What's at stake

Which team wins the game decides the moneyline and determines whether spread bets (Dodgers −1.5, −2.5 or Diamondbacks equivalents) pay out.

Totals markets resolve on whether combined runs clear thresholds from 3.5 up to 8.5, and the first-inning run market pays if any run scores before the first half-inning ends.

Who's in play

Starting pitchers and the opening bullpens set the baseline for run scoring and spread outcomes.

Lineup construction, top hitters and baserunning, catchers' game-calling, and managerial matchup choices decide moneyline, first-inning scoring, and whether a team covers by one or multiple runs.

What drives it

Pitching matchups — starter quality, handedness, velocity, and expected pitch counts — move moneyline and spread probabilities most.

Park effects, wind and temperature, hitters' platoon splits, strikeout and walk rates, and bullpen usage shift totals and first-inning run likelihoods.

What to watch

Probable starters and official lineups typically post about an hour before first pitch; late scratches and injury reports are immediate triggers.

Weather and wind, batting-order placement, catcher choice, and announced bullpen plans are the live signals that most often change totals or first-inning run expectations.