Top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Odds for Thursday: Blue Jays vs. Twins (8/4)
Let’s take a look at some No Runs First Inning prop bet odds and picks for today’s game: Blue Jays vs. Twins.
Top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Odds: Blue Jays vs. Twins
The Blue Jays and Twins are set to open up a four-game series tonight at Target Field. We only get these cross-divisional matchups a few times a year, and with this being a potential playoff series, it’s shaping up to be a fun series from a baseball fan’s perspective. The pitching matchup is a good one with Alek Manoah going for the Jays while Sonny Gray takes the ball for the Twins. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET in this one.
Manoah hasn’t been as dominant as he was to start the season, but the right-hander is still putting together a very solid year. He comes in at 11-5 with a 2.43 ERA (6th), and 0.99 WHIP (11th) over 20 starts this year. Manoah last threw against the Tigers on Friday, and they tagged him for four earned runs over 5.1 innings of work. He surrendered seven hits and a walk while striking out four in the losing effort.
Gray’s been a serviceable option for the Twins this season. The right-handed veteran is 6-3 with a 3.41 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 15 starts. Most recently, Gray pitched against the Padres and limited them to one earned run on five hits and a walk over 5.0 innings. He earned his second straight win, and the team improved to 10-5 in his starts in 2022.
Gray has allowed just two earned runs over his last two starts (11.0 IP). As for head-to-head stats, this vaunted Toronto lineup is 12-49 (.245) against him with six extra-base hits. George Springer is 5-19 (.263), Matt Chapman is 2-4 (.500) with a home run, and he hasn’t faced Vladdy Jr. yet in his career. Considering his recent form, I expect Gray to be competitive and vie for a scoreless first inning. On the flip side, the Twins are 4-14 (.286) against Manoah, with Luis Arraez at 1-3 (.333), Byron Buxton at 1-2 (.500), and Jorge Polanco at 1-3 (.333). Both of these guys are going to have their work cut out for them tonight, but they’ve proven to be some of the better starters in baseball this year. I like to take a shot with NRFI in Minneapolis tonight.
Bet: Blue Jays at Twins NRFI (-120 via DraftKings)
What are Player Props?
Player props refer to wagers that bettors can make based on player performance in a specific game. The majority of player props are built around the most common statistical benchmarks for a specific sport such as yards and touchdowns in football. Most player props are straight over/under plays that open at or near -110 and are adjusted based on where the money lands.
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