Top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Odds for Sunday, August 28th (2022)
Another week of Major League Baseball wraps up today as we gear up for the stretch run of the 2022 season. Today’s action gets underway at 12:05 p.m. ET from Miami as the Marlins and Dodgers square off in a rubber match. The 15-game slate concludes with a Sunday Night Baseball showdown between the Braves and Cardinals with a pitching matchup featuring Jake Odorizzi and Adam Wainwright.
Below I’ve listed my top three No Runs First Inning (NRFI) wagers for today.
Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies go for their seventh straight win this afternoon as they send Noah Syndergaard to bump. The Pirates look to get back in the win column, and they’ll turn to Roansy Contreras to handle the starting pitching responsibilities. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Contreras has been a serviceable option for the Pirates this season. The right-hander comes into today’s game at 3-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.37 WHIP over 14 appearances (11 starts). Most recently, Contreras threw 7.0 innings against the Braves and limited them to a pair of earned runs on four hits and three walks. He was saddled with the loss in the 2-1 affair.
Three out of Syndergaard’s first four starts with the Phillies have been of the quality variety. The right-hander is coming off of a dominant outing against the Reds, where he gave up just one earned run on three hits and two walks. Syndergaard won the game, and Philadelphia is now 4-0 in his starts. Overall on the season, the 29-year-old is 8-8 with a 3.77 ERA and 1.23 WHIP.
I’m going to ride with NRFI here, and I think we’re getting pretty good value with an even-money payout. Syndergaard has been hot recently, and he’s running into a Pittsburgh team that ranks 29th in team batting average (.220) and 28th in OPS (.648). As for Contreras, he’s coming off of a great start against Atlanta. He’ll have his hands full against a tough Phillies lineup, but I’m confident that he has the ability to keep a clean first frame. The 22-year-old hurler has flashed signs of greatness over his 11 starts this year.
Bet: Pirates at Phillies NRFI (+100 via DraftKings)
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago White Sox
The Diamondbacks go for the three-game sweep this afternoon as Torey Lovullo gives Zach Davies the nod. The White Sox counter with Dylan Cease in this interleague clash set for 2:10 p.m. ET from Guaranteed Rate Field.
Davies missed the month of July but has rebounded with five starts for the Snakes in August. The right-hander comes in at 2-4 on the year with a 3.86 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 20 starts. Davies last pitched on Tuesday against the Royals and went 5.2 innings, allowing just one earned run on two hits and two walks. It was a no-decision effort, but Arizona won the game 7-3.
Cease has been one of the few bright spots for the White Sox in 2022. The right-hander comes into today’s matchup at 12-6 with a 2.27 ERA (5th) and 1.17 WHIP (32nd) over 25 starts. Most recently, Cease was tagged for four earned runs on three hits and three walks in a losing effort against the Orioles.
This is a game that the White Sox need to win if they’re still planning on making a playoff push. Dylan Cease is the man to get them back in the win column, and I think he’ll succeed, considering he’s taking on a Diamondbacks team that ranks 26th in team batting average (.230) and 21st in OPS (.693). As for Davies, he boasts a 3.57 ERA over five starts this month and has only allowed two earned runs over his last two starts (10.2 IP). I like his chances to escape the first inning scoreless against a slumping Chicago offense. Let’s go with NRFI on the Southside this afternoon.
Bet: Diamondbacks at White Sox NRFI (-130 via DraftKings)
Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals
The Braves and Cardinals go toe-to-toe in a highly anticipated Sunday Night Baseball matchup tonight. Jake Odorizzi heads to the bump for Atlanta while Adam Wainwright takes the ball for St. Louis. The first pitch is set for 7:08 p.m. ET from Busch Stadium.
Odorizzi came over from Houston at the deadline, and he’s been okay with the Braves so far. The right-hander is 5-5 this season with a 3.95 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 16 total starts. Odorizzi limited the Pirates to one earned run on four hits over 6.0 innings last time out. He collected a win, and Atlanta is now 2-2 in his starts.
Wainwright continues to dazzle as he approaches his 41st birthday on Tuesday. The veteran right-hander is 9-9 on the year with a 3.11 ERA (23rrd) and 1.17 WHIP (34th) over 25 starts. Most recently, Waino pitched against the Cubs on Tuesday and held them to two earned runs on five hits and four walks in 6.0 innings of work. He was saddled with the loss in a 2-0 effort with Chicago.
Wainwright’s on fire right now and pitching to the tune of a 2.45 ERA over five starts this month. Furthermore, when he pitches at home, we see his ERA and WHIP drop to 2.11 and 1.03, respectively. Opponents are hitting just .218 against him at Busch Stadium. As for Odorizzi, the key stat here comes in the head-to-head department, where the Red Birds are just 2-26 (0.77) against him. N.L. MVP frontrunner Paul Goldschmidt is 0-3 (.000), Albert Pujols is 0-10 (.000) and Paul DeJong is 1-4 (.250) with a single. Look for these starters to shine on the big stage and keep a scoreless first inning.
Bet: Braves at Cardinals NRFI (-120 via DraftKings)
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