A club’s success – or lack thereof – often comes down to how well the offense performs with runners in scoring position (RISP). Our RISP baseball leaderboard offers a unique insight for MLB bettors who love the chance to jump on a good rally and win money.
Our RISP betting report can be the difference between your winning picks, or a sad depletion of your bankroll. Here's all the RISP data you need to inform your next bets:
MLB RISP Leaders: Best Teams
All stats come via Fangraphs as of August 20.
Kansas City Royals (.827 OPS with RISP)
The Royals hitters are so clutch that it's almost comical. There are 10 KC hitters with an OPS above .700 when runners are in scoring position, headlined by Bobby Witt Jr. and his absurd .671 SLG and 1.090. It's a marvel Witt and Sal Perez (1.005 OPS with RISP) have turned this franchise around in an instant.
Chicago White Sox (.604 OPS with RISP)
Offense has been hard to come by in the South Side this season, so it's no surprise to see the Sox with baseball's weakest OPS with RISP. Chicago has the worst baseball record by far, and its batting order is clearly to blame. Luis Robert (.776 OPS) and Gavin Sheets (.794) do their part, but other regulars like Andrew Vaughan (.592), Eloy Jimenez (.587), and Andrew Benintendi (.524) are of little use.
MLB RISP Leaders: Best Players (Minimum 55 PAs)
MLB RISP Leaders: Worst Players (Minimum 55 PAs)
What Does ‘Runners In Scoring Position’ Mean?
In baseball, whenever a runner reaches second base or beyond, he’s considered “in scoring position.” When a batter steps up to the plate with a runner on second base, third base, or with the bases loaded, he takes an at-bat with runners in scoring position (RISP).
RISP opportunities are a club’s best chance to score runs during a game. Typically, the best teams and the best players capitalize in these situations. But that’s not always the case, and some exceptions can actually offer bettors sneaky live-betting value.
Why Is Hitting With RISP Important For Handicapping/Live Betting?
When runners on base have a chance to score, a sportsbook might move the odds a smidge in the hitting team’s favor. There are a variety of factors that influence live-betting odds – including how bad the opposing team’s bullpen is, for example – but a big inning with runners on the bases typically offers a great opportunity to hammer the odds on the hitting team or fade a club that is awful at hitting with RISP