Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today (Marlins vs Phillies and Two Other Superb Pitching Matchups)

Few moments in sports betting are as thrilling as a two-out home run to cash a Yes Run First Inning (YRFI) bet, like Ramon Urias did for us in yesterday's Baltimore Orioles win over the Toronto Blue Jays. I yelped with glee in the car, and am ready to get back on the saddle to win some more YRFI and No Run First Inning (NRFI) bets today.

We've got 16 games scheduled and there's a litany of pitching matchups I'm targeting. It's like eating at a buffet, there's so many tasty options to choose from yet only so much room on the plate.

So let's jump into it. Using odds from WynnBET Sportsbook, here are my favorite NRFI/YRFI bets of the day:

Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today

Marlins vs Phillies NRFI (-125)

I'm thrilled for this game, as it's lowkey the best pitching matchup of the day in my eyes. Braxton Garrett allowed a first inning run just twice through 11 starts thus far and racked up 37 strikeouts in his last 22.2 innings. He's got a FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) of 1.44 or less in three of his last four outings and already possesses one of MLB's best sliders.

Zack Wheeler should have no issues shutting Miami's offense down, either. The Marlins score in the first at the worst rate in baseball (16.67%) and Wheeler has a 1.35 ERA in the opening frame.

Trust both pitchers in what should be a fantastic duel.

Guardians vs Tigers NRFI (-130)

Any time Shane Bieber pitches, I feel obligated to back the NRFI. In 20 starts, he's allowed a first inning run just twice and takes on a Tigers squad that scores in the first only 20% of the time.

On the other end, Tyler Alexander threw 3.1 scoreless innings against Cleveland earlier this year and the Guardians score in the first in just 26.32% of their home games.

Because I view Bieber throwing a scoreless first as a virtual certainty, we're getting great odds on Alexander to secure three outs against a lineup that struggles in these spots.

Angels vs Athletics NRFI (-160)

It may feel like -160 is a lot of juice to pay, but we only need the bet to cash over 61.54% of the time to be profitable and I think the odds are actually in our favor.

Shohei Ohtani is pitching like a man possessed, amassing an obscene 75 strikeouts over his last 44.2 innings. Oakland is one of MLB's worst first inning lineups and I don't see the Athletics overcoming Ohtani's incredible arsenal.

James Kaprielian is on a fantastic stretch himself, amassing a 1.90 ERA in his last six starts while allowing a first inning run just once. He limited the Angels to one run over 5.1 innings in his most recent outing, and I love the chances he keeps his hot streak going.

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.