Best NRFI Bets Today
There's plenty to love about the slate in Major League Baseball on Wednesday, and we'll celebrate with the NRFI -- No Runs in the First Inning.
(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
I'm not fearful of two strong offenses doing battle in Minnesota, and will bet on two fantastic NRFI pitchers there and will look for similarly positive records in Arizona. We'll also hit on the improving Joe Musgrove against Andre Pallante in St. Louis.
Let's check out some of the most profitable NRFI spots and get deeper into the slate, handing out MLB NRFI predictions for Wednesday, August 28th.
MLB NRFI Betting Prediction for Braves vs Twins
The Braves and Twins have two of the most formidable offenses in baseball, but that hasn't necessarily always been the case in the last couple of weeks.
- Atlanta's experienced a continued power outage in the last two weeks as it now plays without Austin Riley, who joins Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna, Jr. on the injured list.
- Minnesota has hit .251 over that period in time as Royce Lewis has begun to struggle a bit and some hitters later in the order have worked to keep things afloat.
That'll set things up nicely for Chris Sale and David Festa, who have combined to post a 22-9 NRFI record this season.
- The rookie right-hander is now a perfect 7-0 while Sale's hit the NRFI in four straight.
The top of the Minnesota order gets significantly weaker with a left-hander on the hill as Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner -- the team's two hottest hitters -- take a seat as well as cleanup hitter Eduoard Julien.
Atlanta will be relying upon Whit Merrifield, who has improved since changing teams but has still had a down season as he nears retirement and while Jorge Soler has posted a 43 wRC+ in a small two-week sample, Matt Olson hasn't been much better hitting .245.
There shouldn't be too much to fear here, and I like both pitchers to make a fast start.
NRFI Prediction: Braves vs Twins NRFI (-130 at Caesars)
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MLB NRFI Betting Prediction for Padres vs Cardinals
For all the issues Joe Musgrove has had this season, he's been fantastic in getting his outings underway. He's now hit the NRFI in five straight games to total an 8-5 record this season, while Andre Pallante owns a shiny 12-2 NRFI record on the other side of this matchup.
- Pallante's pedigree as a reliever has led to strong numbers the first time through the orders with some issues later on in games and his profile as a strike-thrower should work well here against a contact-oriented Padres team that has been built around contact of any kind and hasn't hit for much power this season.
- Musgrove profiles similarly as a guy who's relied on his fielders to get him outs, and his preference for fly balls should help him to a clean first in one of the hardest parks in the league to find the seats.
The Cardinals are enjoying what Masyn Winn and Alec Burleson have given them atop the lineup, but the pair haven't been walking much and haven't hit for power which should aid Musgrove in his quest for a NRFI.
Leadoff man Luis Arraez remains a strong contact hitter, but in the last two weeks Jurickson Profar is hitting just .220 behind him in the order while Jake Cronenworth has returned to his 2023 form with a .209 average.
There isn't too much in the way for two arms who have owned excellent numbers in the first inning this year.
NRFI Betting Prediction: Padres vs Cardinals NRFI (-111 at FanDuel)
MLB NRFI Betting Prediction for Mets vs Diamondbacks
The New York Mets are back to raking, but now they'll move to Arizona where home runs are hard to come by. This team has thrived off of power when it's been at its best, and there should be a number of long flyouts on Wednesday against Eduardo Rodriguez.
- Not only do the Diamondbacks own one of the best outfield defenses in the league, the Mets have much to figure out atop the order with left-handed hitting Brandon Nimmo at a platoon disadvantage as he works himself out of a slump.
- I expect Rodriguez to continue pitching well to fly balls in a friendly environment against a team which loves to put the ball in the air, and the lack of walks for the first four in this order should make life all the more difficult in the first.
- Rodriguez has now made three starts since missing the bulk of the season due to injury, and he's cashed the NRFI in each one.
In the home half, we'll see Luis Severino deal to an Arizona team which has stopped out-slugging the world -- and he's one of the very best NRFI pitcher in the league in throwing up 23 zeroes in 25 starts.
Arizona's ISO is down to .170 in the last two weeks, and against a ground-ball arm in Severino we shouldn't see an improvement on Wednesday.
Atop the order, Corbin Carroll continues to search for his MVP level with a .262 average in the last two weeks while Jake McCarthy's hitting .217. Yes, Joc Pederson is scary, but ground-ballers have been his nemesis this year.
Back the trends to continue here.
NRFI Betting Prediction: Mets vs Diamondbacks NRFI (-105 at DraftKings)
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