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 only take 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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Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox: NRFI (-118)
If you’ve been following along with these first inning bets this season, you might have noticed that I am a big fan of backing Dylan Bundy whenever he starts. The veteran is having a very mediocre season, but he’s been incredible in the first frame all season long. He has not allowed a first inning run in 9 of his last 10 starts, and the one outing he did was against the star-studded Astros. Of that 10-game span, 2 of the 9 times he has not allowed a first inning run came against the White Sox. Bundy has a 3.13 ERA and has limited opponents to a .221 batting average in the first frame this season, and until he starts to falter in the first inning, I’ll continue to back him for a scoreless first frame.
Looking at Lucas Giolito’s first inning stats for the entire season does not offer a lot of confidence for a 0-0 first inning, but the majority of those bad first frames came at the beginning of the season. He has not allowed a first inning run in 6 of his last 7 starts, and in his one outing against the Twins back in April, he pitched a scoreless first inning. There is value in this bet, so back the NRFI in Chicago.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Twins vs. White Sox
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks: NRFI (-120)
Zac Gallen has burst onto the scene this season and has been one of the game’s emerging stars. He has a 2.53 ERA through 145.2 innings, but he’s been the best pitcher in baseball since the all-star break. Gallen is 6-0 with a 0.69 ERA in 52 innings in the second half of the season and has limited the opponent’s batting average to .145. He’s been nothing short of amazing in that span, and a good place to capitalize on his success is in the first inning. Gallen has a 1.44 ERA and a .165 BAA in the first frame this season, so it’s not surprising he’s been one of the most profitable NRFI pitchers in the game in 2022.
Jason Alexander has had a tough rookie season this far, but he gets the benefit of facing an Arizona lineup that is known for starting slowly. The Diamondbacks have scored a first inning run in just 2 of their last 12 games, so I do anticipate Alexander getting a hit, but it will likely take a few batters for that to happen. He’s my only worry in this bet not cashing, but his rough start to his MLB career gives this bet far better odds than I expected. With Gallen on the mound and a slow starting Diamondbacks team, I’ll back the NRFI in Arizona.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for the Brewers vs Diamondbacks.
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