Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today (Windy Day Gives Value in Trio of Games)
By Joe Summers
As we find ourselves halfway through the week, we're blessed to have a packed MLB slate with games spread throughout the day.
Don't want to deal with that work email quite yet? No worries, the Rockies and Pirates play at 12:35 PM EST. Then, we're got marquee matchups sprinkled throughout the afternoon before a few evening contests wrap up the day. Maybe that email can wait until tomorrow. There's baseball all day, after all!
With a marathon of a day, we can conceivably bet from the wee hours of the morning all the way until we go to bed. That sounds like a lovely hump day to me! But even though we can spend the entire day placing bets, sometimes we want to know quickly if we won or lost. The thrill of the quick buck, you know?
That's what I'm here for. A few No Run First Inning (NRFI) and Yes Run First Inning (YRFI) bets jumped out to me as values.
Using the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook, let's check out those best NRFI and YRFI picks of the day:
Best NRFI and YRFI Bets for Wednesday, May 25
Rockies vs Pirates NRFI (-125)
These teams combined for six total runs in the first two games of the series, and I expect another slow start today. Pirates' starter Zach Thompson has allowed just one run in 17 innings this month and ranks in the 83rd percentile in average exit velocity. Colorado has scored two or fewer runs in four of their last five contests and score a first-inning run in less than 30% of their road games.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, scores a run in the first inning in only 19% of their matchups, the third-lowest mark in MLB. Ryan Feltner makes just his fourth major league start but allowed two or fewer runs in five of his last six outings in Triple-A. He's got great strikeout ability, which should pay dividends against a Pirates lineup that strikes out at one of the highest rates in the league.
With heavy wind blowing straight in from center field, the NRFI is the play here.
Mets vs Giants YRFI (-120)
The Mets haven't scored a first-inning run for three straight games, but they'll have a good opportunity to do so today with the wind blowing out to center field. Jakob Junis has pitched well but ranks in the 25th percentile in average exit velocity and 26th percentile in expected batting average. New York's lineup is dangerous, and it just takes one swing of the bat to get a solo home run over the fence with such high winds expected.
Thomas Szapucki is making his first major league start and faces a Giants lineup that has the fourth-highest OPS against left-handed pitchers this month. San Francisco averages the second-most walks in the league and while Szapucki has shown promise, he struggles with command.
Both offenses are on fire and take on beatable pitchers. With a boost from the weather, give me the YRFI.
Dodgers vs Nationals YRFI (-115)
Los Angeles' offense is flaming hot, scoring 19 runs over the first two games of the series. Nationals' starter Erick Fedde has a 9.00 ERA at home and walks a ton of batters, ranking in the 15th percentile in walk rate. The Dodgers average the most walks per game in the league and will take advantage of Fedde's erratic delivery.
With the highest first-inning run rate in baseball, the Dodgers are a worthy team to back here. I think they'll score early, but if they don't, we still have a dangerous Nationals lineup capable of blasting a solo shot. All we need is one swing, baby!
Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.