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MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Monday (6/2)

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Monday’s MLB slate is a smaller one with seven games on the baseball schedule. Even so, there are many ways to go for our top No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks and predictions. 

If you’re unfamiliar with NRFI picks, they’re pretty simple. We’re betting on whether or not any runs will be scored in the first inning by either team. Both starting pitchers must throw a scoreless first inning for the bet to cash. 

Without further ado, let’s get to my favorite MLB NRFI picks for Monday, June 2nd.

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Monday’s Best MLB No Runs First Innings (NRFI) Picks

(All odds courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook)

San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants MLB NRFI Picks

Starting Pitchers: Stephen Kolek vs. Logan Webb 

Our first NRFI pick today features a National League West clash between the Padres and Giants. Both starting pitchers in this divisional showdown should combine for a scoreless first inning based on favorable trends and data. 

Giants starter Logan Webb is having a strong season with a 2.82 ERA and 2.20 FIP through 12 outings. Over the past month, the right-hander owns a 2.81 ERA with a 34:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio across five starts. Webb has been lights out at home so far with a 1.39 ERA through five starts. 

Webb has a subpar 7-5 NRFI record this year, but he's due for positive regression in that area. The San Francisco righty had a 22-11 NRFI mark last season (66.7%), including 11-5 at home. In 2023, he had a 24-9 NRFI record (72.7%), including 12-4 at home. Plus, this year, he's tossed a scoreless first inning in four out of five home starts compared to a 3-4 NRFI record on the road. 

Webb has also regularly dominated at home throughout his career. He owns a 2.68 ERA in his career when pitching in San Francisco. That includes a 2.83 home ERA last year and a 2.26 home ERA in 2023. 

Tonight, Webb will face a Padres offense that's struggled against right-handed pitching lately. Over the past two weeks vs. righties, San Diego has a .209 batting average (28th in MLB), .277 wOBA (27th) and 77 wRC+ (27th). 

On the other side, Padres starter Stephen Kolek is the bigger wild card for the NRFI equation. He has a 3-2 NRFI record through five starts so far. Yet, he's thrown a scoreless opening frame in all three road starts. Plus, Kolek should be primed to bounce back after coughing up six first-inning runs in his last outing. 

Kolek will take on a Giants offense that's had issues scoring in the first inning all season. San Francisco is hitting .220 in the frame (28th in MLB) with a .291 wOBA (26th). Over the past month, the Giants rank 29th in first-inning runs scored while batting .218 (26th in MLB). Meanwhile, Kolek owns an impressive 1.33 ERA in three road starts thus far. 

Pick: NRFI (-128)

Los Angeles Angels at Boston Red Sox MLB NRFI Picks

Starting Pitchers: Tyler Anderson vs. Richard Fitts

Let's now focus on an American League matchup between the Angels and Red Sox. This is an under-the-radar NRFI spot to target. 

Angels starter Tyler Anderson has allowed a first-inning run in seven of his 11 starts so far this season. That doesn't exactly boost our confidence. However, the veteran southpaw posted a 22-9 NRFI record last season (70.9%). That included a scoreless opening frame in 13 out of 15 road starts. 

Anderson will face a Boston offense struggling to score runs in the first inning right now. Over the past month, the Red Sox rank 28th in first-inning runs scored while batting .192 in the frame (29th). The Sox are also striking out at a 30.6% clip in the first inning over the past two weeks, third-worst in the league.

Meanwhile, Boston starter Richard Fitts brings in some excellent NRFI numbers. He's tossed a scoreless first inning in all eight of his career MLB starts. That includes a perfect 4-0 NRFI mark this year while holding opponents to a .083 batting average in the opening frame. Maybe the young right-hander sees some negative regression at some point, but those numbers are hard to ignore. 

Fitts faces an Angels offense that's scored just one run in the first inning over the past week of games. Over the past two weeks in the frame, they're hitting .222 (24th in MLB) with a 26.5% K rate (21st). Plus, the LA lineup has been quiet overall lately, averaging just 2.0 runs per game over the past eight contests. 

This is admittedly a risky spot to back the NRFI. However, there's value in hoping Anderson and Fitts combine to post a scoreless first inning. 

Pick: NRFI (-106)

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