The middle of the week always messes with the MLB schedule. It is a lot to track, with games starting at 12 p.m. ET and ending somewhere into the night out on the West Coast. The good news is that any NRFI bet will not last more than six outs, so feel free to cash an early ticket and hit the sack, as the target tonight will be starting pitching. Make no mistake, there will be runs in the opening innings, it is our job to correctly identify which plays make the most sense. Make sure to subscribe to OddsShopper for 70% off your first month — less than a cup of coffee a day — to jump on some of the early best NRFI/YRFI bets.
Best YRFI/NRFI Bets Today: No Run First Inning Bets
Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays NRFI
There is something about an NRFI bet that features a pitching matchup like this one in Toronto. Both guys have solid strikeout rates but are struggling in other areas, so it is simply how confident the bettor is in Grayson Rodriguez pitching out of an early jam. There is still a chance that Yusei Kikuchi will find himself with a baserunner in the opening frame, but he is more likely to get the side out without a blemish. However, that is no reason to overlook Rodriguez and his 25.4% strikeout rate — despite struggling in walks and pitching to contact. Kikuchi deals a 25.3% strikeout rate to a 7.2% walk rate, so there’s confidence he can find a strikeout or two early against a tough Orioles lineup. Both pitchers are fine in a key area — striking out batters. That is enough to roll here with a scoreless first.
Detroit Tigers at Pittsburgh Pirates YRFI
The first inning saw some action last night and killed our NRFI bet — what a perfect time to get one back tonight in Pittsburgh. The Pirates send Osvaldo Bido today against a rather aggressive top third of the Tigers lineup. Even with some strikeouts, the Tigers bats have done a good job of compensating with contact and some power. They are not the ’27 Yankees — do not worry, Chris Russo — but it is enough to give Bido and his 19.9% strikeout rate some true concern. The Tigers send their ace Eduardo Rodriguez to the bump after he voided a trade to the Dodgers. It is not often someone will willingly nix a move that sends them to Southern California from Detroit, so maybe Rodriguez is prime for a letdown. The Pirates have done another decent job of limiting strikeouts earlier in games, as they are just not good enough to carry most games. If Bido doesn’t give up one up right away, then don’t be shocked to see Rodriguez make an early mistake.
Philadelphia Phillies at Miami Marlins YRFI
The OddsShopper special of the day found great value (+122 at the time of writing this) for a first inning run in South Beach. The Marlins get to deal with Zack Wheeler right after they blew a short lead and a great start by Sandy Alcantara. The Phillies have been slow starters as of late but made some changes to their top part of the lineup, moving up both Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott. Kyle Schwarber is still live to lead off any game with a homer, so there is some good chances against Braxton Garrett. The Marlins are desperate and are going to have to swing like it against the Phillies ace. Wheeler’s only shot of going down or making a mistake would be in the opening inning, otherwise it is going to be a long night in Miami. Both pitchers have too good of a chance to give up a baserunner to pass up a YRFI at plus money.
