Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today (White Sox vs Angels & Two Other Pitching Matchups to Target)

We utilized intense winds across the country yesterday to eke out a profitable 2-1 day in No Run First Inning (NRFI) and Yes Run First Inning (YRFI) bets.

There's only nine games on today's MLB slate but I'm thrilled with the value on the board. Be sure to check out the BetSided team's previews as you're making wagers at WynnBET Sportsbook, but I've got a few bets to add to your ticket as well.

Using the odds from WynnBET, here are my favorite NRFI/YRFI bets of the day:

Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today

Athletics vs Yankees NRFI (-105)

The Yankees' offense is sputtering, going 16 hitless innings over the weekend before some late-game heroics delivered a series win over the Astros. Even still, they haven't scored in the first inning in three straight games and face one of my favorite pitchers today, Paul Blackburn. Blackburn has been stellar on the road, amassing a 1.00 ERA in eight starts. New York is always a threat to blast a home run, but Blackburn hasn't allowed a road home run yet this year and I think he'll limit the Yankees' bats today.

On the other end, Jordan Montgomery should have no problem mowing down a pathetic Oakland lineup that's batting .175 in the first inning over the last two weeks. The NRFI is 12-2 in Montgomery's starts this year and the Yankees are the stingiest first-inning team in MLB, allowing an early score in only 19.18% of their games.

White Sox vs Angels YRFI (-120)

I love the YRFI for the same reason I love the over: neither pitcher can be trusted. Noah Syndergaard has a 10.13 ERA in the first inning and the White Sox have the fifth-highest OPS against right-handed pitchers over the last two weeks.

Lucas Giolito has been a disaster himself, though he hasn't limited his horrible performance to the first inning like Syndergaard. He's given up 15 runs in his last two starts and the Angels have the eighth-best first-inning OPS in MLB. Just look at Giolito's MLB Statcast Pitching Profile and tell me he's going to survive facing Mike Trout & Shohei Ohtani unscathed:

Both teams rank in the bottom-10 league wide in preventing runs in the opening frame. With weather conditions ripe for home runs, I expect at least one first-inning run tonight.

Orioles vs Mariners NRFI (-120)

This is my favorite first-inning bet on the board, as I think each starter will dominate. Baltimore has the worst first-inning offense in MLB, scoring a run just 17.57% of the time and ranking dead-last in OPS.

Mariners starter George Kirby has a 2.17 ERA in his last five starts and threw six scoreless innings against the Orioles last month. I expect him to limit damage once again, but I also love O's starter Tyler Wells tonight. He's allowed a first-inning run just twice in his last eight starts and has a 2.57 ERA in June.

Trust both pitchers to keep the score low in what should be an excellent matchup.

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.