NRFI Best Bets for Tonight's MLB Games, Friday May 23

For your No Runs First Inning and Yes Runs First Inning wagering, you are wise to consult all of the reputable, legal sports betting apps. But if you don't have time, that's why I am here.

I checked Caesars, BetMGM, Fanatics, FanDuel, DraftKings, and ESPN Bet for NRFI/YRFI odds markets. What follows below are my best picks for MLB games tonight.

Odds for these picks below are from BetMGM Sportsbook, a fantastic app available in more than 30 states. As always, practice responsible gambling.

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YRFI: Dodgers at Mets: -125

Someday Clayton Kershaw will stand on a stage in Cooperstown, New York, a tiny, quaint little village in sleepy upstate New York, and deliver a speech. The occasion will be his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This is a certainty, based on "The Claw's" accomplishments on the mound.

But, here we are in the twilight of Kershaw's career. Indeed, it's a dim, dark, pitch black twilight that requires the brightest of mag lights to navigate. Such is the ugliness of a ballplayer's decline. Babe Ruth got fat and struck out a lot. Joe DiMaggio stopped smoking fastballs. Even Willie Mays became a ghost of his superstar self. Father Time defeats all athletes. For Kershaw, his fall has been precipitous: he has made just eight starts since September of 2023. The lefty has produced just one quality start since June 27, 2023. That's nearly two years of bupkis from the former Dodger ace.

Tonight, Kershaw faces the Mets, arguably the most balanced team in the National League. It seems evident that the Mets have a nice chance to put up a run against Kershaw in Inning Number One.

On the other side, Griffin Canning toes the rubber for the Mets. He's bene stellar: 5-1 with a 2.47 ERA in nine starts.

WAGER: $100 on At Least One Run to Be Scored in First Inning (-125 from BetMGM)

NRFI: Orioles at Red Sox, Game 1 of Doubleheader: -113

The Orioles and Red Sox are playing a pair on Friday in Boston. The twin bill kicks off a four-game series at cozy, precocious, home run happy Fenway Park. The pitchers aren't so much what we are looking at in this first game. For the record, it's Cade Povich vs  Brayan Bello. Neither of those hurlers strikes fear in much of anyone.

The Orioles have the third-highest NRFI rate of any team in MLB this season. The Red Sox rank 11th. Plus, in the opener of a doubleheader, it's common for batters to be aggressive early in the count and the game. That's because every man on both teams knows they have at least 18 innings to play. Expect quick, easy innings in Game One. I suspect a low scoring affair in Beantown for the early matchup between the O's and BoSox tonight.

WAGER: $113 on -113 for NRFI in BAL vs BOS, G1 doubleheader. Your winning bet would be worth $100.

YRFI: Phillies at Athletics in Sacramento: -110

In games played at Sacramento's Sutter Health Park, the temporary home for the wandering A;s. formerly of Oakland, the first inning has seen at least one run in 37 percent of games, the highest total for any ballpark.

I consider it a boon to be able to find -110 odds on YRFI for the Phillies vs Athletics in Sacramento. The Phils rank fourth in the NL in runs scored. Their lineup has the third-highest on base percentage in baseball. And even though their home run output is down compared to prior seasons, Philadelphia has a top ten slugging percentage.

The Phils have an excellent chance to plate at least one run in the opening frame tonight in the small, Triple-A ballpark in Sacramento. They face an unknown pitcher, most likely a bullpen arm that does not have the experience opposing Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber.

WAGER: Bet $110 to win $100 on -110 odds for Yes First Inning Runs, PHI vs ATH.

NRFI: Brewers at Pirates: -166

The Brewers have the fifth-worst rate for scoring in the opening inning. That stinks, bhut it's also not a good sign when you have to face the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year winner Paul Skenes.

Skenes has rapidly established himself as one of MLB's premier pitchers. His arsenal is led by a top-of-the-scale 80-grade fastball, averaging 99 mph and peaking at 102, with exceptional carry through the zone, making it a formidable weapon. Complementing this is a 70-grade slider in the upper 80s, renowned for its elite swing-and-miss capability. Skenes' advanced pitchability allows him to effectively sequence pitches, often using his fastball as a finishing pitch while mixing in secondary offerings early in counts. He boasts a 2.44 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings, underscoring his dominance.

Our best bet of Friday's MLB games is MIL/PIT, which starts 6:40 PM EDT at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Choose No Runs First Inning at -166 from BetMGM Sportsbook. That means you wager $166 to win $266, including your stake. You win if Skenes and Milwaukee starting pitcher Freddy Peralta put goose eggs on the scoreboard for the first frame.

BEST BET: NRFI for Milwaukee at Pittsburgh, May 23