Okay, so, let’s talk about this “first 5 innings result vs moneyline” thing I messed around with today. I got into this whole sports betting rabbit hole, and let me tell you, it’s a wild ride. I decided to try comparing betting on the result after the first five innings of baseball games versus just betting on the game’s final outcome (which is called the “moneyline”).

I started my day like I always do – grabbing my phone and checking the day’s baseball schedule. Today was packed, which was perfect for what I wanted to do. I wanted to see if there was a real difference or maybe an advantage in betting on just the first five innings rather than the whole game.
I spent a good chunk of the morning looking up past games, focusing on how teams usually perform in the first five innings versus the entire game. I looked at a bunch of stuff, like which teams start strong but then fade out, and which ones are slow starters but finish strong. I was jotting down notes like a madman. This wasn’t easy. I had to look at each team’s stats, who was pitching, and even whether they were playing at home or away. That stuff really matters.
After all that digging, I picked a few games that looked interesting. For example, one game had a team that’s known for crushing it in the early innings, but their overall record wasn’t that great. I thought, “Bingo!” Maybe there’s something to this five-inning bet.
- Dodgers Game: One of the first games I looked at involved the Dodgers. Now, I’ve seen them play a bunch, and they often come out swinging hard in the early innings. They were playing at home, too. My gut was telling me they’d likely lead after five innings.
- Andrew Heaney’s Wild Ride: Then there was Andrew Heaney pitching. This guy is a total wildcard. Sometimes he’s lights out, and other times, well, not so much. This made betting on just the first five innings of his game super tempting, but also a bit of a gamble.
Then came the fun part – placing the bets. I decided to split my bets between the five-inning results and the full-game moneyline. I didn’t go crazy, just a few bucks here and there. I wanted to see how my research held up without risking my life savings.
As the games started, I was glued to the TV, tracking every pitch and every hit. It was intense! Some of my five-inning bets were looking good early on. But guess what? Baseball is unpredictable. Some teams that I thought would dominate early ended up trailing, and vice versa. One thing I noticed is that how a team performs in the first five innings doesn’t always predict the final outcome.

By the end of the day, it was a mixed bag. Some of my five-inning bets paid off, especially when I focused on teams known for their strong starts. But those full-game moneyline bets? Some of those were winners, even when the first five innings didn’t go as I expected.
My Realization
I realized that while focusing on the first five innings can be a fun and sometimes profitable way to bet, it’s not a sure thing. It adds an extra layer of excitement, but it’s just as unpredictable as betting on the whole game. It’s all about doing your homework, knowing the teams, and, honestly, a bit of luck. There are two ways to attack the first five innings wagering market, and they mirror the options offered for full-game bets: moneyline and run line. This was just one day of trying this out, but it was enough to show me that there are no easy wins in sports betting. You really need to stay updated on the teams, the players, and even the day-to-day changes that can affect a game’s outcome. And remember, it’s all just a game, so have fun and don’t bet more than you can afford to lose!