How do you bet on baseball? Baseball does not have point spreads in the same way that football and basketball do, because baseball functions according to runs, which work somewhat differently than points. However, baseball does have something similar, known as the run line. To understand how the run line works, you first need to understand the money line.Understanding the Money Line in Baseball

The money line in baseball is easy to understand, especially if you understand basic odds betting. A money line appears as two numbers, one with a negative sign and one with a positive sign. For example, you may see something like: Washington Nationals +180/-220 Tampa Bay Rays. This would mean that the Rays are favored in the game, and to bet on them, you will have to risk $220 to win $100. The Nationals are the underdogs, and if you bet $100 on them, you can win $180. In basic odds terms, if you bet on the Rays, you are giving up 2.2-to-1, and if you bet on the Nationals, you are getting 1.8-to-1.

Understanding the Run Line in Baseball

The run line makes use of the point spread concept and adapts it for baseball. It allows a player to bet on a team even if they aren’t sure that team is going to win. In a run line game, the above stat might read: Washington Nationals +1.5 -105/ -1.5 -140 Tampa Bay Rays. What this means is that you can bet $105 to win $100 on the Nationals or $140 to win $100 on the Rays. However, in this scenario, the Rays must win by two runs or more to pay off your 1.4-to-1 bet, and if you bet on the Nationals, you still win if the Rays win by one run. When you bet on the Nationals you are giving odds instead of getting them, but you still have a better chance of winning.

Run Line vs. Money Line

Whether you choose the run line or the money line will depend on your preference and experience. Both types of wagers are offered in most modern online gaming sites. If you are confident that your underdog will win the game, you may want to get the best odds possible and forego the run line. On the other side, if you feel your favorite will clobber the opposition, you may want to grab the run line, give up a run or two and get better odds.