Top 3 MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Odds for Saturday, August 20th (2022)
All 30 Major League Baseball teams take the diamond today and action starts in New York, where the slumping Yankees host the Blue Jays at 1:05 p.m. ET. There is a 16th game on the schedule today as the Mets and Phillies will play a twin bill in the City of Brotherly Love. With the extra game, there’s no shortage of betting options on the board. Below I’ve listed my top three No Runs First Inning (NRFI) plays for today’s action.
(Odds courtesy DraftKings)
Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians picked up a 5-2 win over White Sox on Friday night thanks to a career-high 14 punchouts from Triston McKenzie. Cleveland will look to extend their divisional lead (3.5 over CWS) as the rotation turns over and Shane Bieber heads to the mound. The Sox counter with Johnny Cueto in this A.L. Central showdown slated for 6:10 p.m. ET from Cleveland.
Cueto has been very effective for the Southsiders this year. The right-hander comes in at 5-5 with a 2.78 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 17 appearances (16 starts). Cueto last pitched on Monday against the Astros and limited them to two runs (one earned) on six hits and a walk. He earned a win in the 8.0-inning outing, and the White Sox moved to 8-9 in games that he’s pitched in.
Bieber has really turned it on after a pedestrian start to the 2022 campaign. The right-hander enters tonight’s game at 8-6 with a 3.18 ERA (24th) and 1.10 WHIP (22nd) over 22 starts. Bieber threw against the Blue Jays on Sunday and held them to just two earned runs on eight over 7.0 innings of work. He’s now earned a win in each of his last four starts.
Bieber’s dealing right now. The 2020 Cy Young winner is pitching to the tune of a 1.80 ERA over three starts this month. Furthermore, he’s limited the White Sox to a .197 batting average over three outings this year, including a one-run complete game against them back in July. As for Cueto, he’s faced Cleveland once this year and posted a quality start against them. The Guardians are 10-31 (.323) against Cueto, but he’s only allowed one double and no triples or home runs. All things considered, I’m rolling with NRFI in Ohio today.
White Sox at Guardians NRFI (-135 via DraftKings)
Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves
It’s a World Series rematch in Atlanta as the Braves took game one of the three-game weekend series last night. They’ll look to stay hot as they turn to Spencer Strider to handle the starting pitching responsibilities tonight. Dusty Baker gives Cristian Javier the nod as the Astros try to get back in the win column. The first pitch is slated for 7:15 p.m. ET from Truist Park.
Javier is putting together a great season for Houston in 2022. The right-hander comes in at just 7-8, but boasts a 2.96 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 22 appearances (18 starts). Javier last pitched on Sunday against the A’s and held them scoreless over 6.0 innings. He allowed just one hit and a trio of walks in the winning effort.
Strider (-105) is dominating in his rookie season and comes in trailing only teammate Michael Harris (-130) in the N.L. Rookie of the Year race, at least according to oddsmakers. The 23-year-old righty is 7-4 on the year with a 3.04 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 25 total outings and 14 starts. Most recently, Strider went 5.0 innings against the Mets and held them to one earned run on three hits and a walk.
Javier’s been a force recently, posting a 1.50 ERA and 0.83 WHIP over three starts this month. As for head-to-head stats, the 25-year-old hurler has only faced Matt Olson (2-13, .154) and Robbie Grossman (2-5, .400) for a combined .222 average. On the flip side, Spencer Strider has yet to face the Astros in his career. But it’s worth mentioning that his ERA drops to 2.66 when pitching at Truist this year. I’m going to ride with NRFI in this World Series rematch tonight.
Astros at Braves NRFI (-135 via DraftKings)
Washington Nationals vs. San Diego Padres
The Nats have won the first two games of their four-game weekend series with the Padres. They’ll turn to Josiah Gray this evening while the Friars go with Joe Musgrove in this N.L. clash set for 8:40 p.m. ET from Petco Park.
Gray sits at 7-8 entering tonight’s game and comes in with a 4.79 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 22 starts. The right-hander last pitched on Monday against the Cubs and posted a quality start in a no-decision effort. Gray went 6.0 innings and surrendered three earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks in the 5-4 win.
Musgrove started out the 2022 season on fire and had Cy Young ambitions. However, he’s fallen off a touch but still has great overall numbers. The right-hander is 8-6 with a 2.98 ERA (18th) and 1.03 WHIP (15th) over 21 starts. Musgrove collected a quality start against the Marlins when he took the ball on Monday night. However, it was a 3-0 losing effort where he gave up all three earned runs on eight hits over 6.0 innings.
Musgrove sees his ERA dip to 2.87 when pitching at Petco, and opponents are hitting just .215 against him. He’s limited the Curly W’s to a .267 batting average over 30 at-bats in his career, including 5-12 (.417) from Nelson Cruz (all singles), 0-5 (.000) from Cesar Hernandez, and 0-2 (.000) from Maikel Franco. As for Gray, he’s only faced Jorge Alfaro and Brandon Drury in his career. The duo is a combined 1-6 (.167), with Alfaro recording a single. Gray’s been better on the road this year, posting a 3.21 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 61.2 innings of work. Let’s lock in NRFI in San Diego tonight.
Nationals at Padres NRFI (-125 via DraftKings)
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