Run Line / Puck Line

The run line and puck line are sport-specific versions of point spread betting tailored to baseball and hockey, respectively. In MLB, the run line is a fixed spread of 1.5 runs. In the NHL, the puck line is a fixed spread of 1.5 goals. Unlike football and basketball, where the point spread varies from game to game based on the expected margin, the run line and puck line are almost always set at 1.5. The variable component is the odds (juice) attached to each side, which adjusts based on the perceived strength of each team.

Because baseball and hockey are lower-scoring sports, a 1.5-run or 1.5-goal spread is a significant margin. Many games are decided by a single run or goal, which means taking the favorite on the run line or puck line carries real risk. To compensate, favorites are offered at plus-money odds (e.g., +130), while underdogs receiving the 1.5-run or 1.5-goal cushion are priced at minus-money odds (e.g., -150). This is the opposite of football and basketball, where favorites on the spread are typically at -110.

These bets appeal to bettors who believe a favorite will win comfortably or who want to back an underdog with a cushion against a narrow loss.

Example

The New York Yankees are listed at -1.5 runs on the run line at +140 odds, while the Toronto Blue Jays are +1.5 runs at -160 odds. If you bet $100 on the Yankees at -1.5 and they win the game 6-3, your bet wins because they won by more than 1.5 runs, and you collect $140 in profit. However, if the Yankees win 4-3, your run line bet loses because they only won by 1 run, which does not cover the 1.5-run spread. Meanwhile, a $160 bet on the Blue Jays +1.5 at -160 would win in that scenario because the Jays lost by only 1 run, staying within the 1.5-run cushion.

Key Points

• Fixed at 1.5: Unlike traditional point spreads that vary by game, the run line and puck line are almost always set at 1.5 runs or goals.
• Odds adjust instead of the spread: The juice on each side shifts to reflect team strength, rather than the spread number itself changing.
• Favorites get plus-money: Because covering 1.5 in a low-scoring sport is difficult, favorites on the run line or puck line often have positive odds.
• Useful for confident picks: Bettors who expect a blowout can get better payouts by taking the favorite on the run line or puck line rather than the moneyline.
• Alternative run lines exist: Some sportsbooks offer alternative run lines (such as -2.5 or +2.5) with adjusted odds, giving bettors more flexibility in choosing their risk and reward.