MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Wednesday (5/15)
The 2024 MLB season continues with all 30 teams in action on Wednesday. A few powerhouse battles are scheduled as the Chicago Cubs visit the Atlanta Braves and the Minnesota Twins host the New York Yankees.
Sports bettors wanting to get in on the action without sweating through an entire nine-inning contest can turn to MLB No Run First Inning (NRFI) tickets for a quick result. Here's a look at MLB NRFI options that stick out when comparing odds on this week's hump day.
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Wednesday's Best MLB NRFI Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Washington Nationals (+120) @ Chicago White Sox (-142)
Starting Pitchers: Patrick Corbin vs. Garrett Crochet
The Nationals and White Sox split a doubleheader on Tuesday where no runs were scored in either first inning. There’s a lot to like about that outcome repeating itself on Wednesday. After all, NRFI bets have cashed in 28 of Washington’s 41 games and 29 of Chicago’s 43 games. Those are the top two marks in baseball. Neither of these teams has scored a first-inning run in the last five contests.
Patrick Corbin draws the nod for the Nationals. He has gotten rocked at times this season. However, the veteran righty has held his opponent scoreless during the first inning in six of his eight starts. The same goes for White Sox starter Garrett Crochet. The 24-year-old has had some starts he’d like to forget, but he has not allowed a first-inning run in seven of his eight starts. These hurlers have an edge in the early goings.
It helps that neither one of these offenses has performed well in 2024. Washington enters this rubber match ranked dead last in first-inning runs per game (0.22) and 20th in on-base percentage on the road (.302). Chicago checks in 25th in first-inning runs per home game (0.30) and dead-last in on-base percentage (0.275). Back the trends and place this wager before the odds change.
Bet: NRFI (-125)
Cleveland Guardians (+136) @ Texas Rangers (-162)
Starting Pitchers: Carlos Carrasco vs. Jon Gray
This is another series that has yet to see a first-inning run scored across two showdowns. The starting pitchers tasked with extending that streak to three will be Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco (2-3, 5.36 ERA) and Texas’ Jon Gray (1-1, 2.36 ERA). The Guardians have been a team to target in away games all season. Their slow-starting bats and solid pitching efforts led to an NRFI in 17 out of 25 road games.
That bodes well for Gray, who has not given up a first-inning run in five of his eight starts. The World Series champ should aim to nibble the edges of the strike zone against a Cleveland lineup that chases at the sixth-highest rate in the majors (29.9%). Note that Gray has gotten the best of Jose Ramirez (0-for-9) and Andres Gimenez (1-for-5) in the past. Earning an out against those two to avoid facing the hard-hitting Josh Naylor will be vital.
On the other side, Carrasco has a clear opportunity to lean on his experience. He has held batters in the Rangers’ lineup to a .235/.316/.33 slash line to go with only three extra-base hits in 59 at-bats. A drop from a career 4.48 ERA at home to a 3.68 ERA on the road shows that an unfavorable environment doesn’t impact the man nicknamed “Cookie.” Trust Carrasco to get the job done at Globe Life Field.
Bet: NRFI (-110)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: