A 2 team parlay might pay 13/5, a three team parlay might pay 6/1, a four team parlay might pay 10/1, and so forth with the payouts getting higher with more teams or totals selected. For a single bet, 2 to 8 teams or totals can be selected. In order for the parlay bet to win, every one of the wagers must win or push (tie).
The majority of the sports betting world would tell you that parlay bets are for suckers. That’s because, in most cases, the bettor gets worse odds than what the true odds should be. This is clearly evident in football and basketball three-team parlays. The pay off on a three-team parlay in those sports is 6-to-1, while the actual odds of winning one are 7-to-1. That’s because there are seven different outcomes that can take place.
- A parlay is a group of two or more individual bets combined into a single wager to exponentially increase the payout. The potential returns are higher because they’re harder to win. Every additional wager you add to your parlay card increases the possible return.
- Picks and Parlays is the top resource for winning sports picks on the planet. We provide free picks, predictions and expert picks on every game. You can also get the most insightful sports betting analysis around, with our team of expert writers giving you the inside scoop.
While parlays are certainly sucker bets in basketball and football, they aren’t necessarily sucker bets in baseball. In football and basketball, the spread is mostly used in parlays. A better parlay bet for basketball and football, with the best odds, would be to use the money lines. That’s why baseball parlays have much more favorable odds than the other two sports because money lines are involved.
What is a Parlay Bet?
A parlay is defined as a bet on multiple teams. Let’s just stick with a two-team parlay and say that you want to bet $50 on the Tigers and Angels. No, both teams would have to win, otherwise your bet would lose. The Tigers are -200 over the White Sox with Justin Verlander on the mound, while the Angels are +110 against the Rangers with JC Ramirez on the mound.
The payout is figured by taking the $50 and placing it on the Tigers. If Detroit wins, the $50 becomes $75 since the bettor profited $25. Then, the $75 goes on the Angels at +110, and if they win you would get back $157.50. The order of the teams when calculating the parlay makes no difference as you will come out with the same outcome either way.
For those of you that like to calculate the odds in your head, just divide 100 by the odds on a certain team. If you like the Nationals at -165 and want to make a two-team parlay with the Cardinals at -135, the first thing you would do is divide the odds by 100. That will give you a decimal figure, at which point you would add one.
In this case, you would do 100/165, which would be 0.61, and then add one, which comes to 1.61. That’s your number for the Nationals. The Cardinals would be 100/135 plus one which calculates to 1.74. The reason for adding one is because if you went to a sportsbook, the payout would factor in your original wager. If you simply bet the Astros at +110 for $100 you would get back $210, not $110.
Now that we have our 1.74 and 1.61 numbers figured out, it’s time to multiply the size of the parlay wager by the two decimal figures to calculate the payout. A $30 parlay wager would be calculated like this: 30 X 1.61 comes out to $48.30. Next, you would multiply 48.30 X 1.74 which comes out to $84.22. That would be the money you would receive if both the Nationals and Cardinals won. If either or both lost, your $30 would be gone.
Baseball Parlay Calculator Don Best
MLB Parlay of Two Big Favorites
This is the most popular baseball parlay. It makes sense, too. This is where you have two big favorites you really like, but don’t want to lay big juice to bet each team individually. Let’s say that you believe both the Yankees -200 and Red Sox -200 are going to win on today. Instead of paying $100 to win $50 on each, which would be risking $200 to get $100, it would be a much smarter move to just parlay these two together. It cuts down your risk greatly and the return is actually better than most would think.
You would bet $100 to win $125 on this two-team parlay. That means you’re either going to profit $125 or lose $100. That’s much better odds than potentially losing $400 or $100 by betting both the Yankees -200 and Red Sox -200 individually. The only downside is that you would win $200 if both the Yankees and Red Sox came through. I would much rather limit my risk by taking the two-team parlay.
Baseball Parlays With a Favorite & Two Underdogs
Every day is different. There will be certain days where you only like favorites and other days where you only like underdogs. However, there will be a time that arises when you find a heavy favorite that you know is going to win and a couple of underdogs that are undervalued. This makes for an excellent parlay opportunity.
Let’s say you have a -200 favorite and two +150 underdogs. What you want to do is place a two-team parlay on the -200 favorite with each +150 underdog. Each parlay would profit you $275 with a successful wager. If just one parlay hits, you would lose $100 on the other parlay. That means you’d win $275 and lose $100, netting you a $175 profit on the day.
Money Line Parlay Strategy & Total Parlaying
This is a popular bet for many professionals that feel strongly about a home team or a road team. Let me try to make sense of that for you. If you believe a home team is going to win the game, then there is likely one-half inning that is not going to be played. So parlaying a home team and the under makes sense since there will only be 8.5 innings played instead of the full nine. If you like a road team then it’s likely that the full 9 innings will be played. That’s because the road team will be ahead in the 9th inning, giving the home team a chance to bat and score an extra run or two to get the over.
- When wagering on total runs (over/under) the game must go 9 innings (8.5 if the home team is ahead) to have action. If a game is called or suspended in extra innings, the score will be determined after the last full inning unless the home team scores to tie, or takes the lead in the bottom half of the inning, in which case the score is determined at the time the game is called.
- Wagers on total runs will be refunded if a pitcher change occurs prior to both listed pitchers throwing at least one pitch.
- Rules for Run Line wagers are the same as those for baseball totals.
- The result of a game is official after 5 innings of play unless the home team is leading after 4.5 innings. If a game is called or suspended, the winner is determined by the score after the last full inning unless the home team scores to tie, or takes the lead in the bottom half of the inning, in which case the winner is determined by the score at the time the game is called. Monies will be refunded if the home team ties the game and it is then suspended. Events will not carry over to the following day unless otherwise specified.
- Instant Action Sports does not recognize postponed games, protests or overturned decisions for wagering purposes. All baseball wagers must go the day written, otherwise there is no action and all monies are refunded.
- Money-line wagers on baseball will be accepted in the following manner:
- Action - team against team, regardless of the starting pitchers.
- Listed Pitchers - if both starting pitchers are not exactly as specified at the time of the bet, the wager will be deemed 'no action'.
- One Listed Pitcher - this is a wager on or against one specified pitcher, regardless of the other starting pitcher. If the specified pitcher does not start, the wager is deemed 'no action'. (examples: 'the Yankees versus Martinez' indicates a wager against Martinez. 'Martinez against the Yankees' indicates a wager on Martinez).
- In the event there is a pitching change prior to the game, the money-line will be re-adjusted and 'action' wagers will be graded using the opening price for the new pitcher.
- A pitcher is deemed a starter after throwing the first pitch to the opponent's first batter.
- Wagers on totals and run-lines must always specify both pitchers listed.
- Double Headers: Double header games are denoted as Game1 or Game2. Members may list pitchers in a double header, however, wagers are taken on games, not pitchers. If a scheduled pitcher does not go in his scheduled game of a double header but in the other game, wagers are graded based on the Game, not on the pitcher.
- A baseball team must play at least 160 games for wagers on its season wins to have action.
- We use the 10-cent line on sides only!
- The Baseball Grand Salami has no action if any game is rained out or final in less than 8� innings.
First-Half Betting (First five innings of the game):
All wagers on baseball first halfs (5 innings) will be decided on the basis of the score at the end of first five full innings.
Once 5 full innings have been completed, all wagers on the first half are oficial.
If a game does not go five full innings, all first-half wagers will be canceled.
All first-half wagers (5 innings) must list both pitchers. If either listed pitcher does not start, wagers on the first half (5 innings) will be deemed no action.
No hookups with the first-half lines and its respective parent game are accepted, for example:
2 Team Parlay
N.Y. Yankees 1H -165
N.Y. Yankees -1½+115 not accepted
2 Team Parlay
N.Y. Yankees 1H -165
N.Y. Yankees o5½+115 good
Regular Season Baseball Series Wagers:
- Wagers on baseball series are based on the first three games played of each series (on a 4 game series only first three games count for any wager on MLB Series).
- Neither team can play another opponent between scheduled games.
- At least two of the first three series games must be played for wagers to have action.
- Once a team wins two games in a series, the series will be graded at that time.
- If only one of the first three games is postponed or canceled, series wagers stand as written (In case of a 1 - 1 push situation, all wagers should be graded as tie).
- If two of the first three games are postponed or canceled, all wagers on that series will be graded as No Action and the money will be refunded.
- A called game will count toward a series wager provided it is officially declared a regulation game.
- Pitchers cannot be listed for series wagers; all wagers will have action regardless of the starting pitchers.
Money Line Wagering
Wagering on baseball is done by risking more money than the win amount
on favorites (Mets) or risking less to win more on dogs or underdogs
(teams not favored to win).
Example:
Mets -135
Reds +115
- If you wager on the Mets -135 you lay $135 to win $100.
- If you wager on the Reds +115 you lay $100 to win $115.
Totals Over/Under
There is a standard 20 cent line.
Example:
Mets 7 over -120
7 under Even Money
- If you take the Mets over 7 runs you lay $120 to win $100.
- If you take the Reds under 7 you lay $100 to win $100 (even money).
- The team doesnt matter. You are only wagering on the total runs of the game.
Run Line Wagering
A baseball Run Line wager is a combination of the point spread and the money line. The team wagered on must win by the point spread while the amount wagered is determined by the money line odds.
Example:
Braves -1 1/2 +130
Pirates +1 1/2 -150
- If you wager on the Braves you must win by 2 or more runs. You would lay $100 to win $130.
- If you wager on the Pirates they cannot lose by 2 or more runs. You would lay $150 to win $100.
Parlays
How to calculate a money line baseball parlay:
- Possitive money line divide 100 plus one.
- Negative money lines divide 100 by the negative money line plus one.
- Multiply the results among themselves times the amount minus the amount.
Example:
3 team parlay for $30
Cubs +115
Mets -125
Phillys +130
115÷100 = 1.15+1 = 2.15
100÷125 = 0.8 +1 = 1.8
130 ÷100 = 1.3+1 = 2.3
2.15 * 1.8 * 2.3 = 8.901
8.901 * $30 = 267.03
267.03 - $30 = $237.03
Payout will be $237
Pitcher Props
- If there is a pitching change the bet will be consider No Action.
- Total Strikeouts (SOS), is strickeouts only.
- Total Hits, is Hits only could be individual or combined.
Player Totals
- If game is not completed (9innings or 8½ if home team is winning), the wager will be consider No Action.
- Total Complete Bases, is Hits only, no RBI's nor Bunts
- Total Hits, is Hits Only
Player Props Matchups Free online games that pay real money.
- Both listed players must start the game for action.
- If game is not completed (9innings or 8½ if home team is winning), the wager will be consider No Action.
- If a player is walked wagers will have action. Unless the player is walked when batting as a pinch hitter.
Major League Baseball Props
Total hits + runs + errors in the Game?
Both starting pitchers must go for action. Game must go 8½ innings if home team is winning or 9 innings if road team is winning for action. Extra innings count. If a game goes past 9 innings and is not completed there is no action.
Team to score first in the Game:
Both starting pitchers must go for action. Wager is official after either team scores 1st in the game.
Will there be a run scored in the first inning?
Both starting pitchers must go for action. Wager is official after either team scores 1st in the first inning.
Total runs scored in the first 4½ innings of Game:
Both starting pitchers must start for action. Game must go 5 innings for action. If score is tied wager has no action.
Team to lead after the first 4½ innings:
Both starting pitchers must start for action. Game must go 5 innings for action. If score is tied wager has no action.
Which team will hit the 1st home run in Game?
Extra Innings count towards wager. Game must go 8½ innings if home team is winning or 9 innings if road team is winning for action. If game is not completed wager has no action. Both starting pitchers must go for action.
Team to hit the 1st Double in the Game:
Wager is official after team hits 1st double in game. Any scoring changes after inning is over, it is not valid towards wager.
Which team will hit the 1st triple in Game?
Extra innings count towards wager. Game must go 8½ innings if home team is winning or 9 innings if road team is winning for action. If game is not completed wager has no action.
1st called pitch by “team” starting pitcher:
Foul Ball = Strike. If first batter gets a base hit, makes an out. Hit by a pitch or reaches on an error the 2nd batter + becomes wager. All pitchers are action.
1st Inning Only - Pitcher to throw more pitches:
Winning wager is pitcher who throws the most pitches in the 1st inning only. Both pitchers must start game for action.