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MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Saturday (5/24)

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Saturday brings along another jam-packed slate of MLB games. As you enjoy the weekend baseball, let's dive into the top No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks and predictions.

If you’re unfamiliar with NRFI bets, it’s 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 pitch a scoreless first inning for the bet to cash. 

Let’s get to my favorite NRFI plays for Saturday, May 24th.

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

(All odds courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook)

Seattle Mariners at Houston Astros

Starting Pitchers: Bryan Woo vs. Framber Valdez

Today's first NRFI pick features an American League West clash between the Mariners and Astros. We have a strong pitching matchup with Bryan Woo and Framber Valdez on the mound. Both starters can combine to help cash the NRFI. 

Woo is having a dominant season for the Mariners with a 2.65 ERA and 0.87 WHIP. He owns an elite 3.6% walk rate and boasts a 2.77 FIP. The right-hander is rolling recently with a 2.27 ERA over his past five outings. 

Woo has a shaky 4-5 NRFI record this year with an ugly 7.00 ERA in the first inning. However, some positive regression is due in that area. Last season, the Seattle righty had an 18-4 NRFI mark with a .195 batting average allowed in his opening frames. 

Woo gets a favorable spot to post a scoreless first inning today. The Astros have arguably the worst first-inning offense in the league this year. Houston ranks last in runs scored, OPS and wOBA in the opening frame so far. 

On the other side, Valdez can get the job done as well. The Astros left-hander has just a 6-4 NRFI record this season, but he's held hitters to a .182 batting average in the first inning. He's also tossed three straight scoreless first innings. Last year, Valdez posted an elite 25-3 NRFI record with a .235 batting average allowed in the frame. 

Valdez is trending up lately with a 2.85 ERA over his last six starts. He'll also benefit from pitching at home, where he has a 2.77 ERA in four outings this season. Last year, he had a 2.53 ERA at home. 

Pick: NRFI (-136)

Miami Marlins at Los Angeles Angels

Starting Pitchers: Cal Quantrill vs. Jose Soriano

Our second NRFI pick today brings us to the late-night battle between the Marlins and Angels. This starting pitching matchup of Cal Quantrill vs. Jose Soriano isn't exactly the best on paper. Yet, a scoreless first inning is very much in play here. 

Quantrill has a poor 6.37 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP this season for Miami. He's been a below-average pitcher more often than not and could easily get hit around by the Angels on the road tonight. However, the NRFI track record is impossible to ignore. 

The Marlins right-hander has tossed a scoreless first inning in nine of his 10 starts this year, with a .188 batting average allowed in the frame. His issues tend to come when facing hitters for the second or third time through the order. This first-inning success has carried over from last year when Quantrill posted a 24-5 NRFI record with a .224 batting average allowed in his opening frames.

On the other side, Soriano can also hold the Marlins in check early. The Angels starter has a solid 7-3 NRFI record this season. That includes a scoreless first inning in three of his four home starts thus far. He's also been productive overall lately with a 2.79 ERA and 2.87 FIP over his last five starts. 

Soriano's first-inning success showed itself last season as well. He tossed a scoreless opening frame in 15 of his 20 starts, including a 6-1 NRFI record over his final seven home outings. So, that's a 9-2 NRFI mark in his past 11 home starts and a 22-8 NRFI record over the past two seasons combined. 

The Marlins, meanwhile, rank 24th in the Majors in first-inning runs scored this year. On the road in the opening frame, they have just a .188 batting average (27th in MLB) and .293 wOBA (24th). 

Pick: NRFI (-120)

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

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