What is a pitching out in baseball betting? This is a question that many beginner baseball gamblers ask. Well, we are here to touch on everything you need to know on the topic.

From the various outs that count towards the line, to examples that show you how the market works, plus some of the pros and cons of this market, we cover everything you need to learn more about pitching out in baseball betting.

What Does Pitching Out in Baseball Mean?

What is a pitching out in MLB betting? Well, pitching out in baseball is basically a prop betting market where you need to decide whether or not the starting pitcher will throw for more or fewer than a set number of outs. This pitching line is set by the MLB betting site and corresponds with the innings pitched. For example, if a line is set at 15.5, you can then bet on whether you think the starting pitcher will last more than five innings, which has three outs each.

Let’s look at a more specific example. You might be considering betting on a talented starting pitcher like Gerrit Cole to go over 18.5 outs. Cole is well known to go for long stretches, so you might wager on him to go over and complete more than six innings. If Cole makes it past six innings, your pitcher outs bet is successful.

Is a Strikeout a Pitching Out?

No, a strikeout is not the same as pitching out betting. That is because a strikeout happens when a batter gets three strikes while they are batting. Whereas the pitcher outs meaning is simply any out a pitcher records while they are on the mound, no matter how these outs are achieved.

The major difference here is that not every out has to be a strikeout. You can get outs that can also be made via groundouts, flyouts, or double plays. So you see, the two are not actually linked when it comes to pitcher outs in baseball.

On the other hand, if we are talking about a pitchout, then we are talking about a pitch that is deliberately thrown outside of what we call the strike zone. Pitchers do this to dissuade batters from trying to steal a base or to go for a hit-and-run play.

what is a pitching out in baseball betting - BetOnline baseball betting odds

What Counts as a Win or Loss for a Pitcher?

A pitcher is credited with a win or loss based on whether the run charged to them results in the go-ahead run. Well, in simple terms, it means that their team can’t recover the lead. If the pitcher leaves the field before their team has recovered the lead, a loss is credited to them. Harsh, we know.

Bettors can wager on pitching out in betting for both MLB and college baseball. With that said, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that you will have more data and thought-out research available for a professional league like the MLB. As such, it makes for a more compelling option for pitcher outs betting. College baseball is also just a little more unpredictable, which is not really what you want when betting pitcher outs.

Let’s look at an example where you are betting on an outcome that is based on the starting pitcher. Let’s say the live betting odds look something like this on a win/loss market for pitching outs.

  • Pitcher to Win: +150
  • Pitcher to Lose: -110

If you wager $100 on a pitcher to triumph at +150, and the pitcher qualifies for a win under MLB rules, you would receive $150 from your initial bet, which would give you $250 total. On the other hand, if you bet $110 on the pitcher to lose at -110 and they take the loss, you would profit by $100, totaling $210 with your bet.

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees - BetUS what is a pitching out in baseball betting

Is Pitching Out Betting Online Legal?

Now that you know the answer to questions like “What are pitcher outs?” and “What does pitcher outs mean?”, you can now start thinking about actually using this in your betting. However, it’s important that we first clear up any confusion that you might have about the legality of betting in the US right now.

To get right to the point, yes, pitching out betting is legal in the US since the PASPA was overturned in 2018. However, this will depend on where in the US you find yourself, as not all states allow online sports betting. But there are plenty of states that fully allow you to wager on sports and use markets like pitching outs for your bets.

These include names like New Jersey, Nevada, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and many others. However, states like Utah, Hawaii, California, and Texas don’t offer any state-regulated crypto betting sites. Alternatively, you can opt for offshore sportsbooks to ensure your wagers are safely placed without any regional legal hassle.

Types of Pitching Out Bets

If you are still wondering, “What are pitcher outs in betting?”, having a look at the different types of bets you can place might help to paint a clearer picture. Here are the types of pitching out bets you can place.

  1. Over/Under Outs: In over/under betting, you bet on whether a pitcher will record more or fewer outs than a line set by the gambling site.
  2. Total Strikeouts: You can bet on the total number of strikeouts that a pitcher might achieve in a match.
  3. Combined Pitching Stats: With prop markets, you can combine outs with other pitching stats, such as strikeouts and walks. These are a little more tricky to get right, but the odds are definitely enticing.

what is a pitching out in baseball betting - Baseball markets at BetUS

Pros and Cons of Pitcher Outs in Baseball

Now that you can answer, “What is a pitching out in betting?” it’s a good idea to get a feel for some of the pros and cons of this type of market. Let’s start with the pros:

✅ Easy to understand: As a betting market, all you have to do is predict the number of outs a pitcher will record, which is quite easy to understand even for newer bettors.

✅ Player specific: By betting on the starting pitcher, you are not tied to the results of the team as a whole but rather just to the performance of the pitcher, which can alleviate some of the risks.

✅ Predictability: Betting on pitcher outs is a lot more stable than betting on, say, team-based outcomes. This lack of volatility is what makes it an appealing betting market.

✅ Wide variety of props: There are many kinds of different props that you can choose from that relate to pitcher outs.

✅ Research options: You can spend a lot of time taking in stats and data about starting pitchers, which will help inform your bets.

Cons:

❌ Bets can be voided: If the manager decides to pull the pitcher early, your bet does have the chance of being voided before its completion.

❌ Limited markets: While there are many props markets available for pitcher out betting, few a the new betting sites go into quite as much detail when it comes to pitching out markets.

Betting Pitcher Outs FAQs

What does pitcher outs mean?

What counts as a pitching out in baseball?

Is a double play a pitching out?

Does a pitching change void a bet?

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Mike Austin
Sports Editor

Micheal Austin is a professional writer and an extensive researcher of gambling legislation. He has vast experience writing about sport and casino. He currently writes for SportsCasting and has contributed to a wide range of gambling sites and news outlets like Wetten, Cryptomaniaks, and Webopedia among others.

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Author photo
Mike Austin Sports Editor

Micheal Austin is a professional writer and an extensive researcher of gambling legislation. He has vast experience writing about sport and casino. He currently writes for SportsCasting and has contributed to a wide range of gambling sites and news outlets like Wetten, Cryptomaniaks, and Webopedia among others.

All posts by Mike Austin