Before last season, the approach to betting the MLB All-Star Game was pretty simple: just put your money on the American League.
The AL had won 21 of the last 25 all-star games prior to the NL’s triumph in 2023, including a commanding nine straight wins. Now, though, it’s back to being a complete toss up — at least for a year.
BetMGM odds again favor the AL at -120 on the moneyline for Monday’s game, with a safer bet being for the AL to cover +1.5 after three of the last four games ended within a single run. But -225 is a tough number to swallow on the spread.
Especially given the unpredictable nature of all-star games, I’d be more inclined to take the longer +100 odds on a National League victory.
However, my favorite bet is for the game to fall under the total at 7.5 runs. Pitching has simply dominated the all-star game, with six of the last seven games falling under this total, including four straight. Overall, the under has cashed in 14 of the last 17 all-stars, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
As for prop markets, the public is leaning heavy on odds for NL rookie Paul Skenes to win MVP. Though his +2800 odds trail 14 other players, he’s BetMGM’s biggest liability to win the award.
With Skenes set to pitch just one inning, though, that bet feels like throwing money away. I’d rather run with someone batting in a spot to drive in a run or two, like Bryce Harper at +1200. Shohei Ohtani at +900 is the most ticketed player for the award.
The public also likes Ohtani to hit a home run at +450 odds, with that being the second-most popular prop at BetMGM behind -140 odds on no runs being scored in the first inning.
As long-shots go, I actually like a market in the opposite direction a little more. The AL has +300 odds to win the first inning, which only happens if Skenes struggles a bit. And though we haven’t seen the 22-year-old rattle much, the AL’s starting lineup is absolutely stacked and capable of causing him trouble.
