Baseball Rules

Baseball Contract Settlement Rules

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Contract Specifications, all Baseball event contracts listed on ProphetX shall be settled in accordance with the rules set forth in this Chapter. Defined terms used herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the ProphetX Rulebook. References to 'orders' include resting and filled orders as applicable; references to 'settlement' or 'resolution' refer to final contract disposition following outcome determination.

A. General. All contracts are offered in accordance with ProphetX's Rulebook and Terms and Conditions. Unless specifically stated in the Contract Specifications, settlement of contracts shall be based on the official classifications, definitions, and tiebreaking rules established by Major League Baseball ("MLB") through MLB.com, or the official website of the applicable competition.

B. Scheduling. Dates and start times displayed on the Exchange are provided for informational purposes only and are not guaranteed. Official schedules are as published by the applicable governing body.

C. Postponed Events. If an event does not commence on the officially scheduled calendar day (local time), as published by the governing body, due to a rain delay or other deferral, all contracts referencing that event shall be void and collateral shall be returned to the applicable accounts.

D. Suspended Events. If an event commences, is suspended, and is not resumed within thirty-six (36) hours of the official scheduled start time, all contracts shall be void unless: (i) the contract is subject to the 4.5 Innings Rule as defined in Rule I. below; or (ii) the resolution of the contract was unequivocally determined prior to suspension.

E. 8.5 Innings Rule. Unless otherwise specified in the Contract Specifications, contracts shall be settled only upon completion of a minimum of nine (9) innings of play, or eight and one-half (8.5) innings should the home team be leading at the commencement of the bottom of the ninth inning (the "8.5 Innings Rule"), or 

F. Unequivocal Outcomes. Contracts whose outcomes are unequivocally determined prior to the conclusion of an event (e.g., a 0.5 Hits contract where the referenced player recorded a hit before the event was suspended) shall be settled in accordance with that outcome, regardless of the state of the full event or any subsequent postponement.

G. Extra Innings. Extra innings are included in contract settlement for all markets unless otherwise stated in the applicable Contract Specifications.

H. Moneyline Contracts. A Moneyline contract is an event contract in which the outcome is determined by which team wins the referenced event . In the scenario of a shortened event, results shall be official after completion of five (5) innings of play, or four and one-half (4.5) innings should the home team be leading at the commencement of the bottom of the fifth inning (the "4.5 Innings Rule"). Once the visiting team has recorded fifteen (15) outs: (i) if the event is called early and the home team is leading, the contract shall resolve based on the score at the time the event is called; or (ii) if the event is called early while tied or during an inning in which the visiting team has taken the lead, it shall be treated as a suspended event and handled in accordance with Rule 3.D above.

I. Spread Contracts. A Spread contract is an event contract in which the outcome is determined by whether the chosen team's margin of victory or defeat satisfies the listed spread. In circumstances where the result, after application of the Spread, exactly equals the Strike, that contract shall be void and collateral shall be returned to the applicable accounts. Example: a contract on Team A at -1.0 shall be void if Team A wins by exactly one (1) run.

J. Total Runs Contracts. A Total Runs contract is an event contract in which the outcome is determined by whether the combined final score of the referenced event is over the listed Strike. Orders shall resolve to Yes if the total exceeds the Strike, to No if the total falls below the Strike, and void if the total exactly equals the Strike. Example: an order on Over 5 Runs shall resolve to Yes if 6 runs are scored, to No if 4 runs are scored, and void if exactly 5 runs are scored.

K. Futures Contracts. A Futures contract is an event contract in which the outcome is determined by whether a specified participant wins or places within a specified position in the final classification of the listed event or competition. World Series, League, and Division Winners contracts shall be settled in accordance with the official MLB ruling, regardless of season length.

1. Playoff Series Player Specials. Dead-heat rules apply where multiple players tie for the lead in outright markets such as "Player to Record Most Hits" or "Player to Record Most Home Runs."

L. Player Statistics Contracts (Props). For any Player Statistic contract, the referenced player must be in the starting lineup unless otherwise stated in the Contract Specifications, and must: (i) throw at least one (1) pitch, if a pitcher; or (ii) record at least one (1) plate appearance, if a position player, for the contract to have action.

1. Player Markets – General. For all MLB player markets, including Head-to-Head Player Statistic Contracts for a specific event, contracts shall be valid if the referenced player(s) are in the starting lineup and the outcome is unequivocally determined.

The following void conditions apply to all MLB player statistic contracts unless explicitly stated otherwise in the Contract Specifications:

2. Pitcher Markets. Contracts shall be void if the listed pitcher does not start the event.
3. Batter Markets (Hits, Runs, etc.). Contracts shall be void if the listed player does not record a plate appearance.
4. Total Strikeouts. The listed pitcher must start the event for contracts to be valid. Contracts shall remain valid regardless of whether the opposing listed pitcher starts.
5. Total Bases. A batter shall be credited with total bases only upon recording a single (1 base), double (2 bases), triple (3 bases), or home run (4 bases).
6. Intentional Walks. An intentional walk shall count as a walk for purposes of settlement for both the batter who is walked and the pitcher who is pitching at the time of the intentional walk.
7. Player Statistic Parlays. For pitcher legs, the listed pitcher must start the event for contracts to stand; contracts shall remain valid regardless of a change in status of the opposing listed pitcher. For batter legs, the listed player must start and record at least one (1) plate appearance for contracts to stand; failing either condition, contracts on that leg shall be voided. A change in the status of either listed pitcher shall have no bearing on the settlement of any batter-specific leg of a Player Performance Parlay.

M. Individual Season Award Futures. This category includes, but is not limited to, MLB MVP, MLB Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove Winner, MLB Manager of the Year, and all other individual MLB player season awards. Settlement shall be determined by the outcome declared by the relevant voting association (e.g., the Baseball Writers' Association of America for the Rookie of the Year, MVP, and Cy Young; MLB active players and managers for the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger).

N. Home Run Derby. Contracts relating to home run distances shall be settled according to figures provided by MLB's Statcast. For contracts referencing two or more contestants, if two contestants are eliminated in the same stage of the competition, contracts on which player will advance further shall be void.

O. All-Star Markets. Contracts relating to specific All-Star markets, including but not limited to the MLB All-Star MVP, shall be settled upon the winner declared by MLB through MLB.com.

P. Any Team to Hit a Grand Slam. Contracts on "Any Team to Hit a Grand Slam" shall be settled as a win if a player hits a home run with runners on first, second, and third base at the time of contact. Any event that commences on the date the contract is listed shall be included for settlement purposes.

Q. Grand Salami Contracts. A "Grand Salami" contract is an event contract comprising all scheduled events within a given league on a specified day or combination of days.

1. Action Requirement. For orders on Grand Salami contracts to be valid, all scheduled events included in the contract must individually progress to the extent that full-event Moneyline, Spread, and Total Runs contracts would be valid, as defined in the applicable sport-specific rules in this Chapter. If one or more scheduled events fails to meet this requirement, all orders on that Grand Salami contract shall be void and collateral shall be returned to the applicable accounts.