NPB Preseason Betting Odds & Betting Tips - Bet on Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball League

As the premier baseball league in Asia and the second-best league in the world behind Major League Baseball, even preseason games in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) League are a big deal. For fans, these preseason games are a great opportunity to see some of Asia’s star players in a relaxed setting in which the games don’t count but the players are trying to perform at a high level.

Even if they don’t count in the regular season standings, preseason NPB games still matter at Stake Sportsbook. Just like regular season games, Stake offers betting markets for preseason NPB preseason games. Of course, before betting on any preseason Japanese baseball games, check out our guide of the NPB and its preseason.

What is the NPB Preseason?

The NPB preseason is the MLB equivalent of spring training. A majority of the Japanese teams in the NPB hold preseason training in Okinawa rather than the team’s usual stadium. Much like spring training, the NPB preseason allows established players to prepare for the upcoming season while also allowing younger Japanese players to showcase the progress they’ve made while trying to prove that they deserve a spot on the roster rather than stay in the minor leagues. In addition to practices, there are exhibition games during the NPB preseason.

History of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) League

The first iteration of pro baseball in Japan came in the 1930s in the form of the Japanese Baseball League (JBL). In 1949, that league was reorganised and became the NPB. Over time, the NPB’s reputation improved to the point that its top players started signing with MLB teams during the 1990s. Likewise, foreign players from South Korea, the United States, and other countries have been welcomed by the baseball teams in the NPB, which has also helped to raise the overall level of competition in the league.

Japan NPB Preseason Schedule & Format

With the Japanese baseball season usually starting in late March, the NPB preseason opens in mid to late February. While there are intra-squad games and formal exhibition games between teams in the NPB, there is no official competition or standings kept during the preseason. Teams are free as many exhibition games as they want to prepare for the upcoming season. These games are often played at preseason training complexes. However, when it gets closer to the regular season, they might be played at the team’s usual home stadium. This includes the Tokyo Dome, which is where the Japanese National Team often plays before or during international tournaments like the World Baseball Classic.

Which Teams Play in NPB?

There are 12 professional teams that play in the NPB. Those teams are equally divided between the Central League and the Pacific League. These are the teams in the Central League:

These are the teams in the Pacific League:

How to Bet on NPB Preseason & Baseball Bet Types

Stake Sportsbook makes it easy to bet on baseball games during the NPB preseason. Many of the types of bets available during the NPB preseason are the same bets you’ll find in other professional leagues. This includes:

• Moneyline - A moneyline bet is an outright bet on the winner of a particular game.

• Total - Instead of focusing on winners and losers, a total bet is based around the number of runs scored in a game.

• Handicap - A handicap bet adds a spread - in baseball it’s often called a run line - to the equation, meaning a favoured team must win by a certain number of runs while the underdog can win a bet if it loses a close game.

• Player Props - Prop bets are based on individual actions in a game or individual player stats, including how many hits or runs a player recorded during a game.

• Live Bets - After a game begins, live bets can still be placed

• Parlays - With a parlay, multiple bets get combined into a single bet, so if one bet loses, the entire parlay loses. However, if each bet wins, the parlay has a higher payout than individual bets.

NPB Preseason Betting Odds & Payouts

Stake Sportsbook makes an effort to provide competitive odds for NPB preseason games. However, payouts always depend on the exact odds of a matchup. For all games, betting on the team that’s favoured will have a lower payout than a bet on a team that’s an underdog. With other types of bets, the payout also depends on the odds given.

Live Stream Baseball for Free & Live Betting Markets

At Stake Sportsbook, it’s possible to live stream a baseball game after placing a bet on it. You don’t need an extra subscription or make an additional payment. If you made a bet on a game, you can track that bet right on the Stake platform by watching a live stream of the game. This also makes it easier to explore live bets since you’ll be watching the game unfold.

Baseball Betting Tips, Predictions & Strategies

Betting on baseball is can be tricky, but with Stake's baseball betting guide, you can be well equipped to make informed decisions. A tip to bear in mind when betting on the NPB Preseason is that you may not want to bet on the teams with the biggest stars or the most popular teams. Instead, do research on the players who are in the lineup or expected to come off the bench so you can make informed decisions on any NPB preseason bets.

Bet Bonuses, Promotions & Responsible Gambling Online

It’s always in the interest of bettors to explore bonus opportunities and promotions. At Stake Sportsbook, there are always various bonus bets, odds boosts, and other promotions available for customers. Of course, it’s equally important to explore resources like Stake Smart and always practise responsible gambling habits.