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MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Predictions: Saturday (4/22)

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Here’s a look at our favorite No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets for today’s MLB slate.

View the best player prop bets for tonight's slate with our MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet >>

Saturday’s Best Yes/No Runs First Inning Bets

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs

Starting pitchers: Dustin May vs. Hayden Wesneski

The Cubbies absolutely destroyed the Dodgers in yesterday’s game, as Drew Smyly nearly threw a perfect game. The Cub won 13-0 behind Smyly’s one-hit shutout.

I expect the Dodgers to come out hot. Teams don’t like to get embarrassed like the way they did last night, barely squeezing out a single hit.

Wesneski tends to give up the long ball, as he has given up three home runs over his last three starts. He has only pitched past the five-inning mark once this season, and that was against what could be argued as the worst team in baseball, the Oakland Athletics.

I like our chances of the Dodgers putting up a few first-inning scores today.

Bet: YRFI (-115)

Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Starting pitchers: Dylan Cease vs. Shane McClanahan

Betting the NRFI with two of the best pitchers in baseball seems like a great idea. That is exactly what we will do today with Dylan Cease and Shane McClanahan on the mound.

Cease and McClanahan have a combined record of 7-1 on NRFIs.

These two lineups have very little exposure to the Cy Young candidates, which is a massive advantage to the pitcher.

Only one Rays player has at least four more at-bats with a batting average over .300 against Cease. The same goes for White Sox players; only Andrew Vaughn has at least four at-bats with an average over .300 against McClanahan.

Bet: NRFI (-155)

Miami Marlins vs. Cleveland Guardians (Game 2)

Starting pitchers: Braxton Garrett vs. Zach Plesac

This looks gross on paper, but I like the NRFI in Game Two of this doubleheader.

This is more about fading these two offenses than backing the pitchers.

Both lineups ranked the bottom third in wOBA, wRC+, and ISO. One Achilles heel for this NRFI bet is both teams have high contact rates and a respectable BABIP. We just have to hope for one inning of damage control and cash this NRFI.

Marlins’ starter Braxton Garrett has been impressive early on. Over his first three starts, he has an ERA of 3.38 with an xFIP of 3.23. He hasn’t given many HRs; he has only given up one long ball, which came in his first start.

Bet: NRFI (-120) 

**Odds may change as lineups get announced

Check out our other best bets from Saturday:


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