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Those odds will continue to become more favorable with each increased run the bettor gives away. Using our FanDuel odds from above, the Rays are -270 on the moneyline when they only need to win by a single run, but they are -142 when they need to win by two or more. The bigger the spread on the run line, the larger the payout. This strategy involves selling runs in exchange for higher odds. These are exactly what the name suggests: run lines with an alternate spread.ĭepending on the sportsbook, you may be able to take favorites at -2.5 runs, -3.5 runs, or more if they are expecting a blowout. While standard run lines do begin at 1.5, most sportsbooks also offer alternate run line betting options for MLB games. Remember when we said that all run lines are 1.5? While that is the standard line you’ll see when you open up your Iowa sportsbook apps, that statement is only partially true. This is because runs can come at a premium in Major League Baseball, making each bet valuable. When taking run lines on the underdog, the extra run provides some cushion but the payout is considerably worse. When betting run lines on favorites, the price drops dramatically and the payout is better. Checking out the moneyline, even if you aren’t betting on it, will help put the price of the run line into context. The Rays are huge favorites at -270, and the Orioles are sizable underdogs at +230. We can tell how big of a favorite or underdog one team is by looking at the moneyline. A wager on Baltimore at +1.5 means a $100 bet would win $120, or a $10 bet would win $12. With underdogs, the run line is what the bettor stands to win if staking $100. You must stake $142 to win $100 or $14.20 to win $10 on the Rays at -1.5 runs. When betting favorites, bettors are risking the number next to the run line to win $100. This is the easiest way to calculate potential risks and losses. A bet on the Orioles’ run line would require Baltimore to win the game or lose by just a single run to be a winning wager.Īs is the case with moneylines, the payouts accompanying the run line should be thought of relative to the number 100. In this matchup, the Rays are the favorite at -1.5 ( -142) and the Orioles are the underdog at +1.5 runs ( +120).Ī wager on the Rays’ run line means that Tampa Bay must win by two or more runs to “cover” the line and earn the payout.
#Moneyline vs spread how to
There is no better teacher for how to bet on run lines than an example, and we take the following one from FanDuel Sportsbook in Iowa: To account for the difference in the quality of baseball teams, the potential risk and payout are what varies, rather than the line itself. The run line is the same for every game at 1.5 runs. This is where run lines stray from the point spreads we see in basketball and football. The spreads are the same on both sides and on most occasions, the prices that come with those spreads are very close, if not identical. For an NFL or NBA game, if the favorite is -7 (-110), the other side is +7 (-110). The biggest difference between run lines and conventional point spread betting is that in other sports, the spreads vary wildly based on the quality of the two teams. The underdog is +1.5 and will have to win the game or lose by just a single run to earn a payout. The favorite will be -1.5 runs and will need to win by two or more to be graded as a successful bet. With a run line, the standard spread is always 1.5 runs. But at the same time, there are other elements to the run line that make it unique. The process of betting on the run line isn’t all that dissimilar to wagering against the spread in other sports, such as the NFL and NBA.
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Think of the run line as baseball’s version of a point spread. When betting on basketball and football, the main bet types are the moneyline, point spread and total. One way to understand the run line bet is to find its counterpart in other sports. Does that sound familiar? Because it should, even if the term “run line” is not as well known as some others among bettors. The run line is a figure set by oddsmakers that tells bettors how much a team needs to win or lose to be a successful bet. What Does Run Line Mean in Baseball Betting?
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