Mark Lammey
Show Bio
We’re back with another full MLB slate on Saturday. We’ve got 15 games going on, beginning with early afternoon action. There’s some tense divisional battles going on, which can make sides difficult to predict. Rather than sweating out a 3-hour long bet, there’s a great market that can boost your bankroll in just the first 6 outs.
By predicting if a run will be scored in the 1st inning or not, we can profit in about 15 minutes. We’ve broken down the entire slate of games and have the best spots targeted 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.
Bet $5 on any MLB game today at DraftKings Sportsbook and get $100 in free bets instantly! New customers sign up here to claim now. No promo code is required.
Toronto Blue Jays vs Texas Rangers: YRFI (+105)
Unfortunately we aren’t getting started with any of the early afternoon games, but forcing a play is never the right call. Regardless, the Blue Jays and Rangers should come through for us to make it worth the wait.
The Rangers have not had the season they were hoping for, but they have some of the best hitters in the league at the top of their lineup. Marcus Semien has been famous for his power and his 45 homers were the 3rd-most in baseball last season. He crushed those bombs with the Blue Jays, so he’ll be out for revenge against his former team. Behind him is Corey Seager and his 29 homers, the 5th-most in the AL this year. If that wasn’t enough, Nate Lowe’s 152 hits are the 4th-most in the AL. Those studs will be hitting Jays starter Kevin Gausman. He just allowed a 1st-inning run against the O’s in his last start. Both Seager and Lowe are 2-for-3 with an RBI against him.
Not only is that matchup incredible, the Jays hitters have an advantageous one as well. They produced 2 runs in the 1st inning when Gausman faced the Rangers earlier in the year. Now they get to hit Texas starter Kohei Arihara. He’s been great to pick on since coming over from Japan. He allowed a 1st-inning run against the AL-worst A’s in his first start, and just did against the Red Sox in his last outing. Now he faces George Springer, who has the 4th-most leadoff home runs in MLB history. Even if he doesn’t get it done, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is there to follow things up, so expect an early run in this game.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for the Toronto Blue Jays vs Texas Rangers
Arizona Diamondbacks vs Colorado Rockies: YRFI (-160)
Rockies home games are usually matchups I try to avoid due to their expensive price. However, there are times it truly is warranted. Coors Field in Colorado is what makes YRFI plays more expensive, and both teams used it to their advantage by scoring in the 1st inning last night.
The mile-high air is nice and thin, allowing balls to carry out of the stadium. Rockies hitter CJ Cron hit a 504-foot homer last night, and Brewers Christian Yelich recently hit one 499 feet there earlier this week. That’s why it was such a great location for last season’s home-run derby. It’s also why Cron and the Rockies should score in this 1st inning. They’re going to be taking on Diamondbacks starter Madison Bumgarner. Right off the bat, Colorado has a great matchup. Bumgarner is a lefty, and the Rockies have the 5th-highest OPS against lefties this season. They’ve even moved Cron up to the number 3 spot in the lineup, which only helps this play. Mad Bum has struggled this season with 13 losses, and there’s been a run scored in both of his starts against the Rockies this season.
To make this play even better, Arizona’s lineup scored in the 1st inning in both of those games. That should continue with them hitting Colorado starter Jose Urena. He just had back-to-back starts against the Diamondbacks last month, and allowed 1st-inning runs in both of them. Those were also different games than Bumgarner’s, meaning this is quite a common occurrence. Every game between these teams with their respective starters on the mound has had runs in the 1st inning, so expect more of the same on Saturday.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for the Arizona Diamondbacks vs Colorado Rockies
How to bet YRFI & NRFI bets risk-free
New Fanduel Sportsbook users can lock in a $150 risk-free bet on any market! Here’s how to claim:
- Click here to register for a new FanDuel Sportsbook account. No promo code is required.
- Make a first-time deposit
- Simply place your first real-money wager on a YRFI or NRFI or any other MLB market you want to bet.
- Regardless if your bet wins or loses, you win $150 in free bets. All winning bets will be fulfilled within 72 hours if they win.
- Sign up now to claim your $150 risk-free YRFI/NRFI bet
Pickswise is the home of free MLB Picks. Check out the latest MLB Prop Bets and MLB Parlays as well as our MLB Best Bets from the experts.
