With Pirates ace Paul Skenes on the hill today and a punchless lineup trying to give him run support, this is a prime spot for an NRFI bet.
The No Run/Yes Run first-inning markets are a great way to avoid the chaos of bullpens and weather while giving you a chance to turn an early profit.
My MLB picks for today focus on three early bets, headlined by that clash between the Pirates and Guardians.
Here are my best NRFI and YRFI bets for Saturday, April 19.
Best NRFI/YRFI bets today
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NRFI (-122 at ProphetX)
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YRFI (+102 at ProphetX)
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NRFI (-107 at ProphetX)
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NRFI/YRFI bets for April 19
Guardians vs Pirates: NRFI (-122 at ProphetX)
Last year's NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes is dealing again, posting a 2.96 ERA with 0.74 WHIP through four starts with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He has pitched to a 2.00 ERA with a 0.85 WHIP in the first inning in his career. He should shut down a Cleveland Guardians squad that is 26th in expected batting average (.231) and hasn't scored in the first inning in the last seven games.
That said, the Buccos are 28th in the majors in OPS (.607) and have scored in the opening frame just 24.8% of the time. They won't it easy to score early against Cleveland starter Ben Lively who is mediocre but tends to start strong.
Lively hasn't allowed a single run in the opening frame in four starts this year and had a 1.24 ERA with an OBA of .193 in the first inning across 29 starts last season.
Nationals vs Rockies: YRFI (+102 at ProphetX)
It's not often that we see the YRFI prop at Coors Field installed at plus money. As sharp as Washington Nationals starter Mackenzie Gore (3.52 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) has been this season, it isn't enough to justify that.
Per usual, the Colorado Rockies can't hit on the road, but they are competent in the thin air at Denver. They are plating 4.83 runs per game and have scored in the first inning 50% of the time at home .
The Nationals score in the opening frame 31.6% of the time (11th in the majors), and while they're below average in most hitting metrics, they'll produce at this venue.
Especially since Colorado is sending struggling Chase Dollander to the hill. The rookie has a 5.06 ERA with a 5.72 xERA through two starts. He also has a 13.50 ERA with an OBA of .333 in the first inning.
Cardinals at Mets: NRFI (-107 at ProphetX)
The St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets have both scored in the first inning in just 20% of their games — the fifth-lowest number in the majors.
The Cards are sending Matthew Liberatore and his 3.40 xERA to the hill. The Mets have struggled against southpaws like Liberatore, batting just .211 with an OPS of .658 against lefties.
Meanwhile, Kodai Sengata toes the rubber for the Mets. Senga had a dynamite rookie year in 2023 (2.98 ERA through 29 starts) before missing almost all of last season due to injuries. He's healthy and has looked sharp this year, pitching to a 1.06 ERA with an OBA of .200 through three starts.
❓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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