MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Predictions: Saturday (6/6)
The Major League Baseball action continues on Saturday, and we have a loaded 15-game slate to navigate from a sports betting perspective. I'm heading to the prop sheet today, where I've narrowed in on three quick-hitting MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks on the diamond. Here are my top NRFI picks for Saturday, June 6th.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Saturday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Seattle Mariners (-136) vs. Detroit Tigers (+116) | O/U 8.5 (-115/-105)
Starting Pitchers: Keider Montero vs. Bryce Miller
I'll be on the NRFI in Motown to get the afternoon started. Detroit has been the seventh-best NRFI team this season, sitting at 34-29 (54%) to the prop bet. Seattle is quite a bit lower at 24th (28-35, 44%), but they are a profitable 15-13 (54%) on the road.
Keider Montero (3.69 ERA) gets the nod for the Tigers, and he's coming off a six-inning scoreless effort against the White Sox last time out. The right-hander will be taking on a Mariners side that he has found success against.
Monterao has limited Seattle’s key hitters - J.P. Crawford (0-for-3), Julio Rodriguez (3-for-4), Randy Arozarena (1-for-7) and Josh Naylor (0-for-5) - to a combined 4-for-19 (.211). If Montero can work around Rodriguez, then we should be looking good.
In the bottom of the first, we'll be leaning on Bryce Miller and his elite 1.71 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. Detroit's offense hasn't found a ton of success against the right-hander throughout his career, with their current roster slashing .228/.241/.281 across 57 at-bats. Gleyber Torres (3-for-10), Dillon Dingler (1-for-5) and Kerry Carpenter (1-for-7) are a combined 5-for-22 (.227) against Miller.
Bet: NRFI (-136)
Washington Nationals (+136) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (-162) | O/U 9.0 (-115/-105)
Starting Pitchers: Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Zack Littell
This National League showdown between the Nationals and Diamondbacks features plenty of offensive talent, but the truth is that neither club has been swinging the bats very well. Over the last week, the Diamondbacks are 30th in wOBA (.267), while the Nationals are 28th (.288). I'm playing the NRFI.
The Snakes will opt for Eduardo Rodriguez, and he has been a top-10 pitcher this season. He enters with a 2.24 ERA (seventh) and a 1.19 WHIP (36th). CJ Abrams (0-for-3) and James Wood (1-for-2) are just 1-for-4 (.250) lifetime against the southpaw.
As for the Nationals’ Zack Littell, don't let his 5.01 ERA fool you. The right-hander had a dominant May, making six starts (30.2 innings) and posting a fantastic 2.35 ERA. Although the Diamondbacks' current roster is 13-for-41 (.317) against Littell, I have to weigh their current form in here as well. They're simply not hitting well right now. I'll gamble on the NRFI to cash.
Bet: NRFI (-102)
Milwaukee Brewers (-245) vs. Colorado Rockies (+200) | O/U 10.5 (-110/-110)
Starting Pitchers: Jacob Misiorowski vs. Tanner Gordon
I'm flipping the script and taking the yes runs first inning (YRFI) side to close out the night. There's a decent chance that the Brewers plate a run in the top of the first against Tanner Gordon.
The right-hander has been horrendous this season, entering the weekend with a 6.37 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. We don't have any head-to-head numbers, but it is worth noting that the Brew Crew is 10th in wOBA (.344) and second in walk rate (14.2%) over the last seven days.
I won't sit here and try to convince anyone that the Rockies are going to pour it on Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski (1.65 ERA). However, this will be the flamethrower's first career start at the hitter-friendly Coors Field. Perhaps this will turn out to be a nice sell-high spot on Misiorowski.
Additionally, the Rockies are red-hot offensively, ranking second in wOBA (.399) and third in ISO (.228) over the last week. They're the third-best YRFI team this season at 38-25 (60%). Let's roll the dice and bet that there will be a run in the first frame.
Bet: YRFI (-132)