America’s pastime lends itself perfectly to sports betting. Baseball is a slow-paced game (compared to its major team-sport counterparts) with a bevy of stats and data to inform betting decisions. One popular bet type in baseball is the Run Line, baseball’s answer to the point spread.
This page will outline all the essential details about betting the run line, including real examples from one of our top online sportsbooks. Read on for a full run-line betting breakdown.
What is Betting the Run Line?
Run lines are the baseball version of point spread betting.
Run lines give the underdog team a slight advantage in the form of added runs applied at the end of the game. The favored team gets a disadvantage and must win by a certain margin for bets on their run line to hit.
For example, a favored team might have a run line of -1.5. This means the team would need to win by two or more runs for the bet to hit. The sportsbook would subtract 1.5 from the team’s final score and see if they still beat their opponent with the runs removed.
The underdog team has an easier go of things. If the line were +1.5, they would receive 1.5 runs added to their final score. We’ll run through this in more specific detail in a bit, but that’s generally how it works.
Note that betting the run line is synonymous with betting the point spread in baseball. If you bet on a run line, you’re essentially betting on the team to cover the spread.
How to Bet the Run Line
Want to know how to bet on run lines at top sportsbooks? We have the whole process covered right here.
Log in
Log into your sportsbook of choice. Sign up and claim a welcome bonus if you’re a new user.
Select Game
Navigate to your game of choice. Find the game you wish to bet on by perusing the hot matchups, using the menu options to filter, or searching for a team directly.
Pick Side
Select the run line bet of your choice. Click or tap the run line to add it to your betslip.
Make Deposit (If Necessary)
Fund your account using your preferred payment method. You can skip this step if you already have money in your digital wallet.
Place Wager
Type the amount you want to bet and select “place bet” or similar. The sportsbook will confirm your bet shortly afterward.
Benefits of Betting the Run Line
Betting the run line comes with plenty of advantages. First and foremost, there are tons of betting opportunities when it comes to run lines. You’ll find run lines for every MLB game, other leagues, and college games if your state allows betting on them. You’ll always be able to find a bet on the run line for your favorite game.
Additionally, bets on run lines are great for parlays. You can work them into multi-game parlays or same-game parlays.
Savvy bettors will notice bets on the run often have one side of the bet that’s more advantageous. This is because most bets on the run line are lopsided and give one of the teams a distinct advantage. The odds usually reflect this, offering good value in the event of a win.
Finally, betting the run line is a nice way to give underperforming teams a boost. Even if your team is struggling, the run line could give the team some much-needed help and possibly result in a payout.
Strategies and Tips for Wagers on the Run Line
Before you place a bet on the run line, it helps to have some strategies in mind. No bet is ever guaranteed, but you can help your chances by deploying your baseball knowledge.
How have the team’s pitchers stacked up against other teams in recent games? Has the starting pitcher historically given up many runs? Ask yourself these questions (and similar ones) to inform your betting decisions.
Does one team have a stacked bullpen? A team of power hitters might stand to bring a team over the edge to cover the run line. Knowledge of a team’s strength at bat can be a huge difference-maker in betting the run line.
External factors like rosters and weather forecasts can impact the outcome of a ballgame. A windy day could help or hinder home run hits. A power hitter sitting out might limit a team’s scoring potential. Look for factors like these when deciding on your run line bet.
Example of Betting the Run Line
Here’s a bet example from FanDuel Sportsbook. It lists the teams and their starting pitchers.
The first column features odds on the run line. The Marlins have a run line of +1.5, which makes them the underdog. They need to win the game straight-up or lose by just one run to cover the run line. The odds of -122 mean you’d need to wager $122 to profit $100.
The Phillies are favored to win, and their run line is -1.5. They need to beat the Marlins by two or more runs to cover the spread. Their odds are more favorable in terms of payout, offering $102 in profit with a $100 bet.
Here’s how a few examples would play out with this run line:
- Marlins 7, Phillies 8: Marlins cover the spread
- Marlins 2, Phillis 4: Phillies cover
- Marlins 1, Phillies 0: Marlins cover
More Resources for Run Line Betting
Sportsbooks will calculate run line odds and parlay odds for you, but you can also research ahead of time using our special tools.
Run Line Betting FAQ
Betting the run line is the baseball version of betting the point spread. The run line gives the underdog a slight advantage in the shape of added runs. The favorite then has a disadvantage in the form of runs taken away. After the runs are added or removed (depending on the bet), whoever comes out on top is the winning side of the bet.
A run line of +1.5 means that the team gets a 1.5-point advantage. If the team either a) wins outright or b) loses by one run, they cover the spread and bets on their run line win.
Teams with a run line of -1.5 are given a disadvantage. 1.5 runs will be subtracted from their run total at the end of the game before the bet settles. This means the associated team must win by two or more runs to cover the spread.
Betting the run line bets give one team an advantage and another a handicap. Moneyline bets don’t. When you bet on a moneyline, you’re betting on a single team to win without any added runs. As a result, moneyline bets typically have more lopsided odds.
Yes. FanDuel is one of the top sportsbooks in the country, and it offers odds on run lines for all MLB games, plus many others.
Yes, provided those bets are legal in the state where the sportsbook operates. Most sportsbooks offer run lines for college baseball.
About the Author
