Matchplug publishes MLB picks on the moneyline, the run line and the total for every game on the card. Baseball is different from the other US sports in one decisive respect: the starting pitcher is the single largest variable in any given game, which is why every MLB bet should be listed to that pitcher — if he is scratched, the bet is void. Beyond pitching we read bullpen usage over the previous three days, which is where late-inning totals are won and lost, plus park factors and the wind, since a wind blowing out at Wrigley is worth close to half a run on the total. The long 162-game season makes MLB the most sample-friendly league to bet, and also the most punishing of anyone chasing short-term results.
