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MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Predictions: Thursday (6/8)

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We have a fairly full slate for a Thursday, with twelve games on the docket including two makeups from yesterday. The Yankees and White Sox are playing a DH, but there’s a chance that the air conditions cause those games to be postponed as well. Let’s dive into the slate to pick our favorite NRFI bets of the day.

Season to Date: 19-18

Thursday’s Best No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Bets

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

New York Mets at Atlanta Braves – 7:20 ET

This is easily the best pitching matchup on the slate with Justin Verlander facing Spencer Strider. Strider has picked up where he left off last season, with an outrageous strikeout rate and otherworldly skills. He is easily one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. The Mets’ offense has been better lately but more importantly, after taking a fastball off the wrist, Pete Alonso is highly unlikely to play today. Strider has excelled the first time through the order, with a 0.288 wOBA allowed in 2023.

Meanwhile, Justin Verlander has not picked up where his 2022 season left off, as the veteran righty is not striking out as many hitters while also allowing more homers than usual. His 2023 season has been one of early game struggles and he has allowed a 0.363 wOBA the first time through the order. However, he has been excellent early in his career. The Braves have an elite offense, but Verlander is talented and has enough big-game experience to hold them down even if only for the first inning.

Pick: -115

Houston Astros at Toronto Blue Jays – 7:07 ET

This doesn’t seem like a great game to bet on, as both teams are top-ten offenses by wRC+ looking at the last 30 days. However, today’s starters are both off to excellent seasons in 2023. For the home team, Jose Berrios takes the mound and he finally seems to be regaining the form that he showed early in his career. Over the course of his career, Berrios has allowed a 0.309 wOBA the first time through the order. While this is certainly not elite, it is definitely good enough to hold off the scoring in the first.

Framber Valdez has quietly become one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. He has made big walk-rate improvements, dropping to around 5% after hovering much closer to 10% in his career. Valdez has allowed a 0.283 wOBA in his career the first time through the order and while he has to face an extremely difficult top portion of the Blue Jays lineup, he is a talented enough pitcher to make this bet happen.

Pick: -125

Check out our other best bets for Thursday:

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