MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Wednesday (5/1)
The 2024 MLB season continues with all 30 teams in action on Wednesday. A few powerhouse showdowns are on the schedule as the New York Yankees visit the Baltimore Orioles and the Seattle Mariners host the Atlanta Braves.
Sports bettors wanting to get in on the action without sweating through an entire nine-inning contest can turn to MLB No Run First Inning (NRFI) tickets for a quick result. Here’s a dive into MLB NRFI options that stick out when comparing odds on this week’s hump day.
So let’s stay hot and get a couple more tickets to the window.
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Wednesday’s Best MLB NRFI Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
St. Louis Cardinals (-108) @ Detroit Tigers (-108)
Starting Pitchers: Miles Mikolas vs. Kenta Maeda
The Cardinals and Tigers split their doubleheader on Tuesday, which sets up a rubber match on Wednesday afternoon. It’s a battle of veteran pitchers as Miles Mikolas (2-3, 5.91 ERA) and Kenta Maeda (0-1, 5.96 ERA) take the mound. Neither has gotten off to the best beginning in this campaign. However, their experience, combined with the state of these offenses, makes the NRFI an intriguing wager.
Maeda has had great success against St. Louis’ trio of Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras. Those three have combined to go 12-for-67 with 26 strikeouts and only three extra-base hits in 67 at-bats against the Detroit starter. It’s hard to envision that trend changing since the Cardinals check in 26th in both on-base percentage (.300) and runs per game (3.60). Look for Maeda to do his part.
That leaves the result of this bet up to Mikolas. While Mikolas has been battered at times, he has not allowed a first-inning run in four of his six starts. The 35-year-old has also held the five players on the Tigers’ roster he has faced before to a slash line of .188/.220/.396 across 48 at-bats. Keep in mind Detroit is hitting only .220 against right-handed pitching this season (25th in MLB). Nothing points to runs being scored.
Bet: NRFI (-106)
Chicago Cubs (-118) @ New York Mets (+100)
Starting Pitchers: Shota Imanaga vs. Jose Butto
The Cubs go into this clash ranked 26th in first-inning runs per away game (0.24), and the Mets enter it ranked 26th in first-inning runs per home game (0.29). As a result, the NRFI has cashed in 10 of Chicago’s 17 road games and 11 of New York’s 17 home games. Backing these trends to hold up at Citi Field is a great strategy, especially because each team is handing the ball to a standout pitcher.
Shota Imanaga (4-0, 0.98 ERA) earns the start for the Cubs with an impressive .204 on-base percentage allowed. Meanwhile, Jose Butto (0-1, 2.86 ERA) draws the nod for the Mets behind his excellent 27.8% strikeout percentage. The two hurlers have combined to hold their opponent scoreless in the first inning in eight of nine starts, too. That level of dominance is worth taking note of.
No one on either of these rosters has seen these pitchers before. That gives Imanaga and Butto yet another leg up. Imanaga’s low release point on his rising fastball makes it tough for hitters to make contact at first. Butto’s deep arsenal of pitches keeps batters guessing as to what is coming next. I don’t expect the necessary adjustments at the plate to be made until the second time through the batting order.
Bet: NRFI (-125)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: