Top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Odds for Thursday, June 16th (2022)
It’s a getaway day in the big leagues which means we get matinee baseball! Action gets underway at 1:35 p.m. ET from Boston as the Red Sox looks to complete the three-game sweep over the Athletics. The Padres are also looking to finish off a sweep of the Cubs in Wrigley. San Diego has scored 35 runs over the series’ first three games, and they now have a share of the lead in the NL West. Other notable games on tonight’s slate include the Yankees going for their seventh straight overall win against the Rays while the Brewers and Mets play a rubber match in New York.
I’ve narrowed in on two No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets for today’s nine-game schedule:
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Oakland Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox
The A’s have lost 13 out of their last 14 games, with five of those losses coming at the hands of the Red Sox. They’ll look to avoid the sweep this afternoon as they send Paul Blackburn to the bump. Boston will be going for their fourth straight win as Rich Hill gets the nod in the series finale. This afternoon, the first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET from Fenway Park.
Blackburn has been excellent with Oakland this season. The right-hander is 5-2 this year with a 2.31 ERA (11th) and 1.01 WHIP (16th) over 12 starts. Blackburn was great last time out, holding the Guardians scoreless over 8.0 innings of work. The 28-year-old surrendered just four hits and a walk while striking out three in the no-decision effort.
Hill will toe the rubber for the Sox this afternoon, and he’s putting together a mediocre year for Boston. The 42-year-old southpaw is 2-3 with a 4.38 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 2022. Hill last pitched on Friday against the Mariners and held them to two earned runs on five hits and two walks over 4.1 innings.
Hill just faced the A’s on June 5th and held them to one earned run over 6.0 innings. He gave up three hits and struck out five in the winning effort. The crafty veteran should have no issue carving up the lowly A’s offense right from the get-go. Oakland enters today’s game ranked 29th in OPS (.608), and they’re dead last in team batting average (.211). As for Blackburn, he was touched up for four earned runs against the Red Sox on June 4th. But the right-hander kept a clean first frame, and I’m confident he’ll be able to do the same this afternoon. He’s held Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, and J.D. Martinez to 1-5. Let’s lock in NRFI in Boston this afternoon.
Bet: Athletics at Red Sox NRFI (-110 via FanDuel)
San Diego Padres vs. Chicago Cubs
The Friars go for the four-game sweep against the Cubs this afternoon. The first pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. ET from Wrigley Field with a pitching matchup featuring Joe Musgrove and Matt Swarmer.
Musgrove has been dominant this season for San Diego. The right-hander enters today’s game at 7-0 with a 1.50 ERA (2nd) and 0.93 WHIP (7th). Musgrove’s coming off an outing where he held the Rockies scoreless over 6.0 innings of work. He limited Colorado to four hits and two walks while striking out eight batters.
Matt Swarmer will make his fourth career start this afternoon at Wrigley Field. The right-hander was tasked with facing the Yankees on Saturday, and they tagged him for six earned runs on seven hits. Swarmer took the loss in that game and moved to 1-1 on the year. He comes into today’s game with a 4.24 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.
Getting Joe Musgrove at plus-money for an NRFI bet is a no-brainer. The right-hander has been incredible this year, and he’s allowed just one earned run over his last four starts (27.0 IP). Furthermore, Musgrove hasn’t allowed an earned run over 14.0 innings of work in June. There’s not much information on Swarmer, and it’s hard to say how long his stint in the big leagues will be; however, what we do know is that he has a 1.50 ERA at home over two starts this year. He’s faced the Brewers and Cardinals at home and allowed just two earned runs over 12.0 innings. Let’s go with NRFI in this one to round out our card.
Bet: Padres at Cubs NRFI (+110 via FanDuel)
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