Top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Odds for Sunday, June 26th (2022)
The MLB weekend wraps up with a 15-game schedule this afternoon, with action getting underway at 12:05 p.m. E.T. from Florida as the New York Mets take on the Miami Marlins. A few other notable games include the Yankees trying to bounce back after being no-hit yesterday by the Astros and the Orioles trying to complete a four-game sweep over the White Sox. We end the night with Sunday Night Baseball, and it’s a rubber match between the Dodgers and Braves at Truist Park.
There are plenty of betting options on the board today, but let’s dive into my top three No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets for the day.
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees
Cristian Javier, Hector Neris, and Ryan Pressly combined for a no-hitter yesterday in a 3-0 win over the Yankees. Houston will try to win the series 3-1 this afternoon as they send Jose Urquidy to the bump. The Yankees counter with Nestor Cortes in this A.L. matchup scheduled for 1:35 p.m E.T. from Yankee Stadium.
Urquidy has been serviceable for the Astros this season as he enters with a 6-3 record, 4.68 ERA, and 1.46 WHIP over 13 starts. The right-hander is coming off a quality start, where he limited the Mets to one earned run on four hits and a walk over 6.0 innings of work. Urquidy earned the win, and the team improved to 9-4 in his starts this year.
Cortes has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this year. The left-hander comes into this game with a 6-3 record to go along with a 2.31 ERA (7th) and 0.96 WHIP (8th) over 13 outings. However, he’s coming off of one of his worst starts of the year against the Rays. Tampa Bay touched him for four earned runs on six hits over just 4.1 innings.
Cortes boasts a 1.53 ERA at home this season, and his WHIP is 0.85 at Yankee Stadium. While he didn’t have his best stuff last time, we all know what Nasty Nestor is capable of. On the flip side, Urquidy has posted two straight quality starts and limited a scrappy Mets team to one run over 6.0 innings in the last game he pitched. He’s held the Yankees to just 4-20 (.200) in his career, so I feel comfortable backing him in the Bronx today. Let’s go NRFI here.
Bet: Astros at Yankees NRFI (-122 via FanDuel)
Oakland Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals
It’s a rubber match in Kansas City as these two A.L. bottom feeders go at it at Kauffman Stadium. The Athletics will send James Kaprielian to the bump while the Royals go with Brady Singer in the series finale set for 2:10 p.m. E.T.
Kaprielian hasn’t been throwing well this year. He comes in with a 0-5 record, 5.98 ERA, and 1.48 WHIP over 10 starts. Most recently, the right-hander pitched against the Mariners and limited them to a pair of earned runs on five hits and two walks over 5.1 innings of work.
Singer has struggled since coming up to the big leagues in 2020. However, his numbers in 2022 are a 3-2 record, a 4.34 ERA, and a 1.18 WHIP, so he’s trending in the right direction relative to his career numbers. The righty pitched against Oakland last Sunday, giving up three runs on six hits over 5.1 innings.
I like Kaprielian for one reason today: his head-to-head stats. The right-hander has held the Royals to 0-13 in the batter’s box over his career, including 0-3’s from Whit Merrifield and Andrew Benintendi. As for Singer, he’ll be facing the literal worst offense in baseball today. Oakland ranks dead last in both team batting average (.211) and OPS (.603), so look for Singer to mow them down early and often today. Let’s ride with NRFI here.
Bet: Athletics at Royals NRFI (-128 via FanDuel)
Philadelphia Phillies vs. San Diego Padres
The Padres look to salvage a series split today at home as they turn to Yu Darvish to handle the starting pitching responsibilities. The Phillies go with Kyle Gibson in the series finale slated for 4:10 p.m. E.T. from Petco Park.
Gibson has been one of the more consistent pitchers for the Fightin’ Phils this season. The right-hander comes in with a 4-3 record, 4.06 ERA (47th), and 1.21 WHIP (40th). Gibson last pitched on Tuesday against the Rangers and surrendered three earned runs on seven hits over 6.1 innings. It was his third straight quality start.
Darvish is putting together a nice season and enters with a 7-3 record, 3.17 ERA (25th), and 0.96 WHIP (9th) over 13 starts. The veteran right-hander spun a gem last time, holding the Diamondbacks to one earned run on four hits over 7.0 innings. He struck out five in the winning effort, and the team improved to 9-4 in his starts this year.
Starting with Darvish, he has one of the biggest discrepancies in his home/away splits. The right-hander sees his ERA come down to 1.34 at home, and his WHIP sits at just 0.65. He’s limited the Phillies to a .222 batting average over 99 at-bats, and it’s worth mentioning that Philly will be without Bryce Harper for a while. The star broke his hand courtesy of a 97-mph heater from Blake Snell in last night’s game. Gibson has faced this Padres roster in 135 at-bats and given up 39 hits (.289). However, he’s allowed just nine extra-base hits over that sample size. The 34-year-old pitched against the Padres in May and held them to a pair of runs over 5.2 innings. Let’s round out the card with NRFI in San Diego this afternoon.
Bet: Phillies at Padres NRFI (-136 via FanDuel)
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