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 Saturday, November 1, 2025. 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.

 

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 a profitable one.

Overall MLB Postseason Trends

Line angles

–  Road favorites of -140 or higher are on a 36-21 SU run since 2001 (+4.05 units, ROI: +7.1%)
System Match (PLAY): LA DODGERS (-148 at TOR)

Coming off wins/losses

–  Home teams coming off a loss in a series game have been terrible bounceback options, going 65-65 SU (-17.05 units, ROI: -13.2%) since 2016.
System Match (FADE): TORONTO (+122 vs LAD)

Series wins status

–   Home field has also proven somewhat advantageous in series that are even, as hosts in this situation have gone 92-84 on run lines (+20.48 units, ROI: 11.6%) since 2015.
System Match (PLAY): TORONTO (+1.5 vs LAD)

MLB World Series Betting Systems

Over the last 20+ years of World Series action, several nice betting systems have emerged. You know you’re going to bet the games, so why not arm yourself with key data that has won recently? 

WORLD SERIES system #1:
Home field advantage hasn’t meant a lot in recent World Series action, with hosts on a 21-33 slide in the last 54 opportunities dating back to 2016 (-22.54 units, -41.7% ROI)
System Match (FADE): TORONTO (+122 vs LAD) 

WORLD SERIES system #2:
Dating back to 2007, World Series home underdogs of +120 or more have gone just 2-8 (-5.22 units, -52.2% ROI)
System Match (FADE): TORONTO (+122 vs LAD) 

WORLD SERIES system #4:
Overall, on totals, there has been a very slight lean to the Over in World Series games over the last 16 years. However, in games with totals of eight or higher, Under holds an edge of 21-16-1 in that span (+2.36 units, 6.4% ROI)
System Match (SLIGHT PLAY UNDER): LAD-TOR (o/u at 8) 

WORLD SERIES system #5:
World Series teams have struggled putting back-to-back wins together recently, going 12-26 in the game following up a WS win (-19.24 units, -50.6% ROI)
System Match (FADE): LA DODGERS (-148 at TOR) 

WORLD SERIES system #8:
Incredibly, since the start of the 2014 World Series, teams that scored two or fewer runs in the prior game are on an incredible 25-12 surge. (+13.63 units, 36.8% ROI)
System Match (PLAY): TORONTO (+122 vs LAD) 

Team/Pitcher Situational MLB Betting Trend Spots

The following situational MLB betting trends and qualifying plays look at how today’s teams and starting pitchers have performed in similar spots. 

(933) LOS ANGELES-NL (105-73) at (934) TORONTO (104-75)
Trend: Road teams have won the last four World Series Game 7s
Trend: LAD is 11-1 (+9.40 units) in their last 12 road games
Trends Match (PLAY): LA DODGERS (-148 at TOR)

Trend: TOR was the best team in MLB this season in night games (67-41, +22.85 units)
Stat: Max Scherzer has a 7.03 ERA in his six postseason appearances since 2022 (24.1 IP)
Trend/Stat Match: 1 PLAY, 1 FADE of TORONTO (+122 vs LAD)

Trend: TOR is 8-2 on the run line in their last 10 games versus NL opponents
Trend Match (PLAY): TORONTO (+1.5 vs LAD)

MLB Streak Systems

The following systems and qualifying plays are from the 2023 midseason article titled Handicapping MLB Streaks, detailing 14 different systems for betting teams on winning or losing streaks. 

NO QUALIFYING STREAK PLAYS TODAY 

MLB Bullpen Systems

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

NO QUALIFYING BULLPEN SYSTEMS TODAY 

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 were developed in the 2023/2024 season. Here are the systems and qualifying plays for today’s games as of 10:00 a.m. ET. These can and will change, so continue to track and qualify the systems up until first pitch for best usage.

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 the 2023 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 538-479 (52.9%) for -9.0 units and an ROI of -0.9%. This is no longer positive after two full seasons, but it is an improvement of almost 7% on the overall numbers, and a return that would easily keep bettors afloat, considering this angle has included 1,017 total games. Following smaller majorities can be a sound strategy.
System Match (CONSIDER PLAYING): TORONTO (+122 vs LAD) 

DK MLB Betting Splits system #6: Majority handle bettors have been at their worst overall in interleague games since the start of 2023, going 910-839 (52%) but for -206.24 units and an ROI of -11.8%. This is about four 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 Match (FADE): TORONTO (+122 vs LAD) 

DK MLB Betting Splits system #9: Majority handle bettors have endured two consecutive terrible playoff seasons in 2023 and 2024, with a combined record of 38-43 (46.9%) for -18.84 units and an ROI of -23.3%. These are typically high bet volume games, so bettors have lost big in October.
System Match (FADE): TORONTO (+122 vs LAD)

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 TOTAL PROJECTION FAVORING OVER (0.5 runs or more) according to the Makinen Strength Ratings projections:
Ratings Match: LAD-TOR OVER 8 (+0.5)

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