The weather may have bitten us at Coors Field, but that is far from any deterrent in returning to the scene of the crime. In fact, there is still some value out there across the board for first inning totals. The best sweat in baseball combines starting pitching – sometimes not so good – against the best bats each lineup has to offer. All that is needed is six outs to complete the shutout or one run to break it, and the ticket cashes right away! Here are the three best NRFI/YRFI picks for Friday, June 30.
Best YRFI/NRFI Bets Today: No Run First Inning Bets
Detroit Tigers at Colorado Rockies NRFI (+120)
The weather delay then later start killed any shot of the Coors play hitting last night, but tonight it looks like there is far less of a chance of it happening. That is the good news. The rough part is watching two below-average pitchers struggle to keep guys off the basepath. What helps both Austin Gomber at home and Michael Lorenzen on the road is what happens afterwards. Neither team is equipped to come out blasting home runs, and the lack of gravity at Coors Field will not suddenly change it. Gomber is brutal with a 15.3% strikeout rate, and hitters are over .300 against him. His counterpart offers little more in the confidence area, outside of a strong 6.1% walk rate. It might be enough for Lorenzen to not give up a baserunner by limiting walks and pitching to the Rockies bats. That is ultimately how this bet boils down – while the two pitchers are rough and not reliable for games, the first inning needs to have a willing dance partner. These are two bad teams at the plate, which does not change no matter where the game is played.
Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles YRFI (-120)
Whenever Dean Kremer gets the nod runs seem to happen. That has been the theme this year, as the Orioles young righty has defined “run support,” or simply runs in general. Baltimore will have a tougher crack this time around, as Minnesota starts Pablo Lopez and his 30.1% strikeout rate. The Orioles have balanced timely hitting – with some power – along with limiting strikeouts, so Lopez might actually have the tougher matchup overall. Kremer is getting some run support, but he also needs it. He is only striking batters out at a 20.6% clip and allowing opposing batters to hit nearly .300 against him. Minnesota knows the runs will be coming for the Orioles, so expect the Twins to try to get to Kremer early in the first. All of this transfers over to a nice number other than zero on the scoreboard.
Tampa Bay Rays at Seattle Mariners YRFI (+105)
This was still plus money at the time of writing and worth a crack if you can get +100 or better. Shane McClanahan enters with dominating numbers and limiting runs over his June starts. It might not make a ton of sense to fade him, but Seattle’s only chance to get to Tampa’s ace is the first. Once McClanahan settles in, it’s game over for Seattle. The Mariners can build a small lead by taking more time and avoiding early strikeouts. While McClanahan is not prone to many mistakes, wielding a 26.7% strikeout rate, walks are certainly not out of the question. A normally swing-happy Mariners team can adjust even for just the start of the game. Also, Bryce Miller faces a ridiculously tough and potent lineup in the Rays, so just being at home is not enough for Miller. There should be baserunners in both halves of this inning, ultimately leading to one crossing the plate.
