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MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (8/3)

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With the trade deadline now past us, the playoff races are beginning to heat up. The Mets’ offense is a shell of its early-season self, and as a result, they will start to become a more attractive option for us to bet against in the NRFI market.

Jack Flaherty is making his Orioles debut and hopefully can become the playoff ace they need to make a deep run.

With 11 games on the board, let’s take a look at our top NRFI bets for Thursday, Aug. 3.

Thursday’s Best No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Bets

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Chicago White Sox vs. Texas Rangers

Pitching Matchup: Touki Toussaint vs. Max Scherzer

The open to this piece mentioned the team debut of Flaherty and completely ignored the debut of Max Scherzer with the Rangers. The future HOFer has not been elite this season with the Mets, but the main issue for him has been the HR ball. He has allowed almost two per nine, which is an astronomical number, while everything else appears in line with career norms. The Rangers’ ballpark is a little worse for homers than Citi Field, but it’s still mostly neutral.

The White Sox offense lost one of its biggest bats in Jake Burger and does not have the type of power at the top that scares me off this bet. The Rangers’ offense is elite and has returned Corey Seager to the lineup. Touki Toussaint has been decent as a starter by wOBA and has actually been solid in the first time through the order with a 0.290 wOBA. The Rangers’ offense is dangerous. However, all we need for this bet is a clean first inning, and Toussaint has the skill to do just that.

Bet: NRFI (-110)

Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs

Pitching Matchup: Luke Weaver vs. Jameson Taillon

If you looked at the last two days of games between these two, you would think I was insane making this bet. The Cubs’ offense has jumped all over the Reds’ pitching and has dominated. However, at the only plus odds line of the day, it is worth us taking this chance.

Luke Weaver has not been good and allows a 0.407 wOBA the first time through the order this season, which makes this a less attractive bet. Still, this Cubs offense is bound to come back down to Earth, and this could allow for a clean first from Weaver.

Jameson Taillon gets the ball on the other side of this one, and the righty has also struggled this season. But he has actually been at his best the first time through with a 0.328 wOBA allowed. Slugging seems to be the killer for him. He just needs to limit the extra-base hits in this first inning, and he should come out cleanly. The other bets on the board today do not appeal to me as much as this one does. The thinner slate is full of questionable matchups, so let’s take the bet with the best odds.

Bet: NRFI (+105)

Check out our other best bets from Thursday:

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