MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Predictions: Friday (6/19)
Welcome to another beautiful day. The sun is shining. Baseball is in literal full swing. Life is good. Let's bet some MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks. It's a popular betting market where gamblers wager on whether the first inning of an MLB game will end with zero runs scored by either team. Pretty simple.
NRFI bets are the best because they're quick - sometimes you'll know the outcome within minutes. NRFI bets can provide an edge over other markets if you’ve done your research. I'm here to help provide that edge. As always, shop around for the best odds and be on the lookout for lineup announcements, which can significantly impact the outcome.
We had a losing week last week for just the second time all year. Time to bounce back. Let's dive into our top MLB NRFI picks for Friday, June 19th.
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Friday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Last Time: 1-2 | Season: 23-11
Cleveland Guardians vs. Houston Astros
Starting Pitchers: Tanner Bibee vs. Tatsuya Imai
Starting in Houston, the Astros host Cleveland as Tatsuya Imai takes the bump for Houston. The rookie starter for the Astros has been hit-or-miss in his first year, posting a 6.43 ERA. Even worse, he's recorded a 7.13 home ERA and has allowed eight first-inning runs in his eight starts. Not great.
Cleveland will also likely put up three straight lefties who see Imai much better, recording an .831 OPS off Imai in his short career. On the other side, Tanner Bibee has struggled to open games, allowing a .971 OPS against him in 15 starts.
Yordan Alvarez is also going to be at the top of the order, and he is 4-for-6 lifetime against Bibee. Christian Walker is 3-for-8 with a home run off Bibbee, too. Houston also has the third-highest Yes Runs First Inning (YRFI) rate this season. If I'm on a YRFI, I usually try to find a plus-odds bet, but this game is lining up to feature a lot of runs early.
Play: YRFI (-111 at Bet365)
Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Yankees
Starting Pitchers: Rhett Lowder vs. Cam Schlittler
Heading to the Bronx, New York hosts the Reds in Interleague play. Cam Schlittler has been steady for New York, posting a 1.82 ERA in his 15 starts, with opponents tallying just a .512 OPS against him. In the first inning, he's been even better. In 15 starts, he's allowed one run. That's it.
It gets interesting on the other side. Rhett Lowder has been worse on the road with a 5.84 ERA, and he's allowed 10 first-inning runs in 10 starts with a .937 OPS against him. We're going to take another stab here at a first-inning Moneyline. If a team scores early in this game, it will be the Yankees.
Play: Yankees First-Inning Moneyline (+200 at BetRivers)
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Atlanta Braves
Starting Pitchers: Jacob Misiorowski vs. Martin Perez
Finally, tonight we're going to keep it straightforward. Jacob Misiorowski is starting for Milwaukee, and I would be shocked if he lets up a first-inning run. He's spun a 1.01 road ERA in 35.2 innings. In the first inning, he's let up two earned runs in 14 starts, limiting opponents to a .338 OPS.
Martin Perez is much better at home as the Braves starter, and while he has a 4.50 ERA in the opening frame, he's allowed a .206 batting average to start games. Yes, both offenses can score, but I simply cannot imagine either team mounting a run in the first.
Play: NRFI (-138 at FanDuel Sportsbook)