Top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (9/24)

One of the few remaining storylines of the 2022 MLB season came to a close last night, with Albert Pujols launching career home runs 699 and 700 in a dominant win over the Dodgers. Congrats to Albert - one of the best sluggers of our generation. As for today's betting board, we have a good one with a full slate of college football and 15 Major League Baseball games to complement. Below I've narrowed in on my top three No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets for today's action. 

Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

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Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia has taken the first two games of their four-game weekend series with their division foes. They'll turn to Bailey Falter to keep things rolling while the Braves counter with Kyle Wright. The first pitch for game three is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET from Citizens Bank Park.

Wright's been fantastic this season and leads the league in wins with a 19-5 record. The right-hander also boasts a 3.18 ERA (22nd) and 1.16 WHIP (26th) over 28 starts. He last pitched on Monday against the Nationals and limited them to two earned runs on eight hits and a walk. Wright struck out seven in the winning effort, and Atlanta is now 7-0 in his last seven starts. 

Falter gets the nod for the Phils this afternoon, and this will be his 18th appearance and 14th start. The southpaw is 5-3 with a 3.68 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 73.1 innings of work. Most recently, he faced the Braves on Sunday and went 4.2 innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and a pair of walks. Falter took a no-decision in a game that the Phillies lost 5-2. 

That was Falter's only start against the Braves this year, and I'd consider it a pretty solid outing. Atlanta went just 4-18 (.222) against him with no home runs or triples. Look for him to bring his best stuff again as Philadelphia tries to hold down a spot in the N.L. Wild Card. On the flip side, the Phillies are just 9-46 (.196) against Wright in his career. More specifically, during the 2022 campaign, Wright owns a 2.63 ERA and 0.80 WHIP against them over 13.2 innings. Let's lock in NRFI this afternoon in the City of Brotherly Love. 

Bet: Braves at Phillies NRFI (-110 via DraftKings)

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays picked up convincing wins in each of the first two games of their four-game set with the Blue Jays. In doing so, they’ve overtaken Toronto in the Wild Card race as the number-one seed. Both teams sit at 84-67 entering today's game, but Tampa Bay holds the tiebreaker as they lead the season series 10-7. Today's game gets underway at 6:10 p.m. ET from the Trop, and the pitching matchup features Alek Manoah taking on Drew Rasmussen. 

Manoah's been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season and comes into today's game at 14-7 with a 2.40 ERA (6th) and 1.01 WHIP (9th). Most recently, the right-hander went 6.0 innings against the Orioles and limited them to one earned run on four hits and four walks. It was a no-decision effort that Toronto lost, moving them to 16-13 in his starts.

Rasmussen has been a reliable option for Tampa Bay this year, and he enters this one at 10-6 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 26 starts. The righty last threw on Monday against the Astros and was tagged for four earned runs on six hits and a walk. Rasmussen was saddled with the loss, and they've now dropped his last two outings. 

It's all about the head-to-head matchups in this game. For Manoah, he's faced the Rays in 81 at-bats and limited them to just 11 hits (.136). In two starts against them this season, he's posted a 2.13 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 12.2 innings. As for Rasmussen, Toronto is 17-88 (.193) against him in his career, with just one home run. This game has the potential to be a pitcher's duel, so let's ride with NRFI in this key divisional clash.

Bet: Blue Jays at Rays NRFI (-130 via DraftKings)

San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks 

The Giants and Diamondbacks are set to take the field for game two tonight at 8:10 p.m. ET from Chase Field. San Francisco sends Alex Cobb to the bump while Arizona goes with Merrill Kelly. 

Cobb has been finding his groove recently and ultimately comes into tonight's game at 6-6 with a 3.48 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. The right-hander last pitched on Sunday against the Dodgers and limited them to two earned runs on four hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. Cobb received a no-decision in a 4-3 loss in 10 innings. 

Kelly hasn't been his best over his three last starts, but he still boasts respectable numbers on the year. The right-hander is 12-7 with a 3.15 ERA (20th) and 1.13 WHIP (23rd) over 30 starts. Kelly's also coming off of a start against the Dodgers, and he surrendered five earned runs on eight hits and two walks over 6.0 innings. He took the loss, and the Snakes have now dropped his last three starts. 

Kelly has faced the Giants in 172 at-bats in his career, and he's given up just 35 hits (.203), including only three home runs. The veteran hurler faced San Francisco back on August 18th and held them scoreless over 7.0 innings, allowing only four hits. Cobb pitched in the same series in August and limited the Diamondbacks to one earned run on five hits and three walks over 6.0 innings. He's also in great form recently, posting a 1.90 ERA over four starts in September. Let's go with NRFI in the Valley tonight. 

Bet: Giants at Diamondbacks NRFI (-145 via DraftKings)

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