Joe Ryan was one of the few quality players who survived the Minnesota Twins' trade deadline purge. With Ryan on the hill and a depleted lineup trying to provide run support, my MLB picks are betting on the "no run first inning prop" in today's clash with the Kansas City Royals.
Check out the rest of my best NRFI bets for Friday, August 8, below.
Best NRFI/YRFI bets today
Athletics vs 
Orioles: YRFI
Royals vs 
Twins: NRFI
Rays vs 
Mariners: NRFI
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NRFI/YRFI bets for August 8
Athletics at Orioles: YRFI (Play at Thrillzz)
The Athletics have been crushing the ball, batting .302 while ranking second in the majors in OPS (.909) over the last 15 days.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles have turned things around at the plate and are fourth in OPS (.819) over the same span. The O's offensive struggles have generally come on the road and when facing lefties. That won't be a problem for them today at Camden Yards with righty J.T. Ginn starting for the A's.
Ginn has pitched to a 4.28 ERA with a 4.89 FIP through 48 1/3 innings. Baltimore responds with Tomoyuki Sugano, who is in the bottom fifth percentile in expected ERA (5.85) and expected batting average (.302).
- Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: MASN | NBCSCA
- Bet: YRFI
Royals at Twins: NRFI (Play at Thrillzz)
Joe Ryan has been dealing for the Minnesota Twins, posting a sparkling 2.83 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP through 127 1/3 innings.
The righty has dominated the Kansas City Royals, going 7-0 with a 1.30 ERA across nine career starts. Expect him to stifle a K.C. lineup that is 29th in the majors in runs per game (3.70).
The Twins have struggled to hit with Byron Buxton on the IL, and trading away multiple players from the heart of their order hasn't helped.
They won't find it easy to score against Royals starter Seth Lugo, who sports a 3.06 ERA with that number slimming to 2.57 in the opening frame.
- Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: Twins.TV | FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City
- Bet: NRFI
Rays at Mariners: NRFI (Play at Thrillzz)
When you consider the home/away batting splits of these teams, the NRFI bet seems obvious. When you also factor in the quality starters on both sides, that prop is impossible to turn down.
At home, the Seattle Mariners have an OPS of just .685 with the second-worst first-inning run percentage (17.2%) in the majors. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays have the second-worst first-inning run rate on the road (20.4%) with an OPS of .681.
The Rays are sending All-Star Drew Rasmussen to the mound. The righty has a 2.81 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP through 22 starts. The M's counter with Luis Castillo, who has a 2.40 ERA with an OBA of .202 at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park.
- Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Sun | ROOTNW
- Bet: NRFI
❓What are NRFI and YRFI bets❓
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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