Betting on Major League Baseball might not be possible at the moment, but we do have betting odds on MLB players facing off in competitive games in a new esports league called MLB The Show 20 Players League.
Major League Baseball, along with the MLBPA and Sony, announced the 29-game season on Friday morning.
MLB The Show Players League begins TONIGHT!
— MLB The Show (@MLBTheShow) April 10, 2020
?30 MLB Players
?3-Inning Games
?Blake Snell vs. Amir Garrett Tonight at 6PM (PT)
?Robert Flores Hosting@Red @RaysBaseball @snellzilla4 @Amir_Garrett @RoFlo#MLBPlayersLeague #MLBTheShow #TheShow #MLBTheShow20 #TheShow20 pic.twitter.com/BGXGzq9MxE
The regular season begins on April 10th and runs through April 28th. The playoffs are scheduled for April 30th with the World Series going on May 2nd.
Shortly after the announcement of the league, oddsmakers set betting lines on who they think will win the inaugural tournament.
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Blake Snell comes in as a slight favorite to win the first-ever Players League at odds of +550. Oddsmakers also like the chances of Cincinnati's Amir Garrett (+600) and Minnesota's Trevor May (+600).
Odds to win MLB The Show 20 Players League
| Team | Player | Odds to win |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Diamondbacks | Jon Duplantier | +3,500 |
| Atlanta Braves | Luke Jackson | +3,500 |
| Baltimore Orioles | Dwight Smith Jr. | +3,500 |
| Boston Red Sox | Eduardo Rodriguez | +2,000 |
| Chicago Cubs | Ian Happ | +2,000 |
| Chicago White Sox | Lucas Giolito | +3,500 |
| Cincinnati Reds | Amir Garrett | +600 |
| Cleveland Indians | Carlos Santana | +3,500 |
| Colorado Rockies | David Dahl | +3,500 |
| Detroit Tigers | Niko Goodrum | +3,500 |
| Houston Astros | Lance McCullers Jr. | +2,000 |
| Kansas City Royals | Brett Phillips | +3,500 |
| Los Angeles Angels | Ty Buttrey | +2,000 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | Gavin Lux | +2,000 |
| Miami Marlins | Ryne Stanek | +3,500 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | Josh Hader | +3,500 |
| Minnesota Twins | Trevor May | +600 |
| New York Mets | Jeff McNeil | +2,000 |
| New York Yankees | Tommy Kahnle | +2,000 |
| Oakland Athletics | Jesus Luzardo | +3,500 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | Rhys Hoskins | +2,000 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Cole Tucker | +3,500 |
| San Diego Padres | Fernando Tatis Jr. | +3,500 |
| San Francisco Giants | Hunter Pence | +900 |
| Seattle Mariners | Carl Edwards Jr. | +3,500 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | Matt Carpenter | +3,500 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | Blake Snell | +550 |
| Texas Rangers | Joey Gallo | +3,500 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | Bo Bichette | +3,500 |
| Washington Nationals | Juan Soto | +3,500 |
Where can I bet on MLB The Show Players League?
Unfortunately for those who live in the United States, it is doubtful you'll find betting markets at a legal sportsbook as regulators don't often approve lines for esports or virtual sports. The Nevada Gaming Commission, however, has been allowing action on esports of late, so it's possible we might see some lines pop up.
Those living in Canada or elsewhere will want to check in with their favorite online sportsbook under the esports or virtual sports tab to see if betting lines are available.
How can I watch MLB The Show Players League?
According to ESPN, players will be streaming the games through their personal Twitch accounts. Some games might also be broadcast through the team's official channel. We'd recommend checking each team's Twitter account for a link to the live stream.
What are the settings for MLB The Show Players League?
Settings will be the same game to game:
- No DH
- Batting difficulty: Veteran
- Pitching difficulty: All-Star
- Umpire accuracy: Perfect
- Guess pitch: Off
- Quick counts: Off
- Balks: Off
What does the winner of MLB The Show Players League get?
The winner of the tournament will earn a $25,000 donation for a Boys & Girls Club affiliate in his community. Each other player will have a $5,000 donation made on their behalf.
