The Major League Baseball season will be heating up before you know it and with it will come some different ways to look at MLB odds and wager on baseball games.
Among the betting options will be alternate MLB run lines. These bets could become more popular as the season moves along and betting trends begin to materialize.
In this article, we will look at the advantages of using this type of wager when betting on the favorite to win. Keep reading for more about alternate MLB run line 1 options.
Make sure to check out our MLB hub, as the 2025 MLB season will be here before you know it.
Tools Needed to Make Alternate Run Line 1 Bets
What Is a Run Line in Baseball?
Consider the run line as the equivalent of the point spread in football or basketball. Typically, the favorite in a baseball game will be listed at -1.5 in the regular run line. There are times when the number moves to -2.5 but those are very rare.
However, you also have the option to bet on the alternate runline 1. This is usually the same as the regular run line but flipped over. Instead of the game’s favorite being listed at -1.5, you will be able to bet them +1.5. Of course, the MLB odds will be steeper than betting them with the original line.
Why Bet the Underdog in Alternate Run Line 1?
Instead of betting the standard run line, alternate run line 1 in MLB lines gives you the option to change the spread. This lets you bet on the underdog as the favorite at increased odds. So, if the Yankees are -1.5, you could bet on the Orioles -1.5, offering a larger potential payout if they win by two or more runs.
Check Out the Matchups
Obviously, betting against the Pittsburgh Pirates when Paul Skenes is set to be the starting pitcher is a little different than if Bailey Falter or Mitch Keller get the ball.
Looking at the history between batters and pitchers is never a bad idea when going with a favorite to win by three, four, or five runs. That is also beneficial when making MLB prop bets.
Keep in mind that when making alternate run line 1 bets, the game needs to go nine innings (or 8.5) if the home team is leading. Also, if one of the starting pitchers is scratched, that will void the bet.
Let’s Look at the Numbers
It can be dangerous to rely on the betting trends from the previous season when making MLB picks with the way players change teams. Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker are no longer playing for the Houston Astros, Juan Soto still plays in New York. However, he will be a member of the Mets and not the Yankees. Pitcher Corbin Burnes left the Baltimore Orioles for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Here are some numbers to consider when betting on alternate run lines 1:
Only eight teams covered at least 52% of the time on the run line. Cincinnati led the way with a record of 90-72 followed by Kansas City (93-75) and Detroit (93-76). Those numbers include the playoff results.
The Dodgers led the MLB by covering 44 times on the run line as a home favorite. Among the teams favored at home at least 10 times, only the Dodgers had a winning run line record. That is something to consider when looking at the MLB odds.
Cincinnati had a 13-6 run line record as the road favorite, while the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers also had winning run line records as the road favorite.
One number that jumps out is that the Kansas City Royals’ run line record after a win was 54-35 compared to a 37-52 mark for the Atlanta Braves.
When Does the 2025 MLB Season Begin?
The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t rest on their laurels, adding more stars in the offseason as the spending spree seemed to have no end. The Dodgers played the first spring training game on Feb. 20 against the Chicago Cubs in Phoenix.
The same two teams will get the regular season going in the Tokyo Series on March 18 and 19.
When looking at MLB futures, the Dodgers are favored at +275 in the odds to win the World Series, followed by the New York Yankees (+800) and the Atlanta Braves (+900).
FAQs
Run line vs Moneyline: What’s the Difference?
In baseball, a moneyline bet is a straightforward wager on the winning team. A run line bet, however, usually involves a 1.5-run spread. If you bet on the run line favorite, they must win by at least two runs for your bet to succeed.
What Does +1.5 Mean in an MLB Bet?
A +1.5 run line bet in MLB means the underdog can either win the game or lose by no more than one run to win the bet.
