Betting on baseball’s alternate runline

Baseball offers a variety of wagering options, but one that seems to be ignored by the majority baseball handicappers is betting on the runline and more importantly — the alternate runline.

The runline in baseball betting is a moneyline with a spread of +1.5 runs, meaning the favorite has to win by at least two runs.

Betting on favorites in baseball usually yields a low return when placing a straight win bet. But betters can increase a low return favorite into an attractive payoff by also betting the runline. That’s because if a bettor wins the straight bet and the runline bet, it’s more money in their pocket.

To make things more lucrative, there’s the alternate runline, which is also usually a spread of 1.5 runs, but with one key difference – the underdog faces a spread of -1.5 runs. As a result there is a potential for really big payoffs here, when betting on the underdog and the alternate runline.

So, how does a handicapper identify the most worthwhile alternate runlines? The best indicator is when only one or two books offer it.
With that here a few ways to make sure betting on the alternate runline makes sense.

First, a handicapper needs to have a strong feeling about a particular underdog, because betting on the alternate runline bears some risks. A one-run win won’t cut it here, so the team has to have a better than fair chance to win.

Experienced baseball handicappers that have been able to pick underdogs successfully have an advantage here, by nowing what underdogs have been winners by more than one run a majority of the time. If that’s the case, the alternate runline could be a great way to pad their bankroll.

Next, bettors need to, as always, pay attention to the public favorite, overwhelming support of a very visible favorite can often lead to strong wagering opportunities on the underdog, especially if the public really gets out of hand, then the alternate runline could be a good way making some money.

Nevertheless, to really leverage a runline, handicappers need to compare the line with how the favorite has actually been performing, and if it’s incredibly far off, then the underdog and the alternate runline could be a way to really take advantage of a line that is inflated.

Finally, when all else fails, handicappers can create their own line, by betting some money on the underdog on the moneyline and some on the same team on the alternate runline, thus creating a -1 spread instead of a -1.5 run spread.

That in the end could involve less risk than the alternate runline, and a better return than the moneyline.