Y/NRFI picks are your new best friend if you want instant MLB action. Personally, I hate waiting for my bets to hit, so I'm all in on this popular betting format.
Here are my two Y/NRFI bets for Thursday, June 6:
Pick 1: Orioles vs Blue Jays: No run First inning (-115)
Matchup Preview - Game Time: 1:07 pm ET
27 straight games. That's how long the Blue Jays have gone without scoring a first-inning run. Toronto offense is lifeless, and this franchise record is all the club has to show for it. The vibes are bad, and while the Jays aren't the best NRFI club in the world, I'm happy to bet them Thursday.
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Starter Cade Povich is making his MLB debut for the O's, but Toronto's curse is more powerful than that. He'll dice in the first inning. That leaves us Yusei Kikuchi vs the O's offense, a combination that has been quite explosive in recent years. But Kikuchi has simmered in the first lately. His 4.00 ERA isn't great, but it'll be worth the risk for the sake of our NRFI bet.
Pick 2: Rockies vs Cardinals: Yes Run First Inning (+120)
Matchup Preview - Game Time: 7:45 pm ET
I grab the Rockies YRFI anytime I see it at plus money. Colorado is king of the YRFI bet, and while Cal Quantrill has been sharp as a NRFI pitcher (10-2), I'm not yet ready to believe he has turned a corner. For example, opponents are still slugging .489 vs Quantrill in the first inning, the highest such percentage out of any other inning Quantrill has pitched in. All told, the underlying metrics suggest he has been lucky.
[tor_vs_bal_bet_25_get_5:BET99-2374158]
On the other end, the Cardinals aren't as decisive with a 32-28 NRFI record. But Sonny Gray is a key component here. For all his talents, the right-hander has underperformed in the first inning this year. In 10 starts, Gray owns a 5.40 ERA in the first inning. Opponents are reaching base at a 32% clip, and the Rox are a slick offense in the first inning.
At +120 odds, there's no better value pick for Y/NRFI formats.