What's at stake

The game decides which team wins and whether specific run-margin and totals markets are met.

Bets include moneyline winner, run lines at -1.5, -2.5, -4.5 for either side, multiple over/under totals from 4.5 to 10.5, and whether any run is scored in the first inning.

Who's in play

Starting pitchers and each club's bullpen are primary actors; their handedness and health shape run production.

Batting orders, top sluggers, defensive alignment and managers' willingness to use openers or pinch-runners also determine whether run lines and totals clear.

What drives it

Pitching matchups, bullpen depth, ballpark factors and the umpire's strike zone drive run-scoring expectations.

Late-inning reliever usage, platoon splits, recent team offense trends, and in-game injuries or ejections can swing run-line and totals probabilities quickly.

What to watch

Pre-game starter announcements, official lineups and any late scratches set baseline expectations about scoring and leverage usage.

Also watch forecasted wind, first-pitch time, bullpen warmups, early inning scoring, and television reports of last-minute injuries or changes for signals that alter moneyline, run-line, and totals outcomes.