With so much action spread across the middle of the week, it might be easy to overlook value in the opening innings. Playing any first inning total, be it a NRFI or YRFI, requires extra focus on who is starting on the mound and what bats have been a little extra hot. Keeping a clean sheet for even the best pitchers is not an easy task, as evidenced by this specific slate. Let’s look at the best NRFI and YRFI bets across Wednesday, Aug. 23. You can still jump on OddsShopper for a 70% discount for your first month and shop all of your first inning totals and more!
First-inning bets are some of the most enjoyable sweats in the MLB betting business. If you want to start making money on your NRFI and YRFI picks, OddsShopper has you covered. Check out our guide to NRFI and YRFI betting and come back each day for the best NRFI and YRFI bets — we post daily NRFI and YRFI articles, and our MLB bet shopping pages integrate data from industry-leading betting model to find NRFI and YRFI picks with positive expected value (+EV) each day. If you’re hungry for more than just the picks we post for free, sign up for OddsShopper Premium today — new users can get their first month for 70% off.
Best YRFI and NRFI Bets Today: No Run First Inning Bets
Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Angels (Game 2) YRFI (+102, BetMGM)
Shohei Ohtani continues his magical season despite his team falling off the face of the earth. There is still some hope left for the Reds, as they find themselves in Wild Card mode while there’s still life. That is the first game and one worthy of a pass. The value opens in the second game, where Reid Detmers will face off against most likely a bullpen game for the Reds. Detmers comes in hot with a 27.3% strikeout rate but is ice cold elsewhere, including a .325 xwOBA and .250 xBA on the year. He could easily strike out two of the first three batters while giving up a walk and double before ending the inning. Cincinnati will struggle against the top third of the Angels lineup, especially after it deals with Andrew Abbott in Game 1. Both teams get a little break in the second game from a tough pitching matchup and should stretch out right away in Game 2.
Washington Nationals at New York Yankees YRFI (-109, BetMGM)
If there ever were a recipe for a run in the first inning, it would be tonight in the Bronx. Neither pitcher has anything going for them outside of MacKenzie Gore’s 27% strikeout rate. Everything else for Gore and Luis Severino is just awful. Even these two inept offenses should have gift-wrapped opportunities to get on base and drive in a run. There is always the solo shot threat looming atop the Yankees lineup, and Gore is a willing dance partner — just a .343 xwOBA and .258 xBA. Severino is in trouble before this game even starts, with numbers like an 18.4% to 9% strikeout to walk rate, .389 xwOBA and .296 xBA. Walks, base hits, home runs — take your pick. Things have a way of evening themselves out once the bullpens get involved, so it is a good thing both of these starters struggle. Using OddsShopper, this bet was in at -109, and that is a great number for what should be instant offense.
