Moneylines are one of the primary betting options when it comes to betting on baseball. Betting on a money line can be intimidating to many prospective bettors, but it is actually quite simple. All that you need to do is determine which team is the favorite, which team is the underdog, and what the line(s) are set at. After you do this, money lines are easy to read and understand.

Moneyline Favorites and Underdogs

The favorite in a moneyline will have a (-) in front of the number. For example, if the Chicago Cubs read -145, it means they are a favorite.

The underdog (dog) in a moneyline will have a (+) in front of the number. For example, if the Baltimore Orioles read +160, it means they are the underdog.

Sometimes there is a line that reads as “even.” This means that the team or player is neither an underdog or a favorite to win, and all bets are paid out at even money.

Reading a Moneyline

Reading and understanding a moneyline can be a challenge for new or inexperienced bettors. Luckily, moneylines are very easy to understand once you get a hold of it.

Favorites on a moneyline are the easiest to understand. Simply take $1, and multiply it by the number in the moneyline. A +165 money line would equate to $165. Now, divide that number by 100, and you have your payout. In other words, a $1 bet would pay $1.65 on a +165 moneyline.

Underdogs on a moneyline are also easy to understand, but they work in the opposite way. If a line reads -140, it means that you would need to bet $1.40 to win $1. Or, to simplify, bettors would need to wager $140 to win $100. All that you need to do is take the number that is set, and understand that you will win $100 for every time that you bet that amount. Simply adjust the numbers for your particular wager.

As you can see, betting a favorite will earn you less money, but it is a much safer bet. Betting an underdog is risky, but it can pay handsome rewards. Once you make a handful of bets, you will be able to calculate a payout on the moneyline in your head.