Byline: Will Jones
The world of sports betting has changed dramatically over the past several years. What was once viewed with immense skepticism and discrimination, to the point that it was outright against the law in the vast majority of states, has steadily become a regular part of the modern market. Now, not only is sports betting a profitable venture for many participants, but it has also become a uniquely revealing part of professional sports themselves.
For proof of this, you need look no further than how Moneyline trends have begun to affect Major League Baseball(MLB). Recent MLB moneyline betting trends and what they reveal about team performance, public bias, MLB odds, and where savvy bettors can find value throughout the season.
History of Legal Sports Betting
In years past, legalized sports betting was predominantly confined to Nevada. In other states, sports betting had remained illegal and highly disapproved of for years. However, all of that began to change in 2018. National sports betting became feasible when the Supreme Court struck down the Amateur Sports Protection Act in May of that year [Census, 2024].
This proposed act would have banned sports betting across the country. However, in the wake of its failure, the exact opposite happened. Now, sports betting is legal in 39 states and more popular than ever before.
How MLB Odds Reflect More Than Just Win Probability
How sports betting sites such as Moneyline function is highly informative and influential in its relationship to the sports themselves. As with any form of betting, there is inevitably going to be a favorite and an underdog. With something like races, obviously, there is a much broader field of competitors at any given time. However, with a sport like baseball, only two teams are playing, meaning that one is going to be favored over the other.
Betting on the favorite team results in unfavorable odds for the bettor, because if the team that the majority of people have picked to win does win, your winnings are bound to be less substantial. However, if you bet on the underdog, that gives you favorable odds, as an upset could win you significant earnings.
What’s crucial to note here is that these betting sites aren’t just predictive, but also reactive to public sentiment, media buzz, and volume. In this way, a betting site like Moneyline can capture and distill all of the metatextual elements surrounding a game in cold, complex numbers.
Public Favorites vs. Sharps’ Picks
When sports betting was legalized across most of the country, whole new swaths of bettors experienced it. This resulted in a unique divide between the “public” and “sharp” bettors.
Public bettors are much more casual contributors to MLB betting, who are approaching it as a point of interest. These are average sports fans who are interested in seeing what all the hubbub is about and casually playing for themselves. By contrast, sharp bettors are those who are highly experienced in betting and are much more heavily involved in their bets.
For example, the Yankees may attract public money, inflating odds, while sharps may back undervalued underdogs. This point of difference can work in the market’s favor, as events that lead to sharp bettors hitting it big can entice other bettors to invest in the market further. Nowhere has this been more apparent than lately, with the World Series’ impending results and the massive amounts of sports betting traffic it has generated [Bloomberg, 2025].
How to Spot Profitable Trends in MLB Moneyline Betting
The big question that everyone is asking in the wake of the enormous popularity of legalized sports betting is: how do you pick a winner? There are several viable approaches you can take. Still, some deliver far more consistent results than others.
For instance, analyzing trends and statistics is often a huge benefit. “Trends don’t lie; some teams are undervalued year after year, and the moneyline is where sharp bettors find gold,” says betting market analyst Jeremy Voss.
If you can find teams with strong away records as underdogs, pitchers with winning records despite team losses, and further trends in day versus night games, you can make bets that could pay off in bold ways.
Additionally, bettors can use odds movement to gauge value bets [Yahoo Finance, 2025].
FAQ Section
Q: Which MLB teams are best for moneyline betting?
A: Teams that win often as underdogs or maintain value despite public perception. Historical ROI is key.
Q: How often do underdogs win in MLB?
A: Historically, underdogs win around 42% of the time, but the payouts often offer better long-term value.
Q: What tools can help track moneyline trends?
A: Many bettors use odds aggregators, line movement trackers, and team-specific betting data platforms.