MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Predictions: Thursday (6/15)
We had a rough go of things on Monday as both of our NRFI bets failed to hit dropping us back below .500 on the season. We have a 10-game slate on the board today, so let’s dive into the games and find our favorite NRFI bets.
Season to Date: 20-21
Thursday’s Best No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Bets
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Washington Nationals at Houston Astros – 8:10 p.m. ET
Cristian Javier hasn’t been at quite the same level as he was in previous seasons, as the strikeouts have regressed a bit. However, he has managed to improve his walk numbers which have helped to keep the ERA low. He has allowed a 0.294 wOBA the first time through the order in 2023 and has actually been even better across his career with a 0.262 allowed. After a hot stretch, the Nationals’ offense has cooled off significantly, making this an excellent matchup for Javier.
MacKenzie Gore gets the ball for Washington, and he has been great for the Nationals. He has a 28% K%, and while his BB% is a bit higher than we would like to see, he appears to be taking a step forward in 2023. The Astros’ offense is still dangerous, but among the players on the active roster, the team has a 108 wRC+ versus left-handers which is more of a middle-of-the-road offense against southpaws. The Gore end of this bet will be the tougher one to hit, but overall this is a great gamble on this slate.
Pick: NRFI -110
Colorado Rockies at Atlanta Braves – 7:20 p.m. ET
AJ Smith-Swawver makes his second career start, and his first start went extremely well, but there are some red flags in the profile. The K numbers are not that impressive, and he has allowed a few too many walks, but we are making this bet against the Rockies’ offense. The Rockies have a 77 wRC+ on the road third worst in the league. While the numbers don’t seem to show it, there are bright days ahead for Smith-Shawver, and this is a great matchup on paper for him.
Kyle Freeland takes the ball for the Rockies, and while the Atlanta offense is elite against lefties, Freeland has been excellent at limiting damage. He has actually struggled a bit the first time through the order this season, but he is talented enough to be able to keep this inning clean, as the other options on the slate do not appeal to me as much as this one does.
Pick: NRFI -110
Check out our other best bets for Thursday:
- MLB Player Prop Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions
- MLB Same Game Parlay Odds, Picks & Predictions
- WNBA Best Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions
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