Betting on the MLB All-Star Game and HR Derby

The MLB All-Star break means different things for different people. For the stars of the game, it’s a couple of hectic days in the middle of their already busy season.

For the unheralded names/those not producing at a high level, it’s a time to kick their feet up with their families. Maybe play a round or two of golf. For the fans, the All-Star Game and HR Derby represent a chance to see the sport’s best players strutting their stuff.

The myriad of betting opportunities attached to the festivities just adds to the allure. This MLB All-Star Game and HR Derby betting guide will teach how to make the most of those opportunities.

We’re here to inform you of the available wagers and showcase where to place the bets. We also highlight tips and trends that will help you gain an edge and cover general information about the event’s formats.

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The good thing about these sites, first and foremost, is that they cover the events from start to finish. From MLB All-Star Game odds to HR Derby prop bets, there will be lots of ways to get money down before and during the Midsummer Classic.

If you plan to bet money on the MLB All-Star Game, these sportsbooks offer a variety of ways to transfer funds to and from the site. Whether you want to seamlessly deposit via your debit card or you’re looking to enhance your crypto wallet, you’ll be in good hands.

Those of you hoping to bet on the Home Derby on your mobile device, stick to our recommendations.

Just head to any of these sites on your cell phone or tablet and the satisfying experience will be replicated. In many cases, it’ll be even more convenient than placing HR Derby bets online.

Inaugurated in 1933, the MLB All-Star Game is something all players strive to be a part of.

The nine-inning contest between the AL’s and NL’s best players takes place on the second or third Tuesday in July.

How the players are selected has changed over the years, but here’s a look at the current process in place for how the MLB All-Star game rosters are generated.

The fans decide who’s starting in the field for each team. Based on a tally of votes (solely online), the top vote-getter for each league at each position is named as the starter.

If the game is being hosted at an American League ballpark, the starting AL DH is also voted in by the fans. The NL DH is chosen by the NL manager.

All pitchers are voted in by the players, managers, and bench coaches. Five starters and three relievers make each team, giving skippers plenty of ammunition to deploy in what’s supposed to be a “fun” game.

Don’t expect to see any single pitcher log more than two innings.

Each manager, with the aid of his assistant coaches, fills out his roster by handpicking the reserves.

Once the voting period has ended, the managers choose from the remaining pool of players to fill their rosters up to as high as 33 players.

The final piece to the puzzle is the last fan vote. The Commissioner’s Office selects five players in each league who are deserving of a spot. The fans have the final say (internet voting) on who rounds out each squad.

There three ways to be selected but NOT Play in the ASG game.

From 2003-2016, home-field advantage in the World Series was determined by which league was victorious in the All-Star Game. That rule was ditched in 2017, although a little bit of extra motivation was instated.

Members of the winning team pocket an extra $20,000. Members of the losing team walk away empty-handed.

The biggest spectacle of the All-Star break is the Monday night activities. On the eve of the All-Star Game, the Home Run Derby takes center stage as ball after ball is pounded into orbit.

The HR Derby format has changed a number of times since the competition was born (1985). From using innings and outs to gold balls and timers, the league has continually tweaked the Derby’s format to coincide with the demand of the fans.

The current Home Run Derby format involves eight players selected by the league getting placed into a single-elimination bracket. Seeding is established based on the season’s home run leaderboard.

Each participant gets four minutes (in each round) to hit as many home runs as possible. They can stop the clock once for a 45-second rest period during the first round and the semis; they get two “timeouts” during the finals. One lasts 45 seconds, the other lasts 30 seconds.

Another kicker that has helped evolve the layout is the 30 seconds of bonus time each player can earn. To unlock the additional 30 seconds, a player must hit two homers that travel at least 440 feet apiece.

For most, that’s a piece of cake.

In the event that two guys battling head-to-head are tied at the end of a round, they embark on a one-minute “swing-off.” No stopping the clock or adding time for hitting bombs – just 60 seconds of blasting away as many homers as possible.

If the competitors are still tied after the 60-second swing-off, they move into a three-swing swing-off. The latter is repeated until a winner is crowned.

Yes, and it’s not a shabby one (relatively speaking) like the purse for the All-Star Game.

As of 2019, the HR Derby prize pool was elevated to $2.5 million. The winner goes home with a seven-figure check worth an even $1 million.

The first order of business is getting acquainted with the best sites for betting on the MLB All-Star Game. That topic has been covered, and we’ve relayed general information about the game and told you how the rosters were formulated.

Next up is knowing when to start looking for MLB All-Star Game betting odds.

We know that the ASG takes place on a Tuesday in July, almost exclusively on the second or third Tuesday of the month.

The All-Star game rosters won’t come out until a week or so before, but you can expect the top bookmakers to release MLB All-Star Game lines almost immediately upon the lineups being finalized.

The types of bets you’ll encounter for the ASG are just like the ones you would see during a typical day in the regular season.

A complete rundown on how to approach these markets is available in our baseball betting guide.

Due to the popularity of the event, a handful of MLB All-Star Game props are available. None are trendier than betting on the MVP of the All-Star Game.

Also known as the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award, odds for this market will come to the forefront as soon as we know who’s playing in the game. It’s an easy way to spice up the action, but be cautious about betting on pitchers.

Since 2000, only two pitchers have won the ASG MVP. Only three pitchers have won it since 1987.

Brian McCann is the lone catcher to be honored this century, although Mike Piazza and Sandy Alomar Jr. hoisted the hardware in 1996 and 1997, respectively.

It’ll be unique every year but count on our recommended betting sites producing a slew of prop bets for the MLB All-Star game.

You have your “regular” bets and the MVP market; here are some examples of some other All-Star Game props that have been made available in the past.

Certain sites will implement H2H matchups. They’ll pick two players and a statistic and set an appropriate line. Those prop bets could look something like this.

More Hits in the All-Star Game

More Strikeouts in the All-Star Game

Keep your eyes peeled for a wealth of MLB All-Star game props to populate the lobbies of the betting sites.

Our page on baseball betting strategy offers fundamental advice on how to gain an edge when betting MLB online. When you’re dealing with the All-Star Game in particular, there are a few trends to be aware of.

If you want to keep things simple and bet on who wins, do yourself favor and lean towards backing the American League.

The AL is 25-6-1 straight-up in the last 32 All-Star Games. Furthermore, the NL hasn’t won an All-Star Game since 2012.

Of course, this isn’t an endorsement to blindly bet on the AL winning the game, however, it’s a noticeable trend that seems to carry a bit of weight.

We’ve seen 10 or more runs scored in the Midsummer Classic – we just haven’t seen it happen too often lately.

We offered data that’ll steer many toward betting the AL to win the game outright. On the flip side, if you intend to gamble on the National League emerging, take a hard look at the run line if they’re favored.

If the AL is the betting favorite, target the adjusted run line and boost your upside. 9 of the NL’s last 10 wins in the All-Star Game were by more than one run.

There are two ways to approach Home Run Derby betting. Pick a winner or attack the matchups. Or better yet, do both.

HR Derby odds come out as soon as the participants are confirmed. Figure about 5-7 days before the Derby is scheduled.

The object here is to try and pinpoint who will be the last man standing.

Don’t want to tie up your money for the entirety of the event? No problem – just key in on the individual matchups and bet on a round-by-round basis.

Looking back at the 2019 Home Run Derby odds, the four first-round matchups looked like this.

Once the first round is complete, check the live odds on the best Home Run Derby betting apps. You’ll be able to bet on each semifinal matchup, as well as the finale.

Look Past the Favorites

Only two betting favorites have won the HR Derby since 2010 (Giancarlo Stanton 2016, Bryce Harper 2019).

It’s not a total crapshoot, per se, but every man participating is more than capable of raking out dingers. It makes sense to capture as much betting upside as possible.

Research Ballpark Splits

The season sample size may be small, and in some cases nonexistent, but there could also be a lot to glean. Certain hitters have an eye for specific ballparks, and it’s easy to track down a player’s home run rate at any particular venue.

Click the “splits” tab on a player’s ESPN profile and scroll down to “Stadium.”

Who’s Pitching for the Batter?

Each Home Run Derby participant gets to choose who will be tossing them meatballs during the competition. Anytime a player brings his dad, former coach, or anyone he shares a special bond with, you can sense some added motivation to perform at a high level.

Be aware of these instances and keep them in mind when you’re firing away.

When you’re looking to bet real money on the HR Derby and/or invest funds into the All-Star Game, there’s no such thing as having too much information.

The following table illustrates the overall discrepancies between the AL and NL in the All-Star Game.

Pretty neck and neck. Through 88 editions, that’s about as close as can be.

Here’s a full list of results from previous games.

Here’s the full list HR Derby winners over the years.

Staying on theme with unloading pertinent data, there are lots of worthy records to unearth.

Here’s an assortment of lists highlighting single-game and all-time MLB All-Star Game records.

Despite the format of the MLB Home Run Derby getting modified over the years, we’ve kept a database for all-time HR Derby records intact. We just have to update year after year as Home Run Derby records continue to fall.

Take a peek at the most acclaimed records.

Refer to the tables below to see where future MLB All-Star Games will be played.

While the locations in 2023, ’24, and ’25 are yet to be determined, we know exactly where the game is headed in 2026.

In 2026, Philadelphia will become the eighth MLB city to host at least five All-Star Games.

Were you able to digest all of this information tied to the MLB All-Star Game? Are you ready to start betting on the Home Run Derby online? The organized sections above cover everything you need to know to enjoy a fruitful experience.

When the ASG and HR Derby are on the horizon, check in with our MLB blog and baseball picks section to stay in the loop. Our expert MLB writers cover both events each year, with analysis, predictions, and their best bets.