Toronto Blue Jays fans will be hoping that their team can make a splash and make a move up the American League East, but regardless of results, they can always make a few wagers to make the game more interesting. Here are a few statistics to pay attention to when betting on MLB baseball.

Starting pitchers are a massive part of how sportsbooks (and clients that use price per head software) set their lines, so when looking at pitchers, you should start with their ERA (Earned Run Average) and WHIP (Walks + Hits per Innings Pitched). ERA shows how many runs a pitcher gives up against the number of innings he has pitched, while WHIP states exactly what their name says. For example, the Cy Young winner in both leagues, Detroit’s Justin Verlander and Los Angeles’ Clayton Kershaw, were tops in their respective leagues in both categories, so it’s a solid sign of a pitcher’s ability.

As for offense, you should look at how many runs a team scores, because stats like batting average and home runs aren’t really indicative of a team’s skills. In baseball, the point of the game is to score more runs than the other team, no matter how you do it. This also helps when it comes to betting on totals, which is the number of total runs that two teams will score in a game.

These are just a couple of factors to consider when betting on baseball at your favorite sports betting websites.

The Toronto Blue Jays are one of the teams that many insiders think are going to be a factor in the offseason when it comes to picking up new players, and they have a good chance to move up the ranks in the American League East, as Boston is in disarray, the New York Yankees are getting older and tied up by untradeable contracts, and Tampa Bay, well, they’ll hang around somehow because that is what they do. Their biggest question mark seems to be the bullpen and specifically, the closer: the Blue Jays blew 25 saves in 2011, and only Houston had a lower percentage of converted saves. Here is a look at a few options for Toronto.

Heath Bell, San Diego

Bell had 43 saves last season and blew only five, which is a good way for a team to boost their chances at a price per head service. He hasn’t had fewer than 42 saves in the last three years, but has he been protected by a pitcher-friendly park in San Diego?

Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee

“K-Rod” split closer duties with John Axford and may want to be the full-time closer somewhere, so he’ll be an option if he brings down his asking price, which could be close to $18 million. But at 30 years old, he still has a lot of good years left.

Frank Francisco, Toronto

The Blue Jays released Jon Rauch and kept Francisco, who was much better after the All-Star break and took the closer’s role. But does Toronto trust him enough to offer another contract? That will be the key to their chances if you bet on sports.

After watching the Boston Red Sox go down as the consensus sports betting favorite to win the American League Championship Series, the Philadelphia Phillies aren’t taking anything for granted as they get set to clash with the St. Louis Cardinals in game four of the NLDS. The Cardinals were the NL version of the Tampa Bay Rays this season, and it is up to the Phillies to make sure that they aren’t upset in the opening playoff round by a team that has been playing baseball as though it were the playoffs since the end of August.

Philadelphia Phillies @ St. Louis Cardinals

Wednesday, 6:07 PM ET

Game four will feature the MLB depth of the Phillies’ rotation, with Roy Oswalt getting the call as the fourth man in the starting rotations even though he would be the No. 1 for some teams around the league. Oswalt will need to find his ace game in order to give his team another shot on the road, but it isn’t all on his shoulders. The Phillies’ offense will need to produce against Cardinals’ starter Edwin Jackson, who allowed two runs or less in all but one of his appearances in September. The pressure will be on Philadelphia to get the job done against a team that arguably shouldn’t even be there, and that will make a difference as St. Louis approaches this game with a greater focus and calmer price per head demeanor.

MLB Betting Pick: St. Louis Cardinals

It seems as though the majority of online sports betting sites tell players not to wager on favorites when it comes to baseball if they want to win. But considering that every division leader except for one has won at least two-thirds of their games, can that theory really be justified? The truth is that the best way to bet on baseball is to take the favorites, only in order to win you have to pick your spots.

Unlike in Kentucky Derby betting where there is one race and one favorite to pick in it, the baseball season is months long and the favorites are on the field almost every day. While it would be unrealistic to bet on a team such as the New York Yankees every day because of the odds that are available, there is nothing wrong with picking a spot with a team as good as the American League East leaders. The Yankees will not win every game, but they won’t lose every game either. The perfect way to guarantee making money on these games is to wait for a team as good as New York to lose two or three games in a row, and then bet on them until they get back in the win column. By starting small and covering losses from game to game, the end result will always be a win as long as the bankroll is available to go the distance until they get a victory. A team as good as the Yankees won’t lose 10 games in a row, so although it isn’t guaranteed a win is very likely.

One of the toughest sports to place bets online for is baseball. Fans betting on baseball for the first time, should know that there are many variables which can be the difference between winning your bet and becoming an expert, or losing and never trying again. Some of the factors involved in baseball betting, include, betting lines, weather conditions, listing pitchers and the over/ under.

Of the four factors noted above, the most over looked is the listing of pitchers. Many believe this does not make a difference when it comes to the actual game, however it can be the difference between winning and losing. In essence, by stating that the starting pitcher must be listed, you can’t lose your bet if they are scratched for any reason. When fans bet on the qualifier and state that the pitcher listed, (who is noted as a probable) is the one they are betting on, if that pitcher can’t pitch, the sportsbook is required to refund your money instantly.

For many sportsbooks, they offer the option of an action wager, in which bettors can wager on one particular pitcher starting the game. Nonetheless, the theory behind listing a pitcher when wagering on a game, is that you believe that pitcher stands a better chance against the opposing team’s batters, rather than simply betting on the two teams.

As well, it is important to research a pitcher’s health, as many sportsbook sites with run lines have a list pitcher rule they put into effect. Basically stating that the line only becomes applicable if the specific pitcher is in the game, if they are scratched for any reason, the sportsbook keeps your money. This is why it is important to research on the pitcher and then lists them, rather than make a bet based on the team and not the pitcher.