A futures bet is exactly what it sounds like—a bet on a future outcome. Futures bets can generally be broken down into two categories:
- Team-specific futures bets
- Player-specific futures bets
Team-oriented futures include events like which team will win the championship or how many games a team will win.
Player futures are usually centered more around awards (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year) and player statistics, like whether a player will go over his projected home run total or lead the league in strikeouts.
Because predictions are difficult and affected by numerous unforeseeable factors like injuries or trades, futures odds usually have relatively large payouts. It’s hard to correctly guess which of the 30 teams will win the World Series or which player will win an award.
Baseball has a long season, and much can change over 162 games. Accordingly, expect the odds to shift throughout the year as teams and players perform better or worse than expected.
Futures bets also won’t cash until the season ends, so you’ll have to wait until October or November to receive your potential payout. Accordingly, you don’t want to tie up too much of your betting funds in futures.
When Can I Make an MLB Futures Bet?
You can usually make most MLB futures bets at any point during the season, although many bettors prefer to place their futures bets before the season. This is because the odds for favorites will shorten throughout the season as frontrunners emerge, so you tend to get more value and better bang for your buck with preseason odds when much is unknown.
As mentioned, odds and lines for futures bets frequently change throughout the season as sportsbooks adjust to what has happened. One way to get ahead of that is by placing your bets before the season starts. An obvious benefit of waiting is that you’ll have more information.
For example, the Boston Red Sox might open the season with +3000 odds to win the World Series. However, if they have a great first half with one of the best records at the All-Star Break, their odds may shorten to +1000.
Where Can I Bet on MLB Futures?
Every regulated online sportsbook in a legal sports betting state will have MLB futures on the menu. Futures are a staple betting market for operators.
Sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars are recommended options, as they are all highly regulated.
How Much Should I Bet on MLB Futures?
How much you decide to wager is ultimately up to you. It depends on how much you’re willing to risk and how confident you are in the bet.
Obviously, the more you wager, the more you stand to win. Higher odds translate to higher payouts.
Depending on the sportsbook, there is typically a minimum on how much money you need to wager to place a bet—usually $1-$5. Similar to parlays, futures bets can be an interesting way to risk a little money for the chance at a relatively significant payout.
For example, if you bet $10 on the Philadelphia Phillies to win the 2024 World Series at +1100 odds, you’ll earn $110 in profit if they erase the heartbreak from October 2023.
Betting on Teams to Make the Playoffs
Betting on whether a team will make the playoffs has become easier than it used to be.
For starters, more teams make the postseason than in the past. Thanks to playoff expansion, 12 of the 30 teams reach the postseason, which means each team starts with a 40% chance.
You can eliminate some teams right off the bat, as several are “rebuilding” and not trying to put a playoff-caliber team on the field. By removing clubs like the Athletics, Royals and Rockies, you can focus on teams with real postseason aspirations.
For this bet, it doesn’t matter whether a team makes the playoffs as a division winner or as a Wild Card team. You must correctly guess whether a team will reach the postseason as a simple “Yes” or “No” proposition.
