13 Run Baseball Pool Rules: How MLB 13 Run Pools Work | BookieBrawler

Learn 13 run baseball pool rules, scoring, common formats, and tiebreakers so your group can run a clear MLB 13 run pool from day one.

What is a 13 Run Baseball Pool?

A 13 run baseball pool (sometimes called a "13 run pool" or "MLB 13 run pool") is one of the most popular season-long baseball contests you can play with friends, family, or coworkers. The concept is simple: each participant is tied to a Major League Baseball team, and the goal is to have that team score every run total from 0 through 13 in separate games over the course of the MLB regular season. The first person to check off all 14 numbers wins the pot.

Because a typical MLB season spans 162 games per team and most games produce somewhere between 0 and 10 runs per side, hitting the common totals (2, 3, 4, 5) is easy. The real suspense comes from the extremes-specifically 0 (a shutout) and 12 or 13 runs-which are rare enough to keep the pool exciting deep into September.

How a 13 Run Pool Works – Step by Step

Gather participants – Most pools have 30 players (one per MLB team), but groups of any size can play by adjusting team assignment rules.
Set the buy-in – Common entry fees range from $20 to $100. Collect all money up front before Opening Day.
Assign teams – Teams are typically drawn at random out of a hat or assigned through an online randomizer so everyone has an equal shot. See the "Popular Formats" section below for variations.
Track run totals – After each game day, check box scores and mark off any new run totals your team scored. You can use BookieBrawler's to track everything automatically with live MLB scores - or use a shared Google Sheet if you prefer the old-school approach.
Crown a winner – The first participant whose team has scored every total from 0 to 13 in different games wins the entire pool.

13 Run Pool Rules – The Official Breakdown

While house rules may vary from group to group, below are the standard 13 run pool rules that most pools follow:

Run totals 0 through 13: Your team must score exactly 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 runs in 14 different games over the regular season. A single game can only check off one number.
Regular season only: Most pools count only regular-season games. Spring training and postseason games are typically excluded unless your group decides otherwise before the season starts.
Final score counts: The total runs your team scores in a game-including extra innings-is the number you check off. If your team scores 11 runs in a game that goes 12 innings, you mark off 11.
Only runs scored by your team matter: The opponent's run total is irrelevant to your board. If you're assigned the Yankees and they win 5–3, you check off 5 (not 3).
Duplicate scores don't help: Once you've checked off a number, scoring that same total again in another game doesn't provide any additional benefit. For example, if you already have "5" checked off and your team scores 5 again, nothing changes on your board.

Scoring Example for a 13 Run Baseball Pool

Let's say you're assigned the Philadelphia Phillies. In the first week of the season they play seven games and score the following run totals: