MLB Predictions & Betting tips

Make your bets today after reading our totally free 2024 MLB predictions and betting tips and let their expert opinions guide you towards some winning bets.

Major League Baseball Presentation and Predictions

Major League Baseball, commonly referred to as the MLB, is one of the United States’ ‘big four’ sports (along with the NFL, the NBA and the NHL) and is considered to be a national pastime in the country. It is the premier baseball league in the world, attracting the best talent from North America, Central/South America and Asia primarily. The league consists of 30 teams separated into two different conferences, the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). In these two conferences there are three divisions (East, Central and West), each containing five teams each. The Texas Rangers are the defending champions after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks by a series score of 4-1 last year. During the 2023 regular season, it was the Atlanta Braves who posted the best record with 104 wins and just 58 defeats.

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2024 MLB Prediction: Who Will Win the 2024 World Series?

The Dodgers remain the early-season favorites to win the World Series with most teams already having at least 20 games in the books. Los Angeles made a number of big offseason moves, none bigger than the blockbuster deal to sign Shohei Ohtani. The two-time AL MVP was given a historic $700 million contract which is the largest in MLB history by some margin. It has been a mixed start to the season for the Dodgers who are leading the NL West division although they currently sit just two games above .500. With their somewhat slow start combined with their popularity among public bettors, we don't see much value in Dodgers' futures tickets at this stage in the season.

The Braves are looking like an interesting pick, currently sitting as the second favorites on most betting sites. Atlanta bolstered their bullpen in the offseason, adding lefty pitchers and some power throwers to the mix. In truth, the Braves have a strong case for simply running it back. They’ve now racked up six straight NL East titles and notched 104 wins in the 2023 campaign, their highest win total since the 1998 season. After winning the World Series in 2021, Atlanta has now gone two straight seasons with massive playoff disappointments, being bounced out in the NLDS by the Phillies on both occasions.

The fact is, should Atlanta post another consistently strong regular season (as they have done for six straight years), they’re almost certain to be much lower their current odds by the time playoffs roll around. They're already off to a fast start with a 14-5 record and a 1.5 game lead atop the NL West. Therefore, jumping in now is likely going to present some excellent value come October. Our prediction to win the 2024 World Series is the Atlanta Braves!

2024 MLB Prediction: Odds on the favorites to win the World Series

Below you'll find the current odds of the top favorites to lift the famous Commissioner’s Trophy in 2024:

• Los Angeles Dodgers - 4.25
• Atlanta Braves - 5.50
• New York Yankees - 7.00
• Houston Astros - 11.00
• Baltimore Orioles - 12.00
• Texas Rangers - 12.00
• Philadelphia Phillies - 15.00
• Toronto Blue Jays - 23.00
• Chicago Cubs - 26.00
• Tampa Bay Rays - 26.00
• Arizona Diamondbacks - 29.00
• Cincinnati Reds - 34.00
• Seattle Mariners - 34.00
• St. Louis Cardinals - 34.00
• Cleveland Guardians - 34.00

Odds provided by bet365

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Who Will Win the 2024 AL MVP in Major League Baseball?

The AL MVP race is wide open after Shohei Ohtani left for the Dodgers in the National League. So, who will rise up from the pack and grab this year’s award? For our money, we like the Seattle Mariners' young star Julio Rodríguez.

Rodríguez is a dangerous combination of power and speed, evidenced by his joining the  30/30 club in 2023, hitting 32 homers and notching 37 stolen bases. Along with his 103 RBI (third most in the AL), this resulted in Rodríguez finishing fourth in the MVP voting last season. Now in this third year, big things are expected of the 23-year-old. He’s on a Mariners team that can certainly be considered contenders (ninth-lowest odds for the World Series) and just missed out on the playoffs last year with their 88-74 record.

It's been a slow start to the 2024 season for Rodríguez who is clearly sturggling at the moment. However, he has reiterated numerous times that he is not going to stress about the slump, and he seems to understand the ups-and-downs that come with hitting at the major league level. We expect him to eventually get on back on track, and should he come back strong, could present a high pay-out type of bet with his current price. Julio Rodríguez is our pick to be crowned 2024 AL Most Valuable Player!

2024 AL MVP odds:

Below you'll find the top current contenders for the 2024 AL MVP award:

• Juan Soto - 4.10
• Bobby Witt Jr. - 6.50
• Mike Trout - 8.00
• Aaron Judge - 9.00
• Yordan Alvarez - 10.00
• Gunnar Henderson - 11.00
• Corey Seager - 15.00
• Kyle Tucker - 23.00
• Julio Rodriguez 26.00
• Adolis Garcia - 31.00
• Bo Bichette - 33.00
• Jose Ramirez - 33.00
• Marcus Semien - 33.00
• Rafeal Devers - 36.00
• Vlad Guerrero Jr. - 41.00
• Adley Rutschman - 41.00
• Jose Altuve - 41.00

Odds provided by Unibet

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What Prediction For the NL MVP in Major League Baseball?

All eyes will be on Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani following his big money move to Los Angeles. After his surgery, Ohtani will not be a two-way player in the 2024 season and will instead just be a hitter. From a betting perspective, that’s obviously a massive hit to his odds and drops the two-time AL MVP winner down from perennial favorite for the award to now the third-favorite.

Ronald Acuña Jr won the award last year with an incredible stat line of 41 home runs, 106 RBI and 73 stolen bases. However, the Braves superstar is battling meniscus irritation to start the 2024 season. Acuña avoided surgery but it remains to be seen whether or not the 26-year-old will be at his best, as well as the possibility of the injury flaring up at some point during the season. 

Mookie Betts finished second in the voting last year with an extremely impressive season in his own right. It was one of the most productive years for the Dodgers slugger, posting 39 homers, 107 RBI, a .307 batting average and a .987 on base percentage. With the bookmakers expecting a big season from the Dodgers, it’s clear that Betts will play a pivotal role in their offensive production. At 31 years of age and in his fifth season in Dodger blue, Betts should be at the absolute peak of his powers. Therefore, Mookie Betts is our pick to scoop the NL MVP award!

2024 NL MVP odds

Below are the current top favorites for the 2024 NL MVP award:

• Mookie Betts - 3.75
• Ronald Acuña Jr. - 7.00
• Fernando Tatis Jr - 10.00
• Bryce Harper - 12.00
• Shohei Ohtani - 13.00
• Freddie Freeman - 13.00
• Matt Olson - 16.00
• Corbin Carroll - 21.00
• Christian Yelich - 26.00
• Austin Riley - 31.00
• Elly De La Cruz - 35.00
• Trea Turner - 36.00
• Pete Alonso - 41.00
• Nolan Arenado - 41.00
• Manny Machado - 51.00
• Paul Goldschmidt - 51.00
• Francisco Lindor - 51.00

Odds provided by Unibet

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Beginner’s Guide to How the MLB Works

The Major League Baseball season consists of 162 games, played from March 20th to September 29th, with the postseason starting October 1st. Many of these games come against their own divisional rivals with each team facing off 13 times each against the other four teams they are competing with. This often leads to some heated rivalries which can make for excellent viewing, and potentially profitable betting situations, from a fan perspective.

The 30 teams in the league are competing for 12 playoffs spots, six from each conference. The AL and NL teams with the best record receive a first round bye, qualifying automatically for the divisional series round, while the remaining four teams play a best-of-three Wild Card round with the matchups being determined by the final seeding of each team. The division round, commonly referred to as the ALDS and the NLDS, are played as a best-of-five format while the championship round (ALCS and NLCS) then revert to a best-of-seven series. The winners of the championship round advance to the World Series where a seven game series is played to determine the season champion.

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How to Make Good Predictions on MLB Games?

Below we've come up with five habits you can implement into your own MLB prediction process to greatly increase your chances of a successful bet.

• Compare the starting pitcher matchup
• Consider the form of the teams
• Analyze detailed statistics 
• Situational spots and team news
• Compare odds across bookmakers

Adding these into your process is sure to help you out in the long run. Let's look at each in more detail:

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1. Compare the starting pitcher matchup

The starting pitcher duel is often considered to be among the most important aspects of a game and should be one of the first things you look to analyze. Pitcher performance is paramount in determining which team walks away with the win. A pitcher who has good stuff and is in the zone can hold a team scoreless and with minimal hits until the later stages of the game, sometimes even going the full nine innings. Of course, this type of performance from a pitcher gives his team a massive edge to win the game as the offense will only have to drive-in a run or two to walk away with the victory. 

You want to assess how the pitcher has been performing on the season. Be sure to note their ERA, which stands for earned run average, and is the principal stat in determining how effective a pitcher is. You can also look at numbers such as the pitcher's strikeout rate, team batting average against, home runs allowed and his performance against right and left handed batters. If you notice that a left-handed pitcher has significantly better numbers against left-handed batters, check the opposition lineup to see if they have a high number of lefties that will take to the plate.

2. Consider the form of the teams

As with most sports, you’ll want to pay attention to the form of the two teams facing off when looking into a game. While it’s certainly not the end-all-be-all, there is something to be said for a team that is in a rhythm and playing well. Baseball, perhaps more so than other sports, can see players and even entire teams pick up steam and go on hot streaks for considerable amounts of time. Likewise, it’s not entirely uncommon for a player to have a hitting slump or a pitcher to have a pitching slump that lasts an entire season. We don’t recommend making predictions based solely on form but when combined with the other points on this list, will help guide you along to your final conclusion.

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3. Analyze detailed statistics

Baseball is unique in that it employs a seemingly endless list of statistics and metrics that both sports bettors and professional teams use when assessing players. Luckily for us, many of these statistics are available to the public and can be found with a simple online search. The MLB is truly a game of numbers and analytics have taken the sport in a new direction. So, how can you use them to your advantage?

You’ll want to think logically about how the statistics you are looking at can be applied to make a more informed sports betting prediction. For example, say a team is facing a left-handed pitcher. In this case, it would be advisable to look for how the team performs against lefties; this can be found by looking at the team OPS against left-handed pitchers, average runs scored vs lefties, batting average, etc. In a similar manner, you can judge how the pitcher himself performs against left or right-handed batters. You will also want to take into account what kind of ballpark the game is played in (is it a pitcher’s park or hitter’s park?). Always keep an eye out for the relevant statistics and how they can be used to analyze the most likely outcome of an event.

4. Situational spots and team news

Another aspect that sets the MLB apart from other sports around the world is the sheer number of games that are played. The regular season in the MLB is 162 games, all of which are played over the course of only 187 days. Therefore, teams often play multiple games on consecutive days, making rest days a rare commodity – there are only 25 in the entire season! With this information in mind, it makes sense to be aware of the team’s schedules in the games that you are looking to bet on. Make a note of how teams perform when coming off of a rest day, do they see a significant increase in offensive production? Does their win percentage rise considerably thanks to the extra prep day?

Starting pitchers are often granted around five days to recover in between starts. Naturally, because pitching is such a physically intensive activity and hard on the arm. However, there are situations that might arise where a pitcher comes in on short rest (more common in the playoffs when a team needs their ace on the mound in a must win game). Some teams even opt for “bullpen days” where they essentially pitch the entire game utilizing their full bullpen instead of one of their designated starters. These are situations you’ll want to be aware of.

5. Compare odds across bookmakers

Last but certainly not least, you will want to make it a priority to compare the odds at different bookmakers. We can’t stress enough just how important this is; this one factor can often make the difference between some sports bettors ending up profitable or in the red! You always want to be looking for the best available odds for the bet that you wish to place. If you can consistently get the best possible price you will instantly see an improvement on your bottom line. 

In order to do this most effectively, you’ll want to register with as many betting sites as you can. Having funds available on a multitude of different books ensures you will have the ability to choose the best possible line across the sites you are registered with. Not only that, but you will also be able to benefit from bookmaker’s welcome bonuses, many of which can see you receive a 100% bonus on your first deposit! To check out the best welcome bonuses out there currently, visit our best betting sites page.

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What Not to Do For Your MLB Predictions

To give yourself the best chance at achieving a positive ROI in your Major League Baseball betting there are a few pitfalls you will want to avoid. Here are some examples of what you should be cautious of:

• Not taking into account the pitching matchup.
• Chasing your losses (ex. Betting triple your normal amount to ‘make up for’ two previous losses).
• Not practicing proper bankroll management (you should have a fixed bet amount within your overall betting funds). 
• Not comparing bookmakers to find the best possible odds on the market for your bet.
• Betting strictly on a team’s name and reputation and not accounting for recent performance and form.
• Only looking at final scores of previous games and not digging deeper into the underlying statistics.
• Disregarding the betting odds and not understanding the implied probability behind them.
• Blindly betting on your favorite team.

More than a few beginner and experienced bettors have fallen victim to one or multiple of the above habits. If you can eliminate them from your betting process and approach each game with clear, rational analysis, you’ll greatly increase your chances of turning a profit!

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MLB Prediction: Statistics You Need to Know

We’ve compiled some of the most important statistics to keep an eye on when you are analyzing your next MLB predictions. All of the following statistics are taken from the previous 2023 season unless stated otherwise:

• The average runs scored per team across the 30 ball clubs was 4.58 this season.
• There was an average of 9.16 runs scored per game in the 2023 MLB season.
• American League home teams won 52.6% of their games.
• National League home teams won 52.7% of their games.
• The Cincinnati Reds were the best team against the spread last season, covering the runline in 62.2% of their games.
• The Baltimore Orioles (61.5%) and the Texas Rangers (59%) were second and third, respectively, in runline cover percentage.
• 29% of games last season saw a run scored in the first inning, up from 27.7% in the 2022 season.
• The LA Dodgers held the highest “run scored in the first inning” mark at 40.52% while the Mets held the lowest at 19.66%.
• The Dodgers also had the highest amount of games going over the posted total at 60.4%.
• The Toronto Blue Jays led the MLB in games that finished under the posted total at 57.9%.
• Over the past few seasons, roughly 28% of MLB games were decided by a one run margin.
• 16% of games over the past few seasons were decided by a two run margin.

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In Short: How to Make the Right MLB Predictions?

When making your MLB predictions, be sure to follow the advice laid out in this article. You will want to make sure you properly analyze the pitching matchup between the two teams, the underlying statistics in regards to their batting, defense and pitching, the form of the teams and the situational spot in play. 

If you are pressed for time and don’t think you’ll be able to fully analyze an MLB game, or simply would like to hear our thoughts on the matter, head over to our predictions page where you can find the latest betting tips by our MLB experts.

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Our current MLB predictions

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MLB: best odds

26 Apr 2024 - 13:10 Detroit Tigers - Kansas City Royals

1 1.9

2 2.05

26 Apr 2024 - 19:05 Baltimore Orioles - Oakland Athletics

1 1.4

2 3.71

26 Apr 2024 - 19:07 Toronto Blue Jays - Los Angeles Dodgers

1 2.07

2 1.88

26 Apr 2024 - 19:10 Boston Red Sox - Chicago Cubs

1 1.97

2 1.97

26 Apr 2024 - 19:10 Miami Marlins - Washington Nationals

1 1.62

2 2.57

26 Apr 2024 - 19:10 New York Mets - St. Louis Cardinals

1 1.78

2 2.23

26 Apr 2024 - 19:20 Atlanta Braves - Cleveland Guardians

1 1.5

2 2.88

26 Apr 2024 - 19:40 Chicago White Sox - Tampa Bay Rays

1 3

2 1.47

26 Apr 2024 - 20:05 Texas Rangers - Cincinnati Reds

1 1.72

2 2.54

26 Apr 2024 - 20:10 Milwaukee Brewers - New York Yankees

1 2.08

2 1.87

26 Apr 2024 - 21:38 Los Angeles Angels - Minnesota Twins

1 2.02

2 1.92

26 Apr 2024 - 21:40 San Diego Padres - Philadelphia Phillies

1 1.98

2 1.96

26 Apr 2024 - 21:40 Seattle Mariners - Arizona Diamondbacks

1 2.13

2 1.84

26 Apr 2024 - 22:15 San Francisco Giants - Pittsburgh Pirates

1 1.71

2 2.32

29 Apr 2024 - 19:07 Toronto Blue Jays - Kansas City Royals

1 2.55

2 1.45

29 Apr 2024 - 19:10 New York Mets - Chicago Cubs

1 1.5

2 2.5

29 Apr 2024 - 19:40 Chicago White Sox - Minnesota Twins

1 15

2 1.01

29 Apr 2024 - 21:40 Oakland Athletics - Pittsburgh Pirates

1 2.1

2 1.73

30 Apr 2024 - 18:40 Miami Marlins - Colorado Rockies

1 1.8

2 2

30 Apr 2024 - 19:10 Boston Red Sox - San Francisco Giants

1 1.67

2 2.2

If you need more information for your MLB bets, don't hesitate to consult our MLB odds comparator and MLB livescores tool.