Baseball Rules

Date/Site Changes

Regular season Baseball games must be played on the scheduled date and at the listed venue to be considered action unless otherwise noted in the specific sports rules section or the inventory game page within the mobile application or web browser application. Please see Baseball Same Game Parlay Rules for Same Game Parlay Postponed Match, Cancelled Match and Venue Change Rules.

If a game has been suspended after the game has started, due to a weather delay or other deferral, and resumes within 36 hours after the original start time, all wagers will stand.  If a suspended game resumes more than 36 hours after the original start time, and the requirements for Minimum Length of Play have not been satisfied, all wagers will be cancelled except for those that have been unconditionally determined prior to the game’s suspension.

Baseball Post Season Rule

In the event of a playoff or postseason tournament game that is suspended after the game has started, all bets will stand through any case of suspension until the game is officially completed as per the relevant governing body. In the event of a date change prior to the event starting, all wagers will be cancelled.

Minimum Length of Play

Pre-Game Wagers

Unless otherwise stipulated in individual Baseball sports wager rules, wagers on baseball money lines are official after 5 innings of play. If the home team is leading, the game is official after 4 ½ innings (this will include softball). Thereafter, if a game is called or suspended for more than 36 hours, the winner is determined by the score after the last full inning, unless the home team scores to tie or take 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.

For games scheduled to play a full 9 innings, game must go to 9 innings (8 ½ if the home team is ahead) to have action on run lines and totals. For games scheduled to play only 7 innings, game must go to 7 innings (6 ½ if the home team is ahead) to have action on run lines and totals.

In specified inning wagers, game must go full specified innings to be official, unless the home team is leading the bottom half of specified inning prior to completion of specified innings(s). For moneyline, totals, and run lines, game must go the full specified innings.

Live Wagers

Game must go full scheduled length to have action on all markets: 9 innings (8 ½ if the home team is ahead) for 9 inning games, or to 7 innings (6 ½ if the home team is ahead) for 7 inning games. If the game is called before this time then all bets will be cancelled, except for those that have been unconditionally determined.

Baseball Mercy Rule

If the game ends by the relevant league's mercy rule, then all wagers will be settled according to the results at the time the mercy rule is applied (this will include softball).

Baseball Wager Types 

Listed Pitcher

A wager that specifies the starting pitchers for both teams or either team. The name(s) of the listed pitcher(s) who are relevant for the wager will be included in the market name. If one or both starting pitchers listed on the wager does not start, the wager is cancelled.

Money Line

A wager in which the bettor “takes” or “lays” a specified price. The team wagered must only win the game for the wager to be deemed a winner. Extra innings are counted in final score. Money line wagers are for team against team, regardless of the starting pitcher. Any starting pitchers listed in these selections are for informational purposes only. Wager must meet the minimum length of play as specified above.

Money Line Listed Pitchers

A wager that specifies the starting pitchers for both teams. The team option with both pitchers listed is specifically selected at the point of bet placement. Any subsequent change to either starting pitcher will be considered ‘no action’ and the wager will be cancelled accordingly.  Wager must meet the minimum length of play as specified above. 

Total Runs (Over/Under)

A wager on whether the total number of runs scored in a game is over or under a specified number. Extra innings are counted in final score. Wager must meet the minimum length of play as specified above.

For wagers placed on BetMGM’s digital sportsbook app only, totals wagers that are unconditionally determined before a game is called or suspended are action, even if minimum length of play has not been met. 

Run Line

A wager in which the bettor “takes” or “lays” a specified number of runs. The team wagered must “cover” the run line for the wager to be deemed a winner. Extra innings are counted in final score. Wager must meet the minimum length of play as specified above.

Team to score first

Settled on the first score of the game. Bets stand even if game is not completed. Extra Innings count.

Team to score last

Settled on the last team to score. Game must go 8 ½ innings in 9 inning games, or 6 1/2 innings in 7 inning games for bets to stand.

Highest Scoring Inning

Bet on which inning will produce the most runs. Dead Heat Rules apply. Game must go 8 ½ innings in 9 inning games, or 6 1/2 innings in 7 inning games for bets to stand. Ninth inning wagers do not include extra innings unless otherwise stated.

Innings

Wagers on any specified inning will be decided on the basis of runs scored in that specified inning only. All specified innings must be played to their completion (except for the 9th inning when applicable) or the wager will be cancelled. Once a specified inning is completed, that specified inning wager will stand regardless of the length of the remainder of the game. Ninth inning markets do not include extra innings unless otherwise stated.

Scoreless Inning

Scoreless Inning markets do not include extra innings.

First 1/3/5/7 Inning Markets

Specified number of innings must be completed for bets to stand.

Race to X Runs

Winner being the team who reaches the specified points tally first. Should neither team reach the total, and a ‘Neither’ option is not offered, then bets on that market will be cancelled. Please see Same Game Parlay Baseball Rules for Same Game Parlay Race to X Rule.

Baseball Proposition Rules

Various unique wagers may be offered from time to time. When wagering proposition bets, the game must go 9 innings (8 ½ innings if the home team is ahead) to have action, or action has occurred as the outcome of the wager is already known. If a game is suspended after 9 innings (8 ½ innings if the home team is ahead), the final score is determined after the last full inning, unless the home team scores to tie or take the lead in the bottom half of the inning, in which case the score is determined by the score at the time the game is called.

All baseball propositions are considered action regardless of any pitching changes.

If a game is scheduled for only 7 innings, then game must go 7 innings (6 ½ if the home team is ahead).

Hit(s): BetMGM settles markets in accordance with official box score statistics declared by MLB as the governing body. 

Baseball Player Props

Players that are the subject of a player prop wager must start for the wager to have action.  Specifically, wagers on a position player’s performance will be considered action once the player has a had a plate appearance.  Further, wagers on a pitcher’s performance will be considered action once that pitcher has thrown a pitch for their team.  For any player v. player propositions, both players must start the game and have an official appearance as set forth above for the wager to have action.  Further, these player v. player wagers will be deemed official once at least one of the players has left the game, regardless of the ultimate outcome and/or completion of the game. Except as specified above, all games must be played and considered an official game by MLB for bets to have action.

For MLB in-play props, BetMGM will cancel wagers if a bet is placed on a market for a player who is subsequently taken out of the game before they are able to accrue more stats. For a wager on a batting market for position player, this would be where the player does not make a subsequent plate appearance after the bet was placed. For a wager on a pitching market for a pitcher (or a batting market for a pitcher in the case of National League pitchers), this would be where the pitcher does not throw another pitch after the bet was placed.

Batter v. Batter Most on Base

Settled using the total number of walks, intentional walks, Hit by Pitch, and hits credited to the batters during their plate appearance. This market does not include dropped third strikes, reach on errors, fielder’s choice, and catcher’s interference.

Batter v. Batter Most Walks

Settled based on which batter records the most walks in their at-bats in a game. This does include intentional walks.

Batter v. Batter Most Hits

Settled based on which batter records the most hits in their at-bats in a game. If a player reaches base due to an error, that will not count as a hit for that player.

Batter v. Batter Most Home Runs

Settled based on which batter records the most home runs in their at-bats in a game. Inside the Park Home Runs do count for this market.

Batter v. Batter Most Total Bases

Settled based on which batter records the most total bases in their at-bats in a game. Total Bases only include what the player hits for (singles, doubles, triples, and home runs).

Batter v. Batter Most Extra Base Hits

Settled based on which batter records the most amount of doubles, triples, or home runs in a game.

Pitcher v. Pitcher Most Strikeouts

Settled based on which pitcher records the most amount of strikeouts in the game. Dropped third strikes count towards the pitcher’s total strikeouts.

Pitcher v. Pitcher Fewest Walks

Settled based on which pitcher records the least amount of walks in a game. This does include intentional walks.

Pitcher v. Pitcher Fewest Hits

Settled based on which pitcher concedes the least amount of hits in a game. If a player reaches base due to an error, that would not count as a hit conceded by that pitcher.

Pitcher v. Pitcher Fewest Home Runs

Settled based on which pitcher concedes the least home runs in a game. Inside the Park Home Runs do count for this market.

Pitcher v. Pitcher Fewest Total Bases

Settled based on which pitcher concedes the least Total Bases in a game. Total Bases only include what the player hits for (singles, doubles, triples, home runs). Walks, errors, fielder’s choice, and dropped third strikes do not count towards this market.

Pitcher v. Pitcher Fewest On Base

Settled based on which pitcher has the least amount of players on base in a game. Hits, walks, intentional walks, and hit by pitch count for this market. Errors, dropped third strikes, fielder’s choice, and catcher’s interference do not count towards this market.

Pitcher v. Pitcher Fewest Extra Base Hits

Settled based on which pitcher concedes the least Extra Base Hits in a game. These only include doubles, triples, or home runs in a game.

Player Total Bases

Total bases for a player are recorded through hits. They do not include walks, Hit by Pitch, bases advanced as a runner, reach on errors, or fielder’s choice. 

Player Singles/Doubles/Triples/Homeruns

Wager will be graded based on the number of the selected specific outcome that a player records in the designated period. 

Outcome of First Pitch (Listed Pitcher)

Settled based on the result of the first pitch thrown by the listed pitcher. BetMGM will cancel wagers if there is a change to the listed pitcher before the first thrown pitch. For settlement purposes, batted balls that result in the plate appearance ending (ex: hits/outs) do not count as strikes. If a pitcher or batter violation results in an automatic ball or strike, then the market is settled based on the outcome of the violation. Hit by pitch and pitch outs are settled as a “Ball.” The “In-Play” selection includes any type of hit (single, double, etc.) and any batted ball that results in an out(s) being recorded. 

Baseball Result of Plate Appearance Props

Listed players must record at least one plate appearance for bets to stand (failing which, in each case, bets on this market will be cancelled). In the event that a player is substituted out of the game between plate appearances, bets on plate appearances that have already occurred will stand. However, bets on future plate appearance markets will be cancelled. For settlement purposes, a fielder’s choice, catcher’s interference hit by pitch will be settled as "other". A batter who reaches first base after a dropped third strike, will be settled as "strikeout". Should a batter be unable to complete a plate appearance due to injury, ejection or other reasons, then all bets will be cancelled. All markets are settled in accordance with official box score statistics declared by MLB as the governing body.

Baseball Regular Season Series Props

Regular season series props are offered for all 3, 4 or 5 Game Series with the outcome of the all games played counting towards settlement. Series must go a minimum of 3 games for action regardless of games scheduled and or canceled. A called game will count towards a series wager if declared an official game by the league. All wagers are action regardless of Starting Pitchers or pitcher changes.

Baseball Playoff Series Props

For Playoff Series Winner props, the team that advances to the next round is deemed the winner. Wagers for all other markets are cancelled if the required minimum number of games (according to the respective governing organizations) are not completed, or the number of games changes.

Baseball Grand Salami Props

Grand Salami prop is determined by the total runs scored in all MLB games scheduled for that day. There are no listed pitchers so all bets are action. Wager applies to all scheduled games and games must go 9 innings (8 ½ if home team is leading). If any game is cancelled or stopped before the completion of 8 ½ innings, all wagers on the Grand Salami will be cancelled. Grand Salami will not be offered when 7 inning games are scheduled.

Home Run Derby Markets

Calculation of total home runs for Home Run Derby wagers includes home runs achieved during swing-offs.

Baseball Futures

Baseball season long futures are unique wagers which will be offered from time-to- time. For all season long and future props, all wagers stand regardless of team re-location, change to a team name, season length or play-off format unless stated otherwise in the market. For awards, the official decision made by the governing body on the day the award winner is announced will be final. Any subsequent changes at a later date will not count for betting purposes. For season long player totals, player’s team must play in a minimum of 159 games for wagers to have action, except for those wagers that have been unconditionally determined.

Baseball Championship and Pennant Futures

If there is a change to the post season structure whereby a Championship Series is not possible, or called early, Pennant betting will be settled on the team that advances to the World Series from that league.

Baseball Futures List

MLB Divisional Odds

Wager on which team will win an MLB division.

MLB Pennant Odds

Wager on which team will win the pennant in either the American League or National League of MLB.

MLB World Series Odds

Wager on which team will win the World Series.

MLB Cy Young Winner

Wager on which pitcher wins the Cy Young Award in either the American League or National League of MLB.

MLB MVP Winner

Wager on which player will win the MVP award in either the American League or National League of MLB.

MLB Regular Season Wins

Wager on the number of regular season wins by a listed team in MLB. A minimum of 159 games must be played for action, except for those wagers that have been unconditionally determined.

Head to Head Regular Season Wins

Wager on the number of regular seasons wins made by one team vs. another team. A minimum of 159 games must be played by each team for action, except for those wagers that have been unconditionally determined.

Most Home Runs Hit

Wager on which player hits the greatest number of home runs in the regular season.

Highest Season Long Batting Average

Wager on the highest season long batting average by a particular player as declared by MLB.

Most RBI’s in Season

Wager on which player has the most Runs Batted In during the regular season.

Most Pitching Victories

Wager on which player is awarded the most wins during the regular season.

College Baseball World Series Winner

Wager on which team will win the College World Series.

Regular Season Team Total Wins O/U

Wager on the total regular season wins made by team.

Regular Season Team Win Percentage

Wager on the percentage of wins by a team during the regular season.

Head to Head Regular Season Team Wins

Wager on the number of regular seasons wins made by one team vs. another team.

Regular Season Player Totals O/U

Wager on the number of regular season Total Home Runs, Runs, Hits, Stolen Bases, Strikeouts, Saves by a named player.

Regular Season Player Averages

Wager on the average number of regular season Total Home Runs, Runs, Hits, Stolen Bases, Strikeouts, Saves by a named player. To qualify for hitting propositions a player must have at least 3.1 plate appearances per game.

Division of Winning Team

Wager on which division the winner originates from.

League of Winning Team

Wager on which league (American League or National League) the winner originates from.

State of Winning Team

Wager on which state the winner originates from.

Name the Finalists

Wager on which two teams will meet in the Championship Series. Should no series take place, all bets are cancelled.

Exact Outcome

Wager on which team will win, and who will they beat in the named series.  Should no series take place, all bets are cancelled

#1 Seed

Wager on which team will be the #1 seed in a specified league (American League or National League) at the end of the regular season.

To Win/Lose 100+ Games

Wager on whether a named team will win or lose 100 or more regular season games.

Double Chance

Wager on whether either of the two named teams be declared the winner for the named market.

MLB Division Finishing Position

Wager on the exact position a named team will finish within their division.

MLB Rookie of the Year Winner

Wager on which player will win the Rookie of the Year award in either the American League or National League of MLB.

Most Stolen Bases in Season

Wager on which player has the most Stolen Bases during the regular season.

Baseball Same Game Parlay Rules

Baseball Same Game Parlay rules are the same as Baseball rules stated above, with the following exceptions:

Bet Settlement (For Same Game Parlay):

All Baseball Same Game Parlay selections must win (no ties, draws or pushes) for a bet to be deemed a winner. A selection that does not win, unless explicitly specified in the Baseball Same Game Parlay Rules, will be settled as a loser. If one or more selections in any bet are resulted as cancelled for any reason (such as a selected player not participating in the match), the entire bet will be resulted as cancelled.

For instance, selections on a team to win a match where it is a draw after extra innings (or normal time if no extra innings are to be played), even where the draw or tie may not have been offered through Same Game Parlay, will be settled as losers. This will not be relevant to MLB matches as extra innings are played until a winner is decided, but may be applicable to other baseball leagues or competitions as per their individual competition rules.

Extra Innings (For Same Game Parlay):

All baseball matches are settled on the official declared result including any extra innings.  All team and player statistics accrued during extra innings are included for the purposes of bet settlement.

Listed / Designated / Named Pitchers (For Same Game Parlay)

Baseball Same Game Parlay selections are not reliant on whether the pitchers who are listed/designated/named prior to the match are active. If either or both originally announced starting pitchers in a game are scratched or replaced by other pitchers prior to the match commencing and after any bets have been placed, those bets will stand. If pitchers may have been listed in, or relative to, the display of any selections, it will be treated as indicative only and will not affect or prevent the application of this rule.

Player Specific Markets (For Same Game Parlay):

If a player does not participate in a match, selections specific to that player (and therefore the entire bet) will be cancelled. This rule is applied as follows:

Selections on hitting / batting markets will be active if the player in question gets at least one plate appearance. If the player does not appear at the plate, these selections will be treated as cancelled.

Selections on base stealing markets will be active if the player in question enters the game at any point. This includes making a plate appearance but also playing as a fielder, defensive substitute, pinch-runner, and so on. If the player does not enter the game in any such capacity at any point, these selections will be treated as cancelled.

Selections on pitching markets will be active if the player in question throws at least one pitch in the game. If the player does not do so, these selections will be treated as cancelled.

Player selections will be considered active or cancelled regardless of whether a selection may reference a specific period of a match. For instance, a selection on a certain player to get 1+ hits in the first 5 innings of a match would be active (and therefore settled as a loser) if that player only entered the game as a substitute after the 5th inning, and made his plate appearance(s) from that point. However, if that player was injured shortly before the game commenced, was withdrawn from the starting lineup (or bench) and thus did not make any plate appearances, the selection and therefore bet would be cancelled.

Race to X Runs (For Same Game Parlay):

“Race to X” selections where neither team reaches the selected score will be settled as losers, regardless of whether a “neither team to reach X” selection was available as an alternate selection or not.

Postponed Matches (For Same Game Parlay):

If a baseball match does not commence on the scheduled calendar day of the officially listed start time, all bets on the match will be cancelled. Where a match is suspended after it has commenced and subsequently resumed within 36 hours (inclusive) of the originally scheduled start time, all bets will stand.

All bets placed on matches that are postponed and subsequently resumed more than 36 hours past the originally scheduled start time, or not resumed at all, will be settled in accordance with the Reduced-Innings Matches section.

This section on postponed matches does not apply to playoff or postseason tournament matches. In the case of a playoff or postseason tournament game that is suspended after the game has started, all bets will stand through any case of suspension until the game is officially completed as per the relevant governing body.

Reduced-Innings Matches

All Baseball Same Game Parlay selections placed on baseball matches that are shortened after the match has commenced (for instance, fewer innings are played due to bad weather), the selections will be settled as follows:

Same Game Parlays will be cancelled if they include at least one player-specific selection involving a player who has not yet entered the field as an active player. The rules outlined below are all applied subject to, and subsequent to, the application of this rule.

If every selection within a Same Game Parlay is already definitively a winner prior to the match being shortened where the fact of reduced innings has no impact on the outcome of each selection, the wager in its entirety will be treated as a winner. For example, a 2-leg Same Game Parlay containing an Over Total Runs selection and a Player to Hit a Home Run selection, in a game where the required runs total had been reached and the player did hit a home run prior to the match being shortened, will be treated as a winner. The same would not apply to an Under Total Runs selection where the match is shortened while the score is still under the required total, as the reduced innings would impact that outcome.

If a single selection of a Same Game Parlay has been unconditionally determined to be a loser regardless of the fact of reduced innings, and the match is then shortened, then the Same Game Parlay will be treated as a loser in its entirety. For example, a Same Game Parlay including a First Player to Score selection, in a game where a different player scored first and the match was subsequently shortened, will be treated as a loser. In this case, the bet had already lost, and the outcome could not be affected in any way even if the game was not shortened.

If there are no losing selections within a Same Game Parlay and at least one cancelled selection at the time the match is shortened after commencement, then the Same Game Parlay will be treated as cancelled. This rule applies where one or more selections are still undecided after the reduced number of innings have been completed and may have won or lost if the game had been completed as scheduled. For example, a Same Game Parlay including an Over Total Runs selection, in a game shortened while the total runs are still below the required amount, will be treated as cancelled. In this case, the total points selection was still undecided and may have won or lost but for the reduced innings, so the bet will be cancelled.

If the applicable league or governing body attributes a win/loss result to the match with reduced innings, then selections on the Match Winner, Moneyline or Head-to-Head markets will be settled according to the official league result regardless of whether the match was concluded with reduced innings. If the match is not designated with an official win/loss result by the relevant league or governing body, then selections on the Match Winner, Moneyline and Head-to-Head markets will be cancelled.

The rules presented in this section for baseball matches with reduced innings do not apply to matches that, prior to its commencement, are originally scheduled to be played for fewer than 9 innings (for example, MLB double-headers that are scheduled as 7-inning matches).

Matches concluded after 8.5 innings because the home team is ahead after 8.5 innings (or, in the case of a game scheduled to be 7 innings, after 6.5 innings) are not treated as shortened matches.

Cancelled Matches (For Same Game Parlay):

If a match is abandoned prior to commencement, it falls within the 36-hour rule for postponed matches as described in the Postponed Matches section. If a match is abandoned after commencing but before its full scheduled innings, it will be settled under Reduced-Inning Matches rules.

Venue Changes (For Same Game Parlay):

If the venue of a match is changed from the one originally scheduled, bets will stand if the original home and away teams remain designated as such. If the venue is changed and the home and away team designations are reversed, bets placed under the original home/away listing will be cancelled.

Same Game Parlay Plus: 

The general SGP and SGP+ settlement rules outlined above apply to all SGP wagers on Baseball events within the SGP+ wager. Wagers within the SGP+ on other sports follow that sport’s house rules. 

If any selection (either SGP or Single wager) within an SGP+ is settled as a loss, then the entire SGP+ is settled as a loss.  

If any leg in a SGP is void or cancelled, then the entire SGP is void. If all other SGP or Single wagers within a SGP+ are winners, the SGP+ will be paid out at a re-calculated price using the remaining legs. 

Playoff Series Props: 

Series Winner

Wager on which team will advance to the next round. Should no series take place, bets will be cancelled.

Series Correct Score

Wager on the exact score of games within the series. Should the series be shortened from its original length, then bets would be cancelled.

Total Games

Wager on how many games will take place in the series.