MLB picks Wednesday 5/17 - YRFI & NRFI best bets today: Philly can strike first  

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper
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Ricky Dimon

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Since graduating from Davidson (The College That Stephen Curry Built), I have been writing about sports -- just about any and all you can think of! -- and coaching tennis in Atlanta, GA. Beyond the four major sports, I am an avid tennis fan and cover the ATP Tour on a daily basis. If I'm not busy writing, you can generally find me on a tennis court or traveling the world wherever a sporting event takes me. For Ricky Dimon media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.
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The Major League Baseball week continues with a full 15-game slate on Wednesday. There are all kinds of options as we try to come up with some successful YRFI/NRFI bets. The Pickswise experts have won 22 of their last 28 YRFI/NRFI plays, so let’s keep the momentum going!

This market has become extremely popular in baseball betting. After all, you don’t have to sit around for 3 hours (or maybe a lot less now that games are not as long on average!) to see if your wager 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 Wednesday, and also be sure to check out all of our MLB picks. 

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Philadelphia Phillies vs San Francisco Giants: YRFI (-130)

Hopefully the Phillies will just go ahead and cash the YRFI in the top of the first inning. Ross Stripling is toeing the rubber for the Giants and he has been horrendous in 2023. The right-hander is saddled with a 7.14 ERA through 8 appearances (4 starts). Since getting back into the rotation this month, Stripling has been hopeless the first time through the order. He allowed a first-inning run to Houston and then against Milwaukee and Arizona he gave up a combined 7 runs in the first 3 innings. Now the 33-year-old faces a dangerous Philadelphia lineup. Bryson Stott is 2-for-5 with a home run against him, Kyle Schwarber has also taken him deep and Bryce Harper is 6-for-10 with 2 doubles.

San Francisco also has a good chance to score right away. Philly is going with Taijuan Walker, who has also been awful. He is sporting a 5.75 ERA and in 3 May outings that number has ballooned to 7.04. Walker has surrendered a first-inning run in 2 of his last 5 appearances and during this stretch the Mariners also got him for a 5-spot in the second frame. It could be either offense (or both), so this game feels like a YRF 

 

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Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins: NRFI (-136)

The Marlins have scored the fewest runs in the National League (146) and it isn’t even close. Unsurprisingly, the Nationals aren’t much better (their 171 runs are 3rd-worst in the NL and only 1 out of 2nd-worst). Miami’s Luis Arraez and Washington’s Joey Meneses are dangerous hitters near the top of each lineup, but neither one is a threat to end the NRFI with one swing of the bat. It should also be noted that no player on either team has had more than 2 hits off the opposing pitcher in his career.

Those pitchers are Edward Cabrera of the Marlins and Mackenzie Gore of the Nationals. Cabrera hasn’t been spectacular in 2023, but he has allowed a first-inning run only once in his last 4 starts. Gore, on the other hand, has been in great form. He is 3-2 with a 3.29 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 41.0 innings of work. The 24-year-old lefty has delivered a clean sheet in the opening frame on 6 of 8 occasions this season. Let’s roll with the NRFI in a matchup that favors the pitchers.

The YRFI/NRFI market is also available at DraftKings Sportsbook and if you sign up right now, then you can bet $5 and secure $150 in bonus bets IMMEDIATELY! Head over to DraftKings now by clicking this link. 

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. 

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