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 Sunday, September 22, 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: CIN is 1-11 (-10.80 units) in matchup vs. MIL/PIT, specifically with starter Hunter Greene
System Match: FADE CINCINNATI (-105 vs. PIT) 

Better bullpen teams thwart losing streaks
 Better bullpen teams on 3+ game losing streaks went 119-79 for +22.2 units in the 2023 regular season. The ROI for the season closed at 11.2%! There have been 180 plays on this angle so far in 2024 through 9/21 and these teams are 106-74 for +18.75 units (10.4% ROI).
System Matches (PLAY): MILWAUKEE (-135 vs. AZ)

Trend: BOS is 6-21 (-17.32 units) in the months of August/September by starter Kutter Crawford
System Match: FADE BOSTON GAME 2 (-105 vs. MIN)

Home teams off blowout losses are solid bets to rebound versus that same opponent
Teams playing at home against the same team after a blowout loss of seven runs or more have been solid wagers over the last 5+ seasons, going 366-344 (51.5%) for +32.25 units of profit. This represents an ROI of 4.5%.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): KANSAS CITY (-105 vs. SF), OAKLAND (+150 vs. NYY)

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 11:15 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 ’23 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 #1: When 90% or more of the handle was on the home side of an MLB moneyline wager since the beginning of last season, this supermajority group has fared quite well, going 164-66 (71.3%) for +32.84 units and an ROI of +14.3%. This obviously beats the overall majority handle ROI return by almost 25%. If you see 90% or more of the handle backing a host in an MLB game for the rest of this season, it’s a solid bet to follow it.
System Matches (PLAY): CHICAGO CUBS (-205 vs. WSH) 

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 ALL): MILWAUKEE (-130 vs. AZ), SAN FRANCISCO (-115 at SD)

DK MLB Betting Splits system #3: Majority handle bettors have been sound over the last year-and-a-half when getting behind huge home favorites of -250 or higher. This group is 154-46 (77%) for +18.91 units and an ROI of 9.5%. This is a strong rate of return and a tremendous winning percentage, but with prices like this, things can turn fast so proceed with caution.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): HOUSTON (-285 vs. LAA), LA DODGERS (-395 vs. COL), SAN DIEGO (-345 vs. CWS) 

DK MLB Betting Splits system #5: The majority handle bettors have been at their worst overall in interleague games since the start of 2023, going 595-505 (54.1%) for -119.1 units and an ROI of -10.8%. This is over two full percentage points worse for return and an indication that bettors have trouble gauging the strengths/motivations of the teams when playing unfamiliar opponents.
System Matches (FADE ALL): KANSAS CITY (-108 vs. SF), CLEVELAND (+105 at STL), SAN DIEGO (-345 vs. CWS)

DK MLB Betting Splits system #7: There has been a 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%.
1. Majority handle bettors in September/October games have gone just 244-215 (53.2%) for -76.5 units and an ROI of -16.7% since the start of the 2023 season.
System Matches: FADE ALL MAJORITY HANDLE TEAMS THIS MONTH

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. 

Fade better bullpen overpriced favorites of -190 or higher when the win percentage difference of teams is <19%
 In games of the 2023 regular season in which the team with the Steve Makinen better rated bullpen was listed as a favorite of -190 or higher and had a winning percentage less than 19% higher than the opponent, that team owned a 171-106 record, but for -84.47 units. That represented an ROI of -30.5%! So far in 2024, these teams are again losing money, 124-70 for -31.68 units and an ROI of -16.3%.
System Matches (FADE ALL): ATLANTA (-198 at MIA), CHICAGO CUBS (-205 vs. WSH), HOUSTON (-278 vs. LAA)

Back big favorites (-190 or more) with better bullpen ratings and winning percentage >=19% higher than opponent
 A 2023 mid-season bullpen ratings discovery found that some big favorites do prove worthy of backing consistently, regardless of the high prices, because the games are absolute mismatches. The ROI on this angle finalized at +4.4% ROI last year. As of 9/21, the record of this angle in 2024 has settled at 103-40 for -0.50 units.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): LA DODGERS (-395 vs. COL), SAN DIEGO (-345 vs. CWS)

Better bullpen underdog teams were solid wagers all season long
 A frequent and profitable system in the 2023 season, and prior to that as well, arose when the team with the better SM Bullpen Ratings played as an underdog (or pick ’em). Money line underdog teams with better bullpen ratings for the season were 341-346 for +72.72 units. The ROI of this angle produced a healthy 10.6%. So far in the 2024 season, these teams have produced a 347-432 record for -30.02 units (ROI -3.8%). This is well below my standards historically, but I am nowhere near ready to abandon it.
System Matches (PLAY): CLEVELAND (+105 at STL)

Better bullpen underdog teams in -110 to +144 range have won nicely
Digging in deeper to the better bullpen underdog system above, when limiting the plays to those better bullpen underdogs (or pick ’em) in the -110 to +144 range, these teams have produced a 309-333 record for +6.16 units (ROI 1.0%). I believe this angle has a bit more merit than the overall bullpen underdog system in that the better bullpens figure to be the difference in games that are expected to be highly competitive.
System Matches (PLAY): CLEVELAND (+105 at STL)

Worse bullpen teams continue to struggle in extending winning streaks
In 2023, I found that fading teams with a lesser SM bullpen ratings that were looking to extend winning streaks was also a strong strategy. On two-game winning streaks, the teams with worse Steve Makinen Bullpen Ratings in a matchup were 240-249 for -28.51 units, an ROI of -5.8%. Worse bullpen teams on 3+ game winning streaks finished the regular season with a record of 99-119 for -16.61 units. The ROI on that system finished at -7.6%. For ’24 so far, these two-game teams have gone 178-224 for -49.87 units (-12.4% ROI). The three-game teams are 84-94 for -10.72 units (-6% ROI).
System Matches: 3+ games – FADE ARIZONA (+114 at MIL)

Better bullpen teams thwart losing streaks
Better bullpen teams on 3+ game losing streaks went 119-79 for +22.2 units in the 2023 regular season. The ROI for the season closed at 11.2%! There have been 180 plays on this angle so far in 2024 through 9/21 and these teams are 106-74 for +18.75 units (10.4% ROI). This foundational angle has been one of the most consistent of our systems.
System Matches (PLAY): MILWAUKEE (-135 vs. AZ)

MLB Extreme Stats Systems

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

Home teams off blowout losses are solid bets to rebound versus that same opponent
Teams playing at home against the same team after a blowout loss of seven runs or more have been solid wagers over the last 5+ seasons, going 366-344 (51.5%) for +32.25 units of profit. This represents an ROI of 4.5%.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): KANSAS CITY (-105 vs. SF), OAKLAND (+150 vs. NYY)

“9” is a magic run number for fading a team in the next game
Since 2018, it doesn’t matter if the team is playing at home or on the road. If they scored nine runs or more in the previous contest, they are posting a winning record at 1683-1585 (51.5%), but oddsmaker overpricing has resulted in a loss of -211.81 units. This represents an ROI of -6.5%, which is significant in the grand scheme of baseball daily betting.
System Matches (FADE ALL): NY YANKEES (-180 at OAK), HOUSTON (-278 vs. LAA), SAN FRANCISCO (-115 at KC)

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 1605-2052 (43.9%) for -181.14 units and an ROI of -5% since the start of the 2019 season.
System Matches (FADE ALL): PITTSBURGH (-122 at CIN), TORONTO (+124 at TB), CHICAGO WHITE SOX (+275 at SD)

Home teams that did score well last game are also actually a bad bet in the next outing
Going back another season to 2018, home teams coming off a game in which they scored five runs or more are winning more often than not at 3389-2980 (53.2%), but they have been a loser for bettors at -466.20 units and an ROI of -7.3%.
System Matches (FADE ALL): CINCINNATI (+102 vs. PIT), NY METS (+124 vs. PHI), HOUSTON (-278 vs. LAA), ST LOUIS (-120 vs. CLE), SAN DIEGO (-345 vs. CWS)

Home team hitting slumps don’t last long
MLB home teams coming off a game in which they had four hits or fewer have rebounded quickly with a 957-830 (53.6%) record in the follow-up contest since the start of the 2018 season. This has resulted in a profit of +14.29 units for backers and an ROI of 0.8%.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): CHICAGO CUBS (-205 vs. WSH), MILWAUKEE (-125 vs. AZ)

Watch for home teams that didn’t record an extra-base hit
Home teams that failed to record an extra-base hit in their previous game bounce back with a 495-414 (54.5%) record in the next contest when at home in that same time span. The profit there is +26.82 units, for an ROI of 3%.
System Matches (PLAY): MILWAUKEE (-125 vs. AZ) 

Unusually poor pitching performances provide motivation for hosts
Home teams coming off unusually bad team pitching performances where they allowed 16 hits or more in a game are on a run of 285-239 (54.4%) for +41.51 units and an ROI of 7.9% since the start of the 2018 season.
System Matches (PLAY): TEXAS (+110 vs. SEA)

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.

Losing Streak Betting System #6:
Teams that have lost their last four games but are getting reasonably good pitching during the skid have been solid wagers in game #5, as those that allowed 6.0 RPG or fewer during the streak are on a 182-179 run (+31.36 units, ROI: 8.7%).
System Matches (PLAY ALL): KANSAS CITY (-105 vs. SF), CHICAGO WHITE SOX (+275 at SD)

Winning Streak Betting System #6:
Oddly, teams that score the most runs per game are the best to fade to see their four-game winning streak reach five. Teams scoring 5.0 or more runs per game and riding a four-game winning streak are just 81-93 (-47.77 units, ROI: -27.5%) in the next contest since the start of the 2021 season.
System Matches (FADE): ARIZONA (+105 at MIL)

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 UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS (15 points or more) according to the Makinen Strength Ratings projections:
System Matches: COLORADO +310 (+100 diff), DETROIT +100 (+19 diff), LA ANGELS +225 (+45 diff), CLEVELAND +105 (+22 diff), CHICAGO WHITE SOX +275 (+50 diff)

Today’s UNDERPRICED FAVORITES (15 points or more) according to the Makinen Strength Ratings projections:
System Matches: PHILADELPHIA -148 (+25 diff), NY YANKEES -180 (+25 diff) 

Today’s BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER (0.5 runs or more) according to the Makinen Strength Ratings projections:
System Matches: AZ-MIL OVER 8 (+1.1), PHI-NYM OVER 6.5 (+0.8), SEA-TEX OVER 7.5 (+0.5) 

Today’s BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER (0.5 runs or more) according to the Makinen Strength Ratings projections:
System Matches: ATL-MIA UNDER 9 (-0.9), CWS-SD UNDER 8 (-0.8), PIT-CIN UNDER 8 (-0.5), COL-LAD UNDER 8.5 (-0.5) 

MLB Pitcher Situational MLB Betting Trend Spots

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

(901) PITTSBURGH (72-83) at (902) CINCINNATI (76-80)
Trend: CIN is 1-11 (-10.80 units) in matchup vs MIL/PIT specifically with starter Hunter Greene
System Match: FADE CINCINNATI (-105 vs. PIT) 

(921) SEATTLE (80-75) at (922) TEXAS (73-82)
Trend: SEA is 6-0 (+6.00 units) in DAY games with starter Bryan Woo this season
System Match: PLAY SEATTLE (-130 at TEX) 

(931) MINNESOTA (81-73) at (932) BOSTON (76-78)  (DH Game #2)
Trend: BOS is 6-21 (-17.32 units) in the months of August/September by starter Kutter Crawford
System Match: FADE BOSTON GAME 2 (-105 vs MIN)

Series #24: Detroit at Baltimore, Fri 9/20-Sun 9/22
Trend: Favorites are 16-6 (72.7%, +6.78 units) in the last 22 games in the BAL-DET series
–  The ROI on this trend is 30.8%
System Matches: PLAY BALTIMORE (-135 vs. DET)

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 tomorrow 9/23)

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR