The MLB team in Cleveland may not be in action for a long time, but with Cleveland baseball betting, they can be in it for a good time. Legal online sportsbooks in three of Ohio’s neighboring states all have futures and game lines live for Cleveland.
Among futures markets at books like BetMGM and BetRivers are lines on which teams will win the American League Central division crown, the AL pennant, and the 2020 World Series.
There are also plenty of props and straight bets on individual Cleveland games as well.
Cleveland baseball betting at IN, PA and WV sportsbooks
While sports betting remains illegal in Ohio, three of the five neighboring states do have legal online sportsbooks up and running. Those are Indiana, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Additionally, sports betting apps will go live in Michigan soon, likely early next year. For now, however, Ohio residents can cross any of the other three borders to place their bets. Among the options operating in at least one of those states are:
- Bet365
- BetMGM
- BetRivers
- Caesars
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- PointsBet Sportsbook
- Unibet
- William Hill
Fortunately for Ohioans, you can conduct the entire process online. That includes everything from registering your account to cashing out your winnings.
The only rules are that you must be at least 21 years of age and physically located within the state’s borders when you’re conducting your business. If you meet those qualifications, you’re good to go.
Since the 2020 MLB season began at the end of July, it’s been a precarious situation, however. Several players and other team personnel on multiple teams have tested positive for COVID-19.
That prompted MLB to postpone several games. Bettors should be aware that the situation remains tenuous, with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred stressing that if the number of positive tests continues to climb, he will use his authority to pull the plug on the entire season.
For now, Cleveland has been isolated from those concerns. That’s why many online sportsbooks have their betting markets on the team open for your consideration.
What do sportsbooks think of Cleveland’s chances this year?
Currently, the consensus seems to be that Cleveland is a wild card threat, but the oddsmakers don’t expect the team to win a division, much less a league or World Series title this year.
For example, BetMGM has Cleveland +275 to win the AL Central, behind the favored Minnesota Twins at -150. BetRivers rates Cleveland +1200 to win the AL pennant, behind five AL teams with shorter odds.
DraftKings’ World Series futures market lists Cleveland +2200 right now. If futures aren’t your thing, several of the books have promotions for individual games.
For example, FanDuel is currently offering “7th Inning Stretch Insurance.” It’s essentially a guarantee against a lost bet. You can use the insurance on any pregame moneyline wager of $50 or less.
Let’s say you wanted to bet on Cleveland to defeat the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, for example. How the promo works is that if Cleveland has the lead in the middle of the seventh inning, you can’t lose. If Cleveland blows its lead after that point, FanDuel will return the value of your wager in site credit.
FanDuel isn’t the only place where you can find specials you can use on Cleveland games, however. DraftKings offers a 10% live bet profit boost you can use daily, for instance.
Regardless of whether your bets align with Cleveland’s fate, there are plenty of opportunities to win at surrounding sportsbooks. If Cleveland does defy the odds, it may literally pay to show your faith in them with a futures wager.
