Top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Odds for Sunday, May 15th (2022)

MLB action gets started at 11:35 a.m. ET from Georgia as the Atlanta Braves host the San Diego Padres in a rubber match of their three-game set. 14 games follow the morning contest with a Sunday Night Baseball matchup between the Giants and Cardinals rounding out the weekend. Below I've listed three No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets that I'll be locking in for today's MLB slate.

Odds courtesy of FanDuel

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The Blue Jays and Rays split the first two games of their weekend series with game three set for a 1:40 p.m. ET first pitch from "The Trop." Toronto won yesterday's matchup 5-2 and they'll send Alek Manoah to the bump as they look for their second straight win. As for the Rays, they'll opt for an opener in Jeffrey Springs as they look to bounce back and win the series. 

Alek Manoah has been the best starting pitcher on Toronto's staff this season. The 24-year-old right-hander is 4-0 on the year with a 1.75 ERA and 0.89 WHIP over six starts. Manoah's ERA ranks seventh amongst qualified pitchers while his WHIP is the fifth-best in the Majors. He made his last start a week ago today, limiting the Guardians to two earned runs over 5.0 innings of work in a no-decision. Manoah allowed five hits and a walk while striking out three batters in the outing. 

While Jeffrey Springs isn't a household name, the left-hander has been dependable for the Rays in 10 appearances this season. He's posted a 1-1 record to go along with a 2.12 ERA and 0.76 WHIP and has made two starts for Tampa. Springs last pitched on Monday against the Angels, surrendering three earned runs on three hits and no walks over 4.0 innings. It's worth noting for our bet that those three runs didn't come until the 4th inning, so it was a clean first frame for Springs.

Manoah has been incredible to start the year for the Jays and I don't see any reason why that won't continue... at least through the 1st inning this afternoon. The righty has faced the Rays in 63 at-bats and he's given up just eight hits and no home runs. As for Springs, he's limited the Jays to 5-30 in head-to-head matchups with just Vladimir Guerrero Jr. taking him deep. If he can get past Vladdy Jr. in the 1st, we should be able to start the day with a winner on our NRFI bets. 

Bet: Blue Jays at Rays NRFI (-132 via FanDuel)

Cleveland Guardians vs. Minnesota Twins 

Cleveland picked up the extra-inning win yesterday in Minnesota to even the weekend series at one win each. They'll look to narrow the 2.0-game gap between them and the Twins in the A.L. Central this afternoon as they give Triston McKenzie the nod. Minnesota will go with Joe Ryan in the series finale scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET from Target Field.

McKenzie has been pretty reliable for the Guardians in 2022 - especially as a guy who is in the fifth spot in the rotation. The right-hander has a 2-2 record over six starts and he's posted a 2.76 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Most recently, he recorded a quality start and his second straight win when he limited the Blue Jays to a pair of earned runs over 6.0 innings pitched. 

Joe Ryan started out the year with an incredible stretch, allowing just three earned runs over his first four starts. The 25-year-old hurler was touched up for four runs against the Astros last time out and he issued five free passes. Even with the rough outing on Tuesday, Ryan has a 3-2 record to go along with a 2.56 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over six starts. 

The most important factor in this NRFI wager is the head-to-head statistics that we can pull. Triston McKenzie has squared off against the Twins' lineup in 41 at-bats and limited them to just four hits. As for Joe Ryan, he's faced Cleveland in 24 AB's and yielded a pair of singles while striking out five batters. And it's worth noting that the always-dangerous Jose Ramirez is 0-5 against Ryan. Both pitchers have been in great form overall in 2022, so let's ride with NRFI in this A.L. Central showdown.

Bet: Guardians at Twins NRFI (-130 via FanDuel)

San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals bounced back to even the three-game series at one game apiece thanks to a 4-0 victory yesterday. St. Louis will look to build off of the win as they send veteran Adam Wainwright to the hill in the rubber match. The Giants counter with Carlos Rodon in this Sunday Night Baseball showdown set for 7:08 ET from Busch Stadium. 

Rodon came over from the White Sox via free agency in the offseason, inking a two-year, $44 million deal with San Francisco. The left-hander hasn't skipped a beat in 2022, posting a 1.80 ERA over six starts while his WHIP sits at 0.91 entering tonight's contest. Rodon is 4-1 and he's struck out the sixth most batters in the league this season (53). The 29-year-old hurler started on Monday night against the Rockies, allowing just two earned runs over 6.0 innings pitched. 

It'll be the tried-and-true veteran, Adam Wainwright going for the Cardinals in game three tonight. The 40-year-old is 3-3 in 2022 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in six starts. He's coming off of a strong outing where he shut down the Royals over 7.0 innings of work. Waino held Kansas City scoreless and allowed just one hit and one walk in 89 pitches. 

When you think of these two franchises, you think of pitching. Wainwright has been a mainstay at the top of the rotation for almost two decades for St. Louis while Rodon reinforces an already lethal starting rotation for the Giants. Both starters are coming off of great outings where they didn't yield their opposition a run in the 1st inning and I like for that trend to continue tonight. The Cardinals lineup has faced Rodon in 31 at-bats and they've only recorded four hits. As for Wainwright, he's always been a guy who rises up when the spotlight focuses on him. Look for him to be dialed in the first time through the order and throw a scoreless 1st. Take NRFI for tonight's SNB matchup in St. Louis.

Bet: Giants at Cardinals NRFI (-148 via FanDuel)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts

Whether you're new to sports betting or a betting pro, our Sports Betting Strategy and Advice page is for you. You can get started with our 101 section - including 10 Sports Betting Tips for Beginners - or head to more advanced strategy - like Key Numbers When Betting Against the Spread - to learn more.