Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today (Joe Ryan vs Logan Gilbert Headline Pitching Matchups to Target)

Yesterday didn't quite give us the clean sweep I was hoping for, but there's no shame in a winning 2-1 day.

We've got 16 MLB games scheduled for this fine Tuesday and there's a bunch of intriguing pitching matchups that caught my eye. As always, the BetSided team has you covered from every angle with previews, best bets, weather updates and more, but I've honed in on a few No Run First Inning (NRFI) and Yes Run First Inning (YRFI) bets to keep on our collective radar.

Using the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook, here are my favorite NRFI/YRFI bets of the day as we seek that elusive clean sweep:

Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today

Guardians vs Rockies NRFI (+120)

I have no faith in Antonio Senzatela, but +120 odds for a scoreless opening frame is too much value to pass up on in this matchup. While Senzatela's 6.86 expected ERA is among the worst starters in baseball, he's actually been strong in the first inning. He hasn't allowed a first-inning run in seven of his nine starts, including four straight, and takes on a beatable Cleveland lineup.

Jose Ramirez hits well in the first, but Amed Rosario is batting .219, Myles Straw is at .128, and Josh Naylor is 0-3 in his career against Senzatela. The Guardians will score, but I don't think they will immediately, as evidenced by their lineup ranking 21st league-wide in OPS in the opening frame.

On the other side, Shane Bieber is as dominant a first-inning pitcher as there is in MLB. Since 2020, the NRFI is 35-5 in his starts and he's given up just one run in the first in 11 starts this year. At plus money, I'll stick with the trends and trust each pitchers' body of work.

White Sox vs Tigers NRFI (-130)

With one of the lowest totals of the day, an elite starter in Dylan Cease on one end and two struggling lineups, I'm rolling with the NRFI here.

Dylan Cease hasn't allowed an earned run in the first inning on the road yet this year and his 2.84 expected ERA ranks ninth among all qualified pitchers. The Tigers have the worst OPS in MLB in the first and I expect Cease to have no trouble keeping them scoreless.

But Chicago is terrible in the opening frame as well, ranking 27th in OPS and scoring a first-inning run in only 25.42% of their games. Tigers' starter Drew Hutchison has held his opponent scoreless in seven of his 10 appearances and the White Sox are 28th in OPS against right-handed pitchers over the last three weeks. I'll gladly take the -130 odds to trust Cease and fade Chicago's lineup.

Twins vs Mariners NRFI (-135)

It's tough to fade the Twins' lineup right now, but that's what I'm doing in the best pitching matchup of the day as Joe Ryan goes to battle with Logan Gilbert.

Joe Ryan hasn't allowed a run in the first in any of his last seven starts as he's cemented himself as a favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year. The Mariners score a first-inning run less than 30% of the time and Ryan should be able to navigate the top of their order.

Logan Gilbert has put together a fantastic start to his career as well, putting himself in elite company as he's emerged as a foundational piece for Seattle's rotation moving forward. He's allowed a first-inning run just twice in 12 starts, including none at home.

The Mariners surrender a first-inning run in less than 20% of their home games, so I love the value to back two excellent young pitchers in what should be a fantastic duel.

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.