Top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sunday (9/18)
All 30 teams take the field today with action getting underway as early as 12:10 p.m. ET with the White Sox taking on the Tigers in a rubber match from Comerica. 13 other games lead up to the other bookend which is a Sunday Night Baseball presentation that features the Dodgers squaring off against the Giants at 7:08 p.m. ET.
Below I’ve listed my top three No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets for today’s 15-game slate.
(Odds courtesy DraftKings)
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Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Guardians
The nail isn’t 100% through Minnesota’s coffin, but they certainly aren’t showing any signs of life at the moment. They’ve dropped their last six games versus the Guardians, including the first three of their five-game weekend series with Cleveland. They’re now 7.0 games back in the division and turn to Joe Ryan to try and get them back into the win column today. The Guardians counter with Cody Morris in this divisional clash set for 1:40 p.m. ET from Progressive Field.
Ryan has been great this season and he’s coming off of his best outing of the year. The right-hander pitched on Tuesday against the Royals and held them hitless over 7.0 innings while striking out nine batters. He only allowed two walks in the winning effort and was yanked due to pitch count (106 pitches). Overall on the season, Ryan is now 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 24 starts.
Morris is set to make his fourth appearance of the year this afternoon and he comes in at 0-1 with a 2.79 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over 9.2 innings of work. Last time out, the right-hander allowed one earned run on two hits and five walks over 3.2 innings against the Angels. He took a no-decision in Cleveland’s 3-1 win and they’re now 1-2 in his starts.
Morris has never pitched against the Twins so we don’t have any head-to-head data. However, I like his current form as he’s only allowed one earned run over his last 7.2 innings pitched. If he can limit the walks, he should find success against this Minnesota lineup that ranks 17th in team batting average (.233) and just 27th in OPS (.643) over the last 15 days. As for Ryan, he’s coming off of that fantastic outing on Tuesday and should bring his best stuff again in a game of this magnitude. He’s faced the Guardians twice this year and posted a 3.00 ERA over 12.0 innings and limited them to a .239 average. Let’s ride with NRFI in this one.
Bet: Twins at Guardians NRFI (-125 via DraftKings)
San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks look to salvage a series split this afternoon as they send Ryne Nelson to the bump. The Friars opt for Yu Darvish in this series finale slated for 4:10 p.m. ET from Chase Field.
Similar to Ryan above, Darvish is also coming off of his best start of the 2022 campaign. The right-hander threw on Tuesday against the Mariners and held them scoreless on two hits while striking out seven over 8.0 innings. Darvish improved to 14-7 on the season and his ERA sits at 3.16 (19th) while his WHIP is 0.95 (4th).
Nelson has only made two starts in his career and he’s been flawless thus far. The 24-year-old righty has blanked the Padres and Dodgers over a combined 13.0 innings and allowed just six hits and a pair of walks. He’s now 1-0 and brings in a 0.00 ERA and 0.62 WHIP.
Nelson struck out seven batters over 7.0 scoreless frames in his Major League debut against San Diego on September 5th. Considering his perfect form through two starts, I’m confident backing him at home today. As for Darvish, he’s made four starts against the Snakes this season and has gone 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over 26.0 innings of work. They’re hitting just .157 against the righty with 23 strikeouts. Let’s lock in NRFI in this divisional showdown that has the potential to be a pitcher’s duel.
Bet: Padres at Diamondbacks NRFI (-120 via DraftKings)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants
The Dodgers send Andrew Heaney to the hill tonight as they attempt to break out the brooms against their division rival. The Giants give Alex Cobb the nod in this edition of SNB set for 7:08 p.m. ET from Oracle Park.
Heaney has been a serviceable option for Los Angeles this season and enters tonight’s contest at 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Most recently, the southpaw faced the Padres and limited them to two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over 5.0 innings. He picked up the win and L.A. is now 9-3 in his starts this year.
Cobb is set to make his 25th start of the year and he’s gone 6-6 this season with a 3.48 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. The right-hander is coming off of a brilliant outing against the Braves on Monday in which he held them scoreless over 7.0 frames and gave up six hits. Cobb earned the win and has now won his last three decisions.
Heaney’s coming off of that solid outing against San Diego last time out and I’m confident that he can repeat that here tonight. The left-hander is running into a Giants team that ranks dead last in both team batting average (.204) and OPS (.615) over the last 15 days. Heaney should be able to at least escape the first inning without any damage. As for Cobb, he won’t be as lucky as he’ll take on one of the toughest lineups in baseball tonight. However, he’s been great at home this year and boasts a 2.34 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 77.0 innings. Opponents are hitting just .218 against him at Oracle and he’s racked up 85 punchouts at home this year. Let’s take a shot with NRFI in the Bay tonight.
Bet: Dodgers at Giants NRFI (-140 via DraftKings)
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