Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today (Reds vs Dodgers Among Three Matchups With Value)

Couldn't quite pull off the sweep yesterday but nothing wrong with a 2-1 winning day in No Run First Inning (NRFI) and Yes Run First Inning (YRFI) bets!

We're back with a loaded 15-game MLB slate and I'm thrilled to jump right back into the action. Check out the BetSided team's previews and favorite bets, but don't fill out your bet slip at WynnBET without keeping these wagers in mind.

Without further ado, here are my favorite NRFI/YRFI bets of the day, using the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook:

Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today

Reds vs Dodgers NRFI (+110)

I'm shocked we're getting plus odds on this NRFI bet, but I'm not one to return gifts. Reds' starter Tyler Mahle has a 1.71 ERA in June and surrendered a first-inning run just once over his last six starts. His 3.23 expected ERA is among the best marks in MLB as he takes on a sputtering Dodgers lineup that's averaging only 2.6 runs per game in their previous seven.

Cincinnati allows a run in the opening frame in only 25% of their home games and should improve on that mark. While that's stingy, Los Angeles is even stingier, surrendering a first-inning run in 18.18% of their road matchups.

And the Dodgers have the stingiest of all stingy pitchers on the bump today in Tony Gonsolin, who has a 0.49 ERA in June and has held his opponent scoreless in the first inning in 11 of his 12 starts. At plus odds, this is my favorite bet on the board.

Cubs vs Pirates NRFI (-110)

Speaking of stingy pitchers, I think the Pirates found a great one in Roansy Contreras. The 22-year-old rookie has held his opponent scoreless in the first inning in all five starts and hasn't allowed a run at home yet in 13 innings. I'm a sucker for sliders, and Contreras' is among the best in the majors already:

The Cubs are a great first-inning lineup, but they're 24th in OPS against right-handed pitchers over the last two weeks and the top of their order struggles against sliders. Contreras should find success early.

On the other end, Matt Swarmer has allowed a first-inning run only once in four starts and though he struggles with command, the Pirates are among the worst opening frame offenses in baseball. They've scored an early run in only 22.73% of their games, so I've got faith in Swarmer's ability to limit them. The Cubs allow a first-inning run in 22.39% of their matchups and the Pirates are hardly a worrisome foe.

Cardinals vs Brewers YRFI (-125)

Jack Flaherty looked, um, bad in his return to the Cardinals' rotation last week. He gave up two quick runs in the first and walked two batters before departing after only three innings. I don't much trust the Brewers offense, but Flaherty is still shaking off rust and Milwaukee actually scores a first-inning run at the 11th-highest rate in MLB, over 35% of their home games.

But it's the Brewers' starter, Chi Chi Gonzalez, that has me really loving this bet. In two starts with Minnesota before being DFA'd, Gonzalez faced 14 batters. He allowed eight hits and five runs for a tidy 22.50 ERA in the first. Last year, Gonzalez was one of the worst pitchers in MLB and he hasn't improved. Look at his MLB Statcast Pitching Profile from 2021:

There's mediocre, there's bad, and then there's that. High winds are blowing out to center field and with two unimpressive pitchers taking on capable lineups, the YRFI is the play.

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.