Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
We are wrapping up the first weekend of the 2023 Major League Baseball season with a full 15-game schedule on Sunday. As usual, it includes 14 afternoon games before Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN puts an exclamation point on the action with the Philadelphia Phillies going up against the Texas Rangers.
The YRFI/NRFI market has become extremely popular in baseball betting. After all, you don’t have to sit around for 3 hours (or maybe less now that games are not as long on average!) if your bet hits; the satisfaction (or in some cases disappointment) is immediate. It all comes down to the first inning.
Here are my best YRFI/NRFI bets for Sunday, and also be sure to check out all of our MLB picks.
You can bet on today’s sports action over at DraftKings Sportsbook, which has a great sign-up offer where you can bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets if your team wins! Click here to take advantage and claim your bonus bets right now.
Minnesota Twins vs Kansas City Royals: NRFI (-115)
Joe Ryan impressed for the Twins throughout 2022, going 13-8 record with a 3.55 ERA and 1.10 WHIP while racking up 151 strikeouts in 147.0 innings of work. No team did he befuddle to a greater extent than the Royals. Ryan worked more innings against Kansas City (24.0) than he did against any other opponent and limited its lineup to a total of 3 runs (1.13 ERA). The right-hander allowed a first-inning run just once in 4 starts against K.C. and in his last 11.1 innings against the Royals he did not surrender a single run.
Although Kansas City starter Brad Keller doesn’t inspire quite as much confidence as Ryan, the fact that both offenses have been anemic so far in 2023 means both pitchers have a good chance to be perfect in the early stages. Both games in this season-opening series between the Twins and Royals have ended in 2-0 scorelines (both in Minnesota’s favor). Unsurprisingly, neither contest produced a run in the opening frame.
Unibet has arrived, and you can get $100 in bonus bets by signing up right now. Click here to join Unibet and lock in their great new customer bonus.
Toronto Blue Jays vs St. Louis Cardinals: NRFI (-125)
Chris Bassitt is making his debut for the Blue Jays following a season with the New York Mets, during which he compiled a 15-9 record with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in addition to recording 167 strikeouts compared to only 49 walks. Bassitt was especially successful late in the 2022 campaign. He had a 3.20 ERA in July, a 1.62 ERA in August and a 2.93 ERA in September. As such, the right-hander should be putting on Blue Jay blue with a lot of confidence. Moreover, having pitched in the National League last season he has some familiarity with St. Louis. He made 2 starts against the Cardinals and limited them to 4 runs in 12.1 innings of work. Bassitt did not allow a first-inning run on either occasion.
Going for the Cardinals on Sunday is Jordan Montgomery, who was effective for both the Yankees and the Cards in 2022. Across both stops he went 9-6 with a 3.48 ERA. The left-hander faced Toronto twice before leaving New York and allowed a modest 4 runs in 11.0 innings. He did not surrender a run in the first inning in either outing against the Jays.
Bet like a Caesar with this awesome new customer offer from Caesars, where you can get up to $1,250 back on your first bet! Click here to join Caesars, where you can bet on these YRFI/NRFI picks.
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.
