How to Bet on Baseball – Understanding Totals and Run Lines

In the second how to bet tutorial series, we will go over how to bet on the Totals and Run lines. Unlike betting on the money line, these 2 types of baseball wagers even out the odds. Thus, are also popular amongst gamblers as they make cost more profitable by making it a bit riskier.

How to Bet on the Run line

In baseball betting, the Run Line is more or less the same as the point spread. When a gambler bets on the Run Line, they bet that the team will cover the Run Line.  Here is an example of the odds for a baseball Run Line.

·         New York Yankees -1.5 +110

·         Atlanta Braves +1.5 -140

The Yankees are the favorite team to win with a -1.5 Run Line.  This means that if you bet on the Yankees on the Run Line, they have to win by 1.5 run.  However, the interesting aspect of the run line is that it can totally change the winnings on a bet. This is because even though the Yankees will probably win the match, they may not be able to win by 1.5 runs.  Thus, the next number +110 means that you bet $100 to win $110.

According to sportsbook pay per head, the opposite is also true for the run line of the underdog.  If you bet the Run Line on the Braves, it means they have to lose by 1.5 or more runs.  Therefore, you bet $140 to win $100.

How to Bet on Baseball Totals

In baseball, betting on the totals means you wager on the total number of runs made during the game. The bettor has the option to bet over or under the number of runs set by the sportsbook.  Here is an example of a Baseball Total Odds.

·         Over 10.5 -115

·         Under 10.5 -105

In the above example, if you bet on the Over, it means you bet that the total runs of both teams will be over 10.5. Furthermore, the odds will always vary. In this example, the “-115” means that you must bet $115 to win $100. The same applies if you bet on the “Under”.  It simply means that you are betting the total runs of both teams will be less than 10.5.

For those thinking about opening a baseball sportsbook, this is very important. This is because determining the right odds will increase your baseball betting hold. Thus, it also increases the potential profit from your sportsbook.

Now that you know the basics of baseball betting, are you ready to place your bet?