MLB moneyline betting is the most straightforward way to wager on baseball: pick the team that wins the game, regardless of margin. Unlike football or basketball, where point spreads dominate, baseball's low-scoring nature makes the moneyline the primary market. Run lines (the MLB equivalent of a spread, set at ±1.5) exist but carry different risk profiles, so most sharp action in baseball flows through the moneyline. This makes it the most liquid and competitive MLB market across sportsbooks, which directly impacts the vig bettors pay.
From a strategy standpoint, moneyline value in MLB often hinges on starting pitching matchups, platoon splits, and bullpen availability — factors that shift dramatically from game to game within the same series. Underdogs hit at a notably higher rate in baseball than in other major sports, making plus-money sides consistently worth evaluating. Regarding vig, MLB moneylines tend to carry slightly higher margins than NFL or NBA spreads, particularly on heavy favorites where books widen the gap between the favorite and underdog prices. Comparing vig across books on these lines — especially in the -150 to -200 range — can meaningfully impact long-term profitability.
Analysis updated October 18, 2026. Odds data above refreshes hourly.
Moneyline Vig Rankings
| # | Sportsbook | Vig | Grade | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BetMGM | 1.95% | A+ | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a moneyline bet?
A moneyline bet is the simplest form of sports wagering — you're picking which team will win the game outright, with no point spread involved. The odds reflect each team's implied probability of winning. Favorites have negative odds (e.g., -150) and underdogs have positive odds (e.g., +130).
Why does moneyline vig vary by matchup?
Moneyline vig is lowest on evenly matched games and highest on lopsided matchups. When a heavy favorite is -500, the book needs a wide margin on the underdog side to balance risk. Close games near pick'em (-110/-110) will always have the tightest vig.
Why does MLB have unique vig patterns?
MLB betting revolves around the moneyline rather than point spreads (though run lines exist). This means vig varies significantly based on the matchup — a game between evenly matched teams will have much tighter vig than a heavy favorite vs underdog scenario.
When is MLB season?
MLB runs from late March through October, with the World Series typically ending in late October or early November. Spring training games begin in February but rarely appear on most sportsbooks. The long 162-game season means consistent odds availability for six months.
Which MLB market type offers the best value?
For MLB, moneylines on close matchups (both teams near even) tend to have the best vig. Run line (±1.5) vig is typically higher because it's a less liquid market. Totals vary based on the game but are generally competitive at sharp books.
Are there reduced-juice options for MLB?
Yes. Reduced-juice books like BetAnySports and LowVig.ag consistently price MLB below the -110 standard. Bet105 prices -105 across every sport including MLB, for a market hold of roughly 2.4% — advertised book-wide pricing that would place it in the most-efficient tier, though it is not yet part of our measured feed.
What is vig (vigorish) in sports betting?
Vig — short for vigorish, also called juice or overround — is the margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. It's the difference between the true probability of an outcome and what the odds imply. Lower vig means you keep more of your winnings on every bet. For example, a standard -110/-110 line has about 4.76% vig.
How often is this data updated?
We pull fresh odds from The Odds API every hour, on the hour (UTC). Each snapshot captures the latest lines from every sportsbook that has posted odds. The timestamp at the top of the page shows the most recent refresh.
How is the vig grade calculated?
Each sportsbook is graded on average vig: A+ (under 2%) is exchange-level pricing, A (2–3%) very competitive, B+ (3–4%) above average, B (4–5%) the industry standard, C+ (5–6%) slightly below average, C (6–7%) below average, D (7–8%) high vig, D− (8–10%) very high, F (10%+) predatory.
Why does lower vig matter for bettors?
Lower vig directly impacts your long-term returns. A bettor placing $1,000 per week at a book with 4% vig loses roughly $40/week to the house edge. At 2% vig, that drops to $20/week — a $1,040 difference over a year. For serious bettors, shopping for lower vig is one of the most reliable ways to improve profitability.
How We Calculate These Numbers
- Data Source
- All odds on this page come from The Odds API, which aggregates real-time lines from licensed US and offshore sportsbooks. We track moneyline, spread, and totals markets across every sport with active betting lines.
- Update Frequency
- We pull a fresh snapshot of every tracked market every hour, on the hour (UTC). Each snapshot captures the latest lines from every sportsbook that has posted odds for a given event. The timestamp at the top of each page tells you exactly when the data was last refreshed.
- Vig Calculation
- Vig (short for vigorish, also called juice or overround) measures the margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. We calculate it by converting the odds on each side of a market to implied probabilities, summing those probabilities, and subtracting 100%. For example, a market priced at -110/-110 implies 52.38% on each side — a total of 104.76%, meaning a vig of 4.76%. Lower vig means better value for bettors because you keep more of your winnings.
- Per-Market Breakdown
- We compute vig separately for each market type: moneyline (h2h), point spreads, and totals (over/under). The "average vig" shown for each sportsbook is the mean across all market types weighted by the number of events sampled in each market.
- Grading Scale
- Every sportsbook receives a letter grade based on its average vig: A+ (under 2%) is exchange-level pricing. A (2–3%) is very competitive. B+ (3–4%) is above average. B (4–5%) is the industry standard — a -110/-110 line is 4.76%. C+ (5–6%) is slightly below average. C (6–7%) is below average. D (7–8%) is high vig. D− (8–10%) is very high vig. F (10%+) is predatory pricing. See the full Vig Index Methodology for formulas, worked examples, and known limitations.
- Trend Tracking
- We store daily snapshots for 30 days, allowing us to show 24-hour and 7-day vig trends. A downward trend (improving) means sportsbooks are tightening their lines — often in response to increased competition or higher betting volume as a season heats up.