Sports Betting Glossary
Every stat, metric, and term you need to know for MLB, NBA, and NFL betting — explained in plain language with benchmarks.
MLB — Hitting
Batting Average (AVG)
Hits divided by at-bats. Measures how often a batter gets a hit.
Hitter vs Pitcher DashboardOn-Base Percentage (OBP)
How often a batter reaches base via hit, walk, or hit-by-pitch.
Hitter vs Pitcher DashboardSlugging Percentage (SLG)
Total bases divided by at-bats. Measures power output per at-bat.
Hitter vs Pitcher DashboardOPS (On-Base Plus Slugging)
OBP plus SLG. The most popular single-number measure of overall offensive value.
Hitter vs Pitcher DashboardPlatoon Splits
How a player performs differently against left-handed vs right-handed opponents.
Hitter vs Pitcher DashboardTotal Bases
The total number of bases a batter accumulates on hits: 1 for single, 2 for double, 3 for triple, 4 for HR.
Hitter vs Pitcher DashboardBABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play)
Batting average on balls put in play, excluding home runs and strikeouts.
Hitter vs Pitcher DashboardIsolated Power (ISO)
Slugging minus batting average. Measures raw extra-base hit power.
Hitter vs Pitcher DashboardMLB — Statcast
Barrel Rate
Percentage of batted balls with ideal exit velocity and launch angle for extra-base hits.
Due for Home Runs DashboardHard Hit Rate (Hard Hit%)
Percentage of batted balls with exit velocity of 95+ mph.
Due for Home Runs DashboardExpected Slugging (xSLG)
What a hitter's SLG should be based on Statcast exit velocity and launch angle data.
Due for Home Runs DashboardExit Velocity
The speed of the ball off the bat, measured in mph by Statcast.
Due for Home Runs DashboardMLB — Pitching
Whiff Rate (Whiff%)
Percentage of swings that result in misses. Measures a pitcher's ability to generate swings and misses.
Pitching Stats DashboardERA (Earned Run Average)
Average earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings. The standard measure of pitching effectiveness.
Pitching Stats DashboardWHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning)
Walks plus hits allowed divided by innings pitched. Measures baserunner traffic.
NRFI DashboardStrikeout Rate (K/9 & K%)
How often a pitcher records strikeouts per 9 innings (K/9) or per batter faced (K%).
Pitching Stats DashboardFIP (Fielding Independent Pitching)
ERA estimate based only on strikeouts, walks, HBP, and home runs — removes defense and luck.
Pitching Stats DashboardCSW% (Called Strikes + Whiffs)
Percentage of pitches that are either called strikes or swinging strikes.
Pitching Stats DashboardMLB — Betting
NBA — Betting
NBA — Advanced
Player Efficiency Rating (PER)
A per-minute rating of a player's overall statistical contributions. Higher is better.
Head-to-Head MatchupsUsage Rate (USG%)
Percentage of team plays used by a player while on the floor (shots, turnovers, free throws).
Defense vs PositionAssist Rate (AST%)
Percentage of teammate field goals a player assisted while on the floor.
NBA Streak TrackerBox Plus/Minus (BPM)
A box score estimate of a player's contribution in points above average per 100 possessions.
Turnover Rate (TOV%)
Turnovers committed per 100 plays used. Measures ball security.
Rebound Rate (REB%)
Percentage of available rebounds a player grabs while on the floor.
NBA Streak TrackerNBA — Shooting
NBA — Team
Pace
The number of possessions a team uses per 48 minutes. Higher pace means more scoring opportunities.
Head-to-Head MatchupsOffensive Rating (ORtg)
Points scored per 100 possessions. Measures offensive efficiency independent of pace.
Head-to-Head MatchupsDefensive Rating (DRtg)
Points allowed per 100 possessions. Measures defensive efficiency independent of pace.
Defense vs PositionNet Rating
Offensive Rating minus Defensive Rating. The single best measure of overall team quality.
Head-to-Head MatchupsNFL — Passing
NFL — Advanced
NFL — Receiving
Target Share
Percentage of a team's total passing targets directed at a specific receiver.
NFL Defense vs PositionAir Yards
The distance a pass travels through the air to a receiver, before any yards after the catch.
NFL Defense vs PositionYards After Catch (YAC)
Yards gained by a receiver after catching the ball, before being tackled.
NFL Team MatchupNFL — Usage
NFL — Scoring
NFL — Rushing
MLB — Batting Approach
All — Betting
Expected Value (EV)
The average amount you expect to win or lose per bet over time, based on probability and odds.
Implied Probability
The probability of an outcome as implied by the betting odds, including the sportsbook's margin.
Vig / Juice
The sportsbook's built-in commission on every bet, typically around 4.5-10%.
Closing Line Value (CLV)
Whether you got better odds than the final line at game time. The best predictor of long-term profit.
Prop Bet
A bet on a specific player or game statistic rather than the overall outcome.
Prop AnalyzerOver/Under (Totals)
A bet on whether a stat total will be higher (over) or lower (under) than the sportsbook's set line.
Prop AnalyzerMoneyline
A bet on which team will win the game outright, with no point spread involved.
Parlay
A single bet combining multiple selections — all picks must win for the parlay to pay out.
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