It’s been nine months since we saw the Washington Nationals steal the 2019 World Series from the Houston Astros in seven games. Now, with the delayed 2020 season set to throw the first pitch, bettors can find a plethora of valuable betting lines for the league.
This year Major League Baseball (MLB) will throw a curveball to loyal fans who have tuned in to watch their favorite team for as long as they can remember. Despite shortening the season from 162 games to just 60, there will also be other noticeable differences, including no fans in attendance, protective facemasks being worn in the dugouts, a NL designated hitter, and a 16-team playoff.
Welcome back, old friend. It is so good to see you. #OpeningDay
🖊️ Written by Tom Verducci
🎙️ Narrated by Jon Hamm pic.twitter.com/wO1R01rWrG— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 23, 2020
Despite the changes, betting odds for the MLB have remained the same with the usual suspects leading the futures favoritism board. Over the past few years, a couple of professional baseball franchises have moved to the top of the league by acquiring top talent and implementing baseball fundamentals to a tee on the field. Below are the current odds to win the 2020 World Series.
World Series Champion
- Los Angeles Dodgers +375
- New York Yankees +375
- Atlanta Braves +1200
- Houston Astros +1200
- Minnesota Twins +1500
- Tampa Bay Rays +1600
*More Odds at Bovada
In addition to MLB future odds, MLB game odds can be found for all the regular-season games. MLB betting is similar to betting on the NFL in the fact that there are multiple ways you can place a wager. The most popular bet types for betting on MLB games are runline, moneyline, and total wagers.
Week 1 game lines
- New York Yankees -1.5 (+120) | -141 | O7.5 (-115)
- Washington Nationals +1.5 (-140) | +121 | U7.5 (-105)
*More Odds at Bovada
18-year-old bettors often find that their best option for betting on MLB games is finding an online sportsbook that will accept US players over the age of 18. US gambling laws have made it harder for US players to bet domestically, but no federal laws ban offshore online betting. While some of the brick-and-mortar state-regulated sportsbooks use geolocation services to assure their bettors are withing the legal rhetoric of the law, offshore players will find no such obstacles other than a few state restrictions.
Baseball has been a staple in US sports for over 100 years and has earned the right to be called America’s game. While some fans have been pushing for more exciting baseball, this year’s new playoff model and shorter game season should suffice, giving the current circumstances. I doubt we will see anyone hit 60 home runs this year, but as long as Bryce Harper and the Phillies (+3000) don’t win a World Series, it will be a good year for me.
