MLB Run Line Betting

MLB Run Line Betting is becoming more popular in MLB betting, but is still far behind the popularity of MLB Money Line Betting. Baseball run line betting is a little more complex than betting the money line, but once it has been explained to you it is very simple to understand.

When you are betting on the run line you will have two options - you can choose the favored team to win by 2 runs or more, or you can choose the underdog to win the game or lose by a single run.

This is similar to spread betting in football, but in baseball the favored team is always set as -1.5 on the run line (meaning they must win by at least 1.5 runs or more, which is essentially 2 runs or more), and the underdog is set as +1.5 on the run line (meaning they can lose by 1.5 runs or less or win the game outright).

Here is an example of what an MLB Run Line would look like:

Milwaukee Brewers +1.5 (-160)
@ St Louis Cardinals -1.5 (+140)

In this example you will see that St Louis is the favorite, and a bet on them would mean they would have to win by more then 1.5 runs in order for you to win your bet. The odds set on the Cardinals on the run line at -1.5 are listed at +140. The Milwaukee Brewers are the underdog here and a bet on them on the run line would mean they would lose by exactly 1 run or win the game outright in order for you to win your bet. The odds set on the Brewers on the run line at +1.5 are listed at -160.

MLB run line betting can be more tricky then it looks for a couple reasons...

About 28-30% of MLB games end up to be one run ball games, which is a lot more then many people would have expected.

When betting the run line, more times then not the home team is favored and laying the 1.5 runs. Because the bottom of the 9th inning is not played out when the home team is winning the ball game, there are often 1 run games in which the home team gets 1 less inning at bat to score the extra run that could have won you the bet.

MLB Run Line Betting Strategy

The best run line betting strategy is to almost completely stay away from laying the 1.5 runs on the favored team, and rather take a look at the underdogs. Taking the 1.5 runs is definitely the more profitable run line betting strategy in the long run, and is what you will see most professional bettors doing. When betting baseball you want to find value in your bets, and you will be able to find spots where you can get money taking the 1.5 runs on an underdog, which is almost always a solid bet and good run line betting strategy.

Now that you know all you could know about MLB Run Line Betting get started placing your bets at the best MLB betting site - Bodog.com!

Below is a screenshot of what the Run Line will look like at Bodog.

In this run line example you will see the the Texas Rangers are the home favorites. Taking the Rangers on the run line (to win by 2 runs or more) would payout +135, while taking the Toronto Blue Jays on the run line (lose by exactly 1 run or win the game) is paying out -155.