The MLB season is a marathon, not a sprint, so teams are prone to highs and lows. Injuries can stack up, players can get stuck in ruts, and pitchers can lose their touch. In short, a team’s record may not always be indicative of its current form. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to recent betting trends.
You can’t always assume that a team will continue to follow a trend. However, there are indicators we can look for that can signal whether it’s a good idea to continue leaning a certain way.
Click “Money” from the dropdown menu to view recent and season-long moneyline trends for all 30 MLB teams. The teams are ranked in order of moneyline records for the entire season. Beneath each team, you’ll find a green “W” or red “L” correlating with the team’s last five games.
You’ll also find a measure of how many units you would be up or down by betting a team’s moneyline for the entire season, plus home and away records.
Use this information wisely. For example, the Mets might have a better record than the Phillies, but if the Mets have lost four of their last five games and the Phillies have won five straight, it may be more likely that the Phillies pull off the win.
Of course, this always requires further research. Sometimes, you may have to dig a little deeper to uncover why a team is on a winning or losing streak. In any case, this vital information can help inform smarter MLB betting picks.
Run lines are among the most popular MLB bets to make since they aim to level the playing field between two teams. The Dodgers would be a massive moneyline favorite over the Rockies, for example, but the chances that the Dodgers cover as 1.5-run favorites, where they need to win by two or more runs, are considerably slimmer.
Often, run line records are a good measure of how well a team has met expectations. A team could have one of the worst win-loss records in baseball, but if they’ve played a bit better than expected or have lost several one-run games, they could have a great run line record.
Again, it can be useful to see how well a team has performed against the run line before making a pick. A game between the Pirates and Braves might seem lopsided on paper, but if the Braves have struggled to meet expectations, the result could be closer than anticipated.
It’s also important to look at home and away run line records. Some teams may be favored on their home field when they don’t necessarily deserve to be against a stronger opponent, and vice versa. If a team has consistently punched above its weight on the road, it could be a good idea to continue backing that trend.
Over/under bets, or totals, are another common way to bet on MLB games. Like run lines, these are set based on expectations and may not be equal for teams across the board. For example, the bar will be set higher for a slugging team like the Yankees than for the Reds.
There are a number of reasons why a team might trend more toward the over or under on the season. Over/under records aren’t always indicative of how good a team is, either. A team could have the best pitching rotation in the Majors, but if it doesn’t have the bats to back it up, you can count on the under hitting more often than not.
This is one area where injuries and matchups loom especially large. If the Dodgers are playing without Shohei Ohtani, they’re less likely to drive in as many runs as they normally would. On the flip side, if an opponent is rolling out their worst starting pitcher, it could be worthwhile to bet the over for the game, as long as the number is reasonable.
As always, it’s important to look further than MLB betting trends. These records and recent results can be a good starting point, but you should never bet solely on how a team has fared over the last handful of games.
Once you’ve decided on your next moneyline, run line, or over/under bet, you can use our MLB odds grid to find the best price. And if you need some additional help in coming up with a betting angle, consult our expert MLB picks.
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