YRFI/NRFI picks (Yes/No Run First Inning) are my favorite MLB bets. And today, April 19, we've got some winners for you:
Pick 1: Astros vs Nationals No Run First Inning (-115)
Matchup Preview - Game Time: 6:45 pm ET
As we know, the Nationals are one of baseball's stingiest first-inning clubs, sporting a 13-5 NRFI record entering Friday. The Astros are 10-8 YRFI, but that doesn't doom our bet.
Mackenzie Gore starts for the Nats, and he's got a good track record vs current Astros hitters. Houston hasn't seen the lefty much, but active 'Stros hitters are just 4-for-16 against him with zero extra-base hits. As long as Gore doesn't choke, he should deliver a clean first inning.
On the other end, Justin Verlander makes his season debut for the Astros. Verlander's pedigree needs no introduction. Whether he's 100% ready or not, the right-hander faces a Nationals lineup that has scored just once in the first inning this season. That's too easy.
Pick 2: Rays vs Yankees No Run First Inning (+105)
Matchup Preview - Game Time: 7:05 pm ET
The threat to this bet begins with Rays starter Tyler Alexander. The left-hander has struggled this year (6.46 ERA), but he's been impeccable in the first inning of all his starts. Alexander has yet to allow a first-inning run, and that bodes well for our bet.
Alexander's strange first-inning tranquility meshes well with a Yankees offense that has stayed quiet in the opening frame. New York has scored runs in the first inning just once this season, putting them into a tie for an MLB-best 14-5 NRFI record.
At plus money, this is our best bet of the day.
