MLB Odds: Run Lines, Winners, Parlays, Props, Futures & FAQ 2025

Welcome to the home of Major League Baseball betting: Hard Rock Bet. As America’s pastime, baseball, and Major League Baseball more specifically holds a special place in the hearts of millions of fans across the nation. It’s an intricate game with a lot of unique rules, which can make betting on baseball a bit confusing for newcomers.

We’re here to guide you through everything there is to know about betting on MLB games, from player props to futures and everything in between. Whether you’re an experienced sports bettor or brand new to the scene, understanding MLB odds will play a key role in placing informed wagers. Our goal is to arm you with the proper knowledge to bet confidently and responsibly on every pitch, hit, or home run.

Let’s step up to the plate and get started with everything you need to know about MLB odds at Hard Rock Bet.

Betting on Major League Baseball: The appeal

While betting on football and the NFL are undoubtedly more popular in the United States as a whole, there are countless reasons as to why sports bettors love wagering on Major League Baseball.

MLB: endless betting action

For starters, there’s seemingly endless inventory – each MLB team plays a lengthy 162-game schedule that typically begins at the end of March and extends through September. This abundance of games means more opportunities to bet, analyze trends, and simply enjoy the sport.

The dog days of summer

It also helps that Major League Baseball essentially faces zero competition from the other three major U.S. professional sports leagues (NFL, NBA & NHL) during the peak of its season. Although NBA and NHL playoffs can run through early June, the majority of the summer is dominated by MLB. By the dog days of July and August, it’s the only major sport still in season.

MLB games are perfect for live betting

Major League Baseball games operate with a slower pace than other major sports. Although the addition of the pitch clock in 2023 has sped things up a bit, the sport’s leisurely tempo allows bettors ample time to make decisions, particularly in live betting scenarios. Whether it’s between innings, during pitching changes, or as players step up to bat, each pause in the game presents an opportunity to get in on the action through Hard Rock Bet.

Countless ways to place an MLB wager

The sport also offers a variety of exciting betting markets that appeal to both newcomers and experienced bettors alike. From straightforward moneyline bets to complex player props, there’s something out there for every type of baseball bettor. We’ll detail the most notable MLB bet types below.

Popular MLB bets

One of the best parts about betting on MLB is that the options are seemingly endless. Hard Rock Bet players will have their hands full when greeted by the sheer volume of MLB betting markets available on the sportsbook app and website. Although this can be exciting, it is important to understand what these bet types entail and how they work in relation to MLB.

Below, we’ll provide insight on each of the most common ways to place a wager on Major League Baseball. Whether you’re interested in simply picking a winner in a given game or looking to place a long-shot on an under-the-radar player to take home the National League MVP, the following information should go a long way in helping you place informed wagers on America’s pastime. Let’s dive into these popular options to enhance your betting experience at Hard Rock Bet, including:

• MLB moneyline bets
• MLB totals (over/under wagers)
• MLB run lines (spread bets)
• MLB futures
• MLB props
• MLB parlays
• MLB SGPs
• MLB live betting

MLB moneyline bets

Moneyline wagers are a cornerstone of MLB betting as you simply choose which team you think will win the game. This type of bet is perfect for those new to baseball or sports betting in general due to its simplicity. At Hard Rock Bet, these wagers are referred to as winner bets.

Moneyline odds can vary significantly based on a team’s starting pitcher, recent performance, injuries, and other factors, so it can be important to take these factors into account before placing a bet.

Reading MLB moneyline odds

Despite the fact that moneyline wagers are generally easy to understand, reading and analyzing the odds attached to these markets can be a bit confusing to new MLB bettors. The majority of the time, one team will be designated as the favorite in a specific matchup, while the team in the opposing dugout will be labeled as the underdog. You’ll be able to determine which side is which based on the (+) or (-) in front of the number. The favorite’s odds will be preceded by a minus sign (-), while the underdog’s odds will be accompanied by a plus sign (+). Additionally, every so often, the two sides will be deemed equal by the bookmaker. This is known as a pick ‘em (PK) game and will display equal odds of around -110 for either side.

Considering that American betting odds are heavily based around the concept of wagering $100 on a game, let’s break things down a bit further. When betting on an MLB favorite, the odds represent how much money you’ll need to risk in order to cash in on a full $100 profit. For example, if the Miami Marlins are listed at -150 with Sandy Alcantara on the mound, you’d need to plop down $150 in order to win $100. If successful, this wager would return $250 in total… the original $150 stake plus $100 in profit.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, underdog MLB odds represent how much you stand to profit on a successful $100 wager. Branching off the example above, let’s say you went with the opposite side and wagered $100 on the Tampa Bay Rays at +125. In the event of a Rays win, you would receive your initial $100 stake back plus $125 in profit, totaling a return of $225.

MLB totals (over/under)

Totals, commonly known as the over/under, are another popular bet type that involve predicting the combined score of both teams in a game. In this case, bettors must decide whether the total number of runs will finish higher (over) or lower (under) than the number set by the bookmaker.

This type of wager doesn’t require picking a winner, which can be appealing if you’re uncertain about the game’s outcome but have insights into the offensive or defensive capabilities of the teams involved.

Once again referring to the example above, let’s say the hypothetical Marlins vs. Rays game carries a total of 7.5 runs. If both teams combine to put up 8 runs or more, over bettors will win. Conversely, if the game ends up being somewhat of a pitcher’s duel and the teams combine for 7 runs or less, under bettors will instead win their bet.

Run Line (MLB spread betting)

Although point spread betting is extremely common in other major sports such as football and basketball, it definitely plays second fiddle when it comes to betting on Major League Baseball. This is mainly due to the fact that MLB as a whole is a much lower scoring game and league, with totals typically hovering around 7-9 runs.

Despite lacking in popularity in comparison to the moneyline or over/under, the run line is always displayed as the first market on every MLB game’s listing on Hard Rock Bet. In many cases, the run line is set around 1.5 runs, meaning the favorite must win by at least two runs to cover, while the underdog will cover by either winning the game outright or losing by a single run.

Understanding MLB odds: run line

Similar to the moneyline, it can be a bit confusing to understand the MLB odds associated with a run line. The main purpose of taking these kinds of bets is to adjust the odds tied to a specific team, usually a heavy favorite. Laying an extra run effectively moves the odds in that team’s favor, offering a much more attractive price in exchange for predicting a larger margin of victory.

For example, let’s say the Mets are coming to town and open as a -225 favorite on the moneyline over the Marlins. Bettors that want to back the Mets to win but deem -225 too pricey can instead lay the -1.5 run line for adjusted odds of -130.

Conversely, another bettor may see value in the Marlins moneyline at +175 but doesn’t want to take that much of a risk. Instead, this bettor can opt to take the Marlins +1.5 on the run line, offering odds of +105. In this scenario, the bettor would be able to win their bet as long as the Marlins win the game outright or lose by 1 run.

MLB futures

MLB futures betting offers players the opportunity to wager on long-term outcomes and events that will be resolved over the course of the season, or even after it has concluded. A few popular MLB futures markets include betting on which team will win the World Series, which team will win the American or National League pennant, and even individual award winners like the MLB Most Valuable Player or Cy Young award winner.

Betting on MLB futures is generally appealing because it affords bettors the opportunity to cash in on long-shot odds with potentially high payouts. This is because these markets unfold over the course of several months and can come with loads of uncertainty, and thus greater risk.

Popular MLB futures markets

• World Series Odds
• AL East Odds
• AL Central Odds
• AL West Odds
• NL East Odds
• NL Central Odds
• NL West Odds
• AL MVP Odds
• AL Cy Young Odds
• NL MVP Odds
• NL Cy Young Odds

How to read MLB futures odds

Reading and understanding MLB futures odds is a fairly simple process, especially since the moneyline is such a common market in mlb betting. Just like any team’s moneyline odds, Hard Rock Bet will provide a designated winner price listed for each team or player under a specific futures market.

In many cases, the entire field will carry positive odds – especially if the outcome is far out from being settled. On top of this, the size of the field and separation in terms of skill will impact the price of the market’s odds-on favorite. The higher the positive number listed next to a team or player, the less likely they are to come out on top. Conversely, the larger the negative number, the more likely they are to win.

MLB props

If one thing is for sure, it’s that props across all sports have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. These markets are incredibly unique, as they focus on individual outcomes rather than the actual game itself. Instead of trying to pick the winner, MLB props serve as a way to back your favorite athletes and outcomes with minimal ties to the rest of their team’s performance.

Player props for MLB

Looking specifically at MLB player props, Hard Rock Bet has it all. Here’s a few of the more notable markets available on the app and website:

• Home Runs
• To Record 2+ Home Runs
• First Player to Hit a Home Run
• Runs Scored
• To Record 2+ Runs
• To Record 3+ Runs
• Hits (Singles, Doubles & Triples)
• RBIs
• Total Bases
• Stolen Bases
• Batter Strikeouts
• Pitcher Strikeouts
• Earned Runs Allowed by Pitcher
• Total Outs by Pitcher
• Hits Allowed by Pitcher
• Walks Allowed by Pitcher

MLB inning props, NRFI

Inning props are a common MLB bet, with the most popular among them being NRFI, or No Run First Inning. Essentially, Hard Rock Bet sets the price and you bet on both teams not to score in the first inning.

You can also bet inning props like the first inning winner, and which inning is the highest scoring.

MLB parlays

Similar to player props, parlay bets are up there as one of the industry’s favorite ways to wager. When placing a parlay of any kind, you’re essentially combining multiple MLB wagers (also referred to as legs/bets) into one big bet that will only win if every leg included is successful. In order to qualify as a parlay, a wager must involve at least two separate legs – but from there, the possibilities are endless. At Hard Rock Bet, players can include up to 20 different legs in a parlay if they choose to do so.

Here’s an example of a parlay involving five Major League Baseball games: let’s say you think the Cubs (-130), Athletics (+115), Orioles (+100), Rays (+115) and Pirates (+135) are all going to win their respective games. All five selections combined into a parlay would carry odds of +3744. If all five games end up winning, a $10 wager would pay out approximately $$384.38. However, if just one of the five legs suffers a blown save by the bullpen and ends up losing, the entire bet settles as a $10 loss. That being said, parlays can be fun but also come with greater risk.

Anytime home run parlays

We all dig the long ball, right? Anytime home run parlays are unquestionably one of the most popular ways to play an MLB parlay. They’re exciting, and when they do hit, lucrative. Simply pick the players that you think are going yard, add them to a bet slip, and place your bet. The long odds certainly come with higher risk, but the potential payouts reflect those odds.

MLB same game parlays

MLB Same Game Parlays allow players at Hard Rock Bet to take their parlays to a whole new level. Rather than having to include several legs from different MLB games, Same Game Parlays give players the option to combine multiple legs from a single event into one big ticket.

While traditional MLB parlays often include common markets such as moneylines, run lines, and totals, Same Game Parlays open up the options even further. Bettors can include a ton of player props, game props, and much more.

Here’s an example of a Same Game Parlay involving an early season matchup between the Diamondbacks and Yankees:

• Yankees to win
• Over 9.5 runs
• Aaron Judge over 0.5 Home Runs
• Katel Marte over 0.5 Home Runs

This bet specifically carries odds of +2000, meaning a $10 wager would return $200 in profit if all four legs are successful.

SGP Max in MLB betting

Back in April 2024, Hard Rock Bet debuted yet another exciting new way to wager: the Same Game Parlay Max. This type of bet is essentially a Same Game Parlay on steroids, as it allows users to combine multiple SGPs from different games into one mega-wager.

Similar to the traditional parlays discussed above, a Same Game Parlay Max at Hard Rock Bet can involve up to 20 different legs from not only multiple games but also multiple leagues and sports.

Live betting on MLB games

Live betting on MLB (also referred to as in-play betting) allows players to place wagers after a game has already begun, right as the action unfolds on the field.

Hard Rock Bet’s advanced live betting lobby offers players a multitude of in-play wagering options, giving them the opportunity to engage with a game in real-time after the first pitch has been fired off.

For instance, you can place bets on the outcome of the current inning, the results of a specific at-bat, or even the next pitch. This level of granularity not only enhances player engagement within the game but also increases the chances of finding valuable betting angles based on the game’s progress and immediate circumstances.

Whether you’re making split-second decisions or planning your bets based on patterns of play, MLB live betting keeps you at the heart of the action at Hard Rock Bet.

MLB betting promotions

Hard Rock Bet offers its player a wide variety of MLB-centric promotions throughout baseball season. For starters, first-time signups can unlock the lucrative sign up bonus. No Hard Rock Bet promo code is required to claim this offer, which is available in all Hard Rock Bet states.

After claiming the welcome offer, Hard Rock Bet players will also be able to enjoy several recurring MLB betting promos from profit boosts to daily boosted markets.

MLB odds and betting FAQ