Mark Lammey
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Thursdays in the MLB don’t provide quite as many games, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make it a profitable day. There are series wrapping up and series with new beginnings. We even have early afternoon baseball. Just as the day gets started early, let’s boost the bankroll nice and early. By targeting if a run will be scored in the 1st inning or not, we can profit in just about 15 minutes. It’s a bit tougher to find the best spots with such few games, but that’s why we’ve broken down each game to find those advantageous positions. 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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Seattle Mariners vs Detroit Tigers: NRFI (-125)
It’s only fitting to get our early 1st-inning plays started with the first game of the day. Just hours after Wednesday night’s win, the Mariners are out for the sweep and the Tigers are looking to salvage what they can. With such a short turnaround and Seattle leaving for their weekend series in Cleveland, which starts tomorrow, there’s a chance of resting key players. That would include rookie sensation Julio Rodriguez. He’s their leadoff man and the Mariners’ best opportunity to produce off of Tigers starter Eduardo Rodriguez. That will only help this play, and still isn’t even a necessity.
E-Rod has looked great since he returned. He’s had just 2 starts, but has allowed only 1 run across 11.0 innings. He even kept Shohei Ohtani in check in his very first start back. Seattle starter Logan Gilbert should also get off to a great start against the league’s lowest-scoring team. Since opening day, he’s allowed a 1st-inning run just 3 times. Those runs came against the Yankees, Astros and Blue Jays. Those are some of the best lineups — specifically at the top of the order — in the league. Now he’s facing a far weaker Tigers lineup in a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Comerica Park in Detroit ranks 25th for home runs, which should only help both arms on the mound to prevent any runs from being scored in the 1st inning.
Be sure to check out our full Seattle Mariners vs Detroit Tigers predictions
Baltimore Orioles vs Cleveland Guardians: NRFI (-110)
Let’s plan on transitioning our winnings from the early game into this evening game. We won’t have to wait too long for the Orioles and Guardians to close out their series. They’re doing so with Cleveland having their ace, Shane Bieber, on the mound. He’s been a stud when it comes to not allowing a run in the 1st inning. He hasn’t allowed one in 14 of his last 16 starts, and the O’s do not look like the team that will break that trend. They’re the 4th-lowest scoring team in the 1st inning, and their average goes down even further when they’re on the road.
With Progressive Field in Cleveland being much more pitcher-friendly than Camden Yards in Baltimore, that should also help O’s starter Kyle Bradish. Bieber was the easier side of the play to trust, but the more unknown Bradish doesn’t have as much history. However, he’s coming off of an incredible start against the AL-best Astros. He held them scoreless and to just 2 hits for 8.0 innings in their upset last weekend. That also means he’s starting this game on 6 days’ rest. He’s been much stronger recently, preventing a 1st-inning run in each of his last 4 starts. If he can keep the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Astros at bay, he should do his part against the Guardians tonight.
Be sure to check out our full Baltimore Orioles vs Cleveland Guardians predictions
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