MLB Props: Betting on the Total Bases a Hitter Will Have

Baseball is typically a moneyline sport for MLB bettors. It’s harder to find good value bets on the run line, but there is an alternative for MLB bettors looking for more.

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There are some MLB props bets that can help any bettor pad his winning percentage. One such bet is on the total bases a hitter will have in a given game.

To win more of this MLB props bets, it all starts with understanding how total bases are calculated. In other words, you need to know how total bases are counted by statisticians.

Understanding Total Bases

Total bases are the number of bases a hitter gains from a base hit. For example, when a batter hits a single, he is credited with one total base. For a double, a player receives two total bases and so on (three total bases for a triple and four for hitting a home run).

Total bases are those attained from hits only. A batter that reaches first base on an error, was walked by the opposing pitcher, or even hit by a pitch does not receive credit for one total base. Understanding how total bases are calculated will help you win more of these bets.

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MLB Total Bases Prop Betting Examples

Bettors can find the Total Bases bet listed under MLB Props at their sportsbook. Let’s take a look at an example. Let’s say Kansas City is playing the Chicago White Sox.

Royals Player A Total Bases 2+ (+127) 3+ (+231) 4+ (+480)

Royals Player B Total Bases 2+ (-103) 3+ (+175) 4+ (+368)

White Sox Player A Total Bases 2+ (-132) 3+ (+123) 4+ (+240)

White Sox Player B Total Bases 2+ (+123) 3+ (+281) 4+ (+631)

Bettors will find a number of players on both teams listed and their respective number of total bases with odds for each. In the above example, if you felt like Royals Player A could reach three total bases, a $100 bet would pay out $231. Royals Player A would need to hit one home run, one triple, two doubles and a single, or three singles to record at least three total bases.

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MLB Total Bases Props Bet Tips and Strategy

The key to winning this bet more often will most often come down to matchups. Bettors will need to do a bit of research and find how a certain hitter does against a given pitcher.

In the example above, if White Sox Player B historically has done well against the Royals starting pitcher you may like the higher plus-money bets and three and four total bases. Likewise, if White Sox Player B struggles against, say, left-handers and Kansas City starts a lefty you might choose to stay away from Player B and bet on a different player.

Bettors can always keep their eyes open for the best home run hitters. Remember, home runs are four total bases, but the key is to find favorable odds. White Sox Player A actually is in the top ten in MLB in home runs, but he only hits .240.

The odds suggest he’s good for at least two bases, but if he’s a solid long-ball hitter going up against favorable pitching bettors can take advantage of the plus-money odds for three (+123) and four (+240) total bases.

The bottom line is that bettors looking to win more on this prop bet need to understand what total bases are and how they are calculated first. Then, they need to do some research into a game’s matchups to determine their best bet.

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