MLB Scores & Standings 2022

MLB Scores Explained

Understanding how MLB scoring works can be challenging for sports bettors embracing baseball for the first time. Unlike other major North American sports, the length of an MLB game isn’t determined by a clock. The game is divided into periods known as innings, during which each team has the opportunity to score runs. The game winner is decided by which team has the most runs at the end of nine innings, with extra innings used to settle a tie.

MLB Box Scores

MLB box scores are used to keep track of every play in a game. It’s not unusual to see fans at the ballpark with pencil and paper in hand, creating their own box score. But you can also monitor them online to influence your betting strategy.

Below are examples of the batting box scores for the San Francisco Giants’ date with the San Diego Padres on the final day of the 2021 MLB regular season. The Giants enjoyed a big game, claiming an 11-4 win to clinch first place in the National League West standings and a berth in the MLB postseason.

Padres Batting

Giants Batting

The batting box scores list the stats for every player that made a plate appearance in that game. They feature details of the most popular stats, including:

POS (Position): POS refers to the position of the individual player.

AB (At-Bats): AB counts the number of times a batter takes his turn against a pitcher and that turn results in the batter putting the ball into play or striking out.

R (Runs): R is a count of the number of runs the player scores in a game.

H (Hits): H is a count of the number of times a player reaches base safely after hitting a pitched ball into fair territory.

RBI (Runs Batted In): A player is credited with an RBI when a teammate successfully scores a run as a result of his actions at the plate. A batter can be credited for an RBI, even if his AB results in him not reaching base successfully, such as when a runner scores on a fly ball or a fielder’s choice.

BB (Bases on Balls): Also known as a Walk, a BB is awarded to a batter when the pitcher throws four balls before throwing three strikes during a plate appearance.

SO (Strikeout): As the term suggests, a player is tagged with an SO when he is called out at the plate after taking three strikes.

LOB (Left on Base): LOB indicates the number of times the player was stranded on base at the end of an inning.

AVG (Batting Average): AVG measures how often a batter hits safely as a percentage of his total number of ABs. This stat is measured season-to-date rather than reflecting the individual game.

Box Scores are also used to track pitcher performance, as shown below.

Padres Pitching

Giants Pitching

Among the most common stats tracked in a pitcher’s box score are:

IP (Innings Pitched): This indicates the number of innings a pitcher has pitched in a game. In cases where the number is a decimal like 2.1 or 2.2, it means the pitcher has completed two full innings and has recorded one or two outings in the second inning. IP is measured based on how many outs have been made while he is on the mound. As a consequence, a pitcher may face several batters in the third inning, but if he leaves the game before any outs are made, the IP stat will be reflected as 2.0.

H (Hits): H reflects the number of hits the pitcher has surrendered during a game.

R (Runs): R reflects the number of total runs scored by batters that the pitcher has pitched to during a game.

ER (Earned Runs): ER reflects the number of earned runs scored by batters the pitcher has faced. Examples of common unearned runs are runs scored as the results of fielding errors, or by a batter who reaches base on a passed ball, and later scores.

BB (Bases on Balls): BB reflects the number of times a batter faced reaches base after taking four balls.

SO (Strikeouts): SO indicates the number of times a pitcher has struck out a batter.

HR (Home Runs): HR indicates the number of home runs hit by batters the pitcher has faced.

ERA (Earned Run Average): ERA measures how many earned runs a pitcher surrenders per nine innings pitched.

MLB Line Scores

An MLB line score is used to keep track of the total number of runs scored by each team in each inning, as well as the total number of hits and errors recorded by each team.

The example below shows a typical MLB line score. Again, the example is taken from the San Francisco Giants hosting the visiting San Diego Padres in October 2021.

The number of runs scored by each team in each inning is indicated under the columns labelled ‘1’ through ‘9’, with the total number of runs shown under the column labelled ‘R’. The column labelled ‘H’ indicates the total number of hits by each team, while ‘E’ represents the number of errors committed by each team. Neither of these totals impact the final score. In fact, it’s quite common for the winning team to record fewer hits than their opponents in a game. However, hardcore fans and sports bettors rely heavily on box scores and line scores to get an at-a-glance look at how an MLB game unfolded.

MLB Standings Explained

MLB is comprised of 30 teams, split into two leagues. Both the American League and National League are divided into three divisions (East, West, Central), with each division sporting five teams. Starting in 2022, six teams from each league will qualify for the playoffs, formally known as the MLB postseason. The three division winners from each league are joined in the postseason by the three non-division winning teams with the best win/loss records.

MLB standings are simply designed, with teams ranked first to last based on the number of games won during the regular season. And since extra innings are played as needed to determine game winners, the standings do not include ties. Unlike sports such as ice hockey, where teams collect points for wins, each team’s success is measured by win percentage. However, the best way to determine how far back your team is from the top of the standings at any point during the season is by measuring ‘games back’.

The example above shows the MLB American League East standings at the end of the 2021 MLB regular season. The Tampa Bay Rays romped to the division title while winning 100 games, which translates into a win percentage of 61.7%.

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees tied for second, each with 92 wins. Both Boston and New York were eight games back of the Rays. That means Boston or New York would have had to win eight straight games - and Tampa Bay lose eight straight - for the Red Sox or Yankees to have pulled even with the Rays in the standings.

MLB standings commonly provide a breakdown of how a team has fared when playing host to their rivals and on the road, over the course of the season. Their performance in games against teams from their own league and division, as well as in interleague matchups, is also recorded.

Using the MLB Scores & Standings with your bets

As the number of US states legalizing sports betting grows, baseball fans are using MLB scores and standings in a whole new way. Instead of just monitoring the progress of their favorite teams, sports bettors track MLB stats to help them make smarter MLB betting decisions. Keeping up on the latest scores and standings can make clear whether your futures bet will pay out and give you the edge on run line and totals betting. Here are some tips to help you today: