In MLB, the spread is known as the run line, and it's almost always fixed at 1.5 runs — the favorite must win by two or more runs, while the underdog can lose by one run and still cover. This differs significantly from sports like football or basketball, where spreads shift based on perceived matchup strength. Because the run line is standardized, oddsmakers adjust the price (vig) on each side rather than moving the line itself, making the juice attached to each side the primary variable bettors need to evaluate.
The run line becomes most valuable when a heavy moneyline favorite is in play. Taking a -1.5 run line on a team priced at -200 or steeper on the moneyline often delivers better expected value, since roughly 30% of MLB games are decided by two or more runs. Bettors should pay close attention to bullpen depth, as late-game relief matchups heavily influence whether a lead holds or evaporates. Vig on MLB run lines tends to be slightly wider than on moneylines, as books price in the added uncertainty of covering the spread — making it especially important to compare pricing across sportsbooks before placing a wager.
Spreads Vig Rankings
| # | Sportsbook | Vig | Grade | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hard Rock Bet | 1.63% | A+ | 28 |
| 2 | Pinnacle | 2.78% | A | 28 |
| 3 | LowVig.ag | 3.06% | B+ | 27 |
| 4 | BetOnline.ag | 3.48% | B+ | 27 |
| 5 | BetUS | 3.58% | B+ | 14 |
| 6 | Bovada | 3.87% | B+ | 28 |
| 7 | MyBookie.ag | 4.02% | B | 28 |
| 8 | BetAnything | 4.05% | B | 14 |
| 9 | Caesars | 4.15% | B | 28 |
| 10 | theScore Bet (ESPN Bet) | 4.23% | B | 28 |
| 11 | FanDuel | 4.56% | B | 28 |
| 12 | DraftKings | 4.59% | B | 28 |
| 13 | BetMGM | 4.79% | B | 28 |
| 14 | Fanatics | 4.81% | B | 14 |
| 15 | BetRivers | 5.09% | C+ | 14 |
| 16 | Bally Bet | 5.09% | C+ | 14 |
| 17 | betPARX | 5.09% | C+ | 14 |
| 18 | 888sport | 5.52% | C+ | 28 |
| 19 | ReBet | 6.57% | C | 26 |
| 20 | Fliff | 7.17% | D | 28 |
Upcoming Spreads Lines
| Matchup | Time | FanDuel | Fliff | 888sport | ReBet | MyBookie.ag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals @ Toronto Blue Jays | Aug 1, 7:08 PM | -1.5 (+164) | -1.5 (+145) | -1.5 (+155) | -1 (-102) | -1.5 (+148) |
| Chicago White Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays | Aug 1, 8:11 PM | -1.5 (+132) | -1.5 (+120) | -1.5 (+125) | -1 (-133) | -1.5 (+117) |
| Miami Marlins @ New York Mets | Aug 1, 8:11 PM | -1.5 (+160) | -1.5 (+150) | -1.5 (+155) | -1 (+107) | -1.5 (+150) |
| Minnesota Twins @ Seattle Mariners | Aug 1, 8:11 PM | -1.5 (+136) | -1.5 (+125) | -1.5 (+130) | -1 (-127) | -1.5 (+122) |
| Pittsburgh Pirates @ Cincinnati Reds | Aug 1, 10:41 PM | -1.5 (+140) | -1.5 (+130) | -1.5 (+140) | -1 (+103) | -1.5 (+135) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a point spread bet?
A point spread bet levels the playing field by giving the underdog a head start. If the spread is Patriots -7, they must win by more than 7 points for a spread bet to pay. Spreads are the most popular market in football and basketball, which means they attract the most volume and typically have the lowest vig.
Why do spreads usually have lower vig than moneylines?
Spreads attract the highest betting volume because they create a roughly 50/50 proposition regardless of team quality. This balanced action means sportsbooks don't need wide margins to manage risk, resulting in tighter vig — often the best value available.
Why does MLB have unique vig patterns?
MLB betting revolves around the moneyline rather than point spreads (though run lines exist). This means vig varies significantly based on the matchup — a game between evenly matched teams will have much tighter vig than a heavy favorite vs underdog scenario.
When is MLB season?
MLB runs from late March through October, with the World Series typically ending in late October or early November. Spring training games begin in February but rarely appear on most sportsbooks. The long 162-game season means consistent odds availability for six months.
Which MLB market type offers the best value?
For MLB, moneylines on close matchups (both teams near even) tend to have the best vig. Run line (±1.5) vig is typically higher because it's a less liquid market. Totals vary based on the game but are generally competitive at sharp books.
What is vig (vigorish) in sports betting?
Vig — short for vigorish, also called juice or overround — is the margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. It's the difference between the true probability of an outcome and what the odds imply. Lower vig means you keep more of your winnings on every bet. For example, a standard -110/-110 line has about 4.76% vig.
How often is this data updated?
We pull fresh odds from The Odds API three times per day — at 6:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 10:00 PM UTC. Each snapshot captures the latest lines from every sportsbook that has posted odds. The timestamp at the top of the page shows the most recent refresh.
How is the vig grade calculated?
Each sportsbook is graded on a letter scale based on average vig: A+ (under 2%) is exceptional, A (2–3%) is excellent, B+ (3–4%) is above average, B (4–5%) is the industry standard, C (5–6%) is below average, and D (above 6%) indicates high-juice markets.
Why does lower vig matter for bettors?
Lower vig directly impacts your long-term returns. A bettor placing $1,000 per week at a book with 4% vig loses roughly $40/week to the house edge. At 2% vig, that drops to $20/week — a $1,040 difference over a year. For serious bettors, shopping for lower vig is one of the most reliable ways to improve profitability.
What sportsbooks do you track?
We track both regulated US sportsbooks (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars) and offshore books (Bovada, BetOnline, MyBookie, BetUS, LowVig.ag, BetAnySports). Data comes from The Odds API, which aggregates real-time lines from licensed sources.
How We Calculate These Numbers
- Data Source
- All odds on this page come from The Odds API, which aggregates real-time lines from licensed US and offshore sportsbooks. We track moneyline, spread, and totals markets across every sport with active betting lines.
- Update Frequency
- We pull a fresh snapshot of every tracked market three times per day — at 6:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 10:00 PM UTC. Each snapshot captures the latest lines from every sportsbook that has posted odds for a given event. The timestamp at the top of each page tells you exactly when the data was last refreshed.
- Vig Calculation
- Vig (short for vigorish, also called juice or overround) measures the margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. We calculate it by converting the odds on each side of a market to implied probabilities, summing those probabilities, and subtracting 100%. For example, a market priced at -110/-110 implies 52.38% on each side — a total of 104.76%, meaning a vig of 4.76%. Lower vig means better value for bettors because you keep more of your winnings.
- Per-Market Breakdown
- We compute vig separately for each market type: moneyline (h2h), point spreads, and totals (over/under). The "average vig" shown for each sportsbook is the mean across all market types weighted by the number of events sampled in each market.
- Grading Scale
- Every sportsbook receives a letter grade based on its average vig: A+ (under 2%) is exchange-level pricing. A (2–3%) is very competitive. B+ (3–4%) is above average. B (4–5%) is the industry standard — a -110/-110 line is 4.76%. C+ (5–6%) is slightly below average. C (6–7%) is below average. D (7–8%) is high vig. D− (8–10%) is very high vig. F (10%+) is predatory pricing. See the full Vig Index Methodology for formulas, worked examples, and known limitations.
- Trend Tracking
- We store daily snapshots for 30 days, allowing us to show 24-hour and 7-day vig trends. A downward trend (improving) means sportsbooks are tightening their lines — often in response to increased competition or higher betting volume as a season heats up.