The MLB had a lighter slate of games on Thursday as teams were traveling or getting a much-needed day of rest. The baseball schedule for Friday, May 17, is jam-packed with 15 games, giving bettors plenty of options for the day. 15 games also means that there will be 15 first innings to bet on whether or not a run will be scored. Here are our best no run first inning (NRFI) bets for Friday’s games, with odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook,
Teddy Ricketson’s 2024 record against NRFI: 30-22-1
Best NRFI bets: Friday, May 17
Oakland Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals (-115)
Oakland’s starting pitcher has yet to be announced, but I’m thinking that that helps Kansas City stay off the scoreboard in the first inning. The Royals have only scored a first-inning run once in their last five games. The Athletics will have to deal with KC starter Cole Ragans, who enters with a 2-3 record and 4.22 ERA but should be able to use his high-strikeout stuff to keep them off the board early.
Seattle Mariners vs. Baltimore Orioles (-115)
The Mariners have a tough test ahead of them in trying to keep the Orioles off the board. Seattle will start Bryce Miller, who will look to take advantage of Baltimore’s tendency to start its games slowly. The Orioles average the eighth-fewest first-inning runs in the league (0.39), while the Mariners average the third-fewest (0.30).
Game To Avoid
San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves
San Diego will start Matt Waldron (1-5, 5.49 ERA), while Atlanta counters with Max Fried (3-1, 3.57 ERA). Waldron has allowed nine earned runs in two starts this month. His knuckleball can dominate, but it is such a fickle pitch that if it isn’t moving like crazy, it is basically a batting practice changeup. Fried hasn’t allowed an earned run in three of his last four starts, but the Padres average the third-most first-inning runs in the league (0.76).