Baseball games and some other sports events are handled a little differently than football, basketball and hockey. Oddsmakers don't set a point spread for baseball games. Instead, they set a moneyline. The moneyline gives the odds that one team will beat another.

There is a different moneyline total for either side on a moneyline bet, a negative side (the favorite) and a positive side (the underdog). For example, Seattle -170 LA +150 means that Dallas is the favorite and for every $170 you bet on Dallas, you win $100 if they win.

For every $100 you bet on Washington - the underdog - you win $150 if they win. By offering different odds for each team, the sportsbook is able to balance action on both teams.

Here's another example. The Atlanta Braves may be favored over the Chicago Cubs by 150. The customer must lay $150 in order to win $100; if Atlanta wins the game, no point spreads are involved. If Atlanta loses, the customer loses $150.

However, the customer could bet on Chicago, in which case the customer would lay $100 in order to win $150 if Chicago wins the game. If Chicago loses, the customer only loses $100, because Chicago is the underdog.