The first inning of any baseball game carries with it an incredible sweat, a microcosm of an entire game boiled down to six outs. Be it the starting pitcher or the top third of a lineup, the idea is targeting who is more likely to make a mistake. Even in the case of an opener or 5th starter, teams still need to find a way to connect at the plate. Let’s look at the top NRFI (no run first inning) and YRFI plays across Tuesday’s MLB slate.
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Best YRFI and NRFI Bets Today: No Run First Inning Bets
Washington Nationals at New York Yankees YRFI: -120 via BetMGM
To put it simply, these two teams are cooked. They are struggling in most areas, from pitching to basic offensive production. Both teams sit at the bottom of their division with winter golf on the mind. It would take a tremendous pitching matchup to avoid any early scoring, and even then, nothing is guaranteed with either squad. Carlos Rodon starts for the Bombers after failing to make it out of the third inning in his last start. Washington may not have the league’s top lineup, but Rodon will struggle with a 14.8% BB rate. Josiah Gray isn’t doing much better. A road start is always tough, but the smaller dimensions in New York will make it tougher, plus Gray already owned a 20 to 11% K to BB rate.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Cleveland Guardians NRFI: -105 at BetMGM
Let’s take the complete opposite approach for the second game by focusing on the two starting pitchers as heroes. It’s not as wide of a stretch for the Dodgers’ Bobby Miller, as he has shown some strong signs as of late, coughing up just two total runs over his last three starts. The Guardians aren’t easy in offering up the K, but Miller has pitched well to with an xwOBA of .300 on the year. It’s enough to avoid a walk or groove a pitch down the middle, preventing an easy score for Cleveland. The Guardians have their hopes set on Noah Syndergaard, as does anyone tailing this bet. It’s never an easy feeling to ask Syndergaard to keep a clean sheet in any inning, but he has a chance at home. Syndergaard pitched exceptionally well in half of his four starts since arriving in Cleveland. If he looks anything like the other two this bet is fried, but going against his former team and playing at home is enough of a boost.
San Francisco Giants at Philadelphia Phillies NRFI: -110 at BetMGM
Nothing too crazy here as the Phillies offense exploded last night and should see some regression tonight. Regression for the Phillies is usually defined as being shut out, but they should muster a couple of runs — just not in the first inning. Taijuan Walker is one of the Phillies’ best arms this year and should fare well against the top third of the Giants’ lineup. Despite not having the strongest numbers, Walker has pitched himself out of jams and received some great help defensively. Kyle Harrison makes his first start of the year for the Giants and has the drop on a Phillies team that usually takes an inning or two to start working. That should feed into a slow start for Philadelphia, including another early out for Kyle Schwarber atop the lineup. No runs in South Philly after one.
