To date, the New York Yankees are on a record-setting pace for wins in a season as they dominate the American League. In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are leading the way. But there is a temporary break in the World Series race for the 2022 MLB All-Star Game. The game is scheduled to be played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angles, CA on July 19th. The highly-popular Home Run Derby will be held the night before.

The MLB All-Star Game is one of those one-game events that seems to draw attention from online gamblers who might not otherwise show much interest in betting on regular-season baseball games. The reason for that might simply be the All-Star Game does offer sports fans some interesting betting opportunities.

Betting the MLB All-Star Game

The All-Star game starters have been voted in and the remaining rosters are filled by the managers and a special fan vote. One thing for bettors to watch out for is the possibility some starters might opt-out of the game for various reasons. While the teams no longer compete for World Series home-field advantage, the winning team’s share of the game proceeds is a bit higher.

The odds on the game will vary by sportsbook and are subject to change as roster changes become public. Sports bettors can expect the outright odds on both sides, AL and NL, to be similar. Game odds and over/under betting will also be available.

Home Run Derby

The festivities will get underway on Saturday, July 16th with the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and the MGM Rewards All-Star Celebrity Softball Game. Realistically, there won’t be too much betting interest there.

The first fun betting opportunity will come on July 18th with the T-Mobile Home Run Derby. Two-time defending champ Pete Alonso (NY Mets) should be back for a possible three-peat. Again, the roster has not yet been finalized. Among the other possible entrants are Aaron Judge (leading MLB with 31 dingers), the Japanese Phenom Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels – 19 home runs), a healthy Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels – 24 home runs), hometown fav Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers – 20 home runs) and young guns like Yordan Alvarez (Houston Astros – 26 home runs) and Byron Buxton (Minnesota Twins – 23).

Other All-Star Game Bets

By game time, sports bettors will presumably have made their picks for the game winner. However, the action doesn’t stop there. There will be multiple other betting opportunities, starting with proposition bets. These types of bets can offer a lot of excitement not to mention potentially nice returns. Some of the props available will include the MLB All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, certain players to hit home runs and individual matchups between players.

By game time, many online sportsbooks will also feature live in-game betting opportunities. It’s a great way for sports bettors to stay interested in each and every at-bat and play throughout the game.

In the end, there is a kind of cautionary tale at play here for sports bettors. Namely, the MLB All-Star game is a showcase game for the players and fans. It comes in the middle of a busy summer when many players are deserving of a break from playing baseball. Participants are showing up because the fans voted them in and the game offers them an unusual chance to interact with players from other teams in the league. Unlike the usual cut and thrust of competitive play, there are a few days of camaraderie.

Baseball’s best will put on a show, but bettors might want to view this more as a recreational betting opportunity. Like the players, it’s something they shouldn’t take too seriously.