How many times have you bet on an MLB team, watched them build up a lead, then seen that lead slip away in the late innings and your bet go up in smoke? This is an everyday occurrence for MLB bettors, but there is another way to bet where you can avoid the trauma inflicted by erratic bullpens — First Five Innings Betting, which is often referred to as F5 betting.
How First Five Innings Betting Works
It’s quite simple — you’re basically just making a bet on what the result will be at the end of five innings as opposed to the full-game outcome. Just like regular full-game betting, there’s a moneyline and total option, along with a runline which is 0.5 runs instead of the regular full-game 1.5 runs. The value of an F5 moneyline bet generally isn’t as good as the full-game odds because there’s less risk involved but this can vary from game to game.
Why Bet First Five Innings Instead Of Full Game?
There are many different strategies when employing either betting option, but the decision often comes down to the starting pitching matchup and/or quality of the bullpens. If a team has a significant edge in the starting pitching matchup, a bettor might opt to bet the first five. If a team has a quality starter on the mound, but the bullpen can’t be trusted, this is another opportunity to consider a first five innings bet.
How These Tables Work
The data in these tables is based solely on results from the first five innings and profits are based on $100 bets. The moneyline profits are in the brackets beside each record. Keep in mind every single game needs to be analyzed differently. Just because a team has been a strong moneyline or OVER bet throughout the course of the season doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worthy of a bet each day. Many factors should be considered when placing a bet and this data can be a great weapon to have in your betting tool belt.
Below, we have F5 data from the 2023 season.
F5 Moneyline Records
| Team | Overall | Home | Away | L10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 78-37-17 (+$1150.9) | 40-17-9 (+$598.2) | 38-20-8 (+$552.7) | 6-3-1 (+$29.8) |
| Rangers | 73-44-16 (+$1052.94) | 41-18-7 (+$895.95) | 32-26-9 (+$156.99) | 2-5-3 (-$315.0) |
| Orioles | 60-50-23 (+$636.98) | 31-26-11 (-$82.53) | 29-24-12 (+$719.51) | 4-4-2 (-$79.15) |
| Rockies | 50-68-15 (+$613.14) | 24-31-9 (-$71.86) | 26-37-6 (+$685.0) | 5-4-1 (+$530.0) |
| Reds | 54-52-29 (+$489.94) | 29-22-14 (+$511.99) | 25-30-15 (-$22.05) | 3-5-2 (-$105.0) |
| Cubs | 61-52-20 (+$299.23) | 35-26-7 (+$376.16) | 26-26-13 (-$76.93) | 6-3-1 (+$257.89) |
| Nationals | 50-67-17 (+$176.1) | 27-30-8 (+$342.53) | 23-37-9 (-$166.43) | 4-5-1 (+$155.0) |
| Astros | 63-50-22 (-$164.53) | 28-23-15 (-$481.29) | 35-27-7 (+$316.76) | 7-2-1 (+$324.66) |
| Giants | 56-53-24 (-$286.22) | 31-25-13 (-$83.75) | 25-28-11 (-$202.47) | 6-3-1 (+$314.5) |
| Rays | 69-48-17 (-$338.67) | 38-23-7 (-$104.53) | 31-25-10 (-$234.14) | 4-5-1 (-$300.36) |
| Mariners | 61-49-23 (-$392.36) | 32-26-10 (-$552.29) | 29-23-13 (+$159.93) | 7-2-1 (+$237.86) |
| Diamondbacks | 55-52-27 (-$409.3) | 25-26-16 (-$725.42) | 30-26-11 (+$316.12) | 6-2-2 (+$393.88) |
| Dodgers | 67-49-16 (-$447.86) | 37-21-9 (-$32.16) | 30-28-7 (-$415.7) | 8-2 (+$289.3) |
| Guardians | 54-55-25 (-$461.32) | 24-30-12 (-$1054.44) | 30-25-13 (+$593.12) | 3-7 (-$250.0) |
| Yankees | 58-51-24 (-$534.04) | 33-23-13 (+$105.75) | 25-28-11 (-$639.79) | 7-1-2 (+$482.21) |
| Pirates | 50-64-20 (-$543.47) | 24-32-12 (-$597.77) | 26-32-8 (+$54.3) | 5-4-1 (+$44.36) |
| Marlins | 55-55-23 (-$585.75) | 33-24-12 (+$74.69) | 22-31-11 (-$660.44) | 4-5-1 (-$105.45) |
| Tigers | 48-66-19 (-$754.08) | 23-37-8 (-$1078.88) | 25-29-11 (+$324.8) | 2-8 (-$636.67) |
| Blue Jays | 55-52-27 (-$949.97) | 27-25-13 (-$633.4) | 28-27-14 (-$316.57) | 4-5-1 (-$252.99) |
| Cardinals | 54-57-23 (-$950.31) | 31-28-9 (-$287.72) | 23-29-14 (-$662.59) | 2-6-2 (-$448.57) |
| Twins | 60-55-19 (-$970.3) | 34-25-10 (-$409.22) | 26-30-9 (-$561.08) | 6-3-1 (+$176.55) |
| Mets | 57-58-19 (-$1000.0) | 33-23-9 (+$240.17) | 24-35-10 (-$1240.17) | 4-5-1 (-$34.09) |
| Angels | 55-57-22 (-$1039.91) | 26-25-14 (-$500.11) | 29-32-8 (-$539.8) | 4-6 (-$150.93) |
| Padres | 63-55-16 (-$1109.18) | 35-27-6 (-$463.43) | 28-28-10 (-$645.75) | 4-4-2 (-$113.59) |
| Brewers | 53-60-20 (-$1210.21) | 28-29-8 (-$643.4) | 25-31-12 (-$566.81) | 5-5 (+$16.8) |
| White Sox | 52-66-16 (-$1305.5) | 30-28-7 (+$64.23) | 22-38-9 (-$1369.73) | 5-4-1 (+$150.29) |
| Red Sox | 52-64-18 (-$1727.0) | 28-31-10 (-$862.09) | 24-33-8 (-$864.91) | 3-6-1 (-$316.03) |
| Phillies | 56-59-18 (-$1778.79) | 30-28-9 (-$801.92) | 26-31-9 (-$976.87) | 5-5 (-$181.86) |
| Athletics | 39-74-21 (-$1958.63) | 19-34-12 (-$789.78) | 20-40-9 (-$1168.85) | 4-5-1 (-$15.69) |
| Royals | 39-78-18 (-$3124.29) | 26-32-8 (-$264.9) | 13-46-10 (-$2859.39) | 2-8 (-$684.75) |
F5 OVER/UNDER Records
| Team | Overall | Home | Away | L10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletics | 77-54-3 (58.8%) | 33-31-1 (51.6%) | 44-23-2 (65.7%) | 6-4 (60.0%) |
| Rays | 75-53-6 (58.6%) | 41-23-4 (64.1%) | 34-30-2 (53.1%) | 4-5-1 (44.4%) |
| Cubs | 75-53-5 (58.6%) | 44-21-3 (67.7%) | 31-32-2 (49.2%) | 5-4-1 (55.6%) |
| Tigers | 70-55-8 (56.0%) | 34-28-6 (54.8%) | 36-27-2 (57.1%) | 3-6-1 (33.3%) |
| Cardinals | 66-53-15 (55.5%) | 32-27-9 (54.2%) | 34-26-6 (56.7%) | 7-3 (70.0%) |
| Red Sox | 72-58-4 (55.4%) | 35-30-4 (53.8%) | 37-28 (56.9%) | 6-4 (60.0%) |
| Astros | 71-58-6 (55.0%) | 35-30-1 (53.8%) | 36-28-5 (56.2%) | 6-4 (60.0%) |
| Braves | 71-58-3 (55.0%) | 37-29 (56.1%) | 34-29-3 (54.0%) | 5-5 (50.0%) |
| Dodgers | 68-56-8 (54.8%) | 32-30-5 (51.6%) | 36-26-3 (58.1%) | 6-2-2 (75.0%) |
| Rangers | 67-57-9 (54.0%) | 38-24-4 (61.3%) | 29-33-5 (46.8%) | 4-6 (40.0%) |
| Angels | 71-61-2 (53.8%) | 34-31 (52.3%) | 37-30-2 (55.2%) | 8-2 (80.0%) |
| Reds | 70-60-5 (53.8%) | 34-27-4 (55.7%) | 36-33-1 (52.2%) | 5-5 (50.0%) |
| Orioles | 66-57-10 (53.7%) | 35-29-4 (54.7%) | 31-28-6 (52.5%) | 5-5 (50.0%) |
| White Sox | 69-64-1 (51.9%) | 30-35 (46.2%) | 39-29-1 (57.4%) | 6-4 (60.0%) |
| Phillies | 66-62-5 (51.6%) | 32-32-3 (50.0%) | 34-30-2 (53.1%) | 6-3-1 (66.7%) |
| Mariners | 64-63-6 (50.4%) | 33-31-4 (51.6%) | 31-32-2 (49.2%) | 7-3 (70.0%) |
| Royals | 61-61-13 (50.0%) | 31-33-2 (48.4%) | 30-28-11 (51.7%) | 3-7 (30.0%) |
| Nationals | 64-64-6 (50.0%) | 35-27-3 (56.5%) | 29-37-3 (43.9%) | 3-7 (30.0%) |
| Brewers | 62-64-7 (49.2%) | 35-28-2 (55.6%) | 27-36-5 (42.9%) | 6-4 (60.0%) |
| Rockies | 60-62-11 (49.2%) | 26-33-5 (44.1%) | 34-29-6 (54.0%) | 4-5-1 (44.4%) |
| Yankees | 60-63-10 (48.8%) | 29-37-3 (43.9%) | 31-26-7 (54.4%) | 3-7 (30.0%) |
| Pirates | 61-66-7 (48.0%) | 34-31-3 (52.3%) | 27-35-4 (43.5%) | 6-4 (60.0%) |
| Twins | 61-66-7 (48.0%) | 35-30-4 (53.8%) | 26-36-3 (41.9%) | 6-3-1 (66.7%) |
| Blue Jays | 60-67-7 (47.2%) | 28-33-4 (45.9%) | 32-34-3 (48.5%) | 7-2-1 (77.8%) |
| Giants | 58-69-6 (45.7%) | 30-36-3 (45.5%) | 28-33-3 (45.9%) | 5-4-1 (55.6%) |
| Diamondbacks | 57-68-9 (45.6%) | 27-34-6 (44.3%) | 30-34-3 (46.9%) | 5-5 (50.0%) |
| Guardians | 54-67-13 (44.6%) | 24-34-8 (41.4%) | 30-33-5 (47.6%) | 5-2-3 (71.4%) |
| Padres | 56-71-7 (44.1%) | 28-39-1 (41.8%) | 28-32-6 (46.7%) | 6-4 (60.0%) |
| Marlins | 55-71-7 (43.7%) | 29-36-4 (44.6%) | 26-35-3 (42.6%) | 1-8-1 (11.1%) |
| Mets | 55-73-6 (43.0%) | 21-38-6 (35.6%) | 34-35 (49.3%) | 2-8 (20.0%) |
Most Profitable F5 Pitchers
| Pitcher | Profit | Five Inning Record |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Gomber | +$890.0 | 14-10-3 (58.3%) |
| Nathan Eovaldi | +$874.64 | 15-3-1 (83.3%) |
| Justin Steele | +$849.82 | 16-4-5 (80.0%) |
| Dean Kremer | +$812.48 | 15-8-4 (65.2%) |
| Ken Waldichuk | +$680.0 | 9-7-3 (56.2%) |
| Joan Adon | +$556.96 | 4-0 (100.0%) |
| Max Scherzer | +$543.68 | 15-4-5 (78.9%) |
| Bryce Elder | +$542.65 | 15-5-6 (75.0%) |
| Andrew Heaney | +$534.71 | 15-6-5 (71.4%) |
| Will Vest | +$530.0 | 3-0 (100.0%) |
Least Profitable F5 Pitchers
| Pitcher | Profit | Five Inning Record |
|---|---|---|
| Zack Greinke | -$953.04 | 4-14-5 (22.2%) |
| Lucas Giolito | -$863.79 | 8-16-3 (33.3%) |
| Jordan Lyles | -$858.04 | 6-16-3 (27.3%) |
| Brandon Pfaadt | -$820.0 | 1-9-4 (10.0%) |
| JP Sears | -$779.76 | 6-16-4 (27.3%) |
| Cal Quantrill | -$745.0 | 2-10-1 (16.7%) |
| Rich Hill | -$706.37 | 7-15-4 (31.8%) |
| Bailey Falter | -$700.0 | 1-9-1 (10.0%) |
| Ryan Weathers | -$698.08 | 2-9 (18.2%) |
| Joey Wentz | -$685.0 | 4-12-1 (25.0%) |
