Online Baseball Betting
Online baseball betting is an excellent way to make money over the course of a season for those who know what they're doing. For some, online baseball betting seems simple. They handicap the pitchers, think about the lineups, and pull the trigger.
Those who want to consistently bring down profits need to look at the game from other angles, though. Enough statistics exist that it's possible to quantify almost anything in today's game. The more you analyze the numbers, the better your online baseball betting results will be when the year comes to a close.
Analyzing Pitcher Performance
One of the center pieces to any successful handicapping approach is being able to analyze pitchers. They control a huge part of the action and have a greater impact on the game than any other player.
So how do you know when a starting pitching is poised for a nice day? It starts by looking at some of the statistics that most people will never consider. While most are looking at ERA and win-loss record, you should be considering how a pitcher is actually pitching.
The following are factors that should be considered in your analysis:
- Strikeout to walk ratio
- Ground ball rates
- Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) or Expected Fielding Independent Pitching (xFIP)
- Home run rates
By taking these things into account, you will have a much better idea of what is actually happening on the field. Pitchers who are striking guys out, limiting walks, and getting plenty of ground ball outs will perform better over the long haul. The FIP statistic is scaled to ERA and provides a better indication of what a player is really doing on the field.
Assessing the Lineups
One thing that never ceases to amaze is the propensity of inexperienced bettors to make their bets without checking the lineups. When doing online baseball betting, you have tons of information right at your disposal. Some players look at the matchup and unload early in the day before they ever consider the matchup.
What happens if you bet on the Twins, only to find out that Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are getting the day off? That bet doesn't look nearly as good anymore, and you certainly won't be getting great value out of it. Check the lineups and make sure that the team is putting its big guns out on the field.
This is especially important on Sundays and Thursdays, which are traditionally off days for some players.
Who Is the Ump?
When consider totals in your online baseball betting, it pays to handicap the umpire. Some umps are known for their notoriously tight strike zones. Joe West, for instance, has a strike zone that is very unforgiving to pitchers.
If you are planning on betting a pitcher that needs those large outside corners to be successful, then an umpire like this will hurt your chances. Information on umpire trends is readily available online, so make sure you check it out before laying a bet.