One of the shortest-lasting bets you can make in an MLB game is if a run will be scored in the first inning. All it takes is 6 outs to glory, but one swing of the bat can make or break your bet. There is also a lot of value in these bets because the odds are usually very well priced, and if you’re not a fan of sweating out your bets for 3 hours, this one will take only about 15 minutes to win or lose.
There are 2 YRFI/NRFI bets I like today, so let’s get right into it.
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Baltimore Orioles vs Boston Red Sox: NRFI (-115)
This exact matchup between Michael Wacha and Kyle Bradish occurred just over a month ago in Baltimore, and it took until the 5th inning for a run to be scored. Wacha has thrown a scoreless first frame in both of his starts against the Orioles this season and in all 3 of his most recent starts. He gets the benefit of starting at home on Tuesday, and that has made all the difference for Wacha this season as he’s posted a 1.72 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in 9 starts at Fenway Park. Opponents are hitting just .195 against him in his 9 starts at home, and this might be Wacha’s last start at Fenway, so expect him to go out with a bang.
Kyle Bradish was terrible in the first half of the season. The rookie did not look ready for the big leagues as opponents were hitting .339 against him, but all he needed was a little time to settle in. In 11 starts since the all-star break, he has a 2.67 ERA and is allowing only a .205 batting average. His most recent start was against the Astros, and he threw 8.2 scoreless innings and surrendered only 2 hits. And in his most recent start against Boston, Bradish threw 7 innings and allowed just 1 run and 2 hits. This should be a lower-scoring game and it starts with a scoreless first inning.
Be sure to check out our full Baltimore Orioles vs Boston Red Sox predictions
Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres: NRFI (-140)
It can be dangerous taking a NRFI when players like Juan Soto, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman will be batting, but the pitching matchup in this game is too hard to pass up. Tyler Anderson will be opposed by Blake Snell, and both starters have been stellar in the first inning this season. Snell has thrown a scoreless first frame in 17 of his last 18 starts, which include 11 of his 12 starts in the second half of the season. The lefty turned his season around at the all-star break as he’s accumulated a 2.42 ERA since mid-July after posting a 5.22 ERA in the first half of the year. In the first inning, opponents have a .133 batting average and a .235 OBP, as he’s been one of the toughest pitchers to face in the beginning of the game.
Tyler Anderson has thrown a scoreless first inning in 13 of his last 15 starts. Opponents are hitting just .170 with a .204 OBP against him in the first inning, and the Padres have struggled against Anderson. San Diego has yet to score against Anderson in the first inning through 4 starts, so the lefty has been quick to move through the top of the Padres order. The setting for this game will be Petco Park, which has been arguably the most pitcher-friendly park in baseball this season. According to ESPN’s park factors, it is ranked as the most pitcher-friendly park when it comes to scoring a run or recording a hit. It’s a park that heavily favors the pitchers. All we need is 6 outs and we have ourselves a win.
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