Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today (Cardinals vs Red Sox Headline Trio of Bets)
By Joe Summers
What a glorious Friday. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the No Run First Inning (NRFI) and Yes Run First Inning (YRFI) bets are calling.
There's 16 games scheduled for today which means the board is oozing with value. You're covered at BetSided with previews and picks for each, but I'm ready to grant some wagers of the "instant gratification" variety to keep the juices flowing.
Using the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook, these are my favorite NRFI/YRFI bets of the day:
Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today
Braves vs Cubs YRFI (-115)
I'm stunned the odds for this aren't in the -130 range.
In one corner, you've Keegan Thompson making his seventh start for the Cubs. The YRFI is 5-1 in his first six and he allowed five runs against the Yankees while recording only two outs in his last start. He has a 9.53 ERA in the first innings and takes on the hottest lineup in baseball today.
In the other corner, you have Charlie Morton and his 10.50 first-inning ERA against the team with the best first-inning scoring percentage in MLB. Chicago scores in the first in 48.57% of their home games. With these lineups and these pitchers, it wouldn't surprise me to see both teams score in the opening frame.
Rangers vs Tigers NRFI (-125)
What do you get when you combine two of the worst first-inning offenses with two strong first-inning pitchers? A NRFI bet!
Texas starter Jon Gray hasn't allowed a run in the first in four straight starts and should notch another scoreless frame against a Tigers lineup that has the worst first-inning OPS in MLB
The Rangers aren't much better than Detroit, ranking 28th in first-inning OPS. Tarik Skubal held his opponent scoreless in the first in each of his last seven starts. -125 is fantastic value for these starters to keep these poor offenses at bay early on.
Cardinals vs Red Sox NRFI (+120)
Whew, we got some value today! These are high-powered offenses, sure, but they're in poor situational spots for each. Boston scores in the first inning in only 20% of their home games and Adam Wainwright has thrown a scoreless opening frame in seven of his last eight starts.
St. Louis, meanwhile, scores a first-inning run in 19.35% of their road matchups while the Red Sox allows an early run in just 20% of their home ones. Michael Wacha has a 0.86 ERA at home and has held his opponent scoreless in the first in every game at Fenway.
Roll with the NRFI at incredible plus-money odds.
Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.