Thursday’s MLB slate may not offer many games but makes for some fantastic value in the later action. With only four games to choose from, there is no true reason to force anything. Sometimes it is taking advantage of a struggling pitcher, other times it is piling on against a team that cannot hit. There is one game featuring the lone two teams at night who have nothing to play for and some great pitching matchups elsewhere. Here are the best NRFI and YRFI bets for Aug. 17.
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Best YRFI and NRFI Bets Today: No Run First Inning Bets
New York Mets at St. Louis Cardinals NRFI (+117, BetMGM)
Neither one of these teams can hit their way out of any struggles. The pitching matchup is not lockdown either, leaving little to work with on the surface. The edge comes in getting plus money on neither the Mets nor Cardinals doing anything with a gift-wrapped mistake pitch. Jose Quintana will take on a struggling Cardinals team that cannot just rely on a personal history at the plate, dominated by Paul Goldschmidt. Quintana can probably get around giving up an early baserunner simply because St. Louis cannot capitalize. Of course, the same theory applies on the other side — Adam Wainwright is not long for this game but could stretch into the middle innings off the Mets’ ineptitude alone. There are plenty of big names on the back of both jerseys, but they have been there most, if not all, of the year, and look where these teams sit. Expect more early frustrations from everyone tonight in St. Louis with the pitchers escaping both halves of the inning.
Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Dodgers NRFI (-113, BetMGM)
Lance Lynn is going to give up a home run; his home runs per nine basically dictate that it is going to happen at least once. Keeping the Brewers away from that inevitability for just one inning is not that large of an ask. Lynn enters with a 27.5% strikeout rate and should have some favorable matchups atop that Brewers lineup where he does not have to pitch to contact. Getting around the Dodgers lineup is a little tougher, but Corbin Burnes has been more up to that task than not. It is a sneaky spot where both pitchers can keep opposing hitters cool for just one inning. Expect some floodgates to open after they keep a clean first — multiple trips through the lineup will do that. In tonight’s case, there is only one play: Backing Burnes and Lynn.
