MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Wednesday (7/24)

The 2024 MLB season continues with all 30 teams in action on Wednesday. A few powerhouse battles are scheduled as the Philadelphia Phillies visit the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees host the New York Mets. Sports bettors wanting to get in on the action without sweating through an entire nine-inning contest can turn […]

Sports bettors wanting to get in on the action without sweating through an entire nine-inning contest can turn to MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) tickets for a quick result. Here’s a look at MLB NRFI options that stand out when comparing odds on this week’s hump day.

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Wednesday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks

Content:

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Houston Astros (-164) at Oakland Athletics (+138)

Starting Pitchers: Hunter Brown vs. JP Sears

The Athletics aim to complete an unexpected sweep over the Astros on Wednesday afternoon. JP Sears takes the mound for Oakland behind his 7-7 record and 4.49 ERA. Meanwhile, it’ll be up to Hunter Brown (8-6, 4.14 ERA) to provide Houston with a fighting chance to earn a victory. Take note these two pitchers have combined to keep their opponent off the scoreboard in 28 of their 40 first innings this year.

Bettors shouldn’t hesitate to back Sears given his experience facing this lineup. The veteran hurler has held the Astros to a collective .247/.291/.420 slash line with only eight extra-base hits across 81 at-bats. Elite hitters like Jose Altuve (3-for-13) and Yordan Alvarez (2-for-11) have yet to figure him out. Of course, it helps that Houston’s first-inning runs per game average also drops from 0.78 at home to 0.35 on the road.

Brown has been lights out lately, giving up two or fewer runs in seven of his last eight starts. The 25-year-old draws an outstanding matchup here, too. Oakland has racked up the fifth-most strikeouts (112) and the third-fewest runs (36) during first innings this campaign. Considering Oakland Coliseum features the second-least favorable park factors for home runs, according to Baseball Savant, limiting a rally should be Brown’s priority.

Bet: NRFI (-115)

St. Louis Cardinals (-110) at Pittsburgh Pirates (-106)

Starting Pitchers: Matthew Liberatore vs. Martin Perez

Let’s turn the page from one divisional showdown to another. An intriguing rubber match is set on Wednesday after the Cardinals and Pirates split the first two games of their series. St. Louis’ Matthew Liberatore (2-2, 4.15 ERA) earns the starting nod opposite Pittsburgh’s Martin Perez (1-5, 5.61 ERA). Each of the eight contests played between these National League Central foes in 2024 has included a scoreless first inning.

There’s no denying Perez has been crushed at times this season. However, his numbers against the Cardinals are too good to ignore. The trio of Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras has gone 4-for-32 at the plate when facing Perez. Overall, an NRFI bet has cashed in a whopping 41 of the Pirates’ 57 games as a betting underdog and in 32 of their 51 clashes at PNC Park.

Liberatore has mostly worked as a reliever across 33 appearances. The Arizona native has thrived against left-handed batters, posting an 8.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio and .290 slugging percentage allowed. Pittsburgh has tallied a first-inning run in just one of their last 12 home games, which makes this the time to trust Liberatore’s nasty pitch arsenal. Take a risk for a solid payout.

Bet: NRFI (-113)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: