Welcome to another beautiful day as we are deep into the baseball season with the playoffs just days away.
Let's bet on 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 hit two MLB Yes Runs First Innings (YRFI) bets last week, so let's stay hot as we roll into the playoffs. Let's dive into some games on this Friday, September 25th slate.
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Friday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Last Time: 2-1 | Season: 44-30
Cleveland Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals
Starting Pitchers: Gavin Williams vs. Noah Cameron
Starting off in the American League Central, the Cleveland Guardians try to clinch the division on the road at Kansas City. Noah Cameron opens for the Royals, and the left-hander has been elite so far where it matters. Over his last seven games, he's owned a 2.30 ERA, including a complete-game one-hitter. More importantly, he has a 1.86 first-inning ERA with opponents hitting .176 against him in the opening frame.
Gavin Williams counters for Cleveland, and with everything on the line, I imagine he's going to step up to the plate, metaphorically, of course. He's been hot of late with a 1.44 ERA over his last four games. I think this is an easy NRFI, and I'm not sure why the odds aren't shorter.
Play: NRFI (-125 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago White Sox
Starting Pitchers: Tomoyuki Sugano vs. Sean Burke
For another American League Central opponent, the Chicago White Sox are trying to clinch the bye and the division title, sending Sean Burke to the start. He has a 3.40 ERA this season, but his first-inning ERA is 5.19, with opponents hitting .265 against him.
Tomoyuki Sugano starts for Colorado, and his 5.36 ERA isn't much of a scare. He also has a 6.43 ERA in the first inning, with opponents rocking over a 1.000 OPS against him to start the game. The White Sox’s offense has put up numbers recently, and with three games remaining, I expect them to start off hot. At plus odds, it's solid value.
Play: YRFI (+100 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins
Starting Pitchers: Jacob deGrom vs. Joe Ryan
For one of the most exciting playoff races in the American League West, we have one half of the battle with the Texas Rangers. Jacob deGrom starts with a 3.86 ERA (2.95 ERA over his last four starts). The Twins have struggled against deGrom historically, and this is a must-win game for the Rangers; from a narrative standpoint, he's pretty clutch.
Joe Ryan goes for Minnesota with a 3.83 ERA, and the top of the Rangers lineup has struggled against Ryan, with Corey Seager and Ezequiel Duran going a combined 2-for-16. This game has a feeling of a playoff pitcher’s duel.
Play: NRFI (-128 at Hard Rock Bet)
