1st and 3rd, 1 out, do you consider...

a hit and run? I think at the upper levels of baseball it should certainly be a play worth exploring.

A couple of things need to be in order for this play to be a viable option. The infield must be in double play depth. They can't be "in" trying to cut the run down at the plate. If that's the case then the straight steal is definitely in order. The other variable is a double play candidate in the batters box.

You have a runner at 3rd base with less than two outs but the double play is still in order. You're a little concerned that your runner at 1st could be thrown out at 2nd on a straight steal. Therefore, you're hesitant about sending the runner as it would eliminate the runner at 3rd in a very advantageous situation. The solution could be a hit and run.

Technically, in a 1st and 3rd steal the runner at 1st can't get a great jump anyway as the pitcher could fake to 3rd. So, we start the runner in a hit and run and ask the batter to hit the ball on the ground. The runner at 3rd is going on "contact" on this play. Ideally, what you get is a ground ball that scores the runner at 3rd and the batter is thrown out at 1st. The play ends with a runner in scoring position at 2nd base.

Of course, it could result in a better play if the batter actually gets a base hit. However, the idea is I don't want them to turn a double play so I'm going to start the runner to keep my advantage.