We have a packed day of baseball, featuring 15 games on the MLB betting board. That includes an NL West showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Those clubs have two of the most dangerous lineups in the majors, and that, combined with shaky starting pitching, is a big reason why they headline my favorite MLB picks.
Here are my best free YRFI and NRFI bets for Friday, May 9.
Best NRFI/YRFI bets today
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Run in the first inning - YES
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Run in the first inning - NO
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Run in the first inning - YES
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NRFI/YRFI bets for May 9
Phillies at Guardians: YRFI (Play at ProphetX)
Aaron Nola has been a reliable starter for almost a decade, but the Philadelphia Phillies right-hander has looked shaky this year. Nola has a 4.61 ERA in seven starts and sits in the bottom 30th percentile in expected batting average (.266).
The right-hander sports a 6.43 ERA in the first inning, and he's set to face a Cleveland Guardians squad that has been red hot, plating at least eight runs in three straight games. Although the Guardians have some issues with hitting depth, the top of their lineup is spearheaded by a pair of All-Stars in Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez.
Meanwhile, the Phillies have a formidable lineup that ranks ninth in the majors in OPS (.743) and scores a run in the first inning at the fourth-highest rate (37.8%). They should get on the board early against Guardians starter Gavin Williams.
Williams holds a 5.06 ERA through seven starts, ranking in the bottom 10th percentile in expected ERA (5.81) and expected batting average (.294). He's been even worse in the opening frame, where he has an ERA of 6.43 with an OBA of .379.
Cubs at Mets: NRFI (Play at ProphetX)
The Chicago Cubs' offense has gotten off to slow starts, scoring a run in the first inning at the fourth-lowest rate in the majors (23.7%). The New York Mets are tied with them in that metric and will face veteran Jameson Taillon today.
Taillon has a 3.86 ERA with an OBA of .220 across seven starts, but he has been lights out in the opening frame. The veteran right-hander hasn't allowed a single run in the first inning, pitching to an OBA of .125.
The Mets respond with Clay Holmes, who has impressed in his first season as a starter. Holmes was named an All-Star twice and pitched to a 2.85 ERA in 189 1/2 innings as a reliever over the last three years. In seven starts this year, he owns a 2.94 ERA with an xERA of 2.99.
Dodgers at Diamondbacks: YRFI (Play at ProphetX)
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter tonight second in the majors in OPS (.796), while the Arizona Diamondbacks are fourth (.762). The Dodgers also plate a the first inning at the fifth-highest rate (36.8%) in the majors, with the D-backs sitting 10th.
Rookie Roki Sasaki will toe the rubber for L.A. He entered the majors with sky-high expectations but has struggled, pitching to a 3.86 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP through seven starts. His expected ERA is even worse at 5.62, which is similar to the 5.14 mark for his ERA in the first inning.
Arizona will send lefty Eduardo Rodriguez and his 5.92 ERA to the mound. The southpaw has been rocked early in games, pitching to a 7.07 ERA with an OBA of .312 through the first two frames.
❓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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