MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (9/13)

With a full 15-game slate on Wednesday, here are my best bets on the first frame.

Wednesday’s Best NRFI Bets

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros

Pitching Matchup: Paul Blackburn vs. Hunter Brown

The Athletics have won this series’ first two games and outscored the Astros 10-2 in the process. It is hard enough for any team to complete a road sweep, let alone against one of the hottest teams over the last month.

Over the past 30 days, the Astros have the 2nd highest batting average (.294), SLG% (.537), and wOBA (.371). They also rank 1st in OBP (.364) and wRC+ (138)

Look for Houston to get back on track quickly against Paul Blackburn and the A’s.

Four players in the Astros’ starting lineup have double-digit at-bats against Blackburn, and two are hitting over .450 (Abreu and Altuve), while Michael Brantley and Yordan Alvarez are each hitting .280 or better.

As for Houston’s starter Hunter Brown, this will be the 4th time he has seen the A’s. Brown is 1-0 in those three starts with a 2.36 ERA.

We are mainly betting on the Astros lineup to cash this YRFI for us, but don’t be surprised if Oakland puts a run on the board early, as this will be the 4th time this lineup sees Hunter Brown.

Bet: Yes Runs First Inning (-120)

Cleveland Guardians vs. San Francisco Giants

Pitching Matchup: Logan Allen vs. Kyle Harrison

Cleveland’s offense has been below average all season, but it’s been even worse over the past 30 days. Over the last month or so, the Guardians’ offense ranks 26th in average, 25th in OBP, 30th in SLG%, 30th in wOBA, and 27th in wRC+.

Giants starter Kyle Harrison is making his 5th start of the season and has been excellent at home. Harrison has a home record of 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA in two starts. In a small sample size, his one flaw is the long ball. Over his 20.1 innings, he has an HR/9 of 2.66. However, the Guardians have hit the least amount of HRs (110) of any team in the MLB.

Lefty Logan Allen is on the mound for the Guardians, which is excellent for NRFI betters like us.

The Giants have the third-highest K% and rank 26th in wRC+ against lefties.

Let’s see if these lineups continue to struggle and help us cash this NRFI.

Bet: No Runs First Inning (-120)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: