The reason is that baseball odds – and the most popular form of MLB betting – focuses on moneylines. Instead of a point spread, MLB odds adopt a different way to represent the line. Instead of Boston being 1.5-point favorites (meaning they have to win by two runs to win the bet), they are -180 baseball moneyline favorites. MLB playoff odds are based on 1000 simulations of the rest of the season and playoffs. The team's estimated quality is determined by their performance over their last 100 regular season games (even if it spans seasons) and includes a regression to the mean factor. These results are based on standings through 2020-09-27.

1. Baseball Betting Lines Today
2. Vegas Baseball Lines Today

The point spread - also called 'the line' or 'the spread' - is used as a margin to handicap the favorite team. For betting purposes, the oddsmaker predicts that the favored team will win by a certain number of points. This number of points is the point spread. The favorite is always indicated by a minus sign (e.g. -5.5) and the underdog by a plus sign (e.g.+5.5). If you bet on the favorite, you win your bet if the favorite wins AND their margin of victory is greater than the point spread. If you bet on the underdog, you win if the underdog wins, ties, or if the favored team wins but fails to exceed the point spread. It is standard for point spread bets in most sports that you wager $110 to win $100.

The point spread given in the table above is for the home team only. To see the odds for both teams, click on the matchup.

A money line, used in baseball and hockey, takes the place of a point spread. Money line betting is simply wagering on the contest based on a given price rather than a point spread. The team wagered on has to win the game outright, regardless of the score. The minus sign (e.g.-130) always indicates the favorite and the amount you must bet to win $100. The plus sign (e.g.+120) always indicates the underdog and the amount you win for every $100 bet. Using this example, therefore, you would bet $130 to win $100 on the favorite, while for the underdog you would bet $100 to win $120.

Baseball Betting Lines Today

The over/under is the number of points oddsmakers expect will be the total score for the contest (both teams combined, overtime included). You bet on whether the total points scored will be more or less than this number. As with point spread bets, you must generally wager $110 to win $100.

Vegas Baseball Lines Today

Betting on a point spread or money line is sometimes called betting 'sides' - that is, betting that one side or the other will be the winner - while betting the over/under is referred to as betting 'totals'.

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