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How to Successfully Bet Totals in MLB – Over/Under Betting Advice

Matt Olson of Braves celebrates home run

MLB Totals Betting Analysis

Over/Under betting in Major League Baseball (MLB) presents a thrilling opportunity for bettors to predict the total combined score of a game. To maximize their chances of success, it is crucial for bettors to understand the key components that influence over/under outcomes in MLB. This comprehensive article by MLB betting expert Jazz Ray will delve into the essential factors that contribute to successful over/under betting strategies in MLB, equipping bettors with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions.

1. Analyzing Starting Pitchers

Starting pitchers play a pivotal role in determining the scoring potential of an MLB game. Evaluating their performance metrics, such as Earned Run Average (ERA), Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched (WHIP), and strikeout rates, provides valuable insights into their effectiveness.

Strong starting pitchers with low ERAs and WHIPs are more likely to contribute to lower-scoring games. Furthermore, examining their historical performances against the opposing team helps gauge their ability to limit scoring opportunities.

If a pitcher has historically performed well against a particular team, it may indicate a higher chance of a lower-scoring game.

2. Assessing Offensive and Defensive Metrics

Understanding the offensive and defensive capabilities of teams is vital in over/under betting. Analyzing team batting averages, on-base percentages, slugging percentages, and run-scoring abilities provides insights into their offensive prowess.

A team with a potent lineup and high batting averages is more likely to contribute to higher-scoring games.

Conversely, evaluating a team’s pitching staff, including their ERA, WHIP, and their ability to limit hits and home runs, helps assess their defensive strength. A strong pitching staff can lead to lower-scoring games by preventing the opposing team from scoring runs.

3. Examining Ballpark Factors

Ballpark factors significantly influence the scoring potential in MLB games. Factors such as outfield dimensions, altitude, weather conditions, and wind patterns can impact the number of home runs and overall scoring.

Hitter-friendly ballparks with shorter fences and favorable weather conditions tend to produce higher-scoring games.

On the other hand, pitcher-friendly ballparks with larger dimensions and adverse weather conditions may result in lower-scoring contests. Understanding these ballpark factors allows bettors to assess the scoring potential and make more informed over/under betting decisions.

4. Considering Head-to-Head Matchups

Head-to-head matchups between teams and pitchers provide valuable insights into scoring patterns and tendencies. Analyzing historical data of previous matchups helps identify trends and strengths.

Some teams may struggle against specific pitching styles, resulting in lower-scoring games. Conversely, others may have success against certain opponents, leading to higher-scoring affairs.

By evaluating head-to-head matchups, bettors can gain a deeper understanding of how teams and pitchers perform against each other, helping them make more accurate over/under predictions.

5. Monitoring Line Movement and Public Betting

Keeping track of line movement and public betting trends is crucial in over/under betting. The opening line set by bookmakers may change based on various factors, including public sentiment and significant betting action.

If the line moves towards the over, it indicates a growing expectation of a high-scoring game. Conversely, a line movement towards the under suggests an expectation of a low-scoring contest.

Monitoring line movement and public betting provides valuable insights into market trends and can help bettors align their predictions with the prevailing sentiment.

First Pitch | MLB Betting Preview

Join Drew Martin and a rotating panel of guests for First Pitch as we break down the daily baseball slate from a betting perspective every weekday at 1:45pm ET / 10:45am PT for First Pitch discussing the MLB betting slate. Hey, how’s your baseball betting strategy?  Learn how to bet on baseball with WagerTalk’s baseball betting guide, and check out the great ways you can make smart run line bets. MLB picks free abound!

Stop Wasting Money on Bad Odds!

So, we did the research and here are the sportsbooks with the best MLB totals odds – why would you ever use a sportsbooks with worse odds? Shop around, increase winnings, decrease losses. You’ll never find an MLB betting sharp with 1 or 2 sportsbooks only!

Best MLB Odds For Totals:

Sportsbook Welcome Bonus States Available Get Your Bonus
1. Caesars Get $1250 On Us AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY GET BONUS!
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3. Unibet $100 2nd Chance Bet AZ, IN, NJ, PA, VA GET BONUS!
4. BetMGM First Bet $1000 PayBack in Bonus Bets AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY GET BONUS!
5. Tipico $250 Deposit Match CO, IA, NJ, OH GET BONUS!
6. Bet365 Bet $1, Get $200 in Bonus Bets CO, NJ, OH, VA GET BONUS!
7. FanDuel $1000 No Sweat First Bet AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY GET BONUS!
8. Superbook $250 Every First Bet Wins AZ, CO, NJ, OH, TN GET BONUS!
Best MLB Totals Sportsbooks

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Daily MLB Game Previews From WagerTalk and Sportsmemo

Read up on betting previews on daily MLB games from handicappers here at WagerTalk and over at Sportsmemo. We help guide you in your betting providing free written breakdowns for various games. See our previews for today’s games now!

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Also, have you ever considered betting on the Korean Baseball League?  It’s exciting – find free KBO Predictions here.

WagerTalk Live Odds Screen

WagerTalk’s live odds screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the MLB moneylines, run lines and betting percentages for all baseball games and monitor your totals betting picks.

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