MLB Betting News This Month | Most Popular Baseball Wagers May Shock You & Market Analysis | July, 2026

We are roughly at the halfway point of the 2026 MLB season. That got us thinking: Which MLB betting markets are the most popular among the public right now?

We all know betting odds for the World Series winner will be hot to trot no matter the time of year. But what other markets are popping off? Are people looking to make money off the Home Run Derby later this month? Have they pivoted to MLB trade deadline mode ahead of the August 3 cutoff?

Rather than stew in uncertainty, we pored over some of the best betting sites for Major League Baseball in 2026, and plucked out the specific wagers that are generating the most interest and wagering volume. A couple of the answers will surprise absolutely no one. In a few instances, though, we were floored. And you might be, too.

First, before we go any further, it’s time for our usual look at the top-five odds to win the 2026 World Series. These lines are accurate as of July 2, and they come via the crew over at Bovada sportsbook:

Since the above list is so similar to where it was one month ago, here’s your bonus MLB betting tidbit:  Keep an eye on the Chicago White Sox at +4500. They currently sit atop the AL Central, and the combination of Colson Montgomery and Sam Antonacci are spearheading one of the league’s most high-powered offenses.

Ready to see which MLB betting markets are the most popular among the public? You can find them below, along with our thoughts on whether we agree or disagree with public sentiment.

Please not that in addition to using Bovada, we are also using MLB odds from BetOnline as well.

The Los Angeles Dodgers to win the World Series (+170)

This is one of the least shocking MLB betting inclusions we alluded to earlier. The Dodgers are among MLB’s flagship organizations and play in a top-tier market. They also generate a ton of betting volume. Especially when they’re good.

Right now, they aren’t just good. They are great. A plus-157 run differential at this point in the schedule is just stupid.

It is therefore no surprise that the public is hammering their MLB World Series odds. The Dodgers’ case often feels infallible. If we had to pinpoint a concern, it would be the health of superstar and MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani. The 31-year-old is dealing with some knee issues that already impacting his availability:

his knee is really worrying me, i am trying to stay positive and trust the team’s schedule for him but this is really concerning, there is no point in pushing yourself to a greater injury 💔 i just hope everything is okay pic.twitter.com/Yp2fVRvVHJ

— daily ohtani glazings (@prayantwt) July 1, 2026

Of course, at this writing, Ohtani is still scheduled to pitch during a game against the Athletics. That suggests L.A. isn’t worried. And so long as he’ll be ready to rock soon, the Dodgers are well positioned to win their third straight title.

Luis Arraez to win MLB’s batting-average title (+335)

Luis Arraez of the San Francisco Giants is hitting .326 entering play on July 2. That is the third-highest mark in the league. He trails only Yandy Diaz of the Tampa Bay Rays (.329) and Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins (.332).

The public, it seems, likes the idea of Arraez usurping those in front of him. And for what it’s worth, third place seems like his floor. Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros and Brandon Marsh of the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for fourth, but their .319 averages give Arraez a comfortable lead.

We understand the logic here. We just don’t agree with it. Diaz has our vote, because the Rays are going to be playing meaningful games longer than Arraez’s rebuilding Giants. 

To that end, we are most surprised that Diaz isn’t picking up more MLB betting market steam. He is currently +1900 to lead all hitters in batting average.

Kyle Schwarber to lead MLB in home runs (-120)

While we wouldn’t say Kyle Schwarber to lead MLB in home runs is a shocking market, we were surprised to see it generate so much volume. In turn, it has also deflated the potential return, making it so he pays out worse than even money.

Kyle Schwarber is on pace to hit 61 home runs and strikeout 251 times

223 K’s is the single season record pic.twitter.com/wiArpNY0Cn

— Peter Appel (@PeterAppel23) June 28, 2026

Schwarber currently sits at 30 home runs. That leads MLB by three dingers, which isn’t a whole lot. What’s more, four players are within six home runs or less of Schwarber’s total: Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies (27), Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros (26), Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins (25) and Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays. 

For our money, we would prefer a dice roll on Yordan Alvarez (+670). Depending on your stomach for risk, Ben Rice of the New York Yankees is sitting at 23 home runs and paying out +9900.

MLB MVP watch: everything has changed…sort of

For anyone hoping to ingest some variety in MLB MVP betting rankings, well, you finally got your wish. Shohei Ohtani is still dominating the NL MVP odds but Aaron Judge’s fractured rib injury has opened the door for new contenders in the AL.

Let’s have a gander at the top-five candidates in each league, beginning with the AL:

Yordan Alvarez’s odds are actually shorter than Judge’s were during our last check-in (-155 vs -150).

Keep your eye on Junior Caminero as a dark horse, though. His case gets a lot more interesting if the Rays beat out the Yankees for first place in the AL East.

Now, here’s the updated look at NL MVP odds:

Look, we could sit here and pretend somebody has a realistic shot at dethroning Ohtani, but what’s the point? Unless his knee injury costs him a bunch of games, he is going to win this running away. 

Previous MLB betting news updates

• [May 23 – July 1]: The Los Angeles Angeles have become a team to watch at the MLB trade deadline after firing their general manger.
• [May 15-22]: The Pittsburgh Pirates are the biggest surprise in baseball, but bookmakers aren’t yet placing stock in their rise. They remain +4500 to win the World Series.
• [April 15-22]: The Minnesota Twins moved into the top 15 of World Series betting odds, but experts are skeptical of whether they can stay there.
• [April 8-15]: Oddsmakers are starting to show distrust in the Seattle Mariners. They have seen their World Series odds ever so slightly start to shift after a shaky start, dipping from +1000 to +1100 this past week.
• [April 1-7:] Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is officially paying out less than even money to win NL MVP. If he stays healthy, it seems the NL’s MVP race may already be a wrap.