Mark Lammey
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After a small Thursday slate in the MLB, we’re back with a jam-packed Friday. All of the weekend series are underway, but unfortunately there aren’t any early afternoon games. However, we can still get some early action going with these 1st-inning plays. By predicting if a run will be scored or not in the 1st inning, we can boost our bankroll in just 6 outs. If profiting in about 15 minutes sounds good, then these are the plays for you. Along with these early plays, be sure to check out our MLB picks for all of today’s games.
Let’s take a closer look at my 2 favorite YRFI/NRFI bets for today.
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Oakland Athletics vs Baltimore Orioles: NRFI (-120)
It’s not quite the first game of the evening, but the A’s and O’s are getting things started after they each had to wrap up their previous series last night. The A’s are headed across route 95 from Washington to a much tougher O’s team. Although they produced a 1st-inning run in the opener of that series, the Nationals have the league’s worst overall pitching staff. Despite that, Oakland is still the 6th-lowest scoring team in the 1st inning.
That shouldn’t be too surprising given they have the 2nd-lowest OPS and have scored the 2nd-fewest runs in the league. Now they face O’s starter Dean Kremer, who has quietly had a strong season. He just kept the American League-best Astros scoreless in the 1st inning, and gave up just a single run across 7.2 innings. One of the few teams scoring even less than the A’s in the 1st inning is the O’s. They’ve scored the 4th-fewest in that regard, and now face lefty JP Sears.
He went to the A’s from the Yankees in the Frankie Montas trade, and has been looking great. Not only did he just hold his former team scoreless in the 1st inning, he hasn’t allowed a run in any of his 4 starts with his new team. Now he gets to face a Baltimore lineup that has the 7th-lowest OPS against lefties this season. These were 2 teams projected to be the worst in the league this season. While the O’s have overperformed, they should both look like they were expected to in the 1st inning of this game.
Be sure to check out our full Oakland Athletics vs Baltimore Orioles predictions
Texas Rangers vs Boston Red Sox: YRFI (-130)
It’s likely no surprise where we’re headed for our next play and why. The Rangers are starting Dallas Keuchel against the Red Sox on Friday. After allowing 33 runs in 8 starts, the White Sox no longer wanted him. A month later the Diamondbacks gave him a shot. They cut ties with him 4 starts later. Now the Rangers have given him a third chance this season, and he was smacked around by the Tigers for 7 runs and 11 hits in his first start with the team. They’re the league’s lowest scoring team, and scored twice in the 1st inning against him.
Now Keuchel faces some of the league’s doubles leaders with Alex Verdugo, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers. Along with Tommy Pham leading off in front of those guys, expect Keuchel to look just as bad as he has all season. Even the Rangers may get on the board before he even has a chance to continue his struggles.
They may not be having the season they’d like, but the top of their lineup is stacked as well. Led by Corey Seager’s 29, each of their top 4 hitters has at least 20 home runs. Similarly, Adolis Garcia’s 80 RBI are the 5th-most in the AL. They were able to score twice on the AL-best Astros heading into this series, and have a great opportunity against Sox starter Nick Pivetta. He’s allowed a 1st-inning run in 3 of his last 6 starts, including against a mediocre Royals lineup. Simply put, the top half of each lineup should outperform the pitching on the mound.
Be sure to check out our full Texas Rangers vs Boston Red Sox predictions
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