MLB Betting Rules: Baseball Betting FAQs Answered Including Total Bases Betting Rules, Does a Walk Count as a Base?

Spring is the best time of year if you're a baseball fan, as we finally see the return of the MLB to our screens.

This is great news for bettors as it means there will be live baseball to bet on for the next seven months right up until the World Series.

If you're new to betting on baseball, then this guide will give you some handy tips and answer any questions you may have, as well as some of the best offers you can take advantage of when betting on the MLB.

First, let's take you through some of the best new customer offers for betting on baseball.

DraftKings promo code: Bet $5 Get $150

To celebrate the beginning of the MLB season, DraftKings is giving away $150 in bonus bets when new customers register and place a $5 wager on baseball.

Simply choose your betting market, whether that be a simple moneyline or a Same Game Parlay (SGP), and place a $5 bet on it. Your wager doesn't need to win for DraftKings to credit you with $150 in bonus bets, as you can secure them guaranteed!

Follow these steps to claim your DraftKings promo code now.

Step One: CLICK HERE or claim the offer below to claim your DraftKings promo code

Step Two: Register your account with DraftKings Sportsbook by entering all the necessary information

Step Three: Deposit $5+ into your new account and place a $5 wager on any MLB game

Step Four: Unlock $150 in bonus bets instantly, regardless of whether your wager wins or loses

FanDuel promo code: Get $200 in bonus bets when you wager $5

This is another fantastic offer from FanDuel that could set you up for some big wins at the start of the MLB season this year.

All you have to do is register and place a $5 bet on any MLB market. The only caveat is this bet must win for FanDuel to credit you with $200 in bonus bets, so choose your market wisely.

Follow these simple steps to claim your FanDuel promo code.

Step One: CLICK HERE to claim the $200 FanDuel promo - alternatively, you can click on the offer button below

Step Two: Complete your FanDuel Sportsbook registration - there is no specific FanDuel promo code to enter our links will automatically take care of the bonus

Step Three: Make a minimum deposit of $10 using your preferred payment method

Step Four: Place a qualifying $5 wager on any MLB market

Step Five: Receive $200 in bonus bets if your first bet on FanDuel Sportsbook wins

bet365 bonus code: Bet $5 Get $150 in bonus bets

Another great offer you can take advantage of is this bet $5, get $150 with bet365. All you have to do is place a $5 bet on any MLB game and you'll get $150 in bonus bets.

Just make sure you use the code 'CHECK' when registering your account as this will ensure your eligibility for this offer.

Follow these steps to claim your bet365 bonus code now.

Step 1: CLICK HERE or on the offer button below to claim your bet365 bonus code

Step 2: Enter the code 'CHECK' when completing your bet365 registration

Step 3: Deposit a minimum of $10 into your new bet365 account

Step 4: Bet $5 on any MLB matchup with minimum odds of -500

Step 5: Get $150 in bonus bets even if your qualifying bet loses, thanks to the bet365 bonus code

BetMGM bonus code: First Bet Paid Back up to $1,500 if your Bet Loses

This offer from BetMGM has the potential to give you some incredible winnings as you can get your bet refunded up to $1,500 if it loses.

For example, you could place a $1,500 moneyline bet on the New York Yankees to win. If they do, you could win some serious profit! If not then there's no need to worry, as your stake will be refunded by BetMGM in bonus bets.

Follow these simple steps to claim your BetMGM bonus code.

Step 1: CLICK HERE to take you to the BetMGM promo code page to register your account

Step 2: When completing the registration process, enter the code 'OCMAX150' if the promo code box isn't already filled

Step 3: Deposit $10+ into your new BetMGM account using your preferred payment method

Step 4: Now place a qualifying wager of up to $1,500 on any MLB market to ensure you are eligible for a refund in bonus bets if you lose

Step 5: If your bet does lose, your stake will be refunded as bonus bets

Total Bases Betting Rules

One way you might choose to bet on baseball is on total bases. Total bases is the number of bases a player gains throughout his hits during the game.

For example, if a player hits a single, that would be one base. If they strikeout, that would be no bases. However, if a player manages to hit a home run, that would be four bases.

This is one of the more popular bets for hitters and allows bettors to wager on how many total bases a batter will earn in a game.

When betting on total bases, it's important to keep in mind that generally speaking, batters who hit more singles are not the best option to go with.

Alternatively, you should look for a player that can hit home runs or doubles in one swing as the betting total is almost always 1.5 total bases.

Does a Walk Count as a Base?

The short answer is no. When betting on total bases, walks and stolen bases do not count toward total bases.

Total bases are strictly what comes from batter hits such as singles, doubles or home runs. If a player walks, it doesn't count as a base. Similarly, being hit by a pitch, stealing a base, or advancing on a wild pitch also does not contribute to the total bases tally.

Is it better to bet over or under in baseball?

Baseball is a sport that is greatly affected by weather conditions, as this not only impacts the action on the field but could also change how you bet.

If there's a chance that rain could affect play by cutting the game short before the full nine innings, then betting under could give you an advantage.

This is because an MLB game is considered official after five innings, meaning the over/under bet applies regardless of whether a game reaches the five-inning mark and becomes official or continues to the full nine innings.

What types of baseball bets can I place?

There are so many types of MLB bets you can place and most sportsbooks will spoil you for choice. Here is a selection of some popular MLB bets you can go for.

Spreads or run lines

If you think your favorite team is going to win big on a given day, bet on them to beat the spread! A point spread, also known as a runline in baseball, is the amount by which a team is favored to win. Runlines are commonly set at 1.5. However, some sites, such as DraftKings, allow alternative lines that are based on the matchup.

If a team is listed as +1.5, it means they are the underdog. For example, if the Toronto Blue Jays are playing the New York Mets, and the Blue Jays are listed at -1.5, they need to win by two or more runs to cover the spread. If the Mets are listed at +1.5, they need to either lose by just one run or win the game to cover the spread.

Moneylines

For most American sports, spreads are the most popular bets. The moneyline is a straight up bet on which team will win the game outright. The score doesn’t matter, only who comes out ahead. A bet's payout depends on the odds. Heavier favorites are more likely to win but don't pay as much; underdogs are a more risky bet but pay more.

Three-way moneylines

A three-way moneyline gives three possible outcomes: Team A wins, Team B wins, or the two teams tie. Three-way moneylines are bets on nine innings, since a baseball game can’t end in a tie. If the two teams are tied after nine innings, it’s considered a tie for the three-way moneyline bet, and the winner in extra innings doesn’t matter.

Over/under

Also known as Totals, over/unders are one of the more common bets in baseball.. For example, if the over/under of the Mets vs. Blue Jays game is set at 8.5, that means the teams would have to score a combined nine runs or more to be considered over. Eight or less and the under bettors are winners.

Player props

If you enjoy following individual players, player props are for you. Prop bets are wagers on a specific aspect of a game. A player prop focuses on a single player’s performance, like if he hits a home run in any given game.

Parlay Bets

In a parlay, two or more bets are combined into a single wager. Parlays pay higher than if each bet was placed separately, but they also come with more risk since all bets have to win for the parlay to be a winner. The more bets in a parlay, the greater the difficulty, but bigger the payout.

Futures

Futures are wagers on the entire season, or remainder of the season if it's in progress. The most popular baseball futures bet is who will win the World Series. Futures typically pay well because it’s tough to select a winner months in advance. A lot can change in a season, from trades to injuries. The beauty of futures is they add excitement to the overall season instead of a single game, so you can remain invested all season long.