to yield a profit of $100 if they win the league pennant.

What types of bets are on the MLB futures market?

The most popular MLB future bets are for big events like the Championship series, or who will win the Wild Card games. But, there is also a wide variety of exciting betting options beyond traditional game outcomes, like player futures.

Here are some of the popular futures options:

• World Series Winner: a bet on the team that will win the MLB World Series
• League Pennant Winners: a bet on which teams will win their respective league championships, such as the American League (AL) or the National League (NL)
• Division Winners: MLB is divided into six divisions (three each in two separate leagues), and this bet involves predicting which teams will finish the regular season as division champions.
• Regular Season Win Totals: bets on the total number of wins a team will achieve during the regular season.
• Individual Awards: a bet on which players will win prestigious awards such as Most Valuable Player (MVP), Cy Young (best pitcher), the Larry Doby Award (MVP of the All-Star Futures Game) or Rookie of the Year

World Series Odds

World Series futures betting odds represent the probability and potential payouts associated with each team winning the MLB World Series. These odds can change throughout the baseball season based on various factors. Here’s an explanation of World Series futures betting odds, factors that influence them, and how the baseball season shapes those odds:

1. Initial Odds: At the start of the season or during the offseason, sports betting operators release initial World Series futures betting odds. These odds are based on pre-season predictions, team records from the previous season, roster changes and other relevant factors. Initial odds reflect the perceived strength and expectations for each team.
2. Performance and Team Success: As the baseball season progresses, team performance and success greatly influence World Series futures betting odds. Teams that exceed expectations, demonstrate strong performances and accumulate wins may emerge as favorites later in the season. 
3. Injuries and Roster Changes: Injuries to key players or significant changes to team rosters can impact the odds significantly. If a star player sustains a season-ending injury, odds for their team may lengthen due to the potential impact on overall performance. Conversely, if a team acquires a high-profile player through trade or signing, their odds may improve as expectations increase.
4. Strength of Schedule and Performance Against Opponents: The strength of a team’s schedule and their performance against opponents can influence World Series futures betting odds. Strong performances against tough opponents may result in odds adjustments, indicating improved perceptions of a team’s chances. Conversely, struggles against weaker opponents can lead to odds adjustments in the opposite direction.
5. Market Perception and Betting Volume: The overall market perception of teams and the betting volume placed on specific teams can impact odds. If a team becomes a popular choice among bettors, sportsbooks may adjust their odds to manage their risk exposure. This adjustment aims to attract betting on other teams and balance the book.
6. Momentum and Recent Performance: Late-season momentum and recent performance can significantly impact World Series futures betting odds. Teams that finish the regular season on a strong note or excel in the playoffs may experience favorable odds adjustments as they demonstrate their potential for success.

Throughout the baseball season, sports betting sites continuously evaluate teams’ performances, news and market trends to adjust World Series futures betting odds.

These adjustments aim to reflect the evolving expectations and probabilities of each team winning the championship series.

As the season progresses, odds can fluctuate based on the factors mentioned above, providing opportunities for bettors to capitalize on undervalued teams or identify emerging favorites.

MLB Futures Odds FAQs

What is an MLB futures bet?

Instead of betting on a prediction made for a certain game, MLB futures bets focus on the outcome of an event or milestone that will occur in the future, like the winner of the World Series, MVP award or total number of regular-season wins for a particular team.

How does an MLB moneyline work?

When placing a moneyline bet, you are simply betting on which team will win the baseball game, regardless of the point spread. 3-way moneylines allow you to choose a tie.

What team goes to the World Series the most?

The New York Yankees have seen the World Series 40 times, the most out of any other team in Major League Baseball.

Who is expected to win the 2023 World Series?

Currently, the Atlanta Braves have the best betting odds to win the World Series title.

When is the best time to place futures bet?

Online sportsbooks sometimes release title odds as early as the conclusion of the previous season. The earlier you place your bet, the more you will be able to profit. Just keep in mind that odds will change and title contenders can change throughout the season.