One of the biggest surprises this season is that the Seattle Mariners are mashing. Meanwhile, the newly-relocated Athletics have also been hitting the ball well after years of sitting near the bottom of the majors.
That's why my MLB picks for Tuesday are betting on at least one of those clubs to plate a run in the first inning of their NL West clash tonight. Here are my best NRFI bets and YRFI bets for May 6.
Best NRFI/YRFI bets today
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NRFI (-126 at ProphetX)
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NRFI (-115 at ProphetX)
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YRFI (-132 at ProphetX)
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NRFI/YRFI bets for May 6
Phillies at Rays: NRFI (-126 at ProphetX)
This game will be a pitcher's duel between Philadelphia Phillies southpaw Zack Wheeler and Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen.
Rasmussen has a history of elbow injuries, but when healthy, he's been lights out. He has pitched to a 2.79 ERA across 326 innings since the start of the 2021 season and has a 2.64 ERA in six starts this year.
Wheeler was the NL Cy Young runner up last year and he's in the Top 10th percentile in expected ERA (2.48) and expected batting average (.199) this season.
The Phillies are 11th in the majors in OPS (.735), but that number plummets to .650 on the road. Meanwhile, the Rays have an OPS of just .551 against southpaws — the second-worst number in the majors. They also rank 28th in Run First Inning rate (20.6%).
Astros at Brewers: NRFI (-115 at ProphetX)
The Houston Astros are 21st in the majors in OPS (.677) while the Milwaukee Brewers are 22nd (.676). Both lineups have been especially slow out of the gate, with the 'Stros plating a run in the first inning at the lowest rate in the majors (14.7%) and the Brewers just three spots above them at 22.2%.
Milwaukee is starting rookie Chad Patrick, who has a 2.87 ERA through six starts. Patrick has been dealing at the start of games, pitching to a sizzling 0.75 ERA and holding opponents to a .256 slugging percentage through the first four innings.
Houston is replying with 27-year-old Hayden Wesneski. Wesneski has a mediocre 3.86 ERA through five starts but he tends to start strong, posting a 1.80 ERA with an OBA of .210 through the first two innings.
Mariners at Athletics: YRFI (-132 at ProphetX)
The Athletics are seventh in the majors in slugging percentage (.422) and score a run in the opening frame 30.6% of the time. Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners are seventh in the majors in OPS (.752) and fifth in runs per game (5.12).
What makes Seattle's numbers even more impressive is that the M's play their home games at a park that is extremely friendly to pitchers. They have an OPS of .788 away from home and plate a run in the first inning in 56.3% of their games on the road — the highest rate in the majors.
Both teams are also sending struggling pitchers to the mound. Seattle is starting Emerson Hancock, who has a 6.62 ERA through four starts. He has been shredded in the opening frame, where he has pitched to a 22.09 ERA with an OBA of .565.
The A's will give the ball to Jeffrey Springs, who has a 4.98 ERA in seven starts this year. Springs has an ugly 14.14 ERA with an OBA of .364 in the first inning.
❓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.
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