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We’re back to a full assortment of games on the MLB docket today, so we’re going to have two no run first inning bets for Friday, April 19. If you’re hungry for more, check out our MLB betting tools or our other MLB articles! Also, check out our guide to NRFI & YRFI betting.
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NRFI & YRFI Bets Today: Best No & Yes Run First Inning Picks
Chicago White Sox vs Philadelphia Phillies | YRFI & NRFI Bets Today
The NRFI journey on Friday begins in Philadelphia with a team we love to target in the White Sox. This offense is just abysmal, so we’re likely going to be targeting them with no run first inning bets most of the season when we can get any kind of decent on the Chicago side. Luckily, we have that today in Garrett Crochet.
Spencer Turnbull isn’t my ideal candidate for a pitcher I like to put my coin on most days, but I’m willing to make a few exceptions with this White Sox team.
The only real name of any worry in the White Sox lineup is Eloy Jimenez, and he’s only had six at-bats since returning from a stint on the injured list already — and he’s hitless.
Turnbull has looked strong in his 15 innings so far this season, posting a 0.933 WHIP and 1.80 ERA. This is somewhat surprising from a career 4.42 ERA guy in his age 31 season, but the underlying numbers seem solid as well — 3.13 FIP, 3.40 xERA.
So, he’s not drastically overperforming anything. And, if he were, this isn’t a matchup that scares me all too much.
The White Sox rank 29th in batting average (.201), OBP (.277) and OPS (.591), and dead last in slugging (.314) against right-handed pitching so far this season.
So, I’m not overly concerned they’ll knock Turnbull around. Especially in the first inning.
The lone bright spot for the White Sox this season has to be the masterclass Crochet has put on through his first four starts. He’s racked up 31 strikeouts in 22.2 innings and posted a gaudy 0.838 WHIP. Impressive for a rookie.
Looking at a no run first inning bet against this Phillies offense can be bit daunting when you see Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper in the top three of the order, but Philly has had its share of offensive struggles this season.
The total for this game is only 8 runs today, and the Phillies are implied for 4.59, which I assume the oddsmakers are accounting for most of those coming from the Chicago bullpen, and not off Crochet.
Crochet is 4-0 on his no run first inning chances this season, which includes getting a NRFI over the Braves already this season. So, he’s already faced a very tough lineup like this before.
With his putaway stuff, and the Phillies striking out the fourth-most against lefties this season, I think we can trust the youngster to get us the final three outs we need to cash this no run first inning ticket.
YRFI & NRFI Bets Today: White Sox-Phillies NRFI (-117 BetRivers)
Milwaukee Brewers vs St. Louis Cardinals | YRFI & NRFI Bets Today
When looking for NRFI bets, one of the first — and most important things — to do is look at the game totals. When I saw this Brewers-Cardinals total sitting at 7.5, I immediately thought NRFI. So, when I searched for the no run first inning odds, I was assuming we wouldn’t be able to find much value. I was wrong.
Now, if you’ve been reading me for any amount of time, you probably know that Kyle Gibson ain’t really my kinda guy. He’s old, can barely crank it up beyond 90 mph and is basically just a dustball collecting a paycheck somehow.
However, there are still some matchups where even dustballs like him can be viable options for no run first inning bets. And this matchup against the Brewers is one of those matchups.
One thing Gibson does is nibble around the edges of the plate, and attempt to pick corners. William Contreras and Jake Bauers, two of the top three hitters in the Brewers lineup are basically allergic to taking a walk, which plays directly into the hands of a pitcher like Gibson.
Guys who swing at pitches off the plate help him immensely, and can result in weak-contact outs, or strikeouts. In Bauers’ case, likely a whiff with his 34.1% strikeout rate.
We’ve targeted this anemic Cardinals offense a handful of times already for no run first inning bets this season. And we cashed in on them by using OAKLAND ATHLETICS PITCHERS. Now, we get a top-line starter in Freddy Peralta to get the job done for us.
Peralta has been cooking lately, too. He’s rocking a 13.25 K/9 rate in his 17.2 innings so far this season, and has only walked two batters in that span as well.
In his three starts, he’s 3-0 on no run first inning chances, so he’s been starting strong, which is always a plus. But, I love the fact that he’s limited the walks, especially with the Cardinals being so unwilling to take walks this season — just 58 so far.
With the total being only 7.5 runs and Peralta looking sharp, I like him to be able to shut the Cardinals down, especially early.
Let’s roll with the no run first inning bet today, and run this winning streak to 7-1.
YRFI & NRFI Bets Today: Brewers-Cardinals NRFI (-120 BetMGM)
