Every MLB is set to be in action, providing a full 15-game slate for Wednesday, May 1. While you can bet on the moneyline or player prop bets galore, one thing that sets baseball betting apart from other sports is betting on the first inning. No runs in the first inning (NRFI) and yes runs in the first inning (YRFI) are bets that are growing in popularity and refer to whether or not either team will score in the first inning of a game.
NRFI and YRFI bets are exciting because bettors are hanging on every pitch and they don’t have to wait long wondering whether or not their bet will cash. With that in mind, here are our favorite NRFI bets and one YRFI bet for Wednesday’s baseball action, with odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook,
Teddy Ricketson’s 2024 record against NRFI/YRFI: 17-9-1
Best NRFI bets: Wednesday, May 1
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (-120)
The Dodgers will start Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 3.54 ERA), while the Diamondbacks counter with Jordan Montgomery (1-1, 2.77 ERA). Yamamoto had trouble adjusting to the MLB in spring training and his first start, but he now has made six starts and has allowed runs in only half of his appearances. He hasn’t allowed a first-inning run in back-to-back starts. Monty will be starting his third game of the season and hasn’t allowed a first-inning run in either appearance.
Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets (-135)
Chicago starter Shota Imanaga enters with a 4-0 record and a 0.98 ERA, having allowed just three earned runs in 27.2 innings of work. New York will start Jose Butto (0-1, 2.86 ERA), who is coming off a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he allowed four earned runs in 5.2 innings. Notably, though, none of those runs came in the first inning. The Mets are tied for averaging the fewest first-inning runs in the MLB, so hopefully, Butto can get through the first inning unscathed and help this bet hit.
Game To Avoid (YRFI)
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Angels (+110)
The Phillies average the most first-inning runs in the league (1.03), and the Angels rank 11th. Philadelphia is starting Zach Wheeler (2-3, 1.93 ERA), who hasn’t allowed a first-inning run (or any runs) in back-to-back starts. Los Angeles will be down Mike Trout and will start the struggling Pablo Sandoval (1-4, 6.33 ERA). The LA southpaw has allowed 11 runs over his last 9.2 innings of work, including five to the Cincinnati Reds in the fist inning.