The MLB is back in action on Thursday, May 16, albeit with a fairly light schedule. There are only six games on the daily slate with most teams either getting a day off or travelling to the site of their upcoming weekend series. This means that there will only be six first innings to wager on whether or not a run will be scored. Here are our best no run first inning (NRFI) bets for Thursday’s games, with odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook,
Teddy Ricketson’s 2024 record against NRFI: 29-20-1
Best NRFI bets: Thursday, May 16
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros (+100)
The odds are not in our favor with this one, but I think it stays scoreless heading into the second inning. Houston is starting Cristian Javier, who struggled his last time out but is primed for a bounce back against Oakland, who averages the second-fewest first-inning runs. The A’s are starting Joey Estes, who will make his second start of the season and allowed just one earned run in his last game.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs (-135)
The Pirates average 0.39 first-inning runs this season, the eighth-fewest in the league. The Cubs do average the fifth-most and will face Pittsburgh starter Jared Jones for the second-time this season. He did allow a first-inning run in his first appearance against Chicago, but I think he and Justin Steele combine to keep this game scoreless after one inning.
Game To Avoid
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox
This will be the fourth and final game of this divisional series between these teams. Either the Rays or the Red Sox have scored a run in each first inning so far. They have combined for eight first-inning runs over the last three games. Boston averages the eighth-most first-inning runs (0.60), while Tampa Bay averages the 17th-most (0.45).