MLB Teams Located in Canada
Presently, the Toronto Blue Jays are the only MLB team located north of the border. Located in Toronto, Ontario, the Blue Jays play home games at the Rogers Centre (formerly called the ‘Sky Dome’).
In the standings, Toronto is a part of the American League East (Also called the ‘A.L. East’) which also features the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and the Baltimore Orioles. Last season, the Blue Jays managed to make the playoffs; however, the team was swept by the Minnesota Twins in the first round.
Toronto should be a competitive team this year as well, but the division remains tough. They will only go as far as star players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette take them. The roster in itself is fairly solid, but most of it needs to be productive and consistent as offseason acquisitions were few and far between. Most nights, they should have a decent shot at winning and could be worth betting on.
Important MLB Dates Every Canadian Baseball Fan Should Know
MLB Opening Day marks the beginning of each regular season around the end of March. This year, things will start a little earlier on March 20-21, 2024 as the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres will play a two-game set of regular season games in Seoul, South Korea.
The rest of the season resumes on March 28th and continues until September 29th. The postseason begins on October 1st, meaning the World Series could end as late as November 2nd. For a quick reference of all the most important MLB dates in 2024, please refer to the table below.
| Important MLB 2024 Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Start of Spring Training (Baseball Pre-season) | February 22 |
| MLB World Tour Game 1 – Seoul, South Korea | March 20-21 |
| Opening Day | March 28 |
| MLB World Tour Game 2 – Mexico City, Mexico | April 27-28 |
| MLB World Tour Game 3 – London, England | June 8-9 |
| MLB All-Star Game – Arlington, Texas | July 12-16 |
| MLB Trade Deadline | July 30 |
| Start of MLB Playoffs | October 1 |
| Latest World Series End Date | November 2 |
Popular Ways to Bet on the MLB in Canada
MLB betting can be done from anywhere nowadays, whether you’re at the game or on the couch in your living room. The most popular MLB betting markets amongst Canadians are fairly commonplace compared to other sports, with many sites using what are called ‘American odds’ expressed as positive (ex. +110) or negative (ex. -110) numbers. Keep reading below to learn about the MLB bet types Canadians use the most.
Moneyline
Placing a moneyline bet means picking an outright winner of any given game. Betting odds with a positive number signify an underdog, whereas a negative number is assigned to the favourite. For example, if the Blue Jays have moneyline odds of +200, they would be the underdog.
The odds also tell us how profitable a bet will be. For example, a $50 wager on Toronto at +200 would yield a $150 payout (your original $50 stake plus a $100 profit).
Run Line (Spread)
A spread bet is referred to as a ‘run line’ bet in baseball. It’s similar to a moneyline bet, with the main difference being that a team must win or lose by a certain number of runs.
For example, if the Red Sox were a -1.5 on the spread, they would have to win by two or more runs for the bet to hit. If they were +1.5 on the spread, they would have to lose by one run or less (or win outright).
Totals (Over/Under)
Totals betting, often called ‘over/under’ betting, is all about the total sum of the final score. Essentially, each game is given a run total that both teams will cumulatively either exceed or fall short of.
For example, a game between the Rays and the Orioles has a total of 7.5. An ‘over’ bet would need eight or more runs to cash (ex. a 5-4 score) whereas an ‘under’ bet requires seven runs or less (ex. a 4-3 score).
Prop Betting
A prop bet is usually a wager on a statistic of a specific player. For example, betting on Bichette to hit a home run. It can also be expressed as an over/under, such as ‘Guerrero Jr. over/under 1.5 hits’.
Parlay Betting
A parlay bet is a combination bet that can include any of the previously mentioned bet types. Each single bet in a parlay is called a ‘leg’ and all legs must hit for the wager to win. For example, a three-leg parlay picking the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Red Sox to each win their respective games.
Futures Betting
Futures betting is a wager on a future event. This usually involves picking the winner of a team or player award such as ‘World Series Champion’ or ‘Most Valuable Player’. For example, picking the Jays to win the World Series.
Where to Watch the MLB in Canada
In Canada, watching the MLB can be done a few different ways. Naturally, most people are Toronto fans and subscribe to Sportsnet, which has exclusive Blue Jays broadcasting rights. Sportsnet is automatically included in some cable packages, but those without can sign up for streaming plans through ‘Sportsnet +’ (formerly known as ‘Sportsnet NOW’).
Plans start at $14.99 per month, which will give you access to all 162 Blue Jays games along with up to 150 out-of-market games including the All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, and the MLB Playoffs. For those seeking alternatives, your best options are MLB.TV (the official MLB.com streaming service) or DAZN. MLB.TV offers a free trial and costs $149.99 for a season-long subscription. Unfortunately, local market blackouts do apply – meaning any game featuring the Blue Jays will be unavailable to those living in Ontario and potentially other areas of Canada.
That said, it’s a great way to watch 7,000+ out-of-market games if you cheer for another team, or just enjoy watching baseball in general. The site also offers a ‘Free Game of the Day’, meaning at least one game each day is free without a subscription.
DAZN has the MLB Network, which features several games as well as highlights and original programming baseball fans will love. Subscriptions start at $19.99 per month, and DAZN even offers some games for free to anyone who has an account – no subscription required. The MLB game selection will be limited compared to the other mentioned platforms, but it’s worth checking out if you want a package that includes other sports as well.
Now you know the who, what, where, when, and why of enjoying the MLB from Canada. Good luck!
