While the rest of the work world returns from a long weekend, it’s business as usual on the diamond for a Tuesday slate. There are a couple of new matchups that have tremendous value in the first inning. Be it a No Run First Inning or a Yes Run First Inning bet, the aim is to combine recent hitting and pitching trends, ballpark data and the first-inning moneyline tool at OddsShopper. Here are the best value plays for today’s action with the best NRFI picks today for Sunday, Sept. 6.
Best NRFI Picks Today: No Run First Inning Bets 9/4
Twins at Yankees YRFI/NRFI Pick | RISK FREE BET up to $1,000
The Yankees plated a first inning run in last night’s victory over the Twins, averaging .67 runs per first inning (RPFI) over their last three games. They face a tough matchup tonight in Joe Ryan, as Minnesota’s lone 10-game winner and pitching as the second-best arm on the team. Ryan comes in with a 1.14 WHIP, which is going to be key in keeping Aaron Judge off the basepath. Be it a walk or home run, Ryan will avoid it in the first. The Yankees send Gerrit Cole to face the Twins, as Cole enters tonight with a 1.01 WHIP, 31.3 % K rate, and a healthy 6.1% walk rate. That adds up to Cole keeping a clean sheet through one inning at home where the Yankees only give up .47 RPFI to visitors.
Best NRFI Bet Today: Twins at Yankees NRFI (-140 BetMGM)
Nationals at Cardinals YRFI/NRFI Pick | RISK FREE BET up to $1,000
Expect this line to move from plus-money by first pitch, it just doesn’t make sense sitting at +110 for a YRFI. The Nationals are winning games right now but have been solid in RPFI average on the road — .53 which is eighth best in baseball. Outside of this recent stretch, it’s the only consistently positive thing they’ve done all season. They face Jose Quintana, who enters with a 1.53 WHIP, so expect scoring chances for a team already good in the first inning. St. Louis is third best in baseball with a .74 RPFI average at home and face Paolo Espino’s 18.5% K rate. Expect scoring chances for both teams in the first inning as plus-money equals must play.
Best NRFI Bet Today: Nationals at Cardinals YRFI (+110 BetMGM)
Mets at Pirates YRFI/NRFI Pick | RISK FREE BET up to $1,000
Taijuan Walker will battle Mitch Keller in the series opener as yesterday’s game was postponed due to weather. This is a fantastic spot to catch the Mets scoring early at plus-money for two big reasons. First, it’s the Pirates and they are flat out awful. They have played better as of recent but still are top 12 in MLB in giving up RPFI at home with a .45 average on the season. Second, Keller is certainly a target for Mets bats in the bottom half as New York comes off two straight horrendous losses to the Nationals. The Mets bats will be explosive after those losses and sitting out yesterday’s rain out. Anything Pittsburgh is able to muster against Mets pitching — that has been victimized in the first inning — is house money.
Best NRFI Bet Today: Mets at Pirates YRFI (+100 BetMGM)
