Key information about betting on baseball in the MLB games at London Stadium

American sport continues to make inroads into the British way of life and following the NFL and NBA's successful staging of regular-season fixtures on this side of the pond, Major League Baseball dips its toe in the water this weekend.

The two-game series between arch-rivals the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees could not be more box office - not that selling tickets for the matches on Saturday and Sunday at the London Stadium has been an issue.

And for the betting industry, it is an excellent opportunity to generate turnover so it is no surprise that bookmakers are keen to embrace the experiment.

RedZone Sports' managing director Warren Llambias said: "It's a huge marquee game. It's like Liverpool v Manchester United.

"They are divisional rivals and there is plenty on the line so there should be plenty of interest."

It takes 162 matches to complete a regular baseball season and that is plenty to take in if you are a die-hard bettor. And with much of the action taking place in the middle of the night, dedication is essential.

So what is the best way for the casual punter to get involved?

"It's definitely a game, like cricket, that has its nuances but many of us will have played rounders at school so it's not that difficult for British followers to pick up the general concept," said Llambias.

Total runs is a popular bet and the match prices should be close enough in the first game - the Yankees are 4-6 favourites - to mean punters can simply bet on the winner.

Three things to bear in mind when betting on baseball

• Keep an eye on the pitcher. If he is weak and playing a team who are scoring a lot, that could lead to a runfest.
• If the pitcher is in great form for a team who are also scoring plenty of runs, that is a classic time to look at the -1.5 run market, especially if the opposition have a starter going through a tough time.
• The weather is all-important, particularly wind direction. It's easier to hit home runs with the wind behind you than when it's in your face. At Wrigley Field in Chicago, it can often be the difference between a game going under or over.

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Backing the Yankees on the -1.5 run line may also be popular, but it is a game where pitching is the most important component.

Llambias said: "It doesn't matter how high a run average the opposition have, if you've got an ace on the mound that is what is going to define the game.

"A pitcher's influence on a game's outcome is probably beyond even that of a quarterback in the NFL."

However, there is a reason why pitchers only play every five or six days during the mammoth season and outfielders are in action virtually every night.

Hurling 100 pitchers at up to 100 miles an hour takes its toll and relief pitchers and closers are also likely to have to play their part.

And that affects gambling on the game too.

Llambias said: "We tend to find experienced baseball punters may concentrate on markets such as the score at the end of the fifth or seventh innings.

"They know that is what they can expect to get out of the starter and games can swing once the relievers become involved. They don't like to get involved with potentially volatile factors.

"But those are not the sort of bets you want to get involved in if you are looking for an interest for the whole game."

Other factors to consider are that the field has had to be squeezed into the London Stadium, which unlikely Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium is not a venue designed to accommodate baseball.

Consequently the infield is likely to be short and benefit batters, so total-run lines could look quite high by the time the ceremonial first pitch is thrown by Prince Harry.

It should be serious business with the Yankees leading the Red Sox by nine games in the American League East. The Boston outfit need to win to get themselves back in the race to claim a playoff spot.

And a competitive encounter should mean the betting offices are busy.

"We should see a big jump in activity,'" said Llambias.

"I know we've got things going on like the Women's World Cup and the Cricket World Cup but it is sometimes a quiet time in the betting industry at the end of June and the start of July.

"But I would expect betting on these matches to be of a similar volume to a World Series match. We're really looking forward to it."

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