MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Sunday (4/14)
It has been a phenomenal weekend in sports, and we cap it off with a 15-game MLB slate, Masters Sunday, and 15 games in the NBA. I'm heading to the diamond in this article, where I've locked in three quick-hitting No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets for today's action.
Sunday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Milwaukee Brewers (+164) @ Baltimore Orioles (-198) | O/U 8.0 (-118/-102)
Starting Pitchers: Colin Rea vs. Corbin Burnes
The Brewers have been on fire recently, winning their last four games. They'll look to break out the brooms against the Orioles this afternoon, where they'll face their old ace, Corbin Burnes. Milwaukee sends Colin Rea to the bump in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET from Camden Yards in Baltimore.
Burnes' Baltimore tenure is off to a great start, as he's 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA (20th) and 0.75 WHIP (seventh). He's coming off a 7.0-inning outing against the Red Sox, allowing one earned run on just two hits and two walks. We don't have any notable head-to-head data against his former club, but this is one of those bets you make where you have a feeling he will shine against his former team. Look for Burnes to keep a clean first frame against a Milwaukee squad that has only scored twice in 13 first innings. They're also 8-5 to the NRFI overall.
Meanwhile, the Orioles are .500 to the NRFI this season, going 7-7. They'll take on Colin Rea, who has been excellent with a 1.64 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Over a small 16-at-bat sample size, the right-hander has limited the O's to a slash line of .188/.235/.312 with no home runs or triples. Most importantly, Gunnar Henderson (0-1), Adley Rutschman (0-2), Ryan Mountcastle (0-2) and Anthony Santander (0-2) are a combined 0-7 (.000) against Rea. Let's play the NRFI in the DMV this afternoon.
Bet: NRFI (-115)
New York Yankees (-135) @ Cleveland Guardians (+114) | O/U 8.5 (-135/+114)
Starting Pitchers: Nestor Cortes vs. Logan Allen
The Yankees will also be looking to break out the brooms on Sunday after sweeping a doubleheader (3-2, 8-5) yesterday in Cleveland. They'll turn to Nestor Cortes this afternoon while the Guardians opt for Logan Allen. First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. ET from Progressive Field in Cleveland.
Allen hasn't been too sharp to start the new campaign, entering at 2-0 with a 4.60 ERA (62nd) and 1.34 WHIP (63rd). He'll take on a slow-starting Yankees club that has scored just once in the first inning this year. Overall, New York's 10-5 to the NRFI. While they have some notable names at the top of the order, the Yankees are a middle-of-the-pack 10th in team batting average (.247) and 13th in OPS (.750). I think Allen can carve them up early on his home field.
As for Cortes, he gets a Guardians offense that's 11th in team batting average (.256) and 13th in OPS (.729). The left-hander has owned this Cleveland roster, limiting them to a slash line of .186/.239/.256 over 43 at-bats. Steven Kwan (3-9), Andres Gimenez (1-4) and Jose Ramirez (0-11) are a combined 4-24 (.167) against him, with each of those hits being singles. As long as Cortes keeps the ball in the yard, I love this NRFI bet at +100.
Bet: NRFI (+100)
St. Louis Cardinals (+130) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (-155) | O/U 8.5 (+130/-155)
Starting Pitchers: Miles Mikolas vs. Zac Gallen
We have a rubber match out west as the Cardinals and Diamondbacks square off on Sunday afternoon. Miles Mikolas takes the ball for the Red Birds while the Snakes counter with Zac Gallen. First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. ET from Chase Field in Phoenix.
Gallen's coming off his first All-Star season, where he was third in the NL Cy Young voting. The right-hander's in great form to start the new year, coming in at 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA (28th) and 1.19 WHIP (44th). Gallen consistently dominates at home, where he registered a 2.47 home ERA in 2023, and he's out to a 0.82 ERA over two home starts in 2024. He's basically untouchable at home, which makes this +100 payout very enticing.
On the flip side, Mikolas hasn't been great this year, sitting at 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA (63rd) and 1.47 WHIP (72nd). However, he has great head-to-head numbers against the top of Arizona's order, holding Ketel Marte (1-6), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (0-3) and Christian Walker (0-5) to a combined 1-14 (.071). He hasn't faced Corbin Carroll, but the reigning ROY hasn't been a huge threat in 2024, entering with a .232 average (120th) with a .660 OPS (132nd). Let's take a flier on the NRFI with the even-money payout.
Bet: NRFI (+100)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Sunday: