Best NRFI Bets Today: MLB First Inning Predictions for Tuesday, May 5

Neil Parker - Analyst at Covers.com
Neil Parker • Betting Analyst 16+ years betting experience
Updated: May 5, 2026 , 09:58 AM ET • 4 min read

A tidy opening frame in the Orioles-Marlins game headlines Neil Parker’s top NRFI and YRFI picks tonight.

Miami Marlins, MLB, Sandy Alcantara
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara.

It’s a loaded slate of baseball with all 30 teams hitting the field Tuesday, May 5, and I’ve got a trio of NRFI/YRFI bets to cover you throughout the night.

My favorite MLB picks begin with the Baltimore Orioles-Miami Marlins bout in the early window and wrap up with tonight’s matchup between the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels.

Best NRFI/YRFI bets today

Pick Odds
Orioles/Marlins - NRFI -107
Twins/Nationals - NRFI -103
White Sox/Angels - NRFI -102
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Orioles at Marlins: NRFI (-107)

Baltimore Orioles veteran Chris Bassitt has spun a blemish-free opening inning in three of his past four starts, and he’s coming off a strong outing with just a single run allowed and seven strikeouts across 6 2/3 frames. He’s catching the Miami Marlins at the right time, too. They’ve posted a 28th-ranked wOBA while striking out at the third-highest clip in baseball and averaging just 2.8 runs per game during a 3-6 slump.

Turning to Miami righty Sandy Alcantara, he has pitched a scoreless first inning in six of his seven starts, and the Orioles are tied for last in the majors in percentage of games with a run in the opening frame.

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Marlins.TV, MASN

Twins at Nationals: NRFI (-103)

Both Minnesota Twins righty Taj Bradley and Washington Nationals starter Cade Cavalli have been strong in the opening frame with matching 2.57 first-inning ERAs, and I also value their respective 25.3% and 26.6% strikeout rates. 

We’re also landing an excellent number because the Nationals have scored in the first inning at the third-highest clip in the league while sporting an unsustainably high .388 BABIP, so statistical correction is set to kick in.

  • Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NATS, MNNT

White Sox at Angels: NRFI (-102)

Chicago White Sox starter Erick Fedde has held opposing hitters to a minuscule .385 OPS in the opening frame and pitched a scoreless first in three of his four starts, including last time out against the Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles counters with lefty Sam Aldegheri, and he’ll have the benefit of the Chicago lineup seeing him for the first time. So, while Aldegheri’s MLB and Triple A numbers are nothing to write home about, the Pale Hose sport a .231 batting average in the first frame and score in the first inning at a league-average rate of just 28.57%.

  • Time: 9:38 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: ABTV, CHSN
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
  • NRFI/YRFI picks: 6-7, -1.37 units

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Neil Parker - Covers
Betting Analyst

Neil Parker is, first and foremost, a sports fan. A huge supporter of the Cowboys, Cubs, and Maple Leafs, he has managed to parlay his passion into writing gigs at some of the top websites in the industry.

Neil takes a numbers-based approach to his handicapping and complements his in-depth statistical analysis with a keen eye on the markets to provide the best available odds. He loves to lean on his rolodex of idioms to offset his inner nerd. When it comes to wagering, he throws down on anything that catches his eye at bet365, Betway and BetVictor. He also keeps a close eye on CoolBet because the polar bear brand often has outlier NHL and NFL moneyline prices.

Neil graduated with honors from St. Thomas University in 2007 before completing his BEd at Acadia University in 2010. After teaching a myriad of courses and subjects, he found a groove delivering fun lessons to exceptional learners in non-traditional classroom environments. If his decade-plus teaching run taught him anything about sports betting, it’s to stay the course and use the summer – or offseason – to refresh and prepare to be better in the year to come.

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