The following MLB betting trends are a collection of analytical data, betting systems and strength ratings featured on VSiN and qualified for the MLB games of Thursday, October 10, 2024. This report is meant to emulate the process that Steve Makinen and other members of the VSiN Analytics team undergo when handicapping each day’s MLB board. 

 

Top MLB Resources:

AJ’s Angles

These are the top MLB betting trends and systems for today’s games, handpicked by VSiN Analyst AJ Makinen. 

Trend: CLE is 0-10 in the last 10 postseason tries when facing elimination (since 1998)
System Match: FADE CLEVELAND (-125 at DET) 

Home field advantage has been particularly prevalent in the divisional series when the host is leading in the series or even. Those hosts are on a surge of 58-37 SU (+6.99 units, ROI: 8.1%) and 51-44 on run lines (+15.39 units, ROI: 16.2%) since 2015.
System Match (PLAY): DETROIT

Trend: Gerrit Cole is 31-6 (+15.40 units) vs. AL Central teams in the last six seasons
System Match: PLAY NY YANKEES (-155 at KC)

Strategies Using MLB DraftKings Betting Splits Data

One of the most touted features on the VSiN.com website, and a feature that we believe to be a fantastic resource for bettors is the betting splits pages. These are the pages that we have built utilizing the data that DraftKings so graciously provides to us detailing the breakdowns of the money and ticket splits for point spreads, money lines, and totals. 

In an article published on the VSiN.com website prior to opening day, Steve Makinen outlined 10 different systematic strategies for successfully using the DK Betting Splits Data that developed in the 2023 season. Here are the systems and qualifying plays for today’s games as of 11:45 a.m. ET. These can and will change, so continue to track and qualify the systems up until first pitch for best usage.

To summarize the first half of 2024 season findings, the data sample contained 1449 games, and for the most part, it can be concluded that majority bettors again slowly dwindled their bankrolls over the course of the first 3-1/2 months, losing at least 2.7% in all categories. However, as you can see, they were noticeably improved over the full 2023 season in five of the six measured categories. These were the 2024 first half results:

–  Majority handle on sides: 792-628 (55.8%), -66.71 units – ROI -4.7% (2023 full season ROI was -10.7%)
–  Majority number of bets on sides: 823-612 (57.4%), -61.77 units – ROI -4.3% (2023 full season ROI was -8.9%)
–  Majority handle on run lines: 717-711 (50.2%). -83.92 units, ROI -5.9% (2023 full season ROI was -7.9%)
–  Majority number of bets on run lines: 661-777 (46%). -45.98 units – ROI -3.2% (2023 full season ROI was -7.9%)
–  Majority handle on totals: 689-688 (50%). -67.8 units – ROI -4.9% (2023 full season ROI was -2.6%)
–   Majority number of bets on totals: 692-662 (51.1%), -36.2 units, ROI -2.7% (2023 full season ROI was -8.3%)

As a general rule, acknowledging the approximate -5% returns on all majorities, if adopting the use of the betting splits this season, opt to fade majorities unless shown otherwise in one of the systems below to be a profitable follow angle.

DK MLB Betting Splits system #2: Majority bets groups have proven to be reasonably successful when not too many of them hop on a side since the beginning of last season, and in fact, the benchmark was 60%+. When the majority percentage figure of bets landed in the 51%-59% range, these groups have gone 352-297 (54.2%) for +14.32 units and an ROI of 2.2%. This isn’t the rate of return that a professional bettor is looking for, but it is a very solid number to maintain over the course of 1-1/2 baseball seasons and 649 games.
System Matches (SLIGHT PLAY): DETROIT (+105 vs. CLE)

DK MLB Betting Splits system #7: There has been distinct up-and-down pattern of performance for majority handle bettors by month since the beginning of last season. Combined March/April ROI has been -1.5%, May has been a brutal -12.5%, June has climbed back up to -5.3%. July has slipped to a consistent -15.1%, followed by an August return of -3.5%, and finally a September/October drain of -16.7%. 

DK MLB Betting Splits system #8: Majority handle bettors endured a terrible playoff season in 2023, with a month-long record of 19-21 (47.5%) for -10.51 units and an ROI of -26.3%. This is typically a high-volume set of games so bettors lost big in October.
System Matches (FADE ALL): DETROIT (+105 vs. CLE), NY YANKEES (-155 at KC)

MLB Bullpen Systems

The following MLB betting trend systems and qualifying plays are from the weekly update series on handicapping MLB teams using Steve Makinen’s bullpen strength ratings.

Worse bullpen teams continue to struggle in extending winning streaks
I have found that fading teams with a lesser SM bullpen ratings that were looking to extend winning streaks is also a strong strategy. Over the last two regular seasons, on two-game winning streaks, the teams with worse Steve Makinen Bullpen Ratings in a matchup have gone 428-485 for -78.6 units, an ROI of -8.6%. Worse bullpen teams on 3+ game winning streaks finished the last two regular seasons with record of 186-218 for -29.23 units. The ROI on that system is -7.2%. This has been a very consistent angle.
*In the ’24 playoffs, those on two-game winning streaks are 0-4 for -4.77 units, and those on three-game winning streaks are 0-2 for -2.48 units.
System Matches: 2-games – FADE DETROIT (+105 vs CLE) 

The MLB postseason is a 12-team tournament made up of four rounds, with each round being played as a series with progressively more games the deeper you get. Perhaps unlike any other sport, because of the huge 162-game regular season schedule, the stakes of each and every MLB postseason game are enhanced tremendously, and as such, some different or additional handicapping strategies should be employed. With that in mind, one of the key factors in getting ready for these games is to know the history, and the trends/systems that have developed in recent years. Let’s dig into the key betting results from recent MLB playoff seasons to see if we can’t uncover nuggets that will help make these playoffs profitable. 

Overall MLB Postseason Trends 

Line Angles
Road favorites are on a 9-17 SU skid (-12.25 units, ROI: -47.1%)
System Matches (FADE ALL): CLEVELAND (-125 at DET), NY YANKEES (-155 at KC) 

Coming off wins/losses
Home teams coming off a loss in a series game have been terrible bounce back options, going 49-55 SU (-21.08 units, ROI: -20.3%) since 2016.
System Match (FADE): KANSAS CITY (+130 vs. NYY)

Series wins status
For teams leading in a series, home-field advantage has meant quite a lot, as these hosts are 66-45 SU (+14.54 units, ROI: 13.1%) and 57-54 on run lines (+11.80 units, ROI: 10.6%) since 2013.
System Match (PLAY): DETROIT 

Stats from last game trends
Teams that are favored in an MLB postseason game after having lost the last outing while scoring two runs or fewer are just 43-53 SU (-31.43 units, ROI: -32.7%) and 29-67 on run lines (-28.65 units, ROI: -29.8%) since 2012.
System Match (FADE): CLEVELAND

Teams playing as underdogs in an MLB postseason series after their bullpen was used for 5+ innings in the same series prior game are just 30-50 SU (-12.17 units, ROI: -15.2%) since 2016.
System Match (FADE): DETROIT (+105 vs. CLE) 

Trends based upon regular season records
 In the last 111 MLB playoff games matching teams with 7+ regular season win differential between them, the supposed better team is just 49-62 SU (-37.05 units, ROI: -33.4%) since ’19, including a hard-to-fathom 1-13 in 2023!
System Match (FADE): NY YANKEES (-155 at KC)

In the last three playoff seasons following a full regular season (excluding 2020), MLB teams that won less than 90 games are on a surge of 51-41 SU (+19.23 units, ROI: 20.9%) and 61-31 on run lines (+22.40 units, ROI: 24.3%) in playoff games.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): DETROIT, KANSAS CITY 

Totals angles
 The last three MLB postseasons have been very good for Over bettors, as although the outright record on totals is 67-67, Overs have produced a return of +18.91 units, an ROI of 14.1%. Total vig have been heavily shaded towards Unders.
System Matches: PLAY OVER in both games

Divisional Round Angles
Home field advantage has been particularly prevalent in the divisional series when the host is leading in the series or even. Those hosts are on a surge of 58-37 SU (+6.99 units, ROI: 8.1%) and 51-44 on run lines (+15.39 units, ROI: 16.2%) since 2015.
System Match (PLAY): DETROIT 

MLB Extreme Stats Systems

The following systems and qualifying plays are from the article titled MLB Extreme Stats Systems, detailing 8 different betting systems for betting teams based upon noteworthy stats they accumulated in their previous game.

Road teams that didn’t score well last game are a bad bet in the next outing
You’re going to want to consider fading teams playing on the road that scored two runs or fewer in their last contest. They have proven to be bankroll-busting options over their last 4+ seasons. These road teams are just 1623-2075 (43.9%) for -178.19 units and an ROI of -4.8% since the start of the 2019 season.
System Matches (FADE): CLEVELAND (-125 at DET)

MLB Streak Systems

The following systems and qualifying plays are from the midseason article titled Handicapping MLB Streaks, detailing 14 MLB betting trend systems for betting teams on winning or losing streaks.

NO QUALIFYING STREAK PLAYS TODAY 

Today’s MLB Strength Ratings

The following are taken from today’s MAKINEN DAILY RATINGS page under the MLB tab on VSiN.com.

Today’s BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER (0.5 runs or more) according to the Makinen Strength Ratings projections:
System Matches: CLE-DET OVER 6.5 (+0.5), NYY-KC OVER 7.5 (+0.5) 

MLB Team Situational MLB Betting Trend Spots

The following team situational MLB betting trends and qualifying plays are from the VSiN MLB Situational Report, updated daily.

(913) CLEVELAND (93-71) at (914) DETROIT (90-77)
Trend: CLE trending Under on the road (30-46 O/U)
System Match: PLAY UNDER the total (o/u at 6.5)

Trend: CLE is 0-10 in the last 10 postseason tries when facing elimination (since 1998)
System Match: FADE CLEVELAND (-125 at DET) 

(915) NEW YORK-AL (96-69) at (916) KANSAS CITY (89-78)
Trend: KC slight Under vs. RH starters (53-71 O/U)
System Match: PLAY UNDER the total (o/u at 7.5)

MLB Pitcher Situational MLB Betting Trend Spots

The following situational MLB betting trends and qualifying plays look at how today’s starting pitchers have performed in a similar spot over the last five years. 

(913) CLEVELAND (93-71) at (914) DETROIT (90-77)
Trend: CLE is 19-4 (+15.10 units) in the -135 to +110 line range by starter Tanner Bibee in the last two seasons
System Match: PLAY CLEVELAND (-125 at DET)

(915) NEW YORK-AL (96-69) at (916) KANSAS CITY (89-78)
Trend: Gerrit Cole is 31-6 (+15.40 units) vs AL Central teams in the last six seasons
System Match: PLAY NY YANKEES (-155 at KC)

Stat: Michael Wacha hasn’t been good in the postseason as of late (6.2 IP, 9 ER, 13 HA, 3 BB) in two appearances since 2021
System Match: FADE KANSAS CITY (+130 vs NYY)

Team-Specific Momentum Building/Letdown Angles

The following MLB betting trends and qualifying plays are from the article entitled MLB post-rivalry series betting opportunities.

NO QUALIFYING MOMENTUM ANGLES TODAY (next one in the LCS)

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