Top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Odds for Saturday, July 2nd (2022)
With a pair of double headers in the MLB today, we’re slated for 17 total games across the league. Those twin bills include the Rays taking on the Blue Jays and the Yankees square off against the Guardians after getting rained out last night in Cleveland. These are the first two games of the day, with the first pitches scheduled at 12:07 p.m. ET and 12:10 p.m ET, respectively. Other notable matchups on today’s docket include the Cardinals facing the Phillies, the Red Sox visiting the Cubs, and the Padres and Dodgers continuing to battle for first place in the N.L. West.
It’s a stacked schedule, but I’ve narrowed in on these three No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets for today:
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays (Game 1)
The Rays have lost four straight games, including the first two of this five-game set with the Blue Jays. They’ll look to get back in the win column this afternoon as they Shane McClanahan to the bump. The Jays go for their third straight win as they counter with Kevin Gausman in this A.L. East showdown scheduled for 12:07 p.m. ET from Rogers Centre.
McClanahan has been arguably the best starting pitcher in baseball this season. He comes in at 8-3 with a 1.77 ERA (2nd), 0.83 WHIP (2nd), and he’s struck out the second-most batters in MLB this year (123). The southpaw’s coming off of a dominant outing against the Pirates, where he limited them to one earned run on four hits over 7.0 innings.
Gausman has been a very dependable option for the Jays this year. The right-hander is 6-6 with a 2.93 ERA (17th) and 1.24 WHIP (42nd) over 15 starts. Gausman last pitched on Monday against the Red Sox, holding them scoreless over 7.0 innings and giving up just four hits and a pair of walks.
Sticking with Gausman, the veteran righty has thrown well against the Rays in his career. He’s limited them to 7-42 (.167) in his career with just two extra-base hits. As for McClanahan, I feel confident backing him in any NRFI situation this year. He posted a 1.36 ERA and 0.70 WHIP over five starts in June. Let’s ride with NRFI in game one of the doubleheader today.
Bet: Rays at Blue Jays NRFI (-128 via FanDuel)
Chicago White Sox vs. San Francisco Giants
The White Sox won last night’s series opener 1-0 in a masterful pitching performance from both staffs. We’re likely in for more of that this afternoon as the Sox go with Dylan Cease while the Giants opt for Logan Webb. Game two of the series is set for 4:05 p.m. ET from Oracle Park in San Francisco.
Cease is putting together a fantastic season for the Southsiders in 2022. The right-hander is 6-3 with a 2.56 ERA (10th) and 1.23 WHIP (40th), and his offspeed stuff has been filthy this year, leading to 121 strikeouts so far (3rd). Cease picked up a win last time out against the Orioles in a game where he went 7.0 innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits and a walk.
Webb is also in excellent form entering today’s matchup. The right-hander comes in with a 7-2 record to go along with a 3.04 ERA (22nd) and 1.12 WHIP (27th) over 15 starts. Webb threw against the Reds on Saturday, holding them scoreless over 6.0 innings and allowing just two hits and a pair of walks.
This is about as juicy of a bet that you can make with an NRFI wager at -158. However, it’s probably priced reasonably as both of these pitchers have been dominant this year. The one earned run that Cease gave up against the Orioles last time out was the only earned run he surrendered over his last six starts. He posted a 0.33 ERA over five starts in June. As for Webb, he went for a 2.08 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP over five outings in June. The right-hander also owns a 2.40 ERA at home this year. I’m pretty confident in NRFI here as the pitching will dominate this whole series.
Bet: White Sox at Giants NRFI (-158 via FanDuel)
Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals
The Fish won game one of their four-game series with the Nationals last night with a final score of 6-3. They’ll look for their third straight win this afternoon as they send Daniel Castano to the hill. The Nats will go with Jackson Tetreault in this divisional clash scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET from Nationals Park in the nation’s capital.
Castano comes into this game with an 0-1 record, 2.57 ERA, and 1.38 WHIP over six appearances (three starts) this year. The southpaw is coming off a solid outing against the Mets, where he limited them to a pair of earned runs over 7.0 innings of work. He allowed just two hits and a couple of walks in the no-decision effort.
Tetreault will make just his fourth career start this afternoon. He’s been serviceable in his big league career, posting a 2-1 record to go along with a 4.24 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. The 26-year-old last pitched on Sunday and held the Rangers to one earned run on four hits and two walks.
Castano pitched against the Nationals in May and went 2.0 innings, giving up just an unearned run on one hit. He’s limited them to 3-11 (.272) with two extra-base hits. As for Tetreault, we don’t have any head-to-head data considering he’s making just his fourth career start. However, as I mentioned, he’s coming off a quality start against the Rangers on Sunday. He should be able to hold a mediocre offense like the Marlins scoreless in the 1st. Miami is ranked 14th in team batting average (.245) and 15th in OPS (.708). I’ll gladly take a shot with a plus-money payout for NRFI in this spot.
Bet: Marlins at Nationals NRFI (+108 via FanDuel)
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