The title of this article suggests one aspect, which this writer/handicapper generally agrees with. At the same time, when it comes to wagering at MLB betting sites, a bettor is going to do what he wants, so we’ll instead cover both aspects.
Betting Baseball Spring Training Games, Should You Do This?
The easy answer is “no” because one of the key aspects of betting on any sport is having an edge. While a few bettors might disagree, here are key differences between Spring Training and the regular season or betting on MLB futures.
- No home-field advantage
- No real starting pitcher edge
- No bullpen edge
- Split squads weaken batting orders further
Though each team has a home park and there are on average 4 to 7 thousand fans per game –mostly rooting for the home team–, the atmosphere is super laid back.
The fact is, like any other professional sport, the outcomes do not matter and the idea is about preparation for the regular season. Thus, the hometown fans cheer when their team does something to get excited about, but it does not affect the outcome.
Format
Starting pitching is about pitches.
Typically, managers look for in order 30 pitches on the first outing and move up about 10 pitches per start thereafter. These hurlers will often just work on control and maybe experiment on a new pitch. Lasting more innings is considered a bonus.
For the first three weeks of Spring Training, the bullpens have no structure.
The 8th-inning pitcher and closer could toss a random inning in the 4th or the 7th, whatever the manager decides that day. Sometimes that information is available on team pages more often than not.
Most teams have a split-squad game or two in Florida or especially Arizona (because of less travel distance). Typically, everyday players don’t travel so the weaker club is the one on the road, but those players have more to prove than veterans and can still emerge victorious.
Key Points to Follow When Wagering on Spring Training
Pass on the First Week Entirely
This is a great idea because most lineups are filled with players you are likely not to have heard of unless you follow a specific team.
There is a parade of pitchers who mostly toss one inning and, quite literally, anything can happen.
Starting with Week 2 and Moving Forward, Limit Money Wagered and Volume
If you normally bet $50 a game during the MLB regular season, limit your amount wagered to $10 to $15 per game. This helps prevent you from starting in a hole on what you really want to bet on for baseball when the real action starts.
In terms of the number of wagers, stick with no more than two per day. Most teams post their batting orders about 90 minutes before the contest, allowing the baseball bettor to see if there is any possible edge.
The same goes for the starting pitcher. With deeper research, you can find who the manager plans on pitching that day. Keep in mind that managers are looking at pitchers to “get their work in” for games.
Clubs with deeper rosters have a potential advantage against a squad that figures to lose 90 or more games. Just don’t go overboard with this thinking.
Halfway Through Spring Training
Every year in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues, a team or two posts a strong record or is failing miserably.
Whichever contingent those squads are a part of, you can possibly ride them until they cool off or heat up and this can be a very simple way to make money without having to do a lot of work. If a hot team loses twice and a cold team wins two in a row, move on.
Last Week of Spring Training
This has nothing to do with betting this week, but rather, the first week of the regular season.
With more regulars playing at least seven innings and starting pitchers out to pitch five or more innings, it is a flavor of what comes next. Watch for what squads are tearing the cover off the ball or couldn’t hit a beach ball.
It is not unusual for either situation to carry over in the first week of a new MLB campaign and you could profit from that research on a hot or cold club.
