What Does Run Line Mean In Baseball?

A run line is a type of baseball betting line that uses a spread to handicap teams. In baseball, the term “run line” has two different meanings. It can refer to the line that appears on the scoreboard to show how many runs each team has scored, or it can refer to the betting line that oddsmakers use to handicap baseball games.

Introduction

In baseball, the run line is a betting line that handicaps the favorite by making them lay 1.5 runs instead of the traditional 1 run. The underdog gets an advantage of 1.5 runs. A bet on the favorite (-1.5) wins if they win by 2 runs or more, while a bet on the underdog (+1.5) wins if they lose by 1 run or win the game outright.

What is a run line?

A run line is a type of bet typically offered in baseball and hockey, which gives the underdog team a head start. In baseball, the run line is 1.5 runs, meaning the underdog team must lose by 1 run or less, or win the game outright, in order for the run line bet to pay off.

The run line in baseball

The run line in baseball is a betting line that gives the favorite team a 1.5-run lead at the start of the game. The favorite must then win by two or more runs for bettors to cash in. On the other hand, the underdog starts with a 1.5-run lead, and bettors who took them will only win if they lose by one run or win outright.

The run line is also known as the spread because it “spreads” out the victory margin between the two teams. In effect, it acts as a handicap that levels the playing field between two teams of different skill levels.

A typical MLB moneyline might look like this:

Boston Red Sox (-110) vs. New York Yankees (+100)

In this example, Boston is favored to win by one run (indicated by the minus sign next to their moneyline), meaning they must win by two or more runs for bettors to cash in. New York, on the other hand, is an underdog (indicated by the plus sign) and only needs to lose by one run or win outright for those who bet on them to cash in.

Now let’s take a look at how the run line would change things:

Boston Red Sox (-1.5/115) vs. New York Yankees (+1.5/-105)

In this example, Boston is still favored to win, but now they must do so by two or more runs (indicated by the -1.5). The 115 means that bettors would need to wager $115 to receive $100 in winnings (a $15 profit). For those taking New York +1.5, they only need their team to lose by one run or win outright (indicated by the +1.5). The -105 means that bettors would need to wager $105 for every $100 they want in potential profits (a $5 profit).

How the run line is used

The run line is a betting option available in baseball that acts as a point spread. The favorite will have to win by more than the run line, and the underdog will have to lose by less than the run line, in order for a bet on either side to be a winner.

For example, let’s say the New York Yankees are playing the Boston Red Sox and the moneyline for the game is Yankees -1.5 (-110) and Red Sox +1.5 (-110). This means that the Yankees are 1.5-run favorites and the Red Sox are 1.5-run underdogs.

If you bet on the Yankees, they would have to win by at least two runs for your bet to be a winner. If they won by one run, it would be a push (a tie), and you would get your money back. If they lost or if they won by more than two runs, your bet would be a loser.

If you bet on the Red Sox +1.5, they would have to lose by one run or less, or win outright, for your bet to be a winner. If they lost by two runs or more, your bet would be a loser.

The run line can also be used in reverse—you can bet against the spread—but this is not as common as betting with the spread (on either side).

How to bet on the run line

The run line is a bet on the spread in baseball. The favorite has to win by two or more runs, and the underdog has to lose by less than two runs or win the game outright. This bet is available for every game. The odds on the run line are usually -1.5 for the favorite and +1.5 for the underdog, but they can vary.

Decimal odds

The decimal odds of an outcome are simply the decimal value of the fractional odds, plus one. So if you’re betting on the Patriots to win their game against the Jets, and you see odds of 2.5, that means your bet will pay out 2.5 times your original wager if they win. If they lose, you lose your entire bet.

American odds

American odds are the default odds at American sportsbooks. If a line is -110, then you have to risk $110 to win $100. Conversely, if the line is +110, then a $100 bet will win you $110.

There are two types of American odds: positive and negative. Positive American odds are displayed as a number with a plus sign in front of it (e.g. +120). This means that if you bet $100 on this team, you will profit $120 if they win. Negative American odds are displayed as a number with a minus sign in front of it (e.g. -120). This means that you have to risk $120 to win $100 if you bet on this team.

Conclusion

So, what does run line mean in baseball? Simply put, the run line is a bet that uses a point spread to even out the odds between two teams. The favorite will have to win by more than the run line, and the underdog will be given a head start. This can make for some interesting betting opportunities, and can add an extra level of strategy to your handicapping.