How to Read an MLB Scoreboard

Fans of Major League Baseball (MLB) can keep track of games they attend by periodically reviewing the ballpark's scoreboard for runs, hits and errors. Scoreboards also typically offer a line score, which reveals the run production of both teams for each inning -- and allows fans to know how the scoring of the game unfolded even if they miss a portion of the game.

Instructions

    • 1

      Read MLB scoreboards from left to right. The team names appear on the far left, with the name of the visiting team above the home team's name. Scoreboards also include line scores, which show the number of runs scored in each inning. If the home team has an X as their ninth-inning score, it means they were ahead after the visiting team batted in the ninth inning and won the game without needed to take their final at-bat.

    • 2

      Find the columns that indicate runs, hits and errors to the right of the line score. The runs or "R" column is the most important because it reveals who is winning a game in progress or who won a game that has been completed. For example, if the runs column indicates five for the visiting team and seven for the home team after nine innings, the home team won by a score of 7-5.

    • 3

      Scan to the right and find the hits or "H" column. The hits column indicates how many times each team successfully reached base with a base hit. To the right of the hits column is the errors or "E" column. An error is tallied when a fielder misplays a ball, allowing a base runner to advance or a batter to reach base safely.

    • 4

      Check the entire scoreboard to keep up with all of the day's MLB action. Scoreboards at most ballparks not only update runs, hits and errors for the game at hand, but also give scores for all other American and National League games being played that day.