Micheal Austin is a professional writer and an extensive researcher of gambling legislation. He has vast experience writing about sport and casino. He currently writes for SportsCasting and has contributed to a wide range of gambling sites and news outlets like Wetten, Cryptomaniaks, and Webopedia among others.
Get to know Mike Austin betterDavid has over 25 years of experience as both a writer and editor within the betting/newspaper industries, working with major publications such as The Guardian, Racing Post and Sky Sports Racing. With a diploma in sub-editing and law, and the author of four books, David now shares his knowledge with SportsCasting as a successful sports editor, writer and tipster.
All posts by David MyersWhat does total bases mean in baseball betting? It is a market where you are able to bet on how many bases a player or a team will get in a match.
There are a few variations on the market, from betting on the exact number of bases to betting on over/under a certain amount. So, let’s take a deeper dive into how you can use this type of gambling market for your baseball bets.
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What Are Total Bases in Baseball Betting?
In baseball betting at the top betting sites, total bases basically just refer to a prop bet where you wager on how many bases a hitter will collect in an entire game. As you might already know, each base is assigned a number, such as 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple, and 4 for a home run. Plus, only hits count towards bases, so no walks count or any other kind of outcome is included.
You can bet on the total number of bases that a team will hit or a player will get specifically, including in-play when using a live betting site. For example, you could bet on Ohtani hitting and collecting three bases. Should he achieve that stat exactly, your wager would win.
How Are Total Bases Calculated?
It’s very easy to tally a player’s total bases in a match. You just need to add up the number of bases they got via their individual hits. So, if a single counts as one base, you can add that 1 to the total tally. Then keep track of doubles, triples, and home runs scored, and you will have the final count of bases a player has hit.
The key thing here is that only actual hits contribute to this tally. For example, if a player hits a double and a single, their total number of bases for that game would be 3. As we mentioned earlier, things like walks or errors don’t count, so you need to factor that in when you calculate the base odds a gambling site offers.
Do Total Bases in Baseball Betting Include Walks?
To understand the answer to the question “What does total bases mean in baseball betting?” it’s important that you also understand that walks don’t count towards the bases. A walk, also known as a base on balls, allows a player to move to first base without a hit, but it does not count towards the total number of bases they hit.
That’s not the only thing to consider, as events like hit-by-pitches, stolen bases, or errors also don’t contribute towards bases since they don’t result from the batter hitting the ball. Just remember that an achieved base only counts if the ball was actually HIT. Even though stolen bases are handy in the match, they won’t help you with this market.
Does Total Bases Baseball Betting Include Extra Innings?
Yes, total bases baseball betting generally includes extra innings. When sports bettors use this kind of market at an offshore sportsbook, the tally is counted with singles, doubles, triples, and home runs all throughout the game, and that includes the added innings as well. This could serve you well if you are still looking for 1 or 2 more bases from the player or team you bet on. But if you already had the required number of bases, an extra inning could certainly damage your chances of landing the bet.
Total Bases Prop Bet Example
There are multiple examples of bases betting that we could give you. You could either bet on the bases of a player or a team. For our example, let’s take a look at the total number of bases market for an individual player.
Let’s say you want to place a $100 bet on Shohei Ohtani’s total bases in an upcoming game. For this bet, you have opted to bet on the over/under market of bases instead of gambling on the exact score. You bet on Ohtani getting more than 2.5 total bases. So, if Ohtani hits a double (worth two bases) and a single (one total base), he totals three bases. That would mean that your bet would win.
Total Bases Bet Tips and Strategies
To really get a feel for the question, “What does total bases mean in baseball betting?” let’s take a look at a few ways that you could improve your approach when wagering at a crypto betting sites.
- Research batter vs. pitcher matchups: You are looking for batters to get multiple bases at times, so it’s a good idea to see what the batter vs pitcher matchups are going to be. This will show you the likelihood of multiple bases or fewer.
- Check recent form: Take a look at the form of teams and players heading into a match, as this can inform which way you should lean with your bases bets.
- Consider weather and park factors: Weather can greatly influence the freedom with which batters are hitting. Have a look at the wind and rain factors.
- Monitor lineup positions: Players at the top of the batting order generally get more at-bats, which will naturally give them more of a chance to get additional bases.
- Analyze team depth and bullpen strength: Weak relief pitching might offer opportunities for more hits late in the game, especially in extra innings scenarios.
Use our betting guides for more expert strategies.
Types of Total Bases Bets
Answering “What does total bases mean in baseball betting?” also includes understanding the types of bases markets you can choose from. Here are the various markets you can use at our safe betting sites.
Over/Under Total Bases
You can bet on whether there will be fewer or more bases than a number set by online sportsbooks. For example, gambling on there being more than a total of 3.5 bases for a batter.
Head-to-Head Player Props
You can bet on a player to get more bases than another in a head-to-head match-up. Even though this prop bets market is relatively rare, the best baseball sportsbooks in the US will certainly offer you a few head-to-head player props.
Team Total Bases
Instead of focusing on individual players, you bet on the total number of bases a team will rack up during the game.
Is Total Bases Betting Online Legal?
Yes, betting on the total number of bases in the US is legal, but it will depend on what state you are in. There are a few states, like Texas and Hawaii, that are not open to online sports gambling, so it’s tough to find sportsbooks that offer bases odds and markets in these states. However, states like New Jersey, Indiana, Nevada, and many others are open to online sportsbooks, so you’ll certainly have multiple options to choose from in these states. Always go through the legality of gambling in the US before wagering.
Total Bases Records and Stats
Let’s take a look at some of the key stats for base totals from the most recent MLB season:
- Ronald Acuña Jr. got 383 bases over 159 games with the Atlanta Braves.
- Matt Olson, also from the Atlanta Braves, was second with 367 bases.
- Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers netted 361 bases.
- Shohei Ohtani, one of the most exciting players in MLB, finished with 325 bases.
Pros and Cons of Total Bases Betting
There are a few pros and cons to consider when it comes to using the bases option.
Pros:
- It helps you look at the finer details of MLB matches
- Adds more diversity to your popular bets range
- You can find boosted odds on total number of bases
Cons:
- It can be difficult to get exact scores right
- Bets can be voided through injuries
Total Bases Betting FAQs
How do you win a total bases bet?
You can win a bases bet in a few different ways. You can either bet on the exact number of bases a player or team may get, or you can bet on whether there will be more or less than a set number of markets in a match with an over/under market.
How many bases are in baseball?
There are four bases in baseball: the first, second, third, and home base. These are the bases you count when considering the number of bases in a match.
Do errors count as total bases?
No, errors don’t count towards bases. They only include bases that have been earned by a hit.
Do stolen bases count in total bases bet?
No, stolen bases don’t count in this market, as only bases gained from hits are counted.
Micheal Austin is a professional writer and an extensive researcher of gambling legislation. He has vast experience writing about sport and casino. He currently writes for SportsCasting and has contributed to a wide range of gambling sites and news outlets like Wetten, Cryptomaniaks, and Webopedia among others.
Get to know Mike Austin betterMicheal Austin is a professional writer and an extensive researcher of gambling legislation. He has vast experience writing about sport and casino. He currently writes for SportsCasting and has contributed to a wide range of gambling sites and news outlets like Wetten, Cryptomaniaks, and Webopedia among others.
All posts by Mike Austin